DX LISTENING DIGEST 4-020, February 2, 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 AIRING OF WORLD OF RADIO 1218: Wed 1030 on WWCR 9475 WRN ONDEMAND: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also for CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL]: Check http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html WORLD OF RADIO 1218 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1218h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1218h.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1218.html WORLD OF RADIO 1218 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1218.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1218.rm FIRST AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1219: Wed 2300 on WBCQ 7415, 17495-CUSB Thu 2130 on WWCR 9475 ** ALBANIA [and non]. RADIO WORLD - Sunday 1 February 2004 SOUND Radio Tirana, Albania - Old signature tune - listen to the programme via audio link on this page. Older DXers will have recognised the old interval signal of Radio Tirana, one of the major broadcasters in the old days of the cold war. Quite by accident my attention was drawn to Albania earlier this week, when I visited the website of De Standaard, a Flemish daily newspaper. I was going through their archives when my attention was drawn to an article about the internet in Albania. We all know that it's one of the poorest - if not THE poorest - country in Europe, and so one cannot expect Albanians to be massively hooked up to the internet. Albanian radio on the internet is easy to find, but it's not in Albania, but in Canada, so the article in De Standaard told me. And indeed, in Toronto, there's a Radio ILIRIA, on FM 100.7 MHz, and on the internet: SOUND Radio Iliria Toronto Radio Iliria from Toronto in Canada. The live transmissions are from 20 to 2100 local time. [100.7 would be multicultural CHIN-FM --- gh] In Albania itself, Radio Tirana is still there, but it's only a shadow now of what it used to be. It almost makes you nostalgic. Did you know that there was a website, or at least a website under construction, for those nostalgics. Yes, indeed, there's a Radio Tirana Fan Site! The address is http://www.rtirana.8m.com/ It's amazing isn't it? Where are the days when Radio Tirana was omnipresent on the medium and shortwaves thanks to its powerful transmitting stations, built by the Chinese. The station had two missions: tell the world how bad the Soviets were, because in those days the Russians were almost worse than the western capitalists, in particular the Americans, in the eyes of the great leader of Albania, Enver Hoxha. The second mission was to tell the world that Albania was a country where everybody was happy, healthy and always working for the good of the country. The broadcasts - or what I remember of them - were full of clichés and bombastic phrases about the magnificent achievements of the people. The news told you how the workers of the country's only plant that produced toilet paper had completed their production plan months ahead of schedule, and more such exiting stuff. It must have cost the poor small country dearly to broadcast all that nonsense, because they did it in more than 20 languages and transmitted a total of more than 80 hours a day. It's ironic to see that nowadays the station is reduced to hiring out airtime to evangelist stations like TWR to make some money to keep the service going. Having said this, the station is far from dead: SOUND Radio Tirana A more recent signature tune of Radio Tirana. They still broadcast in several foreign languages: English, French, German, Italian, Serbian, Greek and Turkish. For the moment RTSH (Radio Televizioni Shkiptar), as the station is officially called, can be heard in Europe in English twice a day: from 1830-1845 UTC on 7180 and 9510 kHz, and from 2130- 2200 UTC on 7130 and 9520 kHz, and also on 1215 kHz mediumwave. Radio World (broadband) http://www.vrt.be/wm/rvi/rw_HI.asx Radio World (narrowband) http://www.vrt.be/wm/rvi/rw_LO.asx (FRANS VOSSEN, RVi Radio World Feb 1 via DXLD) ** BELARUS. Belorussian Transmitter (Army). 3346 kHz SSB / 1510 UT 31.12 / retransmission Belorusskoe Radio – 1 12227 kHz SSB / 0907 UT 05.01 / retransmission Belorusskoe Radio – 1 (Nikolay Ozerov, Belgorodskaya oblast, Rus-DX via DXLD) ** BHUTAN. First logging of this country here January 8th at 0101 on 6035, SINPO 22211, also heard the next morning and three or four times since. The transmission starts with an extended interval signal of rather haunting music, an announcement mentioning Bhutan, the interval signal again, another announcement including the frequency, chanting (by Buddhist monks?) which is quite tuneful then further songs and announcements (Arthur Miller, Llandrindod Wells, Wales, Feb World DX Club Contact via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) ** BRAZIL. LIBRERÍA NUEVO MUNDO --- ``Histórias que o rádio não contou/Do Galena ao Digital, desvendando a Radiodifusão no Brasil e no Mundo`` – written by Reynaldo C. Tavares, published by Editora Harbra in 1999 (2nd edition). ISBN 85-294-0109-3. 309 pages. Price: R$38, about US$13. Very interesting book on history of radio in Brazil. Includes two CDs with historical sounds on radio. Contains list of stations in 1930s with birthday, as well as 1940/50/60s by State. Recommended (Tetsuya Hirahara, El Tiempo Hechicero DX News, Jan Radio Nuevo Mundo via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. BRASIL – Em primeiro de fevereiro, a partir de 0300, as freqüências de 6180 e 11780 kHz da Rádio Nacional da Amazônia, que emite de Brasília (DF), assim como a de 980 kHz, da Rádio Nacional, da capital federal, estavam em cadeia com os 1130 kHz, da Rádio Nacional, do Rio de Janeiro (RJ). Rubem Confete apresentava o tradicional programa ``Rio de Toda a Gente``. Se confirmada a entrada deste programa, em substituição aos programas originados em Brasília (DF), é um ponto positivo que a Radiobrás marca com as pessoas de bom gosto, pois Rubem Confete é, além de bom apresentador, uma cabeça inteligente que sabe muito da Música Popular Brasileira, especialmente do samba. Por exemplo: na emissão de primeiro de fevereiro, trazia músicas e a história da cantora Elza Soares. Se não bastasse o bom gosto na escolha musical, Confete também apresentava dados interessantes da vida da cantora. Com um detalhe: muitos deles o próprio Confete vivenciou. Resumindo: para fazer rádio, não basta abrir o microfone e sair falando. É preciso ter conteúdo! Um pouco da vida de Confete pode ser conferido no Dicionário Cravo Albin da Música Popular Brasileira, em http://www.dicionariompb.com.br BRASIL – Mais uma emissora da região amazônica está com problemas em seu transmissor: a Rádio Alvorada, de Rio Branco (AC), teve uma válvula queimada e a freqüência de 2460 kHz está fora do ar. Paulo Roberto e Souza, de Tefé (AM), conversou com o diretor da emissora, José Severiano. A previsão é de que, em uma semana, a situação seja normalizada. É o tempo que a peça necessita para enfrentar os trâmites alfandegários, entre São Paulo (SP) e a capital acreana. BRASIL – A edição de 27 de janeiro do jornal Correio do Povo http://www.correiodopovo.com.br de Porto Alegre (RS), publicou crônica do colunista Flávio Alcaraz Gomes com o título: ``Guaíba no Mundo``. Ele informa que a emissora porto-alegrense é captada, em 11785 kHz, em diversas localidades no mundo, como em Wyomissing, nos Estados Unidos, e em Tóquio, no Japão. Da primeira localidade, Richard D`Angelo informou que é ouvinte da Guaíba há 35 anos. Da capital japonesa, Suzuki Satorou escreveu: ``o nome da estação anunciada pelo macho: Rádio Guaíba``. (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX Feb 2 via DXLD) ** CANADA [and non]. GOODWILL FLOWS FROM U.S STATION WITH POWERFUL RADIO SIGNAL So, I bought this piece-of-junk, battery-operated radio to listen to CBC in the shower without getting electrocuted, which I hear can happen if you put plug-in appliances in the bathroom with a cat like mine, which has a sick sense of humour, among other problems. I popped the AAs into this tiny receiver and tuned to AM 690 to catch the local morning news, in keeping with my New Year's resolution, which is to stop singing along to that Hey Ya! track by OutKast and get more CBC-erebral. What do I find at AM 690? Just the weirdest squelch of SETI-like static I've ever heard. Even the cat ran for it. I called CBC and described my problem to Dave Newbury, transmission manager for B.C. He told me how a radio station in the border town of Blaine is blasting a powerful signal directly across White Rock, Surrey and New Westminster. The Punjabi/Hindi station is called KVRI (AM 1600) and it whomps out a 50,000-watt signal north — and north only — to the Lower Mainland's East Indian community. "It took a while for us to figure out what the people were hearing," says Newbury, who spent months studying the mysterious overlay signal before locating its source. He says there are two problems. One involves highly technical "mirror imaging" and "frequency harmonics" between KVRI and CBC and the other is simply that KVRI's signal is so powerful it swamps out CBC on cheaper radios. Newbury says Industry Canada dropped the ball when it failed to co- ordinate with its U.S. counterpart (the Federal Communications Commission) when KVRI's broadcast licence was granted in 2002. "Now they've got a licence and people are complaining and what do we do? Industry Canada isn't about to put it in writing that they goofed. But this isn't acceptable." So I was going to ream out KVRI chief engineer Mike Gilbert and his brand of cultural Imperialism, which, quite frankly, is interfering with my morning ritual. But Gilbert wants nothing but peace between our two great nations. And he blames the problem on a market flooded with cheap receivers like the one above my tub. "We've had complaints and yes, our signal is aimed right at Vancouver," he says. "But if you buy a nice, quality receiver you won't have any problem." Gilbert then offers to buy me a new radio! Talk about hands across the border. "We've already replaced many radios in Canada at our cost," he says. "We've replaced radios, cordless telephones and put in special filtering in PA systems in churches and a couple of funeral homes — we've spent thousands and thousands." "We were under no obligation to do it," adds the American. "But we did it as a good neighbor." (Vancouver's "The Province" newspaper, Tuesday 27 January 2004. Mike Roberts' column called "What's Up" and appeared on page A10 via Theo Donnelly, Burnaby, BC, DXLD) This is what happens when a station uses a frequency in the upper end of the MW band which is 910 kHz away from one on the lower end (twice the IF of common receivers). It seems to me this problem rarely happens within the US, and I wonder if a conscious effort, i.e. an FCC regulation, prevents it. On FM, nearby stations may not be assigned 10.6 or 10.8 MHz apart because of the standard FM receiver IF of 10.7 MHz, not its double. It took the CBC guy months to figure out what was happening??? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. WORLD'S FIRST TALK RADIO STATION FOR GUYS MAKES CANADIAN DEBUT OF 'ALL COMEDY RADIO' January 28 th '2004 -Toronto http://www.mojoradio.com/station/sp_comedyradio.cfm Toronto's Talk Radio Station for Guys - MOJO RADIO - The Home of The Toronto Maple Leafs and The John Oakley Morning Show has announced the addition of "All Comedy Radio" to its weekly stable of exclusive programming. In a deal struck with Infinity's " All Comedy Radio" in Los Angeles, the Toronto talk radio station for guys has acquired access to the All Comedy Radio Network and will air its exclusive comedy programming overnights and on weekends on MOJO RADIO. "This is a great enhancement to MOJO RADIO's fun and unique brand of entertainment", said Program Director, Scott Armstrong. "In the States," All Comedy Radio" has become an entire 24 hour a day format with great success. Here in Toronto, we feel it's going to really enhance the overall MOJO RADIO experience. It's a great compliment to The John Oakley Morning Show, Mike Stafford, Andrew Krystal and Phil Hendrie shows currently heard on MOJO." "All Comedy Radio" debuted on Infinity's KLSX / Los Angeles, Aug. 30, 2003. The first full month showed a jump from 0.8 share in July to an astounding 6.4 share in September with Adults 25-54. Today, "All Comedy Radio" is on over 20 stations in major markets across the U.S. " All Comedy Radio " is the World's first "full-format" radio network dedicated exclusively to comedy. Featuring star studded material from the likes of Jerry Seinfeld, George Carlin, Sam Kinison, Chris Rock, Rodney Dangerfield and many others, "All Comedy Radio" is produced by a Los Angeles team of professional comedy writers, stand-up comics and on-air personalities with a North American network of contributors. Using "CJ's" (Comedy Jocks) instead of "DJ's" (Disc Jockeys) the network`s comedy material is presented like a music format using "comedy hits" instead of "music hits". "Weekends are all about fun and "All Comedy Radio" will help to make MOJO the fun-button on everyone's radio.", added Armstrong. "All Comedy Radio" debuts on MOJO RADIO Saturday January 31st at 2:00 am. It will be heard overnights and on weekends exclusively in Toronto on Talk Radio For Guys - MOJO RADIO- AM 640. Check mojoradio.com for the complete schedule of broadcast times. MOJO RADIO is a Corus Entertainment Company. Corus is Canada's largest radio operator, in terms of revenue and audience tuning. The Company is also a leader in specialty television and owns Nelvana Limited, an internationally recognized producer and distributor of children's programming and products. The Company's other interests include music, television broadcasting and advertising services. A publicly traded company, Corus is listed on the Toronto (CJR.B) and New York (CJR) Exchanges. Corus's Web site can be found at http://www.corusentertainment.com (via Mike Brooker, NRC-AM via DXLD) The real joke is that MOJO-640 has managed to survive on testosterone and Leafs hockey for almost 3 years! Will this be picked up and carried live parallel to other stations - and would it therefore be parallel to the 1640 in Oklahoma? 73 (Mike Brooker, Toronto, ON, NRC- AM via DXLD) I expect so ** CHINA. Checked the 1200-1300 UT portion and came across some strange FireDrake signals. Heard three VERY STRONG FireDrake signals on 17490, 15795, and 15615 kHz, which "could be!" originating from the new Kashi site. The other Kashgar-Kashi units are parked now til March 27th. I think in these days the HFCC A-04 conference will take place in Dubai-UAE, and the Chinese ladies (some four coordination engineers usually) will coordinate the new requirements for the 24 hr CRI service then. CRI announced already, that they plan to introduce some morning services to S Asia and Middle East too (Wolfgang Büschel, Jan 31, BC-DX via DXLD) ** CLIPPERTON ISLAND. Dave, K4SV, informs: "A DXpedition to Clipperton Island will take place on or about March 8th, 2004. A multi-national Team of experienced operators will leave San Diego, California aboard a Ship bound for Clipperton Island and will be operational for 8 to 10 days. A WEB site and callsign will be announced just prior to leaving for Clipperton. Clipperton ranks high on the most wanted DX lists worldwide. Activity will be on all bands 10-160 meters on CW, SSB, RTTY, PSK and also AO-40 (CW and SSB) using five stations with amplifiers and beam/vertical antennas. ICOM America has agreed to sponsor the DXpedition and will be providing transceivers. Donations from DX clubs and individuals for the DXpedition would be welcome to help cover costs." The team is led by Dave Anderson, K4SV, and the group consists of an International team of operators from several countries. Operators are: Dave Anderson, K4SV; Neil King, VA7DX; Gerard Jobcot, F2JD; Bob Grimmick, N6OX; Arnie Shatz, N6HC (team doctor) and Hiro Miyake, JF1OCQ (Several more checking on availability). For more information or if you would like to make a donation, please contact Dave at his E-mail address at: K4SV2 @ Charter.net. QSL via K4YL (KB8NW-OPDX February 2-BARF80 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. Radio Nacional de Colombia heard January 16th at 2230 on 9635, jingle followed by talks mentioning Colombia, Barranquilla, Bogota. SINPO 32332. Improved to 44444 at 2255. After a song and adverts 96.3 Estereo FM was mentioned at least three times followed by ``las noticias de Bogotá``. (Arthur Miller, Llandrindod Wells, Wales, Feb World DX Club Contact via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) A very tough one to catch; I suspect on the air only occasionally (gh, DXLD) ** DJIBOUTI. Re 999 meaning non-direxional? Hi Glenn, that's correct, "999" = "ND". The full block is 1600-0400 and the IBB online schedule shows two lines for each block before and after midnight: the 1600- 2400 portion started on 1 Feb; the 0000-0400 portion is listed in a separate line since it started past midnight, and that was on 2 Feb: 1431 0 400 SAW MRN6 ARAB DJI A 999 02/02/2004 03/27/2004 1431 1600 2400 SAW MRN6 ARAB DJI A 999 02/01/2004 03/27/2004 73s, (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, Feb 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Several DX and radio-related mailing lists and websites are claiming that a new IBB transmitter in Djibouti would be on the air on 1431 kHz, starting Feb. 1, with Radio Sawa programming. The frequency is mentioned also in the current IBB frequency list. However, I have contacted two sources at IBB who are unaware of the station being yet operational. I would be curious to know if anyone has actually heard the station? This shouldn´t be too difficult for example in the Eastern Mediterranean area, if they are indeed on the air, given that the station has a power of 600 kW. Any reports? (Mika Mäkeläinen, Site Admin, Palo Alto, California, U.S.A, Feb 2, dxing.info via DXLD) IBB's 600 kW medium wave tx in Djibouti will begin test txions on 1431 kHz at 1600-0400 from Febr 1, 2004, carrying one of the Radio Sawa streams in Arabic (Dan Ferguson, USA, "via SWBC mail list at Topica" Jan 30 via BC-DX Feb 2 via DXLD) He should know. IBB remote monitoring should confirm if nothing else (gh, DXLD) ** ECUADOR. 4609.99 kHz, Centro Radiofónico de Imbabura, Ibarra 3 Feb 2004 0055 UT. Amigos DXistas, aquí viene SWB MICROINFORMATIVO! Quito 2/Feb/2004 19:56 hora local Some days ago I reported this station on its 2nd harmonic 6760.14 kHz (2x 3380.07). 4609.99 kHz is a much more rare type of harmonic: MW 1229.92 + SW 3380.07 = 4609.99 kHz. Some photos from my home town Quito: http://www.geocities.com/carlosfroldan/misfotos/quito/quito.htm 73s (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SWB América Latina, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Rare indeed, but a mixing product, not harmonic (gh, DXLD) ** ECUADOR. The DRM special DX Partyline Jan 31 featured info about HCJB`s non-English DX programs. In German, Für DX-er, Sat 0600 on 9765, and sometimes also at 1830 on 5925 via Europe. Allen Graham co- hosts with Juan Carlos Chimarro(?), Aventura Diexista as a segment in Club de Amigos, Sat 1400 on 15140, 17690; Sun 2200 on 15140; UT Mon 0200 on 9745 (he failed to point out that the DX segment begins about 40 minutes later). In Portuguese, DX-HCJB (pronounced day-sheesh-aga- say-jota-bay), with Eunice Carbajal (whose first name is pronounced in Portuguese, last name in Spanish), Sat 0830 on 9745, Sun 0130 11920 and 12020, Sun 1730 on 15295. All of them rely on taped contributions from DXers in the target countries (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. On Saturday 17th January I came across the local Breton programming of Rennes on 711 thanks to a tip from Hans-Dieter Buschau. Heard from tune-in 1147 till 1300. WRTH 2004 lists this programme Saturdays 1000-1100. The correct time is 1200-1400 local time, 1100- 1300 in winter according to the station`s webpage http://www.radiofrance.fr/sites/bleu-armorique/station/ecoute.php. Lots of beautiful Breton folk music was played. Surprisingly good reception, SINPO 44444 (Martin Elbe, Germany, Medium Wave Circle via Feb World DX Club Contact via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) ** FRANCE. STRIKING RADIO FRANCE UNIONS ASK MP'S FOR HELP Unions at Radio France have sent a letter to members of parliament in an effort to find a way out of the impasse in their salary dispute. The text of the letter has been published in a Weblog set up by the striking journalists at http;//www.20six.fr/silenceradio On Sunday, according to trade unions, 95% of the journalists at France Informations and 70% of their colleagues at France Inter were in strike. A mass meeting is taking place this afternoon to decide whether to prolong the strike. Trade unions at France Télévisions have sent letters of support to their colleagues of Radio France. At the end of 2002, they were also involved in a salary conflict. # posted by Andy @ 14:06 UT Feb 2 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** GEORGIA. Radio Hara. 4875 from tuning in at 1710. Talks (presumed Abkhaz) and songs, all by Ella Fitzgerald. Clear ID and s/off 1729; 35333 (Silvain Domen, Belgium, Feb 2, for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. New Mission Friedenstimme via Juelich. I've tried to hear the new Mission Friedenstimme scheduled via DTK Juelich on Saturday at 1100-1130 15225, 1500-1530 9635 kHz (instead of Evangelische Missions Gemeinden in Deutschland) and I discovered that the programme is in Russian (Luca Botto Fiora-Italy, BDXC-UK Feb 1 via BC-DX via DXLD) This is a small misunderstanding: "Evangelische Missionsgemeinden" ("Protestant missionary communities") is a "pool" of religious programme producers, and "Mission Friedensstimme" (which broadcasts in Russian towards CIS member states) is one of these producers (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, BDXC-UK Feb 2, via BCDX via DXLD) ** GREENLAND (Special Event). Look for Allan, OX3KV (OZ8A), to use the special callsign OX2KAN during the rest of the year to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the Kangaatsiaq municipality. Activity will be on all HF bands (mainly CW). Allan is only using a G5RV antenna right now, but once the snow is gone, he'll put up some more antennas. OX2KAN will also be active from NA-134. QSL via the OZ Bureau or direct to: BOX 551, 3955 Kangaatsiaq, Greenland (KB8NW-OPDX February 2-BARF80 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** HAWAII. Engineering Amendments to Construction Permits Submitted: 1130, KRUD, Honolulu --- holds a CP for U1 10000/5000. The amendment reads U1 750/750. Why the drastic decrease? As the application reads: ``The limited power was required in order to provide the necessary theoretical suppression to the nearby (FCC) AM monitoring station.`` (Bill Hale, AM Switch, Feb 2 NRC DX News via DXLD) 690, KORL, Honolulu --- Jan 1 at 0113 EST, noted for first time with Japanese format (ex-Radio Disney) on Dec. 31, Hawai`i time, playing Japanese adult contemporary music. English announcements gave call sign and owner`s name but Japanese announcements and jingles included slogan ``Radio K-Japan.`` Per Honolulu Star Bulletin, station was bought last fall by H. Hawaii Media, owner of FM stations on Kaua`i and Maui and the lessee of the programming on KJPN-1370. Subsequently, KJPN went off the air. The newspaper article did say the station`s format willb e multi-cultural with mostly brokered programming including English talk. A subsequent article and monitoring showed that Japanese programming runs weekdays 1100-2300; the rest of the time is spent playing contemporary jazz and running announcements doffering to put on ``your very own radio show`` on ``Hawaii`s Local Talk and Multi-Cultural Radio.