DX LISTENING DIGEST 5-046, March 16, 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 AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1267: Wed 2300 WOR WBCQ 7415 17495-CUSB [first airing of each edition] Thu 0900 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.2 [1000 from March 24; also weekend repeats TBA] Thu 1700 WOR WBCQ after hours Thu 2130 WOR WWCR 15825 Fri 0100 WOR WTND-LP 106.3 Macomb IL [NEW] Fri 0200 WOR ACBRadio Mainstream [repeated 2-hourly thru 2400] Fri 0930 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.2 [1030 from March 25; also weekend repeats TBA] Fri 1700 WOR WBCQ after hours Sat 0000 WOR Studio X, Momigno, Italy 1584 87.35 96.55 105.55 Sat 0000 WOR ACBRadio Mainstream Sat 0630 WOR SIUE WEB RADIO [following 1266 at 0600 this week] Sat 0900 WOR WRN1 to Eu, Au, NZ, WorldSpace AfriStar, AsiaStar, Telstar 12 SAm Sat 0955 WOR WNQM Nashville TN 1300 Sat 1130 WOR WWCR 5070 Sat 2030 WOR R. Lavalamp Sun 0330 WOR WWCR 5070 Sun 0400 WOR WBCQ 9330-CLSB Sun 0430 WOR WRMI 7385 Sun 0730 WOR WWCR 3210 Sun 0930 WOR WRN1 to North America, also WLIO-TV Lima OH SAP Sun 0930 WOR KSFC Spokane WA 91.9 Sun 0930 WOR WXPN Rhinelander WI 91.7 91.9 100.9 Sun 0930 WOR WDWN Auburn NY 89.1 [unconfirmed] Sun 0930 WOR KTRU Houston TX 91.7 [occasional] Sun 1030 WOR WRMI 9955 Sun 1100 WOR R. Lavalamp Sun 1300 WOR WRMI 7385 Sun 1400 WOR KRFP-LP Moscow ID 92.5 Sun 1500 WOR R. Lavalamp Sun 1700 COM WBCQ after hours Sun 2000 WOR Studio X, Momigno, Italy 1584 87.35 96.55 105.55 Sun 2100 WOR RNI Mon 0330 WOR WRMI 7385 Mon 0400 WOR WBCQ 9330-CLSB Mon 0430 WOR WSUI Iowa City IA 910 [1266] Mon 0530 WOR WBCQ 7415 Mon 0900 WOR R. Lavalamp Mon 1000 WOR WRMI 9955 Mon 1700 WOR WBCQ after hours Tue 0700 WOR WPKN Bridgeport CT 89.5 Tue 1700 WOR WBCQ after hours Wed 1030 WOR WWCR 9985 Wed 1700 WOR WBCQ after hours MORE info including audio links: http://worldofradio.com/radioskd.html WRN ON DEMAND [from Friday]: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also for CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL] [from early UT Thursday] WORLD OF RADIO 1267 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1267h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1267h.rm WORLD OF RADIO 1267 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1267.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1267.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1267.html [from Thursday] WORLD OF RADIO 1267 in the true shortwave sound of 7415 [projected]: (stream) http://www.piratearchive.com/media/worldofradio_03-16-05.m3u (d`load) http://www.piratearchive.com/media/worldofradio_03-16-05.mp3 CONTINENT OF MEDIA 05-03, from March 15: (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/com0503.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/com0503.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/com0503.html ** ALAND. The "original" Aland station on 603 is scheduled to be back on the air within the next weeks. License owner Roy Sandgren via SWEDX mailing list, 15 March: Viktigt meddelande --- tester på 603 Kz i början av April Important message --- Tests on 603 khz first part of April. Från Roy From Roy http://www.amradio.se/index.html (via Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, mwdx yg via DXLD) New chapter in AM603 soap opera The licence of 576 is not finished yet. Not before May. Several radiostations want the licence. Spenser can not get his own licence. He has to hire airtime from the licence holders of 603 or 756 kHz. In Easter we will test the back-up transmitter, then we go to Åland. We got a 5 watt, 1.5 kW, 7.5 kW and a 50 kW (Roy Sandgren, Radio Scandinavia 603 AM http://www.amradio.se Closed down soon March 15, HCDX via DXLD) ** BANGLADESH. R. Bangladesh [sic], English 1230-1300 and 1815-1900: All begin with news and commentary, then: Mon: Magazine programme Prism Tue: Radio Newsreel, Song Wed: Sports Review, Song Thu: Magazine Programme Panorama Fri: From You to Us – replies to Listeners Mail (2nd & 4th week), Talk, Interview, Features (except 2nd and 4th week) Sat: Economic Review, Song Sun: Press Comments, Song Voice of Islam, in English 1745-1815: Recitation from the Holy Qur`an with translations in English, Al-Hadith, talk, Naat-e-rasul, devotional song, reading from Islamic Publications. All on 7185 (Richard Read via Mike Barraclough, March World DX Club Contact via DXLD) And 4808?? ** CANADA. CBC CHAIR CAROLE TAYLOR RESIGNS WebPosted Mon Mar 14 17:05:52 2005 Toronto --- The chair[being] of the CBC and Radio-Canada announced her resignation Monday. In a prepared statement, Carole Taylor said she was leaving the post immediately and would "return to my community and offer to serve the people of British Columbia." She gave no reason for the resignation. However, B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell said Taylor will seek the Liberal nomination for the riding of Vancouver-Langara in the May 17 provincial election. Taylor was appointed in late 2001. During her term, she introduced new conflict of interest guidelines for members of the CBC board and put through a new policy on whistleblowers. In her statement, Taylor said the public broadcaster needs improved and stable funding to produce quality work. "One cannot demand professionalism, exceptional quality and good business practice if we don't know, moment to moment, how much money we have or when our next cut is coming," she wrote. In a statement, CBC President Robert Rabinovitch said Taylor would be missed. "Her people and problem-solving skills have contributed immensely to strengthening the working relationship between the board and management and to instilling a climate of trust and confidence," he said. "She made sure that decisions were in the best interest of the Corporation by asking the right questions." Before becoming chair, Taylor worked in the media for more than 20 years, at CBC and CTV. Taylor was an independent member of Vancouver city council in the 1980s for two terms and is married to former Vancouver mayor Art Phillips. She also served as governor of the Council for Canadian Unity and chair of the Vancouver Board of Trade. Copyright (C) 2005 CBC. All rights reserved. (CBC Arts via Bruce MacGibbon, DXLD) ** CHINA. I won a second prize for the CRI Quiz 2005. I have not opened it yet because it has got nice red China ribbons. If anyone knows what I have won I`ll be obliged (G. Skinner, Making Contact, March World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** CONGO DR [non]. Ciao! Ce matin, j'ai écouté Radio Okapi avec un trés bon signal, émission intéressante. Entre 0400 et 0500 UTC sur 11690 kHz. J'ai envoyé un E-mail, peut être une QSL bientôt ? info@hirondelle.org Voilà pour cette fois, A bientôt, Ciao et 73's Christian Ghibaudo Radio Okapi Fondation Hirondelle 3, Rue Traversière CH 1018-Lausanne (Suisse) Tel +41 21 647 28 05 Fax +41 21 647 44 69 info@hirondelle.org http://www.radiookapi.net/ (Christian Ghibaudo, France, via Dario Monferini, March 15, playdx via DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC [and non]. RADIO PRAGUE - SUMMER PERIOD 2005 UTC kHz m kW Area CZECH 0830 - 0857 11600 25 100 S.W. Europe 15710 19 100 E.Africa/ Mi. East 0930 - 0957 21745 13 100/100 S. Asia/ W. Africa 1100 - 1127 11615 25 100 N. Europe 15710 19 100 S. Asia 1230 - 1257 6055 49 100 C. Europe 7345 41 100 W. Europe 1330 - 1357 13580 22 100 N. Europe 21745 13 100 E. Africa 1530 - 1557 5930 49 100 W. Europe 17485 16 100 E. Africa 1730 - 1757 5930 49 100 E.Europe/Asia/Australia 17485 16 100 C. Africa 1930 - 1957 5930 49 100 W. Europe 11600 25 100 S.& E. Asia/ Australia 2100 - 2127 9800 31 100 C. Africa 11600 25 100 S.W.Europe/ S.America 2330 - 2357 7345 41 100 S. America 9440 31 100 N. America 0130 - 0157 6200 49 100 N. America 7345 41 100 S. America 0230 - 0257 7345 41 100 N. America 9870 31 100 ENGLISH 0700 - 0727 9880 31 100 N.W. Europe 11600 25 100 0900 - 0929 21745 13 100/100 S. Asia/ W. Africa 1030 - 1057 9880 31 100 N. Europe 11615 25 100 N.W. Europe 1300 - 1329 13580 22 100 N. Europe 21745 13 100 E. Africa 1600 - 1627 5930 49 100 N.W. Europe 17485 16 100 E. Africa 1700 - 1727 5930 49 100 N.W. Europe 17485 16 100 C. Africa 2000 - 2027 5930 49 100 N.W. Europe 11600 25 100 S.& E. Asia/ Australia 2130 - 2157 9800 31 100 C. Africa 11600 25 100 N. America 2230 - 2257 7345 41 100 N. America 9415 31 100 0000 - 0027 7345 41 100 N. America 9440 31 100 0100 - 0127 6200 49 100 N. America 7345 41 100 0300 - 0327 7345 41 100 N. America 9870 31 100 0330 - 0357 9445 31 100 Mi. East/ S.W. Asia 11600 25 100 FRENCH 0600 - 0627 5930 49 100 W. Europe 7345 41 100 S.W. Europe 0730 - 0757 9880 31 100 W. Europe 11600 25 100 S.W. Europe 1630 - 1657 5930 49 100 W. Europe 17485 16 100 C. Africa 1830 - 1857 5930 49 100 W. Europe 13580 22 100 W.Africa/ S.W.Europe 2200 - 2227 7345 41 100 N. America 9415 31 100 GERMAN 0630 - 0657 5930 49 100 W. Europe 7345 41 100 Europe 1000 - 1027 6055 49 100 C. Europe 9880 31 100 W. Europe 1200 - 1229 6055 49 100 C. Europe 7345 41 100 W. Europe 1500 - 1527 5930 49 100 W. Europe 1630 - 1657 11810 25 250 W. Europe * RUSSIAN 0400 - 0427 9445 31 100 E. Europe 11600 25 100 E. Europe / S.W. Asia 1130 - 1157 11615 25 100 E. Europe 15710 19 100 E. Europe / S.W. Asia 1430 - 1457 9410 31 100 E. Europe 13580 22 100 E. Europe / S.W. Asia 1800 - 1827 7390 41 250 E. Europe *** SPANISH 0800 - 0827 11600 25 100 S.W. Europe 15710 19 100 1400 - 1427 11625 25 100 S.W. Europe 13580 22 100 1800 - 1827 5930 49 100 S.W. Europe 13580 22 100 1900 - 1927 5930 49 100 S.W. Europe 13580 22 100 2030 - 2057 5930 49 100 S.W. Europe 11600 25 100 S.W. Europe (S.America) 2300 - 2327 7345 41 100 S. America 9440 31 100 0000 - 0027 11665 25 100 S. America ** 0030 - 0057 7345 41 100 C. America 9440 31 100 S. America 0200 - 0227 6200 49 100 C. America 7345 41 100 S. America Transmitters at Litomysl 16E10 49N48 * Relayed via Krasnodar, 39E00 45N02 ** Relayed via Ascension, 14W23 07S54 *** Relayed via Novosibirsk, 82E58 55N04 SATELLITE TRANSMISSIONS for Europe via Czechlink All programmes listed in the shortwave schedule with the exception of English at 0000 UT, French at 1630 and Spanish at 1800 can be heard in Europe from the Eurobird 1 satellite: Program UTC Satellite CZECH Eurobird 1, 28.5 deg. East, Transponder F3 GERMAN 12.607 GHz, Polarisation: horizontal ENGLISH see Symbol rate: 27.5 Msym/s, FEC 3/4 SPANISH shortwave Select CRo6/CRo7 FRENCH Radio Prague programmes RUSSIAN are in the right channel. SATELLITE TRANSMISSIONS via World Radio Network Program UTC Satellite / Transmitter ENGLISH 0900 - 0930 Eutelsat Hotbird 6, 13 deg. East, 12.597 GHz for Transponder 94, Vertical, 27500 Msym/s Europe FEC 3/4, DVB MPEG2 Select Audio Channel WRN English ENGLISH 0900 - 0930 SKY digital EPG channel 872 for Eurobird 1, 28.5 deg. East, 11.585 GHz UK & Ireland Transponder D7S, Horizontal, 27.500 Msym/s FEC 2/3, DVB MPEG2 ENGLISH 0200 - 0230 Intelsat Americas 5, 97deg. West, 12.177 GHz for Transponder 27, Vertical, 23000 Msym/s N. America FEC 2/3, DVB MPEG2, Service ID 14 Select Audio Channel WRN1 English LOCAL AM TRANSMISSIONS via World Radio Network Program UTC kHz Area RUSSIAN 0400 - 0430 684 St. Petersburg For transmission times and details of other Radio Prague programmes on WRN see: http://www.wrn.org/listeners/schedules/ LOCAL FM TRANSMISSIONS Program UTC Frequency Area ENGLISH 1707 - 1722 92.6 MHz Prague & Centr. Bohemia Mon-Thu Valid: 27 March 2005 - 29 October 2005 UTC = Greenwich Mean Time (R Prague via Andreas Volk-D, ADDX Mar 6 via BCDX via DXLD; Michael Bethge via Wolfgang Bueschel via Andreas Volk via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, March 10, dxldyg via DXLD) ** ECUADOR [non]. U.K.: Frequency change for HCJB in Russian via RMP 500 kW / 061 deg: 1700-1730 NF 9740 (55555), ex 11760 (Observer, Bulgaria, March 15 via DXLD) ** EGYPT. NEW CHIEF NAMED FOR STATE RADIO | Text of report in English by Egyptian news agency MENA Cairo, 16 March: Egyptian Information Minister Anas al-Fiqi appointed Inas Jawhar as chief of the Egyptian radio on Wednesday [16 March]. Jawhar succeeds Umar Battisha, who completes his term of duty on Thursday. Source: MENA news agency, Cairo, in English 1527 gmt 16 Mar 05 (via BBCM v ia DXLD) ** GUATEMALA. 