DX LISTENING DIGEST 5-188, November 1, 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 For latest updates see our Anomaly Alert page: http://www.worldofradio.com/anomaly.html NEXT AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1291: Days and times here are strictly UT. Wed 0030 WOR WBCQ 7415 [usually but temporary] Wed 0100 WOR CJOY INTERNET RADIO plug-in required Wed 1030 WOR WWCR 9985 WRN ON DEMAND: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL]: http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html or http://wor.worldofradio.org WORLD OF RADIO 1291 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1291h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1291h.rm WORLD OF RADIO 1291 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1291.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1291.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1291.html WORLD OF RADIO 1291 in true SW sound of Alex`s mp3: (stream) http://www.dxprograms.net/worldofradio_10-26-05.m3u (download) http://www.dxprograms.net/worldofradio_10-26-05.mp3 WORLD OF RADIO 1291 downloads in studio-quality mp3: (high) http://www.obriensweb.com/wor1291h.mp3 (low) http://www.obriensweb.com/wor1291.mp3 WORLD OF RADIO PODCAST: www.obriensweb.com/wor.xml (currently: 1288, Extra 61, 1289, Extra 62, 1290, 1291) AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1292: Wed 2300 WOR WBCQ 7415 [first airing of each edition] Thu 0000 WOR WBCQ 18910 [NEW, ex-17495-CUSB] Thu 0900 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.2 Thu 1900 WOR KLC Thu 2130 WOR WWCR 15825 [Dec-Jan: 7465] Thu 2200 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.2 Fri 0030 WOR R. Veronica 106.5 Fri 0100 WOR WTND-LP 106.3 Macomb IL Fri 0200 WOR ACBRadio Mainstream [repeated 4-hourly thru 2400] Fri 2000 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.2 Fri 2100 WOR RFPI [repeated 4-hourly thru Sat 1700] Sat 0500 WOR VoiceCorps Reading Service, WOSU-FM subcarrier, cable Sat 0900 WOR WRN to Eu, Au, NZ, WorldSpace AfriStar, AsiaStar Sat 0955 WOR WNQM Nashville TN 1300 Sat 1100 WOR WPKN Bridgeport CT 89.5 & WPKM Montauk LINY 88.7 Sat 1700 WOR R. Veronica 106.5 Sat 1830 WOR WRN to North America [including Sirius Satellite Radio channel 140] Sat 2200 WOR WRMI 7385 [if back on air] Sun 0000 WOR Radio Studio X 1584 http://www.radiostudiox.it/ Sun 0330 WOR WWCR 5070 Sun 0400 WOR WBCQ 9330-CLSB Sun 0600 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.2 Sun 0730 WOR WWCR 3215 [ex-3210] Sun 0930 WOR WRMI 7385 [from WRN][if back on air] Sun 0930 WOR WRN to North America, also WLIO-TV Lima OH SAP [including Sirius Satellite Radio channel 140] Sun 0930 WOR KSFC Spokane WA 91.9 Sun 0930 WOR WXPR Rhinelander WI 91.7 91.9 100.9 Sun 0930 WOR WDWN Auburn NY 89.1 [unconfirmed] Sun 0930 WOR KTRU Houston TX 91.7 [occasional] Sun 1400 WOR KRFP-LP Moscow ID 92.5 Sun 1500 WOR WRMI 7385 [if back on air] Sun 1830 WOR WRN1 to North America [including Sirius Satellite Radio channel 140] Sun 2000 WOR RNI Mon 0400 WOR WBCQ 9330-CLSB Mon 0430 WOR WSUI Iowa City IA 910 Mon 0515 WOR WBCQ 7415 [may shift to 0500?] Mon 1900 WOR RFPI [repeated 4-hourly thru Tue 1500] Wed 0030 WOR WBCQ 7415 [usually but temporary] Wed 0100 WOR CJOY INTERNET RADIO plug-in required Wed 1030 WOR WWCR 9985 Latest edition of this schedule version, with hotlinks to station sites and audio, is at: http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html On Demand: from early UT Thursday, change 1291 above to 1292 NETS TO YOU, November: http://www.w4uvh.net/nets2you.html DX/SWL/MEDIA PROGRAMS Oct 31: http://worldofradio.com/dxpgms.html ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. The revised schedule of the Radio Solh PsyOps transmissions: 0200-1200 on 11675 (Dhabbaya-UAE), 1200-1500 on 15265 (Rampisham-UK), 1500-1800 on 9875 (Rampisham-UK). (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, Oct 31, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Solh (presumed) on 9875 at tune in at 1620 UT, Monday, 31 October. Off, with no announcements, at 1800 UT. Intense noise on 9875 but signal in the clear by using a narrow filter and tuning a little below 9875. Good strength at 7 over 4. Noise gone a little before sign off. An all music program. Checked B-05 schedule on 5-186 DXLD, so reasonably sure it was Radio Solh (Bernie O'Shea, Ottawa, Ontario, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALASKA. KNLS making it here in English at 1410 Oct 31 on 9655, Postcard from Alaska about the Iditarod race, but suffering from splatter de Korean on 9650, which is RKI`s Korean 2 service via Sackville, now that they`ve got the feed plugged in (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. HCJB very good on 15425 in English, Oct 31 at 1522 with a talk on Canaanites and Israelites, biblical archaeology, making unwarranted conclusions and misrepresenting history, to closing at 1530 with HCJB Australia ID (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. R. Australia has obviously made some frequency changes for B-05, but the schedule at http://www.abc.net.au/ra/pdf/frequency.pdf is still dated March 2005! Here is what I found on UT Oct 30: at 2245, the only signal was 15515, and it was just fair. Nothing audible on 21740, which had been reliable in the 22-24 period during A-05, altho subject to lowering MUFs. The 14m hamband was open to somewhere, with lots of signals no doubt boosted by contesters desperately trying to rack up points during the final hour. At 2310 the only RA signal I could find was on new 17785 (not 17795 where it used to be), fortunately far enough from KVOH 17775, during ``Asia-Pacific`` as IDed at 2316 with an Asian-traditional-instruments version of Waltzing Matilda, and by then 15515 was off. 17785 remained the only audible frequency during this hour. Roger Broadbent`s QSY announcement on 17785 at 2357 never mentioned the only frequency I was hearing! Instead, 13630(?) listeners should retune to 17775 [sic], and 15415 was about to go into Bahasa Indonesia; listeners to 21740 and 15230 should retune to 17715 and 15240. 17785 went off at 2359*. After 2400, 17715 was fairly audible, and I think I detected 15240. No trace of RA under KVOH 17775, which was beginning to fade down (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Note: the above observations contradict the following; is it really B- 05 updated? No mention of 17785 below (gh) B05 schedule: Australia- Radio Australia(English) October 2005 RADIO AUSTRALIA ENGLISH ASIA 0000-0130 17775 0000-0200 17715 0030-0400 15415 0100-0700 17750 0200-0500 21725 0430-0500 15415 0530-0800 15415 0700-0900 17750 0800-1130 15240 0830-0900 15415 0900-1300 11880 0930-1100 15415 1100-1300 9475* 1400-1600 9625 1400-1800 6080 1430-1900 9475* 1430-1700 11660 1900-2130 9500* 2100-2130 11695 2200-2330 15240 2200-0000 13620 2330-0000 15415 2330-0100 17750 *Sometimes heard in Europe WEST PACIFIC 1800-2000 7240 1800-2000 6080 2000-2100 6080^ 2000-2100 7240^ 2000-2200 11650 2100-2200 9660 2200-0000 15230 2300-0800 13630 2300-0100 9660 0000-0100 15240 0000-0200 17715 0200-0500 21725 0100-0700 15240* 0100-0700 9660* 0600-0800 11880 0700-0800 9660 0700-0800 15240 0800-0900 5995 0800-0900 9710 0800-1600 9590 1100-1400 6020 1100-1400 9560 1100-1400 5995 1400-1800 5995 1600-2000 9710 ^Saturday and Sunday only *Sometimes heard in North America CENTRAL/SOUTH PACIFIC 2000-2200 12080 2000-2100 7240^ 2000-2200 11650 2000-2200 11660 2100-2300 15515 2200-0000 21740 2100-2300 13630 2200-0000 15230 2300-0000 12080 2300-0200 17795 0000-0100 12080 0000-0100 15240 0100-0700 15240* 0100-0700 12080* 0200-0700 15515 0500-0800 15160 0700-0900 13630 0700-0800 15240 0700-0900 12080 0800-1400 9580 0800-1600 9590 1100-1400 6020 1100-1200 12080 1400-1800 5995 1400-1800 7240 1700-2000 9580 1700-2100 11880 1600-2000 9710 1800-2000 7240 ^Saturday and Sunday only *Sometimes heard in North America (Website rearranged by Mike Barraclough, worlddxclub via DXLD) R. Australia now has the October 2005 frequency guide in a PDF file on their website at http://www.abc.net.au/ra/pdf/frequency.pdf (Daniel Sampson, Prime Time Shortwave, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Still does not mention 17785 where I certainly heard them Oct 30 at 23-24 (Glenn, ibid.) ** AUSTRALIA. 6020 kHz, Radio Australia 1110 UT, with The National Interest, October 31. A guest from Canberra Clinical School discussing in very rational and informative manner the threat of avian flu pandemic, with historical background on pandemics of 1918 and 1968, effectiveness of vaccines, and so on. We need more programs like this, free of the hype and scare tactics so common in the era of ``headline news`` and a general lack of context for complicated issues. Another example of why stations like Radio Australia are so much better than news networks on TV (Roger Chambers, Utica, New York, ODXA via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. 11880 ABC NT program via Shepparton. While work is being done on some of the NTSWS transmitter. I have tried this a few times but found it at a decent level for the first on 25/10. Tuned in at 0718, music program hosted by Barry Nichols; pops, talk, many UT +9.5 TCs and IDs as "7ABC Darwin and 783 Alice Springs" (Jerry Berg, MA, Australian DX News via DXLD) ABC via R Australia Shepparton 11880. ABC map card with details on reverse. Sent to Darwin office and reply in 6 working days. This is the replacement service for Tennant Creek for the next few weeks. I thought if I sent the report to ABC Melbourne it would be lost, but Darwin did not let me down! Sent a stamp for reply postage (Johno Wright, Nov Australian DX News via DXLD) ** BHUTAN. BBS, 6035, heard on 3 Oct rom 0103 until fade-out at 0115 (Rumen Pankov, Sofia Bulgaria, Nov BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 6105.1, R. Cultura Filadélfia, Foz do Iguazu, not great but better than usual at 2255 Oct 24, with usual het from 6105 absent, and best in USB. Appeared to be a religious program, preaching, fanfare, chorus, talkover by man, more singing to 2302 when a good ID: "Aqui Cultura Filadélfia . . . en Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná." Must be SW only -- - at least gave only SW frequency and meter band, also call letters and some numbers (maybe tel. no. or part of address). Programming then stopped, and carrier stayed on until 2307. A new one for me; I have been tracking it for a while but this is the first time I have found it relatively in the clear. Hrd tnx to recent Ralph Brandi report (Jerry Berg, MA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. BRASIL – A Rádio Canção Nova, de Cachoeira Paulista (SP), voltou a ser captada na freqüência de 4825 kHz. A constatação é do Leandro Renato, de Paulínia (SP). Também foi sintonizada, em Porto Alegre (RS), em 29 de outubro, às 0400, com bom sinal. BRASIL – A Rádio Difusora, de Taubaté (SP), está inativa na freqüência de 4925 kHz. A informação é de Marcelo Ramiro, radialista que reside naquela cidade do estado de São Paulo. BRASIL – A Rádio Educação Rural, de Tefé (AM), transmite, em 4925 kHz, entre 1000 e 1530 e das 2000 às 0200. A emissora responde a todos os relatórios de recepção com um certificado de sintonia. Contatos: Rádio Educação Rural, Caixa Postal 21, CEP: 69470-000, Tefé (AM). E-mail: rert @ osite.com.br As informações são do biólogo Paulo Roberto e Souza, de Tefé (AM). BRASIL – A Rádio Liberal, de Belém (PA), está inativa na freqüência de 4775 kHz. A informação é do biólogo Paulo Roberto e Souza, de Tefé (AM). A emissora pode ser ouvida apenas em 1330 kHz, em ondas médias (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX Oct 30 via DXLD) ** BULGARIA. R. Bulgaria plays a lot of great Bulgarian folk music, on the Bulgarian language service, such as Oct 31 at 1445-1500* on 15700 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CAMEROON [non]. CAMEROON: SECESSIONIST MOVEMENT RADIO STARTS BROADCASTING | Text of report in English by French news agency AFP Yaounde, 31 October: An outlawed Anglophone secessionist