DX LISTENING DIGEST 4-167, November 3, 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 FIRST AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1251: Wed 2300 on WBCQ 7415 Thu 0000 on WBCQ 17495-CUSB Thu 2130 on WWCR 15825 Thu 2200 on WBCQ 9330-CLSB WRN ONDEMAND [from Fri]: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also for CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL] from early UT Thursday: WORLD OF RADIO 1251 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1251h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1251.rm WORLD OF RADIO 1251 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1251.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1251.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1251.html WORLD OF RADIO 1251, mp3 in the true SW sound of 7415 [UT Thursday?]: (stream) http://www.piratearchive.com/media/worldofradio_11-03-04.m3u (d`load) http://www.piratearchive.com/media/worldofradio_11-03-04.mp3 DXLD YAHOOGROUP: Why wait for DXLD? A lot more info, not all of it appearing in DXLD later, is posted at our yg. Here`s where to sign up http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dxld/ ** ALASKA. Extracted from the official FCC B-04 schedule (see USA) here is KNLS; altho it looks similar to the one in previous issue, it is NOT the same, and this one shows effective dates, including monthly changes during the season, all 100 kW: 7355 1000 1100 KNLS 285 43,44,49,54 1234567 311004 300105 7355 1200 1300 KNLS 285 43,44,49,54 1234567 311004 300105 7355 1500 1600 KNLS 285 43,44,49,54 1234567 311004 270305 7355 1600 1700 KNLS 285 43,44,49,54 1234567 311004 270205 7355 1700 1800 KNLS 330 22-26,32-35 1234567 311004 300105 7365 0800 0900 KNLS 270 24-26,34,35,44,45,50,51,5 1234567 261204 300105 7365 0900 1000 KNLS 300 22-26,32-35 1234567 311004 270205 7365 1100 1200 KNLS 300 22-26,32-35 1234567 311004 270205 9615 1000 1100 KNLS 285 43,44,49,54 1234567 300105 270305 9615 1200 1300 KNLS 285 43,44,49,54 1234567 300105 270305 9615 1300 1400 KNLS 270 24-26,34,35,44,45,50,51,5 1234567 311004 270305 9615 1400 1500 KNLS 285 43,44,49,54 1234567 311004 270305 9615 1600 1700 KNLS 285 43,44,49,54 1234567 270205 270305 9690 0800 0900 KNLS 270 24-26,34,35,44,45,50,51,5 1234567 261204 300105 9690 0900 1000 KNLS 300 22-26,32-35 1234567 270205 270305 9690 1100 1200 KNLS 300 22-26,32-35 1234567 270205 270305 11765 0800 0900 KNLS 270 24-26,34,35,44,45,50,51,5 1234567 300105 270305 The English hours are at 0800 and 1300, so extracting further we have these frequencies planned for the next pentamonth, but the info is contradictory. For the 0800 broadcast, we have two frequencies shown in the Dec 26 to Jan 30 period, and none prior to Dec 26; one of them, the higher one, 9690, is likely actually in use now until Dec 25 [NO! 9615 is actually in use currently at 0800 --- see Noel Green, below] 9690 0800 0900 KNLS 270 24-26,34,35,44,45,50,51,5 1234567 261204 300105 7365 0800 0900 KNLS 270 24-26,34,35,44,45,50,51,5 1234567 261204 300105 11765 0800 0900 KNLS 270 24-26,34,35,44,45,50,51,5 1234567 300105 270305 We finally have the answer where KNLS should be for the entire B-04 season during the English hour at 1300, contrary to other listings and KNLS` own website, leading us to believe it would be on 9690. I have yet to confirm 9615 at 1300, however: 9615 1300 1400 KNLS 270 24-26,34,35,44,45,50,51,5 1234567 311004 270305 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) KNLS discovered while looking for Brazil on 9615 Nov. 3 at tune in 0825 with their English programme. So this is used instead of listed 9690, where Radio Deutsche Welle via ATG has been operating since time immemorial to the Pacific in German. 9615 closed down at 0900. If KNLS moved to 7365 at 0900 as listed they were inaudible due Radio Martí and Cuban bubbles. They reappeared at weak strength at 1000 on 7355 in Mandarin. 73s (Noel R. Green [NW England], dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. RADIO AUSTRALIA GOING DOWNHILL In the Australian Elections John Howard's Democratic party has been re-elected and funding to R. Australia is still low; Mark Latham offered over 1/2 more funding which would put the quality of the station back. John Howard has been starving R. Australia of funds, a very tight budget as they don`t offer frequency services anymore; they used to send you a frequency guide, but don't have the staff to do this. Programmes which are produced by RA are declining; RA's Feedback went, and Roger Broadband [sic] said that something just as good or better will be its replacement; nothing so far and that was well over a year ago. Having to hire a transmitter to Voice International in Darwin does show signs of RA not being able to sustain enough money to keep the transmitters operating, and suddenly RA is having more and more programmes of Radio National and fewer and fewer produced in the RA studios in Melbourne. [RA does not hire the Darwin transmitter to VI, but FROM it --- gh] At the moment RVi is sinking and we need to save them, but remember that RA is showing signs of money problems. I don't want to start a panic as nothing is official, but I do know that RA is finding it hard to make ends meet and that they are starved by funding of John Howard, but John Howard has done this to the TV station too. Australian Educational Programme "BTN - Behind the News" was stopped as the ABC budget couldn't afford to do more episodes. Heaps of Schools around Australia were cut off from the educational series which has been on air for well over 15 years. The commercial TEN network has been producing a similar programme to compensate. But the ABC will have to 'ease the squeeze' on the funding of BTN which returns in 2005. John Howard needs to increase the ABC budget so that these programmes stay on air, and also to RA, because I would not like to see RA following the new trend of shortwave stations - going off air!!! The battle continues to pay and make ends meet on RA (Robert Wise, Tasmania, Nov 2, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. RADIO AUSTRALIA PREVIEWS Edition 749 Nov. 1-5, 2004 Days and times are in UTC. An * indicates that a program is produced by Radio Australia. All others are produced by Radio National or by other ABC Radio networks as indicated. Further information about these programs, as well as transcripts and on-demand audio files of particular programs, and a wealth of supporting information can be obtained from http://www.abc.net.au Additional information and a key to abbreviations and symbols used appear at the bottom of the page. --------------------------- [EDITOR'S NOTE: With the introduction of summer time in Australia, RA is dropping the following programmes: Ockham's Razor, In Conversation, Lingua Franca, The Ark and The Makers. Talking Point will replace them Monday to Friday at 0645 and there will be a swap of the 'talk and 'music' time slots in that hour. Talking Point will also replace the discontinued Australia Wide at 2240 Sunday through Thursday, as well as be repeated over the weekend in the slots formerly occupied by the programs dropped.] (John Figliozzi, dxldyg via DXLD) John`s comprehensive RA previews appear twice a week in the dxld ygroup (gh) ** AUSTRIA. El siguiente correo fue enviado por el colega y amigo Manuel Aletrino de Radio Austria Internacional y lo comparto con todos ustedes. Atte: José Elías Estimados Señoras y Señores: Permítanme que por la presente les envíe el nuevo esquema de horarios y frecuencias de la "Voz hispánica de Austria": el Noticiero de Austria. El programa es un resumen de lo más actual e interesante del día - en solo 5 minutos de duración. Y se puede descargar ("download") para tenerlo como un diario. Espero que sea de su interés. Les saluda atentamente, Manuel Aletrino, director de Noticiero de Austria ---------------------------------------------------------------------- RADIO AUSTRIA 1 INTERNACIONAL NOTICIERO DE AUSTRIA – NUEVOS HORARIOS Y FRECUENCIAS (De octubre 04 a marzo 05) El Noticiero de Austria es un breve panorama de las actualidades más interesantes y las principales noticias de la jornada austriaca. Con los temas más relevantes de la actualidad política, cultural, económica y deportiva. Se produce de lunes a viernes, salvo en días festivos. En Internet se puede leer y escuchar cuando quieran en Audio Real – incluso los programas de los días anteriores: http://oe1.orf.at/inforadio/list?filter=1 Nos pueden escuchar en los siguientes horarios y frecuencias: LUNES a Viernes: Europa: 21.55-22.00 UTC: 6155 kHz 5945 kHz, ONDA MEDIA 1.476 kHz LUNES A SÁBADO América del Sur: 23.30-23.35 UTC: 9870 kHz América Central: 00.00-00.05 UTC: 7325 kHz América Este: 00.30-00.35 UTC: 7325 kHz SATÉLITE en EUROPA: 00.00-24.00 MEZ 12,692 GHz, horizontal, Transp, 117; ASTRA 1G Cuota simbólica 22.000 MS, FEC 5/6 Cordiales saludos, Manuel Aletrino Nuestra dirección postal es A-1136 Viena Austria y el correo electrónico: oe1.service @ orf.at (via José Elías Díaz Gómez, (c) Notici@sDX es un servicio de AER y ADXB via DXLD) ** BANGLADESH. Bangladesh Beter Special --- Bangladesh Beter External Service going to broadcast a special program (English and Bengali Service) occasion of the National Revolution and solidarity day 2004. Here is the details: "The 7th November, A Glorious Day of our National Unity" A Special Composite program on the occasion of the National Revolution and Solidarity Day. Time: UT 0015-0100 & 1230-1300 on 9550 kHz and 7185 kHz Program Details (English): 01. Intro. highlighting the background history of 7th November Revolution and its significance in our national life. 02. Song (patriotic): "Ekti Bangladesh Tumee Jagroto Janota (Bengali)" Artist-Sabina Yeasmin, Lyric-Md. Rafiquzzzaman. 03. Talk: The Significance of the National Revolution and Solidarity day by Prof. Emajuddin Ahmed, Former Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University, Dhaka. 04. the 7 the November Revolution: As I saw: Participant- Gias Kamal Chowdhury, Journalist. 05. Patriotic Bengali Songs: (Selected with thematic translation in English) * Program Compiler : Prof. Abu Tahe majumder, Dept. of English, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka. * Narrator :(a) Laily mawla (b) Shahnawaz Ahmed * Producer : Md. Akramul Islam. (P.O) Happy Listening. 73's from (Ashik Eqbal Tokon, Rajshahi, Bangladesh, Oct 28, GRDXC via DXLD) ** BELARUS. Radio Belarus B04 English schedule --- Since the introduction of the B04 schedules I have heard Radio Belarus evening broadcasts in English as follows: 2030-2100 on Monday 1 November - heard on 1170 7105 7340 kHz (this broadcast is announced on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays) 2200-2230 on Sunday 31 October - heard on 1170 7105 7340 kHz (Sundays only at this time) From the announcements, the early morning broadcasts in English should now be at: 0300-0330 on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 0330-0400 on Sunday Can anyone confirm what frequencies are in use at 0300 and 0330? (They still announce the summer frequencies which were 5970 and 7210) Broadcast times appear to be announced in Central European Time (currently UT +1 hour) and they are still announcing summer frequencies. In reply to a query about whether they are going to start Arabic broadcasts the presenter replied: "At present expansion of broadcasting is underway at our station. At first it will regard the English department, but later we plan to set up several more services including the French, Chinese and Arab ones - but its a matter of several years development." 73s (Dave Kenny, BDXC-UK, http://www.bdxc.org.uk Nov 2, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELGIUM. Re 4-166: I don't hold much hope for RVi if this is the referendum to be carried out. One of the pitfalls of international broadcasting is that it is undervalued by country residents -- why should they pay for something they don't receive a direct benefit from? I would hope that Mr. Bourgeois would entertain well-crafted, thoughtful submissions from folks like us that indicate that a plebiscite is the wrong way to decide international broadcasting's merit. How does a government figure out the budget for its State Department (or its equivalent)? What are the merits of having a State Department? It would seem to me that this is the better question (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) ** BHUTAN. BBS website is back to normal. Hi folks, Today I just received a lovely E-mail from a woman named Sherpem Sherpa who is the web editor of the BBS website, and who also presents the Bhutan This Week program on Fridays and the Saturday program called Internet On The Radio. The BBS website is now back to normal and all their audio files are once again available as much more managable wma files rather than wave files. Apparently she had been trying to get the software to convert the wave files to WMA files from her supervisor, but apparently they initially couldn't find it. But not wanting there to be no audio files at all on the site, she posted the wave files anyway, probably realizing that there'd be some idiot in the world like me that would try to download them anyway. (Grin.) You've gotta love her for that! Anyway, the daily English newscasts plus the community announcements plus the Friday feature Bhutan This Week, the Saturday feature Internet On The Radio along with a series of traditional and modern Bhutanese songs are all available on the BBS website for you to download at: http://www.bbs.com.bt Incidentally, their English newscasts are at 11 AM and 2 PM Bhutan local time which if the sources I've checked on the net are correct, that would be 05 and 08 hours UTC. For DXers that do want to log this station, check the Bhutan audio clip that I've provided on Mika's audio page and you'll hear a piece of music just before the beginning of the newscast, and this music is played every day. Even with a weak signal, this music may give you the clue as to whether you've managed to nail Bhutan or not. 73's and good DX to all, (Sam Ward, Georgetown, Ontario, Canada, Nov 2, dxing.info via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. Re 4-166, Brazilian summer time --- Dear Glenn, To avoid disrupting runoff elections in some Brazilian cities on October 31, the authorities decided put off the change to summer time until Tuesday, November 2, which is the Day of the Dead national holiday, much like Memorial Day in the States. Love your site and show! Sincerely, (George Roberts, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil, Nov 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. Olá colegas radioescutas e dexistas, aqui é Samuel Mattos encarregado da programação da Radio Transmundial. Venho através desta importante lista de radioamantes, solicitar ajuda para uma pesquisa de alcance dos transmissores da RTM. Conforme os colegas devem saber as nossa transmissões tem o seguinte esquema: Faixa de 49 metros - 5965 Khz - das 7 até 12 horas (hora brasília) Faixa de 25 metros - 11735 khz - das 7 até 17 horas (hora brasília) Faixa de 31 metros - 9530 khz - das 17 até 09 hora (hora brasília), [may we use UT? 0900-1400 5965, 0900-1900 11735, 1900-1100 9530] Nossa intensão é saber com que qualidade estes transmissores nestes horários estão alcançando as diversas regiões do Brasil. Além do cartão QSL os que enviarem os seus informes, paticiparão do sorteio de um Radio Personalizado da Motobras, frequência fixa da Transmundial. O sorteio ocorrera no programa Amigos do Radio do próximo dia 17 de novembro. Enviem seus informes o mais rápido possivel para para tecnica @ transmundial.com.br ou pelo endereço Transmundial, CP 18300, CEP 04626-970, São Paulo - SP Um abraço, (Samuel Mattos, Rádio Transmundial, radioescutas via Adalberto Marques de Azevedo, Noticias DX via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. No identification heard, but what must have been Radio Cultura, São Paulo, was heard Nov.3 at 0825 on about 17814.7 at weak strength playing typical Brazilian music and song and announcements in Brazilian Portuguese. I tried a cross-check on 9615 but only heard KNLS on there in English same time. 73 (Noel R. Green [NW England], Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** CANADA. Why nothing for RCI at 2200 UT? [except DRM] Gang: I summarized the comments from the group regarding the loss of the 2200/2300 UT RCI transmission to the US to Bill Westenhaver in RCI Audience Relations. See Bill's response below. It makes sense if your strategy is to cover the entire USA at a more optimal listening time with a single transmission. That, more than anything else, appears to be the thinking behind the process. Note that the time references below are local USA times -- not UT (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA, swprograms via DXLD) Bill: This aspect of the new schedule has generated the most traffic in the swprograms e-group -- what's the thinking behind dropping the 6 PM local time (2100 or 2200 UTC) broadcast targeting the USA? (Richard Cuff, PA, 10/29, swprograms via DXLD) Hi Richard, I passed your question along to Steve Lemay, who's in charge of the nuts and bolts of our scheduling. Here's what he had to say: The thinking, in a nutshell, is this: we were broadcasting the same programming dutring the summer schedule at 1800 and 2000 ET in order to transition to the 2000 ET timeslot starting this winter. What we noticed was that broadcasting at 1800 ET excluded a large part of the US from this coverage. After all, we are talking 1500 PT, 1600 MT and 1700 CT. Rather than spread our minimal ressources on an 1800 ET transmission, we decided to concentrate on a time and a coverage plan that provided a broad service to the largest area possible. 73 & have a good weekend, (Bill Westenhaver, RCI Audience Relations, ibid.) Richard: Thanks for passing on our comments and for forwarding the response. I agree that it didn't make a lot of sense to send the same program twice, but rather than cut the earlier transmission, why not broadcast some of the RCI produced programming or other material from the CBC that deserves a wider hearing? There certainly is enough good quality CBC material that could have filled an additional two hour slot. They could have kept WAS and AIH at 2200 and then broadcast Ideas or something else later in the evening. I wonder if that was even considered? I fear that this decision could cause a loss of listeners. I know in our household listening to the World at Six and AIH during the dinner hour worked really well and I'm not at all sure that I will be able to listen to the later broadcast all the time. To end on a positive note, the 2000 to 2300 broadcast on 15180 yesterday had good reception at the beginning of the broadcast but faded a little during Cross Country Checkup, although it was quite listenable (Sandy Finlayson, Philadelphia PA, Nov 1, ibid.) One other factor is their transmitter-hour budget. It might very well be that the current number of transmitter-hours targeting North America is all they feel they can muster. At 2200 UT 3 of RCI's Sackville transmitters are targeting the Caribbean and Latin America -- one transmitter-hour each in French, Spanish (2 x 30 minutes) and Portuguese (2 x 30 minutes). Brazil is UTC-3, La Paz is UTC-4. Port-au-Prince is UTC-5. Since most of Latin America is east of North America, it likely makes sense to target Latin America earlier than the USA (One of the above, ibid.) ** CANADA. Sackville relays [all 250 kW] kHz UTC CIRAF ZONES AZI SLEW ANT LANGUAGE STN 5960 1100 1200 7E,8 240 0 141 CAN CRI RTC 6005 0100 0200 6,7 277 0 141 CAN CRI RTC 6040 0000 0100 8,11NW 240 0 141 CAN CRI RTC 6040 2300 2400 8E 240 0 141 CAN CRI RTC 6190 0400 0600 6,7 277 0 141 CAN CRI RTC 7190 0300 0400 10-12 189 0 218 CAN CRI RTC 9560 0400 0500 6,7 277 0 141 CAN CRI RTC 9560 0500 0600 6,7 277 0 141 CAN CRI RTC 9560 1200 1300 7E,8 240 0 153 CAN CRI RTC 9790 0000 0100 6,7 277 -13 213 CAN CRI RTC 11885 1300 1400 6,7,10 272 -13 218 CAN CRI RTC 11970 2300 2400 6,7 285 0 213 CAN CRI RTC 13675 1400 1600 6,7,10 272 -13 218 CAN CRI RTC 13700 2200 2300 11E,12,13W,14,15W,16N 176 0 218 CAN CRI RTC 15230 1300 1500 7SE,8S,10 240 0 218 CAN CRI RTC 17735 1600 1700 6,7N,10 285 -13 218 CAN CRI RTC 6100 0200 0400 3,6-8,10N 277 0 140 GERMAN CAN DWL DWL 11990 2200 2359 8E,10E,11 212 0 141 GERMAN CAN DWL DWL 9560 0200 0300 6,7 277 0 141 CAN KBS RCI 9650 0300 0400 7SE,8S 240 0 218 CAN KBS RCI 9650 1200 1300 7SE,8 268 0 141 CAN KBS RCI 11795 1100 1200 12-16 176 0 218 CAN KBS RCI 5960 0200 0500 6-8 240 0 156 Japanese CAN NHK NHK 6110 0500 0600 6-8 268 0 156 English CAN NHK NHK 6120 1000 1100 6-8 240 0 156 English CAN NHK NHK 6120 1100 1200 6-8 240 0 156 English CAN NHK NHK 6145 0000 0100 6-8 240 0 156 English CAN NHK NHK 11705 1300 1500 6-8 240 0 156 Japanese CAN NHK NHK 13675 1600 1700 6,7,10 272 -13 218 CAN ORF ORF (via Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Note 7190 is still included as originally coördinated! We did not think this would actually be implemented, within the Region 2 hamband, but must check it out to be sure (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** CANADA. RE: DXLD-4-166, Regarding the inquiry about me, and my comments regarding the shortwave operation CFCX, I recall responding to an inquiry from Matthew Parij. Prior to his inquiry, I had contacted Yvon Vadnais, former manager at CINW/CINF (940 and 690 AM) in Montreal (he has since been transferred to a new post with the organization) upon seeing the license renewal for CINW 940 AM, which included the renewal for CFCX 6005 shortwave. Knowing that the old transmitter/antenna site had been completed destroyed, I found it curious that the license for the shortwave would have been renewed. So, I asked him about the status of the shortwave station. Mr. Vadnais basically gave me the same answer as Matthew just received. Vadnais told me that they were in the process of looking for a second-hand shortwave transmitter that they could