DX LISTENING DIGEST 5-196, November 15, 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 1293: 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 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 1293 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1293h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1293h.rm WORLD OF RADIO 1293 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1293.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1293.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1293.html [shortly] WORLD OF RADIO 1293 downloads in studio-quality mp3: (high) http://www.obriensweb.com/wor1293h.mp3 (low) http://www.obriensweb.com/wor1293.mp3 WORLD OF RADIO PODCAST: www.obriensweb.com/wor.xml (currently: 1288, Extra 61, 1289, Extra 62, 1290, 1291, 1292, soon 1293) FIRST AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1294: Wed 2300 on WBCQ 7415 Thu 0000 on WBCQ 18910-CLSB Thu 2130 on WWCR 15825 ONDEMAND: from early UT Thu change 1293 above to 1294 DX/SWL/MEDIA PROGRAMS Nov 15: http://www.worldofradio.com/dxpgms.html DXLD YAHOOGROUP: Why wait for DXLD? A lot more info, not all of it appearing in DXLD later, is posted at our yg. Here`s where to sign up http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dxld/ ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. In DXLD saw Radio Solh's sked. At MVSWLC DX Camp I heard them as follows: 15265 kHz, UK (Rampisham), Radio Solh, at 1444 UT, in Asian language, mentions of Afghanistan, into central Asian music, OM talk 1449-51, more music, ID and frequency announcements at 1456, off at 1500. SINPO 44333. November 5th at Brantingham Lake, NY (Roger Chambers, Utica, NY, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALBANIA. ALBANIAN PRESENTS AWARD TO VATICAN RADIO PRIME MINISTER HAS AUDIENCE WITH BENEDICT XVI Vatican City 11 November 2005 http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=79743 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI met with Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha, who was in Rome to award Vatican Radio the "Order of Mother Teresa" for its service to the Balkan country. Before meeting with the Pope today, the prime minister personally gave Father Federico Lombardi, new director of Vatican Radio, the award for the papal broadcasting station's service to his country, especially during the Communist years. The award, established in 1991 by Ramiz Alia, the last Community president, is assigned to individuals or institutions who have given particular help to Albanians, or who have fostered the values of peaceful coexistence and interreligious and ethnic dialogue. "If we receive an honor for merits of the past, we consider also as a commitment for our future work," said a deeply moved Father Lombardi, during the award ceremony in Vatican Radio's Marconi Room. "This radio [station] has always been the voice of truth," said Berisha. "This radio has always defended the most precious truths for Albanians. It was their voice, when Albanians were unable to speak. This is the main reason why the president of the republic has awarded this Order to Vatican Radio." Later, Berisha arrived for the papal audience accompanied by his wife and a small entourage. He conversed with the Holy Father for some 15 minutes in the Pope's library. The Albanian prime minister gave the Pontiff a small reproduction of a statue of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who was of Albanian nationality. The original statue will be located in the Tirana airport, he told Benedict XVI. The Holy Father gave his male guests medals of his pontificate and rosaries to the women (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** ANGUILLA. Caribbean Beacon possible source of tone tests on 1610? See UNIDENTIFIED ** ARMENIA. V. of Armenia, 9965, 1925-1944* Nov 4. English opening announcements with sked. Still announcing 9775. 1926-1933 English news, then weather, lite instrumental music, commentary. 1943 sign-off announcements with address and e-mail address. Very good (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELARUS. Yesterday Nov 10 1845 UT I heard the Voice of Russia with ID: "Hovorit Moskva" on 1170 kHz from Sasnovy, Belarus. This transmitter is producing harmonics, also noted on 2340 kHz with almost equal reception with 1170 kHz. 73 (Jouko Huuskonen, Turku, FINLAND, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Jouko, You mean it was in Ukrainian, or Belarusian? I don`t think VOR uses these languages in its external service. Maybe one of the other `domestic` or external services actually in Russian? (Glenn to Jouko via DXLD) Hi Glenn, Greetings from rainy Turku. Days are getting very dark and short. Really, I heard "Hovorit Moskva" ID at 1845 UT. EMWG tells VoR is broadcasting in Czech on 1170 kHz 1845-1930 UT. I´m not any more sure about the station´s identity. Today I have plenty of time for DX-ing. My wife is shopping in Helsinki. 73 and have a great weekend! (Jouko Huuskonen, ibid.) ** BELARUS. 6040, 31.10 1600, Radio Hrodna, with local-ID and later only RCI in Russian. S 3 at first but then only weak in the background with local program. BEFF (Björn Fransson, Sweden, SW Bulletin Nov 13, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELARUS. 5970, R. Belarus, 0205-0216, Nov. 14, Belarussian, YL and occasional OM with talks and local music. Poor, boxed in by QRM, RHC and BBC respectively. // 7210-whisper quiet under static (Scogtt Barbour, NH, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 5745.30, Radio Virgen de Remedios (presumed), Tupiza, Potosí department, 2352-0030, November 10, Spanish, Catholic program. religious messages by male. Catholic songs. At 0000, the station connected with EWTN (Radio Católica Mundial/Catholic World Radio) and reproduced a program with music and talks about the Bible. S/off at 0030. 34433 Thanks Björn Malm for the tip (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, playdx via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 6160.0, R. Boa Vontade, Porto Alegre; 0855-0920, f/p on 10/22. Religious chorus, Canned ID at 0856 ``ZYH520 ondas médias a Rádio Cristal, 1350 kHz, Salvador da Bahia, ZYE854 ondas curtas 49 metros, Rádio Boa Vontade, 6160 kHz, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul e ZYE263 ondas médias Rádio Sociedade Norte de Minas, 550 kHz, Montes Claros, Mato Grosso. .. emissora da rede Boa Vontade de rádio. ... sintonizado .. primeiro lugar.`` Then into religious talk program. I sometimes noted this Brazilian station this autumn, but it has been difficult to get ID due to QRM from CKZU on co-channel. CKZU was very weak at that time and I finally confirmed (Takeshi SEJIMO, Komoro city, Nagano, JAPAN, Radio Nuevo Mundo Nov 7 via DXLD) ** CANADA. Re 5-195: ``Yet another screwup: Nov 11 at 1532, 13675 in Chinese, which I doubt is coming from Austria as scheduled via Sackville. Maybe they swapped transmitters again without also swapping the input to match. They really need someone to figure out a fail-safe to avoid all these mixups. Maybe a good start would be to have actual human beings monitor their own output (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)`` Pertaining to this item, Radio Austria is on via Sackville between the hours 1600-1700. I heard CRI on this frequency a week earlier in English at about 1500 so maybe it is 1500-1530 in English and 1530- 1600 in Chinese (Ernest Riley, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Ernest, Oops, I was thinking the Austria relay was still at 1500 instead of 1600! So what they do during the 1500 hour on 13675 now has nothing to do with Austria. But CRI would not be switching languages on the half-hour. My apologies (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA [and non]. New transmission for Radio Canada International in Arabic to ME from Dec. 12: 1400-1500 on 15165 SKN 300 kW / 110 deg and 17705 SKN 300 kW / 110 deg Additional freq for Radio Canada International in French to WeEu from Nov. 7: 1800-1900 on 11955 SAC 250 kW / 060 deg \\ 5850 HBY and 13650 SAC (Observer, Bulgaria, Nov 15 via DXLD) See also SWEDEN [non] ** CANADA. Another interesting intersection of my favourite things: (photo) http://makeashorterlink.com/?G4132352C (site) http://www.theboykos.com/nbrr/blog/ Via Rail ran a special Remembrance Day train on Wednesday, taking Canadian veterans from the Maritimes to Ottawa through Montreal in time for this morning's Remembrance Day ceremonies in the capital. The photo (it looks like a screen grab from video) shows the three- locomotive/30-car train approaching the RCI Sackville transmission site in the upper-left corner. -- The whistle shrill still lingers on In the hearts of everyone Every day from dusk till dawn - Orangedale Whistle, Jimmy Rankin/Rankin Family [tagline] (73, Ricky Leong, Calgary, Nov 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Checking out CFUV Webstream from Victoria, UT Sun Nov 13 at 0415, I encountered what may have been the Church of the Subgenius Hour of Slack, which I had not managed to catch on WBCQ. Detailed comparison of COTS to Heaven`s Gate; rather disjointed, and interrupted before this ``TBA`` hour was over (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA. 6139.8, R. Líder, Santafé de Bogotá; 0855-1020, g/f on 10/29 ID at 0900 ``En Radio Líder 730 AM Estéreo. Ésta es la hora oficial, son las 4. Escuche ... a las 11 de la mañana en Radio Líder 730 AM y Melodía FM Estéreo 96.9 ...``. Short news then into nice music program – Cumbia, Canción Ranchera, música romántica with many IDs as ``A toda hora y todo .. Radio Líder.``, ``Ésta es la potente de Radio Líder 730 AM desde Bogotá``, ``Radio Líder ... país y el mundo, transmite en la frecuencia de 730 kc onda larga y en 6140 kc onda corta, banda de 49 metros.`` etc. 0959 NA, usual canned ID and news program (Takeshi SEJIMO, Komoro city, Nagano, JAPAN, Radio Nuevo Mundo Nov 7 via DXLD) ** CONGO DR [non]. SOUTH AFRICA. R. Okapi, 11690, *0400-0420+ Nov 5, sign-on with ``Okapi`` jingles. French talk. Many ``Okapi`` jingles. Good (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA. 5054.56, Faro Del Caribe, 1015 Noted a man in Spanish Religious comments. ID given as call letters at 1020, when announcing address. Checked 9645 KHz for a parallel transmission but could only hear a slight carrier there which could have been someone else? Signal on 5054.56 was good. Photos of Wilma's distruction at: http://www.orchidcitysoftware.com/WilmaDamage.html (Chuck Bolland, November 12, 2005, Clewiston, Florida, NRD545, Dipole, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Good to hear from you again, Chuck. Glad you are apparently OK, altho your home is not (Glenn) ** CUBA. Checking out RHC again at 0700 UT, this time on Sunday Nov 13: 6060 and 9550 with music, program called Meridiano Cultural, 3 am TC, ID at 0701 as CMBF, Radio Musical Nacional. However, both frequencies were off when rechecked at 0707. Meanwhile, 6000 had RHC`s weekly Esperanto broadcast, with co-channel QRM, presumably WYFR, but RHC was atop. Esperanto also reconfirmed Sunday at 1500 on 11760 only; over and off a few minutes before 1530 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. SEGUIRÁ VIGENTE EN CUBA EL HORARIO DE VERANO http://www.granma.cu/espanol/2005/noviembre/mier9/horario.html EL horario de verano en Cuba se mantendrá vigente hasta octubre del 2006 como parte de las acciones que lleva a cabo el país en el sector energético para favorecer importantes medidas de ahorro de electricidad y combustible en los sectores residencial y estatal. En nota informativa se agrega que también se tuvieron en cuenta las inversiones que se realizan para alcanzar una mayor confiabilidad y eficiencia en la generación eléctrica y que tendrán su mayor incidencia en el verano del año próximo. En su implementación se mantendrán las mismas premisas que el año anterior, en que la jornada laboral en el período comprendido del 14 de noviembre del 2005 al 25 de febrero del 2006, comenzará 30 minutos más tarde, manteniéndose los horarios de terminación de la misma, añade (via Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, Nov 