DX LISTENING DIGEST 5-147, August 26, 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 EXTRA 60: Fri 2000 WOR RFPI [repeated 4-hourly thru Sat 1600] [1284?] Sat 0800 WOR WRN to Eu, Au, NZ, WorldSpace AfriStar, AsiaStar Sat 0855 WOR WNQM Nashville TN 1300 Sat 1000 WOR WPKN Bridgeport CT 89.5 & WPKM Montauk LINY 88.7 Sat 1600 WOR R. Veronica 106.5 West Point PA [NEW] http://www.radioveronica.us Sat 1600 WOR CJOY http://www.cjoyinternetradio.com [NEW] Sat 1730 WOR WRN to North America (including Sirius Satellite Radio channel 115) Sat 2100 WOR WRMI 7385 Sun 0230 WOR WWCR 5070 Sun 0300 WOR WBCQ 9330-CLSB 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 1300 WOR KRFP-LP Moscow ID 92.5 Sun 1400 WOR WRMI 7385 [NEW] Sun 1730 WOR WRN1 to North America (including Sirius Satellite Radio channel 115) Sun 1900 WOR RNI Mon 0300 WOR WBCQ 9330-CLSB Mon 0330 WOR WSUI Iowa City IA 910 Mon 0415 WOR WBCQ 7415 [usually closer to 0418-] Mon 1600 WOR WBCQ after hours Mon 1800 WOR RFPI [repeated 4-hourly thru 1400 Tue] Tue 1600 WOR WBCQ after hours Tue 2330 WOR WBCQ 7415 [usually] Wed 0930 WOR WWCR 9985 Wed 1600 WOR WBCQ after hours Latest edition of this schedule version, with hotlinks to station sites and audio, is at: http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html WRN ON DEMAND: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL]: http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html WORLD OF RADIO Extra 60 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/worx60h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/worx60h.rm (WOR Extra 60 is the same as COM 05-06, with WOR opening added to hi) WORLD OF RADIO Extra 60 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/com0506.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/com0506.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/com0506.html WORLD OF RADIO Extra 60 in true SW sound of Alex`s mp3 keep checking http://www.dxprograms.net/ == due to poor propagation could not record at 2200 Wednesday WORLD OF RADIO Extra 60 downloads in studio-quality mp3: [Unfortunately this site +podcast were down as of August 26!] (high) http://www.obriensweb.com/worx60h.mp3 (low) http://www.obriensweb.com/worx60.mp3 WORLD OF RADIO PODCAST: www.obriensweb.com/wor.xml (currently available: Extra 58, 1281, 1282, 1283, Extra 59, 1284, Extra 60) WORLD OF RADIO ON KLC, but not just yet: I represent KLC, Lewis and Clark College internet radio http://www.klcradio.net and we're very interested in picking up World of Radio. We're planning on airing the show on Thursdays at 11:00 am PDT [1800 UT] starting the 15th of September. The webcast is down at the moment we were only streaming in quicktime and we're working on an mp3 stream. We'll be up and going the week of the 12th. Thanks for the quick response, we're looking forward to carrying your show (Kjell Schroder, KLC Programming Director, Aug 25, via DXLD) ** ANTARCTICA. ANTÁRTIDA, envié ayer un mail a LRA 36, Radio Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel, comunicándoles lo bién que los había escuchado el 24 de Agosto y este fue su respuesta, en la que me dicen que siguen trabajando con el transmisor de emergencia y que para que envíen certificado QSL se debe adjuntar al informe lo suficiente para los gastos de retorno. Esta es la política que seguían ya el año pasado, que se debía enviar 1 I.R.C. y contraria a las noticias que habían salido de que no confirmaban los informes. "Estimado Manuel: Nos alegra recibir su mail y le comunicamos que todavia estamos transmitiendo con el equipo de emergencia. Nos alegra mucho que tenga tan buena señal desde su país; queríamos comentarle que si necesita que le enviemos un Certificado de Recepción, nos tendría que enviar el gasto del envío, ya que no contamos con los medios necesarios para hacerlo. Le agradecemos mucho que siempre esté en contacto con nosotros y tenga tan buena señal; lo saludamos con un caluroso abrazo. Lo saludan atentamente Claudia Burk Andrea Peñaloza Stella Romero Guillermo Mamani Locutoras y operador de ¨RINCON DE PATRIA¨. LRA36" (via Manuel Méndez, Spain, Aug 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. ADJUST YOUR CLOCKS! IT'S ATOMIC TIME By Stephen Cauchi, Science Reporter, August 27, 2005 http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2005/08/26/1124563029415.html Here's more on the Australian switch to UTC from GMT (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** BAHAMAS. I have Jamz 100 on 100.3 from the Bahamas at 5:52 pm [EDT = 2152 UT] (Adam Rivers, MA, Aug 26, WTFDA via DXLD) ** BELARUS [non]. BELARUS/POLAND: POLISH MINISTRY WELCOMES EU FUNDS FOR RADIO BROADCASTS TO BELARUS | Excerpt from report by Polish news agency PAP Warsaw, 25 August: According to the [Polish] Ministry of Foreign Affairs [MSZ], the European Commission decision to grant German Deutsche Welle radio extra EU funds for broadcasts to Belarus is a "step in the right direction". The European Commission reported on Wednesday [24 August] that it would allocate 138,000 euros for Radio Deutsche Welle to broadcast programmes via radio and the internet to Belarus. At first, programmes would be broadcast in Russian, one of the official languages in Belarus. Broadcasts in Belarusian are also planned later on. "We see this as a step in the right direction," Aleksander Checko, Foreign Ministry spokesman, commented on the European Commission decision. Speaking to PAP today [25 August], he said that the "commission has so far not been involved in supporting this kind of initiative - this is the first example of such an action". The spokesman expressed the hope that further similar initiatives would be taken by the European Commission. In his view, "Poland should make efforts to obtain such support". He emphasized that "non-governmental organizations or other bodies which could get involved in broadcasting to Belarus should make these efforts". In Checko's view, "this European Commission decision should not be treated as a competition with other ideas of setting up radio stations broadcasting to Belarus from Poland or Lithuania". Checko thinks that the "money the European Commission granted to Deutsche Welle is incommensurate with the costs needed when setting up a new radio station". He said that "this is the sum that allows an increase of air time for programmes for Belarus". On the other hand, he said, "if we are talking about a new radio station, then money of an entirely different calibre is needed". Asked about the language of Deutsche Welle broadcasts for Belarusians, he emphasized that both the European Commission and Deutsche Welle "realize what the situation in Belarus is and that Russian is not the only language used there". At the beginning of August, Prime Minister Marek Belka made a decision to allocate 950,000 zlotys [289,300 US dollars] from the budget reserve to support Polish non-governmental organizations working towards the setting up of an independent radio station which would broadcast in Belarusian. The money is to be transferred to the MSZ which is to grant it to organizations involved in the setting up of the radio. [Passage omitted]. Source: PAP news agency, Warsaw, in Polish 1917 gmt 25 Aug 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. A las 2200, la mayoría de las emisoras brasileñas transmiten, en cadena, el programa de noticias "A Voz do Brasil". El día 24-08, de todas las emisoras escuchadas, las únicas que no transmitían este programa eran Rádio Bandeirantes, 11925, que transmitían un partido de fútbol y Rádio Cultura de São Paulo, por los 17815 y 9615 kHz que tenía un programa propio de noticias y comentarios. 17815, Radio Cultura, São Paulo, 2204-2225, 24-08. No transmitían el programa "A Voz do Brasil". Locutor y locutora, portugués, "São as sete horas e dezoito minutos", "Rádio Cultura", "Sete horas e 19 minutos nos estúdios da Rádio Cultura". 24322. En paralelo con 9615 kHz con SINPO 34333 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Grundig Satellit 500, antena de cable, 10 metros, orientada a Centro- Sudamérica, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Satellite radio plans jeopardized: See INTERNATIONAL VACUUM ** CANADA. CJLX Belleville testing on 91.3 --- With apologies to FM DX-ers, who consider local/regional stations pollution ;-).... The station I manage here in Belleville, CJLX-FM, is now conducting test broadcasts at 91.3 MHz. This is the culmination of what seems like the longest upgrade project in broadcast history! It's been about four years since we started laying the groundwork to upgrade from the present 50 watts on 92.3. The new transmitter is running 2.9 kW from the 300 foot level of a commercial tower on the Oak Hill NW of Belleville, near the village of Stirling. It's a beautiful site with a clear shot in all directions. The primary coverage is from Colbourne in the west to Napanee in the east, highway 7 in the north, south throughout Prince Edward County. I'd be interested in receiving any reception reports within, or especially beyond that area. Those close to Toronto will have a hard time with CJRT at 91.1, but we should be somewhat audible to the Cobourg/Port Hope area. Right now the test audio consists of a four-hour loop of modern rock music with test announcements about every fourth song. If you hear it, drop an e-mail to: cjlx @ loyalistmail.ca Thanks & good listening! (Greg Schatzmann, Belleville ON, Aug 26, ODXA via DXLD) Greg is, of course, better known as the ODXA reporter on DX Partyline (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. Re CJML-580, I think they would like to get permission for other special events but so far only had it for 2 weeks at VE Day and two weeks at VJ Day (Morris Sorensen, Winnipeg MB, Aug 24, ABDX via DXLD) ** CANADA. The stripped down CBC Radio 1 Programme schedule is here. http://www.cbc.ca/programguide/sched_radioone.pdf Note music from 10 pm to 1 am but no indication of what is happening between 1 am and 6 am. Can anyone say what CBC is doing overnight? Are they off air? 73 (Steve Whitt, Aug 24, MWC via DXLD) ** CANADA. So what is RCI broadcasting in its USA releases nowadays during the strike? As I look at the CBC domestic schedule I see a mishmash of substitute offerings at the times of day when CBCR1 programs would go out over RCI to the USA on the afternoon release and on the hard-to-hear [sic] evening release. I am normally not near a radio when these services are on...has anyone built a list of what's on & when? Is it whatever the relevant R1 feeds are at the time? Thanks... (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, 2016 UT Aug 26, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) I was listening to 17765 around 2130 and it was a classical music show, maybe from R2? Could not catch the closing at 2159 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Reception has been so poor that I only have partial information on this. I have heard 'Ideas' in the evenings at 9 - 10 PM Eastern [0100- 0200 UT] and I think the afternoon time slot has had Disk Drive. RCI really needs to do something about their evening broadcast...the signal is terrible 75% of the time at least in the Eastern USA (Sandy Finlayson, PA, swprograms via DXLD) "Ideas" on shortwave, eh? Cool -- actually fulfills a longstanding wish of mine!! (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA, ibid.) Me too (gh, DXLD) I quite agree! It is one of the few good things that have come out of the current CBC mess. It really is a very sad situation and it doesn't look as if either side is willing to give very much (Sandy, ibid.) During weekday mornings, I've been hearing "Sounds Like Canada" the first two hours (with "Outfront" taking up the last 15 min., with an older special series on the third hour. Yesterday, e.g. was "Workology". (John Figliozzi, ibid.) RCI has NOT posted an updated lockout program schedule, just the one which went into effect July 9 well before the changes, via http://www.rcinet.ca/rci/en/horaires.shtml or specifically http://www.rcinet.ca/rci/PDF/A05_SW_24h_3.pdf (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. CBC Strike --- CBUT-TV-2 has had their color bar on all night since the strike began. I phoned to suggest that this be turned off in order to save energy; I mentioned that Channel 2 was completely off air before. Perhaps other CBC-TV English stations are also showing their color bar after programming finishes. 