install at the site and reactivate CFCX. To me this is nothing more than the corporate line being towed by Corus, the owners of CINW and CINF, as well as other stations across Canada. If I were a betting man, I would certainly put a few dollars down on the return of CFCX to shortwave as being "NIL". The all-news stations, CINW and CINF, which Corus is operating in Montreal are already struggling radio stations. They have undergone severe budget cuts in the last few years of operation. The stations continue to dwell near the bottom of the heap with respect to station ratings in Montreal. Fortunately Corus has a very healthy FM sibling, CFQR, making money for them in Montreal. Even with that though, I see absolutely no possible reason that Corus would benefit in anyway, particularly in a financial way, by bringing the shortwave operation on 6005 kHz back to life. I still feel that the license renewal for the station was nothing more than a rubber stamp process, with the frequency/station being part and parcel of the "cut and paste" wording of the license renewal presented to the CRTC in Ottawa. I'd really be surprised if anyone really paid any attention to the clauses relating to the shortwave operation at all! Of course, I'd be the first to admit if I were proven wrong, and if CFCX somehow rose from the ashes to broadcast again. But, as I said, I certainly wouldn't put any money on it happening. Believe me, if there was any money to be made by Corus in resurrecting this shortwave service, they would have done it ages ago. I could just imagine the reaction of management and staff at the already cash- strapped and staff-reduced AM stations if they were told that hard to come by money was being used to install and operate a shortwave relay of their already struggling operations. I'd certainly consider promoting the sales guy who could sell that story and transfer him to a new division responsible for selling either swampland in Florida or for selling refrigerators in the high Arctic! To sum it up, unless there is proven money to be made for Corus by resurrecting the shortwave side of their operation, I think it's pretty safe to say that we have heard the last from CFCX on 6005 kHz. Oh, yes...one other thing! Yes, I am a ham radio operator, VE2SHW, licensed since 1993, but I think I would hardly put that on the top line of my autobiography or my c.v. Sheldon Radio H.F. - Canada's specialist in radio communications http://www3.sympatico.ca/radiohf President-Canadian International DX Club Canada's national radio monitoring club since 1962 http://www.anarc.org/cidx/ Enjoy birds and birdwatching? http://www.pqspb.org (Sheldon Harvey, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CONGO DR. SWISS-BACKED RADIO IN CONGO TRIUMPHS OVER ODDS Swissinfo reports on Radio Okapi http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=105&sid=5280242 (via Andy Sennitt, dxldyg via DXLD) ** CROATIA [and non]. Latest registrations, Deanovec-HRV : 6165 0500 2400 18,27-29,37 DEA 100 0 CROATIAN HRV HRT 7365 0500 1000 18,27-29,37 DEA 10 0 CROATIAN HRV HRT 9830 0500 1800 18,27-29,37 DEA 100 0 CROATIAN HRV HRT 13830 1000 2200 18,27-29,37 DEA 10 305 CROATIAN HRV HRT and Juelich-Germany relay: 7285 2300 0400 36 230 JUL 100 HRT 7285 0000 0400 17 300 JUL 100 HRT 7285 0200 0600 17 325 JUL 100 HRT 9470 0500 0800 55,59,60 230 JUL 100 HRT 9470 0600 1000 58,59,60 270 JUL 100 HRT 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Nov 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. Radio Havana reported on November 2 at 0130 UT that a major study on global warming, sponsored by many countries including the United States confirms that there is very rapid climate change occurring in the Arctic regions related to global warming. Release of this report was held up so as not to influence the US elections, where President Bush's opposition to the Kyoto accords is well known. Even if the US joined the Kyoto accords, it is too late to stop this melting of Arctic glaciers, leading to a raising of sea level by several meters, affecting coastlines in many places around the world, perhaps inundating completely some islands (Roger Chambers, Utica, New York, Nov 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. You're probably already on this, but hearing RHC on 6060 after 6000 here, though not listed (Eric Bryan, WA, Nov 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) You mean after 0600 UT? also much earlier (gh) ** EGYPT. At 0200, WYFR in Spanish is obliterating Radio Cairo, both on 11855. Is it my imagination, or am I noticing more evangelical stations overriding ME broadcasters? (Eric Bryan, WA, Nov 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) This collision started earlier this year, when Cairo decided to go onto this frequency where WYFR has been for ages (gh) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. Re DXLD 4-166. What happened to the new shortwave transmitter in Bata? There were news items in the end of 2002 that Chinese technicians had arrived to Bata to install a new 50 kW shortwave transmitter plus FM. Bata was heard on 5005 during couple of days in March 2003 and then ---- nothing at all. Nobody knows if this was the old transmitter or a new one. Was this Chinese-Guinean co-operation just big talk or did something political suddenly happen destroying the project? Malabo on 6250V has been logged here in Finland every now and then with more or less (usually less) decent signals. The Pan American Broadcasting-brokered Radio Africa (15190V and 41mb) has apparently been off the air for some years now (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, Nov 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FINLAND. Pirate Radio 603 AM -- translated summary Roy Sandgren, owner of Pirate Radio 603AM, broadcasting from the Finnish island of Åland, wants the authorities to stop his own radio station. ``I have asked the national Finnish communication commission to withdraw my license. I don`t want anybody to use the frequency,`` Roy Sandgren says to the local newspaper Nya Åland. Sandgren`s move is a try to stop his American rival Mike Spenser, who is transmitting on 603 kHz while claiming that he has an agreement with Sandgren. Sandgren denies this. ``We never had any agreement; what we had was a cooperation." "Spenser don’t want any agreement, forcing me to pay all fees. That is why I stopped our cooperation in early September,`` Sandgren says, adding that he is seeking new partners for his radio station. Spenser, however, has kept on transmitting on 603 kHz. The local police have shown little interest in intervening. ``This should be solved by legal means in court, not by the police,`` says police superintendent Olof Lindqvist. An official withdrawal of the license might change this. ``A continued transmission would, in that case, be in violation of the radio laws, which might force us to take actions.`` First, Lindqvist adds, the police want this information from the authorities, not from Sandgren. However, it may still be a matter of priority. ``Breaking the radio laws is not particularly serious.`` Mike Spenser does not wish to comment Sandgren’s new action, referring to the ``delicate situation``. ``All Sandgren wants is to destroy the radio station we have established in accordance with the agreements we have,`` Spenser says to the newspaper Nya Åland. Full newspaper article in Swedish at http://www.nyan.aland.fi/template11.con\?iArticle=2738 (translated by Hermod Pedersen, HCDX via DXLD) ** GREECE. "MYSTERIOUS THIRD TRANSMITTER" OF VOICE OF GREECE Dear Glenn: I have received neither transmission nor Program Schedules from The Voice of Greece yet. The compiled Schedule that I mailed to you on Monday was put together by me from one furnished to you by Mr. Alokesh Gupta of New Delhi, India. Tonight's closing frequency announcement in Greek of Radiofonikos Stathmos Makedonias gave sign on of 9935 at 1300 Greece Time (1100 UT) with sign-off on 7450 at 1 a.m. (actually 2250 -- not 2350 UT). Since Thessaloniki's sign-off time has now been verified, this leads me to believe that VOG pipes their signal to Thessaloniki's 35-kw transmitter at 2300 on 5865 for Europe/North America (very weak in my area) until 0650 when it switches over to 11645 from 0700 until 1000 for Africa. This may explain that big "Silent" hole in my schedule from 1100-2300 for Athens` "mysterious third transmitter." Mr Keramidas in Thessaloniki recently assured me that "as far as the VOA 250 kW transmitters are concerned, we are afraid that they are not yet in use and are probably not going to be in the near future." So much for the in-roads of the Internet! Sincerely yours, (John Babbis, Silver Spring, MD, Nov 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. B-04 Voice of Greece -- Update of old B-03 schedule. B-04 schedule according monitoring on Nov 2nd / 3rd, no schedule available from the station yet. 73 wb GREECE [and non]. ERT S.A.: THE VOICE OF GREECE B04 Short Wave Transmission Schedule. Eff 31/10/04 to 27/03/05 EUROPE 0000-0200 5865 7475 Gr 0200-0600 5865 7475 9420 Gr 0600-0700 5865 9420 15630 Gr, En 0700-0900 9420 11645 15630 Gr, En 0900-1000 9375K 9420 11645 15630 Gr, En Break 1000-1100 1100-1200 9375K 15630[irr. carrier til 1118, then program] 15650K Gr 1200-1300 9375K 9420[irr. carrier til 1210, then program] 15630 15650K Gr 1300-1400 9375K 9420 15630 Gr 1300-1400 15650K Gr, Special separate program 1400-1500 9375K 9420 15630 Gr 1500-2000 7475K 9420 15630 Gr 2000-2400 7475 9375K 9420 12105K Gr FOREIGN LANGUAGE TRANSMISSIONS 1400-1600 7430K Ar, De, Ru, Sp 1600-1800 7430K Ro, Tu, Bg, Sc 1800-2000 7430K Al, Fr, Pl, En MW 0900-1730 792 Gr, Ar, De, Ru, Sp, Ro, Tr, Bg 1830-1900 792 Fr [?Gr?] 2100-2230 792 Gr TASHKENT 0000-0200 9375K Gr 0400-0600 12105K Gr 0400-0900 15650K Gr 0600-1000 21530K Gr 1100-1400 15650K Gr 1300-1400 15650K Gr, Special separate program M.EAST 0400-0600 12105K Gr 0400-0900 15650K Gr 0600-1000 21530K Gr 2000-2400 12105K Gr 2100-2300 9375K Gr INDIAN OCEAN 0400-0600 12105K Gr 0400-0900 15650K Gr 0600-1000 21530K Gr Break 1000-1100 1100-1300 15650K Gr 1300-1400 15650K Gr, Special separate program 2000-2400 12105K Gr 2100-2300 9375K Gr MW 1000-1500 1260R Gr, Ar, De 1730-1800 792K Gr ATLANTIC OCEAN 0000-0600 5865 7475 Gr 0200-1000 9420 Gr 0600-0700 5865 Gr 0600-1000 15630 Gr, En 0700-1000 11645 Gr, En 0900-1000 9375K Gr Break 1000-1100 1100-1500 9375K Gr 1200-1400 15630 Gr 2000-2300 12105K Gr 2100-2400 9375K Gr AFRICA 0000-0200 12105K Gr 0000-0400 7475 Gr 0700-1000 11645 Gr, En 2000-2100 12105K Gr 2300-2400 9375K Gr JAPAN 0400-0600 12105K Gr 0400-0900 15650K Gr 0600-1000 21530K Gr PACIFIC OCEAN 1100-1400 15650K Gr AUSTRALIA 0000-0200 9375K Gr 0400-0600 12105K Gr 0400-0900 15650K Gr 0600-1000 21530K Gr 0700-0800 9770D Gr Sat/Sun only 0800-0900 9770D Gr 1100-1300 15650K Gr 1300-1400 15650K Gr, Special separate program 2000-2400 12105K Gr 2100-2300 9375K Gr NORTH AMERICA 0000-0600 5865 7475 Gr 0600-0700 5865 Gr 0600-1000 15630 Gr 