DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-125, July 14, 2003 edited by Glenn Hauser, ghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted later at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd3g.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 1190: RFPI: Tue 1900, Wed 0100, 0730, 1330 on 7445/15039 WWCR: Wed 0930 on 9475 WRN ONDEMAND: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also for CONTINENT OF MEDIA]: Check http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html [Low] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1190.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1190.ram [High] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1190h.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1190h.ram (Summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1190.html ** BOUGAINVILLE. PNG: RADIO INDEPENDENT ME'EKAMUI BACK ON AIR Me'ekamui Government hardliners' statement / RADIO INDEPENDENT ME'EKAMUI back on air --- Dear Friends and Supporters, Hello and greetings from Me'ekamui Government hardliners in the Solomon Islands [Honiara]. Francis Ona still remains the wild card in the eyes of the PNG Government and their supporters and funders. We are still fighting for self-determination or independence with not going through step by step, meaning Autonomy or State Government rather than Independence. We believe that the system of going through step by step will not get anywhere or at last we will go back to PNG. Therefore, our stand is that if anybody or any government wants to negotiate with us, they must negotiate independence, no more no less. RADIO INDEPENDENT ME'EKAMUI is back on air again after been off air for some time. Crucial parts have been brought across in the middle of last month, and reception is very clear here in the Solomons. Me'ekamui Government hardliners (via M. Watts-AUS Jul 1, 2003 in PNGSA-ML for CRW via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 4924.97, Rádio Educacão Rural, Tefé. July 2003 - 0200 UT. After having heard several "Radio Cura" IDs and also an "R.C.R." I sent the recording to our member Christer Brunström/CB, who directly heard it was Rádio Educação Rural in Tefé. "Radio Cura" and "R.C.R." could be names of a program. Thanks Christer! 3375.15, Rádio Municipal, São Gabriel da Cachoeira. July 2003 at 0100 UT. This station has for many years been listed as "Radio Nacional..." but I think they instead give ID as "Radio Municipal...". Does anybody know of any change of name? The station has a somewhat dull modulation so it is difficult to be 100% sure. QRM from two stations only a few Hz below in frequency -- one SS and one PP. Listen to the recording from this occasion: http://homepage.sverige.net/~a-0901/ An audio clip, for the first time with a Brazilian station (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin July 13, translated by SWB editor Thomas Nilsson for DX Listening Digest) De acuerdo al nro. 214 del boletín Dexismo la Rádio Nacional de Tabatinga, AM, no volverá a la frecuencia de 4815 kHz luego del traspaso por parte de Radiobrás a la Prefectura del Municipio de Tabatinga. No se informó si continuará identificándose como Rádio Nacional o si ya cambió de nombre como le acaba de acontecer a la Rádio Municipal (ya no Nacional) de São Gabriel da Cachoeira, AM, que transmite en 600 y 3375 kHz. Este último cambio de nombre lo reporta desde Quito, Ecuador, el colega Björn Malm. ¿Alguien sabe cuándo se efectuaron estos cambios? (Henrik Klemetz, Suecia, radioescutas via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. ZYJ260 RÁDIO ALVORADA DE LONDRINA ON AM & SW Londrina, July 4 (CRU) --- One of the older Catholic radio stations in Brasil is ZYJ260 Rádio Alvorada (Radio Dawn) de Londrina 970 AM. Two years ago this month, Padre Sílvio Andrei SAC became the new director, adding the station to his duties as chief advisor on mass media for the Archdiocese of Londrina, spiritual director of the Fundação Mater et Magistra of the archdiocese, and correspondent to the bishops` television network, Rede Vida de Televisão. Padre Andrei also does a good deal of on-air work. He handles three programs daily: ``Microfona de Deus,`` brief segments handling questions from listeners, heard daily from 8:30 in the morning until noon. In the afternoons he can be heard in ``A Tarde é Nossa`` (The Afternoon is Ours) with moments of prayer, from noon until 3:30 p.m. Finally, between 5 and 6 p.m., he handles the program ``Diálogo com Deus.`` This last opens with a prayers, unforgettable music, additional prayers, reflections on the work of San Vicente Palotti—the founder of the Palotines order, a witness of the faith, the segment on ``God Arranges My Life,`` Blessing of water and other objects, and program wrap-up. Database Londrina: ZYJ260 Rádio Alvorada de Londrina 970 AM (5,000 watts días, 1,000 watts noches), y ZYG641 en 4865 khz (5,000 watts). Diocese of Londrina. Fundação Mater et Magistra de Londrina. Rua Dom Bosco, 145, 86060-340 Londrina PR. Teléfonos: (43) 3347-0606, fax 3347-0303 E- mail: pascom@arquidiocesedelondrina.com.br Padre Sílvio Andrei, SAC, director. 0400-1200 horas. Website: http://www.dialogocomdeus.com.br/radio.html The diocesan webpages do not list the shortwave station (Catholic Radio Update July 14 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 5955, Rádio Canção Nova, via Rádio Gazeta Universitária, 0950-1000, July 13. Portuguese. Complete ID, slogan: "A Voz Católica", 34443 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina) 5955, Rádio Gazeta Universitária (New name????), São Paulo, 1000-1006, July 13. Portuguese. Pips. Complete ID by male. Programa "Jornal", Other ID as: "agora, a Gazeta é Universitária", 34443 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. A Rádio Alvorada, de Rio Branco (AC), transmite pela freqüência de 2460 kHz, entre 0800 e 0200. Endereço: Avenida Ceará, 2150, Jardim Nazle, CEP: 69900-460, Rio Branco (AC). O endereço eletrônico do diretor José Severiano é o seguinte: severian_jose@brturbo.com. As informações são do Paulo Roberto e Souza, de Tefé (AM). (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX July 14 via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. Hola Amigos DXistas! Alcaraván Radio se ha movido a la frecuencia de 6009.96 kHz. Durante bastante tiempo ha ocupado 6009.78 kHz. QRM de HCJB 6010.00 kHz con alemán o "bajo alemán", transmisiones para Sudamérica. HCJB no está en el aire en esta frecuencia cada día. 73s de (Björn Malm, Ecuador, July 14, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Well, the current HCJB SW transmission schedule at http://www.hcjb.org/Sections+index-req-viewarticle-artid-6-page-1.html claims 6010 is used only at 0930-1030 but seven days a week, in high, and then low German: 0930 1030 6010 100 155 S. America 1111111 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. Did you know RHC has a DX program in French? And more great listening on Saturdays: 5 contre le terrorisme (Programme consacré aux 5 Cubains prisonniers politiques aux États-Unis) En alternance: HIT PARADE DE LA MUSIQUE CUBAINE ET RENCONTRES HERTZIENNES (En collaboration avec le club de Dxeurs francophones "Amitié Radio") and Sundays: LA SEMAINE À CUBA (Résumé de l´actualité des 7 derniers jours); LE MONDE DE LA PHILATÉLIE (Collaboration de nos auditeurs, émissions cubaines); RÉPONSE À TOUT, RÉPONSE À TOUS (Programme élaboré avec les lettres des auditeurs, réponse à toutes leurs questions sur Cuba) You may be disappointed, however, if you believe the frequencies posted, as we have heard the 2000 broadcast on 9505 and 11760 instead of: EUROPE 11670 KHZ-25M 2000-2030 UT 11670 KHZ-25M 2130-2200 UT CARAÏBES 6180 KHZ-49M 2200-2230 UT 6180 KHZ-49M 0000-0030 UT AMÉRIQUE DU NORD 6180 KHZ-49M 0030-0100 UT 6180 KHZ-49M O130-0200 UT (Glenn Hauser, from RHC website July 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. More on satellite jamming for IRAN: q.v. ** ECUADOR. Quito 12/07/2003 11:28:25 a.m. Tomorrow, Sunday my wife and I will go to Riobamba to sign a contract with Miguel, a building contractor and father to our Indian godchild Carolina. After a long time of thinking we finally decided to build another floor on top of our little one etage house. Has this something to do with DX? Yes, on top of the big roof terrace we will add another ``floor`` with one tiny room, 3x4 meter. A work-room containing among others my radio equipment. A nice view towards the airport and TL (Tore Larsson) suggested in a mail that I can work extra as a aircraft coordinator...". Nothing of real excitement has occurred during the last 14-days; I have some additional unID LA stations but will come back later. Some various notes from Avenida La Prensa: 4781.38, Radio Oriental, Tena (Ecuador) is now active (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin July 13, translated by SWB editor Thomas Nilsson for DX Listening Digest) see also BRAZIL, COLOMBIA, PERU, UNIDENTIFIED ** INDIA. All India Radio (AIR) heard this morning, 14 JULY, from tune-in at 0315 and still on the air at 0445 UT on 15085 kHz. Weak to fair signal, the language could be Hindi? I am not sure. Not // 15075 kHz. I think I have not heard AIR on this frequency and at this time before. GOOD DX, (Karel Honzik the Czech Republic (Czechia), hard-core-dx via DXLD) SW Guide still has Iran on 15084, but not during this time period; AIR scheduled on 15075 in Hindi and Gujarati (gh, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM [non]. FM RADIO'S WEAPON: LOCAL NEWS, WEATHER AND TRAFFIC --- By SARAH ANDERSON, Special to The Advocate From http://www.2theadvocate.com/stories/071303/bus_biz2001.shtml Satellite radio providers flaunt their crystalline sound, nationwide broadcast area and extensive station selection, but opponents complain something is missing -- Louisiana spice. XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. has NASCAR auto racing but no Tigers sports. Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. offers 16 news and weather streams, but you won't hear about the traffic jam on the 10-12 split. If satellite radio services continue to win over FM listeners, local flavor could be jeopardized, some Baton Rouge radio executives said. "We don't want to think about that," said John Gallent, manager of alternative station KLSU. "The job of a DJ can be taken away pretty quickly." But many FM bigwigs aren't too worried about the new technology, which provides listeners with niche programming, everything from Caribbean music to the BBC World News. "If people want to hear prehistoric Hungarian folk music, that's great they have a place for that," said Paul Cannell, program director for Citadel Communications, which houses six of its 200 radio stations in Baton Rouge. Satellite radio will never be able to offer the personality hometown stations have, so AM and FM are here to stay, Cannell said. The two formats complement each other well and encourage healthy competition, said Bob Murphy, director of programming for Clear Channel Radio Inc., which also owns six Baton Rouge stations and also has a 3 percent ownership stake in XM. "One thing we understand is that people, when they wake up in the morning and are heading to work, want local news, local traffic and local weather," said Murphy, who also co-hosts the 96.1 The River morning show "Murphy, Sam and Jodi." "It (satellite radio) will continue to make radio stations focus heavily on the community," Murphy added. The role of FM could get narrower as satellite radio expands, but Jim Collins, vice president for corporate communications at Sirius, said the two most likely will coexist, since satellite systems don't override AM/FM sets. "We're not trying to supplant regular broadcast radio," Collins said. "There will always be a place for local broadcasts -- weather, news and sports. "We see ourselves as an enhancement rather than a replacement." Gallent said he worries about local artists, who don't have a national radio outlet like KLSU