DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-144, August 11, 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/dxldtd3h.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 CONTINENT OF MEDIA 03-05 is available from August 9: (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/com0305.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/com0305.ram (Summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/com0305.html [soon] Also via DXing.com: (Download) http://www.dxing.com/com/com0305.rm (Stream) http://www.dxing.com/com/com0305.ram Nominal schedule on RFPI, 7445: Thu 2000, Sat 2130 plus repeats 6, 12+ and 18+ hours later NEXT AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1194: RFPI: Tue 1900, Wed 0100, 0730, 1330 on 7445 [nominal times subject to pre-emption or delay] WWCR: Wed 0930 9475 WRN ONDEMAND: 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/wor1194.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1194.ram [High] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1194h.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1194h.ram (Summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1194.html WORLD OF RADIO WATCH: IBC Radio via WRMI 15725 (and webcast) after 1800 UT Sun Aug 10 had a show about ghost-chasing, rather than WOR, tho WOR still appears on the website schedule at 1800 Sat and Sun. Changes to WOR and COM on SIUE Web Radio Glenn, For this week only (the week of 8/11); World of Radio will be aired in place of Continent of Media on Wednesday (8/13) at 1830 UT. WOR will not be airing on Monday (8/11) at its usual time because the local engineer for the show is still under the weather. The regular schedule will resume for one more week on August 18 on SIUE's Web Radio. Beginning August 25, 2003 (this is tentative and subject to change before the semester begins at SIUE on the aforementioned date), World Of Radio will air on Monday at 10:00 p.m. local time (UT Tuesday 0300) and Friday at 10:30 p.m. local time (UT Saturday 0330), while Continent of Media will air on Friday at 10:00 p.m. local time (UT Saturday 0300). The UT will be one hour later following the return to Standard Time in October. During the break between the Fall Semester 2003 and Spring Semester 2004, WOR and COM will air in rotation on Web Radio's automation setup. We'll also have a new General Manager on board; Rick Crossin will take over for Lisa Herman, who graduated this weekend. 73 and good DX, (E.B. Stevenson, PSA Director, SIUE Web Radio, Aug 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WORLD OF RADIO 1194 in mp3: Hello, This email message is a notification to let you know that a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the NetworkRadioInternational group. File : /Glenn Hauser-World of radio 1194.mp3 Description : World of radio 16K You can access this file at the URL http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NetworkRadioInternational/files/Glenn%20Hauser-World%20of%20radio%201194.mp3 [where the URL broke, there was a \ between r and l of World; pasting it back together, it won`t play either way for me --- ``this may not be an MPEG file``. DXing with Cumbre also supposedly there --- gh] To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/NetworkRadioInternational Regards, (Tim Gaynor, Qsld., ShortWaveRadio yahoogroup Aug 9 via DXLD) SOLICITED TESTIMONIALS Glenn, I listen to WOR on WWCR. That usually gives me the best reception. The best frequency for me is 5070, and the most reliable and convenient time for that frequency is 0230 Sun. Thank you for providing the most interesting and informative media program still on the air! My location is central Virginia (Alan Knapp, Aug 11) Dear Glenn, I've been meaning to do this for a couple of weeks, but I kept forgetting, so, here goes. I am going to use Central Time, because, of course, it varies with regard to UT as the time changes, but my listening habits do not change. Theoretical favorite is Wednesday, 5:00 pm, WBCQ, 7415. This is the one I would like to hear because it is the first airing, and, relatively convenient. However, much of the time, especially during the summer, reception at that hour is poor or non-existent, so I don't bother. Wish you could convince them to put WOR on a little later. [have you tried \\ 17495-CUSB? gh] Most often used: Saturday, 9:30 PM, WWCR, 5070. It's traditional and reliable. Reception is good. It fits into my Saturday night, which I call "radio night" because of all the things I like to listen to: Prairie Home Companion, Big Steve Cole, Marion's Attic, DXPL and WOR. If I miss one of these airings, I start looking at my schedule. WINB on 12160 was a good alternative, but, often it seems not to be there, or not to be coming in. RFPI is sometimes chosen, though it can be hard to keep track of their schedule. The new airing on WBCQ, late Sunday night, on 7415 is a good back-up. 15825 is unusable here, because, at 100 miles from Nashville, we are within the skip zone, and good reception on that frequency is rare. I really like the idea of having lots of airings of WOR to choose from (Tim Hendel, Huntsville AL, Aug 11) ** ANGUILLA. Noted 6090 back on the air with DGS around 0530 UT Aug 10, but still no 11775 at some daytime checks. So it`s irregular (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. 5400.00, La 101, Buenos Aires. Aug 6 2003 - 1030 UT. Had this station as an unID, probably Argentina with IDs: "Canal 26" and "Power 101". I am now also on the "Conexión Digital"`s excellent mailing list and mailed a question to Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina who at once replied and explained the situation. It is local media in Buenos Aires going out via FM and TV "Canal 26" and he presumes 5400 kHz is a link. Must have been unusual conditions this morning as the station was received with good strength. I have never heard a signal on this frequency before. Read the mail from Arnold Slaen`s mail below: (Gracias Arnaldo!) Arnaldo Slaen wrote: "Hola Björn y amigos de la Lista: Efectivamente Björn, se trata de una emisora argentina. Más precisamente de "la 101", emisora de FM de la ciudad de Buenos Aires que pertenece a un multimedio local, integrado también por el Canal 26 de TV que opera por aire y por cable. Ignoro la política QSL de esta emisora pero no es fácil conseguir que una emisora de aquí verifique. Cualquier duda o consulta, a tus órdenes". [Björn explained that he doesn`t collect QSLs since his original collexion was lost] (later in a second mail) "A tus órdenes para lo que necesites Björn! Te agrego que los 5400 kHz han sido reactivados en los últimos tiempos. Nicolás Eramo encontrá a "la 101" por vez primera en la QRG. Esta emisora transmitía desde hace un tiempo desde el microcentro de la ciudad pero ahora estaría ubicada en el conurbano bonaerense, es decir, en las afueras de Buenos Aires, a una veintena de km del centro. 73's & 55's Arnaldo" (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin Aug 10, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. 2380, 3.8 0040, Radio Nacional with tangos. Probably 2 x 1190 and Radio Nacional in Tucumán. O=2 CB (Christer Brunstrom, Sweden, SW Bulletin, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. 2830 [sic --- surely a typo for 2380], Radio Nacional San Miguel Tucumán, 0155 UT. 2º armónico de 1190; muy fuerte señal. 2540, Radio Provincia Buenos Aires, La Plata, 0005 UT. 2º armonico de 1270 kHz; señal regular y fading. 5650, Radio Nacional Buenos Aires, 2110 UT, transmisión de fútbol "Chicago River"; señal mala (Alfredo Locatelli, Uruguay, Conexión Digital Aug 9 via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. El domingo 10 de agosto, Día de la Fuerza Aérea Argentina, a partir de las 0005 hs LU (0305 UT), en 3680 kHz aproximadamente, estará activa nuevamente la Base Vicecomodoro Maranbio --- LU4ZS. El Radio Club Argentino colaborara en esta operación tomando pequeñas listas de estaciones para LU4ZS. Agradeceremos realizar un intercambio de información mínima, señal distintiva y reporte RS. Desde ya el inicio de esta operación estará sujeta a condiciones de propagación y tareas propias del operador de la base. Las QSL Vía LU4AA. (Info LU) Alfredo Locatelli, desde Durazno, Uruguay, informa que en 6313 Khz, en usb, escuchó transmisión de carreras de caballos (turf), resultados, premios, con bastante espacio entre una transmisión y otra. Daba la apariencia de ser un enlace con estudio. Por el tipo de moneda indicado es de suponer que se trata de un hipódromo argentino. Domingos sobre las 1835 UT (Conexión Digital Aug 9 via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. Marcelo Cornachioni reporta que Rádio Bolivia, AM 1640 encerrou suas transmissões (Arnaldo Slaen, Conexion Digital, 08/08/2003 via @tividade DX via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. 5049.95, ARDS? 1130-1220 8/10. Maybe the one here with weak audio, announcer(s) talking but unable to determine language. Supposedly running 400 watts (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Drake R-8, 100-foot RW, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Logged a carrier there this morning about 2130, but too weak to do anything with (Richard Jary, Adelaide SA, Aug 10, ARDXC via DXLD) Apparently no QRM from the major user of 5050, WWRB. I see on their website http://www.wwrb.org that 5050, ``Global 3`` has a `winter schedule in EST` of `6 pm to 2 am`, tho in the daily `program schedule` it shows as `7 pm to 2 am`, which means closing at 0600 UT if EST really means EDT, or 0700 UT if EST really means EST! So it`s off by 1630 NT time or maybe 1530. I should think WWRB might be fading in by 1630 in southern winter, but of course Arnhem Land is in the tropics not so subject to seasonal variations on the receiving end. If WWRB opens 5050 at 2300 UT, that would be 0830 NT time, and again there could be some overlap by long path tho well after sunrise. HOWEVER, WWRB also says 5050 is available for block programming from 2 am to 7:55 am, which means until 1155 or 1255 UT, and if that happens it could be a major problem for ARDS in the local evenings. Who knows which antenna is used or would be used? One is at 270 degrees, while Arnhem Land is about 290 degrees from WWRB, in its secondary coverage area. Looks like for now they have more problems with a Chinese station (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) As this goes to print I have a receiver on 5050 at 2236 GMT. There is something going on, sounds like a transmitter on but no voice with it, quite strong. I will leave a receiver set at this frequency for 24 hours and see what comes up. Being situated on the Tropic-of- Capricorn, I should stand a good chance of receiving good reception (Tony Smith, Rockhampton, Aug 25 CQ Shortwave News via DXLD) 5050, ARDS e-verie in a day for my javaradio log. v/s Dale Chesson (Hans Johnson, WY, Aug 11, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Johno here; got a vague QSL but the 400 watts as thought in an email to the big Paul O. Sounds very much an amateur transmitter: ``Many Thanks for the report, John. As you have my email address you must have been to our website. If you were listening to Aboriginal music and heard Aboriginal voices the I am pretty sure that you were listening to our Community Development Radio Service. There are a couple of services in China on 5050 but Chinese and Yolngu Matha from Arnhem Land are very different languages! Our technical advisor is a ham operator so I will ask him about QSL cards. Keep in touch. Dale (via John Wright, Sydney, Australia, ripple via DXLD) Glenn, Further to the recent reports of 5050 kHz, the assertion from John Wright in your last DXLD that the transmitter is an amateur transceiver with a linear is quite incorrect! Please note the following email from station manager, Dale Chesson, giving details of the setup there: "Thanks very much for your report and details. You definitely were listening to our service. We are aware of the Chinese station/s. Another listener from Melbourne filled us in on their details. Not much we can do about it, unfortunately for us. Our transmitters are ex-Civil Aviation. They were manufactured by Commonwealth Electronics and are AM20 models. They can operate at 1 kW but operate continuously at 400W - our current power. Location is Humpty Doo S 12 34 05 E 131 04 35. Antennae are two fibreglass helical whips with a front to back ratio of -5odB and a beam of 110 degrees centred on 100 degrees true from Humpty Doo. To get an idea of our programming and why we stated with HF prior to an MF rollout then check out www.ards.com.au/cdrsframe.htm Thanks for the report. I would appreciate any S readings you are able to offer so we can track our signal. We also aim to increase transmitter power in Sept sometime." Glenn, of particular interest are the antennas used and the promise of future power increase. Best regards (Rob Wagner, VK3BVW, Aug 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. NTC RADIO NETWORK TO COMMENCE BROADCAST IN DUBBO ON AUGUST 5TH --- PRESS RELEASE The NTC Radio Network has received Development Approval for the erection of a radio tower in the Central West township of Dubbo in New South Wales. Says Gary Evans General Manager of NTC (News, Talk and Country), the development approval process has taken nearly one year now and when you take into account EMR (Electro Magnetic Radiation) issues which must be addressed along with planning issues for huge radio towers it hasn't been an easy road. NTC Spent nearly eighteen months recently battling Bathurst City Council after Council granted it a license on its own land to erect a radio tower only to refuse the associated Development Application after complaints from Ron Camplin of 2BS citing that sixteen staff would have to be retrenched as a result. Evans says if anything we've pushed 2BS to raise their standard of programming for the City. We are also unaware of any staff from 2BS being retrenched yet as a result of our service, which is, being received very well in the Bathurst and Oberon areas. With regards to Dubbo, says Evans, this is a major hub in the New South Wales Central West and we have regarded this hub as being fundamental to our already large coverage area which now includes Tamworth, Bathurst, Armidale and Sydney. Evans says a number of Development Applications have now been lodged with other Councils in Queensland and New South Wales and with major infrastructure now in place NTC is in a position to build towers as soon as these Development Applications are approved. Radio 16 NTC "the best mix in the country" broadcasts using the frequencies on the top of the AM Band of 1611 kHz, and 1620 kHz and 1629 kHz across these areas. The NTC Network specializes in a broad sounding commercial Country Music format with Country lifestyle programming including News and Talk targeted mainly to regional Australians. With the inclusion of Dubbo in the planned 48-station network it will already make NTC the biggest Country Music Network in Australia. For more information call Gary Evans on 0418676200 or (02) 9635 1638. (via Tim Gaynor, Qsld., DXLD) 400 Watts omnidirectional on 1629 kHz (Gaynor, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 3310, Radio Mosoj Chaski, partial data English letter from Paul G. Pittman, administrator, in 6 mo. for a compact disc of my reception and Spanish report sent to Bolivia address. Reply was received from Quechuan Radio, c/o SIM USA, PO Box 7900, Charlotte NC 28241 but postmarked in NH (Jill Dybka, TN, NASWA Flashsheet Aug 3 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. A Rádio 79, de Ribeirão Preto (SP), está com nova programação, desde o início de agosto. À noite, é apresentado o programa 79 Ilustra a Noite. Ao que tudo indica, entre 0300 e 0800, a freqüência de 3205 kHz é desativada. Um dos slogans da emissora é o seguinte: "79, esta é a única voz de Ribeirão Preto ouvida em todo o mundo". Anunciam o seguinte sítio na Internet: http://www.radio79.com.br BRASIL - Em 9 de agosto, às 0130, bati o ponto na freqüência de 3235 kHz, em 90 metros, para saber como andava o sinal da Rádio Clube, de Marília (SP). Qual foi minha surpresa ao deparar com um programa chamado Discoteca Maravilhosa, apresentado por José Flávio. Só que, ao invés da Clube, era pela Rádio Guarujá Paulista, de Santos (SP)! Entrei em contato com o Caio Lopes, de Itajubá (MG), que é natural de Santos (SP), e ele confirmou: a emissora é daquela localidade, inclusive conhece alguém da direção. Só que não sabíamos que a emissora transmitia em ondas tropicais! Entretanto, a dúvida foi desfeita às 0300, quando foi ao ar a identificação: "Rádio Guarujá Paulista ... ZYK ... 3235 kHz em ondas tropicais ..." Por sua vez, Rubens Ferraz Pedroso, de Bandeirantes (PR), agrega que também acompanhou a emissora, em 9 de agosto, a partir de 0230, ouvindo a identificação: "ZYK 590 1550 AM ... ZYG ... ". Fui conferir, novamente, em 10 de agosto, às 2115, e a Rádio Guarujá Paulista estava lá, em 3235 kHz, com sinal regular, levando ao ar o programa Bons Tempos, com músicas de José Augusto, Ângelo Máximo, Cauby Peixoto e Altemar Dutra (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX Aug 10 via DXLD) Pessoal, Em 3235 está Marília e Santos ??? 73 (Rogildo F. Aragao, Bolivia, radioescutas via DXLD) Yeah, two stations or is one relaying the other? (gh, DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 3235.05, 3.8 0230, Rádio Clube de Marília with a music programme where they played "Música naív". Short announcements in between. I have heard a station here for a long time but first this date they came up with acceptable signal strength. QSA 2-2,5. WIK (Rolf Wikstrom, Sweden, SW Bulletin, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4825, 2.8 2230, Rádio Educadora de Bragança with a big ID in a programme with sertaneja music. Rádio Canção Nova was completely off this evening. It was a very long time back I heard this station. 3 CB (Christer Brunstrom, Sweden, SW Bulletin, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST)) ** BRAZIL Chequeo de emisoras del hermano país 3205 02/08 0950 R. Ribeirão Preto, Rib. Preto-SP, 45554 3235 02/08 0935 R. Clube, Marília-SP, advs, 45554 (emisora en el aire durante las 24 horas del dia) 3255 02/08 0935 R. Educardora 6 de Agosto, Xapurí-AC, OM "R. Educadora, neste Sábado, 02 de Agosto de 2003" 25332 3325 01/08 2035 R. Mundial (AM), Sao Paulo-SP, 35232 3365 02/08 0914 R. Cultura, Araraquara-SP, 45554 3375 02/08 0915 R. Educadora, Guajará-Mirim-RO, anúncio do programa "Rondônia em destaque", ID as 0917, 24432 4755 02/08 0910 R. Educação Rural, Campo Grande-MS, 35443 4765 02/08 0835 R. Rural, Santarém-PA, nx policial, advs, 35333 4775 01/08 2115 R. Congonhas, Congonhas-MG, 44444 4785 02/08 0857 R. Caiari, Porto Velho-RO, início de transmisiones slogan "De mãos dadas com a populaçao de Rondonia e do Brasil" 25332 (R. Brasil de Campinas-SP, fuera del aire) 4785 02/08 2110 R. Brasil, Campinas SP, Futebol desde "Jovem Pan Sat" S. Paulo x Internacional, 45444 4805 02/08 0908 R. Difusora do Amazonas, Manaus-AM, locutor cumprimentando ouvintes... 25442 4815 02/08 2113 R. Difusora, Londrina-PR, religioso evangelico, 45444 4825 02/08 0852 R. Educadora, Bragança-PA, mx religiosa, 24322 4845 02/08 0927 R. Meteorologia Paulista, Ibitinga-SP, ads local, 25432 4865 02/08 0930 R. Missões da Amazonia, Óbidos-PA, ID "R. Missões da Amazonia, transmitindo de Óbidos, Pará " 23422 4895 02/08 0843 R. Baré, Manaus-AM, slogan "R. Baré, uma emissora brasileira", 25442 4905 02/08 0924 R. Anhanguera, Araguaina-TO, OM "Bom dia Araguaina, Bom dia Brasil" 25322 4915 02/08 0847 R. Difusora, Macapá-AP, comentário sobre a criação de empregos no setor de embarcações" 35443 4915 02/09 0900 R. Anhanguera, Goiania-GO, inicio da transmissão em ondas curtas, ID, "Jornal da CBN", 43443 4935 02/08 2118 R. Capixaba, Vitoria-ES, religioso igreja "Deus é Amor" 34433 4945 02/08 2120 R. Difusora, Pocos de Caldas, MG, futebol "S.Paulo x Internacional" 45444 4965 02/08 0905 R. Alvorada, Parintins, AM, muitos advs locais, 23322 (emissora reativada ? havia muito tempo não era escutada por aqui) 4975 02/08 2130 R. Iguatemi,, São Paulo-SP, 45544 (mas ouvida a R. Mundial ontem nesta frequencia. Aqui a Rede CBS continua a alternar suas emissoras. 4985 01/08 2310 R. Brasil Central, Goiania-GO, 45444 5035 02/08 2128 R. Aparecida, Aparecida SP, 45444 5035 02/08 2258 R. Educação Rural, Coari-AM, ID, 24422 (audio muito baixo). Radio Aparecida fora do ar, como todas as vezes observadas entre 2200 e 2300 ou 2305 UTC. 5055 01/08 2305 R. Difusora, Cáceres, MT, musical, 34433 (realizado por el colega Samuel Cassio M., desde São Carlos, SP, Brasil, Conexión Digital Aug 9 via DXLD) ** CAMBODIA [non]. Re: Extended Khmer coverage --- Rick, Tnx, but could you provide details, sites, times and frequencies of the extended broadcasts? RFA only? VOA too? 73, Glenn to Rick Sri Lanka 10Z - 11Z Russian 17810 - RFE " " 11Z - 12Z Laotian 15560 - RFA " " 00Z - 01Z Laotian 12015 - RFA " " 1130Z - 1230Z Khmer 15535 - RFA " " 2330Z - 0030Z Khmer 9490 & 12110 - RFA P.I. 2330Z - 2400Z English - [ ] VOA Tinian 0030Z - 0130Z Burmese 13680 - RFA " 00Z - 01Z Laotian 15545 - RFA " 1130Z - 1200Z Burmese 9720 - VOA " 2330Z - 0030Z Khmer 13735 - RFA " 1130Z - 1230Z Khmer 13730 - RFA " 23Z - 24Z Mandarin 11785 - RFA 73 - (Rick Levandowski, IBB Marianas, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. A partir du 5 aôut, le programme français de Radio Chine Internationale subira quelques modifications. Les deux premières émisisons d'une heure chacune seront fusionnées en une émission de deux heures d'affilée, de 1830 à 2030 TU. Il en est de même pour les deux dernières émissions qui seront donc également fusionnées en un programme de heures entre 2030 et 2230 TU. NDR : la date du 5 août marque une importante restructuration dans les émissions de Radio Chine Internationale. De très nombreux services voient leurs horaires augmentés ou aménagés (les informations sont issues de http://perso.wanadoo.fr/jm.aubier via DXLD) O dia 11 de agosto vai ficar marcado na história do Departamento de Língua Portuguesa da Rádio Internacional da China. É que neste dia a nova programação da emissora passa a ser de uma hora de emissão. Enquanto a maioria das emissoras internacionais encerra seus serviços no nosso idioma, a estação chinesa aumenta! Dentro da nossa programação, destaque para quadros que vão abordar todos os aspectos da vida na China, conforme Oséias Fantinelli, de Jacutinga (RS). Nos sábados, o cardápio fica por conta de muita música folclórica e óperas daquele país, dentro do quadro Sabadão Artístico. O tradicional Carta de Beijing, há mais de 20 anos no ar, em que são respondidas as cartas e mensagens dos ouvintes, passa a ser levado ao ar nas sextas-feiras. Vai contar, ainda, com espaço para os aniversariantes. O lema do Departamento de Língua Portuguesa da CRI é: "Junto com você, a Rádio Internacional da China marcha para a frente!" (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX Aug 10 via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. 9th August Statement Radio For Peace International has been working hard these past days preparing for the meeting on Monday 11th August between unspecified representatives of the University for Peace and Radio For Peace International staff, members of the RFPI Board of Directors and the RFPI lawyer. We will release more information after that date as soon as we are able to do so. We wish to thank all of those who have expressed their solidarity by sending emails, donating to our legal defense fund and helping raise awareness in so many ways around the world about this issue. We have received overwhelming support from almost every continent. The indications are that the letter writing campaign, the publicity generated and the international attention is having an effect in this struggle to keep RFPI on the airwaves. Please do not stop, we must keep up the pressure! Please try to find the time to write one letter a day to the contacts we give on our web site and circulate the petition to everyone you know. We ask that you write your letters in respectful and peaceful language to all organizations, individuals and media. Thank you! And please don’t stop now, YOU really can make a difference!! (from http://www.rfpi.org/august9th.htm Aug 10 via DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. On Sunday morning (10 August) at 1300 UTC, Radio Prague's English broadcast had a very interesting special regarding the upcoming 35th anniversary of the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia to end the "Prague Spring". The feature, in the second half of the program after the mailbox program and their weekly feature on the Czech language, was a dramatization and excerpting of the final telephone conversation between Alexander Dubcek and Leonid Brezhnev on how Dubcek was going to deal with the situation in Czechoslovakia (along with some historical background). There's a text version of the report at http://text.radio.cz/en/43912 --- it looks at though http://helix.radio.cz:8080/ramgen/rm/EN/03/08/EN030810-13.rm?start=16:21.52&end=25:58.73 should be the URL for the audio file. If the audio URL I've given doesn't work, go to http://www.radio.cz/english/ and click on the ear next to the "Current Affairs" heading (Ted Schuerzinger, NY, swprograms via DXLD) Thanks for this information, Ted. As a 15 year old, the Prague Spring and subsequent invasion were an important part of my early years with shortwave. Using my Heathkit GR54 (built for me by my father), I was able to listen to Radio Prague and not only learn of the changes taking place there, but here them in the station's program and tone. Then, on the night of the invasion I could hear the pre-recorded English service program give no indication of the invasion that was underway while tuning to the BBC and other stations to hear of the tragic events. Finally, I was able to hear for one evening only an English broadcast from Free Czech Radio, using the interval signal of Radio Prague, and giving a 5 minute synopsis of the events over the previous 24 hours. On subsequent days, I continued to hear some broadcasts from this station, but in languages other than English before it went silent. It was this event that cemented my interest in and appreciation for shortwave, which of course remains to this very day. It also left me with a special interest in Dubcek and in the culture and history of the Czech (and Slovak) peoples. I even read Dubcek's autobiography, "Hope Dies Last". To comment on the substance of this program, the writer of the Current Affairs piece is correct when he says that Dubcek truly believed in the socialist ideal and did not foresee a Soviet invasion, but my study of the man and the times leads me to disagree with his characterization of Dubcek as "naive". That's just too simplistic a conclusion. Dubcek knew what he was up against. He was a true patriot who recognized the suffering of his people and knew how to address it. It was more a calculated risk on this part that he could keep the Soviet bear at bay by keeping his country in its orbit. But he knew the risks. The writer should have given him more credit. Perhaps I'll write and tell him so (John Figliozzi, NY, ibid.) Radio Prague has announced the death on Friday evening of long-time English Service reporter Olga Szántová at the age of 71. Radio Prague aired a tribute to her, the transcript of which is at http://www.radio.cz/en/issue/43928 Szántová worked at Radio Prague in the 1950s and 1960s, was forced out of broadcasting after the events of 1968 (she was one of the staffers who was holed up elsewhere in Prague broadcasting the real story of what was going on after the Soviet invasion), and returned to Radio Prague in 1990 after the fall of the Communist regime (Ted Schuerzinger, NY, Aug 11, swprograms via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. From a list of Catholic stations in every province, gh excerpts the only ones mentioning a SW frequency: RADIO LA VOZ DEL NAPO 3280 OC Director: P. Humberto Dorigatti Misión Josefina Telf (06) 886356, coljav20@yahoo.es Tena – Provincia de Napo RADIO LA VOZ DEL UPANO 1540 AM – 90.5 FM – 5040 OC Directora: Sra. Leonor Guzmán Calle 10 de Agosto- Misión Salesiana Telf (07) 505247, radioupano@easynet.net.ec Macas – Prov. de Morona Santiago (Señor José Nelson Mármol, executive director, ARCE, Ecuador, Catholic Radio Update Aug 11 via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. I am pretty inactive just now as my antennas have been taken down due to the building of a new third floor (in fact also a fourth floor with work/radio-room), a mini bathroom, mini kitchen and laundry. So it will be a thin scan – just now only one logging. I think it is good sometimes to take a break (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin Aug 10, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) But see ARGENTINA, PERU ** ECUADOR. Note early UT Mon Aug 11 that the last two DXPL audio files are finally available at the DXPL website; these are smaller than previous; must be trying to conserve bandwidth (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Durante o mês de agosto, o Departamento de Língua Alemã da HCJB - A Voz dos Andes vai pagar com cartão QSL especial aos informes recebidos. É que comemora 50 anos de atividades. De acordo com Oséias Fantinelli, de Jacutinga (RS), o esquema de emissões é o seguinte: às 0930, em 6010; às 2300, em 11980; às 2230, em 11980 kHz (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX Aug 10 via DXLD) ** EGYPT. 9990, 2234-2245, R. Cairo, Aug 3, English broadcast with female announcer. Apparently having problems, I can actually hear the audio, crystal clear. Am certain the service tech has come back from vacation. Amazing, no hum, no over modulation. I am wondering how long this will last. Pop music this nite with signal of 40/s9 just booming here. Male announcer doing sign off at 2240 with frequency listing. Sign off and then to NA at 2241 (Bob Montgomery, PA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** ERITREA [non]. BEHAVIOUR OF OPPOSITION RADIO Please note that the news bulletin of the Eritrean opposition radio, Voice of the People of Eritrea, on 10 August was a repeat of a bulletin broadcast on 27 July, which was also repeated on 3 August. Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 10 Aug 03 (via DXLD) Hmm, those would be `olds bulletins` ** ETHIOPIA [non]. Website of Voice of Ethiopian Medhin (a.k.a. Voice of Ethiopian Salvation): http://www.medhininfo.com (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, Aug 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HONDURAS. 4930, Radio Ebenezer at 2350 Aug 9, something about ``Canal de fútbol de nuestro pais``, quite readable under Turkmenian carrier switched on but with no program, clear ID at 0005 as ``...a través de Radio Ebenezer...``. This is my third time this season when I heard this station (Artiom Prokhorov from Moscow with my latest catches made on Sony ICF7600G and its telescopic antenna in a countryside just in some 70 kms South of Moscow, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** ICELAND. 13855, AFN heard 1748 with sports and news, telemarketers and signal 24332. Checked also on 1900 with signal 43434 being in parallel to nearly marginal 5765 kHz. At 1955 was QRMed from Family radio in Russian then 2000 in Arabic and again 2100 with clear signal. Also on next day 006 [sic] with 24332 (Zacharias Liangas, 6+7.8, Litohoron, Greece, LOWE 150 connected with mains adaptor and whole 6 m wire, tilted, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. GOVT TO SPEND RS 1400 CRORE TO MAKE DD, AIR WORLD CLASS NEW DELHI: The government would spend a whopping Rs 1400 crore during the 10th Plan period for making Doordarshan and All India Radio world class news organisations, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ravishanker Prasad said in Motihari, Bihar, on Saturday. Prasad, who was laying the foundation of an All India Radio station, told reporters that the money would be spent on technological upgradation and improvement of other aspects of the DD and AIR during the 10th Plan period. In the next five to ten years, the annual income of Doordarshan would go up to an estimated Rs 15,000 crore and that of the AIR to somewhere between 35,000 to 40,000 crore, he said (Economic Times - 9th Aug 03 via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, dx_india via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. XM INSURANCE CLAIM DENIED AS LOSSES RISE http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A31533-2003Aug7?language=printer (via Mike Cooper, Kraig Krist, DXLD) ** IRELAND. Extrañas Escuchas: Hola colegas: Ayer domingo hice un pequeño repaso por la banda de 27 MHz y encontré al menos 10 transmisiones de misas en inglés. Al principio pensé que se trataba de algún radioaficionado que como entretenimiento (¿?) había conectado su emisora a una iglesia y se pasaba el tiempo de esta forma. Ya lo he oído varias veces, aunque con música. Sin embargo, cuando empezaron a aparecer muchas más y todas distintas pensé que podría tratarse de esporádicas o troposféricas (que nunca he sabido la diferencia). ¿Alguien sabe algo más sobre este tipo de escuchas? Las frecuencias escuchadas de esta forma fueron: 27.010-27.025-27.155-27.185-27.255-27.265-27.275-27.285-27.350-27.380- 27.405. Ea, sed buenos (Ignacio Sotomayor (el pescador) Sáez, San Cristóbal de Segovia, Castilla, España, Rcvx: ICOM R-75; SONY ICF -SW7600, Anx: Hilo largo de 20 metros, Aug 11, Noticias DX via DXLD) Hola Ignacio, Se trata de iglesias probablemente en Irlanda o Irlanda Norte, como antes discutido en DX Listening Digest. Via E-esporádica. Troposférica no funciona en frecuencias abajo de VHF (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) ** ITALY. Re 50+ MHz FM links: How can these coexist with the lower two Italian TV channels across the same frequencies? 73, (Glenn Hauser, Play-DX via DXLD) The Rai TV channels are on a bit differents frequencies, and however all the private links are ILLEGALS on these frequencies.... so even if you hear them no one will ever reply to confirm an illegal operation. THAT'S ITALIAN LIFE STYLE !!!! (Dario Monferini, Canada, ibid.) Altri link FM ascoltati da Riomaggiore (Liguria) Other FM links heard from Riomaggiore (Liguria, Italy) 52.00 Radio 103 Italia (Sanremo) 52.15 Discoradio (Liguria commercials) 52.80 Reporter 53.00 Radio 103 Classic (Sanremo) PI 5E77 54.00 Radio Zeta PI 5347 58.60 Radio Zeta // 54.00 58.90 Radio Nostalgia (Genova) PI 536B 59.40 Discoradio 59.60 Lattemiele 60.00 Lattemiele 67.20 Radio Onda Ligure (Albenga) (Giampiero Bernardini, Avvenire, Milano, Italy, Aug 8, Play-DX via DXLD) ** JAPAN. Le dimanche 31 août, dans toutes ses émissions, Radio Japon diffusera en français un programme spécial, intitulé "A la radio, sur internet, Konnichiwa!". Il permettra aux auditeurs de mieux connaître Radio Japon. Après la diffusion à la radio, on pourra retrouver l'émission sur internet et l'écouter à la demande. Elle sera disponible à l'adresse http://www.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/sp/ Radio Japon demande aux auditeurs de répondre aux quelques questions suivantes: Dans quelles conditions écoutez-vous Radio Japon? Dans quel but écoutez-vous Radio Japon? Quels avantages trouvez-vous à écouter Radio Japon sur internet? La station souhaite connaître les commentaires et attentes par rapport à Radio Japon, par courrier, email ou fax. Les auditeurs qui souhaiteraient être appelés au cours de cette émission peuvent laisser leur numéro de téléphone (d'après un courrier électronique de Radio Japon - 07 août 2003) (les informations sont issues de http://perso.wanadoo.fr/jm.aubier via DXLD) [non]. On 11705 at 1350 past 1400 with no announcement, and still at 1417, piano rags filling from Montreal or Sackville instead of NHK Warudo (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. KOREA, S. - 3912, V. of the People (presumed) 1210 8/10. Talk in KR, fair but deteriorating; // 6600, which was good (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Drake R-8, 100-foot RW, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH. RKI NOW AVAILABLE VIA WRN Starting next week, the WRN English schedule will be enriched by our new programme partner Radio Korea International. Every day you can listen to half an hour of news, commentary and culture from Korea across all our English language networks. The weekday magazine programme 'Seoul Calling' adds sketches, anecdotes and trivia to the daily news. You even get the chance to learn Korean with 'Let's learn Korean' every other day. On Mondays, 'Korea, Today and Tomorrow' gives you an insider view of the developments between the two Koreas. You can hear people from all walks of life on 'Seoul Report', RKI's interview show. Every Wednesday explores a new destination in 'Wonderful Korea'. 'Korean Kaleidoskope' casts a look at the ever- changing aspects of the intricate fabric of Korean society. Saturday is the listener programme 'Worldwide Friendship', and every week the programme is rounded up with cutting-edge pop music, golden oldies and interview clips on 'Korean Pop Interactive' on Sundays. For further details please send us an email to email@wrn.org or a letter or postcard to World Radio Network, PO Box 1212, London SW8 2ZF, UK. You can also reach us via fax at +44 207 896 9007 or via telephone at +44 20 7896 9010 (WRN English Newsletter No 53 via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, DXLD) ** MEXICO. XERMX must have jacked up the modulation, because 11770 was in well enough to confirm the Línea Abierta mailbag program Sat Aug 9 at 2030, but soon losing out to noise level (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 6045, XEXQ, R. Universidad, San Luís Potosí. 1200 Choral Anthem, OM "Radio Universidad en todo el país..." fade out by 1208. Subsequent days fades up from seemingly nowhere 1215 with brief selections of classical music then quick fade out (Robert Wilkner, NRD 535D, R75, Drake R7-Pompano Beach, FL, Aug 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST] ** MEXICO. SE INCAUTARÁ RADIO INSURGENTE A LOS ZAPATISTAS, SEGÚN LA SCT --- Lorena GAONA / OEM ( 2 de agosto 2003) Ante la próxima aparición de la estación de radio clandestina del Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional (EZLN), denominada Insurgente, la cual empezará sus transmisiones a partir del 9 de agosto, la Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes (SCT) advirtió que el subcomandante Marcos no se puede saltar la Ley Federal de Radio y Televisión. En entrevista con Organización Editorial Mexicana, fuentes cercanas a la dependencia, encabezada por Pedro Cerisola, subrayaron que al no tener concesión y no cumplir con la reglamentación correspondiente se les incautará de inmediato el equipo de transmisión, además de que deberán pagar la multa correspondiente. "Así se tenga que ir hasta la Selva Lacandona, no se puede instalar una estación de radio nada más porque sí y sin cumplir con los requisitos, eso es algo que debe tomar en cuenta el subcomandante Marcos", indicaron. A pregunta expresa, explicaron que entre las principales peticiones que exige la SCT para obtener la concesión se encuentra presentar un proyecto ejecutivo, el cual explique el perfil de la estación y se especifique, asimismo, de manera detallada el objetivo de su programación. También consideraron fundamental que ésta se adecue a la ley de inversión extranjera. "Otros requerimientos importantes para que puedan salir al aire estriba en que este proyecto presente un diseño específico de lo que es el perfil de la estación y obviamente que los propietarios sean mexicanos y solventes", agregaron. Sin embargo, reconocieron que será difícil ubicar la señal desde donde transmitirían los zapatistas, principalmente si es desde la Selva Lacandona. "Ese sería uno de los mayores problemas a los que nos enfrentaríamos, porque no es lo mismo detectar una señal pirata o clandestina desde un edificio de la metrópoli a ubicar exactamente el punto donde transmiten o en qué parte de la selva se encuentran, si este fuera el caso, con lo que se corre el riesgo de puedan recoger su equipo antes de la incautación", aseguraron. ¿Además de la incautación, a cuánto ascendería la multa por transmitir ilegalmente? -No tenemos en este momento el monto exacto, pero sí sería una cantidad considerable. Por otra parte, señalaron que para sacar la concesión, además de cumplir con la reglamentación deben llevar a cabo una serie de trámites vía el Instituto Federal de Acceso a la Información. Cabe recordar que en días pasados el subcomandante Marcos anunció que el próximo año iniciarán las transmisiones de Radio Insurgente en onda corta, con una banda de 49 metros, en los 5.8 mega-hertz (via Héctor García Bojorge, DF, Aug 8, Conexión Digital via DXLD) MEXICO'S REBEL MOVEMENT SOFTENS ITS STANCE --- Associated Press http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2003/08/10/build/world/65-mexico.inc OVENTIC, Mexico (AP) - The basketball announcer wore a ski mask. So did the guys playing the marimbas between games. The ice cream vendors and some of the players made do with bandanas that sometimes slipped below their mouths. The relaxed atmosphere as Mexico's Zapatista rebels began a three-day public party Saturday was evidence of how far the movement has come since the tense, bloody days after it emerged in public by seizing several cities on Jan. 1, 1994. Masked Zapatista commanders gathered shortly before midnight Friday to inaugurate new centers meant to smooth their dealings with outsiders. They call the locations "caracoles," or "snails," a Mayan symbol which represents, among other things, "the opening to the heart," according to a recent communiqué from the movement's spokesman, Subcomandante Marcos. By Saturday morning, thousands thronged the site of the inaugural festivities, cluttering it with tents, tarps and hammocks. The assembly of rebels, villagers and foreign supporters was as thick in places as the New York City subway at rush hour. ******* The Zapatistas began broadcasting by shortwave radio in the afternoon, but the signal - located at 5.8 megahertz - was so weak it was difficult to hear in nearby San Cristóbal de Las Casas. ******* At the gathering, the Zapatistas adopted new "Good Government Committees" to help oversee a scattering of rebel-controlled townships in Chiapas state and to handle contact with outsiders, who have often been frustrated in past efforts to reach leaders of the clandestine organization. In a ceremony before thousands of onlookers, Zapatista leaders swore in Saturday afternoon members of five committees that will oversee some functions among Zapatista controlled communities that have broken off contact with state and local government to manage their own affairs. The new centers will handle conflicts with neighboring Indian communities. The Zapatistas so far have been unable to win over most local Indians, who are often wary of the movement's style of collectivization, its military stance or its rejection of government aid. "I think they are going to make it easier to resolve some conflicts with the neighbors and that is good for us," said Juan González, the Chiapas state official in charge of resolving intercommunal disputes. They also are evidence of a continuing shift toward political rather than military struggle for the Zapatista movement, whose adherents continue to use ski masks to hide their identity even though there have been no major military conflicts in more than nine years. The poorly armed movement was beaten back into the jungle in 10 days before a cease-fire halted Mexico's army, but the Zapatista banner of Indian rights and opposition to free trade - combined with Marcos' witty communiqués - won it international support. "Whole years preparing to fire a weapon and it turns out that what we have to fire are words," Marcos wrote in one of a sudden spurt of communiqués issued in July after a period of silence. Those communiqués outlined the new changes and invited supporters to a three-day bash in Oventic, a village about 10 miles north of San Cristóbal de Las Casas. Marcos had not appeared publicly at the gathering as of Saturday, although other rebel commanders were seen. A string of trucks wound up the mountain roads carrying ski-masked Zapatistas past newly posted signs reading, "You are in the territory of Zapatistas in rebellion." Two Mexican federal administrations dealt with the Zapatistas by alternating military threats with appeals to negotiate. A third, that of President Vicente Fox, who took office in December 2000, pulled the military back from positions near Zapatista towns and said that it "is definitively canceling the option of violence" in dealing with the rebels. But the movement has cut off all negotiations with the government and has accused Fox of trying to sell much of the country to foreign investors with his "Plan Puebla-Panamá" for highway, port and industrial development in impoverished southern México. González said that community disputes have led some settlements to break away from the Zapatistas in recent years, reducing the movement's strength in the canyonlands where it began, though he said it appears to be growing stronger in the Mayan highland areas such as Oventic (Billings Gazette via Artie Bigley, DXLD) A través del noticiero de CNN en forma muy breve s informó de la puesta al aire de la emisora: Radio Insurgente, a traves de la filmación pude observar a varias personas entre las cuales había encapuchados con sus receptores tratando de captar la señal de esta emisora del EZLN. Atte: (José Elías, Venezuela, Aug 10, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Clandestine - 5800: 1125-1215 8/10. Spot checks in the 5770-5830 range turned up nothing this morning in a search for the new Zapatista station that was supposed to commence on 9 Aug (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Drake R-8, 100-foot RW, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Continuando con la serie de informaciones relacionadas con Radio Insurgente, más detalles pueden obtener del sitio directo del EZLN que es: http://www.ezln.org Además, los discursos de Radio Insurgente, emisora que fue bloqueada por el gobierno federal (razón por la que no se pudo hacer la transmisión en vivo), pueden escucharlos es: http://chiapas.mediosindependientes.org/ La emisión de Radio Insurgente "Voz del EZLN" fueron el pasado 9 de Agosto, a partir de las 1500 (horario del frente de combate sur oriental). Es decir, a partir de las 1400 (hora de Fox) y a partir de las 1900 UT. Las transmisiones de prueba han contado ya con la interferencia del supremo gobierno (que, además, pone al grupo "Límite" para "tapar" su señal). Pese a todo esto, ellos transmitieron y, además, grabaron el programa en CD's y los repartieron como si fueran volantes ofreciendo empleo. En los próximos dias, o en las próximas semanas, estará en internet la pagina http://www.radio-insurgente.org o http://www.radioinsurgente.org donde se podrán bajar las transmisiones de Radio Insurgente. (Fuente: de la pagina web del EZLN) 73's GIB (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Aug 11, Conexión Digital via DXLD) It appears the EZLN observes UT -4, ``war time`` i.e. double-daylight time. One would think they instead would eschew DST altogether and go back to UT -6. The live stream link, which doesn`t work for me Monday afternoon: http://chiapas.mediosindependientes.org/listen.pls (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Saludos Gabriel. Y mis saludos igualmente a todos los colegas diexistas. Las páginas están muy buenas; ya he bajado de las mismas el archivo sonoro donde un Comandante Tacho explica las razones porqué no se pudo oir Radio Insurgente. El próximo sabado en Sintonía DX, estaré colocando este sonido que tiene apenas casi dos minutos. Para cualquier colega interesado en el mismo, estamos a la orden para enviárselos. Por cierto Gabriel, no se si viste la imagen donde sale un muñequito encapuchado con un radio receptor; a mi me parece que podría ser una especie de tarjeta QSL. Atte: (José Elías, Venezuela, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** MONGOLIA. MR-1 noted on reactivated freq. of 4895 kHz (S=5, distorted audio) with opening at 2100. Also heard three traditional \\ freqs on LW. Later, around 2300, I noted another \\ channel 4830 kHz (S=5). No MR-2 noted on 4850 kHz between 2100-0220 UT (Fyodor Brazhnikov, Russia, WWDXC BC-DX Aug 8 via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND [and non]. Thread on QSLing webcasts: see bottom ** NIGERIA. 9690, V. of Nigeria, Ikorodu, keeps with fair-good quiet signals, mainly during the late morning period. Considerably clearer and stronger when observed on the [Portugal] SW coast (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, BC-DX Aug 9 via DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. Dear Glenn Hauser, With reference to recent reports in DXLD on Radio Pakistan, here are my latest observations of frequency changes: 0215-0300 Hindi 9350 (ex 9340) parallel to 11640. 0800-1100 Urdu, 1100-1105 English 17825 (ex 17835) parallel to 21465. 1200-1245 Bengali, 1245-1315 Nepali 15635 (ex 15625. As already reported in DXLD at 0500-0700 Urdu is on 11570, 15100, 17755 (ex 17835, 21460). Sincerely, (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, India, Aug 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. Reactivated Peruvian! 5500.21, Radio San Miguel, San Miguel de Cajamarca. Aug 8 2003 - 2350 UT. A typical example of the fact that WRTH keeps the list of inactive Peruvian SW-stations, for at least a couple of years. Address (not matching that in WRTH): Jirón Alfonso Ugarte 668, San Miguel de Cajamarca. Radio San Miguel de Cajamarca has been inactive for several years. Very good signal and nice Peruvian music. After 0000 UT a program called "Buenas Noches Perú" which is a request-/music program. Said 5500 kHz and FM 101.1 MHz. Listen to a recording from this occasion at this link: http://homepage.sverige.net/~a-0901/ 73 from BM in Quito! bjornmalm2003@yahoo.com (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin Aug 10, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ROMANIA. Le Ministère roumain des Finances a émis une lettre de garantie pour 15 millions de dollars américains, destinés à la modernisation des réseaux nationaux de radiodiffusion; ce montant est la deuxième partie d'un crédit de l'EXIMBANK (Etats-Unis). L'argent est destiné, en premier lieu, à la modernisation des équipements d'émission de deux centres qui assurent l'émission des programmes de Radio Roumanie Internationale. Les équipements d'émission pour la Radiodiffusion Roumaine n'ont plus été modernisés depuis les années '60. Rappelons que le gouvernement roumain garantit un crédit de 85 millions de dollars pour la modernisation, jusqu'à la fin de l'année prochaine, des émetteurs de la Radio publique (Ligia Mihaiescu - 08 août 2003) (les informations sont issues de http://perso.wanadoo.fr/jm.aubier via DXLD) ** RUSSIA [non]. (Germany/Russia) DTAG T-Systems shortwave schedule: - ---- Voice of Russia - Russian International Radio 1400-1500 17705 JUL 100 kW / 115 deg Daily to Eu Russian# 1900-2100 5985 JUL 100 kW / 115 deg Daily to ME Russian* 1900-2100 9405 JUL 100 kW / 100 deg Daily to ME Russian* 2000-2100 7260 JUL 100 kW / 105 deg Daily to ME Russian* ----- So the new youth-orientated program aired so far only on mediumwave (Bolshakovo 1215/1386 and others) is also on shortwave now. Impossible to confirm it here; all I have on 5985 now at 1930 is a very faint carrier, but this does not necessarily mean it is not on air. And so Russkoye Mezhdunarodnoye Radio should be also on Zehlendorf 603 if still only two sound channels are operational for Voice of Russia feeds to Germany. Impossible for me to check it either; all I hear on 603 is a mixture of Lyon and Romania, the latter one with a terrible echo. Probably some STL paths were upgraded to MPEG equipment meanwhile, while others still use analogue circuits with much less delay (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Aug 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOMALIA. 7530, R. Hargeysa using USB, 1847 6 August with talks and immediate music play . News in English at 1926 then titles then music, ID with R. Hargeysa. Signal 22332 (Zacharias Liangas, Litohoron, Greece, LOWE 150 connected with mains adapter and whole 6 m wire , tilted, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN [non]. Re the Woofferton-UK location of 17630/17660: This station still seems to be playing the same tape over and over each day. I wonder how well WOF is heard in the Horn of Africa? That's not a location it was built to transmit to! (Noel R. Green-UK, BC-DX Aug 6 via DXLD) NEW SHORTWAVE STATION BROADCASTING TO SOUTHERN SUDAN A new shortwave station identifying as the Sudan Radio Service has started regular transmissions. As first reported in Glenn Hauser's DX Listening Digest, broadcasts are currently at 1600-1700 UTC on 17630 kHz and 1700-1800 on 17660 kHz via shortwave transmitters in the UK. The project was developed in the US by the Education Development Center (EDC) through the dot-EDU initiative, with support from USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI). A recent USAID/OTI assessment team determined that a lack of access to information in southern Sudan, particularly regarding the Machakos peace process, is a significant problem. Given Sudan's great size, topography and widespread illiteracy, it was determined that the best choice for the dissemination of information in local languages to the people of southern Sudan would be shortwave radio. The radio service will present a mix of timely and relevant programming broadcast in Sudanese languages by Sudanese presenters. The goal of the radio service is in part to link the ongoing peace process and peace building efforts with initiatives that engender good governance and deepen the participation of southern Sudanese in affairs that most affect them, as well as to provide information about subjects such as nutrition, civic rights, agriculture and culture. Languages used will include Dinka, Bari, Nuer, Zande, Shiluck, Arabic, Juba-Arabic and English. Due to unstable conditions in Sudan, EDC is establishing an office in Kenya in the interim. The SIRS will be transferred to Sudanese ownership once sufficient capacity is built and local conditions are favourable. As EDC works to establish its Nairobi offices, broadcasts are initially being produced in Washington DC. Jeremy Groce, Nairobi- based EDC Radio Programming Advisor explains: "Even though we're not entirely ready to start programs in Nairobi, we feel it's important to stick to our timeline in order to provide some news about the Sudan Peace Process and other issues of importance to Sudanese people. We also need to begin building our audience, and with shortwave radio it can take time." (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 11 August 2003 via DXLD) ** THAILAND. This has nothing to do with broadcasting, yet? Except for a mention of Wireless Road in Bangkok, but an OSU junior is working here for the summer and posting his blog every week or two; look for Global Cowboy at http://www.orangeconnection.org (Glenn Hauser, tnx to a tip from the Enid News, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKMENISTAN. Since a broadcasting reform in spring 2001, Asgabat 4930 kHz is carrying the program channels "Miras" and "Çar tarapdan" (on a time-sharing basis, cf. WRTH). It seems that the program name "Radio Bakhara" appeared in DX circles around 1999, I have never seen it in official sources from TKM though and I suspect that it could be based on a misunderstanding. In logs, "Radio Bakhara" was usually linked to 5015 kHz, i.e. Turkmen Radio 1 ("Watan" radio channel since 2001). "Bakhara" (actually spelled "Bahara" in Turkmen) is a female personal name in Turkmen but I doubt that was used as a name for a general state radio channel in a totalitarian country like Turkmenistan. 73s, (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** U K [and non]. Obituaries Friday, August 8, 2003; Page B06 DAVID WEBSTER, BBC OFFICIAL David Webster, 72, the former director of the United States division of the British Broadcasting Corp. and a leader in international broadcasting and freedom of information concerns, died of a heart ailment Aug. 6 at his home in Washington. Mr. Webster retired from the BBC in 1985, after 32 years with the organization. He was chairman of the Trans-Atlantic Dialogue on Broadcasting and of the Information Society, which he founded in 1988. The organization promotes an exchange of views between Americans and Europeans on the international impact of change in information technology. Mr. Webster was born in Taunton, England, and attended Ruskin College, Oxford. He joined the BBC in 1953 in the world services news department and in 1958 moved to BBC television. He traveled about the world for the BBC public affairs program "Panorama" and was its editor from 1967 to 1969. From 1971 to 1976, he was the BBC representative in the United States, and in 1974 and 1975, he was chairman of the International Council of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. He returned to England in 1976, and in 1977 he became the BBC's director of public affairs, with a seat on the board of management, which runs the organization. He returned to the United States in 1981 as director of the BBC's U.S. section. Until retirement in 1985, he continued to serve on the BBC's board of management. Mr. Webster was a resident associate of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a senior fellow of the Annenberg Washington Program on Communications Policy Studies. His marriage to Lucy Webster ended in divorce. Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth Drew, the journalist and author whom he married in 1981, of Washington; two sons from his first marriage, Daniel, of San Francisco, and Alexander, of Cherry Valley, N.Y.; a sister; and three grandchildren. (c) 2003 The Washington Post Company (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. The final Spectrum program on WWCR was broadcast on July 26, 2003. The program is also not being broadcast on the internet at this time, but could be in the future (Barry, Radiowave Man, Aug 9, Monitoring Times messageboard via DXLD) I hadn`t noticed, but I see in the August printed WWCR schedule that has been replaced by Cyberline for two hours at 0300-0500 UT Sun on 5070 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. IBC schedule as of Aug 10 includes during WRMI 15725 times: Sat in EDT: 9 AM Voice of Russia 10 AM China Radio International 11 AM Voice of America Sun in EDT: 10 AM The Twilight Zone® 11 AM China Radio International 12 Noon Radio Taiwan International However, since WOR does not appear as scheduled at 1800, these items should not be assumed to be carved in stone (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. Glenn, today Sunday 10th heard jamming (like Iranian type) on 15650 kHz around 1445-1515 UT, frequency which used formerly by DW in Arabic from Aug 3rd, but latter moved to 15660 kHz according latest Bulgarian Observer. Pan American Broadcasting: 1430-1445 15650 JUL 100 kW/100 deg Sun to ME Arabic 1445-1500 15650 JUL 100 kW/100 deg Sun to ME English 1500-1515 15650 JUL 100 kW/115 deg Sun to ME English 1530-1545 15650 JUL 100 kW/100 deg Sun to ME English 1545-1600 15650 JUL 100 kW/100 deg Sun to ME English New schedule for Deutsche Welle in Arabic: 1400-1430 NF 15660, ex 15650, re-ex 15470 \\ 13720, 17485, 21560 1430-1500 NF 15660, ex 15650, re-ex 15470 \\ 13720, 15595, 17485 73 (Wolfgang Bueschel, Aug 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. NEW YORK RADIO STATION AIRS THE FIRST BROADCAST OF THE MOSCOW PATRIARCHATE OFFICE IN U.S. New York, July 29 (Russian Churches News) --- On July 19, WKDM Narodnaya Volna (The People`s Wave) 1380 AM, a major Russian speaking news station, aired the first broadcast of the Representation of the Moscow Patriarchate in the USA, ``Pravoslavnoye Obozrenie`` (Orthodox Christian Review), pursuant to an agreement between the Representation and Valery Vainberg, the publisher and chief editor of Novoye Russkoye Slovo, the oldest Russian language newspaper in the USA, as well as president of the radio station. By courtesy of Mr Vainberg, the Representation of the Moscow Patriarchate in the USA will be providing regular coverage of the most important Church news through the newspaper and radio broadcasts. Radio listeners in the States of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut are invited to tune in to WKDM The People’s Wave 1380 AM on Saturdays from 3 to 4 pm, for ``Pravoslavnoye Obozrenie.`` (Catholic Radio Update Aug 11 via DXLD) ** U S A. I WANNA F*&% ALL NIGHT, AND F*&% EVERY DAY --- Radio maven and metal monger Earl Root, bringing you the f-word since 1987. by Paul Demko There is no reasonable explanation for why Earl Root remains on the airwaves. After all, the host of KFAI's The Root of All Evil once produced a five-hour broadcast entitled . . . [language advisory] http://www.citypages.com/databank/24/1182/article11412.asp (via Brock Whaley, DXLD) ** U S A. Glenn, As per the question in DXLD 3-142. WNVT announces itself as a public TV. However, this is not PBS. WNVT allows anyone with the $ to broadcast. They carry many non English programming. Apparently WNVT is having difficult times as they have been off the air for several weeks at a time, have tried music programming and have tried other programming over the years. WNVT is mainly for students at NVCC (Northern Virginia Community College) to get experience in TV broadcasting. I believe the tx is in Goldvein VA (not too far from Manassas, VA). Following is from DCRTV http://www.dcrtv.net 53 WNVT Ind/Public Goldvein, VA. In October 2001, this station started calling itself "MHz2," with its sister station, Channel 56, becoming "MHz." Channel 53 is a independent, public station amongst a glut of other area public stations (22, 26, 32, 56). The station used to run children's programming in prime time, but in 2000 it flipped to a new format - relaying contemporary music network during the late afternoons and past sunset with educational shows (now "MHz Learn") during the mornings and early afternoons. Under the MHz umbrella, the station also does a lot of local music programs in conjunction with area radio stations. While its studios are in Merrifield (with Channel 56), its transmitter is way down in the small town of Independent Hill, near Fredericksburg, consequently giving it a rather lacking signal in the metro area. However, it enjoys solid cable carriage, at least in Northern Virginia and in DC. 53 first signed on in 1972 and is owned by Commonwealth Public Broadcasting. WNVT's digital TV broadcasts will be on channel 30. 56 WNVC Ind/Public Fairfax, VA. Co-owned with Channel 53, 56 also provides a public service to the diverse international community in the DC area. In October 2001, it started calling itself "MHz." It is a non-commercially licensed independent station and runs a variety of programs from many international broadcasters including those in German, French, Polish, Thai, Chinese, Russian, Irish and many others. While the station may not get gangbuster ratings, it should not be overlooked. Before 56 signed on in the early 80s, a low-powered Spanish language station occupied this frequency. Channel 56 and 53 are owned by Commonwealth Public Broadcasting and share studio facilities in the DC suburb of Merrifield, Virginia. Back in its early days WNVC featured a Saturday night horror movie show hosted by "The Bowman Body." Anyone remember this? The original calls for Channel 56 were WIAH. WNVC's has been given channel 57 for its digital broadcasts. 73, (via Kraig Krist, VA, DXLD) ** U S A. US MW STATIONS - FCC TOWER HEIGHT RULES I'm wondering if any of Glenn's readers having MW AM broadcast experience in the US could provide information on FCC tower height rules. I've noticed that most of the class A stations operating on clear channels use tower heights that approach half wavelengths of their assigned carrier frequencies. WOR, for example, uses three towers each around 680 feet high. Class B stations, however, seem to typically use towers that are much smaller fractions of their carrier's wavelength. Assuming there are no FAA restrictions to limit height, does the FCC actually dictate the height of towers that a licensee can use? Do the station classes then imply more than just which stations protect the dominant station via signal patterns? How did the one notable exception, class B WNAX in Yankton SD, become able to build and still use to this day, its 800 foot plus tower for its daytime signal? Since tower height seems a significant factor in getting out a far-reaching signal, any info. on this topic would be welcomed by us MW DXers to broaden understanding (Richard Howard, Burnsville NC, Aug 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 'TOM' IS NEW WEATHER RADIO VOICE Now with the weather, here's 'Tom.' The new computer-synthesized broadcast voice of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Radio reports uses the same technology as its predecessors, but is capable of reading with varying speed and intensity to convey the seriousness of an urgent weather warning if necessary. "Tom" replaces "Donna" and "Craig" as the service's automated voice for daily forecasts and weather advisories. The new text-to-speech computer voice is concatenated, meaning small bits of a real human voice are rearranged and put together to create new words. "The new voice is much better than Craig and Donna ever were," said Joanne Swanson, NWS meteorologist and a member of NOAA's voice improvement program. "Donna" and "Craig" in turn had replaced "Perfect Paul" in early 2002. NOAA introduced its first computer-driven voice in 1997 as part of a $13 million effort to automate the agency's nationwide network of weather reports, forecasts and emergency weather alerts. The latest voice upgrade, developed by Boston-based SpeechWorks International, made its debut on most of the 121 NOAA weather offices in July (Radio World Newsbyte Aug 8 via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. Desde Caracas Venezuela --- El Observatorio Global de Medios condena el cierre forzoso de la televisora comunitaria Catia Tve OBSERVATORIO GLOBAL DE MEDIOS CAPITULO VENEZUELA A LA OPINIÓN PÚBLICA Denunciamos ante todos los venezolanos y ante la comunidad internacional la agresión realizada por el Alcalde del Área Metropolitana de Caracas, Alfredo Peña, en contra de la libertad de expresión y el derecho a la información, al cerrar arbitrariamente la emisora comunitaria de televisión Catia TVe y secuestrar sus equipos de transmisión, el pasado 10 de julio de 2003. Consideramos esta agresión como una nueva evidencia de las tendencias antidemocráticas impulsadas por algunos dirigentes de la oposición y de los propietarios de medios privados de comunicación social que, no conforme con impedir a la mayoría de los ciudadanos el acceso a una información imparcial, pretenden también impedir la información libre que generan las propias comunidades a través de medios comunitarios de comunicación, como es el caso de Catia TVe. Esta agresión en contra de una pequeña televisora comunitaria constituye una nueva evidencia de la violación del derecho constitucional de los receptores a obtener una información imparcial, oportuna y plural, pues cercena a la comunidad de Catia y sus alrededores la posibilidad de obtener información de un medio independiente de los canales privados de televisión, quienes han mantenido una política de información signada por la promoción de la confrontación política, la tergiversación de los hechos y la manipulación, como ya lo hemos denunciado en oportunidades anteriores. Quisiéramos llamar la atención sobre el hecho de que es ésta la primera ocasión, en más de una década, cuando se produce el cierre de un medio de comunicación, por parte de autoridades gubernamentales y consideramos justo aclarar que no se trata del Gobierno Nacional. Por el contrario, la instancia gubernamental responsable de esta violación a las libertades de expresión e información, es la Alcaldía del Área Metropolitana de Caracas, la que mantiene una decidida y abierta confrontación contra el Gobierno de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela. El Observatorio Global de Medios, Capítulo Venezuela, a la vez que expresa su solidaridad al equipo responsable de la emisora comunitaria de televisión, Catia TVe, hace un llamado a todos los ciudadanos a defender la libertad de expresión y el derecho a la información a pronunciarse de manera pública para condenar decididamente la agresión que la Alcaldía Metropolitana de Caracas realizó en contra de esta emisora comunitaria. Observatorio Global de Medios Capítulo Venezuela 17 de julio de 2003 http://www.observatoriodemedios.org.ve (via Adán González, Catia La Mar, Venezuela, DXLD) SODEPAU P.V. (Estado Español) rechaza la medida antidemocrática de cierre de Catia Tve Por: SODePAU P.V. Publicado el Jueves, 17/07/03 07:23am La organización No Gubernamental SODePAU P.V. (Estado Español) quiere hacer llegar su rechazo por la medidas antidemocráticas y abusivas llevadas a cabo por la alcaldía de Caracas bajo la dirección de Alfredo Peña, y que han culminado con el cierre ilegitimo de la televisión comunitaria CatiaTV. CatiaTV fue legalizada en el año 2002, gracias a una nueva legislación que significa un paso adelante en la práctica efectiva de la democracia, ya que permite al pueblo hacer oir su voz sin intervención del estado ni de los grandes oligopolios mediáticos (siempre al servicio del que paga). El ataque a CatiaTV solo puede enmarcarse, desde nuestro punto de vista, en la política de acoso que están llevando a cabo las élites económicas y políticas tanto de Venezuela como de otras partes del mundo, al actual gobierno venezolano, democraticamente elegido en las urnas, al ver peligrar sus privilegios y su proyecto neoliberal debido a las reformas que se están llevando a cabo en este país. Estos intentos de acallar al pueblo venezolano sumados a los intentos de golpe de estado o a la absurda huelga que tuvo lugar hace unos meses, permiten observar el carácter fascistoide de aquellos y aquellas que, intentan por todos los medios matener sus prevendas a costa de la pobreza del pueblo venezolano. Es evidente que han encandilado a algunos sectores de la clase trabajadora venezolana gracias al arduo trabajo de desinformación llevado a cabo por los medios de comunicación privados, pero a pesar de ello no lo han conseguido con todos, y por ello buscan acallar las expresiones de apoyo a la revolución bolivariana, o a aquellas que simplemente quieren reclamar un espacio para comunicar sus esperanzas y deseos de igualdad de oportunidades, de justicia social y de derecho a la educación, a la sanidad y a participar en las tomas de decisiones de su país. Es por todo esto que desde aqui queremos denunciar las campañas de intimidación y denigración contra los medios comunitarios y alternativos llevadas a cabo por sectores antidemocráticos venezolanos, así como las agresiones físicas a las personas que opinan diferente o los cierres arbritarios e ilegitimos de los espacios de expresión no controlados por los magnates de la comunicación, y exigimos una vuelta a las garantias democráticas y de derecho que promueve la nueva constitución bolivariana de Venezuela para evitar que unos pocos puedan amordazar a todo un pueblo y privarles de sus derechos y de sus legitimas riquezas. Nuestra organización junto con todas aquellas del Estado Español y de Europa que tenemos acceso a una información alternativa a la que intentan "vender" al mundo y a su propio país las cadenas privadas venezolanas, nos comprometemos a apoyar las iniciativas populares de crear medios de comunicación comunitarios y a difundir "esa otra información" para permitir a los ciudadanos y ciudadanas del mundo que elaboren sus propias conclusiones del proceso que se esta viviendo en Venezuela. Por último exigimos un poco de coherencia al alcalde metropolitano de Caracas y a todos aquellos que apoyan las medidas impuestas por las élites venezolanas y extranjeras, y practiquen la democracia que dicen defender, devolviendo a CatiaTV todo el material confiscado, y respetando su trabajo, al igual que se esta haciendo con los medios privados de comunicación Venezolanos. SODEPAU P.V. (Solidaritat per al desenvolupament i la Pau del País Valencià) (via Espacio Publico yahoogroup via Adán González, Catia la Mar, DXLD) ** VIETNAM [non]. 15775, CLANDESTINE Chan Troi Moi, *1327-1354 Aug 9, open carrier to instrumental music commencing at 1330 followed by a woman announcer with ID and Vietnamese talk accompanied by instrumental music. Seemingly news program with musical segments between features. Numerous mentions of Florida, Cuba, New York, Castro, and Hanoi. Another ID at 1350 after a musical interlude. Poor with fairy noisy conditions (Rich D`Angelo, PA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. ALGERIA. From the 20th July till now, I was unable to detect any activity from the POLISARIO FRONT's MW outlet of 1550 kHz, though the jamming signal was on (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, BC-DX Aug 9 via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 2340: Glenn, I heard a second harmonic of, I believe they said, WTAV, Greatest Hits of All Time. It was an oldies format heard on 2.340 MHz at 0945 UT. I looked up the calls in Radio Locater and came up with a big goose egg. Signals were fair with rapid fading on August the eleventh (Ron Trotto, Waggoner, Illinois, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Could be 2 x 1170 or 3 x 780. No similar calls found here in NRC AM log 2002 or M Street Directory 2000 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 6670, VERY UNID, USA-like DJ-style program with country music, all 4s at 0120 Aug 10, spur or pirate relay (or record) of an FM American station? (Artiom Prokhorov from Moscow with my latest catches made on Sony ICF7600G and its telescopic antenna in a countryside just in some 70 km South of Moscow, Cumbre DX via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 9560.6: off-frequency carrier, weak, hetting against an equally weak carrier on 9560.0 at 1355 Aug 11. Ethiopia, probably (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. After 2+ months of inactivity, since R. Togo Libre, a new entry appears at the bottom of the `Whose` page of TDP, as of Aug 11: Al-Asr Radio. Unfortunately no listing appears yet on the TDP schedule page, and the Al-Asr page linked is entirely in Arabic, with parts of it under construction: http://www.alasr-radio.com We are making inquiries about this, and welcome translation from DXLD Arabic readers (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ NOVENO ENCUENTRO NACIONAL DE DIEXISTAS Y RADIOESCUCHAS MEXICANOS El pasado fin de semana se reunieron alrededor de 60 oyentes de onda corta de toda la República Mexicana en la ciudad de Tizayuca, en el estado de Hidalgo, para celebrar el Noveno Encuentro Nacional de Diexistas y Radioescuchas Mexicanos. Nuestro corresponsal Jeff White estuvo allí y lo tenemos en la línea telefónica ahora mismo para decirnos un poco sobre lo que pasó en Tizayuca. Primero, Jeff, ¿exactamente dónde queda Tizayuca? JEFF: Bueno, Tizayuca es una ciudad de 50,000 personas, ubicada alrededor de una hora al norte de la Ciudad de México en el estado de Hidalgo. Tiene un clima muy agradable debido a su altura de casi 2,300 metros sobre el nivel del mar. No es demasiado caliente ni siquiera en el mes de agosto. ALFONSO/JAIME: Nosotros estuvimos en el último Encuentro Diexista Mexicano el año pasado en Jalapa, Veracruz, y yo sé que algunos años han asistido 80 o casi 100 personas a estos eventos. No hubo tantos participantes este año, ¿verdad? JEFF: No, había como 60 personas este año, pero quizás fue debido a que el Encuentro se efectuó en una ciudad bastante pequeña con un solo hotel que estaba casi lleno, así mucha gente tuvo que hospedarse en Pachuca, la capital de Hidalgo, que está a media-hora al norte de Tizayuca. Sin embargo, asistieron oyentes de onda corta de todas partes de México, desde Chihuahua en el norte hasta Chiapas en el sur -- y algunos de otros países también. ALFONSO/JAIME: ¿Quienes asistieron de otros países? ¿Radiodifusores? JEFF: Sí, por ejemplo dos personas de Radio Habana Cuba y nosotros de Radio Miami Internacional. Pero también asistieron algunos oyentes de los Estados Unidos. Hablando de las emisoras, participó una muchacha simpática de Radio Internacional de China, Wei Lijun, y algunos representantes de emisoras de onda corta mexicanas como Radio Mil y Radio Educación. ALFONSO/JAIME: ¿Esta fue la primera vez que asistieron representantes de Radio Habana Cuba? JEFF: Creo que sí, y eran muy populares. Manolo de la Rosa es el productor del programa semanal sobre el diexismo, "En Contacto." Y Emma Almeda produce un programa de buzón de oyentes, tanto como un noticiero matinal. Ellos dos dieron una presentación sobre la radiodifusión en Cuba y la historia de Radio Habana Cuba. Déjame mencionar que hubo dos importantes exhibiciones -- una de la compañía Radio Shack del Distrito Federal, exhibiendo sus varios receptores de onda corta que se venden por todo México, y otra de la Asociación Nacional de Radiodifusoras de Onda Corta de los Estados Unidos, que representa 18 emisoras privadas de onda corta en ese país vecino. Y se regalaron horarios de programación, discos compactos, cassettes, banderines, plumas, llaveros y todo tipo de souvenirs de las emisoras. ALFONSO/JAIME: Bueno, nosotros también regalamos varias camisetas, bolsas y un reloj de Radio Nederland en la rifa que tenían allí, que vamos a enviar por correo a los afortunados ganadores. Jeff, tengo entendido que se hizo la primera demostración en México de la onda corta digital, DRM, durante el Encuentro. ¿Cómo salió eso? JEFF: De cierta forma, excelente, porque César Fernández y Rafael Grajeda de la Sociedad de Ingenieros Radioescuchas de Veracruz explicaron todo lo básico sobre la DRM y trajeron grabaciones de comparaciones entre la calidad de señales analógicas y digitales que fueron grabados durante pruebas en Europa. Y los participantes se asustaron cuando escucharon la diferencia de calidad entre una señal tradicional de onda corta analógica, y una señal en DRM que fue casi la calidad de FM. Desafortunadamente, una demostración de señales DRM en vivo desde Radio Nederland en Bonaire y de la Deutsche Welle desde Alemania no fue tan exitosa, porque solamente se pudo captar algunos segundos de audio de Bonaire, aunque fue de muy alta calidad. Se utilizó uno de los nuevos receptores de la compañía Ten-Tec que se conecta a una computadora personal y entonces puede captar señales de DRM utilizando un programa de software del Consorcio DRM. Van a seguir experimentando con estos equipos en colaboración con las emisoras participantes para ver porqué no entró mejor el audio, pero una gran parte del problema puede ser que las antenas en Bonaire no están dirigidas precisamente a México, y la señal de Alemania está bastante lejos y de relativamente baja potencia. Una cosa que aprendimos sobre la DRM es que una señal de onda corta digital o está allí y se oye muy bien, o simplemente desaparece completamente en el éter. Pero de todas formas, se vió el potencial de la DRM para revolucionar la onda corta en el futuro. Y gracias a Jan Peter Werkman del departamento técnico de Radio Nederland por su valiosa cooperación en esta prueba, quien tuvo que quedarse despierto hasta las altas horas de la noche en Holanda para controlar las transmisiones DRM desde Bonaire. Y quiero mencionar que sí escuchamos durante el seminario los saludos especiales que Jaime mandó a los participantes del Encuentro durante la transmisión especial de Radio Nederland. Lo único es que tuvimos que escucharlos en la frecuencia analógica en vez de la frecuencia DRM. ALFONSO/JAIME: Yo sé que en estos eventos de radioescuchas normalmente hay un aspecto cultural. ¿Ese fue el caso también este año? JEFF: O sí, sin duda. El organizador del Encuentro, Martín Herrera, arregló muchas cosas culturales. El evento comenzó el jueves 31 de julio con un grupo musical tocando música folklórica, y luego una cena deliciosa de antojitos regionales con otros músicos en un restaurante cercano. Y la próxima mañana la inauguración oficial tuvo lugar con una actuación de un excelente grupo local de bailadores folklóricos que se llama Hueyhueycoyotl, vestidos en colores brillantes de los indígenas de Hidalgo. El dos de agosto fue el día del diexista mexicano, y también se celebró el 61 cumpleaños del colega Manolo de la Rosa de Radio Habana Cuba, quien a propósito mandó muchos saludos cordiales a Uds., Jaime y Alfonso. Celebramos con una torta que se hizo especialmente para la ocasión y una fiesta muy agradable. ALFONSO/JAIME: Bueno, Jeff, yo sé que grabaste muchas entrevistas con personas que estaban allí en el Encuentro, y que durante las próximas semanas aquí en Radio Enlace nos vas a presentar algunas de estas grabaciones. JEFF: Así es, y tendremos mucho más sobre el Encuentro en los próximos reportajes (R. Nederland Radio-Enlace August 8-10 via DXLD) COMMENTARY ++++++++++ QSLing, BELLABARBA ``Following to the many polemics opinions expressed everywhere concerning the Bellabarba QSL-ing policy, I wish here clarify the personal position of the DX-editor of Play-DX, Dario Monferini, has been always against this kind of unpolite activity, cause Mr. Bellabarba is manipulating informations coming from other sources, sending fake reports. For this reason I admit, after 25 years of personal tentatives to find a positive solution to this matter, to have totally failed in this `mission` and to have done remarkable problems and damns to the worldwide dx-ing family. I agree all the DX- ers sending serious reports have all the rights don`t see rare radio stations verified in a fake way by Mr. Bellabarba in a total unpolite and foolish way to get a reply in all the ways, even changing the original datas (one week before) showing a `scientific` attitude but also a very unacceptable activity. The next autumn Play-DX will do a more descriptive article about these matters, to put a final word on this abominable story of Mr. Bellabarba, 30 years acting against the worldwide family of the radio listeners`` (PRESS RELEASE FROM THE BOARD OF PLAY-DX, Dario Monferini, editor in chief Play-DX Italy via SW Bulletin Aug 10 via DXLD) QSLing WEBCASTS Radio New Zealand International have recently received a Reception report requesting a QSL from an Internet logging on a Pentium 4 Computer. It raises some interesting points on whether logging a station is really DX and worth a QSL? Any genuine feedback or comment will be passed on to Radio NZ International. Hi Mark, RNZI has received this reception report requesting a QSL. As you will see the receiver was a Pentium 4 1.7 ghz. computer - I had a chuckle about it, but the guy is quite serious. I would be interested to know from the amateur community what they think? My view is a QSL card was intended to acknowledge the expertise of an operator of a short-wave radio in hearing a distant station. Surely clicking on a URL does not count??????!! Some may call me old fashioned, but I would appreciate feed-back on this issue! Cheers, Adrian [Sainsbury, RNZI] --------------------------------- From: Name removed To: info@rnzi.com Subject: Reception Report The following reception report was submitted by j on Tuesday, August 5, 2003 at 14:47:20: Country: CAN, receiver: pentium 4 1.7 ghz, antenna: internet, strength: 5, Interference: 4, Overall_Merit: 4, date: 04/08/2003, time: Time in UTC, frequency: In kHz, programme_details: Pacific news, comments: I would appreciate a QSL card to confirm reception. Please include sticker, pennant and station information. Thank you. It is always nice to hear a station as far as New Zealand. Mark Nicholls [editor@radiodx.com] via HCDX --------------------------------- Last year I had a disagreement with Glenn Hauser about exactly the same subject. On that occasion someone from USA sent Gleen a message saying he had got a verification (QSL) from Liechtenstein. I thought Radio Liechtenstein was on Shortwave but for my frustration Glenn told me that this "DX er" had heard the station over the Internet. Well, I still consider QSL'ing a radio station over the WEB something stupid. If RNZI wants to reply this message I would suggest them to send an "email QSL" confirming the "WEB DX" or whatever you want to call it. If we start accepting this kind of thing we could find ourselves in a ridiculous situation where the radio will virtually disappear and will be replaced by a computer. If this is the case, how about if I start reporting and QSL'ing TV stations that I catch on Cable ? Marcelo Toniolo via HCDX --------------------------------- John Wright here, in Australia. To all, computer DX logging... live streaming audio etc... well, that`s nice that the person hears Radio New Zealand. However, the issue was raised within Australia about 1997, as I did the QSLing for locally 2AM on 1620. The QSL is a Q code for amateurs that was established many years ago, as a means of thankyou for your report on my signal and a kind of thankyou and memento of the occasion. These QSL cards were also known as audience cards. Listeners were encouraged in the early days of radio, of reporting the strength etc. of a signal, to which a thankyou card was sent out to the listener as a thankyou momento. This was by radio. Computer is not radio. However, when 2AM received this report, instead of throwing away the listener`s request for a QSL the listener received a polite reply about what a QSL was all about, but no QSL card. But some information about the radio DX or SWLing hobby was also sent to this person. It`s all about education, and growing the hobby. Maybe some other people have other ideas. Regards John Wright (Down under). Via HCDX --------------------------- If it doesn't fade (QSB) or have noise (QRN) it's not radio. Collecting QSL cards for hearing radio stations over the Internet must be a separate hobby, not to intertwined with QSLing radio stations via the ionosphere. Here in the U.S. though, if our FCC allows BPL which is "a broadband Internet connection via AC power lines", the QRN will be so bad, as to relegate all of us to listening to radio via Internet. 73, Thomas F. Giella, Meteorologist C/S KN4LF via HCDX ------------------------- Boy, not enough details for even a shortwave reception report...and what was the interference that this report claims with a SIO 544? Just my thoughts! Mick, cidxqsl@ecn.ab.ca via HCDX ---------------------- Dear DX-friends, This subject was discussed three years ago at the Conference of the European DX Council in Barcelona and there was general agreement that "WEB LISTENING" cannot be regarded as "DX-ING". It is another hobby which just requires that you know certain web addresses. The stations are no more distant than your PC (Best 73, Anker Petersen Denmark via HCDX) ------------------------ As others have pointed out the computer logging, the overall was 544 well this misguided chap needs a computer overhaul. What, maybe his telephone line is not what it could be. Hope someone at RNZI points this out. Then he has to get this checked out, then if not the telephone line it`s his computer setup. (he could be on the hurdy gurdy for months). Anyway its not a perfect world after all in cyberspace. GRIN (John Wright, Down under via HCDX) (all via SW Bulletin Aug 10 via DXLD) How about suggesting to the computer listener that if he has no radio of his own, he can be a DXer by using java radio and related remote radio sites on the web? (Steve Bass, hard-core-dx via DXLD) I suspect that this guy has been listening to the direct internet stream from RNZI - I certainly would not send him a QSL These days though there are remote radio receivers - for example http://www.javaradio.com - http://www.javoradio.com The person operating the receiver actually tunes the receiver remotely. I do not have a problem with getting QSLs via these remote receivers as the listener is the one doing the tuning and having to identify the station. This is no different than going on holiday overseas with a receiver and loop, and DXing overseas. Many DXers have done this in the past and have used the QSLs they receive as part of their totals. This of course is only my own point of view - other DXers won`t have a bar of using the internet at all to obtain QSLs. That`s my input for what it is worth. Regards (Tony Magon VK2IC, Member of ARDXC and NZRDXL, ibid.) Possibly it was a novice SWL'er using something Like a TenTec RX 320, driven by a computer, naïvely thinking that the computer was the receiver ;>) He heard it on SOMEONE ELSE'S RADIO --- it's not HIS reception. Yodar (Joseph Strain, ibid.) Having moved to a location where there is much local QRM, I have had to quit SW and MW DXing doing instead some internet listening and reporting (Radio Prague, The Voice of the Mediterranean, XERTA, Radio Panamericana...) Sometimes the reception quality is AOK, sometimes it is lousy, as in the El Salvador case related in DXLD #3118. I don't feel ashamed at all to say that I have received several replies, usually by email, but also by letter, in some cases QSL cards, pens and other stuff. (I completed my objective of 200 verified countries over a decade ago, so I am no longer hunting for new countries, and I listen to whatever I like most). But the El Salvador case was a thrill quite comparable to my SW logging years ago on 9555 kHz. I am talking about a station which used to be called Radio Nacional de El Salvador, but from actual real audio listening I realized that the WRTH info was inaccurate and that they are now identifying themselves as Radio El Salvador. My initial contact was in fact a reception report which I sent them in answer to repeated requests heard on the air and printed on their website. In my message I told them to please check their audio which sounded as if you were on a seashore trying to listen to broadcast from a portable transistor receiver. Exactly 35 minutes later, they fixed the audio and sent me a greeting on the air! Later, the same night, the manager sent me an email asking me to listen, which I then did. After a few communiqués related to messages received from foreign embassies etc. he went on to comment the message that had impressed him most, i.e. my emailed reception report! I have sent Humberto Molina in El Salvador a copy of this 5-minute oral QSL which was followed by a specially dedicated tune for their "Swedish Salvadoran" [sic]listener. I am not saying this is DXing, but it sure is fun. Here is the text file from DXLD #3118: [q.v.] (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, Aug 10, ibid.) DX stands for a distant and unknown station. Distance does not mean anything on the internet and listening to an audio stream seems to me much more like a telephone call rather than a challenge. If the station is willing to send "QSLs" as a kind of PR, that's fine. I'm not interested in such confirmations, but if other listeners have fun collecting them - alright. It's a hobby and we should try to covince those listeners that shortwave has it's own quality. My 2 ct. (Willi Passmann, ibid.) I don't see any harm in doing this as long as you are honest about doing it, as Henrik is. It depends what you want out of the hobby. Some people, including a well-known gentleman down under, insist that DXing is a technical hobby and that comments on programmes etc. have no place in it. But for many people, the technical part was always a means to an end - i.e. receiving audio from as many different broadcasters as possible. I'm sure the small Latin American broadcasters who stream on the Web are as delighted to get letters from Internet listeners abroad as they are to get reception reports on their radio signals. Potential advertisers will be impressed either way :-) (Andy Sennitt, ibid.) Andy, I can confirm this! Paraguayan stations who stream audio on the Internet are very delighted to receive feedback; they often send greetings in their programs to people listen abroad as something very special. Also they use this in own promotions "worldwide heard via Internet". (Levi Iversen, Paraguay, ibid.) DXing is not logging on to someone else's computer via the internet. DXing is setting up your own antenna, feedline, receiver and dealing with all the problems that arise in your location. Not benefiting from someone else's hard work. There`s more to DXing than turning on a radio. The main reason stations give QSLs is to obtain reception reports from your location not someone else's. At least it used to be the reward for accurate reports. At this rate we wont need radios just computers. 73 (Brian Hill, ibid.) Brian's Radio Universe http://home.jps.net/~jonnysocko/ Thanks to all those people who responded to my original post 'is Computer Logging DX?. It generated quite a bit of healthy discussion. My personal feeling is: 'Web Listening' is not 'DX' as I or most in the hobby group know it and they shouldn't get a current style QSL card. However it is a very personal hobby and you make of it what you want - whether you DX or listen to Shortwave, Mediumwave, FM/TV, Utilities, Satellite and maybe now the Internet? And we as the DX Community may need to acknowledge the fact that some people are listening and maybe collecting acknowledgements via the Internet and cater for them in the future? And as John Wright in Australia pointed out - maybe the DX Clubs should prepare an information pack for posting or email enlightening those that send in Internet logging reports to the joys of proper radio DX/listening and information on joining a DX Club? Also the person is still a listener of RNZI and is requesting some sort of acknowledgement and other station information, maybe RNZI will have to develop a new 'Thank you for listening to us via the Web or Internet' email or attachment. And if the person wants a sticker or other hard copy information they can use Pay Pal or something similar to cover normal postage if required. We must also acknowledge that for many larger Broadcasters the days of needing 'reception reports' has long gone due to dedicated monitors or remote monitoring of signal strength from receivers based in the target area. Some now are more interested in 'Programming' feedback. The issuing of a QSL from a station is a 'courtesy' and not a right. Something we should always remember. Yes the times they are a changing - will we as a hobby group adapt with them or disappear? (Mark Nicholls, Chief Editor, New Zealand DX Times, New Zealand Radio DX League, http:www.radiodx.com ibid.) It seems to me the only problem is with MIXING three different kinds of `reception`, and the QSLs which may result. Sure, direct ionospheric reception from station to DXer is the traditional and most important method. Veries (or station totals) acquired thru java radios, or internet connexions should be kept entirely separate, in archives and in reporting to DX publications. Other than that, why not? Those who believe that even the traditional QSLs really prove anything are deluding themselves (Glenn Hauser, Aug 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ BPL --- THREAT TO HF Hello everyone, I know this is of topic on many of the lists but I think this needs to be brought to everyone's attention who enjoys the radio hobbies. This concerns BPL which is Broadband over Power Lines. This is already being "tried" in a few locations in the country (USA). This is having a very bad effect on the HF and SHORTWAVE frequencies. Please listen to the audio link from the ARRL and forward this on to as many of your communications friends as possible. http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2003/08/08/2/?nc=1 (Kondrak, comm-Mods yahoogroup via Joe Talbot, DXLD) ###