DX LISTENING DIGEST 4-148, September 28, 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 Extra 50: Tue 2100 on WBCQ 9330-CLSB Wed 0930 on WWCR 9475 Wed 1600 on WBCQ after-hours http://wbcq.com repeated weekdaily WRN ONDEMAND: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also for CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL]: [WORLD OF RADIO Extra 50 is the same as CONTINENT OF MEDIA 04-05] WORLD OF RADIO Extra 50 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/worx50h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/worx50h.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/com0405.html WORLD OF RADIO Extra 50 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/com0405.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/com0405.rm WORLD OF RADIO Extra 50 in the true SW sound of 7415: (stream) http://www.piratearchive.com/media/worldofradio_09-22-04.m3u (d`load) http://www.piratearchive.com/media/worldofradio_09-22-04.mp3 FIRST AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1247: Wed 2100 on WBCQ 9330-CLSB Wed 2200 on WBCQ 7415 Wed 2300 on WBCQ 17495-CUSB Thu 2030 on WWCR 15825 DXLD YAHOOGROUP: Why wait for DXLD? A lot more info, not all of it appearing in DXLD later, is posted at our yg. Here`s where to sign up http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dxld/ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ HEADLINES: CHINA --- Cuba relays coming back INTERNATIONAL --- AWR to be decentralised; what about Wavescan? ISRAEL --- Ousting IBA Director General Yosef Barel MEXICO --- Media concentration here too TURKEY --- Voice of Turkey B—04 schedule U K --- KZPN foresakes BBCWS 24/7 relay for JPR U S A --- WYFR hard hit again; may be off for weeks U S A --- Rhode Islanders upset over WBUR selling off WRNI U S A --- Where to hear The Jim Bohannon Show DRM / POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS --- More bad news ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ** ANTARCTICA. It`s not usually convenient for me to monitor around 2045 UT, but I did so on Sept 27 and could detect a carrier a smidgen above 15476, which I suspect was RNASG LRA36, but could not pull any audio and it soon vanished; nor did Chile come onto 15475 promptly at 2100 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. 5050, ARDS: Per Dale at the station "We struck a massive antenna problem which our engineer and manufacturer are working toward fixing. At this stage I do not know when we'll be back on air --- hopefully by the end of Oct." (Hans Johnson, Sep 26, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. RA has minor changes in October... Hello everybody, I got this reply from Roger Broadband [sic] of Radio Australia: Bob, Thanks for your email and apologies for taking so long to reply. All transmitters that should be are working! We currently use transmitters at Shepparton, here in Victoria, Brandon in Queensland and for a few hours in the morning and evening at Cox Peninsula (Darwin). There's a morning broadcast on 13620 kHz from Cox, 2200-2400 UT then 17775 kHz 0000-0130 UT also from Cox and 9805 kHz 1400-1600 UT from Cox. We also have a number of off-shore transmissions. 15240 kHz 2200-2330 UT from CBS, Taiwan. Then in the evening there's 15240 kHz 0800-1130 UT also from CBS. As far as I am aware there has been no reduction in signal strength. What you are experiencing must be seasonal! I'm afraid our administrative staff is so depleted that we are no longer able to maintain a mailing list for Programme Guide and Frequency Schedule updates. I'm afraid you'll have to email us (or me) from time to time for these. The next change will be at the end of October. However at this stage there is only one frequency change envisaged. From 1400 to 1600 UT 9805 kHz from Cox will be dropped in favour of 11750 kHz. Keep in touch. Kind regards, Roger Broadbent, Programme Coordinator, English Service, Radio Australia, Melbourne. (via Robert Wise of Hobart, Australia (Downunder), Sept 28, http://www.websamba.com/shortwave ARDXC via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 5952.46, R. Pio Doce, in the clear with excellent signal this morning 26 Sept. at 1006 with WYFR off no doubt due to Hurricane Jeanne coming ashore. 6025.01, R. Illimani, *1011:10-1033 26 Sept., On the air with "Illimani, buena música" jingle, canned educational program (I believe called "Comunicación Educativa") intro by M, brief music, then startup of program hosted by W in Aymara with ID at the beginning as "...Illimani, La Voz de Bolivia...". CP flute and guitar music was noted underneath the W host speaking. Many mentions of "información educativa", boliviano, presidente, Oro, Cochabamba, Potosí, 10 de Diciembre, "nacional Bolivia", La Paz, and política. There were also several actuality sound bits with the one at 1025 sounding like the tape speed was gradually getting faster!! Mixing with Amanacer [Dominican Republic], sometimes Amanacer overtop. Martí [6030] slop getting stronger after 1023. Signal fading and too much QRM by 1033. Glad to finally ID this given all the time spent on it!! (Dave Valko, RX: NRD-535D; ANT: Beverage of 300' at 170 degrees. QTH: Reclaimed stripmine near Dunlo PA; Solar Indices: Solar Flux = 90, A Index = 6, and K Index = 2. No storms. WX: Decreasing cloudiness. Calm. 62 degrees (17 C.), Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** CHINA. Re CNR-2 on 15500, formerly unID: Studio Classroom airs every day including Sunday. But Sunday version named differently. Many stations in China broadcast its program. I don't know exact schedule on every outlet. You can e-mail Studio Classroom for such info (Miller Liu, Taiwan, Sept 28, dxing.info via DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. CRI relay via Cuba is back, noted UT Sept 27 at 0144 on 9580, good signal and fair modulation in English, with Chinese expert declaring Japan is not yet qualified to be on the Security Council, running a couple seconds behind the better-modulated Sackville relay on 9790. This may have been back for some time as I have not been checking for it almost every day, like the 1400 broadcast on 13740, still not back as of Sept 28. The same program was being repeated at 1344 check Sept 27 on 9570, another undermodulated but adequate Cuban relay, no QRM, running behind Sackville 9650. However, on Sept 28, 9570 was not on. These were blown off along with RHC itself by Hurricane Charley around August 13. I find the 1300 broadcast on 9570 missing from the EiBi list, but the others tagged /CUB are, for further confirmation: 2300 English 5990, Portuguese 13650 0000 Spanish 5990, 15120 0100 English 9580 0200 Mandarin 9580 1200 Mandarin 9570 1400 English 13740 1500 English 13740 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA. 6012.12, La Voz de tu Conciencia in Spanish, Sept 23 0034-0100. Native musical programming with good ID at 0049. Signal squashed by R. Sweden [via Canada] signing on at 0100. Very good. (David Turnick, PA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) Not usually that far above 6010 (gh, DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. LA GUERRA DE LA SINTONÍA Tomado de la Revista Semana --- El reportaje con algunas fotos en http://semana.terra.com.co/opencms/opencms/Semana/articulo.html?id=81958 En Calamar, Guaviare, el Ejército libra en el dial una guerra paralela a la del campo de batalla. El micrófono es a veces un arma más poderosa que un 'rocket'. Por Santiago Torrado Cuando 'Asdrúbal', un guerrillero el frente primero de las Farc, decidió desertar hace un par de semanas lo primero que pidió fue entregarse a un soldado en particular. Quería conocer a J. L. Bastidas, el locutor del Ejército que a través de la Frecuencia Modulada lo había convencido de dejar las armas en medio de rancheras y vallenatos. Bastidas, como se presenta en la emisora este cabo de unos 25 años, es un soldado reservado de voz grave que, sin buscarlo, se convirtió de la noche a la mañana en la versión castrense de Julio Sánchez Cristo. Lleva un año y pico en Calamar, y los últimos tres meses detrás del micrófono. Su objetivo es acercarse a la población civil a través de la música, animar a los soldados que llevan meses monte adentro y motivar las deserciones en las filas guerrilleras. Como si se tratara de cualquier emisora comercial, hay franjas específicamente diseñadas para cada uno de estos targets y está detectado que entre los guerrilleros el vallenato y las rancheras son los géneros favoritos. Las emisoras se han convertido en un arma importante en la 'guerra sicológica' librada en el Guaviare, concretamente en Calamar. Allí, prácticamente desde cualquier punto del casco urbano se divisa el tanque de agua que corona la estructura de varios pisos donde funciona Colombia Estéreo, la emisora móvil del Ejército desde donde transmite Bastidas todos los días. Es de lejos la construcción más alta del pueblo y el mejor testimonio de la transformación de esta área de histórico control guerrillero. Hasta hace poco más de un año, ahí operaba Chiribiquete Estéreo, otra emisora que mediante claves trabajaba para las Farc. Cada vez que invitaba "a alistarse los trabajadores para la minga con palas y picas", los guerrilleros sabían que era la señal para lanzar hostigamientos contra el Ejército. En realidad, durante mucho tiempo, las Farc impusieron su ley en este municipio donde la economía giraba casi exclusivamente alrededor de la coca. La guerrilla no sólo la pesaba a la vista de todos y la pagaba con fajos de billetes o con vales que después se convertían en efectivo, sino que llegó al punto de carnetizar a la población. Durante los tres meses en que el Ejército se mantuvo en los alrededores planeando la operación para ingresar en Calamar, los guerrilleros ondeaban banderas rojas para provocarlos desde esa misma edificación que se avista a lo lejos. Cuando finalmente las Fuerzas Especiales decidieron entrar al casco urbano, el 10 de agosto de 2003, precisamente desde lo alto de ese punto estratégico los francotiradores les dispararon tratando de repeler el ataque. Aquella noche Bastidas era parte de la tropa y no se imaginaba que un año después en lugar de estar frente al fusil estaría frente al micrófono. La de Calamar es una de las 5 emisoras móviles del ejército, a las que se suman 31 emisoras fijas La construcción donde opera Coombia Estéreo es, de lejos, la más alta de Calamar En Calamar, como ocurre en otras poblaciones objetivo del Plan Patriota, el Ejército no fue bien recibido. En un comienzo no les vendían en algunas tiendas o la gente no les hablaba por miedo. Ganarse a la población civil, que es en últimas la que inclina la balanza de la guerra, no es fácil cuando la presencia del ejército frena la economía ilícita a la que estaba acostumbrada la región. Ese proceso lento de ganarse a la gente se aceleró notablemente en los tres meses que lleva operando la emisora, para lo cual se capacitó a cuatro militares, entre ellos Bastidas. Por todo el pueblo hoy se escucha Colombia Estéreo y la tropa interactúa con la población hasta el punto que el pasado fin de semana, para recibir a la primera Brigada Interinstitucional, como una estrategia del gobierno para acercarse a la población, la banda del pueblo interpretó el himno del Ejército, algo impensable hasta hace muy poco en un lugar al que algunos se referían como 'Cala-farc'. La importancia de las emisoras es tan estratégica dentro del Plan Patriota que con esta brigada no sólo llegaron médicos a operar, odontólogos, policías disfrazados de payasos y policías peluqueros, sino que también se repartieron 200 radios entre las familias beneficiadas. Así aspiran garantizar que sus mensajes alcancen a todos los calamarqueños y sobre todo, a los guerrilleros que aún dudan si seguir los pasos de Asdrúbal. De los siete insurgentes que se han desmovilizado en Calamar en lo que va corrido del año, cinco lo han hecho a punta de oír los mensajes de Bastidas, que diariamente los invita a 'volarse'. Podría parecer un número pequeño, pero sólo es el comienzo. En San José del Guaviare 42 insurgentes se desmovilizaron el año pasado por cuenta de Colombia Mía, la emisora del ejército en AM, y en lo que va corrido de 2004 