DX LISTENING DIGEST 5-177, October 13, 2005 Incorporating REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING edited by Glenn Hauser, http://www.worldofradio.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits For restrixions and searchable 2005 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn NEXT AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO Extra 62: Thu 1800 WOR KLC Thu 2030 WOR WWCR 15825 Thu 2200 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.2 Thu 2330 WOR R. Veronica 106.5 Fri 0000 WOR WTND-LP 106.3 Macomb IL Fri 0200 WOR ACBRadio Mainstream [repeated 2-hourly thru 2400] Fri 0930 WOR WWCR 9985 [NEW] Fri 1600 WOR WBCQ after hours Fri 2000 WOR RFPI [repeated 4-hourly thru Sat 1500] Fri 2000 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.2 Sat 0400 WOR VoiceCorps Reading Service, WOSU-FM subcarrier, cable 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 1730 WOR WRN to North America (including Sirius Satellite Radio channel 140) Sat 2100 WOR WRMI 7385 Sat 2300 WOR Radio Studio X 1584 http://www.radiostudiox.it/ Sun 0230 WOR WWCR 5070 Sun 0300 WOR WBCQ 9330-CLSB Sun 0600 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.2 Sun 0630 WOR WWCR 3210 Sun 0830 WOR WRMI 7385 [from WRN] Sun 0830 WOR WRN to North America, also WLIO-TV Lima OH SAP (including Sirius Satellite Radio channel 140) 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 Sun 1730 WOR WRN1 to North America (including Sirius Satellite Radio channel 140) 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-hour thru Tue 1400] Tue 1600 WOR WBCQ after hours Tue 2330 WOR WBCQ 7415 [usually but temporary] Wed 0000 WOR CJOY INTERNET RADIO plug-in required 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 [from Fri]: 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 or http://wor.worldofradio.org WORLD OF RADIO Extra 62 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/worx62h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/worx62h.rm [Extra 62 is the same as CONTINENT OF MEDIA 05-08; high adds WOR open] WORLD OF RADIO Extra 62 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/com0508.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/com0508.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/com0508.html WORLD OF RADIO Extra 62 in true SW sound of Alex`s mp3 [anticipated] (stream) http://www.dxprograms.net/worldofradio_10-12-05.m3u (download) http://www.dxprograms.net/worldofradio_10-12-05.mp3 WORLD OF RADIO Extra 62 downloads in studio-quality mp3 [soon]: (high) http://www.obriensweb.com/worx62h.mp3 (low) http://www.obriensweb.com/worx62.mp3 WORLD OF RADIO PODCAST: www.obriensweb.com/wor.xml (currently: 1285, 1286, 1287, 1288, Extra 61, 1289, soon Extra 62) ** ALASKA. B-05 schedule: USA- KNLS 0800-0900 9615 English 0800-0900 9655 Mandarin 0900-1000 9615 Russian 0900-1000 9655 Mandarin 1000-1100 9615 English 1000-1100 9655 Mandarin 1100-1200 7355 Mandarin 1100-1200 9655 Russian 1200-1300 7355 English 1200-1300 9615 English 1300-1400 7355 Mandarin 1300-1400 9655 Mandarin 1400-1500 7355 Mandarin 1400-1500 9655 English 1500-1600 7355 Mandarin 1500-1600 9655 Russian 1600-1700 7355 Mandarin 1600-1700 9655 Russian 1700-1800 7355 Russian 1700-1800 9655 Mandarin (KNLS website via Mike Barraclough, WDXC via DXLD) ** ALBANIA. Radio Tirana on SW in B-05: FREQ STRT STOP ZONE LOC PWR AZI DAYS LANGUAGE ADM BRC 5995 2115-2130 28 SHI 100 0 234567 SER/CRO ALB ALR 6115 0245-0300 8 SHI 100 300 134567 ENGLISH ALB ALR 6115 0330-0400 8 SHI 100 300 134567 ENGLISH ALB ALR 6205 2130-2300 28 SHI 100 0 1234567 ALBANIAN ALB ALR 6215 2001-2030 27 SHI 100 310 234567 FRENCH ALB ALR 6225 1945-2000 27 SHI 100 310 234567 ENGLISH ALB ALR 6280 1901-1930 28 SHI 100 350 234567 GERMAN ALB ALR 7105 0730-1000 28 SHI 100 0 1234567 ALBANIAN ALB ALR 7110 2230-2300 27 SHI 100 310 234567 ENGLISH ALB ALR 7240 2001-2030 28 SHI 100 0 234567 ITALIAN ALB ALR 7455 0000-0130 8 SHI 100 310 1234567 ALBANIAN ALB ALR 7455 0245-0300 8 SHI 100 310 134567 ENGLISH ALB ALR 7455 0330-0400 8 SHI 100 310 134567 ENGLISH ALB ALR 7530 1945-2000 27 SHI 100 300 234567 ENGLISH ALB ALR (ALR - RT Oct 10 via Wolfgang Bueschel - BC-DX #731, Oct 11, 2005 via Alokesh Gupta, dxldyg via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. 6215, R. Baluarte, has been off the air for nearly a week now, per daily monitoring (Horacio Nigro, Uruguay, DXplorer Oct 6 via BCDX via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. Radio Bosques is on the air now on 6188.89 with music relays of local FM and ID ``en el aire, Radio Bosques, desde Gonet, La Plata, Argentina``, Spanish, musical program and political comments about Bush, 1950-2015 Oct 11 (Nicolás Eramo, Argentina, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Se trata de una emisora pirata que se reactivó. Transmite desde la zona sur del Gran Buenos Aires y jamás ha precisado QTH exacto. Su nombre lo debe a la localidad de Bosques, desde la cual emitía hace muchos años. Volvió a una frecuencia que empleaba hasta hace un año y también anuncia los 11424 kHz, en modo LSB. En un correo personal, su operador me contaba que han decidido retomar transmisiones en ocasión de la visita del presidente Bush, quien vendrá a la Argentina a la reunión de presidentes americanos que se celebrará en noviembre, en Mar del Plata. Evidentemente la emisora estará muy activa por estos días y lo hará en diferentes horarios. 73 (Arnaldo Slaen, BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA, Oct 13, condig list via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. G'day Glenn, Nigel Holmes, Transmission Manager of Radio Australia advises that the temporary VL8, ABC Northern Territory services on 11880 between 2330 and 0900 are transmitted from Shepparton. Reception reports should be sent to ABC NT HF Service, Box 9994 DARWIN, Australia 0820. Regards (Ian Johnson, Australian Radio DX Club, Oct 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BAHRAIN. Coalition Maritime Information Radio: see INTERNATIONAL WATERS ** BELGIUM [non]. GERMANY. Today I checked 5975 for the reported Saturdays-only transmission of TNT Radio and found it already in progress at 1358 UT tune-in. Website of this station is http://www.tntradio.be/index2.htm (to avoid Flash intro), and there the schedule is indeed given as 1000-1600. I noted some timechecks, suggesting that this transmission is live, i.e. \\ FM. The modulation leaves something to be desired with a quite narrow audio bandwidth, specifically an almost entirely suppressed bass range. I think Juelich otherwise sounds different, but perhaps this was a Wertachtal transmitter (where I also noted quite a difference between 6075 and Croatian until 1415 on 7170 kHz, by the way)? (Kai Ludwig-D, wwdxc BC- DX Oct 8 via DXLD) I just uploaded a recording of TNT-Radio on 5975. They went into commercials at 1559 and inmidst them the transmitter cut off (at the very end of the file is the sideband from CRI Cërrik [ALBANIA] on 5970 coming up), so this transmission was apparently // FM. The typical bass of this techno music is entirely missing while the upper mids are overly shrill. Three seconds into the file a sudden drop in audio level occurs where there should be actually a loud "boom". This kind of speech-optimized audio processing is certainly not suitable for music. http://www.radioeins.de/_/meta/sendungen/apparat/051008_a1.ram Good night, (Kai Ludwig, Oct 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BHUTAN. On checking 6035 at 0058 UT hear tone modulated opening carrier. 0100 sign-on procedure. So it is very much on SW. Signals fair but by 0130 UT fade out here near the equator. Will get stronger as the sun goes down to the Southern Hemisphere. Can`t hear it around 1200-1400 UT, too much QRM (Victor Goonetilleke-CLN, 4S7VK, DXplorer Oct 2 via BCDX via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 6025, Radio Illimani. El otro día informaba el amigo y colega José Miguel Romero sobre la remodelada página web de Radio Illimani, en la que aparecía la frecuencia de 6020 kHz, en lugar de los 6025 por los que transmite habitualmente. Me puse en contacto con personal de la emisora, para hacerlos ver lo que parecía un error, pues esta emisora boliviana siempre fue escuchada en los 6025 kHz. Pues bién, me acaban de contestar con un escueto: "Ya la cambié a 6025 KHz. Gracias por hacernos notar nuestro error. Vladimir." Y, efectivamente, si accedemos a la página web http://www.comunica.gov.bo/illimani/indice.html la frecuencia ya fue corregida de 6020 a 6025 kHz (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Oct 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 6080, Radio San Gabriel, La Paz, 12/10, 322, 1008 MA in vernacular with comments on local and regional issues (passports, ID cards), ads: Taller de Medicina Tradicional, greeting to listeners. Just heard station´s name by announcer. (Fernando Viloria, Guacara, Carabobo State - Venezuela, Icom 720 Transceiver, Antenna: 30 mts Sloper, Antenna Coupler: MFJ - 956, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 6105.12, Rádio Cultura Filadélfia on Sep 27 at 2254 UT, OM and YL alternating talking, program theme music, ID "Rádio Cultura Filadéfia" with frequencies at 2300, mentions of Foz do Iguaçu. (Ralph Brandi-NJ-USA, DXplorer Oct 2 via BCDX via DXLD) ** CANADA. Just Who Won at the CBC? From today's Globe & Mail. Interesting analysis. The key sentence -- the last one: "Managers must clearly define a new, invigorated role for public broadcasting, and guild members who demonstrated both their commitment and inventiveness on the line must show they can import those qualities back into the workplace. Otherwise, both sides are losers." http://tinyurl.com/8j2f2 (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, Oct 5, ODXA via DXLD) ** CANADA. Sackville still having problems getting up to speed (if it ever is). Oct 12 at 1348 check, just open carriers on 9515 and 13655 where RCI is supposed to be with CBC morning shows. On 17800, only Hausa audible from DW. Tuned in 13655 again at 1402 in time to hear the audio suddenly fade up at 1403 with CBC News, also on 9515, and by then 17800 was also on. Announcement at 1405 indicated the following program would not be the scheduled one, tho no mention any more of labour problems. Per the CBC Hotsheet, Current was new this date, while Sounds Like Canada was still a repeat. Meanwhile, I checked some other Sackville frequencies: at 1348+, CRI relay on 9650 was also OC, but by 1357 Sweden relay on 15240 and CRI relay in English on 15260 were modulating. However, instead of switching to 15220 after 1400 for CRI in Chinese, this stayed on 15260 at 1405 check. By 1418 recheck, the change to 15220 had been made. Also after 1500, Austria relay on 13775 was as normal in German, 1515 into English (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Sunday 10/9/05 these upcoming frequency changes were announced on RCI's Maple Leaf Mailbag. Note that this isn't complete; it just refers to the times and frequencies when the English-language Mailbag is aired. These are to take effect 10/30/05: 2100 UT to Europe: 5850 9770 1800 UT to Africa: 7185 9770 11875 17740 1500 UT to India: 9635 11975 1300 UT to Asia: 9665 9725 2330 UT to Asia: 6160 7195 9730 0030 UT to US & Carib.: 9755 (only!!!) A couple questions: The announcer gave no info as to from where these are to be broadcast. Does anyone out there know which, if any, of these frequencies (aside from the 9755 to the US) come from Sackville? And will one of the 1500 UT to India ones come from England like 15360 does now? Here in the Central US, I get a decent signal at 1500 on 15360 and was hoping to have something similar next season. Also note that the existing three frequencies in the US evenings go down to only one. I don;t know about you, but I get a lot of hum on 9755 that isn't there on 13710 and therefor prefer the latter, even though it is just slightly weaker. I would suppose that is dependent on the particular transmitter, and I fear that they'll use the hummy one that they've always used on 9755 on the single 9755 broadcast next month instead of using the better transmitter on that frequency. 