DX LISTENING DIGEST 4-164, October 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 51: Thu 1600 on WBCQ after-hours http://wbcq.com repeated weekdaily Thu 2000 on RFPI http://www.rfpi.org repeated 4-hourly -1600 [maybe] Thu 2030 on WWCR 15825 Thu 2100 on WBCQ 9330-CLSB Fri 0200 on ACBRadio Mainstream repeated 2-hourly thru 2400 http://www.acbradio.org/mainstream.html Fri 2300 on Studio X, Momigno, Italy 1584 Sat 0800 on WRN1 to Europe, Africa, Asia, Pacific Sat 0855 on WNQM Nashville 1300 Sat 1030 on WWCR 5070 Sat 1830 on WPKN Bridgeport, 89.5, http://www.wpkn.org Sat 2000 on RFPI http://www.rfpi.org repeated 8-hourly [maybe] Sat 2030 on WBCQ 17495-CUSB Sat 2030 on R. Lavalamp http://www.radiolavalamp.org Sat 2300 on RFPI http://www.rfpi.org repeated 8-hourly [maybe] Sun 0230 on WWCR 5070 Sun 0300 on WBCQ 9330-CLSB Sun 0330 on WRMI 6870 Sun 0630 on WWCR 3210 [Standard timeshifts start here:] Sun 0930 on WRN1 to North America, webcast; also KSFC 91.9 Spokane WA, and WDWN 89.1 Auburn NY; maybe KTRU 91.7 Houston TX, each with webcasts [new time] Sun 1030 on WRMI 9955 Sun 1100 on R. Lavalamp http://www.radiolavalamp.org Sun 1400 on KRFP Moscow ID 92.5 Sun 1500 on R. Lavalamp http://www.radiolavalamp.org Sun 2000 on Studio X, Momigno, Italy 1584 Sun 2000 on RFPI http://www.rfpi.org repeated 8-hourly [maybe] Sun 2030 on WWCR 12160 Sun 2100 on RNI webcast, http://www.11L-rni.com Mon 0330 on WRMI 6870 Mon 0400 on WBCQ 9330-CLSB Mon 0430 on WSUI 910, webcast http://wsui.uiowa.edu [previous 1250] Mon 0530 on WBCQ 7415, webcast http://wbcq.us Mon 0900 on R. Lavalamp http://www.radiolavalamp.org Mon 1700 on WBCQ after-hours http://wbcq.com repeated weekdaily Mon 2200 on WBCQ 9330-CLSB repeated thru Wed Tue 1000 on WRMI 9955 Wed 1030 on WWCR 9985 [new] WRN ONDEMAND [from Fri]: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also for CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL]: WORLD OF RADIO Extra 51 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/worx51h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/worx51h.rm [WOR Extra 51 is the same as Continent of Media 04-06] WORLD OF RADIO Extra 51 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/com0406.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/com0406.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/com0406.html WORLD OF RADIO Extra 51 mp3 in the true SW sound of 7415 [soon?]: (stream) http://www.piratearchive.com/media/worldofradio_10-27-04.m3u (d`load) http://www.piratearchive.com/media/worldofradio_10-27-04.mp3 CONTINENT OF MEDIA 04-08 (from DXing.com): (stream) http://www.dxing.com/com/com0408.ram (download) http://www.dxing.com/com/com0408.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/com0408.html ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. UK: Afghan music station Radio Solh / R. Peace via VT Communications: A-04 schedule 0200-0500 on 11810 0700-1200 on 21620 1200-1300 on 17555 1300-1500 on 17720 1500-1630 on 17710 B-04 schedule (tent.) to zone 40E 0200-0400 on 9695 RMP 500 kW / 080 deg 0600-0700 on 13650 RMP 500 kW / 080 deg 0700-0800 on 17560 RMP 500 kW / 080 deg 0800-1300 on 21620 RMP 500 kW / 080 deg 1300-1500 on 15265 RMP 500 kW / 080 deg 1500-1600 on 9750 RMP 500 kW / 080 deg 1600-1700 on 11885 RMP 500 kW / 080 deg 1730-1830 on 9800 RMP 500 kW / 080 deg (Observer, Bulgaria, Oct 25 via DXLD) AFGHANISTAN/UK/USA: NEW RADIO FOR AFGHANISTAN OFFERS REWARDS FOR CAPTURE OF BIN-LADIN A new radio station for Afghanistan, Radio Peace (Solh), has been heard on shortwave, the Dxing.info web site reported on 22 October. The station is said to be a new phase in USA psychological warfare for Afghanistan. Previous psyops operations, under the name Information Radio, used weaker airborne and naval transmitters. The report says that the station has adopted a new name and is now using high-power transmitters in the United Kingdom. Radio Solh broadcasts music which is popular in the target region and has messages urging listeners to report the whereabouts of the remaining Al-Qa'idah and Taleban leaders in Dari, Pashto and reportedly Urdu. The station has reportedly been heard offering rewards specifically for information leading to the arrest of Usamah Bin-Ladin. The current schedule is as follows, according to a report on the Dxing.info web site from Wolfgang Bueschel on 21 October: 0200-0500 gmt on 11810 kHz; 0700-1200 gmt on 21620 kHz; 1200-1300 gmt on 17555 kHz; 1300-1500 gmt on 17720 kHz; 1500-1630 gmt on 17710 kHz. The reports adds that the transmissions are from UK-based transmitters at Woofferton and Rampisham operated by VT Merlin. BBC Monitoring observed the following announcement on 22 October on 21620 kHz at 0906 gmt in Dari and Pashto: "Radio Solh is the best, reliable source. It broadcasts news, informative reports and lively music." The name Radio Solh has been used previously in Afghanistan. A low- power station called Radio Solh in Jabal os Saraj (Jabalosraj) began broadcasting on 9 October 2001 on FM in Prawan province, north-west of Kabul. It had help from the French organization Droit de Parole (right to speak). Source: BBC Monitoring research 22-27 Oct 04 (via DXLD) Isn't this funny? A BBC department doing investigative research on transmissions routed through Bush House main control (unless VT has established alternative routings since then, but their website still includes a picture of Bush main control) (Kai Ludwig, 10.28.04 - 1:09 pm, Media Network blog via DXLD) As a matter of fact, although still located in Bush House, the control room is operated by VT Merlin, not the BBC. A similar situation exists at Radio Netherlands, where the studios are operated by BFN, which is privatised. That's how Radio 10 Gold came to be operating inside our building for about 10 days in July 2003 (Andy Sennitt, 10.28.04 - 1:38 pm, ibid.) ** ANTARCTICA. Chris, N3SIG, informs OPDX that he has been redeployed to the Antarctica to McMurdo Station some time in the first week of November. He is expected to be there until March 5th. However, Chris adds that the ham shack's antennas there were destroyed, and they also suffered damage to the main HF rig. He plans to hand carry a HF rig from home in PA to Antarctica. When Chris gets there, he will construct a dipole and will be on the air as KC4/N3SIG mainly on 14243 kHz (The unofficial Antarctica ham freq). He may also be on 40 meters, too. ADDED NOTE: Chris has created an Antarctic Ham Radio mailing list group under Yahoo Groups. Here he will post his operating schedules and other Antarctic topics. He invites everyone to join. To subscribe, send an e-mail to: AntarcticHamRadio-subscribe @ yahoogroups.com (KB8NW\OPDX October 25\BARF-80 via John Norfolk, dxldyg) ** ANTIGUA. FORMER PM'S FAMILY-OWNED RADIO STATION BACK ON AIR | Text of report by Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) news agency St John's, Antigua: The state-owned Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) [on] Tuesday [26 October] restored electricity supply to the radio station owned by the family of former Prime Minister Lester Bird, less than 24 hours after cutting off the power supply. APUA's general manager Leon Symister said ZDK broke an agreement both sides reached last weekend. APUA said ZDK [commonly known as Bacchanal Radio] failed to meet the deadline on Monday to pay the first instalment of 50,000 East Caribbean dollars (18, 150 US dollars) on the outstanding arrears of 132,000 000 East Caribbean dollars (48,800 US dollars). But ZDK's general manager, Ivor Bird, on Tuesday used the situation to accuse the new Baldwin Spencer administration of victimization. Bird told radio listeners "we will survive" hours after ZDK resumed transmission. He did not say if the station would go through with its threat to seek legal action against the APUA, but called for more public support to raise another 50,000 000 East Caribbean dollars (18,150 US dollars) by Friday to prevent another disconnection. "We need much more than was collected so far," said Bird in reference to the money raised by the station on Monday to pay the APUA. Source: Caribbean Media Corporation news agency, Bridgetown, in English 2104 gmt 26 Oct 04 (via BBCM via DXLD) ZDK on 1100 kHz ** ARGENTINA. RAE, 15345.17v at 2212 22 Oct in Spanish. Frequency wanders from .16 to .18. Good signal otherwise (Liz Cameron, MI, MARE DXpedition, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA [and non]. UZBEKISTAN/AUSTRALIA: Last minute changes for Voice International: 0100-0400 Hindi NF 9570 TAC 100 kW / 153 deg to SoAs, ex 11850 1500-1800 English on 15150 DRW 250 kW / 340 deg to China DELETED (Observer, Bulgaria, Oct 25 via DXLD) ** BAHRAIN. Re 9745 reactivated: I think there was a speculation whether the SW broadcasts were reactivated for the period of Ramadan only (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, Oct 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELGIUM [and non]. I wonder if SW stations leaving airwaves such as RVi late next March, will rent out their sites? For those who`ve closed sites, reduced drain on their national power grids in light of those using PCs causing a high demand, and most countries are not building power production plants; and those with nuke power plants are phasing them out and closing them (Bob Thomas, CT, Oct 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Bad example, as RVi already quit using their own SW site and is renting elsewhere. Interesting question: perhaps someone could compute approximately how many PCs = one, say 250 kW SW transmitter, in terms of power consumption? (gh, DXLD) RADIO WORLD - Sunday 24 October 2004 Only a week ago the future looked bright for RVi: the new schedules were printed, our frequencies secured for another 5 months of broadcasting. Little did I know that the programme-schedule would be the last one. Indeed, on Monday we were called to a meeting with the big boss of VRT radio. He told us that RVi would be reorganised. It soon became clear that this reorganisation was more than one would expect, in fact it was more like the director passing a death sentence. In our case - that is, the programmes in English, German and French - the news was devastating. As from the end of March, the entire operation abruptly stops, from one day to the other. No more shortwave, no more medium wave, no more satellite transmissions, not even sound on the internet. Nothing, zilch, zero. Nobody will be made redundant: we will all be transferred to the VRT news via the internet service, where we will write updated news items in English, German and French for the news site. You might have a look at it: the address is http://vrtnieuws.net Nieuws is spelled N-I-E-U- W-S. As for our colleagues of the Dutch-language service, they will keep 4 hours of shortwave transmissions per day, but most of it will be relays from the 5 existing VRT radio programmes, mainly news, informative magazines and sports. Their own production will be limited to a number of minutes of content for their listeners in southern Europe, because that will be the only target area of the new-style RVi. Two hours in the morning, and two hours in the evening - probably - for Flemish people spending their holidays, or the winter months, or whatever they might be doing in the south of France, Spain or Italy. People ask us about the arguments used by the management to justify the end of RVi in English, German and French. The director of VRT radio said he feared the Flemish government was expected to object to continue funding of RVi in the talks leading up to a new 5-year agreement on the funding of VRT to replace the existing one which expires at the end of 2006. If this is so, you might send the minister in charge of the Flemish media policy a letter or e-mail asking him why he would like to stop funding of "Flanders Today" or similar broadcasts in German and French. I always thought it was our mission to inform people in foreign countries about all aspects