DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-004, January 7, 2003
        edited by Glenn Hauser, ghauser@hotmail.com

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For restrixions and searchable 2003 contents archive see
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For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see
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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:
WRN ONDEMAND: http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html
[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 

RFPI: Wed 0100, 0700, 1300 7445 and/or 15039 
WJIE: M-F 1300, daily 0400 -- maybe; Sun 0630, Mon 0700, Tue 0630 7490
WWCR: Wed 1030 9475

WORLD OF RADIO 1164 first airings:
Wed 2300 on WBCQ 7415, 17495-CUSB
Thu 2130 on WWCR 9475
Fri 1930 on RFPI 15039

UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL

Enclosed is a donation in support of your fine efforts and the online 
DXLD. It adds so much to my enjoyment of the hobby and broadcasting in 
general (Brock Whaley, GA, Jan 1) Thank you!

BE IN STYLE (more)

A few more items of DXLD style, not covered in the previous piece, 
which I reëmphasize is a only wish-list by your editor, and entirely 
optional. I do not throw out material which doesn`t match. But a 
little help from you will make what I do more efficient, and make your 
material more readable in the end, not only here but wherever else you 
may send it!

These guidelines will be available (and added to as needed) at 
http://www.worldofradio.com/dxstyle.html

URLs: some programs can handle this and some not, so to be safe, do 
not put any punxuation, such as commas, periods, parentheses, next to 
URLs. Always put in the http:// at the start to ensure it will convert 
to a hotlink. It may look strange if there is no period when an URL 
comes at the end of a sentence, but it`s worth it. Unless an item ends 
with a parenthetical remark before the parenthetical credit line, I 
think it looks better to omit the final period (like this)

Country names: I realize that DXLD has a different way of doing this 
than many other publications, but following our system would be 
appreciated, e.g. KOREA NORTH, not NORTH KOREA nor PDR KOREA; CONGO 
DR, not DR CONGO [and don`t confuse with the other plain old CONGO]; 
you can see how we do it, and how [non] goes after the country if it 
is a broadcast to rather than from a country, a clandestine, relayed 
elsewhere, etc. Country name headers are always in English and without 
accents upon them, in order not to confuse searching.

Not only do we not use ITU country abbrs. in headings, we detest them 
in the body, and in the credit line --- another thing to spell out 
unless really necessary in a table with limited spaces. In credit 
line, when giving your state, province or country, do not connect to 
your name with a hyphen, but comma, space. US and Canadian postal 
abbreviations are preferred; spell out other countries.

If you have a program detail or title that is non-generic, specify the 
day of the week along with the date.

Do not use // to indicate a parallel frequency. Some programs convert 
this symbol, for unknown reasons, to ``file``. Try the backslashes \\ 
instead and leave a space before and after. Tabs are to be avoided, 
since they often display incorrectly. If you have something in 
columns, the proper number of individual spaces should be between 
them.

Tho gh once constructed a 2-letter language abbr. system, including EG 
for English, we prefer to spell out these words here. Words, 
abbreviated or not, such as announcement, announcer, mention, man, 
woman can often be omitted with no real loss of useful info. You`ll 
notice in this very piece we avoid cluttering with quotation marks, 
but they should be used where specifying a direct quotation is 
important.

Spaces: one space, not two, please, after a period before the next 
sentence starts. Do not indent paragraphs, but leave a line between 
them. BTW, DXLD has 70-space lines, exceeded only by long URLs, but as 
it`s prepared originally in MS Word, we can adjust this. However, if 
your text has hard returns at much less or more than 70, it takes a 
lot of our time to reformat. 

Headline, if the item has one, should be in all-caps. It`s amazing 
that most professional news sources do not do this, but with text-only 
DXLD, lacking bold, italic, underlining, we need this way to set them 
off.

Another symbol to avoid using is @ when you really want to say the 
word at, as in before a time. Why bother to shift for one symbol when 
you can type two letters without shifting??? If you have a sequence of 
program items heard at specific times, they are easier to follow if 
you always give each time first, and then what was heard at that time. 
Then you won`t even need to say at. 

If you are forwarding something and can disable the string of arrows 
at the left, please do so. We just have to remove them. These symbols 
should also be avoided as they convert to other symbols without 
warning. Don`t use them for emphasis, or to point something out. We 
sometimes replace them with ||. And arrows are not needed around URLs.

You will certainly notice that these style standards are not always 
met. I let some things pass to save time, and make my own mistakes: 
even a comma splice in last issue, fixed later by removing a verb. Not 
only English, but some Spanish and German writers do this a lot, 
making me wonder if this be acceptable in those languages. Seems to me 
the same logic against it as in English should apply. Thanks (Glenn)

** AFGHANISTAN. RADIO STATION BEGINS BROADCAST IN AFGHAN CAPITAL  
   
07 January 2003
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/southasia/view/29020/1/.html

A radio station has been set up in the Afghan capital of Kabul, where 
only military radios and those used by foreign media once ruled. It 
has been more than a year since the Taliban regime in Afghanistan was
ousted.

In Kabul, the voice of Afghanistan's first free journalist was heard 
in a programme called 'Good Morning Afghanistan'. In just a few 
months, the radio station has become the most listened to, as
more than 20 journalists are involved in daily reporting.

The reporters from 'Good Morning Afghanistan' have seen it all.

Their first studio was built around a kitchen table, and the technical
material was installed in less than a week by experts who were funded 
as part of a European Union programme. It is to underline the humanist 
aspect that the European Union has created a free radio for the Afghan 
people.

But what were the women doing before September 11? At the time, hidden 
under their burkas, they would never have imagined that one day, they 
would be doing radio reports and speaking openly.

Sharifa Zormaty-Ward, Journalist of 'Good Morning Afghanistan', said:
"You've already forgotten the period of the Taliban. To be seen in a 
car with foreigners and to be filmed by them, they would have killed 
us, and they would have cut off your nose and ears." 'Good Morning 
Afghanistan' is broadcast every morning, between 6 am 7 am. 

On August 26, due to public demand, the director of the station came 
up with a sister program 'Good Evening Afghanistan' from 6 pm to 7.30 
pm.

Barry Salaam said: "It's a new radio station in Afghanistan. There is 
good information and fresh news every day and evening. Good morning 
and good evening." (via Mike Terry, Jan 7, DXLD)

I`m not sure the preceding story is anything new; does it refer to the 
service occasionally sent back on SW? The following about R. Azadi 
apparently does not refer to the US` R. Free Afghanistan service of 
the same name, nor to the defunct service to Iran of the same name... 
(gh, DXLD)

INDEPENDENT AFGHAN RADIO STATION TO EXTEND COVERAGE TO WHOLE COUNTRY
Hoover's,  January 6, 2003
From http://www.afgha.com/?af=article&sid=28776

Radio Azadi [Liberty] has lately started its broadcasts on different
frequencies. It has won the favour of the audience in such a short 
time with  its interesting broadcasts. In an interview we asked 
Sidiqollah Sahel, the editor of Radio Azadi, about the programmes of 
that radio and his comments are as follows:

Radio Azadi is financed by ISAF [International Security Assistance 
Force]. It was inaugurated in a ceremony by Sayd Makhdum Rahin, 
information and culture minister, and Akin Zorlu, the general 
commander of international peacekeeper forces, on 4 August 2002. As we 
can see from its name, this radio has once again liberated Afghans 
from restrictions. Its programmes, which are produced according to 
people's wishes, are broadcast round the clock.

With reference to the programmes of Radio Azadi, respected Sahel said: 
Our programmes include news, reportages, commentaries, Greetings [a
programme], and different eastern and western music according to the 
taste of all citizens. Programmes are prepared and produced with the 
coordination of German and Afghan journalists. Elaborating the 
assistance of Germany in setting up that radio, Mr Sahel said: As it 
is clear to everyone, our friendly country Germany of has always 
wanted to assist Afghan people and their relations with us go far back 
in history. They want to assist us in social, economic, cultural and 
other aspects and their humanitarian assistance has been visible in 
different spheres.

Esteemed Sidiqollah Sahel continued: The staff of Radio Azadi consist 
of skilled and experienced journalists, presenters and authors, who 
have an ambition to create entertaining, informational, scientific, 
economic, etc., programmes to meet the demands of the people. Radio 
Azadi is an independent radio, free of any sort of political and 
governmental interference. All its broadcasts, which are free of any 
personal influence, are realistic and its reports reflect the reality 
of the shattered Afghan society. Regarding their future plans about 
the enhancement of their countrywide programmes, he said:

We are expecting to install some new antennas and a repeater station 
to expand the broadcasts of Radio Azadi and they will cover the whole
country. Our broadcasts only cover Kabul city at the moment and our 
audience can only receive our programmes in Kabul on frequencies of 
88.5 MHz FM.

About their future plans for improving the quality of the programmes 
of Radio Azadi, esteemed Sahel said: According to the observations and 
the incoming cards and letters from our audiences we can say that the 
number of our audience has multiplied. It reveals that our programmes 
are interesting for our audience. We welcome the constructive 
suggestions, ideas, and criticism, which will help enhance the 
programmes of Radio Azadi and we will utilize them to improve our 
broadcasts. Source: Anis, Kabul, in Dari 4 Jan 03 (via Mike Terry, 
DXLD)

** AFGHANISTAN. "AFGHAN RADIO STATION CALLS FOR JIHAD" 

A report by the Pakistan-based News Network International (NNI) says 
that "anti American elements" in the Pakita province of eastern 
Afghanistan have set up a radio station and are calling for a Holy War 
(Jihad) against America and the provisional government of Hamid 
Karzai. According to a source who asked to remain anonymous, US-led 
allied troops have been trying to locate the station and apprehend 
those responsible, but have failed so far. The troops are said to have 
requested "sophisticated intelligence equipment" to help find the 
station. One of its announcements says "Hamid Karzai is just a puppet 
in the hands of Americans and the governance in Afghanistan is non-
Islamic. Therefore Jihad is the obligation of all Muslims, especially 
those living in Afghanistan. Get up and organize yourself in the name 
of Allah to protect your country from the hands of non-Muslims."
(© Radio Netherlands Media Network 6 January 2003 via DXLD) WTFK???

** ARGENTINA. RHC has not been on 11705-USB for a couple of months, 
English to NAm 0100-, so a great chance to hear RAE English weekdays 
0200-0300 on 11710 (Bob Thomas, CT, Jan 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** AUSTRALIA. Hello Glenn, HCJB Kununurra logged in Sweden. I logged 
HCJB Kununurra on 11755 on the 5th of January at 0955-1025 despite 
Radio Finland with 500 kW about 300 km away. It was made at a DX-camp 
in Delsbo, Central Sweden, about 300 km north of my town of Västerås. 
Antenna used: beverage 500 m, 285 deg. 73 de (Lennart Weirell, 
Västerås, Sweden, DX LISTENING DIGEST) What was the I in SIO?

11755, 5 Jan at 1000, HCJB Kununurra Australia with ``Sunday Night 
Alive`` Regards, (Lennart Weirell, Västerås, Sweden, EDXP via DXLD)

11755, not sure which site as no ID, but decent level at 1040 as I 
await one (Hans Johnson, Rio Hondo, Texas, Jan 6, Cumbre DX via DXLD)

Dear Mr Gupta, I greatly appreciate your comprehensive report and the 
fwding of various other reports and comments. The transmitter was 
running with 13 kw only as we are still in the testing phase. It is 
most interesting you were able to hear the signal in India off the 
back of our antenna. I have requested our studio people email you the 
program schedule. Our team of people in Kununurra are finalising the 
India antenna to commence transmission on the 12th January. I will 
keep you informed. Thank you again for your very valuable assistance. 
Best wishes (Ian Williams, Frequency Manager, HCJB Australia via 
Alokesh Gupta, India, Jan 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

Local morning [0700 - 1200] propagation from Australia is currently 
poor most days, but today [Jan. 7] there is speech on 11755 in English 
at 1000 under a strong Finland. It's only audible in quiet periods and 
impossible to copy, but - not knowing of any other station using this 
frequency at this time - I assume it is coming from HCJB Australia. 
Shepparton 11880 is also well audible today, despite strong side-
splash. When via Ecuador, HCJB on 11755 often caused co-channel QRM to 
FNL - especially in the winter period. 73s (Noel R. Green [Blackpool - 
NW England, Jan 7, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD)

** AUSTRALIA. CHRISTIAN RADIO STATION BROADCASTS TO PACIFIC
   Monday, January 6, 2003. Posted: 08:40:22 (AEDT)

A Christian radio station has achieved a five-year goal to broadcast 
overseas from its base in the Kimberley. The group, Heralding Christ 
Jesus Blessings, went to air for the first time yesterday, 
broadcasting to islands in the South Pacific from its property near 
Kununurra.

The station has faced considerable local opposition to its plans to 
broadcast Christian and other programs into Asia but last year it won 
an appeal against the local shire's rejection of its plans. Manager 
Mike Moore says within weeks the station will expand its reach to 
India. 

"Certainly there will be people that still don't want us to be on air, 
but on the whole we believe that people have accepted us and certainly 
as far as the church community, they've been very, very supportive and 
there's a lot of other people in the community that have been very 
supportive as well," Mr Moore said. (ABC News Online Jan 6 via Artie 
Bigley, DXLD) Rather lacking in detail. What was the basis for the 
local shire`s rejexion?

** AUSTRIA. 17895, Radio Afrika International via Moosbrunn, 1543-1558 
Jan 3 with continuous up-beat dance music in vernaculars, with several 
noted IDs in French. Signal blocked by the Voice of America sign-on at 
1558 in English (Edward Kusalik, Alberta, Jan 6, Cumbre DX via DXLD)

** BELARUS`. Good signal on reactivated 6115 this morning, same 
programme as 279 and 6080. 6080 is still somewhat buzzy, so seems to 
be unchanged. Later in the day heavy splash from Finland 6120 on 6115. 
There are also some spurious signals from 6115 on 6010/6220 and 12230. 
No other new or reactivated frequencies found. 

[non] Re gh`s question about Russia on 6115:

The Radio Rossii transmission (actually at 310  from the Taldom site 
using 250 kW) has no connection with the Belarus` transmission. It has 
been there since the beginning of B02 and goes off at 0500. I assume 
that Belarus` goes on at 0400, which is their normal sign on time on 
LW 279 (Olle Alm, Sweden, Jan 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

Glenn, in answer to your question about Radio Rossii on 6115 kHz: this 
is not the transmitter in Belarus, but one in Moscow which is 
scheduled 0200-0500 (at 310 degrees, towards North Atlantic). 73s, 
(Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** BELGIUM. Eugene Gebruers (sp?), former contributor of DX news and 
recordings to RVi Radio World, passed away in October. He was born in 
1923. This show, still ondemand Jan 6 tho a new one ought to be there, 
was a nice tribute to him. Mentions that he and gh used to listen to 
and quote each other`s news. Unfortunately, I did not hear about this 
in time for SW Year in Review 2002 (Frans Vossen, RVi RW Dec 29, notes 
by gh for DXLD)

** BELGIUM. FLEMISH EXTERNAL BROADCASTER LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE | 
Excerpt from press release in English from Radio Vlaanderen 
Internationaal (RVI) on 7 January 

From now on RVI [Radio Vlaanderen Internationaal, the Flemish external 
broadcaster] will be serving its audience not only via de radio, but 
also more than ever via its thoroughly revamped website, 
http://www.rvi.be 
 
When you open the new RVI site you will find news in text, 
supplemented with photos and sound excerpts: first the major Flemish 
and world news, then local news, sport, a daily press review and a 
review of the past week. 

The RVI website also provides links to all sorts of organizations and 
institutions that offer useful information about Flanders and Belgium, 
such as travel advice from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 
information about flights or train journeys to Brussels, information 
about art and culture. Moreover the RVI site has an interactive 
section, where surfers throughout the world can comment, react to what 
others have to say, give helpful hints, suggestions, etc... 

Thanks to the combination of these three aspects: news, service, and 
the development of an international community of Flemings, RVI's 
slogan "at home in the world" is now more appropriate than ever. 
The Dutch language pages of the site are the most comprehensive, but 
there is also a generous offering in English, French and German. 
As with the previous website, the text stream is accompanied by audio 
information. RVI's radio programmes can be listened to both via 
livestream and by clicking up programmes "on demand". 

Within the VRT, RVI has played a pioneering role in Internet 
applications. RVI was the first VRT [Vlaamse Radio en Televisieomroep, 
the Flemish public broadcaster] radio network to have its own fully-
fledged website. This new site is a great step forward for RVI and 
thus for VRT-Radio in general. It does not mean however that RVI is 
abandoning "traditional" radio. That is apparent from RVI's new winter 
schedule. RVI's challenge continues to be to reach its audience to the 
best of its ability, in function of the means of communication at the 
disposal of that audience. Its website is an important tool, but radio 
- via short wave, medium wave, satellite, DAB and cable-FM - remains 
its core activity. The interaction between radio and Internet can only 
be an inspiration for both media. Source: Radio Vlaanderen 
Internationaal press release, Brussels, in English 7 Jan 03 (via BBCM 
via DXLD)

** BRAZIL. Desde o dia 1º de janeiro, as freqüências da rádio Gazeta, 
de São Paulo (SP), retransmite a programação da Rádio Canção Nova, de 
Cachoeira Paulista (SP). A programação católica, agora, pode ser 
ouvida nas freqüências habituais da Canção Nova: 4825, 6105 e 9675 kHz 
e pela Gazeta, em 5955, 9685 e 15325 kHz. (Célio Romais, @tividade DX 
Jan 6 via DXLD) so not de-religifying itself as previously reported

** BRAZIL. A Rádio Cultura, 17815 KHz, São Paulo, está de novo no ar 
retransmitindo os 1200 KHz! As demais freqüêencias da Rádio Cultura 
retransmitem o seguinte: 6170 KHz, retransmite 103.3 Cultura FM, e em 
9615 KHz retransmite as ondas médias, 1200 KHz (Rudolf W. Grimm, São 
Bernardo, SP - Brazil, Jan 7, radioescutas via DXLD)

** CANADA. DW, 6310, 0140 Nov 27. English/German language lesson, 0145 
RCI ID and cut-off in mid-word; poor. DRM test or just wrong frequency 
input? (Tom Williamson, Ont., Jan ODXA Listening In via DXLD)

We have explained cases like this, and this specific case time and 
again --- we can give away reams of knowledge and info, but can`t make 
people read it! One more time: Sackville is worse than most SW sites 
in putting out mixing products. The antennas/transmitters are not 
sufficiently isolated from each other. All you have to do is find two 
frequencies nearby emanating from that site, which are equidistant 
from the spur (Of course, now that RCI treats its relay deal schedule 
as Top Secret, despite giving such away with RCI IDs, it`s not so easy 
to look up). In this case, it`s DW on 6040 and Vietnam on 6175 which 
produce the mix on 6310, 135 kHz apart (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING 
DIGEST)

** CHINA. 6285 kHz, Jan 5 2003, 2258 UT tune-in, nonstop Chinese 
instrumental music. Off abruptly at 2330. If this is a jammer, what is 
it jamming? 

Also heard Family Radio on 6300 around this same time with ID in 
English, into Chinese talks by OM and YL. Presumably from Taiwan. 
Thanks (Jilly Dybka, TN, Cumbre DX via DXLD)

** CUBA. After last issue, confirmed another airing of RHC`s Spanish 
DX program En Contacto, at 0140 UT Mon Jan 6. Judging from point in 
progress, must have started a bit before scheduled 0135. Only 
frequency heard was again 15230; cursory check for other known RHC 
frequencies did not uncover any, but surely there are more, unless 
some of the transmitters are down (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING 
DIGEST)

A programação em espanhol da rádio Havana Cuba responde às cartas e
informes de recepção dos ouvintes nas segundas-feiras. Confira em 
15230 e 9600 kHz, a partir de 0200. A dica é do Oséias Fantinelli, de 
Jacutinga (RS). (Célio Romais, @tividade DX Jan 6 via DXLD)

RHC has not been on 11705-USB for a couple of months, English to NAm 
0100-, so a great chance to hear RAE English weekdays 0200-0300 on 
11710 (Bob Thomas, CT, Jan 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** CUBA [and non]. R. Martí survey news item from 
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewForeignBureaus.asp?Page=%5CForeignBureaus%5Carchive%5C200301%5CFOR20030107a.html

DISSIDENTS SPLIT ON RADIO MARTI'S REFLECTION OF CUBAN LIFE
By Jim Burns, CNSNews.com Senior Staff Writer, January 07, 2003

(CNSNews.com) - A survey of dissidents living in Cuba shows an 
overwhelming majority like the news they hear on America's Radio 
Marti, but barely half believe the broadcast service to the communist-
controlled island represents Cuban society.

The survey, conducted by a group called the Cuba Commission, involved 
secret interviews with 343 Cubans, and some of the survey results were 
withheld because the commission said survey participants feared 
retribution by the government of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.

Among the omitted results was the percentage of Cubans who actually 
listen to Radio Martí, which is broadcast via short wave and medium 
wave radio. 

Cuba Commission officials said in a statement Saturday that 93 percent 
of those surveyed think Radio Marti's Cuba and foreign news is 
"credible" and has the "right focus."

An unspecified number of respondents said Radio Marti's educational 
and entertainment programming should be increased, and some 
participating in the survey want the U.S. to take steps to overcome 
what they called "Cuban government interference" of Radio Marti's 
broadcasts.

The dissidents were more closely split on the question of whether 
Radio Marti represents Cuban society. Fifty-two percent said Radio 
Marti well represented Cuban society while 40 percent said it did not 
completely represent Cuban society. The remaining eight percent said 
it did not represent Cuban society at all.

Some dissidents also suggested the installation of a transmitter at 
the U.S. Navy base in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, a question that U.S. 
Office of Cuba Broadcasting Director Dr. Salvador Lew declined to 
answer.

"This is a technical matter," said Lew. "I just believe that we have 
to look at several options. But the best person to answer that is 
probably the resident of the White House."

The White House did not return phone calls Monday seeking further 
comment. But when Lew was appointed by President Bush in July 2001 to 
head the Marti broadcast operations, Bush made his position clear.

"My number one priority is to make sure that Radio and TV Marti are
broadcast clearly to Cuba," said Bush. "In order to do that, I have
instructed him [Lew] to use all available means to overcome the 
jamming of Radio and TV Martí."

ADIOS, RADIO MARTI?

While Bush and a majority of Cubans in the survey want to see Radio 
Marti continue broadcasting, there are some in Congress and in the 
Cuban-American community who would like to see it cease broadcasting 
completely because of financial considerations and the belief that 
Castro is jamming the broadcasts and preventing them from reaching the 
Cuban people.

The Cuba Policy Foundation, a group that wants the economic embargo 
lifted against Cuba, considers Radio Marti and its television 
counterpart, TV Marti, failed programs.

"If the United States wants to flood Cuba with the flow of ideas and 
tools for building democracy, rather than wasting tens of millions of 
taxpayer dollars on a failed program, American tourists and investors 
should be allowed into Cuba," said Sally Grooms Cowal, foundation 
president.

"The broadcasts are just another example of the pattern of failure in 
U.S. policy toward Cuba," Cowal said.

Others would prefer to better spend the money currently used to pay 
for broadcasts to Cuba, including Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz).

"We would like to see more independent news back on Radio Marti," said
Matthew Specht, a spokesman for Flake. "Since they moved it down to 
Miami, it has become an anti-Castro station and Cuban people already 
know that and they don't need to be told that Castro is a bad guy," he 
said.

The Cuba Working Group, a bipartisan coalition of congressional 
lawmakers who want to ease U.S. trade and travel restrictions against 
Cuba, said both Martis should be eliminated.

"The U.S. government has spent over $400 million in taxpayer money on 
radio and television broadcasts directed at Cuban citizens. In 
principle, this is a worthy effort, but in practice its record has 
been mixed," the group said in a statement on its website.

"TV Marti operates when nobody watches because international broadcast 
rules require that the U.S. not interfere with Cuban broadcast 
transmissions," the group claimed. "Consequently, TV Marti reaches no 
audience in Cuba and is utterly without purpose."

But some Cubans have found an important purpose in the broadcasts. 
Ernesto Díaz Rodriguez, a Cuban exile writer who spent 23 years in 
Cuban prisons, said he and many of his fellow inmates used to huddle 
in jail cells to hear Radio Marti, which he called a voice of hope 
from the U.S.

Rodríguez believes the broadcasts should continue because of Castro's 
hold on state-run Cuban media. "We have to remind those who have 
apparently forgotten that the right to information also applies to the 
citizens of this island nation that exists just 90 miles off the North 
American coast," Rodriguez said (via Alan Pennington, BDXC-UK, 
Caversham UK, DXLD)

** CYPRUS TURKISH. R. Bayrak, 6150, (best in 6149.99 LSB) very weak
2200-2205 Jan 6 with nearly inaudible talk. Just before someone else's 
pips at 2203 I heard the "Radio Bayrak" ID, the "International" part 
if there was one, obliterated by the pips. Of course, I will need to
hear more to be able to send a report to the station (Jim Renfrew, 
Byron NY, Drake R8, longwires, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** ECUADOR. R. María, 3279.5, Jan 7 0510-0600 with lots of IDs by 
sweet-sounding female, 0600 into rosary in Spanish (Ron Trotto, IL, DX 
LISTENING DIGEST)

** ERITREA [non]. Glenn, Wolfgang, Has anyone yet confirmed hearing 
the new Eritrean opposition station, Voice of the Eritrean People? 
You'll recall that it was due to have begun broadcasting, on Sundays 
only, on 1 December. Reports on the putative schedule have been rather 
confused, but it has been publicized as 1630-1700 on 15735 (to Africa 
and the Middle East) and 1700-1730 on 7530 (to Europe). I can hear 
nothing at the advertised times. 7530 is difficult in any case in this 
area (east Africa) because of co-channel Hargeysa and China. But 15735 
is clear. I've also tried 15375. It has just occurred to me that I 
also ought to try 17535. Frequency usage suggests a European site. Any 
ideas? Juelich? Happy New Year, (Chris Greenway, Nairobi, Kenya, Jan 
3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Also heard nothing Jan 5 (Greenway, Jan 6, 
ibid.)

** GERMANY. I ask Heidi Lucas of DW Technical regarding the future of 
English broadcasts to Australia and she asked the head of DW 
departments Peter Senger. He stated that he will know more and be able 
to give a statement following the directors` reunion next week. So, at 
the moment we still do not know; when and if I hear anything further,
then I shall inform you all (Michael Stevenson, Port Macquarie, 
N.S.W., Australia, June 6, EDXP via DXLD)

** GERMANY. The DW German language course, Deutsch, Warum Nicht? Is 
really quite good. You can listen on the radio, or you can go to the 
very extensive section on the internet. The programs themselves are 
downloadable in mp3 format, and the texts are downloadable as .pdf 
files. The courses are available in a number of languages, too. A 
commendable effort by Deutsche Welle (Fred Waterer, Ont., Programming 
Matters, Jan ODXA Listening In via DXLD) see also CANADA

** GERMANY. Today only B5 Aktuell was carried throughout the day on 
6085, so the Bayern2Radio and Bayern 1 slots are indeed gone and 6085 
is now all news all the time (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Jan 3, DX LISTENING 
DIGEST) Heard a B5 Aktuell ID myself Jan 7 at 0700 in splash of DGS 
Antigua (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** GERMANY EAST. Hi Glenn, Just a small correction to the piece by 
Roger Tidy: to my recollection the mediumwave frequency of O.P.S. 
Berlin (and of the Danish transmitter) was 1430 kHz, not 1421 kHz. I 
believe this was the transmitter at Burg that also broadcast the other 
clandestine operations Freiheitsender 904 (which despite its name was 
actually on 908 kHz) and der Deutsche Soldatensender on 935 kHz. All 
of these had the same pattern of several 30 minute transmissions a 
day. 73, (Andy Sennitt, Netherlands, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

Hi Glenn, I heard and QSLed  Out Post Station Berlin for reception on 
August 26, 1968 on 9730. A taped report resulted in a normal RBI QSL 
card and accompanying letter from RBI noting their technicians were 
surprised the service was audible in the United States. (I had hoped 
for a special O.P.S.-Berlin QSL!). At some point, 9730 was dropped 
from service for O.P.S.-Berlin (Bill Matthews, OH, DX LISTENING 
DIGEST) 

This is all very interesting to me, as I must admit I have no 
recollexion of such a service. Of course, I was otherwise occupied in 
August of 1968! (Glenn Hauser, USAF ret., DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** GREECE [non]. How does VOA justify the weird frequency of 7980 (or 
is it 7890?) for its Greek language relay? Full DSBAM, high power, at 
around 0730 UT (Hue Miller, WA, June 6, swprograms via DXLD)

** GUAM. Subject: [SWL] MY VISIT TO KTWR

The trip to KTWR takes you down a winding road on one side of the 
island. Past many homes, where you can see where roofs were torn off. 
It also takes you Past AWR and you can pull alongside the road to see 
the spectacular antennas. They are very close to the Pacific Ocean and
it`s a beautiful site. On this same road further down in the distance 
you begin to see the site of KTWR. But, you have to drive a lot 
further and it`s easy to get lost towards the entrance to the station. 
Just as I was parked near the path to it, the station engineer came
past me. If you ever get the chance, you should come to Guam and check 
out these antennas. By the way, many power line men were busy along 
the roadside putting the power lines back in place, and also many 
street lights were hanging from the poles but not in the normal 
position.

Yesterday I mentioned about being able to view the transmitter site of 
KTWR. And also I made mention of a few other things. I carry several 
HT radio's, a Vertex VR5, Yaesu FT 530 an a Pro 25 police scanner 
tuned to the aircraft bands. My FT530 instantly picked up a buzzing 
noise as I approached the station area.

The engineer met me in the parking lot and allowed me to come inside 
to witness them turning the keys to the transmitters. A Harris 
transmitter. As we were talking, he opened a panel to one and I saw 
some of the instruments to it. He reached up and pushed the button to 
the exciter, which he said he likes to warm up about 6 minutes before 
turning on the transmitter. I heard a short noise about a few minutes 
later. That was the warning device that said to you it was ready. He 
temporarily closed the door to activate the transmitters. I noticed on 
this door no frequency counter telling you what frequency it was on as 
I had seen one at the FEBC station on Saipan about a year ago.

The engineer tells me the tubes are about $6,000 apiece and there were 
about 6 of `em. The transmitter pushes about 100,000 watts or more.

Later he and the other engineer went into a little room and pushed 
some control knobs that set everything in motion. Station identifier 
was coming through the speakers. And unlike the FEBC studios, there 
was no one behind the microphone. It was preset from somewhere else.

In parting, I asked if he had any frequency information and brochures 
I could have; he handed several but not with frequencies. The QSL 
cards that some people get when they ask, was one I picked up. 
Unsigned of course. As we started to part from the station and went
into the parking lot area where my rented car was, I was shown a 
rather large box that looked like it weighed about a ton. He informed 
me that these were the repair parts for the antennas. They had just 
arrived a few days before and were waiting to be uncrated. I was a 
little nervous about turning on my shortwave receiver being so close 
to the antennas and figured I better wait till later. But never found 
the chance to do so, as I was driving past the same site of AWR. I
witnessed the beautiful sunset behind it. 

Today I went around and looked to see if any progress with Radio 
Baragatta [sic] and it wasn't. It will probably take a while for this 
one. As there was nothing seen as to anyone trying to untangle the web 
that was damaged.

Some sad news: we`re due to sail from here soon around the 21st, but 
due to come back in March for a yard period, so maybe I will be able 
to see more again. Plan to attend the Mariana Amateur radio club 
(MARC) meeting tomorrow. Will let you know what`s up with that. Heard 
there is a second repeater on the island said to be on 145.430 and 
they claimed it had echo link but never heard a peep yet. 73's from 
Gilligan's other island Guam, (Larry Fields, n6hpx/du1, Jan 6, swl via 
DXLD)

** HONDURAS. Re. Luz y Vida, 3250.04, Jan 1 0545-0605+ on late for NY 
with Spanish talk, IDs, local rustic music. Good-strong (Brian 
Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** INDIA. Tests noted from AIR Chennai (?) on 9535 with relay of AIR 
Delhi FM II programs. Presumed schedule is 0130-0530 0930-1230. This 
is in parallel to 9425 (Bangalore), 9470 (Aligarh) 9470 is also tested 
from Delhi for National Channel at 1320-0043. Look out for tests from 
Chennai at 1245-1840 soon on 9 MHz. ===== 73 (Jose Jacob, India, Jan 
6, dx_india via DXLD)

** INTERNATIONAL. RALLY PARIS DAKAR EN EL ÉTER

No sé si aún continúa el desarrollo de la competencia de Rally Paris-
Dakar, pero esta info, que había guardado en "una bandeja", la envió 
el colega Manuel Jesús a la Lista Radioescutas:

Hello radioescutas, Informo que se encontra activa a estação especial 
que acompanha a 25ª edição do já celebre Ralli PARIS/DAKAR, cujo 
partida teve origem Hoje dia 01/01/2003.

Todos os radioescutas e radioamadores que escutem ou contactem esta
estção especial terão direito a um cartão QSL especial. Esta estação 
especial tem sido aguardada com grande expectativa, vai ser feita uma 
experiência muito interessante, a estação irá ser operada de 5 Países 
diferentes a saber: França; Espanha; Tunisia; Libia e Egypto.

Os operadores desta estação especial serão os radioamadores (F5PN)
Jean Gabriel (Francês) e (S525K) Marko amador (Esloveno). As emissões 
são feitas em paralelo com o Ralli e de locais escolhidos e 
devidamente autorizados nos diferentes Países. Estas emissões são 
aguardadas com muito interesse em especial dentro da parte Africana do 
Ralli.

As frequências previstas para emissão são as seguintes na modalidade
de SSB, atenção aos radioescutas programem os vossos radios com a
modalidade de SSB, ajustanto os vossos receptores com a função do BFO:
7.085 MHz; 14.210 MHz; 18.135 MHz; 21.310 MHz; 28.510 MHz. Em Morse 
CW: 7.025 MHz; 14.020 MHz; 18.075 MHz; 21.020 MHz. A variação em 
frequência será de + ou - 10 kHz dependendo do QRM. Votos de boas 
escutas. (Manuel Jesus, Sintra, Portugal, Visite: http://www.syrian.pt  
http://www.fabulastikus.com (via Arnaldo Slaen, Jan 7, Conexión 
Digital via DXLD) Maybe over now; it`s been a week (gh, DXLD)

** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. I'd like to add Sirius Satellite Radio to 
this discussion. While XM seems to be the more "healthy" of the two 
services (at least relative to one another), it seems to me that 
Sirius has the more diverse programming offerings --- especially for 
someone interested in international content. Both have more than 
enough diverse music services; but XM seems lacking in the spoken-word 
genre. Yes, XM has the "Americas stream" BBCWS, but unfortunately it 
ends there. Sirius has the less diverse BBCWS news and info stream, 
but has WRN --- which offers a variety of international radio services 
(RN, RA, RNZI, Channel Africa, R. Prague, more) --- in addition to NPR 
Talk, a separate NPR service for satellite listeners, a PRI satellite 
service, and CSPAN radio. (XM does have CSPAN, but none of the 
others.)

Here's the dilemma:

XM pluses: BBCWS "rich mix", more versatile receivers (home, car, 
boombox a la Delphi), lower monthly cost, healthier corporate 
financials (though only relatively speaking) (and, perhaps, better 
technology as discussed by Joe Buch in this forum some time ago. I 
wonder about the significance of the latter as I've not heard anyone 
complain about Sirius' performance or audio quality, nor compare 
Sirius audio unfavorably with XM).

Sirius pluses: Much more diverse news and info offerings (as detailed 
above), less expensive selling cost of hardware (relative to XM).

While XM's plus list is longer, I would suggest that to those who 
frequent this forum, the first plus listed for Sirius would carry 
enormous weight. (It does with me.) Since I can get more than 
satisfactory music selection and performance from my CD player, the 
kicker for me when it comes to sat radio is the potential to have more 
diverse news and info programming in the car--preferably from 
international sources. To be honest, if Sirius were to debut something 
similar to the Delphi slew of versatile "receivers", I'd probably sign 
up for Sirius right now.

As it is, I'm still on the fence. Maybe it's prudent to wait for XM to 
absorb Sirius or see how DRM turns out? What's a poor boy to do? :-)
(John Figliozzi, NY, swprograms via DXLD)

XM DOES have a hefty "spoken word" schedule; it's just that BBC is 
basically all it offers in "international" content.

But they do have CNBC, Fox News, CNN (2 channels), CSPAN, CNN en 
Español, Bloomberg News, and even CNET radio, as well as several 
sports talk channels like ESPN Radio, and several fringe channels like 
an all-African American talk channel ("The Power"), "Ask!" (ask 
experts, sort of like that NPR show with the car guys), "Buzz XM", 
which advertises "America's Hottest and Most Controversial Talk Stars" 
(read: Art Bell), and even "Sonic Theatre", with audio books and radio 
dramas (along with the previously mentioned all Old Time Radio 
channel, "RadioClassics") (Craig Seufert, swprograms via DXLD)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- XM Satellite Radio Inc., a satellite radio
broadcaster, said this week that it reached financing agreements 
totaling $450 million that should provide the cash needed until its 
operations reach break-even. XM stock jumped more than 10 percent 
following the news.

The Washington-based company said the package includes $200 million 
from a sale of notes convertible into common stock at $3.18 a share, 
and a small concurrent stock sale.

Also, General Motors Co., which is installing XM radios in 25 
different 2003 vehicle lines, has agreed to $250 million in payment 
deferrals and related credit facilities through 2006, XM said.

"With this financing package, we believe we have achieved full funding
through cash flow break-even," XM President and Chief Executive Hugh 
Panero said in a statement Monday.

XM and rival Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. have struggled to remain 
viable as the market for the capital-intensive satellite radio 
industry ramps up.

Both XM and Sirius have lost money as they try to attract subscribers.
Sirius said in November it was preparing for bankruptcy if debtholders 
did not approve a restructuring that included a debt-for-equity swap.

XM shares were up 39 cents, or 13 percent, at $3.39 on Nasdaq in early
trade. Sirius shares were up 1 cent at 55 cents, also on Nasdaq.

In addition to the financing package, XM said it will start an offer 
this week to exchange its $325 million of outstanding 14 percent 
senior secured notes due 2010 for new 14 percent senior secured 
discount notes due 2009, warrants and cash.

Based on sales to date and projections through the end of the year, XM 
said it expects to have more than 350,000 radios sold and ready for 
activation by December 31, either through retailers or automakers. The 
actual year-end activated subscriber total is expected to be 340,000 
to 350,000 (via Craig Seufert, NH, Jan 5, DXLD)

I think John Figliozzi did a marvelous job of boiling down the issues 
into a concise statement of the situation. Let me try to clear up a 
few misconceptions I have seen in this thread recently as expressed by 
others:

1. XM says they now have enough cash to reach the "cash flow" break 
even point. The Reuters' article is wrong on this count. Cash-flow 
break even is different and less than actually breaking even. You can 
have positive cash flow and still be losing money. It is typical of 
start-up situations that they become cash-flow positive before they 
become earnings positive. In fact securities analysts use the cash-
flow break even point as an early indicator that the company may 
actually earn some money soon. Cash-flow break even simply means you 
are taking in more revenue than you are spending each month. That 
means you should not have to go back to the well for more cash to 
continue business operations.

2. The total number of subscribers at year end should be about 350, 
000 not the 100,000 somebody tossed out here. XM has still not 
announced their year-end numbers to my knowledge so this is somewhat 
of a guess. I am somewhat worried that they may have missed their 
350,000 target because after the past quarters' end they have been 
quick to announce their subscriber totals. Here we are almost a week 
into the next quarter and still no announcement. Maybe this week?

3. General Motors just completed their best December sales in history 
due to zero percent interest rate and price incentives. GM is not 
making any money on these cars but what they are doing is pushing a 
lot of cars out the door. Many of these cars will have XM radios 
installed as factory equipment and the subscription price will be 
folded into the monthly payment. So I would expect these customers to 
be more or less locked in for the duration of their payment contracts 
which can range up to 5 years. At zero percent interest there is no 
incentive to pay off the car sooner than five years so my guess is 
that most buyers would opt for the longest payment cycle available to 
minimize the payments. General Motors loses but XM could make out 
fine. The early take-up rate for the XM service among Cadillac 
purchasers was around 85%. I have seen no recent data on this aspect. 
In effect they are giving away the factory receivers as the cost of 
the receiver is amortized over five years at zero percent interest. If 
the price of the receiver option is $200, then the buyer would be 
paying $3.33 per month over 60 months. In terms I can relate to, 
that's less than a 6 pack of beer per month even if you drink cheap 
beer. The radio and the subscription fee cause no pain for the buyer 
because they are buried in the $300-$500 per month car payment.

4. In my opinion Sirius is out of the immediate woods. Their recent 
refinancing deal will screw the existing common stockholders by 
reducing their equity in the surviving company to only about 7%. But 
even 7% is better than nothing which is where Sirius was headed before 
they cut their refinancing deal.

5. Art Bell is no longer heard on satellite or terrestrial channels. 
He has retired.

Disclaimer: I am not a licensed securities analyst or advisor. I just 
play one on the swprograms mail list.

~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,
(Joe Buch, DE, swprograms via DXLD) 
-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^ 

** IRAN [non]. Clandestine (Iranian). 11575, Voice of Iran via Russia 
[France?  -- gh] *1630-1705 Jan. 2. Sign-on with orchestra anthem, 
pause at 1631 (then the signal changed levels as if antenna/direction 
change). Followed with up-beat patriotic song. Noted at 1633 with a 
station ID for ``Seda-ya Iran, sedya-ya Iran`` (repeated), followed 
with schedule/frequencies. This was followed with a long commentary 
about the Kor`an, the teachings and messages set forth. Many 
references to the Taliban and to al-Qaida. Noted to 1700, pause, into 
another ID and newscast  followed. Signal was good at a fair level 
(Edward Kusalik, Alberta, Jan 6, Cumbre DX via DXLD)

** IRAN [non]. VOICE OF SOUTHERN AZERBAIJAN TO START BROADCASTING TO 
IRAN ON 8 JANUARY | Text of report by Azerbaijani news agency Turan 

Baku, 6 January: Voice of Southern Azerbaijan [northern Iran] will 
start broadcasting programmes to Iran on 8 January, the National 
Revival Movement of Southern Azerbaijan has told Turan. The 
whereabouts of TV and radio facilities is kept secret, the same source 
said. It is planned that the radio will broadcast on 9570 MHz radio 
frequency at 2000 Tabriz time (2030 Baku time [1630 gmt]) on 
Wednesdays and Thursdays. In February, the radio will start 
broadcasting every day. It will be aired to Azerbaijan and Iran. 
Source: Turan news agency, Baku, in Russian 1620 gmt 6 Jan 03 (via 
BBCM via DXLD)

** IRAQ [non]. A look at Info Radio`s latest leaflet:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/030105/168/2z7qv.html
(via Artie Bigley, DXLD)

** ITALY [non]. HIGH POWER SHORTWAVE (INTERNATIONAL) BROADCASTS  
Dear Sirs, I just found your email address on your Web site, and 
thought you may be interested in our Int'l radio operations. 

We are a non profit, volunteer based association of broadcasters 
http://www.nexus.org and since 1988 our mission has been to provide 
relaying facilities from Europe to several radio stations and program 
producers from all around the world. Some of us here have more than 40 
years experience in the field of International (Shortwave) 
broadcasting. 

We have just recently upgraded our shortwave transmitting facilities, 
and we can now offer airtime at very competitive rates with 10, 50, 
100, 250 and 500 kW from Europe to any location in the world. We can 
cover especially well: China, India, Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, the 
Middle East including Israel/Palestine, the UK, and the whole of 
Western Europe. Directional antennas may be used to beam a broadcast 
to any desired area, on any available frequency during your preferred 
time of operation. We are also able to offer parallel broadcasts 
beamed to different regions at the same time. 

Our Network Control Centre is located in Milan (Italy) with additional 
high speed Internet facilities in Frankfurt (Germany) and Los Angeles 
(USA), and uses the latest digital technologies to operate all audio 
feeds to our station. For example, we can receive your programs via 
the Internet for live or later broadcast, saving a lot money on a 
satellite or phone feed. 

If you are interested in a quotation or a sample coverage map, please 
let me know your desired target area, time, and number of hours per 
day, and we will get back to you. Please do not hesitate to call or 
email if you need additional information. 

Thank You, and best seasons' greetings from Milano, Italy. Ron 
-- 
(Ron Norton, NEXUS-IBA support, PO Box 11028, 20110 Milano, Italy 
e-mail : sales@nexus.org or ron@nexus.org Jan 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

It`s quite clear now that they are just brokering/reselling time on 
existing major SW facilities, as they are also trying to sell their 
own low-power transmitters, but any customers yet? Not sure what the 
point is, and why whatever clients want or need to be identified with 
IRRS in Milan when this is done. We shall see if IRRS be as secretive 
as TDP as to actual facilities used. Let us hope not, but IRRS has a 
history of not being candid. One might ask: why the middleman? Could 
not a client get a better price by dealing direct with DTK, Merlin, or 
whatever? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** JORDAN. R. Jordan, 11690, Sat Dec 28 1715-1731*, English, ``Jordan 
Weekly`` news program. IDs. Surprisingly good, strong signal over RTTY 
(Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** KOREA NORTH. CORÉIA DO NORTE - A Voz da Coréia, antiga P`yongyang, 
considerada uma emissora muito fechada pelos ouvintes, também possui 
um espaço de interatividade em sua programação em espanhol. Aos 
sábados, responde as cartas e informes dos ouvintes. Um dos horários 
em que transmite é a partir de 0000, em 11735 kHz. Recentemente, 
Oséias Fantinelli, de Jacutinga (RS), ouviu os locutores da emissora 
responderem carta de Leônidas dos Santos Nascimento, de São João
Evangelista (MG). (Célio Romais, @tividade DX via DXLD)

** KURDISTAN [non?]. On Jan 5, heard a male announcer in mid-east 
language on 4402.2 kHz at 0333 tune-in. Heard a clear mention of 
Kurdistan around 0400. Haven't listened to entire tape yet. Then 
tonight (Jan 6 UT) at 0440, I checked 4402 but nothing there. However, 
it sounded like the same male announcer was on 4413.2 when I scanned 
over to there. Now at 0450 as I type this, a female announcer was 
heard along with some mid-east music. 73s- (John Sgrulletta, Mahopac, 
NY, Cumbre DX via DXLD)

** LESOTHO. 4800, 5 Jan 0246, R. Lesotho, Maseru, Música local, Hino 
Nacional e ID por YL em sesotho às 0300, 35443. Emissora reativada 
depois de alguns meses fora do ar. Também ouvida por Caio Fernandes 
Lopes em Itajuba-MG. 73 (Samuel Cássio Martins, DX CLUBE DO BRASIL, 
São Carlos SP, Conexión Digital via DXLD)

4799.99, Radio Lesotho, 0245 Jan 6, Southern African vocal music, time 
pips at TOH, Lesotho national anthem matches 
http://www.countryreports.org/sounds/lesotho.mid --- ID, frequencies, 
address, in vernacular language; reactivation, confirming Jari 
Savolainen's tentative report on DXing.info (Ralph Brandi, AOR AR-7030 
Plus, 250-foot mini-Beverage Tinton Falls, New Jersey, Cumbre DX via 
DXLD) 

** LITHUANIA [and non]. I just found this in my mailbox. If this is 
true, there are regular transmissions from Sitkunai on 1386 since last 
night, daily at 2300 with the religious programme "Freundesdienst" 
from Switzerland. Would be really ironical because this broadcaster 
leases airtime also on Voice of Russia German service, so in fact 
would transmit on 1386 from both Bolshakovo and Sitkunai. 

---Ursprüngliche Nachricht--- 
From: "Sandro Blatter" 
Subject: [A-DX] Radio Freundesdienst 

Hallo Runde, Radio Freundesdienst sendet - laut Programmheft - seit 
1.1.2003 zusätzlich (neben RTL und Stimme Russlands) über die 
Sendeanlagen von 'Radio Baltic Waves'. Täglich: ab 23.00 Uhr UTC 
Frequenz: 1'386 khz Keine Ahnung ob die Sendungen hörbar sind, da ich 
eben die Info entdeckt habe. Berichte über die anderen Sendungen 
werden innert Tagen (am besten mit einer PPC) beantwortet. Die Adresse 
in der Schweiz: Radio Freundesdienst; CH-5023 Biberstein. Gruss aus 
einer sehr stürmischen Region -- Zürich Sandro (via Kai Ludwig...)

[Later:] Indeed, Sitkunai with Freundesdienst programming on 1386, 
starting at 2300, could be 150 kW. Transmitter was already on before 
2300 with ID loop, deep underneath co-channel Bolshakovo which signed 
off as always at 2300 after conclusion of the VoR Sodruzhestvo 
program, leaving Sitkunai in the clear for now. So what could be 
transmit after 2300? Mayak would be suitable audio... (Kai Ludwig, 
Germany, Jan 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** LITHUANIA. From January 1st "Radio Baltic Waves International" 
started regular broadcasting on 1386 kHz (daily at 2300-2315 UT, 750 
kW, ND, Sitkunai). Best wishes, (Rimantas Pleikys, Lithuania, via 
Rachel Baughn, Jan 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** NICARAGUA. R. Miskut, 5770, RC-USB, Jan 1 0055-0655* on late for NY 
with Spanish talk, ID, variety of Spanish pops/ballads, US oldies, 
local rustic music. Weak but occasional fading up to a fair level 
(Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** OKLAHOMA. KTUL-TV, channel 8, Tulsa, is still running NWS on its 
SAP, which was coming in nicely Jan 7 around 1550 thanks to fog in the 
area. Most voiced by that new automaton, but Perfect Paul still butts 
in with timechecks, and I even heard a real human briefly for one 
item. The new machine waxes poetic, pronouncing wind with a long I! 
(Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** OKLAHOMA [and non]. SOONER RADIO NETWORK AFFILIATES

 750 KSEO Durant, OK
 810 WHB  Kansas City, MO
 950 KFSA Fort Smith, AR
 960 KGWA Enid, OK
1150 KNED Mcalester, OK
1170 KVOO Tulsa, OK [outdated call --- now KFAQ]
1430 KALV Alva, OK
1450 KGFF Shawnee, OK
1510 KCTE Independence, MO

 92.5 KPRV Heavener, OK
 93.5 KRKZ Altus, OK
 93.7 KICM Krum, TX
 94.3 KXOO Elk City, OK
 95.5 KITX Hugo, OK
 95.5 KQMX Clinton, OK
 95.9 KYBE Frederick, OK
 96.7 KBEL Idabel, OK
 98.1 KJMZ Lawton, OK
 99.3 KADA Ada, OK
 99.3 KLOR Ponca City, OK
100.1 KYFM Bartlesville, OK
101.1 KWOX Woodward, OK
102.1 KTFX Warner, OK
103.1 KRWA Waldron, AR
105.1 KBLP Lindsay, OK

(Art Blair, Folsom, CA, Jan 6, IRCA via DXLD)

Guess this has something to do with stupid ballgames? Never thought I 
would run a sports network list in DXLD, but, hey, it`s about 
Oklahoma! (gh, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** PAKISTAN. 21465 kHz, RADIO PAKISTAN, full data QSL card in English 
(transmitter site 'near Islamabad' mentioned on extra sheet), card 
shows 'Miar Glacier Golden Peak 7027 m, Hoper Nagar, Gilgit'. The 
glacier picture and the people on it look like those pictures in the 
'discover the Himalaya' books from the 60s. V/s on personal letter 
Ifthikar Hussain Malik, Senior Broadcast Engineer, Frequency 
Management Cell. He answered all my questions from my report, but 
'pennants are out of stock', suggests to send reports via E-mail, also 
enclosed a sticker, in 64 days for a report without r.p. to Radio 
Pakistan, National Broadcasting House, Constitution Avenue, 
Islamabad - 44000, Pakistan. This was my first report to them since 
14 years, but they still use the 'reference numbers' (on the envelope) 
they already used in the 80s! Mine was Eng/FM/A-28/02! (M. Schoech, 
Germany, Dec 2002, Cumbre DX Jan 7 via DXLD)

** PERU. 6536, RD HUANCABAMBA. Huancabamba. 2348-0102* Ene. 5. Luego 
de varias semanas fuera del aire retorno la señal de esta emisora con 
programación presentada por su dueño Federico Ibañez, mencionando un 
sabotaje que tuvieron los equipos de la emisora por parte de rivales 
políticos, ya que él aspiró a la Alcaldia Provincial en las elecciones 
de Noviembre y por sus continuas denuncias de corrupción 
administrativa. ``...Desde la ciudad que camina, Huancabamba tierra de 
hermosas y atractivas lagunas, en 100.1 frecuencia modulada, 820 Kcs 
en amplitud modulada y 6535 Kcs onda corta, ésta es RD Huancabamba, la 
poderosa...`` La frecuencia en onda media no está listada en el
WRTH 2002 (Rafael Rodríguez, Colombia, Conexión Digitalk via DXLD)

** RUSSIA. 6115: see BELARUS`; TAJIKISTAN

** RUSSIA [non]. GERMANY - 1323 kHz, VOICE OF RUSSIA, full data QSL 
card in English (transmitter site not included), card shows '3 old 
towers of the Kremlin' as well as a modern radio. V/s on personal 
letter Alla Smirnowa, Deutschsprachige Redaktion, also enclosed a 
sticker and a program-guide, in 70 days for a report without r.p. to 
Stimme Russlands, Deutscher Dienst, Pjanitskaja 25, 113326 Moskau, 
Russland (M. Schoech, Germany, Dec 2002, Cumbre DX Jan 7 via DXLD)

** SAUDI ARABIA. MEDIA TYCOON PLANS "MAJOR PROJECTS" TO PROMOTE ISLAM 
| Text of report in English by Saudi newspaper Arab News web site on 7 
January 

[note the mention of a radio station in English – on shortwave??]

Prominent [Saudi Arabian] businessman Salih Kamil, chairman of 
[investment group] Dallah al-Baraka [and founder of Arab Radio and 
Television, ART], said yesterday that his investment group has plans 
to launch four major media projects to present the true picture of 
Islam and Muslims to the outside world. 

Speaking to reporters after a ceremony organized at King Abd al-Aziz 
University here to award him an honorary doctorate from Lakehurst 
University, Kamil said his group will launch an international news 
agency which will supply news and photos to media organs worldwide, a 
radio station broadcasting in English, a television channel in all 
major world languages and a public relations company in the United 
States. 

The US university decided to award an honorary doctorate to the Saudi 
tycoon in recognition of his contributions to mass media. Makkah 
Governor Prince Abd al-Majid attended the ceremony. Lakehurst 
President Prof Cliff Hesse delivered the opening speech. 

In his acceptance speech, Kamil underscored the importance of mass 
media as the bridge of globalization and the most articulate and 
explicit means of interaction in the present world. Kamil pointed out 
that the scope of cultural dialogue has become broader and more 
extensive now than ever. He described the compensation suits filed in 
the United States on behalf of the relatives of the victims of 9/11 as 
unscrupulous attempts by some US attorneys to extort money from 
innocent people. Source: Arab News web site, Jedda, in English 7 Jan 
03 (via BBCM via DXLD)

** SOMALIA. GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE EQUIPMENT FOR RADIO MOGADISHU | Text 
of report by Somali government radio on 6 January 

The minister of state in the prime minister's office of the 
Transitional Government of Somalia [TGS], Ahmad Dahir, today pledged 
to provide media equipment to [state-owned] Radio Mogadishu and the 
Ministry of Information. For more details, here is our reporter 
Abdinur Fodey: 

[Reporter] The minister of state in the prime minister's office toured 
Radio Mogadishu's facilities in the city, including studios and 
offices. The minister listened to all the managers of all the sections 
he visited. He also listened to a speech by the head of Radio 
Mogadishu, Hon Muhammad Abdi Alin [phonetic]. 

The minister finally met all the staff in the meeting hall. He 
listened to tales of the plight of the staff that were presented to 
him by the head of Radio Mogadishu. Addressing the Radio Mogadishu 
staff, the minister praised the role played by them in the media and 
the programmes the station has aired over recently. 

The minister promised to support Radio Mogadishu to received the 
latest equipment that will improve its reception. The prime minister 
also said the government is willing to support its national 
broadcasting station. Source: Radio Mogadishu, Voice of the Republic 
of Somalia, in Somali 1700 gmt 6 Jan 03 (via BBCM via DXLD)

** SWEDEN [non]. LITHUANIA - 9980 kHz, RADIO NORD, full data QSL card 
in English (transmitter site Lithuania), card shows 'a ship'; the 
special program commemorated the 40th anniversary of the close down of 
Swedish offshore station Radio Nord, v/s Ronny Forslund, Programme 
Producer. Also enclosed promo for 'Rock'n Records by R. Forslund, 
large envelope with nice stamp, in 165 days for a report with 1 USD 
to Radio Nord Special Programme, Light Valley Media, Box 90, SE-
82723 Ljusdal, Sweden (M. Schoech, Germany, Dec 2002, Cumbre DX Jan 7 
via DXLD)

Lithuania. 9980 Radio Nord Memorial Programme via Sitkunai. Full data 
photo of vessel with radio tower, included a brochure for Rock'n 
Records, in 6 months, v/s Ronny Forslund, Programme Producer (Edward 
Kusalik, Alberta, Jan 6, Cumbre DX via DXLD)

** TAJIKISTAN. Please note that the transmitter on 801 kHz with IBB 
relays is not located in the capital Dushanbe, but at the high power 
transmitting centre Orzu in southern Tajikistan. The abbreviation "DB" 
(Dushanbe) in the IBB material is misleading. I assume that these 
codes are supplied by the transmitter providers and the IBB (like 
other relay broadcasters) are using them without alterations. There 
are many similar examples, like Armenia: 864 and 1314/1350 "ERV" 
=Yerevan, but the real location is Gavar in NE Armenia. 73s, (Bernd 
Trutenau, Lithuania, Jan 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** TAJIKISTAN. Parallel program in ME language heard Jan 7 at 1307, 
poor on 4940, better on 4965; female announcer with light classical 
music. No ID heard, but Klingenfuss lists both as V. of Russia, via 
``Dushanbe`` in Dari/Pashto (Ron Trotto, IL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) PWBR 
`2003` and HFCC agree; SW Guide also lists but noncommittal on site

** UKRAINE. Checked RUI`s new 7375 Jan 1. Very good! Slight splash 
from 7365 and jammer at 0100; near excellent at 0400 (Bob Thomas, CT, 
Jan 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

Radio Ukraine gives strange reception reports. It's an English 
language program but the reception reports are for programs only in 
the Ukrainian language. The announcements before are still useful (Wm. 
"Bill" Brady, Harwood MD, DX LISTENING DIGRST)

** U K. BBC PLANS FOR BROADCASTING HOUSE CHALLENGED

The BBC is facing a hitch in its plans to re-develop Broadcasting 
House into the world's largest news hub. Howard de Walden Estates, 
which owns a large amount of property in the immediate vicinity, has 
filed a writ at the High Court in London seeking an injunction against 
the development. The company argues that it would reduce the value of 
its properties. Managing Director Simon Baynham told the Financial 
Times 'We sold the site to the BBC in the Thirties. At the time of the 
deal, the BBC signed a restrictive covenant promising not to build on 
the site above a certain height. These proposals breach that 
covenant.' Construction work is due to begin in February. It's thought 
the BBC may offer Howard de Walden Estates an out-of-court settlement 
(© Radio Netherlands Media Network 6 January 2003 via DXLD)

** U S A. My VOA New Year's Day special which included interviews with 
Juhani Niinistö (YLE Radio Finland), Jonathan Marks (RNW), Jean Larin 
(RCI), Jean-Gabriel Manguy (Radio Australia), and Barry Langridge 
(BBCWS) is now available at ...
http://www.voanews.com/real/voa/english/comm/interview.ram

Barry Langridge, BBCWS head of Middle East/Africa region, was 
especially interesting. The unabridged interview with him is at ...
http://www.voanews.com/real/voa/english/comm/langridge.ram
(Kim Elliott, DC, Jan 6, swprograms via DXLD)

** U S A. WWCR --- EQUAL OPPORTUNITY HATE

George Gentry Ministries is so obscure, that a google search turns up 
nothing but a reference to the program schedule on the WWCR website. I 
heard this broadcast quite by accident after a late night of tuning 
the dials. The program comes on at 630 am Sundays local time, 1130 UT 
on 5070, surrounded by some other (unusual) ``ministries``. Show seems 
to start abruptly, end abruptly. I`ve listened about 2 or 3 times and 
never heard a mailing address. He mentioned he was on WWCR --- no 
mention of any other station. No link on the WWCR page.

Mr. Gentry seems to believe that white people are the source of all 
the world`s problems. This program, like other programs of this nature 
(I would include American Dissident Voices and Kingdom Identity 
Ministries in this category) has a mish mash of theology pushed, 
prodded and pulled into a grotesque shape designed to fit the 
presenter`s viewpoint.

The most recent program railed against ``so-called black, conservative 
Republicans`` and other uneducated (by the ``so-called education 
system``) blacks. Conservative is another word for the Ku Klux Klan, 
which is marching daily in the streets of Washington. Toward the end 
of his program, he reminded listeners that black people are the 
descendants of the tribes of Israel (quoting a scripture reference I 
missed) and that only blacks will go to heaven. Furthermore Jesus was 
black. As far as heaven goes, there will be no whites there. I wonder 
if Pete Peters got the memo.

While I am no great theology student, my understanding is that Jesus 
was neither white, nor black. Mr. Gentry and Mr. Peters seemingly have 
more in common than either would like to probably admit (Fred Waterer, 
Ont., Programming Matters, Jan ODXA Listening In via DXLD)

** U S A [and non]. DR GENE SCOTT

After all these years, I still don`t get his act. It`s sometimes 
amusing to listen to him, sometimes disturbing and sometimes 
astounding. I used to be amused to hear him demand to be supported 
before he would ``teach``. He would then proceed to do nothing more 
than read from some pseudo-scientific book about UFOs or the Bermuda 
Triangle that anyone could pick up at a used bookstore for a couple of 
bucks. 

Heard him in early November with his usual blend of cool music and 
bombast. He was in a particularly cranky mood, threatening to walk out 
and just leave an empty chair on screen (might make for better radio). 
He was barking orders to the ``sheep`` to get busy and get on the 
phones, get their ``passes`` for that weekend`s church service and of 
course to send him money. And apparently they do. I shake my head 
sometimes and wonder if it shouldn`t be called the Co-dependent Church 
of Christ --- Of or relating to a relationship in which one person is 
psychologically dependent in an unhealthy way on someone who is 
addicted to a drug or self-destructive behavior, such as chronic 
gambling --- http://www.dictionary.com  Improbably he just seems to 
keep rolling along (Fred Waterer, Ont., Programming Matters, Jan ODXA 
Listening In via DXLD)

** U S A. AMERICAN DISSIDENT VOICES

No longer heard on WWCR, I have not heard this program in ages on 
shortwave. I was perusing their website however, which has the program 
in a number of formats on demand. Since the death of the chairman of 
the ``National Alliance`` Dr William Pierce, Kevin Alfred Strom has 
once again become the voice of the program. In many ways he is more 
dangerous than Pierce ever was. Pierce came across as the bitter old 
hateful man that he was. Strom is pretty smooth; his rhetoric can be a 
bit more subtle. Perhaps a little too smooth. Usual rhetoric about the 
controlled-media (read Jewish control) and threats facing the white 
race (Fred Waterer, Ont., Programming Matters, Jan ODXA Listening In 
via DXLD)

** U S A. Stocktalk Live confirmed started already on WRMI 15725, when 
checked after 1430 Jan 7. Rather informal monolog by host pointing out 
micro-cap stox that seem to be on the way up. Frequent mentions of 
being on SW 15725 now, but it`s only for one hour until 1530, when 
without his saying goodbye, WRMI switched to the ---yechh--- hummy, 
lo-fi Christian Media Network for another hefty dose of New World 
Order paranoia. I guess what`s in this for STL is getting people to 
their website to sign up for `premium` services. Inviting listener 
input on exactly how to do this program. Judging from program promos 
within, IBCRadio network also has an evening show on the paranormal, 
with a well-known host whose name I couldn`t catch. I think I will 
take all this with a grain of salt, if I listen again at all (Glenn 
Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** U S A. SPANISH BROADCASTING ACQUIRING THREE CHICAGO STATIONS
   Hispanic Radio Advances in Chicago FM-Market  January 3, 2003 

Spanish Broadcasting System Inc. (SBS), the nation's largest Hispanic-
owned radio operator, has entered into a definitive asset purchase 
agreement with Big City Radio Inc. to purchase three Chicago radio
stations for $22 million in cash.

The acquisition, which is subject to regulatory approval, would 
involve the stations WDEK-FM, WKIE-FM and WKIF-FM all of which 
broadcast in the greater Chicago area.

"We are excited about this expansion opportunity in Chicago FM radio," 
says Raúl Alarcón, president and CEO of SBS. "The three stations will 
be simulcast with a new Spanish format. They will add to our existing
WLEY-FM leadership position and provide us with clustering 
efficiencies in this important core market."

The Coconut Grove, Fla.-based broadcaster owns 24 station in some of 
the country's largest Hispanic markets, including San Antonio, New 
York, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco and Puerto Rico. Locally, the
company operates KLEY-FM and KSAH-AM (from sanantonio.bizjournals.com
via Sosedkin...)

Wow, the guys from Coconut Grove are fast! As of Monday, Jan. 6 WDEK-
FM, WKIE-FM and WKIF-FM (92.5 and 92.7 MHz) are already broadcasting 
in Spanish. I heard some Latin American pop-music today. The stations 
were rather unique for Chicago FM-market since they carried (in a 
simulcast)lots of European dance music under a slogan "Energy 92.7/5."  
From my observations, they were extremely popular with a younger crowd 
of the Eastern European immigrants. Their old site can be accessed at
http://www.energy92fm.com/index2.shtml (Sergei Sosedkin, IL, Jan 6, DX 
LISTENING DIGEST)

** U S A. HISPANIC RADIO NETWORK: http://www.hrn.org/stations.html
(Art Blair, Folsom, CA, Jan 6, IRCA via DXLD) Not to be confused with 
Tegucigalpa

** U S A. NATIONAL NETWORKS

EWTN Radio: Format: teaching, preaching, interviews, call-ins, some 
music. Eternal Word Television Network. 5817 Old Leeds Road, Irondale 
AL 35210. (205) 271-2900. On air December 28, 1992. Radio general 
manager: Frank Leurck. Radio Marketing Manager: John Pepe. Program 
Director: Thom Price. Website: http://www.ewtn.com. E-mail: 
radio@ewtn.com (In the Diocese of Birmingham)

Affiliates: Alabama: WEWN Birmingham, WQOP-FM Birmingham, †WMCJ 
Cullman-Decatur; California: †new Greenville, KJOP Hanford-Tulare-
Visalia, KHOT Modesto, KSMH Sacramento, KWG Stockton; Florida: WQOP 
Jacksonville; Illinois: WOLG Carlinville, WIHM Springfield; Kentucky: 
WMJR Lexington, WLCR Louisville;  Michigan: WDEO Ann Arbor, WCAR 
Detroit, †WDBC Escanaba, WOAP Owosso, WMAX Saginaw. †WADW Sault Ste. 
Marie; Minnesota: WMIN Minneapolis-St Paul; Missouri: WRYT St Louis; 
Nebraska: KVSS Omaha; Nevada:  KIHM Reno; New York: WLOF Buffalo; 
Ohio: WNOP Cincinnati, †WPAO Youngstown-Sharon, Pa.; Pennsylvania: 
WISP Philadelphia; South Carolina: WNFO Hilton Head Island-Beaufort; 
Tennessee: WHHQ Johnson City-Bristol-Kingsport; Texas: KMHF Austin, 
KBMD Marble Falls, KJBC Midland-Odessa; Washington: KBLE Seattle, KHSS 
Walla Walla; Wisconsin: †WYNW Antigo-Wausau, WDVM Eau Claire, WJOK 
Green Bay, †WKBH La Crosse, WHFA Madison, †WGLB-FM Milwaukee, WMMA 
Wausau-Stevens Point.   
†not on the air yet.

Radio Católica Mundial (EWTN Spanish)— California: KYNO Fresno, KSMM 
Minneapolis-St Paul. Florida: WOTS Orlando (Catholic Radio Directory, 
Jan via DXLD)

** U S A. NORTHEAST VANCOUVER: RADIO STATION POWERS UP TO 50,000 WATTS
   Sunday, January 5, 2003  By SCOTT HEWITT, Columbian staff writer

The power is up, and the heat is on.

Radio station KVAN is now broadcasting at its long-sought target power
of 50,000 watts during the day from towers in northeast Vancouver 
[WA], and station manager Mark Ail is already experiencing a backlash 
of signal-interference complaints from nearby neighbors.

East Vancouver residents long have blamed radio signals from the 
towers, at Northeast 34th Street near 155th Avenue, for everything 
from noisy phone lines and snowy television pictures to garage door 
openers and microwave ovens that go on and off by themselves.

On Friday, Ail said KVAN has received 22 complaint calls since Dec. 
20, when the broadcast power began cranking up from 10,000 watts to 
50,000 watt.

Despite the spike in complaint calls, Ail said he has a hard time
imagining turning the juice back down.

"At this point we've pretty much rebuilt the transmitter and done all
the work at the transmitter site. Other than routine maintenance, 
there's nothing else the FCC requires us to do. We anticipated the 
power increase would lead to an increase in calls, and we will 
continue to respond to them."

    Answering complaints

KVAN answers complaints by sending an engineer, at no charge, to try
various fixes at residents' homes. Sometimes that means installing 
phone line filters or replacing electronic equipment, and sometimes it 
means enlisting the help of telephone company Qwest to address 
problems that originated with phone lines.

KVAN, 1550 AM, now broadcasts at 50,000 watts during the day and 
12,500 watts at night, Ail said. Sister station KPAM, at 860 AM, also 
broadcasts from the same towers -- at 50,000 watts during the day and 
5,000 watts at night.

The transmitter power increase, aimed at blanketing Clark County and
Portland with a stronger, clearer radio signal, was delayed for years,
partially by complex engineering problems. But there also were spikes 
in neighborhood complaints of telephone interference and other 
equipment problems when the radio station cranked up its power for 
testing.

    Tower neighbors

That doesn't bode well now for the neighborhood around the towers.
Resident Pat Costello of nearby 158th Court said she's noticed a
definite worsening of her interference problem lately. She hadn't 
known that KVAN's long-sought power boost had just occurred.

"All I know is in the last five days, I've noticed I'm picking up more
stuff," she said. "I was on hold with somebody, and while I was 
waiting I was listening to the radio, listening to a talk show, over 
the phone. This is like it was before we put in filters and stuff."

Until now, Costello said, she's been reasonably satisfied with the
phone-line filters and other interference fighters provided by KVAN's
house-calling engineer since she moved in last spring and promptly
discovered the interference problem.

In the past few days, she said, she's found herself wandering from 
room to room with the phone to her ear, seeking out a spot in the 
house that doesn't have interference.

"I have a critically ill husband, and I'm doing lots of phoning," she
said. "It's making it a lot harder right now."

The chairman of the Parkway East Neighborhood Association, Michael
Detlef, said he hasn't noticed any increase in the interference he 
deals with at home -- but he's done a lot of his own interference-
busting work on his house, he said.

He expects interference to be worse during the summer than during the
winter, when damp earth aids electrical grounding.

"The problem is, this is the time of year you're not going to notice 
the interference. This is the ideal time for those guys to do 
something like this," he said.

    Modern problem

There seems to be plenty of blame to go around for the interference
problems that have plagued the residential area surrounding the radio
towers. Engineers have fingered everything from unshielded home wiring 
to aged and deteriorating telephone lines to cheap electronic 
equipment.

The FCC's position is that interference results when equipment and
appliances aren't well shielded against radio signals. The government
doesn't require broadcasters to fix interference problems.

But KVAN has been working its way down an endless list of 
complainants, some of them repeat callers, for years. Some problems 
have been easily fixed in a matter of minutes, Ail said, and others 
seem to drag on for years.

"We're going into every home to mitigate the problem, and every home 
is unique," he said.

Gus Potter, a co-chairwoman of the Parkway East Neighborhood
Association, said her interference problems were solved after a KVAN
engineer did some home rewiring. She hasn't noticed any resurgence in 
recent days, she said (via Mike Terry, DXLD)

** U S A. WMQM, Lakeland, TN noted from 5.26 PM EST on Jan. 5 with 
Salvation Army program, ID after program which was followed by another 
brokered program. Signal was good and strong till at 5.42 PM when the 
FL stations started to take over the channel- seems to be getting out 
well. Off to a good start this year! Happy Listening! GM Clearwater, 
FL (Greg Myers, NRC-AM via DXLD)

This is the first DX report of WMQM `Memphis`, subject of numerous 
items here in December, that I have seen! Times = 2226 and 2242 UT, 
before LSS which is now 2315 for January, half an hour later than Dec, 
whilst official sunrise is at 1315, a quarter-hour *later* than Dec – 
due to this oblate planet we inhabit. Should now try just before and 
after these times respectively when presumably on 50 kW ND day power. 
But still not heard here, not in the 2235-2315 UT period Jan 6. The 
only station consistently emerging from the QRM is KATZ, Gospel 1600, 
St. Louis, with much lower power; how come? (Glenn Hauser, DXLD)

** U S A. On 1439.7, KPUR is generally separable from the weak 1440 
stuff with Westwood One's football playoff coverage and I caught a 
"Sports Radio AM 1440, The Score" ID at 1945 EST. I presume the SS NFL 
coverage on 1009.8 is KTNZ. 73 KAZ Barrington IL (Neil Kazaross, NRC-
AM via DXLD) Both in Amarillo TX, The MW Engineering Capital of the 
World

** U S A. ALL THINGS CONSIDERATE -- HOW NPR MAKES TAVIS SMILEY SOUND 
LIKE LINDA WERTHEIMER. By Brian Montopoli

Last May, I had the chance to participate in an NPR fellowship for 
young journalists interested in public radio. There were eight of us 
in all, each of whom worked with a mentor to produce a story that 
would become part of a Web-based news magazine. In order to decide who 
would host the magazine, the mentors and NPR folks held auditions: One 
by one, we were required to stand up and read a few lines to the 
assembled crowd, who would then compare notes. We weren't allowed to 
watch the auditions. As we waited in the hallway, some of us tried to 
make small talk; others found a quiet corner where they could go over 
their lines. But we were all thinking about the same thing: The Voice, 
the NPR Voice, and how the hell we were going to pull it off. The 
Voice is tough to describe, but you know it when you hear it: It's 
serious, carefully modulated, genially authoritative. It rings with 
unspoken knowledge of good wine and The New York Times Book Review. We 
were terrified of it. 

As it turned out, I couldn't quite manage The Voice --- the hosting 
gig went to someone else --- but I quickly realized that if I wanted 
anything to do with NPR, I'd need to figure it out pretty quick. NPR's 
ascendancy has been striking --- "Morning Edition" and "All Things 
Considered," its drivetime shows, are the second and third most 
popular radio programs in the country, and the network's listenership 
continues to grow--up 18.5 percent in 2001 alone. A big part of the 
reason is the unparalleled quality of its news coverage. NPR's 
journalism is in-depth, accurate, fair, intelligent, and, not 
insignificantly, virtually commercial-free. In the sea of vituperative 
right-wing radio, NPR is an island of sanity, civility, and 
seriousness. And its reporters and personalities are truly talented: 
Their ability to explain complex issues in plain, sharp, value-neutral 
language may be unsurpassed in all of broadcasting. 

But the network has also become something of a victim of its success. 
If you listen to a lot of NPR, you realize how similar it all sounds: 
no matter who is talking, or what they're talking about... 
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2001/0301.montopoli.html
(Washington Monthly, Jan-Feb, via Daniel Say, swprograms via DXLD)

** U S A. NEW FCC COMMISSIONER AGAINST MEDIA CONSOLIDATION
   By Pamela McClintock 

WASHINGTON (Variety) - New Democratic FCC commissioner Jonathan 
Adelstein made it clear Monday that he's against further consolidation 
of the media business, questioning the wisdom of a Republican campaign 
to relax an unprecedented number of ownership rules. 

In his first public speech, Adelstein wasted no time in challenging 
the agenda set by FCC chairman Michael Powell. He said the agency is 
charged with protecting a variety of voices on the airwaves and that 
ownership regulations are a key component. 

"In practice, that means we must promote competition, diversity and 
localism so that the marketplace of ideas can flourish. A great thing 
about my new job is that I am passionate about this mission, and it is 
my sworn duty to carry it out," Adelstein said during his address at 
the Future of Music Policy Summit in Washington. 

Adelstein's choice of words made it clear that Powell will have 
trouble achieving a consensus as he forges ahead with the agency's 
review of the regulations. Powell already had his work cut out for him 
in wooing Democratic commissioner Michael Copps, who is adamantly 
opposed to wholesale deregulation. 

Both Adelstein and Copps are veteran Capitol Hill aides, meaning they 
have direct access to key solons -- and not just Democrats. 
At the music policy summit, Adelstein said massive consolidation of 
the radio business proves why ownership regulations are crucial. 
Unlike the TV biz, the radio industry was allowed to consolidate to 
its heart's delight after 1996. 

In 1996, the two largest radio groups consisted of fewer than 65 
stations. Now, Clear Channel -- the largest radio group -- owns 1,200 
stations. The second largest group, Viacom's Infinity Broadcasting, 
owns 250 stations. 

Adelstein said he disagrees with a FCC study suggesting that 
consolidation of the radio business hasn't hurt diversity of 
programming. 

"Ownership consolidation in local markets by definition reduces 
competition and puts programming decisions into the hands of 
comparatively fewer, often national players," Adelstein said in his 
speech. 

"Therefore, we must consider how consolidation affects the programming 
choices available to listeners and the level of local public affairs 
coverage," he said. 

Adelstein said radio consolidation is the "canary" in the coal mine. 
He said the FCC better consider the health of that canary before 
further relaxing media ownership rules. 

Other regulations up for grab include the following: 
= A rule prohibiting a TV broadcaster from reaching more than 35% of 
the national audience. This means that media giants including Viacom 
Inc. and News Corp. can't grow beyond a certain point in terms of 
their stables of TV stations. 
= A rule blocking a company from owning a TV station and newspaper in 
the same major market -- without a waiver, that is. 
= A duopoly rule barring one company from owing multiple media outlets 
in one community. 

Last week, all sectors of the TV business made massive filings with 
the FCC laying out their respective arguments with respect to the 
rules (Reuters/Variety Jan 7 via DXLD)

** VENEZUELA [non]. RADIO TRICKSTERS DUPE CHAVEZ INTO CHAT WITH 
'CASTRO' --- Carl Limbacher, Newsmax.com, January 6
http://www.newsmax.com/showinsidecover.shtml?a=2003/1/6/180026 

Two Miami radio hosts today got embattled Venezuelan President Hugo 
Chavez on a private line by pretending to be his idol: Cuban dictator 
Fidel Castro. 

"We still can't believe it. He fell for it," snickered Enrique Santos, 
co-host of El Vacilon de la Manana (The Morning Joker), on WXDJ-FM 
95.7, a Spanish-language salsa station. 

The Miami Herald reported, "The joke was part of a segment called 
Fidel Te Llama or 'Fidel's Calling You,' in which Santos and his co-
host, Joe Ferrero, call various people and play snippets of a 
controversial conversation between Castro and Mexican President 
Vicente Fox that Castro made public in 2001. 

"Hearing Castro's distinctive rasp, the unsuspecting recipients of the 
call usually believe it is the comandante himself on the phone. After 
a few minutes of a disjointed conversation in which the same 
nonsensical sentence fragments are repeated, the victims get 
suspicious." 

Here's how the comical commie "conversation" went: 

Chavez: "Hello, Fidel!" 
Recording of Castro: "Did you receive my letter?" 
Chavez: "Of course I received it. I spoke with German." 
Castro: "I'm all set to collaborate with you." 

"As the nonsequiturs start, El Vacilon fakes trouble on the line to 
disguise the rejoinders that don't make sense," the Herald reported. 

'Brother' Dictator 

Chavez: "Yes, brother, how's it going?"
Castro: "I'll do what you're asking me to." 
Chavez: "I don't understand." 
Castro: "But I'm going to be harmed, I confess to you. Everything's 
set for Tuesday." 
Chavez: "Everything's set for Tuesday? I don't understand." 

'Terrorist!'

Santos reveals he`s calling from Miami. He yells at Chavez: Terrorist! 
Animal! Murderer! &#%$! You're finishing off the Venezuelan people!" 

End of conversation. Callers flooded the station's switchboard. Among 
them: the owner, Raul Alarcón Jr., whom Santos described as "not very 
happy." (via Ulis Fleming, DXLD)

DOS DISC JOCKEYS MIAMENSES GASTAN UNA BROMA PESADA A HUGO CHÁVEZ
CHRISTINA HOAG
http://www.miami.com/mld/elnuevo/4885655.htm 

Fue una broma pesada que podía haber funcionado demasiado bien: Dos 
disc jockeys de Miami, conocidos por sus bromas pesadas, consiguieron 
hablar hoy a través de la radio con el presidente venezolano Hugo 
Chávez, diciendo que le llamaba Fidel Castro desde La Habana.

"Todavía no lo creemos", dijo Enrique Santos de El Vacilón de la 
Mañana, programa de la emisora El Zol 95.7. "Chávez se lo creyó".
El dueño de la emisora repudió la broma y los jockeys esperaban esta 
tarde las posibles consecuencias.

La broma fue parte de un segmento radial llamado Fidel te llama, en el 
que Santos y su compañero Joe Ferrero suelen llamar a diversas 
personas y reproducir trozos de una conversación grabada en cinta en 
2001 entre Castro y Vicente Fox, presidente de México.

Al escuchar la voz distintiva de Castro, los oyentes normalmente creen 
estar hablando con el mismísimo comandante. Después de unos minutos de 
una conversación sin sentido, las víctimas empiezan a sospechar una 
broma pesada.

Inmediatamente después, Santos y Ferrero les notifican que han sido 
objetos de una broma del programa radial.

Hoy lunes, Chávez, que considera a Castro un fuerte aliado y sin 
ningún pudor piensa que Cuba es un régimen modelo, fue la víctima de 
este programa. 

Los irreverentes DJs habían empezado a llamar al Palacio de Miraflores 
en Caracas el viernes pasado. Hoy a las ocho de la mañana, usando una 
voz femenina cubana que pretendía ser operadora en La Habana, 
consiguió llegar a un asistente presidencial que se identificó como el 
Teniente Arcia.

La operadora insistió en que el presidente Castro estaba en la línea y 
quería hablar con Chávez. En la cinta, se podía oír la voz de Castro, 
haciendo creer al teniente que el dictador estaba esperando. 

El oficial sugirió que el presidente Chávez devolvería la llamada a 
Castro inmediatamente. Pero la operadora insistió en que el líder 
cubano se encontraba en un lugar secreto y no recibía llamadas. El 
oficial entonces dio el número privado de Chávez a la emisora, que 
inmediatamente contactó al presidente: 

"¡Hola Fidel!" gritó Chávez.
"¿Recibiste mi carta?" preguntó Castro.
"Claro que la recibí", respondió Chávez. "Hablé con Germán".
"Estoy listo para cooperar con ustedes", dijo Castro.

Al aparecer las incongruencias, El Vacilón fingió tener problemas en 
la línea para disimular las respuestas sin sentido.
"Sí, hermano. ¿Cómo va todo?", preguntó Chávez.
"Haré lo que me pidas que haga", respondió Castro.
"No entiendo", contestó Chávez, sorprendido.
"Pero te confieso que me van a hacer daño", dijo Castro.

Silencio en la línea. Castro continuó: "Todo está listo para el 
martes".
"¿Todo está listo para el martes...?", repitió Chávez, obviamente 
confundido. "No entiendo".

En ese momento Santos interrumpió el diálogo y anunció que la 
transmisión venía de Miami. Silencio absoluto por parte de Chávez. 
Santos entonces lanzó una larga diatriba contra el presidente: 
"¡Terrorista! ¡Animal! ¡Asesino!", además de una buena selección de 
palabrotas. "¡Estás acabando con tu propio pueblo!" Santos entonces 
colgó el teléfono.

La pareja irreverente de Miami quedó asombrada por su éxito, lo que 
dio origen a una serie de epitetos en inglés a través de las ondas.
La emisora se inundó con llamadas del público, inclusive del dueño de 
la estación, Raúl Alarcón Jr., al que Santos describió como "poco 
entusiasmado con la broma".

Ferrero se dio cuenta del alcance de esta situación durante su 
conversación con Chávez. "No sabíamos qué hacer", dijo. "Era una 
conversación entre dos presidentes".

No se consiguió un portavoz de Miraflores para que comentara sobre el 
asunto esta mañana. 

No es la primera vez que Ferrero y Santos han causado revuelo a través 
de este programa. En abril del año pasado anunciaron un concierto con 
Julio y Enrique Iglesias en AmericanAirlines Arena, diciendo que las 
primeras personas presentes en la línea para adquirir boletos, 
entrarían gratis. 

A causa de esta broma, el estadio se inundó de admiradores de los 
Iglesias y la emisora suspendió a la pareja tres días con sueldo.
(El Nuevo Herald Jan 6 via Henrik Klemetz, DXLD)

Copiada la dirección deberá poderse encontrar la nota sin problema. Lo 
he comprobado nuevamente a las 1830 UT y no tengo ningún problema en 
escuchar por Windows Media Player el audio que tiene una duración de 6 
minutos con 31 segundos. ----- Véase

http://www.unionradio.com.ve/noticias/nacionales/Notanac2003010613839.htm

para leer *y escuchar* la broma que gastaron al presidente venezolano 
Hugo Chávez cuando desde la emisora El Zol 95.7 en Miami lo llamaron 
por teléfono diciendo que era de parte del "Comandante Castro". 
(Henrik Klemetz, Suecia, Conexión Digital via DXLD)

** VIETNAM. VOV has an interesting perspective, available thru its SW 
broadcasts and its very interesting website http://www.vov.org.vn  
Many of their programs are available via the website on demand (Fred 
Waterer, Programming Matters, Jan ODXA Listening In via DXLD)

** VIETNAM. 4795.80, Son La Broadcasting Station. After receiving an 
envelope with just a schedule back in November, I re-sent my report, 
indicating that I had received their reply but since the envelope was 
opened that the possibility existed that the verification reply had 
gotten lost. Received a reply to my follow-up, indicated in the letter 
was that since the program details where for a Regional station at Son 
La that they could not verify my report. It seems that the Radio Voice 
of Vietnam now has taken a new policy change to verifying regional 
stations` reports. Son La is the only station which I need verified, 
to close my list. Reply in 44 days with another schedule (Edward 
Kusalik, Alberta, Jan 6, Cumbre DX via DXLD)

UNIDENTIFIED. WWV usually dominates 5000 here in the evenings, but by 
0738 UT Jan 7, it was skipping over, and WWVH could be heard at equal 
level, along with the mystery station whose pips are offset about 1/3 
of a second. This may well be Cagigal, Venezuela, which seems to have 
a voice ID at the same time as WWV, and which has been known to be 
imprecise in the past. This offset is far too much for propagation 
delays to account for, and if a ``timesignal`` station can`t do better 
than that, it has no business on the air (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX 
LISTENING DIGEST)

UNIDENTIFIED. I was looking around on New Years Eve, to see what I 
might find. I found this on 6923.5, sideband, though I cannot remember 
if it was USB or LSB. It appears to be some kind of military 
communications network in a Latin American country. Maybe like our 
MARS? Anyway, on the run-up to midnight, they were playing salsa 
music, interrupted with greetings by various stations. At midnight 
(eastern time zone) the apparent net control gives a count-down and 
greetings and then other stations chime in with greetings. Judging by 
the time zone, this could be one of several countries, but I think the 
accent sounds Colombian, and one of the people is called Jairo, which 
is a rather common Colombian name. They do some talking back and 
forth, and then quit. There was what might have been an I.D., but it 
was lost in some local line noise, and I can't figure out what they 
say (Tim Hendel, AL, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

From Tim`s tape, I believe I heard them mention the frequency as given 
above, and ``La Paz`` --- or was it ``la paz``? Nothing likely on or 
near this frequency in Klingenfuss 2002 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING 
DIGEST)

UNIDENTIFIED. I`ve suspected that the remark some while ago that 
Tunisia on 7190 is a spur of 7225, and not a `real` frequency be 
unjustified. Arabic music was coming in well on 7190, with nothing on 
7225, Jan 7 at 0657, but unfortunately it cut off with no ID a 
sesquiminute later. HFCC B-02 does in fact show Sfax on 7190 at 0400-
0700 but not 7225; both are on the air at same time in evening, on
different beams (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

RECEIVER NEWS
+++++++++++++

RADIO RECEIVER AS A NATIONAL SECURITY RISK  
JUDGE REJECTS SHOE-BOMBER'S BID FOR RADIO
Thu Jan 2, 4:48 PM ET

BOSTON (Reuters) - A federal judge on Thursday rejected Richard Reid's 
request to keep a radio in his jail cell after the U.S. government 
argued that giving such a device to the convicted shoe-bomber posed a
national security risk. 

In a courtroom hearing, Chief U.S. District Judge William Young sided 
with the government against Reid, a British citizen who last year 
publicly pledged allegiance to Osama bin Laden and admitted to being 
an enemy of the United States. 

Prosecutors argued in a court filing last month that Reid, whom they 
called a "committed and dedicated international terrorist," should not 
be allowed to have a radio because it might prompt him to send
messages to the outside world. 

Giving Reid a radio would violate the special terms of his 
imprisonment that are designed to prevent him from "directing 
terrorist acts outside the prison that could harm national security," 
federal prosecutors said. 

To support their claim that Reid might try to make contact with the 
outside world, they said prison officials in June discovered a metal 
object in Reid's cell that could have been used "as an antenna in a
radio frequency receiver or transmitter." 

They added, however, that FBI investigators had been unable to 
determine the intended use of the object, which comprised a wire 
wrapped around a small metal disk that had a circuit board glued to 
its bottom. 

Reid, who is being held in Massachusetts jail, has extremely limited 
access to the outside world. The government allows him to receive Time 
magazine on a weekly basis, but only after it vets the publication
for possible terror-related material. 

Reid's lawyer, Owen Walker, did not return a telephone call seeking 
comment. Reid pleaded guilty in October to trying to bring down
American Airlines Flight 63 on Dec. 22, 2001, as it flew to Miami from 
Paris. 

Passengers and flight attendants overpowered Reid as he tried to 
ignite explosives in his athletic shoes. He was tied up with belts and 
headphone cords, and the plane landed in Boston under escort from 
fighter jets.

Reid is scheduled to be sentenced later this month. He faces between 
60 years and life in prison. Prosecutors said the Briton will most 
likely serve out his sentence at the Federal Correction Center in
Florence, Colorado (via news.yahoo.com via Sergei Sosedkin, DXLD) ###