DX LISTENING DIGEST 5-017, January 28, 2005 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 2005 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 1261: Fri 0200 WOR ACBRadio Mainstream repeated 2-hourly thru 2400 Sat 0000 WOR Studio X, Momigno, Italy 1584 87.35 96.55 105.55 Sat 0900 WOR WRN1 to Eu, Au, NZ, WorldSpace AfriStar, AsiaStar, Telstar 12 SAm Sat 0955 WOR WNQM Nashville TN 1300 Sat 1130 WOR WWCR 5070 Sat 2030 WOR R. Lavalamp Sun 0330 WOR WWCR 5070 Sun 0400 WOR WBCQ 9330-CLSB Sun 0430 WOR WRMI 6870 Sun 0730 WOR WWCR 3210 Sun 0930 WOR WRN1 to North America, also WLIO-TV Lima OH SAP Sun 0930 WOR KSFC Spokane WA 91.9 Sun 0930 WOR WXPN Rhinelander WI 91.7 91.9 100.9 Sun 0930 WOR WDWN Auburn NY 89.1 [unconfirmed] Sun 0930 WOR KTRU Houston TX 91.7 [occasional] Sun 1030 WOR WRMI 9955 Sun 1100 WOR R. Lavalamp Sun 1400 WOR KRFP-LP Moscow ID 92.5 Sun 1500 WOR R. Lavalamp Sun 2000 WOR Studio X, Momigno, Italy 1584 87.35 96.55 105.55 Sun 2030 WOR WWCR 12160 Sun 2100 WOR RNI Mon 0330 WOR WRMI 6870 Mon 0400 WOR WBCQ 9330-CLSB Mon 0430 WOR WSUI Iowa City IA 910 [week delay] Mon 0530 WOR WBCQ 7415 Mon 0900 WOR R. Lavalamp Mon 1700 WOR WBCQ after hours Tue 0700 WOR WPKN Bridgeport CT 89.5 Tue 1000 WOR WRMI 9955 Tue 1700 WOR WBCQ after hours Wed 1030 WOR WWCR 9985 Wed 1700 WOR WBCQ after hours MORE info including audio links: http://worldofradio.com/radioskd.html WRN ONDEMAND: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also for CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL] WORLD OF RADIO 1261 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1261h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1261h.rm WORLD OF RADIO 1261 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1261.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1261.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1261.html WORLD OF RADIO 1261 in the true shortwave sound of 7415: (stream) http://www.piratearchive.com/media/worldofradio_01-05-26.m3u (d`load) http://www.piratearchive.com/media/worldofradio_01-05-26.mp3 DXLD YAHOOGROUP: Get and contribute news between DXLD issues -- Here`s where to sign up. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dxld/ ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. 12140, 25/1 1422, R. Free Afghanistan, 444, website info http://www.azadiradio.org twice by YL, ID, then news by OM, closed by music 1429. 12140, 25/1 1430, Ashna Radyo, 444, IS, then ID by OM "Da VOA Ashna Radyo" - news YL & OM by turns // 15615 (Tony Ashar, Depok, Indonesia, icf-sw7600gr, telescopic rod, HCDX via DXLD) ** ANTARCTICA. Redes de operación de estaciones antárticas: Russian Antarctic PolarNet: 1500 UT diario en 14160 controlada por Vlad UA1BJ South Pole Polar Net: 0000 UT diario en 14243 khz controlada por Larry K1IED FCG Net: 2200 UT diario en 21365 controlada por estaciones JA Antarctic Net: 1900 UT sábados en 14290 controlada por LU4DXU Información del boletín WAP 177. http://www.ddxc.net/wap/default.php es la url del World Wide Antarctic Program (WAP), un sitio web dedicado a la radioafición en el continente antártico. En la sección Download se destaca la 4ta edición del directorio WAP, completisima información de las bases, estaciones, mapas e información histórica. muy recomendable (Alfredo Locatelli - Durazno / Uruguay, Boletín DX de "El EsKuch@ Newsletter" Jan 26 via Dario Monferini, playdx via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. RADIO BALUARTE --- En ocasión de mi viaje por el noreste argentino, tuve oportunidad de visitar en Puerto Iguazú, provincia de Misiones, las instalaciones de Radio Baluarte, la única emisora no estatal que actualmente opera en la onda corta desde la Argentina. Sus estudios se encuentran en una pintoresca zona ubicada a unas pocas cuadras del centro comercial de la pequeña y bonita localidad turística de Puerto Iguazú. La emisora está saliendo actualmente en los 6214.5 kHz con menos de 500 vatios de potencia. El transmisor es totalmente casero, fabricado de forma artesanal en Buenos Aires y operado por esta emisora desde mediados del año 2000. El horario de transmisión es de 0900 a 2400 UT y se retransmite íntegramente la programación de la FM Futuro (101.7 MHz) que está en el aire en ese mismo segmento del día. La antena empleada es una de hilo largo de unos 20 metros ubicada en la zona rural de Puerto Iguazú. Esta antena está orientada en dirección al sur del Brasil, donde la estación tiene una importante audiencia. Este grupo religioso opera también una emisora de onda media, con programación diferenciada, llamada Radio Maranatha, que usa los 1610 kHz. Tuve ocasión de ver la oficina administrativa de la emisora, en la cual me fue mostrado un informe de recepción que habían recibido proveniente del colega peruano César Pérez Dioses, de Chimbote. Ellos están muy contentos de recibir reportes de sintonía de todo el mundo, mas manifiestan que muchas veces no pueden escuchar los discos compactos que les hacen llegar como prueba de la captación, por lo cual sería recomendable que los detalles de la transmisión escuchada sean transcriptos en la carta que se les envía. Los informes pueden ser dirigidos también a dirección electrónica: icnfuturo @ hotmail.com El Pastor Hugo Eidinger o la Sra. Ana de Eidinger son los encargados de contestar los reportes y enviar la carta QSL de verificación (Arnaldo Slaen, Jan 28, Noticias DX via DXLD) I visited Radio Baluarte past days ago in Puerto Iguazú, Misiones. The station is situated a few blocks from the center of the small tourist city. Radio Baluarte is on 6214.5 kHz. All transmission is in parallel with FM Futuro (101.7 MHz) from 0900 to 0000 UT. The transmission equipment is absolutely handcrafted. Now is on air with only 500 watts. The antenna is a longwire with 20 meters in direction to the South of Brazil. It`s in the rural area. In my visit I could see a reception report of the DXer César Pérez Dioses, Chimbote, Perú. Your can send your reception report by ordinary post to Miss Ana de Eidinger or Mr. Hugo Eidinger, Hipólito Yrigoyen esquina Andresito, Puerto Iguazú, Provincia de Misiones, Argentina and to icnfuturo @ hotmail.com 73's (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, Jan 28, HCDX via DXLD) ** AZERBAIJAN. On more than one occasion, including Jan 28 around 1415 UT, I have been hearing a constant and annoying heterodyne on VOA 6110, from a carrier on about 6111. Surely this is the other VOA, perpetually off-frequency. If it is annoying over here, it may be as bad or worse in Asia (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BANGLADESH. 7185, R. Bangladesh Betar. 1230-1300 1/26. English program for S. Asia and SEA including ID, news and just prior to sign- off request for reception reports with address and fax number. This is first station actually ID'ed with new antenna (Steve Bass, Columbus, Ohio, R8B with Wellbrook 330S Antenna, swl at qth.net via DXLD) 7185, Bangladesh Betar, 1806 25 Jan, religious themes about Islam told by YL. "This is Dhaka calling Europe" with frequencies. Newsdesk by same YL at lower audio with news at 1815, S9, 43443 (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, ICOM R75, Lowe HF150, Degen 1102+1103, Chibo c300/c979, Yupi 7000, Antenna: 16m hor, 2x16 m V invert, 1m australian loop, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELGIUM. RTBF strikers open their own Website --- Striking journalists at Belgian French-language public broadcaster RTBF have opened a Website to give their side of the dispute with management. The strikers agreed not to disrupt a special programme that was scheduled today to mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. RTBF en Grève http://www.rtbfengreve.be # posted by Andy @ 17:07 UT Jan 27 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** BERMUDA. Power 95 reception --- Here is an e-mail response to my ZBM 94.9 follow-up letter. This now means that I have verified both of the stations I heard in July, 94.9 and 106.1. I note in my 2003 WRTH that ZBM is listed at 1 kW, so moving to 2.5 kW might make it a better target (Jim Renfrew, Byron NY, WTFDA via DXLD) Dear Mr. Renfrew, The information you refer to in your letter is correct. Our station 95.9 [sic] MHz is one of 2 AM , 2 FM, and 2 TV channels. The stations all run a 24-7 service and the station you heard is live during the day and nets with ABC radio from 9 pm to 6 am. The transmitter until last week was a 10 kw CCA unit that is over 45 years old. While it still works, it was retired and replaced with a Harris Z2CD 2.5 Kw transmitter. Today I will mail back your letter and we thank your for your letter (Delano Ingham, Chief Engineer / Operations Mgr., Jan 26 via Renfrew, ibid.) 2005 WRTH also says 1 kW. But, but, he says the old one was 10 kW, not 1 kW. Also got the frequency wrong, so can`t rely on other numbers here. Abroad, the concept of ERP is often ignored too (gh, DXLD) ** CAMBODIA [non]. Radio Free Asia, 11510, 06/01 *1230-1300 via Almaty (Kazakhstan), Khmer, news OM-YL sul maremoto (citato lo Sri Lanka), musica melodica cambogiana. Questa emissione non è soggetta a jamming, il che significa che la Cambogia non blocca l'informazione straniera come viene fatto invece per i servizi cinese e tibetano (L. Botto Fiora, Italy, Jan 6, 2005 in BCL-News via CRW via DXLD) ** CANADA. VOICE OF THE NASB EXTENDS DRM TRANSMISSIONS The NASB Board of Directors voted in January to extend the weekly "Voice of the NASB" halfhour radio programs in DRM which are broadcast each Saturday at 1700 UT on 11900 kHz to North America. Each week the program features excerpts from NASB member and associate member stations' programming. Recently, the series has focused mostly on DX programs, in an effort to encourage the more technically-minded shortwave listeners to try tuning in the transmissions in DRM mode. The Voice of the NASB is broadcast via the transmitters of Radio Canada International in Sackville, New Brunswick. The Board extended NASB's contract with RCI until the end of the B04 broadcast season at the end of March (Jan NASB Newsletter via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. Quito 27/1 2005 *** Thursday edition: *** Recording of 3200.15 kHz Colombia Mia I have never noted anyhing interesting on 3200 kHz from LA but I have had an unID LA station yesterday and today thursday - both morning and evening. This evening I was lucky o get both name and QTH (QTH is better on my original recording). "Carepa" is located in the department of Antioquia in northwestern Colombia with 40.000 inhabitants. "Colombia Mia" is owned by the Colombian militry. Harmonic from 1600 kHz. Comments and recordings at: http://www.malm-ecuador.com 73s (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA [and non]. Re 5-016, VENEZUELA: I should perhaps add that this guerrilla has been on the Interpol list for a couple of years, according to the Colombians. The FARC is on the US and EU terrorist lists all right, and so this was an abduction similar to that of the international terrorist "Carlos", who was caught in the Sudan, or German nazi criminal Adolf Eichmann, who was picked up in Argentina years ago. Colombia has asked Venezuela to send back the Colombian guerrillas who are using Venezuelan territory as a haven, but nothing has been forthcoming (Henrik Klemetz, RealDX via DXLD) ** CONGO DR. I've been listening out for the new station in the east of the country on 4845 (see WRTH 2005) but with no joy. Two other low- powered stations in the same general area - Radio Candip on 5066 and Radio Kahuzi on 6210 - are heard, so I wonder if 4845 is really active. Has it ever been reported as being heard? (Chris (in Nairobi) Greenway, Jan 28, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. CUBA MOVING TOWARDS LAUNCH OF DIGITAL TELEVISION | Excerpt from report by Cira Rodriguez Cesar: "Cuba moving towards digital television" published by Cuban news agency AIN web site As the world moves towards digitization in all areas because of the superior possibilities of the technology, Cuba is taking firm steps to move into the era of digital television, notwithstanding its economic limitations and technical