of life in Flanders. I also thought shortwave was an efficient way of achieving this. If the politicians think otherwise, they should explain their view. The Flemish Media Minister is Geert Bourgeois, and the address is: Alhambragebouw - Emile Jacqmainlaan 20, 7de verd., 1000 BRUSSEL. The e-mail address is : kabinet.bourgeois @ vlaanderen.be Well, in the meantime we have 5 months of shortwave transmissions ahead of us, so it's high time to tell you about our new and last schedule, tentatively valid from next Sunday, October 31. As usual in winter, most RVi programmes will be broadcast one hour later, in universal time, that is. The new programme of the day will be aired a first time at 1830 UTC on 7490 kHz to listeners in Europe from a 200 kW transmitter at Krasnodar in Russia, and also to south- eastern Europe and the Middle East from Juelich in Germany on 5910 kHz with 100 kW of power. The second transmission is at 2030 UTC, also for listeners in Europe, on 7490 kHz, and also from Krasnodar on the Black Sea. And again with the same power output. At 2200 UTC we will broadcast to the Americas from Bonaire with a 250 kW transmitter on 11730 kHz. Seven hours later, at 0500 UTC we repeat the broadcast to the Americas, from Bonaire again, same 250 kW of power but on 9590 kHz. At 0800 UTC there's a last repeat for listeners in Europe on 5965 kHz from Juelich and a 100 kW transmitter. Finally, there's a transmission at 1130 UTC for listeners in Asia, Australia and New Zealand on 9945 kHz from Irkutsk in Siberia, and a power output of 250 kW. The transmissions at 0800, 1830 and 2030 UTC are also broadcast on medium wave 1512 kHz, and that might be a good frequency to tune in to in the dark winter hours. We use 300 kW for these transmissions. As always, most of our programmes at RVi are in Dutch, our national language, but we also have daily programmes in French and German. The 15-minute programmes are first broadcast from 1800-1830 UTC - French comes first, followed by German, on 7490 kHz from Krasnodar with a power of 200 kW. At 2000 UTC German come first, followed by French, on the same frequency, from the same location. As for the programmes in Dutch, you might be interested to know details about the frequencies and relay stations that will be used for these transmissions. In that case just write off to us, saying you want their schedule as well as our multilingual one and we'll send you a printed schedule, or you can consult the website rvi.be later on this month. I can tell you that apart from the relay stations I already mentioned, our Dutch speaking colleagues also use transmitters at Moscow, Meyerton in South Africa, Skelton and Rampisham in the UK, Tashkent in Uzbekistan, Sackville in Canada and Dhabayya in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). I hope I haven't forgotten any of them. And, as you know by now, it's our last multilingual programme schedule, don't hesitate to ask for a copy if you want all the details, and, of course, it might be a collector's item, unless we can persuade the powers that be otherwise; FRANS VOSSEN Radio World (broadband) Radio World (narrowband) [audio links] (via John Norfolk, dxldyg via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. Got back earlier today from the annual October MARE DXpedition near Brighton, Michigan. Unfortunately, there were no particularly good openings, but a few interesting things were heard. And, it's always fun to get out in the middle of the woods in a place with no nearby electricity. Unforunately, there's no nearby indoor plumbing either. [Don`s full report in the dxldyg; more items in this issue under: ECUADOR, GUATEMALA, JAPAN, PERU, SAUDI ARABIA, YEMEN] 5955a, Radio Pio Doce, 0948-0955 Oct 24, 1970s type "nueva canción" music, I think the Chilean group Quilapayun. Then into the River Kwai march followed by complete ID just before being blown away by WYFR audio sign-on. I was not able to get a fix on the frequency due to strong WYFR open carrier. Poor (Don Moore, DXing at a MARE DXpedition near Brighton, MI, ICF-2010 and various long wire antennas, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BULGARIA. R. Bulgaria, B-04 English as announced: 0730-0800 Au 11600 13600 1230-1300 WEu 11700 15700 1830-1900 WEu 5800 7500 2200-2300 WEu 5800 7500 0000-0100 NAm 7400 9700 0300-0400 NAm 7400 9700 (Bob Thomas, CT, Oct 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Matches the below Winter B-04 of RADIO BULGARIA from 31/10/2004 to 27/03/2005: ADDR: 4, Dragan Tsankov Blvd., 1040 Sofia and P.O.Box 900, 1000 Sofia Tel.: +359 2 933 66 33; fax.: +359 2 865 05 60; Web: http://www.bnr.bg Programme Director: Angel Nedyalkov e-mail: nedyalkov @ bnr.bg Frequency Manager: Ivo Ivanov e-mail: frequencies @ bnr.bg MW: Petrich (G.C: 23.18E/41.42N): 747 kHz 500 kW / non-dir Vidin (G.C: 22.40E/43.49N): 1224 kHz 500 kW / 205 deg SW: P=Plovdiv/Padarsko (G.C: 24.42E/42.10N): 2 x 500 kW, 3 x 250 kW S=Sofia/Kostinbrod (G.C: 23.13E/42.49N): 2 x 100 kW, 2 x 050 kW ALBANIAN / e-mail:albanian@bnr.bg 0630-0700 Mon-Fri Balkans 5900 P250/248, 1224 0700-0800 Sat/Sun Balkans 5900 P250/248, 1224 1200-1230 -daily- Balkans 7200 P250/248 1700-1730 -daily- Balkans 5900 P250/248, 1224 2000-2100 -daily- Balkans 5900 P250/248, 1224, 747 BULGARIAN / e-mail:bulgarian@bnr.bg 0100-0200 -daily- North America 7400 P500/295, 9700 P500/306 0100-0200 -daily- South America 7500 P250/258, 11500 P250/245 0530-0600 Mon-Fri West Europe 9500 P500/306, 11500 P500/306 0530-0600 Mon-Fri Balkans 5900 P250/248, 1224 0530-0600 Mon-Fri East Europe 5800 S100/030, 7500 S100/030 0500-0600 Sat/Sun West Europe 9500 P500/306, 11500 P500/306 0500-0600 Sat/Sun Balkans 5900 P250/248, 1224 0500-0600 Sat/Sun East Europe 5800 S100/030, 7500 S100/030 1100-1130 -daily- Balkans 7200 P250/248 1100-1130 -daily- East Europe 11600 S100/030, 13600 S100/030 1100-1130 -daily- West Europe 11700 P500/306, 15700 P500/306 1300-1500 -daily- Balkans 1224 1300-1500 -daily- West Europe 11700 P500/306, 15700 P500/306 1600-1700 -daily- Balkans 5900 P250/248, 1224 1600-1700 -daily- East Europe 5800 S100/030, 7500 S100/030 1600-1700 -daily- Middle East 9400 P500/126 1600-1700 -daily- South Africa 17500 P500/185 1900-2000 -daily- Balkans 5900 P250/248, 1224, 747 1900-2100 -daily- West Europe 7200 P250/306 1900-2100 -daily- Middle East 7400 P250/140 ENGLISH / e-mail:english@bnr.bg 0000-0100 -daily- North America 7400 P500/295, 9700 P500/306 0300-0400 -daily- North America 7400 P500/295, 9700 P500/306 0730-0800 -daily- West Europe 11600 P500/306, 13600 P500/306 1230-1300 -daily- West Europe 11700 P500/306, 15700 P500/306 1830-1900 -daily- West Europe 5800 P500/295, 7500 P500/306 2200-2300 -daily- West Europe 5800 P500/295, 7500 P500/306 FRENCH / e-mail:french@bnr.bg 0200-0300 -daily- North America 7400 P500/295, 9700 P500/306 0700-0730 -daily- West Europe 11600 P500/306, 13600 P500/306 1200-1230 -daily- West Europe 11700 P500/306, 15700 P500/306 1800-1830 -daily- West Europe 5800 P500/295, 7500 P500/306 2100-2200 -daily- West Europe 5800 P500/295, 7500 P500/306 GERMAN / e-mail:german@bnr.bg 0600-0630 -daily- West Europe 9500 P500/306, 11500 P500/306 1130-1200 -daily- West Europe 11700 P500/306, 15700 P500/306 1730-1800 -daily- West Europe 5800 P500/295, 7500 P500/306 2000-2100 -daily- West Europe 5800 P500/295, 7500 P500/306 GREEK / e-mail:greek@bnr.bg 0600-0630 Mon-Fri Balkans 5900 P250/248, 1224 0600-0700 Sat/Sun Balkans 5900 P250/248, 1224 1130-1200 -daily- Balkans 7200 P250/248 1730-1800 -daily- Balkans 5900 P250/248, 1224, 747 2100-2200 -daily- Balkans 5900 P250/248, 1224, 747 RUSSIAN / e-mail:russian@bnr.bg 0000-0100 -daily- Central Asia 9400 P250/045 0400-0500 -daily- East Europe 5800 S100/030, 7500 S100/030, 1224 0600-0630 -daily- East Europe 5800 S100/030, 7500 S100/030 1130-1200 -daily- East Europe 11600 S100/030, 13600 S100/030 1500-1600 -daily- East Europe 5800 S100/030, 7500 S100/030, 1224 1500-1600 -daily- Central Asia 9400 P250/045 1700-1730 -daily- East Europe 5800 S100/030, 7500 S100/030 1900-2000 -daily- East Europe 5800 S100/030, 7500 S100/030 SERBIAN / e-mail:serbian@nbnr.bg 0700-0730 Mon-Fri Balkans 5900 P250/248, 1224 0800-0900 Sat/Sun Balkans 5900 P250/248, 1224 1230-1300 -daily- Balkans 7200 P250/248 1800-1830 -daily- Balkans 5900 P250/248, 1224, 747 2200-2300 -daily- Balkans 5900 P250/248, 1224, 747 SPANISH / e-mail:spanish@bnr.bg 0000-0100 -daily- South America 7500 P250/258, 11500 P250/245 0200-0300 -daily- South America 7500 P250/258, 11500 P250/245 0200-0300 -daily- Central America 9400 P250/295 0700-0730 -daily- South Europe 11900 P250/292, 13800 P250/260 1200-1230 -daily- South Europe 11600 P250/260, 13600 P250/292 1730-1800 -daily- South Europe 9600 P250/260, 11600 P250/260 2200-2300 -daily- South Europe 7400 P250/258, 9400 P250/260 TURKISH / e-mail:turkish@bnr.bg 0600-0630 -daily- Middle East 6000 P250/115, 7400 P250/140 1100-1130 -daily- Middle East 6000 P250/115, 7400 P250/140 1830-1900 -daily- Middle East 7400 P250/140, 1224, 747 RADIO VARNA on SW with programm "Hello Sea" in Bulgarian: 2200 Sun-0400 Mon Black Sea 9500 V100/ND DX-MIX program in Bulgarian will be on air: 1445-1500 Sun 1224 11700 15700 2045-2100 Sun 7200 7400 DX-MIX program in Russian will be on air: 1545-1600 Sat 1224 5800 7500 9400 1715-1730 Sat 5800 7500 1945-2000 Sat 5800 7500 0045-0100 Sun 9400 0445-0500 Sun 1224 5800 7500 0615-0630 Sun 5800 7500 1145-1200 Sun 11600 13600 0615-0630 Mon 5800 7500 1145-1200 Wed 11600 13600 (Observer, Bulgaria, Oct 25 via DXLD) ** CANADA. Yet more about the Toronto 1610 (CHSL) I am told by Wayne Plunkett that the intended actual start date for CHSL will probably be November 21. Currently they are testing with 250 watts, as opposed to 1000 watts. They will probably be on the reduced power for another 10 days or so. The will probably end up running from about 6 a.m. to local midnight. Today they had bilingual test announcements. The Spanish IDs mentioned the CHSL calls and the 416 phone number to report interference. English IDs by a woman mentioned the power but the ID was only "1610 AM". I wonder if anybody in their fringe coverage has called them to complain about CJWI-Montreal being off frequency yet? If somebody would like to send a reception report, you can try this address: c/o 22 Wenderly Drive, Toronto, Ontario, M6B 2N9. (this is the location of the San Lorenzo Community Centre) And... for anybody wanting to give them a shot on sunrise skip, they will probably start testing tomorrow (Monday) morning around 0600 or 0615 Eastern. 73 (Niel Wolfish, Toronto, Oct 24, amfmtvdx at qth.net via DXLD) That would explain why CHSL's signal seemed so poor when I heard them testing. From my location in mid-central Toronto they were only marginally stronger than CFYZ-1280. The CorporateMarkham.com website claims CHEV-1610 are back on the air! Licensed to Markham, and still on 1610! http://www.corporatemarkham.com/html/corporate_news.php The following is taken from the above site. I'm not making this up. CHEV is nowhere near returning to the air, and even if they were, they would have to find another frequency. What are the CorporateMarkham folks smoking? September 1, 2004 - CHEV AM 1610, Markham's community radio station has begun broadcasting from facilities on Main Street Markham. The station is on the air daily from 6 pm to 11 pm and plans are already underway to increase the air time. Station owner and President Tom Neo said CHEV will offer live coverage of community events, including local events and amateur sports by a play-by-play announcer. The station is focusing on such events as the Markham Fair, local hockey, high school football, community charity events and coverage of local music talent from York Region, Durham Region and Toronto. Mr. Neo added, "CHEV will also provide coverage of regional community affairs on a weekly basis. We have a bulletin board offering what's happening in the various communities". The station will also provide local bands without recording contracts a venue for additional exposure. 