DX LISTENING DIGEST 6-026, February 8, 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 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 1304: Wed 2300 on WBCQ 7415 Thu 0000 on WBCQ 18910-CLSB Thu 2130 on WWCR 7465 [see also BULGARIA] 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 ** AFGHANISTAN. 9345, Feb 7 1230-1400, Tentative: R. Peace. No clear ID noticed, although the signal was good at times. R Peace has used three frequencies: 9325, 9345 and 9365 kHz, all irregularly and only two of them simultaneously. Today's signal strength suggests improvement in transmitter facility. Also programming has changed to include 15 minute news bulletin at 1230. I checked and this was not in parallel of 15265, 1296 or 1107 kHz (Mauno Ritola, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Remains the only SWBC from this country, until they get the new Indian-supplied 100 kW going, months after target date (gh, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Re my earlier posts about Radio Australia: Was able to check for RA's Science Show this Sunday at 1400 UT and, sadly, they still haven't restored it to that timeslot. Wonder why they "fixed" the weekday programs in our mornings but did not change that Sunday content back to what it is supposed to be? 73, (Will Martin, MO, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA [and non]. It`s the content, true, but it`s also the availability --- It looks like January 2006 is the month when ``HD Radio`` – digital IBOC services to us radio folks – began to be rolled out in the USA`s larger markets on AM and FM. I mention this because many radio station owners are finally realizing that just because they have a new spiffy digital audio signal, the audience isn`t going to flock to buy expensive new radios, if all that`s going to be on that digital audio signal is the same old dreck that`s on the analog signal. The catch phrase that is dangerously close to being hackneyed is ``It`s the Content, Stupid. . .`` suggesting that new audio technology, unless it offers consumers some sort of truly added value, won`t be quickly or widely adopted. That is certainly the case with Digital Radio Mondiale, because you`re generally hearing the same programming that could already be heard by analog shortwave. When I hear people grumbling about lousy content choices on broadcast radio, I remind them that shortwave radio has long offered the diversity in content that is generally lacking in broadcast radio. This column endeavors to highlight some of that diversity in content every month. That`s all well and good, but the fact remains that the Voice of America, Deutsche Welle and the BBC World Service, for example, are no longer as available on shortwave to us in North America as they used to be, which diminishes the overall value of the shortwave medium. As we`ve talked about for the past several months, there are ways to hear these three services on shortwave at select times of the day, but it certainly takes more work than it used to. We who appreciate the charm of shortwave can continue to extol its virtues to friends and associates even though these challenges face us. We can tell these folks that we`ve known for years that content matters --- and show them that shortwave radio is a great way to sample that diverse content. So which broadcasters are noted for their content? I`ve put together my thoughts below on which broadcasters come first to mind for the diversity and quality of the content they offer. Your list might be different from mine; if so, I`d love to hear from your with your reasoning, so I can share your reasoning with your fellow club members. Radio Australia You probably thought I`d list the BBC World Service first, but so much of the BBC World Service day is filled with news magazines that content diversity has been lost. Not so with Radio Australia – not counting the hourly news bulletins, 6 ½ hours each weekday are taken up with current affairs programming, two hours per day less than the BBC World Service. Further, Radio Australia, through its relationship with other ABC services in Australia, airs a variety of programming that isn`t duplicated elsewhere on radio. Here are some examples: Thursdays, 0315: ``The Ark`` -- Rachael Kohn talks to some of the world`s leading religious historians and authors about curious moments in religious history that shatter the usual perception of the past and illuminate the present. (Also available via live and on-demand webcast). Mondays, 0405 and Fridays, 1705 – ``Big Ideas`` – Lectures, conversations, features, and special series from Australia and elsewhere. A recent program looked at the controversial practice of Biodiversity Banking. (Also available via live and on-demand webcast). Wednesdays, 1330 and 1705, plus Fridays, 1930 – ``Rural Reporter`` -- The ABC`s team of specialist Rural Reporters introduce the people and places that make up country Australia. Our reporters based in regional locations across the country take you to where they work with the sound and atmosphere of the people who live outside the Nation`s major urban areas. (Also available via live and on-demand webcast). Wednesdays 0315 – ``Lingua Franca`` -- This weekly program looks at all aspects of language – old languages, modern languages and even invented languages. As a fan of languages I always enjoy this program (Also available via live and on-demand webcast). Radio Australia offers other great programs, but I`ve highlighted these as examples that are unique in global English-language radio at any level (Rich Cuff, Easy Listening, Feb NASWA Journal via DXLD) Continued under CANADA ** BELARUS [non]. EU TO LAUNCH INDEPENDENT NEWS BROADCASTS TO BELARUS The European Union has announced plans for creating a media consortium to broadcast independent news to Belarus. The European Commission says the German-led consortium will begin operations next month ahead of the March 19 presidential elections in Belarus. The grouping includes media organizations from Germany, Poland, Lithuania and Russia, as well as Belarusian journalists and non-governmental organizations. Radio and television broadcasts will be in Belarusian and Russian, and the project is set to last for two years. Meanwhile, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko says his nation's state-controlled media are preparing to battle anti- government propaganda. Mr. Lukashenko Thursday said radio and television reporters of the national broadcasting system are ready to launch what he called "a counter-propaganda offensive." The West is critical of the authoritarian president, accusing him of suppressing democracy, stifling freedom and restricting dissent and journalistic independence. Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters. Source: voanews.com (via Henry Brice, BDXC-UK, Feb 7, via DXLD) ** BELGIUM. Re RNZI 9870 getting splash de "RFI" 9970: I didn't check that interfering station on 9970 100% this time, but it's been heard causing this mess before. Right now, at 1300, they've just started the newscast, and I can only say it's not F because of the way they say "1990", ~nonnante (90) instead of ~quatre-vingt dix. It must RTBF. Thanks for pointing this out. 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, Feb 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BENIN. TRANS WORLD RADIO COMPLETES NEW MASTS | Text of report by Trans World Radio newsletter for February/March 2006 The TWR shortwave and mediumwave transmitting towers in Benin have been completed, along with the foundation, main floor, and part of the top floor of the transmitter building. This new transmitting site will soon reach Benin, Togo, and parts of Nigeria, Ghana, Mauritania, Algeria, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso with the Good News of Jesus Christ. The station will provide opportunities for broadcasting up to 12 new languages within the first five years. Currently, many FM radio stations broadcast in towns and cities in west and central Africa. However, more than 60 per cent of the population lives in rural areas where FM signals cannot reach. The majority of these people groups are Muslim and either nomadic or semi- nomadic, making it difficult to reach them on a regular basis. Programmes will be provided through TWR's studios in Côte d'Ivoire and through several of TWR's Partner ministries in West Africa. [Passage omitted] Source: Trans World Radio newsletter, Vienna, in English 8 Feb 06 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. R. Yura, La Voz de los Ayllus, 4716.7, full-data letter with beautiful station pennant and sticker [illustrated] in 3 months for a Spanish report. V/s Omar Flores (Sam Barto, CT, QSL Report, Feb NASWA Journal via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. r5983.7, R. Cooperativa, Centro Minero Huanuni, Depto. Oruro, 05/02/06 1120 ``...Radio Cooperativa 49 metros... desde Centro Minero Huanuni; 5983.7, R. Cooperativa, Huanuni, 07/02/06 1758 programa deportivo. 73 QRV (Rogildo F. Aragão, La Paz, Bolivia, radioescutas via DXLD) ** BULGARIA, R. Bulgaria, February 7, 2006, 15700 1230-1259 UT. News read by the "dead woman" (Is this the same woman from Rai years ago?) "And that's the end of the news from R. Bulgaria" by female. "Folk Studio" program. SIO 353. 73, (Kraig Krist, KG4LAC, VA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BULGARIA. WRN`s new SW relay on DRM will run the European schedule weekends from 0900 to 2200 UT, including WORLD OF RADIO, Sat at 0900 on 15735 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. [Continued from AUSTRALIA] Radio Canada International Tuesdays-Saturdays, 0030; Mondays-Fridays, 2330 (for 30 minutes) – ``As It Happens`` is an interview program that I particularly enjoy for its variety. Experts knowledgeable about current affairs are interviewed in juxtaposition to people simply with interesting stories to tell. The program has a slightly wry, not-serious-about-itself quality that is refreshing. (Also available via live and on-demand webcast, Sirius satellite radio, and rebroadcast on some US public radio stations) (Rich Cuff, Easy Listening, Feb NASWA Journal via DXLD) Continued under NETHERLANDS ** CHILE. Para que la gente de Chile nos confirme esta info que encontré en una publicación a fines de diciembre de 2005 dando cuenta que un nuevo canal de TV apareció en la pantalla chilena, no sin conflictos, mientras la única radioemisora santiaguina de música clásica está cerca de desaparecer. Es el signo de los tiempos: un nuevo canal de televisión de señal libre comercial comenzó a transmitir en Santiago, con series extranjeras y uno que otro espacio misceláneo en vivo, desplazando del aire a la programación religiosa que emitía una iglesia evangélica en esa frecuencia. Mientras, está en peligro de cierre la única radioemisora dedicada íntegramente a la difusión de la música selecta y otras expresiones culturales de este arte del dial de FM capitalino. Los líos financieros y las negociaciones frustradas han sido el común denominador de este agitado movimiento reciente de las comunicaciones en Chile (Arnaldo Slaen, Galvan 2735, 1.431 BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA, Feb 7, condig list via DXLD) I.e., Beethoven, apparently still going with playlist at http://www.beethovenfm.cl/programacion/ (gh, DXLD) ** CHINA. CNR5 seems to have moved up from 9380 to 9410. Heard with ID Zhonghua zhi Sheng 1200-1600. Same programme on 5925 (no delay) and 7620 (some delay). Perhaps intended to make life a little harder for Fu Hsing (TWN) on 9410 (Olle Alm, Sweden, Feb 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. Glenn, There now appears to be a pattern. Today 1300 to 1500 I noticed CNR jamming (carrying Voice of China with a one second burst of Firedrake before prompt