DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-116, June 29, 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 1188: RFPI: Mon 0030, 0630, 1230, Tue 1900, Wed 0100, 0730, 1330 7445, 15039 WBCQ: Mon 0445 7415 WWCR: Wed 1030 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/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 WORLD OF RADIO ON WINB [not]: Once again this week, WINB failed to air WOR at the new scheduled time of 0030 UT Sun June 29 on 12160, tho it did manage to broadcast DX Partyline before it and AWR Wavescan after it, unlike last week. You might wonder, why do I put up with this? 1) There are still lots of other opportunities to hear WOR on other stations; 2) I would not if I had incurred additional trouble or expense in shipping them tapes; but WINB is supposed to download WOR from our website. More under ECUADOR non and USA WORLD OF RADIO ON WJIE: Similar thinking applies to the even less reliable WJIE. However, June 29 at 1630, barely audible on 13595 with CODAR, not audible on 7490, STILL WOR 1179 from April 23, so this is becoming quite pointless. ** AUSTRALIA. 3222 Harmonic. Radio 2, Sydney. 2 x 1611. Southern Cross Network new 0500, ID 0505, 22/6 (Seager-L) 4860 Harmonic. 3 x 1620, Aussie extended band station with Arabic music, fair 22/6 (Craig Seager, Limekilns NSW DXpedition site, July Australian DX News via DXLD) Doubt these would propagate much beyond NSW, but you never know; could cause consternation vis-à-vis fundamental tropical band stations (gh, DXLD) ** AUSTRIA. Estimados amigos: La historia del fin del español por ORF Radio Austria Internacional parece que no termina, en realidad recién empieza... porque un anuncio inesperado nos ha cambiado totalmente el gris panorama que veníamos observando. En la emisión de ayer, 28 de junio, Manuel Aletrino comenzó diciendo "Nos vamos a despedir, en estos sábados de Radio Austria Internacional, de ustedes, gracias por su sintonía durante tantos años, para mí incluso tantas décadas... Y una despedida de nuestros amigos en Barcelona de Francisco Rubio y sus compañeros de la Asociación DX de aquella linda ciudad catalana en que va a ser repaso a exactamente 20 años de cooperación con esta emisora... Habrá un nuevo programa aquí en Radio Austria Internacional también en español por los menos así se nos ha indicado ligeramente pero les invito a que mañana nos escuchen en el Buzón, el Buzón de la Despedida, que será presentado por Jaime Carbonell y este servidor (Manuel Aletrino) en que hablaremos también de un posible futuro de programas en lengua española de Radio Austria Internacional habrá algún retorno al éter lo que, aunque sea pequeño, va a gustar a nuestros oyentes". Antes de cerrar la emisión del día Manuel Aletrino terminó diciendo "Mañana, estimados oyentes, estaremos en el aire con el Buzón de la Despedida, Jaime Carbonell y este servidor Manuel Aletrino, y les vamos a anunciar una pequeña noticia que, a lo mejor, será un poco de alivio. Solamente quiero decirles que nos sigan fieles, no dejen de controlar dentro de algún tiempo, estas mismas frecuencias. El español en Radio Austria Internacional no desaparecerá del todo, algo es algo". Próximamente seguiremos tratando este tema. Un cordial saludo de... (Rubén Guillermo Margenet, Rosario A R G E N T I N A, June 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. More on trans-Atlantic FM and TV DX: see PROPAGATION below ** CANADA. Shelagh's Back! On Tuesday, July 1st, Sounds Like Canada on CBC will be preempted by a special Canada Day Show. Shelagh Rogers will be hosting from Pier 21 in Halifax, and then later in the day, from Ottawa. As part of the show former citizenship judge and retired CBC host, Don Tremaine, will conduct a ceremony so Canadians who are listening can reaffirm their Canadian citizenship. This should be available via RCI as well on 9515, 13655 and 17800 kHz. Shelagh Rogers after taking a break since January for medical reasons is returning for this Special Canada Day show at 10 AM Eastern on CBC. Here is a link to the Globe and Mail article about her: http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20030628/RVHAMP28/Entertainment/Idx HOW SHELAGH GOT HER GROOVE BACK --- The veteran broadcaster used a very public break from her radio career to rediscover her private self. That introspective voice will join her when she returns to the airwaves next week, SARAH HAMPSON writes By SARAH HAMPSON Saturday, June 28, 2003 - Page R3 I should begin this profile of CBC Radio's Shelagh Rogers, who returns to the national airwaves on Canada Day with two live broadcasts after a six-month medical leave, with this quote: "I've learned a lot through all these twists and turns," the 47-year-old broadcaster says. "I'm like a punching clown. I'm always going to come back up." . . . (via Art Preis, Ottawa, Canada, June 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Same?: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20030628/RVHAMP28/TPEntertainment/Columnists (via Ricky Leong, DXLD) ** CHILE. 6009.98, Radio Parinacota, Putre. June 2003 - 2325 UT. The frequency is now quite clean, (the Colombian is off air), so it is possible sometimes to hear Parinacota quite well but never strong. Was "fooled" when they had a program with Peruvian music. Sometimes QRM from Radio Mil on 6010.02 kHz. Sometimes relaying Radio Coöperativa with news. Irregularly (?) also HCJB is heard with Dutch [RN/Canada?? -gh]. Listen to a recording from this occasion at: http://homepage.sverige.net/~a-0901/ (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin June 29, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6010.02, Radio Parinacota, Putre, 0850-0916, June 29. Spanish. Latin music non stop. TC: "Ya es la hora cinco, dos minutos"; after ID as: "Estas escuchando... Radio Parinacota"; strong signal s/0900 UT and low at 0915. 34322 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, BCL News via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. I noted in the HCDX mailing list that a Finnish DXer logged RD Nacional de Colombia on 4955, but here in Quito only the Huanta-Peru station is heard. 6009.77 Alcaraván Radio, Puerto Lleras (Colombia) off air. June 16: Reactivated station in Colombia! 4975.03, Ondas del Orteguaza, Florencia. June 16 2003 - 1105 UT. I stopped at the frequency during a religious program and normally I should have continued thinking it was Radio del Pacífico. When Pacífico recently is on 4974.77 kHz, heard at the same time but weak, I waited for an ID. I have not heard the station for several years. Listen to a recording from this occasion: http://homepage.sverige.net/~a-0901/ 73 from BM in Quito! (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin June 29, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CONGO DR. 7435.007, 19.6 1830, Troligen Lumumbashi, Zaire med nyheter och politik på franska. 2 SA (Stig Adolfsson, Sweden, SW Bulletin via DXLD) ** CUBA [non]. As of 0000 GMT 29 June: no trace of Radio Martí, but interestingly, a fair level but very definite Cuban jammer of the bubble-type variety, alone on the channel save for occasional (presumed) Radio Guamá. Radio Martí was loud-and-clear though most of the Florida Keys (some co-channel Rebelde) three weeks ago, so I am certain this is in addition to. EC-130E again? The MW channel they used possibly only once was 530 (hard to believe anyone could have heard it what with Visión Cristiana from the Turks & Caicos so powerful). Wasn't 1020 the channel Radio Martí appeared on briefly years ago, speculation being either a portable unit or the other (then Caribbean Christian Radio) Turks & Caicos MW transmitter? I forget the details there, though thought one of our "spook" contacts claimed the former (Terry L Krueger Clearwater, Florida, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Probably buying time on a commercial transmitter somewhere in the Caribe. My salary, etc., mostly came from Martí. IBB transmitters are funded proportionally according to which service uses the transmitters. Delano and Greenville are about 60% Marti. Marathon-1180 uses four in-line towers aimed at Cuba, and the pattern is really directional. That's why it's more than usually hard to pick up elsewhere. Actually runs 50 kW, not 100 kW. Alternate two Continental 317Cs. Ex Marti Kid, (Charlie Taylor, Greenville, NC, IRCA via DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC [and non]. WRMI News - July, 2003 We are sorry to announce that due to a sudden and severe budget cut at Radio Prague, the station's transmissions via the Czech Republic have been reduced and all relays via WRMI have been discontinued as of July 1, 2003. For the past few years, WRMI has relayed Radio Prague's daily programs in English, Spanish and Czech to the Americas. We wish the station well. This is only the latest in a series of major cutbacks at shortwave stations worldwide. The Radio Prague relays on weekdays will be replaced on WRMI by an expanded schedule from Christian Media Network, which as of July 1 will run weekdays from 1200 to 2300 UT on 15725; and 2300-0400 and 0415-0900 on 7385 kHz; all beamed to North America. Among other things, the expansion of CMN will allow the second hour of its daily flagship program "The Apocalypse Chronicles" to be heard on 7385 kHz from 0200-0300 UT (Jeff White, Noticias DX via DXLD) Whoopee!! L'avenir des émissions internationales de Radio Prague : Les changements dans l'environnement médiatique font que les idées changent depuis quelques années. A un extrême, on parle de la suppression des ondes courtes et de leur remplacement par des émissions nationales ou par des projets spéciaux (en Suisse, aux Pays- Bas, en Autriche). A l'autre extrême, conservation des émissions OC comme moyen d'information unique vers l'étranger (Chine, Russie, certains pays de l'Europe de l'est ou de l'ouest). Radio Prague serait plutôt pour la combinaison de ces deux extrêmes. La Direction veut poursuivre la diffusion en ondes courtes dont l'audience est satisfaisante (15000 lettres par an contre 12000 il y a 4 ans). On peut penser à une réduction de ces émissions mais pas à leur remplacement (par le web par exemple). Les émissions OC n'ont certes pas un grand développpement devant elles, avant la numérisation. Le public des émissons en OC n'est pas le même que celui de l'Internet et la suppression des ondes décamétriques entrainerait la perte d'auditeurs en Europe et en Amérique du Nord. Radio Prague pense qu'il est nécessaire de renforcer de manière sélective l'émetteur de Litomysl et surtout d'utiliser des relais à l'étranger (ce qui se fait déjà avec la Slovaquie et aux Etats-Unis à Miami [pas encore --- ggh]). Certains sont planifiés en Amérique Latine et en Russie. En Russie, Radio Prague émet déjà depuis Saint- Petersbourg via WRN et à partir de cet été, à Moscou. Les émissions sont rediffusées depuis des stations en Croatie, Roumanie, Australie, Etats-Unis, Mexique, Espagne et Russie. La coopération avec Radio France Internationale devrait débuter cet automne. Radio Prague est également sur le satellite. Bien que représenant la plus petite part de l'audience, ces