ya son 31 desmovilizados en Guaviare entre las emisoras de San José, Miraflores y Calamar. Prácticamente, todos los desmovilizados del país manifiestan haber sido motivados por los mensajes de las 31 emisoras fijas y las 5 emisoras móviles de Ejército, y durante el gobierno Uribe más de 100 han buscado específicamente al locutor que oían en la radio para entregarse. La frecuencia llega a las espesuras de la selva donde no pueden penetrar los helicópteros ni las tropas. La guerrilla siente el impacto en combatientes adoctrinados que por medio de la radio comienzan a familiarizarse con un discurso diferente que, camuflado entre los éxitos del momento, comienza a calar. Escucharla está prohibido en varios frentes. Cuando su jefe descubrió a Asdrúbal escuchando Colombia Estéreo antes de volarse, lo sancionó duramente. Lo obligó a arrastrarse en los codos a lo largo de 300 metros de zanja. Las Farc han convertido estas emisoras y sus locutores en objetivos militares, y también compiten con su propia emisora, La Voz de la Resistencia, que el Ejército ha tratado de rastrear sin éxito porque la cambian de frecuencia constantemente y, según se sospecha, la originan desde sofisticados equipos móviles. Los jefes les aseguran a los guerrilleros que los soldados asesinan a los desmovilizados para evitar que se fuguen, y eso ha motivado al Ejército a realizar programas en vivo cada vez que uno se escapa para motivar a los demás. Según los locutores, eso ha logrado que cuando desaparece un guerrillero aumenten los oyentes por la expectativa de saber si el camarada consigue 'coronar' su huida (via Rafael Rodríguez, Colombia, Sept 27, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** DENMARK. Summary of a report by Peer-Axel Kroeske about the Danish Sky Radio, the first nation-wide commercial station there: Not any announcers/DJ's per conception. Sky Radio matches the requirement to broadcast a certain amount of spoken content mostly by a call-in show after 10 PM; the licencing authority obviously resigned to this practice now. The automation works very rough and cuts songs off abruptly for commercials or the news (backtiming -- what's that?). And the ratings: About 4 percent with a declining tendency; where available (Kopenhagen, Århus, Randers) Radio 100 FM (run by Talpa) has better ratings now (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Sept 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. RFI has discontinued the analogue transmissions via Astra 1C; the previously used 7.56 MHz subcarrier on 11.421 GHz contains no audio anymore for some days now, so this is certainly no technical fault. The same transponder carries another silent audio carrier on 7.92 MHz and IBC Tamil on 7.38 MHz. Herewith the German service of RFI is for ordinary listeners available only via Internet audio and on FM in Berlin, Leipzig, Dresden and Chemnitz anymore. The feed transmissions via Eutelsat W3A on 11.283 GHz are still up, but who owns a steerable dish? According to earlier reports the analogue Astra transmissions were to cease already on Sep. 1, but later the editor-in-chief of RFI's German service said that they will continue until an Astra 1 spot for digital transmissions will be found. Not so, they were kicked off Astra without a substitute. It's been seven years or so since RFI German has been taken off mediumwave (Strasbourg-Sélestat 1278) and shortwave (for many years 6150 and 7145, only in the very last winter seasons 7145 had been replaced by a 75 m, in one case causing a terrible clash with Skelton). Back then satellite transmissions were hyped as the bright future of international broadcasting in ``deregulated markets``. Now they switch satellite off, too. Is it RFI's Salamitaktik (piecemeal tactics) to get rid of the German service they no longer consider as important but do for political reasons not dare to close it down in a straightforward manner as the BBC did? (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Sept 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. Re. ``675 kHz 1000 kW Superloustic Marseille`` and ``1161 kHz * 1000 kW Ciel AM Strasbourg``: These are the authorized powers. 675 being a brand-new megawatt facility? Hard to believe. In the past this frequency had 600 kW from Marseille-Réaltor --- see http://perso.wanadoo.fr/tvignaud/galerie/am/13realtor.htm Do they use the old transmitter there again? And 1161 will be a new transmitter at Strasbourg Port-du-Rhin; Ciel AM doesn't use TDF facilities (as only MW station in France they say), so 1161 will not originate from Sélestat again. The new facility at Port-du-Rhin allegedly have a capacity of 50 kW, using a quite make-shift antenna. Short transmitter tests were already observed, with a signal considerably weaker than Sélestat on 1278 (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Sept 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. A pirate station, on AM (medium waves) is reported in TOULOUSE. On the evening, on 1593 kHz, it's MAGIC AM. No more details for the moment. Best 73's (Christian Ghibaudo, Nice, Sept 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUATEMALA. R. Cultural, TGN: During a chat with the daughter of the manager of R. Verdad in Guatemala, she claims this is on the air on shortwave. After expressing my surprise and doubt, she insisted they are indeed on. She tried tuning them in while we were chatting but she said she was getting too much QRM from adjacent frequencies and also from the computer. I didn't ask but I wonder if they are on the air during the day when they would only be heard locally. 73's (Dave Valko, PA, Sept 27, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) Is she talking about 3300 or 5955? Last reported in May, 4-087 (gh, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL. AWR ENGLISH SHORTWAVE PROGRAMMING CHANGE. Adventist World Radio's English language service will convert from a centralized global service to a regionalized one in January 2005, according to AWR president Ben Schoun. Under the new plan, local studios primarily in Africa and the Asia/Pacific region will produce their own English programs, consistent with the format for AWR's other services. English language production operations in England will end later this year. "This move will also make us be more consistent with our mission, which is to reach people groups in their own languages," says Schoun (Shelley Nolan Freesland/AWR, via Dr. Hansjoerg Biener, Germany, BC-DX Sep 26 via Wolfgang Büschel, hard-core-dx via DXLD) So what becomes of Wavescan, the only program worth listening to on AWR, currently scripted in Indiana, produced in England? If it continue, must it too be regionalized with e.g. Livinus Torty`s African loggings only broadcast to Africa? This is not progress (gh, DXLD) ** IRAQ [and non]. "VOICE OF REBELLIOUS IRAQ" RADIO ON 864 KHZ UNCONFIRMED The Iraqi, or Iraqi-targeted, Arabic station called "Voice of Rebellious Iraq" was again observed on 864 kHz, this time from as early as 0825 gmt on 26 September. However, identification was again not possible due to severe co-channel interference from Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, IRIB, Kermanshah. BBC Monitoring observed IRIB regional station at Kermanshah on the new frequency of 864 kHz mediumwave at 1350 gmt on 19 September. IRIB Kermanshah had previously been observed on 1278 kHz mediumwave. Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 26 Sep 04 (via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. OLMERT TO OUST CONTROVERSIAL IBA DIRECTOR BAREL By Anat Balint --- Last updated: 02:13 26/09/2004 http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/objects/pages/PrintArticleEn.jhtml?itemNo=481662 Ehud Olmert, the minister in charge of the Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA), will shortly begin proceedings to fire IBA director- general Yosef Barel. Olmert is seeking Barel's dismissal because of the situation at the IBA and a breakdown in communication between his bureau and the IBA management in recent months. Olmert has wanted to get rid of both Barel and chairman Avraham Natan after several recent events at the IBA, including attempts by IBA management to lower thresholds for several tenders for senior positions - which Olmert put a stop to. Then there was a flight of journalists away from Channel 1 due to the undermining of their professional conditions, and Barel's report of a cumulative deficit for 2001-2 of NIS 35 million, when an external auditor found a deficit of NIS 200 million. Another serious incident was the setting up of illegal roadblocks by IBA staff who extracted NIS 20 million in TV licensing fees by threatening luckless drivers that their cars would be impounded. Several of Barel's associates were also promoted illegally. Barel will be summoned to a hearing before Olmert, after which the minister is required to ask for a recommendation by the IBA plenary. Later he will bring up the issue before the cabinet. If Barel is dismissed, it will be the first time a sitting IBA director has been dismissed by a cabinet minister's decision. The actions by Olmert's bureau are said to be a means of bringing the IBA to a crisis point, after which major changes can be implemented. However in light of past failures, it is not clear how far-reaching the changes will be. Olmert has already decided on Barel's replacement, an individual described by Olmert's associates as "an outstanding and worthy professional." In past conversations, Olmert has mentioned two candidates for the job, Avi Benayahu, now head of the Army Radio, and Yohanan Tzangan, presently head of Reshet, a Channel Two franchisee. Talks were held with Benayahu recently about the job, while talks with Tzangan were held only about ten months ago. There may be a third candidate whose name is being kept secret. The Prime Minister's office had withheld its approval of Barel's dismissal for a long period, but that opposition was apparently lifted a few weeks ago, as long as a substitute could be found for Barel. Meanwhile, in a a letter to Olmert and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Natan has announced his resignation in protest because Olmert has not appointed a board of directors for the IBA for the past nine months. "I warned that this situation is unreasonable by any public and moral yardstick and that a solution must be found immediately," Natan wrote in his resignation letter. "Unfortunately, I did not receive an answer. I cannot agree to this situation if steps are not taken to change it. The fact that I remained in my position might be understood as acceptance of the management of the IBA in this way. Since it seems to me that the issue is not going to be solved soon, I would like to announce my retirement as soon as possible." Natan's retirement comes after pressure was brought to bear on him from Olmert's bureau and a number of other public figures who sought to prevent his appointment for a second term as IBA chairman. Olmert has not appointed a board of directors since December in order to increase the pressure on Natan, because without the board, the IBA has no public supervision, curtailing Natan's ability to operate. The actions of Olmert's bureau are said to be a means of bringing the IBA to a "boiling point" that will require major changes. Meanwhile, the Movement for Quality Government has submitted a petition to the High Court of Justice that a board of directors be appointed for the IBA and that Natan be prevented from heading it for a second term. The petition called Natan's term as chairman a period of "crumbling of the stature of the plenary and the board of directors as supervisory bodies." Barel was appointed to the position temporarily in March 2002 and the cabinet made the appointment permanent in June of that year. Avraham Natan took up his post in October 2002 after the previous chairman, Nahman Shai, was pressured into resigning by Sharon. According to the IBA spokesman, the petition of the Movement for Quality Government has nothing to do with Natan's announcement of his retirement but rather that the petition actually raised the hope that a board would be appointed. However when this did not