movement known as the Southern Cameroon National Council (SCNC) has begun broadcasting its message via a pirate radio station set up in northwest Cameroon, local officials and media said on Monday. Radio Free Southern Cameroon's [RFSC] presence on the airwaves was first picked up Thursday [27 October] when it began broadcasting repeats of the SCNC national hymn. Since then the station has continued to air SCNC songs and slogans for several hours each day. "The whole northwest administration is mobilized to find the operators of this radio station," the Cameroonian newspaper The Herald reported. The SCNC, which claims the independence of Cameroon's two majority English-speaking southern provinces, has been declared illegal since it was founded in the early 1990s. One government official declared the radio station "a danger for peace and national unity." In Bamenda, 400 kilometres (248 miles) northwest of the capital Yaounde, flyers were distributed giving the frequency locations prior to the broadcasts. The secretary-general of Cameroon's northwest province appealed to the population to be vigilant and to "stay clear of any intoxication" by the radio station. Radio Free Southern Cameroon's internet website estimated that its broadcasts would soon cover all national territory and even reach into neighbouring countries. Last week, some 40 SCNC militants arrested in the south of Cameroon were released after being given a warning. The group's members are frequently arrested, especially around 1 October, the day in 1961 when the two southern provinces were unified with the country's eight other, French-speaking, ones. Source: AFP news agency, Paris, in English 0000 gmt 31 Oct 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) The RFSC has been observed on 12130 kHz from 1800 to 1900 on Sunday 30 October; this transmitter is believed to be based in Krasnodar, Russia, but according to a report by AFP on 31 October RFSC was observed on-air on Thursday 27 October when it began broadcasting repeats of the Southern Cameroon National Council (SCNC) national hymn. The report continues that since then the station has continued to air SCNC songs and slogans for several hours each day. RFSC is available at http://www.fdrsoutherncameroons.info/ where archived programming is available (BBC Monitoring Nov 1 via DXLD) ** CANADA. Via RCI, Sounds Like Canada from CBC is now starting a local hour later, Oct 31 from 1506 on 9515, 13655, 17820, and lasts almost two hours. The harmonica fill music confirmed every hour at 1404, 1504 and 1604. At 1506, Shelagh tried to rap. Please, enough (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. RCI on new 6100 in English at 2304 Oct 30 was only fair here, but I hope doing well for the Philadelphians who keep complaining about poor reception in the evenings. I neglected to check 9755 after 2400, but by 0150 when I did, it was inaudible. However, only southerly signals were making it after some propagational disturbance (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Thanks to Kevin Kelly, he of the excellent http://www.publicradiofan.com website, is a link to a blog by Tod Maffin discussing the changes planned for Radio One next week: http://radio.blogware.com/blog/_archives/2005/10/28/1328758.html I should add that Mr. Maffin's blog has several categories of commentary that lovers of good radio would enjoy. See http://www.iloveradio.org or http://radio.blogware.com (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) From what Todd writes, it is more of the same garbage that we have been treated to in the afternoons. "The Roundup" was a waste, and this new show seems to follow in its footsteps. An extra half-hour for the afternoon drive show here in Toronto? Thanks but no thanks. However, the new news slots at 4 & 5 PM might be a good offering. I just hope that they last longer than the short-lived world newscast at 10 PM that was introduced last year. (Can't remember the name of it right now.) CBCR1 never fails to disappoint.... 73, (Peter Bowen, ibid.) I, too, look forward to hearing these newscasts. (Why, oh why, don't they just call it World Report?) BTW, the name of that short-lived 10 p.m. newscast was "World Watch." I wish that one had lasted (Ricky Leong, Calgary, Alta., ibid.) I'm really upset about losing the Roundup as it has kept me company for my drive home for a while and I am a semi-regular contributor (Mark Coady, ODXA via DXLD) and the official announcement: CBC ARTS: CBC RADIO ONE REVAMPS AFTERNOON PROGRAMMING Last Updated Mon, 31 Oct 2005 08:10:23 EST http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2005/10/31/Arts/radio_changes_051031.html CBC Radio One is planning changes to its afternoon schedule that will tailor the programming to different markets. Beginning Nov. 7, drive shows in Vancouver, Winnipeg and Toronto will be extended to begin earlier, at 3 p.m. and a new national newscast will be added at 4 p.m. Jian Ghomeshi (file photo) There are also major changes coming in Radio One's national program schedule. A new half-hour daily program called The National Playlist, hosted by Jian Ghomeshi with Shelagh Rogers, will begin at 11:30 a.m. And The Roundup is being replaced by another laid-back conversation and music show called Freestyle. The changes in the late afternoon are being made to address the needs of commuters, says Jennifer McGuire, executive director of programming. "The four to six drive home is not a reality any more if you look at what is happening in those cities," she said, adding that there is "great potential" to reach listeners over a longer period in the late afternoon. CBC Radio One has already experimented in Toronto with a local afternoon show that begins at 3:30. "We'll be serving audience needs with a stronger news presence and programming that's related to what they do day-to-day," McGuire says. The longer afternoon show format may be extended to other markets in future, she says. A national newscast called The World This Hour, hosted by Marcia Williams, will give nine and a half minutes of news at 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. The newscast replaces a shorter locally generated newscast at 4 p.m. and Canada at Five at 5 p.m. The changes in the national schedule involve new time slots for several programs, including Out Front, Madly Off in All Directions, WireTap and Global Village. But the most significant change to come in November is the revamping of the late morning and afternoon schedule, beginning at 11:30 with The National Playlist. The show will be a music-oriented program similar to Ghomeshi's popular 50 Tracks. Working with different guests each week, it will work out the answer to the question: What would be on your playlist if your iPod could only hold 10 tracks, and you could only change the songs once a week? Musicians, critics, politicians and celebrities will be invited to work out an ever-evolving playlist. Freestyle, which follows the noon hour programs, will be hosted by Kelly Ryan and Cameron Phillips out of Vancouver. Ryan is a Vancouver-based CBC news reporter and has been a radio host on local programs. Phillips is new as a host on CBC Radio, but has been a contributor to shows such as Go and DNTO. Freestyle will be a mix of music, conversation and guest appearances. It's being described as "an ongoing conversation about things that make the cut at the water cooler life, leisure and the newest trends." "These changes are about being more relevant to more people," McGuire says. "We've tailored the schedule to adjust to the needs of different markets." Tetsuro Shigematsu, who has been hosting The Roundup, will return to the CBC Radio newsroom in Vancouver. The Roundup's original host, Bill Richardson, will continue to host Canada Reads, and is currently developing a new program for CBC Radio. (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD, also via Dan Say, swprograms via DXLD) ** CANADA. CBC RADIO REVAMP AIMED AT OFFICES --- From Tuesday's Globe and Mail By GUY DIXON, Tuesday, November 1, 2005 Posted at 3:41 AM EST Get ready to hear Madonna's new hit on CBC Radio One in the afternoons. Radio One is revamping its afternoon programming starting Monday with more pop music and news updates, and fewer long segments -- in short, less of what many might consider the traditional Radio One sound. "CBC Radio took a look at the whole afternoon period from 11 to 6 p.m.," said Jennifer McGuire, executive director of programming at CBC Radio. A study was undertaken for the first time in a long time, she noted, in order for CBC Radio to adapt to what it believes are listeners` evolving afternoon habits. A call was then sent out via e-mail to CBC staff last spring to pitch ideas for a new anchor program to replace The Roundup, while local drive-time shows were also extended to reflect the longer rush hours in Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver. (Bill Richardson, a fixture on CBC Radio in the afternoon as the long-time host of The Roundup, moved last year to the short-lived weekend Radio One show Bunny Watson. Richardson still works at the CBC but doesn't currently have a show on the air.) Come Monday, the sweeping afternoon changes might seem like an attempt to target younger listeners with lighter, slice-of-life segments and fewer in-depth pieces. But that isn't the intention, McGuire said. It has more to do with the CBC Radio's belief that people busy at work or stuck in traffic prefer shorter, livelier fare. The new programming will kick off in the late morning, before local noon-hour shows, with host Jian Ghomeshi's The National Playlist, which will feature musicians, actors and politicians debating their favourite songs. Listeners will also be able to call in to kick songs off the continually evolving play list. CBC is billing it as an iPod play list debated nationally every weekday. Following local noon-hour shows across Canada, Radio One will then air perhaps the biggest change to its tried-and-true sound: Freestyle, the new prerush-hour show broadcast nationally from Vancouver. It will be co-hosted by Kelly Ryan, who is dramatically shifting gears from her previous investigative-reporting and news work for CBC Radio. She describes the new show as a much-needed break from years spent covering everything from the events of Sept. 11 to the Pickton murder investigation. Alongside her will be Cameron Phillips, an actor who has spent the past four years freelancing for the CBC. Producer Anna Bonokoski, who was with The Roundup, will continue on with Freestyle. With a mix of 60-per-cent music and 40-per-cent talk, the emphasis will be on water-cooler stories, those that people talk about, but which aren't considered hard news. "What we found is that people . . . need a recess from all that information that CBC Radio gives them in the morning and on their local noon shows," Ryan said. "For example, in our pilot [program]," Phillips said, "we spoke to a man who had gone to a soap-opera fantasy camp. We talked to a woman who was the silver medalist from the world rock-paper-scissors championship. This week, we talked to a man designing billboards for dogs: They are two feet high off the ground." Also, "we're playing lots of music. Music that doesn't normally make it on the CBC," such as Madonna, Elton John and Top 40, Ryan added. "This is the kind of show you can have on in the background at work, in the dentist office, moms at home. We're really hoping we can move into the work market, the office market, retail..." Next week, local afternoon drive-time shows in Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver will be expanded from 3 until 6 p.m., with Canada at Five becoming two national newscasts at 4 and 5 p.m. and renamed The World This Hour. All of these changes were originally due to be launched the day after Labour Day, during the critical radio ratings period. However, the nearly two-month-long lockout at the end of the summer pushed the launch to Nov. 7. Story site is: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20051101.wxcbcradio01/BNStory/Entertainment/ (via Harry van Vugt, Windsor, Ontario, and Eric Flodén, BC, Canada, DXLD) ** CHILE [and non]. Voz Cristã, 15485, after VOG-DL had closed, still had considerable co-channel QRM from something else, at 2249 Oct 30, maybe Far East, but couldn`t really tell (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 4785 kHz, Nei Menggu PBS, Hohhot, audible on 31 Oct 2310- 2319, Mongolian (i.e. as listed), talks; 24431, adjacent utility. QRM + Mali on 4782.43 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. Re 5-187: Hello, Glenn. Just found it interesting that so many US broadcasts to Beijing are jammed there, while CRI is not only heard in Washington, but broadcast willingly by an AM station in the city! China loves the free exchange of information too! But only in other countries... Take Care! (Eric Loy, Champaign IL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) There are several other North American domestic stations willingly relaying Beijing; strange that the CRI schedule mentions only WUST. Look at it this way: such an imbalance puts the US on incomparably higher moral ground than the Chicoms (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CROATIA. 