DX LISTENING DIGEST 5-045, March 14, 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 1266: 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 Mon 0430 WOR WSUI Iowa City IA 910 MORE info including audio links: http://worldofradio.com/radioskd.html ON DEMAND: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also for CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL] WORLD OF RADIO 1266 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1266h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1266h.rm WORLD OF RADIO 1266 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1266.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1266.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1266.html WORLD OF RADIO 1266 in the true shortwave sound of 7415: (stream) http://www.piratearchive.com/media/worldofradio_03-09-05.m3u (d`load) http://www.piratearchive.com/media/worldofradio_03-09-05.mp3 FIRST AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1267: Wed 2300 on WBCQ 7415, 17495-CUSB Thu 2130 on WWCR 15825 On Demand: from early UT Thu, change 1266 above to 1267 ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. Radio Solh via UK (Rampisham) to Afghanistan, 17710 at 1605 March 12, man in Afghan (speaking, not wearing) with music pgm (Afghan pops?), 1613 talk by woman with many mentions of "Taliban" and a word sounding like "police", more music at 1615, man ID as "Radio Solh" and frequencies in kHz at 1629, off about 1630 (Eric Bryan, WA March 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANTIGUA [and non]. I read now - via Glenn Hauser - that the BBC is also abandoning this same site and moving transmissions to Montsinéry (and maybe to elsewhere in that area?). I have not studied how much use is being made of the Montsinéry site by RFI or other relays, but obviously there is still some capacity left. I note (via the TDP) that there are 6 x 500 kW at the site, installed in 1984, 1988 and 1994. One of them will, of course, be that used by SRI until recently. At Antigua there are listed 4 x 250 kW Marconis dating back to 1975, so possibly the age of the equipment is one of the reasons for not continuing with its use. And as reported elsewhere, the costs of replacing it are perhaps in excess of what it will cost to hire transmitters. And also, maybe the location (and reliability) of Montsinéry is superior to - say - Chile or Brasília for optimum coverage of the more northerly areas of the Caribbean? Kai's résumé of the new DW Schedule is interesting. There don't appear to be any severe cutbacks taking place, and probably they can 'afford' to lose a frequency here or there. The world-wide use of relays should surely ensure optimum coverage of where they are trying to reach. Not long ago it seemed that DW was going to shut down a lot of services, but common sense seems to have prevailed in the right places! (Noel R. Green, UK, wwdxc BC-DX Mar 8 via DXLD) see also UK DW and BBC have been made very short term decisions to cut/withdraw ANTIGUA site from daily service. Bei Distanzen von 4800 bis 8000 km bis in die USA wird so manches Kuechenradio dann die Signalstaerke von Antigua Aussendungen vermissen lassen. Antigua Relay ist eine 50:50 Aktion der BBC und DW. Die Marconi Sender sind aus dem Jahr 1975. Jetzt hebt das Raetseln [Kaffeesatzleserei] an (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX Mar 13 via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. La Rosa de Tokyo, el programa de comunicaciones de LS11 Radio Provincia de La Plata en el cual colabora el GRA, se irradia en el horario habitual de las 13 a 14 LU de los domingos (1600-1700 UTC).- Ustedes pueden escuchar nuestro espacio en onda media, en los 1270 khz, con 50 kws o en Internet, haciendo "click" en http://www.radioprovincia.gba.gov.ar/transmision/transmision.htm (Arnaldo Slaen, via Dario Monferini, playdx via DXLD) Noticias ...anectodos [sic] ...jingles... cistes Dx. Un programa que no se puedes perder (Dario Monferini, ibid.) Came thru well here (gh) ** ARMENIA. R. Yerevan's Sunday service still registered in A-05 schedule in Fr/En/Ge, but never heard in past three periods anymore! 15270 0700-0830 27,28 ERV 500 kW 305 deg ARM GFC 9965, V. of Armenia Spanish service. Card/letter/sched in 83 days for letter report, 2 IRCs. Small paper strip in envelope asked to have listeners please send IRCs. Signer Armen Amiryan, Director. Letter and sched indicated frequency switch from 9965 to 11640 for Armenian/ Spanish 0300-0345. Sched also shows various languages on 4810 from 1305 to 1500. This would be a challenge for West Coasters (Bruce W. Churchill, CA, DXplorer Mar 13 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Andrew Ford hosts the Music Show from the Radio National network. It is broadcast on Radio Australia on Sundays between 0905 and 1100. I caught the last half hour of today's (March 13th) edition which was taped live at the Port Fairy Folk Festival. It included a man who makes banjos out of gourds - they sound like sitars; a string band blue grass duo; and the jazzy vocals of Peterborough's own Serena Ryder. What a show! Well worth listening to. Now you've been told (Mark Coady, Ont., ODXA via DXLD) With archives: http://www.abc.net.au/rn/music/mshow/ (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRIA. D=AM N=DRM mode: VT-MNO brokered DRM from Moosbrunn to England. N DRM mode !!! 9705 1500-1700 27 MOS 40 300 N G MNO MER 9720 0500-0900 27 MOS 40 295 N G MNO MER 9815 0900-1400 27 MOS 40 295 N G MNO MER (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX Mar 9 via DXLD) ** BELGIUM. RADIO WORLD - Sunday 136 [sic] March 2005 At the weekend I attended the SWL Winterfest in Kulpsville, Pennsylvania so this is obviously a recording that is several days old. Normally at this time of the year I would begin Radio World with a presentation of our new programme schedule, the one for the summer time. I don`t have to do this this time because we will go off the air in two weeks. But not altogether: some sound in English will survive in the shape of a three or four-minute news bulletin, broadcast 4 times a day, at 0700, 1100, 1800 and 2200 UT. Unfortunately not on shortwave, only on mediumwave, satellite and internet. Mediumwave is as before, 1512 kHz from Wolvertem near Brussels. For the rest, all that remains on shortwave from RVi is a daily magazine ``Vlaanderen Vandaag`` (Flanders Today) which will be broadcast four times a day to Europe. To south east Europe on 13685 kHz at 0600-0700 and 1700-1800 UT, both transmissions from Moscow; also to south west Europe, on 9590 kHz from 0700-0800 and 1800-1900 UT, both times from Skelton, England. Let`s now continue and finish with the series of recordings from the 1970s with a final one of one of the largest and arguably the best international service in the world: SOUND: BBC London (listen to the programme via audio link on this page) http://www.rvi.be/rvi_master/uk/radio_world/index.html And that brings to an end this week`s edition of Radio World. Tune in again this Sunday for a report on the Winterfest at Kulpsville, and a final farewell from Radio World. FRANS VOSSEN (via John Norfolk, dxldyg via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. Até 13 de março, o sinal da Rádio Guarujá Paulista permanecia, ainda, em 3235 kHz. A emissora está em processo de mudanças para 3385 kHz, em 90 metros (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX March 13 via DXLD) ** BULGARIA. A-05 R Varna weekend special schedule: 7400, 2100-2400 28,29,38,39 VRN 100 kW 000 true north or non-dir? UT Sunday only! BUL RBU 7400, 0000-0300 28,29,38,39 VRN 100 kW 000 true north or non-dir? UT Monday only! BUL RBU (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX March 9 via DXLD) ** BURMA [non]. A-05 Democratic Voice of Burma schedule: 5910 1430-1530 49 A-A 200 132 0 KAZ DVB GFC 9435 2330-0030 41,49 JUL 100 80 -10 D DVB DTK 17625 1429-1526 49-51,54 MDC 50 55 -10 MDG DVB RNW (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX March 9 via DXLD) ** CANADA. 6030, CFVP Calgary, Mar 14, 0440-0511, oldies pop songs (Tony Bennett singing ``Smile,`` Frank Sinatra song, etc.), ID between each song, ``Candlelight and wine on Calgary`s AM 1060, CKMX,`` ``The official station of Alberta`s Centennial birthday, Calgary AM 1060, CKMX,`` ToH news, reception good, but a strange percolating type sound in background (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA NRD545, with T2FD antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Probably residual dentrocuban jammer (gh) ** CANADA. N = DRM transmission via Sackville A-05: 9800 1945-2030 7N,8N SAC 70 268 N English CAN VAT RCI 9800 2030-2057 4,8,9 SAC 70 268 N Eng CAN RNW RNW 9800 2100-2200 7N,8N SAC 70 268 N English CAN RCI RCI 9800 2230-2300 7N,8N SAC 70 268 N English CAN RSW RCI 11900 1600-1800 8 SAC 70 240 Sat only N Eng CAN TDP TDP 11900 1800-1830 7N,8N SAC 70 240 Sat only N CAN RCI RCI (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX March 9 via DXLD) ** CANADA. Int'l Radio Report 2005-03-13 --- Hello all, The International Radio Report has been uploaded onto our archive site: http://mediajct.homeip.net/radioreport 73 and happy listening, Ricky =====[ IN THIS WEEK'S PROGRAM ]===== - Special program celebrating RCI's 60th anniversary, with thanks to Bill Westenhaver for supplying audio material -----[ MAIN PAGE ]----- http://mediajct.homeip.net/radioreport -----[ STREAMING AUDIO FILES (left click) ]----- [for one week only!] (LO) http://www.vif.com/users/rleong/radioreport/radioreport-050313-8kps.ram (HI) http://www.vif.com/users/rleong/radioreport/radioreport-050313-16kps.ram -----[ DOWNLOAD AUDIO FILES (right-click, save link/target as) ]----- (LO) http://www.vif.com/users/rleong/radioreport/radioreport-050313-8kps.rm (HI) http://www.vif.com/users/rleong/radioreport/radioreport-050313-16kps.rm -----[ THIS WEEK'S TEXT-ONLY SUMMARY ]----- http://mediajct.homeip.net/radioreport/summaries/2005-03-13.html -----[ ARCHIVE OF TEXT-ONLY SUMMARIES ]----- http://mediajct.homeip.net/radioreport/summaries (Ricky Leong, QC, March 13, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) ** CHINA [non!]. Judith Haran, USA: I live near Worcester in Massachusetts. Since October I have been "picking up" CRI on my regular house telephone every night during my telephone conversations. What can I do about this? Are you shortwave, FM, or what? Have you had any other people contact you about this? Li Peichun: You're the first, Judith. We're happy that you're in contact with us, for whatever reasons. CRI doesn't have any deal with any US telephone company. I suggest you talk with your telephone company about this problem, as it's equally confusing to us. Maybe you can update us on what goes wrong. Source: Listener's Garden, CRI, 03/12/2005 (via Sergei Sosedkin, March 13, dxldyg via DXLD) Must be a Sackville relay. I wonder if Ms. Haran can get a QSL for that :) (Sergei Sosedkin, DX LISTENING DIGEST) She ought to try matching it with CRI frequencies at whatever hour that was, since slightly different feed delays are involved (gh, DXLD) ** CHINA. 4950 // 5075, Voice of Pujiang, Shanghai, Mar 13, 1326-1403, music program, comedy program (canned laughter), advertisements, many mentions of Shanghai, before BoH and ToH played same classical music selection, both frequencies good (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, NRD545, with T2FD antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 4940, 1440-, China Huayi BC, Mar 13 [Sunday]. I'm confused. This is a Chinese station, with English programming at fair level, with a relatively thick Chinese accents. 'Have you ever been to China?, etc'. ILG lists Voice of the Strait(s) from Fuzhou, whereas DBS lists China Huayi Broadcasting Corporation in Chengdu. I'm leaning towards the latter, but which is right? Could not find any parallels. Signal gradually improved towards the TOH. Perusing my 2000 WRTH notes that both of these stations broadcast to Taiwan. Googling I found at http://www.schoechi.de/az-chn01.html reference to shared QSLs, so there must be some link. Program ended at 1500 and into Chinese again (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, here's the latest on the Chinese station on 4940 from Eric in China: Hi Walter, The signal on 4940 kHz you received is the Voice of Strait News Channel based in Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China. The radio station VOS is owned and runn by the PLA and beams to Taiwan. What you've heard is its half-hour English program on Sunday night, Beijing Time. The English program can also be heard on Saturday. Here are the 4940 kHz details: FREQ STATION UTC Su-W-Sa Language Location Pow Azi ADM L/L Remark 4940 VOICE OF STRAIT 2225-2400 1234567 Chinese Fuzhou 50 140 CHN 4940 VOICE OF STRAIT 1430-1500 67 English Fuzhou 50 140 CHN 4940 VOICE OF STRAIT 1200-1700 1234567 Chinese Fuzhou 50 140 CHN 11924E2606 VOS N China Huayi BC does not use 4940 kHz and never transmitted from Chengdu. Huayi is also based in Fuzhou. Dozens of months ago ILG corrected the mistake following my advice. You can hear Huayi on 6185 or 4830 kHz: China Huayi BC Frequency Schedule 2230-0000, 1300-1700 4830 kHz 0000-1300 6185 kHz 2130-1900 FM 107.1 MHz, AM 783 kHz Except 0400-0830 every Wednesday Happy DXing! (Eric Zhou in Nanjing, March 14, via Walt Salmaniw, March 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [non]. A-05 CRI schedule via La Habana site, 250 kW: 5990 2300-0100 8S,10E,11 HAB 250 000 CUB CRI RTC 9570 1200-1400 4,8,9 HAB 250 010 CUB CRI RTC 9580 0100-0300 4,8,9 HAB 250 010 CUB CRI RTC 9790 0300-0500 6,7 HAB 250 305 CUB CRI RTC 13650 2300-2400 12,13 HAB 250 135 CUB CRI RTC 13740 1400-1600 6,7 HAB 250 305 CUB CRI RTC [ex-17730 B-04] 15120 0000-0100 12 HAB 250 160 CUB CRI RTC (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX Mar 9 via DXLD) ** CONGO DR [non]. 11690, 0419-, Radio Okapi, Mar 13. Musical 'Okapi' by YL at exactly 0419:30. S9 to S9 + 10 signal. I'm really having trouble believing this is only 10 kW. Another ID at 0421:45. 'Okapi', not 'Radio Okapi'. In vernacular as I listen. Mentions of 'democrasiya', 'Congo'. Best by far of the last few days I've listened. Are we sure this isn't from a 100+ kW transmitter? ?Kigali, ?Meyerton, ?Madagascar. 'Okapi' again at 0426:15, Now's the time to pick up this elusive station (at least for us in North America!). (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I agree too, guys. Even at 0540 UT, the signal is still much stronger here than a 10 kW African ought to be. Walt, I see that Bernd Trutenau replied to your logging and says that a reliable source places this transmitter at Meyerton, South Africa. 73, (Guy Atkins, Puyallup, WA USA, HCDX via DXLD) 11690, 0515-, Radio Okapi, Mar 10. I'm sure this is the station I have been monitoring for 30 minutes now. About an S8 signal, makes following difficult. As usual anything spoken is down in the mud, while the little music that is played is much better heard. No time pips or anything special at 0500. Mostly ongoing talk, seemingly in French, at least after the TOH. Nothing that I hear has resembled an ID, and certainly nothing like the 'Okapi' repeated many times as reported by Dave Valko. Gradually losing strength as I continue to monitor. Frustrating not to get a definite ID! Gradually faded away to subaudible levels. At 0555 very strong open carrier, and immediately into Hello from Tokyo program. So I have no doubt I must have been listening to Okapi. Worth trying a bit earlier tomorrow. 11690, 0419-, Radio Okapi, Mar 13. Musical 'Okapi' by YL at exactly 0419:30. S9 to S9 + 10 signal. I'm really having trouble believing this is only 10 kw. Another ID at 0421:45. 'Okapi', not 'Radio Okapi'. In vernacular as I listen. Mentions of 'democrasiya', 'Congo'. Best by far of the last few days I've listened. Are we sure this isn't from a 100+ kW transmitter? ?Kigali, ?Meyerton, ?Madagascar. 'Okapi' again at 0426:15. Full ID as Radio Okapi at 0430, and mentioned Hirondelle as well. Signal continues to improve. Marvellous signal at 0440 in French. Another full excellent ID in French at 0455. Further IDs just after the TOH, and continued in French programming about 'elections libre'. Totally about the need for free elections in The Democratic Republic of Congo. Discussion between Robert and Walter (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Email reply just in from Radio Okapi, 11690, confirms that transmitter is in South Africa (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, March 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Tuned 11690 at 0555 UT March 14 to catch Okapi, but found R. Japan General Service in English on top of it. Strange no one else has mentioned this. Actually, NHK schedule shows this only after 0600, 300 kW from Yamata to N&C Am, so bringing it up early may have been a fluke (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. Hate to say it, but R. Prague has not been making it here for some weeks, as a rule, English at 1400 to NAm on 21745, tho this is supposed to continue as usual for the rest of the B- season. During A-05, it shifts to 1300 on 21745, but then to EAf only (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DENMARK. Nielsen ist 46 Jahre alt, bis zur Pensionierung noch einige Jaehrchen hin, damit kann der WMR 5815 Sender ja noch einige Jaehrchen geleast werden (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX Mar 6 via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. Uma das entidades que ajuda a HCJB – A Voz dos Andes a manter, no ar, a programação em português para o Brasil, fechou. Assim, a emissora perde parte dos subsídios usados na manutenção de sua programação. As informações são de Eunice Carvajal, apresentadora do espaço DX HCJB, levado ao ar em 12 de março. A HCJB – A Voz dos Andes teve sérios problemas com seus transmissores, usados nas emissões em português para o Brasil. A freqüência de 12020 kHz, dirigida ao Nordeste brasileiro, está sendo utilizada a partir de 0000. Já a freqüência de 11920 kHz teve sua potência reduzida de forma significativa. A emissora espera receber relatos de sintonia destas freqüências. Os problemas perdurarão por vários dias. As informações foram veiculadas na edição de 12 de março do DX HCJB, apresentado por Eunice Carvajal (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX March 13 via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Hallo Liste, im Moment (1350 UT) sendet die Langwelle 177 kHz in reinem DRM, Stereo mit 23.5 kbps. Der Empfang ist Nähe Kassel einwandfrei mit einem SNR von 20 dB. Felsberg stört nicht. War das schon die Umstellung? 73, (Klaus Schneider, March 14, A-DX via Kai Ludwig, DXLD) Besides the above, See http://www.drmrx.org/forum/showthread.php?s=ac2752ed013af6b1937170175e09546b&threadid=1012 and http://forum.myphorum.de/read.php?f=8773&i=172130&t=172130 Zehlendorf 177 has been run in DRM today until 1651 when it had been switched back to AM. According to unconfirmed information (or rumours) 177 will be officially converted to DRM as of April 1. For the time being the special 177 and 855 kHz programs from the Deutschlandradio Berlin days still exist; at least they are still shown in the Deutschlandradio Kultur program schedule. Already on March 6 check I found 177 to have the soft audio typical for AM coming out of DRM modulators (Kai Ludwig, Germany, March 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HONDURAS. 2320.04, R. Litoral (sounds like), harmonic 2 x 1160, 1140Z 2005-01-24, XE-style cumbia at fair/good level but generally weakening. 1144 Spanish M live ID with ``frecuencia autorizada`` de 1160, mentioned callsigns HRSF/HRSW, into ranchera vocal. Alas, my WRTH has gone stale on me again, no similar listing, new one perhaps. 1148Z promo carts about their technical prowess, then 1151 live M again with lengthy chatter, 1154 song intro ``...voz evangélica de (unreadable singer name)...``, therefore maybe protestant Christian station. 1157 announcer again with Z-6 time check and mentions ``en el nombre del señor`` and ``cristo`` (David Crawford, FL, DXPlorer via Radio Nuevo Mundo via DXLD) WRTH 2005 lists 4 Hondurans on 1160, none an exact match; one, a Radio Bethel. This raises questions about a previous report here on 2320, believed to be a Guatemalan harmonic; of course, both could be correct (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HUNGARY [and non]. 6025 kHz R Budapest registered both sites, RSO- Slovakia, and JBR-HNG, on different times of day [A-05 presumably]: 6025 0300-0330 29 RSO 150 50 1234567 Russian SVK RBP HNG 6025 0330-0400 27,28,37 RSO 150 245 1234567 Spanish SVK RBP HNG 6025 0400-1200 28 JBR 100 0 1 Hungarian HNG RBP HNG 6025 0400-1600 28 JBR 100 0 234567 Hungarian HNG RBP HNG 6025 1200-1300 27,28 RSO 150 290 1 German SVK RBP HNG 6025 1300-1400 28 JBR 250 0 1 Hungarian HNG RBP HNG 6025 1400-1500 27,28 RSO 150 290 1 German SVK RBP HNG 6025 1500-1530 18,27-29 JBR 250 0 1 English HNG RBP HNG 6025 1530-1600 29 JBR 250 0 1 Russian HNG RBP HNG 6025 1600-1630 27,28 RSO 150 290 1234567 French SVK RBP HNG 6025 1630-1700 28 JBR 250 0 1234567 Italian HNG RBP HNG 6025 1700-1730 29 RSO 150 50 234567 Russian SVK RBP HNG 6025 1700-1800 27,28 RSO 150 290 1 German SVK RBP HNG 6025 1730-1800 27,28 RSO 150 290 234567 German SVK RBP HNG 6025 1800-1900 28 JBR 100 0 1234567 Hungarian HNG RBP HNG 6025 1900-1930 27,28 JBR 250 288 1234567 English HNG RBP HNG 6025 1930-2000 27,28 RSO 150 290 234567 German SVK RBP HNG 6025 1930-2000 29 RSO 150 50 1 Russian SVK RBP HNG 6025 2000-2030 27,28 JBR 100 0 1234567 French HNG RBP HNG 6025 2030-2100 28 JBR 100 0 1234567 Italian HNG RBP HNG 6025 2100-2130 27,28 RSO 150 290 1234567 English SVK RBP HNG 6025 2130-2200 27,28,37 RSO 150 245 1234567 Spanish SVK RBP HNG 6025 2200-2300 28 JBR 100 0 1234567 Hungarian HNG RBP HNG All JBR transmissions on non-directional antenna, except English at 1900 UT. All RSO transmissions with lowered power from 250 to 150 kW (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX Mar 9 via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 4870.97, RRI Sorong, Mar 13, 1023-1118*, in Bahasa Indonesia, religious program, clearly ending with ``Amen,`` hymns, lots of talking, love songs in English, off in mid-song, fair-poor (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, NRD545, with T2FD antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. This was forwarded to me; originally from Globus. REQA is the Immigrant's Network, which has historically been for Russian and Amharic. Since a few months ago, it includes all of the foreign (non- Hebrew/Arabic) language broadcasts. "An Israeli newspaper editor has published a defence of Radio Reqa (Voice of Israel's mainly Russian-language Immigrants' Network) against charges that it is in decline, with falling ratings and an ageing audience. The following are excerpt from the article, by Ilan Kfir, published by Israeli newspaper Globus on 7 March; subheadings inserted editorially: Radio Reqa is the voice of the Russian-speaking immigrants, in the same way as Voice of Israel is the voice of the Hebrew-speaking Israelis. But if we dug deeper into our recent history, it would be appropriate to recall that Radio Reqa is actually a descendant of the Russian-language editorial board of Voice of Israel - the same Voice of Israel that used to break through the rattle of the jamming stations into our WEF's and Spidolas [Soviet-made portable receivers]. It was no coincidence that listening in to the "enemy voices," especially the Zionist ones, constituted valid grounds for accusation at numerous court trials of the prisoners of Zion. But here is the paradox of the year 2005: Radio Reqa has recently become a rival of the Voice of Israel. And the cause is not the Hebrew language, but - excuse me for bringing in a not particularly lofty theme - the budget. If a terrorist act occurs, veteran Israelis become riveted to the communiqués of the Voice of Israel's Network B and other radio stations for whom news is prepared by the Voice of Israel anyway. In a similar way, a million-odd people who originate from Russia and other CIS countries, whose Hebrew has not reached a sufficiently high level, listen to their Russian-language radio station that is on the air, with a few intervals, from 7 a.m. until midnight. Budget cuts I have been watching Radio Reqa's activities and the work of its leading journalists for many years. This radio station functions under almost impossible - I would even say inhuman - conditions. The studios and the equipment are obsolete, and one's tongue refuses to refer to the "caravans" where these studios are situated as buildings. Moreover, all this is happening in the very heart of Tel Aviv! Radio Reqa's budget is being cut continuously and, more than that, threats to reduce the station's time on the air and even to close it down completely could be heard more than once during recent years. Only the stubborn struggle waged by Radio Reqa's founder, Shlomit Lidor, and her energetic deputy, Mikhael Gilboa, as well as exceptional devotion to their work by the station's personnel, whose composition has remained practically unchanged from the very inception, finally made it possible to prevent the closure. Ageing audience The printed and electronic media have recently published reports to the effect that Radio Reqa is getting old and enfeebled, that the number of its listeners is waning, that its transmissions are dull and fail to produce adequate ratings, and that its competitors have grown stronger and are now right at Reqa's heels. Opinions were published in various Russian-language newspapers to the effect that Radio Reqa existed exclusively for the old-age pensioners in contrast to its main rival, Network A, whose audience was people of the new generation, active, energetic, mobile and - which is particularly important for the advertisers - financially solvent. They listen to Network A transmissions in their cars when they travel about the country, and they allegedly represent the audience to which the future belongs. These rumours spread over all media and brought about numerous articles on the theme in the press. Radio Reqa's journalists often found themselves in a helpless situation in front of this unfounded criticism and did not always know how to react and what to say. Forum for politicians Nonetheless, when the Russian-speaking community again and again had to live through difficult periods, when slander was almost literally poured upon it, it was always Radio Reqa that stood up to defend the immigrants. Politicians of every rank, including MPs, used to stand in line to have themselves heard on this sore issue. If someone believes that it was exclusively Russian-speaking politicians, he is seriously mistaken. Leaders of the coalition and the opposition, government ministers and public figures for whom Russian is not at all their mother tongue needed this "Russian" rostrum. It would appear that these politicians had two excellent television "rostrums" - TV Channel 9 [Israel Plus] and RTVi. However, none of them ever rejected a request for an interview on Radio Reqa; on the contrary, many felt offended if they were not invited in contrast to a political rival who was. Today, Radio Reqa beams its broadcasts to a great number of listeners who believe this radio station to be their home and its leading journalists to be all but their family members. [Passage omitted] The Radio Reqa personnel, including editors, journalists, and the technical staff, regard their work as a mission. Interactive programmes with listeners' participation are particularly popular. Nonetheless, when rumours about Radio Reqa's declining ratings became persistent, the station's employees asked themselves the following questions: Have we indeed grown old without noticing it? Have we lost the public's interest? Is it true that they no longer need us? Poll findings To get the answers to these questions, Radio Reqa recently commissioned a large-scale sociological poll with an eye to finding out the level of the radio station's popularity among Russian-speaking listeners. Everyone felt really tense while waiting for the outcome, but when the poll results finally arrived, even the optimists were pleasantly surprised. It turned out that 86 per cent of the respondents listened to Radio Reqa's transmissions constantly or regularly; 22 per cent listened to Network A, and 2 per cent to "Severny Mayak" [Lighthouse of the north]. The age composition of the listeners was especially surprising. In the age group of 56-64, 85.5 per cent of the respondents listened to Radio Reqa; in the age group of 45-54, 54 per cent; and in the age group of 18-44, 20-40 per cent. The listeners of Radio Reqa are educated people: 86 per cent of people with the third academic degree and 60 per cent of those who have the first and second academic degrees comprise Radio Reqa's audience. The percentage of Radio Reqa listeners among people with medium technical education amounts to 28 per cent. Fifty-three per cent of immigrants who come from Ukraine listen to Radio Reqa programmes constantly; the corresponding figure for those who come from Russia is 50.3 per cent; from Moldova and Belarus, 69 per cent; from the Baltic countries, 50 per cent; from Georgia, 33 per cent; and from Azerbaijan, 37 per cent. A greater part of Radio Reqa listeners are employed workers, but there are also businessmen. The monthly earnings of the majority of listeners amount to up to NIS [new Israel shekel] 4,000 [928 dollars]. Their regional distribution showed the predominance of the inhabitants of Jerusalem (the listeners' percentage was 63 per cent); 49.4 per cent of the listeners reside in the urban conglomeration of Tel Aviv and the surrounding towns; 56 per cent reside in the north and 57 per cent in the south. Profitable Radio Reqa is popular with advertisers. Income from advertising makes the station's budget almost break even, but if account is taken of the taxes paid by the station, this makes Radio Reqa profitable. The poll results confirmed Radio Reqa employees' self-assurance and belief in the rightness of their cause. They know that they are not alone, that they have both listeners and competitors, and this means that should they allow the quality of their programmes to go down, it would strengthen their Network A competitors. Radio Reqa recently employed a group of young journalists, and this resulted in the appearance of themes for the young and in the station turning its attention to the young audience. No matter how popular they are and how great the faith of their listeners in them is, Shlomit Lidor and Radio Reqa's leading journalists would commit a serious mistake if they did not recognize the strength and popularity of Network A that enjoys great success in the country's centre, especially among music lovers. Competition is a powerful force, and people in Radio Reqa know that they must not rest on their laurels because, otherwise, their competitors may overtake them. [Passage omitted] (via Doni Rosenzweig, DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [non]. 3970, CLANDESTINE-IRAN, V. of People of Kurdistan, 0307-0320, Kurdish, Call to Prayer at tune-in, YL with fanfare at 0310, alternating talks between OM and YL. Poor/fair. // 4860 (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, 200' Beverage antennas, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LATVIA. 9290, R. Marabu, 1300-1508 y 1610-1700, alemán, relays de música de los 80. Se identifica cada una o dos canciones, cuñas publicitando la emisora cada media hora de uno a dos minutos de duración; a las 1544 entrevista en inglés de unos tres minutos, tema musical y continúa la entrevista con risas, otro tema musical hasta las 1600, programa dirigido por una locutora. SINPO 45343 (José Miguel Romero, Sacañet en Castellón, España, March 13, Sangean ATS 909, Antena hilo de siete metros, Noticias DX via DXLD) ** LUXEMBOURG [non]. 7145, Long awaited RTL DRM service to England soon --- VT-MNO DRM to England. BCE RTL Luxembourg via T-systems Juelich site, N = DRM !!! a 'harsh sweety' in A-05 for the Blackpool audience: 7145 0600-1800 27 JUL 40 290 0 106 N D BCE DTK BCE DRM mode transmissions to UK from BCE LUX, Broadcasting Center Europe (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX Mar 9 via DXLD) Just think - Juelich 7145 blocked by noise and hash from 0600 to 1800 UT. What a prospect! It seems that if we don't buy ourselves a DRM capable receiver then we won't be able to hear anything else very very soon now! (Noel R. Green-UK, wwdxc BC-DX Mar 11 via DXLD) ** MEXICO. 1700.0, XEPE-La Tremenda, Tecate; 1030, f on 2/11. New slogan ``La Tremenda`` was heard. 1700.0, XEPE-La Tremenda, Tecate; 0855-1400, good/fair on 3/5. XEPE is broken!? Playing the same song over and over again. IDs are; ``Ésta es XHBCE 105.7 FM, Baja California, México.``, ``Ésta es XEPE 1700 AM, Baja California, México.``, ``La vestia (andas menta?). En muy cerca de la frontera. La Bandera`` (Hideki WATANABE, Japan, Radio Nuevo Mundo via DXLD) It was stunting as reported here, prior to another format change to stupid ballgames in English (gh, DXLD) ** NEPAL. Ein seltener Gast in Mitteleuropa: Radio Nepal ist mit sehr schwachen Signal und Floetenmusik auf 5005.35 kHz zu hoeren, 0015 UT (Christoph Ratzer, Austria, A-DX Mar 6, via BC-DX via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. SUMMER EDITION OF ON TARGET NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE The summer edition of Radio Netherlands' English programme guide, On Target, is currently on its way to those who have requested it. If you don't want to wait to receive a printed copy in the mail, a PDF version is now available on our Website. You can download the file via the link on: http://www2.rnw.nl/rnw/en/listeningguide/ontarget # posted by Andy @ 12:25 UT March 14 (Media Network blog via DXLD) Including frequency schedule A05: NORTH AMERICA 1100 UT (nb. 12.00 UTC until 2nd April) Frequency: 11675 kHz 1900 UT (weekends only) Frequencies: 15315, 17660, and 17735 kHz 0000 UT Frequency: 9845 kHz 0100 UT Frequency: 9845 kHz 0400 UT Frequencies: 6165 and 9590 kHz AFRICA 1800 UT Frequencies: 6020, 9895 and 11655 kHz 1900 UT Frequencies: 7120, 9895, 11655 and 17810 kHz 2000 UT Frequencies: 7120, 9895, 11655 and 17810 kHz ASIA, FAR EAST, PACIFIC 1000 UT Frequencies: 9790, 12065, 13710 and 13820 kHz 1400 UT South Asia Frequencies: 9345, 9890 and 11835 kHz [2 hours] EUROPE 2300 UT Frequency: 1179 kHz (mediumwave) Tracking down which frequencies (in kHz) come from which sites - Bonaire 6165, 9590, 9790, 9845, 11675, 15315, 17735 and 17810 / Sackville 17660 / Flevoland 11655 / Irkutsk 13710 / Madagascar 6020, 7120, 9890, 9895 and 11835/ Petropavlovsk 12065 / Khabarovsk 13820 / Tashkent 9345 / Sölverborg, Sweden 1179 AM / Mediumwave (On Target pdf via gh, DXLD) So that explains what replaces 1512 with the demise of RVi! (gh) ** OKLAHOMA [and non]. OBSERVATIONS --- LIBERAL MEDIA? We have one, two, and sometimes six radio stations in every town and city, many operating 24 hours a day, that actively promote Republicans and the Republican agenda. There are from one to nine religious fundamentalist radio stations in every town and city, mostly directly or indirectly broadcasting the Republican agenda. Last Sunday we counted seven cable channels in Oklahoma City featuring religion. Most of the music radio stations are owned and operated by two or three Republican corporations who use their stations to support the Republican agenda when choosing news, commentary, disk jockeys and play lists. In virtually every city and town in America there are almost zero radio stations which actively promote Democrats and the Democratic agenda. We have a national television news network, with local affiliates in virtually every market, which actively promotes Republicans and the GOP agenda. Especially the three network stations in Oklahoma City. There are zero national television news networks that are fair to the Democratic agenda. We have a 24-hour cable news network that actively promotes Republicans and the Republican agenda. The other cable news networks are Republican owned and operated. In America there are no Liberal cable television news networks that actively support and are fair to Democrats and the Democratic agenda. ABC, NBC, and CBS, the big three broadcast networks, are Republican owned and operated. The Today Show is a GOP mouthpiece. In America there are zero national broadcast networks that are owned and operated by Democrats and who support the Democratic agenda. In most towns and cities we have one, sometimes two, local newspapers. Virtually all newspapers are Republican owned and operated, and endorse and frequently promote Republican candidates --- especially in Oklahoma. There are few large newspapers and only a handful of medium to small newspapers scattered around the country that editorially support Democrats and a Democratic agenda. In every medium virtually all news for at least the last two decades has been Republican filtered and spun propaganda, sometimes subtle, sometimes blatant. And yet, Republicans constantly lie, claiming it is a liberal media (Oklahoma Observer March 10 via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. Hi Glenn, I recently asked Joe Emert for another update on the planned Wantok Radio Light project (7120 kHz) in Papua New Guinea; they are evidently behind schedule as many new radio station operations are. The target date is now in the period from late May to early June (prior target was early March). Mr. Emert shared the following excerpt from the calendar of an HCJB engineer who is overseeing the installation: "May 5-28 Shortwave team from Elkhart is here to install and commission the Shortwave. May 29-June 10 I travel to Rabaul, Lae, Goroka, and Lalibu to install the first remote FM transmitters. This schedule is predicated on the understanding that two of these sites have multiplexers and we won't need to install antennas. Jun 11 Celebration of the commencement of shortwave and the first FM stations. This will be held in the highlands. More details are pending but I wanted you to know so you can mark your calendars that this is the plan at this time." (Guy Atkins, Puyallup, WA, March 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. Quito 13/3 2005 *** Sunday edition: *** Recording of 4949.96 I.D.L. Radio. Last night 0100 UT I heard a station on 4949.96 kHz where I never have logged a LA station before. The ID was "I.D.L. Radio". The ID on my recording is very clear. Now, "what is this"? I want you to tell me and if you have the answer please send me a mail. The answer will be published on next edition of "Voces de América Latina" together with another recording from the same occasion. Comments, photos and recordings at: http://www.malm-ecuador.com 73s (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Bjoern, I`m not so sure the third letter is L, but the reference to the 15 February Ley seems to refer to Peru, as this item was in Con Dig for Feb 19: http://www.elcomercioperu.com.pe/EdicionImpresa/Html/2005-02-16/impPolitica0260188.html So likely R. Madre de Dios, Puerto Maldonado, relaying something or with a new name. 73, (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) Country: Peru; Name of program: Ideeleradio, or Ideele Radio; See: http://www.ideeleradio.org.pe The program is produced in Lima. Under "Red Nacional" a lot of relaying stations are mentioned. Puerto Maldonado on the move? (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, HCDX via DXLD) Quito 14/3 2005 *** Monday edition: *** Recording of 4949.96 R. Madre de Dios, Puerto Maldonado. I first thought it was a new station with name "I.D.L. Radio" but after listening a while I heard the recorded ID "Radio Madre de Dios". This station has been for several years on the same split 4950.16 +- 1 Hz so I was not at first thinking of them. The Swedish DXer Gert Nilsson was listening to "I.D.L. Radio" the same evening as I did. He, and Glenn Hauser, were close but Henrik Klemetz was closer! Thanks all for replies. So listen to Radio Madre de Dios with a program called "I.D.L. Radio" from El Instituto de Defensa Legal. Comments, photos and recordings at: http://www.malm-ecuador.com 73s (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, March 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU [non]. Radio Fuerza Democrática, political show: see USA: WRMI ** PORTUGAL. RDP audio delays: A possible source used by their mediumwave transmitters and the Sines station would be the DVB bouquet on Eutelsat Hotbird, 10.723 GHz, with RDP Internacional and RDP Antena 1. This bouquet is uplinked by British Telecom's Madley Teleport facility in the UK. That's probably enough to say freehand that a 4 second delay is no real surprise. Re ``the RDPi signal is simply picked up by the digital satellite receiver and "thrown" into the transmitter, no other "treatment" is carried out``: To be complete, other treatment than the usual audio processing (Optimod 9105A or perhaps something else, current Optimod 9200 or another company's product). But this causes no delay of several seconds of course, just small fractions of a second. All the best, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, March 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. 3955, 1409-, Voice of Russia, Mar 13. ILG lists Korean, which sounds about right, 100 kW from Vladivostok, at fair level, and sure enough their IS was heard at 1410. Mostly talk by OM. I would have guessed a North Korean from the tone of his voice! (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. 7201, R. Rossii via Yakustk, 1122-1132, Mar. 13, OM over music at tune-in, "zinger" IDs with both "Golos.." and "Radio Rossii". OM and YL with news and soundbites at 1130. Fair. // 7320-Arman: poor // 7345-Yakustk: fair, 17600-Moscow: good (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, 200' Beverage antennas, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH AFRICA. 6100 --- I see also a CRI transmission at 1500-1900 UT scheduled for Meyerton-AFS. But CRI means China Radio International or a different broadcaster? A-05 entry: 6100 1500-1900 57N MEY 100 kW 5 deg 803 daily 2703-301005 G CRI MER (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX Mar 12 via DXLD) ** SUDAN [non?]. 4750, R. Peace, 0333-0347, Mar. 8, Vernacular/ English, Native music and talks. Full English ID at 0342. Talks over choral music followed by instrumental version of "O Come all ye faithful" Fair/good (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, 200' Beverage antennas, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN [non]. Sudan Radio Service, A-05: 11665 0300-0500 37 RMP 500 125 20 Mon-Fri USA MNO MER 15325 0500-0600 47E WOF 300 126 12 Mon-Fri USA MNO MER 17660 1500-1900 47E WOF 300 140 0 Mon-Fri USA MNO MER (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX Mar 9 via DXLD) This matches the earlier item from Chris Greenway, except -1800 (gh, DXLD) ** SWEDEN. DRM test from Hörby Monday 14/3 Southbound Just saw this on the forum at http://www.drmrx.org --- Hello Everybody, We will turn the LP antenna towards Germany to do a short test on 5875 kHz between 1830 and 1858 UT with our mighty 1000 Watts. This will only be done at this occasion. There is an intermission of other broadcasts on this channel at that time. It will be interesting to see how that will work. All the Best – Håkan (via Andy Sennitt, March 12, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWEDEN [non]. A05 Radio Sweden to PAC AUS NZL via RNW Madagascar: 7420 2100-2130 51-60 MDC 250 125 0 ENG S RSW TER 7420 2130-2200 51-60 MDC 250 125 0 ENG S RSW TER A05 Radio Sweden to NE ME SoAS SoEaAS via RNW Madagascar: 9435 0100-0130 29-31,39-42,49 MDC 250 50 15 SWEDISH S RSW TER 9435 0130-0200 29-31,39-42,49 MDC 250 50 15 ENGLISH S RSW TER (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX Mar 9 via DXLD) ** SYRIA. Hi Glenn; Heard these guys this afternoon, although I could not stick around for the full hour broadcast. 12085, Damascus Radio at 2110 in English, National anthem at 2110 and full ID at 2111. Into Mid East music. At 2113 they gave the schedule for English transmissions and program lineup. Much better modulation than at the beginning but still a bad transmitter hum. 2115 ID and into the News. Transmitter failed at 2117 but returned at 2120. (343 13 March 05). 73 (Mick Delmage, Sherwood Park, AB, Canada, Rx: Collins HF2050, Ant: 7-30 MHz KLM Log Periodic, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SYRIA [non]. 9495, R. Siria Libre, 1900-1915, árabe, primero, alocución de varios minutos por un hombre; luego prosigue la alocución una mujer. SINPO 44343 (José Miguel Romero, Sacañet en Castellón, España, Sangean ATS 909, Antena hilo de siete metros, Noticias DX via DXLD) ** TURKMENISTAN. 5015, Turkmen R., 2359-0037, Mar. 12, Turkmen. Sign- on in progress at tune-in with OM followed by national anthem. Talk over wind-instruments at 0003. YL at 0007 until 0017 when joined by OM between brief musical bits (strings and drums). Orchestra-like music and ballads between talks at 0022 thru tune-out. Weak but clear for the most part. Best listening in LSB. Very pleased! (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, 200' Beverage antennas, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UGANDA [non]. With effect from March 1st, RRIA temporarily suspended its transmission. However, RRIA maintains news updates on our website (From http://www.radiorhino.org via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UKRAINE. 7440, 0442-, Radio Ukraine International, Mar 13. Wonderful S9 + 10 reception with RUI's mailbag program, with the lovely music of the Orange Revolution. For Ukrainian speakers, these lyrics never fail to bring a lump in my throat, and tears to my eyes. Beautiful music and very frank, almost apologetic talk in English about not telling the real story in Ukraine before the revolution. Rarely heard so well on the coast. Brings me back to the days when RUI used Far East Russian relays for their service to WCNA (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [and non]. Glenn, re http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/schedules/frequencies/index.shtml and ``Natch, no transmitter sites given. Actually looks about same as at present``: Apparently these are in fact the current schedules, just with the notes about the upcoming cuts added. And this was obviously done by somebody who did not even reflect about what he (or she) was actually putting on, judging from the reference to South America on the page with the frequencies for Europe. ``But 9525 conflicts with the BBC Spanish schedule below!`` This schedule appears to be derived from an earlier circulated spreadsheet with VT transmissions in A05. In this file still Woofferton 0700-1700 on 12095 is shown (just to pick out an example), so it is obviously obsolete by now. It also doesn't show the BBC transmissions via Montsinéry and Bonaire hinted by Richard Cuff. I wonder whether his statement about ´´most of their Antigua transmitter-hours´´ should read *all*, meaning that March 26 will simply be the Antigua station's last day? I must say that I am not that much surprised about these developments. But it would be quite interesting to learn how these decisions were made. Apparently at quite short notice, judging from the already existing schedule with Antigua and no curtailments, as I already noted. Perhaps somebody can find out. I fear our contacts would just one more time state that we should better contact the press office. All the best, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, March 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) IN 5-044, the BBC Spanish schedule, certain frequencies lack a transmitter site, but based on azimuths and previous usage, they all look like Delano. Now is Delano becoming a covert site??? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. BBC will drop all Portuguese short wave to Brazil after March. Here's their sched from the web page now. http://www.bbc.co.uk/portuguese/institutional/rebroadcasters.shtml (Dan Say, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) REINO UNIDO – Um ciclo da história das ondas curtas, em língua portuguesa, chega ao final. No próximo dia 27 de março, exatamente às 20h, no horário oficial de Brasília, as ondas curtas ficam órfãs da mais tradicional emissão, em português, dirigida aos ouvintes do Brasil: da BBC de Londres. Quando o jornalista de plantão da, agora, denominada BBC Brasil, fechar, talvez de forma burocrática, a emissão nas freqüências de 9865, 11965 e 15390 kHz, o calendário contabilizará 67 anos e 13 dias de transmissões, em ondas curtas, feitas por profissionais brasileiros diretamente da Bush House. Conforme a direção da BBC Brasil, ``a medida se deve a mudanças na empresa, que passará a concentrar seus investimentos em boletins curtos de rádio, em reportagens e na transmissão de boletins em vídeo pela Internet, produzidos pela maior rede de correspondentes internacionais do mundo``. A emissora passará a produzir programas curtos ``que serão retransmitidos por algumas das maiores estações do país, como a CBN, Rádio Globo, Eldorado, Itatiaia, Guaíba e Radiobrás``, informa a direção da BBC Brasil. Por sua vez, o diretor para as Américas do Serviço Mundial da BBC, jornalista Lúcio Mesquita, agrega que ``o grosso de nossos ouvintes e usuários em potencial está nas áreas urbanas do Brasil, onde as ondas curtas tendem a ser inapropriadas como meio de comunicação``. Também destaca que as emissões, em ondas curtas, geram altos custos. Mesquita ressalta, ainda, que um dos motivos que levou a direção da emissora a abandonar as ondas curtas para o público brasileiro foi a indefinição do Brasil e outros países da América Latina em escolher e adotar um modelo para o rádio digital em ondas médias e curtas. De acordo com ele, a negativa na escolha do modelo ``reduziu consideravelmente as chances de uma recuperação da audiência em ondas curtas pelo menos nos próximos anos``. Na prática, como não tem mais freqüência própria, a emissora deixa de existir. O resultado será sentido apenas quando a BBC precisar de mais de 20 minutos para fazer a cobertura de um evento mundial no exato momento em que tinha seu canal aberto em ondas curtas, entre 19h30min e 20h. Vai se dar conta que as ``parceiras`` ou não dispõem de tanto tempo assim para a sua pauta ou estão mais preocupadas em emitir notícias de sua comunidade ou até mesmo estão em cadeia com a Voz do Brasil. Também vai chegar o momento em que as ``parceiras`` vão alegar que recebem pressão do Departamento Comercial para não veicular certo tipo de pauta. Então, perceberá que o contato direto com os ouvintes, num canal seu, em ondas curtas, já faz parte da história (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX March 13 via DXLD) BBC ENCERRA SUAS TRANSMISSÕES EM PORTUGUÊS PARA O BRASIL Na emissão do Programa ``Mundo Hoje``, de quarta feira dia 09 de março de 2005, o reporter Marcelo Torres anunciou o final das transmissões da BBC, em português para o Brasil. Informou que a emissora vai passar, á partir de abril, a investir mais no segmento internet. A última emissão será feita no domingo dia 27 de março de 2005 quando será feita uma edição especial do programa ``BBC e você`` para marcar a última emissão em português (Adalberto Marques de Azevedo, Barbacena - MG, Brasil, @tividade DX March 13 via DXLD) ** U S A. In a move causing new concern among VOA employees still fighting to protect the organization against additional Bush administration attempts to further politicize the direction of radio, television and internet programming, Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice Monday formally announced the appointment of former Bush senior adviser Karen Hughes as Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy. Mrs. Hughes replaces former advertising executive Charlotte Beers, who was controversial during her time in the State Department position, and Margaret Tutwiler, the former State Department spokeswoman under the administration of President George H. W. Bush and close confidante of former Secretary of State James Baker. In her statement at the State Department, Mrs. Hughes made no mention of the broadcasts of VOA or other entities under the Broadcasting Board of Governors, but noted she will be working closely with key lawmakers, including members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House members. "America's public diplomacy should be as much about listening and understanding as it is about speaking," said Hughes adding "our message is much more like to have impact among people of different countries when it is delivered with respect for their culture and their many accomplishments and with understanding of not only the reality of their lives but also of their dreams for the future." The new public diplomacy focus of the State Department was created in the wake of the elimination of the former U.S. Information Agency (USIA), which many experts have said should now be brought back to handle U.S. government efforts to communicate U.S. values and positions abroad. The return of Hughes to the Bush administration has already provoked considerable skepticism and some pointed criticism. In an editorial in Business Week, David Kiley who covers Marketing and Advertising for the publication, called the appointment a "troubling choice to market the U.S. abroad," adding "Hughes is a Bush cheerleader, not a strategist with an independent mind or opinion about how we might seriously affect the silent majority of Muslims who probably want to live with more freedom than a theocracy would allow, but don't trust America to deliver it to them." Questioned by ABC's George Stephanopoulos about the appointment, Secretary of State Rice said it is in line with her commitment when she was confirmed of "revamping" public diplomacy under the Bush administration, and using it for "a monologue with the Muslim world [not] a conversation." In that same broadcast, Mr. Stephanopoulos noted success by Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty, and the Voice of America in getting messages across that were "not spin or somehow propaganda [but the] truth." (knowledgeable IBB/VOA sources, March 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. KAREN HUGHES: BUSH'S SPINNER TO THE WORLD --- by David Corn The Nation, 03/14/2005 @ 12:00am http://www.thenation.com/capitalgames/index.mhtml?bid=3&pid=2258 Have you been worrying about the image of the United States overseas? Have no fear, Karen Hughes is here. George W. Bush is nominating Hughes to be under secretary of state in charge of public diplomacy. That's the administration official who oversees the government's efforts to sell the United States abroad. No one has been in this position since the summer -- which indicates just how much of a priority Bush has assigned to this task. With the United States' standing abroad at a frighteningly low level -- even though Bush's belated response to the tsunami did boost the United States' image in Indonesia -- the White House has done little to enhance public diplomacy. That is, if you don't count Condi Rice strutting across Europe in high-heel, black leather boots. And the nomination of uber- hawk and UN-basher John Bolten to be UN ambassador hardly sent a signal that Bush is serious about working with other nations (and respecting their desires). What are her Hughes' qualifications for this post? Well, she has been Bush's chief spin doctor since he entered politics. Once a local television reporter, she turned to the dark side. During the 2000 campaign, she actively misled the press about key aspects of Bush's past -- most notably, his military service and his drunk-driving conviction. As a White House aide, she used PR tactics, not the truth, to push Bush's reckless policies. Now she'll do the same concerning the United States' image abroad. (If she could sell Bush to the American voters, maybe she can sell dirt as food.) Of course, the problem is US policies, not the administration's PR efforts. As a report produced by the Defense Science Board last year notes, "Muslims do not 'hate our freedom,' but rather they hate our policies [in the Middle East]." The Bushies talk about public diplomacy -- when the bother to do so -- as a marketing issue. ("Gee, I just don't understand why they don't want to buy our new chalk- tasting cola? We must not be pitching it right.") No, this is about product. True, you can successfully market crap and all sorts of stuff that harm consumers. But it sure helps to be peddling something that people want and that they consider high-quality. Don't count on Hughes to acknowledge that. For her, PR trumps truth. In honor of her pending appointment, I'm posting below two of my favorite instances of Hughes going on a spin-bender. Coincidentally, each comes from my book, The Lies of George W. Bush. Isn't it comforting to know that the person responsible for improving the US image throughout the world is a political hack-loyalist who would say whatever was necessary -- no matter how false or ridiculous -- to achieve a political aim? Read on: Soon after [Bush] entered the presidential race, the Associated Press discovered that Bush had not been honest about his military past when he had campaigned unsuccessfully for Congress in 1978. Back then, in an ad in the Lubbock Avalanche Journal, he boasted he had served "in the first U.S. Air Force and the Texas Air National Guard where he piloted the F-102 aircraft." But Bush had done time only in the Guard, not the Air Force. When AP asked Bush's presidential campaign about this, the Bush crew could have taken the opportunity to set the record straight. Instead, Bush spokeswoman Karen Hughes told AP that the advertisement had been "accurate," considering the time Bush had spent on alert and in training. "As an officer," she maintained, "he was serving on active duty in the Air Force." Bush himself remarked, "I was in the Air Force for over 600 days." Not so, according to a definitive source -- the Air Force. The AP reported that "the Air Force says that Air National Guard is always considered a guardsman and not a member of the active-duty Air Force." The 1978 ad had been a distortion, and Bush and Hughes refused to concede that." ****** Concerning his more wild days, Bush [during the 2000 campaign] adopted a best-defense-is-a-good-offense stance. He branded any questioning of his personal past illegitimate rumor-mongering. He equated being asked about booze-and-drug issues with being targeted by unfair innuendo. "I'm not ready for rumors and gossip," Bush told USA Today. "I'm ready for the truth. Surely people will learn the truth." What insincerity. He was claiming he wanted people to know the truth about him, but he would not answer a whole set of questions about his past. One concealed truth Bush had not been "ready for" exploded on November 2, 2000, five days before Election Day. A Maine television channel reported that in 1976, Bush, then 30 years old, was arrested in Kennebunkport, Maine, for drunken driving. He had admitted to the arresting officer he had been drinking. He paid a $150 fine and had his driving privileges revoked in Maine. After the story broke, at a campaign press conference (his first in a month), candidate Bush acknowledged the report was accurate, and he said that he had never publicly revealed the DWI conviction out of concern he would set a bad example for his twin girls. In the same press conference, Bush maintained, "I have been very candid about my past." This was obviously not a factual statement, since Bush had neglected to disclose this arrest while supposedly being "very candid about his past." As the story developed, the issue became not his post-youth crime, but one question: Had Bush lied to keep his arrest record a secret? Wayne Slater, a reporter for the Dallas Morning News and a longtime Bush watcher, recalled he had asked Bush in a 1998 interview whether Bush had ever been arrested after 1968. Slater told his media colleagues on the Bush campaign plane that Bush had said no. Slater also remembered that later in that 1998 interview Bush indicated his was about to return to this subject. But as Bush began to say something. Karen Hughes cut in, and Bush said nothing else on the topic. While Slater was sharing this account, Hughes, several rows away, was presenting her own version to reporters "nervously," according to New York Times correspondent Frank Bruni, This was her line: not only had the governor not said anything false to Slater, he had somehow conveyed an accurate impression that an episode like the 1976 Bush had occurred. Hughes, according to UPI, maintained that Bush in the 1998 interview with Slater was "hinting around that something had happened. That's why I stopped the conversation." Washington Post reporter Dana Milbank subsequently wrote that Hughes told the journalists, "I think the implication Wayne was left with was that in fact the governor was acknowledging that he had in fact been arrested." Notice the two "in facts" in one sentence. As Bush quipped, "An accurate impression of an unacknowledged event? It was an awfully weird concept." This was spin at its most frantic. But that was the Bush camp's story. During a press conference, Hughes said Slater "was clearly left with the impression that the governor -- an accurate impression that the governor had been involved in some incident involving alcohol." And she noted that on another occasion, in 1996, Bush was asked directly had he ever been arrested for drinking, and the governor replied, quote, 'I do not have a perfect record as a youth.'" That vague response supposedly was evidence Bush had not outright lied about this arrest. But his 1996 answer had not been responsive. And had he been a "youth" at the age of 30? Hughes' "explanation" of Bush's exchange with Slater is one of the great examples of political spin. If I were teaching college students about spin, I'd make them study this episode. Hell, it's worth an entire class. Why did the reporters not laugh her into oblivion? How could she get away with this? Here's the kicker: it worked. As Bruni noted after the campaign in a book, he and the Times (that liberal bastion!) played down the DWI charges in the final days of the campaign. And, as we all know, how the Times covers a story often affects how other media will handle it. "Bush and his advisers," Bruni wrote, "didn't end up taking as much heat for [the DWI story] as they perhaps deserved." So Hughes, with the Times' assistance, helped saved Bush's butt at a crucial moment. Can her talents at spin do the same for our entire nation? I'm betting the rest of the world is not as gullible. ******************* IT REMAINS RELEVANT, ALAS. SO DON'T FORGET ABOUT DAVID CORN'S BOOK, The Lies of George W. Bush: Mastering the Politics of Deception (Crown Publishers). A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! An UPDATED and EXPANDED EDITION is AVAILABLE in PAPERBACK. The Washington Post says, "This is a fierce polemic, but it is based on an immense amount of research.... [I]t does present a serious case for the president's partisans to answer.... Readers can hardly avoid drawing... troubling conclusions from Corn's painstaking indictment." The Los Angeles Times says, "David Corn's The Lies of George W. Bush is as hard-hitting an attack as has been leveled against the current president. He compares what Bush said with the known facts of a given situation and ends up making a persuasive case." The Library Journal says, "Corn chronicles to devastating effect the lies, falsehoods, and misrepresentations.... Corn has painstakingly unearthed a bill of particulars against the president that is as damaging as it is thorough." And GEORGE W. BUSH SAYS, "I'd like to tell you I've read [The Lies of George W. Bush], but that'd be a lie." ****** Don't forget about DAVID CORN's BLOG at http://www.davidcorn.com Read recent postings on Dan Rather's noble attempt to hold a Bush accountable; God and blogs; attacks on progressive writers from indy publishers: and The New York Times's shoddy coverage of a massacre's history. ******* For more information and a sample, go to http://www.davidcorn.com. And see his WEBLOG there --- If you like this article, please consider subscribing to The Nation at special discounted rates. You can order online https://ssl.thenation.com or call our toll-free number at 1- 800-333-8536 (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. Re: Rock the Universe repeats on WWCR: Glenn; Rich Adcock has been in bed with a bad case of the flu for the last 3 weeks. Consequently he has not been able to record a new show or send down an older tape to WWCR. As of Thursday, March 10th, he was feeling better, but nowhere near 100%. We hope he'll be well enough to record a new show at my studio this week. We did record a show last week using Rich's voice tracks by way of a telephone patch. It was rushed out at the last minute but was sent on CD instead of the usual cassette tape. I have no idea why it was not aired last weekend nor this week. We did inform Adam that is was sent on CD, but there seems to be some sort of mixup. Rich will have to request an investigation (Steve Coletti, March 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 7490, 0508-, WJIE, Mar 13. Powerful S9+20 with modern Christian pop music. I'm assuming that they are running back at their full 50 kw. Nothing noted on 13595 (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. March 12 around 1230 UT I dreamt that WRMI had added a MW frequency, 666 kHz, with 1 kW. I asked Jeff White if this wasn`t too close to Cuba and Miami on 670, but he said that was not a problem. Repeat: this was only a dream (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Now lambaste me for wasting four, or rather five lines, on this ** U S A. WRMI SCHEDULE\HORARIO EFFECTIVE MARCH 13, 2005 http://www.wrmi.net\pages\714011\index.htm Days are local days in the Americas; times are UTC. Días son días locales en las Américas; horas son UTC. MONDAY-FRIDAY\LUNES-VIERNES To the Caribbean and Latin America on 9955 kHz\ Hacia el Caribe y Latinoamérica en 9955 kHz: 1000-1030 Viva Miami, DX Programs (English, español) 1030-1045 Viva Miami, Radio Vaticano (español) 1045-1100 Hijos de Bayamo (español) 1100-1200 Viva Miami, DX Programs (English, español) 1200-1300 Viva Miami, DX Programs (English, español; Monday-Thursday) 1200-1300 Foro Militar Cubano (español; viernes) To North America on 7385 kHz\Hacia Norteamérica en 7385 kHz: 1300-1500 The Overcomer Ministry (English) 1500-0000 Christian Media Network (English) Note: The following are Tuesday-Saturday UTC. Los siguientes son martes-sábado UTC. 0000-0500 Christian Media Network (English) 0500-1000 The Overcomer Ministry (English) SATURDAY\SABADO To the Caribbean and Latin America on 9955 kHz\ Hacia el Caribe y Latinoamérica en 9955 kHz: 1000-1045 Viva Miami (English, español) 1045-1100 Hijos de Bayamo (español) 1100-1200 Viva Miami (English, español) 1200-1215 Parole de Vie (Creole) 1215-1230 Viva Miami (English, español) 1230-1300 Reality in Jesus (English) To North America on 7385 kHz\Hacia Norteamérica en 7385 kHz: 1300-2300 The Overcomer Ministry (English) To the Caribbean and Latin America on 9955 kHz\Hacia el Caribe y Latinoamérica en 9955 kHz: 2300-0000 La Voz del Escambray (español) The following are Sunday UTC. Los siguientes son domingo UTC. 0000-0100 Foro Militar Cubano (español) 0100-0130 Conversando entre Cubanos (español) 0130-0145 Radio Fuerza Democratica (español) 0145-0200 La Verdad Para el Mundo (español) 0200-0300 Prophecy Talk (English) 7385 kHz to North America\7385 kHz para Norteamérica: 0300-0400 Viva Miami (English) 0400-0430 DX Party Line (English) 0430-0500 World of Radio (English) 0500-1000 The Overcomer Ministry (English) SUNDAY\DOMINGO To the Caribbean and Latin America on 9955 kHz\ Hacia el Caribe y Latinoamérica en 9955 kHz: 1000-1030 Jack Van Impe (English) 1030-1045 Parole de Vie (Creole) 1045-1100 Hijos de Bayamo (español) 1100-1115 Church of Christ (English) 1115-1130 Viva Miami (English) 1130-1145 JDL Gospel Ministry (English) 1145-1200 La Verdad para el Mundo (español) 1200-1230 Creciendo en Gracia (español) 1230-1300 Carter Report (English) To North America on 7385 kHz\Hacia Norteamérica en 7385 kHz: 1300-1330 World of Radio (English) 1330-1400 DX Party Line (English) 1400-1415 Banner of Truth (English) 1415-1430 Anointed Connection (English) 1430-1700 The Overcomer Ministry (English) 1700-1900 The Business of Success (English) 1900-2100 Europa Radio International (English) 2100-2130 Jack Van Impe (English) 2130-2145 Church of Christ (English) 2145-2200 JDL Gospel Ministries (English) 2200-2245 The Holy Story (English) 2245-2300 Viva Miami (English) 2300-0000 American Voice Radio (English) To the Caribbean and Latin America on 9955 kHz\ Hacia el Caribe y Latinoamérica en 9955 kHz: The following are UTC Monday. Los siguientes son UTC lunes. 0000-0030 Trova Libre (español) 0030-0045 Banner of Truth (English) 0045-0100 Morena Mananquil (español) 0100-0115 Radio Fuerza Democratica (español) 0115-0130 Truth for the World (English) 0130-0230 Radio Oriente Libre (español) 0230-0300 Conversando entre Cubanos (español) 7385 kHz to North America \7385 kHz para Norteamérica: 0300-0330 Carter Report (English) 0330-0400 World of Radio (English) 0400-0430 Viva Miami (English) 0430-0500 DX Party Line (English) 0500-1000 The Overcomer Ministry (English) E-mail us at info @ wrmi.net for information about purchasing airtime on WRMI. Envíenos un e-mail a info @ wrmi.net para información sobre la compra de tiempo (via John Norfolk, dxldyg via DXLD) Hi Jeff, Glad to see the new program schedule. Some questions/ comments: No ERI on Wednesdays 9955; just waiting till we get past this Wednesday to add it? Is there a reliable day of week for WOR at 1000 on 9955? I guess it is no longer on Sundays during this hour. Tnx for the new(?) Sun 1300 airing. Could use contact etc. info for a couple of your new Cuban? programs: Morena Mananquil (what`s that about)? And Radio Fuerza Democrática. Is V. of the NASB officially over? What are you putting on the RCI DRM block? I suppose WOR never made it with the mp3 problem. Unfortunately I have made no progress on availablizing it in mp3 myself. Any previews of what we may be hearing on the numerous Viva Miami blocks now? How is Kiko doing? 73, (Glenn to Jeff White, March 14, via DXLD) Glenn: Yes, just waiting till we get past Wednesday to add the Europa Radio Int`l on Wednesday at 1100-1300 on 9955. I will try to put WOR at 1000 Monday regularly on 9955. Or would you prefer Sunday? Morena Mananquil is a short religious program. I have my doubts as to how long it may remain. Radio Fuerza Democrática is the reincarnation of a program we used to have from Peruvians in Miami when Fujimori was in power. They are now gearing up for elections next year, and plan to do this regular weekly program. The contact person is Allan González. I don't think they've announced an address yet, but they probably will. Meantime, they can certainly be contacted through the WRMI address, fax, e-mail, etc. Voice of the NASB still continues on RCI each Saturday, with mostly DX programs (minus, unfortunately, WOR for the mp3 problem). The contract is due to end March 27 -- end of B04 season. The NASB Board will have to decide whether to continue. I have a feeling there may be a gap, as a decision may not be made until the annual meeting May 6. They could possibly decide to continue via another DRM facility. Viva Miami (both Spanish and English) is starting a series of programs about cruises, particularly Caribbean cruises, with appropriate regional music. Unfortunately Kiko is still bed-ridden and unable to work. We have a contracting engineer who is helping us out with that aspect of things for the time being. All the best (Jeff White, WRMI, March 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. US MARSHALS & PLANET AIRWAYS I recently ran across some interesting information regarding the US Marshals JPATS (Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System) program and one of the private contractors. You can read more about the JPATS program on the Department of Justice web site: http://www.usdoj.gov/marshals/jpats/ In several cities that I have traveled to, I have seen Boeing 727 air- craft painted with Planet Airways colors and logos. These aircraft caught my attention due to the fact they were parked in remote areas of the airports, and had plain white cars, vans and buses parked nearby, along with many people armed with shotguns! Apparently these aircraft were in the process of loading prisoners to be transported to federal prison facilities in various parts of the country. I did a search on the Internet and found that Planet Airways is a contractor that provides aircraft and flight crews for the US Marshals Service. Here are some possible frequencies for the US Marshals Service: 162.7125 MHz 162.7875 MHz 162.8250 MHz 163.0750 MHz 163.2000 MHz – Primary Nationwide 164.6000 MHz 166.4625 MHz – DHS Common 168.8625 MHz 170.7500 MHz 170.8000 MHz 170.8500 MHz 170.8750 MHz 170.9250 MHz 408.5250 MHz 411.0000 MHz 411.0500 MHz 411.1000 MHz 411.1375 MHz 411.1750 MHz 412.6500 MHz 412.7000 MHz 414.0500 MHz 414.5750 MHz 417.1000 MHz 417.1750 MHz 417.7000 MHz Traditionally, the Marshals Service has used VHF frequencies nationwide, but I’ve been wondering about them using UHF frequencies, now that most of the Federal Prisons have moved to UHF trunking systems. Might the prisons have some UHF simplex frequencies for use away from the prisons? If you monitor your local air traffic control frequencies, keep an ear out for flights using the call sign JUSTICE. These usually indicate an aircraft belonging to the Justice Department or an aircraft flying a Justice Department mission. Recently, JUSTICE 893 landed at Boeing Field in Seattle and it was a Planet Airways 727. We’ll talk more about federal agencies and the aircraft they fly in the next Fed Files (Chris Parris, Fed Files, March Monitoring Times via DXLD) ** U S A. On January 1, 2005, the US Coast Guard changed all five of its upper-sideband (USB) calling and distress frequencies. The new ones are 4125.0, 6215.0, 8291.0, 12290.0, and 16420 kHz. After initial callup, the USCG shore station will assign a working frequency for any additional communication. The biggest difference from the old setup is that all frequencies are simplex, meaning the vessel and the coastal station transmit on the same frequency. The old calling frequencies were duplex, meaning that the shore station would answer on the opposite frequency in the pair, and all communication would be `split.` All but 8291, a longtime safety frequency, have always been in duplex pairs themselves, but simplex calling and safety use is authorized under international rules. 4125 and 6215 are traditionally busy frequencies, where all kinds of interesting activity can turn up. They`re monitored by many of the world`s coast guards. In addition, fishing fleets often show up on 4125. Therefore, this change is a logical one, and it brings the US into line with a common international practice. There is no more mandatory voice radio watch in the maritime service, but several frequencies are still guarded 24 hours a day. The new Coast Guard schedule is in Table 1. Table 2 lists the station locations, and Table 3 has the working frequencies. All times are Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). [see below] Table 1: 2005 US Coast Guard USB Calling & Distress Watch Schedule kHz NMN, NMA, NMF, NMG NMC NMO NOJ NRV 4125.0 2300-1100 24 hr 0600-1800 24 hr None 6215.0 24 hr 24 hr 24 hr 24 hr 0900-2100 8291.0 24 hr 24 hr 24 hr By request None 12290.0 1100-2300 24 hr 1800-0600 By request 2100-0900 16420.0 By request only - All stations Table 2: US Coast Guard Station Locations NMN CAMSLANT Chesapeake, VA . Communication Area Master Stn., Atlantic NMA Miami, FL ............... (Remote to NMN) NMF Boston, MA .............. (Remote to NMN) NMG New Orleans, LA ......... (Remote to NMN) NMC CAMSPAC Pt. Reyes, CA ... Communication Area Master Stn., Pacific NMO Honolulu, HI ............ (Remote to NMC) NRV Apra, Guam .............. (Partial remote to NMC) NOJ Kodiak, AK Table 3: US Coast Guard USB Working Channels (kHz) Channel # Ship Transmits Coast Transmits 424 4134.0 4426.0 601 6200.0 6501.0 816 8240.0 8764.0 1205 12242.0 13089.0 1625 16432.0 17314.0 (Hugh Stegman, HF Communications, Utility World, March Monitoring Times via DXLD) Hugh corrected an error he made -- I think in the March issue, where he said there was no longer an emergency watch (on 2182 I think it was). The USCG is still keeping watch on the traditional emergency frequencies (Rachel Baughn, MT editor, March 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non?] EMCEE COMMUNICATIONS WINS PSYOPS TV CONTRACT | Text of press release by Mountaintop, Pennsylvania-based Emcee Communications on 14 March Mountaintop, Pennsylvania, 14 March: Emcee Communications, a subsidiary of Wireless Acquisition LLC, Tempe, Arizona, announces it has been awarded a contract to develop a VHF television transmitter for the US Army Special Operations Command to be used in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) operations. Emcee Communications, working as a subcontractor to BAE Systems and the Naval Air Systems Command Aircraft Division, will use proprietary VHF television transmitter technology, designed to conform to the mission design requirements in support of the US Army Psychological Operations Command (PSYOP) arm of the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). The transmitter will be designed and integrated to perform as a broadcast equipment payload for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) operations. The VHF HI TV equipment will be capable of delivering commercially equivalent broadcast quality products in support of PSYOP. These transmitters will be used to conduct PSYOP within a theatre of operations and be compliant with (FCC) Federal Communications Commission, (NAB) National Association of Broadcasters, (ITU) International Telecommunications Union and (EBU) European Broadcasting Union. About EMCEE Communications: EMCEE Communications (www.emceecom.com), a subsidiary of Wireless Acquisition LLC, is a global supplier of communications systems, equipment, and services. Major markets are wireless communications - which includes MMDS, ITFS, broadcast, private communications networks, common carrier and government. EMCEE equipment has been installed in over 90 countries worldwide. Source: Emcee Communications, Mountaintop, Pennsylvania, in English 14 Mar 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** U S A. WBBM780.COM LAUNCHES ONLINE LISTENING MONDAY, MARCH, 14TH CHICAGO -- WBBM Newsradio is now live on the World Wide Web through "streaming audio". As part of an Infinity-wide initiative, WBBM-AM along with 11 of Infinity’s leading news and news-talk stations are streaming. ``We`ve had thousands of listener requests wanting to access WBBM Newsradio 780 over the Internet, and with this company wide initiative, we`ll deliver,`` said Rod Zimmerman, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Infinity Radio Chicago. ``Now we`re making it easy to listen on your way to work, from work and at work.`` Web visitors to http://www.wbbm780.com can click on a "listen live" icon and listen to WBBM's live "streaming" signal through their computer speakers. In addition to WBBM-AM, Infinity`s other all-news stations that are streaming include 1010 WINS (New York), KFWB-AM (Los Angeles), KNX-AM (Los Angeles), KCBS-AM (San Francisco) KYW-AM (Philadelphia), WBZ-AM (Boston), and WWJ-AM (Detroit). News-talk stations KMOX-AM (St. Louis), KDKA-AM (Pittsburgh) and KRLD-AM (Dallas) are available via their station Web sites. Infinity`s other all-news station, WCBS-AM, was previously launched online last December. Infinity`s all-news stations are among the most listened to stations in their respective markets and reach an estimated 12 million listeners per week with nearly 1.4 million people tuning to WBBM-AM alone. Infinity is one of the largest major-market radio operators in the United States, with stations covering the news, modern rock, oldies, country, FM talk, classic rock and urban formats, among others. A division of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIAB), Infinity operates 183 radio stations, the majority of which are in the nation`s top 50 markets. Additionally, Infinity is home to 29 of the country`s leading sports franchises amongst MLB, the NFL, the NBA and the NHL, including the Chicago Bears, New York Yankees, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, New York Giants and the Detroit Red Wings. Stay tuned to WBBM Newsradio 780 for the latest developments on this and other stories (via Sergei Sosedkin, IL, dxldyg via DXLD) Registration required. No program schedule provided! However, there is advance info about content of When Radio Was, M-F 0600-0700 UT: http://www.wbbm780.com/when_radio_was.shtml (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WOR (New York) World War II station ID --- This is the one that begins "W-W-W-W-somebody stop me-O-R". This was done on the Jean Shepherd program (on flying) done on WBCQ today and I caught it off the MP3 feed and uploaded it to the alt.binaries.sounds.radio.oldtime (Earthlink, my ISP-by-merger, made me go through some hoops which is why it's a zip file there) and also at: http://home.ix.netcom.com/~jmrubin/worid.mp3 It's all of 106422 bytes so it won't even strain a dial-up connection. Unfortunately, for purists, Mr. Shepherd sings and goes "yeah" during the then 30-year-old ID. A few years ago, I saw some WNEW (now WBBR) posters in the art gallery in the 53rd and 5th Ave. subway station in NYC in which they were "Blessed with America's Best Music" and it would be interesting to hear if they had any station ID's from that era with Ella, Louis, Duke, et alia (Joel Rubin, Queens, March 14, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) ** U S A. AM FM Sat Radio Survey --- I stumbled across this. It is aimed at Sat radio subscribers but has many questions about AM FM programing and HD radio. It is being conducted by Elon University in NC. This is partly funded by the NAB. There are questions about HD radio AKA IBOC. Heres your chance to get your voice heard and voice your comments on IBOC / HD radio and AM FM programming . They were giving $10 for the first 200 visiters but theres been more then 200 visitors therefore no need to leave your addy. http://www.inetsurvey.com/Survey.cgi/cbook/Elon03 (Norbert 26, March 12, ABDX via DXLD) ** VATICAN [non]. Foreign relays A-05 season relays of Vatican Radio 6020 1225-1315 42-44 PUG 250 355 ............. D Ch PHL VAT VAT 6205 1310-1400 49,54 TCH 500 194 040905 301005 D RUS VAT GFC 6210 1225-1300 31,32 NVS 100 78 ............. D RUS VAT GFC 7300 2145-2245 44 IRK 250 152 010505 030905 D RUS VAT GFC 9800 1945-2030 7N,8N SAC 70 268 .........DRM! N English CAN VAT RCI 11830 2157-2245 43,44 KHB 100 218 040905 301005 D RUS VAT GFC 11830 2157-2245 43,44 KHB 100 218 270305 300405 D RUS VAT GFC 12055 1300-1400 43,44,49,54 TCH 500 195 ............. D RUS VAT GFC 12065 1430-1600 41 TAC 100 130 ............. D UZB VAT GFC 17590 0200-0330 41 NVS 250 180 ............. D RUS VAT GFC 6020 = RVA Manila relay (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, wwdxc BC-DX Mar 9 via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. Yellow pages lists 130 pages of radio stations in Venezuela! http://paginasamarillas.infoguia.net/PagAm/PagAm.asp?s=652&r=1 with address phone and often e-mail and web site (Steve Whitt, UK, March 12, MWC via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. 50% Venezuelan music: I listened to Kys FM since over an hour and I heard several llanera and joropo songs as well as many Spanish pop songs. About half the music is in Spanish. A few from Spain and Ricardo Arjona from Guatemala, but the vast majority is from Venezuela. I never heard so much Spanish music on this station. Check out http://www.kysfm.com I think the law Iowa DX'er Don Moore talked about a few months ago, back in November was adopted this week (Bogdan Chiochiu, March 13, HCDX via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA [non]. Aló, Presidente was back on Sunday March 13, at 1418 and 1653 recheck, very good on 11875, 13750, and poor on 17750, all via Cuba (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** WALES [non]. WRI A-05 via Austria: 7210 2030-2100 27,28NW MOS 100 300 0 Fri only....D AUT MNO MER (via Wolfgang Büschel, BC-DX via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE [and non]. Hi Glenn, Publish all comments noted here: Monitored in Harare, Zimbabwe, SW Radio Africa on 6145 was again jammed progressively from 1600 to 1700 UT. The alternative frequency of 3230 was in the clear until 1710 UT when it was severely jammed until close 1900 UT. The very new frequency of 11845 (Ascension or still Meyerton?) was heard in the clear from 1600 to 1700 UT, then station off. Glenn, it appears most likely now that deliberate localised jamming of SWRA within the vicinity of Harare the capital is occurring. Unlikely to be ZBC Gweru, as these transmitters cannot switch frequencies as easily as the jamming signal does. Also can mention that the signal strength here in Harare is so extreme it must be a localised jammer. My guess is that`s a medium power localised jammer within the area of Harare but we are monitoring these frequencies from in and around Zimbabwe to check up on this. 73's (David Pringle-Wood, Harare, Zimbabwe, 1128 UT March 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Heard here well on 11845 at 1630. With commentary/interview in English regarding Zimbabwe. March 13, 2005. Steve Lare Holland, MI USA CLANDESTINE (Zimbabwe) 11845, SW Radio Africa, Mar 13, 1621 pop song in English, into talk about Zimbabwe elections being held March 31st and religious leaders comments about Zimbabwe, 1634 end of Richard Offray’s (sp?) program, says to tune in again at ``5 minutes past 6 on Sunday evening or at half past 5 on Sunday morning,`` very good reception, no jamming (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, NRD545, with T2FD antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. ASCENSION IS, 11845, 1600-, SW Radio Africa Mar 13. Powerful S9 + 20 reception with crash start with multiple IDs in English with some short/long path echo. All in English. With song 'Africaaa, Africaaa', then ``this is SW Radio Africa, Zimbabwe's independent voice.`` Through the valley religious program after announcements (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I just noticed that the banner on their Web site says 3220 kHz, but the text lower down the page twice says 3230 kHz. Which one is currently being used? (Andy Sennitt, Netherlands, March 14, dxldyg via DXLD) They certainly had been logged until now on 3230. Maybe deliberately vague disinformation, subject to variation to avoid jamming, or sloppy, as they were also saying this was the 75 mb for quite a while (gh, DXLD) Checked 14 Mar at 1830 UT. SW R Africa seems still to be on 3230. Only threshold signal here due to local noise. Checking against their website audio stream, it sounds like 3230 is some 15-20 seconds ahead of web audio (Jari Savolainen, Finland, dxldyg via DXLD) Thanks, then they need to tell their Web designer to correct the typo in the banner :-) (Andy Sennitt, ibid.) Registered: 4880 1600 1900 57N MEY 100kW 5deg USA MNO MER 6145 1600-1900 57N MEY 100kW 5deg USA MNO MER (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX Mar 9 via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE. MUGABE JAMS THE AIRWAVES Basildon Peta, March 14 2005 at 09:47AM http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=vn20050314073809890C330203 President Robert Mugabe's government has succeeded in using imported Chinese equipment to jam radio broadcasts into Zimbabwe by the country's sole independent radio station operating from London. Hundreds of thousands of Zimbabwean listeners of SWRadio Africa, a private station started by veteran Zimbabwean broadcasters led by Gerry Jackson, have since last week not been able to receive their daily independent news broadcasts. The independent broadcasts from London began in 2001 on shortwave bands 6145 Khz and 4880 Khz, after Jackson was prevented from establishing Zimbabwe's first-ever private radio station in Harare. "The government in Zimbabwe must be using a transmitter to deliberately jam our broadcasts," Jackson said. She had installed the equipment after the then-independent Supreme Court - led by Chief Justice Anthony Gubbay - outlawed the Zimbabwe government's monopoly on broadcasting. 'The government in Zimbabwe must be using a transmitter to deliberately jam our broadcasts' But the Zimbabwe government defied the Supreme Court order to allow independent broadcasters, and confiscated Capital Radio's equipment. Jackson was banished to London, where she reconstituted Capital Radio as SWRadio Africa and started independent, three-hour news broadcasts into Zimbabwe on shortwave bands. SWRadio Africa grew in popularity and was later complemented by the Voice of America, which also started hourly news broadcasts into Zimbabwe in 2003 under a programme called Studio 7. The two stations, whose reporters operate under cover, became the only alternatives to the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation. Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa had publicly warned Jackson and other journalists working on the two stations that the "comfort" of Zimbabwe's jails "await to welcome you" whenever they returned to their motherland. Chinese experts had been working on the programme for more than a year. Jackson said her organisation's transmission experts were trying other shortwave alternatives and medium wave bands, which were more difficult to interfere with. This article was originally published on page 2 of The Mercury on March 14, 2005 (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ZIMBABWE PRIVATE RADIO 'JAMMED' http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4346971.stm Parliamentary elections are due to take place on 31 March --- SW Radio Africa, a private radio station broadcasting to Zimbabwe, said its broadcasts from the UK were being jammed by the government. Listeners in Zimbabwe have not been able to receive the station for a week, station founder Gerry Jackson said. "Our communications provider said they have rarely experienced such efficient jamming," she added. The government denies the accusations, a state run newspaper reports. Only state-controlled media are allowed to broadcast in Zimbabwe. Ms Jackson set up a radio station in Harare in 2000 but it was immediately closed down by the police. 'Frightened' The BBC said it had not received reports that World Service broadcasts were being affected by the alleged jamming. The station has been broadcasting over three frequencies to circumvent the jamming. "It takes them just 60 seconds to jam us," Ms Jackson said. "There's someone out there who is frightened of our broadcasts." SW Radio Africa started up in London in 2002, to avoid President Robert Mugabe's media crackdown (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) CHINESE INVOLVEMENT IN JAMMING OUR SIGNAL? Although they won't admit it, government is deliberately jamming our Short Wave signal into Zimbabwe. For over a week now listeners have complained of a loud sound drowning out daily broadcasts. Technical feedback says the jammer has a low undertone modulated signal, then another one that cycles exactly every 60 seconds from a high to a low pitched screeching tone. It sounds like a firework rocket going off. We have been broadcasting on multiple frequencies to try to overcome this and have found two frequencies are being jammed at the same time. It would now appear that government has paid for the construction of two shortwave transmitters. You need a transmitter for each frequency you want to block. In a Sunday Mail opinion piece the government denied jamming our signal and instead of reinforcing their denial, labelled us a station sponsored by ex-Rhodesians, illegally transmitting pro-opposition and imperialist propaganda. Facts on the ground confirm that we are indeed being jammed. Newsreel spoke to listeners in different parts of the country and here is the evidence. Baba Chaminuka in Mutare explained to Newsreel how difficult it has been to receive our signal ever since Monday last week. He says its hard to hear a broadcast for more than 30 minutes without interference. A Zimbabwean journalist for the Independent newspaper group, Basildon Peta, who is also a regular listener, says the Chinese have been working closely with government to block our signal. The media clampdown covers more than just our broadcasts. The MDC has complained ZBC deliberately gave the wrong time slot for the presentation of their manifesto and made sure the television signal was not clear in most parts of Gweru and Mutare. There was also no signal in Bulawayo altogether during the manifesto presentation. According to Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings spokesperson, Jeniffer Tanyanyiwa, the loss of signal was the responsibility of Transmedia Corporation, a government owned entity. She denied that ZBC had anything to do with the problem. Soon after the MDC manifesto presentation on radio, Zanu PF propaganda songs were played. The ZBC tried to justify their actions by saying the MDC programmes were shorter than the time allocated to them and so filler music had to be added at the end (SWRA website March 14 via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Digital transmission on BC band. No idea from which country that unwanted digital powerful signal originate, midst on bc band like on 9701-9702 and 11717-11719.5 kHz, wide 3.5 kHz each at around 0920 and 0940 UT. Dit selection more clear in the lsb mode / Sync reception mode (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, wwdxc BC-DX March 10 via DXLD) Not DRM, I assume (gh) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ 18th WINTER SWL FESTIVAL REPORT "It was another grand party with about 160 hobbyists in attendance. The 18th Winter SWL Festival is now in the history books. The usual good time was had by all and there were no arrests this year! Congratulations to co-chairs Rich Cuff and John Figliozzi along with a volunteer cast of thousands that made the show a smooth, well-oiled machine. This was another truly outstanding event and these gents and all the folks that help put this great gathering together deserve a big thank you for doing what they do. THANK YOU! Congratulations to Sheryl Paszkiewicz who was honored by the Executive Council for the 2005 William P. Eddings Award as the NASWA Member of the Year. Harold Cones made the announcement of the award at the Winter SWL Festival banquet in recognition of her many contributions to the club over the years as a contributor, and editor and finally as a pioneer in launching the weekly electronic Flashsheet. Her dedication, leadership and expertise have been essential to the club and the shortwave listening hobby. The selection of Sheryl Paszkiewicz by our Executive Council for this honor is well deserved. Harold was a busy man announcing myself as the recipient of the Don Jensen Distinguished Service Award on behalf of the Association of North American Radio Clubs. It was a well-kept secret and I was rather surprised. Thanks to the ANARC Club Representatives but more importantly thank you to all the great people I come into contact with on a daily basis through the shortwave listening hobby. It's the people that make the extra effort worth doing (Rich D'Angelo, NASWA Executive Director, NASWA Flashsheet March 13 via DXLD) EDITORIAL: Congratulations on another successful and well organized and run SWL Winter Festival. I am delighted to hear that everyone enjoyed themselves and that it was so well attended. "Congratulations!" Rich on receiving the 'Don Jensen Distinguished Service Award." You well deserve it. I agree with you whole-heartedly when you say it's the wonderful people you meet in the hobby that makes the 'extra effort' well worth doing. And a hearty "Congratulations!" to Sheryl Paszkiewicz on receiving the 2005 William P. Eddings Award. A more worthy recipient could never be found! And I consider it an honor and a privilege to be your successor as the editor of the NASWA Electronic Flashsheet. As Rich indicated, I'm meeting the most wondeful people in the hobby through this most enjoyable job (Ray Bauernhuber, Whitestone NY, ibid.) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ DRAKE R8B [and others?] DISCONTINUED Rumours have been that Drake was discontinuing the R8B. Today, Universal has it as so in the description of the R8B: http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/commrxvr/0082.html "Drake has discontinued the R8B. No replacement is currently planned. Universal Radio has a very small quantity left in stock". (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, USA, March 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The word from another SWL e-group is that the Drake R8B and ICOM IC- R75 have both been discontinued. Universal Radio's website confirms this for the R8B (Harold Sellers, Ont., March 14, ODXA via DXLD) R8B listed on the Drake web site as "limited availability, consult your Drake dealer today". Used to be a link for direct sales. Also missing, any indication of the existence of the Satellit 800 which used to be sold through the web site (Jay Heyl, NRC-AM via DXLD) ###