DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-054, March 30, 2003 edited by Glenn Hauser, ghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted later at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd3c.html HTML version of February issues: http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd3b.html For restrixions and searchable 2003 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn NEXT AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1175: WBCQ: Mon 0545 on 7415 RFPI: Mon 0630, Wed 0100, 0700 on 7445 [may be pre-empted for Pacifica anti-war coverage; see C.R.] WWCR: Wed 1030 9475 WJIE: Mon & Tue 0700, M-F 1300 on 7490 WRN ONDEMAND: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO: Check http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html [Low] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1175.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1175.ram [High] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1175h.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1175h.ram (Summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1175.html WORLD OF RADIO etc. SCHEDULES UPDATED FOR THE WEEK OF CONFUSION http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html http://www.worldofradio.com/wormast.html UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL WE ALL APPRECIATE WHAT U R DOING FOR US DXers. SO KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK....WE LEAN ON YA MAN! all the best Glenn (Tarek Zeidan, Egypt) ** AFGHANISTAN. ------------------------------------------------- NEW RADIO STATION ON AIR, SATELLITE DISHES BANNED ------------------------------------------------- Two new radio stations are on the air in Afghanistan, with another coming soon, while a western province has banned satellite dishes and movies, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). Voice of Afghan Women, a new all-female radio station, went on air in the Afghan capital of Kabul on 8 March. The station will broadcast one combined hour of programming in Pashtu and Dari each day. The radio station is funded by United Nations Educational and Scientific Organization (UNESCO) and is headed by Jamila Mujahed. She is an Afghan journalist who is also editor in chief of Malalai, a French-funded magazine for women in Afghanistan. Mujahed said the new radio station "will focus on women - the problems they face, and how they can find solutions for them," reported RFE/RL, quoting the Associated Press. The day after Voice of Afghan Women was launched in Kabul, another radio station staffed by women and targeted at a female audience was launched in Mazar-e Sharif. The town in northern Afghanistan is about 35 miles south of the border with Uzbekistan. The new 50-kilowatt FM radio station, named Rabia Balkhi, is funded by the Ampex Corporation of Canada and will broadcast two hours of programming each day. A third radio station is expected to go on air this spring in Kandahar, the country's second largest city. Afghan Independent Radio (AIR) will be the first independent radio station based in the former Taliban stronghold in southern Afghanistan. According to the Boston-based NGO Afghans for Civil Society (ACS), former BBC producer Akhtar Kohestani will serve as station manager. For 20 years, Kohestani worked with the BBC's Pashtu Service as a producer of radio programs for Afghanistan. Internews will provide technical support for the station and staff training. Program content will be shared among radio stations throughout Afghanistan. Plans are under development for program sharing with the BBC, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Voice of America, Radio Afghanistan (Kabul), and Radio Afghanistan (Toronto). The project is managed by Afghans for Civil Society and funded by the Carr Foundation and the Open Society Institute (OSI). For more information visit http://www.afghanpolicy.org Meanwhile, the Heart province in West Afghanistan bans satellite dishes and movies. The ban is on place on the orders of the Endowment and Islamic Affairs Department of Herat, Radio Afghanistan reported on March 5. Herat also has issued a warning to shopkeepers and other businesses to "remove posters of Indian film stars" from their premises, the report added. Radio Afghanistan noted that the former Taliban regime "also restricted movies, televisions, dish antennas, and posters." Herat Province on March 1 issued a ban on playing music in public and the sale and the screening of movies. -------------------------------------------- [ Via / From / Thanks to and / or excerpted from the following : ] THIS WEEK IN THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNALISTS' NETWORK http://www.ijnet.org IJNet is published by the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) Issue #198 (via Georges Lessard, CAJ-list via Ricky Leong, DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. Tuned in to Radio Afghanistan today, around 1515 on 18940 via Kvitsöy, Norway. No program, instead Merlin's dramatic interval music over and over (Silvain Domen, Belgium, 30 March, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Here we go again ** AFRICA. As there have been a lot of reactivations and frequency changes in African SW scene I have just made an update of my Africalist database of Subsaharan Africa SW stations. It's available as a handy winzipped .xls-file on another server than it used to be: http://africa.coolfreepage.com/africalist/ btw: last time a piece of news like this was in DXLD, downloads significantly increased to +/- 100 within a few days, then dropping again to the usual +/- 20 a week... Myself, I have not made any sensational logs recently, so that's all for today and most certainly for a longer while (Thorsten Hallmann, Münster, International Vacuum, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. Re AM810 on 15820: that looks not like their "own transmission". It looks like one of the many Argentine military links to Antarctica. They use SSB, on LSB they often relay one of B.A.'s AM stations, on USB you could hear sometimes phone-patches with Antarctica bases. Heard many AM stations from B.A. on these utility links, often around 20 and 29 MHz, but also 15 MHz was reported often on utility SWL lists. Most of these AM stations even don't know that they were transmitted to Antarctica. 73, (Tom - DL8AAM, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. Here is the RAE A03 sked I received via postal mail, a poor copy in Spanish with the right hand of the copy cut off. 09-12 UT Panorama Nacional de Noticias 6060, 15345 America 10-12 UT Programa Japones 11710 Lejano Orie 12-14 UT Programa Castellano (Micro Lenguas Aborigenes) 15345 America 18-19 UT Programa Ingles 9690, 15345 Europa 19-20 UT Programa Italiano 9690, 15345 Europa - N. Eu 20-21 UT Programa Frances 9690, 15345 Europa - N. Af 21-22 UT Programa Aleman 9690, 15345 Europa - N. Af 22-00 UT Programa Castellano (Micro Lenguas Aborigenes) 6060, 11710, 15345 Europa - N. Af 00-02 UT Programa Portugues 11710 America 02-03 UT Programa Ingles 11710 America 03-04 UT Programa Frances 11710 America 73, (-.. . Kraig, KG4LAC, Krist, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. 2920.31, 23/3 0455, 1460 Radio Iluminares al Mundo, Buenos Aires (1460 x 2) id:"1460 Iluminares al Mundo" mensajes religiosos y música con ritmo popular y contenido cristiano. SINFO = 25222. Según los datos aportados por Marcelo Cornachioni en "Conexión Digital N 201" el QTH de la emisora es el siguiente: Laprida 1237, (1804) Ezeiza, Buenos Aires.Tel: (011) 4232-7673. Pertenece a la Iglesia Antorcha de Dios y es Director: Alejo I. Acuña (Ruben Guillermo Margenet, Argentina) 2539.85, 23/3 0447, LS11, Radio Provincia de Buenos Aires, La Plata (1270 x 2) ID: "LS11 una radio por y para el pueblo de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Radio Provincia AM 1270" SINFO=35333 (Ruben Guillermo Margenet, Argentina, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Re 2KM and QSLing: If it's possible if you or anybody else would help me by having their E mail, I'll be more than happy to send them an Email telling them what QSL is all about. Thanks for a very well done job; all the best from Egypt. Yours, (TAREK ZEIDAN, Cairo, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRIA. Re DXLD 3-050: Translated through AltaVista: [sic:] AUTHORIZED Orf orf-kollektivvertrag AND RESTRUCTURING Orf stiftungsrat By ROI. Dr. Klaus Pekarek (ORF Stiftungsrat of chairmen) Oe1, most successful Kultursender Europe, becomes the voice of Austria in the world The ORF Stiftungsrat under the presidency of general manager Dr. Klaus Pekarek agreed in the plenary session on Wednesday, 26 March 2003, that between ORF management and ORF Zentralbetriebsrat final new kollektivvertrag. The new kollektivvertrag will apply to all woman employees and coworkers, starting from 1. Jaenner 2004 a work contract close, as well as for free coworkers, who worked already so far for the ORF. Agreement of the donation advice gave it also for the restructuring of ROI., suggested by the management, further agreed the donation advice to order Professor Dr. Rudolf Bretschneider to the expert for the quality monitoring and Joerg Ruminak to the protection of children and young people-assigned. Oe1: New voice of Austria in the world The restructuring of ROI is necessary, because the Federal Government withdrew itself before two years from the financing of the foreign service. In the view both to economic necessities and to the quality assurance of the foreign offer over short wave and ons-line service the ORF will replace the past radio Austria international starting from 1 July 2003 by the new offer "radio Austria 1 international" - most successful Kultursender Europe becomes the voice of Austria in Europe and in the world. Of the Austrian public in an overwhelming high extent the accepted program-mix from information, culture, music, literature, education, science and religion thereby beyond the borders the foreign Austrians as well as a global public to the past extent of ROI, interested in Austria, will achieve. By the transfer of the highly qualified journalists of ROI the personnel capacity is strengthened by Oe1. The new "radio Austria 1 international" will cover also a English- language information offer going beyond the present Oe1-Programm. By the further Beitrieb of the short wave transmitter Moosbrunn both the chances of the digitization of the short wave and the employment of the short wave for crisis periods become secured. With the re- organization of the foreign service over short wave the ORF can offer and in one period of three years to savings at a value of annually approximately four million euro obtain further highest quality at the same time. Professor Dr. Rudolf Bretschneider to the expert quality monitoring, Joerg Ruminak to the protection of children and young people-assigned orders In December 2002 the donation advice of the introduction of a quality assurance system has that/those for the year 2003 agreed, which for the quality monitoring - topic in the year 2003 will be the maintenance - and for the overall evaluation eine/n Sachverstaendige/n plans, with agreement of the donation advice to order is. With this task Professor Dr. Rudolf Bretschneider, managing director chain GRP, is entrusted, which accomplishes a quality monitoring for the ORF since 1997. To the protection of children and young people-assigned, a further element of the quality monitoring, Joerg Ruminak is ordered. Joerg Ruminak, successor of Kurt miner as directors/conductors of the headquarter "Humanitarian Broadcasting", is active since 1980 in the ORF. From 1987 to 1993 he was director/conductor of the family and child radio in the ORF regional studio Vienna, from 1993 to 2001 directors/conductors of the head department society, youth and family (ORF via dock Ludwig, DXLD) (via Ed Mayberry, swprograms via DXLD) ** BELGIUM. I've been listening to Radio Vlaanderen Internationaal for over seven years now, and I can't recall a single instance where they've talked in their news programs with any member of the Vlaams Bloc. (For those who don't listen to RVI, the VB are a populist, anti-immigrant party of the right rather similar from what I can gather to Pat Buchanan here in the States.) Indeed, in their day- after election special after the 1999 general election, they talked with politicians from each of the parties that had won and would presumably be forming the next coalition. This is perfectly understandable. They also talked to members of the Christian Democrats who had lost the election and would be out of power. As far as I could tell, the ONLY Flemish party in the new Belgian parliament with whom they didn't speak were the Vlaams Bloc. After the 1999 election I wrote a letter to RVI complaining about their censorship of the VB when they talked with every other party -- at least Radio Austria International talks to politicians from the Freedom Party and lets listeners decide for themselves -- and all I got in response was a bunch of dissembling. It seems clear to me that the cold shoulder, and the extremely heavy-handed and biased treatment, given by RVI to the VB is an extension of the cordon sanitaire that the political parties have in refusing to form any coalition with the VB, but because the VB have the "wrong" views and are being censored by a government body, people who complain about control of media by the private sector will remain silent (Ted Schuerzinger, Mar 25, swprograms via DXLD) ** CANADA. This from the CBC Hotsheet for March 20. I've sampled this; it's interesting and worth your attention, IMHO (John Figliozzi, Mar 19, swprograms via DXLD) HOME DELIVERY: Home Delivery is a digital magazine featuring the best of CBC Radio and Television. The best of CBC radio and television is now available in one package that can be delivered right to your home. It’s called Home Delivery. It’s a full- screen digital magazine that delivers CBC`s award-winning content to your desktop – free – each week. In the current issue, CBC Archives takes a look back at the influx of American draft dodgers who came to Canada during the Vietnam War. Home Delivery - subscribe for free at http://www.cbchomedelivery.com (via Figliozzi, swprograms via DXLD) ** CANADA. Radio Canada International and CBC [English only] schedule to April 6. *** WEEK OF CONFUSION ONLY: then times to NAm shift [Site code: ae=UAE, ch=China, ne=Netherlands, ru=Russia, sw=Sweden, uk=UK; rest Sackville] CBC 0000-0057 As 9755ch, 11895ch CBC 0000-0059 NA 5960, 9590 CBC 1200-1259 As 9660ch, 11730ch CBC 1300-1559 Am, M-F 9515, 13655, 17710 CBC 1400-1659 Am, Sa-Su 9515, 13655, 17710 CBC 1500-1557 As 15360ch, 17820ch CBC 2300-2330 Am 5960, 9590, 11865 CBC 2330-2400 NA 5960, 9590 RCI 0200-0257 As 15150ch, 17860ch RCI 0200-0259 Am 6040, 9755, 11725 RCI 2100-2159 Eu, Af 5850sw, 5995uk, 7235uk, 7425ru, 9770, 9805ae, 13650 RCI 2200-2229 Eu, Af, ME 5850sw, 6045uk, 9770, 9805ne (Prime Time Shortwave Mar 30 via DXLD) ** CANADA. NEW CBC SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMME I assume this is new… first time I've heard it anyway, today (29 March) on Radio Canada International at 2135Z. It's called "SciTech Files" (spelling?), and contains segments by various CBC reporters, many of whom I recognize from other programs. I'm trying to figure out why this is different from "Quirks & Quarks". It seems to me SciTech deals more particularly with Canadian issues. I don't have web access at the moment to check on what their site has to say about it. Today's reports were as follows: 1. SARS (the pneumonia-like respiratory disease), and its appearance and spread in Canada. Interviewed were a member of the public who chose to quarantine herself, and an expert on infectious diseases.* 2. "Time & Again" feature: We were returned to 1947, and heard taped interviews about early mobile telephone service. A demo call was made thru a mobile service operator, and the recipient of the call describes the transmitter and receiver boxes in his car. I think this'll never catch on!! 3. Report on new medical opinion that we drink too much water, and shouldn't be drinking as much as is currently recommended. If I may inject a personal opinion: Ever see what water does to a piece of iron? — you can imagine what it does to your stomach!!! (Saul Broudy, Philadelphia, PA USA, Mar 30, swprograms via DXLD) 2100-2200 UTC is usually not reserved for CBC programming, but for RCI produced shows... (Ricky Leong, QC, ibid.) *Re SARS: What is it about the Orientals, that great masses of people in public will wear surgical masks, even when they only have a cold to keep from spreading it, whilst one *never* sees these in public in North America. Or are the masks even effective enough to bother with? Viri are pretty damn small (gh, DXLD) ** CANARY ISLANDS. 6715U, Full Gospel Las Palmas Church, Las Palmas; 2324+ March 28 [Fri], thanks Gerry Bishop phoned tip. Nonstop Korean M preacher. Very good save for fax co-channel (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA. LA COMPAÑÍA DE LA RADIO COMUNITARIA. Por Rafael Rodríguez R. Viajar por Colombia es una experiencia llena de sorpresas por descubrir; no sólo por su geografía y paisajes; durante un viaje por carretera llevado por motivos familiares y descanso que hice a la ciudad de Bucaramanga, capital del departamento de Santander, descubrí para mi agrado la enorme labor que realizan las emisoras comunitarias que adjudicará el gobierno colombiano para operar en el FM. Fue así que equipado del Sony ICF-SW 7600 y su compañera una grabadora TCM-454VK, emprendí el viaje que tomaría 9 horas hasta arribar a Bucaramanga. Durante el mismo siempre estuve acompañado de la señal de alguna emisora comunitaria en FM; así cuando se perdía la señal de una, llegaba la señal de otra y por algunos momentos eran varias las estaciones que llegaban con una buena calidad en la señal y el audio. Fue así que no más saliendo de Bogotá, por la Carretera Central del Norte a 30 minutos de viaje y en lo que se conoce como el altiplano cundíboyacense llegaron las señales de las emisoras: 107.4 Cotidiana HKG47 desde Cota, con el programa: Espinacas al Aire. 94.4 Alegría HKH44 de Tocancipa con música vallenata 101.3 Amigos de Choconta HKG45 desde Choconta 107.4 Ángelus HKH23 emisora parroquial desde Esquilé Ya adentrándose en el Departamento de Boyacá y antes de llegar a Tunja, su capital, los sonidos provenientes de las emisoras comunitarias de esta región cambiaron a mayor música típica y menos anuncios, pero aun asi logré identificar las siguientes emisoras: 98.6 Maravilla HKD95 desde Viracacha "la ciudad de las 7 maravillas" algo particular el lema de este pueblo; tengo que visitarlo algún día. 106.6 Ventaquemada HKD93 desde el pueblo del mismo nombre. 89.1 Dorado HKC59 de Turmequé, capital del Deporte nacional el "Tejo" Luego de dos y media horas ya me encontraba en Tunja, una ciudad de un largo pasado colonial allí pude escuchar algo del FM local donde tristemente están varias señales retransmitiendo a cadenas del FM de Bogotá como: Rumba, Oxígeno, 40 Principales, La Vallenata, Tropicana. Aún asi allí llegaban las señales de emisoras comunitarias de otros pueblos cercanos como: 94.1 Lanceros HKD90 desde Tuta anunciándose como "la nueva radio de Boyacá" y una comunitaria local en: 95.6 ICBA FM HJI30 que pertenece al Instituto de Cultural de Boyacá con excelente programación. Ya retomando la carretera vino una señal en 90.1 retransmitiendo la señal desde Bogotá de Colombia Estéreo, cabe anotar que esta estación no está registrada en el Ministerio ni es mencionada en la página web de la cadena radial del Ejército. Luego antes de salir de Boyacá y llegar a Santander escuché estas emisoras: 94.1 Arcabuco HKC56 desde el pueblo del mismo nombre y un programa realizado por estudiantes del Colegio Alexander Von Humboldt, Magazín estudiantil. 100.6 Hit HKD28 de Moniquira "Hit estereo radio seria, radio profesional, orgullosamente comunitaria" Ya en Santander, el primer pueblo que se encuentran es Barbosa, llamado "la puerta de Oro de Santander". Allí estaba la emisora: 103.2 Buenas Nuevas Digital HKK72, emisora evangélica del Ministerio Buenas Nuevas con mensajes por la paz y la convivencia. Hay que anotar que en Barbosa opera una emisora comercial que retransmite la Cadena Rumba de RCN en 98.2; también llega la señal desde el pueblo cercano de Velez: 107.7 Senderos HKL72 con programas para la familia campesina; el camino continuó hasta Oiba desde donde transmite: 91.2 Ecos HKL44 "Ecos estéreo, una buena radio al servicio comunitario". Luego de Oiba vienen una serie de pequeños pueblos que oficialmente no tienen emisoras pero aún asi me llegaron señales en 96.3 identificándose como Chibara estereo, y 92.4 Serranía estereo; ambas com música popular campesina pero no logré identificar desde qué pueblo transmitían. El siguiente pueblo en la ruta es Socorro. Allí a pesar de contar con una frecuencia autorizada y adjudicada (103.2 HKL65), en el momento no se encontraba operando, pero en AM opera en 1590 Radio Sra. del Socorro retransmitiendo la señal de Minuto de Dios Radio 107.9 desde Bogotá. Al continuar se llega a San Gil; esta es una ciudad intermedia. Allí transmite la más particular de las emisoras escuchada, con una excelente programación y reflejando lo que es una emisora comunitaria: 107.2 La Cometa. HKL58 identificándose ``En el aire, radio comunitaria, La Cometa HKL58, La Cometa 107.2 FM estéreo, desde San Gil, Santander, señales a cielo abierto.`` Luego de San Gil viene uno de los tramos más complicados de la geografía de Colombia, que se llama "Pescadero" y es el descenso que bordea el Cañón que forma la unión del Río Chicamocha con el Río Suárez; es un sector muy complicado por la cantidad de curvas y sectores angostos en la carretera; asi con el descenso se hace difícil captar alguna señal pero ya se empiezan a escuchar algunas estaciones desde Bucaramanga. Luego de pasar este sector vino la última emisora comunitaria que capté y fue: 107.2 Betuliana HKK75 desde Betulia. Ya pronto se arriba a Bucaramanga con lo cual se empiezan a escuchar las emisoras de esta ciudad y su área metropolitana que comprende los municipios de Girón, Piedecuesta, Floridablanca. Hay que tener en cuenta que estas emisoras comunitarias fueron adjudicadas con el Plan de Gobierno "Todas las Voces, Todas" la mayoría de éstas operan con sólo 200 vatios que les fueron autorizados. Hay algunas con mayor sonido profesional y mejor comercialización, para saber un poco más sobre la radio comunitaria de mi país, pueden leer un pequeño artículo que gentilmente reproducieron los amigos del GRA en el Conexión gráfico No. 140 de octubre 2002. ALGO MAS SOBRE COLOMBIA: Ariel Crocco, de Rosario, Argentina, nos envió algunos datos de las emisoras de la Armada colombiana, a través de las cuales se prepara una intensa campaña educativa, cultural, recreativa y social en zonas afectadas por el flagelo del terrorismo y el narcotráfico. Esta informacion le fue enviada por el Capitán de Corbeta GERMAN ORLANDO VELASQUEZ GOMEZ, JEFE DIVISION COMUNICACIONES -DEPARTAMENTO ACCION INTEGRAL, COMANDO ARMADA, CADENA RADIAL ARMADA NACIONAL COLOMBIA [each has E-mail, but truncated, deleted here] NOMBRE EMISORA: Marina Stereo Corozal UBICACION: COROZAL (SUCRE) FRECUENCIA 99.8 FM DISTINTIVO DE LLAMADA H.J.P.55 POTENCIA. 5 KW TEL: 2841055-FAX 2843436 DIRECCION: PRIMERA BRIGADA DE I.M. COROZAL (SUCRE) COLOMBIA NOMBRE EMISORA: Marina Stereo Puerto Leguízamo UBICACION: PUERTO LEGUÍZAMO (PUTUMAYO) FRECUENCIA 99.3 FM DISTINTIVO DE LLAMADA H.K.X.52 POTENCIA. 5 KW TEL: 5634111-FAX 5634082 DIRECCION: FUERZA NAVAL DEL SUR PUERTO LEGUIZAMO (PUTUMAYO) COLOMBIA NOMBRE EMISORA: Marina Stereo Bahía Málaga UBICACION: BAHÍA MÁLAGA (VALLE) FRECUENCIA 102.1 FM DISTINTIVO DE LLAMADA H.J.Q.42 POTENCIA. 5 KW TEL: 2460635-FAX 2460110 DIRECCION: FUERZA NAVAL DEL CARIBE BAHIA MALAGA (VALLE) COLOMBIA NOMBRE EMISORA: Archipiélago Marina Stereo UBICACION: SAN ANDRES ISLAS FRECUENCIA 94.5 FM DISTINTIVO DE LLAMADA H.J.I.56 POTENCIA. 5 KW TEL: 2841055-FAX 2843436 DIRECCION: COMANDO ESPECIFICO DE SAN ANDRES Y PROVIDENCIA - COLOMBIA (via Conexión Digital Mar 30 via DXLD) ** CONGO. Good signal from Radio Congo, Brazzaville on 4765 kHz from tune-in at 1815 today (Sunday 30 March). Nice to have another African back on 60m! 73s (Dave Kenny, BDXC-UK via DXLD) Again today, Sunday 30 Mar, Brazzaville noted on 4765 at 1755 in French (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA. Between COM and WOR UT Sun Mar 30 at 0610, on RFPI, James Latham mentioned that he has been working on a new antenna for 7445, which will improve reception in Eu and NAm when put into use later this week (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EL SALVADOR. Radio Imperial. 17835.16. 0350 UT. Weak Spanish language signal evident here at this time but severe QRM from NHK At 0400 NHK closed leaving Radio Imperial in the clear with a weak but readable signal. Very good clear ID at 0403 then music. Lost at 0405 so assume station closed at this time. I note in WRTV that their MW outlet on 810 closes at 0300. My reception would have been Saturday in El Salvador and a 0405 closure would be 10.05 pm there I think (Ian Cattermole, New Zealand, Mar 30, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** FRANCE. For those who are interested in French stations receiving, I`ve put on my website some MP3 audio clips recorded on various frequencies. France Inter, France Info, France Bleu, City radio de Paris, RFI ... and soon more samples to help you. Mainly recorded just before the news, with ID jingles. Hope this will be useful for all band Dxing! URL : http://audiomaniac.multimania.com/fx.htm See paragraph "Radio France ID for DXers" bottom part of the page 73 from (Pascal Perriot - Tours, France, Mar 30, dxing.info via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Data-base or soap-box? The Radio-Portal web site has added a scrolling marquee at the bottom of their home page that condemns the United States. The messages said "On March 20, 2003, the United States of America left the community of civilized states..." and "Put G. W. Bush to the International Court of Justice, together with Saddam!" [That`s Willi Passmann…] http://www.radio-portal.org (Ed Mayberry, TX, Mar 23, swprograms via DXLD) ** GERMANY [non]. For what it's worth, the last DW broadcast to North America was heard on UT-March 30 at 0100 on 6040 via Antigua with usual programming on the Iraq war; no other frequencies were noted, since DW went into the new, reduced A03 schedule (Joe Hanlon in Philadelphia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [and non]. DW monitoring March 30 continues: 1600-1700 UT -- 17595, via Wertachtal, giving good to excellent reception. (SINPO-55545; S9+ signal on meter). No reception on 6140, 6170, 7225; but this would be expected given these frequencies and the time of day (near midday) in ENA. After News, the newly extended "Mailbag" program for Asia was heard with letters read and pop music played. (17595 beamed 90 degrees to Asia with 500 kW. Backscatter radiation would "beam" a signal toward extreme northern South America and the Caribbean, in reasonable proximity to the east coast of NA.) (17595 also readable on Sony SW-07 with whip, with SINPO 35533.) [what you refer to isn`t really backscatter -- gh] March 30: 1900-2000 UT -- 13590, via Wertachtal, giving good reception. (SINPO-55544; S9+ signal on meter). 11965 via Trincomalee audible, but not at a comfortable listening level (SINPO-23332). No reception on 6180, 7225; but this would be expected given these frequencies and the time of day (mid-afternoon) in ENAm. After News and ten-minute special edition of Newslink (preempting "Hard to Beat"), the new (to shortwave) program "Inspired Minds" (profiles of musicians and artists) and a music program, as per the published schedule. (13590 beamed 135 degrees to Middle East with 500 kW. Backscatter radiation would "beam" a signal bisecting NA. 11965 beamed 285 degrees to Africa with 250 kW would continue on path reaching northern South America.) [13590 barely readable on Sony SW-07 with whip, with SINPO 25532.] (John Figliozzi, Halfmoon, NY (near Albany), Lowe HF-150 stack A/D Sloper antenna, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) DW Frequency Report: for North America: 1900 UT 11965 (Trinicomalee, 250 kW, 285 degree bearing) minimally audible 13590 (Wertachtal, 500 kW, 135 degree bearing) listenable with some fading (SINPO 34434, S5 on Sony ICF-2010, whip antenna). 6180, 7225 not audible (nor would these be expected here). At 2000: Neither 15205 (Nauen) nor 9780 (Trinicomalee) are listenable here, though a signal can be seen at S1/S2. Location: Allentown, PA (50 miles N of Philadelphia, 30 miles N of Kulpsville) (Richard Cuff, Mar 30, swprograms via DXLD) DW Freq. Report for NA 2100 UT 2100-2200 UT -- 15205 and 11865, both via Kigali, giving excellent reception. (SINPO-55555; both well over S9 signal on meter). 9440 via Wertachtal is heard, but at much lesser quality (SINPO-34433). After News and ten-minute special edition of Newslink (preempting "Hard to Beat"), the new (to shortwave) program "Inspired Minds" (profiles of musicians and artists) and a music program, as per the published schedule. (15205 and 11865 are beamed 295 degrees to West Africa with 250 kW. As this signal continues beyond West Africa, its beam carries it over the Florida peninsula.) [Both frequencies excellent (55555) on Sony SW-07 with whip.] (John Figliozzi, NY, ibid.) 15205 is S9 on my '2010 in Allentown, PA 11865 is S4, SINPO 33433. (Richard Cuff, ibid.) 2200-2300 UT -- No sign of either 9720 (Trincomalee) or 15605 (Komsomol`sk) here (both 250 kW to East Asia). Perhaps a west coast listener can hear these? (Figliozzi, ibid.) ** GERMANY. Transmisión especial de la DRM desde Juelich los dias 3/4 Abril 2003. A raiz de la European Digital Radio Conference a celebrarse en Munich, se realizará una transmisión especial de la DRM desde Juelich los dias 3 y 4 Abril 2003 a 0830-1500 UT en 5975 kHz, 130 , LPH (Media Network Newsletter 14 Marzo 2003 via Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Today there was a strong DRM signal on 6140. Cut off at 1859, so there should be no doubts that this was Jülich, probably permanently switched to DRM effective from today although the Deutsche Welle technical schedule still shows it as if it would be AM. Another case of left hand not knowing what the right one is doing as German saying goes? Herewith also Europe would be without a shortwave service of English from Deutsche Welle because the 50 minute transmission from Sines in the evening, the only one alongside the 6140 channel keeper now switched to DRM, was cancelled like the transmissions to North America (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [and non]. DRM 6132-6148 kHz covered around 14-15 UT range. Seems Juelich T-systems site. DRM 15440 close-down at 1500 UT, DRM Sines, Portugal (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ICELAND. 15775, very loud signal, surrounded by propagation-wise distorted poor signals from GB, France, Norway, Germany etc. on the 19 mb at 1456 UT; it was Reykjavik on strong USB-mode signal, (LSB totally supressed) 45544 (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. AIR A-2003 changes --- The following are the changes monitored for AIR External Service A-2003 schedule effective from today. 0130-0230* Nepali 9470 via Aligarh (ex 11715 Delhi) 0215-0300 Pashtu add 13620 Bangalore 0300-0345 Dari add 13620 Bangalore 0315-0415 Hindi 11840 replaces 11835 Panaji 0400-0430 Persian add 15770 (Aligarh?) 0430-0530 Arabic add 15770 (Aligarh?) *Note: on 9470 AIR FM II programs started today from around 0230 (ex 0130) due to Nepali at 0130-0230 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS/AT0J, Mar 29, dx_india via DXLD) Here are more monitored changes of AIR External service observed from today. 1000-1100 English 13695 Bangalore replaces 13710 ,, ,, 15410 replaces 15235 1115-1200 Thai 15410 Panaji replaces 15235 1115-1215 Tamil 13695 Bangalore replaces 13710 1215-1245 Telegu 13695 Bangalore replaces 13710 1215-1315 Burmese 15415 not heard 1330-1500 English 11620 dropped 1515-1615 Swahili 13605 not heard 1615-1730 Hindi 13605 not heard (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS/AT0J, Mar 30, dx_india via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET/VACUUM. WORLD LINK TV --- I have previously drawn your attention to a news program called "Mosaic" which airs on World Link TV. They have changed the times they run this program. It has been only Monday-Friday USA time but it would be worth checking on weekends as they seem to be giving the program some emphasis since the war began. Mosaic is a compilation of Middle Eastern newscasts with an English language voice over if the original is in Arabic or Farsi. The lineup changes from day to day but I have seen the following countries represented: Lebanon, Palestine, Israel, Abu Dhabi, Jordan, Iraq, Iran and the Arab News Network from London. Last I heard the Iraq Satellite Channel was still up and running. The program runs 4 times daily. The new UT times are 0230, 0830, 1430, and 2030. World Link is available on the lowest priced tiers of both DISH Network and Direct TV. You will need a DISH 500 antenna to receive it on DISH Network as the channel was recently transferred from the 119 West satellite to the one at 110 West. It is carried on the primary Direct TV satellite at 101 West. ~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-., (Joe Buch, Mar 26, swprograms via DXLD) -*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^ Mosaic was featured on CBS TV Sunday Morning Mar 30; as in a previous item here, they do have a video webcast, I`ve watched some (gh, DXLD) ** IRAN. One of our readers has pointed out that the extensive IRIB schedule in last issue was just their HFCC registration, not necessarily in full effect. I should add that a fair portion of those transmitters are likely to be used for unregistered jamming (gh, DXLD) Viz.: ** IRAN. 17545, Persian bubble jammer 14-15, against Israel, noted for the first time against Israel. 11705 bubble jamming, against US Radio Farda Persian, Lampertheim 17-19 UT (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [non]. /NORWAY Radio International at 1630 on new 13800 via Kvitsöy. Abrupt start with Dire Straits tune, ID and frequency. Good signal (Silvain Domen, Belgium, 30 March, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ. Anybody hearing Iraq on 11787 over the past day or so, or have we finally MOAB'ed the thing? (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ. US: OFFICIAL IRAQI RADIO NOT HEARD SINCE EARLY SATURDAY VOA News30 Mar 2003, 01:35 UTC A U.S. government radio service that monitors foreign broadcasts says the Baghdad government's official radio station has not been heard on any frequencies since early Saturday. The U.S. service said pro-government broadcasts in Baghdad had been replaced by those of a station broadcasting an anti-Saddam message. The new station calls itself Information Radio, and was heard with poor reception as recently as 2230 hours UTC Saturday. The U.S. report also said Iraqi satellite television has not been seen or heard on any frequencies since Monday, March 24. Separately, U.S. monitors say an Arabic station run by Saddam's son, Uday, known as the Baghdad Voice of Youth radio, has not been heard since Tuesday, March 25 (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** IRAQ [?]. A very heavy woodpecker jammer was noted around 1200- 1600 UT on the 22mb, 13661.3 kHz could approx. be measured as the centre frequency, but the signal disturbed a very, very wide range of 13630 to 13710 kHz. Seemingly against BBC Arabic Skelton 13660 kHz. Reminds me on the Russian woodpecker from Poltava-Ukraine twentyfive years ago. The other 15555 kHz frequency via Zyyi, Cyprus has also been jammed, but by a different buzzy siren sound (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ [and non]. Are you hearing three different stations on 756? (gh to Tarek Zeidan, Egypt, March 30) Dear Glenn, About 756: this frequency is really giving me a hard time for several reasons: I could hear a carrier but no audio. Is it because the 10 kW transmitter from Qena, upper Egypt?? or is it al Mashreqya radio??? But I used to monitor that station longtime ago -- - not anymore! Now they say Baghdad is using this one, and some says Information radio --- bummer. Wish I was in Jordan ;) Will keep you posted my friend with the latest. All the best (TAREK ZEIDAN, Egypt, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ [non]. Excerpt of Royal Navy article referenced in 3-053: HMS Chatham, its own Harpoon missiles poised for use, remained in position throughout Sunday morning to help secure the deepwater port of Umm Qasr, where pockets of resistance by Iraqi defenders were causing Allied troops some problems. The frigate had already used its 4.5 in gun, which has a range of about 11 miles, to bombard Iraqi military bunkers on Friday, and has also acted as the afloat headquarters of the American-planned ‘psychological operations’ division of the war. It broadcasts programmes dubbed `Radio Free Iraq`, consisting of a mix of modern Middle East music interspersed with messages of peace – and warnings that the Allies will use extreme force against those who do not surrender. The radio station`s transmitter is so powerful that it reaches much of Iraq, with Arabic-speaking presenters talking between songs (via gh, DXLD) As Hans suggests, apparently this really refers to Information Radio. The name `Radio Free Iraq` is already taken by that station in Prague! (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ. Today I did some outdoor listening for the first time this year, and indeed I could listen to what should be Information Radio on 4500, quite weak but sufficient for the ATS 909 (with whip antenna only, of course). Mostly music with short announcements in between, somewhat boomy modulation (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Nick Grace of CRW believes the transmissions on this frequency are intended for Iraqi Kurdistan, as it's in the range used by a number of existing Kurdish stations. Military activity in that region has been increasing over the past few days (Andy Sennitt, RN blog Mar 30 via DXLD) On 30 Mar I was listening to Information Radio (Iraq) on 4500 just prior to their closedown at 2000. While 4500 had a spoken info, 9715 had Arabic music. But the last closing announcement by male just at 2000 sounded identical on both frequencies to my ears. So, are there two separate audio streams from Information Radio? Or was there another station on 9715 with Arabic music signing off just before Information Radio leaving their closing announcement audible. If I heard correct it seems 4500 is not replacing 9715 but is additional frequency (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, Mar 30, dxing.info via DXLD) Information Radio is becoming "regionalised". The content of the messages will vary according to the circumstances in the area each frequency is designed to cover. 9715 covers the southern part of Iraq, 4500 is almost certainly intended for the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq. Nick Grace of CRW points out that they chose a frequency in the range used by a number of existing stations in Iraqi Kurdistan. These guys do their homework. You'll probably find some of the same music on both the services, but it will be played out from a digital file on board the aircraft so won't necessarily be in sync with another Information Radio service. The regional announcements will be inserted by the team responsible for a particular service. Obviously they'll all use the same standard ID's, which is what you heard. I understand that six aircraft are assigned to this mission, so don't be surprised if more frequencies appear in the coming days and weeks (Andy Sennitt, Netherlands, Mar 30, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** IRAQ [and non]. Three stations currently audible this evening (Sunday 30 March) around 4 MHz all with fair to good reception: 4500 kHz Arabic and western-sounding music, AA talk - probably Information Radio (US psyops to Iraq), heard from 1750 tune-in. 4085 kHz Kurdish music and talk - probably Voice of Iraqi Kurdistan. From 1750 tune-in. [see also KURDISTAN] 4025.35 kHz Voice of the Liberation of Iraq (via Voice of the People of Kurdistan?). Heard from 1828 sign-on with military music, and Arabic talk, frequent IDs "hunasawt at tahrir al-iraq" (Edwin Southwell reported at the Reading DX meeting yesterday that he had recently heard programming in English, Arabic and Kurdish on 4085 kHz so it is a channel worth checking.) 73s (Dave Kenny, Caversham, UK, AOR 7030, 25m long wire, Mar 30, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. PICTURE BULLETIN OF VOICE OF THE LIBERATION OF IRAQ 1830 gmt 30 March 03 [4025 +/- 5] 1. Item on the need for the voice of all communities and groups in Iraq to be heard. 2. Station announcement, with information on times, frequencies. 3. Martial music. 4. Call on Iraqi citizens to remain in their homes, not to drive their cars or go out on the streets, to stay away from installations vital to the regime, and not to go on to the roofs of their houses during air raids, for their own safety. Martial music. 5. Warning that the coalition forces will consider any source of firing of weapons as a target. Call on citizens not to approach alliance forces. 6. British military spokesman said yesterday that British forces treated wounded Iraqi civilians who had fled from Basra and were fired at by Iraqi forces. POWs have also been treated. 7. Five US soldiers killed when booby-trapped car exploded near Al- Najaf. 8. Iraqi opposition sources speak to the Kuwaiti news agency Kuna [remainder of item unmonitorable] 9. British tanks destroy HQ of militia loyal to Saddam Husayn in Basra. 10. US marines 250 km south of Baghdad short of food supplies. Local citizens gave them food. 11. More details on destruction of militia HQ in Basra. 12. Washington Post reports on attacks by Kurdish forces on Ansar al- Islam bases in northern Iraq. 13. Song, followed by martial music. 14. Warning to all those whom the regime has made responsible for firing ground-to-ground missiles against the coalition forces or civilian areas that the coalition will be able to trace their whereabouts by satellite with complete accuracy and destroy their positions completely. Call on these people to leave their posts immediately rather than fighting for Saddam Husayn. 15. Western intelligence reports says the Iraqi regime is using terrorism to force the people to defend it. Members of the Ba'th Party militia are rewarded with houses and cars. They encourage people to spy on and denounce each other. 16. Dictator Saddam Husayn and his advisers will try to flee. Soon the Iraqi people will be able to celebrate the end of his regime. 17. There have been reports in some of the media that Saddam's militias have killed some Iraqi soldiers and civilians. Call on Iraqi soldiers to stop defending Saddam's regime. 18. Report on President Bush's latest weekly address and what he said about the war, accusations against Saddam. 19. Saddam wants to repeat his crimes of the first Gulf War, setting light to oil wells and destroying Iraq's wealth and infrastructure. The Iraqi people will pay the price. 20. Iraqi deserters have said that Saddam's militias have ordered soldiers to carry out suicide attacks against the coalition forces. 21. Reports that Saddam has fired his air defence chief following deaths of civilians in Baghdad which may have been caused by Iraqi missiles. Spokesman for Blair quoted. Source: Voice of the Liberation of Iraq, in Arabic 1830 gmt 30 Mar 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** IRAQ. I'm still checking the Iraqi Satellite Channel "IRAQ TV" on hot bird TPS 13 Deg East. The images are more stabilized today and programmes are not so often interrupted than during previous days. Good reception! The sound reflections are mainly observed when a room is more or less empty or large... So Tarek I was thinking that religious buildings or large underground bunkers could have been used as studios coz have enough room for that! 73 amigo Tarek (Pascal Perriot, Tours, France, Mar 30 1100 UT, Dxing.info via DXLD) ** IRAQ. MEDIA BEHAVIOUR ROUND-UP 1610 GMT 30 MAR 03 Iraq Satellite Channel TV continues to broadcast, although there is often at least one daily break of some hours. Republic of Iraq Radio was heard again on 30 March on two mediumwave frequencies. Voice of Youth radio remains unheard. Following is BBC Monitoring's round-up of Iraq-related media news and observations on Iraqi media: Iraq Satellite Channel continued to broadcast and carried the following programmes, interspersed with patriotic songs: 1205 gmt: End of Al-Sahhaf's news conference. 1213-1215 gmt: Video clips of damage caused by US bombing, interviews with citizens on bombing. 1232 gmt: News conference by a military spokesman. 1247 gmt: Call for afternoon prayers. 1253 gmt: Military spokesman's news conference continues. 1259 gmt: End of news conference by military spokesman. 1310 gmt: Documentary on the Iraqi 1920 Revolution. 1329 gmt: Video clips from Doha Al-Jazeera of US soldiers killed, others taken prisoner, in Al-Nasiriyah battle during the first days of the war. 1347 gmt: Video clips showed houses damaged by US bombing, citizens speaking about the "invaders' crimes." 1358 gmt: Video of Iraqi women providing "quick meals" to armed citizens. BBC Monitoring cannot receive the domestic Republic of Iraq Television, which is believed to be still broadcasting. Republic of Iraq Main Radio Service Domestic Iraqi radio was heard at 0848 gmt on 30 March on 909 kHz. That frequency has been heard before and is thought to be from a transmitter near Baghdad. It had not been heard since 26 March 2003. The station has also been heard on 30 March on 603 kHz in the Arbil area of northern Iraq. This is believed to be the Ninawah transmitter near Mosul. The programmes were as follows: 1125 gmt: Radio carried sayings by Saddam Husayn, station identification, and talks in Iraqi dialect criticizing Bush, and praising Saddam Husayn. 1130 gmt: Radio carried a largely-indistinct newscast: A. Station identification B. Indistinct on a decree by Saddam Husayn. C. Military spokesman statement on enemy losses. D. Indistinct on the foreign minister criticizing resolution on memorandum of understanding. Remainder of newscast indistinct. 1210 gmt: Talk praising Saddam Husayn. 1228 gmt: Slogans praising Saddam and calling for fighting enemies. 1232 gmt: Station identification. 1238 gmt: Poem criticizing Arab regimes and praising Iraqis' steadfastness. 1245 gmt: Call for afternoon prayers. The station then faded. Domestic Voice of Youth radio cannot be traced. Internet: The Iraqi News Agency, INA, and other Iraqi web sites were not accessible. BBC Monitoring research in Arabic 30 Mar 03 (via DXLD) ** IRAQ [and non]. MORE IRAQ MAPS Members may want to again check the University of Texas Perry - Castañeda Library Map Collection site. They've added two new portions of recent NIMA Tactical Pilotage Charts: Baghdad Region 1998 848 Kb. Kuwait - Eastern and Neighboring Iraq 1999 848 Kb. Both are .jpg files. Many other maps of Iraq, Afghanistan etc. can be found at: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/index.html (WUN mailing list via F. W. `Pim` Ripken, Mar 30, BDXC via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. The Kol Israel Summer schedule is now found on the IBA website. http://bet.iba.org.il/shortwavws.html The Bezeq website hasn't been updated yet. http://www.bezeq.co.il/english/template/default.asp?maincat=2&catid=102&pageid=743 (Doni Rosenzweig, NY, Mar 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. BBC WORLD TO BE AXED FROM CABLE (Israeli Cable TV) http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/A/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1049012174655 British news station BBC World will no longer be broadcast on cable TV from Tuesday. In the following days BBC World will also be taken off of digital cable. The 24-hour news channel will continue broadcasting in Israel via satellite on YES. The cable networks made the decision to pull the channel, which competes with CNN, Sky News and Fox News, due to low ratings and say they will use the vacant channel for spot to broadcasting something else another channel (via Doni Rosenzweig, NY, Mar 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. CABINET PASSES TV TAX CUTS, REFORMS IN IBA Mati Wagner Mar. 27, 2003 http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/A/JPArticle/PrinterFull&cid=1048758129505 The cabinet passed cuts in the the TV and radio taxes starting in and reforms in the Israel Broadcast Authority (IBA) Thursday. The Finance and Industry and Trade Ministries initiated the cuts that are to be implemented gradually over a three-year period. The present annual NIS 131 radio tax and NIS 515 TV tax will be lowered to NIS 38 and NIS 260 respectively. In addition to the TV and radio tax, IBA also receives revenues from an NIS 120 tax paid as part of automobile licence renewal expenses. The cabinet passed an additional measure that separates the IBA's TV and radio business operations and financial reporting. Beginning in 2004, the two communications media will operate as separate entities. The Finance, Justice and Industry and Trade Ministries were also empowered to establish a joint committee that will weigh addition efficiency-improving reforms. The committee is to present recommendations within three months. The committee will recommend reforms that will improve broadcast content quality, said a Treasury press release. "With the rise of cable TV and Channel 2 in the early nineties, IBA TV was confronted with a crisis", said the press release. "Large numbers of talented senior workers left IBA for cable TV and Channel 2. Viewership fell. Programming remained at a low level. Locally produced content made up a very small percentage of broadcasts." The committee's goal will be to prevent the IBA from "losing relevance" in an increasingly competitive atmosphere. IBA's radio department's revenues were NIS 370m. while expenses reached NIS 255m. Revenues from radio advertisements reached NIS 160m. and NIS 210m. from the TV tax. The surplus revenues and the rising number of automobiles convinced the Treasury of the need for a cut in the TV and radio tax. CHANNEL 10 CONTROLLING SHAREHOLDER THREATENS TO PULL THE PLUG http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/A/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1048758129497 (via Doni Rosenzweig, DXLD) ** ISRAEL. Israel, of course, went on Summer Time Friday. (Thursday, 2200 GMT). Glen[n] Hauser should be interested to know that it is the religious who fight against Summer Time in Israel because they feel it tends to promote the desecration of the Sabbath (which runs from Friday before sunset to Saturday after sunset) (Joel Rubin, NY, swprograms via DXLD) I believe you mentioned this at a previous shiftover, but it can`t be said often enough (gh, DXLD) ** JORDAN. I have not listened to Radio Jordan in years because of intense FSK interference. Today I was pleasantly surprised. At about 1610 I decided to check propagation and tuned to the frequency of Radio Jordan, 11690 kHz. It was clobbered as usual by two FSK signals, one slightly above and one slightly below the 11690 frequency. I threw in the old crystal filter on the R-388 and after some fudging was able to get the passband and notch characteristics to the point where I could actually get some program information. They were having an English language call-in program just like you might hear on your local USA station. I believe they are relaying a local Amman station on 96.3 FM. I did hear a female announcer ID the station but all I could make out was the FM part of the ID. This is the only English language FM listed for Amman. The show was broken up by music (They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.) and by "breaking news" bulletins which related to the war and General Frank's latest news conference which was almost two hours old by this time. The female host asked listeners to call in with their opinion on the question, "With all the media coverage we have been getting on the war, are we getting too much information?" . The program is due to end at 1700 UT but if you want to drop a nickel and startle a radio host, you might try calling tomorrow. The phone number is announced as 47-47-201 or 202. Because they did not use the country code, I presume the folks at the station have no idea they are reaching an international audience. They also gave a URL but copy was too bad to get it. So the full phone number according to Passport would probably be +962 (6) 47-47-201 or 202. If you call, tell them Joe sent you. There were time pips approaching 1700. The long dash occurred at 7 seconds before the hour. It was followed by a newscast in English. The first four minutes were devoted to the latest news from the front. This was followed by an account of the protests happening around the world at various USA embassies. At 6 minutes there was a story about a Palestinian who got shot by the Israeli's today. This was followed by a headline summary and the weather forecast. Snow was predicted someplace but I did not catch where. At 1708 they transitioned into detailed economic and war related stories. The journalism seemed pretty good and was confined to the facts as I already knew them. At 1715 they began a musical program. The lead tune was "When The Saints Go Marching In." I wonder if there was a not too subliminal message there? None of the tunes were announced. All were jazz, mostly from the swing era. At 1725 there was another ID for 96.3 FM but I was unable to make out the name of the station. A male announcer ID'ed Radio Jordan at 1729:15. Time pips heard on time at 1730. This was followed by noticias in Espanol. The Spanish language transmission is not shown in Passport so I gather it is relatively new [that`s some other station – Turkey? neatly opening when Jordan closes; at least it was so in B-02 –gh] I always get more fun out of listening to shortwave relays of domestic stations and this experience was no exception. It's nice to know what the natives are concerned about and what the common folk are saying. Excuse me now. I have to go find those HF FSK-homing missiles I stashed in my barn when the NASWA Research Laboratory contract for a jammer elimination device was cancelled by the Clinton Administration because they might be considered too provocative. We wouldn't want to start a war now would we? ~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-., (Joe Buch , DE, Mar 24, swprograms via DXLD) -*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^ I've been listening to Radio Jordan's English service this morning, and I have to say, the choice of music has been interesting. You have to wonder if it's a subtle commentary. When I tuned in at 1624, I was greeted with Screaming Jay Hawkins and "I Put a Spell on You". A little while later, CCR's "Bad Moon Rising" came over the air. After the news at 1700, they restarted the music with The Boxtops song "The Letter", in which the protagonist claims that he has to go home because his baby wrote him a letter. Right now they're playing a song I'm not really familiar with about notorious outlaws Bonnie and Clyde. Interesting stuff. They've been breaking in between songs periodically with breaking news reports from the war zone about an Iraqi attack on an American supply convoy in southern Iraq that I haven't seen reported on the CNN or BBC web sites. The full news at 1700 was pretty interesting too, leading with stories of civilian casualties in Baghdad and the like (Ralph Brandi, NJ, Mar 26, swprograms via DXLD) How are you guys able to hear this one through the noise. All I get is RTTY noise, both on USB and LSB. Any attempt to use the audio notch on the AP-150 meets with failure. I can sometimes make out that there's programming there, but it's indecipherable.... (John Figliozzi, Half Moon NY, ibid.) I tune to LSB, then notch out the RTTY noise, which is centered around 2.1 kHz. I guess the (optional) notch on the 7030 Plus is better than the notch on the AP-150, because with these adjustments, I get a signal that's pretty darned listenable (Ralph Brandi, ibid.) I configure the R-388 for LSB reception and then, using the crystal filter phasing control, I notch out the upper tone of the FSK signal operating below 11690. I then tighten the filter for best intelligibility. The FSK station above 11690 is closer to 11690 than the station on the low side so it is better to use LSB. Boatanchors forever (Joe Buch, DE, ibid.) I think you have a true notch on that 7030; the one on the 150 is an audio notch which is admittedly much less effective. The 150 also does not have a bandpass either. :-( jaf (Figliozzi, ibid.) I listened to that today also. Between 1715 and 1730 sign-off; they played "Don't Sleep In The Subway Darling". Was that a request phoned in from Baghdad by Saddam's wife? (Joe Buch, DE, Mar 26, ibid.) RADIO JORDAN CHANGES PROGRAMMING TO REFLECT NATION'S SOMBRE MOOD By Natasha Twal http://www.jordantimes.com/mon/homenews/homenews5.htm AMMAN --- Radio Jordan has amended its programming schedule by halting its more upbeat songs and replacing them with patriotic ones, reflecting the sombre national mood due to the US-led war on Iraq, officials said Sunday. The major change was in putting ``Amman 99 FM`` service on hold, said Director of Arabic Services at Radio Jordan Mohammad Sarayreh, explaining that some 75 per cent of its transmission was composed of upbeat Arabic songs. ``Now people tuning in to Amman FM will hear amended programmes from the AM Arabic service, which is broadcast on 612 AM and 801 AM,`` according to Sarayreh. ``No one is in the mood to listen to energetic, happy songs in these circumstances,`` he added, pointing out the freeze would continue for a while. ``We still do not know when we will resume our regular programming schedule,`` Sarayreh told The Jordan Times. In addition to replacing ``upbeat`` songs with national songs, the AM service has increased the length of its news reports from 30 minutes to between 45 to 60 minutes, explained the director. ``We are also broadcasting breaking news, interrupting any running programme for the news flash,`` he added, saying as well that the length of news briefs has been increased to nearly 10 minutes. Similar changes have occurred in the foreign service programmes of Radio Jordan. ``We are playing downbeat music, which reflects the nation`s mood and our mood here at the station,`` said Haitham Atoum, foreign services director at Radio Jordan. The foreign service includes a French service on 90.0 FM and an English service on 96.3 FM. ``The DJs [disc jockeys] are no longer speaking on air either. We are only presenting a playlist of sedate music with breaking news every 15 minutes, sometimes less depending on developments,`` explained Atoum. ``We are not happy with what is going on so we are refraining from playing happy music,`` he exclaimed. Commenting on the change at the more music-oriented English service on 96.3 FM, Randa Naffaa, a 27- year-old researcher for a development institute in Amman, said nobody is in the mood to listen to loud music such as pop or rock and roll anymore. ``I did not listen to news on the radio. But now news reports are the only thing I tune in to,`` said Naffaa. According to the young researcher, the English service of Radio Jordan has to produce more local news reports and political talk shows. ``In these times, the international media will be listening to 96.3 FM, since it is the only English service here. The service needs to do more reporting, such as covering street reactions to the war for example,`` she concluded. Monday, March 24, 2003 (via Kim Elliott, swprograms via DXLD) Nice find, Kim. The breaking news inserts did indeed tend to come every fifteen minutes. I don`t know if I would say the music wasn`t ``upbeat``. CCR, Screaming Jay Hawkins, and The Boxtops are pretty energetic. On the other hand, there was also a fair amount of blues being played. I just thought it was interesting that the playlist could possibly be read as a subtle and clever commentary on the situation (Ralph Brandi, swprograms via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN. IRAQ. On 4085 at 2027 on March 26th I heard a man calling to the people of Iraq in English, saying Saddam's time is up and telling them to stay away from military targets etc., 2031 programme of Kurdish music and news, same English segment heard at 2125, 2130 Kurdish music and songs till 2200 close down. SINPO 44544, best on USB. On the 27th heard English 1825, Arabic 1830 to 1850 tune out, 2025 recheck English till 2033 then into Kurdish with martial music. Presumably Voice of Iraqi Kurdistan (Edwin Southwell, Basingstoke, UK, World DX Club, via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) see IRAQ ** LITHUANIA. Sitkunai (100 kW) A03 operational schedule: 7470 kHz (315 backlobe to ME): 1600-1630 R.Barabari in Farsi. 9710 kHz (259 to Eu): 0800-0830 R. Vilnius in Lithuanian, 0830-0900 R. Vilnius in English; Sun 1000-1100 Avaye Ashena in Farsi, Sun 1100-1200 Fundamental Broadcasting Network in English, Sun 1200-1300 R. Santec in German. 9875 kHz (315 to NA): 2300-2330 R. Vilnius in Lithuanian, 2330-2400 R. Vilnius in English. 11690 kHz (315 to NA): 0000-0030 R. Vilnius in Lithuania, 0030-0100 R. Vilnius in English. (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. RADIO FAN GETS QSL FROM OAX5X RADIO VIRGEN DEL CARMEN EN HUANCAVELICA --- SIGNED BY THE BISHOP! Mahopac, NY, Mar 17 (DX Listening Digest) --- When John Sgrulletta of Mahopac, an avid shortwave listener, sent off a reception report, mint stamps, a cassette recording, and a U.S. dollar to OAX5X Radio Virgen del Carmen of Huancavelica, Perú, he hoped for a QSL card. As any amateur or shortwave radio fan knows, a QSL card is a postcard acknowledging a listener`s report of having received the station. QSL cards go back to the earliest years of radio, the 1920`s, when people sent in reception reports to stations hoping for a card bearing the station`s call letters, frequency, some program details, perhaps some art work or a photo of the station, its towers, or personalities. Mr. Sgrulletta got his QSL card, all right, but signed by no less than the American Bishop there, His Excellency William McDermott, who many EWTN listeners will recall has been a guest on Mother Angelica`s program on several occasions. Here is Mr. Sgrulletta`s report, published in Glenn Hauser`s DX Listening Digest of March 17….. [q.v.] Maybe other bishops ought to emulate this good bishop. Maybe your Catholic radio stations ought to consider printing some QSL cards (the size of regular postcards), too. They are relatively inexpensive and are used to verify reception to those listeners out of the normal listening area. Local ham operators can shows you what a QSL card looks like; broadcast station QSL`s are the same. The design can be what you want it to be, but QSL`s always give basic information about the station and confirm reception as to date and time. Database Huancavelica: OAU5J Radio Virgen de Carmen 1520 AM (1,000 wats) y OAX5M-FM 105.3 FM y OAX5X 4886 khz (800 w). El Obispado de Huancavelica. Plaza Bolognesi No. 142, Cercado, Huancavelica, Perú. o Apartado 92. José López Alvarado, dtr. Tel.: (51-64) 75-2989 E-mail: jlopez_alvarado@hotmail.com (Mike Dorner, Catholic Radio Update Mar 31 via DXLD) ** PUERTO RICO. Re WBMJ 1190: When old time DXer Lars Rydén visited San Juan radio stations in mid 1967, Bob Bennett had left WKYN 630 to become VP and Manager of WBMJ. At that time WBMJ, owned by Bob Hope, was under construction with studio space rented at Hotel Darlington, Santurce. At WKYN Bob Bennett had served as Program Director. He was the one who signed my QSL for WKYN in January 1964. The station went on the air sometime in mid 1968, first European logs in September 1968, after that a regular catch (Olle Alm, Sweden, 30 March, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ROMANIA. A very distorted signal monitored on both 15300 [very strong] and 15220 kHz, during the French outlet to Maghreb at 1100- 1200 on 15380 and 17745 kHz. That means 80/160 kHz away from 15380. But the fundamental 15380 was covered by very strong Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in Arabic. 11830 another terrible Romanian transmitter, domestic service relay during afternoon (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SEYCHELLES [non]. The following broadcasts of FEBA was noted today (transmitter sites unknown) 15580 : 0030 Tamil etc. 15605 : Tuning Signal continuously at 1215-1245 followed by programs in Indian languages 11885 : Tuning Signal at 1515, 1615 etc. and in African (?) language (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, Hyderabad, India, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWITZERLAND. Still on SW: 13795 kHz -- Swiss Radio International, targeting Africa. Decent audio, SINPO 34434 -- Sony ICF-2010, whip antenna. Location: Allentown, PA (Richard Cuff, Mar 30, swprograms via DXLD) ** THAILAND. R. Thailand has a new frequency for their evening service which is easily heard in Australia. Noted on 9700 (x 9810) in English from *1230 to 1300*. QRM from another Asian station (perhaps South Korea??) on same freq. Not sure why Thailand changed as 9810 is now vacant this evening (Rob VK3BVW Wagner, Melbourne, Australia, Mar 30, EDXP via DXLD) ** TIBET [non]. 21560 ??? Chinese music jammer against whom? I guess Voice of Tibet 1430-1515; Tashkent?? (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UKRAINE. 15415 in English, very clean audio, 45554, around 1130 UT (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, RUI A03 quick check continued. 1100 UT 15415 RUI not heard. Around 1152 UT China Radio Int. begins using 15415. 2100 UT 5905 RUI initially not heard. Finally RUI heard around 2130 until end of broadcast with S 1/2 to S 4, severe QRN, slight QRM from 5900 R. Bulgaria? (I attempted to get a positive ID, station was playing music, but wasn't in English, but at 2200 UT terrible noise, DRM?, started on 5900). Conclusion. Hearing RUI will be difficult in A03. Will be interesting to hear if difference once U.S. changes times next Sunday. 73, (-.. . Kraig, KG4LAC, Krist, VA, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. BBC A-03 frequency schedules: Visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/schedules/frequencies/index.shtml as of March 30th. The updated information should be there – individual sub-regions are shown; each has its own chart. Hope this information helps - (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA with help from John Figliozzi, Mar 19, swprograms via DXLD) ** U K. I know at least one person on the list had trouble accessing the BBCWS in Windows Media since Yahoo! Broadcast stopped their service; a link to the audio in Windows Media format now appears at the BBCWS website. It's a very narrow 8 kbps bandwidth, and the sound is muddy (at least right now) but it is an option for those who don't have other options. See http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/radio/winstream_popup.shtml the URL for the feed itself is http://stream.servstream.com/ViewWeb/BBCTechnology/Event/BBC_World_Service.asx Even the usual BBCWS RealAudio feed is cut to 11 kbps -- presumably to conserve bandwidth. In addition to the feeds available at the BBCWS website, you might wish to consider other feeds from public radio stations with improved bandwith. To see who is webcasting the BBCWS at any time, consult these pages at Kevin Kelly's PublicRadioFan website: http://www.publicradiofan.com/cgi-bin/program.pl?programid=1164 (all-news PRI feed) http://www.publicradiofan.com/cgi-bin/program.pl?programid=476 (Europe feed) During the war, you may find BBCWS carriage for longer durations than shown in Kevin's database. For example, at 2200 UT on 22 March, KPLU- FM -- not shown as carrying the BBCWS at that time -- is continuing the service as I type this. The URL for their stream is http://wma.str3am.com/kplu and is a 16 kbps Windows Media feed. Good listening (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, Mar 22, swprograms via DXLD) And of course, the BBC World Service Windows Media Player feed is available for the clicking on International Listener's front page drop-down menu. There have been many moments in the past few days when the Real Player feeds have been overtaxed, so it's definitely a good alternative. Also, check out the TV feeds from the BBC on the site's Television page. Hey, if I don't blow my own trumpet, who else will? http://www.internationallistener.com http://home.houston.rr.com/edmayberry (Ed Mayberry, ibid.) It's interesting that the BBC Website has the following statement... "Responding to demand a Windows Media stream is being offered during the war in Iraq" I was one of the people who sent an email to the BBC requesting this. I didn't think they would do it so Let's say thanks when they do respond to a request like this! (Sandy Finlayson, ibid.) You might want to try the Yahoo Broadcast streams. I don't know how you access them on the web (the Yahoo Broadcast web site has disappeared) but the following live Americas streams are working right now: rtsp://63.250.208.25/bbc288.ra Real Audio mms://63.250.199.195/bbcworld Windows Media Player I'm not sure if you can get to the all news or Spanish streams at Yahoo Broadcast if they still exist (Joel Rubin, NY, Mar 23, swprograms via DXLD) The sound quality of the BBC World Service Windows feed is VASTLY better on the International Listener's front page than it is on the BBC website. Ed, Many Thanks for drawing our attention to the link! (Sandy Finlayson, Mar 25, swprograms via DXLD) BBCWS will start to introduce non-news programming as of 0000 UT 3/29/03. In general, you'll hear news for the first half hour, features the second half hour of each hour. Features that normally run 27 minutes (from :32 to :59 past an hour) will be shortened to 23 minutes; the additional 5 minutes will be set aside for a sports wrapup or a readout of incoming e-mails / SMS messages regarding the war. Sportsworld will run, but the first 20 minutes of each hour will be news related. A weekdaily Talking Point will air at 1530. Outlook will air live at 1132 and 1632 it seems. The only time you'll hear science programs is the 1932 weekday slot. The BBCWS will still mostly be a news service, specifically from 2200 to 0830 UT. They believe this is their major mandate, and will continue to emphasize the news. I should add there is no music in the planned "hybrid" schedule. (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, Mar 28, swprograms via DXLD) Here is the current plan as of 1800 UT Friday 3/28 for the BBC World Service as of this coming Monday. There are a few anomalies here that I didn't get a chance to clarify with my Bush House contacts before the weekend. It appears this single schedule applies to all regions, but I am frankly not sure. The schedule is subject to revision at a moment's notice if events warrant reverting to the "rolling news" format that has been in use since Gulf War II began. All times and days are UT. Please pass along to others who would benefit from this information. Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA BBCWS WEEKDAY PROGRAM SCHEDULE AS OF 31 MARCH 0000-0832: News coverage 0832-0855 Mon - Documentary 1, Tue - Masterpiece, Wed -Documentary 2, Thu -Assignment, Fri - Sports International 0855-0900: Sports news 0900-0932: News coverage 0932-0955: Mon - Health Matters, Tue - Go Digital, Wed - Discovery, Thu -One Planet, Fri - Science in Action 1000-1132: News coverage 1132-1200: Outlook 1200-1532: News coverage 1600-1732: News coverage 1732-1800: Outlook 1800-1932: News coverage 1932-1955: Mon - Health Matters, Tue - Go Digital, Wed - Discovery, Thu -One Planet, Fri - Science in Action 1955-2000: SMS messages 2000-2132: News coverage 2132-2155: Mon - Documentary 1, Tue - Masterpiece, Wed -Documentary 2, Thu- Assignment, Fri - Sports International 2155: Sports news 2200-2400: News coverage (via Richard Cuff, PA, Mar 29, swprograms via DXLD) BBCWS WEEKEND SCHEDULE AS OF 29 MARCH 2003 Here is the weekend schedule for the BBCWS beginning 29th March. This information is subject to change/revision as world events warrant; I've compiled this information from Bush House contacts. I believe I have accounted for Summer Time correctly -- which begins at 0100 UT (Sunday 30th March), but some of the projections for Saturdays once Summer Time is in force may not be correct. I'll confirm this with World Service contacts next week.. The duration of this news-oriented schedule is not known, as events in Iraq or elsewhere can't be predicted. Richard Cuff Allentown, PA Weekend (tentative) News coverage will air EXCEPT for those times and days shown in the following list. 0032-0045: Sat - World Business Review, Sun - Global Business 0045-0055: Sat - Analysis, Sun - Global Business 0232-0255: Sat - Assignment, Sun - Agenda 0332-0345: Sat - World Business Review, Sun - People & Politics 0345-0355: Sat - Analysis, Sun - Letter From America 0432-0455: Sat - Assignment, Sun - Global Business 0530-0545: Sat - World Business Review, Sun - Agenda (to 0555) 0545-0555: Sat - Letter From America 0645-0655: Sat - People & Politics 0732-0745: Sat - World Business Review, Sun - Global Business (to 0755) 0745-0755: Sat - Analysis 0930-0945: Sat - Assignment (to 0955), Sun - People & Politics 0945-0955: Sun - World Business Review 1145-1155: Sat - Analysis, Sun - Letter From America 1406-1455: Sun - Talking Point 1420-1455: Sat - Sportsworld 1520-1600: Sat - Sportsworld, Sun - Assignment (1530-1555) 1620-1655: Sat - Sportsworld, Sun - Sunday Sportsworld 1732-1745: Sat - World Business Review, Sun - Global Business (to 1755) 1745-1755: Sat - People & Politics 1932-1945: Sat - World Business Review, Sun - Global Business (to 1955) 1945-1955: Sat - Letter From America 2230-2255: Sat - Agenda 2330-2355: Sat - Assignment (Richard Cuff, PA, swprograms via DXLD) I was listening to the Africa stream yesterday, and they had their own programs, and were nothing approaching All War All The Time (Ralph Brandi, NJ, Mar 29, swprograms via DXLD) LICENCE TO CULL http://media.guardian.co.uk/Print/0,3858,4631623,00.html The BBC's decision to cut 100 jobs and freeze spending in its online arm may have gone relatively unnoticed but it has huge implications for the future of the corporation. By Owen Gibson, Monday March 24, 2003, The Guardian The axing of 8% of the BBC's new media workforce barely registered even with those watching the BBC like hawks in the run up to charter renewal in 2006. After all, as BBC director of new media Ashley Highfield has explained, it's simply a case of the BBC's online operations (BBCi) moving into a new, more mature phase of development. But scratch the surface and it soon becomes apparent that this localised decision has far-reaching consequences for the corporation as a whole and goes right to the heart of the debate that will continue to rage over the next three years. Cutting 100 jobs at its new media division, as well as freezing spending at the department, is perhaps one of the first signs that the corporation has realised that it needs to check its expansionist tendencies before someone else does the job for it. ..... The popularity of the BBC site plus the amount spent on it, upwards of #111m a year, multiplied by the number of people it employs - more than 1,200 before the cutbacks - all add up to an unfairly bloated competitor, they argue. At the last count, the BBC ran more than 25,000 websites on just about every subject. [ and another 70 lines about unfair BBC competition ] (via Daniel Say, Mar 23, swprograms via DXLD) ** U S A. Richard asked how the Iraq war has changed things at KUHF. Check the station's web site at http://www.kuhf.org and click on "KUHF news stories" then "KUHF Local" and "KUHF business" and you'll see a lot of the local stories we've generated as this story developed. NPR has five potential "news wheels" according to the heaviness of the situation, levels one through five. Solid NPR rolling coverage is level five, such as what happened in the hours after "shock and awe" began, as well as when that first initial attack on Saddam's top brass occurred. At that level, stations get three one-minute breaks hourly, and we can insert 60 seconds of local angles (stories about local Homeland Security, the war's effect on local business such as layoffs at Houston-based Continental Airlines, security at the Port of Houston --- amazingly, Iraqi oil shipped "indirectly" had been in the top five list of imports until the war, stories about departing service men and women, etc.). Level four allows for an additional two minutes of news at the top of the hour, following NPR hourly news, and that's where things have been quite a bit during "All Things Considered." Iraq is nine hours ahead of Houston, so the bombing campaign fell in afternoon programming. But most "Morning Edition" hours have been level three --- rolling coverage, but with the usual local cutaways (we insert local news following NPR top-of-the-hour newscasts and we do five-and-a-half minutes at the half-hour. By most mornings, the intense coverage has ramped back down, as things have turned out so far. In other hours in middays and evenings, we've added extra NPR hourly newscasts. We could carry BBC World Service, I've recently found out, since we are an affiliate of Public Radio International ("Marketplace," etc.) but the program director hasn't chosen to do so, yet. The station has a commitment to classical music during non- news hours, though, so I don't see things changing, but I'm working on him! Leading up to this, I've been covering stories like Winston Churchill III's speech to the Houston Forum, which was incredible. He was verbally and eloquently blasting France and Germany, which I suppose the British will probably always do, right? I covered Tom Delay way back in August on one of his visits --- one of the first voices we had on the air supporting the president's plans. It was the day I returned to work after a gall bladder operation, and it was surreal hearing him talk about the need to go to war while still on pain killers! We've been putting in extra hours, but a friend from NPR out of Austin, John Burnett, is "embedded" somewhere in the Iraqi war theatre, and has been sending back great stuff for the network. Another colleague at all-news KTRH here in Houston, Aaron Kiturski, is also over there doing the same thing for Clear Channel stations. We have a newsroom of six reporters, a web developer and news director, and we've been cranking it out--a lot of it is on our web site in Real Audio (Ed Mayberry, TX, Mar 22, swprograms via DXLD) ** U S A. CNN changes tone -- CNN - at least, the international version - has changed the tone of its war coverage. They've ditched the loud, triumphalist theme music they had been using since the war began. Since Saturday, they've been using a quieter piece of music. They have also cut back on the amount of live reporting, and have a lot more "filler" material such as foreign press reviews, extracts from foreign TV coverage of the war, and a piece on Radio Sawa which was quite sceptical about the station's chances of establishing itself as a credible information source (Andy Sennitt, RN blog Mar 30 via DXLD) Ditto domestic tonechange; BTW, Chonnie Cung has quit after being marginalised, her 0100 UT show like so much else obliterated by All War All the Time (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. I emailed Steve Bratcher of the VOA regarding listening to the VOA from Israel on MW (normal broadcast band AM). 1260 AM is normally the frequency on which it can be heard, a few hours a day. His reply was: "Unfortunately, 1260 (Rhodes) has been reassigned to carry only Arabic programming. I do not expect English to return to 1260 anytime soon! We are adding, and have added, to our MW capabilities. Our new station on Cyprus using 990 kHz is also being dedicated to Arabic programming. I wish that I had better news for you!" He also emailed the Summer VOA English schedule to me. On the other hand, the BBC is broadcasting English on 1323 AM, 24 hours a day (and has been for a while). This frequency can be heard from Israel much of the day. Even when not much is going on in the Middle East, the BBC is only off the air in English (on that frequency) for a few hours a day (Doni Rosenzweig, NY, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 5015.13, WWRB; 0303-0308 March 29. Noted English, but with big het. Then M with, "This is radio station WWRB, broadcasting... Manchester, Tennessee" atop M doom and gloom Sept. 11 talk. While the FCC continues to bust FM microbroadcasters, things like this mess are allowed (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Now, now, see last issue ** U S A. HPY DAYS COME TO LOS ANGELES AS EL SEMBRADOR PUTS KHPY HISPANIC CATHOLIC RADIO ON THE AIR Los Angeles, Mar 24 (CRU) --- Hispanic Catholic radio may have come to Los Angeles, judging by a new ``Radio`` page at the El Sembrador website http://www.elsembradorministries.com Three weeks ago Catholic Radio Update reported that El Sembrador was negotiating with a radio station owner to lease his station with an option to purchase it at the end of a year. El Sembrador announces now that it is broadcasting over KHPY 1670 AM San Bernardino-Riverside-Los Angeles. Licensed to Moreno Valley, in the heart of the Inland Empire area of California, KHPY runs 10,000 watts day and has special authorization to run 9,000 watts night, using a different directional antenna pattern. Expanded AM band stations (1610-1700 AM) are limited to 1,000 watts night. KHPY reportedly received the dispensation from FCC rules because of poor ground conductivity. The station uses three towers daytime and two towers nighttime. El Sembrador reports its programming can be heard from Mondays through Fridays from 6:30 am to midnight. In this regard, it is similar to WCAR 1090 AM, which runs Catholic programming Mondays through Fridays, and on the weekend runs brokered programming to earn some cash. El Sembrador gives no schedule of programming or indicates its source, whether locally originated, or from EWTN`s Radio Católica Mundial, or the Archdiocese of Miami`s PaxNet. This may be an indication that all is set but Catholic programming has not yet begun on KHPY. A Catholic Radio Update e-mail to Señor Noel Díaz, president of El Sembrador, brought no response. The KHPY daytime signal covers not only the Inland Empire --- San Bernardino, Riverside and Ontario --- but also all but northeastern Los Angeles. The signal goes north to Hesperia, southeast to Palm Springs, and south to San Diego. The nighttime signal is basically the same except to the west and south; it does not reach most of Los Angeles, does not get into Long Beach although it covers Orange County, and to the south it goes only as far as Oceanside. In his letter for March, to be seen at the website, president Noel Díaz says that engineers and experts have told him that the station is capable of being engineered for a better signal over all Los Angeles, and an expert has told the same thing to Catholic Radio Update. KHPY El Sembrador 1670 AM will bring Catholic radio to the second largest MSA in the country (16,373,645 people), the largest diocese in number of Catholics, and Catholic radio to 78 dioceses, not including the additional coverage of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the Diocese of Orange. The Diocese of San Bernardino, of which His Excellency Gerald R. Barnes is bishop, has 881,631 Catholics (28.2% of the population); the Diocese of Orange 1,029,138 Catholics (37.8%), of which His Excellency Tod Brown is bishop; and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, with 4,121,601 Catholics (39.4%), of which Cardinal Roger M. Mahony is archbishop. KHPY will cover most of the largest Hispanic market in the United States, with 6,646,562 Hispanics. The Los Angeles metro area is the second largest city of Mexicans in the world after Mexico City. KHPY is the ninth Hispanic Catholic radio station in the U.S., and the 59th Catholic radio station on the air. Database Riverside–San Bernardino -- Los Angeles: KHPY El Sembrador 1670 AM Moreno Valley (10,000 watts day, directional; 9,000 watts night, directional, different pattern). Format: Hispanic Catholic. Delbert L. Van Voorhis. Leased by El Sembrador Ministries, Inc. 6:30 a.m. to midnight, Mondays through Fridays. Ministerio El Sembrador, 2636 N. Ontario St., Burbank, CA 91504. Tel.: (818) 260-0222, fax 557-7796. E-mail: elsembrador1@aol.com http://www.elsembradorministries.com Noel Díaz, president. El Sembrador also operates the ESNE satellite channel. (In the Dioceses of San Bernardino and Orange, and Archdiocese of Los Angeles) Catholic radio`s time has come, particularly in parts of the world, such as the United States and Canada, where it has not existed before, or has existed in small numbers far out of proportion to the Catholic population. Demographers put the U.S. Catholic population at close to 30%, although the official Church figures show only 23%. In Canada, that percentage is 44%. In Latin America, where Catholic radio has been established for 70 years, the growth of spiritual life stations, aiming at deepening the life of grace in the souls of their listeners, is showing remarkable growth that appears unstoppable. They join the hundreds of diocesan stations already there (Mike Dorner, Catholic Radio Update Mar 31 via DXLD) ** U S A. THE NEWS IN MORMON COUNTRY For more than a century, one newspaper has been a counterweight to a powerful church. Will Dean Singleton alter the balance? http://www.cjr.org/year/03/2/scherer.asp (Columbia Journalism Review via gh, DXLD) Another story on Mormon control of the media in the Theocracy of Utah, mostly about print, but also broadcasting (gh) ** U S A. FCC OFFICIAL REQUESTS WEEKLY REPORTS FROM MAINE HAM The FCC`s Boston office has requested a Maine amateur to submit weekly reports detailing some of his on-the-air activities. FCC Boston District Director Vincent F. Kajunski wrote Glenn Baxter, K1MAN, on March 4. Kajunski said the FCC needed the information to determine if Baxter was operating his station in compliance with Part 97 and with rules regarding recording and broadcasting of telephone calls. ``Your Amateur Radio station is apparently being used for broadcasting various `programs,` `talk shows,` children`s shows and programs having nothing to do with Amateur Radio,`` Kajunski said in his letter. ``Transmissions from your station are being used for deliberate interference and for communications in which you apparently have a pecuniary interest.`` Kajunski also alleged that transmissions from Baxter`s station ``start and end erratically, are sometimes repetitive and abruptly end with no identification as required by Commission rules.`` Such operation, he said, indicates the transmissions ``are not under the control of a licensed operator.`` Kajunski`s three-page letter also outlines other complaints and allegations involving transmissions from or operation of K1MAN. Starting March 17, Kajunski said he wants weekly reports from Baxter that, among other specifics, provide the name, address, telephone number and exact location of the control operator and the method of station control used when K1MAN transmits. He also requested dates, times and frequencies of broadcasts of telephone conversations; transmissions referencing the offer of a degree in electronics or an IARN (International Amateur Radio Network) credit card; transmissions referencing the IARN Web site; and transmissions soliciting donations of radio equipment or other items, including donations to ``the Radio Peace Corps Foundation.`` Kajunski further asked for a record of CQs transmitted, including recorded or automated CQs and a description of any responses, including the call sign of responding stations. He also requested that Baxter provide within 30 days information on the alleged transmission of an ``apparently continuous `CQ` loop that the FCC says aired at approximately 10-second intervals for more than two hours on February 3, 2003, on 20-meter SSB. Within the same time frame, the FCC also wants a list of dates, length of time and frequencies ``during which your amateur station has operated since February 15, 2002, without you at the transmitter location.`` If any, Kajunski asked for the name and address of the control operator, the location of the control operator and control point and the method of control used (ARRL Letter Mar 28 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** VENEZUELA [non?]. Pescadores Venezolanos hablando, captados a las 1405 UT en los 9620.1 kHz usb. Estaban hablando de la pesca del dia cuando de repente se presentó un ruido como un jammig estilo motor y luego otro sonido que parecía jamming estilo burbuja. Los sonidos eran demasiado fuertes puesto que no dejaban escuchar nada. Entonces uno de los pescadores le dijo al otro: mira mi hermano que ruido del coño es ese? Por lo escuchado, se trataban de pescadores del oriente de Venezuela (DIAZ GOMEZ, José Elías, Venezuela, Receptor: Sony ICF2001-D, Antena: Hilo largo de 27 metros, Conexión Digital Mar 30 via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 4615, Mideast clandestine; 0257-0300 March 29. Good but with bubble jammer atop. Non-Arabic W talk (Kurdish or Farsi?). (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DRM [see also GERMANY] +++ LOW BUDGET DRM RECEPTION WITH A PERSONAL COMPUTER - by Michael Bethge Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) is a new digital radio standard for the long-, medium- and short-wave ranges. The standard was formed by a consortium in co-operation with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The new system offers the radio stations and new service providers access to the multimedia age with small bit rates for large target areas and long distances. Germany's international broadcaster, Deutsche Welle, has announced that from June 2003 it will transmit digitally on shortwave to Europe and the Middle East. Deutsche Welle thus becomes the first international broadcaster to commit to a start date for regular DRM transmissions. Other broadcasters will certainly follow soon with regular DRM transmissions. At this moment there are no consumer receivers with built-in DRM decoder available on the market. The only possibility to receive/ decode DRM transmissions is currently with a modified receiver in combination with a personal computer running with the Windows operating system. A few specialized radio dealers offer to make the necessary modifications on your receiver, like Charly Hardt in Germany http://www.charly-hardt.de However, this modification is not really cheap - between 120.00 and 150.00 Euro. In addition, you need a DRM decoder for your personal computer, which is normally offered by the DRM Consortium for E60.00 at http://www.drmrx.org I have therefore looked for a possibility to receive/decode DRM transmissions without investing that much money. In this case you will have to make the necessary modification to your receiver yourself, which is not too difficult - at least it was not really difficult for my NRD-525. Just have a look at the receiver modifications described at http://www.drmrx.org/receiver_mods.html for a number of receivers. You will have to buy a so-called "universal downmixer from 455 kHz or 10.7 MHz to 12 kHz", which is available from Sat-Service-Schneider in Germany http://home.t-online.de/home/sat-service/sat/DRM/DRM.htm E-Mail: sat-service@t-online.de I received it within 3 days and paid E31.90 including VAT and postage. On the right please find a picture of this small unit. After you have built in the downmixer and connected it to your personal computer's sound card (line in jack), you will need a software decoder. After some research in the Internet, I have found a freeware decoder called "Dream", developed by the Darmstadt University of Technology, Germany http://www.tu-darmstadt.de/fb/et/uet/fguet/mitarbeiter/vf/DRM/DRM.html Since they are offering only the uncompiled source code for this program, and also two "DLL" files were missing, I have made a full compiled version available for our members at http://www.wwdxc.de/archive/dream.zip (size: 2.1 MB). After downloading the ZIP file, please uncompress the files to a new empty directory. After that, the program file "dream.exe" can just be started with a double mouse click. If everything is working well, the decoder will soon show the station you have tuned in on the screen, and you will hear the transmitted program from the loudspeakers connected to your personal computer. A list of current DRM test transmissions can be found at http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/html/drm_latest.html If you have any more questions on this subject, please do not hesitate to contact me by E-Mail at mail@wwdxc.de (Michael Bethge, March WWDXC DX Magazine via Wolfgang Bueschel, DXLD) CONTESTS +++++++++ WHO`s WHO IN DX Set up by this year`s EDXC Conference organizing club; at the moment only 11 entries; anyone may fill out the form; in German http://www.dx-who-is-who.org (via El Dial, Abril, via DXLD) SUMMER BCL CONTEST Please can you talk of this contest for BCL. Thank you and 73 http://site.voila.fr/SWLCONTEST/ (Frank Parisot, France, Mar 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) PROPAGATION ++++++++++++ GEOMAGNETIC INDICES phil bytheway - Seattle WA - phil_tekno@yahoo.com Geomagnetic Summary February 26 2003 through March 18 2003 Tabulated from email status daily Date Flux A K SA Forecast GM Forecast Etc. 2/26 102 5 2 no storms no storms 4 27 109 14 5 no storms no storms 9 2/28 118 23 3 no storms no storms 8 3/ 1 125 18 3 no storms no storms 9 2 138 13 3 no storms no storms 9 3 147 12 3 no storms no storms 6 4 149 16 3 no storms no storms 6 5 146 20 3 minor no storms 9 6 149 17 3 no storms no storms 7 7 150 18 3 minor no storms 8 8 150 13 2 no storms no storms 6 9 148 11 3 no storms no storms 9 10 153 13 1 no storms no storms 7 11 144 11 3 no storms no storms 7 12 no report 13 no report 14 134 15 2 no storms no storms 5 15 139 17 5 moderate minor 8 16 131 22 3 minor no storms 9 17 129 16 3 minor no storms 8 3/18 125 31 5 strong minor 8 ********************************************************************* (IRCA Soft DX Monitor Mar 22 via DXLD) ###