shutdown). The frequency was 9790. This I looked up on DXLD 5-187 and found to be an old VOA Mandarin slot. This must be added to the now vacated 11825 and 12010 also suffering the same problem earlier in the day. Have the Chinese left their jammers running on any more otherwise empty old-VOA frequencies? Could other correspondents perhaps check for signs of this. 73's (Dan Goldfarb, Brentwood, England, Feb 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Previously under unID ** CHINA. Additional frequencies for China Radio International: 0900-0957 on 17500 KAS 100 kW / 174 deg in Chinese 0900-0957 on 17750 KAS 100 kW / 173 deg in English 1000-1057 on 17500 KAS 100 kW / 174 deg in Cantonese 1000-1057 on 15190 KAS 100 kW / 173 deg in English (Observer, Bulgaria, Feb 7, via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA [non]. Special webcast at RFPI Join RFPI's General Manager and CEO, James Latham and long-time RFPI producer Jean Parker as they cover the 9th session of the Provisional World Parliament live from the Libyan capital, Tripoli - interviewing some of the 70 plus delegates and broadcasting the proceedings of the World Parliament. We hope to have your participation as well with a special call-in via the internet through Skype and Yahoo! Messenger. Come join us beginning February 25th through March 2nd and find out what's new under the Sahara Sun when RFPI sets up its studios in Libya! For background and other information on the conference please visit the World Constitution and Parliament Association's website at http://www.wcpa.biz/ (RFPI-announce mailing list Feb 7 via DXLD) ** CROATIA. MEDIUMWAVE DIGITAL RADIO TRANSMITTER PUT INTO OPERATION | Text of report in English by Croatian news agency HINA Deanovac, 8 February: Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader on Wednesday [8 February] officially put into operation a mediumwave transmitter for digital radio signals, set up in the village of Deanovac near the town of Ivanic Grad some 40 kilometres east of Zagreb. Croatia is the first central and southeastern European country to start broadcasting digital radio signals on the medium wavelength. In this way, Glas Hrvatske (The Voice of Croatia) can be received in the entire central and southeastern Europe at the frequency of 594 kHz. Croatia has joined a group of countries such as Great Britain, Germany, France, Luxembourg and the Vatican which transmit mediumwave digital signals. Twelve million kuna have been invested in this project of introducing DRM - Digital Radio Mondiale, while a total of 230m kuna have been invested in the upgrading of the entire national network of transmitters. Source: HINA news agency, Zagreb, in English 1332 gmt 8 Feb 06 (via BBCm via dXLD) This is not exactly news, as 594 has been on with DRM for several weeks, provoking strong complaints about its interference to analog stations, notably Germany also on 594; as a result of the complaints appearing in DXLD, Croatia supposedly stopped running DRM on this frequency at night; is that still the case? And why does not this story make that clear? (gh, DXLD) ** CUBA [and non]. Hace ya casi una semana dejó de emitir Radio República en los 6010 kHz; sin embargo, aún persiste el jamming proveniente de Cuba. Ojalá que los colegas y amigos cubanos tomen nota de esto ya que, están afectando seriamente la señal de XEOI Radio Mil onda corta (Julián Santiago Díez de Bonilla, DF, Feb 6, condig list via DXLD) Estimado Julián, Yo no creo que les preocupe demasiado a las autoridades cubanas qué perjuicio pueda ocasionar con su transmisión de jamming en los 6010 Khz. Lo han hecho con WRMI y con Radio Martí, por dar sólo estos dos ejemplos, y aún cuando estas emisoras concluían sus programaciones diarias, el jamming cubano continuaba indefinidamente en las frecuencias desocupadas sin importarles si eran utilizadas por otras estaciones. Quizás una buena idea sería avisarles que Radio República se mudó a 7160 kHz más que nada para que no gasten energía en vano. La onda corta puede sonar anticuada para los tecnócratas pero mucho más anacrónico es el jamming si todavía creemos en la libertad de expresión (por no hablar ya de democracia). Hasta aquí el ruido provocado inútilmente en los 6010 no alcanza a deslucir la mediocre recepción de Radio Inconfidência de Belo Horizonte, Brasil. Saludos Julián! (Rubén G. Margenet, Argentina, ibid.) Julian, a mi se me hace que esto es un "Complo" No se te hace extraño que el Jamming está justamente cuando se transmite el noticiario Enfoque, atentando con la libre expresion e informaci¢n al pueblo mexicano.... jejejeje saludos (Héctor García Bojorge, DF, ibid.) Amigo Rubén: estoy plenamente de acuerdo contigo, eso del jamming debe representar un gasto importante de energía y todo ¿para qué? para interferir a --- ¡¡¡ Radio Mil !!!! Como bien dices, les sería mas útil gastar esa energía pero en los 7160 kHz. Confio de cualquier manera en los buenos amigos cubanos y que pronto resolverán este asunto. Estoy escuchando en estos momentos 0200 UT a Radio Mil con el jamming de fondo. Un fuerte abrazo, (Julián Santiago, Feb 7, ibid.) Axually, RR did not change 6010 to 7160, but to 7205. 7160 is a separate service of RR. Both are already jammed, but that does not mean the dentrocubans have quit jamming 6010 (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** DENMARK [non]. You may have noticed that we have not been taking space here with the ever-escalating cartoon story; we did draw your attention to them when they were first published. BBCM has been running countless stories about reaxion in various countries. In the Feb 7, Enid Eagle, Cal Thomas` column on the editorial page kept referring to the toons as ``Dutch`` rather than ``Danish``! Cal must be losing it, or is a bit hazy on old European geography. But in case any Islamic extremists are reading him, watch out in Holland! Anyway, it seems merely being European is enough to get your embassy burned down. Kudos to them for going out on a limb in defence of free speech. However, BBCM has done a roundup on this which may be in next DXLD (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EGYPT. Cairo clock chimes (like Big Ben), and then one bong, on 12050, Feb 8, but must have been at least a minute fast, since I kept tuning around, not looking at my clock, and it took at least that long to get to real time signals at 1500 UT on other stations on the 25m band (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. Some DTK T-Systems changes: RTBF in French to CeAf from Feb. 1: 0600-0815 on 17580 JUL 100 kW / 160 deg Mon-Fri >>>>> cancelled 0600-1100 on 17580 JUL 100 kW / 160 deg Sat/Sun >>>>> cancelled 1100-1300 on 21565 JUL 100 kW / 160 deg Daily >>>>> cancelled 1600-1900 on 13590 JUL 100 kW / 160 deg Mon-Sat >>>>> cancelled 1700-1900 on 13590 JUL 100 kW / 160 deg Sun >>>>> cancelled Bible Voice Broadcasting Network (BVBN) to EaEu from Jan. 28 1930-1945 6015 JUL 100 kW / 060 deg Thu Russian >>>> new transmission 1900-2015 6015 WER 125 kW / 055 deg Sat English, ex JUL 100 kW / 060 1900-1930 6015 WER 125 kW / 055 deg Sun English, ex JUL 100 kW / 060 1930-2000 6015 WER 125 kW / 055 deg Sun Russian, ex JUL 100 kW / 060 2000-2030 6015 WER 125 kW / 055 deg Sun English, ex JUL 100 kW / 060 Bible Voice Broadcasting Network (BVBN) to ME from Feb. 8 and 19 1800-1900 9460 JUL 100 kW / 115 deg Fri in English, ex Wed/Fri 1630-1715 11645 NAU 250 kW / 135 deg Tue in Arabic, ex Tue/Wed 1630-1730 11645 NAU 250 kW / 135 deg Mon/Wed-Fri Arabic, ex Mo/Th/Fr 1730-1900 9730 JUL 100 kW / 115 deg Sat/Sun in English, ex 1800-1900 Voice of Ethiopian Medhin to EaAf from Feb. 5: 1600-1700 9820 JUL 100 kW / 140 deg Sun in Amharic >>>>> cancelled Christian Science Monitor to EaEu from Feb. 4: 1900-2000 9890 WER 125 kW / 060 deg Sat Russian, ex JUL 100 kW / 085 BCE Radio Luxembourg to WeEu in DRM from Feb. 7: 0900-1545 7295 NAU 040 kW / 275 deg German, ex JUL 040 kW / 290 deg 1545-1700 7145 NAU 040 kW / 275 deg German, ex JUL 040 kW / 290 deg IBRA Radio to EaAf from Feb. 10: 1730-1830 9520 NAU 100 kW / 155 deg Swahili, ex JUL 100 kW / 145 deg 1830-1845 9520 NAU 100 kW / 155 deg English, ex JUL 100 kW / 145 deg Voice of Russia / Russian International Radio to ME from Dec. 19: 0200-0400 5995 WER 125 kW / 105 deg Russian, ex JUL 100 kW / 100 deg Voice of America to ME from Feb. 1: 1900-2000 9485 JUL 100 kW / 100 deg Turkish >>>>> cancelled Minivan (Independent) Radio to SoAs [MALDIVES!] from Jan. 30: 1600-1700 11800 JUL 100 kW / 105 deg Dhivehi >>>>> AGAIN cancelled!! (Observer, Bulgaria, Feb 7, via DXLD) ** INDIA [non]. KAZAKHSTAN(non). Frequency change for TWR India: 0000-0030 NF 7410 A-A 200 kW / 132 deg in Assamese Mon-Sat, ex 7405 0015-0030 NF 7410 A-A 200 kW / 132 deg in Bangla Sun, ex 7405 0030-0045 NF 7410 A-A 200 kW / 132 deg in Bangla Mon-Fri, ex 7405 (Observer, Bulgaria, Feb 7, via DXLD) RUSSIA(non) Frequency change for TWR India: 1600-1630 NF 7490 ARM 250 kW / 110 deg in Pashto Mon-Fri, ex 7365 1630-1645 NF 7490 ARM 250 kW / 110 deg in Dari Mon-Wed, ex 7365 (Observer, Bulgaria, Feb 7, via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL. RELIGIOUS TRANS WORLD RADIO EXCEEDS 200 LANGUAGES | Text of report by Trans World Radio newsletter for February/March 2006 TWR now broadcasts the Gospel in more than 200 languages and dialects worldwide. Programmes are broadcast from over 2,700 outlets, including 14 international transmitting sites, satellite, cable, Internet, and local AM and FM stations. The 200-language mark was reached with the addition of languages in the Philippines, East Africa, the Northern Caucasus, and Mozambique. Broadcasting since 1954, TWR reached 100 languages in 41 years; the next 100 languages and dialects were added in just 10 years. Though 200 languages is quite an accomplishment for TWR, many people groups still do not have Christian radio programmes or even a Bible in their own language. There are more than 6,000 languages and 5,000 dialects in the world today. We pray that TWR will continue to add more languages and dialects to its program schedule each year! Source: Trans World Radio newsletter, Vienna, in English 8 Feb 06 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL. In response to several requests for information, a tabulated listing has been prepared regarding the locations that are temporarily carrying a relay of programming from Adventist World Radio. Adventist World Radio Temporary New Relay Services Wertachtal Germany 7110 kHz 250 kW 2000 - 2030 UT Farsi Additional service, began Dec 9, 2005 Skelton England 9530 kHz 300 kW 1500 - 1600 UT Nepali & English Began December 2005, replaced UAE, terminated during end of January and replaced by Samara/Armavir [I heard some English weakly at 1530 Feb 7 on 9530 which I assumed was still Skelton; affects Wavescan on Sundays --- gh] Samara Russia 5865 kHz 250 kW 1500 - 1600 UT Punjabi & Hindi Began December 23, 2005, replaced UAE Samara/Armavir-Krasnodar Russia 7480 kHz 250 kW 1600 - 1700 UT Nepali & English Began during end of January 2006, replaced Skelton; this relay site is officially at Samara, but reliable monitoring reports suggest that it is actually located at Armavir in the Krasnodar region (Adrian Peterson, IN, AWR, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. Israel and DAB --- Some information about DAB and DVB-T digital radio and TV in Israel is available in English, at these URLs. http://www.godigital.co.il/radio_israel_eng.htm http://www.godigital.co.il/tv_israel_eng.htm The rest of the godigital.co.il website is a resource with current news about digital radio and TV, written in Hebrew. The bottom half of the below URL describes the goals of the website, written in English. http://www.godigital.co.il/contact.htm They claim, "Israel's ONLY daily news source for DVB-T DAV DVB-H and DMB". Someone just pointed out this website to me yesterday - so I have no other comments (Doni Rosenzweig, Feb 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY. Frequency change for RAI international in Italian to EaAf: 1700-1800 NF 5960*ROM 100 kW / 135 deg, ex 5955 to avoid RNW in Dutch *co-channel Radio DMR Pridnestrovie till 1730 (Observer, Bulgaria, Feb 7, via DXLD) Ah, that explains Christopher Lewis`s ``co-channel QRM``: it really was (gh, DXLD) ** JAPAN. AFN RADIO LINEUP AT MISAWA CHANGES AFTER COMPLAINTS EDGE CUTS BACK ON ALTERNATIVE, HIP-HOP, ADDS OLDER HITS By Jennifer H. Svan, Stars and Stripes Pacific edition, Tuesday, February 7, 2006 American Forces Network radio detachment here has rolled out new ``family friendly`` programming in response to complaints that some songs were vulgar and offensive. . . http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=34003&archive=true (via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) See also USA [non] ** LATVIA [and non]. EMR February Transmissions 2006 Dates Times Freq 1/ Sat - 11th Feb - 0800-0900 UT on 13840 - via IRRS 2/ Sun - 12th Feb - 0900-1000 UT on 13840 - via IRRS 3/ Sun - 12th Feb - 1400-1600 UT on 9290 - via Latvia and parallel on 945AM Riga 4/ Wed - 15th Feb - 2000-2100 UT on 5775 - via IRRS Relays on 9290 kHz: Sat 11th February Radio Six 0700-0800 UT + parallel 945AM Riga Sun 12th February Radio City 0900-1000 UT Radio 73 1300-1400 UT Good Listening, 73s (Tom Taylor, EMR Direct, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBYA. RFPI special webcast from here: see COSTA RICA [non] ** LIBYA [and non]. JAMMER? 