DX LISTENING DIGEST 6-021, February 1, 2006 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 2006 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html For restrixions and searchable 2005 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid5.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 FIRST SW AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1303: Wed 2300 on WBCQ 7415 Thu 0000 on WBCQ 18910-CLSB Thu 2130 on WWCR 7465 Full schedule, including AM, FM, satellite and internet, with hotlinks to station sites and audio: 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 PODCASTS: www.obriensweb.com/wor.xml NETS TO YOU February: http://www.w4uvh.net/nets2you.html DX/SWL/MEDIA PROGRAMS Feb 1: http://www.worldofrdio.com/dxpgms.html ** AFGHANISTAN. NATO PROJECT TO BUILD RADIO NETWORK | Text of report in English by Czech news agency CTK on 1 February A 30-year-old Czech female Officer Cadet participates in the preparation of a NATO's ISAF [International Security Assistance Force] command extensive project to build a radio network across Afghanistan, daily Pravo writes today. The daily gained the information from Radek Cerny, commander of the Czech 43-member contingent that serves in the reconstruction team in Faizabad in the north of the country together with Germans and Danes. The project aims to improve the supply of information to citizens on social developments including ISAF activities also in remote parts of Afghanistan, Pravo writes. It says that according to the Czech Defence Ministry the Czech officer's "main task is to reconnoitre the territory where radio transmitters could be installed, and possibly talk to the local inhabitants." The military radio should broadcast centrally from Kabul, and it should also offer regional broadcasts. "It should be a normal news radio that would also broadcast music," Cerny told Pravo. He said ISAF now publishes the ISAF News fortnightly that carries news from the country as well as the world and promotes the ISAF forces. "The paper is for free and all of us distribute it," Cerny said. The ISAF command hopes the radio will promote its popularity that has been largely varying [as received] also because NATO strives for lowering the production of opium that is often the sole source of the locals' living. The Czechs have been deployed in Faizabad for almost one year. Cerny said that the local inhabitants are friendly, but yet danger is omnipresent "Attacks are launched by radical groups from other regions and even states," he said, adding that explosives are used most often in the attacks. Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 0820 gmt 1 Feb 06 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** ALGERIA [non]. RTV Algeria again back on SW in Arabic/French to We&CeAf, but now via VT Communications. Monitored schedule on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1: 0600-0700 on 9735 RMP 500 kW / 180 deg 0700-0800 on 9735 RMP 500 kW / 180 deg; 12020 SKN 300 kW / 180 deg 0800-0900 on 13750 SKN 300 kW / 180 deg 1200-1400 on 17690 WOF 250 kW / 170 deg; 17755 RMP 500 kW / 189 deg 1900-2000 on 5985 SKN 300 kW / 180 deg 2000-2100 on 5985*RMP 500 kW / 168 deg; 7105 RMP 500 kW / 180 deg 2100-2200 on 7105 RMP 500 kW / 180 deg *strong co-channel RAI International in English 2025-2045 (Observer, Bulgaria, Feb 1 via DXLD) Anything from 14 to 19, just not found yet? (gh) ** ARGENTINA. 15820 LSB, Radio Continental, 0950-1005, 31-01, locutor, comentarios sobre titulares de prensa y sucesos. A las 1000 Identificación: "Servicios informativos Continental, titulares con Paulina Morán y Adrián Gaviria, las 7 de la mañana en Buenos Aires, 17 grados". Noticias, noticias de conflicto de la carne en Buenos Aires por incremento de los precios, conflicto Argentina Uruguay por papeleras (fábricas de celulosa). 25322 (Manuel Méndez, Grundig Satellit 500, Sony ICF SW 7600 G, Antena de cable, 10 metros, orientada WSW, Escuchas realizadas en Friol, 27 Km. W de Lugo, España, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARMENIA. 4810, Voice of Armenia, 1922-1938, 30-01, Fin del programa en alemán e inicio programa en inglés a las 1925: locutor: "This is The Voice of Armenia". 34333. También por 9965 con SINPO 44444. Mala modulación por ambas frecuencias (Manuel Méndez, Grundig Satellit 500, Sony ICF SW 7600 G, Antena de cable, 10 metros, orientada WSW, Escuchas realizadas en Friol, 27 Km. W de Lugo, España, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. Had a confirmation that 5050 ARDS is not an on air at present from Craig Edwards who is in the Northern Territory. He cannot hear 1530 either, but it is the wet season, and storms and static crashes abound. Thanks to Craig. Regards (John Wright, Australian Radio DX Club, 31st January 2006, DX LISTENING DIGEST) This from David Onley, the Australian Radio Dx club medium Wave editor. ARDS is not on 5050 khz; follow up of 30th January message. Here maybe the answer as below. Regards John Wright. NEW COMMUNITY RADIO SERVICE FOR ARNHEM LAND, NORTHERN TERRITORY ACMA Media Release 31 January 2006 MR 6/2006 The Australian Communications and Media Authority has decided to make channel capacity available for a new community radio service in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory. ACMA has made AM frequencies available for a community radio service at Nhulunbuy (1503 kHz), Yathalamarra (1593 kHz), Elcho Island (1566 kHz), Gapuwiyak (1476 kHz) and Darwin (1530 kHz). Nhulunbuy, Yathalamarra, Elcho Island and Gapuwiyak are located some 600 km east of Darwin. The decision follows a proposal from the Aboriginal Resource and Development Services Inc (ARDS), an aspirant community radio group wishing to establish a community broadcasting service in the Yolngu Matha language based in Nhulunbuy with translator services across north-east Arnhem Land and Darwin. ARDS has been operating services on a temporary community broadcasting licence at Nhulunbuy and Darwin since May 2004. On 1 November 2005, ACMA released for comment a proposal that MF-AM band channel capacity be made available for a permanent community radio service in Arnhem Land Six submissions which were all supportive of the proposal were received. ACMA will call for applications for the community radio licence later in 2006. A copy of the licence area plan is available on the ACMA website http://www.acma.gov.au/ACMAINTER.65650:STANDARD:1582295335:pc=PC_91708 or by calling Freecall 1800 810 241. Media Contact: Donald Robertson, ACMA Media Manager on (02) 9334 7890. (via David Onley MW/FM/Tropical Band DXer, http://people.aapt.net.au/~onley/ This message has been sent via the Australian - NZ - Asia MW group via John Wright, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. As referred to in at least one recent posting, Radio Australia seems to have finally gotten over that ridiculous mid- summer/Christmas season of mis-programming and we can finally hear Asia/Pacific and programs like Innovation in our North American mornings again. I listened to those Monday (1/30) here in the 1300 UT hour; didn't check for the Science Show at 1400 UT Sunday due to sleeping later while getting over a cold but will try next week if possible. At least that wretched call-in program that they've had all these weeks is gone. By the way, were the good programs (like Innovation & The Science Show) actually being produced and aired at other times during these weeks? Or were they on hiatus and not on the air domestically at all? If they WERE in existence, why on earth would RA not just air them? Who there thinks the overseas audience would want to hear that domestic call-in program? I don't even want to hear my own country's random callers, much less theirs. 73, (Will Martin, MO, Jan 31, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi William, the Radio Australia Science Show has indeed been airing every week without fail, although there does not seem to have been an archive kept of the Christmas Eve programme, apart from which I have heard every edition. Also, there do not appear to have been any repeats, unlike the 04/05 holiday season, when at least one repeat was noted, and there may have been others I missed (PAUL DAVID, Wembley Park, United Kingdom, ibid.) Actually, the past two weeks that call-in program was replaced on most days by coverage of the Australian Open tennis (which I enjoyed very much, thank you!). However, you are not alone in enjoying the fact that Asia/Pacific is back (Ted Schuerzinger, swprograms via DXLD) Hi, Paul! Thanks for the note! I guess you hear The Science Show at different times there in the UK. It hasn't been on at the 1405 UT Sunday time we here in the central US can most reliably hear RA; instead they've been airing different programming during that period. I hope it's back when I try for it next. 73, (Will Martin, ibid.) ** BELGIUM [non]. Updated B-05 for TDP via transmitters in Russia and Moldova: Denge Mezopotamya in Kurdish: 0500-1300 on 11530 KCH 300 kW / 116 deg to ME Daily 1300-1500 on 11530 KCH 500 kW / 116 deg to ME Daily 1500-1700 on 7590 KCH 500 kW / 116 deg to ME Daily Tensae Ethiopia Voice of Unity in Amharic: 1500-1600 on 12115 ARM 250 kW / 188 deg to EaAf Daily Voice of Liberty/Eritrea in Tigrigna: 1600-1700 on 9485 MSK 200 kW / 190 deg to EaAf Wed/Fri/Sun Voice of Oromo Liberation in Oromo: 1700-1730 on 7590 SAM 250 kW / 188 deg to EaAf Mon/Thu Voice of Ethiopian National United Front in Amharic: 1700-1800 on 7590 SAM 250 kW / 188 deg to EaAf Fri/Sun Voice of Ethiopian People in Amharic: 1700-1800 on 7380 SAM 250 kW / 188 deg to EaAf Tue/Sat (new for B-05) Radio Horyaal in Somali: 1730-1800 on 7560 ARM 250 kW / 188 deg to EaAf Sat-Thu Voice of Delina in Tigrigna: 1800-1900 on 7560 ARM 250 kW / 188 deg to EaAf Sun Radio Free Southern Cameroons in English: 1800-1900 on 12130 ARM 300 kW / 235 deg to NoAf Sun (new for B-05) (Observer, Bulgaria, Jan 31 via DXLD) ** BENIN. 5025, ORTB, Radio Benin, 1945-2010, 30-01, locutor, francés, comentarios, canciones africanas. Interferencia de Radio Rebelde en la misma frecuencia. 32332 (Manuel Méndez, Grundig Satellit 500, Sony ICF SW 7600 G, Antena de cable, 10 metros, orientada WSW, Escuchas realizadas en Friol, 27 Km. W de Lugo, España, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Muy temprano para Cuba, 3 pm EST (gh, DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 4732.7, Radio Virgen de Remedios, Tupiza, 1044+, January 17, Spanish, ID as: "Está sintonizando a Radio Virgen de Remedios...", religious program in Spanish with 25442 // 5744.1v (Arnaldo Slaen, Villa Giardino, Cordoba province, Argentina, HCDX via DXLD) 4734.1, Radio Virgen de Remedios, Tupiza, 0250+, January 19, Spanish, talk about the religious group called "Compañia de Jesus", 35433. 4781.6, Radio Tacana, Tumupasa, 0255+, January 19, Spanish, ID as: "Contigo Radio Tacana", music in spanish, ann.: "Radio Tacana presenta....minuto de reflexión....", 35443 (Arnaldo Slaen, Villa Giardino, Córdoba province, Argentina, condig list via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 4805, Radiodifusora do Amazonas, Manaus, 2155-2203, 30-01. Hasta las 2200 programa en cadena "A Voz do Brasil". "A Voz do Brasil, de segunda a sexta feira, boa noite". A las 2200 identificación: "Radiodifusora do Amazonas, Manaus, onda tropical 4805 kHz.". Interferencia de China National Radio, Qinghai en 4800 kHz. 22222 (Manuel Méndez, Grundig Satellit 500, Sony ICF SW 7600 G, Antena de cable, 10 metros, orientada WSW, Escuchas realizadas en Friol, 27 Km. W de Lugo, España, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 4845, Rádio Meteorologia Paulista, Ibitinga, SP, 0932+, January 17, Portuguese, local news: "agora, manchetes da Ibitinga e região....", TC: "7 y 32", program: "Grande Matutino", news about the Ibitinga Farm syndicate, local ads, 34433 (Arnaldo Slaen, Villa Giardino, Cordoba province, Argentina, HCDX via DXLD) ** BULGARIA. WRN begins regular DRM service to UK on SW via Bulgaria Feb 6: see DIGITAL BROADCASTING. How about an exact schedule already?? (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** BURMA [non]. NORWAY-BASED BURMESE RADIO CHANGES ASIA SAT-II FREQUENCY | Text of report by Norway-based Burmese Democratic Voice of Burma website on 28 January Dear listeners. There will be a slight change in the broadcasting frequency of the Democratic Voice of Burma [DVB] evening radio programmes transmitted through the satellite daily from 2100 to 2200 Burma Standard Time [1430-1530 gmt]. The programmes will be broadcasted as usual from Asia Sat-II at 4,000 MHz frequency with Symbol rate 28125 but the audio bit will be changed to 2314. There is no need to choose either left or right channel as before and the programme can be tuned in on audio bit 2314. The new frequency can be tuned in from 28 January and broadcasting from the original frequency will cease on Sunday, 5 February. Crisp and clear DVB evening radio programmes can be tuned in from Asia Sat- II satellite at 4,000 MHz frequency with Symbol rate 28125 on audio bit 2314 and PCR bit 8191 and also by selecting audio bit 2314, PCR bit 8191 of other TV channels such as RTP, RTR, RAI, and TVE from Asia Sat-II satellite. Source: Democratic Voice of Burma website, Oslo, in Burmese 1430 gmt 28 Jan 06 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CANADA [non]. Altho just yesterday I heard RCI in French as scheduled via Japan to Asia on 5985 in the 1430 semi-hour [6-020], today Jan 31 at 1448 check, besides the Myanmar het, it was RCI in English! With Ian Jones interviewing someone about the Hamas elexion. Rechecking http://www.rcinet.ca/rci/PDF/B05_SWa.pdf --- yes, this is supposed to be in French and the English which follows at 1500 is on different frequencies. BTW, after 1500, 5985 was still on, in Japanese. I assume it was NHK but cannot find any listings of any station on 5985 in Japanese at this hour; perhaps another screwup (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHILE. Test transmissions of CVC International in DRM mode from Jan. 16: 1800-1900 on 17640 SGO 015 kW / 340 deg CeAm M-F Voz Crista Spanish 1900-2000 on 17645 SGO 015 kW / 045 deg SoAm M-F La Voz Portuguese (Observer, Bulgaria, Jan 31 via DXLD) Got the IDs reversed (gh) ** CHILE. Voz Cristiana: Has anyone seen a QSL from these folks lately? My report to the address in Chile came back from the P.O. as either box closed or addressee unknown (I don't remember for sure), and I have not received a reply to the report I sent to the Florida address. Any ideas anyone (Jim Pogue, Memphis, TN, HCDX via DXLD) It is quite slow verifier. Look at the page http://www.schoechi.de/as-chl.html#Voz%20Cristiana bottom edge. (Reijo Alapiha, Joensuu, Finland, ibid.) ** CHILE. 6010, Radio Parinacota, Putre, 0410+, January 20, Spanish, retrax Radio Cooperativa programation, ann. as: "El Diario de Cooperativa le dijo lo que está pasando hasta este momento", other announcement as: "información y compañía, de la noche a la mañana, por Cooperativa", 24432 (Arnaldo Slaen, Villa Giardino, Córdoba province, Argentina, HCDX via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. Hola amigos radioescuchas, he comprobado que Radio Exterior de España ya no emite por la frecuencia de 3350 kHz desde Cariari, Costa Rica, les solicité información sobre el motivo de no emitir en esta frecuencia y esta es la contestación de Pilar Salvador Marco de REE: "Estimado amigo: Efectivamente, desde Cariari en Costa Rica, emitimos habitualmente en la frecuencia de 3350 kHz pero en el periodo marzo- octubre. Si el Departamento de Ingeniería de Frecuencias lo estima oportuno, también emitiremos en esta frecuencia a partir de 25 de marzo. En nuestra página web http://www.ree.rne.es están disponibles todas las frecuencias de emisión. Reciba un cordial saludo, Pila Salvador M., Relaciones con la Audiencia, Radio Exterior de España (via José Bueno, Spain, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hmmm, now wouldn`t using a lower band be the thing to do in the winter and not in the summer? Another oddity of REE`s frequency management (gh, DXLD) ** CUBA [non]. Rechecked R. República at the end of Jan 31 UT and the beginning of Feb 1: At 2358, 6135 closed referring to 6010, but again showed up at 2359 on 7205 instead. Jamming continues on 6010, none heard yet on 7205. At 0000, RHC had not come up yet on 5965, so I was able to detect maybe one vagrant bubble jammer left on that frequency. RR on 7160 continued with separate programming, jamming (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Nice catch on 7205 kHz, Glenn. 7160 was on at 0140+ at or just above the bubble jammer with female announcer and Cuban (Florida ­ Cuban?) music. Ballads mostly. 6010 was heavily jammed still and I could only hear the splash from CRI on 6005 (no indication of Radio Mil.) I have been checking most nights, and have only logged the jammer on 6010 since at least 1/22/06. 7110. Came on at scheduled 0200 on the dot under bubble jamming which started about 0155. Incidentally, there is still a Cuban bubble jammer under the subversive Radio Habana Cuba in Spanish on 5965 which was playing rather nice baroque music from 0145 to 0200 UT. And the jammer was still bubbling away when the subversive Radio Sweden opened in Swedish on the otherwise unoccupied 6010 at 0200 (Mark Taylor, WI, UT Feb 1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio República on 7205 Feb. 1 at O039. Strong signal here in Madrid with no jamming. Is this coming from Europe? (Marty Delfín, Madrid, Spain, Feb 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, but the jamming will inevitably follow eventually (gh, DXLD) ** EGYPT. RADIO EL CAIRO, Emisiones en Español, PROGRAMACION PRIMER SEMESTRE 2006 --- Gracias por publicarla! Horario: 0045-0200 (UT) (GMT) Horario de verano: 0345-0500 am. Tiempo local de El Cairo Horario de invierno: 0245-0400 am. Tiempo local de El Cairo Onda corta. Banda de 31 metros, Frecuencia 9415 KHZ. Banda de 41 metros, Frecuencia 7270 KHZ. Vía satélite: Nilesat 7 grados oeste, frecuencia 11766 GHZ polaridad horizontal, Programa No. 7 Programa español, Apartado postal 566, El Cairo, Egipto Correo electrónico: Radioelcairoespa @ yahoo.com Programas permanentes: [quiere decir: diarios] GMT 0047 Música 0048 Resumen de las principales noticias 0100 Primer noticiario 0150 Noticias de última hora Programas diarios [quiere decir: semanales] GMT Domingo 0050 Egiptologia 0110 Comentario político 0115 El Cairo contesta 0135 Egipto al vuelo 0140 Personalidades y eventos GMT Lunes 0050 Mensaje del Islam 0110 Comentario político 0115 Tema semanal 0130 Charla Variada 0140 Papel y lápiz GMT Martes 0050 Tarjeta postal 0110 Luces sobre Oriente Medio 0120 Panorama egipcio 0130 Ultimas ediciones sobre Egipto 0140 Historia de la Civilización Árabe GMT Miércoles 0050 Cultura Islámica 0110 Comentario político 0115 El cancionero egipcio 0130 El deporte en una semana 0140 Preguntas y respuestas GMT Jueves 0050 Cruce de civilizaciones 0110 Comentario político 0115 El micrófono en la calle 0130 Perspectiva latinoamericana 0140 Tesoros de Egipto 0145 De la Enciclopedia Egipcia GMT Viernes 0050 Exegesis del Corán 0110 Comentario político 0120 Del patrimonio cultural 0130 Amplie sus conocimientos 0135 El Cairo contesta GMT Sábado 0050 Tarjeta Postal 0110 Comentario 0120 Música latinoamericana 0135 Tradiciones y costumbres 0140 La Mujer Egipcia Radio El Cairo en Espanol: Dir Gral. Sanaa Makledl Dir. Dr Ahmed. Locutores: Veronica Balderas, Assia Lamarty, Mahmoud, Mohamed, Abdel Alim Nagaa, Naglaa, Nancy, Rana (R. El Cairo, Feb 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA. All seven domestic shortwaves heard Jan. 30 at 1830, all fair-good with good modulation, 6350 best, 9704 weakest: R. Ethiopia 5990, 7110, 9704, R. Fana 6210, 6940, V. of Tigre Revolution 5500, 6350 (Thorsten Hallmann, Münster, Germany, http://www.africalist.de.ms Jan 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EUROPE. Re: Mystery Radio: Several E-mails addresses bounced back? No wonder; they only had one address mysteryradio @ hotmail.com but even that one is now closed. They even do not have a mail box and they are NOT from Great Britain as some loggers assume again and again. For those who are interested in up-to-date pirate loggings please join the Dr. Tim Pirate Radio News - (nearly) all pirate logs from the weekend in Europe (SW and MW) - every Monday via E-mail (two mails in txt format). Language is German, but that does not matter if looking at the logs. Enter your address in the reg. box at http://www.schoechi.de/mailing.html and send me a short mail with your name/location. We are bit cautious with new members. That`s why the Dr. Tim news do not have a homepage or an online-version (Martin Schöch, Jan 31, HCDX via DXLD) ** FRANCE. Paris Live Radio on air soon. The CSA (the French radio authority) has given the go-ahead to Paris Live Radio, an English- language station aimed at foreign visitors and English-speaking residents in the French capital, for a three month test period on 963 kHz. No date was mentioned but March 24 is generally believed to be the target date. 73s, (Rimy Friess, France, Jan 31, MWC via DXLD) ** HONDURAS. 3340, Radio Misiones Internacionales, 0535-0601, 31-01, locutor, comentarios religiosos: "Amarás al prójimo como a tí mismo". Identificación: "Radio Misiones Internacionales". Cierre a las 0601. 24222. 4819.2, HRVC, La Voz Evangélica, Tegucigalpa, 0550-0805, 31-01, locutor, comentarios religiosos, locutora: "Alabemos al Señor Jesucristo". A las 0800 identificación: "La Voz Evangélica de Honduras". 24322 (Manuel Méndez, Grundig Satellit 500, Sony ICF SW 7600 G, Antena de cable, 10 metros, orientada WSW, Escuchas realizadas en Friol, 27 Km. W de Lugo, España, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. MEDIA OUTLETS SEEN LIKELY TO DEFY NEWS REBROADCAST BAN | Excerpt from "Asia-Pacific" programme broadcast by Radio Australia on 1 February [Presenter Linda LoPresti] Media outlets in Indonesia have vowed to defy a government ban on the use of foreign news services when it comes into effect next week. From 5 February, it will be illegal for radio and television stations to broadcast news programmes directly from foreign services such as Radio Australia, the BBC and others. The law has been on the books for the past four years, but was amended last year by the present government. Critics say the amendments are a throwback to Suharto-era repression, but the government remains determined to push them through. Karon Snowdon reports. [Snowdon] The new regulation is opposed by many in the parliament as well as media organizations. [passage omitted] It appears to be a battle of wills between the Communication Ministry, which is determined to enforce the law, with its amendments, and the independent parliamentary broadcast commission, which was created by the 2002 law. Santoso, a director of the independent national radio network 68H and a member of the Press Council, says the original intention was to hand control of media regulation from the government to the broadcast commission, the KPI. He believes the new regulation sabotages the commission and sets back media freedom in Indonesia, [sic] [Santoso] This new regulation is not in line with the freedom of the press that we enjoy in the last seven years. So this [is] very bad work from the point of view of press freedom here. [Snowdon] Are foreign news items or services used very extensively in Indonesia? [Santoso] They have become a long [-time] friend for Indonesian listeners, because during the authoritarian regime the people relied on foreign broadcasters to have true, good information. [Snowdon] But are they so necessary now, when Indonesia has a quite diverse media of its own? [Santoso] It's still needed, as a more plural information. So I think as far as the listeners still want it, then there is no right from any parties, also for the government, to ban that. [Snowdon] Radio Australia itself has more than 30 so-called partner stations in Indonesia which broadcast some of its programmes. There are other similar international services - including the BBC, Voice of America and Deutsche Welle - which will be affected. Direct shortwave broadcasts of those networks, as well as cable and satellite services, will be unaffected. "Asia-Pacific's" attempts to speak with