DX LISTENING DIGEST 4-015, January 26, 2004 edited by Glenn Hauser, http://www.worldofradio.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 For restrixions and searchable 2004 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 1217: Tue 0400 on SIUE Web Radio http://www.siue.edu/WEBRADIO/ [followed by CONTINENT OF MEDIA 03-06 at 0430] Wed 1030 on WWCR 9475 Mon 0430 on WSUI, Iowa City, 910, webcast http://wsui.uiowa.edu 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 1217 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1217h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1217h.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1217.html WORLD OF RADIO 1217 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1217.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1217.rm ** ALASKA. Following item was just found in the HCDX archive on UT Jan 26. Possibly I missed it on Jan 21, or it was late appearing, but subsequently we have reported that KNLS was banished from 7160. Nothing previously about using 7200 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Recently someone on this list posted info on KNLS broadcasting in the 40 meter ham band. I have contacted Chuck, K0BOG, the head of the ARRL Monitor program and he passes along the following response about KNLS broadcasting on 7160 kHz. If anyone hears KNLS transmitting on 7200 kHz I would appreciate a heads p. Larry Van Horn -- N5FPW WUN Club Military/Goverment Monitoring Columnist Grove Enterprises Technical Support Department Monitoring Times Assistant Editor/Milcom Columnist Telephone: V-828-837-9200/F-828-837-2216/800-438-8155 -----Original Message----- From: Skolaut, Chuck K0BOG Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2004 11:41 AM To: Larry Van Horn Subject: RE: 40 Meter Broadcast QRM Hello Larry, Good to hear from you again. Hope all is well. I will try to address your questions as follows. 73, Chuck KØBOG ARRL LVH| I have received reports that KNLS in Anchor Point, AK is broadcasting on 7200 kHz now in addition to their advertised 7160 on their website http://www.knls.org/English/ksched.htm I am curious how a Region 2 broadcaster is authorized to legally transmit in the 40- meter band? CS| I received this message from the FCC on 1/13/04 concerning KNLS: FCC| "The request by KNLS on 7160 kHz was authorized inadvertently considering that 7100-7300 kHz is allocated to Amateurs in Region 2. I have talked to KNLS and they should be vacating the frequency today 13 January, 2004 to resolve any unintended interference." CS| Please let me know if you continue to receive reports about 7200. Chuck Again if you hear KNLS on 7160, 7200 or any other 7000-7300 kHz frequency, please post to HCDX or drop me a line here at Grove. 73 de (Larry Van Horn, HCDX via DXLD) ** ASIA. NEW WEBSITE: DX ASIA Alok Dasgupta and Victor Goonetilleke are pleased to announce the launch of their new Web site, DXAsia. The aim of the site is to provide accurate and timely schedule information for listeners interested in radio broadcasting to and from the South Asian region: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and surrounding countries. DXAsia is a work in progress. In due course the site will be database driven, with user selectable options for displaying schedule information by country, time, language or other criteria. At the outset, the site displays static information derived from an offline database that is constantly updated. The database currently contains approximately 1000 entries. More information will be added to DXAsia as the weeks go by. The editors are anxious for feedback and suggestions. These can be sent to feedback @ dxasia.info All shortwave listeners and DXers are very welcome at http://www.dxasia.info (Andy Sennitt, Jan 25, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. 6230/U, Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Jan 17, 1102- 1108. Man giving weather for high seas for north & west of Australia. SIO 333 (Jerry Coatsworth at the MARE DXpedition, Brighton MI, via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA [and non]. Australian tropicals --- Glenn: The tropical bands have been very dead and noisy recently, here in San José. So I was extremely surprised to hear on the morning of 25 January the following better than ever before (though not one of my customarily heard LAmerican stations could be picked up below 5 MHz): 2310 // 2325 // 2485 Between 1017 and 1020, ABC Northern Territory from Tennant Creek, Alice Springs, and Katherine: loud but a bit muffled, with 2310 the best. Programming was a news talk/interview show in English, not 'aboriginal' as specified for each one at that time in ILGRadio database listings; I did hear Iraq mentioned. Encouraged, I tried for ARDS at 5050: not a trace as on that frequency was a strong broadcast in an oriental language: presumably (according to ILG) Guanxi Foreign, Nanning, in Vietnamese (Steve Waldee, CA, retired broadcast engineer; R-75, 350-ft dipole, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 2310, 2325, 2485 (strongest and last to fade out) ABC Northern Territory, 2050 Jan 25, interview in English, no news at 2100 (Alexander Koutamanis, THE NETHERLANDS, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** AUSTRIA. CONFIRMACIÓN QSL VÍA E-MAIL DE RADIO AUSTRIA... Hola Glenn, Saludos desde Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA. A continuación te envío una comunicación que me mandó hace unos días Manuel Aletrino, de Radio Austria Int'l. 73's y buen DX (Adán González, Jan 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Estimado Adán: Gracias por tu carta electrónica del 5 de enero; espero que entre tanto nos estés escuchando ya oficialmente en versión española. Lo que tú escuchaste imprevistamente fue una "emisión de ensayo" inoficial, sobre la que - por no existir - no se te puede enviar una QSL formal. Haz el favor de considerar la QSL en inglés como contestación oficial. Consideramos verídica tu escucha, de un programa "virtual" sobre cuyo origen no tengo, por lo demás, ningún detalle. Gracias por escucharnos y hasta siempre! Un abrazo, Manuel Aletrino- REGRESA RADIO AUSTRIA INTERNACIONAL EN ESPAÑOL DESDE EL 2 DE ENERO DE 2004, SE LLAMA "AUSTRIA 1 INTERNACIONAL". ESTÁ A SU ALCANCE, EN ONDA MEDIA; ONDA CORTA; INTERNET ¡Bienvenidos al nuevo Noticiero de Austria que se transmite desde Viena! Nuestra dirección postal sigue siendo A-1136 Viena Austria En Internet nos pueden escuchar y leer en http://oe1.orf.at/service/international y nos pueden escribir por correo electrónico oe1.service @ orf.at Contestaremos todas sus cartas, pero ¡ya no podemos INTERCAMBIAR DIRECCIONES DE OYENTES! HORARIOS Y FRECUENCIAS Para Europa: a las 21.55 UTC en 5945 kHz y 6155 kHz y simultáneamente en 1476 kHz, en Onda Media Para América del Sur: a las 00.00 UTC y a las 00.30 UTC, en 13730 kHz Para América Central: a la 01.00 UTC y a la 01.30 UTC, en 9870 kHz Para América Este: a la 01.00 UTC y la 01.30 UTC, en 7325 kHz Hasta pronto, en "AUSTRIA 1 INTERNACIONAL". Cordiales saludos de Manuel Aletrino (via Adán González, Venezuela, DXLD) ** BHUTAN. 6035, BBS, 1400-1410, Jan 25, World News in English by YL. Then came back to a local musical programme. First time noted English news on Sunday at 1400. 73s, (Swopan Chakroborty, Kolkata, INDIA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 4722.86, 23.1 2245, Radio Uncía (tentative) seems to be back. Frequency and programming matched, but signal quality was lousy due to bad conditions. QSA 2 JE/RFK (Jan Edh/Ronny Forslund, SW Bulletin Jan 25, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 4901.93, Radio San Miguel, Beni, Riberalta, 0125-0129, Jan 22, Spanish, comments and musical program, ID ``...Radio San Miguel...``, 24332, (Nicolás Eramo, Villa Lynch, Prov. Buenos Aires, Argentina, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. This is what the Winnipeg FM Band will look like immediately: 89.9-CKSB 91.1-CKXL 92.1-CITI 92.9-CKIC 94.3-CHIQ Q94 FM 95.1-CHVN 95.9-CKUW 96.7-CILT Steinbach 97.5-CJKR Power 97 FM 98.3-CBC Radio 2 99.1-CJZZ 99.9-CFWM 100.7-CHNR 101.5-CJUM 102.3-CKY FM 103.1-CKMM 104.1-CFQX 104.1 105.5-NCI FM 107.1-CFEQ 107 107.9-CJWV Some out of Winnipeg AM Stations 540-CBK Watrous Sask. 550-KFYR 600-KSJB 710-KXMR 730-CKDM 790-KFGO 880-CKLQ 920-CFRY 950-CFAM 970-WDAY 1080-KNDK 1130-KBMR 1200-KFNW 1220-CJRB 1250-CHSM (AM1250) 1310-KNOX 1440-KKXL 1570-CKMW 1590-KCNN (Sean Traverse, ibid.?, Jan 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANARY ISLANDS. Full Gospel Las Palmas Church, 6715, email efter 18 dagar, v/s Gyusub Chung, 928398036 @ infonegocio.com (Gert Nilsson, Sweden, 2003 QSL report, SW Bulletin Jan 25 via DXLD) 6719U, Full Gospel Church, Korean church service still in progress at 2345 Jan 16 (Fri), off soon afterwards. Decent level but heavy QRM. This is the first time I have heard them in several recent Fri checks (Jerry Berg, MA, NASWA Flashsheet Jan 25 via DXLD) ** CHINA. 9755, China Radio International from Xi`an per Passport. Listeners Garden with English talk re cooking Chinese Food, Chinese New Year traditions and celebrations by M&W. s/off 1356 with addresses; OC until 1400 when they continued in English with news -- many items re SARS, the Asian Bird Flu, etc. SIO 444 1345-1405 17/Jan (Ken Zichi, MARE DX-Pedition, MI via DXLD) ?? But for the real scoop consult DXLD where we maintain this is Sackville (gh, DXLD) ** CHINA. Re Olle's note in DXLD 4-014 about the new names of CPBS (a.k.a. CNR) national networks, Interval Signals Online has audio clips of these new identification announcements at http://www.intervalsignalsonline.com Regards, (Dave Kernick, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. TWO NEW MW STATIONS FROM BEIJING Maybe some of you are looking for a new DX catch? China Radio International has started test transmissions in Beijing on 846 kHz and 1008 kHz, with a 24 hour English looped service. I believe 846 is 10 kW and 1008 1 kW. I'd be interested to see where it can be heard! Good luck! (Connor Walsh, Beijing, Jan 25, dxing.info via DXLD) I guess I should have mentioned in the first post, there are two existing MW outlets for CRI in Beijing. The main one is 1251, which relays the domestic 91.5 FM service, and 900 kHz which carries the HitFM service from 88.7 FM. This is mostly pop music presented in Chinese, with news in different languages. This doesn't broadcast throughout the day, rather there are some pauses. The 900 transmitter doesn't sound very powerful, while the 1251 is one of the strongest signals on the broadcast band here. With a longwire on a Sony SW7600GR and a Degen 1102, it overloads and pops up all over the shortwave bands (Connor Walsh, Beijing, Jan 26, ibid.) ** COLOMBIA. 5480.03 // 2740.02 kHz, Radio Mundial SF de Bogotá, 25/Ene/2004 1100 UTC. SWB MICROINFORMATIVO! Quito 25/Ene/2004 11:35 hora local Religious program with OM up to 1100 UT the national anthem and ID. Harmonic from 1370 kHz (I did not hear anything there). 73s (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SWB América Latina, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CONGO DR. 5066.330, 13.1 1715, unID, most likely La Voix du Peuple, Bunia. Choir singing, sometimes talk in French. Heard regularly, last time Jan 19. Weak and close down usually at 1730-1735. Varies circa 10 Hz in frequency from day to day. SA 2 (Stig Adolfsson, Sweden, SW Bulletin Jan 25 translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CONGO DR. CONGO-KINSHASA. 9550 & 11690, R. Okapi, seems to be regular now on both frequencies in // with stronger signals than recently, presumably 24 hours. 