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA. R. Fana, 6209.92, *0257-0315+ Nov 4, sign-on with IS, 0259 talk in local language, 0300 Horn of Africa music. Fair; weaker on // 6940. V. of Tigray Revolution, 5500, *0356-0415+ Nov 4; sign-on with flute IS, 0400 vernacular talk. Weak; stronger on // 6350 (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. GERMANY: Some DTK T-Systems changes Voice of Oromo Liberation (Sagalee Bilisummaa Oromoo) in Oromo: 1700-1800 on 9820 WER 125 kW / 135 deg Tue-Sun to EaAf, ex Tue- Fri/Sun via JUL New time for Voice of Democratic Path of Ethiopian Unity in Amharic from Nov. 16: 1900-2000 on 9620 JUL 100 kW / 140 deg Wed/Sun to EaAf, ex 1830-1930 (Observer, Bulgaria, Nov 15 via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. USA/Ethiopia: ETHIOPIANS DEMONSTRATE OUTSIDE VOA HQ IN WASHINGTON | Text of report in English by VOA News.com website on 14 November The Voice of America normally covers the news, but Monday morning [14 November] it was in the news itself - the focus of demonstrations by Ethiopians in Washington. Two groups gathered outside VOA headquarters - one demonstrated in support of VOA's reporting, the other demonstrated against what they described as biased coverage. Green, yellow and pink placards praised VOA's coverage. About 100 Ethiopians demonstrated - some wearing their national dress. A long white banner with green block letters read: "One Country, One People, One Africa." Another read: "Democracy plus Voting equals Voting plus Lawful Counting." Yet another said: "Respect the Vote of the Ethiopian People." And another said: "Ethiopians Deserve the Government they Voted for." "I came here to support what Voice of America [is] doing," said Samuel, one of the demonstrators. "As you know, [the] Ethiopian government [has] shut down all free press. So the only press in Ethiopia is broadcasting from [the] USA, Voice of America, so we're supporting for [the] free press." Not all agree. A Washington-based organizing committee, Ethiopians For Peace and Democracy, circulated a press release saying the United States plays a "constructive and even-handed" role in discussing the current political issues in Ethiopia since the election in May. But it says of the three Ethiopian languages broadcast by VOA, the Amharic section broadcasts inaccurate and inflammatory reports. VOA also airs programmes in Afan Oromo and Tigrigna. The press release says the Amharic broadcasts appear calculated to provoke discord and conflict among the diverse elements of Ethiopian society. Near the VOA building another group of about 50 people protested against the Voice America's Ethiopian political coverage. One sign read: "VOA Amharic service, don't sabotage and undermine democracy in Ethiopia." "Stop your inflammatory propaganda of hate and racism," said another. "What they transmit to Ethiopia most of the time is hate and propaganda to each other," said one demonstrator. "To hate each other, to fight each other. We don't need that [in] Ethiopia. We support the system in Ethiopia, and we need Voice of America to see we are very [angry.] Unless they correct this problem, we'll be back!" In a statement responding to the demonstration, the chief of the Voice of America's Horn of Africa Service, Timothy Spence, said it is committed to reporting the news and information people need to make decisions in a democratic society. He said VOA's employees adhere to strict standards of neutrality, objectivity and ethics. Mr Spence said the Horn of Africa Service seeks information from all voices in the Horn of Africa, whether the news is good or bad, and will continue to do so. Mr. Spence also said the service welcomes feedback from its listeners, and respects the right of people to express their views. Source: VOA News.com website, Washington D.C., in English 14 Nov 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** FALKLAND ISLANDS [non]. Re: 11680 BBC Falklands special [2130-2145 Tue & Fri]: This page (now) also mentions 11680 as frequency, but one has to disregard the transmitter details page linked there: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/schedules/internet/800/radio_frequencies_south_america.shtml (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Nov 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. RFI English coming in better than usual, Sat Nov 12 at 1430 on 17515, the only non-China frequency, with news by David Page, in his usual mocking style --- I assume it is so much a part of him that it simply cannot be avoided, but should he really be reading news? 1432 into special edition of Network Europe about the riots in France, also contributions from R. Sweden and R. Netherlands, where Moroccans are the most detested (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. As of UT November 14, a fortnight after the start of season B-05, RFI English website http://www.rfi.fr/fichiers/Langues/rfi_anglais_main.asp still shows outdated A-05 frequencies along the right margin. Does anyone have an accurate, complete and up-to-date RFI B-05 frequency schedule yet? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I sent 2 mails to RFI without success. Sorry. Regards (Jean-Michel Aubier, France, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RFI English, from HFCC B-05: 7180 1400-1500 40S,41,43S XIA 150 255 301005 260206 En 7315 0400-0430 48S,52E,53,57E GAB 250 127 En 9555 0400-0500 38,47E,48,52E,53,57E ISS 500 135 301005 260206 En/Fr 9580 1400-1500 40S,41,43S XIA 150 255 260206 260306 En 9730 1600-1700 52,53,57N MEY 100 5 En 11615 1600-1700 37E,38W,47N ISS 500 145 En 11615 1600-1730 28S,38E,39,40 ISS 500 110 En 11725 0700-0800 37S,46,47S GAB 250 307 En 11850 0500-0530 48S,52E,53,57E GAB 250 127 En 11995 0400-0500 38E,47E,48,53,68 ISS 500 135 260206 260306 En/Fr 11995 0500-0600 38,47E,48,52E,53,57E ISS 500 135 301005 260206 En/Fr 15155 0500-0600 38,47E,48,52E,53,57E ISS 500 135 260206 260306 En/Fr 15155 0600-0630 38,47E,48,52E,53,57E,ISS 500 135 En 15160 1600-1700 37S,46,47W,52N MEY 250 328 En 15365 1600-1700 38W,46E,47,52,57N ISS 500 162 301005 260206 En 15605 1600-1730 38E,47E,48,53,68 ISS 500 140 En 17515 1400-1500 28S,29S,39,40 ISS 500 100 En 17800 0600-0700 38E,47E,48,52E,53,57EISS 500 135 En/Fr 17850 1600-1700 38W,46E,47,52,57N ISS 500 162 260206 260306 En 21620 1200-1300 38E,47E,48,53,68 ISS 500 130 En/Fr (via Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DXLD) I assume those entries without dates here are for the entire B-05 (gh) ** GERMANY. Germany 1179 SR Info (Saarländischer Rundfunk Infoprogramm) is now testing. HM heard the station on the first test day on October 25th. The testprogram is a relay of SR3 Saarlandwelle (FM). Power 10 kW. Official start is expected in December 2005. (Saarländischer Rundfunk via BE) (ARC Information Desk Nov 7 via Olle Alm, DXLD) This week they also used SR1 Europawelle Saar as modulation, the program that was carried on 1422 until 1994. Here is an announcers booth that fortunately never went live. It could be found in the staff shelter of the GDR air force near Fürstenwalde, 30 km east of Berlin, and it was maintained to read out air raid warnings: http://nva- fuchsbau.privat.t-online.de/fbz034.htm I think I read a mention (but not illustrated) of a similar facility in Canada a while ago. Good night! (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Nov 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GHANA. GHANA STATE BROADCASTER HEAD BLOCKED "FROM CARRYING OUT HER WORK" - solicitor | Text of report by Ghanaian GBC radio on 11 November There have been some dramatic developments in the GBC [Ghana Broadcasting Corporation] affair since the GBC board [of directors] asked the director-general, Eva Lokko, to proceed on her accumulated leave. Last night, Miss Lokko was restrained by GBC security from entering the corporation's premises when she attempted to do so in the late hours of the evening. Today the High Court served GBC and the NMC [National Media Commission] with an order of interlocutory injunction restraining them from interfering with Miss Lokko's work as the director-general. Subsequently a solicitor of Miss Lokko, Mr Bentsi Enchill, entered the GBC to advise workers on the implications of the court injunction. The irate workers heckled Mr Bentsi Enchill and hooted at him while he was escorted out of the premises. According to Mr Bentsi Enchill, since he was in Broadcasting House with the bailiff, he though it expedient to educate the workers on the implications of the workers attempt to prevent Eva Lokko from carrying out her work. This, according to Mr Bentsi Enchill is tantamount to contempt of court. Source: Radio Ghana, Accra, in English 1800 gmt 11 Nov 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** GREECE [non]. VOG, via Delano 9775 also runs an hour later on Sunday, as Nov 13 until 1600* To my astonishment was playing some rock music with lyrix in English, at 1552 // but not synchronized with 15630 direct. Checking John Babbis` translated program schedule we find: 1405-2000 Microphone At The Grounds (Connection With ERA Sport) But that would not seem to apply on this date; maybe they were just filling time (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREENLAND. In an earlier issue, and in Dec MONITORING TIMES, I overcorrected for the ST shift of KNR relay on 3815-USB: not 2200-2315 UT, but just 2100-2215, having been 2000-2115 in summer. Actually, Mika`s Oct 14 post at dxing.info says the current schedule was 2100- 2215, (while DST was in effect), leading us to conclude that in winter the time would be 2200-2315; but the actual schedule in mid-October should have been 2000-2115. He heard it at 2100, which would have been the end rather than the beginning of the broadcast. Anyhow, North Americans, now is the time to try for it! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 3815-USB, 9.10 2200, Grönland popped up with really good strength (QSA 3-4). Now and then totally disturbed by some sort of data transmission or similar. JE (Jan Edh, Sweden, SW Bulletin Nov 13, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) The postal address of OZL Ammassalik Radio which relays KNR on 3815 kHz is: Silasiorpimmut B920, 3913 Tasiilaq, Greenland. Some photos of Greenlandic coastal radio stations incl. OZL can be found at http://www.coastalradio.org.uk/ozl.htm (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUIANA FRENCH. RFO Guyane (presumed), 5055 with man and long FF talk from 0340 tune on 10/25. Quite poor (Gerry Dexter, WI, DX-plorer via RNM via DXLD) Is this really active? Watch out for TIFC and RHC around this frequency (gh, DXLD) ** GUYANA. 3291.18, Voice of Guyana, Nov 13, 0921-0929, woman DJ in English, with program of C&W songs, clear ID for Voice of Guyana, weak (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, RX340 + T2FD antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. 4990, AIR Itanagar, Nov 10, 1347-1543, poor. Long segment of solo instrument, sub-continental music followed by chanting without music (not Qur`an), 1450 news in English (items about a festival, Pakistan, etc), 1540 AIR ID (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, RX340 + T2FD antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 3325, RRI Palangkaraya, Nov 11, 1319-1336, with music program, reception fair. So as Victor Goonetilleke points out, the fire there must not have been that bad, as they are back on the air again with a decent signal. 9680, KGRE program via RRI Jakarta, Nov 13, 1006-1021, in English, KGRE jingle, ID, frequencies. They have returned to their regular, post-Ramadan schedule. Fair-poor, mixing with WYFR (in French). Both about the same strength. 9524.98, VOI, Nov 7, 0859 full ID: ``This is the Voice of Indonesia in Jakarta, for listeners in the Pacific area, Europe, the Middle East, north Africa or wherever you are listening. We now have come to the end of our English transmission. The English program of the V.O.I. can be heard daily on 9525 kHz, on the 31 meter band, 15150 kHz on the 18 meter band and 11785 kHz on the 25 meter band.