DX LISTENING DIGEST 5-181, October 19, 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 FIRST AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1290: Wed 2200 on WBCQ 7415 Wed 2300 on WBCQ 17495 Thu 2030 on WWCR 15825 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 [from early UT Thursday] WORLD OF RADIO 1290 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1290h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1290h.rm WORLD OF RADIO 1290 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1290.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor12909.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1290.html [from Thu] WORLD OF RADIO 1290 in true SW sound of Alex`s mp3 [anticipated]: (stream) http://www.dxprograms.net/worldofradio_10-19-05.m3u (download) http://www.dxprograms.net/worldofradio_10-19-05.mp3 WORLD OF RADIO 1290 downloads in studio-quality mp3 [from UT Thu]: (high) http://www.obriensweb.com/wor1290h.mp3 (low) http://www.obriensweb.com/wor1290.mp3 WORLD OF RADIO PODCAST: www.obriensweb.com/wor.xml (currently: 1285, 1286, 1287, 1288, Extra 61, 1289, Extra 62, soon 1290) DXLD YAHOOGROUP: Why wait for DXLD? A lot more info, not all of it appearing in DXLD later, is posted at our yg. Here`s where to sign up http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dxld/ ** ALGERIA. MEDIA GUIDE OCTOBER 2005 --- Overview Algeria's political and social landscape is defined by the country's independence struggle from France - in which more than a million Algerians died - and, more recently, the conflict with Islamist militants surrounding the scrapping of 1992 elections which were won by the Islamic Salvation Front. After a decade of fighting, in which the majority of armed groups were defeated or given amnesty by the government, the Al-Qa'idah-linked Salafist Group for Call and Combat (GSPC), a splinter of the largest militant group GIA, continues to fight against government forces. This conflict is estimated to have resulted in over 100,000 deaths. In a national referendum on post-civil war reconciliation held in October 2005, an estimated 97 per cent of voters indicated a willingness for amnesty for both Islamic groups and government forces. In this context, governance in Algeria is strongly authoritarian and depends on the strength of the armed forces, with subsequent detrimental effects on the liberalization of the broadcast media and development of free speech as seen in other countries. Under the presidency of Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Algerian broadcast media have remained mainly under government control, with only the press allowed any degree of independence. A report by the Arab Advisors Group in October 2005 finds 17 FM stations operating in Algeria, all under control of the state-owned Radio-Television Algerienne. Recent expectations that the government may allow liberalization of the broadcast media have not yet come to fruition. Despite this state-controlled broadcast sector, the published media is largely in private hands, and many publications openly criticize the Bouteflika government. Press Freedom International organizations have been highly critical of the Algerian government's approach to press freedom, with the media watchdog Reporters Without Borders [RSF] increasingly concerned at the number of journalists imprisoned. RSF's 2005 report on Algeria noted that "relations between the privately-owned press and the government worsened in 2004 as several papers campaigned against President Bouteflika's re-election bid and suffered serious consequences after his resounding victory." In particular, RSF noted that four journalists were imprisoned in 2004, with two others receiving suspended jail sentences, while "dozens" of others were summonsed by the courts and police. RSF also notes that self-censorship in the Algerian print media is rife after an amendment to the criminal code increased penalties for libel, allowing for heavy fines and a year's imprisonment for insulting the President. In April 2005, five journalists were handed jail terms for suggesting that Bouteflika's re-election campaign was financed by the state oil and gas monopoly. These included Mohamed Benchicou, newspaper editor and founder of Le Matin newspaper, closed by the government in July 2004. Benchicou was already serving a two-year term for other offences, said by Human Rights Watch to be a cover by the authorities to silence criticism. In June 2005, a further three journalists received jail sentences for defamation. The editor and a reporter for Le Soir d'Algerie were jailed for criticizing Bouteflika's election campaign, while a cartoonist received a six-month sentence for mocking the military. The Campaign for the Protection of Journalists [CPJ] also lamented Algeria's poor press freedom record, noting that the government has used state-owned printers as a tool to close down publications by demanding the repayment of debts. In 2004, Le Matin, Le Nouvel Algerie Actualite and El Djarida were closed in this manner, CPJ noted. According to CPJ, the government has moved to control foreign media access to Algeria. Since 2004, journalists are now only allowed to work for one foreign news organization (rather than work as a stringer for several). In June 2004, the Qatar-based news channel Al-Jazeera had its news operation in Algeria suspended without reason. This ban has yet to be lifted. A report by the Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights [FIDH] in July 2005 expressed its concern for the ongoing situation in Algeria, noting the frequent prosecution of journalists and media companies, calling on the Algerian government to "enforce respect of the freedom of the press". Radio Radio broadcasting in Algeria remains firmly under the control of the government through the state-owned broadcaster Radio-Television Algerienne. According to their own estimates, the Algerian government acknowledges that at least eight million Algerians receive radio broadcasts from sources outside the country, mostly via satellite. Radio Algerienne, the state-run broadcaster, operates four national radio stations: - Chaine1: Arabic channel - Chaine2: Berber channel - Chaine3: French channel - Radio El Bahdja ("Happiness"): French-language youth channel, available on FM in Algiers and via satellite. Radio Kor`an (0400-0800), Radio Mitidja (0800-1200) and Radio Culture (1600-2000) share three medium-wave frequencies in Algiers, Ghardaia and El Golea. There are also a number of government-controlled local FM radio stations, all under the operation of Radio Algerienne. New stations are planned in Djanet, Saida, Soukahras and Jijel. Al-Salam radio, which broadcast anti-government programming on behalf of the outlawed Islamic Salvation Front via the Hotbird satellite, closed on 30 September 2004. Television Television remains under state control in Algeria. However, increasing numbers of Algerian households have access to satellite dishes, which are not illegal, and are able to view foreign television channels. Enterprise Nationale de Television (ENTV) - state-run domestic TV - carries programming in Arabic, Berber, French and English. It is strongly supportive of President Bouteflika and the policies of his government. A live feed of this channel, along with news and information, can be found at http://www.entv.dz. ENTV is now available on satellite on the NSS7 (22 degrees West) and Intelsat 907 (27.5 degrees West). In addition to the national ENTV channel, state-owned Canal Algerie broadcasts on the Eutelsat Hotbird (13.0 degrees East) satellites and Astra 1E (19.2 degrees East) to expatriate Algerians in Europe, and also on Intelsat Americas 5 (97 degrees East) to viewers in the Americas and NSS7 (22 degrees West) on a beam which covers Europe and Africa. The channel intends to expand into Asia in the near future. Canal 3 (Thalitha TV) is a state-controlled general entertainment and news channel which broadcasts on Arabsat, Hotbird and NSS7 to the Arab world and Africa. BRTV is a privately-owned satellite TV channel aimed at Berber speakers both in Algeria and diaspora communities. The channel, based in Paris, is available on the Hotbird 6 satellite to subscribers only). BRTV also offers a radio station - Berbere Radio via its website at http://www.brtv.fr The London-based Khalifa News Channel, broadcast by satellite to viewers in Algeria is no longer on the air, and its website has closed following the station's bankruptcy. The station held a licence to broadcast from the UK's broadcasting regulator Ofcom. Press Like many newspapers in the Arab world, several Algerian publications which operate websites offer hard-copy versions of their latest editions in pdf format, usually for a small fee or as an ongoing subscription. Others offer a condensed version for free. BBC Monitoring research of Algerian press publications and websites reveals the following list of news sources (all based in Algiers unless otherwise indicated). This list is not exhaustive: El Khabar: (Arabic: "The News"). Claims to be Algeria's biggest selling Arabic-language newspaper with a circulation of approximately 400,000. An independent title, often critical of the government with a pro-democracy slant. Available on the internet in Arabic, French and English at http://www.elkhabar.com El Watan: (Arabic: "The Nation"). El Watan is an independently-owned French-language newspaper, claiming the largest circulation of the Francophone press. The Friday issue is a combined Friday-Saturday edition. The paper is pro-democracy, critical of the authorities and is a good source for information on security matters. Website: http://www.elwatan.com El Youm: Large circulation Arabic-language independent newspaper, will sometimes engage in criticism of the government. El Youm correspondent Hafnaoui Ghoul was imprisoned for six months for libel in 2004. Website: http://www.elyoum.com Al Fadjr: Independent Arabic-language daily newspaper. Website: http://www.al-fadjr.com L'Expression: Independent French-language newspaper with FLN leanings. Website: http://www.lexpressiondz.com El Moujahid: (Arabic: "The Freedom Fighter"). State-owned French- language daily newspaper, widely regarded as a government organ. Website: http://www.elmoudjahid-dz.com Ech-Chaab: A state-owned Arabic-language publication established in 1962 that reflects government policy. This publication is nationalist and is the previous mouthpiece of the FLN (National Liberation Front) party. Website (not updated since June 2005): http://www.ech-chaab.com Liberté: Privately-owned French-language newspaper. The paper is pro- democracy and largely supportive of anti-Islamist tendency, supporting the policies of the RCD (Rally for Culture and Democracy). Website: http://www.liberte-algeria.com Le Quotidien d'Oran: French-language independent regional newspaper based in Oran. Website: http://www.lequotidien-oran.com Horizons: State-owned daily evening tabloid-format newspaper, published in French. Founded in 1985, claims a circulation of 300,000. Often carries English-language editorial columns. Website: http://www.horizons-dz.com La Tribune: Moderate, privately-owned French-language newspaper. Website: http://www.latribune-online.com Akher Saa: Independently-owned Arabic-language newspaper. Critical of the government. Currently campaigning for press freedom and the release of imprisoned journalists. Website: http://www.akhersaa-dz.com La Nouvelle République: Independent daily French-language newspaper, with extensive website archives. Website: http://www.lanouvellerepublique.com Le Jour d'Algérie: Independent daily newspaper, founded in 2003 by Abderrahmane Mahmoudi, a professional journalist who was trained at Algerie-Actualites. Website: http://www.lejourdalgerie.com Le Soir d'Algérie: Independent, popular, French-language tabloid-style daily newspaper. Website: http://www.lesoirdalgerie.com Le Jeune Independent: Independently-owned French-language daily newspaper, moderately critical of the government. Founded in March 1990. Website: http://www.jeune-independent.com Le Matin: French-language, large circulation newspaper, highly critical of the government. Closed in July 2004, following a tax bill from the government and demands for payment from the state-owned printing concern Simpral. The founder and editor of Le Matin, Mohamed Benchicou, has been jailed. According to the press watchdog Reporters Sans Frontières, "nearly 50 lawsuits have been heard or are pending against him". News Agency APS - Algerie Presse Service: Official government news agency established in 1961, issues bulletins in Arabic, English and French. Available on the internet at http://www.aps.dz. A full news service is available to subscribers only. AAI - Agence Algerienne d'Information: Privately-owned news agency launched in 1999 after its formation in 1996. The agency specialises in economic and technology news. Available on the internet in the French language, with a full news service available to subscribers only. The agency's English service appears to have been dormant since March 2004. Website: http://www.aai-online.com Source: BBC Monitoring research 17 Oct 05 (via DXLD) See also WESTERN SAHARA [non] ** ANTARCTICA. LRA-36 to be obliterated by Delano, B-05: see GREECE ** AUSTRALIA. I talked to Nigel Holmes of R. Australia about the Northern Territory SW transmitters. The three old units were too unreliable, so the contractor is paying for replacing them with new 100 kW transmitters, but they will be operated at 50 as per regulations. One of them, Tennant Creek, will have DRM capability. They are owned by Broadcast Australia (Chris Hambly, Vic., Oct 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ABC Alice Springs via Shepparton can be heard now at 0830 Oct 19 on 11880 kHz with S3-5 (LUCA BOTTO FIORA QTH: Rapallo (Genova) Italy, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. The item doesn't appear online, but today's edition of The Australian newspaper's 'Media' supplement reports that RA will introduce a new, live two-hour breakfast program starting Monday 24 October. 'The Breakfast Club' will be hosted by Phil Kafcaloudes who has been a journalist on the ABC's domestic News Radio network for the past five years. The program will features from Australia and the region, popular music, weather updates and regular features on finance, science, arts and fashion, as well as breaking news coverage. It's described as being loosely based on 'In the Loop' which is targeted at Pacific audiences. RA's online program schedule doesn't show details for the new program yet (Matt Francis, Washington, DC, Oct 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BANGLADESH. According to the E-mail from Md. Motiar Rahman, Senior Engineer of Bangladesh Betar, they are not using 4880 kHz for their domestic service at present. They will start transmission again in March 2006 when they will complete the new transmitter (Takahito Akabayashi, Tokyo, Japan, Oct 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BENIN. Benin already on the air on 1566 kHz? A French speaking station was heard on 1566 kHz at the DX Camp near Prague, the Czech Republic, on 13 Oct 2005 during evening hours (this evening only). The station played mostly music (Arabic style) with sporadic announcements, mentioning also frequencies and "Benin". The language was accented French of African type. TWR Benin plans to go on the air on this frequency with its new transmitter in Parakou, Benin with 100 kW. Firstly planned for mid 2005, later postponed to November 2005. Maybe they are already testing using a modulation of a local station? (Karel Honzik, the Czech Republic (Czechia), Oct 18, AOR AR-7030 80 m LW, mwdx yg via DXLD) ** BULGARIA. Winter B-05 of RADIO BULGARIA from 30/10/2005 to 26/03/2006: ADDR: 4, Dragan Tsankov Blvd., 1040 Sofia and P.O.Box 900, 1000 Sofia. Tel +359 2 933 66 33; fax +359 2 865 05 60; Website http://www.bnr.bg Programme Director: Angel Nedyalkov e-mail: nedyalkov @ bnr.bg Frequency Manager: Ivo Ivanov e-mail: frequencies @ bnr.bg MW: Petrich (G.C: 23.18E/41.42N): 747 kHz 500 kW / non-dir Vidin (G.C: 22.40E/43.49N): 1224 kHz 500 kW / 205 deg SW: P=Plovdiv/Padarsko (G.C: 24.42E/42.10N): 2 x 500 kW, 3 x 250 kW S=Sofia/Kostinbrod (G.C: 23.13E/42.49N): 2 x 100 kW, 2 x 050 kW ALBANIAN / e-mail: albanian@bnr.bg 0630-0700 Mon-Fri Balkans 5900 P250/248, 1224 0700-0800 Sat/Sun Balkans 5900 P250/248, 1224 1200-1230 -daily- Balkans 7200 P250/248 1700-1730 -daily- Balkans 5900 P250/248, 1224 2000-2100 -daily- Balkans 5900 P250/248, 1224, 747 BULGARIAN / e-mail: bulgarian@bnr.bg 0100-0200 -daily- North America 7400 P500/295, 9700 P500/306 0100-0200 -daily- South America 7500 P250/258, 9500 P250/245 0530-0600 Mon-Fri West Europe 9500 P500/306, 11500 P500/306 0530-0600 Mon-Fri Balkans 5900 P250/248, 1224 0530-0600 Mon-Fri East Europe 5800 S100/030, 7500 S100/030 0500-0600 Sat/Sun West Europe 9500 P500/306, 11500 P500/306 0500-0600 Sat/Sun Balkans 5900 P250/248, 1224 0500-0600 Sat/Sun East Europe 5800 S100/030, 7500 S100/030 1100-1130 -daily- Balkans 7200 P250/248 1100-1130 -daily- East Europe 11600 S100/030, 13600 S100/030 1100-1130 -daily- West Europe 11700 P500/306, 15700 P500/306 1300-1500 -daily- Balkans 1224 1300-1500 -daily- West Europe 11700 P500/306, 15700 P500/306 1600-1700 -daily- Balkans 5900 P250/248, 1224 1600-1700 -daily- East Europe 5800 S100/030, 7500 S100/030 1600-1700 -daily- Middle East 9400 P500/126 1600-1700 -daily- South Africa 17500 P500/185 1900-2000 -daily- Balkans 5900 P250/248, 1224, 747 1900-2100 -daily- Middle East 7400 P250/140 1900-2100 -daily- West Europe 9400 P250/306 ENGLISH / e-mail: english@bnr.bg 0000-0100 -daily- North America 7400 P500/295, 9700 P500/306 0300-0400 -daily- North America 7400 P500/295, 9700 P500/306 0730-0800 -daily- West Europe 9500 P500/306, 11500 P500/306 1230-1300 -daily- West Europe 11700 P500/306, 15700 P500/306 1830-1900 -daily- West Europe 5800 P500/295, 7500 P500/306 2200-2300 -daily- West Europe 5800 P500/295, 7500 P500/306 FRENCH / e-mail: french@bnr.bg 0200-0300 -daily- North America 7400 P500/295, 9700 P500/306 0700-0730 -daily- West Europe 9500 P500/306, 11500 P500/306 1200-1230 -daily- West Europe 11700 P500/306, 15700 P500/306 1800-1830 -daily- West Europe 5800 P500/295, 7500 P500/306 2100-2200 -daily- West Europe 5800 P500/295, 7500 P500/306 GERMAN / e-mail: german@bnr.bg 0600-0630 -daily- West Europe 9500 P500/306, 11500 P500/306 1130-1200 -daily- West Europe 11700 P500/306, 15700 P500/306 1730-1800 -daily- West Europe 5800 P500/295, 7500 P500/306 2000-2100 -daily- West Europe 5800 P500/295, 7500 P500/306 GREEK / e-mail: greek@bnr.bg 0600-0630 Mon-Fri Balkans 5900 P250/248, 1224 0600-0700 Sat/Sun Balkans 5900 P250/248, 1224 1130-1200 -daily- Balkans 7200 P250/248 1730-1800 -daily- Balkans 5900 P250/248, 1224, 747 2100-2200 -daily- Balkans 5900 P250/248, 1224, 747 RUSSIAN / e-mail: russian@bnr.bg 0000-0100 -daily- Central Asia 9400 P250/045 0400-0500 -daily- East Europe 5800 S100/030, 7500 S100/030, 1224 0600-0630 -daily- East Europe 5800 S100/030, 7500 S100/030 1130-1200 -daily- East Europe 11600 S100/030, 13600 S100/030 1500-1600 -daily- East Europe 5800 S100/030, 7500 S100/030, 1224 1500-1600 -daily- Central Asia 9400 P250/045 1700-1730 -daily- East Europe 5800 S100/030, 7500 S100/030 1900-2000 -daily- East Europe 5800 S100/030, 7500 S100/030 SERBIAN / e-mail:serbian@nbnr.bg 0700-0730 Mon-Fri Balkans 5900 P250/248, 1224 0800-0900 Sat/Sun Balkans 5900 P250/248, 1224 1230-1300 -daily- Balkans 7200 P250/248 1800-1830 -daily- Balkans 5900 P250/248, 1224, 747 2200-2300 -daily- Balkans 5900 P250/248, 1224, 747 SPANISH / e-mail:spanish@bnr.bg 0000-0100 -daily- South America 7500 P250/258, 9500 P250/245 0200-0300 -daily- South America 7500 P250/258, 9500 P250/245 0200-0300 -daily- Central America 9400 P250/295 0700-0730 -daily- South Europe 11600 P250/260, 13600 P250/292 1200-1230 -daily- South Europe 11600 P250/260, 13600 P250/292 1730-1800 -daily- South Europe 9800 P250/260, 11800 P250/260 2200-2300 -daily- South Europe 7400 P250/260, 9400 P250/260 TURKISH / e-mail:turkish@bnr.bg 0600-0630 -daily- Middle East 6000 P250/115, 7400 P250/140 1100-1130 -daily- Middle East 6000 P250/115, 7400 P250/140 1830-1900 -daily- Middle East 7400 P250/140, 1224, 747 RADIO VARNA on SW with programm "Hello Sea" in Bulgarian: 2200 Sun-0400 Mon Black Sea 7600 V100/ND DX-MIX px in Bulgarian will be on air: 1445-1500 Sun 1224 11700 15700 2045-2100 Sun 7400 9400 DX-MIX px in Russian will be on air: 1545-1600 Sat 1224 5800 7500 9400 1715-1730 Sat 5800 7500 1945-2000 Sat 5800 7500 0045-0100 Sun 9400 0445-0500 Sun 1224 5800 7500 0615-0630 Sun 5800 7500 1145-1200 Sun 11600 13600 0615-0630 Mon 5800 7500 1145-1200 Wed 11600 13600 (Observer, Bulgaria, Oct 18 via DXLD) But they never mention schedule for the English DX program, produced by other people (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. Save the Time Signal Pole! --- This is an important piece of Canadian history and I really don't think it should be turned into a bench (meehant, alt.radio.networks.cbc via Dan Say, DXLD) It's just an antenna pole. There is no technology involved such as a falling ball or flag as in many harbours. Nice joke, but let it go (Dan Say, Oct 19, ibid.) HOMEOWNER WANTS TO FELL POLE LINKED TO FIRST DAILY TIME SIGNAL Last updated Oct 18 2005 04:11 PM EDT CBC News http://ottawa.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=ot-pole20051018 A simple wooden pole apparently linked to the longest-running feature on CBC Radio – the 1 p.m. time signal – will disappear from Ottawa's west end over safety concerns. Standing taller than the trees, the pole is located on what used to be the property of J.P. Henderson. He was an astronomer at the Dominion Observatory. Although an astronomer, Henderson did a lot of experimenting with radio and was one of Ontario's first ham radio operators. At his home on Perth Street, Henderson put up a pole for his antenna from which he broadcast, among other things, a time signal. That was more than a decade before CBC was created. The time signal has been heard every day on CBC since it started in the 1930s. "He would almost certainly have done all of that work from home. At work, he would be interested in applying the fascinating new technology that he had developed at home," says Dr. Rob Douglas, the present-day timekeeper at the National Research Council. However, it's still unclear whether the pole now standing is the original pole erected by Henderson. It's possible he replaced it over the years. Henderson's property has been subdivided and the pole now stands on the front lawn belonging to Kate Fildes, who's worried about the climbing pegs on each side that go right to the top. "We're concerned that the kids in the neighborhood are going to climb the thing and fall off and hurt themselves, so we decided to have it cut down," she said. Her neighbour, a woodworker named Fred Dellamico, lives in the original Henderson home and he's the one who thought the pole might have some history. "I could appeal to the neighbors, who are nice people, to save it," he said, although he's not hopeful. "I already did that once two years ago. They wanted to take it down and I said, 'Well, I want to look into it.' So they postponed it." If no pole-huggers rush to the rescue, it will come down and Dellamico will use his woodworking skills to turn it into benches (via Dan Say, DXLD) WTFK? Are we talking about CHU on SW here? The CBC timesignal is not exactly the same as CHU (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Interesting post-mortem analysis on the CBC lockout See http://www.gateway.ualberta.ca/view.php?aid=4953. The challenges faced by other "state broadcasters" [sic -- really "public service broadcasters"] are cited. Worth a read (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, Oct 18, swprograms mailing list via DXLD) ** CANADA. RCI B-05 Schedule by language Arabic 0330-0359 ME 5840hb 6025we 0430-0459 ME 5840hb 5995we 7265sk 2015-2044 ME 11865sa 13650sa 7240sk 93,3VOL 93,4VOL 93,6VOL 9710sk 1233RMC Chinese 0000-0029 China 5855hb 9565ki 11785ki 0030-0059 China 9565ki 11785ki 2200-2229 China 6160ki 9730ya 7195ki 2300-2329 China 6160ki 7195ki 12045ya ====================================================================== English 0000-0057 seAS 9880ku 0000-0159 N+CAM 9755sa 1200-1259 AS 7105ya 9665ya 1300-1329 AS 9665ya 9725ya 1400-1659 N+CAM 9515sa 13655sa 17820sa 1500-1557 India 11975ur 9635ku 1800-1859 AF 17740sa 11875we 7185ka 9770ka 2100-2159 EU 5850hb 9770sa 2100-2259 N+CAM 15180sa 2200-2229 SAM 11990sa 2230-2259 EU 1179so 2230-2259 China 6160ki 7195ki 9730ya 2300-2359 NAM 6100sa ====================================================================== English / DRM 1400-1430 EU 7240fl 2200-2300 NAM 9800sa French 0000-0059 NAM 6100sa 1200-1359 N+CAM 6120sa 1430-1459 AS 5985ya 9780ya 1700-1959 N+CAM 17835sa 1800-1859 EU 5850hb 13650sa 1900-1959 AF 11845sk 13650sa 17740sa 2000-2059 N+CAM 15180sa 2100-2159 AF 7235sk 11845sa 9805mo 2300-2359 N+CAM 15180sa Portuguese [see below] 2000-2029 Brazil fr-su 15305sa 17765sa 2100-2129 Brazil fr-su 15305sa 17765sa 2200-2229 Brazil fr-su 15305sa 17765sa 2230-2259 Brazil fr-su 11990sa 15305sa Russian 1600-1629 Russia 11935sk 5840hb 9555sk 1700-1729 Russia 11935sk 9555ra Spanish 0000-0029 C+SAM 11990sa 9640sa 0030-0059 C+SAM 11990sa 9640sa 0100-0129 CAM 6100sa 0300-0329 CAM 6130sa 9755sa 2300-2329 SAM 11990sa 13730sa 2330-2359 SAM 11990sa 13730sa Ukrainian 1700-1729 Ukraine sa-su UR-3NRCU Transmitters: fl = Flevo, Netherlands hb = Hoerby, Sweden ka = Kashi, China ki = Kimjae, Rep of Korea ku = Kunming, China mo = Moosbrun, Austria NRCU = National Radio Co., Ukraine ra = Rampisham, UK sa = Sackville so = Soolvesborg, Sweden VOL = Voice of Lebanon we = Wertachtal, Germany ya = Yamata, Japan [xls spreadsheet via Wolfgang Bueschel/Bill Westenhaver - RCI via Alokesh Gupta at webpage of BCLNEWS.IT, via JKB, WWDXC via DXLD and via Mike Barraclough/re-arranged in Language order by Alan Roe, DX LISTENING DIGEST] Actually, the first two Portuguese broadcasts are on Friday only, the other two on both Sat and Sun, at least at the later hours in the A-05 schedule. There are a few other non-daily transmissions in http://www.rcinet.ca/rci/PDF/RCI_2005_schedule.pdf (gh, DXLD) Hi, I note a difference on the RCI-Excel file: 2000-2029 SAC 15305 250 163 Brazil PORTUGUESE 3R4 / P4 SAC 17765 250 163 FRI / VEN: Canada direto SAT-SUN / SAM-DIM: Canada direto 2100-2129 SAC 15305 250 163 Brazil PORTUGUESE 3R4 / P4 SAC 17765 250 163 FRI / VEN: Canada direto SAT-SUN / SAM-DIM: Canada direto 2200-2229 SAC 15305 250 163 Brazil PORTUGUESE 3R1 / P1 SAC 17765 250 163 FRI / VEN: Canada direto SAT-SUN / SAM-DIM: Canada direto 2230-2259 SAC 11990 250 163 Brazil PORTUGUESE 3R5 / P5 SAC 15305 250 163 FRI / VEN: Canada direto SAT-SUN / SAM-DIM: Canada direto Spanish 2300-2359 daily. All others daily, except local Ukrainian language section in Kiev-UKR, latter Sat/Suns only. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) OK, so it does appear that unlike A-05 scheduling, in B-05 all four Portuguese transmissions will be on all three days, Fri-Sat-Sun (gh) ** CANADA. If you hear strange languages on 1540 or 100.7, chances are it is CHIN Toronto. Their program grids: http://www.chinradio.com/amfm.asp (via Shawn Axelrod, MB, amfmtvdx at qth.net via DXLD) ** CHILE. I continue to marvel at the super signal the 100 kW from Voz Cristiana puts in here, in Spanish aimed at Mexico, on 17680 all day, such as 1455 Oct 18. What a pity that this facility (or another transmitter there) is not used for a ``Voice of South America`` external service. If Chile is not interested, one or more other countries could back it and provide a terrific service to the rest of the world in English and other languages, conveying South American news, culture, and yes, politics. But no one has the vision to do it (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn: You just got to the point with that Chilean signal that it's also a plain "5" here in Tiquicia all day long, almost at the same time I was wondering why can't VOA have the same clean presence I got from RCI on 17820 for The Morning Show from 1300 to 1600. Nowadays CRI transmissions are booming throughout the day all around the SW spectrum, which lead us to miss that golden age of VOA and even BBCWS. I see it as a dream to keep hoping that someday a group of South American countries will reach an agreement for a shared major SW outlet; as you know there are different points of political view. We have just seen the recent experience with the TV channel supported by Venezuela; it's like trying to set in place 50 monkeys for a photo. I bet that mega SW SAm station would have to come from Brazil; I don't see any other country with the resources to do that. Cause frankly we got a better signal from the Argentinian 15820 feeders than from RAE on 15345 (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. Seems the Chicom have come up with yet another jamming technique. Oct 18 at 1403 on 7330 I was hearing Chinese talk with multiple quick echoes. It was hard to tell, but each word must have echoed three or four times. Could be from one transmitter, or multiple sites, and surely no accident. This is to block BBC in Chinese via Vladivostok. Just one more reminder that when you hear CRI in English clearly relayed via Albania, Canada, Chile, Cuba, French Guiana, Mali, Toronto, Washington DC, or wherever, they do not deserve it (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also INTERNATIONAL INTERNET ** COLOMBIA. 5810, La Voz de Tu Conciencia, Puerto Lleras, 16/10, 1021, 222. Two MA with comments on poverty, evangelio. Religious music, also llanera music. Partial ID: "Sigan escuchando La Voz de tu Conciencia, desde Colombia para el mundo....HJVH." [HJDH really]. Pretty weak and suffering QRM by nearby stations (Fernando Viloria, Guacara - Carabobo State - Venezuela, Icom IC-720 transceiver, 1/4 wave sloper, Antenna tuner: MFJ - 956 (passive), DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. SE SUICIDA CONOCIDO ACTOR Y LOCUTOR EN LA HABANA El actor y locutor Pastor Felipe se suicidó el pasado sábado disparándose con una pistola. La noticia se conoció a través de empleados del Instituto Cubano de Radio y Televisión, compañeros de Felipe. Los medios oficialistas informaron muy escuetamente del hecho. Felipe se mantuvo cinco años, en la década del 70, como presentador de Nocturno, un programa musical de la emisora Radio Progreso. En su momento fue el más popular de Cuba. Recientemente, a Pastor Felipe se le había entregado en acto público una réplica del machete de Ignacio Agramonte, distinción con la que el estado cubano reconoce la destacada participación de algunas personas en el sector de la cultura. Pastor Felipe también fue presentador de actos políticos oficiales. Durante mucho tiempo se comentó dentro del sector radial que era miembro del Ministerio del Interior. COPIADO DE LA EDICION ELECTRONICA "CUBANET" Prensa Independiente de Cuba http://www.cubanet.org/ (Via Oscar de Céspedes / Miami, EEUU, Conexión Digital Oct 16 via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. DRM going strong on 15375 again, Oct 18 at 1411 and still at 1503, presumably HCJB as usual. This is not on every day. I sure thought it was centred on 15375, but see this: (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 10/13/2005 --- Ecuador: HCJB is doing some special DRM transmissions to Chile from Oct. 13 through Oct. 22nd on 15370 kHz from 1200 to 2400 UT (from http://baseportal.com/baseportal/drmdx/main via DXLD) Frequency listing adds that it`s 30 kW aimed 150 degrees. Rechecked Oct 19 at 1355, yes, it was on 15370, possibly in deference to The Holy Qur`an Station on 15380, which I pointed out before was being QRMed by the Qhristian Qrusaders in Quito. As for strength, it seems no weaker now than it was when beamed north on 15375 (gh) Caros, A HCJB muito bem recebida em SBC hj a noite até as 2100 UT. Algumas amostras de áudio dos últimos dias, além de snapshots da tela do software podem ser encontrados em http://www.qsl.net/py3crx/DRM Os áudios em MP3, não estão com toda a qualidade do áudio como recebido pois necessito de compactação (a conexão é discada). Um arquivo de 1 min de áudio do software DREAM dependendo do caso pode chegar a 40Mbytes, Os compactados estão em média com 100 Kbytes. O receptor usado para AM e etc é um softawre rodando em Win XP no PC, associado a um hardware caseiro. Em DRM é o software Dream no Linux, com o mesmo hardware. Antenas: L invertido com 40m comprimento, mag loop de 10 a 30 MHz e um dipolo em V invertido para 7.1 MHz (73/Abcs, Marcus Ramos, PY3CRX/PY2PLL, Oct 17, radioescutas yg via DXLD) WTFK??? Presumably this 15370 (gh) Ontém consegui escutar (e mto bem) a HCJB no Ecuador, Relay no Chile. Estava no schedule como transmitindo DRM desde sexta passada mas não havia sinal nenhum em 15370 kHz. Ontém resolvi verificar e finalmente lá estava ela. Grato pelas informações. 73/Abcs (Marcus, PY3CRX/PY2PLL, Oct 18, ibid.) It`s not relayed in Chile, but to Chile ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. Is R. Africa, 15190, actually on the air? See NORWAY [non]. One comprehensive 256-page logbook at http://www.dswci-sw-logs.dxer.info/download/logs.pdf shows 15190.0 1915 GNE 21.05.05 Radio Africa No. 2, Malabo English RAD-USA [Rich D`Angelo, PA] As the only/latest log during the last three years, and that was at a different daypart. No details, either, so we can`t be positive that was not a mistaken ID for WWRB which also tested on that frequency (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE [non]. Glenn: For the new B-05 schedule on Voice of Greece, look for a new frequency of 15475 at 1600-2200 UT from Delano. Right now it looks as though Africa #1 is occupying the 15475 frequency for a portion of that time, but perhaps they moved at the last HFCC meeting for B05. I am trying to get Babis and Katerina to open from 1500-1600 on 15475 on Saturday for the Greeks Everywhere program in English (provided that is the time frame that she will be using). Regards, (John Babbis, Silver Spring, MD, Oct 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) John, Please try to get them to use anything but 15475. I doubt Gabon will move, but Delano on 15475 at that time will obliterate LRA-36 Antarctica even worse than Voz Cristiana, Chile, did until we got them to move. LRA-36 is on 15476 at 18-21 M-F. Alternatives have been registered in the past, such as 15485, or even better, 15455. For that matter, ERT could do just as well on 11, 13 or even 17 MHz (Glenn to John, via DXLD) ** GUAM. On 11885, Oct 18 at 1446 some music, 1448 announcement in Burmese from AWR --- or so I thought, until I looked up in NDXC and find that this semihour is scheduled in Karen. Is Karen that much like Burmese, or maybe they actually threw in a Burmese ID (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HUNGARY. USA (non): Winter B-05 for IBB via JBR, Hungary: 0300-0500 9520 JBR 250 kW / 065 deg Radio Liberty in Russian 1700-1800 7220 JBR 250 kW / 055 deg Radio Liberty in Russian 1800-1900 7220 JBR 250 kW / 055 deg Voice of America in Russian (Observer, Bulgaria, Oct 18 via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET. PROTEST HELD OUTSIDE HONG KONG YAHOO OFFICE OVER ARREST OF CHINA JOURNALIST | Text of "Newswrap" report by Radio TV Hong Kong audio website on 18 October A protest has been held outside Hong Kong's Yahoo office denouncing the US internet giant for passing on information that led to the jailing of a journalist in China. Yahoo was found to have provided mainland authorities with the contact details of writer Shi Tao, who was jailed in April for 10 years for revealing state secrets. The demonstrators urged the company to review its privacy policy so that clients' information is protected in future. Mr Shi was convicted of using his Yahoo e-mail account to post a government order barring Chinese media from marking the 15th anniversary of Tiananmen Square. Source: RTHK Radio 3 audio website, Hong Kong, in English 1000 gmt 18 Oct 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. Re Harry Helms, 5-180: It is overly simplistic to say that "the end is near for C-band satellite television." It is true that there are many transmissions on the higher Ku-band frequencies and that there are fewer analog transmissions on C-band. But there are many signals that remain on C- band in either analog or digital form, including international radio broadcasts from VOA, DW, RAI, RNE (Spain) and even ZNS from the Bahamas. To say "the end is near for C-band..." is like saying "the end is near for cellular telephones." In both cases, the transmission mode and frequency range has changed substantially, but don't you believe "the end is near" for either (Mike Cooper, GA, Oct 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN. IRAN BANS FEMINISM, LIBERALISM IN MOVIES | Excerpt from report by Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA) website The Supreme Council of Islamic Cultural Revolution approved the government's policies on film screening and audiovisual presentation in a session chaired by President Mahmud Ahmadinezhad, last night [18 October]. These policies impose a ban on the movies that promote schools of thought such as secularism, liberalism, nihilism and feminism as well as the movies that mock or humiliate original oriental religious cultures. The films that undermine the dominant role of religion in life and introduce secular systems as superior to religious systems are also banned. Meanwhile, there will be a ban on films that promote imperialism and its main institutions as well as those that promote or justify unethical behaviour, violence, drug abuse, and alcoholism. The highest-ranking officials of the Iranian television and the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance will be responsible for the implementation of these policies. [Passage omitted: on other unrelated issues]. Source: Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA), Tehran, in Persian 0849 gmt 19 Oct 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** JAPAN. R. Nikkei, JOZ3, 9595, good signal at 0608 Oct 19 with YL in extremely repetitive talk with lots of numbers in Japanese. I suspect these were quotations from Tokyo Stock Exchange, it being just after 3 pm local. Does it close then like NYSE? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Solar-terrestrial indices for 18 October follow. Solar flux 78 and mid-latitude A-index 9. The mid-latitude K-index at 0600 UTC on 19 October was 2 (16 nT). No space weather storms were observed for the past 24 hours. (SEC via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [non]. The website of the Belgian Kurdish radio station Dengê Mezopotamya http://www.denge-mezopotamya.com has been unavailable since around 6 October. The domain is still active, but access is being blocked by the German provider. The SW transmissions and Belgian-hosted audio streaming http://wm.streampower.be/roj_radio remain unaffected (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, DX LISTENING DIGEST) So I guess the issue remains of whether this organization is ``terrorist``. Meanwhile, reception has improved greatly on 11530; I was enjoying their music Oct 18 at 1425, 1429 giving a website (or something with www in it); I was not copying, but after the fact, it seemed like the one above that has indeed been blocked. 1430 into talk, presumably news. But like so many other clandestines, this one plays a lot of enjoyable music. Long live the Radio Sawa model! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Solar-terrestrial indices for 17 October follow. Solar flux 78 and mid-latitude A-index 15. The mid-latitude K-index at 1500 UTC on 18 October was 4 (43 nT). No space weather storms were observed for the past 24 hours (SEC via DXLD) Saludos cordiales Glenn, tengo una dúda, la web de la estación Dengue Mesopotamia parece ser que ha desaparecido; sin embargo estoy escuchando a esta emisora por internet en la siguiente dirección: http://wm.streampower.be/roj_radio --- Se identifica como Dengue Mesopotamia, sin embargo en el reproductor pone ROJ Live, quizás Radio Roj? 73, Jose Miguel Romero, Spain, Oct 19, dxldyg via DXLD) ** MALAYSIA. 7295, TraXXfm (Kuala Lumpur), is still not heard during the 1300-1400 UT time period. The XX is for ``Xperience the Xcitment.`` SARAWAK (Kuching, Malaysia). 7270, Wai FM (RTM), Oct 18, 1335-1404, woman DJ with program of pop songs in various languages (English song: ``I Live My Life for You``), ToH singing station jingle (men with ``Wai, Wai, Wai, Wai, Wai Wai Wai`` and a woman comes in with ``FM``), assume the news. Scheduled languages are Iban/ Bidayuh/ Kayan/ Kenyah. Fair. Thanks again to Alan Davies, from Indonesia, for the information on the renaming of the Malaysian stations (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, RX340 + T2FD antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) And now I wonder what ``Wai`` means (gh) ** MALDIVE ISLANDS. WATCHDOG RSF EXPRESSES "OUTRAGE" AT 10-YEAR JAIL TERM FOR JOURNALIST | Text of press release by Paris-based organization Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) on 19 October Reporters Without Borders voiced outrage at the 10-year prison sentence imposed yesterday on journalist and human rights activist Jennifer Latheef for a supposed "terrorist act" and said she had been the victim of a political trial. "She got this heavy sentence in large part because she is the daughter of exiled opposition leader Mohamed Latheef," the press freedom organization said. "The terrorism charges were just a device to silence a political opponent and gag an independent journalist. We call on President Gayoom to keep his promises of democracy and to ensure that Jennifer Latheef is retried by an impartial court that respects the right of defence." The "terrorist act" supposedly committed by Latheef, now aged 32, was to have allegedly thrown a stone at a policeman during a demonstration held on 20 September 2003 in protest against the death of five prisoners of conscience under torture. The charge was based entirely on the testimony of police officers that was often contradictory. Latheef's health has deteriorated steadily in recent weeks, largely due to the stress of the trial. She was hospitalized in early October and was unable to attend a hearing on 13 October at which five other dissidents on trial with her received 11-year sentences. Latheef was arrested at the end of yesterday's trial. The authorities did not say where she had been taken. Latheef is a researcher and photographer with the Minivan Daily, a newspaper that currently has two other journalists in prison. Source: Reporters Sans Frontieres press release, Paris, in English 19 Oct 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. 3935.03, R Reading Service, 1100 to 1130 when covered by local ARO. News, alternating OM and YL, into music after 1110, YL occasionally talking over music. Variety of music. mention of "next Sunday" and "the year 1925". First time ever, good signal after years of attempting this log. Frequency .03 on both R75 and 535D (Robert Wilkner, FL, Conexión Digital Oct 16 via DXLD) Date? ** NEW ZEALAND. Check out the new RNZ website. This must have gone live just in the past couple days. Not all programming is on-demand yet. My first glance at "Checkpoint" shows that audio is parsed by story. That's OK, but I would also appreciate a link that plays the entire program from beginning to end. Don`t know if they'll offer a single way to listen or not, but I will ask. See http://www.radionz.co.nz (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, Oct 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST and swprograms) Not the same as RNZI: ** NEW ZEALAND. RADIO NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL TE REO IRIRANGI O AOTEAROA, O TE MOANA-NUI-A-KIWA P O Box 123, Wellington, New Zealand Phone: +(64 4) 4741 437 Facsimile: +(64 4) 4741 433 E-mail address: info @ rnzi.com Web Address: http://www.rnzi.com B-05 FREQUENCY SCHEDULE 30 October 2005 – 26 March 2006 ANALOGUE SERVICE UTC kHz Primary Target 1651-1750 9870 NE Pacific, Fiji, Samoa, Cook Islands 1751-1850 11980 NE Pacific, Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, Cook Islands 1851-2235 15720 All Pacific, also heard in Europe 2236-0358 17675 All Pacific, also heard on the USA west coast 0400-0759 15720 All Pacific, also heard Europe, and mid-west USA 0800-1059 9885 All Pacific, also heard mid-west USA 1100-1300 15530 NW Pacific, Bougainville, PNG, Timor, Asia 1300-1650 9870 All Pacific DRM SERVICE Begins 22 January 2006 1651-1750 7230 NE Pacific, Fiji, Samoa, Cook Islands 1751-1850 11610 NE Pacific, Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, Cook Islands 1851-2235 13595 All Pacific 2236-0358 15720 All Pacific 0400-0759 13690 All Pacific 0800-1059 9460 All Pacific 1100-1300 13840 NW Pacific, Bougainville, PNG, Timor, Asia 1300-1650 7230 All Pacific (Adrian Sainsbury, RNZI, Tuesday, October 18, 2005 via Mark Nicholls, DXLD) Heard on Oct 19 from before 1100 to after 1200 on 9520 kHz with a big signal and clashing with an unknown weak VOA transmission in English (Doug Bernard, Talk to America) until 1200 (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, HCDX via DXLD) ** NORWAY [non]. Re Voice of Joy via Sackville: Glenn, Here are press releases and times for broadcasting until end of October. We are not affiliated with http://www.voiceofjoy.net All the best to you Glenn, (Dean Phillips, Oct 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: ------------- The Berlevag Male Choir Gospel Music will be featured on shortwave Radio on October 15th and 29th [Saturdays], in North Central, and Northeastern states of America. [remember, I actually ran across this on Sunday, Oct 16 --- gh] Time: 2000 to 2059:00 UT, 4:00-5:00 P.M. Eastern, 3:00-4:00 P.M. Central Frequency: 9530 kHz Transmitter Power: 100 kW Jeremiah 33:11 --- The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. The Berlevag Male Choir's Christian singing has been around since 1917. Their most recent visit to America was recorded in a film documentary called "Cool and Crazy, On the Road" Members of the choir were seen in the streets of New York City and across the nation, ministering and comforting people after the 911 tragedy. This hour features Christian Music from their 2 CD's. Heftig & Begeistret; Berlevag Mannsangforening Heftig & Begeistret; Pa Sangens Vinger The director is Einar Straumsnes, The Choir leader is Oddvar Hansen. The Choir was founded in 1917 by Olaf Johnsen and songwriter Bjornulf og Viggo. Their official website is http://www.heftig-og-begeistret.no/ Berlevåg mannsangforening ble stiftet i 1917. Korets første dirigent var Olaf Johnsen, etterfulgt av sønnene Bjørnulf og Viggo. Koret har i alle disse årene vært aktiv i kulturlivet i Berlevåg, så vel med korsang som revy. Koret har også landets eldste sanger, 96 årige Einar Strand, som har vært med siden 1926. (Døde nov. 2002). Berlevåg mannsangforening har alltid vært meget oppegående og har nådd mange tinder og topper. Et spesielt høydepunkt er filminnspillingen av Heftig og begeistret, Hvor alle medlemmene har gjort sitt ytterste for å prise både klangen og kystlandskapet i og rundt Berlevåg. Koret har hatt flere dirigenter. Trygve Hoff var en av dem. Koret består i dag av 30 aktive sangere. Dirigent er Brynjar Langås. Oddvar Hansen er korets leder. The Sacred Harp Singers Praise Music will be featured on shortwave Radio on October 8th and 22th [Saturdays], in North Central, and Northeastern states of America Time: 2000 to 2059:00 UT, 4:00-5:00 P.M. Eastern, 3:00-4:00 P.M. Central Frequency: 9530 kHz Transmitter Power: 100 kW Sacred Harp singing is the largest surviving branch of traditional American Shape Note Singing. ``Sacred Harp`` refers to The Sacred Harp, a book first published in 1844 and continuously updated since. Along with other hymn books from the era, its repertoire of 550 4-part a cappella hymns, odes, and anthems is part of the foundation of a vibrant oral tradition handed down since Colonial times and still practiced at hundreds of annual singing meetings, conventions, and local singing groups throughout the country. This hour features Christian Music from their recording in 1999. The Sacred Harp tradition draws singers from all over the United States to gatherings called singings. At various times during the year, singers gather for fellowship, breaking bread and spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This music is not only sung, but felt. This "Community of Singers" across the United States and beyond, is bound by our Love of the Power of the Music and appreciation of the fellowship in Jesus Christ. The Chairman of the music singing is David Ivey. The pastor of the church is Tony Ivey. This singing was held at Liberty Church at Henagar, Alabama. Their official website is http://www.fasola.org ----------------------------------------- AFRICA BROADCASTS --- Angola, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Lesotho & Transkei, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland from Transmitter in Equatorial Guinea. Radio Africa on Wednesday October 19, 2005 and October 26, 2005 at 12:00 to 1:00 pm. October 19, 2005 Sacred Harp October 26, 2005 Berlevag Male Choir (Dean Phillips, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I hope you are not paying too much for Radio Africa, which does not seem to have been actually on the air (shortwave) for several months. And you gave no frequency for that (Glenn to Dean, via DXLD) Glenn, The Frequency for the Africa program is 15190. All the Best, (Dean Phillips, ibid.) Dean, That`s what I thought. Lots of listeners have tried to hear R. Africa, Equatorial Guinea on 15190, without any success for months. It was on the air early this year. What time zone does the 12-1 pm airtime supposedly apply to? (Glenn to Dean, ibid.) Presumably 1000 or 1100 UT as the target countries mentioned are UT +1 and 2 (gh) Glenn, Local Time in Equatorial Guinea. That would be GMT +01:00 [so monitor at 1100 UT]. By the way, we have been broadcasting for the last 2 Saturdays out of the Equatorial Guinea transmitter. Do you know if there is any way I can validate if the broadcast was performed by listener reports that you have access to. i.e. from emails, or reports you receive? All the Best, (Dean Phillips, ibid.) Dean, I`ve put out the call to monitor tomorrow. Perhaps someone will have checked previously, but I doubt it. Too bad there was no advance publicity in the monitoring community until now. I`ll pass on anything of interest. What were the exact times and frequencies this was supposed to be broadcast on Saturdays? (Glenn to Dean, via DXLD) Glenn, The 1st set of broadcasts in Africa were: Radio Africa West on [Fridays] Oct. 7, 2005 and October 14, 2005 at 6:30 to 7:30 pm. Local Time or GMT. source http://www.timeticker.com The County targets were different for the 1st 2 weeks. Mali, Niger, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Cost, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Togo. All the Best, (Dean Phillips, ibid.) He still doesn`t give the frequency, but I suppose 15190, or their even more elusive 7190. Here`s one extremely vague hype page about Panamerican Broadcasting to Africa: http://www.panambc.com/africa.htm (gh, DXLD) Despite my advance request on dxldyg and several other lists, NO reports of this being heard at 1100 on 15190 have been received (gh) ** PERU. 4775, Radio Tarma, Tarma, 19/10, 1003, 322. MA in Spanish with greetings to listeners, tropical dancing music, ID in echo form (hard to understand), Jingle: "Radio Tarma, la primerísima". 6115, Radio Unión, Lima, 14/10, 1003, 322. Announcement against "Tratado de Libre Comercio" comments on minery, ecology, pollution, in program "Ronda Informativa Agraria", with links to other stations: Radio Panorama (Andahuaylas), Radio Culiaca (Culiaca) [¿Juliaca?], Radio San Sebastián, y Huancayo. Then news in vernacular by MA and FA. Jingle: "Radio Unión, 40 años al servicio del país". (Fernando Viloria, Guacara - Carabobo State - Venezuela, Icom IC-720 transceiver, 1/4 wave sloper, Antenna tuner: MFJ - 956 (passive), DX LISTENING DIGEST) Quito 19/10 2005 Wednesday edition: 6114.86, Radio Unión, Lima + Feedback from Héctor Álvaro Gutiérrez, Lima. Comments, photos and recordings at: http://www.malm-ecuador.com 73s (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [About a R. Imperial harmonic on 2880. And]: Radio Unión, Lima, 6114.86 has been very, very weak a long period here in Quito but I have noted the last weeks a much stronger signal than before. Some kind of transmitter problems? Listen to nice Peruvian music and Radio Unión IDs (Malm site via DXLD) ** PHILIPPINES. Hi All, Heard on October 15 2005: 15040, 0834z Spur of 15280, RFE-RL Via Philippines, 250 kW to East Asia, Russian, 0800- 1000z. Heard with Russian mannouncer, best with AM-Narrow filter, checked 240 kHz higher, 15520 and nothing heard there, peaked at 0849z with 4 x 4, best heard so far, sometimes only a weak het here, took 8- 10 days before I could ID it (David Vitek, Adelaide, South Australia, Icom R75, G5RV, harmonics yg via DXLD) Dear David, Tinang scheduled: 15160 0700-1100 VOA CHIN PHT 349 deg 15280 0800-1000 RFE RUSS PHT 349 deg So the fundamental spur difference should be 120 kHz. Check 15400 kHz channel also on the upper side, at least between 0800 and 1000 UT. Spurious signal should disappear at 1000 UT. 73 wolfy df5sx (Wolfgang Büschel, Stuttgart, Germany, ibid.) ** SINGAPORE. Re 5-179, hearing ``Spin the Globe`` on RSI, Sat at 1325 on 6080 --- here`s their complete program grid for 11-14 UT, which was really slow-loading: http://www.rsi.sg/html/schedule.htm also with a Listen-Live button (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN. La Bañera de Ulises, 1405 Tue Oct 18 on REE 17595, I recognized as the show I had already heard Sat at 1705 on RNE R3, so this is a repeat. The host was again talking about the new timing of 7:05 pm Saturdays. I begin to wonder whether he is even aware he also has a SW audience worldwide, since he treats it as a domestic service program, ignoring the SW time. The 17595 REE transmitter has become a huge blob of noise spreading from roughly 17450 to 17580 instead, but nobody is noticing in Noblejas! Normally has a fine quality signal on 17595 in the mornings here, but once before it was maladjusted producing a distorted signal just above 17600. Now there is nothing around 17595, but instead this blob of noise, with periodic peaks as one tunes across. At first no modulation was detectable at 1352 Oct 19, but by 1357 some notes of music could be heard, so I tried to match it to 21570, barely propagating today, and it did, including the timesignal at 1400, REE news theme. On 17 MHz it was obliterating all other signals in its path, traces of which could be heard here and there. Truly remarkable; this should stay on until about 1500. How is it where you are? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The noise is incredible here in Eastern MA. Seems to be even lower than the 17450 you mentioned. Going up it does end taper off after 17580 allowing the BBC to poke thru on 17585 (Keith McGinnis, Hingham MA, ABDX via DXLD) Blob free in AZ. What's it sound like? (Kevin Redding, 1522 UT Oct 19, ibid.) You tuned in 22 minutes too late; it signs off at 1500. There is little I can add to the description I already gave (gh, ibid.) Solar-terrestrial indices for 18 October follow. Solar flux 78 and mid-latitude A-index 9. The mid-latitude K-index at 1500 UTC on 19 October was 2 (18 nT). No space weather storms were observed for the past 24 hours (SEC via DXLD) ** SUDAN [non]. Sudan Radio Service, 17660 with news in English at 1507 Oct 18, about Catholic schools having been forced to close last Thursday for Ramadan, while the schools in predominantly Christian areas want to have students continue studying for exams in January; this is via Woofferton, UK (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN. UN TO LAUNCH RADIO IN SUDAN IN NOVEMBER | Text of report by Sudanese newspaper Al-Watan on 19 October In what is considered the final aspect on the cultural and media levels of the UN's peacekeeping role in Sudan, public relations officials at the UN mission invited a number of journalists and authors to a discussion session at the mission's HQ in Burri. The aim of the session was to share views in advance of the launch of a UN radio in Sudan, following the Id-al-Fitr [4 or 5 November]. [Passage omitted.] UN officials told Al-Watan that most of the programmes will be broadcast in Arabic although some programmes directed at returning displaced persons and immigrants would be broadcast in local languages. Source: Al-Watan, Khartoum, in Arabic 19 Oct 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) WTFK?? Maybe this will actually be IN Sudan, on AM or FM, rather than from outside on SW? (gh, DXLD)( ** TAIWAN. Following up yesterday`s blob on 9661v, 24 hours later, Oct 18 at 1330, RTI in Japanese was back on 9635, accompanied by some clicks but otherwise passable audio (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** THAILAND. [Cf. UK, 5-180]. Campaign to stop closure of BBC Thai service --- from the website of The Nation newspaper (Bangkok): FANS RALLY BEHIND BBC THAI RADIO Published on October 18, 2005 Former PM Chuan, academics, news mavens launch campaign to save service. Prominent fans of the British Broadcasting Corporation's Thai-language radio service – including former prime minister Chuan Leekpai – pledged yesterday to join a campaign to try and stop it being discontinued as part of a cost-cutting plan. The campaign was launched yesterday by Nopmanee Som-boonsub, a self- proclaimed staunch fan of the BBC Thai Service, after news broke that BBC executives planned to pull the Thai-language service off the air as of January 1, after 65 years of operations. Nopmanee has begun to send emails to fellow listeners in an effort to bring pressure to bear on BBC chief executives to drop their move. Nopmanee said the 25-minute programme, broadcast twice daily, had been a valuable source of news and entertainment to its dedicated Thai listeners, broadening their world view. Nopmanee urged other disgruntled listeners to speak up through thai @ bbc.co.uk Nopmanee, who works for an international organisation, said she had been a regular listener to the BBC Thai language service for a decade. "I've been very appreciative of the [BBC Thai Service] team for their ability to speak in proper Thai and for the way they present news," she said, adding that the BBC's reports on sensitive issues were always impartial and reliable. Former prime minister Chuan Leekpai said yesterday he was willing to join the email petition campaign against the planned cancellation of the Thai-language radio service. "I'm happy to support [the campaign]," said Chuan, who has been a long-time fan of the programme which broadcasts twice daily between 6.30 and 7 am, and between 7.35 and 8 pm. [2330-2400, 1235-1300 UT] "It would be unfortunate [to cancel the programme] because many people listen to it. The quality of the news is high and the reports are courageous," he said. "More facts are presented truthfully at a time when all radio and television are being controlled [by Thaksin Shinawatra's government]." Chuan said most journalists working at Thai-owned media outlets were beholden to government officials and so were unable to remain impartial. "They are either on the side of the government or else parrot [the views of the government]." Thanet Aphornsuwan, director of Southeast Asian studies at Thammasat University, agreed. "The BBC can say things that local Thai journalists cannot say," Thanet said. "I think the BBC Thai-language service has played a role in strengthening people's access to news and information. It also keeps Thai authorities on their toes." Thanet said he began listening to the BBC's Thai service, along with the English service, when he was a young communist guerrilla holed up in the jungles of southern Thailand in 1976. He said he would join Nopmanee's petition drive. Pibhop Dhongchai, advisor to the Campaign for Popular Democracy, said he would do the same. "I'll join the campaign because press freedom is very restricted in Thailand right now and there may be many things that mainstream Thai media outlets can't or won't report." Sri Daoruang, a respected writer, said she had written an unpublished story about the radio service, on which she was "hooked" because of its diverse offerings of book reviews and human-interest stories. "It'll be a shock if I have to lose the chance of listening to the station," she said. Despite all the voices coming out in favour of the BBC radio's Thai broadcasts, an industry observer noted the real need for such a service was far lower in Thailand than in neighbouring countries like Burma and Vietnam, where press freedom is non-existent. In fact, insisted the source, who asked to remain anonymous, the decision by BBC executives to discontinue the Thai service reflected well on Thai democracy. "We should be happy for this," the media observer said. "It means the level of press freedom in Thailand is already advanced enough." A statement from the BBC World Service said the agency was debating the entire budgeting of all services, including the Thai language broadcasts, with internal and external stakeholders. "We are expecting a conclusion to that debate in the autumn," the service's press office said. "We expect to make an announcement when that debate has concluded and any decisions are ratified by the BBC – the BBC Governors, the independent body who regulate and oversee the BBC, and the UK Foreign Office, who fund our services through grant-in-aid." Subhatra Bhumiprabhas, Pravit Rojanaphruk, The Nation (via Chris Greenway, BDXC-UK via DXLD) These Save Our Service campaigns usually have little effect, especially if the campaigners have no plans to send any money. In New Zealand, Auckland listeners to BBC WS set up money for an AM transmitter to relay the station there. That was real listener power (Jonathan Marks, 10.18.05 - 12:58 pm, ibid.) It all comes down to who is going to pay for this Thai service and being a UK citizen, I do not see why the expense of this service should be continued to be supported by the UK tax payer when this service is no longer required. It is all very good for those from around the world demanding that BBC World Service provides a service in their language which might only be listened to by a handful of listeners. Well if it is such a valuable service get YOUR government to pay for it (Mark, 10.18.05 - 1:36 pm, ibid.) I don't agree that "this service is no longer required." There are major press freedom issues in Thailand. Whether the UK taxpayer should pay for it is, of course, a different argument. But out of the 43 language services that the BBC produces, I would have thought that Thai would be way down the list of services that can be sacrificed. Of course, the Foreign Office might decide exactly that (Andy Sennitt, 10.18.05 - 2:32 pm, ibid.) ** TURKEY. VOT in Turkish on 15350 is getting increasingly distorted and weakly modulated, as Oct 19 at 1355 check. This is quite a pity, since they play so much great music. I assume the same happens when the transmitter is on other frequencies (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. Opposition to closing BBC Thai: see THAILAND ** U S A [and non]. Checking out Lou Johnson`s complaint, I was monitoring 17640 before and after 1500 Oct 18. Before the hour, BBCWS in English was quite listenable altho not particularly strong. After 1500 it was obliterated by WHRA, marching as to war, tho once the music stopped I could detect an undercurrent of something. It took only about 10 seconds to change from 15310 to 17640. This collision is totally unnecessary as there are plenty of clear frequencies in the 16m band (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. ARMED FORCES RADIO TUNES OUT LIBERAL SHOW HOST By Howard Kurtz Washington Post Staff Writer Tuesday, October 18, 2005; C01 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/17/AR2005101701666_pf.html Liberal radio talker Ed Schultz was eagerly anticipating his debut yesterday on Armed Forces Radio, which agreed last month to carry his program to nearly a million soldiers around the world. But at 7 a.m., Schultz's producer got a call from Allison Barber, the Pentagon's deputy assistant secretary for internal communications, who said without explanation that the deal was off. Perhaps, Schultz said in an interview, it was just a coincidence that he spent the end of last week chastising Barber for coaching a group of U.S. soldiers in Iraq before a teleconference with President Bush. "It kind of floored us," Schultz said from his studio in North Dakota. "The fact is, they don't want dissenting voices or any other kind of speech unless it's going to be promotional for them. Obviously, these people are making sure they're not going to have any opinion other than the Rush Limbaughs of the world." Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) won approval last year for a nonbinding resolution urging Armed Forces Radio to offer more political balance in programming. Limbaugh strongly objected, noting that the network carries National Public Radio and declaring, "I am the political balance." Late last month, Manny Levy, chief of the radio division for Armed Forces Network, told Schultz's distributor, Jones Radio, by e-mail: "AFN Radio has squared away everything on our end to begin carrying the first hour of 'The Ed Schultz Show' each day, beginning Monday, October 17, 2005." Levy added: "I'm sorry that there were so many panicked, 'I need an answer soon' calls, false starts and unexpected delays on our end. An awful lot of people in the government had (or tried to have) a hand in [the] program selection process that ended with the decision to add 'The Ed Schultz Show.' " Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said last night that Levy "got ahead of the process" and that no decision had been made in a review of which programming to add to the network. When asked about Schultz's insistence that his criticism of Barber played a role, Whitman called that "an unfortunate misperception on his part. That has nothing to do with this." Barber was seen repeatedly on television last week asking mock questions to soldiers in Iraq, who generally gave responses similar to those they would momentarily provide to the president. Schultz played some of these clips on his show. The Pentagon said the soldiers were not rehearsed but apologized for "any perception that they were told what to say." Barber was traveling and could not be reached yesterday. Schultz says Barber told his producer she could not say when, or whether, Armed Forces Radio would carry the show. (c) 2005 The Washington Post Company (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. GOP GROUP AIMS AT ARTS, PBS TO OFFSET KATRINA AID Source: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05292/590955.stm WASHINGTON -- If an influential group of House Republicans gets its way, Big Bird will have to pay his own way to Sesame Street and Masterpiece Theater will begin searching for product placement opportunities -- all to fund the Hurricane Katrina recovery. The Republican Study Committee, a conservative group within the House GOP caucus, has launched Operation Offset to cut spending by $102.1 billion in this year's budget to help pay for rebuilding New Orleans and other devastated environs. Among the targets in the group's bull's-eye: The National Endowment for the Arts and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Officials estimate that the rebuilding effort will exceed $200 billion, and conservative lawmakers are uneasy about picking up that tab. It would add to a deficit that already had been projected to reach $314 billion. "Congress must ensure that a catastrophe of nature does not become a catastrophe of debt for our children and grandchildren," said Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., the committee's chairman. After some initial hesitation, House Republican leaders, as well as President Bush, agreed that offsetting budget cuts are in order, although what form they might take remains up for debate. If the Republican Study Group gets its way, part of the savings will come from eliminating federal funding for the arts and public television. According to Mr. Pence, that would save the Treasury $1.8 billion over 10 years -- a down payment on the Katrina bill. Federal arts funding has long been a target of Republican budget-cutters. In 1996, lawmakers not only slashed the appropriation to the National Endowment for the Arts by 39 percent but also adopted a provision to phase out the government's financial support for the program over two years. Eliminating the NEA, the federal government's primary funding source for non-profit theater and dance companies, never came to pass, however, as the endowment adopted new rules to make the type of art in line for funding more palatable to budget writers. In the late 1980s, the endowment encountered criticism for funding artists like photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, noted for his homoerotic images, and Andres Serrano, who raised hackles by dipping a crucifix into a vat of his urine. The agency responded with new regulations regarding its grant-making authority. In 1998, rather than shutter the operation, Congress reacted by ordering that state arts organizations receive a larger share of the fiscal pie. This year, Congress approved an NEA funding level of $125.6 million. The Republican Study Committee acknowledged in a policy statement that while the NEA has shifted its focus over the years to funding more traditional arts programs -- dealing with areas like Shakespeare, folk music and opera -- "the NEA continues to fund programs that some believe are of questionable value and appropriateness." The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is a larger and more recognizable entity, receiving $368.8 million in the 2005 federal budget. The money supports educational and cultural programs offered over stations that are members of the Public Broadcast System -- Masterpiece Theater and Nova are prime examples -- and helps pay for National Public Radio. Like the NEA, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting has experienced its share of controversy, with conservatives complaining about liberal bias in its programming, although recent polls indicate that viewers and listeners fail to detect any such slant. Kenneth Tomlinson, who recently stepped down as CPB chairman, ruffled feathers by seeking to bring what he characterized as balance to network programming, offering a public-affairs program hosted by conservative writer Tucker Carlson and a look at the workings of the Wall Street Journal's editorial board. Mr. Pence and the Republican Study Committee note that the CPB and the Public Broadcasting System "continue to use federal funding to pay for questionable programming, such as a documentary on sex education funded by the Playboy Foundation." A lot of the programming, such as the popular children's show Sesame Street, "could bring in enough annual revenues to cover the loss of federal funding." Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., one of those urging steep budget cuts to pay for hurricane recovery, said the initiative must be accomplished without raising taxes or adding to the national debt, which recently surpassed the $8 trillion mark. "When the families of my district in western North Carolina have unforeseen expenses arise, they have to look for other, less-important items to cut from the family budget," Mr. McHenry said. "Government needs to apply that same common sense. We must not allow the liberals in Congress to politicize this issue and use it as their latest excuse to raise taxes." Mr. McHenry cited Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, a Republican, who said Hurricane Katrina destroyed every school in four of his state's counties. "Eliminating the federal share of CPB funding would free up $400 million this year," he said. "That is enough money to build 40 elementary schools." The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Mr. McHenry said, already receives 85 percent of its funding from sources other than the federal government. "Certainly, public television has its benefits, but we have to be responsible and choose our priorities," he said. "What is more important, funding the Lehrer News Hour or building schools to educate our children?" But Brad Woodhouse, spokesman for the Emergency Campaign for America's Priorities, a group backed by organized labor to oppose budget cuts, said the effort has nothing to do with Katrina and everything to do with GOP efforts to salvage tax cuts enacted under President Bush, most of which have benefited the wealthy. "The idea that these cuts are to offset Katrina relief is hogwash," he said. "If offsets were a priority for this crowd, why has the GOP leadership refused to offset other spending such as rebuilding Iraq, Afghanistan or other operations in Iraq? The fact is this GOP effort is Robin Hood in reverse -- robbing from the poor to give to the rich -- and it ought to make GOP moderates, especially marginal members, very, very nervous." (via Ken Kopp, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U S A. KWMO harmonic into WI now, 4050 kHz. Fair to good signals on 4049.96 (3 x 1350 kHz). Running country western music and slogan "Pure Country". Plus they just gave the call letters KWMO. AMLOGBOOK.COM lists them as "oldies", but that's what call they gave. Anyone else hearing them? (John Wilke K9RZZ Milwaukee, WI, 0358 UT Oct 18, HCDX via DXLD) I tried after 0500 but too much noise here. That`s in Washington MO (gh, OK, DXLD) I let the computer record the rest of the night. Here's the best IDs it caught: http://members.aol.com/j999w/DX/4050khz_KWMO.wav I believe that's state #4 heard by harmonics for me (John Wilke, K9RZZ, Milwaukee, Oct 18, IRCA via DXLD) KWMO Missouri, 1350 x 3 = 4050 kHz back again tonight, fair sigs right now (John Wilke K9RZZ Milwaukee, WI, 0206 UT Oct 19, ibid.) ** U S A. Hi Folks, I had an interesting evening perusing the upper part of the band on an old Sharp four-band radio about as old as I am. Anyway, some things of note were received. To start with, a few minutes before seven o'clock CDT I had someone in on 1560 in Arabic giving the Islamic call to prayer. This either cut entirely, or faded down into the muck created by another thing of note: that 1550 mega- TIS at Branson, Missouri churning out a truly impressive level of QRM on 1540 and 1560. As the locals say it so well here --- "It was all tore up!" SO, I hung around on 1560 much of the evening after that, with no more ethnic stuff observed, just ESPN carrying the Cardinals game completely covering Radio Disney New York. I never did hear an ID out of them, but I'm assuming it's the station at Paducah. Funny how things work --- right after the game my presumed Paducah went back to normal levels, and Radio Disney New York took up the fight with that QRM. As my Dad would've said "What a co-inky-dinky!" (Curtis Sadowski, Paxton, Illinois, (DX'ing done tonight at Urbana, IL), Oct 18, WTFDA- AM via DXLD) Subject: [Amdx] Mystery AM 1560 station solved (I think). I did a search and came up with KILE AM 1560 Bellaire, Texas, 800 Watts Day/100 Watts night http://www.kile1560.com As far as losing them at 7 o'clock [0000 UT] went, I probably got them right at the time they changed power. They're kind of an odd one, carrying Spanish, Russian, and other foreign language stuff INCLUDING "South Asian". I check on the site of their South Asian programmer http://www.sangeetradio.com showed that they're heavily Pakistani and were scheduled for the time in question. I'll check their online radio feed tonight to see if a call to prayer goes at at the same time I had it yesterday (Curtis Sadowski, ibid.) In loud and clear (9 out of 10 on the signal meter) until a moment ago, then lost altogether. Oh, there it is, much weaker, but in (6 on my signal meter). Verified program content via "listen live" online. Same voice, slight delay on the online stream. Program content in some unknown Asian language, consisting of a man giving a sermon. Here it comes, the call to prayer! (Curtis Sadowski, IL 2352 UT Oct 18, ibid.) [Amdx] KILE flipped the switch exactly at seven o'clock, gone now. Managed to get positive ID after the call to prayer ended, from commercials partly in English for various Houston businesses. Leading into the call to prayer there was something in English. A little girl reciting in clear, unaccented American English "There is no God but Allah and Mohammed is the Messenger of Allah". (Curtis Sadowski, ibid.) Was blasting in here in Disney null with the call to prayer up until it promptly disappeared about 6:58 PM [2358 UT]. I did some checking at the FFC site and IMHO their 50 kW daytime CP must be on and we are in the main beam and receiving about and effective 145 kW! Back in Feb 2003 I had superb sunset skip conditions to TX but never could raise this one. So I really think their CP must be on. 73 and thx for the tip. KAZ Barrington IL (Neil Kazaross, ibid.) You're welcome Neil! I saw the CP for 50 KW, but I wasn't sure if the change had been implemented. The new night power is 5 KW, I figured that if they were running that I could still hear it after they flipped (Curtis, ibid.) ** U S A. WMVP 1000 STA information --- Straight from the proverbial horse's mouth (WLS chief engineer Warren Shulz) - WMVP has the capability to run 50 kW from the WLS site at Tinley Park, Illinois, but is waiting for the FCC to issue the official Special Temporary Authority grant. He says it may come through at 21 kW, instead. WMVP expects to use the WLS site for a couple of days on the weekend of Nov. 1, while cranes remove the top 100-150 feet of the WMVP towers in Downers Grove, the first phase of a reconstruction project there. More details as I get them from Warren. s (Scott Fybush, NY, Oct 19, IRCA via DXLD) So WMVP has moved more southerly and given up the TX site in Downers Grove ! (Neil Kazaross, IL, NRC-AM via DXLD) No. They have to do tower work in Downers Grove, shortening the aging WMVP towers so they won't fall over completely (because if they did, the NIMBY situation there is such that they'd never be able to rebuild - which is also why they're not just putting in new towers in Downers Grove in the first place, which would make sense.) They're installing an auxiliary 1000 kHz transmitter at the WLS site in Tinley Park while the tower work is going on at Downers Grove. That's why both stations were off. s (Scott Fybush, ibid.) ** U S A. Re WOR 710 IBOC at 0700 UT? Why don't you just go to the source? The logs on the studio and transmitter computers show that the HD was off from 1900 EDST Saturday to 0600 EDST Sunday morning. From the date on your note, I'm assuming you mean Saturday night. So, no, you did not hear HD carriers on WOR (Thomas R. Ray, III, CPBE, KC2NTU, Vice President, Corporate Director of Engineering, Buckley Broadcasting/WOR Radio, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. WHAT'S UP WITH INFINITY AND "FREE FM?" FMQB: http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=135294 October 18, 2005 Is Infinity Broadcasting using the impending departure of franchise personality Howard Stern and the groundswell popularity of FM Talk to roll-out a host of "Free FM" talk stations, some of which are Infinity properties that already are Talk and others that also currently air Stern's morning show? Acting on a tip, FMQB conducted an Internet domain check on the following Web addresses to verify ownership and all came back as registered by Infinity directly or simply TUCOWS, INC, a name that also appeared on the direct Infinity registrations: [gh tried the first one prefixing both http:// and http://www. and neither worked, yet] 923freefm.com (presumably for WXRK/New York – Stern’s flagship station) 925freefm.com (presumably for KDJM/Denver – currently Rhythmic Oldies) 971freefm.com (presumably for KLSX/Los Angeles- an existing FM Talker) freemfm971.com (presumably for WKRK/Detroit – FM Talk) 1037freefm.com (presumably for KPLN/San Diego – current Stern station/Classic Rock) 1053freefm.com (presumably for KLLI/Dallas – FM Talk) 1059freefm.com (presumably for WCKG/Chicago – FM Talk) 1067freefm.com (presumably for WJFK/Washington – FM Talk) freefm1067.com (presumably for KLTH/Portland – AC) 1069freefm.com for KIFR/San Francisco (formerly KEAR-FM/San Francisco, which Infinity recently acquired and is set to take over soon) In addition, just last week, on October 13, Infinity registered 941freefm.com presumably for WYSP/Philadelphia, which has Stern on in the mornings and is Active Rock the rest of the day and is also the flagship station for Philadelphia Eagles football. Also recently registered by TUCOWS, INC. (on October 10) was the interesting domain name: radiomutiny.com. Could the picture also now becoming clearer for the names rumored to be "replacements" for Howard Stern -- names such as David Lee Roth, Adam Corrola and Mancow? FMQB contacted Infinity Broadcasting spokesperson Karen Mateo, who responded, "We decline to comment on rumor and speculation." In other Infinity news, the company today announced the first affiliates for Jay Severin's new talk show: WPHT-AM/Philadelphia, WJFK-FM/Washington, D.C., KRLD-AM/Dallas, and KMOX-AM/ST. Louis. Severin is a former MSNBC political advisor, who has appeared frequently on numerous NBC News programs, and also was a featured columnist for MSNBC.com (via Ken Kopp, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U S A. DICK GORDON, FORMERLY OF THE CONNECTION MAY RE-SURFACE AT WUNC "Program Director George Boosey said the new facility will allow WUNC to do more original programming, potentially including a national show with Dick Gordon, former host of The Connection, a popular show that's no longer on the air. Gordon was in Durham on Monday watching the facility's launch, said Boosey, who moved to WUNC a year ago from the Boston station that produced The Connection." --- Full story at http://www.heraldsun.com/tools/printfriendly.cfm?StoryID=658010 Glenn: I figured you'd be interested to hear he might be coming back. Kindest regards, as always, (Brent Taylor, Aurora, Ontario, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. A Virtual Tour of WTIR 1300 Cocoa Beach, Florida --- Hey all: I had a little time on my hands today and while surfing another stations website, I got the idea to post a virtual tour of where I work: http://www.lowpowerbroadcasting.com/tour.html (Paul Walker,General Manager, WTIR-AM 1300, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. Indiana and time zones --- If you're a Wall Street Journal subscriber: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB112967760367072520.html?mod=home_page_one_us Humorous look at Jeff Sagarin -- he of the USA Today sports rankings -- and his campaign to put more of Indiana on Central Time. See his own website at http://www.kiva.net/~jsagarin/sports/timezone.htm (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, Oct 19, Swprograms via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. Glenn, greetings again from Venezuela. On Oct 14 Radio Amazonas again present (distorted as usual) on 5040. Start transmissions after 1030 UT (Fernando Viloria, Guacara - Carabobo State - Venezuela, Icom IC-720 transceiver, 1/4 wave sloper, Antenna tuner: MFJ - 956 (passive), DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA [non]. Finally, some proof that Radio Nacional de Venezuela (via Cuba), Antena Internacional, a.k.a. Canal Internacional, is not just replaying old programs. Tue Oct 18 at 2000 on 13680 opening billboard included something about the just-concluded Iberoamerican summit in Salamanca. Interspersed thruout the hour would also be fragments of Che Guevara speeches, just what we need, which reminds me, I never got around to seeing that movie about him. No transmission schedule was given, nor in the few minutes before closing, // 9550. This appears to be M-F only (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. Re DXLD 5-180: There is a widespread misunderstanding that a country's national broadcaster also is the operator of its transmitters. In most countries of the world, this is not the case, the operators are separate entities, either commercial or state-owned enterprises or ministries. In many countries this has been so since the early days of radio, but made its way into the DX press only in recent years. In case of Algeria, the country's transmitters are owned and operated by the Ministry of Post of Telecomunications which holds a monopoly in this sector: "Le monopole des télécommunications est confié à l’administration des postes et télécommunication. On entend par télécommunication, toute transmission, émission ou réception de signes, de signaux, d’écrits, d’images, de sons ou de renseignements de toute nature, par fil, optique, radioélectricité ou autre système électromagnétique (art. 1 et 38 du code des postes et télécommunication, ordonnance n 75-89 du 3 Décembre 1975, partie législative)." http://www.esis.org.dz/q1/DZregQ1.doc As a result, technical support for the transmissions of Radio Nacional Saharaui is conducted by the Algerian PTT ministry (if not provided by the station itself), and has no connection with the broadcaster RTA (Radiodiffusion Télévision Algérienne). (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, Oct 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also ALGERIA UNIDENTIFIED. Noted DRM buzz on 15520 at 1505 Oct 18. Not in the http://baseportal.com/baseportal/drmdx/main schedule at all (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ *** Thanks for the information you publish. *** ///// JH Richards --Grand Rapids, Michigan //// PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ AERO KAARTEN MET FREQUENTIES MAAR OOK WAYPOINTS VAN OA NAT, MID EN SEA Hallo, tijdens een zoektocht over wat meer info over santa maria OACC, stuitte ik op deze site waarop wat pdf-files staan van diverse regio's met frequenties (zowel HF als VHF) met ook daarin geplotte waypoints: http://www.stegers.ch/comsheet.html Wellicht is het allang eens eerder geneld: in dat geval excuses. 73, (Robert Joosten, BDXC via DXLD) Extremely dense charts in pdf for all worldparts, in English with routes, VH and H frequencies for each location (gh, DXLD) Hallo Robert, Deze had ik nog niet eerder gezien! Leuk, vooral met die waypoints. Groeten, (Ton Timmerman, BDXC via DXLD) STUDIO DX Anche Studio DX ha finalmente il suo indirizzo "facile": il sito dedicato esclusivamente al programma DX in italiano di AWR è adesso raggiungibile all'indirizzo http://www.studiodx.net. La scelta è derivata dalla riorganizzazione per lingua e per argomenti di tutti i servizi riconducibili ai siti http://www.bclnews.it http://www.radioascolto.net e http://www.corad.net Tempo permettendo, in concomitanza con il cambio di periodo del 30 ottobre verrà inaugurato anche il nuovo http://www.radioinput.com dove confluiranno tutti i materiali internazionali. Ne approfitto pure per ricordarvi ancora una volta che dal 30 ottobre i 60 minuti di AWR in italiano saranno diffusi sulla frequenza di 9610 Khz. P.S.: Un po' di collaborazione è sempre ben accetta (Roberto Scaglione, Sicily, bclnews.it via DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ JUST A SIMPLE A/B TEST Quito 17/10 2005 Tuesday edition: just a simple A/B test comparing my NRD 535 and Ten-Tec RX 350D. 6139.79, Radio Líder, Bogotá (Colombia). This is the second A/B test where I´m comparing my two receivers Ten- Tec RX 350D and NRD 535. Next time test with Radio Bella, Tingo María (Perú) on 4299.71 kHz. I´m adjusting the receivers for best possible reception and audio quality. Comments, photos and recordings at: http://www.malm-ecuador.com 73s (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, DX LISTENING DIGEST) SW IN MAINSTREAM US MEDIA Maybe this might be an amusing thread to try out: SW radios or references in US TV programs (or non-SW radio broadcasts, too). In the new ABC series "Nightstalker", the main character has a Grundig/Eton S350 radio sitting on his desk in his fantastically-expensive and impossible-for-a-reporter-to-afford apartment or condo with an expansive view of nighttime Los Angeles. (Even the Post-Dispatch TV-reviewer noticed this anomaly; maybe wishing that *she* had a salary that allowed living in such digs. :-) In the WB series "Supernatural", I wouldn't be surprised to see an SW radio or two show up. A recent episode had one of the main characters using an electromagnetic field detector (which they mis-named something wrong) that he had made from a broken Sony walkman. 73, (Will Martin, MO, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ ARNIE CORO'S DXERS UNLIMITED HF PLUS LOW BAND VHF PROPAGATION UPDATE AND FORECAST Several well known scientists in the area of solar research are now carefully reviewing the most recent solar data, because they may give the clue to tell us if solar cycle number 23 had already passed trough its minimum. According to some scientists, the minimum was expected to happen sometime between the end of 2006 and the first few months of 2007. But, the current monthly averages of solar activity shows that it is rising again after a period of very low activity. Solar minimum already --- is solar cycle 24 already in progress? I will be asking today our Cuban solar expert Ángel González Coroas about this topic, and bring his analysis to you during the upcoming weekend edition of the program. Here is now today's question, coming from listeners in the USA, Canada, Malaysia, Germany and Norway. They all want to know more about the HF propagation forecast for the month of November. The reason for their question is related to a recent comment made here a few weeks ago, in which I explained that the month of November will produce the best HF propagation conditions for those of us leaving in the Northern Hemisphere. Well, amigos, this is going to be the last really good month of HF propagation for almost a year. IF, and I repeat IF, solar cycle 23 is still to reach a minimum by the end of 2006 and the beginning of 2007. If on the contrary, as we said at the start of today's program, solar cycle 23 has already reached minimum, then things will be a bit different, because we should expect another four to eight week period of good propagation during the 2006 spring equinoctial season. With solar flux figures expected to reach no more than 100 units at the monthly peak next November, my propagation analysis show that some paths will be able to provide even 10 meter band openings, and that the 15 meter amateur band will be the best one for Dxing during the local daytime hours. But again, try to call CQ DX on 10 meters as many times as possible, as that band is going to see more openings during November than during the past six months. The early winter DX season of 2005 will be an excellent opportunity to work many new DX entities to add to your DXCC record!!! And now as always when I am here in Havana, this is Arnie Coro's Dxers Unlimited HF plus low band VHF propagation update and forecast. The sunspot number is pretty low, just eleven, a typical figure of solar minimum periods. Solar activity will be very low, and there are no sunspots on the farside of the Sun. Expect solar flux figures around 85 units, and a rather quiet geomagnetic field. Best bands for daytime DXing are in the range from 15 to 20 megaHertz, and for the local evening hours, your best time frame for Dxing will be from just after sunset to just before sunrise, and the band of frequencies that will provide optimum results are between 4 and 12 megaHertz (Arnaldo Coro Antich, CO2KK, RHC DXers Unlimited, Oct 19, via ODXA via DXLD) The geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to active levels. Geomagnetic activity was quiet to unsettled at mid latitudes during the entire summary period. Isolated active periods were observed at high latitudes on 10 and 11 October due to a geoeffective coronal hole high speed stream, and again on 15 and 16 October due to a solar sector boundary crossing followed by the onset of a weak coronal hole stream. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 19 OCTOBER - 14 NOVEMBER Solar activity is expected to be very low to low. No greater than 10 MeV proton events are expected. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at high levels on 19 – 22 October, 29 October – 02 November, and 05 – 11 November. The geomagnetic field is expected to range from quiet to minor storm levels. Unsettled to active levels are possible on 22 – 24 October and unsettled to minor storm levels are possible on 04 – 06 November due to recurrent coronal hole high speed wind streams. Otherwise, expect mostly quiet conditions. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2005 Oct 18 1853 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center # Product description and SEC contact on the Web # http://www.sec.noaa.gov/wwire.html # # 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table # Issued 2005 Oct 18 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2005 Oct 19 80 8 3 2005 Oct 20 80 8 3 2005 Oct 21 80 5 2 2005 Oct 22 80 14 3 2005 Oct 23 80 12 3 2005 Oct 24 80 12 3 2005 Oct 25 80 10 3 2005 Oct 26 80 8 3 2005 Oct 27 75 10 3 2005 Oct 28 75 12 3 2005 Oct 29 75 12 3 2005 Oct 30 75 8 3 2005 Oct 31 75 5 2 2005 Nov 01 75 5 2 2005 Nov 02 75 5 2 2005 Nov 03 75 10 3 2005 Nov 04 75 20 4 2005 Nov 05 75 12 3 2005 Nov 06 75 12 3 2005 Nov 07 75 5 2 2005 Nov 08 75 5 2 2005 Nov 09 75 5 2 2005 Nov 10 80 5 2 2005 Nov 11 80 5 2 2005 Nov 12 80 10 3 2005 Nov 13 80 10 3 2005 Nov 14 80 10 3 (http://www.sec.noaa.gov/radio via WORLD OF RADIO 1290, DXLD) ###