`` (Dale Park, Honolulu, Domestic DX Digest, NRC DX News Feb 2 via DXLD) Ah, remember when KORL was on 650 with its ``KORL rock`` format and you could hear them on the east coast with WSM off and Alan Roycroft would send neat QSL cards for correct reports? Those were the days, my friends; we`d thought they`d never end.... (Harry Helms, NV, DDXD ed., ibid.) Yes 1370, KJPN, Pearl City/Honolulu, Jan 1 at 0113 EST --- now silent, its programming having shifted to KORL 690. Under call signs KMDR and then KJPN, this station lasted only about 14 months (Dale Park, HI, ibid.) ** ICELAND. 7590U, AFN, nothing heard when checking Javoradio at 1540 Jan 31; is it still on here? (Hans Johnson, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ILG suggests 7490 from 1 Jan (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) Often check WJIE here and never heard AFN (gh) ** INDIA. AIR'S 24-HR NEWS CHANNEL FROM APRIL: MINISTER Chennai, Feb 1 (UNI) The Prasar Bharati will launch a 24-hour news channel of the All India Radio (AIR) in April this year, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said today. Talking to reporters here, he said the Centre was keen on ushering in a radio revolution in the country, adding the Amit Mitra Committee was looking into the various aspects of FM radio such as revenue-sharing, licencing and technology back-up. Based on the committee's recommendations more FM stations would be established. Referring to the first campus community radio of the Anna University, he said the Government had decided to select educational institutions as nodal points for greater community participation. The Centre was seriously contemplating liberalising the concept so that NGOs could put it into practice, he added. Mr Prasad said the revenue roll-over of Doordarshan was approximately Rs 15,000 crore, which was expected to more than double in the next five years. It had registered a growth of 31 per cent, he added. Asserting that Doordarshan had become professionally and commercially competitive, he said it could be shortly viewed in the United States and the United Kingdom. On the implementation of Conditional Access System (CAS), he said there were reports of problems at distribution level. While in Chennai, CAS had been in place since the last five months, there was a wide divide between the stake-holders such as cable operators, MSOs and consumers, in South Delhi. The Minister said cable TV distribution in the present form was ''artificial''. TRAI was going into the entire gamut of cable TV distribution, including revenue-sharing and inter-connectivity, he said, adding the Government would take a decision based on TRAI's recommendations. The Government would ''look into all options'' if the stake-holders went against consumer interests, he stated. (deepikaglobal.com) Regds, (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, DXLD) Earlier reports anticipated the all-news channel would be on SW, but nothing about that here; SW is getting no respect in India lately (gh, DXLD) ** INDIA. The Christian programs of Joyce Meyer Ministries India is now broadcast by 21 different AIR stations as per the info in their web site. It is also telecast on Doordarshan TV. Their schedule is available in the following site: http://jmmindia.org/broadcast.asp The listed timing seems to vary. e.g. on AIR Varanasi I noted it on Sunday 5.45 pm (1215 UT) whereas it is written as Sunday 7.30 am in their site. FEBA also has a program via AIR Delhi on MW. Earlier, such broadcasts were not possible via AIR and Doordarshan (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, India, dx_india Feb 2 via DXLD) ** IRAN. New updated schedule for VOIROI/IRIB according to monitoring on Jan. 26-Feb. 1 ALBANIAN 0630-0727 15235 17680 1830-1927 6100 7165 2030-2127 6100 9740 ARABIC 0330-0427 7250 9505 "Voice of Islamic Palestinian Revolution" 0330-1627 15545 1630-1857 3985 9935 1900-1927 9935 1930-2027 9935 "Voice of Islamic Palestinian Revolution" 2030-0327 9935 ARMENIAN 0300-0327 7295 0930-0957 9695 15260 1630-1727 6185 7230 AZERI 0330-0527 11720 1430-1657 6220 BENGALI 0030-0127 5905 6185 0830-0927 9565 1430-1527 9545 11850 15415 BOSNIAN 0530-0627 15235 17680 1730-1827 7295 11660 2130-2227 7235 9710 CHINESE 1200-1257 9895 11670 13645 15150 2330-0027 7130 7325 9635 DARI 0300-0627 13740 0830-1157 13720 1200-1457 9910 ENGLISH 1030-1127 15480 15550 1530-1627 7190 9610 1930-2027 11695 15140 FRENCH 0630-0727 21645 1830-1927 9565 HAUSA 0600-0657 17810 21810 1830-1927 7335 9775 HEBREW 1900-1927 3985 7120 HINDI 0230-0257 15165 17635 1430-1527 11640 11840 13745 15490 KAZAKH 0130-0227 9855 9880 1300-1357 11745 13755 KURDISH 0330-0527 13720 Sorrani dialect 1330-1427 13790 Sorrani dialect (retimed, ex 1130-1427) 1430-1627 9485 Kirmanji dialect MALAY 1230-1327 15200 15275 2230-2327 9690 11895 PASHTO 0230-0327 6095 9525 0730-0827 15440 1230-1327 9790 11870 13720 1430-1527 3965 7270 1630-1727 6005 6015 PERSIAN 1630-1727 7350.0/4 2030-2127 7350.0/4 RUSSIAN 0300-0327 6040 7225 0500-0527 12025 15530 21480 21610 1430-1527 7165 9575 9735 1700-1757 6035 7170 1800-1857 6035 7305 1930-2027 3985 7205 SPANISH 0030-0127 6015 7220 9555 0130-0227 6015 9555 9750 0230-0327 9750 0530-0627 15320 17590 2030-2127 7130 9750 SWAHILI 0330-0427 13640 15260 0830-0927 17660 21530 ex 1130-1227 17630 21550 1730-1827 9595 11750 TAJIK 0100-0227 5950 1600-1727 5955 TURKISH 0430-0557 15260 15365 1600-1727 7125 9735 URDU 0130-0227 6010 6190 7210 1330-1427 9835 11950 13595 1530-1727 3965 7270 UZBEK 0230-0257 5950 1500-1557 5955 DELETED LANGUAGES SERVICES AND FREQUENCIES FROM SHORT WAVES: ARABIC 0330-0527 6145 7100 9535 -- "Voice of Islamic Revolution of Iraq" 0330-0627 9895 13770 15125 15545 0630-1227 13770 15125 1230-1527 13770 13820 15125 1530-1627 7285 13820 15125 1630-1857 6025 6065 6200 7285 1900-1927 3985 6025 6065 6200 7285 2030-2127 3985 6025 6065 6200 7285 2130-0127 3985 6065 6200 7285 9935 11710 0130-0227 6065 6200 7285 0230-0327 6065 6200 7285 9895 ENGLISH 0030-0227 6120 9580 (incl. "V. of Justice" 0130-0227) 1930-2027 6110 7320 2130-2227 9780 11740 GERMAN 0730-0827 15084 21770 1730-1827 6110 9500 FRENCH 0630-0727 17590 21770 1830-1927 6180 9755 2330-0027 6120 9790 HEBREW 0700-0727 21745 0230-0257 6010 6120 ITALIAN 0630-0727 15084 17605 1200-1257 15084 15275 1930-1957 7295 9615 JAPANESE 1300-1327 9510 9770 2100-2127 6125 7180 URDU 1730-1757 6140 7225 (Observer, Bulgaria, Feb 2, via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. The 1800 broadcast is monitored on 9435 11585. They are sometimes on 11605 instead of 11585. I have heard them on 11605 for a full fifteen minutes, once they were on 11605 at 1800 but made a rapid switch to 11585 a few minutes later. The 2000-2025 broadcast is only monitored on 6280 here, at times the news content lasts for 15 minutes and they fill with music until 2025 sign off in English (Edwin Southwell, Basingstoke, UK, Feb World DX Club Contact via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) ** ITALY. Rai International can response with QSL cards but very slowly. Here's my recent QSL card pictured Etna Volcano from RAI: http://www.dxing.info/community/viewtopic.php?t=732 (Eric Zhou, Yangzhou, China, Mon Feb 02, dxing.info via DXLD) ** KASHMIR [non]. Re: KASHMIR [non]. Voice of Jammu Kashmir Freedom operated by Harkat ul Mujahhideen as listed in World Radio TV Handbook 2004 on page 579 is noted with a new morning broadcast as follows: 5990 0230-0400 (DXLD 4-017) This morning transmission has been there for several years, but used to be on a slightly lower frequency. Noted and reported on 5990 late 2002. Always with the same buzzy Rewat (Pakistan) transmitter that is also used on 5101 and 4790 (Olle Alm, Sweden, Feb 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KURDISTAN [non?]. CLANDESTINES --- Today Feb 01, which is a very holy day for the Muslims, two simultaneous suicide bombs exploded during official celebrations at the two Party Headquarterss in the Northern Iraqi city of Arbil of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and killed 56 persons. At 1920 UT I checked their SW frequencies and found that the KDP station Voice of Iraqi Kurdistan on 4085 had signed off early (scheduled till 1930), whereas the PUK station Voice of the People of Kurdistan 4025.0 still can be heard at 2015. It has been broadcasting short messages in Kurdish mentioning Arbil and Kurdistan and mourning music by orchestra and flute and a few hymns. ID's: "Aira dangi Gelli Kurdistana". Martial song and sign off at 2022. 45333 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LATVIA. Re ``9290 checked here at 1240 and heard nothing via Javoradio Europe. Can someone update me as to the schedule of what is airing here as I have lost track. (Johnson Jan 31)`` There is no regular schedule, but short-term bookings. Some transmissions on recent dates were cancelled due to logistical problems with the program delivery (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) WORLD DX* 7th OF FEBRUARY ON 9290 KHZ AT 2100 TO 2300 UT. 73s (TOM AND STAFF AT EMR, DX LISTENING DIGEST) European Music Radio ** LIBERIA. On 2 Feb at 1545 tune in heard Voice of Liberty in Monrovia on 11514.4 with fair signal. Later the reception improved and it was audible past 1800, but their audio was distorted at times. Sounds like they announce "LCBN Radio" but use also "Voice of Liberty" name. Their FM frequency is 102.3 and also shortwave was mentioned. Contact info in Monrovia was also given, but I still have to confirm it to ensure correct information in the web :) (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAYSIA. Re Bob Padula`s report of HF domestic services closed: I heard 7295 booming in around 1730 and ID on Monday when I checked on seeing reports of this. I didn't and don`t hear 4845 any more. The transmitter had a bad rumble, and might even be temporarily off. Right now at 1913 Jan 29 I am hearing what I am almost sure is MLA under VOA on 5965 (Victor A. Goonetilleke, 4S7VK, Sri Lanka, DXasia Jan 29 via BC-DX via DXLD) I certainly agree with Victor on this one. RTM is still on 5965 with Radio Satu in Malay and 7295 in English as of 1000 UT on 1 Feb (Alan Davies, Jakarta, Indonesia, BC-DX Feb 1 via DXLD) ** MEXICO. XEETCH, 700, Etchojoa, Sonora, Jan 20 at 1319 UT --- classic Mexican barn dance music, then ID. New for frequency change [ex-1130]. This music is so distinctive, there is no way that you can confuse this station with another (Kevin Redding, Mesa AZ, International DX Digest, NRC DX News Feb 2 via DXLD) ** MEXICO. RDS en la Ciudad de México --- En la ciudad de México hay 5 estaciones en FM que ya estan usando el sistema RDS. Estas son: * XEDA -FM Radio Imagen transmite el siguiente texto: IMAGEN aunque a veces se ve desplegar el nombre del programa que se está transmitiendo. (4a. en usar RDS) * XHDL 98.5 Radioactivo que por lo menos casi todo el mes de enero estuvo transmitiendo el siguiente texto: RACTIVO, y a veces mostraban el nombre del artista o grupo que en ese momento estaban transmitiendo, o el nombre del programa. (3a. en usar RDS) * XHMVS 102.5 Best FM tranmite siempre el texto: BEST FM (1a. en usar RDS) * XERFR 103.3 Radio Fórmula FM 103 transmite: XERFR-FM (5a. en usar RDS) * XHEXA 104.9 EXA FM transmite siempre: EXA FM (2a. en usar RDS) Saludos (Héctor García Bojorge, DF, Feb 2, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** MYANMAR. 