DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-001, January 2, 2003 edited by Glenn Hauser, ghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldta03.html For restrixions and searchable 2003 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid2.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO 1163: [Low] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1163.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1163.ram [High] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1163h.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1163h.ram (Summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1163.html WBCQ: Wed 2300 7415, 17495-CUSB, Mon 0545 7415 WWCR: Thu 2130 9475, Sat 0700, Sun 0330 5070, Sun 0730 3210, Wed 1030 9475 RFPI: Fri 1930, Sat 0130, 0730, 1330, 1800, Sun 0000, 0600, 1200, 1830, Mon 0030, 0630, 1230, Tue 1900, Wed 0100, 0700, 1300 7445 and/or 15039 WJIE: M-F 1300, daily 0400 -- maybe; Sun 0630, Mon 0700, Tue 0630 7490 WRN: rest of world Sat 0900, Eu only Sun 0530, NAm Sun 1500 ONDEMAND: http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html [from Fri] 2002: THE SHORTWAVE YEAR IN REVIEW, BY GLENN HAUSER, partially for VOA (download) http://www.worldofradio.com/swyir02.rm (stream) http://www.worldofradio.com/swyir02.ram (full text) http://www.worldofradio.com/swyir02.html ** AUSTRALIA. SCHOOL OF AIR GOES HIGH TECH For more than 70 years, crackly teachers' voices down the airwaves have helped thousands of outback students complete their schooling. But all that is about to change. New technology, terrestrial telephone, will replace the old radio communications for Queensland's famed School of the Air. HF radios and hand-held two-ways will be tossed out in favour of phone headsets, teleconferencing, email, and internet through a $1 million project announced by state Education Minister Anna Bligh. The scheme will see three schools switch over permanently in 2003 following a successful pilot at Charleville, with the remaining three distance schools to convert by the end of 2004. The benefits include an end to crackly radio interference and greater interaction between students and teachers, access to more information, quicker marking turn-around and less reliance upon postal services. Mt Isa School of the Air principal Karin Redman is looking forward to the switch. "The big advantage of the telephone is the clarity of voice communication," Ms Redman said. "HF radio can be very good, but it can also be subject to the vagaries of the ionosphere, so sunspots affect our radio transmissions and you hear a sort of radio background noise. "We've often had interference on HF radio from fishing boats up in the Gulf and out in the ocean who are using radio communication - they can be quite an interruption." Clarity is vital for the Mt Isa school whose 220 students are scattered across a vast region extending from the Gulf in the north to Birdsville in the south, and east from Richmond to the Northern Territory border. The area equates to roughly half the size of Queensland and twice the size of Victoria and Tasmania combined. Almost 1,000 students are enrolled at five other distance schools across the state including at Cairns, Charters Towers, Longreach, Charleville and Capricornia. But for many rural and remote students, their phone and internet services are often perceived as inferior to those of their city counterparts. Marianna Campbell, who has two children studying through Mt Isa's School of the Air, is particularly concerned. Their cattle station lies 28km outside of Mt Isa in what locals call the "donut zone" - outside of the town's service ring and outside of Telstra's Extended Zone which begins at hokum. Homesteads located in the zone are entitled to a free satellite dish and installation giving access to broadband internet services. "Even though we're quite close to town, we don't get decent service," said Mrs Campbell, whose internet access is seven times slower than that in the cities. Broadband internet access problems have been anticipated by Ms Bligh, who has called on her federal counterpart to extend its zonal conditions for distance education families. "Approximately 68 per cent of all school of distance education students live in Telstra's Extended Zone," Ms Bligh said (AAP Dec 16 via ninemsn via Jilly Dybka, NASWA Flashsheet Dec 28 via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. A couple of loggings from this morning 1/2/03 6134.80 Radio Santa Cruz, 0944 Noted Spanish comments from a man and woman. Plenty of ID's during promos and program schedules: "en Radio Santa Cruz. Signal was good. 3310, Radio Mosoj Chaski, 0955, Generally noted Spanish comments between a man and woman. Signal was good until about 1010 then faded. I reported this yesterday with a very poor signal at nearly the same time. Today it was good. What a difference (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston FL, Jan 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOTSWANA. NY monitoring: see SOLOMON ISLANDS ** CANADA. RCI has a Cantonese service, a weekly program transmitted by mp3 thru internet, which is now well developed in China. Can download thru our website, says Jean Larin, RCI director, but then adds that the RCI website is not open, but can get access thru E- mail... (VOA Communications World special Jan 1, notes by gh for DX LISTENING DIGEST) If RCI website is blocked by China, why in the world is Canada so kind as to relay CRI on SW??? (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. SIGNALS CROSSED ON FATE OF DIGITAL RADIO by Keith Damsell, Media Reporter, Toronto Globe & Mail, December 28 The jury is out on digital radio. There's little agreement among broadcasters about the future of the format, a crystal-clear signal broadcast across the digital spectrum. Supporters at CHUM Ltd. describe digital radio as potentially the next big thing set to revolutionize the way Canadians listen to music. Meanwhile, the head of Standard Broadcasting Corp. Ltd. is reluctant to broadcast in the new band because "Nobody is listening." The rollout of digital services has divided the industry. Incumbents - - including CHUM and Rogers Communications Inc. -- are the most vocal supporters of the new technology. At the same time, there's a growing chorus of critics wondering whether the industry has backed the wrong horse in the race to secure their position in radio's future. The bottom line is digital radio faces some enormous obstacles and its future is less than secure. "The CBC, at one point, was convinced this was the future for radio. Our position has become this may be the future or it may be one of a number of alternatives how people may receive radio in the future," says Philip Savage, senior manager of regulatory affairs for the public broadcaster's English-language services. He says he would be surprised if there were more than 500 people listening to the CBC's four digital stations in Toronto. "We're not backing off on our commitment to digital radio in any way but we're not going to be investing huge amounts in this and wasting taxpayers' money until we have actually seen some further consumer acceptance." Digital radio or digital audio broadcasting (DAB) has had a brief and troubled history. DAB was first developed with an eye to commercial use in the late 1980s. Via a digital radio technology called Eureka 147, broadcasters can transmit a complex signal with many potential applications, not the least of which is a crystal-clear sound. As CD- quality music plays, a radio display will show the song title and artist. Press a button and you can order the CD. Press another and you can order concert tickets. Stations can be personalized according to a listener's needs with the latest weather, traffic or stock market quotes available upon request. DAB is key to radio's "survivalist strategy of the future," says Duff Roman, CHUM's vice-president of industry affairs and digital radio operations. Radio is the last non-digital electronic medium and must embrace the growing consumer taste for the digital world, the veteran Toronto disc jockey says. "People are saying 'Jeez, I got to get this thing.' That's the reaction I'm getting from my 13 year old and his gang," Mr. Roman says. The federal broadcasting regulator agreed and, in 1995, released a policy for the introduction of digital radio. The Canadian Radio- television and Telecommunications Commission "foresees digital radio services as coming to replace existing AM and FM services over time," setting the framework for incumbent players to access the L-band, a valuable chunk of digital spectrum set aside by Industry Canada. The past seven years have seen steady but unremarkable growth. At present, there are about 57 AM and FM stations simulcasting their signals in digital formats in four cities: Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and, in a failed attempt to persuade Detroit's auto makers to install digital receivers in new cars, Windsor, Ont. Another 16 Ottawa stations are expected to go digital next year. To launch services with a single digital transmitter costs about $40,000 per radio station. To blanket an entire city with eight digital transmitters costs about $300,000 per station. While Europe's major broadcasters embraced Eureka 147, it was a very different story in the United States. Concern that a new dedicated digital band would undermine the value of FM stations prompted the United States to support a made-in-America compromise called IBOC (in band/on channel). The IBOC plan requires no new spectrum and squeezes new digital signals within the existing FM and AM radio bands. IBOC, recently rechristened HD Radio, was approved by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission in October and has the support of 14 of the country's top 20 radio broadcasters. HD Radio has been met with much hostility by Canadian supporters of Eureka 147. They claim the U.S. plan will mean an inferior digital radio signal for the world's largest commercial audience. "You're left with the conclusion why did they [U.S. broadcasters] bother? They ended up with a system that isn't particularly useful," says Steve Edwards, vice-president of corporate engineering and technology at Rogers Media, a unit of Toronto holding company Rogers Communications Inc. More important, HD Radio has created a major stumbling block for the growth of Eureka 147. The two formats are not compatible and require separate digital receivers. To date, consumer demand in Canada for costly digital radio equipment has been "virtually non-existent," says Michael Nedelec, vice-president of consumer electronics and appliances at Future Shop, a Burnaby, B.C.-based subsidiary of Best Buy Inc. "It's extremely doubtful at this time whether DAB will take off in Canada," Mr. Nedelec says. Broadcasters are resting their hopes on a single retailer, InterTan Inc., the Barrie, Ont.