`` Have not heard them since Nov 7, so they are back to their usual erratic schedule (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, RX340 + T2FD antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I think I have checked 9525 at least briefly every morning in the 1400-1500 period since Oct 31, but VOI has not been on the air, not even the open carrier, since that report in 5-188 (Glenn Hauser, OK, Nov 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN. IRIB, Radio Tehran Bengali shift to 7295 kHz (ex 7305 kHz) at 1430-1530 UT to avoid strong co-channel interference from Voice of Russia Hindi programme. 73, (Swopan Chakroborty, Kolkata, India, Nov 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN. QSL: Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting f/d QSL card in 189 days, picturing 4 frames of Mosque tilework. Only first of two combined reports confirmed, although QSL has room for eight. POBox "jammer" size envelope (when folded): 11 x 13 x 1/2 inch thick, with black plastic liner, containing three full color family magazines, letter, A05 schedule (outdated), and souvenir sheet of four 2004 mint postage stamps depicting earthquake scenes. Nice gesture/package (Konnie Rychalsky, Southern CT, Nov '05, HCDX via DXLD) ** IRAQ. 675, Republic of Iraq Radio (RIR) is broadcasting from Baghdad in English between 0500-1510 UT. RIR is broadcasting in English 2315-0130 UT on 603 Southern Iraq, 864 Ramadi and 1215 Tikrit. The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan plans a new 50 kW transmitter in Kirkuk area. Frequency 1350 kHz. Name: Radio New Kirkuk (Both: WRTH 2006, via ARC Information Desk via Olle Alm via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. A bit surprised to hear President Bill Clinton speaking on 40m around 2205 UT Nov 12 --- could not possibly be a US station, broadcasting that detested Democrat! Oh, it`s on 7545, so must be Reshet Beth, Israel. Yes, he was apparently eulogizing some Israeli, and in a couple minutes they resumed in Hebrew (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. Frequency change for Kol Israel in Persian: 1500-1625 Sun-Thu, 1500-1555 Fri/Sat NF 7420, ex 11605 \\ 9985 and 15760 (Observer, Bulgaria, Nov 15 via DXLD) ** KIRIBATI. Not shortwave, but not entirely unrelated, in view of last year's reports of Radio Kiribati returning to shortwave (i.e. no shortwave or FM frequencies were announced): The national broadcaster of the Pacific Ocean island of Kiribati, Radio Kiribati, can be heard live online at http://radio-tarawa.tskl.net.ki via the Icecast open source audio streaming server. There are two streams available, a mono stream at a bitrate of 16 kbps and a stereo stream at 32 kpbs, both using the Ogg Vorbis multimedia streaming format. The station was observed signing-on at 1825 UT on Friday 11 November 2005, opening with a choral version of the national anthem and identification in the local language, I-Kiribati, as "Aio Banaan Kiribati" [latter word is pronounced kir-ree-bass]. This was followed by a music programme presented in I-Kiribati, then a relay of BBC World Service news in English at 1900 after which there was Radio Kiribati's own "Local and District News" in English at 1920. It was noted that the interval signal/signature tune used with English identification announcements is a pan pipes version of Roxette's pop hit "It Must Have Been Love". The Radio Kiribati stream was silent when checked again at 0200 UT the following day, but the last few minutes of the day's broadcast were caught shortly before closing at 1055 with announcements in I-Kiribati and this announcement in English: "This is Radio Kiribati, the broadcasting service of Kiribati, in the Central Pacific. We're transmitting from Bairiki Atoll on a frequency of 846 kiloHertz, on 354.6 metres in the mediumwave band". Radio Kiribati (formerly Radio Tarawa) is currently the country's sole broadcaster. In 1998 an attempt to set up a commercial competitor, Newair FM101, failed to get off the ground when the radio station's directors were prosecuted for "importing telecommunications equipment without a permit". However, the station still hopes to obtain a licence and retains a website at http://www.users.bigpond.com/newairfm The small independent nation of Kiribati is situated in the Pacific Ocean halfway between Hawaii and Australia. It was formerly known as the Gilbert Islands, part of the British colony of Gilbert and Ellice Islands, until the two island groups were separated and given autonomy in 1975 (the Ellice Islands becoming Tuvalu), then attained full independence in 1979. Kiribati today has 33 main islands occupying a land area of 811 square kilometres, scattered over an ocean area the size of the continental United States, with an estimated total population of around 103,000, including about 35,000 in Tarawa, the capital. Local time is UT +12 hours. An edited audio clip of Radio Kiribati can be heard on the Interval Signals Online website at http://www.intervalsignals.net The 5-minute clip comprises the following: "It Must Have Been Love" interval signal/signature tune & live ID (English), canned ID (I-Kiribati), bilingual sign-off announcements, canned ID (I-Kiribati), choral national anthem (Dave Kernick, Nov 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH (DPR). 6185 // 6285, VOK, Nov 11, 1011-1026, programming in English, about the history of Korea, VOK ID, 6185 weak, 6285 strong (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, RX340 + T2FD antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. 5890, 30.10 1530, Shiokaze (Sea Breeze) via Khabarovsk [elsewhere reported as Irkutsk, far from there] read names of lots of disappeared Japanese people. Not exactly top of line! S 3. BEFF (Björn Fransson, Sweden, SW Bulletin Nov 13, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LAOS. 6130, LNR, 1142-1204, Nov. 15, Laotian, YL between music bits. Vocal ballads at 1150. Instrumental music and 7 gongs at 1200 followed by fanfare and presumed ID. OM and YL with news, soundbites. Poor/fair (Scott Barbour, NH, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LATVIA. Re 5-195, Nov 13-14 appearances on 9290: Radio 73 1300-1400 UT [whence?] From a private person in Germany, cf. http://www.radio73.de I assume 73 refers to his year of birth (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Nov 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Casablanca, Mr. Alwin Borchers, Ringstrasse 9, 26826 Stapelmoor/ Ems, Germany (Eckhard Roescher, Germany, DSWCI DX Window Oct 19 via DXLD 5-186) And I see this about RTN in Nov World DX Club Contact (gh): Stands for Radio Tele Niedersachsen, with DJ Jan Henrik of Skyline Radio Germany, already heard on 9290 October 9 at 0838 with non-commercial music; announced address of Ostra Porten 49, S-44254 Ytterby, Sweden or janhenric @ radiortn.de (Rafael Martínez, Spain, et al., Radio Without Licence, via DXLD) ** LIBERIA. R. Veritas, 5469.96, 2305-2309* Nov 4. Tune-in to English religious message and prayer asking for peace in Liberia. 2307 Lord`s Prayer, lite music until 2309* Fair (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAYSIA/SARAWAK. 7270, Wai FM (RTM), Nov 11, 1300 two time clicks, "Assalam Alaikum" greeting, tentatively carried ``Berita Nasional FM`` (the news from Kuala Lumpur), as opposed to the 1400 news, which always seems to be ``Berita Wai FM`` (the news from Kuching), 1315 ID with their long version of the station`s singing jingle (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, RX340 + T2FD antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAYSIA. RTM TO REBRAND ITSELF THE `PEOPLE`S RADIO` JITRA: RTM stations nationwide will operate as the `People's Radio` to bring updated information and entertainment to all Malaysians. Information Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir said news on current issues and development would be available to them through RTM's rebranded radio stations, according to specific areas and states. He was speaking to reporters after viewing preparations for KedahFM's 24-hour broadcast here yesterday. The Sultan of Kedah launched the broadcast last night with performances by local artistes like Mawi, Mas Idayu, Kartina Aziz and Sabri Yunus. ``With the 24-hour broadcast for channels like KedahFM, listeners tend to benefit as it would be the only radio broadcast for them,`` Abdul Kadir said, adding that an advisory panel would be set up to improve broadcast presentation and content. Abdul Kadir said KedahFM`s broadcast could be received in Perlis, Penang, Kelantan and southern Thailand. – Bernama (via Zacharias Liangas, Nov 13, DXLD) Source? ** MICRONESIA. PACIFIC: FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA RADIOS GO ONLINE [Re 5-137, August 14] Public radio services from the four constituent states of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) are accessible live online at http://www.fm --- a website run by local telecom provider FSM Telecommunications Corporation. The following radio stations are available: Chuuk (formerly Truk) State - BWXX FM 89.5 (V6AK) Yap State - KUTE FM (V6AI) Kosrae State - V6AJ Pohnpei (formerly Ponape) State - Voice of Pohnpei V6AH In addition to the live streams the entire programme output for the previous three days are nominally available on-demand as 18-hour audio files. However, when checked on 14 November it was found that this feature was actually only functioning for Yap station KUTE FM, and in the case of BWXX FM (Chuuk) both the live stream and the on-demand files were silent. All stations typically broadcast at 0600-2400 local time (UTC +10 hours Chuuk, Yap; UTC +11 hours Kosrae, Pohnpei). Programming is in indigenous languages and English, including some news and business programmes from overseas broadcasters such as the BBC and Radio Australia. Voice of Pohnpei V6AH has its own long-dormant website with programme schedules at http://www.fm/ppbc The Federated States of Micronesia are part of the Caroline Islands archipelago located in the Pacific Ocean, north east of Papua New Guinea. In the aftermath of World War II these islands formed part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, a United Nations trusteeship under US administration, which emerged as a separate political entity with the adoption of a constitution in 1979. Independence was attained in 1986 under a "Compact of Free Association" with the USA, an agreement providing guaranteed financial assistance from the US in return for certain defence rights. Maps, photos, links and a wealth of information on the FSM can be found on the tourist organization's attractive website at http://www.visit-micronesia.com (Dave Kernick, Nov 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MONACO [non]. New schedule for test transmissions of Radio Monte Carlo in French in DRM: 0700-1100 & 1200-1600 NF 6175 FON 010 kW / 330 deg to WeEu, ex 0600-1600 on 6165 (Observer, Bulgaria, Nov 15 via DXLD) ** NEPAL. OVER THREE DOZEN FM RADIO STATIONS IN NEPAL STOP AIRING NEWS - INDIAN AGENCY | Text of report by Shirish B. Pradhan, carried by Indian news agency PTI Kathmandu, 12 November: Nepal's over three dozen FM stations stopped broadcasting news from Saturday [12 November] after the Apex Court of the country rejected a petition seeking a stay on the controversial media ordinance promulgated by King Gyanendra that puts several restrictions on the press. Millions of listeners of private radios in this mountainous country have been barred from listening [to] news from radio channels other that the ones run by the government. The royal government has been strictly enforcing the ordinance which banned FM radios from broadcasting news, following the Apex Court's refusal to order an interim order against it on Friday. The three- member Special Bench headed by Chief Justice Dilip Kumar Paudel said the court will continue to hear the petitions against the ordinance. Kantipur FM station, with over five million listeners in Kathmandu and other districts, has stopped news transmission. "We moved the Supreme Court to halt implementation of the media ordinance and we have been continuing to air news after the Supreme