DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-232, December 27, 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 1213: Sun 0730 on WWCR 3210 Sun 0845 on Ozone Radio, Ireland, 6201v, time variable Sun 1500 on WRMI 15725, from WRN1 [NEW] Sun 1500 on WRN1 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 1212] Mon 0515 on WBCQ 7415, webcast, 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/wor1213h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1213h.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1213.html [from Sun] (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1213.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1213.rm WORLD OF RADIO ON WRMI Effective immediately, Sundays 1500-1530 on 15725, from WRN1 (see USA) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. RUSSIA. 7350 R. Amani Dec 19 *1630-1640 44444 Pushto, 1630 s/on with opening music and ID. 1632 opening announce. Music and talk [Hashimoto, Japan Premium via DXLD] ** ALASKA. KNLS DECEMBER 29, 2003 TO JANUARY 25, 2004 SCHEDULE 0800 11765 English 0900 7365 Russian 1000 5955 Mandarin 1100 7365 Russian 1200 7365 Mandarin 1300 9690 English 1400 7355 Mandarin 1500 7355 Mandarin 1600 7355 Mandarin 1700 7355 Russian The only changes are the frequencies at 0800 and 1000 UT (KNLS website, via Dan Sampson, WI, Prime Time Shortwave) ** ARGENTINA. SOUTH AMERICAN PIRATES --- NF, RADIO BOSQUES (ARGENTINA) radio_bosques@yahoo.com.ar moved to 6719.37 AM, DEC 26, 0100+. Now broadcasting on this frequency, moved here from the 49 mb for avoid Bolivian interference and broadcasting here from the middle December approximately according its operator, Mr. Alejandro García. Please to have present that the only address of contact of the station is via e- mail: radio_bosques@yahoo.com.ar They don't use more the address in Magdalena Magdalena, such as I have mentioned previously (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Argentina, Free Radio Weekly Dec 27 via DXLD) Aquí una noticia concerniente a PIRATAS: 6719.37 khz, NF, Radio Bosques, 0100+ 26 Diciembre, ahora emitiendo en esta nueva frecuencia, movida aquí a efectos de evitar la interferencia de la boliviana Radio Fides en 6155 kHz. Tengan presente que la única dirección de contacto con la emisora es por via de e-mail a: radio_bosques@y... [truncated] Ellos desde hace más de un año no utilizan más la dirección de calle Magdalena, tal como ya he informado antes oportunamente. 73's GIB (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Argentina, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. 6215, R. Baluarte, reactivated 2027, Dec 27, usual religious evangelic program in Portuguese and Spanish (Horacio Nigro, Uruguay, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Baluarte was reactivated two days ago with recorded programs; yesterday I heard a Christmas program and practically is 100 % in Spanish. This station has some problems with the CONFER (Comité Nacional Federal de Radiodifusión) 6214.91v to 6214.96 1 Hz v per hour of transmission). 73s (Nick Eramo, Argentina, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ASCENSION. ASCENSION ISLAND BBC FACILITIES PICTURE Aerial photo of English Bay and BBC Transmitter Station http://www.ascension-island.gov.ac/virtualtour/englishbay-aerial.jpg (via Brian Hopkins, ODXA via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA [non]. Could not help but notice that the EDXP segment on HCJB DXPL Dec 20-25, now called ``Radio EDXP`` does not give any credit to the sources it quotes, the most glaring example being BHUTAN, obviously verbatim Maarten van Delft`s report originally published in DSWCI DX Window, and quoted here in DXLD 3-200. MvD spent an untold sum in travelling to Bhutan, time and trouble in researching and contributing the report, only to have it ripped off without the courtesy of a credit. You can hear this for yourself on the DXPL 12/20 audiofile via http://www.hcjb.org/dxplaudio.php starting 9:12 into the program. After MvD`s info, there is also Bhutan info from other sources, the BBS website and/or BBCM, neither attributed. Altho EDXP once claimed to provide different scripts to different stations, the identical non-credited item was on DXing with Cumbre last week, this time read by Marie Lamb, as I just heard repeated at 2204 UT Dec 26 on 17650, the new edition, if any, not having arrived yet. What a pity that the DX programs carrying EDXP become complicit in this plagiarism, possibly without even realizing it. Since the proprietor of EDXP has in the past threatened to sue colleagues for defamation, it would be only fitting if MvD were to sue him for plagiarism. I cannot speak for MvD, of course, but in the unlikely event he doesn`t care, we listeners still do care about knowing where the DX information we read and listen to originates. Even if we didn`t care, attribution is STILL required out of simple *professional* courtesy and fairness (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. Wonder if someone heard Uncía between December 24-26. Even though good cx on AM I did not notice even a carrier on Uncía's split. Off the air? (Jan-Erik Österholm (JEÖ), Porvoo, Finland, dxing.info via DXLD) 4723+ Noticed the same in Norway Janne. Was very strong on the 23rd but could hear they had some problems with the tx. Nothing on the last days. 73 de (OLE FORR, SOR-FRON, NORWAY, ibid.) Thanks for your observations and fast reply. Let's see if this will be yet another on-off andinian? (JEÖ, ibid.) Last two nights I have not noted any Bolivians, not even 4876. But Perú and Ecuador came around their sunset at 2300. Uncía here on 22nd and 23rd (Jarmo Patala, Hyvinkää, Finland, ibid.) ** BRAZIL [and non]. BRAZIL/PARAGUAY 6104.8 "FM..." (unID), Presidente Franco via R Cultura Filadelfia. It seems that while not broadcasting their own program, Rádio Cultura Filadelfia, Foz de Iguaçu carries an FMer from Paraguay. At 0523, Dec 24 a program of Paraguayan music and IDs in Spanish every three or four music themes, sometimes by man, others by woman, as: "FM ..."(unID), Presidente Franco (location). ID heard as: "Ésta es una estación de la Mega Cadena de Comunicación, FM ... (couldn't get the name), 105.?, estudios y planta trasmisora en Presidente Franco". QRM from R. Canção Nova made some trouble at first but improved. [Later:] Google Web search brought this info regarding the stations being part of MEGACADENA DE COMUNICACIÓN mentioned in the ID: 780 AM RADIO 1º DE MARZO, 100.1 FM RADIO CANAL 100, 97.1 FM RADIO LATINA, 570 AM RADIO AMAMBAY de PEDRO JUAN CABALLERO, 840 AM RADIO GUAIRA de VILLARRICA, 98.5 PARANA FM de PRESIDENTE FRANCO, 91.5 FM RADIO MISIONES de SAN JUAN BAUSTISTA MISIONES, 92.7 FM RADIO CLASICA de CAAGUAZU, 93.7 FM RADIO PIRAPO de PIRAPO, 96.9 FM RADIO MCAL. ESTIGARRIBIA de MCAL. [Mariscal?] ESTIGARRIBIA, 103.9 FM RADIO SANTA HELENA de ENCARNACION So, the unID on 6105a apparently relayed by Radio Cultura Filadelfia is "Paraná FM", on 98.5 FM (not 105.? as I misheard), in Presidente Franco, Paraguay (Horacio Nigro, Montevideo, Uruguay, rx: Grundig YB400, ant randomwire 25m + resistive attenuator, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Canal 100 tiene señal Satelital todos los días a partir de las 20.00 hs http://www.canal100.com.py/html/infraestructura2.html Radio Canal 100, en Asuncion, tiene un audio casi perfecto en internet http://www.canal100.com.py Saludos, (Henrik Klemetz, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 4845 kHz, Radio Cultura Ondas Tropicais, Manaus, signing on at 0958 UT with male choral anthem with orchestra, OM in Portuguese with ID and frequency announcements, into light Brasilian pops. Strong signal, SINPO 44233, December 27th. On Drake SW8 with 50 foot sloper (Roger Chambers, NY, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. BC QRM on 80 meters This morning I had a QSO with K1VK on 3530 kHz. He kept asking me if I had any QRM from a broadcast station. I did not. When we finished, I left my receiver on and at about 1100 UT a broadcast station faded-in with slow, clear English and beautiful old-time music. It lasted for about 30 minutes. Unfortunately I was not able to get the station's ID. I checked Passport to World Radio reference but nothing was listed for 3530. Does anyone have any information on this station? (Joe, K3CHP, Mikuckis, Frederica, DE, Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion, Dec 26, via Ken Brown, DXLD) I replied with this: (gh) Recently a Sackville transmitter mixing product was found on 3530. This a result of their relay(s) between 1100-1200. Radio Korea on 9650 and Radio Japan on 6120. 9650 - 6120 = 3530 (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, Drake R7, R8 and R8B, swl at qth.net via DXLD 3-225 Dec 14, via DXLD 3-232) 6390 unID: 12-26-03 about 0300 to sign-off at 0400 z, SIO was 333; AM but had to use USB and PBT [passband tuning] to copy it. This is definitely a broadcast station but from where?? 12-27-03, 0200z sign on SIO 434, language sounds like maybe Chinese or Viet?? \ Right now very strong and a female singer. I can find nothing on this; any ideas ?????? [Later:] Just figured out what my 6390 signal is, a mixing product of 5960 and 6175. I could hear what sounded like a sing-song female voice very weak in the background so I checked 6175 and Voice of Vietnam (Sackville) and they matched. So I started tuning up from 5800 and when I hit 5960, boom Radio Japan from Sackville. 5960 is the stronger of the two signals by far. Very interesting, wonder if anyone else can hear this around the country? (Chuck Sayers, Harrisburg PA, WA3GSI, swl at qth.net via DXLD) ** CHINA. I think Chinese jamming noted against all Mandarin and Cantonese outlets of VOA, BBC, and Taiwanese broadcasts recently. And of course against all TIBETAN foreign services broadcasts of: 6010 RFA 2300-2400 6015 VOA 1400-1500 6145 GOSPEL FOR ASIA 2315-2330 7200 VOA 0000-0100 7290 VOA 1400-1500 7410 AIR 1215-1330 7415 RFA 2300-2400 7470 RFA 0100-0300 7470 RFA 1100-1400 7470 RFA 1500-1600 7470 RFA 2300-2400 7495 RFA 1500-1600 7550 RFA 2300-2400 7560 RFA 0100-0300 9365 RFA 1100-1400 9415 TAIPEI (DN) 1300-1400 9555 VOA 0000-0100 9575 AIR 1215-1330 9670 RFA 0100-0300 9765 GOSPEL FOR ASIA 0015-0030 9875 RFA 2300-2400 11520 RFA 1500-1600 11540 RFA 1100-1400 11640 VOICE OF TIBET 1212-1300 Dushanbe Orzu 11695 RFA 0100-0300 11775 AIR 1215-1330 11790 VOA 1400-1500 11975 VOICE OF TIBET 1430-1517 Tashkent 12025 VOICE OF TIBET 1430-1517 Tashkent 12035 VOA 0000-0100 12040 VOA 1400-1500 12145 VOICE OF TIBET 1430-1517 Tashkent 13625 RFA 1100-1400 15185 RFA 1200-1400 15220 RFA 0100-0300 15240 (x15170) FEBA SEYCHELLES 1200-1230 Al Dabbiya-UAE 15385 RFA 1500-1600 15400 VOICE OF TIBET 1212-1300 Dushanbe-Orzu 15435 RFA 1100-1400 15585 VOA 0400-0600 15615 VOICE OF TIBET 1212-1300 Tashkent 15660 VOICE OF TIBET 1212-1300 Dushanbe-Orzu 15680 VOICE OF TIBET 1212-1300 Dushanbe-Orzu 17515 RFA 0600-0700 17630 VOA 0400-0600 17720 RFA 0600-0700 17730 RFA 0100-0300 17770 VOA 0400-0600 21545 VOICE OF TIBET 1212-1300 Tashkent 21570 VOA 0400-0600 21570 RFA 0600-0700 21715 RFA 0600-0700 (Wolfgang Büschel, Dec 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [and non]. 6040 kHz (Sackville presumed) CRI, SINPO 55555 from 2320 to 2357 UT December 26th. Program notes: Week in review had interesting items on the 100th anniversary of birth of Mao Tse Tung and differing views on his legacy. Also items on Christmas celebrations in China increasingly popular with the young, including exchanging gifts, visits, to eating at a fine restaurant, to even going to church. Then a 25 minute program explaining aspects of China`s controversial ``one child`` and family planning policies. They answered many listeners’ letters from Nigeria and other countries addressing this issue. Some topics mentioned: Those from rural Tibet are exempt from being limited to one child. Those single children who marry another single child are also exempt, and could have more than one child. Open comment for discussion: Now that CRI programs are audible almost around the clock on various relays, and their programming has become increasingly open and often similar to and mistaken for the VOA, BBC, or RCI until an ID is heard, one has to wonder, just what is their ``agenda?`` (Roger Chambers, Utica, NY, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 1422, Kashi/Kashgar (Xinjiang). A transmitter testing with music is believed to be the new high power transmitter (600 kW) mentioned in September by the ITU. Daytime pattern: Main lobe 140 deg, 6000 kW ERP, backlobe 320 deg 1500 kW ERP. The main lobe covers a chain of towns in SW Xinjiang. Nighttime pattern: Main lobe 200 deg, 3000 kW ERP, backlobe 20 deg 750 kW ERP. Power at 320 degrees (towards Europe) approx. 40 kW ERP. The main lobe covers Pakistan, NW India and eastern Afghanistan and obviously is intended for external services to these areas (Jose Jacob, India, 12 Dec; ITU data analysis by Olle Alm, ARC MV-Eko Information Desk December 2003 via DXLD) ** CONGO DR. TWO SHORTWAVE TRANSMITTERS DESTINED FOR BUKAVU ARRIVE IN GOMA | Text of report by Congolese radio from Bukavu on 27 December Two shortwave transmitters for RTNC [Congolese National Radio and Television] radios in Nord-Kivu and Sud-Kivu that reached Goma town, Nord-Kivu [eastern DRCongo] from Kinshasa early this week are still lying in Goma. The Sud-Kivu RTNC director, Mr Kalume Kavue Katumbi, [all names phonetic] who arrived from Goma reported the development to the Sud-Kivu governor, Mr Xavier Ciribanya, who promised to look into the possibility of providing transport as soon as possible, so that the transmitters can reach Bukavu. Source: Radio Bukavu in French 0430 gmt 27 Dec 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) WTFK? WTFK? ** CUBA. ``Langston Wright`` (or a very old tape of him), thinks RHC`s English broadcast at 2030-2130 is still on 13660 and 13750 --- how many years has it been now since those disappeared? Such was the closing announcement heard at 2129 UT Dec 26, 2003, on the real frequencies of 9505 and 11760. How can any station be so out of touch with --- itself? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. RAZONES PARA CRECIENTE DETERIORO DE PRESENCIA DE RADIO Y TV MARTI EN INTERNET TOMADO DE LA EDICION ELECTRONICA "LA NUEVA CUBA" VIERNES 26 DE DICIEMBRE, 2003. LA NUEVA CUBA El Presidente de Estados Unidos recientemente hizo énfasis en la importancia que la Internet tiene para romper el bloqueo informativo del régimen al cubano de la Isla, pero sus palabras parecieran como haber caído en los oídos sordo de quienes son responsables de la página digital de Radio y Tele Martí RAZONES PARA CRECIENTE DETERIORO DE PRESENCIA DE RADIO Y TELE-MARTI EN LA INTERNET DESPIERTA INTERROGANTES Por Ares Spinoza, Washington, E.U., La Nueva Cuba, Diciembre 23, 2003 Cuando La Nueva Cuba publicara recientemente el artículo de Alex Molina "EL SITIO WEB DE RADIO Y TV MARTI: ¿CONSPIRACION O FRAUDE?" sobre el sitio digital de los Martís en la Internet no nos causó sorpresa, más bien preocupación por dos razones fundamentales: Primero porque Radio y Tele Martí --- tema sobre el que llevamos años escribiendo artículos y crónicas --- es una vital herramienta de la política de Estados Unidos hacia Cuba y en segundo lugar porque personalmente llevaba meses recibiendo alarmantes reportes sobre el deterioro, el abandono y la negligencia conque se operaba un sitio digital que es financiado por la primera potencia del planeta y "a cargo se esperaría del personal más competente y dedicado". O sea que entre todas las vicisitudes que la Misión de Radio y Tele Martí le ha tocado sufrir desde los aciagos días de la Agenda de demolición del Clintonato ahora nos veíamos que apenas el Presidente hiciera énfasis en la importancia de romper el bloqueo informativo al pueblo de Cuba por parte del régimen de La Habana e hiciese particular mención de la Internet como uno de los frentes de batalla donde se libraría igualmente la batalla por las libertades de los cubanos, el sitio digital de los Martís no sólo no mejoraba sino que entraba en un proceso de deterioro mas notable, mas agudo y sistemático que meses antes. ¿Cómo se explica semejante chasco? ¿Qué razones pueden explicar semejante descalabro? ¿Cómo es posible que el área más visiblemente expuesta de la operación de OCB -la Internet es después de todo una ventana abierta a todo el planeta- pudiera incumplir tan flagrantemente su parte de la misión? ¿Cómo podría soslayarse un desastre tan obvio? ¿Quienes son responsables de que durante meses y meses no se ponga coto a semejante derroche de recursos? ¿Nadie debe responder por ello? ¿Nadie en los servicios de transmisiones en Wáshington se sonroja si la Casa Blanca pide una inmediata explicación de lo que es simbólicamente una bofetada al mismo rostro del Presidente Bush? Decidimos acometer la tarea de dedicar muchas horas a tratar de navegar el sitio Web de Radio y Tele-Martí, pero tan solo como un usuario más, es decir sin sofisticaciones. Visitar el sitio digital de los Martís como lo haría cualquier navegante de la Web que busca información y sólo espera "navegabilidad". Cuando accedimos a la Sección de Radio Martí este pasado domingo lo primero que notamos fue que toda información terminaba el viernes. Nadie actualiza el sitio durante el fin de semana. Resulta interesante que en el sitio digital de una estación de Radio y Televisión que transmite diariamente nadie tiene el deber de cubrir los turnos de fines de semana. Hoy Lunes en la página principal de Radio Martí no existía titular alguno noticioso y si se pulsaba la Sección de Más Noticiero --- que dentro cambia su nombre por "Más Noticias" ---, se encuentran los NOTICIERO DE LAS 6 PM, Resumen informativo de Radio Martí. NOTICIERO DEL MEDIODIA Resumen informativo de Radio Martí. NOTICIERO DE LA MAÑANA Resumen informativo de Radio Martí desde el dia 22 de diciembre y de todo el resto del mes de diciembre que al pulsarse sus enlaces ni siquiera uno lleva a una noticia que se pueda leer o escuchar sino a un mensaje que indica que no se encuentra la página. Nos tomamos el trabajo de ir día por día, cada día de diciembre y simplemente abandonamos la tarea al comienzo de diciembre sin siquiera atrevernos a revisar Noviembre. Confesamos que esto nos resultó inaudito a la vez que inusitado. ¿Nadie del Staff de la sección de Internet de los Martís lo ha notado? ¿Ni siquiera un supervisor o un empleado de la emisora? ¿O quizás la flamante directora de Internet de OCB para quien se creara especialmente esta posición lo que nos hace preguntarnos si alguna vez se abriera la misma a competencia? Cuando entramos a la Sección de "Mensaje del Director" encaramos una situación tan peculiar que sin paranoia y medio en broma nos preguntamos si el Director de OCB y su esfuerzo digital eran víctima de una conspiración o de hackers saboteadores. Primeramente el Mensaje del Director Pedro Roig --- como se anuncia con un texto sólo en inglés --- no es el mensaje del Director sino una nota de prensa del primero de abril del 2003, quizás originada por el Buró de transmisiones Internacionales (IBB) con la que se anuncia el nombramiento de Pedro Roig como Director de OCB y que termina con una aclaración de que el nombramiento no ha sido aún confirmado --- por supuesto en aquella época, en abril --- y cuando se pulsa el botón que invita a oír ese Mensaje que no es de Roig sino la nota informativa nos lleva a escuchar un audio que nada tiene que ver con la nota sino con las palabras --- en español --- que dirigiera Roig a los oyentes cubanos en la ocasión del 20 de mayo de 2003. Todo esto por supuesto ridiculiza y minimiza todo ápice de profesionalismo y denigra la investidura del Director de la Oficina de Transmisiones a Cuba. Cuando nos dirigimos a la Sección de 63 programas de Radio Martí los iconos de cada uno de los Programas conducen a una página donde no se pueden escuchar ni uno de ellos, sino el frustrante mensaje de "page no fount". Increíble confesarlo que ni uno solo de los iconos conduzca a programa alguno. En este caso, aunque recientemente un lector que escribiera a la Sección Correo de La Nueva Cuba, trataba de explicarnos la razón tras los enlaces defectuosos de la página, a los que hacía referencia Alex Molina en su artículo como debido al hecho de que el autor del artículo vive en Irlanda -!?- y que el acceso al Web en Irlanda es dificultuoso, nosotros desde Washington al igual que amigos en California, Miami y Nueva York no pudimos encontrar la posibilidad de acceso a los casi 600 enlaces del sitio digital de los Martís que no conducen a texto o audio alguno. El día domingo 21 de diciembre cuando visitamos La Seccion de Reportajes notamos que la misma no se actualizaba desde el 11 de diciembre aunque hoy 22 de diciembre si funcionaban los links de esa Sección y estaba actualizada hasta hoy lunes. En la misma página principal de Radio Martí el reportaje de hoy de Jose Luis Ramos conduce a un enlace muerto, pero corren mejor suerte los de los funcionarios estadounidenses Asa Hutchinson, Frederick Scheck y James Cason. Son tantos los problemas que ni siquiera podemos extendernos a analizar los errores ortográficos, sintácticos y de redacción y las inconsistencias por doquiera. Cuando se pulsa para el acceso al Centro Informativo Marti Actualizado, un título que hace mofa de si mismo porque nada allí está actualizado, se pasa a una página con un críptico titular que pareciera como una de aquella ignotas escrituras de Pared bíblicas: "Mensaje del Director", pero el resto de la página está en blanco y el titular no conduce a ningún mensaje. Si se trata de acceder a un extenso menú que debiera conducir a informaciones sobre temas tales como DEFENSA, GOBIERNO, POLITICA, ECONOMIA SOCIEDAD SEGURIDAD DEL ESTADO ETC. de Cuba sólo nos conduce a páginas en blanco con un mensaje de data no fount con la excepción de una que conduce a un mapa militar de Cuba sin ninguna otra informacion complementaria. Por años en la Internet es norma no colocar on-line menú alguno o secciones que ni siquiera han comenzado a trabajarse ya que constituyen una grave falta de ética de trabajo para con los navegantes de la red. Confesamos que Tele Martí se encuentra en mejor estado de actualización al menos que Radio aunque no dejan de alflorar numerosísimos frustrantes problemas. Por ejemplo sobre TELE MARTI ACTUALIDAD MUNDIAL (los Links trabajan, pero no se actualiza desde 10.29) WILD AMERICA (los Links trabajan, pero no se actualiza desde 11.7) DOING BUSINESS (los Links trabajan, pero no se actualiza desde 11.23) ¿QUE PASA USA? (Los Links trabajan pero no se actualiza desde 10.22). Se trata casi de lo de nunca acabar. En realidad resultó agotador y entristecedor esta tarea con lo que no queremos más fatigar ni deprimir a nuestros lectores, en su mayoría cubanos y cubanas libres en la Isla y en todo el planeta que sufren ante el espectáculo de tanta indolencia e incompentencia y derroche de recursos. Para nosotros el deterioro del sitio Web de los Martís no solamente es inexplicable, sino además ominoso y ofensivo a la inteligencia y no salimos de nuestra perplejidad al recordar como el pasado 10 de octubre el presidente Bush específicamente hiciera referencia a la Internet en la batalla por restaurar las libertades en Cuba y romper el embargo de acceso a la información que mantiene la tiranía. El pasado cinco de diciembre tuvo lugar en la Casa Blanca, en Wáshington, la capital estadounidense, un evento de importancia vital en el proceso de implementación de las políticas del Presidente Bush para Cuba. Tuvo lugar la primera reunión de la Comisión de Apoyo a una Cuba Libre (Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba). La importancia que la misma tiene para la administración puede constatarse por quienes fueron nombrados como los dos Co-Presidentes: El Secretario de Estado Colin Powell y el cubano-americano de más alto rango en la actual administración el Secretario de Vivienda Mel Martínez. La Comisión es mucho más que un mero gesto solidario, es la expresión pública de un compromiso de la presente administración de robustecer sus esfuerzos por promover el cambio en Cuba. Dentro de esa agenda la Internet deberá desempeñar para los Estados Unidos una función vital e indispensable antes, durante y después de cualquier proceso de cambio en la Isla. Es tan vital su papel que podría salvar muchas vidas en caso de que la situación social en la Isla degenere en una guerra civil. Dentro de la agenda de la recién creada Comisión de Apoyo a las Libertades en Cuba, Radio Martí es una herramienta que ineludiblemente tiene que ser eficaz, profesional y credible. No sólo se trata de un compromiso con las libertades de los cubanos, es además materia de seguridad nacional para Wáshington. Una Cuba inestable debe recibir información precisa, profesional y oportuna y los cubanos con muchas más razones buscarán orientación en esas transmisiones en tiempos de crisis. Estados Unidos es una nación donde se demandan responsabilidades de los servidores públicos, donde no se abriga temor en reparar lo mal hecho. La grandeza de este país reside en el coraje, la franqueza y la pasión con que se respeta y tolera el debate abierto del ejercicio de las funciones gubernamentales y se exponen a la luz las fallas del sistema. Esta sociedad no teme a quienes pretenden encubrir la verdad. (via Oscar de Céspedes, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** DENMARK [non]. 11615, NORWAY, R. Denmark relay, *1230-1255*, Dec. 25, Danish, Presumed farewell broadcast with ID, lots of interviews, sound-bites and recorded talks, IDs at 1236, 1247 and 1252 and occasional fanfare/orchestral music between interviews. IS loop at 1253. Fair tho audio hampered by mild "echo" effect (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, MLB-1, RS longwire with RBA balun, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also NORWAY ** ECUADOR. 5800.14 kHz, Radio Calidad, Riobamba, 27/Dic/2003 SWB MICROINFORMATIVO! Quito 27/Dic/2003 10:45 Many of the MW stations in Riobamba, my wife`s birthtown, you also can find on harmonics. This morning I heard Radio Calidad on: 1450.04 Mediumwave 2900.08 x2 harmonic 4350.12 x3 harmonic 5800.14 x4 harmonic (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SWB América Latina, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. HOLZKIRCHEN CLOSING --- Hello Glenn, I received word this past Wednesday that the VOA site at Holzkirchen will leave the air on December 31, at 1200 Local time, 1100 UT. All the programming has been transferred to other stations effective that date. This info came from VOA/engineering in an operations memo. Wishing you the best for 2004 (John Vodenik, Delano, CA, Dec 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) And John`s the man to QSL this doomed site; I`ve extracted from http://sds.his.com:4000/fmds_w/schedules/cur_freqsked.txt All the Holzkirchen listings as of: Current Frequency Schedule Report Dec. 26, 4:40:14, 2003. GMT FREQUENCY B_TIME E_TIME B_CODE NET LANG ST_CODE XMTR AZI DAYS 5980 0600 0700 RFE RL-7 UK HOL 03 059 12345 6095 0100 0200 RFE RL-1 RU HOL 03 059 6105 0300 0400 RFE RL-1 RU HOL 03 059 6105 1800 2000 VOA D RUSS HOL 03 059 6105 2000 2300 RFE RL-1 RU HOL 03 059 6105 2300 2400 RFE RL-1 RU HOL 03 059 6135 0000 0100 RFE RL-7 KA HOL 03 059 7145 0000 0100 RFE RL-7 KA HOL 04 059 7220 0300 0400 RFE RL-1 RU HOL 02 059 7220 1900 2000 VOA D RUSS HOL 01 059 7220 2300 2400 RFE RL-1 RU HOL 04 059 7255 0400 0500 RFE RL-8 TB HOL 03 059 7270 0500 0600 RFE RL-1 RU HOL 03 059 9505 1700 1800 RFE RL-1 RU HOL 02 077 9505 1900 2000 VOA D RUSS HOL 02 057 9575 0500 0515 RFE RL-3 RU HOL 02 077 9575 0515 0530 RFE RL-3 AV HOL 02 077 9575 0530 0545 RFE RL-3 CH HOL 02 077 9575 0545 0600 RFE RL-3 CI HOL 02 077 9635 0400 0500 RFE RL-8 TB HOL 02 059 9665 1600 1700 RFE RL-3 AZ HOL 02 077 9785 1800 1900 RFE RLIQ AB HOL 01 077 9845 2000 2100 RFE RL-1 RU HOL 04 059 11865 1700 1800 RFE RL-2 AR HOL 03 077 11885 0600 0900 RFE RL-1 RU HOL 04 077 11885 1100 1200 RFE RL-1 RU HOL 04 077 11980 0400 0600 RFE RL-1 RU HOL 04 077 15185 1400 1500 RFE RL11 TU HOL 03 077 17730 1100 1300 RFE RL-1 RU HOL 02 077 17730 1300 1400 RFE RL-1 RU HOL 02 077 From the above, it appears that the final final transmission will actually be 11885, ending at 0900, as there are none scheduled between then and 1100 (via Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUATEMALA. Radio Maya, en los 3324.81 kHz, a las 0554 UT, con SINPO 2/2. Transmisiòn especial con llamadas del pùblico. Cierre a las 0605 UT. 73's y buen DX (Adàn Gonzàlez, Catia La Mar, Venezuela, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HAWAII. KPOI, LISTENERS CRY FOUL By Lee Cataluna, Advertiser Columnist Posted on: Tuesday, December 23, 2003 http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/current/ln/lee/?print=on The bad thing is that folks who get paid to be funny in national media would even say something so extremely insulting. The good thing is that, this time, Hawai'i listeners and local station managers immediately and decisively stood up and called the foul. On Sunday night, syndicated radio show "Loveline," aired locally on KPOI 97.5, contained the following interchange between hosts Dr. Drew Pinsky, a medical doctor, and Adam Carolla, a comic and former host of Comedy Central's "The Man Show": Dr. Drew: I wonder if Hawai'i has weathermen. Adam Carolla: I'm sure. D: Cause it's the same everyday, no matter what. C: Maybe they don't. Hawaiians are too dumb. They can't figure out barometric pressure. They don't know what that means. D: They have wind some days. C: Here's the problem with weather in Hawai'i. There's a bunch of big words. D: Yeah. C: And they can't handle big words over there, because they're the world's dumbest people. D: Well, they can't (sic) handle big words, but they must have three letters. C: Yeah, they handle big words, but it's got to be the name of a fat chick or some drink. They don't do science. Close your eyes and picture all the great Hawaiian scientists over the years. (Laughs) They're retarded people. They stay on the island. They're in-bred, obviously. They're the dumbest people we have. D: I have met some smart South Pacific people. Not who lived there. C: People are smart enough to move. Everyone close your eyes and think of all the amazing contributions the Hawaiian scientific community has made over the years. (Long pause) Uh ... They're stupid people. D: All right. Let's hear from them. Let's hear what they have to say. It'd be interesting to hear what they have to say. C: What, the Hawaiians? First off, they don't know how to dial the phone. They can't call. They don't know what they're doing. They have big calves. That's all. They're stupid people. We really should start bringing some of them in 'cause they're strong. They're a strong, sturdy breed. Whoa. OK, yeah, it's a show about sex, drugs and assorted weirdness and, yeah, a good deal of talk radio these days is all about the value of shock and insult. But whoa. Much to their credit, KPOI management, after fielding "a bunch" of angry phone calls from listeners, decided to pull the show immediately and permanently. "It was pretty bad. I can see why people listening can take offense to it," said Ryan Kawamoto, KPOI program director. "To have something like that is pretty horrible." So now, Carolla and Dr. Drew can say what they want. Hawai'i just doesn't have to listen. We're smarter than that. (Brock "I worked at KPOI for 15 years" Whaley for DXLD) ** HONDURAS. 3250.05, R. Luz y Vida, 1151-1210 Dec 26, End of LA Pop song, TC, and many comunicados over music mentioning información, la familia, amigos, Guatemala, and the date. At one point, must`ve been talking about this portion of the programm as there were mentions of "servicio la vida", programa, locutor, and la fónica. The background music continued and came to an end, then started again with more messages at 1208. Good signal. Finally up above 3250 now after being below for months (Dave Valko, PA, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** INDIA. All India Radio has been noted on 9445 ex 9470 kHz during the local evenings/nights. Seems to be a change in frequency rather than test. 9425 remains in parallel. 9445 and 9425 broadcast different programs (services). 73s, (Harjot Singh Brar, Punjab, Dec 27, GRDXC via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK: HIGH-TECH QUIRKINESS RESTORES RADIO`S MAGIC --- December 26, 2003 By STEPHEN HOLDEN IT'S 3 a.m. on a bitter, blustery New York night, and from a bedside radio on which the volume is adjusted to a comforting murmur, the voice of an unfamiliar singer calls through my half-sleep, and I have the sensation of being transported to a land of sonic dreams I haven't visited in decades. Not since I was a teenager enthralled by the cries and moans of the Five Satins and the Moonglows on early rock 'n' roll radio - sounds that Paul Simon once described as "deep forbidden music" - has the mystique of pop radio been so seductive. The source of these sounds is not a local radio station or a bland, faceless cable music service but a satellite pay radio channel. Music beamed by satellite has resurrected the thrill of musical discovery that has all but vanished on what is called terrestrial radio... http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/26/arts/music/26SATE.html?ex=1073455542&ei=1&en=ad7aa1ef90652cab [illustrated, via Jim Moats, et al., DXLD) ** IRAN. Nothing monitored 1930-2030 on 6110 7320 December 24th, 26th, 27th which was Voice of Islamic Republic of Iran's English service to Europe (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Nothing heard from IRIB Tehran --- all services --- on shortwave since Monday, Dec 22nd, except Arabic 15545 daytime, and 9935 kHz from 1630 nighttime. 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRELAND. 7465, Laser Hot Hits heard 1020-1035+ December 24th with male disc jockey, 60s and 70s pop music and promos for offshore videos. This frequency no longer carries World Mission Radio which relayed Brother Stair (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY [non]. 5775, ITALY, IRRS (presumed), 2037-2049, Dec. 25, English, Not sure if this was via IRRS or some sort of punch-up error. R. Havana Cuba program with talk of Xmas in Bethlehem and Palestinians, YL with "Viewpoint" re Italian media monopoly, railed on Italian PM and GW Bush. Announcer Dan Roberts with schedule, encouraged SW listening and micro-powered alternative news sources, gave a web address I could not copy and his personal address for POB 1162, California, 95490. I could not copy the town name. I heard mention of "Short wave Report" before 2042 sign-off. I stayed on frequency until 2049 but nothing followed. I haven't checked IRRS schedules yet to see if this was special Xmas or regular program. Any ideas?? Poor, best in USB (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, MLB-1, RS longwire with RBA balun, DX LISTENING DIGEST) IRRS downloaded an edition of The Shortwave Report, with Dan Roberts. This show has been running for some years on several US public radio stations, and was on SW for a while thanks to IBC Radio when it was carried by WRMI, most recently Sat 1830 on 15725. Dan tapes a number of favorite stations off SW each week, one of which is RHC, and encourages people to listen directly by giving times and frequencies. This resulted in the extreme anomaly of RHC being ``relayed`` by WRMI and now by IRRS. Website is: http://www.outfarpress.com/outfarpress/shortwave.shtml (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY [non?]. PIRATE: (Europe) Radio Tre Network: 6310, 12/25, 0243-0500+ VG signal by about 0500. Loads of contemporary and light pop music. This is a legal station from Tuscani, Italy on 101.1 FM being relayed by a pirate from somewhere in Europe. It`s also on the Internet and was relayed in Europe and US this past summer. Given conditions, this time it was definitely from Europe. Relay station: Please ID & QSL? (Andrew Yoder, Blue Ridge Summit, PA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** KASHMIR [non]. Re 3-227: Voice of Kashmir 6100 0230-0330, 1500- 1600. 9890 0730-0830 all via Dushanbe Orzu, Tajikistan (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, Dec 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH. Two frequencies from the Korean Central Broadcasting Station heard on two legal [?] frequencies: 9665.3 kHz from Pyongyang and 11679.9 kHz from Kanggye, 2150 UT. Parallel programming with patriotic songs on both frequencies. 73´s (Jouko Huuskonen, Turku, FINLAND, Dec 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LATVIA. European Music Radio, this Sunday 28th at 1400 UT on 9290. Good listening! (TOM AND STAFF AT EMR, Dec 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LUXEMBOURG. One of the highest power transmitters in Europe seems to have DRM capability now. Noted for first time on 1440 kHz at 2330 UT 11/12/03 (Steve Whitt via MWC e-mail news 12.12.2003 via editor Olle Alm, ARC MV-Eko Information Desk December 2003 via DXLD) ** MALTA. LIBYA TO PAY ON DEPARTURE OF FENECH ADAMI PROTÉGÉ http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/2003/12/14/t3.html Malta`s voice in the world, Voice of the Mediterranean (VOM) may close next week, if it does not receive sufficient funds owed to it by the Libyan government. But sources told MaltaToday that the Libyans were willing to pay their share when Managing director Richard Muscat leaves VOM radio. Mr Muscat who is seen as Fenech Adami`s protégé is reputed to have unmistakable managerial skills. He has been accused of nepotism by giving a company where his son works a Lm3,000 monthly contract to update a website. A laughable sum dubbed as scandalous. Despite having a major deficit VoM under Mr Muscat has changed all the company cars costing the company Lm31,000 and has also sponsored a visiting ship the Odyssee by the sum of Lm10,000. Mr Muscat a former Head of PN`s Radio 101 and mostly remembered for running TV station studio-master from Sicily before 1987, is being credited as deepening VOM`s black hole. When Richard Muscat moved in as Managing Director of VOM in July 2000, the station had Lm216,492 in bank deposits and was owed Lm853,699 in contributions from the Libyan government. Today the Libyans owe VOM Lm980,699 and creditors are owed Lm144,403. Richard Muscat whom the Libyans hope will take a permanent residency in Ireland as Malta ambassador has said that he is being used as a scapegoat. RICHARD MUSCAT`S KEEN SENSE OF BAD JUDGEMENT http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/2003/12/21/t1.html Voice of the Mediterranean general manager Richard Muscat used to run the radio station as if it was his own, MaltaToday has learned. The station is now in danger of closing down, unless further finances are obtained from the Libyan partners. Following a report in last Sunday`s MaltaToday, Mr Muscat`s legal counsel told this newspaper that the reference to the Libyan government only being willing to forward payment if Mr Muscat left, was incorrect and libellous. Muscat`s lawyer alleged, furthermore, that Minister Joe Borg`s speech in parliament this week has clarified that there was no proof the Libyans` willingness to pay was conditional on Mr Muscat`s departure. While speaking in parliament Minister Borg laid on the table of the House an internal report on the activities at VOM, described by the opposition as a disgrace. When MaltaToday contacted its Libyan sources, the same sources alleged that Mr Muscat`s departure would be helpful. At the same time a letter of interest from the Libyan partners appears to have been forwarded to the Maltese government to continue the operations of VOM. Mr Muscat is considered to be a political non-starter by political observers, but is still held in high regard by the Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami. Muscat can add more than VOM to his CV, even if the time he spent at Radio 101 is considered by party insiders not to have been the best of decisions. Richard Muscat was appointed Managing Director at VOM with effect from 1 July 2000 and the radio station is meant to close its doors at the end of this year. In stark comparison to his predecessor, Dr Richard Vella Laurenti, Muscat has ruled the radio station with an iron fist, often being decision-maker, judge and jury. The evidence is clear and for all to see in the report tabled on the House of Parliament by Foreign Minister Joe Borg. The investigation is being considered a big laugh, more so considering that the individuals who prepared the report, were Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials. While Vella Laurenti always took decisions to buy products and services by tender or quotes, Muscat avoided the procedure and issued direct orders, some of which to a company where his son was employed, but the report drawn up by the Ministry of foreign affairs saw nothing incorrect. The report was drawn up by foreign ministry Permanent Secretary, Gaetan Naudi and Director of Corporate Services Charles Mifsud, on the instructions of Foreign Minister Joe Borg. It found that Muscat has done nothing wrong during his tenure, but should Muscat have a successor his activities will definitely come under further scrutiny. Muscat`s omnipotence is illustrated by his employment procedures. In one instance described in the report, it was stated that Colin Fitz was employed as a producer with administrative duties on 7 April 2003. According to the report ``after the Managing Director had already employed him directly it was brought to his attention that employment was the competence of the Board.`` The report continues: ``An advert was placed in The Times and only one person (Colin Fitz) was interviewed out of the two that applied. The other applicant was refused unilaterally as he was considered too old. The Board was composed of Richard Muscat and VOM part time accountant Alex Vella. In a meeting with the members of the Board, that took place on 17 March 2003, the Board was informed of the request to fill a vacancy and the choice of the employee and following a discussion, the employment of Fitz was confirmed.`` MaltaToday has also learned that while Muscat had recently complained that VOM was not doing well financially, the managing director recently decided to attend the Venice Film Festival. When Muscat took over VOM, the station was in a strong financial position, but now, three and a half years later it has built up insurmountable debts. According to the audited accounts, prepared by Noel Muscat & Co, up until the end of 2002, the station was still in a strong position with an accumulated fund of Lm 1,293,663. But over the past year increasing costs and the fact that the Libyan partners were not making their contribution would seem to have put the station heavily in the red. Each year the Malta government and the Libyan Arab Broadcasters contribute Lm180,000 to the station, but according to the report the Libyans have not paid for six years. One of the most contentious points was the decision of VOM to pay Lm3,000 monthly to Cyberspace Solutions, whose managing director Tony Cassar is married to Josie Muscat`s daughter and one of whose employees is Richard Muscat`s son Mariano. Contacts in business claim that the Lm3,000 monthly fee is scandalous and should never have been accepted. While the report concluded that the contract was one that compared well with other similar ones, ``if not being a bit cheaper,`` investigations by this newspaper indicate that the fee is far from competitive. Labour shadow minister Leo Brincat, while not referring to the payments to Cyberspace directly, said the report prepared by the ministry officials was an insult to the intelligence of anybody that read it. VOM was meant to close down provided no backing is forthcoming from the Libyan partners in the radio station, but MaltaToday has learned that in a letter received by Muscat on 17 December, the Libyans agreed to finance the station for another ten years. When MaltaToday asked the foreign ministry about the letter, a spokesperson from the ministry said: ``The Government of Malta has always stated that if the Libyan Government indicates its interest to continue the joint operation in the VOM, pays its outstanding dues and indicates its willingness to pay its future contributions in full and on time the Malta Government will continue to make its own contributions thus allowing for the Station to continue its operation. To date the Government has not received any official communication or payment from the Libyan Government to this effect.`` The statement does not deny that a letter was in fact received. The VOM saga goes on. The report concocted by the Foreign ministry has deduced that Mr Muscat may not have been a corrupt man, but it does not disprove that he lacked managerial savvy, good judgement and a keen sense not to embarrass his government. Who is Richard Muscat? The Greek philosopher look-a-like Richard Muscat attained household fame when he ran the shabby illegal TV station studio master from Sicily back in the days of the Mintoffian government. His days of voluntary exile lent him respect and household fame from the Nationalist oligarchy, most especially from Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami. His experience in the media was put the test when he ran Radio 101 for a short period. He tried his luck in the elections with the PN, never reaching new highs, but he was appointed a junior minister in the 1992 government. He was not re-elected and has since never tried his luck again. Recently he was appointed Ambassador to Ireland at the same time that he ran the Libyan-Maltese joint radio Voice of the Mediterranean. A radio station that has insignificant following in Malta, but claims to have extensive listener-ship across the world (Malta Today internet editions December 14 2003 and December 21 2003 via Radiota-Kamen/Japan, DXLD) ** MAURITANIA. 7245, R. Mauritanie, Dec 12 *0759-0809, 35333, Arabic, 0759 s/on with IS. Opening Music. ID by woman. Koran. [Hashimoto] 7245 R. Mauritanie Dec 20 *0759-0804 25332 Arabic, 0759 s/on with IS. Opening Music. ID. Koran [Hashimoto, Japan Premium via DXLD] ** MEXICO. The 560 kHz station is XEKTT and runs 20 kW day and 10 kW night, non-D both times, according to an informed source. The tower is said to be 448' tall, and the transmitter is a Harris DX-25U (Robert Gonsett, CGC Communicator via Rich Toebe, IRCA via DXLD) I don't know if KSFO can do anything about it. It is possible that the XEKTT's operation now is legal. XEKTT might have to install a directional pattern though. XEKTT tops KSFO here at local sunset, then later KSFO takes over the frequency with XEKTT underneath, except during strong Auroral conditions; then XEKTT is on top or there is a mix. [Later:] XEKTT is a ton of bricks up here on the Northern Oregon Coast. If KSFO is there I cannot tell it. XEKTT is by far the strongest I have ever heard them. On with 20 or 25 kW tonight? Wow! what a signal. A nice format though. 73s, (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, Dec 26, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** MEXICO. Re: unID 900 kHz Spanish/German C&W There sure are Germans in the area [Nuevo León]. Their number was great enough to have influenced Mexican music forever: the accordion that is so popular in some Mexican music (Flaco Jiménez and bunches of others) along with the tuba based "banda" style were introduced by German immigrants. How many are in Monterrey and whether XEOK programs in German are questions I can not answer. XEOK is supposed to be 100% religion these days as last I saw (Chuck Hutton, WA, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** NAMIBIA. 6060, NBC heard 2010-2025+ December 26th with phone in programme in English, fair with some fading, best on USB to avoid splash from Turkey [q.v.] on 6055 (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORWAY. Re "Dec 25 at 1520 came upon English on 17525, NRK frequency!" Same observation here yesterday and today at 1015 on 13800. Yesterday it was not // 12095 but today it was, with a delay of not less than three seconds. Of course, nobody bothers to switch the doomed shortwave feed to P1 only because Alltid Nyheter runs just BBCWS relay over the holidays. And could it be that "En æra i radioens historie er ovre." should be translated rather as "...is over"? Anyway the Radio Danmark website is already terminated with only this announcement page left (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Dec 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15705, NRK transmitter Sveiø relaying BBCWS, noted just prior to 1630; then into Radio Denmark in Danish, which closed with its int. sig. 1653. (12/26 -- Won't be hearing this one anymore after 12/31.) 13800, NRK transmitter Kvitsøy relaying BBCWS ("Europe Today") noted at 1702. Not //15565 or 12095; but 2 sec. behind and // 9410, so Europe stream? (12/26) [Note; 18950 pub. freq. for wNA not heard.] Radio Denmark at 1730, just after a man speaking in hurried, but hush tone in what I thought at first was French, but may be Norwegian for about 10-15 sec. prior to Radio Denmark start. He was cut off in mid- sentence promptly at 1730 (John Figliozzi, Halfmoon, NY, Dec 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) BBC World Service heard at 1000, 1100, 1200 UT on 13800; at 00:30 of each hour R. Danemark took the frequency. Does BBC World Service use this frequency for tests ???? 73's (Sylvain Percebois, Ivry La Bataille (27) France, Dec 25, GRDXC via DXLD) Has NRK sold or leased its HF transmitters to Merlin? (John Figliozzi, Halfmoon, NY, ibid.) BBCWS in English via NRK SW frequencies is nothing new; this has been reported in DX Listening Digest months ago, and there is more in recent issues including upcoming 3-232. The NRK domestic service which is put on SW fills a lot of its time with BBCWS in English --- more of it lately, it seems, due to holidays. I doubt that BBCWS has anything to do with this. It is a fluke that it gets these SW relays, but not for much longer. I think Merlin has already been involved in brokering time for various clandestines, etc., on Norwegian transmitters, but the BBCWS relays have nothing to do with this. 73, (Glenn Hauser, GRDXC and DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. Dec 27 I went to Oklahoma City for the first time since KMMZ-1640 came on. On the DC-777 car radio, which is rather deficient on MW, I found KMMZ reception in northern OKC to be poor, in most spots overridden by local transmitters, hash; by comparison, KGWA-960, farther away in Enid itself, 1 kW instead of 10, put its usual good direxional groundwave signal all the way into OKC (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 4890, NBC, 1315-1402*, Light music program hosted by W with dedications, etc. Some promos. W for final announcement at 1400, then instrumental NA 1400-1402 Dec 26. Good at tune-in, but faded quickly. The carrier remained on after programming ended, so I decided to off-tune in sideband slightly to get the carrier tone and see how long it could be heard. I was shocked that it was still audible past 1500!! It was very difficult to be 100% certain, but it seemed to still be in until 1510!! That's 2 1/2 hours after sunrise locally!!! (Dave Valko, PA, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) Yes, but sun still at quite a low angle at your latitude (gh) ** PERU. 4427.83, Radio Bambamarca, Dec 26 2330-0005 Dec 27. Huaynos music and comments from a man. Heard clear ID as "Radio Bambamarca" at 0002. Please correct my previous report on this freq which was "La Voz de Santa Cruz" as a boogie, although I did hear the above phrase given by a woman, which may have been a program title or something? (4427) (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston, Florida, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I listened to Chuck`s recording, and agree there is a clear ``La Voz de Santa Cruz`` on it, intoned like an ID, but I guess it was something else like a program title. Here`s Chuck`s earlier report based on that: (gh) 4427.83, La Voz de Santa Cruz, 1050-1105 Dec 26, Noted Huaynos music with Spanish comments by a man. On the hour a woman gives ID as "...La Voz De Santa Cruz.." Signal is good at this time. I have a database record with this being on 7050 kHz previously and the City of origin as Santa Cruz, Perú. (4427 flag) (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston, Florida, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The ``(4427 flag)`` is a way of compensating for the deficiencies of Google searching frequencies with decimal places. Should we do this every time a split frequency is mentioned?! A bit tedious, but everyone is welcome to do that in their reports. WRTH 2004 has it on 7048.4v as does Mark Mohrmann`s LA DX archive, but nothing in current logs around either frequency nor in PWBR 2004. Looks like you have discovered something new (gh, DXLD) But, later: Hello Charles! As far as I know it is Radio Bambamarca in Bambamarca. Used to be on 4421v kHz and then moving up to 4426v kHz. I will check this station to see if something "has happened"! 73s from Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador (via Bolland, DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Radio Gardarika, Russia (presumed) on Christmas day Dec 25th, from 2103 to 2201 UT signoff on 6245 kHz, with pop music and talk by a man and woman in Russian and English. At end of broadcast, an English announcement was repeated several times, including "from St. Petersburg" "broadcasting on 6,245 kHz in the 49 meter frequency range" and several numbers including "9801" and "007". Signal was poor at tune in, improved by signoff (Brett Saylor, PA, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) 6245, Radio Gardarika presumed the one here 2025-2040+ December 26th with pop music and announcements in Russian, fair but some deep fading and bursts of utility interference (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SCOTLAND [non]. RADIO SIX ON DEC 27-28 VIA IRRS-SHORTWAVE Dear all, Just a reminder: on Dec 27 and Dec 28 in the usual slot reserved to IPAR --- International Public Access Radio, http://www.nexus.org/IPAR --- IRRS-Shortwave from Milano, Italy, will host a new member of NEXUS-IBA: Radio Six will be on the air live from Scotland with "The Record of the Year Chart" for 2003, a program broadcasted live from Glasgow, Scotland, in two parts (part one at 0930-1030 UT on Saturday 27th December, and part two aired at 0930- 1030 UT on Sunday 28th December, 2003 via IRRS-Shortwave on 13,840 kHz to Europe, N Africa and the Middle East). Radio Six International is a private (not for profit) experimental Internet station operating from Scotland and playing an interesting mixture of easy listening, lounge, exotica, oldies and contemporary music with a little light music, classical, country, and jazz. More information on: http://www.radiosix.com Please send your comments on what you hear on the air to Radio Six International directly at: Radio Six International PO Box 600 GLASGOW Scotland. or by email to: reports@nexus.org - We will forward any report to Radio Six Int'l for verification. Thanks and stay tuned! 73, (Ron Norton, NEXUS-IBA support, Dec 27, BCLNews.it via DXLD) ** SUDAN [non]. 15530, UNITED KINGDOM, Sudan Radio Service relay, 1631-1642, Dec. 24, Vernaculars, OM and YL with interview, mentions of Sudan, ID announcement, frequency, Horn of Africa jingle at 1635 then different OM with ID, talks, HOA jingle at 1640 into vocal music. Fair/good (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, MLB-1, RS longwire with RBA balun, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SURINAME. 4990, R. Apintie, 0112-0149, Dec. 24, English/ Spanish/ Dutch, Interesting music mix; Xmas Carols, rap and pop music in English, also festive Spanish music. Repetitive "Radio Apintie" zinger, in Dutch, with echo vocal effects at 1130. Fair/poor, best in USB (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, MLB-1, RS longwire with RBA balun, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Apintie, el 25/12, a las 0415 UT, SINPO 2/2. Emitía el excelente tema de Terence Trent D'Arby "Sign your name", en los 4989.99 kHz (Adàn Gonzàlez, Catia La Mar, Venezuela, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TANGANYIKA. 5050, TANZANIA, R. Tanzania, Dar es Salaam, 1954-2018, Dec. 25, English/Swahili, Xmas carols, "Feliz Navidad" and "O'Xmas Tree", OM at 1959 with weak audio; "Hello..' and presumed ID, drums, pips (4+1) at 2000, OM with news of Uganda, Congo and several mentions of Tanzania. Passing mention of Xmas and Radio Tanzania at 2010 followed by more news until 2015, then different OM with music and talk. Fair at best, with QRN, fades (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, MLB-1, RS longwire with RBA balun, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKEY. Voice of Turkey is now using 6055, vacated by Slovakia, for the English service to Europe 1930-2030, excellent reception (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Tough luck R. Rwanda, but 6055 still open a semihour before and after? (gh, DXLD) ** U K. Open day at the Ross cancelled --- Tony Christian just announced that tomorrow's planned open day at the Ross [Revenge] has been cancelled - not enough interest in it. Is this an omen for 2004? (Mike Terry, Dec 27, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** U S A. VOA Greenville-A was severely maladjusted Dec 26, as I tuned across the 16m band at 2153 UT. The 17895 transmitter, beamed east in English, was splattering over most of the band, blocking all but the strongest signals, such as KVOH 17775, where the QRM could still be heard. This was during music, a Christmas carol being sung in ``Country Hits USA``. I could detect the splatter *continuously* from 17750 to 18200 or so, although stronger closer to the fundamental. There were peaks of somewhat stronger splatter around 17815, 17975 and 18050. The lower side was obscured by the equally severe but different mixing products from Delano on 17670 and 17705 I have pointed out before. All these close at 2200 nominally, but DL went off a few seconds earlier, so at 2159 I could find the GA splat down to 17715. Then it quit while the 17895 carrier was still on the air, proving that this is a modulation rather than carrier problem. Among the weaker signals suddenly uncovered when GA was finished were DW on 17860 and NHK on 17825. Here`s the IBB online schedule listing for the offending transmitter: 17895 2000 2200 VOA B ENGL GA 04 091 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Glenn: Provisionally, we are going to run World Radio Network (WRN1 North America) during most of the hours that were previously occupied by IBC. Specifically, Saturday 1300-2200 UT on 15725, UT Sunday 0400-1000 on 7385, Sunday 1500-2100 on 15725, and UT Monday 0500-1000 on 7385. I don't know how long it will last, but that's the plan for now, beginning today (Saturday). WOR is on Sunday at 1500. (VCS Radio is now regularly on at 0400-0500 UT Monday on 7385.) (Jeff White, WRMI, Dec 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glad to hear this excellent programming will be on SW at least for a while! Hope WOR can stay on afterwards. WRN1 North America schedule: http://www.wrn.org/listeners/schedules/schedule.php?ScheduleID=2&CurrentTZID=3&Show=weekend WRMI schedule (still not updated Dec 27): http://www.wrmi.net/pages/714011/index.htm (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 7490, WJIE heard 0900-0905+ December 24th with identification, frequencies given as 7490 and 13595, address, "Let the Bible Speak", fair on clear channel, not heard over here for some months (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Really? Last time I checked they were IDing as WJCR (gh) ** U S A. Came across this website http://www.rfma.net/ a forum discussing things like kooks, what`s on WBCQ`s internet stream and what`s not --- like Hal Turner, rants, KIPM, etc. (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Happened upon a KIPM ``Voyage of the Illuminati`` broadcast in progress, 6975-USB, UT Dec 27 at 0050. Incredibly strong signal required max attenuation to keep the SSB from distorting. Usual stream-of-consciousness/dream sequence narration accompanied by weird music and effects. Ended at 0136 with announcement that it was part 2 of ``The Legend of ???``, encouraged listener response by P-mail only to qualify for full-color 8.5 x 11 inch QSL, signed by Alan Maxwell; to P O Box 69, Elkorn, NE 68022. For more see http://homepage.mac.com/kipm 0138 more music with a pause at 0146 for KIPM ID, and perhaps another weaker station saying ``bor--ing``, two or three times; more KIPM music, finally off at 0154 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) No H in Elkorn, spelt fonetically ** U S A. PIRATE RADIO INVADES SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AIRWAVES December 26, 2003 By Tim Wetzel http://www2.winktv.com/x7657.xml Naples --- Pirate radio stations are popping on Southwest Florida airwaves. Stations 91.9 FM in Fort Myers and 100.5 FM in Naples both play explicit songs, feature raunchy DJs and are gaining a loyal following. The rap and hip hop stations aren't legal and don't follow FCC rules. Now, legitimate commercial stations are pressuring the FCC to take action. WAVV 101 FM in Naples says the broadcast from the pirate station interferes with its signal. Listeners expecting to hear EZ listening songs by Frank Sinatra and Barbara Streisand end up getting something much different. "They hear obscene language and obscene songs and they think we've changed formats," said WAVV FM engineer Al Baxa. WAVV hasn't changed its format, but pirate stations are changing the FM dial. Some even have advertisements, FMs 100.5 and 91.9 are both promoting nightclubs and events going on in Southwest Florida. And that eats into the bottom lines of commercial stations with similar formats. In the last three years, the FCC has shut down 8 illegal stations in Collier County. Florida is considered by people in the industry as the pirate radio capital of the nation. WAVV FM and others want the FCC to take action. They support stiffer penalties and more enforcement. "I don't think the fines levied are big enough and they just can't keep up with it," said Jeff Alpert, WAVV FM General Manger. Penalties for operating and illegal radio station include up to a $10,000 fine and time in jail (via Mike Terry, Terry Krueger, DXLD) A somewhat truncated version of the lead story on tonight's 6 pm news on WINK, Ft. Myers. The story gave the impression that 100.5 was new. Visit my "Florida Low Power Radio Stations" at: http://home.earthlink.net/~tocobagadx/flortis.html (Terry Krueger, FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. GIRL TALK SHOVES WAY ONTO BAY AREA RADIOS By TOM ZUCCO, Times Staff Writer Published December 27, 2003 The premise, most people in the radio business agree, has promise. A former Hawaiian Tropic model turned Hooters server turned real estate agent who is also a twice-divorced mother of two, hosts an edgy morning talk radio show to discuss relationships, men, children, men, the empowerment of women, sex and ... men. It will be one of the few radio call-in shows in the country devoted exclusively to women. The show's host, Allison Díaz, sees herself as a somewhat toned-down female version of shock jock Howard Stern, and envisions the program as Sex and the City comes to Tampa Bay. "But it's not about anger or male-bashing," Díaz said recently. "There's a lot of great guys out there. Not many, but some. "The idea is to get women to talk about their lives." The question is whether people will listen when Hitting Below the Belt with Ali Díaz hits the airwaves Jan. 5 from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. [1100- 1300 UT] on WTAN 1340-AM in Clearwater. There's also the question of whether advertisers and sponsors will buy into it. WTAN operates on 1,000 watts and has a listening radius of 45 miles. It reaches from Hudson to the north, Longboat Key to the south and Brandon to the east. And there is one huge hitch. Díaz has never done a radio show. Nor has she worked in the industry. Her closest link to the airwaves is that she was married for four years to a man who will be a competitor: Ron Díaz, host of the Ron Diaz Show from 6 to 10 a.m. on Thunder 103.5-FM... http://www.sptimes.com/2003/12/27/Tampabay/Girl_talk_shoves_way_.shtml (via Terry Krueger, Jim Moats, DXLD) ** U S A. HEAVY METAL ON THE HAM BANDS ... Heavy metal is back on the ham bands. No, not the rock music kind. We are talking heavy metal as in vintage AM gear. Paul Goodman, K2ORC, has more in this report filed over the air --- using AM : Sunset on December 27, 2003 will mark the kickoff of this year`s Heavy Metal Rally. A showcase for AM transmitters that weigh at least 250 pounds and produce 250 watts or more, the annual event is sponsored by Electric Radio magazine. The Rally has become a coast to coast highlight for many AM amateur stations in North America with activity on 160, 75 and 40 meters. The event goes all night, ending at sunrise on December 28. Participants who want to compete for the top place trophy submit logs to the event coordinator. Scoring for the Heavy Metal Rally utilizes a point system that takes into account, among other things, total number of contacts and the number of states and bands worked. In a departure from traditional contest-type scoring, a station can receive an extra point for each positive signal or audio report received by the event coordinator from other hams and SWLs. Scoring notwithstanding, many AM fans participate in the Heavy Metal Rally simply for the pleasure of talking and listening to other AM stations with strong signals and outstanding audio. Winter HF operating conditions generally lead to numerous coast to coast contacts featuring a diversity of transmitters. It would not be unusual for listeners to hear, an amateur in Colorado on a restored Gates broadcast transmitter chatting with someone in California running a Collins broadcast transmitter. Contact Audio [Audio not transcribed.] While broadcast transmitters may be the first thing to come to mind when picturing equipment that meets the Heavy Metal weight and power criteria, the Rally also features a sizeable number of homebrew and military rigs. For more information on the 2003 Heavy Metal Rally, including the email address for log submissions and a list of suggested operating frequencies, please visit http://www.amfone.net Reporting for the Amateur Radio Newsline, this is Paul Goodman, K2ORC. Sounds great, doesn`t it! You can hear more for yourself on Saturday evening December 27th overnight into Sunday the 28th on 160 and 75 meters. It`s the 2003 Heavy Metal Rally on your radio to enjoy. (ARNewsline(tm) via John Norfolk, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Heavy Metal Rally, Saturday, December 27, 2003, sunset to sunrise Suggested Frequencies: 1885 Kc east of Mississippi, 1900 Kc West; 3830 Kc, 3870-3890 Kc, nationwide, 7290 Kc. 1 point per station worked on each different band. (If you work the same station on both 80 and 160 it counts for two points.) 1 point for each different state worked. 1 extra point given for each letter or e-mail received from hams or SWLs with positive comments about a participating station's signal or sound quality. So if someone works 20 stations in 10 different states, the score is 20 contacts + 10 states = 30 If two emails are received complaining that K0XYZ broke their S- meters but sounded damn good doing it, that's 32 points total. The trophy winner is the top scorer that is running a rig weighing more than 250 pounds and/or running at least 250 watts. If the top scorer happens to be running a rice box with a linear, the trophy goes to the next person down the list. Eligibility for the trophy means running a Heavy Metal rig during the event- 250 pounds and/or 250 watts output. NO exceptions! This is Heavy Metal night! Logs and pictures by e-mail to heavymetalrally@earthlink.net no later than January 31, 2004. Let the Games begin! Send any info you have on AM related operating/on-air events. (http://www.amwindow.org/events.htm via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** U S A. WILD ADVENTURES RADIO 1690? Somewhere in all the excitement leading up the Christmas, did I miss a posting that Wild Adventures Radio had left 1690? Not heard earlier today at the top of the Mid-Bay Bridge heading over to Destin, where it used to be local strength. Not heard at sunset here today, and I can't recall the last time I did hear a broadcast from them. [Later:] Okay, shoulda checked 100000watts.com first. Reported silent since 11/24/03 (Gerry Bishop, Niceville, FL, NRC-AM via DXLD) Wild Adventures Radio was a station destined for smashing commercial success. What possibly could have gone awry? (Saul Chernos, ibid.) I wonder how quickly they'll be up and running from their new Avondale Estates (Atlanta) COL --- the Adel operation was just a placeholder to keep the CP from expiring while they get ready to make this an ATLANTA station! S (Scott Fybush, ibid.) Some placeholder. It's 189 miles from Adel to Atlanta. Let's get those Harrisburg PA placeholders for New York City filed, and don't forget those northern North Carolina placeholders for the DC market. Perhaps they are waiting until Wild Adventures Radio is ready for a nationwide rollout so that they can blitzkrieg us with their awesome idea. On the other hand, possibly the commercial worth of their bold new idea was so visible that they have already attracted a corporate takeover. It could also be that the travel park was totally inundated with new business and simply did not have the resources to handle the influx of clients. There's poor Adel to think of too - perhaps they didn't have the infrastructure to cope with a Woodstockian arrival rate. Let this be a lesson to others - just stop, plan it out, and don't bite off more than you can chew. A powerful medium like WAR can be a mixed blessing (Chuck Hutton, ibid.) ** U S A. EXPANDED BAND 5 YEAR GRACE PERIOD The FCC does have an interesting (but somewhat dated) web page titled AM Expanded Band Fact Sheet at http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/audio/1997--04--18--attachC.html that contains some questions and answers for expanded band operations. While question 21 seems to say that you must surrender one of the two licenses at the end of the 5 year period, question 20 seems to say that you can surrender the existing band license and then immediately reapply to use it again. The only catch is that you may have to compete with other interested applicants for the frequency. Also noteworthy is that question 16 says that the expanded band stations are not counted under the multiple ownership cap rules. And per 73.30 of the FCC R&R, there never was a requirement for expanded band stations to broadcast in AM stereo. However, if two competing licensees were equal in all respects, and one had promised to use stereo and the other did not, preference would be given to the one who did promise to broadcast in stereo. That was the reason the question of whether or not you intended to use stereo was included in the application process (Patrick Griffith, NØNNK, Westminster, CO, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. I guess 1030 WBZ-HD is on the air daily now. Right now at midday, I'm able to null out the digital sidebands to receive two stations on 1040; CJMS and an unID, and on 1020 WKZE. The digital sidebands must be at significantly lower power as they are easy to null out, while I can't null out WBZ analog on 1030. Some digital noise is leaking into the analog signal, especially when the IF is opened to 6 kHz (Bruce Conti - Nashua NH, Dec 27, NRC-AM via DXLD) And pre-IBOC could you null one of the two stations on 1040 and receive the other clearly? (Chuck Hutton, WA, ibid.) Probably not during the day, due to 1030 WBZ splatter, I'd still basically null WBZ to the best of my ability to receive anything on the adjacent frequencies. Now there's no splatter, just digital noise. The noise is consistent, but easy to null. Perhaps more interesting is the WBZ digital noise received on my car radio at 1010 and 1050 kHz, due to the wide-open IF, although 1040 and 1050 are useless on the car radio anyway due to 1030 WBZ (50 kW) and 1060 WBIX (40 kW) splatter combined with powerline noise. Bottom line: For now I see no threat to AM broadcast DXing from IBOC, at least the hybrid version, and while limited to daytime only. Side-band splatter is replaced by digital noise; no big deal (Bruce Conti - Nashua NH, ibid.) WBZ has been like a local here all day and there seems to be considerable damage to both 1020 and 1040, each of which has a semi- local N.J. station. While I can null the IBOC [or whatever it is] fairly well on 1020 it's harder on 1040 which is usually like a local days. Of course, WBZ is seldom this loud except when sky waves are like today's. I don't like this! (Ben Dangerfield, Wallingford, PA [SE corner PA], ibid.) ** U S A. THE YEAR IN RADIO: Job changes, stunts got listeners' attention --- Rodney Ho - Staff, Friday, December 26, 2003 From format changes to silly stunts, here are some of the highlights and lowlights from Atlanta radio 2003: Strangest story of the year: Moby at Z93 (WZGC-FM), the best-paid traffic reporter in Atlanta radio history. After 11 years as morning host for country station Kicks 101.5 (WKHX-FM), Moby lost his job in the summer of 2002. Classic rock Z93 gave him a second chance to do mornings that fall, but early this year, management replaced him with Mara Davis. Saddled with Moby's rich, iron-clad two-year contract, Z93 couldn't release him without shelling out a lot of cash. So the powers that be handed him traffic duties. Swallowing his pride, Moby's still there, getting paid well into the six figures for reading traffic reports four hours a day. He never identifies himself or converses with Davis. But his distinctive Tennessee lilt is pure Moby. . . http://www.ajc.com/friday/content/epaper/editions/friday/living_f3beba1f410b91a91051.html (These URLs soon expire; via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. Radio Amazonas, aùn en el aire a las 0415, en los 4939.66 kHz, con un especial de Navidad. SINPO 4/3 (Adàn Gonzàlez, Catia La Mar, Venezuela, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 1630: No sign of the mystery tone during the day, only at night. If anyone is interested in looking at an Argo screenshot I put one up at: http://users.adelphia.net/~bdsaylor/1630kHz_1905EST_12-25-2003.jpg and a short audio clip at: http://users.adelphia.net/~bdsaylor/1630kHz_1905EST_12-25-2003.mp3 Looking at the signal around 950 Hz, it's not the pure tone of other carriers. Have others heard a signal like this? Maybe this isn't the same as what's been heard elsewhere (Brett Saylor, PA, Dec 25, NRC-AM via DXLD) Yes, that`s it. You all are hearing what I`m hearing, same behavior, and same directionality (NW-SE). Brett, thanks for making the Argo screenshot and audio clip available to us all. And Patrick, thanks for the historical examples of low-power test signals. Now, what are we hearing, and where is it? How do we find out? Can others direction- find to pinpoint it? Would it be productive to query the FCC? I love a good mystery! (Fred Schroyer, Freelance Science Writer / Editorial Consultant, Waynesburg, PA 15370, ibid.) Ibiquity holds an experimental license for U1 1000/1000 on 1650 in Cincinnati. Kintronics had a CP for an experimental license for D1 400/0 on 1680 in Bluff City, TN, but that has been cancelled. I can't remember ever seeing a 'logging' of either of these stations. (BILL Hale, TX, ibid.) Wrong: Ibiquity was actually running 100 watts on 1700. It was supposed to be 50 watts (Neal Newman, ibid.) UNIDENTIFIED. Dear Friends, I am hearing an unidentified station on 5770 which signs on in our local mornings at 0130 after test tone for short time. It is also heard in our local evenings and went off before 1700 (1630?). The signals are very weak and sounds something like Burmese(?). Wonder which one it is? With new year wishes, (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, Hyderabad, India, Dec 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Could Bro Scare sound like Burmese? Just kidding, but he is on 5770 now via WWCR at 0400-1200 (gh, DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ DXLD TOO MULTILINGUAL? This list, and 'ALL' qth.net mail lists, use the English language. Do not post any foreign language, for any reason, that uses special punctuation marks, such as a tilda or other 'unspeakable' character. Why? Because a number of subscribers with vision difficulties, the blind, those with reading disabilities and others use hardware devices and special software that converts the text on the screen into synthetic speech. These characters can not be spoken by the language conversion code and frequently cause their computers to lock up and crash. The result many times is system damage. It happened to me tonight because of a foreign language post on this list. Do NOT do this! Thank you for your cooperation (Duane Fischer, W8DBF, List Administrator, swl at qth.net via DXLD) [SWL] Beware of DXLD If you click on a link to a DXLD issue you will be confronted with items in several languages, and I take pride in making it as literate as possible, which means putting all the accents in the right places. It`s a pity that screenreading software, at least used by Duane, can`t cope with this. Surely such things exist for languages other than English, one of the few without `special characters` or accents. I guess that`s why he often seems unaware of the news from DXLD --- trying to read it would crash his system. 73, Glenn (via DXLD) Glenn, I realize that you probably do not have a background in computer programming, as I do. While this issue may appear to be easily corrected, such is not the case. For instance Glenn, Braille has six dots that comprise the entire alphabet, numeric system, punctuation marks and special symbols. This is true for 'any language. Glenn, given six dots how many combinations are possible? (No fair helping GH, he must solve this on his own!) All characters when DOS was the OS of choice, were based on the ASCII system and had numeric values. Hence, software could translate the numeric value to a character. If it had a spoken counterpart, and many do not, it was said. If not, it was simply silent. It did not cause a system to lock up. Now when the ASCII code was abandoned in favor the the GUI (graphic user interface) used by Windows, things changed. Now all characters, regardless of the language, were graphic symbols. Many have no spoken language counterpart, they are strictly visual, not auditory. Remember the rock singer Prince who changed his name to that character that was unspeakable? Same difference, you saw it, but it had no auditory sound pattern. The speech synthesizers, which are hardware devices, use all the sounds that make up the spoken language for English, or what ever language. They are called phonemes and all spoken components of the language use one, or a combination of them, to form the characters and words the human ear hears. This is done by LpC, or linear predictive coding and results in what is called TTS, or text to speech. Let me give you an example Glenn, perhaps it will help to open your mind to the nearly infinite scope of this problem. While you tend to reduce things to a personal deficiency standpoint, I prefer to work with empirical techniques. Commonly known as Science and the 'scientific method'. The word "Chevrolet", a car built by General Motors. If it is broken down phonetically, as screen reading software does, it is not pronounced the way in which we are used to hearing it said. It comes out as "Chev-ro-let". To compensate for this pronunciation variation, all the rules for pronunciation are built into the logic boards. However, there are always exceptions, it seems, and some words still are spoken incorrectly. Such as "root", which can be said as a root of a tree or the root of a word. They are not necessarily pronounced the same! Another is the word "advertisement", and so on. The screen reading software I use costs $795, and that does not include the hardware device, the synthesizer, that actually does the talking. My Windows screen reading program, JAWS For Windows, (JAWS = Job Access With Speech) and the DECTALK PC internal card for $1195 retail, is a total of $1,990 to make my computer talk to me. Now if I want it to speak in DOS, which I still use 75% of the time because of the tremendous flexibility it affords me, that program sold for $495. If I want to use a flatbed B/W scanner to convert the printed text of Glenn Hauser's WOR to a speakable format, that costs an additional $995, plus the scanner. This is a total, without the flatbed B/W scanner, of $3,480! The JAWS For Windows and the Windows-Eyes programs are the two major screen reading programs available. They do handle languages other than English, but the user must request the language of choice prior to purchasing the software! There is no one program that is capable of converting multiple languages to and from English, or any other language, because of the tremendous complexity of doing so. Glenn forgets that some symbols he sees do not have any spoken equivalent. Hence no matter how much hard work he puts into what he writes, it makes no difference in the world of auditory sound reproduction. It is simply seen, but not heard. Glenn, don't you realize that when somebody is speaking in Spanish they do not say the tilde where it occurs in a word? Although it has a spoken sound, and is said by my screen reading software, it is not acted upon the way in which somebody who is speaking Spanish changes the vocal inflection, or timber or cadence. The software has to know how long to pause after a comma or a period, do you know Glenn? The comma is half the pause of a period. So Glenn, it is not as simplistic as you seem to think and not just some inept person reading the WOR and having problems because they aren't bright enough to figure out your efforts to make it correct for whatever language you are quoting at the time. Three professional programmers tried to resolve this issue for the qth.net several years ago at my request. All failed. But there is a simple solution. Write your column as a MS DOS 6.22 compatible ASCII text file and instruct readers to NOT read it in Windows, but to go to the restart in MS DOS mode, load a DOS screen reading program, use a batch file to load their favorite DOS based text editor, or word processing program, and enjoy! The sighted can skip the part about loading the DOS screen reading software. Because ASCII and GUI are as different as a green apple and well done t-bone steak, one will not read the others code. It takes two completely different software programs to do the job. I listen to WOR on the air Glenn, that way it does not lock up my computer, it just lulls me to sleep. (Just kidding about the sleep part) When you get me the answer for the combination possibilities for Braille, Glenn, then we will factor in all the different languages with all the speakable and unspeakable characters, such as the characters used by the Japanese and Chinese, among others and perhaps then the immense complexity of this undertaking will become transparent. It is sort of like computing how many times you will pass rectal gas during a lifetime of seventy-five years and trying to predict on precisely what day and at what time, you will pass gas and get a wet surprise in your Fruit of The Looms! Doable, yes with a huge amount of effort, but worth the work, no. Which is exactly why I listen on the radio Glenn, then I don't get that wet surprise from your error free printed/posted WOR commentary. There is no need to be concerned about the World Of Radio posts here, [he means DXLD notifications] as the blind and print handicapped are well aware they sometimes contain lethal characters. Because of this advance awareness, a work around can be done. It is the surprise posts that are the real problem. The value to the list as a whole of the World Of Radio posts greatly surpasses the inconvenience it causes a few who are blind or print handicapped. As I said, knowing it may contain a problem, the reader may, or may not, decide to run the risk and read it. Or they can just listen to it on air (Duane Fischer, W8DBF, swl at qth.net via DXLD) Thanks to Duane for an enlightening explanation of the problems posed by foreign language texts. Aside from the cost, which would no doubt be prohibitive, it still seems to me that software could be designed which would recognize entire words rather than phonemes, and if something has a tilde in it, pronounce it correctly without saying ``tilde``. It would still have to go back to pronouncing syllables or phonemes for words not in its dictionary, no doubt many of the proper names encountered in Latin American broadcasting, for instance. It should also be capable of recognizing which language is in use based on a brief sample. I am not sure what he is saying about writing DXLD in a certain type of DOS. My question is, can I write it in all the languages I can handle, with all the accents, and then can the accents be stripped off automatically by those who need this, leaving the naked letters, for `safe` reading? BTW, I need to point out the terminology for my output. World of Radio is the broadcast program, and also the basis for my website. DX Listening Digest is the 100K file issued every day or two rounding up all the significant DX and media news that comes my way. It is not called World of Radio. WOR the broadcast is based on what is in DXLD, but of necessity only in the briefest summary form. After each broadcast, I also compile a summary of what has been covered in each show, which is thorough, but far from a transcript. Those who miss the broadcast, or wish to find something later that I mentioned, can search at http://www.worldofradio.com/wor2003.html which covers the entire year`s output to date (and the 2003 file is about to be completed and closed). It so happens that in the WOR summaries I have usually avoided accents, and will make a point of doing so in the future. Summaries of each new WOR show are also posted individually, e.g. WOR 1213 at http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1213.html which at the moment I have not yet posted. At least, that is the way I have been doing it. Next year may bring some changes. 73, (Glenn, ibid.) MUSEA +++++ OLD RADIOS ON DISPLAY AT ROYAL ONTARIO MUSEUM ART DECO EXHIBIT IN TORONTO Better get there quickly, Art Deco exhibit closes Jan. 4. You will likely need to purchase tickets, either there that day or in advance. Tickets have a time, when you must enter the exhibit, but you can linger as long as you wish. Lots of nice stuff besudes the four radios. Radios seen: * Norman Bel Geddes Patriot Radio Model 400, Catalin, USA, 1940, Emerson US Flag design * Nocturne Radio model 1186 Glass, metal, wood, c.1936, Spartan Corp. of Jackson Mich., (this one is described as transforming a radio into a piece of modern sculpture, and I completely agree - it's really neat) * AWA Fisk Radiolette model 33, Australian, black and green plastic, c. 1936. Fisk was a shipboard radio operator for Marconi. * Harold van Doren & John Gordon Rideout, Art King Radio, USA, 1934 There may be a few typos. All my notes were scrawled on the back of my entrance ticket (Saul Chernos, Dec 26, amfmtvdx via DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ A LOVE STORY (SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED) By Hank Stuever Washington Post Staff Writer Thursday, December 25, 2003; Page C01 washingtonpost.com Style Essay It's hard to explain, but I love walking into a Radio Shack in December. And here is what I love a little bit more: Watching people storm out of a Radio Shack in a huff. Before the holidays are over, be sure to take time to storm out of a Radio Shack in a huff, just for the yuletide exhilaration of it. It's a tradition, and almost any Radio Shack will do: There are about 7,200 store locations nationwide, although the exact count fluctuates with the seasons. . . http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A29008-2003Dec24?language=printer (via Tom McNiff, VA, DXLD) SW LOGS WITH XTAL RX Hello Glenn, I thought some of the WOR listeners might enjoy hearing about the home-brew crystal short-wave set I am using to listen with. Some of these simple sets can get quite complex and can even be used for DXing. Which says a lot, as the selectivity is normally about as wide as the buttocks on a Brontosaur! Nothing quite like hearing three stations at once as one fades in, another fades out and one remains, or any combination! This set consists of a hand wound coil covering two bands: 7.6-10.5 and 9.0-15.7 MHz. They are selected by a two position slide switch. The detector is a Galena crystal. Tuning is by means of a variable capacitor. The coil is tapped at the low end to reduce BCB interference. The headphone jack is quarter inch high impedance, about 2000 Ohms. I also have two terminals that an external amplified speaker can be connected to in place of the headphones. There is an antenna and a ground terminal, both with rf chokes. It is built on a 6X8 piece of White Birch with an aluminum front panel to mount switches, jacks and controls on. Because these sets often times pick up MW BCB stations, even those with output of only 5 kW, it is often helpful to either use capacitive coupling for the antenna or a high pass filter. I roll off at 2500 kHz. Which means, no signal from 2500 down passes to the receiver. This eliminates the vast majority of BCB stations from interfering with reception. I have also added an optional RF amp stage in front of the coil. It uses NPN transistors, a 9 vdc battery and switch to turn it on/off. It helps considerably with reducing adjacent band interference, such as the selectivity is! It is also quite helpful in improving faint signals and reducing strong ones. If anyone would like the construction plans and a schematic to this set, I would be glad to supply them. Even though I have been a short-wave listener for over forty years, I get a real thrill out of hearing a station on this simple set listeners used sixty years ago. It is fantastic fun! Here are some loggings I have made with it: STATIONS HEARD ON HOME-BREW CRYSTAL SHORT-WAVE SET TOTAL COUNTRIES: 9 TOTAL STATIONS HEARD: 12 Brussels 9590 at 0500 via Bonaire Ireland 9850 at 1800 via Germany Switzerland 9755 at 1730 WEWN 13615 at 1800 CRI 9755 at 0400 via French Guiana WYFR 9680 at 0550 in Spanish R. Marti 13820 at 1715 WWV 10000 at 0033 RN, 9845 at 0015 via Bonaire RN, 9895 at 0300 via Madagascar RTI, 9680 at 0350 via WYFR HCJB, 9745 at 0430 (Duane Fischer, W8DBF/W9WZE (WPE8CXO), Flint, Michigan, USA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Is it really a crystal radio if it is souped up with a transitorized RF amp circuit? (gh, DXLD) POWER TANK Just thought I'd let you all know something new in my listening setup. I recently purchased a Celestron Power Tank, mobile power station. I needed it for power outages here in Clewiston. A few drops of rain seem to short out the power around here. Anyway, I decided to see how my NRD545 operated on DC power the other day using the Power Tank as the source. Let me tell you, I can really hear the difference between AC and DC power. The DC is so much quieter than AC power. My NRD545 seems like a new receiver to me. The power tank only stays charged for about 24 hours and then I need to recharge it, but that's very easy during downtimes from my listening (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston, Florida, ka4prf, http://www.orchidcitysoftware.com DX LISTENING DIGEST) I bought one about a month ago because I happen to own a very Celestron telescope but since purchasing it I have found numerous non telescope use it for it. For instance by using the cigarette lighter adapter on my laptop I can extend the portability of the laptop pretty darn near forever. You can image what a great thing this would be to have on a DXpedition. Its size and feel make it extremely handy comfortable to use. I have found the spotlight more useful than I ever imagined it would be. Similar devices, both larger and smaller, are made and marketed by several manufacturers with a host of add on features like an air compressor and jumper cables. I have a unit that is about 50% larger that has an AC inverter in it. I keep it in our old RV which I typically park in wilderness areas not RV parks. It gives me some AC current in places without access and is a heck of a lot quieter than a generator. The larger sizes give you more juice allowing you to run more devices for longer periods before needing to recharge. You do have to weigh how much juice you need compared to the size and figure out what size you still consider to be portable. By the way the Power Tank does a heck of a job powering the telescopes, both the Celestron and the Meade (Bill Krause, ibid.) Chuck, Phil KO6BB, AKA Mr. Beacon (currently has his head buried chasing beacons for some odd contest he is participating in) has his station on deep cell batteries with a charger for all rigs that he can use that way. All boat anchors excluded, naturally. You might consider using a deep cell marine or other like battery and constant trickle charger Chuck. Not only does it quiet things down, it prevents a line surge from damaging the RX (Duane B. Fischer, MI, swl at qth.net via DXLD) POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ RADIO LAW: LOMPOC SAYS NO TO BPL The City of Lompoc, California, has said NO to Broadband over Powerlines, and its a big win for ham radio. Amateur Radio Newsline`s Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, has been monitoring the situation and has the details: Paul Andreasen, K1JAN, said it this way --- quote: ``Well, we won ONE at least!`` [NOTE: Newsline misspelled Andreasen`s name on every occasion except two, with no less than three different spellings! The correct spelling was verified by a call search on qrz.com --- Norfolk] What Andreasen is referring to was a plan by Lompoc city leaders to deploy Broadband over Powerlines in that city and the work of the ham community to head it off. Andreasen is the ARRL Technical Coordinator for the Santa Bárbara Section and a ARRL Technical Advisor for the League`s Southwestern Division. And he was one of the organizers of the movement to stop the deployment of BPL in the Lompoc area. In an e-mail, Andreasen says that his group sprang into action when they learned of plans to permit powerline broadband. He presented city leaders with several studies and some facts on interference effects to and from other licensed RF users. Andreasen [Audio not transcribed.] Meantime, Eric Lemmon, WB6FLY, made the California Highway Patrol aware of their efforts. The statewide CHP radio system operates on low-band FM which falls right smack in the middle of the spectrum used by BPL. And then they wait until December 17th for the newspapers to report the results of their City Council vote on the matter. The good news: No Broadband Over Powerlines in Lompoc. Instead, the City Council approved a rival, non radiating system that uses fiber optic technology. But that`s not all. The company that did the study for the planners was told by the City Administrator not to entertain any radiating methodologies at all. All because ham radio operators spoke up and provided proof that BPL could be hazardous to the regions RF environment. For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I`m Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, reporting. Another quote from Paul Andreasen, K1JAN, kind of sums it up. ``We not only win one, but a bureaucracy kept it`s word!`` (W6YN via ARNewsline(tm) December 26 via John Norfolk, DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ SIGNAL STRENGTH VS. DISTANCE [continued from 3-231] Leaving MUFs aside, I think the best way of stating it is that for an AM band station, there is a circular zone in which skywave goes via the F layer, and outside of the zone it goes via the E layer. The radius of the zone is around 350 miles at the high end of the band, and it shrinks down to practically nothing at the low end. If you're in a stations's "F zone", then the signal levels you receive will be lower than if you were just outside the zone. This effect would be helpful in reducing skywave self-interference near the edge of a station's groundwave coverage area. Unfortunately, the stations that would benefit the most are the ones with the largest groundwave coverage areas, but they're at the low end of the band where the "F zone" is too small to be useful. Them's the breaks (Barry McLarnon, VE3JF, Ottawa, ON, NRC-AM via DXLD) ###