happen, Natan could no longer agree to carry the responsibility, and so he resigned. If Barel is dismissed, it will be the first time an IBA director has been dismissed by a minister, however relations between a minister and the IBA director have never before been as strained as they are now. The previous director, Uri Porat, was close to being dismissed by the IBA plenary (the public council which sets IBA policy), however Porat resigned when he realized a majority would be voting for his dismissal. According to the law governing the workings of the IBA, a director can be dismissed in several ways, all of which, except the director's announcement of his own retirement, require cabinet approval. The need for cabinet approval is what led Olmert to obtain approval in principle from Sharon before going ahead (via Doni Rosenzweig, DXLD) ISRAELI GOVERNMENT REFUSES TO COMMENT ON IBA DG'S FUTURE The Israeli Communications Ministry has refused to confirm a report in Sunday's edition of Haaretz that Minister Ehud Olmert intends to fire Israel Broadcasting Authority Director-General Yosef Barel. IBA spokesman Oren Helman said simply: "The IBA does not respond to reports of this kind. When we have something to say on the matter, we'll put out a proper press release." Barel, 70, has been head of the IBA since June 2002. He has made a number of controversial decisions such as an attempt to move IBA's English and Arabic news from Channel 1 to cable's Channel 33, and an attempt to close the REKA radio network that broadcasts in Russian and Amharic. If Barel is dismissed – which can only happen with the agreement of the cabinet – he will be the first IBA Director-General to be ousted. According to the Haaretz report, Olmert has at least two possible replacements in mind for Barel: Army Radio Commander Avi Benayahu and Reshet CEO Yohanan Tsangan, who served for many years as head of the IBA finance department before joining Reshet. # posted by Andy @ 11:54 UT Sept 27 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** JORDAN. 11690, Radio Jordan, 1553-1627* Sep 23, English lyric vocals until 1600 when a man gave ID and local TC: "The news 7:00 PM Radio Jordan, good evening." At 1614 a weather report for Jordan followed by Press Review at 1615. A couple of "Radio Jordan, 96.3 FM" IDs by a woman. At 1625 easy instrumental music until carrier cut. Good signal but needed USB to avoid RTTY. There were a number of transmission breaks during the monitoring period (Rich D`Angelo, Wyomissing PA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** LATVIA. 9289.99, EMR, *2100-2204+, Sat 25 Sept. Program start with series of canned multi-lingual IDs over dramatic instrumental music. Sign-on ID mentioning via Latvia, and address. Into "Fireball" by Deep Purple. Other songs "Easy" by Lionel Richie, "Silence is Golden", "Soul Man", and "We Will Rock You" (didn't play "We Are the Champions") by Queen. Variety of old and new pop and rock music with jingles, and announcements by M after every song. Gave phone #, e-mail address and London mailing address, frequency, and mentioned "Latvian Relay Service" and "Australia, good morning". Fairly decent signal and occasional machine gun ute QRM. Finally on the air at a time that works for North America (Dave Valko, Dunlo PA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** MALDIVE ISLANDS [non]. Frequency change for Minivan Radio in Dhivehi from Sep. 24: 1600-1700 NF 12015 (55544) JUL 100 kW / 105 deg, ex 13855* *to avoid VOR in Russian "Commonwealth" on 13850 and CRI in Russian on 13860 (Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 27 via DXLD) ** MEXICO. 6009.97, R. Mil, 0745 Sep 20, good and getting better with Conciencia absent this AM; many IDs, varied music, eventually blocked by HCJB German sign-on at 0930. What is the signal on 6009.4 that produces a het here? (Jerry Berg, MA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** MEXICO [non]. What`s become of R. Educación? Checked at 0215 UT Sept 27, 6185 bore nothing but Vatican Radio in listed Armenian. That explains the snippet of Khachaturian before closing (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. DIEZ GRUPOS DOMINAN EL MERCADO DE LA RADIO Gamboa Patrón entregó frecuencias de forma irregular http://edicion.yucatan.com.mx/noticias/noticia.asp?cx=9$0000000000$2995420 MÉXICO (Apro) --- La gran mayoría de las concesiones de televisión en las 31 entidades del país operan como simples repetidoras de alguno de los canales de Televisa o TV Azteca. Incluso se da el caso de que estaciones permisionarias (administradas por los gobiernos estatales) reproducen la programación comercial de alguno de los dos consorcios, lo cual viola flagrantemente lo estipulado en la Ley Federal de Radio y Televisión. (En esta segunda parte del reportaje de Apro cuya primera parte publicamos ayer bajo el título ``Radio y TV, poder con privilegios`` se detalla la concentración de concesiones de radio). Concentración en la radio En materia radiofónica, de acuerdo con los datos de la SCT y de la CIRT, la mayor concentración del control de 1,142 concesiones está en un núcleo de 10 grandes grupos: Radiorama, con el 16.27% de las frecuencias; ACIR-CMR, con 13.43%; CIMA-Somer (controladora del Núcleo Radio Mil), 11.88%; OIR-Radio Centro, 8%; Promosat o Grupo Promomedios, de Arturo Zorrilla Martínez, 4.9%; MVS, 4.30%; la cadena RASA, con el mismo porcentaje; la Organización Radio Fórmula, 3.79%; Multimedios Estrellas de Oro, 3.4%, y Radio S.A., presidida por Carlos Quiñones, 3.18%. En 1994, este selecto grupo de concesionarios radiofónicos recibió de la SCT el 73% de las 83 frecuencias adicionales, para operadores de estaciones en AM, sin que se registraran ni como concesión ni como permisos. Se les conoce como las frecuencias ``combo`` que, hasta la fecha, no han sido regularizadas. Los principales beneficiarios de estas frecuencias --- que se otorgaron durante la época en que Emilio Gamboa Patrón encabezaba la SCT --- fueron: Radiorama, cuyo presidente, Javier Pérez de Anda, dirigió la CIRT en ese mismo período y obtuvo 19 para su cadena; ACIR, de Francisco Ibarra López, recibió 12; a CIMA le adjudicaron nueve, a la cadena Rasa seis y a Somer cinco. Un estudio elaborado en la Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana sobre la distribución de frecuencias de radio por entidad federativa revela que el nivel de concentración en algunos estados rebasa ampliamente el parámetro de 30 a 35% de las concesiones. Por ejemplo, Radiorama en Campeche tiene el 73% de las frecuencias en AM y FM; en Puebla, ACIR concentra el 50% y, en Querétaro, el mismo grupo tiene 44%. En Aguascalientes, también Radiorama dispone del 48% de las frecuencias. Un solo grupo, Radio Integral --- propiedad de ACIR ---, es titular de 79 concesiones de radio. Este consorcio, presidido por Francisco Ibarra López, se constituyó en 1965 con cuatro radiodifusoras en Veracruz, Morelia y Guadalajara. Cuatro años después, en 1969, ya contaba con 22 emisoras, y en 1982 acaparaba 100. Actualmente, junto con Corporación Mexicana de Radio, opera 127 emisoras de radio en el territorio nacional. Otro de los grupos poderosos de radio, Organización Radio Fórmula (ORF), es presidido por Rogelio Azcárraga Madero. Es titular de por lo menos 26 concesiones a través de sus empresas Cadena Regional Radio Fórmula (tiene siete), Transmisora Regional Radio Fórmula (ocho) y Fórmula Radiofónica (11). La división de Televisa en radio es Cadena Radiodifusora Mexicana --- filial del consorcio de Emilio Azcárraga Jean ---, que posee la titularidad de 10 concesiones. El Grupo Radio Centro, de Francisco Aguirre Gómez, opera y/o es propietario de 11 estaciones de radio, de las cuales 10 están ubicadas en la ciudad de México. Cuenta, además, con Grupo Red y Organización Impulsora de Radio, por lo que registra un total de 93 emisoras en el país (via Horacio Nigro, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** MEXICO. RADIO Y TV: CONCENTRACIÓN Y PRIVILEGIOS http://www.proceso.com.mx/noticia.html?nid=26901&cat=0 Enemigos de la regulación pública, privilegiados por la clase política y el sector empresarial, los propietarios de la radio y la televisión en México constituyen uno de los poderes fácticos más fuertes y discrecionales del país, plantea Proceso en su edición de este domingo 19 de septiembre. Tan sólo en materia publicitaria, la televisión concesionada concentra el 74% de un total de cerca de 22 mil 700 millones de pesos anuales de inversión nacional en este rubro, mientras que la radio recibe 10% y la prensa apenas el 6%. Las disparidades entre medios impresos y electrónicos son brutales. En el 2002, mientras los ingresos totales de los periódicos cayeron 1.8% ante el descenso de ventas de ejemplares y de ingresos publicitarios, las ventas globales de Televisa y TV Azteca aumentaron 4.9%. El secreto de esta disparidad está en la propia concentración. Televisa, con sus filiales y repetidoras en todo el país, acapara el 66% de las 465 concesiones de televisión, mientras TV Azteca dispone del 31%. Alrededor de siete de cada 10 televidentes mexicanos prefieren alguno de los cuatro canales de Televisa, y alrededor del 20% del auditorio prefiere alguno de los dos canales de TV Azteca. En contraste con este criterio, aplicado en Estados Unidos y en varios países de Europa, los mexicanos Emilio Azcárraga y Ricardo Salinas Pliego se oponen férreamente a que en México exista una ``tercera cadena nacional`` de televisión abierta que -- como lo hacen ellos -- pueda operar más de un canal de televisión, dice el reportaje que publica Proceso en su edición de este domingo 19 de septiembre (via Horacio Nigro, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** MONACO [non]. See SOUTH CAROLINA [non] ** MONGOLIA. VOM error --- English from the Voice of Mongolia was noted today, Sept 28, at 1000 on 12085, so indeed the Sept 25 transmission at 1100 must have been a mistake just as gh suggested in DXLD. Also heard in English on 12014.8 at 1500 on Sept 26 (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW ZEALAND. RADIO NEW ZEALAND PURCHASES DRM CAPABLE SHORT-WAVE TRANSMITTER FROM THALES --- 28 September 2004 RADIO NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL TE REO IRIRANGI O AOTEAROA, O TE MOANA-NUI-A-KIWA PO BOX 123, Wellington, New Zealand Phone: (64 4) 4741 437 Facsimile: (64 4) 4741 433 E-mail address: info @ rnzi.com Web address: http://www.rnzi.com Radio New Zealand has signed a contract with Thales for a new digital capable (DRM) short-wave transmitter for its international broadcaster Radio New Zealand International (RNZI). The new 100 kW short-wave transmitter will be operational in early 2006. RNZI's current analogue short-wave transmitter (also from Thales) is nearing the end of its serviceable life. The new Thales transmitter will work alongside it and then replace it completely as RNZI's transmission mode into the Pacific. Radio New Zealand Chief Executive and Editor in Chief Peter Cavanagh says the decision to purchase from Thales recognizes the very significant contribution the company has made towards the DRM system. ``They have the largest number of transmitters in service carrying a DRM signal and they offer an excellent product``. The contract follows an announcement earlier this year by the New Zealand Government about a funding boost for RNZI to move to digital short-wave technology. RNZI Manager Linden Clark says DRM offers an ideal solution for a service like RNZI. ``The new transmitter will transmit a digital (DRM) signal for rebroadcast across the Pacific on our 14 Pacific partner radio stations. The current analogue transmitter will continue to deliver an analogue short-wave signal to individual Pacific listeners.