73. Good DXing (Dave Sinclair, Vancouver, B.C., Aug 25, WTFDA via DXLD) Lansing State Journal TV listings note CBET-9 carrying the BBC World report (not Canada Now nor the National) at 6 PM and 10 PM [EDT = UT - 4] for ½-hour each. (WKAR-23 also carries BBC World at 6 PM, and BBCAmerica has the same report at almost the same time --- but with a commercial break inside.) Listed tonight following the report on CBET: a Coronation Street special at 6:30 PM, followed at 7:30 PM by the regular Coronation Street [which, for those who don't know, is a production of another British TV outlet...ITV, IIRC]. CBET-9 is not on our cable system in Lansing, but is in East Lansing, Okemos, and Meridian Township (and surrounding area). (Keith K. Smith, MI, ibid.) Same thing [as CBUT] with CBMT-6 since the transmitter is controlled from Toronto (usually using touch tone signals to shut it off remotely). CBFT-2 goes off the air as usual, since the strike is outside the province of Quebec and Moncton NB (different union here). CBMT-6 still carries its local "Canada now" news but at 6 PM instead of 6:30. One more note: last Saturday night, CFL Football on CBC (Argos vs Eskimos) was shown WITHOUT any anchor/commentator, just live stadium sound! They did the same thing with hockey a couple of years ago when the French side was on strike. And in that case, it was actually better without the anchors! :) 73, (Charles, St-Lambert, QC, Gauthier, ibid.) Viz.: ** CANADA [and non]. CBC LOCKOUT AN EYE-OPENER FOR TV MOTORMOUTHS CHRIS ZELKOVICH, Toronto Star, Aug. 26, 2005. 01:00 AM http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_PrintFriendly&c=Article&cid=1125006613411&call_pageid=968867503640 Let's not give the CBC any credit for its commentary-free football broadcasts, basically because they were born out of the kind of desperation that arises when you lock out your staff. But the network might inadvertently help revolutionize sports broadcasting. That doesn't mean other networks will air games without announcers, not even after they calculate the cost savings. But we can hope that somebody might learn from this; mainly that the public wants less talk. One of the fascinating things that came out of last Saturday's announcer-free game was the number of viewers who praised the lack of verbiage. A lot preferred nothing more than game sounds. This is perfectly understandable. When I polled readers a few years ago on their likes and dislikes, the top complaint by far was that announcers talked too much. But commentary-free games really aren't preferable. As last weekend's broadcast proved, and no doubt tomorrow's will again, words are an integral part of sports broadcasts. In addition to explaining the things viewers can't see, such as why receivers are getting open and why they're not, a voice was needed to comment on coaching decisions and the like. And it would have been nice to hear Chris Walby say something like, ``I can't believe my eyes," when Edmonton foolishly conceded a single late in the game. Announcers enhance the broadcast and, in the case of baseball, give it life. But in most cases, the basics are all we need. We shouldn't be subjected to hearing about Aunt Harriet's bunion surgery or, as was the case in a recent New York Mets telecast, which Beatle was the best. I honestly think that many announcers believe the TV listings for an Argos game read, ``Listen to the announcers exchange witty comments and state the obvious as two CFL teams battle for first place." The constant urge to fill the air with words leads to the kind of thing that happened in yesterday's Jays-Yankees game. After Jays starter Gustavo Chacin gave up four runs in the first inning, analyst Pat Tabler told viewers, ``That's not the way he wanted to start the game." You think? Tabler had plenty of valuable insights during the game, so why would he say something so obvious? The answer is that he's like most broadcasters: he thinks he has to fill air time. Good announcers can add excitement to a game, but they can also suck the life out of it by chattering endlessly. Let's hope they all take a look at the reaction to the CBC broadcasts and come to the conclusion that viewers want a little more peace and quiet. Yeah, and there will be peace in the Middle East tomorrow, too. But a fella can dream, can't he? (via Fred Waterer, ON, DXLD) ** CANADA. LONG LIST OF ISSUES REMAIN UNADDRESSED BY CMG While media reports have implied that this labour disruption is about a single issue, this is simply not the case. After 15 months of bargaining with the CMG, there are still 40 unresolved issues on the table. Many of these could and should have been dealt with through bargaining since May 2004. A number of the 40 issues are important and fundamental matters that require focused, committed discussion with the CMG. Here are just some of the 40 outstanding items on the table , which must be settled before we can get back to creating exceptional programming for Canadians. Outside of the issue of Employee Status/Contract Employees, other significant unresolved issues include: Workforce Adjustment and Demonstrated Occupational Qualifications Programming Commitment Contracting Out/Sale of Business Technological Change Work Week / Hours of Work / Overtime Turnaround On-Call Hiring & Promotion Assignment Salary Provisions Job Evaluation Temporary Employees Freelancers Corporation Seniority Training and Professional Development Producers' Authority Many other issues also remain outstanding including: Transfer and Relocation, various types of leaves, Posting of Schedules, Posting of Vacancies, Foreign Correspondents, Severance Pay at Retirement, Internships, plus various obsolete pieces of language and appendices that need to be removed from the agreement. CBC HAS WORKED HARD TO ADDRESS MANY CMG ISSUES Throughout this round of bargaining, CBC's goal has been to craft a collective agreement that balances the needs of our employees and the CMG, while supporting our goals as the national public broadcaster. CBC has worked hard to address a myriad of CMG's main bargaining issues. CBC has already committed to many positive developments for employees including Work Life Balance Issues (Alternate Work Arrangements, Workload, Deferred Salary Leave Plan, and Part Time) and Staff Development issues such as Skills and Experience Inventory, Performance Management and Staff Development, Outside Activities, and Probation. CBC has also agreed to improvements such as Shift Differential, Sales Vehicle Allowance, Holidays and Holiday Pay, Bereavement Leave improvements, Health and Wellness and Health Care Costs and Meals and Breaks. Plus significant changes and commitments have been made to address Harassment, Equity, and Respect in the Workplace. Click here for more detail on these benefits for our employees. LET`S GET BACK TO THE TABLE No deals can be made without both parties talking to each other. We need to get the CMG back to the negotiating table or these 40 unresolved issues will keep us all from getting back to the real work we should be doing: public broadcasting for Canadians (CBC Negotiations site Aug 25 via DXLD) THE CMB POSITION: LATEST NEWS ON NEGOTIATIONS/THE LOCKOUT – Friday August 26, 2005 http://www.cmg.ca/cbcbranchnegsupdates.asp First of all, you should know that the Canadian Media Guild and CBC management continue to maintain contact. The Guild is also encouraged that the federal Minister of Labour has indicated a willingness to help the parties and is considering the appointment of a special mediator. We remain hopeful of a quick resumption of talks. But it’s not as simple as sitting down at a table. Unless we have reason to believe that we have any chance of success at reaching a deal on a new collective agreement, a return to talks would be an exercise in futility and could possibly make a bad situation even worse. We have told management repeatedly that we are ready to address issues of operational flexibility where legitimate problems can be identified. If both sides are willing to tackle issues outside the confines of the proposals on the table, there is a chance for agreement. We have asked for assurance that the Corporation is prepared to move away from its insistence that entire classifications of employees be hired on contract. So far, management has steadfastly refused to provide it. CBC management put 5,500 Guild members out on the street to get its way; only CBC management can alter its demands. Thanks to all of you for your support on the picket lines and beyond. For more information, please get in touch with the Guild guild @ interlog.com at 416-591-5333 or 1-800-465-4149 (CMG via DXLD) ** CANADA. The kangaroo is back! --- For lack of anything else to report (although tropo conditions are improving), Kangaroo TV is back this weekend for the Montreal Molson Indy (Champ car, Atlantic, Transam, etc) using UHF channel 51 with scrambled picture (screen divided in 4), and clear comments in French and English, which can also be heard on FM at 89.9 (in bad stereo with hum!). Also, 100.1 has an open mono carrier for now, Friday 13:30 EDT. In the past channel 56 has also been used by Kangaroo TV. Nothing there right now. Has anyone else seen this in their area? Indianapolis, Denver, Toronto, Vancouver, to name a few??? "Kangaroo.TV - named because its users wear the wireless device in a pouch around their necks - is an interactive viewing system that enables spectators at a sporting event to see and hear what they want, when they want it, on a four inch LCD TFT transflective colour screen. The kit receives scrambled, realtime multiple video and audio channel broadcasts and is optimised to handle four video and 64 audio streams at any one time, allowing fans to literally hop from feed to feed and take control of their event experience." From http://sportandtechnology.com 73, (Charles Gauthier, St-Lambert, QC, Aug 26, WTFDA via DXLD) ** CHINA. Frequency change for China Radio International in Bulgarian: 2030-2057 NF 9720 KAS 500 kW / 308 deg, ex 6145 ISS 500 kW / 098 deg \\ 7160 (Observer, Bulgaria, Aug 26 via DXLD) ** CHINA. ANALYSIS: CHINA PULLS PLUG ON TV JOINT VENTURE WITH NEWS CORP | Text of editorial analysis by Peter Feuilherade of BBC Monitoring Media Services on 26 August The Chinese authorities have shut down a joint venture between Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation and a satellite TV station in China, as Beijing seeks to curb foreign influences in local programming, A deal allowing News Corp to broadcast Channel V and STAR TV through the Qinghai Satellite TV Station in northwestern China fell foul of regulators nearly three months ago, an unnamed News Corp executive told Agence France-Presse news agency on 25 August. The venture had operated for six months and could reach more than 100 million viewers in the provinces of Qinghai, Liaoning and Xinjiang, as well as Chongqing and Beijing municipalities. Programmes had been carried every evening between 7 and 9 p.m. [= UT 1100-1300] The joint venture included Qinghai Satellite's broadcast rights operator, the film and TV department of the Central Committee of the China Communist Youth League, which is a large government organization. But the deal allegedly violated regulations when broadcasts started before winning final approval from senior authorities, the News Corp executive told AFP, adding: "Money was poured in but it did not work out." The Beijing-based Economic Observer reported that News Corp had paid a total of 60m US dollars for the deal. Crackdown on foreign media According to the Wall Street Journal, the venture pushed the regulatory limits of foreign involvement in Chinese television. The paper said the project's failure was a result of the withdrawal of key political support, plus a wider