5770, Defence Forces Broadcast Station heard 1610 January 15th only just above threshold level with chanting, better but still poor level 1623 recheck, Western style romantic song, announcement by lady, brief piece of Asian instrumental music on keyboards and apparent off 1630. Best on USB as intermittent utility interference from a station slightly lower in frequency (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth Garden City, England, Feb World DX Club Contact via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. OFFICIAL WEBSITE MARKS 100 YEARS OF DUTCH RADIO LEGISLATION http://www.100jaarradiowetgeving.nl 100 years ago on 11 January, the Netherlands passed its first law in which radio was mentioned. In the century, since then, there has been a lot of legislation involving radio - and the Dutch Radiocommunications Agency has opened a Web site highlighting significant milestones in words and pictures. Unfortunately for overseas readers, the words are only in Dutch, but the pictures alone are worth looking at. Among the subjects featured are the start of Radio Veronica in 1960, and REM Island four years later. The site also looks at the non-broadcasting uses of radio. # posted by Andy @ 10:47 UT Feb 2 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. This is a supposed to be an `on` week for the fortnightly Mailbox on RNZI, so Mon Feb 2 on 9870 I was standing by for it, but music fill started at 1528 and continued past 1540 when I gave up; no apology or explanation for the missing program. But hey, it`s the middle of the night; is anybody really listening? An hour later I donwloaded the current archive audio, which was dated 02 Feb 1957 UT on the menu, three hours later; so was this actually the previous edition? Why does it show a time in the future? No, the propagation info referred to January 30 (no sunspots) as ``last week``. Then interesting interview, part 2, with Bill Whitacre of IBB (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA. VON, 11770 being heard very well here 1600-1800 in Arabic, 1800-2000 in French (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth Garden City, England, Feb World DX Club Contact via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) ** PALAU. The website of the Mandarin service carried by T8BZ/KHBN - Voice of Hope is: http://vohasia.in2000.com The person is charge is Rev. Rolland Lau laurolland @ hotmail.com (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, Feb 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. THE GOSPEL MESSAGE IS REACHING PAPUA NEW GUINEA http://mnn.gospelcom.net/article/5618 (MNN)-- HCJB Radio Light in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, is moving to a new location and continues to prepare and develop a nationwide radio network. HCJB World Radio is a missionary broadcast organization that has been touching the lives around the world for nearly 70 years. They partner with others to share the Gospel in various languages and have seen many lives changes as a result. They also are asking for prayer as HCJB World Radio-Canada takes part in Missions Fest at Vancouver, British Colombia January 30th - February 1st (Mission Network News via Bruce Atchison, AB, VE6XTC, Jan 28, DXLD) ** PORTUGAL. A RDP Internacional – Rádio Portugal reativou um espaço para dexismo em sua programação. Vai ao ar, às 0040, nas quintas- feiras universais. No Brasil, pode ser ouvido em 11980 e 13770 kHz. Na segunda edição do programa foi irradiada colaboração especial do DX Clube do Brasil, elaborada e gravada pelo engenheiro Sarmento Fernandes da Rocha Campos, coordenador do Clube, residente no Rio de Janeiro (RJ). A emissora solicitou a Paulo Roberto Peres Michelom, de Porto Alegre (RS), o envio de relatórios de recepção para a freqüência de 15555 kHz, utilizada a partir de 2000, nas emissões extraordinárias (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX Feb 2 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Strange situation for Voice of Russia DRM in Ru/En/Ge/Fr on Feb. 1: 1400-1800 NF 9495.0* plus spurs? on 9487.5# in AM MODE!!!!!! , ex 9490.0. * co-ch 1445-1600 TWR in Russian in AM mode. # Q R M 1430- 1627 VOIROI/IRIB in Kurdish Kirmanji dialect on nominal 9485.0 (Observer, Bulgaria, Feb 2, via DXLD) Same observation here, and it must be added that 9487.5 had a delay of two seconds compared with Bolshakovo-1215 etc., suggesting that this strange signal was no ordinary AM transmission but perhaps a simulcast test at Taldom (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Feb 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. Hi, does anyone noticed Jamming on 7200 now (1525 UT) !! I could hear something like a jammer not the bubble jammer but another type of jamming! Anyone catching this?? (Tarek Zeidan, Egypt, SU1TZ, BC-DX Jan 27) At 1535 I noticed some kind of "sweeping" noisy transmission, but I don't think it was intentional jamming (Mauno Ritola, Finland, BC-DX Jan 27) 7200 kHz warbling like jammer ??? Tarek, re your recent mail some two weeks ago, about Sudan 7200 kHz jamming: Today I hear the warbling like jammer signal the whole morning, when switched on the receiver around 0715 UT up to now around 1315 UT. But I guess this is a wrong signal outlet of Radio Rossii, Yakutsk Russia. Centered at 7200.88 kHz, from 7199.25 to 7202.50 kHz [USB] range, 3.25 kHz wide (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, Jan 31, BC-DX) Yakutsk has been warbling like this more or less regularly for a long time now (Olle Alm, Sweden, BC-DX Jan 31) The "noise" on 7200 seems to be only on the USB - using LSB seems to quieten the noise down, but I don't hear Yakutsk. I thought it was maybe some type of ute, and am intrigued by your suggestion - Olle. It's usually a loud signal here mornings (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX Jan 31, all via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Re: ``11700, Radiostation Tsentr trying at 1040, there was a station here, but it wasn't in Russian. Via Javoradio Europe. 1110 ditto via Javoradio Australia` (Johnson Feb 1)`` The form of the original posting on the Russian guzei.com website (weblog) and some of the technical details provide reasons to include the possibility that the original item on the guzei.com weblog might have been "disinformation". (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) Viz.: RUSSIA Moscow. Radiostation "Tsentr". For East Sibireya In Russian : 11700 kHz : 0700-1300; 7285 kHz : 1300-2030. Tx : Belogorsk . 500 kW (www.guzei.com, 2004-01-19) via RUS-DX # 127-A It appears that these transmissions seem not to be heard and there are doubts in regard to the original source. The original item was posted in the news section (weblog) of the Russian guzei.com website by a person with the name of "Vyacheslav" from Nizhnyy Novgorod. He claimed that the transmissions are in Russian and English. An "official" reply received on 30 January from Andrey Nekrasov, director of Radio Tsentr, neither confirms nor denies these transmissions but says "All information about Radio Center you can see on our official Web site: http://www.radiocenter.net ". Radio Tsentr was on SW on a number of special occasions in the past, but there is no mention so far of these "new" SW transmissions on the website (which otherwise is quite detailed and up-to-date in describing achievements of the station); in earlier cases these transmissions were announced officially well in advance. It can be added that the site "Belogorsk" (Amurskaya oblast, East Siberia) houses high power LW & MW transmitter (a.o. carrying Voice of Russia on 585 kHz), but is not known as a location for SW transmitters, especially not high power transmitters of 500 kW. In addition, it would sound more appropriate to use a SW transmitter outside of Siberia for covering this region, rather than a transmitter that is located inside the coverage area. Unless confirmed otherwise, one is inclined to conclude that the posting of the original info on the guzei.com website might have been a "joke". (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** ST. HELENA. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER DES ST. HELENA NEWS SERVICE Monday, February 02 2004 --- Von Andy Sennitt erhielt ich gerade folgenden Hinweis. Das ist vielleicht auch für jemanden für euch interessant: Der Posten des Chief Executive Officer des St. Helena News Service – auch zuständig für Radio St. Helena. Zusätzlich zum Jahresgehalt von über 10000 Pfund kann man sich sicher sein, dass man (unter 5000 Einwohnern, und immerhin ca. 5 Schiffstage vom Festland entfernt) da seine Ruhe hat *grins* Der Link: http://www.news.co.sh/st%20helena%20herald.htm Die Ausgabe vom 30. Januar, Seite 16. Grüße, Thorsten, A-DX via hard- core-dx via DXLD) ** SOMALIA Thanks to the tip in December Contact I checked 6980 at 1730 on Saturday 17/1 and found Radio Galkayo with a summary of news headlines in English followed by an email address including ``ast.org.wil`` [sic] then what sounded like a news summary in Vernacular before they went off at 1736. Nothing at the same time 19 and 20/1, maybe this English segment in Saturdays only? (Arthur Miller, Llandrindod Wells, Wales, Feb World DX Club Contact via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) Heard here on 6980 1705 26/1 just above threshold level with Horn of Africa music, off or faded down at 1720 recheck. (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth UK, Feb World DX Club Contact via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) [non]. `Mustaqbal` 1200-1230 on 17565, noted here Monday 2nd February 1205 with local music and two female announcers. Closing announcements 1230 included one in English mentioning the Education Development Council, off 1233. Poor strength with fading and at times below my local noise level (Mike Barraclough, Feb World DX Club Contact via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) Glenn, Re DXLD 4019: Wolfgang Bueschel has found a registration that indicates that the 17565 transmission at 1200 via SOUTH AFRICA is Monday/Tuesday/Thursday only (Chris Greenway, Kenya, Feb 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH ORKNEY ISLANDS. Wonder what`s going on with the AY1ZA ham DXpedition? Have checked the listed SSB frequencies from 10 thru 20 meters several times through Feb 2, but no sign of any activity. The website http://www.ay1za.dxers.com.ar has not been updated, in Spanish or in English, since Jan 29 when he was reported to be on the way to the Orcadas on an icebreaker (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SRI LANKA. SLBC heard on 15745 January 28th with a fair signal at 1230 with a programme of golden oldies from the fifties and sixties. (Patrick Travers, Sheffield UK, Feb World DX Club Contact via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) ** SYRIA [non]. The Arab Radio. I listened to it on 06/01/2004 at 1600 UTC on 12085 kHz. Reception was moderate, SINPO: 44434. No jamming noticed. I listened to the usual starting song, then the broadcasting schedule and frequencies: 0630 (ME Time) 0330 (EU Time) 7510 kHz also 1800 (ME Time) 1700 (EU time) 12085 7470 kHz. After that, I listened to a piece of theatre (a man talking to a women) about a Syrian man captured by Syrian intelligence agents without any reasons, and after years of prison, they give him some money and they let him leave the prison because he wasn't the wanted man! After the end of the piece of theatre, the women said "...Here is a picture of what's happening in Syria..." At 1615 UTC, a man read an announcement about a demonstration held in Damas, by Arab and Kurdish man. They said that they are demonstrating for human rights in Syria, and for giving the nationality to the Kurdish people, and against racism (between Arabs and Kurdish). At 1617, I listened to an Arab song named "Saidni" ('Help me' in Arabic). At 1623, I listened to a program called "between you and me, with all love". A woman read an article written by a Syrian writer in USA. The article named "New Minister, new story". End of broadcast at 1630 (A. Chaabane, Tunisia, Jan 06, 2004 for CRW via DXLD) ** UKRAINE. Frequency change for RUI in Ukr/En/Ukr/Ukr/En to NAm effective from Feb. 5: 0000-0500 NF 5910 SMF 1000 kW / 309 deg, ex 5905 (Observer, Bulgaria, Feb 2, via DXLD) O o, bad news for the Colombian Conscience which has long had plans to add this channel (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UKRAINE. Zaporozhia. Radiostation ``Dneprovska hvylia`` 11980 kHz: Sat/Sun 0600-0800 and 0900-1130. Mod. – DSB. Power 100 – 250 Watt. Antenna – dipol/. Azimut (North-South) (Alexander Egorov, Kiev, Ukraine, Rus-DX Feb via DXLD) ** U K. 9565 Merlin tests. 9565 is a placeholder for Sunday DRM Rampisham outlet. 1300-1330 Sun 9565 new 95 Europe 35 kW HCJB Just Jazz En Rampisham 1330-1400 Sun 9565 new 95 Europe 35 kW var. from NASB En Rampisham (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, noted on Jan 29 to Feb 1, BC-DX via DXLD) ** U K. THE HUTTON INQUIRY VERDICT 29 JANUARY 2004 This week the Media Report looks at the release of the Hutton Inquiry report in London. The report is expected to criticise the actions of the British media, especially the BBC, for aspects of their coverage of the Iraq War... http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/mediarpt/stories/s1032206.htm (complete Program Transcript via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Germany, 11735 kHz, Radio Africa International, 1750- 1755 UT. Reggae Pops with songs by Bob Marley and Peter Tosh in English to Africa via Jülich, SIO 222. Cheers, (Enrico Oliva, Long Island, N.Y., Sony ICF-SW7600GR w/ Sony AN-LP1 active antenna, Feb 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. KNX-1070 & KFWB-980 Updates --- While KNX shifts to more in- depth news reports, KFWB is slowly changing too, again under the direction of David G. Hall, who overseas both stations. The money and sports reports are now three times an hour (previously two). So far, the "22 minutes" slogan is still alive and well. KNX, meanwhile, is drifting into a more conversational format, but that's not a bad thing. There's more background reporting, part of Hall's vision to give more context to the news of the day. Randy Kerdoon is the new KNX morning sports reporter. He replaced Chuck Madden (OC Register February 1, 2004 via Art Blair, Folsom, CA, IRCA via DXLD) ** U S A. Applications from Existing Facilities: 840, KPMP, Modesto CA --- New station has a CP for U4 4000/10000 from two sites, but this amendment asks for U13, 4000/5000 CH 4000. The day and Critical Hours operation would be from one site with three 293- foot in-line towers, while the night operation would employ three 195- foot towers 860, KTRB, San Francisco CA --- KTRB, originally licensed to Modesto with U4 50000/10000, received a CP to move to San Francisco with U4 50000/40000. This amendment now asks for U13 50000/50000 CH 50000. This would be a two-site operation with the day and CH operation from one site using three 715-fooit towers in a dogleg arrangement, and the night site would employ four 191-foot in-line towers. 1340, WYCB, Washington DC --- Application covers decreasing day and night power levels from a new transmitter site, co-located with that of the applied-for new tower of WOL 1450. If approved, would be U1 270/270. 1450, WOL, Washington DC --- Application covers decreasing day and night power levels from a new transmitter site, co-located with that of the applied-for new tower of WYCB-1340. If approved, would be U1 390/390. [why would these two stations need to, or want to run less than 1000/1000 which is standard for graveyard channels??? --- gh] Engineering Amendments to Applications Submitted 890, KQXI, Meridian ID --- Station has a CP for U2 50000/250 using six towers at night. Then they submitted an amendment to change locations, using two sites. This time they wanted four towers for night use. Then an amendment for two new locations (still two towers at night). Which brings us to this latest amendment --- U2 50000/250 from the same day site as the preceding, but a different night site, still with two towers. Whew! (Bill Hale, AM Switch, Feb 2 NRC DX News via DXLD) See also HAWAII ** U S A. Pirate on 1630, Overlea, Maryland: Jan 15 with current and oldies pop music. IDs about ever half hour as ``WFAL``. This is a high school station, from Overlea High School, with very low power. School mascot is the Falcon, hence the slogan ``Radio Falcon`` or ``Falcon Radio``. Seems to run 24/7, but gives hours of operation as 8 AM to 3 PM. Buried at night by others on same frequency (George W. Jensen, Baltimore, Domestic DX Digest-East, NRC DX News Feb 2 via DXLD) ** U S A. WSNJ-FM Signs Off It was bound to happen, but inevitability doesn't make today's sign- off of WSNJ-FM (107.7 Bridgeton) any less bittersweet. One of NEW JERSEY's oldest FM stations, WSNJ remained a bastion of old-time radio in a voicetracked, consolidated world right up to the end, super- serving Cumberland County and surrounding portions of South Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware with everything from farm news to a swap shop program to lots and lots of local news and information. But (as we learned from an article in Sunday's New York Times) if everything goes according to plan, sometime this afternoon (Feb. 2), the heirs of Ed Bold will receive a $20 million payment for the class B FM facility, at which point they'll pull the plug on WSNJ-FM for good. WSNJ (1240) will stay on the air, eventually changing hands to Millville mayor Jim Quinn, who'll keep its format mostly intact and begin simulcasting it on his WMVB (1440 Millville). As for the FM license, as soon as it's off the air in Bridgeton, it'll be transferred to Radio One, which will move it to 107.9, downgrade it to class A and relocate it to the Philadelphia suburb of Pennsauken, transmitting from the WKDN (106.9 Camden)/WTMR (800 Camden) tower. How soon will that happen? We're hearing everything from the end of this week (unlikely) to the end of the year. A brief commentary, if we may: There's a certain irony in the timing of WSNJ-FM's finale, coming as it does just one day after the 50th anniversary of the death of Major Edwin Howard Armstrong, the inventor of FM radio --- You can read NERW's tribute to the Major here: http://www.fybush.com/indexeha.html In many ways, WSNJ-FM was one of the last surviving examples of Major Armstrong's original vision of what FM could be: with its high power, initially on 98.9 and later on 107.7, it served a much larger area than the WSNJ AM signal ever could hope to cover, providing a truly local service to many rural residents whose only other choices for radio reception --- especially after dark --- were distant signals from big cities. And there's something admirable in the way WSNJ-FM stayed the course all through the fifties and early sixties, even as other early FM pioneers gave up on the medium. So it's hard to begrudge the Bold family --- especially Ed Bold's 83- year-old widow --- for taking advantage of the windfall the FM signal represented. Nor can we find fault with Ed Seeger for choreographing the move of WSNJ-FM to Pennsauken and the $15 million profit he'll receive for making the deal. No, the issue at hand is the sequence of regulatory changes that allowed the move to Pennsauken to become a possibility: specifically, the elimination of the anti-trafficking rule that would once have required a broker like Seeger to operate WSNJ-FM for three years before spinning it off to Radio One and the elimination of the main studio, community ascertainment and public service requirements that would once have made it more difficult for a "Pennsauken" station to market itself to all of Philadelphia without providing any distinct local service to Pennsauken itself. (We've ranted enough in the past about the inanity of the rules under which Pennsauken could even have been considered sufficiently distinct from the "Philadelphia Urbanized Area" to merit its own FM allocation.) It's hard to imagine that the removal of this unique local service to the relatively underserved Cumberland County area, in exchange for yet another generic service in the crowded Philadelphia market, is really what anyone at the FCC means by "localism," and it's a shame that none of the proposals currently on the table to improve "localism" in broadcasting would close the "WSNJ loophole," and that's a shame (Scott Fybush, Northeast Radio Watch Feb 2 via DXLD) ** U S A. We're hearing that "Radio Log," an unlicensed operation on 540 from the Log School in Dorchester, is being heard as far afield as Natick; the station has gotten some positive press for its mission of introducing underprivileged teenage girls to broadcasting, including an endorsement from Boston mayor Tom Menino (Scott Fybush, Northeast Radio Watch Feb 2 via DXLD) Hmmm, this looks familiar ---- oh yes, obviously ripping off Paul McDonough`s observations without the courtesy of a mention, as appeared in DXLD recently and elsewhere (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. RADIO USING SYNDICATED FARM PROGRAMMING RYAN J. FOLEY Associated Press Posted on Mon, Feb. 02, 2004 AP Wire | 02/02/2004 | http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/business/7853474.htm DES MOINES, Iowa - The familiar and trusted voice of the local farm broadcaster is fading to a whisper - even in the heartland. The dwindling ranks of the family farmer, declines in agricultural advertising revenues and the consolidation of radio station ownership have quieted that voice, which for generations has been a daily staple for farmers. Farm broadcasters who once covered local communities are now responsible for entire regions and radio stations are using more syndicated farm programming. Local coverage, the kind farmers used to listen to in their tractors or during their midday meal, has all but disappeared. In the past month, WGN-AM in Chicago and WCCO-AM in Minneapolis dumped long-running farm programs that delivered weather and market news for farmers and other listeners. At WGN, Orion Samuelson and Max Armstrong no longer have their show at the noon hour, though they file reports through the day. WCCO's "Voice of Ag," Roger Strom, has been moved to a much smaller sister station. "A local Paul Harvey is what you had when farm broadcasting was at its zenith. And that's what is fading away," said Ted Haller, a media buyer for Osborn & Barr Communications in St. Louis. Farmers are turning to the Internet for market quotes and using other technologies to get data and information, said Jim Evans, a retired professor of agricultural communications at the University of Illinois. But farm broadcasting "has a personal dimension to it that other media can't match," he said. Nowhere have the program cuts been felt more than in Iowa, which has had the highest number of listeners tuning in. Media giant Clear Channel Communications Inc. has cut the number of its farm broadcasters in the state as it consolidated agricultural coverage in Des Moines. Stations that once had nine farm broadcasters now only have a total of four. One of those eliminated was Max Molleston, who'd been a farm broadcaster in Iowa for 28 years. "My one minute was a godsend to farmers and nobody recognized that on the business side," said Molleston, 68, who provided 19 short updates throughout the day for two radio stations in the Quad Cities. "If they could tune into me for one minute, they could get a hell of a lot of information in 60 seconds and know what the market was doing. They miss my voice." The Quad City Radio Group, a Clear Channel subsidiary that owns the two stations, said it cut the position in December to save money. Some other farm broadcasters prefer to see the changes as an evolution, not a decline. They point to farm news networks that are flourishing in the new climate. "There are many success stories," said Randy Rasmussen, who left a Clear Channel station in Iowa to work for the National Association of Farm Broadcasters. "It's like what happened to farmers. If you