17670 NO ID, 1401-1530, escuchada el 7 de febrero con retransmisión de música afropop, las mismas canciones de días anteriores pero en diferente orden; a las 1455 en un silencio de unos segundos se aprecia de fondo una transmisión en árabe con música de fondo, Al-amel?? A las 1535 [sic: 1525??] otro silencio, no se aprecia nada de fondo, se reanuda la música y a las 1530 se corta bruscamente, SINPO 55444 (Jose Miguel Romero EA5-1022, Burjasot (Valencia), España, YAESU FRG-7700, SANGEAN ATS 909, Antena RADIO MASTER A-108, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello DXers, well --- back again on that path of Libya and the Voice of Hope. Today 8/2/2006 I checked 17660, and I heard an ID of a station playing nonstop Libyan songs. The usual ID "Idhaat Aljamaheyia al Ozma", Great Jamaheryia Radio by a YL around 1216 and 1227 UT. On 17680 kHz I could hear Sout Alamal with IDs and same program contents since 27/1/06 --- on the same freq. I could hear a jammer and suddenly around 1230 UTC that nonstop African music was there for a few seconds and stopped; sounds like they are trying to adjust it. A huge carrier on the same frequency as well, which makes the S of Sout al Amal hanging between 2 and 3. First time to hear Sout Alamal on 17680 kHz. About that African station, all I have in mind is the musical library of Voice of Africa ;) but no ID whatsoever. All the best from Cairo (Tarek Zeidan, Cairo, Egypt, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello Zeidan, 1400 UT: 17660 Fin de transmisión Jammer Mx árabe. 17670 Jammer Mx árabe. 17680 Fin transmisión Al-amel 17680 Jammer Mx Afro-pop 73 (José Miguel Romero, Spain, ibid.) Mientras desayunaba esta mañana, antes de las 1200 UT, sintonicé mi ICF 7600GR sobre 17660 a ver que era la cosa que tanto han venido comentando los últimos días. Bien, apareció esta señal con una especie de alargado himno marcial e inadvertidamente fue mezclado con una melodía árabe. SINPO 25232. Efectivamente, no percibí interferencia alguna, pero sí mucho ruido que no parecía ser de jammer alguno, mas bien consecuencia de condiciones de propagación. Parece ser entonces Al-amel. Tuviste el chance de percibir lo mismo? Ha de ser que el jammer llegó tarde a la cita porque apagué a las 1205, rumbo al trabajo. Un abrazo (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, Feb 8, ibid.) [luego:] Así que según Zeidan, Al-amel le pegó este mediodía UT una bailada al jammer yéndose hasta 17680, mientras este se marcaba solo entre 17660 y 17670. Lo que sigue siendo una incógnita es la estación con música africana. La cosa es que Tarek nos aclare si efetivamente al Ozma es una emisora libia o libanesa (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, ibid.) Saludos Raúl, es Libia, lo de Libanesa fue un fallo mío al transcribir, ya lo aclaré; quería referirme a Libia y puse Libanesa. Por otra parte, la transmisión de música afro-pop parece otra Jammer contra Al-amel, además lo hace muy descarado (José Miguel, ibid.) Saludos cordiales, lo sucedido hoy 8 de febrero respecto a Al-amel y las transmisiones Jammer a las 1400 UT ha sido de la siguiente manera: 17660: La transmisión de música árabe con un SINPO 55544 ha terminado, sin embargo ahora se escucha en 17670 con un SINPO 43343. 17680: Al-amel pugnaba con jammer de música afro-pop, el SINPO 33342, al final de la transmisión se a podido escuchar claramente a la locutora con el final del programa y la identificación; se ha referido dos veces a Libia. Por otra parte la jammer de música afro-pop ha bajado el volumen, pero una vez se ha terminado la emisión ha vuelto a irrumpir con fuerza y en éstos momentos se escucha con un SINPO 55544; también se aprecia que sigue emitiendo las mismas piezas musicales de días pasados. TRADUCCIÓN MECANICA: Warm greetings, happened today 8 of February with respect to Al-amel and Jammer transmissions to the 14:00 UTC to be of the following way: 17660 the transmission of Arab music with a finished SINPO 55544 to, nevertheless now is listened to in 17670 with a SINPO 43343. 17680 Al-amel struggled with jammer of afro-pop music, SINPO 33342, at the end of the transmission to which could listen to clearly the speaker with the end of the program and the identification, to twice referred Libya, on the other hand jammer of afro-pop music has lowered the volume, but once to finished the emission it has become to burst in with force and at these moments it is listened to with a SINPO 55544, also is appraised that it continues emitting the same musical pieces of last days (José Miguel Romero, Burjasot (Valencia), España, ibid.) No hay nada de Voz Cristiana, Chile en 17680?? (gh to JMRR, via DXLD) Por aquí en Valencia no escucho a Voz Cristiana; en éstos días pasados en esa frecuencia no se escuchaba nada, y hoy con la potencia de éstas emisoras menos aún (JMRR, ibid.) ** MEXICO. BONILLA CHAPTER XVII --- XHBCE-FM (105.7 MHz) is now simulcasting the audio of XEPRS (1090 kHz), so both of the stations are full-time English language sports stations. This makes the signal of XHBCE (English) easy to distinguish from co-channel KXRS (Spanish). (CGC Communicator Feb 7 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. [Continued from CANADA]. Radio Netherlands The folks at Radio Netherlands continue to produce a caliber of programming that far and away exceeds the physical stature of The Netherlands as a country. While Radio Netherlands, like many broadcasters, has faced budgetary challenges that have cramped its style, much of what RNW produces still remains tops in class. The only reason I ranked them lower than Radio Australia was that there is less weekly programming output from Radio Netherlands. Saturdays, 1227; Sundays, 0027, 0127, 0527, 1900 and 2000 – ``Vox Humana`` is a documentary series – which is rare enough on radio – that emphasizes the connection between the voice, the ear, and the heart. A recent edition looked at Mozart --- and his legacy seen through an astrologer`s eyes. Wednesdays, 1227; Thursdays, 0027, 0127, 0527; Sundays, 1930 – Radio Netherlands` weekly ``Documentary`` has long been an excellent example of this programming genre, with thoughtfully crafted, well-researched investigations of unusual angles and themes that both educate and entertain. In all instances, there are additional live webcasts available, and all RNW programming is now offered via on-demand listening and via podcast (Rich Cuff, Easy Listening, Feb NASWA Journal via DXLD) Continued under UK ** NETHERLANDS [and non]. Re 6-025 MADAGASCAR: ** MADAGASCAR. Re 6- 024, LIBYA: ``17670 AWR Madagascar in Vietnamese language ? S=2 poor, 250 kW tx on even frequency, not 'wandering' 50 kW unit at MDG.`` Are they really on 17670 now? The RNW schedule at http://www.radionetherlands.nl/features/media/practical/schedule051030.html (note new URL with entirely changed structure, I guess Andy has much fun with a new content management system at present) shows this transmission on 15595. All the best, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Feb 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST)`` Yes, according to my colleague Ehard Goddijn it is on 17670. Apparently I messed up again when updating the schedule. Sorry :-( Ehard also advises me that the frequency drift on the 50 kW transmitter has been fixed since 1 February, and wishes to thank those DXers who reported it. BTW the content management system allows all these changes in appearance of the website to occur without me doing anything. I wasn't even in the building yesterday! Next plan is to link the schedule page with the master database in the Programme Distribution Department, so I don't have to do that either. That way, any mistakes will no longer be my fault :-) (Andy Sennitt, RN, Feb 7, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS. Here`s the new URL for Radio Enlace, which I had to search for; I suppose still only the current/latest show can be accessed, including texts of DX reports by yours truly and Gabriel Iván Barrera: http://www2.rnw.nl/rnw/es/programas/programassemanales/RadioEnlace?version=1 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA. Dear Glenn, Voice of Nigeria on 15120 at 1700 UT. Nice signal and audio. This has been the case for several days now, I personally have not noticed any of the muffled audio during the above time period. Transmitter abruptly off mid-sentence, for about 5 or 6 minutes. I have tried hearing this station at other times, on 7255, but not audible for me. Also the http://www.voiceofnigeria.org web site doesn't seem to be working. Anybody else have any luck accessing it? Best Regards (Christopher Lewis, UK, Feb 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OMAN. R. Sultanate of Oman, February 7, 2006, 15140, 1425-1449 UT. Songs played ("Rosanna", "Say You, Say Me", "Scent of a Woman"). At 1437 station ID by female announcer. Signal off abruptly at 1445 UT. Signal back in a few seconds without audio. Finally, audio returned at 1449 with song "Take It To The Limit" in progress. SIO 252. 73, (Kraig Krist, KG4LAC, VA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PALAU. Hi all, 9965 Feb 7, 1055-1105 Palau, T8BZ, Koror with Christian program in Chinese (female announcer) and at TOH an ID read by male. "T8BZ (zed, not zee). To be sure I have listened to my recording of this ID at least ten times. Best heard in LSB mode due to qrm from 9970 La Première, Belgium. SIO 344. This is my first logging of this station in 9 years, but of course I haven't made many attempts after I received a QSL in 1996. 73/ (Johan Berglund, Trollhättan, Sweden, AOR AR7030, 30 m lw, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Ooh, American linguistic hegemony shrinx. This station is a real split-personality, a.k.a. KHBN to the FCC (gh, DXLD) ** SAO TOME. Re 6-025: The station manager of the São Tomé transmitting station (600 kW on 1530 kHz + SW) Charles Lewis has at times been active on the Broadcast reflector list; once he described the effect of the MW signal on his 160 meter ham operations. I believe a few DXers have QSL'ed them directly by this route (Bob Foxworth, FL, HCDX via DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA. BSKSA Riyadh, 15380, in Arabic at 1350 Jan 9, Hajj season with a live broadcast from Mecca and a huge crowd reciting the Kor`an; good (Louis Crisler Smith, Thurmont, MD, International Band Loggings, Feb NASWA Journal via DXLD) ** SERBIA & MONTENEGRO [non]. 6102, 2000-2010, escuchada el 6 de febrero en español, sintonía y locutora con ID "Esta es Serbia y Montenegro", boletín de noticias, SINPO 43443 (Jose Miguel Romero EA5-1022, Burjasot (Valencia), España, YAESU FRG-7700, SANGEAN ATS 909, Antena RADIO MASTER A-108, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) You mean they were really transmitting two kHz off frequency? (gh, DXLD) ** SOUTH AFRICA. Talk Radio 702 Ga-Rankuwa now on 540 kHz --- Yes, it's the old R. Bop 540 transmitter at Ga-Rankuwa (just North of Pretoria). It is 50 kW and omni-directional (John Plimmer, Montagu, Western Cape Province, South Africa via Steve Whitt, MWC via DXLD) ** TUNISIA. The BBC Monitoring Tunisia Media Guide in DXLD 6-023 mentions Radio Tunis Chaîne Internationale, which broadcasts mainly in French. RTCI is available on Ku-band MPEG satellite in the U.S. on Intelsat Americas 5. I enjoy their Friday and Saturday night (mostly electronic) dance music programs which air until they sign off with the Tunisian national anthem. I've been unable to find a schedule for the different languages on the ERTT Web site, where the national anthem is prominently available (Mike Cooper, GA, Feb 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKEY. VOT February 7, 2006, 15155, 1400-1425* UT. "Cultural Co-habitation" program. "This is the VOT broadcasting from Ankara" by male announcer. "Did You Know This?". Songs played. SIO 454 73, (Kraig Krist, KG4LAC, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. [continued from NETHERLANDS] --- BBC World Service Even though the BBC World Service seems to be inexorably morphing into an exclusively news-oriented service, programming remains high quality with several outstanding examples of content diversity. Weekdays, 1130: ``Analysis`` takes an item from the recent news and dives into a detailed and thoughtful review of the subject for 15 minutes – resulting in a less superficial treatment of important stories than you`d generally hear in news magazine programming. (Also available via live and on-demand webcast, XM and Sirius satellite radio, and many USA public radio stations overnight) Fridays 1545 and 2245; Saturdays 0245: ``The Instant Guide`` takes a subject that has been in the news – sometimes for years – and provides a background report that allows someone not familiar with a subject to gain a level of understanding that allows them to listen to subsequent reporting and better understand the issues. A recent edition explained the function of the USA`s Federal Reserve Bank. (Also available via the alternatives outlined above) Mondays 0006: ``Documentary 1`` is one of two time slots dedicated to documentary programming on the BBC World Service. In most instances documentary series run for several weeks in succession. These go into great detail in their fields, and the availability of online archives and podcasts allows one to listen to an entire series of programs without worrying about missing an episode on the air. The current series is entitled ``The Psychology of Consumerism``. Sundays 1106 and 2206: ``Documentary 2`` is the second series of documentary programming on the BBC World Service. The current series is a four-part edition of ``Heritage``, a history-oriented series, focusing this time on the Arabian peninsula`s Hejaz railway. BBC World Service February Highlights Here are some specific highlights of BBC World Service programming in February. Air times in the Americas stream are shown where available, with Europe and Africa air times when there are no options for the Americas on shortwave. Additional live webcast airtimes and on-demand webcasts are also available for these programs; check Kevin Kelly`s Public Radio Fan website for the handiest listing of live webcasts. Play of the Week The BBC World Service is continuing a series of repeat performances of award-winning dramas that have previously aired on the World Service. Saturday, February 11, 2200: ``Mr. McNamara`` is a dramatized short story dealing with a youth growing up in 1940s Ireland against a backdrop of unease and shortage due to World War II. Saturday, February 18th, 2200: ``No Background Music`` is from US playwright Normi Noel and features Sigourney Weaver in the lead role of Penny, a former Vietnam field nurse finally confronting the demons that haunt her. No Background Music continues for 90 minutes – half again as long as typical Plays of the Week. Saturday, February 25th, 2200: ``The Big Life`` represents a first – a recently-written musical featuring ska music, taking William Shakespeare`s Love`s Labor`s Lost and transplanting it to 1950s London. The setting features Caribbean immigrants arriving in London and dedicating themselves to strive for a better life. The Psychology of Consumerism Mondays 0006, beginning January 23rd – This four-part series investigates consumerism in Nigeria, Romania, Japan and Cuba – exploring what drives us to want to consume and challenging whether consumerism makes us feel more fulfilled. Host Mike Embley advises ``The programs aim to provide a window into the psychology of each nation, building up a picture of 21st century life through differing spending habits,`` says Mike Embley. ``In today`s globalized world, what people buy is increasingly defining who they are and who they would like to be,`` he says. ``A recent report from The World Values Survey showed that Nigeria has the highest percentage of happy people, while Romania and other Eastern European countries have the fewest,`` he continues. ``This series will test the old adage that money cannot buy happiness and that the desire for material goods is in fact a ``happiness suppressant.`` Masterpiece – The Art of Advertising Tuesdays 1306 and 1906 to Europe, and 1406 to West Africa, beginning January 25th – This three-part series, one edition of which will air in the week you receive the February Journal – looks at the creative forces utilized to create the images, slogans, concepts, and brands that are designed to help us part with our hard-earned money. Only the current week`s edition is offered online on-demand, so you`ll have to hurry to catch the second week`s edition by Tuesday, February 6th 0900 before it rolls over to the 3rd program in the series. Discovery – ``Sell, sell, sell`` Thursdays 0206, beginning January 26th – This is a companion series to the Psychology of Consumerism, with an interesting twist – the program applies the principles of brand management and neuroscience with cultural preferences to develop recommendations from various regions in how the BBC World Service should ``sell`` its services. Since many folks in the swprograms e-mail group have chafed at the BBC`s utilization of commercial and business principles in its oversight, this look at those principles may be particularly interesting. In Concert: ``International Recital`` [Details: see below] Sundays, 1901 to Africa and 2001 to Europe – This series of international chamber music recitals returns for its 21st season. Classical, art and folk music, and a blend of African, Latin, American, and European rhythms are among the series of six concerts. ``The New Rules of the Game`` Mondays 0006 beginning February 20th: BBC Diplomatic Correspondent Jonathan Marcus explores what the term globalization means; how it has developed and where it is going in this new three-part landmark series. This series also examines whether globalization is a force for good or ill. During the series he travels to Europe, the United States, the Balkans and China investigating globalization`s negative aspects – terrorism, organized crime and illicit trade – as well as the positive way it breaks down cultural and intellectual barriers, facilitates the spread of information and brings people together. 73 DE Richard (Rich Cuff, Easy Listening, Feb NASWA Journal via DXLD) ** U K. In Concert: International Recital === BBC World Service`s own chamber music series In Concert: International Recital returns for its 21st run with a series of six Sunday afternoon concerts recorded at St George’s, Bristol from Sunday 5 February. This year`s artists include the T`ang Quartet from Singapore, four young string players who bristle with energy and bravura and revel in an adventurous approach to the quartet repertoire. They open the 2006 series on Sunday 5 February with a youthful Mozart quartet. Percussion duo Colin Currie and Sam Walton, renowned for the freshness and musicality of their performances, display their show-stopping versatility in works which include Dave Maric’s Shapeshifter on Sunday 12 February. Paris-based ensemble L'Arpeggiata inject a welcome dose of passion and freshness into early music on Sunday 19 February. L'Arpeggiata, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, boldly crosses boundaries between art and folk music. A musical legend, the Czech pianist Ivan Moravec, celebrated for his ability to produce an astonishing range of colours from the piano and for the magical poetry of his interpretations, performs on Sunday 26 February. Nancy Vieira, an original voice on the Portuguese speaking African music scene, provides a seductive mixture of African, Latin, American and European rhythms on Sunday 5 March. The final International Recital on Sunday 12 March features the outstanding duo of Ukrainian-born violinist Vadim Gluzman and Latvian- born pianist Angela Yoffe. Producer/Radek Boschetty In Concert: International Recital: 6 programmes x 60 minutes Sundays from 5 February [European stream, webcast]: Sundays 0101 and 2001 [American stream, webcast]: Sundays 0101 and 2001 Listen online http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/index.shtml (BBC Press Office via Rich Cuff, DXLD) ** U S A. The day after the frequency changes, I helped VOA News Now write new frequency announcements. In gratitude, it was proposed that I voice those frequency announcements. That request was denied. I am still banned from being heard on VOA (Kim Andrew Elliott, Feb 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Kim Andrew Elliott, audience research analyst in the US International Broadcasting Bureau, notes that these budget proposals require Congressional approval, and modifications are very possible before they are scheduled to take effect. Kim has compiled this table http://kimandrewelliott.com/bbg_2007_reorg.html summarising the proposed changes. # posted by Andy @ 08:52 UT Feb 7 (Media Network blog via DXLD) Viz.: BROADCASTING BOARD OF GOVERNORS REORGANIZATION OF U.S. INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING EFFECTIVE FY 2007 (OCTOBER 1, 2006) Language VOA RFE/RL -------- --- ------ Albanian Radio eliminated; television continues Radio continues Bosnian Radio eliminated; television continues RFE/RL South Slavic radio continues Croatian Eliminated RFE/RL South Slavic radio continues Dari Add one-hour television program Not mentioned by BBG; radio presumably continues. English (News Now) Radio eliminated; English text on voanews.com continues English (Special) Continues English to Africa Continues Georgian Eliminated Continues Greek Eliminated Hindi Radio eliminated; television continues Macedonian Radio eliminated; TV continues Eliminated Pashto Add one-hour television program; Not mentioned by BBG; enhance radio transmission to border radio presumably region of Afghanistan continues. Persian TV expands to 4 hours per day Radio Farda website enhanced Russian Radio eliminated; television continues Eliminate 6 hours per day of direct radio transmission to pursue FM rebroadcasting strategy Serbian Radio eliminated; television continues RFE/RL South Slavic radio continues Spanish Add TV news magazine 5 days a week Thai Eliminated Turkish Eliminated Zimbabwe Radio program funding transferred from USAID to BBG Radio Sawa Alhurra [TV] Arabic Add customized local news content and Increase news coverage coverage from 16 to 24 hours a day (kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) see also VENEZUELA [non]! ** VOICE OF AMERICA BUDGET SHIFTS FOCUS, AXES ROLLING NEWS | Text of editorial analysis by Nigel Taggart of BBC Monitoring Media Services The US Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), which oversees external broadcasting, has recently announced a package of funding changes for international broadcasting by the USA for the 2007 fiscal year. The changes notably affect the Voice of America (VOA). The proposed budget for 2007 outlines an increase of 4.3 percent for US international broadcasting overall, and an increase of 5.3 percent for VOA, which will primarily target the Arab and non-Arab Muslim world and areas highlighted by the "war on terrorism". There is an increased emphasis on television and the use of new technology for programme delivery. Selected non-conflict zones will suffer reductions or the total cessation of broadcasts in their respective languages. In a recent statement, US Broadcasting Board of Governors Chairman, Kenneth Y. Tomlinson said "In the post-Katrina [US hurricane] budget environment, I believe we are fortunate to get an increase that strengthens our role in the war on terrorism. The '07 proposed budget of 671.9m US dollars follows a 7.5 per cent increase for the fiscal year '06." The end of the Cold War saw a 40 percent cut in spending on international broadcasting by the US, however, in recent years the Bush Administration and Congress has completely reversed this trend. The main casualties of these budgetary changes include reductions in English language programming, particularly the rolling news service "News Now" which will cease to broadcast, but will continue as a text- only service via the web. VOA English to Africa and Special English remain unaffected and should serve to underline the BBG's ongoing commitment to English language programming, as well as the ever- growing popularity of the internet. Under the proposals, the daily 30-minute VOA Persian TV service for Iran will be expanded to a four-hour daily prime-time slot. In Afghanistan, viewers will be able to watch a one-hour TV programme in both Dari and Pashto. Reception of VOA Pashto programming will be improved using additional FM and mediumwave frequencies. Radio broadcasts to Zimbabwe, known as "Studio 7", in Shona, Ndebele and English, which were previously funded from USAID will continue under the BBG umbrella. The budget will also allow for a new Spanish language television news magazine to be aired five days a week. According to a recent BBG press release, as a result of the need to expand both television and radio coverage in chosen critical areas, VOA has had to make some "painful choices". Of the geographical areas facing scaled-down programming, there will be a marked reduction for the Balkans. These include the cessation of VOA radio in Albanian, Bosnian, Croatian, Greek, Macedonian, Serbian and Turkish. Casualties elsewhere include VOA radio in Georgian, Hindi, Russian and Thai. Television programming will continue in Albanian, Bosnian, Hindi, Macedonian, Russian and Serbian. Non-English VOA radio broadcasts to sub-Saharan Africa in Afan Oromo, Amharic, Hausa, Kinyarwanda/Kirundi, Swahili and Tigrigna have been largely left untouched. The new VOA broadcast schedule, effective 1 February 2006, highlighted the number of shortwave frequencies that had been reduced or cut entirely, as a precursor to the budgetary re-organization. Some of the more extensive cuts have resulted in the three-hour long morning broadcast in English at 0900 gmt being dropped. Up to half of the frequencies carrying Balkan-language programming for Europe have also been discontinued. The three daily broadcasts in Russian have had the number of available frequencies cut by up to one third. However, this is not as serious as it first seems, because the US- funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) will continue to broadcast in Russian for the foreseeable future. Speaking about the changes, Tomlinson said "Every member of the Board of Governors regrets the loss of VOA services proposed in this budget". "The men and women who provided these services for many years served with distinction and provided programming that were critical to this nation's interests. However, the Board believes that the priorities reflected in this budget proposal represent the best allocation of funds." Source: BBC Monitoring research 8 Feb 06 (via DXLD) ** U S A. MARTIN SCHRAM: VOA IS DOA IN BUSH BUDGET Scripps Howard News Service Published: Tuesday, February 7, 2006 http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/opinion/syndicated/story/3145018p-11852285c.html (SH) - We interrupt the nonstop news about the War on Terror for a bulletin from the battlefront of public diplomacy, otherwise known as the global Battle for Hearts and Minds. This just in: According to a little-noticed line in its 2007 budget, the Bush administration has proposed pulling the plug on just about all of the Voice of America's English-language broadcasting and telecasting. Unless smarter heads in Congress intervene, this means the United States will be taking a giant step in the wrong direction - at the worst possible time. A world of listeners will be losing a group of English-language programs that provide them with a chance to hear for themselves perhaps the best example of what American-style democracy is all about. By way of explaining this, readers first need to know that for once we are discussing a topic in which a number of Washington journalists, myself included, are not disinterested bystanding observers. For almost two decades, we have comprised a rotating panel of journalists - liberals, conservatives and somewhere-in-betweeners - who appear in groups of three on "Issues in the News," a radio show discussing Washington and world events. We pick the topics and critique official actions as we see fit. VOA beams the show globally via shortwave and other frequencies. (We are paid nominally for our time, $100 for a panel member and $150 for the panel's host - figures that remained unchanged for at least a quarter-century.) At a time when al Jazeera and China Radio International are adding English programming, the United States is going the other way. The Broadcasting Board of Governors, which oversees all U.S. international broadcasting agencies, announced increases of 13 percent for funds for Middle East broadcasting networks and 5.3 percent for the overall VOA. Then, "faced with the increased costs of expanding critically needed television and radio programming to the Arab and non-Arab Muslim world, the Board has had to make some painful choices," the broadcasting board's announcement went on to say. As a result, it said, the English-language radio programs on VOA News Now will be eliminated. (Funding will continue only for VOA English radio beamed to Africa, and a special program for beginning English- language users that features a very limited 1,500-word vocabulary, spoken very slowly. The VOA's English Web site will also continue.) The board went on to unintentionally prove its own misjudgment, saying: "The budget reflects the board's commitment to English- language programming in the medium of the future, the Internet, and for excellence in Special English programming. Research shows that millions more are benefiting from Internet programming than from shortwave transmission, which VOA News Now relies on." It is correct: Shortwave broadcasting is old-tech (yet still widely used, especially in rural impoverished areas). And the Internet is not just the medium of the future, in many places that future is now. Moreover, there is also a medium of the future within the Internet - streaming audio and video. Millions will soon be listening to or viewing programs not just on home computers or laptops, but on their cell phones - which are becoming the communications instrument of choice in poor countries. So, if millions of English-speaking people in Muslim countries and other places in the emerging world are watching the Internet, what English-language programming will there be for them to watch? Precious little - if it is all being scrapped in a shortsighted (see also: short-listened) effort to save a few bucks ($9 million) in the interim. They will not be able to see the living demonstration of what democracy in action is all about - brought to them by a government that is in power, but not above listening to the views of its critics on all matters of war and peace. "That's a good point," said Mark Helmke, a senior professional staff member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, chaired by Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind. "We'll have to take a look at that if we're going to salvage that sort of program." Helmke, an expert on public-diplomacy issues, has advocated an end to the patchwork reforms and a complete review of U.S. global communications strategy. He has also suggested that perhaps the VOA should become a sort of international C-SPAN, airing unfiltered views that support and oppose government policy. A government showcase for democracy - that's one of the most intriguing and purely positive ideas to be heard in a capital city where negative and partisan intrigues too often prevail. Martin Schram writes political analysis for Scripps Howard News Service (via Bill Patalon, MD, Mike Cooper, GA; Ken Kopp, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. I had just finished to sort out the current IBB cuts when I saw the next big bang. So VOA is to scrap worldwide English. Must be a rather recent decision, considering that BBG's Executive Director Brian Conniff went to Berlin personally to present their concept for FM 87.9. I think by allocating the frequency otherwise MABB just spared BBG from returning the licence. Hard to believe how quick this whole thing goes down the river now. A closer look at the proposed VOA cuts makes it clear that herewith the last remaining programmes for Europe (except the former Soviet Union) will be terminated. Relays via Albania (Fllaka mediumwave) and Romania (Lugoj-Boldur 756) will come to an end, and IBB's own mediumwave transmitter at Kavala (on 792) will face its closure since there is no programming to carry anymore, except RFE/RL will use this frequency, but I think this is rather unlikely. So the next round is open for speculations on the fate of the IBB facilities in Europe, i.e. Germany and Kavala. I saw no mention of VOA Music Mix so far. Is it to be terminated together with News Now or will it continue for whatever reason? The VOA overnight slot on Berlin 87.9 contains Music Mix already for a while, perhaps not the best idea since it produced an "is this all they have to offer?" impression. No related postings on the website of AFGE Local 1812 yet (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Feb 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. Frequency changes for IBB effective Feb. 1: 0430-0500 NF 5955, ex 7290 Voice of America in Hausa 0500-0530 NF 5955, ex 7290 Voice of America in Hausa Mon-Fri 1030-1130 NF 15535, ex 11940 Radio Free Afghanistan in Pashto 1130-1230 NF 9990, ex 19010 Radio Free Afghanistan in Dari 1130-1230 NF 15535, ex 11940 Radio Free Afghanistan in Dari 1200-1230 NF 15120, ex 13740 Radio Liberty in Kyrgyz 1230-1330 NF 15535, ex 11940 Radio Free Afghanistan in Pashto 1400-1500 NF 11975, ex 15235 Radio Liberty in Kazakh 1900-2000 NF 9725, ex 7155 Radio Liberty in Ukrainian 1900-2000 NF 7285, ex 11875 Voice of America in Turkish 2000-2100 NF 7135, ex 11825 Voice of America in Korean (Observer, Bulgaria, Feb 7, via DXLD) ** U S A. Re: WWKB 1520 Buffalo changes format --- If anyone needs a good "fix" on music from yesteryear on AM, those who can should try "The Sunday Night Hall of Fame" from WPTF, 680, Raleigh. I like to pull out my AM tube portables now stuffed with 9 volt batteries in series and pretend I've gone back in time to the '50's. Barring athletic events, the show is on from about 8:05 P. M. to Midnight. [0100-0500 UT Mondays] (Bob Smoak, Bamberg, S. C., ABDX via DXLD) Thanks, Bob, for the reminder. This program is GREAT!!!! Need more programs with real radio (Willis Monk, Old Fort TN, ibid.) I receive interference from WCNN, Atlanta. Their night pattern must be aimed right at me. I can usually null it without much difficulty. As a teenager, in the summer I visited my aunt and uncle in Richmond, VA, via train. The tracks ran right in front of the WPTF transmitter. In the night, I would look out of the window at the three, huge self- supporting towers and building replete with red neon proclaiming WPTF, 680, 50,000 watts. My Channel Master Model 6506 would become distorted with the RF overload. It was a treat I looked forward to every time the train passed going and coming (Bob Smoak Bamberg, S. C., ibid.) ** U S A. Re ABC/Citadel: Well, on a technical note --- Citadel has a habit of shutting off AM stereo exciters, so that will probably be the final blow to WLS's, one of the two AMS stations left in Chicago (leaving the Radio Disney on 1300 from La Grange as the last). Citadel also doesn't seem to be embracing iBOC --- so that might at least keep the band cleaner. This may also be RIP for KABC 790's stereo here in L.A. Personally, Citadel AMs have extremely dull programming. I hope they don't kick all the locals out of KABC (like Al Rantell) and stick sat-fed syndicates on. KABC is the only talk station here that I bother listening to at any length (or WLS on line). (Darwin Long, Thousand Oaks, CA, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. 1660, Relevant Radio for SW Florida; with extensive promotion mentioning WMYR 1410. Good signal but utility QRM at 2349 UT. Note "incorrect" url for station http://wmyr-wczn.relevantradio.com Is their callsign WCNZ or WCZN? 73 (Steve Whitt, UK, MWC via DXLD) ** U S A. WIOD 610 Miami, problems --- There are problems with local programming at WIOD 610 Miami. Today at 1:00 pm ET, Feb 7 2006, they are playing music during their normal TOH news break. During the previous hour they have allowed the syndicated programs fill material to be aired rather than the local ads. Which is another way of saying they're airing Rush Limbaugh's satirical routines to air, which normally would only be heard on the Internet. During one part of the program, for a few seconds other material was aired on top of the programming. There are periods of dead air and cue tones heard just before network programming resumes. The signal is strong and the programming is coming through, but nothing local. (W. Curt Deegan, Boca Raton, (southeast) FL, IRCA via DXLD) On a hunch, I wonder if they've had to evacuate the studio for some reason? A station as big as WIOD wouldn't be running automated during Rush, and even if there were a catastrophic failure of the automation system that would normally be inserting local ads and such (with a human board op monitoring it), the human at the controls would be able to step in manually and insert IDs, promos, news, etc. But if they had to evacuate, they might have just put up the network feed and gotten out of there. Just speculation at this point, mind you! S (Scott Fybush, NY, ibid.) Scott, All there is, is the EIB Network (Limbaugh) feed. Exactly what one would hear listening on the Internet. Even the promo feeds and morning updates intended for station use, aired without interruption. There has been no station ID since around 12:30pm EST when I tuned in. You're right, normally there is a live announcer doing news, weather, etc. at T&BOH, but not today. I'll listen for any news on other stations, not sure they'd say anything unless it's a big deal (Curt, ibid.) What are WIOD's Clear Channel sister stations (WINZ, etc.) doing? S (Scott Fybush, ibid.) It is a hazardous materials situation. The building has been evacuated. Reported by 1290 WJNO West Palm Beach. WINZ is carrying local material -- traffic, station IDs, etc. -- in addition to the network programming. They seem to have a way around the evacuation that WIOD does not (Curt, ibid.) Seems I called it correctly: "THREAT FORCES EVACUATION OF 8 RADIO STATIONS" http://cbs4.com/topstories/local_story_038140718.html s (Scott Fybush, ibid.) Viz.: Evacuation Ends For Miramar Radio Stations Clear Channel Studios In Miramar Evacuated Threat of Explosives Unfounded Gary Nelson Reporting, Feb 7, 2006 5:32 pm US/Eastern (CBS4) MIRAMAR --- Employees of a Miramar broadcast center housing several radio stations are being allowed to return to their jobs after a telephoned threat indicated the building would sustain a ‘white powder attack.’ Police evacuated the building, but found no evidence of danger. The telephone call to the ClearChannel broadcast center in Miramar at 7601 Riviera Boulevard was made last night, but not reported to police until this afternoon. Units from the Miramar police department, including specially a trained dog, were called in to search the building, and were surprised when the dog indicated a package located in the building’s mail room might contain explosives. Miramar police say a second dog was called to the building and confirmed the first dog’s findings, so the building was evacuated and special units were called in, including hazardous materials teams from Hollywood and Broward County, and the Broward Sheriffs Office bomb squad. After an inspection of the building, police decided that the dogs had indicated that they call a ‘false positive’, where a substance the dogs detect mimics the scent of explosives. Some of South Florida’s most popular radio stations operate from the facility, including Y-100, Big 105.9, Love 94, 610 WIOD, am940WINZ, 103.5 BEAT, Mega 94.9. The radio stations remained on the air, but with recorded programs, as no employee was allowed to remain in the building after what police called a ‘mandatory’ evacuation. Employees were bused from the building during the evacuation and search. (© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) (via Scott Fybush, IRCA via DXLD) WIOD has resumed local content with TOH news. They are just now back in the building and getting back to normal. WIOD is 100% live so they don't have automation to fall back on, which WINZ does, so the affect of the evacuation was probably a bigger problem for WIOD. (W. Curt Deegan, Boca Raton, (southeast) FL, 2016 UT Feb 7, ibid.) Probing, probing, always testing. Radio was once where we went when something happened. Still the case with small stations. But take 'voice-tracked juke boxes' as one scurrilous wag - not undersigned scurrilous wag, either. Sorry. - termed them, lob a dullard's threat, and a prime information source is nullified. Safe, gentle, proven effective. Evacuated with nary a moment to croak an announcement into the computers for periodic repetition? Goodness! Those iBUNq/ monopolycasters sure are smart. What'll they think of next? Radios with fins? Audience soothed by Limbaugh's sonorous soporifics blissfully unaware nobody's home. After a while, the material writes itself.... =Z.= (Paul Vincent Zecchino, Manasoviet Key, FL BT, ibid.) What is interesting, is that the good old days of live radio -- so often lamented amongst the hobbyists and old-time practitioners -- are just what WIOD is. Live 24/7, no automation. It was because of that they had only the network feed on the air. No one and no computer to do IDs, run ads, read the news, just the EIB network filler between segments of Limbaugh's show. It was fortunate there was filler; otherwise there would have been long periods of dead air during the three hour event. WINZ however, with their automation, continued on so that the evacuation was not even apparent to listeners. It wasn't until I read press reports that I realized both stations -- along with 6 FMs -- had been evacuated, and it was more than just a WIOD problem. Maybe a little bit of automation ain't such a bad thing? At least from the station management perspective. As a listener I found the 3 hours of nearly commercial free programming quite enjoyable. To put it in perspective, it was the same content you would hear over the Internet from the Limbaugh web site; parodies, network promos, and all. Also interesting is that this occurred exactly during the three hours of Limbaugh's program. Hmmm... But then, Al Franken and Progressive Radio was on WINZ, so the conspiracy theories are going to be a little more difficult to formulate. Man, can you imagine the uproar if those two Clear Channel, co- resident stations got their wires crossed? (W. Curt Deegan, Boca Ratón, (southeast) FL, ibid.) Estimado C - Right. Yes, well you see, this is why the Old Media fell to the internet. They claim without editors we little ones will believe nonsense presented as fact. They forget that the internet, as does any free market, regulates itself. Your info re WIOD et al well illustrates the internet's self-regulating powers. This makes it less likely for some pompous old windbag - undersigned windbag, for example - to gas off by publishing unadulterated bullshale as fact. Now to your questions for which of course, I have no believable answers. Who made the threat? Anti-Limbaugh League? Castro? Al Franken in false- flag op? Debate has barely begun to rage. =Z.= (PVZ MNSVT KY FL BT, ibid.) ** U S A. AIR AMERICA’S BIRTHDAY (REPORT) CARD --- HAPPY FIRST...NOW SHAPE UP! - Part 1 by Mark S. Tucker February 7, 2006 http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_mark_s___060207_air_america_92s_birthd.htm (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. CBS Network Channel 42 loop on 1480 --- Hi guys, An unusual one here overnight, I was listening to 1480 overnight and noticed a loop consisting of a 400Hz tone followed by the words "CBS Radio Network Channel 42", heard after 0400 UT. http://www.skywaves.info/2006/1480-unid-0410-06-02-06.mp3 Anybody know who this is? Thanks and good DX! (John Faulkner, UK, WTFDA-AM via DXLD) Hello John, I don't know specifically who it is, but we've had this turn up before on other frequencies. What it is, is a satellite receiver at an automated ESPN affiliate getting knocked out of tune off the main ESPN network channel. Many of these stations are not looked after by an engineer during off hours, so sometimes the loop will run all night. Leastways you can now narrow down to it being an ESPN station. Cheers, (Curtis Sadowski, IL, ibid.) Actually, the "CBS 42" loop is coming from the Westwood One satellite system, while ESPN is distributed by ABC's satellite system. Almost everything in radio these days comes through one or the other, regardless of where the programming actually originates. CBS 42, if memory serves, is used by WW1 to distribute long-form sports programming. My guess is it was being used for something yesterday - was there NBA coverage, maybe? - that the 1480 in question was carrying via automation. When the game was over, the automation never kicked back to whatever else it was supposed to be doing, so the placeholder audio on 42 kept airing all night. Without knowing what was on 42 yesterday (I know some folks at Westwood One and can ask, if we're really curious), it's hard to even begin to guess. But it wasn't ESPN - that comes through ABC, not CBS/WW1. S (Scott Fybush, NY, ibid.) Hi Scott, I stand corrected then. I assumed that it was an ESPN feed because my local ESPN station screws up every so often and it ends up broadcasting a CBS loop message. Of course, they also cover some college and professional sports that ESPN might not have. I assume that some teams lease time on the CBS system to distribute coverage to affiliates (Curtis Sadowski, ibid.) They sure do --- and most stations that take any kind of satellite programming at all end up using some material from the ABC system and some from CBS/Westwood One, just in the natural course of things. (Even the "competition," like Fox News Radio, ends up leasing satellite capacity from one or the other for distribution - it's easier to pick up station clearances when they don't have to add a new receiver for the purpose!) Of course, that also makes it that much harder to solve mysteries like the CBS 42 loop when they appear. s (Scott Fybush, ibid.) Thanks very much for your information on this folks. I am guessing this station might have been WSAR [Fall River MA] but of course there's no way of telling. Several north Americans have been heard there recently here, most without ID's unfortunately, including an oldies format station. When I get a minute I'll compile the last few week's loggings and show you the TA DX which has been coming in here. I erected an ewe antenna a couple of weeks ago and it really has opened up the MW band. Best wishes all! Much appreciated! Good DX! (John Faulkner, ibid.) ** U S A. ABC NEWS SET TO AIR PRIMETIME PIECE ON RADIO 'PAYOLA' The ABC-TV newsmagazine tomorrow evening [first airing UT Friday 0300] will feature an interview by Chief Investigative Correspondent Brian Ross with New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer. In the interview, which has already been previewed on the ABC News website, Spitzer says that, based on evidence his office has gathered, the nation's nine largest radio companies have accepted payments from record companies and independent promoters for airplay of certain songs. Spitzer's office has examined the practice of record promotion to radio for two years. According to the report, the companies that have received subpoenas from Spitzer's office are ABC Radio, CBS Radio, Citadel, Clear Channel, Cox Radio, Cumulus, Entercom, Emmis and Pamal. ABC-TV's report on Spitzer's investigation into payola at radio comes just days after ABC parent Walt Disney Co. agreed to divest its 24 non-ESPN Radio and non-Radio Disney stations to Citadel (Radio and Records Feb 8 via Brock Whaley, DXLD) Payola Focus Turns To Major Radio Conglomerates http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=1591155&page=1 (via P. Alton, DXLD) Viz.: THE CLOUD OVER THE GRAMMYS: NEW INVESTIGATION INTO PAYING FOR PLAY ON THE RADIO === New York State Attorney General Conducted 2-Year Probe By BRIAN ROSS, RICHARD ESPOSITO and VIC WALTER Feb. 7, 2006 -- ABC News has learned the focus of a two-year-long payola investigation by the New York attorney general is turning to the nation's nine largest radio conglomerates. Attorney General Eliot Spitzer says evidence he has gathered clearly shows some of the radio conglomerates have participated in the illegal practice of accepting payments from record companies and middlemen for guaranteed air play for certain songs. "The behavior has been unethical, improper, illegal and a sanction of some severity clearly should be imposed," Spitzer told ABC News chief investigative correspondent Brian Ross. Spitzer and music industry officials told "Primetime" that millions of dollars in payments, gifts and trips are exchanged each year to get music stations to add songs to their weekly play lists. Spitzer says record company documents obtained in the investigation of Sony Music and Warner, both which have settled with the attorney general, reveal payments for songs that became major hits, including Jennifer Lopez's "I'm Real" and John Mayer's "Daughters." Other artists whose songs are named in the documents Spitzer has obtained include Jessica Simpson, Celine Dion, Maroon 5, Good Charlotte, Franz Ferdinand, Switchfoot, Michelle Branch and R.E.M. Spitzer says much of the money went directly to corporate bottom lines, unlike payola scandals of previous decades when individual disc jockeys and program directors received the money. "We have people in suits coming in with documents rather than cash payments under the table to a DJ," Spitzer said. The nine radio conglomerates that have received subpoenas from the attorney general are Clear Channel, Infinity (now CBS Radio), Entercom, Emmis, Citadel, Cumulus, Cox, Pamal and ABC. The nine companies together control several thousand radio stations across the country. In statements to ABC News, five of the companies say they are cooperating with the attorney general's investigation and take the matter seriously. The other companies have not responded to requests for comment. A number of other independent radio stations are also under investigation, according to state investigators. In conducting a probe of payola, banned by federal law, Spitzer has assigned himself the role of hit man to the hit makers, using state consumer fraud and bribery laws to go after the practice. The Federal Communications Commission says it is closely following the New York investigation, although Spitzer says the FCC has yet to move forcefully. "I would like to see the FCC more directly involved in addressing what is very clearly a payola scandal that has run rife through the industry," Spitzer told ABC News. Virtually all investigations into radio practices, since the last payola scandal in the 1980s that implicated organized crime figures, have withered on the vine and vanished. Spitzer's probe could be the most comprehensive to ever hit the industry. Warner Music Group has entered a settlement and contributed $5 million to charity as part of that agreement. Sony music settled for $10 million. Warner and Sony both agreed to cease any questionable business practices and to comply with Spitzer in his ongoing probe. (via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. AFRTS SURVEY SEEKS FEEDBACK ON RADIO PROGRAMS --- By Jennifer H. Svan, Stars and Stripes Pacific edition, February 8, 2006 http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=34866 About 10,000 servicemembers and Defense Department civilians overseas will get to comment on their American Forces Network radio station through a random survey that was to be mailed out in late January. American Forces Radio and Television Service, AFN's parent organization, intends the survey to help overseas military stations tailor radio programming. The goal is "to serve our overseas audience with the information and entertainment that they want and need to hear," Warren Lee, AFRTS plans and operations officer, was quoted as saying recently in a DOD news release. AFRTS last surveyed its worldwide audience in 2002. This is the first survey dedicated specifically to radio listeners. AFN staffers in Japan said the survey most definitely will influence local radio programming. "Whatever the audience answers on programming, we're going to cater to that," said Yokota Air Base's Gunnery Sgt. Tim McGough, AFN Tokyo operations manager. "Now is the time for listeners to tell us what they think." At Misawa Air Base, about 1,000 surveys went out to base residents, said Master Sgt. Ron Przysucha, AFN Misawa detachment chief. It's a "mechanism for gauging our audience, their demographics, their likes and dislikes," he said of the survey, noting that the station also conducts local surveys of its own. AFN Misawa recently changed its radio programming to be more "family friendly" in response to listener demand. But Przysucha said that if the survey indicates a "significant swing" in another direction, "it's up for us to change to meet the needs of the community." Surveys were to be mailed directly to servicemembers and DOD civilian employees the week of Jan. 23. Troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, who aren't at their permanent mailing addresses, will get their forms through military Morale, Welfare and Recreation officials at MWR facilities, dining halls and other common areas, AFRTS officials said in the news release. A postage-paid envelope is included with the survey form. Those selected to participate also may respond on the Internet using an access code provided with the hard-copy survey. AFRTS hopes to receive survey responses by mid-February and will provide feedback about results through local AFN stations in May, according to the news release (via Mike Terry, DXLD) see also JAPAN ** VENEZUELA [non]. RNV relay via Havana, 6060, in Spanish at 2015 Jan 2, YL & OM announcers with news, current affairs, sports feature and discussions of economics in other Latin American countries (Mike Branco, Islip LINY, International Band Loggings, Feb NASWA Journal via DXLD) Didn`t know the 2000 broadcast was on 6060 as well as 13680, and still any others? 6060 not so propagatable out here that early. Seems to be impossible to get an accurate schedule for this from Caracas or Habana. They used to announce the transmission schedule at the opening or closing, even tho it was not accurate, but have not caught such in a long time; has anyone? FWIW (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA [non]. La siguiente información la encuentro en el diario El Tiempo de Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela. Y por lo que se dice en la misma, me imagino que si se dá, tendremos mas interferencias y jammings en las bandas de onda corta. Si mal no recuerdo, ya Chávez dijo en una oportunidad que si eso ocurría, bloquerían todas las señales emitidas contra Venezuela. Atte: (José Elías Díaz Gómez, Feb 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: He aquí la información: BUSH HABLA DE TRANSMISIONES A VENEZUELA NÉSTOR IKEDA WASHINGTON / AP El presidente George W. Bush mencionó por primera vez públicamente un proyecto para mejorar la capacidad de transmisión de contenidos noticiosos hacia Venezuela, y está en el presupuesto del año fiscal 2007 que envió el lunes al Congreso. La referencia aparece en el segmento sobre transmisiones internacionales de radio o televisión, y encomienda la tarea a la Voz de América. "No podemos hacer un comentario al respecto", dijo un alto funcionario del Departamento de Estado hablando con reporteros para dar detalles del presupuesto de ese departamento que asciende a 33.859 millones de dólares. El funcionario, que habló bajo condición de no ser identificado, pidió formular las interrogantes a la llamada Broadcasting Board of Governors o junta de gobernadores de transmisiones de radio y televisión, una dependencia federal que también administra la internet. "La Voz de América mejorará sus transmisiones de noticias de Estados Unidos y el mundo hacia Venezuela, Zimbabue y Afganistán", dice el comentario de Bush sobre las transmisiones internacionales. Viejo tema El informante igualmente se abstuvo de comentar si esa propuesta de Bush implicaría la creación de una nueva división en la Voz de América. Una propuesta similar para emitir contenidos estadounidenses hacia el público venezolano fue planteada el año pasado por el congresista republicano Connie Mack y motivó una oleada de críticas del presidente Hugo Chávez. Mack reactualizó el tema la semana pasada a raíz de una alianza entre la red árabe de noticias Al-Jazeera y Telesur, un proyecto de televisión de Chávez y que involucra a varios países (via José Elías, Venezuela, DXLD) ** VIETNAM. In today's (English) Letterbox program they mention the starting date of the German program as MARCH 1. You can hear the Letterbox at 1515, 1815, 1915 and 0345 via: http://203.162.1.208/online/new/vov6_e.htm 73, (Erik Køie in Copenhagen, Denmark, Feb 8, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Correcting previous report that it was Jan 1; I looked at the undated schedule on VOV website and no sign of German yet (gh) UNIDENTIFIED. Re 6-025, 3960/3962: Glenn, No problems about your answer. This is right. I forgot this question. If you see, it was a 'tent.'. What can be 3960 / 3962 in your opinion? Your consideration is important for me. With your answer, I will correct in my next loggings edition. Thanks, (Rudolf Grimm, São Bernardo, SP BRASIL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Rudolf, I was thinking I had seen a Kurdish clandestine reported around there, but do not find anything by searching on either frequency in DXLD, or in the NASWA log database. DSWCI and Anker Petersen are probably the best bet to find something, and I just looked at their log database at http://www.dswci-sw-logs.dxer.info/download/logs.pdf and found this: 3960.1 0425- CLA 08.12.05 Voice of Iranian Kurdistan (t), Al- Sulaymaniyah Vernacular 22432 ALS-ARG [Arnaldo Slaen] More recently, see Slaen`s log in 6-021 under KURDISTAN [non]! You might find something further at the Clandestine Radio Watch website, tho the last I checked it for some station info it seemed not to be updated recently. 73, (Glenn to Rudolf, via DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Jihad issue: Hi Glenn, I'm sorry if I made some harm in cross-posting the Jihad thing. I didn't mean to hurt anyone. But I think these things should be discussed openly, as it anyway concerns the whole DX- community in the end. It's another thing if the open discussion actually helps much. The attitudes may never change. I have also often sent corrections to somebody's loggings when I feel he has wrongly identified a station. As we have seen, these loggings rapidly spread in the bulletins and there soon is a bunch of erroneous loggings. The correction may hurt the logger's feelings but I can't help it. I hope our co-operation will continue, I am very happy to contribute my news/loggings to DXLD. Best 73, (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, Feb 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I note with chagrin that the code cited, http://members.tripod.com/~bpadula/ethics.html is copyrighted to the point of prohibiting reproduction without permission, which suggests that it's not a code of conduct for all DX'ers but just the code of conduct of its author. I also note with chagrin that the quality of the information mandated in ethical exchange isn't addressed at all; that it's perfectly ethical to exchange inaccurate or downright wrong information -- the only important thing is that it's information. No wonder legends like Nibi Nibi get started so easily. Those of us who appreciate Glenn's efforts to ensure accuracy of information -- which makes his information that much more reliable -- understand what work he's put into making such an assurance. Such an assurance and reliability is clearly not provided by certain second- rate "sources" that, when relied upon, eventually make fools of us all (Clara Listensprechen, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Axually, aside from the point you make, the code of ethics looks pretty good, and unfortunately not followed by the poster, who did not write it. BTW, I have received some mail from Bob Padula with abusive subject lines, which I have not opened and do not intend to (gh, DXLD) Hi Glenn, Saw today's email exchanges concerning Cumbre. What's the big deal to these guys? You've always had an opinion but always seem to call it as you see it. You might not agree with their view but so what? A little personality is good on radio. Keep doing it your way. I for one appreciate it. Regards and good DX (Alan Furst, Round Rock TX) RE: Problems with rebellious DXers. It`s unfortunate that a hobby such as ours which advocates international friendship and cooperation has turned into a backstabbing and insulting venture. I agree with you, Glenn. I have seen some really off-the-wall conclusions by some Dxers thinking they heard one station when in reality they`re hearing another. I for one would like someone more seasoned to correct my mistakes or impressions so that I can learn from others. A lot of people can be thick when it comes to believing what they want to hear, reporting it, and then inducing others to err. I was surprised by Hans Johnson`s remarks about how some people felt insulted because you were pin-pointing their inaccuracies. If that`s the case, I don`t want to belong to any news group that doesn`t give precise information or allow constructive input from other members. I have also noticed in the past few years in some forums that when novice SWL or DXers do ask for information concerning a station or equipment few people come foward to offer help. Why it that? I really don`t know. What I do know is that the nastiness and selfishness on the part of some is appalling. For Jari in Finland, here is Bob Padula`s email: By the way, this is his disclaimer on his shortwave news blog: "Just a small reminder that everything you see in this Diary belongs to me, and none of it may be reposted, quoted, or republished without my specific advance permission. Offenders, thieves, robbers, hoons and sundry plagiarists will be publicly named in this Blog for the world to see." Scary (Marty Delfin, Madrid, Spain, Feb 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ NASWA LOGGINGS DATABASE Searchable, from Nov 1998 to the present: http://www.naswa.net/logs/ (Feb NASWA Journal via DXLD) One to bookmark as a very useful new reference! However, GIGO. And the future! The first thing I tried was 5865, and up came a ``12-27-2006`` log for RHC. This also appears in the print Feb Journal, as well as R. República on 6125. I think both of these must have been typos for the real frequencies, 5965 and 6135, altho it is remotely possible there was a punch-up error or a one-day test; however, we have been following this very closely and are otherwise unaware of any such frequencies having been used. Why don`t the editors question such anomalies? The imaginary WWCR frequency 4865 also lives on (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) LANGUAGE LESSONS ++++++++++++++++ CALCIO I did manage to read the report in the latest DXLD, and I'm glad someone from the country in question provided an answer. And since we're dealing with Latin languages, the words mentioned by Andy Lawendel (a name that doesn't really sound Italian!) are related to these equivalents: Italian Portuguese calcagno ... calcanhar, noun (expression Calcanhar de Aquiles, for instance) (Cast. ñ, Fr./It. gn, Port. nh) calciare ... calcar (Latin calcare), verb (almost equivalent to "prensar", to apply a press, or "pressionar", to apply pressure) gioco del calcio ... jogo de "calcar", ah, of course not, it's "jogo de futebol" calpestare ... atropelar, pisar, calcar, etc., depending on the meaning. 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, Feb 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) KABIR, AKBAR AND AKHBAR I guess this comes under Glenn's heading of a Language Lesson, though I don't presume to be much of a teacher. Ref. Mikhail Timofeyev asking in DXLD 6-024 regarding station heard on 17665 at 1130-1430 "with tentative ID as Izaatul jumhuriyati ... (third word is too crabbed - maybe Akhbar?)". I guess the word was Kabir, meaning Great, as some years ago Qadhafi - -- not being content with his country being called the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriyah --- decided that it should be known as the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriyah (or Great SPLAJ as I call it). Thus I assume that Mikhail heard the ID for Libyan radio. The root word Kabir gives the superlative form Akbar. A bit off topic, but two mistakes often seen are for the Arabic declaration "Allahu Akbar" to be translated as "God is Great" rather than "God is the Greatest"; and for the phrase to be transliterated as "Allahu Akhbar". Khabar (News) is a quite separate word to Kabir (Great, Big) and so writing "Allahu Akhbar" means you are saying "God is the best informed" - no doubt true if you believe that He is omniscient but a corruption of the original (Chris Greenway, UK, Feb 7, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello Dxers, Well, the subject somehow attracted my eyes, so I decided if you don't mind to share with you. If we are gonna talk about the IDs we used to hear from Libyan Radio Stations let's start by: 1) Idhaat al jamaheriaya al Ozma - the Great Jamaheriya radio ozma means great, like Great Britain. 2) sout al watan alaraby al kabeer - the voice of the big arab home land --- kabeer here means Big 3) sout afrikya - Voice of Africa the official ID of the Libyan jamaheriya is : aljamaherya alarabya al libyea al shaabeya al eshterakya al ozma - hard to translate all that but will try - The Great Libyan Arabic, socialist, people's jamaherya. The national anthem of Libya is an Old Egyptian song called ALLAH AKBAR. It means ``Allah is the Greatest". That song was the slogan of the 1956 war against Egypt known as Suez crisis when UK/France and Israel decided to attack Egypt after the nationalization of the Suez canal. so back again to Chris's topic, Kabir = Big Akbar = Bigger akhbar = news. I hope that'd make some clarifications to some of you :) All the best guys (Tarek Zeidan, Cairo, Egypt, ibid.) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ DISTINGUISHING LSB FROM USB Re 6-025, NEW YORK RADIO IMAGE on 9859: I checked again Feb 7 at 1539, and indeed the 9859 image comes across as LSB, while the true frequency 10051 is USB. The way to tell the difference on a receiver which does not have separate LSB and USB capability is: tuning downward across the SSB signal, if voice pitch lowers: LSB tuning downward across the SSB signal, if voice pitch rises: USB tuning upward across the SSB signal, if voice pitch lowers: USB tuning upward across the SSB signal, if voice pitch rises: LSB Or, godforbid, music pitch. Sure hope I`ve got that right. Have always been confused about it, but this gave me a chance to put it together. This of course applies to real signals, not just images. This is a lot easier to do if you have continuous analog tuning rather than step- tuning (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ BPL Pull Out IdaComm in Boise, Idaho has literally pulled the plug on BPL per Amateur Radio Newsline. 73s (Bill KA2EMX Bergadano, Feb 7, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled at all latitudes. Solar wind speed ranged from a low of about 300 km/s early on 01 February to a high of near 380 km/s early on 04 February. The Bz component of the IMF was generally weak, not varying much beyond +/- 3 nT through 31 January and +/- 7 nT for the remainder of the summary period. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 08 FEBRUARY - 06 MARCH 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 23 – 27 February. The geomagnetic field is expected to range from quiet to minor storm levels. Active to minor storm periods are possible on 19 - 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 Feb 07 2123 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 Feb 07 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2006 Feb 08 75 5 2 2006 Feb 09 75 5 2 2006 Feb 10 75 5 2 2006 Feb 11 80 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 12 3 2006 Feb 22 85 20 4 2006 Feb 23 85 12 3 2006 Feb 24 85 5 2 2006 Feb 25 80 5 2 2006 Feb 26 80 5 2 2006 Feb 27 80 5 2 2006 Feb 28 80 5 2 2006 Mar 01 75 5 2 2006 Mar 02 75 8 3 2006 Mar 03 75 8 3 2006 Mar 04 75 5 2 2006 Mar 05 75 5 2 2006 Mar 06 75 5 2 (http://www.sec.noaa.gov/radio via WORLD OF RADIO 1304, DXLD) ###