government crackdown on foreign media in China. In mid-July, China's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) issued a regulation banning partnerships with foreign broadcasters. And according to new government regulations reported on 11 August by the official Chinese news agency Xinhua, China decided not to permit any more overseas satellite television channels to land on its mainland and not to allow new foreign investment in the country's news media. Media analysts say the measures represent a step back from more liberal rules unveiled in 2004 which appeared to herald greater foreign programming on China's airwaves. However, News Corp still has a licence to operate in Guangdong Province in southern China, as well as luxury hotels and other designated complexes. News Corp's current presence in China includes the Xing Kong Wei Shi channel and a stake in Hong Kong-based Phoenix Satellite Holdings. Over 30 foreign television satellite broadcasters are licensed to operate in China. The major foreign players who currently have broadcasting rights include BBC World, Time Warner's CNN and Viacom's MTV. Some foreign media companies are also allowed to sell limited blocks of programing to state-owned channels. These players will be hoping they do not also fall victim to the current moves by Beijing to rein in cooperation with foreign broadcasters. Meanwhile media freedom watchdogs, among them the Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists, warn that the Chinese government is stepping up its censorship of material that communist leaders worry constitutes politically and socially dangerous influences. Source: BBC Monitoring research 26 Aug 05 (via DXLD) ** CUBA. Next time you hear the friendly voices on RHC, chances are talking about the Five Cuban Political Prisoners Unjustly Held in the United States, remember this: WATCHDOG SLAMS IMPRISONMENT OF INDEPENDENT JOURNALIST | Text of press release by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on 25 August New York, 25 August: Cuba has jailed a second independent journalist who covered an unprecedented opposition meeting in May. Albert Santiago Du Bouchet Hernández was arrested on 6 August, tried three days later and handed a one-year jail term without the knowledge of his family, who found out about his detention only after he smuggled a note out of prison. He joins 24 independent Cuban journalists jailed for their work. He is director of the independent news agency Havana Press, which sends reports to the Miami-based website Nueva Prensa Cubana. Du Bouchet Hernández was detained on a reporting trip on 6 August in Artemisa, 38 miles (60 km) from Havana, according to his wife Bárbara Pérez Araya. He was charged with "disrespecting" the local chief of police and resisting arrest. He was brought before a court in Artemisa, sentenced to one year in prison and sent to the Melena del Sur prison in Habana Province. Pérez Araya told CPJ the authorities did not notify the family of his detention. Her husband managed to get word to her on 14 August. She visited him in jail yesterday for two hours. Her husband said he did not have access to a lawyer before or during the trial, that the charges were fabricated and that his trial was "a sham". Like independent journalist Óscar Mario González, held without trial since 22 July 2005, Du Bouchet Hernández covered the congress of the Assembly to Promote Civil Society (APSC) in May 2005. The two-day gathering, unprecedented in Cuba, brought together 200 opposition activists and guests to discuss ways to create a democracy in Cuba. Pérez Araya said state security agents warned Du Bouchet Hernández in May and July to stop work or face imprisonment. They ordered him to appear at a police station on the opening day of the APSC meeting but he ignored the summons and covered the conference. He was fined for his action. Neither Pérez Araya nor her husband has received a copy of the court ruling. She said her husband has not been able to sleep well in jail. She took him sedatives and other medication but he was only allowed to receive headache pills. "Despite repeated international calls, the Cuban government continues its crackdown against independent journalists," said CPJ Executive Director Ann Cooper. "We condemn Du Bouchet Hernández's imprisonment on trumped-up charges and urge authorities to release him immediately and to stop intimidating the independent press." Source: Committee to Protect Journalists press release, New York, in English 25 Aug 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CUBA. ``Último territorio esclavo en América. Patria o suerte, ¡huiremos!`` Another case of Fidelogorrhea from RHC, Aug 26 at 2312 on 11760. This was so important that it blew away relay of Venezuela, and furthermore had simultaneous English translation, with Spanish in background, on 12000 and 9550! MEGO and I have no idea what the subject was, if any, but checked further and found no signals on any other usual frequencies on 6, 9, 11, 13, 15 or 17 MHz; but at 2324, 9600 was up with Fidel also in Spanish, only (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. WITH LOSS OF A BLIMP OVER KEYS, TV MARTÍ TAKES ANOTHER HIT --- By DAVID ADAMS, Times Latin America Correspondent Published August 26, 2005 http://www.sptimes.com/2005/08/26/news_pf/Worldandnation/With_loss_of_a_blimp_.shtml MIAMI - Controversy and ridicule have long marred the effort of the U.S. government to broadcast uncensored news into Cuba. Now it's really taking a beating - thanks to hurricane season. When Hurricane Dennis passed near the Florida Keys on July 9, among the damage were two large U.S. Air Force blimps, one of which is used to transmit TV Martí, the government station broadcasting to Cuba. Known as "Fat Alberts" after the cartoon character, the blimps are burly, remote-controlled balloons tethered in the sky at 10,000 feet over an Air Force facility in the Florida Keys. One handles the TV Martí signal, while the other is part of the continental U.S. air defense network, or NORAD, using radar to monitor suspected drug flights and other potentially harmful activity. "The warning for the storm came up late and we couldn't deflate them in time," said Sgt. Patrick Murphy, a spokesman for the Air Combat Command in Virginia, which operates the blimps. The helium-filled aerostats are so light they are hard to control in strong winds. Maintenance staffers were able to remove the valuable payload from both blimps - radar equipment and the TV Martí transmitter - before Dennis arrived. But winds of 113 mph shredded the blimps' fabric skin. While Air Force spokesmen say they hope to quickly replace the NORAD balloon, it could take months to get TV Martí fully operational again. One of the balloons is being examined by the manufacturer to see if it can be repaired. There are only eight Fat Alberts in the U.S. aerostat fleet. They cost about $1.3-million new. "There's no time frame, but the last time we lost one it took many, many months to get a new one," said Joe O'Connell, spokesman for the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, which runs TV Martí as well as its radio counterpart. The OCB is a branch of the government's broadcasting agency, which also runs Voice of America. The loss of the blimp will drastically cut TV Martí's 30 hours of weekly broadcasts. For now, its signal is broadcast by satellite four hours a week. For another four hours every Saturday afternoon - weather permitting - a modified U.S. military airplane, known as Commando Solo, also transmits TV Martí's signal from a mobile platform over the Straits of Florida. Severely reduced transmission time is unlikely to affect operations at TV Martí's Miami offices. Staff members are used to their work not being seen because Cuba has successfully jammed the signal since it began broadcasting in 1990. Radio Martí is more widely heard on the island and is not affected by the blimp problems as its signal is sent from another location [s]. Critics here and in Cuba call the station, "No se ve TV" ("No see TV.") The station includes regular news bulletins covering international events as well as topics of special interest to Cubans, current affairs debates and cultural shows. It was five weeks before the media noticed that its signal was off the air, an indication of how few people watch. While the blimp transmission is easily blocked, the signal from the C-130 plane is much harder to jam because it is constantly moving. The satellite broadcasts also have good penetration, but to no effect because satellite dishes are banned in Cuba. TV Martí's $11-million annual budget has been challenged in Congress as a particularly wasteful bit of pork-barrel politics for Miami's influential Cuban exiles. Critics of the United States' Cuba policy in Miami and in Congress have also attacked its programming for political bias in violation of its official mandate for fair and accurate reporting. But TV Martí's supporters say it plays an important role in bringing democratic values to the island. Cuba says the broadcasts violate international law protecting the island's sovereignty, a charge the United States denies. Cuba claims the broadcasts interfere with local frequencies. Cuban exile groups in Miami have lobbied Congress to improve transmissions, and are seeking $10-million to purchase a C-130 exclusively for Cuba broadcasts. This is not the first time bad weather has damaged the Fat Alberts. One aerostat broke loose from its tether during a storm at Cudjoe Key in 1984. A Navy jet had to shoot it down. After that, experts built remote control devices to guide the blimps. A few years later a TV Martí aerostat broke loose and drifted west. Technicians in a helicopter gave chase, dumping the blimp's helium until it collapsed in the Everglades. (c) Copyright 2003 St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved (via Mike Cooper, Terry Krueger, DXLD) It was ONLY TWO WEEKS before the ``media`` noticed, i.e. the Key West Citizen via DXLD. But it isn`t really news until reported by The Times --- and previously by the Herald (gh, DXLD) ** ECUADOR. See SA`UDI ARABIA. Then I go to the DRM Forums and do a new search on 15375, finally uncovering a recent post that someone else has noticed DRM there as I have been reporting for weeks and weeks (gh, DXLD) Weak DRM signal on 15375 kHz --- Hi all, at 1400 UT a very weak DRM signal on 15375 kHz, max. 6 dB. Maybe a test transmission from HCJB in Ecuador? Due to a strong AM station on 15370 kHz no label and no audio. Anyone who can verify this observation? Equipment: Winradio WR- G303I, magnetic longwire balun (12,5 m), DX-10 active antenna, http://www.drm-dx.de 73, (Klaus ---, Bad Wildungen, Germany, DRM Software Radio Forums 29-07-2005 03:11 PM via DXLD) Greetings Klaus, I just returned from vacations and read your note. I cannot confirm your reception of HCJB on that date, but I will say that it is possible it was us. Although we do not have regular transmissions on DRM at the moment, we do run our transmitter up from time to time to make sure that it is still operational. I would be a bit surprised if you received us in Europe though. Our transmitter is only 4 kW of DRM power, so it is not very powerful. I will be sure to let the forum know when we do start regular transmissions in DRM though. Take care, (Doug Weber, HCJB, HC7AW, 16-08-2005 06:45 PM, ibid.) Doesn`t HCJB keep a log of its own transmissions? (gh, DXLD) ** EGYPT. 1106.772 kHz, Batrah, AUG 23 2325 - het and bits of audio almost overtaking Spain-1107 (Mark Connelly, Rowley, MA, USA (GC= 42.744 N / 70.830 W) (salt-marsh: Stackyard Road - Nelson Island, Parker River NWR) Receivers: Drake R8A, Palstar R30 Antennas: cardioid array on roof of car = Vertical: 3 m whip (MFJ-1954) to DX Engineering AVA-1 buffer amplifier; Loop: broadband, in vertical plane, square, 2 m per side, to 1:1 transformer to DX Engineering RPA-1 line amplifier, peak east-west, null north-south. Accessories: DXP-6 phasing unit, HCDX via DXLD) ** FRANCE. Additional transmissions for RFI in French via Issoudun 500 kW / 185 degrees to W Africa: 0600-0657 on 13695 (43443), QRM Radio Bulgaria in Spanish till 0630 on 13700 0900-1057 on 15315 (55444) 1500-1557 on 15605 (45554) 1900-2057 on 11615 (55544) 2100-2157 on 9485 (55555) (Observer, Bulgaria, Aug 26 via DXLD) ** GERMANY. 177 | Deutschlandfunk Berlin, Oranienburg, AUG 24 0023 - classical music; very good (Mark Connelly, Rowley, MA, USA (GC= 42.744 N / 70.830 W) (salt-marsh: Stackyard Road - Nelson Island, Parker River NWR) Receivers: Drake R8A, Palstar R30 Antennas: cardioid array on roof of car = Vertical: 3 m whip (MFJ-1954) to DX Engineering AVA-1 buffer amplifier; Loop: broadband, in vertical plane, square, 2 m per side, to 1:1 transformer to DX Engineering RPA-1 line amplifier, peak east-west, null north-south. Accessories: DXP-6 phasing unit, HCDX via DXLD) Next time you hear it: 177 kHz reportedly to go DRM --- Information from http://forum.myphorum.de/read.php?f=8773&i=206755&t=206755&nr=26 not further researched so far: Zehlendorf 177 kHz will be *permanently* switched to DRM mode on Aug 29 around 0800. Berlin-Britz 855 kHz will be used for a DRM service of Deutschlandfunk (instead of Deutschlandradio Berlin). 990 kHz will be kept in AM mode and in future carry the special programs (ex-177/855; comment: but of course will not be an adequate substitute for the sea weather forecasts). Since yesterday a DRM signal with RBB Radio Eins programming on 1485 kHz is reported. It so happened that I was in Berlin today and did some bandscanning, so I noted this signal as well, of course without any possibility to find out about the content. At the Wuhlheide forest I nulled the signal at an East/West direction. This would point at RBB's Stallupöner Allee mediumwave station. Actually I was in Berlin for an auction of the equipment of the "old" Radio Hundert,6. The former Hundert,6 studios have been entirely dismantled, the current program from another location is produced on behalf of the bankrupt Hundert,6 Medien GmbH. This to keep following up on this story, in case it is of interest for you. By the way, in the end I did not attend the auction, since I felt I could not bear it. Good night, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Aug 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Deutschlandradio now officially announced that 177 and 855 kHz will switch to DRM on Monday: http://www.dradio.de/wir/presse/410934/ Apparently the special programs will be kept on 177 also after the conversion and otherwise go out on 990 kHz, judging from a note for Oct 3 on the otherwise not yet updated http://www.dradio.de/dkultur/sendungen/dkultur-mw-lw/ page and an explicit mention of the sea weather forecasts. (Perhaps 177 will switch back to AM for these programs, but I would not expect this.) Have a nice weekend, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Aug 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [non]. RUSSIA (non): Additional transmissions for Deutsche Welle in German/English in DRM mode: 0400-0600 on 9690 MSK 040 kW / 260 deg to WeEu 1900-2300 on 7515 MSK 040 kW / 260 deg to WeEu (Observer, Bulgaria, Aug 26 via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Additional transmission of Bible Voice Broadcasting Network via DTK T-Systems: 1600-1630 on 13820 JUL 100 kW / 100 deg Thu to WeAs in Persian from Aug. 11 (Observer, Bulgaria, Aug 26 via DXLD) See also RUSSIA ** GREECE. Again, nothing on 9420 from Avlis 3 at 0000-0400 last night. According to your A05 transmission schedule, it is listed for 0000-1000 and 1300-2400 UT at an azimuth of 323 degrees. Perhaps the VOA-donated transmitter is having a problem and is out of service temporarily. All five frequencies were dead last night on the 0000- 0400 to North America; only 7475 had a SINPO of 35333 at 0000 UT. Probably caused by the major solar storm that was working again last night. Regards, (JOHN BABBIS, Silver Spring, MD, USA, Aug 26, daily report to VOG, via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. Strike goes on at AIR Ranchi ABHIJEET MUKHERJEE http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050825/asp/jamshedpur/story_5153860.asp Ranchi, Aug. 24: Work at Doordarshan (DD) and All India Radio (AIR) continues to suffer with the striking employees showing no signs of ending their agitation. Around 2,000 members of the Jharkhand-Bihar wing of the Akashvani and Doordarshan Administrative Staff Association (Adasa) are taking part in the nationwide strike that started earlier this month. The striking lot, which wants a hike in salary in keeping with the Prasar Bharati norms, is also aggrieved because employees in the programming and engineering sections have been getting the revised pay since 1999. The Prasar Bharati was set up in 1996 while the pay hike came into effect three years later. But the administrative employees of Doordarshan and AIR are yet to reap the benefits of the revision despite their protests for the past six years. "We have been working under the banner of Prasar Bharati for the past few years. The contracts and letterheads are all in the name of Prasar Bharati but we are not being paid according to the Prasar Bharati norms," rued Sanjay Kumar, a clerk. The staff members also complained that the existing pay structure was so flawed that a qualified staff drew the same salary as a Grade IV employee. "We have all come through the Staff Selection Commission but are being discriminated against. On the other hand, cleaners with limited qualification (matriculation) get the same amount of money as we do," argued Sandeep Singh, a senior clerk. The agitation programme includes lunchtime demonstration, walkout in the afternoon session, "sign and quit" in the forenoon, daylong dharna, pen-down strike and mass casual leave. After the current strike comes to an end on August 31, the association will go for a hunger strike from September 1, said Manoj Kumar Poddar, secretary of the Ranchi chapter. The state has AIR stations in Hazaribagh, Jamshedpur, Daltonganj and Ranchi, besides a low-power transmitter in Chaibasa. DD, on the other hand, has stations in Daltonganj, Jamshedpur and Ranchi with low-power transmission centres in Chaibasa, Hazaribagh and Gumla. Ranchi has 29 AIR workers while DD has 17 in its administrative section. As a result of the strike, daily operations of the two media entities have been adversely affected. Regular functions like booking artistes, signing contracts, attending court cases and payment of cheques and outstation bills, among others, have suffered. Besides, getting advertisements has also become difficult due to the agitation. According to an estimate, AIR alone stands to lose Rs 20,000-50,000 per day while the amount is more than double in the case of DD. "More than 600 contracts are signed every month by AIR, which means that 600 new programmes are assured for a month. That is getting hampered now. The situation will take a severe turn once we strike work completely after August 31. Akashvani airs more than 14 hours of programme every day on its primary channel and generates a handsome amount of revenue through the same. Due to the strike, AIR is forced to repeat programmes as recording work has also been affected. The programme executives do handle some of the work, but it's rare," said Ranveer Singh, an employee of AIR (via Alokesh Gupta, India, Aug 27, dx_india yg via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. NEW SIRIUS RADIO CANADA WEBSITE URL is http://www.siriusradiocanada.com Nothing more than a skeleton at this point, but this does signal Sirius' intention to participate in the Canadian market (Richard Cuff, / Allentown, PA, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) This is a good sign. If memory serves, the CRTC told Sirius they needed to increase Canadian Content. I wonder how they are planning on doing this? (Sandy Finlayson, PA, ibid.) It ain't over yet. Liberal MPs from Québec are protesting the CRTC decision on Satellite radio to get it reversed. See below Entente entre XM Satellite et Télésat Canada http://www.radio-canada.ca/radio/techno/commentaires-63155.shtml RADIO SATELLITE: LE FEU VERT DU CRTC CONTESTÉ Les députés québécois du gouvernement Martin pressent le conseil des ministres d'annuler le feu vert du Conseil de la radiodiffusion et des télécommunications canadiennes (CRTC) --- la radio satellite au pays. http://radio-canada.ca/culture/modele-document.asp?section=nouveauxmedias&prov=reportage&idRegion=1&idEntite=3699 (via Dan Say, BC, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) In your opinion, how likely are the various challenges to succeed? Is there a date within which the CRTC must decide on the merit of a challenge? (Richard cuff / Allentown, PA, ibid.) Not likely at all, but there could be a delay in the rollout. This isn't being covered in the maudit anglais presse, except maybe Broadcaster mag, so hit the http://google.ca/news?ned=fr_ca and paste texts into babelfish.altavista.com for rough-and-ready translations (Dan Say, ibid.) O o: OTTAWA PREPARING TO ASK CRTC TO RESCIND SATELLITE RADIO LICENCES: sources --- By SYLVAIN LAROCQUE, 2005-08-26 21:05:00 http://money.canoe.ca/News/Sectors/Media/2005/08/26/1189810-cp.html WINNIPEG (CP) - The federal government is ready to ask the CRTC to rescind its decision to licence satellite radio, government sources have told The Canadian Press. "Everything suggests that the cabinet will ask the CRTC to overturn its decision," an official close to the file said in an interview on Friday. On June 16, the broadcast regulator granted the first satellite radio licences to Sirius - a consortium of Radio-Canada and Standard Radio - and a company called Canadian Satellite Radio (CSR). The two companies plan to offer subscribers between 60 and 100 commercial-free music channels for $15 to $20 a month. The services will be transmitted by American satellites across North America. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission also allowed CHUM and Astral to offer digital services that will migrate to satellite after 2010. The decisions upset the Quebec artistic community, which complained that only 10 per cent of the future 200-channel satellite service will be Canadian, and just 2.5 per cent will be francophone. CHUM and Astral are also unhappy with the CRTC's initial decision. They fear the new competition from Sirius and CSR could harm their conventional radio stations. As cabinet met in Winnipeg on Friday, Canadian Satellite Radio lobbyists tried to persuade ministers not to send the issue back to the CRTC for reconsideration. The Canadian businessman who owns CSR, a partner of U.S.