73, (Will Martin, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) RCI had indicated earlier in the year that they were considering returning to an earlier broadcast. I do hope that they plan on using more than one frequency at this time (Sandy Finlayson, swprograms via DXLD) Do you notice that it appears RCI will be returning to an earlier broadcast block? 0030 UT is 7:30 p.m. ET in winter. It may be that at that hour, RCI transmitters are being used for French to Florida/Caribbean, or Spanish/Portuguese services to South/Central America (Ricky Leong, Calgary, Alta., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) RCI's B05 was posted on the DXLD Yahoo group today. I gleaned from it the English broadcasts susceptible to being heard in (parts of) the Americas. Some of these overlap (not parallel). Time begin with local morning in North America. 1400-1700 UT 9515, 13655, 17820 kHz MON-THU / LUN-JEU: The Current / Sounds Like Canada / Outfront FRI / VEN: The Current / Sounds Like Canada / C'est la Vie SAT / SAM: The House / Vinyl Café / Quirks & Quarks SUN / DIM: The Sunday Edition 1800-1900 UT 7185, 9770, 11875, 17740 kHz (to Africa) MON / LUN: Canada Today / Media Zone TUE / MAR: Canada Today / The Mailbag WED / MER: Canada Today / Spotlight THU / JEU: Canada Today / Business Sense FRI / VEN: Canada Today / Scitech File SAT / SAM: Business Sense / Scitech File SUN / DIM: The Maple Leaf Mailbag / Spotlight 2100-2200 UT 5850, 9770 kHz (to Europe) MON / LUN: Canada Today / Media Zone TUE / MAR: Canada Today / The Mailbag WED / MER: Canada Today / Spotlight THU / JEU: Canada Today / Business Sense FRI / VEN: Canada Today / Scitech File SAT / SAM: Business Sense / Scitech File SUN / DIM: The Maple Leaf Mailbag / Spotlight 2100-2300 UT 15180 kHz MON-THU / LUN-JEU: The Roundup FRI / VEN: Talking Books / The Roundup SAT / SAM: Definitely Not the Opera SUN / DIM: Cross Country Checkup 2200-2230 UT 11990 kHz MON-FRI / LUN-VEN: The World at Six SAT / SAM: Madly Off in All Directions SUN / DIM: The Maple Leaf Mailbag 2300-0000 UT 6100 kHz MON-FRI / LUN-VEN: World at Six / As It Happens SAT / SAM: The World This Weekend / Madly Off in All Directions SUN / DIM: The World This Weekend / The Maple Leaf Mailbag 0000-0200 UT 9755 kHz MON / LUN: The World This Weekend / The Maple Leaf Mailbag / Writers & Company TUE-SAT / MAR-SAM: The World at Six / As It Happens THU / JEU: Dispatches at 01:30 UTC SUN / DIM: The World This Weekend / Madly Off in All Directions / Global Village The scheduler must have had a headache when his work was done. Listeners are forced to retune to hear a continuous, multi-hour program. (This is not the case for the morning transmissions, 1200- 1700 UT.) - Fréquence Libre, Ouvert le samedi and Dimanche Magazine 1900-2000, 17835 kHz 2000-2100, 15180 kHz - World at Six, As It Happens 2300-0000, 6100 kHz 0000-0100, 9755 kHz (first hour repeats) 0100-0200, 9755 kHz - Sans frontières, L'heure des comptes 2300-0000, 15180 kHz 0000-0100, 6100 kHz This is especially confusing during the supper hour. It is unfortunate that programs were not allocated one channel for ease of listening and better targeting. For instance, why didn't RCI reserve 6100 from 2300- 0100 for English and 9755 from 2300-0100 for French? I know, I know, retuning is a rather simple operation, but why the heck make it difficult for people to find you? (Ricky Leong, Calgary, Alta. Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) ** CANADA. The DRM buzz on 9800 is back, Oct 12 at 2109 check, so Sackville got its spare part and installed it (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. 1130, CKWX, BC, Vancouverr, 9/25 at 0535 EDT [0935 UT], fair with WBBR [NYC] nulled / phased. News with woman anchor, several mentions of ``Lower Mainland`` [a dead giveaway for Vancouver area --- gh], traffic report mentioning Vancouver area locales including ``Cloverdale``. Then into sports at 0545 with CFL football, NHL exhibition Canucks game (lead story), and MLB scores. Reception confirmed using recording of that program hour provided a few days later over e-mail by CKWX`s kind CE! New province! Best domestic logging in 30 years of DXing from NB (Brent Taylor, Miscou Island DX- pedition, New Brunswick, Icom R75, Kiwa mods, 1800` unterminated NNW Beverage, 935` E terminated Beverage, EWE, Quantum Phaser, Domestic DX Digest, NRC DX News Oct 10 via DXLD) ** CANADA. CIAO relay on 530: see PORTUGAL [non] ** CUBA. RHC on new(?) 15570, Oct 12 at 2001 with national anthem, then opening Portuguese to the Mediterranean area (but with a Brazilian accent!), giving only frequency as ``17750``, which was occupied as usual by WYFR. Then opened program giving current date of 12 Oct. This nonsense happens so often at RHC that I hypothesize: the hierarchy at RHC is such that lowly announcers do not have a need to know the correct frequencies, which are at the very least confidential, if not top-secret; and even less so the even more lowly listeners. Closing Brazilian at 2029 once again claiming to be on 17750. BTW, suffered throughout from silly ballgame on 15560 Portugal splatter, no doubt even worse near its transmitter site, but perhaps OK elsewhere in Portugal tnx to skip zone. At 2030 into Arabic, ``Huna Idha`at Havana Kuva`` and I really need to learn to copy numbers in that language; 2103 rechecked a bit late so missed what frequency may have been announced in Spanish as ``Revista Iberoamericana`` was starting. Then cut off at 2107 while the show continued on 15230. The engineers just turn various frequencies on and off when they feel like it with no concern for matching the times to programming either. 15570 has been used before by RHC or was it Rebelde? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CZECH REPUBLIC [non]. A partir de esta semana, Radio Miami Internacional (WRMI) está retransmitiendo el programa diario de Radio Praga en español de 1300-1330 UT en la frecuencia de 7385 kHz para el área del Caribe. Este acuerdo entre Radio Praga y Radio Miami estará en efecto al menos hasta el 31 de diciembre de este año. Hace algunos años, Radio Miami retransmitía los programas de Radio Praga como relevo para las Américas, así esta es una renovación de la cooperación entre las dos emisoras. Agradeceríamos informes de recepción para este relevo de Radio Praga de oyentes en cualquier lugar, pero especialmente en el área del Caribe. Se pueden enviar a WRMI, Apartado Postal 526852, Miami, Florida 33152, EUA, or por correo electrónico a info @ wrmi.net (Jeff White, Radio Miami Internacional, Oct 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Not waiting until B-05; see also USA ** ECUADOR. Just noticed that HCJB website now has an extensive photo album, including 353 images under Engineering: http://www.hcjb.org/index.php?set_albumName=album17&option=com_gallery&Itemid=&include=view_album.php Unfortunately there is no slideshow funxion, nor any explicit captioning! But some nice aerial shots of Ecuador? I was starting to catch up on listening to the last few DXPLs, and the gallery is linked from the DXPL page. But the latest edition, Oct 8 still not available. On the Oct 1 program, skipping past Tips for Real Living, Ralph Kurtenbach was reading some items from HF Radio Internet Newsletter for September, and he, like an incredible number of other speakers I have heard, often omits the ``dot`` after www! That of course will make any URL non-funxional. Is it just too much trouble to say ``dot``?? Makes you wonder if these people ever actually use a computer. On Sept 24 edition, Allen Graham asserted that God is responsible for and in control of the hurricanes; we just can`t understand why (Glenn Hauser, Oct 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE [and non]. Regarding this in your latest DXLD: "Regarding Africa, Schwarz mentioned several priorities: developing specific programme content, improving ease of listening and continuing to develop the FM network, increasing journalistic coverage and being "even closer" to the audience by transferring its frequencies. RFI hopes in particular especially to improve broadcasts to the Maghreb region. In Morocco, RFI has applied for 10 frequencies." Oh joy -- more local FM service. How useful is this when local authorities forbid you from broadcasting in their country? Since July, RFI has posted this message, linked from its home page. http://www.rfi.fr/Fichiers/ecouter/message_cotedivoire20050715.asp Loosely translated, it says that Ivorian authorities have suspended local FM broadcasts of RFI since July 15, 2005. RFI issued an official protest. (Great.) It directs listeners to a beefed-up shortwave service, as well as Internet and satellite services (Ricky Leong, Calgary, Alta., Oct 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. On October 4th, the french CSA gave a permit for 3 months, to Paris Live Radio. Paris' English radio station will broadcast on MW 963 kHz, for 3 months test broadcasts. I think it's from Paris- Romainville with 8 kW, from the former radio Sorbonne transmitter. Not already on the air, more on http://www.parislive.fm Best regards from sunny Nice, (Christian Ghibaudo, Oct 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. 6085 DRM [heard DRM mode decoded in New Jersey-USA!] Bayerischer Rundfunk BR-B5akt on Sep 27 at 2107 UT S/N ratio hovering around 15 dB, marginal for audio but much better than yesterday; about 35-40% of audio getting through; ID as "Bay-fuenf" at 2110, weather report at 2114 UT, ID at 2115 UT "Bayern fuenf, aktuell", into news, discussion of possible Grand Coalition between two major parties that both lost the recent election (CDU/CSU and SDP), news item about the EU, football results, weather in Bavaria, ID "B5, das Radio fuer die Infogesellschaft" at 2130, into news; S/N up to 18-19 dB by 2130 UT, and audio 95+% audible, to the point of being listenable, even; news headlines every fifteen minutes; off at 2205 UT (Ralph Brandi-NJ-USA, DXplorer Oct 2 via BCDX via DXLD) ** GREECE [or non; PIRATES] Greek music, TC, bizzy [sic] audio, strong signal on 4960 kHz \\ 1653 kHz mediumwave; another program in Greek was heard on 4887 kHz, both at 2015 UT on Sep 24 (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, wwdxc BC-DX Sep 29 via DXLD) 3 x 1653 = 4959; 4887 / 3 = 1629 (gh) ** GUATEMALA. Dr. Amílcar Madrid, R. Verdad e-mail address is: radioverdad @ intelnett.com [sic, spelt out] (Christer Brunström, Christian DX Report via Jeff Ingram, HCJB DX Partyline Oct 1, notes by Glenn Hauser for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUATEMALA. 4780, Radio Cultural Coatán, 13/10, 322, 1032, National Anthem, ID: "Desde San Sebastián, Huehuetenango, república de Guatemala, Radio Coatán, 4780 kHz onda corta", MA in vernacular with Bible references (San Marcos 13:33), simple TC, mentioned station`s name several times, religious music (Mexican style). (Fernando Viloria, Guacara, Carabobo State - Venezuela, Icom 720 Transceiver, Antenna: 30 mts Sloper, Antenna Coupler: MFJ - 956, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUYANA. 