-based parent of Radio Shack. In November, about 250 stores in digital-radio-serviced cities began offering a $299 digital receiver and a $399 model with a built-in MP3 player. "We knew out of the gate there wouldn't be huge demand," says Bill Bishop, senior audio buyer for InterTan. Like many across the industry, he equates digital radio's current status to the "chicken- and-egg thing" -- few digital radio stations means few receivers and vice versa. Complicating matters further is the emergence of competing technologies. In the United States, Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. and XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. have each quickly built an impressive base of subscribers willing to pay a monthly fee to listen to commercial-free radio. These satellite radio rivals have lost millions in the process and the business case has yet to be proven. At the same time, Internet radio has built a strong following, especially among a hard-to-reach youth audience that is attractive to advertisers. Many AM and FM stations simulcast on the Net, but a money-making stand-alone Internet radio format remains elusive. "When this [digital radio] all started, there was no Internet. There were no kids on computers listening to the radio and downloading files. It wasn't happening then and it's happening now. I think we maybe missed the boat," says Gary Slaight, president and chief executive officer of Standard Broadcasting. Mr. Slaight, an investor in on-line radio services, is the industry's most vocal critic of digital radio. "Before we spend millions and millions of dollars as an industry . . . let's make sure we're not going to be sitting here in two years saying 'This is a stupid thing to do, nobody is really interested in it.' " The CRTC is watching events closely. There is no time frame for the industry's largest players to launch digital services, but sources report there is an increasing "use it or lose it" view of rights to the L-band spectrum within the commission and Industry Canada. In September, the CRTC heard for the first time Toronto applications from prospective broadcasters interested in launching stand-alone digital radio services. Supporters are quick to compare digital radio's slow birth to FM, a band that took about 30 years to capture the public's imagination. "My glib answer is it takes as long as it takes," says CHUM's Mr. Roman. "There's a whole sort of inertia that we have got to deal with. . . . If you tell people about DAB, their first reaction is to find a way of getting out of it rather that making a commitment. You have to break that down." (via Theo Donnelly, Burnaby BC, Daniel Say, BC, Harry van Vugt, Ont., Mike Terry, DXLD) The iBiquity system has little or nothing to do with Eureka 147's struggles in Canada. The Eureka system is also struggling in Europe, where iBiquity is not even on the radar screen. It is struggling because the receivers are still too expensive, and because it is not viewed by the public as a breakthrough in terms of offering new services or dramatically improved quality. Digital radio is a hard sell, and the iBiquity proponents are about to find that out as they join the struggle (Barry McLarnon, Dec 30, Ont., NRC-AM via DXLD) We live close to Windsor, ON, which is a market that has gone digital. We went to Windsor, on a lark, and bought one of the portable DAB receivers from Radio Shack. The DAB website made it seem like Ann Arbor might be in a coverage area. It was laughable. Battery life was absurd. Maybe 20 minutes on two AAs. And better still... we could not get it to work. We received analog stations, but the DAB channels were no where to be found --- even in Windsor. The receiver was quickly returned (Patrick Rady, ibid.) ** CONGO DR. R. Kahuzi, Bukavu, tho rarely reported by DXers, is confirmed on the air, 6210, by a staff member who called in to VOA`s CW Talk to America special Jan. 1. Said primary language is French, but in the past they relayed some VOA news, and even Communications World (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) and said that their power is 800 watts (Hans Johnson, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. Faro del Caribe back on 9644.6 during the 1200 hour Dec 31 but just a buzz on the 5054.6 (Hans Johnson, Rio Hondo TX, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** CYPRUS TURKISH. Hi Glenn, I just noticed in the new DXLD that Anker Peterson had Turkish Cyprus, Radio Bayrak, as his 234th country heard using the EDXC Country List. Coincidentally it was my 234th country using the NASWA Country List. Yes, hearing a new country does get scarce! My first 'new one' in quite a while. Now if I can get a QSL, it will be my 214th country QSL'd. Happy New Year, (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) That does not mean, I am sure, that the two lists are identical! (gh) 6150 also heard 2202-2220 with US/UK pop music. Ann and ID in English by female speaker at 2219 ("... every Saturday evening on the Bayrak International...") followed by male speaker in Arabic. This was a Wednesday, but no matter! (Graham Bell, Kent, DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) ** DENMARK [non]. R A D I O D E N M A R K Dec 17, 2002--Mar 29, 2003 UT Target (primary coverage in brackets) kHz Tx Beam 12.30-12.55 Far East 12070 K 35 Europe, Mediterranean, Canary Islands 13800 S 180 South East Asia, Australia (west), Russia 15735 K 80 North America (east), Carribean 18950 S 280 13.30-13.55 Europe 9590 S 180 South East Asia, Australia (west), Russia 15735 K 80 North America (east + central), Greenland 18950 S 300 14.30-14.55 Russia, Europe (south east), Middle East (east), South Asia (India) 13800 K 95 North America (east + central), Greenland 17555 S 300 15.30-15.55 Middle East (west) 15735 K 120 North America (west), Greenland 17525 S 315 16.30-16.55 Europe (south east), Middle East (west), Africa (east) 13800 K 145 North America (west), Greenland 18950 S 315 17.30-17.55 Europe (south east), Middle East (west), Africa (east) 13800 S 145 Russia 9980 K 95 North America (east), Carribean 18950 S 280 18.30-18.55 New Zealand 9980 K 35 Africa, Europe (south) 13800 K 165 North America (east + central), Greenland 15705 S 300 19.30-19.55 Europe, Canary Islands 7490 S 180 North America (west), Greenland 13800 S 315 20.30-20.55 Europe, Canary Islands 7490 S 180 21.30-21.55 Europe, Canary Islands, Africa (west) 7490 K 195 Australia 9510 K 65 22.30-22.55 Far East 7470 K 40 South America, Canary Islands 7530 S 235 23.30-23.55 North America (east), Carribean 7470 S 280 South America 7530 S 235 South East Asia, Australia (west) 7490 K 80 Far East 9920 K 40 00.30-00.55 North America (east), Carribean 7470 S 280 South East Asia 7490 K 80 01.30-01.55 North America (east), Carribean 7470 S 280 South Asia (India) 7490 K 95 North America (east + central), Greenland 9945 S 300 02.30-02.55 North America (east), Carribean 7470 S 280 South Asia (India) 7490 K 95 North America (east + central), Greenland 9590 S 300 03.30-03.55 North America (west), Greenland 7470 S 315 Middle East (east) 7490 K 110 Europe (south east), Africa (east), Middle East (west) 9945 K 145 04.30-04.55 North America (west), Greenland 7470 S 315 Russia, Middle East (east) 7490 K 95 Europe (south east), Africa (east), Middle East (west) 9945 K 145 05.30-05.55 Europe (south east), Middle East (west), Africa (north east) 7465 K 140 Russia, Middle East (east) 7490 K 95 06.30-06.55 Europe 5945 K 165 Europe, Canary Islands 7180 S 195 Europe (south west), Canary Islands, Africa (west) 9590 S 220 Africa, Europe (south) 13800 K 165 07.30-07.55 Europe 7180 K 165 Europe, Canary Islands, Africa (west) 9590 K 195 08.30-08.55 Australia, Europe (south west), (South America) 13800 S 235 Far East, New Zealand 15705 K 40 09.30-09.55 Australia, Europe (south west), South America 13800 S 235 Far East, New Zealand 15705 K 40 Middle East (east), South Asia (India) 18950 K 95 10.30-10.55 Europe, Mediterranean, Canary Islands 13800 S 180 South America, Canary Islands, Africa (west) 21765 S 235 11.30-11.55 Europe, Mediterranean, Canary Islands 13800 S 180 South America, Canary Islands, Africa (west) 21765 S 235 Stations: Kvitsoy (K) and Sveio (S) each have two 500 kW transmitters. (via Erik Køie, DR Radio, Dec 30, DXLD) Note time periods when there are only one or two frequencies. Likely then are Merlin relays of other broadcasters underway. But what about all the times when only 3 of the 4 are shown? (gh, DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA. 6210/6940. R Fana. The QSL schedule published in DX- Window no. 210 seems to be an old one! I heard the station on 6940 on Fri Dec 20 until 1859* and on Sun Dec 22 until 1830*. This is in accordance with DBS-4 published in May 2002. It has been seen before: Even the General Manager signs a QSL with an outdated schedule! DX-ers have to check the information received! (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Jan 1 via DXLD) ** FRANCE. AM Radio in France. After 50 years of neglect, medium wave broadcasting is attracting new attention. While FM stereo is available on most radio receivers there is no longer any room available on the FM dial particularly in Paris and other large cities. With the exception of public broadcaster Radio France only a very few private broadcasters are using AM in France. But this was not always the case. In 1920, after World War One, radio had demonstrated its strategic value to the military and was beginning to grow into civilian applications. Among the political figures of the day there were many advocates for establishing a state run monopoly, but an emerging radio industry, backed by influential newspapers and wealthy industrialists, favoured free competition on the airwaves. In the end the government exercised little control over broadcasting, and a mixture of public and private broadcasters established themselves in Paris and the provinces. Nearly all these stations transmitted on medium wave with 0.5 kw to 5 kw of power. By 1930 about 30 radio stations served 500,000 listeners in France. Half of the stations were private, financed by advertising and tolerated by the government. This contrasted with the situation in the UK where the BBC had a monopoly. Some stations carried English programmes, the most famous of which was Radio Normandie. Certain public stations were supported by listener contributions and advertising. In 1932 the government purchased Radio Paris from its private owner. The station, broadcasting on longwave with 150kw of power, could be heard across the country and it became the official voice of France. Just before World War Two more than six million radio receivers were in use across France and, during the war, in both Nazi occupied and Vichy France, broadcasting evolved as a propaganda tool, making the transmitters military targets. By the end of 1944 the national longwave centre at Allouis and 95% of the medium wave radio transmitters across the country had been destroyed. After liberation the Resistance established a monopoly on broadcasting, commandeering all the private stations to rid the airwaves of political or economic meddling. The founding of Radiodiffusion Télévision Française was one result of this action. RTF broadcast across the nation from the Allouis longwave station, which was supplemented by regional medium wave programmes from Paris. French listeners could also tune broadcasts on longwave and medium wave from the neighbouring nations, Radio Luxembourg, Radio Andorra, Radio Monte Carlo and Europe Number One. Gradually the network of regional mediumwave stations was recreated using dozens of small transmitters. But the growth of AM programming stalled in the 1960s with the spread of FM broadcasting from Paris to other cities across the nation. To highlight the audio benefits of FM the public service broadcaster launched France Musique and it began relaying its long and medium wave services on FM. As new FM transmitters went on the air across the countryside the public adopted FM receivers and the medium waves fell into disuse. With the liberalisation of the airwaves in the 1980s many new stations and broadcasters have filled the FM waveband but the medium waves have remained calm. Even France Inter stopped broadcasting across France on longwave in 1997. In 2001 however Ciel AM brought private radio back to medium wave in France for a time and other companies applied for licences. A conference was held in Paris by the Convention de l'Association de Développement de la Modulation d'Ampltude and much interest was expressed in the use of the DRM system (Franck Ernould, Radio World via JACK FITZSIMMONS via MIKE BARRACLOUGH, Jan World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Deutschlandfunk concluded the old year with the national anthem, the record they play every day. After a pause they welcomed the new year with "chimes of Europe". Could be called impressive if it would have been live, but I feel we can safely assume that this was merely a record prepared days in advance. The Fritz network of Ostdeutscher Rundfunk Brandenburg was a real disappointment, their way to welcome the new year was by far less impressive than one year ago: They did it with a shabby show opener within a meaningless remote (from some club in Berlin, who cares?). Just another sign for some changes at this station, the same changes that make any further shortwave broadcasts of this network really unlikely now. When tuning around other FM stations it was quite apparent that ABBA's "Happy New Year" is especially popular as first song to be played in the new year amongst German broadcasters (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Jan 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. 