DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-112, June 24, 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 1187: RFPI: Tue 1900, Wed 0100, 0730, 1430 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/wor1187.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1187.ram [High] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1187h.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1187h.ram (Summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1187.html WORLD OF RADIO 1188: WBCQ: Wed 2200 7415, 17495-CUSB, Mon 0445 7415 WWCR: Thu 2030 15825, Sat 1030 5070, Sun 0230 5070, Sun 0630 3210 ... RFPI: Fri 1930, Sat 0130, 0800, 1400, 1730, 2330, Sun 0530, 1130, 1830, Mon 0030, 0630, 1230. . . 7445, 15039 WRN: Rest of world Sat 0800, Europe Sun 0430, North America Sun 1400 WINB: Sun 0030 12160 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO: Check http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html [Low] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1188.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1188.ram [High] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1188h.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1188h.ram (Summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1188.html UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS Dear Glenn, I just came back from the DX camp of East and West Radio Club (EAWRC, Germany). While at the camp, I was very glad to hear `The World of Radio` on Saturday June 21 at 0752 UT on 15039 kHz via RFPI. I especially wanted to thank you for mentioning my name on the air! It was a special pleasure for me to catch this at a DX-camp. By the way, can you issue a QSL for `World of Radio`, if I send a proper report to you? I mean, not for RFPI but for the program itself? I realize how busy you are, but perhaps once you could do this? I would appreciate it very much (Robertas Pogorelis, Belgium) I always leave QSLing to the stations which carry my program. I don`t have any QSL cards printed, and don`t even have a letterhead. Not that I doubt your reception in the least, but since WOR is available on multiple platforms, only one of which is SW, one need not even hear it on the radio to quote program details, and thus cannot offer any proof one heard it on a particular station; so I don`t see of what value a QSL (or for that matter, any QSL) would be. (Some QSLers would choose to take the above wording as a QSL in itself.) Furthermore, unless I happened to be listening myself at that very time, I have no positive way of knowing whether the station was actually on the air on the frequency quoted and whether the program aired according to schedule, and have no access to any station`s log. Hope you understand (Glenn) Glenn, thanks for the effort you put into each DXLD. I know I don't have time to visit all the newsletters, mailing lists, and websites; I have often found interesting news and information via DXLD that I would have otherwise missed. I see that others find it difficult to sort through items that aren't of interest to them, but I frankly can't complain: After all, your effort is a volunteer effort, and you don't charge subscription fees. If I were to filter out too much content, I might miss something I'd enjoy reading. It's a tradeoff I can live with. Thanks again for your efforts to spread the news international (and domestic) broadcasting! (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA) Hi Glenn, Junk and nonsense, not from you. I like the way you comment matters and persons. Just go on with your excellent work for the DXing world. Best 73s (Ydun Ritz, Denmark) Glenn, Regarding the unsolicited testimonial in 3-111, I'm assuming from your "junk & nonsense" comment that you are aware Alex Dobrovitch is a fabrication. During less enlightened times, his name used to appear periodically in the "Australian DX News", sometimes to berate members for non-contribution. I think they even dug up a picture him and printed it once; an unflattering photo of someone in military gear, as I recall. Obviously EXDP management has decided to reprise the joke, lame as it may be (Craig Seager, Australia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. Re 3-111: 4 x 250 kW transmitters on an island hosting a class "A" nature reserve and which is a popular eco-tourism destination? I think not. Additionally, the so-called Hutt River Province (nothing more than a wheat farm, once owned by an eccentric who was disillusioned with wheat quotas) would not be "adjacent" to Rottnest, as indicated in the item; the former is 517 km from Perth, the latter is a ferry ride away. I'm sure we would have heard something elsewhere if there was a grain of truth. The HCJB and Christian Vision operations received wide advance coverage in our local press, even though 99% of the population here has no experience or knowledge of shortwave broadcasting. I've been proven wrong before, but if this yarn by Bob Padula turns out to be fact, I'll eat my Icom! Hutt River Province is interesting, though. We don't hear much about it these days, but I think they even issued their own stamps and coins at one point. A good summary exists at: http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hutt_River_Province 73, (Craig Seager, Australia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Thanks for the tip off Bob on the "The New Democratic Voice of the Zimbabwean People" station. Noted here today at 1700 sign on, using 9890, 6240 and 5905 kHz. Lovely African song in the interval signal. I'm not sure of the language though. Maybe Mr. [sic] Hauser can help us here. Nice signal too. (``Alex Dobrovitch`` Big Al, Australia, Crystal Set, EDXP HF Forum via DXLD) Alex`s profile: Hutt River Province, Australia. Occupation: Poet. Interests: Book Binding, Uphill Skiing and starting bushfires with old adxns (EDXP HF Forum via DXLD) EDXP credibility plunges ** AUSTRALIA. HCJB-AUSTRALIA FREQUENCIES I am working in close collaboration with HCJB-AUS Frequency Management, and serious problems have been identified for the two existing frequencies. The Indian service is 1230-1730 on 15480 (75 kW), and the Australian/S. Pacific service is 0700-1200 on 11770 (25 kW). 11770 has not proven to be very reliable, due to co-channel use by WYFR Florida 0800-1100 (to South America), causing terrible problems in New Zealand, where the Kununurra signal is almost obliterated by WYFR. In Australia, the WYFR QRM is not so intense, but across the eastern States reception is subject to fading and background QRM from WYFR. 15480 has become something of a disaster, due to co-channel China National Radio (Network 1) which also uses the frequency 0800-1300, BBC Woofferton 1700-1900, and Egypt 1230-1530. Further problems have occurred due to the impossibility of maintaining a reliable high quality service over a span of five hours for each frequency. Erratic propagation has also been causing havoc on 15480. Our discussions suggest that the timing for NZ (0700-1200) is not suitable for convenient reception for the last half of the release. Timing is similarly not suitable for many listeners in Western Australia for the fist half of the release, due to the early commencement of 0700 (3 pm in WA). Suggestions under discussion have included - breaking into transmission into two blocks, using two contiguous frequencies (to reduce co-channel and adjacent-channel QRM, and to combat adverse propagation) - introduction of an earlier service to NZ (0500-1000) - introduction of a short local morning service to NZ (two hours) (1900-2100) - introduction of a short local morning service to India (two hours) (0000-0200) There has also been some confusion as to the timing of the Saturday DX Partyline service to India. The correct time should be 1430-1500, and not 1230-1300 as previously advised. This confusion came about due to a mixup in the use of local Western Australian time (12.30 at night) in internal documentation. More details available in due course! (Bob Padula, EDXP World Broadcast Magazine June 22, used by permission, http://edxp.org via DXLD) DXPL is at 1430 on 15480 via HCJB Australia, heard it June 21st including Bob's EDXP Report, poor strength here though was fair to good when I last heard it at this time on 15480 May 31 (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. Fri June 27 2105 FEEDBACK* - listener letters and news about RA. [Ed. Note: The advertised follow-up program on digital broadcasting and DRM's prospects in Australia has had to be postponed for this week. Roger Broadbent offers personal apologies for any inconvenience to listeners. However, the transcript and audio file of the past week's program on DRM's official inauguration will be available by midweek at http://www.abc.net.au/ra/feedback/ and the DRM follow-up special will air in a subsequent week.] (John Figliozzi, RA previews, swprograms via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. ABORIGINES FIND A VOICE ON AIR By Carolyn Webb, June 22 2003 From Sunday's Age newspaper: Victoria's first Aboriginal radio station goes to air tomorrow after four test broadcasts and seven years of campaigning for a permanent licence. 3KND's (Kool 'n Deadly) program manager, Vicki Armstrong, said the station would showcase the diversity of the indigenous population, with programs for punk rockers, gay men, sports fans, elders, gastronomes and recovering drug addicts. 3KND - 1503 on the AM band - will broadcast seven days a week, 24 hours a day, from studios in Preston. Ms Armstrong said she hoped 3KND would bring Aborigines who had been cut off from their roots "back into the fold" and inform listeners about available services. Musician Kutcha Edwards, who will host a "blackfella music" show, Songlines, on Thursdays, said: "It gives us a voice - our voice." 3KND's $400,000 annual funding is from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission and the Community Broadcasting Foundation. Its parent company, South Eastern Indigenous Media Association, was one of four groups granted community radio licences in 2001. This story was found at: http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/06/21/1056119516365.html (via Matt Francis, ARDXC via DXLD) ** AUSTRIA. REPORT FROM AUSTRIA TO REMAIN ON THE AIR Radio Austria International has announced that when the new programme structure takes effect on 1 July, eliminating broadcasts in French and Spanish, the weekday English programme Report from Austria will continue to be broadcast at approximately the same times as at present. However, the programme will be much shorter - 15 minutes as opposed to the current 28 minutes. The weekly programme Insight Central Europe, co-produced with international broadcasters in neighbouring countries, will continue to be broadcast on Saturdays with a repeat on Sundays (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 24 June 2003 via DXLD) ** BELARUS`. Re 3-111: Finn Krone's log of "R. Stalica" on 6010 kHz: the transmitter in Brest for Belaruskaje Radyjo 1 doesn't carry its own regional programming. Instead, it relays Radyjo Stalica (FM) during the morning regional block 0340-0400 (and during the evening block as well). Also other transmitters without regional feeds have the same schedule (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, June 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELARUS`. Por um capricho da propagação, em 20 de junho, às 0200, sintonizei, aqui em Porto Alegre (RS), a programação em inglês da Rádio Minsky, em 5970 kHz. Normalmente, nesta freqüência, quem aparece é a Rádio Itatiaia, de Belo Horizonte (MG). A emissão consistiu em noticiário de 10 minutos de duração; músicas folclóricas e informes sobre temas musicais. No fim da emissão, o locutor informou o sítio e endereço eletrônico da emissora (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX June 22 via DXLD ** BOLIVIA. 