`` "Thales is proud to have been selected by RNZ to execute this exciting new project, which is an important milestone in the history of DRM, " says Willi Tschol, Managing Director of the Thales Radio Broadcasting Activities. “I will be following the progress personally, and wish to thank the management of RNZ for their trust in our company and in the future of DRM." RNZI is New Zealand's international broadcaster, on air 24 hours a day with a service to the Pacific which reaches from Papua New Guinea in the west to French Polynesia in the east and covers all the Pacific region in-between. While broadcasting mainly in English, RNZI also carries news in Pacific languages, making it one of the most listened to, and respected, stations in the Pacific. The service was set up in 1990 with one analogue short-wave transmitter. Peter Cavanagh says ``the new transmitter secures the future of what has become a vitally important service for the people of the Pacific region. Radio New Zealand International plays a significant part in increasing an understanding and awareness of New Zealand’s role in the Pacific``. Linden Clark, Manager, Radio New Zealand International Lclark @ radionz.co.nz Ph 64 4 474 1436 Fax 64 4 474 1433 (via Wolfgang Büschel, DXLD) See also PITCAIRN; SOLOMON ISLANDS ** PERU. 5939.31, R. Melodía, 0922 canned ID, "Melodia Noticias". TC by W during each minute. Quick ID by live M anchor presenting the news. Strong and modulation sounding higher than usual, 25 Sept. 4964.98, R. Santa Mónica, 0934 ID by M during talk, campo music, more announcements. Another ID at 0937, then nice canned ID during beginning of the next song. 0953 canned ad mentioning R. Quillabamba and R. Unión. Then different live sleepy-sounding young M anncr at 0954. Nice signal and clearer towards 1000 as the het from the presumed ZY above 4965.07 or so was weakening, 25 Sept. (Dave Valko, RX: NRD-535D; ANT: Beverage of 300' at 175 +/-5 degrees; QTH: Reclaimed stripmine near Dunlo PA; Solar Indices: Solar Flux = 89, A Index = 5, and K Index = 3; WX: Partly cloudy. Calm. 67 degrees (19 C.), Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** PITCAIRN ISLAND. SIX JOURNALISTS TO ATTEND PITCAIRN TRIAL Radio New Zealand International, carrying New Zealand National Radio programming, reported that the latter's Sue Ingram will be one of only six journalists travelling to Pitcairn Island for the sexual offences trial to begin this week. Ingram told an interviewer the trial is set down for seven weeks. Seven men face 55 charges in total [earlier reports have said 96] - 14 of rape, 37 of indecent assault, two of gross indecency "and two others which have yet to be specified", all allegedly committed between 1969 and 1999. Some charges are understood to involve children under 12. The names of all defendants and complainants are being suppressed. Ingram said she understands most if not all complainants are "off-islanders". Communications will be by satellite phone and e-mail, with Pitcairn's Internet link recently upgraded. "The interesting thing will be our reception. Pitcairn Islanders have a history of hating writers, let alone the media. There are six journalists going, from all sorts of different media companies, and at the moment there is some speculation about whether in fact tensions will be so high, whether the islanders will actually decide to come out in their longboats and pick us up. If they don't, then we have to use the Zodiac inflatable from the boat that we'll be on," Ingram said. "Although we are travelling with the [New Zealand-based] deputy governor and we are travelling with a Seventh Day Adventist pastor, so again there is some suggestion that because we are travelling with those two people, the islanders will actually decide to come out. But the tension is going to be high, so we're going to have an interesting reception." Source: Radio New Zealand International, Wellington, in English 1015 gmt 27 Sep 04 (via DXLD) Wonder if any hams are involved? Since Pitcairn is predominantly SDA, this ought to be covered by AWR, but somehow I rather doubt it (gh, DXLD) ** SERBIA & MONTENEGRO [and non]. Re ``apparently not run through the Radio Yugoslavia continuation [meaning, master control, feedline]``: Not exactly. I used BBC terminology, obviously not a really good idea since it appears that the American terms are much closer to the German ones. ``Continuation`` is simply the BBC's pompous term for a live studio, while they consider only the announcer's booth as studio (in German the control room [Regieraum or simply Regie] is considered as part of a studio). The Radio Beograd 1 transmissions some years ago were framed with the Radio Yugoslavia IS and the feed thoughtfully faded up and down. This was a clear sign for this relay being fed through a Radio Yugoslavia studio. On the contrary, this time the audio is simply switched on and off, so certainly passes no studio at Radio Srbija i Crna Gora. The audio could still be fed through their master control (what in German is called Schaltraum; I think master control is an unambiguous term) and further on to the microwave link, although the odd on and off times could also indicate a simple off-air pickup (Ballempfang) at Bijeljina. And re. the RTS website offering audio streaming: ``Is this new?`` -- Probably. WRTH doesn't mention this website at all, but when 7200 drew my attention at RTS again a few days ago I felt that there must be something and indeed found a well maintained presence, complete with the streams. By the way, I am sceptical about the ``national`` coverage of the mediumwave frequencies since they obviously still use the same, lower powered transmitters as immediately after the Kosovo war. Namely 684 is only a far cry from the old days when it was a massive 2000 kW (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Sept 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RADIO BELGRADE FIRST PROGRAMME OBSERVED ON SHORTWAVE BBC Monitoring observed the main domestic radio service of Radio- Television Serbia (RTS), Radio Belgrade 1st Programme, being relayed on 7200 kHz shortwave at 1300-1428 on 26 September 2004. Programming was in parallel with their satellite signal on the Hotbird satellite at 13 degrees East (12188 MHz, vertical polarization, symbol rate 27500, FEC 3/4) and the live audio stream accessible from their web site at http://www.rts.co.yu. The shortwave transmitter on 7200 kHz is situated at RTS facilities in Bijeljina, in north eastern Bosnia-Hercegovina. Serbia-Montenegro no longer has any shortwave transmitters within its own borders, since the RTS facilities at Stubline were destroyed by NATO air strikes in 1999. Source: David Kernick, BBC Monitoring research in English 26 Sep 04 (via DXLD) ** SEYCHELLES. I was pleased to find the BBC World Service on 9630 this afternoon Sept 27th, from 2000 to its 2059 UT closing, from the Seychelles relay station in the Indian Ocean. Reception was very good with strength varying from S3 to S5 with only slight interference from a utility on about 9632. A check of the data from the HFCC A04 file shows the signal to be on a heading of 280 degrees from a 250 kW transmitter, intended for east Africa. I considered this frequency to be a better choice than the still-active-at-the-time 12095 from the BBC relay on Ascension Island for anyone interested in listening to the BBC during the late afternoon here in the eastern U. S. The dark- time signal path across Africa and the Atlantic ocean produced very listenable reception (Richard Howard, Burnsville, North Carolina, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SINGAPORE. Another Asian English-language service, with good signals in our mornings is RSI, noted equally on 6150 and 6080 around 1340 UT Sept 28 with Newsline about avian flu and humans (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOLOMON ISLANDS. BROADCASTER WELCOMES RADIO NEW ZEALAND DIGITAL PLAN | Text of report by Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation text web site on 27 September Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation, SIBC, welcomes the announcement by Radio New Zealand International that it would start broadcasting to the Pacific region using a new digital capable short- wave transmitter in early 2006. SIBC general manager Johnson Honimae says the corporation welcomes this announcement because it will mean a better quality relay of Radio New Zealand International programmes such as news and current affairs and sports every day for our listeners. He says the corporation sees one of the roles of SIBC as providing many sources of information for its listeners to enable them make decisions to improve their daily lives, adding that Radio New Zealand International is one of those sources through their many high quality programmes such as news and current affairs, and sports. Mr Honimae says with the inception of the new digital short-wave transmitter in 2006, the relay of the programmes through SIBC would be of a high quality and clarity for our listeners. He says Radio New Zealand International also plays an important role in the cyclone season in Solomon Islands because it carries the cyclone warnings 24 hours a day, something that SIBC is not able to do because of the lack of resources. Mr Honimae commends the New Zealand government for agreeing to boost funding to Radio New Zealand International to enable it to move to digital short-wave technology, saying this shows the New Zealand government's commitment to the people of the Pacific region. Source: Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation text web site, Honiara, in English 27 Sep 04 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. Last night (Monday 27 September) turning around the medium wave band I was most surprised to come across the unmistakable voice of Brother Stair on 702 kHz at 2155 UT. His closing announcement at 2158 made it clear that this was a test transmission of the Overcomer Radio Broadcast via Monte Carlo. Bro Stair didn't say if it was just a one-off transmission or if there will be further tests, but said that "if its the Lord's will we will make a decision very soon [whether] to continue broadcasting on Monte Carlo Radio 702 on your AM dial". There was also a brief announcement in German. In closing he mentioned there were "five or six hours" of afternoon broadcasts on 6110 kHz tomorrow [ie today]. Reception was very good here with slight background interference from a co-channel German station. 73s (Dave Kenny, BDXC-UK via DXLD) Have they no shame? ** TAIWAN. 11815, Voice of the NASB via RTI. Sept. 25 *1700-1730* Special test broadcast of the Voice of the NASB via Radio Taiwan International to the South Asia. Opening remarks with detail time, frequency and address for QSL, followed a program feature on station KNLS, Alaska. Severe co-channel interference presumably from R Liberty, Uzbek service. 73s, (Swopan Chakroborty, Kolkata, India, Sept 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** THAILAND. 