6085 was on air today as always. Both Olle Alm and Willi Stengel noted that the transmitter was running open carrier overnight. Scenario: The main control in the radio house removed the audio from the feed circuit but nobody at Ismaning cared about switching off the transmitter. It remains to be seen what will happen during the following nights (nothing I could track by myself because I am in the dead zone at night), but so far it appears that the shortwave relays of Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk are indeed history. Tomorrow we will know if also Bayern 1 and Bayern2Radio programming will be still carried or if they indeed go back to merely B5 aktuell. Today anyway nothing but B5 aktuell was due according the old shortwave schedule they still have at http://www.br-online.de/br-intern/technik/kw.html (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Jan 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUAM. [SWL] Hello from N6HPX/DU1 on Guam Hello to the group, I somehow lost my connection to the group an don't know why that happens. I guess it was due to my bounces while on a ship to Panama some time back. KH2JU: I heard him on the local 2 meter repeater here about a week ago, said his gear is up and running. The island is still a mess after the typhoon and I have never seen such since my time in Olongapo when Mt. Pinatubo exploded. It`s like a bomb hit it. My ship arrived a few days after the storm and it was a total shock for us. I usually call this the Gilligan island of the Pacific as it`s a very nice place and very quiet. After the explosion of the fuel tanks out here, many homes were forced to ration gas and the only places issuing were the ones that had reserves and those went to emergency vehicles. Hams with generators were like standing in line and waiting. I saw KTWR and AWR yesterday again an they appeared to have gone undamaged no problems. I actually got within 100 feet of the KWTR towers and could hear what sounded like a transmitter running. But Barragada has about half the tower down, some look like a spider web where the flies are clinging to the wires as parts of the towers are hanging in the air along the sides. One local Ham KH2QP identified the station to me along with others. There are log periodicals there but didn't get a chance to view `em up close. So many comments here as to what they should have done, but Murphy played a big role. Cement telephone poles were snapped in two parts, and the others looked like they were picked up and laid on their side. It`s weird to see. Power in some areas are still slow and the Kmart store here closed at 6, since they didn't have enough power to light the parking lot. Our ship is a reefer type and we were providing huge blocks of iccce to the navy and some of the facilities. USNS Concord. email me at n6hpx_du1@yahoo.com Any one who does chat mail, I have messenger set up as well (Larry Fields, n6hpx, Guam Island, Dec 31, swl via DXLD) I wonder why so many hams express their callsigns in lower case?? That always looks wrong to me and I usually fix them (gh, DXLD) Happy new year to the SWL group.... Hello to all the group and I hope to post more often. Sorry for the off topic here but wanted to let some who were asking what it was like here on Guam since the super typhoon ripped Guam apart. Sorry for my long time away from the group. I had difficult accessing the machines for a while due to a Ocean going Tug. All my past emails were bouncing and I had no way of contacting the outside world. The call sign here is n6hpx/du1 mainly cause I spend a lot of time living in the Philippines. But for those who do chat mail or other wise stuff you can reach me at n6hpx_du1@yahoo.com or n6hpx_du1@hotmail.com I came to Guam by ship, which is actually homeported here and we carry a flight crew who also live here. We arrived around the 14th, and the place looked like a bomb hit it. The 146.91 repeater was up and running but barely hitting parts of the island areas. It was knocked off the air by a cell phone antenna that collapsed on it. I felt (pardon my comment) naked without a rig, as for so many years I always had a HF with me. But vowed that I would never have that happen again; am now looking at Icom 706mk2g or Ten Tec QRP rig. As mentioned, I went around the island a few days after I arrived and viewed the 3 radio stations and was very happy to see KTWR and AWR in full tack. I stood about 200 feet from the KTWR antenna and heard what sounded like a transmitter running inside. But did not have my shortwave with me. Later went by Radio Barragada and discovered that about half of the towers were destroyed; some were just hanging in the air by the wires an others were bent in half. There are log periodics but could not see `em well enough from the road. It looked like a giant spider web with the towers being caught. It was sore site to see. In question about the hams here, they were up and running as well as possible, since 3 out 5 oil tanks were destroyed or on fire. And the gas stations were issuing gas only to police, fire and ambulances. The Navy and Air force were doing shuttles to and from town. There was a curfew of all residents, not to be on the streets after 5 as the place was total blackness. The stars were more brighter than ever. I did talk to KH2JU on VNF and he said his station was unscathed and was operating. I also hear from NH7C who mentioned he passed about 700 messages to the world but propagation for him was only as far east as Hawaii. KF6ILA mentioned that even after the power came back phones were still a problem, an for almost 3 weeks no water, or power in some places. Saw some power lines about 1 or 2 inches thick (steel cables) snapped in half and power poles the same way. I hope to be more active with the group an sorry about the off topic here. Take care an big 73's also Happy new year. p.s. for those who ever been to Guam and remember the place, the famous Uncle Bob bar was totally flattened in this. It`s a place where most sailors go for a good cold beer (Larry Fields, n6hpx, Jan 1, ibid.) KTWR was noted back on the air during the JSWC special programmes in Japanese on Dec 28 & 29. They were heard in Denmark as follows: 9465 Dec 29, 1200-1230 with fair reception: 34444 going down to 33433. BCQRM. 11690 Dec 28, 2100-2130 with poor reception: 22332 and CWQRM. (Anker Petersen, DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) [non]. The current emergency schedule for AWR broadcasts from other sites while the AWR station on Guam is without electrical power following the devastating typhoon in early December is listed on the AWR web site http://www.awr.org Although it is not known as yet just which transmitter bases on Taiwan are involved, it could be that one, or even more, new AWR sites could be in use. The emergency scheduling will be discontinued as soon as electrical power is restored to the southern areas of the island of Guam, including the AWR shortwave station KSDA. I could recommend that you check the temporary new scheduling as given on the AWR web site, log and QSL as many of the new and temporary broadcasts as possible, and when the full information becomes available, it could be that new and temporary AWR sites could be revealed (Anker Peterson, DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) ** GUATEMALA. 4845, Radio K`ekchí also back during the 1200 hour Dec 31 (Hans Johnson, Rio Hondo TX, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** GUATEMALA. I notice recent logs of 4800v as R. Coatán, not R. Cultural Coatán as before. I wonder if this mean that the *real* R. Cultural (tho it is hardly cultural, but evangelical), TGN, which claims ownership of the name, has finally persuaded Coatán to give it up (Glenn Hauser, Radio Enlace, via DXLD) ** INDIA. Dear Glenn Hauser, With reference to your query in DXLD 2- 205, All India Radio Home Service English news is indeed there at 1430-1435 on the following frequencies: 4840 5040 6085 9425 9470 9575 9835. This and other info on AIR is available from the files section of dx_india@yahoogroups.com With new year wishes, (Jose Jacob, India, Jan 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) AIR Home Service started tests from today on 9425 from Bangalore 500 kw transmitter with relay of AIR FM II programming in Hindi & English. The schedule is 0130-0530, 0930-1230. This daytime service will be inaugurated soon. Last year tests were conducted on 11645 also. 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS/AT0J, Jan 1, dx_india via DXLD) ** IRAN. I received the following email from sw@irib.com: Dear Patrick, Hello from Iran! I am working in IRIB in SW department as a technical engineer, meanwhile searching the internet I found out your email address, could you give me a hand please? IRIB broadcasts English program that you can find it¹s schedule below, could you send a report of our program in Sheffield? Best regards, Yousef Ghadaksaz, IRIB (Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting). He wanted reports on 6110 and 7320 1930-2030 English and 15084 1930-2030 in Farsi. (Patrick Travers, UK) Are they so short of feedback that they have to do internet searches for shortwave listeners!? (Mike Barraclough, Jan World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. 4650, Voice of Mojahed 1, Iraq, Dec 22, 0345-0500, Farsi political talks, New frequency, jumping 4650/ 4660/ 4670 to avoid Iranian jammer – stronger than // 5350v and 5650v 43443 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Jan 1 via DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. 9535, Voice of Islamic Revolution in Iraq, via VOIRI Iran, Dec 28, 0350-0412. Weak signal of male speaker in (assumed) Arabic, improving in strength to fair level (Charles Jones, Australia, DSWCI DX Window via DXLD)) ** IRAQ [non]. 9715, Information R, Dec 18 & 19, 1921-2000*, always disturbing Deutsche Welle, Wertachtal, in Russian on the same channel was off the air, and Command Solo was heard in Italy and Greece with poor to very good signal, best in USB. Arabic songs, ID’s, talks about America, UN, and the ``Rais``, [president -- -gh] an announcement at 1958, then song till DW returned on the air. Tentatively also heard Dec 27, 0625-0645, Arabic announcement and Arab songs. 22332 with sideband splashes (Bernardini, Liangas and Petersen, DSWCI...) 11292, Information R, Dec 20, 21 & 26, 1454-1700, short Arabic talks and Arab songs. 23222. QRM Russian utility conversations and noise. (Liangas, Pecolatto and Petersen, DSWCI...) The station ID has been reported as `` Idha'at Radiyo al-Ma'ulumat``, but that means ``Radio Radio Information`` in Arabic! The correct ID is ``Idha'at al-Ma'ulumat``! (Liangas & Zeidan, DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. Amigos, confirmação recebida: 11605, Radio Voice of Israel, Jerusalem. 1 dia. Recebido: Confirmação eletrónica. V/S: Raphael Kochanowski ( RaphaelK@i... ). End. Eletrónico enviado: engineering@i... [truncateds] Tomo a liberdade de comentar alguns aspectos no recebimento desta confirmação: 1. Evidentemente desejava receber a resposta pelo correio, mas enviar informes pelo email às vezes dá nisso. Mas, mesmo assim me dou por satisfeito pela confirmação. Não esperava, sinceramente, recebe-la, pelos rumores recentes de que a Voz de Israel não estava mais confirmando. 2. A carta (email) recebida foi de teor agradabilissmo, manifestando o V/S a alegria de terem sido ouvidos no Brasil, confirmando os dados. 3. Junto ao email, no mesmo corpo, não no anexo, veio impressa a frente do conhecido QSL da Kol Israel. 4. Agora, o mais importante: Graças ao ILG (ferramenta fantastica!), que auxiliou nesta escuta, ao ouvir em 25 de dezembro os 11605 da Voice of Israel, a TRANSMISSÃO ERA EM IDIOMA RUSSO, sem entender russo, é claro. Se não fosse o ILG, poderia ter confundido de inicio com qualquer outra emissora que transmitisse em russo, inclusive a propria Voz da Russia. 5. O mais intrigante: Mesmo não entendendo uma palavra em algum idioma desconhecido, podem entender-se em certos momentos com um pouco de esforço e atenção, nomes de cidades, personalidades, expressões locais, caracteristicas de canções, etc... que permitem a nossa aproximação com os objetivos, que é o de se procurar obter a confirmação. No caso, frequentemente ouvi as palavras 'Israeli, Iraki, Internet, Shabat, Shalom, ....'. Anotado tudo, e colocado no padrão de um informe de recepção, obtive a resposta da Voice of Israel (embora, como escrito acima, desejasse é claro, o cartão QSL). 6. Desculpem-me, não vou muito longe, mas as palavras do Passport2003 não são estimulantes. Na referencia ao endereço eletronico engineering@... há a menção da publicação de que a Voice of Israel só aceitam informações sobre problemas verificados na recepção, e não para se obter confirmações. Um paradoxo. Ponto para nós, dexistas brasileiros! 7. O desafio meu e de todos: Mesmo não sendo aconselhados pelo WRTH, ou Passport, ou quem quer que seja, se estamos determinados a buscar uma confirmação, é seguir adiante. Não importa se o idioma é russo, japonês, chinês, tibetano, ou pashtu, vamos em frente com o padrão conhecido de informe de recepção, e há grandes chances de sermos atendidos. Confirmei a Radio Nepal 5005, em nepalês, sem entender uma palavra deste idioma desconhecido para mim e para muitos. O IR foi em inglês. Quem desejar tentar a Voice of Israel em russo, e escrever para o Raphael Kochanowski, o horário que Israel foi sintonizado foi 1900 UTC em 11605 KHz. Um forte 73 a todos, e um feliz 2003 (Rudolf W. Grimm, São Bernardo, SP - B, http://www.radioways.cjb.net radioescutas via DXLD) [Is pleased with getting QSL from Israel, even tho it was for a Russian broadcast he could not understand, by E-mail, despite reports they would not QSL. DXers should not hesitate to try to QSL broadcasts in languages they do not understand] ** JAPAN [and non]. Hello Glenn, NHK World Radio Japan Tokyo in Japanese language of Dec 31, 1500 UT, Midnight in Japan, via Skelton relay in Cumbria on 6175 kHz. Noisy matter. 53rd Year End Hitparade of NHK 1030-1910 UT. On SW via relays in Sri Lanka, Gabon, England, Ascension, French Guiana, and Canada. - - - - Shortwave Log Dec 31, 2002 NHK World New Year Hitparade 1030-1910 UT kHz UTC Dec ITU Stn Lang, Remarks SINPO 6175 1500 31 G NHK Skelton Jap, New Year Hitparade 55555 9750 1510 31 G NHK Rampisham Jap, New Year Hitparade 55555 6175/9750/6010/9565 UK, one second behind 12045 direct from Yamata, Japan. 12045 1515 31 J NHK Yamata ? Jap, New Year Hitparade 34433 21630 1520 31 ASC NHK Ascension Jap, New Year Hitparade 22332 21600 1700 31 GUF NHK Montsinery Jap, New Year Hitparade 24222 15165 1710 31 ASC NHK Ascension Jap, New Year Hitparade 35533 15355 1720 31 GAB NHK Moyabi Jap, New Year Hitparade 25332 11880 1725 31 SLK NHK Ekala Jap, New Year Hitparade 21221 QRM RL Briech-MRC 11885. CRI Beijing Pushtu co-ch. QRM at 1500 RAI Rome in Italian co-ch. 6010 1900 31 G NHK Skelton Jap, New Year Hitparade 55555 9565 1910 31 G NHK Woofferton? Jap, New Year Hitparade 32322 QRM RRI 9570, TRT 9560 11705 NHK Sackville, Canada, always underneath other stations, like TRT and IBB Tinang/Lampertheim. 9750 from Yamata didn't propagate into Europe due of lousy condition. rx AOR AR7030, Sony ICF 2010 + 2001, Kenwood R-1000, Drake SPR-4 ant 12 metres longwire, Yaesu FRT 7700 antenna tuner (Wolfgang Büschel DF5SX, Stuttgart, Geogr. Coordinates 09.200E 48.740N, Germany, Jan 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JORDAN. 11690, R. Jordan 1500-1507+ 12/25 in English with time check for "5 PM," brief news bulletin, and ID as "Radio Jordan 96.3 FM"."UK Top 40" was presented at 1505, beginning with #40. Good with co-channel RTTY (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Drake R-8, 100- foot random wire, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Jordan was noted off the air on 11690 at 1400-1730 on Dec 29 & 30 maybe due to the same storm [as hit Israel]. It was back Dec 31 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [and non]. The Voice of the Iranian Kurdistan (radio of the Democratic Party of the Iranian Kurdistan steered since 1993 by Mustafa Hedjri and in April, 1995 by Abdullah Hassanzadeh) is audible in the morning in France on 4195 kHz from 0430 GMT. The Democratic Party of the Iranian Kurdistan had former two leaders who were murdered by the authorities of Iran. On July 13, 1989 the Dr A.R. . Ghassemlou in Vienna (Austria) and on September 17, 1992 in Berlin, the Dr Sadegh Sharafkandi with three of his companions, Fattah Abdoli (representing in Europe) and Homayoun Ardalan, representing in Germany. The DPIK was founded on August 18, 1945. The DPIK possesses a secret radio station since October 13, 1980 which diffuses since the North of Iraq (in the region of the Kurdistan). One German court accused publicly the highest dignitaries of the Iranian regime for having sponsored the murder of Sadegh Sarafkhandi and three other companions. The two responsible for the DPIK are buried in the cemetery of the Father Lachaise in Paris. The Voice of the Iranian Kurdistan (Persian = "Seda-ye Kordestan-e Iran" , Kurdish = "Ira Dangi Kurdistani Irana" was agreed the first time in 1973-1975 and again in 1980. After an absence of three months in 1995 due to rivalries between the Democratic Party of the Iranian Kurdistan and the Patriotic Union of Jalal Jalabani's Kurdistan the station is again of return since this date. In August, 1995 the Voice of the Iranian Kurdistan announced to emit in the bands of 75 and 41 metres (7300 and 4000 kHz). In past the station used a big number of frequencies situated in beaches of 7050- 7420, 4890-5080, 4630-4665, and 3870 and 3965 kHz. The Voice of the Iranian Kurdistan is jammed regularly by Iranian authorities on all frequencies. 0330-0430 in Kurd on 4195 kHz 0430-0530 in Persian on 4195 kHz 1430-1600 in Kurd on 3975 kHz 1600-1630 in Persian on 3975 kHz There is a broadcast in the afternoon which is not got here in France, probably at 1430. The temporary seat of the DPKI is in Paris. Contact : P.D.K.I, c/o A.F.K (French Association of the Kurdistan) PO Box 102, 75623 Paris, Cedex 13 Fax : 01 85 20 93 (for the foreigner to make the 33) Web site : http://www.pdk-iran.org/ (in English, German and French) Web site in French: http://www.geocities/pukfrance/pukfrance.html (Bernard Chenal, France, Jan 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 3900.0, Voice of Iraqi People, Iraqi Kurdistan, Dec 22, *1725-1855*, Opening tune, 1730 Fanfare and ID: "Huna sawt al-Shab al-Iraqi, idha'atu al Hizb al-Shuju'i al- Iraqi", political talks and same ID 1839. There was no programme in Kurdish ! 34333 4400, Voice of the People of Kurdistan, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq, Dec 22, 1412-1435, Kurdish news, ID: "Aira dangi Gelli Kurdistana", music, New frequency ex 6995, 24333 heard // 4015 from its fade in at 1430 (24222) (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Jan 1 via DXLD) ** LAOS/THAILAND/VIETNAM. 7145: These three countries are still unable to coordinate their use of this frequency! On Dec 13 & 15 I heard: 1105 Voice of Vietnam in Spanish, 35533. *1300 R National Lao in French, and *1300 Voice of Vietnam in French, and *1300 R Thailand in Malay! The Voice of Vietnam dominated this frequency here (Roland Schulze, Philippines, DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) ** LEBANON. LEBANON BANS PROGRAMME ON SAUDI ARABIA The authorities in Beirut cut the satellite service of a private TV station to prevent a programme about Saudi Arabia being aired: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/2620711.stm (via M. Fathi, Cumbre DX Jan 1 via DXLD) ** LEBANON [and non]. Below is info on Voice of Charity - Sawt al Mahabba. Hope it would be of interest. Informational activities of the VOC and future outlooks (SERGEY KOLESOV e-mails via Paul Youngs, World DX Club Contact Jan): 1 May 1997: VOC starts broadcasting daily 30 min. instructional programs on the shortwave band 9645, 11715 in direction of the Middle East. Radio Vatican provided the VOC with the means to do so through Santa Maria de Galeria. The program is broadcast at 6:30 am Rome time. Its aim is that the Word of God should reach all the Arabic Churches of the Middle East. On the 1st of September the VOC became the pioneer Lebanese radio station to start broadcasting its programs 24hrs/day live on the Internet to the whole world on the following electronic address: http://www.radiocharity.org.lb August 1997: saw the VOC dedicating its operating wavelength 107.7 to French and English programs as well as broadcasting French programs in association with the French Speaking Community of Christian Radios (Communauté française des radios chrétiennes) which emits via satellite from Paris. The VOC has concluded an accord of cooperation and exchange of experiences with regards to programs and technical advancements with Radio Maria - Italy an internationally oriented Italian station. The VOC is currently studying the possibility of broadcasting via satellite so that it may reach all the Lebanese across the world. Another of Rich D'Angelo's excellent DX Target features, on the Voice of Charity, follows later in this issue of CONTACT Magazine (Alan Roe, WDXC ed.) Viz.: DX TARGET: THE VOICE OF CHARITY "WHEN YOU NEED TO BE IN PEACE, JUST LISTEN" By Richard A. D'Angelo Located in the heart of one of the world's most troubled areas, the Voice of Charity provides an alternative for many listeners in Lebanon. The station has a major presence on FM throughout the country. Unfortunately, its shortwave broadcast transmissions are limited to relays via the facilities of Radio Vatican. Nevertheless, this relay provides an opportunity to tune another interesting DX Target. The Country Lebanon is located in the Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and Syria. It gained independence on 22 November 1943 from the League of Nations mandate under French administration. The capital city is Beirut. The country's weather is mild to cool with wet winters and hot, dry summers. The mountains in Lebanon experience heavy winter snows. The Nahr el Litani is the only major river in the region not crossing an international boundary. Rugged terrain has historically helped isolate, protect, and develop numerous factional groups based on religion, clan, and ethnicity. The country has approximately 3.7 million inhabitants. About 70% of the population are Muslim (including Shi'a, Sunni, Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite or Nusayri) and roughly 30% are Christian (including Orthodox Christian, Catholic, Protestant). Major resources include limestone, iron ore, and salt, plus a water- surplus in a water-deficit region and arable land. Major industries are banking, food processing, jewelry, cement, textiles, mineral and chemical products, wood and furniture products, oil refining and metal fabricating. The country's major export commodities include foodstuffs and tobacco, textiles, chemicals, precious stones, metal and metal products, electrical equipment and products, jewellery, paper and paper products. The 1975-1991 civil war seriously damaged Lebanon's economic infrastructure, cut national output in half, and all but ended Lebanon's position as a Middle Eastern enterprise and banking center. Peace enabled the central government to restore control in Beirut, begin collecting taxes, and regain access to key ports and government facilities. A financially sound banking system and resilient small- and medium-scale manufacturers helped the economic recovery. Banking services, manufactured and farm exports, and international aid provided the main sources of foreign exchange. Lebanon's economy made impressive gains since the launch in 1993 of "Horizon 2000," the government's $20 billion reconstruction program. During the 1990s annual inflation fell to almost 0% from more than 100%. Lebanon has rebuilt much of its war-torn physical and financial infrastructure. The government nonetheless faces serious challenges in the economic arena. It has funded reconstruction by borrowing heavily from domestic banks and the government has failed to rein in the ballooning national debt. Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding its political institutions since 1991 with the end of the devastating 16-year civil war. Under the Ta'if Accord, which is the blueprint for national reconciliation, the Lebanese have established a more equitable political system. Since the end of the war, the Lebanese have conducted several successful elections, most of the militias have been weakened or disbanded, and the Lebanese Armed Forces have extended central government authority over about two-thirds of the country. Hizballah, the radical Shi'a party, retains its weapons. Syria maintains about 20,000 troops in Lebanon based mainly in Beirut, North Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley. The Station The Voice of Charity is a Christian voice, of a cultural and social nature. The station was founded in 1984 by order of the Lebanese Missionaries or Kréimists in collaboration with the order of the Holy Spirit for Missions and a number of lay men and woman, priests, monks and nuns. The station transmits mainly in Arabic (20 hours a day), French (3 hours a day), and English (1 hour a day). There are occasional broadcasts in Armenian, Tagalog, various African dialects, Latin and Greek. The day's broadcasting begins at 0600 hours local and continues throughout the day. The station's purpose is to bring comfort by the sound and the word for the families, children, young people, patients and those, which live in loneliness and misery. The Voice of Charity aims to spread civilization and peace among the Lebanese people. Its orientation is to reach out to every person in Lebanon in an effort to build the society in the country. The station's slogan is "When you need to be in peace, just listen". The radio station's personnel consist of 15 full time staff and more than 50 volunteers. They share in the preparation and the presentation of programs with the bishops, priests and monks, all of who are members of the Christian Churches of Lebanon. The Voice of Charity's activities are supervised by the Parliament of the Patriarchs and Catholic Evêques in Lebanon. In co-operation with the Episcopal Committee for the social communications emanating from the Parliament, directed by the Congregation of Missionaries Maronites Lebanese (Kréimistes). The responsible director currently is Father Fadi Tabet. The Voice of Charity is the only radio station in Lebanon that broadcasts diversified and elaborate programs in the Arabic language. It broadcasts to Christians and non-Christians. The station has not aligned itself with any political, regional or ethnic factions in Lebanon. The Voice of Charity transmits for Lebanon and the bordering countries by means of the FM band using frequencies between 105.8 MHz to 106.2 MHz. The 105.8 MHz frequency covers Beirut, Jounieh, Jbeil and Bekaa. The 105.9 frequency covers the mountains of North Lebanon to Syria. The 106.0 MHz frequency covers Jounieh while 106.2 MHz covers the mountainous areas and South Lebanon to the Holy Lands and some areas of Syria, Iraq, Egypt and Cyprus. The station broadcasts utilizing 14 transmitters distributed dispersed throughout Lebanon. Seven of these transmitters are primary outlets covering most of the Lebanese territory, and the other 7 are secondary or repeaters for difficult to reach areas due to the mountainous nature of country. The programs of the Voice of Charity target the young and adults as well as those committed in faith and those with less commitment. The broadcasts are diversified with a theological and educational emphasis. Some of the station's programs are transmitted live which allows for the participation of listeners in sharing their experiences and enlivens program content. There are special broadcasts of events of local and international church activities. Another aspect of the programs are religious hymns and prayers. The station is a Christian radio operation focusing on human, cultural and social issues. With its array of broadcasts, it supports spiritual growth along with the teachings of the Church. The identity of the Voice of Charity was and continues to be Catholic. In May 1996, the Voice of Charity started to broadcast its Christian programs toward the Middle East by means of shortwave using the facilities of Radio Vatican. Currently, it broadcasts daily in Arabic on 11,715 kHz at 0430 to 0500 UTC via the Santa Maria di Galeria transmitter facilities of Radio Vatican. Often it is a live broadcast utilizing a satellite feed. Consequently, the station considers itself an integral part of the Church's ministering in the Middle East. The Voice of Charity is a good verifier of listener reception reports. English language reception reports accompanied with return postage (US$1.00 or 2 Inter-national Reply Coupons, will generate a friendly postal letter reply. A prepared card is helpful since the station doesn't have its own QSL cards. If an electronic reply is of interest, try sending your reception report to: email@radiocharity.org.lb Postal reception reports can be sent to: Voice of Charity, Father Fadi Tabet, Post Office Box 850, Juniyah, Lebanon (Richard A. D`Angelo, Jan World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** LIBYA [non]. Checked [English half hour reported at 2100 on 11635 via France] a couple of times here but in Arabic so may be irregular. English news has been noted regularly 1140-1145 on 21675 21695 (Mike Barraclough, England, Jan World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** MALI. 9633.36, Radio Mali 0813 Jan 2, lengthy talk in language, ID in French at 0831, African and Cuban music; // 7285.48 (Ralph Brandi, AOR AR-7030 Plus, 250-foot mini-Beverage, Tinton Falls, NJ, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** MAURITANIA. 7245, Radio Mauritania, Jan 2 0904, ID at 0905, talk by YL in Arabic intermixed with music; transmitter cutting in and out, off at 0915 (Ralph Brandi, AOR AR-7030 Plus, 250-foot mini-Beverage, Tinton Falls, NJ, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** NEPAL. R. Nepal was off the air on all SW channels: 3230, 5005, 6100 and 7165 on Dec 15 & 16 at 2315-0200 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) ** NORWAY. On 23rd December observed BBCWS in progress on 12070 via Kvitsoy at 1220 followed by Radio Denmark at 1230. On 26th December 15735 began with news in Norwegian, 1205 into BBCWS Newshour in English, 1230 Radio Denmark, 1300 news in Norwegian of Radio Norway, 1304 announcement in Norwegian for the BBCWS and Outlook programme which began at 1305, 1330 into Radio Denmark relay (Edwin Southwell, UK, World DX Club Contact via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. R. Pakistan, Islamabad has some changes in its domestic relays on shortwave: API-2 : 5915 0045-0200; 9645 0600-1115; 5965 1615-1700; 6065 1350-1400 [Balti news] and 1420-1428 [Sheena News]. API-4 : 7105 0200-0400 & 5080 [x 7105] 1300-1800 [Current Affairs]. 7105 & 5080 have been heard by Olle Alm in Sweden. I suppose there are no changes to Peshawar, Quetta and API-8 (Azad Kashmir on 4790) (Noel Green, UK, DSWCI DX Window Jan 1 via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. NY monitoring: see SOLOMON ISLANDS ** POLAND. The latest issue of Offshore Echoes has this item headed "Patron Saint of Pirate Radio": Probably the only clandestine broadcaster ever established and run by a saint: Radio Niepokalanow (Militia of the Immaculate) was set up by St. Maximillian Maria Kolbe. St. Maximilian was a Franciscan friar, head of the nonviolent Militia of the Immaculate, and amateur radio operator SP3RN. After being denied a broadcasting licence by the anti- clerical Polish government of the time, he began clandestine broadcasts over a borrowed Polish Army transmitter, broadcast from August 12th 1938 until 1939. When Poland was invaded by the Nazis in 1939, St. Maximilian was ordered to cease broadcasting. He was arrested by the Gestapo and eventually ended up in Auschwitz. Shortly after his arrival, he offered his life in place of another prisoner. He was placed in a "starvation bunker" and, after 14 days without food or water, was finally executed by lethal injection. His body was cremated in the gas ovens. He was named a Roman Catholic saint in 1982. No recordings of his broadcasts are known to have survived World War Two. The present day Radio TV Niepokalanow 2nd, a Catholic broadcasting network in Poland, considers itself the successor to this clandestine broadcaster (Jan World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** ROMANIA. Romania Actualitatsi on 1152 until 2200 with Romanian folk music, followed by chimes from a grandfather clock, the very same tape they already used two years ago. Then they opened the studio mikes for some guys yelling around like being already drunk. Brutal cut-off inmidst of the yelling, so Cluj transmitter closing down at midnight, like, is there anything particular tonight? But Tâncâbesti 855 stayed on (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Jan 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. Hello, I also preferred to stay home last night; here a few notes about my listening to Russia: Radio Rossii on 171 prior to 2100 with speech (by president Putin?), concluding with welcoming the new year and the new time, into Kremlin chimes, followed by full version of Russian anthem. Then lady announcer pouring out sparkling wine while greeting listeners (the sparkling wine could have been just a tape but it sounded like indeed done live). (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Jan 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. 6005, Adygei/Kabarda, Tbilisskoye, Dec 20, *1800-1900*, Vernacular news, orchestral music. New transmission. QRM Berlin 33333 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Jan 1 via DXLD) ** SAIPAN. NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS. KFBS audible some days opening at 1615 with English identification on 9855 (Allen Dean, UK, Jan World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA [non]. 7590, Voice of Reform, via Kvitsøy (?), Dec 21, *1859-2058*, Arabic political talk continued (from 9930) by the same man. Saudi jammer was here at least from 1857-2102*, 33443. It was silent on Dec 30. 