Court's order on 27 October," said Binod Raj Gyawali, managing director of Kantipur FM. However, the court refused to give a stay order and we have decided to stop news transmission, he added. Besides Kantipur FM, all other FM stations, that had been defying the government's order, also stopped transmitting news related programmes following the court ruling. Source: PTI news agency, New Delhi, in English 0918 gmt 12 Nov 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** NIGERIA. [Cf 5-194]. VOICE OF NIGERIA UPGRADING EQUIPMENT The Voice of Nigeria (VON) director-general, Mallam Abubakar Jijiwa, has taken responsibility for the re-branding and upgrading of equipment of the station, the Lagos-based The Sun website reported on 8 November. The report said that the organization was conducting an upgrade of its equipment and motivating its workforce in order to "achieve excellence through optimal utilization of existing human and material resources in order to make VON a leading international broadcasting station like BBC, VOA, Deutsche Welle, and in particular among the African audiences, and to give VON the cutting edge in broadcasting [technology]". VON has installed at its Ikoyi location a 250-kW standby generator and awarded a contract for a full digital studio in Abuja. In addition, two transmitter valves have been purchased, and efforts are ongoing to "restore VON's transmitters into full transmission capacity" by mid- 2006. The Ikorodu transmitter power station and other equipment are also in line for upgrading. The report said that VON is in partnership with the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) for distribution of its signals world-wide using the NTA's existing satellite network. This was part of plans to develop Voice of Nigeria External Service TV. Source: The Sun website, Lagos, in English 8 Nov 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. KFOR-TV channel 4, UHF translators ID slide: I see they also run it just before the Today Show starts at 1300 UT weekdays (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, Doug Smith would know, but I think you only have to ID translators that you own. Independently owned translators are responsible for their own ID. I'm not 100% sure on this. Regards, (Brock Whaley, Nov 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Really a primary station is not required to ID *any* of its translators --- neither the ones they own, nor the ones run by others. The translator licensee is responsible for arranging for IDs. This can be done by arranging for the primary station to give either a visual *or* an aural (or both) announcement of the translators' call letters & location. OR, it can be done over the translator transmitter only, in Morse Code, by shifting the carrier frequency by between 5 and 25 kHz, or by amplitude modulating the aural carrier at least 30% with a keyed audio tone. Obviously the former is a lot easier to arrange when the same organization owns the primary station and the translators! (but the FCC does permit it even if the translators are not commonly owned) The FCC CDBS shows the following translators in Oklahoma licensed to the same company as KFOR: K16DX Gage (w/KOKH-25?) K18BV May K20BR Gage (w/KOCO-5?) K22BR May K49DO Seiling (w/KOCB-34?) K51EB Seiling (w/KOKH-25?) K53CI Seiling K55EZ Seiling (w/KOCO-5?) K56FK Alva-Cherokee K57EA Seiling (w/KWTV-9?) K58EM Alva-Cherokee K59EE Woodward K60ER Cherokee & Alva K61CW Mooreland K62EH Cherokee & Alva (w/KOCO-5?) K63CF Woodward (w/KOCO-5?) K64EA Cherokee & Alva (w/KWTV-9?) K65CO Woodward (w/KWTV-9?) K67CW Woodward (w/KOKH-25?) K69DH Woodward (w/KWTV-9?) I didn't check for commonly-owned translators in other states but I don't think there are any translators outside Oklahoma carrying KFOR. IIRC the same company owns a station (KFSM) in Arkansas on the AR-OK border but I'm pretty sure none of these towns are far enough east to be carrying KFSM. I cannot explain why in several cases complete sets of translators in a given city appear to be licensed to KFOR. My database lists four additional translators (owned by others) as carrying KFOR: K55BQ Hollis K38AM Strong City K17DH Weatherford K46AN Elk City -- (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66 http://www.w9wi.com Nov 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN. BBC REBROADCASTERS CLOSED DOWN | Text of report by Pakistani newspaper Dawn website on 15 November Karachi, 14 November: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority [PEMRA] on Monday evening [14 November] raided a private FM radio station on Sharea Faisal and closed its transmission for alleged violation of PEMRA by-laws. PEMRA officials assisted by the local police raided the FM 103 radio station and seized its transponders, antennas and other broadcast equipment. A representative of the radio station said PEMRA officials with police raided the station and misbehaved with the staff. The police officials used abusive language and seized the equipment, forcing the FM 103 to close down its broadcast. He said PEMRA officials had alleged that the radio station had provided its medium to relay the broadcast of a foreign-based radio channel. He said FM 103 had been broadcasting news from an international radio service but after PEMRA intervened into the matter, the relaying of news was stopped. However, a programme on analyses and views relating to the 10/8 earthquake of the foreign-based radio was being broadcast through FM 103. A senior PEMRA official, on condition of anonymity, said the radio station had been involved in infringement of by-laws of PEMRA. He said: "We had earlier taken action against the radio station when it had been relaying news of a foreign channel but the management of the station approached a high court." He said the orders of the court were clear and according to them, no radio station could broadcast news or programmes of a foreign channel. "The radio station was violating the rules and we have taken action against it," he added. The matter was brought to the notice of Federal Information Minister Shaikh Rashid, who told Dawn that PEMRA rules were clear about telecast of a foreign channel programme through local radio stations. He said: "It is illegal according to the rules and no radio station can do that. I have asked the authority concerned to take an undertaking from the radio station in question and return the seized equipment to it." About a local television channel that has planned to telecast news of a foreign channel, Mr Rashid said the government was looking into that matter. [BBC World Service reported on 14 November: "Officials in Pakistan have closed down the three partner stations of the BBC's Urdu service for rebroadcasting special programmes following last month's devastating earthquake in Kashmir. The authorities said the rebroadcasters had breached media regulations by carrying material from a foreign broadcaster. Police and officials from the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, PEMRA, seized equipment from the Karachi studios of Mast FM. It has denied any wrongdoing. Two satellite television channels were also told by telephone to stop carrying BBC Urdu transmissions. BBC programmes will still be available on mediumwave and shortwave. Pakistan's information minister, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, declined to comment on the government's move.] Source: Dawn website, Karachi, in English 15 Nov 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3325, R. Bougainville (tentative), Nov 12, 1031- 1200, RRI noted with decent signal at tune-in, with another station under it. Impossible to tell who till about 1117, when RRI dropped down some. Man DJ with pop songs till 1150, into program of announcements or something (did not sound like news), mention of Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. Poor. By 1200, RRI was back on top. Conditions were unusually good (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, RX340 + T2FD antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 7120, 29-30/10 1200 Wantok Radio Light, PNG finally with lots of choir- and gospel songs. ID in English with FM- frequency at 1300. S 2-3 and lots of QRM from unwelcomed radio amateur traffic. BEFF (Björn Fransson, Sweden, SW Bulletin Nov 13, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7120, 29.10 1030, Wantok Radio Light, Papua. At first disturbed by a (also religious?) station, but later alone and very well. QSA 3-4! Played among others "Blott en dag och O Store Gud" (a religious song which I don't know the name of in English /SWB editor). JE (Jan Edh, Sweden, SW Bulletin Nov 13, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7120, 31.10 1225-1255, Wantok Radio Light with very good ID at 1233. Weak to fair, but at times terrible splashes from adjacent QRGs. From 1255 carrier on 7120 and at 1300 station in Romanian (?). Also momentarily CW and U.K. hams in USB too. Those are not supposed to be in this range, I think. They might have been com[mercial? munications?] radio stations, anyway very Scottish accent. Besides some talk in English, just male voices, Christian songs (JB, SW Bulletin Nov 13 via DXLD) Who is JB? (gh) JB is Johan Berglund from Trollhättan born in 1942. He has been a member of SWB and ARC for many years. He has not been that active during recent years but now and then you can see some loggings at HCDX. He heard a lot of stations from Central America and especially from Honduras in the 49 mb many years ago when he was extremely active. He has 900 stations from 197 countries verified (Thomas Nilsson, SWB Editor, for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PARAGUAY. FUEGO DAÑA EQUIPOS EN RADIO NACIONAL Asunción 14 Nov.05 Diario ABC color. Un principio de incendio registrado ayer a la madrugada destruyó parte del archivo, equipos informáticos, muebles y otros accesorios de la sala de prensa de Radio Nacional del Paraguay. La Policía informó que el origen del siniestro aparentemente fue un cortocircuito en la instalación eléctrica. Los funcionarios del medio estatal informaron que la emisora no estaba operando en el momento del percance. Una computadora, un televisor, un acondicionador de aire, dos máquinas de escribir, dos escritorios y equipos de edición fueron los objetos más importantes dañados por el principio de incendio que se registró en la sala de prensa de Radio Nacional del Paraguay. Parte de las instalaciones de la citada oficina y de los archivos también fue afectada por las llamas. El siniestro se inició cerca de las 03:00 de ayer, en el edificio donde funciona la radio estatal, ubicado en las calles 4ª Pytda. 263 entre Yegros e Iturbe de la capital. En el momento del suceso, la radio no estaba operando, ya que sus programaciones salen al aire solo hasta la medianoche, conforme a los datos brindados ayer por funcionarios del lugar. Cuando se produjo el incendio se encontraba custodiando el edificio el suboficial principal de Comunicaciones de las Fuerzas Armadas, Miguel Insaurralde. Este indicó a la Policía que el fuego aparentemente se inició a raíz de un cortocircuito en la instalación eléctrica. Bomberos voluntarios de la 3ª Compañía de Sajonia acudieron al sitio luego de ser alertados por la Policía y tras un breve trabajo controlaron el siniestro. Los mismos funcionarios de Radio Nacional comentaron ayer que la sala de prensa está pegada a la oficina de los operadores, donde se encuentran costosos equipos. Sin embargo, la intervención de los bomberos impidió que el fuego llegara hasta ese lugar (via Levi Iversen, Paraguay, condig list via DXLD) De hecho, e ignoro si tiene alguna vinculacion con este tragico suceso, pero hoy por la mañana no estaba activa en la onda corta, en 31 metros (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, Nov 14, ibid.) Hola Glenn, Saludos desde Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA. Desde hace varias semanas he notado la ausencia de Radio Nacional del Paraguay en los 9737v. ¿Será que vuelve a abandonarnos? 73 y buen DX (Adán González, Catia La Mar, Estado Vargas, VENEZUELA, Receptor: Yaesu FT-890/ Antena: TH3 MK3, Nov 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. 