DX LISTENING DIGEST 5-089, May 27, 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 1275: Sat 0800 WOR WRN to Eu, Au, NZ, WorldSpace AfriStar, AsiaStar Sat 0855 WOR WNQM Nashville TN 1300 Sat 1030 WOR WWCR 5070 Sat 1730 WOR WRN to North America [NEW] (including Sirius Satellite Radio channel 115) Sat 1730 WOR WRMI 7385 [from WRN] [NEW] Sun 0230 WOR WWCR 5070 Sun 0300 WOR WBCQ 9330-CLSB Sun 0330 WOR WRMI 7385 Sun 0630 WOR WWCR 3210 Sun 0730 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.2 Sun 0830 WOR WRN to North America, also WLIO-TV Lima OH SAP (including Sirius Satellite Radio channel 115) 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 1200 WOR WRMI 7385 Sun 1300 WOR KRFP-LP Moscow ID 92.5 Sun 1730 WOR WRMI 7385 [from WRN] Sun 1730 WOR WRN1 to North America (including Sirius Satellite Radio channel 115) 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 [1274] Mon 0415 WOR WBCQ 7415 [ex-0430] Mon 1600 WOR WBCQ after hours Tue 0600 WOR WPKN Bridgeport CT 89.5 [also WPKM Montauk LINY 88.7] 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 1275 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1275h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1275h.rm WORLD OF RADIO 1275 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1275.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1275.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1275.html WORLD OF RADIO 1275 in true shortwave sound of Alex`s mp3 (stream) http://www.dxprograms.net/worldofradio_05-25-05.m3u (download) http://www.dxprograms.net/worldofradio_05-25-05.mp3 ** ANTARCTICA [and non]. Two months after the collision started on 15475, it`s still going on. Rechecked May 27 at 1801, unholy mix between Africa Number One, Gabon in French, on top, and Voz Cristã, via Chile, in Portuguese, below, plus a carrier on 15476 presumably from LRA-36 Antarctica, totally buried as usual. See also FALKLAND ISLANDS [non] (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARMENIA [non]. May 27 at 2311 I thought I`d check for the new maritime station in Yerevan, EKA, and on 12604 I heard a CW marker --- but it turned out to be long-dash DE SVO, which is Olympia Radio, Athens as listed in Klingenfuss 2002 on 12603.5; however, the YB-400 BFO, precisely zero-beat on WWV, alleged it was up toward 12603.6 instead; in any event, nothing from EKA on 12604.5 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRIA. Updated schedule for DRM transmissions via Moosbrunn with kW, azimuth: 0500-0900 Daily on 9720 MOS 050 / 295 to WeEu Virgin Radio 0900-1100 Daily NF 11815 MOS 050 / 295 to WeEu Asian Sound, ex 9815 1100-1300 Daily NF 11815 MOS 050 / 295 to WeEu Classic Gold, ex 9815 1300-1400 Daily NF 11815 MOS 050 / 295 to WeEu Premier Radio, ex 9815 1600-1700 Sunday on 9705 MOS 050 / 295 to WeEu CVC Christian Vision 1700-2100 Daily on 6155 MOS 050 / non-dir to WeEu ORF 1 International (Observer, Bulgaria, May 27 via DXLD) ** BAHAMAS. As I mention, the ZNS1 and ZNS2 IDs are listed as such in the FCC database and in the WRTH, and are emphasized on the web site. I did not note, and should have, that the FCC database lists 810 Freeport, Bahamas, as C6B3. So there seems to be a mix of call signs for the three Bahamas AM outlets. You are right in pointing out, however, that the official Bahamas ITU callsign prefixes are C6A-C6Z. How this translates into official versus popular call signs is not clear. The ZNS calls may be like some US stations that identify with generic IDs -- e.g. WFLF Pine Hills, FL, which IDs all day long as WFLA except at TOH. The real WFLA is actually in Tampa. Or maybe the ZNS1 & 2 calls may have been grandfathered in. According to a Google search on "C6B3 Bahamas", this topic has been noted and discussed on various web sites, such as Glenn Hauser's http://www.worldofradio.com web site, as long ago as Oct., 2001, and again in Jun., 2003 (W. Curt Deegan, Boca Raton, (South East) Florida, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** BANGLADESH. Dear DXer, Yesterday May 26, 2005, New Traffic Radio station was inaugurated by Information Minister of Bangladesh Mr. M. Shamsul Islam. On this occasion a reporters conference was held in Dhaka. The new Traffic Radio Station will air its program at UT 0030- 0530 and 0930-1300 on FM 103.20. Yours Sincerely (Salahuddin Dolar, President, Global Radio Fan Club, Chaumahani, Motihar, Rajshahi-6000, Bangladesh, DX LISTENING DIGEST) So now we know that Drive Time in Dhaka starts at 6:30 am and 3:30 pm local --- but are we talking about road or river traffic? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELARUS. R. Belarus, 7210, 0200-0230 May 21 [UT Saturday], IS and multi-lingual ID sequence. 0201 opening English announcements with ID, address, news, commentary. 0225 lite vocal music. Weak/poor but readable. // 5970 very poor, very weak under co-channel QRM and splatter (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELGIUM [non]. RIGHT-WING FLEMISH POLITICAL PARTY TO LAUNCH DRM SERVICE On 29 May 2005 the right-wing Flemish political party Vlaams Belang will launch its own digital shortwave service, VB6015, broadcasting in DRM mode for two hours on Sundays on 6015 kHz at 0900-1100 UT via Juelich in Germany. The party said at a press conference that this is just the first phase, and that it plans to launch a full radio service in January 2006. Vlaams Belang advocates the secession of Flanders from Belgium. It was formed at the end of 2004 following the disbanding of the of the Vlaams Blok after the Belgian Supreme Court had declared the Vlaams Blok a racist organisation. The Vlaams Blok got 24.1% of the vote in Flanders at the election in June 2004. # posted by Andy @ 15:31 UT March 26 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. I never managed to hear R. Virgen de Remedios around 9223v, and now it has been a couple of weeks since I have seen any reports of it. So is it gone, perhaps back to 75 or 90 meters where they imagined they were in the first place? Or has it become so common a log in SAm that no one bothers to mention it any more? (Glenn Hauser, OK, May 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 5926.80 to .88, Radio Minería, OM clear ID as 'Radio Minería' 2355 to 0100. Is Radio Mineria on longer on Sunday evenings? Previous two sign off times were 0003* and 0004*. 22/23 May 5952.43v, Emisora Pio XII, Siglo Veinte has been silent for the last three weeks (Bob Wilkner, FL Japan Premium May 27 via DXLD) ** CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC [non]. U.K.(non): New schedule for Radio Ndeke Luka via VT Communications, with kW, azimuths: 1830-1930 on 11760 DHA 250 / 245 to CeAf in French/Singo, ex 1730-1930 1830-1930 on 15470 WOF 300 / 152 to CeAf in French/Singo, cancelled (Observer, Bulgaria, May 27 via DXLD) DHA = Dhabbiya, UAE ** CHILE. Voz Cristã keeps clashing: See ANTARCTICA [non], FALKLAND ISLANDS [non] ** CHINA [non]. CRI keeps clashing: see FALKLAND ISLANDS [non], VENEZUELA [non] ** COLOMBIA. FARC`s radio station La Voz de la Resistencia is active. Very distorted signal on three channels: around 5880, 6000 and 6120 kHz impossible to listen in SSB. Best signal on around 6120. Close down 2313 UT saying they will be back Friday 2230 (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, http://www.malm-ecuador.com May 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Notice they are 120 kHz apart; perhaps 6000 plus spurs? (gh, DXLD) [non]. Following Björn Malm`s tip yesterday, I looked for FARC Voz de la Resistencia Friday May 27 around 2300 on 6120, 6000 and 5880 kHz. This is still long before sunset and lots of summer QRN here, no strong signals in yet on 49m, even from NAm sites. Nothing audible on 6120 or 5880. On 6000 RHC was audible with Fidel, // 11760 but audio between them separated by milliseconds of reverb. LA clands appearing on 6000 certainly seem suspicious, in this case, as with Radio Insurgente, but there has never been any confirmation that Habana is actually involved in either. If I were picking a frequency for my own station, however, it would not be 6000 as long as Habana is on it! But I must admit that there was a subaudible het on 6000 and traces of some other audio under RHC, I have no idea what. Seems unlikely a jungle transmitter would have that kind of accuracy (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. Fidelogorrhaea on 17740, apparently a new RHC frequency, not in EiBi, at 2317 May 27, at the moment railing about Miami Mafia and Hermanos al Rescate, // 15230, 6060, 6060 and others in between. Nothing on 17705, where RHC Portuguese is supposed to be (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also COLOMBIA [non], VENEZUELA [non] ** CUBA [and non]. REBELDE 530 Y ESTACIONES DEL FIDELITO 530 Rebelde punching solid 15 on R-388A/51J-4/Beckman 7700 S-meter. On 17 [sic, means 27?] de Mayo, 20 - 25 & higher. Normally, barely moves. Similar reads, all receivers. Status of "Los Modificaciones*" - The Changeables - 0900 EDT: 1000 Guama off air, possible Robersdale, AL in void. Formerly religion, now putrescent oldies, i.e. Eric Burdon & War w/Low Rider; Eric's Night Train & Pine-Sol period, early seventies. Abruptly into perky girlo hosting Swap Shop at '03. 1020 Guama Good, strong, vigorous, forthright, clean. 1080 Cadena Good, dynamically victorious over slop from decadent Solana, FL 1070. 1090 Guama Excellent. Usually in heterodyne Donnybrook w/Cadena. Not today. 1120 Cadena Excellent. 1140 Cadena Good, busting through debased propaganda of Mafia Terorista en Mafia [Miami]. 1210 R. Sancti Spíritus - lower than normal. 1260 Enciclopedia Ooo-wow! Strong, as in halcyon days. Beautiful. Goodbye panhandle. 1270 Enciclopedia Weak. Tragically in submission to Laura Ingraham, WNOG Naples, FL 1290 Taíno - no, Palm Beach - si; host crying re needing security goons for protection. 1330 Poss. Jaruco, Artemisa weak - further research needed 1390 Poss. Jaruco, Jaruco weak - further research needed "los Predictables*" - 840 Dobleve - strangely MIA. Eerie, most unsettling. 640, 660, 690, 730, 750, 880, 890 Progreso, all firing at usual potencia. 530, 550, 600, 670, 710, 1180 Rebelde, all good, even 1180 better than normal 950, etc. Reloj: All good. In manner of ageless trusted servant, R. Reloj always near. * - undersigned scurrilous scribe offers humble apoligia for inept pidgin Spanish. Disgrazia. [sic] -Z.- DX-440 RF-550 E-W 150'. 2 X 32 output couplahs (Paul Vincent Zecchino, el Exiliado Gordo en Jefe, Cayo Manasovietzkaya, FL BT IRCA via DXLD) ** DJIBOUTI. I enjoy your website and have never posted before. Today 5/27/05 I received a nice full data letter and sticker from Radio Djibouti. Report date was 3/26/05, 0300 - 0400 UTC, 4780 kHz. Letter was in French with a photocopy of studio and a schedule of broadcast + RTD seal. Sticker is nice red/green/blue circular RTD peel-off. Veri signer was chief of Technical Services. Letter arrived in 62 days. I sent two reception reports, both in French/English. One was sent to the old BP address, other sent to Ministry of Information. Don't know which one they answered. (No return address) I enclosed $2.00 and a cd recording of the broadcast. I am happy with this one! (J. Maples, Georgia USA, HCDX via DXLD) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. R. Africa, 15190, 2140-2159* May 20, tune-in to English religious programming. Very good. Really booming in. Sign-off with IDs and e-mail address (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Also here, May 27 at 1801 and still 2120 recheck, on 15190.0 or even 15190.00 as closely as I could tell on the YB-400, excellent modulation in English. This is getting to sound like a real radio station. Now, all they need to do is eliminate the quarter-hours of dead air and put on something besides gospel huxters (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15190, Radio Africa. 04/22/2005 2059-2127: Received a full data cd with picture of the studio and Announcer in 23 days for an English report and $1.00. This is the first QSL I've received with an actual seal on it in years! Report mailed to: Pan American Broadcasting, 2021 The Alameda Suite 240, San Jose CA 95126-1145, USA. Station address: Radio Africa, P O Box 851, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea (Joe Wood, Greenback TN, MARE Tipsheet May 27 via DXLD) What kind of seal? Wax? Rubber stamp? Sticker? Xmas? Barker? (gh, DXLD) ** ERITREA [non]. RUSSIA: Additional transmission for Voice of Liberty Eritrea in Tigrigna/Arabic: 0600-0700 Fri(+Wed/Sun) on 15675 ARM 250 kW / 188 deg to EAf (Observer, Bulgaria, May 27 via DXLD) Armavir ** ETHIOPIA [non]. RUSSIA: New schedule for Tensae Ethiopian Voice of Unity in Amharic: 1500-1600 Sun-Fri (ex Sun only) on 15660 SAM 250 kW / 199 deg to EAf (Observer, Bulgaria, May 27 via DXLD) Samara ** FALKLAND ISLANDS [non]. Looks like the Falklanders are in just as bad a spot as the Antarcticans. Friday May 27, I finally got around to checking the twice-weekly Calling Falklands from BBCWS, 2130-2145 on 11720, a new frequency for this season. Tuned in at 2129 and found at least two stations already there, one of which was VOA French via Morocco to Africa, signing-off, but Y. Doodle lasted until 2130:15! VOA should DCI (drop carrier immediately, by 2129). For a while, BBC, which is direct from UK and far off-beam over here, was atop the third station, and heard a discussion of Antarctica melting. Then the other station started to gain, with brief xylophone and other music bits punxuating Chinese language lessons in Portuguese, as became obvious by 2143. Ah, yes, HFCC A-05 confirms what this is: another Santiago transmission by Voz Cristã, this time on behalf of their Chicom friends, beamed 45 degrees to Brasil! BBC closed at 2144:30 (properly with no cut-off in progress), leaving CRI via VC alone; but by 2150 during Chinese music, that began to get some QRM from the RHC mixing product, 11800 leapfrogging 11760 to land on 11720, as previously reported. This mess needs to be unraveled. Due to proximity, I expect the Santiago transmission dominates even in Port Stanley, despite its azimuth. Has BBCWS had any complaints about this from the F.I.? If not, why not? Is anybody really trying to listen? 11720 is the only frequency for the Falklands service, and BBC refuse to employ a much closer and stronger site, Ascension, which would give it such an advantage, but it still needs to find another frequency for this Tuesday- and Friday-only broadcast (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. RFI in DRM via ISS 030 kW: 0500-0558 on 6175 / 050 deg in French to WeEu 0600-0658 on 6175 / 050 deg in German to WeEu 0700-0758 on 6175 / 180 deg in French to NoAf 0800-0858 on 6175 / 330 deg in French to WeEu 1000-1028 on 6175 / 050 deg in French to WeEu 1030-1058 on 6175 / 050 deg in German to WeEu 1600-1658 on 6175 / 050 deg in German to WeEu 2230-2258 on 6175 / 225 deg in French to NoAf 2300-2328 on 6175 / 225 deg in Spanish to NoAf (Observer, Bulgaria, May 27 via DXLD) ** GABON [non]. Voz Cristã still colliding with ANO: See ANTARCTICA ** GAMBIA [non]. GERMANY: Save the Gambia Development Project - Voices from the Diaspora: 2000-2030 on 9405 JUL 100 kW / 210 deg Sat to WeAf in Wolof/En from June 4 (Observer, Bulgaria, May 27 via DXLD) ** GEORGIA. v9494.7, 1630 17 May, Abkhaz State R Soxum, Russian, romantic songs 1400- 22222. Also v9494.8 on May 18, 1400-1630. Co- channel R. Cairo in Turkish 1530-1630 UT (Wolfgang Büschel, Mallorca Island Spain Holiday, May 14 - May 26, SONY ICF 2001 receiver, 35 meters above Mediterranean sea level, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GHANA. VOICE OF AMERICA LAUNCHES IN GHANA | Excerpt from report by Ghanaian GBC radio on 26 May The host of Straight Talk Africa, a show on Voice of America [VOA], Shaka Ssali says the stability, press freedom and other democratic practices by Ghana has attracted VOA to the shores of the country. Shaka Ssali who is in Accra for the official launch of VOA in Ghana told GNA [Ghana News Agency] in an interview that he was humbled by the seriousness Ghanaians attach to democracy and the rule of law. He said, after interacting with a section of the people, he is impressed with how by and large Ghanaians are ensuring and enjoying democratic practices. Mr Ssali said stability, peace, democratic persuasions and the congenial atmosphere in the country have been the hallmarks of Ghana qualifying to listen and enjoy the services of VOA. He said VOA is a recognized station seeking to empower countries and their citizenry to democratically move to greater heights and to get to know the world around them as they independently projected the image of democracy. Mr Ssali said VOA is not here to impose its ideas on Ghanaians but rather wants greater participation of its listeners and contributors especially Africans to know what happens around them globally and internally. He said VOA would share its stage with Ghanaians knowing what to offer the people in terms of news that would speed up development and democracy. [Passage omitted] Source: Radio Ghana, Accra, in English 1500 gmt 26 May 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) I suppose they are talking about a new FM relay, WTFK? I should think VOA would have been easily listenable in Ghana forever via several SW frequencies, hardly new to Ghana (gh, DXLD) VOA LAUNCHES 24 HOUR RADIO BROADCAST IN GHANA The Voice of America has officially launched a 24-hour-a-day FM radio programming stream in the capital city of Accra. Ghanaians can now listen to their favorite VOA Africa programming all day, every day, by tuning in to 98.1 FM on their dial. In addition to daily shortwave broadcasts to the region, VOA-FM offers a rich mixture of VOA's international and local news, updates on current events in Africa and worldwide, as well as a wide range of cultural features. Programming will also includes listener favorites such as Healthy Living with Josephine Kamara, a 30-minute health magazine programme featuring reports on medical issues affecting Africa; Sonny Young's Sonny Side of Sports; and Straight Talk Africa with Shaka Ssali, a call-in show which examines topics targeted specifically to Africans, including politics, health, social issues and conflict resolution. US Ambassador to Ghana Mary Carlin Yates commented on the launch during a ceremony held yesterday in Accra. "I truly believe that having a free and open media is one of the key elements of democracy," she said. "When people have choices in what to listen to and what to read, they can better form their own opinions about politics and about the world." Ghanaian President John Agyekum Kufuor also praised the launch of VOA's 24-hour broadcast during a special appearance on yesterday's Straight Talk Africa programme. Accra becomes the seventh capital city in Africa to receive continuous VOA FM broadcasts. Surveys show that 97 percent of Ghanaians use radio as a primary source of news. VOA's FM broadcasts will reach an estimated audience of one million people. Twenty-four-hour VOA broadcasts are also heard in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire; Djibouti, Djibouti; Nairobi, Kenya; Kigali, Rwanda; and Freetown, Sierra Leone. # posted by Andy @ 07:39 UT May 27 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** GREECE. GREEK SHORTWAVE HISTORY --- Glenn, Scroll down to Section 1.4--Section 1,4b No 4 & 5, then Section 1.5 Avlis "The Voice of Hellas": http://szoncso.home.cern.ch/szoncso//radio/sv3sj.html (JOHN BABBIS, Silver Spring, MD, May 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) All about Avlis, etc., ham radio too (gh) ** GREECE [and non]. Two-way SSB in Spanish, whistling into mike, 1812 UT May 27 on 15630, conveniently demodulated and serenaded by Greek music from Greece direct, whose signal was weak enough. This was still going at least 15 minutes later recheck; VOG was // 17705 Delano but 15650 a few satellite-hops ahead of 17705. I have long ago given up trying to make any sense of what these poachers or drug-smugglers say, and doubt even a native speaker of Spanish could. In any event, they are not going to give a legal ID! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also ARMENIA [non] ** INDONESIA. 15150 kHz, V. of Indonesia, Cimanggis, squeezed between AIR 15155 & VoA 15145, observed on 26 May 1841-2100*, with German (news 1850), English announcement for French program 1900, English 2000; announced frequencies are 9525, 11785 & 15150, but the last one is the sole audible outlet; 42441, adjacent QRM, but 35433 at sign-off 2100. I wonder how the German speaking audience can cope with the sort of accent of the VOI speakers, and I'd say the French language program follows suit too. Strangely (or perhaps not), best reception during the heavy adjacent QRM was via my elevated K9AY (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) At least in English --- the one-minute ID interspersed in Indonesian program 1300-1400 hour; haven`t heard the complete English program --- there is NO accent, i.e. American! VOI ID and news in German, May 27 at 1802 on 15149.9 or so, at least a smidgen below 15150; could not make much of the accent due to poor reception, but at least it was audible. K index at 1800 was zero. --- Looks like VOA opened its Jak bureau just in time: (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) US MISSIONS CLOSED IN INDONESIA AFTER THREAT JAKARTA: The United States closed all its diplomatic missions in Indonesia yesterday until further notice because of a security threat, and police strengthened protection at several other major embassies... http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3293633a12,00.html (Stuff, Thu, 26 May 2005 10:10 AM PDT via Sheldon Harvey, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET. There were some additions to my True Sounds page during the latest month - mostly from Jason Campbell, Canada, and Alexander Mak, Ukraine. http://dxsignal.info/listen_eng.htm (Dmitry Mezin, Signal May 26 via DXLD) Amateur Radio Videos On-Line --- The website of Ian Abel, G3ZHI, http://www.ukirlp.co.uk/g3zhi/ now has a number of links to ham radio videos that can be downloaded. Some of the files are quite large, so broadband is recommended (RSGB via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) About what? ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS. BAHRAIN, 9133 usb, Coalition Maritime Forces Radio One, 0250 to 0330 with music and brief announcement by om in languages. Need wide usb setting to receive this as narrow produced no signal. Tnx Bruce Churchill (Robert Wilkner, FL, Japan Premium May 27 via DXLD) Date? ** IRAN. Not only Indonesia in German at 1803 May 27, but also VOIRI, for who else could it be on 15085+ a smidgen, Persian music bits alternating with German talk; transmitter has a squeal on it, but overall much better than plain old VOI (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRELAND. Here's a response I got on my note to RTE: From: hearus @ rte.ie To: William Martin Subject: Re: Ireland Speaking to the World Date: Thu, 26 May 2005 23:44:56 +0100 Hi William, Many thanks for that letter, you are not alone in your suggestions either. I will make sure that your comments get in front of the correct eyes, as policies are permanently being reviewed in any case. Best regards, Sean (via Will Martin, DXLD) ** ISRAEL [and non]. WHRI clash on 15785: see U S A ** JAPAN [and non]. The following has just been received from Toshi Ohtake of the Japanese Shortwave Club. Members of the NZRDXL who attended the Convention in Oamaru will remember Toshi. Regards (Mark Nicholls, ripple via DXLD) Viz.: RADIO JAPAN'S SPECIAL DX PROGRAM COMMEMORATING ITS 70TH ANNIVERSARY. Commemorating Radio Japan's 70th anniversary on June 1st, the June's first weekend show of Radio Japan's "Helllo from Tokyo" will dedicate its entire program to DX items. ON 4/5/6th of June, the following personnel will be on the show. Ms. Yukiko Tsuji, member of JSWC, Japan Short Wave Club. (Familiar voice of JSWC DX programs.) Mr. Anker Petersen, Chairman of Danish Short Wave Club International, Denmark. Mr. G. Victor A. Goonetilleke, President of the Radio Society of Sri Lanka. Mr. Richard D'Angelo, Executive Director, NASWA, North American Short Wave Association, USA. All will talk on their radio lives and memories of Radio Japan with Jonathan Sherr and Ms. Hisako Tomisawa, Hello from Tokyo's regular host and hostess joined by Toshi Ohtake of JSWC. Time and frequencies are: Hello from Tokyo (Time in UTC) ( ) after frequency is the relay site. Beaming to Europe/Africa Asia/Pacific Americas Saturday 0510-0600 5975 & 7230kHz(UK) 17810/15195/21755kHz 6110kHz(Canada) 1010-1100 17585 & 17720Hz(UAE) 9696[sic]/11730/21755kHz 6120kHz(Canada) 1710-1800 11970/15355kHz(GAB) 9535kHz Sunday 0010-0100 6145kHz(Canada) 0310-0400 21610kHz 1110-1200 9696[sic]/11730kHz 6120kHz(Canada) 1510-1600 6190/7200/11730kHz 9505kHz Monday 0110-0200 5960(UK)/17560kHz 17810/11860(SIG)/17845/15325kHz 17825/11935(BON)kHz SEND YOUR REPORTS TO 1. RADIO JAPAN, NHK TOKYO, 150-8001 JAPAN (No IRC) 2. JSWC, P. O. Box 29, Sendai Central 980-8691, Japan. (With 1 IRC) You may request any one of the following JSWC QSL's. 5th Anniversary card (printed in 1957), 50th anniversary card (2002), or 2005 Rooster card. Attached photo at NHK studio, from left in front row, Ms. Yukiko Tsuji and Ms. Hisako Tomisawa, back row, Jonathan Sherr and Toshi Ohtake. PS. For your information, the following weekend on June 11/12/13, Mr. Vashek Korinek, DXer of South Africa will be on the phone out show of Hello from Tokyo, Radio Japan. Toshimichi Ohtake, International Coordinator, JSWC (via Mark Nicholls, NZ, ripple via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. (DPR) 16/05/2005 2010-2018 UT, 4405 kHz, Voice of Korea, Pyongyang, in French, 15 kW , SINPO 32342. Whistles from various home radios/TV, as well as from local unlicensed radio operators (open_dx - Vyacheslav Oleinik, Chisinau, Moldova via Signal via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [non]. IRAQI KURDISH NEWSPAPER URGES BBC WORLD SERVICE TO LAUNCH KURDISH SERVICE | Text of article by Shadman Malla Hasan entitled "BBC World Service in Kurdish" published by Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) newspaper Kurdistani Nuwe on 26 May The BBC World Service radio is one of the world's famous and old institutions which was established in 1932 and is run by the British Broadcasting Corporation. Since then the radio service news and programmes were extended to cover many other languages such as Russian, Arabic, German, French, Persian, etc. The World Service radio has been broadcasting in Arabic since 1936. As for our nation, which is part of the Muslim world and of Arabic Iraq, they have been listening to the radio service because most know the language. There is no doubt the radio has played an important role in informing people in the Middle East about important developments in science and culture. The news it broadcasts has until now been a credible source of information for the people because it has always been factual, transparent and impartial. Today, despite developments in all aspects of media, the BBC World Service has not lost its role and it still commands large audiences, according to recent statistics which put the number of listeners worldwide around 37 million. The corporation has also opened many regional bureaus to serve many nations in different regions in the world such as Cairo, Moscow, Bucharest, South Asia, etc. What I am trying to allude to here is the fact that this large media institution, which is approaching its 73rd anniversary, should also open radio service in Kurdish language, which is spoken by approximately 40 million people. What is more, the Kurds are also one of the nations in the Middle East who are avid listeners of world news. After 14 years of Kurdish service from the Voice of America, it is about time for the BBC to take a similar step. It is also important that the Kurdish cultural and community organizations in Britain put this demand before executives at the BBC World Service radio and lobby the corporation to open a Kurdish service. Source: Kurdistani Nuwe, Al-Sulaymaniyah, in Sorani Kurdish 26 May 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** LIBERIA [non non]. Glenn, I Have checked my logbook from October 1997. Star radio used 3400 in the mornings and 5880 kHz in the evenings. It's been a long time since they were on air, could they be using hired airtime this time around (2 hours like Okapi) I wonder? (Stuart Austin, Blackpool, England, May 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) O yes; looks that way (gh) Re 5-088: Sorry, the link I gave was wrong. Since I was actually working on the page at the time, I absent-mindedly posted the link to the intermediate server where we actually do the editing instead of the live page. It should be http://www2.rnw.nl/rnw/en/features/media/?view=Standard Apologies for the error (Andy Sennitt, dxldyg via DXLD) ** NIGERIA [non]. U.K.: New station via VT Communications - Salama Radio International: 1930-2030 Wed/Sun on 11885 WOF 300 kW / 180 deg to Nigeria in Hausa/English (Observer, Bulgaria, May 27 via DXLD) This is a reactivation; remember it from a few years ago (gh, DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. BOYCOTTING DELGIORNO AND KFAQ --- I noticed you were calling for a boycott on your web page. If you haven’t heard, there is a website with a good list of DelGiorno Sponsors for boycott. It also keeps a record of all the hate speech. Pass it on: http://www.michaeldelgiornosucks.com Thanks (Grant Tucker, May 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Besides his latest hate-speech quotes, this page refers: If you missed the FCC complaint, you can read it here. http://www.michaeldelgiornosucks.com/fcc.htm I, gh, did not call for such a boycott, tho it sounds like a good idea; indeed, I have never listened to him. Once again someone confuses something I publish or re-publish with something I myself say, even tho everything is fully attributed (gh, DXLD) ** PHILIPPINES. Frequency change for Radio Veritas Asia in Urdu: 0100-0127 NF 15350 PUG 250 kW / 300 deg, ex 15300 (Observer, Bulgaria, May 27 via DXLD) ** SAMOA. RADIO POLYNESIA VS SBC --- NO REPLY TO RADIO POLYNESIAN'S COMPLAINT YET --- By Alan Ah Mu 19 May 2005 http://www.samoaobserver.ws/news/local/ln0505/1905ln006.htm A complaint by Radio Polynesian Limited, claiming unfair competition from state-owned Samoa Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), in February, has still to be replied to. "Nothing has happened," Radio Polynesian general manager Corey Keil said yesterday. Mr. Keil said, he wrote to the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology's lawyer Tima Peteru in February. In his letter, he complained that SBC's new FM station had been approved to run on 1,000 watts, while Radio Polynesian was only allowed only 300 watts. Secondly, he complained that the frequency given to SBC's FM, 89.1, was too close to the one that their Talofa station was using, 88.5. LISTENERS When listeners tune into Talofa, they can hear SBC FM in the background - though those with digital radios do not have this problem. Mr. Keil said both Radio Polynesian and SBC broadcast from Mt. Fiamoe. And this has caused the problem. The two stations were just too close together, he said. But Chief executive of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Tua'imalo Asamu Ah Sam, said he was not aware about a complaint from Radio Polynesian. "So he's saying there's interference?" Tua'imalo said. "I didn't know there was any interference. But I'll find out." Tua'imalo said he would check with the division in his ministry, which allocates frequencies. He would also telephone Mr. Keil and talk to him about the matter, he said. Radio Polynesia, which offers four stations, started FM radio in 1989. SBC started their FM station in February this year. SBC claimed that there was a demand for the service. PRIME MINISTER Mr Keil said he talked to Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi in April about his concerns. "And he agreed with me," he said. Taking up the PM's suggestion, Mr. Keil said, he wrote a letter to Tuilaepa outlining his concerns. "I wrote him a letter saying to be fair since we all need to be operating on the same level field," he said. "I realise he's been travelling overseas and sooner or later he'll reply. "We're expecting something from him." (From Harry van Vugt, Windsor, Ontario, Canada, DXLD) ** SOMALIA [non]. NEW CLANDESTINE PROGRAM TESTS TO SOMALILAND A new clandestine broadcast, Clandestine Radio Watch (CRW) has learned, will test to Somaliland on Friday, May 27, 2005. The test will air on 15650 kHz between 1730 and 1800 GMT. The program will begin regular transmissions on June 1 and will follow the following schedule: 1730-1800 Sat-Thu 15650 kHz. Further details, including the name and sponsorship of the program cannot be confirmed at press time. Developing (By Nick Grace May 26, 2005, CRW via DXLD) Went and checked the TDP site http://www.airtime.be/schedule.html and don't see anything about a new transmission there YET; however the 15650 frequency would seem like it's a possibility there via a Russian transmitter site. At any rate, I'll be listening prior to 1730 to see if the telltale Russian test tones show up on 15650 (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, USA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Voice of Delina used 15650 in January; it was from Samara (Roberto Scaglione http://www.bclnews.it ibid.) But that does not necessarily mean anything as to site for this one; in fact, when I tuned in at 1731 with Qur`an (isn`t there enough of that on SW already?!), 15650 was surprisingly good here, so I doubt Russian site, more likely UK or Germany. At 1739 recheck was in presumed Somali talk, better signal but deep fades; if I understood the language it would have been quite readable. 1744 some yelling for a few minutes; 1752 HoA music, some more talk which was cut off abruptly at 1759* Someone should clue in these new(?) SW clients that they WILL be cut off if they haven`t wrapped up in 29:00 minutes. Nothing resembling an ID at the end or any other time, tho I could well have missed one in Somali. Was not as strong as Israel on 15640, which had English at 1730; I stayed with 15650 tho WWCR`s Ken Berryhill was E-skipping in on 15825 during that half hour too, much more entertaining, I expect (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Am hearing a crash start at 1730 with seemingly no test tones prior. Female and male announcers and recitations of the Kor`an. Jülich or UK based transmitter? Not terribly strong here (Steve Lare, Michigan USA, 1732 UT May 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, NEW Somali, cland being heard on 15650 at 1740. Lots of Arabic songs. Signal reception is good. Transmission site not likely in Africa, DW Rwanda nor Madagascar RN, nor an eastern Russia relay. Possible Central Europe site for this transmission? (David Pringle- Wood, Zimbabwe, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) No test tone procedure noted here, more the SUDDENLY crash start of DTK Juelich site happened. Very weak signal here in the dead zone SoGermany, 360 km south of Juelich transmitter site. Couldn't even start the mp3 recording. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, 1752 UT May 27, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes! 9+60 here in south Italy, typical DTK modulation and signal. Abrupt sign-off now, at 1757 (Roberto Scaglione, Sicily, ibid.) No, I am quite sure it cut off at 1759 (gh, OK) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. See U S A WWRB ** SYRIA. R. Damascus, 9330, 2145-2210* May 22. Tune-in to English programing with local ME music. Poor to fair level with slight QRM from a strong WBCQ in reduced carrier LSB also on 9330. Weaker on // 12085 (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN. 11939.97, May 26 1301-1359 CHN (non): Trans World Broadcasting Ministry via Taipei. Thanks to Eric Zhou tip. Some QRM from Voice of Turkey. Announced web page http://www.twbm.org (instead of the correct .com), which led to a more secular page than expected (Mauno Ritola, Finland, HCDX online log via DXLD) Sizzle ** U A E. U.K.(non): New transmissions for TWR Africa via VT Communications: 1300-1315 Fri/Sat on 13745 DHA 250 kW / 225 deg to WeAf in Arabic (Observer, Bulgaria, May 27 via DXLD) ** U K. Calling Falklands blocked by ChinaChile: see FALKLAND ISLANDS ** U K. Amazing how one word from Mr. Sambrook has everyone all excited (Richard Cuff, PA, May 26, swprograms via DXLD) Viz.: BLOG ROW TO OVERSHADOW STRIKE TALKS --- A row over comments by a BBC executive in a web diary is threatening to overshadow last-ditch talks to avert further strike action.... Full Story: http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/18888773?version=1 (via Cuff, swprograms via DXLD) THE 'N-WORD' PROVES TOO MUCH FOR BBC BOSSES John Plunkett Thursday May 26, 2005 MediaGuardian.co.uk Richard Sambrook, the head of the BBC World Service, today appeared to break with his bosses' party line when he suggested the corporation had to "negotiate" with unions if the dispute was to be resolved. . . http://media.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,5202685-105236,00.html (via Dan Say, swprograms via DXLD) In today's highly polarized testosterone charged political atmosphere, the word "negotiate" is seen by some as weakness--especially by those who perceive themselves to have the upper hand already--because it infers compromise, another term of alleged weakness according to the prevailing milieu. So the apparent refusal to use that term and replace it with a commitment to "listen" sounds more like a parent- child relationship with management the parent and labour the child, rather than a relationship of relative equals. In that context, I can understand this reaction--especially when it comes in an atmosphere of non-communication and distrust. Words do mean something and in this setting they're often fighting words, unfortunately (John Figliozzi, Halfmoon, NY, ibid.) BBC UNIONS SUSPEND STRIKE BUT WARN OF FUTURE ACTION OVER JOB CUTS http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050527/bs_afp/britainmediastrikeunionscompanybbc_050527083641&printer=1 (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) BBC STRIKE ``SUSPENDED`` --- I am pleased to be able to note that the planned strike at BBC next Tuesday and Wednesday has been called off, or rather "suspended". After 20 hours of talks, the Unions are going back to their representatives next Tuesday, 31 May with details of proposals from Management. They will not be recommending these to their members, and have reserved the right to give notice of further strikes if the representatives reject Management's proposals (PAUL DAVID, London, UK, where temperatures may reach 86F this afternoon, May 27, via Rich Cuff, swprograms via DXLD) In a very real sense, the BBC is treating its employees with the same disdain it treats its listeners. (If you doubt this, just become a regular listener to the Write On program.) It's not a winning attitude, though I guess one could say it's at least consistent. In jest, I used to suggest that the BBC's "new" management (i.e.: experience gained all or mostly in the commercial realm with little or no experience with public service broadcasting) was actually in the nature of a Trojan horse. That is, sent by the commercial sector to destroy the public sector. I still say it; but now not so much in jest (John Figliozzi, May 26, swprograms via DXLD) John Figliozzi suggested BBC's new management was a Trojan horse by the commercial sector? Who? Which sector? Mark Thompson has worked mainly in the BBC and a few years at Channel 4. Channel 4 is a public corporation but has to fund itself by advertising http://fixedreference.org/en/20040424/wikipedia/Channel_4 It carries the best news programme on British terrestrial TV at 7 p.m - 8 p.m nightly and its programming mix is more interesting than BBC1 whilst that works through the Dyke commission trash. You can`t classify it as the commercial sector as it has no shareholders. Five Live read out emails they had received after the strike ended and the majority were sympathetic to BBC management, many quite blunt. The BBC is overstaffed on public money; the UK public wants to see the money go into distinctive programming, not unnecessary staffing and non-core activities. The BBC budget from the licence fee is pretty generous (Mike Barraclough, UK, ibid.) Mike's argument captures a fundamental argument for any bureaucratic organization. Absent the financial checks & balances of the commercial sector, public organizations go through growth and contraction cycles that tend to be noisier than for private (i.e. commercial) corporations, whose shareholders rein them in more closely. Organization design studies have long held this to be so. I remember reading such a book in the late 1970s when I joined a consultant under contract to the US EPA (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA, ibid.) If the primary source of its funding is advertising, then even though it might be set up as a public corporation it still operates under the rubrics of the commercial sector. If the BBC is simply going to do what the commercial sector does adequately and in some cases better already, then there's no reason to have a BBC. My overriding concern in all of my postings regarding the current management of the BBC is that it is far too preoccupied with competing with private, commercial broadcasters. However one ultimately defines it, public service broadcasting is distinct from commercial broadcasting... or at least, it should be. One needs only to look back at the history of this most august institution to understand the gist of my meaning. My criticism of current BBC management practices stems from its penchant for applying the standards of commercial broadcasting almost across the board to what is (has been and still should be) a distinctly different enterprise. It is my contention that the reason they do this is because they do not understand that difference. Thompson's experience, as you point out, does not come from the commercial sector. But he answers to those who do. And he apparently has "drunk the kool aid" (John Figliozzi, swprograms via DXLD) I do not agree with your seeming assertion that people with a commercial background should not hold BBC management positions. It is a generalisation. If BBC management personnel have been in the commercial sector it could be argued they see better the different approaches and can use the commercial sector`s marketing skills they have seen to raise revenue for a public sector broadcaster without compromising the programming. And you are vague as to who these people are. Michael Grade has held positions in the commercial sector, BBC, Channel 4 which I think you would accept could at least be classified as hybrid, and commercial companies in non broadcast areas. If you only promote from within you run the risk of getting a narrow minded self-satisfied mindset, just hang around in your position for a few years and wait your turn on the promotion ladder. After all, remember that one of the leading candidates for Director General with only BBC experience was Mark Byford (Mike Barraclough, ibid.) Well, you make some excellent points here. And we haven't made a distinction between BBC domestic and external services and that would certainly introduce its own dynamic to this conversation. But isn't the proof of the pudding in the eating? Let's take news. There was a time when the BBC would have (and rightfully) totally ignored a storyline like the Michael Jackson trial. At times it has positively reveled in it! There are numerous other examples of this preoccupation with the trivial. That, to me, is a commercially- induced reaction. Other examples can flow from there. Let's take World Service programming which is increasingly being given over to news at the expense of creative program features. It is said this is done because news is the BBC's most marketable product. Is that not a commercial reaction? The BBC's own rhetoric continuously talks about competition, return on investment, and service to "customers" and other such things in a manner that puts you in the mind that they are talking about a business, not a public service. BBC Worldwide -- which is now on the auction list -- was clearly an effort to compete head-on with commercial program producers and suppliers. At least that mistake is being corrected. I am --- perhaps --- too old-fashioned in my preferences. But I am not a cave-dweller. I've embraced many of the new tools. However, I do perceive an active diminution in depth, scope and quality in the World Service's offerings at least. I think anyone making an honest assessment of the BBC now vs. the BBC a few years ago would have to admit that they see this too. Finally, I agree that sweeping generalizations are not helpful. In the sense that I am speaking, I'm not necessarily using "commercial" as an overall pejorative term --- just perjorative in the sense that it is injurious and inconsistent with a public service remit. It certainly is useful to have other perspectives in play to avoid a certain incestuous stagnation. And, yes, some market principles applied in this environment can be useful in reducing waste and excess. But, in my view, it has not been a useful mix of perspectives that have been at play here recently; rather, an almost wholesale supplanting of one orientation for another (John Figliozzi, ibid.) Consumers rarely distinguish who they listen to by public vs. private sector. You have a given number of hours per day to fill the space between your ears. That space can be filled with MP3s, CDs, DVDs, Yahoo! Launchcast, Howard Stern, the BBC, NPR, CBC, Classic FM, DW, Radio Australia, Rush Limbaugh, CNN, BSkyB, whatever. All of these are, legitimately, BBC competitors. The only way people know NPR is on public radio is by the begging. When asked why they listen to NPR, I assert their answer would be "because it's good radio", not "because it's public radio." (Rich Cuff, PA, ibid.) BBC's striking improvement --- Bill Carmichael TO go on strike only to discover that no-one notices --- as has happened recently with public sector workers --- must be pretty dispiriting. But the humiliation is multiplied ten-fold if you withdraw your labour only to find your customers actually prefer it when you are not there. This is what happened this week when BBC journalists staged a 24-hour strike in protest over plans to cut almost 4,000 jobs. Many viewers and listeners liked the pared-down news service that ran during the strike. The bulletins were shorter, sharper and delivered, in the main, without the BBC's normal spin. Before long, the BBC message-boards began to be peppered with comments such as "Don't come back!" and "Can you strike again, please?" Radio 4's flagship Today programme, for example, was replaced by a short bulletin followed by the Just a Minute comedy show - and listeners loved it. Gone was the arrogant bullying of John Humphrys and the long-winded, labyrinthine questions of James Naughtie. There is something obscene in someone earning -L-500,000 a year going on strike to demand privileges not available to ordinary mortals. . . http://www.yorkshiretoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=107&ArticleID=1039172 (Yorkshire Post via Mike Cooper, DXLD) Subject: PROGRESS MADE ON INDUSTRIAL DISPUTE From: Mark Thompson Sent: 27 May 2005 10:08 As you may have heard on the news, the talks at ACAS about the dispute between the BBC and its unions ended this morning after 20 hours. We finished the session shortly after six this morning. I spent several hours with union officials myself last night in an effort to find ways of resolving the dispute. Although we made it clear that we could not wish away the reality of the need for change or the scale of the change programme, we approached the talks very flexibly and determined to find a resolution if at all possible. We hope the result of these talks is the first step in a new and productive relationship with the unions. We tabled a number of fresh commitments and assurances, including: a commitment, if the unions agree to the immediate launch of voluntary redundancy schemes in divisions, that no compulsory redundancies will be effected before 1 July 2006 at the earliest a commitment to review, towards the end of year 2 of the savings plan, the planned post reductions in the content divisions for year 3. The review would examine if new posts created by savings and reinvestment could mitigate the total jobs that will need to be reduced in that third year a commitment that we will not sell BBC Resources in whole or in part before 1 June 2007 (note : no decision to sell Resources has been taken - we are still reviewing options) a commitment that people issues will be a top priority in the sale of BBC Broadcast and in outsourcing arrangements. This offer moves significantly to address the issues and concerns which the unions have raised with us. We have told them that we have no further movement to make, no matter how long the dispute continues. A copy of my letter to the unions which sets out our position in its entirety is attached to this e-mail. This is a critical moment for the BBC. We face unprecedented change in our industry. We also face unprecedented public scrutiny as our future and the new Charter are debated. But I believe we have the chance to work together to build a BBC which is stronger and more creatively successful than ever. Unions and management have both worked very hard over the past 24 hours to reach a settlement. The suspension of next week's action is very good news. I very much hope the unions’ meeting on Tuesday will now agree to ending the disputes. Mark LETTER FROM THE BBC TO GERRY MORRISSEY, BECTU --- This letter has been sent to all three recognised trades unions. 27th May 2005 Dear Gerry, ACAS Talks I am writing to confirm the BBC`s position following today`s meeting at ACAS. We have listened carefully to the trades unions’ concerns and in response we have made a number of commitments and assurances on all the issues you have raised. As you are aware, this is as far as we are able to go on the issues we have been discussing. Given the co-ordinated industrial action the BBC is facing, the commitments and assurances contained in this letter must be seen as a package and the movement that the BBC has made is conditional on the suspension of industrial action already announced; the unions’ co-operation over immediate trawls for voluntary redundancies and preference exercises; and agreement to proceed to Divisional Level meetings to start the formal consultation process as contained within Agreed Statement G5A. Some of these conditions are explained in more detail later in this letter. If the joint unions reject these conditions, the package of commitments and assurances will be withdrawn by the BBC. RESOURCES LTD The Commercial Review in December concluded that it was not essential for Resources Ltd to be fully owned by the BBC and indeed full ownership may not be in the best interests of the company or those who work in it. Since then there have been many rumours about what may or may not be happening. The BBC can confirm that it is still assessing the impact on in-house demand of the possible move to Manchester, the impact of the Divisional vfm plans and extra work that will come from new investment money. To give the Resources Ltd staff clarity about the timescale, the BBC can confirm that it will not sell Resources Ltd (in whole or part) before 1 June 2007 and that any sale process would not start before 1 January 2007. The BBC gives a commitment that no sale (in whole or in part) would take place without proper consultation with BECTU. The BBC recognises that pension arrangements, job security and existing terms and conditions are key issues for Resources Ltd and these will be a priority consideration in any commercial negotiations with potential new owners. As with previous sales and outsourcings, the BBC will use its best endeavours through the commercial process to secure a broadly comparable pension scheme and guarantees around terms and conditions of service. People issues will be a priority and there will be full consultation with BECTU. The BBC can also confirm that any future sale of Resources Ltd would not include the Costume and Wigs Store. The BBC has decided to retain this store in-house and these staff will shortly transfer back into the BBC to become part of the BBC's archive department. (Part of Rights and Business Affairs). BROADCAST LTD The BBC has said throughout the BBCB sale process that people issues are a priority and this has been the case. We are now down to the shortlist stage. We can confirm that all the short listed bidders have bid on the basis of providing a broadly comparable defined benefit pension scheme and on the basis that existing staff will be transferred as if TUPE will apply, regardless of whether it actually does. All the bidders are aware of BECTU's demands. The unions will have the opportunity to express their demands directly to the shortlisted bidders on 10th June before the bidders have submitted their ‘best and final offer’. We fully expect the bidders to respond to BECTU’s claim as part of the commercial negotiations. We want to achieve the best deal for licence payers, the best deal for the BBC, the best deal for BBCB and the best deal for the staff. It is a competitive process and we believe we get the best deal for all parties by making the BECTU demands part of the commercial process. VFM DIVISIONAL PLANS : COMPULSORY REDUNDANCIES At the national level meeting on 12 April, Mark Thompson offered an alternative to the joint unions’ demand for a 90 day moratorium, which would have meant that nobody would be forced to leave the BBC on grounds of compulsory redundancy before the end of November 2005. In order to allow more time for detailed talks and for a voluntary process to have maximum effect, we are prepared to make the following commitment - no one would leave the BBC on the grounds of compulsory redundancy until 1 July 2006 except where the BBC can agree, subject to operational needs, an earlier release date requested by an individual . This is subject to the joint unions agreeing to the following conditions: - That all industrial action is suspended and the unions enter into immediate formal consultation, at the Divisional level, on the Divisional vfm plans; - The BBC can immediately begin divisional/ business unit trawls for volunteers and preference exercises as appropriate and that we can release volunteers as soon as possible subject to operational need. In terms of timing, we would wish to start trawls/preference exercises in the next 1- 4 weeks, where we consider possible, and to share the outcome with the unions at the Divisional level. - Where the proposed changes cannot be achieved through voluntary means alone, selection for retention exercises etc are undertaken so that the period to end of June 2006 also includes any 5/6month redeployment periods and contractual notice periods. - The unions agree to start to consult or negotiate, as appropriate, over the West Midlands pilot of Local TV and other initiatives contained within the Divisional plans. - The BBC gives a commitment that Agreed Statement G5A would apply throughout. - In the event of a failure to agree being registered at the Divisional level the matter can be referred to the National level. The BBC believes that the quicker it can start the trawls and release funds, the sooner it can reinvest and offer new redeployment opportunities. The BBC’s overall strategy is to put more money into programmes and services. The BBC recognises that, if the unions co- operate and it is possible to achieve our proposed savings plan promptly and start to reinvest in new programmes and services, there may be opportunities to create some new posts in year 3 which in turn could mitigate the year 3 planned post reductions. The BBC is therefore happy to review, at the Divisional level, its proposed year 3 post closures during year 2 to see what progress has been made and what mitigation may be possible. For example, if we can proceed quickly with the West Midlands local TV pilot and it is a success, and then accelerate the implementation of local TV, this new service may provide very real redeployment opportunities. We both have a vested interest in mitigation and phasing the reinvestment to try to avoid any 'revolving door' syndrome. The BBC regrets that it cannot realistically make a blanket commitment that there will be no compulsory redundancies given the scale and scope of all the Divisional change plans. However, as with all previous restructurings etc, the BBC has implemented, it wants to work with the unions to avoid compulsory redundancies wherever possible. BBC OUTSOURCING COMMITMENTS Each outsourcing proposal has to be taken on its merits. The BBC can give an assurance that we will always use our best endeavours to secure the best deal for the licence fee payer, the BBC and for the transferring staff. We know that people issues, such as pension, job security and terms and conditions, are a concern and we have always made these a key issue in any commercial negotiations. In each of these cases the unions will be fully involved in the process. WORLD SERVICE As we have previously confirmed, both Monitoring and World Service are in a parallel review process but their plans are subject to BBC Board of Governors and FCO agreement. We are still awaiting the outcome of the Cabinet Review of Monitoring. We have to work to the FCO’s timetable which may mean that there will not be any announcements regarding World Service until mid/late July - but this could be delayed until after the summer recess. The BBC gives a commitment that the compulsory redundancy commitment of 1July 2006 would also apply to World Service and Monitoring staff. Additionally, the Director General will recommend to the FCO and the BBC Governors and any other party with an approval responsibility, that the overall length of the timescale prior to any compulsory redundancies is the same length as the timescale for the other BBC vfm plans. As outlined above, we have sought, where possible, to address your concerns. We believe that our proposals represent genuine movement, offer real commitments and assurances and that this package is a fair and reasonable one given the challenges the BBC faces. We hope you will put this offer to your members and that we can work together to achieve the best possible outcomes for the BBC, our audiences and staff. This letter has been sent to all three recognised trades unions. Stephen Dando Director, BBC People (via DXLD) ** U K [non]. Additional transmission for BBC in Burmese: 0930-1000 Sun on 9760, 12045, 15545 Additional transmission for BBC in Nepali: 0100-0115 Daily on 9800 and 12035 New time and frequencies for BBC in Kazakh: 1300-1330 Mon-Fri on 15430 and 17695, ex 1200-1230 Mon-Fri on 15535 and 17660 New schedule for BBC in Ukrainian: 0400-0500 Mon-Fri on 9560, 9895, 11770 1400-1430 Sat/Sun on 9585, 11935, 13645 ex Daily 1600-1700 Sat/Sun on 9535, 11740, 13670 ex Daily 1900-2000 Mon-Fri on 9605, 11985, 13745 new transmission (Observer, Bulgaria, May 27 via DXLD) All these headed UK [non], so none of these frequencies direct from UK? Whence, then? (gh, DXLD) See also KURDISTAN ** U K [non]. New transmission via VT Communications - Eternal Good News: 1130-1145 Fri on 15525 DHA 250 kW / 100 deg to SoAs in English (Observer, Bulgaria, May 27 via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Frequency change for Voice of America in Bangla: 1600-1700 NF 7430 and 11835, ex 7280 and 11965 (Observer, Bulgaria, May 27 via DXLD) Sites?? See also FALKLAND ISLANDS; GHANA or http://www.voanews.com/english/About/2005-05-26-voa80.cfm (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Mostly I still hear the defunct DGS on University Network frequencies, but May 27 at 1809 tuning across Anguilla 11775, somewhat hoarse and high-pitched woman preaching, presumably Melissa, ex-porn-star-Scott. Later in afternoon, at 2125 check, back to DGS on all audible frequencies (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Greetings!!! Brother Stair is using the WWRB transmitter facilities as follows: All times Eastern [DAYLIGHT] time: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM 9320 [1200-2200 UT] [usually VG here --- gh] 6:00 PM to 1:00 AM 6890 [2200-0500 UT] 1:00 AM to 8:00 AM 5085 [0500-1200 UT] Brother stair just obtained 3185 as follows: 1:00 AM to 8:00 AM 3185 [0500-1200 UT] The above is 7 days per week We have another Ministry that has leased 15250 and 5050 seven days per week; more info to follow. They plan on starting the first of June. Airline Transport Communications, Inc., future owner of WWRB shortwave, has begun the construction 'full bore' of the VORTAC. All of the equipment is here on site; the electronic equipment is very exotic. The 'slot' antennas and VOR phasing equipment from an electronics lover standpoint is exceedingly cool! They plan on adding an NDB (Non directional beacon). We will QSL the NDB when it's on the air (Dave Frantz, WWRB, May 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 15785, 1900 22 May, WHRI Cypress Creek, English, Catholic priest, 42442, terrible frequency selection of US-FCC, due of heavy QRM against Galei Zahal ISR in 1700-2000 UT span (Wolfgang Büschel, Mallorca , May 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. NATIONAL MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH SPECIAL EVENT SET (May 27, 2005) --- The USS Salem Radio Club`s K1USN will be on the air Saturday, May 28, to celebrate National Military Appreciation Month, recognizing and honoring the US armed forces and the dedicated service of its members. K1USN will operate from 1100 until 2200 UTC on or about these frequencies and modes: 3.860, 7.260, 14.260, 18.160, 21.360, 24.960, 28.360 and 50,160 MHz, SSB; 3.539, 7.039, 10.109, 14.039, 18.079, 21.039, 24.899, 28,039 and 50.109 MHz, CW. K1USN also will be on IRLP Node 4320, EchoLink Node NS1N-R 443.600 MHz and on the 145.39 MHz repeater in Scituate, Massachusetts. DX QSL via the W1 Bureau, US stations QSL via K1USN and include an SASE. For more information, contact Pi Pugh, K1RV K1RV@arrl.net (ARRL main page via John Norfolk, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U S A. Tune to AiRadio 530 AM as the only source of official information on LAX airing seven days a LAX and ONT Travel Forecast week, 24 hours a day solely for airport travelers. The radio station broadcasts information about vehicular traffic and parking conditions, airline locations and security precautions affecting passengers and motorists. During holidays and daily peak travel periods, live announcers broadcast real-time updates on traffic and parking conditions at the airport. Internet users can also listen to AiRadio 530 AM by visiting http://www.lawa.org and clicking on "Airport Conditions." (from http://au.biz.yahoo.com/050526/21/4j93.html via Sheldon Harvey, DXLD) ** U S A. 1660 WCNZ Marco Island FL and 1480 WVOI Marco Island FL seem to change format from Newsradio/talk to religious. Some days ago I heard a message on 1480 kHz, that "Relevant Radio" will start June the 4th on 1480 and 1660 kHz. The following announcement was given: "Listen for Relevant Radio coming to the Naples area on June the 4th". Naples is on the west coast of Florida about 100 miles south of Tampa/St. Petersburg. 1660 kHz used to be a regular guest at my usual listening place in central Denmark. Best 73's (Bjarke Vestesen, Sanibel, FL, U.S.A., May 26, AOR7030+ with 30 m longwire, MWC via DXLD) ** U S A. "RADIO FREE OHIO" PRANK http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1503056/20050527/index.jhtml?headlines=true For one week now, radio listeners in Akron, Ohio, have been irritated by a pirate-radio broadcast that keeps bleeding into the programming on their favorite stations. How could a shadowy pirate-radio syndicate manage to keep up this illegal activity against the largest radio network in the country for so long? Well, it couldn't. The fake pirate broadcasts and Web site, RadioFreeOhio.org, are all an elaborate promotional prank from radio giant Clear Channel to hype one of their new radio stations. With the slogan "Changing Ohio radio," the Web site purports to be a movement of "concerned individuals who are compelled by their overwhelming sense of patriotism and pride to no longer accept what is considered the standard method of operation by a majority of Commercial Broadcasters." The group claims it has been struggling to acquire the rights to a station in the area to bring "progressive conversation and viewpoints to the American public," which led to the decision to begin its "pirate" broadcasts from an abandoned rubber factory. The site then lists a number of stations in Northeast Ohio that should be forced to give up their licenses, with snarky comments about their programming. Smart Web surfers, however, have not been duped by the elaborate promotion. They vented on the site's message boards - which, like most of the other content, was abruptly taken down on Thursday and replaced with the warning "The radio revolution begins Tuesday, May 31." Under the heading "@#%$ you Clear Channel," users posted the Web code that appeared to prove the media giant is behind the prank. User inYOURbrain posted the message, "You've got to be kidding me. Clear Channel is everything that is wrong with media distribution these days. I'm not even from Ohio, and I'm offended." The Web site encouraged listeners to call local radio stations and mention Radio Free Ohio, though it seems like there weren't many takers. A handful of the stations - a mix of Clear Channel, rival Cumulus Broadcasting, NPR and independently owned outlets - reported no calls about the stunt as of Thursday. Neither independent public radio station WAPS nor Cumulus' WRQK had gotten any calls, but Keith Kennedy, the Operations Manager at WKDD said ours was the first call he'd received, though he added cryptically, "Keep an eye on the Web site." Did we mention that WKDD is owned by Clear Channel? "I'll be honest and tell you it's not a Clear Channel promotion," Kennedy said. "We heard that they think it's some clever [Web site] registering by someone, but it's not associated with us at all." Riiiight. A Clear Channel spokesperson finally 'fessed up to the convoluted ruse late Thursday. "It is a promotional site, but we're not disclosing for what Clear Channel station at this time," Jennifer Geary said. - Gil Kaufman (via Kim Elliott; Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) [non] They did something like this when 101.1 FM in Niagara Falls, Ontario switched formats. They claimed to be a pirate broadcasting from a barrel floating in the Niagara River. They even made it sound like they were talking inside a metal container (Fred Waterer, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U S A. "MIGHTY 1190" TOP 40 RETURNS TO DALLAS File under "everything old will eventually be new some day": http://billboardradiomonitor.com/radiomonitor/news/format/top40/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000937560 And note the author of that article---Chuck Taylor! Anybody remember those "Chuck Taylor" Converse sneakers from the 1960s??? (Harry Helms W5HLH Wimberley, TX EM00 http://futureofradio.typepad.com/ ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. REWOUND SCHEDULE WABC By DAVID HINCKLEY, DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER The late Chuck Leonard gets a final WABC spotlight Monday when the station makes its annual visit to its top-40 past with production ace Johnny Donovan's 12-hour "Rewound" special. Each year, Donovan, a WABC jock who stayed after the station switched to talk in 1982, assembles blocks of programming from the days when WABC (770 AM) was the country's dominant top-40 station. Leonard, WABC's first black jock, died last August and will be featured this year. Monday's complete schedule: [EDT = UT -4] 6 a.m.: Leonard, 1975 7 a.m.: Harry Harrison, 1979 8 a.m.: Bruce Morrow, 1965 9 a.m.: Harrison, 1979 10 a.m.: Ron Lundy, 1975 11 a.m.: Farrell Smith, 1961, and Dan Ingram, 1965 Noon: Morrow, 1968 1 p.m.: Bob Lewis & Leonard, 1967 2 p.m.: Lewis, 1965 3 p.m.: Leonard, 1971 4 p.m.: Ingram, 1980 5 p.m.: Morrow, 1969 The cool thing about "Rewound," Donovan notes, is that it isn't cut- up excerpts. It's full hours as they originally ran, with promos and commercials. "The 1968 Cousin Brucie, for instance," says Donovan, "is from Election Night, so you hear references to the Nixon-Humphrey race. It gives a real feel of what it was like to listen to the radio that night." Donovan collects "Rewound" material all year, working with Rob Frankel and radio historian Peter Kanze, and he says that after eight years, the well of early tapes is starting to dry up. "We don't have many fresh ones from the '60s," he says. "I'm still looking for a good Scott Muni, which we never found." Still, tapes do keep popping up, in the unlikeliest places. "The 1965 Bob Lewis hour," says Donovan, "came from a French exchange student who was in New York then. He taped it, saved it for 40 years, read about 'Rewound' on the Internet and got in touch." In general, says Donovan, "Rewound" "constantly reminds me of how much we throw away. These radio shows were a part of our lives, and now they're just gone. We used to think people who taped jingles and things like that were a little strange. But thank God someone did." "Rewound" will be followed by a two-hour discussion on the old WABC, hosted by program director Phil Boyce with Allan Sniffen, proprietor of the New York Radio Message Board and keeper of the definitive Web site on the old WABC. Morrow joins in at 6 p.m. and Harrison at 7 (via Pete Kemp, NRC-AM via DXLD) Webcast??? ** U S A. RADIO KAXE'S NEW HOME IS ALL ABOUT BUILDING COMMUNITY Larry Oakes, Star Tribune May 27, 2005 Last update: May 27, 2005 at 6:21 AM GRAND RAPIDS, MINN. -- For 29 years, one of the most unusual, down- home radio stations in Minnesota broadcast from a couple of cramped, hot rooms in a community college on the edge of town. . . http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/5426059.html (via Kevin Redding, Gilbert AZ, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. "I simply never imagined that any CPB chairman, Democrat or Republican, would cross the line from resisting White House pressure to carrying it out for the White House," Moyers told a packed room at the National Conference for Media Reform. "And that's what Kenneth Tomlinson has been doing." You can read Moyers' speech here: http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2005/05/17/moyers/index.html An audio recording can be downloaded at: http://www.freepress.net/conference/audio05/moyers.mp3 Or you can watch the video at: http://www.freepress.net/conference/audio05/freepress-closing40515.mov (from http://www.wets.org/ via Glenn Hauser, DXLD) UCTV also has a sesquihour interview with Bill Moyers: BILL MOYERS IN CONVERSATION WITH NAOMI SHIHAB NYE Naomi Shihab Nye interviews Bill Moyers of PBS fame. In this conversation before over a thousand people at Campbell Hall, UC Santa Barbara, Moyers talks about his love for poetry, the various programs he has been associated with at PBS, and his take on current events. His recent retirement from PBS' Now led media critic Tom Shales of the Washington Post to write, "Moyers represented reason, deliberation, serious questioning of the status quo and, especially, standing as firmly as possible against government encroachment into Americans' private lives.." Naomi Shihab Nye is the author and/or editor of more than twenty volumes and the winner of numerous poetry awards. She has appeared on two PBS poetry specials The Language of Life with Bill Moyers and The United States of Poetry. Watch it now using RealPlayer. http://webcast.ucsd.edu:8080/ramgen/UCSD_TV/9391.rm (via Clara Listensprechen, DXLD) Lots of good stuff on UCTV (gh) ** U S A. VID BITS: EDWARD R. MURROW COLLECTION 27 May 2005 http://www.suntimes.com/output/movies/wkp-news-vidbits27.html To a generation of Americans, his was the authoritative news anchor's voice that came into homes via radio, and later television, during some of the most troubled and controversial times in history. To a generation of budding reporters, his was the name that set the standard of excellence when it came to broadcast journalism. Thanks to a new four-disc DVD collection, the life and times of CBS newsman Edward R. Murrow (1908-1965) can be explored in a wonderful collection of some of his best work. Reporting from London in the late 1930s, Murrow spoke to America on radio, as well as to Europe via the BBC. He pioneered the use of shortwave radio to create simultaneous worldwide radio broadcasts; breaking news became just that. With the help of correspondents he handpicked for posts around the globe (including Eric Sevareid, Charles Collingwood, Winston Burdett, William Shirer and Howard K. Smith), Murrow created the first daily news show back in 1938. Called "The World Today," the program featured 15-minute roundups from European capitals where the correspondents were stationed. During World War II, he flew more than two dozen combat missions over Europe and was live on the radio with broadcasts during some of its fiercest battles. It was Murrow and his contemporaries at CBS, most notably Fred Friendly, Walter Cronkite, Frank Stanton and Sid Mickelson, who eventually put CBS News on the planet. "The Edward R. Murrow Collection" (Docurama) set for release on Tuesday contains an excellent biography of the stalwart newsman. One entire disc features highlights from Murrow's legendary "See It Now" television program, which first aired in 1951, as the first in-depth, magazine-style news show featuring interviews with luminaries of the day. The third disc features the documentary, "The McCarthy Years," which chronicles Murrow's relentless investigative pursuit of Sen. Joseph McCarthy during the famous Communist witch-hunts of the 1950s. As powerful as those three discs are, the one that will leave perhaps the most lasting impression on viewers is the documentary "Harvest of Shame." Broadcast as part of CBS News' "CBS Reports" series on Nov. 25, 1960, Murrow's portrait of the exploitation of the American migrant farm worker in the deep South became the gold standard in the field of documentary filmmaking. It was also the first time in television history that the "fourth estate" turned its critical eye on the government and big business in such a public forum. Murrow's report shattered the perception of "the American dream" with its depiction of the deplorable pay, working and housing conditions of migrant farm workers. The black-and-white footage is made even more stark by the silence therein-- there is little commentary from the reporter. Most of the language comes from the workers' themselves as their poverty (some made as little as $1 a day), starvation and the general absence of the most basic human necessities are revealed. It is widely regarded as one of the most unforgettable programs in television history. The "Murrow" collection is a unique opportunity to learn about the genesis of CBS News and one man who was instrumental in that process. There are no extras to speak of on the discs, save for a timeline of events. A biopic about Murrow, directed by George Clooney, is expected in 2006, but you might want to give the real thing a look first. Miriam Di Nunzio (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U S A. FCC FINING STATIONS OVER CAPTION LAPSE By Frank Ahrens Washington Post Staff Writer Friday, May 27, 2005; E02 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/26/AR2005052601597_pf.html The Federal Communications Commission has proposed fining three Washington area television stations for failing to provide adequate closed-caption information for hearing-impaired viewers during a tornado watch in May 2004. NBC-owned WRC (Channel 4), ABC affiliate WJLA (Channel 7) and Fox- owned WTTG (Channel 5) face proposed fines totaling $40,000, the FCC said yesterday. As dangerous thunderstorms and tornado conditions bore down on Washington on May 25, 2004, local weather broadcasters told viewers in certain areas they should take cover but failed to relay the same information in closed captions, the FCC reported. Under federal law, broadcasters are required to provide emergency information in both audio and visual form, whether by closed captioning or a similar presentation. One viewer wrote to the FCC: "[Fox] cut into the screen during 'American Idol' for news about the weather. From this visual (with no captions), it look[ed] like the bad weather might be in Maryland. I was totally confused." The FCC investigation found that, at 9:02 p.m., WRC meteorologist Bob Ryan told viewers to move away from windows and toward a bathroom or basement if they sensed high winds but failed to provide the information in any visual form. An $8,000 fine is proposed against WJLA, which failed to display closed-caption information during one storm report. The other stations each face $16,000 fines because they each failed to provide the closed captioning during two reports. The stations can appeal the fines. (c) 2005 The Washington Post Company (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. Howdy, Did KGFE-2 Grand Forks finally come back on the air? I'll look for it via Es this year if so. I believe they were off all last summer? (Dave Williams, May 25, WTFDA via DXLD) KGFE (2) status report --- Per the news release which follows, it's not likely that the analog KFGE (Prairie Public) signal is a viable Es target. I don't even know for sure if the low power Grand Forks service is on channel 2, but can find out if any is interested. Also, Doug Smith might have that information (Tom Bryant / Nashville, TN, WTFDA via DXLD) Viz.: (KGFE UPDATE - PRAIRIE PUBLIC TELEVISION) March 11, 2005 Dear Viewer, I am writing to update you on the re-establishment of Prairie Public Television’s KGFE Channel 2 signal and to offer options for accessing our broadcast in affected areas. As you know, it was determined that it would be fiscally irresponsible for Prairie Public Broadcasting to invest several hundred thousand dollars to rebuild the destroyed tower and replace technology that will soon be obsolete. Instead we felt it was a better use of our funds to speed up construction on the federally-mandated conversion to digital broadcasting. We also realize that in the meantime, many of our viewers in the KGFE area have been without their public television service. Depending on where you live, however, you may have options of which you weren’t aware. The most obvious option is cable or satellite service. In addition, viewers within a 70-mile radius of Crookston, MN, may access Prairie Public Television’s digital service via two methods: a digital television or --- much more affordably --- a ``set-top`` digital converter, available for purchase at most electronics stores. Additionally, Prairie Public Television has received special FCC authorization to operate KGFE’s analog signal via a ``low power`` transmitter, which has restored service to viewers within the city of Grand Forks who utilize rooftop antennas. This special authorization was approved in mid-February. Finally, construction of the new Devils Lake digital transmitting facility is underway and will continue as weather conditions allow. The new facility is scheduled for broadcast operation by fall of this year, and will provide digital service to the remaining outage area. Again, viewers who utilize rooftop antennas will need to obtain a set- top digital converter. Please know we are doing everything we can to provide you with the quality television programming you’ve come to depend upon. If you have any questions, you may contact us at 800-359-6900. Thank you for your patience and ongoing support. Sincerely, John E. Harris III, President and CEO, Prairie Public Television (via Tom Bryant, TN, May 26, WTFDA via DXLD) Nope, this is the first I've heard of this. There are two STAs listed in CDBS (one dismissed, one granted) but no technical details. If the temporary Grand Forks service is more than 500 watts ERP or so, I would suspect it *is* ES-DX-able. And I doubt it would provide useful coverage across Grand Forks at a lower power (Doug Smith W9WI, WTFDA via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. R. Amazonas, 4939.66, 0245-0252* May 21, Spanish talk, ads, ID, ballads. Abrupt sign-off. Weak, poor in noisy conditions (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA [non]. Checking again for the 13680 collision, May 27 at 2309 --- yes, CRI English via Sackville, way atop RNV via Cuba, the latter with Wagner, ID as Radio Nacional de Venezuela Antena Internacional. Does Chávez have Wagnerian fantasies? We know what other leader loved Wagner, don`t we? The commies vs. commies saga continues, and may well last to the end of A-05. Guess I`ll keep checking once a month or so (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA [and non]. Venezuela/Uruguay/Cuba/Argentina: REGIONAL TELESUR TV OPENS WITH PROMOTIONAL PROGRAMMES | Text of BBC Monitoring research on 27 May The new South American regional satellite TV station La Nueva Televisora del Sur (The New Television of the South), known as Telesur, was noted broadcasting in the clear from the NSS-806 satellite, located at 40.5 degrees west, at 1100 gmt on 26 May. The station's transponder frequency was 4029 MHz with right hand circular polarization. Symbol rate was 5632; FEC 3/4; video PID 33; audio PID 34 and SID 42. Programming between 1100 and 1130 gmt consisted of a promotional video, with much emphasis on the way news will be reported in the future. Telesur has a website at http://www.telesurtv.net which carries the following contact information: Telesur, Avenida Principal de los Ruices, Edificio Anexo VTV, Piso 4, Caracas, Venezuela. Telephone: (58) (212) 716 5605. E-mail: contactenos @ telesurtv.net Andreas Izarra - President. Aram Aharonian - Director-General. Gabriela González - Programme director. Source: BBC Monitoring research 27 May 05 (via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. Según ha publicado el periódico El Universal el pasado 19 de Mayo, Caracas espera tener en órbita en dos o tres años, un satélite propio el que no tendrá uso comercial, sino que será empleado para las telecomunicaciones, la observación del espacio geográfico y la integración de la red del Estado, según informaciones del embajador René Arreaza, jefe de la comisión presidencial para el uso pacífico del espacio. Arreaza señaló que la propuesta de China para la fabricación del satélite venezolano se perfila como "más viable para llevar a cabo el proceso de compra, adquisición, diseño y lanzamiento del satélite". "Luego de estudiar otras alternativas con Rusia, Ucrania, Francia, India, Argentina y Brasil, concluimos que China es la mejor opción", indicó el diplomático en un comunicado de la Vicepresidencia. El gobierno venezolano entregó en diciembre pasado a las autoridades chinas, durante la visita del presidente Hugo Chávez a Beijing, los requerimientos técnicos para la adquisición de un satélite. "Con este satélite Venezuela garantizará la soberanía plena en el ámbito de las telecomunicaciones'', declaró el ministro de Comunicación, Andrés Izarra, al justificar la compra del equipo. Se precisó por último, que el satélite se ubicará en la órbita 82,7 y contará con 24 bandas. El satélite será colocado en nombre de la Comunidad Andina (CAN, integrada por Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Perú y Venezuela) para salvaguardar los derechos del bloque sobre el segmento de la órbita geoestacionaria, según resolvió el bloque sudamericano, informó también El Universal (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Argentina, RN Radio-Enlace May 27-29 via DXLD) ** VIETNAM. R. DienBien has received on new frequency of 6442V kHz. This station s/on around 1200 and news? at 1230. Recorded audio sample was: http://tomsk-7.hp.infoseek.co.jp/Sound_Archive/vietnam/dien_bien_050527.mp3 (Kenji Takasaki, Japan, Japan Premium May 27 via DXLD) WRTH 2005 had it on 6379v (gh, DXLD) ** WALES [non]. U.K.(non): Wales Radio International cancelled all transmissions via VT Communications: 2030-2100 Fri on 5875 SKN 300 kW / 110 deg to WeEu in English 2030-2100 Fri on 7210 MOS 100 kW / 300 deg to WeEu in English 0200-0230 Sat on 9795 RMP 500 kW / 300 deg to NoAm in English 1230-1300 Sat on 17745 RMP 500 kW / 062 deg to AUS in English (Observer, Bulgaria, May 27 via DXLD) Two months ago (gh) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. 700 kHz observed on 26 May, and the signal was really fair yesterday; no trace of the Spanish program, usually aired 2300-2400. Also monitored [7466, not 700, right?] today so as to see whether they still sign off later on Friday mornings, and they do indeed - closed at 0900. The too adjacent WHRI (as IDed) 7465 causes severe QRM until 0800 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, WHRI-2 scheduled 0300-0800 on 7465; in the afternoon/evening, it`s WWCR on 7465 starting at 2200, so 7466 instead of 7460 is no improvement at all from our point of view. What were they trying to get away from, on 7455? Until May 31, WWCR 7465 schedule is 2200-2400 on transmitter #1, then 0000-0300 on #4, so you might have a shot at Radio Nacional de la República Árabe Saharaui Democrática during the very brief break for transmitter/antenna change around 2359. From June 1, #1 stays on 2200 until 0100, but no more #4 after that (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE [and non]. SW RADIO AFRICA SHOULD BE SAVED By Rita Bhebhe Last updated: 05/27/2005 13:49:58 http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/fm10.12696.html I HAVE been reading media reports that SW Radio Africa is going to shut down if pledges by donors are not honoured. This honestly cannot be allowed to happen. The fact that Robert Mugabe’s regime invested over £30 million in two Chinese built transmitters at Thornhill Airbase to block their broadcasts into Zimbabwe speaks volumes about their effectiveness. It is testimony to how threatened they felt over the station's uncensored, free-flowing broadcasts. We now have two dedicated internet radio sations in Affro Sounds and the recently launched SAR FM in New York but to be honest, Robert Mugabe will not lose sleep over these. Why? They are targetting fairly rich middle class people in the diaspora who can afford computers and broadband connections. If you are already in the diaspora you can’t vote or demonstrate in Zimbabwe and Mugabe will not worry over your activities. Power in our country now resides in the rural areas. These are giving by hook or crook the majority of votes for Mugabe’s tattered legitimacy in elections. We have a serious rural-urban divide that needs bridging and the internet is certainly out of tangent. This is what makes SW Radio Africa clearly effective. Their Shortwave transmissions are reaching people in the rural areas and really fostering a change of allegiance in the mentality of the rural people. Mugabe always does his home work, and reports were filtering in that the station founded in September 2001 has in the past four years been steadily penetrating the rural areas while simultaneously updating the urban dwellers on daily breaking news. If as is being predicted, the station is closed down, what hope does Zimbabwe have? What is the use of funding NGO’s, newspapers and internet radio stations that target an already informed audience who are already supporting the opposition anyway? "Is the world admitting China is now the superpower and spreading its repressive tentacles around the world? Where are the so-called super powers in this?" RITA BHEBHE [sidebar] With two jamming devices installed by Mugabe, SW Radio Africa has to broadcast on at least three or more frequencies to reach Zimbabweans. This, broadcasting fundis will tell you is a very costly exercise requiring close to hundreds of thousands of pounds. Although I understand they can still broadcast on Medium Wave which is not currently being jammed, I am assuming their money has already been exhausted by the multiple frequency broadcasts courtesy of the Chinese intervention. I call on all the donors who are involved in helping Zimbabwe to please stand up and support effective projects. Mugabe has already shown us this project is effective so why are they not pushing saving it? Is the world admitting China is now the superpower and spreading its repressive tentacles around the world? Where are the so-called super powers in this? How do you spread democracy by misdirecting resources? Are we so blind to see what is needed? I was just thinking today how we could change things if every Zimbabwean in the diaspora donated one US dollar to the station. In our millions, we could have the station run on for another year. I suggest the station has to open up such an account and see how we will respond. I am personally prepared to put up 50 US dollars as the opening donation and challege everyone in the diaspora to respond. The diaspora just has to lead the way for Zimbabweans back home. Broadcasting is the key to power back home, this is why Mugabe has viciously defended ZBC’s monopoly for 25 years. It just has to be broken by an independent Zimbabwean radio station. We in our wisdom or lack of it are letting slip one of the few remaining voices capable of delivering change. The irony of it all is that SW Radio Africa wins the Free Media Pioneer Award 2005 from the International Press Instititute (IPI) and then closes a few days later. Are we being serious? How the mandarins in Zimbabwe will celebrate! I say no, this is a serious development in our fight for democracy. --- Bhebhe is in the Media Studies Department at the John Moore University in Liverpool TO LISTEN TO SW RADIO AFRICA: http://www.swradioafrica.com JOIN THE DEBATE ON THIS ARTICLE ON THE NEWZIMBABWE.COM FORUMS http://newzim.proboards29.com/index.cgi? (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Thanks for a great job with DXLD! It is outstanding! 73's (Tore Larsson, Sweden, Arctic Radio Club) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ HARMONICS: STATIONS THAT AREN`T Over the past few years there have been numerous reports of mystery relays of shortwave stations in the upper parts of the AM broadcast band. Radio Havana on 1697; Gene Scott (presumably via KAIJ, Texas) on 1615. None of these stations acknowledge BCB relays. So who`s relaying them? Nobody...! Since the 1920s, virtually every radio sold has used Armstrong`s ``superheterodyne`` circuit. In this circuit, incoming signals are fed to one input of a ``mixer.`` The other input is a ``dead air`` signal from a ``local oscillator.`` The output of the mixer contains four signals: the two inputs, their sum, and their difference. The frequency of the local oscillator is chosen so that either the sum or the difference is at the selected ``intermediate frequency``; this signal is amplified, converted to audio, and sent to the speaker. So, let`s say you turn your radio`s dial to 1700 to listen to KTBK. You turn the knob to 1700, and the local oscillator is set to 2155 kHz. The four signals out of the mixer are: * 1700 kHz, the KTBK signal from the antenna, * 2155 kHz, the local oscillator signal, * 3855 kHz, the sum of the two frequencies, * 455 kHz, the difference of the two. The intermediate frequency amplifier is tuned to 455 kHz – the 455 kHz signal gets through, and you hear KTBK. But... no oscillator is perfect. All oscillators have ``harmonics``: they put out signals on multiples of the desired frequency. When your radio is tuned to 1700, the oscillator`s desired output is on 2155. But it also has a second harmonic on 2155x2=4310 kHz. And a third harmonic on 2155 x 3 = 6465 kHz. And so on. These harmonic signals also reach the mixer. Let`s consider that third harmonic on 6465 kHz. And on a hunch, let`s consider a hypothetical powerful shortwave broadcast on 6010 kHz. What are the four signals out of the mixer? * 6010 kHz, the hypothetical 49-meter broadcast, * 6465 kHz, the third harmonic of the local oscillator, * 12475 kHz, the sum of the two frequencies, * 455 kHz, the difference of the two. Yep, there`s that magic 455 number again. The intermediate frequency amplifier doesn`t know the 455 kHz signal resulted from a harmonic instead of the desired 2155 kHz signal. It will happily amplify the 455 kHz signal resulting from this shortwave broadcast, and you`ll hear it. (In fact, the BBC World Service broadcasts on 6010 during ``prime time`` – but it`s in DRM which means you`ll hear noise on 1700, not audio...) Now, let`s consider some ``real world`` examples. Radio Havana on 1697? When tuned to 1697, your local oscillator is on 1697 + 455 = 2152 kHz. The third harmonic is 2152 x 3 = 6456 kHz. 6456 - 6001 = 455 kHz; when tuned to 1697, you`ll hear a shortwave station on 6001 kHz in the 49-meter band. Look in the Shortwave Guide under Cuba at 0100 UTC and you see – Radio Havana is using 6000 kHz. Close enough. Gene Scott on 1615? Local oscillator is on 1615 + 455 = 2070 kHz. 2070 x 3 = 6210. 6210 - 5755 = 455. The Shortwave Guide shows KAIJ Dallas, TX, operating on 5755. The magic ``intermediate frequency`` varies with different radios. Inexpensive radios use low frequencies near 455 kHz – 450 and 460 are other common values. Often, the intermediate frequency is specified in the radio`s manual or even printed on the back. Better radios usually use a much higher frequency – often on the order of 40 or 70 MHz. This puts the frequency to which the radio would ``spuriously`` respond a lot higher in the spectrum – also a lot easier to filter out. (With a 70 MHz intermediate frequency, the third-harmonic spurious response on a radio tuned to 1615 kHz would be in the 2-meter ham band. It`s really easy to filter a 2-meter ham signal out of a receiver intended to pick up the broadcast band!) I`ve considered only the third harmonic of the local oscillator here, because it`s the one most likely to result in spurious responses from a popular shortwave broadcast band. Other harmonics do exist, and if a strong shortwave signal exists at the right point in the spectrum, you may well hear it in the broadcast band. Do note that the strength of these harmonics drops off quickly with the order of the multiple – the fourth harmonic is weaker than the third, the fifth is weaker still, etc. And remember that these spurious receptions are the fault of shortcomings in the *receiver* --- the stations themselves are broadcasting only on the frequencies they`re supposed to use (Doug Smith, AM Bandscan, June MONITORING TIMES via DXLD) DRM +++ See AUSTRIA; BELGIUM; FRANCE ###