don't change, you don't stick around." Membership in the NAFB has declined from 217 in 1997 to 150 this year. Radio stations in fringe markets such as Cincinnati and Denver dropped farm programming in the 1980s, but now the trend is hitting "in the absolute heart of the farmland," said Haller, the media buyer. The biggest factor, he said, has been the dramatic decline in agriculture advertising that began in 1999. Haller said the industry spent $40 million that year, a figure that's been halved as agricultural chemical companies have merged and spent less on advertising. While media conglomerates have cut down on their number of farm reporters, he said in some cases the programming has improved. "Do farmers want to hear their local broadcasters in one of their neighbor's barns talking about yields? Absolutely," Haller said. "But what's more important than hearing that for the farmer is the daily markets and weather that he's got to get." Evans, the retired professor, said the decline in farm broadcasting is contributing to a "widening gap between what consumers and people know about where their food comes from and the activities on the land." Evans and Root said the cutback in farm programming comes as agricultural issues become more complicated and important. When mad cow disease broke out in Washington state last month, "they didn't panic in places where there was a farm broadcaster," Root said. --- On the Net: National Association of Farm Broadcasters http://www.nafb.com Clear Channel: http://www.clearchannel.com (via Kim Elliott, DXLD) Same: FARM SCENE: Farm reports, onetime staple of airwaves, grow harder to hear http://wizzer.advance.net/cgi-free/getstory_ssf.cgi?f0001_BC_FarmBroadcasting&&news&newsflash-financial (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) We can still see Orion on US Farm Report, syndicated by WGN, early Saturday mornings. In OKC it`s at 5 am on KFOR. There are two weather segments, about 7 and 42 minutes into the hour. Promised for Feb 7 is the monthly 4-week forecast at the latter time (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. More than once recently, including just now UT Feb 3, I`ve noticed the Tonight Show on NBC (via KFOR-TV OKC) starting about half a minute early. Nothing like this happens by accident, so evidently NBC has decided to get the jump on the competition: ABC and CBS had all been starting their late-night shows at precisely 0435:00 UT. Let us hope this is a trend back toward 0430:00 for all of them. This will be meaningless in the MT zone, where local stations have an hour delay to play with and run their late news for 40 minutes, or whatever they like (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. RADIO MARATHON TO VOICE HOMELESS STRUGGLE On Feb. 12, advocates for the homeless and impoverished will spend an icy Ohio night outside to campaign for awareness of the issue, and a 14-hour broadcast will cover the event. The Seventh Annual Homelessness Marathon airs from Cleveland from 7 p.m., Eastern until 9 a.m., Eastern on Friday, Feb. 13. [0000-1400 UT Feb 13] The broadcast is America's longest regularly scheduled pubic affairs program, and is "the most significant media event focusing on homelessness and poverty" according to Donald Whitehead, executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless. The program will focus on homeless issues nationwide, with calls taken from around the country in hopes of creating momentum for solving the problem. As in past years, the broadcast booth will be set up outside to emphasize the plight of those without shelter. The event's founder, Jeremy Weir Alderson, said the marathon puts the homeless on the air and gives them "the chance to tell their stories and talk about the obstacles they face. And from what I've seen, America does care." There will be no on-air monetary solicitations as "consciousness raising, not fund raising," is the marathon's policy. The broadcast is free to radio stations via the NPR and Pacifica satellites and a Webcast. (Radio World NewsByte Feb 2 via DXLD) ** U S A. FCC CHIEF LAUNCHES PROBE OF SUPER BOWL BARE-BREAST INCIDENT By The Associated Press Article Published: Tuesday, February 03, 2004 NEW YORK - The chief federal regulator of broadcasting said today he is outraged by the Super Bowl halftime show which wound up with singer Justin Timberlake tearing off part of Janet Jackson's costume, exposing her breast. Timberlake blamed a "wardrobe malfunction," but Federal Communications Commission chief Michael Powell called it "a classless, crass and deplorable stunt." ... http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~76~1930684,00.html (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) HALFTIME SHOW ENDS ON A REVEALING NOTE --- By MIKE McDANIEL Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle Feb. 2, 2004, 12:44AM CBS and the NFL disavowed a Super Bowl halftime performance Sunday night that concluded with Justin Timberlake baring Janet Jackson's right breast. The incident was so upsetting to the NFL that it suggested MTV won't be permitted to produce another halftime show... http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/special/04/sb/2382833 (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) Women's breasts aren't considered private parts in the state of Texas. I believe if this have happened in Florida, where there is a state law against women baring their breasts in public, charges may have been filed against her there (Artie Bigley, OH, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The commercials: The Best spots came from Bud, the funniest the dog who can fetch Bud Light. Also good was the Donkey Clydesdale, and the Bears who bought Bud from the Eskimo's at the Alaska liquor store. Runner up ads came from Pepsi (Sierra Mist) the dog from there's something about Mary and the Frito Lay spot where the old guy trips the old lady over a bag of chips. The AOL ads with the Chopper guys from the TV series were the biggest waste of money by any advertizer. The Staples ad was good, as anyone who has ever worked for a cheap company can tell you. Want to see em all again, go here. [corrected] http://www.aol.com/superbowl/ads.pro.adp (Lou Josephs blog Feb 2 via DXLD) Again? You mean for the first time? (gh, DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LANGUAGE LESSONS ++++++++++++++++ Re: FREE TRANSLATION I find it interesting that we have stumbled on a topic that seems to bring out a lot of "It will never work" people from the woodworks. Maybe it will, maybe it won't, but unless someone comes up with a better plan, what is a person going to do? The http://www.freetranslation.com is certainly not the absolute translator of "perfect grammer" [sic] when it comes to translating anything to anything. BUT, it does give a reasonable attempt at translating something, providing you don't go overboard with phrases that have many meanings. (Side note: I have talked to a lot of people who have come to this country (USA) from other lands, and I always hear that US English is one of the hardest languages in the world to understand due to the many meanings of sound-alike words!). NOTE: I have used the http://www.freetranslation.com for French and Spanish reports, and again whereas it isn't perfect it does get the message across, and, YES, I have gotten reports back from the stations I send the letters to. We (HCDX) seem to be a rather multi-country based group so why then do we not as a group come up with whatever basic 5 languages (English, French, German, Spanish and whatever the fifth one may be) form letter that we can all share with each other? We have a discussion group, we have a web page. We ought to be able to come up with something that will work. How about it? Instead of criticising someone`s attempts to get a letter out, let us do something positive as a group about it (Bob Combs, New Mexico, USA, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Good idea. Anyone wanting to participate, you just send an email with your version of a "perfect" reception report in whatever language you choose and I will put that online. I will also make it as a PDF file and/or Word file for all to download. Somewhere in the attic I should also have some older form letters which could be made available, if I can find them... There should even be some Russian versions from good old Radio Moscow, but maybe I should leave this to our Russian speaking friends, as they never worked at all when I tried them many, many years ago (well, that could also be due to the colder environment in those days). Having published some form letters, we can always fine tune those reporting forms, to get the best or the get variations for say tropical bands stations, MW stations, utility stations, and so on. The end result will be up to all who wish to participate (Hermod Pedersen, HCDX Web Editor, ibid.) I could not agree more with Herman, and almost wrote the same thing. Every electronically-translated document I have ever seen was a piece of comedy. A better answer is to get a reception report form that has been translated by DXers. I know the National Radio Club http://www.nrcdxas.org has them in French, Spanish, Portuguese and more. Perhaps other clubs have them as well (Chuck Hutton, hard-core- dx via DXLD) Two people do NOT make up the "expert" advisory council. I can likely hold my own against the "experienced" end of the game as well as anyone. I have been a serious SWL and DXer since 1965. I have tried "all" the tricks of the trade, as well as a few that I thought up myself. Some with a lot of success, some with no success. The problem, as I see it is NOT in the report, but in the recipient of the report. Whereas, I do not dispute the fact that someone who can speak/write a language other than English can certainly do a better job at translating something than a computer can, we who do not know such people, do the best we can. If this includes using a "free" computer site to see if it increases the return rate on QSL requests, then I see no problem. If the first attempt doesn't work, that is what the follow-up reports are all about. In today's world, and correct me if I am wrong, someone someplace in a broadcasting station can speak/read English, maybe not fluently, but certainly enough to get the concept of the letter. I would venture a guess that they all "know" what a reception report is and what they are expected to do with it, which in some cases is throwing the fool thing away and be done with it. When writing to a station and "asking" for a QSL card or letter of verification, language is not the key, but just an aid in executing your request. If an individual wants to take the time to write a letter in another language other than his or her own national language, then they are doing it as a courtesy to the person on the other end. The percentage of obtaining a QSL card or letter (this does NOT take into account e-mail verifications) is probably close to the same whether you use your native language (English in my case) or a language other than your own. To restate an earlier point, the problem is NOT the report, but the person receiving it. Some like to "play" the game, others don't. Case in point: If I send a report to a local radio station, be it AM or SW, do you really think the engineer cares? More than likely not. He may (or may not) send a QSL card as a final courtesy of the exchange of information, even though it is as useless to him/her as adding more sand to a desert. I have gotten letters back from DX stations that basically state that the engineers no longer NEED reception reports from listeners, as their information comes from the professionals that do this around the world. Now, as to acknowledge your reference to the "other" organization that has this information (it is believed) somewhere on their website or within the confines of their "clubdom", that is probably true and if someone wants to take the time to research it fine. I have simply suggested that HCDX as a group can do the same thing as we have a very diverse membership. We have a web page, which the webmaster has already agreed to set up a page where we can set up the same thing, so why not take advantage of it? Duplication NEVER hurt anyone, and in many cases it improves the previous attempts. What's the problem? (Bob Combs, New Mexico, USA, ibid.) Hi Bob, I mostly agree with you, but in 39 years haven't you already got hold of French, Spanish etc. "standard" reports? The EDXC (European DX Council) used to (and maybe still do) have a set of forms for purchase, with small radio related phrases/words in most of the more common languages. And most DX clubs have similar things though usually just for their members. I got the EDXC one translated into Indonesian back in the 1980's when I was at University and there was someone in our Hall of Residence from Jakarta. And I also programmed my ancient 24 pin dot matrix printer to print out Russian fonts for a Russian report form. No chance of Windows v1 doing that - if indeed Windows had been invented at that stage! But generally, we all do some foreign languages in schools here. I did French, Latin and German, and could have done Russian too had there been more than 24 hours in the day. So some of the more common languages are not so difficult with a suitable grammar and dictionary, once you know what and how to use them to best advantage. And in Europe, English seems to be widely taught and (apart from in France) quite readily understood. The more technical words that might not make it into pocket sized dictionaries, you can glean from others "foreign" station's websites. But, yes, in just about all cases now - QSLs - or just even any reply at all - is a courtosy of the station, and whoever gets handed the letter there. There is no compulsion for them to reply at all, though usually it's pretty much in their interest to do so. 73s (Mark Hattam, UK, ibid.) Hi Glenn, There are much better machine translation engines available than the one cited. I use Systran http://www.systransoft.com/ --- the software that powers the Altavista translation service. I actually purchased the full package, and routinely use it to quickly check media stories in French, German, Portuguese and Spanish. But on the Web site you can translate up to 150 words at a time free of charge, which should be more than enough for a reception report. Having said that I would never, never use a machine translation program to translate into a language I don't speak fluently. Translating *from* other languages into English works quite well, once you become used to the idiosyncracies of such a program. I agree that a machine translation program can never fully replace the human translator, but used intelligently it can save valuable time in getting the gist of a story. The alternative of manually translating part of an article before deciding there's nothing in it worth using takes much longer, in my experience. 73, (Andy Sennitt, Media Network, Feb 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ SANGEAN DISCOUNTS [allegedly] FOR EWTN LISTENERS ONLY Welcome to the world of Catholic listening. Sangean is one of the world's oldest and largest manufacturers of shortwave radios and have been designing and manufacturing quality shortwave radios since 1974. We are proud to offer you three of our top shortwave receivers at a greatly reduced price for EWTN listeners only. All shortwave radios come preprogrammed with EWTN station frequencies. Batteries are included with radios (except "D" cell batteries in the ATS-818acs) ready for immediate use. All prices offered to EWTN listeners include free ground shipping to the continental U.S. To place an order, you can contact our Sangean office at (626) 579- 1600, or use our online ordering. For additional information on Broadcasts, frequency guides, EWTN contacts, other payment options, shipping methods, or literature please return to EWTN listeners to get more detailed information. http://www.sangean.com/ewtn_intro.html (via Clara Listensprechen, swsidebar yahoogroup via DXLD) swsidebar is for topics too off for regular SW groups (gh, DXLD) THE NRC IBOC THREAD CONTINUES Patrick, I recall reading the basic Ibiquity/USADR documents a couple of years ago, but the details are fuzzy --- made mistake of sleeping a few times. |g| The 160 W is the max. for any individual sub, and the total for all subs on both sides of center is about 20 dB down, i.e., 500 W for a 50 kW. So far so good, shouldn't be a problem, right? Well, as usual, there's a catch and it's a big one. Sorry this is not a simple explanation, but, as somebody once said, for every problem there is a simple answer that is simply wrong, so bear with me. The separation ratios for the AM band grew out of a refarming of the band in the 1930's followed by addition of daytimers in the '50's followed by later separation downgrades by the FCC to permit more AM's until the band became so populated that adjacent QRM caused major warranty complaints about new car radios in the late '70's and early 80's. Detroit (actually, in this case it was Delco-Kokomo) cut the Intermediate Frequency bandwidth from the 20-25 kHz that once was common in the old 262 kHz I/F sets where sharp skirts were possible with hi-Q I/F transformers. Max. I/F b/w's of between 6 and 10 kHz became the new order of the day, and (along with the squabble over adopting AM stereo) the killer of AM for anything but talk. So, when the FCC's "digital" rulemaking got underway over 10 years ago, the situation was hundreds of stations "shoehorned" into an unplanned, unorganized spectrum that grew in response to FCC changes without truly adequate separation for ANALOG transmission. In the "golden era" of AM ('30's thru 50's) the standards for separation (FI D/U ratios) were IIRC 100/1 co-channel, either 50/1 or 25/1 for 1st adjacent, 10/1 for 2nd adjacent and I think 2.5/1 for 3rd adjacent. The current rule is 20/1 for co-channel, 2/1 for 1st adjacent and 1/1 for second and third adjacent. This is an oversimplification because the actual rules state specific FI contours that are not permitted to overlap; however it gives a good general idea of what happened to separation. Understand that the accepted D/U ratio (often called "capture ratio") has been considered to be 50/1 since the very early days of AM. This is the ratio needed for listening without objection by an ordinary listener, whereas for DX the ratios can be MUCH lower. |g| So, how could they get away with dropping separation requirements by a factor of 5, you say? Enter NRSC-2, or the last gasp to try to make AM sound good again. HF was boosted with a 75 µs pre-emphasis and LPF'd with a 10.2 kHz stonewall filter, effectively preventing ANY energy spill over into the first adjacent. This works because in an AM signal, sideband frequencies are only intermittently present. Also, if you look at frequency distributions of normal program material, even symphonic orchestra, you see very little HF energy - what's there is vital to the sound, but there is not much in comparison to MF and LF energy in the natural (unequalized) sonic spectrum. This idea might have worked if Detroit had improved the b/w of receivers as they reportedly agreed to do. Somehow, that didn't happen. Now, if you've followed it this far, you can see that the pre-IBOC situation was a grossly overpopulated band with inadequate separation standards and cheap radios that barely (if that) qualify as radios at all. The net result of the digital initiative was two plans, one by USADR and another by Lucent. Essentially, the difference was where the digital signals were placed. USADR put them beyond the analog sidebands in the adjacents while Lucent put them in the center and moved the analog outward. How this was supposed to work I do not know because I never have read the Lucent plan. To prevent FCC delay similar to the AM stereo debacle, USADR purchased the digital assets of Lucent, leaving only one plan for the FCC to consider, and promptly renamed themselves Ibiquity. The crux of the matter is the location of those digital sidebands in MW broadcasting (Looks like we're not in AM any more Toto). They are mostly IN the adjacent channels, so they are really CO-CHANNEL interference to the station you want to hear if it happens to be 1st adjacent to a station broadcasting IBOC. Ah, but if a station curtails its IBOC digital emissions to keep them below the NRSC limit of 25 dB below carrier in the first adjacent channel, then all should be fine (some LAWYER said). And so they (M. Powell et al.) permitted putting a CONTINUOUS co-channel interference into a landscape of inadequate separation, AND that undesired modulation has the character of two full speed buzz saws in terminal collision when demodulated by an AM detector. This is what comes of having those who studied "law" of the legislative variety messing about with the LAWS of physics in the mistaken belief they can somehow amend or repeal Mother Nature's absolute right to act according to well known principles irrespective of their whims to the contrary. I would say, "Mr. Chairman Powell, you can make a Rule that apples must fall up into the sky, but convincing the apples they must obey is clearly beyond your pay grade. Walk under the tree in the fall when the wind blows and you will get a first hand demonstration of the real meaning of the word LAW." So, there it is. It's the CHARACTER of the modulation, and the fact that it is CONTINUOUS that is the problem. There is also the fact that all pretense of protection of night time service for anything other than Class A stations was abandoned several years ago. The original idea was after 12-15 years, analog would cease and the digital sidebands would be relocated into their respective channels. Since IBOC clearly doesn't work in the presence of skywave, and since it needs an analog fall back as long as the power is 1% of the AM carrier power, I don't see how we get there. They have learned in Great Britain that if you build digital stations listeners will buy sets, but we aren't building digital, we're building hybrids that barely work in the daytime (without fall back - or "blend" to analog as they try to spin it, and can't work at night. :-( During the next few years this is going to be one big BETA TEST with no guarantee the "code" can be fixed. Barry, I could be wrong, but I seem to recall Tom Ray (DOE @ WOR) saying on another list (RT) that they were operating WITHIN (just barely) the NRSC-2 mask. Also, IIRC, the FCC did not waive Sec. 73.44(b) when they gave blanket authorization (in effect) to begin using the Ibiquity IBOC generator. Perhaps Paul Jellison can step in here and set me straight - please Paul, if you will - but AFAIK, the limit remains 25 dB below carrier for any emission between 10.2 kHz and 20 kHz removed from carrier frequency (Phil Alexander, CSRE, Broadcast Engineering Services and Technology, (a Div. of Advanced Parts Corporation) Ph. (317) 335-2065 FAX (317) 335-9037, NRC-AM via DXLD) Phil Alexander writes: ``Actually, there is no change in analog audio quality IF YOU CAN HEAR IT over the noise of the IBOC subcarriers. A 50 KW transmits subcarrier energy of about 160 W in each adjacent channel. This is NOT SPLATTER or spill over. It is a group of subcarriers within the adjacent channels. The noise level usually sounds like a buzz saw at levels from impossible, to unbearable, to change channels quickly. The penetrating quality of the analog demod of the subs is far out of proportion to the power.`` Not. The audio processors like the Optimod 9200 ARE set at either 5 or 6.5 kHz audio. The Optimod in 5 kHz mode is actually emulating the 9105, but has serious ringing problems. It is not an easy task to change settings (right now) so the audio stays restricted. The audio WSAI transmits is not nearly as good as pre-IBOC; it's very edgy and irritating. Now that goes away if you listen on the Hammarlund HQ-180A in 2 kilohertz band width. I did say TWO (Powell E. Way III, ibid.) Phil, you're not wrong - the IBOC signal does fit under the FCC mask. But the fact that the mask is at -25 dBc doesn't mean that the total power in an IBOC sideband can't be higher than -25 dBc. It's the power spectral density that must be under the mask. If the IBOC primary sideband was just one narrow subcarrier, its power would have to be lower than -25 dBc to stay under the mask, but because the power is spread evenly over the 10-15 kHz region, the total power can be well above that level. Of course, the mask was not designed with signals like that in mind to begin with... Go to http://www.nrscstandards.org/amevaluationreport.asp and grab a copy of the AM IBOC Evaluation Report. The details on the power levels of the various sidebands are on p. 7, and there's a figure showing the spectrum on p. 15. Cheers, (Barry McLarnon VE3JF Ottawa, ON, ibid.) Phil: I think you almost have it right. Each of the primary carriers in IBOC is 30 dB below the carrier, hence they meet the mask requirement of -25 dB from 10.2 to 20 kHz. There are 25 primary subcarriers in the upper sideband, so the total power increase is 10 log(25 / 1) or 14 dB. 14 dB above -30 dB is -16 dB. The mask does not apply to this sum of subcarriers' power, hence it`s meaninglessness to analyzing IBOC. Just to be really complete, the secondary subcarriers should be included in the total IBOC power that a receiver would see when tuned to a first adjacent channel. At -37 dB per subcarrier, that's -21 dB below the carrier power. With a 50,000 watt station, that translates to 1256 Watts in the primary subcarriers and 397 Watts in the secondary subcarriers for a total of 1653 Watts. That 1653 Watts shouldn't be thought of as 1653 Watts of AM modulated by semi-white noise. The modulation has both amplitude and phase components. The phase part won't contribute much at all to interference (Chuck Hutton, WA, ibid.) It is incumbent on your SECC [State emergency coordinating committee??] to put a monitoring assignment in your state plan that works. True, it's your responsibility to red flag an assignment to them if it doesn't work, but after that, it's up to them to organize the state plan to make it functional with the resources available. I imagine your input about local reception would be requested, too. |g| However, they must write the assignment. I'm not familiar with the Ohio plan, but it is not unusual for some areas to be missing an LP-1 or an LP-2 because the SECC "is working on it". I know of two areas in Indiana where that's the case at the moment. Remember that the state plan is a creature of the SECC. Right now, I'm not sure if there is central approval at the FCC although that was the case a few years ago. The point, though, is the SECC can amend its plan as circumstances change. I've heard of TV aural signals being designated, and also NWS stations. This may have something to do with the outlook/attitude of the SECC's in the various states as to using, or not using them (Phil Alexander, IN, ibid.) The FCC "SAYS" IBOC does not interfere. Another bit of engineering by executive fiat, I suppose. Thus, I seriously doubt this will ever become possible, at least not while tech nitwits dominate the Commission. :( Generally, you should be able to receive satisfactory signals by increasing the D/U ratio with a dedicated receiving antenna system for the EAS receiver. Ah, yes ... a BOG [Beverage on ground] for EAS, I can see it now. |g| Seriously though, I agree with you. That's going to be a problem in the future. It should make a good market for tuned, shielded loops for AM. |g| Kathrein-Scala's FM band antennas (and other similar ones) will probably find popularity beyond cable head ends too. (Ouch! $) One point to remember is that the FCC really doesn't care about the local aspects of EAS (NWS/Amber/Civil Emergency/etc.) that are, from a regulatory standpoint, strictly voluntary. What they want is compliance with Part 11, i.e., relay of Presidential messages (EAN's) in time of national disaster. Sooner, rather than later, IMHO the entire topic of EAS and OTA relay via broadcast stations has to come up for reconsideration, because it has serious flaws. One faulty link breaks the chain. The system needs redundancy. Perhaps IBOC interference will force a hard look at the system. PPW (Partnership for Public Warning) has an interesting analysis of EAS on their site, although I'm not sure anyone has good answers at this point (Phil Alexander, CSRE, IN, ibid.) It has been asked what we the DXers can do to help get rid of IBOC. My suggestion is to complain to the advertisers that you can't listen to the station because of the noise, bad quality, etc. If listeners are complaining to the advertisers then that will hit home quicker than anything. If advertisers complain to the IBOC stations or start dropping ads, then stations will listen very quickly. Money runs radio and ratings and money is where it is at. If you can hit them in the pocketbook, that will kill IBOC (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, ibid.) That's a great idea, but getting to all the advertisers might be tough. Some stations have hundreds of advertisers. I would suggest the following. Letters to both the station being interfered with, and the station who is doing interference, with a CC: to your congressman. The letters to the station should be address to [call letters] Public File. I would ask specifically in the letter, "what will you do to correct the situation." Should there be no reply, I would resend the letter with the words "Second Request" on it, and CC: the FCC attention [call letters] Station File. In the letter I would emphasize that the interference has caused a loss of coverage, and poses a problem in the ability of the station to serve the public in times of need. Ask that corrections be made, or that the station made changes that will restore the service area (Fred Vobbe, ibid.) Thanks, Barry. Very interesting. In fact, it is extremely interesting that they tested with primary subs totaling -13dBc !!! That's an eye- opener if ever there was one. Now I've got to read the whole thing, and still find time to keep a few stations going. Yikes! |g| (Phil Alexander, CSRE, Broadcast Engineering Services and Technology, Indianapolis, ibid.) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2004 10:18:11 GMT From: Solar Influences Data analysis Center Subject: Monthly Ri_hemispheric Report :Issued: 2004 Feb 01 1016 UTC :Product: documentation at http://sidc.oma.be/products/ri_hemispheric #--------------------------------------------------------------------# # MONTHLY REPORT ON THE INTERNATIONAL SUNSPOT NUMBER # # from the SIDC (RWC-Belgium) # #--------------------------------------------------------------------# JANUARY 2004 PROVISIONAL INTERNATIONAL NORMALIZED HEMISPHERIC SUNSPOT NUMBERS Date Ri Rn Rs __________________________________________________________________ 1 32 0 32 2 40 0 40 3 45 0 45 4 46 0 46 5 44 0 44 6 39 0 39 7 50 15 35 8 53 23 30 9 38 15 23 10 36 16 20 11 32 15 17 12 27 11 16 13 35 13 22 14 34 12 22 15 43 20 23 16 50 21 29 17 49 20 29 18 40 9 31 19 54 22 32 20 61 30 31 21 61 32 29 22 49 28 21 23 42 24 18 24 34 19 15 25 16 8 8 26 13 7 6 27 0 0 0 28 8 4 4 29 16 0 16 30 27 0 27 31 38 16 22 __________________________________________________________________ MONTHLY MEAN : 37.2 12.3 24.9 COOPERATING STATIONS : 41 37 37 PILOT STATION : Specola Solare Ticinese, Locarno __________________________________________________________________ Reproduction permitted if source mentionned P. CUGNON, avenue Circulaire, 3 B-1180 BRUXELLES - BELGIUM #--------------------------------------------------------------------# # 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 Provisional International monthly mean Sunspot Number for January 2004 : 37.2 (thirty-seven point two) Maximum : 61 on 20, 21 // Minimum : 0 on 27 Provisional daily International Sunspot Numbers for January 2004 : 1.. 32 6.. 39 11.. 32 16.. 50 21.. 61 26.. 13 31.. 38 2.. 40 7.. 50 12.. 27 17.. 49 22.. 49 27.. 0 3.. 45 8.. 53 13.. 35 18.. 40 23.. 42 28.. 8 4.. 46 9.. 38 14.. 34 19.. 54 24.. 34 29.. 16 5.. 44 10.. 36 15.. 43 20.. 61 25.. 16 30.. 27 41 cooperating stations on February 1, 10 UT Predictions of the monthly smoothed Sunspot Number using the last provisional value, calculated for July 2003 : 61.8 (+-5%) SM CM SM CM SM CM 2003 Aug 63 60 2004 Feb 54 57 2004 Aug 46 51 Sep 63 58 Mar 53 57 Sep 44 50 Oct 60 58 Apr 52 56 Oct 42 49 Nov 59 59 May 50 55 Nov 41 48 Dec 57 59 Jun 49 54 Dec 39 47 2004 Jan 56 58 Jul 47 52 2005 Jan 38 46 SM : SIDC classical method : based on an interpolation of Waldmeier's standard curves; the estimated error ranges from 7% (first month) to 35% (last month) CM : Combined method : the combined method is a regression technique coupling a dynamo-based estimator with Waldmeier's idea of standard curves, due to K. Denkmayr. ref. : K. Denkmayr, P. Cugnon, 1997 : "About Sunspot Number Medium- Term Predictions", in "Solar-Terrestrial Prediction Workshop V", eds. G. Heckman et al., Hiraiso Solar Terrestrial Research Center, Japan, 103 #--------------------------------------------------------------------# # SIDC Weekly bulletin on Solar and Geomagnetic activity # #--------------------------------------------------------------------# WEEK 161 from 2004 Jan 26 SOLAR ACTIVITY: --------------- We saw very little activity on the surface of the sun during this week. Things were already very quiet in the beginning of the week, with just a single small C-flare on Jan 26. Thereafter, while the sun headed for its first day of the current cycle with no spots, solar activity dropped to almost nothing, with the X-ray background decreasing to the A-level (below 0.1 microWatts per square meter). The X-ray background bottomed out firmly in the A-level on Jan 29, when it started to increase due to the apparition at the east solar limb of Catania sunspot groups 48 and 51 (NOAA 0546 and 0549). Group 51 was the most active of the two and produced a handful of small C-class flares in the second half of the week. GEOMAGNETISM: ------------- Geomagnetic conditions were ruled by coronal hole effects this week, and varied generally between quiet and minor storm levels for most of the week. On Jan 26, the solar wind speed was at 400 km/s. On Jan 27, the solar wind speed started to increase due to the effect of a small equatorial coronal hole that crossed the central solar meridian on Jan 24. This coronal hole influenced the geomagnetic environment from Jan 27 to Jan 29, leading to active geomagnetic conditions on these days, with a brief minor storm period early on Jan 28. The solar wind speed peaked at about 600 km/s on Jan 28, then decreased again to 400 km/s on Jan 29. Another, much larger, coronal hole became geo- effective on Jan 30. The leading section of this coronal hole is mostly located in the northern solar hemisphere, and the earth is only influenced from the equatorial edge of this section. Therefore, though the solar wind speed got pushed up to 700 km/s on Jan 30, it didn`t hold steady at this high value. Therefore, the geomagnetic response was limited to minor storm conditions for part of Jan 30, and quiet to active conditions thereafter. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DAILY INDICES DATE RC 10CM Ak BKG M X 2004 Jan 26 024 98 020 B1.5 0 0 2004 Jan 27 /// 94 019 B1.2 0 0 2004 Jan 28 000 89 032 A8.7 0 0 2004 Jan 29 023 87 008 A7.5 0 0 2004 Jan 30 038 93 025 B1.6 0 0 2004 Jan 31 065 94 008 B1.0 0 0 2004 Feb 01 078 97 012 B1.3 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) (via Jim Moats, DXLD) ###