6030 not heard, but this channel is always occupied when the signal would propagate here (Vaclav Korinek, RSA, DX-plorer via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. Radio For Peace International/Institute for Progressive Communications --- Vista On-Line: January 2004 Edition Dear friends and listeners, First and foremost, Happy New Year! A lot of changes are currently underway at Radio For Peace International and 2004 promises to be a very busy year of new beginnings and changes in the station. Thanks to all those who have provided extra financial and moral support over the past few months, which has proven to be a difficult time for RFPI. But the loss of the RFPI studios in Ciudad Colón is to be looked at not as a defeat, but as an opportunity for a new beginning and to change and expand RFPI in the future. A brief update on developments since the eviction of Radio For Peace International from its listener-supported studios on the campus of the University for Peace in November 2003: Ø During the month of December, station manager James Latham undertook a trip to the United States in search of legal advice and assistance for RFPI`s case against the University for Peace. He also spoke on several west coast media outlets and met with the Director of the Pacifica Foundation. Ø A legal brief was filed in the Costa Rican Supreme Court Sala IV (court dealing with constitutional matters) in November asking for assistance against the actions taking by the University for Peace. However, the Court turned down this case since the University sits on international land granted to the United Nations and lies outside the Court`s jurisdiction. Ø Radio For Peace International is currently based at an interim office in a suburb of San José, and equipment is securely stored. RFPI and partner to offer month-long Peace Journalism/Spanish language courses Radio For Peace International is working on a study partnership with the San José-based Institute for Central American Development Studies, Central America’s leading language institute. Interested participants will enroll in a month long course combining the concept of Peace Journalism with Spanish language studies. The course brings together activists who wish to have a better understanding of media, and practicing journalists who wish to learn alternative reporting skills. Both partners are very excited about this new program, which will continue the work of previous IPC courses. As in the past, proceeds from the course will assist in the upkeep of Radio For Peace International. Courses set to begin in March 2004. More information is available on the web sites http://www.ipccr.org and http://www.icadscr.com RFPI to resume streaming audio on Internet soon!! Radio For Peace International is planning to begin streaming audio content on the Internet again in the near future, while the search continues for a new site to reconstruct our studio and install transmitting equipment to get the shortwave radio back on the air. Listeners can count on hearing a lot of their old favorite shows, as well as a new special focus on regional Costa Rican and Central American issues. As RFPI continues its reconstruction efforts, listener support is crucial --- now more than ever --- to keeping the station alive. Remember it was thanks to listener support that RFPI was built and maintained for the last 16 years; it will be thanks to you that we can continue and prosper into the future. When RFPI went off the airwaves, the world lost its only progressive radio voice on shortwave, something that is increasingly important in this time of media consolidation and diminishing news perspectives. You may send donations securely and immediately by clicking on the Pay Pal icon on our web site on http://www.rfpi.org or you may send a check or postal order to Radio For Peace International PO Box 3165 Newberg, OR 97132, USA We apologize for the delay in getting this update to you, and promise that upcoming VISTA updates will be more frequent. Yours in Peace, The RFPI Staff (via DXLD) ** CYPRUS. 9760, Cyprus BC 16 Jan at 2228 in Greek. Good. //7210 good but het from Benin. //6180 good but under Brazil (Liz Cameron, Brighton MI, MARE DX-Pedition via DXLD) A little-known service, Fri, Sat and Sun only at 2215-2245, the only Cypriot station actually broadcasting from the island, via BBC/Merlin (gh, DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. RADIO PRAGUE TO LEAVE MEDIUMWAVE Ha! Haha! The close-down of the CRo 6 network will also kick Radio Prague off mediumwave. See the new schedule for the remaining six hour slot on 639/954/1332 at http://www.rozhlas.cz/cro6/zmeny/ No Radio Prague programming anymore. So why was the German service asking for reception reports about 639 at all? Appears to me that they were assured to remain on the CRo 6 schedule. But not so. And unnoticed so far, the 400 kW transmitter at Melnik was decommissioned not too long ago (I think sometime in last year) and replaced by 40 kW "Praha", I guess Praha-Zbraslav, probably the very same transmitter once used for the 792 daytimer. Some background: When commercial stations were allowed in the Czech Republic a decade ago Cesky Rozhlas lost a full FM network. They dealt with this situation by leaving the Praha program on mediumwave; the editor-in-chief of Praha was quoted saying "Mono, to je ono", something like "Mono, that's it". From this point onwards the regional stations relayed Praha when none of their own programming was on air, bringing an end to the Regina program like still exists in Slovakia. Praha also has (again) some of its own FM frequencies, but not a complete network. These circumstances made the new arrangement possible: During the evening Praha listeners otherwise having to rely on mediumwave can be referred to the FM frequencies of the regional stations (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Jan 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. Do RFI QSL? --- I sent a few reports in by email in June '03, and at the end of August received a thick envelope form Paris. In it were the following items: 2 RFI stickers, full broadcast schedule in French, an English language paper detailing English frequencies, a photocopied sheet implying that I should take notes on RFI reception and send those to the station, a listing of pen-friends from a program called "Club 9516", and finally, a generalized letter stating that they recieve sooooo much mail that individual verifications are impossible (although "letters are always carefully read"). You can still attempt a QSL, the address listed is as follows: RFI, 116 Avenue du Président-Kennedy, BP-9516, 75762 Paris Cedex 16, France; and the email is english.service @ rfi.fr (Mike Torchio, MA, Jan 25, dxing.info via DXLD) ** FRANCE. RADIO FRANCE STAFF MAY STRIKE OVER PAY | Text of press release by Paris-based media news web site Radio Actu on 23 January Radio France employees may cease work from 27 January, after the SNJ, FO, CGT, CFDT, CFTC and CGC trade unions issued a call to strike. This strike will affect Radio France, France Inter, France Info, France Culture, France Music, the local radios of France Blue, Radio Mouv' and Radio FIP. The trade unions intend to protest against the disparities of wages between Radio France and France Television. The trade unions said that this strike call was made after the management refused to compare the wages between the two companies and to negotiate on this point. Source: Radio Actu, Paris, in French 23 Jan 04 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Kiel 612 --- Here is a recording of Kiel-Kronshagen 612 cutting off yesterday (Jan 24) at 1800 (or 1801 as the source says) for the last time, at least for the time being: http://www.schlesien-online.de/radio/upload/pow-612-1901-sendestop.mp3 Same recording in Real Media format, processed and archived indefinitely: http://www.radioeins.de/_/meta//sendungen/apparat/040124_a1.ram Power 612 always closed with such an abrupt cut-off, not even bothering to fade out the music although they were on 612 only since they were removed from the cable nets around Kiel (at times a stereo feed of Power 612 was available 24/7 there). A report of students who visited the first Power 612 studio site in 1998: http://zerberus.lernnetz.de/ausgaben/ausgabe5/powerradio.html In the meantime Power 612 moved to a less prominent location (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Jan 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HONDURAS. INDEPENDENT TV STATION AVAILABLE ON SATELLITE Canal 6, a national independent television channel based in San Pedro Sula, has launched on satellite NSS 806 at 40.5 degrees west. A 20- minute Spanish-language news bulletin was observed at 1400, containing national and international items. Technical parameters: Satellite: NSS 806, 40.5 degrees west Frequency: 3695 MHz, left hand circular polarization Symbol rate: 2963 Forward error correction: 3/4 Source: BBC Monitoring research 26 Jan 04 (via DXLD) ** HUNGARY. RADIO STATION BANNED FOR ANTI-CHRISTIAN REMARKS Hungary's National Radio and Television Council (ORTT) has suspended the license of a radio station which called on Christmas Eve to exterminate Christians, ASSIST News Service (ANS) monitored Thursday, January 22. The ORTT said it had banned Budapest-based Tilos Radio from the airwaves for 30 days while excluding the network from applying for funds for half a year "as a final warning", after one presenter suggested on December 24 it was time "to wipe out all Christians." Tilos Radio, which means "Forbidden Radio" in reference to its former status as a radio pirate, already fired the host who it claimed had been talking under the influence of alcohol. It also apologized for insulting people in this mainly Catholic nation. Hungarian media described the ORTT-decision as a compromise as right- wing delegates wanted to close down the station while liberal officials suggested a 24-hour cessation of broadcasting was sufficient. "exaggerated reaction" Yet, Tilos Radio board of trustees chairman Gabor Csabai told reporters that while the station expected punishment, it finds the 30- day broadcasting license suspension "to be an exaggerated reaction" as the ORTT never gave such a stringent penalty. He stressed Tilos Radio will consider whether to appeal it in court, once the station receives an official, written, confirmation of the media watchdog's ruling. The ORTT-punishment came less than two weeks after a controversial demonstration in Budapest, where thousands of right wing protesters linked the radio's anti-Christian remarks to Israel. Nazi era Shouting "we had enough" demonstrators were seen waving flags from the Nazi era, while burning at least one Israeli flag. The Israeli Embassy in Budapest condemned the flag burning saying it did not understand why anti-Christian remarks aired by Tilos Radio, had anything to do with the independent democratic state of Israel. Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Medgyessy, who also condemned the flag burning, has received death treats, his office said. The threats came in a letter signed by Budapest Civic Groups, part of a right wing movement lead by former prime minister Viktor Orban, which co- organized the mass rally, media said. The flag burning also outraged Holocaust survivors remembering Hungary as a close ally of Nazi Germany during World War Two when 600,000 Hungarian Jews were massacred. The country's first ever Holocaust Museum is scheduled to open in April this year. suspects questioned A Serbian-Montenegrin citizen, whom several photos reportedly showed taking part in the burning of the Israeli flag outside Tilos Radio on January 11, gave himself up to police Wednesday, Hungarian news papers reported. Police questioned the man, identified as Zoltan B, and reportedly released him later that evening. Two other suspects, named as Miklos B. and Richard M. Giorgio, were also released pending trial or further evidence proving their involvement in the incident, ANS learned Thursday, January 22 Their brief detention came amid an ongoing debate about freedom of speech in this post-Communist country. Last month Hungarian President Ferenc Madl refused to sign anti-hate speech legislation sending it instead to the Constitutional Court for a second opinion. The European Union, which Hungary hopes to join in less than 100 days, has in the past expressed concern about a revival of right wing extremism in Hungary and other former Soviet satellite states (via Bruce Atchison http://gideon.www2.50megs.com/music/iprices.html DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. LOST IN TRANSLATION: AIR READIES AXE FOR FOREIGN BROADCAST NEW DELHI: The news in Baluchi. The weather report in Swahili. A discussion on pregnancy in Russian. All this and more, through the day, every day --- on All India Radio's External Services. It's perhaps the last outpost of the Raj: a full division dedicated to radio transmission in 16 non-Indian languages at an annual cost of Rs 57 crore. Now, though, Prasar Bharati --- realising that there may not be anyone out there actually listening to the programmes --- is planning to pull the plug on its External Services Division. Admitting that the services have become dated in a post-television world, CEO Prasar Bharati Corporation K S Sarma said, ``I have written to the Foreign Secretary and I&B Secretary saying the returns from this are not commensurate with the investments made. I have asked for a thorough review of the services, news content, everything.'' ``The division was set up when there was no television. Today, it takes effort to tune in to short wave. We have to overhaul the entire system first'', he says. The ESD's saviour could be the MEA, whom Sarma believes should pick up the tab. The first broadcast was on October 1, 1939; the British used it for wartime propaganda in languages their allies/soldiers understood well, including Pashto, Burmese, Chinese, Dari. Other languages were added on over the years --- including Burmese, Thai and Bahasa, the language of Indonesia --- but none was removed from the service. Today, the broadcasts continue in the same languages, eating up Rs 50 crore annually on maintenance of transmitters and Rs 7 crore on software. The broadcasts are aired through 19 transmitters in the country --- which, officials say, have outlived their purpose and stretched their budgets. The 16 units (each language is treated as a unit) employ a supervisor, writer and anchors/newsreaders, depending on the duration of broadcasts. Half the staff are students of language from the universities as officials concede it is difficult to find the right people for all the languages beamed by the external services. An old ESD hand says it isn't a revenue-generating service. The only measure of its success, he says, used to be the letters received from the world over. ``There was a time when we received 300 letters a month, now we get one or maybe nothing for months'', he says. One anchor believes the content should be reviewed, pointing towards Pakistan, which has invested considerable money in bolstering its external services. ``I am aware that the news I read is dated but policy-makers should determine the content suitable for the times'', he says. Obviously, the foreign language does lend itself to absurd situations. Officials speak of how a Persian anchor/translator insisted on airing --- for an entire year --- news on problems associated with the gall bladder, as he suffered from a similar complaint. The anchor was, in effect, giving free publicity to his doctor before he was discovered. Till the mid-80s periodic reviews were undertaken in consultation with the Ministry of External Affairs. Two years ago, letters were despatched to 126 Indian missions abroad seeking their views on AIR's external services. ``Only 50 bothered to reply. Of those, 38 were not aware that AIR has an external service'', an official said, blaming it on bad advertising. I&B officials said they were considering several proposals to revamp the system though a solution is still nowhere in sight. ``There is a proposal to take news through the satellite route --- offering important languages for transmission on the World Space System. With World Space showing the way, there is no reason why AIR cannot follow the example or hand over software to private stations abroad in return for a fixed fee and go for webcasting," an official said. Going the cable route will definitely cut costs as no transmitter will be required for transmission. More important, world over, short wave transmissions are being shut down giving way to far more sophisticated means of radio broadcast cutting costs in the process. (From: newindpress.com) Regards, (Swopan Chakroborty, Kolkata, India, Jan 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) AIR GOS will be missed on SW least of all in NAm, because they never bothered to try to reach us despite the large number of potential relay bases in Europe, Africa, and the Americas (gh, DXLD) This doesn`t look encouraging. From: http://www.newindpress.com/Newsitems.asp?ID=IEH20040124112801&Title=Top+Stories&Topic=0 (same via Ulis Fleming, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** INDIA. 4860, AIR, Delhi; 1253 1/25 Hindi subcontinental vocal music, 1300 talk by Man in Hindi, 1325 Woman in English "You are tuned to ALL INDIA RADIO..", then Woman gave plane (or train) schedule "the INDIA EXPRESS from New Delhi is due to arrive at 7:30 pm at gate #6" (Steve Wiseblood, Brownsville TX, DX LISTENING DIGEST) he also heard the AIR stations on 4820, 4840, 4880 around the same time (gh) ** INDIA. Dear Friends, India is celebrating its 55th Republic Day on January 26, 2004. So, All India Radio will broadcast the following special broadcasts on 25 & 26 January 2004. 1) President's broadcast to the nation: 25 Jan 2004 1400-1430 on 6030, 6085, 9575, 9835 (all via Delhi) 2) Special "Kavi Samelan" (Poets' get together): 25 Jan 2004 1400-1430 on 6085, 9575, 9835 (all via Delhi) 3) Running Commentary of Republic Day parade : 26 Jan 2004 0350-0645 6155 Hindi Delhi 7140 English Delhi + Hyderabad! 9425 - Bangalore (500 kW) 9470 - Aligarh (250 kW) 9595 Hindi Delhi 9910 English Aligarh (250 kW) 10330 - Bangalore (500 kW) 11620 Hindi Delhi 11830 Hindi Delhi 15020 English Delhi 15040 English Bangalore (500 kW) 15135 Hindi Delhi The above special programs will be relayed by all stations of AIR on MW, SW & FM. Because of the special programs mentioned above, there will be several changes to AIR broadcasts on Home & External Services. The major changes on 26 Jan 2004 are: 1. Urdu Service on 6155, 9595 & 11620 will have Hindi commentary from 0340 UT. 2. Hindi Service on 13695 at 0315-0415 will be cancelled. 3. The Cricket commentary on that day will be stopped when the Running Commentary of the Republic Day parade is in progress. Reception reports may be sent to : spectrum-manager @ air.org.in 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Raj Bhavan Road, Hyderabad 500082, India, Jan 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL. Lots of errors in the clandestine list; wish someone would make it clear to the Bulgarians what the difference is between a brokered and clandestine program. Since when is R. Erza a clandestine program? (Hans Johnson, FL, via Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hans, tell them your definition of a BROKERED Clandestine / Vailed / Stealthy / Target Govt. Opposition / Secret Service sponsored / radio service stations to rbul1 @ nationalradio.bg To mention this 'wide field' of variants like, even in DTK Juelich publicized schedule missed some clandestine service to EAf. Or the "vail technique" in question amongst HFCC entries of Voice of Tibet and Dem. Voice of Burma and others (Khmer, Lao, Vietnamese, service put under VOR or RRI). Two separate schedules of different content is known amongst of such broadcasters like IBB or BBC Merlin, to hide their Stealthy radio services. Look to the policy of Ludo Maes, to hide all his TDP brokered programs and transmitter sites, that's stealthy in its real design. Venceremos was a real clandestine radio station ??? R Marti is a vailed Cuban opposition radio, sponsored by some US secret service. Why has VoA now so much variants like Sawa and Farda services ? ``Since when is R. Erza a clandestine program?`` I don't know their religious background, Israelic or Protestant ? Against whom?? (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RELIGIOUS/SPIRITUAL programs and not clandestines in the Observer list: Radio Ezra (Karaite, see http://www.radioezra.com and http://www.karaite-korner.org ), Payam-e Doost (Baha'i faith), Radio Ecclésia (Catholic, licensed and produced in the target country Angola!), Fang Guang Ming Radio (Falun Gong). Radio Ezra is still aired via Sitkunai, Lithuania, and not via Armavir, Russia as it was registered by TDP with the HFCC. Btw, in DX circles it is usually overlooked that Fang Guang Ming Radio is a GLOBAL promotion of the Falun Gong spiritual movement/faith, for Chinese listeners around the world and not just for mainland China, and e.g. the 6035 (via TDP) is for a EUROPEAN audience as the station itself explains on its website. We know that FEBC's programs in Vietnamese are jammed in Vietnam; does this make FEBC a clandestine station? Any religious/spiritual program may be considered "unwanted" in certain areas of the world, but still these remain a different type of broadcasts than "secular" programs and in that regard there is no difference between "big" ones like FEBA or TWR and "small" ones like Ezra or Payam-e Doost. 73s, (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, ibid.) Brokered programs can include both clandestine and non-clandestine (religious). Total clandestines have their own transmitters in secret locations, not buying time from some legitimate site, e.g. V. of Mojahed (gh, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM [and non]. SATELLITE RADIO STATIC Sam Whitmore, 01.23.04, 8:46 PM ET http://www.forbes.com/columnists/2004/01/23/0123whitmore.html?partner=yahoo&referrer= I love radio. Thirty years ago I was a pimply-faced kid spinning polka records every Sunday morning on a 500-watt AM station in Danvers, Mass. I'd love to believe in those brave, ambitious companies, Sirius and XM Satellite Radio. But after two days prowling the floors of this month's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, and after scrutinizing the most recent Sirius and XM 10-Q statements, I can't help thinking satellite radio soon will look more like Skylab than the skyrocket we've been hearing about. There's no doubt that Sirius (nasdaq: SIRI) and XM (nasdaq: XMSR) look hot at the moment. Licensed by the FCC in 1997, Sirius offers 100 channels of music, news and entertainment, most commercial-free, and just landed the rights to broadcast National Football League games. Sirius claimed 262,000 subscribers in 2003, up from 30,000 in 2002; the company's stock has jumped about 50 percent since November. Founded in 1992, XM soon will offer traffic and weather reports in 21 U.S. cities and several interstate corridors. That'll help commuters, satellite radio's biggest market. XM dwarfs Sirius in subscribers; the firm expects in 2004 to more than double the 1.36 million subscribers it already has. XM stock rose to $27 from $20 since October. But take a look at digital radio and the rise of Surround Sound 5.1. Remember that wireless phones aren't going away. These factors will constrain satellite radio's growth even if Sirius and XM execute flawlessly. Columbia, Md.-based iBiquity Digital is the hand behind digital radio, also known as HD Radio. Formed in August 2000, iBiquity is backed by Clear Channel Communications (nyse: CCU), Viacom Inc. (nyse: VIA.B), Harris (nyse: HRS) and Texas Instruments Inc. (nyse: TXN). The term "digital radio" refers to the digital versions of the analog AM and FM signals we grew up with. Almost 80 U.S. analog stations have transitioned to digital; more will switch as automakers migrate to factory-installed digital radios. Audio after-market leaders Alpine, Kenwood and many, many more are set to go. Even Ford Motor (nyse: F) is an iBiquity investor--and Ford has a deal with Sirius. Do you really think Clear Channel will let satellite radio steal the future? According to XM's latest 10-Q, XM "leases sites for its terrestrial repeaters from Clear Channel Communications." Terrestrial repeaters boost XM's signal from the Earth's surface, supplementing the signal from space. XM won't get far depending on its enemies. Now consider Surround Sound 5.1. Stereo sound in vehicles hasn't appreciably improved in 20 years. Just wait until the Surround Sound we hear on our DVDs comes to vehicles. It's already in the 2004 Acura TL. Read up on DVD-A. It's the disc format that can accommodate surround sound 5.1 audio files. It's coming. So is the content. According to Elliott Scheiner, a 5.1 expert who engineers albums for Fleetwood Mac and Steely Dan, Warner Brothers Records has mandated that all new albums be mixed in both conventional stereo and Surround Sound 5.1. Competitors are sure to follow suit. Both XM and Sirius -- as well as iBiquity -- cobbled up Surround Sound 5.1 demos at the Las Vegas show this month. Alas, it was simulated 5.1. Says Scheiner: "No one's broadcasting in discrete 5.1 and I don't know when that's going to happen." Many high-income hard chargers, however, don't just sit there in their vehicles passively consuming content. They're on the phone on the way to work, and again on the way home. Will they pay a three-figure annual sum for audio they'll only turn down, or off? There's just not enough space in this column to address all that ails XM and Sirius. Both are deep in the red. XM's satellites are suffering from what the firm's 10-Q calls "progressive degradation" of their solar power circuitry. XM has insurance, but the insurance company doesn't want to pay. Undaunted, XM says it will launch a "spare" satellite later this year and another in 2007. XM subscriber fees of $9.95 a month will pay for this? Meanwhile, Sirius's 10-Q says the company needs two million subscribers to reach cash flow break-even by the second quarter of 2005. And Sirius charges $12.95 a month, 25 percent more than XM. There are great places for satellite radio. Trucks. Yachts. Vacation cabins. A buy-and-hold portfolio isn't one of them. Sam Whitmore is editor of Sam Whitmore's Media Survey, a Web-based tech media analysis service. He writes a monthly media column for Forbes.com (via Ken Kopp, KKØHF; Kim Elliott, DXLD) ** IRAN. IRIB additional Swahili service --- While checking the 16 mb this morning I found a version of the Kor`an on 17660 at 0832 UT followed by announcements and music used by IRIB. Commentators reports from various places followed. There is little doubt in my mind that the language is Swahili [however you like to spell it] and the signal is peaking to about 6. I have done a quick scan thro 13 & 19 mb's but don't hear a parallel. I thought it might be one of their "ghost" transmissions that come on air then go off part way through, but this one is still on at 0900+, so must be of 1 hour duration. So it seems this is an additional service to the ones you have heard - Wolfie. Looking through their schedule, I don't see 17660 anywhere, and it isn`t registered in the HFCC list either (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX Jan 23 via Büschel, DXLD) Yes Noel, heard it today at 0830 with IRIB's IS melody and short HQ reading. 17660 45554; 21530 45554, but latter had very distorted audio feed. Didn't check after 0900, but had left the air at 0937 UT. So, seemingly IRIB's Swahili additional 0830-0927 UT service. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ. AFN RADIO IN BAGHDAD ASKS TROOPS INPUT ON TUNES By Jessica Inigo, Stars and Stripes European edition, Friday, January 23, 2004 http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=20013 DARMSTADT, Germany --- American radio listeners in Iraq could decide if they want skank to ska or step to hip-hop --- that`s why its called Freedom Radio. The American Forces Network in Baghdad has an online survey available to find out just what keeps their listeners toes tapping. Troops can decide from pop, adult contemporary, punk and ska, rock, hard rock and metal, R&B and hip-hop, jazz or classic rock. [what about classical??!!! --- gh] The survey can be found online at www.afniraq.army.mil and also asks age and typical listening time. Freedom Radio already plays the Rick Dees Morning and Weekly Top 40 shows on Fridays and Saturdays, as well as a country music show on Sundays, according to Staff Sgt. Ray James, AFN Iraq station manager. He said the station hopes to add the Tom Joyner Morning Show to the list soon. Currently, the radio station plays a mostly adult contemporary mix from the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, James said. The station hopes to get more feedback from its listeners to play what they would really like to hear, he said. Troops can also send feedback via e-mail at broadcasters @ baghdadforum.com or call a stateside number at (703) 270-0088. The radio station hasn`t been bad, but we haven`t received a whole lot of feedback, and we broadcast all over Iraq, James said, who runs a five disc-jockey station out of Baghdad. We hope the survey allows people an opportunity to comment on what they`d like to hear from us. Listeners can find Freedom Radio in Baghdad at 92.3 and 107.7 FM; in Kirkuk at 100.1 and 107.3 FM, in LSA Anaconda and Balad at 107.3 FM; in Mosul at 105.1 FM, in Q-West at 93.3 FM; in Sinjar at 107.9 FM, in Tallil at 100.1 and 107.3 FM; and in Tikrit at 93.3 FM (via Kim Elliott, Brock Whaley, DXLD) ** IRELAND. DUBLIN: TEMPORARY SERVICES SPREAD ACROSS THE BAND Dublin's growing number of temporarily-licensed stations will operate on a number of different frequencies over the coming weeks. With an increase in services, plus longer periods on air, the capital's FM band will be lit up in a few different places in other to accommodate the temporary stations. In February alone, Belfield FM from UCD will broadcast on the usual 97.3 FM temporary frequency for most of the month; a religious station from one of the people behind Solas AM will occupy 89.9 MHz each weekend; and Griff FM, broadcasting from Griffith College on the South Circular Road, will take up residency on the new frequency of 99.5 MHz for two weeks from the 11th. http://www.radiowaves.fm/news/index.shtml (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** KASHMIR [non]. 6100, 11.1 1430, Radio Voice of Kashmir in Urdu and music from that area. S 4. No ID before closedown at 1531, so it is in fact an unID. BEFF (Björn Fransson, Sweden, SW Bulletin Jan 25 translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KYRGYZSTAN. Radio Bishkek, 4010, email efter 139d, v/s Meerim Orozobekova, meerim1980 @ mail.ru (Gert Nilsson, Sweden, 2003 QSL report, SW Bulletin Jan 25 via DXLD) Don`t call her ``sir`` ** LIBYA [non]. 11860, RADIO JAMAHIRIYA [sic], via France, in English at 1825 Jan 24, poor signal, s-6, male and female announcers and music. Talking about women in Islamic society according to the Revolutionary Committee's movement. In Arabic at 1835. Also on 11635 and 11715 (Muehling, NH, NASWA Flashsheet Jan 25 via DXLD) ** MALAYSIA. RADIO MALAYSIA DROPPING SW FOR DOMESTIC SERVICE: Come già accaduto per parecchi altri paesi, anche la Malaysia abbandona le onde corte per la diffusione dei network nazionali. Le frequenze utilizzate, dal sito trasmittente di Kajang, erano 4845 Khz per il servizio in tamil, 5965 Khz per il servizio in malay e 7295 Khz per il servizio in inglese. Ancora attivi e regolari i servizi per l'estero, diffusi sempre da Kajang e identificati come Voice of Malaysia e Voice of Islam (Roberto Scaglione, Sicily, Jan 26, bclnews.it via DXLD) ** MEXICO. 24 de enero. Para reportar a Radio Mil, Ciudad de México, en 6016 kc, en vez de la habitual 6010. Parece ser por falla técnica (Jesús Martínez Miranda, Uruapan, Michoacán, MÉXICO, XE1HMW, Jan 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 4810, 1258 Jan 19, Spanish pops, very strong signal, weak modulation, bad hum, might as well stay off the air (Jerry Lineback, KS, NASWA Flashsheet Jan 25 via DXLD) 4810, XERTA, 1213-1232, Jan. 24, Spanish/English?, Fair signal at tune-in, deteriorating quickly under "sweeper" QRM. Contemporary religious pops and ballads, tentative ID in English at 1228 but could only make out, "This is .." followed by what sounded like call-letters then violin music poking thru the mess until tune- out (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervle, NH, R75, MLB-1, RS longwire with RBA balun, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4810, 0256-0300, XERTA Radio Transcontinental, Jan 24, Spanish. Back on tonight. Music. Heavy QRM, best on USB. Reception better at 0415 UT. Most of the QRM was from my computer monitor (Phil KO6BB Atchley, Merced CA, swl at qth.net via DXLD) Phil has started using B-log which insists on separating the time from the date by the name of the station! Please correct this (gh) Glenn et al, Yep, I too thought that the date was in rather an "odd" location. However, the log exporting function is so much easier under B-log that for me at least it is a minor detail. It is probably just me as I probably didn't learn to use it properly, but under DXtreme's RL2002 (an extremely capable program overall) I never could get a satisfactory export in a way "I" liked and finally ended up retyping all my reports one logging at a time to post! Some of the longer listening sessions took over an hour just to prepare the report to post. B-log DOES have another export procedure that allows you to select which fields and in which order they are displayed. However, that one is a pain in the butt too as it is a tab spaced output that doesn't lend itself well to posting in text emails as all sorts of weird things happen to the formatting when emailed (I experimented with it sending it to myself.) Finally, I can probably just "cut" the dates out of the individual loggings anyway as I tend to make one posting of all loggings for a given date anyway. The actual date is rather superfluous. 73 from the "Beaconeers Lair". (Phil, KO6BB, Atchley, DX begins at the noise floor! Merced, Central California, swl at qth.net via DXLD) Then I will have to add them to each item as the reports get broken up for DXLD (gh) ** NEPAL. NEPAL MAOISTS SET UP FM RADIO STATION | Text of report by Nepalese daily newspaper Nepal Samacharpatra on 25 January Achham [district in far western Nepal]: The warring rebel Maoists have started transmission of a radio named "People's Republic Seti-Mahakali broadcast" that can be heard in different parts of Achham District. The FM radio that starts with international revolutionary song broadcasts from eight to 10 in the morning and three to 5.30 in the afternoon [local time]. The transmission can be clearly listened in high altitude areas of the district, Chourpati, Bayalpata and Mangalsen [the district headquarters] among others. The radio broadcasts local news at first, then national news and international news at the end. Because the news was broadcast criticizing the activities of the security forces in Achham, it is estimated that the transmission centre is in the border areas of the district. Source: Nepal Samacharpatra, Kathmandu, in Nepali 25 Jan 04, p 6 (via BBCM via DXLD) WTFK??? ** PERU. 5024.93, Radio Quillabamba, Quillabamba, Cusco, 2352-2359, Jan 24, Spanish, Religious prayers, ID ``Desde Quillabamba... Cusco... transmite Radio Quillabamba...``, 32332 (Nicolás Eramo, Villa Lynch, Prov. Buenos Aires, Argentina, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA [non]. Re Voix de l`Orthodoxie: Glenn, that's the mouthpiece of the Russian Orthodox Church [part], which left Russia after the Russian revolution, during Lenin and Stalin era, for Paris France. Address see WRTH page 509. Is hostile? to the 'quasi' government- appreciated Russian Orthodox church at Moscow. Negotiations between two factions after USSR collapse in 1993-1995[?], to re-unite, failed so far. That's why the outlet is coming via a Kazakh radio facility. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, it is based in France (BP 416-08, F-75366 Paris CEDEX 08) with a branch in Russia (St. Petersburg), and transmitted for orthodox listeners not only in Russia via a SW transmitter in Kazakhstan and on MW in Russia. Website: http://www.russie.net/orthodoxie/vo (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH ORKNEY ISLANDS. Re 4-011: we have some more info about the impending DX-pedition, including a website (gh, DXLD) TRANSMISIONES ESPECIALES: LU4DXU, estará activo desde ORCADAS DEL SUR, con el indicativo AY1ZA. Él se trasladará en el buque, Rompehielos Irizar; el buque pasará a cargarlo el dia 23 de enero y se espera que pueda estar en el aire el dia 27 de enero. Horacio quedará en Islas Orcadas hasta el día 24 de febrero de 2004. QSL via QRZ.COM Para más detalles sobre esta actividad visitar la página http://www.ay1za.dxers.com.ar (Javier Pons Estel - LU5FF, Editor Boletín de DX en Español Web: http://ar.geocities.com/lu5ff/ via Marcel Cornachioni, Conexión Digital jan 24 via DXLD) ** SPAIN. ESPAÑA/ISLAS CANARIAS: Radio Exterior de España anuncia que no envía más tarjetas QSL. Sin embargo, el programa \ "Españoles en la Mar\" confirma informes enviados directamente a las Islas Canarias. Los horarios del programa son: Lunes a sábados a las 1500 UT por 21570 y 21700 KHz; y los sábados a las 2200 UT por 15110 y 15125 KHz. QTH: R.E.E., Programa \"Españoles en la Mar\", Apartado 1233, 38080 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Islas Canarias, España (José Moacir Portera de Melo, Pontes e Lacerda, Brasil, Conexión Digital Jan 24 via DXLD) ** SUDAN. Hello my friends, I checked Sudan around 765 at 0330 UT and it was on with the weather forecast, followed by some local news. At 0400 UT, 7200 was on with the news // 765 as well, the strange this is 7200 is on since 0400 till now as I'm writing this e mail it's 1400 UT!! first time to hear them on 7200 for such a long time! (Tarek Zeidan, Cairo, Egypt, Jan 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWEDEN [non]. On March 1, 1998 I ran across the ``Swedish Meatball Net`` at 1635 on 14256. The net ID was in English, but most QSOs were in what I assumed was Swedish. Fast forward now to January 25, 2004 and while I was checking the web sites on qsl.net I ran across a web page for this and other Swedish language amateur nets intended for North America. The document is undated, but hopefully current: From: http://www.qsl.net/no2w/USnets.htm Main page: http://www.qsl.net/no2w/Index.htm The Swedish Meatball Net has been a forum for a growing number of Swedish speaking amateur radio operators living outside Sweden. Most are emigrants, and for many of us it offers the only chance to have conversations in Swedish. It is an informal organization without bylaws and directors. The goal for the Meatball Net is to gather as many of us as possible on the same time and frequency, so that we can ``swap lies,`` using the ``Language of Heroes and Honor!`` (A contradiction there?) Well, we are supposed to have fun, and the popularity of the original net on Sundays, has led to an expansion to Saturdays, when the ``Fermented Herring Net`` convenes. In addition, there are other local nets on weekdays, also named after legendary Swedish dishes, such as the ``Stuffed Cabbage Net.`` Weekday evenings, you may hear Swedish hams tipping cocktails around 14.325 MHz. We will not accept, nor tolerate any form of attack, insinuation or disrespectful comment of any kind toward personal background or beliefs. In the future, we will increase our sensitivity to such behavior and act resolutely to stop any tendencies of such acts. Net Name Frequency Day/Time Net control Köttbullsnätet 14.319 MHz 1) Sunday - 16:00 Z 2) VE3OBU Surströmmingsnätet 14.319 MHz 1) Saturday - 16:00 Z 2) TI2HEJ Kåldolmsnätet 7.165 MHz Monday & Friday - 1:30 p.m. 3) Informal Groggnätet 14.325 MHz Weekdays - 00:00 Z (cirka) 4) Informal 1) The frequency is seasonably dependent. Check with this web site for latest information. 2) Always the same local time in the U.S.A. (except AZ). Check here for Summer/Winter Z-time. [I assume that this would be winter time, unless they haven`t updated it in a while --- jn] 3) Local East Coast Time (EST / EDST) 4) Cocktail net has been moved one hour earlier than normal on a trial basis. [VE3OBU is in Ontario; TI2HEJ is in Costa Rica, according to their members list.] (John Norfolk, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UGANDA [non]. 17870, GERMANY, Radio Rhino International Africa, 1534-1600* Jan 11, English language talks, ID, vocals. At 1558 man with closing ID: "You are listening to Radio Rhino International, Africa." Poor (Rich D`Angelo, PA, NASWA Flashsheet Jan 25 via DXLD) ** U K [and non]. I also received a BFBS QSL verification for their Middle East broadcasts. I first heard the BFBS on 15530 and 12040 kHz in February and March 2003. In April I followed them over to their new schedule, including a 0300 UT slot to Kuwait and Southern Iraq (where the UK troops were during the war) on 7260. I sent in a report by email for April 6th, 7th, and 8th. View the card at http://shortwave49m.topcities.com/qsl/first/P1010041.jpg and at http://shortwave49m.topcities.com/qsl/first/P1010042.jpg P.S. - I have extensive recordings of these broadcasts - email me at torch152003 @ yahoo.com and I can send you some (Mike Torchio, MA, Jan 25, dxing.info via DXLD) ** U S A. Hi Glenn, there seem to be a number of misunderstandings in both Adrian's and your comment: 1. Adrian is quoting power details from the summarized listing of the SW facilities in the main station entries in WRTH's International Radio section (Line "SW:"), and this listing refers to the installed equipment, not to what is "on the air". It does not mean that the power of this equipment is used in full or that all transmitters are used simultaneously. This is the traditional practise in WRTH, and it seems the only propper way to list the facilities - many tr's around the world are used at half power at various times and at hardly any site all tr's are in use simultaneously. If it says "4 x 50kW" for WJIE, it means that four 50 kW transmitters are installed, not that they are run at the same time (which, in fact, Adrian doesn't tell when he says "is shown with four transmitters at 50 kW"). 2. WMLK: the listing of "125 kW" may look a bit premature, on the other hand the WRTH is supposed to be valid for a whole year and indications have been growing lately that WMLK might indeed get at least this half of the 250 kW running later in the course of this year. 3. WRMI: the second 50 kW should indeed be marked "F.Pl." The schedule shows (correctly) only one 50 kW transmitter in the air. 4. KIMF: this station is listed as "planned" in WRTH, this is what the footnote says: "New stn, transmission start is not known. Acc. to KIMF, the construction of the station is expected to be completed in Spring 2004". The transmitter site is correctly listed as "Pinon, NM", plus there is the office address in Rancho Cucamonga, CA given. 73s, (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WBCQ - The Planet 7.415 MHz - 5.105 MHz - 9.330 MHz - 17.495 MHz Broadcast Schedules: Updated 1 / 23 / 2004 [Transcribed into strictly UT times/days by John Norfolk] Broadcast schedule for 7.415 MHz Sun 18:55 - 19:00 Sign On Sun 19:00 - 21:00 The EVM Jewish Radio Network Sun 21:00 - 22:00 The Last Roundup Sun 22:00 - 23:00 Radio Free Euphoria Sun 23:00 - 24:00 American Viewpoint Mon 00:00 - 01:00 Le Show Mon 01:00 - 05:00 Radio New York International Mon 05:00 - 05:15 Amos and Andy Mon 05:15 - 05:45 World Of Radio Mon 06:00 - 08:00 The Joe Mazza Show Mon 08:00 - 08:05 Sign Off Mon 20:45 - 21:00 Sign On - Planet World News Mon 21:00 - 22:00 Financial Survival 2000 Mon 22:00 - 23:00 The Jean Shepherd Show Mon 23:00 - 23:30 The EVM Jewish Radio Network Mon 23:30 - 24:00 Faith Holiness Church Broadcast Tue 00:00 - 01:00 The Table Of Truth Tue 01:00 - 02:00 The Hal Turner Show Tue 02:00 - 03:00 The Secular Bible Study Tue 03:00 - 04:00 The Hour Of The Time Tue 04:00 - 05:00 Financial Survival 2000 Tue 05:00 - 05:15 Amos and Andy Tue 05:15 - 06:15 Odin Lives Tue 05:15 - 05:20 Sign Off [times sic; should be 06:15-06:20] Tue 20:45 - 21:00 Sign On - Planet World News Tue 21:00 - 22:00 Financial Survival 2000 Tue 22:00 - 23:00 The Last Roundup Tue 23:00 - 24:30 A Voice In The Wilderness Wed 00:30 - 01:00 Jennifer "Duh`s" The News Wed 01:00 - 02:00 Cut the Krap with AJ Wed 02:00 - 03:00 The EVM Jewish Radio Network Wed 03:00 - 04:00 The Hour Of The Time Wed 04:00 - 05:00 Financial Survival 2000 Wed 05:00 - 05:15 Amos and Andy Wed 05:15 - 05:20 Sign Off Wed 20:45 - 21:00 Sign On - Planet World News Wed 21:00 - 22:00 Financial Survival 2000 Wed 22:00 - 23:00 The Beacon OF Truth Wed 23:00 - 23:30 World Of Radio Wed 23:30 - 24:00 The RMF Show Thu 00:00 - 01:00 Off The Hook Thu 01:00 - 02:00 A Voice In The Wilderness Thu 02:00 - 03:00 The EVM Jewish Radio Network Thu 03:00 - 04:00 The Hour Of The Time Thu 04:00 - 05:00 Financial Survival 2000 Thu 05:00 - 05:15 Amos and Andy Thu 05:15 - 05:20 Sign Off Thu 20:45 - 21:00 Sign On - Planet World News Thu 21:00 - 22:00 Financial Survival 2000 Thu 22:00 - 22:30 Planet World News Roundup Thu 22:30 - 23:30 The Last Roundup Thu 23:30 - 24:00 Uncle Ed's Musical Memories Fri 00:00 - 00:30 The Goddess Irena 1 Music Show Fri 00:30 - 01:00 Steppin' Out Of Babalon Fri 01:00 - 02:00 Power From On High Fri 02:00 - 03:00 The EVM Jewish Radio Network Fri 03:00 - 04:00 The Hour Of The Time Fri 04:00 - 05:00 Financial survival 2000 Fri 05:00 - 05:15 Amos and Andy Fri 05:15 - 05:20 Sign Off Fri 20:45 - 21:00 Sign On - Planet World News Fri 21:00 - 22:00 Financial Survival 2000 Fri 22:00 - 22:30 The Frankie V Radio Show Fri 22:30 - 23:30 The Pab Sungenis Project Fri 23:30 - 24:00 W D C D Sat 00:00 - 01:00 The Lost Discs Radio Show Sat 01:00 - 02:00 Allan Weiner Worldwide Sat 02:00 - 03:00 Tasha Takes Control Sat 03:00 - 05:00 The Right Perspective Sat 05:00 - 05:15 Amos and Andy Sat 05:15 - 05:20 Sign Off Sat 20:45 - 21:00 Sign On - Planet World News Sat 21:00 - 22:00 The Last Roundup Sat 22:00 - 23:00 A Voice In The Wilderness Sat 23:00 - 24:00 Radio TimTron Worldwide Sun 00:00 - 00:30 The Real Amateur Radio Show Sun 00:30 - 01:00 The Fred Flintstone Music Show Sun 01:00 - 02:00 A Different Kind Of Oldies Show Sun 02:00 - 03:00 Marion's Attic Sun 03:00 - 04:00 PanGlobal Wireless Sun 04:00 - 05:00 The Michael Ketter Show Sun 05:00 - 06:00 The Tom and Darryl Show Sun 06:00 - 06:30 Juilet's Wild Kingdom Sun 06:30 - 06:35 Sign Off Broadcast Schedule for 5.105 MHz Mon - Sat 22:00 - 12:00 The Overcomer Ministry Sun 22:00 - 23:00 The Overcomer Ministry Sun 23:00 - 05:00 AREA 51: (as shown below) Sun 23:00 - 24:00 The Jean Shepherd Show Mon 00:00 - 01:00 The Best Of Complex Variables Studio Mon 01:00 - 02:00 The Firesign Theater Hour Mon 02:00 - 03:00 Tesla's Ear Mon 03:00 - 04:00 Squad 51 Mon 04:00 - 05:00 The Pirates Cove Mon 05:00 - 12:00 The Overcomer Ministry Broadcast Schedule for 9.330 MHz Mon - Fri 16:55 - 17:00 Sign On Mon - Fri 17:00 - 21:00 The EVM Jewish Radio Network Mon - Fri 21:00 - 22:00 Financial Survival 2000 Mon - Fri 22:00 - 07:00 Christian Media Network Tue - Sat 07:00 - 07:05 Sign Off Sat 20:45 - 21:00 Sign On - Planet World News Sat 21:00 - 22:00 The National Report Sat 22:00 - 23:00 Allan Weiner Worldwide Sat 23:00 - 24:00 The Country Music Show Sun 00:00 - 01:00 The Tampon Tea Bingo Hour Sun 01:00 - 02:00 Allan Weiner Worldwide Sun 02:00 - 03:00 Back To Basics Sun 03:00 - 04:00 The Full Gospel Hour Sun 04:00 - 05:00 Radio TimTron Worldwide Sun 05:00 - 05:05 Sign Off Mon 00:55 - 01:00 Sign On Mon 01:00 - 02:00 The Voice Of Reason Mon 02:00 - 03:00 Odin Lives Mon 03:00 - 04:00 The Bluegrass Gospel Hour Mon 04:00 - 04:05 Sign Off Broadcast Schedule for 17.495 MHz Mon - Fri 12:55 - 13:00 Sign On Mon - Fri 13:00 - 19:00 Christian Media Network Mon - Fri 19:00 - 22:00 Global Spirit Proclamation Mon - Fri 22:00 - 23:00 Financial Survival 2000 Mon - Fri 23:00 - 23:05 Sign Off (Except Wednesday) Wed 23:00 - 23:30 World Of Radio Wed 23:30 - 23:35 Sign Off Sat 17:00 - 18:00 Allan Weiner Worldwide Sat 18:00 - 19:00 Zombo's Mondo Record Party Sat 19:00 - 20:00 Radio TimTron Worldwide Sat 20:00 - 20:30 The RMF Show Sat 20:30 - 21:30 The Full Gospel Hour Sat 21:30 - 21:35 Sign Off Sun 13:00 - 22:00 Available Time Slot Have this schedule sent to you via e-mail: schedule@wbcq.us (wbcq.us via John Norfolk, DXLD) Note this confirms that Brother Scare takes over 5105 at 2200-1200, but six days per week, with WBCQ retaining its Sunday evening/UT Monday lineup, from 2300 to 0500 --- unfortunately not until 0545, losing WOR another frequency, as B.S. must resume at 0500. Confirmed UT Mon Jan 26: Stair in progress at 0500 on 5105, poorly received, but 7415 which presumably still has WOR at 0515, inaudible here, above the MUF. It would be interesting, if tedious to compare the above line by line to the annotated WBCQ program guide at http://www.zappahead.net/wbcq/ No doubt there would be other contradictions. I see zappahead finally has WOR on 9330-CLSB, UT Sun 0130 as just confirmed Jan 25; as it happened, reception picked up at 0130, but fade out here by 0150. I was wondering what the missing program preceding us at 0100 were, as the entire hour had been AWWW. Sounds like ``The Power and the Glory``, gospel rock? Evidently produced especially for WBCQ, and not on the zappahead program list at any other time either. BTW a number of useful SW links are at http://www.zappahead.net/hf.html (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Meanwhile, elsewhere in OK: I have been trying to find out exactly what is going on with WBCQ, and Allan Weiner Worldwide, as recent editions of the DX Programs list http://www.worldofradio.com/dxpgms.html (retitled slightly, reflecting the fact that a few of the programs do not strictly fall into that category) have noted that Will Martin reported that AAW was not being heard Saturdays at 2200 on 9330, even though it remains on their program schedule. On January 24 at that time I found WBCQ closer to 9329.5 than 9330, and something called the Sabbath Bible Study; I imagine that whoever does that program would be pissed if they found out that it isn`t in WBCQ`s schedule! Speaking of being pissed, I found the Piss and Moan Net for the second straight week beginning shortly after 0000 UT January 25 on 7415. TimTron said that he tries to alternate that and The Real Amateur Radio Show, although I imagine that he is going to be flexible about that (I`m assuming that it was P&M January 18 unless he uses the same theme music for both programs; I really didn`t listen that closely on that date). He also mentioned that WBCQ was experimenting simulcasting that program on 17495 and that he was going to try to broadcast live from the upcoming Winter Fest. Meanwhile, on 9330 more or less, there was no Allan Weiner Worldwide at 0000 as Martin had previously reported, but the scheduled Tampon Tea Bingo Hour, which consisted of the most hideous music I have ever heard! Then, at 0100, reception of 9330 suddenly collapsed and I could not hear diddly squat on that frequency for a while, although around 0130 it had come back enough for me to hear the program The Power and the Glory ending, followed by the soothing voice of gh and WORLD OF RADIO (John Norfolk, OKCOK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) As I was saying, propagation really dropped out Saturday evening. After 0300 I checked for DXPL on WWCR 5070 and could barely hear it, but this time there was even less (i.e. nothing from WWRB 5050 and 5085, and WBCQ 5105, for that matter, and WWV 5000 for that that matter). Just like a week ago, by the time WOR came on at 0330 it was even worse and I had to strain to listen a few minutes to convince myself it was really my soothing voice. Also checked 7385 to find out what WRMI was doing at the same time (Wavescan and Radio NASB scheduled), and there was no signal, no carrier at all detectable. Maybe they were really off the air for some reason, as the Cuban jammers were still audible on 7365, etc. DGS from CR was fluttery on 7375! [no, see below] WWCR was still loud and clear on 3210, unlike all its higher frequencies; we could only hope that remained the case by the time we came on at 0730. On its higher frequencies, when I can hear them, WWCR is doing a lot of promotion for programming on 3210, recognizing that it may still propagate when the others are gone. I ask again, for some reports from WOR listeners in various parts of North America and beyond, how has 5070 been coming in at 0330 UT Sundays, this week and last? Better than here, I hope (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn: It must be a weird propagation thing. We were definitely on the air at that time. That's bad news for those who wanted to hear the special DX Party Line program on Voice of the NASB. Maybe we can repeat it at some point in the near future (Jeff White, WRMI, Jan 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Referring 0300-0400 UT Sun; see above; 24 hours later at 0330 UT Monday, WRMI 7385 was coming in well with Wavescan; it also was back around 0600 UT Sun with WRN relay (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. What about 9985 for WWCR? It was back on Sunday Jan 25, so I guess they plan to keep it, ex-12160 at 1300-1600. But Ragam, the Tamil music show, has shifted an hour later, to 1400-1600 on Sundays. That`s a good idea for them, since when we tuned in 9985 around 1310, it was not yet up to full strength (tho B.S. on 9475 was), and Sing For Joy, that nice sacred choral and organ music show from St. Olaf (OH-luf) College had been shifted from 1500 to 1300, followed by a commodities trading infomercial at 1330. At 1437 when I checked again during a pause in WESUN, Ragam must have been running a comedy routine, judging from the lickety-split Tamil repartee. On Ask WWCR, we learn that until mid-Feb, 9985 will be used ONLY on Sundays; other days, still on 12160 during these hours. Mixing products: same as last Sunday, on 8965 could detect a bit of Brother Scare from 9475, around 1320 before 9985 signal had built up. More so after 1400. Possibly a trace of something on 10495 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 5050 WWRB, Manchester (USA). Good EE 3/1 0650 with religious talk, spur of 5085 (no complementary spur on 5120) actually gives better reception here than 5085 since fundamental is subject to ute QRM, this spur is only 20dB down on fundamental (Sam Dellit, Qsld., Jan Australian DX News via DXLD) I see this listed as an intended frequency by some sources, and had always assumed it was -cs. (Craig Seager, ADXN ed.) It is intended, not a spur at all. Sometimes the two are in parallel, sometimes not. It is on 5015 where 5085 and 5050 have been known to produce a spur! (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WYFR 11740 --- I sent them two reports seeking the two 30th Anniversary cards that they are supposed to have issued, and received one back, full-data, depiction of globe surrounded by "Praising God for 30 Years of Ministry." As to the other, an odd note from "Harold": "I can only send this QSL-card. You have to report on our relay station to get the other card." (Jerry Berg, MA, Jan Australian DX News via DXLD) Harold Camping himself handles QSLs?? (gh) ** U S A. 1640, WTNI, Biloxi, Miss., 0804 25 Jan, talk radio, IDing as "this is ABC radio news. talk radio 1640 WTNI" and then into Abba's "SOS", fair signal (David Norrie, AOR 7030, Whitford Forest, Auckland, New Zealand, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Tsk, no QRM de KMMZ? ** U S A. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MARINE PRODUCTS VIA U.S. COAST GUARD HF VOICE http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/marine/hfvoice.htm (via zappahead via DXLD) This page appears to be more up to date than the one referenced in last issue re what I was hearing on 13089.0 et al. with two Perfect Pauls at once at 2230 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. SENATE ADOPTS TV STATION LIMIT MEASURE MODIFIES FCC'S RULE RAISING BROADCASTERS' REACH By Frank Ahrens Washington Post Staff Writer Friday, January 23, 2004; Page A05 http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A40143-2004Jan22?language=printer The ongoing debate over how many television stations a broadcast network can own marched one step closer to resolution yesterday with the Senate's passage of the omnibus spending bill, which slightly relaxes the current limits. By a vote of 65 to 28, the Senate approved a spending package passed by the House in November. The bill includes a rider that says a major network, such as ABC or Fox, may not own a group of stations that can reach more than 39 percent of the national audience. The figure was arrived at after a closed-door bargaining session between representatives of the White House and congressional GOP leadership, angering many Democrats who said the Republicans circumvented the agreed-upon process for marking up the spending bill. President Bush is expected to sign the bill. The contretemps began last June when the Federal Communications Commission passed a number of new media ownership rules. The most controversial proved to be the cap on television ownership. The FCC said the networks may not own a group of stations that reaches more than 45 percent of the national audience; several members of Congress and consumer groups argued that figure would give the big networks too much control over local television stations, which could stifle diverse viewpoints. Other groups -- such as the National Association of Broadcasters and the Network Affiliated Stations Alliance, both of which represent non-network station-owner groups, such as Tribune Co. and Gannett Corp. -- wanted the limit kept at 35 percent but acquiesced to the compromise of 39 percent. "We're pleased the national television ownership cap issue appears to be resolved by the passage of this legislation," NAB President Edward O. Fritts said in a statement. "We salute all broadcasters who worked with Congress to reach this compromise that recognizes the enduring value of free, local television stations." All of the rules -- including the current television ownership cap -- are under a court-ordered stay. Next month, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit in Philadelphia will judge whether they should be upheld or thrown back to the FCC. If the court dumps the rules, even FCC lawyers are unsure whether the congressional cap will still be law. Congressional foes of the new rules vowed to fight on. "Both the policy and the process through which the big interests prevailed on this issue in the omnibus are deeply flawed," said Sen. Byron L. Dorgan (D-N.D.), who steered a resolution through the Senate in September that, if passed by the House and signed by the president -- both unlikely -- would toss out the new rules. "If anyone thinks we're going to fold our tent and go home, they can think again." Media giants Viacom Inc., which owns CBS, and News Corp., which owns Fox, benefit most from the compromise. Currently, Viacom's CBS stations reach 39 percent of the national audience; News Corp.'s reach 38 percent. Neither will have to sell stations to comply with the new ownership cap. If it is returned to 35 percent, they may have to divest some stations. The rollback from 45 percent has been seen by some as a rebuke to FCC Chairman Michael K. Powell, chief architect of the new rules. But he scoffed at the notion during a speech last week at the National Press Club, saying Congress has the right to set ownership limits in law, superseding the FCC's ability to set it in regulation. "If 39 percent is where democracy survived and 45 is where it died, so be it," Powell said. (c) 2004 The Washington Post Company (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. XM is not planning to relay any programming from terrestrial stations; their localized traffic and weather reports will be generated by XM. And I'm unaware of any terrestrial stations interested in being relayed via satellite. Most stations that have any interest in out-of-town reception these days rely on internet streaming to provide it. NAB is dominated by Clear Channel and Infinity, and the real source of NAB's opposition to localized satellite content lies in the NAB's desire to freeze out any potential competition, be it XM/Sirius, LPFM (or LPAM), metropolitan LANs, etc. IMO, IBOC is another tool the well- heeled CC/Infinity stations can use against competitors. If local stations not owned by CC or Infinity experience IBOC interference, I suspect that would be just dandy as far as NAB/CC/Infinity is concerned. Broadcasting's problems are simple: too many stations with mediocre, generic programming chasing an inadequate pool of advertising dollars. IBOC will solve none of those issues, and will in fact add a new one, namely poorer reception on those 800+ million analog AM and FM receivers now in use. This in turn will drive more listeners to satellite services and alternatives like internet broadcasting, which is growing rapidly for at-work listening. IBOC will be the equivalent of a company trying to make up for declining revenues by raising prices; the impact will be the exact opposite those strident ("Howard Dean-ish"??) IBOC boosters expect (Harry Helms W7HLH, Las Vegas, NV DM26, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. North America, Pirate, 6925 (AM Mode), Ragnar Radio, Full Data "Ragnar Daneskjold During His Broadcast" (Black Dog At Mic) Letter, In 6 Weeks, For E Mail QSO And Tape, Postal Reply And Goodie Package: QSL Locations Map, Show Play List, Show Pics and Station Info, 40 Watts Their Distance Record, Come On WA, OR And CA Tune In! Thanks Ragnar, You Old Dog You! (Joe Talbot, VA6JWT, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, Jan 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Is this the same Ragnar Daneskjöld who changed his name to Kevin Redding and is an active MW DXer in Mesa AZ? Or merely named in his honour? (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. THE CAPTAIN AND U.S. BREAKFAST TV About a quarter century ago, Bob Keeshan (who just died Friday) and his Captain Kangaroo children's TV program was taken off CBS-TV. One of the reasons given was that it took up an hour that might otherwise be used by the CBS-TV adult breakfast show which was having trouble competing with NBC-TV's two hour "Today". Recently, CBS-TV announced that, temporarily, half the commercials would be removed from the adult breakfast show which was having trouble competing with NBC-TV's "Today" and ABC-TV's "Good Morning, America". After 25 years, the suits at Black Rock or wherever they are nowadays STILL can't figure out how to make a competitive breakfast show. By the way, Keeshan did as good a children's TV program as has been done on commercial U.S. TV (the program continued for six years on non-commercial TV) and infinitely better than almost all the stuff that U.S. commercial TV does for kids today, most of which consists of badly done violent animation (Joel Rubin, swprograms via DXLD) May God Bless the Good Captain! He will be missed. For those who have the capability, I recommend KTLA 5 Morning News from Los Angeles. Most of the time, it beats the network morning shows. Good day all! (Richard from foggy Bakersfield, ibid.) I think KTLA is on a lot of cable systems in the west, but not much east of 100 degrees west; anywhere via satellite, I suppose (gh, foggy Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA [and non]. MUERE EL LOCUTOR EZEQUIEL SUÁREZ AVENDAÑO Una de las más prodigiosas voces de la radio venezolana, Ezequiel Suárez Avendaño dejó de existir el pasado sábado en horas de la noche, producto de una penosa enfermedad. Durante años trabajó como voz oficial de eventos de la presidencia de la República, así como también se desempeñó como locutor en Venezolana de Televisión y en Radio Nacional de Venezuela. Para los venezolanos que utilizamos el servicio telefónico del 119, Hora Legal de Venezuela; y los diexistas en el exterior al escuchar las emisoras utilitarias del Observatorio Naval Cagijal y el Instituto Oceanográfico del Ecuador, lo recordaremos siempre. ¡Paz a sus restos! (Jorge García Rangel, Barinas, Venezuela, lista ConDig, ene 20 via Conexión Digital Jan 24 via DXLD) Dar con el paradero de Ezequiel Suárez Avendaño, recia voz del número telefónico 119, perteneciente a la Hora Legal de Venezuela, a cargo del Observatorio Cagigal, fue un momento freak. Suárez Avendaño realizó esta grabación en los años 70, pero no es la antigüedad de tal cometido lo que dificultó las cosas con el locutor. Una implacable condición lo sacó de tajo de las agendas telefónicas de los institutos y empresas donde, dicen, laboró el hombre --- Observatorio Cagigal, Ministerio de la Defensa, la Armada Nacional --- : fue la voz oficial del Gobierno pasado. Es decir, se convirtió en cosa de la IV República, y por lo tanto ya no existe. En el Observatorio Cagigal alguien informó --- esto es un eufemismo, claro --- que Suárez Avendaño en una ocasión tal vez trabajó en las relaciones públicas del Ministerio de la Defensa. Y fue allí, en el organismo estatal, donde comenzó el verdadero terror: - ¿De Hora legal? Ay, no sé, d’ejame preguntar. Miamor --- dijo via telefónica una teniente y volvió con un dejo ultratumba en la voz ---. ¡Qué broma, señorita! Hace como seis meses se corrió el rumor de que él se había muerto, pero unos compañeros fueron al supuesto velorio y cuando se acercaron al ataud, no era el señor. De todos modos, intente en la Guardia Nacional. La búsqueda devinó en un asunto tan extravagante, que la noticia de la teniente terminó siendo la única verosímil. En el Componente de la Guardia Nacional, un extrañado militar lanzó esto: "Mire, señorita, llame luego y pregunte por el mayor Zancudo". A riesgo de que resultara un patas blancas, fue contactado. Zancudo resultó veloz --- como era de esperarse ---, pero errático: "Mire, yo creo que él fue quien leyó un poema el diciembre pasado cuando montamos el pesebre aquí. Por lo general, yo soy el que hace la locución, pero como también había hecho el pesebre se iba a ver feo. Déjeme preguntar", explicó y regresó con una negativa: "Me dijeron que no era él, pero llame a la Armada y pregunte por Franklin. Dígale que es de mi parte". Y Franklin coronó: "Ah, sí. Llama de parte del zancudo mayor", para luego rematar con la frase esclarecedora: "Lo que pasa es que Suárez Avendaño era la voz del Gobierno anterior". Una vez descartados los órganos castrenses, se trató de ubicar al locutor a través de Radio Nacional --- donde trabajó hace mucho ---, luego a Suárez Ortiz --- el hijo ---, en el Canal 8, y finalmente en Fundabarrios, actual sitio de trabajo del retoño. Después de mucho hostigar a Suárez Ortiz --- quien tampoco dió con una respuesta de su padre ---, éste propuso una inútil solución: "Por que no me entrevistas a mí; yo también he estado muchos años en el medio. La voz de Blancic Video es la mía". Por lo visto, la única salida para tener un contacto con Suárez Avendaño será llamarlo al 119. Caso cerrado (Laura Helena Castillo via Jose Elias Diaz, Venezuela, lista ConDig, ene 20 via Conexión Digital Jan 24 via DXLD) ** VIETNAM. MISSIONARY RADIO IS BEING JAMMED "They're jamming our radio programs!" Far East Broadcasting Company is asking Christians around the world to pray that it stops so people can continue hearing the Gospel. FEBC's Melinda Cheng says the received a report from their International Broadcast Manager in the Philippines where they beam short-wave programming into Vietnam. Cheng says, "They report that we saw some apparently intentional interference or jamming for about 10- percent of our programs." She adds, "And, most of the programs that they're jamming are targeted at the minority languages in Vietnam and in Laos." The jamming appears to be intentional on two fronts. Cheng says, "We've tried to change frequencies and the people who are jamming our programs are evidently following us because they're find our new frequencies and jamming those as well." FEBC thinks they know why their programs are being jammed. Cheng says, "In some respects it is because of the large response to our radio programs especially in the tribal languages. We also know the Vietnamese government is not comfortable with our programs and we're pretty sure that the government is behind the jamming." Pray that the jamming will stop and that many will come to Christ as they're able to listen (ASSIST News service via Bruce Atchison, AB, DXLD) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. 7460 kHz, Radio Nacional de la República Árabe Saharaui Democrática, escuchada a partir de las 2115 con un segmento en español con muy buena señal. ID, música árabe, efemérides y noticias locales y regionales; además comentarios contra el gobierno marroquí (Marcelo Cornachioni, Argentina, Conexión Digital Jan 24 via DXLD) Cabe agregar aquí que la Misión de las Naciones Unidas para el Referendum del Sahara Occidental (MINURSO) se prorrogará hasta el 30 de abril si asó lo aprueba el Consejo de Seguridad de las NU para el plan de paz en el Sahara Occidental debido aun a la falta de respuesta de Marruecos, plan que ya fue aceptado por el Frente Polisario en Julio del 2003. Dicho plan de paz o "plan Baker" establece un período transitorio de 5 años en los que la soberanía de la antigua colonia española correspondería a Marruecos, si bien la gestión de sus asuntos internos correría a cargo de instituciones locales elegidas por la población saharahui. Al final de este período, la ONU organizaría un referendum de autodeterminación en el que se decidiría si el Sahara logra su independencia o continúa perteneciendo al Reino de Marruecos. Este comentario, solamente es a modo informativo. Entre tanto, Radio Nacional de la República Árabe Saharaui Democrática seguirá siendo una de las auténticas emisoras clandestinas que actualmente opera su transmisor desde un transmisor ubicado en Tindouf, Argelia (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Argentina, Conexión Digital Jan 24 via DXLD) ** YEMEN. 9779.6, Radio Yemen; YL talk in English and lively pop music. News at 1830, then program re Yemen`s history at 1836. Brief French announcement at 1852, but English news headlines back at 1855 until sign-off at 1859 with web address. Into Arabic at 1901. SIO 353 -- Muddy modulation 1825-1901 17 Jan (Ken Zichi, Brighton MI, MARE DX-Pedition via DXLD) Jan 17. 1824-1901. This station usually found just above 9780. This day it was just below. ID in English as 96.3 FM. Also ID as "R Yemen". SIO 222 (Jerry Coatsworth at the MARE DXP, Brighton MI via DXLD) Theory is that they have two different transmitters, one operating slightly above 9780, the other slightly below (gh, DXLD) ** ZAMBIA. 6165, Zambia National BC Corporation, Lusaka. Full data card with mention of the program that I heard, and tune to 6265 kHz for additional broadcasts. V/S also mentioned to visit their web site at http://www.znbc.co.zm This for a e-mail report, with reply in 26 days, to pnkula @ yahoo.com v/s: Patrick Nkuia, Director of Engineering (Edward Kusalik, Alberta, Canada, Jan 24, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. CLANDESTINE. 6145, SW Radio Africa, The Independent Voice of Zimbabwe. Date and Frequency confirmation statement. After posting my feedback on their web site I heard nothing further. Thinking it might be a dead issue, a second attempt was tried with feedback. I got an e-mail back stating that they never received my previous comments but to write to this e-mail address (with my technical material) which was simon @ swradioafrica.com Reply came back in two days time from Keith Farquharson, Technical Manager from tech2 @ swradioafrica.com verifying my report of December the 10th, 2003 (Edward Kusalik, Alberta, Canada, Jan 24, Cumbre DX via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 4900.0, New Station? CHINA? Location? 1326-1417 Jan 24, Continuous pop vocals to 1400 in several SE Asian languages, including one in English, none in China. At 1400 there was the usual China Radio TP [time pips] followed by announcements and talk by YL and OM in Chinese to 1407 when began playing Chinese pop vocals; fair to good, best on 315 degree antenna (Jerry Lineback, KS, NASWA Flashsheet jan 25 via DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ THE LIFE AND TIMES OF K2ORS A new book is in the works about a broadcast legend who also happened to be a ham radio operator. Take a listen: Shep: ``Well there I am playing that character deep in the jungle. We have $400,000 of camera equipment that`s being eaten by mosquitoes. They eat Betamax cameras. You don`t know about the tropics. Leaches are coming up the tripods, when a runner comes down the beach. He`s a Chumaro Indian. He`s running. He`s sweating. He arrives in the clearing. This is exactly what happened. The Director is standing there. He`s sweating and saying: `...damn, we got to get this.` We kept trying to clean the lens off. It was a tough shoot. And this Chumaro runner comes up and he`s saying; `Message. Message.`` He has a message. The Director looks at it and he hands it to me and the message said --- and I quote: `...The Dayton Hamvention called. They want you to speak this spring.` I said: `For cripes sake, how did they know I was in the jungle` (laughter)`` That was the late Jean Shepherd, K2ORS, speaking at the Dayton Hamvention several years ago. Shep as he liked to be called, passed away in 1999. Now, author Eugene Bergmann has set to work writing the definitive book about the ham who invented talk radio. In a recent interview with Amateur Radio Newsline, he told us why: Bergmann: ``Well I first started listening to Jean Shepherd way back in `56 when I was in college and I think what he had to say and the way he said it affected my thinking for the rest of my life. Soon after he died I realized how important he was to my way of thinking. That he was like an old friend. I got more and more involved in learning more about him and I finally decided that I had to write a book about his art.`` In writing his book, Eugene Bergmann wants to make certain that every aspect of Shep`s life and career is accounted for, including his love of ham radio. And a love it was as in this very rare recording where he accurately predicted the explosive growth in FM and repeaters in general and one New York City machine in particular: Shep: ``I don`t think you guys who sit around every night like you do recognize the already legendary status of this repeater outside of this area. I just came back from a trip from the Canadian border and all the way down through New England and way up in the Northern part of Maine I worked guys and the one thing that they all talked about was SUR (WA2SUR). And they really was a quality of `wow` in their voice. I think that in another ten years there`s no telling how immense this repeater will be and what a structure it will be. I am very serious when I say this. I think we are in the beginning of a thing here and I think that ultimately 25 years from now people will look back on the early two meter guys like us --- we`re considered early guys now --- with a legendary awe. You know, with a quality of awe, like `my god --- they started it all.` `` That was recorded way back the evening of June 21st 1972 over the then WA2SUR repeater in New York City. K2ORS was right on in his FM and repeater growth forecast. Bergmann says that`s the kind of he plans to include: Bergmann: ``In May of 1968 in one of his broadcasts he said: `...I became at the age of ten, totally, maniacally and for life I might point out --- completely skulled out by Amateur Radio.` So he was quite an enthusiast up to his death in `99`` Sound intriguing? Well you can find out a lot more about Eugene Bergann`s book and how you can help to writer it on this weeks RAIN Report. Just go to http://www.rainreport.com or dial into area code 847-827-7246, sit back and enjoy a quarter hour with Eugene Bergmann and his new book on the legendary Jean Shepherd, K2ORS (ARNewsline January 23 via John Norfolk, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ O.G. "MIKE" VILLARD Glenn, Some personal recollections and photos of O.G. "Mike" Villard are on my website. http://www.kobb.us Best regards, (Benn Kobb, DXLD) KID'S WALKIE-TALKIES JAM UP POLICE RADIOS - Friday, 01/23/04 http://www.tennessean.com/williamsonam/archives/04/01/45868679.shtml?Element_ID=45868679 (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) NEW GERMAN BOATANCHORS WEBSITE This web site is dedicated to "boatanchors", i.e. commercial tube based communications receivers. The main emphasis is on German communications receivers. The reason is simply that in contrast to US or British communications equipment, which is covered on quite a lot of web pages, there are only very few web pages which treat German receivers. So we had the feeling that it might be of interest to other enthusiasts to provide some more information on receivers built by companies like Blaupunkt, Debeg, Hagenuk, Lorenz, RFT, Rohde & Schwarz, Siemens and Telefunken. What is so fascinating about these receivers? Well, many if not most people will not understand our passion. Often heavy "beasts" in a steel or aluminum housing painted in gray or military green, this equipment can hardly be called pretty in a usual sense. We think one must have a good deal of interest in electrical and mechanical engineering in order to build up this passion. Because of the use of this type of equipment for commercial communication, money normally was not the primary limiting factor in design. Customers were often willing to pay a lot of money, so the engineers could use the forefront of technology of the actual time in their designs. They could use expensive material and costly methods of production if the result was a good receiver. So normally the "beauty" of these receivers can be found more in the inside than in the outside appearance. Of course this is not strictly valid for every commercial receiver. But in all cases the requirements to commercial receivers are quite different from those valid for consumer equipment. This makes commercial receivers different. The presentation of a receiver on these web pages normally consists of two parts: In the first part we stick to a fixed scheme: we present a photo of the receiver followed by the technical data normally grouped into the categories "Specifications", "Features", "Circuit Complement", "Comments" and "Variants". In a second part "Additional Information" is presented. This section is less formal. It contains varying information. We will e.g. sometimes show additional technical information or additional photos; sometimes we will show a historical photo of the receiver in use. Copyright The information on these web pages may be copied for private use. Any use of the contents of these pages (i.e. text and/or pictures) for other than private non commercial purposes is strictly prohibited unless you have obtained our explicit permission. Contact The authors of these web pages can be contacted via email. Constructive comments, error corrections, additional information etc. are always welcome. Wolfgang Thelen & Gerd Niephaus (via rec.radio.shortwave via SW Bulletin Jan 25 via DXLD) What`s the URL?? http://www.boatanchors.de But there was one over three years ago at http://gniephaus.tripod.com per original posting 2000-12-14 (gh) POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ ROW OVER PLT TRANSMISSIONS IN AUSTRIA A row is brewing over the roll-out of PLT, or Power Line Telecommunications, in the city of Linz in Austria. The Austrian national amateur radio society, OeVSV, has objected to the use of PLT in Linz, stating that it causes interference to amateur stations, and issuing a press release which was picked up by the Austrian mass media. It appears that the OeVSV was misquoted as saying that the Austrian ministry had taken out an injunction against the PLT providers and that the service had been closed down for good in Linz. The management of Speed-Web Consulting and Linz AG, who are responsible for the PLT transmissions, are disclaiming what they say are "press attacks by Austrian radio amateurs". They say that there has not been any injunction against them and the roll-out of PLT continues. Speed-Web and Linz AG say that Austrian radio amateurs are doing their best to stop PLT "by filing undue interference complaints". They go on to say that "if there should be any actual, harmful and officially proven interference case caused by Powerline Communications, mitigation measures will solve this very case at that specific location in the concerned frequency". On the 14th of January, Linz AG stated that it would be suing the OeVSV, as well as its president personally, over this matter. http://www.rsgb.org/news/gb2rs.htm (via Mike Terry, DXLD) Follow-up to ARRL version in 4-005 PROPAGATION +++++++++++ SOLAR INFLUENCES DATA ANALYSIS CENTER WEEKLY BULLETIN :Issued: 2004 Jan 26 0921 UTC :Product: documentation at http://sidc.oma.be/products/bul #--------------------------------------------------------------------- # SIDC Weekly bulletin on Solar and Geomagnetic activity # #--------------------------------------------------------------------- WEEK 160 from 2004 Jan 19 SOLAR ACTIVITY: --------------- Only the first half of the week noticeable flares have been observed, coming from Catania 35 (NOAA 0540). Amongst others there was a long duration C8.2 flare late on 19/1, accompanied by a full halo CME. This resulted in a severe geomagnetic storm on 22/1. On 21/1 there were 2 big prominence eruptions, each one leading to a CME. After that, solar activity was on background B-level. During the night of 25/1 to 26/1 a last C6.3 flare erupted with contributions from the upper and lower regions at the west limb of the sun. GEOMAGNETISM: ------------- Until 20/1 the earth was under the influence of a coronal hole. Geomagnetic conditions fluctuated between quiet and minor storm conditions. On January 22, a large shock was recorded by ACE data at 01:00 UT. This was the arrival of a halo CME which was related to the C8.2 flare late on 19/1. There was a large jump in the solar wind speed, temperature, Bz and density. The solar wind speed jumped from 500 to 560 km/s, and Bz turned to -20 nT. The geomagnetic activity reached severe storm levels (NOAA Kp=7) from 09:00 to 15:00 UT. Active to minor storm conditions persisted for another day. The solar wind speed stayed elevated above 460 km/s. This could have been due to contributions from the CMEs related to the two prominence eruptions on 21/1, and/or possibly the influence from a very small transequatorial coronal hole which was situated around the meridian on 22/1. Late on 24/1 the Bz turned southward, leading to a 9-hour minor storm on 25/1. After that quiet conditions resettled again. For the first half of next week, we expect influence from a new coronal hole, which already passed the central meridian. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DAILY INDICES DATE RC 10CM Ak BKG M X 2004 Jan 19 137 135 022 B3.9 2 0 2004 Jan 20 110 129 025 B3.9 1 0 2004 Jan 21 123 130 017 B3.3 0 0 2004 Jan 22 /// 122 057 B2.5 0 0 2004 Jan 23 059 115 041 B1.9 0 0 2004 Jan 24 056 108 021 B1.8 0 0 2004 Jan 25 025 102 /// B1.6 0 0 # RC : Sunspot index from Catania Observatory (Italy) # 10cm: 10.7 cm radioflux (DRAO, Canada) # Ak : Ak Index Wingst (Germany) # BKG : Background GOES X-ray level (NOAA, USA) # M,X : Number of X-ray flares in M and X class, see below (NOAA, USA) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTICEABLE EVENTS DAY BEGIN MAX END LOC XRAY OP 10CM TYPE Cat NOAA NOTE 19 0525 0532 0535 S17E05 M1.0 SF V/2,III/3 35 0540 19 1230 1240 1246 S16W00 M1.0 59 III/2 35 0540 20 0730 0743 0747 S14W13 M6.1 35 0540 SXI derived loc #--------------------------------------------------------------------- # Solar Influences Data analysis Center - RWC Belgium # # Royal Observatory of Belgium # # Fax : 32 (0) 2 373 0 224 # # Tel.: 32 (0) 2 373 0 276 # # For more information, see http://sidc.oma.be (via Jim Moats, DXLD) ###