émissions seront développées. Grâce à WRN, Radio Prague touche un nouveau public. La station participe au projet de Radio E, une station internationale qui devrait diffuser en anglais, français et allemand. Une contribution pour "Accents d'Europe", l'émission de RFI, est régulièrement préparée. Sur le territoire national, Radio Prague est aussi présente en ondes moyennes. L'avenir de Radio Prague sera encore discuté au sein de la station, de la radio tchèque et au Parlement, car il ne faut pas oublier que la station est financée par le budget de l'état (Radio Prague - 24 juin 2003) (les informations sont issues de http://perso.wanadoo.fr/jm.aubier via DXLD) ** DEUTSCHES REICH. [Mediumwave transmitter on WHEELS 1932-1945, Deutsche Reichspost] "Rundfunksender auf Raedern. Die fahrbaren Rundfunksendeanlagen der Deutschen Reichspost in den Jahren 1932 bis 1945", (2003). Author: Bernd-Andreas Moeller, Weststrasse 125, D-09116 Chemnitz, Germany. Fax: ++49 371 36 11 95. Published by Verlag Dr. Ruediger Walz, Alte Poststrasse 12, D-65510 Idstein, Germany. Phone: ++49 61 26 99 26 26. Fax: Phone: ++49 61 26 99 26 28. Email: ruediger.walz@t... [truncated] Price: 25.00 EUR plus postage and packing. About 26 radio stations on wheels used by Nazi Germany [like Soldatensender Radio Belgrade]. By the way, "When the Koenigsbergradio came to the farm" A story about Sender L (Lappland) is published in a new radio history chapter under http://www.northernstar.no/konigs.htm (from radioanoraks.uk (They don't seem to be in English language though, so be careful before you buy!) (Sven Martinsen, Norwoay, BrDXC June 28 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. Bandscan SW 68: I start this bandscan with some various notes: 3289.92, Radio Centro, Ambato heard very weakly due to transmitter problems. 4781.32, Radio Oriental, Tena, has been off air for a while (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin June 29, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also PERU for 1610+ ** ECUADOR. According to the German DX-broadcast on June 21, the [HCJB] German department hope to continue the transmissions from Quito to Europe for at least another year from Sept 28 2003 (the official final date for German language to Europe). The plan is to send 1 hour a day at 0700 CET [0500 summer, 0600 UT winter]. The cost for this is estimated to $15.000 - 20.000 annually. The German listeners are urged to sponsor the transmission costs (Christer Brunström, Sweden, SW Bulletin June 29, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) That reminds me, last Saturday until 2015 I ran across this DX program on 17795, excellent reception here in Europe[non]; not paying attention to the frequency at first, I assumed I was listening to a DW relay. Double checking the info, since I did not log it at the time, at WWDXC`s DX program list http://www.wwdxc.de/swl.pdf dated April 29 I find instead: Sat 2100 HCJB Quito##, G – 15545 17795 21455usb EUR ## Will be ceased from June 1st, 2003 But that must have missed the one-hour time shift a month earlier, for in the WWDXC schedule of all German broadcasts, Stand: 1. Juni 2003, http://www.wwdxc.de/hfd.pdf we find: 2000-2030 HCJB Quito 15545, 17795, 21455 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR [non]. This week, DX Partyline aired almost intact on WINB, UT Sun June 29 on 12160 at 0001-0030. Unfortunately, the program must be close to a full 30 minutes, as it was cut off before the closing announcements finished. During the show, Allen Graham announced that from July 6, DXPL would also be carried on WWCR, UT Sun 0200 on 5070 (that is, the semihour once occupied by VOA Communications World) --- and two more airings would be added at times TBA. He also said that last week on WINB, DXPL aired an hour later than scheduled. As we already reported, this was not the case, as we monitored continuously until 0131, and WOR started at 0106. Some non-DX religious show started promptly at 0130, so we quickly tuned out. Possibly DXPL was on some time after that, or at 0200? But this week after 0200, WINB was in Russian (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA. 7100, 20.6 1750, Voice of the Broad Masses of Eritrea, program 1, fantastic signal. S 4 and nice music. BEFF 7175, 20.6 1755, Voice of the Broad Masses of Eritrea also here, but with program 2. To me both broadcasts sounded almost the same but apparently not //. S 4. BEFF (Björn Fransson, Sweden, SW Bulletin June 29, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. But not included in T-systems Juelich list. 15670 1700-1759 38,39,48 304 145 degr 1346=Su/Tu/We/Fr JUL 100 kW SBO R Freedom, Vo the Ogadeni People, Huriyo (R Xoriyo), in Somali. 1630-1700 Tu/Fr EaAF 15670 JUL V o Democratic Eritrea, EaAF 1700-1730 Mon/Thu Tigre 15670 JUL 1730-1800 Mon/Thu Ar 15670 JUL SBO - Oromo Liberation, (Sagalee Bilisumma Oromoo) 1700-1730 Tu/We/Fr/Su Oromo 15670 JUL 1700-1800 Tu/We/Fr/Su Amhar 15670 JUL [x9930, x15335]. (BC-DX June 28 via DXLD) see also IRAN; DEUTSCHES REICH ** HUNGARY. 11710, R. Liberty via Jaszberény. Russian program from 0400 22/6, including IDs 0407. New relay, strong 22/6 (Seager-L) 11885, R. Liberty, Jaszberény. New relay, strong in Russian 0529, 22/6 (Craig Seager, Limekilns NSW DXpedition site, July Australian DX News via DXLD) Die erste westliche Nutzung ungarischer Sender waren Sendungen von Radio France Internationale vom August 1991 bis November 1993 fuer Nordafrika (Dr. Hansjoerg Biener, Germany, BC-DX June 25 via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 4869.96. RRI Wamena. 0957 15/6, Indonesian music. 1000 ID as "Programa Satu, Radio Republik Indonesia Wamena". Good (Nobuo Takeno, Yamagata, Japan (NRD-535D with 10 meters wire, July Australia DX News via DXLD) Up-tempo music, 1123 19/6, sung in local dialect, Indonesian announcements (Phil Ireland, Limekilns NSW DXpediton site, July Australian DX News via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 9743.6, RRI Sorong. Presume the one here 0740 16/6 with ballad followed by announcement in Indonesian. Poor signal with some modulation issues. Blocked at 0759 by HCJB (Paul Ormandy, NZ, July Australian DX News via DXLD) Usual muddy signal 0548 22/6 with EZL pops, Indonesian announcements. Good to hear them this early (Craig Seager, Limekilns NSW DXpedition site, July Australian DX News via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL. RADIOAFICIONADOS FAMOSOS --- Estos son algunos de los radioaficionados famosos que ha habido y que hay en el Mundo. 7L2NJY Dr. Mamora Mohri - astronauta Japones 9K2CS Principe Yousef Al-Sabah 9N1MM Padre Marshall Moran - misionero (silent key) A41AA Qaboos Bin Said Al-Said, Sultan de Oman CN8MH rey Hassan de Marruecos, SK EA0JC Juan Carlos I, Rey de España F0OMB FO5GJ Marlon Brando tambien conocido como Martin Brandeux - actor G3TZH Tony Dolby, hermano de 'the' Dolby G5RV Louis Varney - inventor de la antena G5RV, (silent key) GB1MIR Helen Sharman, Astronauta HS1A Bhumiphol Adulayadej - rey de Tailandia I0FCG Francesco Cossiga - Ex presidente de Italia JA3FA Tokuzo Inoue - presidente y fundador de Icom JA5FHB Ministro de transporte y comunicaciones del Japón JY1 Rey Hussein de Jordania (silent key) JY1NH Principe Abdullah ahora Rey de Jordania JY2 Reina Nur de Jordania K1JT Dr Joseph Taylor Jr, Premio Nobel de Fisica 1993 K1OKI Mickey Schulhof - presidente de Sony USA K2HEP John Scully - presidente de Apple computer K5FLU Martin F. Jue - presidente y fundador de MFJ K7TA Clifford Stoll - autor y científico K7UGA Barry Goldwater - senador de los Estados Unidos [SK!] KB6LQR Jeana Yeager, piloto del Voyager en 1986 KB6LQS Dick Rutan, piloto del Voyager en 1986 KC5OZX Nancy Currie - astronauta de la NASA KC7NHZ Kathy Sullivan - comandante de la 2a expedición de la estación espacial internacional [another entry below] KD4WUJ Patty Loveless - cantante Country KD5GSL William Shepard - comandante de la 1ª expedicion de la estación espacial internacional KD5OPQ Frank Culbertson - comandante de la 3ª expedicion de la estación espacial internacional KD6OY Garry Shandling - comediante y actor KN4UB Larry Junstrom, músico de rock LU1SM Carlos Saul Menem - Ex presidente de Argentina N4RH Ralph Haller - jefe de relaciones publicas de la FCC N5YYV Kathy Sullivan - cientifica de NOAA (antes astronauta) N6FUP Stu Cooks - jugador de baseball N6KGB Stewart Granger (born James Stewart) actor (silent key) NK7U Joe Rudi - jugador de baseball NN1SS estación espacial internacional ON1AFD Conde Dirk Frimouth - astronauta belga RW3FU Yuri Usachev - cosmonauta en la estación espacial internacional SP3RN Padre Maximiliano Kolbe, silent key S21A Saif D Shahid, Head of Bangladeshi PTT SU1VN/P Principe Talal de Arabia Saudita U2MIR/UV3AM Musa Manarov, Cosmonauta UA1LO Yuri Gagarin - cosmonauta VK2BL Graham Connelly, anunciador de radio VK2DIK Dick Smith - empresario y multimillonario VK2IG Dave Grey - comisionado adjunto VK2KB Sir Allan Fairhall, Político VR6TC Tom Christian, bisnieto de Fletcher Christian VU2RG Rajiv Gandhi, Primer Ministro de la India (silent key) VU2SON Sonia Gandhi, esposa de VU2RG W0ORE Tony England, Astronauta W3ACE Armin Meyer, US embajador en Japón W4RA Larry E. Price - presidente de IARU W5JBP Jim Haynie - presidente de la ARRL W5LFL Owen Garriot - astronauta W6EZV General Curtis LeMay (silent key) W6FZZ Samuel F B Morse III W6QYI Cardenal de Los Angeles Roger Mahoney W6ZH Herbert Hoover Jr. - nieto del ex presidente Hoover de los USA W8JK John Kraus - astrónomo WA4CZD Chet Atkins, Guitarrista WA4SIR Ron Parise - astronauta WA7WYV Andy Griffith - actor WB6RER Andy Devine, actor (silent key) WD4SKT Donnie Osmond - actor y comediante YN1AS General Anastasio Somoza Debayle Presidente República de Nicaragua (silent key) (Manrique EA1FRK via Info-CRAM, Boletín informativo de jun 23, ampliado por Horacio Nigro, jun 27, Conexíón Digital via DXLD) ** IRAN/GERMANY. 9545, a channel used by Deutsche Welle's German service since the Fifties!, suffers terrible co-channel interference by IRIB Kamalabad station in Bosnian and Albanian, 500 kW in 298 degrees. (wb, June 27) === !===! 9545 1730-1830 28S KAM 500 298 degr 0 146 BOSNIAN 9545 1830-1930 28SE KAM 500 298 degr 0 146 ALBANIAN 73 de (Wolfgang Bueschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ. IRAQ'S MEDIA FREE-FOR-ALL By Tarik Kafala BBC News Online, 27 June, 2003 Full article and picture: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3023752.stm (via Sergei Sosedkin, IL, June 28, DXLD) Same? as in 3-114 but we didn`t have the URL for pix (gh, DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. Towards Freedom still on the air --- Tarek Zeidan in Cairo has been monitoring this UK produced programme. He reports: "On the Eutelsat W1 10 deg East on the freq. 11106 GHz I am watching Towards Freedom, 13.55 UTC the news , showing the return of some of the British soldiers with hugs and kisses all over...though the kids were waving the Scottish flag in their hands! The Iraqi Philharmonic Orchestra is back on track again. The programme ended at 1400 UTC. There was a note at the end of the programme stating that Towards Freedom is edited in London and broadcast to the Iraqi people from the coalition media." (Media Network blog June 29 via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. The North Koreans must love me!!! I got yet another QSL last week and a goodie bag and a couple of days ago a letter from the head of their American bureau telling me where I can order tapes (I had said I liked their choirs) and that he wanted to learn more about me and my friends...hah! Oh well I bet if I were in the US I'd be under investigation. later, 73s, (Sue Hickey, Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland, Canada, June 29, GRDXC via DXLD) 9334.92, V. of Korea 1403-1428 6/29. News in French to 1417 ID "Ici La Voix de La Corée" and into commentary. Parallel to 11709.82 (good) and 15245.05 (poor). The 25 meter freq had drifted down to 11709.72 by 1427, while 9334.92 had not varied and 15245 seemed to have disappeared (John Wilkins, CO, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** LAOS [non]. UZBEKISTAN 17540 on Wed, Fri only, Hmong Lao Radio [ULM organization] 0100-0200 UT (x12070 in B-02) via Tashkent-UZB. Address: 302 University Avenue, West, St. Paul, MN 55103, USA. Reply from P. O. Box 6426, St. Paul, MN 55106, USA. v/s Shoua Cha, Chairman. (wb, BC-DX June 19) I checked 17540 this morning (Fri 27 Jun) from QTH Madras/Chennai in India, where I'm also on holiday, quite a long distance from the intended target area. There were test tones from around 0050 and program at 0100-0200 with some SE-Asian sounding music, but reception was poor due to a combination of rather weak signal, local electrical noise in my hotel room and splatter from very strong China on 17550 kHz. Also I think the audio / modulation on 17540 was rather shallow. I would have to rate it as SINPO 22331 overall as really the audio was not intelligible, and at most times it was even difficult to tell if the program was speech or music. Generally best propagation on 17 MHz at that time was from the east (e.g. powerhouses BBC-Singapore 17790, RA-Darwin 17775 and CNR 17550, with VOA-PHL rather weaker on 17740 and 17820). (Alan Davies-INS, at present in Madras-IND, BC-DX June 27 via DXLD) Hmong Lao Radio (Laos) 12070, verified a follow up report with a no data (very plain without masthead) letter from v/s Shoua Cha, Chairman indicating transmissions into Laos are twice a week at 0800-0900 Lao time every Wednesday and Friday. Report sent to 302 University Avenue, West, St. Paul, MN 55103 address unearthed by Wendel Craighead although reply from P. O. Box 6426, St. Paul, MN 55106 (Rich D`Angelo, PA, July ADXN via DXLD) ** LATVIA. According to info from the transmitter operator, Laserradio UK is going to return to the old 5935 kHz (ex 9520) for transmissions during the summer. A suitable winter frequency is going to be coördinated at the coming HFCC conference (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, DXplorer June 25 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** LIBERIA. RADIO VERITAS - LIBERIA, 0720 UT EN 5470. After being off the air for several days is back again with religious talks and gospel music in English. ID at 0725 (César Pérez Dioses, Chimbote, Perú, June 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MADAGASCAR. 3287.665, 23.6 1835, RTV Malagasy, Antananarivo // with 5009.887. Nice music and French. Thunderstorm-QRM. 2 resp 4. SA (Stig Adolfsson, Sweden, SW Bulletin June 29, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALI. Small window from Mali towards EUR around 0800-0830 UT, usual 9635.00 EVEN started after 0800 UT in VERNAC, but was wandering down 50 Hertz every 10 minutes, to 9634.900 at 0830 UT, very thiny 11960 \\ on even 11960.00 as usual (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, June 28, BC-DX via DXLD) Mali on 9 MHz is a regular here from 0800, and can usually be distinguished off frequency. But I am still struggling to find 11960! Either it is beamed inland or the power is lower than 9 maybe? (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX June 28 via DXLD) ** MEXICO. From the SWBC realm --- XEXQ, Radio Universidad de San Luis Potosí, has reactivated their 49-meter frequency of 6045 kHz. Heard here in the mornings around 1200-1300 UT with Classical music format, occasional Spanish announcement. Fair/poor in general, and have not ID'ed it yet, but has been reported by others. QSL'ed here in 1989 (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Drake R-8, 100-foot RW, June 29, Corazón DX via DXLD) Another version: 6045 R. Universidad, San Luis Potosí (tentative) 1250-1305 6/29. Possibly the one here with classical music, YL announcer in Spanish at 1258. No ID's yet, but would seem to be the one heard here daily around the same time with same format. Generally poor, with an occasional fair peak (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Drake R-8, 100-foot RW, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** MYANMAR. I've had no luck finding Myanmar on 4725 over the past few weeks, listening in various locations in Thailand, Laos and India, so I assume it's silent on this frequency. 5040v still seems to be active but usually gives poor reception because of the AIR stn on 5040 (Alan Davies, Indonesia, at present in Madras-IND, DXplorer June 28via BC-DX via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. John Figliozzi at Radio Netherlands --- We had the pleasure of a visit from a friend and loyal Radio Netherlands listener John Figliozzi today. John will be writing a feature article about Radio Netherlands for Monitoring Times magazine. I've got to know John well over the past few years, and since so much nonsense has been written and said about Radio Netherlands by outsiders in the past few weeks, it will be great to have a decent and properly researched feature about us for a change. John understands international broadcasting and knows what questions to ask. I think he was happy with the answers! The awards keep on coming --- Jonathan Marks this week said he had spent 23 years working with "the best colleagues in the business" at Radio Netherlands, something that was borne out 24 hours later with the news that Radio Netherlands has been awarded five medals and three finalist certificates at this year's New York Radio Festivals - the annual event honouring the world's best radio programmes. The English department won three medals and three finalist certificates, and the Latin American department was awarded two medals. They were up against more than a thousand entries from about 40 countries. The awards ceremony took place on 26 June 2003. It will be interesting to see if the Dutch media --- and some international media-related Web sites --- choose to give this achievement as much coverage as they gave to the leaked and now discredited McKinsey findings about Radio Netherlands. Probably not, because when people are doing their jobs well and being recognised for it, it gets boring...there's no story in it. We understand that. We're journalists :-) (Media Network blog June 27 via DXLD) ** PERU. 4955.00, Radio Cultural Amauta, Huanta. I noted in the HCDX mailing list that a Finnish DXer logged RD Nacional de Colombia on this frequency but here in Quito only the Huanta-station is heard. 5470.21, Radio San Nicolás, Rodriguez de Mendoza, off air. 6042.59, Radio Melodía, Arequipa, safely anchored on this split. The following items from some of the "SWB América Latina" earlier received by e-mail. All of the stations mentioned below can still be heard. June 23: New Peruvian radio station on 5176.51 kHz! 5176.51, Radio La Amistad, possible QTH - Tayabamba, la provincia de Pataz, el departamento de La Libertad. June 23 2003 - 1120 UT. Started Monday morning June 23 at about 06 local time in Quito and clearly stated it was a new station. IDs: "Radio La Amistad, la nueva radio al servício..." and "Radio La Amistad está transmitiendo desde la población de Tayabamba, capital provincial de (Pataz??)". Said they transmit on FM and SW. The only geographic name I clearly hear is "La província de Bolívar" and an uncertain "Tayabamba". Both places are located in dpto "La Libertad". The fact that the station was heard well a whole hour after local sunrise here in Quito indicates a northern QTH, for instance "La Libertad". Very hard to hear the QTH 100% as the male DJ uses a mike of inferior quality. Listen to a recording from this occasion: http://homepage.sverige.net/~a-0901/ Info from "Ventanaperú": Provincia de Pataz, cuya capital es Tayabamba. Sus distritos son: Buldibuyo, Chillia, Huancaspata, Huaylillas, Huayo, Ongón, Parcoy, Pataz, Pías, Santiago de Challa, Taurija, Tayabamba, Urpay; con una población total de 63,688 hab. 1610.10, Ecos del Portete, Girón (Ecuador). June 16 2003 - 0200 1610.10, "Radio Sabor", unknown QTH (probably Perú). June 16 - 0200 Of course it is fantastic, almost incredible - 2 Andean stations on the same split, on the X-band where no Andean stations normally broadcast and at evenings nonstop Andean music. When our member Hasse Mattisson/HM said that he heard a unID Andean station on 1610.10 kHz we both supposed it was Ecos del Portete. Everything matched. I contacted Ecos del Portete by telephone and later got an e-mail from Sr. Ángelo, a reporter at the station. HM sent a tape recording but the music is not Ecuadorian and does not match what I hear from Ecos del Portete, a station mostly with Ecuadorian "rocolera" and "cumbia"-music. After careful frequency checking for many hours I finally got a bite! Actually there are 2 stations on the same split. The "newly added" station has music similar to that from HM`s tape recording. Several evenings I have heard them with nonstop music without any sign of talk. Tonight, June 16, the station almost did nothing else than "ID-ed". Unfortunately with lousy signal. ID: "...toda la gente Radio Radio Radio Sabor". No idea of QTH and Ecos del Portete was heard simultaneously also with lousy signal. Portete in AM-mode and "Sabor" in USB with narrow bandwidth. To hear the name of the station is very hard so please send your comments if I heard something wrong. Listen to a recording from this occasion: http://homepage.sverige.net/~a-0901/ where also the recording from 1610.10 Ecos del Portete can be found (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin June 29, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. NO MORE FREE TV IN RUSSIA Privately-owned Russian TV station TVS has been closed down by the government and replaced by a sports channel. Some say it marks the end of independent TV journalism in Russia. . . http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/features/html/russia030627.html (RN Media Network via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. 11975, Kamchatka Rybatskaya via Kamchatka Radio. F/D e-mail verie for Snail Mail f/up in 28 days. V/S A.F. Borodin, Head of Radio Company Kamchatka. Sent via WRTH 2002 address. E-mail was received in Russian - tnx to Walt Salmaniw for translation (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Drake R-8, 100-foot RW. Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** SOMALILAND. 