5960 // 7330, R. Station Pacific Ocean, Nov 10, 11 and 12, this station has been consistently good on 5960 and almost as good on 7330, *0935-1000* (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, RX340 + T2FD antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA [non]. Re 5-195: Voice of Russia English via Spectrum Radio 558 kHz 1300-1400 --- Spectrum Radio's programme schedule at http://www.spectrumradio.net/ confirms this new Voice of Russia broadcast in English is on 558 kHz in London from 1300-1400 Sunday- Friday. This seems to be at a time when Voice of Russia does not broadcast in English on SW, so I wonder if it will be a delayed recording from earlier, or a special feed for Spectrum Radio (Dave Kenny, UK, dxldyg via DXLD) Glenn, Concerning the report via BBC Monitoring on The Voice of Russia's programme in Britain, I can confirm that it is scheduled on Spectrum Radio, 558, daily except Saturday at 1300-1400. According to Interfax, quoting the Voice of Russia's press office, "the program will be broadcast on the frequency of the British radio station Spectrum and in real audio on the websites of the Voice of Russia and Spectrum Radio". (Interfax agency in English datelined Moscow, Nov 10 at 10.16 pm.) (Roger Tidy, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) courtesy WRN (gh) ** SENEGAL. 965, RTV Senegalaise (RTS) has closed all MW-stations except Matam 1 KW (WRTH 2006 via ARC Information Desk Nov 7 via Olle Alm, DXLD) ** SENEGAL [non]. Little by little, stuff is being added to the West Africa Democracy Radio website. Now there is really a colour-coded grid of English programmes at 0700-0900 http://www.wadr.org/english/grille.html but still no frequencies, so I guess they have still not started daily broadcasts on SW (Glenn Hauser, OK, Nov 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dakar, Senegal – The West Africa Democracy Radio (WADR) will start broadcasting on Monday 14 November 2005. The station will broadcast from its studios in Dakar, Senegal, on 17555 KHz on Short Wave to the whole of West Africa and beyond, and on 94.9 FM in Dakar. In the near future, it will broadcast online, and also through local community radio partners in the Mano River Union (MRU) countries of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. These partners will also generate some of its broadcast content. For this phase, which ends on 1 January 2006, WADR will broadcast for two hours in English and French starting at 0700 GMT and will focus on the Mano River Union countries. It has already set up offices in Monrovia, Conakry and Freetown. The offices will generate news and other materials that promote dialogue and democracy in the region. WADR will later expand to bring onboard other West African countries including Chad and Cameroon. The station will air programmes on news and current affairs as well as magazine programmes on good governance, health, agriculture, gender, youth and sports with a view to promoting peace and human security, transparency and accountability in governance, regional economic integration, and social and cultural development amongst the peoples of the region. A brainchild of the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), WADR is conceived to be the hub of a West African network of public, private and community radio stations, creating an avenue for networking between the radio stations and a channel for dialogue among the peoples of the respective countries they serve. Essoh Honoré, WADR - Radio Production Officer, Sacré-cœur 1, n 8408 Dakar, SENEGAL Phone: +221 569 7785 / 869 15 69 – Fax: +221 864 70 09 Postal P. O. Box:16 650 Dakar-Fann, SENEGAL E-mail: wadr @ wadr.org (via Dr Hansjoerg Biener, DXLD) On 14 Nov I noted a message from Martin Schoech/crwatch [actually quoting the above] saying that West Africa Democracy Radio will start regular broadcasts on this date 0700 UT for two hours each day on 17555. I was a bit late, and when tuning to 17555 at 0830 UT there was only a strong open carrier, which closed a few seconds later. Did anyone listen at 0700 if WADR was on the air? (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Interesting - sometime today they added "12000 kHz" on their Home Page, along with Dakar 94.9 FM. Maybe there was a last-minute change of frequency? And the time given at the top of the Home Page is now 0700-1100 UTC, but the schedule page only shows programmes between 0900 and 1100. Senegal is on UTC, so none of this makes any sense. http://www.wadr.org/english/indexang.html (Andy Sennitt, Netherlands, Nov 14, ibid.) The 0900-1100 portion is supposed to be in French, and a grille has been on their site for some time at http://www.wadr.org/grille.html (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) I don't know if this is old or new, but at http://www.wadr.org/english/presentationang.html they say: ``FREQUENCIES --- WADR shall broadcast on 12,000 Khz between 7.00 and 9.00 UCT [sic] and on 17,860 [sic] Khz between 9.00 and 11.00 UCT on SW to the whole of West Africa and Chad and Cameroon as well as 94.9 on FM (Dakar only). It shall also be rebroadcast on various other FM frequencies by local broadcast partners in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone who will receive WADR programmes by digital satellite radio. This will be available to individuals with digital satellite receivers in the whole of Africa.`` 73, (Jari Savolainen, ibid.) Salut Jean Michel, Nous avons effectivement commencé nos émissions régulières depuis le 14 novembre mais sur les 12000 kHz. Nos amis de la Grande Bretagne nous ont expliqué que du fait du changement de climat ce changement était nécessaire. Le site est également toujours en construction mais on essai d'y mettre un maximum de choses et si possible les émissions du jour. PS: pour le moment nous assurons quotidiennement une heure d'émission en anglais (07H-08H) et autant en français (08H-09H). Merci et à bientôt. Abdou Khadre LÔ Bilingual Researcher, West Africa Democracy Radio Sacré-Coeur1, Villa N 8408, Dakar, SENEGAL Cell phones : (00221)569-77-79 / 559-17-07 Office phone : (00221) 869- 15-69 Fax : 864-70-09; e-mail (pro): abdoulo @ wadr.org (via Jean- Michel Aubier, France, dxldyg via DXLD) Merci Jean-Michel. Just adding this about their future plans, also from WADR today. "Hello Jari, We have started yesterday our broadcasting. We are now on 12000. Our shortwave schedule is: 07H-08H UCT English, 08H-09H UCT French. On January it will be: 07H-09H on 12000 09H-11H on 17860 Best regards" 73, (Jari Savolainen, Finland, Nov 15, dxldyg via DXLD) WADR - West Africa Democracy Radio Monitoring on 15 Nov, their schedule at the moment seems to be: 0700-0800 UT English on 12000 0800-0900 UT French on 12000 Thanks for the tips Glenn Hauser, Andy Sennitt, Wolfgang Bueschel. The original info via CRW was submitted by Dr. Hansjoerg Biener. 73 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 12000 kHz - Switched on my rx around 0712 UT and noted an English language program in progress, with some 'smooth' French accent of the commentator. Many African items covered. So I guess 0700-0900 UT schedule on 12000 kHz fits, English 0700-0800, French 0800-0900 UT. Signals sounds like 'skip over my head' one from RMP/WOF in U.K. towards Africa. see attachment, mp3 record took at 0800 UT, when French segment started after a break of 2 minutes between 0759 and 0801 UT. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, Nov 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yep, WADR signed on at 0700 on 12000. Fair signal with co-channel Arabic station. But getting stronger later. The first hour was in English and at 0800 they switched to French. Let's see if they start at 0900 on 17860 or then not. 73, (Jari (Nov 15), ibid.) West Africa Democracy Radio starts regular transmissions --- Noted here this morning in French at 0815 but on 12000, not 17550, poor to fair reception (Mike Barraclough, UK, Nov 15, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** SEYCHELLES [non]. U.K./UZBEKISTAN: Frequency change for FEBA Radio in Urdu/Hindi from Nov. 14: 1400-1500 NF 7145 TAC 200 kW / 131 deg to SoAs, ex 7280 (Observer, Bulgaria, Nov 15 via DXLD) Before someone objects, let me point out again that we are filing all FEBA broadcasts under this heading for historical reasons, not that they have anything to do with Seychelles any longer (gh, DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. GERMANY: Some DTK T-Systems changes: New schedule for Brother Stair in English from Nov.11: 0800-1000 on 6045 JUL 100 kW / non-dir to WeEu, cancelled 1100-1200 on 6110 JUL 100 kW / 295 deg to WeEu, Daily, ex 2nd Sunday 1100-1200 on 9855 WER 250 kW / non-dir to WeEu/ME, new 1300-1500 on 6110 JUL 100 kW / 295 deg to WeEu, new 1300-1500 on 9855 WER 250 kW / non-dir to WeEu/ME, new 1500-1700 on 9855 WER 500 kW / non-dir to WeEu/ME, cancelled 1900-2000 on 9845 JUL 100 kW / 160 deg to SoAf, ex 1900-2100 (Observer, Bulgaria, Nov 15 via DXLD) ** SPAIN. REE, Españoles en la Mar was concluding a mailbag segment Sat Nov 12 at 1531 on 17595, with the Santa Cruz de Tenerife apartado (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SRI LANKA [non]. GERMANY: Some DTK T-Systems changes: Additional frequency for IBC Tamil Service in Tamil from Nov. 16: 0000-0100 on 7105 WER 250 kW / 090 deg to SoAs \\ 6055 WER 250 kW / 090 deg (Observer, Bulgaria, Nov 15 via DXLD) Due to Spain 6055? (gh) ** SUDAN [non]. Sudan Radio Service, via UK, 11665, *1500-1700* Nov 4. English sign on with IDs, sked, e-mail address, phone and fax numbers, Nairobi address. 1505 English news, local music. Later in broadcast, into Arabic talk. Sign-off in Arabic. VG. It appeared that VOA programming started on this transmitter at 1700 (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) But on Nov 14 I heard this on 15575 until 1529* --- mistake or test? (gh, DXLD) Viz.: Surprised to hear a commercial for ant and termite killer made in Kenya, Mon Nov 14 at 1503 on 15575, a frequency I associate with BBCWS, but this was Sudan Radio Service, as IDed a minute later, and into news in English. 1512 music, 1514 Drumbeat, the culture of our people, interviewing two musicians; 1527 frequency announcement I was not prepared to copy or tape, but I think it was like this found later on http://www.sudanradio.org/schedule.htm and certainly not mentioning 15575! 6 Hours of News and Information Each Day Monday to Saturday 06.00 – 08.00 (GMT +3) hours on 7120 kHz (shortwave) 03-05 UT 08.00 – 09.00 (GMT +3) hours on 9525 kHz (shortwave) 05-06 UT 18.00 – 20.00 (GMT +3) hours on 11665 kHz (shortwave) 15-17 UT 20.00 – 21.00 (GMT +3) hours on 11705 kHz (shortwave) 17-18 UT I frequently bandscan around this time and have not run across this before. Anyhow, after Youth Agenda was introduced at 1529, 15575 cut off abruptly at 1529:30, so I assume another mistake by VT or a test. I had not looked up the schedule at this point, and so did not check whether 11665 was on in addition or instead. Good reception of an unusual service, and in English nowhere near its target area. 24 hours later: nothing on 15575, but 11665 was audible at 1505 with news in English, however with co-channel in Chinese (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN [non]. 12060, MADAGASCAR, R. Nile relay, 0402-0413, Nov. 15, Vernacular/English, YL in language at tune-in. OM at 0404 with English talks over music, numerous mentions of "Radio Nile". Program began at 0411 that I could not copy the name of. Poor with constant bubble jammer-like QRM (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH-USA, R75, 200' Beverage antennas, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWEDEN [non]. CANADA: Frequency change for Radio Sweden in English in DRM from Nov. 14: 1900-2000 NF 11805 SAC 070 kW / 060 deg to WeEu, ex 13725 (Observer, Bulgaria, Nov 15 via DXLD) ** TAIWAN [non]. FRANCE(non): Winter B-05 for Radio Taiwan International via TDF transmitters: 1700-1800 on 11850 ISS 500 kW / 160 deg to SoAf in English 1800-1900 on 3965 ISS 250 kW / 345 deg to WeEu in English 2100-2200 on 7305 ISS 500 kW / 190 deg to WeAf in French 2200-2300 on 3965 ISS 250 kW / 345 deg to WeEu in Chinease (Observer, Bulgaria, Nov 15 via DXLD) ** TAIWAN [non]. GERMANY: Some DTK T-Systems changes CBS Radio Taiwan International in Russian from Nov. 14: 1700-1800 NF 5850 JUL 100 kW / 060 deg to EaEu, ex 6060 WER 125 kW / 060 deg (Observer, Bulgaria, Nov 15 via DXLD) ** THAILAND. In 5-182 under EGYPT among other instances, I complain about stations airing timesignals that are far from accurate. However, I must admit that I myself have broadcast timesignals that were not based on anything more accurate than a human being punching up a cart machine --- altho with an eye on the studio clock which was often checked and synchronized with AFRTS-Washington, and as I recall, the USNO Master Clock line. This was at the American Forces Thailand Network HQ in Korat, 1969-1970y, as lead-in to network news on the hour delivered by yours truly, when several other stations around the country would join the network, so a good deal of accuracy was necessary. However, as they would start monitoring the network feed earlier in the minute, they could use the start of the time pip sequence as their 5-second cue, even if it were several seconds off. Also, the news was usually recorded just before the top of the hour, to be able to fix mistaxes before airing. We were free to compile newscasts objectively, but avoiding any military and Thai domestic news. Now you know TROTS (Glenn Hauser, USAF Ret., DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TIBET [non]. TAJIKISTAN/MADAGASCAR(non): B-05 for Voice of Tibet: 1056-1144 17560* DB 100 kW / 131 deg to SoEaAs in Tibetan and Chinese 1212-1300 17560* DB 100 kW / 131 deg to SoEaAs in Tibetan and Chinese 1304-1352 11605* DB 100 kW / 131 deg to SoEaAs in Tibetan and Chinese 1400-1430 17550 MDC 250 kW / 045 deg to India in Tibetan 1430-1518 #7465* DB 100 kW / 131 deg to SoEaAs in Tibetan and Chinese 1530-1600 17550 MDC 250 kW / 045 deg to India in Tibetan *vary freqs +/- 2 or 3 or 4 kHz to avoid Chinese Jammer #totally blocked by BBC WS in English in DRM via Kvitsoy (Observer, Bulgaria, Nov 15 via DXLD) ** TURKEY. Re 5-192: ``VOT, 50 minute English: 1930 Eu 9655; 2130 As & Au 9525; 2300 Eu & NAm 5960; 0400 NAf & ME 7240, NAm 6020 (Bob Thomas, Bridgeport CT, Oct 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Full schedules we have already published show the 1930 on 6055 instead; that includes the Live from Turkey call-in [or non] on Thursdays. Which is correct? I assume Bob`s info comes from an announcement he heard, tho he never makes this clear (gh, DXLD)`` I believe I heard VOT mention that their 1930 frequency is indeed 6055, but the only way to be positive is for someone east of North America to monitor it. And Live from Turkey on this transmission is Tuesdays, not Thursdays as on the 1330 broadcast (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKMENISTAN. Programme about: see U K ** U K. UNDERCOVER IN TURKMENISTAN: THE FIRST OF FOUR NEW WORLD SERVICE INVESTIGATIONS === ASSIGNMENT, November 16-19, BBC WS Reporting from the former Soviet republic of Turkmenistan, one of the world's most secretive and repressive states, was never going to be easy - but this is the challenge undertaken by Lucy Ash and researcher Sian Glaessner who spent a week undercover on tourist visas reporting for Assignment on BBC World Service. Their graphic account of life for ordinary people denied both basic necessities like healthcare as well as freedom of expression is the first of four investigative programmes. Other programmes will cover gang warfare in Rio, the plight of failed asylum-seekers returned to the Congo and corruption in Costa Rica. "It's almost impossible to over-state the degree of control exercised by Turkmenistan's President Saparmurat Niyazov," says reporter Lucy Ash. "Thousands of his opponents - real and imagined - have been imprisoned after an alleged assassination attempt in 2002. And life for ordinary people has become increasingly harsh with a lack of even basic health-care. Recently there have been unconfirmed reports of outbreaks of bubonic plague. At the same time, President Niyazov - known for his bizarre rulings - has announced that hospitals outside the capital, Ashgabat, are to be closed. Reporters are seldom given entry visas - and those that are have phone calls monitored, their movements restricted and are invariably shadowed by members of the KNB - the Turkmen successors to the Soviet KGB. Yet there are important issues to report in this energy-rich central Asian country of five million people. We were determined to find out more about life inside Turkmenistan. Reluctantly - and after much discussion - we decided the only practical way was for her to visit the country for a week on a tourist visa. We talked to people who are struggling to exist in a world where one man's whim is law and where the basic functions of state have long since collapsed into an anarchic quasi system of corruption. The stories we heard told of a country on its knees, practically a 'failed state'. There is massive unemployment as the government launches repeated waves of job cuts. In the past 10 years the country has continued to suffer a massive brain drain, as everyone who can leave does so." Assignment's producer, Andy Denwood, adds: "There are huge problems recording surreptitiously in a country like Turkmenistan. When public criticism of the government is a one-way ticket to the gulag, Lucy and Sian had to be paranoically careful not to lead the KNB to contributors. The interwiewees are given anonymity within the programme. At the same time, Lucy and Sian had to maintain the fiction that they were on holiday. By day they and their official guide - who knew nothing of their real purpose - toured carpet bazaars and archaelogical sites. Every evening they slunk out of their hotel unaccompanied to rendezvous with dissidents and anyone else brave enough to speak to the BBC. The result is a rare and vivid series of snapshots of life inside Turkmenistan. From the nurse-turned-prostitute who lost her job during massive cutbacks in the old Soviet health system, to the brave and earnest campaigners who warn of a rising generation of children, uneducated and vulnerable to indoctrination. Lucy was able to record conditions inside a Turkmen hospital, and hears heart-wrenching stories of unnecessary medical deaths, and the desperate plight of the seriously ill who seek treatment by illegally crossing into neighbouring states." Assignment: Inside Turkmenistan, on Thursday 17 November in Europe, launches a short series of four investigative programmes. It can be heard at the following times (GMT) in the following regions: Europe: Thu 0906 rpt 1306, 1906, Fri 0106, Sat 0306, 1306 Australasia: Wed 2206 rpt Thu 0306, 0806 1506, Sat 0306 East Asia: Thu 0306 rpt 0706, 1306, 1906, Sat 0306 South Asia: Thu 0506 rpt 0906, 1406, 1906, Sat 0306 East Africa: Thu 0706 rpt 1306, Fri 0006, Sat 0306 West Africa: Thu 0906 rpt 1406, Fri 0006, Sat 0306 Middle East: Thu 0806 rpt 1306, 1906, Fri 0106, Sat 0306 Americas: Thu 1406 rpt 2006, Fri 0106, 0606, Sat 0306 Dates for other programmes in the series are: Rio Death Squads, 24 November; Message from Mavembo, 1 December; and Costa Rica Corruption, 8 December. (BBC Press Office via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) ** U K. BBC World Service pre-empts regular programming as it does each year, on Sunday morning, Nov 13, presumably on all streams, but finding a SW frequency audible in NAm may be difficult; even more so being awake at that hour: 1030-1120 Service Of Remembrance --- The annual Service of Remembrance and wreath-laying ceremony from the Cenotaph, London, where those who have died in the two World Wars, and more recent conflicts are remembered. Presenter Fergal Keane. However, this is another example of WS listeners not getting the full programme, for on Radio 4 there is this: 1030-1145 Ceremony of Remembrance --- From the Cenotaph. Fergal Keane sets the scene in London's Whitehall for the solemn ceremony when the nation remembers the sacrifice made by so many in the two World Wars. The traditional music of Remembrance is played by the Massed Bands and, after the Last Post and Two Minutes' Silence, Her Majesty the Queen lays the first wreath on behalf of nation and Commonwealth. The Bishop of London leads a short Service of Remembrance, then, during the March Past, Fergal talks to veterans across the world about their memories of past conflicts and the dangers facing those who serve in the armed forces today (from BBC online listings via Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST, in advance on dxldyg and swprograms) Sun 1030, 6195 is probably the best SW bet at 5:30 AM ET (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) If you have access to the internet you can get this programme from the Radio 4 website`s listen again feature. SF (Sandy Finlayson, ibid.) On the Listen Again player menu, it`s under S for Service of Remembrance, but lasting only 62 minutes. What about the other 13 minutes, or was that just an over-run optional buffer? Apparently. This was ONLY about the July 7 terrorist attacks in London and very much a Church of England service, AB of Canterbury and others with Christian readings and hymns from St. Paul`s, token participation by the Catholic AB of Westminster. Not a word of Arabic or Urdu (gh) ** U K [non]. /NORWAY: BBC WS in English in DRM via KVI 050 kW / 190 deg to WeEu: 5875 0700-0900 7465 1430-1900, ex 1500-1900 9470 0900-1430, ex 0900-2500 [sic, must mean 1500] /RUSSIA: BBC WS in English to ME: 0600-1500 Mon-Sat 15575 MSK 250 kW / 117 deg, ex CYP 250 kW / 090 deg 0600-1500 Sunday 15575 CYP 250 kW / 090 deg, ex Daily /UKRAINE: BBC in Arabic to ME: 0500-0600 Daily 9915 SMF 500 kW / 134 deg, additional 0600-1200 Mon-Sat 13660 SMF 250 kW / 131 deg, ex CYP 250 kW / 117 deg 0600-1200 Sunday 13660 CYP 250 kW / 117 deg, ex Daily 0800-1500 Mon-Sat 11820 SMF 500 kW / 134 deg, additional (Observer, Bulgaria, Nov 15 via DXLD) ** U K. New VOR relay on Spectrum 558: see RUSSIA [non] ** U K [non]. BBC rebroadcasters closed down: see PAKISTAN ** U S A. VOA LAUNCHES URDU TV FOR PAKISTAN Washington, D.C., Nov. 14, 2005 - The Voice of America (VOA) will launch Beyond the Headlines --- its new television program in Urdu --- on Monday, Nov. 14. The half-hour program will air on GEO TV in Pakistan at 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on selected international satellites, including AsiaSat (Virtual Channel 409) and IOR (Virtual Channel 420). Beyond the Headlines (Khabron se Aage), a fast-paced, contemporary production designed with young and urban Pakistanis in mind, will continue VOA's 63-year tradition of broadcasting accurate and balanced information. Programs will examine international developments, technology, politics, social issues, education, religion, sports, and entertainment. "We look forward to opening this important new channel of communication between the American people and Pakistan," said Steven J. Simmons, a member of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), which oversees all United States international radio and television services. Simmons is chairman of the BBG's Voice of America Committee, and has played a key role in increasing radio and TV service to Pakistan, including Beyond the Headlines. "We're particularly delighted with our partnership with GEO TV, the leading cable/satellite broadcaster in the Urdu language," Simmons added. "This new program, together with our expanded radio service, demonstrates our growing commitment to reach the people of Pakistan with new, engaging programs on both radio and TV." "The links between Pakistan and the United States are strong and growing, and our new show is a reflection of that," said VOA Director David S. Jackson. "Beyond the Headlines will focus not only on the big issues of the day, but also on features, business, and culture stories that illuminate the world we live in. For example, we'll show how Pakistanis live and work and go to school in the U.S. We want to provide a unique mix of stories that viewers can't find anywhere else." Farah Ispahani is the managing editor and executive producer for Beyond the Headlines. She joined VOA earlier this year, bringing more than 20 years of experience in print and television media at such news organizations as CNN, ABC, and NBC. Before she joined VOA, Ispahani, who is a fluent Urdu speaker, was instrumental in the launch of CNN's Paula Zahn Now and Anderson Cooper 360. Anchoring Beyond the Headlines will be Aneka Osman. A familiar face to Pakistanis, Osman worked as an English language news anchor on Pakistan Television. She has covered regional and national security issues, Pakistan-India relations, the conflict in the Middle East, and Pakistan's general elections. She has also worked on Prime Television, the UK-based Pakistani channel, and on the Business Plus Channel. Ayaz Gul is VOA Urdu's Chief Reporter and Pakistan Coverage Coordinator for Radio Aap ki Dunyaa (Your World Radio), VOA's Urdu radio service, and Beyond the Headlines. Gul, who is based in Pakistan, has been filing on-the-scene reports in Urdu and English for VOA since 1996, and his reports are translated into numerous languages throughout VOA. Prior to joining VOA, he worked for the Japanese network NHK and for the German news agency DPA as a reporter specializing in Pakistan's foreign and domestic news. VOA's Urdu Service broadcasts 12 hours a day of news and information to millions of Pakistanis and other Urdu speakers on Radio Aap ki Dunyaa. The program is distributed by medium wave at 972 kHz, digital audio satellite, the Internet and a three-hour shortwave broadcast. The launch of Beyond the Headlines adds two-and-half hours of television to the Urdu Service's weekly broadcast schedule. The Voice of America, which first went on the air in 1942, is a multimedia international broadcasting service funded by the U.S. 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. For more information, call the Office of Public Affairs at (202) 203- 4959 or E-Mail publicaffairs @ voa.gov (via DXLD) Above story was embargoed until 1300 UT Nov 14, so dutifully held it. Then we see in ABDX that is was already published in Pakistan more than 25 hours earlier: VOA to launch Urdu TV for Pakistan Sunday November 13, 2005 (1640 PST) http://paktribune.com/news/index.php?id=125243 (via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. Demonstrations outside VOA: see ETHIOPIA [non] ** U S A [non]. VOA on new 6235, 2240-2345+ Nov 4, in English, business news, IDS; fair (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) That would be Kuwait; surprising that IBB would invade this maritime band (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. FCC called Oct 24 and ordered WWCR to move off 3210 immediately, due to FEMA on I think 3208, so we moved the next morning at 7 am CT to 3215. Personnel changes are at WWCR and WNQM: Former GM George McClintock is still our transmitter repair person, but left day-to-day operations. Former Ops Mgr Adam Lock resigned to pursue other interests. New structure at WWCR & WNQM: two different Operations Managers. SW is Zach Harper, has been with station for 7-8 years, vastly experienced, computer geek, started as board op. AM ops mgr is Brady Murray, also started as board op, has done sales and a lot of things. Rich Shelton is still our salesperson. No changes at HQ: Pres, Fred P. Westenberger, and his son, Eric Westenberger, VP, based in New Orleans with group of 6 stations, the others being AM. Our ops managers report directly to Eric. Best of luck to George and Adam. Everything is still running copasetic; I feel very comfortable with the changes (Dr Jerry Plummer, Ask WWCR #216, notes by gh for DX LISTENING DIGEST) Then there was an interview with Joel Harmon, overnite board op, who for past 8 years has run everything overnight by himself. Requires a lot of literal running around in the two buildings at the top of the hours, 0600-1200 UT in winter (gh, DXLD) WWCR DX Block: UT Sun Nov 13 on 5070, found DXPL transitioning to WOR as usual at 0330, but at 0405 recheck, World Wide Country Radio was starting, so no more Radio Weather or DX Radio School in the 0400 hour. WW Country Radio is an in-house produxion always available to fill an hour. After the news at 0500, there was more music instead of Cyberline. I notice that DWM Enterprises is still credited as one of the sponsors of the DX Block, during the 0329 break (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) And the music continued long into the night. Despite the new multiple- hour scheduling of Cyberline, it was never aired 11/13. For a while, the same music program was on 3215 and 5070, but not parallel -- one was some seconds ahead of the other. But I lost track of which was ahead and which was behind. Later in the night, there were two completely different music programs on the two frequencies (Will Martin, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Brent's visit to WREM-WBCQ -- Yesterday (Friday) Geoff Rivett and I (half of the Miscou DX crew) paid a visit to WREM and WBCQ in Monticello, Maine. This place is fantastic. Al Weiner was away getting more (!!) radio stuff in Rochester, NY, but his able cohort Mike Schaitman (childhood friend and early co-conspirator in the Yonkers days) gave generously of his time and allowed us to tour the site. It is a fantastic place, with vintage radio equipment strewn everywhere, stored in buses, trailers, barns, garages, and some of it just sitting outdoors in the weather. All of WBCQ's transmitters are in fairly modern facilities, 'tho' the transmitters themselves are classics from decades ago. WREM on 710 is running from older gear in a separate building feeding a 400'+ tower. I "rolled tape" on Mike during the visit, and have over an hour of narrated tour audio. Geoff and I took copious pictures, inside and out. We visited the studio for WBCQ, located in a trailer, and powered by a wind generator. The transmitters are powered from the local utility, but it does not offer three-phase power down that road. So all of the transmitters have been modified to run from single-phase power. Yikes! Anyway, we arrived back in Canada last evening and I'll spend free time in the next several days listening, and maybe transcribing some of Mike's commentary, and editing the pictures. The eventual plan is to do an article for publication. Not sure where yet. The contraptions we saw and photographed belong in many museums... More to follow (Brent Taylor, VE1JH, Doaktown, NB FN66, 6M VUCC #418, AMSAT #33576 Nov 12, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. WBCQ Programming Randomizing? On Sunday 11/13 at 2200-2300 UT, WBCQ is supposed to be carrying "This Week in Amateur Radio" on 7415 kHz. However, when I tuned in about 2230, it was TimTron with the "Piss and Moan Net" instead. Now that isn't unusual, but it seemed that this was not live but instead an old recording, because it ended at about 2246 UT with an announcement that the "PabSungenis Project" would follow. So it was from a different day and not supposed to be on right then. Then immediately the audio switched over to one of the financial-doom-&-gloom talk-show programs I never listen to on WBCQ. That continued and I tuned out before 2300. It appears that Allan Weiner is out of town at the moment. A substitute tried to do a live "Allan Weiner WorldWide" Friday night, and it was so badly done (couldn't get the phone lines' audio to work and constantly whined about it on-air) that I just tuned out. I'd expect a lot of programming mixups and various chaos on WBCQ for the next few days until Allan gets back. 73, (Will Martin, MO, Nov 13, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) WBCQ also broadcast last week`s WOR 1292 instead of this week`s 1293, at 0515 UT Monday Nov 14, as well as at 0400 on 9330, and probably also 24 hours before that --- altho they did have the new edition the previous Wed at 2300 on 7415. After the initial airing, it`s up to them to be sure to broadcast the current edition on the following weekly airings. Whenever there is a new operator, they have to learn the procedure, and this probably isn`t a high priority. All our SW outlets, at one time or another, run an outdated WOR. And probably our non-SW outlets too. Unfortunately, this is beyond my control, as I do not have the time to be monitoring and reminding them constantly. Listeners in the habit of listening to one particular station/airing must be alert if a repeat is heard from one week to the next, as that is NOT my intention, and it means you will have missed an edition of WOR if you don`t go looking for it elsewhere. I have never (well, not in recent memory) scheduled a WOR repeat or rerun. There is a new show EVERY WEEK, unlike several other DX programs I can think of. If only our affiliates would make sure everyone could hear each one (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. DXing with Cumbre anomalies --- On Sunday night, UT Monday 11/14/05, the 0230 airing of DXing with Cumbre on 5850 started about 5 minutes early. (How *did* they know that I had just remembered and looked at my watch at 0228 and ran to the radio in order to catch the opening and the date & number? Which I of course missed, grrrr...) Then the scheduled 0330 airing of DXw/C on 5860 never appeared at all; 5860 was vacant the entire 0300 hour. These are both in the current WHR online schedule. Anyone know if they are actually using a different frequency instead of 5860 kHz or if they just didn't have the transmitter on? I don't think that it was propagation; there was a non-English signal on 5850 OK while I was listening for the show on 5860. 73, (Will Martin, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I was just getting ready to annotate the DX Programs list with WM`s observations when I noticed that when I made revisions yesterday (not yet sent to gh for posting) I put [7315?] after 5860 for the Monday 0330 airing. While it does say 5860 in the program listing, it says the following on their frequency page: 0100-0600 Sa, Su 8PM-1AM 7.315 Mhz So I assumed that they may be on 7315 during that time (Sa,Su meaning local and not UT days) instead of 5860, and it appears now that is the case (John Norfolk, ibid.) HRI/HRA hobby program publication mess. Each winter season HRI/HRA hobby program times changed one hour later, except the Pacific KWHR relay, which kept mostly unchanged. But according to the present WHR website they kept mostly the summer timings. Dave Kenny sent me this comment: "All the KWHR/WHRI/WHRA entries should be one hour EARLIER than shown on the web site - so that means some frequencies are different too & a couple of Cumbre txs have been deleted.`` I guess my first edition of WWDXC's "DX Media Program List" will be useless regarding WHR "DXing with Cumbre" entries. 