5952.5, 0209-0230, R. Pio XII Jun 22. Heard male announcer several times in Spanish and into some rather different music. Unusual instruments were used. Very weak, difficult at best. Broadcast being swamped by co-channel interference. Female announcer with tentative ID heard at 0228. Then a male announcer with ID also which I did hear this time as Radio Pio. Then to what must be the IS for the station. And off at 0230 (Bob Montgomery, Levittown PA, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. Once again, our location in L'Ago, easternmost section of the Ligurian coast, a few kilometers inland, surprised us with a very unusual MW station. 1570, June 21st, 0330, Rádio Sociedade Espigão, Espigão d'Oeste, Rondonia, Brazil. Complete ID taped, with tentative call ZYJ 308 "mil watios de potência". Many thanks to Samuel Cássio, in Brazil, who listened to our real audio file and promptly sent his illuminating opinion. Muito obrigado Samuel (Andrea Lawendel, Rocco Cotroneo, L'Ago, Italy, Aor 7030, Ic R75, K9AY antenna, MWDX yahoogroup via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 4885, R. Clube do Pará, Belém PA, 2302-2315, Jun 13, ID and news program "A Voz Municipalista." 55333. 4885, R. Difusora Acreana, Rio Branco AC, 0013-0023, Jun 06, football match report and ads; mixed with R. Clube de Belém do Pará - "A Poderosa." 42442 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, June 18 DSWCI DX Window, June 21 via DXLD) Carlos, I am very happy you were able to ID both stations on this frequency which always constitute an ID-problem for most non- Portuguese speaking DX-ers! Thus both are active (Ed. Anker Petersen, Denmark, June 18 DSWCI DX Window, June 21 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. And now another question, perhaps requiring a broader audience. The night from June 21 to 22, at the EAWRC camp site near Cologne, Germany, there was very good propagation from Latin America, especially Brazil. Quite a few Brazilian stations were audible, one of them on 4765 kHz. WRTH lists three Brazilians here, two of which transmit with 10 kW power: Rádio Integração and Rádio Rural. I would like to ask you to help me identify which of these two stations I received, based on the following details. Listened to it between 2314 and 0004 UT. [WRTH indicates that R. Rural stops at 2400; this one did *not*]. Reports about life of (presumably) indigenous population: the host talking to young women in a didactic style, and the women replying. A mention of ``Rádio Educação`` (or perhaps `radioeducação`). This piece did not sound explicitly religious. However, there were some short pieces of Christian preaching from time to time (about five minutes every half hour), clearly separated from the rest of the program. Another report seemed to be more political, as I heard `fascismo` mentioned, and I also heard an interview with someone introduced as `publicist`. At times very nice slow songs were played, each of them to the end (not interrupted). Unfortunately, I did not catch any clear ID. I listened carefully for any mention of `Rural`, but I did not hear any [I assume `Integração` is easier to miss]. However, I know R. Rural is a religious station, and this program did contain some religion. I would appreciate any help (Robertas Pogorelis, June 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. A Rádio Guaíba, de Porto Alegre (RS), transmite, nos sábados, entre 0100 e 0245 (no horário UT já é domingo!), o programa Guaíba Classe Especial. São apresentadas reportagens e comentários sobre o movimento cultural de Porto Alegre. A apresentação é de Mário Mazeron. No programa de 29 de junho, Rodrigo Rodenbush abordará a vida e obra do ator francês Alain Delon. Em ondas curtas, a Guaíba poderá ser captada em 6000 e 11785 kHz (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX June 22 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. HCJB may establish transmitter in Fortaleza: see ECUADOR ** CHINA [non]. 9625, Fang Guang Ming Radio, 2116-2200*, Jun 18, Mandarin, musical program without announcements, only at s/off by YL, 45444, (Nicolás Eramo, Argentina, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CONGO DR. 6030, R. Okapi, Kinshasa, 2207-2220, May 24, French announcement, Congolese pop music. 33333. Südwestrundfunk signed off 2205* with carrier off 2210. Heard best in USB due to splashes from R Budapest 6025 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, June 18 DSWCI DX Window, June 21 via DXLD) A couple of nights ago Okapi was surprisingly strong on 6030 here (Harald Kuhl, Germany, Jun 11, June 18 DSWCI DX Window, June 21 via DXLD) ** CUBA. Hoy quiero comentarles un poquito sobre la información que dimos la semana pasada sobre la nueva radio que fué inaugurada en el Municipio Manatí, Provincia de Las Tunas, en Cuba. Escuchando hoy el programa" En Contacto" de Radio Habana Cuba, se hizo un comentario sobre dicha emisora, la misma se identifica como Radio Manatí, tal como habiamos informado desde un principio, y su slogan es "La Voz del Faro" tal cual como nos lo dijo el colega y amigo José Alba Z en correo de Conexión Digital cuando ampliaba información sobre la emisora. Queda entonces confirmado que la nueva emisora cubana es: Radio Manatí 92.9 FM...La Voz del faro. Por cierto, he grabado la identificación de la emisora, la cual transmitieron en el programa "En Contacto" y este sonido está a la orden para los colegas que lo soliciten. Atte: (José Elías Díaz Gómez, Venezuela, June 23, Noticias DX via WORLD OF RADIO 1188, DXLD) ** ECUADOR. Radio HCJB hat sich doch noch entschieden für dieses Jahr eine QSL Serie herauszugeben unter dem Titel: „Vulkane in Ecuador". Es gibt vier Karten für jeweils drei Monate. Zur Unterscheidung von den Karten 2003A-F des deutschen Dienstes, sollen die internationalen QSL Karten mit folgenden Kürzeln bestellt werden: IR-A Volcano Tungurahua - 5020 meters IR-B Volcano Cotopaxi - 5898 meters IR-C Volcano Sangay - 5320 meters IR-D Volcano Guagua Pichincha - 4790 meters (IR steht für International Radio [oder informe de recepción, aber nicht Iris Rauscher? -- gh]) (Iris Rauscher, ntt aktuell via DXLD) see also MALTA Em entrevista a Eunice Carvajal, no programa DX HCJB, o diretor da emissora Curt Cole informou que estão investigando a possível criação de um centro transmissor na cidade de Fortaleza (CE). Segundo ele, a HCJB só emitirá em português, espanhol, quéchua e inglês para missionários que vivem no Sul do Brasil e no Paraguai. Alguns programas em inglês foram transferidos para a Austrália, que é um departamento totalmente independente de Quito. As informações são de Rubens Ferraz Pedroso, de Bandeirantes (PR). (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX June 22 via WORLD OF RADIO 1188, DXLD) See also USA: WINB ** EL SALVADOR. Eric, nice radio find on the book. RV was the El Salvadoran clandestine run by the Frente Farabundo Martí de [para la?] Liberación Nacional (FMLN--Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front) Arce Zablah brigade during the Salvadoran civil war in the 1980s. My biggest memory of the station was the consistent cat and mouse game that the Salvadoran government used to play with the station. When ever the station would pop up on the air (usually around 6500-6700 kHz), the government station would come up on top of them or near them. Then with a blink of an eye, RV would change frequencies about 20 or so kHz up or down from where they where before. It was quite a spectacle. Enjoy the book! (Ulis Fleming, Maryland, http://www.RadioIntel.com swprograms via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. All logs below via Javaradios in Europe CLANDESTINE from CIS to ETHIOPIA: 12120. R. Justice (Fthi) --- Per the TISJD website this is a new program that they launched on May 25th, with a "the new station [that] has a powerful signal than the previous one." Schedule is Sundays from 1700-1800, so R Fthi seems to be the station broadcasting in this slot rather than Netsanet Radio as reported elsewhere. From what I can tell, Netsanet is still on the web and on AM in Washington, D.C., but has been off shortwave for a year now due to lack of funding. As for the TISJD and R Fthi, this new program and new site seem to be a replacement for the Radio Solidarity program that was via DTK-Julich for some time. June 22 1658 test tones, 1700 ID as R. Fthi by woman and flute music. Weak signal. A bit of fanfare and then talk by same woman. 7520, Medhin Radio (Presumed) *1800 June 22, flute address, ID as Ye May-de-hin Dim-sa-now a few times. Short announcements by man mentioning Europe. Per their website this service is for Europe and the USA. Also quickly checked their 12120 at *1830 and found it on, website says this service is for Ethiopia and other parts of Africa (Hans Johnson, Cumbre DX via WORLD OF RADIO 1188, DXLD) ** FINLAND. I checked Scandinavian Weekend R. several times on Jun 7, but none of the announced broadcasts were heard. I use to catch some of these, so I asked SWR what had happened (Anker Petersen, Denmark, June 18 DSWCI DX Window, June 21 via DXLD) They answered: ``Dear Anker, SWR was on the air QUITE normal way. Conditions might been a little bit difficult. And actually we have had a little problems with our gage-dipole on 48 mb. So we have had to use a little bit reduced power. Anyway station has been heard some times of day all around Finland! Our schedule was changed a little. We were on 6170 two hours more, that was 0500-1500 and after that on 1500-1700 on 5990. These were rapid changes because these frequencies had best audibility (and no interfering stations here). Now our aerial has been fixed and also put to a higher position than before, so perhaps next time reception is possible also there in Denmark. I wish to have many listeners next time (i.e. Jul 05. Ed) during our 3rd Birthday transmission...`` (Alpo Heinonen, Jun 11, June 18 DSWCI DX Window, June 21 via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Wolfgang- Who is this? Does 1 mean Sat or Sun? 15650 1445-1500 39,40 110 100 1 1506-261003 JUL 100 PAB 15650 1500-1515 39,40 102 115 1 0106-261003 JUL 100 PAB 15650 1530-1545 39,40 208 100 1 2206-261003 JUL 100 PAB 15650 1545-1600 39,40 110 100 1 0106-261003 JUL 100 PAB (Hans Johnson, via Wolfgang Bueschel, June 22, WORLD OF RADIO 1188, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Hans, I don't know YET ! ??? PAK PBC PBC. But make no sense, a SUNDAY broadcast from a Muslim country. 1= means SUNDAY, like in HFCC tables. 39 Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Arabian Pen. 40 Iran, Afghanistan. PAB put into Yahoo-UK search machine result in a private Pennsylvania Broadcaster Association ... 73 (Wolfgang Büschel via DXLD) All the start dates are Sundays; looks like someone carrying out tests (gh, DXLD) ** GREECE. Don`t you believe the VOG English schedule given on this week`s RVi Radio World June 22, apparently taken from their website. It`s years out of date, and if there is English at any of the times given, I`ll be very much surprised. Why don`t people avail themselves of searching DXLD or several websites of English schedules kept up to date? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HUNGARY. Page of the Hungarian transmission provider Antenna Hungária about maintenance breaks of MW transmitters and substitute arrangements: http://www.ahrt.hu/en/services/CB23EC4643834D2F8DC64055A5F24768.php (Kai Ludwig, June 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ICELAND. 