-based XM Satellite Radio, was upset by the apparent willingness of the cabinet to intervene. "This is just absolutely shocking," John Bitove said. If the decision is revoked, Bitove estimates it could cost the Canadian economy $2 billion over the next 10 years. "I think if it's true, there will be huge repercussions." Bitove said he believes the opposition stems mainly from discontent over the number of French-language stations. "So far, from what I understand, that's really the only issue that's been brought up - that three French channels is not enough," he said. If the ruling is rescinded, CSR will consider any legal options it may need to pursue the matter in federal court, Bitove said. "There are hundreds of thousands of Canadian consumers who want to purchase this product - either at a retailer or in a new car - who are going to pay the price if this is the decision," he said. Joining the voices in support of satellite radio is electronics chain store The Source - formerly Radio Shack - which purchased advertising in several newspapers. The chain hopes to sell many satellite radio receivers for Christmas, a plan that would be undermined if cabinet intervenes. The government has until Sept. 14 to announce its decision whether it will ask that the licences be revoked. In the weeks that followed the CRTC decision, federal observers feared the issue would prompt a battle between Quebec and Ontario. But Liberal MPs from Quebec, Ontario and the Maritimes all pressured cabinet ministers to force the CRTC to rescind its decision. The Quebec caucus won support for its position from several artistic groups, including the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada and l'Union des artistes (via Ricky Leong, DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. Apparent internal miscommunications within the North Korean government`s Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries and the Ministry of Telecommunications and Posts over the approval of an operating permit to Dr. David Borenstein, KA2HTV, led the government to halt his recent P5 DXpedition before it could even begin, the New York physician said today. However, the main purpose of his trip to North Korea was not amateur radio, but the donation of several thousand dollars worth of medical supplies from various Western countries to the Korean Medical Association. ``I went to make sure these medical supplies got where they were supposed to,`` he said. Dr. Borenstein specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Another situation that may have also played a part in the halting of Dr. Borenstein`s DXpedition operations was the death of his government assigned guide, one of the leading such guides in the country. The guide drowned at Wonsan, while he and other government assigned guides were escorting KA2HTV and others to the North Korean coast. Dr. Borenstein`s DXpedition costs were underwritten by the Lone Star DX Association http://www.dxer.org/lsdxa and equipment donated by many companies and individuals. Before he left the United States, Dr. Borenstein and the LSDXA were told his DXpedition operation should be fully accredited by the ARRL once he returned and submitted passport, visa, and photographic documentation showing he was in North Korea. This is standard procedure for DXCC DXpedition accreditation. ``The Lone Star DX Association is committed to the support of DX. We knew this would be a gamble, but thought the risk was worth it to try getting P5 back on the air. Hopefully our efforts and those of Dr. Borenstein has moved the ball forward in restoring amateur radio in North Korea,`` said LSDXA President Mike Thomas, NA5U. The miscommunications developed when a Democratic People`s Republic of Korea Cultural Relations official issued the operating permit, while the government`s Telecommunications and Posts officials, had not formally processed KA2HTV`s request for a permit to operate. Both agencies are part of the North Korean government. Dr. Borenstein was planning on beginning his full time P5 operations on August 20, when DPRK officials suddenly called him into a meeting. ``They told me the person who gave the authority in the committee should not have given it because of a mix up with the Ministry of Telecommunications and Posts,`` he said. ``Up until then I had no idea that I would not be allowed to operate`` as government officials had given no hint that the operating authority issued previously was not valid. ``I was able to demonstrate amateur radio to these same government officials and showed them how it would benefit the country.`` ``But the inability to operate was devastating,`` he said. ``After meeting with the government officials I just went back to my room for a while and watched the BBC, the only English language television program we could receive. I knew there were hundreds of stations around the world waiting to make a P5 contact and I could not get on the air.`` ``The Lone Star DX Association and I had planned this DXpedition for many months and many donors had given equipment and their time and effort to make this operation occur,`` he said. Both KA2HTV and the LSDXA would like to thank the following sponsors for their donation of equipment: Tennadyne log periodic antennas, Yaesu and Vertex Standard radios, ACOM International amplifiers, Texas Towers, W4MPY --- ``The QSL Man``, GigaParts, Buddipole, Hex Beam, High Sierra, Press Jones -- - ``The Wireman``, Heil Sound, North Alabama DX Club, Southeastern DX Club, LDG Electronics, DX Engineering, Ham Radio Outlet, and W4HT Electronics. In addition, the following individual hams provided logistical and other support: WW5L, WY5H, K4UEE, K9LA, KC2MWA, K7JA, W4WB, W4RT, W5QM, W9GJ, W2RC, QSL manager KK5DO, and the many members of the Lone Star DX Association. Dr. Borenstein said these government officials confided to him they were hopeful a license for him to operate could be obtained in the near future, however no definite date was given. ``They told me they would welcome me back, despite the fact it is very difficult for Americans to get a visa there.`` Also, he added, there is no prohibition by the U.S. government against Americans visiting North Korea. After the death of his guide, he said, many government leaders went into official mourning. ``I couldn`t ask them about radio matters as these people were in mourning, so that delayed everything another two or three days.`` When he arrived Aug. 9 all of the radio equipment was processed through North Korean customs without problem and ``it all went smoothly.`` Later the Telecommunications and Posts ministry officials asked to inspect some of his equipment, which included an Icom 735 and 706 MK2G, and a Yaesu 857, plus an Acom amplifier. ``They kept part of it for a week,`` he said, before ministry officials told him he would not be allowed to operate. When first planning the DXpedition, Dr. Borenstein said, negotiations had centered on the donation of amateur radio equipment to the DPRK as ``a measure of friendship.`` When the DPRK government took the equipment for inspection, they apparently thought this was the same equipment that was to be ``donated.`` The ``donated`` equipment taken for inspection includes KA2HTV`s own personal Icom 735 transciever, a Hexbeam antenna, a High Sierra tripod, coax, a Yaesu rotator, and a dual voltage power supply. ``The equipment was not seized, they knew I had other equipment, they could have taken everything, but they didn`t,`` he said, adding, ``seventy percent of the equipment I took over there came back home.`` A receipt thanking Dr. Borenstein for the ``donated`` equipment was issued by the DPRK`s Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries. KA2HTV does not consider this a failure, but rather a chance to open doors to North Korea for possible future amateur radio operations. ``Although I didn`t get a chance to operate from P5, I believe the equipment donations and my visit planted the seeds for amateur radio operations in the future,`` he said. ``Some people may see this as a failure, but if you don`t try, you`ll never fail.`` KA2HTV received his first amateur license in 1980 and earned his extra class license in 1984. Dr. Borenstein has guest operated from the following club stations or as an individual from: SP5PBE in Poland, 4X/KA2HTV in Israel, JY6ZZ in Jordan, CO2KK in Cuba, and 9G5DR from Ghana. This trip to North Korea was not his first. He was in the DPRK in July 2004 for similar medical related reasons (WW5L, Tom Anderson, Lone Star DX Association via Bernie McClenny, W3UR, The Weekly DX, via Ken Kopp, dxldyg via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN. TEN LOCAL STATIONS IN TURKEY WAITING TO BROADCAST IN KURDISH 10 local TV channels and radio stations that have applied to the Turkish Radio and Television Higher Board (RTUK) to broadcast programmes in languages and dialects other than Turkish, have been awaiting permission for 18 months. RTUK had requested the local media to "apply in line with the regulation," or to "fulfill shortcomings," since the regulation for broadcasting in local languages went into force on 25 January, 2004. 18 months have passed, yet no national media channel has applied to broadcast in Kurdish, while regional channels applications' are still without any reply. According to media reports, RTUK is now working on amending the regulation and coming up with a formula to demand an affidavit from local media groups who seek to broadcast programs in languages and dialects other than Turkish. Accordingly, these institutions will present RTUK with an affidavit stating that they will not broadcast separatist programmes, or programmes with the aim of teaching that language, and that the programmes will be culturally motivated. Nazlican FM, Channel 72, Patnos, Medya FM, Genc Imparator, Radio, Gun Radio-TV, Soz Radio-TV, Aktuel Radio and Art TV are expecting RTUK to complete formalities and grant them permission to broadcast programmes in languages and dialects other than Turkish. (Source: BIA News Center) posted by Andy @ 17:27 UT Aug 26 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** LATVIA. 9290 KHz This Weekend: radio six international, 27 August [Sat] 0600-0700 UT (Tom Taylor, Aug 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MAURITANIA. 783 kHz, R. Mauritanie, Nouakchott, AUG 24 0045 - rustic bluesy Berber-style shouting vocal and guitar-like instrument; good, better than // 4845 which had inferior modulation (Mark Connelly, Rowley, MA, USA (GC= 42.744 N / 70.830 W) (salt-marsh: Stackyard Road - Nelson Island, Parker River NWR) Receivers: Drake R8A, Palstar R30 Antennas: cardioid array on roof of car = Vertical: 3 m whip (MFJ-1954) to DX Engineering AVA-1 buffer amplifier; Loop: broadband, in vertical plane, square, 2 m per side, to 1:1 transformer to DX Engineering RPA-1 line amplifier, peak east-west, null north- south. Accessories: DXP-6 phasing unit, HCDX via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. Another revamp at the RN website finds the previous page for Radio Enlace, including audio links, and each week`s scripts, more or less, including DX reports from gh and Gabriel Iván Barrera, changed to: http://www2.rnw.nl/rnw/es/programas/programassemanales/RadioEnlace?view=Standard (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. A slight correxion. The town which previously had a gospel huxter translator on 106.3 was Hennessey, the third town south of Enid, not Waukomis, the first town (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN. Frequency changes for Radio Pakistan: Russian: 1415-1445 NF 11645.0 ISL 100 kW / 313 deg, ex 1415-1500 on 11585.0 \\ 9340.4 Persian: 1715-1745 NF 7310.4*ISL 100 kW / 260 deg, ex 1715-1800 on 11550.4 \\ 9325.0# * QRM Xinjang Radio station in Chinese on nominal 7310.0 # co-channel Voice of Korea in Russian (Observer, Bulgaria, Aug 26 via DXLD) 11645 also collides with WEWN (gh) ** PHILIPPINES. Frequency change for Radio Pilipinas in English: 0200-0330 NF 17665 PHT 250 kW / 315 deg to ME, ex 15120 \\ 11885 and 15270 (Observer, Bulgaria, Aug 26 via DXLD) ** PHILIPPINES. AM report from the Philippines --- Holidaying in the Philippines, I have some notes on rare stations heard during my stay so far. I am leaving for Europe again at the end of the month, and one more posting may follow later. All notes here are for AM; a separate posting for FM with the Yahoo FM group and Skywaves in the UK. All notes from Villaba on the northwest coast of Leyte, central Philippines (except where indicated). Stations indicated as SILENT should be interpreted as PROBABLY SILENT, as I heard no signal from them. They should have been very strong daytime signals in the central area of the country, however ``problems`` with their transmission facilities could have led them to now have extremely low efficiency and they could therefore be on the air --- but just audible in their local city area. 630 kHz DYAG Cadiz, Negros Occidental Aug 09, good daytime signal 657 kHz DXDD Ozamis City Aug 17 brief call ID in DYVR null. DYVR Roxas City noted with brief cuts in transmission, appears to have problems with their transmitter unit. 747 kHz DXND Kidapawan, Cotabato del Sur Aug 20, call ID as `DXND-AM`, local ads 756 kHz DXBZ Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur is new here. First noted Aug 20 with local ads, operated by Baganian Broadc. Corp. Listed by NTC Manila (2004) on 1269 kHz. May have moved after initially starting there, or may have opted to not use 1269 after all and open on 756. 10 kW. Slogan ``Radyo Bagting``. 765 kHz DYAR Cebu City now Sunshine Radio. See 1404. Aug 17, listed network (full list to follow later), network hub appears to be 1026 DZAR Manila. 765 kHz DYPR Puerto Princesa, Palawan Aug 23 good signal at Malapascua Island, Cebu province. Local greetings and ads, like Palawan Pawnshop, good ID. In DYAR null, DYAR easier to null on Malapascua than further east on Leyte Island. 792 kHz DYRR Ormoc City, Leyte Aug 10, ``DYRR Women`s Club``, good daytime signal across Leyte province now. Appears to have improved transmission facility over last two years. 828 kHz DYER Puerto Princesa, Palawan in DXCC null. Aug 17 at 3pm local time. Terrible audio, an ID accompanied by some music virtually impossible to tell call letters, but ``8-2-8`` stood out. Next piece of spoken audio clear! Confirmed Aug 20 with brief ID in jingle 927 kHz spur of DYSS 999 Super Radyo, Cebu City. This spur has a good level on Leyte Island. In Cebu City itself, further spurs of 999 DYSS noted on 819 and 783 kHz, though these could be receiver generated. 945 kHz DYRO Iloilo City SILENT Aug 10 1044 kHz DYMS Catbalogan, Samar Aug 14, ``Aksyon Radyo``, weak. Aug 23 noted with very good signal on Malapascua island, northern Cebu province. 3 kW, would be a good DXcatch! 1071 kHz DZSL Talisay, Camarines Norte Aug 10, could not note any daytime signal as in 2003, but because it is a non-local station can not confirm it has gone dark 1080 kHz DXKS Surigao City, Surigao del Norte Aug 08, a lot of (more than 15 mins continuously!) local morning ads, ID as Radyo Ronda. Very good signal into downtown Cebu City, but not as good daytime signal into Leyte. 1197 kHz DYRH Bacolod City SILENT? Aug 20 1233 kHz DYVS Bacolod City appears to have reduced broadcast hours drastically. Only noted once during my stay. 1251 kHz DYRG Kalibo Aklan Aug 14, IDs and music, fair signal 1305 kHz DYFX Cebu City SILENT Aug 09 1323 kHz DYSI Iloilo City SILENT? Aug 12 1386 kHz DXCR Valencia, Bukidnon ``Hope Radio`` Aug 10, good signal sunrise and sunset 1395 kHz DYRC Cebu City appears to have reduced output power drastically, or its antenna system needs repairs. Only noted relaying DZRH Manila. 1404 kHz DXAQ ``Sunshine Radio`` Davao City is a new station. First heard Aug 10, appears to be part of the network Sunshine Philippines Movement (SPM)(Catholic) stations. See 765. Carries extensive listing of all network stations often. Announces web site http://www.sunshineradio.com --- maybe the website gives more details on location. Local afternoon DXAQ noted with extensive, locally originated news/current affairs, ID then as ``Radyo Banaw?`` Extensive promotion of José María College, located in Davao? ``Kingdom Broadcasting Network`` also heard mentioned. 1449 kHz DYAC Baybay, Leyte appears to have extended broadcast hours to cover the whole day. In 2003 turned off transmitter most of the day, and came on only for a few hours late afternoon/early evening! Good signals into northern part of province. 1467 kHz DXVP Zamboanga City Aug 09, very good sunrise and sunset signal 1503 kHz DYBB Roxas City SILENT Aug 09 1512 kHz DZAT Lucena City, Quezón is new here. Listed by NTC Manila (2004). First noted Aug 23 on Malapascua Island, Cebu province, in partial DYAB Cebu null. Ann: ``DZAT Radio Ministry``. Christian programming. 1548 kHz DYDM Maasin City, Southern Leyte Aug 08, good in downtown Cebu City 1584 kHz DYAY Cebu City still SILENT, just as in 2003 I did extensive monitoring of the AM band in early 2003 (separate logs available on request), and stations that are still on the air as two years ago and do not appear to have undergone changes of interest to DXers are not listed this time. Tacloban City, Leyte: This is the provincial capital, on the Pacific coast of the island. Visited the city Aug 11, only three AM stations remain on the air: 531 DYDW, 819 DYVL and 990 DYTH. DYDW and DYVL is strong across the province, but DYTH is very local – probably inefficient antenna system. Hardly detectable audio on the Leyte´s west coast, but had a decent signal on Malapascua Island, Cebu province (where 999 DYSS Cebu City is easier to null). Carried DZRH news from Manila at the time I stayed in Tacloban, could be local morning and afternoon drive. SILENT/GONE DARK: 594 DYWR (was active in 2003), 711 DYBR, 954 DYMM, 1566 DYMP. To add to the story: Of 10 licensed FM stations in Tacloban, only four are on the air – six are silent! Samar province: Two main cities on the west coast of the province, Calbayog and Catbalogan. During lunch at McArthur Park just south of Tacloban City noted good signal from 882 DYOG. 936 DYCC also noted tentatively, not heard on Leyte west coast. 1089 DYHR not traced, probably SILENT. A Construction permit for an RGMA network station on 1476 in Calbayog was not on. No trace of 1188 DYRV Catbalogan. No trace of Borongan, Eastern Samar stations 657 DYES and 1386 DYVW, and Catarman, Northern Samar 972 DYSM. Ormoc City, Leyte: 1035 DYUM SILENT, as in 2003. 792 DYRR is on air. Receiver: Sony ICF-7600GR with internal antenna. More later. 73 (Geir Stokkeland. geir.stokkeland @ epost.no Aug 26, HCDX via DXLD) ** POLAND. See BELARUS; UK [non] ** PORTUGAL. Frequency changes for RDP Internacional/Rádio Portugal in Portuguese: 1400-2000 Sat/Sun NF 13590*LIS 300 kW / 045 deg to Eu, ex 13770# 1600-1900 Mon-Fri NF 13590*LIS 100 kW / 052 deg to Eu, ex 13770# * strong co-ch BVBN via JUL 100 kW / 115 deg to ME as follows: English 1540-1615 Mon-Fri; 1630-1700 Tue; 1700-1800 Wed/Fri; 1630-1645 Thu; 1545-1830 Sat; 1545-1800 Sun Hebrew 1615-1630 Tue/Thu Russian 1700-1715 Tue # to avoid All India Radio in Hindi 1615-1730 (Observer, Bulgaria, Aug 26 via DXLD) ** PORTUGAL. Tuning across 15295, Aug 26 at 2305, heard the familiar strains of Portugal`s majestic national anthem, but awful audio marred it; followed by another lengthy recitation of frequency schedule. Equally bad audio on // 13660. However, at 2329 recheck found 9715 with better audio, and then the other two were also as good, plus weaker 13700, all // (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. FREE SPEECH AND STRAIGHT TALK FOR 15 YEARS Friday, August 26, 2005. Issue 3239. Page 1. By Francesca Mereu and Anatoly Medetsky, Staff Writers, Itar-Tass U.S. President Bill Clinton, one of many foreign dignitaries who has visited the station's studios, talking with Ekho Moskvy's Alexei Venediktov in 2000. [caption] As Ekho Moskvy radio turned 15 this week, the country's most prominent independent-minded station was inundated with plaudits for its professionalism and dedication to freedom of speech from across the political spectrum. "Ekho Moskvy fulfills the function of the only objective radio station that says what is really happening in the country," said Oleg Panfilov, director of the Center for Extreme Journalism. "It's difficult to find better journalists who report the news as promptly and without censorship." As well as being the country's largest private news-based station, Ekho Moskvy was also the first to adopt a talk-radio format. Although majority-owned by Gazprom-Media since 2001, the station remains one of the country's last independent broadcast media, with its journalists retaining editorial independence through their blocking 34 percent stake in the company. . . http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2005/08/26/003.html (via Gerald T. Pollard, NC, DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Additional frequency 9755 EKB 100 kW / 260 deg to WeEu for VOR from Aug. 21: 1600-1700 in Romanian 1700-1800 in Polish and 1800-1900 in English WS, co-channel Vatican Radio in Italian (Rosary) from 1840 (Observer, Bulgaria, Aug 26 via DXLD) EKB = Yekatarinburg ** RUSSIA. Additional transmissions for BVBN on 5910 P.K 100 kW / 245 degrees: 1030-1100 Sun in English; 1100-1130 Sun in Korean; 1130-1145 Sun in Japanese (Observer, Bulgaria, Aug 26 via DXLD) See also GERMANY ** SAUDI ARABIA [and non]. The Holy Qur`an Station, analog 15380, was again suffering from severe QRDRM centred on 15375, August 26 at 1250, and presumably from the Qhristian Qrusaders in Quito. I suspect there is more unacknowledged DRM activity than usual this week for the benefit of the HFCC meeting in Valencia, now about over (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See ECUADOR! ** SAUDI ARABIA. 1512 kHz, BSKSA, Jeddah, AUG 24 0111 - Koranic male a cappella vocal; monster S9+30 signal, about equal to local WWZN-1510 (which it was rendering completely useless for casual listening). [Connelly*rw-MA] 1521 kHz, BSKSA, Duba, AUG 23 2223 - // 9555 & 9870 with excited discussion by two men in Arabic; excellent, over S-9, annihilating WIZZ-1520, loudest TA an hour before sunset. Bit of vocal, maybe Spain, way under. + AUG 23 2300 - Arabic news items about Hosni Mubarik, Kofi Annan, Sudan; HUGE S9+30, at least 15 dB better than WIZZ/WTHE/WWKB-1520 (Mark Connelly, Rowley, MA, USA (GC= 42.744 N / 70.830 W) (salt-marsh: Stackyard Road - Nelson Island, Parker River NWR) Receivers: Drake R8A, Palstar R30 Antennas: cardioid array on roof of car = Vertical: 3 m whip (MFJ-1954) to DX Engineering AVA-1 buffer amplifier; Loop: broadband, in vertical plane, square, 2 m per side, to 1:1 transformer to DX Engineering RPA-1 line amplifier, peak east-west, null north- south. Accessories: DXP-6 phasing unit, HCDX via DXLD) ** SCOTLAND [non]. See LATVIA ** SERBIA & MONTENEGRO [non]. An incomplete schedule covering 1745- 2200 UT only for ``R. Yugoslavia``, but dated effective 1 August shows Arabic at a new time: 1745-1800 UT, ARABIC 1, 27,28 EUROPE, 6100, 49.18, 250, B06 - ND (via José Elías Díaz Gómez, Venezuela, Aug 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The original A-05 had Arabic only at 1430-1500 on 11800 for ME and Italian at 1730-1800 (always only one language at a time), so has that been truncated to 1730-1745 only? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN. SUDAN TO SET UP NEW [shortwave!] RADIO, TV STATIONS | Excerpt from report by Sudanese newspaper Al-Watan on 26 August [The newly appointed] general manager of the [Sudan] Radio and Television Corporation, Dr Amin Hasan Umar, has said 46 FM and four SW radio stations will be set up to provide coverage in all Sudanese states. In addition to that, 26 new television stations will be set up to fulfil media requirements in the next phase thus implementing the peace agreement. [Passage omitted.] Source: Al-Watan, Khartoum, in Arabic 26 Aug 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** SYRIA. See USA, WBCQ ** THAILAND. THAILAND TO GO AHEAD WITH PLAN TO INSTALL CABLE TV IN SOUTH AMID CRITICISM | Text of report by correspondents entitled: "Kongsak to go ahead with cable TV project", published in English by Thai newspaper Bangkok Post web site on 26 August Interior Minister Kongsak Wanthana will go ahead with the planned installation of cable television in the deep south to liven up the atmosphere in southern villages through the promotion of sports. ACM Kongsak and executives of the Interior Ministry met to discuss the proposal and they agreed to install cable TV in 500 villages in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat provinces, said Atthasit Khankhai Sapsit, Interior Ministry spokesman. The cable TV would broadcast programmes about Islamic religion, culture, children and youth and sports, said Mr Atthasit. The ministry has received donated TV sets for the purpose. Critics fear the broadcast of sports, particularly football matches, will entice youngsters to gamble. Prasit Meksuwan, director of Ban Ba- ngoisinae school in Yala's Yaha district, criticized the project as "useless" and promoting gambling. He urged the government to hold a public hearing before going ahead with the scheme. He also called on the government to implement strong measures to tackle southern violence in which many teachers and innocent people have been killed. Since 4 January, last year, the official date of the onset of separatist unrest which began with a series of school arson attacks and the army camp weapons looting in Narathiwat, nearly 30 teachers have been killed. Mr Prasit said the killings had sapped the morale of many southern teachers and they feared for their lives. In Narathiwat, more than 1,000 people yesterday applied for teaching jobs at two educational zones as many teachers have sought transfers to other regions. There were 404 vacant positions at the province's educational zones 1 and 2. Many temporary employees of the Southern Border Provinces Peace-building Command (SBPPC) applied for the jobs. The application period ends on 3 September. Nutchamat Dungkham, 22, an SBPPC employee and one of the applicants, said she applied for a teaching job as phase two of the SBPPC's job creation scheme would expire next month. Meanwhile, the owner of a gold shop in Pattani's Yaring district was shot four times by two men on a motorcycle in front of his shop in Tanyong municipality. Lek sae Jiew, 43, was seriously injured but his wife Pakwilai and their son managed to escape unhurt. Source: Bangkok Post web site, Bangkok, in English 26 Aug 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** UGANDA [non]. GOVERNMENT TO SPONSOR CNN AFRICA PROGRAMME | Text of report by Izama Angelo published by Ugandan newspaper Daily Monitor website on 26 August; subheadings as published Starting this October, millions of television viewers around the world will be shown a different picture of Uganda, away from war, disease, corruption and questionable democratisation, major criticisms that have seen the country's image abroad take a nosedive in the last few months. The government, through the Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry, has struck a deal with the Cable News Network (CNN) to sponsor its half-hour current affairs programme "Inside Africa" for an unspecified fee. The show hosted by Femi Oke investigates political, economic, social and cultural affairs and trends in Africa. According to the minister of state for trade, Mr Igeme Nabeta, the deal was part of a wider effort to rebrand Uganda and sell a different image of the country, adding quickly that it was not connected to government's deal with a top London PR firm Hill and Knowlton which government hired in May to maket Uganda's image abroad. "This is something we should have done yesterday. Other countries, even Kenya, are advertising but we have not. The foreign media sometimes portrays only the negative. We need an opportunity to sell what we have," he added. Sponsorship The sponsorship of Inside Africa which will run from 7 October, the eve of Independence Day celebrations, to March 2006 when Ugandans go to the general and presidential elections, is expected to throw the spotlight on the positive things happening in the country. Government forked out 600,000 dollars (2.4 billion shillings) to Hill and Knowlton to give the country a mileage after the country's international image came under fire from the international media, human rights organizations and NGOs. The criticism centered on government corruption, the uncertain political future brought about by the possibility of President Yoweri Museveni seeking a third term, continuation of the northern Uganda conflict, harassment of the political opposition and the independent media. The latest incidents to cast Uganda in bad light have been the government's action to shut down KFM and the arrest of journalist Andrew Mwenda soon after President Museveni had threatened to close down independent newspapers, which reported on regional security. This has been followed closely by the withholding of 280 billion shillings by the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria over allegations of mismanaging the funds by the Ministry of Health Not all is bad However Nabeta said many visitors to Uganda are surprised to find a different picture of the country from what they have heard in the news. He added that the country had received a positive response from President Museveni's documentary on Discovery Channel "Uganda - the Presidential Tour", aired in November 2003. Uganda will use the three commercial breaks during the half-hour programme on CNN to showcase its agriculture and tourism opportunities including hotels, people, culture and history, a source said. Daily Monitor could not establish the cost of the six-month campaign but was able to establish that a Nairobi firm, Camerapix, will be in charge of the production while the brand concept for Uganda will be sourced from local advertising firms, which are expected to compete for the best brand statement. TERP Consult, an advertising firm, together with Usaid funded project SCOPE have been conducting research around the country including discussions with students in secondary schools and ordinary Ugandans on what they think of the country to provide background material to the competing advertising agencies. Source: Daily Monitor website, Kampala, in English 26 Aug 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) But will we ever see such an exotic program on domestic US CNN?? And if it is ``sponsored`` by Ugandan government, how can it be objective? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [non]. Frequency change for BBC WS in English: 2200-2300 NF 5990 SNG 100 kW / 013 deg, ex 11955 NAK 250 kW / 150 deg (Observer, Bulgaria, Aug 26 via DXLD) Thailand to Singapore ** U K. Purely Peel: John Peel Tribute Sat 27 Aug, 09:00 - 12:00 180 mins (times are UK Times) Steve Lamacq hosts a three hour special, celebrating the life of broadcaster and music champion John Peel. [Rptd today 8.00pm, Sun 3.00am] Stereo. The program will be archived for 7 days after at http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbc7/listenagain (Fred Waterer, ON, dxldyg via DXLD) UT: Sat 0800, 1900, Sun 0200 (gh) ** U K. Re: Open House London --- The weekend before is Heritage Open Days and BBC Research and Development, Kingwood Warren, Tadworth, Surrey is open 10th and 11th September 1000-1600 [BST = UT +1]. Their website says The grounds of Kingswood Warren and the reception rooms of the mansion will be open. There will be an exhibition on the history of the house and its estate, and a display of the achievements of BBC Research & Development at Kingswood, with demonstrations of some of our current projects. We know that many visitors – particularly local people – will have come in previous years, so we will make sure there are new things to see. A popular feature last year was an interactive `virtual reality' demonstration in our TV studio. We will again give our younger visitors the opportunity to participate in some of the technical wizardry that goes into BBC TV programmes. There is no need to book - just come to the main entrance. More at http://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/heritage/index.shtml (Mike Barraclough, England, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** U K. POLAND/UK: BBC POLSKA AWARDED FRANCHISE FOR NEW CURRENT AFFAIRS RADIO STATION | Excerpt from report by Polish news agency PAP Warsaw, 26 August: BBC Polska has been awarded a franchise by the National Radio and TV Broadcasting Council [KRRiTV] to set up a new radio station in Warsaw which will broadcast news, current affairs and educational programmes, Rafal Rastawicki, spokesman for the KRRiTV chairman, has told PAP. The new radio will broadcast its programmes on a Warsaw frequency of 99.5 MHz, i.e. the frequency currently used by Radio Jutrzenka for ex- servicemen. Both stations will share the air time. [Passage omitted]. "Our ideas for programmes follow from the conditions of the franchise and the fact that we will be broadcasting for 12 hours a day. If this is to be a radio with a news and current affairs profile, then we will focus on the morning 'news stream'", Marek Cajzner, head of the Polish section of the BBC, has said. He added that the programme would be divided into three-hour blocks with news topped up with current affairs. Cajzner recalled that BBC Poland has an editorial team and broadcasting capability. He said that he hoped the editorial team would be expanded by a few more people. The radio will start broadcasting probably in the autumn, but after the presidential campaign. "Decisions on our launch will be agreed in consultation with BBC World Service in London," Cajzner said. The radio is to be financed from its own resources; it will not broadcast commercials. Source: PAP news agency, Warsaw, in Polish 1707 gmt 25 Aug 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** U S A. I have not noticed WYFR missing due to winds, altho I was not checking their frequencies continuously. However, around 0500 UT Aug 26, WRMI, closer to the path of Katrina, seemed to be missing from 7385. Everything OK there, Jeff? Guess so; was back around 2300 check Aug 26 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Aug 26 at 2333 on 9330 SSB, noted Rod Hembree preaching as if he knows all the answers, but slight ripple raising the pitch of his voice, caused by WBCQ and/or an open carrier, presumably Syria, not being on exactly the same frequency. Also found OC, at least no modulation detectable, on 12085, presumably both left on after the Spanish service, if it has indeed permanently moved an hour earlier than previously, or the SS itself with undetectable modulation (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WWCR: see WESTERN SAHARA [non] ** U S A [non]. Frequency changes for Voice of America: 0000-2400 Arabic# add 1170 0100-0200 Urdu* NF 7135, ex 7155 to avoid CNR Minority Service 0200-0300 Persian NF 11660, ex 11985 to avoid AIR in Kannada 1400-1500 English NF 15185, ex 15265 to avoid DW in DRM mode 1600-1700 Hindi NF 9315, ex 15265 1700-1800 Urdu* NF 9315, ex 15545 #Radio Sawa *Radio Aap Ki Dunyaa (Observer, Bulgaria, Aug 26 via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Frequency changes for RFE/RL: 0000-2400 Farsi@ del 1170 @Radio Farda 0200-0400 Turkmen NF 15120, ex 15290 1200-1300 Kazakh NF 17670, ex 17890 1900-2000 Russian NF 9585, ex 6105 to avoid Radio Jordan in Arabic 2200-2400 Russian NF 6130, ex 5985 (Observer, Bulgaria, Aug 26 via DXLD) ** VATICAN. Has Vatican started tests/broadcasts of DRM on 1530 kHz? last night at 2220 UT I heard a massive DRM style signal completely swamping 1530 kHz. On re-checking at 2235 it had gone and UK local stations were dominant though mixing with others. Nothing I could see on http://www.drm.org or http://www.oecumene.radiovaticana.org/en1/index.asp 73s (Steve Whitt, UK, Aug 25, MWC via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. VENEZUELAN RADIO STATIONS EXPRESS SOLIDARITY WITH CLOSED STATION | Text of report by Venezuelan newspaper El Nacional web site on 23 August The Network of Broadcasting Stations and Community Media of Mérida State and the Radio User Committee held a citizens' assembly to examine the situation at Mundial los Andes 1040 AM, part of the YVKE Mundial network, which was temporarily out of service last week, Aporrea [Venezuelan digital publication] reported. After a meeting on Sunday [21 August] of the factions condemning the incident, a communiqué was issued explaining to the public the details of the administrative action taken by YVKE Mundial, and pointing out the illegality of the measure that took the community broadcasting station off the air. That measure was ordered by network president Cristina González as a result of internal conflicts that led to the firing of the station's director, Julio Carrillo, "thus violating the provisions of Articles 57 and 58 of the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela." The Community Media Network and the Users' Committee called a citizens' assembly to discuss the problem and to "seek a consensual solution to the conflict." The measure was implemented after a network between 1000 [all times local] and 1100 by Mérida community broadcast stations to transmit documents and messages from organizations, unions, and popular groups that have expressed solidarity with the station. Source: El Nacional web site, Caracas, in Spanish 23 Aug 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA [non]. RNV via Cuba presumed the Spanish underneath CRI in English via Canada, on 13680, Aug 26 at 2310. This collision has now been going on 5 months straight. Commies vs Commies! Other frequencies supposedly // for RNV at this hour were carrying RHC instead, q.v. (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. Voz de la RASD, 7460, presumed, Aug 26 at 2357, seemed to be Spanish announcement, then music as if anthem (I hesitate to call in national), in the skirts of WWCR 7465, which in the meantime had shifted back down from 7466. WWCR audio was not so much a problem after 0000 as RASD was still talking but went to OC at 0001, and was still on at 0006. On Sept 1 an operational change is scheduled for WWCR usage of 7465. Presently, WWCR-1 runs there until 0100*. Then, will run WWCR-1 until 0000, and switch to WWCR 4, instead of the present WWCR-4 switch directly from 9985 to 5765 at 0100 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE. First time I`ve really checked for the 6612 harmonic, and it was not a good time due to high noise level, nearby T-storms, etc. But Aug 26 at 2340 I had a definite signal there with occasional audio breaking thru, talk, and at 2346 music and talk. It was definitely not // to Fidel on 5025! However, at 2358 recheck the signal had disappeared, so on this occasion at least, not running all-night. Presumed as nothing actually identifiable, not even language (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE. ZIMBABWE MEDIA WATCHDOG'S WEEKLY REPORT FOR 15-21 AUGUST | Text of report by Media Monitoring Project Zimbabwe on 26 August . . .This week SW Radio Africa (19/8) and The Standard (21/8) exposed the repressive effects of the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) on freedom of expression when they reported the "first conviction" of a journalist charged under the draconian security and media law. These media reported that the editor of the Gweru-based Sun newspaper, Willie Muponda, had been convicted of violating POSA by publishing a false story that claimed a Gweru woman had committed suicide following the demolition of her phone shops during Operation Murambatsvina. The Magistrates' Court found Muponda guilty of "publishing falsehoods" and fined him 100,000 dollars (or three months' jail). Although Muponda published a retraction when he discovered the story was false, as is the universally accepted practice in such cases, the State used the apology as more evidence against him instead of considering it as mitigation. Apart from the fine, the effect of this law has been to brand Muponda a common criminal, which carries all manner of social disadvantages and prejudice. Such punishment is entirely disproportionate to the offence, which, in most democracies does not carry any criminal penalty. . . Source: Media Monitoring Project Zimbabwe, Harare, in English 26 Aug 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) Those interested in following media developments in Z should bookmark this: http://www.mmpz.org.zw/html/weekly.htm Which however does not yet have the latest weekly report quoted from above. Eventually, it and previous will no doubt be accessible via http://www.mmpz.org.zw/archives/2005/2005.htm (Glenn Hauser, OK, Aug 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Re 5-145: DRM signal 8/25/05; 6040 kHz, 0200-0230. I don't have a DRM decoder, so I have no idea what the program was. However this was the same time and frequency as the VT Merlin test last night. No analog noted through the whole broadcast. A station in Portuguese (probably Rádio Club Paranaense according to EiBi) started interfering about 0215, and faded in at 0230 when the DRM signal dropped. VT Merlin testing on 6040 again --- VT Merlin test transmission 8/26/05; SINPO 34344; 0200-0230. Loop of music and announcement which ended mid announcement at 0230. Same pattern as the DRM - like signal last night and the analog test the night before (Mark Taylor, Madison, WI, R 75, MFJ 1045C pre selector, Eavesdropper antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Not surprisingly, there is no mention of 6040 on any of the current DRM schedules, nor in the DRM fora (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Came across an interesting one on 9790 at 0023 UT Sat 8-2. Endless loop announcement, with background music. "You are listening to a test transmission by V-T Merlin communications, a leading provider of international broadcast services. If you would like to find out more about us, please visit www-dot-vtplc-dot-com-forward slash-merlin." On the page, under "latest news," it says "BBC World Service transmission contract to continue. VT Group, through its VT Communications subsidiary, has reached agreement to continue distributing and transmitting BBC world service radio programming for a further five years to 2012..." The contract was signed two months ago, but this is the first signal I've heard. Solid 5-9, until carrier dropped in the middle of the loop announcement at exactly 0030. jw/mn (Jim Wishner, MN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ HFCC B-05 Esta Semana del 22 al 26 de agosto, ha tenido lugar la segunda reunión anual de la HFCC (High Frequency Co-ordination Conference) en Valencia, España, para planificar las frecuencias de Onda Corta durante próximo período B05. En la conferencia participan representantes de 60 países, entre ellos España y Holanda. Dos veces al año se realizan dichos encuentros, organizados por uno de los países miembros y en esta ocasión, Radio Nacional de España, a través de Radio Exterior de España, fue la anfitriona. La HFCC agrupa a la mayor parte de los países de Europa, Asía, África, a Estados Unidos, Canadá y otros países de América, representando el 80% de las transmisiones de Onda Corta mundiales. Por otra parte, la Conferencia de Coordinación de Alta Frecuencia es una entidad independiente que asume los criterios y normativas supranacionales de la Unión Internacional de Telecomunicaciones. En síntesis, es un grupo técnico que busca un uso eficaz del espectro radiofónico en Onda Corta, la mejora de la recepción y la resolución o minimización de interferencias mutuas. La Conferencia de Coordinación de Alta Frecuencia dispone de una base mundial de datos con las frecuencias asignadas oficialmente por las conferencias mundiales de radio. Una buena herramienta para la gestión y planificación del espectro radiofónico en Onda Corta. Pero una razón u otra, a estas reuniones llegan casos de "colisión de frecuencias" o de interferencias. La cordialidad y buena voluntad suelen imperar en la resolución de los conflictos, pero también hay otros procedimientos y mecanismos que permiten resolver los problemas. Aunque estas conferencias han tenido éxito en la resolución de casos de interferencias entre emisoras, creemos que no siempre se llega al acuerdo, a lo que Salvador Arlanzón, Jefe del Servicio de Coordinación Técnica Administrativa de Radio Nacional de España, ha llamado "pacto de caballeros". Por cierto, diremos a nuestros oyentes que los miembros de Radio Nederland Jan Willem Drexhage y Ehard Goddijn y de Radio Exterior de España, entre ellos Salvador Arlanzón, han tenido que "defender" nuestras frecuencias en varias áreas geográficas mundiales ante las arbitrarias decisiones de otras emisoras de Onda Corta por "ocupar" parte del espectro que nos asignaron (RN Radio-Enlace Aug 26-28 via DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING ++++++++++++++++++++ DRM: see ECUADOR, GERMANY, SAUDI ARABIA, VATICAN, UNIDENTIFIED Re 5-146, DRM tests in BRAZIL: That's interesting. So they don't even bother to test DAB! What's also interesting is the interest in IBOC (HD Radio). Isn't this the first time anyone - outside the USA - has shown any serious interest in this system (Stig Hartvig Nielsen, 08.25.05 - 12:40 pm, Media Network blog via DXLD) It's not really surprising though, when you think about it, because DAB was designed in the late-1980s, and the technology is very poor compared to today's standards. It's a shame that they're going to test DRM before it's extended to work at frequencies up to 120 MHz, because with wider channel bandwidths (such as 100 kHz) DRM has the potential to be a superb system (they should improve the error correction coding when they extend it though). I feel they might be needlessly put off DRM in its current form with such narrow bandwidth channels (Steve Green, 08.26.05 - 2:26 am, ibid.) DRM-CAPABLE CONSUMER RADIOS FORTHCOMING... ...so says this press release regarding two of Europe's main media exhibitions. See: http://www.infosat.lu/Meldungen/index.php?msgID=16823 No mention of the pricetag...although the IBOC article I sent the other day had a target of US $100, which makes sense for local radio. If a decent DRM-capable consumer radio were to hit the stores at US$150, I'd be interested (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, Aug 26, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ PREMIUM RECEIVERS I found an Unbelievable website, guys. Hello Group, I just recently 'discovered' a truly Incredible website, which I think that most of the Group will just 'Drool' over. It's: http://kahuna.sdsu.edu/~mechtron/premrxpage/index (or just do a 'Google' for 'Premium Receivers' or 'Premium Rx'). [which instead of `unfound` leads to: http://kahuna.sdsu.edu/~premium/ or http://kahuna.sdsu.edu/~premium/index.htm --- gh] This site deals with, as the name says, "Premium Receivers". These are "World-Class-State-of-the-Radio-Art" [mostly] 'Mil-Spec' receivers. These receivers would be used by the Guv'ment(s) of the World, Military, CIA, DOD, FBI, etc. --- you get the idea! These are mostly priced within the $2,000 - $4,000.00, (Stratospheric-Dollar range!!). I've been into Shortwave & Radios since the 60's but I never read/ heard about most of the receivers the guys on that site have/talk about. These receivers sound as if they MIGHT be able to 'talk to the planet Jupiter', or the like! Check it out, fellows! ... On the floor/'DAZED & CONFUSED'and mumbling to myself, "Oh My God...!!! ;) 73 (Irv Ambler, New Fairfield/Connecticut/US of 'Bush-Doom-Land'! (OK, Bush Lovers Please don't Bash me!) Shortwave-Swl-antennas yg via DXLD) MAKE POTTERY, SUPPORT THE VOA MUSEUM The Veterans Voice of America gift and artisan shop invites crafters and artists to consign some of their work to support the VOA museum at the old VOA Bethany (Ohio) transmitting site. Cincinnati Enquirer, 25 August 2005. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050825/NEWS01/508250348/1056 Funds also sought for the Voice of America Gardens of Honor and Recognition, a grove of trees, with memorials for police, firefighters and veterans. Cincinnati Enquirer, 24 August 2005 http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050824/NEWS01/508240392/1056 (kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) RIJN MUNTJEWERFF TV DX PHOTO WEB PAGE During 1995-99, I was corresponding with well-known Dutch TV DXer Rijn Muntjewerff. Rijn sent a number of quality 35mm prints of his elaborate TV FM DX antenna arrays. A compilation web page was prepared this week which shows details of Rijn's receiving equipment and TV reception highlights. Nobody can touch this guy in regards to international TV DX. http://www.geocities.com/toddemslie1/ryn-muntjewerff-tvdx.html Regards, (Todd Emslie, Australia, Aug 25, ICDX via Curtis Sadowski, WTFDA via DXLD) Also several DX screen photos SHORTWAVE AS MUSIC ++++++++++++++++++ Hearing shortwave transmissions from a sweet, troubled soul . . .In addition to her love of literature, Annelle is a big fan of the idiosyncratic medium called short-wave radio, and she often lets random sounds culled from its mysterious frequencies intercut the tracks on her records, lending them a dreamy, surrealistic feel. . . So, if you enjoy ghostly visitations and darkly sparkling music that sends tingles down your spine, by all means check out The Places. You might just wander into a waking dream. And then ... who knows what might happen? http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/12479330.htm (via Kim Andrew Elliott, DXLD) TIPS FOR RATIONAL LIVING ++++++++++++++++++++++++ ``George W. Bush --- He got us into war`` ###