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DXLD) If that is the case, Will Martin should not have heard DWC at the time he did, which is more or less the published time. Also, going from DST to ST, shouldn`t the WHRI\WHRA times have shifted one UT hour later instead of earlier? Moral: Don`t believe everything you see on the WHR web site. In fact, don`t believe anything you see on the WHR web site unless you can get independent confirmation (John Norfolk, OK, ibid.) ** U S A. (non [sic]): Winter B-05 for World Harvest Radio: WHRI Angel 1 0100-0600 on 5860 Mon-Fri DXWC Mon 0330 0100-0600 on 7315 Sat/Sun 0600-1000 on 7315 1000-1200 on 9495 1200-1400 on 7520 HMLR Sat 1200; Sun 1300 1400-1600 on 11785 Mon-Fri 1400-1600 on 15105 Sat/Sun DXWC Sun 1530 1600-1900 on 15105 1900-2100 on 15285 DXWC Sat 1930 2100-2300 on 11885 2300-0300 on 7315 WHRI Angel 2 0600-0900 on 5860 0900-1200 on 7520 1200-2200 on 9840 DXWC Sun 2030 2200-0600 on 7490 KWHR Angel 3 0100-0500 on 17655 DXWC Sun 0330 0500-0800 on 15610 0800-1200 on 9930 DXWC Sun 1500 1200-1400 on 11520 1400-1800 on 9930 KWHR Angel 4 0500-1100 on 11565 DXWC Sat 0700; Sun 0500 WHRA Angel 5 0500-0700 on 7555 1200-1600 on 15665 1600-1900 on 17650 1900-2300 on 15665 2300-0500 on 5850 DXWC Sun 0230; Mon 0230 DXWC = DX-ing With Cumbre 30 minutes; HMLR = Hmong Lao Radio in Lao 1 hour (Observer, Bulgaria, Nov 15 via DXLD) Har, har, har, as if WHR schedule could be nailed down (gh, DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Em um Programa emocionante, Pastor Edson Bruno anunciou ontem dia 11/11/05, a sua saída da Rádio Voz Cristã/ MIAMI/EUA, 15485 kHz, Usando suas próprias palavras: "Hoje é um programa especial, muito especial..." "...como vocês sabem, estamos na ùltima edição do Altas Ondas..." Tivemos uma grande perda, pois perdemos o ancora da excelente programação da emissora, mas ele segue em uma emissora brasileira em FM (Antonio José Santos, São Gonçalo, RJ, Nov 11, radioescutas yg via DXLD) many lamentations followed (gh) ** U S A. ON THE MEDIA ON LOCAL BROADCASTING Although political observers emphasized its importance, the 2005 Virginia gubernatorial race received scant coverage on local TV stations. According to Media Access Project, a public interest group in Washington, the FCC should deny licenses to stations that don’t fulfill their mandate. Dr. Robert Lichter, president of the Center for Media and Public Affairs, joins Bob to talk about the democratic responsibilities of local news channels. (Audio) http://www.onthemedia.org/stream/ram.py?file=otm/otm111105g.mp3 Broadcasters are required to serve the public interest, however UCLA law professor Jerry Kang says that the public is not necessarily well- served by local news that emphasizes crime. In an article published in the Harvard Law Review he decries the tendency, saying it leads to racial bias. Kang lays out his argument for Daljit. (Audio) http://www.onthemedia.org/stream/ram.py?file=otm/otm111105h.mp3 (Ricky Leong, Calgary, Alta., DXLD) ** U S A. 1480 AM GOES `RADIO AKCTIVO` By TIM ENGLE The Kansas City Star Posted on Tue, Nov. 15, 2005 http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/living/13165446.htm ``Radio Akctivo,`` billed as Kansas City`s first Spanish-language pop- rock station, is now on the air at 1480 AM. Owner Pérez Media Group ``flipped`` the station, KCZZ, at noon Monday. The new format will sound similar to a Top 40 station in Mexico City. It`s targeting first- and second-generation Latinos here, says Luis Gutiérrez, vice president of operations for Pérez. Although the new 1480 will appeal chiefly to Latinos, non-Spanish speakers will discover some ``incredible music`` that`s never been played on the radio in Kansas City, Gutiérrez says. The station`s previous format, regional Mexican music, will be heard soon on 1340 AM, KCKN, which will be known as ``La GranD.`` That signal has been a comedy station. Radio Akctivo will have local DJs. The on-air staff will be diverse, with a couple of jocks from Mexico, one from Guatemala and one from Colombia. A sports talk show at 6 p.m. weekdays will be piped in from México City (via Artie Bigley, OH, DXLD) Why in the world do they spell it Akctivo? That is neither Spanish nor English (gh, DXLD) ** UZBEKISTAN [and non]. Heard in 41 meters this Saturday morning, November 12 with local sunrise about 1150 UT. 7190 kHz, China Radio International, Beijing in Asian language strong SINPO 43333 at 1145, then with heterodyne from carrier from Uzbekistan, Radio Tashkent International, sign-on at 1200 in English. Stations pretty equal, both generally poor after 1200. This was all in an urban location, SONY ICF 2010 with long wire in attic of 2 story house (Roger Chambers, Utica NY, ODXA via DXLD) Oops, I see Roger`s previous report of this in 5-192 was missing the time, probably the same (gh, DXLD) ** VATICAN. MORE DETAILS OF CHANGES AT VATICAN RADIO Excerpt from report by Italian newspaper La Stampa website on 6 November | Holy See (Vatican City): The Pope is changing things at the Vatican Radio, even if the changeover is only "physiological," and follows along lines basically pre-set during the "reign" of John Paul II. Father Federico Lombardi, current programme manager, is being promoted to the rank of general manager, while at the same time holding on to his post as Vatican TV director. He replaces Father Pasquale Borromeo, who, at the age of 72, leaves after having held the position for 20 years. The Pope, in fact, thanked him "for his many and generous years of service". Father Borromeo played a particularly demanding role in the months that preceded and accompanied the beginning of the war in Iraq. His was one of the Vatican voices to be heard with special vibrancy and vigour in condemnation of the "pre-emptive war" promoted by US President Bush. Father Borromeo, together with Cardinal Roberto Tucci, chairman of Radio Vaticana, is the focus of a heated debate over the electromagnetic emissions allegedly caused by the high-power antennae situated atop Santa Maria di Galeria. Father Federico Lombardi, instead, will be replaced as programme manager by Andrzej Koprowski, a Polish Jesuit. A decision that confirms a choice made by John Paul II, who, a year ago, ahead of the changeover, had designated Father Koprowski as deputy programme manager. Boasting years of experience in the area of mass-media communications, in the past he was also religious-programme manager for Polish state television. He also held the office of Polish Company of Jesus Provincial and taught at the Gregorian Pontifical University. [Passage omitted] Source: La Stampa website, Turin, in Italian 6 Nov 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) See also ALBANIA ** VENEZUELA. Radio Amazonas al fin se estabilizó en su fundamental 4940v; captada el 10/11, a las 0234 UT, en los 4939.61 kHz (un poco más abajo de la usual 4939.67), con música y locutor de guardia. Pésima modulación. Luego el 11/11, escuchada a las 0005, con SINPO 34333, con modulación mejorada y música variada de la década de 1960 y Daniel Santos. Esta vez un poco más arriba, 4939.63 kHz. Ausente durante el fin de semana siguiente. 73 y buen DX (Adán González, Catia La Mar, Estado Vargas, VENEZUELA, Receptor: Yaesu FT-890/ Antena: TH3 MK3, Nov 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIETNAM [non]. 7380, Little Saigon Radio via Taiwan (?) *1500-1530* Nov. 12. Sign-on with orchestral music, short introduction with ID in VT 'Dai la Little Saigon Radio', mention California location. Followed with more music. Most of the program considered of commentaries and news items . Noted IDs at 1510 & 1517. (1517 a possible web site but only a partial www.) 1520 noted with a commentary or talk, reference to Vietnam and WHO. 1526 closing announcements, ID, then followed a Vietnamese ballad with a female singer to 1530*. Reception was good to fair at times, despite the slight noise and slight heterodyne (notch used) (Edward Kusalik, Alberta, CANADA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** YEMEN. November 10, Republic of Yemen Radio heard on 9779.48 kHz with news in English at 1830 UT. Reception was good and audio was not distorted this time. 73 (Jouko Huuskonen, Turku, FINLAND, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZANZIBAR. 11735, RTZ (tentative), Nov 10, 1833-2059:30*, Swahili & Arabic; DJ with African music (Calypso type music), 1859 drums, 5+1 time clicks, 10 minutes of news (items about Zambia, Zanzibar, etc), Celine Dion singing ``Power of Love,`` pop rap African song, in language and English (``All Night Long``), 1915-2055 Middle East style Arabic music and songs, Anthem. Mostly fair, but unable to catch an ID (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, RX340 + T2FD antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE. 6612 harmonic, ZBC, 0138-0202, Nov. 15, Vernacular/ English, English pop by Phil Collins at tune-in then mix of Afropops and local music. OM in language between selections. English announcement at 0158, including R. Zimbabwe IDs, SW and FM frequencies, re "advertising options" with info to "contact our management team" with phone number and physical address I could not fully copy. Back to local music at 0200. Fair. Nothing on fundamental 3306 (Scott Barbour, NH, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED [non]. Re 5-193: It looks like my unID is solved but I am a little embarrassed to tell you the solution. Last weekend I was again at my weekend cabin and examined the 800 kHz sound file. While doing that my attention was caught by the fact that this recording was made during the night that shifting from DST to standard time took place. It looks like the time written into the file is wrong, so I was assuming I was on 800 kHz. I can blame RecAll-pro for this but I could have taken more care about such things at that date. The recording was made on 1540 kHz what makes identification much easier. The Serbian language followed by something like Farsi is matching perfectly with what we see on the CHIN webpage http://www.chinradio.com/amfm.asp at 2100 EST. Sorry about the confusion. 73 (Guido Schotmans, Belgium, Nov 14, dxing.info via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 1610 tone test reported last week: Experimental Authorizations: Glenn, The following URL is what you get when you pull up all the experimental applications in the CDBS database by querying it for authorizations which have file numbers starting with "BPEX": http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_list.pl You can't get it directly from the URL, you have to go through the search routine but this is what results. "BPLX" gets the ones that got authorized CP's and then filed license applications, whether granted or not. They both includes lots of FM (Ibiquity) and DTV stuff as well as a few AM frequency uses, mostly synchronous boosters and should include "site test" transmitters (for establishing conductivity from a specific site). This is in addition to the OET website for experimental authorizations. The Ibiquity and KTL/Kinstar/StarH experimental authorizations were not on 1610. Is it possible that someone is doing some testing from the "Caribbean Beacon" now that Dr. Scott has gone on to the big plush leather chair in the sky? I have certainly heard it daytime in locations in the Caribbean Basin that are a lot of kms from Anguilla. And I have plenty of data, personally and from the technical literature, regarding daytime skywave. (I have to admit to a perverse fondness for Dr. Scott, who certainly was an erudite and even sometimes interesting pontificator!) (Ben Dawson, WA, Nov 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Religious station in Japanese with good signal here in BUL: 1430-1500 (ex 1530-1600) on 5890 IRK 100 kW / 125 deg (Observer, Bulgaria, Nov 15 via DXLD) Religious? Shinto?? Guess they haven`t heard about Shiokaze, for Japanese abductees in Korea North (gh, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Station in DRM: 1200-1300 on 13750 (Observer, Bulgaria, Nov 15 via DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ MT & PWBR [Re 5-194] Here are the facts: #1 - MT was not late; it shipped out at exactly the same time it always does. There was no delay at our end. #2 - The change in frequency format was in response to readers who were finding it difficult to read. B05 updates aren't available in time to make changes to the November frequencies. #3 - The error in the ad was our fault; MT picked up the wrong ad from our computer due to similar file names, and no one noticed the error in proof-reading. Unfortunately, we picked up the same ad for the December issue as well. Although it's unfortunate, it's ridiculous to imply any correlation with the overall accuracy of the book -- or of MT either. People do occasionally make mistakes. We care enough to correct our mistakes. To make our error right, we'll be running the correct PWBR ad for two more months without charge. Best regards, (Rachel Baughn, Editor, Monitoring Times, Nov 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ Another period of zero sunspot activity may occur shortly. See the K7RA weekly Solar Activity Report for Nov 11 for the details! http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/2005-arlp047.html From Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, WA November 11, 2005 (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ###