DX LISTENING DIGEST 4-124, August 18, 2004 Incorporating REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING edited by Glenn Hauser, http://www.worldofradio.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits For restrixions and searchable 2004 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn NEXT AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1242: Thu 1600 on WBCQ after-hours http://wbcq.com repeated weekdaily Thu 2000 on RFPI http://www.rfpi.org repeated 4-hourly [maybe] Thu 2030 on WWCR 15825 Fri 0200 on ACBRadio Mainstream repeated 2-hourly http://www.acbradio.org/mainstream.html Fri 2300 on Studio X, Momigno, Italy 1584 Sat 0800 on WRN1 to Europe, Africa, Asia, Pacific Sat 0855 on WNQM Nashville 1300 Sat 1030 on WWCR 5070 Sat 1830 on WPKN Bridgeport, 89.5, http://www.wpkn.org Sat 2000 on RFPI http://www.rfpi.org repeated 8-hourly [maybe] Sat 2030 on WWCR 12160 Sat 2030 on WBCQ 17495-CUSB Sat 2030 on R. Lavalamp http://www.radiolavalamp.org Sat 2300 on RFPI http://www.rfpi.org repeated 8-hourly [maybe] Sun 0230 on WWCR 5070 Sun 0300 on WBCQ 9330-CLSB Sun 0630 on WWCR 3210 Sun 1000 on WRN1 to North America, webcast; also KSFC 91.9 Spokane WA, and WDWN 89.1 Auburn NY; maybe KTRU 91.7 Houston TX, each with webcasts Sun 1100 on R. Lavalamp http://www.radiolavalamp.org Sun 1500 on R. Lavalamp http://www.radiolavalamp.org Sun 1900 on Studio X, Momigno, Italy 1584 Sun 2000 on RNI webcast, http://www.11L-rni.com Mon 0100 on WBCQ 9330-CLSB Mon 0230 on WRMI 6870 Mon 0330 on WSUI 910, webcast http://wsui.uiowa.edu [previous 1241] Mon 0430 on WBCQ 7415, webcast http://wbcq.us Mon 0900 on R. Lavalamp http://www.radiolavalamp.org Mon 1600 on WBCQ after-hours http://wbcq.com repeated weekdaily Wed 0930 on WWCR 9475 WRN ONDEMAND [from Fri]: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also for CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL]: WORLD OF RADIO 1242 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1242h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1242h.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1242.html [from Thu] WORLD OF RADIO 1242 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1242.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1242.rm WORLD OF RADIO 1242 in the true SW sound via mp3: keep checking http://www.piratearchive.com/dxprograms.htm MUNDO RADIAL, Agosto-Septiembre, desde el 17 de agosto disponible: (corriente) http://www.w4uvh.net/mr0408.ram (bajable) http://www.w4uvh.net/mr0408.rm (texto) http://www.worldofradio.com/mr0408.html En el aire: desde el 20 de agosto en WWCR 15825, viernes 2115, martes 2130, miércoles 2100; en segmentos por Radio Enlace de Radio Nederland, los viernes y domingos. CONTINENT OF MEDIA 04-06: (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/com0406.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/com0406.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/com0406.html Also from http://www.DXing.com --- browse their site and / or Universal Radio while listening === http://www.universal-radio.com (stream) http://www.dxing.com/com/com0406.ram (download) http://www.dxing.com/com/com0406.rm DXLD YAHOOGROUP: Why wait for DXLD? A lot more info, not all of it appearing in DXLD later, is posted at our new yg. Here`s where to sign up. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dxld/ (Glenn Hauser, May 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALASKA. RE KICY 850: ``Question is, why would they need it to be direxional only during critical hours in this very remote location, and what is its direxionality?`` Supposedly to reach listeners in Russia with a better signal when they air Russian language religion for those poor souls. WRTH says KICY is in Russian 0800-0930. 73s (Olle Alm, Sweden, WORLD OF RADIO 1242, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [and non] Glenn, If you pull up the actual "facsimile" license/CP documents for KICY from the FCC website CDBS utility http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/pubacc/Auth_Files/664149.pdf you will see that the directional operation authorized for KICY is NOT "Critical Hours" (and also "Canadian Restricted" which is essentially the same but with different propagation calcs) which is local SR to 2 hours past SR, and 2 hours before local SS to local SS --- but instead is "specified hours" shown in the documents. (One has to be careful as the CDBS makes its version of the license/CP from the database record and sometimes gives different data than the "real" paper license which is still the absolute official document.) This is ostensibly so that these religious broadcasters can have enhanced signal toward the Russian Far East, where they proselytize their audience for whatever particular sect they promote. One of our partners recently visited both the stations there - one Roman Catholic, one Protestant/evangelical - in connection with the possible relocation of the Port Clarence LORAN to Nome. The reason the database shows CH and has no designation for SH is because the beltway bandits hired by the FCC to do database conversion before the Y2K scam had no idea that there were all sorts of AM database anomalies. Look at 1250 kHz Seattle (which operates directional only from sunset to 1200 midnight and non-DA at other hours) for another example. Other examples are 1560 NYC which operates day directional pattern until SS Bakersfield, not non-DA. And 1530 Cincinnati which operate non-DA until sunset at the sites of the west coast class I-B's, Sacramento, (now class A's) in California. This causes all sorts of confusion to the unwary. Also, sometimes the FCC's "AM Query" utility actually pulls up a "comment" record that shows unusual operation, as for 1080 Hartford, which , similarly to 1560 and 1530, operates non-DA until SS at Dallas, the western class I-B. Ben (Benj. F. Dawson III, P.E., Hatfield & Dawson Consulting Engineers, LLC, 9500 Greenwood Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98103, Aug 17-18, WORLD OF RADIO 1242, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. AUSTRALIAN X-BAND AT A GLANCE AUGUST 11TH 2004 COMPILED BY DAVID RICQUISH, WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND Maximum licensed power: 400 watts, omni-directional antenna [with 4-digit postal codes] 1611 Radio 2 Brocklehurst 2830 (Dubbo) MOR NTC Radio 16 Grafton (South) 2460 News/Talk/Country (4) 2RF Rete Italia Griffith 2680 Italian Radio 2 St Mary’s 2760 (West Sydney) MOR NTC Radio 16 Tamworth 2340 News/Talk/Country (4) 3XX 16-11 Double X Hoppers Crossing 3050 (Melbourne) // FM Alive Radio/Top of the Dial Mildura 3550 Christian Radio 2 Cluden 4811 (Townsville) MOR 4GT Dalby 4405 Country 6AY Albany 6330 MOR AM 1611 Margaret River Radio Margaret River 6284 MOR Radio 2 Darwin 0800 MOR Radio 2 Cygnet 7112 (Hobart) MOR 1620 2MORO Homebush 2141 (Sydney) Arabic 2MAX Narrabri 2390 // 91.3FM 1RF Rete Italia Queanbeyan 2620 (Canberra) Italian Radio 2 Shoal Bay 2315 (Newcastle) MOR Radio 2 Bayswater 3153 (Melbourne) MOR Radio 2 Cairns 4870 MOR Radio 2 Caloundra 4551 (Sunshine Coast) MOR Radio 2 Carrara 4211 (Gold Coast) MOR 4KZ Georgetown 4871 // 531 AM Radio 2 Manly 4179 (Brisbane) MOR Radio 2 Toowoomba 4250 MOR Radio 2 Old Noarlunga 5168 (Adelaide) MOR Radio 2 Balcatta 6021 (North Perth) MOR 1629 NTC Radio 16 Armidale 2350 News/Talk/Country (4) NTC Radio 16 Brocklehurst 2830 (Dubbo) News/Talk/country (4) Radio 2 Grafton (South) 2460 MOR Radio 2 Murrumbateman 2582 (Canberra) MOR NTC Radio 16 O’Connell 2795 (Bathurst) News/Talk/Country (4) 2HRN Hospital Radio Network Sandgate 2304 (Newcastle) MOR 3RF Rete Italia Shepparton 3631 Italian Radio 2 Williamstown 3016 (Melbourne) MOR 4DB Country Music Network Dalby 4405 Country 4RF Rete Italia Mango Hill 4058 (Brisbane) Italian 5RF Rete Italia Regency Park 5010 (Adelaide) Italian Radio 2 Mundaring 6073 (City & East Perth) MOR 1638 2ME Concord West 2138 (Sydney) Arabic 3ME South Morang 3052 (Melbourne) Arabic 1647 NTC Radio 16 Kaleen 2617 (Canberra) News/Talk/Country (3) (4) 1665 Radio Symban Canberra 2601 Greek 2MM Marrickville 2204 (Sydney) Greek 1683 Club AM Woden 2607 (Canberra) Greek Club AM Lakemba 2195 (Sydney) Greek 1701 NTC Radio 16 Silverwater 2141 (Sydney) News/Talk/Country (4) Radio Brisvaani 17 Mile Rocks 4073 (Brisbane) Hindi Radio Rhema/Vision FM Rockingham 6168 (Perth) Contemporary Christian (2) Notes: (1) additional Radio 2 and NTC sites regularly coming on air and/or testing. Sometimes, Radio 2 may be off air at some locations. (2) listed operator, tests heard south of Perth end of May; (3) NTC Radio 16 replaced 2ME from this site from the last week in June 2004 and tested here for about 10 days before ending transmission in early July. (4) NTC Network silent after bankruptcy of satellite delivery company TARBS in early July. New program distributor being sought. © Radio Heritage Foundation 2004 David Ricquish, Wellington (NEW ZEALAND DX TIMES PAGE 36 AUGUST 2004 via DXLD) ** AUSTRIA. Wolf Harranth will appear as studio guest in a call-in programme on Ö1, the ORF program now also carried on shortwave instead of the defunct ROI: This Friday 1205-1245 UT (Kai Ludwig, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: -----Original Message----- Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2004 13:24:18 +0200 Subject: [A-DX] Von Tag zu Tag From: Wolf Harranth To: liste@a-dx.at Ich bin eingeladen, am Freitag, 20. August, zu einem Auftritt in "Von Tag zu Tag", der Phone-In-Sendung von ORF/Ö1. (14:05 MESZ). Thema u.a. die Faszination der Kurzwelle. Ich werde natürlich versuchen, auf die Hobbygemeinschaften hinzuweisen und, wer weiß, vielleicht ruft auch ein(e) ehemalige(r) ROI-Hörer(in) an und kommentiert das derzeitige Angebot... 73 de Wolf -- Internationales Kuratorium QSL COLLECTION --- Dokumentationsarchiv zur Erforschung der Geschichte des Funkwesens und der elektronischen Medien, c/o ORF, Argentinierstr. 30A, A-1040 Wien (Postfach 2, A-1112 Wien) oe1xqc @ oevsv.at - http:// www.qsl.at (via Ludwig, DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 6585.31, Radio Esperanza, La Paz, per Dave Valko tip, and logs in Cumbre, 1010 to 1030 with some audio [13 Aug.], 0930 weak audio [14 Aug.] and mixing with UTE 1020-40 on 16 Aug (Bob Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, Flórida, NRD 535D - Icom R75 - Drake R 7 - Noise reducing antenna ~ Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** CANADA. Re: ``Never heard any mention of it on CBU webcast IDs. They probably view it as just another of countless LPRT`s they can`t possibly identify individually (gh, DXLD)`` Glenn, some months ago I wrote and asked them about this lack of marketing, citing my use of it to keep in touch. It was last summer in the midst of the fires, and a couple of LPRTs had been shut down due to fires. Radio Noon host Mark Forsythe replied by e-mail stating that he would put CKZU into the mix of frequencies and locations they announce. I heard it 2 or 3 times right away, then nothing since so they likely removed it again. ef (Eric Flodén, Vancouver, Aug 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6160 CKZU still off as of this morning (8/18) - has been about a week now (John Wilkins, CO, Cumbre DX via WORLD OF RADIO 1242, DXLD) ** CANADA. It's odd, since I can't hear such decidedly non-Olympic programs such as Sunny Days and Nights or Finkleman's 45's via CBC domestic streams. Just before the beginning of the Current, at 1437 GMT on the RCI-1 stream, I heard a promo for Olympic coverage. It's good that RCI has recently expanded its streaming so that almost all the CBC-1 domestic programming is included. Until fairly recently they had the one multilingual stream (Joel Rubin, NY, Aug 17, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) ** CHINA. CRI hat eine neue QSL-Serie mit Motiven der vom Aussterben bedrohten chinesischen Tierarten aufgelegt. Sie werden für Empfangsberichte zur Sendung verschickt. Auf der Webseite in der Ecke ``Hörerbriefkasten`` kann man die Karten anschauen --- http://de.chinabroadcast.cn (Radio-News, July Radio Journal via DXLD) ** CHINA. To commemorate the 100th birthday of Deng Xiaoping, the "News and Reports" department of CRI's English Service will be broadcasting a series of articles recalling the great man's contributions to the Chinese people. Detailed broadcast information is as follows: Series Broadcast: From August 16th, after "News and Reports", we will broadcast a special series entitled "Along the Footsteps of the Great One". Five articles in all. Weekend Special Broadcast: Anchor Yan Ning will report from Guang'an, Sichuan, Deng Xiaoping's hometown. Special Subject Reports: 18/8 "China Horizons" Deng Xiaoping's hometown today. 20/8 "Life in China" Deng Xiaoping's family and relatives, along with the people of Shenzhen, recall the past. 21/8 "Listeners' Garden" Listeners from home and abroad give their impressions of Deng Xiaoping. 22/8 "In the Spotlight" New movie recalls Deng Xiaoping. 23/8 "People in the Know" Recalling Deng Xiaoping's contribution. If you are interested in the life and works of Deng Xiaoping, please tune in to listen. Best wishes. Sincerely yours, YingLian [collective name, appropriately], English Service, China Radio International http://en.chinabroadcast.cn/ (via Dan Srebnick, dxldyg via DXLD) ** CHINA. CHINA MARKS 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF CHINA NATIONAL RADIO BROADCASTS TO TAIWAN | Text of report by Geng Jun, carried by Chinese news agency Zhongguo Xinwen She Beijing, 12 August: China National Radio (CNR) has been broadcasting to Taiwan for 50 years. Hu Jintao, the general secretary of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), hopes the transmission to Taiwan will "penetrate the island, households, and minds". He Luli, the vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, Zhang Kehui, the vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and people from all sectors of society attended a gathering held this morning at the Taiwan Room of the Great Hall of the People to mark the 50th anniversary of CNR's broadcast to Taiwan. Addressing the gathering, State Council Taiwan Affairs Office Deputy Director Wang Zaixi said CNR's broadcast to Taiwan is "an air bridge linking the two sides of the strait". It is the most direct and most effective way of getting the messages of the central government's Taiwan policy across to the island. Xu Guangchun, the deputy director of the CCP Central Propaganda Department and deputy director of the State Administration for Radio, Film and Television, congratulated CNR in his speech at the gathering for its remarkable success in its 50 years of transmission to Taiwan. He also hoped greater efforts will continue to be made in the future to step up the propagation of "peaceful reunification" and "one country, two systems" with a view to meeting General Secretary Hu Jintao's aspiration to "penetrate the island, households, and minds". CNR Director Yang Bo said the radio station will exert its best effort to achieve the goal of winning the hearts of the people in Taiwan as a part of its contribution to promoting the reunification of the country. CNR first started its broadcast, initially only half an hour a day, to Taiwan on 15 August 1954, but today the station has two special programmes targeting Taiwan, namely the Voice of China and the Voice of Shenzhou, operating between them a total of 37 hours and 50 minutes a day variously in Standard Chinese, Minnan and Hakka dialects. CNR completely overhauled its Taiwan programmes on 29 December last year, bringing about the Voice of China and the Voice of Shenzhou. The Voice of China is a news and variety channel, with nine news spots on the hour each day plus four specialized programmes dedicated to the economy, youth, tourism and services during the news-intensive hours in the morning, afternoon and evening. The Voice of Shenzhou is an art and cultural channel providing local information in various dialects and committed to the spread of Chinese culture. Listeners in Taiwan respond favourably to the two new programmes. CCP Central Committee General Secretary Hu Jintao and Central Political Bureau Standing Committee member Li Changchun have separately expressed their recognition of the good work done by CNR's broadcast to Taiwan. CNR has also constructed a "How Are You, Taiwan?" web site catering to online real-time broadcasts, interactive broadcasts, and instant audience requests. Source: Zhongguo Xinwen She news agency, Beijing, in Chinese 12 Aug 04 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. Following email, related to Colombian La Voz de tu Conciencia, just in: -----Original Message----- From: Russell Martin Stendal martinstendal @ etb.net.co Sent: den 17 augusti 2004 03:19 To: Henrik Klemetz Subject: 5910 Short Wave Dear Henrik, I just wanted to let you know that we are close to having approval from MINICOM to operate on 5910 SW in addition to 6010. The transmitter is finished and installation is progressing. I estimate that we will be on the air in a test phase within the next couple weeks if not sooner. Blessings, Russ (via Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, WORLD OF RADIO 1242, DX LISTENING DIGEST) A year or more late (gh, WORLD OF RADIO 1242, DXLD) ** COLOMBIA [and non]. As work continues on the Latin America TV ID pages, I keep wondering about *local* IDs. These questions mostly pertain to Venezuela and Colombia, as they have many network relayers. Has anyone in the WTFDA or elsewhere ever seen a local supered text ID, like those used in Mexico, or any other kind of local ID on a network relayer? Do the network relayers run local commercials or local news? Mexico/Latin America TV ID tips: http://www.geocities.com/doglethorpe (Danny (Shreveport, LA) Oglethorpe, WTFDA via DXLD) Re Venezuela & Colombia, I have never seen any local spots that would distinguish a local station. Closest to that would be TeleCaribe, which is a regional network. I think I saw ads for a local restaurant & hotel, but maybe all the stations in the network ran it (Christopher S. Dunne, Pembroke Pines, FL, ibid.) ** CONGO DR. New SW transmitter in Bukavu, Congo DR Some time ago there was a news item of 10 kW transmitter delivered to Bukavu, Congo DR. There was speculation whether this was on SW or FM. As I earlier wrote, the RIZ Transmitter Co. of Croatia had signed a contract with an "African user" in 2003 to deliver two 10 kW shortwave transmitters. I asked them if these two transmitters went to Congo DR, and they say yes. So most probably one of these will be installed in Bukavu. Along with this info they also sent me a very detailed PDF file of all the MW/SW transmitters they have delivered during the years. That includes power, delivery year, country and ordering authority/company etc. If you're interested, drop me a line and I'll forward you a copy of this PDF (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) There is an article at http://www.digitalcongo.net/fullstory.php?id=32387 about SW, RTNC, Goma and Bukavu. (Savolainen) viz.: LE PRÉSIDENT JOSEPH KABILA RÉALISE SA PROMESSE DE DON D`ÉMETTEURS RADIO ET TÉLÉVISION POUR LES POPULATIONS DES DEUX KIVU La promesse faite le 9 octobre dernier à Goma par le ministre de la Presse et Information d`acheminer incessamment de nouveaux appareils émetteurs radio et télévision, dons du chefs de l’Etat, à la station provinciale de la Rtnc, a été réalisée mardi avec la remise de ce matériel entre les mains du Gouverneur du Nord-Kivu par l’Adg de la Rtnc Kinshasa , 24.12.2003 | Politics L`Administrateur directeur général de la Radio télévision nationale congolaise (Rtnc) Emmanuel Kipolongo Mukambiliwa a procédé mardi à Goma à la remise entre les mains du Gouverneur du Nord-Kivu Serufuli des émetteurs radio, don du président de la République que le ministre de la Presse et Information Vital Kamerhe avait promis d’apporter aux stations provinciales de la Rtnc/Goma et Rtnc/Bukavu lors de son passage le 9 octobre dernier dans le chef-lieu du Nord-Kivu à l`occasion de sa tournée de l’unification de l`espace communicationnelle de la RDC. La cérémonie de remise de ces émetteurs ondes courtes accompagnés d`antennes et autres accessoires pesant un total de 7 tonnes s`est effectuée en présence du gouverneur Serufuli qui a officiellement réceptionné ce matériel au siège du gouvernorat logé dans l`ancienne et coquette résidence de l’ex-maréchal Mobutu au bord du Lac-Kivu. Le gouverneur Serufuli entouré de ses deux adjoints et des autorités militaires de la province a salué le geste posé par le chef de l`Etat en exprimant à son endroit et à celui du ministre de la Communication et presse la reconnaissance des populations du Nord et Sud-Kivu qu`il a dit représenter, pour le matériel vivement attendu qui va contribuer selon lui à concrétiser la réunification nationale. Le numéro 1 du Nord-Kivu a reconnu l’effort fourni par le gouvernement pour réaliser son programme de doter toutes les stations de la Rtnc à travers le territoire national en nouveaux émetteurs, et a indiqué que, fidèle à sa politique stimulant la participation de tout le monde à l’œuvre de la reconstruction, il assurait de la contribution que sa province est décidée à apporter à l`aboutissement de la remise en état de la station Rtnc-Goma. Le gouverneur Serufuli a annoncé à cet effet que la province supportera la construction de nouveaux studios pour la Rtnc/Goma. Le chef de l’administration du Nord-Kivu a aussi annoncé que la province interviendra dans les frais de transport des équipements encore attendus des autorités de Kinshasa, et cela toujours en collaboration, a-t-il assuré, avec son collègue du Sud-Kivu. Auparavant l`ADG Kipolongo avait pris la parole pour présenter le matériel apporté constitué d`émetteurs radio d`une capacité de couverture de 1000 km, a-t-il assuré, en indiquant par ailleurs que les émetteurs de télévision allaient aussi être envoyés incessamment, et que leur installation pourra intervenir dès la première quinzaine du mois de janvier. M. Kipolongo a lui aussi insisté sur la contribution à la reconstruction nationale de la radio et de la télévision nationale restaurées (via gh, DXLD) Summary translation: The chief of state has a program to provide new transmitters to radio stations around the country. A new SW transmitter for RTNC-Goma, Nord Kivu province had just been delivered last December, along with antennas and accessories weighing seven tons. The province will undertake building new studios for the Goma station. Nord-Kivu will also help with the shipping costs from Kinshasa. Coverage radius is supposed to be one megameter. Another set of equipment was destined for Bukavu, Sud-Kivu (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. If I had a shortwave station with a large international audience, and it was knocked off the air by a disaster, and still off the air five days later, and yet had internet access, I would feel obliged to say something to the frustrated listeners about the situation. But then, I`m not Radio Habana Cuba. I checked their website http://www.radiohc.cu and found nothing about the station being off the air, but these news items may bear on it: RECOVERY EFFORTS CONTINUE IN AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE CHARLEY Havana, August 16 (RHC) -- Three days after Hurricane Charley hit western Cuba, residents continue cleaning up and working to get all services re-established throughout the affected areas. Despite 'round- the-clock efforts by brigades of workers from other cities and provinces, electrical power in several areas of Havana has still not been restored. According to officials, one of the biggest problems has been repairing high-voltage lines that were downed by the hurricane-force winds near Mariel, located west of the capital. Those lines supplied power to many neighborhoods in Havana and almost the entire western-most province of Pinar del Río. Officials say that another two days are needed to fully restore power in the affected areas of the capital and crews are working uninterruptedly in Pinar del Río. The municipal water supply has also been affected in many areas of Havana, primarily due to the lack of electricity to pump the water into local cisterns. Over the weekend, some 80 tanker trucks began hauling water to hospitals and educational centers in downtown Havana and suburban areas of the Cuban capital. According to the latest figures, more than 10,000 trees were downed in Havana and workers are laboring 24-hours-a-day to clear streets and parks of fallen branches and entire trees uprooted by Friday's powerful storm. In Havana alone, more than 10,300 houses were partially damaged and 383 were totally destroyed. Agricultural officials report heavy damage to the island's crops, especially banana plantations -- estimated to have suffered a 95 percent loss in the Province of Havana. Other crops suffering considerable damage: corn, mangoes, grapefruit and other citrus fruits. [end; and (nothing on weekends) from two days earlier:] CUBA CONTINUES RECOVERING FROM DAMAGE INFLICTED BY HURRICANE CHARLEY Havana. August 14 (RHC) --- Though final reports on the damages caused by Hurricane Charley are still not yet in, preliminary information indicates considerable damage to the electrical system, homes and communications in the western part of the island and the deaths of four people. Cuba's National Civil Defense reported on Saturday that four people died in Havana province and five were injured, one of whom is in serious condition. Officials report hundreds of downed high tension towers, cables and transformers which has made it impossible to re-establish electrical service to the majority who have been without light, cooking gas and water since late Thursday night. The city and province of Havana were hardest hit and the entire province of Pinar del Rio was still without electrical power and or communications on Saturday. Hurricane Charley inflicted the most damage on the Havana province towns of Batabano, Playa Cajio and Bauta, as well as on San Cristóbal, Candelaria and Bahía Honda in Pinar del Rio. The coastal town of Mariel was also hard hit. The more than two million residents of the city of Havana have been the most affected by the lack of electricity, cooking gas and water and officials say it may take several more days to reëstablish power to 100 per cent of the capital's inhabitants. Local authorities are working along with experts from other provinces to guarantee the basic needs of the population. Tanker trucks are providing water to many of those still without. This morning authorities reported that in the city of Havana 140 homes were totally destroyed by the storm and another 767 were partially affected. There are also reports of damages to many schools, daycare centers and health clinics. The figures are expected to rise. In Havana province, 989 homes totally collapsed and 9 thousand residences suffered some kind of damage. Just before Charley's arrival to the southwestern part of the island early Friday morning, government authorities evacuated some 215 thousand people and more than 158 thousand farm animals were transferred to a safer area. Hurricane Charley hit the western part of the island with heavy rains and maximum winds of 165 kilometers per hour with gusts of up to 200 kilometers per hour. Friday morning after Hurricane Charley had battered the island, Cuban Vice President, Carlos Lage, visited families whose homes were damaged by the storm and assured them that their residences will be repaired as quickly as possible. Making his way through the streets that were partially blocked by fallen trees and power lines, the Cuban official visited the most affected Havana municipalities of Playa and La Lisa, to assess the damage caused to homes, businesses and community installations. Lage instructed local authorities to draft an accurate report of the damages and list priorities in order to immediately begin working on solutions for each case. [end; and from the day before that:] CUBA CLEANS UP IN WAKE OF HURRICANE CHARLEY Havana, August 13 (RHC) -- Cuban President Fidel Castro has optimistically asserted that the Cuban people will face any damage inflicted by Hurricane Charley, just as they have faced the challenges of Washington's blockade and the recent package of anti-Cuba measures adopted by US President George W. Bush. In statements broadcast live from Cuba's National Meteorology Institute -- just as the hurricane was hitting Havana shortly after midnight Friday morning -- the Cuban leader evaluated the path of the storm. Fidel Castro praised the island's preparedness, noting that people have had lots of experience in facing this type of storm. The leader of the Cuban Revolution spoke with meteorologist Dr. José Rubiera as well as Pedro Saez Montejo, a member of the Central Committee of Cuba's Communist Party and First Secretary of the Party in Havana. He pointed out that Hurricane Charley was hitting the island on his 78th birthday and jokingly said that he'd thought of changing his birthday from the 13th to the 15th -- making it coincide with the recall referendum to be held Sunday in Venezuela. Fidel Castro said he was sure President Hugo Chávez would win that vote because the Venezuelan leader was working to guarantee social justice for his people. As the Cuban president was making his statements at the Meteorology Institute, Havana residents were beginning to experience strong gusts of wind produced by the approaching storm system. The hurricane hit the southern coast of Havana Province near the town of Batabano at 12:15 a.m. with sustained winds reaching 165 kilometers per hour. As Charley churned toward the capital city on the northern coast, electricity was purposefully cutoff -- a preventive measure to protect people from downed powerlines. The hurricane hit the island as a Category 2 on the five-category Saffir-Simpson scale used to rate hurricanes. Gusts of wind were clocked at nearly 250 kilometers per hour and the hurricane moved at a relatively fast pace of 25 kilometers per hour. During the live broadcast on Cuban radio and television, President Fidel Castro said that due to the people's mobilization to protect human lives and material resources, the battle against nature would turn a setback into victory. He referred to different efforts such as the protection of greenhouses crucial for producing vegetables for domestic consumption and the tourist sector. These structures, he said, were quickly disassembled but can be set up again in just a few days. Referring to the preparations made by Cuban citizens to confront such natural phenomena, Fidel Castro said that after Hurricane Flora in 1963, the country developed its water resources; several reservoirs were built and flooding of the Cauto River and other rivers were controlled. These steps made it possible for the country to take better advantage of water for agricultural use and local consumption. The leader of the Cuban Revolution said that nothing, not even a hurricane, can stop the island's development programs. Hurricane Charley left Cuba around 3 a.m. through an area between Baracoa Beach and the town of Mariel on the northern coast, located just west of Havana. The capital awoke to lots of damage -- with trees and downed powerlines blocking many streets -- and the report of only three storm-related deaths. As the first rays of sunlight bathed Havana Friday morning, residents were out to begin clearing the streets and cleaning up their neighborhoods -- asking their friends if they were able to get any sleep through the night [end] Aug 17 after 1900, no Venezuela relay on 13740; after 2000, no French on 11760 or 9505. However, a webcast in French when checked at 2016 UT was audible intermittently via mms://tvinternet.icrt.cu/rc4 English started early at 2029, without any frequency announcement, which is an improvement over giving the wrong ones as they always do. Could it be that for once in the studio they are aware what is going on at the transmitter, i.e. nothing? Hurricane damage was not the top story in the news following immediately, presented by hijacker ``Langston Wright``, but Iraq. Only a very brief item at the end of the quarter-hour newscast mentioned efforts to restore electricity. I had to restart the audio over and over, but was all set for the promised DXers Unlimited when at 2102 this stream suddenly switched to Spanish! Around 2115 they were reporting on the electrical situation, but kept crapping out. One last check before despatching this issue: 0230 UT Aug 19: still no RHC on SW frequencies (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I've noticed that I've seen no coverage of what happened in Cuba. In the past during these storms I've seen video clips of Havana, but not this time. Not even on CNN-World (Bob Foxworth, FL, Aug 15, NRC-AM via DXLD) I saw a very brief b&w clip shot in Cuba on the Weather Channel. No indication of its origination (Paul Swearingen, ibid.) ** CUBA. While I was at the RHC website, I looked up their Spanish program schedule for show titles likely, or definitely featuring music. As always, schedule is not dated, and may well be outdated, but anyway, the only ones I found were: Sat 1430 and UT Sun 0410 (shown as Sat), SONIDO CUBANO Sun 1230-1300 CUBA CAMPESINA Also checked the English program schedule, and found nothing musical except, with times by mistake in UT-5 on Sunday nights: 22:00, Top Tens [UT Mon 0300] 22:30, Jazz Place [UT Mon 0330] Of course, they work in brief musical breaks here and there (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. Le 17 août à 0000 TU, les fréquences de Radio Havane Cuba étaient toujours muettes. Cela fait plusieurs jours que la station est réduite au silence, suite au passage de l'ouragan Charley. Par contre, les émetteurs cubains chargés de brouiller Radio Marti, la station américaine qui diffuse à destination de Cuba, sont présents sur les ondes. On peut entendre le brouillage, par exemple entre 2200 et 2400 TU sur 11930, 15330, 13820 et 7365 (informations issues de http://perso.wanadoo.fr/jm.aubier via DXLD) ** DENMARK. World Music Radio ha sido reactivada este 14/08. Captada a las 2347 UT, en los 5814.98 kHz. SINPO 2/2. Música POP y oldies (Adán González, Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, Aug 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ENEWETAK. Re 4-122: WXLE 1385 --- I believe the QSL in question is located in a collection forming part of the NZ Radio DX League Archives in Dunedin, NZ. I'm not sure if Adrian took a note of the specific name at the time he visited there with me in 2002, as we were both feverishly digging through many boxes of materials in a short space of time. NZ listeners heard, reported and QSL'd a large number of these short- term AFRS WWII stations, and much of this material is held in the archives from collections of now deceased NZ radio listeners. The archives management has not cataloged any collections, nor apparently has any intention to do so. Instead, the non-profit Radio Heritage Foundation has undertaken to do this as part of its Virtual Archives Project. This project also includes scanning the QSLs for free global on-line access. Database software for the project is currently being specified. Warm regards (David Ricquish, Chairman, Radio Heritage Foundation, Wellington, NZ, Aug 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA [non]. CLANDESTINE, 12120, Voice of Liberty via Samara. *1701-1733, Aug. 18. Transmitter on earlier with test tones, but a delay with the sign-on to 1701, cut in the middle of a opening comments. Newscast in Tigrinya, with mentions about Eritrea. Musical breaks consisted of Horn of Africa string music. News Commentary followed. Signal was surprising good dispite the interference from the utility on the same frequency. Signal quickly faded out (or went off the air?) at 1733 and never returned (Edward Kusalik, ALBERTA, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Deutsche Welle su 3995 con DRM Ciao! Ecco un altra frequenza che se ne va per chi non ha un ricevitore aquipaggiato con sistema DRM; la Deutsche Welle comunica con lettera, che su 3995 kHz dal 09 agosto opera con emissioni DRM dalle 1800 alle 0559 UT in Tedesco. Per noi "comuni mortali" significa DDDDDDDDRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR anche sui canali adiacenti Ciao! Very bad news for all the listeners who don't