7115, R. Thailand, 1055-1105, Sept. 24, Vernacular/ English, YL with talks, musical bridge, distinct IS at 1100 with OM in English, "R. Thailand World Service" ID and (presumably) again in Vernacular, followed by brief flutes, then YL with news. Weak but steady (Scott Barbour, NH, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7115 would be one of the old Bangkok-area transmitters, not the VOA Udorn station (gh, DXLD) ** TIBET [non non]. Re 4-147: 7240 no doubt is from the Lhasa main site. The audio is synchronous with the other Chinese frequencies from Tibet, i.e. 6050, 5935, 4820. The 7240 transmitter spends some hours on 7205, including 0000-0300 and 1500 to close. Currently there are no known transmitters outside Tibet that broadcast Lhasa services. Tibetan programs that form part of CNR-8 are produced in Beijing and relayed from Beijing, Xi'an and Baoji to Tibet, where they are included in Tibetan Radio's Tibetan service. CNR-1 and CNR-2 are included in Tibetan Radio's Chinese channel. For some time now the shortwave transmitters for the Tibetan channel have had a problem with an overactive compander, that very quickly turns up the volume even in brief pauses, so that a phoneline-like buzz is coming up very loudly (Olle Alm, Sweden, 27 Sep, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKEY. Winter B-04 schedule for Voice of Turkey: [NOTE: NOT IN EFFECT UNTIL OCTOBER 31] ALBANIAN 1230-1325 11910 ARABIC 1000-1155 15105 15245 1500-1655 6120 15195 AZERI 0800-0925 11835 15160 1500-1555 5965 BOSNIAN 1900-1955 6110 BULGARIAN 1430-1525 7140 CHINESE 1200-1255 15320 CROATIAN 1700-1725 9595 ============================= ENGLISH 0400-0450 6020 7240 1330-1420 15155 15195 1930-2020 6055 2130-2220 9525 2300-2350 7275 ||| ex 9655 for B-03 [into hamband!!!] ============================= FRENCH 2030-2125 7155 6050 GERMAN 1230-1325 17700 1830-1925 7205 GEORGIAN 0800-0855 11690 GREEK 1130-1225 9840 ||| ex 7295 for B-03 11855 1530-1625 6185 ||| ex 6015 for B-03 HUNGARIAN 1030-1125 15160 KAZAKH 1600-1655 7295 KYRGHYZ 1700-1755 6095 MACEDONIAN 0900-0955 11895 PERSIAN 0930-1025 11795 17690 1330-1455 11705 ROMANIAN 1030-1125 9560 RUSSIAN 1400-1455 11980 1800-1855 6135 SERBIAN 1430-1455 9510 ||| ex 11935 for B-03 SPANISH 1730-1755 9780 TATAR 1600-1655 5980 TURKISH 0500-0755 17690 0500-0955 11925 0800-1655 11955 ||| ex 0500-1655 15350 1000-1255 17720 1100-1555 17860# 1300-1655 9625 1700-2155 5980 ||| ex 9460 for B-03 1700-2255 6120 9560 1800-2255 9840 2200-0755 7300 ||| ex 9460 for B-03 TURKMEN 1630-1725 5965 URDU 1300-1355 15225 UZBEK 0200-0255 7115 1800-1855 5955 # Friday only (Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 27 via DXLD) ** UGANDA [non]. Radio Rhino International heard on 17870 out of Jülich, Germany at 1500 in English. (Program scheduled from 1500- 1530). Transmission is directed to Uganda. I sent a query off to mail AT radiorhino.org and received a reply back from Godfrey Ayoo indicating that they do accept reception reports and will QSL. 9/27/04 (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, USA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. Could BBC RADIO 1 become CHANNEL 4 RADIO 1 According to the GUARDIAN, CHANNEL 4, the commercial TV network, is exploring a bid for the pop outlet under the coming renewal of the BBC's royal charter; the government could hand over operation of RADIO 1 to C4, and with it the portion of the license fees collected from radio set owners that is assigned to RADIO 1. CHANNEL 4's interest in RADIO 1 is part of the network's exploration of changing its business model as ad revenues for its terrestrial network are affected by the move of viewers to satellite, cable, and digital TV; C4 operates digital channels E4 and FILMFOUR (allaccess.com via Brock Whaley, Sept 27, DXLD) Unthinkable? ** U K. Re ``When a Sri Lankan DXer was in London some years back I went into Bush House reception with him. They phoned the Tamil Section who came down to meet us and we spent some time in Bush House with them`` --- When I worked at the Bush House Shop in the mid 1980s (BBC World Information Centre and Shop to give its full title) there were no tours of Bush House as such, and reception would have flatly refused entrance to anyone. See also see my Monitoring Times cover story from Sept 2002 in the BBC World Service section at: http://members.tripod.co.uk/chrisbrand1977 However, when asked by fervent listeners who were visiting the BBC shop we did our best and would contact the appropriate language service, and on-duty presenters or production staff would often pop down for a chat, and maybe even take the visitor for a tour of their part of Bush House. I imagine security is tighter than ever now and even this is a rarity. But it would be worth contacting people in advance, if you are planning a visit to London, especially for the non-English services (Chris Brand, Sept 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [non]. EMOTIONS RUN HIGH OVER LOSS OF KZPN By James Faulk The [Eureka CA] Times-Standard Saturday, September 25 http://www.times-standard.com/cda/article/print/0,1674,127%257E2896%257E2426758,00.html As the voice of the BBC was stilled Friday when Jefferson Public Radio [Oregon] took over KZPN 91.5 FM, the woman who ran the station for many years -- as well as Friends of the BBC -- expressed grief. "It's been one quarter of my life," station manager and operator Monica Olsen said in a phone interview Friday. "It's a grieving process." For Friends of the BBC, the group formed to stop the transfer, the grief was tinged with anger. "I think it's an absolute travesty that Jefferson Public Radio thinks it has the right, that Ron Kramer thinks he has the right to move into a community that didn't ask for him and doesn't want his station," said Paul Cienfuegos of Friends of the BBC. The BBC's Caribbean feed has been aired over that station for several years. The station now broadcasts alternating feeds from Jefferson Public Radio to determine which the community will ultimately prefer. Humboldt Educational Enhancement Radio Service's sale of the station for $130,000 has been the source of much heated debate over the past several months. Olsen, whose [sic] been at the helm of the small station and was a key proponent of the changing format due to the time and commitment it required from her, was "grieved" by the change Friday. While she'll be relieved of a responsibility that she said has crippled her financially, she'll miss it. "I'll miss it and I'll miss those wonderful regular supporters -- they were awfully good to me," she said. "I feel to a certain extent that I let them down, but that's the way it goes." Carol Howard of Friends of the BBC expressed frustration and a determination to keep up the fight. "Today we lose a local treasure and Jefferson Public Radio adds number 59 to their collection of canned feeds," she said. "The loss of our KZPN to JPR is truly tragic. We enjoyed BBC World Service 24/7 -- the only such situation in the nation." The group has appealed to the FCC to stop the transfer, and Ron Kramer said Thursday that by not taking action, the commission has effectively rendered its decision. Howard said that the FCC has informed her group that the appeal is still working its way through the administrative process. "The FCC informed me that Jefferson Public Radio is taking a risk in commandeering the station before the FCC has ruled," she said. Jefferson Public Radio will host a meeting Oct. 6 to survey community opinion on whether to permanently program its News and Information Service or its Rhythm and News Service. Howard said she's glad that Jefferson Public Radio is soliciting public comment, but that "JPR needs to get real input and not simply dictate that we choose between two of their standard cassettes." Howard also said she is asking Humboldt County radio listeners to "withhold financial support" until Jefferson Public Radio presents a plan to make good on its promise to the FCC to provide local programming and cover local events. For now, Olsen is turning her attention to more mundane matters -- employment. "I need a job," she said. "Ten bucks an hour as long as it's legal, I'll do it." Offers can be sent to PO Box 905 in Bayside (via Rich Cuff, swprograms via DXLD) I doubt the programming of the new owner will have much appeal to the folks around Pebble Beach/Carmel but I could be wrong. Jefferson operates a number of stations in Oregon and Northern California including a bunch of translators, more translators than any other public radio station according to them. (Not counting the religious huxters proving daily what a bad money manager God must be. As George Carlin once said, He is all powerful, all seeing, and all knowing but He always seems to need more money.) This is from the Southern Oregon University web site: Southern Oregon University operates Jefferson Public Radio, a network of eleven radio stations and thirty-six translators serving 60,000 square miles of southern Oregon and northern California. In most portions of the listening area, the stations provide the only public radio service and therefore play a significant role in the cultural life of the region. Jefferson Public Radio offers a mixture of classical, jazz, and folk music as well as news and public affairs programs of both national and local interest. Jefferson Public Radio has been recognized nationally by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for the quality of its program production. The stations are affiliated with the Metropolitan Opera Network, the Consortium for Public Radio in Oregon, American Public Radio, National Public Radio, and the Associated Press. The stations are funded by the State of Oregon, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and the JPR Listeners Guild. Jefferson Public Radio is staffed by seventeen full-time personnel and numerous students and volunteers. Many students have taken skills acquired at Jefferson Public Radio into careers in radio or television broadcasting. The station invites participation by students from various academic areas (e.g., political science students to produce public affairs programs; music majors as commentators on music programming). The network's news department, supervised by a professional news director, offers another opportunity for students to experience collecting, reporting, editing, and producing news reports of local and regional interest for broadcast during the station's weekday morning newscasts and its afternoon, half-hour, award-winning regional news magazine, The Jefferson Daily. The Jefferson Monthly publication contains program information, an arts calendar, articles about southern Oregon and northern California, and a section of prose and poetry. Students interested in writing or providing artwork for publication are invited to inquire at the Jefferson Public Radio office. Jefferson Public Radio Foundation Ronald Kramer, Executive Director The Foundation raises money to supplement federal and state funds supporting the campus- based Jefferson Public Radio network of public radio stations serving southern Oregon and northern California. It also publishes the magazine, Jefferson Monthly, as a service to its members. Jefferson Monthly covers news, arts, and feature items of interest to members and provides program listings for Jefferson Public Radio stations. ~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-., (via Joe Buch, swprograms via DXLD) see also SEYCHELLES -*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^ ** U S A [non]. Additional frequency for Radio Free Asia in Mandarin Chinese: 1500-1600 on 7525 + Chinese Music Jammer \\ 9455, 9905, 11765, 12025, 13675, 15495, 15680. 73! (Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 27 via DXLD) Wonder if that`s Taiwan? Also may be new: 1700-1800 9950, 2300-2400 9940; and KHBN at 1100-1200 and 1400-1500 on 9965 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. I certainly have not been monitoring them constantly, so I wonder if anyone has noticed any downtime caused by T. S. Jeanne as it neared Cypress Creek, Walterboro (ha!), Newport or Greenville (Glenn Hauser, OK, Sept 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WRMI back on the air after precautionary closedown for H. Jeanne, but on 6870 instead of 9955 at the early hour of 0007 UT Sept 27 in Spanish! --- unusual for its North American service frequency. Wonder if this mean there was damage to the corner reflector antenna used for 9955 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn: No damage to the antennas, but we've got some kind of transmitter problem; not sure if it's related to the storm. Couldn't get 9955 to work, so we went to 6870 four hours earlier than usual. We'll see if we can figure out what the problem is tomorrow morning. I've had no word from WYFR yet. I imagine that at best, the power's out again (Jeff White, WRMI, Sept 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. I just got a call from Evelyn Marcy, Dan Elyea's secretary at WYFR in Okeechobee. She said that Dan wanted me to let the Board know that there has been extensive damage at the transmitter site from Hurricane Jeanne. All power is out. Power poles are broken in half across Route 98, reducing it to one lane. When Hurricane Frances hit three weeks ago, part of the roof of the transmitter building was torn off, and this time even more was torn off. They have not been able to do an assessment of damage to the transmitters and antenna field yet, but the towers are still standing. (They have 14 transmitters at this site.) There are rumors that it will take at least three weeks to restore power in the area, so WYFR is probably going to be off the air for some time. I will let you know if I get any updates (Jeff White, NASB, Sept 27, via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 690, WOKV Jacksonville, FL on day power/ ND pattern with hurricane info, now Sunday night EDT/ Monday morning UT 0200. Also noted, 850 WRUF Gainesville, FL. Usual WRUF night pattern nulls the North (Brock Whaley, Lilburn, GA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Simulcasting Hurricane --- With Hurricane Jeanne hitting Florida, WFLA-TV Tampa is having their audio feed shared with other radio stations and Internet streaming sites. • WWRM - webcast • WSUN - webcast • WPOI - webcast • WHPT - webcast • WDUV - webcast Storm Team 8 on radio: Listen to an audio simulcast of News Channel 8 on these radio stations. • Magic - 94.9 FM • 97X - 97.1 FM • The Point - 101.5 FM • The Bone - 102.5 FM • The Dove - 105.5 FM • The Eagle - 107.3 FM • 97 Country - 97.5 FM • The Rose - 98.3 FM • Spirit FM - 90.5 FM • WONN - 1230 AM • WLKF - 1430 AM (via Pete Kemp, FL, Sept 26, NRC-AM via DXLD) And this is supposed to ease the guilt these radio stations have because they have zero news departments???? Many of those stations are owned by the same company....(not who you think..) Here in Sarasota, WWSB CH 40 has been off the air since early this morning. They have a good local news dept and are an ABC affiliate. Lucky they direct feed the Sarasota Cable TV headend from their studios so the are still getting to people who still have cable in Sarasota. WWPR 1490 in Bradenton is off. Running on generator power, (Paul Smith, W4KNX, Sarasota, FL, Sept 26, ibid.) ** U S A. "IBAC system to be discussed" Kevin Redding's acronym is being used by the IEEE! http://www.rwonline.com/dailynews/one.php?id=5890 (Harry Helms W5HLH, Wimberley, TX EM00, NRC-AM via DXLD) I thought the technology was called "In-Band On-Channel" or IBOC. When did it become IBAC?? (Bill Hale, TX, ibid.) About 6 months ago I called it by what its correct name should be, In Band ADJACENT Channel since the sidebands encroach upon the adjacent frequencies. Its a hell of a lot more accurate than IBOC. I started calling it that on Barry Mishkind's Broadcast and Radio-Tech lists and I guess it got picked up. I used it on NRC AM quite a few times too. I guess I get my 15 minutes about now? (Kevin Redding, Mesa AZ, Sept 24, ibid.) Well, IBOC as the name is simply a fraud. The digital is on the first TWO adjacents, hence In Band ADJACENT Channel as some call the system. (Powell E. Way III, ibid.) Viz.: IBAC System to be Discussed at IEEE Broadcast Symposium Several sessions at the upcoming IEEE broadcast meeting in Washington look interesting. Some IBOC observers believe a new digital FM concept to be described by a German engineer "holds out the promise for a digital format that would eliminate some of the transmitter site implementation costs connected with IBOC," said one U.S. engineer to RW Online. In the paper titled, "A New DAB Scheme for the FM Band Based on Continuous Phase Modulation," by Claus Kupferschmidt of Hanover University, Germany, he proposes a new broadcasting scheme for the transmission of digital audio signals simultaneously with existing analog FM radio (88-108 MHz) in adjacent channels, denoted as an in- band-adjacent-channel system. As described in the abstract, "This scheme enables the transmission of digital audio data in CD quality with a data rate of up to 200 kb/s within an FM 200 kHz channel. The digital transmission is based on continuous phase modulation and a proper reduced-state sequence estimator. CPM is the digital equivalent to analog FM and has a constant envelope, a great advantage, because existing nonlinear amplifiers can be reused to achieve good efficiency and low out-of-band radiation. CPM also enables broadcasting companies to reuse the existing infrastructure (amplifiers, antennas, frequency bands) to reduce investment costs and improve the chances for an introduction of CPM as a new broadcasting standard. We have conducted field tests in the city area of Hanover with a real broadcasting system based on the proposed CPM broadcasting scheme with the support of the northern German broadcast service in Hanover with encouraging results." The radio sessions at IEEE are on Thursday, Oct. 14. Other topics to be discussed include AM Digital Radio Mondiale tests in Spain and the latest about low bit rate codec tests and listener fatigue tests for the Tomorrow Radio project. To register and see the program, go to: http://www.ieee.org/organizations/society/bt/symp/fullprogram.html (RW Online via DXLD) FWIW, IBAC is a frequently used acronym already in the industry - do a search for "IBAC" + "radio" and you'll see bunches of hits. Now we all would agree iBiquity's full digital system is IBOC but as Kevin points out, the hybrid system can really be seen as IBAC. So guess which word iBiquity uses to refer to the entire (all digital and hybrid) system? Why surprisingly, it's the less onerous "IBOC". (Chuck Hutton, ibid.) You may want to check out this site, http://www.ibiquity.com/hdradio/hdradio_hdstations.htm for a list of stations (by state) using or planning to use digital - mostly FM, but a few AM stations noted. So far, I'm being spared in my area (Mike Hardester, Jacksonville, NC. 34.47.05 N, 77.23.24 W, ICOM R-70 and Radio West 22" Ferrite Loop, ibid.) "IBAC" is "In band Adjacent Channel"; a satiric name given to this slop-meister technology by certain NRC members. Myself, I like "Idiots Believe Our Claims", or "It's Banned Over Canada". 73 (Mike Brooker, Toronto, ON, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. VOICESTRUCK IN PHILLY BY TERRY GROSS By Michael Phillips Tribune theater critic September 26, 2004 PHILADELPHIA -- "Do we say we're friends of the bride or the groom?" inquires the famous voice, the voice that launched a thousand chats. It's an unexpected thrill hearing it in person, outside the vicinity of a car stereo or a kitchen. What am I, voicestruck? Yes. Terry Gross leaves me voicestruck. We are in the 19th floor lobby of the Park Hyatt Philadelphia, once known as the Bellevue Stratford, which in 1976 became infamous as the home of Legionnaires' Disease. This rainy morning the lobby is taken up with a wedding photography session: Bride and groom and well-coiffed extras smiling, smiling, smiling as the man with the flash flashes away, trying to get the potted palms and smiles and Philadelphia skyline just so. Then the tuxes and long dresses depart, and the host and co-executive producer of the NPR program "Fresh Air," now heard on more than 400 stations, settles herself near the edge of a sofa nearly as deep as it is wide. Gross, 53, has made her career being on the other side of this arrangement. Since going national in 1987, "Fresh Air" has brought together the Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York, native -- electronically, at least; Gross sits in her WHYY-FM booth in Philadelphia while talking to her subject in a different time zone, in a studio far, far away -- with various musicians, actors, politicians, pundits, writers and artists. In Chicago "Fresh Air" is heard weekdays 11 a.m.-noon on WBEZ-FM 91.5. Her delivery is one of the indelible beauts of contemporary radio. The inquisitive sensibility behind the voice betrays a wealth of knowledge and interests, as well as a near-pathological fear of coasting on voice alone. . . http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/arts/chi-0409250267sep26,1,1630436,print.story?coll=chi-leisurearts-hed (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. Hey Glenn, Anybody succeeded in tracking down that 1710 pirate that's being heard on the U.S. East Coast a few nights a week? I've heard it twice in mid-September, between 0100 and 0300 UT, deep QSB, peaking at about Q3 at best, but elusive to ID. They seem to be playing histrionic singing in what I'd call a "pop opera" style --- with large orchestra and solo male vocalist --- but it's not standard operatic repertory. It sounds vaguely Greek, Balkan or Middle-Eastern --- with an outside chance of being either Kurdish or Basque. Somebody in an earlier report mentioned a possible Lubavitcher station on the frequency. The musical style would seem to be consistent, but that's as much as I can say about it. Occasionally a male voice speaking in English is heard, but QSB is too deep to decode any of it. My receiver is simply a digital dashboard car radio, which is actually quite sensitive when the ignition is turned off. But the station is marginal at best. Either they're very far away from Western Massachusetts, where I'm based, or else they're running '50s-vintage surplus AM ham gear, such as a Johnson Viking Valiant, which was capable of a few hundred watts on 160 meters. If in fact it is a Lubavitcher pirate, a likely place to turn the DF loops would be toward the Adirondack mountains of New York State, where there is a very robust and long-established Lubavitcher community. The ruggedness and remoteness of the terrain would afford some natural protection for a low-frequency pirate; and signal propagation into Western Massachusetts would be consistent with a low- powered signal coming from that area. Any clues? 73, (Dave Beauvais, KB1F, Amherst, MA, Sept 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Dave, Oh yes, seems certain to be in Crown Heights, Brooklyn NY. There have been lots of items about this in 9 recent issues of DXLD, as I just searched on Lubavitcher at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html --- 4-147, 142, 140, 139, 137, 136, 134, 133, 132 They have a website which however refers to 1620 where there may be another transmitter not so widely heard. I understand there are also a lot of X-band pirates in the Boston area, so possibly you are hearing something from there, altho I don`t recall 1710 being reported in particular. From your angle you should be able to a rough idea of which direction fits, other than on a car radio. Well, you mentioned DF loops, but maybe you meant that you don`t have one. The Adirondacks idea is interesting, so it would be nice to rule that in or out. 73, (Glenn to Dave, via DXLD) Thanks for the note about the Lubavitchers, Glenn! My life situation at the moment doesn't allow for much actual equipment, but I'll keep monitoring 1710 and report anything new. The legal NYC/NJ stations on 1660 (in Korean) and 1680 (in English and South Indian "Banglish") come pounding in up here at night, so an old AM ham transmitter on 1710 is certainly not out of the question. vy 73, (Dave, KB1F, Beauvais, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yom Kippur was Friday night to Saturday night. I can tell you with 100% confidence that the station was completely unattended over YK. I assume that they're automated in some fashion, since it seems that they also operate routinely over the Sabbath. I'm also pretty sure that they had no idea that there was any problem with the automation over YK. They weren't listening. Even if they were aware of it, they still wouldn't have done anything to fix it until the holiday was over (Brian Leyton, Valley Village, CA, NRC-AM via DXLD) They run an unattended open carrier every sabbath that I've heard them. I read one e-mail on this list from someone very close to NYC that suggested they heard the weird stuff distinct from Lubaavitcher. At least, that's how I read the message (Saul Chernos, ON, ibid.) ** U S A. I thought you'd enjoy the linked story about the secretive and byzantine (some former employees say "terrorizing") management of Boston's WBUR, and an attempted Pacifica-network-type hijack, involving the proposed sale of public stations to possible commercial interests for big $$$$$ (Dave, KB1F, Beauvais, MA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: When Good Community Radio Stations Go Bad.... The take-home message for all of us: lack of public accountability and transparency on the part of non-commercial radio station management causes nothing but trouble. http://makeashorterlink.com/?U22015569 (via VF Radio via Dave Beauvais, DXLD) [same as in 4-146, linked] RHODE ISLANDERS FIGHT WRNI SALE Boston University's proposed sale of WRNI (1290 Providence) and WXNI (1230 Westerly) isn't a done deal, at least as far as some RHODE ISLAND state officials are concerned. Attorney General Patrick Lynch stepped into the fray last week, asserting his concern about the fate of donations made to the WRNI Foundation, the WBUR-controlled entity that handles the station's finances and holds their licenses. In the meantime, the Foundation for Ocean State Public Radio, which says it's raised more than $3 million in donations to WRNI since the station went on the air in 1998, says it will fight to keep the stations on the air with their current public radio format - even as it tries to avert WBUR's effort to sell the licenses. The WBUR organization, never known for its openness with information, acknowledged to the Boston Globe that WRNI supporters were "shocked" by the sale announcement, even as station managers made the claim that WBUR never intended to operate the Rhode Island stations for more than a few years, a position that WBUR somehow never took publicly at any point before it announced the impending sale a week ago. What happens next? Lynch is asking the WRNI Foundation for a full accounting of its donations and finances, as well as to hold off on offering the stations for sale. As always, stay tuned... (Scott Fybush, NE Radio Watch Sept 27 via DXLD) ** U S A. RADIO FREE BRATTLEBORO STILL PLUGGING FOR AIR By Mike Kail. Reformer Staff http://www.reformer.com/Stories/0,1413,102~8862~2430042,00.html Brattlebro -- Cam Goodwyn played psychic Sunday, telling fortunes to radio free brattleboro supporters at a fund-raiser. But there was one question she couldn't even fake an answer to: What is the future of the unlicensed radio station? Will it be forced off the air? "I wouldn't even pretend," said Goodwyn, an rfb deejay. "I would love to be able to predict the future of rfb." But Goodwyn made it clear she is not a psychic; she's not even a Tarot card master. She hopes a pending civil suit brought against the station by the FCC will work in the station's favor. A verdict in Vermont District Court could either mean they can continue broadcasting or not and pursue further legal options. The station's participants and supporters on Sunday held a fund-raiser at the Brattleboro Common. The event brought in roughly $1,500. The first of its kind, it was hosted by Top of the Hill Grille. Some of that money will go toward upgrading and maintenance of the pirate radio station -- some will help pay for an ongoing legal battle with the FCC. Rfb co-founder Sarah Longsmith said she first hoped to raise $1,000, but then after seeing the Common swell, wanted more like $2,000. It was tough for her to tell how many people showed up; the crowd fluctuated and people came and went, and sometimes returned. "I try not to have an expectation, because this is the first time we've had this event," she said. The 10-watt station -- operated from Brattleboro without the FCC's blessing -- can technically be forced off-the-air at any time, said Jim Maxwell, the station's pro-bono lawyer. This is because the station does not have a broadcasting license, which the FCC does not grant to 10-watt stations. In the meantime, the station is trying to drum up more local support. But the most pro-rfb people can do is hound Vermont's delegation -- Sens. Patrick Leahy, a Democrat, Jim Jeffords, a Republican-turned- independent, and independent Rep. Bernard Sanders, said state Rep. Sarah R. Edwards, P-Brattleboro. She said supporters must contact them, asking them to pledge their support. State Sen. Jeanette K. White, D-Windham, said there is nothing to her knowledge the Vermont Legislature can do about the situation because it is a federal matter. Edwards and White said Sunday they support the station. None of the state's delegates -- all seen as liberals -- have explicitly shown support for the station. The station -- with nearly 50 shows and more than 60 hosts -- broadcast in Brattleboro for almost four years without FCC interference. Then, two complaints in the first half of 2003 that the station's signal was interfering with a Massachusetts station, prompted the FCC to react and shut the station down. The station eventually returned to the air on 107.9 FM, a channel saved for a community radio station in town, which has not been filled by the FCC. In February, the FCC and rfb filed civil charges against one another. Rfb sought to bar the FCC from shutting them down and seizing equipment; the FCC sought an immediate shut down of the station. Rfb later dropped the charge, saying it was pointless because the judge declined the FCC's request to immediately shut down rfb. Though the station is being represented free-of-charge, costs are bound to add up, Maxwell said. "There's no question: It costs money to stick up for your rights," Maxwell said. In March, town voters overwhelmingly supported the station, voting 1,519 to 780 on a ballot question, asking whether they authorize the station to broadcast. The station has also gotten an endorsement from the Brattleboro Selectboard. And Sunday's event, rfb members said, showed even more the community has no problem with them broadcasting (via Mike Terry, Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. KZPN converts from BBCWS to JPR: see UK [non] ** U S A. I talked with WW1 today, trying to find a Bohannon affiliate I could hear here in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The geographically clueless man I talked with had no solid suggestions (and kept confusing "50 kW blowtorches" with the industry giant "Clear Channel.") Any suggestions? I don't have extremely fancy tuning equipment, nor can I find an affiliate list anywhere (Blaine Thompson, Fort Wayne, IN, Sept 27, NRC-AM via DXLD) WBT Charlotte, NC 1110; WPTT 1360 Pittsburgh; WCSI 1010 Columbus, Indiana? Google search may have others (Phil Greenspan, Marshfield, MA, ibid.) Blaine, I went to the WBT site and Jimbo does NOT reside there. WISW carries him from 1 AM on, but there's not a whisper of a chance you can hear it. I don't know if they stream anymore. I can hear them at my house but I'm only a few miles from the transmitter site (Powell E. Way, III, SC, ibid.) There's always good old 100kw - select "talk" under format search and then just search the results for "Bohannon." I come up with a few possibilities for Fort Wayne reception of Boho: WKZO 590 Kalamazoo, WPTF 680 Raleigh, WHO 1040 Des Moines (probably the best choice), WXNT 1430 Indianapolis and KDNZ 1650 Cedar Falls IA... s (Scott Fybush, NY, ibid.) I hear Jim on KGGF 690 Coffeyville KS, local here but DA east and west at night with 5 kW. Also on KWTO 560 in Springfield MO, later delayed on KRMG 740 Tulsa null to North east. Jim got his start in radio on KLWT 1230 Lebanon MO his home town around 1962. Lebanon is 120 miles NE if here (John Tudenham, Joplin MO, ibid.) And he goes back to Lebanon and Springfield at least once a year, it seems, for special appearances. I was just updating my MONITORING REMINDERS CALENDAR, since KOKC 1520 dropped Bohannon about the same time it dropped KOMA; that used to be a terrific source for JimBo over the western half of the country, except 0345-0400 UT break for the gospel huxter! Also gone from my local KGWA 960 Enid. I can also get KGGF and KRMG, altho not too clearly at night, but I had researched a few webcasting stations carrying him, and reconfirmed a few from their current websites, not yet from actual webmonitoring: WNTK http://www.wntk.com and WMEL http://www.1050wmel.com --- both live at 0207-0459 UT Tue-Sat, but lotsa luck on Friday nights; WEVD http://www.1050wevd.com and KRMG http://www.krmg.com --- both delayed until 0607-0859 UT, ``K57`` Guam, http://www.radiopacific.com/k57 much delayed to 1707-1959 UT, except UT Sat 0307 delayed only one hour. Don`t try to go to http://www.jimbotalk.com unless you like subjecting your computer to opening page takeovers and free screensavers, and the other site http://www.jimbohannon.com seems gone too. There is probably still a totally uninformative page for him at Westwood One. Is he really on WHO 1040? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** URUGUAY. The only URG stns which are not being not heard are: 6055 Universo, Castillos 6140 Montecarlo, Montevideo 6155 Banda Oriental, Sarandí del Yi 9595 Montecarlo, Montevideo 11735 Oriental, Montevideo So: 6010 Em Ciudad de Montevideo 6125 SODRE, Montevideo 6045 Sport, Montevideo 9620.7 SODRE, Montevideo are active (Horacio Nigro, Uruguay, Sept 26, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ?? 9620.8, SODRE (presumed), Here the entire time well past 1000, 25 Sept. with bits of classical music coming through. Too weak to ID. 9620 station not much of a problem on the 175 degree Beverage (Dave Valko, RX: NRD-535D; ANT: Beverage of 300' at 175 +/-5 degrees; QTH: Reclaimed stripmine near Dunlo PA; Solar Indices: Solar Flux = 89, A Index = 5, and K Index = 3; WX: Partly cloudy. Calm. 67 degrees (19 C.), Cumbre DX via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 6104.7, This popped up again here with big OC signal at 1002 25 Sept. Had a bit of a buzz to it. Gone at 1021 on check, although it was still there at 1019. Was hoping to catch it signing on (Dave Valko, RX: NRD-535D; ANT: Beverage of 300' at 175 +/-5 degrees; QTH: Reclaimed stripmine near Dunlo PA; Solar Indices: Solar Flux = 89, A Index = 5, and K Index = 3; WX: Partly cloudy. Calm. 67 degrees (19 C.), Cumbre DX via DXLD) 6104.72, After hearing this station a month ago, the daughter of the manager of R. Verdad in Guatemala offered to help translate the announcements I recorded. She says this is what she hears during the announcement at 0924: "...Presenta su sección de materiales de electricidad... profesionalmente... para la "indemnización" e instalación de... Sociedad Anónima, casa central, Avenida... con teléfono 20544... Avenida de los inmigrantes con teléfono 20649 or 26 al 49... correa.... Avenida progreso, Santa Rita, Copán... sólo repuestos originales... para caja de cambio... para motor... para el acelerador... repuestos originales para la buena... 20336 Galería progreso, Santa Rita, Copán.``. I was surprised with the mention of Copán, and she replied ``It seems is from Honduras``. As for the announcement at 0930, she said all she could copy was the mention of 88.3 FM. If she`s right then maybe this is a new station from Honduras (Dave Valko, PA, Sept 27, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) Hello Dave! I have not been working with this station but is audible also here in Quito. There is a possibility you have heard the Brasilian station R. Cultura Filadélfia, Foz do Iguaçu - is relaying programs from different Spanish speaking religious stations. 73s (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, ibid.) Santa Rita (Alto Paraná) area in Paraguay seems to have those 20.000 series tel numbers and also similar looking street address as Dave reports. Example: http://www.guiadelaindustria.com.py/directorio.php?par_letra=O (Jari Savolainen, ibid.) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RADIO STAMPS ++++++++++++ OK, as all know by now, these are NOT "radio" stamps, unless you want them to be. They can be your "dog" stamps, your "cat" stamps, your "classic car" stamps, or your "radio-shack" stamps... even your "mug shot" stamps. It's a great idea to those who live in countries who offer the service. Imagine, receiving ham qsls with "call letters" stamps... ouch, be careful who you send your digital photo to.... I received two sheets of stamps last year from JAPAN in October, with one "pair" cut out and used on the outside envelope. Gastly enough, the "radio stamp" was me (& wife) on the stamp, sent from a fellow DXer from JAPAN who visited us in the States and then sent them to us, (I'm surprised customs let it through!!!!). The two sheets are different denominations, and yes, the photo part is laser printed. My question is which country started it first? (Konnie Rychalsky, Sept 26, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Canada Post also offer personalized "Picture Postage" stamps. http://www.canadapost.ca/personal/collecting/default-e.asp?stamp=postage Send us your favourite photograph and we'll make it into a sheet (25 self adhesive stamp frames and photos) of domestic rate stamps, for just $24.95. 73 (Mike Brooker, Toronto, ON, ibid.) Is this the beginning of the end of `official` government-designed and issued postage stamps, with some artistic, historical merit? (gh, DXLD) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ CÉLIO ROMAIS, JORNALISTA Re: Seems the same as his `Panorama` column which appears (not any more?) in @tividade DX, also posted to Conexión Digital (gh, DXLD) Caro Glenn, O Panorama seguirá com informações mais específicas de DX. Já o site tem outras abordagens, como por exemplo: novos programas, profissionais em destaque, ênfase para notícias brasileiras em ondas médias. Os espaços `guia` e `artigos` enfocam mais o lado do simples ouvinte, objetivando buscar novos adeptos para o DX. A linguagem é ``simples``, como definiu o colega Adiel Nunes. Com este linguajar, pretendo divulgar o DX para todos, não somente para o público dexista, como vinha ocorrendo até agora com o Panorama. O diferencial do site é que ele será alimentado diariamente com novas informações. 73s! (Célio Romais, DX LISTENING DIGEST) DRM / POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The Digital Radio Mondiale(tm) consortium has taken a position opposing power line communications (PLC). Their support is probably too late to influence the upcoming FCC decision but might help elsewhere. Here is a portion of their statement issued September 17: "There is, however, an electrical radiation hazard that threatens today`s analogue radio services, as well as radio`s bright digital future. DRM`s members are deeply concerned about interference to the radio spectrum caused by harmful emissions from Power Line Communications (PLC), a controversial new method of delivering Internet service to, and distributing data services within, households using AC power lines. PLC emissions levels are currently under consideration by governmental bodies in several countries. "Over the past 2 years, DRM`s members have measured the effect of PLC emissions on analogue and digital broadcasts in both laboratory and field tests. The test results, which have been reported to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), show that PLC radiation obliterates radio broadcasts. If PLC emissions are too high, existing analogue and digital radio broadcasts are in many cases suddenly wiped out, meaning that listeners hear either electrical interference, or nothing at all, instead of the radio programming they have tuned into. DRM`s members believe that further, independent testing of PLC emissions` effect on radio broadcasts will reveal pertinent information for manufacturers and consumers alike. DRM`s members are concerned that consumers may be unaware of the hazards of PLC interference to the radio broadcasts they rely on today, as well as future broadcasts. "DRM`s members strongly urge those governmental bodies that are exploring PLC implementation to safeguard the broadcasting bands from PLC emissions` interference. In order to preserve the stability of the worldwide radio spectrum now and into the future, it is vital that governmental officials and regulatory bodies take appropriate protective measures today." The entire statement is at: http://drm.org/pdfs/newsevents/DRMStatementPLCseptember04.pdf ~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-., (Joe Buch, DE, Sept 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) -*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^ POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Re FCC BPL Meeting: Joe, I thought it was the LAW the FCC had to release the results of the tests --- has someone thought of doing a FOIA to get them? (Maryanne Kehoe, swprograms via DXLD) ARRL tried. FCC refused. FCC can refuse FOIA requests if the requested information is considered proprietary by somebody. BPL manufacturers probably required FCC to agree that they would only cooperate in FCC tests if the test data were kept confidential to the government. BPL is a competitive, commercial endeavour so test data could be considered proprietary by the manufacturers. The engineering folks at FCC have no interest in telling the Commissioners that their hair-brained enthusiasm for BPL is misplaced. The ARRL is correct; the FCC wants BPL and is hell-bent to make it happen. In my opinion, the whole comment process will do little to protect us from interference because the FCC engineers will find a way to tell their bosses what they want to hear. To do other than that could be career limiting. This whole process is just another manifestation of how corporate interests have captured this government. There is little to distinguish the two major political parties in this matter. They both have endorsed cheap broadband for the masses. The FCC has told their political bosses that BPL is the answer for the rural areas, which also happen to characterize many of the swing states in the coming federal election. I do not expect a regime change in November, unlikely as that may be, to affect any FCC rulings in October. So beating the bushes to get the data will do little for our cause. (Pun intended.) ~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-., (Joe Buch, swprograms via DXLD) -*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^ Had the chance to hear the Canadian saga of BPL on Sunday. One of the ODXA guys was able to obtain the architecture of the Sault St. Marie test loop that was run earlier this year. One of the interesting elements that came out of the testing up in Sault was that the point source distance-squared model of radation decay is technically inappropriate since the radiator is a wire, not a point. As a result, the radiation decayed on a linear distance basis, not a least-squared basis, in the vicinity of the wire. We also saw pictures of what BPL injection / removal connections looked like, so it's a bit easier to spot BPL installations from the ground. Joe -- you should get together with the ODXA's Bob Hawkins and compare notes (Rich Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, ibid.) Yes, the ARRL, National Science Foundation, NTIA and others have noted the 1/D field strength argument. Radiation from a point source decays as 1/D^2 where D is the distance from the emitter. An infinite line source causes the field to decrease at 1/D where D is the perpendicular distance to the wire. An interesting extrapolation is that perpendicular to an infinitely large conducting plane the field does not decrease at all. How about that. Build an infinitely large copper plate and you would have a way to transmit power very efficiently. Where is Tesla when we need him? The counter argument from the manufacturers is that the concern is irrelevant because the wires don't radiate appreciably at all. There is a second wire running parallel to the first wire which is fed with an equal and opposite phase polarity signal. Because the wires are spaced closely together in terms of the wavelength at HF, the fields effectively cancel each other at a distance of 10 times the line spacing or so. Just like an open wire transmission line will have no radiation if the currents in each wire are balanced and 180 degrees out of phase. In theory the manufacturers are right. In practice they are full of BS because the load on each phase is not constant so the BPL transmitter is always looking at an unbalanced, time-varying load. Consequently the currents in each wire from the BPL transmitter are never truly balanced and so the wires do radiate as every honest test has demonstrated (Joe Buch, ibid.) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ IBOC/IBAC: See USA HOMEOWNERS` ALLIANCES, RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS CONCERNING HAM ANTENNAS ATTENTION -- Hams and Ham Radio Supporters!!!! Dear Friends of HOA Antenna Reform, The E-Mail Message below is self- explanatory: The NATIONAL ANTENNA CONSORTIUM (NAC) is making one last effort to add HOA antenna reform language to the 9/11 Commission legislation. At a minimum, those of you who are hams (OR supporters of ham radio) should know about this. Ideally: I hope you will help us out by making the same "push" yourselves, in communications to your Senators AND Representative. ******** PLEASE NOTE that the most "amendable" bills are sponsored by: 1. House Minority Leader NANCY PELOSI, D-CA (H.R. 5024) 2. House Government Reform Committee Chairman CHRISTOPHER SHAYS, R-CT ... Right down the road from Newington in Fairfield County (H.R. 5040) 3. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman JOHN McCAIN, R-AZ (S. 2774, which appears to be identical to H.R. 5040) Swinging 1 or more of these legislators In Our Direction could make a TREMENDOUS difference!!!! However, at this point, ANY Senator and/or Representative who puts HOA antenna reform to a floor vote would be doing us, and the rest of the world, A Big Favor. Win or lose, we would know, On The Record, who is for us -- and who is against us -- among the 95% of Congressional legislators who have taken no position on HOA antenna reform. SO ... if at all possible ... please Fax or E-Mail these proposed amendments to YOUR Senators and Representative, asking them to sponsor the proposal(s). Remember that the Senate plans to vote THIS WEEK -- and the House may do the same, within the next several days. Thank you for whatever help you can provide. Yours, Don Schellhardt, NATIONAL ANTENNA CONSORTIUM (NAC) pioneerpath@hotmail.com 45 Bracewood Road, Waterbury, Connecticut 06706 203/757-1790 "Backup": 203/756-7310 [and enclosed more:] Subject: URGENT -- Last Chance For HOA Antenna Reform In 2004!! Date: Mon, 27 Sep 2004 14:34:02 -0600 Dear NAC Members, I have reviewed, quickly, several different 9/11 Commission bills that have surfaced recently. The Senate bills are scheduled for a vote on the Senate floor THIS WEEK. House action may follow shortly thereafter, although partisan brawls in the House (which are, apparently, not present in the Senate) may slow everything down in that body. Anyway -- We have one slim, "last ditch", "long shot" opening for HOA antenna reform in 2004: a floor amendment by 1 or more Senators (perhaps 1 of yours??) and/or by 1 or more Representatives (perhaps your own??). ATTACHED is a set of proposed amendments I have prepared and offered to Representative Steve Israel, D-NY, for his possible use. Since I don't know whether Representative Israel is ready to "push the envelope" at this time, or even whether he considers himself the most effective sponsor for floor amendments, I hope you will Fax or E-Mail the same package of amendments to YOUR OWN Senators and Representative. It can't hurt and it might help!! ******** I am aware, at the moment, of 4 different 9/11 Commission bills: S. 2774 (McCain, R-AZ) and S. 2845 (Collins, R-ME) in the Senate, plus H.R. 5024 (Pelosi, D-CA) and H.R. 5040 (Shays, R-CT). H.R. 5040 (Shays) appears to be identical to S. 2774 (McCain). All of these bills except S. 2845 address FCC regulatory policies, but -- so far as I can tell -- none of them address HOA antenna reform. Still, the fact that FCC policies are addressed at all makes it germane, and otherwise In Order, to offer an amendment to 1 or more of these bills. If this doesn't work, we'll have to wait for a possible "lame duck" Session of Congress -- OR start all over again in January of 2005. Thank you for considering this request. Sincerely, Don Schellhardt, Esquire Vice President, Government Relations & Membership Development NATIONAL ANTENNA CONSORTIUM (NAC) pioneerpath @ hotmail.com 45 Bracewood Road Waterbury, Connecticut 06706 203/757-1790 "Backup": 203/756-7310 (via DXLD) LARGE BEAMS IN CLEVELAND? I have a question. Just east of the 271 around Cleveland, Ohio, are three of the largest beam antennas I've ever seen. They look like tower cranes off in the distance, until you notice that they are GIANT rotatable beam antennas. I'm guessing the largest one had a 150' boom and was on a 300' tower. It may have been larger, as it was off in the distance (a couple of miles from the highway?) and hard to tell. Does anybody on the list know about this rather extreme installation? Is it a tower or antenna factory's R&D lab? Just wondering (Guy in Lockport Falsetti, NY, Sept 26, WTFDA via DXLD) ###