13855, AFRTS Keflavik, 0625-0650, Jun 16, English, back on shortwave after weeks absence, news from ABC-News and CNN Radio Update, IDs as ``This is the American Forces Network`` or just ``AFN``, weak but no interference. USB-mode. 14333 (Bjarke Vestesen, Radby, Blommenslyst, Denmark, June 18 DSWCI DX Window, June 21 via DXLD) Thanks to Bjarke, I heard it the same afternoon at 1205-1400 in USB, but also with weaker signals than a month ago: 24232 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, June 18 DSWCI DX Window, June 21 via DXLD) Decent here at 2230, Jun 16 (Jerry Berg, MA, June 18 DSWCI DX Window, June 21 via DXLD) Thanks to a tip off from Finn Krone in Hard Core DX, AFRTS Keflavik noted back on 13855 usb, 0715-0735 June 22nd with Sports Overnight America, fair strength (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 13855 USB, AFRTS Keflavik, 1740 UT June 22. They seem to have solved their xmtr problems. Hearing them at a decent level although with some fading at this time. Were interviewing Chet Raimo on his book "The Past- a One Mile Walk through the Universe". ID as "This is AFN" at just before top of hour, then music bridge to 1800 and into AP news. Tone at 1801 caused some QRM. This then broke into Morse Code at 1803, assume a Ute (John Sgrulletta, NY, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** INDIA. DISCORDANT NOTE BY RAILWAY BOARD DERAILS AIR PLAN Nivedita Mookerji & Jyoti Mukul New Delhi: More than a year after the Railways and public service broadcaster Prasar Bharati got talking about a unique news and entertainment platform, an old directive is playing spoilsport. While Prasar Bharati is keen to go realtime with its All India Radio (AIR) news, commentary and entertainment on select trains like Rajdhani and Shatabdi, the Railway Board is sticking to the rulebook. Apparently, the board had issued a directive a few years ago that only instrumental music could be played on trains. This directive, sources said, was triggered by protests from MPs (members of Parliament) of a certain community when devotional songs were played on a train. The AIR project is about offering its services on trains through the WorldSpace satellite platform. As opposed to terrestrial platform, satellite radio will offer nationwide reach and clarity of sound. One of the FM stations of AIR is already on the WorldSpace platform. But, if Railways insist only on instrumental music on train, the AIR proposal may become meaningless. Prasar Bharati officials, however, argue that AIR could be asked to air only news and maybe commentary, and no vocal music, making it a partial implementation of the project. But, there’s no official word on it yet. While Prasar Bharati continues to pursue the venture, sources in the Railways said that, ``there is no technological hindrance in introducing the facility through use of direct-to-home (DTH) (satellite) technology``. WorldSpace is often referred to as direct- to-home in radio. Officials of the Railways and Prasar Bharati met recently to thrash out the tricky issues, but no formal solution has been found yet. During the meeting, Prasar Bharati was asked to send a detailed proposal to the Railways on what kind of service they can offer, an official said. Meanwhile, besides the instrumental music hurdle, there’s another issue that Railways will have to grapple with. That is providing concealed wiring in coaches. And, that would be possible mainly in new coaches, railway officials confided. Talking of feasibility, only trains which have the public address (PA) systems would be able to implement the AIR-WorldSpace project. While the WorldSpace receiver needs to be connected to the PA system, two antennas would be fixed at the two ends of the train. The logic behind two antennas is that at least one of them will always be connected to the satellite, even when the train is passing through a tunnel, an AIR official reasoned. Last June, Railways had conducted trials on the Delhi- Thiruvananthapuram Rajd-hani for introducing the AIR service via WorldSpace satellite. At that point, Prasar Bharati had even indicated that Air India flights may also have similar services if the train project took off successfully (The Financial Express, 19 June, 2003) Regds, (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, dx_india via DXLD) There`ll always be an India ** INTERNATIONAL. In an all day session at the receiver I managed to hear a total of 115 Countries on the Longest Day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. The list is too extensive to place here but can be found at http://www.shortwave.org.uk (Graham Powell, Wales, Editor - Online DX Logbook, June 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [non]. 4635v, Voice of Mojahed (tentative), 0210, Jun 15, Jammers back jumping up to 4665 and also heard on 5370, 5650, 6455, 6770 and 7030. Weak talk in unidentified language also heard on 4640, 5370 and 5650. 22222 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, June 18 DSWCI DX Window, June 21 via DXLD) 7525/15650/15740, R. Yaran has not been heard since May 26 on any of these frequencies (Anker Petersen, Denmark, June 18 DSWCI DX Window, June 21 via DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. Satellite TV links Iranian expats in Los Angeles with protesters in Teheran. Of course, this story has been in several places - Sixty Minutes Two and in Kim Elliott's Main Street segment (Joel Rubin, NY, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Persian-language satellite television stations based in Los Angeles have mobilized Iranians seeking to topple the government. TV STATIONS BASED IN U.S. RALLY PROTESTERS IN IRAN -- By NAZILA FATHI TEHRAN, June 21 --- Jilla, a prosperous homemaker, has been trying to outwit the Iranian government's campaign to jam Persian-language satellite television stations based in Los Angeles. First she adjusted her satellite dish. Then she attached an empty can. She even tied a pot lid to a mop, and stood the lid upright facing the dish. No luck. . . http://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/22/international/middleeast/22TEHR.html?ex=1057293605&ei=1&en=f6acd94a5ce70ae6 (via Rubin, DXLD) ** IRAQ [and non]. IRAQ MEDIA DOSSIER During the war in Iraq, we published a large number of media nx items, and these were in reverse chronological order so the latest information was always at the top of the page. We've now reorganised these reports into narrative form, starting on the first day of the war - and edited where appropriate in the light of subsequent information. We hope this will make it easier to follow the fascinating story as Saddam's media structure collapsed and was gradually replaced by a variety of new radio and TV stns. The story isn't over, of course, and we'll continue to add to it in the weeks and months ahead http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/features/html/iraq.html (Andy Sennitt-HOL, RNWMN NL June 20 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. CLANDESTINE from SAUDI ARABIA to IRAQ: Voice of the Iraqi People. I have seen a few post-Saddam reports of this one still active on 9563 and 11710 kHz. Can't see much reason for them to be on with Saddam gone, but I haven't been able to confirm them off yet. Is anyone still hearing them? (Hans Johnson Jun 22, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Yep, they are still on the air. On 22 June at 1900 noted all 4785, 9563, 9570 and 11710 (in parallel) active (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, ibid., WORLD OF RADIO 1188) Thanks. I am getting a bit of a signal on 9563 kHz at 1955-2030, but it is just too weak to understand what they are talking about nor have I been able to catch an ID. If anyone wants to send me a recording, I sure would like to hear what they are saying these days (Hans, ibid.) ** ITALY. We are announcing a slight frequency change for our daily broadcast in the evening, European time (previously on 5780 kHz). Effective June 21, 2003 IRRS-Shortwave to Europe can be heard daily on 5775 kHz at 1900-2130 UT (2100-2230 CET), besides our operations on Sat & Sun only on 13840 at 0800-1200 UT (1000-1400 CET). The latest frequency schedule is available at: http://www.nexus.org/NEXUS-IBA/Schedules 73, (Ron Norton, NEXUS, BCLNews via WORLD OF RADIO 1188, DXLD) ** KUWAIT. New schedule for the 150 kW transmitter on 1593 kHz (beam 5 degrees) from 24/25 June: 1300-0600 (ex 24h Radio Farda). 2200-0100 VOA English, 0100-0600 R. Free Iraq (RL) in Arabic. --- 1300-1400 VOA Kurdish, 1400-1600 R. Free Iraq (RL) in Arabic, 1600- 1700 VOA Kurdish, 1700-2000 VOA Farsi, 2000-2200 R. Farda in Farsi (Source: IBB online schedule via Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, MWDX via DXLD) ** MALAWI. MALAWI'S STATE RADIO STRIKES SOUR NOTE WITH MUSICIANS By Associated Press Writer APws 06/17 1143 BLANTYRE, Malawi (AP) -- Malawi's musicians threatened to yank their songs from the airwaves if state radio does not pay up some four years of unpaid royalties. Musicians challenged the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation to try to function without them. "There can never be a radio station without music but there can always be music without radio stations," said Lucius "Soldier" Banda, Malawi's top selling artist. Music from local artists like Banda makes up almost 80 percent of MBC's programming. The Copyright Society of Malawi said it hopes such a bold move might force the MBC to pay up the 3 Million Kwacha ($32,000) it owes the nation's musicians. "We would like to see if MBC can do without our music," said Chimwemwe Mhango, a gospel singer and spokesman for the Copyright society. But state radio officials say they can't afford to pay royalties. "How can we pay them when we don't have the money?" said Owen Maunde, head of state radio. Malawi is among the poorest countries in southern Africa (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** MALTA [non]. Dear Friends, This month I have delayed my monthly letter to have better information about the future of our monthly DX Report via HCJB. I have just sent the new text to Allen Graham and it would be on the air next Saturday [28 June] at 0930 UT on 11770 and 1230 [sic] UT on 15480 kHz via Australian HCJB facilities. As you know Allen has worked very hard to grant his programme DX Partyline new frequencies after changes took place in Ecuador. So you may listen to the programme also via other stations. The EDXC always confirms correct reception reports for its broadcasts. In these last weeks after the last DX Report from Ecuador was aired we received a lot of reports from both sides of the Atlantic. In the meantime we managed to have a second opportunity - on the same 4th Saturday in the month - to talk to European DXers. The Voice of the Mediterranean in Malta have accepted our proposal of a south European edition of our DX report and they're going to air it next Saturday [28 June] on 9605 kHz at 1730 UT during their English programme. Developments about both broadcasts and the Conference are updated in our web site: http://www.edxc.org Best 73's, (Luigi Cobisi, EDXC SG, EDXC mailing list via BDXC-UK via WORLD OF RADIO 1188, DXLD) Sked in recent DXLD indicated 6185 for this 1730 broadcast; which is it? ** MAURITANIA. 4845, ORTM, R Mauritanie, Nouakchott: Jun 8 attempted coup in Mauritania was led by former Colonel Salah Ould Hnana against President Maaouya Ould Sid`Ahmed Taya (Anker Petersen, Denmark, June 18 DSWCI DX Window, June 21 via DXLD) ** MEXICO. 6045, XEXQ Radio Universidad [San Luís Potosí SLP] 1930, 22 de junio del 2003. Alrededor de las 1930 estaba moviendo el dial en la banda de 49 metros, cuando de repente sintonicé algo, que sonaba a un concierto, con flauta y violines. La señal fue mejorando poco a poco; alrededor de las 2030 escuchaba otro concierto de música clásica, ya con un SINPO de 34333. A las 2045 escuché un programa grabado en Radio Canadá de fábulas y cuentos, terminando a las 2100, cuando dieron su identificación XEXQ Radio Universidad... 1460 kHZ... con 250 watts... (dando después su dirección y teléfono) Arista 245, San Luis Potosí... telefono 8 26-13-48 ... Luego anuncios de la emisora, y después la locutora dando saludos a sus radioescuchas, y particularmente a los que los siguen en la onda corta... dando su frecuencia 6045 en la banda de 49 metros... De las 2100 hasta las 2200 transmitieron una zarzuela... El día de hoy 23 de junio, los volví a sintonizar alrededor de las 1230... con su identificación "XEXQ Radio Universidad... " y luego una barra de canciones infantiles. con un SINPO de 33443 con interferencia de al parecer una emisora, al perecer de habla china. Ya llevan un tiempo que Radio Universidad de San Luis Potosí está nuevamente transmitiendo su señal por la onda corta. Su señal se escucha muy bien modulada, hasta podría deir que mejor que Radio México Internacional. Receptor Radio Shack DX-398 con antena externa tipo L invertida de 5 metros de longitud (Héctor García Bojorge, México DF, June 23, Conexión Digital via WORLD OF RADIO 1188, DXLD) 6045, XEXQ Radio Universidad, 0345-0400, 24 de junio del 2003 UT, concierto de música clásica y antes de las 0400 escuché su cierre de transmisiones con el himno nacional mexicano. Con infterferencia moderada. A las 1230 he escuchado que empiezan sus transmisiones, con canciones infantiles. A la que ya no he vuelto a sintonizar por varias semanas es la emisora de Mérida en los 6105 kHz (Héctor García Bojorge, México DF, June 24, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Yes, XEXQ had been long inactive. The last I heard years ago, their SW transmitter was gone (gh, DXLD) ** NIGERIA. Hi out there, as my main occupation during the last few weeks should have been excerpting about 50 books for my exams, I spent many hours listening to Voice of Nigeria. It sounds like they are really struggling against all odds: 15120 had extremely low modulation for several days, but now it's louder but a bit dirty/distorted. Still, of course, audio quality coming from the studio, varies between all extremes. After delivering good signals in the morning, they seem to sign-off at 1100, not to be heard again before 1900, except once, when I heard them back at 1540. They still announced today 0500-2300 for this freq. But what is the alternative freq. then after 1100? It's not 11770. 11770 is somewhat better, but still undermodulated, and the French service produces relatively solid audio quality, compared to the English. Mostly good signals but only on air 1600 (or later) -2000. The French service announces only 7255 for the morning service, and nothing heard at 11770. The listeners' letters program today stated that Yoruba at 1100 hours would be also on 11770. There seems to be some confusion in the studio when French programs are produced. I often heard them playing music suddenly interrupting the news, or VON station tune played instead of VONSoir tune. 9690 should be observed between 1100-1900 as English is on none of the other frequencies; 7255 only audible early mornings and evenings, West African service. German service should start soon, said "Listeners Letters" this morning. Frequency schedule is still last year's (Thorsten Hallmann, Muenster, Germany, June 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. Well... another QSL today. KQCV 95.1 Shawnee OK signed by Paul Sublett, GM and you will not believe the enclosures. Hat (okay -- - I can see that); POCKET KNIFE with "KQCV RADIO, OKLAHOMA CITY OK" inscribed into it. I`m amazed (Adam Rivers, WTFDA via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3290, R Central, Boroko, 0955-1202*, May 30, Back after 5 months absence, programs in Tok Pisin, English and Vernaculars, 1000 relay of NBC news in English, South Sea music, National anthem at sign off. It was not yet heard on May 17, 18 and 19. 3355, R Simbu, Kundiawa, 1115-1202*, May 30, Tok Pisin public ann, international music and South Sea music, closing ann and National anthem. After a long silence was first heard on May 12, but is now regular. 25232 (Roland Schulze, Philippines, June 18 DSWCI DX Window, June 21 via WORLD OF RADIO 1188, DXLD) ** PARAGUAY. 9983.90, R America: Now 24 hours on this frequency beamed 270 degrees // 15185, 184 degrees, both 200 watts (Arnaldo Slaen, June 18 DSWCI DX Window, June 21 via DXLD) Nom. 9983, so who measured it? Does this mean you actually heard it? (gh, DXLD) ** PERU. Processando o arquivo de áudio, identifiquei a emissora que sintonizei no sábado, em 5.009,6 kHz, é a Radio Altura, do Peru. Segundo dados na Internet, esta emissora tem 1 kWatt de potência. O arquivo está em: http://planeta.terra.com.br/arte/sarmentocampos/Trechos.htm 5.009.6, 22/06 2220 R Altura Peru px espanhol, anunciantes, música, ``ofrecimiento musical``, noticias da província de Yanahuanca por telefone, muito ruído atmosférico 33222 (Sarmento F Campos, Rio de Janeiro - Brasil, http://radioescuta.aminharadio.com radioescutas via DXLD) ** PERU. 6020.29, Radio Victoria, Lima, 0439-0458, Jun 17, Spanish/ Portuguese, Religious program, Gospel Music, TC "Once de la noche cuarenta y cuatro minutos", IDs "seguimos por Radio Victoria en los 780 KHz" "en 780 KHz onda larga y en 6020 KHz banda internacional de 49 metros, transmitiendo desde sus estudios centrales en Lima, Perú, Radio Victoria, una radio...", 24342, (Nicolás Eramo, Argentina, WORLD OF RADIO 1188, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6020.30, 0852-0918, R. Victoria Jun 22 At tune in, religious service in progress in SS Id by male announcer as Radio Victoria at 0859. Excellent reception. At 0900 R. Gaucha, Brazil, signed on 6020 which produced difficult copy R. Victoria with a S 8 signal level prior to 0900 was crystal clear with little to no fading. News at top of hour from R. Victoria with comments on Afghanistan (Bob Montgomery, Levittown PA, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** PHILIPPINES. 9580v, PBS, R. Ng Bayon, Marulas, Valenzuela, was last heard on May 19 and is now inactive again (Roland Schulze, Philippines, May 30, June 18 DSWCI DX Window, June 21 via DXLD) ** PHILIPPINES. Received from FEBC: ``Following the completion of our High gain directional TCI antenna and three additional 100 kW transmitters installation (which have replaced our vintage WW [?] 50 kW/35 kW transmitter) in our site in Bocaue. We are now ready to explore new services to South India again. Something which FEBC has dropped for a number years. Could I ask you as well as to encourage your DX friends in South India to monitor the following for me. Test this week for 5 days from Wednesday 18th to Sunday 22nd June inclusive Full 100 kW for long distance sea path transmission: 1. 0100-0200 UT 15240 khz 100 KW Azi-278 HRS4/4/0.5 on BSW3. 2. 1530-1600 UT 12100 khz 100 KW Azi-278 HRS4/4/0.5 on BSW1 I will be appreciate if the report will include 1. Grading done with SINPO code and 2. Information of location and receiver 3. Date and time of monitoring. The results can be sent to the following email address: ismfebc@singnet.com.sg Should the test transmission is successful, FEBC will conduct more extensive testing in the middle of next month. Many thanks for your fellowship and interest.`` (Hsu via Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, Jun 17, June 18 DSWCI DX Window, June 21 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. 7436v, R. Krishnaloka, Orel, 0105-0315*, Jun 15 and 16, Indian string music and Krishna hymns, English speaking preacher with Russian simultaneous interpretation, cultural talks and conversations in Russian about the Krishna worship, ID: "Radiostantsia Krishnaloka", mentions internet address, closing with the name of the announcer in the studio and orchestra music. Frequency drifting up and down 7435.8 - 7437.0. 45444 fading down to 24222. One day occasional utility QRM (Anker Petersen, Denmark, June 18 DSWCI DX Window, June 21 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. RUSSIA SHUTTERS LAST INDEPENDENT TV STATION From News Services Monday, June 23, 2003; Page A22 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A21130-2003Jun22.html MOSCOW, June 22 -- With parliamentary and presidential elections coming soon, Russia's only countrywide independent television channel was yanked off the air today, rekindling a debate over how President Vladimir Putin views media freedoms. TVS, created from the ashes of two other television stations that came into conflict with state-connected companies, was replaced with a new state-run sports channel. Some employees learned the station had been closed while listening to the radio on their way to work. With parliamentary elections in December and a presidential vote next year, the demise of TVS gives the government overwhelming influence over what goes out on the nation's airwaves. The Press Ministry cited "the financial, personnel and management crisis" at TVS as the reason for "this not simple decision which became impossible to postpone," according to a statement obtained by Echo Moskvy radio and read on-air. The ministry said the decision was made in part to "protect the rights of viewers." No one at the ministry could be reached for comment. The closure was not unexpected -- debt-ridden TVS had been dropped this month by Moscow's main cable company over unpaid bills, depriving it of its largest group of viewers. The station's news director, Yevgeny Kiselyov, had warned Friday that the end might be imminent. Boris Nadezhdin, a member of the Union of Right Forces party in the Russian legislature, called it "the last TV channel that ventured to criticize Russian leaders." Echo Moskvy's editor in chief, Alexei Venediktov, said the closing of TVS gave the government a virtual monopoly on broadcasting. "It's like when all candidates are excluded from the election campaign, except for only one," he told the Interfax news agency. © 2003 The Washington Post Company (via Kraig Krist, DXLD) ** SOUTH AFRICA. On 22 June at 1820 tune in noted AWR in English on 3215 // 3345 with Wavescan program. 3215 was rather weak but 3345 had good signal. According to Sentech schedule both are from Meyerton. Sign off at 1830 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN [non]. RADIO ESPAÑA INDEPENDENTE Moin Moin, bin gerade dabei meine QSL neu zu ordnen. Versuche auch die jeweiligen Standorte den Frequenzen zuzuordnen. Bei der Station "Radio España Independiente" empfangen am 08. Februar 1972 um 16.00 UTC auf 12140 kHz brauche ich Hilfe. Hat vielleicht noch jemand ein WRTH aus dem Jahr 1972 und kann mir den Standort des Senders daraus ableiten oder kennt jemand den damaligen Standort anderweitig? (via Martin Elbe-D, June 20) In den 40ziger und 50ziger Jahren ueber Moskau Relay. Spaeter dann ab den 60zigern ueber die schmalbruestigen Anlagen in Saftica-Rumaenien, mit 18 oder hoechstens 50 Kilowatt. Die QSL stellt ein Repro der Picasso's Kreidezeichnung dar??? 12 und 14-15 MHz gingen in Mitteleuropa ganz gut ... (wb Apr 28) Dies Posting liegt zwar schon etwas zurueck, heute hat mir Karel Honzik aus Pilsen Folgendes in einer PM geschrieben: - - - - || from Karel Honzik-CZE: here is what I have found on REI: How to listen to the World, 7th Edition, 1973 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Broadcasting stations of clandestine, exile, intelligence, liberation, and revolutionary organizations - by Lawrence E. Magne, USA Radio España Independiente Nominally the station of the Spanish Republican Government (recognized only by Mexico), but effectively the station of the Spanish Communist Party (PCE), it has broadcast in Spanish, Catalan and Basque to Spain from various locations since 1939, making it the oldest station of its type still on the air. Currently, it broadcasts only from Cluj, Rumania, sharing facilities with R Free Portugal, but until 1972 it was also relayed via R Budapest, Hungary. [comment by wb: was rather broadcast from old Saftica site in Romania, G.C. 26.04E 44.34N, 18 to 50 kW transmitter] The station maintains an editorial office in the Paris Republican Government's headquarters, from where QSL cards were formerly sent. Now, however, verifications are being postmarked "Prague," suggesting the dissident pro-Soviet faction of the Spanish Communist Party headquartered in Prague is verifying the transmissions put by the governing "independents" in Paris. The station, like R Euzkadi, is jammed by Radio Nacional España broadcast transmitters in Arganda, which beep and growl. [HISTORICAL INFO 30 YEARS OLD:::::::::] 0600-0655 on 7690v, 10110v, 12140v, and 14482-14505v kHz 1300-1355 on 10110v, 12140v, 14482-14505v, and 15507 kHz 1600-2315 on 7690v, 10110v, 12140v, and 14482-14505v kHz 2005-2025 (Tues-Sat) on 15185 kHz 1800-2300 (irr. Brief transmissions) on frequencies in the 25 and 19 meter bands. ANN: S: "Atención a las ondas volantes. Habla R España Independiente, Estación Pirenaica," [promoting the fiction that it was in the Pyrenees --- gh] and "Aquí R España Independiente". INT-SIG: Soft chimes, then first bars of "Himno de Riego," the National Anthem of Republican Spain. S/off: lively folk melody. V. by Picasso QSL card, probably the most beautiful QSL card in existence. Re. In Spanish, Fr and En to Box 359, Prague 1, Czechoslovakia. PUB: Various questions concerning Republican Spain can be answered by Srov. Manuel Martínez Feduchy, Chargé d'Affaires, Spanish Embassy, 9 Valle Londres, México, D.F., México. (via Wolfgang Bueschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN [non]. 