DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-146, August 14, 2003 edited by Glenn Hauser, ghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted later at http://www.worldofradio.com/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 Nominal schedule on RFPI, 7445: Thu 2000, Fri 0200, 0830, 1430, Sat 2130, Sun 0330, 0930, 1530 NEXT AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1195: RFPI: Fri 1930, Sat 0130, 0800, 1400, 1730, 2330, Sun 0530, 1130, 1830, Mon 0030, 0630, 1230, Tue 1900, Wed 0100, 0730, 1330 on 7445 [nominal times subject to delay or pre-emption] WRN: Rest of world Sat 0800, Europe only Sun 0430, N America Sun 1400 WWCR: Sat 1030, Sun 0230 5070, 0630 3210, Wed 0930 9475 WRMI: Sat & Sun 1800+ on 15725 WINB: Sun 0031 on 12160 WJIE: Sun 1630 on 7490, 13595 (maybe) WBCQ: Mon 0415 on 7415 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/wor1195.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1195.ram [High] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1195h.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1195h.ram (Summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1195.html WORLD OF RADIO WATCH There has been no change to the schedule but we have been hit recently by a number of power cuts meaning we get behind in the schedule. This month's COM was broadcast on Saturday and WOR should come out when scheduled. Thanks, Glenn and I am sorry about the erratic nature of the broadcasting recently; we have been plagued by electric storms and have had all sorts of power cuts recently. We are having one right now so we will be off the air and delayed again for several hours today too (Naomi Fowler, RFPI, Aug 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, the file URLs are for download only, and are not playable. An easier one is:- http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/NetworkRadioInternational/files to find World of radio and other DX Programs. 73 (Tim Gaynor, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Well, with my cable modem the download only takes a few seconds and then mp3 files normally start playing on the default Real player. The latest WOR did that but for only a few seconds, then crashed and would not restart (gh) UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL On Tue, 12 Aug 2003 23:39:44 -0700, you plagarized: US MW STATIONS - FCC TOWER HEIGHT RULES . . . I am the author of the above item. I submitted it to Glenn Hauser to use in his DX Listening Digest internet newsletter and only to him. It was published today in DXLD 3-145. You obviously lifted the entire item and republished it on rec.radio.shortwave without credit or attribution to either myself or DX Listening Digest. Your domain suggests you are a student or faculty member of the University of Washington. I think you need a lesson in ethics and copyright law. Strong message to follow (Joe Buch to mikehack@u.washington.edu via DXLD) SOLICITED TESTIMONIAL Hello Glen[n], I am a long time listener to SWL and have heard your program off and on for several years. You asked for reception info so here goes. Equipment: Sangean 505P receiver/3 random wire antennas one oriented N-S, one E-W both inside the apartment, and one end loaded inverted L outside on the balcony. The best reception by far is the Sunday UT show on WWCR 5070 at 0230 UT. The WINB show on 12160 is up for grabs, fair to poor. Any show on RFPI 7445 after 0100 UT is usually also good if there are no weather or solar problems. The local afternoon shows on 15039 at 1900 or 1930 UT were moderate to poor overall. Haven't found the replacement frequency yet. The Thu afternoon local show on WWCR 15825 at 2030 fades in and out but is usually readable, again if no weather or solar problems. The first show of the week on WBCQ is not readable until winter time on 7415 and is occasionably readable on 17495, both at 2200 UT Wed. Hope this helps, (Steve Cross, Del City, OK 73115, Aug 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALGERIA [non]. Re As-Salam: Their Arabic website also mentions that they will be using shortwave, but the schedule is to be listed in still under construction (Hans Johnson, WY, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Radio Assalam is known to satellite listerners since the end of June when the station started on Hotbird 6 as part of the Globecast package, it actually replaced Radio Caroline. It has been mentioned on many Algeria-related websites over the last 1 1/2 months. 73s, (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, ibid.) ** AUSTRALIA. This `shoestring service` gets ARDS on air whilst they wait for the Australian Broadcasting Authority to approve broadcasts on the MW frequencies on: 1611 VKD884 Groote Eylandt and VKD883 Milingimbi, and 1629 Gapuwiyak, all in the Northern Territory (NT). They are also seeking a MW licence for Darwin. 5050 also gives them good geographical coverage in the target area. There are 7000 Yolgnu people, who suffer much economic, social and cultural deprivation. Most live in 5 major communities and 90 homeland centers, including 1000 in the Darwin metro area. They make up 3.5% of the NT population. The ARDS studios are at Nhulunbuy (Gove) and the program is sent via satellite to the transmitter site near Darwin, for which they pay a rental of A$700 a week (Mark Nicholls, NZ, DSWCI DX Window Aug 13 via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Cuts force ABC to slash jobs, programs BY ADAM MACLEAN Denied funding by the federal Coalition government to adequately sustain the national broadcaster for the next three years, Australian Broadcasting Corporation management on August 5 announced funding cuts of $26.1 million to programs and services.. . http://www.greenleft.org.au/current/549p3.htm (via Jilly Dybka, DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 4930.08, R. San Miguel, 0937-09 [sic] 14 Aug, Nice promo/ID at tune-in by M and W mixed with music as "R. San Miguel, 11?? en amplitud modulada... onda corta, San Miguel... Riberalta, Bolivia...", and also mention of música and popular. Then 2 minute talk by live studio M announcer with mention of popular and provincia, campesino. 0941 romantic almost tango-like vocal song. 0945 live M announcer again with mention of provincia and ID. 0953 went into lively live LA song. Fair and readable (Dave Valko, Dunlo PA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. NACIONAL DO BRASIL PARA A ÁFRICA Quem ouviu a Voz do Brasil, edição de 11 de agosto, acompanhou boa novidade do Brasil no mundo do rádio, tal qual fez o Caio Fernandes Lopes, de Itajubá (MG): a Rádio Nacional do Brasil está emitindo, em ondas curtas, desde 1º de agosto, para os países de língua portuguesa da África. O primeiro programa levou ao ar uma mensagem do presidente Luís Ignácio Lula da Silva: "meus companheiros, irmãos e irmãs do continente africano! Tenho grande alegria de me dirigir a vocês pelas ondas curtas da Rádio Nacional do Brasil, uma iniciativa da Radiobrás ...". O presidente também destacou a democracia no continente africano e finalizou: "o caminho entre a África e o Brasil já foi o da escravidão! Que essa rota seja, agora, utilizada para proporcionar prosperidade e felicidade para o povo brasileiro e africano!" A Voz do Brasil, entretanto, não mencionou nem o horário nem a freqüência em que os programas da Rádio Nacional vão ao ar. Alguém habilitado a descobrir mais detalhes? (Célio Romais, Porto Alegre (RS) & Caio Fernandes Lopes, Itajubá (MG), radioescutas via WORLD OF RADIO 1195, DXLD) Célio, Caio e demais amigos, Se alguém souber da frequência, tentarei na primeira oportunidade. Na verdade nunca fui fã desta emissora no passado, porém o antigo sinal da Rádio Nacional do Brasil é um dos meus preferidos, mas infelizmente nunca o gravei. Com certeza é uma ótima notícia. 73 (Ivan Dias, Sorocaba/SP, ibid.) Parabens Caio e Célio ! Conversei com a gerente da Radiobras, que também é AFICCIONADA por rádio, e ela me forneceu os detalhes das transmissoes para a AFRICA. Transmissoes diárias - Hora de Brasília 02:00 - 05:00 [UT 0500-0800] 16:00 - 18:00 [UT 1900-2100] 11780 Khz/25 m, 6180 Khz/49 m (Potência de 250 KW) Conversei longamente com a Sra. Tais, que me forneceu bastantes detalhes sobre as transmissoes e os planos de reativação da R Nacional em OC. Resumindo, o governo reconhece a importancia das ondas curtas e inclusive, está em projeto recuperar a potencia total do transmissor principal, que gera 600 KWatts de potencia. Hoje, devido a algumas limitações está operando muito abaixo do seu limite. Parabens mais uma vez ao pessoal do DXCB pelas informações, e também, porque não dizer, ao nosso Executivo, que dá sinais de reconhecer a importancia do rádio. A R Nacional também deseja receber informes de recepção como forma de avaliar as condiçoes de recepção e alcançe geográfico. Isto sim, é o que podemos denominar de assunto relevante na Lista ! :-) 73s (Sarmento F. Campos, Rio de Janeiro - Brasil, radioescutas, WORLD OF RADIO 1195, DXLD) Sarmento, Saudações. Muitíssimo obrigado pelas informações de horários. Apenas uma coisa me deixa em dúvida: se não me engano, estas freqüências são da Rádio Nacional da Amazônia (desculpem se eu estiver errado). Caso seja assim, qual endereço deveríamos utilizar para envio de informes? 73 (Ivan Dias - Sorocaba/SP, ibid.) Radiobrás transmite para a África A Radiobrás começou a transmitir, diariamente desde o dia 1º de agosto, em ondas curtas, para o continente africano, programações produzidas pelas Rádios Nacional AM e FM do Rio de Janeiro e Nacional da Amazônia. As transmissões são feitas entre 2h e 5h e 16h e 18h (horário de Brasília) para todo o continente africano. Com excessão do Giro Afro (boletim diário com notícias dos países de língua portuguesa), os programas Repórter Nacional (jornalístico), Mistura Fina (musical), Falando Francamente (entrevistas de caráter informativo e educacional) e o Revista Brasil, de Walter Lima, já são transmitidos aqui no Brasil pelas emissoras afiliadas à Radiobrás. Nos sábados, a programação conta com o Memória Musical, no qual Bia Reis entrevista grandes nomes da MPB. Já aos domingos, a novidade fica por conta do Choro Livre (chorinho), o 96 Brasileira (MPB) e o tradicional futebol (Por Tobias Jung, do sítio http://www.radioagencia.com.br via Célio Romais) ** BRAZIL. Oi Rogildo, Realmente as duas cidades foram ouvidas nesta freqüência [3235]. Primeiro o OM Célio Romais nos alertou sobre o retorno da Clube de Marília, e alguns dias depois em conversa telefonica com o Célio ele me alertou que ouvira a R. Guarujá Paulista nos 3235 kHz. Tambem a captei durante a transmissão de Paraná x Santos. Acabei de telefonar p a emissora e o diretor da R. Guarujá deverá entrar em contato comigo até amanhã. Assim q tiver mais novidades repassarei p a lista. Um abraço (Caio Fernandes Lopes, Brasil, Aug 11, radioescutas via DXLD) Rogildo e amigos, Sim, em 3235 estão Radio Clube de Marilia e R. Guarujá-Paulista de Santos. O sinal da Guarujá por aqui é muito forte, mesmo durante o dia, e enquanto está está no ar não se ouve Marilia . Nesta última noite, às 0231 UT só com a portadora da Guarujá e a emissão de sinais eletrónicos; por baixo estava a Clube de Marília. Muito estranho duas emissoras próximas ocupando a mesma freqüência. A Guarujá anúncia também 5045 kHz mas não está transmitindo (pelo menos por enquanto). Um abraço (Samuel Cássio, August 12, ibid.) Samuel e Caio, Obrigado pela informação. Esta noite escutei nesta frequencia uma, acho que era a Guarujá, não ouvi a ID, mas estava mandando abraços para Cubatão. Quando todos falam do desaparecimento da onda curta, acontece isto, duas brigando pela mesma freqüência e tão perto físicamente. 73 (Rogildo Aragão, Bolívia, ibid.) Não sei se serei aceito com a minha opinião. Quanto à freqüência de 3235 khz, consta no plano básico de canais de OT - site da anatel, sòmente Marília em S. Paulo. 5045 kHz, Presidente Prudente, com Azimute de 50.00 graus, está a Rádio Difusora... Só entrar no site da Anatel, clicar em radiodifusão e procurar plano básico. Boa Noite (Edvaldo Pereira, Uberlândia - MG, ibid.) Guarujá Paulista ou Clube, de Marília (SP), está emitindo em 3235 kHz, em 90 metros? Caio Fernandes Lopes, de Itajubá (MG), que é natural de Santos (SP), de onde emite a Guarujá, foi à luta, em busca de detalhes! Entrou em contato, via telefone, com a direção da Guarujá e --- bingo! A Rádio Guarujá Paulista adquiríu o transmissor da Rádio Clube, de Marília (SP). Os programas são enviados até Marília (SP), pela Internet. O diretor da Guarujá, Orivaldo Rampazzo, adiantou também que, na próxima semana, a emissora será captada pela freqüência de 5045 kHz, que era da Rádio Difusora, de Presidente Prudente (SP). O sinal sairá de Presidente. Por fim, uma engenheira foi contratada para trabalhar a viabilidade técnica da futura freqüência na faixa de 31 metros, que já foi pedida junto à ANATEL. Rampazzo disse ao Caio que enfrentou resistências na família, que considera um "verdadeiro elefante branco" a aposta nas ondas curtas. Entretanto, tem convicção de que "se por um lado não tem retorno financeiro, a onda curta engrandece a emissora". Acrescenta que "defende a ocupação do dial por emissoras nacionais, que é algo importante do ponto de vista cultural". E o dexismo? Bom, Orivaldo Rampazzo disse que é "um coruja". Segundo o Caio, "ele realmente sabe o dial dos 90 e 60 metros de cor e salteado!" De quebra, convidou o Caio para visitar a emissora e prosseguir o intercâmbio com o DX Clube do Brasil. E depois de tão boas notícias, o Caio não poderia deixar de pedir o endereço da emissora, onde os informes de sintonia dos ouvintes serão recebidos. É o seguinte: Rádio Guarujá Paulista, A/C Orivaldo Rampazzo, Rua Montenegro, 196, CEP: 11410-040, Guarujá (SP). Parabéns, Caio Fernandes Lopes, em mais um trabalho voluntário em prol do dexismo! DX Clube do Brasil, tradição em dexismo! (Célio Romais, August 12, ibid., WORLD OF RADIO 1195, DXLD) Oi Samuel, O que dever ter ocorrido é que o transmissor está sendo "alimentado" com o sinal da R. Clube de Marília e às vezes via internet com os sinais da R. Guarujá. Está tudo muito improvisado por enquanto, OK? Quem está fazendo o serviço técnico lá em Marília é uma pessoa conhecida da família proprietária da Guarujá. Espero ter esclarecido. Forte 73 (Caio Fernandes Lopes, Itajubá-MG, ibid.) ** BURKINA FASO. Al estar fuera del aire la estadounidense [vía Costa Rica] de 5030 kHz, ahora podemos disfrutar de la apertura de emisiones de Radio Burkina, en la misma frecuencia, a partir de las 0500 UT. Muy buena señal el 12-08 (desde Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, Adán González, Aug 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CAMBODIA [non]. Backtracking a bit, this explains the recent discussion of VOA Cambodian broadcasts being prolonged: VOA BROADCASTS PROVIDE OPEN FORUM AS PART OF ELECTION COVERAGE IN CAMBODIA Washington, D.C., July 23, 2003 – As part of election coverage in Cambodia, VOA has initiated the unprecedented program, Political Platform, giving leaders of each of Cambodia's 22 parties an opportunity to tell voters about their parties' views. Now with an additional 30 minutes of daily broadcasts–an expansion from 90 minutes to 2 hours daily–the VOA Khmer Service is broadcasting extensive coverage leading up to the July 27 Cambodian elections including the open forum, live call-in shows, in-country reports, and interviews with newsmakers. In addition, Hello VOA provides Khmer listeners the opportunity to ask leading political figures questions about the election process, the role of election monitors, and party platforms. Recent guests have included Prince Norodom Sirivuth, Secretary General of the Royalist Party; Mr. Oum Yitieng, Senior Adviser to Prime Minister Hun Sen; and a spokesman for the Sam Rainsy Party. Opposition leader Sam Rainsy was the guest on today's Hello VOA. "The right to choose one's representatives is a fundamental cornerstone of democracy," said Rebecca McMenamin, Acting Director of VOA's East Asia Division. "With 123 seats up for election and representatives of 22 political parties seeking votes, we feel it is vital for VOA to provide an open forum for discussion before voters go to the polls on July 27." VOA has a network of eight reporters operating inside Cambodia, covering the election campaign and the activities of international election observers. VOA Khmer reporter Reasey Poch arrived in Cambodia today and will focus his attention on two major provinces—Kompong Cham and Battambang. VOA Khmer programming is available on 1575 AM, shortwave, and the Internet http://www.voanews.com/khmer/ Listeners can tune in from 5:00 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. and from 8:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Cambodian time (VOA press via DXLD) 1330-1500, 2200-2230 UT ** CANADA. Am hearing CFRX from Toronto now at 1630z. I know there was some questions as to whether they were still on or not (John Wilke WB9UAI Milwaukee, WI Aug 12, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** CANADA. A quick web check reveals that CBC Toronto and Ottawa each have distinct local programming going on about the massive power outage this evening. T.O. is running current affairs programming hosted by Rick MacInnes Rae and Bernie Macnamee. In Ottawa, they are running a phone-in (and maybe call out?) program. Cheers, (Ricky Leong, QC, 0323 UT Aug 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) More Blackout monitoring: see USA [and non] ** CANADA. Italian politics and Canadian radio, TV: see ITALY [non] ** CANADA. Amigos DXistas y SWLs, Para quienes no hubiesen podido escuchar la entrevista a Dario Monferini y Roberto Pavanello en RCI. Se puede acceder a ella a traves del audio de la pagina web de Radio canada Internacional. Alli esta el programa del domingo, y otros dias. http://www.rcinet.ca/Scripts/default.asp?s1=Programmes&s2=ProgrammeLangue&s3=24 (Horacio A. Nigro, Montevideo - Uruguay, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Specifically, http://www.rcinet.ca/realaudio/es/daily/daily-10082003.ram But I listened to the entire 20-minute program and it does NOT include Dario & Roberto; they are still talking about the joint program with R. Nederland. So it`s not clear whether the interview is held till next week, or as someone else suggested, a second half of the show was on SW but not in the archive? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CONGO DR. 24/07 0051 6030 kHz, station with Latin American songs. 45444. Could it be Radio Martí? (open_dx - Dmitry Puzanov, Kustanay, Kazakhstan) Must be Radio Okapi, DR Congo (former Zaïre). Station often broadcasts pieces of Latin music, alongside with African songs. Songs are separated by jingles "Okapi, Okapi, Okapi"... I remember that one night, when I listened to the bands in a country cottage, Radio Okapi propagated till the early morning, dominating over Radio Martí (Artyom Prokhorov, Moscow, Russia, Signal via DXLD) Of which we can only dream ** COSTA RICA. 3360, REE, 0224-0245, 13/08, Spanish, noted off frequency (ex-3350) with news re S. Hussein, DR Congo, ID at hourbottom, several breaks in audio, some lasting several minutes, // 6125 (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, Sangean ATS 818, RF Systems MLB-1, RS longwire w/ RBA balun, WORLD OF RADIO 1195, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 3359, 0550 Aug 13, REE noted here with fair signals ex-3350, in parallel with 6055. Punch-up error? Ormandy (Paul Ormandy, ZL4TFX, BCLNews.it via WORLD OF RADIO 1195, DXLD) Yes, back on 3350 at 0230 check UT Aug 14 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA. The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say. I am a listener. I was so relieved to find RFPI on the short wave dial during the US invasion of Iraq. I have no other progressive news source available to me. I do not wish to be robbed of this excellent source of news, I can not go back to VOA and all the embedded broadcast newz. I think Maurice Strong is attempting to censor RFPI and I hope he knows the world is watching. As I research this man, Maurice Strong, I am convinced that he has a hidden agenda and that is why he is silencing RFPI. The UN property UPAZ occupies seems to exist in a place outside of any laws or government overview. That gives him a lot of leeway. Look up the OmCED Organization, read the 400? page annual report they put out, see that they exist under the umbrella of the Earth Council, of which Maurice Strong is President. There are only 2 EC employees, or at least that`s what they said when I called. Look at the financial report for OmCED. Why can't we find one for Earth Council. Look at the Carbon Trading market approach: Earth Council has a formal agreement with the CR government to run this. Then look at Strong`s Kyoto Protocol, see how much money there is to be made selling Carbon Trade Offsets, i.e. rainforest in Costa Rica to polluting energy companies who refuse or can't meet the emissions reduction requirements in the Kyoto Protocol. I am wondering if the UPAZ no accountability umbrella is being misused by this guy to move money. Both the EC and OmCED are housed at UPAZ. What are the development plans for the property? In an old press release I found on the web I see that he said he intends to build a "Upeace village of residences, hotels and conference and commercial facilities" --- Is this why he is trying to move RFPI out???? Do the local residents know that? What kind of planning process does CR have and is the UPAZ property exempt? Well, as you can see I have been doing some research. Try typing Maurice Strong Carbon trading, into the internet. By the way, did you [hear] the program RFPI just played about Carbon trading by the wizards of money?? Oh yeah, I can't seem to find UPAZ Council resolutions; is there one to remove RFPI, what information was the council given, can we the public see it?? Is this peace University not transparent????? (Lisa, Saverfpi.org via DXLD) See also top for WOR/COM scheduling info ** CUBA. Hoy pude sintonizar a "Radio 26" emisora provincial de Matanzas, Cuba en la frecuencia de 1060 AM muy bien potenciada. La escucha la hube de realizar entre las 1800 y 1900 UT desde las orillas de la Bahia de Biscayne, Miami. Precisamente a las 1835 la emisora hubo de realizar su identificación y me sorprendió, no escuchar mencionar esa frecuencia. Se mencionaron las ya conocidas de 1220, 1230 y 1240 AM. Revisando el WRTH la frecuencia de 1060 AM está asignada a Radio Victoria y CMKS de Guantánamo en Cuba. Cordiales 73's (Oscar de Céspedes, Aug 11, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** CUBA. Radio Habana Cuba pone al aire un potente emisor en 11875 kHz, desde las 0400 UT. Radio Reloj pudo oirse por casi media hora el pasado 10-08, a eso de las 0459 UT. SINPO 5-5 (desde Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, Adán González, Aug 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA & ETHIOPIA [nons]. UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. 21790, R UNMEE to Ethiopia and Eritrea, via Al Dhabbya, - response to a Reception Report Jul 20 as follows: "We are extremely grateful for your letter regarding our radio programme. It is so nice to hear from people like you. We accept similar letters from all over the world from people with similar hobbies of yours. Our Radio is the Programme of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea that is broadcasted on weekly basis. This is a peace keeping mission`s radio. The programme you listened to is the one prepared in Ethiopia and it is broadcasted in four languages: Amharic, Afan Oromo, Tigrigna and English for an hour, each 15 min. We would like to invite you to listen to our programmes and eager to have your feed back. With best regards, Adane Gudina, e-mail: gudina@un.org (Torre Ekblom, Finland, DSWCI DX Window Aug 13 via DXLD) ** FINLAND. 11720, Scandinavian Weekend R, Villat, 1345-1400, Aug 2, English and Finnish announcements, pop songs. Best reception in Denmark that day: 24333 QRM VOA in Russian 11725, heard // 5990 : 24121 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Aug 13 via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Summary of the enclosed posting: Today Zehlendorf 177 kHz was switched off at 1013 UT and returned at about 1025 with a mixture of digital and analogue signals. It continued in this mode with interruptions until finally returning to pure AM around 1515. The reception quality of the analogue component is described as "just a too high noise level" and "irritating in some way". Right now at 2000, 177 runs straight AM with the usual tinny-sounding audio (frequency response limited to 200-4500 Hz and no dedicated dynamics compression in use, just as always). Well, I was told about 855 kHz running an IBOC-like simulcast mode already a while ago, and somewhere I read that simulcast demonstrations on 177 are announced for the upcoming IFA trade fair at Berlin. White papers about this so far little-publicised mode anywhere? (Kai Ludwig, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: ---------- Autor: mediascanner --- Datum: 14.08.2003 18:16 Heute ab 12:13 h war Oranienburg plötzlich weg. ca. 12:25 h war es dann soweit: man sendete Digital und Analog gleichzeitig. Das ging mit unterbrechungen dann so den ganzen Tag über. Seit ca. 17:15 h sendete man dann nur wieder Analog. Erster eindruck: ich als analog Hörer war von Simulcast ziemlich enttäuscht. der Rauschpegel ist einfach zu hoch. Die Qualität nervt irgendwie. Hat die Versuche sonst noch jemand gehört? (via Kai Ludwig, DXLD) ** GERMANY EAST [non?]. THE YODELLING FRANZ LANG STRIKES AGAIN! An odd story concerning that exotic pièce de résistance of Numbers Stations, G1, the `Tyrolean Music Station`. A recent report claims that this station operated from transmitters near Chartres, France! Apparently, an article in a now defunct French radio magazine `Interférences` (Autumn 1975) claimed that its publicity had seen it off! Stating that it had operated on 6.425 MHz from 1130 to 1140 sending personal messages to agents in East Germany. Actually, it operated two close parallel frequencies (the other being about 6.660) and usually only played music during the 1130-1140 period, and sent number messages later at 1200 to named agents. This message section was preceded by an interval signature sending a bar of the Communist `Internationale`. G1 also operated an early evening schedule on lower frequencies. It was wishful thinking for `Interférences` to believe that they`d had a hand in closing the station down. G1 made no attempt to conceal its very obvious presence, and its most entertaining qualities, including errors, clicks, squeaks, coughs and tape rewinds and speed problems, not least its occasional cryptic spoken phrases (such as ``Our hen has laid an egg``) invited publicity! The big mystery is the *same* live male voice which was used by two other numbers stations (G19 and G20 --- ENGIMA 2000 lists G2 incorrectly as a female voice only), G20 (`Spruch`) which also played a musical interval signal, had been reliably identified a East German, and in the past, claims for G1 have precisely located its transmitter site --- in the DDR! However, I have a 1970s US publication which claims that G1 probably came from the Swiss/French border! Such a tangled web of confusion is no help for Cold War historians. It`s a disgrace that even after so many years, extinct Numbers Stations are still shrouded in state secrecy --- quite unnecessarily (ENIGMA, Aug Short Wave Magazine [UK] via DXLD) see also UNIDENTIFIED 11435 below ** INDIA. NEWS READER CLIMBS NEW DELHI RADIO TOWER IN SUICIDE THREAT NEW DELHI (AFP) --- A news reader of India`s state-run radio station scaled an antenna tower and threatened to immolate himself if his work conditions did not improve, witnesses and police said. Bhaskar Bora Thursday stayed atop the tower for some three hours inside the All India Radio (AIR) complex in the heart of New Delhi, demanding double wages and permanent jobs for all part-time news readers of the national station. . .[illustrated} http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20030814/wl_sthasia_afp/india_media_crime_030814094414 (Aug 14 via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** INDIA. AIR TARGETS RS. 1.26 BN REVENUE FOR FINANCIAL YEAR NEW DELHI: Indian radio pubcaster, All India Radio (AIR), mopped a record net revenue of Rs. 113.26 crore in the year 2002-03 and has kept a target of Rs. 126 crore (Rs. 1.26 billion) for the current financial year. In order to achieve the target, AIR is making an all-out effort by contacting various government ministries/departments and big private clients. A number of media plans have also been submitted to various departments, which are in the pipeline, information and broadcasting minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today informed the parliamentarians who are members of the Consultative Committee attached to the ministry. According to Prasad, AIR would completely digitalise the archives by the year-end. The archives are rich with the priceless and rare recordings of maestros like Fyaz Khan, Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, legendary poets like Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Josh Malihabadi, Firaq Gorakhpuri, Kaifi Azmi, Sahir Ludhianvi, Shakeel Badayuni and many others. It also has voice recordings of leaders of the freedom movement beginning from Mahatma Gandhi, Jawahar Lal Nehru and others. The minister said that news is a major unique selling proposition (USP) of AIR, which disseminates news and comments to listeners in India and abroad. From just six stations in 1947, AIR has grown to a network having more than 200 broadcasting centres. News Services Division puts out 360 (except non-daily news bulletins) news bulletins daily from Delhi and its 45 Regional News Units. Out of these, 84 news bulletins are broadcast on the home services from Delhi, while Regional News Units put out 218 news bulletins daily in 66 languages/dialects, including bulletins broadcast on FM-I and FM-II. In the External Services, AIR broadcasts 65 news bulletins in 26 languages, including Indian and foreign. Prasad accepted suggestions from the members that included special programmes for dacoit infested areas of Mainpuri and Bhind in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, respectively; inclusion of regional newspapers while compiling major news stories covered; steps against music piracy; effective measures to counter propaganda from across the border; more rural oriented programmes; consideration of revision of remuneration of artist/writers; more programmes to check crimes and drug use; resumption of concerts for invited audiences and exclusive channels for classical music. Other suggestions included filling up of vacancies in regional stations, especially in the North East and Jammu &Kashmir, setting up of radio clubs and concerted efforts to increase AIR revenue. The Members of Parliament who were present during the meeting included Balram Singh Yadav, Hannan Mollah, E. M. Sudarsana Natchiappan, Abdul Rashid Shaheen, Balkavi Bairagi, Vijay J. Darda, Ajay Maroo, Lalhmingliana, Dr. Ramanaidu Daggubati and Shabana Azmi (Indiantelevision.com Team 13 August 2003 2:00 pm via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, DXLD) ** INDIA. PHASED OUT, BUT AIR LONGS FOR SHORT WAVE by Nivedita Mookerji http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=40046 New Delhi: Public broadcaster Prasar Bharati is on a short wave splurge, contrary to international trends. Even as Prasar Bharati`s radio division --- All India Radio—claims to be phasing out short wave (SW) transmission in keeping with government recommendations, its actions indicate otherwise. For instance, AIR installed five transmitters in short wave frequency a few months ago. Officials, however, reasoned that the ``new strategy`` on phasing out short wave came after orders were placed for these transmitters. Also, purchase of five short wave transmitters was part of the Ninth Plan project, they added. But that`s not the only short wave drive here. AIR National Channel was revived recently on short wave too. To top it all, AIR is now planning 24-hour news channels for Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Guwahati on short wave! Incidentally, the working group on the information and broadcasting sector for the Tenth Plan had recommended that short wave in analogue mode should be phased out, citing poor reception quality. While officially the word is that ``existing transmitters are being used in the best possible manner till their life ends``, insiders are calling the exercise ``meaningless``. AIR Seeks Global Tie-ups Even as AIR failed to strike a deal with BBC on content-sharing recently, now it is exploring other international arrangements. Preliminary talks are on with foreign broadcasters for giving them Indian transmitters on hire, sources said. In a related development, I&B minister Ravi Shankar Prasad pointed out that AIR is making all-out efforts to achieve the revenue target of Rs 126 crore for the current financial. He was speaking at a consultative committee meeting of the ministry on Wednesday. AIR earned revenues worth Rs 113.26 crore in 2002-03. The longevity of a short wave transmitter is said to be around one sesquidecade. AIR has 50 such transmitters, of which some have been around for 10 years or so. About its shopping spree, sources told eFE that five powerful short wave transmitters, 250 megawatt each, were purchased by AIR for its external service. While around Rs 35 crore was spent on these transmitters alone, the total project cost was Rs 100 crore. AIR external service caters to other countries including Pakistan and UAE. Of the five short wave transmitters procured for the external service, two were installed in Aligarh and three in Delhi. But, AIR insiders question the need for such expenditure. ``There are no takers for short wave because of its poor reception quality,`` one of them said. As per the Tenth Plan (2002-2007) document, there should be no expansion in shortwave. As for medium wave, the Plan document stated that expansion in this frequency should be limited to only strategic areas (read border areas). In the case of to-be-launched 24-hour news channels, AIR claims to be using ``spare`` short wave transmitters. In Mumbai and Guwahati, Vividh Bharati may be shut down on short wave, and news is likely to come instead. In Delhi and Chennai, news may replace regional channels on short wave. Doordarshan is still awaiting funds over Rs 100 crore to start its 24-hour news channel, preferably for pre-election launch. Also, even as the AIR National channel was revived (from nightly to 24-hour transmission) on short wave recently, there are no takers, admit officials. Reason: Wide coverage, but poor reception quality. On short wave, the channel is available through a 500-kw transmitter in Bangalore and a 250-kw one in Delhi. Earlier, listeners in India have been getting the National Channel on medium wave only. The transition from medium wave to short wave for the National Channel is in stark contrast to the world trend. Wide coverage up to 1000 km all through the day is what prompted the shift to short wave, Prasar Bharati officials explained. However, the disadvantages of short wave far outweigh its benefits. Second grade reception quality and non-availability of short wave receivers are among the reasons why analogue short wave is not of much use, a senior AIR official pointed out. Besides, no survey has been done to find out why short wave is needed (Financial Express - Aug 14,2003 via Jill Dybka, Artie Biggley; and Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 3516.7, RSPK Ngada, 1202-1305, Aug 7, relay of Dinamika Indonesia at 1202 with 8 second delay compared to 9680. 1239 news IS then warta berita daerah, 1252 Radiogram and Berita-berita keluarga past 1305. Still going 1410 but next day off air by 1400. Aug 09 noted past 1430 on 3516.5. Strong signal which should be heard widely. Replaces 2899. Note new ID replacing RPDT2 (David Foster, Australia, via Dxplorer, via DSWCI DX Window Aug 13 via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. WORLDSPACE SETS SIGHTS ON BREAK-EVEN BY 2006 by Krishna Gopalan Mumbai: Satellite digital radio major WorldSpace is looking to break even on a cash basis for its global operations by 2006. This was conveyed by World Space Corporation president and chief operating officer Andy Ras-Work to eFE. On its plans for the Indian market, Mr Work said it was an important region for the company. ``India is definitely a big part of the global business,`` he explained. Mr Work was in Mumbai to announce the launch of WorldSpace`s services. Over the next six months, the company is looking to establish its presence in the other metros. WorldSpace, so far, has around 10,000 subscribers in India. The company`s business is centred on revenues from subscription apart from being a platform for broadcasters. WorldSpace India managing director KR Harish said that the objective has been to look for the ``early adopters.`` ``We have so far invested around $6 million in the Indian market. A large part of our investments today is towards customer acquisition,`` he added. WorldSpace has partnered with brodacasters that include Radio Indigo, Farishta and Le Jhoom. The new models of the WorldSpace radios to be launched will start from the sub-Rs 4,000 category and go up to Rs 12,000. This will be for genres like dance, rock, pop, reggae, western classical and regional. According to Mr.Work, the company`s tie-ups with broadcasters like Bloomberg, BBC and CNN give the listener a wide variety to choose from. Responding to a query on possible competition from the private radio stations in Mumbai, Mr Harish said thhat WorldSpace was addressing a different target and there was no issue of competition. Mumbai today has five private FM stations that include Radio City, Win and Go (Financial Express via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. Follow-up to 3-145 story under CANADA: BITOVE JR., XM RADIO LAUNCH SATELLITE BID COREY GOLDMAN, SPECIAL TO THE STAR MONTREAL --- XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. and a new group led by Toronto businessman John Bitove Jr. have officially filed with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission for a licence to be the first company to broadcast satellite radio in Canada. The new company, Canadian Satellite Radio Inc., or CSR, shipped its application to the CRTC overnight Tuesday, said Stewart Lyons, a partner with Bitove. The submission takes Washington-based XM and Bitove a step closer to offering 100-plus pay-radio stations to Canadians anywhere in the country. It also brings new competition a step closer for traditional radio broadcasters whose signal covers only local markets. "The CRTC has received our application and will begin the process of going through it and putting together any questions they might have," said Lyons. Under the Broadcasting Act, a non-Canadian company interested in offering broadcast services in Canada must establish a Canadian-based subsidiary or team up with a Canadian-owned and controlled company. It must then apply for a broadcast licence from the CRTC. XM revealed earlier this week that it had chosen the latter, creating what it calls a joint venture with a group led by Bitove to form a separate company that will eventually broadcast to Canadian customers. XM spokesperson Chance Patterson said he expects the CRTC will hold a public hearing some time in early 2004. If all goes well and CSR gets its licence, the partnership will begin offering satellite radio service to Canadian subscribers shortly after. In the United States, satellite radio has just started catching on as XM and its only competitor, Sirius Satellite Radio Inc., sign up car makers, stereo manufacturers and other equipment producers to install the technology consumers need to pipe it in. No cars or trucks made for Canadian consumers currently come equipped with the chip or the software needed to hook up satellite radio from either company. But thousands of cars so equipped are made in Canada for export to the United States. Sony, Pioneer and other equipment makers are also making in-dash stereos that are set to work with XM's $9.95 (U.S.)-a-month radio subscription service. Such units are already available at Canadian retail stores. XM plans to roll out "The Roady" — an adapter that retails for $120 and allows consumers to tune in to satellite radio using any car stereo. Those units will also be available to Canadians once the bid receives regulatory approval, Patterson said. Canadians hoping to tune in to Canadian Satellite Radio Inc.'s stations may initially be hard-pressed to find Canadian content among the stations XM already offers. Existing rules under the Broadcast Act and regulations imposed by Heritage Canada require broadcasters satisfy Canadian content rules. But because satellite radio is beamed out to users from space and not through a specific spectrum designated for traditional radio frequencies, rules governing how much content is Canadian do not necessarily apply, according to CRTC officials. Even so, XM and CSR say they have been talking to Canadian broadcasters, including CBC Radio and its French-language sister, SRC. Analysts expect CSR will also establish relationships with other broadcasters to include Canadian-based news, sports and entertainment channels. "We are looking at establishing relationships with Canadian content providers to broaden the availability of our service into Canada, if it moves forward," said XM's Patterson. Shares of XM Radio ended yesterday down 15 cents (U.S.) at $12.80 on the Nasdaq Stock Market (Toronto Star Aug 14, via Harold Sellers, Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [non]. It`s that time again: this year`s International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend will be from 0001 on Sat 16 August until 2359 on Sun 17 Aug. Full details and an entry form are at http://lighthouses.net.au/illw/index.html A list of stations that have confirmed participation is at: http://lighthouses.net.au/illw/2003.htm (Aug Short Wave Magazine [UK] via WORLD OF RADIO 1195, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [and non]. International Lighthouse / Lightship Weekend is This Weekend It is the International Lighthouse / Lightship Weekend this weekend, the 16th and 17th of August. A total of 327 amateur radio stations are expected to be established at lighthouses and lightships in 43 countries. Activity is from 0001 UTC on Saturday until 2359 UTC on Sunday. A full list of stations, with QSL information, can be found on the Internet, and there`s a link from the GB2RS news on the RSGB site at http://www.rsgb.org/ (Radio Society of Great Britain GB2RS News script for August 17 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [non]. New England lighthouses to be special event sites for annual event: Two East Coast lighthouses will be the sites of special event stations during the International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend event Aug 16-17 weekend [see] http://www.lighthouses.net.au/illw/ Hams in Eastern Massachusetts, in cooperation with the US Coast Guard and the US National Park Service, will operate as N1L for the first- ever Amateur Radio operation from Boston Light on Little Brewster Island (USA IOTA MA-035-S) [see] http://www.lighthouse.cc/boston/index.html Operation will be on HF (three stations) as well as VHF, IRLP (Node 4320) and EchoLink (NS1N-R). Boston Light (USA #073) was the first lighthouse in America and is currently the only lighthouse still staffed by the US Coast Guard. QSL direct with an SASE or via the bureau to KB1HJO. Meanwhile, members of the Marconi Radio Club W1AA will activate N1P from Ned`s Point Light in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts, overlooking Buzzard`s Bay [see] http://www.lighthouse.cc/nedspoint/ Operation will be on HF, CW and SSB. QSL to K1VV, and include an SASE with direct requests. The 2003 International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend begins 0000 UTC on August 16 and continues through 2200 UTC on August 17. Nearly 350 lighthouses and lightships are signed up for activation (ARRL August 13 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** IRAN. La información no confirmada de que La Voz de la República Islámica de Irán vaya a cesar sus emisiones en onda corta, sigue siendo un enigma. Al menos en las transmisiones de dicha estación, ni siquiera se hace mención del hecho. Hay que investigar más al respecto, ya que existen dos posiblidades: 1- Los trabajadores de la emisora desean guardar un bajo perfil en relación con el tema, ó 2- Algunos colegas han sido sorprendidos en su buena fe. Saludos desde Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA Buen DX (Adán González, Aug 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ. AMERICA'S TELEVISION FLOP IN IRAQ The New York Times August 9, 2003 If democracy is ever going to flourish in Iraq, one element will have to be lively, independent news media, professionally operated by Iraqis and featuring a broad range of political viewpoints. While new Iraqi news outlets are proliferating, their quality and credibility are far from ideal. Meanwhile, the television station representing the American occupation authority is an embarrassment. Since television is something America is good at, one might have expected that at least this part of the occupation would run smoothly. So far, however, the Iraqi Media Network, run by a Pentagon contractor, has been a $5-million-a-month dud. Iraqis do not watch it, having judged its programming to be repetitive and larded with official propaganda, not exactly what you would think Iraqis were hungry for after years of state TV under Saddam Hussein. One reason the coalition network is not creating much buzz in Baghdad is the constant and meddlesome oversight the coalition authority bureaucrats inflict on it. Another is underfinancing. Yet another is unimaginative programming, accompanied by a heavy dose of public service announcements. More money is now being spent on new equipment, and network officials say they will next turn their attention to developing more compelling fare. That should help, as would a little more freedom from bureaucratic interference. Occupation television is not going to be very effective at spurring Iraqi news outlets to become more professional until it starts broadcasting livelier news shows and generating some enthusiasm among Iraqi viewers. [editorial??] Copyright 2003 The New York Times Company (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. Re: "Summer A-03 schedule of Voice of Islamic Republic of Iran (VOIROI/IRIB): ARABIC* 0330-0527 7120 7175 7245 VOICE OF ISLAMIC REVOLUTION OF IRAQ (Observer-BUL 270 Jul 29, 2003 via W. Bueschel-D)" Checked these frequencies this morning and no sign of this program (Mauno Ritola, Finland, Aug 12 via Büschel, DXLD) Mauno, maybe, there is no need anymore to support the Saddam opposition, due of the new ISLAMIC movement legalized in the Iraq south, at Basra region. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY [non]. Hi Glenn, One of the Toronto "alternate" weeklies, NOW, has a piece this week about RAI International TV trying to get onto pay cable in the Toronto area. The story is a lot more complicated than that, with overtones of the Italian political struggles. You might want to take a quick look at it (it's not that long of a piece): REMOTE CONTROL ITALY'S STATE-OWNED BROADCASTER FREAKS LOCALS WITH BID FOR TV LICENSE BY MARK HAYWARD There's a word in Italian for the kind of open and absolute polarization that is going on right now in the Italo-Canadian community: lottizzazione. It means, loosely translated, this is now all about politics. . . http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/2003-08-14/news_story4.php 73- (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. ACTIVISTS TO FLOAT FREE RADIOS INTO CAPTIVE NORTH KOREA --- PUNCTURING A REGIME WITH BALLOONS by Cathy Hong, August 13 - 19, 2003 [illustrated] http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0333/hong.php Next month, two activists for North Korean refugees plan to gather dozens of volunteers along the heavily fortified border that divides North and South Korea, where they'll launch an invasion that should easily infiltrate the tank traps, barbed wire, and more than a million combat-ready soldiers. This volunteer corps will unleash hundreds of balloons bearing battery-powered radios, which will drift northward across the DMZ and land in the open countryside. The activists hope North Koreans will find the radios and tune in to independent news stations. Douglas Shin, a leader of the effort, yearns to kindle a fire of resistance among the people oppressed by Supreme Leader Kim Jong Il. "They lost their sense of determination," Shin says. "We have to lift up the barrier and start the information flooding." Shin, a Korean American pastor, and Norbert Vollertsen, a German physician, have been responsible for many of the headlines on North Korean refugees. Shin and Vollertsen have shepherded refugees through a circuitous underground railroad to South Korea, where they can gain asylum. They have helped North Koreans crash the gates of foreign embassies in Beijing, and most recently tried to smuggle two boatloads of refugees from China to South Korea before they were apprehended by authorities. The balloon project, Shin admits, is much more small-scale, an almost symbolic gesture. Made possible by some $8,000 in donations, the low- tech endeavor comes with no guarantees. If the winds change, the balloons could get blown out to sea. Or the radios, made in China, could break once they hit the ground. Worse, if people are caught with the radios, they could end up in a prison camp—or executed. So Shin predicts that of all the radios they send, only a handful will make it. "That's not much. It's peanuts for an elephant. It's more a performance for the camera frame," he says. Each plastic balloon—some as small as three feet in diameter, others as large as 30 feet—will carry at least one bubble-wrapped handheld radio that will play Radio Free Asia, Voice of America, a South Korean Christian station, and a secular South Korean government station. The package will also include the occasional Bible tract and messages written by children. Originally, the activists wanted to include enough money to buy a kilo of rice, but new restrictions on North Korean currency made that impossible. While some want the project to help foment a kind of velvet revolution in a nation starved for both food and freedom, some of the religious volunteers are excited about it for another reason. "It's an excellent way to evangelize a nation," says Gary Lane, director of news services for the Voice of the Martyrs. For years, Christian missionary groups like Voice of the Martyrs have sent orange vinyl balloons delivering gospel messages into North Korea from China. Although Shin first got the idea from them, he's adding religious pamphlets to some of the packages because of a more pragmatic concern—money. "Some donors requested that Jesus's name be conveyed, but there were other donors who want this to be secular," Shin says. "So I'm being faithful to one donor by putting in the tract, and I'm being faithful to the other donor by not including it." It's not just the Christians who are interested. In recent months U.S. officials have grown alarmed by North Korea's burgeoning nuclear weapons program but have been unable to find a strategy for halting it. Beltway insiders speculate that the CIA may now be involved with trafficking radios into the country in an effort to add international pressure to the regime. "There's a psychological warfare going on between the U.S. and North Korea," Shin says. "But as long as the North Koreans get their radios, I don't care how they do it." The state-sponsored North Korean news agency has already accused the CIA of using foreign stations to seed rebellion. Pyongyang takes particular offense at Radio Free Asia, a U.S.-funded but independent station founded in 1996. The outlet "aims to meet the U.S. imperialists' strategic interests and attain their purpose to invade Asia and put it under its control from A to Z," read one official report. On the record, U.S. government sources deny any involvement with the smuggling of radios. But Congress realizes the need for independent media in North Korea. Just last week, two members of Congress— Republican Ed Royce and Democrat Adam Schiff, both of California— successfully attached a measure to the State Department funding act that will increase Radio Free Asia broadcasting to North Korea from four hours to 24 hours a day. They realize that North Koreans still need a means to listen to Radio Free Asia and have plans for a "radio distribution program." "Basically the plan is to see how cheap, plastic radios could be dispersed," Royce says, perhaps by taking advantage of North Korea's long and porous border with China. Reputed to be the most isolated regime in the world, North Korea permits only state-issued radios programmed to block out all but government-controlled media. But the regime is losing its iron grip, not least because of a wrecked economy. Bribery and trade in contraband have become rampant. Norbert Vollertsen, who spent more than a year in North Korea, says, "The regime is so corrupt—it's all about money. You give a border guard some money and he'll look away." As a result, 40 percent of North Korean defectors now report having listened to independent media inside the regime. "It's quite a diversified group, from elites to farmers, who listen to us," says Jaehoon Ahn, director of Radio Free Asia's Korean-language services. "It's not possible for the North Korean central government to control the radio listeners, because their hands are full with other problems. It's a similar situation to Eastern Europe. People doubted that a large number of people listened to Radio Free Europe in Hungary, Romania, and Czechoslovakia. But they were wrong." Just last month, two fishermen who escaped to South Korea in a rowboat said that secretly listening to a South Korean station gave them incentive to leave. Other North Koreans have said they buried themselves under layers of blankets to muffle the sound of foreign news over shortwave radios. A few North Korean policy makers are arguing for relaxing government control over media, claiming that citizens are so isolated, they are like "frogs in a well." Mark Palmer, a U.S. ambassador to Hungary during the Cold War, says Radio Free Europe was the single most important source of information for people there. He finds striking similarities between North Korea now and Eastern Europe before the Soviet collapse. "The U.S. should respond more creatively to North Korea and focus not just on nuclear weapons but on human rights and politics," he says. "They should do it through negotiations and opening up an embassy in Pyongyang." Shin and Vollertsen are confident that if North Koreans find the radios, they won't turn them in to authorities but will hide them and tune in. Even the authorities may use them. A bodyguard for Kim Jong Il who recently defected to South Korea said he had been arrested back home for listening to foreign broadcasts. The arresting officer took an inventory of the bodyguard's possessions in his apartment. While the bodyguard was in jail, he said, the officer came to him with the list and whispered, "I want you to know that I erased the reference to your radio, because I wanted it." (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** KOREAS. RADIOS WOULD GIVE PEOPLE AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE OFFICIAL LINE The North Korean government's monopoly on news inside the Stalinist state is being challenged by South Korean activists, who plan to float radios across the border carried by helium baloons. . . http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3141331.stm (via Jilly Dybka, DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH. RKI MARKS 50 YEARS ON AIR AUG. 15 Fifty years ago, the Korean Broadcasting System, Korea's major radio and TV network, sent out 15 minutes of news in English on shortwave for foreigners to learn about how a small Asian country was rebuilding itself after a devastating war. . . http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2003/08/14/200308140027.asp (via Andy Sennitt, Jill Dybka, Artie Bigley, DXLD) A section, which describes the history of RKI QSL cards, exists on the special Web site devoted to station's 50th anniversary: http://rki.kbs.co.kr/50yers/eng/listeners/vericard/spe.html (open_dx - Feodor Brazhnikov, Irkutsk, Russia, Signal Aug 14 via DXLD) By the way, they as a matter of policy never had staff pictures on their web pages. But as a set of pages of the RKI 50th anniversary, they have sets of all the various staffs, some pictures back to the 1960s. The Spanish service is impeccably dressed (Daniel Say, swprograms via DXLD) It's the 250 odd participants that make this a decent place to hang out. the WRN North America time is 0230 UT --- and a week of archived programs is availalble. Source: WRN website (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, swprograms via DXLD) I don't think we're so odd.... :-) (BTW, you can hear WRN 24/7 on Sirius Satellite Radio.) (John Figliozzi, ibid.) ** KURDISTAN [non]. Clandestine station Voice of Iraqi Kurdistan seems to have rather strong harmonic on 8170 (2 x 4085). Noted on 13 Aug at 1740, getting stronger at 1800 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBYA [non]. R Jamahiriya confirmed with QSL card. I tried to send to P. O. Box 333, Tripoli, Libya, but not confirm. However, it is good to use P. O. Box 17, Hamrun, Malta. This one works well (Masato Ishii, Japan, DSWCI DX Window Aug 13 via DXLD) ** MACEDONIA. Macedonia stations authorized commemorative prefixes: During the month of August, stations in Macedonia have been authorized to use Z3100 prefixes to mark 100 years of Macedonian statehood and the 100th anniversary of the Ilinden Uprising against the Ottoman Empire and the formation of Republic of Krushevo (ARRL August 13 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** MEXICO. "Free Speech Radio News" from New York via KMUE FM Eureka reported last night that the Zapatistas did indeed go on shortwave this weekend and was soon met with some I guess government jamming of "pop music" and another announcer. I don't know if what I heard was them but they were on the air. I did not hear them last night though. Control the Airwaves And you control the morons... 73's (Gary Crites Eureka, California Aug 12, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Sorry, it was PRI, not NPR: http://www.theworld.org/content/08116.wma Chiapas radio station clip (Jilly Dybka, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5800 plus and minus, no joy in searching for Zapatista station 2300- 0100; 1000-1300 (Bob Wilkner, Pompano Beach, Florida, NRD 535D, R-75, Drake R-7, ten meter on the ground long wire, BCL News.it via DXLD) Checking out the referenced websites: http://www.radioinsurgente.org tries 67.92.102.212 but is then unfound http://www.radio-insurgente.org brings up something totally unrelated called Gridzel (Glenn Hauser, Aug 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) On Nov 10-12, 2002, I visited the capital of the Chiapas Province, San Cristóbal de las Casas, and two native Trotzil tribe villages, San Juan Chamula and Zinacantán, in the rural area just north of the capital. They are located in the beautiful, green highlands about 2100 meters above sea level. Many native Indians were also seen in the capital, but this colonial city was peaceful and there were no problems in walking around (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Aug 13 via DXLD) ** MEXICO. Checked XERMX 11770 Thu Aug 14 at 2000+, and it was in Spanish, not English as per the current grid. SO much for that. Is there actually any English at all? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 6045, Radio Universidad continues marginal 1200 to 1300, deep fades (Bob Wilkner, Pompano Beach, Florida, NRD 535D, R-75, Drake R-7, ten meter on the ground long wire, BCL News.it via DXLD) ** MONGOLIA. 4895.0, Mongol R & TV, *2100-2240, Aug 09, 11 and 12, Voice of Mongolia interval signal began first at 2100, followed at 2102 by a short announcement in Mongolian and the National hymn of Mongolia sung by a choir. 45333 heard // 4830.08 with 35333, both with distorted audio. 2104 announcement and talk (news ?) by man and woman. 2115 began a musical program with long pauses before most of the records were started. After another talk by the woman and a pause, ethnic Mongolian music began at 2134. The first one was a characteristic Khoomii throat-singing song. More talk (news ?) by the man and woman at 2200-2210 followed by a tentative ID which the WRTH give as: ``Ullaanbaataraas yaridz baina``. More ethnic music and songs by choir and talks mentioning Ulaanbaatar. Both stations were heard all the time, but 4895 faded down to the level of 4830 around 2200 indicating a more easterly location of the 4895 transmitter although it seemed to use higher power (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Aug 13 via DXLD) Already heard Jul 30 (Max Van Arnhem, Holland, ibid.) In the early 1990s, R Ulaanbaatar was regularly heard with two 50 kW transmitters at Ulaanbaatar on 4080v and 4850v. Some regional, 12 kW transmitters were also heard including Altai in West Mongolia on 4830 and Mörön (Murun) in the more Central, Northwestern Mongolia. Our Tropical Bands Surveys indicate that these stations ceased operations in 1994-1995 for unknown reasons, but now at least two transmitters are back, probably after repair, because their audio does not sound as coming from new transmitters. My guess is that we hear Ulaanbaatar with 50 kW on 4895 (ex 4850 or 4080) and Altai on 4830 with its old 12 kW transmitter (Petersen, ibid.) ** NETHERLANDS. New amateur prefixes in the Netherlands: Prefix hunters may want to note the new prefixes being issued in the Netherlands. Peter van den Hulst, PC2A (ex-PB0AIU), says multiple new prefixes were activated from his country as of August 7. On HF look for PA, PB, PC, PF PG and PI with one, two or three-letter suffixes. On VHF, listen for PD, PE and PH prefixes with one, two or three- letter suffixes (The Daily DX via ARRL August 13 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** NIGERIA. 15120, VON, 2149-2203, 12/08, English. Quiz program. "10 Seconds", ID, several program promos, YL with ID, frequency, (mentioned to N. Am, then "Sorry, this is to Europe"), TC (11 PM LT) and GMT, news summary re SW Nigeria, bill re access to info, Liberia. Fair (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, Sangean ATS 818, RF Systems MLB-1, RS longwire w/ RBA balun, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. Progress report on Enid`s new x-bander on 1640 KMKZ from owner Hiram Champlin, Chisholm Trail Broadcasting, Aug 13: The site has been moved to some 8 miles east of Hennessey on Highway 51, two towers, directional. Should cover OKC as well as Enid with lobes in both directions. This is between Enid and OKC, but not as far toward OKC as the same company`s 96.9 FM which was moved from Enid to west of Crescent. Concrete is being poured, the transmitter and phasing unit have been ordered. Programming format has not yet been decided. If all goes well, hopes to be on the air by the end of September; the renewed CP expires in December. And Mr Champlin adds that he is aware of one Nordic DX report for his other MW station, KCRC-1390, and yes, I have already warned him about Bellabarba. I am glad that our new 10 kW local will be that far away, but don`t expect to hear much any more on 1630, 1640 or 1650. BTW, OK already has an X-bander, 1650 licensed to Ft Smith AR, but transmitter across the border (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. Next week on Oklahoma`s Public Radio … DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL FORUM IN STILLWATER, OK August 12. KOSU will broadcast the entire forum Thursday, August 21, at 6:00 p.m. [2300 UT] (KOSU's broadcast is embargoed until after TV Channels 6 in Tulsa and 9 in Oklahoma City televise the forum Wednesday, August 20.) (KOSU Newsletter via DXLD) The one with 6 of the candidates. Beats me why the TV stations want to delay it more than a week; KOSU does webcast for those eager to hear it; will it ever be on C-SPAN? (gh, DXLD) ** PERU. Hola Glenn: luego de dos mil seiscientos trece (2613) días, hoy 13 de agosto a las 1000 TU es nuevamente audible RADIO LOS ANDES, Huamachuco, Perú en su frecuencia acostumbrada de 5030 kilociclos. Eslogan "la radio total", da un correo electrónico para que los oyentes le escriban: radiolosandes@starmedia.com Puedo establecer la cantidad exacta de días en que una emisora no es audible ya que realizo un monitoreo diario desde el 1 de julio de 1988, o sea que el último día en que fue audible aquí fue la noche del 16 de junio de 1997. Si tiene otra información igual con una cantidad menor de días, deseche la presente info. Chau y buenos DX (Emilio Pedro Povrzenic (pronunciación croata ´Povéryenich), Argentina, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Welcome to the internet! May we hope to see your Asociación DX del Litoral bulletin in electronic form? (Glenn to EPP, DXLD) 5030, R. Los Andes?? (reactivated??), 0957-1028 14 Aug, Beautiful OA campo harp mx with Womanly vocals. 1002 fast talking live M announcer with mentions of Peru, and probable ID "....radio. En Huamachuco, Perú el ??, Radio Los Andes...". Then went into another Campo harp and vocal song. M at 1009 with ID sounding like "...R. Los Andes ?? Perú". TC 3 minutes slow. Brief canned announcement, then live M again and clear ment of Huamachuco. 1011 live band music, 1012 live M again with TC, talk, and into more harp music with group chorus. 1015 M with song announcement and mention of Cajamarca, TC again, ment of "En Huamachuco...", more talk. More music, talk at 1021 with mention of "...Huamachuco, la voz ?? Perú... pueblo del país... frontera del país. ?? Huamachuco..." Then canned ad or some such with M in dialog and farm animal SFX and audience noise. 1023 live M announcer took phone call briefly. Pretty nice signal but had to go to USB to avoid 5025 splash QRM. Since there's no threat of thunderstorms, I'll check it out again tomorrow morning (Dave Valko, Dunlo PA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** POLAND [and non]. Recent years have seen an unprecedented mobilization of a hard-core, antiliberal, increasingly frustrated Catholic fundamentalist minority. The growth of this movement is exemplified by the success of a media empire established in the early 1990s by an obscure priest, Tadeusz Rydzyk. His flagship enterprise, Radio Maryja, is today one of the most popular broadcast operations in Poland, and his Lux Veritatis Foundation was licensed in February 2003 to establish a national TV network. In recent years, the Polish Catholic episcopate, aware that the church is rapidly squandering its moral authority, has tried to adopt a more moderate stance and to distance itself from Rydzyk`s obscurantist, nationalist, and antidemocratic message. . . http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/story.php?storyID=13796 (via Jill Dybka, DXLD) ** PORTUGAL. RDP spurious signals on 19 mb --- Dear Mrs. Teresa Abreu, Dear RDP-PT -- RDP Radiodifusão Portuguesa, SA, tonight I came across *TWO* unwanted very strong *SPURIOUS* signals from RDP Lisbon site, both signals more than 3 kHz wide, symmetrically on approx. 15358.5 and 15691.5 kHz. The nominal basic RDP frequency is 15525 kHz. The spurs were noted at a level of S=9 +30 dB and more. That's on Thursday Aug 14th, at the 1600-1800 UT portion. kind regards (Wolfgang Bueschel DF5SX, Stuttgart, Alemanha, to RDP via DXLD) ** ROMANIA. Prochainement, la société roumaine de radiodiffusion offrira aux militaires roumains stationnés en Irak la possibilité de discuter avec leurs familles, dans le cadre d'une émission hebdomadaire d`une demi-heure en direct sur Radio Roumanie Internationale. Cette émission sera diffusée le mercredi, jour où une autre émission similaire est mise en onde pour les 500 militaires roumains présents en Afghanistan (Radio Roumanie Internationale - 11 août 2003; les informations sont issues de http://perso.wanadoo.fr/jm.aubier via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. MOSCOW: Move over Marconi, radio was a Russian invention. As were television, the aeroplane, anaesthetic and a host of other things that are more commonly attributed to Western scientists. That's at least what Russian reference books and museums tell us and what millions of people learned under the old Soviet education system, which tended to overlook work by foreigners in a given field. . . http://www.hipakistan.com/en/detail.php?newsId=en35411&F_catID=&f_type=sourc e (via Jill Dybka, DXLD) see also TANNU TUVA ** SOLOMON ISLANDS. SOLOMON WARLORD SURRENDERS TO PEACEKEEPERS By PETER O'CONNOR, Associated Press Writer {illustrated] Aug 13, 5:03 AM EDT http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/SOLOMON_ISLANDS_UNREST?SITE=IADES&SECTION=HOME CANBERRA, Australia (AP) -- Warlord Harold Keke has surrendered to Australian-led peacekeepers trying to end a civil war in the Solomon Islands, Australian officials said Wednesday. Keke's arrest is a victory for the international force, which is trying to end lawlessness that has paralyzed and nearly bankrupted the South Pacific nation in the aftermath of a coup in 2000. "This is a major success for the mission in the Solomon Islands," Australian Justice Minister Chris Ellison told the Senate. "The most notorious militant leader in that region is now behind bars." Keke was detained on an outstanding robbery warrant and would face a murder investigation, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer told Parliament. Last week in talks with a senior Australian diplomat, Keke allegedly admitted that six local missionaries kidnapped by his forces this year had been killed. Officials say Keke's forces have razed about 15 villages, killed people, and taken hostages for four years. Keke is allegedly responsible for the deaths of up to 50 people this year, and last year boasted of killing a government minister. "The Guadalcanal militant leader Harold Keke surrendered ... on the Weather Coast of the island of Guadalcanal earlier today," Downer told Australia's Parliament. "A full investigation of crimes including murder allegedly committed by Harold Keke and his group can now proceed." Keke's surrender could encourage other militants to hand in their weapons before a three-week gun amnesty ends on Aug. 21, Downer said. After the coup in 2000, a peace deal was brokered and elections restored democracy. Keke had refused to sign the pact. The country's government last month invited the foreign force to restore law and order. The Australian-led force of 2,000 troops and 300 police arrived in late July. Downer said Keke was on his way to the Solomon Islands' capital, Honiara, on the Australian navy ship HMAS Manoora. Keke would be kept in protective custody by the intervention force and receive all the rights accorded under Solomon Islands law, Downer said. His arrest was made on an outstanding warrant for robbery. "For the first time in a long time the Weather Coast can return to peace and stability free from the fear of executions and the village burnings," New Zealand Foreign Minister Phil Goff said. "It is of huge symbolic importance that the rule of law can be restored and Keke and his lieutenants face appropriate charges." Goff was speaking in Auckland, New Zealand, where Pacific leaders were gathering for a regional summit expected to have developments in the Solomon Islands high on its agenda when it opens Thursday. Solomon Islands Prime Minister Allan Kemakeza was on a plane heading for New Zealand when news broke of Keke's capture and was not immediately available for comment. A chain of 992 mountainous islands and coral atolls, the Solomon Islands have a population of 465,000 and lie 1,400 miles northeast of Sydney, Australia. Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved (via Des Moines Register via Bill Smith, DXLD) ** SUDAN [non]. At 1718 Aug 12, I picked up 17660. I caught the tail end of a male newsreader delivering a story on floods in English. It was clear as a bell! He finished and the station ID was "Sudan Radio Service" and they said they would go to Arabic (this was about 1720). A different male voice came on. The signal was fading and it got much noisier. I turned back at 1730 to hear a female voice announce "You are listening to the Sudan Radio Service" in English. The signal then got much weaker and there was lots of noise (Gloria Lalumia, Las Cruces NM, hard-core-dx via WORLD OF RADIO 1195, DXLD) Picked up Sudan again this morning on 17630 at 1600. At 1614 the signal went completely dead. I waited for almost one and a half minutes was about to give up when back on they came! British Transmitters? They're having some problems so if you don't hear them at first, wait! They switch to 17660 (not 17600) at 1700. Rather nice to hear! Great music! (Gary Crites, Eureka CA, Aug 13, hard-core-dx via DXLD) In order not to confuse people who haven't been following the story, please do not use phrases like "picked up Sudan" when this is not what you mean. This is a station broadcasting *to* Sudan, not from it (Andy Sennitt, ibid.) I checked Aug 14 at 1710-1720 on 17660, but there was no English except for IDs between other languages (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWEDEN. RADIO SWEDEN -- Coming up on Radio Sweden: Thursday: GreenScan visits the Stockholm Water Symposium Friday: Our weekly review Saturday: Spectrum Sunday: "Rythym [sic] is a dancer" at an exhibition in Stockholm, and music from Sarek, in another chance to hear the latest edition of "Sounds Nordic" (SCDX MediaScan Aug 13 via DXLD) ** TANNU TUVA. RUSSIA. There was news about Radio Mayak and Tuvinskoye Radio on 6100 kHz some time ago. But now it's obviously off-air again. I cannot hear anything from Kyzyl on this channel during several latest weeks (open_dx - Feodor Brazhnikov, Irkutsk, Russia, Signal Aug 14 via DXLD) ** U K. DISSIDENT UZBEK POET MOCKS BBC RADIO'S UZBEK SERVICE A dissident Uzbek poet, Yusuf Juma, has written an ironic piece on the broadcasts of BBC World Service radio's Uzbek Service. Juma is one of the founders of the banned Ozod ovoz organization, whose delcared aim is to work for freedom of speech. The following is the text as posted on banned Uzbek Ozod ovoz web site on 13 August: The daily programme of BBC radio's Uzbek service in the 21st century. 1st half hour of the programmes: 1. News from Afghanistan; 2. News from Tajikistan; 3. News from Afghanistan; 4. News from Tajikistan; 5. News from Afghanistan; 6. News from Tajikistan; 7. News from Afghanistan; 8. News from Tajikistan; 9. News from Afghanistan; 10. News from Tajikistan; 11. News from Afghanistan; 12. News from Tajikistan; 13. News from Afghanistan; 14. News from Tajikistan; BBC radio continuity announcements: This is the BBC radio from London! Our programme continues! 2nd half hour of the programmes: 1. News from Afghanistan which has come in in the last five minutes; 2. News from Tajikistan which has come in in the last five minutes; 3. News from Afghanistan which has come in in the last five minutes; 4. News from Tajikistan which has come in in the last five minutes; 5. News from Afghanistan which has come in in the last five minutes; 6. News from Tajikistan which has come in in the last five minutes; 7. News from Afghanistan which has come in in the last five minutes; 8. News from Tajikistan which has come in in the last five minutes; 9. News from Afghanistan which has come in in the last five minutes; 10. News from Tajikistan which has come in in the last five minutes; 11. News from Afghanistan which has come in in the last five minutes; 12. News from Tajikistan which has come in in the last five minutes; 13. News from Afghanistan which has come in in the last five minutes; 14. News from Tajikistan which has come in in the last five minutes; BBC radio's final announcements: This was BBC radio from London. Good bye! Source: Ozod Ovoz, Tashkent, in Uzbek 0001 gmt 13 Aug 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** U K. 17640, SITE?, VT Merlin, Perseid tests, 0158-0207, 13/08, English, test loop with music and announcement "You are listening to a test transmission of VT Merlin Communications, the leading provider of International Broadcasting Services; for more info contact.." then web address I was unable to copy. Rough copy, very noisy with fading, unusable by 0207 (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, Sangean ATS 818, RF Systems MLB-1, RS longwire w/ RBA balun, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Re unID 2340 in 3-144: Glenn, checked that frequency of 2340 again early this morning and at 0820 UT heard ID as WPAD 1560 in Paducah, Kentucky, into adult standards. Could this be transmitter problems? (Ron Trotto, Waggoner IL, Aug 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Ron, looks like you have a rare sesqui-harmonic (1.5 times 1560), probably because their transmitter originally generates 780 which is supposed only to be doubled for radiation but also got radiated at triple. 73, (Glenn to Ron, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WWCR 5070 - 32222 0203 - DX Party Line. 0231 - World of Radio (Flávio A. B. Archangelo, Jundiaí - SP, radioescutas via DXLD) I wonder what else is around 5070 to cause an I of 2? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WBCQ se ha movido a 5105 kHz. Así lo he podido comprobar este 13-08, a las 0037 UT (desde Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, Adán González, Aug 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. NEW AMERICAN-STYLE TV SHOW IS BEAMED TO TEHRAN IN PERSIAN August 14, 2003 By THE NEW YORK TIMES http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/14/international/middleeast/14VOIC.html?ex=1061869740&ei=1&en=4fe54a92634b492b WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 --- At first glance, the broadcast that emanates each afternoon from a small studio in the Voice of America headquarters near the National Mall looks like a typical American news program. A sophisticated anchor recounts the major events of the day. Satellite images from across the globe accompany her commentary, giving the broadcast a polished look. The program, however, is broadcast in Persian, and domestic news refers to events in Iran. The show is "News and Views," the third television or radio program started by the United States for an Iranian audience since President Bush labeled the country part of an "axis of evil" in his 2002 State of the Union address. Last September, the Voice of America began broadcasting "Next Chapter," an MTV-influenced weekly television show that illustrates the lifestyles of hip, young Iranian-Americans. Three months later, the Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty jointly started Radio Farda ("tomorrow" in Persian), a round-the-clock broadcast of news and music. "News and Views" began on July 6 - three days before the anniversary of pro-democracy demonstrations in Iran in 1999. In response, the Iranian government has jammed radio and television satellite signals, making it difficult for people in Iran to receive the programs consistently. Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which oversees the Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, says Iran is waging a "systematic campaign" to keep the truth from its people. Since 1996 the Voice of America's Persian Service has broadcast "Round Table With You," a weekly call-in television show. The radio and television programs added in the past year have sought to engage the Iranian people further, especially the under-30 group that makes up 70 percent of the country's population. Ahmad Baharloo, executive producer of "News and Views," said the program was "descriptive, not prescriptive." It is also markedly different from privately financed broadcasts from the United States. Typically broadcast from Los Angeles, home to a large Iranian-American population, many of the privately sponsored programs are stridently opposed to the Tehran government. Mr. Tomlinson denied that the American government was financing propaganda. He said, "We are not on the air urging people to do regime change or to rise up against the mullahs," referring to Iran's religious clerics who wield great influence in the government. The success of "News and Views" has been difficult to gauge, but Mr. Tomlinson said there had been an "extraordinary outpouring of e-mails" in support of it (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. BLACKOUT: There is a major power outage beginning about 2010 UT extending from Hartford Connecticut on the East end, New York City in the south end, Lansing Michigan to the west and north to at least Ottawa. Quebec is OK so far. A scan of the bands reveals the following: WFAN 660 NYC off the air. WOR 710 on. NYC studio near Times Square is operating on emergency power but the building is dark. WABC 770 on. WCBS 880 is on. WHLI 1100 in Hempstead LI is on. WALK 1370 in Patchoque LI is on. A check of CFRX 6070 Toronto shows it to be off. CBC North Quebec is carrying English CBC Radio One on 9625. They say all of Ontario is out except for a small area near the Manitoba border. ~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-., (Joe Buch, DE, 2150 UT Aug 14, swprograms via DXLD) -*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^ RCI is doing live coverage of the blackout on 6140 kHz at 2205 UT. RCI is suffering outages on 6140 kHz. Off from 2208 to 2209 UT. Now off again at 2211. The problem seems to have propagated to Sackville or farther east (Buch, ibid.) The New York majors are on with emergency power. Boston is apparently not affected. The NW corner of PA is reportedly out (Erie area ); parts of Connecticut, NH, & NJ; Northern Ohio, Southern Michigan and much of Southern Ontario. This would mean Detroit, Windsor, Cleveland, Buffalo, Syracuse, Albany, Toronto, Ottawa, Hartford are out in addition to NYC. Aside from NYC, I've not heard anything about any local TV or FM stations, however one would expect that the major network flagship stations and major independents in the larger cities mentioned have some level of emergency power, particularly aftwer 9/11. I am over 100 crow-miles from the nearest affected area, and have no serious DX opportunities opened up on FM or TV; and, being daylight still, none on AM either (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell, PA, 2201 UT Aug 14, NRC-AM via DXLD) Add Toledo, Monroe MI, and I've yet to confirm Port Huron MI/Sarnia ON. FWIW, CKLW-800 seems to be doing a good job of coverage. Great public service (Fred Vobbe, OH, 2209 UT Aug 14, ibid.) As of 1800 EDST I checked the band and noted that WFAN, WNYC and WQEW were off. Probably others but I didn't check yet. [Later:] For those shopping 1560, as of 1925 EDST WQEW is still off (Ben Dangerfield, Wallingford, PA, ibid.) Funny (ironic funny) that I should write about WFAN's "Last" silent period - with the blackout across parts of NE US they are off today though WCBS (same tower) is on the air (Paul Mount, NJ, 2317 UT Aug 14, ibid.) They are back. At first duplicating WCBS, but scheduled to carry the Yankees game instead of WCBS so the latter can stay with the news. Here in MA we are not hearing Disney on 1560 or WLIB 1190. We heard WINS after 5PM. Three years ago they had a studio setup for Y2K at their Lyndhurst transmitter site which they never had to use. I wonder if that is what they are using tonight (Allan Dunn, Holbrook, MA, 0123 UT Aug 15, ibid.) From Scott Fybush, of Fybush Media (who is without power in Rochester NY) --- WXXI-1370 in Rochester NY will be on all night at 5 kW, nondirectional. Good DX opportunity for all. Stations off the air in Rochester include 990-WLGZ, 1040-WYSL, 1280-WHTK, and 1460-WHIC. Most of Rochester TV and FM are off as well (Fred Vobbe, 0127 UT Aug 15, ibid.) Yes, WQEW-1560 is definitely off -- WTNS was strong earlier and now there is weak Spanish, presumed WRHC. Also Cleveland 1220 is on but much weaker than usual, perhaps auxiliary transmitter/power source? (David Yocis, 0200 UT Aug 15, ibid.) The only major NY channel which appears to still be silent ( 1560 ) is nothing but noise here - background (which is very high due to excessive rainfall the past 2 weeks) and TVI (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell, PA, 0204 UT Aug 15, ibid.) Please note that some U.S. stations in these areas may be off the air, or could be operating on day transmission facilities at night. The F.C.C. allows under "emergency operations" for U.S. AM broadcasters to use their daytime facilities, usually higher power or better coverage, at night (Fred Vobbe, Lima OH, Cumbre DX via DXLD) I checked some webcasts around 2300 UT; WQXR was still running, WBAI, WPKN inaccessible; CBC Radio Two Toronto was simulcasting Radio One special coverage without a hitch; CBC Halifax was apparently on normal programming (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also CANADA ** U S A. The station won't say exactly what off-air comment got NEW YORK TIMES Classical WQXR/NEW YORK personality GREGG WHITESIDE fired, but that's what happened, and WHITESIDE told the NEW YORK POST that "they've destroyed an innocent man ... I gave my life to that place. This wasn't a job for me -- it was a way of life." WHITESIDE says that the remark in question was not on the air and was made to colleague SAM HALL and that someone overheard the remark in the newsroom. "I was speaking privately to a dear friend and it was not something that was on the air," WHITESIDE told the POST, adding that he is "in a state of utter depression and I'm devastated by this ... to be fired with no severance? Are you kidding me?" (From allaccess.com via Brock Whaley DXLD Aug. 14, 2003) ** U S A. Here's more on the WRKO host suspended for his severely anti-Palestinian remarks. 73- Bill Westenhaver The Phoenix article, MEDIA, can be found by clicking on the link below. http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/this_just_in/documents/03090269.asp (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. Re harmonic of 1310 on 2620: De las repetidoras de RNV, debe ser la de 10 kW, es decir, la del oriente del país. Por lo general esas emisoras (al igual que Porteñas 640), llegan muy bien a este lugar. La de Guri es sólo para cubrir unos cuantos poblados de la represa situada en Guayana. Gracias por la información, (Adán González, Catia La Mar, Venezuela, Aug 13, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. La estación de 1580 kHz ha resultado ser Radio María. Se repite en los 3160.02 kHz, bastante audible luego de las 0400 UT. Ahora estoy dudando de que sea puertorriqueña, a pesar de que el acento de algunos locutores apunte hacia la Isla del Encanto. Podría ser de Ecuador, de Colombia o de Perú. Digo yo. ¿Quién podría aportar información al respecto? (desde Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, Adán González, Aug 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED [non]. Re 6215: Hi Bill, Glenn is right --- it's WMR via Caroline. My only off-shore pirate verie! Cheers, (Paul Ormandy ZL4TFX, New Zealand, via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 11435: Emisora de números en alemán: mientras buscaba algún rastro de vida de Radio Cochiguaz, el 10-08, a las 1957 UT, capté la voz de una mujer que daba números en alemán. Una y otra vez los repetía y cambiaba el orden de los mismos. Fue en los 11435 kHz, en modo AM. Ya fuera del aire a las 2027 UT. SINPO 3-2. Mientras tanto, Radio Conchiguaz y Radio América pasan a formar parte de los ARCHIVOS X del diexismo: todos han escuchado hablar de ellas, pero nadie ---prácticamente --- las ha escuchado (desde Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, Adán González, Aug 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) + GERMANY EAST UNIDENTIFIED [non]. Hearing unknown station in SS currently on 14010.0 khz. Weak, but taping it. Almost sounds Cuban, like Reloj. Harmonic? 1800z, Aug. 12. [Later:] I posted it on rec.radio.shortwave, and it was also heard in Michigan, but not in Virginia. You can hear the audio clip here: http://members.aol.com/j999w/DX Sounds like a spur of Radio Martí from somewhere. The ident is weak, but fairly certain (John WB9UAI, Milwaukee, WI R71a, vert., hard-core-dx via DXLD) GREENVILLE: 13820 khz - 13630 Khz. Formula: 13820 - 13630 = 190. 13820 + 190 = 14010 (bclsiciliaclub@inwind.it, ibid.) So what kind of ERP are we talking?? (jw wb9uai, ibid.) UNIDENTIFIED. Hi Glen, here's what I got for you concerning Al Asr radio station [presumably from http://www.alasr-radio.com site] First of all, they have a note saying that they are transmitting on the Hotbird satellite frequency 11.938 GHz polarization Horizontal. This is a test transmission; the kick off will be on 1/9/03. Here's what they have on their site: Introduction: in the era of the revolutionary communications and high- tech and with the current media jam in this part of the world (they mean the Arab world) with all these satellite channels, radio stations, newspapers, and mags with all their different points of view and different cultures back ground, with the current international changes and and its reflection on the Arab world, we need a comprehensive media alternative that would enrich the way of thinking, talking to the conscious. An alternative that deals with the challenges and problems and comes up with solutions with an accurate prospective away from the others` interference with independency of the point of view and the freedom of speech. Identifying the station: Al Asr radio is an Independent news and cultural source, aims to spread the enrichment of the public awareness by introducing a special program with Ideas and contents that suits the Arabic minds and touches the interests of our society with all its aspects within its culture and historical specialty in a comprehensive style. That will be fulfilled by having political and economical news, news commentaries, talk shows, political analysis and more. We will try to balance between pleasure and interest in a balanced way with a high standard of performance that goes neck to neck with the latest in this field. The aim of our station is: 1) helping in rooting the culture in our Arabic and Muslim community and the civilized belonging to our Arabic and Muslim community. 2) drawing the attention of the community to the important cases and fixing the current issues. 3) having a debate between different point of views of our scientists in the Islamic world. 4) securing the comprehensive atmosphere of the freedom of speech with the rules and ethics. 5) analyzing the current issues and shedding a light on the obstacles that prevent the progress of community from a cultural point of view. 6) producing special programs sticking to accuracy, with the sense of independence. Sounds like a cool Idea. I heard them on the HOTBIRD satellite, almost repeating the same ideas and reading some verses of the holy Qur`an. BTW there's a Sura in the Holly Quran called ``Al Asr`` which means diffrent things in the Arabic language --- like era, and it's as well the name of the third prayer that we Muslims have after the noon prayers. They played that recitation of Al Asr Sura, with a few seconds of some of their programs, there was a meeting in English, another debate between two professors, etc., with the sound of the waves in the back ground. No Female voices IDing the station...!! And I didn't hear any music as well. Will keep an ear on the station and keep you posted. With all my best wishes. yours (Tarek Zeidan, Cairo, Egypt http://www.tarekzeidan.tk Aug 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DRM +++ Radio Canada International has shifted the frequency for its DRM package, which includes Radio Sweden. The new frequency is 9800 kHz, instead of 9795 kHz. Radio Sweden can be heard at 22:30 hrs UTC, which is 6:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time, beamed to the East Coast of North America. The entire schedule is: 20:00 - 20:30 UT Vatican Radio 20:30 - 21:00 UT Radio Nederland 21:00 - 22:00 UT Radio Canada International 22:00 - 22:30 UT Deutsche Welle 22:30 - 23:00 UT Radio Sweden 23:00 - 00:00 UT BBC World Service RCI tells us there are surprisingly many DRM listeners, considering consumer receivers will not be in the stores until the end of next year (Anders Backlin, Radio Sweden, (SCDX MediaScan Aug 13 via DXLD) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ AMFM2GO tm Eliminates the random and frustrating search for enjoyable radio while traveling. No more finding stations that quickly fade out or are not your favorite format. The information provided gives you MAPS for orientation, cities with radio stations, both AM and FM, the frequency to tune into, their power in kilowatts (kW) as a general guide to broadcasting distance, and the stations primary program format. This allows you to easily tune-in to stations with formats you'll enjoy along your travels. http://www.amfm2go.com/ (via Jilly Dybka, DXLD) POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ PLC IS FIXED IN "E-JAPAN 2003" PLAN The result of the public opinion on PLC in ``e-Japan 2003`` plan Against 548; Japan Shortwave Club, Japan Amateur Radio League, Science Council of Japan, Nagoya University, Tohoku University, International Union of Geophysics and Geodesy etc. In favor 3; Kansai Electric Power Company, Matsushita Electric Works, Council of high-speed PLC promotion etc. Japanese Government fixed the plan on August 8. The sentence about PLC is remained as the original plan. The PLC part in ``e-Japan 2003`` plan is translated as follows: Inner-house high-speed PLC (Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications) To verify whether there are practical problems about the affect on radio communications and broadcasting, examinations on the conditions of lines and equipment are to be done in 2003. Based on the above examinations, the government will take measures for the experimentations on the techniques of reducing leakage radiation, in a way that does not affect the existing radio communications. If the government convinced there is no practical problem, through the result of experimentations, research & development, planning for application will be considered. There will be no direct affect on shortwave listening at the moment. But there is still anxiety that shortwave circumstance may be destructed in the future (Takahito Akabayashi, Tokyo, Japan, via BC-DX Aug 13 via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 13 AUGUST - 08 SEPTEMBER Solar activity is expected to range from very low to moderate levels during the period. Activity for most of the period is expected to be at very low to low levels. Region 424 has the potential for isolated M-class activity early in the period and if Region 431 continues to develop it may produce isolated M-class activity. No greater than 10 MeV proton events at geosynchronous orbit are expected during the period. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux is expected to reach high levels on 13 –15 August, 25 August – 01 September, and again on 05 – 07 September. The geomagnetic field is expected to range from quiet to major storm levels during the period. Coronal hole effects are expected to continue on 13 August with isolated major storm levels possible. A large coronal hole high speed stream is due to return to a geoeffective position and is expected to produce minor storm levels on 22 – 29 August. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2003 Aug 12 2211 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center # Product description and SEC contact on the Web # http://www.sec.noaa.gov/wwire.html # # 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table # Issued 2003 Aug 12 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2003 Aug 13 125 35 6 2003 Aug 14 120 20 4 2003 Aug 15 115 12 3 2003 Aug 16 110 20 4 2003 Aug 17 115 15 3 2003 Aug 18 115 10 3 2003 Aug 19 115 12 3 2003 Aug 20 120 12 3 2003 Aug 21 110 15 3 2003 Aug 22 100 20 4 2003 Aug 23 100 20 4 2003 Aug 24 95 20 4 2003 Aug 25 95 30 5 2003 Aug 26 95 30 5 2003 Aug 27 100 30 5 2003 Aug 28 110 30 5 2003 Aug 29 115 20 4 2003 Aug 30 120 15 3 2003 Aug 31 125 10 3 2003 Sep 01 130 15 3 2003 Sep 02 130 25 5 2003 Sep 03 135 35 6 2003 Sep 04 135 25 5 2003 Sep 05 130 15 3 2003 Sep 06 130 15 3 2003 Sep 07 130 15 3 2003 Sep 08 125 25 5 (http://www.sec.noaa.gov/radio via WORLD OF RADIO 1195, DXLD) ###