DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-083, May 14, 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/dxldtd3e.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 FIRST AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1182: Wed 2200 on WBCQ 7415, 17495-CUSB? Thu 2030 on WWCR 15825 Fri 1930 on RFPI 15039 WRN ONDEMAND [from Fri]: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO: Check http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html [from early UT Thu] [Low] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1182.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1182.ram [High] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1182h.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1182h.ram (Summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1182.html UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS I've recently started getting the daily Hard Core DX Daily mailing and subsequently your email with links to the DXLD txt version which I download. You do an absolutely fantastic job with compiling the DXLD. Between the HCDX daily mailing and your DXLD it has encouraged me to brush the cobwebs off my Drake R8 and have a twirl around the dial. Regards (Mark Nicholls, Chief Editor, NZ DX Times, NZ Radio DX League) Dear Mr Hauser, I just thought I`d drop you a quick [P-mail] line to let you know I am listening to WORLD OF RADIO. I heard you for the first time on the morning of the 20th. Having heard the bad news about HCJB the previous morning on the DX Partyline, I was on the hunt for a new source of shortwave information. By pure chance I came across your programme at about 0238 UT on WWCR [5070]. I was delighted. The signal was audible but weak so I attached an eleven meter length of doorbell wire I have pinned around the edge of my bedroom ceiling to the telescopic whip of my Sangean 818. The signal came in stronger and by setting the bandwidth switch to `narrow` I got a good reduction in noise. From now on I will set my radio to record your pogramme every Sunday morning. I found some of your tips very useful and I think the programme format and your style of presentation are very good. I am in the process of contacting the British DX Club and so hopefully together with a few other programmes, I shall not be short of listening tips when the DX Partyline goes off air in May. Thank you for a very enjoyable programme; I look forward to listening to you for a long time to come. Yours sincereley, (Ian Evans, Gwent, UK, 27 April, with a Wales coat of arms sticker) ** AFGHANISTAN. AFGHANISTAN NAMED THE FOURTH-WORST PLACE TO BE A JOURNALIST. Afghanistan placed fourth in a list of the world's 10 worst places to be a journalist released by the CPJ on 2 May. The CPJ report states that the unchecked power of local warlords and weak rule of law make Afghanistan an inhospitable media environment. Despite the new freedoms enjoyed by the media after the ouster of the repressive Taliban regime, journalists have complained that it is impossible to write and speak freely because of threats, physical intimidation, and assaults. According to the CPJ, these abuses are often committed by politicians and military commanders who use government security forces to harass independent journalists. The CPJ acknowledges that Afghan Transitional Administration Chairman Hamid Karzai has "publicly championed press freedom," but the report says his administration has "not moved aggressively to stop attacks against the press." Reporters Without Borders' Press Freedom Barometer http://www.rsf.org has listed Afghanistan among countries with "noticeable problems" -- a category that includes Spain and India -- while most countries in the Middle East and Central Asia are listed as countries with "difficult" or "very serious" media situations. ("RFE/RL Newsline," 2 May via RFE/RL Media Matters May 13 via DXLD) ARE FOREIGN FM BROADCASTS ILLEGAL? Speaking to Iranian state radio's Mashhad-based Dari service on 5 May, Afghan Supreme Court Deputy Chief Justice Fazel Ahmad Manawi said that foreign FM radio broadcasts in Afghanistan violate the provisions of the 1964 Afghan Constitution, and that when Afghan radio and television expands its programming there will be no need to allow such broadcasts. In February 2002, the Afghan Interim Administration implemented a new media law that does not restrict the right to publish print media only to Afghan citizens or limit broadcasting rights only to the state. The 1964 Afghan Constitution will be replaced by a new constitution in October and the preliminary draft has no restrictions on foreign entities' rights to broadcast via FM frequencies or any other broadcast medium in Afghanistan ("RFE/RL Newsline," 5 May via RFE/RL Media Matters May 13 via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN. WORK STARTS ON NEW TRANSMITTER IN EAST AFGHANISTAN | Text of report by Afghan provincial newspaper Nangarhar on 8 May Sayd Abdol Ghafar Pacha, the head of Nangarhar [Province] radio and TV, in an interview with a Bakhtar Information Agency correspondent has said that they were installing two FM radio transmitters. One of them is being established for round-the-clock BBC news on TV Mountain [site of local transmitters]. In this regard, installation work started with a blow of a pickaxe delivered by the governor of Nangarhar Province on Wednesday [7 May]. The Bakhtar Information Agency session, which was held in the TV centre, was inaugurated by Mohammad Ashraf Karimi, chief editor of the radio and TV office, with the recitation of some verses from the Koran. The esteemed governor of Nangarhar, Haji Din Mohammad, made a speech in which he said that the function of the UNDP [UN Development Programme], which is constructing this building, is worth mentioning. They are actually serving us, he said. He also cast light on the values of radio and TV and asked the heads to pay heed to their duties. Consecutively Abdorrahman Olfat, the head of the UNDP, spoke on the occasion and said that over the last nine months the UNDP has been involved in 58 projects and this is its 55th project, which might cost around 20,000 dollars. This edifice will consist of three buildings, a corridor and some bathrooms. There will be 189 labourers working on this project and they might be utilized in cleaning the city canal as well. Mr Olfat asserted that they would continue their efforts in accordance with the instructions of the governor. Afterwards Mohammad Zubayr Khaksar, acting head of radio and TV, spoke on the occasion and thanked the donors. Subsequently the head of the information and culture department of Nangarhar, Haji Mohammad Hashem Ghamsharik, also spoke and said that the start of this project is fruitful. Finally the governor of Nangarhar along with some authorities commenced work on the project by wielding the pickaxe. The ceremonies were attended by Mohammad Ebrahim, head of national security, Halim Shah Qadri, head of communications department, Engineer Najibollah Miakhel, head of the power department and a number of other officials. Source: Nangarhar, Jalalabad, in Pashto 8 May 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. ABC LOSES BATTLE FOR EXTRA $250 MILLION The ABC's ambitious plea for an extra $250 million for 2003/2004 was rejected unconditionally in the Federal Budget, handed down on May 13. Funding has been provided only for the nest there [next three?] years. The ABC advises that jobs and programs could disappear unless funding is increased. The extra funding bid was to have allowed expansion of the NewsRadio domestic service on AM and FM across Australia, and extension of existing TV services (World Broadcast Magazine May 15 used by permission from http://edxp.org via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Heard at least 4 radio Amateurs on 5935 USB, strong signals over the top of a broadcast station, they are here in this spot regularly every morning, they usually do not use their callsigns but I have been listening to these guys on and off for a number of months now and once or twice I have heard them mention VK2 callsigns so I know they are not ute stations, they are amateurs who talk about everyday events just like other amateurs that talk on the amateur bands, what are these guys doing in the 49 metre broadcast band or is this the new amateur frequencies like in the 41 metre band?? Best wishes to all! (Michael Stevenson, Port Macquarie, N.S.W., Australia, Kenwood R-2000 with outdoor longwire 15 metres and bhi DSP noise eliminating speaker (NES10-2), EDXP via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 5580.23, R. San José, San Jose de Chiquitos, 0000-0025 13 May, "...Radio San José... en las palabras... San José..." Deep fades and threshold audio (Bob Wilkner, Icom R-75, Pompano Beach, Florida, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOTSWANA. On Sunday and Monday nights around 0230 UT on 4820 I hear a carrier wave turn on then around 0243 I hear what sounds like "cow bells" "mooing cows" and "rooster crows" until 0300 when a Spanish station I can't ID comes on. Is it "La Voz Evangélica"? I remember hearing things like this on old Radio Tezulutlán on 4835? Thanks (Gary Crites, hard-core-dx via DXLD) You're hearing Radio Botswana and their most distinctive (and smile- inducing) "barnyard menagerie" interval signal (John Figliozzi, NY, ibid.) The animal sounds are not real animals. They were apparently imitations by humans. Sounds quite good, though. Certainly something that has attracted attention among DX-ers (Aart Rouw Bühl, Germany, ibid.) And countless other replies to this effect. A good reminder to check this out if you have not yet heard it. I suppose they run this only in the morning before sign-on as a `dawn chorus`? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BURUNDI. NATIONAL RADIO RESUMES BROADCASTING ON SHORTWAVE | Text of report by Radio Burundi on 14 May Our radio can now be heard again on 49 metres - 6140 kHz - after disappearing for some time. Those with radios without the FM band can henceforth listen to our news and programmes on 49 metres. Source: Radio Burundi, Bujumbura, in Kirundi 1030 gmt 14 May 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) Confirmed? ** BURUNDI. SOAP OPERA ON BURUNDI RADIO TURNS A FORCE FOR EVIL INTO A FORCE FOR GOOD --- by Declan Walsh Our Neighbours, Ourselves, Burundi radio's hit soap opera. An EastEnders set in the dirt tracks and banana groves of central Africa, it has captured the imagination of a nation in the clutches of war. Drama, village politics and sidesplitting humour are skilfully interwoven in gripping 20-minute episodes. And behind it lies a noble aim: to hold a mirror up to Burundi's ethnic divisions, and to shine a light on possible solutions. . . http://news.independent.co.uk/world/africa/story.jsp?story=406011 (Independent May 14 via Andy Sennitt, DXLD) ** CANADA [and non]. RCI has effected these frequency changes: 11900 (ex 11945) Moosbrunn 0330-0400 ME 9515 (ex 11910) Sackville 1100-1300 NAm 17800 (ex 17820) Sackville 1200-1500 NAm 9645 Skelton 0330-0400 ME (additional frequency) (World Broadcast Magazine May 15 used by permission from http://edxp.org via DXLD) ** CANADA [and non]: Frequency changes for Radio Canada International effective from May 4: Arabic 0330-0400 Daily NF 11900 MOS 100 kW / 115 deg, ex 11945 NF 9645 SKN 300 kW / 110 deg ||||| addit \\ 13735 WER 500 kW / 120 deg French 1100-1200 Mon-Fri NF 9515 SAC 250 kW / 212 deg, ex 11910 1100-1300 Sat/Sun NF 9515 SAC 250 kW / 212 deg, ex 11910 English 1200-1500 Mon-Fri NF 17800 SAC 250 kW / 176 deg, ex 17820 DRM tests of Radio Canada International effective from June 1: 0000-0200 NF 9765 SAC 250 kW / 268 deg, ex 9560 1000-1600 NF 9730 SAC 250 kW / 268 deg, ex 9555 1200-1400 on 9535 SAC 250 kW / 268 deg ||||| cancelled 2000-2300 on 9740 SAC 250 kW / 268 deg ||||| additional (Observer, Bulgaria, May 14 via DXLD) ** CHILE. Instrumental music, right now 47.9 is in with full quieting, 47.800 is in weakly, and 47.830 is in with full quieting (Jeff Kadet, Macomb IL, May 13, 2003 14:43 PDT, WTFDA via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. Definitivamente, Radio Caracol transmite solo los eventos deportivos a través de 5960 [5958.1] Captada el 10 de mayo a las 2130, con un partido entre el Unión Magdalena y el Deportivo Cali. SINPO 3/2, mejorando hasta 44333, ya bien entradas las 2200 UT. Muchos 73 y buen DX (Adán González, Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, May 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5957, CARACOL 1125-1145 13 de mayo del 2003, SINPO: 33222. Oí noticias de Colombia, y muchos anuncios comerciales dados por los mismos locutores, entre cada noticia prácticamente; escuché una noticia acerca de la Copa Libertadores (Octavos de final) que se celebrará hoy (13 de mayo) un partido entre los Equipos del "Deportivo de Cali" y el "Cruz Azul" de México (Héctor García Bojorge, DF, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** CONGO. 5985, R. Congo 2059-2301* 05/10 French. Music at tune-in followed by 15 minute block of talk between OM and YL with lots of laughter, Afropops at 2115 followed by another 15 minute talk block. Shorter talks between music until 2152 then YL with somber tone over classical music. Music and talk from top of hour until 2213 when phone-in program until IS at sign-off. No "formal" ID noted but several mentions of "Radio Congo" and "Brazzaville" during phone-in program. Rough copy at tune-in, steadily improved to fair-good at sign-off (Scott Barbour, NH, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** CONGO DR. RADIO IN STRIFE-TOWN DRCONGO TOWN OF BUNIA HEARD AGAIN AFTER SIX-DAY ABSENCE Radio Candip, based in the northeastern DRCongo town of Bunia (the capital of Ituri District), was heard on the morning of 13 May for the first time since 6 May. The station was heard at 0630 gmt on 13 May on its usual shortwave frequency of 5066 kHz (it had not been heard earlier that morning, as scheduled). Bunia, a scene of considerable tension and insecurity over past months, has been the scene of fighting since 7 May, the day after Ugandan government forces completed their withdrawal from the town. On 12 May the UN Regional Information Network, IRIN, reported that Bunia had been recaptured that day by forces of the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC), a militia drawn from the Hema ethnic community led by Thomas Lubanga and backed by the Goma-based, Rwanda-backed rebel Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD-Goma). This followed six days of fighting with an ethnic militia drawn from the rival Lendu community and backed by Uganda. In previous developments, Bunia was captured by the UPC in September 2002 from the Ugandan-backed RCD-ML (Congolese Rally for Democracy - Liberation Movement). The town again switched hands on 6 March 2003 when it was recaptured by Ugandan forces. In its broadcast on 13 May, Radio Candip carried a statement by the UPC army commander confirming that his forces were now in control of the town. Source: Radio Candip, Bunia, in French 0630 gmt 13 May 03 (BBCM via DXLD) ** CUBA. Re 3-078, the English European Service was observed on 9505 kHz. Here in Denmark we have Radio Sawa in Arabic with all 5's on 9505 (Erik Køie, Copenhagen, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Just lucky to get it on the air at all and hope it`s heard somewhere. However, May 13 check at 2145, found French quite strong on 11760, so English probably was too at 2030; a weak signal not \\ on something on 9505. Or I`d better not assume anything, judging from this: (gh) For what it's worth. This evening, May 13, RHC's English transmission at 2230 to 2330 was instead at 2300 to 0000 and was on 9550. Arnie's DXer's Unlimited was at 23:1. Go figure! I have no idea what's going on (John H. Carver Jr., Mid-North Indiana, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EGYPT. Radio Cairo is now listed on these new frequencies, effective May 1: 15670 1430-1600 to ME 17775 1015-1430 to As various langs including English 1215-1430 17810 1530-1730 to Af, Swahili (World Broadcast Magazine May 15 used by permission from http://edxp.org via DXLD) ** FRANCE. It's a big strike day in France Tuesday, so looks like a day of fill music on RFI. Already noted at 0100 UT Tuesday (Mike Cooper, GA, May 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. DRM tests of Deutsche Welle effective from June 1: 1200-1359 on 9655 WER 500 kW / 270 deg 1400-1559 on 6180 WER 500 kW / non-dir 1600-1759 on 7125 WER 500 kW / 040 deg 1800-1959 on 3995 WER 500 kW / non-dir (Observer, Bulgaria, May 14 via DXLD) ** GERMANY. More transmitter photos: Bremen-Oberneuland 936: Third and fourth picture at http://www.wiechern.privat.t-online.de/bremen.htm This is the new site which replaced the no longer existing Bremen-Lehe station (ex 936, 6190 and FM) a few years ago. Obviously a cheap solution, quite interesting antenna design, could be described as section of a double-cone. Some source claims that the mast is 45 metres tall. Contradictory information circulates about the used power, but 50 kW day and 10 kW night (since no longer a directional antenna is available for the required protection of Lvov) are probably the best bet. Neumünster-Arpsdorf 1269: Fifth picture at http://www.wiechern.privat.t-online.de/schlesholst.htm Current mediumwave break-aways of NDR Info: Mon-Fri 1400-1600 relay of Funkhaus Europa (WDR/RB), 1600-1630 relay of BBC-Worldservice (Europe today programme), 1630-1700 relay of France Info, 1700-1730 programme in Italian, 1730-1800 programme in Turkish, 1800-1830 programme in south Slavic languages. Sun 0400-0600 special programme Hamburger Hafenkonzert. Daily 0630-0645, 2005-2020 and 2205-2220 only on 702 and 972 sea weather forecasts, at 2205 also via the NDR Info FM transmitters in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern where NDR left mediumwave years ago. The hr-chronos mediumwave network of Hessischer Rundfunk will in fact cease to exist by the end of June although the name will be officially kept. Schedule for 594 and // ADR satellite output effective from July 1st: 0400-1700 relay of hr-skyline, 1700-1830 foreign language programmes as shown above for NDR Info, 1830-1855 programme in Greek, 1855-1920 programme in Spanish, 1920-1940 programme in Russian, 1940- 2000 programme in Polish, 2000-2205 relay of hr1, 2205-0400 relay of ARD-Nachtexpress / ARD-Radiowecker overnight programming. By the way, 594 is exactly in synch with ADR, so obviously both transmitters take the ADR signal, herewith avoiding any delay problems. (ADR: 192 kbit/s MPEG Layer II audio on subcarriers of analogue TV signals on Astra, a system in widespread use only by German broadcasters.) Just to make sure, the above UT times are valid for the DST period and will shift one hour later in winter (Kai Ludwig, Germany, May 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GHANA. Richard Kotey, member of the [VOA] English to Africa family, died Saturday night, May 10 from complications of a stroke he suffered six weeks ago. Originally from Ghana, Richard was known to many as "King Kotey" and "The Gallant Ghanaian." He had been with VOA as a host and reporter since 1992. Prior to that, he had a distinguished career with the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation. . . (see USA) ** GUATEMALA. Radio Cultural Coatán; 5-13-03; 0217-0240 UT; 4778 kHz (strongest signal); SINPO 33233; pop music and IDs in Spanish as "Radio Coatán"; seemed to go off the air at 0240; ICOM R71A with 114 inverted-L (John Sandin, Merriam, KS, DX LISTENING DIGEST) But what was the carrier frequency? And I suppose we should stop referring to it as `Cultural` since they have stopped IDing that way (gh) ** HONDURAS. 4930, R. Costeña 0120-0136 05/11 SP. Continuous music until "canned' ID/announcement at bottom of hour. OM talks and music. Poor under QRN floor (Scott Barbour, NH, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. Hello Mr. Hauser, I had the opportunity to listen the BBCWS on a car equipped with XM satellite radio over the last couple of weekends. The biggest impression was the outstanding CD-equivalent audio quality, superior to FM and a huge improvement over AM shortwave. The programming appears to be the same as the Americas release. Plus, it's available 24/7 vs. the intermittent shortwave schedule. With Wal-Mart selling XM boom-boxes this summer, this could be quite appealing for those BBC WS listeners who were distraught after the cutoff of N. America as a primary shortwave target. And if you could get a consortium of major international broadcasters on a single XM channel, it could really have a big impact on shortwave broadcasting. Best Regards, (Ben Loveless WB9FJO, Michigan USA, May 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, negative, as even more would be encouraged to drop SW prematurely. Well, there is just such a consortium, World Radio Network, but it`s on Sirius, Stream 115 (gh, DXLD) ** IRAQ. Sounds like the Information Radio on 4500 is not on anymore! Haven`t heard them for almost a week now. Can anyone confirm/correct that piece of news?? All the best (Tarek Zeidan, Cairo, Egypt, May 14, dxing.info via DXLD) ** IRAQ. NEW IRAQI TV COMPLAINS OF US CENSORSHIP --- By Saul Hudson BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The U.S.-sponsored Iraqi television station began broadcasts Tuesday after complaining of American censorship, including efforts to stop it airing passages from the Koran, the Muslim holy book. At the start of what is being trumpeted as a new broadcasting era in a nation fed on a diet of state propaganda, Baghdad residents with electricity saw the Iraqi flag appear on their screens as a pan-Arab nationalist anthem played. Deprived of any locally produced television since U.S. troops ousted Saddam Hussein, Iraqis watched canned interviews and decades-old music shows. But the Iraqi Media Network postponed plans to air a half-hour live news program because of disputes over editorial control. "As journalists we will not submit to censorship," said Dan North, a Canadian documentary maker advising Iraqis at the station, which plans two hours of programming a night for viewers in Baghdad. "This whole idea was about starting the genesis of an open media so we will not accept an outside source scrutinizing what we produce." The charges of censorship could reaffirm for many Iraqis the perception that Washington is not allowing them a free hand in building democratic institutions. "All my neighbors say this TV is controlled by the Americans to get out their point of view," said Abbas Mohammed, a cakemaker, who watched the broadcast in his living room with his family. "But I don't care there was no news. In Iraq the news is always bad." NOT PROPAGANDA U.S. officials made no comment on the censorship allegations. They had earlier said the station would be a welcome change from the Saddam era. "This is not American propaganda. This is the first time in 25 years Iraqis are getting TV that is not propaganda," said Robert Teasdale, a U.S. adviser to the network. But North said the U.S.-led administration's Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance (ORHA) had requested the station's news programs be reviewed by the wife of Jalal Talabani, a Kurdish leader and a major figure in the postwar politics of Iraq. "Could you imagine a political leader being able to check the content of any Western media?" North said. The news program would be postponed for a week because of the wrangling, said North, himself hired by the ORHA. The network did air verses from the Koran, a tradition in Middle Eastern countries, because the Iraqi workers threatened to walk out if they were dropped at the ORHA's behest. An eleventh-hour programming change on Tuesday cut an address by Jay Garner, the No.2 in the U.S.-led civilian administration. The station broadcast canned packages, including an interview with an electricity official and soundbites from Iraqis outside a hospital complaining of a lack of medicine. At the ORHA's "suggestion," the station cut one section in which a patient made an unsubstantiated accusation that U.S. soldiers were stealing gasoline, North said. REUTERS (via Mike Cooper, May 14, DXLD) ** ISRAEL. This morning they said that even though there is a general strike, Kol Israel broadcasts are continuing as they normally do (Doni Rosenzweig, NY, May 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The 0400 GMT English real audio newscast from WRN is normal but the 1030 RA GMT newscast from IBA.ORG.IL is all tone. On the other hand, the live webcast at israelradio.org via WRN appears to be normal. They were talking about Histarut (national labor organization) strike sanctions on the 0400 newscast but said that the IBA was operating normally (Joel Rubin, NY, May 13, swprograms via DXLD) As opposed to what they said yesterday morning, Joel Rubin says that they haven't had KI English news since 0400 UT (Midnight EDT/7 AM Israel Summer Time). The IBA's website now says, "...The Israel Broadcasting Authority's English News will not broadcast." http://bet.iba.org.il/bet.htm?item=betlanguage23 (Doni Rosenzweig, May 14, ibid.) ** KURDISTAN [non]. NORWAY: CORRECTION (cf. OBSERVER #258): Voice of Mezopotamiya in Kurdish 0400-0800 15675 KVI 250 kW / 110 deg Daily (not 11530) (Observer, Bulgaria, May 14 via DXLD) ** LIBERIA. On 13 May at 1645 tune in there was a station with several transmitter cut-offs and weak modulation on 11514.4 kHz. Later on the modulation got better at times. The program was continuous gospel music with one announcement in (African) accented English. Around 1800 the COJ (Chinese Opera Jammer) started on 11520 splashing badly. Soon after that I lost the carrier of this gospel station. Possibly this was Voice of Liberty from Monrovia testing (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LITHUANIA. Summer schedule of transmitter site Sitkunai 100 kW: to NAm - azimuth 310 degrees 0000-0100 Daily 11690 Radio Vilnius in Lithuanian/English 2300-2400 Daily 9875 Radio Vilnius in Lithuanian/English to WeEu - azimuth 259 deg 0700-0800 Sat 9710 Fundamental Broadcasting Network /FBN/ in English 0800-0900 Daily 9710 Radio Vilnius in Lithuanian/English 1100-1200 Sun 9710 Fundamental Broadcasting Network /FBN/ in English 1200-1300 Sun 9710 Universelles Leben in German to ME - azimuth 310 deg - not yet active 1000-1100 Sun 9710 Radio Avaye Ashena in Persian 1600-1630 Daily 7470 Radio Barobari in Persian (Observer, Bulgaria, May 14 via DXLD) ** MAURITANIA. I sent a reception report + CD to Radio Mauritania on November 5th via registered mail and I got the package back. It has not been opened and someone crossed out the label with the address (Radio Mauritania, BP 200, Nouakchott, Mauritania) and wrote something like NON .......... It's not possible to understand what the person wrote on it. Does anybody know if Radio Mauritania changed its address or we're not allowed to send registered mail to that country? Thanks (Marcelo Toníolo, Auckland, NZ, hard-core-dx and dxing.info via DXLD) Guess he moved from New York, tho Brasilian Most likely "Non réclamé", that's unclaimed. Not the best idea to send a registered letter to a P. O. Box! A guy will come every day to open the box and fetch the mail, but why should he bother to ask for registered letters? So, after a certain time they send the letter back. Try again with a simple letter! In my opinion an unregistered letter is much better, it's much cheaper and has the same chance to reach the addressee as a registered one. If not even a better chance! Greetings, (Martin Elbe, Germany, dxing.info via DXLD) I have been trying to get a QSL from Mauritania for at least 20 years. When I was living in Brazil I sent several reports to them, some in English, some in French and even in Arabic (a friend helped me to translate the basic words and expressions). In 1999 I moved to USA and since then I sent 4 more reports, all of them in French language, but only the last one was registered. I just thought that my letters were not getting there for any reason therefore I sent a registered letter. Now I am living in New Zealand. Perhaps I will try it again and see if I get a reply. (Marcelo, ibid.) ** NETHERLANDS [and non]: Frequency change for DRM test of RNW in English effective May 11: 2330-0030 NF 15525 BON 050 kW / 350 deg, ex 15455 DRM tests of RNW: 0930-1225 on 9590 FLE 100 kW / 172 deg in English June 2 to July 5 1200-1600 on 9615 FLE 100 kW / 187 deg in Dutch July 5 to July 28 1000-1400 on 9615 FLE 100 kW / 187 deg in Dutch July 28 to Oct. 26 2130-2230 on 17620 BON 050 kW / 050 deg in Special June 16 to June 17 1000-1700 on 21735 BON 050 kW / 050 deg in Special June 13 to June 19 (Observer, Bulgaria, May 14 via DXLD) ** NIGERIA. There's a new schedule on http://www.voiceofnigeria.org - but there's no update on frequencies: schedule displayed is as follows but not complete: English: 0445-2300 French: 0500-0700 and 1800-2000 Arabic: 1700-1800 but that seems to be wrong, at least regarding 11770 two weeks ago as there were news in various languages. Fulfulde: 0700-0800, 2100-2200 Hausa: 0800-1000, 1200-1300, 2200-2300 Kiswahili: 1300-1500 So what happens at 1000-1200 and 2000-2100 on the 2nd service? English to west Africa? And at 1500-1700? Arabic, or are there three different services at 1700-1800? Are there two or three transmitters on air? Btw, 15120 has been comparatively weak in the mornings since a few weeks. Reduced power? 11770 has also been much stronger at 1900 recently than 15120 at 2000. In early morning there's nothing on 11770 but relatively weak 15120 (Thorsten Hallmann, Münster, Germany, May 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORWAY: Updated A-03 schedule for Radio Norway/Radio Denmark effective April 7: [you mean May 7???] kW deg 0000-0055 SoEaAs, WeAUS 9930 KVI 250 / 080 NoAmEa, Carribean 9985 SVE 250 / 280 NoAmEa, NoAmCe, Greenland 11635 SVE 250 / 300 0100-0155 SoAs 9975 KVI 250 / 095 NoAnEa, Carribean, SoAmNoWe 9985 SVE 250 / 280 NoAmEa, NoAmCe, Greenland 11635 SVE 250 / 300 0200-0255 SoAs 9975 KVI 250 / 095 0300-0355 RUS, SoEaEu, NoME 7490 KVI 250 / 095 NoAmWe, Greenland 9960 SVE 250 / 315 SoEaEu, WeME, EaAf 13800 KVI 250 / 145 0400-0455 Eu 7465 SVE 250 / 180 NoAmWe, Greenland 9475 SVE 250 / 315 SoEaEu, WeME, EaAf 13800 KVI 250 / 145 0500-0555 Eu 7465 SVE 250 / 180 SoEaEu, WeME, EaAf 11615 KVI 250 / 120 0600-0655 Europe 7180 SVE 250 / 180 SoWeEu, Canary Isl, WeAf 11615 SVE 250 / 220 SoEu, Af, NZ 13800 KVI 250 / 165 0700-0755 Eu, Canary Isl 9590 SVE 250 / 180 SoWeEu, WeAf, Canary Isl, NZ 11615 SVE 250 / 220 0800-0855 AUS, SoWeEu, Canary Isl, SoAm 13800 SVE 250 / 250 EaME 15735 KVI 250 / 110 0900-0955 AUS, SoWeEu, Canary Isl, SoAm 13800 SVE 250 / 250 FE, NZ 17500 KVI 250 / 040 1000-1055 Eu, Mediterranean, Canary Isl 13800 SVE 250 / 180 1100-1155 Eu, Mediterranean, Canary Isl 13800 KVI 250 / 180 NoAmEa, Carribean 15705 SVE 250 / 300 SoAm, Canary Isl 18950 SVE 250 / 235 1200-1255 FE 15705 KVI 250 / 040 NoAmEa, NoAmCe, Greenland 15735 SVE 250 / 300 NoAmEa, Carribean 17520 SVE 250 / 280 SoEaAs, WeAUS, RUS 18950 KVI 250 / 080 1300-1355 Eu 9590 SVE 250 / 180 SoEaAs, WeAUS, RUS 15705 KVI 250 / 080 NoAmEa, NoAmCe, Greenland 15735 SVE 250 / 300 1400-1455 NoAmWe, Greenland 15705 SVE 250 / 315 NoME, SoAs, RUS 15735 KVI 250 / 095 1500-1555 NoAmWe, Greenland 15705 SVE 250 / 315 NoME, SoAs, RUS 15735 KVI 250 / 095 1600-1655 Eu 9920 SVE 250 / 180 NoAmEa, Carribean 15705 SVE 250 / 280 1700-1755 Eu 11615 SVE 250 / 180 SoEaEu, WeME, EaAf - NOT on Sundays 15705 KVI 250 / 145 1800-1855 Eu 7490 SVE 250 / 180 NZ - ONLY Saturday/Sunday 13800 KVI 250 / 035 1900-1955 Eu, Canary Isl - ONLY Saturday/Sunda 7490 SVE 250 / 180 WeAf, CeAf, SoAf, SoEu 13800 KVI 250 / 180 NoAmWe, Greenland 17505 SVE 250 / 315 2000-2055 Eu, Canary Isl 7490 SVE 250 / 180 EaAUS - ONLY Saturday/Sunday 9510 KVI 250 / 065 2100-2155 EaAUS 9510 KVI 250 / 065 2200-2255 SoAm 9925 SVE 250 / 235 FE 11845 KVI 250 / 035 2300-2355 SoEaAs, WeAUS 9415 KVI 250 / 080 NoAmEa, Carribean 9945 SVE 250 / 300 SoAm 9985 SVE 250 / 235 FE 11845 KVI 250 / 035 KVI=Kivitsoe; SVE=Sveyo xx00-xx30 Radio Norway xx30-xx55 Radio Denmark (Observer, Bulgaria, May 14 via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. The history of each OKC station on the AM and FM dial, logos, audio clips and other historical info is at Brian French`s site http://www.okcityradio.com --- not okcradio.com as in last issue (gh) ** OKLAHOMA. I caught the KOMA coverage driving west on I-44 to my home in the St. Louis, MO metro area. When I got home, I started a tape rolling to capture the sequence of events for my library. The KFOR-TV4 (KOMA was carrying their audio) chopper pilot was chasing the tornado in the dark, following a trail of leaves, dust and other debris to stay on track with the tornado. As the tornado tracked NW [sic], roughly following I-44, a warning to a crowded McDonald's restaurant in the projected track of the tornado was broadcast repeatedly. Fortunately, death and injury was averted during the evening, although heavy property damage to the Oklahoma City suburbs did occur. KOMA and KFOR-TV demonstrated the need for local broadcasting in time of emergency (Chuck, STL MO, amfmtvdx via DXLD) Yes, I heard the warning to clear the McDonalds and the chopper following the thing in the dark, as I said, this was incredible listening --- I wish I had my shack set up so I could've rolled tape on it --- I still have my tapes of WABC during the 1977 blackout. The fact that no one was killed makes it even more enjoyable listening. The signal was in and out, WWKB is tough to knock down here, so I wasn't aware they were simulcasting TV coverage. 73 and good DX, (Bruce, WB3HVV, York, PA, swl via DXLD) Chuck means east-northeast up the Turner Turnpike; I heard that too: the concern was for people on the limited-access tollroad which seemed to coincide with the path of the tornado; the McD about the only inside place which might offer some cover. People were advised to get off the pike ASAP and drive at right angles to the tornado path. KFOR-4 finally played NBC Thursday night prime time, at least the first two hours of it, Sunday after 10:35 pm, and it looked like KOCO- 5 was doing something similar with ABC. It always happens after a tornado: each OKC TV station relentlessly promotes itself as the one source for life-saving info, with testimonials from citizens who laud the appropriate weatherman for saving them; rather overdone and unbecoming, but ch 5 seems to be worst in this (gh, OK, DXLD) The fact that the storm was no where near as bad as the amateur and dysfunctional job of "reporting" that the KOMA staffers and lucky risk-taking helicopter crew fed listeners is even more memorable. Check sources. The tornado was not on the ground the entire distance nor as big as described. Nor did it inflict much damage compared to the one earlier in the week. This was just a horrible example of modern broadcasting at its most irresponsibly breathless. The tape would be worth having as a teaching tool on how bad broadcast journalism has gotten (Vern Modeland, Listening from the Arkansas Ozarks, swl via DXLD) Yes, but in the pitch dark you don`t take chances with a tornado which certainly has been on ground previously in its path (gh, DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. Mr Hauser, Re your item on the Enid, Oklahoma station downgrade show cause order: It is not easy to summarize nuances of the FM allotment scheme in the US but I'll try. In Docket 14185 in the early '60's the FCC established a table of allotments for FM stations and defined three station classes, A, B, and C, each with a power limit and a limit on antenna height above average terrain for operation with that power. Heights above the maximum for full power for a class require a power reduction to maintain the 60 dBu coverage area at the equivalent of the maximum height. The highest power and antenna height allotments are class C. Several other countries use a similar scheme, although sometimes with interesting modifications. Venezuela, for example, defines the classes in reverse order, so that class A is a high power station at high allowable elevation. In more recent times, the FCC has subdivided class C stations into two sub-classes, class C-1, and class C-0. While full class C stations are allowed maximum 100 kW ERP at 600 meters above average terrain, class C-1 stations are limited to 100 kW at 300 meters above average terrain, or the equivalent 60 dBu contour distance. The newest class, C-0, falls between full C and C-1, and allows 100 kW to a maximum height above average terrain of 450 meters. A change in the channel or the class of any allotment is a rulemaking action, as defined by the Administrative Procedure Act, because the table of allotments is part of the Code of Federal Regulations, in fact 47CFR73.202. When a rule is changed to change an allotment, if an existing authorization (construction permit or license) is affected, it receives a "show cause" order. In the Enid case, somebody wanted to make a change somewhere that required that the Enid allotment be downgraded from C to C-0, and the applicable procedure is for the proponent of such a change to file a Petition for Rulemaking. In the case of Petitions that request a downgrade of an existing station/allotment to class C-0, because it is a new process, adopted just a year or two ago, the existing station has the right to file an application to increase its height to meet the full class C minimum, 450 meters. The applicable rule, cited in the Enid Order to Show Cause, is 47CFR73.3573. (Benjamin F. Dawson III, P.E., Hatfield & Dawson Consulting Engineers 9500 Greenwood Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98103 USA; 206 783 9151; 206 789 9834 Facsimile ben-dawson@hatdaw.com May 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 6115, R Unión, 0915 May 13, Good signal with no QRM. Beautiful Peruvian music with high paced announcers. Multiple IDs. Nice to hear them back on frequency with fine audio. This excellent domestic shortwave station make for enjoyable early morning listening (David Hodgson, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6115, Radio Unión at 0130 May 11 religious program with 5 5/4 4344!!! May 12 with religious program at 0110-0200 when Finland appeared on 6120. Program ``La Voz de Salvación``, mentionedd Lima, clear ID ``Radio Unión en los 8-80`` (they use this MW), 44344!!! Just a week ago I heard here Colombian La Voz del Llano! Mysteries of the air! (Artyom Prokhorov, in a countryside just 70 km South of Moscow. Used Sony ICF7600G with its own telescopic aerial and some 2 meters long wire, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** QATAR. Today 13/5/03, Aljazeera TV started having a special program called "Voices from Iraq". Iraqi citizens on the streets giving out messages to their relatives abroad telling them that they are OK and was not hurt during the war time. BBC Arabic and RMC have call in programs for Iraqis living abroad to send messages on the airwaves to relatives in Iraq --- but this is the first time to see the message going vice versa --- cool Idea. All the best, guys (Tarek Zeidan, Cairo, Egypt, May 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) DENUNCIA DE LA CADENA AL JAZEERA La red televisiva qatarí Al Jazeera dijo ser víctima de un boicot publicitario y anunció que, para evitar una drástica caída de sus ingresos, planea lanzar una serie de productos comerciales de lujo con su marca. La noticia fue difundida luego de que el canal, con sede en Qatar, perdiera un millonario juicio con la agencia publicitaria saudita Tihama, propiedad del príncipe Khaled Bin Sultan, quien ordenó rescindir un contrato publicitario de 5 años antes de cumplir el primero de ellos. "Desde 1996, año de la fundación de la estación, padecemos un fuerte boicot publicitario", declaró Jihad Ali Ballut, portavoz de Al Jazeera. Pese a que Tihama no explicó las razones de la baja del acuerdo, las tensiones entre Arabia Saudita y Qatar se incrementaron después de que el canal trasmitiera varias entrevistas a los líderes opositores de la monarquía de Ryad. Pero aunque Arabia Saudita representa el 40 por ciento del mercado publicitario del Golfo Pérsico, no es el único enemigo de la cadena qatarí. El estilo crítico e irreverente hacia los regímenes árabes valió numerosas prohibiciones a los reporteros de Al Jazeera, dictadas por las autoridades de Kuwait, Jordania, Irán, Irak y, también, de los territorios palestinos. La cadena también tuvo problemas con Occidente mientras reportó la guerra contra Irak: varios de sus informes molestaron a Washington y Londres, sobre todo las imágenes de prisioneros de la coalición y de la catástrofe humanitaria causada por el ataque militar contra Irak. Fuente: ANSA (via Arnaldo Slaen, May 12, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. 4940, Radio Master, Yakutsk? Western and Russian pop nonstop at 1505 May 10 with 45444, ID in very Russian-accented English: ``Hit wave on Shortwave``, Gone off the air at 1510 (Artyom Prokhorov, in a countryside just 70 km South of Moscow. Used Sony ICF7600G with its own telescopic aerial and some 2 meters long wire, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** SOUTH AFRICA. 3230, South Africa? Liberia? Radio Veritas in English. ID: Radio Veritas broadcasting for whole Africa on 3230 kHz, for Namibia, Angola, Mozambique and everywhere in Africa, at 1740 May 9, good (Artyom Prokhorov, in a countryside just 70 km South of Moscow. Used Sony ICF7600G with its own telescopic aerial and some 2 meters long wire, Cumbre DX via DXLD) That would be the S. African R. Veritas, no connexion with the one in Liberia (gh, DXLD) ** SUDAN [non]. 12060, Madagascar, Radio Voice of Hope. 05/10/2003, 0441-0456). This was my first logging of this station. The program consisted of an OM announcer interviewing people concerning activities in Sudan with musical interludes of Afro pop mx in between segments. There were several mentions of the "fall of Sudan." The ancr spoke EG until 0450, when he and the interviewees switched to vernacular language. Several ID's as "Radio The Voice of Hope," and mentions of Sudan, Uganda, and Nairobi. Strong signal with little QRN, but hampered by static and fading. Overall range poor to good (Wood, TN, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** SWEDEN [non]. Swedish Radio International To Join DRM`s Inaugural Broadcasts on June 16, 2003 Geneva -- Swedish Radio International (SR International) will commence its live, daily Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) broadcasts on June 16th, 2003. Its transmissions will debut in conjunction with DRM`s Inaugural Broadcasts event in Geneva, during the International Telecommunications Union`s (ITU) World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC 2003). The precise moment of the world`s first DRM broadcasts will be marked at a spectacular reception at Geneva`s Château de Penthes on June 16th. ``We are proud and happy to be among the first DRM broadcasters. I think cooperation, the way DRM consortium and its members are developing it, is an efficient way to secure DRM`s future success, which is a must for AM radio to survive in a digital media environment,`` says Anne Sseruwagi, Director of SR International. ``DRM will be the solution even for us smaller actors in the international broadcasting scene.`` SR International has been a member of the DRM consortium since 2000. SR International will broadcast 3.5 program hours per week in English to the East Coast of the United States, covering Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington and Baltimore. The RS International broadcasts will be relayed via CBC/Radio Canada International`s site in Sackville, Canada. Deutsche Welle and Radio Netherlands have also announced their participation in DRM`s Inaugural Broadcasts event. In the coming weeks, more of the world`s best-known broadcasters and network operators will confirm their participation in DRM`s historic moment. DRM is the world`s only non-proprietary, digital system for short- wave, medium-wave/AM and long-wave with the ability to use existing frequencies and bandwidth across the globe. With clear, near-FM quality sound that offers a dramatic improvement over analogue, DRM will revitalize the broadcasting bands below 30 MHz. With its inaugural broadcasts drawing near, the DRM consortium`s membership is higher than ever -- 81 members from 30 countries. DRM reached an important milestone in January 2003, when the International Electrotechnical Committee (IEC) gave the DRM on-air system its highest stamp of approval – International Standard. Commercial DRM- capable receivers are expected to be available in markets worldwide in the next few years (DRM press release May 13 via DXLD) WTFK??? Don`t they still ID as ``Radio Sweden`` ?? (gh) ** U K. BBCWS Previews: ALL IN A DAY'S WORK 4 x 25 mins | from 13th Dr Edward Nahim is a psychiatrist in Sierra Leone. In fact Dr Nahim is the only psychiatrist in Sierra Leone, a country of more than five million scarred by years of civil war. Every day he can expect to see an average of 50 people. By contrast, in the Argentinian capital Buenos Aires, there are more mental health workers than almost anywhere else in the world. This is a city where the most popular question among women of a certain age is not "who did your hair darling?" but "who is your therapist?" Just how would the experience of Dr Nahim in Sierra Leone compare with that of a therapist working in Buenos Aires? And why has it become acceptable and even fashionable to discuss mental health in Buenos Aires whereas it`s still taboo in India`s huge metropolis, Mumbai? All In A Day`s Work discusses these questions, every week it goes deep and personal with three professionals doing similar jobs in three very different environments. Cabbies from different corners of the globe share experiences of keeping safe with a stranger in your car. And, perhaps as important, how to get the best tips and ensure their bottoms get back into shape after a long day`s work. Reporters from far and wide share their ideas on staying sane after witnessing the vicious carnage of military conflict and disaster. Prison officers from Kazakhstan, Kenya and death row in the USA open the high-security doors to their difficult and often controversial profession. In each programme, guests describe their routines, discuss their challenges and aspirations and highlight some of the triumphs of their working life. All In A Day`s Work focuses on the remarkable stories of people`s everyday lives; and through those daily routines reveals how much our jobs tell us about how our communities work. ALL IN A DAY'S WORK [succeeds WATER WALKS in the Documentary 2 slots:] West Africa | Wed 0906 rpt 1606, Thu 0006, Sun 0906; Europe | Wed 0806 rpt 1306, 1806, Thu 0006, Sun 0906; East and South Africa | Wed 0706 rpt 1606, Thu 0006, Sun 0706; Middle East | Wed 0706 rpt 1606, Thu 0006, Sun 0706; South Asia | Tue 2206 rpt Wed 0506, 0906, 1406, Sat 2206, Sun 0506; East Asia | Wed 0206 rpt 0706, 1206, 1806, Sun 0106; Americas | Wed 1406 rpt 1906, Thu 0006, 0506, Sun 2106 (BBC WS Newsletter via Richard Cuff, DXLD) BBCWS via XM: See INTERNATIONAL VACUUM ** U K. With reference to DXLD 3-082, what on earth was the article about GBR doing there. First of all, it instructed us to tune in on Tuesday 29 May 2001, i.e. almost 2 years ago. Secondly, since the service apparently started in 1926, that would indeed have made its 75th anniversary in 2001. An obvious editorial slip-up to allow that article through (PAUL DAVID, Wembley Park, England, 2003, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glen[n], Small point: under UK; GBR 75 anniversary happened two years ago! Keep up the good work 73 (Steve Whitt, General Editor Medium Wave Circle) The date is May 2001. As reported in DXLD 3-068 GBR 16 kHz is now closed after 77 years of service (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Ronny, Die uitzending zal wel degelijk in 2001 geweest zijn want volgens BC-DX is GBR sedert 31 maart definitief uit de lucht (Guido Schotmans, BDXC via DXLD) Hmmm, I fixated on the May and overlooked the 2001 as the previous contributor must have (gh) ** UNITED KINGDOM [and non]. CHRISTIAN RADIO has commenced regular HF transmissions over brokered Merlin facilities in Wooferton and Al Dhabbaya. The planned schedule is: 1900-2000 15590 Wooferton to Af 2300-0130 6145 Al Dhabayya to SAs 1230-1330 15590 Al Dhabayya to SAs 1600-1630 11695 Al Dhabayya to SAs Noted here in Melbourne on 6145 from 2230 (earlier than planned) with English religious features, then into South Asian languages 2300-2345 (World Broadcast Magazine May 15 used by permission from http://edxp.org via DXLD) Which Christians are those? Sounds awfully generic, but what a coup in grabbing that name neglected by all the other Christians! (gh, DXLD) GOSPEL FOR ASIA also known as Christian Radio via Merlin [as above] 1900-2000 15590 Wooferton to Af 2300-0130 6145 Al Dhabayya to SAs 1230-1330 15590 Al Dhabayya to SAs 1600-1630 11695 Al Dhabayya to SAs via DTK 15775 1430 1529 WER 250 GFA 15660 1530 1629 WER 250 GFA 11795 0030 0130 WER 250 GFA 11905 2300 0030 WER 250 GFA (via Silvain Domen, Belgium, EDXP via DXLD) ** U K [non]. GERMANY: New schedule for BVBN in Amharic via DTK: 1600-1700 Tue/Wed/Fri/Sat 13810 JUL 100 kW / 130 deg to EaAf 1630-1700 Mon/Thu/Sun 13810 JUL 100 kW / 130 deg to EaAf (Observer, Bulgaria, May 14 via DXLD) ** U S A. BURTON PAULU, PIONEER EDUCATIONAL BROADCASTER AND EDUCATOR, DIES AT 92 --- Trudi Hahn, Star Tribune, March 14, 2003 Burton Paulu combined his love of classical music with his broadcasting skills to become a pioneer in educational radio and television starting in the 1930s. In 1991, years after the longtime Minneapolis resident retired from the University of Minnesota, his studies of comparative broadcasting led him to become the first American to teach a full-length course in the Soviet Union on Western broadcast media. Paulu died March 8 of complications from Parkinson's disease. He was 92. . . http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/3755013.html I took a course taught by him while a graduate student at the University of Minnesota. 73 (Kim Elliott, DXLD) ** U S A. Glenn: This message sent to VOA employees today. I haven't had a chance to listen yet, but this will probably be mentioned in today's "Africa World Tonight" ... (Kim Elliott, DXLD) Richard Kotey, member of the English to Africa family, died Saturday night, May 10 from complications of a stroke he suffered six weeks ago. Originally from Ghana, Richard was known to many as "King Kotey" and "The Gallant Ghanaian." He had been with VOA as a host and reporter since 1992. Prior to that, he had a distinguished career with the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation. Arrangements for a memorial service have not been finalized. Information will be shared as it becomes available. With always a kind word and a hearty laugh, the King brought joy and a sense of honor wherever he went. Please return to this page to view comments about Richard from VOA staffers and others. Richard, we love you and miss you. And we're sure you are with your ancestors watching over us. Many more tributes, including audio files in Ga language: http://www.voanews.com/EnglishtoAfrica/article.cfm?objectID=5C3C6962-1B75-4CEC-89551A8755EF2DE6 (via Kim Elliott, VOA, May 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. The China Syndrome, By PAUL KRUGMAN From the New York Times Editorial Page of May 13 Funny thing happened during the Iraq war: many Americans turned to the BBC for their TV news. They were looking for an alternative point of view --- something they couldn't find on domestic networks, which, in the words of the BBC's director general, "wrapped themselves in the American flag and substituted patriotism for impartiality." Leave aside the rights and wrongs of the war itself, and consider the paradox. The BBC is owned by the British government, and one might have expected it to support that government's policies. In fact, however, it tried hard — too hard, its critics say --- to stay impartial. America's TV networks are privately owned, yet they behaved like state-run media. What explains this paradox? It may have something to do with the China syndrome. No, not the one involving nuclear reactors --- the one exhibited by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation when dealing with the government of the People's Republic. In the United States, Mr. Murdoch's media empire --- which includes Fox News and The New York Post --- is known for its flag-waving patriotism. But all that patriotism didn't stop him from, as a Fortune article put it, "pandering to China's repressive regime to get his programming into that vast market." The pandering included dropping the BBC's World Service --- which reports news China's government doesn't want disseminated --- from his satellite programming, and having his publishing company cancel the publication of a book critical of the Chinese regime. Can something like that happen in this country? Of course it can. Through its policy decisions --- especially, though not only, decisions involving media regulation --- the U.S. government can reward media companies that please it, punish those that don't. This gives private networks an incentive to curry favor with those in power. Yet because the networks aren't government-owned, they aren't subject to the kind of scrutiny faced by the BBC, which must take care not to seem like a tool of the ruling party. So we shouldn't be surprised if America's "independent" television is far more deferential to those in power than the state-run systems in Britain or --- for another example --- Israel. A recent report by Stephen Labaton of The Times contained a nice illustration of the U.S. government's ability to reward media companies that do what it wants. The issue was a proposal by Michael Powell, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, to relax regulations on media ownership. The proposal, formally presented yesterday, may be summarized as a plan to let the bigger fish eat more of the smaller fish. Big media companies will be allowed to have a larger share of the national market and own more TV stations in any given local market, and many restrictions on "cross-ownership" --- owning radio stations, TV stations and newspapers in the same local market --- will be lifted. The plan's defects aside --- it will further reduce the diversity of news available to most people --- what struck me was the horse-trading involved. One media group wrote to Mr. Powell, dropping its opposition to part of his plan "in return for favorable commission action" on another matter. That was indiscreet, but you'd have to be very naïve not to imagine that there are a lot of implicit quid pro quos out there. And the implicit trading surely extends to news content. Imagine a TV news executive considering whether to run a major story that might damage the Bush administration --- say, a follow-up on Senator Bob Graham's charge that a Congressional report on Sept. 11 has been kept classified because it would raise embarrassing questions about the administration's performance. Surely it would occur to that executive that the administration could punish any network running that story. Meanwhile, both the formal rules and the codes of ethics that formerly prevented blatant partisanship are gone or ignored. Neil Cavuto of Fox News is an anchor, not a commentator. Yet after Baghdad's fall he told "those who opposed the liberation of Iraq" --- a large minority - -- that "you were sickening then; you are sickening now." Fair and balanced. We don't have censorship in this country; it's still possible to find different points of view. But we do have a system in which the major media companies have strong incentives to present the news in a way that pleases the party in power, and no incentive not to (via Roger Chambers, Utica, NY, DXLD) Same: http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/13/opinion/13KRUG.html (via Bill Doskoch, CAJ list via Ricky Leong, DXLD) ** U S A. FCC PROPOSAL EASES MEDIA OWNERSHIP RULES http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030512/ap_on_bi_ge/media_ownership_6 This doesn`t sound like good news, if you ask me. 73- (Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) IFJ CRITICISES FCC'S PROPOSED CHANGES IN MEDIA OWNERSHIP RULES | Text of International Federation of Journalists press release on 13 May The International Federation of Journalists today called on regulators to "come clean and give full disclosure" over plans to allow some of the world's largest media groups to tighten their grip on the world's largest media market in the United States. Michael Powell, chairman of the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC), has proposed changes in media ownership rules that signal a "new and dangerous shift of media power at the expense of pluralism and democracy," warned the IFJ. The IFJ says that there should be full public disclosure of the plans, which are being kept confidential in advance of an FCC vote on 2 June. Under the proposal, it is reported that two existing cross-ownership rules, one that prevents a company from owning a newspaper and a broadcast station in the same city and another involving radio and TV station ownership in a market, would be combined to create a single rule, but most existing restrictions would disappear. Other changes will allow media companies the right to hold up to 45 per cent of the national television audience - an increase of 10 per cent over the existing limit - while the rule that limits TV station ownership will be altered so a company can own two TV stations in more markets and three in larger cities like New York and Los Angeles. "This is giving control of the news and flow of information to a handful of media giants," said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. "It is a process that will diminish the diversity of ideas and opinions and will marginalize minority opinions and dissent." The IFJ says media concentration rules need to be tightened, not relaxed, and cites a worrying trend of conglomerates exercising editorial control over media services at the expense of journalistic independence: - In Canada, the IFJ and media unions have protested over a "one-size fits all" editorial policy imposed on editors by the company CanWest, which owns a network of newspaper and television outlets across the country; - In Italy, the conflict of interest of media magnate Silvio Berlusconi, who combines his role as prime minister with control of most of the country's television networks, has caused widespread consternation; - And in a media network that stretches over five continents, News Corporation chief Rupert Murdoch (who owns Fox Network, one of the prime beneficiaries of FCC changes) has a notorious history of editorial interference, most recently in his support for the US and British line in the Iraq war, a line slavishly followed by his entire network of more than 150 media outlets. "The FCC is supposed to regulate the airwaves in the public interest," said White, "but handing over the jewels of a nation's information and cultural heritage to huge corporations will not satisfy the public need for diverse media sources. This is simply politicians delivering glittering prizes to their friends in the media." "Democracy depends upon the capacity of many voices to be heard," says the IFJ, "and the FCC will stifle the _expression of different opinions by bowing to industry pressure for change, which has its roots in commercial advantage, not quality programming." The IFJ says that the opposition to changes in ownership rules has been particularly strong among media and journalists' trade unions, including the IFJ's affiliates The Newspaper Guild-CWA, the American Federation of Radio and Television Artists (AFTRA), the National Writers' Union and The Writers Guild (East). "The anger of media staff is well-founded," said White. "They see a massive lobby for change by many big media companies, without the public being properly engaged in the debate. At the same time, the unions are aware that easing media ownership rules often leads to a deplorable decline in professionalism, working conditions and media quality." On 2 June, the FCC's five commissioners will vote on the proposals. The Republican members say that existing rules are obsolete with the emergence of cable and satellite television and the Internet, but the Commission's two Democrats say Michael Powell is rushing through an important process that needs more public comment. "This process is flawed and dangerous for democracy," said Aidan White. "The role of media as watchdogs is weakened when dominant newspapers merge with major TV stations, and the public needs to be brought into the picture before the voting starts." The IFJ represents more than 500,000 journalists in more than 100 countries. For further information, contact the IFJ, International Press Centre, Residence Palace 155, Rue de la Loi - Bloc C, B-1040 Brussels, Belgium, tel: +322 235 2200 or +322 235 22 01, fax: +322 235 22 19, e-mail: safety@ifj.org, Internet: http://www.ifj.org/ Source: International Federation of journalists press release, Brussels, in English 13 May 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** U S A. DELAY URGED ON VOTE ON MEDIA OWNERSHIP FCC SCHEDULED TO DECIDE ON RELAXING LIMITS ON JUNE 2 By Paul Davidson, USA TODAY Key lawmakers Tuesday urged the Federal Communications Commission to delay plans to ease media ownership limits, while conglomerates sparred with smaller rivals over the sweeping proposal. ''I think we should hesitate,'' Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, said at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing. ''I don't know how this affects diversity, localism and competition.'' The FCC's two Democrats also called for delaying the scheduled June 2 FCC vote. The Senate hearing came a day after the FCC staff sent the five commissioners a 261-page recommendation that would let media companies get bigger. The proposal would raise to 45% from 35% the national audience networks such as Viacom and Fox could reach with their own local stations; lift the ban on ownership of a newspaper and TV or radio station in a large or midsize market; and permit ownership of up to three TV stations in top markets. Most committee members, including Republicans, urged the FCC to get more public comment. But the FCC's Republican majority backs the plan and Chairman Michael Powell says the vote won't be delayed. Sens. Ernest Hollings, D-S.C., and Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, introduced a bill to keep the 35% cap, but there's little chance of passage before the FCC vote. Mel Karmazin, president of Viacom, which owns CBS, told lawmakers that broadcast networks should be able to buy more lucrative local stations to boost profits. Noting that cable is winning away viewers, he said that without change, ''You'll encourage networks to put more of our content on cable (channels) and charge consumers more for it.'' But Jim Goodmon, president of Capital Broadcasting, a small owner of TV stations, said local voices will be stifled if the networks own too many affiliates. He said his Raleigh, N.C., station refused to air Fox's Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire because it ran counter to local values. ''Fox got upset, but we got through it.'' But ''if you let the networks own local affiliates, there is no balance. I mean, we're scared.'' Newspaper executives also squabbled. William Dean Singleton, CEO of MediaNews Group, which has 50 newspapers, said local TV news quality improved in cities where FCC waivers allowed ownership of both a TV station and newspaper. But Frank Blethen, publisher of the Seattle Times, said that when conglomerates own newspapers, ''there's less localism, fewer voices, less original information and higher ad rates and consumer subscription rates. Just wait for the feeding frenzy if the cross-ownership ban is repealed.'' (c) Copyright 2003 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc. (via Mike Coope, DXLD) Heard on KUSP 5/14 that Powell had denied the delay (gh) ** U S A. KUSC TO WIDEN CLASSICAL AUDIENCE The radio station and NPR will distribute round-the-clock programming to subscriber stations around the country. By Steve Carney, Special to The Times, May 5 2003 Hoping to bring Bach, Beethoven and Mozart to a wider audience, KUSC-FM (91.5) is joining forces with National Public Radio to distribute a 24-hour stream of classical music to stations nationwide. The service, called the Classical Public Radio Network (CPRN) and created five years ago in partnership with Colorado Public Radio, offers a stable of knowledgeable announcers and a varied playlist. Stations that subscribe to the service can use as much or as little of it as they want, either to replace weak-performing programs or to fill in gaps in their schedule. "We want to take the intimidation factor out of it," said Brenda Barnes, president and general manager of KUSC. "You'll hear some modern music, some very early music, some challenging music in addition to Beethoven's Fifth Symphony." KUSC listeners have already been hearing CPRN since 1998. Except for local programs such as Jim Svejda's evening show, Duff Murphy's Saturday opera program and Los Angeles Philharmonic broadcasts, the programming heard on KUSC is the same as what's offered to CPRN subscribers. KUSC and Colorado Public Radio have been testing the service at a handful of stations. Now NPR will offer the service to its 732 member stations, 472 of which already carry classical music. "We're giving them more to work with," said Benjamin Roe, NPR's director of music. He said the service's economy of scale will enable even small outlets to have high-quality announcing and programming. Barnes said classical-music stations often struggle to find announcers who not only know the music but also can convey that information to lay listeners without jargon or pretense. Having the marketing muscle of NPR behind CPRN, she said, will help the service compete against similar classical streams offered by Minnesota Public Radio (Classical 24) and Chicago's WFMT-FM (the Beethoven Satellite Network). KUSC and Colorado Public Radio also developed CPRN with an eye toward the future, when technology will allow radio stations to split their signals, simultaneously offering NPR news and talk shows on one stream and classical music, for example, on the other. And though Barnes said the service isn't mass-market enough to draw hordes of new fans to the genre, she said CPRN's accessibility and the music information it offers will attract listeners, and perhaps help stanch a decline in the format's audience. According to Arbitron, the radio ratings service, classical music's share of the national listening audience fell from 1.7% in 1998 to 1.5% in 2002, and remained the smallest of any of the 13 formats charted. But it's still the most popular music format on public radio, accounting for 30% of all programming. "Classical music hasn't been a mass-consumption format for quite some time," Barnes said, but "it's always had a group of people who love it and value it." Copyright 2003 Los Angeles Times (via Mike Cooper, May 14, DXLD) ** U S A. Heard latest WORLD OF RADIO, about WLIB 1190 AM NYC. The transmitter is in the swamps adjacent to WOR 710 Lyndhurst and nearby 1010 all-news WINS. The FCC application issue for enhanced nighttime coverage does not affect WLIB`s current nighttime power output of 30 kW. The CP is only for an extra tower that could broaden its range. There`s been much ongoing tower and ground system work over last five years at almost all of the NYC and NJ AM stations who have transmitters in NJ. WCBS 88 and WFAN 66 (old WNBC) is shared tower on Hart Island, off City Island, Bronx. WQEW (R. Disney) 1560 is in Queens (Bob Thomas, Bridgeport CT, May 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. One of my old DJ friends sent me this and I wanted to share it. We were DJs together at a "hippie" FM station in the early 70s where the paychecks regularly bounced and the 2 sales guys always reeked of English Leather and cheap gin. I'm sure some folks on the list will get a good laugh from these (Rick Robinson, Hendersonville, NC, NRC-AM via DXLD) You Know You're An Aging Radio DJ When..... You were first hired by a GM who actually worked in radio before becoming GM. You excitedly turn the radio up at the sound of "dead air" on the competitor's station. Sales guys wore Old Spice to cover the smell of liquor. You were playing Elvis' number-one hits when he was alive. You worked for only ONE station, and you could name the guy who owned it. You remember when normal people listened to AM radio, and only hippies" listened to FM. Radio stations used to have enough on-air talent to field a softball team every summer. You're at least 10 years older than the last two GM's who fired you. You used to smoke in a radio station and nobody cared. You know the difference between good reel-to-reel tape and cheap reel-to-reel tape. You have a white wax pencil, a razor blade, and a spool of 3M splicing tape in your desk drawer - - just in case. You know people who actually listened to baseball games on the radio. You can que a record, run down the hall, go to the bathroom, and be back in 2:50 for the segue. The new guy you're training has never listened to an AM station. He couldn't even name one in his own hometown if his life depended on it. You knew exactly where to put the tone on the end of a carted song. You spent most of the time on Friday nights giving out the high school football scores. And when they weren't phoned-in, you got really ticked off. You never thought twice about drinking from the same bottle with another DJ. Somebody would say, "You have a face for radio," and it was still funny. Sixty percent of your wardrobe has a station logo on it. You always had a screwdriver in the studio so you could take a fouled-up cart apart at a moment's notice. Agents were people like James Bond and the Man From Uncle. The only interaction between you and someone else prior to bedtime is, "Thank you. Please pull ahead to the second window." Your family thinks you're successful, but you know better. You played practical jokes on the air without fear of lawsuits. You've been married at least 3 times, or, never married at all. You answer your home phone with the station call letters. You know at least 3 people in sales who take credit for you keeping your job. You have several old air-check cassettes in a cardboard box in your closet that you wouldn't dream of letting anyone hear anymore, but, you'll never throw them out or tape over them. Never! You still have dreams of a song running out and not being able to find the control room door (via Rick Robinson, NRC-AM via DXLD) You Know You're An Aging DJ when: You broke for five minutes of news at the top of the hour (or at :55, or at :30, or at 20 past and 20 'til) When the dominant sound on FM was either elevator music, Doc Severinson's Orchestra, or the symphony. When you broke for Gordon McLendon's baseball broadcasts on the Liberty Broadcasting System. When you had to have a first-class ticket to run the board at a directional station. When the teenyboppers thought you were a celebrity. When your old air checks were on reel-to-reel. (John Callarman, KA9SPA, Family Genealogist, Krum TX, ibid.) ** U S A. High winds topple part of Austin [MN] radio tower [KAUS-AM] http://www.kstp.com/article/view/97027/ (via Andy Sennitt, Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U S A. Storms claim more towers in the midwest: WMBD 1470 Peoria loses three of its four towers and goes non-directional temporarily, with 3800 watts day, 1250 watts at night. KAUS 1480 Austin MN loses one of its four towers and is operating with reduced power as well. Regards, (100000watts.com via Brock Whaley, GA, DXLD) ** U S A. WMBD-1470 [Peoria IL] lost 3 towers over the weekend thanks to a tornado. CE Wayne Miller has pics up at his website: http://www.waynermiller.com/wmbd This is the second time in 4 years the station has suffered tornado related tower damage (Wally Wawro, WFAA-TV, Dallas, TX, NRC 2003 Big D, NRC-AM via DXLD) I have been in e-mail contact with Wayne Miller, CE for WMBD. He replied to my request for information with the following: " . . . I have applied for and assume I will be granted an STA to operate non- directional with 3800 watts daytime and 1250 night. Those are the levels they gave us last time when the big tower went down. However last time we were running on a quarter wave tower....this time a 428 foot 5/8's wave (much more efficient) so we should be booming out!! Last time it took nearly a year to return to normal...and that was replacing just one tower. With three to replace, I have no idea." Wayne is looking forward to getting your reports. Go get 'em!! (Bill Hale, NRC DDXD-West, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. NEWS Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, S. W., Washington, D. C. 20554 This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D. C. Circ 1974). News Media Information 202 / 418- 0500 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov TTY: 1- 888- 835- 5322 RAYON SHERWIN ``JUNIOR`` PAYNE SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR UNLICENSED RADIO OPERATION Washington, D. C. - Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that, in the United States Middle District of Florida, Orlando Division, United States Magistrate, Honorable David A. Baker sentenced Rayon Sherwin `Junior` Payne to 9 months imprisonment, followed by one year supervised release during which time he must perform 50 hours of community service. Payne was charged with multiple counts of operating an unlicensed FM radio facility, in violation of Title 47, United States Code, Section 301. He pleaded guilty to two of the counts before Magistrate Judge Baker. The conditions of supervised release stipulate that Payne must not violate any Federal, State or Local laws, including Section 301 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Florida, Orlando Division. The conviction and subsequent sentencing is the result of an investigation that began in February of 1999. The Commission’s Tampa Florida Office received complaints from residents and broadcasters in the Orlando, Florida area of interference to the reception of licensed broadcast stations in the area. Payne pled guilty to two counts of unlicensed radio operation and agreed to forfeit all equipment used in connection with the unlicensed operation in February of 2003. The operation of an unlicensed broadcast station is a violation of Section 301 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. Operators of unlicensed stations may be subject to civil monetary penalties of up to $11,000 per single violation or per day of a continuing violation not to exceed $87,500 for continuing violations. In addition, unlicensed operators may be subject to criminal sanctions, including a maximum $100,000 fine and up to one year imprisonment for a first offense. - FCC - Enforcement Bureau Contact: Lisa M. Fowlkes at (202) 418- 7450 / TTY 1( 888) 835- 5322 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 12, 2003 NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: David Fiske (202) 418-0500 1 (via Bill Hale, NRC-AM) Just for fun, I did a google search on the guy's name to see if any other past pirate offenses showed up, and I found this: http://old.seminolesheriff.org/registered_felons/payne_rayon_sherwin_r f2649.html Assuming this is the same guy, and I suspect it is given the location and occupation, he was apparently sentenced to 10 years probation for other offenses, perhaps contributing to this steep sentencing. (Mike Hawk, May 12, WTFDA via DXLD) with mugshot, description ** U S A. (PIRATES) regarding the news release on Rayon Sherwin "Junior" Payne being sentenced to nine months in jail for repeatedly operating an FM pirate: I presume he was a proprietor or linked to 95.9 "95 Live" and 93.9 "Raw," both in the Orlando area and active for a long time. Searching my own pirate page http://home.earthlink.net/~tocobagadx/flortis.html his name appears under both entries. He is also the first pirate operator I can recall named after a synthetic fabric. And regarding the subcarrier "Radio New Star" (via licensed 88.7 "Way") being 'the first" Haitian station in the Naples area, that's a bogus claim. There are/have been a number of unlicensed FM Kreyol pirates here (again, some are listed on my page). WTIR, Winter Garden, 1680 kHz. Regarding this switching to Spanish format ("Alma Latina" slogan): the first report I saw of this was a May 4th log by "Neil" on Radio-info.com's Florida Board. It is received fair level local daytime here in Clearwater. Reports that this has a very poor daytime signal are simply not true. The best compilation of Florida ethnic radio (mostly licensed AM and FM) is administered by David Crawford at: http://www25.brinkster.com/awh/flethnicradio.asp Visit my "Florida Low Power Radio Stations" at: http://home.earthlink.net/~tocobagadx/flortis.html (Terry L. Krueger, FL, May 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Glenn: -- I assure you, the piece written by me and sent to you via "Conexión..." was indeed authored exclusively by myself, both facts and opinions. This was not plagiarized or created in any way, other than by my own hand. I try to come out with just such a missive every 3 or 4 weeks, without charge to the recipients, in the interest of prompting and furthering discussion regarding Broadcast topics. I will gladly add you to my recipient's list; in the meantime I would appreciate it if you would clarify the source on the submission, as Greg Hardison's Broadcast Band Update. I will never attach my name to any published material without giving the necessary credit, and clearly stating quoted items as just that; I've spent too many years in Journalism to do anything otherwise. Please do clarify this in your e-column. Many thanks (Greg Hardison, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I wasn`t implying it was not your work, just that the entire piece may have appeared somewhere else first tho I had not seen it anywhere before it showed up in ConDig, and indeed Broadcast Band Update was not mentioned. More welcome (gh) ** VENEZUELA. FALLECIÓ DON LUIS JOSÉ ARREAZA ALMENAR Como cosa curiosa les comento que el dia de hoy estaba agregando una sección a la página web de Sintonía DX , la cual titulé: Personajes de la Radio, y mientras la hacía me enteré del fallecimiento de Don Luis José Arreaza Almenar, toda una personalidad en la radiodifusión venezolana y muy especialmente en la radiodifusión del oriente del país. Así comencé esta nueva sección: Queridos colegas y amigos diexistas, es triste inaugurar esta sección participando el fallecimiento de un hombre que ha sido gloria para la radiodifusión venezolana y en especial para la radiodifusión oriental. Si, colegas diexistas, ha fallecido Don Luis José Arreaza Almenar, quién el año 1935 había fundado en Barcelona a la Emisora Ondas del Neverí, mas tarde La Voz de Anzoátegui, después a Radio Sucre en la Ciudad de Cumaná, en 1948 a Radio Monagas en la ciudad de Maturín, fundó en el año 1950 en Puerto La Cruz el cuarto eslabón de su cadena radial, cuya inauguración tuvo lugar el 19 de Marzo del citado año: Radio Puerto La Cruz. En muchas partes de Venezuela está la obra de Don Luis José Arreaza Almenar representada por todas las emisoras fundadas por él: Radio Carúpano, Radio Miranda, hoy radio Sensación, Radio Nueva Esparta, Radio Eduardo Mendez, Radio Anaco, y Radio Anzoátegui. Desde Sintonía DX hacemos llegar hasta sus familiares y allegados nuestra palabra de tristeza por su muerte acaecida hoy 13 de Mayo, pero también de agradecimiento por todo lo que hizo por la radiodifusión venezolana y en especial la del oriente del país. En la página web de Sintonía DX hay un archivo sonoro que se está transmitiendo por Radio Puerto La Cruz, Radio Anzoátegui y otras emisoras como homenaje postumo. Aquí podrán oir lo que fué la vida de este hombre para quién la radio era su pasión. La dirección: http://www.angelfire.com/music5/sintoniadx Atte: (José Elías Díaz Gómez, Venezuela, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA [non]. ALÓ PRESIDENT CAMBIA DE FRECUENCIAS. Hola Glenn, Saludos desde Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA. El interesante programa del presidente Hugo Chávez, Alo Presidente, ahora sale --- via Cuba --- por los 13680, 17750 y 11670 kHz. Los 13680 llegan muy bien a Venezuela. Recuerden que el espacio comienza a las 1400 UT, aproximadamente (Adán González, Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, May 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Domingos solamente UNIDENTIFIED. 4870 steady signal here, but noisy conditions. Nothing but music, "Me and you and a dog named Blue," and Abba's "Fernando." Heard from tune in at 1112 past 1130 May 13. Sri Lanka? (Hans Johnson, Louisiana, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) How about RRI Wamena? They put in a good signal here most mornings on 4869.96 and play a lot of music (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Drake R-8, 100-foot RW, ibid.) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ FREQUENCY SCHEDULES - One of the best lists I have found on the internet that is short, sweet and a sure fire list is Albert Belle Isle's list: http://www.cerberussystems.com/%7Ebelleisl/swl2003a.txt Printed out it is only about 3 pages. [in time order, selected English broadcasts as monitored] Danny Sampson`s list http://www.primetimeshortwave.com/ and Mark Fine's list http://www.fineware-swl.com/ are very comprehensive and excellent but can be a bit much for carrying around. These lists are best for when not in a portable mode. There are other lists but these are the three I like (Ulis Fleming, swl via DXLD) THIS DAY`S ESPERANTO LESSON +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ RADIO WORLD - Sunday May 11, 2003 At a time when here and there international stations scrap programmes in major world languages, including English, there are still broadcasters who carry programmes in Esperanto. The artificial international language was invented - if that is the right word for a language, maybe I'd better say 'created' in 1887 by a Polish Philologist, Dr L.L. Zamenhof. It's based on words common to the main European languages. Esperanto - meaning 'the one who hopes' - was the pseudonym used by Dr Zamenhof. It never made the big breakthrough its creator was hoping for, but it still has enthusiastic followers in many, if not most countries of the world. Radio Polonia has daily programmes in Esperanto. Understandably so, as it is Dr Zamenhof's native country. But also Radio Habana, Cuba, China Radio International, Vatican Radio, and the Italian public broadcaster RAI, have broadcasts in Esperanto, on shortwave, or via the satellite, or on the internet, or all three modes of reaching listeners round the world who speak Esperanto, or want to learn it. I found a schedule of these transmissions in the latest issue of Radio Kurier, the excellent DX magazine, published on the first and fifteenth of each month by the large Germanspeaking DX associations, ADDX and AGDX. The schedules were edited by Klaus Spielvogel and reflects the situation in April 2003. I'll limit myself to the broadcasts on short and medium wave: (all times in UTC) 0700-0730 on Sundays: Radio Habana Kuba on 9820 kHz 1100-1130 daily : China Radio International on 7170, 11925 kHz 1300-1330 daily: China Radio International on 11650, 15210 kHz 1500-1529 daily : Radio Polonia on 7285 and 7270 kHz. SOUND: Radio Polonia in Esperanto (listen to Radio World via audio link on this page) Radio Polonia in Esperanto. Also the next broadcast comes from Warsaw: 1800-1829: daily Radio Polonia on 7285 kHz; 1920-1930 : on Wednesdays and Thursdays: Vatican Radio, in Esperanto Radio Vatikana on 1260 and 1611 kHz MW and 7250 and 9645 kHz shortwave 1920-1930 on Sundays, Radio Vatikana on 527 and 1530 kHz MW and on 5890 and 4005 kHz shortwave 1930-2000 : on Sundays, Radio Habana Kuba on 13750 kHz; 2000-2020 : on Saturdays, RAI, Roma, on 6110 and 9745 kHz 2000-2030: daily, China Radio International on 11810, 9965 and 11730 2150-2200: on Sundays, Radio Vatikana on 527 and 1530 kHz MW and on 5890 and 4005 kHz shortwave; SOUND Vatican Radio in Kiswahili Vatican Radio, not in Esperanto, but in Kiswahili. Just pulling your leg. I have been looking at their website but couldn't find any sound in Esperanto. It also reminds us that Vatican Radio is broadcasting programmes in an impressive number of languages, 40 according to the information on their website. Let's continue with our schedule: 2200-2230: on Sundays, Radio Habana Kuba on 13750 kHz; 2230-2300 : daily: Radio China International on 11700 and 9860 kHz; And finally: 2330-2400: on Sundays, Radio Habana Kuba on 11970, 11760 and 9505 kHz. (FRANS VOSSEN, RVi Radio World May 11 via DXLD) CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ BROADCAST-ASIA 2003 CONFERENCE ABANDONED The big annual Conference and Exhibition to be held in Singapore during June 2003 has been abandoned, due to the SARS epidemic. Over 100 papers had been submitted for presentation, and around 650 exhibitors had made preparations for their displays (World Broadcast Magazine May 15 used by permission from http://edxp.org via DXLD) IRCA CONVENTION Mike Sanburn tells us that the 40th annual IRCA convention will be held on June 27-29 at the Best Western Merry Manor Inn, 700 Main street, South Portland Maine, 04106. Phone number for reservations is 207-774-6151 (mention the IRCA convention rate of $69 per night.). The IRCA will have the usual events including business meeting, station tours, auction, banquet, etc. All members or radio fans are welcome. Registration fee will be the usual $35 (payable to Mike Sanburn) This covers meeting room rental, banquet, refreshments, etc. The hotel can be viewed at http://www.seenewengland.com/merrymanor Tourist info can be found at http://www.visitportland.com Specific questions can be directed to me at mikesanburn@hotmail.com Mike Sanburn, KG6LJU, PO Box 1256, Bellflower, CA 90707-1256. NRC CONVENTION! Where can you find an airport the size of Manhattan? A ranch bigger than the state of Rhode Island? And with your help what could be the largest gathering of AM Radio enthusiasts ever? This year the National Radio Club marks another milestone, it's 70th anniversary. And this is your invitation to join us in Dallas, TX for our annual convention. Convention dates will be Friday August 29 through Sunday August 31, 2003. Your hosts will be John Callarman, Bill Hale and Wally Wawro, who hope to make your visit to the Lone Star State memorable and fun. Convention registration and hotel reservations are now being taken. Here's how to join us: This year, registration is $45 dollars for each NRC member or $70 for member and spouse. Registration includes the annual NRC banquet to be held on Saturday, August 30. As usual we'll have plenty of snacks and refreshments throughout the gathering. And there could be other surprises too. You can register two ways. By mail, send your registration to: Bill Hale, 6124 Roaring Springs Drive, North Richland Hills, TX, 76180-5552. Make your check or money order payable to the National Radio Club and note on the check that it's for the convention. Please include your name, address, phone number and e-mail address with your check. If you need special accommodations please note that as well. Once again you can register for the convention here at the NRC website using your credit card through our Paypal account. Click on "Convention Registration." You'll find instructions there. In either case the deadline is Friday, August 15, 2003. Our host hotel is: The Holiday Inn Select DFW Airport South, 4440 Airport Freeway, Irving, TX, 75062. http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/HI/hd/dfwso?irs=3Dy Telephone number is 1-800-360-2242. It's minutes from the south entrance to DFW airport. The hotel has complementary shuttle service from the airport Room rates are $69.00 per night single or double occupancy. To get the special NRC rate of $69.00 you must call the hotel directly. Their toll free number from anywhere in the US or Canada is 1-800-360-2242 and tell them you're attending the National Radio Club convention. If you require special assistance or services please let the hotel know. The hotel is fully ADA compliant. Hotel reservation deadline is Friday, August 15. The hotel will have rooms available at the NRC rate beginning Thursday August 28, through Labor Day, Monday, September 1st. The hotel was recently updated and offers numerous amenities including indoor and outdoor pools, restaurants, lots of space to unwind and even an indoor putting green. Within easy distance of the hotel is everything from a Wal-Mart and McDonald's to a major shopping mall. American, Delta, United and Continental all fly into DFW Airport, but Southwest Airlines does not. If you choose to come to the convention on Southwest you will need to make transportation arrangements from Dallas Love Field to the hotel. Also, all of the major car rental companies are located at DFW airport. Texas in August is hot outdoors and very well air-conditioned indoors so keep that in mind. And having a tube of sunscreen isn't a bad idea either. For answers to your questions, contact Wally Wawro at WFAA-TV in Dallas, 214-977-6260, or e-mail at wwawro@wfaa.com. Also, you can reach Wally at 214-354-4958 or e-mail at nrc2003bigd@hotmail.com Let's make this the best turnout ever for an NRC gathering. After 70 years we do have something to celebrate! Join us in Texas for this year's NRC convention (May NRC DX Audio Service via DXLD) ### RECEIVER NEWS [non] +++++++++++++ RADIO SHACK SELLING SUBWAY CARS OK, not strictly radio-related, but DX is crummy now and it's too good not to pass along: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=undefined&item=2414503391 Or you can go to ebay.com and search for item # 2414503391. When I worked for Radio Shack national HQ in 1979-81, the subway would run from the parking area below Tandy Center to the first floor between the two towers of the Center. It was billed as the only privately-operated (and free!) subway in the world, although it only traveled about 200 feet underground. I rode it every day from the parking lot to my job in Radio Shack's technical publications group (where my "masterpieces" included the DX-302 manual). Radio Shack recently sold Tandy Center and is relocating to a smaller office facility, another sign of the slow demise of this former retailing powerhouse (Harry Helms W7HLH, Las Vegas, NV DM26, May 13, NRC-AM via DXLD) Last summer I spent some time with NRC'er Tony Fitzherbert who has a parallel passion for trains (he works in NYC's Grand Central Station). He visited Dallas-Fort Worth to ride the Tandy subway before it closed as well as the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) light rail system and the Trinity Railway Express, which connects Dallas and Fort Worth. I could tell he was having the time of his life riding the rails and taking numerous photographs (Wally Wawro, WFAA-TV, Dallas, TX, NRC 2003 Big D, ibid.) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ Variation in solar activity continues to be severe, as we move downwards in Cycle 23. The smoothed sunspot for April 2003 was expected to be 65, plus/minus 12. The Cycle is expected to bottom out during the next 12 months - the lowest SSN hovered around 10, from January 1996 to April 1997. There were two peaks, in May 2000 (SSN=121), and March 2002 (SSN=112). (World Broadcast Magazine May 15 used by permission from http://edxp.org via DXLD) FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 14 MAY - 09 JUNE 2003 Solar activity is expected to range from low to moderate activity. Activity is expected to be at very low levels early in the period until Regions 345/349 return on 19 May. These regions are expected to present isolated M-class potential until they rotate beyond the west limb around 02 June. No greater than 10 MeV proton events are expected during the forecast period. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux is expected to reach high levels every day of the period. The geomagnetic field is expected to range from quiet to isolated major storm levels. On 14 – 15 May, isolated major storm levels are possible with the return of a large coronal hole high speed flow. A negative polarity coronal hole is due to return to a geo-effective position on 27 – 30 May with major storming possible. On 02 June, a large positive polarity coronal hole is due to return and could produce unsettled to major storming for the remainder of the period. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2003 May 13 2211 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center # Product description and SEC contact on the Web # http://www.sec.noaa.gov/wwire.html # # 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table # Issued 2003 May 13 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2003 May 14 100 30 5 2003 May 15 110 20 4 2003 May 16 115 20 4 2003 May 17 120 15 3 2003 May 18 125 20 4 2003 May 19 130 20 4 2003 May 20 130 15 3 2003 May 21 130 20 4 2003 May 22 135 20 4 2003 May 23 145 15 3 2003 May 24 150 15 3 2003 May 25 150 15 3 2003 May 26 155 15 3 2003 May 27 155 25 5 2003 May 28 150 35 6 2003 May 29 145 20 4 2003 May 30 145 12 3 2003 May 31 140 8 3 2003 Jun 01 130 15 3 2003 Jun 02 120 20 4 2003 Jun 03 110 35 6 2003 Jun 04 100 30 5 2003 Jun 05 100 30 5 2003 Jun 06 95 35 6 2003 Jun 07 90 30 5 2003 Jun 08 95 20 4 2003 Jun 09 95 20 4 (from http://www.sec.noaa.gov/radio via WORLD OF RADIO 1182, DXLD) ###