DX LISTENING DIGEST 5-062, April 9, 2005 Incorporating REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING edited by Glenn Hauser, http://www.worldofradio.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits For restrixions and searchable 2005 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn NEXT AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1270: Sun 0230 WOR WWCR 5070 Sun 0300 WOR WBCQ 9330-CLSB Sun 0330 WOR WRMI 7385 Sun 0630 WOR WWCR 3210 Sun 0830 WOR WRN1 to North America, also WLIO-TV Lima OH SAP Sun 0830 WOR KSFC Spokane WA 91.9 Sun 0830 WOR WXPR Rhinelander WI 91.7 91.9 100.9 Sun 0830 WOR WDWN Auburn NY 89.1 [unconfirmed] Sun 0830 WOR KTRU Houston TX 91.7 [occasional] Sun 1100 WOR R. Lavalamp Sun 1200 WOR WRMI 7385 Sun 1300 WOR KRFP-LP Moscow ID 92.5 Sun 1500 WOR R. Lavalamp Sun 1730 WOR WRMI 7385 [from WRN] Sun 1730 WOR WRN1 to North America Sun 1900 WOR Studio X, Momigno, Italy 1584 87.35 96.55 105.55 Sun 2000 WOR RNI Mon 0230 WOR WRMI 7385 Mon 0300 WOR WBCQ 9330-CLSB Mon 0330 WOR WSUI Iowa City IA 910 [1269] Mon 0430 WOR WBCQ 7415 Mon 0900 WOR R. Lavalamp Mon 0900 WOR WRMI 9955 Mon 1600 WOR WBCQ after hours Tue 0600 WOR WPKN Bridgeport CT 89.5 Tue 1600 WOR WBCQ after hours Wed 0930 WOR WWCR 9985 Wed 1600 WOR WBCQ after hours MORE info including audio links: http://worldofradio.com/radioskd.html WRN ON DEMAND: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also for CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL] WORLD OF RADIO 1270 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1270h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1270h.rm WORLD OF RADIO 1270 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1270.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1270.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1270.html [from UT Friday] WORLD OF RADIO 1270 in true shortwave sound Alex`s mp3: (stream) http://www.piratearchive.com/media/worldofradio_04-06-05.m3u (d`load) http://www.piratearchive.com/media/worldofradio_04-06-05.mp3 MONITORING REMINDERS CALENDAR http://worldofradio.com/calendar.html has now been fully timeshifted for DST in Europe and North America. In addition, many updates have been made to the listings, especially concerning BBC (WS and domestic), RCI, RA, RNZI, WBCQ, WWCR (gh) DX/SWL/MEDIA PROGRAMS April 9 edition: http://worldofradio.com/dxpgms.html ** ANTARCTICA [and non]. Tho I am still awaiting a reply from Voz Cristiana about my suggestion they clear 15475 at least for the three hours it is used by LRA-36 Antarctica, I checked April 8 after 1900 to confirm whether their Brasilian service from Chile was still on 15475. Yes; not very strong here, but that`s not the point. Recheck at 2003 and still heard, and this time I was able to detect a het/carrier on 15476, likely the much put-upon Radio Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel, Base Esperanza, struggling, whether its operators are aware of it or not, to be audible, at least in South America, against the evangelical behemoth. Another problem is that Africa Number One, Gabon, is still scheduled on 15475 at 1600-1900. As has been the case for many seasons now, that too blocks LRA-36 for the first hour of its only broadcast, at 1800-2100. But the 45 degree signal from Santiago across Brasil is very likely also to interfere with ANO in its target area of N & W Africa. Frequencies are NOT that scarce, especially on the higher bands. The three of them COULD be on three, different, clear, frequencies. If I were LRA-36, I`d get out of the way to a clear frequency higher in the band, those three hours, and let the other two fight it out. But RNASG is apparently one of those quasi-domestic, crystal-controlled stations assigned to a specific frequency, not easy to change either technically or administratively. So give them and their would-be listeners a break (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Well Glenn, after seeing your seemingly justified complaints about frequency clashes, collides or collisions, whatever you want to name them, this left me with the impression of someone painted on the wall (like we say in Spanish, ¨pintado en la pared¨). Is it the IBB or the ITU? I would like you to tell me cause honestly I am unaware of this. I see a lack of respect from some international broadcasters with a lot of resources and frequencies, invading the only channel that some small stations have been using for so long. Otherwise, how can anyone explain that clashing around 1800 on 15475 between LRA36, Africa N. 1 and Voz Cristiana? (Raul Saavedra, Costa Rica, April 9, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, I checked April 9 at 1747 on 15475, and ANO in French was on top of VC in Portuguese, quite a mess even here (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) SOBRE INTERFERENCIA DE VOZ CRISTIANA A LRA 36 Hola Glenn: Respecto al cambio de frecuencia de Radio Voz Cristiana, además de fastidiar a LRA 36, esta emisora no salió muy favorecida con el cambio. Me explico: Antes, cuanto transmitía en 17660 y aún anteriormente en 21500, se escuchaba con muy buena señal aquí en España. De hecho yo escuchaba varias veces sus programas, sobre todo "Altas Ondas", el programa DX de Edson Bruno de los sábados en la tarde aquí en España. Ahora, desde que se cambiaron a 15475, no se escucha nada hasta las 1900, ya que está completamente interferida por Africa nº 1, y a partir de esa hora, que deja de transmitir esta última, se escucha con muy mala señal. Yo creo que, incluso en Brasil, la recepción no debe de ser tan buena como era antes en los 17660. Así que han logrado "cargarse" a LRA 36, pero ellos han salido muy perjudicados también con su cambio de frecuencia, pues antes, indirectamente, sin quererlo, llegan muy fuerte aquí, y lógicamente, también a Portugal, país cerca de el que vivo. Me imagino tendrían en Portugual una muy buena audiencia de su programa en portugués, que ahora no pueden tener. Así que yo tengo esperanza de que cambién la frecuencia, no por lo que les importe LRA 36, sino porque los 15475 kHz no les debe estar dando muy buén resultado. Por otra parte, es una pena no poder saber lo que opinan el personal de LRA 36 al respecto. Tú sabes que el personal de la base y de la emisora se cambia por años, más o menos a fin de año. El anterior equipo era muy cordial con los oyentes, respondían a los mails y a las cartas y aparte de responder, los leían en antena. Yo estaba en contacto, frecuentemente, con la emisora y siempre me respondían. Ahora, no se sabe nada del nuevo equipo que tomó posesión a principios de este año y, por lo menos hasta hace un corto período de tiempo, no respondían al correo electrónico. Hace unos días los informé, mendiante un e-mail, del problema que tienen con la interferencia de Voz Cristiana. Y por ahora nada más. Recibe un abrazo desde España (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. R. Australia`s frequency management is handled by Bernd Friedewald, who refuses to allow it to appear in the public version of the HFCC schedules. So you won`t find the BFM entries below in it. This schedule also includes RA relays abroad and via CVC Darwin, and Northern Territory stations (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 2310 0830-2130 55,58,59 ALI 50 0 0 ABC BFM 2325 0830-2130 55,58,59 TEN 50 0 0 ABC BFM 2485 0830-2130 55,58,59 KTH 50 0 0 ABC BFM 4835 2130-0830 55,58,59 ALI 50 0 0 ABC BFM 4910 2130-0830 55,58,59 TEN 50 0 0 ABC BFM 5025 2130-0830 55,58,59 KTH 50 0 0 ABC BFM 5995 0800-1400 51,56,61,64,65 BRN 10 10 0 ABC BFM 5995 1400-1800 2,6,7,51,55,56,61, SHP 100 30 0 ABC BFM 6020 0900-1100 51,55,56,64,65 SHP 100 30 0 ABC BFM 6020 1100-1400 2,6,7,51,55,56,61, SHP 100 30 0 ABC BFM 6035 1100-1300 45,51,54E,55,56,64 SHP 100 5 13 ABC BFM 6080 1400-1800 44,45,50,51,54E,55 SHP 100 334 -13 ABC BFM 6080 1800-2100 45,50,51,54E,56W,6 SHP 100 5 13 ABC BFM 6120 0000-0030 54 SNG 250 140 -12 ABC MER 7220 1600-2130 2-4,6-10,56,60-63, SHP 100 70 0 ABC BFM 7240 1400-1700 2,6-8,56,60-63,76, SHP 100 50 -20 ABC BFM 7240 1800-2000 2,6,7,51,55,56,61, SHP 100 30 0 ABC BFM 7240 2000-2100 51,55,56,61,64,65 SHP 100 30 0 ABC BFM 7260 1400-1600 2,6-8,56,60-63,76, SHP 100 50 -20 ABC BFM 7260 1600-1900 2,6,51,55,56,61,64 SHP 100 30 0 ABC BFM 9475 1100-1900 27,28,43,44,50,51, SHP 100 329 -13 ABC BFM 9500 1900-2130 27,28,43,44,50,51, SHP 100 329 -13 ABC BFM 9560 1100-1400 45,51,54E,55,56,64 SHP 100 5 13 ABC BFM 9580 0800-1400 2-4,6-10,56,60-63 SHP 100 70 0 ABC BFM 9580 1700-2000 2-4,6-10,56,60-63 SHP 100 70 0 ABC BFM 9590 0800-1600 2,6-8,51,55,56,60- SHP 100 30 0 ABC BFM 9630 2130-2330 54 DRW 250 290 -13 Ins ABC CVI 9645 2130-2330 54 DRW 250 290 -13 Ins ABC CVI 9660 0000-0800 51,56,61,64,65 BRN 10 10 0 ABC BFM 9660 2100-2200 51,56,61,64,65 BRN 10 10 0 ABC BFM 9660 2200-2300 51,56,61,64,65 BRN 10 10 0 BBCWS ABC BFM 9660 2300-2400 51,56,61,64,65 BRN 10 10 0 ABC BFM 9710 0800-1100 45,51,54E,55,56W,6 SHP 100 353 0 ABC BFM 9710 1600-2000 2,6,51,55,56,61,64 SHP 100 30 0 ABC BFM 9720 2300-2330 49SE SNG 100 13 -12 ABC MER 9805 1400-1600 49S,54 DRW 250 290 -13 En ABC CVI 11550 0900-0930 54 TAI 250 205 0 ABC MER 11550 2130-2330 54 TAI 250 205 0 ABC MER 11650 2000-2200 2,6,51,55,56,61,64 SHP 100 30 0 ABC BFM 11660 1300-1700 27,28,44,49-51,54, SHP 100 329 -13 ABC BFM 11660 2000-2200 6-8,10,56,60-63,76 SHP 100 70 0 ABC BFM 11695 2130-2400 50,51,54,55,58N SHP 100 329 -13 ABC BFM 11820 2330-2400 49E DRW 250 316 13 Vietn ABC CVI 11880 0600-0800 45,51,54E,55,64 SHP 100 355 13 ABC BFM 11880 0900-1300 44,49-51,54,55,58N SHP 100 329 -13 ABC BFM 11880 1700-2130 6,56,60-63,65 SHP 100 50 0 ABC BFM 11880 2130-2300 51,55,56,61,64,65 SHP 100 30 -20 ABC BFM 11920 0500-0600 49E SNG 250 13 -12 ABC MER 12010 1300-1430 43E,44 SNG 100 13 -12 ABC MER 12080 0000-1200 51,56,60-62 BRN 10 80 0 ABC BFM 12080 2000-2200 51,56,60-62 BRN 10 80 0 ABC BFM 12080 2200-2300 51,56,60-62 BRN 10 80 0 BBCWS ABC BFM 12080 2300-2400 51,56,60-62 BRN 10 80 0 ABC BFM 13605 0600-0700 45,50,51,54W,55,56 SHP 100 353 0 ABC BFM 13620 2200-2400 49,50,54 DRW 250 317 -23 En ABC CVI 13630 0700-0900 2,6-8,56,60-63,76, SHP 100 50 -20 ABC BFM 13630 2100-2300 51,56,61,64,65 SHP 100 65 0 ABC BFM 13630 2300-0800 45,51,54E,55,64 SHP 100 353 0 ABC BFM 15110 2330-2400 49E TAI 250 225 0 ABC MER 15160 0500-0800 6-8,10,11,56,60-63 SHP 100 65 0 ABC BFM 15230 2200-2400 51,55,56,61,64,65, SHP 100 30 0 ABC BFM 15240 0000-0800 51,55,56,61,64,65 SHP 100 30 0 ABC BFM 15360 2200-2400 51,55,56,61,64,65, SHP 100 30 0 ABC BFM 15415 0000-1100 50,51,54,55,58N SHP 100 329 -13 ABC BFM 15415 2130-2400 51,54,55,58N SHP 100 329 -13 ABC BFM 15515 0200-0700 2,6-8,61-63 SHP 100 70 20 ABC BFM 15515 0700-0900 6-8,10,61-63,77 SHP 100 70 20 ABC BFM 15515 2100-2300 51,55,56,61,64,65, SHP 100 30 0 ABC BFM 17585 2130-2400 2,6-8,56,60-63,76, SHP 100 50 -20 ABC BFM 17715 2100-0200 6-8,10,56,60-63,76 SHP 100 70 0 ABC BFM 17750 0000-0900 44,49-51,54,55,58N SHP 100 329 -13 ABC BFM 17750 2330-2400 50,51,54,55,58N SHP 100 329 -13 ABC BFM 17775 0000-0130 49,50,54 DRW 250 317 -23 En ABC CVI 17795 2300-0200 6-8,10,51E,56,61-6 SHP 100 50 0 ABC BFM 17855 0000-0030 54 DRW 250 290 -13 Ins ABC CVI 17855 0400-0430 54 DRW 250 290 -13 Ins ABC CVI 17855 0500-0530 54 DRW 250 290 -13 Ins ABC CVI 17855 0530-0600 49E DRW 250 317 -23 Vietn ABC CVI 21725 0000-0300 45,50,51,54W,55,56 SHP 100 355 13 ABC BFM 21725 0300-0600 43-45,49-51,54,55, SHP 100 329 -13 ABC BFM 21740 2100-2400 6-8,10,11,56,60-63 SHP 100 70 0 ABC BFM 21780 0400-0430 54 DHA 250 120 -12 ABC MER (according to RA.XLS Excel file of March 24, via ADDX Andreas Volk-D via Wolfgang Büschel, DXLD) ** BELGIUM [non]. Maeva 6015 - The Big M (formerly known as Radio Maeva International) has now its own website: http://www.maeva6015.com It includes a number of photos of the Deutsche Telekom Jülich SW site from where the programs are transmitted (brokered by TDP). (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, April 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BIAFRA [non]. U.K.(non): Summer A-05 for Voice of Biafra International via VT Communications: 2100-2200 Wed/Sat on 7380 MEY 250 kW / 328 deg to WeAf in English (ex Sat only) (Observer, Bulgaria, April 8 via DXLD) Has been on Weds too for about 6 months already (gh, DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. New QSL --- R. Mosoj Chaski - 3310 kHz. Received n/d letter from Ann Matthews, Dir., in 52 days for US $2 along with brochure and schedule. Nice stamps on the envelope (Terry Palmersheim, KC7LDP Helena, MT, HCDX via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 4876.38, R. Difusora de Roraima, Boa Vista here 1000 UT with weak signal and a program called "Roraima rural". First I thought it was La Cruz del Sur, La Paz but it is the Brasilian station with transmitter problems. Comments, photos and recordings at: http://www.malm-ecuador.com 73s (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. This week I`ve noticed that RCI is no longer running the daily M-F 5-minute commercial for Desjardins International Development as they were in March at 1404 UT. Now the time would be 1304:30 UT, after the CBC News in the gap before Sounds Like Canada starts. April 8 and previous dates on 9515, 13655 and 17800 this was replaced by the ubiquitous solo piano fill music, rags mixed with waltzes, for five minutes until 1309:30. It is never identified on air. Would like to know the composers, artist, CD, and some of the titles. The same music, or type of music, is used by RCI to fill other gaps, and is quite enjoyable and distinctive (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Canada radio Sikh slur censured ** A Canadian radio station is censured for broadcasting "abusive" remarks about the Sikh community. [CKAC] http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/south_asia/4396535.stm (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC [non]. FRANCE(non): Summer A-05 for Radio Centrafrique via TDF's tx 1700-2258 on 9590 ISS 500 kW / 156 deg in French to CeAf (Observer, Bulgaria, April 8 via DXLD) ** CHILE. Further discussion about Voz Cristiana on 15475: see ANTARCTICA [and non] ** CHILE. Two stories about radio made it on Free Speech Radio News this week. For various streaming/downloading options, go to http://www.fsrn.org and then click on the newscast archives. --Leigh Robartes Date: Thurs., April 7. 2005 MAPUCHE RADIO UNDER ATTACK IN CHILE (4:41) With a population of over 600,000 people, the Mapuche Indians make up the biggest ethnic minority in Chile. Their native lands are the temperate rainforests in Southern Chile, but for decades, and particularly during the military dictatorship of the 70s and 80s, their lands have been taken away to make way for the forestry industry and other private companies. Many Mapuche farmers were forced to leave their homes and move to cities like Santiago to make a living. Marginalized by the dominant Spanish-speaking society, it is hard for them to preserve their language and culture. A bilingual radio program in Santiago, in Mapuche and Spanish has been trying to help the Mapuche minority, as well as reporting about issues concerning Mapuches in Southern Chile. Jorge Garretón has more from Santiago (via Leigh Robartes, KRFP, DX LISTENING DIGEST) This starts 19:15 into the half-hour file. Unfortunately, does not include a clip of the program nor a sample of the language (gh) ** COLOMBIA. 5910, Marfil Estereo, 0557-0640, Luego de unos días de no recibir esta emisora, hoy se volvía escuchar al amanecer, con programa de canciones en español e identificación "Marfil Estereo 88.8". 24322. (Abril 8). (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I also heard that station this morning with excellent signal (SINPO 45434). I posted an audio clip of the ID, like mentioned above, on my website. vy 73 (Michael Schnitzer http://home.arcor.de/mschnitzer/ Hassfurt, Germany, HCDX via DXLD) Hello Glenn: I'm wondering about Jeffrey Heller's log of this station in DXLD 5-057 - not that he heard it, just whether this is actually La Voz de tu Conciencia. Tom Williamson sent me a log of the station from Mar 17th where he noted this one with Marfil Estéreo programming and not // 6010. I'm wondering if the guerrillas have taken over this station or set up their own on 5910. Here's a copy of Tom's log that's going to be in my column in Listening In plus my comments. 5910 COLOMBIA UNID (Puerto Lleras) at 1046 in Spanish with a woman greeting listeners by name then some Latin music and mention of "Marfil Estéreo" and "Onda La Paz" (Fair Mar 17 TW) - Tom mentions that this is supposed to be La Voz de tu Conciencia but the programming is definitely Puerto Lleras which is in guerrilla hands and that the // on 6010 had different programming. Jeffrey Heller in DXLD5057 lists this as La Voz de tu Conciencia/Marfil Estereo. This definitely deserves more research - ed (Mark Coady, Ont., http://geocities.com/luckywimpy DX LISTENING DIGEST) Mark, The 5910 outlet from the outset was understood to belong to the same organization as La Voz de tu Conciencia 6010, but carrying different programming as always planned, which turned out to be from Marfil Estereo, Puerto Lleras, after an initial test period when the two were parallel. I really doubt this scenario, but you could try asking them at their e-mail in WRTH. 73, (Glenn to Mark, via DXLD) Glenn, I think your assumption is right (Henrik Klemetz, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 11570, Radio Rebelde; 1600-11+, 2-Apr; M in SS w/ID, cmtry, Cuba Deportivo & Mundo Deportivo. I think they just came on @1600. SIO=3+53- 5025 not audible. Checking for Pakistan (Harold Frodge, MI, MARE Tipsheet via DXLD) Pak would be 11570, but Rebelde should be 11670 (gh) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. Best 19 meter signal some late afternoons on 15190 with old time religious programs originating from California. Many IDs for Radio Africa. Best later before sign off around 2200 (Thomas Sliva, New York, NY, Grundig 800, 60' of copper wire across tenement roof, April 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FAROE ISLANDS. Referring to DXLD 5-061: "Tórshavn Radio 1641 1758 2066 2102 62 00 52N 06 47 27W 0035-0235-... (kun 1641)" 'kun' means ONLY 1641 kHz. Wonder if the time of the news relay is local Faroese time or UT? (Erik Køie, DK-2840 Holte, Denmark, April 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Then why list all the other frequencies? WRTH sez local time is UT except summer UT +1 (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) Hi Glenn, Útvarp Føroya, Tórshavn, is still on 531 kHz. It´ s not out of service. Noted today April 8 on traditional 531 kHz at 20 UT with very heavy QRM by co-channel Switzerland´s Musigwälle. UF not heard on 1758 kHz. 73´s (Jouko Huuskonen, Turku, FINLAND, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re DXLD 5-060 & 5-061: The MW transmitter in Akraberg on 531 was put back on the air on 22 March. At first it was expected that it might take between 3 and 6 months to bring the MW transmitter back into service, but then a new tube was bought in France and arrived in Tórshavn on 20 March. The tube was placed at the MW transmitter by Føroya Tele staff (Føroya Tele is the operator of this transmitter) and the transmitter resumed its regular service. (Info from Útvarp Føroya website in Faroese). The newsclip in English http://www.uf.fo/les_tidindi.asp?Id=23661 quoted in DXLD 5-061 is dated 22 March, but reflects the situation as of 18 March (prior to the resumption of the MW service) which is the date when it was published in its Faroese original http://www.uf.fo/les_tidindi.asp?Id=23521 (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, April 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, To your comment in DXLD 5-061: Faroe Islands and MW: 1) 'kun' means only in Danish, 2) 1758 kHz is definitively mediumwave. The MW frequency range in ship station-to-coast station traffic went from mid-600 kHz and up to at least 2182 kHz which was the international telephone call- and distress frequency, as far as I remember ;-) (worked as a radio operator at sea and on a coastal station). Best 73s (Ydun Ritz, Denmark, April 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE [non]. SOUTH AFRICA: Summer A-05 for Radio France International via Meyerton: 0300-0358 on 5925 MEY 250 kW / 019 deg in French to EaAf 0700-0758 on 15170 MEY 250 kW / 328 deg in French to WeAf 1100-1158 on 17850 MEY 250 kW / 355 deg in French to SoAf 1200-1358 on 17850 MEY 250 kW / 328 deg in French to WeAf 1230-1258 on 21760 MEY 250 kW / 328 deg in French to WeAf 1600-1658 on 7170 MEY 100 kW / 005 deg in English to SoAf 1600-1658 on 15160 MEY 250 kW / 328 deg in English to WeAf 1900-2158 on 7160 MEY 250 kW / 355 deg in French to NoAf (Observer, Bulgaria, April 8 via DXLD) ** FRANCE. RADIO FRANCE PERSONNEL EXTEND CURRENT STRIKE TO 11 APRIL | Excerpt from report by French news agency AFP Paris, 8 April: The technical and administrative personnel of [French public radio group] Radio France who are on strike have decided to extend the move until Monday 11 April at midnight [2200 gmt], a union source has said today. The strike began on 4 April, after a call from the CFDT, CFTC, CGT, SNFORT and SUD unions. A new general meeting of this category of personnel is to be held on Monday. [Passage omitted] Programmes on the Radio France group's various channels (France Inter, France Info, France Bleu, France Culture, France Musiques) were once again disrupted today because of this strike, which affects the technical and administrative staff (PTA) and the presenters of the local stations. [Monitor's note: At time of writing, 1555 gmt, broadcasts of news bulletins and any new programming continue to be severely disrupted on nation-wide services France Inter and France Info, with, at best, only hourly bulletins running on France Info, as opposed to quarter-hourly ones normally. Music is playing the rest of the time.] [Passage omitted] Those striking have asked to be received by Culture and Communication Minister Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres and are preparing to lodge two requests against the management for refusal to negotiated and breach of right to strike. For its part, Radio France's management stressed the fact that it is offering unions "an increase in the lower salaries" and "a general increase for all, except journalists and musicians, as part of the new salary package". It said that 3.4m euros is earmarked for this negotiation. Source: AFP news agency, Paris, in French 1123 gmt 8 Apr 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** GABON. FRANCE(non): Summer A-05 for Africa No. 1 via TDF's txs: 0500-2300 on 9580 GAB 250 kW / 350 deg in French to CeEaAf 1600-1900 on 15475 GAB 250 kW / 305 deg in French to NoWeAf 0700-1600 on 17630 GAB 250 kW / 307 deg in French to NoWeAf (Observer, Bulgaria, April 8 via DXLD) So this 15475 also clashes with Voz Cristã`s extended schedule via Chile to Brasil, more or less in same direxion as NW Af across the pond, let alone blocking LRA-36. ANO does not get any bonus points for also having blocked the first hour of LRA-36 at 1800, for many years, but until this season, there remained a window for it to get out at 1900-2100 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see ANTARCTICA [and non] ** GREECE. 12105, Radio Filia; 1829-1859*, 6-Apr; Multi-lingual IDs at 1830 and into English program; east Mediterranean news, "Cultural News", world news, "Health News", Athens weather, "Commentary". "FM 107 & 665 MW". Presume this is a relay via Greek Radio of the Athens station on 107.0 & 665 -- odd to note it's 665 and the normal Euro frequency is 666. Format is typical SW though. Has Europe abandoned The Devil's Frequency? SIO=233, only in USB due to strong tone and chatter in AM and LSB; much better toward end, tho still QRM'd (Harold Frodge, MI, MARE Tipsheet via DXLD) This is the only chance to hear Greece on SW in English with news, even if originally domestic (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [non] Wake up Glenn! Hellenes Around the World is on Voice of Greece in English at 1400-1500 UT on Delano on 9775 (John Babbis, MD, April 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) John, Yes, I was checking for this and heard it too. Unfortunately I was out and about and did not have time to listen further. And once again it clashes with Vinyl Cafe on CBC/RCI. Wonder why it was a no- show last Saturday at this time? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUIANA FRENCH. BBC relay here is STILL suffering from random annoying audio dropouts lasting a sesquisecond or so, causing us to miss critical words here and there, again noted at 1326 UT April 8 on 15190 during Outlook. BTW, I sure hope I`m not suffering from pronoia. Same problem during the Royal Wedding coverage April 9 during the same hour. Hmmm, I bet BBC is trying to drive us to webcasts, where such dropouts are now less likely, even while some SW remains (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HAITI [non]. My previous scenario about the collision on 11895 at 2200 between NHK via French Guiana in Japanese, and VOA via Delano in Creole turned out to be too optimistic, based on what happened last summer, when after a Week of Confusion (and Collision), the VOA broadcast shifted one UT hour earlier to 2100, ending the problem. Well past the WOC this year, when rechecked April 8, BOTH broadcasts were still at 2200 on 11895 and mixing at approximately equal levels here! The posted VOA language schedule for Creole this A-season still shows 2200 with no mention of shifting an hour earlier. Did Haïti not go on DST this year? According to timeanddate.com they did, on April 3 just like us, spelled U-S. Did IBB forget to make the shift, or decide not to bother, which would suit us just as well if it were not for this collision? Tipping me to recheck this was the open carrier heard on 21555 well before 2200, not 2100, which could only be the VOA \\ frequency for the Creole broadcast, also Delano, and indeed it was after 2200. How long will it take one or both stations to come to their senses? If not in seven days, seven months? I have reason to believe IBB reads DXLD, but perhaps not carefully enough (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [non]. MOLDOVA: Radio Anternacional. 13800 Time: 1645-1659 UT. Date: 04/02/2005. OM singing what sounded like ME pop music. Faded out at 1648 back at 1652. Several interruptions from snippets from WYFR(presumed) schedule to S/O[n] at 1700. I think something wasn’t quite right at the transmitter. A very strong and clear signal other that the one fade and the interruptions (Joe Wood, Greenback TN, MARE Tipsheet via DXLD) As in HFCC A05: 13800 1700 2200 2 YFR 100 315 1234567 270305 301005 D USA YFR FCC 13800 1630 1715 39,40 KCH 500 116 1234567 270305 301005 D MDA MNO GFC (gh, DXLD) Same station as following? (gh) MOLDOVA, Radio International, 03/29/2005 1730-1800, 7490, SINPO-43333, talk in Farsi. Opens with ID "in radeeo internacionale" by male, also female, "barnoma ye radeeo internacional", talk continued. Radio Payam e doost, 03/29/2005 1800-1830, 7485, SINPO-45444, opens with tune followed by female station ID, talk in Farsi continued (Rajeep Das, India, Japan Premium April 8 via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. 6973.77, Galei Zahal (presumed); 2315-30+, 5-Apr; M&W in HB w/lite pop tunes. SIO=343-, QRM data chatter. 1st time noted off 6973.0 in quite a while (Harold Frodge, MI, MARE Tipsheet via DXLD) People keep running across this and wondering what it is. Missing from HFCC does not help. There was a recent unID somewhere on 6975, but probably just approximated (gh, DXLD) ** ITALY. Well, so good for those people who were so lucky for receiving Radio Mi Amigo, a name that gives the sense of something I miss, coming from that off-shore pirate ship that sank nearly a decade ago. But I haven't been so fortunate the last two Saturdays on 15725, while you keep handling that power of 20 kW. If DXers could count on the 100 kW you're running in the 25 mb [?] would be different. Must be an issue of propagation. Unless someone out there give an advice about what time between 09 and 16 is optimum for signals between Central Europe and Central America (Raul Saavedra, Costa Rica, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JORDAN. 12110: Came across Arabic news of Jordan Radio at 0600 UT on Fri Apr 8th. This a mixture signal of 11810/11960 kHz, latter closes usually around 0813 UT [though registered 0500-0715 UT], 500 kW 350 degrees towards Western Europe. But NOT heard on symmetrical 11660 kHz, 150 kHz away. NOT KWT harmonic 2 x 6055 (73 wb, wwdxc BC-DX Apr 8, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) The effect in which two signals of nearby frequency, such as 11810 and 11960 combine to produce additional signals such as 12110, is not a harmonic. This is called a "mixing product". It is often caused by conditions outside of the transmitting station. A "harmonic" is caused by a badly tuned transmitter, usually in combination with a reasonably broad-band antenna. A harmonic on 12000 kHz would be a signal from a transmitter intending to transmit on 6000 (the most common example, 2x) or other sub- multiples of the signal one is hearing. This effect can often be noted on several multiples of the original signal, such as MW signals being heard (by harmonic) as high as 15 MHz, always at an exact multiple of the intended xmtr frequency. There has been disagreement as to whether a station at 6000, producing a signal at 12000, is radiating a "first" or "second" harmonic on 12000. This is a question of language usage. Hope this is of interest, Regards, (Bob Foxworth, Tampa FL, HCDX via DXLD) Radio Jordan 11690 at tune in at 1622 UT April 9/05. English pop music with ID as Radio Jordan FM 96.3 FM at 1630. Off air at 1633. Very good with BBC under. At 1633 BBC Sports World was in the clear until 1658 when CRI China killed them with splatter on 11685 in French. Beam antenna didn't help... 73 (Mick Delmage, Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada T8E 1H4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH. Being heard with good signals during their English program at 0100 on 15180. Usual entertaining, though other worldly, propaganda and music. 13760 also coming in on some nights (Thomas Sliva, New York, NY, Grundig 800, 60' of copper wire across tenement roof, April 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. FREE NORTH KOREA WANTS TO START DAILY RADIO BROADCASTS In an article marking the first anniversary of the Internet-based North Korean opposition group Free North Korea, the Korea Times says that the group wants to start its own radio broadcasts. Having signed a contract to supply the Voice of America with 10 minutes of material six days a week, the next step according to group member Kim Sueng-min is to lease airtime and conduct its own broadcasts for 30 minutes a day. Kim explained how Free North Korea's output differs from other broadcasters: "Our first and unchanging goal is to talk about defectors' lives, their suffering in China and persecution at North Korean gulags in their own voices. That's the way we distinguish the FNK from others like VOA, Radio Free Asia and KBS." Read the full report: NK Broadcasters Survive Turbulent Year http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200504/kt2005040817544911990.htm # posted by Andy @ 14:18 UT April 8 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH [non]. U.K.(non): Summer A-05 for KBS World Radio via VT Communications: 0700-0800 on 9535 SKN 300 kW / 110 deg in Korean to WeEu 1800-1900 on 15360 RMP 500 kW / 062 deg in Russian to RUS 1900-2000 on 15365 RMP 500 kW / 168 deg in Arabic to NoAf 1900-2000 on 6145 SKN 250 kW / 150 deg in French to WeEu 2000-2100 on 3955 SKN 250 kW / 106 deg in German to WeEu 2100-2130 on 3955 SKN 250 kW / 106 deg in English to WeEu (Observer, Bulgaria, April 8 via DXLD) Could be that IBB and/or ITU are "pintados en la pared", which equals to saying that they are useless, but how about this one: CRI and KBS fighting it out until 1100 when both leave the air, CRI in English and KBS in Spanish. Someone having the current ITU plan could perhaps tell us where CRI is beaming their transmission? As for KBS I would think they are beaming towards Europe. The frequency where these two giants clash is 15210 (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, April 9, dxldyg via DXLD) HFCC A-05 does not have KBS on this frequency, just: 15210 0900 1100 55,59,60 KUN 500 135 1234567 270305 301005 D CHN CRI RTC --- which means to eastern Australia and NZ. But http://world.kbs.co.kr/spanish/about/about_time.htm shows 15210 as direct from Korea to Europe (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The public version of the HFCC schedule is not complete. As it says on the website, "Data of BFM and ABU-HFC have been removed on their request." KBS is an ABU member, so I guess it would not list KBS transmitters in Korea :-( (Andy Sennitt, Holland, dxldyg via DXLD) That's not new; same QRM clash happened in last A-04 season already ... and in A-01, A-02, A-03 toooooo. A-04 15210 0900 1100 55,59,60 KUN 500 135 280304 311004 CHN CRI RTC Main back lobe of 135 plus 180 degrees = 315 deg would fit right into Sweden! ITU, HFCC, and "frequency management software" tolerate such outlets to ANTIPODES targets. Some 1100 lines are cut out from the main HFCC file. 15210 0700-1100 30SE,31S,32S,33SW,42N,43N KIM 250kw 305deg (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DXLD) ** LATVIA. 9290 KHZ RELAYS THIS WEEKEND: SAT 9 April 0900-1000 UT Radio Joystick 1730-2300 UT Radio Tatras International (RTI) (launch party!) SUN 10 April 1300-1700 UT Radio Marabu 1700-1800 UT Radio Joystick 1800-2300 UT Radio Tatras International GOOD LISTENING. New EMR Address, 9290 kHz: EMR c/o A.TAYLOR, 32 Shearing Drive, Carshalton, Surrey, SM5 1BL, UK 73s (Tom Taylor, April 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LATVIA [and non]. 9290, Radio Tatras International, 1730-1815 (April 9), continuous identifications between 1730 till 1800, male and female: "This is RTI", "RTI", ``RTI, from the hart of Europe to the World". At 1801 pop music and comments. Comment about Radio Luxembourg. Identification: "This is RTI broadcasting to the World". 45444. This Station starts broadcast today on MW 1350 kHz too from Latvia, and FM 94.2 MHz from Riga, Latvia and Slovakia. Studios of Radio Tatras International are situated in Popras, Slovakia, and the office is in England, 1 Northumberland Avenue, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5BW. It seems they are not interested in reception reports. E-mail address: info @ rti.fm Web site: http://www.rti.fm/ LATVIA, 9290, Radio Tatras International, 1730-1815, contínuas identificaciones entre las 1730 y las 1800, locutor y locutora: "This is RTI", "RTI", ``RTI, from the hart of Europe to the World". A las 1801 programa de música pop y comentarios, comentario sobre Radio Luxemburgo. Identificación: "This is RTI broadcasting to the World". 45444. (Abril 9). Esta emisora tenía previsto transmitir a la misma hora en MW 1350 kHz, también desde Latvia, y por FM 94.2 MHz desde Riga, Latvia y desde Slovaquia. Los estudios de Radio Tatras International están situados en Popras, Slovaquia, y las oficinas, en Inglaterra, 1 Northumberland Avenue, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5BW. Al parecer no está interesada en recibir informes de recepción. Su dirección de correo electrónico es: info@rti.fm y su página web: http://www.rti.fm/ Transmisiones especiales de fin de semana. Special week-end transmission LATVIA, 9290, Radio Joystick, 0900, programa de música pop, alemán, locutor. Identificación: "Radio Joystick". Pop music program, German, male voice, Identification: "Radio Joystick". 45444. (April, 9). (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, April 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Am quite surprised that a radio station labelling itself as 'International' [Tatras] and 'on your wave length' refusing reception reports. In my view, reception reports will be an integral part of our operation. We appreciate reception reports as it will allow us to access coverage and performance as we have learned from experience, thanks to dedicated DX'ers, when a problem occurs, they are the first to inform us. Nowadays, it takes up no time acknowledging reception reports with the help of semi-automation by producing web site forms making it easier for both the DX'er and receiver of reports. We can actually use this information practically which is providing imperative data regarding coverage, performance and overall subjective feed back regarding output. Radio Nord International will certainly welcome this information once we hit the airwaves, by web mail, post or email. We appreciate the dedication and help you guys provide. Keep up the good work!!!! FYI: apparently this station [Tatras] launches on the 9th April (Mike West, Director, Radio Nord International http://www.radionord.fi An RTI Digital Company Ltd. 2003-2005, RTI Digital Ltd is not associated with RTI FM, April 8, dxing.info via DXLD) Maybe staying on later than usual to 2300, 9290 will make it thru better to CNAm, tho aimed at CSAm (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Tatras International 9290 kHz. I have been listening to this station IDing as "RTI" for over an hour (2000-2115) April 9, just barely over the threshold. Pop tunes and talk with British accented male announcer. Bursts of what could be "digital" hash at times. 73 (Mickey Delmage, Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada, Collins HF-2050 KLM 7-30 MHz Log Periodic, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBYA [non]. FRANCE(non): Summer A-05 for LJB via TDF's txs: 1000-1400 on 21695 ISS 500 kW / 140 deg in Arabic 1100-1230 on 15610 ISS 500 kW / 204 deg in Arabic 1100-1230 on 17695 ISS 500 kW / 185 deg in Arabic 1100-1500 on 21675 ISS 500 kW / 153 deg in Arabic 1600-1800 on 15660 ISS 500 kW / 204 deg in Arabic 1600-1800 on 17695 ISS 500 kW / 185 deg in Arabic 1700-1800 on 17880 ISS 500 kW / 153 deg in Arabic 1700-1900 on 15615 ISS 500 kW / 140 deg in Arabic 1800-1900 on 11615 ISS 500 kW / 204 deg in Arabic 1800-1900 on 15660 ISS 500 kW / 185 deg in Arabic 1800-2000 on 15205 ISS 500 kW / 153 deg in Arabic 1900-2030 on 11715 ISS 500 kW / 140 deg in Arabic 2000-2130 on 11635 ISS 500 kW / 153 deg in Arabic (Observer, Bulgaria, April 8 via DXLD) ** MEXICO. MEXICAN TROPO, times presumably CDT [UT -5], statute miles: 04/08/2005 0337 95.7 XHOTE Ocozotepec, Veracruz; 555 "Radio Mas"; "RTV Radio Mas"; musica romantica/nostalgia, //106.5, 107.7 1259 107.5 XHOM Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz; 580 "La Nueva Amor 107.5"; musica romantica; "La Nueva Amor-solo musica romantica"; ID, "XHOM 107.5 en Coatzocoalcos, Veracruz; con 50mil watts de potencia"; 1300 noticias "una corta informativa", M dj in SP, gave phone #'s; 1328 100.9 XHMTV Minatitlan, Veracruz; 585 "El Lobo de Mina"; musica regional Mexicana, cumbia, musica popular en español, musica romantica, promo "EXPOFERIA", ads "Bodega de Gigante" 1333 100.1 XHNE Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz; 580 "La Comadre"; musica regional Mexicana, cumbia, tejano, norteña 1505 92.3 XHZS Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz; 580 "Radio Hits, la Explosiva", full ID "XEZS AM y XHZS-FM en Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz con 3 mil watts de potencia"; "es tiempo de la pura sabrosura"; W di in SP w/saludos, TC musica regional Mexicana/ popular/ romantica/ cumbia 1733 94.9 XHTVH Villahermosa, Tabasco 605 "94.9 FM" "despertando tus sentidos" musica popular en español/hip- hop/urban dance, ID "XHTVH estereo 94.9 FM 50mil watts de potencia en Villahermosa, Tabasco MEXICO......." 1800 97.3 XHVB Villahermosa, Tabasco 605 "Extremo FM"; full ID XHVB Extremo 30 mil watts de potencia, Villahermosa Tabasco Radio Nucleo" "salsavor" musica salsa/popular/romantica; W dj in SP presenting pop music program at 1908, hip/hop/urban mix/musica popular 2003 99.9 XHEMZ Emiliano Zapata, Tabasco; 670 "Solo Amor 99.9-FM"; musica romantica; musica para enamorados; M dj in SP at 2109 with "muchos saludos" 04/09/2005 tropo 0847 93.7 XHMRI Merida, Yucatan 600 "Super Estereo 93.7"; Two men in SP discussing health issues 0903 99.9 XHEMZ Emiliano Zapata, Tabasco; 670 "XHEMZ con 100 mil watts de potencia", ads, sports promo's, weekly sports summary 0918 92.1 XHMYL Merida, Yucatan "9-2-1" 600 W dj SP "musica de los 90's", hip/hop/old-school/dance/urban, "La estacion #1 en Merida 9-2-1"; "reviviendo los 90's" slogan "Nueve- Dos-Uno" 0950 103.9 XHRUY Merida, Yucatan; 600 "Radio Universidad"; musica salsa/tropica/popular, M&W dj in SP muchos saludos; 0952 brief feature on how an Aurora is produced [I once visited this station, inside a nice courtyard --- gh] 0958 99.3 XHMRA Merida, Yucatan; 600 ID "XHMRA con 100 mil watts de potencia" musica popular en español/hip-hop/urban dance (Steven Wiseblood, Boca Chica Beach TX, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEPAL. NEPAL DAILY URGES GOVERNMENT NOT TO FEAR INDEPENDENT RADIO STATIONS | Excerpt from opinion article by radio journalist Ghama Raj Luitel entitled: "Injustice done to FM radio stations"; published by Nepalese newspaper Kantipur on 8 April The independent radios that were operating under the bounds of law have been banned [from airing news and views] since the 1 February royal proclamation and the declaration of a state of emergency. The communications minister said that the FM stations had been broadcasting news bulletins illegally, which is totally baseless. Under the same national broadcast law, the restriction put on television [news] broadcast is less severe. This is an example of gross discrimination. [Passage omitted: legal provisions] The communications ministry should lift its restriction on FM radios [and] allow them to act under the guidance of the national broadcast law and the directives contained in the royal proclamation. News broadcast by FM radio stations is a universal practice. Therefore, FM stations in Nepal were not doing something unusual. [passage omitted] FM radio broadcasts have become part and parcel of Nepalese life. It is natural that some of the rights of people may be suspended during the state of emergency. But the restrictions should be imposed in a lawful manner. The FM radio stations that have been paying a large amount of tax to the government should not be treated in a discriminatory way. The state need not fear them. The FM stations are now unable to pay the royalty to the government. The income from advertisements is drying up. Due to this, their income has decreased by 50 per cent. More than 1,000 radio journalists have lost their jobs. Restrictions on FM radios will tarnish the image of the country in the international arena. The people are deprived of their right to information. There is the danger that people will run after misleading rumours instead of getting factual news. This is against the norms of an open society. This is the source of information of 70 per cent of the people. So, the FM radios cannot be limited to just playing music. Source: Kantipur, Kathmandu, in Nepali 8 Apr 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. Someone in Europe recently pointed out that RN`s African service from Bonaire on 17810 puts a usable signal into Europe. Instead of fiddling with unsatisfactory MW relays, RN should deliberately broadcast to Europe from Bonaire, with a suitable antenna. It ought to work very well (Glenn Hauser, OK, April 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW ZEALAND. THREE NEW RADIO NETWORKS LAUNCH IN NZ More AM changes in New Zealand as two new networks launch and heritage 'Radio I' brand dumped from FM (1) Radio Trackside on AM The rapidly changing AM dial in New Zealand continues to evolve with the launch of Trackside Radio (a horse racing format operated by the Totaliser Agency Board or TAB) sharing frequencies with Radio Pacific, and Radio Live (a news and information format) operated by Canwest. Radio Trackside operates to the following schedule Monday (2pm-8pm), Tuesday (2pm-12am), Wednesday (12pm-12am), Thursday-Friday (11.30am-12am), Saturday (8am-12am) and Sunday (2pm-7.30pm, extended to 10pm for Hong Kong racing). Radio Pacific then uses the same frequencies at all other times. All dates and times are NZ Standard Time. [UT +12] A summary of changes follows: 549 Napier-Hastings Radio Trackside/Radio Pacific ex NZ's Rhema 702 Auckland Radio Live ex Radio Pacific 711 Wellington Radio Trackside/Radio Pacific 738 Christchurch Radio Live ex Radio Pacific 810 Auckland BBC World Service ex 1476 [new] 828 Palmerston North Radio Trackside/Radio Pacific ex The Breeze 954 Hamilton Radio Trackside/Radio Pacific 1071 Ashburton Radio Trackside/Radio Pacific 1206 Dunedin Radio Trackside/Radio Pacific ex MORE FM 1242 Timaru Radio Trackside/Radio Pacific [new] 1260 Christchurch Radio Trackside/Radio Pacific ex The Breeze 1476 Auckland Radio Trackside/Radio Pacific ex BBC 1485 Gisborne Radio Trackside/Radio Pacific [new] 1548 Rotorua Radio Trackside/Radio Pacific ex MORE FM (2) Another heritage station dumped as Easy Listening i becomes VIVA FM When private radio was reintroduced in 1970, Radio I [who had previously leased time on the NZBC's 1YD/1ZM in Auckland] was also granted a licence on 1590 AM. The easy listening music station gradually evolved into 'Easy Listening i' and expanded as far south as Christchurch where it broadcast on 1593 AM until earlier this year when it flipped to Coast. Now, the remaining 'i' channels are dumped and a 35 year old slice of NZ's radio heritage is rebranded as VIVA FM with a female audience targeted easy listening music/magazine style format. The new VIVA FM channels are Auckland 98.2, Tauranga 99.0, Rotorua 95.1 and Napier-Hastings 90.3. VIVA FM is owned by The Radio Network, a 50/50 Australian/US media venture. Warm regards (David Ricquish, Radio Heritage Foundation, Wellington, NZ, http://www.radioheritage.net April 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN. Radio Pakistan 11570 // 11850 at 1600 UT April 9/05. Time pips and Radio Pakistan ID then into EE News read by OM. Another ID at 1605 and more News. At 1610 commentary about Pakistan / China relations read by YL. At 1614 11570 went off, 11850 continued but unreadable. 11570 was fair but suffered from polar flutter. 11850 was poor to useless (Mick Delmage, Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada T8E 1H4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PARAGUAY. 9736.93, Radio Nacional; 2141-2201+, 6-Apr; M in Spanish with baladas y ranchera-like tunes. RNdP ID at 2156:45 and "musical" program promo. ID at 2200. SIO=2+22 using USB. 9736.9, Radio Nacional (presumed); 2203-30+, 2255-2306+, 3-Apr; Fast talking M in Spanish with sports program; game call excerpts and remotes. Mucho about Olympia fútbol team. No IDs heard. SIO=322+ (Harold Frodge, MI, MARE Tipsheet via DXLD) Seems a lot more active lately, not just on Saturdays (gh, DXLD) ** PHILIPPINES. As of April 5, VOA Poro 1170 was operating at full power 1000 kW on the Vietnam pattern, 950 kW on the China pattern, pending contactor replacement (Aaron Zawitzky, April 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PORTUGAL. Rather odd but not unprecedented to hear a station on two adjacent frequencies, causing a het with itself: RDPI, at 2140 April 8 with sports talk and play involving a silly ball, on 15555 which was slightly stronger and less distorted than 15550, still after 2200. Trouble is, A-05 schedule shows 15555 to Venezuela and 15560, not 15550, to North America, for ``special broadcasts``. [Later:] I was pretty certain when originally posted that the two frequencies were 15550 and 15555, but when I rechecked before 2300 they were off. Next day April 9 the two are in fact 15555 and 15560 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. PACIFIC OCEAN RADIO FROM VLADIVOSTOK TO RE-OPEN | Text of report by Primorskoe Television and Radio web site in Russian on 18 March The Maritime Territory radio branch of VGTRK [All-Russian State Television and Radio Company], GTRK Vladivostok, will start broadcasting Pacific Ocean Radiostation [Radiostantsiya Tikhiy Okean] programmes in the nearest future, the Primorskoe Television and Radio [PTR] web site reported on 18 March. The press service of the Maritime Territory television and radio reports that an agreement to this effect has been signed between the head of the Vladivostok administration, Vladimir Nikolayev, and the director of the Vladivostok television and radio company, Valeriy Bakshin. The city administration will finance the bulk of the costs involved in the preparation for, and broadcast of, the fishermen's radio programme. The Pacific Ocean Radiostation is one of the most popular radio programmes in the Russian Far East. It was founded on the basis of the Maritime Territory Television and Radio Committee in the early 60s. For nearly 40 years, the Pacific Ocean Radiostation provided hundreds of thousands of fishermen in all corners of the ocean with a stable link to their native shores. Several years ago, due to a sharp drop in financial resources, the Vladivostok television and radio company had to suspend the broadcasts of the Pacific Ocean Radiostation. In early October 2005 [as received], the Vladivostok television and radio company, together with the Vladivostok administration and a branch of the Russian television and radio networks, experimentally broadcast several programmes of the Pacific Ocean Radiostation on shortwave. The experiments proved successful, after which an agreement was signed between the Vladivostok administration and the Maritime Territory radio branch of VGTRK and GTRK Vladivostok to broadcast the Pacific Ocean Radiostation programmes on a permanent basis. The Pacific Ocean Radiostation's broadcasting schedule will be published separately, the PTR report said. BBC Monitoring last traced reports of Radiostantsiya Tikhiy Okean in 2002. A service for seafarers in the Pacific Ocean, the station by that time was only on mediumwave for Vladivostok and had ceased shortwave and longwave transmissions, although it announced that it was a "programme for fishermen, seamen and all the people living in Far East Russia." The station, which opened 42 years ago, reportedly returned to the air briefly in May 2003 to encourage fishing companies to help fund a more permanent service, the DX Listening Guide reported. Source: Primorskoe Television and Radio web site, Vladivostok, in Russian 18 Mar 05 (via BBCM early April via DXLD) Guess they mean DXL Digest. There were tests last Oct 4-5, 2004 per DXLD 4-172, followed up with QSL reported in 4-178, 4-187 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. Have been hearing VOR in French quite well on 15455, such as 1710 UT April 9 with ID after news; there was a little jingle within the news, and a somewhat curious accent by the YL newsreader, tho at first I wasn`t sure it was Russian. HFCC A-05 shows: 15455 1500 2100 27,28N,37 ARM 500 290 1234567 270305 301005 D VOR GFC Which isn`t too far off our direxion, but intended for France, Algeria and vicinity. Would you believe VOR`s page of French programming http://www.vor.ru/fp2.html hasn`t been updated since 1998y? Fortunately the accompanying http://www.vor.ru/French_e.htm for Europe is current, showing 15455 at 16-20, and 15465 which I have also heard, during the last three hours. The former does not appear on the French to Africa schedule http://www.vor.ru/French_A.htm because it is 15465 1600 2000 27,28NW,37 MSK 250 250 1234567 270305 301005 D VOR GFC There are a number of additional lower frequencies for both services (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. Broadcast tips. The world`s most powerful transmitter ever built, according to Radio Voice of Russia, with a power of probably 5,000 kilowatts will no longer be serviced and maintained after May 1 this year. Its supposed location is near the town of Samara but for sure it is underground below a 4 meter thick plate of reinforced concrete. It served communications with Stalin (Rumen Pankov, R. Bulgaria DX Program April 8 via John Norfolk, dxldyg via DXLD) HF? Really for broadcast from a single transmitter and frequency? Samara is of course still a major transmitter site (gh, DXLD) ** SPAIN. 15385 – REE not off. Dear Glenn, thought you might be interested in this. I finally DID hear REE at 0010-0028 (monitoring to 0035). They were very weak and mixing with an Asian station and that "clicking jammer". They faded in at 0010 and then sunk at around 0020. So I still don't know absolutely for sure they are on for the full hour or not, and ID tentative as I only recognized the announcer's voices and format, but did not hear actual REE ID. Also the signal strength report is relative as I was supposed to be working at the time and was listening with a small portable with a small antenna. Best (Rick Barton, Arizona, UT April 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Last night, Apr. 7, Spain in English to Europe was SIO 555 at 20 UT on 15290 kHz. Kind Regards, (Erik Køie, DK-2840 Holte, Denmark, April 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SYRIA. "Radio Damascus, The External Service of the Syrian Broadcasting", 2105 [2005?] until 2105 on 12085 coming through much stronger lately, though terrible modulation and difficult to understand most through the buzz. 13610 buried [by WEWN 13615?]. Mainly music, interspersed with editorials and news today on at 2100 (Thomas Sliva, New York, NY, Grundig 800, 60' of copper wire across tenement roof, April 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN [non]. FRANCE(non): Summer A-05 for Radio Taiwan International via TDF's txs: 1700-1800 on 11885 ISS 500 kW / 075 deg in Russian to RUS 1800-1900 on 3965 ISS 250 kW / 345 deg in English to WeEu 2100-2200 on 9365 ISS 250 kW / 190 deg in French to WeAf 2200-2300 on 3965 ISS 250 kW / 345 deg in Chinese to WeEu (Observer, Bulgaria, April 8 via DXLD) U.K.(non): Summer A-05 for Radio Taiwan International via VT Communications: 1900-2000 on 6045 SKN 250 kW / 165 deg in French to WeEu 1900-2000 on 6185 SKN 250 kW / 105 deg in German to WeEu (Observer, Bulgaria, April 8 via DXLD) ** TURKEY. Hola colegas: Muy complacido de haber recibido el pasado domingo 3 de Abril (olvidaba reportarlo), la emisión de Radio Turquía en su escuálido servicio en español a las 1630 con un SINPO de 35443. Esa movida de 13640 a 13720 de veras que está funcionando de maravilla. La única "tirada" para nosotros los latino-americanos que somos mayoría en el idioma castellano, es que esa transmisión está dirigida a España; entonces nosotros los de esta parte del Charco, dónde quedamos? La cortesía turca debería darnos una emisión alrededor de las 23 ó 00 UT, de modo que no sea tan tarde para los sudamericanos o tan temprano para los "pañas" del Hemisferio Norte. In other words, good frequency change for Radio Turkey in Spanish at 16 on 13720. Though intended for Spain in that sked only, I got fair to good signals last Sunday April 3. But we Latin Americans speak Spanish too. Where does that Turkey courtesy ends? (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, April 8, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Squalid? ** U K. BDXC VISIT TO RAMPISHAM --- A small group of BDXC members visited the shortwave transmitter site at Rampisham in Dorset, southern England on 12th March after Mike Terry had kindly organised a tour with the site's current owners, VT Communications. (Demand for the limited places on this visit was high so a second club tour has been arranged in April, [and some spaces are available as of 4/9]) The BBC Rampisham shortwave site dates from the early dark days of Second World War in 1940 when there was an urgent need to ensure that "The Voice of Britain" was heard throughout the world, by both allies and enemies alike. At the outbreak of the War in September 1939, the BBC had only eight shortwave transmitters in operation. By December 1943 the number had been increased to 34 with the addition of new transmitters at existing sites plus the establishment of three new transmitter sites in Cumberland (in NW England at Skelton, near Penrith), Shropshire (in Central England at Woofferton) and Dorset (in Southern England at Rampisham). By 1943 the BBC European and Overseas Services were broadcasting in 48 languages and their transmitters logged nearly 133 hours of broadcast programmes between them each day. Even the BBC Home Service made use of one shortwave transmitter. The Rampisham transmitter site was built on Rampisham Downs, an area of high ground, not particularly valuable as agricultural land, about 10 miles south of Yeovil and 6 miles inland from the Dorset coastal town of Bridport on Lyme Bay. It is on the present day A356 Crewkerne to Dorchester road, near the village of Rampisham, and as we approached from the north, its extensive aerial masts were visible from some miles away. A high fence separates the site from the surrounding Dorset downland scrub with a high automatic gate at the end of the entrance drive. Once inside, above the main entrance door of the brick two-storey main transmitter building we noticed a stone plaque with the BBC crest, the dates 1940 - 1960 and the Latin inscription "Quaecunque" meaning "Whatsoever" (not the usual inscription associated with the BBC arms of "Nation Shall Speak Peace Unto Nation"). Below it, a modern sign - "VT Merlin Communications" - the site's current owners. The BBC sold off their UK shortwave transmitter sites about ten years ago to Merlin Communications who were subsequently acquired by VT - Vosper Thorneycroft. (VT also operate the BBC's overseas relay stations, though the BBC, or in some cases the UK government, still owns these). Inside the building we met one of the VT engineers, John, who was to give us a superb 3 hour tour of the station, despite technical problems early that same day which had put our visit in doubt. The Rampisham site operates 24 hours, often with just 2 engineers present. After a brief introduction in John's office, we went into the main transmitter hall where eight of Rampisham's ten 500 kW transmitters were housed - 4 AEGs and 4 Marconis. These were still marked with their old BBC sender numbers. The site was re-engineered in the 1980s when the transmitter powers increased. A control room off the main transmitter hall housed ten Optimod Orban 9105A audio processors and a computer screen indicated the transmitter usage schedule and their shortwave frequencies at the time. A large matrix panel indicated which transmitter was being fed to which of the 30 odd aerial arrays outside. Although the aerial masts and arrays hung between them face primarily east, indicating their prime targets during WWII and the Cold War, they can be electronically slewed in different directions. Of course, the VT transmitter sites are now also used by commercial customers as well as the BBC, so audio monitoring of one transmitter revealed Radio Solh (Peace Radio) targeting Afghanistan in Afghan languages. The increasing price of electricity was also a concern to the operator's of Rampisham and we were surprised to learn that Rampisham had no back up power supply or generators in the unlikely event of a power cut, though of course some transmissions could be switched to other sites. The programmes for transmission from Rampisham are fed there via two different routes. BBC programming and some approved commercial programmes come via the BBC control room at Bush House then via the BBC GDS (Global Distribution Service) satellite. Other commercial programming is fed via private ISDN line to the transmitter site. John said that the scheduling of transmitters and frequencies is also done by a department at Bush House. As well as BBC World Service and other BBC language services, other international broadcasters use the Rampisham station to relay their programmes including Radio Canada International, Radio Australia, Radio New Zealand, HCJB, NHK Japan, Radio Korea International and RVI Belgium. Other relays include Voice of the Eritrean People, UN Radio, Wales Radio International and some American religious programmers. Back in the main transmitter hall we were privileged to be shown the inside of two transmitters once they had been electrically isolated and their side doors had been unlocked. Most impressive were the large output valves with an impressive price tag of around £25,000! The AEGs were air cooled whereas the Marconis were water cooled and provide heat for the rest of the building. A smaller transmitter hall housed the two other 500 kW Marconi transmitters. These were being used for DRM transmissions and were operating at around 100 kW when we visited. One of the offices at Rampisham had a Yaesu receiver set up linked to a PC which was receiving the BBCWS DRM transmission on 7320 kHz (from Rampisham) via a small telescopic antenna. We failed to tune in any other DRM transmissions from elsewhere (maybe not surprising given the small aerial in use and our location!) but we did note a time delay of about ten seconds between tuning the Yaesu back to 7320 and hearing the DRM audio via the PC. Outside the main transmitter building we saw the maze of antenna feeders carried in ducting just above head height out to the field of masts and aerials. Transmitter output can be fed through test equipment we were shown - this is used to accurately calibrate the output power. Surprisingly the masts no longer have aircraft warning lights on top despite their height. The curtain arrays are lowered to the ground annually for maintenance. During strong south-westerly gales off Lyme Bay, the transmitter power is reduced to prevent arcing and subsequent damage. Later, back inside, we saw a spectacular picture taken by one of the engineers of a mast being struck by a streak of lightning a couple of years ago. Finally, over a welcome cup of tea in Rampisham's canteen, looking out at the station's masts, we were able to talk to John about the future of Rampisham. Despite the advent of DRM, to us it looked uncertain, given that the BBC WS were cutting back on shortwave transmissions and the use of the Antigua site in the Caribbean was about to cease in the forthcoming schedule changes. Our thanks to John for devoting three hours to showing us around the impressive Rampisham site, to VT Communications for allowing our visit and to Mike Terry for arranging it (Alan Pennington, April BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** U K [non]. BBCWS is sort of inviting us to a DX PLAYING which after all I take as an entertainment, changing frequencies in the Caribbean Area, every hour from 1100 to 1400. As I said before, we got to see it by the good side, because this allows us to be aware how propagation is going from Montsinéry to Okeechobee to Bonaire and X, like CSX takes trains almost everywhere. So I bet a new era for DXing is about to begin. Regards (Raul Saavedra, Costa Rica, April 9, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also GUIANA FRENCH ** UNITED NATIONS [non]. U.K.(non): Summer A-05 for United Nations Radio via VT Communications: French Mon-Fri 1700-1715 7170 MEY 100 kW / 076 deg to EaSoAf 11735 MEY 500 kW / 340 deg to WeCeAf 17720 SKN 300 kW / 180 deg to NoEaAf English Mon-Fri 1730-1745 7170 MEY 100 kW / 005 deg to CeSoAf 15495 SKN 300 kW / 110 deg to ME 17810 ASC 250 kW / 065 deg to WeCeAf Arabic Mon-Fri 1830-1845 15105 SKN 300 kW / 110 deg to ME 17560 RMP 500 kW / 169 deg to NoEaAf (Observer, Bulgaria, April 8 via DXLD) ** U S A [AND NON]. The VOA News Center management announced a reorganization of operations affecting the overnight staff, in which many of the functions of that shift will move to the VOA Hong Kong office, while those in Washington will be re-distributed in various other roles. Details of what some are calling a first move toward "outsourcing" the news processing functions of VOA are still coming in and we will be updated here (Aaron Zawitzky, DX, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ! Got the idea from CNN? People in the EDT zone really must detest the graveyard shift, but such sacrifices are necessary in a professional worldwide broadcasting service. But look at this: (gh, DXLD) AGENCY TO OUTSOURCE AMERICAN JOBS TO CHINA Dateline: Washington, 04/07/05. AFGE Local 1812 has learned that the Broadcasting Board of Governors will outsource the positions of the overnight shift for the VOA English newsroom to Hong Kong. In what would have been considered an April Fool's joke if presented six days earlier, VOA Director David Jackson announced at a morning meeting that the positions of the overnight English news writers would now be located in Hong Kong. According to sources, Jackson supported this move because it would save money. AFGE Local 1812 questions whether the English news broadcasts by the Voice of America should be written by non-Americans in a foreign country. Also, should American taxpayer dollars be used to provide jobs for non-citizens overseas. Even if the Agency manages to find Americans living in Hong Kong wouldn't it be better to provide jobs for Americans right here at home? (AFGE - American Federation of Government Employees Website via DXLD) ** U S A. Acabo de leer una triste noticia en un mensaje personal remitido por Jeff White, General Manager de WRMI Radio Miami International. Ha muerto Indalecio "Kiko" Espinosa quien se desempeñó como Chief Engineer desde la primera transmisión de la emisora en los 9955 Khz, el 13 de junio de 1994. "Ayer (6 de abril) en la mañana Kiko murió", dice Jeff en su mensaje. "Hace tiempo lo diagnosticaron con cáncer de los pulmones y de los huesos. Desde diciembre o enero ha estado la mayoria del tiempo en el hospital ... Al menos ahora esta en paz", concluye. Jeff informa que el funeral será mañana, el mismo día que el del Papa. Personalmente no tuve la oportunidad de conocer a Kiko pero he tenido la suerte de hablar con él en varias oportunidades vía telefónica cuando WRMI emitía mi programa "Con Frecuencia" desde el 6 de agosto de 1994 hasta fines de 1997. Difícilmente olvidaré su acento cubano y la cordialidad de sus charlas técnicas. Descanse en paz (Rubén Guillermo Margenet, Noticias DX, via DXLD) ** U S A. The Brother Stair service of WWCR has made a frequency adjustment; April 8 at 2153, The Last Days Prophet of God was on new 9975 leaving Cairo in the clear on 9990, but at 2158 WWCR-4 QSYed to 9985 before Cairo`s English-to-Europe was finished, as it runs to 2245. The current WWCR schedule, revised April 4, shows 9975 in use at 18-22, with 9985 before and after. If WWCR is trying to accommodate Cairo, they should really stay away from 9990 another hour (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Checked out WHRA`s latest frequency change, to 11765, April 8 at 2100 with music instead of news, but would DWC follow? Yes, but not until 2107. Unfortunately, RHC was stronger on adjacent 11760. That would be their English to Europe, but 11760 was off after 2130. It appears that WHR is making a concerted effort to use more inband and fewer outband frequencies (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 13110/USB, WLO Mobile AL; 2004-2018*, 4-Apr; Computerized W voice w/ Pacific marine weather. Bering Sea & Gulf of AK till 2013 then moved to tropical areas off South & Central America. Gave dual ID of WLO & KLB (Seattle WA) at s/off. The sig was strong, so assume I was hearing WLO (Harold Frodge, MI, MARE Tipsheet via DXLD) You were, according to their website, which is at: http://www.wloradio.com/Frequencies.htm (MARE ed., ibid.) ** U S A. NEW CW COASTAL STATION AUTHORIZED Richard Dillman announces that the FCC has granted a license for a new common carrier coastal station to the Maritime Radio Historical Society, the group who have conducted annual commemorative operations of ex-RCA coastal station KPH since its cessation of commercial traffic. The new station will operate on 426, 500, 6474 and 12993 kHz (schedule to be determined) with the call KSM. That call has long been a part of maritime radio history. It was first assigned to the shipboard station of the SS Philadelphia in 1916, then by 1930 became the call sign of the Dollar Lines (later Globe Wireless) coastal station in Cypress, CA. It apparently ceased operation some time before the early Sixties. Additional information on the new station will be at http://www.radiomarine.org as soon as it becomes available (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) So will it only be on for special commemorative occasions, or actually routinely handling traffic? (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. AM 1160 WYLL GOES 50,000 WATTS AROUND THE CLOCK! http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20050408005116&newsLang=en New 50,000 watts coverage: http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WYLL&service=AM&status=C&hours=N Old 5,000 watts night coverage: http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WYLL&service=AM&status=L&hours=N (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) Watch out for pop-ups at radio-locator. Transmitter site moved from N to S side of Chicago, and it looks like a tighter null now toward KSL. Can`t have non-LDS religion leaking that way. And the S end of Lake MI remains well-covered (Glenn Hauser, DX LISENING DIGEST) ** U S A. What a ridiculous quote from Markey in the AP story on DST - - "The more daylight we have, the less electricity we use." I had no idea that DST actually increased the amount of sunshine in a day. I thought it just shifted it for the convenience of people too lazy to get up early in the morning. I was unaware that federal or state regulations could alter the alignment of the sun and earth to provide "more daylight." And if DST is such a great thing, why stop at a one- hour change? Surely, two or three hours' difference would reduce our electricity usage even further. Maybe we should shift to Australian time and reduce our electric bills to zero (Mike Cooper, GA, Apr 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Two stories about radio made it on Free Speech Radio News this week. For various streaming/downloading options, go to http://www.fsrn.org and then click on the newscast archives Date: Tues., April 5, 2005 Community Launches Low Power FM in Nashville (3:44) Independent media activists and community members have launched a low-power FM radio station in Nashville, Tennessee. Ingrid Drake from the DC Radio Co-op reports (via Leigh Robartes, KRFP, DXLD) Starts 24:13 into the 29-minute file (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Glenn, Alabama Public Radio (WUAL, Tuscaloosa; WQPR, Muscle Shoals, translators in Huntsville) set up a special e-mail address in connection with their fund raiser: excuses@apr.org and asked people who are not contributing to write in and tell them why. Perhaps they didn't expect any serious letters. Well, they got mine! If you think it is worthwhile, feel free to quote all or part of it. Bottom line for me is that NPR doesn't really give a damn about what people think or say, even though they make "nice-nice" when it is fund raising time --- or so I see it! (Tim Hendel, AL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: I'm so glad you asked us to write in, giving you our reasons, "excuses" why we do not contribute to APR. I'll bet you didn't expect to receive any serious answers, but, here is one. I am a very very avid listener to both APR and WLRH, Huntsville, and I unashamedly tell you why I won't contribute to NPR any more. Slightly over one year ago, I was thrilled with something I discovered while tuning around on my FM dial. I found two signals, one on 98.1, and one on 100.7, both relaying WQPR, which, of course, relays WUAL, Alabama Public Radio. Since I moved to Alabama, in 1996, I have been trying to maneuver radios and antennas to pick up WQPR on 88.7. Of course, we have a good NPR station here in Huntsville, WLRH, on 89.3. However, each NPR station often carries programs which the other station doesn't, so it is nice to have two. I was thus thrilled to be able to join APR last April, when you had your fund raiser. I called in my pledge, and, as is often the case, I was asked if I had any message or dedication which I wished to make, along with my pledge. I told the volunteer that I was making my pledge in honor of the new translators in Huntsville, and that I wanted you to mention Huntsville and the translators often during the fund raiser. I'm not some kind of North Alabama urban chauvinist! I simply wanted the translators in Huntsville to be highlighted, so that more people would know about them, more people would listen, and perhaps more people in Huntsville would become members. I felt that this would insure the continuation of these new translators. Well, the volunteer told me that this was a good dedication, and assured me that Huntsville would be mentioned. It was not, at least, not very often, neither during that day nor in subsequent on-air fund drives. In other words, I was promised something, and it was not fulfilled. This is one reason why I let my membership lapse last October. I have suggested that the automated WQPR ID could include mention of Huntsville. I was told that this is impossible, due to the 7 second time limit imposed on the ID. I don't think this is true; I have experimented, and I see that the word "Huntsville" could be included. I think you don't want to be bothered re-recording the ID. So, that is one of my excuses. My second excuse is, to me, much more serious. I have been waging a campaign with NPR over approximately the past five or six years, during which I have written between 30 and 40 letters to different departments of National Public Radio. I have been completely unsuccessful in my attempts to raise the awareness of NPR about something. What is this topic, about which I feel so intensely passionate? It is the NPR policy of restricting the ability to comment on your programs to those who have access to the internet. You used to give postal addresses and a phone number for comments about Morning Edition and All Things Considered. You no longer do. I belong to a specific group with higher than normal exclusion from the internet. I am blind. I am fortunate to have the talking software which allows me to have spoken those words which appear on the screen. Thus I can do e-mail. This software costs more than the average entry level PC which a sighted person might buy at WalMart or some other discount place. It is said that blind people have an unemployment rate of some 70 percent. If this is true (I cannot document it) then you will easily understand that many of my blind friends cannot afford computers and internet access. In addition, using this software can be complicated if you can't get the specific training necessary, and this training is not available except through those who have experience with this talking software. Even with all of the above, many web sites are not accessible, or, if they are accessible, figuring out how to navigate around the screen is so complicated that many people give up and don't bother. NPR used to have a phone number which you could call to order music and other NPR items. Now the NPR "store" is only on the web site, completely closed to me and mine. Two days ago I was handed another insult by NPR. You began a series called "This I believe," in which people explain their spiritual and religious faith. Listeners were asked to send in their own personal essays on this subject. But -- you can guess it -- only via e-mail! Do people who are not on the internet have nothing of value to say to NPR, or are the national staff just too lazy and uncaring to be willing to open an envelope or play a voice mail? One of my letters to NPR on this subject was answered by a phone call from a person who was obviously an NPR secretary or assistant. She offered to "give me" the phone number to which I might call with my comments. I explained to her that my "issue" was not that I personally wanted the phone number, or the postal address. I already have both. It was that I wanted to raise the awareness of NPR about its many listeners who are excluded from full interaction with NPR because of our lack of access to the internet. I have focused on blind people, my own particular interest group. But there are many many people, including many NPR listeners whom I know who are not blind and, still, for one reason or another, do not or cannot access the internet. They are all excluded. I have noticed that some of the far right wing religious programs, such as "Focus on the Family," always give out both e-mail and postal addresses, along with phone numbers, by which listeners can comment and order merchandise. What do they know that NPR doesn't know? Perhaps they care more about poor or disenfranchised people than NPR does? If those of us who cannot access the internet are not quite as equal, why don't you offer us discounted memberships? Better yet, why don't you just set up an account on PayPal or some such system, and let members contribute that way. Obviously, we non-web users are good enough to support NPR, but not good enough to avail ourselves of all your services. I assure you that, until the day I can have a meaningful dialogue with a responsible NPR person, not just someone who will give me a bunch of platitudes, I shall not again be a member of any NPR station, and I shall share my views with all my friends -- especially those who listen to NPR (Tim Hendel, Huntsville, AL 35802, cc to DXLD) ** U S A. Sunday 10 April: Supervolcano (Discovery 6 p.m.) Discovery Channel gets a bit speculative with its science. It's not as out there as Animal Planet`s recent ``Dragons: A Fantasy Made Real`` special but this is a fictional disaster movie pondering just what would happen if Yellowstone National Park decided to unleash its majestic fury on all our asses (Week in Sloth, Albuquerque Alibi via DXLD) That`s 6 pm MDT = 0000 UT Monday. It`s THREE hours long, that being the original feed we also get in OK. TV Guide gives it a rating of 7 out of 10. Or if you prefer 4 stars out of ?? in online listings, and it repeats immediately at 0300, as well as 6 days later at the same times, UT Sunday April 17. Was this the one postponed when the Boxing Day quakenami hit, to avoid upsetting us further? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. I've had to come in to the office an hour or more early a couple of times this week during pledge drive, and have tuned around on AM sunrise skip on the way in on the stock Toyota radio in my '03 Tacoma. Noticed KFAB-1110, once they go to day facilities with IBOC, absolutely OBLITERATING KMOX-1120 and nearly eliminating semilocal KKLL-1100 Joplin/Webb City MO. I doubt if even tuning to LSB would've helped poor KMOX. By the way, I never received a reply to the email I sent to KMOX last week when KFAB first fired up the digital junk (Randy Stewart, Springfield MO, April 8, NRC-AM via Bill Harms, DXLD) ** U S A. Sunday, April 3 (SF Chronicle) RADIO WAVES Ben Fong-Torres http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/04/03/PKG4EBTOVK1.DTL THE BIG SIX-TEN: It's amazing how emotional the response has been to the news that KFRC's AM signal has been sold for $35 million to Family Stations Inc., the Christian broadcasting company that, as Family Radio, operates KEAR (106.9 FM) and is expected to switch 610 AM to a religious format. Infinity, which owned KFRC, had purchased KOVR-TV in Sacramento late last year, and needed to divest another of its properties to stay within FCC limits on station ownership. KFRC-FM (99.7) remains Infinity's property, and it will continue to crank out oldies. Also, the AM side is not expected to change formats until the fall, meaning Oakland A's games will not be awkwardly wedged between sermons and spirituals. For alumni of the KFRC that came to power as an AM station, it's the end of an era, and Bobby Ocean, Sue Hall, Dave "the Duke" Sholin, Vicki Liviakis, John Catchings and others are talking about getting together to send "the Big Six-Ten" off in style. Sholin, a former DJ and program director, noted that KFRC was the last station to top KGO in the ratings war -- 26 years ago. "Every air talent who sat in the booth of the Big 610 all said the same thing," he said. "Man, there was nothing like opening that mike and saying those four letters: K-F-R-C!" KFRC had a pretty colorful history before it became a Top 40 powerhouse in 1966. Born in 1924, it was home to many local personalities who found national fame, including Meredith ("The Music Man") Wilson, Don Wilson (later Jack Benny's announcer), Ralph Edwards, Morey Amsterdam, Al Pearce and, last but most, staff singer Merv Griffin. In the '50s and early '60s, KFRC was the game also-ran to KSFO, "The World's Greatest Radio Station." KFRC had such names as Jack Kirkwood, Bert Winn, Bill Hickok, Stan Bohrman, Roy Elwell and jazz promoter Jimmy Lyons. By 1963, Dan Sorkin had joined and became a popular morning personality, on par with Don Sherwood, who took to calling Sorkin --- on the air. "We started doing bits back and forth," Sorkin said, "and Herb Caen got in on it." And, with mentions in Caen's column, he was set. But, despite Sorkin, KFRC, which at one low point dubbed itself "Frisco Radio," ultimately gave way to Top 40. (Sorkin, by the way, prefers being in the air rather than on the air these days. A longtime aviator, he's teaching flying in Concord, as well as a computer class in Walnut Creek.) And the mayor proclaimed March 20 International Earth Day, which reminds me to remind you of "Planet Check," quick and easy reports on the environment by Mo Mellady, produced in San Francisco and airing six times a day on Air America and other stations. Locally, that'd be the Quake (960 AM). WHAT'S COOKING: Nikki Silva and Davia Nelson, "The Kitchen Sisters," whose documentary short stories have graced the NPR air, are at work on a new series of hourlong specials for the fall. They've nabbed Frances McDormand to serve as narrator. KCBS took six of the 12 regional Edward R. Murrow Awards up for grabs from the Radio-Television News Directors Association, including those for "overall excellence" and "best newscast." Holly Quan and Doug Sovern were singled out for investigative and sports reporting, respectively. Happy first anniversary to KSVY, up in Sonoma County. It's the little public station that could ... and does air shows by Michael Goldberg, the rock writer turned online entrepreneur (10 p.m. to midnight Sundays [PDT = 0500-0700 UT Mondays]), restaurateur Sondra Bernstein (Girl and the Fig) at 4 p.m. Fridays and, soon, if it works out, a well-known former KGO talk-show host. KSVY is at 91.3 FM and streams online at http://www.ksvy.org [excerpts] Ben Fong-Torres is a freelance writer whose column appears every other Sunday. Copyright 2005 SF Chronicle (via Ed Gardner, Sactown, DXLD) ** UZBEKISTAN. 17775, Radio Tashkent, 1330-1400, con la programación de verano, Radio Taskhent volvió a la frecuencia en que mejor se escucha en España, 17775. Programa en inglés, locutor y locutora, noticias, comentarios y música uzbeka. Identificación: "This is Radio Tashkent International, broadcasting from Uzbekistan". 45444. (Abril 8). En horas nocturnas también se escucha en los 5025 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Been hearing Radio Tashkent International fairly regularly now with their English language program from 2130 to 2200 on 11905, but today it was coming through with an S-8 signal and armchair listening to "Listeners Club", great traditional and pop Uzbek music and off abruptly at 2157. Also noted that they have begun broadcasts of their 1330 English program on 17775, clear channel but only fair signal. 15285 not heard here (Thomas Sliva, New York, NY, Grundig 800, 60' of copper wire across tenement roof, April 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA [non]. Tried monitoring the opening of RNV via Cuba on 13680, April 8. No spy-numbers this day either; around 1957 tune-in, there was already music of some sort, but that was cut off around 1959 for the RNV IS to start at 2000. Introduced a ``programa mixto`` and usual Apartado 3979, 10-10 Caracas address (from which P-mail bounces), but no transmission schedule, and I was unwilling to keep listening much longer for it, in the unlikely event it has been actualized at this late date (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** WALES [non]. Saturday, April 09 and Sunday, April 10 2005: Wales Radio International Continuing a look back at over four years of "Celtic Notes" programmes, this week producers have chosen to re-visit the International Eisteddfod in Llangollen - that annual musical feast of international friendship and accord. The festival motto is "Byd Gwyn Fydd Byd a Gano, Gwaraidd Fydd ei Gerddi Fo" "Blessed is a world that sings: Gentle are its songs". The sentiments of which are clearly demonstrated by a kaleidoscope of visitors in 2002 - starting with the Shenzhen Senior High School Choir from China followed by music and people from Sicily, India, Ukraine, and the USA as they entertained everyone informally on the Eisteddfod field. You will also hear from Gwyn L. Williams, Chief Executive of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod who reminds you of its early days and aims and philosophy which still hold good today and listen in to a sound check as Ladysmith Black Mambazo prepare for the 2002 opening concert and learn about "a musical dream" from the group's founder and leader, Joseph Shaballala. In North America: Sat 10 am ET / 7 am PT --- Sun 8.30 pm ET / 5.30 pm PT In Africa and the Middle East: Sat 1030 UTC / 1230 CAT --- Sun 0400 UTC / 0600 CAT In Africa and Europe on WorldSpace AfriStar: Sat 1030 UTC / 1230 CAT --- Sun 0400 UTC / 0600 CAT In Asia and the Pacific: Sat 1030 UTC / 2030 AEST --- Sun 0400 UTC / 1400 AEST In Asia on WorldSpace AsiaStar: Sat 1030 UTC / 2030 AEST --- Sun 0400 UTC / 1400 AEST In Europe: Sat 0830 UTC / 1030 CEST -- Sun 0400 UTC / 0600 CEST -- - Sun 1400 UTC / 1600 CEST (WRN Previews via DXLD) As the series winds down, hear it while you can (gh) ** ZIMBABWE [and non]. Zimbabwe to launch new propaganda radio station Zim Online, South Africa, Saturday 9 April 2005 http://www.zwnews.com/issuefull.cfm?ArticleID=11646 RADIO 24-7 TO BE LAUNCHED IN THE NEXT THREE WEEKS Harare - The government of Zimbabwe will soon launch a new 24-hour propaganda shortwave radio station to counter negative coverage from independent radio stations broadcasting from outside the country. New Ziana's Electronic Services Business Unit boss, Happison Muchechetere, confirmed to Zim Online that the government will launch the station, to be called Radio 24-7, in the next three weeks to counter United Kingdom and United States-based radio stations targeting Zimbabweans. "On short wave, we will be accessible to people within Zimbabwe and those abroad where our signal will reach," said Muchechetere. SW Africa Radio and the United States-based Studio 7, are the only independent radio stations targeting Zimbabweans. There are no independent radio stations operating in Zimbabwe were the Harare authorities keep a tight leash on the media. Critics accuse the state- controlled Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) of churning out virulent propaganda against the government's perceived political opponents. The new radio station is expected to take Zimbabwe's propaganda war to a new foreign arena against the two independent radio stations. There have already been attempts to clog SWAfrica Radio's network with the station complaining last month that the Zimbabwe government had jammed its transmission networks from London. Zimbabwe has always described the two stations as "pirate radio" aimed at creating divisions in the country (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. UK (presumed): SW Radio Africa. 15145 Time: 1659- 1800*. Date: 04/02/2005. Bonecrusher signal, clear and very strong. An hour-long discourse on the elections in Zimbabwe with both OM/YL announcers speaking African-accented English. The winning political party was accused of various and sundry forms of election fraud. I think the only form of election fraud not mentioned was gerrymandering. Several mentions of amending the Zimbabwean Constitutions. Mentions of religious vigorously protesting the vote tally. Very good to Excellent. Thanks to HF for help with the ID (Joe Wood, Greenback TN, MARE Tipsheet via DXLD)) Additional frequency for SW Radio Africa in English: 1600-1900 on 12145 via RUS transmitter \\ 15145 RMP till 1800, 11770 RMP from 1800 (Observer, Bulgaria, April 8 via DXLD) 12145 is still not heard here, but 15145 clear with no jamming audible, averaging SINPO 35433, April 9 at 1634 giving phone numbers in Zimbabwe, website. Mostly English but Zimbabwean languages mixed in, or maybe English with such an accent I didn`t recognize it. Apparently there is no Shona or Ndebele word for ``shopping center``, mentioned at 1731 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENIN DIGEST) Hi Glenn, Thanks for the coverage of SWRA on WOR # 1270 heard here on WRN Afristar 0800 this morning. However the times for the frequencies you list are in Zimbabwean local time, not UT. The correct times in UT for the frequencies and sites are as follows: 1600-1800 UT: 15145, Rampisham,UK 1800-1900 UT: 11770, Rampisham,UK 1600-1900 UT: 12145, Armavir, Russia 1600-1900 UT: 3300, Meyerton, South Africa 0300-0500 UT: 1197 MW, Lesotho Oddly, 3230 0300-0500 UT is still on air and isn't jammed. It is not listed by SWRA & the station director told me last week that it was due to end on Monday 4? 3300 & 12145 are jammed 1600-1900 here in Zimbabwe; 15145 & 11770 are in the clear. 1197 MW is in the clear. 73 (David Pringle-Wood, Harare, April 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Only recently signed up for the [dxld yg] mailing list, and it's fascinating! I'm in awe of all you with far better setups than me! Thanks for providing so much entertainment! As a former Brit, I've found the (entirely justified) bitching about the World Service fascinating. Keep up the great work. I shall now return to lurking:) (Steve, dxldyg via DXLD) CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ THE NORDIC RADIO SOCIETY/SAQ LONGWAVE SEMINAR 2005 Commences 29 June at Varberg, Sweden, and concludes with Alexander Day at the Grimeton World Heritage transmitter site. The First Invitation and Call for Papers has now been issued. http://www.lwca.org/#newsmwdx (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ EUROPEAN COMMISSION ISSUES RECOMMENDATION ON PLC The European Commission says it is aware of possible interference problems that may impede the free reception of analogue signals, as well as of future digital short wave broadcasting. Interference was an issue with earlier generations of PLC technology, but the Commission says today's third generation systems are much improved over earlier versions. Unwanted emission levels have been significantly reduced over time. Modern systems also give much better ability to correct problems with interference should it occur. The purpose of the new Commission Recommendation on powerline communications is to enhance certainty about the rules governing broadband electronic communications over power lines, in particular on how to manage interference with radio reception should it occur. It recommends steps that Member States should take to ensure that harmonised and non-discriminatory technical and regulatory conditions are applied for PLC in the case of such interference. The Commission Recommendation strikes a balance between the interests of radio users and those of power line communications network operators. It reflects a consensus of Member States’ national regulatory and market surveillance authorities. Although in the public debate a lot of emphasis is placed on interference with radio services, the Commission says that PLC deployments in Germany and Spain have shown that interference problems with radio that emerge in the field can be resolved in practice. The Recommendation builds on the model and the requirements of the EU’s Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) Directive. To comply with this Directive, PLC networks must be composed of equipment that meets the relevant harmonised European standard and be installed and operated in line with good engineering practices. European Commission: Power line communications : Questions and Answers http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/05/119&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en # posted by Andy @ 13:56 UT April 8 (Media Network blog via DXLD) Includes this interesting table: How widespread is PLC in the USA? State Provider Homes passed Actual users Alabama Cullman Electric n.a. n.a. Georgia Southern Company 1200 250 Idaho Idacomm 1000 1000 Maryland Pepco n.a. n.a. Missouri Ameren 500 70 New York Consolidated Edison n.a. n.a. North Carolina Progress Energy n.a. 500 Ohio Cinergy 55000 1000 American Electric Power n.a. 100 Pennsylvania EdP 3000 300 Virginia City of Manassas 2000 n.a. Source: PLC Utilities Alliance and PLC Forum (as above via gh, DXLD) TIPS FOR RATIONAL LIVING ++++++++++++++++++++++++ ``Preachers are not called upon to be politicians, but soul winners. Nowhere are we commissioned to reform externals`` (Jerry Falwell, 1965 in Salon Magazine, via Observerscope, Oklahoma Observer March 25 via gh, DXLD) RIGHT TO DIE Editorial from today's British Medical Journal. The penultimate sentence should be posted in every place of religious ritual and every hospital. http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/330/7495/799?ehom (Aaron Zawitzky, April 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Only the Republican/religious right could turn anything so unfortunate as Mrs Schiavo`s situation (and now death) into an obscenity / (A ``godsend`` said Delay), seeing how it can be used to further their essentially anti-humane political agenda. Have you ever read Mark Twain`s ``Reflections on Religion``? Tho not really an atheist, he just couldn`t accept a God as described in the O.T. (a despicable, hateful, cruel character) / and with respect to Xtianity: ``There is one notable thing about our Christianity: bad, bloody, merciless, money-grabbing and predatory as it is --- in our country particularly. . . is still a hundred times better than the Christianity of the Bible, with its prodigious crime – the invention of Hell {tho doesn`t much of our concept of Hell come from Dante?}. Measured by our Christianity of today, bad as it is, hypocritical as it is, empty and hollow as it is, neither the Deity nor His Son is {truly} a Christian, nor qualified for that moderately(?) high place. Ours is a terrible religion. The fleets of the world could swim in spacious comfort in the innocent blood it has spilt.`` (Loren Cox, Jr., Lexington KY, April 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ORGANIZED RELIGION Glenn: -- I see the Atheists and the Religionists are both screwing it all up. How hard is it for humans to separate the concept of God from the existing plethora of manmade organized religions? Am I the only one who sees that mankind is incapable of understanding and/or defining what we call "God"? Are all others blind to the fallacy of comparing *anything* manmade (such as a religious cult), with a force as far above us, as we are above the common cockroach?? Just a thought or two.... – (GREG HARDISON, Calif., DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###