have DRM equipped in their receivers (95% of the planet). [surely more than that --- gh] 3995 kHz carry DW German service in DRM mode from 1800 till 0559 UT from 9 August. Reports or ...protests may be sent to : DEUTSCHE WELLE, TECHNISCHE BERATUNG, Mrs FRANZISKA SACHER, DE-53110 BONN, GERMANY (Dario Monferini, Milano, Italy, bclnews.it via WORLD OF RADIO 1242, DXLD) ** GERMANY. Hot news from Germany, confirmed by a reliable source: Major changes are provided for Deutschlandradio Berlin in 2005. Presumably the station will be renamed Deutschlandradio Kultur in order to get rid of the reference to Berlin, and the program line-up will be thoroughly refurbished. An additional assertion I have no confirmation for so far is that the program is supposed to double its listener figures (at present some 250,000 regular listeners, a market share well below 1 percent); otherwise it will be discontinued altogether (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Aug 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. PUBLIC BROADCASTER LIVE STREAMING ON THE INTERNET Public broadcaster ERA [Elliniki Radiophonia - Greek Radio] has live streams of all their national radio networks and some regional stations available from their web site at http://www.ert.gr/radio. The following services and stations are streamed: ERA 1 - News, talk, current affairs ERA 2 - Mainly music, some foreign-language news bulletins ERA 3 - Classical music, arts and drama ERA 4 - Sport ERA 5 - Voice of Greece multilingual external service Radio Filia - Multilingual service for immigrants Kosmos Radio - World music (Athens area) ERA Macedonia 1 - Regional service based in Thessaloniki ERA Macedonia 2 - Regional service based in Thessaloniki ERA Macedonia 3 - Regional service based in Thessaloniki ERA North Aegean - Regional station ERA South Aegean - Regional station ERA Chania, Crete - Regional station ERA Heraklion, Crete - Regional station ERA Kerkyras (Corfu) - Regional station ERA Komotini - Regional station ERA Larissa - Regional station ERA Patras - Regional station ERA Serres - Regional station ERA Volos - Regional station For the duration of the Olympic Games, Kosmos Radio is using Radio Filia's 107.0 MHz FM and mediumwave 666 kHz frequencies, in addition to their usual 93.6 MHz FM frequency. Regional stations relay one of the ERA national networks when not carrying local programmes. Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 18 Aug 04 (via DXLD) ** INDIA. Re Independence Day special scheduling: August 15th, 7290 signed on at 0026-0029 and 7180 was heard at 0135 with an English ID from Delhi. None of the other channels heard and reception got worse with increased daylight in India (Stuart Austin, Blackpool, England, Aug 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. AIR Bangalore looking out for reports from Europe, ME & Australia --- Dear Friends, The officials of AIR Super Power SW Transmitters at Bangalore (6 x 500 kW) would like to get some feedback reports on their transmissions from listeners in Europe, in particular from England and also from Gulf and Australia. Those interested may please contact Mr. R. Narasimha Swamy, Superintending Engineer at the following Email id. Narasimhaswamy @ yahoo.com Note: Please pass on this message to other suitable listeners. Thank you (Jose Jacob, dx_india Aug 18 via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 4604.96, RRI Serui 1251-1305 8/18. Variety of English songs - first an R&B tune from the 70's, then Tom Jones' "There Goes My Everything," and concluding with a C&W number. At 1300:20 joined Jakarta relay in progress with no SCI. Serui has had a pretty good signal ever since moving down from former 4606.4. They may have raised power from 500 watts at the same time they moved down in frequency. They are now one of the best low-band Indos here (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge, Colorado, Drake R-8, RW, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [non]. LIGHTHOUSE ACTIVITY (The International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend is this coming weekend!) Mike, GM4SUC, Organizer and Coordinator of the International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend, stated last week that ``We now have over 314 confirmed stations in 42 countries. All we need is some propagation to go with the fun of the weekend.`` A full list can be found at: http://illw.net/2004_list.htm [WORLD OF RADIO 1242] The Gozo Amateur Radio Society will be active again in this year`s ILLW as 9H4GRS/P on Sunday, August 22nd, from Jordan`s Lighthouse (MLT03). Activity will be on 20 and 15 meters. Members of the Gran Canaria DX Group will be active in the ILLW as ED8FLH from Punta de Jandia Lighthouse (Fuerteventura Island - AF-004, CAI-040, D2790, S006 and DME35015). Activity will be on CW/SSB. The operators mentioned are: EA8DP, EA8CAC, EA8AJW, EA8AZM and EC8ABT. QSL via EA8AKN. Jurij, MM0DFV, provided a list of Scottish Lighthouses to be active in this weekend`s ILLW. For pictures and detailed information on the following lighthouses, please visit the Scottish Ham Portal at: http://www.scotham.net SCO-NEW GM3TKV/p - Kingston Beacon QSL via GM3TKV SCO-015 GB2LBN - Barns Ness Lighthouse QSL via GM4UYZ SCO-064 GB2DL - Dunollie Lighthouse QSL via MM1AVR SCO-075 GB2ELH - Eshaness Lighthouse (EU-012) QSL via WA7OBH SCO-089 GB2GNL - Girdle Ness Lighthouse QSL via GM4JLZ SCO-103 MM0MWW - Hoxa Head Lighthouse (EU-009) QSL via MM0EAX SCO-113 GB2MSL - Kinnaird Head Old Lighthouse QSL via GM1JNS SCO-151 GB2NCL - North Carr Lightvessel QSL via GM3NHQ SCO-191 GB2RRL - Rubha Reigh Rua Reidh Lighthouse QSL via GM4CHX SCO-226 GB2SHL - Stoer Head Lighthouse QSL via GM8UPI SCO-245 MM1HMV - Toward Point Lighthouse QSL via MM1HMV SCO-248 GB2LT - Turnberry Lighthouse QSL via GM0JHF SCO-317 MM3STM - Ardrossan Pier Head QSL via MM3STM The Panamá Canal Amateur Radio Association (PCARA) will operate as HP2L from the Gamboa Lighthouse in the Panamá Canal (ARLH No. PAN- 027) in the International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend, August 21- 22nd. Activity will be on all modes CW, SSB and PSK31. QSL via HP1IBF or by the Bureau. Look for Eagle Harbor, Michigan`s (Keweenaw County), Eagle Harbor Lighthouse (USA-253) to be activated in the ILLW, August 21- 22nd, using the special 1x1 callsign K8E. Modes of operation include HF/VHF, CW/SSB, FM Satellite and possible HF digital. Collectors of ARLHS numbers can get credit for three upon request: Eagle Harbor Lighthouse USA-253, Front Range Light USA-254 and Rear Range Light USA-255. QSL via the bureau or direct to N8MR with #10 SASE. The Web page is: http://www.kc8nah.com/Interests/illw04.htm The ``Grupo Titan`` (LT7W ) will be active in the ILLW from Faro `Golfo Nuevo` (`Golfo Nuevo` Lighthouse) ARG-038. QSL information is: P.O.Box 4, 9120-Puerto Madryn, CHUBUT, ARGENTINA. Send S.A.S.E. (w/ 2 IRC - NO GREEN STAMPS). Also, they will confirm the QSOs via the e- QSL system. PLEASE, DON`T SEND QSLs VIA THE BUREAU. Emmanuel, LU9ESD (Founding member of th BBDX), informs OPDX that members of the Bahia Blanca DX Group (http://www.grupodxbb.com.ar) will again take part in the International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend (August 21-22nd). This year they will activate three different lighthouses at the same time. As usual, no special callsign will be used, only their personal callsigns / provincial letters (depending on the lighthouse). All three lighthouses will be active during the 48 hour event on all bands (including the WARC bands) and modes. Here are the Lighthouses with the respective reference numbers and operators: Recalada Lighthouse: ARG-009, Lat. 39 00´ S and Long. 61 16´ W, Grid FF91ia and Buenos Aires Province ``/D``). Operators/Stations are: LU6EPR/Ricardo, LU7EVP/Vernon, LU8EHQ/Carlos, LU8EBK/Marcos, LU4DRH/Dario, LU5DEM/Eduardo, LU6DRD/Diego and LU5DRV/Walter. El Rincón Lighthouse: ARG-036, Lat. 39 23´ S and Long. 62 01´ W, Grid FF80xo and Buenos Aires Province ``/D``). Operators/Stations are: LU9ESD/Emmanuel LU4ETN/Carlos, LU8EBJ/Gabriel, LW3DKC/Sebastan, LW9EVA/Hugo and LW8DMK/Marcelo. Segunda Barranca Lighthouse: ARG-067, Lat. 40 46´ 34`` S and Long. 62 16´ 27`` W, Grid: FE89uf and Buenos Aires Province ``/D``). Operators/Stations are: LU7DSY/Carlos, LW8EAG/Gabriel, LU1EUU/Gerardo, LU7AC/Marcelo and LU8DWR/Osmar. QSL Manager for BBDX ILLW activity is LU7DSY: Carlos Almiron, P.O. Box 709, 8000 Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Grumman Amateur Radio Club will participate in the International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend August 21st, from the Nantucket Lightship in Oyster Bay, NY. This is the LV112 ship built in 1936 and stationed at Nantucket Shoals from 1936 to 1942, 1945 to 1958, and 1960 to 1975. Callsign will be WA2LQO/LS. QSL to the CBA. Simo, OH2HAN, informs OPDX that the Finnish radio club ``Kissen Kipina``, OH2ET, will be active from a working sea and air Lighthouse, which is also a church at the same time! During their operation, there will be several marriage ceremonies in that church. The Lighthouse is actually situated at the top of the church - at the height of 54.2 metres from the sea level - the highest in Finland. The church is located on Suomenlinna Island in front of Helsinki City. The Lighthouse number is FIN063, and they will be using the callsign OH2ET/LH. QSL via the bureau. They are expected to be on SSB at least on 20 and 80 meters. Kevin, VK2CE, informs OPDX that there will be some rare Australian lighthouses in the ILLW event August 21-22nd. Look for the following: VI7CL is a special event callsign that has been issued for activation of the Currie Lighthouse on King Island in Bass Strait. There is a team of 5 going there from mainland Australia. The callsign celebrates the centenary of the discovery and mining of Scheelite on the island. VK9MI will be activating Macquarie Island Lighthouse, a very rare IOTA location. LIGHTHOUSE ACTIVITY FROM SOUTH AFRICA. Dennis, ZS4BS, provides the following list of South African lighthouses that will be activated during the International Lighthouse/Lightship weekend, August 21-22nd: The Adventure Radio Club of Cape Town will be active as ZS1ARC from the Cape Columbine Lighthouse near Paternoster on the west coast. The Boland Amateur Radio Club will be active as ZS1BAK from the L`Agulhas Lighthouse. L`Agulhas Lighthouse is the most southerly lighthouse on the African continent. The Overberg Amateur Radio Club will operate from the Danger Point Lighthouse using the callsign ZS1OAR. The Hibiscus Coast ARC will activate the Port Shepstone Lighthouse using the callsign ZS5HAC. The Durban ARC will activate the Cooper Lighthouse with callsign ZS5D. ADDED NOTE: There may be activity from Port Elizabeth and East London. Look for the PS7AA group to be active as ZV7AA in the ILLW from a lighthouse (ARLS-BRA-161, DFB-RN-07). Activity on CW/SSB/RTTY/PSK31. QSL via PS7AA (KB8NW\OPDX August 16\BARF-80 via rec.radio.amateur.misc John Norfolk, dxldyahoogroup via DXLD) ** IRAQ. VOICE OF IRAQ IN ENGLISH - PROGRAMME SUMMARY | BBC Monitoring observations of the daily Voice of Iraq radio English programme indicate that it is of 40-45 minutes duration, and follows the 1100 gmt news in Arabic. Following is a summary of the 17 August broadcast, with all times given in Greenwich Mean Time. 1108: English programme sign-on announcement 1110: News bulletin 1116: "War, Peace and Non-Violence and Islamic Sentiment" - talk 1125: "The Koran" - readings and interpretation 1137: "The Family" - talk on the role of kinship 1146: News summary 1151: English programme sign-off announcement 1152: Music 1155: Resumption of Arabic programming Voice of Iraq is a private station broadcasting from studios in Baghdad on 1179 kHz in the mediumwave band, operating since 15 July 2003. Broadcasting hours are currently 0300-1700 gmt daily, 0700-2100 Baghdad local time. Source: David Kernick, BBC Monitoring research in English 17 Aug 04 (via WORLD OF RADIO 1242, DXLD) ** ISRAEL. Kol Israel - Windows Media --- The player offers four streams now: Aleph (new), Bet, Dalet, Reka (new). I guessed at a stream address and found a fifth feed that's not yet advertised. It's Israeli music with ads so I'm guessing it's Gimmel (but could also be 88FM), but I haven't heard an ID I could understand yet. If you're interested in trying to ID, check mms://s95wm.castup.net/990310004-52.wmv Aleph should have English news three times a day (including at 04 UT), not previously streamed live. [Later]: Just confirmed that this stream is Gimmel (TOH ID as Gimmel, then into news from Bet). And I am hearing English news now, 0400-0415 on the Aleph stream (Kevin Kelly, Arlington, Massachusetts, USA, UT Aug 17, PublicRadioFan.com, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. ISRAEL TV STREAMING INTERNET Here is a pay service to watch live and recorded streams of TV from Israel. It seems to be $1 or 1 Euro a month. It also seems to have programming from different Israeli TV channels, merged into a few streams. I haven't tried it, so I can't attest to quality. http://www.watch-il.com/neweng1.htm "BROADCAST TIMES We broadcast 24 hour's a day 7 days a week. Our special media program contain 8 channels which 3 of them are live broadcast of the hottest Israeli news and TV programs; the other 3 are delay broadcast of the Israeli prime time for the convenience of the Israeli community in America, and 2 channels which are been build [sic]. 1. Live broadcast Israeli time. 2. Live broadcast Israeli time. 3. Live broadcast Israeli time. 4. 9 hours delay broadcast to America. 5. 9 hours delay broadcast to America. 6. 9 hours delay broadcast to America. 7. Coming soon. 8. Coming soon. * Delay broadcast start at: Miami 6 pm, Dallas 5 pm, Denver 4 pm L.A. 3 pm, Canada 6 pm [sic]. * The channels are different in their broadcast." Also, After listening to similar songs over two evenings, it seems that the REKA overnight Israel Time Hebrew music is just from a select list of songs. This is played when REKA programming is done for the night (Doni Rosenzweig, Aug 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KASHMIR [non]. INDIA/PAKISTAN: RADIO VOICE OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR FREEDOM OBSERVED | BBC Monitoring observed Radio Voice of Jammu and Kashmir Freedom on 5102 kHz at 1300-1430 gmt on 17 August. At 1400 there was a station identification in English as the "Voice of Freedom Movement of Jammu and Kashmir", followed by a political commentary in English called "Kashmir Panorama" at 1400-1408 gmt. The station also broadcasts in Urdu, Kashmiri, Hindi, Balti, Gojri and Paharai. Opposed to Indian control of part of Kashmir, it is believed to operate from facilities in Pakistan and announces a post office box address in Muzaffarabad, in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Source: Dave Kernick, BBC Monitoring research in English 17 Aug 04 (via WORLD OF RADIO 1242, DXLD) ** MALDIVES. Minivan Radio Press Release --- Monday 16th August, 2004, Maldives News Minivan Radio TEST broadcast on Wednesday the 18 th of August 2004 at 2130-2230 [LT = 1630-1730 UT] --- Frequency 11525 kHz Please email admin@friendsofmaldives.co.uk AFTER the broadcast let us know if the reception was --- Non–existent, Poor, Satisfactory, Good or Excellent The 1 st half of programme will be on 100 kW and the second will be on 250 kW to see what we need. So let us know if 2 nd half was much better than the 1 st half or not. Don’t worry if you could not hear it at all – we will get it right. We hope to begin nightly broadcasts on Wednesday the 25 th August 2004. This is a test broadcast featuring our No.1 presenter Mr Ahmed Naseer (from http://www.friendsofmaldives.co.uk/testradio.htm via WORLD OF RADIO 1242, DXLD) MINIVAN RADIO TEST BROADCAST WEDNESDAY In a phone conversation with a spokesperson for the Friends of Maldives, it seems that there was indeed a confusion between Watts and kiloWatts. FM broadcasts on the islands themselves would be impossible, so they have now issued an official press release stating that Minivan Radio will make a test broadcast on Wednesday 18 August 2004 at 2130-2230 (Maldives local time, the same as 1630-1730 UTC) on 11525 kHz. The first half hour of the programme will be using a power of 100 kW and the second half hour will be on 250 kW. The station wants reception reports from the South Asia region to indicate whether the higher power is needed. E-mails should be sent to admin @ friendsofmaldives.co.uk or phone messages to +44 1722 504 330 or via snail mail to 64 Milford Street, Salisbury, SP1 2BP UK. The organisation, FOM, says it is not primarily a political organisation, but it has concerns about the level of democracy on the islands at the moment. There are only a few hundred Maldivians living in the UK, so the group relies on a global base of friends. Depending on the success of the test transmission, presented by Ahmed Naseer, the organisation will decide whether to hire more airtime from World Radio Network. Internet access from the islands seem to have resumed, although there are claims from islanders that some news sites are being blocked. SMS messages from islanders to the mainland have also been interrupted. Friends of Maldives: http://www.friendsofmaldives.co.uk/ More on this story: Maldives: Off Again, On Again?: http://medianetwork.blogspot.com/2004_08_15_medianetwork_archive.html#109265820627911743 # posted by Andy @ 10:47 UT Aug 17 (Media Network blog via DXLD) As a matter of fact, there are two ISPs in the Maldives, a joint venture with government control and a private one. The name of the provider referred to in the Media Network item is the country's telecommunications company Dhivehi Raajjeyge Gulhun Pvt Ltd (Dhiraagu), website: http://dhiraagu.com.mv It is a joint stock company, 55% of shares held by the Maldivian government, while the British Cable & Wireless owns 45% in this joint venture. In a step to liberalize the IT market, a second ISP was licensed in May 2003: Focus InfoCom Private Limited. The conflict about Internet access has been going on for a while already, some articles on this topic: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/07/20/rsf_cw_maldives http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3911373.stm (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, It`s from Eastern Europe - and exactly where is confidential. Are you able to monitor? Best (Dave Hardingham, FOM, Aug 18, WORLD OF RADIO 1242, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Not with WEWN on 11530 (gh) I decided to have a go at this one, without the external antenna because of the thunderstorm now raging here. 1635 Strong signal here, some fading and of course the hiss and cracks from the thunderstorm. Continuous talks, jingle, station name being mentioned. Short English segment, about freedom and hope. 11525 Sudden s/off at 1652, probably to change output? 1653 back on, a bit weaker now, audio slightly muffled, Eastern Europe was suggested... MDA? (thunderstorm here passed, so less crackle) 1657 another English segment by fm, English poem "The Walk To Freedom" 1659 "As-sallaam-alaikum...Minivan Divéhi Radio" 1700 Two unsynchronised audio streams! (talks under music) Two different txers in use at the same time? 1705 One audio stream now. (reconnected my external antenna, makes not much difference, quite strong and stable signal now) 1710 jingle 1711 once more the poem "The Walk To Freedom" 1718 ID, etc., etc... same songs and announcements 1728 mentioning Amnesty International 1729 The poem... again 1730 M announcer 1731:40 s/off ------------------------------------------------------ (DXA375-Silvain Domen, Antwerpen-Belgium, Lowe HF-250/Sony ICF- SW7600GR/10 meters mlb-longwire, WORLD OF RADIO 1242, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Undermodulated start, humming carrier, some fading, good signal but not precisely easy to read. After a short break at 1651 back on the air without hum and easily readable. 1658 poem in English ``a Walk for Freedom``. Now in better shape. Surely from somewhere in Russia? Signed off at 1730 sharp (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, WORLD OF RADIO 1242, DX LISTENING DIGST) More local noise than anything else here, but still better than nothing --- Two cuts in the file: The barely readable audio start with ID at 1630 and a shred from 1632 when it came in a bit stronger (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Aug 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, Coming in here now. Strong signal but poor, Romanian-style, modulation (Dave Kernick, Caversham, UK, 1646 UT Aug 18, WORLD OF RADIO 1242, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dave also made a nice recording of this, but did not reach us in time for WOR 1242. I expect he has put it up on his site http://www.intervalsignalsonline.com We wound up combining two clips from Henrik Klemetz, including the entire English poem, A Walk for Freedom. Thanks, Henrik, and also to Ignacio Sotomayor and Kai Ludwig who hustled to get clips to us (gh) Gracias a la lista del DXLD escucho una nueva emisora por 11.525. Se trata de MINIVAN RADIO y emite a modo de Voz de la Liberación de las Maldivas. El plan es de 1630 a 1730 todos los días. En estos momentos está emitiendo su primer programa con un SINPO de 55544 a través de los Emiratos Árabes con un montón de ID en idioma vernacular y algunos comentarios en inglés. Cuando sepa una dirección para reportar la pondré. [Luego:] Bueno, pues respondiéndome a mí mismo, y gracias de nuevo a la lista del amigo Glenn Hauser, aquí va la dirección de Minivan radio para informes: admin @ friendsofmaldives.co.uk Y su página: http://www.friendsofmaldives.co.uk A propósito. En esta lista se dice que el emisor está en Europa del Este, mientras que en otros sitios he visto que provenía de los Emiratos Árabes. En cualquier caso, la calidad es excepcional. Salu2 Hola Glenn: A tu solicitud de grabaciones para tu programa de radio, te envío 2 identificaciones, una en vernacular y otra en inglés. No sé si te servirán, pero te las envío igualmente, [desde 1713 y 1723] (Ignacio Sotomayor, Segovia, Castilla, España, Aug 18, Rcvx: ICOM R- 75; SONY ICF -SW7600 Anx: Hilo largo de 20 metros y Balun; KIWA Pocket Loop, Noticias DX via DXLD) Sounds like the second very brief one says ``Voice of Freedom`` (gh, DXLD) On 18 Aug 2004 tuned to 11525 kHz at 1626 and the carrier was on. Around 1629 there was bits of audio, later coming louder, but the audio was buzzy and distorted for the first 20 minutes. After a transmitter break they returned with much improved audio around 1652. Around 1700 there were two audios mixed for couple of minutes. Here the signal was around S9+20dB all the time, didn't notice any power change, unless it happened at 1652 after the break. Mostly Dhivehi talks by male with IDs, some very short English "Walk for Freedom" portions by lady (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, WORLD OF RADIO 1242, DX LISTENING DIGEST) And here the reply for my reception report to Minivan Radio: From: admin@friendsofmaldives.co.uk Sent: 18 August 2004 21:26 To: 'Jari Savolainen' Subject: RE: Minivan Radio heard in Finland on 11525 kHz You were indeed listening to Minivan radio. We will have more English sections on the broadcast in the future. Rebecca Cork (via Jari Savolainen, 1846 UT Aug 18, WORLD OF RADIO 1242, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Minivan Radio on 11525 heard on August 18th, already in progress at 1630 to 1730 off, talks in local language, songs, identifications mentioning Friends of Maldives and Human Rights Initiative and background of percussion and bird call, an English poem "The Walk for Freedom" read by a lady was also heard four times. Fair to good on clear channel (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth Garden City, UK, August 18th, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 2004-08-18 --- Minivan Radio (Independent Radio) Dear Friends, I am a 61 years old special education teacher, living on the island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea of Sweden. Since 1957 I have been a DX-er and radio enthusiast, listening to foreign radio stations almost every day! I am really fascinated by the possibilities of the radio waves and how long they can travel in the air - without political borders! Today afternoon I listened to your radio station on short wave via Merlin facilities (?). The strength was really good, after some problems at the beginning of the transmission. I have watched your home page for information and I also got your email address from the Internet. It is really fascinating to know about a station from the Maldives, transmitting on the shortwave bands, even if it is a relay. I use to contact the stations I happen to hear, and ask for their confirmation of listening. By doing so, I have got answers from 2000 radio stations in 216 different countries, all over the world. I am sorry that I couldn’t enjoy your programme contents, because I couldn’t understand a word of what was said, but a poem read in English! Anyway I hope that you are interested in knowing about reception even in my country of Sweden. To my help I have a communications receiver, an AOR AA 7030 manufactured receiver with transistors. I also have long-wire antennas, this time about 300 meters. I was listening in my small cottage with a marvellous sight out over the Baltic Sea this afternoon. There I can put antennas almost down to the shore. So this is a Report of reception on what I heard: Station: Minivan Radio (Independent Radio) Frequency: 11525 kHz Date: August 18th, 2004 Time: 16.30-17.30 UTC/GMT The signals were really strong, and there was almost no interference at all – only some fading. Unfortunately there was an electric noise, making reception not too clear at first. At 16.36 UTC the reception was perfect, but the bad electric noise came back. After 16.49 the reception was perfect, until 16.51, when there was a break in the transmission (transmitter fault?). Two minutes later the reception was perfect again! According to the SINPO-code it was about 4-5 4-5 4-5 4 4, which is almost perfect reception. I could not notice any difference after 17.00 UTC, so maybe it was the same transmitting power all the time? To prove my reception I write down the following details from the program: At 16.30: Many station identifications about ``Minivan Radio`` (male voice) and talk in vernacular language (sounding Hindi to my ears!) At 16.37: Vernacular song + instruments At 16.39: Female voice reading a poem by Ismail: ``The Walk for Freedom`` At 16.41-16.55: Male identification, lots of talk and many very nice vernacular songs (mostly with instruments and a group of men, like a choir). The talk mentioned ``Human Rights`` in English. At 16.58: Female voice reading a poem by Ismail: ``The Walk for Freedom`` (=16.39) At 17.04: There was a kind of mix between two programmes, which made it difficult to listen. At 17.29: Female voice reading a poem by Ismail: ``The Walk for Freedom`` (=16.39) At 17.31: The station closed down I am sorry that I cannot give you more details, but my language knowledge is too bad. About myself I can tell you that I am married, and have three boys, in the ages 33, 30 and 23 years old. They have brought me four nice grand children! I am very interested in the radio world, but I also work politically for the green party here on the island of Gotland. I am editing a column in the monthly magazine of the Swedish DX- Federation, called ``Clandestine Radio``. I hope you are able to send me some information about your new programs on shortwave. Gotland is the biggest island in Sweden and has about 57000 inhabitants. There is only one town on the island, Visby, with about 23000 inhabitants. Gotland is famous because of its beauty, and thousands of tourists come here every summer to sun- and sea baths and enjoy their living. Visby is surrounded by a medieval town-wall and it has also got many beautiful medieval church ruins. Hoping to hear from you in a near future, I am sending best wishes from Sweden and, Yours sincerely, Björn Fransson Lunds V.5, Västerhejde, SE-621 48 VISBY, Sweden Tel/Fax: +46-498-264568 E-mail: bjornfransson@hotmail.com (cc to DX LISTENING DIGEST) I was out at the beergarden restaurant and had no digital mp3 recorder on hand, BUT when visited a ham radio friend between 1625 and 1735 UT today, I had access to a TenTec Argonaut transceiver and used various antennas; in the end remained on a removable 5 elements FRITZEL beam. We had fine sunshine, dusty and sultry weather, at about 29 C temperature, thunderstorms seemed away about 200 kilometers in the northwest. Compared that 11525 kHz Minivan signal with Gavar, Armenia 11510 and Plovdiv, Bulgaria 11500, and before 1600 UT of Voice of Mesopotamia via Moldova 11530 also. I would say this outlet of 11525 was coming likely from East/South- East direction according the Fritzel beam 55 to 120 deg. Likely from Maiac, Moldova, or at least Armavir, Russia, but never from Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Orzu, Tajikistan, or Al Dhabbaya, UAE. 11500 BUL S=9 +40 to +50 dB 11510 ARM S=9 +10 dB; -- S=9 at 17.31 UT. 11530 MDA S=9 +30 dB 11525 ?MDA S=9 +20 dB, carrier was on air at least at about 1624 UT, when switched on my receiver, but program started at about 1628-1629 UT. Later at 1655 till 1731:36 UT sign-off at little stronger S=9 +30 dB signal level, but no much difference noted here in CEu at backlobe. Signal was always loud and clear on that antenna equipment; no Maldives jamming could be noted here in Central Europe. So - the transmitter site is still a puzzle ... 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Here in Austria --- Signal of Minivan Radio was loud and clear from the beginning at 1629 UT. RX Grundig Sat. 500/T. (17. 10 UTC -SIO 444) A lot of music but also man was speaking in local Maldivian(?) language, woman in English about freedom, Islam... 73 (Paul Gager / Austria, BDXC-UK via WORLD OF RADIO 1242, DXLD) Excellent reception of the "Friends of Maldives" first test transmission from Radio Minivan here in Caversham this afternoon on 11525 kHz. Test consisted of a 17 minute programme, mainly talk by (presumably) Ahmed Naseer in Dhivehi (Maldivian) which was repeated four times in the period 1637-1730 UT. Up to 1651 the signal suffered from a transmitter buzz, but after a short break (transmitter switch?) the programme returned and was excellent - very clear and good strength. Included in the programme was a poem read in English - "The Walk for Freedom". Otherwise mainly a monologue in the local Maldives language, though some English phrases (e.g. Human Rights initiative) included. At one point around 1702-1705, 2 tapes of the programme it seems were overlapping and not in parallel. Friends of Maldives website http://www.friendsofmaldives.co.uk says "We hope to begin nightly broadcasts on the Wednesday the 25th August 2004." (Alan Pennington, BDXC-UK, AOR7030+ / K9AY, Caversham, UK, BDXC-UK via WORLD OF RADIO 1242, DXLD) That overlap which several noticed makes me think that not only were the powers different in the two halves, but that two different sites were tested! I wonder if there was a subaudible heterodyne during the overlap, i.e. not precisely same frequency (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11525, Minivan Radio testing to Maldives. Heard something here, with a carrier around 1626, but virtually no audio present. Heard some programming around 1630 or so, but just too garbled to make out anything intelligible. I kept at it but by 1700 not even the garbled noise was there, just the carrier. Too bad --- If they where running 100/250 kw's, it sure didn't matter, as I couldn't enough to make a report. Also was getting interference from 11530, so reception was best in LSB ECSS on the NRD-525 (modified with a ESKAB PLAM Board for ECSS Detection) with the 69-meter long wire being the best reception (Edward Kusalik, southern Alberta, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I could listen some whispering sound by 1716 UT on 11525 kHz. Nothing was readable (Swopan Chakroborty, Kolkata, India, DX LISTENING DIGEST) MALDIVES: DISSIDENT RADIO STATION OBSERVED TESTING ON SHORTWAVE BBC Monitoring has observed a test transmission from Minivan [Independent] Radio on 11525 kHz shortwave at 1629-1731 gmt on 18 August. The broadcast was produced by a UK-based dissident organization called Friends of Maldives, who on their web site describe the radio as the "Free Radio of the Maldives". At the start of the transmission and at various points throughout the broadcast the call of a water bird was played. This is identical to the signature "tune" used by the official Maldives government radio station, Voice of Maldives. Reception quality was very poor to begin with, due to low modulation and a buzzing transmitter, but improved to "good" after 20 minutes or so. There was a transmitter outage at 1651-1653, then at 1700 a second stream of Minivan Radio audio appeared, causing interference to the first stream, until the problem was resolved at 1705. Direction finding placed the transmitter at 42 minutes 36 seconds north, 23 minutes 12 seconds east, which is very close to the co- ordinates of a transmitter site called Kostinbrod, near the town of Pernik, a few kilometres south west of Sofia in Bulgaria. Programming consisted of what appeared to be a 15-20 minute loop with talks in Dhivehi, the national language of the Maldives, interspersed with occasional music and an English-language reading of a poem entitled "The Walk For Freedom". Friends of Maldives is a group concerned with promoting cultural links with Maldives and addressing human rights abuses in the country, according to a statement on their web site at http://www.friendsofmaldives.co.uk They also say that if the test transmission is successful then regular broadcasts will follow. Contact details Postal address: Friends of Maldives, 64 Milford Street, Salisbury, SP1 2BP, United Kingdom. E-mail address: admin @ friendsofmaldives.co.uk Tel: [+44]-(0)1722-504330 Source: David Kernick, BBC Monitoring research in English 18 Aug 04 (via DXLD) Geez, I was trying to steer them away from such a second-rate facility. UAE/Merlin should have worked much better, assuming they have a suitable azimuth, price (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. In addition to the shortwave parallel [6185], XEEP apparently also has on-line audio from its website http://www.radioeducacion.edu.mx/ I would be inclined to doubt that the government would give up the Radio Educación facilities to a commercial network. It's interesting to note, also, that while SCT has assigned new nighttime operations on the other Mexican clear channels --- 540, 730, 900, 940, 1050, 1220, causing in-country QRM to previously unduplicated XEWA, XEX, XEW, XEQ, XEG and XEB --- XEEP has remained clear of any other Mexican assignment (John Callarman, Krum TX, Aug 8, Corazón DX via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. DEMOLITION OF LOPIK ANTENNA MAST LIVE ONLINE As previously reported, the northerly mediumwave mast at the Lopik transmitter site is to be demolished on Saturday 21 August, four months after the signing of a covenant promising to restrict the total power transmitted from the site. The 165 metre mast, which was erected in 1938, will be removed with explosives. For safety reasons nobody will be permitted within a 300 metre zone around the mast. The mast that will be removed was used during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands to broadcast the programmes of Radio Bremen. From 1945-1980 it was used for the national mediumwave services Hilversum I and II, until these services were transferred to the new site at Flevo. In a press release, transmission provider Nozema says that a special live Internet stream on its Web site will show the demolition of the mast. The press release does not mention the time, but an earlier report said that it was planned for 0650 UT. http://www.nozema.nl # posted by Andy @ 14:44 UT Aug 18 (Media Network blog via WORLD OF RADIO 1242, DXLD) Not Aug 14 as I misspoke on WOR 1242 ** NEW ZEALAND. You have to wonder how many listeners are searching for Radio New Zealand International after 0400 UT August 17/04. At 0359 they announced they where changing frequencies to 9615 and to re- tune now (one hour earlier than normal). After the usual Bellbird IS they announced they were now on 9615 and National Radio programming continued with News and In Touch with New Zealand still on 15720 kHz. Surely the on air announcer was just reading from a script. As for tonight`s Mailbox program, it was announced that Paul Ormandy is retiring from his South Pacific DX report at the end of August. DX reports will continue on Mailbox with various members of the New Zealand DX League pitching in, as well as some reports in September from mediumwave specialist Tony King. 73 (Mick Delmage, Sherwood Park, Alberta, Aug 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) That`s what happens when there is a disconnect, or lack of communication between the studio and transmitter site, no off-air monitoring, where they would at least be forced to punch up the right frequency to hear themselves --- and/or between the production and engineering staff, all too common even with domestic stations (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. [?] [Commander Bunny y la Voz de la Revolución de los Roedores. Sintonizada en los 6925.51 kHz, a las 0045 UT. Voz de roedor. Números. Señal fuera del aire a las 0056 UT. SINPO 2/2. Modo: AM. 73s y buen DX (Adán González, Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, Aug 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3315, 16 Aug 0838-1201*, R. Manus. Thanks to Dave Valko for his tip of a het on 3315. Weak, watery audio first noted 0838 with male in unidentified language. Announcements and probable news heard at 0900, and language was definitely Pidgin. Signal continued weak to 1045 when it improved to fair, and was good by 1100 log drums and into news items again. Melanesian music (some quite primitive sounding) heard from 1115 to 1145 at a good level, with male announcer in Pidgin mentioning New Guinea occasionally. Old bluegrass gospel tunes and more PNG native music to sign-off announcements at 1159, with mentions of Papua New Guinea, frequency, program, and two IDs as 'Maus Bilong Chauka' 1159 and 1200. Sign-off was at 1201 with the PNG national anthem and the call of the Bird of Paradise. Though I reviewed my recording, I could not find any mention of 'R. Manus' or 'Lorengau'. However, the 'Maus Bilong Chauka' ID matches that shown in the WRTH. After R. Manus sign-off, a weak signal in English was revealed on 3315. I first thought of AIR Bhopal, but a check of Geoclock showed that 1200 is 1-1/2 hours before Bhopal SS; possibly Laos? See separate logging (Guy Atkins, WA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Viz.: UNIDENTIFIED 3315, 1202-1215, Aug 16. While reviewing a recording of R. Manus, I discovered a weak signal of a male announcer in English that had been lurking beneath the PNG station. After Manus signed off at 1201 this unidentified station was in the clear, but very weak. The programming was a newscast read by a male announcer, with mentions of 'Southeast Asia', 'Indonesia' and (most interestingly) a clear 'National Radio' at 1204:30. After a long pause, the announcer began what sounded like a commentary that continued until the end of my recording at 1215. The last five minutes were covered by a strong utility transmission, which is unfortunate because the unID voice station was getting stronger. In last year's DXing.info article titled Broadcasting In Laos http://www.dxing.info/articles/laos.dx Bob Padula mentioned 'A fourth transmitter is registered, with 1 kW, on 3315, 0100-1800, again for Laos, but not heard recently.' Could this unID be Lao National Radio? 1200 UT is just past sunset in Vientiane, and a half-hour before my local sunrise. Alan Davies, have you heard Laos on 3315? (Guy Atkins, Puyallup, WA USA, Modified RA6790GM & R75 Kiwa MAP / ERGO / DSP-59+, 450 & 700 ft. Beverage Antennas, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) Couldn't this be R. Manus staying on and carrying National Radio // 4890. I have noted some of the PNG regional outlets carrying National Radio after their sign off (Hans Johnson, WY, ibid.) Good point, Hans. The odd part is the change from a good to very good level of Manus at sign-off, to the barely readable audio, down in the noise. I'll have to check again tomorrow for 3315 post-1200 and see if it's parallel 4890. The Manus carrier dropped immediately at 1201 after the NA --- perhaps they didn't pull the plug out *all* the way |g| (Guy Atkins, WA, Aug 16, Cumbre DX via DXLD) [Later:] Hans is correct -- Manus has been relaying the NBC network feed on their 3315 frequency. It's at extremely low level, though. Radio Manus was in at a good level again this morning but after their 1201 national anthem, birdcall, and sign-off, they continued with NBC news and music in parallel to 4890 (no discernible delay). The NBC signal on 3315 is so very weak, however, I'd be surprised if it is audible on the East Coast of the USA. I could barely hear it with my Beverage antenna aimed down-the-barrel at Papua New Guinea (Guy Atkins, WA, Aug 17, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** PERU. 5384.16 Radio Huarmaca, Huarmaca, 48 kb. 16/8 2004. [time missing] Reactivated Peruvian. Listen to recording from this Monday evening. Comments and recordings at: http://www.malm-ecuador.com 73s (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, WORLD OF RADIO 1242, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. Re: That IS was the one I was referring to. Could you translate the title? As given by Sergei Sosedkin in 4-120: "O, How Wide My Home Land!" If I am correct this interval signal was used by the Radio Moscow foreign service from the very beginning. By the way, one of the announcers of the German service during WW II stayed with Radio Moscow until around 1997. And no (studio) recordings of Radio Moscow programming from then still exists, the archive dates back not further than into the sixties (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Aug 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) O, I was not sure that name went with that music (gh, DXLD) ** SICILY. E' stato riattivato il trasmettitore in onda lunga di Caltanissetta su 189 kHz; il segnale sembra comunque un po' più basso del solito (Robert Scaglione, Sicilia, Aug 17, bclnews.it via WORLD OF RADIO 1242, DXLD) ** TAIWAN. 9745, Han Sheng BC Station / Voice of Han 1259-1336 Aug. 16. Musical program to the hour, pause, YL with presumed ID, into a newscast. Feature program followed about a musician and his travels / career, interspersed with melodies of music. Signal was rather well heard. E-mail report sent to voh_radio @ sinamail.com was returned after 24 hours, from MAILER-DAEMON@sinamail.com, with comment as: I'm afraid I wasn't able to deliver your message to the following addresses. This is a permanent error; I've given up. Sorry it didn't work out. So if this route is out and postal address as well any body else have an idea on how to contact them? Maybe I'll try via BBC and see what happens (Edward Kusalik, ALBERTA, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** THAILAND. BANGKOK DIGITAL RADIO TEST During May, the NBT (Radio Thailand) transmitter on 873 kHz and located 20km to the north of Bangkok, was converted to digital using the DRM technology. The tests have been an alliance between the Asia- Pacific Broadcasting Union, broadcasters and digital equipment manufacturers and are the first mediumwave tests in the region. The 10 kW transmitter provided 3.7 kW power output using 64 QAM modulation and reception conditions were field tested. In the open countryside around Bangkok, signal degradation with distance was markedly less than analog. A similar result was obtained in the relatively less dense areas on the on the edge of the city. However, in the inner city of Bangkok, DRM reception was very poor, as was the analog signal. The consensus was that local fillers (or relays) would be needed as well as higher power for the transmitter. The head of Radio Thailand noted that MW radio ‘is a vital delivery medium’ in the region, and the ABU view is that digital MW will become the medium of choice for radio program delivery to mass audiences in the Asia-Pacific area. Other technology benefits from digital are seen as some way in the future still. As an observation, DRM is much touted as a superior digital radio technology, but these first tests in Bangkok, seem to indicate that it’s not all it’s cracked up to be in terms of field reception in a major city. If DRM needs higher powered transmitters and local relay stations to deliver a listenable signal within 20 km of the transmitter site, it seems a very expensive and power draining option. And, that’s leaving aside the additional electromagnetic pollution generated close to where large numbers of people live, as well as interference caused to other signals (ABU Digital Radio Debuts in Bangkok, July 2004, APB Magazine David Ricquish via Aug NZ DX Times via DXLD) ** U S A. VOA JOURNALISTIC CODE http://www.voanews.com/zimbabwe/article.cfm?objectID=A6BD5822-32AB-432D-89126351C46B1EEE (via RadioIntel.com via DXLD) Prompted by Zimbabwe flap with Botswana ** U S A. Annotated WBCQ Program Guide --- Anomalies and Recent Observations http://www.zappahead.net/wbcq/anomaly.php This page contains the latest observations and other unexplained or otherwise unscheduled things observed coming out of Monticello or related to WBCQ. Wednesday, August 18, 2004 From Sonny Hill via Elayne, we learned that The Country Music Show is moving to Sunday from 5 to 6PM ET on 7415. They were running Saturday at 6PM ET on 9330; this opens up a schedule slot here. This show fills the slot formerly occupied by CW Junction/Michigan Opry, another country music show. CW Junction has been off for a month or so, and in the mean time WBCQ had either been silent or running repeats of the Rabbi or Allan's show at this time. 9330 was offline from Sunday, August 15, until sometime on Tuesday, August 17. Noted back with a fine signal on Tuesday evening with Christian Media Network programming, roughly parallel WRMI 6875 [sic] (via John Norfolk, dxldyahoogroup via DXLD) (via Larry Will, dxldyahoogroups and the WBCQ Program Guide) WOR 1242 at 2200 UT Wed was on 7415, but something else was on 17495. Were we also on 5105, inaudible here? This week`s mistaxe I caught too late: the Lopik demolition is Sat Aug 21, not 14; WRMI went to 6870 on UT Aug 16, not 17. I also neglected to mention that World Music Radio is in Denmark (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Wednesday, August 18, 2004. Hi Glenn: Program change. World of Radio on WBCQ has moved to 7:00 pm Eastern on 17495 immediately following the Patriot Trading Group with Jim and Eric Cedarstrom. In a hurry to spread the word (Elayne, WBCQ HQ, 2052 UT Aug 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Not in time for us to know about it this week; so it`s one hour later than on 7415 from now on? (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Next Monday, don't expect Clear Channel Communications San Diego to proclaim 1360 AM Radio Left -- after all, the corporate giant doesn't proclaim KOGO-AM 600 a Right-Wing Conservative station. What you can get on the air waves at 1360 AM is another source for talk radio. It has been tentativly labeled Progressive Talk for San Diego. Stacy Taylor will kick it in the morning drive. Air America Radio arrives at 9 a.m. with Al Frankin, followed by Randi Rhodes. The programming will shift to Ed Schultz. The Fargo, North Dakota, resident has been behind the mic for a number of years. From his website: "His pull-no-punches, progressive and informed personality has elevated him to the top of his game. Not only is he wildly popular, he is profitable: a word used to describe only a handful of progressive radio talk show hosts in America. A Virginia native, Ed was lured to the Plains on a football scholarship at Moorhead State in Moorhead, Minnesota. He became a high-profile athlete and an All-American quarterback. After taking a shot at playing professional football, he returned to Fargo, North Dakota, where he put his talents to work as a sportscaster. He spent nearly 15 years providing play-by-play and color commentary for local teams, and serving as Sports Director and Anchor for WDAY-TV (NBC), prepping him for his natural transition to talk radio host. Ed launched News and Views, a regional talk show in 1992. His bombastic nature, fearless approach to topics and innate ability on radio quickly catapulted him to the top of the ratings chart, where he still maintains a 20+ share in a five-state market. He has won numerous awards including "The Marconi" (News/Talk/Sports Station of the Year), "The Peabody," and two "Eric Sevareid" Awards (First place Talk/Large Market)." His show is live nationally from noon to 3 p.m., and is expected to air in San Diego during the late afternoon at 1360- AM. Schultz joined the Jones Radio Network early this year and has been adding stations every month this year. He is based at KFGO in Fargo, and continues to host a live, local show prior to his national broadcast. Ray Lucia's financial programming (that features John Dean and the Brain Trust) is expected to be on air at 7 p.m. Meanwhile down the dial (which means left), KOGO revamps its broadcast lineup. News First continues its 5 a.m. start and finishes at 9:05 a.m. -- making way for the man who jumped-started talk radio: Rush Limbaugh. Afternoon's kickoff with Mark Larson who moves across town from 1210 KPRZ and 1170 KCBQ. He'll counter nationally syndicated hosts Sean Hannity on KFMB-AM 760; and Air America's Randi Rhodes. Mark's unique view and ability to pull in national guests will be Roger Hedgecock's lead-in. the Radio Mayor remains at the top at 3 p.m. and makes way for Dr. Laura Schlessinger. Coast-to-Coast AM will remain at 9 p.m. and fill in the overnight to 4 a.m. What is Clear Channel doing here? It's giving an underserved voice in the community a chance to be heard. Stacy Taylor's sensible approach paves the way in the morning -- and Stacy has been there before. He was at KSDO-AM 1130 a few years back from 9 to 11 a.m. He is expected to bring Scot Tempesta with him as his producer and (excellent) fill- in host. (Stacy will also do a personal appearance this Friday at the "Q" in the afternoon from 2 to 5 p.m.). Coupled with two of the main programs from Air America Radio, it sets the tone -- the Progressive Talk moniker is as close to left of center the station will proclaim. Meanwhile, KPOP's days are numbered. In stead of letting the staff know after their last shift, Clear Channel management will let Happy Hare Martin, Jerry G. Bishop, and Ken Copper & Cynthia Heath-Kerrigan say good-bye their audience throughout the week before bidding good- bye on Friday. Expect nothing less than a solid sound off, salute, and top-notch entertainment from all -- and including Jeffery Young at the 'Popper. Stay Tuned (SDRadio.net Aug 18 via WORLD OF RADIO 1242, DXLD) ** U S A. Why would a full-power station (whether analog or digital) ever choose to decrease its broadcast coverage area? The only considerations that make sense to me are: (a) to cut down on their power bill --- but couldn't they compensate for that by getting a transmitting antenna that maximizes effective radiated power, "more bang for the buck"? (That is, of course, assuming they're in a financial position to buy a new antenna. I have no idea how much those things cost.) (b) to reduce interference with other stations, perhaps interference that wasn't correctly considered before the fact, or interference with stations that came on the air later. (c) to quit wasting power serving sparsely-populated areas. The examples that most quickly come to mind are the Lexington KY UHFs (WLEX-18, WKYT-27, and WTVQ-36). At one time WKYT's grade B contour extended to the Carter/Rowan county line and, IIRC, into Ohio and Indiana along the river at some points. Now their contours are substantially retracted. I think much the same is true for WLEX-18. Are these stations just assuming that anyone "out in the boonies" who wants to watch them will get them via cable or dish (assuming you're in that all-important DMA), and thus it's a waste to try and reach them OTA? I know that in the 1980s the Lexington stations were aggressively trying to grow their market (WKYT even acquiring then- WKYH-57 in Hazard and converting it to a CBS affiliate and semi- satellite WYMT). Have they grown this market as far as it will grow (i.e., eaten as much out of the Cincinnati, Charleston-Huntington, Tri-Cities, Knoxville and Louisville markets as they can), established the DMA they're content with, and reduced their OTA coverage area because they don't need it anymore? (David Austin, Columbia SC, WTFDA via DXLD) ** U S A. Re 4-123, KLEY-1130: Not only 1 watt at night, but 1 watt directional! Two towers, null towards KWKH 1130. How many steps, not yards, or feet, but how many steps from the towers themselves, would it take before you lose their signal at night, if you were walking in their null with a portable tuned to 1130? (Brock Whaley, GA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Now (15 Aug 1605 ELT [2005 UT]) hearing "WSQT Guerrilla Radio" broadcasting "from the heart of occupied Washington" with leftist talk, promo for trip to protest Republican convention. Good signal on 1679.95 kHz. Call letters said to reflect their "squatting" on the airwaves (David Yocis, Washington DC, NRC-AM via WORLD OF RADIO 1242, DXLD) ** U S A. Hi, Here are what the weather instruments showed at the airport in Florida closest to Hurricane Charley's landfall between 4 and 5 in the afternoon [Punta Gorda]. No readings after the power went off between 5 and 6 http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KPGD/2004/8/13/DailyHistory.html (Tom McNiff, Burke, Virginia, USA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 109 mph ** U S A. Lots of news rag features as well as TV on-site reports the past few days regarding how WIKX ("Kix Country" -- Clear Channel- owned) on 92.9 is the only Charlotte Harbor-licensed station, and still on the air but struggling with a hosed roof, damaged equipment and limited staff, but still serving the community. Lots of local refugees are attesting to their dedication to the stations' efforts considering our state and federal government has resorted to hiring, of all things, banner-towing planes to deliver messages, and amateur radio ops have been replacing local police comms antennae blown down in new locations (uh, can you see the FCC fines coming next for non- compliance?). So, where is the needed PSYOPS "Radio Recovery" [1610 kHz, then] that Daddy Bush eventually activated in Homestead, post- Hurricane Andrew? A simple 10 kW FM portable transmitter really isn't that difficult to fire up, is it? Visit my "Florida Low Power Radio Stations" at: http://home.earthlink.net/~tocobagadx/flortis.html *************** (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, Aug 17, WORLD OF RADIO 1242, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA. HI Glenn, I'm a few days behind getting this to you, as my father was in the hospital, but last Sunday from 0230 UT I heard what looks to be a reactivated Radio Amazonas in Venezuela on 4940, programming in Spanish, with a good signal. 73s (Bill Bergadano, KA2EMZ, Freehold, New Jersey, Aug 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA. Este 16/08, Radio Amazonas (4939.66 kHz), rompió la barrera psicológica horaria de las 0300 UT. La razón: la espera del primer boletín del Consejo Nacional Electoral, sobre la aplastante victoria de Hugo Chávez Frías en el referendo del pasado domingo. El boletín en cuestión fue dado a conocer a las 0800 UT. Seguramente Radio Amazonas transmitió hasta esa hora. Transmitía música y había un locutor de guardia que afirmaba estar en la espera del primer boletín (Adán González, Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, Aug 17, WORLD OF RADIO 1242, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA [and non]. As work continues on the Latin America TV ID pages, I keep wondering about *local* IDs. These questions mostly pertain to Venezuela and Colombia, as they have many network relayers. Has anyone in the WTFDA or elsewhere ever seen a local supered text ID, like those used in Mexico, or any other kind of local ID on a network relayer? Do the network relayers run local commercials or local news? Mexico/Latin America TV ID tips: http://www.geocities.com/doglethorpe (Danny (Shreveport, LA) Oglethorpe, WTFDA via DXLD) Re Venezuela & Colombia, I have never seen any local spots that would distinguish a local station. Closest to that would be TeleCaribe, which is a regional network. I think I saw ads for a local restaurant & hotel, but maybe all the stations in the network ran it (Christopher S. Dunne, Pembroke Pines, FL, ibid.) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. VOA has posted its journalistic code on a Zimbabwe page: see U S A ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PROPAGATION +++++++++++ TransAtlantic LongWave & MediumWave DX back NOW The past week has been good for LONGWAVE Broadcast DX, but not good on MW --- 8/17 Algeria 153kHz & 252 at 03 and 04utc, France 162 at 03 and 04, Morocco 171 at 0145 8/15 Algeria 153 and 252 at 0350, France 162 & 216 at 0340-55, Morocco 207 at 0410, Luxembourg 234 at 0345, Germany(Saar) 183 around 04, unID 1314 no audio 0230 8/12 Algeria 252 at 04, Morocco 171 at 03, unIDs 1305 and 1557 both with no audio at 0420 LW and MW were quiet since 8/2 when DLF-Heusweiler, Germany was heard on 1422 at 0330-50, plus about two dozen other weak TA 9kHz splits on MW without audio. It followed an active July when dozens of MW TA signals (no audio) were heard on 7/13 7/14 7/15 7/17 7/19*. *some LW. (Wells Perkins, in New Jersey west of NYC, Aug 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to active levels. The period began with quiet to active levels on 09 – 11 August as a recurrent coronal hole high speed stream influenced the geomagnetic field. Thereafter, activity declined to quiet to unsettled levels, and remained so through the end of the summary period. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 18 AUGUST-13 SEPTEMBER Solar activity is expected to range from very low to high. Solar activity is expected to be at moderate to high levels through 17 and 18 August. Activity should begin to diminish on 19 August as Region 656 transits the western solar limb. Activity levels are expected to decrease to very low to low through late August. Thereafter, and through to the end of the forecast period, activity levels are expected to increase to low to moderate when old Region 656 (L=082) is due to return. A greater than 10 MeV proton event is possible through 19 August and again after 01 September upon the return of old Region 656. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at high levels on 24 – 26 August and 04 – 06 September. The geomagnetic field is expected to range from quiet to unsettled levels for most of the forecast period. From 23 to 25 August and again on 03 – 05 September, levels are expected to increase to unsettled to active due to a pair of weak, recurrent coronal hole streams that are expected to be in a geoeffective position. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2004 Aug 17 2211 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center # Product description and SEC contact on the Web # http://www.sec.noaa.gov/wwire.html # # 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table # Issued 2004 Aug 17 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2004 Aug 18 125 8 3 2004 Aug 19 115 8 3 2004 Aug 20 115 10 3 2004 Aug 21 110 10 3 2004 Aug 22 105 10 3 2004 Aug 23 100 15 3 2004 Aug 24 100 12 3 2004 Aug 25 105 12 3 2004 Aug 26 95 10 3 2004 Aug 27 90 10 3 2004 Aug 28 90 8 3 2004 Aug 29 90 8 3 2004 Aug 30 90 5 2 2004 Aug 31 90 5 2 2004 Sep 01 95 8 3 2004 Sep 02 105 8 3 2004 Sep 03 110 15 3 2004 Sep 04 110 12 3 2004 Sep 05 110 10 3 2004 Sep 06 110 8 3 2004 Sep 07 110 10 3 2004 Sep 08 105 10 3 2004 Sep 09 110 10 3 2004 Sep 10 115 10 3 2004 Sep 11 115 8 3 2004 Sep 12 115 8 3 2004 Sep 13 115 10 3 (from http://www.sec.noaa.gov/radio via WORLD OF RADIO 1242, DXLD) ###