12060, MADAGASCAR, RVOH, *0426-0457*, 6/22, English/ Vernacular. Carrier on at 0426, program starts 0427 with HOA [Horn of Africa] music and usual ID. mission statement loop. Tribal chorus with "Radio Voice of Hope", YL with interviews of male Sudanese at the Kakumoday (sp??) refugee camp. Last ten minutes of the broadcast was in Vernacular. Abruptly off at 0457. Fair, // 15320 with co-channel Radio Taipei QRM (Scott Barbour, NH, NASWA Flashsheet via WORLD OF RADIO 1188, DXLD) ** SWEDEN. "CQ CQ CQ DE SAQ SAQ SAQ" This year the Grimeton Radio/SAQ transmission will be on Sunday June 29 with the VLF Alexanderson alternator on 17.2 kHz. There will be three transmissions with the same message, at 0830, 1030 and 1230. The station will be open to public. QSL reports can be sent to - info.alexander.n.se - Fax: +46-340-674195, - via the SM-bureau - direct by mail to "Alexander - Grimeton Veteranradios Vaenner, Radiosten, Grimeton 72, SE-430 16, ROLFSTORP, SWEDEN - via amateur radio QSO with the call "SA6Q" on following freqs: 137.7 CW, 14035 CW, 14215 SSB at the following times: 0700-0800 0845-1015 1045-1215 1245-1400 UT. SAQ is now a member of the Swedish Amateur Association (SSA) and "QSL via bureau" is OK. QSL-cards to "SA6Q" also via bureau. Also see the Website www.alexander.n.se. (SM6NM/Lars via Chrisoph Ratzer, Austria in /BC-DX/A-DX via WORLD OF RADIO 1188, DXLD) I visited the station a couple of years ago as part of the EDXC Conference in Gothenburg, Sweden. A very impressive and well- maintained historical installation (Bob Padula, EDXP World Broadcast Magazine June 22, used by permission, http://edxp.org via DXLD) ** TOGO [non]. 12125, R. Togo Libre, *2000-2100*, Sunday Jun 15, Last day of tests of this new station. The French programs are produced in Togo by members and collaborators of National Dialogue of Civil Society (CNSC) at great personal risk. Finished programs are delivered via Internet to a satellite uplink, and the satellite signal is then used to feed the SW transmitters. Frequent ID's: "Radio Togo Libre: la Radio patriote, le combat pour l'alternance démocratique" or simply "RTL". Talks about various candidates at the elections in Togo, song to drums and flute, 24333 in Denmark, but 45444 in Bulgaria and France, cf. 21760. Broker for 12125, but not 21760 is TDP (Datzinov, Ivanov and Petersen, June 18 DSWCI DX Window, June 21 via DXLD) On Jun 12 I sent a E-mail, and some hours later I received an answer from Alexis Ayavon. Diastode (Togolese diaspora) who produced the program, is in Montréal Canada. M. Alexis Ayavon asked me also, if I can send money on a Canadian account, because Diastode needs money to run Radio Togo Libre (Christian Ghibaudo, France, June 18 DSWCI DX Window, June 21 via DXLD) 21760, R. Togo Libre, via Meyerton, *1258-1358*, Jun 09 and 11, French ID's, announced 12125 and 21760. 45434. Scheduled Mo-Fr 1300-1400, but not heard after Jun 13. On Sa Jun 14 Channel Africa was heard instead on 21760 with English (34333). Tests Mo-Fr Jun 06-13. Reports requested at: rtl@diastode.org or radio@togodebout.com Their French language website is: http://www.diastode.org/Nouvelles/actualites.html (Datzinov, Ghibaudo, Ivanov and Petersen, June 18 DSWCI DX Window, June 21 via DXLD) togodebout site had not been working, but OK June 23 at 1620 check --- You`re welcome (gh, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Tuned in WINB around 2330Z Saturday evening, the 12160 kHz signal was just above the noise level; by the time DX Partyline supposedly began at 0000Z the station was inaudible here in Michigan (with Grundig Sat. 800, 40M ham dipole). Regards (Ben Loveless, WB9FJO, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Explained to Ben as below and that until 2400 on 12160 it`s WWCR, not WINB (gh) Glenn, Thanks for the clarification; WINB has never come in well here. I listened to their '40th anniversary' broadcast last year on their 13 MHz frequency and that too was barely audible. When Allen Graham announced a US station for DXPL, I e-mailed him with the relative signal strengths of US shortwave stations here in the Midwest (WBCQ, WWCR, WYFR, WRMI, WHRI) but didn't even think about WINB due to their poor reception here. No great loss, as the Saturday morning DXPL reception from Quito has been quite good (Ben Loveless, MI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WINB has a hard time getting things organized and carried out, but at least they are trying. The new Saturday evening DX-block, scheduled UT Sun June 22 at 0000-0130 for DX Partyline, WOR and AWR Wavescan in that order, actually went like this: frequency change from 13570 was not completed until after 0002. No DXPL, but gospel music fill. I forced myself to keep listening, and did hear at 0016 a couple of brief false-starts of the DX Partyline opening, but nothing more from that show, back to music. At 0029 instead of 0100, AWR Wavescan 442, the latest edition, aired in its entirety. 0057 music fill. Kept listening, and finally at 0106 instead of 0030, WOR 1187 started but was cut off at 0129 long before it was over. One can only imagine what could have caused such a three-way mixup. By 0000 UT Monday, quicker than usual, the latest DXPL audio file was OD from HCJB --- but download only. Why do they keep putting up the dead links for streaming? Like Wavescan, DXPL made a big deal out of being on WINB for the first time [not!]. Ken HacHarg, former DXPL host is back as a regular contributor, this time about banana plants --- which at great length eventually turned into: a ``Tip for Real Living`` devotional! (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1188, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 9329.65, WBCQ (ME), 2040-2100 21 June, Doomsday and Big Brothers watching you type program, a few ads before ToH, next program start and then stopped for ID by M at 2100. Talk about adding new frequencies. Strong. Instead of adding new frequencies, maybe they should get their current ones 'on' frequency (Dave Valko, PA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) was it on LSB plus reduced carrier? (gh) ** U S A. RFA schedule in A-03, valid till Oct 26th, 2003. RFA currently broadcasts from 1100 to 0700; there are no transmissions between 0700 and 1100. Daily programming includes Mandarin for 12 hours, Cantonese increase from two to four hours, Uighur for two hours, and Tibetan for eight hours. Increase: RFA has introduced two new additional broadcast hours in Cambodian programing at 1130-1229 and 2330-0029, but seemingly on a test basis. These additional services are not figured out on their website http://www.rfa.org/service/index.html?service=khm http://www.rfa.org/service/schedule.html?service=khm J03=til Sept 6. S03=from Sept 7th, 2003. RFA uses IBB transmitterss in HOL/H=Holzkirchen Germany, IRA/I=Iranawila Sri Lanka, SAI/S=Saipan & TIN/T=Tinian N Mariana Isls. And Merlin relays TWN/N=Taiwan and UAE=Al Dhabayya-UAE, as well as irk=Irkutsk-RUS and uss=Ussuriysk-RUS relays. Additional transmitter sites have been researched but deleted from this list upon request of RFA to suppress this info, to avoid pressure from China upon the host countries. Are we to assume that China has no way to find out this sensitive info except through DX publications? [gh] RFA A-03 updated schedule of June 19th, 2003. 0000-0100 LAO 12015I 13830 15545T 0030-0130 BURMESE 11540-S03 13680T 13820I 15660 17525-J03 17835S 0100-0200 UIGHUR 9350 11520 11895UAE 11945UAE 15405T 0100-0300 TIBETAN 9365 11695UAE 11975H 15225T 15695 17730 0300-0600 MANDARIN 13670T 13760T 15150T 15665T 17495 17525 17615S 17880S 21690T 0600-0700 MANDARIN 13670T 13760T 15150T 15665T 17495 17525 17615S 17880S 0600-0700 TIBETAN 17485 17510 17720 21500T 21690UAE break 1100-1200 LAO 9355S 9545T 15560I 15635 1100-1400 TIBETAN 7470 11590 13625T 13830-S03 15510UAE 15695-J03 17855H-(from 1200) 1130-1230 CAMBODIAN 13730T 15535I 1230-1330 CAMBODIAN 13645T 15525I 15625 1300-1400 BURMESE 11540-S03 11765T 13745T 15680-J03 1400-1500 CANTONESE 9775T 11715S 13790T 1400-1500 VIETNAMESE 9455S 9635T 9930W 11510 11520 11535-S03 11605N 11765T 13775P 15705-J03 1400-1500 KOREAN 7380 11790T 13625T 15625 1500-1600 TIBETAN 7470 11510 11705T 11780UAE 13835 1500-1600 MANDARIN 7540-S03 9905P 11765T 11945T 12025S 13690T 15510T 15680-J03 1500-1600 KOREAN 648uss 9385S 13625T 1600-1700 KOREAN 7210irk 9385S 13625T 1600-1700 UIGHUR 7465 9350I 9370 9555UAE 11780T 13715I 1600-1700 MANDARIN 7540-S03 9455S 9905P 11750T 11795T 11945T 12025S 13690T 15510T 15680-J03 1700-1800 MANDARIN 7540-S03 9355S 9455S 9540T 9905P 11750T 11795T 11945T 11995S 13690T 15510T 15680-J03 17640T 1800-1900 MANDARIN 7530-S03 7540-S03 9355S 9455S 9540T 11520-J03 11740T 11945T 11955T 11995S 13680T 15510T 15680-J03 17640T 1900-2000 MANDARIN 7530-S03 7540-S03 9355S 9455S 9905P 11520-J03 11740T 11785T 11945T 11955T 11995S 13625T 13680T 15510T 15680-J03 2000-2100 MANDARIN 7530-S03 7540-S03 9355S 9455S 9850T 9905P 11520-J03 11700T 11740T 11785T 11935T 11995S 13625T 13670T 15515T 15680-J03 2100-2200 MANDARIN 7540-S03 9455S 9850T 9910P 11700T 11740T 11935T 11995S 13625T 15515T 15680-J03 2200-2300 CANTONESE 9355S 9955P 11785T 13675T 2200-2300 KOREAN 7460 9455S 9850T 11670S 12080T 2230-2330 CAMBODIAN 7455-S03 9490I 9930P 11570-J03 13735T 2300-2359 MANDARIN 7315N 7540-S03 9910P 11785T 11935N 11995N 13640T 13800S 15430T 15550T 15680-J03 2300-2359 TIBETAN 7470 7550-S03 9365-J03 9395-S03 9805UAE 9875H 15695-J03 2330-0029 CAMBODIAN 7490I 13735T 2330-0029 VIETNAMESE 9975-S03 11540-J03 11560 11580 11605N 11670T 12110I 13735S 15560P (various sources, updated on June 19th, 2003 by Wolfgang Büschel, DXLD) ** U S A. VOA SKED WEBSITE [not including RFA] http://sds.his.com:4000/fmds_z/schedules/cur_freqsked.txt http://sds.his.com:4000/fmds_z/schedules/cur_langsked.txt In winter change the z to w. These are auto-updated daily, but do not include very short term changes (Dan k4voa Ferguson, IBB, swl @ qth.net via DXLD) ** U S A. RADIO TUNED TO NEWS, NOT PROFITS WILM: A small station sticks to its award-winning coverage even as media restrictions relax, attracting more unwanted corporate suitors. By A Sun Staff Writer June 22, 2003 http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/printedition/bal-te.bz.wilm22jun22,0,2338870.story?coll=bal-pe-asection WILMINGTON, Del. - It's noon on Tuesday, and a shabby little downtown building is about to report the vital signs of Wilmington, Delaware, the United States and the universe to whomever is within 60 miles or so and has a radio tuned to 1450 AM. Sure, WILM does traffic, weather and Phillies and Orioles scores. But how many other stations devote a full hour to the noon news report? How many rely almost exclusively on their own producers, reporters and anchors to deliver the content, and how many schedule stories on Delaware River slots parlors and the Liberian war in the same show? The answer, of course, is few or none. In an age of media consolidation, syndication and robo-programs, WILM is fighting all three trends simultaneously. It spends gobs of airtime and revenue on locally produced programs. It respects listeners and is passionate about the news. It has not become part of a chain. And despite frequent, lucrative offers and new regulations that may increase bidders' interest, WILM owners E.B. Hawkins and Sally Hawkins say they won't sell out. "E.B. and I have just decided that for the time being, we're going to hang tight," said Sally Hawkins, 80, who is E.B.'s mother, the principal owner and the chipper champion of Wilmington broadcast news. "It's such an interesting way to make a living. I suppose the day will come. The problem is, once we're gone, nobody is going to do this. I mean, the money we spend - it's ridiculous! But if I can just get one more person to think about what's going on in the world ..." she trails off. 