3291.2V, of Guyana Sept 27 with BBC WS relay from 0545 tune ("The World Today" program) to 0645 UT. Excellent signal with none of the recent under-modulation noted (as recently as 9/25). Some static crashes, but otherwise almost armchair level. Retuned at 0715 to 0815 with continuation of BBC WS relay until 0806 with BBC news at 0800. At 0806 a 30 second pause was followed by a local mannouncer and a short instrumental music interlude and then into Kor`an reading (Arabic chant with English translation) to 0815 tune out. Wish I had started my second recording later to catch some of the local programming and to see if sign/off at listed 0900 (Bruce W. Churchill-CA-USA, DXplorer Sep 27 via BCDX via DXLD) Sign off at 0900? Seems unlikely. And just because they relay BBCWS one night does not mean the same the next night, right? (gh, DXLD) ** HUNGARY [non]. Most likely usage of Rimavska Sobota, Slovakia B-05: 6025 0500-0530 29 RSO 150 50 ....... Russian SVK RBP HNG 6025 0530-0600 27,28,37 RSO 150 245 ....... Spanish SVK RBP HNG 6025 1200-1400 27,28 RSO 150 290 1 German SVK RBP HNG 6025 1400-1600 27,28 RSO 150 290 1 German SVK RBP HNG 6025 1600-1730 27,28 RSO 150 290 ....... French SVK RBP HNG 6025 1700-1830 29 RSO 150 50 234567 Russian SVK RBP HNG 6025 1700-1900 27,28 RSO 150 290 1 German SVK RBP HNG 6025 1730-1900 27,28 RSO 150 290 234567 German SVK RBP HNG 6025 1930-2100 29 RSO 150 50 1 Russian SVK RBP HNG 6025 1930-2100 27,28 RSO 150 290 234567 German SVK RBP HNG 6025 2100-2230 27,28 RSO 150 290 ....... English SVK RBP HNG 6025 2130-2300 27,28,37 RSO 150 245 ....... Spanish SVK RBP HNG (BCDX via DXLD) But remember 6025 at any other times would be direct from Hungary (gh) ** INDIA [and non]. Please listen to 7275 kHz and hear both AIR and Sri Lanka. Who is benefited by this move of Sri Lanka? AIR Chennai is still generating the spurious on 7045 kHz, when it signs on 7160 at 0300 UT. You can get the two audios from Chennai as well as FM Gold. What a luxury? Same thing on 7390 kHz. AIR Thiruvananthapuram has been saying that their signal is fine. Cat drinking milk closing its eyes. Listen to their rich spurious emissions in the 40 metre amateur radio band, if you live in South India. Never saw a more efficient Radio Station. Hi (B. L. Manohar, "Arasu", VU2UR Monitoring Systems Coordinator of the Amateur Radio Society of India, Oct 13, dx_india via DXLD) For a while Chennai shifted to 7270 instead, but that collided with BBC. See also SRI LANKA (gh, DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 9525, Voice of Indonesia, (presjumed) 1051-1100 Oct 10. Noted a very strong carrier here. Continued to listen and periodically the audio came up as if the station was experiencing problems in that area. Previous loggings by others, suggested that this station had transmitter problems? I wonder if anyone is working on the transmitter? When the audio did pop in, it was at a good level (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston, Florida, NRD525, Dipole/homebrew preselector, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Tho Ron Howard heard VOI 9525v on the air again recently, earlier in the UT day, still no sign of it here before and after 1400 Oct 12; but at 1449 check, a weak het on 15150 indicating that is still in use by VOI as well as Iran, VOI presumably with the usual open carrier at that hour (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. As I write at 1430 UT RRI Bukkittinggi is coming through fine here on 3231.9 kHz. Best of the three Indos I can hear on 90 m.b. Has this been off the air for a while? Though I admit that I have been not very active in the past 9 months, I did check from time to time and can't remember hearing 3231.9 until 1st October. By the way RRI Palangkaraya 1435-1500*: is playing a beautiful song and I am getting rather emotional and it triggers a stream of consciousness for those lovely years in the past. I think the love for LFs will never die. 1435 UT another song and the Hawaiian type guitars and YL singing. This must be due to Ramadan (Ramazan as in Sri Lanka) extended service because they usually go off at 1400 UT. RRI 3345 also still going on tho very weak. Palangkaraya off at 1500 UT. RRI Macassar?? 4750 Terribly distorted signal 1502. A week ago no signals noted from the station. Probably an effort for Ramadan? I didn't have the time to do up my 80m and 160m ham band antennas in the last 2 years, and they are priorities. Imagine my 20-10 Cushcraft log periodic is as good as my 40m and shabby 80m loop on 3 MHz!! (Victor Goonetilleke-CLN 4S7VK, DXplorer Oct 3 via BCDX via DXLD) The Indonesian governmentt announced yesterday that Ramadhan would officially begin in Indonesia on Wednesday 5 Oct as the moon wasn't observed in the necessary state yesterday. I'd expect many RRI stations will have extended hours from the early morning of 5 October local time, meaning late Tuesday 4 October UT, to continue until the Idul Fitri holiday in early November (Alan Davies, Indonesia, DXplorer Oct 4 ibid.) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [non?]. Following up an item in the latest DXLD 5-176, station with Arabic talk and songs heard on 18727 at 1742 October 12th with fair strength on clear channel. Tarek Zeidan says this is Information Radio, Iraq; is in AM (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth Garden City, UK, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) BAHRAIN [non], 9133U, CMF R. Information / R. One at 2041 UT on Sept 27, finally heard after numerous tries. Barely above the noise with Middle Eastern singing; telephone-quality audio. Woman in what sounded like Arabic at 2047 UT, then back to music with wild vocal accompanied by flute, oud, etc.; no break across 2100 UT. Unlike 6125U, which is (or at least has been whenever I've heard it) carrier plus USB, this one is pure USB with no carrier. Slightly stronger on Sept. 29 and 30 but still seems extremely low-powered, barely goosing a couple of red lights on my 2010 (Bob Hill-MA-USA, DXplorer Sep 28 via BCDX via DXLD) ** IRAN. VOIRI B-05 from Oct 31, English schedule planned: 1930-2030 Eu 6010, 7320, 9855, 11695 0130-0230 Ams 6120, 9580 1030-1130 India 15460, 15480 1530-1630 Asia 7330, 9940 (Bob Padula, HCJB DX Partyline Sept 17, notes by Glenn Hauser for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. IBA cutbacks / IBA English TV news change Below is information regarding IBA reductions. I have yet to see it in English. This was posted in on the IBA's website, in Hebrew, a couple of hours ago - I translated it (with the help of http://milon.morfix.co.il/ to look up some individual words). I'll keep my eye out for anything in English. The last sentence in the below article, would be the one which may impact foreign language and international listeners. I would gather that more details regarding the cutbacks will be made in the future. http://bet.iba.org.il/?entity_code=92876 'The General Cabinet approved the advice of the committee for general reform of the Broadcast Authority. The advice includes a substantial reduction in human resource staffing in the Authority through the encouragement of voluntary retirement. The plenum of the IBA will be replaced with a council of public broadcasting and this body will oversee the IBA, Galei Tzahal [Israel Army Radio] and on the broadcasts of the Knesset [the Israeli Parliament broadcasts]. The IBA will retain its status as a corporation; however it will not change to a governmental company. According to the advice of the advisory committee, there will be a reduction in the number of radio networks, however they will maintain the flagship networks, including Reshet Bet and Reshet Gimel.' ======== http://dover.iba.org.il/index.asp?classto=116&entity_code=91820 (I translated this into English) "As of the first of November 2005: From Sunday through Thursday, the IBA English TV news on channel 33 [IBA 3] will be at 5 PM, instead of 4:50 and will continue through 5:23. On Friday and Saturday, it will be broadcast, as usual at 6 PM. The IBA TV news headlines on channel 1, will remain at 4:50 PM." == Currently, the channel 1 headlines are simulcast from channel 33. I'm not sure what they're going to do starting in November, since they will not overlap. This IBA TV news is available on demand (recorded) at http://media.iba.org.il (via Doni Rosenzweig, DXLD) http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasite/spages/633744.html I still haven't seen anything in English - but there is now a Hebrew Haaretz article. It says that besides Reshet Bet and Reshet Gimmel, they will also be retaining networks used by those with special needs, such as the culture based Reshet Alef, the new immigrant network REKA (which has the domestic non-Hebrew news broadcasts) and the classical music Kol Hamusica. They determined that the TV should be a 'broadcast house' and not a 'production house.' Production should be done by the industry. That EXCLUDES news and sports, which will remain as part of the IBA. It also explains that a new seperate Arabic TV channel would be established. It also re-iterated the independence of the Arabic radio station and editorial independence in general. To reword what the previous article says, Haaretz does say the future IBA will also be responsible for Galei Tzahal (Israel Army Radio) and the Knesset broadcasts. The article also explains the new alignment of power within the IBA (via Doni Rosenzweig, Oct 10, DXLD) IBA cutbacks / Bezeq being sold tomorrow From October 11 Jerusalem Post - Page 4 of the Epaper http://epaper.jpost.com/Daily/Skins/jpost/welcome.asp?QS=skin%3Djpost%26BP%3DOK I did not see it in Haaretz (html or PDF image of Tuesday's paper) "Major IBA shakeup approved • By TALYA HALKIN Minister of Industry, Trade, and Labor and acting Finance Minister Ehud Olmert, who is also responsible for the country’s broadcasting authority, approved the Dinur Committee’s recommendations for a reform of public broadcasting in Israel Monday. The committee, which was created by the government in March of 2003 and was chaired by Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Labor director-general Ra’anan Dinur, was asked to propose a reform of the Israeli public broadcasting system. The reform submitted in August included the recommendation to create a public broadcasting council that would be elected by a committee headed by a retired judge and would function as an independent regulator for the Israel Broadcasting Authority, IDF radio, and the Knesset channel. This council, in turn, would both determine the IBA’s budget and elect a public board of director that would elect the director-general of the broadcasting authority, a position currently elected by the government. In addition, the committee recommended that at least 50% of airtime be devoted to local productions, and that all programs other than news, sports, and special productions be produced externally in order to cut costs. Another cost-cutting strategy suggested by the committee was a significant reduction of manpower over the coming year. The committee’s recommendations also include creating an independent, state-supported Arab TV channel. " === A minor correction in the translation I made earlier, from the IBA website. "comittee for general reform" should've been "commitee for economic reform." == I'm quoting the below, since Bezeq owns the Kol Israel shortwave transmitters. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/633841.html Last update - 01:34 11/10/2005 [Israel Time/Date] BEZEQ CHANGES HANDS TODAY; SABAN REPLACES MANAGEMENT By Hadar Horesh This morning, Bezeq's buyers will be closing their takeover of the national phone company from the state, and they mean to replace its management. Jacob Gelbard, the CEO of Bezeq subsidiary Pelephone Communications, will be replacing Amnon Dick at Bezeq's helm as CEO. Gelbard might be succeeded at Pelephone by Gil Sharon, the deputy CEO, or possibly by Ofer Bloch, the CEO of the Yes satellite TV company. Bloch said in response that he had not received any such offer, and even if he did, he had no intention of accepting it. Gelbard received the job by virtue of his success in rehabilitating Pelephone and restoring it from heavy losses to profit. Dick has led Bezeq for the past two years, including leading it through its latest privatization process, and is considering the new owners' offer to remain as an adviser to the company. The buyers - media baron Haim Saban, Apax Partners, and Agis Industries founder Moshe (Mori) Arkin - will be handing the state a NIS 4.25 billion check for a 30 percent stake in Bezeq. They will also receive an option to buy another 10.6 percent stake in the phone company. Arkin, who owns 20 percent of the controlling group, will take over as chairman, after the buyers failed to find an external candidate to their liking. But market sources believe Arkin is merely a temporary stop-gap and will step down when a suitable candidate is found, presumably within a few months, after the new partners agree on a suitable chairman. All the management council members representing the state, other than two members of the audit committee, will resign from the board and be replaced by representatives of the buyers, who have already been chosen. Each Bezeq worker will receive a roughly NIS 30,000 bonus subsequent to the company's sale, and options to buy Bezeq stock. The Saban-Apax-Arkin group won the state's tender process on May 9, 2005, but various problems held up the closing. One was the unfortunate so-called "Trojan horse" industrial espionage affair, which led the buyers to demand indemnification against possible future claims. The finalization of the sale is expected to lead to a long list of changes not only at Bezeq, but also all through the entire communications sector. The company will certainly be reorganized and streamlined; and hundreds of workeres are expecting pink slips, including managers at all levels (ALL via Doni Rosenzweig, DXLD) ** ITALY [and non]. Stumbled after 1400 UT over a squealing transmitter on 9570. Did not bother to listen further, but HFCC suggests that this was RAI (Kai Ludwig-D, wwdxc BC-DX Oct 8 via DXLD) RAI has at least two different transmitters with this annoying squealing. I noted the problem already before the start of A05, and it again proves that broadcasters are not listening to their own transmissions. The two transmitters in Panaji, India [GOA] still exhibit the same problem. The CNR-1 transmitter on 17605 [CHINA] had the same problem briefly some months ago. One of the CNR-1 type jammers has had the problem for a long time. Even two of the Tinian transmitters were noted with a remarkable squealing earlier this year - hopefully corrected by now. Since the transmitters affected are of different models and makes, the conclusion must be that the problem is in the audio processor (Olle Alm-SWE, wwdxc BC-DX Oct 8 via DXLD) Rai, 17780 to North America, Oct 12 at 1415 was an open carrier, with a high-pitched tone, not sure if deliberate, or the residual squeal with no program modulation. Off at 1427 recheck. Next day modulating with squeals at 1415 check. Rai with live coverage in Italian of silly ballgame before and after 2000 UT Oct 12 on 15380, stronger than // 15315; special transmission to Americas? Per EiBi A-05, 15380 is supposedly scheduled only at 1830-1905 and 15315 not at all (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KASHMIR [and non]. Dear Friends, Radio Kashmir, Srinagar was noted with the yearly special broadcasts for the Ramadan today morning on 1116 and 4950 from my tune in at 2255 UT to sign off at 2356. Later at 0025 they started the regular transmission. It is scheduled till Nov. 2 (but the sign on and sign-off timings vary slightly.) Last week I was in Ranchi in East India and noticed the following changes to the afternoon transmissions as follows: AIR Ranchi on 5985 starts at 0630 (ex 0700). AIR Imphal on 7150 starts at 0645 (ex 0630). AIR Itanagar on 6150 was monitored at 0700-0900 which is not listed in the offical AIR website/printed schedules. On 25 Sept 2005 I was interviewed live on telephone on AIR Kozhikode (Calicut) for a short time about my Amateur Radio activities and our National Inst. of Amateur Radio. It was on their Vividh Bharathi FM Channel and each week Sunday morning they choose a particular subject and on that day "Amateur Radio" was the subject. Then they played a song that I requested. Of course they had intimated me that they will be calling me. 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Raj Bhavan Road, Hyderabad 500082, Oct 6, dx_india via DXLD ** KASHMIR [and non]. AZAD KASHMIR RADIO --- 4790 bad transmitter, at 1510 UT hum and distortion. It beats me why for years this transmitter should be like this. Surely this is not beyond repair?? Radio Pakistan English news at 1300 UT on 5080.2 kHz (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, 4S7VK, DXplorer Oct 3 via BCDX via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [non]. Re my UNID 13800 Sep 26 (Mon): Yes, thought of Anternational, but NO word indicated this. Will try to check whether only Mon. Tnx for suggestions, Wolfgang (F. Krone, Denmark, Sep 27, 2005 in DXplorer-ML via CRW via DXLD) From a Farsi speaking person I received a translation of the end of yesterday's Radio International transmission with the Kurdistan item observed by Finn and heard in the Monday audio file on the RI website. The item is a telephone interview with a worker from the Shohut Sock Company in Iranian Kurdistan who is criticizing factory officials for firing half of the factory workers. The workers are on strike and struggling. The Worker-communist Party of Iran (which is producing the Radio International prorgrams) is supporting worker's actions in Iranian Kurdistan, see a.o. http://www.kargaran.org (B. Trutenau-LTU Sep 27, 2005 in DXplorer-ML via CRW via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [and non?]. IRAN/IRAQ Starting Sept 23 the sign-on is with 1 hour later as follows: "Dengi Kurdestana Iran" at 1427 UT on 3970 kHz; "Dengi Kurdi Iran" at 1526 UT on 3885, 4380, 6425 kHz; "Dengi Hezbe Komuniste Irana" at 1725 UT on above frequencies; "Dengi Komala" at 1700 UT on 3930 kHz; "Dengi Sarbakhoye Kurd. Iran" at 1557 UT on 4410 kHz (Rumen Pankov-BUL, wwdxc BC-DX Sep 29 via DXLD) ** LIBYA [non]. 13m is in its autumnal peak, for the moment, until another disturbance hits. V. of Africa, 21675 via France, Oct 12 at 1357 was giving in English the lengths in km of the longest rivers in Africa, much more fascinating than the previous show I caught about Jamahiriyah government structure; interspersed with music on an ``authentic`` instrument, as P. Schickele http://www.schickele.com would say, and cut off abruptly at 1400. Sa`udi signals were also good this day. Oct 13 at 1359 they were giving a bunch of PO Box address; why more than one? And e-mail info @ voiceofafrica.com.ly Several weeks after I last noticed it, a continuous tone test is still running on 15205, around 1925 UT Oct 12, which we previously determined is France at a time the Libyan relay is supposed to be on. I guess Tripoli has paid for the airtime, but can`t manage to get the program feed through, so TDF just keeps burning up kW with tones (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAYSIA. 5030, 1437-, RTM Sarawak, Oct 8. I'm assuming this is the station which is equal in strength to CNR 1 from Beijing with Kor`an recitals non-stop. Often stronger than China, so I can't imagine it being anything else. Presumably on at this time during Ramadan. I didn't notice them here earlier in the week (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Walt, also noted RTM Sarawak (presumed) on 5030, from 1427-1537, Oct 8, with non-stop reciting from the Kor`an till ToH; woman with possible news for 10 minutes; into a music program of local ballads and light pop songs. Same reception here as in Victoria, with a strong Beijing on top but Sarawak coming through the Chinese talk, but when Beijing played music, it totally covered them. The language sounded like Malay. Nice to know someone else was also listening in (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, RX340 + T2FD antenna, ibid.) ** MEXICO. Glenn, Radio Mil on 6010 for few minutes heard like local on Oct 12, 1030 (Fernando Viloria, Guacara, Carabobo State, Venezuela, Icom 720 Transceiver, Antenna: 30 mts Sloper, Antenna Coupler: MFJ - 956, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. Radio UNAM 9600 kHz noticias de la ultima hora De: Julián Santiago Díez de Bonilla Asunto: Radio UNAM México Buenas noticias, el día de ayer jueves 6 de octubre le fueron entregadas a Radio UNAM por parte del Instituto Mexicano de la Radio un transmisor de 10 kW con una antena omnidireccional de lo que fué Radio México Internacional. De acuerdo a lo que conversé hace unos minutos con el Ing. Eusebio Mejía, desde ya se han iniciado los trabajos de instalación del equipo en la planta de Radio UNAM ubicada en Ticomán al norte de la Cd. de México. La intención es realizar las primeras pruebas en tres semanas o un mes. Se abre así una nueva posibilidad de la radio mexicana en onda corta, después del gravísimo error cometido por este gobierno "del cambio" de cerrar R. México Internacional, y se alivia en algo esta torpe decisión cediendo parte del equipo a una emisora interesada en la onda corta, tal y como algunos diexistas se lo propusimos a la "Directora" del Instituto Mexicano de la Radio. Mantendré contacto con el Ing. Eusebio Mejía encargado técnico de Radio UNAM, quien me hará saber de los progresos en el trabajo de instalación y de cuando se realizarán las primeras pruebas en los 9600 kHz. 73's (Julián Santiago Díez de Bonilla, clubdiexistamexico yg via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via dXLD) Nuovo tx in onde corte per Radio UNAM - Città del Messico Il Dottor De Bonilla riporta la notizia che Radio UNAM operante dalla Città del Messico anche su 9600 kHz da molti anni inattiva su tale frequenza a causa di problemi tecnici, ha finalmente ricevuto il TX che utilizzava la XERMX Radio Mexico International su 9705 Khz, emittente del Governo smantellata e venduta alcuni anni orsono. L'Ing. Mejia si occupa ora dell'installazione del TX di 10 kW, ma non ci sono scadenze precise sull'inizio delle trasmissioni dato che il TX deve essere reinstallato e poi accordato all'impianto di antenna attualmente in uso alla UNAM. Questo potrebbe richiedere anche vari mesi, nel caso che ci siano modifiche tecniche da apportare all'impianto, 10 Kw infatti non sono i pochi watt con i quali usciva la UNAM su 9600 kHz prima che il vecchio TX andasse all'altro mondo (via Dario Monferini, Oct 10 bclnews.it via DXLD) MÉXICO – Dentro de três semanas, a Rádio UNAM pretende realizar testes, em ondas curtas, na faixa de 31 metros. Recentemente, a emissora recebeu, como doação, um transmissor de 10 kW que pertencia à antiga Rádio México Internacional. A Rádio UNAM está instalando sua planta transmissora na localidade de Ticomán, ao norte da Cidade do México. As informações são de Julián Santiago Díez de Bonilla (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX Octt 9 via DXLD) That`s great, but it looks like we have yet another Mexican SW station that does not understand it must be frequency flexible. Just because its ancient frequency was 9600 does not mean that is the best place for it now! 9600 has a few other occupants now, e.g. as in EiBi A05: 9600 1300-1357 CHN China Radio Int. BE SAs x 9600 1400-1457 CHN China Radio Int. KH SEA n 9600 2000-2057 CHN China Radio Int. E Eu ka 9600 2100-2157 CHN China Radio Int. E Eu ka 9600 0300-1400 CHN PBS Xinjiang M CHN 9600 2300-0500 CUB Radio Habana Cuba S SAm 9600 0200-0500 CUB Radio Habana Cuba S Car 9600 2330-2400 Su CUB Radio Habana Cuba EO SAm 9600 1000-1400 irr CUB Radio Reloj/Rebelde S Car 9600 2200-2245 CVA Radio Vaticana M FE 9600 2315-2400 CVA Radio Vaticana VN SEA 9600 0900-1100 Sa FIN YLE Radio Finland R EEu 9600 1500-1545 G BBC NE SAs /SNG 9600 1230-1300 THA Radio Thailand E Oc 9600 1500-1530 USA Adventist World Radio TAM SAs /GUM 9600 1530-1600 USA Adventist World Radio MAL SAs /GUM Not using 9600 for many years, and probably not coordinating it back then either, has some drawbacks! Not to mention adjacent stations on 9595 and 9605, some of them not far from Mexico (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MONGOLIA. Mongolian Radio, Ulaanbaatar was heard October 12 1315- 1330 UT on 7260 kHz with Mongolian contemporary music with very good reception. Same program noted also on 4830 and 4895 kHz. Reception in the 60 mb outlets was worse. 73 (Jouko Huuskonen, Turku, FINLAND, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MYANMAR. Defence Forces Broadcasting Unit, Taunggyi, Shan State, 5770. October 5 1420 UT playing nice Burmese music with fair reception. Unfortunately rapidly fading out. 73 (Jouko Huuskonen, Turku, FINLAND, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Defense Forces Station still going strong at 1330 UT on 5770 kHz past 1415 UT. 1630 should be the sign-off. Some nice Indonesian lilting melodies! Sept 24 (Victor Goonetilleke-CLN 4S7VK, DXplorer Sep 24 via BCDX via DXLD) 5770.06 at 1620 UT, Myanmar Defence Forces Radio (tent.) 22332, burmesische Versionen von US-Schnulzen, aehh - Evergreens -. 