1134, Glas Hrvatske, Zadar (44 06'N 15 15'E) OCT 9 0351 - Classical music; way over Spain. OCT 15 0450 - Happy Balkan folk group vocal (similar to Greek style); excellent. [Connelly*B-MA] OCT 18 2158 - Slavic female chorus which sounded religious or patriotic; huge. At 2352 romantic vocal; massive signal was 10 dB better than 1130 WBBR and only 12 dB weaker than local 1030 WBZ. This calculates to 63.8 dBu (1.56 mV/m) field-strength based on V-Soft Rowley, MA value of 75.8 dBu for WBZ. [Connelly*R-MA] OCT 23 2200 - Music with a male announcer. Top of the hour tones with a female announcer. Good signal (S9) nestled between bleed from WBBR on 1130 in New York, NY and WRVA on 1140 in Richmond, VA. "You're listening to Croatia Today." [New-GA] OCT 24 0030-0230 - Het first noted around 0030; audio broke a few minutes later with man and woman speaking in Slavic language, with occasional music; this continued to 0159; three long pips at 0159:50 were followed by Croatian/English ID at 0200, "Glas Hrvatska... This is Croatian Radio, the Voice of Croatia..." and into news program. Fairly good on peaks on both loop and long wire. This is the first time I've gotten a voice ID from a TA station. The only other European I've ID'ed here is 1611 Vatican, ID'ed via a weak interval signal in 1990. Great conditions thus far in the '05-'06 season! [Wilkins-CO] OCT 27 - 1134 also pounding into this part of southwest Georgia (Leesburg). Good audio for almost an hour. Portugal 1035 heard well also. [Lovitt-GA] Contributors Mark Connelly, Billerica MA (42 32'N 71 13'W); Drake R8A, dual- feedline Flag: 5 x 10.6 m to DX Engineering RPA-1 amplifier Mark Connelly, Rowley MA (42 40'N 70 37'W); DXP-6 phasing unit, 3-m vertical whip to 81:1 transformer to RPA-1 amp; 60-m east-aimed horizontal wire to 9:1 transformer to RPA-1 amp. C.D. Lovitt, Leesburg GA (31 44'N 84 10'W). Ira Elbert New III, Watkinsville GA (33 51'N 83 25'W); Drake R8B, 135- ft north/south wire. John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge CO (39 47'N 105 06'W); Drake R8, 4-ft box loop, 100-ft long wire (NRC International DX Digest via DXLD) This is just one of dozens of TA MW signals heard recently far into NAm, but one of the most widely heard (gh, DXLD) ** CUBA. Radio Habana Cuba se está escuchando hoy domingo muy bien por Venezuela a las 2150 UT por la frecuencia 15230 y en forma muy débil por los 11800. Esta mañana su señal en las frecuencias 11805 y 11760 kHz estaban fuera del aire y los 15230 estaban muy mal y con interferencias de otras emisoras. Lo que me extraña es que en programa En Contacto, se había anunciado que los 11800 kHz habían sido cambiados por los 11805 kHz, y me ha extrañado escuchar hoy la emisión por 11800 kHz a las 2150 UT. Atte: (José Elías, Venezuela, Oct 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11800 move to 11805 applied only in the mornings (gh, DXLD) Several RHC transmitters are still down; at 2250 Oct 30 the only one I could find was 9550 with a numismatics talk in Spanish; nothing on 11760, 11800 or 12000. After 2300, 9550 into French. Before 2400 there were large carriers on 11875 and 11760, which opened on the hour with RHC news, and incredibly divergent audio. As with Venezuela relay in the morning, 11875 was extremely overmodulated and distorted, while 11760 had good clear audio; the two were also slightly out of synch producing a reverb when monitored on two receivers. Missing the previous morning, RHC transmitters were back in action Oct 31 at 1420 with a fragment of Fidel, as always during this semihour, on 9550, 11760, 11805 and 12000. Then Nov 1 at 1442, weak signal from RHC on 11850. This would be a mixing product at 45 kHz interval between 11760 and 11805. Anything on 11715 was blocked by other signals (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. R. Martí has resumed 17670 from Delano for B-05, first noted Oct 31 at 1450 with huge open carrier, audio from 1500. Before 1500 the four frequencies were 7405, 11930, 13820, 15330; commie Cuban jamming also audible on unused 11845, 13630 at 1542 check. The 17670 signal overloads here, much like 17705 V. of Greece relay did during A-05. Maybe we will have some spurs from 17670 like the 17838v from 17705 mistaken for El Salvador (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CZECH REPUBLIC [non]. Ran across R. Praga in Spanish Oct 30 at 2333 on 9660, unscheduled frequency. Too strong to be direct, considering lack of other Europeans on band. Most likely new Sackville relay, which in published B-05 schedule was supposed to be on 9755. Another foulup at Sackville, or deliberate change? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Starting on the night of 11th-12th October 2005, on a trial basis for the winter season, Radio Prague is extending its shortwave broadcasts in English for central and western parts of North America, with a new time and frequency relayed via Sackville in Canada. Previously Radio Prague's frequencies at this time were directed to listeners in other parts of the world. We look forward to your reception reports, letting us know if the signal is reaching you loud and clear. ENGLISH 0330-0357 6040 49 250 Sackville, Canada (Station website via Nov Australian DX News via DXLD) ?? No such transmission in the B-05 schedule at http://www.radio.cz/en/frequencies but I see that it now shows 9660 instead of 9755 at 2330 in Spanish via Sackville, contrary to the originally published version, and there may have been further changes (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. The 15370 DRM transmission from HCJB, which had been constant during October, was missing Oct 31 at 1444 check, and there were some analog signals around the frequency instead. But Nov 1 at 1423 check, DRM was back (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EGYPT [and non]. R. Cairo supposed to stay on 11885 for English to E NAm at 2300-2430 for B-05, but it`s no longer in the clear. Oct 30 at 2254 I heard a preacher mixing with a tone test, the latter I presumed Cairo tuning up. At 2300 the preacher was cut off abruptly as WHRI signed off, but WYFR in Portuguese immediately replaced it and could no longer detect Cairo underneath. By 2319, WYFR had faded down a little so I could tell there was another signal on 11885. After 2400, WYFR 11885 became much stronger, perhaps with a beam change, and still no chance for Cairo (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Solar-terrestrial indices for 30 October follow. Solar flux 76 and mid-latitude A-index 5. The mid-latitude K-index at 0000 UTC on 31 October was 1 (07 nT). No space weather storms were observed for the past 24 hours (SEC via DXLD) ** ERITREA [non?]. Re 5-187, BBCM corrected the headline to read: ``ERITREAN OPPOSITION LAUNCHES NEW RADIO STATION`` --- So does that mean it is transmitting on 909 from outside Eritrea, like Sudan? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. RFI on 17515 with sports news in English at 1428 Oct 31 --- why do most of their announcers have British instead of French accents? It`s confusing; from 1433 a bilingual dramatization with lots of SFX, pausing to discuss grammatical points, so must be disguised French lessons, lasting all the way to 1455; meanwhile, RFI on 17620 had Mideast music with French lyrix at 1427. The 1600 English broadcast was found on 15365 at 1611 with news, 1617 // 15605 but suffering from the constant buzz accompanying KTBN 15590 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE [and non]. English from RFI heard between 0400 and 0700 (website not updated) 0400-0430 : 7315 (GAB), 9555 0500-0530 : 11850 (GAB), 11995 0600-0630 : 9865 (ASC), 15155, 17800 Monday to Friday (JM Aubier, France, Oct 31, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) As far as it goes, this matches schedule below, except for 11995 or 15155 at 0500. I hope this version has been updated; apparently so, since it mentions some changes coming on the strange date of Feb 26. It does not specify any days of week (gh) RFI English B-05: * = to 26 Feb 06 ** = from 26 Feb 06 0400-0430 MEAf 7315-mo 9555-fr 9805-mo 11995-fr 0500-0530 MEAf 11850-mo 15155-fr 0600-0630 MEAf 9865-as 15155-fr 17800-fr 0700-0800 MEAf 11725-mo 15605-mo 1200-1230 MEAf 15275-as 21620-fr 1400-1500 As 7180-xi* 9580-xi** 17515-fr 1600-1700 MEAf 9730-me 11615-fr 15160-me 15365-fr* 15605-fr 17850-fr** 1700-1730 MEAf 11615-fr 15605-fr (source? via DX News, Nov BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) No key to transmitter sites, but I suppose: mo=Gabon, fr=France, as=Ascension, xi=China, me=South Africa (gh, DXLD) ** FRANCE. Re 5-187, WTFK? Glenn: It's not practical to give frequencies for French national networks, as the frequencies vary from city to city. Extensive use of RDS in France means car radios can generally be set to scan in the background and switch to a more powerful frequency (assuming there is one) if you lose the one you're listening to. It's possible to get a list of frequencies by city by using the Internet or Minitel. For years, the weekly magazine Telerama (which has the most extensive TV and radio listings of any publication, along with substantial cultural content) has put out an annual (?) guide of all the stations and their local frequencies. Major stations and French public stations are probably on at least 100 frequencies around the country. A relatively minor station like Hector/Vivace may only be on in a dozen places, if that many (Mike Cooper, GA, Oct 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GLORIOSO. FR/G - Dany, F5CW reports that the Clipperton DX Club's DXpedition to Glorioso has been rescheduled to take place from 17 March to 7 April 2006, after the hurricane season. Plans are to gather eight operators and to have up to five stations QRV on all bands and modes. Plans are subject to change, even at the very last moment, owing to the international situation, as all the operators are military personnel. Updates will be available on http://glorieuses2005.free.fr/index-en.htm [TNX F5NQL] (425 DX News via Dave Raycroft, ODXA via DXLD) ** INDIA. Oct 30 during UT afternoon (evening in India), 3223, 3315, 3365 and 3390 still audible, we'll see if the change is on Monday 31st (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. AIR B-2005 changes --- Dear Friends, The following are my monitoring observations of All India Radio for the B-2005 period External Services 0430-0530 Arabic delete 13620 1000-1100 English 13710 (ex 13695) via Bangalore 1115-1215 Tamil 13710 (ex 13695) via Bangalore 1115-1215 Tamil 17860 Delhi not heard 1215-1245 Telegu 13710 (ex 13695) via Bangalore Home Service The proposed shift from 90 meter to 60 meter of AIR did not take place. [yet??] 7190 Mumbai 0025-0430 0700-1330 1430-1740 (ex 7195) 9470 Aligarh 0130-0430 0830-1230 (AIR FM Gold) Other notes: The 1000 kw MW transmitter near Kolkata operating on 594 & 1134 is now running at only 500 kW. "India Calling", the magazine of AIR External Services has been discontinued. 