9925, Voice of Reform, via Kvitsøy (?), Dec 30, 1940-2127*, Arabic talks. Moved from 9930 maybe to avoid QRM from Iran, and the Saudi jammer followed (of course). 23443 improving to 34443. Kvitsøy was not used at 2012 for the scheduled broadcast of NRK ! But this transmitter returned on the air at *2128 on 7490 with the NRK-programme // 9510 ! Both these frequencies continued 2130 with the ordinary R Denmark broadcast (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Jan 1 via DXLD) I also pick the Voice of Reform up on Hotbird Satellite 24 hours a day! This opposition group has a room on http://www.paltalk.com and they get listeners views via this room on PAL Talk. That is why the transmission always is having some disconnecting !!! But listeners mainly giving out their points of view against the Saudi Government. (Tarek Zeidan, Egypt, ibid.) 9930 Voice of Reform, via Kvitsøy (?), Dec 21, *1830-1857, Arabic talks mentioning Iran. Cf. 7590 ! QRM VOIRI 9935 in Arabic (QSA 4) 34333. Back here same evening from 7590 at *2059-2127* with talks continued in Arabic by the same man until cut off in mid sentence at transmitter sign off. 35333 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Jan 1 via DXLD) ** SERBIA-MONTENEGRO. On January 01, 2003, the Republic of Yugoslavia is going to change name to ``Serbia-Montenegro`` as one of the final steps of the disintegration of former President Tito`s Yugoslavia. The Republic of Serbia which includes the autonome Provinces of Kosovo in the south and Vojvodina in the north, nowadays has a total of about 10 million inhabitants, out of which 63% are Serbians, 17% Albanians and 3% Hungarians. Its capital is Beograd. The Republic of Montenegro has about 600,000 inhabitants with the capital Podgorica. Both Republics have severe democratic problems, since they had referendums during the past month, but were unable to elect new Presidents, because less than 50% of the electors showed up. On shortwave R Yugoslavia is strongly heard again via the transmitters at Bijeljina, Bosnia-Hercegovina (Anker Petersen, Ed., DSWCI DX Window Jan 1 via DXLD) So must R. Yugoslavia also change its name to R. Serbia-Montenegro?? (gh, DXLD) ** SEYCHELLES. FEBA-RADIO WILL BE CLOSING THEIR SHORT WAVE STATION This was announced in a letter to supporters, sent out by International Director John Bartlett in late December 2002: ``Over the next year programmes from the Seychelles station will be moved to other stations throughout the world. This will enable us to expand our programming base; get more ministry for our money; and reach a new audience of listeners - like those in Central Africa. This means that the Seychelles station will wind down over the coming year. We are grateful to have had this wonderful tool for ministry over the past 30 years especially as it was only intended to last 10 years! But now is the time to develop into other areas and use technologies that are more up to date. To facilitate these exciting programme developments we will be opening a new international broadcasting office in Cyprus. - Feba's ministry is expanding and who knows where our inspiring God will lead us in the future? Our vision is still to reach people with the Gospel through radio. To reach the unreached across barriers of culture, distance, geography and isolation. And to glorify God wherever we work.`` FEBA-Radio has been broadcasting from the Seychelles since the early 1970s and currently operates three 100-kW short wave transmitters to target areas from East Africa to South Asia. The station was first established for broadcasting to India but also took over the Middle Eastern activities of Radio ELWA and started broadcasting to Africa. Since the 1980s there has been increasing co-operation by Protestant missionary stations sharing each others transmitters and jointly buying time on commercial transmitters. Although in 2002 the FEBA- Radio made first use of the Al Dhabbaya short wave station in the UAE, activities do move on to medium wave and FM. In recent years FEBA- Radio also started establishing FM stations in East Africa with more to follow over the next five years (Dr Hansjoerg Biener 2 January 2003, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Previous reports mentioned increasing problem of housing development near the FEBA coastal site; is this why they give up? (gh, DXLD) 9464.97, FEBA, 0242 Dec 30 talk in language, interval signal (once) (Ralph Brandi, AOR AR-7030 Plus, 250-foot mini-Beverage, Tinton Falls, NJ, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** SIERRA LEONE. 6139.1, possibly R UNAMSIL, Dec 28, 2148, familiar Xmas music interspersed with many telephoned greetings, usually starting with the announcer saying "Hello, hello." After 2200 the music seemed to switch to African stuff, but phone calls continued. Language was accented English at least part of the time. LSB was needed to avoid het from above, although things got unexplainably noisy after 2200 even though the hetting station went off. Still there at 0600 check, battling DW-6140 (Jerry Berg, MA, DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) ** SOLOMON ISLANDS [and non]. Hi Glen[n]. First I would like to wish for a prosperous and safe New Year to you and yours. I caught some of the New Year's celebrations on shortwave this year. Here's my rundown on a few of them. The Solomon Islands on 5020 had the best on air party by far. They were rocking from 1121 tune in until 1306 with great music, phone calls from listeners, and a constant countdown. At 1155 (a little more than an hour from their midnight) they wished everyone in Kiribati well as they would celebrate next. When the time came, the countdown was followed with many shouts of ``Happy New Year`` and drawn out chants of ``It's 2003``. Of course, ``Auld Lang Syne`` was played followed by Abba's ``Happy New Year``. At 1306, the Governor General gave his 20 minute New Year's Address that was preceded and followed by ``God Save the Queen`` and the national anthem. At 1326 it was back to the party and they announced that they would be staying on till way past 0100 local (1400 UT). By then the noise floor was rising so I couldn't stay with the party. Botswana's party on 4820 was a close second. At 2151 they had an open air concert of Afropops and the announcer walked through the crowd talking to several people in Setswana. The final ten seconds were counted down in English and the crowd went wild with joy. The concert soon continued. National Radio of Papua New Guinea on 4890 was good but subdued. They had a program of island and pop music with phone calls being taken. At 1353 the Prime Minister gave a brief (like a couple of minutes) address. From 1356 there was a rising crescendo of Big Ben chimes, drum beating, and two versions of ``Auld Lang Syne``. At 1401 some crowd cheering was heard followed by the national anthem. The biggest disappointment had to be Uganda. Their showing was the absolute pits. I tuned in on both 4976 and 5026 at 2037 noting that they were both // with classical music. Then they went to a long- winded New Year's address from the president that lasted till almost 2130. Boring stuff, for sure! The sentimental favourite with me is always the BBC and the chimes of Big Ben at midnight GMT. The New Year cannot begin until I hear them. It send shivers down my spine. By the way, when I was at our local liquor store on Tuesday morning, the manager wanted to know if I was going to party hearty tonight? I said no, I'll be in bed early. I'm too old for that - besides, I started partying at 6 AM when it was New Year's in Tonga (Mark Coady, ODXA, Bridgenorth, ON, Jan 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SRI LANKA. TAMIL REBELS TO EXTEND RADIO BROADCASTS | Text of report by the TamilNet web site on 1 January Voice of Tigers (VoT) announced in its daily nightly broadcast today that it will increase its broadcast time and distance from 16 January marking the 10th memorial anniversary of Colonel Kittu, said sources in Vanni. Colonel Kittu was known for his relentless efforts to implement the vision of leader Pirpaharan to expand the quality and reach of Tamil media reflecting the struggle of Tamil people, VoT said. It is a fitting testimony to Kittu's efforts to introduce a significant milestone on LTTE's media operations to celebrate his memorial day, VoT added. ``It is disheartening to witness orchestrated opposition by the chauvinistic elements in the south to the import of broadcast equipment by LTTE,`` said S.P. Thamilchelvan to the VoT technicians in a ceremony held to open a new VoT building in Vanni. ``We have been working on importing new broadcast equipment for VoT for the past several years. Current peace climate has made this possible now. ``We regard the new equipment as very essential in this climate of peace. It is our cardinal duty to inform Tamil people on all issues affecting the current peace talks so that Tamil people can express their opinions on matters affecting them. ``Recent efforts by the People Alliance (PA) and other extremists to draw the Norwegian government into this matter, condemning the involvement of the Norwegian government and creating a controversy over this can only be viewed as an ill-conceived attempt to sabotage the peace process,`` Thamilchelvan added. VoT is broadcast on waveband FM 98 [MHz], sources said. Source: TamilNet web site in English 1 Jan 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) VOICE OF TIGERS TO EXPAND NEXT WEEK Voice of Tigers (VoT), the radio station of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), has announced that in a news bulletin that its broadcasting hours and coverage area will increase from 16 January. That date marks the 10th anniversary of the death of a senior LTTE commander, who was killed when the Indian Navy surrounded the arms ship he was aboard. The expansion follows the controversial decision by the Sri Lankan government to permit the import of new equipment for VoT, and to issue it with a licence to operate and maintain an FM transmitter in Kilinochchi. The Sinhala National Front has filed a writ application in the Colombo Court of Appeal seeking the nullification of the licence. The petition says the granting of the licence is a clear violation of the normal and accepted procedure, and therefore the Appeal Court should order its annulment. Chief of the LTTE's political wing, S P Thamilselvan was quoted by VoT as saying that the new transmission equipment was essential to inform the Tamil people on all issues affecting the current peace talks. ''We regard the recent efforts by the People's Alliance and others to draw the Norwegian government into this matter, condemning the involvement of the Norwegian government as an ill conceived attempt to sabotage the peace process,'' he said (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 2 January 2003 via DXLD) ** SYRIA [non]. 7470 very strong at 1600 December 31st, 12085 weak under buzzy carrier (Mike Barraclough, UK, World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** TAIWAN. CLANDESTINE --- 8300, New Star Broadcasting Station, *1400- 1419* Jan 1. Presumed with usual s/on and YL numbers routine, all in Chinese. Heard a couple of other times this week, no parallels noted (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Drake R-8, 100-foot random wire, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** THAILAND. See LAOS ** TURKEY. 6900, Turkish Meteorological Radio still active, heard December 17th 1550-1643, nonstop music, sign off with no announcements. Fair though often open carrier on channel (Mike Barraclough, England, World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** UGANDA. NY monitoring: see SOLOMON ISLANDS ** UKRAINE. Glenn, I was listening at the same time [0407 Jan 1] and had rather good signals on both 7375 and 7420 in English. Considering the poor propagation right now, I am not surprised that even the Mykolaiv megawatter failed to penetrate the auroral belt to North America (Olle Alm, Sweden, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UKRAINE. Glenn, Happy New Year. Here is a quick check of R. Ukraine Int English sked. All are January 1, 2003. 0100 7375 S9 to S9 +44 dB. QRM moderate from jammer on and around 7375. 9610 not heard. 0115, 0130, 0145 and 0200 same as 0100. 0400 7375 S6 to S9 +27 dB. Jammer slight to moderate on and around 7375. 7420 not heard. Severe QRM on 7420 from WEWN on 7425. 0415 7375 same as 0400. 0430 7375 S8 to S9 +27 dB. QRM slight from VOA on 7370 and slight to moderate from jammer on and around 7370. 7420 same as 0400. 0445 7375 S9 to S9 +37 dB. No QRM detected. 7420 same as 0400. 0456 7375 same ast 0445. 7420 same as 0400. Both the 01 and 04 UT broadcasts were also well received on a Sony ICF-SW7600G portable receiver using the built in antenna. 1200 17760 not heard. QRM severe from DW on 17765. 1215, 1230, 1245 and 1255 same as 1200. Will check the 2200 UT EE broadcast later today. 73, (-.. . Kraig Krist, KG4LAC, VA, Jan 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. RADIO WAVES: ANNUS MIRABILIS From The Times, December 29, 2002, By Paul Donovan: Four days ago, the Queen gave her annual message to Britain and the Commonwealth. How many people realised this was the 70th anniversary of the monarch's Christmas broadcast? If ever there were a documentary crying out to be made, rich in archive and anecdote, and chronicling a changing nation, it was this. But there was nothing. Months ago, I suggested to Buckingham Palace and the BBC that they ought to mark the birthday in some way, but there was no interest. It would have created both a good programme and good PR for the royals - who desperately need it in the wake of the Paul Burrell trial. That apart, 2002 has been a veritable feast of anniversaries: 10 years of Classic FM, Britain's first national commercial radio station, which has grown so much in its first decade that it has just launched a classical version of MTV; 25 of The News Quiz and File on 4; 30 of I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue; 35 of Just a Minute; 50 of the BBC Concert Orchestra; 60 of Desert Island Discs; 70 of the BBC World Service; and 80 of the BBC itself. Most of these events spawned festive shows or concerts. In addition, Radio 4 offered extensive and admirably balanced coverage of the golden jubilee, much enhanced by the subtly nuanced Nicholas Witchell, who always manages to set the right tone (unlike Radio 1's Sara Cox, who remarked of the late Queen Mother last year: ``She smells of wee, but we all love her``). However, the programmes marking the 20th anniversary of the Falklands war were un-revealing and lacked impact. Radio 1's chart show was overtaken in the ratings by the rival Pepsi chart, which may explain why its longtime presenter, Mark Goodier, left Radio 1 shortly afterwards (and starts on the more sedate Classic FM this week). Radio 2 nurtured an increasingly confident host in the attractive shape of the soul singer Mica Paris, and made many polished music documentaries. It was tarnished by the maladroit manner in which it axed Sir Jimmy Young, who, when he returned for his final fortnight, was so sharp, he sounded as if he had never been away. Radio 3, shamefully, killed off The Brains Trust, but mounted its first world-music awards. Radio 4 was the most popular station in London for the first time, and broadcast, among many other things, what was thought to be the first programme on grouse-shooting. Radio Five Live scored with its World Cup coverage - and saw off its short-lived sports rival TEAMtalk, formerly Atlantic 252. But minority sports continue to be overlooked, and all sport is undercooked on Radio 4, in a way that it never was when Cliff Morgan was on the air. The year's uniqueness, of course, lay in the launch of five new national stations. The frustration lay, and continues to lie, in the dearth of digital radio sets on which to listen to them. Digital technology continues to make radio evolve: online use of the BBC World Service has grown phenomenally this year, and dozens of BBC radio shows are now available on the internet for a week after they first go out, a service thousands of people are now making use of (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U K. BBC SEES NEW YEAR IN WITHOUT A BONG From The Times, January 01, 2003, By Laura Peek LISTENERS across Britain who tuned in to BBC Radio 4 last night to see in the new year to the sound of Big Ben were left with nothing but dead air. The sound of silence lasted for 30 seconds - an eternity in radio - before a continuity presenter came on air and apologised for the mistake. He then introduced the midnight news. A senior member of the Radio 4 news team said: ``Obviously there was a major technical mistake. It is the last thing we wanted to happen. It is a nightmare on radio to have dead air time. ``It is every producer's nightmare. In television if the sound goes down you still have pictures but in radio you have nothing. Everyone was horrified. We have no idea what happened but obviously there was a major technical hitch. It is all very embarrassing.`` A live microphone is rigged to Big Ben to transmit the chimes. It is a tradition in households across Britain to turn on the radio to hear Big Ben strike the new year (via Mike Terry, DXLD) Fortunately we were listening to BBCWS on SW 12095 where the chimes aired unhindered (gh, DXLD) ** U K [non]. Laser Radio is now broadcasting every Sunday 1800-2300 on [Latvia] 5935, first hour of the broadcast is a media programme. (Edwin Southwell, Mike Barraclough, Jan World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** U K. PROTESTS STEPPED UP OVER 'SATELLITE TAX' ON BROADCASTERS From The Times December 30, 2002, By Raymond Snoddy, Media Editor OPPONENTS of a government plan to impose new fees on satellite broadcasters and equipment manufacturers are to step up their efforts to see the so-called ``satellite tax`` abandoned. The Government is planning to introduce the new charge as part of the Communications Bill that is passing though Parliament at present and will come under close scrutiny in the new year. SES, the Luxembourg-based satellite company that runs the Astra television satellite system, fears that if the charge is applied to all its satellite capacity, the bill could amount to £24 million a year. The levy would ultimately be passed on to satellite television viewers in the UK and this worries broadcasters, who fear that any increased costs could deter consumers from taking their services. The issue has united satellite broadcasters and electronics companies. In addition, the Commons Trade and Industry Select Committee has opposed the new levy. The committee said that it was difficult to disagree with the description of the concept as ``a protection racket``. The charge arises as a result of government efforts to manage the broadcasting airwaves more efficiently. The Recognised Spectrum Access (RSA) initiative is designed to guarantee that broadcasts from satellites to viewers in the UK are free of interference. Critics say that the Radiocommunications Agency, the body responsible for the spectrum, already has an obligation under international agreements to carry out such work. They add that the risk of interference, in any case, is low. Mike Chandler, managing director of Astra in the UK, said that the charge would run counter to the Government's hopes of switching off analog television broadcasts by 2010. ``Any additional costs imposed on the satellite industry will do nothing to encourage digital take- up,`` he said. Apart from satellite operators and broadcasters such as BSkyB - in which The News Corporation, parent company of The Times, has a 36.3 per cent stake - the RSA charge is also being opposed by Intellect, the body representing more than 1,000 companies in the IT, telecommunications and electronics industries (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U S A. From FCC: Tuesday December 24, 2002 Report IHF-00039 Modification Allan H Weiner WBCQ IHF-MOD-20020806-00003 P --- MODIFICATION TO LICENSE (IHF-LIC-20010202-00001) TO ADD ANOTHER TRANSMITTER AND ANTENNA. Renewal Good News World Outreach WRNO IHF-RWL-20020702-00005 P Renewal Eternal Word Television Network Inc WEWN IHF-RWL-20020708-00004 P (via Benn Kobb, DXLD) ** U S A. WWRB registered 1300-2300 on 9320 12172 and 2300-0600 on 5050 5085 6890 (FCC database via Mike Barraclough, Jan World DX Club Contact) ** U S A. VOA Cantonese currently runs 1300-1400 and 1500-1600 GMT. Beginning January 6, the 1500-1600 broadcast will be deleted. A new hour at 1400-1500 will be added. The schedule will be 1300-1500 GMT on 9705, 11865, 15160 kHz. During 1330-1500 it will also be on 1143 kHz MW (Dan Ferguson, IBB, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Subject: using journalists to spin the news STRETCHING THE TRUTH TO CONFUSE THE ENEMY - AND US, By Pat M. Holt January 02, 2003 edition of the Christian Science Monitor: WASHINGTON - There is a debate going on in the upper ranks of the government over how this country ought to present its image abroad. This particular debate has gone back and forth ever since the days of the Voice of America (VOA) in World War II. On the one hand is the school that says: Present a full and fair picture, the blemishes along with the bright spots. On the other hand is the school that argues: Don't say anything negative. (snip) The full and fair picture, which the VOA has followed most of the time, is flexible enough for most days; but some days the White House - or Defense or State - wants to make a point so badly that it is tempted to stretch the truth or even (here comes the dangerous part) to make it up. This happened in the cold war, and it could happen again in the war on terror if we are not careful. For example: During various periods, the CIA paid foreign journalists to write editorials or to slant news stories for prominent foreign newspapers or magazines. Among other matters, these articles promoted anticommunist labor unions in France and the Christian democratic political parties in Italy and Chile. This sometimes gave rise to what is called ``blowback`` - a story inspired by the CIA in a foreign newspaper and then picked up by an American news service as an example of foreign public opinion. An even more egregious example of US government manipulation of opinion arose in Libya. The Reagan administration identified Libyan agents as having bombed a West Berlin nightclub in April 1986, killing two US servicemen. Later that month, US Navy planes bombed Libya in retaliation. In addition, President Reagan called for a disinformation campaign designed to increase pressure on the Libyan Army, which in turn, it was hoped, would be driven to overthrow Libyan dictator Gen. Muammar Qaddafi. Somewhat later, the Reagan administration leaked to The Wall Street Journal that the White House was completing plans for ``a new and larger bombing of Libya.`` A story was published on Aug. 25, 1986. The White House called the story authoritative, but as more questions were asked, it turned out to have been made up. Worse, neither the president nor then-Secretary of State George Shultz was at least remorseful. (snip) full story at: http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0102/p09s02-coop.html (via Deborah Jones, CAJ-list via Ricky Leong, DXLD) ** U S A [non]. RICHARD LOWIS writes: ``I found the item on WW2 propaganda stations very interesting, it brought back the memory of a station I heard probably in the 1960s very late one night. The station was broadcasting in (American) English, and the guy at the end of the microphone was using the pseudonym Professor LOBO. The broadcast consisting of modern pop music and messages to soldiers I believe this would be during the Vietnam war. The person reading the messages was a very sexy sounding oriental speaking female, and such messages as 'This is for Johnny from Utah, we are sorry Johnny but your wife left you for a guy from the next street, she says she is sorry and sends her regards.`` This programme went on for about 1 hour, playing what I believe were phoney requests and reading false messages. I remember requesting a QSL card for this broadcast, and think it was a transmission from Radio Berlin International, I no longer have my 60s QSL cards, but I am sure I received a confirmation. Does that information fit in with anything anyone else heard around that time, and can anyone else remember such broadcasts? `` //MIKE BARRACLOUGH replies ``Was this on medium wave or shortwave Richard. I remember hearing Radio Berlin International transmitters on medium wave late evenings with a programme for American forces in Germany with an American accented announcer playing jazz records, can anyone remember the name of the station, it did not announce as Radio Berlin International despite using the same transmitter. There were broadcasts to US forces in Vietnam from Hanoi and some recordings of them can be found at http://www.earthstation1.com/Hanoi_Hannah_Radio_Hanoi.html Transcripts are: ``How are you GI Joe? It seems to me that most of you are poorly informed about the going of the war to say nothing about a correct explanation of your presence here. Nothing is more confused than to be ordered into a war to die or be maimed for life without the faintest idea of whats going on. Isn't it clear that the warmakers are gambling with your lives while pocketing huge profits`` and ``You are new here and we don't expect you to believe us when we tell you how bad it is. It is a flat scary jungle thick with scrub trees and tall grass, hot and wet in intermittent rain and strong tropical dragonflies and Vietcong sniper bullets. You are a long long way from Fort Riley now and there is no jersey(?) coffee in town on Washington Street where you can sit around on counters eating hamburgers and sipping coffee without having to be afraid a bomb might go off like it did at that restaurant in Saigon a few weeks back. You can get killed here, get out while you are still alive and before it's too late.`` (Jam World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** U S A. KID'S DAY IS JANUARY 4! The next Kid's Day is Saturday, January 4, 2003, at 1800-2400 UT. The twice-annual event, held in January and June, is a chance for amateurs to invest in the future of Amateur Radio by participating in a simple, but rewarding, Amateur Radio event. Now entering its ninth year, Kid's Day typically attracts more than 1000 participants for each running. Kid's Day is intended to encourage young people --- licensed or not -- - to enjoy Amateur Radio. It gives youngsters on-the-air experience so they might develop an interest in pursuing a license in the future. It's also intended to give hams a chance to share their station with their children. Activity for Kid's Day http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/kd-rules.html takes place on 20, 15 and 10 meters --- and perhaps on local 2-meter repeaters. It's an opportunity to introduce youngsters to the magic of ham radio and perhaps spark a lifelong love for the hobby. The suggested exchange for Kid's Day is first name, age, location and favorite color. You are encouraged to work the same station again if an operator has changed. Call ``CQ Kid's Day.`` Suggested frequencies are 14,270 to 14,300, 21,380 to 21,400 and 28,350 to 28,400 kHz, and 2-meter repeater frequencies with permission from your area repeater sponsor. All participants are eligible to receive a colorful certificate. Visit the ARRL Kid's Day Survey page http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/kids-day-survey.html to complete a short survey and post your comments. You will then have access to download the certificate page or send a 9x12 SASE to Boring Amateur Radio Club, PO Box 1357, Boring, OR 97009. Originated by the Boring Amateur Radio Club, Kid's Day now is sponsored an d administered by the ARRL with the cooperation and assistance of the BARC (ARRL Letter Dec 27 via DXLD) ** U S A. [ham-hist] EX HAM OPERATOR/HACKER TO RETURN TO INTERNET WASHINGTON -- A man the federal government once labeled ``the most wanted computer criminal in U.S. history`` has won a long fight to renew his ham radio license and next month can resume surfing the Internet. Kevin Mitnick, 39, of Thousand Oaks, California, served five years in federal prison for stealing software and altering data at Motorola, Novell, Nokia, Sun Microsystems and the University of Southern California. Prosecutors accused him of causing tens of millions of dollars in damage to corporate computer networks. Mitnick was freed in January 2000. The terms of his probation which expire January 20, require him to get government permission before using computers, software, modems or any devices that connect to the Internet. This travel and employment also are limited. Mitnick has been allowed to use a cell phone for a couple of years and received permission this year to type a manuscript on a computer not connected to the Internet. ``Not being allowed to use the Internet is kind of like not being allowed to use a telephone,`` Mitnick said Thursday. Mitnick said he is starting a firm to help companies protect themselves from computer attacks. David Ho, Associated Press (Ham-Radio-History@YahooGroups.com via Horacio Nigro-Uruguay, Dec 27) ** U S A. Report for your next DX Listening Digest: just one thing, hope the tests are soon over and no more IBOC will be allowed by the FCC afterwards... I have too some comments on this drastic and ``impossible`` change which may be made. By reading a September issue of the DX Listening Digest, I found out the real truth: stations and group directors do not really care about listenerships, ethnic/religious, etc... but only about having more and more money. No, nope; I don't know what a 15 years guy may do with this, but if for example WABC-770 use IBOC, then it would be THEORETICALLY impossible to hear RCN Colombia on 760 from Barranquilla which is sometimes excellent here in the Montreal area, despite my equipment. Also, if IBOC is used on FM, you can forget about e-skip. I have 2 QSL's of stations on 93.3 (KIOA in Des Moines, IA) and KKNG (in OK), which would be hammered completely by CBC-2. Further, e-skipers may hammer each other; you can hear hash on 90.7 from 90.9, even tough you don't have a local on either frequency; I think the FCC should THINK, before authorising definitively this. I do not want to lose my hobby just because of a money question. Radio is hearing voices at a distance, not just hearing your neighborhoods a block away. And, despite this few broadcasters carry on their fringe area listeners. Save the AM: well what makes AM superior to FM (during the fall and winter mostly) is the nighttime skywave and the extended groundwave that occurs during the day-light hours (the same way tropo occurs on FM, occasionally). Well, with these 2 characteristics gone, AM will be much less listened, especially by listeners in a fringe area. If the radio moved to UHF, then we could easily hear foreign countries or west coast states/provinces on 2Es without having QRM from single- hop stations, and trans-Pacific DX would be possible from the East Coast, at dawn, on AM. There has been some talk about an Eureka system; it should be used, it would be much better than to ``save`` the AM band which doesn't need to be saved if all we like to do is having local targeting. UHF is much better, even for the fringe areas. There is much more space I would like to post this comments on a site about IBOC, I hope the lawer [?] would not authorize IBOC, That's it for now!, 73, good DX and hope everyone have a happy New Year's Day (Bogdan Alexandru Chiochiu, QC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. I couldn't let this pass. ``Your Tax Dollars At Work``. From the people that backed the Telecommunications Act of 1996, DTV, IBOC, and coming in 2003 the ability of one person to own every media in your community .... it's ``RESOLUTIONS``. http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-227340A1.pdf NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS FOR TELECOM CONSUMERS Washington, DC – The FCC’s Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB) has some suggestions for New Year’s Resolutions to help telecom consumers in 2003. 1. I will check my telephone bill carefully every month to be sure I have not been slammed http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/slamming.html or crammed http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/cramming.html 2. I will investigate whether a pre-paid calling card could save me money on my longdistance calls http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/prepaidcards.html 3. When signing up for wireless phone service, I will read the contract thoroughly, insist that I be given a period of time to test the phone and service before being tied to a long-term contract, and educate myself on wireless service in general http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/wirelessphone.pdf 4. I will learn about the nationwide conversion to digital television, the most important change in television since the introduction of color. I will learn how it will affect my television broadcast service, and what steps I must take myself to receive TV programming after the conversion is complete. http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/digitaltv.html 5. I will familiarize myself with the rules about telemarketing calls, including when the calls are allowed, the information the caller must give, how to get on the caller’s do-not-call list, and what I can do if the calls continue http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/tcpa.html These are just a few suggestions to get you started. CGB has much more information for consumers on the web site http://www.fcc.gov/cgb In addition, you can call CGB’s Consumer Centers with inquiries or complaints at 1-888-225-5322 (CALL FCC) voice; 1-888-835-5322 (TELL FCC) TTY. Both numbers are toll-free. - FCC - (via Fred Vobbe, NRC-AM via DXLD) Yes, master.... (gh) ** UZBEKISTAN. 9715, R. Tashkent *1330-1358* Jan 1 in English with news and features, mostly about New Year's celebrations in Uzbekistan. English end at 1358. Good signal // 5975 also good with co-channel QRM. Think 5060 and 6025 were also // but too much band noise to tell (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Drake R-8, 100-foot random wire, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. 4830. R. Táchira is still active, but irregular. 4980, Ecos del Torbes has not been heard here for many weeks now. (Rafael Rodríguez, Colombia, Dec 19, DSWCI DX Window Jan 1 via DXLD) ** VIETNAM. See LAOS ** YUGOSLAVIA. See SERBIA-MONTENEGRO ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RECEIVER NEWS +++++++++++++ GRUNDIG TO BE SOLD TO TAIWAN FIRM? Reports from Germany indicate that the sale of German consumer electronics company Grundig is likely to be concluded before the end of January. The reports quote comments made on Bayerischer Rundfunk by Anton Kathrein, who owns 89% of shares in the company. Kathrein declined to name the buyer, but informed sources say it's the Taiwan firm Sampo Technology. Grundig is one of the world's major suppliers of shortwave receivers. (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 2 January 2003 via DXLD) Most Grundig SW receivers have been manufactured in one China or the other for years now, anyway (gh, DXLD) ###