DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-193, October 28, 2003 edited by Glenn Hauser IMPORTANT NOTE: our hotmail accounts are being phased out. Please do not use them any further, but instead woradio at yahoo.com or wghauser at yahoo.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 [note change] http://www.w4uvh.net/dxldtd3j.html For restrixions and searchable 2003 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn NEXT AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1204: RFPI: Wed 0100, 0730 on 7445 [times nominal, subject to variation] WWCR: Wed 1030 on 9475 WRN ONDEMAND: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also for CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL]: Check http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html WORLD OF RADIO 1204 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1204h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1204h.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1204.html WORLD OF RADIO 1204 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1204.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1204.rm FIRST AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1205 [note UT time changes]: Wed 2300 on WBCQ 7415, 17495-CUSB Thu 0230 on WINB 9320 Thu 2130 on WWCR 15825 ** AUSTRALIA. AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTER PLEDGES TO LISTEN TO VIETNAMESE COMMUNITY | Text of report by Radio Australia on 28 October Members of the Vietnamese community in the Australian city of Sydney say a mass rally outside the Special Broadcasting Service, or SBS, studio is only the beginning of a campaign to stop them broadcasting a state-run news service from Hanoi. More than 3,000 people have protested outside the SBS studios, saying the programme is offensive propaganda which has no value to Vietnamese migrants in Australia. President of the organization Vietnamese Community in New South Wales Dr Tien Nguyen says unless SBS stops broadcasting the programme, there will be more protests. [Nguyen] (?Put it that way), it could be a hunger strike, it could be more protests. There are a lot of ways that we protest, but I can tell you that if SBS does not suspend the programme and listen to the crowd, come to their senses, they will see more protests in different forms. [End of recording] The head of SBS Television, Shaun Brown, says the broadcaster will consider the community's views through a consultation process. However, he says it cannot take the programme off the air immediately. [Brown] Today, when we met the delegation and they made a very impassioned plea to us, we invited them to come and make representations to our community advisory committee, which is the group that's charged with maintaining a relationship with the various ethnic groups in Australia. Source: Radio Australia, Melbourne, in English 0800 gmt 28 Oct 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** BELGIUM [non]. Dutch on 13790 at 1933 Oct 28, good reception as usual from Sackville off the back; RVi scheduled 1800-2000, 300 kW 74 to SW Eu. I thought they were 250 kW at Sackville (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. CJRN-710 Niagara Falls, ON will once again be airing a special Ramadan program at local sunset (around 1645 EST [2145 UT]). Program consists of Kor`an readings, prayers and commentary (in EE), such as on the importance of fasting. They've run this Ramadan program on CJRN for the past several years. The rest of the time this station is little more than a glorified TIS, with tourist information for visitors to the Tijuana of Canada. 73 (Mike Brooker, Toronto, ON, Oct 28, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** CANADA. GARDINER GONE --- By Craig Pearson, The Windsor Star Cam Gardiner, one of Windsor's best known and best loved radio personalities, will indefinitely end his 35-year on-air love affair today (Friday). Gardiner's year-long struggle with adult-onset diabetes -- which hit him hard last November and kept him largely off the air until September – has left him too weak to perform to the standard he expects. Thus, Gardiner's noon to 3 p.m. show today will be his last broadcast for a while. "I came back with high hopes of having the energy and enthusiasm to do a radio show," Gardiner said Thursday in his east-side home. "It takes a lot of work to get ready for the show, to come up with the subjects, research the subjects, execute the interviews. "It was a little unnerving for me because I was never really able to get a handle on it." Gardiner said he reluctantly agreed with his doctor that his health simply wasn't up to speed. "I'm not able to keep up," said Gardiner, who turns 54 Monday. (Excerpt of story in The Windsor Star on Gardiner, a radio personality on 50,000-watt CKLW AM-800), via Harry van Vugt, Windsor, Ontario, Canada, DXLD) ** CANADA. CABLE AND SATELLITE TELEVISION 2002 The Daily, Friday, October 24, 2003 Statistics Canada - Statistique Canada Small dishes on roofs are becoming part of the landscape. The number of subscribers to satellite and wireless cable (multipoint distribution system or MDS) television services surpassed 2.0 million in 2002, up from 1.6 million in 2001. At the end of August 2002, wireless operators served 20.9% of multi- channel video services customers, compared with 17.0% in 2001. The rapid rise of satellite and MDS television in recent years has, however, lost momentum. The 25.1% jump in the number of subscribers to these services in 2002 was modest compared with gains of 66.4% in 2001 and 74.4% in 2000. Some of the 2.0 million customers of wireless operators were lured away from cable companies. The number of subscribers to cable television peaked in 1999 and has eroded since then. The 3.1% decline in 2002 was the most severe in history. Cable operators in smaller communities were hit particularly hard by competition, with a drop in subscription of 5.6% in 2002. Despite the loss of subscribers, cable operators' revenues have continued to grow by more than 7.0% per year since 1999. This relatively good performance is in large part due to the popularity of high speed Internet and digital cable. In 2002, revenue per subscriber for operators providing both these services was 32.8% higher than those of operators that did not offer these services, or offered only one of the two. The availability and adoption of high speed Internet by cable are progressing quickly. At the early stage of deployment, high speed Internet by cable was mainly a large city (Census metropolitan areas) phenomenon. Since then, the accessibility of this technology in smaller communities (outside Census metropolitan areas) has advanced rapidly. In 2000, 32.2% of homes with access to cable in smaller communities could subscribe to high speed Internet by cable. Two years later, that proportion has leaped to 70.6%. Not only is this technology more widely available, but it is also more widely used. From August 2000 to August 2002, the number of subscribers to Internet by cable has more than doubled to reach 1.9 million. The increase was stronger in smaller communities (+256%) than in larger communities (+123%). The entry of satellite and MDS operators into the multi-channel video market is at the origin of a shift towards digital technology. At the end of August 2002, 3.2 million, or one third, of multi-channel video services customers subscribed to digital wireless or digital cable services. Although wireless providers continued to dominate the digital service market with 2.0 million customers, cable operators were rapidly closing the gap. The number of subscribers to digital cable jumped 50.5 % in 2002, twice the growth for wireless digital services. This was the second consecutive year that digital cable growth outpaced wireless digital growth. Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number [21]2728. More detailed information will soon be available in the Broadcasting and telecommunications service bulletin, Vol. 33, no. 3 ([22]56-001- XIE, $11/$35). For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Daniel April, 613-951-3177; daniel.april @ statcan.ca Science, Innovation and Electronic Information Division (via Dan Say, BC, DXLD) ** CHINA. On Monday morning I noted Chinese jammers making 5 minute breaks just after the top of the hour. Further listening has now revealed that these breaks were made for nearly all jammed stations, including RFA, VOA, BBC, RTI-CBS. The last break was on Tuesday at 1500. After that jamming has been continuous. This seems to confirm my original theory that the breaks were made for B03 schedule monitoring purposes only, not for the benefit of listeners. 11610 has been noted back with CNR2. Site unknown (Olle Alm, Sweden, Oct 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. The Cuban commie jammers found R. Martí`s newest frequency before I ran across it: 17670, very strong here and likely Delano, Oct 28 at 1930 with bubble jamming way under it. It was running slightly behind \\ 13820 and 15330. Entire Martí schedule is still missing and needed (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. 9820, Jülich. Sunday Oct. 26 1600-1658. Tentative V. Of Ethiopian Salvation/Medhin. Is also listed on TDP schedule however, so maybe they use two outlets this season? 1700-1759 V. Of Oromo Liberation/Kun Sagalee Bilisummaa Oromoo, with full ID. Not to be confused with Voice Of Oromia/Sagalee Oromiyaa and R. Sagalee Qabsoo Bilisummaa Oromiyaa (someone has the exact translation for this one?), which are listed via TDP (Silvain Domen, Belgium, Oct 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. AIR HOME & EXTERNAL SERVICE 27-OCT-2003 COMPLETE SW SCHEDULE IN KHZ ORDER http://www.geocities.com/bcdxnet/sw/ kHz KW Station UTC (Target Area) 3223 50 Shimla 0025-0200 1300-1730(Sat, Sun 1741) 3315 50 Bhopal 0025-0215 1130-1742 3365 50 Delhi D6 (Kingsway) 1220-1841 3390 10 Gangtok 0100-0400 1030-1600(Sun 1630) 3945+ 50 Gorakhpur 0130-0230 Nepali, 0230-0300 HS, 1330-1430 Nepali, 1430-1735 Urdu (Pakistan) 4760 10 Leh s0100/w0215-0430 1130-1630/1700 4760 10 Port Blair 2355-0300 1030-1630/1700/1730 4775 50 Imphal 0030-0215 1030-1700/1730 4790 100 Chennai M5 0000-0045 Tamil, 0045-0115 Sinhala (Sri Lanka) 4800 50 Hyderabad 0025-0215 1130(Sun 1140)-1744 4820 50 Kolkata 0025-0215 1220-1744 4830 50 Jammu 0025-0445 1030-1100, 1130-1741 4840 50 Mumbai 2355-0400 1230-1730 4850 50 Kohima 0000-0450 1000-1600/1630/1700 4860 50 Delhi D6 (Kingsway) 0025-0440 4860+ 50 Delhi D1 (Kingsway) 1220-1330 HS, 1330-1430 Nepali (Nepal), 1430-1930 Urdu (Pakistan) 4880 50 Lucknow 0025-0400 1215-1741 4895 50 Kurseong 0055-0400 1130-1700(Sat, Sun 1741) 4910 50 Jaipur 0025-0415 1130-1741 4920 50 Chennai 0015-0245 1200-1736 4940 50 Guwahati G1 0015-0415 1150-1700/1741 4950 50 Srinagar 2330-0010 (Ramzan period) s0025/w0120-0200 1130- 1736 4960 50 Ranchi 0025-0435 1125(Sun 1130) -1741 4970 50 Shillong 0025-0400 1056-1630 4990 50 Itanagar 0020-0400 1000-1630 5010 50 Thiruvananthapuram 0020-0215 1115(Sun 1130)-1735 5040 50 Jeypore 0025-0435 (Sun 0445, Sat 0545 v), 1130(Sun 1030)- 1741 5050 10 Aizawl 0025-0400 1130(Sun 1125)-1630/1700 5965 50 Jammu 0630-0930 5985 50 Ranchi 0700-0945 (Sun 0630-1130) 5990 250 Panaji 0100-0200 Sindhi (Pakistan) 6000 10 Leh 0655-0900(Sun 1130) 6020 50 Shimla 0215-0400 (Sun 0415-1230), 0700-0936 1130-1230 6030 50 Delhi D8 (Kingsway) 0200-0310 6030 * Delhi D7 (Kingsway) 1215-1430 6040 50 Jeypore 0700-0935 6045 250 Delhi 0130-0230, 1330-1430 Nepali (Nepal), 1430-1930 Urdu (Pakistan) 6065 50 Kohima 0430-0510 0700-0900 6085 10 Gangtok 0700-0930 6085 50 Delhi D8 (Kingsway) 1220-1310 1330-1340 1345-1420 1430- 1440 1445-1615/1630/1700/1730v, 1730-1740 6100 * * 0230-0330, 1430-1530 6110 50 Srinagar 0215-0453 (Sun 1115), 0600-1115 6150 50 Itanagar 0700-0900 6155 100 Delhi D1 (Kingsway) 0015-0430 Urdu (Pakistan) 6165 * * 1230-1500 Sindhi, 1500-1600 Baluchi (Pakistan) 6190 50 Delhi 0730-1030 7105 50 Lucknow 0630(Sun 0415)-0930 0935-0936 7115 10 Port Blair 0315-0346 (Sat 0415,Sun 0505), 0700-0930(Sun 1015) 7115 250 Panaji 1615-1730 Persian, 1730-1830 Malayalam (W. Asia ) 7120 50 Jaipur (Sun v0420-0600), 0700(Sun 0630)-0931, (Sun 1030- 1120) 7125 100 Delhi D2 (Kingsway) 0100-0200 Sindhi (Pakistan) 7130 50 Shillong 0655-0930 7140 50 Hyderabad 0225-0445(Sat, Sun 0500) 0610-0930 (Sun 0530- 1130) 7140 100 Delhi D2 (Kingsway) 1550-1615/1630/1700/1730v 1730-1740 7150 50 Delhi D7 (Kingsway) 0030-0040 7150 50 Imphal 0230-0430/0530 0630-1000 7160 50 Chennai 0300-0400(Hol 0445, Sun 0530), 0710(Hol 0610,Sat/Sun 0630)-0930(Sun 1130) 7170 Delhi For special broadcasts 7180 50 Bhopal 0225-0447 (Sun 1115), 0700-0931 7190 50 Guwahati G2 0630-1730 (Tests) 7210 50 Kolkata 0230-0401(Sat,Sun 0430), 0700-1000 7220 100 Mumbai B5 For special broadcasts 7230 50 Kurseong 0619-1030 (Sun 1115) 7235 50 Delhi D4 (Kingsway) 0215-0320 0330-0355 7240 50 Mumbai 0530(Sun 0415)-1035 7250 250 Panaji 0130-0230 Nepali (Nepal) 7250+ 50 Gorakhpur 0700-0800 Nepali (Nepal), 0830-1130 Urdu (Pakistan), 1130-1140 HS 7255 250 Aligarh A5 1315-1415 Dari, 1415-1530 Pushtu, (Afghan. Pakistan), 1530-1545 English 7270 100 Chennai M5 1000-1100 English, 1115-1215 Tamil (Sri Lanka) 7275 100 Chennai M5 1300-1500 Sinhala (Sri Lanka) 7280 50 Guwahati G1 0600-0930 0945-1145 (Sun 0530-1145) 7290 50 Thiruvananthapuram 0230-0415(Sun 1030), 0630-0930 7295 10 Aizawl 0700-0930 7410 250 Aligarh 1315-1415? Dari, 1415-1530? Pushtu (Afghan, Pakistan), 1615-1730 Hindi (W. Asia) 7410 250 Delhi 1745-1945 English, 1945-2045 Hindi, 2045-2230 English (W. Europe) 9425 500 Bangalore BL3 0130-0530 0930-1230 1320-0043 9445 250 Delhi 1745-1945 English (W NW Africa), 2045-2230 English(W. Europe) 9470 250 Aligarh A6 0130-0530 0930-1230 1320-0043 9575+ * Delhi D5 (Kingsway) 1215-1330 Tibetan (Tibet), 1330-1420 1430-1440 1445-1615/1630/1700/1730v, 1730-1740 HS 9575 250 Panaji 2045-2230 English (Australia/ NZ) 9595 * Delhi D13 (Khampur) 0015-0430 Urdu (Pakistan) 9595+ * Delhi D1 (Kingsway) 0700-0800 Nepali (Nepal) 0800-0830 HS, 0830-1130 Urdu (Pakistan), 1130-1140 HS 9620 * * 1230-1500 Sindhi, 1500-1600 Baluchi (Pakistan) 9635 250 Aligarh 0100-0200 Sindhi (Pakistan) 9690 * * 1330-1500 English (E SE Asia) 9705 250 Panaji 2245-0045 English (E SE Asia) 9810 250 Aligarh A4 0130-0230 Nepali (Nepal) 9820 250 Panaji P2 1300-1500 Sinhala (Sri Lanka), 1530-1545 English 9835+ 100 Delhi D4 (Kingsway) 0000-0045 Tamil (Sri Lanka), 0215-0300 Pushtu, 0300-0345 Dari (Afghan. Pak) 1330-1420 1430-1440 1445-1615/1630/1700/1730v, 1730-1740 HS 9890 * * 0730-0830 9905 250 Aligarh 1615-1730 Persian, 1730-1945 Arabic (W.Asia), 1945- 2030 French (W NW Africa) 9910 250 Aligarh A4 0000-0045 Tamil (SE Asia), 0215-0300 Pushtu, 0300-0345, 1315-1415 Dari 1415-1515 Pushtu (Afghanistan, Pakistan), 1530-1545 English, 2045-2230 English (Australia/NZ), 2300-2400 Hindi (SE Asia) 9950 * * 1515-1615 Swahili , 1615-1730 Hindi (E.Africa) 1945-2045 Hindi, 2045-2230 English (W. Europe), 2245-0045 English (NE Asia) 10330 500 Bangalore BL6 0025-0435 0900-1200 1245-1740 (Vividh Bharati) 11585 500 Bangalore 1230-1500 Sindhi, 1500-1600 Baluchi (Pakistan), 1615-1730 Persian (Iran) 11620+ 250 Delhi D15 (Khampur) 0100-0430 Urdu (Pakistan), 1330-1500 English (E SE Asia) 11620 * Delhi D11 0830-1130 Urdu (Pakistan), 1130-1140 HS, 1215- 1315 Burmese 11620 500 Bangalore 1515-1600 Gujarati (E. Africa), 1615-1715 Russian (E. Europe) 1745-1945 English, 1945-2045 Hindi (W.Europe), 2045-2230 (W.Europe, Australia/NZ), 2245-0045 (E SE NE Asia) 11645 * * 2245-0045 English (E N SE Asia) 11710 100 Delhi D4 (Kingsway) 1115-1140 HS 11710 250 Aligarh 1215-1315 Burmese (Myanmar) 11715 250 Delhi 0130-0230 Nepali (Nepal), 2045-2230 English (Australia/NZ) 11730 250 Delhi 0400-0430 Persian, 0430-0530 Arabic (West Asia), 0530- 0600 Urdu (Haj Season) 11735 250 Aligarh 0215-0300 Pushtu, 0300-0345 Dari (Pakistan, Afghanistan) 11740 250 Panaji P1 0000-0045 Tamil, 2300-2400 Hindi (SE Asia), 1530-1545 English 11775 250 Panaji 1215-1330 Tibetan (Tibet), 1330-1430 Nepali (Nepal) 11830 100 Delhi D7 (Kingsway) 0125-0355 11840 250 Panaji 0315-0415 Hindi (West Asia) 11840 250 Delhi 1145-1315 Chinese (NE Asia) 11850 100 Delhi 0700-0800 Nepali (Nepal) 11935 100 Mumbai B5 1745-1945 English (E.Africa) 11985 * Delhi 0000-0045 Tamil, 0045-0115 Sinhala (Sri Lanka) 12025 250 Panaji 1615-1730 Hindi, 1730-1830 Malayalam (W. Asia ) 13605 500 Bangalore 1745-1945 English , 1945-2030 French (W NW Africa) 2245-0045 English (E N SE Asia) 13620 500 Bangalore BL1 0400-0430 Persian, 0430-0530 Arabic (W. Asia), 0530-0600 Urdu (Haj Season), 1730-1945 Arabic (West Asia), 1945-2030 French (W NW Africa) 13645 500 Bangalore 1115-1200 Thai (SE Asia) 1515-1600 Gujarati (E.Af., Mauritius) 13710 500 Bangalore 0315-0415 Hindi (West Asia), 1000-1100 English (NE Asia, Australia/NZ) 1115-1215 Tamil, 1215-1245 Telegu (SE Asia), 1330-1500 English (E SE Asia) 13770 500 Bangalore 1615-1730 Hindi (West Asia) 13795 500 Bangalore 0000-0045 Tamil, 2300-2400 Hindi (SE Asia) 15020 250 Aligarh 1000-1100 English (NE Asia) 15050 * * 1115-1215 Tamil, 1300-1500 Sinhala (Sri Lanka) 15075 500 Bangalore 0215-0300 Kannada (W.Asia), 0315-0415, 0430-0530 Hindi (E.Africa) 15075 250 Aligarh 1615-1730 Hindi, 1745-1945 English (E. Africa) 15135 100 Delhi D5 (Kingsway) 0125-0205 0215-0355 15140 500 Bangalore 1615-1715 Russian (E. Europe) 15155 500 Bangalore 1745-1945 English (W. & NW Africa) 15175 500 Bangalore 1515-1600 Gujarati (E. Africa) 15185 250 Aligarh A4 0315-0415 Hindi, 0415-0430 Gujarati, 0430-0530 Hindi (E. Africa, Mauritius) 15185 100 Delhi D5 (Kingsway) 0700-0930 1115-1140 15235 250 Delhi 1000-1100 English (NE Asia) 15235 250 Panaji 1115-1200 Thai (SE Asia) 15260+ 100 Delhi D4 (Kingsway) 0700-0930 HS, 1000-1100 English (Sri Lanka) 15770 250 Aligarh 0400-0430 Persian, 0430-0530 Arabic, (W. Asia ) 0845-0945 Indonesian, 1115-1215 Tamil, 1215-1245 Telegu (SE Asia) 15795 250 Delhi 1145-1315 Chinese (NE Asia) 17510 250 Delhi? 0845-0945 Indonesian (SE Asia), 1000-1100 English (Australia/NZ) 17670 250 Aligarh 1515-1615 Swahili, 1615-1730 Hindi, 1745-1945 English (E.Africa) 17705 500 Bangalore 1145-1315 Chinese (NE Asia) 17715 250 Delhi 0315-0415 Hindi, 0415-0430 Gujarati, 0430-0530 Hindi (E. Africa, Mauritius) 17740 * Delhi 1115-1200 Thai (SE Asia) 17800 500 Bangalore 1000-1100 English (NE Asia) 17810 250 Panaji 1115-1215 Tamil, 1215-1245 Telegu (SE Asia) 17845 250 Delhi 0400-0430 Persian, 0430-0530 Arabic (W.Asia) 0530-0600 Urdu (Haj Season) 17860+ 100 Delhi D2 (Kingsway) 1115-1215 Tamil (Sri Lanka), 1220- 1245 HS 17875 250 Aligarh 0845-0945 Indonesian (SE Asia) 17895 250 Aligarh 1000-1100 English (Australia/NZ) Hol = Holiday, HS= Home Service, V = Timings vary, + = Fq used by both HS & External Service. *= Not Known Target areas of External Service listed in brackets. Power and Transmitter locations of some External Service frequencies are presumed only! Note: Latest changes are listed in dark colour [in the original] 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, Box 1555, Somajiguda, Hyderabad 500082, India, Oct 27, dx_india via DXLD) ** INDIA. AIR TO MAKE WAVES WITH DIGITAL AUDIO BROADCASTING NIVEDITA MOOKERJI NEW DELHI: A technology, that has been experimented with in many parts of the world, is about to reach India. We are talking of digital radio transmission in terrestrial mode. All India Radio (AIR) is planning to announce a tender for buying a digital audio broadcasting (DAB) transmitter within a month, according to officials. This transmitter would be capable of carrying six digital channels on the platform. Interestingly, AIR’s DAB project would have more to with video than plain-vanilla audio. You need a separate digital radio receiver to access the DAB service. The content of the channels has not been finalised yet, but may be targeted at people on the move. As of now, AIR officials are happy calling it just a ``technology demonstration``. Popularity of the system would depend on the price of the receiver sets to a large extent, they said. It would begin as a pilot project in Delhi. The feasibility of carrying the system to other metros is under study. The pilot project, valued at Rs 2.5 crore, is expected to take off sometime in 2004. According to AIR officials, three to four foreign firms, including R&S (Germany) and Harris (US), are expected to bid. DAB receivers have to be imported, and the starting range would be around $150. For additional features, the price would go up further. And that may pose a problem for consumers in India. In the UK too, digital radio hasn’t caught on so much even after seven years of its introduction, with its price being the main barrier. Besides price, another tricky issue is that of clash of channels/ stations on the frequency band of a digital radio. AIR is planning to launch its digital service on the VHF band, but there are TV channels and FM stations also on the same band. A shift may be required to another band, once the number of radio stations increases on the platform. According to an industry expert, some TV channels in Europe were shifted from VHF to UHF band, and in Canada, digital radio stations were moved to L band from VHF. Meanwhile, various digital systems are being tried out in different parts of the world. If Europe is working on Eureka 147 terrestrial digital audio broadcasting system, the US is focused on the IBOC (in- band on-channel) system. Digital Radio Mondale (DRM) is yet another technology that Europe is experimenting with. Shortwave radio, it is understood, would become powerful with DRM. While terrestrial digital transmission would be a new concept for India, satellite digital is already available here, through WorldSpace, a US-headquartered satellite radio service (Financial Express via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, DXLD) ** INDIA. COMMUNITY RADIO FALLS SILENT -- [by] SUJAN DUTTA New Delhi, Oct. 26: A radio revolution the government expected to unleash has come to naught. FM radio expansion to 70 more cities could hit community radio further. The government had claimed that up to a 1,000 community radio services would begin by the end of the year following a new policy approved by the cabinet in December 2002. The report card: not one institution has been granted a licence. Not even one is half way into getting a licence. In early January, Union information and broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj had announced the government’s decision to allow higher educational institutions and non-government organisations to set up community radio stations. Her successor in the ministry, Ravi Shankar Prasad, promised that he would take the policy further, convince his colleagues in other ministries that community radio would be both a value added to education and a risk-free enterprise. But a month later, the government moved to actually yank a community radio service off the air. The department of telecommunication seized a transmitter set up by a World Bank-funder and state-government supported programme in Andhra Pradesh. Mana Radio, run by the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty, has not been up since. Despite the move, the I&B ministry has projected a friendly face to potential community radio operators. The ministry has been urging the Indian Institutes of Management, the Indian Institutes of Technology and public schools to apply and has also extended help. A division of Prasar Bharati called AIR Resources has actually set up studios in higher education institutions for a fee and allowed them to use outdated low-power transmitters. More than 20 institutions applied for licences. The policy allows institutions to set up transmitters with capacity up to 50 watts. In the plains, this would service a radius of about 20 km. But the applicants are so caught in the bureaucratic tangle that few expect licences to be issued unless the procedure is streamlined. Under the rules, community radio hopefuls have to apply to the secretary in the information and broadcasting ministry. The applications are to be vetted and cleared by no less than five ministries — I&B, communications (Wireless Planning Commission), human resources development, home and even external affairs and defence. Although licence fees have been waived, the WPC will levy a spectrum charge that could be about Rs 4 lakh annually. After the ministries, the application will have to get the clearance of the Standing Advisory Committee on Radio Frequency Allocations. Sources in the I&B ministry say other ministries often accord community radio applications low priority, if they do, or raise questions on the credentials of the service operator. Last month, the home ministry had expressed reluctance to grant clearance to Jammu University, an applicant. Prasar Bharati officials now say that with FM radio to be expanded further to about 70 cities, community radio could be stillborn. All India Radio is selling time to NGOs — such as in Palamu in Jharkhand and in the quake-affected Kutch in Gujarat — to buy time on its local bands and air development programmes (The Telegraph, Calcutta - 27 Oct 2003, via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, DXLD) ** INDIA. AIR LAUNCHES PROGRAMME FOR THE BLIND Tuesday October 28 2003 00:00 IST NEW DELHI: In chasing revenues, Doordarshan may have dropped its public service broadcaster mantle, but this is not the case with "poor cousin" All India Radio (AIR). Taking its duties of a public service broadcaster seriously, AIR has launched programmes for the visually impaired. "With more than half the world's visually impaired people living in India, and with no programmes for them, we decided to focus on special programmes for this segment of the population," AIR officials said. Taking a cue from the Community Radio Services in Australia, where programmes for the visually impaired are broadcast for eight hours daily, AIR's half-hour programme, broadcast twice on Indraprastha Channel Drishti in magazine format, is interactive. "The listeners can send in stories and play in Braille and we will produce these for them," said officials. Current affairs, safety tips, employment and health are some issues discussed in the half-hour programme. AIR is looking at even reading aloud plays and book reviews that are out in Braille. "While the Australian programmes have a dedicated listernership, we have just begun," the officials said. Other kendras of AIR are free to broadcast the programmes aired by Delhi. Already, say officials, NGOs are showing interest in associating themselves with the programme. DD also does its bit _ there is a news segment for the hearing impaired on weekends. But that is only one programme, which holds no promise for improvisation. (newindpress.com via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, dx_india via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM [and non]. OUT OF THIS WORLD WINNIPEG (CP) - When Winnipegger Barry Malowanchuk wanted to get in touch with his friend in Texas, just picking up the phone or sending him an e-mail wouldn't do. Malowanchuk called Al Ward up by bouncing a radio signal off the moon. The amateur radio operator and Winnipeg resident won an award last month from the American Radio Relay League for completing the world's first high-frequency 24-gigahertz earth-to-moon-to-earth contact on Aug. 18, 2001. The technology of using the moon for long-distance radio communication has been around for decades. But ham radio operators have been pushing the limits with higher and higher frequencies, which are more distorted than low frequencies by the moon's rough surface. Malowanchuk's signal, which needed $25,000 worth of transmitter tubes donated by a company that no longer needed them, was the highest frequency yet. A Manitoba Hydro electrical engineer, Malowanchuk knows how to work in his basement with the "scary" high-voltage electricity required to beam signals to the moon. "You could really get hurt," he said. Malowanchuk and Ward aren't resting on their rheostats. They're working on an even higher frequency: 47 gigahertz. There is no commercial application for the technology, which took years to develop. Malowanchuk says he is motivated solely by the thrill of "blazing new ground." (Winnipeg Free Press via Harry van Vugt, Windsor, Ontario, Canada) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. VIRGIN RADIO UK BECOMES FIRST CONTENT PROVIDER FOR WORLDSPACE'S INTERNATIONAL EXPATRIATE AND MILITARY SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE LONDON and WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Virgin Radio UK and WorldSpace Corporation, the pioneer of direct satellite delivery for digital audio radio services (DARS), today announced a strategic partnership. Under the agreement, Virgin Radio will be featured as a premium channel on WorldSpace's satellite service. Initially available for free during a promotional period, Virgin Radio will become a cornerstone of WorldSpace's new international premium subscription service "Home Team Radio," specifically created for US and UK expatriates as well as military stationed overseas. Once the service transitions to a paid subscription, both companies will benefit from additional revenue streams. With a weekly audience in the UK of almost three million people, Virgin Radio is the UK's rock and roll station and has been providing "today's best music and classic tracks" since 1993. "Virgin Radio has one of the world's best media brands and this deal with WorldSpace allows us to reach millions overseas," said Lee Roberts, Virgin Radio's Sales Director. "Virgin Radio has been the world's largest online radio station since webcasting was invented and now we can expand into mobile satellite listening across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. This continues our strategy to expand onto all potential platforms." Different targeted versions of "Home Team Radio" will be offered to customers in the various geographic markets covered by WorldSpace's two satellites: AfriStar (the Middle East, Africa and Western Europe) and AsiaStar (Asia and the Middle East). Virgin Radio will initially be available on WorldSpace's AfriStar satellite. "Virgin Radio's success to date shows its strong ability to create true premium content. We knew an agreement would ensure WorldSpace is offering expatriate and military audiences with what they want to hear, where they want to hear it," said Noah Samara, Chairman and CEO of WorldSpace. "This partnership is yet another validation that WorldSpace is clearly making strides in delivering on its new subscription-based business model." Virgin Radio is heard in the UK on AM and FM via terrestrial digital, as well as satellite. The most listened-to radio station on the Internet, the Virgin Radio website http://www.virginradio.co.uk/ has one million unique visitors per month, as measured by an independent organization. The site features DJ profiles, music and pop culture information, promotions, and live streaming. Virgin Radio is the UK's only commercial rock music station. It can be heard on 105.8 FM in London, on 1215 AM nationwide, on any DAB Digital radio, via Sky Digital and the cable TV networks and via WorldSpace. Virgin Radio is the world's most listened to station on the internet and can be heard at http://www.virginradio.co.uk Virgin Radio is wholly owned by SMG plc. SOURCE WorldSpace Corporation -0- 10/23/2003 /CONTACT: Susan Gunther of Strategic Communications Group, Inc., +1-301-408-4500, or sgunther@@gotostrategic.com, for WorldSpace Corporation; or Simon Horne of Virgin Radio UK, +1-020-7432-3418, or simon.horne@virginradio.co.uk/ /Web site: http://www.worldspace.com http://www.virginradio.co.uk/ (press release via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** IRAN. La Voix de la République Islamique d'Iran a considérablement réduit ses transmissions avec la nouvelle saison d'hiver. Bien que le site de la station ne soit pas mis à jour pour la majorité des services, il ressort que les émissions en français sont désormais diffusées sur une seule fréquence à destination de l'Afrique. L'émission de 2330 TU qui était dirigée vers l'Europe et l'Amérique du Nord semble supprimée. Les annonces faites au cours de l'émission du 27/10/2003 semblent confirmer cette impression. Par ailleurs, les pages Internet du service allemand ont été mises à jour. Alors que les fréquences ondes courtes figuraient encore tout récemment, seule une fréquence FM demeure. Les auditeurs sont invités à se tourner vers le satellite et l'Internet. Il y a une forte probabilité que d'autres langues soient touchées pas ces réductions. Rappelons qu'il y a quelques mois, la station avait demandé à ses auditeurs de réagir à une éventuelle suppression des ondes courtes. Néanmoins, quelques semaines plus tard, il avait été répondu que ce n'était plus d'actualité.... (informations issues de http://perso.wanadoo.fr/jm.aubier Oct 28 via DXLD) ** IRAN. B03 IRIB Tehran, limited emergency schedule Hello, checked the IRIB outlets today (Tue Oct 28th) again. IRIB has now [for unknown reason, ?Ramadan, ?main power problem] a very limited, emergency schedule. Only a single transmitter on air on Ahwaz, three transmitters at both Kamalabad and Sirjan sites. Persian language totally missed in their B03 schedule. Arabic Ramadan special programm on a single SW frequency, 15545 kHz daytime 0330-1630, and 9935 kHz nighttime 1730-0330. 15235 KAM 0530-0630 Bosnian, 0630-0730 single Italian language program despite Albanian scheduled. 15320 KAM 0530-0630 Spanish 15440 AHW 0730-0830 Pushtu 17590 KAM 0530-0630 Spanish, 0630-0637! only Albanian language then switch to 17680 17680 SIR 0530-0630 Bosnian 17680 KAM from 0637-0730 Albanian [see 17590] 17810 SIR 0600-0700 Hausa 21645 SIR 0630-0730 French single transmitter outlet! 21810 SIR 0600-0700 SIR Hausa And jamming against US propaganda station Radio FARDA in Persian on 13680 and 15290 kHz heard around 0700 UT too. A single Hebrew program could be observed at 1900-1927 UT on 7120 kHz. French language service is only targeted towards ciraf zones 46 and 47 in Africa. Albanian, Bosnian, Armenian, and Russian remained on shortwave. German and English sections couldn't be monitored anymore on shortwave. Here are the IRIB program list of daytime and afternoon observation: B03 IRIB Tehran -----+----+----+-------------------+----+----+----------+---+--- FREQ STRT STOP CIRAF ZONES LOC POWR AZI LANGUAGE ADM FMO -----+----+----+-------------------+----+----+----------+---+--- 3965 1530 1730 40E,41N ZAH 500 0 URDU-m* IRN IRB 6005 1630 1730 40E,41W AHW 250 84 PUSHTU IRN IRB 6015 1630 1730 40E,41W SIR 500 90 PUSHTU IRN IRB 6100 1830 1930 28S SIR 500 295 ALBANI* IRN IRB 6110 1600 1730 28SE,39N KAM 500 289 TURKI-ES* IRN IRB 6185 1630 1730 29SE,39NE,40NW SIR 500 320 ARMENIAN IRN IRB 6220 1430 1700 29S,40NW SIR 500 338 TURKI-AZ IRN IRB 7120 1900 1930 38E,39W SIR 500 282 HEBREW IRN IRB 7125 1600 1730 28SE,39N KAM 500 289 TURKI-ES IRN IRB 7165 1430 1530 30,31 KAM 500 58 RUSSIAN IRN IRB 7165 1830 1930 28S ZAH 500 289 ALBANI IRN IRB 7195 1630 1730 40E,41W KAM 250 95 PUSHTU IRN IRB 7205 1930 2030 28NE,29 SIR 500 340 RUSSIAN IRN IRB 7230 1630 1730 29SE,39NE,40NW SIR 500 320 ARMENIAN IRN IRB 7270 1430 1530 40E,41W ZAH 500 0 PUSHTU-m IRN IRB 7335 1830 1930 46,47 KAM 500 255 HAUSA IRN IRB 9545 1430 1530 41NE SIR 500 90 BENGALI IRN IRB 9565 1830 1930 46,47 SIR 500 263 FRENCH IRN IRB 9595 1730 1830 39S,47,48,52,53 KAM 500 205 SAWAHILI IRN IRB 9735 1430 1530 29-31 AHW 500 26 RUSSIAN IRN IRB 9775 1830 1930 46,47 SIR 500 268 HAUSA IRN IRB 9835 1330 1430 39 SIR 500 235 URDU IRN IRB 9890 1330 1430 39 AHW 250 0 URDU* IRN IRB 9900 1430 1530 31-33 SIR 500 43 RUSSIAN* IRN IRB 9935 1730 0330 27,28,37-39,46 SIR 500 302 ARABIC IRN IRB 11640 1330 1430 40E,41N KAM 500 109 URDU IRN IRB 11750 1730 1830 47,48,52,53 SIR 500 223 SAWAHILI IRN IRB 11840 1430 1530 41 KAM 500 118 HINDI IRN IRB 11850 1430 1530 41NE KAM 500 95 BENGALI IRN IRB 11870 1430 1530 41NE KAM 500 94 BENGALI* IRN IRB 13595 1330 1430 40E,41N AHW 250 84 URDU IRN IRB 13745 1430 1530 41 SIR 500 95 HINDI IRN IRB 15235 0530 0630 28S KAM 500 298 BOSSNI IRN IRB 15235 0630 0730 28S KAM 500 298 ALBANI IRN IRB 15320 0530 0630 27,28,37N KAM 500 289 SPANISH IRN IRB 15415 1430 1530 41NE SIR 500 102 BENGALI IRN IRB 15440 0730 0830 40E,41W AHW 250 84 PUSHTU IRN IRB 15490 1430 1530 41 AHW 250 84 HINDI IRN IRB 15545 0330 1630 38,39 MAS 500 270 ARABIC IRN IRB 17590 0530 0630 27,28,37N KAM 500 304 SPANISH IRN IRB 17590 0630 0730 27 KAM 500 304 FRENCH IRN IRB 17680 0530 0630 28S SIR 500 310 BOSSNI IRN IRB 17680 0630 0730 28S KAM 500 289 ALBANI IRN IRB 17810 0600 0700 46,47 SIR 500 260 HAUSA IRN IRB 21645 0630 0730 46,47 SIR 500 263 FRENCH IRN IRB 21810 0600 0700 46,47 SIR 500 270 HAUSA IRN IRB (wb, updated acc monitoring Oct 26-28) [excerpting from much greater schedule only frequencies actually monitored] (later) and just noted two more IRIB Spanish outlets: 7130 2030-2130 37 KAM 500 289 SPANISH IRN IRB 9750 2030-2130 37NW SIR 500 295 SPANISH IRN IRB (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, Oct 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) IRIB Tehran ENGLISH:; B03 irb 22-sep-2003 IRB; upload time: 22-sep- 2003 09:47:59 [all daily 1234567, from 261003 to 280304; rearranged by gh into time order; * with certain broadcasts not explained; alternate frequency??] ;----+----+----+------------------------------+---+----+-------+---+-- ;FREQ STRT STOP CIRAF ZONES LOC POWR AZIMUTH SLW ANT ----+-+-----+----------+---+---+---+-----+-+-----+-----+-----+-------- 15385 1030 1130 40E,41N ZAH 500 0 0 935 15460 1030 1130 41,49,50,54 KAM 500 94 0 216 15480 1030 1130 40E,41W AHW 250 84 0 145 21470 1030 1130 41,49,50,54 SIR 500 100 0 218 21730 1030 1130 41,49,50,54 SIR 500 107 0 216 * 7115 1530 1630 41,49,54,55,59 KAM 500 109 0 216 7190 1530 1630 41,49,50,54 KAM 500 100 0 216 9610 1530 1630 41,49,50,54 SIR 500 105 0 218 *11775 1530 1630 41,49,50,54 KAM 500 94 0 216 11835 1530 1630 41,49,50,54 KAM 500 109 0 216 6110 1930 2030 27 KAM 500 304 0 215 * 7215 1930 2030 27 SIR 500 313 0 218 7320 1930 2030 27 SIR 500 313 0 218 11695 1930 2030 52S,53S,57 SIR 500 216 0 216 15140 1930 2030 52S,53S,57 SIR 500 211 0 216 9780 2130 2230 55,58,59 SIR 500 113 0 218 11740 2130 2230 54,55,59 SIR 500 115 0 218 6120 0030 0230 7-10 KAM 500 333 0 216 9580 0030 0230 8-11 SIR 500 328 0 218 (WWDXC via Wolfgang Büschel, DXLD) ** IRAN. On 28 Oct at 1559 tune in on 5050 there was middle-east music and at 1600 ID "Inja Mashad ast Sedaye Jomhuriye Islamye Iran..." so it was Mashad local ID from Iran. Unfortunately I had to leave my radio and when I came back at 1645 this station was gone. Haven't seen the latest B03 schedules for VOIRI, so can't say if this was possibly a punch-up error (5950 maybe). The program was apparently in Farsi or close to that. I don't think it was any kind of receiver mixing product as the signal was steady and strong (during these poor cx times) and my R-71 usually doesn't make those things. Any observations? (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) It`s in the complete IRIB schedule via WB along with a couple of listings for 4000 (gh) 4000 0100 0230 30SE,31SW,40E,41NW,42W MAS 500 0 0 935 TADJIKI* 4000 1600 1730 30SE,31SW,40E,41NW,42W MAS 500 0 0 935 TADJIKI* 5050 1200 1500 30S,31S,40E MAS 500 0 0 935 DARI* (via gh, DXLD) ** IRAN. ANALYSIS: IRAN'S AL-ALAM TV Introduction The Iran-based Al-Alam TV channel is a 24-hour news channel transmitted in Arabic and English on four satellites (Arabsat, Asiasat, Telstar and Hot Bird). It can be received in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America. Al-Alam also broadcasts into Baghdad from a powerful transmitter about 150 km away, just over the Iran-Iraq border. Al-Alam TV began broadcasting in Arabic in February 2003, and rapidly became an important source of news and political reports for viewers in Iraq. The fact that it is the only foreign channel that can be received without having to purchase a satellite dish contributed to its popularity. Al-Alam's English content currently is limited to horizontal news subtitles or news tickers. The station has a web site at http://www.alalamnews.com Iran operates a number of TV channels for external audiences, in addition to Al-Alam TV. Sahar Universal Network is the Iranian external satellite TV service broadcasting in Arabic, English and a few other European languages. According to the Iranian Student News Agency, Sahar TV aims to "propagate the policies of Iran." Iranian television also broadcasts programmes for Iranian expatriates and other Persian-speaking audiences in Europe, America and Australia via satellite on Jaam-e Jam Television Channels 1, 2 and 3. All these services are operated by Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), which is the official organization in charge of Iranian domestic and external TV and radio broadcasting. IRIB's budget is derived from revenues generated by airing commercials, as well as funds allocated to it in the annual government budget. Content and tone According to the channel's web site, Al-Alam is an "Islamic, international news channel" that is "independent" and "neutral" and is "determined to present precise and comprehensive information about events and developments of the world and region quickly". Al-Alam's managing director Hasan Beheshtipur has said that the purpose of the channel is to present the viewpoints of the Islamic world and "counter the monopolization of news channels by Western countries". Al-Alam appears to be trying to compete with the major pan-Arab satellite news channels Al-Jazeera TV, Al-Arabiyah TV and Abu Dhabi TV. Al-Alam follows Al-Jazeera's talk show format by including opposing views and dissident voices and airing "exclusive" news content. Al-Alam offers mostly factual news reporting as it seeks to establish credibility as an international news channel, but it does display an anti-US inclination in its coverage of Iraq. Criticism of the US in Iraq, however, is intermittent and varies in tone. - On 9 April, Al-Alam showed images of "jubilant" Iraqis marching towards Saddam Husayn's statue in Baghdad as the announcer said: "It is obvious that this is an occupation." He explained that even though Iraqi citizens were happy that the former "tyrant" regime has been removed, "they are now under another tyranny, and that is the tyranny of the foreigner." - On 29 August, after the bombing in Najaf that killed Ayatollah Baqir al-Hakim, the channel reported that the US "still refuses international forces under UN auspices in Iraq." Al-Alam has criticized US policy in Iraq, but it does not criticize the US presence in Iraq. And unlike Al Jazeera, Al-Alam does not criticize members of the US-backed Iraqi governing council. This reflects the position of the Iranian government, which has expressed support for this council. The channel's coverage of the Arab-Israeli conflict reflects an editorial bias against Israel. The channel refers to attacks by Palestinian suicide bombers as "martyrdom operations". - In covering the peace process on 10 July, the announcer used terms such as the "Zionist government" and the "Zionist war minister" intermingled with "Israel" and the "Israeli defence minister". - Al-Alam aired a 10-minute historical documentary on 9 July on the occupation of the Palestine territories by the "Zionists" in 1948 and the plight of Palestinian refugees. - The channel's 8 July episode of its talk show "The Axis" included a video report about the Palestinian factions' unhappiness over the "Zionist" authorities' decision to release only "administrative" prisoners. The report included terms such as the "Zionist enemy", "Zionist prisons", the "Zionist government" and the "Zionist army". Despite its ties to Tehran, the channel's overall news coverage does not reveal an unusually heavy focus on Iranian affairs, except when reporting an important Iranian-specific story. The channel appears to have notable access to the Shi'i areas of Iraq. Perceptions of Al-Alam Al-Alam represents the most prominent strand of Iran's broadcast programming available to viewers and listeners in Iraq. Other Iranian broadcast media accessible in Iraq include Sahar Universal Network 1 and 2 television, Iran's external satellite TV service which includes Arabic programming; Vision of the Islamic Republic of Iran television in Arabic, which broadcasts daily to Iraq on the Intelsat 902 satellite; Al-Thaqalayn TV, affiliated to an Iranian cultural institute of the same name, which broadcasts religious programmes; and Voice of the Mujahidin in Arabic, a station operated by the Iranian-backed Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI). Media analysts report that Baghdad residents have given Al-Alam's broadcasts mixed reviews. "Some Iraqis see Al-Alam as a welcome change from the state propaganda they used to receive. More sophisticated viewers perceive it as Iranian propaganda and resent its anti-Americanism," wrote William Samii, editor of the weekly "Iran Bulletin" and "Iraq Bulletin" published by Prague-based Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). [Please note that William Samii of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), a quote from whom appears in paragraph 25 of this editorial analysis, is the author of the weekly "RFE/RL Iran Report" and an occasional contributor to the "RFE/RL Iraq Report", and is also the Regional Analysis Coordinator for Southwest Asia at RFE/RL. – Oct. 28 correxion] However, in the absence of a nationwide radio-TV broadcasting service independent of Coalition influence, and so long as the Iraqi Media Network operated by the Coalition Provisional Authority continues to dominate domestic broadcasting, Al-Alam TV fills a void in the Iraqi media landscape. "Baghdad residents have complained to Western journalists that coalition television broadcasts are difficult to receive, and although satellite receivers are available in small numbers, they are rather costly for average Iraqis. Their only realistic option right now, therefore, is Al-Alam," says RFE/RL's William Samii. But the Iranian channel's popularity with local audiences has also brought it under suspicion in the eyes of US forces in Iraq, who have carried out several raids on its premises in Baghdad. After the latest raid, on 19 October, Iranian state television complained that Al-Alam's Baghdad offices "had been raided for the fifth time in as many months and its journalists there `insulted'," according to the French news agency AFP. "Our programmes are balanced," and such US raids "only jeopardise the free flow of information coming out of Iraq," AFP quoted Al-Alam's newsroom manager Hasan Abedini as saying. Technical data: transmission and frequencies Al-Alam broadcasts free-to-air to Europe, the Middle East, Asia and America on the following satellites and frequencies: The channel transmits digitally via Asiasat 2 at 100.5 degrees E on frequency 3.660 GHz with vertical polarization; Arabsat 2A/3A/2C/2D at 26.0 E on frequency 11.662 GHz with vertical polarization; Hot Bird 3 at 13.0 E on frequency 12.437 GHz with horizontal polarization; and Telstar 5 at 97.0 W on frequency 11.836 GHz with vertical polarization. Source: BBC Monitoring research 27 Oct 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** KASHMIR. The yearly special broadcasts from Radio Kashmir, Srinagar for the Holy month of Ramadan started today morning. The schedule is as follows. 2315 to 2358 UT on 4950 & 1116. Their regular morning transmissions then start from 0025 UT. ===== 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS/AT0J, Hyderabad 500082, India, Oct 28, dx_india via DXLD) ** LIBERIA. ACCUSATIONS OF CORRUPTION AT LIBERIA BROADCASTING SYSTEM As Liberia attempts to recover from years of violent civil war, there are accusations of corruption at the very top of the state-run Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS), and infighting amongst staff. One group of LBS employees have produced what they term is "evidence" of financial malpractice by Director-General designate J Allison Barco. For his part, Barco claims the group opposing his takeover are "a handful of people who do not have the support of the entire work force at the LBS". Last Friday, Barco was barred from entering the LBS compound, prompting the UN forces to intervene. At the same time, the aggrieved employees had gathered at the National Transitional Legislative Assembly (NTLA) to petition Speaker George Dweh to rejecting the appointment of Barco. The employees claim that Search for Common Ground (Talking Drum Studio) presented LBS with US$500.00 and three drums of fuel oil under its emergency support programme to radio stations, but that Barco diverted these to his personal use. They also allege that several pieces of studio equipment were donated to LBS by the BBC, but that Barco sold the equipment to a local radio station. According to Liberian newspaper The News, Barco told them the money and equipment in question were used as intended, though he did not provide documentary evidence, adding that he did not obtain receipts for the fuel because he bought it in "bits" from street sellers. On Friday Deputy Justice Minister Theophilus C Gould said the government had ordered the closure of the station, though some employees have accused Gould of attempting to induct Barco when he does not have the authority to do so. LBS is also riven by factional infighting amongst groups of employees. In a press release on 26 October, a group calling itself the Concerned Employees of the LBS expressed dismay that some colleagues have threatened to confiscate the station's equipment in demand for their salary arrears. The group said that while they acknowledge the salary issue, it was an unprofessional attitude. (c) Radio Netherlands Media Network. # posted by Andy @ 08:48 UTC (via DXLD) ** MAURITANIA. ORTM, 4845, Oct 28 at 0650 with solo vocal rather like Qur`an, but not in Arabic, but something to do with Ramadan? As usual went just past 0700 with no ID, abruptly stopped at 0701. Immediately following on same frequency were various ute noises, some sounding like WWV and CHU (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS. RADIO NETHERLANDS CELEBRATES 23 YEARS OF GREAT WORK BY JONATHAN MARKS Today, as Jonathan Marks' career as a full-time employee of Radio Netherlands officially ended, friends and colleagues had the chance to say thanks to Jonathan for everything he has done in his various roles with the organisation. This was not a farewell, as Jonathan will continue to act as a consultant to Radio Netherlands while running his own company, Critical Distance. But it was a watershed moment for both Jonathan and Radio Netherlands. Jonathan was presented with various gifts, including a special DVD featuring contributions from many of the people he has worked with, both at Radio Netherlands and around the world. A video compilation of highlights from the DVD was played to the audience who packed into the reception area of Radio Netherlands. We were fortunate to have the "voice of Media Network", Jim Cutler, do the linking commentary. There were plenty of amusing anecdotes. Everyone who has interacted with Jonathan has a favourite story to tell! An audio CD featuring an edited version of one episode from the memorable Hitchhiker's Guide to DXing series, and a selection of contributions from Jonathan's colleagues, was presented to each guest. We learned from RN Director General Lodewijk Bouwens that Jonathan first showed his talents for the media at the age of 6! Well, I can beat that, as I was on the stage at 4. The problem is, I retired from show business at 7, while Jonathan is still going strong 38 years later. Indeed, by the time you read this he'll be on a plane to Sri Lanka to make a video for the EBU. What's great for those of us living in the Hilversum area is that Jonathan is staying put, and we'll still be seeing much more of him both socially and in his role as an advisor to Radio Netherlands. The Jonathan Marks era at Radio Netherlands may have changed in character, but it's a long way from being over! (Andy Sennitt blog Oct 28 viaDXLD) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. Not only does RN arrive in CNAm from Madagascar on 15595 at 1440, but even better on 12080 as noted Oct 28 in segment from R. Prague about Romany culture --- at least on the external antenna aimed west; while Sackville frequencies were suppressed. Checking the 1900 transmission to Af, Oct 28 at 1921, 11655 via Madagascar was quite listenable, F-G, and stronger than Bonaire 17810. At this hour Mad would be short-path, vs. longpath at 1430 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN. Hi Glen[n], Radio Pakistan is currently using frequency 6785 kHz for Kor`an recitation between 1800-1900 UT; guess it`s extra Ramadan transmission with some competition from Russian speaking number station. 73s (Lars Åström, Malmö, Sweden, Oct 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. Sobre la UnID 4991.3v, conforme escucha, pude identificar como R. Ancash. 4991.3v R. Ancash, Huaraz, Spanish, programa "Atardecer (Ancashuma?), a través de Radio Ancash, frecuencia de la amplitud modulada 1190 y en los 4990, banda de los 60 metros..." Señal muy bajo. 2350, 27 Oct. 73 (Rogildo F. Aragão, Quillacollo, Bolivia, Sony 2001D/Lowe HF-225E, LW 50m, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. STATE RADIO TO SWITCH TO DIGITAL STANDARD WITHIN 5 YEARS | Text of report in English by Russian news agency ITAR-TASS Moscow, 27 October: Russia's state-owned Golos Rossii (Voice of Russia) radio will begin digital broadcasting abroad within the next five years. Golos Rossii head Armen Oganesyan told journalists on Monday that digital broadcasting issues had been raised at the 19th Conference of International Broadcasters' Audience Research Services (CIBAR) in Moscow. The conference was organized by Golos Rossii. "If we do not switch to the digital standard by that time, we will end up behind an iron curtain," Oganesyan said, adding that the radio company will introduce the standard gradually. At the initial stage, it will broadcast by using both analogue and digital technologies. He believes that the digital format will reduce transmitter operational costs. At present, electricity bills account for about 70 per cent of the company's expenditures. At the same time, the new standard will require additional investments from radio listeners. "New digital receivers already exist but they are quite expensive - about 30-50 dollars and although they have much better reception, there must be stronger motivation for people to start buying them. We have to interest them with new content," Oganesyan said. He said Golos Rossii will introduce about 50 new programmes to be broadcast to ex-Soviet republics and foreign countries. They are based on a direct dialogue with listeners. Source: ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow, in English 1825 gmt 27 Oct 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** SAIPAN. KFBS B'03 FREQ SCHEDULE EFFECTIVE DATE: OCTOBER 26, 2003 Time Frequency Language and day - SuMTuWThFSa ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 0900-1059 11.650 Russian 1100-1114 11.650 Chi (Mongolian) 1115-1129 11.650 Halh (Mongolian) 1130-1359 11.650 Russian 1400-1529 9.465 Russian 1530-1544 9.465 Udmurt (Su,Tu), Tatar(M), Mari(W), Uzbek(Th), Kirghiz(F), Chuvash(Sa), 1545-1559 9.465 Udmurt(Su), Tatar(M,Tu), German(W), Ossetic(Th), Kazakh(F,Sa) 1600-1629 9.465 Russian(Su-F), Ukrainian(Sa) 1630-1829 9.465 Russian 1830-1845 9.465 Russian (Su,Tu,Th,Sa), Ukrainian (M,W,F) 1845-1900 9.465 Russian (Su,Th,Sa), Ukrainian (M,Tu,W,), German (F) 1000-1600 11.580 Mandarin (Chinese) 0830-1129 15.580 Indonesian 1130-1200 15.580 Sasak (Indonesian) 1200-1329 12.120 Vietnamese 1400-1430 12.120 Vietnamese(M,Tu,Th,T.Sa) Koho (Su), Hmong (W) 2230-2330 12.090 Vietnamese Note: Saipan local time is 10 hours ahead of Universal Time Co- ordinate (UTC). Regds, (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA [non]. SAUDI VOICES OF DISSENT --- The Connection, from WBUR Boston, first hour Oct 28 is this, about Al-Islah and MIRA: Saad al-Fagih is a man with a mission and a radio station. Every day, from a modest back room studio in London, he broadcasts his call for democratic reform and human rights to millions of households in Saudi Arabia. And it's making the Saudi royal family very nervous, so nervous that they called on the country's most senior religious leader to denounce the radio station's call to protest. Saad al-Fagih is himself from a prominent Saudi family, but he was forced to leave home and seek asylum in London after being jailed for his political efforts. Now he and his team are penetrating the carefully censored Saudi media with a satellite radio signal that is broadcasting critical voices back to the Kingdom. Tuning in dissent and civil disobedience discourse in Saudi Arabia. Should that be Sa`ad al-Faqih? Listen on demand via: http://www.theconnection.org/shows/2003/10/20031028_a_main.asp (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOMALIA [non]. Tuesday Oct. 28. Radio Huriyo is on 9820 via Jülich 1630-1659. Crash start, local music and several IDs given. Also supposed to be on Friday (Silvain Domen, Belgium, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN. REE`s new program schedule in Spanish is here: http://www.rtve.es/rne/ree/OndaCorta/p-h-f1.htm It`s dated for B-03, but the English schedule below, without any program details, still claims to be for two hours at 0000 on 6055! We are sad to see Nuestro Sello, the `classical music from our own label` show, reduced to only one ungodly airtime, 1000+ UT weekdays, tho it does go to most target areas; used to be at 1400+, a nice time for us. It appeared to be online via: http://www.rtve.es/rne/ree/ but the link there just leads to a playlist for the Oct 7 program, and previous ones (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SYRIA [non]. Arabic Radio, also known as Sawt Al-Watan / V. Of The Homeland follows the B03 timeshift. Heard now 1600-1630 on 12120. Parallel 12085 not heard. ID's as Hurreeyah Hur Ar-Arrabeeyah (Silvain Domen, Belgium, Oct 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. BBC WORLD SERVICE PROGRAMME TIMES 26th October 2003 - 27th March 2004 Core regional schedules http://www.topica.com/lists/swprograms/read/message.html?sort=d&mid=1715022251&start=18292 (via Paul David, swprograms via DXLD) A handy list in order by programme title, showing all times (gh, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. Full schedule for AFRTS voice channel is at: http://myafn.dodmedia.osd.mil/radio/afn/schedule.asp (Mike Cooper, GA, Oct 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Re info on "Genesis Communications Network", "Christian Media Network", "Omega Radio Network", etc.: Will: I'll take a crack at your first question. Larry Magne used to compile a pretty good listing of these within the addresses section of Passport to World Band Radio. The 2002 edition did an especially good job at this; the 2003 less so. Another way to do this is to enter the name of the network into a google search and see what comes up --- from the network's web page itself to comments people have made about it. This will take some research on your part and -- after evaluation of the available material -- a personal decision about "where the equities lie". So-called "patriot" and militia movements and fans of their programming (from full-fledged supporters of their views to those who consider them a low form of cheap entertainment) have had web sites from time to time giving their spin on these networks. That would come up in a google search as well. RFPI used to follow the goings-on on U.S.-based commercial shortwave in their "Far Right Radio Review"; but I haven't seen much on this since RFPI started having its own problems with the University for Peace, their patron (at least as far as transmitting site is concerned). FAIR (Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting) may also mention these from time to time. As for how they get on --- it is mostly a matter of purchasing airtime. Few if any have any real sponsorship and the prevailing model for U.S. commercial broadcasting is the "pay as you go" model. The fact that these networks come and go and are on and off indicates perhaps that they don't do a very good job of keeping up with their bills. Hope this helps! (John Figliozzi, swprograms via DXLD) Are these outfits "networks" in the traditional sense? No, probably not. There are gazillions of independent programming producers out there; these producers make their programming available via satellite, webcast, etc. They are probably hierarchical the same way WBCQ is -- if you produce content, and if it fits the "brand", you can be carried on the satellite. It could be said the concept of a "network" only applies if more than one over-the-air station broadcasts your content. By that definition nowadays, the BBC World Service would constitute a "network" -- they're broadcast over multiple stations at the same time. Perhaps our definition of a network might instead be that those stations that receive the content can also contribute to it -- e.g. when a local station that carries CBS Radio News provides a breaking story from its own news staff. How about satellite-only providers -- such as CNN or ESPN? Are they networks? No, not in the traditional sense -- at least not for television anyway. There is no hierarchical structure -- they produce content and beam it up to a satellite. However, they have the term "network" in their name. How about Infinity Radio? They are a group of owned stations; they also are a syndicator of content to stations they own and to stations they don't own. The lines have considerably blurred in recent years regarding how broadcasting organizations are structured. Consider that CBS and NBC Radio are two brands owned by an outfit called Westwood One -- which itself is managed by Infinity Radio (which also owns radio stations), which itself is owned by Viacom. If anything these days, networks serve the following purposes: Branding (i.e. I expect all "Genesis Radio Network" programming will be right-wing); Distribution (i.e. my program gets placed up on your satellite or intranet site, which increases the odds that someone might actually air it [and pay me money to do so]), Content syndication (e.g. Howard Stern, Rush Limbaugh), Content sharing (e.g. CBS news). We use the term "network" in broadcasting loosely nowadays, in my opinion, when the term ought not to apply -- when you take a look at the architecture of information distribution using 21st century technologies. It sounds important and self-serving to say that you're a "network". It is increasingly rare that the same company creates content, distributes it, and airs it. No longer are broadcasters vertically integrated (the high-falutin' term). They don't need to be -- it is quite easy to farm out ("outsource") one or more parts of the process. It could be argued that a broadcaster needs to retain all parts of the process only if they believe there's a chance that they'd be blocked (one way or another) from getting their content to the next stage of the process. It seems fewer and fewer broadcasters believe that to be necessary --- not the BBCWS, not DW. One notable holdout is VOA. Enough ranting... (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, ibid.) It's a good question you raise. I would suspect that many of these are *not* networks in the traditional sense. Two that might be are Genesis and USA, as they have some MW and LPFM affiliates as well as a SW outlet or two. Others are networks only in the sense that they aspire to be one (John Figliozzi, ibid.) Somewhat tongue-in-cheek, Ken Berryhill shows on WRVU/WWCR are on ``The Ken Berryhill Radio Network``. Me, too! (Glenn Hauser Radio Network via DXLD) ** U S A. SCHULTZ PLANNING NATIONAL TALK SHOW By DAVE KOLPACK, Associated Press Writer FARGO -- Democratic lawmakers in Washington are asking a North Dakota radio personality to take on Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and other conservative talk show hosts. Ed Schultz, who earlier considered running for governor, has been tapped by national Democratic leaders for a talk show to start in January. Democratic lawmakers in Washington are raising money for the show, and Democrats have pledged about $1.8 million over two years to get it off the ground, Schultz said Monday. He said a half-dozen stations are looking at whether to carry it. "The Democrats are getting the tar beat out of them constantly by Limbaugh and Hannity, and they feel they don't have a platform," Schultz said. "There's this conservative mantra that's being jammed down the throats of the American people, and the other side of the story is not being told." Schultz is the host of "News and Views," a talk show on Fargo's KFGO radio, which he said will continue in its usual slot from 8:30 to 11 a.m. The national show is planned to run from 2 to 5 p.m. Central time, and Schultz will broadcast from both Fargo and Washington, he said. . . http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2003/10/27/news/state/sta01.txt The guy mentioned in this article is pretty good --- but I personally don't see him as a viable cannon for the Democrats to shoot at the likes of Limbaugh and O'Reilly. On the other hand, I suppose that for the sake of balance, any program defending the opinions and actions of liberals is better than none at all. Bottom line is that it's *all* pretty much propaganda and show biz --- and little matter of real value originates on any politically oriented talk show. Most of what's trumpeted falls into the category of "preaching to the choir". (Tom Bryant / Nashville, WTFDA Soundoff via DXLD) ** U S A. San Diego fire update: KSDO-1130 is off --- Down here, only KECR-910 remains off. The fire is burning near the foot of the mountain where numerous FM and TV transmitters are located (FM 89.5, 93.3, TV 15, 39, 51, 69, and probably a few others I'm forgetting) but this has happened many times in the past without making it up the mountain. Some timely backfires were set by the firefighters this morning, and have deflected the fire away from my neighborhood for the moment. We're not sure, but we think 3 people in my department at work may have lost their homes. A couple of others have apparently been spared on streets where their neighbors' houses were destroyed. There has been a staggering lack of heavy equipment available to fight these fires, due to a combination of government red tape and pure bad luck (Ramona, where the biggest fire started, is a regional headquarters for tanker planes, but had none present when the fire hit!). The fire near my neighborhood may burn for 5 more days, some of the others may burn for a week or more. Pollution levels are off the charts. 73, (Tim Hall, Chula Vista, CA, 0400 UT Oct 28, amfmtvdx at qth.net via DXLD) Power outages in Santee. KECR-910 is still off, and KSDO-1130 is off again. Things are gradually getting better with the fires. The one by me is almost under control, but a lot of damage has been done by the other fires. My boss thinks as many as 3 people in our department may have lost their homes. One or two others had near-misses (neighbors' houses destroyed, theirs OK). 73, (Tim Hall, Chula Vista, CA, 1743 UT Oct 28, IRCA via DXLD) In case anyone is interested in hearing what's going on with the fires here in Southern California, KFI-640 is doing a bang-up job with their wall-to-wall coverage. If you can't get them via skywave/groundwave, you can listen to the Webcast at http://www.kfi640.com KNX-1070 is another clear-channel doing a great job on fire coverage, but they don't have a webcast that I'm aware of. I don't think anyone's staying on day power/pattern to cover this (KFI & KNX are both clear channel 50 kW ND stations so nothing to change), though I haven't really done a bandscan to see for sure. The only other all-news station here is KFWB-980, which is owned by Infinity (along with KNX) though as far as I can tell, the 2 co-owned stations have totally separate on-air operations (Brian Leyton, Valley Village, CA, Oct 27, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. KVOH hasn`t burned up yet: 17775 booming in as usual in Spanish at 1935 UT check Oct 28 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. To: Grytness, Dave Subject: KJR RECEPTION Hi Dave, I live in NE Tacoma about a mile due east of the KKMO tower on Browns Point and use a Sony ICF 2010 and a Kiwa air core loop. KJR was still mighty fine earlier today from your new location but I did note that I could now pick up Bellingham on 930. Are you co-siting with someone again or did you put up three new towers? When will your night pattern tests take place? One of the other DXers calculated that I was getting about 175kw from your old site whereas from the new one I will get about 45kw during the day and only 2kw at night. I see that it is a peanut-shaped pattern but I didn't realize you were going to suck it in that much to the SE. Is that just to protect Denver? Was the KHHO site that bad for KJR? I never had a problem driving around the immediate area. That's tough moving twice in three years. Is KHHO running IBOC? It's a pretty wide signal. You obviously have made some major improvements down there. At night, I used to be able to null it down to a level where I could read KOA. Good luck. I hope the new setup meets your expectations (Pete Taylor, WA, via NRC-AM via DXLD) Here's a nice note from KJR's Dave Grytness - really nice because he has nothing else going on now. I brought up KHHO's possibly using IBOC because they are really shredding 830-870 day and night (Pete Taylor, Tacoma, NRC-AM via DXLD) Pete, Thanks for the report! Yes we are co-locating with KGNW 820 on Vashon Island. It looks like you will be right in the null from our new location. Also during the testing we actually modulate at 100%, instead of the normal 125% positive/100 negative. Both would explain your better reception of 930. We should be testing the night pattern later today, as of 9 am [PST = UT -8] today we switched to Vashon to finish up the day pattern testing and may begin some night testing, depends on when the guys in the field get done with the measurements. KJR being a regional class B is protecting all other stations on 950 at night. In other words, we have to fit in and not degrade anybody else on the channel. So yes, protecting Denver and Lewiston in that direction. I'm not sure that your signal estimates of the new night pattern are correct. The new day/night should not be that dramatically different. The center of the null doesn't shift quite that much between the patterns, though you do appear to be right in the center of the night null. The KHHO site proved to be quite poor in downtown Seattle, at the studio location on Elliott avenue W. we measured 3mv signal from Tacoma. The site is 34 miles from the studio. 