DX LISTENING DIGEST 5-159, September 9, 2005 Incorporating REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING edited by Glenn Hauser, http://www.worldofradio.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits For restrixions and searchable 2005 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn NEXT AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1286: Fri 0200 WOR ACBRadio Mainstream [repeated 2-hourly thru 2400] Fri 2000 WOR RFPI [repeated 4-hourly thru 1600 Sat] Fri 2105 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.2 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 Sat 1600 WOR CJOY INTERNET RADIO plug-in required 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; temporary] 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 1286 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1286h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1286h.rm WORLD OF RADIO 1286 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1286.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1286.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1286.html [soon] WORLD OF RADIO 1286 in true SW sound of Alex`s mp3 (stream) http://www.dxprograms.net/worldofradio_09-07-05.m3u (download) http://www.dxprograms.net/worldofradio_09-07-05.mp3 WORLD OF RADIO 1285 downloads in studio-quality mp3: (high) http://www.obriensweb.com/wor1286h.mp3 (low) http://www.obriensweb.com/wor1286.mp3 WORLD OF RADIO PODCAST: www.obriensweb.com/wor.xml (currently available: 1281, 1282, 1283, Extra 59, 1284, Extra 60, 1285, 1286) CONTINENT OF MEDIA 05-08 from DXing.com: (stream) http://www.dxing.com/com/com0508.ram (download) http://www.dxing.com/com/com0508.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/com0508.html [soon] ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. UK: BBC NEWS PRESENTS DAY OF AFGHANISTAN-THEMED PROGRAMMES | Text of press release from BBC on 9 September In the run-up to elections in Afghanistan, BBC News presents a multi- platform insight into life inside the country on Tuesday 13 September 2005. The BBC News website, BBC Radio Five Live, the BBC World Service and BBC World will all be covering the day, offering comment, insight and reportage from Afghanistan and looking at the culture, politics and day-to-day life of this often misunderstood country. The day will aim to reveal how life is developing under democracy in Afghanistan including an analysis of health, education, the role of women and media consumption using material gathered at the BBC Monitoring centre at Caversham. There will also be testimonies from Afghans via http://bbc.co.uk/afghanistanday Lyse Doucet chairs an interactive discussion with input from Afghans and their government. The BBC News website's Soutik Biswas plans to take his laptop to a village in Afghanistan where he will talk to residents and put questions from web users to them. BBC One Six O'Clock News: Andrew North with a special report from Afghanistan on how the country is trying to deal with having one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. BBC News 24 will look ahead to the elections on Sunday 18 September and hear from 'real' people about their lives and their hopes for a new Afghan government, looking at life through audio and video diaries and through a series of reports from our correspondents. Nick Higham examines how Afghanistan has changed over recent years in a special fact file. On BBC Radio Five Live [all times BST - British Summer Time, gmt plus 1 hour]... - Breakfast (6.00 a.m. - 9.00 a.m.): an audio diary from Seema Ghanis who runs a Kabul orphanage. - Victoria Derbyshire (9.00 a.m. - 12.00 p.m.): explores the role of women in Afghanistan. - Midday News (12.00 p.m. - 1.00 p.m.): talks to John Simpson. - Simon Mayo (1.00 p.m. - 4.00 p.m.): speaks to Tahir Qadiry, who opened a school in Mazar at the age of 16. - Drive (4.00 p.m. - 7.00 p.m.): interviews Shirazuddin Siddiqi, who is establishing a national TV station across Afghanistan. - Anita Anand (10.00 p.m. - 1.00 a.m.): looks at the legacy that drugs has left on Afghan life and in the UK and spends the evening with an Afghan family with live inserts into the programme. - Up All Night (1.00 a.m. - 5.00 a.m.): looks at music banned under the Taliban; Nadene Ghouri spends an evening out in Kabul. Source: BBC press release, London, in English 9 Sep 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** ARMENIA. Recently Glenn asked about which frequencies Armenia was announcing. Listening yesterday to the German program at 1805 and the English one at 1825 UT they both announced 4810, 9775 and 11640 kHz. I only hear them on the two first ones. 73, (Erik Køie in Copenhagen, Sept 9, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Well, you see, Erik, that disattention of Armenia for its frequencies; it's not different for their Spanish sked at 0230 as I reported since the beginning of A-05. They keep telling us when ending their 15 minute daily transmission, the using of 9775 and 11640, while they're solely coming on 9965. Can you imagine what we can expect from them as B-05 arrives...? Regards (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, ibid.) ** AUSTRALIA. HCJB Kununurra was heard September 9 1510 UT to closing time 1530 with very nice S9 reception on 15390 kHz. I liked the programme "Asia Focus". Their web-site says that they broadcast to South Asia (Indian subcontinent, Indonesia) with 100 kW of power 1430- 1600 UT, but their closure time was 1530. Web-site of HCJB is never up-to-date. 73 (Jouko Huuskonen, Turku, FINLAND, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELARUS. US ACCUSES STATE-CONTROLLED MEDIA OF DISINFORMATION | Text of report by Belarusian human rights group Charter-97 website on 8 September "A recent series of misleading statements that have appeared in a Minsk-based newspaper and have been broadcast on several state-owned TV channels indicates a troubling pattern of disinformation. The US embassy in Minsk is concerned about various unsubstantiated and spurious claims about alleged illegal activities of US embassy officers during 2000-2001. The aforementioned media outlets have questioned these activities and implied that similar activities are taking place currently," reads a statement by the US embassy to Belarus. The embassy reaffirms its commitment to carrying out its diplomatic activities in a transparent and open manner and in a way that is fully consistent with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. "As President Bush and Secretary of State Rice have consistently stated, the Belarusian people deserve no less than the basic right of all free peoples to determine their own future and leadership freely and democratically. The United States does not seek to support any single party or candidate in Belarus but only the democratic process largely through providing observers and training to observers and practitioners of the democratic process. "The United States will continue to support a broad range of groups of individuals throughout Belarus whose goal is to promote the development of civil society, foster the growth of independent media, strengthen the social and health sectors, encourage the development of small and medium enterprise, and increase respect for the rule of law and human rights," the statement reads. Source: Charter-97 website, Minsk, in Belarusian 8 Sep 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** BELARUS [non]. MEPS BLAST BRUSSELS' BELARUS RADIO SCHEME The European Parliament's Belarus delegation has called on Brussels to start over with efforts to set up independent radio broadcasting into the eastern European country. The European Commission last month issued a tender for a €2 million contract to create a fully-staffed unit dedicated to raising awareness of democracy in Belarus. Expressions of interest are due by 11 October with plans to start broadcasts in Russian next year and later, "as soon as possible", in Belarusian also. The commission has also Deutsche Welle (DW) to expand its Russian radio service to cover Belarusian issues from next month onward. DW's broadcasts will also be in Russian initially and Belarusian later. MEPs on the Polish-dominated delegation said in Strasbourg yesterday that the terms of the €2 million tender will block Polish firms from bidding and that the Russian character of the project is misguided. The tender stipulates that bidders must have five years' broadcasting experience, a turnover of €2 million a year and one million proven listeners in the region, effectively limiting offers to large western European firms, such as DW, the BBC or Radio France International. "This broadcast should be from Poland", conservative Polish MEP Barbara Kudrycka indicated. "We know the culture and the mindset of the Belarusian people". And liberal Polish member Janusz Onyszkiewicz said that "this [the Russian launch] squares with Minsk's plans to destroy the Belarusian language, relegate it to a kind of regional dialect". The delegation has asked the commission to reissue the tender on new terms and plans to fire off a letter of complaint to external relations commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner. Meanwhile, Warsaw is reportedly in talks with Riga, Vilnius and Kiev to set up their own radio station and has pledged to subsidise the EU project to the tune of €240,000 if it comes to Poland. Source: http://EUobserver.com # posted by Andy @ 16:22 UT Sept 8 (Media Network blog via DXLD) EC LAUNCHES FURTHER SUPPORT FOR INDEPENDENT BROADCASTING IN BELARUS The European Commission has begun preparations for a €2 million project to increase access in Belarus to independent sources of news and information. This follows the €138.000 contract already granted to Deutsche Welle Radio which will begin broadcasting via radio and Internet on 1 November. Interested broadcasters have until 11th October to signal their interest in a new contract for co–production and broadcasting on television and radio in Belarusian and Russian over a period of two years starting on 1st January 2006. The aim is to provide access to independent information about events in Belarus and in the outside world, and to enhance the knowledge of the Belarusian population about democracy, pluralism, rule of law, freedom of the press and human rights. The Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner said: "I am deeply committed to helping the people of Belarus. The human rights situation in Belarus is deteriorating, and if the country is to find its way onto the path to democracy, the people need access to free media. The lack of freedom of expression, and the constraints on the media in the country, are a matter for grave concern and the European Commission is treating this as priority issue". Candidates for the contract may be individual broadcasters or consortia of smaller companies, who are already operating in the region. The tender is open to broadcasters, or consortia who can demonstrate an annual turnover of more than €3 million. As a first step, on 1 November Deutsche Welle will commence 15 minute daily broadcasts Monday to Friday, specifically dedicated to Belarus, with news and reports from inside Belarus, information about political, social, economic matters, daily life etc. as well as Internet presentation, with the text of the broadcast and related audio files. # posted by Andy @ 10:33 UT Sept 9 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. Quito 8/9 2005 *** Thursday late evening edition: 4781.35 unID LA Spanish speaking --- You are very welcome to listen to this recording of an unID LA station on 4781.35 kHz. I just finished listening to their close down ceremony 0212 UT. I do not remember hearing LA around this frequency, apart from Ecuador, before. I want you to participate! I have seen a logging from 2003 of 4781.35: R Oriental, Ecuador but is it really Oriental with transmitter problems? http://www.rfma.net/archives/000067.html 4781.35 unID LA spanish