offers. They may have a harder time breaking into the music scene if national programming edges out small-town broadcasting. Gallent guessed that in a decade, FM would take a backseat to satellite radio. XM and Sirius have seen subscriptions soar in the last year -- XM's sales have more than tripled since midyear 2002. But FM audiences will probably stay tuned in for a few more years, attracted by the intimacy local stations provide, Gallent said. "The more you have a personalized DJ, the more people like to listen to the music," he said. However, the corporatization of many American radio stations could lead them to early graves, Gallent added, referring to radio giants such as Citadel, with its 200 stations, and Clear Channel, which operates about 1,200 radio stations. The conglomerates intertwine local programs with syndicated shows and often overlap from one station to the next, Gallent complained. But, as market-driven businesses, radio stations have to provide popular music and programming to appeal to wider audiences, Murphy explained. Although the university-owned, nonprofit KLSU isn't as affected by market forces as most stations, Gallent said he doesn't plan on going down with the FM ship. "After we graduate," he said, "hopefully we'll be able to get jobs with XM to save ourselves." (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [non]. U S A. MUSEUM SHIPS WEEKEND ACTIVITY The Museum Ships Special Event, sponsored by the USS Cassin Young ARC, will take place between 0001z, July 19th to 2359z, July 20th. Over 72 ships and submarines will be taking part in this world-wide event. For a list of stations, please visit: http://www.qsl.net/ww2dd/event.html Look for NA5DV to be active from the historical San Jacinto Battleground State Park in south Texas. The Houston Vintage Radio Association is restoring the original radio room with vintage radios and will be operating the station on this Special Event weekend. Look them up at: http://www.hvra.org Members of USS Kidd ARC will operate W5KID in Baton Rouge, LA, aboard the USS Kidd, DD-661, with a minimum of two stations through the weekend. They will periodically put out a beacon on the APRS network, so you can go to the following Web page for updates on the frequencies where they are operating at: http://www.findu.com/cgi-bin/find.cgi?call=w5kid Lightship Columbia WLV-604 will be active as W7BU during the Museum Ships Weekend. QSL via W7LY. A #10 S.A.S.E. envelope will get you a certificate from the last Lightship to see service on the Pacfic coast. Fred Lesnick, VE3FAL, will be operating from aboard the Tugboat James Whalen on Saturday, July 19th, from 10 am to 4 pm local time. This is also in conjunction with the annual HarborFest, so lots of people will be in and out. He is going to be putting up a 40 foot vertical that was given to the owner when one of the Canada Steamship Lines ships was scrapped in Thunder Bay. A picture of the Whalen is on the following Web page at: http://www.city.thunder-bay.on.ca/index.cfm/fuse/html/pg/297.htm (KB8NW/OPDX July 14/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [non]. Weather broadcasts on 12789.9 and other frequencies are from Coast Guard station NMG in New Orleans (Mike Cooper, July 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN. IRAN PAID CUBAN EXPERTS TO DISRUPT SATELLITE DEBKAfile Special Report July 9, 2003 The ruling mullahs also managed, in a move unprecedented in the annals of broadcasting, to jam the signals that Farsi-language television stations in Los Angeles send via ground stations to satellites that beam the anti-government programs into Iran. The tactic was a departure from partially successful attempts in the past to block transmissions from the satellites themselves, jamming that touched off protests by ordinary Iranians and even reformists. This time, DEBKAfile's sources report, Iran paid Cuban experts handsome fees to disrupt the uplink itself, stopping even exiled Iranians in Canada and Europe from tuning in. The United States has not protested this violation of its airwaves, although owners of the Farsi-language television stations in Los Angeles intend to complain to President George W. Bush and demand an inquiry (Excerpted from "Tehran Police Drive Wedge between Islamic Vigilantes and Students") http://www.debka.com/article.php?aid=520 (DEBKAfile Jul 9, 2003 via N. Grace-USA for CRW via DXLD) See also USA ** IRAN. IRANIAN MINISTER CRITICIZES JAMMING OF SATELLITE SIGNALS The Iranian minister of post, telegraph and telephone, Ahmad Mo'tamedi, has criticized the practice of jamming satellite pictures. "As far as the technology is concerned, we should use its benefits and minimize its damage," he said. "We believe that the current method that is used to deal with satellite pictures is not right ... we should not ban the principle of satellites, but define the legitimate satellites and sign agreements under which good satellite channels can be offered to the people for viewing," Mo'tamedi added. In his view, the current practice of jamming satellite signals had not been done through legal channels, it had created problems for satellite channel users and had harmed telecommunications systems. On the subject of filtering Internet sites, the minister said that Iran might be among the last to use filtering software, and it had not gone to extremes in the methods used. The following is the text of a report: "Minister of post, telegraph and telephone: Jamming is not done through legal channels", published by the Iranian newspaper Yas-e Now web site on 12 July: The way in which satellite pictures are now being dealt with has not had and will not have favourable results. In other words, we should not ban satellites. We should define the legitimate satellites in various ways. Dr Ahmad Mo'tamedi, minister of post, telegraph and telephone who was speaking in an interview with ISNA, discussed the best ways of countering new technology, and namely satellites. He also commented on the existence of satellite jamming in the country and said: I do not think that throughout the country and in various sectors, individual decisions can deny the principle of the existence of satellites and its benefits. However, there have always been concerns given the absence of control over receiving satellite pictures and the threat against our country's culture. But this is not exclusive to Iran. Western countries too have similar concerns. Therefore, it is right to seek ways to deal with this issue. But as far as technology is concerned, we should use its benefits and minimize its damage. He added: The main point is the method of countering this. We believe that the current method that is used to deal with satellite pictures is not right and it does not and will not have a favourable outcome. In other words, we should not ban the principle of satellites, but define the legitimate satellites and sign agreements under which good satellite channels can be offered to the people for viewing. He noted: We should use the benefits of this technology. Thus, satellite jamming is wrong. Even if in the short-run it appears to be a correct solution, it should be done through legal channels. But this is currently not the case; and this has created problems for those who use satellite channels. It has also harmed telecommunication systems as well. Speaking about the measures adopted by the Ministry of Post, Telegraph and Telephone on this issue, Dr Mo'tamedi said: There is a law on this. First, the point of transmission and the frequencies can be found and based on the law and established instructions, immediate steps can be taken to gather equipment without taking the case to court. However, in government-related sectors the issue cannot be directly dealt with. In the recent case, things progressed according to the law. The legal phases should be completed, and as soon as we receive the orders, we will start to collect the jamming equipment. Referring to the filtering of Internet sites, he said: This is a prevalent principle in the world. We may be among the last countries that are using filtering software. During the past few years, the highest figures on filtering have been in the Persian Gulf littoral states where the Internet is 100-per-cent government-controlled. This is not an issue that has to do only with the Third World countries. It also applies to the Western countries. However, the methods that are used are different. He added: In some countries, a number of ISPs filter immoral sites, something that has been welcomed by families. In cases where national security is threatened or individuals are insulted, filtering is carried out by the government. In our country, too I believe that despite the millions of sites, we did not go to extremes in the methods that we used, and we are always open to criticism and review. He recalled: According to the decision by the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council - a decision that was confirmed by the Islamic Consultative Assembly and signed by the president - a three-man committee comprising representatives of the Culture and Islamic Guidance Ministry, the Voice and Vision of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the Intelligence Ministry has been formed and assigned the duty of filtering obscene Internet sites and sites that are against national security. Within this context, the duty of filtering immoral sites has been assigned to telecommunications as a matter of principle, and thus far, no-one has criticized this filtering. However, this committee believes that the critical sites should not be blocked. Speaking about the number of sites that have been made public, he said: I think that these are about 160-170 in number, with the exception of the sites that have been identified as being indecent. Among these about 50 per cent are sites of counter-revolutionary groups and of the Monafeqin [hypocrites - pejorative for the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization], as well as offensive sites; and one cannot expect that action will not be taken against these sites. The remainder is sites that insult religions. About seven to nine news sites too have been blocked. Specifically, two sites were allowed to operate 24 hours later after criticism and examination. Since that date, we have not received any protests. Dr Mo'tamedi noted: The important point here is the existence of more precise regulations so that as the first step, some sites can be warned and then - after going through the various phases - they can be countered and closed down as the last phase. We may set a difference especially among the domestic sites and the sites that are directed from abroad. News sites should be registered in a place such as the Ministry of Guidance. Of course, the intention behind this is not in order to issue a permit. But by registering, if there is a complaint the issue can be followed up. He added: The mere approval of Internet regulations at the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council should not mean that all the other regulations should be questioned, since this council's regulations have been very helpful in the development of the country's IT. Mo'tamedi said, as regards assessing the resolutions by the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council on the Internet and their conformity with the views of experts: Because of the absence of laws in the Internet sector, during the past two years there has been confusion over permits to Internet cafes or over ISPs and ASPs (international terminals) and these centres have always been cautious in continuing their activities. He added: Therefore, a relevant draft regulation was prepared by the Post, Telegraph and Telephone Ministry and was discussed at the Supreme Council of Information Dissemination. At that time, this council's decision was thought to have been sufficient. But because of the cultural aspect of the issue, the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council stated that this regulation should be discussed at this council. He went on to say: After going through a process, this regulation went to the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council and over six sessions, more than 90 per cent of the initial regulation was discussed and compiled. Generally speaking, we are satisfied with this outcome since we were able to issue the permits for Internet cafes and more than 300 ISPs and to define ECP, POP, and IDC so that the private sectors could carry on operating. In other words, private sectors will be more confident when there is a law, even if incomplete. He clarified: The conditions in these regulations are more progressive and better in comparison to similar regulations in other places. Merely because something has been approved in one place or another should not mean that the entire regulation should be questioned, since this regulation has been very helpful for the country's IT development thus far, even though there are shortcomings. We believe that the major laws such as laws on Internet offences, electronic trade, and electronic signature should be approved by the Majlis. Source: Yas-e Now web site, Tehran. in Persian 12 Jul 03 p 15 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. 4691.0, *0127-0135, Clandestine, 29-06. Voice of Mojahed, Farsi. Opened with martial music by orchestra and was jammed, 0128 jumped to 4670.2 and the jammer followed 0129, 0130 Drums, short announcement, fanfare and ID: "Seda-ye Mojahed, seda-ye Mojahedine Khalq Iran". Talk about Iran and short orchestral interludes. 43443. The jammer was also heard on 5350, 5640 with talk jumping to 5660, 6460, 6750, 7000, 7050, 8240, 8350 and 8600. Mojahed 2 on 7070 seems to be off the air (Anker Petersen, Skovlunde, Dinamarca, receptor AOR 7030, longwires 40 metros, @tividade DX via DXLD) ** IRAQ. MOSUL TV FIGHTS FOR INDEPENDENCE - by Andy Sennitt, 14 July Coalition efforts to rebuild the Iraqi media appear to be running into serious difficulties. There are now clear differences between some local military commanders and the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) in Baghdad over the best way to run regional stations. A case in point is the TV station in Mosul, in northern Iraq, where the local military are opposing efforts by the CPA in Baghdad to take over the station and integrate it into the structure of the Iraq Media Network.. . [illustrated] http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/features/html/mosul030714.html (RN Media Network July 14 via DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. "COMICAL ALI" LEAVES BAGHDAD, MIGHT NOT EVER RETURN DUBAI, July 11 (Reuters) --- Former Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf, who earned the nickname "Comical Ali" during the U.S.-led war on Iraq, made a sudden appearance in Abu Dhabi on Friday, saying he might not return to his homeland. "When I leave I always have in my mind that I might not come down this road again, but I hope and pray to God that I can return to Baghdad one day," he said on Abu Dhabi Television. Sahaf, 63, became an unlikely media star during the war, winning his stripes as a hero to many in the Arab world while Western audiences gasped and then chuckled at his bravado. He earned his unflattering nickname for proclaiming the defeat of U.S. forces even as American troops advanced into Baghdad, and for his habit of handling loaded weapons during news conferences. "Hopefully, all of them (Arab countries) are our nation, but you always hope to return to your homeland with your memories," said Sahaf, who was shown arriving at the airport in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Sahaf said he had mixed feelings about leaving Baghdad. "I have the same feeling as any ordinary citizen...It didn't mean much to me to be a minister. But this time I have really mixed feelings, of sadness and hope," said Sahaf, who was met at the airport by a UAE delegation. The station showed excerpts of Sahaf talking on the plane, flagging an interview to be shown at 2000 GMT. Sahaf, who was not on the U.S. "most wanted" list, was freed last month after he surrendered to U.S. forces in Baghdad. In the Arab world, Sahaf gained fame for his colourful use of the Arabic language, using archaic insults to describe the U.S. and British invaders which had Arab commentators debating their meaning and poring over dictionaries. He branded the British and U.S. leaders "an international gang of criminal bastards," "blood-sucking bastards," ignorant imperialists, losers and fools. In his first interview last month after Baghdad's downfall, also with Abu Dhabi Television, Sahaf defended his press briefings during the conflict. "The information was correct but the interpretations were not," he said, adding: "I did my duty up to the last minute." The former information minister spawned a mini industry in the West with Sahaf T-shirts, mugs, dolls and videos, and a host of websites poking fun at his rhetorical style. 07/11/03 08:27 ET (via AOL Canada News via Fred Waterer, DXLD) ** ISRAEL. IBA - cuts From Haaretz: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=317546&contrassID=2&subContrassID=1&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y PLANNED CHANGES AT RADIO, TV STATIONS PUT ON ICE By Anat Balint Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA) Director General Yosef Barel announced yesterday that he had reached an agreement with Industry and Trade Minister Ehud Olmert to freeze all planned changes in the broadcasting hours of Voice of Israel radio stations and IBA television stations until a committee headed by Ra'anan Dinur, the director general of Olmert's ministry, finishes formulating a reform program for public broadcasting. According to the government's decision, the committee will submit its conclusions within two months. The panel has yet to commence its work. Barel announced as much yesterday in a letter he sent to the chairman of the Knesset's Education Committee, MK Ilan Shalgi (Shinui), in advance of a committee discussion to take place on Wednesday about planned changes at the IBA. Barel's plan to consolidate broadcasts on Reshet Alef, the Voice of Music and Reka (which airs programs focusing on new immigrants) into one culture channel will not happen in the near future, following the announcement, and the same is true of his plan to cancel the Mediterranean channel's Arabic-language satellite broadcasts and merge them with Channel 33's programs. Olmert vehemently opposed the closing of these stations, in particular the Voice of Music and Reka. He was not alone; Many MKs and extra- parliamentary organizations had voiced their vociferous objections to the closure of the stations. The committee headed by Dinur was set up as part of a government decision prompted by the Finance Ministry to cut around NIS 200 million from the IBA budget by 2006 through a reduction in the television license. It was decided that at the same time as the budget cut, a program of reforms would be devised for the public broadcasting structure. Dinur's committee will include representatives of the Finance and Justice Ministries who will soon be joined by public representatives to be appointed by Olmert and Justice Minister Yosef (Tommy) Lapid. In his letter to Shalgi, Barel wrote that he agrees that the committee should be the one to formulate a policy on the appropriate budget for every radio and television station and the justification for its existence (Ha`aretz via Doni Rosenzweig, July 13, DXLD) ** LEBANON [non]. Amuse yourself by comparing this very rough translation with the original(?) French in 3-123. Morse becomes walrus below (gh): [sic:] Voice of Free Lebanon --- Radio Free Lebanon. [Date ?] Broadcast begins with a code walrus. Nationalist safety of free Lebanon + one patriotic song + one man who asks the Lebanese living outside the Lebanon to return [to ?] Bayrouth + announce Radio Lebanon Free Lebanon the radio of the love, the peace and the revolution. + a song of Fairous. + another announcement ' the voice of liberation'. The political comment: the approach of the fine of governance of the family Asad (M. Kallel, Tunisia, Jul 10, 2003 for CRW via DXLD) WTFK? ** MOUNT ATHOS. HELP ``MAY`` BE ON THE WAY! Last week it was announced that Monk Apollo does not have a working radio, so this means Mount Athos (SV/A) is now silent. The members of the Northern Ohio DX Association have decided to help Monk Apollo get back on the air. Since NODXA has not heard of any other organization stepping forward to help, they have decided to try to collect funds to purchase another radio for Monk Apollo. Currently, NODXA is looking for ``PLEDGES ONLY`` to see if there is enough interest to help supply Monk Apollo with another radio. Once NODXA is sure that there is enough interest, there will be an address announced to where to send the donations (also some other details). For now, please send your ``PLEDGES ONLY`` to: kb8nw@arrl.net (KB8NW/OPDX July 14/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. LITTLE PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR MORE BUDGET CUTS AT RN An independent survey carried out by the research bureau TNS NIPO shows little support amongst the Dutch public for further budget cuts at Radio Netherlands. 840 people were interviewed between 24 and 30 June 2003. 27% said they listen to Radio Netherlands when they're abroad - equating to around 3 million listeners. 37% of those questioned said they were opposed to further budget cuts, compared to 22% who declared themselves in support of cuts, and of those who supported cuts 3 out of 10 said they would change their opinion if it meant that Radio Netherlands would cease to exist. Two thirds of those who said they listen to Radio Netherlands declared that they were opposed to cuts. Asked to choose between scrapping Radio Netherlands and other cost-saving measures such as getting rid of the radio orchestras, 37% of those who expressed an opinion supported Radio Netherlands against 22% who wanted to preserve the orchestras. The survey was carried out on the initiative of TNS NIPO itself, and was not commissioned by Radio Netherlands (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 14 July 2003 via DXLD) ** NIGERIA [non]. 5775, 11.7 2000, Radio Abeokuta via IRRS with a very boring talk program in native language. Gave their www-address and mail in English. S 3-4, but difficult to hear. BEFF (Bjorn Fransson, Sweden, SW Bulletin translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PALESTINE. PALESTINIAN RADIO UNHEARD FROM 1522 GMT 14 JULY Palestinian radio Voice of Palestine in Arabic abruptly became unheard at 1522 gmt on 14 July. The radio broadcast only music from 1300 gmt until it became unheard without prior announcement. Source: Voice of Palestine, Ramallah, in Arabic 1522 gmt 14 Jul 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) All frequencies missing, or was there only one and what was it? (gh, DXLD) ** PERU. 5940.18, 4.7 0200, Radio Bethel with a number of ``gloria`` and ``dios`` in ``La Palabra de Dios``. The cassette with the program can be ordered from the given address. QSA 3-4 (at the same time no trace of the "neighbour" Melodía, normally much stronger, on 6042.6 this night) JE/RFK (Jan Edh/Ronny Forslund, Sweden, SW Bulletin translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 4930.37, Radio San Miguel has moved after being on 4929.90 kHz for a long time. - 5470.82, Radio San Nicolás now active again. Information earlier sent via email and "SWB América Latina": Ondas del Suroriente is now active daily. The unID on 4780.89 kHz has not returned: July 3: Reactivated Peruvian! 5067.11, Ondas del Suroriente, Quillabamba, la provincia de Convención, el departamento de Cusco. July 2 2003 - 0000 UT. This station has been off air during several years, at least absent here in Quito. Decent audio but somewhat weakly modulated signal. A format of variation with news, Peruvian music, ads, "leyendas" (sort of radio theatre) and comunicados. Male ID - "Radio Suroriente". Info from "Ventanaperú": Provincia de La Convención, cuya capital es Quillabamba. Sus distritos son: Huayopata, Echarate, Maranura, Ocobamba, Quellouno, Santa Ana, Santa Teresa, Vilcabamba; con una población total de 152,576 hab. (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin July 13, translated by SWB editor Thomas Nilsson for DX Listening Digest) ** PERU. 13565.62, Radio Ondas del Pacífico, Ayabaca, 2316-2330, July 12. Spanish. Music (local vals), TC: "son exactamente las 6 de la tarde con 18 minutos"; ID by male: "...Radio Ondas del Pacífico", 24332 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA. STATE RADIO TRAILS INTERNET BROADCASTING | Text of report in English by Saudi news agency SPA web site [Whilst an American would take this headline to mean that radio is behind, or in second place to internet, the British usage of `trail` means announces, promotes, or publicises --- gh] The Minister of Culture and Information Dr Fouad bin Abdul-Salam Al- Farsi announced on Sunday [13 July] that Saudi Radio has started an experimental transmission on the Internet. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Dr Al-Farsi said the Kingdom's broadcasting networks include the general radio programme; the second-channel radio programme; the holy Quran radio programme; the European radio programme in English and French; the music radio programme; Urdu radio programme and other radio programmes in various languages. The transmission of these programmes can be downloaded through the web site of the ministry: http://www.Saudiradio.net He noted that this step comes within the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Fahd bin Abdulaziz, the Crown Prince and the Second Deputy Premier and their keenness to support the mass media work to achieve its noble goals. He added that this step will be followed by additional steps in the Television field through the web site of the ministry. Source: SPA news agency web site, Riyadh, in English 1247 gmt 13 Jul 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) At last, we can hear BSKSA in English, which they refuse to put on SW except by accident. At 1519 UT July 14, I found a link at http://www.saudiradio.net/indexen.php to `European Broadcast`, embedded wm player, which at the moment was in French. WRTH 2003 has English at 1000-1300 and 1600-2100. There`s some really nice art on the website, on a green theme, natch. If you click on ``latest news`` that turns out to be in Arabic. It would be nice to have a program schedule of English. At 1559 UT the French broadcast wrapped up with a few tones which might be mistaken for a timesignal, and immediately into English, giving lots of FM and AM frequencies and mentioning the internet cast. 1600 recitation from the allegedly Holy Qur`an (in Arabic of course), followed at 1605 by translation, 1607 commentary about it, and 1611 another feature, ``How I became a Muslim``, apparently spoken by an American. 1625 came a program summary, for 7:30 to midnight local time, here converted to UT for Monday; poor modulation and diction made it impossible to understand all the words: 1630 The Position and Role of Women in Society --- An Islamic Perspective [this actually ran from 1626 to 1633, introed and outroed by birds chirping] 1640 ??? Eastern Treasures 1900 Islamic Morality 1910 ??? Magazine 1930 News Brief 1933 Sa`udi Women on the Road to Success 1950 Space and Science 2000 Monday Night ??? 2030 ??? Challenges 2040 Today`s Diary 2045 Late Night News 2050 Holy Qur`an 2100 Sign-off IDs are as ``R. Riyadh``. Everything is backwards, with the news coming penultimate instead of second and the program summary first. The sound is rather choppy as received here (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH AFRICA. RADIO VERITAS ON 92.7 FM IN MAY-JUNE IN JOHANNESBURG; TO RETURN IN AUGUST - SEPTEMBER Johannesburg, July 7 (CRU) --- Radio Veritas of South Africa, which broadcasts daily for several hours over the Meyerton shortwave transmitters on 3280 and 7240 kHz, was on the community radio frequency 92.7 FM in May and early June. Father Emil Blaser, OP, the director, answered a Catholic Radio Update e-mail: ``We were on FM in Johannesburg from the 12th of May to the 8th of June. Hence will be back on the same frequency and area during August-September 2003.`` Database Johannesburg: Radio Veritas 92.7 FM & on Meyerton shortwave transmitters: 7240 kHz from noon until 1 p.m., and 3280 kHz from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., local time. Director Fr. Emil Blaser, O.P., Radio Veritas Productions, 36 Beelaerts St., 2139 Troyeville, South Africa. Tel.: +27 (11) 624-2516 or 624-2517; fax 614-7711. E-mail: info@radioveritas.co.za.Website: http://www.radioveritas.co.za (Catholic Radio Update July 14 via DXLD) ** SPAIN. On the program Radio Club on July 13th, Deanelle Baker replied to a letter from Henry Riceborn of Houston Texas. In response to his request for a QSL, she replied that unfortunately Radio Nacional de España has ceased sending QSLs due to staffing and budget constraints. In the future when QSLs are resumed, Deanelle said, please do not send money or IRCs, as what limited services that exist for listeners are free. By the way, the English service for North America on 15385 kHz, is on only at 0000-0100 UT, and not repeated from 0100-0200 as some sources continue to report. Chances are this will switch to the winter frequency of 6055 kHz in the fall, but it is doubtful that this second hour repeated broadcast will be resumed any time soon (Roger Chambers Utica, NY, July 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAHITI. 738, RFO Papeete, Jul 12 1001 - Woman with news items in French to 1003, then male and female announcers with poss. ID or slogan. 'Bonjour Papéeté' at 1004. Fair level. Much better at 1135 with French rock and roll tune. Also strong at times on Jul 13. This station was a comparison target as Don, John, and I compared different impedance ratios of matching transformers. Earlier during the day we measured the Beverages' impedances from 6 MHz on down with test equipment, and discovered that our Beverages had impedance >1250 ohms on mediumwave (Guy Atkins, Grayland WA DXpedition, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** TAIWAN. Hi Glenn, Testing is reported for operation on 1359 and 1503 kHz from the former 585 kHz site near Fangliao, in southern Taiwan. (Above from a reliable source 14/7-2003) Best 73s (Ydun Ritz, Denmark, July 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) By what station? ** U S A. WBCQ kept 5100-CUSB on the air just long enough to simulcast WORLD OF RADIO 1190, UT Mon July 14 until 0513, tnx; no closing or sign-off was given (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Radio Farda QSLing: Note of warning: I sent an inquiry (non- report) via this same webpage http://www.radiofarda.com and my comment was sent back to me with the same verbiage added that: a) they did not have QSL cards yet, however b) they were able to verify my "report." So my comment was "verified." It appears that this comments section is an auto-mated response page. Try and type "anything" on this page, and see what you get in 2-3 days. This is why I DO NOT accept e- verifications. I want to see paper!!!!! The frequencies of R Farda are listed on the VOA listings as "VOA." You may wish to get your QSLs through VOA for these sites. I sent some reports but am still awaiting replies by mail (Konnie Rychalsky, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** U S A. U.S. BEGINS TV BROADCASTS TO IRAN PBS NewsHour July 7, 2003 http://www.pbs.org/newshour/media/media_watch/july-dec03/iran_07-07.html The U.S. government launched a new Persian-language television broadcast in Iran on Sunday, beaming 30-minute nightly newscasts to the millions of Iranians watching satellite television. The Voice of America-produced program, News & Views, will be broadcasted across Iran by satellite from 9:30 pm to 10:00 PM local time, featuring original news reporting and aimed at Iran's younger population. The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), which oversees all U.S. international nonmilitary broadcasting, including VOA, decided to launch the program after student protests against the Iranian government last month. Kenneth Tomlinson, chairman of the BBG, said the new program intends to provide Iranians with an alternative to government-controlled newscasts. "By reporting what's happening in Iran today, we can help further the struggle for freedom and self-determination in Iran," Tomlinson said in a press statement July 3. "If ever there was a time when the people of Iran need sound, factual reporting on their country, it is now." The program includes world news summaries, analysis of issues and events and cultural features. The new show will feature reports contributed from inside Iran, as well as Washington, New York, Los Angeles and around the world. The BBG already broadcasts two weekly television programs in Farsi: Roundtable with You, a 90-minute discussion show, and Next Chapter, a weekly newsmagazine. The BBG also funds Radio Farda, a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week, youth-oriented Persian-language radio service. News & Views, scheduled to run through at least September 30, is expected to cost up to $500,000 and will use existing VOA staff and Radio Farda stringers in Iran. Satellite television -- while banned by the Iranian government -- is a top source of news in Iran, where some 70 percent of the population, roughly 67 million people, is under 30. American officials hope the new U.S.-funded broadcast will complement the work of the National Iranian Television, NITV, a satellite channel operated by Iranian exiles based in Los Angeles, Calif. Iranian clerics have blamed NITV's 24-hour daily broadcasts for fomenting dissent and student protests last month. The Iranian government has also accused the U.S. of bankrolling the NITV and of using the new program to interfere in its internal affairs. U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher last week rejected Iran's allegations that the U.S. sought to intervene through its new satellite broadcast. "We don't consider that providing information is getting involved or interfering in anything," Boucher said at a briefing July 3. "The Voice of America provides information. It's a standard tool of our public diplomacy to help inform people overseas," Boucher added. The show's premiere of News & Views included the first of a special series of reports on events leading up to the fourth anniversary of the Iranian government's July 9, 1999 violent crackdown on student uprisings in Iran. Fearing more student protests this week, Iranian authorities have banned rallies for Wednesday July 9, postponed university examinations, and closed dormitories, the British Guardian reported Monday (PBS NewsHour Jul 7, 2003 via N. Grace-USA for CRW via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. PSYOPS GET NEW BASE OF OPERATION Associated Press July 1, 2003 http://www.nbc17.com/news/2305173/detail.html FORT BRAGG -- The military unit responsible for winning over the hearts of the country's foes has a new center of operations -- a windowless complex with state-of-the-art digital television and radio production rooms, studios and printing presses. The U.S. Army's 4th Psychological Operations Group showed off its $8.1 million Special Operations Forces Media Operations Complex on Monday, giving people a rare look inside the Pentagon's central production center for psyops products such as fliers, posters and television and radio segments. Since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, the unit has targeted civilians and enemy troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. More than 150 million fliers, all of them produced at Fort Bragg and many of them printed there, have been spread over those countries, said Col. James A. Treadwell, the 4th POG's commander. About 16,000 hours of radio messages produced by the group were transmitted to Afghan listeners and another 4,000 hours to Iraqis, he said. The psychological operations campaign in Iraq reportedly cost tens of millions of dollars and has been called the biggest in history. It centered on Arabic-language leaflets and radio and television scripts designed by the 4th POG to encourage mass surrenders and erode support for Saddam Hussein. Psyops troops are still in Iraq, but their efforts have shifted to winning over civilians. Like a marketing company, psyops soldiers often perform marketing studies before designing their products. They also conduct detailed analyses of results. Army officials say it still may be a few months before the official report on the Iraq effort is complete. Civilian experts say the campaign probably had mixed results, but still probably saved thousands of lives on both sides by calming some of the Iraqis. The staff of the complex is also supporting nearly 900 psyops troops spread across 13 counties, Treadwell said. The unit had been working out of offices scattered around the base, many of them predating the Vietnam War. The Pentagon's willingness to invest in the new media complex is a sign of its growing confidence in the value of psyops, Treadwell said. "This facility marks past success and emphasizes our potential for future contributions," Treadwell said. The four new presses can print 1 million leaflets in a single day. The new, fully digital presses and audio and video equipment could cut production time by 20 percent or more (AP Jul 1, 2003 via N. Grace-USA for CRW via DXLD) UNIT CELEBRATES NEW MEDIA HUB By Kevin Maurer, Fayetteville (NC) Observer July 1, 2003 http://www.fayettevillenc.com/story.php?Template=military&Story=5728562 The 4th Psychological Operations Group on Monday held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its $8.1 million media operations complex. The complex will serve as a central production hub to transmit leaflets and other propaganda to units around the world. About 75 people attended Monday's ceremony. Lt. Gen. Philip R. Kensinger, commander of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, and Col. James Treadwell, 4th Psychological Operations Group commander, cut the ribbon. Since Sept. 11, 2001, psychological operations soldiers have been at the front of the war on terrorism. The soldiers produced leaflets warning Iraqi air defense crews not to attack coalition aircraft, as well as radio and television broadcasts urging Iraqis not to destroy the country's oil wells. Central Command credited the broadcasts with saving the oil wells. In Afghanistan, psychological operations units produced a leaflet that showed Osama bin Laden dressed in western clothes to convince Taliban fighters that the al-Qaida leader had deserted them. The 3rd Psychological Operations Battalion, which will run the new facility, produces the 4th Psychological Operations Groups' print, radio and television broadcast and audio-visual products. The battalion supports 850 psychological operations soldiers in 13 countries, including Iraq and Afghanistan. The unit has produced about 150 million leaflets for operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. The unit also has produced about 16,000 hours of radio programming for operations in Afghanistan and 400 hours for Iraq. Soldiers said the new facility is an improvement on the group's World War II-era quarters and is designed to house the group's print, audio and audio-visual production equipment. ''It is much bigger. The old space was about two-thirds this size," said Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Gelin, who supervises the printing presses. Gelin said the old buildings also lacked air conditioning. The new facility brings the battalion under one roof. Sgt. Rodrick Jackson, a graphic artist, said the newer equipment will also speed up production because he can digitally transmit the finished product directly to the printer. The new facility has four Heidelberg presses that can produce 250,000 two-sided four-color leaflets in 24 hours. ''We will no longer have to transfer products. All of our work will be done in a digital format, which increases our timeliness and quality," Treadwell said. Maj. Michael Lilley, the 3rd Battalion's executive officer, said the digital transfer will cut production time by about 30 percent. The 51,746-square-foot complex also has two video studios and two audio studios. Construction of the complex started in December 2001 and ended April 2003. Over the next five years, the complex will get an additional $8 million in audio and video production equipment, an electronic archive system and satellite dishes (Fayetteville (NC) Observer Jul 1, 2003 via N. Grace, USA for CRW via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. I doubt if I'll be up to hear the WYFR tests at 0400- 0500 via 3955 reported by Kai! A low frequency in that band should also cover the UK, but I think they could count their maximum audience using the fingers of one hand at that hour! I note that today`s sunrise in London is 0459 [I assume 0359 UT?] so it will be interesting to see just how well 3955 propagates into Europe. Sunrise at Skelton should be slightly earlier (Noel R. Green, UK, via Ludwig, DXLD) I also do not know if I will be up during any of the scheduled tests (which I guess are a \\ing of WYFR 9985). And indeed it appears to be a bit strange to use 75 metres for this slot, since at this time the sun is to rise in Spain and Portugal while all other parts of Europe are already under bright daylight. Of course so far Skelton is only a bet, no real information about the transmitter site is available yet. At Jülich a use of 75 metres would make more sense, although there should be hardly a risk for a 49 metres signal from there to skip over Germany at this time (Kai Ludwig, Germany, July 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. PACIFICA RADIO NETWORK IS RETURNING TO ITS BERKELEY ROOTS The move from Washington is the culmination of efforts by disaffected listeners, who charged the network was going mainstream. AROUND THE DIAL By Steve Carney, Special to The Times, July 12 2003 When the leftist Pacifica radio network packed up its offices and left Berkeley for Washington, D.C. one night in January 2000, critics said it was the most tangible evidence yet that the organization had abandoned its radical roots. But by the end of the month, Pacifica will be back in Berkeley, where it was founded by a peace activist after World War II and where it pioneered listener-supported radio. The move is the culmination of several years of protests, lawsuits and boycotts by disaffected listeners who charged that Pacifica management was making the network corporate and mainstream. Their pressure finally ousted the board of directors last year. "It's one of the last great reform steps of the reform administration," said the network's executive director, Dan Coughlin. "It's symbolic of Pacifica returning to its roots, returning to its mission." The Pacifica Foundation operates five radio stations nationwide, including KPFA-FM in Berkeley and KPFK-FM (90.7) in Los Angeles, and provides news and public affairs programs to nearly 100 other public stations. The foundation board fled Berkeley after bitter fights with irate listeners and KPFA staff. Management even shuttered the station for two weeks after removing popular staff, which led to protests outside the station. When the activists took over the foundation in January 2002, they discovered a $4.8-million deficit, which Coughlin said has been pared to $900,000. The move to Berkeley cost the cash-strapped network about $200,000, he said, but that was offset by support from KPFA and extra donations from subscribers across California. "A lot of listeners have stepped forward and basically funded that shift. There was a great outpouring," he said. Coughlin said the network would operate mirror offices in Washington until July 31, when the transfer of operations to Berkeley would be completed. A bureau will remain at the network's station, WPFW-FM, in Washington. He said the network's reaction to the war in Iraq and other Bush administration policies has helped Pacifica shift its focus from divisive infighting by "reasserting its traditional mission around peace and social justice programming." The reservoir of traditional financial support in the San Francisco Bay Area as well as the pool of available producers and programmers that had been left behind make the move's advantages more than symbolic, Coughlin said. He also cited the benefits of the Bay Area's artistic and literary tradition, which he said "will help nurture and help Pacifica grow and strengthen in many ways." KPFK [Los Ángeles], meanwhile, is rearranging its programming and increasing its Spanish-language offerings to better reflect the audience it says it is trying to reach. In the changes, scheduled to be complete Tuesday, the station will air Spanish-language news from 9 to 9:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, followed by 90 minutes of Spanish public affairs programming. Music programs in that time slot, such as "Rhapsody in Black" and "Restless Soul," get pushed to late night. In a message to listeners on the station's Web site http://www.KPFK.org program director Armando Gudino said the moves will broaden the station "in the area of political consciousness, cultural awareness and the empowerment of all communities that contribute to the well-being of humanity. "Change is difficult and growth is even harder," he continued, and that surely could describe the cancellation, after 32 years on KPFK, of "Heartfelt Music," which aired Saturdays from 8 to 10 a.m. Deanne and John Davis, hosts of the program with a playlist that included folk, bluegrass, Americana, country and inspirational music, were philosophical about the cancellation in an online message. They cited the station's desire "for more public affairs programming and ethnic diversity" as the reason behind the change, joking that they're "too white and middle class." Another KPFK institution being cut back is "The Car Show," which since 1973 has featured news, advice and listener calls on all things automotive. The program, with hosts Art Gould and John Retsek, formerly aired Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. It now will air from 1 to 2 p.m., starting next Saturday. Although some listeners will cheer the addition of programs such as a Saturday youth arts and culture show, others are greeting the loss of longtime favorites with fear and loathing -- reactions similar to those that greeted programming changes made by former KPFK general manager Mark Schubb, who questioned the relevance of some shows the station was airing. The greatest uproar came in October 2000 when he axed "Folk Scene," hosted by Roz and Howard Larman and a three-decade institution on the station. The show was restored last year after Schubb was fired, one of the casualties in the Pacifica listener counterrevolution. In this month's changes, "Folk Scene" moves from Sunday nights to "Heartfelt Music's" old Saturday-morning time slot. Copyright 2003 Los Angeles Times (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. A TAMPA PIRATE RADIO ACTIVIST SAYS... DEBASING DEMOCRACY? A Tampa pirate radio activist says an FCC proposal favoring media conglomerates can be detrimental to us all. By BILL DURYEA, Times Staff Writer © St. Petersburg Times, published July 13, 2003 On June 2 the Federal Communications Commission voted 3-2 (three Republicans versus two Democrats) to enable media conglomerates to gobble up more radio and television stations and newspapers in the same market. One of the people most alarmed by the increasing consolidation of mass media is Kelly Benjamin, a former Tampa City Council candidate and sixth-generation Tampa resident, who operated a pirate radio station in the 1990s that was shut down by the government. Benjamin, 28, spoke with the St. Petersburg Times about fomenting democracy on the left of the dial. Times: You've got experience trying to be a small media outlet in an environment that's becoming more and more consolidated. Tell us a little bit about your radio station. Benjamin: The station started in the fall of 1995 down in Ybor City before Ybor was going through the whole gentrification process that it's going through today. There was a community of people down there - a lot of artists and punks and hippies. It was a ghost town. There were pretty cheap rents. A friend of mine had an old Army transmitter that he got from scouring thrift shops. We eventually bought a kit. We were pretty low wattage. Times: How many watts? Benjamin: Initially it was 30 watts. We were mainly trying to serve as a community media source for the Ybor City area, the punks and the squatters and the people down at Ybor Pizza and Subs, and a couple of the shops down there, like Three Birds (a bookstore). Times: How far did your signal go? Benjamin: It was a couple of miles. We were on the air about six or eight months at (Blue Chair Records) and then right about the winter time, Adams City Hatters, which was right next door, got a knock on the door from the Feds. Times: What were you playing? Benjamin: It was pretty diverse, rants about the gentrification of Ybor City, about rents skyrocketing overnight, the new clientele the bar district was drawing down there. We were using our voice to dissent against that and playing music that appealed to us. Cookie- cutter, mainstream radio was not serving the people in our demographic. Times: What FM frequency were you broadcasting at? Benjamin: 87.9. Bottom left-hand side of the dial. We weren't interfering with any other frequencies. The Feds started giving us a lot of harassment anyway. Times: What form did that take? Benjamin: Our first official visit from the FCC came in, I think it was February '96. They banged on the door. They started threatening us --- two years in prison or a $10,000 fine if we continued broadcasting. They said they had a legal right to enter and inspect our transmitter. We played sort of a cat and mouse game with my lawyer sending their lawyer letters for a while. In the meantime we started to go full thrust and come out of the closet about the station and start to get mainstream media attention. We had a full range of DJs coming in. People playing jazz, hip-hop, punk. We had local bands coming in playing live. People who were sitting at home on house arrest with their ankle bracelet who couldn't come out to the show could at least hear the shows on the radio. It was a real experiment in civic participation on the airways to kind of see this community develop around this media source. It created this collective consciousness, people getting involved, getting excited about something as the area was changing around them. Times: Why was it a violation of the law that you were running a radio station? Benjamin: The FCC mandates, according to Section 301 of the Communications Act of 1934, that all radio broadcast on the FM and AM bands are subject to licensing by the FCC. In order to get that license you have to have some serious corporate connections or serious money. Times: How much money? Benjamin: Just the application fees alone and the lawyers' fees to figure out the application, you're talking about $20,000. And then the licenses themselves are around $50,000. But they didn't even offer licenses for what we were doing --- low-power broadcasting, anything under 100 watts. We eventually went to a 24-hour schedule, moved to another location, raised our antenna about 80 feet, boosted our wattage to about 80 watts. We had a digitally stabilized signal that wasn't interfering with any other signal in town. We felt it was important that the airways not be seen as some golden soapbox that you have to have millions of dollars to have access to. Times: And it's worth reminding people that the airwaves do belong to the public. Benjamin: Exactly. If you look at the demographics of how the licenses are issued around the country, there is a pretty small number of stations owned by minorities. When it comes to the large 1,000-watt stations, they're all being gobbled up by Clear Channel, Viacom and Cox Enterprises. There's basically four or five media conglomerates around the nation that control what everyone sees and hears and reads. Now with this recent ruling, the FCC and the neo-conservatives in there have tried to consolidate it even further. When we first started out, honestly, we were having fun. We didn't see this as part of a greater movement. But as we started networking more heavily with other stations around the country we realized this is more of a genuine struggle for a true democracy than people just going around playing records. Times: How many pirate broadcasters were there at the time? Benjamin: At one point there was eight stations on the air in Tampa. And nationally, the FCC said there was over 1,000 pirate stations. In the Miami-Dade area, there was tons of immigrant-operated radio stations, people coming from countries that didn't have an equivalent to the FCC. Times: The FCC made a major change in 1996 and loosened up the rules affecting the number of radio stations one company could own in a market. How much did ownership of stations in this area change? Benjamin: That's really when a corporation like Clear Channel came to power. They might have owned a dozen radio stations. But because of that ruling they were so incredibly lethal. The FCC allowed a cap to be lifted. The reason there is a cap is so there would be much more localism, much more opportunity for competition and diversity on the airways. What the FCC allowed was, maybe instead of owning three stations in one market, they said you can own five stations in the AM and 10 in the FM and one or two cable channels. Times: After the 1996 ruling Clear Channel went from 43 stations nationwide to more than 1,200. Locally, they own eight stations. Benjamin: One of the positive things about this most recent ruling (June 2) is that it has really thrust the issue into the public consciousness. It's made ownership of the media into a political issue, which it should be. A lot of mainstream networks did not want to cover this issue at all until they saw there was a groundswell of grass-roots opposition to what the FCC was proposing. If we have unequal distribution of the media we're never going to live in a true democracy. If you're a millionaire you're going to have your voice amplified by many more stations, many more frequencies. That was particularly evident with this war that we just had. Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting did a study (about war coverage). There was no interviews with academics, NGOs (non-governmental organizations) or people who were at all doubtful about it. All the people who were interviewed were either former or current generals or bigwigs in the military. They all had a pretty right-wing, hawkish agenda. I think it was something like out of 700 interviews they found that less than 2 percent were at all critical of the war. (Actually, of 1,617 on-camera interviews observed during three weeks, 64 percent of subjects were categorized as "pro-war.") Times: Were you nervous broadcasting? You'd been informed what the penalties were. Benjamin: It was more a reckless collision course with destiny at that point. We were seeing how far we could take it. Times: Why didn't they just shut you down? Benjamin: The FCC was a little overwhelmed, with a thousand radio stations across the country. What are they going to be able to accomplish with limited manpower? The truth is in the summer of 1997, the National Association of Broadcasters had a meeting with the FCC in Las Vegas. The NAB was paying good money to have this captive audience and all these pirate stations were getting on there for free, stealing listenership. They asked the FCC to start enforcing the law. Times: What happened when they raided you? Benjamin: My girlfriend and I were in bed, about five minutes before the alarm clock goes off. We heard rustling in the bushes. They surrounded the house. They started banging. They brought out the U.S. marshals and the local police, so they had about a dozen people there. Times: They had guns? Benjamin: Yeah, they had guns. They were drawn, but they weren't pointed at me. I was just in my pajamas and they realized I was just a long-haired kid. They kept us handcuffed on the front porch for a good couple of hours. Went to jail. Got out that afternoon. My girlfriend was substitute teaching at the time. They let her go so she could go teach. She was a shambles. I got out of jail about the time she got out of school. The gist of that was that because of the raids, the FCC started to question the amount of access that everyday people have to the airwaves. They opened up this petition for rule-making. Times: But even though the rules were relaxed to allow for low-power broadcasts you still have the decision on June 2 that is going to further consolidate ownership of the media. Benjamin: There's only been a handful of stations that have benefited from that rule anyway. They claim that in cities like Tampa and New York there's too much crowding on the bandwidth to allow for a low- power station, which is a completely bogus argument. There's precedent in other countries. Stations are able to serve their local communities. That argument has been debunked by a number of academics. Times: Describe for me some of the most significant changes under the new rules. Benjamin: They're saying now that a television station can be owned by the same company that owns a newspaper in the same market. That's unprecedented, except here in Tampa (Media General owns the Tampa Tribune and WFLA-Ch. 8) and one or two other instances around the country where there has been some experiments to see if that really hinders localism and diversity. Times: One of the worst-case scenarios critics are describing is that in one city, one company could acquire up to three television stations, eight radio stations, the cable television system, cable TV stations and the only newspaper. Why should we be afraid of that? Benjamin: It's a huge threat because the opportunities to engage in debate, serious critical examination of critical issues that affect our lives, is limited if we have one or two sources of information rather than if we had 10 sources. Times: What if people like it this way? What if this is the will of the people and not the will of the corporations? Benjamin: This has been the most hotly contested decision the FCC has ever made, and the most commented on proposal. Times: They received more than 700,000 comments, didn't they? Benjamin: More than any other comment period in the history of the FCC. They were 99 percent against relaxing the ownership rules. That speaks for itself. How many of those commissioners have been lobbied, been put up in luxury hotels, traveling all around the country, traveling all around the world on the bill of Cox and Clear Channel, the people they're supposed to be regulating? Times: The FCC proposed these rule changes, they're not official, they have to be approved by Congress. What's going on now? Benjamin: There's been some backlash in Congress, some mounting resistance from surprising places. You expect it from some of the more liberal congressmen, but Trent Lott has come out and said, "This is the FCC's big mistake." In fact, they drafted some legislation to try and counter the FCC proposal. Times: Why would there be this bipartisan opposition given that it was such a partisan decision at the FCC? Benjamin: The Republicans see a liberal conspiracy in the media and people on the other side see a right-wing conspiracy. So both of them are on the same page when it comes to diversity of opinion. Times: How many pirate stations are there now on the air in Tampa? Benjamin: Not many. In Ashcroft's America, a lot of people who have transmitters at home aren't using them because there's kind of a chilling environment right now for anyone who expresses dissent against the status quo. It's a much different environment right now than it was six years ago. Times: How come you're not doing it? Benjamin: I'm moving on, fighting different battles, running for office, trying to finish school, trying to make a living. Other people have taken the reins. I know there's at least one. Times: Who's that? Benjamin: If you search for them, you'll probably find them. I'm not going to rat them out. The above feature is posted at: http://www.sptimes.com/2003/07/13/Floridian/Debasing_democracy.shtml (via Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, DXLD) Visit my "Florida Low Power Radio Stations" at http://home.earthlink.net/~tocobagadx/flortis.html ** U S A. PUBLIC FIVE TO ONE AGAINST MEDIA CONCENTRATION --- PEW POLL By WILL LESTER, The Associated Press, 7/13/03 2:07 PM WASHINGTON (AP) -- The more Americans learn about federal changes that lift restrictions on companies owning different media outlets in the same city, the less they like it, a new poll suggests. The public has been increasingly concerned in recent years about the independence of the press. New rules passed by the Federal Communications Commission allowing more concentrated ownership appear to have heightened those fears, according to a poll by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press. Half in that poll, 50 percent, said they think allowing companies to own more broadcast and newspaper operations in the same city will have a negative effect. Only 10 percent said that would have a positive effect. About a third said in February that the concentrated ownership of media outlets in a city would have a negative effect. But few people at that time had been paying much attention to ongoing efforts to change the media ownership rules. Seven in 10 in the new poll said they think news organizations are often influenced by powerful people and organizations. "Over the last 20 years, people have had growing doubts about whether the press is really independent or influenced by powerful forces," said Tom Rosenstiel, director of the Project for Excellence in Journalism. "They have growing concerns about that influence." The FCC decided in early June that individual companies can own television stations reaching nearly half the nation's viewers and combinations of newspapers and broadcast stations in the same city. Critics of the decision said the new rules will lead to ownership of the media by a few giant companies that can control what people see, hear and read. Andrew Kohut, director of the Pew Research Center, said the worries about the new ownership rules are probably related to "the suspicion the public has about corporate power." The public has mixed feelings about how much objectivity it wants in news coverage. A majority of people say they want the media to offer neutral coverage. But when asked if they think it is good for coverage to have "a strong pro-American point of view," seven in 10 said "yes." The poll found that 22 percent say they most often turn to Fox News for news coverage. That's up from 16 percent in January 2002, though still slightly behind CNN at 27 percent. The Fox audience is significantly more conservative and Republican than the audience for network news and CNN, the poll found. The recent problems experienced at The New York Times when reporter Jayson Blair fabricated material in stories apparently has had little effect on public attitudes about the media. Most people already were cynical about the media's accuracy and response when mistakes are made. Improvement in the news media's public image after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks has largely disappeared, according to the poll. But the public perception about the patriotism of those in the media is still slightly higher than it was before the attacks. People tend to see the news media as liberal rather than conservative, by a 2-1 margin. The poll of 1,201 adults was taken from June 19 to July 2 and has an error margin of plus or minus 3 percentage points. ------ On the Net: Pew Research Center: http://www.people-press.org (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. It can hardly be coincidental that on both Colorado Public Radio and KUNM I hear promotions about donating used vehicles to support the stations. What a brilliant idea; I bet it`s nationwide at various stations. Wonder if NPR has contracted with a certain used-car dealer to handle all this (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. ENSLEY, 90, HAS HIS SHARE OF FISH STORIES Harold Ensley hosted a television show on angling for 48 seasons... http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20030713/2046914.asp (via Fred Waterer, DXLD) Originates in Kansas ** U S A. Altho KKSU is long gone, K-State Research & Extension is still producing the weekly half-hour public affairs interview show PERSPECTIVE. The last month`s are available in Real and MP3 at http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/radio/perspective.htm On another program`s page there is a link to affiliate lists, which includes Perspective on such stations as KGGF-690 Coffeyville KS, which apparently does not have a website (or none linked), and KSAL- 1150 Salina, which does not really show it on its typically vague commercial station schedule (Glenn Hauser, OK, MONITORING REMINDERS, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** URUGUAY. 6010.2, 4.7 0205, Emisora Ciudad de Montevideo played tangos at at a lovely tempo. Sometimes very disturbed. At 0240 some talk with program information, ID, etc. JE/RFK (Jan Edh/Ronny Forslund, Sweden, SW Bulletin translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) Rare to be nocturnal UNIDENTIFIED. 4960.45, unID LA SS, unknown QTH (Perú?). July 2003 at 1050 UT. This is just now the station of most interest for me. Unfortunately rather weak and also heard only at two occasions: June 28 at 1130 UT and July 10 at 1050. Federación Shuar can be rather weak early mornings and this station comes through with Indian language, maybe "quichua". Perhaps it is also there in evenings but then Federación is tremendously strong. 5046.22, unID LA SS, unknown QTH (Perú?). July 2003 - 1140 UT. I think I heard a "Radio Integración" ID but very uncertain. During at least a year I have had this one as unID, always with weak signal. UT -5. Information earlier sent via email and "SWB América Latina". July 1: 4780.89 unID LA SS, unknown QTH. July 1 2003- 0045 UT. The dominants of the frequency are off air at the same time and then I think of Radio Coatán and Radio Oriental. Also Radio Satélite seems to be off. This can lead to surprises. The program was Mexican music like for instance Juan Gabriel and Bronco. Nothing directly that indicates the country. Lousy signal and thunderstorms but sometimes decent signal at least when music. Both name and QTH are given but unfortunately I can only get a phonetic: "...desde Jilicaca (???)", "...desde la provincia de... el departamento de la Batra (???) ...Radio Vadana (???)...". Despite this vague description somebody can find out what is said, yes then a medal is waiting. Close down at 0054 UT. 73 from BM i Quito! bjornmalm2003@yahoo.com (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin July 13, translated by SWB editor Thomas Nilsson for DX Listening Digest) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Glenn: I saw your comments on BPL and was very encouraged to see an avid SWL as yourself opposing BPL. I had just seen Ed Hare,W1RFI of ARRL give a talk on BPL. Obviously this must be stopped, or both SWL and Amateur Radio will vanish. The proposed potential RF Interference levels are incredibly high. More comments from your listeners are highly encouraged. They can visit the FCC ECFS site http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/ and by clicking search for filed comments, entering 03-104 under "Proceeding" make Reply Comments to the ARRL's Comments, my comments as well as yours or anyone else's, including the Power Industry's. 73 (Mike Masterson, WN2A (and SWL), July 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) SHORTWAVE AS MUSIC ++++++++++++++++++ More shortwave as art... ...in Magnetic North, Haynes uses an eight-channel sound system that broadcasts the sounds of short-wave radio and various electronic disturbances, with very little that can be understood as traditional, decipherable communication. Is this the sound of decay? ''Maybe,'' says Haynes, a connoisseur of alternative music who writes free-lance pieces for various publications. . . http://tennessean.com/entertainment/arts/archives/03/07/35818159.shtml?Element_ID=35818159 73 (Kim Elliott, DX LISTENING DIGEST) MUSEA +++++ GERMAN WW2 NAVY SIGNALS MUSEUM ON GUERNSEY German Naval Signals Headquarters St. Jacques, St. Peter Port, Guernsey. The Headquarters of the German Naval Commander Channel Islands (Seeko- Ki) were originally established in Guernsey at the neighbouring La Collinette and La Porte Hotels in the Summer of 1942 Radio communications were a vital part of operations at Seeko-Ki Headquarters and the powerful radio transmitters and receivers were first housed in the loft of La Collinette Hotel before the decision was taken to build the permanent bunkers in the hotel grounds. Work began in the Autumn of 1943 and the Signals Headquarters, under the command of the Naval Signals Officer (M.N.O.), Oberleutnant Willi Hagedorn, was operative on 1st February 1944. The adjoining Seeko-Ki bunker, linked by a short tunnel, and detached generator bunker were completed at a later date. The M.N.O. Headquarters handled all the important radio signals traffic for the German forces in the Channel Islands; especially after the Allied landings in Normandy. Messages were transmitted and received by naval codes using the Enigma enciphering machines on a variety of frequencies operating under the station callsign 'Flu'. The bulk of traffic passed through Naval Headquarters in Paris and, during the final months of the war, directly with Berlin. The Signals Headquarters bunker has been restored by members of the Channel Islands Occupation Society (Guernsey) in cooperation with Fortress Guernsey. Many of the original fittings are retained, including the ventilation and heating systems. The rooms have been re- fitted and equipped to as near original condition as possible, based on detailed information supplied by the former Naval Signals Officer and other German personnel. Equipment has been loaned by private individuals, the States of Guernsey Museum Services and the extensive collection of communication and signals collection of the German Occupation Museum. As a footnote to the above, an Enigma enciphering machine is actually located at the museum although I'm not certain if this is the original machine. 73 (Lionel Roithmeir, July 13, BDXC-UK via DXLD) RECEIVER NEWS +++++++++++++ RADIO ACTIVE REVOLUTION Software radio promises to transform gadgets and challenge the authority of broadcasters, writes Ben Hammersley Ben Hammersley, Thursday July 10, 2003, The Guardian Upgrades are a fact of modern life, but now it seems that absolutely everything we've taken for granted as fixed technology is being uprooted. Terrestrial television is turning digital, as is domestic radio; cell phones are moving to 3G and laptops now include Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. If it had a radio circuit before, it's being ripped out and replaced with something new and, if it didn't, it's getting one. Everything is being connected, digitised, upgraded, beefed up, accelerated and meshed, and the trusty radio and television sets we have today will be useless in a few years. All this progress presents a problem. Any change in the technology, from, say, ordinary TV to digital terrestrial, requires a whole new radio circuit. Receiving and understanding the signal means using electronic devices designed for that particular signal - which is why your television is not a cellphone. All this upgrading, however, is expensive for both the user and the service provider. Furthermore, it is creating huge problems for the emergency services and the military, where differing budgets and upgrade cycles means that their radios can't talk to each other - with potentially fatal consequences. The answer may well soon be here. In a positive move, the first handheld software radio was unveiled in Washington in May. Instead of specialist radio hardware, a software radio uses a simple receiver to throw the entire contents of a range of frequencies into computer memory, where software - and not hardware - does the signal processing. Vanu Inc, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, took an ordinary, off-the-shelf Hewlett-Packard iPaq personal digital assistant and, using only a simple radio receiver and an upgrade to the Linux operating system, was able to demonstrate the device working as an FM radio. An expensive way to listen to Radio 4, for certain, but it is the first step in solving the real problems of cost and incompatibility. The original attempt to fix this involved a technology called software defined radio. This uses expensive digital signal processors (DSP), and a special type of chip that can be programmed to change its own wiring, to achieve the desired effect. But that is expensive technology, and not very easy to work with: the DSPs, for example, each have their own internal workings that must be mastered, and by the time you have done that, there is a newer, better DSP on the market. Software radio, on the other hand, uses ordinary PC technology to achieve the same result. By taking advantage of the yearly increases in processor speed, a software radio can use a very basic receiver to throw everything it can hear into memory, and then have ordinary commodity hardware and standard programming languages process the signal. Technology that 15 years ago could never have handled the large amount of arithmetic needed is now perfectly capable. It is also getting cheaper and more powerful every year, and because it is all written in standard computer languages, techniques learnt today do not go out of date. With a software-defined radio circuit, building in the ability to talk with many different types of radio circuit becomes a programming issue, and not a physical limitation. As new standards are developed, it will no longer be necessary to buy new equipment. In the future, a downloadable patch is all you will need to upgrade your television, radio, or mobile phone to the next standard. This is already the case for industrial equipment. Vanu Inc ships mobile phone base stations that run on ordinary PC equipment, which can be changed between standards as the operator sees fit. The average commercial lifespan of a mobile phone base station is 10 years - so by using software radio equipment, the network operator need not worry about how much a new cellphone standard will cost to roll out. Given that all the base stations are networked together anywhere, one guy with a laptop can upgrade the lot. Since a software radio can listen to multiple standards at the same time, the potential is there for a specialist rural company to provide base station services, expanding coverage across more remote areas. This, of course, makes the market much more interesting. Although the founder of Vanu Inc, Vanu Bose, says he thinks that while software radio mobile phone handsets are three to five years out, once they arrive, the potential for a national phone network to jump from new standard to new standard without too much fuss is greatly increased - but without the associated handset churn. In other words, whereas now the power in the phone market is all with the handset manufacturers, whose embrace, or not, of any new network feature decides its fate, come software defined phones. The network will be able to upgrade their services en masse, without having to wait for Nokia or Ericsson to come on board. This is not just a matter of transmission standards, either: while switching from GSM to 3G to 4G and beyond suddenly got a lot easier, the inherent ability of software-defined devices to upgrade their software via the network itself means that upgrades to the user interface, to the features of the phone itself, could become much simpler to provide. Vanu Inc is not the only one working on this, of course. Intel, the chip manufacturer, is well aware of the advantages of the idea - and of its place in making it happen. The company has done extensive research, as has the free software community - the code behind the GnuRadio project is freely downloadable from its site http://www.gnu.org/software/gnuradio/gnuradio.html This Free Software approach has many people worried. Software radio transmitters have the potential to allow anyone, with cheap PC equipment and an antenna, to set up their own radio or television stations. Low powered and low budget, for sure, but this is another case of technology overtaking the regulations. Currently, the frequency bands used by television and radio are heavily regulated. The justification is that there is finite space for different stations, or else they will interfere with each other. In the era of software radio, many people think this is nonsense: when both the transmitters and the receivers can be instantly upgraded to increasingly improved transmission standards, interference ceases to be a problem. In fact, many people believe that interference itself is a concept used as an excuse for the poor equipment of the past century. David Reed, the technologist and co-author of the paper that defined the architecture of the internet, told Salon.com: "There's no scarcity of spectrum any more than there's a scarcity of the colour green. We could instantly hook up to the internet everyone who can pick up a radio signal, and they could pump through as many bits as they could ever want. We'd go from an economy of digital scarcity to an economy of digital abundance." This presents an interesting problem for the regulatory bodies in charge of the frequency bands. Whereas their work was previously defined by a concept of scarcity - that there were only a few frequencies, and that these need to be bid for and carefully licensed - technology such as software radio, and the techniques you can use when you have it, is proving this assumption completely false. The capacity of a frequency band is, in fact, plentiful. This puts the incumbent broadcast authorities in a bit of a pickle. The real estate of their assigned (and paid for) frequency allocation loses its value. If, technically, all a newcomer has to do to start broadcasting terrestrial television is to provide a URL, most likely within the signal itself, to a place the TV can download the correct patch - a patch to enable the TV to receive a method of transmission that does not interfere with existing broadcasts - then why do we need to regulate these bands at all? Why should a mobile phone network pay billions of pounds for a slice of spectrum, when software radio, and its associated technologies, would allow thousands of networks to use the same band without interfering. If the capacity of the ether can be made plentiful, why can't you or I have our own TV or radio station? For industries based on either scarcity of frequencies, or the need to continually replace our equipment, software radio is a nightmare. For the rest of us, however, it will mean greater choice, cheaper gear and faster-moving technology. Guardian Unlimited (c) Guardian Newspapers Limited 2003 (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) This skirts the line between being on or off topic for this list, but given the historical importance of Grundig AG to international broadcasting, I thought the following would be of interest and perhaps worthy of some conversation here. I own several "true" Grundig radios (i.e.: developed and/or manufactured in Germany/Europe) and can attest to the high quality of their construction and performance, typically over decades (John Figliozzi, swprograms July 7 via DXLD) GRUNDIG JOINS LIST OF FAILURES Monday, April 14, 2003 Posted: 1303 GMT ( 9:03 PM HKT) MUNICH, Germany (Reuters) -- Loss-making Grundig, Germany's best- known maker of televisions and radios, became the country's latest high-profile corporate failure on Monday when it filed for insolvency after failing to find a partner to bail it out. The move, concluding years of decline for a group which rose to prominence during Germany's postwar years, adds to a list of company failures that has grown relentlessly as the country's economic growth has stagnated. "We have made an insolvency filing,'' Guenter Moissl, finance chief of the German consumer electronics maker, told Reuters. He declined to comment further. A court in the southern German town Nuremberg, where the company is based, confirmed the filing. Banking sources said Grundig's creditors had decided not to extend credits of over 200 million euros ($214.9 million). Grundig had been fighting for years to find a partner to ensure its survival but had become a shadow of its former self. It currently employs just 3,500 people worldwide compared with over 10 times that number in the late 1980s. A Grundig supervisory board member told Reuters last week the company faced insolvency after Turkish appliance exporter Beko dropped plans to buy a majority stake. The failure of that deal came just a month after the company said talks had ``gone quiet'' with another possible buyer, Sampo Corp, one of Taiwan's largest consumer appliance makers, for a controlling stake. Grundig, whose listed peers include Philips Electronics of the Netherlands, produces television sets, video and DVD players. It was once the biggest radio manufacturer in Europe and had sales of 1.3 billion euros in 2001. It joins a growing list of famous German corporate names including building giant Holzmann, engineer Babcock Borsig and stationery maker Herlitz in Europe's largest economy. According to the Federal Statistics Office, insolvency filings in Germany totalled 84,428 last year including the self-employed, helping to push jobless numbers well above four million. Historic The failure of Grundig, founded by a Nuremberg electrician who began making radios after work in the 1930s, comes after 20 years of growing pressure from cheaper and more efficient Asian rivals, which bridged the quality gap that had set Grundig apart. The European Commission said late last year it had allowed Bavaria, where the company is based, to guarantee a 45 million euro loan aimed at keeping Grundig in business for at least six months so it had time to decide on its future. While parts of the business have attracted interest, notably the still well-regarded Grundig brand name and an extensive sales network, due diligence work has invariably shown up major problems that have scared buyers off. "After detailed work and evaluation, it was decided not to buy the shares in Grundig AG,'' Beko said in a statement last week, without providing details. Industry observers said the firm was too small to compete on the world market with Asian giants such as Sony Corp or Samsung Electronics and that management failures over the years had also contributed to its collapse. "Catastrophic'' was the word used by one banker who examined the company's books on behalf of a potential buyer. "They didn't even have a clear idea themselves what they were making. The accounts were a complete mess. It was completely unclear exactly what you would have been getting into.'' (CNN.com Business via John Figliozzi, swprograms via DXLD) This is old news but perhaps of interest. We have already learnt that the demise of the original Grundig does not affect Grundig SW radios marketed in the US under that brand (gh, DXLD) ###