3mv is not enough to overcome the electric bus noise downtown, not to mention concrete/ steel buildings and garages. During earlier testing, with 3Kw omni from Vashon we received 9mv of signal at the studio location. While we have not measured signal at the studio location while operating with 50kw, the indications are that the improvement will be dramatic! KHHO and KJR are not running IBOC. The Tacoma KHHO/KJR site is a very well built site and you are probably well within the night 1 kW contour. We have made minor adjustments to the pattern in the early summer I believe. Otherwise KHHO has an excellent transmitter/phaser/antenna system. Again at some point today and probably all day tomorrow we will be testing the night pattern, during the day of course. Let me know if you experience a dramatic change from the day pattern. Thanks and 73 (Dave Grytness, KJR, Oct 28 via Pete Taylor, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Press contact: Karoline Hatch (415) 336-2360 16 October 16, 2003 SAN FRANCSICO -- Approximately 10 federal agents, 10 San Francisco police, and 5 FCC agents raided San Francisco Liberation Radio (SFLR) studios yesterday. The raid began at 11 a.m., and lasted for approximately 2 hours. They arrived equipped with battering ram and firearms, although neither was necessary. The FCC confiscated all equipment in the station at the time, including a 16 channel Mackie sound board, microphones, a computer, CD, record, and tape players, and so much more. SFLR and its supporters view this attack within the context of media consolidation. Currently 10 parent companies control the radio spectrum. Viacom and Clear Channel alone control 42 percent of listeners and 45 percent of industry revenue. Since the passage of the 1996 Telecommunications Act Clear Channel grew from 40 stations nationwide to 1,240. In 28 of the 30 major music formats, 4 companies control over 50 percent of listeners, and the same holds true for two thirds of the nations news radio listeners. A debate about media ownership, competition, localism, and diversity is currently raging in the halls of Congress, in the nations court systems, and on the streets. SFLR has contributed its view of grass roots media activism to this debate, and for this it has been targeted. SFLR has been a vocal critic of the Bush administration policies regarding the war on terror in Iraq and elsewhere, as well as the California state and local policies including San Francisco's targeting of homeless people. The Bush administration has made every effort to silence criticism of the government. Dick Cheney, in a rare speech just several days ago warned against public dissent. Donald Rumsfeld has clearly insinuated that criticism of Bush administration policies is killing the American troops in Iraq. And yet the killing of innocent civilians in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, and Oakland continues on a daily basis. The next major anti-war demonstration is taking place on October 25th, and includes a major convergence in San Francisco. SFLR sees this unprecedented attack on the station within the context of these national and international events. SFLR is a micro-radio station that has broadcast at 93.7 FM in the San Francisco bay area for the past 10 years. It was started in part to be an outlet and resource for communities that are underserved by the media mainstream. SFLR has garnered much public support for the work that it has done, including the 19 August 03 passage of a resolution by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors supporting the station, media diversity in general, and directing the SF police leave the station alone (via Saul Chernos, ON, Oct 27, WTFDA via DXLD) Well, it's not every day that a raided pirate radio station issues its own news release saying they're not allowed to play radio anymore, complete with their spin on why their ox is being gored. Kinda ruins the "kids playing radio" mystique of the whole pirate biz, don't you think? How much you think they were billing per quarter? Actually, the most interesting thing is the quote, "We thought we might have another warning or so," from the landlord (and co-owner) in the Chronicle story. Is the FCC in the habit of warning pirates they're about to be closed down? So did someone else do so? Or did it happen at all? Sure sounds curious, but as a reporter, I'm assuming the other reporter quoted her accurately. Any of our Bay Area correspondents know more? (Tim Cronin, Worth, IL, ibid.) Tim, billing per quarter -- hee hee. It does show that they're *relatively* (note the asterisks around this word) organized and serious about what they're doing (whether or not one agrees with their point of view or even what they're doing). I would rather hear a pirate expressing political views I despise rather than endure listening to children drinking themselves into an intellectual stupor (if they weren't already there before they opened the keg). Pirating is a serious, political act – i.e., you are breaking the law -- and it disappoints me to see it used as a party favor. The pirate programming doesn't even have to be overtly political. There's lots of room on the airwaves for content and expression that is truly clever, even surreal, etc... But even among many pirates, as with our beleaguered radio industry, imagination and artistry are dead. I mean, listen to the shortwave bands (6955 et al). So, here we have a pirate that issues a news release upon its being busted. I wonder if the operators will use the Internet, so I can hear them, and I also wonder if there will be any kind of a fight or campaign. I can only wonder what their programming was like. Curtis, I do hope they were more sophisticated than blaming Bush for everything (Saul Chernos, ibid.) They [FCC] only release News Releases when they have to fine someone. So I can't *prove* it, but I'm pretty sure normal procedure on the first offense is to confiscate the transmitter and warn the pirate not to try again. Only if they ignore *that* and get caught again do they tend to face prosecution and fines. I can only think of one in the recent past who they actually had to send to prison. This particular station has been in the news before. It's hard for me to believe this was the first time they've been visited by the Commission (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66, ibid.) ** U S A. ARRL Bulletin 62 ARLB062 From ARRL Headquarters Newington CT October 27, 2003 To all radio amateurs ARLB062 W1AW 2003/2004 Winter Operating Schedule Morning Schedule: Time Mode Days ------------------- ---- --------- 1400 UTC (9 AM EST) CWs Wed, Fri 1400 UTC (9 AM EST) CWf Tue, Thu Daily Visitor Operating Hours: 1500 UTC to 1700 UTC - (10 AM to 12 PM EST) 1800 UTC to 2045 UTC - (1 PM to 3:45 PM EST) (Station closed 1700 to 1800 UTC (12 PM to 1 PM EST)) Afternoon/Evening Schedule: 2100 UTC (4 PM EST) CWf Mon, Wed, Fri 2100 `` `` CWs Tue, Thu 2200 `` (5 PM EST) CWb Daily 2300 `` (6 PM EST) RTTY Daily 0000 `` (7 PM EST) CWs Mon, Wed, Fri 0000 `` `` CWf Tue, Thu 0100 `` (8 PM EST) CWb Daily 0200 `` (9 PM EST) RTTY Daily 0245 `` (9:45 PM EST) VOICE Daily 0300 `` (10 PM EST) CWf Mon, Wed, Fri 0300 `` `` CWs Tue, Thu 0400 `` (11 PM EST) CWb Daily Frequencies (MHz) ----------------- CW: 1.8175 3.5815 7.0475 14.0475 18.0975 21.0675 28.0675 147.555 RTTY: - 3.625 7.095 14.095 18.1025 21.095 28.095 147.555 VOICE: 1.855 3.990 7.290 14.290 18.160 21.390 28.590 147.555 Notes: CWs = Morse Code practice (slow) = 5, 7.5, 10, 13 and 15 WPM CWf = Morse Code practice (fast) = 35, 30, 25, 20, 15, 13 and 10 WPM CWb = Morse Code Bulletins = 18 WPM CW frequencies include code practices, Qualifying Runs and CW bulletins. RTTY = Teleprinter Bulletins = BAUDOT (45.45 baud) and AMTOR-FEC (100 Baud). ASCII (110 Baud) is sent only as time allows. Code practice texts are from QST, and the source of each practice is given at the beginning of each practice and at the beginning of alternate speeds. On Tuesdays and Fridays at 2330 UTC (6:30 PM EST), Keplerian Elements for active amateur satellites are sent on the regular teleprinter frequencies. A DX bulletin replaces or is added to the regular bulletins between 0100 UTC (8 PM EST) Thursdays and 0100 UTC (8 PM EST) Fridays. In a communications emergency, monitor W1AW for special bulletins as follows: Voice on the hour, Teleprinter at 15 minutes past the hour, and CW on the half hour. FCC licensed amateurs may operate the station from 1500 UTC to 1700 UTC (10 AM to 12 PM EST), and then from 1800 UTC to 2045 UTC (1 PM to 3:45 PM EST) Monday through Friday. Be sure to bring your current FCC amateur license or a photocopy. The W1AW Operating Schedule may also be found on page 109 in the November 2003 issue of QST or on the web at http://www.arrl.org/w1aw.html (via John Norfolk, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** YEMEN. AL-QA'IDA YEMENI BRANCH OPENS CHAT CHANNEL FOR MEMBERS | Text of report from London by Muhammad al-Shafi'i entitled "Website is called: You ask and the jihad base in Yemen answers." published by London-based newspaper Al-Sharq al-Awsat web site on 24 October In an unprecedented step, a wing of Al-Qa'idah has opened an internet chat channel with its members and supporters, with the purpose of answering any questions that they might have. This step has been welcomed by the leaders of the jihad base in Yemen. The media office of the jihad base in Yemen announced yesterday that it was prepared to respond to any inquiries about the current circumstances and events that affected the Islamic nation. The chat programme is called "You ask and the jihad base in Yemen answers". The questions that have so far been asked of Al-Qa'idah's Yemeni wing focus on Al-Qa'idah members' efforts to uphold the cause of Islam and the Muslims, the reasons why no jihad operations have been carried out in Yemen in the past few years and whether the Yemeni wing currently has a plan that it follows as a jihadist movement. Some of the most prominent questions were: Is the jihad base in Yemen merely a military wing of the mother Al-Qa'idah organization or is it an independent group? Is Yemen a sanctuary for all Islamists? What is your assessment of the changing situation after the 11 September events? Abu-al-Dahdah al-Yamani, a supporter of Al-Qa'idah, asked if the rumour is true that Khalid Abd-al-Nabi, commander of the Aden-Abyan Army, had surrendered to the Yemeni authorities and if he had been given his freedom in exchange for abandoning the struggle? He also asked if Al-Qa'idah has issued a statement about this subject? Several fundamentalists asked for clarification of allegations that they had heard about a dialogue between a committee of religious scholars and some moderate jailed Islamists that resulted in the repentance of some jihad movement members in Yemeni prisons. There were many other questions about the conditions of the "mujahidin" in the Al-Jawf area in Yemen after the leader Mu'tazz took over command of the jihad base in Yemen. Source: Al-Sharq al-Awsat web site, London, in Arabic 24 Oct 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) WTUK? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PROPAGATION +++++++++++ BLACKOUTS Several blackouts have been reported recently. On Tuesday 28 Oct I was listening at 1100 and reception was reasonably good. Just after 1102 signals started deteriorating and by 1104 had become very weak. At 1105 all SW bands were empty. At 1200 the signals were back more or less as before the onset of the disturbance (Olle Alm, Sweden, Oct 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Here's the current data from http://www.spacew.com Note that they are saying it may be the strongest auroral storm since 1989! Keep those radios tuned! (Chuck Hutton, WA, Oct 28, NRC-AM via DXLD) Viz.: SOURCE EVENT Class X17.2 Flare in Region 486 at 11:10 UTC on 28 October 2003 Type II: 1250 km/sec Estimated LASCO-derived Plane of Sky Velocity: 2125 km/sec ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL OF SHOCK AT EARTH Estimated Impact Window: 00:00 UTC on 29 October to 21:00 UTC on 29 October Preferred Predicted Impact Time: 08:00 UTC, 29 October 2003 (3 am EST on 29 October) Estimated Shock Strength (0=Weakest, 9=Strongest): 9 Predicted Behavior of IMF at Shock Impact At Shock Impact, the Interplanetary Magnetic Field is predicted to initially turn: SOUTHWARD IMPORTANT TIME OF ARRIVAL NOTICE FOR NORTH AMERICANS The preferred time of arrival is ***TONIGHT***, TUESDAY NIGHT (before you go to bed that night) near or after 3 am Eastern Standard Time). That's 2 am Central Standard Time on TONIGHT. That's 1 am Mountain Standard Time on TONIGHT. That's MIDNIGHT Pacific Standard Time on TONIGHT. EXPECT RESIDUAL ACTIVITY (LESS INTENSE) TOMMORROW NIGHT (WEDNESDAY, 29 OCT) AS WELL ! EVENT #49 NOTES: This is the most energetic Earthward-directed event of the solar cycle. SEVERE to MAJOR geomagnetic storming is expected to abruptly commence following the arrival of the shock front from this flare. This flare was associated with a Ground-Level Event. It was also associated with very high energy protons at greater than 100 MeV (which are still climbing, over 5 hours after the event began). A magnetic crochet was observed over the daylit sections of the ionosphere. An exceptionally intense shortwave fadeout and polar cap absorption event are in progress. There are reports this event was observed in white-light. Intense radio bursts were associated with this event across the spectrum. The type II shock velocity is not representative of the observed velocity of this CME. The observed velocity as determined by SOHO was 2125 km/sec. This event has the potential to produce the strongest geomagnetic storm since 1989. Auroral activity could become visible into the deep low latitude regions. This one is worth driving a good long distance over to find clear skies. It has better potential to produce low- latitude aurora than almost any other event observed in the past decade. Keep in mind that it is also possible the disturbance may not be nearly as geoeffective as many would like. It all depends on the character of the magnetic fields imbedded within the coronal mass ejection. However, we believe it will either be very large, or only modestly large in terms of its capacity to produce disturbed geomagnetic and auroral activity. We do not expect this disturbance to be small (via Chuck Hutton, Oct 28, NRC-AM via DXLD) DAILY BULLETIN ON SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY from the SIDC (RWC-Belgium) SIDC URSIGRAM 31028 SIDC SOLAR BULLETIN 28 Oct 2003, 1230UT SIDC FORECAST (valid from 1230UT, 28 Oct 2003 until 30 Oct 2003) SOLAR FLARES : Major flares expected (X-class flares expected, probability = 50%) GEOMAGNETISM : Severe geomagnetic storm expected (A=100 or K=7) SOLAR PROTONS : Warning condition PREDICTIONS FOR 28 Oct 2003 10CM FLUX: 280 / AP: 035 PREDICTIONS FOR 29 Oct 2003 10CM FLUX: 280 / AP: 017 PREDICTIONS FOR 30 Oct 2003 10CM FLUX: 280 / AP: 098 COMMENT: An X17.2 (!) flare has just occurred in sunspot group Catania 70 (NOAA 0486). Its peaking time is 11:10 UT. Coronal dimmings and probably an EIT wave have been observed close to the central meridian in EIT 195 movie, indicating the onset of a CME, which is directed towards the earth. Therefore we expect a major to severe magnetic storm on Thursday 30 October. A proton event has just started. This is directly related to the X17.2 flare. The 10Mev and 50 MeV proton flux levels have exceeded the threshold. The Catania 75 sunspot group(NOAA 0488) had several C flares and one Mflare yesterday. A shock was observed in ACE data at about 3 UT today, the solar wind speed rose from 500 to 600 km/s. This is probably the arrival of the partial halo CME of 26 Oct, related to the X1.2 flare in Cat 70 (NOAA 0486) peaking at 06:54 UT. The current speed of the solar wind is 800 km/s. Leading to a NOAA Kp of 4 and an Izmiran local Kindex of 5. SOLAR INDICES FOR 27 Oct 2003 SUNSPOT INDEX : 219 10CM SOLAR FLUX : 257 AK CHAMBON LA FORET : 016 AK WINGST : 012 ESTIMATED AP : 014 NOTICEABLE EVENTS SUMMARY DAY BEGIN MAX END LOC XRAY OP 10CM TYPE Catania NOAA NOTE 27 1227 1243 1252 S17E25 M6.7 SF 59 III/2 70 0486 27 2146 2151 2205 N08E09 M1.9 SN III/3 75 0488 28 1018 1110 1145 S18E20 X17 70 0486 EIT derived loc _______________________________________________ Dsrc mailing list - David Sarnoff Radio Club - Dsrc@lists.epiphanydesign.net http://lists.epiphanydesign.net/listinfo.cgi/dsrc-epiphanydesign.net (via David Hochfelder, Oct 28, NRC-AM via DXLD) MONSTER* FLARE JUST BLEW!!! An X18 flare shot off the sun about 3 hr.s ago--this is a--if not *THE*--BIGGIE: P=) http://www.sec.noaa.gov/rt_plots/xray_1m.html http://www.sec.noaa.gov/rt_plots/xray_5m.html A major proton storm has already started: http://www.sec.noaa.gov/rt_plots/pro_3d.html This one shot off a rip-roaring CME that may very well be a legitimate newsworthy event! They're going bonkers over on the aurora forum: http://www.spacew.com/aurora/ForumBody.html (Kaimbridge, KMA1DGT~ M. GoldChild, QTH: 42.57 N/70.89 W [FN42nn] Beverly MA, 1502 UT Oct 28, WTFDA via DXLD) We're all waiting to see what happens with this latest CME stuff and how it effects DX. Do you like observing AU in the sky also?? Check out this guy's site.... http://www.spacew.com/gallery/image001902.html He's a professional photographer, living in Alaska and chasing pictures of Aurora --- man, would I love to work some dx off of that stuff! (Jim Thomas, wdx0fbu, Milliken, Colorado, WTFDA via DXLD) Storm impact [expected] around 0800 UTC [Oct 29]. http://www.spacew.com/cme/index.html (VEM3-ONT22, William Hepburn, Grimsby, Niagara, ON, CANADA, WTFDA via DXLD) NW7US PROPAGATION BULLETIN - 28-X-2003 - 1900Z OCT 28, 2003 12:02 PST Folks: What an exciting time for radio enthusiasts! This past weekend's media hype about a major geomagnetic and solar storm was unfortunate and unwarranted. But, today, solar events have occurred that has the whole propagation science community buzzing. I just finished talking with Mike Weaver from the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration Space and Environment Center (NOAA SEC). He is the Solar Forecaster that has been on duty for the last four days. Last week, I also spoke with Bill Murtagh, who is beginning a shift to cover the next few days. Our discussion focused on today's events, and what will transpire over the next few days. The following is my perspective of current solar and geophysical conditions and the forecast for the next 48 hours or so. On 28 October 2003 UTC, an X17.2-class flare from NOAA Region 486 occurred at 0951Z, peaking at 1110Z. This caused severe radio blackouts (R4 is the reported level, see http://www.sec.noaa.gov/NOAAscales/ for details on the scales used) on the sunlit side of the Earth (which would have been morning, on the eastern coast of North America). It also created an S3 (strong) solar radiation storm. Associated with this flare are a proton event and a full-halo coronal mass ejection (CME). This flare is the second most intense of the current solar cycle. It is not historical. We expect several of these large flares during any given solar cycle. The proton event started at about 1330Z, and has exceeded all threshold levels, causing a Polar Cap Absorption event (PCA). It is expected that this proton event will be prolonged and last for the next 36 hours, to some degree. This will cause transpolar path degradation (don't expect any DX over the poles nor over any high- latitude paths) for the next few days. The CME was a full-halo, and is directed squarely at the Earth. Based on the speed and recordings, so far, Mike expects it to impact the Magnetosphere at about 1500Z 29 October 2003. When it hits, the shock alone will produce at least G3-level geomagnetic activity. This would translate to a Kp index of about 8, even if the IMF (Interplanetary Magnetic Field) is not pointed south when the CME arrives. After the initial shock wave, if the Bz is negative, indicating that the IMF has turned south, the Kp index will remain high, with a possible Kp of 9 during the passage of the CME. This will cause between a level G4 and a G5 (severe to extreme) geomagnetic storm. This will severely degrade HF and MW radio communications (while possibly enhancing VHF/UHF propagation). The timing of the arrival of the CME shock will occur after sunrise for those in North America. Therefore, I do not expect to see any Aurora tonight, local time on 28 October 2003. However, I do expect radio auroral mode propagation during the day of 29 October 2003, and continuing into the night of the same day. If the IMF remains negative, there is a strong chance of a prolonged severe geomagnetic storm, with associated Aurora viewable as far south as southern California and Florida. Continued radio blackouts are likely from new flare activity. As I write this, we are in the decline of a new M-class flare. There are eight main regions on the visible solar disk, three of which are actively producing flares. One of these is about to rotate out of view. One of the new regions just rotating into view is active, and has already produced some M-class flares. Overall conditions: In the next 12 to 20 hours, expect great conditions on frequencies above 15 MHz, while in general, all HF will have periods of radio blackouts during the flare events, if they occur. (And, they will occur). Sometime around 1500Z, tomorrow (29 Oct 2003), expect all HF communications to become severely degraded with the arrival of the CME shock, and for a severe to extreme geomagnetic storm to commence and last for a prolonged period. S3-level (severe) solar radiation storm conditions will last for the next 24 to 48 hours. I expect a lot more activity during this week, but I don't view this as a "third" peak in this current solar cycle, number 23. Several past cycles have had such bursts during the decline of those cycles. I'll post more about this soon. 73 de Tomas, NW7US (AAR0JA/AAM0EWA) -- : Propagation Editor, CQ/CQ VHF/Popular Communications Magazines (via SWBC via DXLD) NOTE: Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity, 29 October -24 November, had not been posted at DXLD press time for this issue: see http://www.sec.noaa.gov/ftpdir/weekly/WKHF.txt :PRODUCT: 27-DAY SPACE WEATHER OUTLOOK TABLE 27DO.TXT :Issued: 2003 Oct 28 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 Oct 28 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2003 Oct 29 270 0 0 2003 Oct 30 260 120 9 2003 Oct 31 250 25 5 2003 Nov 01 250 10 3 2003 Nov 02 240 10 3 2003 Nov 03 230 15 3 2003 Nov 04 220 10 3 2003 Nov 05 180 10 3 2003 Nov 06 150 10 3 2003 Nov 07 140 10 3 2003 Nov 08 130 10 3 2003 Nov 09 120 30 5 2003 Nov 10 120 30 5 2003 Nov 11 120 40 6 2003 Nov 12 120 30 5 2003 Nov 13 120 30 5 2003 Nov 14 125 20 4 2003 Nov 15 135 20 4 2003 Nov 16 140 20 4 2003 Nov 17 140 30 5 2003 Nov 18 150 30 5 2003 Nov 19 160 10 3 2003 Nov 20 170 15 3 2003 Nov 21 180 15 3 2003 Nov 22 180 12 3 2003 Nov 23 175 12 3 2003 Nov 24 175 12 3 (http://www.sec.noaa.gov/radio Oct 28 via WORLD OF RADIO 1205, DXLD) ###