7530.4, 20.6 1740, Radio Hargeisa with quite good signal, but a little off. S 3. BEFF (Björn Fransson, Sweden, SW Bulletin June 29, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SRI LANKA. 4870 SLBC, Ekala. Sinhalese service heard with vocals at 1355 22/6 prior to ad block. Fair strength (John Schache, Limekilns NSW DXpediton site, July Australian DX News via DXLD) 4870.88, unID 1857-2000 20/6.Talk and music like South East Asia. Strong signal w/little QRM from 4869.96 Wamena. Fair (Nobuo Takeno, Yamagata, Japan (NRD-535D with 10meters wire, July Australian DX News via DXLD) SLBC running late? -cs (Craig Seager, ADXN Trail ed. Via DXLD) Oh, yes, SLBC does that when there be a full moon (gh, DXLD) ** TAJIKISTAN. 4995, R. Liberty, Dushanbe. Thanks to Ian Johnson for info on this. Open carrier at 1355 prior to s/on at 1400 23/6 in Kazakh. The odd English phrase was heard during the program. The audio was a bit over-modulated and sounded as if the feed was via landline. Fair at times and a bit better. (John Schache, Limekilns NSW DXpedition site, July Australian DX News via DXLD) Previously an unID ** TIBET [non]. Voice of Tibet schedule is now: 1215-1300 15660-KAZ, 15670-UZB/KAZ, 21545-UZB, 21560-UZB. First program, only two frequencies in use at a time. 1430-1520 17520-UZB or 17540-UZB. 2nd program on single frequency, and Chinese jammer mx .... over and over again ... [Noted on 15660 and 21560 kHz, as well as on 17540 on June 28th] (wb, June 28, BCDX via DXLD) ** TOGO [non]. It seems that Radio Togo Libre has gone off air due to lack of funds --- according to an item in DXLD. I have heard RSA relaying RFI until 1300 on 21760, and heard the carrier go off air after time pips on the hour (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX June 26 via DXLD) Yes, I missed 21760 outlet on previous days too. Lack of funds, I read the same item. A DXer phoned the station`s manager in Canada, and was asked immediately to donate RTogo Libre station (wb, June 26, ibid.) Radio Togo Libre: Neither 26 nor 27 they were transmitted. What did it happen? (Zacharias Liangas, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Well, FWIW, both frequencies are still on the TDP schedule checked June 29: http://www.airtime.be/schedule.html Previous items from Anker Petersen indicated that the broadcasts heard earlier this month were merely limited-duration tests. And I gather that the big election is July 1, not June 1 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. The BBC has now published new a map showing their expanded DAB coverage area once the new transmission network has been installed by the end of 2004. This will extend coverage to 85% of the UK population. To see if your area is going to be able to receive the BBC DAB channels click on this link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/digitalradio/listen/where.shtml A map showing the current coverage area can be seen at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/reception/radio_transmitters/digital_radio.shtml (British DX Club (BDXC-UK), June 24 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** U K. SIXTY YEARS OF UPSETTING POLITICIANS Sunday June 29, 2003, The Observer 1940: Winston Churchill wants to 'establish more effective control' over the BBC. He sends a memo to the Ministry of Information less than a week after taking over as Prime Minister: 'I should be glad to receive some proposals from you for establishing a more effective control over the BBC. Now we have a Government representing the Opposition as well as the Majority, we should have a much freer hand in this respect.' 1956: During the Suez crisis, Prime Minister Anthony Eden tries to take over the BBC's External Services. 1982: Margaret Thatcher rebukes the BBC for its Falklands coverage. Director-General Alasdair Milne is summoned to Westminster by the Tory backbench 1922 Committee for a dressing-down. 1986: Conservative Party chairman Norman Tebbit asks party officials to prepare a report of the alleged political bias of the BBC following his indictment of its coverage of the US air raid on Libya. 'I was not bullying or softening up the BBC but I was asking them to maintain the standards they are required to maintain,' he said. April 1999 John Simpson, the BBC's World Affairs Editor, on assignment in Belgrade, refutes No 10's charges that he is a tool of the Serbs. 'This is my 30th war,' he says. 'There's a depressing pattern: when things go wrong British governments tend to lose their nerve. They get frightened at the thought of people getting independent, objective information, so they start whispering about the abilities of broadcasters.' http://politics.guardian.co.uk/media/story/0,12123,987383,00.html (via Kim Elliott, DXLD) See site for links to many more BBC stories! ** U S A. Dear Allan, I was really surprised and disappointed by what happened on the evening of June 25th at the time of the World of Radio broadcast (2200 UT). This was the first Wednesday in many weeks that you had a transmission going out during the 2100-2200 UT hour on 17495 kHz, and it was coming in fine and clearly here in St. Louis. 7415 kHz was poor and noisy in comparison. So I expected that you would resume the previous practice you engaged in during the past, to broadcast World of Radio simultaneously on both frequencies. But I was shocked, infuriated, and deeply disappointed that instead you shut off the 17495 kHz transmitter instead of letting it run for that next half- hour and carry World of Radio. We were forced to listen to a barely- understandable transmission on 7415 kHz only. I never did quite understand why you stopped transmitting the repeat of your personal-comments show during that 2100-2200 UT hour on 17495 when you didn't have paid programming utilizing the time, since you DID do it before. Maybe you felt that the cost to run the 17495 transmitter for that time to just carry your own words was not worth it. But I, for one, enjoyed hearing that. The time it is originally transmitted and other repeats I knew of had too many conflicts to let me listen regularly, so that Wednesday-afternoon time when I was preparing to listen to World of Radio was always a good time to hear it. When you stopped that and just had no transmissions on 17495, I could understand not bringing that transmitter up just to carry World of Radio for its half-hour. But I cannot understand taking it down just *before* World of Radio starts! If you have paid programming on 17495 kHz up till 2200 UT on Wednesdays, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE leave that transmitter on the air and broadcast World of Radio on that frequency too! Thank you, (Will Martin St. Louis, MO, cc to DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Again this week, WINB 12160 failed to air WOR as scheduled at 0030 UT Sunday on 12160, tho they did get DX Partyline on just before it [see ECUADOR non]. Instead, gospel music played during this half hour, with the sound often fading to virtually inaudible on the still-adequate carrier. Wavescan did come up at 0100, its correct time (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. The AFRTS website http://myafn.dodmedia.osd.mil/radio/shortwave/ indicates new frequencies for both Key West and Puerto Rico: both are currently marked "TBD". (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, DXplorer June 27 via BC-DX via DXLD) To be determined? ** U S A. 5034.22, WWRB, McKaysville. Poor 0611 with religious program, better on 5050 and 5085 so this is possibly a spur? Next night, 5050 and 5085 are both off so maybe their techs are working on a problem? 8 June (Paul Ormandy, New Zealand, July Australian DX News via DXLD) We already had the first part of this, but not the follow-up. Confusion continues to reign regarding Dave Frantz`s stations. WWRB has never been in McCaysville (note spelling), which is in Georgia very near the North Carolina border. WWRB is near Manchester, Tennessee, and is the successor to WWFV (and before that WGTG) in McCaysville. AFAIK, according to what Frantz has said, the WWFV facility no longer does any transmitting, but may be used as a receive-only site for his ``Nashville Radio`` aeronautical operation (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. Re 15650 PAB: Who is this? (Hans Johnson-USA) 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 I tuned in today Sunday 29/6 to 15650 at around 1440 but heard no signal past 1450. But on returning at about 1503 I found a transmission in progress. Unfortunately, I had local noise problems which were enough to make audibility of the transmission difficult to follow. The signal was about S3+ in American English and religious in nature. There was an address given in America - a P. O. Box number in a town called Lakeland?? Very tentative. Transmission finished at 1515. Another transmission --- it sounds the same one to my ears --- has started at 1530 on 15650. Signal strength still only 3+ in local noise and very difficult to copy. But it's religious broadcaster. (later): A correction to my last concerning 15650. The broadcast at 1530 was NOT identical to the one at 1500-1515. It was American religious and lasted till 1600, but split into two 15 min segments. I could not understand very much of it, and the announcements / IDs were unclear, but I thought I heard mention of "- - - radio network international - - -" at 1545. Unfortunately, Israel put their carrier on at 1556 with IS and this more or less wiped out the other broadcaster. Sorry I couldn`t do any better. It is established as a Sunday broadcaster anyway (Noel R. Green-UK, BC-DX June 29 via DXLD) 1st program: 15650 scheduled at 1500-1515, and 1530-1600 UT, I tuned in today June 29th (Sun only broadcast) at 1501 UT, so I missed the opening procedure. Bad reception at my location due of dead zone of Juelich site (only 380 km away, too bad for proper 19 mb reception). Bad reception Sinpo 22222, much static noise. Recognized an US (accented gospel huxter) religious preacher broadcaster. Could only trace some word fragments like "Way mark, ... offers Bible Teaching Cassette...". The given P. O. Box 2324, Macon, Georgia 31203, U.S.A.; details revealed the Bible Teaching Radio station, when put that on Yahoo USA searching machine, as follows Waymarks International Ministries - Bible Teaching & Radio. [of Loren and Diana Wilson] Our mailing address is: Waymarks Ministries, P.O.Box 2324, Macon, Georgia 31203, U.S.A. Telephone: ++1 [912] 750-1422 FAX: ++1 [912] 750-1422. e-mail: lorenwilson@waymarks.org URL: http://www.waymarks.org We are presently broadcasting our weekly teaching messages over these radio stations: Radio Africa #2 Shortwave to more than 8 countries in Southern Africa, Thu at 8:45 am. WINB Shortwave to all of North America, 13800 [sic] kHz, Sat at 12:45 pm. CHMR 93.5 FM, to St. Johns, Newfoundland, Canada at 12:45 pm Eastern USA time. [what use is that in Nfld?] WBML 900 AM, to Macon, Georgia, Saturdays at 7:45 pm. But the website`s "Last Update: October 24, 2000" !!!! 2nd program: The 1530-1600[1557] UT portion suffered by similar bad reception. Could hear some numbers like "?POB 6008?", and "?phone 73296?", sorry conditions were very bad. But from 1552 to 1557 UT, the signal peaked up to some short skip openings up to S=8, just before KOL Israel interval signal joined co- channel scene at 15.56:40 UT powerhouse S=9 +60 dB, and latter opened program at 1600 UT with Yiddish [similar Middle Age German] language service. Waymarks program cut suddenly by the Juelich personnel at exact 1700 UT, midst in a sentence (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, BC-DX June 29 via DXLD) ** U S A. Senator Hollings may not be a fan of WKTU's "War of the Roses" -- but Senator Chuck Schumer is. Followup to this morning's Inside Radio story about Senator Hollings damning WKTU's morning show bit about cheating mates -- you can hear the audio of a recent call to the show by New York Senator Schumer on the KTU website http://www.ktu.com (Inside Radio via DXLD) ** U S A. WHERE HAVE ALL THE LISTENERS GONE? A PIONEER STATION HAS TO DEAL WITH ITS VANISHING LISTENERS by Stephen J. Moffitt, Executive Director, KBVM Portland, Oregon Editor`s Note: Mr. Moffitt wrote this article on my request. He originally sent me news of his successful fund drive, and I asked him to consider doing an article on how things have turned around dramatically at this pioneer Catholic radio station. After several weeks of prodding, he came up with a draft I thought excellent, but he wanted to revise it again. Here is his final version. In it, he relates experiences that will be of great interest to everyone in Catholic radio. In the Spring of 2001, KBVM`s General Manager, with the approval of a majority of the then Board of Directors, initiated a radical change in its programming. The result of those changes and the aftermath are the topic of this article. How it all began On the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8, 1989, KBVM-FM 88.3 aired its first broadcast – becoming, arguably, the first Lay- Owned Catholic Radio station to do so. This was the culmination of a dream that began with a committed Rosary cenacle group which began in Portland back in the 1940`s. This group`s original effort, begun in the 1960`s, was simply to get the Rosary aired on local radio so that those at home could participate in the daily recitation of the Rosary. They began by buying time on a local station for their 15 minute Rosary broadcast. Over time, however, the radio business being what it is, they were ``un-welcomed`` by a succession of stations, culminating in deep frustration for the group, and their (for them) radical idea of getting their own radio station. They began work on this new project in the early 1980`s. Through some hard work, many prayers and the good will of many broadcast professionals from the Portland area, they were able to identify an available frequency at 88.3 FM. They filed an application for it in 1983 and were granted a CP in 1986. A miracle, since the Portland Metro has a TV station on Channel 6 and KBVM`s new frequency would interfere with their audio signal. That TV station saw fit not only to not contest KBVM`s application, but to provide much needed assistance to KBVM in applying for its license and in constructing it facilities. To this day, the station broadcasts from the same transmitter site as Channel 6. When KBVM went on the air, there was a very limited amount of programming available to Catholic Radio stations. It wasn`t until the mid to late 90`s that EWTN began providing radio programming via satellite. So, KBVM aired music for most of the day, since in KBVM`s early years music was most readily available to fill their programming hours – this in addition to its mission of airing the rosary, which it did several times a day. Further, KBVM limited their hours of broadcast to at first 10 hours a day and then, later, with the advent of automation and programming from EWTN, they increased it to 24 hours a day. Where have all the listeners gone? KBVM went on the air in a relative vacuum in regards to other Christian radio stations in Portland and certainly as regards Catholic radio nationally. However, by the late 1990`s Christian radio had gained a foothold in the Portland market --- most notably with the arrival of Family radio`s K-LOVE at 88.9 FM --- right next to KBVM on the dial. By 1999, it was apparent to the management and the board of directors, that KBVM`s audience numbers had dropped dramatically – by about half. The assumption they made was that this was attributable to K-Love`s format, which aims for an 18-34 demographic. KBVM`s 18-34 numbers were very low in comparison, but had been much stronger prior to K-Loves arrival. This, along with other factors, one of which was the prospect of continuing budget shortfalls attributed to falling audience numbers, contributed to KBVM`s decision to alter its format in order to increase its audience numbers. The line of reasoning was that to increase the numbers you had to remove ``tune-outs`` --- things that cause people to tune to another (read K-Love) station. (KBVM at that time had Arbitron ratings that showed that at the times the Rosary and Mass aired their audience numbers plummeted.) So, the decision was made to move the Rosary, the Mass, and the other devotions out of the primary listening hours and replace them with short 30- or 60-second messages instead, and to increase the amount of contemporary Christian music aired in each hour. KBVM also at that time modified its mission statement, and modified its image, moving from its ``Positive Difference`` image to ``Family Radio.`` Efforts were also made to position KBVM away from an overtly Catholic and Marian image to one of a more generic Christian image for a number of reasons. (One reason for this image shift was to make KBVM seem more palatable to non- Catholic foundations so that KBVM could apply for grants from them without being rejected. In addition, it was believed that the shift in audience was the result of its large percentage of non-Catholic listeners moving to K-Love because of doctrinal differences with KBVM`s programming. In other words, they now had a Protestant radio station to listen to, so they did.) The manner in which KBVM`s management made these changes may have contributed to the public outcry that ensued. The switch was made right after completing the spring 2001 Sharathon, during which time no mention was made of the impending changes or the reasoning behind them --- a serious error for a station that had spent years building a strong sense of listener ownership in all of its fundraising efforts. The outcry that ensued centered mostly on the station`s seeming embarrassment of its Catholic and Marian identity. This is not to say that KBVM`s listeners weren`t unhappy with the changes in the music format. Many were, probably most. Included in that number were a number of the Board of Directors who lobbied successfully to restore KBVM to its original format and identity as a Catholic Station. It is easy to look back over events such as those faced by KBVM in the smug knowledge that one would never fall prey to such a mistake (if you`ll allow me that term). But, it would be wise to consider that no one involved with KBVM during this time period had anything but the best of intentions. A new direction In April of 2002, KBVM hired a new General Manager and began the difficult process of rebuilding itself. In doing so, they took into consideration a number of factors including public opinion. But more importantly, they wanted KBVM to remain faithful to its Catholic roots and heritage. This raised the question then of just what model does the station use to determine what KBVM`s brand of Catholic radio would be while attempting to remain faithful to its own individual roots. In pondering this question it helped greatly for the station to ponder another question. That is, what is Catholic? If KBVM was to be a Catholic radio station, then how should it go about being Catholic? The answers that they have so far developed and implemented may seem obvious, but keep in mind that KBVM remains unique among most of Catholic radio today, in that it is primarily a music station. That uniqueness came into question for reasons that should be obvious. In its mission statement, KBVM states that evangelization is its primary mission. No one could answer. however, just how does music fulfill that mission if it indeed does at all? It was suggested that KBVM could only accomplish evangelization through Catechetical programming (A matter of some debate in Catholic Radio circles). It was also suggested that, while music had value, it was merely for entertainment, or to give the listener a break between teaching and devotions. Music does provide entertainment, it also provides a break for listeners, but is that all it can be said to accomplish? In pondering these difficult questions, KBVM looked for something with which to use as an example to follow or as a model to use. Eventually, they settled on the Church itself as its model. How does the Church mark her day? With prayer and worship. How does the Church worship? With the word, with music, and with her prayers. This, then, is the model that KBVM chose to follow and everyday seeks to emulate. It is also the cause of their revised self image for themselves as a ministry. Instead of attempting to meet the lowest common denominator among potential listeners by avoiding ``preaching to the choir,`` KBVM sees its role as that of being a ``city on a hill.`` Heavenly Beauty The resulting effect on the station`s image and format are that KBVM now unapologetically announces itself as the Catholic Radio station in Portland. Its music has changed as well. In pondering the effectiveness of music as a tool of evangelization, KBVM`s management noticed that a crucial aspect of music had been overlooked. This aspect is the key to why music is effective as a means of evangelization. Perhaps, in many circumstances, the best tool for evangelization. What they saw was that music, while it is certainly useful as entertainment and can make a welcome break between teaching programs, has a higher function. Music, as the Church has known for centuries, has the ability to bring the hearer into brief contact with transcendent beauty — heavenly beauty. I`m sure that no one would doubt music`s ability to do this; however, what isn`t understood or even thought of is, how does the human heart and mind react to an encounter with the beauty of heaven? What KBVM found, when it began to look, was that music is indeed successful as a tool of evangelization precisely because it brings people into contact with transcendent beauty, and that that encounter attracts them to beauty so strongly that they are forced to make a moral choice for the good. We are in essence drawn to God the author of beauty through beauty itself. Using that as an underlying foundation, KBVM began to look at what the Church had to say about music. The Church herself has proclaimed by long usage and careful preservation, that certain types of music and even certain songs are conducive to worship – to beauty. These include Gregorian Chant, the music of long use in the liturgy, Choral, and so on. This is not to say that contemporary music has no value, but rather that a balance of the ``old`` and the ``new`` forms makes for a better and more effective musical mix than an either or proposition does. Both forms – the old and the contemporary — have the ability to bring the hearer into contact with transcendent beauty. So, KBVM adjusted its music mixture to include the greatest of the Church`s long list of beautiful musical pieces. This served to enhance the station`s Catholic image, as well as to broaden its audience reach. In addition, in a time when the Catholic Church is being resoundingly criticized from all corners, KBVM is giving Catholics something they can point to with a sense of pride. KBVM now proclaims itself to be a Catholic Radio station. The result has been a great increase in the number of pledges it received for its last spring sharathon – up over 50%. Audiences vote with their dollars and the vote says that they are greatly pleased with the new KBVM. In the words of one of the original founders, Fr. Duffner of the Rosary Center, ``KBVM has never sounded so Catholic.`` Does it really work? One final note. Does music really work for evangelization? KBVM points to two telling stories (among many) from individuals who have contacted them. Both, say that while committed to taking their own lives, they stumbled upon KBVM`s broadcast and that *the music was so beautiful* that they couldn`t go through with it. Contact with beauty caused them to make a moral choice for good. Does this mean that teaching has no place? No. Rather, both are necessary. Some are not open to hearing the word, others are. Eventually, everyone needs to hear the word. So, KBVM provides both in what it hopes to be the most effective balance. Pleasing to its listeners, and pleasing to God as well. This spring KBVM finished it`s Sharathon by reaching the highest number of dollars raised ($191,000. as of this writing) and the highest number of pledges it has ever seen in 14 years (2111 so far)! Clearly KBVM`s audience is letting their opinions be known in their support of the station.(Catholic Radio Update June 30 via DXLD) ** U S A. More on trans-Atlantic FM and TV DX: PROPAGATION ** URUGUAY. 6140.11, Radio Monte Carlo, Montevideo. June 2003 - 1035 UT. I have never before heard this station. I don`t know if that depends on station inactivity or varying conditions. Heard a few days with program format quite similar to CPN in Perú earlier logged on 6141v kHz (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin June 29, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA. 4939.67, Radio Amazonas, Puerto Ayacucho, now with far better audio quality, earlier very weak modulation (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin June 29, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIETNAM. Re: WRTH SW Guide shows 6020 as VOV 4/1/2, whatever that means [? 4 dipoles, 1 row, half wave above ground level, wb] (BC-DX via DXLD) Maybe, but such antenna parameters are not normally shown in this publication: the numbers were positioned as if they were part of the name of the station (gh, DXLD) ** ZAMBIA. 4910, Zambia BC, 1845 June 26, seemingly a radio debate between two men in a local language. Discussion ended at 1856 then with a tribal music interval. At TOH OM with ID ``... broadcasting corporation`` followed by music and flute. At 1900 OM IDing with 'Zambia' then SINPO 32232 talks in local language (Swahili?) (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Not in Zambia ** ZANZIBAR. 6015, 28.6 0350, R. Tanzania, Zanzibar, Dole, Swahili, long interwiew, local music S2-3 GAL (Giampaolo Galassi, Savignano, Italy, SW Bulletin June 29 via DXLD) ** ZIMABWE [non]. 4880, SW Radio Africa, 1756 June 27, with a tribal song,1800 OM giving web address and frequencies, then with a discussion program , ended at 1812, man with ID, web address , a telephone ..4420, 1813 music and man talking on kowanda then a song, 1824 with talks by two OM, 1842 with a political talk followed by OM with ID, address and same, then closing with a music program. Signal best heard at 4875 [34433] though at TOH and 1830 was QRM from ULX with signal S6 at 1800 gradually enhancing to S9+5 at 1830. Strong FSK on 4884 at a steady S9 (Zacharias Liangas. Thessaloniki. Greece http://www.geocities.com/zliangas/kchibo.pdf DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE [and non]. Update on SW Radio Africa, heard on 4880, this evening from 1600 UT. Schedules for this transmission do not note this change [ex-6145]. Reception is excellent here in the target area, Zimbabwe. 4880 khz is a long time favorite of mine; it`s from the South African facility of Sentech (formerly the SABC, South Africa). (Great to finally confirm this to you all, but it needed a frequency change to confirm it). To gh: The local media hasn`t confirmed yet on the status of the radio station takeover, etc. It won`t affect the Zimbabwe govt`s action, etc. I will keep you informed. Also: Thanks to VOA for their service heard here Mon-Fri on 17895 (and 909 kHz MW from Botswana) from 1700 to 1800 UT (David Pringle-Wood, Harare, Zimbabwe, June 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 15750: Came across an UNID station around 1800-1900 UT, seemingly in Persian [or similar] language, audio level poor, very thiny signal, and IRN? jamming underneath, sounding like a 'idle motion' fax machine. ? Radio Voice of Mojahed" again on air? (wb, June 27, BC-DX via DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2003 MEXICAN NATIONAL DXERS MEETING IN TIZAYUCA, HIDALGO WRMI is a member of the National Association of Shortwave Broadcasters (NASB), to which most of the privately-owned shortwave stations in the U.S. belong, and WRMI General Manager Jeff White has just begun a one- year term as President of the NASB. Jeff will be taking an NASB display to the 2003 Mexican National DXers Meeting in Tizayuca, Hidalgo State (just north of Mexico City) August 1-3. The display will include program schedules and other promotional materials from all 18 NASB member stations. NASB is an associate member of the DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale) Coalition, which is promoting the establishment of digital AM and shortwave broadcasts throughout the world, and at the DX Meeting in Tizayuca there will be the first ever demonstration of DRM reception in Mexico. Several shortwave broadcasters from Mexico and abroad -- as far away as China -- are expected to attend the meeting, as well as shortwave listeners and DXers from throughout Mexico and the United States. For more information on the Mexican National DX Meeting, send an e-mail to: info@w... [presumably info@wrmi.net is the non-truncated version?] (Jeff White, WRMI News, via Noticias DX via DXLD) Tizayuca is where the 1630 X-band station is coming; conventioneers should check into that (gh, DXLD) RECEIVER NEWS +++++++++++++ RADIO YOUR WAY Glenn - Have you seen this? It seems to have been out a while, so I probably just overlooked it... Too bad it doesn't include shortwave! It does have a line-in jack, though http://www.radioyourway.com/ (Doni Rosenzweig, June 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Part of ad: Never miss another radio program again! Blow through commercials allowing you to listen to a 3-hour radio show in half the time. Record 4 1/2 hours on its internal 32MB memory. Can be expanded to another 36 hours with SD/MMC card (256 MB). Be sure to check our accessories to purchase additional memory cards. 10 built-in timers to record your favorite radio shows (via DXLD) NEW TOY: TEN-TEC RX-320D I recently purchased a Ten-Tec RX-320D computer-controlled "black box" receiver. This compact unit, described at http://www.tentec.com/TT320.htm runs off a 15 VDC wall-wart and connects to a PC through a serial port control cable. If audio is to be transferred to the PC's sound card, a separate audio cable is connected for that. Alternately, you can connect headphones or a speaker directly to the radio. The supplied software provides a simple-to-use graphical user interface. One cool feature is the spectrum chart, much like the old Heath panadapters or a rudimentary version of spectrum analyzers used in professional test and measurement labs. There were a few things I wanted to do that I couldn't figure out. Apparently a recording function is not integrated into the software. I wanted to record MP3 or WAV files straight from the receiver software without having to open up other software. Another thing I want to do is have the receiver take in an Excel or tab-delimited text file of times and frequencies for unattended "robot" DXing / recording. Maybe DXers, on their own, have developed C/C++ or Visual Basic code that can do exactly what I want. This would be to record desired frequencies at specified times / dates and also put out a data file consisting of signal strength readings. I could use the receiver as a propagation analyzer or spectrum occupancy study aid. Nick Hall- Patch has done this successfully with another receiver. Conceivably, software could be structured to make decisions such as "If you find this, then go look for that, otherwise go to a different test to decide what to do next". Such disciplined scanning would simulate the actions of a real-life DXer at the dials. Who knows what goodies you might find in the morning on your PC in the MP3 and data summary files if you have this capability ? All this said, how did the receiver perform ? On its built-in whip antenna, a lot of PC, TV, and other house-based hash & oddball buzzy carriers were noted. On a real antenna, fortunately, all that went away. Reception was quite similar to the Drake R8A without its preamplifier engaged. Since I was using a Flag antenna with fairly low output, some daytimers receivable on the R8A (such as CHTN-720) were in the noise floor on the RX-320D. With a less efficient antenna such as a Pennant or Flag, an extra 10 dB of low-noise preamplification would be a great thing. Since this radio is touted more for shortwave than medium wave, sensitivity was probably ratcheted down a bit since SW antennas tend to be much more efficient and closer to a resonant length. I did not note any spurs / intermods, not bad since 50 kW WRKO-680 is less than 3 miles / 5 km away. Even 1360 (=680*2), a perennial overload channel here, had clear WLYN instead of the WRKO overload that my car radio gets. With a bigger antenna, or an amplified one, I might not be quite as lucky. The fast AGC setting didn't seem quite fast enough for quick adjustments of loop, phaser, or variable termination resistance derived nulls. There's a bit of lag time on the PC screen "S-meter". The IF filter selections were good and they seemed effective. I would have liked DSP based continuously-variable bandwidth, but what can you expect for $300 ? It will be interesting to set this up during a decent opening and bag some TA's with it. Its need for the laptop and a +15V supply probably means that I won't be using it in the car on mini-DXpeditions to the seashore. Running this arrangement in a dark, cramped, and (often) cold vehicle doesn't seem likely. Use on a house-based DXpedition (e.g. Cappahayden, Grayland, Chamberlain, Miscou Island, or Sheigra) could be worthwhile however. I'm not sure what the airport security people would make of the little black box. Having the radio integrated to the laptop can be a good thing since logging programs, Geoclock, Euro-MWLog and Pacific Log PDF's could all be accessed. John Bryant, Nick Hall-Patch, and the rest of the Grayland crew have certainly proved this. The D model is supposed to be usable to decode DRM broadcasts. For a review of an earlier version see http://www.anarc.org/naswa/issues/1298/equip1298.html Once I get the unattended recording schemes worked out, I'll be having a lot of fun with this radio (Mark Connelly, WA1ION - Billerica, MA, hard-core-dx via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ TA DX FROM IRELAND JUNE 26TH Hi all, there`s a lot of discussion going on of this amazing reception on the night of June 26th. So I thought I should introduce myself as I have not posted to the list in some time, but regularly read the digests. I am located some 30 miles inland from the Atlantic coast of Ireland in the Northern Irish county of Fermanagh. There isn`t much blocking me from the WNW and it was in this direction that my humble 4 element yagi was pointing Thursday night when the unimaginable happened. For years DXers this side of the pond have discussed and dreamed about a Transatlantic opening. I guess the attraction was the notion of openings in which most of the stations heard are in our own language. Plus the distance of course! Over here we contend with everything from the usual Spanish and Italian openings to Arab North Africa and a slew of stuff from Eastern Europe and former Soviet bloc states. Its all good stuff, but for years the holy grail of DXers over here has been an opening that might span the Atlantic. I think most of us have tried AM DX-ing and after hearing a few signals from North America that way --- I think the idea always comes up at some point, wouldn`t this stuff sound great in stereo! Of course this was all dreaming. Until last Thursday night. The first signs of someth1ng happening were the plots on the 6 metre contact loggers online which showed a wide open path across the pond around 1730 UT. Then all the TV carriers and some audio started rolling in. But then around 1810 there were brief blasts of North American speech on 88.5 interspersed amongst the huge European opening which was in full swing. I just didn't believe my ears. A station came up with a reference to New York and then talk about comedy. (I thought it must be AFN Europe) Then there was a French language station on 88.5 for ages --- maybe 20 minutes and very strong which was giving hints at its source being outside Europe but I didn't want to get too excited --- and then while on the phone to David Hamilton in Scotland the YL DJ said "Radio-Canada" and I couldn't believe my ears. Next was light music on 88.5 coming up to 1900 followed by a full ID on the hour from WHCF Bangor, Maine. And that was it --- no more doubts. I was literally in a state of shock. The distance from my QTH to Bangor Maine is 2756 miles. And I am confident that other stations from along the Eastern seaboard were coming in but the open frequencies like 95.9 sounded like soup. With a number of stations bubbling all over each other. Here`s the final log for what made it through: 88.5 1815 CAN CBAF Moncton NB. YL with "Radio Canada" ID, talk about Brazilian music in French 88.5 1815 CAN CBVG Gaspé QC. CBC English, comedy show, mixing with CBAF. Gaspé just North from NB. Later very good at 1959 88.5 1900 USA WHCF Bangor ME. ID on top of hour and news. Fair to good at times. Later strong Gospel music. 88.7 1910 ? N. American Station, country, with Mark Knopfler country song; not RTE or Radio2. Strong but brief. 92.9 1930 CAN CKLE Bathurst NB. ads, frequent IDs very very strong. Still there at 2000 and after. 92.9 2020 CAN CBTR Roddickton NL. CBC fisheries program --- brief burst of signal giving number in "St. Johns area". 95.9 1952 ? Two North American Stations here: One Contemporary Rock, other Country fighting it out. 97.1 2005 CAN CBTB Baie Vert, NL. Fisheries programme, received on 97.05 due to local QRM. David Hamilton also received this. 97.5 2010 CAN? VOCM St. Johns NL. Presumed Rock music station, heard at same time as 97.1 Baie Verte. 99.3 2015 CAN CBV6 la Malbaie QC? three Quebec stations listed but this one close to Northern NB which seemed centre of opening. In French audible on 99.35 battling with local Lyric FM. I have a recording of a country station heard on 95.9 giving a partial ID and have forwarded it to Mike Bugaj in CT to have a listen to and I think there`s some detective work going on as to what the source of it was. Id like to ask a big favour of members of the WFTDA. Right now for some reason I can`t upload the file to my geocities web page so I wonder if anyone is interested in having a go at solving this one? Please feel free to email me and I will send on the short mp3. I feel the more people get to hear this recording the more chance there is of a positive ID. And as I`m sure you will all know, it's not every day that one gets to hear signals from such distances! So it happened and now everyone over here is hoping for a repeat --- which may or may not come. And I must confess in the days since I have been watching for A2 video a lot and trying to convince myself that Thursday night really did happen. On a personal level I waited 20 years for this opening; I hope that the next one doesn`t take as long. And again- anyone willing to help out with the 95.9 unID, please get in contact- regards for now- (Paul Logan, Lisnaskea, N. Ireland, Location: 54 15 N, 7 27 W in IO64GF; Low VHF Skip and Scanner page http://www.geocities.com/yogi540 WTFDA via DXLD) Here's what I've been able to decipher so far from his file after Mike asked me to. I've used Cool Edit to chop it, slow it, enhance the quality. "It's Finally Friday Shinanagins, Another edition of funny friday" "That`s right if you can name (inaudible) we'll give you a really cool prize" Missy Elliott "Get Your Freak On" in the background. Voice: "From the (oak??) in the McIntyre plaza (inaudible) either GRETCHEN or CATCH IT in the morning (inaudible) someone that knows country (end of clip) 1. This is a North American station 2. By the nature of the promo it was either going into a stopset or coming back from one, which means there were likely ads on either side of it. 3. Where is the McIntyre Plaza? 4. What are country stations on 95.9 in the Maritimes? I can not find any country in the Northeast US, which would have to make me think this was indeed a Canadian Maritime station. I can also not find any good list of formats in the Maritimes (Adam Rivers, MA, ibid.) TA audio and Photos Here! http://fmdx.usclargo.com/unidtadx.htm Maybe YOU can decipher it all for Paul and David (Mike Bugaj, WTFDA via DXLD) There's a McIntyre Plaza in Quincy,MA, and a Mcintire Plaza in Syracuse, NY (Google). (Lenny, ibid.) This sounds like two stations to me. Anyway, I have a couple of comments as to what I hear in it: The end of the clip: "...Most Country, Froggy |end of clip|" It sounds like the slogan is "Froggy _____", which is a common slogan for country stations. It almost sounds like the clip ends right in the middle of the slogan. Also, I don't think they are saying "McIntyre Plaza" as others have thought. There is an unnatural pause after "McIntyre", and the way the announcer stresses the word that follows "McIntyre" doesn't sound consistent with the previous word. To me, it sounds like "....Linda McIntyre, |singular unintelligible word|". (Mike Hawk, NE, ibid.) It vaguely looks like the RTL (German) TV logo --- elongated with three horizontal squares, each containing one of the three letters --- but there's no way to know. You might match up the frequency with all frequencies used by RTL (I don't have a list) and at least eliminate that as a possibility. FWIW, there's a "McIntyre Plaza" of some sort in Thunder Bay, Ontario. (David Austin, Columbia SC, ibid.) Don't get too hung up on the "McIntyre," people...they're clearly saying "Reba McEntire" (listen again for the Reba just before it). (Jeff Kruszka, LA, ibid.) Well, let's see: a Google search comes up with Quincy, MA, Thunder Bay, ON, & Golden, CO ( right! ). Not only haven't I found a country station in the Maritimes, I haven't found one anywhere near the Northeast Coast of North America (Russ Edmunds, PA, ibid.) Right...that was the conclusion I was coming to (Reba McEntire). BTW, I found this link on the web: http://www.froggy101.com/default.asp [Wilkes-Barre and Pittston PA] The site says 101.3 is //95.9. There's a "Doc and Kelley" morning show, which sounds similar to what others have thought they've heard. I know, that's a lot of conclusions to jump to, but might be worth investigating further. :) (Mike Hawk, Omaha, NE, ibid.) I'd considered this, but discarded it as being too far inland, especially as measured along the projected signal path to Ireland. But, in a situation like this, perhaps it's no better to discard things too quickly than to 'decide' on them (Russ Edmunds, ibid.) I agree with Mike about the "McIntyre Plaza". Also at the start of the clip there is something like ".... Friday's in the Northlands its another edition of the funny papers"..... Now as far as David Hamilton's A2 screen shot. This one has me really scratching my head. Maybe I need my eyes checked but to me, in the upper right hand corner there seems to be stylized "3". Like the 3 that both WCAX and WFSB use. To my eyes there is some sort of logo just to the left of that with dark lettering(??) on the top and bottom with what may be a white "C" stuck in between at the start of the logo. Also in the upper left hand corner seems to be the letters "AL". Like I said maybe I'm seeing things but if not then ?????? (Keith McGinnis, Winthrop MA, ibid.) Now that you mention it, that DOES look a lot like the WCAX-3 logo. Call it the power of suggestion, but I definitely see the "3", and WCAX has its call letters horizontal to the left of the "3". (David Austin, Columbia SC, ibid.) Listening again for about the 7th time, I don't hear the "Froggy", however I do now think Mike is right on it not being McIntyre Plaza. I hear "...McIntyre, plus...". I also don't hear the word as "Hamptons" earlier (Russ Edmunds, PA, ibid.) As I sit back and stare at it a little crosseyed, it looks an awful lot to me like a smeary "CTV" logo of the sort commonly seen in the lower right corner of most CTV affiliates...which in turn suggests CKCW-TV Moncton. It does NOT look like anything I've ever seen on WLBZ or WGBH, which would be the US 2s closest to the UK, nor does it look like any of the other Canadian network logos that might be seen on channel 2 (Global's swoosh, CBC/Radio-Canada's exploding pizza). And none of the local affiliates of any of those networks in the Maritimes (with the exception of Global/CTV affiliate "ntv" in Newfoundland) does any sort of local ID in the form of a bug anymore. s (Scott Fybush, NY, ibid.) Here's my take on the TA audio. First, it's a "recycler" promo, played in another day part, promoting the morning show. Here's a transcript of what I hear... Promo Announcer: "...Don't have to. Just think of what you've been missing." [edit] Male DJ: "It's finally Friday and that means it's another edition of Froggy free throws." Female DJ: "That's right, if you can make a shot, we'll give you a really cool [unintelligible]... What's that? [edit] Male DJ: "Reba... With the most Reba McIntyre." [edit] Promo Announcer: "Froggy... Catch it in the morning, with the best and most country, Froggy... [end of clip] I would give a strong vote to "Froggy 101 and 95.9". I wonder if somebody out there can monitor WGGI (95.9), Benton, PA or WGGY (101.3), Scranton, PA to see if they are STILL running a recycler promo that matches. If nothing else, this is fun (Girard Westerberg, Court Approved Expert Witness in Audio Surveillance, Lexington, KY, ibid.) Hi all .. now that I have calmed down a bit I can tell you a little about what happened on Thursday 26 June 2003. About 1800 GMT I did notice on the 6 meter cluster that UK stations were working into Canada etc. so I checked A2 and A4 for carriers and for the next hour the carriers got steadily stronger and video was received on ch A2. Paul Logan from Ireland did phone me that he was hearing US stations on 88.5 and I did say a few choice words to him when he told me his recorder wasn't running. So this was it. After the disappointment of my short reception on Monday I started tuning around. I did hear some weak TV audio on 87.75 and some French on 88.3 and 88.5 but nothing strong enough for a recording. After a short while I thought this is not going to happen so I actually tuned to 97.1 to see if there was any tropo. After 5 mins I heard a weak YL, then it got stronger and then I heard the US/Canadian accent and I thought I was dreaming. The recording button was hit with a vengeance. Paul Logan and Tim Bucknall were phoned and were told I was getting Canada on 97.1 .. yes 97.1 .. I think Tim and Paul were in a state of shock. Shock doesn't adequately describe how I was feeling at the time! The first reception was of a court case about a driving accident and the next was the fishing report with John Murphy ... thanks Mark Hattam for the website ... this has turned out to be CBTB-FM in Baie Verte, Newfoundland, Canada with 5 kW but after telephoning the station I was told it is a old transmitter and puts out much less. I also did a small interview for them. I have over 20 recordings to sort out and also possible A2 video pics and screen grabs from A2 and A4 video. So what's next ... South America? Well, after Thursday`s propagation anything is possible as Paul had N America up to 99.3 MHz. Thanks everyone for the help especially Paul Logan and Tim Bucknall Equipment used: Sony ST SB920, 2 x 6 element stack Icom PCR 1000, dsp, 4 element band 1 yagi Plustron TVRC 5D band 1 tv Spectrum Lab software web site http://www.geocities.com/tvdxrools/index.htm (David Hamilton, Scotland, UK, June 29, WTFDA via DXLD) Hi Folks! I asked David Hamilton about potential TA targets for this side of the Atlantic. He graciously (and with much apparent work and research) sent me this list, which I now share with the group. I know you folks in the Maritimes and New England should be able to get results with info like this. Happy hunting! Regards, (Curtis Sadowski, WTFDA via DXLD) YOU CAN TRY THESE IN UK AND FRANCE .. REMEMBER I GOT CBTB WHICH ONLY RUNS 5 KW ... ALL THE BEST LUCK .... IF I CAN DO IT YOU CAN ... REGARDS ... DAVID HAMILTON FRANCE 88.700 F Lille-Bouvigny ''France Musiques'' 400.000 Watt QTH: 02e39/50n25 89.000 F Le Mans-Mayet ''France Culture'' 200.000 Watt QTH: 00e19/47n45 89.400 F Brest-Roc Tredudon ''France Musiques'' 50.000 Watt QTH: 03w53/48n24 89.900 F Rennes/St.Pern ''France Musiques'' 100.000 Watt QTH: 01w57/48n17 90.600 F Nantes/Haute-Goulaine ''France Inter'' 200.000 Watt QTH: 01w26/47n11 92.600 F Le Mans-Mayet ''France Inter'' 270.000 Watt QTH: 00e19/47n45 95.400 F Brest-Roc Tredudon ''France Inter'' 50.000 Watt QTH: 03w53/48n24 95.600 F Caen-Mont Pinson ''France Musiques'' 100.000 Watt QTH: 00w36/48n58 96.000 F Vannes-Moustoir'Ac ''France Culture'' 20.000 Watt QTH: 02w53/47n49 96.400 F Niort-Melle ''France Culture'' 200.000 Watt QTH: 00w03/46n11 97.800 F Brest-Roc Tredudon ''France Culture'' 50.000 Watt QTH: 03w53/48n24 98.300 F Rennes-St.Pern ''France Culture'' 100.000 Watt QTH: 01w57/48n17 98.900 F Nantes/Haute-Goulaine ''France Musiques'' 200.000 Watt QTH: 01w26/47n11 99.600 F Caen-Mont Pinson ''France Inter'' 50.000 Watt QTH: 00w36/48n58 100.100 F Rouen-Grand Couronne ''France Bleu Haute Normandie'' 115.000 Watt QTH: 01e00/49n20 101.000 F Niort-Melle ''France Bleu Poitou'' 50.000 Watt QTH: 00w28/46n20 101.300 F Vannes-Moustoir'Ac ''France Bleu Armorique'' 20.000 Watt QTH: 02w53/47n49 101.800 F Nantes/Haute-Goulaine ''France Bleu Loire Ocean'' 158.000 Watt QTH: 01w26/47n11 102.600 F Caen-Mont Pinson ''France Bleu Basse Normandie'' 100.000 Watt QTH: 00w36/48n58 103.100 F Rennes-St.Pern ''France Bleu Armorique'' 100.000 Watt QTH: 01w57/48n17 103.900 F Saintes-Preguillac ''France Bleu La Rochelle'' 60.000 Watt QTH: 00w37/45n39 105.500 F Nantes/Haute-Goulaine ''France Info'' 200.000 Watt: QTH: 01w26/47n11 105.500 F Niort/Melle ''France Info'' 200.000 Watt QTH: 00w03/46n11 105.500 F Rennes/St.Pern ''France Info'' 100.000 Watt QTH: 01w57/48n17 105.700 F Rouen-Grand Couronne ''France Info'' 100.000 Watt QTH: 01e00/49n20 UK 88.1 G Sandale ''BBC2'' 250.000 Watt QTH: 03w08/54n55 88.7 G Blaenplwyf ''BBC2'' 250.000 Watt QTH: 04w06/52n22 89.9 G Blackhill/Bathgate ''BBC2'' 250.000 Watt QTH: 03w52/55n52 90.9 G Meldrum ''BBC3'' 150.000 Watt QTH: 02w24/57n23 93.1 G Londonderry ''BBC R. Ulster'' 31.000 Watt QTH: 07w22/55n00 93.1 G Meldrum ''BBC R. Scotland'' 150.000 Watt QTH: 02w24/57n23 94.3 G Black Hill/Bathgate ''BBC R. Scotland'' 250.000 Watt QTH: 03w52/55n52 94.5 G Divis ''BBC R. Ulster'' 125.000 Watt QTH: 06w01/54n36 98.1 G Skriaig ''BBC1'' 30.000 Watt QTH: 06w15/57n23 98.7 G Melvaig ''BBC1'' 50.000 Watt QTH: 05w47/57n51 99.7 G Divis ''BBC1'' 250.000 Watt QTH: 06w01/54n36 99.9 G Sandale ''Classic FM'' 250.000 Watt QTH: 03w08/54n45 100.5 G Meldrum ''Classic FM'' 150.000 Watt QTH: 02w24/57n23 101.9 G Divis ''Classic FM'' 250.000 Watt QTH: 06w01/54n36 IRELAND ... THE BEST CHANCE I THINK 88.8 EI Maghera ''RTE Radio 1'' 180.000 Watt QTH: 08w43/52n57 91.0 EI Maghera ''RTE Radio 2 FM'' 160.000 Watt QTH: 08w43/52n57 91.8 EI Mount Leinster ''RTE Radio 2 FM''100.000 Watt QTH: 06w47/52n37 92.3 EI Mullaghanish ''RTE Radio 2 FM'' 160.000 Watt QTH: 09w09/51n59 93.2 EI Maghera ''RTE Radio Na Gaeltachta'' 160.000 Wat QTH: 08w43/52n57 94.4 EI Mullaghanish ''RTE Radio Na Gaeltachta''160.000 Watt QTH: 09w09/51n59 99.6 EI Mullaghanish ''RTE Lyric FM'' 80.000 Watt QTH: 09w09/51n59 101.8 EI Mullaghanish ''Radio Today'' 80.000 Watt QTH: 09w09/51n59 103.7 EI Monagahn ''KISS FM'' 40.000 Watt QTH: 06w58/54n15 105.5 EI Clermont Carn ''Today FM'' 40.000 Watt QTH: 06w19/54n05 SURFIN': WEATHER IN SPACE AND YOUR RADIO http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2003/06/27/100/?nc=1 By Stan Horzepa, WA1LOU Contributing Editor Visit a Web site that tracks the weather in space and learn how that weather can effect radio communication. Since sun activity has such a pronounced effect on radio propagation conditions here on Earth, a visit to Tony Phillips' SpaceWeather.com Web site will be of interest to radio hams. http://www.spaceweather.com/ The site bills itself as a source for "science news and information about the Sun-Earth environment." It provides the current state of solar wind, solar flares, sunspots, coronal holes, interplanetary magnetic field, and geomagnetic storms, all of which effect how well our radios put out and pull in signals. If you visit the SpaceWeather.com archives and enter June 10 or 11, 2003, in the "Select a Date" field, you can view some amazing screen shots that will be of particular interest to ham radio operators. On those days, Phillips posted a dynamic spectrum of a shortwave radio blackout following an X-class solar flare. How many times have you found yourself away from the radio at the wrong time? The SpaceWeather.com Web site offers a service that will alert you by telephone when something important is occurring or about to occur. "Spaceweather PHONE" is the name of this service and ham radio operators use it to learn about solar flares, radio blackouts and space station flybys. You can also sign up for an e-mail subscription to the Space Weather News at this Web site. While exploring the SpaceWeather.com Web site, you will discover a lot of fascinating things, especially if you are interested in outer space. Some are related to radio, some are not, but are very interesting nonetheless. For example, I learned that between now and July 10th, three NASA rockets will launch from Wallops Island, VA, to disperse a chemical called trimethylaluminum (TMA) in the near space over the Atlantic Ocean to study the ionosphere. This will result in beautifully glowing clouds when TMA reacts with air and these clouds will be visible along the US East Coast. I remember viewing similar clouds back when I was a kid and I look forward to seeing them again 40 years later! My thanks go out to reader Mike Heiler, KA0ZLG, for suggesting the SpaceWeather.com Web site. Until next time, keep on surfin'. [Now that you're armed with the numbers, you can click on over to the ARRL Technical Information Service's Propagation Page http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html for details on how to use those numbers to your advantage while operating. There you can find the excellent Ian Poole, G3YWX, article "Understanding Solar Indices." http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/pdf/0209038.pdf The TIS Propagation Page also has technical articles, information for beginners, links and discussion on the finer points of solar weather and its effects on the ionosphere. --Ed.] Stan Horzepa, WA1LOU, resides in downtown Wolcott, Connecticut, and has been a QST writer for over 25 years. Since getting his ticket in 1969, Stan has sampled nearly every entrée in the Amateur Radio menu (including a stint as Connecticut Section Manager), but he keeps coming back to his favorite preoccupations: VHF and packet radio. As a result, he runs a 2-meter APRS digipeater and weather station (WA1LOU-15) from his mountaintop location in central Connecticut. Stan, a long time advocate of using computers with Amateur Radio, wrote programs to dupe contests and calculate antenna bearings way back in 1978. Today, he is on the board of directors of Tucson Amateur Packet Radio (TAPR) and uses his Mac to surf the Internet searching for that perfect ham radio Web page. To contact Stan, send e-mail to wa1lou@arrl.net. Page last modified: 04:14 PM, 27 Jun 2003 ET Page author: awextra@arrl.org Copyright © 2003, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved (via John Norfolk) ###