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Raj Bhavan Road, Hyderabad 500082, India, dx_india Oct 31 via DXLD) AIR's proposed shift from 3 MHz to 4 MHz has been delayed as they are still waiting for approval from WPC (Wireless Planning & Coordination Wing, Ministry of Communications & Information Technology, Dept. of Telecommunications, Govt of India, which allocates the frequencies) Shifting of frequencies will take place once they have clearance from WPC. AIR changed to B05 however schedules still not updated on the website due to extended Diwali holidays. Here are couple of notes from our recent meeting with AIR frequency management officials: a) They confirmed that e-mailed reception reports with audio files having clear IDs are verified directly from Delhi instead of forwarding to the regional stations. Expect a faster response if your e-mailed report contains an audio file. b) Very soon AIR will start sending E-QSLs for E-mailed reception reports. Regds, (Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, Nov 1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. DXAsia has been updated today with the B05 AIR frequencies by frequency and language, regional stations and external service. http://www.dxasia.info/index.html Also of interest is this news item: All India Radio in B05 schedule period has synchronised two 500 kW transmitters from Bangalore SW site in English on 11620 kHz between 2045-2230 UT. One antenna is directed to Australia and New Zealand via 120 degree beam and the other one to Europe via 325 degree beam. Ideally it should reach also many parts of the world including North America (East Coast). Similarly at 2245-0045 UT again two 500 kW Bangalore transmitters are use for English on 13605 kHz - one via 38 degrees to NE Asia and one via 90 degewwa towards SE Asia. It may reach some parts of north America (West Coast). (Andy Sennitt, Nov 1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. Audio files for AIR news bulletins in Hindi & English are now available on AIR news website: http://www.newsonair.com/ Regds, (Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, Nov 1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. Oct 31, checking out VOI on 9525: at 1356 just caught Suara Indonesia ID, and then dead air --- well, not quite dead, as some other Indonesian audio perhaps from another network, was bleeding thru weakly, but it only lasted two minutes until another ID, and national anthem to slightly after 1400. More dead air, I figured for the usual two+ hours, but not today! At 1515 recheck was in gamelan music; at 1535 found this // much weaker 15149.9 or so, but no het with a 15150.0 station now missing. Then listened continuously and it was nothing but gamelan, no announcements until 1600 ID in Arabic, more gamelan but at 1601 crossfading into Qur`an. By 1612 there was Arabic talk interrupted by too-loud stingers. 9525 has a continuous whine/hum on it, but is quite strong. The next morning, Nov 1 at 1358 and later, zilch on 9525, nothing on 9500 either (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [non]. R. Farda coming in well on 15410 at 1522 and 1614 checks Oct 31 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [non]. Radio Farda - the schedule is included on the VOA schedule that I 'picked up' off the net yesterday. This lists transmissions in Persian (I assume via VOA) and Persian (in brackets Radio Farda). SW transmissions are listed between 0030 and 2130. At other times only 1170 & 1575. I heard the station after 1700 yesterday (30th) booming in via 7520 and 7580. Currently as I type at 0915 they are using 13680 and 15690 - not in sync. Also listed is 11845 but all I hear there is RFI in French. 73s (Noel R. Green (NW England), dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ. PUK'S AL-HURRIYAH TV TO TEST VIA SATELLITE | Text of report by Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) newspaper Kurdistani Nuwe on 31 October A contract to change the [Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, PUK-run] Baghdad-based terrestrial channel, Al-Hurriyah TV, to a satellite station has been signed. The station targets Arab audiences. The contract was signed between the head of the [PUK] central media office, comrade Azad Jundiyani, and Mr Hiwa Fariq, the representative of Megast [as transliterated] company, which specializes in selling satellite and broadcast equipment. The station is expected to begin its test transmission on 5 December 2005. Source: Kurdistani Nuwe, Sulaymaniyah, in Sorani Kurdish 31 Oct 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. IBA reforms / IBA English TV News http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/639392.html Last update - 03:11 31/10/2005 GOV'T APPROVES FAR-REACHING REFORMS IN STATE-RUN MEDIA By Anat Balint, Haaretz Correspondent The government will no longer have the authority to make senior appointments at the Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA), it was announced at Sunday's weekly cabinet meeting. The cabinet approved two measures designed to reform the structure of state-controlled media: It adopted the Dinur Commission's recommendations for comprehensive reform of the IBA, and committed to establishing "a union of councils," whose task will be to monitor commercial television stations such as Channels 2 and 10, as well as cable and satellite programming. The government also resolved to transfer authority over the IBA to Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, from Acting Finance Minister Ehud Olmert. Since March 2003, Olmert has been leading the effort to adopt the Dinur recommendations, among them reduction of staff at IBA. The reforms will also impact the content at the IBA, which would hire outside studios to provide the bulk of its non-news programming. But the most significant change will be the reduction of the political echelon's influence over the IBA. The government will no longer name its director general, rather, the appointment will be done by a public committee. Also, the IBA's budget will be subject to approval by the political echelon only once every five years. The key questions now are whether Livni will continue advancing the reforms and who will succeed former IBA director general Yosef Barel, whose ouster was the result of those reforms. Communications Minister Dalia Itzik is strongly promoting the Dinur reforms and has already stated her intention to appoint current cable and satellite head Yoram Mokedy to head the "union of councils," instead of establishing - as first suggested - a national media authority that would eliminate the Communications Ministry (via Doni Rosenzweig, DXLD) The IBA English TV News is no longer on the Israeli Network, on The Dish Network. It is available on DirecTV at 6 PM via World Harvest Television, a Christian religious channel. It is also still available on demand, on http://media.iba.org.il (Doni Rosenzweig, DXLD) ** ITALY. The Morse Radio Service of IAR Roma Radio ceased on the 31st October with this final transmission: CQ CQ CQ DE IAR IAR THIS IS THE FINAL TRANSMISSION FROM ROMA RADIO MORSE SERVICE. WE CONCLUDE OUR WATCHKEEPING AFTER MANY YEARS OF CONTINUOUS SERVICE WITH PRIDE AND SADNESS ON OCTOBER THE 31ST. TELECOM ITALIA COAST STATIONS WISHES ALL SEAFARERS FAIR WINDS AND FOLLOWING SEAS. WE SALUTE ALL WHO HAVE SERVED OUR PROFESSION WITH SKILL AND DEDICATION THROUGH THE YEARS. = DE IAR IAR AR VA See the IAR website at http://www.mediasuk.org/archive/iar_e.html 73 (Trevor M5AKA, SWM_readers yg via DXLD) But continues on SSB: Freq. of the IAR Roma Radio 4390 - 8713 - 13182 - 17377 SSB and Autolink 4417 - 8779 - 13137 - 17302 - 22756 SSB (site above via DXLD) ** KASHMIR. AJK TV destroyed? Since the South Asian earthquake on October 8th, AJK TV has not been on air. It seems that the television station along with almost everything else in Muzaffarabad, the mountain capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, had been completely destroyed. I was lucky enough to visit Muzaffarabad a few years ago where I presented a biomedical engineering lecture at the Combined Military Hospital. Tragically the hospital is gone as well. It is reported that most of the patients - 100, maybe 200 - had died and that many of the staff and their families, who lived in houses next to the hospital, were also dead. The AJK TV Station was established at Muzaffarabad, in February 2004 and had been easily received in Australia via Asiasat 2. The station featured one production studio, a continuity studio and master control room for transmission via satellite as well as via a network of various terrestrial transmitters. AJK TV catered for productions of local culture and language. In addition to the satellite service, four terrestrial stations at Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Bagh and Rawalakot were in operation at the time of the earthquake. Future planning had included building additional relay stations at Palandari, Bimber, Neelabut and Mirpur. This month`s ADXN Satellite Radio & TV news is also available in a larger extended edition online at http://www.satdirectory.com/--adxn.html Just a reminder, all television and radio mentioned on these pages is received free-to-air in the DVB digital format unless otherwise noted (Mark Fahey, Satellite Radio & TV, Nov Australian DX News via DXLD) ** KASHMIR. PAKISTAN/KASHMIR: RADIO MUZAFFARABAD RESUMES TRANSMISSIONS | Excerpt from report by Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency Muzaffarabad, 28 October: AJK [Azad Jammu Kashmir] President Sardar Muhammad Anwar Khan Friday [28 October] said that radio is playing a pivotal role in fostering the cause of relief and rehabilitation in the quake-affected areas. He said this during a visit to Azad Kashmir Radio Muzaffarabad here following resumption of its regular transmission. The radio station was destroyed in the recent earthquake and it was operationalized on FM-101 with installation of a new transmitter. Sardar Muhammad Anwar praised the efforts made by Director General PBC [Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation] Tariq Imam and the staff of Radio Pakistan to make the radio station operational. The AJK president said Azad Kashmir Radio Muzaffarabad is serving the Kashmiri people in this hour of trial with dedication and devotion and providing them information about relief and rescue operations. He pointed out that at a time when other communication means were badly disturbed, radio was almost the only source of information for the people of AJK. In this connection, the AJK president appreciated the initiative of Radio Pakistan and Radio Muzaffarabad for opening radio helplines, which are serving as a bridge between affected people and the relief and rehabilitation authorities. Sardar Muhammad Anwar remained on air live for about an hour and received several calls on helpline of Radio Muzaffarabad. The listeners informed him about their needs and assistance being received by them. [Passage omitted] Source: Associated Press of Pakistan news agency, Islamabad, in English 1654 gmt 28 Oct 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. VOA story, with audio, confirms that VT Communications is the broker for these transmissions, and also says they will run for one year. Gives the frequency, too :-) http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-11-01-voa5.cfm (Andy Sennitt, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: JAPANESE TRY TO CONTACT ABDUCTEES IN NORTH KOREA BY RADIO By Steve Herman, Tokyo, 01 November 2005 Herman report - Download 324k --- Listen to Herman report A citizens' group in Tokyo is taking to the airwaves, trying to contact hundreds of Japanese who may still be alive in North Korea, years after being kidnapped by the communist state. The group has begun beaming a daily half-hour shortwave radio program to North Korea, using a transmitter in a third country. The message to any Japanese in North Korea who may hear it is that they have not been forgotten. The unprecedented broadcast begins with an announcer telling Japanese in North Korea to hang in there, because "it will not be long until we definitely rescue you." Soothing piano music plays in the background as the announcer reads the names of possible Japanese abduction victims, the dates when they disappeared and their ages. Takushoku Univ. professor Kazuhiro Araki, center, helps COMJAN volunteers fold newsletters announcing group's plan to try to contact Japanese abductees in North Korea via shortwave radio [caption] An organizer of the grassroots project, Takushoku University professor Kazuhiro Araki, says the group believes North Korea kidnapped at least 265 Japanese, beginning in the 1950s. Professor Araki says shortwave radio is a good way to reach the abductees, or anyone who knows the missing Japanese. He explains that former U.S. Army soldier Charles Jenkins, who emerged after spending decades in North Korea, has revealed that some North Koreans and foreign abductees secretly tune in VOA and other international broadcasts. In North Korea it is illegal to listen to foreign broadcast stations. Japan's government currently acknowledges 10 abduction cases involving 15 Japanese. North Korea previously admitted kidnapping 13 Japanese to train its spies in Japanese language and culture. Pyongyang allowed five of them to return home in 2002 and has said the other eight Japanese died in North Korea. Professor Araki is a representative of the group known as COMJAN, or the Investigation Commission on Missing Japanese Probably Related to North Korea. He says anyone who hears the transmission is being urged to get a message out that he or she is still alive. Professor Araki says the broadcasts will include information and instructions for Japanese in the event of upheaval in North Korea. The program, in Japanese, is called "Shiokaze," or "Sea Breeze." It will air nightly (at 1430 UTC on 5.890 megahertz) for the next year. Because Pyongyang could try to jam the signal, COMJAN hopes to raise money for added frequencies and more broadcasting time. The group is spending $30,000 for a one-year contract with a British company (VT Communications) that acts a broker for shortwave transmitters in many countries, including Russia. COMJAN has not identified the location of its transmitter beyond saying it is in a country close to North Korea. (VOA News via DXLD) The time has already been confirmed as 1530 UT, not 1430! Why do they keep getting it wrong? That works out to $82.19 per half hour (gh, DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH [and non]. Re: 5-186, Corea en español --- Eso era lo que yo quería ver. Alguien de Sudamérica como Rubén G. Margenet tratando el tema de la recepción en su zona de KBS World en español. A mí me parecía sumamente raro que yo no escuchara aquí ni un hilo de su señal en 11810 a las 01:00 y él termina de confirmar la insistencia coreana de transmitir sin efectividad en dicho horario. Por qué no apoyarse en Sackville para este efecto? (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Saludos Raul, saludos todos. Muy de acuerdo con las observaciones de Rubén G. Margenet. KBS deberia ubicarse en una frecuencia mas baja con tal de aprovechar el actual periodo de baja actividad solar y asi llegar a mas oyentes. Tambien me gusta tu idea Raul, quizas transmitiendo via sackville sea la solucion en una frecuencia mas apropiada. 73. (Dino Bloise FLORIDA, EEUU, ibid.) Here`s KBS World B-05: http://rki.kbs.co.kr/english/about/about_time.htm (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KURDISTAN [non]. V. of Mesopotamia, 11530 via Moldova, is still heard in mornings here with entertaining Kurdish music, such as Oct 31 at 1415, good (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LAOS. 6130, Lao National Radio, 1200-1227, Oct. 27, tune-in just as familiar gongs were ringing slowly, brief Asian theme or anthem, ID, then into man and woman alternating news with many mentions of Vientiane. Into possible commentary 1223-1226 framed by brief music themes. Fair at peaks but another station building underneath (John Herkimer, NY, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** LATVIA [and non]. 9290, Radio Waves International, 0800-0900, 01- 11, programa en inglés, especial 22 aniversario de la emisora, locutor, música pop en inglés y algunas canciones instrumentales, identifcación entre canciones: "This is RWI, Radio Waves International", "We have a special QSL card available to confirm your report, our address: Radio Waves International BP 130 92504 Rueil Cedex, France" "This is RWI, Radio Waves International on 48, 26 meters and 9290 kHz, european short wave bands". También algunas canciones, comentarios e identificaciones en francés. Muy buena señal, SINPO 45444. Las transmisiones que tendrán lugar durante el mes de Noviembre, como programación especial conmemorativa del 22 aniversario se la emisora son: En 9290 kHz vía LATVIA: 1 Noviembre 0800-0900 Tue 5 Noviembre 2300-0000 Sat 13 Noviembre 0800-1000 Sun 20 Noviembre 0900-1000 Sun 26 Noviembre 2300-0000 Sat 26 Noviembre 0800-0900 Sat También en la banda de 48 metros en frecuencia variable y en 11401 kHz, 26 metros, los sábados por la tarde (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Grundig Satellit 500, antena de cable, 4 metros, Lugar de escucha: casco urbano de Lugo, Nov 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALI. 4782.43 kHz, R. Mali, Kati, observed on 31 Oct 2312-2324 (no use keep listening till later...), French, announcements, folk tunes and songs, mentioned some program called "(...) et Développement"; // 5995 under adjacent DRM QRM; 54433, BUT extremely weak audio - what's the point of of handling such a signal?! 5995 kHz, R. Mali, Kati, 31 Oct 2324-2340, French, tunes + folk songs; adacent QRM de DRM signal; 54433, but weakish audio, though not as serious as on 60 m (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ROMANIA. Radio Romania International B-05 schedule from website SCHEDULE VALID FROM NOVEMBER 30, 2005 (surely they mean Oct. 30?) 0100-0200 9615, 11970 North America 0400-0500 6125, 9515 North America (West Coast) 0400-0500 9690, 11895 Asia 0630-0700 15135, 17780 Pacific Area 1300-1400 15105, 17745 Western Europe 1800-1900 7120, 9640 Western Europe 2130-2200 7145, 9650 Western Europe 2130-2200 9755, 11940 North America 2300-2400 9610, 11730 North America 2300-2400 7105, 9640 Western Europe We also broadcast for listeners in Western Europe via satellite Hot Bird 6 on 11,623.28 MHz, vertical polarisation, azimuth 13 degrees East (via Daniel Sampson, http://www.primetimeshortwave.com Oct 31, dxldyg via DXLD; also via Swopan Chakroborty, India, DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Voice of Russia English Oct 30, 2005-March 25, 2006 B-05 0200-0300 15425 15475 15595 7180 7250 7350 North America 0300-0400 15425 15475 15595 7180 7350 North America 0400-0500 15425 15475 15595** 12010 9840* 7150 7180 7350 N America 0400-0500 1548 603 Europe 0500-0600 15425 15595** 12010 9840* 7150 7180 North America 0500-0600 693 630 603 Europe 0600-0800 17665 17805 Australia/New Zealand 0600-0900 1323 693 630 603 Europe 0800-0900 17495 17665 17805 Australia/New Zealand 0800-1000 1251 Southeast Asia 0900-1000 17495 17665 Australia/New Zealand 0900-1000 12060*** 1323 693 630 603 Europe 1500-1600 1251 972 (from 1530) Middle East 1500-1600 5810*** Europe 1500-1600 9660 7260 7415 7350 6205 1251 972 (from 1530) SE Asia 1600-1700 7260 7415 4975 4965 972 Southeast Asia 1600-1700 11985** 9470* 6005 4975 4965 972 Middle East 1600-1700 6005 Africa 1600-1700 7320 6130 Europe 1700-1800 7320 Europe 1700-1800 11985** 9470* 7360 1251 648 Middle East 1700-1800 7360 Africa 1700-1800 7415 5910 1269 1251 648 Southeast Asia 1800-1900 7415 5910 1251 Southeast Asia 1800-1900 7360 1251 Middle East 1800-1900 11510 7360 Africa 1800-1900 7290 5950 (SatSun) 6175 (SatSun) 1494 (SatSun) Europe 1900-2000 11510 7335 Africa 1900-2000 7390 7290 6175 Europe 2000-2100 7330 7290 6145 Europe 2000-2200 15735 Latin America 2100-2200 7330 Europe * - from 30.10.05 till 04.03.06 ** - from 05.03.06 till 25.03.06 *** Broadcasting in DRM system (via Daniel Sampson http://www.primetimeshortwave.com dxldyg via DXLD) Old Soviet habits die hard. ``R. Moscow`` still insists on listing frequencies in descending MHz order, then ascending kHz order! (gh) Just beat me to it! The program grid has also been updated, http://www.vor.ru/ep.html (John Norfolk, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Voice of Russia English Programs October 30 2005 to March 25 2006 NEWS Every Hour on the Hour (11 minutes) NEWS IN BRIEF On the Half Hour (1 1/2 minutes) MYR: Music At Your Request RPE: Russia People and Events 1511 Sun: SUNDAY PANORAMA. Mon-Sat: NEWS AND VIEWS. 1531 Sun: KALEIDOSCOPE. Mon: FOLK BOX. Tue, Thu: MUSIC AROUND US, MYR. Wed: JAZZ SHOW. Fri: OUR HOMELAND. Sat: TIMELINES. 1611 Sun: MOSCOW MAILBAG. Mon-Fri: FOCUS ON ASIA AND PACIFIC. Sat: THIS IS RUSSIA. 1631 Sun: RUSSIA BY RADIO. Mon: JAZZ SHOW. Tue: OUR HOMELAND. Wed: THE VOR TREASURE-STORE. Thu: FOLK BOX. Fri: SONGS FROM RUSSIA, RPE. Sat: CHRISTIAN MESSAGE FROM MOSCOW. 1711 Sun: THIS IS RUSSIA. Mon, Wed: SCIENCE PLUS. Tue, Fri: MOSCOW MAILBAG. Thu: NEWMARKET. Sat: MUSICAL TALES. 1731 Sun: TIMELINES. Mon, Wed, Fri: THE WHIMS OF FATE, GUEST SPEAKER. Tue: GUEST SPEAKER, PEOPLE OF UNCOMMON DESTINY. Thu: GUEST SPEAKER, RUSSIA 1000 YEARS OF MUSIC. Sat: THE VOR TREASURE STORE. 1811 Sun, Sat: MUSIC AND MUSICIANS. Mon, Thu: MOSCOW MAILBAG. Tue: NEWMARKET. Wed, Fri: THIS IS RUSSIA. 1831 Sun, Sat: MUSIC AND MUSICIANS continues. Mon: KALEIDOSCOPE. Tue: MUSIC AROUND US, MYR. Wed: OUR HOMELAND. Thu: MUSICAL TALES, RPE. Fri: FOLK BOX. 1911 Sun: MUSICAL TALES. Mon-Fri: RUSSIA AND THE WORLD. Sat: NEWMARKET. 1931 Sun: CHRISTIAN MESSAGE FROM MOSCOW. Mon-Fri: same as 1731. Sat: KALEIDOSCOPE. 2011 See 1511. 2031 Sun, Mon, Fri: OUR HOMELAND. Tue: RUSSIAN BY RADIO. Wed: JAZZ SHOW. Thu: THE VOR TREASURE-STORE. Sat: CHRISTIAN MESSAGE FROM MOSCOW. 2111 Sun: MUSIC AND MUSICIANS. Mon: SCIENCE PLUS. Tue, Fri: MOSCOW MAILBAG. Wed. Sat: NEWMARKET. Thu: THIS IS RUSSIA. 2131 Sun: MUSIC AND MUSICIANS continues. Mon: SONGS FROM RUSSIA, RPE. Tue: MUSIC AROUND US, MYR. Wed: MUSICAL TALES, REP. Thu: FOLK BOX. Fri: JAZZ SHOW. Sat: RUSSIAN BY RADIO. 0211 Sun, Mon: MOSCOW MAILBAG. Tue-Sat: RUSSIA AND THE WORLD. 0231 Sun: OUR HOMELAND. Mon: TIMELINES. Tue: FOLK BOX. Wed: JAZZ SHOW. Thu: MUSICAL TALES, RPE. Fri: KALEIDOSCOPE. Sat: CHRISTIAN MESSAGE FROM MOSCOW. 0311 Sun, Tue-Sat: NEWS AND VIEWS. Mon: SUNDAY PANORAMA. 0331 Sun: SONGS FROM RUSSIA, RPE. Mon, Fri: RUSSIAN BY RADIO. Tue: KALEIDOSCOPE. Wed: MUSICAL TALES, RPE. Thu: OUR HOMELAND. Sat: THE VOR TREASURE-STORE. 0411 Sun: MUSIC AND MUSICIANS. Mon: THIS IS RUSSIA. Tue: MUSICAL TALES. Wed, Sat: MOSCOW MAILBAG. Thu: SCIENCE PLUS. Fri: NEWMARKET. 0431 Sun: MUSIC AND MUSICIANS continues. Mon: OUR HOMELAND. Tue, Thu, Sat: THE WHIMS OF FATE, GUEST SPEAKER. Wed: GUEST SPEAKER, PEOPLE OF UNCOMMON DESTINY. Fri: GUEST SPEAKER, RUSSIA 1000 YEARS OF MUSIC. 0511 Sun, Mon: MUSICAL TALES. Tue, Fri: MOSCOW MAILBAG. Wed: SCIENCE PLUS. Thu: NEWMARKET. Sat: THIS IS RUSSIA. 0531 Sun: KALEIDOSCOPE. Mon, Fri: THE VOR TREASURE-STORE. Tue: MUSIC AROUND US, MYR. Wed: OUR HOMELAND. Thu: FOLK BOX. Sat: TIMELINES. 0611 Sun: THIS IS RUSSIA. Mon: MOSCOW MAILBAG. Tue-Sat: FOCUS ON ASIA AND THE PACIFIC. 0631 Sun: THE VOR TREASURE-STORE. Mon, Wed: RUSSIAN BY RADIO. Tue: KALEIDOSCOPE. Thu: OUR HOMELAND. Fri: MUSIC AROUND US, MYR. Sat: CHRISTIAN MESSAGE FROM MOSCOW. 0711 Sun, Thu: MOSCOW MAILBAG. Mon: SCIENCE PLUS. Tue, Fri: THIS IS RUSSIA. Wed: NEWMARKET. Sat: MUSICAL TALES. 0731 Sun TIMELINES. Mon, Fri: KALEIDOSCOPE. Tue: RUSSIAN BY RADIO. Wed: JAZZ SHOW. Thu: THE VOR TREASURE-STORE. Sat: FOLK BOX. 0811 Sun: NEWMARKET. Mon: MUSIC AND MUSICIANS. Tue, Thu, Sat: RUSSIA AND THE WORLD. Wed: THIS IS RUSSIA. Fri: MOSCOW MAILBAG. 0831 Sun: SONGS FROM RUSSIA, RPE. Mon: MUSIC AND MUSICIANS continues. Tue: FOLK BOX. Wed, Fri: OUR HOMELAND. Thu: JAZZ SHOW. Sat: KALEIDOSCOPE. 0911 Sun-Mon: THIS IS RUSSIA. Tue-Sat: NEWS AND VIEWS. 0931 Sun: TIMELINES. Mon: OUR HOMELAND. Tue: KALEIDOSCOPE. Wed: THE VOR TREASURE-STORE. Thu: FOLK BOX. Fri: JAZZ SHOW. Sat: CHRISTIAN MESSAGE FROM MOSCOW (Voice of Russia web site typed and edited by John Norfolk, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. CHIEF EDITOR OF NEW ENGLISH-LANGUAGE TV INTERVIEWED | Text of report by Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta on 28 October Russia Today, a new project to be launched by the year's end, is till triggering a lot of questions: Why is it necessary? With what funds will it operate? How is it going to broadcast? A Nezavisimaya Gazeta observer asked these questions to Margarita Simonyan, Russia Today's chief editor. [Sergey Varshavchik] Margarita, when is your channel going to be launched? [Simonyan] Most probably in early December, I think. [Varshavchik] Why, then, are Russia Today correspondents already actively showing up at different events and shooting something? [Simonyan] You know, any channel, especially a 24-hour one, before going on the air, spends months broadcasting "for itself," so to say, testing a mechanism [of its operation]. When people learn to drive a car, they at first drive it in the yard before venturing into the city. It is an absolutely normal and mandatory, if you will, practice, which many find surprising because they simple never saw it in Russia before. [Varshavchik] You said some time ago that it is very hard to find so many journalists speaking English well. What is the situation with it now? [Simonyan] We have filled all staff positions (including 12 news presenters and six sports reporters), spending a huge amount of time and effort and hiring teachers to improve their professional television skills. [Varshavchik] Are most of them foreigners? [Simonyan] Not all but a majority of the presenters - some of them have presented programmes at CNN before. In particular, absolutely all the correspondents speak Russian. Most of them are Russians because it is very hard to find a journalist speaking both English and Russian well. [Varshavchik] Did you poach ex-CNN anchors by offering them a larger sum? [Simonyan] I do not know, for example, whether or not Liz George earned more at CNN than at our company. Simply, there are a lot of people who are eager to work in Russia. [Varshavchik] How are you going to show our politicians, the overwhelming majority of whom do not speak English? [Simonyan] Yes, few of them speak English. Well, we will translate them in advance. I think the worst problem will come up in case of important statements, which we will carry live with simultaneous translation. [Varshavchik] What information spacing will you have? [Simonyan] As we are an information channel, we plan to air 30-minute newscasts at the top of every hour. In the second half of the hour, depending on the time of day, we will air a programme about culture and entertainment, a different programme - "Russian Focus" - [about] Russia in detail, and then a documentary film and a talk show. [Varshavchik] Will you have an analytical programme summing up the week's events? [Simonyan] We will, but not in the immediate future. [Varshavchik] I understand that Russia Today will broadcast as part of the NTV-Plus [satellite platform] package. Is it included in the mandatory set or can it be dropped? [Simonyan] That should be checked with the technical directors. [Varshavchik] Is it considered a state channel? [Simonyan] It is called an autonomous non-commercial organization founded by RIA Novosti [news agency]. [Varshavchik] But RIA Novosti seems to be a state structure? [Simonyan] It does. [Varshavchik] It has been stated that the channel's funding amounts to 30 million dollars and that some of that money will be provided by banks. I hear Vneshtorgbank is one of your creditors. Can you name them? [Simonyan] No, I cannot. I am chief editor and financial matters at the channel are handled by General Director Sergey Frolov. I can only say that the channel, being a non-commercial organization, may not earn money in excess of its expenses. [Varshavchik] Who is responsible for the channel as a whole, you or the general director? What did you agree with Frolov on? [Simonyan] I am responsible for editorial policy. [Varshavchik] And he for the making of the channel? [Simonyan] We are both responsible for this. [Varshavchik] What do you tell your journalists at briefings to explain what should make your channel different from the existing ones? [Simonyan] Our principal goal is to show the world what is happening in Russia and what international events have an impact on Russia. We discuss it every day. [Varshavchik] Many believe that Russia today is a channel created by Mikhail Lesin to disseminate state propaganda in the West. [Simonyan] I do not quite understand how you can think that it is a propaganda channel if people who talk and write about it have never seen it. We have not even started broadcasting but others are already writing how we are going to pitch information, what we are going to air. [Varshavchik] Considering that you have a state structure as your founder, you should agree that this opinion is not unfounded. [Simonyan] Do you have complaints about the BBC? [Varshavchik] The BBC? But we are not talking about the BBC right now. [Simonyan] I just want to say that state funding does not automatically mean a propaganda orientation or any other kind of commitment. The BBC, too, is financed by British taxpayers and no-one voices any complaints about them, no-one believes that they automatically reflect a point of view of the British government. In the United States, a state channel is considered a trustworthy source. [Varshavchik] Who are your potential viewers? [Simonyan] People who take an interest in Russia for some reason. Because of their professional activity, for example. Experts, representatives of the media community, people whose business is connected with our country or who have Russian ancestors, etc. [Varshavchik] In other words, you are creating a channel of influence? [Simonyan] We are creating a channel of information. [Varshavchik] But there are many English-language channels. CNN, for example. [Simonyan] But CNN will not talk about Russian trawlers. Or about our pilot who crashed in Lithuania. It will show an attack on Nalchik, though. [Varshavchik] Who are your competitors? [Simonyan] Public opinion in this country. Source: Nezavisimaya Gazeta, Moscow, in Russian 28 Oct 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Updated B-05 for Radio Rossii in Russian via MSK 250 kW / 260 degrees: 0500-0800 on 9840 0820-1300 on 12075 1320-1800 on 7310, co-channel CNR in Chinese + VOIROI/IRIB in Turkish 1600-1727 1820-2200 on 6235, co-channel R. Pakistan in Urdu till 1900 + VOA in English from 2130 (Observer, Bulgaria, Nov 1, via DXLD) ** RUSSIA [non]. On 9570, Oct 31 at 1510, good signal with talk in Russian about Christianity, 1513 ID with chimes as R. Blagovest, Moscow address. Presumably via R. Veritas Asia, Philippines, as usual, new frequency for this Catholic program. Also audible Nov 1 at 1514 check, but much weaker (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOMALIA. 6960, R. Shabele, Mogadishu. Poor level signal, missing on earlier sweeps this day but now audible. Group singing. Signal almost totally buried in noise. 1948 21/10 (Charles Jones, Castle Hill NSW (Icom R75 and 7m. vertical antenna, Nov Australia DX News via DXLD) ** SOUTH AFRICA. Nice signal here in South West of Finland from Channel Africa (Meyerton) on 15285 kHz in English (B05 schedule?). By the end of the broadcast (audio off) at 1757 UT on Oct 29, the signal had an 'echo' showing that it may possibly take the long path to my antenna, too (Matti Ponkamo, Naantali, Finland, KP10AK, Drake R4-C, 20 m dipole East-West, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. USA(non): Updated on Oct. 28 B-05 for Brother Stair TOM via DTK T-Systems, [all in `English`]: 0800-1000 on 6045 JUL 100 kW / non-dir to WeEu 1100-1200 on 6110 JUL 100 kW / non-dir to WeEu (2nd Sun only) 1900-2100 on 9845 JUL 100 kW / 160 deg to SoAf 1900-2100 on 9845 WER 500 kW / non-dir to WeEu/ME (Observer, Bulgaria, Nov 1, via DXLD) ** SPAIN. REE confirmed on B-05 channel of 6055 for English at 0000, doing well Oct 30 at 0005 check. This winter, ``La Bañera de Ulises`` remains at 1405 Tuesdays on REE, confirmed Nov 1 on 17595. The REE program list at http://www.rtve.es/rne/ree/progrm-cob.htm reveals that the show is now also at 2205 Tuesdays, when 9630 is the only frequency toward us, and UT Mon 0405, when there are multiple frequencies including CR relays. These have been duly entered on MONITORING REMINDERS CALENDAR which is being updated day by day for DST unshifts. Unfortunately REE page above does not deal with frequencies which you have to cross-check elsewhere. Wrapping up at 1454 the host mentioned REE, so he is aware it is not just a R3 show, but he was cut off at 1455 for the QSY announcement, which said REE would resume to NAm at 1900 on 9630, and then 17595 went off. However, this was only for a beam switch from 272 to 248 degrees, as it was back on at 1503 recheck with news and at 1510 opening ``Españoles en la Mar``, then found // 21570 and 21610. The 17595 signal was only slightly weaker here on the more southerly beam. This info applies to M-F only; everything is different on weekends (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** THAILAND. R. Thailand, 9805, 1908 UT, English, 243, Oct 31, with national followed by international news. Fairly good signal until buried at 1921 (Gary Veraldi, Ontario, shortwavebasics yg via DXLD) Need their full new B-05 schedule. This was on 7155 in A-05, and there have probably been some other changes; how about the 5890 Greenville and Delano relays? (gh) ** TURKEY. TURQUIA – A Voz da Turquia investe em suas emissões em espanhol. A partir de primeiro de janeiro de 2006, vai passar a emitir, no idioma de Cervantes, durante uma hora. Entre 30 de outubro e primeiro de janeiro, as transmissões ocorrem entre 1730 e 1800, em 9780 kHz. A partir de primeiro de janeiro, serão das 1730 às 1830, pela mesma freqüência. As informações são de Alokesh Gupta, de Nova Delhi, na Índia e José Miguel Romero, de Burjasot, na Espanha (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX Oct 30 via DXLD) Fortunately, Observer has gone thru the previously published pre- and post-January 1 schedules and annotated all the planned changes (gh) Winter B-05 schedule for Voice of Turkey: ALBANIAN 1230-1325 11910 ARABIC 1000-1155 13690 13750 1500-1655 6120 15195 AZERI 0800-0925 11835 15160 1500-1555 5965 BOSNIAN 1900-1955 6110 BULGARIAN 1430-1525 7105 CHINESE 1200-1255 12050 CROATIAN 1700-1725 7155 till Dec. 31 ENGLISH 0400-0455 6020 7240 1330-1425 11735 15155 1930-2025 6055 2130-2225 9525 2300-2355 5960 FRENCH 2030-2125 6050 7155 GERMAN 1230-1325 17700 1830-1925 7205 GEORGIAN 0800-0855 9840 GREEK 1130-1225 7295 9840 1530-1625 6185 HUNGARIAN 1030-1125 13770 till Dec. 31 HUNGARIAN 1100-1155 13770 from Jan. 01 ITALIAN 1730-1755 6185 from Jan. 01, new language service KAZAKH 1600-1655 7295 KYRGHYZ 1700-1755 6095 MACEDONIAN 0900-0955 11895 PERSIAN 0930-1025 11795 17690 1330-1455 11705 ROMANIAN 1030-1125 9560 RUSSIAN 1400-1455 11980 1800-1855 6135 SERBIAN 1430-1455 9510 till Dec. 31 SERBOCROAT 1700-1725 7155 SPANISH 1730-1755 9780 till Dec. 31 SPANISH 1730-1825 9780 from Jan. 01 TATAR 1600-1655 5980 till Dec. 31 TATAR 1530-1625 6140 from Jan. 01 TURKISH 0500-0755 9460 from Jan. 01 0500-0755 17690 0500-0955 11925 0800-1655 11955 0800-1455 15350 from Jan. 01 0800-1655 15350 till Dec. 31 0900-1155 17720 from Jan. 01 1000-1255 17720 till Dec. 31 1100-1555 17860 Friday only 1300-1655 9625 till Dec. 31 1500-2255 5980 from Jan. 01 1700-2155 5980 till Dec. 31 1700-2255 6120 1700-2255 9560 till Dec. 31 1800-2255 9840 2200-0755 7300 till Dec. 31 2300-0155 7300 from Jan.01 TURKMEN 1630-1725 5965 URDU 1300-1355 15225 UZBEK 0200-0255 7115 till Dec. 31 1330-1425 11865 from Jan. 01 1800-1855 5955 till Dec. 31 (Observer, Bulgaria, Nov 1, via DXLD) ** U K. John Tusa opines regarding the BBCWS decision to trade 10 radio services for one TV service. See http://politics.guardian.co.uk/media/story/0,12123,1604902,00.html He's concerned over the political motivations that appear to have guided the decision (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) ** U K. COMMUNITY AUDIO DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM TRIAL ON CB EXTENDED Ofcom has announced the extension of the CADS pilot. The trial was set up to allow 27 MHz CB radio to be used for relaying church / mosque and other religious services o the elderly and housebound, etc. It has now been extended until September 2006. The trial area, which until now has covered only the BD (Bradford), BT (Northern Ireland) and LS (Leeds) postcode areas, has now been extended to the BB, BL and OL postal areas which include Blackburn, Bolton, Burrley, Oldham and Rochdale. Ofcom is encouraging users to provide feedback on the usability and uesfulness of the CADS radio service and on the suitability of the CB radio spectrum for this application (Ofcom 20 Oct, UK News, Nov BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) Has anyone actually heard a CADS transmission on 27 MHz yet? (Dave Kenny, ed., ibid.) This is a response to numerous pirate operations doing the same thing on the same band; how to tell them apart? (gh) ** U S A [non]. VOA is another source for Kurdish music, on 17750 at 1427 Oct 31, 1431 VOA jingle, but has splash de WYFR 17760. Talk to America about SCOTUS audible on 9645, Oct 31 at 1613, with some flutter, unlike // 9760 Philippines and 9645 was running a few words behind it. Is 9645 still Thailand? In A-05 that was scheduled 12-14 only (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. USA/AFRICA: VOA EXPANDS PROGRAMMING TO WEST, SOUTHERN AFRICA | Text of press release by Voice of America on 28 October Washington, DC, 28 October: Beginning 31 October, the Voice of America (VOA) will expand radio broadcasts to western and southern Africa in response to listener requests for increased programming to the region. VOA's Hausa Language Service will expand its popular breakfast programme to a full hour. The new hour-long programme, airing from 0430-0530 UTC (0530-0630 a.m. local) will offer listeners a comprehensive and timely broadcast of news about Nigeria, Ghana, Niger and Cameroon from a network of stringers in West Africa. The programme will also offer more international news, special reports, political discussion and interviews, as well as features on health, agriculture, religion, youth, lifestyle, and traditional Hausa music. Studio 7, VOA's news programme for Zimbabwe, is set to feature a new evening line-up in response to listener requests for increased broadcasts in the Shona and Ndebele languages. From Monday through Friday, Studio 7 will provide daily 30-minute reports in those languages and in English, expanding the broadcast from 60 to 90 minutes. Zimbabweans will hear Shona at 7 p.m. local time, followed by English at 7.30, then Ndebele at 8 p.m. VOA Hausa, which currently airs 10.5 hours of programming a week, has nearly 20 million listeners in Africa who receive its programs on shortwave, mediumwave (AM) and FM, and the internet. VOA's popularity is reflected in a recent letter from a listener in Kaduna, Nigeria, who wrote: "I am writing this mail to commend you for telling the truth no matter how bitter it is regarding the happenings around the world. It is true that VOA is second to none in giving the recent news update and other programmes." For more information on programmes, frequencies and scheduling for VOA Hausa, please visit the website at http://www.VOAHausa.com Studio 7 is funded through a grant from the US Agency for International Development (USAID), and is produced and managed by VOA's Africa Division. Recent survey data show that Studio 7 has doubled its audience in the southern African country since late 2003. Audience response also confirms listener loyalty, reinforced by Studio 7 coverage of Harare's May-July urban "clean-up" which left thousands homeless. "I would like to express my gratitude for the heroic work that you are doing for us all here back home," wrote one listener. "You tell us the truth of what exactly is taking place in Zimbabwe," said another. For more information please visit the web site at http://www.VOANews.com/english/africa/zimbabwe The Voice of America, which first went on the air in 1942, is a multimedia international broadcasting service funded by the US government through the Broadcasting Board of Governors. VOA broadcasts more than 1,000 hours of news, information, educational, and cultural programming every week to an estimated worldwide audience of more than 100 million people. Programs are produced in 44 languages. Source: Voice of America press release, Washington, in English 28 Oct 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** U S A. JACK SHELLENBERGER DIES; FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER, VOA EDITOR Tuesday, November 1, 2005; B06 Jack H. Shellenberger, a retired senior U.S. Information Agency foreign service officer who served as director of programs at the Voice of America and as dean of area studies at the Foreign Service Institute, died Oct. 24 at his home in Great Falls after a stroke. He was 77. . . http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/31/AR2005103101633_pf.html (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. Dear Glenn, FEMA has commandeered our 17495 frequency. This Wednesday we must move to clear channel 18910. Sadly in the name of Homeland Security they are kicking shortwave stations off of their frequencies and things will probably get worse. I think the government is out to destroy domestic shortwave. WBCQ will remain on the air no matter what, free speech must survive! (Allan Weiner, WBCQ, Oct 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Presumably including WOR UT Thu 0000; will propagate even less well an hour later and a sesquimegahertz higher. SSB? (gh) ** U S A. WWCR apparently had some problems converting to the B-05 schedule already on Sun Oct 30. At 2247 I noticed that 15825 was still on the air, tho WWCR-1 is now supposed to switch to 7465 at 2200. Will this be the case by Monday, when Mundo Radial at 2215 is supposed to be on 7465? If not, check 15825. Then at 2402 I noticed that 7465 WWCR-4, very strong with Pete Peters, who occasionally breaks into song, had another co-channel signal, some other preacher, considerably weaker, producing a steady SAH of roughly 5 Hz. Christians vs Christians! I am not aware of any other station scheduled on 7465 during the 00 hour, and furthermore, WWCR-1 by then should have been on 3215 (or 3210?), but there was never any signal there past 0100, tho nearby 3185 WWRB was propagating well. These and many other signals had faded down considerably by 0100, but as far as I could tell, the mix on 7465 was still going. I had heard that accidentally running two WWCR transmitters on the same frequency could cause some damage, so phoned the station at 0020, and the operator was going to check into it. I gave up monitoring until 0148 recheck, by when, yes, 3215, not 3210 was finally on the air (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I received TWO signals from WWCR on 7465 Sunday (10/30) night from 0000 to 0100 (10/31 UT). About a 50/50 mix here in Atlanta. Is this a Halloween prank? You would think the pastors whose programs were clashing would raise hell. (No pun intended.) (Lou Johnson, KF4EON, Atlanta, Oct 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST, copy to AskWWCR) On Mon Oct 31 at 2215, WWCR-1 had made the switch to 7465 for Mundo Radial, and was running separately on 7465 and 3215 after 2400. Rock the Universe had a fun Hallowe`en show, mixing obscure songs with oldies, UT Mon Oct 31 at 0605-0700 on WWCR 3215, with frequent ads for DWM (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WEWN transmitters are ailing. Oct 31 at 1419, 11645 in Spanish had a bad squeal audible on center frequency, and was bleeding out as far as 11620-11670. Time to replace more of those modulator modules! I have also noticed distorted audio on their night frequency in Spanish, 7540, which runs from 23 to 13, while 11645 spans 13-06. Next day, Nov 1 at 1443 check, 11645 was OK without the squeals. BTW, this is an example: when I have posted my daily logs without delay on the yg, they also appear in the next compiled DXLD ---- but by then there may be additions or modifications, so better not skip over them thinking you`ve already read them (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Glenn: I have posted a WRMI update on the website, under HURRICANE WILMA UPDATE on the left side. I plan to keep that current now until we get back on the air, with daily updates when there is any change to report (Jeff White, WRMI, Oct 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: October 31, 2005 --- Hurricane Wilma hit South Florida on October 24 and has caused extensive damage throughout the southern part of the state -- particularly in the Miami and Fort Lauderdale areas. Electrical power was out at our offices in Miami until last Friday, Oct. 28. We still have no power at our transmitter site in Hialeah. Therefore, we are off the air for the moment, including our Internet streaming audio. Florida Power and Light is working to restore power in the area of our transmitter site, but there are many power lines down, and they estimate it could take up to two more weeks to restore power -- although it could be sooner. Additionally, we had some serious antenna damage, but we hope to make those repairs while we are waiting for the power to return. We thank our listeners and clients for their patience, and we will be back on the air as soon as possible. Octubre 31, 2005 --- El Huracán Wilma llegó al sur de la Florida el 24 de octubre, y ha causado daños extensivos por todo el sur del estado - - particularmente en el área de Miami y Fort Láuderdale. La electricidad se fue en nuestra oficina en Miami hasta el pasado viernes, 28 de octubre. Todavía no tenemos luz en nuestra planta transmisora en Hialeah. Por eso, estamos fuera del aire en este momento, incluyendo el audio de Internet. La compañía eléctrica está trabajando para restaurar la electricidad en el área de nuestra planta, pero hay muchas líneas de luz que todavía están fuera de servicio, y ellos estiman que podría tomar hasta dos semanas adicionales para restaurar la electricidad, aunque podría ser más rápido. Además, tuvimos daños serios a nuestras antenas, pero esperamos hacer estas reparaciones mientras esperamos que regrese la luz. Muchas gracias a nuestros oyentes y clientes por su paciencia, y estaremos en el aire de nuevo lo más rapido posible. (from http://www.wrmi.net/program.php?id=48 via DXLD) Do Spanish speakers feel any sense of confusion or disconnect since hurricanes (a masculine word) have feminine names? Didn`t the naming entity ever think about this? (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Operator at WYFR tells me that they are operating their 100 kW transmitters at half power (George Thurman, TX, Oct 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Please note the following changes to the WYFR B-2005 schedule, effective 31 October 2005. cancel 5810 0800-1200 UT 160 deg Zone 14 100 KW add 5745 0800-1000 UT 160 deg Zone 14 100 KW add 6000 1000-1200 UT 160 deg Zone 14 100 KW (Evelyn Marcy, WYFR, Oct 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) From Oct. 30 WYFR Family Radio on NF 7780, ex traditional 7355 as follows: to Eu/ME via YFR 100 kW / 044 degrees 0300-0400 Russian 0400-0500 English 0500-0600 German 0600-0745 English to SoAm via YFR 100 kW / 315 degrees 1100-1200 English 1200-1345 Spanish (Observer, Bulgaria, Nov 1, via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Additional transmissions for WYFR Family Radio via CIS [sic] transmitters: 1400-1500 on 9310 TAC 100 kW / 131 deg to SoAs Urdu \\ 7510 TAC 100 kW / 131 deg 1600-1700 on 7520 SMF 250 kW / 131 deg to WeAs Persian 1800-1900 on 7425 SAM 250 kW / 188 deg to ME English 1900-2000 on 7425 SAM 250 kW / 188 deg to ME Arabic (Observer, Bulgaria, Nov 1, via DXLD) Tashkent, ``Simferopol`` ** U S A [non]. Dean, Are any more Voice of Joy shortwave broadcasts scheduled, and if so at what times, frequencies, relays? Is there a website about your organization itself? Did you get anything settled with PanAm over whether the Equatorial Guinea broadcasts actually happened? Regards, (Glenn Hauser to Dean Phillips, Oct 30, via DXLD) No more broadcasts are scheduled at this time. We do not and will not have a website. We are promoting the gospel of Jesus Christ through Worshippers and singers. We will not receive information on the letters from listeners for a few weeks. All the Best, (Dean Phillips, Voice of Joy, DX LISTENING DIGEST) EQUATORIAL GUINEA -- Truth for the Word [sic] via Radio Africa 15190, verified by signing and stamping my prepared card and sent a short letter thanking me for the reception report from v/s Don Blackwell, Director of Broadcasting in 90 days. The letter noted that "We have found it to be most helpful and have even used it to correct a problem with our broadcast over Radio Africa. The very specific details that you included are very beneficial." Not sure what I said but I haven`t heard Radio Africa since, hi! (Rich D’Angelo, PA, Nov Australian DX News via DXLD) Truth for the World? ** U S A. USE OF PUBLIC ACCESS CHANNELS UNUSUAL FOR KKK Tony Lascari, Midland [MI] Daily News The use of public access channels like Midland's to play television shows is not a typical recruitment tool for the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. Thomas Robb, who hosts "This is the Klan" with Rachel Pendergraft, said the Klan is always recruiting, just like other groups wanting to reach people... Robb said people learn about the Klan's site through local efforts, such as placing fliers in newspapers and distributing contact cards. He said the Klan also is looking to get into shortwave radio broadcasts this fall. "We just do what we can do and put out our message as we can, and from there go about our lives as anyone else would," he said. Full article http://tinyurl.com/a77l4 (via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) ** U S A. From the Manager's Desk --- Can you hear us now?! [WUOT 91.9 Knoxville TN] As some of you may be aware, WUOT has been experiencing signal reception difficulties in some areas since moving to a new tower earlier this year. We've spent several months working with the transmitter company, the antenna company and the tower company to determine the exact cause of the problem. Unfortunately, trouble- shooting the difficulty continues to be a tedious "process of elimination". Numerous tests, on-site inspections, evaluations and measurements have been conducted, including most recently, an aerial survey. In addition, several engineering and broadcasting consultants have been retained in an effort to identify and correct the problem. We now know definitively that the reception problem is not related to WUOT's transmitter, nor the HD [sic] Radio components which were installed after the move to the new tower. We believe we're close to isolating the cause of the signal reception problems, but unfortunately, we still do not yet have conclusive data to confirm it. WUOT is continuing to investigate the problems and how to resolve them. While this investigation proceeds, WUOT will be broadcasting from our auxiliary site on the WBIR Channel 10 tower, which had been our main transmitting site for many years. Reception in Knoxville and Knox County is generally unaffected regardless of which WUOT transmission facility is in use. However, listeners outside the immediate Knox County area may notice changes in their ability to receive WUOT's signal, depending on whether we're broadcasting from the "new" or the "old" tower. We request your continued patience and understanding as we work through these technical difficulties. We realize your frustration at "spotty" WUOT reception and we are doing everything possible to nail down the source of the problem and fix it (Regina N. Dean, Director, WUOT, http://wuot.org/h/E-NotesReginaNov05.html via DXLD) ** UZBEKISTAN. RUSSIAN PAPER COMMENTS ON BBC WITHDRAWAL FROM UZBEKISTAN | Text of report by Russian newspaper Gazeta on 31 October Last week the BBC announced the closure of its offices in Uzbekistan, explaining that journalists were being persecuted by the local authorities. The BBC's statement says: "BBC World Service offices in Tashkent are temporarily suspending operations. All staff will be removed from the country for six months and will await a decision on their future employment. We are taking this step due to fears for staff safety." These fears are by no means groundless. Islom Karimov's regime closely monitored journalists' coverage of events in Andijon in May. Pressure was brought to bear on undesirables, who turned out to include BBC correspondent Monica Whitlock. The journalist was accused of breaking the law (she was not actually told the specific article of the law) in her coverage of the bloody events of May. As a result Monica Whitlock was forced to leave the country "due to pressure from government agencies," as the corporation says. She was followed by six other people. At the opening of the trial of 15 Andijon movement activists, prosecutors claimed that during the disturbances foreign journalists were advising the demonstrators and were virtually organizing the mass protests. It is not the first time Tashkent officials have displayed hostility towards independent media. According to Uzbek political emigres in Russia, the general standard of journalism in Uzbekistan has plummeted as a result of most skilled specialists having had to leave the country. Foreign correspondents' work is beset by numerous restrictions on movement and meetings. The latest unfriendly act took place in August, when Igor Rotar, a Russian working as a correspondent for the Norwegian Forum 18 agency was deported. The journalist was detained at Tashkent airport without any clear charges being made and was soon deported to Kyrgyzstan, where he had flown from. But until now Islom Karimov had refrained by tough action against journalists from further afield. Observers link his public pressure on the BBC bureau to the fact that the Uzbekistani president has secured further guarantees of support from Shanghai Cooperation Organization colleagues. As a result, BBC World Service regional office head Behrouz Afagh said that four months after the Andijon events a "campaign of threats and intimidation" had been organized against correspondents' centre personnel. "Uzbekistan is closing itself off completely to the West and is putting up an iron curtain. Violence against dissidents and journalists is the first step for any country that is moving towards a closed society. Until the Andijon events Islom Karimov was involved in rapprochement with the Americans, wanted to modernize the economy, and was generally interested in his image. He was clearly different from, for example, the Turkmenbasi. So the presence of foreign journalists fitted this image of a democratic leader perfectly. Now all this is in the past. Karimov is tightening up politics within the country and abandoning the democratic course. So he does not want journalists any more. Particularly as Russia is prepared to accept him without 'democratic' frippery, as he is," Aleksey Makarkin, head of the Political Technologies Centre analysis department, told Gazeta. Source: Gazeta, Moscow, in Russian 31 Oct 05 p 16 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** UZBEKISTAN. R. Tashkent B-05: they have a new schedule posted on: http://ino.uzpak.uz/eng/other_eng/radio_broadcast_eng.html Here in Copenhagen 5060 is not propagating in the afternoon UT, while 7190 is covered by co-channel. 73, (Erik Køie, Denmark, Nov 1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Formatting is horribly misleading, depending on sizing, but for English, I think I have sorted it out. They used to run four or five frequencies on the 12 and 1330 broadcasts, but now: 0100-0130 7160, 7190 1200-1230 5060, 7190 1330-1400 5975, 7190 2030-2100 & 2130-2200 7185 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA [non]. After 7 months of colliding with CRI via Canada, 13680 at 2300 UT Oct 30 was empty, so if RNV AI via Cuba maintains its M-F schedule at 23-24 on 13680, it should now be free of QRM. I guess CRI moved this to 11970, VG at 2306 check in English. Mon Oct 31 around 2315, Spanish indeed in the clear on 13680 tho rather weak (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** WALLIS & FUTUNA. Intelsat 701– 180.0 degrees east --- Wallis et Futuna Television are now presenting a daily news service around 11 PM local Wallis time [1100 UT]. The news is first presented in French, followed by a bulletin in Wallisian. The start time of the news program is determined by the finishing time of the preceding program and can vary considerably each day. The station is an easy catch in Eastern Australia on 11174, Horizontal, 23150, 3/4 (Mark Fahey, Satellite Radio & TV, Nov Australian DX News via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE. 6612 Harmonic, Radio Zimbabwe, 0344-0412 Oct 29, man announcer talking in local language with laughter; group singing. Choral national anthem at 0356 and at 0359 English language ID and opening of English program with news. Poor to fair but fading out by tune out (Rich D'Angelo, PA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE [and non]. Hi Glenn, Voice of the People (from Madagascar) to Zimbabwe. 7120 at 1700 this evening is again severely jammed by Zimbabwean authorities --- but they aren't here. VOP has moved to a new frequency as of B-05 schedule from RN facilities on Madagascar which is 11705. This frequency has a hollow sound from the transmitter on Madagscar but propagates well into Zimbabwe 73 (David Pringle-Wood, Zimbabwe, 1725 31 Oct 2005, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. On 7400, Oct 31 at 1619, Chinese narration with music; by now the only broadcast station audible on this band. Perhaps FEBC Philippines, which in A-05 had Cantonese here, but only until 1530 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Surprised to hear RCI IS and ID loop on 11990 Nov 1 at 0655. What could this be leading up to? RCI has no transmissions of its own at this time of day. When it kept going past 0701 I gave up. Could be a test for another new VT relay client, so please check this further (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 13650, open carrier Nov 1 at 1444, hi-pitched continuous tone test. What is this leading up to? But off by 1458; noticed next to RCI on 13655 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PROPAGATION +++++++++++ ANNULAR SOLAR ECLIPSE OCTOBER 3 No MW catches [were heard] except Algiers on 531 kHz. I was hoping to hear Gabon 7270, Togo 7265, Mali 7285, Tanzania 7280, etc., but DRM was covering all these frequencies. No signals were heard from the Horn of Africa on 5500, 6350, 6210, 6940, 7100, 7180. But, at noon here (local time) Armenia was booming in on 4810 and Kuwait on 6055 (until 1000 UT in Arabic). Also heard with SIO 555 (usually 151 to 252 at this time): Hungary 6025, Germany 6005, Netherlands 5955, etc. Greek pirate (harmonic) heard on 3920. Serbian pirate on 4998. As in 1999 during the total eclipse, better signals came from the east and south-eastern directions (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria, Open to Discussion, Nov BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ###