DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-136, July 31, 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 1193: WWCR: Thu 2030 15825, Sat 1030, Sun 0230 5070, 0630 3210, Wed 0930 9475 RFPI: Fri 1930, Sat 0130, 0800, 1400, 1730, 2330 7445, and new experimental 15115 ex-15039 WINB: Sat 0031 12160 WBCQ: Mon 0445 [or 0415? See USA] 7415 WRN ONDEMAND [from Fri]: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also for CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL]: Check http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html [Low] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1193.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1193.ram [High] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1193h.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1193h.ram (Summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1193.html [from Thu] ** AUSTRALIA [and non]. Atlantic Monthly for September, in today's mail, contains 13-page story entitled "The Age of Murdoch," by James Fallows, that gives an overview of the deregulation argument and the anticipated future of the media. Interesting reading in light of discussions here (John Callarman, KA9SPA, Family Genealogist, Krum TX, July 29, WTFDA Soundoff via DXLD) ** AUSTRIA [non]. Re ``Sundry Ethiopian Clandestines`` Now I had a look into my dictionary in order to translate Sundry. Its translation isn't so difficult, but I do not remember seeing that word before. I can only agree the words that Glenn wrote. Austria relays religious stations and its own 'local community stations' (most of them via R 1476 on MW, including several programs for the Balkans in the past years) while Juelich/DTK relays everything. And Glenn is also right when he writes 'CRW will be quick to disclaim ..' CRW is never the 'judge' if a station is a clandestine or not. So as far as I see Wolf's letter was correct (despite the thing with the Austrian politician perhaps) Yours (Martin Schoech, Merseburg - Deutschland, July 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. Re Malm`s report of R. Caiari on 4785.07: Glenn, The other Brazilian on 4785 kHz is Radio Brasil, Campinas-SP, 24 hours . This station relays "Jovem Pan Sat" much of the times (Samuel Cássio Martins, São Carlos SP, Brazil, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. Pessoal, para quem ainda não conhecem, excelente site que contém links de várias radios brasileiras. Há fartas informações que valem uma boa navegada. http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Park/3232/dxing_brazil.htm Boa sorte e um forte 73 a todos, (Adiel Nunes Ferreira, São Paulo - Capital, radioescutas via DXLD) That`s part of the 1000 Lakes site, by someone in Finland. O yes, it`s Pentti Lintujärvi and the home page is http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Park/3232/dx.htm (gh, DXLD) ** CHINA. I thought everyone who likes hearing CRI would like to know some changes to frequencies. The current frequencies for the South Pacific: 09-10 UT 15210 17690, 10-11 UT 15210 17690 FROM AUGUST 5th: CRI will broadcast a two hour programme, not the one. NEW FREQUENCIES (AUG 5th): 09-11 UT 15250 17690 Further information visit: http://www.crienglish.com Click on 'About Us'. --- Mit freundlichen Gren, (With Friendly Greetings) (Robert Wise, Hobart, Australia, July 31, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) INCREASE OF CHINA RADIO INTERNATIONAL'S GERMAN SERVICE Hi Glenn, today I received an email from the German service of China Radio International. As from August 5, CRI will start a continious two hour broadcast in German at 1800-2000 UT on 11650 and 15130 kHz (no changes). This will replace the former one hour broadcast at 1800 repeated at 1900. In addition to that the broadcast will be repeated the next morning at 0500-0700 on 15215 and 17690 kHz. The one hour broadcast at 1900 via World Radio Network and Radio Luxembourg (on 1440 kHz) are not effected. Best wishes from Wuppertal vy 55 + 73 (Manfred Reiff, (Editor of "Shortwave-News" and "News from the Middle East" of the EAWRC) http://www.mrreiff.de --- http://www.stvoy.de --- http://www.dxworld.de July 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) From August 5th, China Radio International, German service, will be extended to two hour transmissions on shortwave, twice daily: 1800-2000 UT 11650 15130 0500-0700 UT 15215 17690 1900-2000 UT 1440 via Luxembourg, WRN, - only one hour transmission. Folgende Email erhielt ich soeben von China Radio International: Liebe Hoererinnen und Hoerer, hier noch ein Hinweis: Ab 5. August steht uns die doppelte Sendezeit zur Verfuegung, sodass Sie unsere Sendung durchgehend von 20 bis 22 Uhr MESZ empfangen koennen. Die Frequenzen bleiben unveraendert, naemlich 11650 und 15130 kHz. Darueber hinaus wird diese zweistuendige Sendung am naechsten Morgen von 7 bis 9 Uhr auf den Frequenzen 15215 und 17690 kHz wiederholt. Unsere ueber WRN und Radio Luxemburg 1440 kHz ausgestrahlten einstuendigen Sendungen von 21 bis 22 Uhr MESZ bleiben ebenso unveraendert, wie die jeweiligen Frequenzen. Anmerkung meinerseits: Herr Sung Jingli, Mitarbeiter von CRI, erwaehnte beim SWLCS-DX-Camp letzten Samstag, dass CRI ein zweistuendiges Deutschprogramm einfuehren will (Willi Stengel, Germany, A-DX July 29 via Wolfgang Büschel, DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. 9930, "Dafa Hao" via KWHR. This Mandarin program is produced by World Falun Dafa Radio. The web site of World Falun Dafa Radio http://www.falundafaradio.org lists this program as their broadcast towards Asia (1500-1600 on Sat/Sun and 1600-1630 on Mon-Fri on 9930). They send me a blank QSL for my reception of "Dafa Hao". (Wakisaka, DSWCI DX Window via Cumbre DX via WORLD OF RADIO 1193, DXLD) This relates to the KWHR schedule and antenna changes recently reported under HAWAII. I`m somewhat surprised a ``Christian`` station would be open to broadcasting programs by this non-Christian ``cult`` (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA. Checked RFPI Wed July 30 just in time to hear WOR 1192 starting at 1321 UT on 7445, which was about to fade out, behind Taiwan, and a swoosh-swoosh noise at irregular intervals every few seconds; while 15039 appeared to be off the air. It was back on, for a short while, the following evening, I think around 0130 --- but see far below, replaced by 15115 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, it seems this story has made it onto at least one us TV programme: http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=03/07/29/168226 (via Andy Sennitt, Holland; and via Artie Bigley, July 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST; interview with James Latham audible via WORLD OF RADIO 1193) Transcript: RFPI July 29 plea for help. This aired on Radio for Peace International on Tue Jul 29 05:04 UT 2003. [James Latham] And you're listening to Radio for Peace International. I'm James Latham in the studios of RFPI, and we're sorry about that one little piece that went in there: One of the Pacifica stations is doing some of their fundraising, and it always goes on. We want to let our listeners know that your help and assistance is needed right now: RFPI is in a battle for its life. The station, which has operated for 16 years through some four or five administrations at the University for Peace, is now being asked to move, and your help is needed. If you appreciate these broadcasts and what you hear on RFPI, programs such as "Democracy Now," we want you to step forward and give us your support. RFPI is developing a legal fund for the defense of the station. We've already had contributions, and we want to thank all those who have given. It is making a difference, and we are going to win this. The University for Peace, which is under new administration, has been wishing to move the station off. We have diver --- sort of have diverged ways that we've gone in terms of our operations, and there is some political differences between the two organizations. So we really do ask you to help us, help us stay strong and stay on the air and stay broadcasting our messages of peace, hope, understanding, social justice. It is all about the difference between somebody to wishes to have peace and security in the world and those of us who wish to have peace and social justice, and that is what this radio station is about. So your support is very, very much needed and appreciated. We have gotten word that the message of our notice --- for removal from the buildings that we have constructed --- has gone around the world, for it has been posted in the Move On organization, various freedom-of-speech organizations around the world, Common Dreams, and others; and we want to thank all of our listeners for doing that and for writing. Those of you who have written in to the UN, we continuously urge you to do so. The station really does appreciate your report. There is considerable activity: There are people at the UN reviewing the letters; they do make a difference. So write to the United Nations. You can address an E-mail to Kofi Annan by sending an E-mail to him at anann@.un.org [sic], and you can send an E-mail to him there and describe the use that you use the radio station for, and tell him that you don't want it to leave the airwaves and how important it is for you. All of this is very, very much appreciated. We have --- we're busy right now behind the scenes, working on getting E-mails out and correspondence with thousands of organizations around the world who are coming forth for our help. We're still not over the hump yet: We still need to set up a very strong defense in this, what we view as an illegal action, an action that is framed in the censorship of the radio station, and we believe that censorship is not an option for us. We will not --- we refuse to be silent. On July 21st, at 12:30, officials at the, from the University for Peace, armed guards put a chain across the, RFPI's fences, the gates of RFPI. This, by the way, we want to point out was a gate that was built by the staff here at Radio for Peace International, as most of this building was. It is a two-story building, quite large, and it was built by you, the listeners. Listener-supported RFPI, through the many years, the 16 years of operation, have built the station up to its present potential, a two-story building, a transmitting facility, and an antenna farm for getting the signal out around the world. And we are now being asked to leave those facilities that we built. We think that is unfair. We think that it is unjust, and we're calling our friends, many friends out there, into action to help save RFPI. For information, and you can check out the photos if you have access to the World Wide Web, we encourage you to look at http://www.rfpi.org There are photos there, and soon we will have our http://www.saverfpi.org site up as well, where we will be listing some of the responses that you, our listeners, have sent in, and the marvelous letters that have been sent in to the United Nations, to the University for Peace, and to others. We believe that this struggle is a decision of one individual and not the decision of all of the University for Peace. It was not a very democratic decision, we believe, and we're asking, also, you to correspond and were in contact with the council, the governing body of the United Nations, of the UN- -University for Peace, I should say --- to see if they can also be notified of this. We're not sure if they have had full information about this, and we're going to be contacting them as well. So your contribution and help and assistance in this is very very much appreciated. Naomi, do you have anything to add? We have --- Naomi Fowler just walked into the studios here of RFPI. I was --- been giving out the E- mail addresses and everything else that people need to correspond with. And of course, your contributions, you can send them, they've been getting contributions to our organ office for the defense fund in donations large and small, and we appreciate them, is Post Office Box 3165, Newberg, Oregon, 97132, USA. Post Office Box 3165, Newberg, Oregon 97132, USA. You can also go onto PayPal and donate that way on our Web site by clicking on it. Please mention with any of the contributions that you wish it to go to a legal defense fund for support of the station, and that's very much appreciated. So, are we ready to go for another program? No, nothing yet. OK. Yeah, that ended it. That program is done, ended early, So it finished up early. The, you know, the struggle goes on, and as we, as things develop, we will be keeping you up-to-date, our listeners, our supporters out there, as to what is happening and keeping you informed on this as any progress. Again, on July 21st, at 12:30 in the afternoon, the gates were, RFPI's gates were chained and locked, locking us and the staff inside the studios, which we still are here and have been here all this time, and staff continues to stay on premises to, you know, to support the station. We do not want to leave the station for fear that the station will be in some way damaged. [Naomi] Yes, this is, just to add a few comments, this is Naomi Fowler here, Radio for Peace International's program director. I just want to call on all listeners and friends of Radio for Peace International who are in Costa Rica at the moment to please come and support us on August the 4th, which is the deadline for the eviction by the University for Peace of a fellow peace organization, Radio for Peace International. We need as many people here supporting us and witnessing what goes on as possible: That is our most important day, and we need your presence here, too, and witness goes on. We intend to act at all times as a peace organization upholding peaceful values, and we call upon the University for Peace to do the same thing and to respect us as a peace organization, and if they want to continue this process, then they should do so in a peaceful manner and a respectful manner, and we ask all of you out there, if you're able to get here and physically come and witness what happens on that day, then we do please ask you to do so. We're going to try to bring out some more press releases during the day today. Please keep looking on our Web site, on http://www.rfpi.org There is another Web site being set up at the moment. We will give those details out as and when we have them. Thank you very much for all the support, financial and moral support, and please keep monitoring the situation with us, and we will update you as and when we can. We're gonna get on with our normal programming now. Here's this week's "Making Contact." [James] Stay tuned for that and much more. [excerpts of another monologue aired on Radio For Peace International at Thu Jul 31 02:09:04 2003 UT:] [James Latham] We are continuing holding vigilance here at the station -- the staff is all here -- and we have no intention of leaving this facility that you, our listeners, have built and helped us construct of the many -- 16 -- years of operation. On July 21, when we were handed the notice, armed guards of the University for Peace put a chain across the gates leading into the facilities of Radio For Peace International. This is hindering our operations at the station, and causing us considerable difficulties in continuing these broadcasts. With your support, both in letter writing and to our financial campaign, our legal defense fund, is very, very much appreciated. We have more programming forthcoming, and we will be giving you announcements and progress reports as the campaign continues on. We've been getting a multitude of international organizations behind us. The community broadcasters at AMARC, the international organization of community broadcasters, are supporting the radio station with a strong letter to the Secretary General. [end of transcript by Michael L. Semon] A Web site http://www.saverfpi.org is now up. I wonder if RFPI is locked out of its main site and has started a site that they can control. This is pure speculation, of course, but I've been waiting for days and days for http://www.rfpi.org to be updated (Michael L. Semon, Lakeland, FL, USA, July 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) On August 4th 2003 RFPI is hosting an Open House. We are inviting our listeners and supporters to protest against the gates of our facilities being chained and padlocked by University for Peace armed guards. We need as many witnesses as possible and support on this day that we have been given as a deadline to vacate our building. We are calling on the University for Peace to act in a peaceful manner on August 4th. Your presence is crucial and will be very much appreciated. [via WORLD OF RADIO 1193] Maurice Strong is the newest administration head at the University for Peace in Costa Rica. Here is an article about him from Forbes Magazine. SAVING THE PLANET WITH MAURICE STRONG by Dyan Machan, Forbes Magazine, January 12, 1998 Source: http://www.survivalistskills.com/strong.htm [referenced in WORLD OF RADIO 1193] Maurice Strong 68, and his wife, Hanne, fancy themselves quite the environmental couple. He was chairman of the far-out Earth Council, earning the nickname Father Earth. In 1992 he orchestrated the United Nations Earth Sumniit, which called on the developed world to fork over, for its environmental sins, $600 billion to the Third World. Together the Strongs run the private Manitou Foundation. A gathering place for religious sects (Hanne is into "spiritual interests"), it backs, among other things, research into ethnobotany-the interactions between humans and plants. Odd stuff, yes. But odder still is Strong's business career, which has been marked by one misfortune after another. To many of those who know him for his U.N. and environmental work, Strong's business affairs are a bit of a mystery. Nevertheless, Strong's a chap to be reckoned with. Congress says that without belt-tightening the U.N. can kiss good-bye $I.'3 billion in back U.S. dues. He is the driving force behind a U.N. reorganization plan aimed at dealing with Congress' objections. Strong's solution is hardly draconian: Add a layer of management, cut costs, and abolish redundant obs through attrition. "Underwhelming," arouses Morris Abram, president of Geneva-based U.N. Watch. While that controversy rages, Strong is up to his eyeballs in Molten Metal Technology, a busted handler of hazardous waste notorious for its flaky technology and ties to presidential hopeful Al Gore (FORBES, Jan. 22, 1996 and Apr. 21, 1997). A big contributor to Gore's campaigns, Molten Metals has surfaced in the Senate hearings on corrupt campaign financing. A member of Molten's board, Strong sold some shares at around $31 apiece a month prior to the stock's October 1996 collapse. Today the stock is at 13 cents a share and Strong is being sued by San Diego class-action shark Milberg Weiss. This mixture of do-goodism and obvious self-interest got his start in the oil business. By his 30s he had made millions in small energy companies, rising to become president of Power Corporation http://www.survivalistskills.com/canpol.htm a Montreal holding company. In 1976 he ran Petro Canada, the national oil company. By 1981 he had moved on to Denver oil promoter AZL Resources, where, as chairman and the largest shareholder, he was sued for allegedly hyping the stock ahead of a merger that eventually failed. Strong says he settled for $4.2 million at the insistence of his insurance company. Nonetheless Strong came out a winner. AZL, which owned a number of western ranches, merged with oil refiner Tosco Corp. in 1983. Tosco unloaded some AZL ranch land at fire sale prices, and Strong got the Baca Ranch-160,000 acres in south central Colorado. Today Baca houses the Manitou Foundation. Back at the ranch he started American Water Development Inc. to grow high-protein grains. Soon the plan became a scheme to pump water from under Baca to Denver suburbs, an idea that the locals said would harm the ecosystem. Caught between his reputation as an environmentalist and his pocketbook, Stroniz bailed. "My partners called me softhearted," he says. His next major business venture was equally controversial. In 1992 he became chairman of Ontario Hydro, North America's largest utility. One of his stranger recommendations: that Hydro buy a 3 1,000 acre Costa Rican rain forest. Why? Strong said the deal was fair compensation for the harm Hydro was doing to the local environment. By happenstance he owned a hotel that catered to ecotourists in the same country. So how did Strong come to be picked to reengineer the U.N.? The way we hear it, former secretary general Boutros Boutros-Ghali wanted to recruit someone close to the current Administration. Strong, Al Gore's pal, fit the bill. Boutros-Ghali was tossed out last year, but his successor, Kofi Annan, allowed Strong to stay on. Strong says he doesn't want the U.N.'s head honcho's job. His mission, he says, is to save the planet from industry's depredations. Will the real Maurice Strong please stand up? [{some images as captioned:] Former President of Costa Rica joins the crowd, showing his support for Radio for Peace International. Radio For Peace International General Manager James Latham, Former president of Costa Rica and University for Peace co-founder Rodrigo Carazo Odio and RFPI's Costa Rican lawyer Arcelio Hernández. http://www.saverfpi.org/article.php?story=20030729163254921 David Moore, son of Pacifica Radio Station founder Lou Hill delivering food to staff locked in at RFPI. http://www.saverfpi.org/article.php?story=20030729163107824 The RFPI Building: http://www.saverfpi.org/article.php?story=20030729162926969 Radio For Peace International General Manager James Latham and Program Director Naomi Fowler releasing a press release on the air waves. http://www.saverfpi.org/article.php?story=20030729162742127 A Press Event was held on July 27th to clarify RFPI's position on this conflict. A crowd of listeners made their presence and support count. Supporters, staff, lawyers and Board of Directors locked behind the access gate to Radio For Peace International studios. http://www.saverfpi.org/article.php?story=20030729160611546 From a new fact sheet http://www.rfpi.org/fact_sheet.html --- Why is the University for Peace trying to evict Radio for Peace International? After being asked repeatedly why RFPI is being asked to leave the UPAZ campus, the university has given no formal explanation to RFPI for the eviction. RFPI believes the eviction is being done for political reasons, and is a form of censorship. UPaz has told the press that RFPI owes UPAZ $14,000, and that RFPI is broadcasting illegally. Both reasons come as a surprise to the staff of RFPI, and are not sufficient grounds to evict the station that was built by the design and funds of RFPI staff. Is Radio For Peace International Transmitting on a registered frequency? Radio For Peace International is registered with the High Frequency Coordination Committee, an international commission that coordinates shortwave stations. RFPI does not have credentials with the National Radio Control of Costa Rica, because Radio For Peace is on international territory and is broadcasting to an international audience. The issue of RFPI's legality on the airwaves did not come up until the eviction notice was given. When Radio For Peace and University for Peace decided to collaborate, it was the University for Peace's responsibility to acquire the legal permissions that gives Radio For Peace International the right to broadcast. Does RFPI owe UPAZ money? The University claims that RFPI owes them $14,000 for an internet network system. A written agreement said that RFPI would pay UPAZ in kind or in cash, but the UPAZ never followed up. The university then decided that they don’t want affiliation anymore, and then said that RFPI owed them money. RFPI then felt that the money for this equipment had to be part of the negotiations process. If RFPI were to abandon its building on UPAZ premises, UPAZ would be left with a building worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, including the internet infrastructure that UPAZ was requesting payment for. Some background information about the new administration at the University for Peace: The Radio station was working harmoniously with the University until the most recent administration, led by Maurice Strong in 1999. Maurice Strong has served on the board of multiple corporations, and is currently the Director of the Foundation Board of the World Economic Forum, and has served as a Special Advisor to the President of the World Bank. (In the past 3 years, RFPI has given tremendous airtime to the anti-globalization movement) In April 2002, the University refused to let RFPI students and staff ride the UPAZ buses. RFPI students report that UPAZ employees were instructed not to offer rides to RFPI staff, or risk termination. What are the consequences of evicting Radio For Peace? 1. Cutting off the only shortwave station dedicated to peace and justice, giving voice to indigenous peoples and other under- represented peoples around the world. 2. Denying the opportunity to study peace journalism to hundreds of international students & the only shortwave station whose mission it is to train young journalists. 3. Cutting off a venue to 50 independent radio producers. 4. Elimination of the UN voice on shortwave. 5. Eliminating research and monitoring of organized hate groups using shortwave to facilitate hate crimes (i.e. Timothy McVeigh) What are some of Radio For Peace International's accomplishments? RFPI has received awards from: Rotary Club International, 1993. Ministerio de Educación Pública, 1993. Colorado Cross Disability Coalition, for Access Improvement 1996. Unity Church of Costa Rica, for "Constructor de la No Violencia," 1998. Universidad Para la Paz, as "Miembro Honorario," 1991. RFPI has donated equipment to the International Red Cross. RFPI is the only shortwave station that gives UN Radio a daily voice. What has Radio For Peace International contributed to the University for Peace since 1987? RFPI helped produce videos and radio programs to promote the University for Peace programs. RFPI has done public relations for the University for Peace events. \ RFPI has helped UPAZ set up their homestay program in Ciudad Colón for their students. RFPI is incurring steep legal bills in its fight to stay alive, eating deeply into our operating budget. We need to raise several thousand dollars to keep up the struggle. Can you help us? Just click on the button below to donate whatever you can. Or send your contribution to: RFPI, PO Box 3165, Newberg, OR 97132. Be sure to note "Legal defense fund" on your check. This is your radio station and the only one of its kind in the world. Let's make sure that it survives!! And be sure to check back here often for updates to the current situation and how you can stay involved. We greatly appreciate your support! [end of website notice] The crucial question is the following RFPIs mission has not changed in the last 16 years. Until the latest administration headed by M Strong, we have operated harmoniously with UPaz, a fellow peace org. It begs the question, how and when did the Uni's mission and stated goals change? In a letter to Mr. Roberto Tovar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica, the University for Peace states: that the "current activities of RFPI are inconsistent with the international emphasis currently being developed by the university" THIS STATED IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT over the past sixteen years RFPI has remained true to its ORIGINAL goals, TRANSMITTING PROGRAMS CONCERNING PEACE AND JUSTICE WORLDWIDE. HOW THEN has the University diverged from its strategy stated in 1999, and CERTAINLY CONTRARAY TO ITS OWN GUIDELINES as a fellow peace organization? (Naomi Fowler, RFPI, July 30, WORLD OF RADIO 1193, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RFPI on new 15115! Tune-in, about 1550 UT July 31, discussion of death penalty in Puerto Rico. 1600 Naomi talking about new web site (no web access here) then into Democracy Now. Reception was quite good on Satellite 800, actually, a little better than 15,039, perhaps just propagation. I'd give it 3, 4, 4. Took my little Sony analog radio outdoors and could hear it even on that fairly well. Since 15 MHz is sometimes off the air, I`ll bet a lot of folks, checking 15039, and not finding anything, just assumed you were off the air. I don`t even usually listen to Glenn on Wednesday night, as reception isn't that good, so, it was pure coincidence that I found you (Tim Hendel, AL, to RFPI, via DXLD) 15115 OK here at 1635 check, but in the 1700-1800 period, weak co- channel presumably from IBB Morocco was enough to make RFPI unlistenable, also with a SAH of a few tens of Hz, clear again after 1800. I am more concerned about Spain 15110 after 1900, which is likely to splash it considerably. IBB services via Morocco are supposedly on 15115 at various times, but aside from that it should be reasonably clear after HCJB closes at 1300. In the afternoon, RFPI might need a different frequency such as 15190 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. I suggested to Radio Habana Cuba that they consider an old time Latin American AM DX program this winter. Late night, multi- lingual from their high power transmitter. I had a reply finally. Apparently they do not have the political clout to do it. They did suggest I submit it to the Cuban Institute of Radio and TV and I will do so. If any DXers wish to join in, the address is: ICRT, Calle 23 #258, El Vedado, entre L y M, CP 10400, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba. (Colon, July 29, IRCA via DXLD) Well, RHC is not a MW station, so naturally they would refer it to the parent organization. But, but, we Americans are supposed to be put off by the high-power MW transmitters, not *want* to hear them! (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DENMARK. ``WMR World Music Radio is planning to resume operation late 2003. Test transmissions are due in August 2003 on 15810 kHz and a frequency in the 6 MHz range yet to be announced.`` Quote from: http://www.wmr.dk (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, WORLD OF RADIO 1193, DXLD) ** ECUADOR. What happened to the DXPL website http://dxpl.hcjb.org/index.php --- This has stopped working (Larry Nebron, CA, July 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Well, I just found it here. At least they have updated it, but not the separate DXPL schedule page linked which is still pre May 31! http://www.hcjb.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=173&page=1 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUAM. Good morning. When I checked my email this morning there was a message titled "Guam". Upon opening it I found a word document attached from the Naval Media Center verifying my reception of the Guam Transmission heard night before last. It printed up as a nice verification letter with full color header etc. That is really quick response, even for email since I just sent the report yesterday afternoon! Veri signer is Brooke Armato JO3, though of course there is no actual signature since it was a Word document. Anyway, I printed it up then scanned it into my SWL logging program along with the gazillion other SWL QSL's in there. That way anytime I check that logging the QSL comes up too. Now if they just verify the Hawaii Transmission heard the same evening and IF I can hear the other sites (I have two QSL's for the Puerto Rico site). (Phil Atchley, swl at qth.net via DXLD) ** ISLE OF MAN. 1368 kHz Manx Radio is now 24h. Also "Kick FM" slogan is NOT used (this was on FM only at weekends). Carries sponsored religious programmes Sun 1900-2200 (Jack FitzSimons via EMWG (22/7- 2003) via Ydun`s MW News July 30 via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. WEST BANK AND GAZA/ISRAEL: MINISTRY DENIES LICENSING PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI RADIO STATION | Text of report by Palestinian radio Voice of Palestine on 30 July The Information Ministry has denied reports circulated by local and foreign media to the effect that the PNA [Palestine National Authority] granted a licence to a Palestinian-Israeli radio station called The Voice of Peace. A statement issued by the Information Ministry explained that the ministry's Press and Publications Department did not grant a licence to any joint radio station, but rather issued a temporary three-month permit for a Palestinian radio station called The Voice of Peace. Hani al-Masri, head of the Press and Publications Department, said that the ministry has a policy of advocating political and intellectual diversity, but this, however, does not give anyone the power to take the law into their hands and impose a fait accompli policy. He added that any radio station co-founded by foreigners should receive political approval and then the approval of the Interior Ministry and the Ministry of Telecommunications. Al-Masri rebuffed media claims that the US Arab-language Radio Sawa leased a frequency to broadcast in Palestine. He noted that a local radio station, in violation of the law and applicable regulations, leased the frequency it had been assigned by the PNA. Source: Voice of Palestine, Ramallah, in Arabic 0900 gmt 30 Jul 03 (via BBCM via WORLD OF RADIO 1193, DXLD) ** ISRAEL. TWO PIRATE RADIO STATIONS RAIDED (IsraelNN.com 16 Jul. 29, '03) Police raided two pirate radio stations operating in Ashkelon, the Kol Hesed and Kol Emet stations. The broadcast equipment was confiscated and one person was taken into custody... From http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=47290 (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** ITALY. Dall'Abetone (Pistoia) ho ascoltato qualche link di radio in FM: 52.15 Discoradio 52.39 R. Centro Emilia (prg multietnico africano in EE e altre lingue... Occhio eh eh) 52.60 Rete Radar (studi Porretta Terme, BO) 53.50 Pane burro e marmellata 56.90 Modena Radio City 58.60 Unid diretta balera 60.90 Bum Bum 61.30 Unid mx classica 63.30 Santerno studio ? Debolissima jingle quasi inaudibili Rx AOR5000 + stilo Miracle Whip Ciao (Giampiero Bernardini, Avvenire, Milano, Italy, July 29, BCL News via DXLD) But there are 8-MHz-wide Italian TV channels, A and B, with video carriers at 53.75 and 59.75 MHz, per WRTH 2003 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREAS. N KOREA TO STOP ANTI-S. KOREA RADIO BROADCASTS From http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&cat=7&id=268067 Thursday, July 31, 2003 SEOUL --- North Korea will stop its anti-South Korean propaganda broadcasts that a radio station has aired for decades, Yonhap News Agency reported Wednesday, quoting government officials. "The Voice of National Salvation," run by the Korean People's Democratic Front Radio, said Tuesday that anti-Seoul broadcasts would be stopped from Friday, Yonhap quoted a Unification Ministry official as saying on condition on anonymity (Kyodo News via Mike Terry, DXLD) In another goodwill gesture, North Korea promised to stop broadcasting propaganda against South Korea. The decision brings to an end a radio program called "Voice of National Salvation," which the North has directed against the South for the past 33 years. . . http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/30/international/asia/30CND-KOREA.html?ex=1060228800&en=3bc669d93eb35efd&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE (via Jilly Dybka, WORLD OF RADIO 1193, DXLD) NORTH KOREAN CONCERNS OVER IMPACT OF SOUTH'S PROPAGANDA BROADCASTS SAID "SERIOUS" | Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap Seoul, 30 July: North Korea has admitted for the first time that it lied by claiming a clandestine pro-communist radio station was operating in South Korea, government officials said Wednesday [30 July]. For decades, the "Voice of National Salvation" has aired anti-South Korean broadcasts almost around the clock. Pyongyang claimed the station is based in the South, but Seoul has said it is located in Haeju, a North Korean city close to the border. On Tuesday, the station, run by the Korean People's Democratic Front Radio, announced anti-Seoul propaganda broadcasts would be stopped from Friday, said a Unification Ministry official on condition of anonymity. On Wednesday, North Korea sent a telephone message urging South Korea to follow suit and stop its own anti-Pyongyang broadcasts, said the official. In the latest round of inter-Korean ministerial talks in Seoul earlier this month, North Korean officials proposed that the two Koreas stop airing propaganda broadcasts, including the use of loudspeakers along the border, effective 15 August. Both sides agreed to discuss further details after forming a bilateral body to handle social and cultural issues. The North Korean announcement came before the envisaged committee has been formed, said Unification Ministry officials. Launched in 1970, the Voice of National Salvation appealed to some South Korean dissidents under past military governments. But as a result of South Korea's increasing democratization, the broadcast has lost much of its intended effect. Experts say that Pyongyang's move seems to indicate that its leaders have serious concerns about the negative impact South Korean propaganda broadcasts have on the North Korean society. In a survey on 103 North Korean defectors in February, 67 per cent of them said they had listened to South Korean radio broadcasts before fleeing their country. Though North Koreans are officially banned from listening to news from outside and radios are soldered to monitor only state programmes, an increasing number of North Koreans began to gain access to outside information, according to human rights groups in Seoul. Currently, South Korea's state-run Korean Broadcasting System airs 20 hours of programming a day that is critical of the North Korean regime. Recently, the US Congress passed legislation calling for the US provision of radios to people in the isolated regime while mandating the Washington-based Radio Free Asia to extend Korean-language broadcasting for North Koreans to 24 hours a day from the current four hours. "US radio broadcasting is indeed one of our greatest hope for communicating with the isolated North Korean population," Sen. Jon Kyl of the Republican Party recently said in a seminar. "While actively working to sever the regime's life line, we should also use all of the tools to promote democratic change." Source: Yonhap news agency, Seoul, in English 0743 gmt 30 Jul 03 (via BBCM via WORLD OF RADIO 1193, DXLD) NORTH STOPS BROADCASTS BLAMING SOUTH From: http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2003/07/31/200307310074.asp North Korea's latest decision to halt the anti-South radio broadcasts intends to pressure the South to reciprocate while indicating the isolationist country recognizes the futility of its finger-pointing approach, experts and officials said yesterday. The Unification Ministry said the North sent a telephone message yesterday that it will stop from Aug. 1 the Voice of National Salvation, which has been operating since 1970 to criticize the capitalist South and to propagate its communist regime. The message called for the South to follow suit. "I think North Korea has taken the initiative on this move to put pressure on South Korea to follow the lead," a Unification Ministry official said. The North's recent measure is in line with its suggestion during the 11th ministerial talks in Seoul July 9-13 that the two sides stop using their national airwaves as blame-slinging arenas. They promised to review the proposal in detail after organizing a committee on social and cultural affairs. Both the North and South have broadcast to each other for decades, with the former focusing on defaming the South and the latter mainly delivering information about its own affairs. Prof. Koh Yu-hwan of Dongguk University said the North decided to suspend anti-South broadcasts because it has come to question their benefits considering the cost of airing them. "It shows that North Korea admits it has reaped little fruits from propaganda broadcasts aimed at the South, whereas North Koreans have been increasingly affected by the South's radio broadcasts," Koh said. Koh said North Korean propaganda tactics have lost its impact because the South Korean public recognize the superiority of their system. In contrast, South Korean broadcasts featuring examples of prosperous economic development have unsettled North Koreans, he added. "I feel this is a desperate message indicating that North Korea anticipates the South will stop its psychological warfare," the government official said (via Ulis R. Fleming, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) SEOUL SAYS NORTH KOREA TO END ANTI-SOUTH BROADCASTS North Korea will end propaganda broadcasts aimed at South Korea from September. An official at the policy division of Seoul's Unification Ministry told Reuters news agency that North Korea announced its decision in a TV broadcast. "It appears that they are taking the initiative on this move and thereby urging us to do the same," he said. For decades, North Korean TV and radio have broadcast scathingly critical propaganda about the capitalist South, at times accusing leaders of being greedy womanisers and the South Korean people of suffering under US oppression. The South also broadcasts to the North, but Seoul says the content is mostly information about the South rather than criticism about the North. The Unification Ministry official said North and South Korea had promised to stop critical propaganda broadcasts during the summit meeting in 2000 between North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and former South Korean president Kim Dae-jung. Pyongyang raised this issue again during recent ministerial talks, and both sides agreed to discuss this in detail at working-level committees, the official said. The two sides remain technically at war since the 1950-53 Korean War ended without a peace treaty (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 30 July 2003 via DXLD) Voice of National Salvation, presumed them at 1252 on 4120.5; Voice of the People, tentative at 1255 on 6600; listed // of 3912 just offering a carrier. Can also be heard on East Coast of North America a bit earlier. Per Ulis' report this is their last day. Heard on 4120.5 and 4450 at 1247 July 31 (Hans Johnson, WY, Cumbre DX via WORLD OF RADIO 1193, DXLD) ANALYSIS: SEOUL SAYS NORTH KOREA TO END ANTI-SOUTH BROADCASTS ON 1 AUGUST | Text of editorial analysis by BBC Monitoring Media Services on 31 July North Korea has officially admitted for the first time that it operates a clandestine pro-communist radio station broadcasting to South Korea, officials in Seoul said on 30 July, according to a report by the South Korean news agency Yonhap. Since 1970, the North Korean-run Voice of National Salvation has carried anti-South Korean broadcasts almost around the clock. The radio station favours the reunification of Korea from the North Korean point of view. North Korea has maintained that the station is based in South Korea, but Seoul has said it is located in Haeju, a city close to the border with South Korea. On 29 July, the Voice of National Salvation announced that it would stop airing anti-Seoul propaganda broadcasts from Friday 1 August, according to a South Korean Unification Ministry official, speaking to Yonhap news agency on condition of anonymity. South Korea also broadcasts to the North, but Seoul says the content is mostly information about the South rather than criticism about the North. The South Korean-run Voice of the People radio station is believed to broadcast on shortwave from transmitters in South Korea, although it claims in its announcements to broadcast from Pyongyang. The station has been on the air since 1986. In the latest round of inter-Korean ministerial talks held in Seoul earlier in July, North Korean officials proposed that the two Koreas stop transmitting all propaganda broadcasts, including loudspeaker broadcasts along the border, from 15 August. Both sides agreed to discuss details later, after the formation of an inter-Korean body to handle social and cultural issues. North and South Korea suspended loudspeaker propaganda against each other along the demilitarized zone once before, shortly after the June 2000 summit. North Korea's move is seen as an attempt to lead the South to stop airing propaganda broadcasts as well, Unification Ministry officials cited by Yonhap said. "Launched in 1970, the Voice of National Salvation has found its way through some South Korean dissidents under past military governments. But as South Korea has been democratic, the North's broadcast has lost much of its intended propaganda effect in the South," the agency commented in a dispatch in English. North Korea's "serious concerns" over broadcasts from South "Experts say that Pyongyang's move seems to indicate that its leaders have serious concerns about the negative impact South Korean propaganda broadcasts have on the North Korean society," the Yonhap report went on. It recalled that in a survey of 103 North Korean defectors in February, 67 per cent of them said they had listened to South Korean radio broadcasts before fleeing their country. Although North Koreans are officially banned from listening to news from outside and radios are modified to receive only programmes broadcast by the state, an increasing number of North Koreans are now accessing information from outside, according to human rights groups in Seoul which were cited by Yonhap. South Korea's state-run Korean Broadcasting System currently airs 20 hours of programming a day that is critical of the North Korean regime. The Yonhap report recalled that the US Congress had recently passed legislation calling for the US to provide radios to North Korean citizens, as well as mandating the US surrogate broadcaster Radio Free Asia to extend Korean-language broadcasting to the North to 24 hours a day from the current four hours. Seoul urged to reciprocate The South Korean newspaper Hangyore on 31 July said "the South should reciprocate North Korea's suspension of anti-Seoul propaganda". The paper said in an editorial that the move by Pyongyang "also appears to have something to do with the marked increase in the pressure shaking the North Korean regime under a `North Korea democratization theory', amid the recent flare-up of tension between North Korea and the United States". The fact that anti-South propaganda broadcasts "are virtually ineffective in practice" must have been also taken into consideration, it added. The South Korean paper described the Voice of National Salvation as "a major relic of the Cold War era spanning over a period of 33 years". It said that by moving first to stop the propaganda against South Korea, the North "has scored political points in terms of giving momentum to the mood for reconciliation, cooperation and peace". "Whatever motives North Korea has, its move to stop propaganda broadcasts against South Korea is very welcome, and we should reciprocate positively. If we play down North Korea's decision to stop its broadcasts as a move to ditch an outdated `drug' and favour continuing our anti-North broadcasts deemed still effective, it is exactly a display of Cold War attitude. The day of national reconciliation will come closer when we extend respect and trust, especially in these difficult times," the Hangyore editorial concluded. North and South Korea are still technically at war since the 1950-53 Korean War ended without a peace treaty. Source: BBC Monitoring research 31 Jul 03 (via DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH. RADIO KOREA INTERNATIONAL LAUNCHES 50TH ANNIVERSARY WEB SITE Radio Korea International (RKI), the overseas service of the Korean Broadcasting System, has launched a special Web site http://rki.kbs.co.kr/50yers/e_index.html to mark its 50th anniversary on 15 August 2003. The Web site features the yesterday, today and tomorrow of RKI, its vision for another half century of broadcasting, and congratulatory messages from dignitaries from home and abroad and worldwide listeners. RKI has also launched a special 50th anniversary animated logo (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 30 July 2003 via DXLD) And special broadcasts, ceremonies and so on. A whole new set of 50th anniversary web page, the best being http://rki.kbs.co.kr/50yers/eng/introduction/rki_info/rki_info.html where we can finally see the faces behind the voices. They seem to have a policy of new faces on the web pages for each language (Daniel Say, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 6045, R. Universidad (tentative) had a nice peak at 1235- 1240 July 31. Alas, too short, no ID. Wasn't playing classical music, but rather what sounded like Mexican music. Went away as fast as it came up. About 35 minutes after sunrise (Hans Johnson, WY, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** MEXICO. MEXICAN REBEL MOVEMENT ANNOUNCES RADIO BROADCASTS Wednesday, July 30, 2003 (07-30) 06:15 PDT http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/07/30/international0915EDT6140.DTL SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS, Mexico (AP) -- Mexico's Zapatista rebel movement, noted for spreading its message over the internet, is turning to an older technology: shortwave radio. In a communiqué published by local newspapers on Wednesday, Marcos said the movement would begin shortwave broadcasts at a still-undetermined hour on August 9. He said transmissions were planned on 5.8 megahertz, though he said that in case of government interference, "move your dial in the same way you would your hips in a cumbia (dance) and hunt until you find us." The announcement was part of a general invitation to a three-day party Aug. 8-10 that the Zapatistas plan in the village of Oventic, a few miles north of here. The event is to mark the creation of more formal methods for the movement and its 30 "autonomous municipalities" in remote parts of Chiapas state to deal with outsiders. After years of clandestine organizing, the Zapatistas seized several cities in Chiapas on Jan. 1, 1994, then quickly withdrew into the jungle. About 145 people died in 12 days of fighting before a cease- fire was declared. Once based on Marxism-Leninism, the rebel movement has turned to political action to promote its calls for Indian rights and for a vision of democracy that is deeply skeptical of political parties. Meanwhile, some of the foreign aid destined for Chiapas, one of Mexico's poorest states, following the Zapatista revolt is being reduced. A spokesman for the European Union's humanitarian office, Jean-Charles Ellerman-Kingombe, said Wednesday that funding for activities there would be phased out by the end of this year. The office has given 7.6 million euros (now about $8.7 million) over past six years, including 1 million euros ($1.145 million) approved last year for health and water sanitation projects that are being carried out by the Spanish, German and International Red Crosses. "There is no longer any immediate humanitarian needs that need to be catered for," he said. "What there is more need for now is more long- term development (via Artie Bigley, Mike Terry, and Jilly Dybka KF4ZEO, and Ulis Fleming, Cumbre DX, July 30, WORLD OF RADIO 1193, DXLD) EZLN ANUNCIA LA CREACIÓN DE RADIO REBELDE miércoles 30 de julio, 09:40 AM SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS, México --- El Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional (EZLN) anunció el inicio de transmisiones en onda corta de la llamada "Radio Insurgente". El subcomandante Marcos informó en un comunicado que el próximo 9 de agosto se escuchará la primera emisión de la radio zapatista, a una hora todavía no determinada y en el marco de una reunión de tres días para anunciar la creación de los "Caracoles", que sustituirán los centros de reunión conocidos como "Aguascalientes". "La banda y la frecuencia precisas son: banda de 49 metros, en los 5.8 megahertz, en onda corta", precisó el líder rebelde. "Como es de esperar que el supremo (el gobierno) interfiera la emisión, muévase en su dial con el mismo contoneo de las caderas en una cumbia (baile) y busque hasta encontrarnos", añadió en la séptima y última parte de una serie de comunicados denominados "La treceava estela". La emisión de "Radio Insurgente" es parte de una serie de actos que el EZLN realizará del 8 al 10 de agosto en la comunidad de Oventik, al norte de esta ciudad del estado sureño de Chiapas. Esos días se anunciará la muerte de los "Aguascalientes" y la creación formal de los "Caracoles". Además, iniciarán sus actividades las "Juntas de Buen Gobierno", instancias autónomas que vigilarán el cumplimiento de las leyes en comunidades zapatistas y regirán las relaciones con los grupos civiles de México y el extranjero. Marcos señaló que a la entrada de la comunidad de Oventik habrá un letrero con la leyenda: "Está usted en Territorio Rebelde Zapatista: aquí manda el pueblo y el gobierno obedece". El líder guerrillero recomendó a quien asista llevar paraguas, plásticos, impermeables "o de perdida un periódico" para cubrirse de la lluvia. También propuso llevar "una ración adecuada" de comida enlatada y galletas. El EZLN apareció públicamente el 1 de enero de 1994 en varias comunidades de Chiapas, estado fronterizo con Guatemala (AP via Héctor García Bojorge, DF, July 30, Conexión Digital via WORLD OF RADIO 1193, DXLD) MEXICO [non?] This is a comunicado by German zapatista support groups on Radio Insurgente, the radio station of the Zapatista movement in Chiapas planning to broadcast on SW. It refers to a statement of subcomandante Marcos in late July announcing the start of SW broadcasts to northern and southern America. No further technical details. It's said that they are now broadcasting 12 hours a day on FM and the station is mainly run by women. As they expect growing tensions in Chiapas the statements says that there need for a medium like this now. They need money to buy equipment and ask everybody (no: international civil society) not to schedule any other activities for August 8-10 (Thorsten Hallman, referring to a long document in German, July 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MYANMAR [non]. FOREIGN RADIOS MOST POPULAR SOURCE OF NEWS IN MYANMAR YANGON, Myanmar (AP) - Myo, a taxi driver, has memorized the entire daily broadcast schedule of the BBC, the Voice of America and two other foreign radio stations. . . http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2003/7/30/latest/13267Foreignra&sec=latest (via Jill Dybka, DXLD) ** NEPAL. MAOISTS TO LAUNCH OWN FM RADIO STATION From http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/03252109.htm Kathmandu, July 25 (UNI): The Maoists are planning to launch an FM radio station in Western Nepal, the Nepalese news agency, Rashtriya Samachar Samiti, today said quoting the Kathmandu Post. "The people of far western region would be able to listen to the programme aired by the Maoists Peoples radio," an unnamed Maoist leader said. The radio station would be situated in an undisclosed location somewhere between Dadeldhura and Baitadi the paper quoted the leader as saying. "Our party has successfully installed an FM radio station in a secured location," he said without giving any details of the plan. This would be the first FM radio station of the Maoists in the Himalayan kingdom since the insurgency began in 1996. The news of establishment of radio station of the Maoists has come at a time when the Government and the Maoists are preparing to hold the third round of peace talks to end the problem of the seven-year-long insurgency which has claimed over 7,500 lives. The FM station would be established within two weeks to one month and at the beginning would broadcast for 10 hours daily, Nepali language daily, Nepal Samacharpatra, quoted the Maoist leader as saying (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. I assume RNZI's 2nd transmitter will be 100 kW; even in the South Pacific, 50 kW does not 'cut it' due to a long term increase in urban electrical noise above 3000 kHz. That said, I hope that RNZI fixes the broken http://www.tcibr.com link on the [technical] webpage. This link has been broken for ~ year. Lazyness? Also, the PDF brochure for the Thomson transmitter needs to be added to the website, along with the applicable PDFs for the TCI antennas. Also, I want to put in for quarterly updates of RNZI's 'pattern' in the region using VOA_area, or equivalents. Sadly, no antenna file has been created to describe RNZI's combining both HR antenna arrays (Max Power, Seattle / Vancouver / Victoria, ripple via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. Special event to mark NZART branch anniversary: One of the oldest Amateur Radio clubs in New Zealand, the Otago Branch of the New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters (NZART), celebrates its 75th anniversary during August. Members will use the special event call sign ZM4A, and a commemorative QSL will be available. QSL via the bureau direct with an SASE (DX stations should include one International Reply Coupon) to ZM4A, PO Box 5485, Dunedin, New Zealand. There`s more information on the NZART Otago Branch Web site [at] http://www.qsl.net/zl4aa/index.html (The Daily DX via ARRL July 30 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** NICARAGUA. Hola Héctor! Y transmitía por los 5950 o 55 y entraba muy bien a Buenos Aires hacia las 0500 UT aproximadamente. Justamente los otros días comentábamos con unos colegas sobre la política QSL de esta emisora. La única nicaragüense en la onda corta pasó a ser Radio Miskut, pero hace mucho que no la veo reportada en los 5770 khz. 73's (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Comentarios del director de Radio Nicaragua Don Héctor García Bojorge, Muchas gracias por su correo. En lo tocante a su comentario y pregunta sobre la onda corta, puedo decirle, que desde hace varios años, Radio Nicaragua no cuenta con un transmisor de Onda Corta. No existen planes para volver a tenerla, especialmente ahora que contamos con la gran carretera de la comunicación, como es el internet. Con respecto a la frecuencia 620 AM, ciertamente, hemos tenido problemas, pero hemos adquirido un nuevo transmisor, que nos permitirá bañar todo el territorio nacional, como siempre ha sido, y más allá de nuestras fronteras. Muy pronto podrá usted escuchar nuestra señal en esa frecuencia. Saludos y éxitos para usted. (Alfonso Moncada Cuèllar, Director General via García, ibid.) ** NIGERIA. Voice of Nigeria. Today, the usual antenna switch on 15120 at 1100 was two minutes late, so I could hear the announcement: "Voice of Nigeria now welcomes listeners in southern Africa for the English service on 15120." After switch very weak as usual. Yesterday, also the sign-on on 11770 was at 1602. Their clock is wrong, it seems (Thorsten Hallmann, Muenster, Absurdocratistan [sic], July 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. Radio Sabor (1610 kHz), logged as far away as Sweden by Hasse Mattisson, is located in Arequipa city, not Paucarpata, as the official frequency listing of the Peruvian Comms Ministry has it. The station’s address is Oficina 430 at the Centro Comercial Independencia, which is also the location of the company’s main station Radio Alegría (1510 kHz). Alegría, listed as station number 637 in WRTH03, is to celebrate its 13th anniversary on Aug 3 next. This is what I gathered from a phone call to the station on July 30. The phone number was kindly supplied by the webmaster of http://www.arequipalinda.com José Antonio Pastor D. who has made an all-out effort in trying to help, actually sending a messenger to the town of Paucarpata in order to locate the station. Thanks to José Antonio for his resourcefulness and thanks also to Björn Malm, without whose tip we would have been unaware of this Peruvian X-bander in the first place. Thanks also to Alfredo Cañote and César Pérez Dioses for taking their time to monitor the station (Henrik Klemetz, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Numerous unIDs IDed: see UNIDENTIFIED [non] below ** PHILIPPINES. Glenn and Ydun, I have been informed by one of the IBB staff in country that the Harris transmitter is still on 1143 and the CEMCO is used for the weekly tests (on 1170). Regards (Ben Dawson, July 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** POLAND. Courrier de la section anglaise de Radio Polonia qui semble contredire des informations selon lesquelles la station aurait l'intention de reprendre des émissions en français. "J'ai le regret de vous annoncer que Radio Polonia n'a pas dans l'idée de reprendre un service français. En réalité, pour des raisons financières, nous avons dû fermer 3 services. La station continue de diffuser en anglais, allemand, esperanto, russe, ukrainien et biélorusse" NDR : et en polonais bien sûr. Les 3 langues supprimées sont le tchec, le slovaque et le lituanien. La plupart des autres langues ont connu des réductions de programmes ou de fréquences (Rafal Kiepuszewski, service anglais - 28 juillet 2003 --- les informations sont issues de http://perso.wanadoo.fr/jm.aubier via DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA [non]. SAUDI DISSIDENT MOVEMENT LAUNCHES AL-ISLAH TV ON HOTBIRD 31 JULY | Text of unattributed report entitled "Al-Islah Television Channel begins transmission on Hotbird today" carried on Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia web site on 31 July Al-Islah Television Channel began transmission on the Hotbird satellite this evening. The details of the transmission are as follows: Broadcast: on Hotbird 6 at 13 degrees East Frequency: 12520 Polarization: Vertical Symbol Rate: 27500 Forward Error Correction, FEC: 4/3 The transmission will remain experimental for several days. Source: Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia web site, London, in Arabic 31 Jul 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** SOLOMON ISLANDS. Robin Harwood alerted people to some interesting listening on SIBC on 5020 with the arrival of the Australian-led intervention force. A program on SIBC called 'Talking Truth' is part of the communications strategy to explain to the people of Solomon Islands the role of the intervention force and its activities. The program was featured in a recent report on Radio Australia's 'Asia Pacific' program. Transcript [plus audio link] at http://www.abc.net.au/ra/asiapac/programs/s904932.htm (Matt Francis, Counsellor, Public Diplomacy, Australian Embassy, 1601 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC, USA, July 29, WORLD OF RADIO 1193, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN [non]. New "target radio" for Sudan (I would like to avoid the term "clandestine"). M-F: 1600-1700 on 17630, 1700-1800 on 17660 kHz (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, DX LISTENING DIGEST) via IBB? where? Quote from: http://www.usaid.gov/hum_response/oti/country/sudan/rpt0303.html United States Agency for International Development Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance Office of Transition Initiatives Field Report: SUDAN, March 2003 In March, OTI awarded a cooperative leadership award to Education Development Center for the development of a radio service for southern Sudan. The OTI assessment team determined that a lack of access to information in southern Sudan, particularly regarding the on-going national peace process, is a significant problem. Sudan's great size, with a topography that makes communication and transportation extremely difficult, and largely impossible during the rainy season, and the widespread illiteracy of the generation that has grown up during the war, make radio the first choice for disseminating information. Existing radio broadcasts in regional languages have been limited to broadcasts from the north and sporadic coverage from various international services like the BBC. The scope and duration of these international broadcasts is very limited. To that end, OTI is funding the development of a radio service for southern Sudan. Radio can be an effective vehicle to address two major concerns: The lack of human capacity and the lack of information about events that affect the everyday lives of the people of southern Sudan. The provision of timely and accurate information can provide motivation for greater civic participation. The radio service will present a diverse mix of timely and relevant programming broadcast in Sudanese languages, (initially Juba-Arabic, Nuer, Dinka and English with the potential to include other major languages of southern Sudan) by Sudanese presenters. The amount of airtime proposes to start at a realistic level of two hours/day within four months and expand to six hours/day (via Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, DXLD) Thanks Bernd's tip. African-sounding music here in Wyoming at 1602, weak, but clear signal on 17630 (Hans Johnson, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Nothing audible here at 1730+ on 17660 (Glenn Hauser, OK, July 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TANZANIA. 5050, R. Tanzania (Dar es Salaam) Partial-data yellow and blue African map card in 1 month after my last follow-up report was sent via registered mail from Hungary. I also enclosed $1.00, and mailed my report to the v/s N. Nyamwocha. I've been trying for this one for over 6 years; my 50th African country verified (George Maroti, NY, July 29, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** TIBET. Let`s try one more time to get the Tibet PBS schedule correct. In 3-117, it was in local time. In 3-123 I subtracted 8 hours for UT, but missed one of the entries, the one at 1000-1535 on 9490 and 9585, which should have been changed to 0200-0735, so: China Tibet PBS Tibetan channel is scheduled [corrected2] 2250-0735 on 594 4905 4920 5240 6110 6130 6200, 0950-1700 4905 4920 5240 6130 6200 7385 9490, 2250-0200 7125 7385, 0200-0735 9490 9585, 0950-1735 6110 (Sergey Kolesov, Ukraine, July World DX Club Contact via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) ** UGANDA. UGANDAN INFORMATION MINISTER SAYS INDEPENDENT RADIO CLOSED FOR ABETTING REBELS | Excerpt from report by Ugandan newspaper The New Vision web site on 31 July The government has discovered evidence incriminating Radio Veritas Kyoga in acts intended to aid the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels. The state minister for information, James Nsaba Buturo, told members of parliament yesterday that the police had discovered an audiotape containing information, which was being aired by the radio to undermine the security situation when the LRA attacked Teso [northern Uganda]. The government closed the radio in June on the recommendation of the Soroti District Security Council. "Police investigations have revealed interesting information and a file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice," Buturo said. He was appearing before the Parliamentary Committee on Presidential and Foreign Affairs to defend his department's budget. Flanked by Omwony Ojwok (economic monitoring state minister), Buturo said the government regrets the closure, but added that the conduct of the radio warranted police action. "It is not that the government is intolerant or dictatorial but information incriminating the radio has been collected, analysed and established to have some connection to the anti-terrorist law. Let's allow the DPP to do his job independently," he told MPs. Committee chairperson Salaam Musumba (Bugabula South) cautioned the government against employing illegal procedures to discipline suspected criminals.[Passage omitted] [See similar report by the Monitor newspaper entitled "Ugandan MPs take ministers to task over fate of independent radio station", filed on 31 July.] Source: The New Vision web site, Kampala, in English 31 Jul 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** U K. The 'Washington Post' has an interesting story about the BBC and the current controversy surrounding its reporting on Iraq. The article offers a very good insight into the unique role of the BBC in British public life and its position as a publicly-funded broadcaster that now finds itself at odds with the government of the day. This is a debate that is very familiar for Brits, Australians and Canadians who all have significant national broadcasters funded from tax revenue that vigorously assert their editorial independence, but something of a revelation for Americans who don't have a comparable public institution. It also addresses the problem of how public service broadcasters can be relevant to audiences in competitive media markets, which some commentators believe is the cause of the type of reporting which sparked the current debate. The report is at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A64586-2003Jul29.html (Matt Francis, Washington, DC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: IRAQI WEAPONS REPORTS BRING VENERABLE BBC TO A DEFINING MOMENT WITH CREDIBILITY IN QUESTION, CRITICS CALL FOR REFORM --- By Glenn Frankel, Washington Post Foreign Service, Wednesday, July 30, 2003 LONDON, July 28 -- Rod Liddle recalls that when he first interviewed for the job of overseeing "Today," the BBC's flagship news radio program, he half-jokingly set a goal: "I said I wanted a complaint from Alastair Campbell every week." Five years later, Liddle's heirs at the British Broadcasting Corp. have succeeded with a vengeance. Campbell and his boss, Prime Minister Tony Blair, who faces the worst crisis of his six years in office, in part because of a "Today" report, are complaining long and loud. . . http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A64586-2003Jul29.html (via Kraig Krist, Mike Cooper, DXLD) BBC CONTROVERSY DISCUSSED ON DIANE REHM SHOW, Thursday at 10:00EDT http://www.wamu.org/ram/live-toad.ram then on-demand The British Broadcasting Corporation is coming under increasing fire for an Iraqi weapons report that aired in May. A panel joins Diane to discuss the role of the BBC, patriotism and the press. Andrew Kohut, director of the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press Terence Smith, media correspondent and senior producer for the Newshour with Jim Lehrer; former national and foreign correspondent and editor with the New York Times Michael Tracey, professor, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Colorado at Boulder (via Larry Nebron, DXLD) ** U S A. Hi Glenn, I have a few WBCQ programming notes of interest for your show. As usual, I should have sent them out yesterday, so, sorry about the late arrival. In the "off the schedule" department: Blind Paul's "Pan Global Wireless" Previously heard on Friday 5-5:30 Eastern / 7415 MHz and Saturday 3- 3:30 Eastern / 17.495 MHz. Reason: Hiatus to rebuild studio and production facilities. (Blind friendly computer production is tough) Hopefully PGW will return in the fall on 7.415 MHz in a weekend evening time slot. Pirate John's "Radio DC" Previously heard Monday mornings 12:15-12:45 am Eastern / 7.415 MHz Reason: No problem with show content or financial status, but rather that John apparently made insulting anti-Semitic remarks to station owner Allan Weiner during a business phone call in which John had called to complain about a problem with the broadcast of his show. As a result, Allan exercised his right as owner and general manager of WBCQ to drop "Radio DC" as clients. In the "on the schedule" department: "Area 51" Hosted by Tim Smith and / or Michael Ketter --- Heard Sunday from 6pm - Midnight Eastern on 5.100 MHz. [Sun 2200-0400 Mon UT] It will feature the best of WBCQ's entertainment programming, with an emphasis on shows that have been off of the schedule for awhile. Rebroadcasts of "The Radio Detective", "Planet Lavender", "Ideo Audio", "Seldom Heard Radio", Le Bon Bon Club and more. Plus there will be new shows and current reruns of favorites like "Marion's Attic", "The Lost Discs Radio Show", Radio TimTron Worldwide and others. Basically, it will be a kind of "Best of WBCQ" program with an hour or so of live talk and e-mail / phone in interaction mixed in. You can contact the show at: area51@wbcq.us Requests are definitely welcome and encouraged. Well, as far as other things go, Tasha did agree to do a newsletter starting in the Fall, (electronic, weekly with program features and stuff). As far as WOR goes, I don't know whether your Monday morning show will move up a half hour or not. I haven't heard from Allan about it yet, as he has been on vacation. I more than likely won't have the opportunity to speak to him till Friday. My best guess is that WOR will move up to 12:15 am Eastern (where Radio DC was before). I'll let you know as soon as I know. Well, I hope that you are having a good week, and thanks again for any mentions of programming notes that you give WBCQ on World of Radio. Take care, (Michael Ketter / WBCQ, July 30, WORLD OF RADIO 1193, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. I have been moved to write a radio related column for the Aug. 1 edition of the weekly Krum Star, under my "Krumudgeon" logo. It reads: Bob Hope was not my No. 1 favorite radio comedian, but he was up there among the greats on my personal favorite list. His death this week means the last of the giants from the glory days of network radio has passed away. Well, before you jump in to remind me that Art Linkletter is still alive, let me make a distinction between comedians and masters of funny ceremonies. Hope, Jack Benny, Fred Allen, George Burns (whose wife, Gracie Allen, was not related to Fred), Jimmy Durante and Red Skelton topped a list of comedians who got their starts in the old vaudeville days of the '20s, then made the transition to that magic medium of the '30s that brought voices, music, sound effects and other artifacts of the theater of the imagination into our homes. During my childhood, there were no computers, no camcorders, no television sets. To see a movie, we had to go to the theater downtown. To listen to music, we had to turn on the radio or put an easily breakable 10-inch disk that could hold a maximum of five minutes of sound on each side onto the spindle of our phonograph and, after the needle ran through the grooves a few times, listen to the resultant scratches as well as the music. Or, in a throwback to the turn of the previous century, we could play the piano in the parlor. Sunday in Oregon was the greatest day for radio in the '40s. Jack Benny came on at 4 p.m. (7 p.m. in the East) and his program was repeated at 9:30 p.m. on the coast. Benny's musical sidekick, Phil Harris, had a show at 4:30; then came Fred Allen at 5. Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy were also in the Sunday lineup . imagine a radio ventriloquist. It didn't matter that Bergen's lips moved when Charlie McCarthy, Mortimer Snerd or Effie Clinker spoke. All these shows had, essentially, the same format. There'd be an introductory bit, a skit, a musical interlude, an announcer whose commercials would be interspersed into the continuity of the program, and some patented, ongoing gags that were even funnier when you knew they were coming. Each show was a half hour long, and was sponsored by just one company. There'd be three commercials, mostly integrated into the script, for the single product, and the listener would associate the star with the product. I still think of Pepsodent tooth paste when I think of Bob Hope, and it was a traumatic adjustment when Jack Benny went from Jell-O to Lucky Strike cigarettes. (I never took up smoking, but slogans like "LS-MFT - Lucky Strike Means Fine Tobacco," "Keep Your Eye on the Red Bullseye," and "Sold to the American" immediately come to mind. One of my favorite memories from my own radio career was a 30-minute interview I did in Pampa in the '60s with Speedy Riggs, the tobacco auctioneer on the Lucky Strike commercials.) Fibber McGee and Molly and Johnson's Wax are interconnected in my mind. Edgar Bergen's voices flow on the mythical voice track in my head and Chase and Sanborn Coffee or Royal Pudding, "Rich, rich, rich with flavor, smooth, smooth, smooth as silk; more food energy that sweet, fresh milk" are tracked right along with them. TV advertising today does not imbed itself into my brain - not since the Energizer Bunny, at any rate. I've developed an immunity to it. By the time this column is in print, Bob Hope's legacy will have been touched upon in every newspaper and on every television network. I'm writing this on Monday morning, just after the news of Hope's death broke, and already, Cable News Network is promo'ing a Larry King special to be aired in just a few hours on the man. Hope's work in the classic road pictures with Bing Crosby, his monumental efforts to bring entertainment to U.S. troops on the battlefields during World War II and subsequent conflicts around the globe and his charity activities through the Bob Hope golf classic at Pebble Beach, Calif., are just a few of the memories that, I daresay, any American my age remembers. Hope was a master of the one-liners. Johnny Carson and Jay Leno, on the "Tonight Show," put together routines that follow the Hope pattern, building one topical one-liner after another, but if one put Hope, in his prime, head-to-head with Carson and Leno, the latter two would merely sit down and learn at the master's feet. One advantage Carson, to a small degree, and Leno, on a more wide-open basis, have had over Hope is that the more modern comedians' material doesn't have to stop at suggestive. Hope was known for crossing the line, and there were a couple of legendary occasions when the network cut him off for quips, usually involving the female anatomy, that would be routine and tame by today's standards. The censor, since Hope's heyday, has fallen asleep. Hope satirized himself as the debonair Lothario whose flirtations fell flat. His nose was almost as famous as Jimmy Durante's. "Ski-nose," Hope was called, because the curvature reminded one of a ski-jump. Durante was "El Schnozzola" because of the very size of his proboscis. These things you did not see on radio . well, I take that back. Radio was the theater of the mind, and most of us who sat by our radios and listened to these grand programs had seen pictures in the popular magazines of these people, and they were there, big as life, on the screens inside our heads. I stole a few lines from Hope back in my high school days. I did a routine where I painted myself as the same kind of star athlete Hope painted himself. My favorite: "Football? You should have seen me, dodging, twisting, weaving, turning. Got so I was moving around so much, nobody'd sit on the bench with me." Unlike me, Hope actually had some athletic ability. Before he turned to vaudeville, he'd been in the ring as a prize-fighter, calling himself Packy West. My ambition as a high school class clown was to be a radio comedian. But television came along, enabling those of us with lazy minds to turn them off and substitute the tube, and TV held no appeal for me. There was still good music, and room for satirical disk jockeys, so my love affair with radio continued, even in transition. Then the music changed, and the tastes of the lowest common denominator changed with it. Comedy was no longer wit. It became the stuff we little kids giggled about when there weren't any adults around. Why it's called "adult material," I have no idea. If Bob Hope and Jack Benny had been on the air at the same time, I would have listened to Jack Benny. But in the long term, I believe Hope's contribution to the history of the entertainment industry and its positive effect on American culture is second to no one. Somewhere on high, there's a gathering of fallen American veterans . and Bob Hope now is with them, bringing them the simple joy of laughter (John Callarman, KA9SPA, Family Genealogist, Krum TX, July 28, WTFDA Soundoff via DXLD) ** U S A. JIM BUTLER, LONGTIME KMOX PERSONALITY, DIES IN CALIFORNIA JIM SALTER, Associated Press Writer Wednesday, July 30, 2003 (07-30) 08:49 PDT ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Jim Butler, whose KMOX radio show was once so popular he was deemed the "night mayor of St. Louis," has died. Butler, 76, died Monday at a hospital in Folsom, Calif. A native of Olney, Ill., Butler came to the St. Louis AM radio giant in 1951 and took over the morning show. But he was best known for his nighttime program. "As soon as Jim opened his mouth, people knew who he was," said Frank Absher, the historian for KMOX. "His voice was so unique and so perfect for radio. But he had the intelligence to go with the voice." Butler also covered news stories and was a sports commentator, covering the football Cardinals and the NBA's St. Louis Hawks for several years. In later years, Butler was an executive at the radio station until his retirement in 1989. Butler helped train many prominent broadcasters who began their careers at KMOX -- Joe Garagiola, Jack Carney and Bob Costas, who interned under Butler. "When I was little, he took this new guy under his wing -- Jack Buck," Butler's son, Michael, recalled. "They kind of started out together. That's a pretty good club." Buck, voice of the St. Louis Cardinals for nearly 50 years, died last year. Butler, who wore thick glasses to overcome poor vision, was a longtime volunteer for the blind. In San Francisco, he hosted a weekly radio program in which he read news stories and offered commentary for the blind, Michael Butler said. He also did charity work in which he read letters and other items to visually impaired people. "He touched a lot of individual lives in addition to those he touched over the airwaves," Michael Butler said. A funeral was scheduled for Wednesday in San Francisco. Survivors include three children and five grandchildren. Steve Heesen and Guide Dog Princess Rattan. ACB-L is maintained and brought to you as a service of the American Council of the Blind (via Ray T. Mahorney, DXLD) ** U S A. GRAND TOUR OF RADIO CITY http://www.antiqueradios.com/radiocity.shtml ENJOY! (Mark Durenberger, Vice President, Technical Operations Victory Sports, LLC NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. Not sure if you had seen this yet...and not sure what it means. From http://www.wdaf.com/ Just Released: (Monday, July 28, 2003) After 26 years as ``61 Country`` at 610 on the AM dial, Bob Zuroweste, Entercom Kansas City Market Manager, announced at 7:36 a.m. that WDAF will find a new home at 106.5 on the FM dial ``sometime in the near future.`` Concerning rumors 61 Country`s all- service format may change, Zuroweste reassured listeners, ``It`s like moving your house. There will be a few window dressings and upgrades but in essence, everything will stay the same.`` 73, (Ken Kopp, Amateur Radio: WØNXS, July 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. HAM RADIO DISTRESS CALL YIELDS HELP FROM NEXT STATE When 83-year-old Walter Siebert, K3KBR, of Valley Lee, Maryland, started suffering serious chest pains July 15, he called 911. For reasons yet to be determined, no one answered. So Siebert turned to ham radio and put out a cry for help on 75 meters, saying he was having chest pains and needed to go to the hospital. Larry Wheeler, KG4RGN, heard Siebert`s plea in Williamsburg, Virginia. At the time, Wheeler was monitoring a net on 3947 kHz as part of Amateur Radio Emergency Service District 7`s participation in a Surry Nuclear Power Plant VOPEX (Virginia Operations Plan EXercise) drill. He notified the net to clear the frequency and contacted Siebert to get the necessary details. Wheeler then got in touch with the 911 dispatcher in James City County, Virginia. The 911 dispatcher in turn was able to reach the proper authorities in Maryland and get medical help to Siebert, who was hospitalized. Siebert told his son Martin, with whom he lives, that ham radio saved his life. Wheeler told reporters that he was in the right place at the right time (ARRL July 30 via John Norfolk, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE. IRANIAN TEAM IN HARARE TO "RESUSCITATE" STATE BROADCASTER ZBC | Excerpt from report by Zimbabwean radio ZBC National FM Radio on 29 July The Iranian delegation which arrived in the country yesterday held a meeting with the minister of information in the president's office, Prof Jonathan Moyo, in his Munhumutapa offices in Harare. The delegation is in the country to lend technical expertise to the ZBC [Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation] so that the improved broadcaster would be able to air programmes that have relevance to the changing Zimbabwean needs. Professor Moyo hailed this expertise as important as it would ensure that the whole country receives coverage of local programmes, thus protecting the nation from receiving American programmes such as those of Studio Seven. He further praised the relations between Zimbabwe and Iran, which he said started a long time ago. The Iranian ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Hamid Moayyer, said Iran will open offices in Harare to enable the ZBC project to be carried out with ease. He added that the Iranian delegation currently in Zimbabwe is here to resuscitate the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation. [Passage omitted] Source: ZBC National FM Radio, Harare, in Xhosa 1620 gmt 29 Jul 03 (via BBCM via WORLD OF RADIO 1193, DXLD) ``Protecting from receiving programmes such as Studio Seven`` --- Iran ``protects`` itself against American programs by extensive jamming on SW, MW, and as we have seen recently, satellite. How kind of them to extend this expertise to Mugabe (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1193, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ZIMBABWE: MOYO ATTACKS US "PROPAGANDA" The Zimbabwean Minister of Information, Professor Jonathan Moyo, has accused the United States of intensifying its hostility towards Zimbabwe by setting up a radio station targeting the country's rural people and churning out propaganda about regime change. Moyo said the US government was sowing seeds of division among people in rural areas using a radio station known as Studio 7 [sic]. Professor Moyo was speaking as he received an Iranian delegation on a five-day working visit to assist in the revamping of the TV and FM transmitters of the state-run Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation. He said the revamping of the FM network was an important national obligation, which must be fulfilled as a matter of urgency. Areas such as Victoria Falls and Kariba which have poor reception should be given priority as they were exposed to hostile broadcasting by the British and Americans, according to the Minister. Andy Sennitt comments: Studio 7 is in fact not a radio station, but a programme produced by the Voice of America that was introduced in May this year. It is on the air Monday to Friday at 1700-1800 UTC in English, Shona and Ndebele on mediumwave 909 kHz and shortwave 13600 and 17895 kHz (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 30 July 2003 via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED [non]. Amigos DXistas! En DXLD 3-134 tiene Adán González de Venezuela algunas estaciones no identificadas: En 4426.59 kHz, 0048 UT, 12/07, sermón religioso. Bjorn Malm: "Es Radio Bambamarca(Perú) que tiene programación religiosa la mayor Parte de la noche. No estoy seguro pero creo que se llame la programación religiosa `LV de la Salvación`. En 4460.81 kHz, 0044 UT, 12/07, SINPO 2/1. Bjorn Malm: "Es Radio Nor Andina, Celendín (Perú)". En 4650.35 kHz, a las 2226 UT, con SINPO 2/2, anuncios de servicio público y menciones constantes de "Acapulco". Demasiada estática. No pude identificarla. (27/07). Bjorn Malm: "Es Radio Santa Ana (Bolivia). Estaba antes en aproximadamente 4949 kHz". En 4716.77 kHz, 12/07, 2327 UT. Baladas en español, locutora de guardia. SINPO 3/2. Bjorn Malm: "Tiene que ser Radio Yura (Bolivia)``. En 4815 kHz, a la 0110 UT, locutora de guardia presentaba música romántica en español: Marco Antonio Solís "Vivir sin tí" y Enrique Iglesias. Saludos al aire. Identificaba el programa como "Variedades musicales". En ningún momento la locutora dijo el nombre de la estación, en más de 15 minutos. Promociones con demasiados efectos de "eco", que dificultan la escucha de un nombre concreto. Sugerencia: como locutor profesional, creo que los colegas deberían poner más ciudado en decir el nombre de la estación y dónde se halla, al menos cada dos canciones. Sería lo ideal. (27/07). SINPO 32432. Bjorn Malm: ``Es Radio Buen Pastor, Saragúro (Ecuador). No se identifica a menudo. Es más común que se identifique usando su frecuencia en FM sin nombre`` En 5460.33 kHz, el 28/07, a la 0148 UT, música andina. Sin identificar. Bjorn Malm: ``Es Radio Bolívar (Perú)``. En 5470.75 kHz, a las 2348 UT, música rumbera. Señal muy débil: 2/1. (27/07). Bjorn Malm: ``Es Radio San Nicolás(Perú) recientemente reactivada``. En 5637.21 kHz, a las 0154 UT, música andina instrumental, con SINPO 2/1, con clara inteferencia de radioaficionados. (28/07). Bjorn Malm: ``Es Radio Perú, San Ignacio (Perú)``. En 5677.98 kHz, muy buena señal con música y locutor de guardia. Hablaba demasiado rápido y atropellado. No se le entendía nada. 0158 UT, SINPO 4/3. Despedida a las 0218 UT. Sin identificar Bjorn Malm: ``Es Radio Ilucán (Perú). Bastante común también en sus harmónics de Onda Media 1420 kHz: 2840 y 4260 kHz". Björn Malm, La Prensa 4408 y Vaca de Castro Quito, Ecuador. (+593 2) 2598 470. JRC 535 – HF 150. MFJ 616 – MFJ 1025. 12m LW + 24m LW + Longwire Magnetic Balun 73s de..... (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ The real threat of PLC may not come from electricity companies, but from your neighbor's PLC LAN (local area network). In the German ham magazine 'Funk' 6/2003 there is a test of one of one of the new PLC-modems connecting more computers in a flat or a house via your existing power lines, making a local network including internet from your DSL connection. They test the PLC-Modem Easyhome using the 'Home-Plug Power Alliance' standard with 84 carriers between 4.3 and 20.9 MHz in the OFDM mode (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing). The speed is up to 14 Mbits/second. The modem is sold by Deneg in the German city of Garbsen near Hannover. The company's German info is at: http://www.easyhome.deneg.de/produkt/details.php?ProduktID=002+02+01 and a drawing of how the system may be connected is at: http://www.easyhome.deneg.de/produkt/beispiel.php?ProduktID=002+02+01&PHPSESSID=f0f374cad0e6396b1ff761b1e86e6fc3udio The test showed that the ham bands were not affected, but the broadcast bands were heavily disturbed. Signals of up to S9+10dB drowned in noise from the many carriers 200 kHz apart in the broadcast bands. But of course, stronger signals were less noisy. Even when the computers were not in use the modems sent short pulses to check the system. But these were so short that they actually didn't disturb reception. Unfortunately the test didn't show how far away these disturbances occur, but your reception surely is affected if your neighbor installs the modems and surfs the net all day long! Audio samples are available from http://www.qsl.net/dg5dbz/plctest/index.html where you also can read the test - if you know German! I was able to download the latter four clips, not the first ones, and they sure are convincing!! Another German company, Devolo in Aachen, has a dLAN system using adapters put directly into your AC plug, and then again using your existing wiring to connect other computers up to 200 meters away. But they state that your household electricity meter serves to block out unwanted access from the outside. I guess they use the same system making the same unwanted 84 carriers in the short wave spectrum disturbing reception in the neighborhood. I asked the Director of Marketing and Public Relations about the signal power of their system, and the German reply reveals that they also show special attention to the ham bands: "Die spektrale Sendeleistungsdichte ist -50dBm/Hz, auf Amateurfunkfrequenzen -80dbm/Hz, bei einer Bandbreite von ca. 17MHz sind dass ca. +22dBm (160mW) bzw. ca. -8dBm (160uW).(Alle Werte auf 50 Ohm bezogen.) Da die Einkopplung symmetrisch erfolgt wird nur ein kleiner Teil dieser Leistung vom Leitersystem der Stromleitung abgestrahlt. Mit freundlichen Grüssen, Christoph Rösseler" Or for non-German speakers: The spectral density of the transmitting power is -50 dBm/Hz, on amateur frequencies -80 dBm/Hz, and at a band width of approx. 17 MHz this is approx. +22 dBm (160 mW), respectively approx. -8 dBm (160 uW). (All values at 50 ohm). As the connection is done symmetrically only a small part of the power is radiated by the power lines. An English description is seen at: http://www.en.devolo.biz/products/dlan.php (click on the product name for specifications). Finally, here in Denmark I believe that PLC coming from the electric power companies now is out of the question. Instead they - and others - concentrate on delivery of Internet, Radio, TV, Telephone... via optical fiber cables (Erik Køie, Copenhagen. July 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Larry, you bring up a good point with cable tv. It is getting almost impossible to DX the Am band with the cable TV leakage. Ever since they started using the cable for internet and more recently (and worse yet) broadcasting digital cable signals over the wire. This (30 year) old cable wiring can't seem to handle the job. I now have noise across the entire band--a sort of morse code sound with medium pitch. Yes it is coming via the cable line as I have checked it out. The cable company admits there is problems but will not do anything. When they originally installed the underground wiring 30 years ago, they also put it too close to the electric wiring going into all the houses. So we get noise going into the power lines too (besides poor reception). The cable company says it is too expensive to lay new wiring and will not be done. The techs don't care about the MW dxing (most don't understand it). I would like to dig up/pull out the wiring from the house to the cable box, but I have to consider my elderly mother and what little TV she watches. Broadband over the power lines?... just wonderful (Robin Christoff, Welland, Ontario, Canada, NRC-AM via DXLD) I'd bet if you suggested that you hire one of their subcontractors to dig out the old line and replace it with new cable on a different path, you might get a different answer - and hopefully you could afford it. I've heard of some folks hereabouts who have done that - not for DX reasons, but on account of unwanted pickup or leakage on the cable lines coming in with the power lines as you mentioned. (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell, PA, ibid.) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 30 JULY - 25 AUGUST 2003 Solar activity is expected to be at low to moderate levels. Region 421 has the potential for M-class events through the first half of the period. The block of active longitudes (L = 190 – 205), which rotated around the west limb this period, will return by mid August and may produce moderate solar activity levels. No greater than 10 MeV proton events at geosynchronous orbit are expected. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux is expected to reach high levels on July 30 – 05 August, 10 - 11 August, and again on 13 –16 August, due to recurrent coronal hole high speed streams. The geomagnetic field is expected to range from quiet to major storm levels during the period. A large, recurrent coronal hole high speed stream in expected to become geoeffective on 28 July – 03 August, and produce active to minor storm levels. Coronal hole effects are expected again on 7 - 9 August and again on 11 – 17 August. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2003 Jul 29 2211 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center # Product description and SEC contact on the Web # http://www.sec.noaa.gov/wwire.html # # 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table # Issued 2003 Jul 29 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2003 Jul 30 115 25 5 2003 Jul 31 120 20 4 2003 Aug 01 115 20 4 2003 Aug 02 115 20 4 2003 Aug 03 110 15 3 2003 Aug 04 110 15 3 2003 Aug 05 105 10 3 2003 Aug 06 105 10 3 2003 Aug 07 105 25 5 2003 Aug 08 115 20 4 2003 Aug 09 125 15 3 2003 Aug 10 135 15 3 2003 Aug 11 135 25 5 2003 Aug 12 140 25 5 2003 Aug 13 140 20 4 2003 Aug 14 140 15 3 2003 Aug 15 140 15 3 2003 Aug 16 140 15 3 2003 Aug 17 140 15 3 2003 Aug 18 140 15 3 2003 Aug 19 135 12 3 2003 Aug 20 135 12 3 2003 Aug 21 125 20 4 2003 Aug 22 115 15 3 2003 Aug 23 110 12 3 2003 Aug 24 110 12 3 2003 Aug 25 115 15 3 (http://www.sec.noaa.gov/radio via WORLD OF RADIO 1193, DXLD) ###