'Last of the Mohicans' This month the Federal Communications Commission again relaxed rules limiting the number of newspapers and radio and television stations that can be owned by one company. Although in some ways the regulations for radio stations are slightly more stringent than previously, many analysts predict a new wave of media mergers and continued buyer interest in WILM. "That's such a sweetheart station," said Valerie Geller, a New York- based programming consultant. "Everybody is rooting for the ones like them that are the last of the Mohicans. Every day you know those owners are getting offers for millions and millions of dollars." Mark Fratrik, a vice president with media consultants BIA Financial Network in Chantilly, Va., estimated that WILM attracts 8.7 percent of the commercial-radio listeners in its market and would sell for between $5 million and $8 million. If it were dollars the Hawkinses were mainly interested in, WILM would already be very different. One of the first stations to convert to a news and talk format in the 1970s when it became clear that FM broadcasters would dominate music and AM stations would have to do something else, WILM has ambitions and quality standards bigger than its market or its transmitter. "They have a pretty hefty staff, and that's a very special thing," said Michael Harrison, the publisher of Talkers magazine, a trade publication. "Pound for pound, when you look at their market size, they're a real powerhouse of journalism." At only 1,000 watts of power, WILM doesn't reach much beyond central Delaware and its 500,000 or so listeners. It is dwarfed by the likes of WDEL of Wilmington, at 5,000 watts, or Baltimore's WBAL, with 50,000 watts. Not just local news But WILM's newsroom counts 13 full-time journalists and almost a dozen part-time reporters and other staffers, according to news director Mark Fowser. The station employs full-time legislative and court reporters as well as journalists to rush to the latest crime scenes, outdoor festivals or whatever else looks interesting in Delaware. It also plugs listeners into the world. Program director/anchor/reporter Allan Loudell runs up huge phone bills calling seldom-quoted experts and on-the-spot witnesses (including, frequently, reporters for The Sun) for national and global news events. During the Iraq war, Loudell put a Baghdad hotel clerk on the air as bombs fell, and after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks he talked with Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir about his interview with terrorist Osama bin Laden. This sort of coverage happens every day. Last Tuesday, the WILM Noon News Update, broadcast from an underground studio graced by dented acoustic tile, plywood desktops and stained carpet, offered self- produced reports on a proposed slots parlor, affordable homes in Wilmington and new accountants for New Castle County. But it also included interviews with a Newsweek reporter about the CIA, with a Swiss journalist about the latest Middle East violence and with an Arizona radio journalist and the U.S. correspondent for the Irish Times about the fatal hit-and-run traffic accident allegedly involving Phoenix Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas J. O'Brien. Many honors Practically every wall in WILM's studios and offices is plastered with awards. This month, the station captured 11 prizes, including best newscast, best election coverage, best investigative journalism, best sports reporting and best arts and culture reporting, at the meeting of the Philadelphia chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. "I've been here 15 years because I can do stuff that I couldn't do in Baltimore or Philadelphia," Loudell said. Wilmington has no locally based TV news team except a small public broadcasting operation. The city also has relatively few locally based radio stations, which may help WILM survive as an independent. "One of the great things about the Wilmington market is there are not a lot of radio stations in this market," said Pete Booker, president and chief executive of Delmarva Broadcasting, parent of WDEL, which has a news/talk format but a smaller news operation than WILM's. "As a result the revenue pie doesn't get sliced that thinly." Of WILM, Booker adds, "you're not going to find another station around that makes more efficient use of their resources than they have." If "efficient" means profitable, it's the wrong word. E.B. Hawkins, who runs WILM's day-to-day operations, declined to disclose financial details other than to say the station takes in "a couple million bucks" in revenue but "never enough. It is a constant struggle." Asked about profitability, he says the station has "broken even for 50 years," since his late father, Ewing B. Hawkins, acquired it in 1948. 'An expensive format' Fratrick, the media consultant, estimated WILM had $1.9 million in revenue last year, which ranked it seventh out of 13 stations in the Wilmington market. In listenership, WILM ranks fourth, Fratrick said. "This station does do decently in that market," Fratrick said, particularly for its size. But WILM's news and talk format "tends to be an expensive format to program." WILM could boost profits by doing what hundreds of other stations have done: pare staff and pipe in cheap, syndicated programming. Alternatively, the Hawkinses could simply sell out to a corporate owner that would probably cut costs, but they show no signs of doing that. "We're really not a big money-making concern," said Sally Hawkins. "I mean, I've got 40 people on my payroll at a 1,000-watt AM, for God's sake. It gets to be a cause, you know. I hate to say it. I never thought I'd get so carried away. Nobody else does what we do." Radio-station brokers representing potential corporate buyers keep calling. "What they really want is the cash flow so that they're in a better position to go public or to produce a return to shareholders," E.B. Hawkins said. "They certainly don't have an interest in the news. None. "The brokers say, 'I'm not sure you understand how much they'll pay.' And I say, 'I'm not sure you understand how much I'll turn down.'" Copyright © 2003, The Baltimore Sun (via Brock Whaley, Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. RULING SPIKES TNN'S NAME CHANGE, FOR NOW --- By John Maynard, Washington Post Staff Writer, Friday, June 20, 2003; Page C07 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A14764-2003Jun19.html Spike TV will remain on ice at least for the rest of the summer. Film director Spike Lee won Round 2 yesterday in his battle to stop the TNN cable channel from changing its name to the more manly Spike TV. A five-judge panel of the New York State Supreme Court's appellate division denied the network's request to lift a lower court's temporary ban on use of the name. TNN lawyers argued this week that the network had lost nearly $17 million because of the preliminary injunction Lee won on June 12, blocking last Monday's scheduled name change. "This case is far from over," TNN said yesterday in a statement "We think today's ruling perpetuates a flawed and perplexing decision with far-reaching First Amendment implications that go well beyond the significant financial damage our network has incurred." TNN's next step will be to meet Monday with Manhattan State Supreme Court Justice Walter Tolub, who granted the preliminary injunction, to set up the parameters for a trial. The cable network also plans to appeal the temporary injunction in a hearing scheduled for early September. "We intend to appeal vigorously and still expect to be vindicated ultimately," the TNN statement said. "We firmly believe we have an absolute right to use the common word 'spike' as the name of our network." In his ruling, Tolub stated that TNN "sought to exploit Mr. Lee's persona, most notably Mr. Lee's reputation for irreverence and aggressiveness." TNN President Albie Hecht announced the name change in April, saying that "spike" was chosen to fit in with the "unapologetically male" nature of the network. TNN still plans to debut new male-oriented programming this summer even without the new moniker. A block of racy cartoons, including "Stripperella," with Pamela Anderson voicing a crime-fighting stripper, will premiere Thursday. Trademark lawyer Doug Wood of the New York-based firm Hall Dickler said the case will come down to whether an individual is so well known that any association with that name carries a secondary meaning. "Is Spike Lee that famous? That's going to be the question," Wood said. © 2003 The Washington Post Company (via Kraig Krist, DXLD) You've probably read about the injunction preventing "The New TNN" from launching it's new name and image as "Spike TV". For more info see: http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/06/18/1055828361675.html Personally, I thought "Spike" was a really stupid name for a male- oriented network. "MACHO" would have been much more to the point. It's also my opinion that Spike Lee's suit is frivolous, and that an injunction should probably not have been issued. After all, there are railroad SPIKES that hold the rail to the ties --- and there are plenty of dogs named SPIKE. On second thought, since this network will probably be a dog, maybe Spike IS fitting (Tom Bryant / Nashville, WTFDA Soundoff via DXLD) ** U S A. The FCC has come up with a really fun new website that details the history of TV from a technical viewpoint: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-235548A1.doc No plans have been announced for a radio version! (John Broomall, Christian Community Broadcasters, WTFDA via DXLD) ** U S A. NEW LOWBAND TV STATION --- I got a letter from Bill Draeb on Friday relaying a report from a Milwaukee 2m repeater to the effect that WBIJ-4 Crandon, Wis. is on. http://www.northpine.com reports they're carrying FN religion. Apparently the station is causing problems for people in the area whouse channel 4 to connect their VCRs to their TVs |grin|... It's only 1.7 kW/123 m but that's enough to "skip out". Crandon is in central Wisconsin, not too far from Wausau. – (Doug Smith, W9WI June 21, WTFDA via DXLD) ** U S A. I don't know how the Tucson TV stations are doing about reporting this fire on the air, but their websites aren't much good |grin|. All four stations (KVOA, KGUN, KMSB, KOLD) mention the fire, though some of them are using the same AP copy you probably read in your local newspaper. KOLD mentions that the fire has burned many Mt. Lemmon businesses and mentions that TV transmitters are up there, but it doesn't say whether the transmitters are among the facilities burned. A story titled "Saving Hi-Tech" simply says there are transmitters on the threatened mountain - it doesn't even say anything about saving them! I suppose Summerhaven - where people actually live - is probably the bigger local story. I found *one* mention of the effects of this fire on broadcasters. KMSB's site says their Mt. Bigelow translator on channel 50 is off the air because the power to the site has been cut. This translator is on the KUAT-6/90.5 tower so presumably KUAT is also off, as is K43CW which is also on the KUAT tower. (Kevin R., can you normally receive KUAT?) (Doug Smith W9WI, June 21, WTFDA via DXLD) COMMUNICATORS TOTING UP LOSSES IN MILLIONS http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/local/6_21_03fire_communicate.html Smoke billows over Radio Ridge on Mount Lemmon on Thursday. Yesterday, the Aspen fire whipped through the area, which includes communications and electronics installations (foreground). GARY GAYNOR/Tucson Citizen [Caption] OSCAR ABEYTA and IRWIN M. GOLDBERG, Tucson Citizen, June 21, 2003 As Dale Eaton drove down 22nd Street last night, he saw a brilliant flash of light on Mount Lemmon and figured his radio communications facility on Radio Ridge had met its demise. "It had to be one of those propane tanks going up," said Eaton, owner of Rapid Communications, which had a $95,000 facility there. Eaton said he likely won't rebuild. Rapid provided two-way radio communications for private contractors such as plumbers and electricians. "I'm one of the lucky ones," Eaton said. "I can absorb the loss and go on. It will not affect my life." He's lucky in more ways than one. Eaton and his wife had considered buying a cabin on Mount Lemmon but discounted the idea when she slipped on ice. With Radio Ridge consumed by the Aspen fire atop Mount Lemmon, companies and agencies with communications facilities there have had to make plans to keep their operations going. Replacement costs could total more than $1 million. Towers near the Mount Lemmon Observing Facility threatened by fire include those for Pima County; Coronado National Forest; U.S. Army; U.S. Air Force; the Arizona Department of Public Safety; the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal Damage Control; Air National Guard; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives; Bureau of Land Management; FBI; Pima Community College; Saguaro National Park; State Department; Postal Inspector Service; U.S. Secret Service; Department of Energy and Qwest. TV towers on Mount Bigelow are on backup power and are unaffected, as are TV towers on Soldier Peak. Tucson-based Action Communications' antenna provided two-way radio service for private companies and some public agencies. Company president Brian Baxter said clients lost service when Trico Electric Cooperative was asked to kill power to the mountain Thursday. He said it would take about a month to replace its $400,000 facility if it were consumed by fire. Chris Bonifasi, facilities manager for Scottsdale-based Antenna Sites Inc., said its antenna was running on a backup generator powered by a 1,000-gallon propane tank. Bonifasi said the tower primarily carries two-way radio and paging services and is a translator for KJZZ-FM 91.5 in Phoenix. It would take about three months to rebuild the $400,000 tower, he said. Verizon Wireless had prepared contingency plans to reroute its paging communications, said spokeswoman Jenny Weaver. Border Patrol spokesman Rob Daniels said the agency had a plan for rerouting traffic from its antenna. Communications were not interrupted by the power cut. Pinnacle Power has two towers and a building on Radio Ridge. Spokesman Mike Carter, contacted before fire reached the area, said the company would be likely to rebuild. Arizona Public Service and All American Pipeline also had Radio Ridge towers. Officials could not be reached last night. Most of Tucson's TV stations lost main power to their Mount Bigelow transmitters and are using backup generators. Without access to the facilities to refuel, some stations could lose their signals. Jack Parris, director and general manager of KUAT-TV Channel 6, estimated there is enough diesel fuel to last about four days. The station's equipment is valued at about $4 million. Steve Somerville, chief engineer for KGUN-TV Channel 9, said its transmitter facility has about 2,500 gallons of diesel, enough to last up to 14 days. Its equipment is worth about $1 million. KVOA-TV Channel 4 also has its main transmitter on Mount Bigelow. KVOA officials could not be reached. Cable and satellite TV service is not interrupted because stations feed signals directly to providers. About 70 percent of Tucson households subscribe to cable or satellite service. Citizen reporter A.J. Flick contributed to this report (via Curtis Sadowski, WTFDA via DXLD) ** U S A. Hello Glenn, I heard your program a couple of nights ago via RFPI. I noted with interest a report of a new MWBC station operating out of Fountain Hills, AZ on 1620, KFHX. I have been monitoring the frequency since, with no joy from various locations within a maximum of 20 mile distance from F. H. I'm not sure they are on the air still. I will be in Fountain Hills itself tomorrow, I will let you know if it turns out to be a low power local. If I don't hear it IN Fountain Hills, it isn't on the air anymore. I appreciate your contribution to the radio hobby, BTW. Best signals your way, 73, (~Rick Barton, AZ, June 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WSM SIGNS ANNOY TDOT By JEANNE A. NAUJECK, Staff Writer Cumulus Media's publicity stunt called 'a distraction' Cumulus Media meant it in fun, but yesterday's publicity stunt of plastering roadways with signs featuring newly acquired 95.5 WSM-FM didn't amuse the state's Department of Transportation. ''It's totally illegal,'' TDOT spokeswoman Kim Keelor said. ''If our people had known about it earlier we would have ripped them out immediately. It's a distraction to drivers, and they turn into litter when people don't follow up with cleanup.'' . . . http://www.tennessean.com/business/archives/03/06/34147623.shtml?Element_ID=34147623 (via Jilly Dybka, DXLD) ** UZBEKISTAN. New email address of R Tashkent (Foreign Service): ino@uzpak.uz (Direct station info via Alexander Polyakov, Uzbekistan via Trutenau in Dxplorer via June 18 DSWCI DX Window, June 21 via DXLD) Do they actually ID with ``International``? That gets tacked on to a lot of stations not actually saying it, e.g. Netherlands, Sweden (gh) Radio Tashkent International A03 schedule: Arabic 1700-1730 9715, 7285, 6190 1900-1930 9715, 7285, 6190 Dari 0130-0200 9715, 7190 1520-1550 9715, 7285, 6190 English 0100-0130 9715, 7190 1200-1230 17775, 15295, 9715, 7285 1330-1400 17775, 15295, 9715, 7285 2030-2100 11905, 9545, 5025 2130-2200 11905, 9545, 5025 Farsi 1630-1700 9715, 7285, 6190 1830-1900 9715, 7285, 6190 German 1935-2030 11905, 5025 Hindi 1300-1330 17775, 15295, 9715, 7285 1430-1500 17775, 15295, 9715, 7285 Chinese [i.e. Mandarin, alphabetically!] 1330-1400 5060 1430-1500 5060 Pashto 0200-0230 9715, 7190 Turkish 0600-0630 15200 1700-1730 9530 Uighur 1400-1430 5060 Urdu 1230-1300 17775, 15295, 9715, 7285 1400-1430 17775, 15295, 9715, 7285 Uzbek 0230-0330 9715, 7190, 5025 1550-1630 9715, 7285, 6190, 5025 1730-1830 9715, 7285, 6190, 5025 (Imran Hassan Qureshi, Pakistan, Pak DXers NL, June 19 via BC-DX via DXLD; English only: WORLD OF RADIO 1188) ** VENEZUELA. Reactivada en frecuencia de 5000 kHz la señal del Observatorio Naval Cajigal, luego de haber estado varios dias fuera del aire. A las 2318 UT del dia Domingo 22 de Junio la tengo sintonizada (José Elías, Venezuela, June 22, WORLD OF RADIO 1188, DX LISTENING DIGEST) La estación YVTO volvió este pasado fin de semana al aire, pero con una sobremodulación bárbara. Los "beeps" se oyen hasta 20 kHz, tanto hacia abajo como hacia arriba. Saludos (Adán González, Catia la Mar, Venezuela, June 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIETNAM. VOICE OF VIETNAM STARTS NEW ETHNIC MINORITY SERVICE According to its Web site, Radio the Voice of Vietnam has commenced a new service for the ethnic minority groups of Ede, Gia Rai, K'Ho, Ba Na and M'Nong. The Web site says the service operates daily at 2200- 1600 UT on mediumwave 819 kHz and shortwave 6020 kHz (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 24 June 2003 via DXLD) WRTH SW Guide shows 6020 as VOV 4/1/2, whatever that means, 20 kW at 0400-0500, 0930-1600, 2200-2400 in Vietnamese/Rade/Sedana (gh, DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. See AUSTRALIA UNIDENTIFIED. Last night I heard an interesting station on 4995 kHz. Open carrier was heard from 1355 till 1400 when a programme seemingly of news or actualities was heard. Language is not known to me but maybe mid-eastern. Every so often a brief English passage was heard, once mentioning intelligence services and Saddam Hussein. Have not reviewed the tape yet. Signal was fair-poor level, seemed to be somewhat overmodulated and every so often there was a brief tone on line as if it was recorded off a land line. Modulation was AM. Any ideas? (John Schache, Australia, June 23, ARDXC via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 15525: came across to a test transmission of Merlin, this morning between approx. 06-07 UT. Outlet was going away, when I checked the channel at 0701 again. Endless loop playing cello-guitar music and the text given by male announcer: "You are listening to a test transmission by VT Merlin Communications. A leading provider of international broadcast services. If you would like to find out more about us, please visit http://www.VTPLC.com/merlin [former http://www.merlincommunications.com to relink, I guess] But my URL access failed so far, this morning. Server not found (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, June 24, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ CLANDESTINERADIO.COM TO RELAUNCH IN SEPTEMBER ClandestineRadio.com is undergoing a complete redesign and redevelopment and is not being updated for a temporary period. We expect to be back online with faster updates and more robust services by September 2003. In the meantime, please refer to Clandestine Radio Watch for up-to-date and current information on clandestine broadcasting (via Johnson Jun 22, Cumbre DX via DXLD) EPHEMERIDES Um interessante site que em principio é meteorologico é o Wunderground. http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/hdfForecast?addfav no entanto, em cada cidade procurada e econtrada, podemos achar a latitude e longitude, horários do nascer e pôr do Sol , duração da luz do dia e outras informaçoes que podem ser interessantes também para o rádio (Samuel Cássio Martins, Sao Carlos SP, Brasil, @tividade DX June 22 via DXLD) POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Status on Powerline Communications (PLC) in Germany: PLC so far has not been a commercial success in Germany, simply because ADSL is a better and already wide spread solution, and the power companies do not see a market for PLC. It might be a different story with small PLC-solutions. They call home-PLC: ``These are small units for distributing Data within the household using power lines; You can just buy and use them as you want``; I have seen lots of these during this year´s CeBIT fair in Hannover. Different versions are available, some are using VLF "only", others most parts of the shortwave range. If your neighbour decides to try this, your shortwave listening might come to an abrupt end :-( (Harald Kuhl, Germany, June 18 DSWCI DX Window, June 21 via DXLD) This is a big deal. I urge everyone who has an interest in shortwave radio to file a comment with the FCC. It's fast and easy: http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/ecfs/Upload Click docket #03-104. Express your concern for interference to existing HF services, including shortwave broadcasting. It takes 30 seconds and could make a difference (Damon Cassell, swprograms via WORLD OF RADIO 1188, DXLD) FREQUENCY MANAGEMENT ++++++++++++++++++++ NEW TRANSMISSION PERIOD The B03 season starts on October 27, 2003. Already, broadcasters are submitting their tentative schedule plans to the relevant coordinating authorities. Here in Australia, the Australian Communications Authority has invited all HF broadcasters to furnish detailed schedule proposals for B03, for validation, which will then be submitted to the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union in Kuala Lumpur for coordination with other broadcasters, and for integration into the master schedule for participating administrations. Requirements have also been sought by the ACA from Australian broadcasters for operational schedules for the A04 period, starting at the end of March 2004. CURRENT PERIOD A03 Schedule changes continue to be made by many broadcasters, and it is virtually impossible to keep up to date with much of this, either from the hobbyist or professional perspective! Whatever our level of interest, it behoves us to maintain our monitoring, and keep proper records, or else we'll be left far behind! I see the increasing reluctance of many broadcasters to inform their listeners of current schedules, which makes it so much harder to track down a favourite station. Now that DRM is with us, it will be so much harder to find things, and even with the advantages of the Internet, many broadcasters still seem unable, or unwilling, to post their operational schedules in a style which is readily understood or easily located! (Bob Padula, EDXP World Broadcast Magazine June 22, used by permission, http://edxp.org via DXLD) RECEIVER NEWS +++++++++++++ ATTENTION INTERNATIONAL OPERATORS: INTERFERENCE IMPACTING AERO- NAUTICAL AIR TRAFFIC FREQUENCIES CAUSE BY ILLEGAL HIGH POWER CORDLESS TELEPHONES. The Miami air route traffic control center (ZMA ARTCC) has experienced radio frequency interference (rfi) on frequencies 134.2, 134.6 MHz resulting from the unauthorized use of high power cordless telephones in the Bahamas and on frequency 133.85 MHz from the use of high power cordless telephones in Miami. The Cleveland air traffic control center artcc (ZOB) operations were also impacted due to rfi on frequency 134.65 MHz, from the unauthorized use of high power cordless telephone located in Harrison, Michigan. High power cordless telephones are being used illegally in the U.S. and the Bahamas. These phones can interfere with the frequencies used for air traffic control worldwide and can pose problems to atc navigation and communications. The FAA is working with other government agencies within the United States and other countries to curtail illegal use of these phones and is approaching vendors to cease distribution and production of units that operate in or cause interference to critical aeronautical radio spectrum. Users operating on these frequencies should be aware that navigation and communication could be severely impacted due to rfi of these high power cordless telephones. Users of aeronautical radio navigation and communication services who experience this type of interference should report any event immediately to the air traffic facility providing air traffic services. If this immediate report is unachievable, the users should make a report to the nearest air traffic facility at the earliest time possible after the rfi event. (Milcom mailing list June 22 via Terry Krueger, WORLD OF RADIO 1188, DXLD) DRM +++ SANGEAN DRM RECEIVER An email received from Sangean Electronics Inc. from Taiwan in relation to a question I ask them regarding when a DRM receiver would be available to the consumer, they said they are currently working on a DRM chip and a receiver will be available by mid 2004. (Mike Stevenson, June 22, EDXP via DXLD) MAYAH DRM2010 RECEIVER Hi, I belong to a Yahoo radio group that is discussing DRM radios, and we were curious as to the price of the MAYAH DRM 2010 receiver. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a million (Jim Dickey, Austin, Texas, DX-398 yahoogroup via DXLD) Thank you for your interest in Mayah products. Presently, this is only a pre-production product announcement with production delivery to be in Q4/2003. A prototype is planned for IFA Berlin in August and has a target price of approx. US$850.00. Please check the Mayah website for the latest info about the DRM2010... Thank you again... Regards, Sonotechnique PJL Inc. http://www.sonotechnique.ca http://www.mayah.com (via Dickey, ibid.) Someone on the 2010 list received a response from Mayah on the DRM2010. The $850 US price point quoted is at least an improvement over the reported $1800 per unit price of the first generation "all in one" unit from Coding Technologies (John Figliozzi, DX LISTENING DIGEST) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ ARNIE CORO'S DXERS UNLIMITED'S HF PROPAGATION UPDATE AND FORECAST SUMMER SOLSTICE typical propagation in progress. HIGH DAYTIME absorption of HF signals due to the very much ionized D layer typical of this season, while nighttime MUF or Maximum Useable Frequencies are higher than during the winter. Sporadic E season now in full swing, and openings may be happening at any time, even late in the evening!!! Solar flux near 120 units, but geomagnetic disturbances continue to make short wave reception not too good, as the A indexes are still very high. Expect some interesting AM medium wave broadcast band DX conditions to your SOUTH if you live at locations higher than 40 degrees North latitude (Prof. Arnaldo Coro A., CO2KK, RHC DXers Unlimited June 21 via Bob Chandler, VE3SRE, ODXA via DXLD) THE K7RA SOLAR UPDATE SEATTLE, WA, Jun 23, 2003 -- Low sunspot numbers and geomagnetic disturbances in the over-the-hill portion of the solar cycle continue. There are enough sunspots to support some good HF propagation, but we are about three years past the cycle peak and about three and a half years ahead of the next sunspot minimum. Complicating the situation is continued high solar wind and flares, causing constant disturbance to geomagnetic conditions. HF operators generally want stable geomagnetic indices, such as a K index at three or below and daily A index of 10 or less. A chart in the recent NOAA Preliminary Report and Forecast of Solar Geophysical Data [ http://www.sec.noaa.gov/weekly/pdf/prf1450.pdf ] shows the enhanced geomagnetic activity following the peak of a solar cycle. The last page of the report includes bar graphs for severe storm conditions, expressed as a planetary A index over 100. Note the [sic] for a few years after high solar activity the geomagnetic indices are higher. Another report from last week [ http://www.sec.noaa.gov/weekly/pdf/prf1449.pdf ] projects our position in the current cycle. On the last page you can see a rising historical planetary A index. The previous few pages depict the smoothed sunspot and solar flux projections. The next solar cycle minimum appears sometime around the end of 2006. By the way, this publication--``Preliminary Report and Forecast of Solar Geophysical Data--The Weekly`` [ http://www.sec.noaa.gov/weekly/index.html ] is full of interesting information. William Hartman, N6FB, forwarded a question from the eHam.net forum about the relation between A and K indices. The K index is a measure of geomagnetic stability at various magnetometers around the globe. During periods of activity, the higher latitudes tend to have higher K indices. For mid-latitude K values, an index of 3 is normal. Below 3 is nice and quiet, and above is disturbed. Each point in the K index, published every three hours, represents a big change. It is a non-linear system. The A index is published daily, and is made up of the eight K indices over 24 hours. It is a linear scale, so a one point change doesn't represent a big jump in activity. For instance, if you had a constant K index of 2 for 24 hours this would produce an A index of 7. A constant K index of 3 is equal to an A of 15, and K of 4 equals 27. The K usually changes every three hours, so the A is somewhere in between the values shown here. There's a NOAA Web page [ http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/stp/GEOMAG/kp_ap.html ] that shows the relationship. You can see recent mid-latitude, high and planetary A and K indices on this NOAA site [ http://www.sec.noaa.gov/ftpdir/indices/DGD.txt ]. Note that on June 17 and 18, 2003, we had planetary A indices of 50 and 54, which are very high. June 17 and 18 activity was significant, too, and Al Olcott, K7ICW, e-mailed to comment that the recent sporadic E skip on 144 and 222 MHz was of historic importance. He is in Las Vegas, and on June 17 on 222 MHz, he worked K7MAC in Idaho. K7MAC was S7, and on 144 MHz he was S9 into Nevada, a 544-mile path. The June 17 and 18 numbers were the result of yet another robust interplanetary shock wave that swept over Earth around 0500 UTC on June 18. It was probably from a coronal mass ejection hurled from sunspot 365 on June 15--the day this sunspot reappeared. In May that same spot released two X-class solar flares -- big ones. Mark Williams, KF6YU, wrote about an unusual experience on June 14 around 0000 UTC. He was vacationing in Payson, Arizona, and an AM broadcast station he was listening to in his truck abruptly disappeared. He switched to FM to listen to a Phoenix station, and instead heard one in Sioux City, Iowa, on that frequency. When he got back to his cabin, he listened to dead air on HF, and the whole phenomenon was over in about 30 minutes. [WTFK??? was the AM station at 5 pm local via groundwave, as seems likely? Would a CME disrupt non-ionospheric propagation? Sporadic E on FM over paths such as IA-AZ is hardly unusual during this, its annual peak, and may have nothing at all to do with the HF blackout --- gh] Someone questioned what substitute columnist Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA, meant when he referred to ``IMF`` in last week's bulletin. IMF in this context doesn't refer to global banking or Third World debt, but the Interplanetary Magnetic Field. When a strong solar wind or interplanetary shock wave from the sun blasts Earth, the IMF tends to point south. This has been covered several times in this bulletin over the past year. A good place to review the IMF and its significance is on the SpaceWeather.com site http://spaceweather.com/glossary/imf.html In addition, in last week's bulletin we hoped to come up with some images showing the effects on the spectrograph at Project JOVE during an X ray event on June 9 [ http://radiosky.com/wccro_spec_030609.html ]. Jim Sky, KH6SKY, sent the link. The strip charts were produced with Radio-Skypipe software [ http://radiosky.com/skypipeishere.html ] Average sunspot numbers dropped nearly 37 points from last week to 112.7 this week. Solar flux was also down. Not surprisingly given the conditions and all the reports, average planetary A index increased from 21 to 30. Space weather was remarkably mild on Thursday, June 19, with mid latitude and planetary K indices down to 2 or 3. However, the forecast shows more of the same enhanced activity over the next few days, with a planetary A index of 25, 25, 20 and 20 for June 20-23. Solar flux should remain around 125 on those days. On June 20 we should enter a solar wind stream flowing from a coronal hole, which should cause those high A indices. Sunspot numbers for June 12 through 18 were 168, 149, 91, 111, 91, 80 and 99, with a mean of 112.7. The 10.7-cm flux was 163.5, 151, 133.5, 128.7, 122.6, 121.9 and 120.4, with a mean of 134.5. Estimated planetary A indices were 11, 11, 32, 20, 32, 50 and 54, with a mean of 30. Amateur solar observer Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington, provides this weekly report on solar conditions and propagation. This report also is available via W1AW every Friday and an abbreviated version also appears in the ARRL Letter. Readers may contact the author via k7ra@arrl.net (ARRL via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN: HOW THE LOSS OF SOHO COULD IMPACT EVERYDAY LIFE --- By Robert Roy Britt, Senior Science Writer, posted: 07:00 am ET 23 June 2003 Earth's first line of defense against massive communication failures is expected to go offline this week, raising the very real possibility that should a giant solar flare occur, the disruptions of media broadcasts as well as consumer and military communications dependent on satellites could rise sharply. . . http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/technology/soho_impact_030623.html (via Jilly Dybka, DXLD) SPORADIC E IN PROGRESS Another large opening is going as we close this issue, 1638 UT Tue June 24, thru channel 6 Miami, also from Mexico (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###