backwardness. Such innovation requires changes more important than moving from black-and-white to colour, because it is about achieving far superior image and sound quality, in addition to options such as mobile reception, interactivity and multimedia services which are so up-to- date nowadays with the Internet. In 2003 and 2004 the most relevant events occurred in Cuba's attempts to launch digital television: the creation of two new channels with completely digitized studios and national coverage. Those channels' video signals are processed digitally without using the analogue system, which is still used by Cubavision and Tele Rebelde. The country now has the possibility of producing digital signals and broadcasting them as part of the testing ground process which will have to be implemented later on, even though [the improvement in] image quality is already noticeable, which is a small token of the advantages of the new technology. The introduction of digital equipment continued in the other two channels, and the use of the Closed Caption [previous two words published in English] system began, as an option for the deaf and hearing impaired. A similar boost is being given to the radio signal transmission system through the national fibre optics network, the backbone of the signal transmission system in the whole country. The distribution of [Chinese] ATEC-Panda television sets with audio- video inputs, closed caption and teletext is enabling the use of a decoding device for digital television or other services such as web- television, a mode that will allow future access to the Internet to millions of citizens who do not have a computer but own a television set. [Passage omitted] In order to tune in to the new digital signals, it is necessary to have a digital television set or fit a device or decoding box, which is very costly, to the analogue set, in addition to the need for improved technical ability, because digital television tunes in very well or not at all. Notwithstanding all of this, modern times are imposing themselves and in Cuba, because of the social and human imprint that the introduction of any technological or scientific improvement has, digital television will be no exception. Source: AIN news agency, Havana, in Spanish 27 Jan 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CUBA [non]. 9955, WRMI --- I asked Jeff White of WRMI to comment on some of the programs I had recently heard; here is his response. "Radio Oriente Libre" in the morning is a repeat of their regular Sunday evening program (8:30-9:30 pm ET on 9955) that has been on for a few years now. It's sponsored by the Municipio de Oriente en el Exilio -- executive producer and main host Pedro Peñaranda. "Entre Nosotras" is program by Cuban women exiles for women in Cuba. This group is affiliated with the Electrical Workers Union in Exile program "Radio Revista Lux" which we have broadcast for many years, but is on a sort of hiatus for a few months until sometime after the new year. The women's program is fairly new, having started earlier this year (J. White, WRMI-USA via H. Johnson, FL, Dec 16, 2004, Jihad- DX via CRW via DXLD) ** DJIBOUTI. I have been listening for reactivated 4780, but nothing heard yet. I remember hearing it fairly well in Nairobi before it disappeared more than 10 years ago. I can hear Djibouti on 1539, but not on 1116 which (like 4780) was supposed to have been built by IBB as part of the deal to establish the 1431 Radio Sawa station (Chris (in Nairobi) Greenway, Jan 28, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Chris, I've always enjoyed your accurate and most interesting reports. Here some notes: From some sources I got info that RTD new 50 kW sw transmitter (4780?) might be operational sometime this March (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, Jan 28, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. 15190, Radio Africa (presumed); 1820-1856*?, 19- Jan; Can only pick up bits of religious English now & then; very noisy sig. Pretty sure they went off at 1856; no hint of them after that past 1900 (Harold Frodge, MI, MARE Tipsheet via DXLD) I've been listening to Radio Africa Number 2 on 15190 over the past week. Transmissions are erratic. In the morning I have heard it as early as 0615 (though nothing there today) and again in the afternoon from as early at 1430. But they are having problems. Yesterday they were there with good signals at 1430 with a taped programme from the US Salvation Army that was obviously meant to have been aired over the Christmas season, interrupted by a local ID "You are listening to Radio Africa Number 2". Then the programme was cut, reappearing after a while with the tape having been rewound by a few minutes. The signal strength varied wildly (too abruptly for usual SW fading) so I assumed it to be caused by power variations at the transmitter. After a series of transmitter cuts, it eventually disappared altogether. Still testing, or major problems with their power supply?? (Chris (in Nairobi) Greenway, Jan 28, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA. 7180, R. Asmara, 1745-+ 25 Jan with horn songs, YL in lang then played something like a hymn. Supposed to transmit in Arabic after 1800 but carrier was vacant! S8, 34443 (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, ICOM R75, Lowe HF150, Degen 1102+1103, Chibo c300/c979, Yupi 7000, Antenna: 16m hor, 2x16 m V invert, 1m australian loop, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA & ETHIOPIA [nons]. 21550, 25/1 1121, R. UNMEE, 344, translated speech appealing clean water, health care, fund raising - address in Ethiopia & Eritrea - warning of mines danger "don't touch anything" - 1129 ID by YL (Tony Ashar, Depok, Indonesia, icf-sw7600gr, telescopic rod, HCDX via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA. 9561, 23/1 1630, R. Ethiopia, 333, ID ``You're tuned to the external service of Radio Ethiopia``, local time info 7:30 pm, news by YL, requested songs (Tony Ashar, Depok, Indonesia, icf- sw7600gr, telescopic rod, HCDX via DXLD) 9549.45, [should that be 9559.45? --- gh] R. Ethiopia, Jan 18, *1600- 1610, 34332, English, 1600 sign on with IS. ID. Pops and Ethiopian music. Thanks for Infomation from Baba via Kageyama BBS. 9704.2, R. Ethiopia, Jan 17, *1459-1507, 34332, Amharic, 1459 sign on with IS. ID. Talk (Ko. Hashimoto, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** EUROPE. Who is currently hearing Laser on SW just now? I check day time and night time, and the last few days can only get a whisper of 4025 early evening. At lunchtime thurs like all week there is nothing on any channel. Anyone hearing 4025, 6210, 6220, 7465, 9385. Either storm damage, or just bloody awful propegation. The top band hams were struggling with each other last night (Ken Baird, Ayrshire, Jan 27, MWC via DXLD) Laser 558 testing NOW on 6260 kHz Short Wave A.M. until approximately 1730z; reports please to charlie.stone @ laser558.org.uk We will be testing again tomorrow on the same frequency (interference/ jammers permitting!) at 1700z approximately (Radio Strike, Jan 27, BCLNews.it via DXLD) Laser's 6219 outlet, which has been off the air for the past couple of weeks, heard back on this morning in parallel with 9385 and 7465 kHz. Weak signal - probably because of the very poor SW conditions. 73s (Dave Kenny, Jan 28, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** FRANCE. January 26 while checking MW I heard R France International on MW. Are there any other RFI MW-outlets, I wonder? Frequency was 738 kHz, language Portuguese and time 1715 UTC. Transmitter site is Paris and power 4 kW. At 18 they switched to Pashto, I guess. Reception was pretty poor here in Turku, 60 degrees north. 73´s (Jouko Huuskonen, Turku, FINLAND, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. KEEP ENGLISH OUT OF PROGRAMME NAMES, SAYS BROADCASTING COUNCIL | Text of report by French news agency AFP Paris, 27 January: The Higher Broadcasting Council (CSA) has adopted a recommendation on the use of the English language in which it calls on private radio stations and TV channels to "try and use French in their programme titles". In a recommendation published on its web site on Thursday [27 January], the CSA calls on "editors working for private radio stations and TV channels to endeavour to use French in their programme titles". In cases where they "opt for a foreign language title", the Council "advocates a verbal or visual translation of this title to ensure a proper understanding by the public". "It is hard not to notice and, worse still, remain silent at the profusion of English or anglicized words on television and the radio," the CSA said in a report. Noting that "the greater prestige enjoyed by English words has an effect on the collective subconscious, especially among young people," the CSA's French language group expressed concern at the increase in the number of programmes with English titles, such as "Star Academy, Loft Story, Popstars, Fear Factor, Charmed and Totally Spies". According to the CSA, "this tendency is the result of the supposed superiority of English and the widespread feeling that Francophone culture is inferior or outmoded". The "danger of Franglais is not some much that it 'pollutes' our language but that it suggests to the public that those realities which have been anointed by the English language are more admirable and desirable, contemporary and 'trendy' ". The CSA's recommendation is intended to "set the record straight", the report says, "without damaging freedom of expression, while at the same time trying to maintain the intelligibility of audiovisual communication and the identity of our culture". Source: AFP news agency, Paris, in French 1454 gmt 27 Jan 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** INDIA. As 11585 (Khampur Delhi 250 kW) is now being used for Rainbow FM to Andamans, the following services of AIR External Services on this frequency have been deleted. 1230-1500 Sindhi, 1500- 1600 Baluchi, 1615-1730 Persian, 1730-1945 Arabic (Jose Jacob, dx_india via DXLD) ** INDIA. 4971, 1603-1630*, AIR Shillong Jan 27 Presumed. Continuous pop music tunes to woman in Hindi with announcements and sign-off at 1630* (per WRTH sked). Deteriorating signal past local sunrise, and poor by 1630. Thanks to Ron Howard for tip on off-frequency Shillong. (Guy Atkins Puyallup, WA USA, ICOM IC-756Pro & mod. ICOM R-75 Kiwa MAP / ERGO / DSP-59+ 450 & 700 ft. Beverage Antennas, HCDX via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 3960, 24/1 1345, RRI Palu, 422, OM Marno with phone in reports/questions/want help on 6.2 earthquake aftermath - panic- stricken people reminding possible tsunami threat as in Aceh - fleeing from houses in refuge - blackout in some housing area - police & army personnel keep on guard - commanding post for the right info - 1505 time info, 2305 local time - 1507 ID (Tony Ashar, Depok, Indonesia, icf-sw7600gr, telescopic rod, HCDX via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. WRONG REPORT: SIRIUS-XM NOT TALKING January 26, 2005 Executives from the two satellite radio companies -- Sirius and XM -- have not started the initial phase of merger talks, as the NY Post suggested in today's edition. Sirius CEO Mel Karmazin denied the report in a quarterly earnings conference call this morning. Since satellite radio is a licensed duopoly, the FCC would have to approve the merger, which is unlikely since a monopoly would be created by the satcasters joining forces. The Post suggests the satcasters would get around the monopoly issue by asking to be reclassified into a group that includes all providers of content over wireless broadband services. Meanwhile, during the quarterly earnings conference call, Sirius reported its fourth-quarter revenue was bolstered by holiday sales and grew five times over last year, though losses for the quarter grew to $261.9 million from $147.8 million. Sirius increased its subscriber estimate to more than 2.5 million by the end of 2005 (http://www.FMQB.com via Brock Whaley, DXLD) SIRIUS CEO DISMISSES MERGER TALKS WITH XM