73 (Mike Brooker, Toronto, ON, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** CANADA. In Ottawa, which could probably use a good Sens game right now, the local radio outlets of the CBC and Radio-Canada said goodbye to one of the region's longest-running studio locations last week. Thursday's edition of All in a Day on CBO (91.5 Ottawa) was the last to be broadcast from the Chateau Laurier, the venerable railroad hotel that's been home to CBO and its predecessor stations (remember, the CBC began as the Canadian National Railways' radio network) since 1924. CBO and its sister stations (CBOQ 103.3, CBOF 90.7 and CBOX 102.5) move down the street to a new home at 181 Queen Street, and thus ends a very long bit of history (Scott Fybush, NE Radio Watch Oct 25 via DXLD) ** CUBA. Escuchando el programa En Contacto de Radio Habana Cuba pude escuchar los siguientes comentarios hechos por el colega radioaficionado Arnaldo Coro (CO2KK), sobre el desarrollo del sistema de radiodifusión en Cuba en la Isla de la Juventud. El colega dijo: ``Aquí en la Isla de la Juventud captamos la frecuencia de la estación Radio Caribe, transmitiendo con aproximadamente 1 kW de potencia en la frecuencia 101.7, un servicio que muy pronto se ampliará con las estaciones Radio Musical Nacional y Radio Enciclopedia que transmitirán también en frecuencia modulada en la Isla de la Juventud. Mientras tanto en las ondas medias, la emisora Radio Caribe la emisora insignia de este municipio especial de nuestro país, transmite en la frecuencia de los 1220 kHz con una nueva tecnología, un transmisor de 5 mil Watts de potencia que tiene la tecnología de modulación por ancho de pulso lo cual representa una mucha mayor calidad que los antiguos transmisores de procedencia del campo de los países del este, del antiguo campo socialista, este transmisor es mucho más moderno, mucho más eficiente y por supuesto que presta un mejor servicio a los oyentes de la emisora. ``Simultáneamente la emisora Radio Progreso Cadena Nacional, muy pronto en estos días tendrá un nuevo transmisor de 10 mil Watts de potencia que entrará en servicio para asegurar una mejor calidad y confiabilidad de la recepción aquí en esta parte del archipiélago cubano. Y mańana (hoy lunes) visitaré Radio Cocodrilo, la emisora más al sur de nuestro archipiélago, que es una emisora comunitaria que presta servicios a una comunidad de aproximadamente 300 habitantes donde ellos mismos eleboran su propia programación y también en los horarios en que no tienen programación local transmiten entonces como estación relevo de Radio Caribe la emisora del municipio.`` Atte: (José Elías Díaz Gómez, Venezuela, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. The following quote was in the item on Cuba in DXLD 4-162: "Nothing can replace Americans sitting down and talking to Cubans, going to church with Cubans, going to school with Cubans or working on community projects with Cubans," said Daniel Erikson, director of Caribbean programs at the Inter-American Dialogue, a Washington policy group. He left out "Americans having sex with Cubans". I have read that Cuba is one of the primary destinations in the international sex-tourism trade. There are many prostitutes, very inexpensive when you have US $ to offer, and many amateurs trying to get some US $ also. I have read of a harbor-front promenade [żthe famed Malecón??] where there are a plethora of these women and their customers every evening. Since Cuba *does* have a pretty good health system, it might be that the risks of contracting various STDs is lower there than many other developing or undeveloped countries, making it one of the safer sex- tourist destinations. This is one way to increase international understanding, I'm sure... :-) 73, (Will Martin, MO, Oct 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. CUBA/USA: CUBA DECRIES US RADIO, TV BROADCASTS TO ISLAND | Text of report by Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) news agency on 22 October New York: Cuba said it was prepared to use "every possible measure" to repel any form of aggression against the Communist state as it renewed its criticism of the United States over its decision to establish a radio and television station to broadcast material to the island. Ambassador Rodeny Lopez told the International Frequency Registration Board (IFRB) of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on Thursday [21 October] that Washington was using a military plane to broadcast the material to Cuban citizens. He said Radio and TV Marti underscored Washington's policy of tightening the four-decade old trade embargo against Cuba. He said the stations offer daily broadcast "of biased information and distorted facts" and joined the 17 other stations owned by "well-known organizations" opposed to the Fidel Castro administration and based in the United States. "With the bitter goal of stimulating violence and terrorism on the island they stimulate illegal emigration under very perilous conditions and calls for contempt and civil unrest," Lopez said reaffirming Havana's decision to continue to defend its sovereignty and "adopting every possible measure to repel such aggressions". Source: Caribbean Media Corporation news agency, Bridgetown, in English 1645 gmt 22 Oct 04 (via BBCM via DXLD) Nonsense about R. Martí promoting illegal immigration. Quite the contrary. I have heard their frequent announcements myself, making clear that such is contrary to US government policy. On the radio, one can`t tell if they are winking (gh, DXLD) ** ECUADOR. 4919, Radio Quito, 0930-0945 Oct 24, non-stop Ecuadorian music. One song was actually about Radio Quito and mentioned the name several times (not a jingle, but a full length song). Fair (Don Moore, DXing at a MARE DXpedition near Brighton, MI, ICF-2010 and various long wire antennas, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EGYPT. Radio Cairo: 7115 at 0300 with traditional ME music, fair to good, this frequency usually not audible here (11855 and 12050 the usual ones) (Eric Bryan, WA, Oct 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. RFI: 11615 at 1615, better than other frequencies, strong but 25m fraught with static, talk on Sudan in English (Eric Bryan, WA, Oct 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [and non]. DIGITAL BROADCAST TROUBLESOME TO SOME, EXPERIMENTAL OPPORTUNITY FOR OTHERS (Oct 26, 2004) --- A digital broadcast signal on 3995 kHz has prompted some members of the amateur community to contact ARRL to say it`s QRMing the top 10 kHz of 75 meters and asking what can be done about it. Not much. The signal, from Deutsche Welle in Germany, is legal since radio amateurs share that part of the band with broadcasters in Region 1 (which includes Europe). The international Radio Regulations do leave the door open to request that the station reduce power or change its antenna pattern, however. Although the station has been broadcasting for some time on the same frequency in conventional AM, it`s attracted more notice from hams since July, when it began testing using digital format --- also referred to as ``DRM,`` (Digital Radio Mondiale, French for ``Digital Radio Worldwide``). Programming originates from Deutsche Welle`s brand-new, all-digital broadcast center in Bonn. Of course, the vagaries of propagation will be a big factor as to the amount of interference US hams experience at any given time. ``Digital shortwave will revolutionize cross-border broadcasts and will initiate a worldwide renaissance of radio,`` Deutsche Welle Director General Erik Bettermann said this month during a panel discussion at Munich Media Days. Bettermann says Deutsche Welle plans to gradually shut down its analog shortwave transmissions as DRM receivers became more available globally --- something not anticipated until late 2005. Meanwhile, radio amateurs have been experimenting with programs such as HamDream, a DRM program adapted for Amateur Radio use by HB9TLK. It enables digital voice and data transmissions using bandwidths on the order of 2.3 to 2.5 kHz http://www.qslnet.de/member/hb9tlk/ (ARRL Main Page via John Norfolk, dxldyg via DXLD) ** GREECE. ERT S.A.: THE VOICE OF GREECE B04 SHORT WAVE TRANSMISSION SCHEDULE Effective from 30/10/04 to 26/03/05 (00:00) UT Service Area GMT/UTC Frequencies Language EUROPE 0000-0200 7475 9420 5865 Gr 0200-0500 7475 9420 5865 Gr 0500-0600 *7475 9420 5865 Gr , Eng [so when exactly are 0600-0700 15630 9420 *5865 Gr , Eng English segments of 0700-1000 15630 9420 Gr , Eng these transmissions?] 0900-1000 9375 Gr , Eng 1100-1200 9375 15630 Gr 1200-1300 9375 15630 Gr 1300-1400 9375 15630 9420 Gr 1400-1500 9375 15630 9420 Gr 1500-1600 9420 15630 7475 Gr 1600-1800 9420 15630 7475 Gr 1800-1900 9420 15630 7475 Gr 1900-2000 9420 *15630 7475 Gr 2000-2100 9420 9375 7475 Gr 2100-2200 9420 7475 Gr 2200-2300 9420 7475 Gr 2300-2400 9420 7475 5865 Gr 1100-1400 15650 Gr,Ar,D EUROPE - Foreign Language Transmissions 1400-1600 7430 Rus,E,R,Tr [English 1430-1500] 1600-1800 7430 Sc,Bg,Al 1800-2000 7430 F,Pl,Eng [English 1930-2000?] EUROPE - MW 0900-1700 792 Gr,Ar,D,Rus,E,R,Tr [English when] 2000-2130 792 Gr 2200-2300 792 Gr TASKEND 1200-1300 15650 Gr MIDDLE EAST/INDIAN OCEAN 0000-0200 9375 Gr 0400-0600 15650 12105 Gr 0600-0900 15650 21530 Gr 0900-1000 21530 Gr 1100-1400 15650 Gr,Ar 2100-2300 12105 9375 Gr 0900-1400 1260 Gr,Ar,D 1730-1800 792 Gr ATLANTIC OCEAN 0000-0300 9420 7475 5865 Gr 0300-0600 9420 *7475 5865 Gr 0600-0700 15630 9420 Gr 0800-1000 15630 9420 Gr 1100-2000 *15630 9420 Gr 2000-2300 9420 7475 Gr 2300-2400 9420 7475 5865 Gr AFRICA 2300-2400 9375 Gr 0000-0200 12105 Gr 0700-1000 11645 Gr 1800-2000 *15630 Gr JAPAN/PACIFIC OCEAN 0700-0900 9770 Gr 1100-1400 15650 Gr AUSTRALIA 0000-0200 9375 Gr 0400-0900 15650 Gr 0400-0600 12105 Gr 0600-1000 21530 Gr 0700-0900 9770 Gr [Delano?] 1200-1400 15650 Gr,Ar 2100-2300 9375 12105 Gr 2300-2400 12105 Gr NORTH AMERICA 0000-0600 9420 7475 5865 Gr 1200-1500 11750 Gr [Delano, ex-9690] 1600-2200 15485 Gr [Delano, ex-17705] SOUTH AMERICA/PANAMA ZONE/SW AFRICA 0000-0200 12105 Gr 1900-2000 *15630 Gr 2000-2200 17565 Gr [Greenville] 2300-2400 9375 [Gr,E ???] (1) Gr=Greek, Eng= English, Al= Albanian, Ar=Arabian, Bg= Bulgarian, F=French, E= Spanish, I=Italian,Pl=Polish, P=Portuguese, R=Romanian, Rus= Russian, S= Swedish, Sc= Servocroatian, Tr=Turkish ( * ) Transmission end 10 min earlier LIVE AUDIO URL: http://www.ert.gr Reports via e-mail: era 5@ ert.gr Technical information: bcharalabopoulos @ ert.gr ERT S.A. MACEDONIA STATION EUROPE 1100-1550 31 9935 Gr EUROPE 1600-2350 41 7450 Gr ĹRÁ 5 'THE VOICE OF GREECE' Ěessogion 432, 15342, Ag. Paraskevi Attikis, Tel +301 6066308, 6066297, Fax +301 6066309 Macedonia Radio Station: Angelaki Str 2, 54621 Tel: +3031244979, Fax: +3031 236370 General Direction of E.RA (Engineering Div.): Messogeion 432, 15342, Ag. Paraskevi Attikis. Tel 301 606 6257. Fax +301 606 6243 (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, dxldyg via DXLD) ** GRENADA. COMIENZA A FUNCIONAR NUEVA RADIO EN LA ISLA DE GRANADA CON AYUDA DE RADIO NACIONAL DE VENEZUELA Novedades Este martes Comienza a funcionar emisora de radio en Granada con ayuda de RNV. La embajadora de Venezuela, Edna Figuera, informó que ya empezó a funcionar la emisora "Grenada Air" suministrada por el gobierno bolivariano y solicitada por el Primer Ministro de la isla luego del desastre producido por el huracán Iván. Véase también: Directora de RNV dio nuevos detalles sobre emisora donada a Grenada. Prensa RNV (Luigino Bracci)--- 30 de Septiembre de 2004, 12:55 AM La embajadora de Venezuela en Granada, Edna Figuera, informó que ya está en el aire la emisora "Grenada Air" como servicio de información, con la ayuda del gobierno nacional y el apoyo de Radio Nacional de Venezuela. Dicha emisora fue solicitada por el Primer Ministro de Granada, Keith Mitchell, para poder tener un medio de comunicación con el pueblo granadino. Como se sabe, las emisoras existentes fueron destruidas durante el paso del huracán Iván, que también dejó unos 60 mil damnificados en la isla, así como decenas de muertos. Con esta emisora, el primer ministro Mitchell podrá comunicarse con su pueblo para informarle de las eventualidades del desastre y seńalar cómo se ha ido recuperando la isla poco a poco. Está operando desde el propio complejo ministerial donde se encuentran las oficinas del Primer Ministro. Fuente: Website de Radio Nacional de Venezuela. http://www.rnv.gov.ve/noticias/?act=ST&f=22&t=8987# (via Jorge García Rangel, Venezuela, Oct 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GRENADA. GRENADA BROADCASTING NETWORK TO RESUME PROGRAMMING 25 OCTOBER | Text of report entitled "Local television programming resumes in Grenada on Monday" published by Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) news agency St Georges, Grenada: Grenadians will see the first "live" television programme since Hurricane Ivan battered the island early last month, Richard Purcell, managing director of the Grenada Broadcasting Network (GBN) has revealed. Television stations here have been off the air since the passage of the hurricane. However, GBN resumed limited transmission on Friday [22 October], adding to its radio transmission which has been fully restored. Purcell said the testing will continue throughout the weekend and scheduled programming will begin on Monday 25 October with a live newscast. "We have been running a test of colour bars and audio tone for the past 24 hours and some unscheduled programmes including satellite programming. On Monday we'll start our scheduled programming with the 7:00 p.m. [local time] news and some live programmes," Purcell told CMC. The television station, which is part of the privately owned GBN, owns two television channels. The government of Grenada owns minority shares in GBN. Purcell said that once the first channel is up and running, work would commence immediately to get the second one up by next weekend. Source: Caribbean Media Corporation news agency, Bridgetown, in English 2049 gmt 23 Oct 04 (via BBCM via DXLD) WTFK??? ** GUATEMALA. 4698.8, Radio Amistad, 1107-1119 Oct 24. Ranchera music, announcements, two IDs. Tnx Karl Racenis for pointing this out. 4780, Radio Coatán, 0110-0118 Oct 24. Male announcer with announcements in local language. They contained various upcoming dates, which were given in Spanish - appeared to be some sort of community calendar events. Frequent IDs. Poor. Much better next morning at 1103-1107 with announcer mentioning various nearby towns (Don Moore, DXing at a MARE DXpedition near Brighton, MI, ICF-2010 and various long wire antennas, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HONG KONG. A reminder that the HK to Nha Trang, Vietnam yacht race is about to start, and per 4-162 the first weather broadcast on 8749 USB will be 1033 UT Tuesday October 26; there will also be a morning broadcast at 0033; the race runs thru October 30, but I am not sure exactly when the last 8749 transmission will be. Lots and lots of info about the race, including some about radio communications on other frequencies via http://www.rhkyc.org.hk/hkvietnamrace/instructions.htm We`ll be looking forward to any DX reports of this (Glenn Hauser, Oct 25, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HUNGARY. More information about closure of the SW transmitting centre in Székesfehérvár (on 31 October): according to the operator Antena Hungária (AH), the two 100kW transmitters and two antennas will be dismantled and moved to the transmitting centre in Jászberény. The work is planned to be completed by May 2005. During this period, Radio Budapest - as published - will additionally rent facilities at the Slovak SW site at Rimavská Sobota (run by Slovenské Telekomunikácie) to compensate the closure. After the works in Jászberény are completed, AH will again be able to offer Radio Budapest full SW capacities in Hungary (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. Re 4-163: Sorry Glenn, should have been 4970 for Shillong! [not 5970] (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. AIR, DD Programme Staff to launch indefinite strike from Nov. 13 New Delhi, Oct 25 (UNI) Programme staffers in 214 stations of All India Radio (AIR) and 56 centres of Doordarshan have threatened to go on an indefinite strike from November 13 if the government continues its ''apathetic attitude'' towards their job conditions, including direct recruitments in place of internal promotions. The decision to launch an indefinite strike was announced by two major programme staff associations of Prasar Bharati and AIR at a press conference here today. Programme Staff Association (PSA) of the AIR and Doordarshan President S C Nayak said Programme Executives, responsible for programme production all over the country, would cease production activities from ''any day after November 13'' to protest against the Information and Broadcasting Ministry's denial to streamline the recruitment and promotion procedures in the two organisations. ''If Information and Broadcasting Minister S. Jaipal Reddy fails to concede our demands by November 12, we will resort to a total stoppage of programme production, both live broadcasts and news operations, and relay hunger strikes,'' he warned. Mr Nayak said employees in the programme cadre had decided to formally launch their agitation from today itself by wearing black badges and holding gate meetings all over the country. Dr M S Rizvi, Convenor, Association of the UPSC-recruited Programme Officers (AUPO) of the AIR and Doordarshan, who was also present, said his organisation fully supported the agitation schedule charted out by the PSA. Via http://www.deepikaglobal.com 73s, (Swopan Chakroborty, Kolkata, India, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS. MARLO website latest advisories at http://www.me.navy.mil/marlo/products.HTM [correct] give CMF Radio this schedule: "Coalition Maritime Forces broadcast music and information helpful to mariners in the ongoing war on terror. Mariners may listen to these broadcasts by tuning into: 6125 kHz 0300 - 1400 (GMT) 15500 kHz 1400 - 0300 (GMT)" The station has been monitored on 25 Oct on 15500U announcing the above schedule. They were heard using ID's Radio One, CMF Radio and Radio Malumat. In Pashto the ID was: "Da Radio Malumat day" 73 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, Oct 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN. A rather unusual feature of the IRIB Web site is that every language section has its own design and layout, rather than a corporate style. Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting http://www.irib.ir/worldservice/ # posted by Andy @ 16:21 UT Oct 25 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** JAPAN. 6055, Radio Nikkei, 1002-1007 Oct 24. Presumed the one with man talking in Japanese. Very casual - I was able to identify the language by the frequent use of "ano", a word used as a space filler in Japanese. (Sort of like 'ummm' in English.) (Don Moore, DXing at a MARE DXpedition near Brighton, MI, ICF-2010 and various long wire antennas, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JORDAN. 11690 at 1601, woman with news in English, good signal, best lately, but wrecked by terrible noise (Eric Bryan, WA, Oct 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBYA [non]. Voice of Africa: 15660//17695 at 1606, lone singing voice in Arabic (Koran recitation?). 15660 the better frequency, clear, fairly strong (Eric Bryan, WA, Oct 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALDIVE ISLANDS. CYBER-DISSIDENT FATHIMATH NISREEN BANISHED FOR FIVE YEARS | Text of press release by Paris-based organization Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) on 25 October Reporters Without Borders welcomed the release from prison today of cyber-dissident Fathimath Nisreen, who was detained on 13 August in the wake of a pro-democracy rally, but condemned as "unacceptable" her announced transfer within a few days to Feeail island, south of the capital, to resume serving a five-year sentence of "banishment". "We call for the complete release of Fathimath and the three other cyber-dissidents still being held by the regime," the organization said. Nisreen was in good health, but said she had been "psychologically disturbed" by her arrest and the torture she witnessed. Two of the three other detained cyber-dissidents, Mohamed Zaki and Naushad Waheed, are under house arrest. The third, Ahmad Didi, who has serious heart problems, has been transferred back to Dhoonidhoo prison after several days in hospital. All four had been able to attend a peaceful pro-democracy rally with several thousand participants on 12 August in the capital, Male, because they had recently been transferred to house arrest after previously being held in prison. The day after the rally, a violent crackdown began on the orders of President Gayoom, who decreed a curfew and cut all internet access throughout the archipelago for several days. Nisreen, Zaki, Didi and Ibrahim Lutfy were originally arrested in January 2002 for publishing an email newsletter called Sandhaanu, which covered human rights abuses and corruption in the Maldives. Accused of libel and "trying to overthrow the government", Zaki, Didi and Lutfy were sentenced to life imprisonment on 7 July 2002. The sentence was later reduced to 15 years in prison. Nisreen, who was Lutfy's assistant and who was 22 at the time to the trial, was given a 10-year prison sentence that was reduced in 2003 to five years of banishment on Feeail island. Lutfy managed to escape on 24 May 2003 and today lives in Switzerland. Waheed, a painter and political dissident, was arrested on 9 December 2001 for contacting Amnesty International by email. He was sentenced on 12 October 2002 to 15 years in prison for "an anti-government act". He was tortured several times in the course of his detention. The Gayoom government is one the world's most repressive regimes as regards free expression, cracking down both on the internet as well as the traditional media. The British company Cable & Wireless operates the internet in the Maldives. Source: Reporters Sans Frontieres press release, Paris, in English 25 Oct 04 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** MAURITANIA. 783 has been in all evening // to their SW frequency [4845]. I notice now that they are S9 with Arabic but the SW has been shut down. I guess the SW doesn't stay on with the MW transmitter. This explains why I thought I had something else last week. It's 2255 ET and I haven't had a trace of the SW for at least half an hour (Mike Bugaj, Enfield, CT, 0255 UT Oct 26, WTFDA-AM via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. Glenn: I also had the same problem with my RN postcard being returned twice by the post-office. The placement of my address and the postal indicia on one side apparently makes it too difficult for the average postal worker to realize the card is legitimate international business reply mail. I thought about fussing with the local postmaster, but it's probably easier to put the card in an envelope and save RN a few Euros (Mike Cooper, Oct 24, DXLD) About the International Business-Reply. Glad to know that it does actually work from here; I have not yet gotten my card back a second time, so maybe it is on its way. Here's a follow-up on the RN letters segment at 1857 and 1957 UT (sometimes), heard on 9895 kHz. (I have no idea if the new frequencies after the Oct 31 changeover will be receivable here, so this may all become moot next week! :-) On Friday Oct 22 '04, at 1857 UT, I heard a new letters segment, different from the ones I had heard earlier that week. It mentioned one letter (probably e-mail since Kathy said "from an unknown location") with a question about a houseboat segment, I believe from "Dutch Horizons", and a note from Canada referring to a political discussion that had been on "Vox Humana". At 1957 UT that day, this same letters segment was repeated. On Monday Oct. 25 '04, at 1857 UT 9895 kHz went off-air after "Research File" ended and following an announcer's apology for an earlier transmitter drop-out on 11655 kHz. He announced "Programs will continue in 3 minutes' time" but the carrier and audio did *not* come back at 1900 UT but instead came up at 1902 UT, joining "Euroquest" in-progress. Then, at 1956 UT, there was an announcement of the upcoming new Oct. 31 frequencies, followed at 1957 UT by a repeat of the same letters segment described above from Friday. So these repeat and persist over the weekend. On Tuesday Oct 26 '04, at 1857 UT that same letters segment was broadcast. At 1956 and 1957 UT, the same frequency-change announcement and that same letters segment as the previous day's were re-broadcast. I did not have a chance to listen again today (Oct 27 '04). I won't bother reporting anything about these any more since they seem to be pretty well described by now. They're consistently 3 minutes long, repeated multiple days, and may or may not air depending on what else is going on at the transmitter site that day. They seem to consist of two listener comments from anywhere in the world, with a brief response from the presenter. No dates are mentioned; these could be recent or old. 73, (Will Martin, MO, Oct 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Further to the comments on Kathy Clugston's letters segment in DXLD 4- 162, I just had a chat with Kathy and she confirmed it will continue in B04. Because of frequency changes during the shortwave transmission to Africa, there's a need to fill in the gaps on those transmitters that stay on the air. Kathy's responsible for the continuity in our programmes, and as some of you know she was previously a very enthusiastic member of the Sincerely Yours team. So once a week she makes this short piece, which is unofficial and not part of our advertised programming. Kathy says you can E-mail her directly at kathy.clugston @ rnw.nl. She also says she's open to suggestion about how else to fill this little spot. BTW when we relaunch our Web site I'll be moderating a replacement for the Guestbook where you can send your comments, criticisims, suggestions and questions about our English service. We can include audio of Kathy's weekly feature for those unable to receive the transmission directly. We are also looking into the problem with the Business Reply card that went out with On Target, and I hope to have an official reply on the matter within a few days (Andy Sennitt, Radio Netherlands, Oct 26, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Further to earlier comments about problems with the reply card enclosed with the new issue of On Target, the Radio Netherlands English programme guide, we have been in touch with the mailing company. They say that thousands of replies have already been received. For those of you who haven't been so lucky, we suggest putting it inside an envelope and copy the exact mailing address to Switzerland. There should be no need to add postage, however if the Post Office still objects the only solution is to put a stamp on it. I personally had nothing to do with the planning or implementation of this system, and can only apologise on behalf of Radio Netherlands for the hassle some of you have had (Andy Sennitt, Radio Netherlands, Oct 28, ibid.) ** NEW ZEALAND. A note about a recent bridging of my two hobbies, radio listening and amateur astronomy. On the night (morning) of an extraordinary Celestial Event, on June 8, 2004, Venus transiting the Sun. The night before, R. New Zealand International announced a ``Venus Transit Special`` to air the following night live from Auckland with a town hall forum-style program with scientists in NZ and on-site observers in Australia to be interviewed and questions asked. It started shortly (about 1 hour) after the event began, which was about 0507 UT in Sydney. This broadcast gave me a very nice preview and chance to envision and to put the event into perspective, especially an historical perspective, i.e. even before I got the chance at sunrise in my locale. I enjoyed it more because of this ``view`` from across the World`s Equator and the day/night terminator as I waited for sunrise. Since NZ missed the event due to sunset, it was doubly meaningful including discussions of Capt. James Cook`s 18th century voyage with a ``secret mission`` to ``discover a southern continent``. A real pleasure to join those two hobbies for me. Next time in 2012 in this ``twice in a lifetime`` event, the people in NZ and Australia will see it at sunrise in both countries, and I`ll hopefully see it near sunset (as he Celestial Stuff goes) (Mike Lendemer, South Orange NJ, Oct 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 4485.9, Frecuencia VH, 2340-2402 Oct 22. Presumed the one with instrumental, almost classical, music. Very odd for a small town Peruvian station! Poor and faded by 2402. Tnx Harold Frodge (Don Moore, DXing at a MARE DXpedition near Brighton, MI, ICF-2010 and various long wire antennas, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** POLAND. Re: PÍOS Y XENÓFOBOS EN LA ONDA CORTA POLACA "Radio Maryja" --- la cadena de radio polaca más escuchada . . . My Spanish is very poor but I think that "la cadena de radio polaca más escuchada" means "the most listened-to radio network in Poland", which is not true. Even traditional Catholics (like my dear Mom) are no longer listening to Radio Maryja (especially after the founder, Father Rydzyk bought Maybach car recently...). Also Radio Maryja left shortwave from January 1, 2004. All the rest in the article is true (Wojtek Zaremba, Legionowo, Poland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PORTUGAL. 21830 at 1550, fair to good with music and man and woman chat, news at 1600, Portuguese (Eric Bryan, WA, Oct 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** QATAR. AL JAZEERA CONFIRMS PLAN FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE CHANNEL The Arab satellite news broadcaster al-Jazeera has made the formal announcement of its plan to set up an English language TV channel. The new channel is to provide 24-hour news coverage and is intended to act as a counterbalance to Western channels such as CNN and BBC World. Al- Jazeera International will strive to be independent and reliable. It will operate independently from the Arab language channel and focus less on the Middle East. Editorial offices will be opened in Washington, London and Kuala Lumpur or Singapore. # posted by Andy @ 14:35 UT Oct 28 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA. BSKSA on 13710 at 1510, good and clear with Kor`an recitation (Eric Bryan, WA, Oct 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAUDI ARABIA. 9555, 1935-1942 Oct 23. Arabic music and woman announcer. Good and // 9870. Also at same time I logged apparent Saudi Arabia with different program of Arabic music and man announcer on 11820 (best) // 11915 // 11740. I wonder if this is part of the official policy of keeping the sexes separate? (Don Moore, DXing at a MARE DXpedition near Brighton, MI, ICF-2010 and various long wire antennas, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SCOTLAND [non]. From November 1st, our transmissions will all shift times in order to adjust for winter time in most listening areas. Transmission schedule will be as follows:- Daily: 5105 kHz (via WBCQ, Monticello) 0000-0200 UT Second weekend each month: 13840 (via IRRS) Sat: 0930-1030 UT; Sun 0800-0900 UT Second Thursday of each month: 5775 (via IRRS) Thu: 2000-2100 UT Hi Glenn, This might be of interest.... *A Legend returns .... The Laird is back!* Scotland’s most successful radio show makes its comeback for shortwave and web listeners worldwide on November 6th. Jack McLaughlin`s Ceilidh began on floating station "242 Radio Scotland" in 1966 as the antithesis of the BBC’s rather prim style of presenting traditional Scottish music. The ship borne station came to an end, but the show continued on Scotland’s first land based commercial stations Radio Clyde and Radio Forth. And it soon crossed over to television as ITV’s phenomenally successful Thingummyjig, leading to hit versions on stage and records. Often imitated, but never equalled, McLaughlin`s Ceilidh is the cheerful creation of broadcaster and businessman Jack McLaughlin whose wicked send-up of all things Scottish was originally devised as a ruse to get himself moved to another show. Ironically, it`s become one of the longest-surviving radio shows the country has ever produced. Its cast of regular performers – Fran & Anna (Jack dubbed them ``the gruesome twosome`` and the record sales soared) The Alexander Brothers (or `sisters` as Jack calls them), Glen Daly, Sydney Devine and John Carmichael continue to come in for good-natured stick in the revival, and the self-styled ``Laird o` the Coocaddens`` sinks to new depths in terrible jokes for the show, produced in the *radio six international* studios in Glasgow. Aimed now at listeners to shortwave in the USA, Canada, and western Europe, McLaughlin`s Ceilidh airs on *radio six international* on Saturday, November 6th at 8.05 pm Eastern (Sunday 0105 GMT) on 5105 and on the web at http://radiosix.com Regards (TONY CURRIE, Radio Six International, Oct 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Andy Sennitt adds: As a half-Scot who spent many happy holidays on the Clyde coast, this programme brings back some very warm memories for me. I was actually a member of the "242 Clan" (Radio Scotland's fan club) and paid a visit to their HQ in Glasgow. If memory serves, McLaughlin’s Ceilidh went on the air at 6.15-7 pm on weekdays. Those who have never heard this one-of-a-kind show are in for a real treat! Radio Scotland was a wonderful offshore station - perhaps not always the most professional, but they had some unique shows, of which this is one. Posted by Andy @ 18:04 UT Oct 25 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** SPAIN. I heard REE quite well in English to NAm on 10/20 at 0000 on 15385. Some co-channel and 15375 splash. No announcement on B sked; On 10/21, REE was there in French at 2300, but gone for English at 0000 on 15385. Chinese was on when no-show (Bob Thomas, CT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) REE Spain on 15385 at 0000 has been obliterated lately by a station on same frequency in Chinese. For some weeks now I haven't been able to get "The News From Spain", which I habitually did (Eric Bryan, WA, Oct 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN [non]. Sudan Radio Service! Hello DXers, checking Sudan Radio Service today 28/10/04 around 0430 UT, it was really loud and clear on 11665 kHz. The Arabic service was on with the ID and the news read by a YL the ID was a bit strange, as the transmission was in Arabic but the ID was in English all the time (Sudan Radio Service); after the newsthere was a program interviewing a human rights activist talking about the way human rights should be in Sudan. The interview was a mix of Arabic and English. After that there was an announcement about the new frequencies of Sudan Radio Service starting 1/11/04 as follows : 06.00-08.00 (GMT +3, East African Time) hours on 9625 kHz [03-05 UT] 08.00-09.00 (GMT +3, East African Time) hours on 11795 kHz [05-06 UT] 18.00-20.00 (GMT +3, East African Time) hours on 15530 kHz [15-17 UT] 20.00-21.00 (GMT +3, East African Time) hours on 11715 kHz [17-18 UT] Around 0500 UT the Arabic section signed off and asked the listeners to keep tuning on 15325 kHz from 0500. The transmitter was left on for another 4 minutes; I checked 15325 kHz but there was nothing on. I had to run to work around 0505, so I had no idea if 15325 was on or not. For more details about the station and it's schedule check that link: http://www.sudanradio.org/schedule.htm All the best guys. Yours (Tarek Zeidan, Cairo, Egypt, Oct 28, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWEDEN. R. Sweden has announced new segments and features for fall/winter sked and specials on weekends. It starts in November. See their site (Bob Thomas, CT, Oct 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Sweden Winter Schedule --- All times are in UTC. To Europe: 1330 UTC 11550 and 7420 1430 UTC 11550 1830 UTC 6065 (except Sunday) 2030 UTC 6065 7420 9415 2230 UTC 6065 Asia/Pacific: 0130 UTC 11550 (listed as being via the Madagascar relay) 1330, 1430, 2030 UTC same as Europe North America: 0230 UTC 6010 0330 UTC 6010 1330 UTC 18960* 1430 UTC 18960* *The brochure lists 15240, but RS's on-air announcement said 18960, which is the frequency they used last winter. (15240 was the frequency used during the summer.) The brochure also lists all the broadcasts to North America as being via the RCI Sackville relay, but I believe that in the past the daytime broadcasts were actually from the Swedish transmitters while the nighttime broadcasts were the only ones via Sackville. -- (Ted Schuerzinger, Oct 25, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) Looks like no two versions of R. Sweden`s schedule agree. SCDX itself said 15240 would be used, and that at 1330 it would be direct, at 1430 via Canada (unlike currently, both direct), and also per registrations for the entire schedule. This info ought to be more recent than a brochure printed earlier. See recent issues of DXLD. We may not really know until Oct 31 or a few days later... (gh, ibid.) ** SWITZERLAND. I emailed Jonas Hughes at SRI Jonas.Hughes @ swissinfo.ch protesting/lamenting the closure of SRI, reminding him that Grundig's SW radio sales jumped something like 500% after 9/11, and that obviously Americans and people throughout the world want to know what the heck's going on, and want easy access to more than domestic media. I reminded him also of the outcry which kept the BBCWS on the air, and that probably many people in remote areas without handy Web connections will feel cut off when SRI leaves the air. He responded: "Dear Mr Bryan, Thank you for your kind comment. One never knows. Best regards, Jonas Hughes" (Eric Bryan, WA, Oct 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Here is an official press release of what is now called Swissinfo about the pending closure of the radio service. Mentions special farewell programmes: In German interviews with famous Swiss personalities and statements from compatriots abroad, in Arabic most of the collaborators will be in the studio, for English see http://www.swissinfo.org website under Multimedia, Assignment Switzerland. Last transmissions "on October 30", still leaving the question if there will be another 2200-2400 on 9885 and 11905 this day, since this is already on Oct 31 in Switzerland. Or will we note an open carrier from Montsinéry this night...? (Kai Ludwig, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: SCHWEIZER RADIO INTERNATIONAL STELLT RADIOPROGRAMME EIN Bern (ots) - swissinfo/Schweizer Radio International (SRI) sendet am 30. Oktober 2004 zum letzten Mal seine Radioprogramme über Kurzwelle und Satellit aus. Nach fast 70 Jahren endet damit ein Kapitel Schweizer Radiogeschichte. Nun bietet swissinfo/SRI seine Informationen und Dienstleistungen auf der multimedialen, neunsprachigen Internetplattform www.swissinfo.org an. Mit diesem Schritt geht ein Stück Schweizer Radiogeschichte zu Ende. Schweizer Radio International begann 1935 Radioprogramme über Kurzwelle zu senden. Während des Zweiten Weltkrieges und des Kalten Krieges wurden die Radioprogramme aus der neutralen Schweiz gerne gehört. Die Radioprogramme wurden in neun Sprachen (Deutsch, Französisch, Italienisch, Romanisch, Englisch, Spanisch, Portugiesisch, Arabisch und Esperanto) gesendet. Schweizer Radio International gehörte in dieser Zeit zu den angesehensten und am meisten gehörten internationalen Radiostationen. Das Ende des Kalten Krieges, das Aufkommen der Satellitentechnologie und des Internets läutete das Ende des Kurzwellenzeitalters ein. Mit der strategischen Neuausrichtung zum Multimediaunternehmen, die 1999 vom Bundesrat gutgeheissen wurde, tat swissinfo/SRI den Schritt ins Internet-Zeitalter. Es wurde entschieden, kontinuierlich das Angebot an Radioprogrammen zu reduzieren. Dafür setzte man auf die zukunftsträchtige Technologie des Internets. Im März 1999 wurde die multi-mediale Informations-Plattform www.swissinfo.org lanciert, die heute in neun Sprachen zur Verfügung steht (Deutsch, Französisch, Italienisch, Englisch, Spanisch, Portugiesisch, Arabisch, Japanisch und Chinesisch). Weiterhin sind Audiobeiträge auf der Website von swissinfo zu hören. Es können Radiobeiträge zu bestimmten Themen sowie Abstimmungen und Wahlen auf der MP3-Seite angehört aber auch direkt in Radiosendungen verwendet werden. Die neue Strategie erweist sich als richtig, denn heute kann http://www.swissinfo.org rund 8.5 Millionen Seitenabrufe pro Monat verbuchen. Nicolas Lombard, Direktor von swissinfo/Schweizer Radio International, äussert sich differenziert: "Das Internet kann das Radio nicht einfach ersetzen. Wir können heute aber auf der Internetplattform http://www.swissinfo.org eine Fülle von Informationen anbieten, wie es im Radio gar nicht möglich war. Wir haben eine enorme Quantität und Qualität an Informationen über und aus der Schweiz, wie wir sie früher nicht gekannt haben." Den Schlusspunkt setzen diverse Spezialsendungen. Die deutsche Redaktion sendet nochmals Interviews mit berühmten Schweizer Persönlichkeiten wie Max Frisch und Friedrich Dürrenmatt und lässt Auslandschweizer zu Wort kommen. Die letzte arabische Sendung holt nochmals einen Grossteil der Mitarbeitenden vors Mikrophon. Die Highlights der englischen Radioprogramme finden sich unter dem Titel Multimedia (Assignment Switzerland) auf der englischen Site von http://www.swissinfo.org ots Originaltext: Swiss Info Digitale Pressemappe: http://presseportal.de/story.htx?firmaid=42825 Pressekontakt: Nicolas D. Lombard, Direktor swissinfo/Schweizer Radio International (SRI) Giacomettistrasse 1 CH-3000 Bern 15 E-mail: nicolas.lombard @ swissinfo.ch Tel. +41/31/350'95'10 (via Kai Ludwig, Oct 28, DXLD) ** SYRIA. Radio Damascus plans to discontinue German, at least on shortwave. Probably English is endangered as well, just not mentioned here since the source was the German programme. Viz.: Liebe Freunde, bitte leitet diese Nachricht an alle DXer und Kurzwellenhörer weiter, die Ihr kennt: Frau Tuschurman gab in der heutigen Briefkastensendung bekannt, dass die Verantwortlichen planen, die Sendungen in deutscher Sprache einzustellen. Insbesondere die Kurzwellenabstrahlung ist bedroht. Man bittet dringend um Zuschriften und Unterstützung aller Art, die man an die entsprechenden Stellen weiterleiten möchte. Briefe sind zu richten an: Radio Damaskus, German Language Department, P. O. Box 4702, Damaskus, Syrien. E-Mails können an mmhrez @ shuf.com gesandt werden. Die deutsche Redaktion von Radio Damaskus freut sich auf eure Unterstützung. Schöne Grüße aus dem Breisgau, Euer Helmut Matt (via Kai Ludwig, Germany, Oct 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN [non]. Dear Mr. Glenn Hauser, My name is Joy, a coordinator of International Affairs for Radio Taiwan International, and I just learned that there has an information regarding RTI broadcasts via Chile which was posted in your DX Listening Digest 4-158, Oct. 16, 2004 as below: ``TAIWAN [non]. CHILE/TAIWAN Re DXLD #4-157: Also two RTI relays via Calora del Tango, Santiago relay: 11720 2100-2200 13,15NE SGO 100 45 G MER RTI 17625 1100-1400 13,15NE SGO 100 45 G MER RTI (Oct 15) (BC-DX via DXLD)`` As RTI doesn't have any relays via Calora del Tango, Santiago so above information might not be correct, that is why we like to let you have our clarification. You have done a wonderful work at World of Radio, that offers many useful information to all the listeners, please accept my personal respects too. If you have any further questions about our RTI, please do not hesitate to contact me. Best Regards (Joy, RTI, via DXLD) Hello Joy, Thanks for your kind comments and clarification. I had my doubts that this was correct, as I believe I also said in DXLD. Yet there was such a listing for the A-04 season which also proved to be incorrect. Do you have any idea where this info is coming from, or if perhaps there are tentative plans for RTI to use the Chile relay site at some point? This info in particular refers to the B-04 season which starts October 31, but might really mean starting some time in the next 5 months. Or are you absolutely certain RTI will never be using this relay? The item indicates that Merlin (now known as VT) would be brokering this relay. Do you have other business with VT? Best regards, Glenn Hauser (to Joy, via DXLD) ** THAILAND. B-04 Radio Thailand (tentatively) 6040 1130 1145 49 UDO 250 30 THA 6040 1145 1200 49 UDO 250 284 THA 7160 1300 1315 45 UDO 250 54 THA 7160 1315 1330 44 UDO 250 30 THA 7160 1330 1400 44 UDO 250 54 THA 7285 1000 1100 54 UDO 250 136 THA 7305 1100 1130 49,54 UDO 250 144 THA 9535 2000 2045 27,28 UDO 250 321 THA 9535 2045 2115 27,28 UDO 250 313 THA 9560 1400 1430 49-51,55,56,59-65 UDO 250 132 THA 9680 0000 0030 48,53,57 UDO 250 256 THA 9810 1230 1300 49-51,55,56,59-65 UDO 250 132 THA 9840 1900 2000 27,28 UDO 250 313 THA 11805 1200 1230 54 UDO 250 154 THA 11855 1800 1900 39,40 UDO 250 284 THA 13695 0030 0200 7,8 UDO 250 6 THA 13780 0530 0600 27,28 UDO 250 324 THA 15460 0300 0430 6 UDO 250 38 THA 4830 1100 1230 49 BAN 10 0 THA 6070 1100 1230 49 BAN 10 0 THA 7115 1100 1230 49 BAN 10 0 THA B04 R Thailand sorted by languages BURM 6040 1145-1200 UDO 250 RTG ENGL 9680 0000-0030 UDO 250 RTG ENGL 5890 0030-0100 GB 500 RTG ENGL 13695 0030-0100 UDO 250 RTG ENGL 5890 0300-0330 DL 250 RTG ENGL 15460 0300-0330 UDO 250 RTG ENGL 13780 0530-0600 UDO 250 RTG ENGL 9810 1230-1300 UDO 250 RTG ENGL 9725 1400-1430 UDO 250 RTG ENGL 9840 1900-2000 UDO 250 RTG ENGL 9535 2030-2045 UDO 250 RTG FREN 9535 2015-2030 UDO 250 RTG GERM 9535 2000-2015 UDO 250 RTG INDO 11805 1215-1230 UDO 250 RTG JAPA 7160 1300-1315 UDO 250 RTG KHME 7305 1115-1130 UDO 250 RTG LAO 6040 1130-1145 UDO 250 RTG MALA 11805 1200-1215 UDO 250 RTG MAND 7160 1315-1330 UDO 250 RTG THAI 5890 0100-0200 GB 500 RTG THAI 13695 0100-0200 UDO 250 RTG THAI 5890 0330-0430 DL 250 RTG THAI 15460 0330-0430 UDO 250 RTG THAI 7285 1000-1100 UDO 250 RTG THAI 1575 1030-1100 BAK 1000 RTG THAI 7160 1330-1400 UDO 250 RTG THAI 11855 1800-1900 UDO 250 RTG THAI 9535 2045-2115 UDO 250 RTG THAI 1575 1100-1130 BAK 1000 MO-FR RTG THAI 1575 1200-1230 BAK 1000 MO-FR RTG THAI 1575 1500-1530 BAK 1000 MO-FR RTG THAI 1575 2230-2400 BAK 1000 SU-TH RTG VIET 7305 1100-1115 UDO 250 RTG (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DXLD) ** THAILAND. Excerpt from: Inspection of Broadcasting Board of Governors' Operations in Thailand The initial agreements for the [BBG/IBB] Thailand Transmitting Station, which date back to 1965, involved the broadcasting of VOA programming. Since RFA began broadcasting from points outside of Thailand in September 1996, the Royal Thai government has shown no interest in amending these agreements to include broadcasting of RFA programming, although Embassy Bangkok has pursued the matter occasionally with senior members of the Thai government. Although there have been a series of bilateral agreements relating to the Thailand Transmitting Station over the years and subsequent amendments, OIG could find no evidence that Embassy Bangkok ever formally received permission from the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, by way of an exchange of diplomatic notes or other amendment, allowing the U.S. government to broadcast Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) programs from the Udorn transmitter plant. Those broadcasts, nevertheless, began in 1995 and continue with the inclusion of Radio Farda programs. From: Office of Inspector General [OIG] U.S. Department of State and the Broadcasting Board of Governors, Monthly Report of Activities, August 2004. The monthly reports can be found at: http://oig.state.gov/lbry (via Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, Oct 28, DXLD) ** TIBET [non]. Newest Frequencies of Voice of Tibet 1215 to 1300 UT around 17525 kHz 1432 to 1517 UT around 15690 kHz 1532 to 1605 UT around 9395 kHz First half hour is Tibetan language, immediately followed by 15 mins in Mandarin. via Mr. Oystein Alme, VOT director (via Eriz Zhou, Oct 26, dxldyg via DXLD) ** TURKEY. 15350 at 1520, strong and clear with traditional/folk music (Eric Bryan, WA, Oct 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. LEGENDARY RADIO DJ JOHN PEEL DIES --- From BBC news : John Peel was one of the UK's most-loved broadcasters Veteran BBC broadcaster John Peel has died at the age of 65, while on holiday in Peru. Peel, whose radio career spanned 40 years, was on a working holiday in the city of Cuzco with his wife Sheila when he suffered a heart attack. He was BBC Radio 1's longest-serving DJ and in recent years had also presented Home Truths on Radio 4. Radio 1 controller Andy Parfitt said Peel's contribution to modern music and culture was "immeasurable". He added: "John Peel was a broadcasting legend. I am deeply saddened by his death as are all who work at Radio 1. "John's influence has towered over the development of popular music for nearly four decades. "Hopeful bands all over the world sent their demo tapes to John knowing that he really cared. "His commitment and passion for new music only grew stronger over the years. In fact, when I last saw him he was engaged in a lively debate with his fellow DJs over the state of new music today "He will be hugely missed." Mr Parfitt told Radio 1's Newsbeat that Peel had been on a holiday of a lifetime when he died. He added: "He had gone on holiday with Sheila to a place where he had always wanted to go." BBC director general Mark Thompson said: "We are all very shocked and saddened by the news of John's death. "He was one of the giants of radio and will be missed, not just by everyone at the BBC, but by millions of listeners of all ages." Tony Blair's spokesman said the Prime Minister was "genuinely saddened by the news". He added: "His view is that he was a unique voice in British broadcasting and used that voice to unearth new talent and different subjects and make them accessible to a much wider audience." Full report and links at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3955289.stm (via BDXC-UK via DXLD) John Peel RIP --- From: http://www.offshoreradio.co.uk/djsn2p.htm Born 30th August 1939, in Heswell, Cheshire, he was educated at Shrewsbury public school and did his National Service in the Royal Artillery. He then worked at Townhead Mill in Shropshire before moving to America. His first job there was with the Dallas Cotton Exchange but his love of the blues led to him making a guest appearance on a local radio station. When the Beatles took off in America, an English accent, especially an almost Liverpudlian one, was much in demand. John became the resident Beatles expert on KLIF in Dallas. A full time job on KOMA in Oklahoma City followed, then KMEN in San Bernardino. An unsuccessful marriage prompted his return to the UK where a neighbour of his mother's put him in touch with Radio London. On the basis of his experience on American radio, John was immediately given a job and joined the station in March 1967. As always, the newest recruit had two air-shifts. John deputised for whichever DJ was on shore leave and presented the midnight-2am show. While working in America John had become very aware of the music of the "underground". It was the hippy era and dozens of new bands were emerging. John began to feature the best of this new music on his late night programme which came to be known as The Perfumed Garden. It immediately won a large and loyal following and was hugely influential. He stayed with Radio London until its close-down when he became part of the founding team of Radio One. (The Cats Caravan web-site did have a recording of the last ever Perfumed Garden but has either moved or closed down. Does anyone know which?) More than thirty years later John is still on Radio One, the only survivor since the start, and still playing new, challenging, music. He has also presented shows on the World Service for many years and hosts the weekly Home Truths magazine programme on BBC Radio Four. John was awarded an OBE in 1998. There is another photo of John in Dave Hawkins' photo album. Many club disc-jockeys release CDs of their mixes but now the DJ with the most idiosyncratic taste of all has joined them. A recording of John spinning the discs at Fabric was released on 2nd December 2002. As you would expect, it is a varied selection, including Motown (The Velvelettes), doo-wop (The Capris), indie (Joy Division), reggae, funk, rock, the Kop Choir singing You'll Never Walk Alone - the anthem of John's beloved Liverpool FC - and his all-time favourite: Teenage Kicks by The Undertones. Details and audio clips can be found at http://www.fabriclondon.com or it can be ordered through Amazon. The Radio Academy, a trade body for people who work in the industry, has recently launched its own Hall of Fame honouring those who have made an outstanding contribution to UK radio. John Peel was inducted into this august group in December 2003. You can find details here http://www.radioacademy.org/halloffame/peel_j/index.html 26th October 2004: We have just heard the sad news of John's death. The BBC has reported that he died of a heart-attack while on a working holiday with his wife in Peru. The Pirate Radio Hall Of Fame will be paying its own tribute to him as soon as possible but, in the meantime, you can read more about one of the great broadcasters of the last forty years on the BBC, NME and Guardian web sites. You can also pay your own respects here. Click on site for audio clips: John Peel in The Perfumed Garden on Radio London on 18th July 1967. Tape courtesy of Ray Andrews (duration 3 minutes 6 seconds) John Peel ending the last ever Perfumed Garden on Radio London on 14th August 1967. The programme had continued through the night on this one occasion and John was about to hand over to Chuck Blair with the final Breakfast Show. Recording kindly provided by Albie Somerset (duration 3 minutes 55 seconds) (via Mike Terry, DXLD) JOHN PEEL TRIBUTES --- "A balance between things that you know people will like and things that you think people will like." 27 October 2004 John Peel 1939 - 2004. We've had over 10,000 messages so far via this page alone http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/alt/johnpeel/features/peel_tributes.shtml We're doing our best to get through them and publish them steadily during the day. Please feel free to leave your own tributes and condolence messages in the form at the bottom of the page. There is also a condolence book in Radio 1's reception in London which anyone is welcome to sign. Thank you for all your comments. (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) And the BBC comment board online has filled up --- More Linkname: John Peel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Peel Linkname: BBC - Radio 1 - John Peel URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/alt/johnpeel/ Series of pictures Linkname: Guardian Unlimited | Arts galleries | John Peel, 1939- 2004 URL: http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/gallery/0,8542,1336403,00.html Zillions of Guardian articles Linkname: MediaGuardian.co.uk | Media | John Peel dies aged 65 URL: http://media.guardian.co.uk/site/story/0,14173,1336385,00.html (via Dan Say, Swprograms mailing list, via DXLD) Here is the tribute to John Peel from the BBC's news page. John Peel: Witty, unaffected and avuncular --- The broadcaster, John Peel, was the champion of British rock music. For nearly 40 years, his late-night Radio 1 programme led the way in promoting new acts, from David Bowie, through Joy Division to Lamacq. John Peel was, at first sight, the antithesis of many of the bands he loved. Balding, bearded, softly - if hilariously - spoken, he was more like a favourite uncle than a rock fan. Yet Peel's uncompromising encouragement of new talent transformed the face of music all the way from hippy to house. He was born John Robert Parker Ravenscoft in Heswall, near Liverpool, in 1939. The son of the owner of a cotton mill, his childhood was blighted by his distant parents and he was brought up mostly by a nanny. He attended Shrewsbury public school, which he hated, an ordeal which was offset by the moment when he first heard Elvis Presley singing Heartbreak Hotel. David Bowie --- David Bowie was one of his earliest proteges "Everything changed when I heard Elvis," he later reflected. "Where there had been nothing there was suddenly something." After National Service between 1957 and 1959 he went to America. With Beatlemania in full swing, John Peel and his Liverpudlian connections proved irresistible and he soon became a DJ for WRR radio in Dallas. Returning to England in 1967, he joined the pirate station, Radio London, before transferring to the BBC's new national pop channel, Radio 1. He was to remain there for the rest of his life, the only survivor of Radio 1's first line-up. Changing styles Right from the outset, Peel changed the rules. He played every track without interruption, to the delight of those wishing to tape his show, while providing a witty and knowledgeable running commentary, seemingly a million miles away from the transatlantic platitudes of many of his colleagues. In the early days Peel championed acts like Marc Bolan, David Bowie and Captain Beefheart, as he did throughout his career, by giving them studio-time to record legendary "Peel sessions". The Sex Pistols: Peel championed punk rock But, in the mid-1970s, John Peel moved away from the mainstream rock of Jimi Hendrix and The Who to a new and radical sound, punk. Bands like the Sex Pistols and the Clash paved the way for new Peel discoveries like Joy Division and the Undertones, whose Teenage Kicks was his all-time favourite single. The 1980s brought further joy, most notably in the form of The Fall and The Smiths, both refreshing counterblasts to the increasingly bland fare of the charts. More recently, Peel had branched-out, presenting BBC Radio Four's Home Truths, an eclectic programme about family life, and provided typically droll interjections for BBC TV's Grumpy Old Men. And he continued to remain at the cutting-edge of popular taste, featuring 'world' music and rap alongside good old-fashioned rock 'n' roll. A lifelong fan of the Archers and a dedicated follower of Liverpool football club, he lived in Suffolk with his wife Sheila, affectionately known as The Pig (via Clive Lever via Paul David, dxldyg via DXLD) I am devastated; part of my life has gone. I was 17 in 1967 when I heard his "last" radio show and at 3:00 that afternoon the music died - Radio London the greatest radio station ever was savagely cut off in its prime. On tape I can go back to 14/8/67 on Radio London from midnight to 5:30 am - the whole show was superb and John's swansong in radio - he thought he was unemployed (really no hint then of a Radio 1 or Radio anything job!!) and suggested listeners make "Perfumed Garden" badges so if they saw each other they would say hello. He read from Winnie the Pooh, the bells jangled in the background as the ship rocked, he said the sky was beautiful and was probably mildly stoned on cannabis. He was a rebel then, didn't play the jingles or pop music, just underground which was new music that later became well known. A unique person (not personality) has left a legacy we all will treasure to our dying days - a great broadcaster and friend (Mike Terry (in Bournemouth), dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio 1 has its own tribute section too. And it is uncanny how the pirate days are being written out of the bios (Jonathan Marks, 10.26.04 - 9:34 pm, Media Network blog via DXLD) This guy was brilliant - his show was a breath of fresh air on the stuffy BBC WS in the 80's. How the announcers hated his style of presentation, compared to their "Radio 3 for Africa" approach. A lot of bands owe their careers to him. Taken ill at a restaurant in Peru. Wonder if he was suffering from problems adjusting to the altitude? (Bill Bradshaw, 10.26.04 - 4:51 pm, ibid.) There's still one archived 30 Minute show at the World Service site, at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/rpms/ws_johnpeel.rpm Just another great half hour of music. It will be taken down Friday at 0830 UT (Tom Roche, GA, Oct 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) JOHN PEEL TRIBUTE SPECIAL Category: World Service Date: 27.10.2004 Lead singer of the Undertones, Feargal Sharkey, responsible for John Peel's favourite song of all time Teenage Kicks; Rick Wakeman, keyboard player in Yes; and Blur bass guitarist Alex James are among the stars who explain the key role John Peel has played in shaping their careers. [caption?] Following the sudden death of legendary broadcaster John Peel, BBC World Service pays tribute to one of its best loved presenters. In place of John's weekly programme on Friday 29 October, Mark Coles will trace John's influence from his early years as a DJ in the United States to his status as the much loved icon of contemporary cutting edge music. For more than 30 years John Peel's weekly show on BBC World Service has allowed millions of listeners across the globe to share his passion for music. Every week fans sent letters and emails, as well as tapes and CDs, many of which John played, demonstrating how his open approach to new music allowed so many people to connect with each other through his programme. Indeed, since the announcement of his death the BBC World Service website has been flooded with message from fans as far a field as America, China and Japan. Presenter / Mark Coles, Producer / Bobby Seiler Broadcast Times: John Peel Tribute programme: 1 x 25 minute programme Friday 29 October, 1030, 1330, 1930 and Saturday 30 October 0145 (UK time) (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) Geez, doesn`t the WS operate on GMT?? That would be Fri 0930, 1230, 1830, Sat 0045, and this no doubt refers to the Eu stream only (gh, DXLD) ** U K. BBCWS: Three-hour special on USA election 10/31/04 1200 UT Heard at the end of the on-demand edition of "Assignment" -- The BBCWS will have a two-hour special edition of "Talking Point" on the US election this coming Saturday, 10/30/04, at 1200 UT. No frequencies were mentioned, though the website's schedules database shows this two-hour program for the Americas but not for Europe. The "Talking Point" section of the website also makes reference to the special program (Richard Cuff, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) So do you really mean Sat 30th or Sun 31st? And two hours or three hours? (Glenn, ibid.) Heh -- I thought I'd heard three hours on Sunday, but the website says two hours on Saturday. I trust the website more than my ears (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA, ibid.) Outlook just said "7 am Eastern" (Dan Say, ibid.) So if it really starts at 1200 UT, and that means 7 am Eastern, it must be on Sunday, because on Saturday, 7 am Eastern will still be 1100 UT --- but do they understand this in London? (gh, DXLD) I thought I've heard three hours on Sunday for the election special, but then again, the BBC are running a promo for a series in which authors give radio tours of their home cities, in which the air date is given as Wednesday, November 2. (November 2 is, of course, a Tuesday.) (Ted Schuerzinger, swprograms via DXLD) Well maybe my ears were correct after all... Thanks for making me feel better, Ted! (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA, ibid.) ** U S A. 5825, WEWN Birmingham AL; 0128, 23-Oct; English, Catholic stuff. SIO=4+34 & splattering badly as usual +/- 50 kHz with strong spur at 5841.6 (Harold Frodge, MI, Michigan Area Radio Enthusiasts DXpedition, Brighton MI, Drake R8B + 65' TTFD, 500' unterminated NE-SW beverage, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** U S A. TWO REPORTERS SUSPENDED FOR ATTENDING ANTI-BUSH CONCERT | Text of press release by Paris-based organization Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) on 22 October Reporters Without Borders voiced amazement today that Chuck Laszewski and Rick Linsk, two reporters with the Saint Paul Pioneer Press, a Saint-Paul (Minnesota) daily, were suspended from work for three days for attending an anti-Bush "Vote for change" concert on 5 October. "We are astonished at such a heavy sanction for journalists who attended a concert in their own free time and who are now going to lose three days' pay," the organization said. On 27 September, a week before the concert, editor Vicky Gowler circulated a memo to staff saying the newspaper's ethics banned certain employees from pursuing activities that could conflict with their profession. The memo mentioned in particular a ban on attending political fundraising concerts. Reached by Reporters Without Borders, Laszewski said he felt the memo did not concern him because he belongs to a team of investigative journalists and the memo was addressed to political reporters and staff working weekends. He also stressed that he went to a concert and not a political rally and that he has always paid great attention to professional ethics and had himself campaigned for the creation of an ethics committee within the newspaper in 2000. Gowler meanwhile was sticking to her position. She argues that investigative journalists can be required to work weekends and cover politics. The journalists' union, the Newspaper Guild, is contesting the sanctions and has called for arbitration. Many newspapers throughout the United States have banned staff from attending this type of concert but, to our knowledge, this is the first time anyone has been sanctioned. Source: Reporters Sans Frontieres press release, Paris, in English 22 Oct 04 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** U S A. About 200 upset senior citizens were out protesting over the weekend in NEW JERSEY, calling on WCMC (1230 Wildwood) to reconsider its decision to flip from standards to oldies. The Press of Atlantic City reports that the protesters carried signs that read "What are we, chopped liver? Wait till you get old!" and were especially vocal about the disappearance of longtime WCMC morning man Jim MacMillan and his very local show. In PENNSYLVANIA, CBS is looking for a new radio affiliate in the Pittsburgh market now that KQV (1410 Pittsburgh) is switching to AP Network News. If KQV's move is at all motivated by CBS' perceived political leanings (the station is owned by right-wing activist Richard Mellon Scaife), the station's not saying so; meanwhile, the logical move that would put CBS newscasts on Viacom-owned KDKA (1020 Pittsburgh) hasn't happened yet and reportedly isn't in the offing, at least not right away (Scott Fybush, NE Radio Watch Oct 25 via DXLD) ** URUGUAY [non]. Couldn`t pull any readable audio of R. Cimarrona Oct 24 on 9480, checking the last few minutes of the 2200 hour when one hoped WWCR 9475 might have faded down a little, but had not, still heavy sideband splatter; but on Oct 25 I was able to copy part of the closing announcement by running tightest selectivity and off-tuning to 9482 or so. Said would be back next week, at 1900 Chile time, 2000 Argentina time. Mentioned Colonia, Alemania, and gave addresses. 10- note interval signal followed by some more notes after a pause, and the original 10 notes again before off promptly at 2300. Somewhat motivates me to hear it clearly on their mp3 file. BTW, Arnaldo Slaen said Argentina did not go onto UT-2 DST Oct. 17 as planned, and he was not certain if or when they would actually make the shift. But the schedule announced implies UT-2 for Argentina, if this broadcast is staying at 2200 UT (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) GERMANY: 9480, Radio Cimarrona via DTK. Transmission for Uruguay and region. 2200-2220, October 24, Spanish. IS and many IDs: "...en Colonia, Alemania, está transmitiendo Radio Cimarrona para toda América Latina"; "Están escuchando Radio Cimarrona"; Desde Alemania... están escuchando Radio Cimarrona"; "...Radio Cimarrona, todos los domingos un programa de una hora de duración ...en la frecuencia de 9480 khz en la banda de 31 metros". The speakers spoke about the station`s name. Announcement: "Latinoamericanos y alemanes, nos lanzamos con esta locura, una emisora de onda corta, desde Colonia, Alemania". Report and talk about water, 43443. Some interference from an unID in Chinese on same frequency (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, HCDX via DXLD) ** YEMEN. 9779.8, Radio Sanaa, 1752-1812 Oct 23. End of Arabic program, interval signal, YL English ID then into easy listening music. Second ID at 1810 then into news. Fair (Don Moore, DXing at a MARE DXpedition near Brighton, MI, ICF-2010 and various long wire antennas, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ MIDWEST FALL DX GTG This year the Midwest fall DX GTG will be held at Springfield MO. DATE- Friday Nov 12-Sunday Nov 14 2004 PLACE- Budget Inn 2455 N Glenstone Springfield MO Phone number 417-866-7400 Exit 80 I-44, South about 3/4 of a mile on west side of street. Across from North Town Mall. Very reasonable price, close to eating places, shopping, etc. Possible tours of KTOZ AM 1060 the all volunteer station, the only station located on Rt 66. Also FM College staton KSMU 91.1 where DXer Randy Srewart is Music director, and Public TV station KOZK Ch 21. Bring your veries, logs, and other DX equipment. see how reception is from the Ozarks. Since this is an informal GTG all DX gatherings will take place in Motel Rooms, and nearby Restaurants. For more information contact John Tudenham at 417 624 8058, or w0jrp @ earthlink.net (John Tudenham, Oct 25, NRC-AM via DXLD) UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL +++++++++++++++++++++++ Hi Glenn, I`d like to subscribe to DXLD again (it`s been about 12 years), and would appreciate your sending an issue with subscription info (or just the info). I`m looking for a source that is self- standing in the midst of the WWW. I was a loyal subscRIBer for many years since about 1980 and considered it a one-of-a-kind magazine --- also used the BIE pullout almost exclusively to keep current. I would welcome those features again (an RIB format with a BIE section) plus a means of keeping track of your WOR airings. Your recent WOR was very informative to me in the wake of Hurricane Ivan with your Caribbean report --- I had been listening to R. Havana Cuba and found the note you made about jamming of R. Martí most interesting and unusual (Mike Lendemer, South Orange NJ, Oct 21, by P-mail) I`ll have to dig out the one typewriter I have that still works and disappoint him on a postcard that DXLD and RIB have not been published on paper for many years. I may also point out that while I could only manage a 40-page issue of one of those every month or two (much less frequently toward the end), DXLD Incorporating RIB online amounts to a much larger issue than that every day or two, and it`s free. Is it worth it? Not if you won`t use the Internet (gh) See also TAIWAN TIPS FOR RATIONAL LIVING ++++++++++++++++++++++++ If there was just one topic I could talk about for the rest of my career, I would pick religion," Bill Maher says, leaning back in his desk chair as if he's settling in for a long yarn. "It's the one that makes me angriest. . . http://www.suntimes.com/output/falsani/cst-nws-god24.html (via DXLD) ###