the communications minister, Sofyan Djalil, or any officer from his department were unfortunately unsuccessful. Media comments attributed to the minister say he will allow local stations to edit foreign programmes before they play them - a suggestion unlikely to be popular with the foreign programme makers. And Santoso, from Radio 68H, says among the new regulations is one giving the minister power to approve the appointment of directors to public media companies. [Santoso] The banning of foreign broadcasters is only part of the problem. There a lot of things that are very bad from these regulations. Like, for example, if I am a director of radio and the company have a shareholder, to change the directors [as heard]. Now we can do it independently, automatically, if the shareholder meeting decided. But then next time, you will need approval from the minister of information. So it's a way of control that's also happened some years ago before, under Suharto. [Snowdon] And perhaps just as his radio station, 68H, was established and operated during the more dangerous repression of the Suharto years, Santoso believes radio and TV stations now will continue to collaborate with foreign broadcasters in defiance of the new laws. Source: Radio Australia, Melbourne, in English 1005 gmt 1 Feb 06 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. USA -- Radio Farda. WRTH 2006 says broadcasts are jammed, but we`re hearing them in Persian clear in Madrid on 15410. At 1535 UT on Jan. 30, they were broadcasting popular Arabic music and Puerto Rican rap songs. Didn`t know rap was really big in Iran (Marty Delfín, Madrid, Spain, Feb 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [non]. AL-AHWAZ TV NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE | Text of report by Clandestine Radio Watch e-mail newsletter on 1 February Al-Ahwaz TV, an independent, grassroots broadcaster transmitting to the Ahwazi Arab homeland, is now available online at http://www.ahwazmedia.tv Al-Ahwaz TV has been transmitting to the Ahwazi homeland in Iran since 2004, broadcast on the Assyrian television channel. The station and its journalists are supported by a number of Ahwazi non-governmental organizations and their supporters, including the Democratic Solidarity Party of Al-Ahwaz and the British Ahwazi Friendship Society. It promotes non-violent opposition to the Iranian regime and advocates democratic change, focussing on the Ahwazi Arabs, who are indigenous to southwest Iran. Al-Ahwaz TV seeks to hand the media back to the Ahwazis, who are oppressed, marginalized and discriminated against. Source: Clandestine Radio Watch e-mail newsletter, Merseburg, in English 1 Feb 06 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** ISLE OF MAN. The new Long Wave station set to broadcast from an offshore platform off the Isle of Man has been given approval by the island's regulator to delay its launch until the 1st May 2006. To find out more, please subscribe ... Radio Magazine. http://www.internet-today.co.uk/radiomag/home.cfm (via Mike Terry, UK, Jan 31, dxldyg via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. Glenn, I`m looking for North Korea web site or frequency sched with no luck; can u help? Thanks (Daryl Rocker, Herkimer, NY --- PS, love the show, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Daryl, There is not one, but this is unofficial, from the Media Network hitlist: http://www2.starcat.ne.jp/~ndxc/nk.htm (Glenn to Daryl via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. 5890, Jan 31, 1430, RUSSIA: Shiokaze (Sea Breeze) via Irkutsk. In English on Tuesdays since this week, thanks to Ohtake tip. IDing as "This is Shiokaze - Sea Breeze from Tokyo, Japan". After presentation went to reading the names of the missing persons year by year according to the list on http://www.chosa-kai.jp/indexeng.htm (Mauno Ritola, Finland, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KURDISTAN [non]. CLANDESTINE: 3969.2, Voice of Iranian Kurdistan, 0321+, January 19, Kurdish, local music, jamming, 22332. After, at 0350 UT time, I listened this station on 3959.2 (Arnaldo Slaen, Villa Giardino, Cordoba province, Argentina, condig list via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [non?]. 6335, Voice of Iraqi Kurdistan, 0345+, January 17, Vernacular, very nice local songs, 25332 (Arnaldo Slaen, Villa Giardino, Cordoba province, Argentina, HCDX via DXLD) ** KUWAIT. 9714.9, Information Radio-Commando Solo station (presumed), Jewan, 0509+, January 20, Arabic, Kor`an, tlk by male, 25442 (Arnaldo Slaen, Villa Giardino, Córdoba province, Argentina, condig list via DXLD) ** LIBYA [and non]. Hi list, Who can help me with the following tips? CLANDESTINES AND UNID, 17660, UNID African, 1225-1430*, Feb 1st (also Jan 30th), playing African style pop music, very nice! I was trying for new Libyan clandestine Sowt Al-Amel and heard some ``Arab music`` far back in the background and also a lot of jamming from time to time. My guess first was that the music station was something intended to make interference to the Libyan clandestine, but why jam as well??? The music was sometimes in French and seemed coming from Congo or similar. Help! 73 from (Björn Fransson, DX-ing on the island of Gotland, Sweden, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Saludos cordiales, chequeando las frecuencias de 17660 y 17665 desde las 1305, se observa que Al-amel está transmitiendo por 17665, habitual programación en árabe, con ID, locutor con comentarios y locutora; a las 1320 con canto del Cor`án. Sin embargo por los 17660 se aprecia una emisión de música afropop y cantos africanos; también se aprecia el habitual jamming por parte de Libia. Las transmisiones no coinciden, el SINPO de ésta emisión varía entre 44333 y 43332. Por otra parte la trasmisión de Al-amel en 17665 con mucho ruido no se ve interferida por la música árabe Libia, aunque casi le perjudica más la transmisión de la música afropop en 17660. En 17670 no se aprecia a Al-amel, pero sí el ruido que acompaña a su emisión; desconozco si es algún tipo de interferencia pero en otras frecuencias adyacentes no se aprecia. A las 1400 termina la emisión de Al-amel en 17665, también la jamming Libanesa [sic] en 17660; sin embargo en esta frecuencia continúa la emisión de música afropop y reggae, el SINPO 55544. También desaparece el ruido, probablemente algún tipo jamming; sonaba cómo una sierra eléctrica. En la siguiente web se puede escuchar un audio del tipo de música que se emite en 17660. http://valenciadx.multiply.com/music La duda surge con ésta nueva transmisión en 17660 desde las 1400-1430, sin ID y tampoco sin ningún tipo de comentario, ¿quizás alguna emisión de prueba? (José Miguel Romero, Spain, Feb 1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Monitored both 17660 and 17665 from 1155: 17660: Tones over African music, 1200 Arabic music station came on with undetermined and slightly distorted identification followed by continuous music 17665: Fast tones jamming signal, 1200 Sowt-al-Amal signed on into commentaries (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth Garden City, England, Feb 1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBYA. ANALYSIS: LIBYA SAYS IT WILL ALLOW PRIVATE MEDIA | Editorial analysis by Peter Feuilherade of BBC Monitoring Media Services on 31 January Libya says that during the next 12 months it will allow the launch of private newspapers, radio and television stations, after 36 years of tight state control over all domestic media. The move marks another step in Libya's bid for international rehabilitation. The report came soon after a US-based NGO monitoring freedom across the world said Libya had a long way to go before it met international human rights standards. The opening-up to private media is being driven by Libyan leader Mu'ammar al-Qadhafi's son, Sayf al-Islam, through a Libyan company called 1/9 Media - a reference to the 1 September 1969 revolution which brought Qadhafi to power. 1/9 Media has signed a 16-million-dollar dollar contract with the German company Heidelberg to build a modern printing facility in the capital Tripoli, and will team up with Western publications, the French news agency AFP reported on 27 January. An official from 1/9 Media, Abd al-Salam al-Mushri, told AFP: "We have signed several contracts with international printing houses to distribute in Libya around 50 international and Arab publications, namely the US magazine Newsweek, Germany's Der Spiegel and the French newspaper Le Monde." In September, a daily newspaper published in cooperation with the London-based Financial Times will launch, Mushri said, adding that none of the publications would be censored. As for the broadcast media, Mushri said that in March this year 1/9 Media would launch a radio station, followed by a satellite TV channel in 2007. "Stranglehold" on media Media analysts say that by allowing non-state enterprises to enter the media sector, Libya hopes to advance its international rehabilitation. Sayf al-Islam Qadhafi is on record as telling the international press that Libya's official newspapers are "bland" and that "nobody reads them". He has also called for "freeing the media from the stranglehold of the state." However, the Libyan media establishment do not all share the views of the son of the Brother Leader, as Colonel Qadhafi is known. The head of Libya's press association Abd al-Razaq al-Dahash said he was opposed to the emergence of private media. Privatization "will limit" the media's freedom because they will be "influenced by the orientation of the owner," Dahash, who is also editor of the Al-Jamahiriya newspaper, told AFP news agency. However, Abd al-Salam Aouir, a member of the Libyan journalists' syndicate, said the development was "an important step forward, because Libyan media are behind other countries, and this project will provide a radical solution to the problem." Access to outside news Libya has four main official newspapers as well as one state television and one state radio station. State TV has a domestic terrestrial channel and an external satellite service. The Libyan Jamahiriyah Broadcasting Corporation is the national broadcaster. It also operates an external radio service, the Voice of Africa. There are no privately-owned radio or TV stations. Some international publications are available, but authorities routinely censor them and occasionally ban their entry into the country. The Paris-based media watchdog Reporters Sans Frontieres commented in its 2005 annual report: "The media landscape has been atrophied by years of appalling repression and submission to government authority. Self-censorship is generalised and total. Foreign reporters who visit the country - when they manage to obtain one of the rare visas to be granted - are closely watched." But the internet and satellite TV, which is widely viewed, provide Libyans with some access to uncensored news. Although the government has occasionally blocked some internet sites, there are dozens of opposition or independent websites based abroad. Since the 1980s a Libyan opposition group in exile, the National Front for the Salvation of Libya (NFSL), has at various times operated radio stations targeting audiences in Libya. The group's latest venture is a station called Sawt al-Amal (Voice of Hope), which began broadcasting via satellite in September 2005. The satellite broadcasts were suspended after they were jammed by Libya, with consequent disruption to UK and US television broadcasts as well as diplomatic and military communications traffic sharing the two satellites involved, Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) reported on 7 December 2005. In January 2006 Sawt al-Amal was heard again, this time broadcasting on shortwave to Libya. BBC Monitoring has observed that the shortwave broadcasts are also subjected to deliberate jamming. More rights reform needed - NGO As Libya emerges from long-term international isolation, the government has made moves to improve human rights, including the recent release of 14 political prisoners. But the Libyan government "continues to hold political prisoners, conduct unfair trials and severely restrict free speech and association", the New York-based organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report released on 26 January. The report was based on a fact-finding visit HRW made to Libya in mid- 2005, which the organization praised as "a welcome step towards transparency". The organization noted that "freedom of expression is severely curtailed, although Libyan lawyers, academics and journalists are slowly beginning to address topics previously taboo. A pervasive security service monitors the population, and self-censorship is rife." Human Rights Watch representatives say that would-be reformists in Libya are currently battling an old guard that seeks to retain its grip on power. "We welcome Libya's first steps towards reform... But the government has a long road to travel before it meets the international standards of human rights," said Kenneth Roth, HRW executive director. Source: BBC Monitoring research 31 Jan 06 (via DXLD) See also UNIDENTIFIED ** LUXEMBOURG. Last fall, Lisa V, Radio Luxembourg`s morning DJ, assured listeners that the new DRM receivers to pick up RTL would be out before the end of the year. Now she says they´ll be out shortly and will let listeners know. In the meantime, the best way is to listen is via their Internet stream http://www.radioluxembourg.co.uk (Marty Delfín, Madrid, Spain, Feb 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALDIVE ISLANDS [non]. MALDIVIAN "FIRST-EVER INDEPENDENT RADIO" APPEALS FOR FUNDS | Text of report by Sri Lankan-based Maldivian Minivan News website on 31 January Minivan Radio is inviting well-wishers and those wishing to make donations to help sustain our broadcasts to the Maldives. For your information, Minivan Radio began beaming a daily one-hour programme in Dhivehi language in August 2004 in the aftermath of a police crackdown on peaceful protesters calling on the government to end human rights abuses and demanding political reforms. This is a SW programme that began with the help of individuals who contributed to support this independent channel. Radio broadcasts have always been controlled by the Maldivian government, and Minivan Radio is the first-ever independent radio of its kind. Our objectives are to provide unbiased and uncensored information to the listeners based in the far away islands and to give them a channel through which they can express freely so that in time they are able to lose their fear in expressing their views. During the Asian tsunami in December 2004, Minivan Radio was able to inform the listeners regarding relief efforts and helped the islanders in re-establishing communication links. We have also been able to focus on the political and social developments taking shape in the Maldives, bringing to our listeners uncensored news which is normally blocked by the government. Within a population of over 300,000, Minivan Radio is estimated to reach 70 per cent of listeners, and has become a popular source of information. Those wishing to help us sustain this service can contact us via e- mail. Our e-mail address is minivanradio @ gmail.com Source: Minivan News website, Colombo, in English 0000 gmt 31 Jan 06 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** MEXICO. XETRA-690 FORMAT CHANGE IMMINENT - POSSIBLE SILENT PERIODS? XETRA is announcing that today is the last day of their "fabulous 6-90 the lounge" format. On-air personalities are all fired as of 7pm tonight. They will be playing a list of top 100 "last songs" from about 10 am to 7 pm PST =- UT -8], which they will repeat on Friday. The new owners/format take over after the Friday night broadcast. It's not clear what (if anything) the station will air between 7 pm tonight and Friday, so be on the lookout for possible silent periods. 73, (Tim Hall, Chula Vista, CA, Jan 31, IRCA via DXLD) Cf 6-020, taken over by Spain`s PRISA, maybe to relay a network from DF (gh) ** MOLDOVA. Re Chris Lewis in UK picking up Radio PMR in English on 5960 at 1705 UT (6-020). I am getting a strong carrier between 5961 and 5962 with splatter from RAI at 5965 at s/on 1700 every day. Weak on announced 5960. No side tuning here. If I was I would be tuning downward to avoid RAI on upper frequency. Announcer still insists that broadcasts are intended for Europe AND North America. Is anyone on your side of the pond picking them up? (Marty Delfín, Madrid, Spain, Feb 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MONGOLIA. 4830, Mongolian National Radio, 2216-2245, 30-01, locutor, programa en mongol, comentarios, canciones de Mongolia. 34333. En paralelo con 4895 con peor señal. SINPO 14311 (Manuel Méndez, Grundig Satellit 500, Sony ICF SW 7600 G, Antena de cable, 10 metros, orientada WSW, Escuchas realizadas en Friol, 27 Km. W de Lugo, España, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MOROCCO [non]. BERBER TV SET TO BEGIN BROADCASTING FROM NETHERLANDS | Text of report by Algerian newspaper Liberte website on 31 January Amazigh TV is a private channel set up by a group of [Moroccan] Rif region natives living in Tilburg, in the Netherlands, from which location it will broadcast its programmes starting in January 2007. The goal of this new channel, which is of an informational and educational nature, is to promote exchanges and the promotion of Amazigh [Berber] culture directed first at the Diaspora of immigrants so as to allow the maintenance of their culture and promote their integration. The programmes will be broadcast in Dutch (40 per cent) and Tamazight [the Berber language] (30 per cent) as well as German, French and Spanish. The programming will favour artistic and cultural production, history, children's news programmes, handicrafts, and, obviously debates on current news topics. According to its promoters, it will be possible to pick Amazigh TV up in all of North Africa and Western Europe. Source: Liberte website, Algiers, in French 31 Jan 06 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. Re KGYN 1210 Guymon missing: Spanish is a weekend thing on KGYN, and has been for at least four years. Right now, I have on 1210 interview show with Oklahoma State basketball coach --- in English. It'd be nice to have this dominant station off, but no such luck. "The Sports Station for the High Plains, KGYN, Guymon-Boise City" ID 8 pm TOH. (Boise pronounced Boyss). ABC News followed. Dominant in Krum. Qal R. Mann (John R. Callarman, TX, Jan 30, ABDX via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA [and non]. Ran across loud & clear contact on so-called ``60 meter`` hamband frequency of 5330.5, Jan 31 at 1455; two guys with really deep country accents, one more so than other, and on slightly different frequencies, which made listening on SSB annoying. Mostly discussion of problems with welding until it warms up. They are pleased with the skip distance on this band, which works better for them than higher or lower bands. Never any IDs in numerous handovers, just ``go ahead``. Finally QRT at 1505 by Emmett, KM5JD, and the other one, KN0CE(?). ARRL callsign search shows: LITTEN, EMETTE R, KM5JD (Extra), RT1 BOX 169, ALLEN, OK 74825 I thought he said KN5JD, but nothing found there in ARRL callsign lookup; nor anything found for KM0CE, KN0CE, KM0ZE or KN0CE. Would it be too much trouble to give your callsigns phonetically, and a little more often? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN. Frequency changes for Radio Pakistan: 1330-1530 Urdu WS NF 9375, ex 9385 to avoid Voice of America in Korean till 1500 1600-1615 English NF 9375, ex 9385 (Observer, Bulgaria, Jan 31 via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 7120, Wantok Radio Light, Port Moresby, 0856+ January 17, English, talk by male, very mentions to Australia, , song, ID as: "Wantok Radio ...broadcasting network... FM ...and shortwave", 25442 (Arnaldo Slaen, Villa Giardino, Cordoba province, Argentina, HCDX via DXLD) ** PERU. 4966.1, Radio Santa Ana, Quillabamba, 1018+, January 17, Quechua/Spanish, Andean music, TC: "5 de la mañana con 20 minutos" ID as: "Radio Santa Ana...", local ads: "Panadería Oropesa...", other ID as: "Sigan en sintonía con la Radio Santa Ana", huaynos, 25442. Listened on January 18 on 4965.9 (Arnaldo Slaen, Villa Giardino, Cordoba province, Argentina, HCDX via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. ute: 6617, 'Rostov na Donu' Air with weather in Russian at 1755 using AM mode S7 34433 and IDing at 1800* (Zacharias Liangas, Greece, Jan 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA [non]. KAZAKHSTAN, B-05 for Voice of Orthodox in Russian: 1630-1700 on 7460 A-A 200 kW / 310 deg Tue/Fri to WeEu (Observer, Bulgaria, Jan 31 via DXLD) ** SCOTLAND [non]. February Changes at Radio Six International --- Starting on Wednesday, February 1st 2006, the following schedule will operate, all times are UT of course:- 0000-0200 Sat, Sun 88.5 MHz (LPFM Tawa, New Zealand) 0300-0500 Mon 7415 kHz ( 50 kW, Monticello, Maine, USA) 0700-0800 Sat 9290 kHz (100 kW, Ulbroka, Latvia); 945 kHz ( 2.7 kW, Riga, Latvia); 88.5 MHz (LPFM, Tawa, New Zealand) 0800-0900 2nd Sun 13840 kHz ( 20 kW, via IRRS) 0930-1030 2nd Sat 13840 kHz ( 20 kW, via IRRS) 2000-2100 DAILY 945 kHz ( 2.7 kW, Riga, Latvia); 2nd Thu only also 5775 kHz ( 20 kW, via IRRS) 2300-0000 Fri, Sat 88.5 MHz (LPFM Tawa, New Zealand) 0000-2359 DAILY http://www.radiosix.com The 1200 Sunday transmission on 9290 kHz has been withdrawn. Regards (TONY CURRIE, Programme Director, radio six international, Jan 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Nice QSL card from Radio Six for the Latvia relay in about 2 weeks for report to Scotland and $1 US. Fun station, really enjoy them. I was excited to see them relay via WBCQ on Sunday's but there is terrible QRM or transmitter noise at my location in Eastern NC. Anyone else notice? (Russell Lay, Nags Head, NC, Jan 31, HCDX via DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. ITALY [non]. Updated schedule for Brother Stair via IRRS-Shortwave from Jan. 27: 0600-0655 5775 ??? 030 kW / non-dir Dly Eu/ME/NoAf, ex 0530-0655 0700-1555 13840 ??? 030 kW / non-dir M-F Eu/ME/NoAf 1600-1800 5775 ??? 030 kW / non-dir M-F Eu/ME/NoAf, ex 1600-1730 2000-2300 5785 ??? 100 kW / non-dir M-F Eu/ME/NoAf (Observer, Bulgaria, Jan 31 via DXLD) ??? == like, BULGARIA??? (gh) ** SWEDEN. RCI/RNW/RSI on odd frequencies via HB 350 kW, all minus 700 Hz from nominal: 0000-0030 on 5854.3 / 085 deg RCI in Chinese 0300-0400 on 5839.3 / 135 deg RCI in Arabic 0700-0757 on 6014.3 / 190 deg RNW in Dutch 0900-1057 on 6034.3 / 190 deg RNW in Dutch 1100-1110 on 9489.3 / 190 deg RSI in Swedish Mon-Fri 1100-1130 on 9489.3 / 190 deg RSI in Swedish Sat/Sun 1130-1140 on 11609.3 / 070 deg RSI in Swedish Mon-Fri 1130-1200 on 11609.3 / 070 deg RSI in Swedish Sat/Sun 1200-1210 on 15239.3 / 290 deg RSI in Swedish Mon-Fri 1200-1230 on 15239.3 / 290 deg RSI in Swedish Sat/Sun 1300-1330 on 12074.3 / 055 deg RSI in Russian 1330-1400 on 7419.3 / 040 deg RSI in English 1400-1430 on 9529.3 / 085 deg RSI in Russian 1500-1530 on 5849.3 / 055 deg RSI in Russian 1600-1630 on 5839.3 / 085 deg RCI in Russian 1645-1715 on 7419.3 / 140 deg RSI in Swedish Mon-Fri 1645-1700 on 7419.3 / 140 deg RSI in Swedish Sat/Sun 1700-1730 on 7419.3 / 140 deg RSI in Kurdish Sat 1700-1715 on 7419.3 / 140 deg RSI in Asyrian Sun 1715-1730 on 7419.3 / 140 deg RSI in Kurdish Sun 1800-1900 on 5849.3 / 245 deg RCI in French 1900-1930 on 5819.3 / 120 deg RSI in Swedish 2100-2200 on 5849.3 / 245 deg RCI in English Monitored on Jan. 27-30, 2006 (Observer, Bulgaria, Jan 31 via DXLD) How odd! (gh, DXLD) ** TIBET [non]. TAJIKISTAN (non), Frequency change for Voice of Tibet in Tibetan and Chinese: 1430-1518 NF 7460 DB 100 kW / 131 deg, ex 7465 to avoid BBC WS in DRM mode (Observer, Bulgaria, Jan 31 via DXLD) ** UKRAINE. New frequency for North America --- Hello, Glenn! From February 1 RUI will broadcast at 0000 to 0500 to North America on frequency of 5880 kHz instead of 5910 kHz. Hope there will be no essential interference to RUI in America, and the same from RUI to BBC and R. Vatican here in Europe, because they broadcast to different zones. Thank you very much for help, and we shall be very grateful for your comments to our reception conditions in America. Best regards, (Alexander Yegorov, RUI, Jan 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Weak signal on 5880 from 0000 UT Feb 1, presumably RUI; in the clear and nothing on either side, so seems like a winner, ex-5910. How is it further east, and during the English hours to follow at 0100 and 0400? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Alexander, I`m glad you found my suggestion usable. I checked 5880 from time to time tonight. The signal was really too weak to be usable here in Oklahoma, but at least it was in the clear --- nothing audible co-channel, and not too much on adjacent channels. However, the powerful VOA/Thailand relay signals from the coasts on 5890 might be a problem for some. I hope your signal will pick up as spring approaches, but I suppose you will be looking at a higher band for A- 06, won`t you? (Glenn to Alexander Yegorov, RUI, via DXLD) RUI in the clear here at 0020 tune in on 5880 running S9 +. However, soon splattered at 0030 from Radio Thailand in English via Greenville on 5890 and seemingly BBC in Dari via Cyprus on 5875 (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, USA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Very strong Feb 1, 2006 at 0106 UT with News in English, S9+20. Not really bothered by adjacent QRM except a bit of a het and the transmitter hum (Wade Smith, New Brunswick, ibid.) ** U K. A few weeks ago, on trying to listen to the programme Inside the Premier League on BBC WS, I discovered that the programme on the website was in fact from 24 October 2005. I have actually heard the programme these last 2 weeks, but missed it today. On checking the website to try to listen to today's programme, I noted that the programme on the website was *still* the programme from 24 October. It seems they are living in a time warp and, even as I type this message, a missive is being composed ready to be fired off to Write On to find out what is going off (PAUL DAVID, Wembley Park, United Kingdom, Jan 30, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) Paul: Some time ago on Write On, a listener made a similar complaint about a persistent problem that went uncorrected (and apparently unchecked). The friendly BBC executive who was called upon to reply admitted that with all the various streams and platforms, the BBC really could not monitor its output. Therefore, it had to rely on listeners to inform them when something goes awry. So, your e-mail should be welcome! P.S.: Remember those days of yore when the BBC actually knew what was happening where and would issue an apology to listeners for "a break in transmission lasting xx minutes", even if most of the audience never knew it? Now that's what I call a commitment to excellence. Passé, I suppose, today.... everything is a beta test (John Figliozzi, ibid.) Re Write On acknowledging such problems: They DO seem to pay attention. If you listened to the latest Write On, at the very end you had the delight of hearing my name mentioned as one of the correspondents that wrote them reporting that Write On's *own* on-line recording was defective (missing the first couple minutes). Now, whether the problems actually get fixed is another issue... :-) 73, (Will Martin, Swprograms mailing list) ** U S A. Rumors have reached us about imminent drastic cuts in the output of VOA, RFE/RL and possibly other IBB outlets, on shortwave, as of Feb. 1. If you find your favorite, or any such frequencies missing, that may be why. Please report your monitoring results on this. PS: Happy birthday, VOA! (Glenn Hauser, Jan 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: THE VOA IS DEAD Circle February 1, 2006, on your calendars. That's the day VOA ceases to be a significant global broadcaster on shortwave. Note the last- minute nature of this communication and the non-sequiturs given as reasoning for this death blow. VOA dies so that radios Martí, Fardá, Sawa and Al Hurra can live? Gimme a break. Norm Pattiz may be gone, but his sorry legacy lives on (John Figliozzi, NY, Jan 31, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2006 5:43 PM Subject: Transmission Reductions Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2006 07:45:00 -0500 From: George Moore, Director of IBB Engineering and Technical Services Gentlemen, Fiscal Year 2006 and 2007 budget constraints for the Broadcasting Board of Governors require implementation of across the board efficiencies so that our overall broadcast mission can concentrate on its support of this country's war on terrorism. The nation's need to secure and bolster its defenses against terrorism, the terrible damage and cost of recovery caused by hurricane Katrina, added to an already high U.S. Government budget deficit, means that our broadcasting mission must become more focused. In realignment of funding for 06 and 07, we have to reduce shortwave transmissions throughout the network for most of our broadcast services. Approximately 90,000 transmission hours will come off of the network. These reductions will provide greater flexibility within the network for Engineering to realign its transmission assets to achieve maximum effectiveness for its target areas. Operational orders implementing these reductions will be sent to all stations in the next few days, effective February 1st, that will provide further details of the individual station reductions. In addition to these reductions, it is possible that further efficiencies will be necessary to meet the budgetary goals and objectives that have been established by the President. As you may "read" into this message, the next few years are going to require the Agency to make very difficult decisions. I'm providing you with as much information on the budget situation as I can at this time. You may use the information in this email to brief your staff, as they will be concerned when they see the reduced schedule. Very Best - George (via John Figliozzi, et al., DX LISTENING DIGEST) Assuming that ``90,000 transmission hours`` means per YEAR, that comes to over 245 hours per DAY that are being cut. I.e. 10 frequencies if they were running 24 hours, which none of them are, so many more frequencies are involved. This could lead essentially to killing off several language services, and even relay sites (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) That doesn't sound encouraging at all. So the IBB exists to fight the war on terrorism? That's it? Then it would seem all we need is "Radio Washington" and "Radio Station Peace and Progress", and both would broadcast 80% of the time in Arabic, with perhaps 20% of their airtime in other languages. If our government does this, it will be no better than Radio Moscow was. How sad (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, swprograms via DXLD) FWIW, American shortwave listeners should register their complaints with the local House Reps and Senators. The withdrawal of the VOA from shortwave is shortsighted. I suspect the Chinese have a better grassroots handle on the value of SW in both developing and developing countries -- hence their expansion in broadcasts to both worlds. When I was on vacation to Aus/NZ this past November, I could not find VOA in English anywhere during the daytime. I could find CRI in English on several channels in the 11, 13 and 15 mhz bands. I think too many Western countries are too infatuated with the value of the internet and local distribution nets to realize the value of SW. The BBC really thinks I'm still awake most nights at midnight when the local NPR station relays them? That my employer lets me use bandwidth at my office to stream audio on company time during the day? The combination of cutbacks and politicization of what is left from the VOA is a very sad thing to witness (Russell Lay, Nags Head, NC, HCDX via DXLD) Un mamarracho del IBB, es también mi opinión. ¿Y que será de las emisiones en español? (Horacio Nigro, Uruguay, condig list via DXLD) Scarecrow/dummy Per link below, Spanish still: 0100-0200 UTC 9480 9885 11990 1100-1230 UTC 9535 11890 15265 (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) The VOA website has already been updated with new frequency information, effective Feb. 1 to March 26, 2006. http://www.voanews.com/english/About/Frequenciesatoz_a.cfm I am unfamiliar with how things used to be, so I can't say how bad the cuts are by simply looking at the grid. I'll leave that to someone more knowledgeable about the situation (Ricky Leong, Calgary, Feb 1, dxldyg via DXLD) The schedule on the VOA site is not exactly user friendly. For example, English to Europe, Middle East and North Africa lists '96.9' for all transmissions, but without specifying where it can be heard. If I tune into 96.9 in Hilversum, I don't hear VOA. And I don't even know where I have to go to hear it :-( (Andy Sennitt, ibid.) Glancing at the English schedule, http://www.voanews.com/english/about/frequenciesAtoZ_e.cfm I don`t notice much change, axually, and this morning was hearing the usual frequencies around 1500. Perhaps ``dead`` is a bit of an exaggeration, so far at least (gh, DXLD) The worrying thing is that, if the cuts aren't implemented until the end of March, then they have to save 90,000 transmitter hours in 9 months, which would be more serious still :-( (Andy Sennitt, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Difficult to know what to make of that figure of 90,000 hours. Can you tell us what sort of reduction that is on the total hours per year. It sounds a lot, but then VOA is a giant operation (Jonathan Marks, 02.01.06 - 4:41 pm, Media Network blog via DXLD) Well, Glenn Hauser worked out that it's equivalent to 245 frequency hours per day. The daily output of Radio Free Asia is about 250 hours, so it's like taking one frequency per hour out of RFA's schedule. But until we see how the cuts are going to be spread across the different IBB programme streams and transmitter sites, it's difficult to know how severe the effects will be. The hint of "further efficiencies" to come suggests that they may well make some cuts in programme output (Andy Sennitt, 02.01.06 - 6:01 pm, ibid.) ** U S A. Pentagon's "Information Operations Roadmap" unfolded. Document from 2003 now available from National Security Archive http://www.gwu.edu/%7Ensarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB177/index.htm "It reveals that Psyops personnel 'support' the American government's international broadcasting. It singles out TV Martí - a station which broadcasts to Cuba - as receiving such support. It recommends that a global website be established that supports America's strategic objectives. But no American diplomats here, thank you. The website would use content from 'third parties with greater credibility to foreign audiences than US officials.'" BBC News, 27 January 2005. "Psychological warfare messages targeted at foreign audiences are increasingly finding their way into the United States." AP, 26 January 2006. Iraq payola news appears to violate Pentagon directive. Los Angeles Times, 27 January 2006. See also Reuters, 27 January 2006 (from http://www.kimandrewelliott.com Jan 31 q.v. for links to four stories cited, via DXLD) ** U S A. VOA announced cutbacks in transmissions for budgetary purposes. Then why do they keep posting new job vacancies? This was the latest post on http://www.journalismjobs.com on Jan. 31... "Every week, the Voice of America (VOA) broadcasts a broad range of unbiased news and information to an audience of more than 100 million people around the world. We are currently seeking three creative, experienced managers with broadcasting journalism experience to serve as Director of our News Division, Executive Producer for Television, and Associate Director for Central Programming. For more information on these opportunities and benefits, and detailed application requirements, contact our website http://www.voa.gov/vacancies or call us (202-619-3763). VOA - A trusted name in international journalism for more than 60 years." Cheers, (Marty Delfín, Madrid, Spain, Feb 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Turnover They still have to employ journalists, otherwise there would be no programmes (Andy Sennitt, 02.01.06 - 1:32 pm, Media Network blog via DXLD) Fine. But at the starting salaries upward of US$77,000 for a GS-12 officer. You´d think there would be a hiring freeze (Marty Delfín, 02.01.06 - 1:57 pm, ibid.) They have open several key high level gigs at VOA. But with a reduction in service there goes the radio audience. But unlike the BBC you can't get VOA on your local NPR station (Lou Josephs, 02.01.06 - 4:54 pm, ibid.) ** U S A. For State of the Union, UT Feb 1 at 0200-0300: Additional English shortwave radio frequencies: 4930, 6035, 6080, 7280, 7290, 7340, 9885, 11705, 11820, 17740 kHz (Source: VOA website) # posted by Andy @ 16:36 UT Jan 31 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** U S A. WWCR's "Ask WWCR" program listed in their January monthly sked as being on at 1015 UT Saturday on 9985 kHz was NOT on 1/28/06; I was unfortunately awake at the time and tried for it. Note that they have changed that time to 1000 UT in the sked printed on the "Ask WWCR" webpage, but it was NOT on at that time on 1/28 either. I had tuned in at the top of the hour. It was all religious programming instead (and a particularly incompetent format at that -- an opening announcement and then joining some ranting preacher "in progress" and then an abrupt interrupt after X minutes and a closing announcement. Not even an arranged and timed talk.) (This is also an update for the DX Programs List.) [Ask WWCR is archiving only the latest and next-to-latest show. Both in mp3 and Real, it looks like they would stream, but you have to wait for large files to download, then play at 96 kbps. Annoying for me is that I don`t see any confirmation that download is underway; just have to wait and see --- gh]. WBCQ has a 1/28/06-dated online sked now, but these are not reflected on that: 1) On the 1/28/06 Allan Weiner Worldwide, he announced that the listed repeat of AWWW at 2300 UT Sunday is being replaced with "Lighthouse Ministries" but I haven't verified this by monitoring. As an aside, Allan also announced that the format of AWWW will alter beginning 2/4/06 and that about 10 minutes into the program, Mal Fuller will get a more formal participation as the presenter of an "Antique Radio News" segment. So all the old-radio collectors should tune in if you are not listening already. Spread the word to old-radio buddies for their info. 2) "Off the Wall" at 0300 UT Sundays on 7415 kHz was replaced 1/29/06 by "Apocalypse Chronicles". Don't know if this was a one-time event or a permanent change. By the way, I've noticed that the 2600.com group that does "Off The Hook" and "Off The Wall" DOES acknowledge on their website that they are relayed/simulcast via shortwave, but they still REFUSE to mention it on the air during the program or in the opening/closing announcements. I find this insulting and annoying, and have e-mailed them about it. I encourage everyone else to do the same. Shortwave should get maximum exposure in mainstream media (even such "quasi- mainstream" as the flaky WBAI audience!). "Cyberline" was happy to mention their WWCR relay; what's wrong with the 2600ers? 73, (Will Martin, MO, Jan 31, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WBOH, 5920, is back on the air, noted Jan 31 around 0530, and again at 1449 with Bible reading // 9370 but CW QRM on high side of 5920. Seems 5920 may not be up to full power (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. Hi Dean, I wonder if V. of Joy will be continuing in February on the same schedule on 6220? How have your reception results been, especially with the European pirate also on 6220? Regards, (Glenn Hauser to V. of Joy, via DXLD) Listener reports have been good from UK and Germany. Keep listening! Best, (Voice of Joy, Feb 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) i.e. Sat 14-15 on 6220 from a secret site in the FSU (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Army MARS net encountered on 5118 SSB, Tue Jan 31 at 1509; one station mentioned being in the Kansas City area (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. The 'RW' Beacon, WA2XRM, is sending 'RW' in CW at 20 wpm on 480 kHz. Normal operating times are 2300z to 0600z. The Beacon is running 100W to a 30 foot vertical in Colorado. You might have to disconnect your tuner and hook on your biggest antenna to your receiver to hear the weak signal. Lamp dimmers and computer power supplies can also cause a lot of noise that will blank out the signal. Please send SWL QSL's to: Paul WA2XRM w0rw @ aol.com P.O. Box 6069 Colorado Springs, CO 80934 (W0RW, Jan 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Wanted to clear up some confusion regarding the E-DXN service from the National Radio Club. While complete access to all the forums does require a small subscription fee, access to the "Broadcast Test" forum is freely available to the public. Be sure to check http://www.e-dxn.com for the latest details on last minute test announcements, QSL information, or other information related to broadcast tests. 73, (Les Rayburn, N1LF NRC/IRCA Broadcast Test Coordinator Please call anytime 24/7 if your transmitter will be off the air for maintenance. (205) 253-4867, Jan 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA [non]. /CUBA, 13680, Radio Nacional de Venezuela, 2001- 2059, 30-01. Inicio y final del programa en español en esta frecuencia. Muy buena señal. "Bienvenidos a la República Bolivariana de Venezuela, Canal Internacional de Radio Nacional de Venezuela". Programa: "Pensamiento del libertador Simón Bolivar". Comentario y biografía sobre José Martí: "La unidad de análisis y producción de Radio Nacional de Venezuela presentó: "José Martí, apóstol de la independencia". "Escuchan el Canal Internacional de Radio Nacional de Venezuela". 45444 (Manuel Méndez, Grundig Satellit 500, Sony ICF SW 7600 G, Antena de cable, 10 metros, orientada WSW, Escuchas realizadas en Friol, 27 Km. W de Lugo, España, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZAMBIA. 4500, ZBC-Lusaka, 0240+, January 19, Vernacular, local songs, announced by male in vernacular, 35343 (Arnaldo Slaen, Villa Giardino, Cordoba province, Argentina, condig list via DXLD) ??? Had not been reported on this frequency for a couple years? ID? (gh, DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE. I recently posted to another list that I was able to hear Zimbabwe on 6612 via the DXtuners site in Jo'burg at 0500z. Today at 2000 I was able to hear the carrier here in Tasmania on my own receiver(s). The signal level from Jo'burg was extremely good but there was nothing on 3306, which points to the conclusion that 6612 is no harmonic but a fundamental (Robin L. Harwood, Norwood Tasmania 7250, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 0500z is about 2 hours after sunrise there, so 6 MHz would be propagating much better than 3 MHz, if at all. Would be a good idea to check 3306 also in the middle of their night, or at least before sunrise. 73, (Glenn, ibid.) Hi Glenn, You are correct on this. This evening Zimbabwe has no power since 1500z nationwide here today, so guess that the local SW transmitter in Gweru some 200 km away from Harare is also affected. Checked 3306 & 6612 this evening --- no signals on either frequency but most likely due to a power outage that occurs almost daily. 73 (David Pringle-Wood, Harare, Zimbabwe, Jan 31, ibid.) I don't know. My personal opinion is that this is just a fault in the transmitter, putting signal out on 2 x 3306. By now, I believe the engineers at the transmitter site should have noticed this. Maybe they don't care as long as there is still something coming out on 3306. Maybe they do care, but have no funds/spare parts to repair the transmitter at the moment. I can't see any point them suddenly to start transmitting on 6612 instead of 3306. Maybe someone can check via DXtuner J'burg their frequency announcement, if there's any at s/off or s/on. Hmmm, that wouldn't help much as the official announcements and brilliant engineering work at the transmitter sites seem very often to have problems in communicating with each other. 73 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland) No doubt that Zimbabwe on 3306 is the fundamental frequency. 6612 harmonic is strong due to a transmitter fault. Problem is that due to power outages in Zimbabwe both these frequencies are hardly on air. Jari, on the topic of spare funds/ parts for the ZW transmitter, then they need to find an engineer who does care! (David Pringle-Wood, Harare, Zimbabwe, ibid.) Forget that "is 6612 the fundamental?" discussion; see reports by David Pringle-Wood last year who heard a weak 3306 signal when 6612 was on. 73s (Thorsten Hallmann, Münster, Germany, http://www.africalist.de.ms Jan 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6612, ZBC-Gweru (3306 x 2), 0309+, January 17, Vernacular, local music & talk by male, 25432 (Arnaldo Slaen, Villa Giardino, Cordoba province, Argentina, HCDX via DXLD) 6612, ZBC-Gweru heard with S2 levels at 1740 Jan 31 and same level with talks at 1820 and strong fading, 24322 (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn and Hi Robin. I'm one of those who believe that the fundamental for Zimbabwe is no doubt 3306, which I haven't heard and frankly I hardly have any luck here in Tiquicia (C.R.) with Africans around the 90 mb except Ghana on 3366 years ago and a Sudafrican, I vaguely recall Windhoek. The right time to receive 6612 is around 0400, but only on threshold level lately. Remember that back in the '80s the World DX community became aware of the existence of Radio Impacto, Costa Rica, on 5030, but never had a chance to hear it until a malfunction of this transmitter, situated in a district called Alajuelita, produced a harmonic up in the 10000 region. This signal I have to admit was even better than the fundamental. Isn't the Zimbabwe transmitter repeating a similar story? (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. CLANDESTINE: 3929.2, 0349+, January 17, Vernacular, talk by male, 11511. Strong jamming. 3959.1, 0353+, January 17, Vernacular, talk by male, 24442 (Arnaldo Slaen, Villa Giardino, Córdoba province, Argentina, HCDX via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Re 6-020: 6165 0900-1800 to zone 44S BEI 100kW 163deg CHN CRI RTC (HFCC) Nagoya DXC website states not clear, if this is a CNR4 service? 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Saludos cordiales, chequeando la frecuencia de 17660 desde las 1404 a las 1530, escuchada con muy buena señal, una emisión de música afropop, ningún comentarista, sin identificación. Con toda seguridad no era Al-amel, ni tampoco era música jamming libanesa [sic]; a las 1413 se produce un silencio de medio minuto, pero se reanuda la música siempre con temas africanos en algún idioma vernacular. A las 1430 se interrumpe la emisión; en todo momento el SINPO de la transmisión fué 55544 (José Miguel Romero, Spain, Jan 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) more under LIBYA ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ WRTH UPDATE FILE AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD WRTH is pleased to announce that an update file (dated 31st January 2006) for the printed edition is now available to download. The file is in PDF format and is less than 80k in size. To download this file, please visit the WRTH website at: http://www.wrth.com and click on the "Latest PDF Updates" link. This will take you to a page where you can download this file and a number of previous updates. For clarity, stations that have come on the air since WRTH 2006 was printed are marked in blue type. We hope you find this file a useful companion to the printed edition. WRTH - THE Directory of Global Broadcasting WRTH 2006 - 60th Anniversary edition OUT NOW! Visit http://www.wrth.com to order yours! Regards, (Sean D. Gilbert G4UCJ/G4001SWL, International Editor - WRTH (World Radio TV Handbook), E-Mail: sean.gilbert @ wrth.com Fax: +44 (0) 709 2332287 G4UCJ's Radio Website: http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/g4ucj Jan 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) DX-PEDITIONS ++++++++++++ PARKALOMPOLO DX-PEDITION ON TV Earlier this evening you could watch a 5 min newsreport from the famous Swedish DXpedition site, Parkaklompolo, on the local newschannel Nordnytt. You can now watch the report (partly in English) on their webpage at http://svt.se/svt/jsp/Crosslink.jsp?d=33638 In the middle of the page there is a link " Video: Nordnytt" It takes you to another page where you select "Tis 19:10" then choose real player to view. It is the last 5 min of the 10 min programme, where you can see interviews with Allesandro Groppazzi, Sigvard Andersson and Stefan Wikander. Happy viewing! (Bernt-Ivan Holmberg, Möklinta, Sweden, BDXC via DXLD) It`s mostly in Swedish but the Italian speaks English. Actually only 4 minutes, followed by weather. These video clips probably don`t stay up long, so check it out now if interested (gh, DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING [DRM: see also BULGARIA, CHILE, LUXEMBOURG] ++++++++++++++++++++ WRN'S DRM SERVICES GO LIVE Press release Issued by WRN London, 30th January 2006 WRN, the London-based international transmission service company, today announces the launch of its two Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) services. DRM is the digital radio transmission standard for Long, Medium and Short Wave. The first service is a London-wide 24 hour a day DRM trial broadcast at 26 MHz. The second service offers DRM transmissions that can target any major European radio market via directional antennas. Initially this second service will cover the whole of the UK and Ireland. Both services go live on Monday 6th February with programming from a range of respected international and UK radio broadcasters. Gary Edgerton, WRN's Managing Director, says, "DRM will revitalise AM, LW and Short Wave broadcasting because the next generation of digital radio receivers will contain chip sets that receive both DRM and DAB signals, providing the listener with an exciting choice of domestic and international stations. WRN's DRM services offer stations currently using analogue AM and Short Wave the opportunity to join the digital radio revolution. We also welcome stations who want to test this new transmission technology and stay ahead of their competitors." 26 MHz for London WRN's test and development trial for London will assess the potential coverage of DRM transmissions at 26 MHz. It will generate important data about the penetration of the signals into various types of building and other urban situations as well as gauge audience reaction to the broadcasts. The transmission site is the world famous Croydon broadcast tower, situated in South London and operated by Arqiva, WRN's DRM transmission partner for this project. Arqiva provides transmission services for most UK commercial radio stations. Croatia's RIZ- Transmitters has supplied the Yagi antenna and transmitter for the duration of the project. Regional DRM Service WRN's regional DRM service offers broadcasters comprehensive coverage of the UK at 50 kW Average DRM Power. WRN will eventually offer services that can cover Europe using DRM sky-wave transmission and directional antennas that will reach specific European radio markets with frequencies that provide higher reliability in urban areas from the transmitter site located in Bulgaria. Telefunken has supplied the modulator and exciter for the service. WRN will encode both DRM services at its central London headquarters, providing the flexibility to generate a pre-mixed DRM stream that will then be fed to the respective transmitter sites. WRN will also add data for receiver display utilising custom created software. -Ends- (via BDXC-UK via DXLD) VT COMMUNICATIONS FURTHER ENHANCES DIGITAL CAPABILITY VT Communications is to add a new Digital Radio MondialeTM (DRMTM) compatible transmitter to its AM digital distribution network as it continues to demonstrate its commitment to DRM and the roll out of digital services. The new 500 kW HF (short wave) transmitter will be manufactured and supplied by Radio Industry Zagreb (RIZ) in Croatia and is in addition to the recently purchased 100 watt transmitter which will provide local DRM coverage within the London area. These significant investments are part of VT Communications’ strategy to offer customers an international digital transmission capability. The latest transmitter will be installed at VT Communications’ transmission facility in Shropshire, UK and will be primarily used to provide extensive HF coverage in Europe. The additional capacity that this transmitter provides on the DRM platform will allow broadcasters around the world to experience the benefits of digital AM technology and develop their digital services. Bryan Coombes, General Manager of Broadcast at VT Communications commented: ``VT Communications has established itself as an active supporter of new broadcast technologies and we have been championing DRM for several years now. Last year we hosted a live, nationwide, DRM pilot service into the United Kingdom, which proved to be an unqualified success for the participating broadcasters. VT Communications ongoing investment in DRM-capable infrastructure shows a commitment and determination to make the benefits of digital broadcasting available to our customers.`` NOTES TO EDITORS About VT Communications VT Communications is a leading provider of specialist communications services at the forefront of new technology, providing innovative totally managed end to end solutions and systems integration in over 100 countries from 29 locations to customers in the broadcast, defence and government sectors worldwide. VT Communications transmits over 1,000 hours of both short and medium wave broadcasts every day utilising its global network providing broadcasters with exceptional coverage of the world`s most populous regions. Broadcast customers include BBC World Service, NHK (Radio Japan), Radio Canada International, Radio Netherlands, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and Voice of America. VT Communications is a founder member of Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM), a consortium of broadcast related organisations working to bring digital radio to the market place. About DRM DRM revitalises radio with clear, FM like audio quality and excellent reception, free from static fading and interference. While DRM currently covers short wave, medium wave/AM and long wave, the DRM consortium recently voted to begin the process of extending its system into the broadcasting bands up to 120 MHz. This will enhance the range of non proprietary, digital radio solutions offered worldwide by the DRM consortium and the World DAB Forum, which work together on projects of mutual interest. DRM`s European commercial launch took place in September 2005. For further information about this press release, please contact: Laura Jelf, Marketing Manager, VT Communications (Lincoln's Inn Fields) Tel: +44 (0)20 7344 5777 Fax: +44 (0)20 396 6224 laura.jelf @ vtplc.com Web: http://www.vtplc.com/communications (via DXLD) CC/ATLANTA UNVEILS NEW HD MULTICASTS CLEAR CHANNEL/ATLANTA has begun broadcasting HD digital radio channels in four new HD2 digital-radio multicasts. Here are the stations offering multicasts: AC WLTM 94.9 -- HD2 "Cool Oldies on 94.9 Lite fm" Alternative WBZY 105.3 -- HD2 "The Buzz Incubator" Classic Rock WKLS 96.1 -- HD2 "The Cabin" Spanish WWVA 105.7 -- HD2 "Viva Tropical HD2" (allaccess.com via Brock Whaley, DXLD) See link in 6-020 for all HD QRM ON FM Re: ``IBOC *is* causing QRM within the protected contours of existing stations) (Doug Smith, TN)`` One of the things I don't understand about this whole IBOC mess is why aren't these small and independent stations complaining about getting hurt by IBOC? Certainly some of them have lost more than a little coverage. By the way, I was thinking about WAWZ-99.1 going IBOC. The way I understand it, you need both sidebands to receive IBOC. With WAWZ's IBOC, how can either 98.7 or 99.5 NYC go IBOC and expect to have ANY listeners south of Newark into Central Jersey. The IBOC channels will overlap. Similarly, the same situation if WKXW-101.5 Trenton goes IBOC. I would think they would take away a chunk of 101.1 NYC and Phillys IBOC coverage as well as some of 101.9 NYC's IBOC coverage as WKXW is reasonably strong up until you reach Newark (which isn't far from NYC). Similarly, a mess if both 98.3 Central Jersey and 98.7 NYC went IBOC. This is a mess once you get out from under the transmitter. P.S. I now only tune to 88.3 and 98.1 (for only 3 hours a week) at home. Don't dial for DX and certainly don't dial up and down the dial looking for new IBOCs (Joe Fela, NJ, Jan 30, WTFDA via DXLD) Isn't the idea that there wouldn't be this interference once a full band is converted over to IBOC? (Saul Chernos, ON, ibid.) Maybe, but everything I've seen about that has indicated that it may happen in 40-50 years (Jeff Lehmann, Hanson, MA, ibid.) Exactly, and that's why I think the argument by those in favor of IBOC that people weren't meant to listen to stations outside of their protected contour doesn't hold at all, because IBOC can easily cause interference around and inside protected contours. For example, New York FM's have consistently showed up in the Trenton, NJ arbitron ratings. Sure, I don't think many have gone above a 2.0 +12, but they showed up. With Trenton's ratings being embargoed a year+ ago by Arbitron, I can't see the results firsthand, but I'm sure the interference that the Philly IBOC causes to the co-adjacent frequencies in NYC has factored in the ratings #'s. Are New York FM's targeting Trenton? No, but that doesn't mean listeners in Trenton who have gotten a consistent signal from New York FM's for years upon years now shouldn't be able to get that signal because of a poorly planned radio infrastructure (Nick Langan, Florence, NJ, ibid.) At the risk of inciting a firestorm (and remember, the more-or-less dormant RTT list is sitting there ready to absorb any such storm, away from the "DX" lists, if need be) - The argument isn't that people weren't meant to listen to stations outside of their protected contour. I grew up in Rochester listening religiously to WBEN-FM 102.5 from Buffalo and WKFM 104.7 from Fulton, near Syracuse. The argument is that the stations themselves have no guaranteed protection from interference outside that contour. Today, the Buffalo 102.5 signal is almost a DX catch under a new local A on 102.7 that added IBOC a few months ago. It's too bad - or would be, if the Buffalo signal were still doing anything I cared about listening to - but the FCC (and its Congressional masters) have decreed that more short-range service here in Rochester is more in the public interest than any continued ability to listen to the Buffalo station, 70 miles away. I'm not sure they're wrong, either. The 102.7, while I don't care for it personally, certainly occupies a programming niche (contemporary Christian during the week, Spanish on weekends) that was entirely unfilled here in the eighties, when that channel was empty and Buffalo came booming in. In fairness, most of the New York FMs were already suffering impairment in Trenton from co- and adjacent-channel stations in Philadelphia and other adjoining markets years before IBOC came along. Even in an all-analog world, it takes a pretty good radio to pull out New York's 92.3 under Philly's 92.5, and several frequencies are completely lost causes, like the 100.3 and 101.1 co-channel pairs, WKTU under WPRB on 103.3, and even WBLS up against WBYN on 107.5. And it's not as though central New Jersey doesn't have its own complement of signals - WPST, WMGQ, WAWZ, WKXW, WPRB, WDHA, just to name the biggest ones - that are actually meant to serve the public interest, convenience, etc. of these listeners. The Northeast Corridor is one big worst-case scenario for FM spacing, from Boston/Providence clear down to Virginia, and while IBOC certainly hasn't made things any better, the problems it's exacerbated were created way back in the sixties when the present spacing rules were put into place, and arguably even in the late forties and early fifties when most of the short-spaced stations signed on. Would I argue with the description of "a poorly planned radio infrastructure"? I guess not - but what it really is is a well- intentioned, if poorly executed, attempt to squeeze 10 pounds of you-know-what into a five-pound bag. Something's gotta give, and unfortunately for us, the most expendable piece of the pie, by the common agreement of pretty much everyone BUT us, is distant reception. s (Scott Fybush, NY, ibid.) Most of the NYC FM's were audible on a car radio 8 miles NE of me in Montgomeryville, PA pre-IBOC. That's a lot further than Trenton, and certainly a consumer radio. But in reality it isn't just distant reception that will get whacked in this situation. It's those former regular listeners in the secondary contours who for years had become used to high-quality reception in CNJ from either NYC or Philadelphia or the NJ stations, who will potentially lose most of that. The argument that the only listeners who buy advertised products live within 25 miles or whatever other arbitrary distance one selects is just as much hogwash as the argument that listeners aren't supposed to hear anything other than primary contour stations. All of that said, at my location, 7 miles from most of the Philadelphia transmitters, only about half of the IBOC stations have taken anything away from me because the analog slop from many was almost as bad (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell, PA ( 360' ASL ), [15 mi NNW of Philadelphia], ibid.) [Scott,] You definitely know a lot more than me about the industry and everything associated with it, so please don't take any disrespect, just some friendly disagreement. My point just is that I don't think the problem of IBOC interference is just limited to DXers. I know someone who lives near me and hasn't a clue about the technical side of radio who listens to WQXR out of NYC. Once WRDW gets IBOC full- time, there's absolutely no chance of that. I'd contend your point that Philly stations cause a lot of bleeding problems in Trenton. Just south of Trenton and to where I am is basically where you start to have problems getting the NYCs in without a real good radio, but in Trenton itself and to the north, I think it's pretty reasonable on a decent tuner with no IBOC to get a NYC station in (besides those special case ones) without much effort. Again, the ratings reflected that. Yet now, even to the north of Trenton toward Princeton I get IBOC interference on the Philly co-adjacents. I'm obviously getting detailed about that particular area and obviously understand a radio dial won't get much more crowded than Central Jersey's, but I imagine the same issues will pop up elsewhere. Until IBOC actually becomes the standard, which as Jeff pointed out could be a long while, the problems will start to surface more and more IMO. What happens when WFME/WPST get IBOC? WWMX/WJFK down in Balt./DC? (Nick Langan, Florence, NJ, ibid.) Re Harry Helms` comments: And I have to respectfully but firmly and absolutely disagree with you. I have seen it happen where the HD signal does not interfere with the _*adjacent*_ channel. Granted you need to be at least 15 - 20 miles away from the HD transmitter. But what are you doing 3 miles from an FM tower when you are a DXer??? I give you my example of 103.7 Milwaukee (running HD Radio) and 103.5 Chicago (also running HD Radio). I am 25 miles from the local station and was able to get the Chicago station (90 miles away) in stereo and the local in HD. Folks, the HD signal is ONE HUNDRETH the power of the Analog signal. In other words if the analog signal is 15,000 w ERP, the digital is 150 watts. If you cannot DX through a 150 w station perhaps you need to look at your equipment. You are hiding your head in the sand if you dont think this will work. I just did a driving trip over the weekend and the implementation of HD2 is moving along very fast. Your normal listener WILL liek the variety that this technology offers. I know you all dont like to hear these words, but remeber dont kill the messanger. DXing will change. But it will not die. It will be different (Kent Winrich, Clear Channel Milwaukee, ABDX via DXLD) OK, Maybe I haven't been DXing FM as long as some but I have over 1200 stations from the U.S., Canada, etc. in my log books and I can tell you that even at 15-20 miles from the transmitter adjacents are swamped here in my area. With a phaser and my modified Yamaha T-85 and two APS 9B antennas I can phase down the hash when there is some enhancement, but only moderate to strong tropo can overcome the HASH here without a phaser. Same for E-skip: it has to be strong and stable. This real world experience. I have a friend who lives 10 miles south of me and is somewhat better shape but WGBH (8 miles from me and 18 miles from him) kills the adjacents for him. Also WGBH hurts the second adjacents here at times. Kent you example cites HD signals --- that's great. We are talking about IBOC hash swamping analog signals. So the HD signal DOES interfere with an adjacent analog signal. As far as DXig 3 miles from a tower some people have no choice where they live and there are many who live close to towers and have DXed successfully in the past (I believe Scott Fybush can reach out and touch some towers from his QTH). I agree that DXing will change, be different and not die but for those who don't wish to spend mega bucks on what many see as a flawed technology it will hurt their DXing. There are a couple of engineering types on a couple of other lists (WTFDA) included who have HD receivers and feel quiet differently from you as far as HD is concerned. I suggest that you join the WTFDA (if you aren't a member already and talk to some of that group to sample their "head in the sand" opinion. Respectfully (Keith McGinnis, Hingham MA, ibid.) I'm wondering --- do any of you have an HD FM radio in your car? How do they perform? I would think all these problems with the IBOC sidebands destroying other station's coverage areas would be acutely obvious as you attempt to listen to HD in a moving car. How does an HD FM car radio compensate for the rapidly varying signal strengths and adjacent channel interference encountered in a moving vehicle? (Paul A. Froehlich, Lodi, WI, ibid.) For folks in the east, here's a chance to observe the effects of nighttime IBOC - WHAS-840 still has theirs on as of 2250 EST (Barry McLarnon, VE3JF Ottawa, ON, UT Feb 1, IRCA via DXLD) I just called the 840WHAS newsroom and said, "Your IBOC has been on all night and people in Providence, Rhode Island are hearing your hash. Unless you have an STA, which you probably don't, it's illegal for it to be on all night. You need to call your engineer and tell him to turn it off" (Paul Walker, FL, ibid.) And it's still on as of 12:55 am. I've been listening for a couple of hours while doing some other work, and it hasn't decoded once. The analog signal is perfectly listenable most of the time, yet no digital. Doesn't bode well for digital DX. It also doesn't seem like the digital coverage can be anywhere near the useable analog. Others report the same impression (Craig Healy, Providence RI, IRCA via DXLD) I kind of doubt a newsroom even knows what an STA is, or more so what IBOC is. Maybe a call to the operations manager during business hours tomorrow is a better idea (Bill KA2EMZ Bergadano, ibid.) HIGH SCHOOL RADIO STATION FIGHTS FCC RULING --- by Andrea Shea All Things Considered, January 31, 2006 Radio station WAVM broadcasts from the high school in Maynard, Mass. But a tentative decision by the FCC would give the station's license to a California religious broadcaster. Last week, the station hit another snag: The teacher who founded and ran the program was accused of sexually assaulting a student. . . [audio link] http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5181109 (via gh, DXLD) Scott Fybush is heard in this long-postponed story (gh) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ 12 VOLT POWER Recently I read in DXLD where SWL's were discussing power sources for their receivers. I don't recall them getting past a car battery as the most available power source when the house power is disrupted. I wanted to let everyone know about the Celestron Power Tank. It's a 12 volt DC rechargeable mobile Power station with spotlight. The spotlight is 800,000 candle light. It is very convenient and when charged provides power for an NRD545 for about 8 hours. I bought it on Amazon a couple of years ago. It was in the $80 range. It helped out very much when Wilma hit last summer (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston, Florida, Jan 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ Not surprising that European stations were heard early in North America in January. I just arrived home from a 3 week DXpedition in Northernmost Sweden. Sometimes we listened to North America 24h a day! The last west coast stations disappeared from the band just after 15 UT, Fairbanks and Nome stations till 19 UT and Barrow still later. The first Eastcoast station, 1230-CFFB came in at 16 UT! Then followed Maine and Massachusetts stations. 1370-WDEA often early and strong. So we heard daytime stations and other with day facilities. E.g. 1200-WKOX, 1500- WFIF, 1560-KZIZ a.o. The conditions were better than ever! We also had international guests at the expedition, first 2 Dutch DX-ers for 2 weeks, then 5 Italians for 10 days. They were really lucky; their first DXpeditions during such fantastic conditions. /Sig in Sweden (Andersson Sigvard, Jan 31, NRC-AM via DXLD) See DX-PEDITIONS above for video report The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels at middle latitudes, while high latitudes observed quiet to major storm levels. Solar wind speed ranged from a low of about 400 km/s early on 23 January to a high of near 700 km/s early on 27 January. The Bz component of the IMF was generally weak, not varying much beyond +/- 5 nT for the majority of the period. Exceptions to this were a couple of 12-hour periods midday on 23 January and again midday on 26 January when the IMF Bz fluctuated between +/- 10 nT as recurrent coronal hole wind streams became geoeffective. On 23 and 26 January, the geomagnetic field responded with quiet to active levels at middle latitudes, while high latitudes experienced unsettled to major storm levels. Otherwise, the field was at quiet to unsettled levels. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 01 - 27 FEBRUARY 2006 Solar activity is expected to be at very low to low levels during the forecast period. No greater than 10 MeV proton events are expected. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at high levels on 25 January – 01 February and again on 23 – 27 February. The geomagnetic field is expected to range from quiet to minor storm levels. Active to minor storm periods are possible on 22 - 23 February due to effects from a recurrent coronal hole wind stream. Otherwise, quiet to unsettled conditions are expected. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2006 Jan 31 1923 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center # Product description and SEC contact on the Web # http://www.sec.noaa.gov/wwire.html # # 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table # Issued 2006 Jan 31 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2006 Feb 01 80 5 2 2006 Feb 02 80 5 2 2006 Feb 03 80 5 2 2006 Feb 04 80 5 2 2006 Feb 05 80 4 2 2006 Feb 06 80 4 2 2006 Feb 07 80 4 2 2006 Feb 08 80 5 2 2006 Feb 09 80 5 2 2006 Feb 10 80 3 1 2006 Feb 11 85 5 2 2006 Feb 12 85 12 3 2006 Feb 13 85 10 3 2006 Feb 14 85 5 2 2006 Feb 15 85 5 2 2006 Feb 16 85 5 2 2006 Feb 17 85 5 2 2006 Feb 18 85 5 2 2006 Feb 19 85 12 3 2006 Feb 20 85 12 3 2006 Feb 21 85 10 3 2006 Feb 22 85 20 4 2006 Feb 23 85 15 3 2006 Feb 24 85 8 3 2006 Feb 25 80 5 2 2006 Feb 26 80 5 2 2006 Feb 27 80 5 2 (from http://www.sec.noaa.gov/radio via WORLD OF RADIO 1303, DXLD) TIPS FOR RATIONAL LIVING ++++++++++++++++++++++++ KURT VONNEGUT Listen to the final part of the Feb 1 Current from CBC Radio One: http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/2006/200602/20060201.html (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###