speaking. Close down 0212 UT (".tmp recording, will be removed") 73s (Björn Malm, Ecuador, DX LISTENING DIGEST) FEEDBACK: 0455 UT, Henrik Klemetz, Sweden: This unid is Radio Coatán in Guatemala. The station is listed as Radio Cultural Coatán, but the ID is usually only Radio Coatán. Also Glenn Hauser has seen a logging of Radio Oriental (Ecuador) close in frequency on 4781.26 kHz. I do not recognize Oriental, a station located in the province of "Napo" (listen to second 10 "Provincia de....."). ID(?) at second "28". Glenn Hauser, USA: About all I could make out was ``al servicio de la comunidad`` and ``radiodifusión`` but what you heard matches rather closely this entry in LA-DX current log: 4781.26 ECUADOR * R Oriental, Tena [0808-1210/2218-0302*](4779.5-87.8) Dec 04 C (r)HCJB 0210* (n)4780 0530 UT, Christer Brunstrom, Sweden: Hi Bjorn, I have listened to your recording. The DJ is mentioning the frequency 4780, then both province and department so perhaps Perú. A name ending with ".....pamoa" is mentioned. Very interesting! (my translation from Swedish /Bjorn) Thanks Christer, Glenn and Henrik! I have before always had Coatán on 4779.98 kHz. 73s Bjorn ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Quito 9/9 2005 *** Friday edition: *** Name and QTH of my unID LA on 4781.35 kHz = Radio Tacana, Tumupasa, provincia de Iturralde, departamento de La Paz (Bolivia) A very interesting Thursday night and Friday early morning! The answer to my problem "unID LA 4781.35" has come from the Spanish DXer Ignacio Sotomayor, Segovia - Castilla, and has been confirmed by Henrik Klemetz, Sweden. Thank you very much to all of you for feedback on this topic! Read the comments from Ignacio and Henrik. On my web ID-site you can find these two clips in "SW": 4780.96 R. Tacana, Iturralde (Bolivia) 4781.34 R. Oriental, Tena(Ecuador) Comments, photos and recordings at: http://www.malm-ecuador.com 73s (Bjorn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, Sept 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) FEEDBACK: Fri, 9 Sep 2005 06:10:17 +0200, Ignacio Sotomayor, Spain: Hi Bjorn! This is what I´m hearing on your recording: "2": "4.780 kHz en la banda de 60 metros "11": "Provincia de Iturralde , Departamento del Beni "15": "llega al final de esta edición radial" ...and then some mixed words that makes me beleive it´s Radio Tacana transmitting from Tumupasa, Provincia de Iturralde. Paz y Dx! Fri, 9 Sep 2005 09:33:57 +0200 (CEST), Henrik Klemetz, Sweden: Malm´s unid on 4781.35 is Radio Tacana, Tumupasa, provincia de Iturralde, departamento de La Paz, Bolivia. So please discard my previous info. My apologies. The s/off theme is Ballade pour Adeline, played by Richard Clayderman on the piano. I am using a new headset, that´s why. When listening to a clip from Tore B Vik on an unID heard by him on 4781.3 in Aug 2003, I thought that was Radio Coatán. But now, when listening to this old clip with a new headset I realize that I was wrong. The main difference between the two headsets is that the old one has a tinny sound, whereas the new one is more bassy (via http://www.malm-ecuador.com via DXLD) ** CANADA. MAYBE CBC ISN'T WORTH ITS COST, MP SAYS --- TORY HERITAGE CRITIC CALLS FOR REVIEW OF PUBLIC BROADCASTER'S VALUE TO TAXPAYERS -- By BILL CURRY Thursday, September 8, 2005 Page A10 http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050908/CBC08/TPNational/Email OTTAWA -- Canadians are questioning whether the country needs the CBC's English-language television network as they channel surf during the continuing labour dispute, the Conservative Party's heritage critic says. Weighing in on what has been a contentious issue for the Conservatives, Ontario MP Bev Oda said in an interview that MPs should launch a debate on the CBC's future when Parliament resumes this fall. "People are starting to question, if nobody's watching CBC television, English language, then does it justify the utilization of those dollars in that way," Ms. Oda said. The first-term MP, who is a former vice-president of CTV and commissioner of the CRTC, said yesterday that the CBC's English- language network's low ratings require members of Parliament to examine its value to taxpayers. "If this [lockout] continues on for too long, there's a lot of people -- I've been reading the press and the letters to the editor -- and there are letters there that are questioning 'do we need a CBC?' Particularly English-language television," she said. Conservative Leader Stephen Harper has never said his party would cut funding for the CBC, but has faced criticism from CBC advocates for failing to offer clear support for the public broadcaster in its current form. The Conservative Party's policy declaration, which delegates adopted at a convention in March, states that the CBC is an important part of the Canadian broadcasting system and that "the Conservative Party will focus the CBC services on its mandates as public broadcasting services." It makes no distinction between CBC radio and TV, nor does it distinguish between the Crown corporation's English and French services. Ms. Oda said she has yet to form a final opinion on whether the CBC's English-language television should lose its funding, saying she will wait to hear the CBC's plan to recover from the lockout. She said she focused on English TV because the other services have been more successful at developing loyal followings and creating content that is distinct from what private broadcasters offer. In May of 2004, Mr. Harper was quoted as saying subsidies to the CBC should be limited to areas that "do not have commercial alternatives," but his then-spokesman immediately clarified that Mr. Harper was committed to the CBC and was talking only about new ways for the CBC to raise money. Ms. Oda said she would like her colleagues on the Commons Canadian heritage committee to summon CBC president Robert Rabinovitch to outline how the lockout has affected the CBC's bottom line. Deputy Tory leader Peter MacKay also called for such a review yesterday after a meeting of the Tory caucus in Halifax. The Liberal chairwoman of the committee, Marlene Catterall, and NDP member Charlie Angus criticized Ms. Oda's comments about the CBC. However, both agreed that the CBC should appear before the committee this fall to provide a financial update. Ms. Catterall said Ms. Oda's comments about the CBC are out of synch with the support she has heard. "I don't think that's likely to get them any votes," she said. "One only has to watch a day [or] an evening of American television to know that we have a significantly higher standard in Canada . . . and I believe having the CBC has influenced the standard of not only public broadcasting but private broadcasting in this country." When the Commons heritage committee launched a review of the CBC's mandate three years ago, the study generated similar criticisms of the CBC's English television network from some members. Former committee member and Liberal MP Roger Gallaway introduced unsuccessful motions in the past to cut the English network's government funding. The CBC's budget for the current fiscal year was reduced to $982.4- million, down from slightly more than $1-billion a year earlier. A spokesman for the CBC said the corporation has no plans to request additional funds when the supplementary estimates are tabled in Parliament this fall. The spokesman also rejected accusations that management is locking out its employees to save money. The NDP's Mr. Angus is not convinced, and sees the committee hearing as a way of exposing facts. "I think taxpayers are being ripped off," he said. "CBC has an obligation to provide programming and they're not doing it." With a report from Gloria Galloway in Halifax (via Ricky Leong, DXLD) See also INTERNATIONAL VACUUM ** CANADA [and non]. JOURNALISTS ACROSS THE GLOBE URGED TO JOIN LOCKOUT PROTEST | Text of press release by International Federation of Journalists on 9 September In a show of global solidarity, the International Federation of Journalists announced today that journalists' unions around the world on Monday [12 September] will join a protest over the month-long lockout of 5,500 union members at Canada's public service broadcaster, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). The IFJ and its member unions have condemned the management's confrontational style and are calling on the Canadian government to intervene to ensure that the CBC negotiates fairly with the local union, the Canadian Media Guild, to bring a swift conclusion to this dispute. "This dispute is damaging Canada's international reputation for quality broadcasting and respect for international labour standards," said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. "It's time for talks that will deliver fairness and a peaceful settlement and an end to provocative and confrontational management." The Day of Action on 12 September is in support of the union- represented employees at the CBC who were locked out on 15 August after talks on a new collective agreement stalled over a company demand to bring in part-time and contract workers as replacements for jobs currently filled by full-time employees. The CBC is relying on foreign news and programming to fill the gaps caused by the loss of local material. "We are asking the government to intervene on behalf of all Canadians," said White. "CBC should be providing local programming that caters to the country's different communities rather than abandoning its public service mandate by getting foreign news and entertainment shows to fill the gaps in its service." In Britain, the United States, and across Europe as well as in key global news centres, union representatives plan co-ordinated protests. In particular, union members working for the BBC - a key provider of the material that is filling the shortfall in programming during the lockout - will stage a protest on Monday outside BBC offices in London. The National Union of Journalists and the broadcasting technicians union BECTU are demanding that the BBC stops CBC airing extra BBC programmes during the lockout. In Washington, members of The Newspaper Guild-CWA will hold a rally led by Newspaper Guild President Linda Foley, CWA President Larry Cohen and AFL-CIO President John Sweeney in support of their CBC colleagues. Union protests and appeals for the Canadian government to act will take place at Canadian embassies in London, Washington, Berlin, Brussels, Canberra, Jerusalem, Moscow, Paris, Seoul, Tel Aviv and Tokyo. Letters will be issued calling on the Canadian government and the Prime Minister to ensure CBC ends the lockout and negotiates a fair contract with the CMG. "The CBC locked out journalists and media staff are eager to get back to their jobs and provide the kind of radio and television programming Canadian viewers want," said White. "But their fight to prevent the company from turning many more full-time jobs into temporary or contract work is one that resonates around the world. It is a struggle for decent working conditions, and a determined defence of quality broadcasting and public service values." Source: International Federation of Journalists press release, Brussels, in English 9 Sep 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CHINA. CHINA CLOSES NEARLY 1,000 WEBSITES | Text of report by Hong Kong newspaper Ping Kuo Jih Pao "Apple Daily" website on 8 September; subheading as published Recently, China has imposed tough measures in rectifying the internet. In addition to imposing information censorship via technical channel, it has introduced various measures to step up the censorship efforts. Of which, the most shocking measure is the "website real name system" that requires all websites across the country to file registration statements. At least nearly 1,000 websites were shut down by this covert measure. Reporters Without Borders said: "All the laws, regulations and restrictions which are in force have already provoked panic. They push people to practise self-censorship." Netizens are forced to practise self-censorship The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom Industries on the mainland demanded mainland website responsible personnel register with the authorities concerned on or before 10 July. Any website that refuses to complete their registration or gives false information will be subject to closure. According to incomplete statistics, the authorities have closed 700 websites that refuse to submit their registration. The registration requests filed by some privately-run websites specializing in media supervision were rejected. Reporters Without Borders has all along kept an eye on the freedom of speech situation on the mainland. In an interview with this paper, Vincent Brossel, director of Reporters Without Borders' Asia-Pacific department, said that the website registration requirement is the most frightening measure among various other polices adopted in recent period of time. "It means all the dissident websites and freedom on China's internet will be wiped out in one stroke." Harvard University researcher Ben Edelman [name as transliterated] said it seems that China tries to make use of the website registration requirement to coerce bloggers to abandon their own servers and shift to use other websites which are installed with online filter systems so that the authorities could track them down more easily. He pointed out that China's traditional website control tactics include both technical and legal measures. The combination of these two approaches is aimed at creating an environment that pushes netizens to practice self-censorship. Source: Ping Kuo Jih Pao "Apple Daily" website, Hong Kong, in Chinese 8 Sep 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CHINA. Central People´s Broadcasting Station, Geermu signed off at 1732 UT Sept 9 on 4800. Some QRM by AIR Hyderabad (Jouko Huuskonen, Turku, FINLAND, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see INDIA, next! ** INDIA. AIR Hyderabad, 4800, with news in English heard after the close down of the Chinese station followed by the news in Hindi at 1735 UT. Sign-off at 1740 without local ID. 73 (Jouko Huuskonen, Turku, FINLAND, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. Dear Friends, Now a days I am getting better signals from AIR Cuddapah on 900 kHz. When I contacted the station I was told that they have installed a new 100 kW transmitter recently. Reception Reports are appreciated. Their address is Mr. P. Viswanatham, Suptg. Engineer, All India Radio, Cuddapah 516001, Andhra Pradesh. Yours sincerely, 73 (Jose Jacob, dx_india via DXLD) Spelt Kadapa in WRTH 2005 with the old 100 kW (gh, DXLD) ** INDIA. AIR CHENNAI & AIR THIRUVANANTHAPURAM SPURS Dear friends, Watch out for these two stations with spurious emissions on the 40m amateur radio frequency band and 41mb International SW broadcasting frequencies. AIR Chennai: As soon as they switch on the carrier at 0220 UT on 7160 kHz (for regular modulated programme from 0300), you will be surprised to hear a parallel sign-on with audio of FM Gold on 7045, 7275 (strong signal already there), 7390, 7505 kHz, as also on 6930 kHz. Once the modulation comes up on 7160 at 0300 UT, thereafter you are entertained on the frequencies mentioned above by two audios, one in Tamil (as on 7160 kHz) and the other of FM Gold. You listeners can take your own time to log them, as AIR, is extremely slow in setting things right (after lot of patient listening for a long time). Hi. HI. AIR, Thiruvananthapuram: Less said the better. The worst AIR station, I have ever logged, in over 40 years of SWLing. Here, as soon as their carrier is switched on at 0220 UT on 7290 kHz (modulation comes up at 0230), you are again entertained for a feast of spurious signals on amateur band. The frequencies are 7000, 7024, 7048, 7072, 7096 kHz and on 7314 kHz in the 41 mb. If you are nearer the station, you can get audio also after 0230, but, if you are father away, you have to be satisfied hearing only a carrier, causing heterodyne. Every day, these frequencies vary, as they do the finer settings at the transmitter. The case is over 4 years old, and I am in correspondence with them, since January 2005. They persist in saying that their spectrum analyser does not show anything. But, many of the amateurs of Kerala, do confirm that these emissions are INDEED there. Please take your own time, again, as they have taken up correcting this problem in a five- year programme. Hi. HI. All the observations are made at Bangalore, using Kenwood TS-140S and a 40m inverted vee (dipole antenna). I have written this with the hope, that many of you, in South India and Sri Lanka, can log and complain to AIR, for the deteriorating standards in their technical quality of transmissions and self- monitoring. Have a nice spurious emission DXing. 73, from: (B. L. Manohar Arasu, VU2UR, Monitoring Systems Coordinator, Amateur Radio Society of India, Sept 9, dx_india via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL. RAMADAN APPROACHING - INTERESTING FOR MIDDLE EAST DX Ramadan – First day: October 4 2005; last day: November 2 (or maybe November 3) 2005 http://www.30-days.net/islam/ramadan.htm Many stations in the Islamic areas of the world have special schedules during Ramadan. Often they operate 24/7 so increasing the chance for DXers to hear them. Good luck (Steve Whitt, MWC via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. CABINET DELAYS SATELLITE RADIO LICENCE DECISION OTTAWA - The future of legal satellite radio remains in limbo, with the federal cabinet putting off a decision on the fate of three new licences. The CRTC approved the satellite licences in June, but that decision can be overridden by cabinet. The ministers have until next Wednesday to OK the CRTC move, overturn it, or send the matter back to the regulator for further consideration. Opponents of the decision say it doesn't offer enough Canadian content. Supporters say it will mean vast new exposure for Canadian artists on broadcasts across North America. Heritage Minister Liza Frulla says a decision will come by next week's deadline. . . http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1126209706138_121618906/?hub=Canada (Canadian Press via Sandy Finlayson, PA, Sept 9, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM [non]. XM PROPOSES UP TO 5,000 INDOOR SIGNAL BOOSTERS XM Satellite Radio has requested special temporary authority to operate up to 5,000 indoor signal boosters with an EIRP 100 milliwatts each. The boosters would be used to "provide adequate reception of XM's satellite radio service inside of stores and other establishments where satellite radio receivers are displayed or used, but where signals may be attenuated due to blockage from walls and ceilings," according to the company. If this turns out to be mainly an in-store promotional tool to sell XM receivers, the public could be seriously misled about reception capabilities. http://www.rwonline.com/dailynews/one.php?id=7641 (CGC Communicator Sept 8 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) ** IRELAND NORTHERN [and non]. NORTHERN IRELAND MW SILENT FOR NEXT MONTH I've just learnt from the station that serious technical problems at Lisnagarvey mean that MW transmissions will be silent for up to a month! The BBC web site says until 5th October. The following frequencies are affected: 1341, 720 and 909 kHz In the meantime BBC Ulster programming is being routed via BBC R4 FM outlet. As I write this, 1341 kHz is still on air. Perhaps the recent good reception of Hungary on 1341 has been due to Lisnagarvey being on reduced power? Anyhow, keep an eye on these channels. With 1341 silent suddenly DX on 1340 becomes a possibility; especially at UK sunrise when Hungary would be a weak signal. 73 (Steve Whitt, UK, Sept 6, MWC via DXLD) Looks like change of plan at BBC. Their web site no longer says that Lisnagarvey will be off air till 5/10. It says the transmitter would be off air from 0800 today 7/9, but 1341 kHz is still on air. I've not noted 1341 off air at all. 73 (Steve Whitt, Sept 7, ibid.) ** ISRAEL. Do you have any news at all about the external/SW service situation? Aug 31 was mentioned some time ago as another possible close date. Still in limbo, not dealing with the issue one way or another? (Glenn to Doni Rosenzweig, via DXLD) I've been told that there is now a Board of Governors and a permanent Director General will be appointed in November. A decision would be probably be made sometime shortly after that point (Doni Rosenzweig, Sept 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREAS. NORTH, SOUTH KOREAN BROADCASTERS AGREE TO HOLD JOINT TRADE FAIR | Text of report by Ser Myo-ja entitled: "South, North broadcasters agree to hold joint trade fair", carried in English by South Korean newspaper Chungang Ilbo website on 8 September North Korea will host a trade fair opening late next month for broadcasting products from both Koreas, broadcasting commissions of the North and South agreed yesterday. The South's Korea Broadcasting Commission and the North's Korea Central Broadcasting Commission held talks from Sunday [4 September] till Tuesday at Mount Kumgang in the North and issued a joint press statement yesterday, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency said. The two authorities will hold the exhibition at the end of next month in Pyongyang or Mount Kumgang, the statement said. The two sides agreed to further expand exchanges in broadcasting and relevant technology fields. To this end, they agreed to hold working- level contacts in the near future, Yonhap reported. Sung Yu-bo, head of the inter-Korean broadcasting exchange committee under the South Korean commission, said detailed plans for the fair would be discussed at those talks. "We will also discuss North Korea's proposal of publishing a reference book on broadcasting terminology and the exchange of broadcast workers," he said. Mr Sung said this week's event was the second such, following talks in Pyongyang in 2003. More than 100 people from both broadcasting industries attended the session. They discussed two main issues -programme production and broadcasting technology. Kim Hyo-nam, technology director with the North's Central Broadcasting Commission, said the two Koreas should cooperate further to meet the challenges of the unification era. Source: Chungang Ilbo, Seoul, in English 8 Sep 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** LATVIA. 9290 RELAYS: Sat September 10: Radio six 0600-0700 UT Sun September 11: Radio six 1100-1200 UT, Radio 73 1300-1400 UT. Good Listening (Tom Taylor, Sept 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. Have you heard 1210 lately? KGYN Guymon OK dominates the frequency at night here some 450 miles away right in their null. No sign of Philly. It is obvious they are running day pattern. For anyone that doesn't know, Guymon is 100 miles north of Amarillo TX, not that far from KS, CO and NM line (John Tudenham, Joplin MO, Sept 8, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** QATAR. AL-JAZEERA AIRS MICHAEL MOORE'S FAHRENHEIT 9/11 ON SEPT. 11 As part of its special schedule for commemorating the 9/11 anniversary, Doha-based Al-Jazeera Satellite Channel aired a trailer for Michael Moore's movie, "Fahrenheit 9/11," saying it will air it in full and that this will be the first time the film is shown "on an Arab television station." The trailer said: "One of the most controversial and thought-provoking movies: 'Fahrenheit 9/11,' which won several world prizes, will show for the first time on an Arab television station, exclusively on Al- Jazeera Channel." The film will be shown at 1705 UT on Sunday 11 September. Source: Al-Jazeera TV, Doha, in Arabic 0000 gmt 8 Sep 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. SPECIAL RADIO, Krasnodar, 6240 kHz, E-QSL in 1 day. E- report sent to: anikmay @ specialradio.ru V/s: Maria Anikeeva, The press attache, PR-manager (Luca Botto Fiora - Italy, HCDX via DXLD) Is anyone still hearing it on Fridays as well as Thursdays? (gh) ** SRI LANKA [and non]. Dear Friends, SLBC, Sri Lanka is suddenly noted on 7275 in the morning hours from yesterday which is co-channel to AIR Chennai. SLBC was on 7313 for a short time. (Thanks to VU2UR, Mr. Arasu for the info) SLBC also cut timing of Tamil programs by 1 hour. Now it is at 1130-1230 only (ex 1330)on 7275, 11905 (Thanks to K. Raja, Chennai for the info) Hope that SLBC will change 7275 soon. Yours sincerely, 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, Sept 8, dx_india via DXLD) ** SYRIA [non]. Re 5-158, what`t the URL of the Reform Party blog? The answer appeared in DXLD 5-144: http://reformsyria.blogspot.com (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, dxldyg via DXLD) ** TIBET. Xizang People´s Broadcasting Station, Lhasa played beautiful instrumental Tibetan music. Heard from 1710 till the close down at 1730 UT Sept 9 on 4820 kHz. Only slight QRM by AIR Kolkata (Jouko Huuskonen, Turku, FINLAND, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Re 5-158, LSB or USB on WBCQ 17495? Dear Glenn, Thanks! Gee, can't say. All I know is our exciter is wired for upper sideband only and cannot be changed over without a hard wiring change. Will look into it (Allan Weiner, WBCQ, Sept 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. FCC doesn't regulate VOA. VOA is a separate agency that does its own thing. I found that out only by observation over years of working at VOA. But VOA has to hold to broad regs of the ITU and coordinates with the FCC on assigning frequencies so that a VOA transmission doesn't run co-channel with a private/commercial station. Each quarter VOA sends its wish list to NTIA (whatever that is) along with the private/commercial stations, and NTIA has the VOA and the stations "resolve" the conflicts (whatever THAT means). Maybe VOA sends goons to the private/commercial stations and breaks some knees. I dunno. How to ID a specific VOA station. Good luck. Look at the frequency/time list. Another little-known fact is that each VOA transmitter site has a slightly different sign-on and sign-off version to play on CD coming from HQ Washington. Even most VOA techs don't know that. If you know that, you know for sure which site just signed on or off. Another bunch of useless information that comes straight from me. 73, (Charles A. Taylor, NC, ex-IBB, Sept 8, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. MAGAZINES SCRUTINIZE TOMLINSON Kenneth Tomlinson, as chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, is the boss of my boss of my boss of my boss of my boss of my boss. In the past several weeks, Tomlinson has received much attention in the press for his desire, as chairman of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, to restore what he sees as the CPB-mandated balance to public broadcasting content. More recently, Tomlinson`s simultaneous job as chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors has been examined in newspaper and magazine articles. Art Levine writes in The American Prospect http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewWeb&articleId=10142 (``Voice-Over America,`` 15 August): ``Under Tomlinson`s watch, VOA administrators have pressed the agency`s journalists to report pro- White House spin and too often directed them to downplay hard-hitting news in favor of puffery.`` And from The New Republic (Franklin Foer, ``Bully Pulpit, 15 August – subscription required https://ssl.tnr.com/p/docsub.mhtml?i=20050815&s=foer081505 or visit your local library): ``In the Tomlinson era, VOA management has focused far more intently on burnishing the image of the Bush administration and the Republican Party--a task that falls outside the organization`s ambit.`` For the sake of balance, I`ve been looking in the journals for support for Tomlinson`s performance at the BBG, but haven`t found it yet. The closest thing is a defense by VOA director David Jackson, appointed by Tomlinson and the BBG, of his stewardship of the VOA newsroom, from my website. Views expressed are my own. More at http://kimandrewelliott.com (Kim`s Column, Sept NASWA Journal via DXLD) ** U S A. WHO CONTROLS RADIO FREE ASIA? An AP story http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2005/08/20/us_appoints_human_rights_envoy_for_n_korea/ on 20 August reported about the appointment of Jay Lefkowitz as the State Department`s new special envoy on human rights in North Korea. Specifically it stated: ``As part of his job, Lefkowitz also will be responsible for expanding US-financed Radio Free Asia broadcasts to the area.`` And according to the State Department`s own Washington File, 19 August, http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2005&m=August&x=20050819163023TJkcolluB0.6350214&t=xarchives/xarchitem.html ``Lefkowitz plans to increase broadcasting by Radio Free Asia into North Korea.`` Did I miss something? I thought the International Broadcasting Act of 1994 and other legislation provided autonomy to U.S. international broadcasting. Since when does a State Department functionary take on the responsibility of expanding a U.S. international radio service? (Note that VOA`s Korean Service is not mentioned, which is probably just as well for VOA.) Anyway, typical of U.S. decision making on international broadcasting is the notion that more hours of transmission will solve problems abroad. Surveys of North Korean defectors show that most foreign radio listening in that country is done late at night, when such listening is less likely to be noticed. Tuning in foreign broadcasts can land a North Korean in prison camp, or worse. Hours of broadcasts to North Korea could be increased, but few will likely listen during those expanded hours. Views expressed are my own. More at http://kimandrewelliott.com (Kim`s Column, Sept NASWA Journal via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. RADIO FREE EUROPE CONSIDERS INTERNET OPPORTUNITIES - ADVISOR TO RFE | Text of report in English by Czech news agency CTK Prague, 7 Sep: The goals of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) remain similar to those in the Cold War times and only methods and strategy are changing, adviser to the station Ross Johnson told CTK today. Following extending of its broadcasts to include the countries of the Middle East and Asia the station is now seeking to improve its Internet offer. Televised versions of some of its programmes have even appeared in Ukraine and Bosnia, he said, adding that although there were many information channels in the world that did not necessarily mean better access to information. He said that the use of RFE/RL's websites was rapidly growing also in such countries as Belarus, Uzbekistan or Iran, adding that spread of the information via the Internet was maybe one of the most important moments in its development, but only one of the many methods how to compete with other sources of information. He said that like in the period of the Iron Curtain, the station experienced difficulties in the countries where it has recently started to broadcast. Its reporters are being arrested in Uzbekistan and they have problems with authorities in Belarus. Even in Russia, the collection of information is not as simple as it was until recently, he said. Johnson said that although RFE/RL was fully financed by the US Congress and was considered an indirect part of the US foreign policy, the station was seeking to preserve a large portion of its independence. He said that moving its headquarters from Munich to Prague had been the greatest challenge for Radio Free Europe over the 10 years of its existence in the Czech Republic. Moving from Germany without interrupting broadcasts was really very demanding logistically and at the same time that was the most interesting Prague period, he said. Cooperation with Czech authorities and politicians is excellent, he said. The reaction of some politicians who started to consider Radio Free Europe a security risk after September 11, 2001, is understandable, he said, adding that such fears had certainly appeared in every city and every country. The world still faces a long path before radio stations such as Free Europe will not be necessary, he said, adding that in certain countries of the former Soviet Union, the trend is turning against free media and Free Europe would apparently still find its use in these countries for some time. Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 1708 gmt 7 Sep 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. Hi Glenn, Greetings from Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA. I`m sending you an article about Katrina and its devastation. Venezuela has already donated 2 million dollars to the victims. 73s and good DXing, Adán González KATRINA, RADIO MARTÍ AND IRAQ: BUSH, SHAME ON YOU! Negligence is the winner in the analysis of the Administration`s response to the tragedy caused by Katrina in the southern states of the US; thousands of people have died just in New Orleans and everybody in the world starts to make questions about what happened to the Federal Administration in its dealing with this nationwide disaster. A lot of money that was supposed to go to programs to help these states and their citizens in critical moments like this, has been diverted to issues which are more important to the Bush Administration: Radio Martí and Iraq. That says a lot about the humane character of the gods of war. Millions of dollars go to Radio Marti`s budget. A budget which rises every year thanks to the ``lobbying`` of Cuban-American politicians ``sponsored`` by the Miami-based right-wing ``mafia``. Doubtless, Bush has very good relations with these Cuban groups which have supported terrorist actions against innocent people in Cuba. Created in the early 1980s, Radio Martí has served as an instrument of the most conservative sectors in the US to destroy the Cuban Revolution; Radio Martí has become an element of misinformation and cheap propaganda directed to Cuban audiences. It is a regular guideline for every single American Administration --- to neutralise its ``enemies`` to impose the imperialist agenda of ``free`` trade and domination. I ask Bush, how many lives have been lost in the South because of the millions of ``Benjamins`` diverted to support the lies of Radio Martí? Well, I see you really care about people. You have suspended your vacation 2 days after the whole world saw the destruction provoked by Katrina and you took 3 more days to land on New Orleans to say ``I`m sorry``. What a leader! I bet you would not delay funds to your friends in Radio Martí ever. However, the delay in helping people down in Louisiana has to be seen as a normal thing, or am I wrong? The other issue that is more important to the Bush Administration --- Iraq. Many Americans would not be able to find Iraq on a map, but --- believe it or not --- making war in the Middle East is better than saving American lives at home. Everybody asked ``Where is the National Guard?``, ``Where are the troops?``, ``Where are the helicopters?`` . Come on! The States is the only superpower in the world; how can things like these be happening in such a powerful and developed country like the US? The answer is so simple --- all the troops who were supposed to be in the US to help in these critical situations are not in America. They were sent to Iraq. Lies like those which are broadcast by Radio Martí everyday, were also the excuse to begin a war against a sovereign nation. Do you remember the Weapons of Mass Destruction? An endless negligence is the common feeling in the Bush Administration. A complete and endless carelessness about human nature. A frightening ``what-me-worry`` attitude. The Administration takes money from taxpayers to support such an abject entity like Radio Martí or to deploy troops in Iraq, but not at all to protect Americans from natural disasters. Bush, shame on you! P.S. Mr. Bush, stop worrying about Chávez and Venezuela. I think you have a lot of things to worry about in your own country, haven`t you? (Adán González, Catia La Mar, Vargas State, VENEZUELA, Sept 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Hi, I listened to WHRI this morning at 0450 UT on 5835 kHz with quite good reception. At 0459 [Sept 9] they talked about switching to other frequencies and identified as WHRI. At 0500 started the URBOBO Radio from WWL with CBS News, BUT the strength was dramatically lower and difficult to listen to. It seemed as they switched over to some kind of relaying directly from another radio or computer. I heard identifications for URBONO and WWL. Best wishes from (Björn Fransson, DX-ing from the island of Gotland, Sweden, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Checked 9840 again just before 2400 Sept 8 and nothing audible. But, at 0520 Sept 9, URBONO is going again on 5835, tho not the big solid signal it had been. I see the WWL website still has the revised SW schedule on it. 73, (Glenn Hauser, OK, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) It's about 0610 UT and WHRI is again relaying WWL on 5835 kHz. Very decent signal -- I'm using only my radio without extra wire or amplified antenna. Meanwhile, WWL 870 kHz is barely detectable here beneath the urban noise and mixing with some other station. Just after the post-news commercial break, one of the announcers acknowledged that "after the sun goes down, the big skywave kicks in." He said the station is heard in 38 U.S. states and in 14 foreign countries. [only 38??? Thought it was 42. And which 14 foreign countries, pray tell, with their null toward the south? WWL has certainly been heard in countries all over the world, at one time or another, but IS HEARD in 14, meaning any old time? --- gh] The shortwave relay fell silent about 0630 UT. Carrier still on, but no audio. The WWL webcast is still working, though. A commercial and the WHRI station ID came on about 0703. Back to silence for a few minutes, and now the carrier is off, too, at 0706 (Ricky Leong, Calgary, Alta., Sept 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WWL relay by WHRI came in strong on 5835 kHz this morning (9/9/05) in the 0900 UT hour; exact time unsure because I was trying to get back to sleep and fiddling with my new Kaito WRX-911 tiny analog set. Originally picked it up as an image 900 or 910 kHz low and then checked 5835 on both the Kaito and the Satellit 800 and it was there with both WWL and URBONO IDs and then a WHRI ID around 1000 UT; I then retuned to RN on 9790 kHz and eventually got back to sleep... 73, (Will Martin, MO, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) URBONO going as usual Friday morning Sept 9, before 1400 on 11785, afterwards on 15285. Note the official schedule shows some variations on Sat and Sun from what we have been hearing (or not) on weekdays. [Later:] This time 15285 stayed on, still going at 1630 with URBONO, tho with another annoying interruption for WHRI ID at 1629. Signal starting to fade down (Glenn Hauser, OK, realtime posts Sept 9 on dxldyg via DXLD) [Later2:] Still going past 1900, I think. Regarding missing 9840, Sept 8 at 2200-2400, perhaps they got a complaint from Italy about the interference, as noted in Argentina by Arnaldo Slaen. Angel 1 normally stays on 15285 until 2400, per the still-posted WHR frequency schedule, not taking into account the temporary URBONO relays. 9840 does show, however, at 22-24 Sundays only via Angel 2. We shall hear today whether it be missing again (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. THE RADIO STATION THAT COULD, AND DID, AND STILL DOES, HELP By DAN BARRY Published: September 9, 2005 BATON ROUGE, La., Sept. 8 - The president of St. Tammany Parish was calling in Thursday to say that conditions out there were gradually improving, while Sam from St. Bernard held one line, Adrian from Metairie held another, and Sheila, just Sheila, ached to get on the air with an urgent request. . . http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/09/national/nationalspecial/09radios.html?ex=1126843200&en=5af04ac79a7f28d4&ei=5070&emc=eta1 (via Jim Moats, DXLD) About WASO --- NO, just kidding, about WWL and URBONO --- any mention of the SW relay? Of course not! (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. KUDOS TO CLEAR CHANNEL I heard a nice story of cooperation between Clear Channel and Entercom on NPR over the weekend. Cannot find the story on their website, but similar comments [appear at the URL below]. In a spirit of cooperation, Clear Channel has been lending its helicopter to Entercom to help Entercom evacuate [the affected New Orleans area]." CGC Communicator reader http://tinyurl.com/aqekx (CGC Communicator Sept 8 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) Here`s one: NEW ORLEANS RADIO STATION BECOMES LIFELINE Audio for this story will be available at approx. 3:00 p.m. ET Day to Day, September 9, 2005 WWL Big 870, the local Clear Channel {sic!} radio station in New Orleans, has become a lifeline, a rumor mill and an outlet to vent frustration for many in the area. Mike Pesca reports. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4839222 (via gh, DXLD) About URBONO too; does it ever mention SW relay? Of course not! (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. BBC - Radio 4 - "A World in Your Ear" - Katrina Hi Glenn, "A World in Your Ear", BBC Radio 4, 1230-1300 UT today (9 September), was devoted to US radio coverage and the emergency arrangements (URBONO, etc.) in the wake of Katrina including an excerpt from what turned out to be a prophetic programme, "Nature's Revenge", which was originally broadcast in September 2002. Already available to "Listen Again" (despite the text about iPods etc.) and hopefully for another week. Best Wishes (Paul Kennett, Chorleywood, Herts., UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) And AWIYE repeats Sundays at 1900 UT on BBCR4 (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. KATRINA'S WAKE: SCORES OF BROADCASTERS STILL SILENT http://www.billboardradiomonitor.com/radiomonitor/news/business/programming/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001070343 (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. WEBCASTERS CREATE LIVE STREAMING MEDIA KATRINA EMERGENCY INFORMATION PORTAL The International Webcasting Association (IWA) has announced that it is working with major broadcasters, news organizations, ISPs, technology companies, IWA members, and relief support organizations across the country to create a live streaming media Emergency Katrina Information Portal at: http://www.webcasters.org There are constant requests for the latest local and national information about the situation. Yet, until now, there has been no central source to find audio and video news on the disaster, especially for families who have relatives in the disaster zone, but who otherwise have no direct access to local Gulf broadcast information. Webcasters.org now serves as a streaming aggregation and information portal that provides the latest links to live Katrina Relief broadcasts and Gulf Coast radio and TV station, web audio and video feeds from news outlets, ham radio operators, and citizen journalists, as well as podcasts and even videoblogs covering the relief efforts in the Gulf of Mexico. The Emergency Katrina Streaming Information Portal is a joint, non- partisan industry effort to assist those in need, facilitated by the IWA. Information on the contributing companies is featured on the website. # posted by Andy @ 10:28 UT Sept 9 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** U S A. 2001 PREDICTION OF HURRICANE DAMAGE TO NEW ORLEANS "A major hurricane could swamp New Orleans under 20 feet of water, killing thousands... The boxes are stacked eight feet high and line the walls of the large, windowless room. Inside them are new body bags, 10,000 in all...." These words were written in Scientific American for October 2001 - a fascinating article now available free online. Scientists and engineers had the risks figured out well in advance. Thanks to Radio World for the tip. http://tinyurl.com/eyrrl RADIO, TELEPHONE OUTAGES POSE CHALLENGE TO NEW ORLEANS As of late last week, about 20 public safety agencies in New Orleans were struggling to share a single radio channel, and lack of electricity compounded the problem as handheld radios began losing battery power. A bridge that collapsed across Lake Pontchartrain carried the fiber optic cables supplying the city with much of its telephone and Internet access. http://tinyurl.com/9l9jx FCC REPORT ON THE COMMUNICATIONS IMPACT OF HURRICANE KATRINA Following is the September 7 statement of Kenneth Moran, Director of the FCC's Office of Homeland Security, as prepared for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce. In the wake of the Katrina disaster according to Mr. Moran, only two AM and two FM stations stayed on the air out of the 41 radio stations assigned to the New Orleans area. http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-260895A1.pdf For inside telephone numbers at the FCC relative to STA requests, etc. for Hurricane Katrina recovery, see: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-260902A1.doc FCC REASSIGNS 1-800-RED-CROSS TO THE RED CROSS Following is a very curious FCC announcement - perhaps more curious for what it does not say (the behind-the-scenes story) than what it does say. A company called "1-800 Ideas.com, Inc." - which is based in San Diego and incorporated in Nevada - holds the rights to the toll-free 1-800- RED-CROSS number (1-800-733-2767). In light of the widespread disaster caused by Hurricane Katrina, the FCC has decided to take the number away from 1-800 Ideas.com for a period of one year, and reassign it to the Red Cross. The FCC used this opportunity to remind everyone that, "....the Commission has created regulations and emphasized the importance of guarding against warehousing, hoarding, and brokering of toll-free numbers to ensure that numbers are made available on an equitable basis." There just might be an important message here. http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-05-163A1.doc (CGC Communicator Sept 8 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. A LETTER FROM AMERICAN ROUTES HOST NICK SPITZER... To all of our friends, family, colleagues, and listeners, The city and people we love have taken a hit few could have imagined --- and it's far from over. We are all trying to grapple with where to go, how long to be there, what to do next, and when, if ever, we'll get back to the New Orleans we know and cherish. First, rest assured that our entire New Orleans staff is safe with family and friends, spread from Birmingham to Oxford (MS), Natchez (MS), Baton Rouge, Lafayette (LA), and Houston. I, and American Routes assistant producer Jason Rhein, did the final evacuation of the Routes studios in the French Quarter on Sunday. We spent three hours copying essential hard drives, securing future programs-in-progress, laying down plastic sheeting, and barring windows and doors with 2x4s. The studios are up 20 feet on the second floor, and we want to believe that all our original archival tapes (DATs, LPs, 45s, CDs, books, photos, art work, and radio gear) are OK. We likewise want to believe that our homes are dry, secure, and undamaged. Neither can be determined with certainty, though the blogs of friends driving by the city and some of the TV footage give us hope. For the time being, we have a very cool Labor Day show running this weekend, featuring interviews with Johnny Rivers -- the Italian- American rockabilly from Baton Rouge who went to LA's Whiskey-a-Go-Go -- and Toots Hibbert of Toots and the Maytals reggae fame. It's a music mix about work and its discontents, as well as play and partying for what should have been a nice long weekend for all of us. Our hearts are light enough to joke about everything, and at the same time, you can see I'm still here promoting a Routes show. I hope you all will stick with us in the coming months and lend us your ears and ideas. Next week, we hope to bring you a post-hurricane program from here in Lafayette, LA. Beyond that, we have great new programs devoted to Johnny Cash, Flaco Jiménez, and Eddie Palmieri, and we'll also bring out some encore classics. If you have thoughts for music, programs, ways to rise above the flood, etc. please e-mail us at mail @ amroutes.org Until that time, the best you can do for us is to keep us in your thoughts, and stay tuned! Nick Spitzer, host (from http://www.kmuw.org/NickSpitzer.html via DXLD) ** U S A. RADIO STATION FOR KATRINA EVACUEES STALLED AT ASTRODOME --- KAMP Was Intended to Provide Information for Those Housed at Houston Sports Facility --- By NANCY CHANDROSS Sep. 8, 2005 - Before it could even get on the air, the plug appears to be pulled on what might be called "Radio Free Katrina" -- a volunteer effort to create a tiny radio station for hurricane evacuees housed at the Astrodome. The small, makeshift 30-watt radio station was to be broadcast under the name KAMP, or Katrina Aftermath Media Project, and was intended to provide vital information regarding schools, housing and finances to the thousands of evacuees now living in the Houston sports arena. Evacuees were also to be given opportunities to record short messages to be broadcast in the hopes of reconnecting with friends and loved ones. "It's really unfortunate. We had Sony Corporation donating 10,000 radios, we had all the equipment to have it on air in the entire complex," said Rice University media professor Tish Stringer, who worked on the project. "I'm stunned, I'm disappointed." They were prepared to begin building the station today, after receiving permission from the Federal Communications Commission, the mayor of Houston and the governor of Texas. But organizers received word late Wednesday that they were being denied their request to broadcast from inside the sports arena. Stringer said her group was told by the Joint Operations Center at the Astrodome that officials could not provide the radio station with electricity. Organizers say they offered to use battery power for KAMP, but were still denied. Officials with the Joint Operation Center have not responded to multiple requests for comment. "We are not done," said Hannah Sassman of Prometheus Radio, a nonprofit organization that supports local community radio efforts and helped coordinate KAMP. "We're going to keep trying --- keep organizing around the radio community to develop content specifically geared around the population and people who have lost their homes." Giving a Voice to the Displaced The denial comes after a hectic week for volunteers working to organize KAMP. Media activists from the Houston area say the idea for the Astrodome radio station came after they interviewed some of the thousands of Katrina evacuees living there, and were repeatedly told information wasn't being distributed to them. Stringer felt a radio station could fill that void and started working on the project over Labor Day weekend as the Astrodome filled. Stringer secured a donation from Sony Entertainment of 10,000 radios, which would have been distributed in the arena. The station was to be run entirely by volunteers -- from producers and engineers, to those on-air who would read vital information regarding the distribution of food, housing resources and schooling options. Stringer described the existing public address system in the Astrodome as loud and garbled. Volunteers have also been walking through the Astrodome with video cameras to record personal stories from the inhabitants, who previously endured several chaotic days at the New Orleans Superdome after Katrina struck. KAMP organizers planned to broadcast some of the responses on the radio station. "People want to know how their loved ones are," said one volunteer, Harbeer Sandhu. "They seem to be totally in the dark and they want to be heard. They want to both hear of ways to connect to these services and tell these stories of how they've been let down by bureaucratic institutions." Sandhu, who is 28 and self-employed, said he planned to spend at least a few hours a day at the station. He said he was among many students and media professionals interested in helping with KAMP. "We are all sort of taking time off from our other activities but we feel a really pressing need for a way that we can make a noticeable difference." Organizers had hoped KAMP would be a way to help create a community at the Astrodome -- and also let evacuees record messages for their loved ones to be streamed on the Internet and broadcast in shelters in other cities. Sandhu said his volunteer work with the KAMP project showed the need to give a voice to Katrina survivors. "Their eyes glaze over and tear up whenever they talk about the Superdome. They say that they're not used to living that way and things were pretty bad there," he said. Disappointing Radio Sign-Off KAMP organizers say they are disappointed not to be on the air. "We tried to work with the FCC -- who were amazing -- they were working 24 hours a day all holiday weekend to expedite requests," said Stringer. They obtained three licenses for stations in the Astrodome and the two surrounding buildings housing evacuees, along with permission from the city of Houston to broadcast. Now the entire project is on hold, however. Copyright © 2005 ABC News Internet Ventures (via Bill Smith, IA, Sept 8, DXLD) With a much different take on it is this story; at least it gives a frequency: (gh) HOUSTON ASTRODOME GETS ITS OWN RADIO STATION Thursday, Sept. 8, 2005 The FCC has authorized a 30-watt low-power FM station to operate inside the stadium and deliver information to the approximately 10,000 Hurricane Katrina evacuees currently living there. Licensed to the nonprofit, Texas-based Austin Airwaves, the station --- which operates at 95.3 --- will air news about storm-recovery efforts in the Gulf Coast, along with information about jobs and enrolling children in Houston-area schools. According to a report in the Los Angeles Times, the station's signal will travel three to five miles from the Astrodome. The station was slated to go on the air today, but the Astrodome asked the station to hold off until portable radios with earphones could be obtained so people can listen without disturbing others. Austin Airwaves has been negotiating with Sony about donating some radios to accomplish that goal (radioand records.com via Brock Whaley, DXLD) ** U S A. LONE CELLULAR RECEPTION SPOT BECOMES TOWN'S LIFELINE by BAIRD HELGESON --- Sep 7, 2005 BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. --- Robert Elkins got word from a friend. It was more of a rumor, really. There was a tiny patch of cell phone reception on the edge of a washed-out bridge on the outskirts of town. Authorities started to call it "the road to nowhere, with a connection to everywhere." . . . This story can be found at: http://tampatrib.com/nationworldnews/MGBWLRW3BDE.html (via Terry L Krueger, FL, DXLD) ** U S A. MORE ON KLSD's PROPOSED 50,000 WATT OPERATION KLSD, 1360 kHz, San Diego, is proposing to relocate its transmitter and increase power as mentioned in last week's Communicator. The present operation is 5 kW day/1 kW night into a single tall (184.5 electrical degree) tower. The proposed operation calls for 50 kW diplexed full time into the KSDO 6-tower array, with different radiation patterns day & night. The peculiar part of this move is that the proposed power increase will result in little overall coverage improvement for KLSD in populated areas, and some coverage loss. See the URL below for KLSD's before and after coverage contours as filed with the FCC. Ordinarily, a dramatic transmitter move like this one would be expected to pay large, handsome dividends. The only argument heard in favor of the move is that building penetration will improve because of increased power density, but we have not seen any studies along those lines. http://tinyurl.com/caoeu THE EARLY DAYS AT KLSD (KGB) I worked for KGB Radio in the early 60s. The transmitter was then on top of the Pickwick Hotel in downtown San Diego with a horizontal clothes line antenna and 1000 watts of power. We really didn't cover San Diego very well from this location but got mail from New Zealand where they could occasionally hear us at night. I wonder how the new 50,000 watt facility will compare (Ron Estes, KTLA-TV, Channel 5, Los Angeles, CGC Communicator Sept 8 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. Glenn - I noted with interest the discussion regarding WOR's marketing strategy, IBOC and protected signal contours -- I was not aware of any rules that prohibit a station from having a salesman visit wherever he wants to selling advertising slots. Perhaps it's different now; back in the 1960s and 1970s, Toronto-area businesses would advertise on Buffalo's 102.5 FM (then WBEN-FM, now WTSS-FM) because the station put a very good signal into southern Ontario, even though I'm sure that southern Ontario wasn't part of the official US contour! I believe the WOR guy is mistaken unless the rules changed. What seems to make sense is that a listener who complained of interference outside of a station's published signal contour would have such complaint ignored by the FCC -- at least during the day, so a station that spends marketing dollars outside of their contour does so at their own peril. I'd be interesting in seeing the resolution of that discussion -- I believe Scott Fybush asked to see the "page, chapter and verse" from the regs --- hope you can keep that thread in DXLD until the issue is sorted out (Rich Cuff, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** URUGUAY. Información desde Montevideo --- Dentro del ciclo referido al rescate de material de archivo radiofónico que vengo realizando desde 1994, en Radio Sarandi 690 AM, estaré en pocas horas el Viernes 9 de Setiembre a las 2040 TU, con el tema ``FUTBOL A LAS PEDRADAS POR TELEGRAFIA Y EL CHALECO TRANSMISOR``, lo cual usted podrá sintonizar ingresando al siguiente sitio http://www.sarandi690.com.uy quedando cargado allí hasta el Lunes. El 24 y 25 será en Uruguay el día del Patrimonio Nacional, en el cual edificios públicos y diversas instituciones abren para todo publico. Este año esta dedicado a Carlos Sole, relator histórico de Uruguay y en especial de Radio Sarandí para tal fecha estará funcionando un museo en la Radio, y una programación de 48 rescatándola mejor historia grabada de la radio entre otras actividades. En ellas estoy trabajando junto a un grupo de más de 10 profesionales. De estar interesado será un gran gusto prepararle un texto más detallado conocidos o mejor dicho confirmados mas detalles de esta transmisión histórica que incluirá alto parlantes en el circuito cultural de la Ciudad Vieja de Montevideo, etc. Espero su respuesta para organizarle un texto acorde a la difusión que usted le brinda a estas actividades vinculadas a la radio. Un fuerte abrazo desde Montevideo, Uruguay (Gabriel Gómez, Montevideo, Uruguay, Diexista e Historiador de la Radio, Web: http://es.geocities.com/archivoradio/gabrielgomez.html Sept 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Adelante (gh) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Estimado Glenn Hauser, como siempre de sumo interés las noticias referidas a Diexismo y comunicaciones, aparecidas tanto en forma escrita como radial, las cuales son muy apreciadas por este aficionado a la radioescucha diexista aquí en Montevideo (Gabriel Gómez, Montevideo, Uruguay, Sept 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) & see URUGUAY above PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ 26TH EDITION OF THE AM RADIO LOG THE 26TH EDITION BEGINS SHIPPING SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 - ORDER YOURS NOW! The AM Radio Log is the world's best, and most accurate source on AM Radio Stations in the United States and Canada. The 26th edition of the Log contains 276 pages in 8-1/2" x 11" size, 3-hole punched, U.S. loose leaf format. This publication fits nicely into a 1/2" three-ring binder. Nearly 3500 updates since last year's 25th Edition of the log! Recent additions to the log lists call letters of FM simulcasts and listing of regional groups of stations in the groups section, on page xii, (a separate section of the log book). Talk Radio hosts and their syndicator or network appear on page xiv. Order by check, money order, or by credit card by clicking on the appropriate button below. . . http://www.nrcdxas.org/catalog/amlog/ (via gh, DXLD) Already have my copy; it`s terrific, indispensable, and some listings from it already cited in DXLD (gh) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ SHORTWAVE AS THE FAILSAFE First, the government of Côte d`Ivoire evicted Radio France International was evicted from its FM frequencies because of its reporting of domestic Ivorian news. Then it managed to ``interrupt`` RFI on the Canal Satellite Horizons DTH service, which is received in about 25,000 households in the country. And, so, RFI has decided to increase --- actually, to restore --- its shortwave output to Africa. The European Broadcasting Union reports http://www.ebu.ch/en/union/news/2005/tcm_6-39479.php that ``these relays can be shut down by the local authorities for political reasons, as seen on numerous occasions over the past few years, in particular in various African countries where FM relays operated by the BBC, RFI and Voice of America have been closed down several times.`` See the RFI website for the added shortwave frequencies http://www.rfi.fr/Fichiers/ecouter/message_cotedivoire20050715.asp This is a good example of shortwave as the failsafe. It is the medium that gets through when other media do not. Yes, shortwave can be jammed, but usually not 100 percent effectively. Uniquely among the media available to international broadcasting, shortwave is granted by physics substantial immunity from interdiction, because (as if I need to explain this to NASWA members) the distant broadcaster is often heard with a better signal than the closer jamming transmitter. Satellites can rather easily be jammed: a few watts on the uplink frequency can obliterate the entire footprint. More commonly, however, content via satellite is stopped by way politico-commercial pressure on the satellite company. As for websites, they are thoroughly and famously blocked by many governments. But shortwave manages to get through. International broadcasters should keep this in mind before they decommission more of their shortwave transmitters. Views expressed are my own. More at http://kimandrewelliott.com (Kim`s Column, Sept NASWA Journal via DXLD) GREAT CIRCLE MAPS ON THE WEB? Does anyone know if there is a website available that can show great circle bearings from a listener's actual location? In this case, if an SWL could provide his location or geographical coordinates, a great circle map with the listener's location at the center can be uploaded and the actual map would be shown with azimuths for bearings to help provide where the transmitting station is coming from--a plus for antenna setup or rotation. The map can be printed out for a user's reference. I recall that Al Drehmann used to provide a great circle list, with distances in miles from the transmitting station, for listeners who provided him with G.C's or the actual QTH of their listening site (Joe Hanlon in New Jersey, Sept 6, via gh, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello, Here is a software very light and easy to use. http://perso.wanadoo.fr/f5rqq/soft1.htm and click on AZIMUT (Alain F8ENF Goy, France, ibid.) Perhaps the following url may be of useful for your enquiry. http://dx.qsl.net/propagation/greyline.html Regards, (Hari Madugula, http://geocities.com/ysrc_india ibid.) There are some links on this page http://www.ac6v.com/software.htm Scroll down to CLOCKS, GREYLINE, GREAT CIRCLE, GRID SQUARES (Mike Barraclough, UK, ibid.) I don't know if this is exactly what you're looking for, but check out the AZ_PROJ website: http://www.wm7d.net/azproj.shtml 73, de (Nate Bargmann, Wireless | Amateur Radio Station N0NB, ibid.) Glenn: You may already be familiar with the downloadable pgm (free) called DX Atlas. Does a great job in that area. URL: http://www.dxatlas.com/ 73, (Alan Carter, ibid.) Take your pick, Joe. Tnx to everyone for the variety of responses (gh) DIGITAL BROADCASTING ++++++++++++++++++++ DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRM SYSTEM WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF WRC-07 AGENDA ITEM 1-13 [4 pages pdf:] http://tinyurl.com/art6u This is an EU document about frequency allocation issues to be addressed at the World Administrative Radio Conference 07. One quote referring to a previous discussion: Switching a programme stream over to DRM only poses considerable risks as regards to keeping the audience... while improved audio quality is an important objective it is difficult to justify such expenditure if the audience prefers not to spend the money on a niche market for DRM receivers and goes elsewhere. There's an interesting subtext about Europe wanting to retain its lead in mass market digital sound broadcasting over the USA in this document. They are looking for evenly spaced HF broadcasting spectrum to facilitate DRM. Of course any decisions taken at WRC-07 in this regard will take time to implement (Mike Barraclough, UK, Sept 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) DIGITAL RADIO MONDIAL: Updated schedule of DRM SW transmissions as of Sep. 9: 3955 JUL 040 kW / non-dir to WeEu 1400-1600 TDP Radio Music Sat 3995 WER 200 kW / non-dir to WeEu 1600-1000 DW German 5875 RMP 035 kW / 080 deg to WeEu 1800-1900 BBC WS English 5875 RMP 035 kW / 080 deg to WeEu 0700-0830-1900 BBC WS English 5955 FLE 040 kW / non-dir to WeEu 1700-1800 Radio Sweden English/German 5980 SIN 090 kW / 040 deg to WeEu 2100-2200 DW English 5990 JUN 050 kW / non-dir to WeEu 0000-2400 BCE/RTL French 6085 ISM 050 kW / non-dir to WeEu 0400-2200 BRF German 6095 JUN 050 kW / non-dir to WeEu 0000-2400 BCE/RTL German 6130 WER 200 kW / non-dir to WeEu 0600-1000 DW German/English (ex 5975) 6140 JUL 040 kW / 120 deg to WeEu 1000-1300 DW English/German 6140 JUL 040 kW / 120 deg to WeEu 1600-1900 DW English/German 6180 WER 200 kW / non-dir to WeEu 1400-1600 DW German/English 7145 JUL 040 kW / 290 deg to WeEu 1000-1800 BCE/RTL English 7160 test;test; test;test to WeEu 0900-1600 RMC French 7175 WER 200 kW / 040 deg to WeEu 1600-1700 DW English 7240 FLE 040 kW / 123 deg to WeEu 0800-0900 RNW Dutch 7240 FLE 040 kW / 123 deg to WeEu 0900-1100 RNW English 7240 FLE 040 kW / 123 deg to WeEu 1100-1300 RNW Dutch/English 7240 FLE 040 kW / 123 deg to WeEu 1300-1330 RCI English 7240 FLE 040 kW / 123 deg to WeEu 1330-1400 RNW English 7240 FLE 040 kW / 123 deg to WeEu 1400-1415 Vatican Radio German 7240 FLE 040 kW / 123 deg to WeEu 1415-1700 RNW Dutch 7265 WER 200 kW / non-dir to WeEu 0600-1200 DW German/English 7265 SIN 090 kW / 040 deg to WeEu 0700-0900 DW English/German 7265 WER 200 kW / 040 deg to WeEu 1700-1800 DW German 7320 RMP 035 kW / 105 deg to WeEu 0830-1800 BBC WS English 7325 FLE 040 kW / 123 deg to WeEu 0600-0800 RNW Dutch 7465 KVI 050 kW / 190 deg to CeEu 1600-1930 BBC WS English 7515 MSK 040 kW / 260 deg to WeEu 1900-2100 DW German/English 9470 KVI 050 kW / 190 deg to CeEu 0700-1600 BBC WS English 9480 MSK 035 kW / 240 deg to WeEu 1300-1500 VOR WS Russian/English 9480 MSK 035 kW / 240 deg to WeEu 1500-1700 VOR German/French 9565 RMP 035 kW / 095 deg to WeEu 1400-1500 BYU Radio English Sun 9655 WER 200 kW / 300 deg to WeEu 1200-1400 DW German/English 9690 MSK 040 kW / 260 deg to WeEu 0400-0600 DW German/English 9720 MOS 050 kW / 295 deg to WeEu 0800-0900 Talksport English 9770 RMP 035 kW / 095 deg to WeEu 1400-1430 RFI English Fri 9770 RMP 035 kW / 095 deg to WeEu 1400-1430 RNZI English Sat 9770 RMP 035 kW / 095 deg to WeEu 1400-1500 BYU Radio English Wed 9770 RMP 035 kW / 095 deg to WeEu 1430-1500 KBS World English Fri 9770 RMP 035 kW / 095 deg to WeEu 1430-1500 Radio Australia English Sat 9770 RMP 035 kW / 095 deg to WeEu 1500-1600 RTI English Fri 9770 RMP 035 kW / 095 deg to WeEu 1600-1700 NHK World English Fri 9800 SAC 070 kW / 268 deg to NoAm 1945-2030 Vatican Radio English 9800 SAC 070 kW / 268 deg to NoAm 2030-2100 RNW English 9800 SAC 070 kW / 268 deg to NoAm 2100-2200 RCI English 9800 SAC 070 kW / 268 deg to NoAm 2200-2230 DW English 9800 SAC 070 kW / 268 deg to NoAm 2230-2300 Radio Sweden English 9800 SAC 070 kW / 268 deg to NoAm 2300-2400 BBC WS English 9880 KBD 120 kW / 282 deg to NoAf 1315-1730 Radio Kuwait Arabic 11675 KBD 120 kW / 350 deg to NoAm 2200-0200 Radio Kuwait Arabic 11815 MOS 050 kW / 295 deg to WeEu 1000-1100 CVC English (1000-1300 till Sep. 13) 11900 SAC 070 kW / 240 deg to NoAm 1600-1800 TDP Radio Music Sat 11900 SAC 070 kW / 240 deg to NoAm 1800-1830 NASB English Sat[v below] 11955 SAC 070 kW / 268 deg to NoAm 0300-0400 BBC WS English 13620 KBD 120 kW / 310 deg to WeEu 0915-1300 Radio Kuwait Arabic 13790 SIN 090 kW / 040 deg to WeEu 1500-1800 DW German/English 15215 RMP 035 kW / 062 deg to EaEu 1800-1900 BBC Russian 15265 SIN 090 kW / 040 deg to WeEu 1200-1600 DW German/English 15435 SIN 090 kW / 050 deg to SoEu 1800-2000 DW German/English 15440 SIN 090 kW / 040 deg to WeEu 0800-1500 DW German/English 15545 SIN 090 kW / 040 deg to WeEu 0900-1200 DW English/German 15780 MSK 035 kW / 240 deg to WeEu 0600-0900 VOR WS English 15780 MSK 035 kW / 240 deg to WeEu 0900-1200 VOR German 21675 TRM 090 kW / 300 deg to NeME 0700-1000 DW English (Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 9, via DXLD) Glenn: NASB hasn't been running the DRM programs from Sackville for months now. We've talked about possibly resuming the programs in the future, but perhaps from another site. Nothing definite yet (Jeff White, NASB, Sept 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Another new URL for RTL As expected, http://www.digitalradiodr.com/ has launched and is an information site about digital radio. DR is the brand name that will be used to promote Digital Radio in Europe. See the website for more. (Andy Sennitt, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Here's a report in German with pictures from someone who attended the fair spotted by N. Scheer on the drmrx forums: http://www.funkerberg.de/drm/ifa2005/index.htm The model he has got most information and pictures on is the Roberts/Sangean RD2 to be released in the German market for Christmas, 250 to 300 Euros (Mike Barraclough, swprograms via DXLD) Report in English with links to pictures of receivers on DRM at IFA http://tinyurl.com/dggaf (Mike Barraclough, DX LISTENING DIGEST) POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ INITIAL BPL TEST RESULTS - SAN DIEGO Some ham radio interference from SDG&E's initial BPL tests has been reported, particularly to the WARC bands. However, instead of launching a formal complaint with the FCC at this time - and in consideration of the small geographic area being tested - some folks are recommending that the ARRL wait until all of SDG&E's proposed BPL tests have gotten underway before a report or complaint is filed with the FCC. Interference to broadcast frequencies has yet to be tested, as far as we know (CGC Communicator Sept 8 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ TRANSPACIFIC DX [MEDIUMWAVE TO FLORIDA] Ray speaks: Strange conditions this morning (August 24) with the approach of geomagnetic storms. Top of band dead, no DU signals. Then at 1044 UTC, weak carriers showed up on 1575 and 1566, peaked to good strength at 1052 and back down into noise within a few minutes. Meanwhile the usual DU on the x-band and 1557, 1548, 1512, 1503 not a trace. No nulls on either carrier which is usual for 1575. This is early in the season for 1575 which is fairly common in December and January - not much experience with 1566. Local sunrise this morning at 1104 UTC. Hopefully west coast DXers were listening. Yesterday August 23, x-band 1683.5, 1665, 1647, 1638, 1629 all had weak to good carriers peaking toward local sunrise while 1611 had jumble of audio (Ray Moore, Ft. Myers FL (26 36'N 81 55'W); R8, homebrew receiver, 23- inch spiral loop, Comdel preamp, NRC IDXD Sept 12 via DXLD) Space Weather Message Code: SUMX01 Serial Number: 53 Issue Time: 2005 Sep 09 0313 UTC SUMMARY: X-ray Event exceeded X1 Begin Time: 2005 Sep 09 0243 UTC Maximum Time: 2005 Sep 09 0300 UTC End Time: 2005 Sep 09 0307 UTC X-ray Class: X1.1 Optical Class: 2f Location: S13E66 NOAA Scale: R3 - Strong Space Weather Message Code: SUMX01 Serial Number: 54 Issue Time: 2005 Sep 09 1015 UTC SUMMARY: X-ray Event exceeded X1 Begin Time: 2005 Sep 09 0942 UTC Maximum Time: 2005 Sep 09 0959 UTC End Time: 2005 Sep 09 1008 UTC X-ray Class: X3.6 Optical Class: sf Location: S10E64 NOAA Scale: R3 - Strong NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at http://www.sec.noaa.gov/NOAAscales (SEC via DXLD) ACTIVE SUNSPOT GROUP CONTINUES TO PRODUCE SIGNIFICANT FLARES **** Official Space Weather Advisory issued by NOAA Space Environment Center Boulder, Colorado, USA SPACE WEATHER ADVISORY BULLETIN #05- 9 2005 September 09 at 7:32 a.m. MDT (2005 September 09 1332 UTC) NOAA sunspot Region 808, which yielded a powerful X17 flare (R4 radio blackout) on 07 Sep, continues to produce significant activity. Over the past 24 hours, this region produced several more major flares to include three X-class flares, which resulted in R3 radio blackouts, and several M-class flares producing R1 and R2 radio blackouts. An S2 radiation storm began soon after the X17 flare on 07 Sep and remains in progress. Active Region 808 is currently located near the southeast limb of the visible solar surface. This region is a large and very complex sunspot cluster, which is still rotating into view. Early indications are that it is almost nine times the size of Earth. Over the next several days this region will rotate towards center disk where solar activity is much more likely to impact Earth. A powerful and very fast coronal mass ejection (CME) accompanied the X17 flare on 07 Sep. The magnetic cloud associated with this CME will not directly impact Earth; however, a lesser impact is expected today which will likely result in G1 through G3 geomagnetic storm conditions. Expect continued significant solar flares from this region as it makes its passage across the visible disk over the next 11 days. Radiation storms in the S3 or even S4 levels are possible. Significant geomagnetic storms are likely, beginning early next week as this region moves towards the center of the visible side of the Sun. Communications groups are already experiencing problems due to this activity. Other agencies impacted by space weather are at increasing risk for disruption. These include spacecraft operations and other space activities, electric power systems, HF communications, and navigation systems such GPS. Data used to provide space weather services are contributed by NOAA, USAF, NASA, NSF, USGS, the International Space Environment Services and other observatories, universities, and institutions. More information is available at SEC's Web site http://sec.noaa.gov (SEC via DXLD) I was nearly disappointed last Wed. Sep. 7 after spending all afternoon building a Terminated Tilted Folded Dipole, convinced of its good results as I used one some years ago and after much reading lately. I recommend this antenna for its low noise reception, as well. But at the hour of truth, I was delighted with the enhanced reception on the tropical bands, as Mauritania 4845 remained even after 0100 with slight fading as never before had happened. Next I went to 21740 where Radio Australia has the strongest signal here for the 2200 to 2400 slot and --- nothing was there. Then run to 15515 and 15415 and concluded 1) R.A. is not working or 2) Something's wrong with this T2FD. Not even Radio New Zealand was on its usual 16 mb frequency for this sked. Well, happily now I know who's to blame for the last two days poor reception on the higher frequencies (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RNZI has not been on 17675 for months, but may go back there for the B-season. 15720 is their highest daytime frequency (gh, DXLD) AURORA WATCH Here's a site I look at to track the flares: http://www.sec.noaa.gov/today.html The latest two have been from the spot on the western part of the solar disk, so they're not really aimed right at us (if the spot was in the center of the picture it would be). This spot will move left to right across the sun over the next couple of weeks so if it belches out a flare say late next week odds are good it will directly impact us. Should it be an X-class we could definitely have a big auroral event. Stay tuned. I think you can subscribe to an automated e-mail list to be informed when these happen. There's a 1-minute plot on the link above so you can really watch in real time! I work in the same office with the space weather folks so they're on top of all of these flares; I've learned a lot from them. They really get excited when X17s happen, although not too concerned because of the position of the spot right now (Matthew C. Sittel, Bellevue, NE, http://www.mcsittel.com/ Sept 8, WTFDA via DXLD) More X-Class Flare Info - Peak Sept 11-18 ======================================================== This Is SKY & TELESCOPE's AstroAlert for Sun-Earth Interactions ======================================================== A s t r o A l e r t 07 September 2005 Solar Terrestrial Dispatch http://www.spacew.com INTENSE SOLAR FLARE PROMPTS WARNINGS A very strong class X17.1 solar flare exploded on the Sun at 17:40 UTC (1:40 pm EDT). This is a significant event. Very few solar flares ever reach the X-class rating, and far fewer ever exceed an X10 level. Only a few solar flares each solar cycle (a 10-year period) exceed an X10 rating. An X17 solar flare is 17 times more intense in x-rays than a class X1.0 (which is, by itself, a very energetic event). This particular event was strong enough to saturate one of the x-ray sensors on the GOES spacecraft and very nearly saturated both sensors. This intense solar flare was visible in white-light by observers at Holloman solar observatory in New Mexico. This event was associated with intense radio emissions and a strong high-velocity coronal mass ejection that was ejected well to the southeast of the Earth. Despite the poor location of this event, there is a chance the extreme western flanking edge of the associated shock wave may reach the Earth sometime on 9 September. Prior to that time, energetic protons from the solar flare may begin reaching the Earth and result in an increase in the radiation environment in the near- Earth space environment. Although no significant geomagnetic or auroral storming is expected this time, additional possible major solar flares from this region during the next two weeks could easily provide the impetus for very strong space weather storms. The sunspot complex responsible for this event is an old "friend," by the name of Region 10798, which was responsible for producing periods of severe geomagnetic storming last month. It's longevity is impressive, as most sunspot groups do not survive this long. As it came into view, NOAA assigned a new number to this region. It will hereafter be known as Region 10808 (nicknamed Region 808). The fact that this region has produced such a powerful flare suggests that it contains a complex magnetic topology. It is just now coming into view around the eastern limb of the Sun and is still too close to the limb to discern any significant detail. We expect additional major flares and possibly additional significant major flares of X10 or greater intensities, during the next week. Region 808 will gradually rotate across the solar disk during the next two weeks. During that time, if it retains its volatility, it may produce some serious effects at the Earth. The health of spacecraft may be compromised if additional extreme events are observed. Power grids may suffer from induced currents caused by intense geomagnetic storms. Radio communications may suffer from strong scintillation and absorption. And large regions of the Earth may be able to spot periods of auroral activity ("northern lights"). Region 808 will be best positioned to inflict strong impacts on the Earth in approximately another 4 to 5 days, with maximal effects possible from roughly 11 September through 18 September. Spacecraft will remain vulnerable to potential strong space radiation storms through to about 23 September. It is perhaps prudent to note that these strong solar flares pose no known significant health threat to humans on the Earth. There is a greater threat to human health for astronauts on the International Space Station, but even they are relatively well protected in the heavily shielded regions of the space station. The combined effects of the Earth's magnetic field and the ionosphere protect human activities on Earth. However, some sensitive industries on the ground can be adversely effected, including electrical power generation facilities, ionospheric radio communications, satellite communications, cellular phone networks, sensitive fabrication industries, and others. During the next two weeks, these industries may see an increase in anomalous incidents that may be attributed to space weather effects. ** End of AstroAlert ** ========================================================== AstroAlert is a free service of SKY & TELESCOPE, the Essential Magazine of Astronomy http://SkyandTelescope.com/ =========================================================== (via Bruce Conti - Nashua NH, ABDX via DXLD) Tonight the MW band has been going crazy here. My east Ewe seemed like it was dead. I went out with a flashlight to check all the connections, and it all appeared good. I switched out the receiver from the Drake R8B to the Lowe HF-225E, and still experienced the same. I was receiving NDBs on MW, and on 740. I had a mixing product of WWCR and EWTN at 0200 UT. Then it faded out and conditions became more like normal with a loud het on 740 CHWO from 738 Spain, good audio on the east Ewe from 738 kHz. Is it possible that a pocket of ionospheric disturbance could be responsible for this? I've never experienced anything quite like it before. 738 Spain is loud and clear now, 0230 UT (Bruce Conti - Nashua NH, UT Sept 9, ABDX via DXLD) That would be WEWN on 5810 and WWCR on 5070, which are 740 kHz apart. I expect both of them were extremely strong at the time, overloading your receivers, perhaps only an indirect consequence of aurora. 73, (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) Bruce, You might be seeing some increased electron gyrofrequency absorption. 73 & GUD DX, (Thomas F. Giella, KN4LF, Retired Meteorologist & Space Plasma Physicist, Lakeland, FL, USA, ibid.) OK, this is a new term for me. I thought I had heard about all there was but I would like you to take the maestro to school and let me know what this is and how it works (Kevin Redding, AZ, ibid.) See definition 9.) Electron Gyro Frequency Absorption at: KN4LF MF Radio Propagation Theory Notes: http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf8.htm 73 & GUD DX, (Thomas F. Giella, KN4LF, ibid.) Solar-terrestrial indices for 08 September follow. Solar flux 94 and mid-latitude A-index 8. The mid-latitude K-index at 1800 UTC on 09 September was 5 (71 nT). Space weather for the past 24 hours has been strong. Geomagnetic storms reaching the G1 level occurred. Solar radiation storms reaching the S2 level occurred. Radio blackouts reaching the R3 level occurred. Space weather for the next 24 hours is expected to be strong. Geomagnetic storms reaching the G2 level are expected. Solar radiation storms reaching the S2 level are expected. Radio blackouts reaching the R3 level are expected. (SEC via DXLD) ###