DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-108, June 17, 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/dxldtd3f.html For restrixions and searchable 2003 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn NEXT AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1186: RFPI: Wed 0100, 0730, 1330 7445 15039 WWCR: Wed 0930 9475 WRN ONDEMAND: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO: Check http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html [Low] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1186.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1186.ram [High] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1186h.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1186h.ram (Summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1186.html FIRST AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1187: Wed 2200 on WBCQ 7415, 17495-CUSB Thu 2030 on WWCR 15825 Fri 1930 on RFPI 15039 Sat 1731 on WINB 13570 WORLD OF RADIO ON WWCR: WWCR confirms that something else has replaced WOR Saturdays at 0600 on 5070. A different time may replace this (gh) UPDATE ON JIM CONRAD Good news, everyone! Jim was discharged from the hospital today! He's making good progress and says he's feeling much better. Apparently he had surgery when he was admitted to the hospital. He's under doctor's orders not to lift anything for a while. If you'd like to send an e- card or message to Jim, his e-mail address is: jol677@yahoo.com (Evelyn Hampton June 15, via Joe Olig, DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN. The Kabul transmitter on 1296 is 400 kW and is a solidstate Harris. It consists of a pair of DX 200 power blocks combined. Harris DX 200 mediumwave transmitter website: http://www.bc.harris.com/product_portfolio/prod_media/dx200.pdf (via U. Volk, Germany, BC-DX May 23 / June 6 via DXLD) ** ANTARCTICA. 15476, Radio Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel, Base Antártica Esperanza, 1925+, June 16. Spanish. Very nice Argentina folk songs. Short talks about the Rio Negro province co[a]st and Viedma- Carmen de Patagones region. ID's as: "Saludamos a todos los que sintonizan la frecuencia de 15476 kHz en la banda de 19 metros. Radio Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel, Base Esperanza de la Antártida Argentina" and "Desde el Sector Antártico Argentino transmite LRA36 Radio Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel en la frecuencia de 15476 kHz, en la banda de 19 metros. Radio Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel".44444 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. Olá amigos, Esuctado hoje às 0519 Z a Rádio Continental em LSB, 5339.91 kHz, com abertura de programa noturno com apresentadora (YL), "6 grados de sensación térmica". SINPO 54444. Receptor FT-767GX, ant dip W3DZZ. Até mais! (Flávio Archangelo, Jundiaí - SP, radioescutas June 16 via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA [and non]. GOD TUNES INTO THE DIGITAL AGE [stupid headline] (Sydney Morning Herald 16th June 2003) By Deborah Cameron http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/06/15/1055615675929.html In Australia's new northern bible belt, happiness is a warm transmitter. From Darwin and Kununurra, two big Christian missionary broadcasters want to win souls in Asia and this week their on-air evangelism enters the digital age. "It will make a huge change in short-wave broadcasting because it will be as clear as an FM signal on a local station," said the director of ministries at HCJB World Radio, Dennis Adams. As anyone with a short wave radio knows, an analog signal is prone to fade, whistle or erupt into static. From this week short-wave licence holders can begin broadcasting in digital format. Mr Adams, who doubles as station manager of HCJB's six-month-old Kununurra transmitter, describes digital as a "real breakthrough", especially for radio missionaries. The other big broadcaster, Voice International, beams programs in Indonesian, English, Chinese and Hindi from its Darwin transmitter into a region with a population of 2.8 billion. The audience has grown most rapidly in Indonesia, says Voice International spokesman Richard Daniel. Partly this is due to the popularity of radio host Riady, who Mr Daniel describes as "an Indonesian John Laws" recruited by talent scouts in Perth. It is also because of a playlist that, though sprinkled with religious crooners, features Coldplay and Avril Lavigne. By comparison, HCJB (which stands for Heralding Christ Jesus's Blessing) plays country music, middle of the road classics and national folk songs. Both want to expand. In East Timor, Voice is setting up a Portuguese language broadcaster and has used its network to recruit 50 pastors from Brazil who are in East Timor building schools, Mr Daniel said. Mr Daniel, who hails from Broken Hill where he owns the secular 2BH and Hill FM and has a 26-year history in radio, signed onto Christian broadcasting last year. He says that for the modern missionary, radio, email and SMS go hand in hand with field work. Both organisations are phenomenally wealthy. They expanded to Australia after a 1999 law allowed broadcasters other than the ABC to transmit internationally. While they face obstacles with digital broadcasts because listeners need to have a digital receiver, both networks are so well organised and funded that they are understood to be prepared to provide receivers or at least subsidise their $100 cost (via Robert Williams, Australia, Jilly Dybka, TN, DXLD) There you go. HCJB is ``phenomenally wealthy`` --- so why all the cutbacks from Ecuador? (gh, DXLD) ** AUSTRIA. En el programa: El Buzón del Radioescucha que se transmitió hoy Domingo por esta querida emisora, informó la amiga conductora del programa Isabél Miró, que habían sorteado el radio Grundig prometido y la ganadora resultó ser: Monserrat Aminto Casanova, Ella vive en la provincia de Barcelona, en España. Así mismo nombraron a una cantidad de oyentes del programa que recibirán premios especiales. Nota: Yo pensaba que este sorteo iba a ser el próximo domingo, pero me llevé la sorpresa cuando nombraron al ganador el dia de hoy. FELICITACIONES. Atte: (José Elías, Venezuela, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Efectivamente José... Además, en este penúltimo programa "Buzón Internacional" de Radio Austria Internacional (te corrijo el nombre, veo que tú también tienes un amor muy especial por KBS) magistralmente conducido por Isabel Miró y Jaime Carbonel durante 20 años, aludieron a miles de cartas recibidas en las últimas semanas (la mayoría de entristecidos oyentes que referíann al cierre de las emisiones en español) y se repasaron las tarjetas postales y navideñas, los obsequios recibidos de muchos radioescuchas que han acompañado a la querida ORF durante su rica historia. Agradecimientos retrospectivos - de los años '80 y '90- se hicieron mencionando a varios nombres como los de Liliana Mabel Delfino y Jorge Castelli de Buenos Aires (a quienes Mable Miró conoce personalmente), Bruno Alcaráz, Lilián Rivero de Uruguay, Ramiro Giraldo Fernández de Colombia, Alfredo Santamaría de Costa Rica, Jesus Claros Zurita de Cochabamba, Bolivia, Juan Morales de España, Néstor Vargas de Venezuela, Sara Lagos de Francia, Ildina Guisandor de Rumania... Estos y otros miles de oyentes han quedado registrados, según afirmaron Isabel y Jaime, en la colección de correspondencias que guardarán para siempre como un documento testimonial de la sección española de Radio Austria Internacional cuyas emisiones terminarán el próximo 30 de junio de 2003. También el Ayuntamiento de Viena ha destinado regalos para muchos oyentes elegidos al azar como Daniel Lamberti, Oscar Scirocco, de Argentina, David Laiza Juamán de Perú, Jorge Callejo y Sara Arteaga López en España, David Salazar Guillén y Julio Trenard de Venezuela, John Freddy Castellón Gil y Gustavo A. Rodríguez de Colombia, Dennys Taboada en Honduras, Gianela Guzmán en Canadá, Paulo Jorge Ferreyra, Rogelio Kruguer, Leoniodas Dos Santos do Nascimento y Elio Brekenfel, todos de Brasil, Víctor Castaño en Uruguay, Ximena Bishman de Chile, Fernando Perera Jordán de Cuba y otros. El próximo domingo 22 de junio será la despedida del programa y todos son convocados para escuchar (y grabar!) esa media hora final. Radio Austria quedará en nuestro recuerdo y -sin dudas- mucho de nosotros formará parte de la historia de esta emisora que fue la mejor embajadora de la realidad austríaca en el mundo hispano. De mi parte gracias amigos de ORF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Rubén Guillermo Margenet, Argentina, June 16, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** BELARUS. 10 June, 4982 kHz, ~03:35, in Russian, commercials, following by morning exercises by radio. ID at 0340 "V efire Radio Stalitsa". Carrier was partially suppressed; therefore I had to use BFO. I think station that has been relayed before 0340 was the 1st program of Belarussian Radio. Unfortunately I was not able to check whether that all was parallel to LW 279 kHz, because LW band was very noisy at the moment (open_dx - Yaroslav Derevyagin, Odessa, Ukraine, via Signal via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 4924.97, 2235-2320 [June 16] R. Emisora Rural, Tefé. Full ID in Portuguese at 2306, after usual Voz do Brasil slot. Fair signal and moderate QRM from co-channel RRI Jambi. Real Audio clip available upon request. To South European DXers: I'm monitoring the bands on a regular basis these days and almost daily tips are posted on my blog: http://www.faiallo.splinder.it Although written in Italian, I hope that some information (e.g. frequency, time and date, name of station) could be useful to non Italian-speaking DXers too (Renato Bruni JRC 525 - 60m longwire Parma, Italy, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** CANADA. Freq change for DRM test of Radio Canada Inter effective June 15: 2000-2400 NF 9795 SAC 250 kW / 268 deg, ex 9740 0000-0200 on 9765 SAC 250 kW / 268 deg deleted 1000-1200 on 6055 SAC 250 kW / 268 deg deleted 1000-1600 on 9730 SAC 250 kW / 268 deg deleted (Observer, Bulgaria, June 17 via DXLD) ** CHINA. Harris has two 600 kW units for China up. Harris DX 200 mediumwave transmitter website: http://www.bc.harris.com/product_portfolio/prod_media/dx200.pdf (via U. Volk, Germany, BC-DX May 23 / June 6 via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. 5973.5, 0742 May 20, R. Auténtica fair with Colombian pops, regular TC by FA every minute over music (Paul Ormandy, June NZ DX Times via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. 4955, 16.6. 0020- COL: HJCQ, Rdif Nacional, Bogotá. Various programmes, music and religious "horas". Off 0200 (Listeners: Pauli Holm & Jari Lehtinen. QTH: Maakeski, So. Finland. Receivers Racal RA1792 & Yaesu FRG-100. Antennas different 100-meter long wires, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Are you quite sure about this one? Has been inactive for decades (gh) ** COLOMBIA. MIDI examples of Colombian music styles, starting with national anthem: http://www.geocities.com/fjmejia/english.html (via Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. Saludos cordiales amigo y colega Glenn. Espero te encuentres muy bien. El motivo de mi correo es para informarte que estuve escuchando a Radio Rebelde con señal bastante por Venezuela en la frecuencia de los 11655. Exactamente a las 1313 UT la señal ha quedado fuera del aire; si retorna nuevamente te aviso. Como muestra te anexo el siguiente archivo que acabo de grabar cuando despedían el Programa: Haciendo Radio. Atte: (José Elías Díaz G., Venezuela, June 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Apparently they turn off 11655 as soon as the Haciendo Radio program is over, at this odd time, altho the final timecheck on the recording was ``9 de la mañana``, so was it really made at 1300, not 1313? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Rebelde, en la frecuencia 11655 kHz a las 1110 UT y hasta las 1255, cuando están transmitiendo resumen de noticias antes de salir del aire a las 1300; a veces la señal se queda un poco más en el aire tal como pasó el dia de ayer. Cuando redactaba esta información, salió del aire la Radio Rebelde, La Emisora de La Revolución, como dice su slogan. Atte: (José Elías, Venezuela, June 17, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** CUBA. Radio Cuba ¡ Todas las emisiones de Radio y Televisión desde Cuba en vivo ! Listen and watch to all live stream transmissions of Cuban Radio and TV! Hören und sehen Sie Radio und TV aus Kuba - live! http://www.geocities.com/casamalecon/radiocuba/ (via Curtis Sadowski, WTFDA via DXLD) Based in Switzerland? I found the reason behind the N logo Cuba uses (while watching Cubavisión via the web). At the top of the hour, they showed a large NTV on the screen, and in an animated sequence, the letters came together into the large version of the N logo they use at the bottom of the screen. The T forms the left part of the logo, and the V fits into the right side of the N. The program they had on before the hour was fairly amusing, consisting of a panel show (similar to the one I caught on channel 4 Sunday) about the terrorists in Miami (they used the word gusano quite a bit) working to subvert the present Cuban government. They used some clips of President Bush in the show, obviously taken off American broadcast television (one clip had a seven logo typically used by urban ABC stations). With luck, I'll be able to watch future offerings of this show via DX (Curtis Sadowski, Paxton, Illinois, June 16, WTFDA via DXLD) ** CUBA. Nice to hear from you amigo! TV Ch 4 is the new "CANAL EDUCATIVO" national educational TV network in Havana. The TV 5 is probably Santa Clara or Santiago de Cuba. The TV 6 is either Havana CUBAVISION or Camagüey CUBAVISION Now we have several new UHF stations relaying the CANAL EDUCATIVO educational network: Pinar del Rio city CH. 14 Pinar del Rio, Sierra del Rosario relay is on CH 19 Camagüey is on CH 18 And many more are now being installed as the third national network will cover all of Cuba soon. A fourth national TV network is expected to be starting broadcasts pretty soon too. 73 and DX, Your friend in Havana, Arnie Coro, CO2KK (via Jeff Kadet, WTFDA via DXLD) ** CUBA [non]. CASTRO FOE SWITCHES TO AIRWAVES [misleading headline] By Madeline Baró Diaz, Miami Bureau, Sun Sentinel Palm Beach edition Posted June 16 2003 http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-pdbrothers16jun16,0,2603377.story?coll=sfla-news-palm MIAMI --- José Basulto's television station can fit in a suitcase and be broadcast from a small plane. In his South Miami home, Basulto demonstrates his $4,000 worth of equipment, a camcorder, a transmitter and devices to measure and amplify signals. The shoestring operation, which Basulto has employed twice, was an attempt to show that if a couple of amateur radio aficionados could broadcast to Cuba, so could the U.S. government with its $10 million-a-year enterprise, TV Martí. "It's so crummy, so poor, so Radio Shack," he said of his amateur equipment. Such is Basulto's life these days. Basulto became nationally known as the head of Brothers to the Rescue, the group that patrolled the Florida Straits for rafters and was credited with saving thousands of lives. This year, however, he announced that the rescue mission of Brothers was kaput, an acknowledgement that now that U.S. policy mandates the return of most Cubans found on the high seas, the Brothers' rescue efforts were obsolete. Continuing them, he said, actually could lead to the repatriation of rafters who were trying to flee Cuba. Basulto, 62, hung up his rescuer's hat, but not his activist's hat, continuing his efforts to support the internal opposition in Cuba through non-violent means. Broadcasting was his latest high-profile pursuit, fueled by his belief that TV Martí, broadcast for a few hours every night, is an important venture but one that is not reaching the majority of Cubans. "I do not know one Cuban [on the island] who has ever seen TV Martí," he said. But in recent years Basulto has also rubbed some hard-line Cuban- Americans the wrong way by taking controversial positions such as supporting Cuban dissident Oswaldo Payá, whose effort to bring a referendum on civil reforms in Cuba has been viewed with suspicion by some exiles. "I don't think he has a major leadership role at this point," said Max Castro, senior research associate at the University of Miami's North- South Center. "He seems to be working hard to maintain some sort of relevance." Basulto was a young man hoping to free his country from Fidel Castro's grip when he returned to Cuba prior to the Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961. Basulto said he was trained by the U.S. government in weapons, explosives and communications. His mission was to tell his fellow Cubans that the United States would be there for them when they rose up against Castro. Basulto began publicizing his broadcast venture this year when he announced that Brothers to the Rescue was taking to the skies again to show that a broadcast to Cuba was possible, despite the U.S. government's contention that Cuba's jamming of the signal made that impossible. The first flight was on Feb. 24, the anniversary of the shootdown. Before the flight, Brothers to the Rescue were featured on a segment on TV Martí where they showed Cubans how they could fashion a TV antenna out of materials like a hanger, a broom handle and a toilet plunger. Basulto said their transmission, from 100 miles southwest of Marathon, near where the planes went down, was seen in Havana. On May 20, Basulto and a colleague, Osvaldo Pla, made another attempt but their amplifier failed. That same night the federal government used Direct-to-Home satellite service and a transmission system on a military plane to broadcast TV Martí, in an attempt to enhance the signal. TV Martí officials say they will conduct further tests before determining how to proceed. That was not enough for Basulto, who does not know whether his activities pushed the U.S. government to respond. "We are asking for 365 transmissions a year," he said. Basulto's exploits have caught the attention of the Federal Communications Commission, which sent him a notice of violation informing him that his ham radio license did not allow him to broadcast to Cuba. He did not mind, though; he had made his point. "I wanted to get a message to the White House," he said. "We have raised the veil of hypocrisy. Mission accomplished." Copyright © 2003, South Florida Sun-Sentinel (via Jilly Dybka, DXLD) ** EGYPT. Dear Glenn, after doing some digging concerning these new stations on the FM Band in Cairo, I figured out that as I was expecting that they are not 100 % state owned stations. We have a new media company called Good News For Me http://www.goodnews4me.com and the are sharing the whole project of the 24/7 Arabic and English musical stations with the Egyptian Radio & TV Union. The share of Good news for me is 40% and 60% for the ERTU. Good news for me is having a cooperation with Radio 1 (a famous FM radio station in Lebanon) to operate the station; 2 British DJs are already in Cairo trying to set up the whole thing. They originally working for Radio 1, the station still broadcasting music and jingles, no shows; according to my source in Good news for me they soon will start having talk shows, night shows, request shows, etc. All the best, Glenn. Yours (Tarek Zeidan, Cairo, Egypt, June 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Website Cannot Be Found. ``Good News`` is a Christian catch-phrase --- I assume not the case here, even if Coptic? Frequencies? (gh, DXLD) ** EL SALVADOR. Hello Glenn, The same day I read DXLD log and comments regarding Radio Imperial reception and fax-only QSLs, I received this in the mail. Apparently they do QSL postal reports. Radio Imperial, 17835, Personalized, frequency only, photo-copy of "Otorga el siguiente certificado" and personal letter, in Spanish, in 52 days for $2 and an English report. v/s Nubia Ericka Garcia, Administradora. I used a free on-line translator which did a so-so job . The certificate is in "recognition of our signal which transmits daily" (Scott R Barbour Jr, NH, June 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. I received word that the German service of Deutsche Welle will start to broadcast from Bonn on August 4. Since today they use a back-up studio at Köln for continuation in order to free the previously used studio for dismantling. So much for today, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, June 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [and non]. DEUTSCHE WELLE LAUNCHES DRM DIGITAL SHORTWAVE BROADCASTING | Text of press release by Deutsche Welle on 16 June; subheadings as published: Today, Monday, 16 June 2003, Deutsche Welle began daily radio transmissions via digital shortwave. This was the official launch of the new broadcasting standard for long, medium and shortwave developed by the Digital Radio Mondiale Consortium (DRM) under the auspices of the World Radio Conference of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in Geneva. DRM chair Peter Senger has handed over the forward-looking system to the 192 member states of the ITU for use in their respective countries. DW Director-General Erik Bettermann says: "Thanks to the immense improvement in quality over analogue transmission," Deutsche Welle is expecting "a worldwide renaissance of radio and an increase in the numbers of listeners". DW will take full advantage of the great opportunities that this new mode of transmission offers, particularly in international radio. Test broadcasts have proven the advantages of DRM, which are not only to be found in better audio quality and reception. "In the long term, Deutsche Welle also expects the lower energy consumption of digital transmitters to lead to a drop in operating costs," Bettermann added. Twelve hours daily upon launch Deutsche Welle is starting its digital broadcasts with 12 hours daily to Europe and the Middle East in German, English and Arabic. "This will be the first step towards a new Deutsche Welle multilanguage European channel," according to Uta Thofern, editor-in-chief of DW- Radio. "For daily German programmes, we have chosen our current affairs magazine `Funkjournal' and alternating background information programmes such as the Nord-Sud-Forum and the European magazines. Initially we will be broadcasting news in English to the Middle East. In addition, to demonstrate the outstanding audio quality of DRM - we will offer musical programmes." Altogether over 100 programming hours are be broadcast daily in the DRM standard. Nine other radio stations are participating in the launch including BBC World Service, Radio France Internationale and Voice of America. The Swedish and Canadian international broadcasters were also involved from the start of the project as well as another German station DeutschlandRadio. By the end of 2004, the DRM Consortium expects to be broadcasting 300 hours per day in the new digital standard. Transmitters need only be modified Deutsche Welle is now continuing to modify its existing transmitters at relay stations in Sines, Portugal; Trincomalee, Sri Lanka; Kigali, Rwanda; and Antigua in the Caribbean for DRM operation. Negotiations for modification work on transmitters are under way with operators in Germany and Russia. After modification, the transmitters can be operated either in the digital or analogue mode, or in both simultaneously. The DRM Consortium has about 80 member stations from over 30 countries. Peter Senger, Director of Marketing, Sales and Engineering at Deutsche Welle, has chaired the steering committee since DRM was founded in 1998. At the official launch in Geneva he stressed that in future the listener will need just one receiver for all frequencies under 30 MHz, that is for short, medium and longwave. The DRM Consortium expects that the first receivers at prices consumers can afford will be on the market by the end of 2004 and that one million receivers will have been sold by the end of 2006. The intervening period, according to Peter Senger, will be needed to optimize transmitters for the target region. "The DRM standard", he explains, "only works if the frequencies used are properly calculated and coordinated. When scheduling frequencies for VHF-FM, DAB and TV you are more less assured of getting good results, but on shortwave you have to factor in the time of day, the season and sunspot activity." Digitalization opens up a wealth of new opportunities: it will no longer be necessary to search for the right frequency, station IDs lead the listener to the desired station and receiver will switch to the best frequency without interrupting programme reception. Information about the programme can also be transmitted at the same time as this programme itself. "Deutsche Welle will test each of the options and implement them if feasible," said Senger. Source: Deutsche Welle press release, Cologne, in English 16 Jun 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** HONG KONG. HONG KONG COMMERCIAL RADIO WARNED OVER TALK SHOW HOST'S REMARKS | Text of report by Radio TV Hong Kong audio web site on 15 June The secretary for commerce, industry and technology, Henry Tang, has spoken out in support of the Broadcasting Authority following its warning to Commercial Radio over comments by talk show host Albert Cheng. The authority said the host had used language that may have hurt the reputation of two government officials who appeared on his show. Commenting on the warning, Mr Tang said the Broadcasting Authority was impartial and fair and there was no need for him to take further action. Commercial Radio's licence comes up for renewal next year and Mr Tang said this was still under consideration. However, he would not comment on whether the warning would affect the renewal. Mr Tang said the government would inform the station one year in advance if it was decided not to renew its licence. Source: RTHK Radio 3 audio web site, Hong Kong, in English 0700 gmt 15 Jun 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) TALK SHOW HOST THREATENS TO QUIT AFTER WARNINGS | Text of report by Gary Cheung: "Albert Cheng threatens to quit radio show", carried by Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post web site on 17 June Popular radio talk-show host Albert Cheng King-hon is considering quitting his Commercial Radio programme Teacup in a Storm in protest at repeated Broadcasting Authority warnings. Mr Cheng, who announced he was taking leave as of yesterday for two months, said: "There is no room for my programme if we have to meet the stringent requirements set out by the authority. I may have to consider quitting the show." His remarks came after the Broadcasting Authority issued warnings on Saturday [14 June] to the radio station on the grounds that two officials had not been treated fairly during two editions of Teacup in a Storm on 24 and 25 April, which have triggered 157 complaints. Some of the complaints relate to comments Mr Cheng made on 24 April when he called Deputy Director of Housing Lau Kai-hung a "dog-like" official for turning a blind eye to "exploitation" of manual workers. During another on-air war of words between Mr Cheng and the then- acting chief executive of the Hospital Authority, Ko Wing-man, a day later, Mr Cheng criticised Dr Ko for failing to address medical workers' needs, which prompted a public offer from Dr Ko to "resign if necessary". The authority ruled that in both cases, the hosts had not taken special care when using language that was capable of adversely affecting the reputation of the individuals. The radio host, who is nicknamed "Taipan", said he had taken holiday voluntarily, without any pressure from the radio station. "I have been feeling a lot of pressure as if there is a knife at my throat. I have been attacked by gangsters and sued for defamation, and now the government is trying to limit my freedom of _expression," he said. "The Broadcasting Authority is trying to set a rigid model for talk- show programmes which allows equal time for hosts and guests. What's the point of letting officials waste our time by talking nonsense?" Source: South China Morning Post web site, Hong Kong, in English 17 Jun 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** HUNGARY. R. Budapest, English half-hour to NAm at 0100 on 9590 spars with VOIRI Iran English at 0030 \\ 1920 with repeat at 0130. Budapest does an English NAm service at 0230 on 9570 (Bob Thomas, CT, June 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ICELAND [and non]. Right now at 1215 on June 16 I again can hear AFRTS Keflavik back on 13855 in USB after some weeks absence. However, the signal is weaker than early May and there seems to be some transmitter problems. 24232 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DXplorer June 16 via BC-DX via DXLD) See also under: http://myafn.dodmedia.osd.mil/radio/shortwave/ Current Shortwave High Frequencies. Keep checking this web page for the posting of new freqs and txs when they become available. Location Band Daytime Nightime Keflavik, Iceland Upper Sideband 13855 13855 Diego Garcia Upper Sideband 12579 4319 Guam Upper Sideband 13362 5765 Key West, FL Upper Sideband 12689.5 12689.5 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Upper Sideband 10320 6350 RR, Puerto Rico Upper Sideband 6458.5 6458.5 Shortwave broadcasts of the AFN Interruptible Voice Channel (IVC). To look at a schedule go to http://myafn.net/radio/afn/schedules The IVC is often interrupted with live sport events. For a current sport schedule go to http://myafn.net/radio/sports If you would like to submit a SW reception report and request a QSL verification card please send your request directly to Navy Uplink Reception at QSL@m... [truncated] (AFN website via BC-DX June 16 via DXLD) The website has in the past been very lethargic in putting in new info (gh, DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 9743.6, 0740 June 16, RRI Sorong, presume the one here with ballad followed by announcement in BI. Poor signal with some modulation issues(Paul Ormandy, ZL4TFX, EchoLink Node 87378, Host of The South Pacific DX Report http://radiodx.com DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL. While it lasts, there is a javascript link at http://www.theconnection.org/shows/2003/06/20030612_b_main.asp to a bunch of antique ham QSL cards in Connexion with the recent show about ham radio, which is also audio archived: http://realserver.bu.edu:8080/ramgen/w/b/wbur/connection/audio/2003/06/con_0612b.rm (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL [non]. Summer A-03 schedule for some clandestines stations as of June 15: [time order, rather like TDP] IBC Tamil Oli Radio in Tamil: 0000-0100 Daily 11570 NVS 100 kW / 180 deg ================================================ Hmong Lao Radio in Laotian: 0100-0200 Fri 17540 TAC 100 kW / 131 deg ================================================ Radio Sedoye Payem e Doost in Farsi: 0230-0315 Daily 7460 KCH 500 kW / 116 deg ================================================ Voice of Homeland in Arabic: [for SYRIA] 0330-0400 Daily 7510 SAM 250 kW / 188 deg ================================================ Voice of Mezopotamya in Kurdish: 0400-0800 Daily 15675 KVI 200 kW / 110 deg ================================================ Voice of Mezopotamya in Kurdish: 0800-1600 Daily 11530 KCH 500 kW / 116 deg ================================================ Voice of Tibet in Tibetan/Mandarin Chinese: 1212-1300 Daily 15660/15670 DB 100 kW / 117 deg 21560/21570 TAC 100 kW / 131 deg ================================================ Radio Free Vietnam in Vietnamese: 1230-1300 Mon-Fri 9930 WHR 100 kW / 285 deg ================================================ IBC Tamil Oli Radio in Tamil: 1230-1330 Daily 17495 MDC 050 kW / 055 deg ================================================ Radio Togo Libre in French: 1300-1400 Mon-Fri 21760 MEY 250 kW / 328 deg ================================================ Que Huong Radio in Vietnamese: 1330-1400 Mon-Sat 9930 WHR 100 kW / 285 deg ================================================ Voice of Khmer-Krom in Khmer: [for VIETNAM] 1400-1500 Tue 15660 VLD 250 kW / 230 deg ================================================ Voice of Tibet in Tibetan/Mandarin Chinese: 1430-1517 Daily 17520/17540 TAC 100 kW / 131 deg ================================================ Democratic Voice of Burma in Burmese: 1430-1530 Daily 5910 TAC 100 kW / 132 deg 17495 MDC 050 kW / 055 deg ================================================ Voice of Homeland in Arabic: [for SYRIA] 1500-1530 Daily 12085 SAM 250 kW / 188 deg 12120 SAM 250 kW / 188 deg ================================================ Voice of Liberty in Arabic: [for LEBANON] 1600-1700 Daily 11645 SAM 200 kW / 224 deg ================================================ Radio Anternacional in Farsi: 1630-1700 Daily 13800 KCH 500 kW / 116 deg ================================================ Voice of Iran in Farsi: 1630-1730 Daily 17510 ISS 500 kW / 090 deg ================================================ Voice of Komalah in Farsi: 1700-1800 Sun 7560 KVI 200 kW / 110 deg ================================================ RTV Mezopotamya in Kurdish/Farsi: 1700-1800 Tue/Wed/Fri 7560 SAM 250 kW / 188 deg ================================================ Dejen Radio in Tigrina: 1700-1800 Sat 12120 SAM 250 kW / 188 deg ================================================ Radio Solidarity in Tigrina: 1700-1800 Sun 12120 SAM 250 kW / 188 deg ================================================ Sagalee Oromiya in Oromo: 1730-1800 Mon/Thu 12120 SAM 250 kW / 188 deg ================================================ Voice of Eritrean People in Tigrina: 1730-1800 Sun 9990 KVI 200 kW / 140 deg ================================================ Voice of Ethiopian Mehdin in Amharic: 1800-1900 Sun 7520 ARM 200 kW / 235 deg ================================================ Voice of Ethiopian Mehdin in Amharic: 1830-1930 Sun 12120 SAM 250 kW / 188 deg ================================================ Radio Sedoye Payem e Doost in Farsi: 1800-1845 Daily 7480 KCH 500 kW / 116 deg ================================================ Voice of Reform in Arabic: [for SAUDI ARABIA] 1800-2000 Daily 15705 KVI 500 kW / 125 deg ================================================ Jakada Radio International in Hausa: 1900-1930 Mon-Fri 15170 MEY 250 kW / 335 deg ================================================ Voice of Ethiopia WS in English: 2000-2100 Sun 7520 KVI 200 kW / 140 deg ================================================ Radio Togo Libre in French: 2000-2100 Sun 12125 MEY 250 kW / 335 deg ================================================ Voice of Biafra International in English: 2100-2200 Sat 7380 MEY 250 kW / 335 deg ================================================ Fang Guang Ming Radio in Mandarin Chinese: 2100-2200 Daily 6035 SAM 200 kW / 297 deg 9625 SAM 200 kW / 297 deg ================================================ Democratic Voice of Burma in Burmese: 2330-0030 Daily 9435 JUL 100 kW / 080 deg 9760 MDC 200 kW / 055 deg (Observer, Bulgaria, June 17 via DXLD) ** IRAN. ANALYSIS: IRAN REPORTED "JAMMING" OPPOSITION TV | Text of editorial analysis by BBC Monitoring Media Services on 16 June 2003 Iran on 16 June sent an official protest to the United States over what it called blatant interference in its internal affairs. The move followed remarks by President Bush describing six nights of pro- democracy protests in Iran as a positive development. During the previous week, Iran blamed US-based satellite TV channels which support exiled Iranian opposition groups for inciting the student-led demonstrations. "America is waging a psychological war against Iran," Intelligence Minister Ali Yunesi asserted. Iran has responded by stepping up the "jamming" of opposition broadcasts. Reuters news agency on 16 June said that since the end of the war on Iraq in April, "there is heavier jamming of US-based Iranian satellite television stations carrying entertainment and dissident messages calling for anti-government protests". However, none of the opposition stations monitored by the BBC in recent days has actually reported interference to the reception of their programmes. Iranian opposition broadcasts Curbs on receiving satellite television in Iran are less severe than before. It is tolerated to some extent. News and cultural programmes from about a dozen US-based Iranian opposition TV and radio broadcasters are available via satellite in Iran. The leading opposition stations include National Iranian Television http://www.nitv.tv run by Reza Pahlavi, the son of the late Shah, and Azadi TV http://www.azaditv.com US-funded broadcasts US international broadcasting's Persian-language services have also devoted considerable airtime to the ongoing anti-government protests in Iran. Voice of America's Persian Service http://www.voanews.com/persian/ and Prague-based Radio Farda http://www.radiofarda.com have both broadcast interviews, discussions and analyses, and made them available on the Internet. VOA has also broadcast them via satellite TV. Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, chairman of the US Broadcasting Board of Governors http://www.bbg.gov said: "We're providing accurate news and information that Iranians intent on more freedom are unable to get from their own media." Health fears over Iran's "jamming" In recent months the Iranian Students' News Agency has reported that apparent "jamming" or interfering signals, from known fixed and mobile transmitters, are disrupting some foreign satellite stations and satellite-delivered Internet data. Iran's health and environment ministries earlier this year expressed fears about the impact on public health of signals being transmitted to block satellite broadcasts over Tehran. In April, the deputy chairman of an Iranian parliamentary commission said "a certain organization had been identified as the source of signals being transmitted from Tehran to jam satellite broadcasts". However, MPs decided not to reveal the name of the organization to the media, "for fear that the issue might become political," and so jeopardize efforts to stop the interference. The interfering signals seem to appear with some degree of official sanction or protection - be it military, political or religious. How "jamming" works There are two main options for causing harmful interference to satellite signals. The first and most obvious, is to influence directly the uplink to the satellite. This may take the form of an interfering signal which would render the wanted broadcast unmonitorable, or replacing the wanted broadcast with an alternative signal. To accomplish this, the interfering signal must originate from the general area of the legitimate uplink, although this would depend on the individual satellite used, the configuration of the uplink/downlink equipment on board and the parts of the world covered by particular transponders. For example, if the uplink source is in USA, the interfering signal would also need to emanate from the same area covered by the beam of the satellite. This method was recently used successfully by the Falun Gong sect in China, when they replaced the China TV signal with their own messages and programmes. The second method of causing deliberate interference to satellite signals is to flood the reception area with microwave frequencies similar to those being used by the satellite downlink. These signals would need to be very strong to mask the official broadcast and they would almost certainly cause interference to other satellite and communication systems operating in the same band. The use of such jamming methods could be restricted to specific areas. Source: BBC Monitoring research 16 Jun 03 (via DXLD) ** IRAN. I've been listening to some of R. Farda this afternoon [June 14] and can't hear any Iranian jammers - they usually jam at least one frequency on SW. 17750 17670 [co-channel AIR] 13680 and 9435 [co- channel IBA?] were all 'jam-less', and now 11845 [Iranawila] and 11705 [Lampertheim] have come on at 1700, and there is still no audible jamming. They are co-channel with BBC Russian on 11845. I wonder if the trouble in Iran has tempted the Iranian government to switch them off --- I would have thought the opposite would be the case - or have they found new Mujahadin targets which are more important to jam? There is jamming this morning [June 16] on R Farda 15290, but I can't hear any on 17835 or 9510. IRIB broadcasts were well audible on 17 MHz so why not jamming --- if it's on air? (Noel R. Green-UK, BC-DX June 14/16 via DXLD) ** IRAQ. US FORCES CLOSE NEWSPAPER, TV STATION ACCUSED OF "INCITEMENT" | Text of report by Iran-based radio station Voice of the Mujahidin on 17 June The US troops have closed a newspaper and a television station in Holy Al-Najaf that are run by a newly-formed Islamic organization, the Supreme Council for the Liberation of Iraq, headed by Mahdi al-Awwadi. Press reports said that US troops stormed the newspaper offices and arrested all the staff. They also stormed the television building, which was previously used as a post office, in Al-Kufah and arrested the employees. The Americans accuse the newspaper and the television station that are run by the Supreme Council for the Liberation of Iraq of promoting incitement, in violation of the law that bans incitement against the occupation troops. Source: Voice of the Mujahidin, in Arabic 0700 gmt 17 Jun 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) WATCHDOG CONCERNED OVER US EFFORTS TO REGULATE LOCAL MEDIA IN IRAQ | Text of letter sent by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on 13 June 2003 to L. Paul Bremer III, Senior Administrator, Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq Dear Mr Bremer: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is writing to express its concern about efforts under way by the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq to regulate local media. US officials have indicated that they have drafted new regulations prohibiting, among other things, "incitement" in Iraqi media. According to US officials, the regulations aim to control inflammatory coverage in Iraqi media, including unsubstantiated news that officials believe will foment social unrest or hostility toward American troops. To CPJ's knowledge, details of the new regulations have not been released, but The Los Angeles Times reported this week that violators would face warnings, fines and possible detention. While we appreciate your concerns about false, misleading or even fabricated news disseminated by media, we fear that the use of highly interpretative prohibitions such as "incitement" could be used to restrict media discourse. Moreover, we deplore any regulation that provides for the arrest or detention of journalists in response to what they publish. As new Iraqi media emerge, it is imperative that they be allowed to operate in an environment free of government restrictions. That includes ensuring that newspapers and broadcasters can function free of unreasonable licensing regimes, censorship, criminal prosecution and arrest or detention. CPJ respectfully calls on you to make public any regulations devised by the coalition authority for Iraqi media. We also call on you to undertake all possible measures to ensure that Iraqi media is able to operate with maximum freedom and without official interference. Sincerely, Ann K. Cooper, CPJ Executive Director Source: Committee to Protect Journalists press release, New York, in English 16 Jun 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** IRELAND. DUBLIN: NEW FM RTÉ OPT-OUT A test-tone has appeared on 87.6 MHz in the Dublin area. This frequency will be used by RTÉ for Radio 1 opt-outs, which will also appear on 567 kHz, during the Special Olympics (From Radiowaves via Mike Terry, DXLD) These are special games for disabled athletes the former South African president Nelson Mandela and the former heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali will participate in the grand opening ceremony for the Special Olympics. The organisers of the biggest sporting event to take place in the world this year have also confirmed Hollywood actor Arnold Scwarzenegger, U2 and The Corrs on the star studded list for the opening of the games. Overall 7,000 athletes will be in Ireland over the next few days and the games will open next Saturday (From http://u.tv/newsroom/indepth.asp?pt=n&id=33461 via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** ITALY. Observed a spurious signal of Rai International on 12040 kHz (10 June at 0310), // 11800. Weak and hoarse audio, FM-like carrier. This unwanted signal causes interference to RUI. Went off the air at 0335, simultaneously with its fundamental frequency 11800 kHz (open_dx --- Alexander Yegorov, Kyiv, Ukraine, via Signal June 17 via DXLD) ** JORDAN. ARMED FORCES LAUNCH RADIO FANN - FM ENTERTAINMENT STATION Petra-JNA, the official news agency of the Jordanian government, on 11 June carried the following news item (in Arabic 1028 gmt): "Amman, 11 June: Within its celebrations of the Army Day and the Great Arab Revolt anniversary, the Jordanian Armed Forces today launched their new radio station, Fann [Arabic for "art"]. The station will transmit on FM to all parts of the Kingdom on the following channels: Amman 104.2, Irbid 91.3, Aqaba 91.1, Al-Tafilah 94.7, Ajlun/al-Karak 94.3 and Petra/Al-Azraq 105.4 MHz. The station employs high-standard professional and technical staff and uses the most sophisticated radio transmission technology." Monitoring observations indicate that the station, Radio Fann, had been testing for the previous week. It was observed in Amman on 104.2 and 105.4 MHz carrying Arabic and Western popular songs. Radio Fann has a web site http://www.radiofann.com/ The site carries the following announcement in English: "Tune into the hippest radio wave in town and turn up the volume of your life! Fann FM is a new radio station broadcasting across the Kingdom live from Amman and pulsating with the hottest tunes from the region and the world." Radio Jordan, the official radio of the Jordanian government, carries a daily two-hour broadcast called Voice of the Jordanian Armed Forces from 1300-1500 gmt. It consists of radio programmes targeted at Jordanian army personnel. It is heard on Radio Jordan's frequencies of 612, 693, 801, 1035, 1485 and 11810 kHz. Voice of the Jordanian Armed Forces was inaugurated by King Abdallah on 13 November 2001. Sources: Petra-JNA news agency web site, Amman, in Arabic 1028 gmt 11 Jun 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** KASHMIR. PAK TO START RADIO PROPAGANDA IN KASHMIR Monday, 16 June , 2003, 17:46 Jammu: Pakistani authorities have launched new Mobile Radio Stations to air programmes in Gojri and Pahari languages along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch and Rajouri sectors of Jammu region. An All India Radio official said they were unable to counter the Pak propaganda due to lack of funds and policies. A radio station -- Sadai-Hurriyat -- operating from Muzaffarabad in POK [Pakistani Occupied Kashmir??] had also been airing anti-India and anti-security forces programmes in Urdu language recently. These are heard in the Balakote, Mendhar, Rajdhani, Khari Karmara, Sabjian, Ajote, Loran and Mandi areas of twin border districts. The programmes launched by the radio since the last decade mostly reached the upper regions of Kashmir Valley and Doda district. http://sify.com/news/international/fullstory.php?id=13173601 (Sify News, India, via Jilly Dybka, DXLD) WTFK??? Probably not SW? This is a reference to the station known in English as the Voice of Jammu and Kashmir Freedom (Media Network via DXLD) The Muzaffarabad station, that is ** KOREA NORTH. 9450 at 1521 on 6/15 R. P`yongyang. I always hear them on 9335 but last week on 9235 and now on 9450. I guess things are "heating up"? (Gary Crites, location unknown, hard-core-dx via DXLD) English? ** KUWAIT. KWT was again in good old AM on 15110, so perhaps their tests in DRM are over? (Noel R. Green-UK, BC-DX June 16, via DXLD) ? ** LUXEMBOURG. I guess is the noise on 6095 --- it was on air at 0625 and still there at 0830 (Noel R. Green-UK, BC-DX June 16, via DXLD) Yes, DRM 6095 usual 15 kHz wide signal today (wb, ibid.) ** MEXICO. I`ve noticed another XE listed in the FCC database on 1630 kHz. There has been XEUT in Tijuana for some time now, but there is a new listing at Tizayuca, Hidalgo with the customary expanded band U1 10000/1000 setup. Tizayuca is about 50 km NE of Mexico City, so should be hearable if conditions are right (Bill Hale, DDXD-West, NRC DX News June 16 via DXLD) ** MOLDOVA. Moldavia, 9665 kHz, Radio Moscow, full data "Moskva River Near Kremlin" card with site (Kishinyov Moldavia), no V/S, in 2 months, for 1 IRC, received sticker, summer schedule and letter from Ms. Ol`ga Troshina, World Service In English (Joe Talbot, Alberta, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I have received 7 replies from SWL group DXers, to my posting of the Radio Moscow Moldavia QSL asking how I did it. I have replied to those DXers and in all fairness pass this on to you all. I heard the Radio Moscow broadcast April 19th/03 0433-0500 sign off on 9665 kHz with a excellent signal; during the broadcast I heard it was mentioned by the announcer that "...ending transmissions to North America". The sked I received notes 9665 kHz in English to North America: 0100-0200/0200- 0300/0300-0500, this from March 30th to September 6th/03. Please keep in mind that Radio Moscow is only verifying the Moldavia site 0433- 0500 sign off as per the QSL. The other times above may not be via Moldavia, they could be switching sites on-the-fly so to speak, 4 hours is a big propagation window. 0400-0500 is probably a safe bet? The Radio Moscow staff, Ms. Ol`ga Troshina, World Service in English, Voice of Russia, was very nice in her letter, so it may not be a bad idea to send your reports direct to her. A nice report and a small souvenir for the lady? It may take me several months, but I always get some sort of thank you letter or post card back to the QSLing station, help (???), can't hurt! Give this a try and in the next while I hope to see all your Moldavia QSL reports posted here. 73's. (Joe Talbot. Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, swl at qth.net via DXLD) I have a number of VOR QSL's from Moldavia. In fact, the first VOR QSL (1995) that I received from them (after losing all my old Radio Moscow = USSR cards) was from Moldavia for a Europe beamed broadcast. For awhile I = was trying to receive QSL's from all the old Radio Moscow sites (that are = still on the air) and kept getting Moldavia QSL's for transmissions that "Passport" and WRTH indicated originated elsewhere! And you're right, Ms. Olga Troshina usually puts a nice little note in = with the cards. 73 de (Phil, KO6BB Atchley, DX begins at the noise floor! Merced, California, ibid.) ** MYANMAR. 5985.84, R. Myanmar 1150-1207 June 16. Exotic flute music, YL announcer, then lite vocal music to 1200 IS; YL announcer talked in [unknown] language to 1206, then more vocal music. VG signal (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Drake R-8, 1oo-foot random wire, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** NIGERIA. VOICE OF NIGERIA EXTERNAL RADIO SERVICE LAUNCHES SERVICES IN IBO AND YORUBA | Text of report in English by French news agency AFP Lagos, 15 June: The Voice of Nigeria (VON), the arm of Radio Nigeria directed at audiences outside the country, has started to broadcast in two of the nation's main languages, an official of the radio said here Sunday. The VON, a state-run [shortwave] radio which began in 1962, recently began transmitting its programmes in Ibo [alternative spelling Igbo] and Yoruba languages, two of the main languages spoken in southern part of Nigeria, the official said. "The aim is to reach as many Nigerians outside the country as possible while not forgetting to export our culture, of which the local languages are part," said the official, who requested anonymity. Yoruba is also spoken in nearby Benin, Togo as well as in Brazil, while Ibo is used in western part of Cameroon. The radio, which broadcasts from both Nigeria's economic centre Lagos and its capital Abuja, added these two local languages to its English, French, Arabic, Swahili and Fulfude services. Source: AFP news agency, Paris, in English 1717 gmt 15 Jun 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) These languages were already mentioned some weeks ago here referencing the VON website schedule (gh, DXLD) ** PERU. El 15/06, a las 0602 UT, en los 6114.89 kHz, fue captada la emisora Radio Unión, 103.3 MHz, La Rumbera. Emitía música rumbera y salsa, con un locutor rapidísimo. Llamadas al aire con felicitaciones por el Día del Padre. SINPO 4/3. Muchos 73 y buen DX (Adán González, Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES. FEBC will conduct test to South India from June 18 to June 22: 0100-0200 Sindhi on 15240 BOC 100 kW / 278 deg 1530-1600 Sindhi on 12100 BOC 100 kW / 278 deg (Observer, Bulgaria, June 17 via DXLD) ** ROMANIA. Harris is in the process of finishing an order for Romania that consisted of 6 x 400 kW rigs, a 200 kW long wave rig and a stand alone 200 kW rig on 909 kHz. Harris DX 200 mediumwave transmitter website: http://www.bc.harris.com/product_portfolio/prod_media/dx200.pdf (via U. Volk, Germany, BC-DX May 23 / June 6 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Special Digital Radio Mondiale services are listed from transmitters at Moscow, for the period June 9 until August 9, as follows: 7325 0600-0800 to Central Europe 15780 0600-1200 to Western Europe 15780 1300-1600 to Western Europe Regards! (Bob Padula, Mont Albert, Vic, Aus, June 17, EDXP HF Forum via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. The past two mornings at 0105-0230 I have heard the Russian religious station R. Krishnaloka drifting around 7435.8 - 7437.0 with strong signal first, then fading out after 0200. They are scheduled with tests 0100-0300 from a 150 watt transmitter. Programs are in Russian airing sermons and cultural talks of the Krishna worship which originates from India. Around 0110-0140 there is a sermon in English with translation to Russian (Anker Petersen, Denmark, undated, Signal June 17 via DXLD) ** SAO TOME & PRINCIPE. IBB`S SÃO TOMÉ TRANSMITTING STATION FACES UNIQUE CHALLENGES SÃO TOME --- IBB`s São Tomé transmitting station, set on an island in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa, offers unique challenges for the staff charged with ensuring that Voice of America (VOA) programs are delivered to millions of listeners by medium wave (AM), FM and shortwave. ``São Tomé gives us wonderful access to Central and Western Africa,`` said George Moore, director of IBB`s Office of Engineering and Technical Services, which oversees the São Tomé station. ``If we didn`t have our station there, we wouldn`t be able to reach nearly as many listeners in more than six languages.`` IBB`s permanent facility opened in 1996 on São Tomé, an island about 30 miles long and 15 miles wide. Along with its sister island, Principe, São Tomé forms one of Africa`s smallest countries with a population of roughly 155,000. A former Portuguese colony, São Tomé is 135 miles off the coast of Gabon. Staffed by about 30 people, including three IBB employees sent from the United States, the São Tomé site is located on 346 acres about five miles from the capital`s center. The facilities include a 600 kilowatt AM transmitter, several shortwave transmitters, a power plant, a warehouse and staff housing. The FM transmitters, which allow São Toméans to listen to VOA, are located several miles away. Although São Tomé is thought to sit upon vast, undeveloped oil reserves, fuel must be delivered to the IBB transmitting station about every eight months. More than 300,000 gallons of diesel fuel are brought in regularly to allow the São Tomé station to generate its own power. This complex offloading procedure takes about 24 hours. [Caption:] Satellite antennas outside the main transmitter and administration building at IBB`s São Tomé Relay Station. http://www.bbg.gov/reports/02anrprt.pdf (BBG 2002 Annual Report via gh, DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA. Harris is in the planning stage to handle an inquiry to deliver Harris DX 200 MW transmitter to Saudi Arabia [as it already has to Afghanistan, Romania, q.v.] Harris DX 200 mediumwave transmitter website: http://www.bc.harris.com/product_portfolio/prod_media/dx200.pdf (Wolfgang Bueschel, June 15, BC-DX via DXLD) ** SERBIA & MONTENEGRO. R. ``Yugoslavia`` is now calling itself: ``International Radio of Serbia-Montenegro`` at start of English and during transmission, daily except UT Sun at 0000 to ENAm; daily to WNAm at 0430, both on 9580. They still run the sung ``Radio Yugoslavia`` ID after the news (Bob Thomas, CT, June 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SEYCHELLES [non]. RUSSIA(non): Freq changes for FEBA Radio via RUS txs with kW, azimuths: [Chita; Armavir] 0015-0045 Sun/Thu Kannada NF 15425 TCH 250 / 230 ex 15580 0015-0030 Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat Kannada NF 15425 TCH 250 / 230 ex 15580 0015-0030 Tue Tulu NF 15425 TCH 250 / 230 ex 15580 0030-0045 Fri/Sat Badaga NF 15425 TCH 250 / 230 ex 15580 0030-0130 Mon-Wed Tamil NF 15425 TCH 250 / 230 ex 15580 0045-0130 Thu-Sun Tamil NF 15425 TCH 250 / 230 ex 15580 1530-1630 Daily Persian NF 9650 ARM 100 / 150 ex 9495 (Observer, Bulgaria, June 17 via DXLD) ** SOUTH AMERICA. Dear free radio friends, We are really sorry, but at last minute, to the moment of to start our transmitter, the transmitter has burned a tube. We shoud suspend the planned transmissions. Amigos piratas, Lo lamentamos pero por razones técnicas tuvimos que suspender la transmisión planeada para el día de hoy, debido a que al momento de encender el equipo, una valvula fue quemada. Realmente, lo lamentamos muchísimo. FFFR (Cachito, Radio Cochiguaz op. http://www.geocities.com/rcochiguaz June 14 via hard-core-dx, not delivered until June 16, via DXLD) That doesn`t explain why I couldn`t hear them on 11440 just before 0300 UT Sun. The reason is that I would not have been able to hear them anyway (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWEDEN. First, note that Radio Sweden is considering dropping one of their multiple English language broadcasts; see the item towards the bottom of the quoted text. Feedback / input wanted -- AHEAD of time for a change!! Second, and more as an FYI, Radio Sweden is also on the list of organizations with regular (in this case, daily) e-mails regarding programming news. To subscribe, visit http://www.topica.com/lists/radioswedennews@topica.email-publisher.com/ or send e-mail to radioswedennews@topica.email-publisher.com. (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, swprograms via DXLD) --- Special announcement: We're considering discontinuing one of our broadcasts, but before we change our schedule, we'd like to check with listeners first. We want to hear from those of you who usually tune in at 11:30 hours UTC; how you would feel if we dropped this transmission, but maintained the rest of our schedule, and if there's an alternative broadcast you could listen to? If our shutting down that broadcast would absolutely devastate you, please write in and let us know. We'll be rewarding one of those responding with a CD. The postal address is: Radio Sweden SE-105 10 Stockholm, Sweden Or send us an email to english@radiosweden.org (via Richard Cuff, swprograms via DXLD) ** TAIWAN. Last night June 15, I heard on Radio Teipei International Spanish service that this station will be changing its name to: VOICE OF TAIWAN --- RADIO TAIWAN INTERNATIONAL This change will be from July 1st. Thanks (CESAR PEREZ DIOSES, CHIMBOTE, PERU, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TOGO [non]. R. Togo Libre: I'm sorry to say that I wrote down the wrong details of this station`s Sunday broadcast, and there was nothing to hear when I tuned in. I don't see why this broadcast on 12125 should not also come via Meyerton, but we can only know from listening to it or see a report about its location. Meyerton is listed on 12130 at 1700-1800 for AWR, so they are no "strangers" to this part of the band (Noel Green, UK, June 16 via Kai Ludwig, DXLD) Just to clarify my point: Do we know for sure that 12125 originates from Meyerton? It was my impression that no fully reliable information on this matter is available, and so I noted down another possibility that would fit [Russia], just to prompt some monitoring. Of course I yesterday forgot to tune in :-( (Kai Ludwig, Germany, June 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RADIO TOGO LIBRE SEEKING CORRESPONDENTS IN TOGO Despite operating under difficult conditions, the clandestine broadcaster Radio Togo Libre (RTL) is seeking local correspondents in the main town of each prefecture in Togo, namely Tsévié, Atakpamé, Kpalimé, Sokodé, Kara and Dapaong. An announcement on the Togodebout.com Website says that the station also wants to recruit journalists and correspondents who speak and write one of the national languages: Ewé, Kabyè, Kotokoli, Akposso, Ifè, Ouatchi, Moba. RTL is preparing to launch a listener participation programme directed at Togolese both inside the country and in the diaspora. "Paroles de Togolais" (Words of the Togolese) will enable listeners to express their opinions about the situation in Togo, or what's happening in their own locality. The station asks listeners wishing to particpate to E-mail their telephone number. RTL is currently broadcasting Mon-Fri at 1300-1400 UTC on 21760 kHz, and on Sundays at 2000-2100 UTC on 12125 kHz. It began operations on 1 June 2003, and its existence was first reported in DX Listening Digest (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 16 June 2003 via DXLD) Yes, there is a second website now including this page: http://www.togodebout.com/rtl.html (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [non]. RUSSIA(non): Frequency change for BBC in Uzbek: 1700-1800 NF 13860 MSK 250 kW / 117 deg, ex 7385 \\ 9580 and 9915 73 from Ivo and Angel! (Observer, Bulgaria, June 17 via DXLD) ** U S A. The U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors 2002 Annual Report is now available at http://www.bbg.gov/bbg_press.htm Or request a printed copy via the website or Broadcasting Board of Governors, 330 Independence Avenue SW, Washington DC 20237. 73 (Kim Elliott, DC, June 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) v., e.g., São Tomé ** U S A. WLC, ROGERS CITY MI --- Hi Glenn, yes I'm trying to remember that edition too, WOR 919, or 918? If you are interested, I do have pictures of WLC from 1997 when I visited the station. I can only remember that I faxed you the information about WLC in Rogers City, MI closing down on November 28th, 1997, after 75 years of service to the Great Lakes Maritime Community. The fax contained the time of the last transmission, and the frequencies. Sorry, I don't have the copy of the fax anymore (Joe Olig, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WMNR (88.1 Monroe CT) marks its thirtieth anniversary later this month. John Babina put the station on the air December 11, 1973 as a low-powered high school station. A decade later, WMNR began boosting power, adding relays around the Nutmeg State and programming a full-time classical music format. Next Saturday (June 21), Babina will host a reunion of the student staffers from WMNR's first decade, with the help of former WMNR student engineer Bill DeFelice; you can hear it on the Web beginning at 2 PM [1800 UT] at http://www.capitalradio.us (Scott Fybush, NE Radio Watch June 16 via DXLD) ** U S A. Legal ID just prior to the hour: "The Bridge. AM 16-80 KTFH Seattle. A service of Salem Communications" Cheers, (Paul Ormandy, New Zealand, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Salem is primarily a religious broadcaster: look out for them to be trying to convert the Hindus on this station (gh, DXLD) [Earlier:] 1680, 0722 June 17, KTFH Seattle WA, very good with Spanish music, IDs "Somos Radio Sol 13-60, la primera emisora de la cadena marinero cristiano [sic]". Address: 2815 Second Ave. #550, Seattle, WA 98121 (Paul Ormandy, ZL4TFX, New Zealand, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 10'S PACE APOLOGIZES FOR GESTURE Saturday, June 14, 2003 FEATURES - ACCENT & ARTS 03D By Tim Feran, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Viewers of Thursday night's episode of Without a Trace had a surprise during the popular CBS drama: a still video clip of WBNS-TV (Channel 10) anchorwoman Angela Pace making an obscene gesture to the camera. Hundreds of complaints jammed Channel 10's switchboard yesterday. "Was it embarrassing? Sure,'' said Channel 10 general manager Tom Griesdorn. "Was it unfortunate? Indeed. Was it unprofessional? Yes. Was it intentional? No. I think Angela was simply goofing around with the studio crew. It wasn't intended to offend anyone, but it certainly did and should.'' Griesdorn said the clip of Pace exhibiting an upraised middle finger was an outtake from work on a public-service announcement. "At the end of taping, some information was incorrect, and Angela made a gesture to those working with her,'' Griesdorn said. "They thought it would be fun to send it to the newsroom.'' A technical error put the clip on the air soon after 10 p.m. and wasn't realized by the station's master control room for seven seconds. "There's a rule in the business: No matter what, you always assume the microphone is on and the camera is on,'' Griesdorn said. "You don't fool around. It's beneath the standards of WBNS and unprofessional.'' Pace apologized for herself and the others involved in the incident to viewers during the 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts yesterday. "It offended many of you, and it should have,'' she said. "I made an inappropriate gesture.'' The incident was "clowning around,'' Pace said, and was never intended for viewers. "I apologize wholeheartedly,'' she said. Griesdorn said he has taken disciplinary action against Pace, the director and the technical director involved. All three will remain with the station. "I can't punish them any more than they've punished themselves,'' he said. "They're sick with guilt. "We've all made mistakes,'' Griesdorn said. "But I need to apologize to all the viewers of 10TV and set about insuring that this never happens again.'' (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) RED FACES AT CHANNEL 10 It started as a joke. But WBNS 10-TV General Manager Tom Griesdorn says it ended up on air. He says anchorwoman Angela Pace was recording a public service announcement when she jokingly made an inappropriate gesture. He says through a series of mistakes, it ended up on the air in the 10 p.m. hour during the primetime program "Without a Trace." Channel 10 management will continue to investigate how it happened. Griesdorn says no harm was intended. CLICK HERE for the actual video via: http://www.610wtvn.com/news/local/index.html (via DXLD) ** U S A. CANCELED CONCERT --- STATION TAKES ON ETTA JAMES WITH LAWSUIT Two weeks ago Etta James refused, at the last minute, to take the stage at a concert at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. WCIN, the local, independent radio station that had sponsored her concert, had to eat the cost. It gave refunds to concertgoers, who'd been left waiting in a drizzle. Then, two days later, WCIN sued James, a blues, R&B and soul legend, alleging fraud and breach of contract. The lawsuit seeks $663,000 in actual and punitive damages. It pits an internationally known, Grammy-winning diva against a local, black-oriented radio station. . . http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2003/06/13/loc_amos13.html (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. A LOSS CAUSE --- AN ADVOCATE FOR THE BALDING PLUGS INTO UNGROWING RADIO MARKET http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A62982-2003Jun15?language=printer&content=article (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. THE DTV TRANSITION The "horse's mouth" is on http://www.fcc.gov/mb/policy/dtv ====================================================================== To be concise: Commercial stations affiliated with the top 4 networks (ABC/CBS/Fox/NBC) in the ten largest TV markets were to be on with DTV by 1 May 1999. Top-network stations in markets 11-30 were to be on by 1 November 1999. All other commercial stations were to be on by 1 May 2002. All non-commercial stations were to be on by 1 May 2003. ====================================================================== Which means *all* stations are supposed to be on with DTV by now. Obviously, many aren't. According to the FCC, the status as of 21 May: Top-30 network affiliates: 108 of 119 on at full licensed facilities, five with low-power STAs, six off the air. (five of the six are NYC stations that lost their transmitters in the 9/11 attack. I suspect the sixth is in Denver where local opposition has stalled tower construction.) Other commercial stations: 273 of 1196 on at full licensed facilities, 523 with low-power STAs. Apparently 400 have extensions. Non-commercial stations: 112 of 373 on at full licensed facilities. 60 with low-power STAs. 201 have extensions. ====================================================================== At the end of this year, commercial stations whose analog and digital channels are both "in core" (between channels 2 and 51 inclusive) must choose which channel will be used for their permanent digital facility. Stations whose analog or digital channel is outside core have no choice to make! Non-commercial stations get an extra year to decide. Currently, stations with low-power STAs are protected from interference to the distance that would be served by their full authorized facilities. (this means there's an area where they provide no service, but where they preclude other stations from providing service) This extra protection will be lost on 31 December 2004 for commercial stations, and on 31 December 2005 for non-commercial operations. Commercial stations that want to keep their full coverage area have roughly 18 months (from now) to increase to full power; non- commercials have 30 months. The definition of a "city-grade" signal will also tighten on these dates. Stations are required to put a "city-grade" signal across their city of license. For analog stations this signal is 62dBu. (for UHF, it's lower for VHF) For digital, the current standard is only 41dBu! On these replication dates, the standard will increase to 48dBu. Which is still awfully low. (this leads to an interesting situation here in Nashville. Our Pax affiliate WNPX is licensed to Cookeville, roughly 65 miles east of Nashville. Their DTV transmitter is located *in* Nashville. It just barely meets the current 41dBu standard for their signal across Cookeville. And it's operating at over 700 kw ERP. A 7dB power increase would exceed the maximum permissible power for DTV stations. It seems to me they'll have to either move the transmitter or change the city of license when the new requirements kick in. I suspect the latter. Cookeville already has another TV station (WCTE-22) so it would be possible to move the DTV channel 36 allotment somewhere else.) ====================================================================== Analog is supposed to close on 31 December 2006. This date can be pushed back if 15% of households still have only over-the-air analog TV. The figure is currently estimated at roughly 20%. Will that gap be filled in three years? Good question. ====================================================================== LPTV stations and translators do not receive separate channels for DTV. They may choose to convert to DTV operation at will. Reportedly WTHC-LP [42] Atlanta has done so - the only one to do so at this point. Several DTV translators are reported operating in Utah under STA. They aren't in the FCC Database. (STA and experimental stations usually aren't) There are no multiple-ownership restrictions for LPTVs. It would be legal for a LPTV operator to buy another LPTV in the same city, using one for analog operation and the other for digital. I have seen nothing to indicate LPTVs will *ever* be prohibited from analog operation. It would seem possible for a DTV station to purchase one or more LPTVs in the same city and use them to continue analog broadcasts after the 2006 closure of full-power analog broadcasts. I wouldn't count on that happening though. ====================================================================== Most of the channel 52-69 spectrum being freed by the transition will be auctioned for commercial use. (four channels in 60-69 will be held for public-safety communications) It has been reported that TV broadcasting will be considered an acceptable use of the auctioned spectrum - there may continue to be at least some TV here. On the other hand, the value of this spectrum may be pretty great - it may prove economically impossible for anyone to make enough money at TV to pay for their bids. It is possible that *analog* TV will be considered an acceptable use of auctioned spectrum. So we could have all digital TV in channels 2- 51 and some analog in 52-69. I wouldn't count on that either, same economic reason. ====================================================================== Canadian stations are allowed to apply for DTV permits, and the Canadian government has allotted DTV channels for all transmitters. (even LPTVs and translators, unlike in the U.S.) Only one station (CITY-57 Toronto, DTV channel 53) has applied; they're already on the air. Canada has set no fixed date for DTV conversion. I have read reports that the CBC plans DTV transmitters only in the country's very largest cities. Viewers elsewhere wishing to receive CBC HDTV would be expected to use DSS satellite. ====================================================================== There is one regularly-operating DTV station in Mexico; XETV-DT 23 in Tijuana is on. They're the Fox affiliate for San Diego. DTV experiments have been run in Mexico City. ====================================================================== I'm trying to write a comprehensive review of how DTV works, both technically and from a regulatory standpoint. Hopefully this fall... Robert Cooper wrote: "Having an over the air of some kind." Not suggesting at this time the TV stations can close down ALL transmitters. Again, they only have to continue to operate OVER THE AIR with sufficient power/tower height to reach TWO locations - cable headend and satellite uplink site." Even there, often the local cable headend and the satellite uplink site are fed by optical fiber. That's certainly the case for the major Nashville stations. From a *technical* standpoint the transmitter is indeed unnecessary for reaching cable or satellite subscribers. As Robert says, outlying cable systems could be fed by satellite. The only issue is administrative. If the station no longer has an over-the-air signal, arguably its regulatory standing is no different from Fox Sports or CNN or Showtime etc.. There ceases to be justification for forcing cable systems to carry the station. So either you change the rules (to accept that the government can require a cable system to carry a particular channel with no particular justification) or you accept that locally-administered independent-of-the-cable-operator stations are going to disappear. I'll leave that decision to the politicians and lobbyists |grin|... maybe |frown| is more appropriate! (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66, http://www.w9wi.com June 17, WTFDA via DXLD) Doug, Thanks, that is pretty much what I was hoping you'd post. A nice, easy to read explanation of how this is all going down. And there are also rules coming down on the TV set manufacturer's to begin *real* mass production of the DTV sets. Because nobody will spend 1,000 bucks on a 27" TV set. At some point real soon the price of this equipment will have to drop and be comparable to existing analog equipment or the idea is not going to be very well accepted by the American public. Kind of like how they don't like to be told how heavy and gas guzzling a car you can drive. The old "You're trying to take away my SUV again aren't you?" mentality, only reversed. "You mean to tell me that I HAVE to buy that $1,000 set or NOT watch TV anymore?!!" This will be sure to make people VERY uncomfortable buying one of the new sets. The spin masters will be doing overtime on this one trying to convince everybody that they MUST get a new set "because it's better." If congress passed a bill that made the cost of the new equipment a one time tax deduction, that is if you could only use the purchase of replacement sets as a tax deduction, maybe folks would be more inclined to go out and get the new sets. And it should have been tied in with a national reclaim/recycling program whereby the older analog sets would be sold to third world countries or ground up and the materials reclaimed instead of filling up landfills. We know a lot about how that goes here in Niagara County, home of the Love Canal! and CECOS and the Lake Ontario Ordinance Works. (That's were the Army stored waste products from the first atomic weapons programs. It took DECADES of work to clean that mess up!) There are ways to do this that would be economically feasible given a large enough stream of raw material (TV sets). But most homes have 2 or even 3 or 4 TV's in them. Here in our house there are 4 sets - ones in each bedroom and one in the family room, and I think that may be pretty typical in a household that has teenagers living in it. Anyway, I don't want to talk anybody's ear off. Back to checking for more skip!! of the analog variety (Guy T. Falsetti, Lockport, NY, ibid.) ** U S A. 87.9 PIRATES IN CHICAGO --- Yes, plural... ====================================================================== I drove through Chicago this morning on my way home from Milwaukee. My attention was elsewhere (mostly, on the road...) much of the way down from Wisconsin, but I did check out 87.9 at the junction of the Edens and Kennedy. (I-94 and I-90 northwest of downtown) A station I presume to be the one Neil Kaz reported was in with a fair signal. Rock music with lyrics in an Eastern European language. I didn't hear any announcements, though I suspect they did one while I was driving under the Post Office. It continued until I reached the Skyway, (where I-90 and I-94 split again south of downtown) where I tuned elsewhere. The signal was weak but clear through the downtown area. I would wild-guess something on the order of 100 watts ERP from a site in one of the very near west suburbs or the extreme west part of the city itself. ====================================================================== My attention was then with the Skyway (and 6 meters) until I got near I-80 on Indiana 912 (Cline Ave.) in Gary. There was a billboard for WGVE-88.7 there, and I was going to check out the programming on this long-silent station. (which did reappear last summer) Never got that far. There was *another* pirate on 87.9. Rap music, soul oldies, several ads for the Coliseum Bar on Indianapolis Boulevard in East Chicago. My bet is that the station is owned by the same people who own the bar. If the transmitter was there, then this was a 10-watter. It wasn't in very long, but in the time I was listening I didn't hear any objectionable lyrics (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66, June 15, WTFDA via DXLD) ** U S A. ALL LPFM STATIONS ARE OPERATING ILLEGALLY?! http://www.ccbroadcasters.com/group5bgrantables.htm Got your attention? This is not an "April Fool's Day" joke several months late. We believe that the shocking headline above is true. Ray LaForge, Chief, FCC OCT (Office of Engineering and Technology), Measurements and Calibration Branch today told CCB that all LPFM transmitters must be "FCC Type Certified." Previously, in 1998, the FCC replaced its regulation that all AM and FM transmitters be certified with the requirement that equipment could "self-certified" by a process called "Part 73 verification." According to Mr. LaForge, when LPFM was established in 2000 the FCC established tougher standards for LPFM, "because of the pirate problem." Because the changes in FCC regulations were poorly cross- referenced, apparently no one realized that LPFM broadcasters had stricter equipment requirements than all other broadcasters! Even Mr. LaForge was not aware of the change in regulations for a period of many months. Because of this confusion, he will recommend that the Enforcement Branch not sanction or penalize any manufacturer or LPFM broadcaster who was unaware of the certification requirement if they take action now to correct the problem. Equipment manufacturers may now either seek Certification from the FCC itself, which is a very slow process, or use independent testing laboratories - called TCBs - which charge $5,000 to $10,000 and can grant certification in a week or two. The FCC will probably allow manufacturers to send a Certification decal to be placed on the transmitters rather that requiring units to be returned to have a metal plate affixed. LPFM operators should contact their equipment manufacturer to determine how soon their equipment will be Type Certified and keep this information in file to show FCC inspectors. It is the manufacturers' responsibility to solve this problem for their customers. For the latest in professional guidance concerning underwriting guidelines: http://www.dovebroadcasting.com/underwriting.htm (John Broomall, Christian Community Broadcasters, June 16, WTFDA via DXLD) ** URUGUAY. Re: Hay osos en Uruguay? no :))) (Horacio A. Nigro, Montevideo - Uruguay, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Hola Glenn, Saludos desde Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA. La emisora "Música Beat", 96.7 MHz, se escuchó en la extraña frecuencia de 15075.07 kHz. La captación fue el día 15/06 a las 0129 UT, con SINPO 2/2. Transmitía baladas clásicas en español, salsa y raggamuffin' estilo panameño. Desconozco de donde pueda ser la estación. Audible hasta las 0202 UT, cuando la frecuencia es ocupada por los Emiratos Árabes Unidos, si no me equivoco [creo que no --- gh]. Identificaciones como: Música Beat 96.7 MHz, "El Gran Sonido". (Adán González, Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RECEIVER NEWS +++++++++++++ NEWS FLASH ! RBDS: SCROLLING AND MOVING TEXT IS NOT ALLOWED IN THE USA United States "Radio Broadcast Data System" (RBDS) Standard http://www.nab.org/SciTech/Nrscgeneral/rds.asp "The RDS signal is a low bit rate data stream transmitted on the 57 kHz subcarrier of an FM radio signal. Its data rate is 1,187.5 bits per second – though 10 out of every 26 bits transmitted are error correction codes used to combat signal distortions that occur in the transmission path. Consequently, there is only about 730 bits per second of usable data in an RDS signal. The data in the RDS signal is transmitted in 104-bit groups, each of which consists of four 26-bit blocks. Because 10 of the 26 bits in each block are used for error correction coding, there are 16 bits of information in each block. The type of information included in each block is dependent on the group type. There are 32 different group types (0A, 0B, 1A … 15A and 15B). Certain types of information, such as the Program Identification (PI) code used to identify the transmitting station, are transmitted in every group type." - - - In the USA Radio Listeners know RDS mostly through its ability to permit RDS radios to display a Radio Stations Call Letters [.] US(A) Broadcaster generally only use the RBDS "PS" Code Feature to Transmit their Radio Station Call Letters. DEFINITION: Program Service Name (PS). Used for receiver displays of an 8 Character Alpha Numeric "Program Service Name" which may use Upper or Lower case characters. - - - Examples: KKSF, KKSF1037, LiteJazz, The Bone, ETC. Read Page #4 Section II Summary Differences Items 3 and 4. http://www.nab.org/scitech/rbdsrds.pdf Read Page #6 Item 3 - "DYNAMIC Program Service Name" The Requlation required a 'Static' Text Display Only. - - - It is against the Law to have Scrolling or Streaming RBDS Text in the USA. http://www.nab.org/scitech/rbdsrds.pdf Read Page #7 - "RBDS Standard" The Program Service (PS) Name is 'limited' to Eight (8) Characters. http://www.nab.org/scitech/rbdsrds.pdf Read Page #7 Item 4 - "Phase Out of Fast Program Service (PS) Feature." Newly designed equipment Shall Not have this Feature. - - - Broadcasters can NOT in the future have equipment that can transmit Scrolling or Moving Text. http://www.nab.org/scitech/rbdsrds.pdf Here is a website with several good webpages on RDS. http://murray.newcastle.edu.au/users/staff/eemf/ELEC351/SProjects/Hoppper/ Click-On the Topic [Modulation] in the Left Hand Column for specific information on how the separate RBDS Signal is transmitted via 57 kHz 'Off Set' using "Double Side Band - Supressed Carrier" (DSBSC) Transmission. This is a one page description with four go diagrams of how the RBDS Signal is structured and transmitted. About the RDS/RBDS Hardware and Technology http://www.semiconductors.philips.com/pip/SAA6588T_V2.html "The RDS/RBDS pre-processor is a CMOS device that integrates all RDS/RBDS relevant functions in one chip. The IC contains filtering and demodulation of the RDS/RBDS signal, symbol decoding, block synchronization, error detection, error correction and additional detectors for multi-path, signal quality and audio signal pauses." + Program Service (PS) Name (Call Letters & Frequency) - Traffic Program (TP) identification - Traffic Announcement (TA) signal - Alternative Frequency (AF) list - Program Identification (PI) - Enhanced Other Networks (EON) information + NOTE: Most USA FM Radio Stations 'only' use the "Program Service (PS) Name" Feature to transmit their: Call Letters, Frequency or Marketing Brand Name [.] WHY ? - Don't Ask Me Why ! - - The Revised Standard 'happen' in 1998 - - - Blame It On Bill Clinton :o) REMEMBER: When All Else Fails... - Read the Instructions ! - - Read the Manual ! - - - Read the Book ! More That You Wanted To Know ~ RHF (June 16, DX-398 yahoogroup via DXLD) This is interesting except that I never owned an RDS radio until I got my 2000 Chevy Impala, and on that radio I found scrolling text on several Boston radio stations. After tuning to the station, you would see first the Call Letters, then something like "Up next", "Beatle"s. Next you would see "Yesterday", and then.... "Rolling" ..."Stones"... etc. This is scrolling text and it was in the summer of 2000. I will be travelling to Boston again just after the 4th of July (in the same car) and will see if things look any different (Jay, ibid.) Jay, Besides the Primary RBDS Features like Program Service Name (PS). http://murray.newcastle.edu.au/users/staff/eemf/ELEC351/SProjects/Hop per/ Click-On [Services] RBDS has several "Secondary Features" like these 1. Programme Type (PTY): 2. Decoder Information (DI): 3. Programme Item Number (PIN): 4a. Other Networks (ON): 4b. Enhanced Other Networks (EON): 5. Music/Speech Switch (M/S): 6. Clock-Time and Date (CT): 7. Radio Text (RT): 8. Transparent Data Channel (TDC): 9. In-House Data (IH): MAYBE: The station(s) that you saw may have been using these other RBDS Features in their transmissions. IMHO: I would think that if the FCC was concerned about Car and Truck Divers being 'distracted' by the Scrolling or Streaming RBDS Text. They could have 'created' a requirement that 'AUTO' Radios could only display Fixed Text and Home/Portable Radios could display any form of text transmitted (~ RHF, ibid.) The American approach to RDS is extremely interesting. Awful actually (full of awe and wonder like a disaster), this is a great piece of technology that should be implemented. It seems that some very narrow commercial interests have held up its introduction. I understand that the same was true of door knobs --- most of the rest of the world went to door handles a long time ago --- much easier to open but some narrow commercial interests in the US insisted that builders stick to the old door knob. Life grows curiouser and curiouser (Brian Millson, in Sunny England, ibid.) I have a friend who is a chief engineer at a radio station in the San Francisco Bay area. This is from our email exchange on RDS: RDS, in Europe it's RDS, here it's RBDS. An interesting technology that would never make it in the states due to the homologous monopoly of stations and competitive reasons. What, management would say, scan by format? They might not pick ours if they knew there might be a station doing the same thing on the dial? And what's this change channel stuff when you begin to get out of range! No WAY! The technology was launched about ten years ago, the EIA (Electronic Industry Association) came to each station and asked if we wanted to put RBDS on, we said yes and we put it on. They gave us the gear. I fully implemented it, we ran the spots on the air, if you had a fully functioning RDS radio you could see the name and artist scroll across on the radio text, it would scan to the format, show the call and set your clock. Radio manufacturers didn't make full function radios, with the exception of Delco. The NAB went up in arms over it. I wondered if anyone had an RDS radio that could radio text, so I put up "If you can read this call the station and win a free CD" No one called, so I took it off the air. Nobody called to say they missed it. Interesting to note, the last couple of GM cars I rented all had full function RDS radios. Hmmm. Maybe I should hook it back up now? The stations in the city that have the RDS indicator light up are only running the call sign; the rest of it is empty. Yet another experiment that the manufactures didn't go with. We also gave them FMX, and AM stereo. No one implemented it widely in their radio lines. John (via Russ Kiehne, WB6NIU, ibid.) RK, Your friend is telling the truth. - If RBDS Does NOT - - Add To The Bottom Line - - - WHY DO IT ? A Radio Station is a Business - A Very Big Business - - Not a Public Service - - - That Includes NPR and PRI (~ RHF, ibid.) Perhaps a sense of public service would be a fantastic reason for doing it, of great moral merit rather than some disgusting narrow financial interest. Actually the manufacturers in much of the world did go for it in a big way. If you tried to sell a car radio in Europe without RDS, you would go broke very quickly. Regarding scrolling text --- As far as safety goes telling a driver that an accident is at such and such a junction or that there was a jam ahead would be considered a safety feature rather than a danger to safety (we use RDS here for that all the time). Interestingly while RDS is promoted in a big way here in cars. MacDonald's and Burger King and their ilk are not allowed to place billboards by the motorway for fear of distracting motorists. I certainly regard our radio stations as not only businesses but public services too and my licence fee goes towards that. Radio 1, Radio 2, Radio 4, Radio 5, BBC 6, BBC 7 [not Radio 3?] (Brian Millson in Sunny England :-), ibid.) ANTENNAS GET SMART Adaptive antenna arrays can vastly improve wireless communications by connecting mobile users with virtual wires http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa001&articleID=000853F1-DD7F-1EDC-8 E1C809EC588EF21 (via Jilly Dybka, DXLD) DRM +++ INTERNATIONAL RADIO STATIONS START DIGITAL SERVICE By ALEXANDER G. HIGGINS, The Associated Press, 6/16/03 6:05 PM GENEVA (AP) -- The British Broadcasting Corp., Voice of America and other international broadcasters launched digital short-wave radio service Monday, promising to provide near-FM quality in the place of static-filled signals. Digital broadcasts don't increase a station's range, but they eliminate static and let broadcasters transmit text, such as news updates and song information, with the audio signal. For now, digital radio receivers are considerably more expensive than analog radios. The Digital Radio Mondiale consortium launched its digital service at a global radio meeting in Geneva. "DRM's introduction will forever alter the course of radio broadcasting," said Peter F. Senger, chairman of the consortium, which has more than 80 members. The initial signals were transmitted from a nearby mountain in France shortly after 8 p.m., when Senger gave the word during a ceremony in conjunction with the World Radiocommunication Conference in Geneva. The conference is held every few years to decide airwave issues such as the sharing of radio and satellite frequencies. Simultaneously, other short-wave broadcasters started using digital transmitters in different parts of the world. The transmissions received at the reception featured voices in Chinese, French, English, German, Russian and Spanish, followed by static-free music. For the foreseeable future, broadcasters will use both traditional analog systems alongside the digital transmissions so people with traditional radios will still be able to tune in. At first, broadcasts will be aimed at Europe, North America, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand. Digital radio signals are duplicated enough so that even if some are lost from interference, the receiver is able to put the transmission back together so it can be heard correctly. And Senger said the system uses much less electricity than analog, which will save broadcasters considerably on their biggest cost item. Although the Federal Communications Commission has approved a different digital standard for U.S. domestic broadcasters, Senger said the new system is meant to be universal and could eventually be used in the United States. Other broadcasters in Europe, Asia and Canada have been using digital transmissions for several years. That system, known as Eureka 147 or DAB, uses a different set of frequencies than traditional AM, FM or short-wave bands. ------ On the Net: http://www.drm.org (via Mike Cooper, Mike Terry, Art Preis, DXLD) See also AUSTRRALIA, CANADA, GERMANY, LUXEMBOURG, RUSSIA DRM FEEDBACK Commenting on last month`s special feature on digital shortwave broadcasting, Johnsonville member BILL SANGSTER comments ``it appears that in order to receive DRM, I`ll need a complicated and probably expensive modification to my shortwave radio, as well as a compter. This begs the question about the continuation of conventional AM transmissions on shortwave in the near and distant future. Will DRM revitalise our hobby?`` CHRIS MACKERELL responds ````Yes, right now a computer is needed, but that will change over the next year or so. At the moment, modifying an existing receiver, and using a computer to decode the signal is the cheapest option. There are commercial DRM receivers available, but they are expensive, partly because they include a PC in the receiver box to do the decoding! Having the decoding done on a PC is actually good at the moment because it allows bugs in the decoding software to be fixed much more easily than in any hardware solution. Keep an eye open for DRM receivers coming out from mainstream manufacturers in the near future. With regard to the modifications required to an existing radio to receive DRM, the practicality and cost depends on the radio involved. I`m currently playing with a $50 DRM module that I have plugged into the back of my AR-7030. It isn`t perfect, but it does work. Will DRM revitalise our hobby? Well, it already has for me! Really, this is the first major technical revolution to come to shortwave radio since international broadcasting began and I`ve found it very exciting to have some small involvement in it. If it keeps a few more countries broadcasting on shortwave I`m all for it. It`s an SWL medium more than a DX medium, but I think there will be plenty of non-DRM stations around for many years yet to keep the DXers happy. Of course, DRM could go the way of Beta video, but only time will tell.`` Thanks for the update Chris! (NEW ZEALAND DX TIMES PAGE 25 JUNE 2003 via DXLD) CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ IMPORTANT SPAM UPDATE - THE 3RD ANNUAL NIGERIAN EMAIL CONFERENCE http://www.20six.co.uk:80/-/de/weblogEntry/v1mlhzyesmi7 (Email From a blog called "buzzin'" via Tom Roche, DXLD) ###