DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-227, December 20, 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 http://www.w4uvh.net/dxldtd3k.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 1212: Sun 0330 on WWCR 5070 Sun 0530 on WRN to Europe only, webcast Sun 0730 on WWCR 3210 Sun 0845 on Ozone Radio, Ireland, 6201v, time variable Sun 1500 on WRN to North America, webcast Sun 1600 on IBC Radio, webcast Sun 2000 on Studio X, Momigno, 1566, 1584 Mon 0430 on WSUI, Iowa City, 910, webcast [last week`s 1211] Mon 0515 on WBCQ 7415, webcast, maybe 5105 Wed 1030 on WWCR 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 1212 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1212h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1212h.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1212.html [not yet] WORLD OF RADIO 1212 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1212.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1212.rm WORLD OF RADIO ON THE PHONE Hi Glenn, I want to remind you that World of Radio is still available over the phone via that Seattle based system called Laser Box. 206-333-5096. My friend, Joybubbles, from Minneapolis, puts it up. He gets it from the World Radio Network and it is usually up on Sunday mornings. I used to help him with a back-up, and put it on from SW on those weeks when World Radio Network was down, but, some of his friends complained about the "noise" when it was taken off the air (don't know why, noise wasn't that bad) so he has stopped having me do that. PS Yes, his name is Joybubbles, written like that. Used to live in Miami; he legally changed it (Tim Hendel, AL, Dec 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WORLD OF RADIO, CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL on SIUE WEB RADIO Glenn, This will be the schedule for Web Radio at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, beginning January 12, 2004: [on holiday hiatus until then] World of Radio: Monday 10:00 p.m. (UT Tuesday 0400) Continent of Media: Alternating Mondays 10:30 p.m. (UT Tuesday 0430) Mundo Radial: Alternating Mondays 10:30 p.m. (UT Tuesday 0430) The Monday schedule is at the suggestion of General Manager Rick Crossin. This will follow "Journey Through The '50s and '60s", which will likely be expanded to two hours. 73, (E.B. Stevenson, SIUEWR, Dec 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALBANIA. PROJECT GOODWILL ALBANIA 2003 A SUCCESS Cold winter weather was approaching when Project Goodwill Albania 2003 reached its final day on December 12th. But the project left behind a legacy in the form of 39 new hams. Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, is here with the details: The Project Goodwill Albania 2003 ham radio training program was unique in many ways. First, it took Amateur Radio to a university setting as another recognized subject. At the same time it staged an international operating event with thousands of QSO`s made on numerous bands using a variety of modes. The then soon-to-be hams of Albania were treated to the experience of seeing amateur radio in action and getting hands on training. Friday December 12th was the day that those trained under the program at the Polytechnic University of Tirana sat to take their license exams. 95% passed resulting in 39 new licensees being issued. This doubled the amateur radio population of this what once was a much sought-after country on the ham radio bands. For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I`m Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, reporting. Project Goodwill Albania 2003 was an undertaking of Region 1 of the International Amateur Radio Union with additional support from the Radio Society of Great Britain, the ARRL, other national amateur radio societies, the Northern California DX Foundation, and numerous commercial sponsors (Amateur Radio Newsline December 19 from press release via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS. AIR Port Blair, 4760, 1134-1204, Dec. 19, Tamil, YL talk between music, intro music at 1138 followed by radio drama, YL at 1157 with production credits and (presumed) ID, Hindi music from 1200. Fair at best, poor/fading by tune-out (Scott R. Barbour Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, MLB-1, RS longwire with RBA balun, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANGUILLA. 6152.09, Caribbean Beacon, my het here, which I hoped to be Bosques, turned out to be a spur of the Caribbean Beacon 6090 (Dave Valko, 20 Dec., PA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) How could you tell, with DGS identical on KAIJ, WWCR and on TIDGS, nominal 6150? Anguilla never gives any local ID, AFAIK (gh, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA [and non]. 6230: I have been reading all the postings regarding this frequency mystery. Here are some more interesting points to consider. I listened this morning at 1236 UT and in progress was the marine forecast from the Australian Marine Meteorological Service, until signoff at 1248 in English. An announcement came on at 1255 announcing in fact they do use this frequency. Also at 1306, two marine operators broke in over the service. I have found this frequency is used a lot by marine traffic from oil rigs in the Gulf. So the varying what was previously described as a transmitter in flight very well could be one or other trying to transmit during the hours as well. 73's (Bruce, Valrico, FL, Dec 18, swl at qth.net via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Long skip FM transmission --- This afternoon (0005 UT) I was startled to receive on my car radio, over 50 minutes worth of local-strength audio on 103.5 MHz with frequent announcer and recorded IDs for "702 ABC Sydney and ABC New South Wales" with host Susan Sloane. All this while driving the eastern seaboard of New Zealand's South Island from just north of the Waitaki River to just north of the Opihi River (Temuka). The last 15 minutes were subject to deepening fades, but the previous signal was as strong and consistent as NZ's National Radio service! Reception was from 0005 (weather) through to 0055 (NZST 1.05 to 1.55 pm). Regards (Michael Pollard, NZ, Dec 19, ripple via DXLD) Hi Michael, This would have been 2BA Batemans Bay/Moruya [NSW] with 40 kW directional, looking at the list. Nice catch. This used to come in occasionally at Gosford when I lived up there, a bit north of Sydney, during summer. Now I have moved to Adelaide I have heard it once (tentatively - no ID). Probably about the closest spot to you in Australia. From Sydney I heard a few North Island stations at various times, sometimes very good stereo. Just on the car radio or whip on the one in the house (Richard Jary, Australia, ibid.) ** AUSTRALIA. DIGITAL RADIO TRIALS From ABC News Online, Thurs. 18 December: 17/12/2003. ABC News Online This is the print version of story http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s1012250.htm Last Update: Wednesday, December 17, 2003. 10:10pm (AEDT) DIGITAL RADIO PILOT SWITCHED ON A new digital radio trial has started in Sydney. Eleven stations including ABC Classic FM, ABC dig Internet radio, SBS and all commercial radio networks have started broadcasting as part of an 18 month long industry wide pilot program. The Federal Communications Minister, Daryl Williams, switched on the digital service at a function in Sydney. One hundred listeners have been selected to take part in the trial. Commercial Radio Australia chief executive Joan Warners says digital radio provides many benefits including a more robust signal and crystal clear sound. "We are looking at multi-layering, which means you can have a number of different services offered by a radio station, you can have text, graphics, still pictures being broadcast in terms of news headlines, weather forecast and stock prices," she said. Mr Williams says the trials are designed to see how the technology works and identify any issues with the new format or consumer reception. "Digital radio is a way off yet, the government has not decided upon either any strategy or any timetable and industry is as these trials indicate not yet settled on any approach." Commercial Radio Australia says full conversion to digital radio could still be a decade away (via Matt Francis, DC; Bill Westenhaver, QC, DXLD) [DAB] DAB TRANSMISSIONS START IN AUSTRALIA. DRDB today reports: Radio in Australia marks a major milestone today when 11 stations, representing all commercial radio networks in Sydney plus the ABC and SBS, begin broadcasting in digital as part of an 18-month long industry-wide pilot program. Federal Communications Minister Daryl Williams officially switched on the digital services at a function in Sydney tonight. Peak industry body Commercial Radio Australia is coordinating the project on behalf of WS-FM, Nova 969, 2GB, 2CH, 2UE, 2DAYFM, 2KY, 2SM, ABC Classic FM, ABC dig internet radio and SBS. These stations will simulcast in both analogue and digital for the period of the project to allow the industry to test listener and advertiser reaction to the new technology. "The start of digital broadcasting is a very exciting milestone for radio in Australia and is the biggest innovation since the introduction of FM radio in the 1970s," said Joan Warner, chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia. "The new technology has the potential to make radio more compelling for listeners because it combines new features such as crystal clear sound, a screen for pictures and text information on-demand, and multi-layering of programs, with radio's existing strengths of portability and immediacy. "It also adds a new dimension for advertisers because it significantly increases marketing options such as logos, visuals, replay buttons and electronic coupon downloads." Broadcast partners in the trial have established a consortium called Digital Radio Broadcasting Australia Pty Ltd (DRBA) to own the digital transmission system for Sydney and take responsibility for multiplex management. Strategic partners in the trial include receiver manufacturers Alpine Electronics, Pure Digital, Factum Electronics AB and Blaupunkt; advertising agency Universal McCann; retailer Harvey Norman, and infrastructure providers Telstra, RadioScape, BSA, Comsyst, RFS and TXA. Digital radio sets are required to access the digital services. Initially 100 listeners will be selected to participate in test panels made up of taxi drivers, youth, opinion makers, PC users and racing enthusiasts, expanding to 500 listeners as a greater range of digital radio receivers becomes available. All Alpine Car Radio dealer stores in Sydney will set up a digital display and talks are underway for consumer display centres to be set up in shopping centres and retail stores early next year. A new website http://www.digitalradioaustralia.com.au has been developed to provide more information (via Scott Hatley, DAB yahoogroup, Dec 17 via Paul David, DXLD) ** BELGIUM [non]. [SWL] First Xtal Set QSL Arrives! Much to my surprise, and delight, there was a full data QSL and new program schedule from Brussels, Belgium in today`s regular mail. I had sent them a reception report by e-mail on December 9th, it took nine days to respond and get a reply here. Amazing! Normally it takes that long to get a letter from Michigan to Ohio! (chuckle). It once took fifteen days for a check to reach NRC, honestly. I had asked if they wanted me to submit a reception report by regular mail with three IRC enclosed to cover return postage. Apparently not, as this is the only response I received. I applaud them for their courtesy, promptness and listener support. I would ask Glenn Hauser, Arnie Coro and Marie Lamb to mention this on their radio programs. I heard "Belgium Calling" on a home-brew crystal radio on December 8, 2003 at 0501-0527 UTC on 9590 Khz with a RST of 343. Antenna was a five band dipole in an inverted vee installation with the apex at 38 feet. This is fun! (Duane Fischer, W8DBF, MI, Dec 18, swl at qth.net via DXLD) Did you realize, or did the QSL reveal, that this is actually transmitted from Bonaire? (gh) ** BOLIVIA. 4722.86 kHz unID Bolivia Could it be Radio Yura? I have a long recording so I will try tomorrow to get an ID. Up to 0000 UT much talking both Spanish and Indian language. Said one time "Radiofónico SEPRA" but if it was an ID I do not know. After 0100 nonstop music, mostly Mexican and some cumbias. Yura have always been under 4720 as far as I know (Björn Malm, Ecuador, Dec 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The station was off 18th, today on air with weak signal in the morning but much better this evening. Much talk up to 0100 UTC. Thereafter nonstop music without talk, just ID "105.3" and close down 0200 UTC without talk/ID. I have searched on internet and the only station I found is: La Paz: Radio Nuevo Amanecer 105.3 FM (10,000 watts). Arquidiócesis de La Paz. Av. Armentia esq. Laja 512, La Paz. Tel: (591 2) 379 034, fax mismo. Padre Armando Carminati Ferrari, director. Afiliada con EWTN. Do anyone have information about more FM stations in Bolivia on 105.3 MHz? (Björn Malm, Ecuador, SWB América Latina, DX LISTENING DIGEST) BOLIVIA, 4722.85, UNID., 2312-0100+, Romantic LAm Pop music with a Reggae flare. Very low distorted modulation. A few shouted words at 2326, impossible to copy. Like other LAs, this weakened about a sesquihour after sunset. Frequency was rock steady (Dave Valko, PA, 19 Dec., Cumbre DX via DXLD) New Bolivian on 4722.86. Björn Malm`s audio file with a bilingual off cue announcement for a CEPRA program [Centro de Producción Radiofónica, see info at http://www.rnw.nl/sp/toolbar/radioenlace_110703.html is now up at the SWB site at http://homepage.sverige.net/~a-0901/ ["Unid Bolivia", 768 kB]. The ID is not difficult to locate on the file. It is not particularly garbled either. But it´s hard to understand. Without a geographic knowledge of the area it´s all but impossible to get. To me it´s Radio Uncía. Anyone will find the town of Uncía on a decent Bolivian map. Time will tell if this is the correct name. Checking out Uncía on the web I find that the Potosí Tomás Frías University opened a local branch in this town the other year. This would explain why Célio Romais was hearing mentions of a Universidad Autónoma on the program. The FM frequency is anybody´s guess, but it ends in .3 (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, Dec 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4722.86 kHz, Radio Televisión Uncía/Radio Uncía "105.3" I have a new recording from last night of 4722.86 kHz. After listening to this recording, I agree with Henrik Klemetz that the name of the station is "Radio Uncía" from the town with the same name. IDs and ads from the town of Uncía with telephone numbers: 5 9825 2 80 and "terminal de buses": __31 3 36. ID: "Radio Televisión Uncía... regional... radiodifusión... Radio Uncía en su nueva onda 4700 kcs banda de 60 metros onda corta". When giving this ID at the same time the OM-DJ said the name of a churh. Just one DXer has given his opinion about my first recording: Henrik Klemetz. The new recording with better "Uncía" I have sent to Henrik and also to SWB: http://homepage.sverige.net/~a-0901/ Bolivian town-names you find at Global Gazetter: http://www.calle.com/world/bolivia/Un.html Quito, 20/Dic/2003 13:06, 73s from (Bjorn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I have now learnt that Radio Uncía, 4722.86 + 105.3, is owned by the Municipality of Uncía. On a clip sent to me by Björn Malm today, he now agrees with me on the ID. On this new clip I can hear a mention of their address, so should anyone else ever hear the station, it`s good to know that their offices are at the Defensoría de La Niñez y Adolescencia, in Uncía. This address should suffice. On Malm´s audio file there is a mention of the phone number to the Flota Bustillo bus company. They also mention that the station calls itself Radio Televisión Uncía. I have seen a couple of panoramic pictures from this town on the web, where I have also learnt that Uncía, 15 minutes away from Llallagua, is the place where the tin tycoon Simón I. Patiño used to live. In his day he was one of the wealthiest men on earth. His mansion has now become a museum (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, 2213 UT Dec 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. At 0602 UT Dec 20 on 4915, two stations mixing badly, only a few Hz apart; one with English news obviously Ghana, later ID in passing. The other, mostly what I would call campesino music, which I would not expect from Brazil, but there are two Brazilians listed here, neither supposed to be on air at this hour. 0628 ``A hora certa`` time check, and Macapá mentioned, so it`s Rdif. Macapá, perhaps on DST and starting at 0600 instead of listed 0700 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. CFVP, 6030, Calgary heard again about half an hour earlier than before, and with surprisingly good peaks, Dec 20 at 1423 with frequency ``A Family Christmas on AM 1060, CKMX``, various carols past 1430; only slight co-channel, presumably China. Then checked 6160 and CKZU Vancouver was also in at 1431, mentioning Vancouver, West Coast, 1431 CBC logo and news; but here there was heavy co-channel in Chinese (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. CBC WORKERS VOTE TO JOIN MEDIA GUILD Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - Page A8 A bitter months-long battle to represent unionized workers at the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. ended yesterday with journalists, producers, technicians and other staff narrowly opting for representation by the Canadian Media Guild. In a vote ordered by the Canada Industrial Relations Board, the guild won out over the rival Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union, which represents about 1,900 technicians and others at the public broadcaster. Results tabulated in Dartmouth, N.S., showed about 59 per cent voted for guild representation and 41 per cent for CEP, a narrower margin than many guild supporters had expected. The upshot is that the 1,900 technicians, makeup artists and other tradespeople will be absorbed into the guild, which already represents more than 4,100 journalists, on-air personnel, producers and administrative staff. - CP (From globeandmail.com via Bill Doskoch, Toronto, ON, caj list Dec 16 via Ricky Leong, DXLD) ** CHINA. Glenn, I'd like to correct your note about CRI's correspondent scooping everyone else over the Saddam capture. The programme you referred to was "Voices From Other Lands", and the person interviewed was Jamal Ahmad, an Iraqi correspondent who works not for CRI but for China's Xinhua News Agency in Baghdad. He was actually the first correspondent in the city to report the start of the American bombardment on the first day of the war, scooping his nearest rival by 11 seconds. He did not scoop anyone on the Saddam capture, as he was then in Beijing receiving an award from Xinhua's bosses (Roger Tidy, UK, Dec 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. Classical Music Station (from recent Cumbre logs plus the MARE December DXpedition). 0600: 9780, 21850 0700: 9780, 21850 0800: 12065, 17480, 21730 0900: 12065, 17480, 21730 1000: 12065, 15670, 17480, 21730 1100: 15670, 17480, 21730 1200: 15670, 17480, 21730 1300: 11460*, 15670, 17480, 21730 1400: 7010 (Crash & Bang?), 7630, 17480, 21730 1500: 12065 2000: 12065* 2100: 12065* * Hrd on MARE DXpedition Emerging consensus on location appears to be western China. This doesn't represent any kind of schedule, just when it's been logged. Chinese "Crash & Bang Music" (this is a pretty recognizable thing, once you hear it [a.k.a. Firedrake --- gh] from MARE logs: 1500: 11765, 11945, 12025 1600: 9905, 11750 1700: 9455, 9905, 11750, 11945, 13670, 13690, 13745 1800: 9355, 9455, 11750, 13670, 13680, 13745 1900: 9355, 11740, 13625, 13680 2000: 9875, 9885 2200: 6025, 7150, 7160 2300: 7270, 11635 This is generally thought to be a jammer against Radio Free Asia and probably Taiwan (Harold Frodge, MARE Tipsheet Dec 19 via DXLD) ** CUBA. DORA GUILLEN, FOUNDER OF THE GUARANI PROGRAM AT RHC, PASSED AWAY Ms. Dora Guillén, who was the creator and one of the presenters of the Guaraní language section of Radio Havana Cuba passed away suddenly last Tuesday, December 9 2003 in Asunción, Paraguay. The funeral service took place at the Paraguayan Communist Party headquarters. Guillén was a member of the PCP's Central Committee . Guillén lived her last 41 years in Havana, after a short scholarship in the Soviet Union. In 1962 she went into the Cuban Shortwave station (RHC) launching the program in Guaraní, the native language spoken in Paraguay. In times of dictatorship (1954-1989) her radial work was relevant for the anti-regime propaganda in the interior of the country and the international denunciation against the oppressive regime of Gen. Alfredo Stroessner. Guillén received honors in the Caribbean country for her discipline, conscience and solidarity. She was the main representative of the Paraguayan Communist Party in Havana. Last Sunday she came to Cuba on her regular biannual visit. On Tuesday her lengthy illness aggravated and she finally died. Since yesterday (Dec 16) there is a sense of emptiness in Radio Havana. The upset voice of her inseparable comrade, María Céspedes, sent to the ether the last farewell (Miguel H. López, "Ultima Hora", Paraguay, Dec 16, freely translated by Horacio Nigro, Uruguay, DX LISTENING DIGEST) -- The original text in Spanish follows: ------------------------------------- FALLECIÓ DORA GUILLÉN, DE RADIO HABANA --- Miguel H. López Dora Guillén, la creadora y una de las conductoras del conocido espacio radial en guaraní de Radio Habana, Cuba, falleció repentinamente el martes a la noche en Asunción. Sus restos hasta ayer eran velados en la sede del Partido Comunista Paraguayo (PCP), cuyo Comité Central integraba. Guillén vivió sus últimos 41 años en la capital cubana tras una breve pasantía por la Unión Soviética, adonde fue a estudiar. Antes de viajar al exterior, en Asunción vivió con su madre en un corralón de burros en la actual sede de ESSAP. A los 16 años su compromiso y lucha antidictatorial la impulsaron a salir del país junto a su padre César Guillén. En 1962 ingresó a la emisora de onda corta creando el espacio que transmite hasta hoy su programación en idioma guaraní. En tiempos de la dictadura (1954-1989) su trabajo radial fue relevante para la concienciación en el interior del país y la denuncia internacional contra el opresivo régimen stronista. Recibió honores en el país caribeño por su disciplina, conciencia y solidaridad. Fue hasta su muerte principal representante del PCP en La Habana. El domingo pasado llegó al país en su habitual visita bianual. El martes su prolongado problema de salud se agravó y su vida se apagó definitivamente. Desde ayer hay un sentido vacío en Radio Habana. La acongojada voz de su inseparable compañera de militancia y trabajo, María Céspedes, lanzó anoche al éter el último adiós. (via Horacio Nigro, Montevideo, Uruguay, DXLD) ** CYPRUS [non]. SONNET RADIO --- Exclusive report for Earthradio by Mike Taylor We are currently waiting VT Merlin Communications to supply details of our frequency for the proposed dates; we are also awaiting notice for a fixed frequency when we actually commence regular broadcasts from February next year. Due to the fact we will be broadcasting during darkness hours, this frequency will be below the 10 MHz frequencies and is likely to be around 7 MHz. Our regular schedules, as listed on our web site, will change slightly over the next couple of weeks due to the response we are getting regarding programming. We are adding an oldies program aimed at the 60's which will replace the nightly European Top 20 during the week days Mon-Thu. Sunday sees an additional programme running through to 0145 which focuses on News and Current Affairs which will be a live phone in programme discussing these issues and other topics chosen by listeners. Saturday night sees a change to the 2200 slot which is dedicated to the 80's. These changes come after much response from people interested in our programming. We will be launching a poll in a discussion group we are creating on our web site regarding what it is people would like to hear on our station, results of which will be published on our web site on New Years Day 2004. (A current revised schedule is listed at the bottom of this page) Regarding technical issues here at Sonnet Radio, we have planned the test transmissions to be aired at 400 kW on the 12th December 2003, 500 kW on the 26th December 2003 with regular programs continuing to broadcast at 500 kW. We have specifically requested a frequency allocation within the 49m band but this depends on the ITU. Our studio is based in Larnaca, Cyprus and we will be using a Frame Relay link via our own VPN to the VT Merlin Control Centre, who then route our transmissions to the transmitter site in Norway. Our studios are fully computerised and contain a music library of 16,500 songs ranging from the 50's through to today on our server. We are using pre-dynamics processing of all our programs using an Orban Optimod HF 9200 ensuring efficient modulation. ©Sonnet Radio 2003 2© EARTHRADIO BROADCASTING SYTEMS http://www.earthradio.co.uk/radio_news.htm (via Mike Terry, Dec 19, DXLD) The part about Norway is, I guess, outdated (gh, DXLD) ** DENMARK [non]. RADIO DENMARK CLOSES Dear All, As you probably know Radio Denmark short wave closes on December 31, the last broadcast being at 2230 UT. As I NO LONGER have any connection with that Station, please address any correspondence about it to: rdktek@dr.dk which is forwarded to the new contact person. A Farewell broadcast is prepared by Preben Lund to be broadcast on December 25 from 1230 UT, and then repeated 22 times (no broadcast at 0330) until the last repeat at 1130 UT on Dec. 26. In the final broadcasts from 1230 UT on December 31 a short Farewell is planned. All in Danish. After this email I'll close this email-list [from EHK@dr.dk], and I'll delete all names and addresses. For your information I can tell you that I'll continue my normal work in the technical Master Control of the Danish Broadcasting Corporation. Thanks for your interest in Radio Denmark. Finally I of course wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy & Healthy New Year (Erik Køie, Copenhagen, Dec 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR [non]. Re. the press release http://www.hcjb.org/displayarticle1230.html : || the 1 million speakers of a major language spoken in the North Caucasus region of Russia || :: This figure appears to match Chechen. || HCJB World Radio began airing weekly programs in the language Monday, Dec. 1, from a shortwave facility outside of the area. The name of the language and other details are omitted for security reasons. || :: Stealth broadcasting, quite an idea. What about these presumed Chechen programs being embedded in HCJB's Rampisham slot 1700-1800 on 11760? By the way, German 1800-1900 via Wertachtal was meanwhile moved to 5925, this time going to be buried in the slope of Bolshakovo-5920 I would assume without having heard it so far (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Dec 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FINLAND. YLE to end streaming of radio music programmes; dispute over tariffs with performing artists' copyright society http://www.helsinki-hs.net/news.asp?id=20031219IE1 (via Kim Elliott, DXLD) ** GERMANY. Report about a meeting of 15 former employees of the Burg station, with a small picture of them in front of (one of the) container(s) with the current transmitters (137, 531 plus the now silent 261 and 1575): http://www.volksstimme.de/show_fullarticle.asp?AID=470583 (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Dec 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KASHMIR [non]. Dear Glenn Hauser, With reference to item in DXLD 3- 226, the broadcast at 0730-0830 on 9890 is not that new. It has been there for the last many months and reported first in Dx_India reflector. It`s already printed in Passport to World Band Radio 2004 also. How come BBC Monitoring missed it till now? Yours sincerely, (Jose Jacob, India, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KYRGYZSTAN. Hi Glenn. Re DXLD 3-226, item from RUS-DX about R Extol in English. This used to be TWR programming in English via this 1467 Bishkek transmitter. And I think it still is. Some discussion about this can be seen at http://www.dxing.info/community/viewtopic.php?t=888 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, Dec 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LAOS. Lao Nat'l Radio, 6130, 1135-1204, Dec. 19, Laotian, YL with talks between brief musical bits and ballads, long talk from 1146 to 1155, ballad, Fanfare at 1158, 7 gongs, OM with ID and presumed NA, OM with news mentioning "Vientiane". Fair with co-channel Xizang PBS, Tibet underneath. Nice to hear this for the first time (Scott R. Barbour Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, MLB-1, RS longwire with RBA balun, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAYSIA. R. Malaysia/Radio 4, 7295, 1112-1127, Dec. 19, English, YL with rap and pop music., passing mention, "R. Malaysia, Radio 4". Kool & the Gang, "Celebrate" at 1122 ("Whoo-Hoo!!"). V. of Malaysia/V. of Islam, 9750, 1046-1110, Dec. 19, Malay, Lite music and ballads with YL between songs. Jingle at 1101, YL singing "Saura Islam" several times. OM with news, YL returns at 1108 with more ballads (Scott R. Barbour Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, MLB-1, RS longwire with RBA balun, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO [and non]. XEKTT case: see USA --- BROADCAST BAND UPDATE ** NETHERLANDS [non]. Just received from Ehard Goddijn of our Programme Distribution Department: As from Monday December 22nd the RNW-frequency for English via Petropavlovsk Kamamchatskiy, Russia at 0959-1057 UT will be 7315 kHz instead of 7260 kHz due to interference in the Far East (Andy Sennitt, RN, Dec 19, hard-core-dx via DXLD) How about the 1800-1900 or so collision between RN Mad and Cuba on 11655? (gh, DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. Christmas / Holiday programming change - Radio Netherlands --- In lieu of Newsline on Christmas Day, Radio Netherlands will air the following: Anne Blair Gould presents ***SNOW*** - a lyrical celebration of snowmen, snowflakes and wintry wonderlands... You can also hear lots of facts about snow... Is it true that the Inuit people have twenty different words for snow? Are all snowflakes unique in structure? How difficult is it to forecast a 'White Christmas'? And what sort of snow is the best for building snowmen, ski-slopes and igloos? Join Anne, Frosty and many of your favourite snow time characters for a celebration of seasonal snow. Broadcast times (UT): 10.00 (Pacific/Asia/Far East), 12.00 (Eastern USA), 14.00 (South Asia), 18.00 + 19.30 + 20.30 (Africa), 22.00 (Europe), 00.00, 01.00 + 04.00 (North America) (from RNW Programme Preview e-mail via Richard Cuff, DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. Dear Listener, The traditional annual FRS X-Mas broadcast will take place Sunday December 21st. FRS will be on air on 48 metres 0952-1400 CET [0852-1300 UT] on a 48 mb frequency. In addition FRS-Holland will be on 12255 kHz between 1200-1400 CET [1100- 1300 UT]. These hours are not in parallel. Programme line-up consists of Mark Jones, Frank Carson and Peter Verbruggen including a 45+ minute DX-Show. Enjoy the spirit of X-Mas Radio together with us! QSL #2 of our brandnew series called the FRS Studio Series will be issued to those sending us a correct reception report to P O Box 2702, 6049 BE Herten, The Netherlands. Season's Greetings from Paul, Frank, Mark, Bobby & Peter (Free Radio Service via swpirates egroup via Jem Cullen, ripple via DXLD) ** NIGERIA. A new, 117th country in my QSL list. There were several attempts to report reception to the Voice of Nigeria -- but all in vain. My QSL letter comes from Radio Nigeria Kaduna, 4770 kHz. Unfortunately, my name and time of reception are missing on the sheet. Report sent on 13 June, reply received on 18 Dec -- all in all 183 days. V/s Shehu A. Muhammad, Chief Tech. Officer. Address: Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Kaduna National Station, No. 7 Yakubu Gowon Way, P. O. Box 250, Kaduna, Nigeria. Some transmission details from the letter: - broadcasting in English on 4770, 9570, 1107 kHz - broadcasting in Hausa on 6090, 594 kHz. 73! (Dmitry Mezin, Kazan, Russia, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. After a 4-week break, KMMZ reappeared on 1640 the afternoon of Dec 18, again with the comedy format, first noticed at 2045 UT. Now a legal ID finally appears at hourtop: ``KMMZ, Enid- Oklahoma City, AM 1640, is All Comedy Radio -- It`s all about fun; it`s all about funny; and it`s about time!``. Maybe they`re back to stay; go get `em. Confirmed on 24 hours at 0800 UT check Dec 19. It`s hard for me to listen to this for more than a few minutes, but have not noticed any local commercials. There is a break for local ID around :20 and :41, but these are not legal, just mentioning Oklahoma City! (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. Station News --- KCSC/KBCW Classical Radio From the General Manager December, 2003, Bradford Ferguson At the end of this month, UCO shuts its doors for two weeks and we at KCSC (who never close) will be using the time to clean house and get ready for a new year. Our wish for you is the best holiday season. Thank you for supporting KCSC/KBCW. Sincerely, Brad Ferguson, General Manager Programming Notes December, 2003, Kent Anderson Of course, the festive month of December brings many special programs to KCSC/KBCW. There are old favorites (A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, Echoes of Christmas) and new entries (Christmas Celtic Sojourn, Cleveland Orchestra Christmas Concert). Check daily listings for exact days and times of broadcast. And what would a new year be without New Year`s Day From Vienna? We`ll welcome 2004 at 10:00 a.m. on New Year`s Day with the traditional concert by the Vienna Philharmonic, this year conducted by Riccardo Muti. Next month we will say goodbye to a long-running module program. The producers of GRACE NOTES have decided to cease distribution of their program at the end of 2003. We are in the process of putting together a replacement schedule now. Keep listening for more details! Kent Anderson Program Director (via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** PERU. Broadcasting info: 103 Pages of Peruvian broadcast stations on PDF: http://www.radiodifusion.com/archivo/Radios_del_Peru.pdf (Steven Wiseblood, Brownsville TX, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 6536.05, R. La Poderosa, 2330-0105*, Believe this signs on around 2330. Several times now, I've tuned through this area prior to 2330 and nothing was there, but did hear it later. This was the case again this evening Dec 19. Programm of lively OA (tropical-like) music with W announcer in echo effect after almost every song giving TCs, IDs, and many comunicados mentioning Tarapoto, Bagua, Moyobamba, and of course Huancabamba. Also mentioned "A través de onda corta internacional" at one point. There were several canned heavily-echoed announcements by M. After closing announcements near 0100, started a simple instrumental version of the NA at 0102, immediately stopped, another song was brought up and stopped, then the NA continued to the end at 0105 Dec 20!! Nice signal ruined by constant SSB traffic on 6535 (Dave Valko, NRD-535D, Beverage of 500' at 170 degrees, Dunlo "Dip" reclaimed stripmine, PA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** PORTUGAL. Re previous discussion of R. Renascença: Equivalent to Radio Telefís Éireann in what, in size, in the scope of operation, what? I can't understand the comparison. Whether it was a priest who founded the station I don't know, but is most probably correct. All I know is that everybody knows RR is linked to the Catholic Church; like some Catholic schools and even the Catholic University or College, RR is just another means the Catholic Church has to influence society and simultaneously earn some profit out of these activities. RTP stands for Radiotelevisão Portuguesa, which has nothing to do with its radio- only counterpart so to speak, i.e. the RDP. Both the RDP & the RTP are government owned companies in which the only share holder is the state; the latter airs advertisements apart from government funds, which has always lead to controversy re. the other two privately owned TV stations: SIC and TVI. There are plans, however, to merge the RDP & the RTP, like the BBC in the UK for instance, and this is possibly taking place in the very near future. That's all, Glenn. Good DX & 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, Dec 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAUDI ARABIA [non]. SAUDI OPPOSITION AL-ISLAH TV RESUMES TRANSMISSION AGAINST ALL ODDS | Text of report "Al-Islah channel returns on several satellites and transmission can be received with satellite radio and a special warning", published by Movement for Islamic Reform, published on 18 December With the praise and grace of Allah, the movement has succeeded in arranging with a group of companies to resume transmission of Al-Islah channel after it was halted due to the jamming of the channel and the Saudi government's intervention and pressures. The reason for the delay in transmission this time is the preoccupation with long preferential arrangements to prepare various outlets so as to make it difficult for the Saudi government to silence them all at once. These efforts succeeded, praise be to Allah, and transmission started on several channels on several satellites, some of them visual and the others audio only. We tried our best to use the satellites that cover the region with a transmission frequency of high quality and strength. But we warn that, despite our success in securing several outlets, the rulers will not despair from trying to stop the transmission, even on several satellites, because they are convinced that resumption of transmission poses a direct danger to their legendary privileges and many of them are even certain that the channel poses a danger to the rule itself. The movement has learned that a huge budget and a large cadre have been allocated to prevent the channels' transmission in whatever way, even if it involves violating international law or committing a crime in another country. We noticed this in our contacts to arrange resumption of transmission and that was one of the main reasons for the delay. We have a strong hope that the way we followed of having several channels will help protect the transmission, yet the adversary is maddeningly desperate and we must be ready for all eventualities, including a terrorist operation against us or the sabotage of our offices and studios. We would like to point to very useful information, namely, that the radio in the market called the space radio or the satellite radio that has a logo in the corner that looks like a small dish can receive the audio channels if it is programmed and directed correctly. Thus any person can receive Al-Islah channel's audio transmission in or outside the city without a receiver if he wishes. With the help of Allah, we will announce the names of satellites, their orbital positions, the channels' frequencies, and other details within one or two days. The test transmission will continue until the largest number of viewers complete installing the equipment and programming the receivers. We pray to Allah to enable us to operate these channels, bless us, and protect them and to repel the deceit of darkness. We also pray to Him to guide us to the right path and good management in running these channels for achieving the greatest benefit and avoiding any harm. Source: Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia web site, London, in Arabic 18 Dec 03 (via BBCm via DXLD) What about SW?? ** SRI LANKA [non]. Re WRN QSL: That is indeed rare, and well done to WRN for their honesty. To be fair, it's a small organisation where it's easy to ask a colleague to check the log book. At many stations, the people who process the QSLs don't work in the technical department and may not have the instinct of a DXer to check if an unexpected report is the result of a mistake. That being the case, I suspect that many such one-off events never get verified (Andy Sennitt, hard-core- dx via DXLD) ** SURINAME. R. Apintie, 4990, 0106-0146, Dec. 17, Dutch/English, Contemporary renditions of Xmas carols in English, OM in Dutch between songs. No formal ID noted. Good music audio, weak vox audio (Scott R. Barbour Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, MLB-1, RS longwire with RBA balun, DX LISTENING DIGEST) So far mostly noise on 4990 here, occasional audio. Are they 24-hours? Directional? (gh, OK, DXLD) ** THAILAND. Hi Glenn, Nice and strong reception of Radio Thailand over transmitters in Udon Thani to Europe on 9535 kHz in the 31 meter band. First German 20 UT followed by program in French and program in English 2030 UTC. The last 30 minutes program 2045 UT was in Thai and close down 2115 UT. Udon Thani or Udorn-dhani, also Ban Mak Khaeng is a town 40 mi (64 km) South of Laos border in NE Thailand. 73´s (Jouko Huuskonen, Turku, FINLAND, Dec 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) We were also hearing that here the other day until 2115* (gh, DXLD) ** THAILAND. MUSLIMS TO PROTEST RADIO REBUFF Published on Dec 20, 2003 http://nationmultimedia.com/page.news.php3?clid=3&id=105389&usrsess=1 Muslim protesters will rally in Bangkok today to demand that the government allow a Muslim foundation to continue operating an AM (Amplitude Modulation) radio station for Islamic teachings. Banchong Sohmanee, president of the For Virtues Foundation, yesterday said the group would send a petition to His Majesty the King unless the government heeds its call. The station, which broadcasts on AM 999MHz[sic], covers 28 provinces and boasts 3 million Muslim listeners, Banchong said. He said the foundation had leased the station from the Army's First Infantry Division for Bt300,000 a month. He added that the foundation always paid its fee on time, but the Army in August signed a contract with a private firm to take over the station after the foundation's lease expires at the end of the month. "We have paid the Army Bt18 million during the past five years," Banchong said. The foundation asked several government agencies to allow it to continue running the station, but none replied. Banchong said the national Muslim spiritual leader, Chulla Rajamontree, had sent a letter to Prime Minister Thaksin Shina-watra asking him to allow the foundation to continue using the station for religious purposes. The premier has not replied. "We cannot rely on government agencies so we will have to depend on the power of the people. Muslims will gather at the foundation's head office in Min Buri. If we don't get a reply from the government, we will file a petition to His Majesty the King," he said. © Nation Multimedia Group (via Kim Elliott,DXLD) ** TURKEY. Voice of Turkey with program in English was heard with close down 2020 UT on 6055 kHz. Language was English and reception very good. Scheduled to Europe 1930-2020. 73´s (Jouko Huuskonen, Turku, FINLAND, Dec 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. Nicole Kidman wants to star in a radio play for the BBC and she's so keen that she'll do it for nothing. http://www.ananova.com/entertainment/story/sm_848471.html (via Kim Elliott, DXLD) ** U K. MEDIA | DYKE ADMITS HE'LL TOP UP SALARIES Owen Gibson Friday December 19, 2003 The Guardian BBC director general Greg Dyke has admitted the corporation will have to use licence fee payers' money to compensate staff banned from writing newspaper columns about contentious issues. "It's quite clear that with some people we haven't paid the market rate because they were getting significant sums from elsewhere and therefore we are going to have to pay the market rate," Mr Dyke said in an interview with the Times today. The ban, confirmed earlier this week in a letter to staff from the BBC head of news, Richard Sambrook, will affect high profile news and current affairs presenters including Andrew Marr, John Humphrys and John Simpson. The news came as a heavy financial blow to top presenters such as Humphrys, who is believed to earn around £140,000 a year from his Sunday Times column on top of his Today programme fee, believed to be around £200,000 a year. As a result of the stricter rules, journalists, presenters and freelancers including Marr, Humphrys and Simpson will no longer be able to "write newspaper or magazine columns on current affairs or contentious issues". Up to now, the BBC has insisted no public money would be used to top up the salaries of staff who will have to give up their lucrative newspaper columns. However, the corporation has since admitted that some would benefit from improved terms and today's admission by Mr Dyke that the BBC would have to pay the "market rate" to assuage angry staff appears to signal a further retreat. Marr, who has lamented in his Daily Telegraph diary that he could not afford to keep the family guinea pig, Mr Snuffles, if he was forced to give up writing, was saved by a get-out clause: he will keep the column if he sticks to cultural matters. Mr Dyke also said today he did not expect there to be any senior resignations as a result of Lord Hutton's report, due to be published in mid-January, on the death of government scientist David Kelly. "I don't think there will be that but you can't be sure. First of all there will be the question: do we agree with the findings?" he said. MediaGuardian.co.uk has learned that Mr Dyke has ordered the BBC to go on "the offensive" if the findings are heavily critical of the corporation. Privately, Mr Dyke firmly believes that Andrew Gilligan's report was broadly correct and although he has admitted the BBC could have addressed Alastair Campbell's complaints differently, he intends to give the Today reporter robust support. Sources say it is unlikely Gilligan will work again as the Today programme's defence correspondent, but he will not lose his job with the corporation. The BBC is already trying to get its house in order to enable it to be in as "robust position as possible" when Lord Hutton's report comes out. Earlier this week it clamped down on newspaper columns written by star presenters and it has launched a root and branch review of its complaints procedure. "Clearly we accept there were some failures and we said we would look at our processes and procedures and that is what we have done," said Mr Dyke. Despite rumours linking him with a return to commercial television, possibly as chairman of ITV, the director general also insisted he would remain at the BBC until at least 2006, when the corporation's royal charter is set to be renewed. "Doing my job you get calls all the time, but why would you want to stop doing this? I don't need any more money," said Mr Dyke, who is a multimillionaire following his stints in charge of LWT and Pearson. Mr Dyke also used today's interview to step up his charter renewal campaign, which is set to dominate the media agenda for the next two years. Ofcom's root and branch public service broadcasting review, which is already under way, will feed into Lord Burn's review of the corporation's charter. Mr Dyke said the BBC's commitment to building a universal digital service through Freeview would form a central plank of its argument in favour of the licence fee, an assurance that could cost hundreds of millions of pounds. "The BBC has taken a decision that we will build out, as long as there is a government assurance that they will switch off at some stage. We will pay to build out their Digital Terrestrial TV system," he promised today. The culture secretary, Tessa Jowell, has consistently stuck to the government's 2010 target date for digital switchover but has always refused to give a firm commitment that it will be met. Mr Dyke also warned rivals against getting bogged down in a debate over whether some licence fee money should go to other public service broadcasters, a process known as "top slicing", which he said would create a "bureaucratic nightmare". "Let's not argue about top-slicing. Let's have a philosophical argument about what sort of broadcasting system and society we want," he said. MediaGuardian.co.uk © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2003 (via Dan Say, DXLD) ** U S A [non]. 15540, UNITED KINGDOM?, Aap Ki Duniya via VOA, 1354- 1410, Dec. 17, Urdu, Music and YL at 1358 with piano music and "Aap Ki Duniya" ID, OM with presumed schedule, mentioning Pakistan and Asia. OM at 1400 with news re Saddam, Taliban and Pakistan. Different OM with ID and mention of "VOA". Fair (Scott R. Barbour Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, MLB-1, RS longwire with RBA balun, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. I downloaded the DXing with Cumbre schedule from whr.org and found that the bogus times noted in the DX programs list are no longer listed, although the UT Monday 0330 time is still given as UT Sunday (but Sunday night local time, so that is clearly a misprint). A new time, Saturday at 0730 on 5745 is now given and Sunday at 1530 on 17650, previously confirmed by John Carver, is no longer listed, so that apparently has been canceled. Meanwhile, I found a program schedule on wbcq.us dated December 17, but it is no help at all in resolving the question of exactly when Allan Weiner Worldwide is heard (as listed in the DX programs list) as all the old times are still given, and the World of Radio time of Sunday 0130 on 9930 is not listed! (John Norfolk, DXLD) ** U S A. A DIFFERENT KIND OF OLDIES SHOW UPDATE Our show tonight will be pre recorded and can be heard on WBCQ, http://www.radionewyorkinternational.com and http://www.live365.com/stations/15660 The web locations are running under automation so timing may not be exact. The feature is a Jazz & Blues Christmas. Live365 will repeat the show 3 times and the return to our Christmas Doo-Wop & More Marathon, an automated 9 hour presentation of Doo-Wop, Rock n' Roll, Pop, Country Classics and Novelties. Except for a one shot rerun of tonight's show at Midnight Eastern time [0500 UT Sun], the Marathon will continue until the early morning of December 26th. For more information go to our website, http://www.dkosmedia.com ("Big Steve" Coletti - host of A Different Kind Of Oldies Show, Saturdays at 8 PM ET, (0100 UT-Sun), Radio: WBCQ Shortwave/7415 kHz, Dec 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Per a posting on the Free Radio Network, Saturdays, 7-8 PM ELT, beginning 20-December, the pirate program Tampon Tea BINGO Hour will be heard on 5105 WBCQ. I have no clue as to the program content, but we'd love to see your logs (Harold Frodge, MARE Dec 19 via DXLD) ** U S A. 7555, KJES, Vado NM, 0240 12/7, Robo-Kids doing the classic "Above-all forever" chant, with singing in background. I eventually noticed 3rd layer of sound: "beeble-beeble-beeble" presumed speaking in tongues. [Quickly notified Liz so she could enjoy it too. She had mentioned robokids earlier that day.] (Larry Russell, MI, MARE DXPedition) [In movies and TV shows where there are people in the background supposedly speaking to each other, Weeble-Weeble-Weeble is one of the things they use to keep their mouths moving. I ask you, where else can you pick up valuable information like this?! Contribute] (Harold Frodge, MARE ed., via DXLD) ** U S A. I couldn't believe what I heard on WSM Sunday morning at 8:00 AM [CST = UT -6]. The Sacred Name Broadcast with Elder Jacob O Meyer [as on WMLK 9465]. Can't imagine WSM wanting to carry this, or Meyer having the money. You can really hear his slight German accent over WSM. Must check if they are still running it; it was a few weeks ago that I heard it (Tim Hendel, AL, Dec 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Seems they had a few other outlets listed on site, magazine (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. LPFM WXGR DESTROYED BY FIRE --- The studio and transmitter of community broadcaster WXGR-LP Dover NH http://www.recnet.com/cgi-bin/lpfm/fmq.cgi?input_type=facid&facid=126947 was destroyed by a fire. WXGR-LP, operated by an organization called "Gritty" (as in "nitty- gritty") was only on the air for about a month playing music as well as international programming from World Radio Network. The fire was caused by a wood stove in the building that was provided at no charge to Gritty. The loss was uninsured. Gritty is funded to recover the costs of the equipment lost but the loss of the donated building is estimated at $80,000. The organization is trying to raise funds to recoup the loss. Photos of the fire can be found at http://www.wxgr.org (from REC Networks http://www.recnet.com via DXLD) ** U S A. HI, Glenn. After seeing your item from Catholic Radio Update about Radio María Houston, I dusted off my Bruce Elving SCA demodulator, and scanned the FM band here in Houston --- and I can confirm that Radio María Houston is indeed on the 67 kHz SCA subcarrier of KPFT 90.1. Yes, given KPFT's leftist leanings, this is an odd pairing, but revenue is revenue! The 67 kHz SCA of The University of Houston's KUHF 88.7 continues to carry Reading Service for the Blind, as it has for many years now. As far as other SCA activity here in Houston, KRTS 92.1 appears to be running a Vietnamese service, and KMJQ 102.1 has a South Asian language. Interestingly, KODA 99.1, which used to carry the basic instrumental Muzak service, now runs sister AM KBME 790 on their SCA. I don't have a 92 kHz demodulator, so I can't speak to any activity there (Stephen Luce, Houston, TX, Dec 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) That clears up the station whose subcarrier is used. And it fits in with what I heard online from Radio María Colombia in addition to what they say on its website. Perhaps it is not such an odd combination after all, because there is a strong social justice movement in the Diocese of Galveston-Houston, and one of Dorothy Day's "branch offices" of the Catholic Worker Movement is located in Houston, and I have read one of their issues of the Houston Catholic Worker. Now, to solve the mystery of the RMC notice that the station is cooperating with the University of Houston. I do not know why it would do so, or how it could do so, since I cannot see a state public university working with a religious group, at least as part of the curriculum. Perhaps there is a group of students there, or perhaps the cooperation comes from the University of Houston branch of the Catholic Newman Center. That is the most likely solution, if UH is indeed involved, but I still think the Colombians made a mistake and it really is the Univ of St Thomas, which is well known in Houston and has been there a long time. Thanks, as always for your help (Mike Dorner, LA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. THE STRANGE PAGE: BROADCAST GROUP APOLOGIZES TO BICYCLISTS In one of the strangest stories we have ever come across, Clear Channel Communications, the nation`s largest radio group, has apologized to bicyclists. This, to end a controversy caused by disc jockeys at three of its stations reportedly urged listeners to run cyclists off the road and throw bottles at them. Mert Garlick, N6AWE, reports: The apology came in a letter from Clear Channel Radio Chief Executive John Hogan to Elissa Margolin. Margolin is the executive director of the League of American Bicyclists. In separate and apparently unrelated incidents, morning disc jockeys at Clear Channel-owned stations in Cleveland Ohio, Houston Texas and Raleigh North Carolina, urged motorists to harass cyclists. According to listeners who complained the broadcasts reportedly included suggestions that listeners slam on their brakes in front of cyclists and then open the passenger door or throw soft drink bottles at riders. At a meeting in October the League of American Bicyclists told the FCC that the comments broadcast by the radio stations amounted to inciting listeners to commit felonious assault. In his note, Hogan said that disciplinary action was taken at all three stations involved in the controversy including the firing of one staff member. For the Amateur Radio Newsline, Mert Garlick, N6AWE, in Los Angeles. In his letter of apology, Clear Channel`s Hogan said the company would launch a campaign to promote road safety (Published news reports, via Amateur Radio Newsline Dec 19 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** U S A. A MESSAGE TO STATION SUPPORTERS FROM AMERICAN UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT BENJAMIN LADNER Several recent news stories have raised questions about the operations, financial condition, leadership changes, and American University oversight of WAMU 88.5 FM. Some of the questions are certainly legitimate. Others stem from erroneous assumptions, misunderstandings, and misleading declarations that could lead to unwarranted conclusions. WAMU's loyal friends and supporters deserve to be well informed about recent events at the station. This letter is intended to provide that information. . . http://www.wamu.org/letter_to_supporters.html (WAMU website updated Dec 11 via gh, DXLD) ** U S A. HALLOWED WBZ NAME LOST TO `REBRANDING' WBZ-TV (Ch.4) wants a new identity. For good reason. By Greg Gatlin, Boston Herald Nearly nine years after WBZ jumped to the CBS network, some late-night viewers in the Hub still click on the station looking for Jay Leno on NBC's ``Tonight Show'' - only to find CBS' David Letterman. That's just one reason why WBZ is rebranding itself as ``CBS 4.'' ``Some viewers to this day are still confused,'' said Ed Goldman, BZ's general manager. ``We haven't done everything in our power to make sure Channel 4 is (associated with) CBS.'' The station is gradually rolling in its new brand, starting with station identification tags that use the CBS 4 name. Soon viewers will notice a small CBS 4 logo with the network's trademark eye at the bottom of their TV screen during all on-air programming. That's a significant shift given WBZ's proud heritage as the first Boston TV station, in 1948, and the first in New England to cover regional news. Converting to CBS 4 will take several months to complete, as the new logo is slapped on TV trucks, news cameras, microphones and other production elements. Goldman says there are 400 different computer- generated graphic design elements alone to change. The WBZ name, including the ``WBZ TV-4 News'' brand, will take a back seat, though Goldman says it's ``not for any lack of respect.'' He described the cost of all the changes as minimal. ``CBS is one of the great American icons of all time,'' Goldman said. ``The CBS eye ranks up there with the NBC peacock and the Nike swoosh. Everybody recognizes it.'' It also happens to be America's top-rated network these days, he said. When local viewers look for ``Survivor,'' ``CSI Miami'' or ``60 Minutes,'' Goldman wants them to think CBS 4. WBZ was an NBC affiliate until 1995, when it switched to CBS ownership, part of a deal with Westinghouse Electric Co. Industry observers say local stations that once wore their call letters like a badge of honor are increasingly using network brands. ``It's happening a lot,'' said Jim Thistle, Boston University's director of broadcast journalism and a former WCVB-TV news director. With viewers channel surfing through so many cable networks, affiliations between networks and local stations have become muddied, Thistle said. ``It's a nation of zapping out there.'' So local stations are playing up their network ties ``as a flag of credibility.'' The CBS station in Dallas now calls itself CBS11. Houston's ABC station is ABC13. In New York, it's ABC7. All are network-owned, and such stations have been quicker to use the parent company brand. But affiliate stations that aren't owned by networks are also branding themselves more with network logos, experts say. ``My sense is, affiliates are on board with anything that will further recognition of their product,'' Goldman said. He said CBS 4 is at the back of the trend. ``WB, Fox, UPN have been doing it for years (via Brock Whaley DXLD November 15) But, but, WBZ is not only a great historical call, it is distinctive, identified with Boston. There could be and probably are `CBS-4`s in many other markets. Surely even the most casual televiewers in Boston know which channel to find CBS on without being constantly reminded (gh, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. BROADCAST BAND UPDATE Dec 19, by GREG HARDISON MICKEY RAT: No claims of objectivity here; those of us who have seen the darker side of Disney are laughing up our collective sleeve, as we take note of the playground tussling underway between Boy Roy and that guardian of moral virtue, Michael Eisner. Roy`s pal Stanley Gold has also left the Board of Directors, in case you haven`t heard. Without knowing, or having investigated any further, my own imagery of the feud is that of two snakes, grabbing each other by the tail, and eating their way up until nothing is left. Entertaining, no?? I would think the lack of an identifying issue behind the feud reflects the fine Disney corporate tradition of management-via-personality-meshes- and-clashes. A logical capitalist would theoretically assure one`s self that the best person possible for the job was assigned as such. Logic would dictate procedures that would bring such results, based on the individual`s experience, track record, and understanding of new ideas and executions of such. Stockholders, take note: these high concepts have no place at Disney. The Maushaus is run by those who place sycophancy and junior-high- level feelings of Belonging To The Crowd, above adaptive competence or genuine knowhow. This produces the kind of infighting and spitwad- trading that we see these days in the Burbank boardroom. Shareholders of not-too-many other firms would tolerate this sort of thing; unfortunately the large number of Americans (particularly in Southern California) who are blindly enamored by the wonder of anything-Disney allows such hijinks to proceed unchecked. Meanwhile, the once-great ABC Radio and Television Networks continue their constant slide in revenues and audience. And, I would settle for a dollar in my pocket, for each time I`ve personally spoken with an L.A.`er, somewhere in ``The Industry``, who has seen a close associate burned, career-wise, by the petty jealousy-driven Mouse-chine known as Disney. HOWARD SPEAKS: Not Stern, but Dean. A recent chat with MSNBC`s Chris Matthews reveals the desires of the Democratic Pres` hopeful, to ``break up giant media enterprises``. He was asked to opine about specifics, such as the NBC/Universal conglomerate, but artfully dodged such queries, as most politicians do so well. He did say more locally-owned Radio outlets would help, noting that ``only two or three`` Vermont facilities provide actual local Radio news coverage. One would think such moves would involve Congress, in light of related measures passed in those hallowed halls over the past 11 years, give or take a few. BORDER BLASTER: A recent bone of contention has involved the 550 spot on the AM dial, upon which a strong new signal was recently thrust. The source: XEKTT in Tecate, just across the border from the California burg of the same name in eastern San Diego County. Seems, mid-November, this guy popped up here with at least 10,000 watts of power, judging from L.A.-area reception. Saul Levine`s rented- XESURF/540 --- just one notch away --- was rendered virtually unlistenable in its target San Diego market. Additionally, Clear Channel``s KFYI/550 in Phoenix, and Buck Owens` KUZZ/550 in Bakersfield were subject to enormous interference within their own primary stomping grounds. No doubt some calls were made into Mexico, and lo and behold, XEKTT relocated to 560, its original early-1970`s allocation, earlier this month. My theory is that some regulatory form issued in Distrito Federal` included a ``6`` that was somehow smudged into a ``5``; thus the station started out on 550, before winding up on 560. Now crying the ``Blues``: Clear Channel`s KBLU/560 in Yuma, which is probably being wiped out by the new XE, and Disney`s KSFO/560 in San Francisco. Even co-channel KMON in Great Falls, Montana (!) is claiming interference. That original 560 Mexican allocation called for a station running 1,000 watts, if aging memory serves me. Wags estimate the new XEKTT is putting out somewhere between 10,000 and 20,000 watts; I know signal levels in the L.A. area, for 550 vs. 560, are identical. Who knows: perhaps this is part of a great anti-Clear Channel conspiracy. Go NAFTA! RYAN`S HOPE: We all know Ryan Seacrest is the latest Media darling; his latest career boost brings forth his removal from PM Drive at KYSR ``Star``/98.7. I was searching for something quasi-articulate to say about this whole thing, when I ran across the following, penned by one Dan Cox and published in Don Barrett`s most-excellent laradio.com, on December 13, 2003: ``Although a new resident to LaLa Land physically, I`ve been following some industry news for some time prior to arriving. With some of the press releases I`ve seen this week, I felt this might be a good time to get it off my chest. I don`t get it. I`m not writing to slam Ryan Seacrest. Got to admire the guy for devising a PR group/agent/marketing machine to successfully work its magic with those who apparently are most eager to catch a ride on that highly coiffed caboose. One has to wonder: What kind of `Big Picture` does Clear Channel in fact have in mind? Are you ready for your daily dose of Ryan? Via published sources, here`s how Clear Channel is going to make the most of its anointed media darling beginning VERY shortly: New host of the AT40 Countdown - Every weekend starting January 10-11 +On Air With Ryan Seacrest - Beginning January 12, airing live daily on Fox for one hour. That`s quite a wall-hanging beside those new studios at Hollywood and Highland! +American Idol - Starts Jan 19 on Fox for an hour teaser show, followed up on January 20 with another hour teaser, and the third on Jan 21. After the teaser week, American Idol will move into its standard Tuesday and Wednesday evening editions, with hopes of somehow figuring out a way to manage its airing nightly, as we all know it will before the series ends. That AT40 gig has to be a throwaway, what with all the other commitments on his plate. With his STAR* numbers, how and WHY did he get THAT gig? Not a good fit; is he a proven commodity? With his ever-growing schedule of award show/ concert hosting bookings - especially knowing that American Idol will eventually be taping/airing daily as it progresses in the season, how WILL he be able to do it all, and more importantly - do any of it WELL? No offense Ryan; you may be a terrific guy. But your voice, personality and actions hit something in me that makes this on-looker wince - such is this man`s opinion. It`s America - we`re allowed. How did all this Ryan Seacrest stuff happen? With the right machine behind them, can anyone - regardless of talent - become a Ryan Seacrest? --- Like I said, I don`t get it. I have to think there`s more of a story behind the story, and that it`s going to get much more interesting. One last suggestion --- this one`s for you, Ryan: before your Fox show starts, better get the `shuushing` down, Sunshine...[ask Carson]. - Dan Cox, Burbank –`` --- Couldn`t have said it any better myself, Dan. SHAMELESS PLUG: For the above-mentioned laradio.com, the most comprehensive and objective daily Radio update published in L.A., or any other market, for that matter. Industry veteran Don Barrett asks for subscribers, at the very worthwhile rate of $39 per year. Do go to http://www.laradio.com and do sign up; Don deserves all the support he can wangle! SAY WHAT?: California`s Rep. Doug Ose (GOP) and fellow-Republican Lamar Smith of Texas have co-signed on to a proposed measure known as the ``Clean Airwaves Act``. If passed, this would move the broadcast utterance of eight common garden-club obscenities into the realm of the ``automatically punishable offense``. This is in response to the bemusing Music Awards incident, in which U2`s Bono launched into at least one pronouncement of the olde-English ``F`` word. The FCC refused to cite or fine CBS for the incident, and the named lawmakers are cussing-mad as a result. THE LAST DANCE: Coming within days to Entravision`s KDLD `n` KDLE/ 103.1. After countless formats and call-letter changes over the past twelve years, yet another: their vaunted all-Dance music format is heading down the tubes, and an Alternative or Active-Rock slate is coming before year`s end. Word has it that talks between the Corp. and Alternative-programming icon Michael Halloran have broken down. This would ostensibly mean MH remains at San Diego`s KBZT/94.9. LET`S GET SIRIUS: Or words to that effect, were doubtless spoken in the NFL`s executive halls recently. A deal has been sealed allowing the struggling Satellite Radio vendor to carry all NFL regular season and playoff contests live, beginning next season, through 2010. The extra cost to subscribers=zilch. (Current rates are $12.95 monthly, NHL and NBA games are already featured.) NYC-based Sirius has also inked a deal with the CBC, to bring Satellite Radio to Canada. This all depends upon an application made to the Canadian Radio and Television Commission, with a hearing about such slated for this Spring. And while we`re looking ``up``, we note that America`s finest female talk host, Rollye James, now resides nightly over on XM Satellite Radio. Check her out on XM`s ``Ask``, Channel 165, nightly from 10 PM to 1 AM EST, for something actually worth listening to. [hmmm, same time as Jim Bohannon, who is already worth listening too, 0300-0600 UT --- gh] THE PASSING PARADE: We learn of the death last week of Donn Reed, at age 88, of complications from a tumor. Donn was the radio newsguy we all wanted to be, replete with trench coat and up-to-the-second live street reports, whispered into mics for years on end on the old KMPC/710. A little closer to my own home was the untimely death of Ed Berger, at the tender age of 43, from pancreatic cancer. Ed first made a name for himself as part of the AM-Drive team on the old KWIZ/1480, circa twenty years ago. He went on to work for Creative Media Recording in Cypress, helping out with radio productions for ad agencies and audio for videos. Though I never met Ed face to face, I enjoyed the privilege of dealing directly with him through earlier off-hours work at KFI/640, during his tenure at Airwatch News & Traffic. Ed was the one guy you never had to worry about hitting a cue (he never missed), or screwing up the show`s timing (he never did; he was usually more familiar with the particulars of any given program than the show`s own production staff.) Ed was always ``up``, funnier than hell with the off-air comments, and always the consummate Pro on-air. Since 1995, Ed Berger was also the chief of Cal State Fullerton`s Broadcasting program, where one of his innovations was to allow students to do live, play-by-play college sports coverage; and was General Manager of KBPK/90.1, the City of Buena Park station leased fulltime to CSUF. Our prayers go to his loving widow of only five months, Peg Stewart, also an Airwatch colleague. The day Ed died, Peg sat at his side and sang ``How Great Thou Art,`` his favorite hymn. Although comatose, he seemed to be moving his lips to the words. As she sang the last note, without a sound or a flicker, Ed squeezed her hand softly and was gone. Finally, Don Barrett`s webpage recently informed us of the death last May of Bill Browning, an articulate and very entertaining newsman of the Donn Reed era. Bill first came to SoCal in 1950, to spend thirteen years at KGB, KCBQ and the old KFSD in San Diego, following stints in Montana and Utah. He moved on to Vegas and SF, before returning South to join the old KRLA/1110 in its early-`70s glory days, as News Director. After producing award-winning documentaries there, he worked at KFI/640, KIIS AM & FM, and as KOST/103.5`s first morning News voice. He went on to TV news in Honolulu, and returned for four years of staff announcing at CBS-TV, prior to mid-`80s layoffs at the Eye. I knew Bill during his final SoCal years (early `90s), as News Director at KAVL/610 in Lancaster, and last exchanged ribald e-mails with him about a year ago. Bill was a Kansas native, and passed away at his home in KC, survived by his wife of 40 years, Jean. PICKING UP THE CRUMBS: Rumour has it that Radio Única will pull the final plug on or about January 26; its slate of stations (WWRU/1660 in NYC, and KBLA/1580 in L.A., among others) is up for sale to Arthur Liu`s Multicultural Broadcasting Co. Odds are, this`ll mean a return of ``Radio Korea`` to it`s old 50,000 watt 1580 spot on the dial in SoCal. (I for one still miss ``Business Radio``, anchored by John Darrin and Dick Spangler on the ol` 1580, about ten years ago.) An Oopster in Chicago, as Clear Channel`s ``Kiss`` WKSC/103.5`s Prophet System goes ``Hal`` during the overnight show on Dec 8. Listeners were treated to an endless barrage of spots, promos and jingles, no music included or needed. Down Under, it appears the UK`s Richard Branson (of ``Virgin Records/ Superstores/Airlines/Radio fame) may be ramping up to begin a new version of Virgin Radio there, as well as in Japan. Not far away, the staff of ABC (Australian BC) Radio National has engaged in work slowdowns, following a ``no confidence`` vote addressed to Management. Boy, just think what would happen if such votes were taken in U.S. radio operations? Surely the Dials would be mostly silent ----- Until the next, Peace and Prosperity. --- GREG HARDISON (via DXLD) ** UZBEKISTAN. R. Tashkent, 6025, 1218-1227, Dec. 19, English, OM with news re Kazakhstan speech with soundbites and translation, mailbag program with thanks for Xmas cards, Holiday greetings, contact info and schedule at English service sign-off. Fair/poor (Scott R. Barbour Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, MLB-1, RS longwire with RBA balun, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Aprovechando la información del colega diexista Rubén Guillermo Margenet, sobre la buena propagación en la banda de 60 metros, me entusiasmé y encendí mi receptor Siemens RK-759 y comencé a recorrer las bandas y me encontré con las siguientes señales realizadas entre las 0400 y 0500 UT. 4030 kHz, emisora de números ó espía con muy buena señal, prácticamente local. Lo curioso del caso es que justamente estaba escuchando el programa del colega Teo Veras, sobre el Manual de escucha de la onda corta, que grabé hace tiempo de WRMI y había una parte dedicada a las emisoras de números o espías, donde se dijo que uno de estos transmisores estaba ubicado en Cuba. Lo curioso del caso es que para mí, la voz que aparece en la grabación, es la misma que pude oir ayer a través de la mencionada frecuencia de los 4030 kHz. Me pregunto ahora ¿será que se están enviando mensajes a los distintos cubanos que han llegado a Venezuela a través de la onda corta? Entre la serie de números que pude oir están los siguientes: 17482... 15947 etc. Volveré a sintonizar esta frecuencia para ver cómo se sigue escuchando. Atte: (José Elías Díaz Gómez, Desde Barcelona, capital del Edo Anzoátegui, Venezuela, Dec 20, Cumbre DX via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 9480: Can anybody help ID this one for me please? Test tones. Received here in Guernsey from 2235 UT 18th Dec; SIO :555 (9+40dB). Very strong and fully quietening signal. Mainly test tones of varying pitch, interspersed with silence, but also brief broken "Spanish" style music heard between 2334-2353. Any ideas gratefully received. Cheers... 73's. RAO. (Robin Banneville, Guernsey, Channel Isles (UK), hard-core-dx via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 10110.48, 19 Dec 1513-1606, 2+12; OM talk ?; theme song? 1529; YL talks 1532; much CW QRM as this is in the Amateur 30 meter band; I returned at 1606 but could barely hear it. Is this a clandestine? (Al Menzl, R75, 120M beverage, HighSierra Vertical, portable in the American west, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) 2 x 5055? UNIDENTIFIED. 21900: Information did reach us that 21.900 MHz should we watched in the upcoming weeks. As well, night time programming into 48 mb. Conditions seems to generally improving, hope also that there will be some opening on 21 MHz. Time will tell. Greetings, the SW pirates moderator. SW pirates group!!! More info at: http://www.egroups.com/group/Swpirates (via Jem Cullen, Dec 21, ripple via DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ PRECISION FREQUENCY MEASUREMENT Glenn, Tnx for your interest in the way I am carrying out frequency measurements. I am using a Rohde & Schwarz frequency standard with an accompanying receiver which is phase locked to the DCF 77 Mainflingen LF transmitter. This set has an accuracy of 0.00001 Hertz at 10 MHz. The measured frequency is given directly digitally with four decimals, e.g. 21600.0001 kHz. The received carrier is shown on a CRT as a Lissajous figure or rotating marker so you know for sure when you are tuned correctly. Very often you see people give two decimals on the monitored frequency when presenting their loggings. These stated frequencies are not always correct. Without visual aids, it is almost impossible to tune in exactly on the AM carrier. Then you have other factors influencing the reception, like filter symmetry, strong interfering signals, accuracy of the receiver internal frequency reference. Another factor of importance is the fact that most modern receivers are designed for SSB reception which mean they they suppress the AM carrier so a LF response below 100 Hz is rarely found. So telling the true received frequency is a tricky matter. --- Wish the best Holiday Greetings!! (Stig Adolfsson, Sweden, via Thomas Nilsson, SWB, Dec 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ELECTRONIC 'BOMB JAMMER' FOILED MUSHARRAF ASSASSIN By DAVID AKIN, From Thursday's Globe and Mail POSTED AT 5:19 AM EST Thursday, Dec. 18, 2003 The assassin was no doubt surprised that absolutely nothing happened upon squeezing the remote-control trigger to detonate bombs aimed to kill Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf. The reason for the failure came to light yesterday: General Musharraf's motorcade was equipped with a bomb jammer, a device that is becoming increasingly common in the arsenal of gadgets used to protect VIPs around the world from a new generation of attacks. The device blocked signals within a 200-metre radius around the President's limousine last Sunday as he travelled over a bridge rigged with five bombs meant to kill him. Only after the buffer passed the bridge was the bomber able to detonate the charges. "Most car bombs now, for instance, are remote-controlled bombs and what bomb jammers do is jam the particular frequency associated with that incendiary device," said Arielle Jamil of Security Intelligence Technologies Inc. of New Rochelle, N.Y., a supplier of bomb jammers. The company, for example, sells the briefcase-sized VIP 2 Bomb Ranger, which, the company's marketing material says, can help protect VIPs "who are at risk of attack by dissidents, criminals, ruthless competitors and disloyal insiders." Pakistani intelligence officials said they believe a terrorist group - - it's not yet clear if al-Qa`eda or another organization took part in the attempt -- learned of the route Gen. Musharraf was to take as he travelled through Rawalpindi, a city of more than one million people in the country's northeast. The terrorists then placed five bombs beneath a bridge on the route and waited for the motorcade to pass. Not knowing exactly when the motorcade would pass over the bridge, one or more of the terrorists would have had to remain in sight of the bridge with a remote-control trigger and a simple mission: When the motorcade drove onto the bridge, press the trigger and detonate the bomb. But at least one of the vehicles in Gen. Musharraf's motorcade was equipped with a bomb jammer, a small device weighing as little as 10 kilograms, filled with radio circuitry that foiled the terrorist plan. The bomb jammer takes advantages of a basic property of radio waves, namely that a bigger wave will cancel out a smaller wave. And that is essentially what a jammer does: It sends out a big wave of electronic noise that cancels out any unauthorized radio transmission over a short range. In fact, some bomb jammers cancel out all radio transmissions in an area, including those from cell phones. Pakistani intelligence officials said the bomb jammer used to protect Gen. Musharraf squashes any radio transmissions within a 200-metre radius. In fact, as soon as his motorcade had travelled more than 200 metres beyond the bombs, they detonated. No one was hurt in the blasts, as the bridge had been closed to traffic. David Akin is national business and technology correspondent for CTV News and a contributing writer to The Globe and Mail (via Gerald T. Pollard, DXLD) POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ TALK SHOW HOST W6OBB TAKES ON BPL Those opposed to the FCC permitting the rollout of Broadband over Powerline Internet access got some unexpected help on Sunday night December 14t. This, when famed talk show host Art Bell, W6OBB, brought up the topic on his Coast to Coast AM radio program. Our producer Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, just happened to tune in at the right time and tells us what he heard: That`s exactly what happened. I was tuning the AM band looking for the latest news on the capture of Saddam Hussein when I heard Art`s voice. He was announcing that his guest was to be author Harry Helms, W7HLH, and the two were going to discuss the hazards of Broadband over Powerline Internet. So I stopped and rolled tape. In a nutshell, Bell started the discussion by explaining in easy layman`s language that the bottom line to BPL was that the power companies and the Internet provides could rake in a lot more money. He also explained the way this would happen would be to send Internet data over the unshielded power system that were, in effect, giant antennas capable of causing massive interference to existing radio services. How bad? To quote Bell: ``It would wipe out the short-wave bands. It would wipe out ham radio. It would wipe out CB. It would wipe out international broadcasters. It would wipe out FEMA --- The Federal Emergency Management Agency.`` He then noted that FEMA had filed in opposition to BPL and asked Helms if he thought that action would stop the rollout of this technology. Helms responded that he hoped it would, and noted that if it proceeds, that it could also adversely impact on AM broadcast band reception. Helms used the noise one hears on a car radio when passing near power lines as an example of what BPL might do to broadcast band reception, adding: ``Imagine that noise not being restricted to being near a powerline, but virtually anywhere in the United States.`` In all, Helms and Bell spent about 5 minutes discussing BPL and the dangers to the nations high frequency communications infrastructure that its implementation might bring. And in doing so, they accomplished something that the ARRL could not. They made some 10 to 12 million Americans who tune in to hear Bell`s show aware of the danger that Broadband over Powerlines could mean to the man in the street. For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I`m Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, listening in to Coast to Coast AM on KFI in Los Angeles. Bell took back the weekend hosting duties of Coast to Coast AM earlier this year. The show is heard 7 nights a week over the Premiere Radio Network and its affiliate stations in the United States and Canada. Its also on Ask Channel XM 165 on the XM Satellite Radio service (Amateur Radio Newsline December 19 via John Norfolk, DXLD) FEMA VS. BPL Still with the issue of Broadband over Powerlines, another major player has stepped up to voice its concern. The ARRL Letter says that this time it is the Federal Emergency Management Agency --- FEMA --- which is expressing what it calls grave concerns about likely interference from unlicensed BPL systems. In its own December 4th filing to the FCC, the agency says that Broadband over Powerlines could severely impair FEMA`s mission essential High Frequency radio operations in areas serviced by this technology. FEMA expressed primary concern over BPL`s potential impact on the FEMA National Radio System which operates on the High Frequency bands and serves as the agency`s primary command and control backup medium as part of the Federal Response Plan. (ARRL via Amateur Radio Newsline December 19 via John Norfolk, DXLD) FEMA SAYS POWER LINE BROADBAND THREATENS ITS RADIO SYSTEM By Joab Jackson - GCN Staff 12/17/03 Responding to a Federal Communications Commission inquiry, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has warned that sending data through power lines could disrupt FEMA's National Radio System. The Homeland Security Department is responding to a notice of inquiry http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2003/03-12914.htm issued last May by the FCC on whether, or how, the agency should regulate an emerging technology called broadband over power line, or BPL. BPL systems use live utility company power lines as a conduit for data transmission by modulating radio frequency signals that are coupled with electricity transmissions. The technology could be offered to consumers as an alternative to cable modem and digital subscriber line service. Although no services are now offered, several companies have introduced products that let users send data over the power lines within their own homes. The FCC asked for more information on what effect power line radio signals would have on other licensed radio technologies using those same frequencies. FEMA responded http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=6515292045 earlier this month to the inquiry, stating that it had "grave concerns" about how the technology would affect its National Radio System The radio system, which works with shortwave radios, is FEMA's backup command and control communications media, and was designed to interface with the radio systems of other agencies during times of disaster. "By design, BPL systems use radio frequency energy on unshielded, unbalanced transmission lines, resulting in the unavoidable radiation of [radio frequency] energy," the response read. This unintentional radiation will create harmful interference to licensed radio services throughout the [high frequency] and lower [very high frequency] spectrum." Alan Shark, president of the Power Line Communications Association, said that FEMA's concerns were overblown. Most first- responder radio systems work in the 800-MHz range, far above the usual operating range of power line equipment, which can run from 1 MHz to 300 MHz. Shortwave radios, also called high-frequency radios, do operate in about the same range as power line equipment, he said. Not surprisingly the National Association of Amateur Radio, whose members volunteer their services during times of crisis, are also protesting http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/html/plc the BPL technology. Shark said that BPL equipment vendors have done studies on whether additional interference comes from their products, and have failed to find any interference beyond what the power lines themselves cause. Both the FCC and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration also are conducting studies to measure interference levels. (from http://gcn.com/vol1_no1/daily-updates/24470-1.html GCN.com [US] Government Computer News ) (via Kim Elliott, DC, Dec 18; Dave Penney, Shiloh IL; Alan Pennington, UK, Dec 19, DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ MAGNETOSPHERE LIKE `DRAFTY OLD HOUSE' By PAUL RECER Associated Press Dec. 13, 2003, 9:04PM WASHINGTON -- The magnetosphere that shields Earth from eruptions of charged particles from the sun is "like a drafty old house" that lets in gusts of solar energy, causing auroras and the occasional disruption of radio and satellite communications. A new study using a series of satellites monitoring the Earth's natural magnetic field has confirmed that the magnetosphere develops cracks that may last for hours. This breach allows charged electrons and ions from the sun, a force called the solar wind, to stream into the Earth's upper atmosphere and dump massive loads of magnetic energy. . . http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/space/2293875 (via Jill Dybka, DXLD) NASA: CRACKS IN EARTH`S MAGNETIC FIELD STAY OPEN TO LET IN SOLAR WIND http://www2.arrl.org/news/stories/2003/12/16/1/?nc=1 NEWINGTON, CT, Dec 16, 2003 --- NASA says it appears that immense cracks in Earth`s magnetic field remain open for hours, allowing the solar wind to gush through and power stormy space weather. The space agency is basing that conclusion on observations from its IMAGE (Imager for Magnetopause to Aurora Global Exploration) spacecraft and the joint NASA/European Space Agency (ESA) Cluster satellites. Scientists have known about the cracks for some time but didn`t know until recently that they can remain open for long periods. The phenomenon can affect radio propagation. ``We discovered that our magnetic shield is drafty, like a house with a window stuck open during a storm,`` said Harald Frey of the University of California-Berkeley, the lead author of a paper on this topic published December 4 in Nature. ``The house deflects most of the storm, but the couch is ruined. Similarly, our magnetic shield takes the brunt of space storms, but some energy continually slips through its cracks, sometimes enough to cause problems with satellites, radio communication and power systems.`` Co-author of the Nature paper Tai Phan, also of UC Berkeley, says scientists can incorporate their new knowledge into space weather- forecasting computer models to more accurately predict how violent solar events influence space weather. The solar wind, a stream of electrons and ions that blow constantly, transfers energy from the sun to Earth through the magnetic fields it carries and its high speed --- hundreds of miles per second. NASA says the solar wind can get gusty during violent solar events such as coronal mass ejections (CMEs), or solar flares, which can shoot a billion tons of electrified gas into space at millions of miles per hour. Earth`s magnetic field extends into space for tens of thousands of miles and forms a protective barrier to the particles and snarled magnetic fields of a solar flare. Scientists learned in the 1970s that the magnetic field was not impenetrable. In more recent observations, IMAGE revealed an area almost the size of California in the ionosphere above the Arctic, where a 75 MW ``proton`` aurora flared for hours. Ions striking the upper atmosphere caused it to emit ultraviolet light, which IMAGE can see but humans cannot. While IMAGE recorded the UV aurora, the four- satellite Cluster constellation flew directly through the crack and detected solar wind ions streaming through in precisely the same region as the proton aurora. There`s more information, images and animations on NASA`s Goddard Space Flight Center Web site http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/topstory/2003/1203image_cluster.html (NASA) Copyright © 2003, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved (via John Norfolk, DX LISTENING DIGEST) QST de W1AW PROPAGATION FORECAST BULLETIN 52 ARLP052 From Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, WA December 19, 2003 To all radio amateurs What could be better than a rising sunspot count and declining geomagnetic activity? If it were a couple of years ago, we could enjoy more sunspots. But for this part of the solar cycle, HF conditions are good, having improved over the past few days. During this week in 1999, average daily sunspot number was around 132, in 2000 it was 186 and it was 200 in 2001. Average planetary A index for all those weeks was less than 10. This week`s sunspot numbers have risen (42, 71, 92 and 114 for December 15-18). At the same time over the same four days, planetary A index has dropped (25, 11, 10, 8) as well as the mid-latitude A index (18, 9, 4, 2). Often we don`t get this combination. When the sun cooperates and shows expanding sunspots, raising the MUF, we often get space weather that disturbs the earth`s geomagnetic field and the ionosphere, raising absorption of HF signals and causing havoc with propagation. Now with the modest rise in sunspots we have declining geomagnetic indices, a welcome combination. Over the next few days conditions are likely to change. By Sunday, December 21, earth should meet a solar wind generated by a coronal hole. Predicted planetary A index for this weekend is between 15 and 20, but it should quiet down in the following days. Solar flux for this weekend is predicted around 135, and flux values should rise to a peak around 140 by December 22-23. Solar flux may drop below 100 by the New Year. If geomagnetic indices go low after the weekend and sunspots increase, we should see improved HF conditions, although for the northern hemisphere Monday will have the least sunlight of any day of the year. This means slightly lower average MUF values than were seen a few weeks earlier, if all other factors were equal. A forecast from the Prague Geophysical Institute shows December 24-25 as the quietest geomagnetic days over the next week. Andy Cohan, AB0YT is a student in Physics and Astronomy at the University of Iowa and president of the UI Radio Club, W0IO. His friend is doing a research project in which she needs geomagnetic K index data for the past five years. I pointed him toward http://www.cetp.ipsl.fr/~isgi/lesdonne.htm which has data going back to 1868. Plots of planetary K index values going back several years are at http://sec.noaa.gov/ftpmenu/plots/2000_plots/kp.html For more information about propagation and an explanation of the numbers used in this bulletin see the Propagation page on the ARRL Web site at http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html Sunspot numbers for December 11 through 17 were 35, 36, 40, 48, 42, 71 and 92 with a mean of 52. 10.7 cm flux was 86.1, 87.2, 87.8, 92.4, 100.8, 106.3 and 117.5, with a mean of 96.9. Estimated planetary A indices were 40, 23, 28, 24, 25, 11 and 10, with a mean of 23. Copyright © 2003, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved (via John Norfolk, DX LISTENING DIGEST) NW7US PROPAGATION UPDATE: 20-XII-2003 Hello, Radio Enthusiast! Currently, there is an elongated coronal hole in geoeffective position on the solar disk. This coronal hole is quite a bit smaller than the coronal hole of last week. The solar wind speed is currently above 460 km per second, but the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) currently has a northerly orientation (the "Bz" is positive). There have been brief moments with the Bz going negative (the IMF orientation goes south), so we are seeing the geomagnetic field becoming more active. Currently the planetary K index (Kp) is 3, down from 4. I am expecting this fluctuation to continue until Monday, with swings between active to minor storm levels. This ultimately translates to slightly degraded ionospheric conditions, with the maximum usable frequencies (MUFs) just a bit depressed from normal. The highest HF bands suffer under these conditions, and mid-HF openings over high-latitude and polar paths become weaker, and of shorter duration. Again, by Monday, we should start to see conditions settling down and HF propagation becoming excellent. The 10.7-cm flux is above 120, so we'll be seeing nice higher-band HF propagation through the next week. On VHF, I don't expect strong enough geomagnetic activity to trigger any Auroral-mode propagation. There might be a few periods of sporadic-E (Es) activity, however (we often see a return of Es during December and January). The current 10.7-cm flux is above 120, so I also do not expect any significant F-layer propagation opening on VHF. Happy Dxing! 73 de Tomas, NW7US (AAR0JA/AAM0EWA) -- : Propagation Editor for CQ, CQ VHF, and Popular Communications : : Quarterly Propagation Columnist for Monitoring Times Magazine : : Creator of live propagation center - http://prop.hfradio.org/ : (via Cumbre DX via DXLD) ###