http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050126/ap_en_bu/earns_sirius_satellite_radio (via Brock Whaley, DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. KRSI has confirmed for Cumbre DX that they have left shortwave. They are now streaming their programs over the Internet instead at http://www.krsi.net KRSI added that even the audience in Iran is tuning them in in this fashion. KRSI had previously used shortwave from Moldova and France for a number of years, but had not been noted in many, many months (H. Johnson, FL, Dec 16, 2004, Jihad- DX via CRW via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. Kol Israel sent me this information by letter: Thank you for your reception report. Unfortunately, it cannot be verified because the engineers at Kol Israel no longer use listener reports. However, I am enclosing the latest shortwave frequency schedule. Sylvia Rapoport, Kol Israel English News, P. O. Box 1082, 91010 Jerusalem, Israel (Paul Gager / Austria, BDXC-UK via DXLD) Non sequitur ** ITALY. Would European monitors please check whether any or all of Rai`s foreign-language SW broadcasts have been cancelled, as alleged in R. Bulgaria`s DX programs. Here`s one version of the B-04 schedule: http://www.bclnews.it/b04schedules/rai.htm (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN. NHK boss exits as viewers stop paying --- Beleaguered broadcaster "must try to make a fresh start" in wake of embezzlement and censorship scandals, management says The Japan Times Wednesday, January 26, 2005 Faced with a rising number of people refusing to pay viewer subscription fees due to embezzlement scandals, NHK President Katsuji Ebisawa tendered his resignation Tuesday. "I believe I was able to put comprehensive reforms for NHK's revival on course," the 70-year-old Ebisawa said during a news conference held after he submitted his letter of resignation to the NHK management committee in the evening. . . http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=20060 (via Dan Say, BC, DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [non?]. CLANDESTINAS: 4609, Voice of Komala, 0356+, Enero 15. Vernacular. Charla por OM con fortísimo jamming. No pude escuchar esta emisora en muchos DX Camps en los que he participado en la Argentina durante los últimos años. 21441 (Arnaldo Slaen, DX Camp at Ilha Comprida, SP, Brasil, Noticias DX via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [non?]. Re: UNIDENTIFIED. Cland: Radio Roj? on 6315 with Kurdish songs at 1617 Jan 23, S3 (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yep, I guess they've moved here (ex-6310). Noted first on 19 Jan on almost even 6315.0, today 26 Jan about 6315.2. At times they play real "heavy rock" tunes (maybe Turkish) and then again to patriotic ballads (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, Jan 26, WORLD OF RADIO 1261, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LATVIA. RELAY FROM LATVIA 30th January 2005 [Sunday] - 9290 KHZ EMR 1500-1633 UT, Euronet 1633-1803 UT. Latvia has improved their Antenna System on 9290; PLEASE send a report THANK YOU 73s (Tom Taylor, UK, Jan 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LATVIA. EUROPA-RADIO-INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING ON 9290 SHORT WAVE ERI didn't appear in January due to transmitter modulation problems; repairs are now said to be effected and ERI expect to make a welcome return on the 20th February at noon 1200 GMT. Programme playlists and information on this lively station can be found on the ERI website at http://www.europaradiointernational.co.uk We hope that you enjoy your visits http://www.bobleroi.co.uk Paz y Dx (via Ignacio Sotomayor, Segovia, Castilla, España, Jan 28, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LUXEMBOURG. Clearly they are not confining DRM to their night time hours. Noted 1440 with DRM this afternoon. I wonder what regular listeners to Luxembourg make of the abrupt change? Or perhaps there are no listeners to worry about? RTL lists 0800-1700 with DRM http://www.baseportal.com/cgi-bin/baseportal.pl?htx=/drmdx/main_detail&cmd=all&Id==115 73 (Steve Whitt, UK, Jan 26, MWC via DXLD) ** MACEDONIA. Pirate: 1723 kHz, Tuna Radio, FYROM, S9 at 2146 27 Jan (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, ICOM R75, Lowe HF150, Degen 1102+1103, Chibo c300/c979, Yupi 7000, Antenna: 16m hor, 2x16 m V invert, 1m australian loop, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MADAGASCAR. 3287.7, Radio Madagascar, 0309 Jan 27. Talk by woman in Malagasy (assumed), weak but readable signal, parallel to the much stronger outlet on 5010. Receiving Equipment: Drake R8B, 70ft Terminated Delta. Thanks, (Mike Beu, KD5DSQ, Austin, Texas, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAWI. WRTH 2005 on pp 271 lists a 1 kW transmitter for TWR on 4870 at Lilongwe. I've sent couple of e-mails to TWR offices in Africa and Europe asking if this is on the air or a future plan, but they didn't bother to reply. Chris, anything heard there? (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, Jan 28, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALDIVE ISLANDS. Minivan R., 11535 kHz, Prepared QSL card, QSL letter (v/s:Monica Michie), letter in 21 days for English report with 1$. Report sent to Friends of Maldives, 64 Milford Street, Salisbury SP1 2BP, United Kingdom (Ke. Hashimoto, Japan, Jan 14, 2005 for CRW via DXLD) ** MEXICO. EDIL PERREDISTA DE TELOLOAPAN ORDENA LOS CONTENIDOS DE RADIO CLANDESTINA ( Alejandro Sánchez en Teloloapan ) ( publicado en la Crónica de Hoy, 2005-01-24 ) ``Zeferino Torreblanca aventaja con cinco puntos a Héctor Astudillo. No más engaños al pueblo, dice Zeferino. En Iguala aseguró que ni las trampas, dinero o calumnias de los adversarios detendrán su cambio``. Así arrancaba el noticiero estelar de este fin de semana en Radio Tecampana, una estación clandestina que desde hace tres años opera en FM junto al despacho del alcalde, el perredista Modesto Brito González, quien decide el contenido de la programación. La estación transmite 16 horas diarias por la 107.3 de FM y se escucha en Guerrero, Michoacán, Estado de México y Morelos, organiza bailes en la plaza de toros Tres Caminos, a 15 pesos la entrada, y distribuye propaganda del PRD, en especial de su candidato al gobierno del estado, Zeferino Torreblanca. El transmisor y la cabina radiofónica se ubican en el primer piso del Ayuntamiento, donde está la Dirección de Comunicación Social. Para ir a la oficina del alcalde Brito González (2002-2005), solamente hay que subir una escalera. —¿Quién decide el contenido de la programación?, se le pregunta a Mayra Bernabé, jefa de prensa de la alcaldía. —Bueno, Antonio Bravo, el director de comunicación social, propone y Mauro Brito, el alcalde, es quien tiene la última palabra. Mientras, Juan Morales, ahora director de Multimedios de Teloloapan, que opera el Canal 7 local, pero antes dirigió Radio Tecampana y la abandonó cuando la PGR empezó investigaciones a la estación por carecer de permiso oficial, agrega que el alcalde es quien dice lo que se debe transmitir. —¿Cuando usted estuvo al frente de Tecampana buscaron permiso oficial o afiliarse a la Asociación Mundial de Radios Comunitarias? —No. Luego vino lo de la investigación y tuvimos que declarar en la delegación de la PGR en Iguala. La alcaldía realiza bailes a través de la emisora, como una posada del 20 de diciembre pasado, con tres grupos musicales en la plaza de toros. ``Paralelamente a la música en vivo, hubo un sonido y jaripeo, porque aquí a la gente le gusta eso de los toros broncos y ver a los payasos de rodeo salir volando del lomo del animal``, dice Carol Flores, locutora de la emisión. —¿Ese fue el evento más reciente? —De los que se cobran 15 pesos sí. Pero también tuvimos el Radiotón por el Día de Reyes, luego viene el Día del Niño, de las Madres y otros musicales con jaripeo. —¿Hay patrocinadores? —Tenemos varios. Los principales son Farmapronto, Comercial Dafne, Pinturas Nacho. —¿Qué ofrecen? —Nos dan productos para regalar. Sin embargo, el viernes, en la oficina de Antonio Bravo, el director de comunicación social, había una bolsa con pelotas y balones, junto a una caja con carritos de plástico. —¿Reciben esos productos a cambio de qué? —Nosotros los anunciamos en la estación. —¿Compañías como Coca Cola se han acercado? —Sí, pero como somos una radio comunitaria, por el momento no hacemos tratos. Tecampana es la estación preferida de los taxistas y los choferes de combis públicas, pero también de los comerciantes, jóvenes y amas de casa. Colocar un tema musical en la emisión cuesta cinco mil pesos, pero los artistas deben tocar gratis en los eventos del gobierno perredista. —¿Le gustan los bailes de 107.3 FM? —Son buenos. Siempre llevan artistas del momento— dice Verónica Hernández, una joven del pueblo que asistió a la posada de diciembre. ``Lo que no me gusta es que por todos lados haya propaganda del PRD y su candidato Zeferino``, añade. —¿Mantas colgadas? —Mantas, paredes pintadas y volantes. —No se conforman con las noticias— dice su novio Ernesto Cruz. Un grupo de 10 jóvenes se encarga de la transmisión en segmentos de una o dos horas a cambio de mil 860 pesos quincenales. Hay un noticiario de lunes a viernes de 3:00 a 3:30 de la tarde, conducido por Mayra Jazmín Bernabé, la jefa de prensa del municipio y, además, corresponsal del Diario 21 de Iguala. Octavio Chabelas Antúnez, chofer de un taxi Tsuru, que hace base en la terminal de autobuses del municipio, sintoniza todos los días Radio Tecampana. —¿De qué se entera en la radio?, se le pregunta. —Pues ahorita de lo caliente que está esto de la política. Apenas la semana pasada vino Zeferino y estuvieron radiando que había que estar presentes. —¿Escucha propaganda del PRI? —No la ponen. —¿Del PAN? —Puro PRD —¿Antes, qué escuchaba? —La Sabrosita, pero en Tecampana hay mejores temas de cumbia, salsa, rock y tiene su enfoque social. Si pierdes una cartera vas al Ayuntamiento y luego lo anuncian. —¿Funciona ilegal o legalmente? —Creo que legal, sino ya la hubieran clausurado. La delegación de la PGR en Iguala abrió desde el 2002 una investigación porque Tecampana no fue registrada ante las secretarías de Gobernación y de Comunicaciones y Transportes. —Mientras se resuelve el caso, pues seguimos dándole— advierte Mayra Bernabé. Y su compañera Carol Flores presume que todos los días reciben llamadas de Iguala o Taxco, de Michoacán, Morelos y Estado de México: ``Me da gusto que lleguemos tan lejos``. Además de las noticias y los musicales, transmiten el programa ``Una vida con propósito``, auspiciado por la congregación evangelista local Ixoye Fuentes. ``Se transmite los domingos de 10:30 a 11:00 y se hacen reflexiones bíblicas y tiene ese auspicio``, cuenta el profesor Juan Morales, quien puso en marcha la estación durante la administración pasada, también perredista. ``Teloloapan estaba ávida de una estación de radio comunitaria. Sin embargo, hoy las cosas han cambiado. Los segmentos de poesía, cantos de música autóctona o de la región se sustituyeron por la música comercial``, explica Morales. Además, Morales es director del grupo musical ``Nini Estrada`` y su cuñada se llama Olinda Infante, cantante de música vernácula. ``Llevé el disco de ella a la estación comunitaria para que recibiera el apoyo de ser difundido, pero el operador Juan Mauro, me dijo que la nueva política de la alcaldía es que para colocar un tema se cobran cinco mil pesos``, asegura. —¿La payola se puso de moda en Teloloapan? —Todos los grupos del momento deben entrarle con su respectiva cuota. Y tengo pruebas de más grupos. —¿La gente del pueblo dice que usted sabe todo de esta radio? —Pues sí, porque nosotros empezamos el proyecto con el propósito de fomentar la cultura y aunque estábamos de manera irregular tratamos de apegarnos a los lineamientos de la Ley Federal de Radio y TV. —¿Y qué sucedió? —Pues que desde que llegó esta administración las cosas ya no siguieron igual. Yo también por eso lo dejé. Pero, como la estación es clandestina, a Mauro Brito no hay manera de que se le exija que rinda cuentas de los recursos que obtiene 107.3, cómo distribuye los productos de sus patrocinadores, tampoco si declara impuestos o si los locutores están en nómina. En el país operan 124 emisoras irregulares Un documento interno de la SCT señala que en el país operan 124 estaciones de radio y televisión sin concesión ni permiso oficial. La mayoría transmite en FM y en buen número están vinculadas a organizaciones afines al PRD, reportó Crónica en su edición del miércoles. Agregó que Radio Tecampana, una de ellas, funciona desde el edificio ayuntamiento de Teloloapan, Guerrero, gobernado por el PRD. Lo hace a través del 107.3 de FM. La cifra de la SCT corresponde al 4 de enero del presente año. El propio Ejército Mexicano ha denunciado la existencia de estaciones clandestinas (via Héctor García Bojorge, DF, condig list via DXLD) ** MONACO [non]. See VATICAN [non] ** MONGOLIA. 12085, Voice of Mongolia, 0959 26 Jan, Música de sintonía y comienzo de la emisión en inglés. Locutora, ID "The Voice of Mongolia". "You are listening to the Voice of Mongolia in English". 34333 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA. 4770, R. Nigeria / Kaduna, DS-2, 50k, 0601 Jan 27, SIO 432-u, English, OM news (Michel Lacroix, France, HCDX via DXLD) Kaduna, 4770 has been again heard after some while on this frequency. Signal level S9, 34323 at 2125 with songs 26.1 (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, ICOM R75, Lowe HF150, Degen 1102+1103, Chibo c300/c979, Yupi 7000, Antenna: 16m hor, 2x16 m V invert, 1m australian loop, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OMAN. 15375, 25/1 1521, R. Sultanate of Oman, 322, call to prayer (isya' local time), reading al Qur'an, 1527 ID by OM (Tony Ashar, Depok, Indonesia, icf-sw7600gr, telescopic rod, HCDX via DXLD) ** PARAGUAY. Experiencia de un lunes distinto El pasado lunes 24 de enero fue, sin dudas, un dia distinto en nuestras vidas. Rubén y yo comenzamos nuestro día bien temprano, ya que hicimos algunas grabaciones de identificaciones de emisoras asunceñas. A las 1100 UT, pasó por nuestro hotel Adán Mur, encargado técnico de Radio América, quien nos prometió una visita a Radio Libre, una de las últimas emisoras paraguayas en salir al aire pero que por su estilo, se convirtió a todas luces en una de las más escuchadas de la onda media local. La personalidad de la radio es una extensión de la que caracteriza a su director, el señor Benjamín Fernández Bogado. El estilo de la emisora es inteligente, fuerte, polémico. En algunos aspectos, Radio Libre rivaliza con Radio Ñandutí. En realidad, el gobierno tiene en estas dos emisoras la presencia de dos verdaderos fiscales. Nos tocó en suerte compartir la mesa de trabajo con el señor Fernández Bogado, quien conduce un programa muy fuerte: "Contrapoder". Al micrófono, hicimos junto a Rubén y al director de la estación, un análisis de la radio argentina y paraguaya actual, trazamos paralelismos y diferencias y conversamos al aire sobre las experiencias de radio comunitaria. El abanico ideológico de quienes siguen a Fernández Bogado hizo que tuviésemos que contestar planteos al aire hechos por oyentes tan distintos como una profesional paraguaya que tuvo que vivir exiliada durante años en Bulgaria, un coronel de ejército retirado de la época de Stroessner, un artista que fuera directivo de una organización que nucleaba a radios comunitarias o a una persona que nos cuestionó y buscó conocer nuestra posición sobre la nefasta y tristemente célebre guerra de la Triple Alianza. Fernández Bogado hizo algunas declaraciones fuera de micrófono que tomamos como testimonio único de su actuación y experiencia personal al frente de la emisora Radio Libre. Pudimos también hacer algunas grabaciones de identificaciones de la emisora en estudio. Ah! también fuimos obsequiados, como bien señala Ruben Margenet en su relato de ayer con un libro de la autoria de Benjamin titulado "Textualmente... radio-grafia de un país en crisis". De alli retornamos al hotel para disfrutar de un suculento almuerzo y descansar brevemente. Partimos luego, con el calor abrasador de la tarde con destino al Archivo Nacional, donde queríamos recabar información histórica de la radiodifusión en el país hermano. Sin embargo, nos llevamos la desagradable noticia que daba cuenta que durante el verano, el horario era limitado a la mañana local. Inmediatamente nos pusimos en marcha con destino a Radio Nacional del Paraguay, ubicada a unas 10 cuadras de allí. En el trayecto, por idea de Rubén, entramos a una librería pequeña, en la cual pudimos adquirir dos ejemplares de un libro que reseña la historia de la radio en el Paraguay. Su título es "De oído y de memoria" y fue fruto del trabajo de investigación de Luís Verón y Enrique Biederman, sus autores. Este hallazo demuestra que hemos tenido una suerte extraordinaria, que a decir verdad, nos acompañó en todo momento. Finalmente llegamos a la emisora estatal paraguaya siendo recibidos por --- sí --- el mismo ratón que nos diera la bienvenida y la despedida el dia anterior!!!!!! ¿Increíble no? El pequeño ratoncito se mueve en la radio como si fuera un experto RR.PP. El director de la Radio Nacional del Paraguay, señor Flaviano Díaz Ayala estaba en esos momentos en una reunión en la Presidencia de la República con uno de los ministros del Presidente de la Nación. Empero, su hijo, Héctor, se comunicó telefónicamente con su padre y éste le manifestó su deseo de que volvamos a las 2030 locales para acompañarlo en su programa de radio que se iba a irradiar en 920 Khz y en la ¡onda corta! No íbamos a perdernos esta experiencia por nada del mundo. Teníamos aún cuatro horas libres, así que fuimos con un colectivo local hasta el bonito barrio de Lambare, a visitar el multimedios que componen Radio Primero de Marzo y sus dos primas de FM: Radio Latina y Canal 100. Fuimos muy bien atendidos, pudimos hacer un reportaje que nos llenó de información y por supuesto, no faltaron las grabaciones hechas en estudio. De allí retornamos al hotel para higienizarnos y tomar la merienda. Inmediatamente después partimos, bajo una torrencial lluvia, con destino a Radio Nacional del Paraguay, distante una media hora de viaje de nuestra habitación. Lo que vivimos en la emisora del gobierno fue sencillamente inolvidable. Compartimos la mesa del programa "Tenonde Paraguay" (traducido "Adelante Paraguay") que se irradia de lunes a viernes de 6 a 8 locales y de 21 a 24 en su segunda edición) con el Director de la emisora y conductor del mismo, señor Flaviano Díaz Ayala, con el Viceministro de Asuntos Interiores de la República, con un médico y epidemiólogo de Pedro Juan Caballero y con un asesor en temas de Seguridad Interior de la Presidencia. A pesar de nuestro cansancio, tuvimos que estar las 3 horas frente al microfono. Pasamos ese mismo dia de estar al micrófono de una radio contestaria y que se transforma en un dedo en la llaga para el gobierno a estar en la emisora en que parece venerarse la figura presidencial de una manera --- digamos --- demasiado empalagosa. A medianoche, partimos rumbo a nuestro hotel por la solitaria capital paraguaya exhaustos, pero más que satisfechos. La experiencia, que tiene decenas de pequeñas anécdotas complementarias y casi concomitantes, valió la pena. 73's (Arnaldo Slaen, Paraguay, condiglist via DXLD) ** PARAGUAY. Según nos manifestó el mítico José Holowaty, es intención de Radio América, Ñemby, Paraguay, retornar a la onda corta brevemente. Lo único que falta para su puesta en funcionamiento es la adquisición de un transmisor. El parque de antenas está a punto y lo pudimos verificar en la planta transmisora de Villeta. Se trata de antenas del tipo de cortina, las cuales fotografiamos aunque, desafortunadamente, yo no cuento con una máquina digital por lo que no puedo reenviar la exposición. Es importante soslayar que la planta de Radio América está muy expuesta a las inclemencias climáticas que le generan enormes dificultades y obligan a las autoridades de la emisora a utilizar el equipo transmisor de emergencia que se encuentra en Ñemby. Ñemby, donde están los estudios de la emisora, es una localidad ubicada a menos de 20 km del centro de Asunción, con una importante ruta que cruza la misma y donde las vivendas y construcciones son bastante precarias. A menos de 500 metros de los estudios de RA, se encuentra la planta transmisora de Radio Caritas (680 Khz), de Asunción, emisora que también tuvimos oportunidad de visitar y que será objeto de un completo relato. De todas maneras, haremos un análisis más pormenorizado de Radio América en los próximos días (Arnaldo Slaen, Paraguay, Jan 27, Noticias DX via DXLD) ** PHILIPPINES. Glenn, What about the Vietnam target at 262 degree slew? New? 1170 MW station will be erect on same camp? Formerly at 262 degree towards Vietnam, but seemingly now to be re-constructed the 4- mast array, by cutting three meters wire? 1500-1600 VOA VIET PHP 1000 262 degrees SEA (Wolfgang Büschel, Jan 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, new patterns are optimized for the same actual service areas as the previous ones. Regards (Ben Dawson, WA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ROMANIA. RADIO ROMANIA INTERNATIONAL, PROGRAMMES OF THE WEEK Monday RADIO NEWSREEL: News, Commentary on current affairs, Media Headlines PRO MEMORIA - The History of Romanians Political Flash Pages of Romanian Literature Romanian Hits Tuesday RADIO NEWSREEL: News, Commentary on current affairs, Media Headlines Business Club (The Romanian business world) European Horizons (the process of Romania's integration into the European Union) Talking Points (bimonthly) New Names on the Cover Wednesday RADIO NEWSREEL: News, Commentary on current affairs, Media Headlines Society Today (mentalities, expectations, attitudes) Partners in a Changing World Cultural Survey Romanian Musicians Thursday RADIO NEWSREEL: News, Commentary on current affairs, Media Headlines Cards on the Table (an unbiased debate) Listeners' Letterbox IT News From Our Correspondents The Skylark (Romanian folk music) Friday RADIO NEWSREEL: News, Commentary on current affairs, Media Headlines A Challenge for the Future / Terra - the 21st Century (once a month) Over Coffee... with Artists Pick of the Week Practical Guide The Folk Music Box Saturday RADIO NEWSREEL: News, The Week (a retrospective of the political events of the week) World of Culture RRI Encyclopaedia Roots (Romanian traditions / traditional culture) Radio Pictures Romanian by Radio DX Mailbag Tourist Itineraries Sunday RADIO NEWSREEL: News, Focus Sunday Studio (including Letterbox, interviews, reports, music) Tourist Itineraries (repeat) All That Jazz Cookery Show [Presumably some of these are skipped in the half-hour transmissions at 0630, 2130] (from http://www.rri.ro/index.php?lmb=4&art=353 via Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** ROMANIA. ROMANIA/USA: HARRIS COMPLETES 85M-DOLLAR FIRST PHASE OF RADIO MODERNIZATION | Excerpt from press release by Florida-based Harris Corporation dated 27 January Harris Corporation today announced completion - nearly two years ahead of schedule - of the 85m-dollar first phase of a comprehensive programme to upgrade and expand the nationwide broadcast infrastructure of S.N. Radiocomunicatii SA, Romania's state-owned broadcast organization. Modernization of Romania's aging broadcast communications system marks a critical step forward for Romania and its population, bringing the country up to date with the solid-state analogue technology favoured in Western Europe. Harris' end-to-end radio and television solution also provides S.N. Radiocomunicatii SA with a clear path to the digital future. Phase 1 of the three-phase project, which is providing 100 per cent radio coverage throughout Romania, was completed in just 20 months instead of the anticipated four-and-one-half years. Harris accelerated the project by dedicating the additional engineering and technical resources needed to establish nationwide radio coverage before Romania's election in November 2004. Harris supplied 28 low-power (10-kW to 50-kW) mediumwave transmitters, eight high-power (200-kW and 400-kW) mediumwave transmitters and 106 FM radio transmitters for local coverage as well as longer distances of difficult terrain at sites throughout Romania. The range and diversity of transmitters was essential to ensure 100 per cent nationwide radio broadcast coverage for Romania's regional network and two national networks across urban areas and vast stretches of rural communities often divided by the Carpathian mountains. Gabriel Grecu, president of S.N. Radiocomunicatii, said: "The ability to transmit high-quality radio and television broadcast signals throughout the country is crucial. Our previous system employed Eastern technology and frequency standards that were of poor quality and frequently unreliable. Our nationwide reception is now excellent, and we've harmonized our radio frequency bands with Western standards. We're even looking into digital audio broadcasting (DAB) for the Bucharest area. The whole project represents a huge improvement that benefits not just our broadcast capabilities, but Romanian society as a whole. What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that, due to the often-remote geography of Romania, there are really only six months of the year when many of these areas are accessible. The engineering, technology and coordination support of our Harris team was superb." The end-to-end transmission solution also included antenna systems, microware links for resource sharing, engineering, installation, training and commissioning services. In addition, the first of many high- and low-power television transmitters and transposers were installed. The television installations begin upgrades to Romania's television transmission infrastructure, which will be expanded and completed during the remainder of the modernization programme. Furthermore, three control and monitoring networks will reduce operational costs at each station facility by enabling the remote monitoring of all radio and television transmission equipment from four regional headquarters. Until now, it has been conservatively estimated that the country's aging broadcast technology did not reach up to 40 per cent of Romania's 22.3 million. With the completion of the radio phase of the modernization project, the country now enjoys 100 per cent radio coverage at a higher fidelity and lower cost. With the inclusion of new RDS capabilities, public radio stations can be received and retained on the move throughout the country. Romania also has the ability to reach Romanians living in other European countries with the use of a Harris longwave AM transmitter. [Passage omitted] Source: Harris Corporation press release, Melbourne (Florida), in English 27 Jan 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) So the tube megawatters on 855, 1053 and 1179 seems to be still in use. 855 appears to be a bit weak for 1500 kW right now, but this is hard to judge with co-channel Berlin-Britz being on as substitute for 990 which is silent for more than a month now (Kai Ludwig, Germany, 01.28.05 - 1:18 am, Media Network blog via DXLD) ** SINGAPORE [non]. Dear Listener of AWR: Thank you for your inquire regarding to our Wavescan - DX program of ours. The program has be produced by the team of English Language Service located at the outskirt of London, for quite some time. However, AWR decided to stick more strongly to the organizational rule. AWR according to the rule should be the broadcaster of the programming developed in many languages by the group of studios who produce programs titled in most cases as "Voice of Hope" or equivalent in own languages. So the result was to close English Language Service and consequently, the production of Wavescan has gone with English Language Service. However, there are so many DXers within Asia/Pacific Region. AWR Asia/Pacific region office made contact with some studios to continue Wavescan. I am thankful that several studios agreed to participate in producing new "Wavescan". Since there was no time to prepare the change, so we decided to put the English programs produced by English Language Service (particularly chosen for the rerun by the producer). The program may continue until the 2004 October - 2005 March schedule ends. There were time sensitive programming in regular weekly cycle, so those had to taken out. Wavescan is one of the time sensitive programs. So, Wavescan will be cease until the end of March. So, when the new schedule should be up, then Wavescan should be back with new format. However, there may be a possibility to have special even during the period. So please be patient with us and keep listening to AWR. Thank you very much! Akinori Kaibe, Region Director AWR Asia/Pacific Region 798 Singapore, Singapore 298186 E-mail: radio @ awr.org http://www.awr.org (via Tony Ashar, Indonesia, HCDX via DXLD) ** SOMALIA. Radio Shabele, 6960.1 kHz, kommt in den letzten Tagen ziemlich regelmäßig gegen 1720 UT mit brauchbarem Signal. Heute mit einem langen Beitrag über die Wahlen in Palästina, und endlich hörte ich auch einmal eine ID (P. Robic, Austria, Jan 9, 2005 in A-DX via CRW via DXLD) ** SOMALIA. T5. Six Italian amateurs will be QRV as 6O0G and 6O0CW from Galkayo beginning February 3. They should be active for 15 days. Activity will be on 160 to 6 meters, including the newer bands, using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL via I2YSB (DX Bulletin 4 From ARRL Headquarters Newington CT January 27, 2005 via Dave Raycroft, ODXA via DXLD) ** SPAIN. Re RNE 1359 in DRM --- Allow me to resume the press release along general lines. Most of all it explains that RNE began broadcasting in 1937, that its MW transmitters (especially Radio 1) cover most of Spain and that unfortunately the coverage of their FM system (which offers a much better audio quality) is not as good. MW has lost many listeners, due to the lower sound quality, especially for music, and due to the higher number of stations available on FM (UHF). Moreover the text explains that MW signals cover large distances, especially during dark hours, but that then paradoxically enough the possibility of reception [suppose they are not referring to DX-ers] is reduced due to increasing interference. DRM combines a better quality (with possibilities for automatic tuning and additional services) with the large coverage of the MW frequencies. Hope this is helpful for the time being (Frankee van Gerwen / NL, Jan 26, MWC via DXLD) About this new DRM transmission is available on line an english document written by Telefunken that have modified the transmitter for DRM. http://www.telefunken-sendersysteme.de/int/DRM_Test_in_SpainE.pdf (Andrea Russo, Italy, ibid.) ** SRI LANKA. Hello from Hilversum, Today the mood is sombre as we commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. It's a rather chilling thought that this all happened little more than 5 years before I was born. Our thoughts also remain with the victims of the tsunami disaster, and a month after the tragedy my colleague Marijke van der Meer, who was on vacation in Sri Lanka when it happened, has produced a documentary and accompanying Web feature in which, in her own words, "I can only attempt to hold on to what I never want to forget and try to pass it on." We think you'll find this feature as moving as we did. Please take some time to read and listen. http://www2.rnw.nl/rnw/en/currentaffairs/region/southasia/sri050127 (Media Network newsletter Jan 27 via DXLD) ** SUDAN. Radio Peace on 4750 is currently coming through very well here up to signoff at around 1745. It is much stronger than when the station began regular broadcasts last year. It might be operating at more than 1 kW, or perhaps I am getting a good signal from the "back" of a dipole transmitting aerial. From their site at the Kenya/Sudan border they might be using a dipole to beam northwest into Sudan, and I am benefiting from the signal coming southeast off the other side of the dipole back into Kenya. Mauno Ritola has already reminded me to look out for 5895, and I will also check 9310 and 9485 (and Malawi on 4870). Regards, (Chris (in Nairobi) Greenway, Jan 28, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Chris, based on unexpectedly strong signals in North America a few weeks ago, we strongly suspected R. Peace on 4750, was, at least part of the time, being relayed, perhaps on a test basis, from some other site, by VT, such as UAE? Please be on the lookout for signs of site- switching and strength jumps (Glenn to Chris, ibid.) WRTH 2005 on pp 363 lists additional 5 kW transmitter for Radio Peace on 5895, located in Nuba Mountains. I contacted Kelly Coleman (BFO) but he said he couldn't tell anything about it "yet". They are now setting up an FM station (107.9) at that location. Maybe 5895 will come on the air later (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, Jan 28, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN. I've got no recent news about the Voice of New Sudan 50 kW transmitter (located at New Site). Chris, have you heard anything on their proposed frequencies 9310/9485 or thereabout? (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, Jan 28, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN. 7200, R. Sudan at 1825 Jan 25, talks by OM. ID At 1827 by YL ``Idaatu Jamahiriya ke sudan`` followed by music and a medical program at 1833. Many IDs in between. S9, 43443 (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, ICOM R75, Lowe HF150, Degen 1102+1103, Chibo c300/c979, Yupi 7000, Antenna: 16m hor, 2x16 m V invert, 1m australian loop, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWEDEN. We're back (I hope) --- Hopefully this marks the resumption of MediaScan. I had to stop for several reasons. First of all, I was away on vacation for 6 weeks, and it was hard to get going again. Then, I got put in charge of Radio Sweden's transition to a new web content management system, and was told to put MediaScan aside. Later, when it turned out that I did have some spare time in the new assignment, the English Service expressed interested in continuing MediaScan. But after a computer crash, I couldn't get my Radio Userland blog software to work right. I've now switched to another system, Blogdrive. It lacks many of the features of Radio Userland, but does allow me to post from anywhere. I could only get Userland to work on a computer and home, and not behind the firewall at Sveriges Radio. I'm note sure how often I will publish, or whether I will publish a lengthy bulletin or blogs. The latter is easier, but others (especially Andy at Radio Netherlands) do that well. I am gratififed that a few people have asked if MediaScan is still alive. That indicates some interest, so I will try to get something here on a regular basis. Besides, it's a great URL and deserves content! Posted at 01:18 pm by gwood (http://www.mediascan.org Jan 13 via DXLD) ** SYRIA [non]. 7470, 25/1 1609, The Arabic Radio, 333, ID by YL "idha'at al arabiyyah", OM comments, ID by OM at 1617 & 1628, YL heard ``...lillahi ta'ala...`` choir then out (Tony Ashar, Depok, Indonesia, icf-sw7600gr, telescopic rod, HCDX via DXLD) ** TAIWAN. RTI STAFF & MANAGEMENT IN DISPUTE OVER DISMISSAL PLANS A labour dispute has broken out at Radio Taiwan International as some 63 workers have complained that they are being laid off at the end of the month without convincing reasons. The workers union of RTI claims that they have not been given proper notice. However, RTI President Cheryl Lai says there was a mutual understanding between management and the employees. She says all 63 employees agreed to accept 19 months salary as severance pay, which they have all received. Lai said that the size of the staff was proving to be an administrative and financial burden. "With 67 percent of our budget going to wages, we're spending too much on employees' salaries," she said. "This has long been a problem. We are supposed to spend more on producing better programmes." A member of the RTI workers union said that just a few hours before the company's end-of-year luncheon on January 14, Lai told the staff of the Korean, Arabic, Cambodian [sic. RTI itself says Burmese], Mongolian and Tibetan language sections that their programs would be discontinued at the end of the month. The union member said that those particular programmes regularly receive good feedback letters from listeners and it is therefore absurd to cancel the broadcasts. "How could they eliminate Arabic, a language spoken by one fifth of the people in the world?" the union member said. (Source: Taiwan News Online) posted by Andy @ 17:18 UT Jan 27 (Media Network blog via DXLD) It's Burmese, instead of Cambodian, programs to be cut (Miller Liu, Taiwan, 01.28.05 - 4:18 am, ibid.) Oops, missed that. Thanks. But I am quoting a source, so I cannot change it. Have added an editorial note. (Andy, 01.28.05 - 10:25 am, ibid.) ** THAILAND. 6765U, Bangkok Meterological Radio, 1900 25 Jan, IS and YL with weather in Thai. Fair signal at S2. At 1634 on 27 Jan with S4 at 1636 again with IS and YL with weather in Thai, 32432, QRMed by FDM?? (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, ICOM R75, Lowe HF150, Degen 1102+1103, Chibo c300/c979, Yupi 7000, Antenna: 16m hor, 2x16 m V invert, 1m australian loop, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UGANDA. From one source I got info that the planned Christian 1 kW sw station in Kampala/Entebbe area got permission from the authorities. They hope to be on the air maybe in March on "tropical band". 73 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, Jan 28, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. BBC World Service presents an "Iraq Election Special" at 1305 UT Sunday (Fred Waterer, ON, Jan 28, ODXA via DXLD) see also R.E.F. ** U K. Guardian | Internet saved the radio star --- As web radio surges in popularity thanks to broadband, the BBC has decided to relaunch its pioneering Radio Player software. Bobbie Johnson reports Thursday January 27, 2005 When one-hit wonders Buggles launched MTV by declaring that "video killed the radio star", it looked like an inevitable, if gloomy, prediction. Back then, Microsoft was still in short pants and Usenet had just been born. But 25 years later, online radio is one of the web's success stories, enjoying huge growth as the number of high-speed connections increases. To make the most of the surge, the BBC this week relaunched its pioneering Radio Player software, an innovative way of presenting the corporation's radio output as audio on demand. The BBC says it serves up more than 10m hours of radio a month over the internet, and will be hoping to give that a significant boost. . . [more] http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,5112342-110837,00.html (Guardian via Dan Say, BC, Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. FORMER VOA BETHANY SITE IN URGENT NEED OF REPAIR An article in the Cincinnati Enquirer says that the former VOA Voice of America Bethany Relay Station is in urgent need of repair, and to help save the building Ohio lawmakers are considering a $275,000 grant. That money would be combined with locally generated dollars to match a requested $625,000 "Save America's Treasures" federal grant. The total $1.2 million would be spent on electrical, heating and structural work on the building, which houses the Gray History of Wireless Museum, the Media Heritage broadcasting collection and township park offices. Read the full story: VOA site needs repair - fast http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050127/NEWS01/501270375/1056 Veterans' Voice of America http://www.veteransvoa.com/ # posted by Andy @ 15:13 UT (Media Network blog Jan 27 via DXLD) ** U S A. Re WWV Voices: Glenn: -- My God, this brought back memories. Don Elliott Heald and John Doyle were both longtime personalities at WSB/750 and WSB-TV/2 in Atlanta; I met Don personally as a child, as he attended the same church as my family, St. Philip's Cathedral. I recall hearing about 15 years ago, that Lee Rodgers had been tapped as the new WWVox; Lee at the time had been on air at KGO/810 for several years; he then segued to KSFO/560 as Disney turned the station into a companion-talker to KGO --- the latter of which, incidentally, has topped each and every SF Bay Arbitron ratings book since, I believe, 1979. I don't know whether either Atlanta voice is still alive, although I think John Doyle still works in Atlanta area TV, which would most probably mean he is indeed still among us (Greg Hardison, CA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, That was a story I first heard on KNX news while driving my car to work. I later found it via AoL search on both AP and Reuter. The name used in all versions was Martin Edwards. I`ll see if I can dig up more info for you over the weekend when there is a bit more time. I kind of doubt I kept the original item. As to Lee Rodgers he is very much alive and still doing the morning drive at KSFO paired with the very effervescent Melanie Morgan. Those few times I get up before dawn I listen in on groundwave. KSFO has a mean nighttime signal into SoCal. More later... (de Bill Pasternak, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. CARSON'S HAIRIEST MOMENT --- Column by Nick Clooney Here's a small personal footnote to the story of the late Johnny Carson. It deals with his loyalty. http://www.cincypost.com/2005/01/26/cloon012605.html (via Tom Roche, DXLD) ** U S A. NEW YORK RADIO STATION PULLS SHOW OVER TSUNAMI SLUR By Mark Egan NEW YORK (Reuters) - The entire staff of the New York radio show "Miss Jones in the Morning" was taken off the air on Wednesday after broadcasting a song that ridiculed victims of the tsunami in South Asia, the radio station said. New York FM radio station WQHT, or HOT 97, repeatedly ran the segment last week on the show, hosted by deejay Tarsha Nicole Jones who uses the on-air name Miss Jones. Jones and her team were suspended indefinitely, according to publicist Lizzie Grubman, who declined to say whether Jones would feature in another show at a later date. "What happened is morally and socially indefensible," said Rick Cummings, president of Emmis Radio. The station is owned by Emmis Communications Corp. "All involved, myself included, are ashamed and deeply sorry. I know the members of the morning show are truly contrite. They know their actions here are inexcusable," Cummings said in a statement. The piece used racial slurs to describe people swept away in the disaster, made jokes about child slavery and people watching their mothers die. "You can hear God laughing, 'Swim you bitches swim,"' was one line in the song, sung by staff of the show to the melody of the 1985 famine relief song "We Are the World." On Monday, the hip-hop and R&B radio station and the deejay apologized and the seven-member morning show crew agreed to donate one week's pay to relief efforts. The tsunami struck on Dec. 26, leaving nearly 300,000 dead or missing around the Indian Ocean from Somalia to Thailand. The incident is not the first time HOT 97 has been accused of racism and poor taste. The station made headlines when deejay Star, now at another radio station, called Jennifer Lopez (news) a "rice-and-bean eater" and satirized the plane crash that killed R&B singer Aaliyah in 2001 (via Bill Hale, NRC-AM via DXLD) *soapbox mode ON* Dear God!! I'm... well... I'm not sure what to say. It's things like this that make me thankful I work in NON-commercial radio. What is wrong with these people?! Honestly, I admit that I've been of the opinion over the past year that certain segments of the public, not to mention the FCC, have reacted far too indignantly over things like the stupid (but basically harmless) Janet Jackson boob-baring Super Bowl stunt etc. But then something like this happens, and you really do start wondering at the lack of self-discipline, standards, sensitivity, a conscience, or anything resembling humanity demonstrated by tasteless things like this. What makes me feel even worse is that these morons aren't operating in a vacuum -- they actually have LISTENERS, perhaps millions of them, who actually ENJOY this sort of "humor." What kind of "person" does it take to make fun of victims of a natural disaster?! Oh, yeah, the station management and staff are "contrite" and have pulled the show off the air... but the damage is already done. And you know damn well this was no isolated incident for those hosts or this station. I suddenly feel the need to take a shower... or possibly get my stomach pumped (Randy Stewart, Springfield MO, NRC-AM via DXLD) The crew of the morning show on WQHT http://www.hot97.com a hip hop station owned by the Emmis media conglomerate, have been suspended indefinitely after an outcry over a parody of "We are the World" which included a racist word for Chinese. A Chinese-American NYC councilman from Flushing, Queens, had called for fines and a sponsor boycott and, indeed, some of the sponsors had begun to pull their ads off the station. http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/manhattan/nyc-ethot0127,0,3165450.story http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/ent_radio/story/275357p-235692c.html If you really want to hear it, I found two different links which are working right now. (There was one on the radio station's web site but, suprise, suprise, it ain't there any more.) http://www.b0g.org/wsnm/uploads/USA_For_Indonesia.mp3 (1,275,120 bytes) and, if you really need this turd at high quality, there's (combine the lines - I don't think this list allows text attachments for long URL's) http://theadviceasshole.net/forum/index.php?s=08ed9cae39ed7851d8f315a41f694d5c&act=Attach&type=post&id=238 (2,914,010 bytes) (Joel Rubin, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) http://www.hiphopmusic.com/archives/000759.html has links to petitions, advertisers, and to the e-mail addresses of the unprincipled mental deficients of Hot 97 (WQHT-FM) who manage this enterprise and who actually perpetrated the incident. I hope that this station gets its license pulled & its managers & owners bankrupted (after all, they are ultimately responsible, for they are the ones who hired and sanctioned the on-air trash). But as others have noted, what kind of audience must a station like this have? As my dad used to note, "trash is as trash does." (Fred Schroyer, Freelance Science Writer / Editorial Consultant, Waynesburg, PA 15370 (40 air miles S of Pittsburgh - 20 air miles N of Morgantown, WV), ibid.) On what basis would the license be pulled? Agreed, if aired as reported, it was in very, very bad taste. But was it illegal or violating any FCC rules? I think not. If we follow this thinking, then we very soon will be at the point where anything not politically correct will be banned which will stifle meaningful discussion and differing opinions. If there is a rule violation, that is a different story. And yes, management should be more responsible and not let this happen (Allan Dunn, K1UCY, ibid.) ** U S A. TROUBLE BUBBLING UP? NAUTICAL NONSENSE! By Al Kamen Friday, January 28, 2005; Page A25 http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A43234-2005Jan27?language=printer Outgoing Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael K. Powell made a name for himself with his noble efforts to protect Americans from "wardrobe malfunctions" and other indecencies on the airwaves. But Powell, who is leaving in March, is unlikely to weigh in on recent concerns that cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants, who lives in a pineapple with his pet snail under the sea, is being manipulated as a frontsponge for a "pro-homosexual video." James C. Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, leveled the charge against a music video during inaugural week. The music video, which features SpongeBob, Barney and the sexually suspect Bert and Ernie, was created by Nile Rogers, founder of the We Are Family Foundation -- and author of that hit song. It has reportedly been on television networks, and the foundation plans to send the video to schools to encourage toleration of others. Dobson did not say SpongeBob is gay, although he does hold hands with his pal Patrick the starfish and likes an underwater TV show called "The Adventures of Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy." Powell reacted with commendable alacrity and horror at Janet Jackson's bare breast, Bono's language and Howard Stern's show. But he has been strangely quiet on this latest crisis. And Loop Fans know why: Powell is quite close to the sponge dude, knowledgeable sources tell us. He's even been seen cavorting with him, including publicly on one occasion. Back on March 10, we noted Powell's FCC Web site featured a photo of the chairman and the sponge, grinning and holding hands no less in the MTV booth at a trade convention. This and similar fun photos were removed from the site not long after that item ran. Even so, we are told the Powell/SpongeBob relationship remains, let's say, very special (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. Friday 5:00 PM CST [2306 UT Jan 28] on Media Talk with Dave Berkman airing on Wisconsin Public Radio --- Michael Powell announced that he'll resign as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. After five on Media Talk, Dave Berkman and his guest discuss why Powell is choosing to step down.Guest: Bill McConnell, senior writer, Broadcasting & Cable Magazine. Once this has aired it will also be available in the WPR archives at http://www.wpr.org/webcasting/ideas_audioarchives.cfm?Code=mtk (Daniel Sampson, Prime Time Shortwave, http://www.primetimeshortwave.com Jan 27, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U S A. Colors show coverage areas of the three university station groups creating Iowa Public Radio. FM coverage is shown in foreground, AM daytime reach in back. Other state college stations are in gray. Current map based loosely on calculations by Doug Vernier. http://www.current.org/radio/radio0423iowa.shtml UNIVERSITIES TO MERGE STATIONS, CREATING IOWA PUBLIC RADIO Originally published in Current, Jan. 17, 2005 By Mike Janssen Three public radio operations will merge to create a new Iowa Public Radio network, the state`s Board of Regents has confirmed. The net will include stations at three universities overseen by the regents: WOI-AM/FM at Iowa State University in Ames, KUNI and KHKE at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, and WSUI and KSUI at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. Regents expect the merger will lower administrative costs and improve programming, with management of the stations centralized under an executive director and news reports and other programming shared throughout the network. Managers of the stations share that optimism but worry about lost jobs and the future of their local programs. The stations could end up with a radically revised staffing hierarchy and significant overhauls to the five program streams on their AM and FM signals. Their universities have embarked on the first step of the process -- the search for Iowa Public Radio`s executive director. Each school named an official to an executive council that will hire the director within three to six months. Mergers aren`t new to public radio, but the Iowa stations present unique challenges. Most other mergers have united a dominant station with a weaker competitor, says John Hess, director of broadcasting at KUNI/KHKE. But in Iowa, ``it`s really three very strong stations trying to come together,`` Hess says. WOI and KSUI began broadcasting in the 1920s, and KUNI, the relative newcomer, signed on in 1960. Over their long histories the stations have developed their own personalities and attracted loyal listeners and donors. Realizing ``full potential`` Regents and station managers began eyeing a merger in late 2003, when Iowa was grappling with a $60.3 million budget shortfall. The regents began reviewing their spending priorities after an across-the-board state budget cut. The three stations now receive combined subsidies of almost $2 million from their universities. A consultants` report that recommended the merger suggested that the universities reduce subsidies by $300,000 over the next five years, from 35 percent to 29 percent. The report by Bornstein and Associates said the state of Wisconsin and its universities fund Wisconsin Public Radio at the same level and the structure of that state network is the most comparable within public radio to the vision for Iowa. Ron Bornstein, head of the consulting firm, and Larry Dickerson and Jack Mitchell, who worked on the report, are all veterans of the net operated by the state and the University of Wisconsin. The report stressed that the universities should focus more on improving the stations` service than on saving money. ``Each [station] has probably reached its full potential as a totally independent university station,`` the report said. ``Public radio in Iowa has not reached its full potential, however.`` The report criticized the stations for chasing each other`s listeners without developing a clear plan to complement each others` programming or expand service to unserved listeners. ``To make the most of the considerable facilities built through the years, the three public radio organizations in the state must operate as if they were a single organization, and that requires a central authority,`` the report said. The regents affirmed only the general thrust of the Bornstein report with their vote Dec. 6, leaving the new executive director to design the network and follow through on the report`s detailed recommendations for its structure and sound. The university officials responsible for finding a director are Warren Madden, Iowa State University`s v.p. for business and finance; Steve Parrott, University of Iowa`s director of university relations; and Steve Carignan, executive director of a performing arts center at the University of Northern Iowa. KUNI/KHKE`s Hess and Bill McGinley, g.m. of WOI, express interest in filling the top job. Their counterpart at WSUI/KSUI, Joan Kjaer, says she will not pursue it. Better news and fundraising? The Bornstein report suggested assigning the executive director to supervise three regional managers, one at each university, plus a membership director who would oversee fundraising for the system. The regional managers would manage engineers, local hosts and underwriting staffs. The stations` three program directors, each governing a stream of programming, would have their own staffs and also report to the executive director. Bornstein and Associates suggested creating three program streams: a dual-format news-and-classical stream for WOI-FM and KSUI, a news channel for the AM stations, WOI-AM and WSUI, with a heavier mix of local and regional content, and a news service with more NPR news, for use on KUNI. For station staffers, the restructuring could mean new responsibilities or even unemployment. McGinley believes combining budgets, retraining staffers and creating a uniform pay scale could pose some of the merger`s biggest challenges. But he looks forward to the efficiencies that a shared newsroom and membership department could bring. For example, the number of Morning Edition and All Things Considered hosts among the stations could fall from six to two, freeing four staffers to file more stories. A new structure could let reporters adopt topical, statewide beats, improving coverage and encouraging them to find exclusive stories, says Greg Shanley, KUNI`s news director. New program streams are months away, but McGinley says the stations could soon share an All Things Considered host over the T1 line that already connects the WOI and WSUI/KSUI studios. They might also begin using the Iowa Public Radio identifier with some existing joint ventures, including their reports from the state legislature and on Talk of Iowa, a co-produced daily talk show. Go west, new network With the university transmitters concentrated in eastern and central Iowa, the Bornstein report also advises the network to expand service to the west by inviting two stations operated by community colleges to join — KIWR in Council Bluffs and KWIT/KOJI in Sioux City. Western Iowans receive no FM service from the three stations and AM service only during the day. But the directors of the stations say they have little interest in joining. Gretchen Gondek, g.m. of KWIT/KOJI, says her station receives strong community support and wants to preserve its local programming. ``We`re doing just fine the way we are,`` she says. A former manager of KUNI/KHKE also fears for the merging stations` local character. Over the decades, the stations have greatly burnished the images of their parent institutions, says Doug Vernier, who served as director of broadcast services at KUNI/KHKE for 30 years, until retiring in 2002. ``The study really glosses over how that can be maintained,`` says Vernier, who was interviewed for the Bornstein report. The Bornstein report included case studies of mergers in other states, many of which foreshadow kinks that could arise in Iowa. Listeners often fear losing their favorite programs, while employees can bridle at reorganizing. Veterans of other mergers advised the Iowa stations to sell their plan well, anticipate a backlash and stand by a clear vision for the new network. Listeners have expressed ``deep concern`` that WSUI/KSUI could cancel local shows, says Kjaer, the station`s interim manager and p.d. of its FM classical service. The task ahead, she says, is determining ``how to make a statewide service feel like it comes from your home.`` (Current via DXLD) ** U S A. "WWKP" 1410 Khz, 0139 UTC, McDonough GA, USA. Snail mail three page verification request sent to PO Box 878, Jackson, GA 30233, e-mail reply after 15 days: "THIS IS TO CONFIRM THAT YOU DID RECEIVE WKKP'S SIGNAL. WE ARE THRILLED TO KNOW THAT IT IS POSSIBLE. WKKP...1410-AM" Received on their nighttime power of 58 watts (reception was at 7.40 p.m. local time Georgia). Station is 13,193 kilometers, 8,194 miles from this QTH. The format was Nostalgia/ contemporary oldies. Reception on RX Drake R8B and antenna RF Systems DX-1 Pro (John Plimmer, Montagu, Western Cape Province, South Africa, South 33 d 47 m 32 s, East 20 d 07 m 32 s, MWDX via DXLD) But how much power were they really running? ``Day`` power is 2500 watts. Why do you put a different callsign in quotes at the beginning --- did they give their own call wrong? (gh) ** U S A. Re WDAE 620: Any idea of exactly where it is? For all that I've read about it, this detail missing. If I can get there, I can get a GPS coördinate for it (Bob Foxworth, Tampa, NRC-AM via DXLD) Ask Barry Mishkind if he knows the coördinates - I can find it on the topo map (I went there with Ron - it's a must-see for MF/LF antenna junkies, amateur and professional) but I don't know the coördinates offhand (Ben Dawson, WA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 'BLUE' RADIO TO DEBUT IN MEMPHIS [TN] Ed Hicks 12:41 PM CST Wednesday Jerry Springer is not coming to Memphis radio -- at least not yet -- but Al Franken is. Franken, the former Saturday Night Live comedian who made a splash last year with his book about Fox News, will be featured on a new AM format starting Friday. Entercom Memphis will change the call letters of radio station WJCE-680AM on Friday, and will launch a liberal talk radio format under the name Progressive Talk 680 WWTQ-AM, broadcasting the Air America Radio network. . . http://memphis.bizjournals.com/memphis/stories/2005/01/24/daily19.html (via Artie Bigley, Brock Whaley, DXLD) The former WMPS (Whaley, DXLD) ** U S A. DAYTIME SCAN METRO-BOSTON UNLICENSED STATIONS --- At last Friday's BADX meeting, Bruce Conti discussed low-power unlicensed broadcasters in the Boston area. At lunchtime on 27 JAN 2005, I did a quick bandscan from the car at my office parking area in Wilmington, MA just west of the I-93 / Route 129 intersection, about 10 miles / 16 km north of Boston. 530, weak TIS station jumble 540, R. Log, Dorchester, soul music, fair atop WLIE-NY 870, just had usual Maine over an unID that may have been the pirate, WHCU-NY, or previously-noted (950*2)-1030 mix spur. 1580, not much, seemingly just weak LI station. Have heard Concorde all the way from Rockport, but 35 miles over water is a lot less lossy than 15 miles over highly-built-up land. 1610, slop from 1600 1620, French talk, good, presumed R. Energie 1630, weak carrier(s) 1640, French talk, fair 1650, airport TIS, good 1660, trace of NJ 1670, French teletalk, fair 1680, fair carrier with motorboating sound 1690, two stations: stronger one had Caribbean jazz 1700, carrier with a tone or het of about 800 Hz. Audio (talk) way under. 1710, WRKO-680 + WBZ-1030 mix spur (as Bruce noted). WRKO is less than 4 miles from where I was listening (Mark Connelly, WA1ION, Jan 27, NRC-AM via DXLD) I sent the following to Radio Concorde, which is on 1580 in the Dorchester MA area. I think it's high time we DXers know definitively what's on the air there. I tried to stream audio from Concorde's web site, with no success. Hey, maybe they will run morse code for a DX test ;-) so Pat Martin peut ecouter! (Saul Chernos, ON, ibid.) Do you play Caribbean music on Saturday evenings? If so, I might have heard you in Ontario, Canada, just north of Toronto on the AM RADIO (i.e., NOT on the Internet). I heard Caribbean music on 1580 AM. At the same time, last Saturday evening, I had French on 1700 (I have heard 'Belle Haiti' before), and also a somewhat religious station on 1710 at one point playing religious-sounding music, and later giving a phone number and call-ins 617-265 and then something that sounded like 2005 - en français. But, my call would not go through. I have also heard Radio Energie on 1620 in the past, and similar stations from the same area on 1640, 1670, 1690. Do you have any idea who I might have heard on 1710? And might that possibly be Concorde on 1580? (Saul Chernos, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** VATICAN [non]. Vatican Radio Central European programmes now relayed by both Montecarlo frequencies 702 and 1467 kHz. As interferences on 1467 kHz were growing, the station had decided to try 702 kHz (beam 65 , power 400 kW) also from Roumoules in Southern France. About 702 kHz, listeners report good reception in North-East Italy. Also in Rome the signal is good but some QRM comes from Turkey as well as interferences are reported in Prague, likely from Rádio Regina Kosice, Slovakia. Central European programmes open with Hungarian at 1810 UT and close down with German at 1920-1940. Frequency from Montecarlo 702 and 1467 kHz, from Rome 1530 kHz. Reports are welcome. Vatican Radio, 00120 Vatican City (via PlayDX via BCLNews.it via DXLD) ** VIETNAM [non]. 9930, 24/1 1230, R. Free Vietnam, 444, coming after KWHR Naalehu, Hawaii s/off; ID by YL - comments in Vietnamese, 1259 back to KWHR. 15680, 25/1 1220, Que Huong Radio, 444, YL & OM talk in Vietnamese by turns - 1259 heavy noise (Tony Ashar, Depok, Indonesia, icf-sw7600gr, telescopic rod, HCDX via DXLD) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. 7460, R. Nacional de la RASD Off again? Untraced in our local afternoons, had been good (H. Johnson, FL, Jan 11-12, 2005, CRW via DXLD) Escuchas del día 26 de Enero. ARGELIA, 7460, Radio Nacional de la República Arabe Saharaui, 2241, comentarios en árabe por locutor, ID: "Arabia Saharauia". 34333 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZAMBIA. 4500 Z[N]BC, Lusaka, 0204+, Enero 15, Vernacular, noticias por OM e YL en vernacular, 35343 (Arnaldo Slaen, DX Camp at Ilha Comprida, SP, Brasil, Noticias DX via DXLD) Per 5-007 and 5-008, they had left 4500 to return to 6165 by Jan 8. So to-and-fro-ing? (gh, DXLD) ** ZANZIBAR. After my recent report of Dar es Salaam on 6105, some people asked about Zanzibar. In regular checks over the past few days I have heard nothing on either 6015 or 11734 and so I believe Zanzibar to be silent on SW at present. Regards, (Chris (in Nairobi) Greenway, Jan 28, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 3360, 0710 9/1, NOID, español, programa de tangos, (3º armónico de 1120 kHz), débil, también escuchada en la MW pero muy interferida (Alfredo Locatelli - Durazno / Uruguay, Boletín DX de "El EsKuch@ Newsletter" via Dario Monferini, playdx via DXLD) So would that be the only Uruguayan listed on 1120, CW31, R. Salto, or maybe the only Argentine, LV5, R. Sarmiento, San Juan? (gh, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Propagation intéressante ce matin --- 4185, non ident?? relais? harmoniq? 0556, 222, slave, om, Jan 27 05 (Michel Lacroix, France, HCDX via DXLD) Looks like Albania, 3 x 1395, relaying some other country; is that in a Slavic language at 0556? Too bad you didn`t listen four more minutes (gh, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Found an unID spur on 6323.7 at 1619 UT 28/1/05 whilst looking for pirates, very muffled mod, can't ID language (Tim Bucknall, UK, harmonics yg via DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DRM +++ SPECIAL DRM TRANSMISSIONS TO MEXICO 5-20 FEB From Sat 5 February to Sun 20 February 2005, the following DRM transmissions will be beamed towards Mexico from our Bonaire relay station (290 degrees): 2200-2300 UT Spanish on 9900 kHz 2300-2400 UT Dutch on 9885 kHz The 2200-2300 DRM transmission in Spanish on 12000 kHz will be cancelled during this period (Media Network newsletter Jan 27 via DXLD) See also CANADA CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ HFCC, DRM MEETINGS IN MEXICO CITY, FEBRUARY 7-11 The A05 seasonal meeting of the HFCC (High Frequency Coordinating Conference), sponsored by the NASB, the U.S. International Broadcasting Bureau and two Mexican shortwave stations, will take place in Mexico City February 7-11, 2005 at the Hotel Marquis Reforma. Former NASB President Jeff White of WRMI is organizing the event, along with a team of others including NASB Board member Dennis Dempsey of EWTN and current NASB President Doug Garlinger. All three will be present at the conference. At publication time, the number of delegates registered was 106. They will be coming from shortwave stations and regulatory authorities from around the world -- from the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. There will also be representatives of sponsoring organizations such as shortwave transmitter, antenna and component manufacturers. NASB member station KNLS is sponsoring a coffee break, and associate member VT Communications is sponsoring an Internet Café. Associate member IBB will be sponsoring a major conference dinner, and associate members TCI Dielectric, Comet North America and Continental Electronics will be sponsoring coffee breaks throughout the one-week meeting. Riz Transmitters Co. of Croatia will also be sponsoring a major conference dinner. For those organizations who would like to sponsor an event at the HFCC Conference, there are still some coffee breaks available for $600 each. Contact Jeff White for more information at: radiomiami9 @ cs.com This is the first time the HFCC and its sister organization ASBU (Arab States Broadcasting Union) have ever held a meeting in Latin America, and it is the first time that U.S. international broadcasting organizations (the NASB and the IBB) have sponsored an HFCC-ASBU Conference. It is rather fitting, as the first post-World War II effort to coordinate global HF broadcast frequencies took place in Mexico City in 1948 and 1949. This HFCC-ASBU Conference will also be the first time that a DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale) Symposium has been held in conjunction with the event. On Wednesday, February 9, there will be a one-day DRM Symposium sponsored by the DRM Consortium, also at the Hotel Marquis Reforma. DRM is inviting Mexican radio stations, networks, producers, regulatory authorities, etc. to attend the Symposium and learn about the advantages of DRM for the Mexican radio industry. In conjunction with this Symposium and the HFCC Conference, Riz Transmitters Co. plans to do a live demonstration of DRM reception on 26 MHz, and another transmitter company may do a demonstration of DRM on the AM band. Special permits are being issued by the Mexican Ministry of Communications for these DRM tests, and they are being conducted in cooperation with Radio Educación, one of the conference co-sponsors. The DRM broadcasts will air the programming of Radio Educación, a cultural station that is owned by the Mexican Ministry of Public Education and broadcasts on both AM and shortwave (1060 and 6185 kHz). Below you will find the tentative agenda for the HFCC-ASBU Conference, as well as the DRM Symposium. . . http://www.shortwave.org/news/NEWSLETTER_0501.PDF (Jan NASB Newsletter via DXLD) DEUTSCHE WELLE LISTENERS` CONVENTION 2005 Feb 9 Place: GOETHE INSTITUT Address: House # 10, Road # 9 (New), Dhanmondi R/A, Dhaka, Bangladesh Date : February 9, 2005 Time : 13.00 (BST) [0700 UT] Any Information Please Contract: Engr. Md. Monzurul Alam Ripon Director-General Uttaran & Deutsche Welle Listener’s Club Chandrapur, Bipra Halsa, Natore-6400, Bangladesh Or Engr. Md. Monzurul Alam Ripon Director-General Uttaran & Deutsche Welle Listener’s Club P.O. Box 6122, Gulshan-1, Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh Mobile : +88 0172 945438 Fax : 00 880 2 8753364 E-mail : monzurul_engineer@yahoo.com (via Ripon, Noticias DX via DXLD) POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE WHY SHORTWAVE BROADCASTERS SHOULD BE DOING MORE TO FIGHT BPL Commentary by Andy Sennitt, 27 January 2005 In the crucial first 48 hours after the tsunami hit Sri Lanka, modern technology proved to be not up to the task of maintaining contact between the capital, Colombo, and the stricken areas. Satellite phones were sent there, but within hours the batteries were empty. It fell to the island's Amateur Radio Union, led by Media Network collaborator Victor Goonetilleke, to move in to the Prime Minister's office and ensure that communications could be maintained. . . http://www2.rnw.nl/rnw/en/features/media/features/bpl050127.html (Media Network via DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ A MAN AND A CAN TOPIC: BBC Radio 4 program about the invention and use of canned laughter http://groups-beta.google.com/group/tvbarn2/browse_thread/thread/5ac14b8df94ecf8d I thought that some from this group might appreciate this story. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/comedy/rams/tue1130.ram It's a "listen again" feature, so it will likely be off the web site in a matter of days. From the schedule description: ``A Man and a Can`` The story of the invention of canned laughter and how it transformed television. In May 2003, one of the biggest influences on television production, Charles Douglass, died at the age of 93. A CBS engineer on live shows, in 1953 he developed a device which would change the way we experience television. It looked like an enormous typewriter and he called it the Laff Box. The original Laff Box stood over two feet tall and contained a set of audio-tape loops which featured recordings of laughter taken from episodes of the Red Skelton Show and a Los Angeles performance by Marcel Marceau. A sound editor would press different buttons for different types of laugh and foot pedals were used to control the timing and duration of laughter. The box was originally used to fill gaps in the sound of early tv shows when scenes had to be reshot after the audience had left the studio. But eventually artificial laughter would be used throughout programmes, especially where audiences didn`t laugh at the appropriate moments, or, if they did, not heartily enough. And thus was born what became known as canned laughter. Canned laughter was originally regarded as a democratic device, connecting audiences to the often glamorous world of television sitcoms. But the ease with which the Laff Box added hilarity to even the weakest shows led to its over use and to the belief that, without canned laughter, a show would not be regarded as funny. Today, laugh machines are the size of a lap top computer and are still much in use. With contributions from Douglass` son Bob, who has inherited his father`s post production business, and from producers and critics in American and British television, this programme tells the story of Charles Douglass, the Laff Box an [the rest of the sentence seems to have been cut off.] Best regards, Ann Carrigan (via Tom Roche, DXLD) ###