4052.47, R. Verdad. Got another e-mail from Edgar Madrid saying he replaced a burned out transistor in a module and is back to full power of 950 watts. Apparently the transmitter/antenna are in a high risk area for lightning. They’ve been hit several times in the past. Oh, and the usual engineer that Dr. Madrid relies on has died. Fortunately he can get help from another engineer if need be (Dave Valko, Jihad-DX via March NZ DX Times via DXLD) ** HUNGARY. Summer A-05 schedule fo Radio Budapest (# via Rimavska Sobota): English to Eu 1500-1528 Sun 6025 9655* * ex 9715 for A-04 1900-1928 Daily 3975 6025 2100-2128 Daily 6025# English to SoAf 2100-2128 Daily 9525* * ex 11830 for A-04 English to NoAm 0100-0128 Daily 9590 0230-0258 Daily 9795* * ex 9790 for A-04 German to Eu 1200-1258 Sun 6025# 7220 1400-1458 Sun 6025# 7160 1700-1758 Sun 3975 6025# 1730-1758 Mon-Sat 3975 6025# 1930-1958 Mon-Sat 3975 6025# French to Eu 1600-1628 Daily 6025# 9685* * ex 3975 fro A-04 2000-2028 Daily 3975* 6025 * ex 9585 for A-04 Hungarian to Eu 0400-1058 Sun 6025 (relay Kossuth R) 0400-1558 Mon-Sat 6025 (relay Kossuth R) 1100-1158 Sun 6025 1300-1358 Sun 6025 1800-1858 Daily 3975 6025 2200-2258 Daily 6025 Hungarian to NoAm 0000-0058 Daily 9770* * ex 9800 for A-04 0130-0228 Daily 9820* * ex 9570 for A-04 2000-2058 Daily 11695* * ex 15185 for A-04 Hungarian to SoAm 2200-2258 Daily 9850 12030* * ex 11990 for A-04 2300-2358 Sun 9850 12030* * ex 11990 for A-04 Hungarian to AUS 1100-1158 Daily 21590* * ex 21560 for A-04 1800-1858 Daily 11990 Hungarian to SoAf 1700-1758 Daily 15335 Italian to Eu 1630-1658 Daily 3975* 6025 * ex 9525 for A-04 2030-2058 Daily 3975 6025 Russian to Eu 0300-0328 Daily 3975 6025# 1530-1558 Sun 6025 9690* * ex 9740 for A-04 1700-1728 Mon-Sat 6025# 9855* * ex 9650 for A-04 1930-1958 Sun 3975 6025# Spanish to Eu 0330-0358 Daily 3975 6025# 2130-2158 Daily 6025# 7250* * ex 11890 for A-04 (Observer, Bulgaria, March 15 via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM [and non]. END OF RADIO? BANISH BAD RADIO INSTEAD! --- COMMENTARY By Gary Krakow, Columnist, MSNBC Updated: 3:45 p.m. ET March 11, 2005 The headline on the March issue of Wired proclaims `The End of Radio.` Inside are stories on the satellite radio wars, the coming digital radio boom plus radio recording devices and even podcasting. I disagree with the whole premise. Radio isn't ending -- all that's happening is we're getting more of it. And while the options may be better, sound quality is being sacrificed. Let me explain. As I think we can all agree, commercial broadcast radio in the United States, for the most part, sucks. AM radio has been relegated to talk and FM stations play music — of sorts. Stations are Xerox copies of similar stations, playing the same songs over and over again. Satellite radio partially solves this by giving you a huge choice of stations: Songs from every decade, genre, style and persuasion are available on both XM and Sirius services. Your choices are amazing, but what about the audio quality? Satellite radio sound is, at best, barely passable. That’s because your satellite service provider sends only one digital signal to your receiver. The receiver then splits that signal into hundreds of audio streams: some, for voice, very narrow; others, for music, a little wider. I’ve been told these streams run from a few KB for voice to something like 30 to 50KB for music. A typical music satellite radio station is thus compressed and expanded at a much lower rate than many MP3s. A reader will write me to defend the sound of a 128KB music file (it`s not near-CD quality despite what anyone tells you) but I can’t believe anyone can defend the sound quality of a 36KB satellite radio music stream. Compare that to the way a good FM station can and does sound. It’s not even close. It`s like the difference between hearing a symphony in a recital hall versus listening outdoors on a transistor radio. These days, a low-end satellite receiver will set you back $100. For the same price you can get a Tivoli table radio which sounds 1,000 percent better than any music stream from either of the two satellite companies. There are probably at least one or two FM stations in your area which transmit a great signal and music you want to hear. They’re worth seeking out. Public radio, college and classical stations sound best here in New York City. Then there`s the programming. Satellite radio companies have hired famous FM radio programmers from the past. In some cases, these are the same geniuses who are responsible for perfecting today`s horrible broadcast radio formats. That means satellite music streams, while diverse, can also be monotonous, repetitive and just plain boring. There are some notable exceptions: David Johansen's `Mansion of Fun` radio show heard on "Sirius Disorder" Friday afternoons, Broadway tunes via XM`s "On Broadway" and ``Broadway`s Best" on Sirius, or listening to three of the original MTV VJs, Mark Goodman, Alan Hunter and Nina Blackwood on Sirius’ "Big 80s" channel. RELATED STORY Cooper: Why I love satellite radio Here’s what the industry wants you to get excited about: digital broadcast radio or HD (high definition) radio. It’s the worst of both worlds: Bad FM programming plus satellite-like digital audio quality. FM stations in your area will simulcast a digital signal in addition to the analog one you can listen to. Bottom line: It means that you’ll be able to listen to mediocre-sounding digital music streams of the same horrible FM stations you can’t stand to listen to now. And for this privilege the industry expects you to buy a new HD radio receiver. The car model discussed in Wired magazine, for example, lists for $850. I say, let`s wait to make broadcast radio digital. Let's wait until the commercial programming and digital technology improve. In the meantime, we have some great programming via satellite — and there are still beautiful sounds plus innovative programming available on analog FM. Maybe we can find a way to merge everything into a great product. It`s not the end of radio. Radio is hopefully just beginning to reinvent itself. © 2005 MSNBC Interactive (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) While I'm not familiar with the technical parameters of XM's audio, I would agree that based on personal experience (I have been using a Roady2 for several months) the audio quality on music channels is not quite up to snuff, at least to my ears. However I believe the assertion that the audio is comparable to a 128KB MP3 audio file is a bit of an exaggeration. BTW: I just got my notice in the mail last week regarding XM's rate increase to $12.95/month. Existing users can lock in to the current rate structure ($9.95/month), if they pre-pay for a year or more. 73, (Ken Kopp, KS, ibid.) COMMERCIAL RADIO TAKES A BIG HIT FROM HIGH-TECH --- By Dave Watson Publish Date: 10-Mar-2005 Rod Filbrandt illustration Is commercial radio on its last legs? It could be. The same forces eroding TV broadcasting are nibbling away at radio. What forces would those be? The Internet, of course, but also digitization in general and the scarce resource of the usable broadcast spectrum, which is now coveted for other uses. And let’s give proper credit to the big- business side of radio, which has massively consolidated individual stations into a predictable, insipid, and irritating waste of time... http://www.straight.com/content.cfm?id=8563 (Georgia Straight [BC], via Bruce MacGibbon, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. Re WorldSpace going to subscription: IT STINKS. Worldspace was originally set up, so we were told, as a charitable organisation to broadcast to the poorer countries of Africa, Asia, and eventually S America. Now that Worldspace has sold the receivers it seems that this was a front for what has become capitalist exploitation of those poorer areas of the world. WRN should be ashamed to part of this exploitation. Those of us in the richer countries are less affected where WRN is available by FTA satellite, and terrestrial AM or FM relays or are those to be encrypted as well? Rgds, (Gareth Foster, March 15, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** JAPAN. The latest Radio Japan bulletin entitled NHK World News will be the last issue. This publication has in the past covered news in English and Japanese on programmes on Radio Japan and TV. R. Japan will be celebrating their 70th anniversary in June this year (Michael Murray, UK, Making Contact, March World DX Club Contact via DXLD) Originally Radio Tokyo, from the Empire (gh) ** KOREA NORTH. Just when I said 30 and 35 MHz were dead they have jumped back to life. Here's what I heard today: 35205v, V. of Korea. Out of the noise at 0200z with interval signal, and at a poor level but there! No sign of it shortly after. H3 3 x 11735. 37380.2v, V. of Korea H4 4 x 9345. my first log of this, in this out of the way, part of the band. My best hunting grounds are usually around 30 and 35 MHz. Heard at 0235z at thresh-hold with typical QSB. Couldn't tell the language, but had it on the R75 and R7000. Checked for H2 18690 no audio heard and H3 28035 no audio heard. It was drifting as I was listening to it. 73's (Dave Vitek, Adelaide, South Australia, Icom R75 G5RV and Icom R7000 6 element on 50 MHz and a broken NRD525 VFO does not work! March 15, harmonics yg via DXLD) ** LATVIA. EMR this weekend: 20th of March 2005 [Sunday] On 9290 kHz, 1600 UT [until?]. Good Listening 73s (Tom Taylor, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LATVIA. Radio Nord in Riga on 945 is planning to start with DRM broadcast during the night hours from July/August. The daytime transmissions will continue to be exclusively in analogue mode. (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, March 15, mwdx yg via DXLD) ** MEXICO. 2390, R. Huayacocotla, Mar 5 0045 - Frequent IDs in the middle of brass marching band style music. Signoff announcements starting at 0056 with trumpets, IDs and children singing. (Harold Cones, Bodie Island NC, OBX DX via dxing.info via DXLD) So still on ** MOLDOVA. A-05 remaining services via Maiac Grigoriopol-MDA, some vailed brokered by VT-Merlin. 5950 1700-2100 28S,38 KCH 500 180 MDA VOR GFC 7180 0000-0500 27N KCH 500 310 MDA VOR GFC 7350 2000-2200 27,28 KCH 300 310 MDA VOR GFC 7360 2000-2200 28 KCH 500 309 MDA YFR GFC 7460 0230-0315 39-41 KCH 500 116 MDA MNO GFC 7480 1800-1845 40 KCH 500 116 MDA MNO GFC 9665 0000-0500 8,9,11,27 KCH 500 295 MDA VOR GFC 11530 0400-0800 39 KCH 300 116 Kur MDA MEZ TDP 11530 0400-1600 39,40 KCH 500 115 MDA TDP GFC 11530 0800-1200 39 KCH 300 116 Kur MDA MEZ TDP 11530 1200-1600 39 KCH 500 116 Kur MDA MEZ TDP 13800 1630-1715 39,40 KCH 500 116 MDA MNO GFC (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX Mar 9 via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. Further to the comments by GH in DXLD 5-045, "So that explains what replaces 1512 with the demise of RVi!", those who read my Feedback page published on the website on 8th March will already have seen the following: "Regarding the transmissions on 1512 kHz, that service will indeed end on 26 March. From 27 March, we will broadcast at 2300-2400 UT via Radio Sweden's transmitter on 1179 kHz. This is an interim solution, as we want to be on the air at an earlier time, but at the moment we can't find an alternative. Unfortunately, due to government budget cuts, we don't have the money to buy an hour a day of airtime, and we have to find another broadcaster with whom we can exchange airtime, as we did with Radio Vlaanderen Internationaal. We are, of course, also on the air via WRN on the Sky Digital satellite platform, the same transmission that's currently being relayed by Spectrum Radio." (Andy Sennitt, March 15, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) So apparently the single hour of airtime currently used by RNW at Hörby will be relocated to Sölvesborg 1179 kHz. But I am quite surprised about the time chosen for this broadcast, not less than two hours later than the current late night slot. 2300 UT will be midnight in the UK, probably just acceptable as a very late show. But in Central Europe this will be at 1 AM, really at dead of night I would say. Andy, perhaps you have a comment on this? And Glenn: Why in the world 666 kHz?! All the best, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. I had written off my local KGWA 960 since they dropped Jim Bohannon, but a current newspaper ad shows him back on the schedule, live at 0307 UT weeknights – and so he is. All the other syndicated talk shows on KGWA remain far-right extremists, felons (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. The time is 0515 UT. The last few nights I've noticed that RWM is coming in far better than usual on 9996 KC. Tonight it's the best I've ever heard it. BEST in CW mode with a narrow CW filter as they ID in CW and the time pips is also CW. AND if you are persistent it is possible to get a QSL from them too. (It took me a long time to get it). 73 de (Phil, KO6BB, Atchley, 991 Different NDB's heard to date. http://www.geocities.com/ko6bb/ Merced, Central California, 37.3N 120.48W CM97sh March 16, swl at qth.net via DXLD) ** SAINT HELENA. ST HELENA PREPARES TO SEE THE FLIGHTS Kirsty Scott, Tuesday March 15, 2005, The Guardian (London, U.K.) It beguiled Charles Darwin and bedevilled Napoleon, who spent his last years in lonely exile on its remote, rocky shores. Now the fortunes of the tiny sub-tropical island of St Helena, a speck in the South Atlantic some 2,000km west of Africa, are to be transformed by a new government funded multi-million pound airport. . . http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,5148200-108958,00.html (via Dan Say, DXLD) ** SWEDEN. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :: MediaScan SWEDEN CALLING DXERS from Radio Sweden :: Edition 2490 – March 16, 2005 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Electronic media news from Radio Sweden. Editor: George Wood Packet Radio BID SCDX2490 MediaScan blog: http://mediascan.org Contributions to: media @ radiosweden.org All times UTC unless otherwise noted. All modes MPEG-2 unless otherwise noted. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Well, I'm still not able to do a proper job with MediaScan, but here's the new Radio Sweden schedule. Please note the new program line-up. We've got some other stuff in the works. We've been promised RSS feeds of our news in English and German sometime this week. Since the week is already half over (and originally we were supposed to get it last week, don't hold your breath. But I'll send out a new mailer when it actually shows up with the correct URL. Also, our mother company Sveriges Radio is investigating Podcasting. But we can't wait and we're starting our own experiments. This may take awhile to get working, but if nothing else, if you want to listen to us in mp3 rather than RealAudio, on a sporadic basis, try something like: http://radiosweden.og/20050315.mp3 Try plugging in today's or yesterday's date, and if there's a file you can download it. When we get the podcasting up and running you'll be able to subscribe to our programs just like you would subscribe to an RSS feed. For more information on podcasting see http://ipogger.org Radio Sweden's English Schedule --- Here is the upcoming Radio Sweden English broadcast schedule for the period beginning March 27, 2005 (all times UTC unless otherwise indicated): Europe and Africa/Middle East: Satellite: Via Hot Bird 6 (13 E), digital MPEG-2, 12.597 GHz/V, 27500 VPID 8225, Transponder 94 daily at 1330, weekdays at 1630 and weekdays at 1730 hrs UTC. Also at 0030 and 1830 on WRN´s English channel on the same transponder and on SkyDigital channel 872 on Astra 2 (28 E). To Africa via satellite at 1330 and 2330 hrs UTC on Intelsat 707 (1 W), 3.9115 GHz in MPEG-2, Audio stream WRN English, on WorldSpace AfriStar channel 627 and in South Africa on SAfm at 0230 hrs UTC. Shortwave: 1230-1300 15735 (70 ) 1330-1400 15735 (85 ) 1630-1700 SAT Mondays-Friday 1730-1800 6065 (140 -240 ) and MW 1179 Mondays-Saturdays 1900-1930 MW 1179 Mondays-Saturdays 1930-2000 6065 (140 -240 ) 2130-2200 6065 (140 -240 ), 7420 (70 ) via Madagascar and MW 1179 Asia/Pacific: Satellite: 1330 and 2330 hrs UTC via WRN on AsiaSat-2 on 4.000 GHz/V, MPEG-2 DVB Audio stream WRN English, Worldspace AsiaStar channel 1302. (UTC + 10 h Sydney, + 9 h Tokyo, + 8 h Beijing, + 5,5 New Delhi, + 3 Nairobi). Shortwave: 0130-0200 9435 (50 ) via Madagascar 1230-1300 13580 (40 ) and 15735 (70 ) 1330-1400 15735 (85 ) North America: Satellite: Daily at 0130, 0930 and 2030 EST, and Monday to Friday at 1400 EST via WRN on Intelsat Americas 5 (97 W) on 12.177 GHz/V (transponder 27), SR 23,000, FEC 2/3, WRN1 (English), and Sirius Satellite Radio on Stream 115. Across Canada on CBC Overnight 2:05 AM local time (weekend times may vary) Shortwave: 0130-0200 6010 (240 ) via Sackville 0230-0300 6010 (268 ) via Sackville 1230-1300 15240 (305 ) 1330-1400 15240 (272 ) via Sackville You can listen to our daily program in RealAudio at: http://www.sr.se/rs/diverse/AppData/Eng/sounds/english.ram Or download from: http://www.sr.se/laddahem/rs/aktuell/engakt.rm Programming: Radio Sweden’s weekday and weekend programming is a window on the diverse perspectives and issues in Sweden today. Our daily editions offer a smorgasbord of news and current affairs, science and technology, lifestyle, and culture. We explore, debate, analyse and give insight into the way Swedish society and its people are changing to meet today’s challenges and opportunities. Weekday features Monday: Culture Tuesday: Knowledge Wednesday: Real Life Thursday: Lifestyle Friday: Debate Weekend programming: Saturdays: Headset (1st), Sweden Today (2nd), InTouch (3rd), Studio49 (4th) Sundays: Network Europe - The program that speaks to the hearts & minds of Europeans brought to you by Radio Sweden and a partnership of Europe’s leading international broadcasters (SCDX/MediaScan March 16 via DXLD) ** SWITZERLAND. SRI programs ``return`` -- There's this little "P.S." at the end of the greeting that accompanies the weekly e-mail from swissinfo.org "P.S. This week, swissinfo launches its revamped MP3 website, containing a selection of programmes, reports and interviews from the archives of Swiss Radio International, including SRI's final broadcasts. Click on the banner to take a trip down memory lane." It occurs to me that the only thing wrong with this is that it shouldn't be a trip down memory lane. If you never were fortunate to hear SRI in its heyday, after listening to these archives you'll understand what I'm saying (John Figliozzi, Halfmoon, NY, March 15, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [and non]. BBC WS TO FURTHER REDUCE FREQUENCIES TO THE AMERICAS WITH A-05 SCHEDULE I was aware this was forthcoming; thanks to Kim Elliott for flagging the specific link. Remarkable that the BBC somehow can't fund a transmitter for an hour (0100-0200) somewhere that could reach Eastern North America...such as WYFR (which they already use) or WHRI (the old WSHB). Even at $100/transmitter-hour this would cost $36,500 for the year. See http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/schedules/frequencies/index.shtml for the notice; here are the new frequencies as of the A-05 changeover: [with site comments by gh; 6195, 15190, 5975, Antigua mainstays until now will presumably be Guiana French, Bonaire?] To the Caribbean: 6195 1000-1100 UT 11865 1100-1300 15190 1300-1400 11675 2100-2130 15390 2100-2200 [with Carib Report 2115; Greenville?] 5975 2200-0100 To Central America: 5975 0300-0400 9605 1200-1300 [WYFR] To South America: 5975 0200-0300 9825 0200-0300 [Ascension?] 11720 2130-2145 [to Falklands Tue & Fri] 12095 0200-0300 [Ascension] 15190 1200-1300 We'll have to rely on broadcasts targeting Europe, Africa and the Pacific (for our left coast friends) (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA, Swprograms mailing list, March 14, via DXLD) The link cited under Central American & Caribbean, South America, as well as links to frequency charts still show longer hours, e.g. 15190 at 1100-1700. Where exactly did you get this version? Glenn Hauser, ibid.) A sympathetic source provided this information and advised it could be shared with others --- since it will become public in two weeks anyway. The charts at the page in question are the existing frequencies and times (Richard Cuff, ibid.) The text of the message says that BBCWS will only be broadcasting for 1 hour on 15190 from 1300-1400 but the web page says that frequency will be on from 1000-1700. Which is correct? (Sandy Finlayson, PA, ibid.) [Later:] Sorry Richard, I didn't read your reply to Glen[n] carefully enough. Given the BBC's unsympathetic response to previous complaints there is probably no point even writing but if people want to protest where do we write? Where the loss will be really felt will be for Sportworld on the weekend which is not streamed online (Sandy Finlayson, PA, ibid.) Unfortunately, Sandy, it's a done deal. This decision was made a month ago, perhaps even in late 2004 when 2005 budgets were being drawn up. One outlet would be the "Write On" program -- I believe their e-mail address is write.on @ bbc.co.uk but that may be wrong. There's a web-based e-mail form for Write On at http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/write_on.shtml The director of the WS and Global News division is Richard Sambrook; the #2 person is Nigel Chapman, Director, World Service. You could also communicate with the generic Audience Relations folks -- who are very diligent in forwarding messages to higher-ups -- web-based e-mail form is here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/us/contact/index.shtml This development is particularly unfortunate for Canadians, as they don't have the listening alternatives we have Stateside -- there is minimal carriage of the BBC via local rebroadcasters, unlike the gradually improving state of this in the USA. Officially, there is no subscription-based satellite radio, either, though the gray market ("grey market" up North) is increasingly robust. There is heavy emphasis for 2005 in reducing distribution costs for radio -- with the resulting savings likely to be plowed into more radio and TV services for the Arab world. Shortwave is a relatively expensive method of distributing programming for the BBC -- after all, the BBC pays all the costs, the listener, none; by comparison, there is zero transmission cost for them for the PRI or the XM/Sirius feeds. There isn't zero marketing cost, though. Ironic story: about 10-12 years ago John Figliozzi and I put out a survey at the SWL Fest (Shame on you, Sandy, BTW, for missing the Fest --- you're so close) regarding whether or not listeners would pay to hear their favorite international broadcaster if funding issues cropped up. The majority of folks surveyed at the Fest said yes. What do you know, that's what has happened now, though indirectly: We users pay for satellite radio, and public radio in the USA is funded in part by direct listener contributions (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA, ibid.) I'm sure the folks in the Caribbean will be thrilled at no longer being able to hear Saturday Sportsworld. Any idea on the best reception from 1400 to 1700 UT? (Ted Schuerzinger, ibid.) It's not just the folks in the Caribbean who will lose Sportsworld. Essentially everyone in the Western Hemisphere is losing this great program. It really is distressing that the BBC has cut so many listeners off again (Sandy Finlayson, ibid.) Who cares about cricket and other stupid ballgames? (gh, DXLD) What follows is based on the current schedule --- An educated guess for the East Coast would be 17830 from 1100 to 2100, conditions permitting, which targets West / Central Africa. Also 15400 from 1500 to 2300. Both of those are from Ascension for most of their times. You didn't ask, but here are some other ideas: 7160 from 0300 to 0700 might also work -- also from Ascension. I haven't stayed up too late to monitor this one, but 11765 from 0300 to 0700 originates from South Africa targeting West Africa. We're somewhat in the line of fire for that. Both 7160 and 11765 performed reasonably well during my December and January French Creek DXpeditions. The toughest time will be the evening hours -- 2200 to 0300 UT. That tends to be when African and European frequencies are off the air. Not exactly armchair listening, but it's what there is (Rich Cuff, swprograms via DXLD) There is also 15485 and I THINK 15525 which sometimes work (Sandy Finlayson, ibid.) You mean 15565, UK during our mornings (gh, DXLD) We'll have to see what frequencies the BBC uses after the clock changes, but I've had reasonably good success on the east coast with 21470 which at present targets Africa. I think that -- in the main -- it's going to take a decent outdoor antenna from here on out (John Figliozzi, Halfmoon, NY, ibid.) Maybe those on the list who are regularly near shortwave radios during the day can do some bandscanning on European and African frqeuencies, looking for some alternatives for us. Best place to start for frequency lists: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/schedules/frequencies/ With two children at home and a full-time-plus job during the week, my mornings tend not be spent near a shortwave radio. Thanks in advance (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA, ibid.) Richard, I found that 7160 comes in well at times here in Ohio (Chris Campbell, ibid.) That would be late evening (gh) I'd be certainly willing to pay for BBCWS, but two issues comes to mind that have stopped me so far: - If just adding an hour costs some $30,000+ a year, I don't see how enough money could be raised from people who would benefit from that particular hour(s) added back into the schedule. But then again maybe the effort, however partial in covering the costs, would be the message needed more than the raising the full amount. I'd consider adding satellite (Sirius is the one I'd likely choose at this point), but that doesn't provide the World Service coverage that I'd desire (Info/Entertainment is what I'd want, not 24-hour News) In the end, however, I feel hopeless on this one, as we have to take what we can get. They aren't listening to us anymore (Kevin Anderson, Dubuque IA USA, K9IUA, ibid.) Kevin: Sirius is making a change to the BBC schedule it carries when the clocks change at the end of the month. Up 'til then it will continue to be the all news feed detailed on the BBCWS web site. After the switch to daylight saving [sic] time, the schedule will be the PRI-provided one that includes some (but certainly not all) of the feature programs currently heard on the Americas stream on shortwave and XM. Although the summer 2005 schedule is not posted as of yet http://www.pri.org click on "listeners", then click on "programs", then on "BBC World Service"], you can get an idea of what will be on the Sirius BBC stream by eyeballing the summer 2004 and winter 2005 schedules provided there. I can't speak for "Sportsworld" as it was carried last summer, but not this winter. We'll have to see if that's a seasonal thing with PRI. Might not hurt to e-mail PRI about this, though (John Figliozzi, Halfmoon, NY, ibid.) Kevin: It certainly appears that they aren't listening but I still think we should register our complaints, by emailing the appropriate places. I wonder just how effective World Service is going to be with this loss of transmission. Yes you can get SOME of their output on local radio but NOT during the day in most cases. Maybe relays on FM in SA and Cent. Am. are better than they are here. And if the situation isn't great in the USA it is worse in Canada where I come from. In Canada there is next to no local relays and no satellite (Sandy Finlayson, ibid.) The BBC describes the cutbacks as *adjustments* done "to reflect global changes in audiences` use of short wave." When BBC last released its audience figures in June 2004, the drop of its shortwave listeners was characterized as *significant*, but weekly global audience estimate fell only from 150 to 146 million because of a big rise in listening via FM (DXing.info, March 13, 2005 via DXLD) ** U K. Jonathan Marks on BBC cuts/changes/whatever #Critical Distance BV Weblog (p1 of 33) Sunday, March 13, 2005 What in the world is the BBC saying? Still a World Service? Can you imagine an announcement printed in the Times of London warning readers that the number of pages in the newspaper were to be reduced because there are fewer readers of the printed page? Of course not. But BBC World Service seems to have a strange policy of announcing its gradual wind-down of analogue shortwave broadcasts. In 2001, former Director of the BBC World Service, Mark Byford, got into a needless discussion/ scrap with shortwave listeners because BBCWS announced the closedown of their English broadcasts on shortwave to North America. When the time came, they just pulled the plug...talk about a build up to nothing. Had they simply reduced the number of frequencies beamed in that direction, few people (in theory) would have noticed. But to publicize it in such a way was simply a PR disaster. Now they are at it again. If you check the BBC World Service schedules website it says From March 27 2005 there will be adjustments to the BBC World Service shortwave provisions to reflect global changes in audiences' use of short wave. The number of hours broadcast on short wave in English, Arabic, Spanish and Portuguese for South America will be reduced. What on earth does that garbled syntax South America? Doesn't it totally contradict other recent statements by BBC Managers that they have a strong commitment to shortwave, albeit a digital shortwave future - DRM? So it is a logical shift to digital - not a closedown - they should be talking about. Or come clean and say that their policy is a network of FM stations in capital cities, with Internet as a fill-in and shortwave as a last resort (Jonathan Marks 3/13/2005 09:26:00 PM (via Dan Say, swprograms via DXLD) E-mailed to BBC (Write On): I'm profoundly disappointed to hear that you are AGAIN cutting your shortwave service to the Americas. The web is a great adjunct to an international radio service, not a substitute for it. If you are heading towards abolition of shortwave service (as it sadly appears) why can't you upgrade your services on local radio? Berlin and Chiang Mai both have 24/7 BBC on FM. North America has no dedicated BBC relays, but plenty for night owls at 3am. One might think you don't want to be heard in the Americas (Blaine Waterman, Oakland, California, http://www.live365.com/stations/blaine64 March 15, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U K [non]. Frequency change for BBC in Nepali via SNG 100 kW / 270 deg: 1545-1615 NF 9810, ex 9680 \\ 6140, 7205 (Observer, Bulgaria, March 15 via DXLD) ** U S A. VOA have just issued their Dec 04-April 05 program booklet. This 52-page publication gives details of all their radio programs, SW frequencies, radio affiliates, TV affiliates worldwide, in all languages. Plus a 2005 calendar entitled ``A Road Trip Across America`` (Michael Murray, UK, Making Contact, March World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Some frequency changes for Voice of America: 0000-0300 Mandarin ADD 17645 0700-0900 Mandarin ADD 9845, 11665, 15375 0900-1100 Mandarin ADD 9855, 11665, 11825 1100-1200 Mandarin ADD 11665 1200-1400 Mandarin ADD 6040, 11995 1400-1500 Mandarin ADD 6040, 9890 2200-2300 Mandarin ADD 9545, 9755, 9875 1900-2000 Kurdish NF 9690, ex 7195 (Observer, Bulgaria, March 15 via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Some frequency changes for Radio Liberty: 1600-1700 Azeri NF 9850, ex 9605 1800-1900 CeAslangs NF 6220, ex 9840 1400-1500 Kazakh NF 15235, ex 17695 0100-0300 Kyrghyz on 7450, 9785, 11975 new morning transmission 1300-1330 Kyrghyz NF 7595, ex 9315 1400-1430 Kyrghyz NF 7595, ex 9315 0200-0400 Turkmen NF 9735, ex 9770 (Observer, Bulgaria, March 15 via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Additional transmission for WYFR in French via ASC 250 kW / 025 deg to WeAf: 2030-2130 on 11985 (54444), also registered for A-05 (Observer, Bulgaria, March 15 via DXLD) ** U S A. Surprised to hear two US SW stations clashing on same frequency. WJIE used to `own` 7490, but WHRI was also on there until 0600* after which WJIE was audible (George Thurman, TX, March 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Were you definitely hearing both before 0600? Log in 5-044 at 0508 with unexpectedly good signal, no ID was likely WHRI, not WJIE. WHR schedule now shows Angel 2 at 0100-0600 on 7490 http://www.whr.org/index.cfm/fa/frequencies The schedule in 5-030 of Feb 17: WHRI - Angel 2 0800 - 1100 3AM - 6AM 5.860 Mhz 1100 - 1300 6AM - 8AM 7.535 Mhz 1300 - 2200 8AM - 5PM 9.840 Mhz 2200 - 0800 5PM - 3AM 7.535 Mhz Has again been radically changed to: WHRI - Angel 2 UTC Eastern Frequency 0100 - 0600 8PM - 1AM 7.490 Mhz 0600 - 1100 1AM - 6AM 5.860 Mhz 1100 - 1300 6AM - 8AM 7.520 Mhz 1300 - 2200 8AM - 5PM 9.840 Mhz 2200 - 0100 5PM - 8PM 7.520 Mhz (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. We can tell you more this week about Christopher Lydon's return to the public radio airwaves. The former WBUR (90.9) talk host will indeed be hosting a show on UMass Lowell's WUML (91.5 Lowell), but he'll be heard far beyond the Merrimack Valley. When "Open Source" debuts May 30, it will be produced at Boston's WGBH (89.7), which will also air the hourlong show Monday-Thursday at 7 PM, bumping back the start of the "Eric in the Evening" jazz show by an hour. Starting July 4, "Open Source" will also be syndicated via Public Radio International, which distributes WGBH's "The World" as well. And when new studios are ready at UMass Lowell in a year or so, Lydon will move production of the show up there (Scott Fybush, NE Radio Watch Mar 14 via DXLD) ** U S A. An interesting story out of National Public Radio where allegedly the Museum of Modern Art has has caused a freelance arts reporter to be taken off the air (Barry Rueger, March 13, CAJ-list via Ricky Leong, DXLD) http://www.artnet.com/Magazine/news/artnetnews2/artnetnews3-8-05.asp D'ARCY OUT AT NPR AFTER MOMA COMPLAINS --- Artnet News 3/8/05 Veteran art-news reporter David D'Arcy has been taken off the air by National Public Radio (NPR) after the Museum of Modern Art complained about his report on the long-running controversy over the ownership of Egon Schiele's painting, Portrait of Wally. Though the painting was stolen by the Nazis from Viennese dealer Lea Bondi in 1939, its present owner, the Leopold Foundation in Vienna, refuses to return it to Bondi's heirs, and a contentious court battle has raged ever since the painting turned up in a 1997 MoMA exhibition. A casual NPR listener (or reader of the transcript, which can be found online) would probably see nothing unusual in D'Arcy's story, which aired on Dec. 27, 2004. According to the transcript, none of the principals in the case, including MoMA's attorney, would be interviewed for the report. More than one source, however, was willing to criticize -- harshly -- the museum's position in the case. Former museum director Tom Freudenheim expressed puzzlement that MoMA, despite being directed and chaired by Jews, allowed its "greed" to overcome its "sense of responsibility." Two lawyers active in cases involving Nazi art loot were also quoted with similarly unflattering remarks, one suggesting that museums can resort to a "war of attrition" in such lawsuits, which often involve aged claimants. Apparently, someone at MoMA contacted someone at NPR and demanded a correction, which NPR currently has posted on its website: "The government, not the museum, has custody of the artwork. The museum says it took no position on the question of the painting's ownership. NPR failed to give the museum a chance to answer allegations about its motivations and actions." But D'Arcy's report doesn't address the custody of the artwork, and in regard to ownership says only that when "MoMA has discussed the case over the past seven years, the museum has said it's bound by its loan contract to return the painting." As for the claim that he failed to give the museum a chance to present its point of view, D'Arcy says he has a fax in which the museum declines to participate in the story. NPR, where D'Arcy has been a freelance contributor for 20 years, gave D'Arcy a two-paragraph "termination" memo accusing him of overlooking "basic standards of journalism" in the report. D'Arcy says adamantly that "MoMA was not able to find any inaccuracies in the report, and the correction aired and posted by NPR does not address any inaccuracies." High-profile reporters and experts in Nazi-era art resitution have rallied to D'Arcy's cause. In a letter to the NPR board, Morley Safer suggests that the broadcaster "has caved in to intimidation by a large, wealthy and powerful cultural institution." The lawyer and art historian Lucille Roussin disputes MoMA's claim that it has never taken a position on the question of the painting's ownership. "MoMA is on record, under oath, in court documents systematically crediting the ownership claims of the Leopold Foundation and questioning the legal foundation for the Bondi claims," she writes. "MoMA's position in the current case also asks the court to prevent the Bondis' ownership claim from ever coming before a US judge." What happens now? "It's been an awful experience for him, being undermined as a journalist by both MoMA and NPR," D'Arcy's attorney, David S. Korzenik, told Artnet News, "and we are now deciding what action to take." D'Arcy remains a correspondent for the Art Newspaper, a contributing editor at Art & Auction and a regular critic on the "Front Row" program on BBC Radio. (via Barry Rueger, Community-Media.com, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 2S9 http://www.community-media.com Blog: http://www.threesquirrels.com via Canada NewsWire, via CAJ-list via Ricky Leong, DXLD) ** U S A. SALE OF WVXU SHUFFLES RADIO DIAL Saturday, March 12, 2005 By John Kiesewetter and Janelle Gelfand Enquirer staff writers http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050312/NEWS01/503120380/1056 Some of WVXU's beloved old radio shows like "Mystery Theater" could disappear. RELATED STORIES • Xavier president: WVXU sale hard http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050312/NEWS01/503120382/1056 Sale of Xavier University's WVXU-FM to WGUC-FM for $15 million Friday will change the radio landscape in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. The seven-station transaction is the largest public-radio station purchase in the nation in 10 years. The consolidation will allow WGUC-FM (90.9) to be all classical music all the time, while "All Things Considered" and "Car Talk" join the news and information format on WVXU-FM (91.7). But some of the beloved WVXU-FM programs - "Jack Benny," "Mystery Theater" and other old radio shows; jazz and big-band music; and local health, cooking, arts and antiques shows - could be dropped after the ownership change this summer. Xavier agreed to the sale after turning down more money from religious broadcasters, said the Rev. Michael Graham, XU president. WGUC-FM promised to retain the WVXU-FM call letters and some local programming. "It is a very sad and disturbing day," says Jim King, who started WVXU-FM in 1976. He left the station in December and resumed teaching at Xavier rather than prepare the necessary paperwork to sell the station. Graham told the 21 full-time WVXU-FM employees about the sale at 11:30 a.m. Friday. They will be offered severance packages, and will be interviewed for possible employment at WGUC-FM, Eiswerth says. "People are in total shock," said Mike Martini, WVXU-FM senior writer and producer. "A lot of tears were shed. This is a very close-knit, family-like operation." The school will use the proceeds to help pay for the new James E. Hoff Academic Quadrangle on the main campus, projected to cost more than $45 million (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) FROM: Dr. James C. King, WVXU founder and former director for broadcasting RE: Sale of WVXU and the X-Star Radio Network DATE: March 11, 2005 When I first learned of Xavier’s intention to sell the entire X-Star radio network, including WVXU, I was shocked, disturbed, and deeply saddened. The cost of the incredible growth of WVXU, from a small 10 watt station to one of the largest privately-held public radio networks in America has been paid for, almost entirely, by WVXU, its members, and our corporate underwriters. These radio assets, however, are fully owned by the university and this was a decision only the University could make. About three years ago, I elected to begin the transition back to full- time teaching at Xavier, my original profession. My plans called for a full transition back to the faculty at Xavier in late 2005. Xavier’s interest in selling the radio stations, however, served to accelerate my plans by several months. It would have been difficult for me to continue as manager under those circumstances. I express my eternal gratitude to our incredibly dedicated and hard- working staff of professionals. I am deeply proud of every one of them and my life has been made richer by working with them. My deepest thanks are extended to the thousands of members who have helped create WVXU and maintain its unique brand of radio broadcasting. Finally, my thanks go out to the business community which has stood behind WVXU in good times and bad for these past 29 years. This is, without a doubt, one of the saddest days of my professional life. I wish the new owners well and would implore them to maintain the integrity of WVXU`s commitment to classic radio, local news, and local talk programs. Dr. Jim King (from http://www.wvxu.org/ via DXLD) Program schedule http://www.wvxu.org/html/programs.html Shows Dr King still does a show on Sunday afternoons, The Music Shelf at 2100-2200 UT with archive: http://www.wvxu.org/html/musicshelf.html I enjoyed listening to his oldies this Sunday (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WGUC TO 'SUPER SERVE' LISTENERS, JETTISONS TALK FOR ALL CLASSICAL By Janelle Gelfand. Enquirer staff writer, Saturday, March 12, 2005 http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050312/NEWS01/503120381/1056 WGUC-FM's plan to have continuous, 24-hour classical programming is bucking a national trend that has most classical radio stations struggling to survive. Across the nation, classical stations, faced with declining listenership and funding, are dropping Bach, Beethoven and Mozart altogether. The most prominent demise of a classical station was WETA- FM in Washington, D.C., which announced in February that it would drop classical music programming in favor of an all-news and public affairs format. The same month, Pittsburgh's WQED-FM fell short of its fund-raising goal, threatening its existence. Philadelphia, Miami and Detroit no longer have classical music stations. "There has been a constant erosion over the past years," says Robin Gehl, WGUC's vice president for programming. Only a couple of dozen National Public Radio stations are fully classical, says Richard Eiswerth, WGUC president and general manager. In the last decade, the number of stations devoted to classical music has been cut in half, while the number of talk radio stations has tripled. "The audience for news and information has been growing dramatically, so there's much more demand for that," says Marc Hand of Public Radio Capital, a Colorado-based nonprofit organization that advised WGUC during negotiations. "The more public radio stations you have, the more listeners you have. Ultimately, that translates into more revenue. "I think it's very exciting for Cincinnati to put the combination together and preserve the service on both sides." WGUC has a strong local presence, including broadcasts of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, May Festival and Cincinnati Opera. Last winter, WGUC's market share - percentage of people in this market who listen to the station - was 18th nationally among public radio stations in a Radio Research Consortium study. In the last six years, WGUC has seen an 18 to 20 percent audience growth to more than 163,000 weekly listeners, as well as a nearly 40 percent bump in memberships, grants and corporate gifts - totaling $1.4 million last year. While other stations are "dumbing down" their play lists, the move will make WGUC a stronger player in the classical market. "It will allow them to super-serve their classical listeners," says John Birge, former morning host at WGUC, now at Minnesota Public Radio. The acquisition could imitate Minnesota Public Radio, in which KNOW-FM broadcasts syndicated news shows like NPR's "Morning Edition" and locally produced talk shows, and KSJN-FM airs classical music. In November, Minnesota Public Radio purchased St. Olaf College's classical radio station for $10.5 million. That station has become a contemporary rock and eclectic format, Birge says (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) WGUC uses Classical 24 in addition to its own programming (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. From Kit Sage in Columbus, OH. Read the comment about the IBOC harmonic. The digital hash and trash of WOSU 820 can also be heard in conjunction with their second harmonic on 1640. It can be heard on 1630 and 1650. It appears that WOSU-FM is also now digital. Their signal is on 89.7, but there is digital noise on 89.5 and 89.9 now. As far as I know, they are the first and only digital FM in the area (via Kevin Redding, Gilbert AZ, ABDX via dXLD) ** U S A. AIR AMERICA IN AUSTIN --- By Aman Batheja Star-Telegram Staff Writer Posted on Tue, Mar. 15, 2005 http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/entertainment/11140152.htm AUSTIN - About a decade ago, on his one trip to Fort Worth, Al Franken took a piece of Cowtown home with him. "I got my boots in Fort Worth," Franken said yesterday in Austin. "They were custom-made boots." Recently, Franken began wearing the boots more often. "My kids didn't like them so I couldn't wear them," he said. "I'm an empty nester [now] so I can wear them when I want. "I was going to wear them down here," he added, "But I didn't want anyone to think I'm making some sort of comment." Franken spoke fondly about that trip to North Texas while encamped Monday at the Austin State Theater. Outside, a long line of people waited to watch him perform his radio show live, at 11 a.m. Earlier in the day, Air America, the progressive talk-radio network of which Franken is the star, made its debut in the Austin market -- one week before it launches in the Metroplex. Franken's broadcast guests included Austin-based political columnist Molly Ivins, former Texas Congressman Chris Bell, and political blogger Ana Marie Cox, better known as Wonkette. When Franken -- better known as a former Saturday Night Live cast member and writer of liberal tomes such as Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right -- signed with the fledgling Air America last March, he promised to stay on only through, and a little after, the presidential election. At the time, he cited unseating President Bush as his only purpose for doing the show. He's since committed to hosting The Al Franken Show -- once satirically titled The O'Franken Factor -- for two more years. "I didn't know whether I'd like [doing radio]," Franken said. "Turns out I love to do this." Since Air America launched in selected parts of the country in March 2004, it has expanded to 49 markets, including Corpus Christi. His show often deals directly with Texas politics. His latest target: U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R- Sugar Land, whom Franken plans to feature prominently in his next book. "DeLay seems to be twisting in the wind right now," Franken said. "The longer he twists, the better. I hope he twists all the way to 2006." Early on in Monday's broadcast with co-host Katherine Lanpher, Franken insisted that he isn't intimidated by taking to the air in Bush's home state. "We like being in red counties, too, because we get converts," he said. He pronounced himself converted by Austin's vibrant music scene. "I've been here less than 24 hours and I've already joined two bands," he joked. Indeed, Franken got a two-for-one with this visit to Austin. As a guest speaker Monday afternoon at South by Southwest Interactive, he talked about the growing popularity of Internet radio. Air America, and Franken's show in particular, has hooked much of its listening audience through its Web site. "We're the fourth most popular live program downloaded online," Franken said. "The first is some dance station." As for the old-school form of broadcasting, Franken said he's heard reports that Air America's outlet in the Metroplex, KXEB 910 AM, http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/finder?call=KXEB+&is_unl=Y&is_lic=Y&is_cp=Y&sr=Y&s=C&sid=&x=11&y=2 is notorious for its weak signal. He said he is encouraged to hear that station officials are working hard to fix the problem. "Unfortunately, I don't know enough about that to do it for them," he said. (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. LIBERAL TALK RADIO COMING TO SAN ANTONIO LAST UPDATE: 3/15/2005 6:03:14 AM Posted By: Jim Forsyth http://www.woai.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=5109D88B-781E-417C-AF4B-A8A471634E45 The city's first ever commercial FM talk radio station will also be the first to be programmed with a liberal slant, officials of Clear Channel Communications announced today. KRPT will sign on the air Thursday morning at 8AM on 92.5FM. The station is currently called KHTY and formats urban and hip hop music. "This is going to be exciting," Clear Channel Vice President and Market Manager Tom Glade said. While 1200 WOAI Newsradio, a full service news, talk and sports station with a heavy commitment to local news and the San Antonio Spurs is by far the highest rated spoken word radio station in San Antonio, KRPT Operations Manager Nate Lundy pointed out that number two in the market is National Public Radio KSTX-FM. A gaggle of other talk and news talk stations get much lower ratings. "You have to remember that 44 percent of Bexar County voted for John Kerry last November," Lundy said. "These are people who are crying out for talk radio." The first show aired on KRPT will be hosted by Jerry Springer, the former Cincinnati mayor who is best known for his wild TV show featuring the antics of transvestites, hookers, and lost loves. "The radio show is not what people would stereotype from Springer's TV show," Lundy said. "He has a political background and I think that he has the ability to discuss serious politics while being entertaining at the same time." Veteran local liberal talker Ron Aaron has been signed to host a three hour show on Saturdays and Sundays, with a time to be determined, Lundy said. Other personalities to appeal on KRPT will include Phil Hendrie and Lionel, both of whom have enjoyed success on WOAI, and Ed Schultz, a talk host Lundy describes as 'energetic and opinionated.' Prominent liberal activist Jesse Jackson's Sunday show will also air on KRPT. While liberal talk is new to San Antonio, it is also relatively new to Clear Channel. The San Antonio based company boasts a stable of conservative talkers including Rush Limbaugh, Dr. Laura Schlesinger, and Glenn Beck. KRPT will be the 24th progressive talk station introduced by Clear Channel, which is the nation's largest operator of radio stations, and it will be the fourth to host Springer's new radio program. Lundy pointed out that progressive talk has found a solid niche. The progressive talk radio station in Portland Oregon ranked first among the key 25-54 year old age group in the most recent ratings. Lundy says placing the station on FM will also add to its attractiveness. "I think it'll be fun," he said. "I think the audience is definitely there for this kind of radio station in San Antonio." (via Brock Whaley, Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. Glenn, HBO will be showing "Left Of The Dial" on March 31 at 8pm,it's about AIR AMERICA Network. Thanks (Daryl Rocker, Herkimer, NY, Mohawk Valley Shortwave Listeners Club, March 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Public TV [sic] Hires Former [FCC] Official -- By DOW JONES WASHINGTON, March 14 (Dow Jones) - The Corporation for Public Broadcasting said Monday that W. Kenneth Ferree, formerly head of the Federal Communications Commission's media branch, had been named chief operating officer. "Ken brings to C.P.B. a strong commitment to public service, significant management experience and broad knowledge of the factors affecting our industry," said Kathleen A. Cox, the corporation's chief executive. Mr. Ferree left the F.C.C. on March 4 after nearly four years. While at the agency he devised a plan that would set a firm date for a transition to digital television from analog. The F.C.C. has not acted on the Ferree Plan, as it is known. Mr. Ferree was succeeded at the F.C.C. on an acting basis by Deborah E. Klein. Michael K. Powell, the F.C.C.'s chairman, plans to step down this week after four years as head of the agency. He has accepted a three-month fellowship at the Aspen Institute, a research organization. Copyright 2005 The New York Times Company March 15, 2005 (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** VATICAN. VR has extended it daily 20-minute [English] programme to 30 minutes. Reception in my area is good 2050-2120 on 4005, 5885, 7250. On 12 Feb featured anniversary of the 1929 first transmissions from Vatican City with the first greetings of Pope Pius XI and Marconi in the 20[sic]-minute report; also, interview with Marconi`s daughter Princess Elettra on her memories of her father setting up the station (Jonathan Murphy, Ireland, via Paul Youngs, Making Contact, march World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA [non]. Previous report in 5-044 about RNV via Cuba being cut back to Sundays only, except at 2300 UT on 13680, was, as I suspected, incorrect. Tuesday March 15 after 2000, RNV was heard as usual on 13680 and 9550 in synch, tho inaudible on the other two frequencies perhaps due to high local computer noise level. As has been the case for months, the 1900 broadcast on 13740 is still MIA (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. (Clandestine), SW Radio Africa, 11845, received an e-mail, "to say thank you very much for your reception report," from Gerry Jackson, Station Manager Gerry @ swradioafrica.com indicating their technicians would send me a formal confirmation. Notes that she is: "Very pleased to hear that we're available in California. It's our poor Zimbabwean listeners who are having a terrible time hearing us - and we're moving frequencies constantly to try to overcome the jamming." In less than 2 days, for an e-mailed report (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Additional frequency for SW Radio Africa in English to Zimbabwe: 1600- 1700 on 11845 (55544), tent. via ASC \\ 6145 via MEY 100 kW / 005 deg (Observer, Bulgaria, March 15 via DXLD) They've added the missing frequency for 1700-1900 UT. From website: We had Plan B but now we're already on to plan D! We are trying something new. We will be on a different frequency for each of the three hours this evening. We know this is complicated, please bear with us. This jamming is a serious problem. 1800-1900 11845 kHz (unchanged) 1900-2000 11705 kHz 2000-2100 11995 kHz All in 25 metre band Zimbabwe time [so 1600-1900 UT!] We're broadcasting on 3 frequencies. If you can pass this on to family and friends back home, that would be great. Don't forget medium wave and shortwave broadcasts in the morning. 5 - 7 am Zim time Medium wave on 1197 Khz, Morning shortwave on 3230 in the 90 metre band (via Andy Sennitt, March 15, dxldyg via DXLD) Checking 15 Mar.: 11845 at 1623 decent signal 11705 at 1723 mostly covered by Radio Farda, some fade-ups of R SW Africa audible. Noted about 1000 Hz interfering signal. 11995 switched from 11705 at 1800, Good signal but the 1000 Hz signal appeared also here shortly. 73 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, ibid.) Like Jari, I also heard SW Radio Africa last night (15 March) for the 1800-1900 period on 11995. The signal was good, but as Jari says, there was a 1 kHz tone on the channel. (It was NOT a 1 kHz het.) The SW Radio Africa audio was cut at exactly 30 seconds before 1900, a longstanding BBC procedure that these days is a "giveaway" that the transmitter or the feed is in the hands of VT Merlin. Ref. the possible Chinese and/or Iranian connections. One shouldn't assume that the jamming would have to sound like existing Chinese or Iranian jamming. These countries might just have supplied the transmitters, leaving the Zimbabweans to decide what audio to put on them. A year or so ago there was a lot of publicity in the Zimbabwean press about Iranian support for the ZBC. An Iranian delegation visited Zimbabwe and met Zimbabwean ministers and senior officials. The word "jamming" did cross my mind even then (Chris Greenway, Kenya?, March 16, dxldyg via DXLD) SW Radio Africa is being effectively jammed on the following frequencies and times: 3230 0300-0500 UT 3230 1600-1900 UT 6145 1600-1900 UT 11845 1600-1700 UT, jamming heard from 1630. This is not localised jamming, but is a pair of high powered jamming transmitters located, very likely at ZBC Gweru facilities in Zimbabwe. I have been actively monitoring these and other new test frequencies provided to SWRA by Sentech et al. 1197 MW 0300-0500 UT heard well in Zimbabwe, no jamming signal present (David Pringle-Wood, Harare, March 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) It would be interesting to know what kind of jamming signal they are using. As I wrote earlier, I noted about 1000 Hz tone on two of the SW R Africa frequencies in the 25 meterband. Just wonder if this was a jamming signal or something else (Jari Savolainen, Finland, dxldyg via DXLD) On 14 March the Zimbabwean newspaper The Daily News reported: "Sources in Zimbabwe have confirmed that the government has installed jamming equipment at Thornhill air base to interfere with radio signals. The equipment, which was imported from China, has however failed to jam signals from the Voice of America transmitters situated in neighbouring Botswana, where the popular Studio Seven signal is beamed to Zimbabwe." (BBC Monitoring via DXLD) The Daily News of Harare claims the jammers are installed at Thornhill Airbase. Maybe David can tell us how far that is away from Harare. That report says the jammers are from China, but South Africa's Business Day suggests they may have been installed by the Iranians. Perhaps one of you jamming experts can tell from the sound of the jammers which is more likely (Andy Sennitt, March 16, dxldyg via DXLD) Info about Gweru-Thornhill Air Base can be found at http://www.scramble.nl/mil/1/afz/orbat.htm Click "Order of Battle" 73, (Jari Savolainen, ibid.) HARARE 'JAMMING RADIO BROADCAST FROM LONDON' - by Jonathan Katzenellenbogen, International Affairs Editor "The station manager of an independent London-based radio station which broadcast to Zimbabwe, SW Radio Africa, says the Harare government is deliberately jamming its signal. While the Zimbabwean government denies the charge, listeners have confirmed that Harare has been jamming the station's short-wave broadcasts since Monday last week. To jam a radio broadcast a stronger signal is used to flood the frequency which the station uses. The attempt to restrict outside broadcasts dedicated to Zimbabwean issues comes with only three weeks to go before the elections and the main opposition party being all but ignored on the official broadcaster. SW Radio Africa does not reveal the source of its funding, which it says comes largely from nongovernmental organisations. But a report in the state-owned Sunday Mail says the station is 'heavily sponsored by ex-Rhodesians to illegally transmit pro-opposition and imperialist propaganda to Zimbabwe'. There is widespread speculation that the Zimbabwe government may have been provided with the resources to jam the broadcasts by either Iran or China, two countries with which Harare has increasingly close ties. Iran's President Mohammad Khatami visited Zimbabwe earlier this year, and the two countries have cooperation agreements in a number of areas, including telecommunications. A team of Iranians was reportedly advising the government on broadcasting." (Johannesburg's "Business Times" via Vashek Korinek, RSA, March 15, DX-plorer via BDXC-UK via DXLD) My first reaction was that very often the behaviour of short waves is interpreted by some listeners as "jamming", or that the local interference from some inferior appliances usually from Far East with which Africa is flooded is seen as jamming. I have come across this many times before. Having said that, I checked the SW Radio Africa's frequencies tonight, and regrettably there is no doubt that the broadcasts are being jammed. The 11845 kHz signal is the weakest here and it was not jammed at first but the jammer came on around 1630 and wiped out the signal almost completely. The jammer on 6145 kHz was irritating but the signal was still quite useable. 3230 kHz is extremely strong here and the jammer was hardly noticeable, but definitely there. The jamming on 11845 and 6145 stopped about 1 minute after sign-off at 1700, but continued on 3230 which broadcasts until 1900. The jammer does not sound like anything Iran and China are using but rather a buzzing / drilling type of electrical noise. Something a DXer is very allergic to! 73's, (Vashek Korinek, Johannesburg, RSA, AR7030, 60m long-wire, March 15, DX-plorer via BDXC-UK via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. COUNTRY? Excerpt from Europaradio International (ERI) website: "Progress on our own transmitter, which is currently on a world tour, has been slow due to weather and transit delays but is expected to arrive at its destination soon and begin operating on 1593 kHz. We will keep you updated here so please check back often." http://www.europaradiointernational.co.uk (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, mwdx yg via DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Re: KAREN HUGHES: BUSH'S SPINNER TO THE WORLD I am at a loss as to what the significant bandwidth dedicated to David Corn in DXLD # 5-045 has to do with DX, broadcasting or the 'world of radio', specifically or in general. Perhaps consider posting the political, non-DX news at the end of the digest and mark it as such would be more conducive in keeping the 'meat' of the DXLD on focus. Best 73, (Brandon Jordan, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I guess you refer to the 19 lines about Corn`s blog, etc., accompanying his piece about Hughes, which of course has everything to do with public diplomacy, the VOA and all the other USG outlets. I thought he made some good points, so did not see why I should cut off the material accompanying The Nation article. Unfortunately, politics is deeply involved in international broadcasting whether we like it or not, and thus DXLD cannot be apolitical (gh) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ *PACIFIC ASIAN LOG (PAL) MOVES TO NEW HOME* Wellington, New Zealand, March 15,2005 --- Bruce Portzer's Pacific Asian Log (PAL) guide to mediumwave stations from Afghanisatan to Alaska and beyond has moved to a new on-line location at http://www.radioheritage.net effective immediately. Bruce Portzer says 'the opportunity recently came along to move PAL to a new home, add new features and make it more widely accessible to the DX community. This is great news for everyone who likes to use the most up-to-date list of AM stations from this exotic part of the world.' New features include an on-line search capability for popular searches by country, location, network and frequency. More information can be added to the database later, such as links to individual station web sites and streaming audio. According to Portzer, 'everything you liked about the previous editions is here, with details of hours of operation, call-signs and slogans, formats and transmitter powers, as well as location, province or state and more.' PAL can be accessed as a complete document in frequency order or in alphabetical country order, or with the new simple searches which should prove popular for DXers looking for specific stations. 'It's also neat to partner with the New Zealand based Radio Heritage Foundation' adds Portzer, 'because the original PAL was created there in the 1950's by the late Merv Branks, and this brings PAL back to its homeland roots.' 'Now we're on-line at www.radioheritage.net, we can also keep PAL almost constantly updated. DXers can send me updates, corrections and new information from the website and we'll have the whole PAL database refreshed in a short space of time. This is incredibly fast and user friendly.' Seattle WA based Bruce Portzer has also been appointed editor-in-chief of the on-line radio guide series being introduced by the Radio Heritage Foundation throughout 2005. Radio Heritage Foundation Chairman David Ricquish welcomed the new partnership with PAL. 'This is a great bonus for DXers everywhere, with easy on-line searches, and so much information about Pacific radio. Hosting PAL on our website just made so much sense, and we're really glad to have someone of Bruce's standing in the DX community partner with us.' He adds 'Merv Branks was one of my mentors in the DX hobby, so it's really special to honor his original creation of PAL by having it back home in New Zealand after almost 40 years - this time as part of a global monitoring collaboration headed up by Bruce in Seattle.' The latest edition of PAL is available at http://www.radioheritage.net Radio Heritage Foundation, PO Box 14339, Wellington, New Zealand http://www.radioheritage.net March 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) MW MAP I don't think this site is commonly known yet. I have found a great tool at http://www.ukwtv.de/mwmap/index.php It works really great and it looks like there is a worldwide MW database behind it. It is quite up to date. Kismat radio isn't in it yet but TruckRadio is. There are even Australian stations in the list, no X-banders from down-under although. The map's country borders are limited to Europe, North Africa and the Middle East but stations outside this extent are displayed as well. Very nice to play around with! Enjoy! (Guido Schotmans, MWC via DXLD) ``no X-banders from down-under although.`` Try centering 30 S, 140 E, radius 3000, from ch 1603 to 1999 - there are already some! 73, (Günter Lorenz, ibid.) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ SLINKY TURNS 60 --- ajc.com Living By DON FERNANDEZ The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 03/13/05 http://www.ajc.com/news/content/living/0305/14slinky.html A spiraling legacy has fascinated and frustrated Lestine Lewis for decades. Today, 40 years after that first encounter, her quandary still remains: Just how do you get a Slinky to step down the stairs? Knight Ridder Tribune The Slinky, inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 2001, is about 63 feet of coiled steel. "On the commercials, I'd watch the Slinky walk down, but it never worked for me," said Lewis, an Atlanta resident. "Oh, how I used to love me some Slinky. Happy 60th birthday to my friend Slinky." His love is obvious. And many others who have sampled some of the 300 million-plus Slinkys sold would likely share that affection. Slinky, the spare-yet-classic toy coil, marks 60 years of springy entertainment and memory-making in 2005. As toys become further tied to technology and digital mechanics, this simple spiral -- still no batteries required -- reigns supreme for many. "When I was growing up, we didn't have a lot of money -- and I didn't have a dog until I was 13," said Thelma Heywood of Lawrenceville. "But I had a Slinky!" Morrow resident Valerie Attell recalls her sister getting her tongue caught within the metal swirls. Melodii Peoples of Atlanta can't get her daughter to throw her tangled and mangled Slinky in the trash. Cold steel rarely inspires this much affection. "Slinky just evokes warm and fuzzies," said Ray Dallavecchia, president and CEO of Poof-Slinky in Michigan, which still manufactures the toy in Pennsylvania. "It's an American icon, clearly." How many toys get their own stamp, after all? The U.S. Postal Service commemorated Slinky in February 1999. On the surface, there's only one twist to a Slinky: Let the coil fall down descending levels and watch gravity make it move. "It's the same reason people like Paris Hilton," said Dan Bova, deputy editor for Stuff magazine, which tracks cutting-edge gear and devices. "People like brainless things that move funny. It doesn't need batteries, which parents like, it doesn't make noise, which parents like. It's just the simplicity of the thing." Cute. But the applications have expanded. Many schools use Slinky to illustrate and study wave and motion analysis, Dallavecchia said. Recently, Slinkys were employed in many classrooms to demonstrate how aftershocks from the tsunami that struck southeast Asia reverberated through Europe. Teachers who instruct autistic children find it a useful device to encourage focus and attention, he said. Its first 'walk' Like many great inventions and people, Slinky was but a happy accident. Naval engineer Richard James was tinkering at his desk in 1943 when a coil slid off the edge and proceeded to step down books piled on the floor. Hmmm. Not a bad idea for a plaything, he thought. His wife, Betty, thumbed through a dictionary and came across the word "slinky," and a signature slice of Americana was born. Six decades later, James' concept has evolved into science and learning products, not to mention fabric-covered Slinky pets. The first generation of Slinkys were constructed from carbon steel, which would often rust (not the best quality in a flexible toy). The steel used now is galvanized. Upscale Slinkys are forged from brass ($20), covered in 14k gold plate ($100) and molded from sterling silver ($400). But aside from safety crimps added to the ends, the design remains the same. And the basic model is only $2.99. Its simplicity aside, inspiring a Slinky to gyrate can be a trial. Try living in a one-story dwelling, often the home of countless failed -- and creative -- Slinky spectacles. "The only stairs we had was the four steps out the front door," said Carol Jocoy of Conyers. "So I would build different levels with TV trays, books and whatever else I could find to have fun." While sitting in the bleachers for her 1974 high school graduation, Lori Evers could barely stay awake as the commencement speech droned on. And on. Thankfully, one of her fellow North Springs High School graduates unleashed a Slinky from the top of the Atlanta Civic Center bleachers -- to resounding applause. "My most memorable graduation memory!" said Evers, a Sandy Springs resident. And who says Slinky is strictly low-tech? "The metal Slinky is often used as an antenna for shortwave radio listeners," said Jim Shields of Stone Mountain. "There are sites on the Net that manufacture antennas using Slinkys. I have used one for a couple of years." Slinkys even went to war in Vietnam, where soldiers would drape them in the trees as radio antennas. And no ode to Slinky would be complete without mentioning the commercial jingle. Perhaps no toy is more associated with a theme song (composed in the 1960s), an infectious ditty that just screams for a sing-along: "Everyone knows it's Slinky, What walks down stairs, alone or in pairs and makes a slinkity sound? A spring, a spring, a marvelous thing, Everyone knows it's Slinky. It's Slinky, it's Slinky, for fun, it's a wonderful toy. It's Slinky, it's Slinky, It's fun for a girl and a boy It's fun for a girl and a boy." These are perhaps the best-known lyrics although other versions exist (Slinky remixes?). A modern version is currently blasting on radios as Poof-Slinky pushes the product on its anniversary. But, apparently, word of mouth remains its strongest supporter. "I am now a parent of an 8-year-old and have been able to pass down the love of the Slinky to her," said Heidi Stentz of Marietta. "The simplistic nature of the slinky represents a much more simple time for us. Toys today are so complicated. It's nice to be a kid and not have to use anything but your imagination to make a toy work." (c) 2005 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (via Mike Cooper, Artie Bigley, Mike Terry, DXLD) AS CARS BECOME MORE CONNECTED, HIDING THE ANTENNAS GETS TOUGHER AUTOS ON MONDAY | TECHNOLOGY By IVAN BERGER Published: March 14, 2005 http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/14/automobiles/14CARS.html?ex=1111467600&en=ad068daf70d9b43c&ei=5070 It makes sense that automakers borrow model names from the jaguar and impala to evoke speed and gracefulness, yet carefully avoid associating their products with a creature like the porcupine. But with all the antennas in some new cars - high-tech luxury sedans may carry 18 or more - it takes a major engineering effort to design vehicles that do not bristle with metal quills. Today's cars need a selection of antennas just to serve their entertainment systems (separate units for broadcast and satellite radio, and another to receive television programming); navigation units and cellphones use different aerials again. The count increases further with systems that employ a "diversity" antenna to improve reception. This design uses two or more individual antennas tuned to the same band, relying on a microprocessor in the radio to select the clearest signal. More antennas yet are required for cars equipped with telematics systems like OnStar or the Mercedes-Benz TeleAid. These systems offer concierge services and emergency notification in the event of a collision, using a second set of cellphone and global positioning satellite aerials to contact a call center. Keyless entry, security alarms and other functions controlled from the driver's key fob require one or more antennas, as do the short-range Bluetooth communications that link a driver's cellphone or handheld computer with the audio systems of some new cars to permit hands-free phone conversations. Direct-reading tire pressure monitors necessitate still more aerials to keep tabs on the inflation of each tire, including that of the spare in the trunk. Active cruise control systems, which maintain a preset distance to the car ahead (and can apply the brakes if the gap narrows too quickly), depend on a radar antenna mounted in the grille. Bumpers may carry a series of antennas that emit signals to measure the distance to nearby vehicles as part of a warning device intended to make parking less of a hit-and-miss affair. Each feature making use of a radio frequency input requires an antenna tuned to its particular signal, presenting a big challenge to the engineers who must find places to install all of this hardware. Adding to the complexity is a wide range of size and shape requirements, which change with the wavelength of the signal. Besides avoiding stickleback styling, incentives to strip antennas from the car's exterior and tuck them away include the potential to reduce wind noise and aerodynamic drag. Drivers also appreciate the elimination of breakage by carwashes and vandals. Some of the earliest antennas in cars were wire loops hidden within the cloth tops of 1930's sedans, but with the advent of all-steel roofs the upright mast antenna became the preferred design. About 30 years later, carmakers tried hiding them again, integrating antennas into windshields or rear windows by applying wires to the surface or embedding them inside the glass. "Those were simple antennas, and reception was poor," said Robert W. Schumacher, manager for integrated media systems at Delphi, a leading parts supplier. Recent designs use an embedded metal film of tin oxide - thin enough to be transparent - that can be electrically heated for defrosting, said Eric Walton, a research scientist at Ohio State University whose designs are used in some General Motors cars. Carmakers also hide antennas behind plastic panels that will not block signals, and in bumpers, parcel shelves, trunk lid trim, doors, under dashboards and in roofs. For its PT Cruiser convertible, Chrysler is experimenting with antennas in the roll bar. Mercedes-Benz puts the antennas for its keyless-entry system in the doors, center console, bumpers and windows. Antenna modules can also be concealed in outside mirrors, Dr. Schumacher said. In a pinch, several antennas can be combined in one compact housing. Most of the new antenna types, Dr. Walton said, are "conformal" antennas, which follow the contours of the car so that "the entire car becomes the antenna." This design became possible only with the availability of computers that could calculate antenna performance for the curves of cars not yet built. Properly aiming conformal and concealed antennas can be tricky. With early windshield antennas, for example, "you'd turn a corner and the station would disappear," Dr. Walton said, a problem solved by installing window antennas on all sides of the car. "We have to deal with the geometry the car designer gave us. Antenna engineers would prefer shaping cars to be effective antennas, but those would be some pretty funny-looking cars." If the car's body panels are isolated from one another, they can be pressed into service as multiple antennas for diversity reception. Phase diversity systems, a design coming soon to some DaimlerChrysler cars, add together the signals of several antennas to make them stronger. These systems can also be configured to work like a single antenna that electronically stays aimed squarely at the signal source, even as the car turns. The number of antennas aboard cars is expected to increase further with the spread of wireless broadband services. One maker of audio systems has proposed music downloads from home computers to a car parked nearby, using a high-speed wireless connection, and Mercedes-Benz has demonstrated a concept it calls drive-by infofueling, in which navigation and information systems can be updated at a toll booth or gasoline stop. Will this forest of antennas doom the public to driving porcupines? No, cars will maintain the sleekness of dolphins - designers and carmakers prefer it that way. (via John Figliozzi, and Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ICOM R75 DISCONTINUED Yes, it must be true! The ICOM R75 has been discontinued. http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/commrxvr/0175.html Availability Note: Icom has discontinued the R75. No replacement is currently planned. Universal Radio obtained a quantity of this model before it was discontinued. We are pleased to be able continue to offer this excellent radio (Steve Lare, Holland, MI USA, March 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) R8B The Drake site says limited availability. I dropped them an email for verification. Website with specs http://www.rldrake.com/swl/R8B.html (Powell E. Way, ABDX via DXLD) DRAKE R8B AND ICOM IC-R75 NOW DISCONTINUED :( If you want one of these new you'll have to hurry! before existing stocks are gone As listed on Universal Radio site. http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/commrxvr/0082.html http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/commrxvr/0175.html (John Schmiffy, March 16, ARDXC via DXLD) HDD DVD --- Sorry, Howard Stern - Good-bye TIVO Over the next ten to twenty years there will be a revolution in broadcasting so drastic that I believe TV sets will virtually disappear in American homes within the next 25 years. The in-home AM/FM radio is already going the way of the 1950's short-wave, and within 15 years will become a curiosity. http://www.lewrockwell.com/rogers/rogers134.html (via Andy Sennitt, dxldyg via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ SESC is projecting solar minimum for Dec 06-Jan 07 (gh, DXLD) The geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to major storm levels at lower latitudes with minor to severe storming periods observed at the higher latitudes. The period began on 07 March under the influence of a high speed coronal hole stream with levels reaching major storm conditions. An isolated severe storm period was observed at high latitudes along with several periods of major storming. On 08 March, conditions were quiet to minor storm with major storm periods at high latitude. On 09 March, quiet to active conditions with periods of minor storm levels at high latitudes were observed. On 10 March, levels began decreasing to quiet to unsettled with some minor storm levels at high latitude as a coronal hole high speed stream moved out of geoeffective position. Quiet to unsettled conditions were observed on 11-13 March. SPACE WEATHER OUTLOOK 16 MARCH - 11 APRIL 2005 Solar activity is expected be at very low to low levels the entire forecast period. A greater than 10 MeV proton event is not expected. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at high levels on 17 – 19 March, and 03 – 06 April. The geomagnetic field is expected to range from quiet to minor storm levels. Coronal hole high speed wind streams are expected to produce unsettled to active levels with occasional minor storm periods on 16 – 17 March, and again on 02 – 06 April. Otherwise, expect quiet to unsettled conditions. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2005 Mar 15 2211 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center # Product description and SEC contact on the Web # http://www.sec.noaa.gov/wwire.html # # 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table # Issued 2005 Mar 15 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2005 Mar 16 110 10 3 2005 Mar 17 105 15 3 2005 Mar 18 100 15 3 2005 Mar 19 100 12 3 2005 Mar 20 100 8 3 2005 Mar 21 95 5 2 2005 Mar 22 95 5 2 2005 Mar 23 90 5 2 2005 Mar 24 85 10 3 2005 Mar 25 85 10 3 2005 Mar 26 85 8 3 2005 Mar 27 85 12 3 2005 Mar 28 85 12 3 2005 Mar 29 85 12 3 2005 Mar 30 90 5 2 2005 Mar 31 90 5 2 2005 Apr 01 90 10 3 2005 Apr 02 95 35 6 2005 Apr 03 95 35 6 2005 Apr 04 95 25 5 2005 Apr 05 95 20 4 2005 Apr 06 100 12 3 2005 Apr 07 100 5 2 2005 Apr 08 100 5 2 2005 Apr 09 100 8 3 2005 Apr 10 100 12 3 2005 Apr 11 100 8 3 (http://www.sec.noaa.gov/radio via WORLD OF RADIO 1267, DXLD) ###