1200-1500 11750D Gr 1500-1600 15485D Gr Sat/Sun only 1600-2200 15485D Gr [latter two second behind Greek outlets 7475/9420/15630, wb.] SOUTH AMERICA 0000-0200 9375K 12105K Gr PANAMA ZONE & SW AMERICA 0000-0200 12105K Gr 2000-2200 17565G Gr 2300-2400 9375K Gr Gr=Greek, En= English, Al= Albanian, Ar=Arabic, Bg= Bulgarian, De=German, Fr=French, Sp= Spanish, It=Italian, Pl=Polish, P=Portuguese, Ro=Romanian, Ru= Russian, Sc=SerboCroatian, Tu=Turkish. LIVE AUDIO URL: http://www.ert.gr Reports via e-mail: era5 @ ert.gr Techinical information: bcharalabopoulos @ ert.gr ERT S.A. MACEDONIA STATION, Thessaloniki domestic service. EUROPE 1100-1600 9935 Gr EUROPE 1600-2350 7450 Gr ERA 5 'THE VOICE OF GREECE' Mesogeion 432, Ag. Paraskevi Attikis, 15342 Athens, Greece. Tel +301 6066308, 6066297, Fax +301 6066309 Macedonia Radio Station: Angelaki Str 2, 54621 Thessaloniki, Greece. Tel: +303 1244979, Fax: +303 1236370. General Direction of E.RA (Engineering Div.): Mesogeion 432, Ag. Paraskevi Attikis, 15342 Athens, Greece. Tel 301 606 6257 Fax +301 606 6243 (sheet of Christos Rigas-IL-USA, dxld Nov 4, 2003 ! updated for B-04 season by wb, Nov 2, 2004, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7430 kHz - Multi Foreign Language service of V of Greece to Europe at 1400-2000 UT via Kavalla, 250 kW strange at 240 degrees[!] in direction of S America, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, West Sahara. IBB has lack of antennas towards Europe, like at 26 or 355 degrees. Main target of Kavalla installations is in the East. An antenna of 355 degrees is used by Greek service on 7475 kHz at 1500-2000 UT; in comparison latter signal is much, much stronger than 7430. And 7430 suffers terrible QRM of BBC Tashkent in Hindi on co- channel too (Wolfgang Büschel, Nov 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ICELAND [and non]. I've noticed AFN/AFRTS gone from 9980 the last few days (& THKS for your earlier info on it). LW DX was good 'til the latest new 10/30 sunspot/storm. On 10/24 around 05/0530 UT I heard 3 stations which are rare here in Central Jersey due to QRM: 189-Iceland with the Beatles, 198-BBC not // SW, and 243-Denmark. On 10/24utc around 0430/05 198-BBC again plus real- rare 225-Poland and the 177-German at Oranienburg (Wells Perkins in N.J., Nov 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LUXEMBOURG. DRM Reception --- The November edition of Shortwave Magazine features Part Two of an article by Kevin Ryan on Digital Radio Mondiale reception. He reports that he was eventually able to get good stereo audio quality from the Radio Luxembourg signal on 6095 but he had to locate the Tatung TMR7602 receiver, which he had modified for DRM reception, as far away as possible from the PC as PC generated noise was limiting his ability to receive DRM. He also had to connect the audio to the PC soundcard via shielded cable. He was then able to decode transmissions encoded at around 11 Kbits/s. He had problems with higher encoding rate transmissions until he switched off the remainder of his receiving equipment including a Freeview set- top box and VCR on standby. He also says that analogue signals wreak havoc with their DRM counterparts. The Luxembourg signal spans 6090 to 6100 and an analogue signal on either 6090, 6095 or 6100 will destroy reception of the DRM signal which became bursts of computer screen text but not much else (via Mike Barraclough, Nov World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** POLAND. Radio Polonia B04 English --- I have confirmed Radio Polonia's broadcasts in English as follow since the start of the B04 schedules: 1300-1400 on 9525 11850 kHz (heard 2 Nov) 1800-1900 on 7265 7270 kHz (heard 1 Nov) As usual there is a nasty rumbling noise from the transmitters on all frequencies, especially 11850 which was almost inaudible under the noise today! (Dave Kenny, BDXC-UK, http://www.bdxc.uk via DXLD) ** ROMANIA. Radio Romania International have already left 7100 kHz by 3 November 2004 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ulrich Bihlmayer DJ9KR" Sent: Wednesday, November 03, 2004 5:48 PM Subject: Radio Romania International have already left 7100 kHz by 3 November 2004 That is very good news. Without the Intruder Watch that station would still continue transmitting as nowbody would tell the "Audio Communication Department / National Radio Communications Company" in Bucharest to leave the frequency. Please read the letter of Mr Diaconescu at the bottom of this email. Tnx! My thanks go to Mr Adrian Diaconescu from Radio Romania International who has made such a quick frequency change possible. Big thanks also to German ham Wolfgang Bueschel DF5SX who first alerted me of the new sked of RRI on 7100 kHz and who know the "right man at the right place" in Bucharest. Keep up your good work! Cordially yours in the IARU MONITORING SYSTEM, Ulrich ("Uli") Bihlmayer, DJ9KR Coordinator of DARC-MS Intruder Watch **************************** Adrian Diaconescu wrote to Ulrich Bihlmayer of DARC MONITORING SYSTEM Intruder Watch: """ Dear Sir, Regarding the interference on 7100 kHz I would like to inform you that starting with November 3rd, 2004 the program in Russian language from 1600 - 1700 UT will be broadcast on 7135 kHz. Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience created to you. Adrian DIACONESCU Head of Audio Communications Dept. National Radio Communications Company Romania """ These requirements have been added: 7135 1600 1700 29 TIG 250 37 0 205 1234567 311004 270305 D RUSSIAN ROU RRO ROU These requirements have been removed: 7100 1600 1700 29 TIG 250 37 0 205 1234567 311004 270305 D RUSSIAN ROU RRO ROU 12119 (via Wolfgang Büschel, DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Radio "The Voice Of Russia" - Russian World Service (Overseas Broadcasting) Time/Frequency Schedule For Winter Period '2004/2005 (Times - UTC; Winter MSK time UTC + 3 hrs; Frequencies - kHz) To EUROPE 0200-0400 936 1300-1400 12060 1548 1431 999 972 936 1400-1500 12060 1800-1900 7400 603 2000-2100 7400 7310 6170 1215 612 2100-2200 1215 999 NOTES: 603 kHz - for Germany (Berlin) via local transmitter 612 kHz - for Moscow Region To BALTIC countries 2000-2100 7400 To UKRAINE AND MOLDAVIA 0200-0400 936 1300-1400 1548 1431 999 972 936 To CAUCASIAN AREA 2000-2200 7445 234 To CENTRAL ASIA 0200-0300 1503 972 648 1300-1400 15570** 15460* 7365 1143 1400-1500 15570** 1251 1600-1700 1251 To AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND and PACIFIC AREA 1300-1500 9770 To ASIA 1300-1400 6145 5995 1143 1400-1500 5995 1251 1600-1700 5945 1251 TO SOUTH-EAST ASIA 1300-1400 17570** 15460* 9770 9495 7260 1400-1500 17570** 15460* 9770 9495 7260 6205 To NEAR and MIDDLE EAST 0200-0300 5995 1503 972 648 1300-1400 9830 1143 1400-1500 9900** 9830 7315* 1600-1700 9900** 7315* 1314 1251 1800-1900 7360 2000-2100 7445 6170 234 2100-2200 7445 234 To The WESTERN HEMISPHERE 0200-0300 13665 12110 7350 7260 7240 7150 6195 0300-0400 13665 12110 7330 7260 7240 7150 Notes: *) - Till March, 5th; **) - From March, 6th. Our Address: Russian World Service, "The Voice Of Russia", Moscow-Radio, 115326 Russia. phone: [+7 095] 950-6868. fax: [+7 095] 950-6116. e-mail: letters @ vor.ru Actual Information, WEB and REAL AUDIO (onlive): http://www.vor.ru/Russian.htm (Pavel Mikhaylov, Moscow-RUS "MEDIA-DX", Oct 24 via BCDX via DXLD) ** SLOVAKIA. Radio Slovakia International in their October 17 Letterbox programme requested listeners to send in their phone numbers. The station will then call listeners around Christmas time to find out how you spend Christmas. This might be the last time to you might contact the station if they go ahead and cease shortwave broadcasts. Station address:- Radio Slovakia International, P. O. Box 55, Mytna 1, 810 05 Bratislava, Slovakia (Edwin Southwell, Nov World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** SLOVENIA. SLOVENE PUBLIC BROADCASTER'S INTERNATIONAL RADIO BANNED FROM BROADCASTING | Excerpt from report by Matej Kosir: "RTV is broadcasting illegally", published by Slovene newspaper Delo web site on 30 October Krsko, Ljubljana: "The Telecommunications Inspectorate has banned the operation of the radio station Slovenija International (RSI) because RTV Slovenija [Slovene Radio-Television, Slovenia's public broadcaster] does not have a permit to broadcast the programme on all frequencies. The Ministry of Information Society is still dealing with the appeal to this ruling, but more than the final decision in this case, it is the fact that RSI can broadcast also on a frequency - regarding which it is still unclear whether it had been lawfully allocated to another radio station - that is interesting. Radio Slovenija International is a channel which RTV Slovenia is said to be preparing in line with legal and statute provisions as an information programme for audiences abroad. But for more than 85 per cent of programme time we can listen just to music on this channel. RSI is covering almost the entire Slovenia on four frequencies, but RTV Slovenia has only a permit for a frequency on Pohorje [north Slovenia], according to the Agency for Telecommunications, Broadcasting and Post. [Passage omitted on more details of case] Source: Delo web site, Ljubljana, in Slovene 30 Oct 04 (via BBCM via DXLD) None of this concerns SW, of course, but in WRTH 2004, R. Slovenija International, despite its name, appears in the domestic section on page 351, with no entry at all in the international section. There is a 300 kW MW transmitter on 1170, and its other frequencies are FM, exact locations unknown, so which frequencies is this article talking about? (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. Overcomer Ministry --- According to an on air announcement, yesterday (2 November) was the last day for broadcasts on 702 kHz Medium Wave (via RMC) 'at least or until' there is sufficient feedback to show a demand for this frequency. Brother Stair also stated the cost of transmissions was higher than first envisaged. The new frequency of 1386 kHz (via Lithuania) will continue until 13 November (1900-1945 UT, although some days this may be reduced to 30 mins). The use of 1386 is apparently dependent upon negotiations to extend this 45 min slot, either at a similar time or at another time during the day and positive feedback from listeners. Reception reports are being actively sought from listeners in Europe. Regards (Paul Banning, BDXC-UK Nov 3 via DXLD) ** SPAIN. Radio Exterior de España is now being heard at 0000 UT in their English broadcast to North America, after being usually inaudible here on 15385 kHz since late summer. Unfortunately, there is very severe QRN from Radio Havana on 6060 kHz at the same time in Spanish. Curiously, this is much more severe on my second floor Drake SW8, with Spain almost unreadable, while REE has fair to good reception on the SONY 2010 on the ground floor (Roger Chambers, Utica, New York, Nov 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. BBC: For those tired of TV coverage, the BBC was providing early this election evening detailed US election coverage. Much detail on Ohio, with long lines when the polls closed at 7:30 local time, and these people being assured that if they were in line when the polls closed, they could vote. Coverage as well of the very complicated Ohio ballot, including many propositions, including one on same sex marriage and insurance benefits for same sex partners. This was all explained as really motivating the Christian conservatives to vote, who may not have voted otherwise. At about 8:45 PM EST, they projected several states for each candidate. Then quite a thoughtful discussion of the Electoral College and how it has been a stabilizing force over the years. This coverage was well up to the expected standard, and so much better, without the hype and commercials of the TV networks, and at least equal to, if not better than, NPR. As Justin Coe says on REE, "Turn your TV off and your radio on!" (Roger Chambers, Utica, New York, Nov 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST via dxldyg) I was switching to BBCWS at times; Al Franken was on for a while (gh, DXLD) ** U K. PETERBOROUGH MAST COLLAPSES On the evening of Saturday 30-Oct-2004 there was a major fire at the Peterborough site. As a result the mast totally collapsed, falling onto the transmitter buildings and neighbouring fields. There were no reports of any casualties but of course all services from Peterborough are now off the air until further notice. Once part of the BBC's VHF (405-line) television network, Peterborough provided VHF radio, providing network radio (FM and DAB) and BBC Radio Cambridgeshire to an area often described as the East Midlands. See photos at http://tx.mb21.co.uk/gallery/peterborough.asp (Thanks to Tony Sayer at Bancom Communications Ltd U.K. Tel+44 1223 566577, Fax+44 1223 566588 P.O. Box 280, Cambridge, England, CB2 2DY) Tony adds (on alt.radio.digital) "In case you're wondering where your DAB is this morn there was a serious fire last night at the Morbonne site otherwise known as Peterbourgh. Apparently it`s caused the mast to collapse! Note the previous mast height of 153 metres!" (via Mike Terry, Oct 31, dxldyg via DXLD) At 6.30 this morning the Radio 4 continuity announcer said something like: "I have a note here saying that there's a problem at our Peterborough transmitter, but the engineers are working on it", implying that things would soon be back to normal. Obviously they were unaware of the catastrophic nature of the "problem". (Chris Greenway, UK, Oct 31, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) MAST FIRE 'COULD BE DELIBERATE' http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/cambridgeshire/3970807.stm Some FM radio services in parts of the east of England have been affected after a transmitter caught fire. The 580 ft mast at Morborne, Peterborough, Cambs, caught fire on Saturday, collapsing onto transmitter buildings and neighbouring fields. [please note: an antenna mast is not the same as a transmitter! --- gh] Radios 1,2, 3 and 4, BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, BBC digital radio and Classic FM were all affected, along with some mobile telephone reception. Detectives think the fire may have been deliberate and appealed for witnesses. Gary Martin of Cambs Police, said: "We have a number of theories and we're not resting on any particular one. FM reception in parts of several counties has been affected "But we need to know - was there anyone suspicious in the area or were there any bangs or fireworks or rockets flying through the air? Has anyone seen where the tower was ablaze - was it at the top of the tower, the middle or the bottom of the tower?" Following the fire, an estimated 1.3m radio listeners were without an FM service. Broadcasters are working to restore service and it is unclear how many areas are still affected. The transmitter, which is owned by Crown Castle International, covers Cambs, and parts of Lincs, Northants, Leicestershire, Beds, Bucks and west Norfolk (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) Just tuned to BBC1 East on satellite, and noted that the antenna collapse will be the top story on the local news programme at 1.30 pm (GMT). No doubt they'll be more coverage tonight at 1830 and 2225 GMT. You can see it by adding BBC1 East using "Other Channels" on a Sky digibox, or on any free-to-air sat box if you are in the footprint of Astra 2 at 28E. Parameters: 10.847GHz, symbol rate 22000, FEC: 5/6, PIDs 2338/2339. Just to add, for anyone who cannot receive BBC1 East on sat, cable or terrestrial, the Look East bulletin is streamed at http://www.bbc.co.uk/england/realmedia/lookeast/cambs_tvbull.ram for which you'll need RealPlayer. Also, BBC News online has the latest on the story at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cambridgeshire/3970807.stm (Ian Kelly, Tilehurst, Reading, UK, Nov 1, BDXC-UK via DXLD) FIREFIGHTERS DON'T THINK FM MAST COLLAPSE WAS ARSON The senior firefighter attending the fire which caused the collapse of the 580 ft transmitter tower near Peterborough that carried FM and DAB services to a wide area in Eastern England says he does not believe the incident was the result of arson. Ray McDonnell says firefighters now believe the fire started about 80 ft up the tower. If that was the case, there would have been enough plastic insulation material to cause the severe heat which would compromise the stability of the tower. Mr McDonnell said the mast had collapsed in a "zig-zag" fashion, missing a country road and the nearby 300ft concrete British Telecommunications tower. The transmitter building is said to be close to collapsing under the weight of the tower. FM and DAB services are currently off the air. Temporary facilities are currently being put in place on land adjacent to the site, and engineers hope to get a service on the air within the next 24 hours. However, David Martin, editor of BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, said that BBC Radio Cambridgeshire could be off the air in Peterborough until Wednesday. Richard Hunt has forwarded the URL's of some photos of the collapsed mast: http://www.bthshome.plus.com/misc/153724.jpg http://www.bthshome.plus.com/misc/153709.jpg http://www.mark.carver.dsl.pipex.com/pbor1.jpg http://www.mark.carver.dsl.pipex.com/pbor2.jpg (via Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog Nov 1 via DXLD) Peterborough Evening Telegraph, 01 November 2004 http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=845&ArticleID=880287 Residents across the city today woke up to a radio blackout after a 580 ft transmitter collapsed. Firefighters and police officers were called to the mast at Morborne, near Stilton, Peterborough, at 10.20 pm on Saturday, following a fire on the tower which houses communication equipment worth millions of pounds. The 200-ton mast, owned by Crown Castle UK, crushed a two-storey unmanned building, and narrowly missed a road. Hundreds of thousands of people were without radio services. David Martin, editor of BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, said: "All the main networks have been affected by this. It's going to cause a huge amount of problems." Mr Martin added BBC Radio Cambridgeshire could be off the air in Peterborough until Wednesday. Farmer Nigel Rome, who lives at Manor Farm, Morborne, saw the blaze. He said: "Our electricity flipped out at about 10.10 pm. "I received a phone call from Crown Castle UK asking if the mast was on fire. "I looked out of my window and I could see a red glow. When I got up there it was already down." A total of 20 firefighters from Dogsthorpe and Yaxley battled for five hours to bring the blaze under control, pumping 2,000 gallons of water on to the blaze from the turntable ladder. Today the blackened, twisted remains of the tower were still on top of the building, which fire crews said was close to collapsing under the weight. Firefighters and police officers are keeping an open mind about how the tower collapsed, but senior firefighter Ray McDonnell, from Dogsthorpe, said it was unlikely the tower had been targeted by arsonists. He said: "We think the fire started about 80ft up the tower. "If that's the case there's enough plastic insulation material to cause the severe heat which would compromise the stability of the tower." Mr McDonnell said the mast had collapsed in a "zig-zag" fashion, missing a country road and the nearby 300 ft concrete British Telecommunications tower. Stephen Arnold, a spokesman from Crown Castle UK, said the mast broadcast BBC Radio 1, 2, 3 and 4, as well as BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, Classic FM, and a number of other commercial and digital radio stations to Peterborough. The engineers' priority was to restore services - which they hoped to do in the next 24 hours. This morning he said: "Today we will commence installation of an emergency transmitter on site. The site is also used by a number of mobile telecoms operators." Land next to the site was being made available so temporary transmitters could be put up to re-establish coverage. Yesterday, digital versions of Vibe FM, Classic Gold and Hereward FM were unavailable. Anyone who was in the Morborne area after 9 pm on Saturday and has any information about the incident, should telephone police on 08454 564564 (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) FIREWORK MAY HAVE CAUSED FM MAST FIRE Police in Peterborough, Eastern England, are working on the theory that a firework from Halloween or early Guy Fawkes celebrations may have caused the fire that led the collapse of the FM mast on Saturday evening. FM radio services have been partially restored on low power, and engineers from Crown Castle UK, which owns the site, hope to improve coverage over the next few days. DAB services are also operating again after British Telecom, which owns an adjacent site, allowed the installation of a DAB antenna on its tower. There's a directory of large size pictures, including a spectacular aerial shot of the mast lying buckled on top of the transmitter building, at http://ftgroup.dnsalias.net/morborne/ # posted by Andy @ 09:00 UT Nov 3 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** U S A. Explanation, or Take Two... Hi! I'm answering your most recent DXLD. For VOA, I divided out the number of transmitters in use from the TRANSMITTER hours per week and got this new list: xmtr simple service ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 84.00 35.00 English to Europe, Middle East, and North Africa 371.00 94.50 English to Africa 7.00 3.50 English to Zimbabwe 28.00 28.00 English to Afghanistan 321.00 64.50 English to Far East Asia, South Asia, and Oceania ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 811.00 225.50 Total without Special English 140.50 37.50 English-Special ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 951.50 263.00 Total with Special English Also, as far as hours per day go, 0030-0100 UT isn't used at all for regular English, and 0200-0300 is Mon-Fri only. That would make it 23h30m during the week and 22h30m during the weekend. BTW, I'm using schedule at http://www.voanews.com/english/about/frequenciesAtoZ_e.cfm for reference. Remember, VOA isn't using that many frequencies in some time slots. I think that the old main time gap was 0700-1200 UT, and VOA filled it with 2 frequencies to Europe (0900-1200) and 2 to Africa (0700-0900). So it really plays on the difference between transmitter hours per week and simple hours per day. I think that transmitter hours still went down a little bit (Michael Semon, Nov 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. At least one WEWN transmitter is totally screwed up. Nov 2 at 1500 found the 9955 signal distorted and spread out down to 9900; also on the high side but powerful WWCR 9985 could overcome it. Anything else below 9955 was totally blocked. These were not spurs every 8 kHz or so, like 5825 has been producing, but a continuous broad and distorted signal. 24 hours later, 9955 was merely splattering, making e.g. KWHR 9930 unlistenable, tho audible. When you`re running 500 kW transmitters (or is it only 350) into high- gain antennas you have even greater responsibility than other stations to keep your signal clean and within legal bandwidth! Wake up, Mother Angelica, clean up your act, or turn it off! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. We select certain stations from the complete FCC B-04 list below. Keep in mind that these registrations may exceed actual usage, taking into account possible alternate frequencies, anticipated expansion of services, etc. First, some ``wooden`` registrations for stations which have not been on the air for years, or ever, or not yet. KIMF in Piñón, NM, which has a CP for several years and has registered 5835 and 11885 every season, is now MISSING from the FCC list. Have they given up? As someone who visited the remote site pointed out, for one thing it lacks a water supply. WRNO New Orleans has been inactive for years, lacking a usable transmitter, but keeps on the schedule anyway, on the same imaginary frequencies as always: 7355 2200 0300 WRNO 50 20 3-5,9-11,27 1234567 311004 270305 7395 0300 1600 WRNO 50 20 3-5,9-11 1234567 311004 270305 15420 1600 2300 WRNO 50 20 3-5,9-11,27 1234567 311004 270305 WWBS in Macon, Georgia, which has been silent for a couple of years since the owner died, still exists as a wooden registration in its extremely limited schedule which was only 4 hours per week! 11900 0000 0200 WWBS 50 30 3,4,9 1 7 311004 270305 WMLK in Pennsylvania STILL hasn`t started using its new 250 kW transmitter, even at half power, but the schedule keeps showing it, including a NEW frequency, 9265 instead of 9465, but what about the old 50 kW transmitter which they have been using on 9465? This schedule obviously shows two transmitters in use at the same time during much of the period. In fact, they have yet to be reported on 9265, 9955 or 15265 ever. If both WMLK and WRMI use 9955 to their full extent, the latter all the way from 1600 to 1300, they will collide: 9265 0400 0900 WMLK 125 53 27,28,39 1234567 311004 270305 9265 1600 2100 WMLK 125 53 27,28,39 234567 311004 270305 9955 0400 0900 WMLK 125 53 27,28,39 1234567 311004 270305 15265 1700 2200 WMLK 250 57 27,28,39 1234567 311004 270305 We find WINB, Pennsylvania on only two frequencies: no 12160 this season: 9320 1100 1300 WINB 50 242 10,11 1234567 311004 270305 13570 1300 2300 WINB 50 242 10,11 1234567 311004 270305 9320 2300 0500 WINB 50 242 10,11 1234567 311004 270305 WJIE in Kentucky is only accounted for with one transmitter on two frequencies: 7490 1000 2200 WJIE 50 155 11-13 1234567 311004 270305 13595 2200 1000 WJIE 50 55 9,27 1234567 311004 270305 Some other minor stations with only one transmitter or one frequency: KVOH Simi Valley CA, has not actually used 9975 for several seasons, but: 9975 0100 0800 KVOH 50 100 10,11 1234567 311004 270305 9975 1300 1500 KVOH 50 100 10,11 1234567 311004 270305 17775 1500 0100 KVOH 50 100 10-12 1234567 311004 270305 KJES, New Mexico, no changes, but their operation has been somewhat sporadic, and I think is not 7 days per week at all times, despite: 7555 0200 0300 KJES 50 335 2,3 1234567 311004 270305 7555 0300 0330 KJES 50 20 3,4,9 1234567 311004 270305 11715 1400 1500 KJES 50 70 3,4,9 1234567 311004 270305 11715 1500 1600 KJES 50 350 2,3 1234567 311004 270305 11715 1600 1700 KJES 50 150 10 1234567 311004 270305 15385 1900 2000 KJES 50 270 55,58,59 1234567 311004 270305 15385 2000 2100 KJES 50 100 11 1234567 311004 270305 KAIJ near Dallas, nothing but Dr. Gene Scott, note the azimuth to the northwest, remains: 5755 0000 1400 KAIJ 100 320 2,3,34,35,45 1234567 311004 270305 13815 1400 2400 KAIJ 100 320 2,3,34,35,45 1234567 311004 270305 Note that WRMI`s usage includes two transmitters instead of just one, altho the second one is not yet on, here in time order to show this in two groups. It might make more sense to group these by the two azimuths, but then the times would not mesh: 6870 0000 1300 WRMI 50 317 2,3 1234567 311004 270305 6870 1300 1600 WRMI 50 160 10-13 1234567 311004 270305 9955 1600 2100 WRMI 50 160 10,11 1234567 311004 270305 9955 2100 2400 WRMI 50 160 10-13 1234567 311004 270305 9955 0000 0600 WRMI 50 160 10-16 1234567 311004 270305 9955 0600 1000 WRMI 50 160 14-16 1234567 311004 270305 9955 1000 1300 WRMI 50 160 10-13 1234567 311004 270305 15725 1300 2400 WRMI 50 317 2,3 1234567 311004 270305 WWRB: we won`t pull out its frequencies, but note that the newly activated 3185 did not make it to this schedule. There are NO listings for WHRI, which had been reported until recently operating a limited schedule in addition to what is now their primary outlet, WSHB. For example, 5835 had actually been from WHRI in Indiana for a while, but not now: 5835 0100 0500 WSHB 250 315 2,3 1234567 311004 270305 5835 0600 1800 WSHB 250 173 10,11 1234567 311004 270305 5835 2300 0100 WSHB 250 173 10,11 1234567 311004 270305 5850 0200 0500 WSHB 250 25 4,9,27,28 1234567 311004 270305 5860 0800 1100 WSHB 250 25 4,5,9,17,27 1234567 311004 270305 5970 0500 0600 WSHB 250 315 2,3 1234567 311004 270305 5970 0600 0900 WSHB 250 315 2,3 1234567 311004 270305 5970 0900 1100 WSHB 250 25 4,9 1234567 311004 270305 6095 1000 1300 WSHB 250 173 10-13 1234567 311004 270305 7315 2300 1000 WSHB 250 152 10-13 1234567 311004 270305 7510 2200 2400 WSHB 250 42 4,5,9,17,18,27,28,29,39 1234567 311004 270305 7535 0000 0100 WSHB 250 25 4,5,9,17,18 1234567 311004 270305 7535 0100 0800 WSHB 250 42 4,5,9,17,18,27,28,29,39 1234567 311004 270305 7535 0800 1300 WSHB 250 25 4,5,9,17 1234567 311004 270305 7535 2100 2300 WSHB 250 42 4,5,9,17,18,27,28,29,39 1234567 311004 270305 7535 2300 0100 WSHB 250 315 2,3,4 123456 311004 270305 7535 2300 0100 WSHB 250 42 4,5,9,17,18,27,28,29,38 7 311004 270305 9430 0000 0400 WSHB 250 173 10-13 1234567 311004 270305 9455 0900 1400 WSHB 250 173 10-13 1234567 311004 270305 9495 1000 1300 WSHB 250 173 10-13 1234567 311004 270305 9495 1800 2400 WSHB 250 152 10-15 1234567 311004 270305 9840 1000 1600 WSHB 250 25 4,5,9,17 1234567 311004 270305 9840 1300 2200 WSHB 250 25 4,5,9,17 1234567 311004 250305 9845 0700 0900 WSHB 250 173 10-13 1234567 311004 270305 11515 0400 0500 WSHB 250 72 37-39,47,48 1234567 311004 270305 11515 0500 0600 WSHB 250 87 46-48,52,53 1234567 311004 270305 11515 0600 0700 WSHB 250 102 52,53,57 1234567 311004 270305 11515 1300 1500 WSHB 250 25 4,5,9,17 1234567 311004 270305 11515 2000 2200 WSHB 250 25 4,9,27,28 1234567 311004 270305 11515 2200 0400 WSHB 250 315 2,3 1234567 311004 270305 12020 1100 1600 WSHB 250 173 10-13 1234567 311004 270305 13760 1500 2100 WSHB 250 25 4,5,9 1234567 311004 270305 15105 1300 1900 WSHB 250 173 10,11,12,13 1234567 311004 270305 15285 2200 2400 WSHB 250 173 10,11,12,13 1234567 311004 270305 15665 1900 2000 WSHB 250 173 10,11 1234567 311004 270503 15665 2000 0300 WSHB 250 152 10-15 1234567 311004 270305 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The B-04 FCC private SW station schedule was posted today on the FCC WWW site at http://www.fcc.gov/ib/sand/neg/hf_web/B04FCC02.TXT (via Jim Moats, Nov 1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: Schedule: B04 01-NOV-2004 FCC B04fcc02.TXT Freq Start Stop Call Pow Azm Target Zones Days Stdate Spdate --------------------------------------------------------------------- Days are all 1234567 u.o.s.; dates are 311004 270305 u.o.s. 3210 0000 1000 WWCR 100 46 4,9,27,28,37-39 010305 270305 3210 0000 1000 WWCR 100 46 4,9,27,28,37-39 311004 301104 3210 2300 1000 WWCR 100 46 4,9,27,28,37-39 011204 280205 5050 2300 0600 WWRB 65 340 3,4,23,24,44 5070 2200 1300 WWCR 100 40 4,9,27-29 011204 280205 5070 2300 1300 WWCR 100 40 4,9,27-29 010305 270305 5070 2300 1300 WWCR 100 40 4,9,27-29 311004 301104 5085 2300 0600 WWRB 65 45 5,9,17-21 5105 0000 2400 WBCQ 50 245 10,11 5745 2300 0500 WWRB 100 0 2-4,9 5755 0000 1400 KAIJ 100 320 2,3,34,35,45 5765 0300 1300 WWCR 100 90 9,11,47,52,53 011204 280205 5765 0400 1300 WWCR 100 90 9,11,47,52,53 010305 270305 5765 0400 1300 WWCR 100 90 9,11,47,52,53 311004 301104 5810 0500 0800 WYFR 100 44 27,39 5810 0800 1200 WYFR 100 160 14 5820 2000 2300 WYFR 100 44 27,28 5825 0000 1300 WEWN 500 285 10 5825 0000 1300 WEWN 500 20 4,5,9 5835 0100 0500 WSHB 250 315 2,3 5835 0600 1800 WSHB 250 173 10,11 5835 2300 0100 WSHB 250 173 10,11 5850 0200 0500 WSHB 250 25 4,9,27,28 5850 0500 1000 WYFR 50 181 11 5860 0800 1100 WSHB 250 25 4,5,9,17,27 5920 0000 2400 WBOH 50 170 11,12 5935 0000 1400 WWCR 100 85 36-38,46-48,57 011204 280205 5935 0100 1300 WWCR 100 85 36-38,46-48,57 311004 301104 5935 0100 1300 WWCR 100 85 36-38,46-48,57 010305 270305 5950 0300 1200 WYFR 100 285 10 5950 2100 0300 WYFR 100 355 4,5,9 5970 0500 0600 WSHB 250 315 2,3 5970 0600 0900 WSHB 250 315 2,3 5970 0900 1100 WSHB 250 25 4,9 5985 0445 0700 WYFR 100 315 2 5985 0700 0800 WYFR 100 315 2 5985 2000 0445 WYFR 50 181 11 5985 2100 2200 KSDA 100 315 43N,44N 6045 2000 2100 KSDA 100 330 44NE,45NW 6065 0100 0445 WYFR 100 355 4,5,9 6085 0945 2000 WYFR 100 181 11 6085 2245 0100 WYFR 100 355 4,5,9 6095 1000 1300 WSHB 250 173 10-13 6105 0800 1100 WYFR 100 142 15 6195 2000 2100 KSDA 100 315 44NE,45NW 6855 0300 0900 WYFR 100 355 4,5,9 6855 0900 1300 WYFR 100 355 4,5,9 6870 0000 1300 WRMI 50 317 2,3 6870 1300 1600 WRMI 50 160 10-13 6890 0900 1300 WYFR 100 355 4,5,9 6890 2300 0600 WWRB 65 90 27,28,37-39 7150 2100 2200 KSDA 100 300 43S,44S 7315 2300 1000 WSHB 250 152 10-13 7355 0300 0745 WYFR 100 44 27,28 7355 1000 1100 KNLS 100 285 43,44,49,54 311004 300105 7355 1045 1345 WYFR 100 315 2 7355 1200 1300 KNLS 100 285 43,44,49,54 311004 300105 7355 1500 1600 KNLS 100 285 43,44,49,54 7355 1600 1700 KNLS 100 285 43,44,49,54 311004 270205 7355 1700 1800 KNLS 100 330 22-26,32-35 311004 300105 7355 2200 0300 WRNO 50 20 3-5,9-11,27 7365 0800 0900 KNLS 100 270 24-26,34,35,44,45,50,51,5 261204 300105 7365 0900 1000 KNLS 100 300 22-26,32-35 311004 270205 7365 1100 1200 KNLS 100 300 22-26,32-35 311004 270205 7395 0300 1600 WRNO 50 20 3-5,9-11 7415 1300 1900 WBCQ 50 245 3-5,10,11 7415 1900 1000 WBCQ 50 245 3-5,9-11,27 7425 1300 1400 WEWN 500 220 10,11 7425 2300 1300 WEWN 500 220 10,11 7455 0800 1100 WYFR 100 315 2 7455 1100 1600 KTWR 100 320 42-44 7465 1300 1600 WWCR 100 90 9,11,47,52,53 311004 301104 7465 1300 1600 WWCR 100 90 9,11,47,52,53 011204 280205 7465 1300 1600 WWCR 100 90 9,11,47,52,53 010305 270305 7465 2200 0400 WWCR 100 90 9,11,47,52,53 010305 270305 7465 2200 0300 WWCR 100 90 9,11,47,52,53 011204 280205 7465 2200 0400 WWCR 100 90 9,11,47,52,53 311004 301104 7490 1000 2200 WJIE 50 155 11-13 7505 0000 1600 KTBN 100 70 3-5,9 7510 2200 2400 WSHB 250 42 4,5,9,17,18,27,28,29,39 7520 0100 0400 WYFR 100 142 13 7520 0400 0800 WYFR 100 44 27,28 7535 0000 0100 WSHB 250 25 4,5,9,17,18 7535 0100 0800 WSHB 250 42 4,5,9,17,18,27,28,29,39 7535 0800 1300 WSHB 250 25 4,5,9,17 7535 2100 2300 WSHB 250 42 4,5,9,17,18,27,28,29,39 7535 2300 0100 WSHB 250 315 2,3,4 123456 311004 270305 7535 2300 0100 WSHB 250 42 4,5,9,17,18,27,28,29,38 7 311004 270305 7555 0200 0300 KJES 50 335 2,3 7555 0300 0330 KJES 50 20 3,4,9 7570 0045 0400 WYFR 100 160 15 7570 0500 0800 WEWN 500 40 27,28 7570 2100 2300 WHRA 250 45 27-29,39,40 7580 0530 1000 WHRA 250 90 37,38,46-48,52,53 7580 1945 2245 WYFR 100 44 15 7580 2300 0530 WHRA 250 45 27-29,39,40 9265 0400 0900 WMLK 125 53 27,28,39 9265 1600 2100 WMLK 125 53 27,28,39 234567 311004 270305 9320 1100 1300 WINB 50 242 10,11 9320 1300 2300 WWRB 65 45 4,9,17-21 9320 2300 0500 WINB 50 242 10,11 9330 1200 0600 WBCQ 50 245 10,11 9355 0400 0800 WYFR 100 44 27,28 9355 1845 2300 WYFR 100 44 27,28 9370 0000 2400 WTJC 50 40 4,9 9415 1400 1600 KTWR 100 305 42-44 9430 0000 0400 WSHB 250 173 10-13 9455 0900 1400 WSHB 250 173 10-13 9455 2100 2400 WHRA 250 90 37,38,46-48,52,53 9465 1215 1300 KTWR 100 345 45 9465 1400 1600 KFBS 100 323 29-33,42-44 9495 0500 1000 WYFR 100 222 11 9495 1000 1300 WSHB 250 173 10-13 9495 1800 2400 WSHB 250 152 10-15 9505 0000 0445 WYFR 100 315 2 9525 0100 0400 WYFR 50 285 10 9555 0800 1400 WYFR 100 160 16 9575 0900 1200 WYFR 100 160 15 9585 1330 1400 KTWR 100 285 49 9605 0800 1100 WYFR 100 142 13 9605 1100 1245 WYFR 100 222 12 9615 1000 1100 KNLS 100 285 43,44,49,54 300105 270305 9615 1200 1300 KNLS 100 285 43,44,49,54 300105 270305 9615 1300 1400 KNLS 100 270 24-26,34,35,44,45,50,51,5 9615 1400 1500 KNLS 100 285 43,44,49,54 9615 1600 1700 KNLS 100 285 43,44,49,54 270205 270305 9635 1100 1200 KTWR 100 285 49 9680 0145 0800 WYFR 100 315 2 9680 0800 1100 WYFR 100 140 13 9690 0800 0900 KNLS 100 270 24-26,34,35,44,45,50,51,5 261204 300105 9690 0900 1000 KNLS 100 300 22-26,32-35 270205 270305 9690 1100 1200 KNLS 100 300 22-26,32-35 270205 270305 9690 2145 0045 WYFR 100 142 13 9705 1100 1245 WYFR 50 285 10 9715 0400 1100 WYFR 50 285 10 9715 2345 0100 WYFR 50 285 10 9780 1200 1300 KSDA 100 330 44NE,45NW 9840 1000 1600 WSHB 250 25 4,5,9,17 9840 1300 2200 WSHB 250 25 4,5,9,17 311004 250305 9845 0700 0900 WSHB 250 173 10-13 9865 0930 1100 KTWR 100 315 42-44 9910 0915 1100 KTWR 100 320 42-44 9920 1400 1445 KTWR 100 278 49 9920 1445 1615 KTWR 100 345 44,45 9930 0600 1200 KWHR 100 300 43-45 9930 1200 1500 KWHR 100 285 41,43,44,49 9930 1500 1900 KWHR 100 300 41,43,44,49 9955 0000 0600 WRMI 50 160 10-16 9955 0400 0900 WMLK 125 53 27,28,39 9955 0600 1000 WRMI 50 160 14-16 9955 0800 1700 KHBN 50 280 41,49 9955 1000 1300 WRMI 50 160 10-13 9955 1300 1600 WEWN 500 285 10 9955 1300 1600 WEWN 500 20 4,5,9 9955 1600 2100 WRMI 50 160 10,11 9955 2100 2400 WRMI 50 160 10-13 9955 2200 2400 KHBN 50 280 41,49 9965 0600 1700 KHBN 80 318 43,44 9965 2200 2400 KHBN 80 318 43,44 9975 0100 0800 KVOH 50 100 10,11 9975 1200 1300 KTWR 100 285 49 9975 1300 1500 KVOH 50 100 10,11 9975 1300 1330 KTWR 100 315 42-44 9975 1330 1400 KTWR 100 315 43,44 9975 1400 1500 KTWR 100 285 43,44 9975 2200 2400 WEWN 500 285 10 9975 2200 2400 WEWN 500 20 4,5,9 9985 0100 0500 WYFR 100 151 15 9985 0500 0900 WYFR 100 87 37,46 9985 0700 1600 KHBN 50 345 44,45 9985 1000 1100 WWCR 100 46 4,9,27,28,37-39 011204 280205 9985 1000 1100 WWCR 100 46 4,9,27,28,37-39 010305 270305 9985 1000 1100 WWCR 100 46 4,9,27,28,37-39 311004 301104 9985 1300 1600 WWCR 100 40 4,9,27-29 011204 280205 9985 1300 1600 WWCR 100 40 4,9,27-29 311004 301104 9985 1300 1600 WWCR 100 40 4,9,27-29 010305 270305 9985 1600 2200 WWCR 100 90 9,11,47,52,53 311004 301104 9985 1600 2200 WWCR 100 90 9,11,47,52,53 011204 280205 9985 1600 2200 WWCR 100 90 9,11,47,52,53 010305 270305 9985 2100 2400 KHBN 50 345 44,45 9985 2100 2300 WWCR 100 46 4,9,27,28,37-39 011204 280205 9985 2200 2400 WWCR 100 46 4,9,27,28,37-39 010305 270305 9985 2200 2400 WWCR 100 46 4,9,27,28,37-39 311004 301104 11515 0400 0500 WSHB 250 72 37-39,47,48 11515 0500 0600 WSHB 250 87 46-48,52,53 11515 0600 0700 WSHB 250 102 52,53,57 11515 1300 1500 WSHB 250 25 4,5,9,17 11515 2000 2200 WSHB 250 25 4,9,27,28 11515 2200 0400 WSHB 250 315 2,3 11530 0500 0800 WYFR 100 44 27,28 11530 1200 1400 WYFR 100 160 13 11530 1400 2300 WEWN 500 220 10,11 11530 2300 0500 WEWN 500 155 12-15 11560 1700 1730 KSDA 100 300 38E,39 11560 1730 1800 KSDA 100 300 38E,39 11565 0500 1700 KWHR 100 225 51,55,56,58-60 11565 2000 2145 WYFR 100 44 27,28 11565 2200 2400 KWHR 100 225 51,55,56,58-60 11580 0400 0900 WYFR 100 87 47,52,57 11580 0800 1400 KFBS 100 294 42-44 11610 1500 1530 KSDA 100 285 41NE 11615 0500 0800 WEWN 500 155 12-15 11615 1345 1700 WYFR 100 315 2 11650 0900 1100 KFBS 100 341 30,31,43,44 11650 1100 1400 KFBS 100 323 30-33,42-44 11665 1945 2300 WYFR 100 44 27,28 11675 1700 1730 KSDA 100 300 38E,39 11675 1730 1800 KSDA 100 300 38E,39 11680 1230 1300 KFBS 100 242 49S,50,54 11685 2200 2300 KSDA 100 330 32S,33S,43N,44N 11690 1200 1300 KSDA 100 315 43S,44S 11690 2115 2200 KTWR 100 345 45 11695 1300 1330 KTWR 100 278 49 11695 1330 1400 KSDA 100 270 49E 11700 2300 2400 KSDA 100 330 32S,33S,43N,44N 11715 1400 1500 KJES 50 70 3,4,9 11715 1500 1600 KJES 50 350 2,3 11715 1600 1700 KJES 50 150 10 11720 2245 0145 WYFR 100 142 13 11725 1100 1600 WYFR 100 222 11 11740 0145 0500 WYFR 100 222 11 11740 0800 1600 WYFR 100 151 15 11740 2145 2345 WYFR 100 315 2 11755 1300 1330 KSDA 100 315 45 11765 0800 0900 KNLS 100 270 24-26,34,35,44,45,50,51,5 300105 270305 11800 1400 1500 KSDA 100 300 43S,44S 11825 0045 0300 WYFR 100 160 14 11825 1100 1500 KSDA 100 315 43N,44N 11830 1100 1300 WYFR 100 140 13 11830 1300 1700 WYFR 100 315 2 11840 0800 0930 KTWR 100 165 51,55,56,58-60 23456 311004 270305 11840 0815 0930 KTWR 100 165 51,55,56,58-60 1 7 311004 270305 11850 2200 2230 KSDA 100 255 54 11850 2230 2300 KSDA 100 255 54 11855 1300 1700 WYFR 100 355 4,5,9 11855 2000 0500 WYFR 100 222 11 11870 1000 1030 KSDA 100 270 50 11870 1030 1100 KSDA 100 270 50 11875 0800 1300 WEWN 500 155 12-15 11885 1800 2300 WSHB 250 173 10-12 11885 2300 0145 WYFR 100 140 13 11895 1100 1200 KSDA 100 330 32S,33S,43N,44N 11895 1200 1230 KTWR 100 293 42-44 11900 0000 0200 WWBS 50 30 3,4,9 1 7 311004 270305 11900 1000 1030 KSDA 100 315 43,44 11900 1030 1100 KSDA 100 315 43,44 11935 1500 1530 KSDA 100 300 41NW 11935 1530 1600 KSDA 100 285 41 11940 1400 1430 KSDA 100 285 49NW 11940 1430 1500 KSDA 100 285 49NW 11970 1145 1345 WYFR 100 285 10 11980 1300 1330 KSDA 100 345 45 11980 1330 1400 KSDA 100 345 45 11980 1600 1630 KSDA 100 300 41N 11980 1630 1700 KSDA 100 300 41N 11980 2100 2130 KSDA 100 345 45 11980 2130 2200 KSDA 100 345 45 11985 1500 1530 KSDA 100 270 41S 11985 1530 1600 KSDA 100 270 41S 12010 2100 2130 KSDA 100 315 45 12010 2130 2200 KSDA 100 315 45 12020 1100 1600 WSHB 250 173 10-13 12080 1330 1400 KTWR 100 293 41,49 12090 2230 2330 KFBS 100 278 43S,44S,49 12105 1500 1630 KTWR 100 278 41,48,49 12120 1100 1200 KSDA 100 300 43S,44S 12120 1200 1300 KSDA 100 300 43S,44S 12120 1300 1430 KFBS 100 278 43S,44S,49 12130 0900 0930 KTWR 100 305 43,44 12130 0930 1400 KTWR 100 305 42-44 12130 2200 2245 KTWR 100 315 42-44 12160 1000 1600 KHBN 50 270 41,49,50,54 12160 1600 2300 WWCR 100 40 4,9,27-29 010305 270305 12160 1600 2300 WWCR 100 40 4,9,27-29 311004 301104 12160 1600 2200 WWCR 100 40 4,9,27-29 011204 280205 12170 1300 2300 WWRB 65 90 27,28,37-39 [ACTUALLY 12172!] 13570 1300 2300 WINB 50 242 10,11 13595 2200 1000 WJIE 50 55 9,27 13615 1600 2200 WEWN 500 285 10 13615 1600 2200 WEWN 500 20 4,5,9 13630 2245 2330 KTWR 100 315 42-44 13690 2300 2330 KTWR 100 305 42-44 13695 1300 1945 WYFR 100 355 4,5,9 13715 2230 2300 KTWR 100 278 49 13760 1500 2100 WSHB 250 25 4,5,9 13765 2300 2400 KTWR 100 293 43,44 13775 1200 1600 WYFR 100 160 15 13815 1400 2400 KAIJ 100 320 2,3,34,35,45 13840 1000 1600 KHBN 50 270 41,48-50,53,54 13845 1300 0100 WWCR 100 85 36-38,46-48,57 010305 270305 13845 1300 0100 WWCR 100 85 36-38,46-48,57 311004 301104 13845 1400 2400 WWCR 100 85 36-38,46-48,57 011204 280205 15105 1300 1900 WSHB 250 173 10,11,12,13 15115 1700 1945 WYFR 100 87 47 15115 1945 2100 WYFR 100 87 46 15130 1245 2345 WYFR 50 285 10 15170 2245 0045 WYFR 100 160 15 15185 1500 1530 KSDA 100 285 41S 15185 1530 1600 KSDA 100 285 41S 15200 0900 0915 KTWR 100 248 54 34 311004 270305 15200 0900 0915 KTWR 100 248 54 12 567 311004 270305 15200 0915 1000 KTWR 100 248 54 15200 1000 1030 KTWR 100 248 54 15200 1100 1200 KTWR 100 248 54 15210 1400 1600 WYFR 100 160 14 15215 2300 0400 WYFR 100 160 16 15220 0400 0600 KWHR 100 300 43-45 15225 0730 0900 KTWR 100 278 49,50,54 67 311004 270305 15225 0740 0900 KTWR 100 278 49,50,54 12345 311004 270305 15245 1530 1600 KSDA 100 285 41 15260 1000 1100 KSDA 100 300 43S,44S 15260 1100 1130 KSDA 100 255 54 15260 1130 1200 KSDA 100 255 54 15265 1700 2200 WMLK 250 57 27,28,39 15275 1100 1200 KTWR 100 255 49,54 15285 2200 2400 WSHB 250 173 10,11,12,13 15320 2200 2230 KSDA 100 255 54 15320 2230 2300 KSDA 100 255 54 15320 2300 2400 KSDA 100 270 49E 15330 0930 1100 KTWR 100 255 54 15355 1245 1400 WYFR 100 222 12 15355 1400 1600 WYFR 100 142 13 15385 1900 2000 KJES 50 270 55,58,59 15385 2000 2100 KJES 50 100 11 15400 2300 0100 WYFR 100 151 15 15420 1600 2300 WRNO 50 20 3-5,9-11,27 15430 1000 1100 KSDA 100 315 43N,44N 15440 1945 2100 WYFR 100 355 4,5,9 15440 2145 0300 WYFR 100 285 10 15480 1600 1630 KSDA 100 285 41S 15495 1600 1630 KSDA 100 285 41 15565 1800 1945 WYFR 100 44 27,28 15565 2100 2245 WYFR 100 87 37,46 15580 0800 1200 KFBS 100 242 49S,50,54 15590 1600 2400 KTBN 100 70 3-5,9 15660 1300 1330 KSDA 100 285 41NE 15660 1330 1400 KSDA 100 285 41NE 23 567 311004 270305 15660 1330 1400 KSDA 100 285 41NE 1 4 311004 270305 15660 1400 1430 KSDA 100 270 41S 15660 1430 1500 KSDA 100 285 49NW 15665 1600 1700 WYFR 100 44 27,28 15665 1900 2000 WSHB 250 173 10,11 [sic:] 311004 270503 15665 2000 0300 WSHB 250 152 10-15 15695 1600 2000 WEWN 500 40 27,28 15695 2200 2400 WEWN 500 40 27,28 15725 0700 1600 KHBN 50 270 41,49,50,54 15725 1300 2400 WRMI 50 317 2,3 15745 0700 1600 KHBN 50 270 41,49,50,54 15745 1300 2300 WEWN 500 155 12-15 15825 1100 2100 WWCR 100 46 4,9,27,28,37-39 011204 280205 15825 1100 2200 WWCR 100 46 4,9,27,28,37-39 311004 301104 15825 1100 2200 WWCR 100 46 4,9,27,28,37-39 010305 270305 17495 1200 2300 WBCQ 50 245 10,11 17510 0000 0400 KWHR 100 300 43-45 17510 1400 1600 WYFR 100 160 13 17510 1700 2145 WYFR 100 285 10 17510 2200 2400 KWHR 100 285 41,43,44,49 17525 1900 2200 WHRA 250 105 46,47,52,57 17535 1700 2200 WYFR 100 315 2 17560 1300 1600 WHRA 250 60 27-29,37-39,40,46-48 17575 1700 2245 WYFR 100 140 13 17595 2000 2200 WEWN 500 85 46 17635 0000 0030 KSDA 100 285 49NW 17635 0030 0100 KSDA 100 285 49NW 17635 0100 0200 KSDA 100 300 43S,44S 17650 1500 1900 WHRA 250 90 37,38,46-48,52,53 17650 1900 2300 WHRA 250 105 46,47,52,57 17690 1600 1945 WYFR 100 87 37,46 17760 1345 1700 WYFR 100 285 10 17760 1700 2000 WYFR 100 44 27,28 17775 1500 0100 KVOH 50 100 10-12 17780 0400 0800 KWHR 100 300 43-45 17845 2300 0045 WYFR 100 160 14 17880 0000 0200 KSDA 100 315 43N,44N 17880 2200 2300 KSDA 100 315 43N,44N 17880 2300 2400 KSDA 100 315 43N,44N 18930 1600 1845 WYFR 100 44 27,28 18980 1600 1945 WYFR 100 44 27,28 21455 1600 2000 WYFR 100 44 28 21525 1945 2245 WYFR 100 87 47,52,57 21745 1600 1745 WYFR 100 44 28,29 (FCC B-04, edited by gh for DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. I am happy to say that severe interference right across the HF bands has disappeared. I still do not know the cause, it sounded just like a two stroke engine. On reading letters in Making Contact and in Tele radio News (a HS Publications magazine) it seems that QRM is becoming quite a problem in the HF bands all over the country. I missed a couple of months contributions to Logbook earlier in the year due to having no aerials because of building work to the house. Back to the subject of interference; there is a strange one on the 25m band every evening about 1900 UT. This noise comes on roughly between 11640 and 11740 but in the last couple of weeks has moved up the band to 11878 to 11930. I have not checked what time it disappears. I am wondering if it is some sort of data transmission from somewhere as it is so regular (VINCENT F RICHARDSON, UK?, Nov World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ PWBR '05 COMMENTS Hi, all! Just received the new Passport to WorldBand Radio 2005 edition and herewith some comments: For me, better than last year. (If anybody recalls, last year I was one of the few people that got a defective copy with missing and duplicated pages in the "blue pages" section; that was promptly replaced by Grove upon my report of that. I also had some correspondence regarding the out-of-date program-schedule info for the BBC that had not been updated since the 2003 edition; that turned out to be due to problems (family deaths, etc.) at the production company.) First thing I looked at in the Blue Pages was to see if they were listing RN's new and unusual "9345 kHz" South Asian English frequency from Tashkent at 1400-1600 UT. It's not there. Guess RN decided on and publicized that too late for inclusion in the database. Irritating but understandable. The one thing that does annoy me of what I've noticed so far is that there is no mention of RCI's mid-day to the Americas service in the "What's On" section. That provides great CBC programming to the greater part of the US, an area that cannot reliably get this programming via medium wave stations from across the border. It is certainly worthy of mention. (Even if PWBR is intended as a worldwide publication, isn't the US readership their main audience?) These RCI broadcasts *ARE* listed in the Blue Pages. As a matter of fact, since I had not gotten the new schedule info for RCI after 10/31, I had to tune around on an analog radio to find it on 15180 kHz and then verify it on my Satellit 800, and then found it listed in the Blue Pages. It would have been easier if PWBR had mentioned this and cited the 17765 Summer and 15180 Winter frequencies in the appropriately-timed (2000 UT range) "What's On" entries, which now only contain some RCI entries for other-area-directed broadcasts. The other thing I noticed in the "What's On" section is that the person doing the BBC-program notes seems to dislike or ignore what I find to be the best stuff on the BBC, the science programs Discovery and Science In Action. Every time he refers to the time blocks when these are aired, he repeats the mention of other programs in that weekday-daily "science block", Health Matters and One Planet, but never mentions the others. Why repeat the same words when one could vary the text? And why not mention that this IS a "science block", when the BBC on-air announcements refer to it in a similar way? The receiver-review section pleased me in that it contains reviews for many of the newly-available little cheapy Chinese SW radios. They are limiting it to digital-readout ones only, which is, I suppose, reasonable, though it pains my completionist soul. I was glad to read a thorough pan of the Coby model that had been found at Big Lots by some in mid-2004, and which I missed. But since it is described as being so utterly bad, I am now quite content that I never bought any. The omission of analog-tuned models, though, meant that there is no mention of the Walgreens-sold "Lifelong" teensy-tiny AM/FM/SW radio, listing for $20 and recently on sale at $15. The important thing about that one is that it is an introduction to SW radios for millions in the US, who will never go to Radio Shack and see any other SW radio, but who will see this thing in the Walgreens Drug ads that blanket much of the nation. Even the ubiquitous Bell+Howell isn't as widely seen; only those who get the mail-order catalogs that list that are exposed to that model. I wish it had been reviewed, too. My experience with the Bell+Howell showed it to be pretty wretched, and that kept me from buying the Lifelong since it is even smaller and I expected it to be as bad. But I'd like to see some objective evaluation and am willing to be proved wrong. The other minor nit about the receiver-review section is that they are repeating the use of manufacturer-supplied graphics of the Grundig/Eton/Tecsun Satellit 800 that show impossible displays on the radio's LCD screen (simultaneous FM-only and SW-only indicators turned on, for example) instead of taking their own pictures showing real- life displays. All the ads do the same, of course, so it isn't unusual. Speaking of ads, the repetition of the same Eton ads over and over and over gets a bit old. I realize their selling the ad space keeps the book's cost down, but some variation from ad to ad would be appreciated. Anybody else out there have comments about the book? While this might read as if my impression is negative, it isn't. I do like it enough to buy it every year with my own money, after all. I just think that it could be better (if the producers thought more like me :-). 73 and regards, Will Martin (St. Louis, MO, Nov 3, dxldyg via DXLD) POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ FTTH, NOT TOO-GOOD-TO-BE-TRUE BPL, PREFERRED BY BABY BELLS Excerpt from http://www.dailyherald.com/kane/main_story.asp?intID=3829070 Another too-good-to-be-true technology on the horizon would make the Internet available anywhere there's electricity. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell said last year "it could simply blow the doors off the provision of broadband." The FCC recently ruled power companies could offer broadband to their customers through power lines. But the technology remains in its infancy, with pilot programs that involve just 5,000 customers nationwide. Though electric lines can transmit data signals, the stability of the power grid makes it more than tricky. In most tests, data is actually carried by fiber around high-voltage lines and then crosses over closer to home once the voltage decreases. The signals also interfere with radio signals like those used by ham radio operators, which has caused an uproar in that 700,000-strong community. And even power giants like Cinergy don't know if they will be able to offer service cheaper than DSL or cable providers. While technology can be hard to pin down, given the flexibility and availability of fiber, and the confidence even the Baby Bells have in it long-term, Collins doesn't see it going the way of the PS/2 anytime soon. "The fiber-to-the-home builds are where the industry is headed, even for the Bells," Collins said (via Kenneth A. Kopp, L.G., Amateur Radio - KKØHF, DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ The geomagnetic field was at mostly quiet to unsettled levels with brief periods of active conditions at mid latitudes midday on the 25 October and again during the first half of 30 October. Isolated periods of minor to major storming were observed at high latitudes midday on 25 and 29 – 31 October, all due to effects from geoeffective coronal hole wind streams. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 03 - 29 NOVEMBER 2004 Solar activity is expected to be low to moderate throughout most of the forecast period due to possible M-class flare activity from Regions 691 and 693. A greater than 10 MeV proton event is possible with major flare activity from Regions 691 and 693. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at high levels on 03 – 04 November and again on 10 – 13 November. The geomagnetic field is expected to be mostly quiet to unsettled for the majority of the forecast period. On 09 – 11 November, a recurrent coronal hole wind stream is expected to produce occasional active to minor storm periods with isolated major storm periods at high latitudes. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2004 Nov 02 2211 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center # Product description and SEC contact on the Web # http://www.sec.noaa.gov/wwire.html # # 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table # Issued 2004 Nov 02 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2004 Nov 03 135 15 3 2004 Nov 04 130 10 3 2004 Nov 05 130 10 3 2004 Nov 06 125 10 3 2004 Nov 07 125 10 3 2004 Nov 08 125 10 3 2004 Nov 09 125 15 3 2004 Nov 10 120 20 4 2004 Nov 11 120 15 3 2004 Nov 12 120 10 3 2004 Nov 13 120 8 3 2004 Nov 14 120 8 3 2004 Nov 15 120 10 3 2004 Nov 16 120 8 3 2004 Nov 17 120 5 2 2004 Nov 18 125 5 2 2004 Nov 19 125 5 2 2004 Nov 20 125 5 2 2004 Nov 21 125 8 3 2004 Nov 22 125 5 2 2004 Nov 23 130 5 2 2004 Nov 24 130 5 2 2004 Nov 25 125 8 3 2004 Nov 26 125 10 3 2004 Nov 27 125 10 3 2004 Nov 28 120 5 2 2004 Nov 29 120 5 2 (http://www.sec.noaa.gov/radio via WORLD OF RADIO 1251, DXLD) TIPS FOR RATIONAL LIVING ++++++++++++++++++++++++ I am looking around for a country to move to, which is progressive and where 51% of the population have not lost their minds (in Oklahoma, 2/3 lost their minds). Suggestions? Bush will continue to be referred to by me as ``acting president`` --- if he had not stolen the elexion in 2000, he would not have been in a position to win this time, by however narrow a margin. Likewise, his VP, and everyone he appoints I consider ``acting``, which is a kind way to say ``illegitimate``, for four long years or more (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###