1630 UT cl/down (Uwe Volk-D, A-DX Oct 1 via BCDX via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS [and non]. A partir del viernes 7 de octubre y hasta el viernes 28 del mismo mes, Radio Enlace será reemplazado por la serie Voces Libres: sobre radioemisoras y la ayuda holandesa. Una mirada a la puesta en práctica del ejercicio de la libertad de expresión en cuatro estaciones populares de la región. Sus desafíos, sus anhelos y su visión sobre la cooperación internacional que hace posible su existencia. Una producción de nuestra colega Anna Karina Rosales. Viernes 7 y domingo 9 de octubre: Radio Pio XII de Cochabamba Bolivia. Viernes 14 y domingo 16 de octubre: Radio Yaraví de Arequipa Perú Viernes 21 y domingo 23 de octubre: Radio Izcanal de El Salvador. Viernes 28 y domingo 30 de octubre: Radio la Voz de Atitlán de Guatemala. (from http://www2.rnw.nl/rnw/es/programas/programassemanales/RadioEnlace?view=Standard via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. Radio New Zealand International B05 (30 Oct 2005 - 26 Mar 2006) UTC kHz Target Azimuth Days -------------------------------------------- 0400-0759 15720 All Pacific 0 Daily (also heard in Europe, and Midwest USA) 0800-1059 9885 All Pacific 0 Daily (also heard mid-west USA) 1100-1259 15530 NW Pacific, Bougainville, PNG, Timor, Asia 325 Daily 1300-1650 9870 All Pacific 0 Daily 1651-1750 9870 NE Pacific, Fiji, Samoa, Cook Islands 35 Daily 1751-1850 11980 NE Pacific, Fiji, Samoa, Cook Islands 35 Daily 1851-2235 15720 All Pacific 0 Daily 2236-0359 17675 All Pacific 0 Daily (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, dxldyg via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. 1490 Graveyard station distance records claimed by National Radio Club members: KOKC, Guthrie, by Esa Hänninen, Lemmenjoki, Finland, 4620 statute miles (and domestically by John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge CO, 497 miles) KBIX, Muskogee, by Niel Wolfish, Winnipeg MB, 1000 miles (Graveyard Achievements, NRC DX News Oct 10 via DXLD) KOKC 1490 is now KMFS; KBIX is only 450 watts, per Radiolocator.com (gh, DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. On past two nights (Oct 5th/6th) appeared two observation logs on the Austrian-German newslistgroup A-DX: Unidentified 4790 kHz heard till close-down at 1927 UT. Seemingly via Rawalpindi 10 kW ??? 0230-0425 and 1335-1430 UT 4790 kHz Pindi III Pgm. Do you have more news on that matter? It's only a late Ramadan transmission towards subcontinent mountain region? 73 Wolfy df5sx It is prolonged Pindi III program, but I don't hear them any more ID as "Azad Kashmir Radio Trarkhal he", only Radio Pakistan and in the end exclaiming "Azad Kashmir Zindabad" (phonetically), which according to Abid Sajid means "Long live free Kashmir" and c/d with song "Azad Kashmir". (Mauno Ritola-FIN, DXindia Oct 7 via BCDX via DXLD) Auf 4790 kHz ist nun 2325 UT eine asiatische Station mit Korangesaengen hoerbar. Koennte ebenfalls Pakistan sein (Christoph Ratzer-AUT OE2CRM, A-DX Oct 9, ibid.) See also KASHMIR ** PAKISTAN/INDIA. I have just checked local SW stations in the earthquake area of Pakistan and Kashmir, as heard here in Denmark today: 4790.08, R Pakistan, Islamabad, 1640-1730, Oct 09, emergency reports in Urdu after the very strong earthquake yesterday, talk by man and woman, 1659 announcement mentioning Islamabad, 1700 ID: "Yeh Radio Pakistan", news in Urdu, mentioning Pakistan, further IDs at 1710 and 1712 mentioning frequency 4790 with figures in English (!), news about Kashmir and Pakistan, 1713 songs of sorrow, 44444. 4950, AIR Srinagar, 1650-1715, Oct 09, report in presumed Kashmiri, a man was speaking in a loudspeaker to a crowd, long interview and talk, 45434. 5026.89, R Pakistan, Quetta, 1650-1700, Oct 09, man and woman talking about the earthquake \\ 4790, 22332 fading out. 5080.3, R Pakistan, Islamabad, 1700-1710, Oct 09, Urdu news heard \\ 4790, QRM strong utility noise station on 5085, 22222 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DXplorer Oct 9 via BCDX via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3290, presumed R. Central, here in PNG purgatory I was surprised to find what was apparently this one at 0910 Oct 7, a good Pacific morning; seemingly English talk, announcements at 0912, all \\ 4890. QRMed from Guyana - 3291.15, tho in the clear by 1030 check when had very exotic, native-sounding music, no longer \\ 4890 (Jerry Berg-MA-USA, DXplorer Oct 9 via BCDX via DXLD) ** PERU. ¿nueva emisora peruana de onda corta? El colega y amigo peruano Alfredo Cañote, desde Chaclacayo, Peru, informa que a las 0120 UT del pasado 05 de Octubre, captó a Radio Bella (nombre tentativo), desde Tingo María, en las sierras peruanas en la frecuencia de 4300 khz. Se trataría, presumiblemente, de una nueva emisora peruana de onda corta. Fue escuchada con música folklórica de la region de las sierras, como Alfredo se ha encargado de aclarar y anuncios realizados por locutores que parecían demostrar, parafraseando a nuestro informante, cierta timidez al micrófono. También fue reportada luego de las 1030 UT. SINPO: 34312. 73 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, Oct 6, Noticias DX via DXLD) Cf 5-176 for later info ** PERU. 3172, Radio Municipal, Paucartambo, 05/10, 0948, 222. Andean music, MA in Spanish with announcements, simple TC´s, Just caught partial ID:"...en los estudios de Radio Municipal..", more music. 4855, Radio La Hora, Cusco, 04/10, 1005, 322. YL and MA in vernacular reading the news, simple TC, extended comments on "Comisión Nacional de Descentralización", TC + ID: "5 de la mañana 6 minutos... informativo... Radio La Hora" (Fernando Viloria, Venezuela, DX LISTENING DIGEST) QSL RECIBIDA - RADIO LA HORA 4855 KHZ --- QSL firmada por el Director Gerente Edmundo Montesinos Gallo y Director de Frecuencias Carlos Gamarra Moscoso. Demoro 22 dias QTH: Radio La Hora Sr. Carlos Gamarra Moscoso Av. Garcilaso 411 Wanchaq Cusco Datos de la Emisora: Potencia: 2 kW Horario de Transmisión: De 5 a 5 a 9 horas [sic] - PERU [10-14 UT] De 18 a 20 horas - PERU [23-01 UT] (Cesar Rojas Gordillo - Chimbote - PERU, Oct 6, Noticias DX via DXLD) ** PORTUGAL [non]. CANADA, Ontario(?) CIAO (presumed), 530 kHz, 0512 UT Oct 13, 'Multi IDs "RDP Internacional" and "R. Portugal" in Portuguese with nulled R Visión Christiana. Surprising Blasting signal strength (Konnie Rychalsky, Southern Connecticut, DX-440 100-ft LW, HCDX via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. The Yekaterinburg transmitter used by VOR for the Sodruzhestvo program in the afternoon on 7370 (\\ Samara 7440) has a slight background rumble, very reminiscent to a now unused Kharkov- Taranovka transmitter where Olle presumed a microphone effect from the water cooling as cause. Sneg-M transmitters in use at Yekaterinburg as well? (Kai Ludwig-D, wwdxc BC-DX Oct 8 via DXLD) I just tuned in to 7370 at 1715 and the noise was quite prominent. This "singing" noise seems to be the product of some internal interference between certain older 100 kW Sneg transmitters when they are connected in parallel. Also noted, as Kai mentions, from the Taranivka site in the early 90's. Further back in time, the problem was very noticeable from one of the Tbilisskoye high power transmitters, which when more details became available turned out to consist of four \\ 100 kW. By the way, the "singing" Yekaterinburg pair for many years used to carry R Rossii on 7220 kHz (Olle Alm, Sweden, wwdxc BC-DX Oct 8 via DXLD) Radio Rossii via Yekaterinburg on 7220: I still remember it as a mess with Radio Liberty. Made me always wonder if this was not an even worse clash in Russia, although the Yekaterinburg outlet aimed at Siberia if I am correct? (Kai Ludwig, Oct 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA [non]. VOR relays via Vatican planned for B-05: 21-2130 7170 in French to Af; 7350 02-05 to North America [language?] (Bob Padula, HCJB DX Partyline Sept 17, notes by Glenn Hauser for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAO TOME. VOA RELAY A POINT OF INTEREST ON SÃO TOMÉ. "At night the towering masts of an enormous Voice of America transmitting station are lit up like a birthday cake, beaming the word of Uncle Sam to the African mainland." http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/main.jhtml?xml=/travel/2005/09/27/etsao27.xml&sSheet=/travel/2005/09/27/ixtrvhome.html (travel.telegraph, 27 September 2005 via kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) ** SCOTLAND. BROADCASTING HOUSE GLASGOW FOR SALE BBC Scotland announced today that its Broadcasting House premises and land at Queen Margaret Drive, Glasgow, is on the market for sale. The 5.3 acre site has been home to the BBC since 1936. Ken MacQuarrie, Controller BBC Scotland, said: "This is a significant day in the history of the BBC in Scotland. We all have a fond attachment to Queen Margaret Drive, and the surrounding community, and the building has served us well for almost 70 years. However, the accommodation is no longer fit for the purpose of broadcasting in this digital age. "Our new purpose-built headquarters at Pacific Quay offer much more opportunity to make better use of space and technical resources. "Our move will also help BBC Scotland put as much money as possible into programmes by having a much more efficient and effective work place than is currently available at Broadcasting House." The current Broadcasting House complex is located within the heart of Glasgow's West End and set within an established residential district immediately adjacent to the Botanic Gardens. The site comprises of a number of adapted and bespoke buildings which are used in the production, administration and broadcasting of BBC Scotland's radio, television and interactive programmes. http://www.waveguide.co.uk/latest/news051012.htm#Broadcasting%20House% 20Glasgow%20For%20Sale (via Mike Terry, England, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** SLOVAKIA. Media Alert --- At 13.45 CET (12.45 UK Time) [1145 UT!] Radio Tatras International (RTI) will re-brand as a 24/7 RTI service. The separate Radio Tatry identification will cease. There is also a brand new web site accessible via http://www.rti.fm The site will also see the launch of the studio web cam. Regards (Eric Wiltsher, Oct 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) B-05 relays of Budapest on 6025: see HUNGARY [non] ** SOUTH AFRICA. Channel Africa B-05 03:00 05:00 3345 100 1234567 Southern Afr English 03:00 04:00 6120 250 1234567 East Africa Swahili 03:00 04:00 7390 500 1234567 East Africa English 04:00 05:00 7390 500 1234567 Central Africa French 05:00 07:00 7240 100 1234567 Southern Afr English 05:00 06:00 11875 500 1234567 West Africa English 06:00 07:00 15255 250 1234567 West Africa English 07:00 16:00 11825 100 1234567 Southern Afr Eng/Loz/Nya 15:00 16:00 17770 500 1234567 East Africa English 15:00 16:00 17780 250 1234567 East Africa Swahili 16:00 17:00 15285 500 1234567 West Africa French 17:00 18:00 15285 500 1234567 West Africa English 19:00 22:00 3345 100 1234567 Southern Afr Port/English (SENTECH via Alokesh Gupta, dxldyg via DXLD) ** SPAIN. Uncertain Future for RNE local stations. If you love QSLing, if you are thinking in send a report to a local RNE station --- DO IT NOW!! Tomorrow may be too late. Translated with the help of altavista.com: "Ms. Carmen Cafarell, General Director of RTVE, has announced today [6-Oct-05] to the Council of Administration the first measures to start up the Plan of Economic Cleaning and Future entrusted by the Government to the SEPI (State Society of Industrial Participation) and to RTVE." ... "It is scheduled for the beginning of the next week, the constitution of a work group integrated by members of the SEPI and RTVE that will entrust to different commissions the elaboration from the different aspects that will approach the future Plan of Economic Cleaning and Future. ... " The first of these "different aspects" is: "Adecuación de la estructura organizativa central y territorial." (Altavista: "Adjustment of the central and territorial organizational structure.")... These days are circulating strong rumors within RNE saying that this "Adjustment of the central and territorial organizational structure" means CLOSING. There are several possible scenarios: 1-TOTAL CLOSING OF R5-TODO NOTICIAS NETWORK. TRANSMITTERS SWITCHING OFF. (Regional studios will remain for R-1 regional programming). 2-TOTAL CLOSING OF R5-TN LOCAL STATIONS. R5 would be a National Network without local/regional outputs. (Regional studios will remain for R-1 regional programming). 3-TOTAL CLOSING OF R5-TN LOCAL STATIONS. R5 would have only regional outputs. Regional studios will remain for R1/R5 regional programming. Only a small branch -2/3 people- will remain in every province to supply information). 4-PARTIAL CLOSING OF LOCAL STATIONS. Only stations in important cities would survive. "Important" from different points of view (population, cultural, political...). Programming only M-F, 0800-1500. 5-NO CLOSING. ALL SURVIVE. But Programming only M-F, 0800-1500. There will be a fast decision as the economic plan must be running the January 1st 2006. The more probable scenarios are 2 and 3. The RNE people will be happy if the result were the 4th (Mauricio Molano, Spain, Oct 8, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SRI LANKA. SLBC ALL ASIA having serious trouble. Now only 0025 UT sign-on to 0400 UT and no evening transmission. 6005, 9770, 15747 kHz (Victor Goonetilleke-CLN 4S7VK, DXplorer Oct 2 via BCDX via DXLD) SLBC 11905 HINDI SERVICE Reintroduced after protests by Indians and request by Indian High Commissioner!! 1530 UT sign-off (Victor Goonetilleke-CLN 4S7VK, DXplorer Oct 3, ibid.) SLBC. 9770. English service heard with requested songs and Indian standard time announcement (6:30AM). Very unusual booming signal from tune-in at 0100 till completely disappeared at about 0110 on 10/13. Could this signal have resulted from Grayline effect (local sunrise was 6:27AM)? NOTE: This station was profiled in my Favorite Program message sent on 6/17/05 (Steve Bass, Columbus, Ohio, Drake R8B and Wellbrook 330S Loop, swl at qth.net via DXLD) Collision on 7275: see INDIA [and non] ** SYRIA. R. Damascus seems to have settled on 9330 instead of 13610, good in English at 20-22 // 12085. 9330 is co-channel WBCQ, audible from around 2130 via longpath. Arabic on both after 2215. Antenna azimuths: 12085 20-21 is 340 degrees for Europe; 21-22 same for Eu and NAm, 312 for Eu, 98 for Au; 2215-0040, 278 for SAm and NAf. On 9330: 20-21 340 for Eu, 21-22 312 for Au/NAm/Eu; 2215-0040 278 for SAm/NAf. Several antennas are used simultaneously on the same frequencies (Bob Padula, Australia, HCJB DX Partyline Sept 24, notes by Glenn Hauser for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN. This is a tentative logging. Presumably the Voice of Han from Taiwan comes with very strong signal, S9 +10dB around 12 UT on 9745 Hz. Logged today October 7. 73 (Jouko Huuskonen, Turku, FINLAND, DXLD) ** TAIWAN. TRUTH FOR THE WORLD QSL: For loggings of Truth for the World via Taiwan on 7220 on 3 different days in Bao Loc, Vietnam, 16 days after sending a report to P.O. Box 5048, Duluth, Georgia, 30096-0065, USA I received the following: partial-data letter from John M. Grubb, Mr. Grubb's business card in English & Chinese, and, surprisingly, a full-data Radio Taiwan International ''child & wax apples from Lin-bien'' QSL card and a small but elaborate multi-colored embroidered cloth Radio Taiwan International pennant. I have received QSLs from a number of broadcasters for their broadcasts via Taiwan but all have sent their own cards. Truth for the World appears to have not only a supply of RTI QSL cards but also pennants. Is this a Christian or clandestine-type broadcast? WRTH lists it under clandestines, but according to the TFTW website and letterhead it is ''a work of the Duluth Church of Christ'' [they point out this is not the large denomination by the same name]. The programs gave me no clue as to what kind of broadcast it was. The format was identical on all 3 days: a man spoke for 29 minutes and then gave what was probably an address in Taiwan. I feel it probably was religious, although there was no music. And no jamming was heard. Of course churches have produced some clandestine-type programs: from the somewhat anti- Nigerian-government Radio Salama to the strongly anti-Vietnamese- government Chan Troi Moi/New Horizon [which I heard on MW while in Vietnam] to the strident anti-Guatemalan-government La Voz Popular in the 80s and 90s. I hope someone who understands Mandarin can listen to Truth for the World and let us know whether it should be included in the list of clandestine broadcasters (W. Craighead-KS-USA Sep 25, 2005 in DXplorer-ML via CRW via DXLD) Personally I do not think this is a clandestine station, but the following discussion carried out in DXplorer-ML was quite interesting! (M. Schöch-D Sep 30, 2005 for CRW via DXLD) "Truth for the World" is a strictly missionary station, see http://www.tftw.org The Chinese service is only one out of 4 language services, the others are English, Spanish, Indonesian. ---- Start quote from http://www.tftw2.org/aboutTFTW/ --- Truth for the World is a mission work of the churches of Christ. It is a total approach to world evangelism involving radio and television programs, literature and campaign follow-up. Truth for the World is under the oversight of the Duluth church of Christ, 3239 Highway 120, Duluth, Georgia 30096. The work is also supported by other churches of Christ throughout the United States, and by individual members of the churches of Christ. There is never any solicitation of money from radio and television audiences, or from those to whom we send Bible correspondence courses and other teaching materials. This mission work is funded by the churches of Christ as a means of carrying out the commission of Jesus Christ to "go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." Since 1992, hundreds have responded to the gospel through the efforts of Truth for the World. Several congregations have been established through the influence of this global mission effort. At the present time, the radio and television programs are on every continent with a potential audience of billions. The literature, including Bible correspondence courses, and a simple English teaching paper, is being sent into more than 160 nations. Over six million pieces of literature have been sent to precious souls since the early part of 1992, when Truth for the World had its beginning. Broadcasts and printed materials are also produced in Spanish and Mandarin Chinese. We are happy you have visited our web site. Please spend some time here and take advantage of the materials offered. They are non- denominational, based strictly upon the Bible, not the creeds or traditions of men. The plea of the churches of Christ is for all people to accept the Word of God as their sole standard of doctrine and practice. Jesus said, "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). That truth is found in the New Testament, the "perfect law of liberty" for all people today. Why not study His Word with us through the materials offered here? If you would like more information about Truth for the World, a mission work of the churches of Christ, send us an e-mail. --- End quote--- The Chinese service consists of bible lessons and other religious broadcasts, examples can be found in the English menus on the Chinese site http://www.tftwchinese.org/ Btw, the Church of Christ in Duluth also has its own, extensive website: http://www.duluthchurchofchrist.org This link may provide an idea of the truely missionary nature of the "Truth for the World" broadcasts: http://www.radiopanam.com/broadcaster%20of%20the%20month.htm (B. Trutenau-LTU Sep 25, 2005 in DXplorer-ML via CRW via DXLD) ** U K. The very first John Peel Day is live on Radio 1 from 7 pm today [1800 UT Oct 13]. This is the place to find out what's going on on Radio 1 and across the country! http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/johnpeelday/2005/ Have an exclusive listen to the new 'Keeping It Peel' documentary before it's broadcast http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/johnpeelday/2005/keepitpeeldoc/ (via Mike Terry, Oct 13, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. LONDON DRM TESTS TO START "VERY EARLY NEXT YEAR" Roger Davis of Big L - Radio London has posted a message in the station's technical forum concerning the planned DRM tests in London on 26 MHz: "The Test Transmissions will start very early next year and I will be receiving all the data on the initial tests. If all goes well with these tests I have been informed that we will be able to go on in London for the Broadcast tests which will be great news for all at the station." This indicates that initially there will be some technical tests before broadcasters who have expressed interest in the experiment will be invited to join in. Initial reports suggest that three organisations - one other being WRN - will take part. # posted by Andy @ 10:40 UT Oct 7 (Media Network blog via DXLD) Andy, do you know who is the lead technical partner for these tests? Is this a WRN initiative or some other transmission provider? (Peter, 10.07.05 - 2:25 pm, ibid.) As I understand it, the initiative comes from the UK regulator, Ofcom. They want to make more space available for digital broadcasting. I will try to find out more details (Andy, 10.07.05 - 3:42 pm, ibid.) ** U K. BLACK HAT CALLING --- During the late evening of 9 August, 5204.5 kHz was active with Black Hat calling several players. Black Hat is a callsign of the 352nd Special Operations Group of the US Air Force, with a base at Mildenhall [ England; see http://www.mildenhall.af.mil/home.htm --- gh]. Their HF transmissions are easily heard here in Europe. On the 9th there was much traffic regarding parachute operations and references to static and High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) Operations. Exciting stuff. They were on air again on the night of 11 August. Operations centred around the Stanford Training Area at Watton. RAF Watton is pretty much derelict but the runway, hangars and the tower are still there. It is now operated by the army with regular training visits from helicopters and C130 aircraft that use the 6000-foot runway. While 5204.5 USB is primary, others that they may use for air-to- ground communications include 3044, 4450, 5349, 9026 and 9161.5 kHz. All are USB and 5204.5 is quite often busy and can provide amusement during the evening hours if there is little else to occupy the mind (Ben Hogan, SSB Utilities, Oct Short Wave Magazine [UK] via DXLD) ** U K [and non]. The re-branding of the former Merlin Communications has been completed: after carrying the name "VT Merlin Communications" for a while, the final brand "VT Communications" has been launched. Website: http://www.vtplc.com/communications (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, Oct 8, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) It will be interesting to see how long it takes for the industry to stop using the name Merlin. All my technical colleagues at RNW do, and from various memos I've seen from other broadcasters they do too. "VT Communications" is too much of a mouthfull, and 'VT' can be confused with the old abbreviation for videotape. Somehow, I think the name will live on as a sort of 'nickname' :-) (Andy Sennitt, ibid.) ** U S A. Put my call, KB7AQD, on Google, and see that you posted my comments about shortwave listening! Thank you! After reading comments in Monitoring Times about AFN, shortwave stations around the world cutting hours and demolishing antennas, and the start of an all- liberal shortwave station to counter an alleged right-wing shortwave news bias, I know of one station that we can all depend on. There is a USA government shortwave station that's been on since 1923. People around the world know about its accuracy, timeliness, great signals, and enthusiastic announcers with familiar voices. No political bias. No commercials. No opinion pieces. Just accurate information. CNN, NPR, and Fox should take notes. You gotta love WWV! 73 (Robert Homuth, Oct 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WORKING AROUND THAT PESKY BBG BIPARTISAN RULE? President Bush nominates Mark McKinnon to the Broadcasting Board of Governors. But would McKinnon occupy a Republican or Democratic seat on BBG, required to be bipartisan by the International Broadcasting Act of 1994? McKinnon was a Democrat, and might still be enrolled as such, but more recently he has been a Bush media advisor and strategist in the president's 2004 campaign. See Sourcewatch http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Mark_McKinnon and PBS Frontline, 12 April 2005 http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/architect/interviews/mckinnon.html I asked the BBG spokesman if the McKinnon seat would be Republican or Democratic, and if McKinnon would replace Norm Pattiz, whose (Democratic) seat is overdue for renewal or replacement. But the BBG spokesman replied, "I'm not a source on presidential nominations. You'll have to get your information elsewhere." So it appears that a journalist with an affiliation more prestigious than kimandrewelliott.com will have to get to the bottom of this. But if the administration is trying pack the BBG, this might be the logic: 1) Gitcherself a BBG that is pro administration policy. 2) This ensures that the output of U.S. international broadcasting will be pro administration policy. 3) After a few weeks, public opinion around the world will be pro administration policy. Yee-ha (kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) ** U S A. VOA now offering podcasts --- This has been expected; the English language programs "Encounter", "Issues in the News", "Press Conference USA", and "Our World" are available as podcasts. Oh, and also the daily "s p e c i a l |pause| E n g l i s h" program. It appears that podcasts, for now, are limited to English, but on- demand listening is offered for other languages. Frankly, I don't know the translation -- or the transliteration -- of 'podcast' is in Thai, so I couldn't say if there were any Thai podcasts anyway... Podcasts are listed here: http://www.voanews.com/english/podcasts.cfm (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, Oct 11, swprograms via DXLD) ** U S A. RHC isn`t the only sloppy station; Oct 12 at 2100 I was surprised to hear VOA Creole on 13630, which is a R. Martí frequency, and indeed there was jamming in background. But 13630 cut off abruptly at 2101:30 while Creole continued on 11895, which I had just brought up to parallel. They let the Creole program feed start up on the wrong frequency (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WWL/URBONO relays via WHRI are still missing UT Oct 12: after 0500, 5835 not on the air; before and after 1400, 15285 with WHR programming. 5835 also off the air after 0500 UT Oct 13. And 15285 was WHR at 1742 check Oct 13 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WRNO in the wake of H. Katrina: Site is in Marrero, Jefferson Parish, fortunately far enough from the dike breaks in NO; very little flooding, no water entry into WRNO building and no water damage. All well and intact in interior. Wind damage: storm took down a tremendous very old water oak tree on the side of the WRNO building, and clipped only the side of the building which is definitely repairable. Downed tree sits where Entergee [sp?] electric powerline enters building. Cannot repair this until tree removed. Antenna poles, wire and transmission lines all OK. With all the recovery work to be done, difficult to determine when WRNO can get on air. Should not take very long once circumstances permit work to begin, best estimate probably by mid to late October (George Jacobs, WRNO frequency coördinator via Jeff White, via HCJB DX Partyline Sept 17 via DXLD) ** U S A. WRMI still doesn`t have a program schedule in time order on their website, and the one we had in 5-143 August 22 is getting rather outdated. The website does have a transmission schedule updated Oct 1, and perhaps the individual program pages are too, but you would have to look at every one of them in order to find out what is on when. Wed Oct 12 at 1421 I was hearing 7385 weakly, not with Christian Media Network, but something in Spanish talking about Allende and Chile. This was presumably on the southward antenna, but not jammed; still past 1430 but just about gone by 1500 tho still detectably on the air. If WRMI wants to broadcast at all during those hours, it has to be on 7385 since 9955 is occupied by another station and they can no longer use 15725 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) On our schedule, it should be World Radio Network (as opposed to Christian Media Network) at 1330-1555 UT. And at the moment, it's sort of "the best of WRN" rather than a live feed, for technical reasons. And it's a mixture of both English and Spanish, plus an occasional Viva Miami or some other program repeated from our schedule (like WOR or DXPL, for ex.). (Jeff White, Oct 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also CZECH REPUBLIC [non] ** U S A. I had heard gh make reference to WWCR's new (current) October 1 schedule and also heard a new "Ask WWCR" program on the station so I just went over to the WWCR website to print out the new sked. I was surprised to see that the home page "last updated" dates were all back in September. There is no October schedule posted and the "Ask WWCR" page doesn't have the latest program listed or the contest winners listed as they announced on-air. Does anybody know if the website got damaged and restored back to an earlier configuration? Or has it really just been not updated? (If the latter, where did gh get the new sked?) 73, (Will Martin, Oct 10, dxldyg via DXLD) It`s not unusual for them to be behind updating the site, depending on an external webmaster, but the change in management may have something to do with it. As a WWCR programmer, I get a printout of the pdf schedule in the P-mail, even if it hasn`t been posted yet, but there is no mailing list for individual listeners. I assume George McClintock was no longer on Ask WWCR, but who was? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Luckily, I had taped that latest "Ask WWCR" program, so here are the details: Ask WWCR Program #214. This is the tenth anniversary program. For September 30 through October 13th, 2005. Hosts are Adam and (replacing George, who was said to go on "to do other things") Dr. Jerry Plummer (spelling unknown), who has been a board operator at WWCR and who will now be the host/co-host of "Ask WWCR". (Side note: a "Doctor" being a board operator? Perhaps a "Doctor of Divinity" degree or title?) Dr. Plummer does have a good radio voice. Ironically, Adam announced at the start of the show that listeners should go to the WWCR.com website, and that it would be updated "by the time this program is aired". Well, we know THAT didn't happen! This included a specific reference to the "new program guide for October", which is what I was looking for when I started this exchange. When they got into the usual program content, they discussed some new programs, expansion of at least one, and the moving of others (all religious stuff). Read some listener mail, mentioned the 15825 kHz skip zone, etc. 73, (Will Martin, Oct 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I see by the old schedule, that another airing of Ask WWCR is Wednesday at 1930 on 15825, if you want to try to catch it then (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) Will, Hold onto that tape; you may have a collector`s item. I was going by the WWCR webpage on Ask WWCR which had the Wed 1930 airing listed among many others, but something else was on. THEN I go thru the Oct 1 printed schedule I have, line by line, and find ALL Ask WWCR entries have disappeared. I suppose at the time it was compiled, the future of that show was in doubt, without George (and may still be). 73, (Glenn, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Supposedly the owner's son has taken over as manager of WWCR (Jeff White, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Police Department Monitoring --- It appears that the NY State Police have discarded their old system and rumour is that they are also on an 800 MHz trunked system. I used to hear them on 42140, 42300 and 42360 but as the bands have not been conducive to much long distance reception of late, I`d not realised that they had gone. I believe that the NY State Fire Department frequencies are at 33, 45 and 46 MHz, and again, they have been monitored on this side of the Atlantic in the past. I shall be listening again if the band conditions ever improve. I`m sure they will really (Dave Roberts, Scanning Scene, Oct Short Wave Magazine [UK] via DXLD) State fire department? Most FDs are local (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Grants for New Stations: 840, KPMP, CA, Modesto --- This new station at Modesto, intended to be a replacement for KTRB-860 [moving to San Francisco], was first issued a CP for U4 4000/10000 [sic] from two transmitter sites. Later they filed for, and were granted a change to be U4 4000/5000. This latest CP is for U4 5000/5000 with the original night site designated as the common transmitter site at N37- 42-34, W120-43-34. This site happens to be that of the `old` KTRB (Bill Hale, TX, AM Switch, NRC DX News Oct 10 via DXLD) ** U S A. Off-Frequency stations monitored: 1628.89, KRND, WY, Fox Farm, 9/19 0757 EDT [1157 UT], Mexican songs, legal ID at 0801. 1049.55, KTBL, NM, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, 9/22 at 0800 EDT [1200 UT], ads, legal ID. Been on this frequency since last spring messing up the 1050 neighborhood (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge, CO, DDXD-West, NRC DX News Oct 10 via DXLD) ** U S A. License Renewals Granted: for many NM and other southwest AM stations, including: 1340, KSSR, NM, Santa Rosa (Bill Hale, TX, AM Switch, NRC DX News Oct 10 via DXLD) That`s very interesting, since station has never been on the air during my last few occasional visits to the town, the latest being Oct 10, 2005 around 2200 UT. No signal on 1340, even right next to the tower; unfortunately I did not have time to stop and make inquiries, but it was also missing roughly a year before when I was in Santa Rosa. Of course, I cannot be sure it has never been on the air in the meantime, but if not, it would seem they could not legitimately get the license renewed. Their FM on 95.9 I almost concluded was gone too, as I approached from the west on I-40. The already limited signal range had decreased to the point that it did not show up until about 6 miles from SR, at mile 268, when they were playing rap. On the east side, it was already gone at mile 281, while the KANW translator on 91.9 carried from at least mile 260 beyond 289. Or maybe the latter is now KNLK, a 100-watt KANW relayer as in 2-year-old FM Atlas. So I conclude KSSR 95.9 can only be using considerably less than 100 watts, tho it is licensed for 1500 W ERP, per same FM Atlas (when the calls were supposedly KIVA). (Yes, we are STILL waiting for the new FM Atlas a sesquimonth late). Per radiolocator.com 95.9 is indeed KIVA, and separately owned from 1340, tho they had been in the same little building next to the AM/FM tower. FWIW, KSSR 1340 still appears in the 2005-2006y NRC AM Log, as U1 1000/1000, but not 24 hours, phone 505-472-5777. Other Santa Rosa media news: The HAR on 1610 is STILL on, tho I-40 construxion was completed months ago in that area, but the one on 1650 is gone. Nothing but the SAME old continuous loop from NMDOT District 4 urging us to arrive alive, not drink & drive, and implying we are going somewhere else, not a very welcoming message. Other New Mexico media news: In our circuit from Clayton to Springer to Las Vegas to Santa Fe, no 530 TIS were heard, nor was the 1610 HAR formerly active in SF around the I-25 junxions. However, on the way out of NM, one 530 was still to be heard between Tucumcari and San Jon on I-40, and it was now running the exact same NMDOT-4 loop as on 1610 in Santa Rosa. San Jon once had one of these, but it grew weaker and weaker and was gone by the time we actually reached San Jon. KHFM 95.5 Santa Fe/Albuquerque, still classical, was heard to announce only two translators, operated by second parties, 95.9 in Ruidoso and 103.1 in Roswell. This does not necessarily mean there are no others, as primaries are often reluctant to spend the airtime identifying all translators. There used to be one in Ratón, and another at Conchas Lake State Park NW of Tucumcari, which we already knew was lost when KHFM had to evacuate 96.3 for some worthless non-classical commercial station owned by the same group. That 105.5 translator is still on the air with ``99.5 Magic FM`` from Albuquerque, and still getting out well along I-40 between Cuervo and Newkirk, such as at mile 292, as well as the other one at same site, KRST 92.3 relay on 102.3. KENW 89.5 Portales, public radio with `beautiful` music weekdays, still runs an extensive translator network as far away as Clayton on 93.5, and Des Moines (actually atop Sierra Grande) on 106.1. On Oct 6, the 106.1 often had some bad noise on the signal, which sounded like adjacent-channel interference, not 105.9 or 106.3, but from the frequency it was picking up off-air and relaying, probably another translator rather than 89.5 direct. KRTN 93.9 Ratón still has a syndicated oldies format we enjoy, and IDs as ``Gateway FM 93.9, KRTN``, reaching as far as Wagon Mound on I-25. As we passed Las Vegas, there was a signal on 91.1 which may have been the elusive KEDP at NMHU, but it was already lost just south of LV. KNMX, 540, Las Vegas NM, tho commercial, devoted half an hour to an uninterrupted interview with someone from New Mexico Highlands University, Thursday Oct 7 at 2000-2030 UT (in English). It also has CNN news on the hour, or rather 2 minutes after, and sometimes around the half-hour. At other times it was the usual mixture of English and Spanish, or Spanglish. We spent some time monitoring the new 830 station, KMUL, originally in Muleshoe TX on 1380 with much lower power. This too was Spanish with local YL DJ. They have a heavily produced ID jingle with reverb which I was never able to copy clearly but may have included the word ``única``. Right on the NM/TX, MT/CT border, she gave times in both zones, and both wrong, Oct 9 at 2230 UT as ``32:5`` and ``32:6``, after first getting them an hour off. The signal disappeared abruptly at 2244 UT which seemed a bit early for local sunset. No sign-off or goodbyes. Maybe continued on much reduced night power audible only in neighborhood. We started listening well west of Tucumcari on I-40. At that time nothing was heard from Clovis` sporadic 680 station, but it was there the next day at 1445. Back to 830, finally at 1454 UT we heard a legal(?) ID in Spanish only for ``KMUL AM 830, Canal Libre``, and at 1458 a multi-city ID in Spanish with a long string of towns in TX and NM including Muleshoe and Farwell. YL read news at 1500-1506 UT, but showed her true DJ colors by interrupting the news items with bits of music, and frequent stumbles. Here is the Radio Locator page about it: http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/info?call=KMUL&service=AM showing power as 1100/10 watts from city of license Farwell TX, but studios in Clovis NM, and slogan ``La Original``. Transmitter site is now in NM, WNW of Clovis. Previous items about KMUL and its quest for a power increase to 50 kW days appeared in DXLD: 5-098, 5-085, and 5-004. I would have guessed they were indeed running 50 kW now. Passing thru Amarillo TX, we only paid attention to HP,PR, as High Plains Public Radio identifies from Garden City KS. The 105.7 frequency, KJJP, is now the primary outlet for AMA since that full- power outlet was decommercialized. Also audible on the east side on 94.9 and 91.3 translators, but NOT west side on the 91.5 Bushland relay KTXP which was still being announced. The Top O` Texas relay on 89.5 covers the entire NE quadrant of the Panhandle and on into OK, but not as far as Woodward. KANZ does go thru its translator list thrice daily as required, like KENW. Unfortunately, the HPPR list appears to be in no particular order and is hard to follow. While we happened to be listening, HPPR was interviewing the conductor of the Amarillo Symphony Orchestra about their new season. It seems this is more and more a case of the tail wagging the dog in far-away Garden City, and also a far smaller market, even including the rest of western Kansas it reaches. Amarillo`s 1610 relay of VHF NWS weather station has also disappeared. This had good range around the city and was quite useful to the driver. We happened to be trying for it just as we passed a road sign still asserting its existence. BTW, the Cadillac Ranch just west of Amarillo has a new pink paint job, and also a pink dumpster at the entrance to discourage all the litter along the trail we previously encountered (Glenn Hauser, Oct 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) {but the row of Cadillacs planted diagonally into the field, covered with graffitti, are also a form of litter} ** U S A. Two TX graveyard stations on 1490 with very short distance records among NRC members; can you exceed them? KIBL Beeville by Jim Boehm in San Antonio TX, 88 statute miles KWUD Woodville by Tim Hall in Houston TX, also 88 statute miles (Graveyard Achievements, NRC DX News Oct 10 via DXLD) Radiolocator.com shows KWUD as currently off the air (gh) ** VENEZUELA [non]. Antena Internacional de Radio Nacional de Venezuela, until 2056* Oct 12 via Cuba on 9550 and 13680. This 2000 is certainly the most reliable and best-received transmission, if not the only one left (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIETNAM [non]. Radio Free Vietnam --- According to my Vietnamese friends, a number of Vietnamese broadcasters have reported that Vuong Ky-Son, Director in Chief of Radio Free Vietnam, evacuated safely from New Orleans to Dallas. Mr. Vuong's wife died a few months ago. Vietnamese broadcasts have also reported that many Vietnamese refugees from Katrina are still waiting for the assistance which FEMA claims is available (W. Craighead, KS, Sep 27, in DXplorer-ML via CRW via DXLD) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. Re 5-176: One difference between Spanish from Spain and Spanish spoken in Latin America is that in Spain they say SA-JÁ-RA, The j like the h in horse, stressed on the A. In LA we say SA-A-RA, so the "h" doesn't sound. Hence, the name of the Republic is Sa-ha-rá-ui and not Saháraui and Voz del Pueblo Sájaro sounds like that. 73 (Horacio A. Nigro, Montevideo, Uruguay, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ SHORT WAVE MAGAZINE TO MERGE WITH RADIO ACTIVE The end of an era will occur in January 2006 when the long-running UK publication for radio hobbyists, Short Wave Magazine, ceases publication as a separate title and merges with another magazine from the same publisher, Radio Active. Elaine Richards, the editor of Radio Active, explained to Mike Terry: "The publishers are picking the best bits out of both magazines to create a new title RadioUser. There isn't much else known about this at the moment as the publishers are still finalising all their plans, but we will be able to give more detail when the December issues appear in print." Elaine Richards also stressed that this will not affect the company's flagship publication Practical Wireless. She said "There's no reason to merge PW with anything else as it's in a class of its own, it's staying exactly as it is." (Source: Mike Terry) PW Publishing Ltd. http://www.pwpublishing.ltd.uk/ # posted by Andy @ 08:29 UT Oct 12 (Media Network blog via DXLD) The October issue of SWM arrived recently, and I find nothing about this in that issue; of course, it was compiled in July-August. But it does have a seal on the cover saying ``The UK`s Best Independent Radio Monitoring Magazine --- Est. 1937`` What a pity. Looking thru posts on the SWM readers yg, apparently this was the first they had heard of the merger, as of October 11. The announcement was already published in Practical Wireless but not in SWM itself! However, a lot of stuff in the current mag has nothing to do with HF (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) DIGITAL BROADCASTING ++++++++++++++++++++ BRAZIL/DRM --- Mr Rudolph Grimm (Brazil) sent me some days ago information about DRM reception in North America that showed up at the A-DX-Liste. Well, just to let you know that since last year I've been receiveing DRM in São Bernardo do Campo (S Paulo State, Brazil, GG66RF). I've been able to listen to most of the transmissions above 3995 kHz here (including 3995). I received a QSL card from RTL (6095), station that I listen in an almost daily basis after 0000 UT (depends on HF propagation of course; I'm writing this e-mail listening to RTL 6095, musical tones identification as everyday from 0245 to 0300 UT). I'm organizing a web page on my web site http://py.qsl.br with the DRM audio, screen snapshots from decoder, Journaline and Image contents. For now, some audio and snapshots at http://py.qsl.br/DRM I guess the only missing stations above 3995 kHz are the Campus Radio at 26000 and 26012 kHz and the recent Luxembourg on 25795 kHz. But I received biteXpress already, DW in several times and frequencies, Kuwait, Taldom, TDF Radio, RTL, RTL-DRM2, BBC, CBC, VOR, RNW ... Missing some odd time schedules too due to working hours / propagation. Mostly Taiwan, Japan, etc. My conditions are: - Receiver: Home made quadrature sampling detector (QSD) + DDS local oscillator (similar to SDR1000 hardware) - DrEAm software on a Pentium 2.8 GHz on I/Q mode. - Antennas: mag loop from 10 to 30 MHz, inverted L from 1.8 to 7 MHz, inverted vee dipole for 7 ... 10 MHz. Regards (Marcus Ramos, Brazil PY3CRX/PY2PLL, wwdxc BC-DX Oct 7 via DXLD) See also GERMANY ASA UPHOLDS TWO COMPLAINTS ABOUT DAB DIGITAL RADIO ADVERTISING The Advertising Standards Authority has today upheld two out of three complaints from two listeners about Switchdigital's advertising of DAB. Those upheld: 1. That the claims "distortion free" and "crystal clear" were misleading because although he accepted that DAB digital radio was free from hiss and crackle he believed that a gurgling sound permeated the sound and, 2. The advert implied that DAB digital radio resulted in audio quality superior to analogue radio. He believed that in many cases analogue audio quality was better. The other claim against the phrase "distortion free" was rejected. A listener believed that DAB distorted the sound by compressing audio information of CD quality and removing some of the original data before attempting to recreate the sound using less information than was originally present. He said no matter how good the radio receiver, the system by which information was compressed and then recreated inevitably led to differences from the original sound and therefore distortion. The ASA said that he had misinterpreted the advert and that listeners would interpret "distortion free" as referring merely to the absence of interference. I have more sympathy with the claim that was rejected that the first one that was accepted. Full judgement at: http://tinyurl.com/cagtb http://www.asa.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/A51D8768-EFEF-4D35-AA00-6F859587D989/0/Broadcast_report_5_Oct_05.pdf This has implications for all future adverts and press releases about DAB (Mike Barraclough, Oct 6, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ###