DX LISTENING DIGEST 6-034, February 23, 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 NEXT SW AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1305: Thu 2130 on WWCR 7465 [from next week: back to 15825!] Sat 0900 on WRN DRM 15735 Bulgaria Sat 1700 on WWCR 12160 Sun 0330 on WWCR 5070 Sun 0400 on WBCQ 9330-CLSB Sun 0730 on WWCR 3215 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 ** ALGERIA [non]. 17755 RTA via Issoudun France again? unID site - 17755, RTA Algiers in French noted again on TEST? towards Africa today Feb 21. French news from 0600 UT onwards. As usual in \\ to RTA LW 252 kHz, but program delayed 6 seconds later on SW. I couldn't find another \\ on 31 to 16 mb yet (wb, wwdxc BC-DX Feb 21) [Later:] FRANCE? 11915 & 17755, RTA Algiers TEST relay to Africa from 0700 UT noted on both channels. First RTA test series on shortwave reported by Ralf Ladusch in Germany on Jan 22nd. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, Feb 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I guess Gabon is also on TEST of RTA Algiers French program relay since yesterday Feb 21. Noted 17755 kHz very early at 0600 UT again today Feb 22. Accompanied by \\ 11915 from 0700 UT onwards. Are these coming from Moyabi Gabon too ??? Issoudun is never propagating on 17 MHz at 0600 UT during February into Germany. Signal is similar strong as DW Rwanda 17700 at 0527-0630 UT, and BBC Meyerton-AFS in French at 0700 UT. NHK R Japan Gabon relay which was very strong as usual on 11970 kHz at 0530-0700 UT today, so, another transmitter unit is freed at 0700 UT on Moyabi Gabon site too ! 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, Feb 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also GABON 11915 was s solid signal at 0705 but had weakened towards 0740. Nothing heard on 17755; however, I was just using the Sangean 909! Cheers: DM (David Martin, Australia, via Büschel, DXLD) ** ASCENSION. Hi Glenn, I read the item submitted by a fellow DXLD reader in the latest DXLD, referring to Ascension Island. I agree that this DX news site should not be used as a political platform. But I am afraid that I found the item inconsiderate and offensive, as a British citizen. I have never been to the Ascension Island, but I would have thought that those living there would have made it their home, a community. I should hardly have referred to them as a "Handful of Islanders". And what would the context of the item submitted be? Sorry Glenn, But this just agitated me (Christopher Lewis, England, DX LISTENING DIGEST) As you may have gathered, I do not rule out political comments, but flamewars will be quashed. Since ASC is such a major SW relay site, I think what goes on there that may affect it is on topic and of interest (gh, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. 11880, ABC Local Radio via Shepparton. Feb. 19 at 1124- 1200 in English. SINPO 44433. "Sunday profile" till 1130, then ID as "This is ABC Local Radio." "Speaking out" from 1130 (Iwao Nagatani, Japan, Japan Premium via DXLD) Local to where? I guess this is still Darwin relay for NT (gh, DXLD) ** AZERBAIJAN. 9677.46 to .64, Adalan Sasi Radiosu from Stepanakert today Feb 22nd on air. Usual distorted FM like signal. Centered at 0600 UT on 9677.64, but wandering down continuously to 9677.46 at 0620 UT. Female voice in unID language (Armenian?). Schedule Tue/Thur, but today is Wed. Had left the air, when checked at 0636 UT again. Scheduled Tue/Thur 0600-0635, and Mon/Wed 1500-1535 UT. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Stuttgart, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELARUS [non]. New services for Belarus --- POLAND/BELARUS --- Two stations broadcasting in Belarusian from Poland to Belarus are due to be aired partly also on MW: 1. Radio Racja (Belarusian: Radyjo Racyja) with studio in Bialystok, Poland will broadcast daily 1700-1900 UT via Koszecin 1080 kHz 350 kW from today 22 February. 2. European Radio for Belarus (Belarusian: Eúrapejskaje Radyjo dlia Belarusi) with studio in Warsaw, which already is available via webcasting at http://www.belradio.fm will be carried daily by Radio Baltic Waves in Vilnius on 612 kHz 100 kW at 0600-0700, starting 26 February (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, mwdx yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1305, DXLD) Ciao! Purtroppo il nuovo servizio in onda da oggi 22 Febbraio dal TX della Polonia su 1080 kHz arriva pure in Italia, intereferendo le emittenti Spagnole --- porcaccia miseria --- Radio Racja dal TX Koszecin 1080 kHz 350 kW. Ascoltata alle 1800 UT con chiaro ID. Se volete scrivergli: Radio Racja - 105,5 MHz, ul. Ciepla 1 lok. 7, PL*15-950 Bialystok, Polonia. Phone:+48 085 664 20 58 (Dario Monferini, playdx via DXLD) Sign-on at 1700 with jingle "Radio Racja - Belaruskoye Radio" and ID as "Havoryts Radio Racja - holos Belarusii" and announcing two one- hour transmission between 1900-2000 & 2000-2100, i.e. 1700-1900 UT. 73, (Mauno Ritola, Finland, Feb 22, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** BELARUS [non]. RADIO BELARUS ON MEDIUMWAVE AND SHORTWAVE VIA RUSSIA In an item on its website dated 20 February 2006, the National State Teleradio Company of the Republic of Belarus says: "From now on, news shows from Belarus are played on short waves (49m, 5940 kHz) and medium waves (256m, 1170 kHz) of the Voice of Russia on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 18:30 Moscow time [1530 UTC]. The Voice of Russia’s Polish service prepares similar Polish-language editions based on the materials from the Radio Station Belarus. This step is one of the results of the bilateral cooperation agreement signed in Moscow last December between the National State TV and Radio Company and the Voice of Russia. "Polls show that the air content of the Radio Station Belarus fit the needs of the foreign audience and is in demand as a source of information about our country fully covering all the facets of public, economic and cultural life," said Director of the Foreign Broadcasting Division Naum Galperovich in an interview. Over the last two years, our broadcasting hours have increased more than three times. "Since this February, the radio station has become the first broadcaster in Belarus to post English texts of their programs online at http://www.tvr.by (go to the English page) under the sections International Relations, Economy, Society, Culture and Education, Ecology, Sport and Tourism." # posted by Andy @ 17:31 UT Feb 23 (Media Network blog) Somehow in retaliation? (gh) ** BHUTAN. Hi Glenn, Bhutan BS replied to my e-report of 16th February 2006, for a reception of 11th February at 0120 UT, with the following. Mail sent to webmaster @ bbs.com.bt Fellow DXers can judge the reception quality from the same clip archived on: http://homepage.mac.com/lawendel/Bhutan11feb06clip.mp3 Hi Mr. Andrea, Greetings from the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. We are pleased to hear from you and more so to know that you could receive our shortwave signal on 49 meters band and 6035 kilohertz. I tried listening to the attachment file that you had sent across to us. Due to the disturbance I could not make out the dialect but however the music could be heard very clearly. The lively music you are talking about is our news signature tune. We broadcast in four languages, viz. Dzongkha (National Language) English, Sharchop (mostly spoken by the inhabitants of the east) and in Nepali (spoken by people of southern region). Not long ago there was also a man from Japan who wrote to us saying that he could receive our shortwave signals. If you are interested to listen to our radio programs then you can listen to it through our ISP Druknet. Thank you for the information, and keep us informed. With regards, Web team (via Lawendel, DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 6025, Radio Illimani, recibida bonita tarjeta QSL con datos completos, firmada, v/s José Luis Almanza, Director de la emisora y sello de: República de Bolivia, Ministerio de la Presidencia, Radio Illimani. Tardaron en contestar 9 meses y junto al informe de recepción se envió 1 US $ para ayuda del sello de retorno. En la tarjeta se pude leer: QSL Radio Illimani, La Voz de Bolivia, FM 94.1, AM 1020, O.C. 6025 Sr. Manuel Méndez, Lugo, España Frecuencia: 6025 kHz. 10 kW. Hora UTC: 2302-0030 Fecha: 01 Junio 2004 "Agradecemos por su informe de recepción y confirmamos que la emisora escuchada es la nuestra. Saludos". Firma y sello. El informe de recepción se envió a la siguiente dirección: Radio Illimani Avenida Camacho 1485 Edificio La Urbana P.6 La Paz Bolivia (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, España, Feb 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. Re 6-033, 4985: And in case you`d like to have the translation of this: ANATEL --- Agência Nacional de Telecomunicações (National Telecommunications Agency) issued a first statement allowing testing of the DRM system in Brazil. The department of technology of the Brasília University should carry out tests over a year on the frequency of 25885 kHz aiming to evaluate both the audio quality and signal strength of the 1 kW strong SW signal. According to the communiqué nº 56,064, published in the official gazette 15th Feb., the department is going to use a Croatian built RIZ transmitter into a 12.5 m dipole antenna. The info is from Cristiano Torres, Belo Horizonte, [Minas Gerais state]. (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. BRASIL, 4885, Radio Clube do Pará, Belém, 0234-0305, 21-02, portugués, programa deportivo, identificación: "Radio Clube do Pará, onda media 690 khz, ondas tropicais 4885 kHz.". Página web de la emisora: http://www.radioclubedopara.com.br SINPO 24322 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Escuchas realizadas en el casco urbano de Lugo, Grundig Yacht Boy 400, antena telescópica, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BURMA [and non]. DEMOCRATIC VOICE OF BURMA SAYS IT'S NO LONGER JAMMED Aye Chan Naing, director of the Democratic Voice of Burma which broadcasts into the country from shortwave transmitters in several locations, including the Radio Netherlands Madagascar relay station, says that the station is no longer being jammed by the Burmese government. Naing says that these days even the military junta is making use of the station. "In the beginning it was risky to listen to the radio station and the government would jam it, but not any more. Gradually even the civil servants started listening to us, as it is the only way to get reliable information. Their own media will for instance never show Burmese historians in exile talking about the history of Burma in a critical way." Read the report from Inter Press Service News Agency http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=32255 # posted by Andy @ 16:26 UT Feb 22 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** CANADA. Re 6-033, don`t know how long CFRX 6070 ran unmodulated, but it was OK when checked at 1349 UT Feb 22 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also HAITI ** CANADA. NRC 6th Edition Antenna Pattern Book --- Greetings, The new NRC pattern book is sure great. Adding the day patterns is really nice. Bill Hale did a really nice job as usual. Only one correction I have found is CFPR 860 Prince Rupert BC runs the 10 KW ND 24/7. I spoke to the CE not too long ago and he told me they have never dropped to 1 KW at night. They need the 10 KW to cover the remore areas of Northern BC. One thing I do notice is the day patterns for most of the Lower Mainland stations (Vancouver/Victoria) are a lot more restricted that they once were. No wonder I don't get powerhouse signals from them during the day at 160-200 miles. CKWX 1130 really surprised me with such little signal across the border during the day. After reading this, I am even more impressed with how well the EWE antennas work. 73, (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, IRCA via DXLD) I think there are issues with CKWX 1130's pattern and that is why the get east so well. As for CFPR 860, I wonder what I need to do to be able to hear them!! I can phase CJBC to death and even in really good conditions earlier this season when CJDC's C&W was mixing with Utah under phased WLS, I had no trace of anything I could point to as being CBC English. 73 KAZ Barrington IL (Neil Kazaross, ibid.) KAZ, I have noticed that several of the Vancouver stations are weaker during the day than they used to be like 10 years or so ago, yet my antennas are much the same. I think some day patterns have tightened up a bit. CFPR is 10 KW ND. I would think you would hear them. At 700 miles, they are "local like" most nights. KPAM drops to 5 KW and sends most of their power away from me to protect CFPR. 73, (Patrick Martin, ibid.) ** CANADA [non]. WGBH (89.7 Boston) may soon get a Canadian audience. The Bell ExpressVu direct-to-home satellite service has applied to the CRTC for permission to add WGBH and Seattle's KUOW-FM (94.9) to its offerings of U.S. broadcast signals, which already include several Boston TV stations (Scott Fybush, NE Radio Watch Feb 20 via DXLD) ** CHILE. A partir de 27 de fevereiro, a CVC - Voz Cristã estará transmitindo sua programação em português, entre 1100 e 1700, pela freqüência de 15525 kHz. Entre 1700 e 0000, continua emitindo em 15485 kHz. Nos demais horários não há alteração, ou seja, entre 0000 e 0400, permanece emitindo em 11745 kHz, enquanto que das 0400 às 1100, leva ao ar a programação em 11890 kHz (Célio Romais, Brasil, radioescutas via WORLD OF RADIO 1305, DXLD) Must have finally got a complaint from BBC; apparently the ERA relay via Delano until 22 also on 15485 is not a problem for CVC in Brasil. Both collisions have been ongoing since beginning of B-05, and now there is barely a month of it left (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1305, DX LISTENING DIGEST) In search of a Radio Voz Cristiana QSL I just called and talked to the folks at the RVC offices in Miami. In contrast to what it says in the 2006 PWBR, the person in Miami said they do not deal with QSLs for the station in Chile. Although she seemed really confused about the whole idea of QSL cards, she gave me the following address in Chile to write to: Radio Voz Cristiana Loreto Antena Calera de Tango Santiago, Region Metropolitan, CHILE I'll give this address a try and see if it produces anything. Also, if anyone has any better info or advice, I'd really like to hear from you. 73s, (Jim Pogue, Memphis, Tennessee USA, HCDX via DXLD) Hope this is finally the correct info for you, Jim. For many years, the Miami office was the source to write to for RVC Chile QSLs (actually for most of the lifetime of the station), so I hope that this is not simply a case of someone not knowing what's going on at their own station. I know how frustrating it can be with this sort of thing. 73 – (JD Stephens, ibid.) ** CHINA. CRI Website new look: Today (23 February, 2006) China Radio International has re-designed their website http://en.chinabroadcast.cn/ The newly designed website is looking very attractive (MD. AZIZUL ALAM AL-AMIN, RAJSHAHI, BANGLADESH, DX LISTENING DIGEST) And two clix away is the English SW transmission schedule, no sites, scrolling vertically rather than horizontally! But is it up to date? http://en.chinabroadcast.cn/radio/frequencies/radio_frequencies.htm (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [and non]. Chinese puzzle --- There's currently a lot of focus in the West on the press freedom situation in China, and it's creating dilemmas for Western companies trying to get a foothold in what could become the world's most lucrative media market. The problem is that, under the current regime, these companies are forced to agree to things that the press freedom organisations find abhorrent. Just how should companies in the West deal with this issue? http://www.radionetherlands.nl/features/media/chn060223.html (Media Network newsletter via DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. SOUND OF HOPE'S DAILY BROADCAST INTO CHINA INCREASES TO SIX HOURS Sound of Hope Radio Network (SOH), headquartered in California, is an independent and non-profit broadcast resource for the global Chinese audience. In addition to direct Internet broadcasts, SOH also transmits to over more than 40 AM and FM local radio stations around the world. The station has been broadcasting on shortwave into mainland China since March 2004, covering nearly all of China. According to the World Radio TV Handbook, the transmitters are in Taiwan. At the end of 2004, Reporters Without Borders pointed out that a French company, Thalès, sold China some equipment that would jam radio broadcasts into the country from overseas. SOH believes it is the main target of such jamming. It says the jamming signal used against its transmissions is stronger than that used against other stations such as the BBC and Radio Free Asia. Despite the jamming, support and demand for its broadcasts have encouraged SOH to increase daily output to six hours. SOH plans to eventually broadcast for 24 hours every day into mainland China. How quickly that will happen depends on how successful it is at collecting donations to pay for shortwave and mediumwave broadcasting timeslots. The station informs Media Network that its expanded shortwave schedule is as follows: 1600-1700 UT on 11765 kHz 2200-2300 UT on 9635 kHz 2300-2400 UT on 7310 kHz 1100-1300 UT on 7280 kHz 1300-1400 UT on 7310 kHz Sound of Hope http://www.soundofhope.org/ # posted by Andy @ 14:09 UT Feb 21 (Media network blog via WORLD OF RADIO 1305, DXLD) Their English page under How to Listen only deals with online; and Broadcast Details only deals with non-SW affiliates! (gh, DXLD) MINGHUI (MH) RADIO KICKS OFF SHORT WAVE BROADCASTS TO MAINLAND CHINA I don't remember seeing this, but apologies if it's a repeat of previously published information. This is a Falun Dafa station: http://clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2006/1/2/68584.html (Clearwisdom.net) As the 2006 new year approached, the Minghui (MH) Radio Station kicked off its short wave broadcast to China on December 30 as a warm gift to practitioners in China and all precious fellow countrymen. MH radio, founded in mid November, 2005, was created to clarify the truth to all Minghui readers. The radio now broadcasts twice a day on two different frequencies. The schedule is from 6:00 to 7:00 a.m. [2200-2300 UT] on 7105, and from 9:00 to 10:00 p.m. [1300-1400 UT) on 6030. Readers can also listen online or download the programs at http://www.mhradio.org. [This URL also mentions a third transmission at 11.00-12.00 [0300-0400 UT] on 11700 kHz) Posting date: 1/2/2006 Original article date: 1/2/2006 (Andy Sennitt, Feb 22, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1305, DX LISTENING DIGEST) News to me! (gh) ** COSTA RICA [non]. Postponement of the 9th session of the Provisional World Parliament was not due to unrest in Libya as earlier stated, but to logistical factors. The Conference is now scheduled for April 11, 12, and 13, 2006. We regret the error (RFPI-announce mailing list Feb 21 via DXLD) ** CUBA [and non]. Commies vs Commies! Just to reconfirm that CRI in English to NAm via Sackville, and RHC in Spanish to SAm are still colliding on 15230, as checked Feb 22 at 1430. CRI atop here, but with annoying QRM. RHC considered a change, but apparently decided CRI did not bother them enough in the Southern Cone (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. CLANDESTINA, 6135, Radio República, 2202-2359, 20-02, español, comentarios, canciones. Identificación: "Radio República es para todos los cubanos". "Radio República anuncia sus horarios y frecuencias por onda media por las emisoras "La Poderosa" y "Cadena Azul", los sábados a partir de las 12 de la noche, 670 y 1550 kHz., Radio República, con fe en la victoria". "Atención: Radio República anuncia nuevas frecuecias: 0600-0800 p. m. 6135 kHz., banda de 49 metros (2200-0000 UT) 0800-1000 p. m. 7205 kHz., banda de 41 metros (0000-0200 UT) 1000-1200 p. m. 7110 kHz., banda de 41 metros (0200-0400 UT) Esta es Radio República, voz del Directorio Democrático Cubano, transmitiendo para Cuba, con fe en la Victoria". A las 2258 programa "Recuento Informativo". SINPO 44444 7205, 0000-0200, 21-02, comentarios e informaciones de Cuba: "Cubanos, cubanas, escríbenos a la siguiente dirección: Radio República P. O. Box 110235 Hialeah FL 33011 USA" SINPO 34333. 7110, 0200-0400, 21-02, comentarios, a las 0300 programa "Barrio Adentro". Cierre alas 0400: "Radio República concluye sus transmisiones, Radio República, la libertad será nuestra". SINPO 34333 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Escuchas realizadas en el casco urbano de Lugo, Grundig Yacht Boy 400, antena telescópica, DX LISTENING DIGEST) So they finally got around to announcing their correct frequencies. Might as well, since they all are jammed (gh, DXLD) ** CUBA. He monitorizado los últimos 5 días y al menos aquí ya no se escucha el jamming en 6010 kHz que afectaba principalmente a Radio Mil (Julián Santiago Díez de Bonilla, DF, Feb 23, condig list via DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. QSL received: Czech Radio, 270 kHz, for Feb 4, 2006 reception. F/D "Josef Bozek" QSL along with schedule, magnet, and station info in 16 days for $1 rp. This is my first T/A longwave QSL. Thanks to Glenn Hauser for pointing out how hot the lower frequencies were a few weeks back (Dan Srebnick - Aberdeen, NJ Feb 21, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. 5009.8, R. Cristal Internacional, Santo Domingo, relaying R Pueblo 1510 MW, 2306-0003*, Feb 3 (Fri) and 11 (Sat), reactivated with Dominican-type music and occasional talk in Spanish, phone in with tel. caller 2348, closed with the National Anthem of the Dominican Republic, poor signal and deteriorating, tinny audio, voice lower than music (Scott Barbour, Jerry Berg and John Herkimer in Dxplorer via DSWCI DX Window Feb 22 via DXLD) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. R. Malabo in Spanish and French --- 5005 Radio Malabo, 2130-2143, escuchada el 22 de febrero en español a locutores con boletín de noticias internacionales, sintonía, ID ``Son las 10:35 en la República de Guinea Ecuatorial, aquí Radio Malabo``, repaso de los titulares y un fragmento del discurso del Presidente de la república, segmento musical, ``Han escuchado ustedes el diario hablado de ésta hora``, SINPO 33332. 2143-2148, escuchada el 22 de febrero en francés a locutora con boletín de noticias locales, ID, sintonía y despedida, SINPO 32232 (Jose Miguel Romero, Burjasot (Valencia), España, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Why not English too? I recall Radio Bata has couple of newscasts from Radio Malabo. So the Malabo ID can be heard at times on 5005. Years ago they took the audio from 6250 with a shortwave receiver for these newsrelays and I remember I often heard the Korean station (which still exists on 6250) also relayed on 5005 along with Malabo news. 73 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, ibid.) 5005 Radio Bata; 2211-2217+, 18-Feb; M commentary in Spanish re reina (whose reina?); I've seen IDs reported many different ways, but heard "Radio Bata" spot at 2214 followed by drum chant. Poor at QRN level + occasional ute clatter (Harold Frodge, MI, MARE Tipsheet via DXLD) ** ESTONIA. 1035 kHz power increase planned --- Tartu Pereraadio which is running the Russian language channel "Tartuskoye Semeykoye Radio" on 1035 from Tartu is planning to replace the present 50 kW Harris transmitter with a 200 kW Telefunken (Transradio) TRAM 200 unit. A date for the power increase is not yet set. The transmitter will be DRM capable, and Pereraadio is considering DRM transmissions at certain times to start with (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, MWDX yg via MWC via DXLD) ** GABON. ? 17755, RTA Algiers test has left the air, when checked at 0805 UT again. Only single 11915 kHz in 0800-0900 UT slot. 17755 0600-0800 UT only. 11915 0700-0900 UT only. From 0905 UT ANO in French is back on 17630 kHz. Tatar starts at 0910 UT. From 0900 UT strong BUZZ on 11915, seems SAMARA site, heavy BUZZ lasted til 0910 UT, when Samara technicians switched to Radio Tartastan program feed. Moyabi, Gabon has a total of 4-5 transmitters at their disposal, and I guess also in very good shape, due to technical aid by the French TDF. I guess only MEY, MDG and MLI have such a similar high technical standard in Africa, - except the IBB and ASC sites. But I think due to DIESEL engine main power production at Moyabi, only THREE transmitters may be working in \\ at any given time. 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, Feb 22, WORLD OF RADIO 1305, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See ALSO ALGERIA [non], LIBYA [non] ** GABON. How are you all, Is anyone receiving RTV Gabon on 4777 kHz. I have not heard for a while but still getting a good signal on 5005 for Bata and full signal for Burkina on 5030 (Mark, Anglesey, Feb 22, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** GREECE. Re 6-033, English from Macedonian Station: This is the answer from ERT 3, Radiofonikos Stathmos Makedonias in Thessaloniki, Greece. Regards, (John Babbis, Silver Spring, MD, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: Good Morning Dear John, You have correct information regarding our news in English. We have a 5 minute news program in English on a daily basis (some time between 13:00 -14:45 local time) on 9935. Let me remind you that winter time is UT +2h, summer time UT +3h. Greetings from Thessaloniki, Dimitris Keramidas, Tasos Glias (via John Babbis, WORLD OF RADIO 1305, DXLD) Whew, what a wide window: currently 1200/1345 UT, summer 1100/1245 UT (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST, WORLD OF RADIO 1305) ** GREENLAND. 3815 USB, KNR, Tasiilaq, heard 2100-2125, Feb 18, Greenlandic, two radio hosts, very strong audio. Signal was noted as well on 650 MW, but the audio was too weak here. 32322 (Bjarke Vestesen, Radby, Blommenslyst, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Feb 22 via DXLD) ** HAITI [non]. A LEGACY OF RESISTANCE --- A Week of Special Programming on CKUT Radio, 90.3fm in Montreal. Produced by the Community News Collective of CKUT Radio & Haiti Action Montreal. Join CKUT Radio in Montreal for a week of special programming focusing on the Haitian struggle for self-determination, featuring interviews recorded on the streets of Port-au-Prince & the voices, perspectives & ideas of Montreal's Haitian community. CKUT's Community News Collective, presents this week of investigative programming, in the shadow of recent presidential elections and two years proceeding the U.S., French & Canadian government sponsored coup d'etat, which saw Haiti's democratically elected president Jean-Bertrand Aristide was removed from power & forced into exile in South Africa. Tune-in for this week of special programming on CKUT Radio, which will particularly focus on exploring the Canadian governments role in Haitian politics, from the recent elections to the coup of 2004. ----> MONDAY, Feb. 20th, 5-6pm: 'en profondeur', the French edition of Off the Hour, which will feature a series of interviews recorded live in Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince by Leslie Bagg & Aaron Lakoff members of CKUT's Community News Collective. [5-6 pm EST = 22-23 UT] Featuring the voices of, GINETTE APOLLON, President of the Womens Coordination Committee of the Haitian Federation of Workers, REA DOL, Haitian teacher & media activist based in Port-au-Prince who works with Haiti Information Project http://www.haitiaction.net ----> WEDNESDAY, Feb. 22nd, 5-6pm: Long Term Memory Radio on Off the Hour, part one of a two part series on Haitian history, produced by Elise Hugus & Aaron Lakoff of the Community News Collective. Featuring reflections on the roots of the Haitian revolution in 1804, with perspectives from CAROLYN FICK a Professor at the History Department at Concordia University & NADINE DOMINIQUE a Haitian activist based in Montreal and daughter of Jean Dominique prominent Haitian journalist assassinated in 2000. ----> FRIDAY, Feb. 24th, 5-6pm: Off the Hour, the first segement of the program will feature interviews with Haitian community activists from Montreal, including SERGE BOUCHEREAU, member of Haitian Resistance of Quebec & MAGALIE X member of Vwa Zanset. ALSO, this program will feature an interviews & performances from JAHNICE & PHENIX local Haitian poets / hip-hop artists from the Kalmunity Vibe Collective http://www.kalmunity.com The second part of the hour will feature an in-studio discussion with members of Montreal's Haitian community & local Haitian solidarity activists, including JEAN ST. VILLE of the Canada Haiti Action Network, GUY ROUMER of Haiti Progress & members of Haiti Action Montreal. ----> WEDNESDAY, March, 1st, 5-6pm: Long Term Memory Radio on Off the Hour, part two of a two part series on Haitian history, produced by Elise Hugus & Aaron Lakoff of the Community News Collective. Featuring an interview with PATRICK ELIE, a Haitian human rights activist & former Minister of Defense under Aristide's first government. This week of special programming at CKUT Radio, produced by the Community News Collective in conjunction with Haiti Action Montreal, aims to address critical questions regarding Canada's role in Haiti today, travel through Haitian popular history & provide voice to those organizing for social justice in Haiti. Fuente: Lista Creative Radio (via CLAUDIO MORALES, Argentina, condig list Feb 22 via DXLD) CKUT has an audio archive retrieval system, requiring you to specify a certain date and time (gh, DXLD) ** INDIA. AIR special broadcasts --- Dear friends, The following special broadcasts are scheduled by AIR. Railway Budget programs : 24 Feb 2006 From 0600 UT on 15185 15260 (both via Delhi) and relayed by regional stations on 41 & 49 meters General Budget programs : 28 Feb 2006 from 0600 UT on 7150 11620 15260 and relayed by regional stations on 41 & 49 meters. Several changes in the regular news timings will be there on those days. 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur, Hyderabad 500082, India, dx_india via DXLD) Any English? ** INDIA [and non?]. Hello DXers, I was picking All India Radio around 1030 UT on 17510 and I noticed a severe kind of jamming on the same frequency!? I wonder is that?? That noise ended as soon as AIR signed off at 1100 UT!! Any ideas what is that all about?? All the best, guys (Tarek Zeidan, Cairo, Egypt, Feb 23, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) That`s in English, not Mandarin, so I wonder if it was a transmitter fault or some other kind of interference (after all, a shared utility band), than deliberate jamming. Since it went off when AIR did, I suspect the former. 73, (Glenn, ibid.) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM [and non]. Radio Tatras --- I am pleased to say I have been able to tune in RTI at long last on Sky on my Forstar free to air receiver - with a new scan of channels. I found the foreign language programmes a little hard to follow but it was a novelty. Eric Wiltsher seemed to go a bit over the top with his competition requesting sms messages which alienated me a bit. I was also half listening at times but the first section sounded really good. He launched the show with Hells Bells by ACDC and closed with a Deep Purple track. He had a rock journalist from Tatrus on with her choice of music. Johnny Reece is doing a good album zone at present. Technically I got glitching at times between 4 pm and 7 pm; then when I came back to it at 10 pm it has been glitch free. 1350 comes in reasonably well here in Northwood Middx but directional and low level. A station worth checking from time to time from 6 pm UK time - there is a show by a VOA jock - quite good as well. I will be dipping into the foreign output occasionally for a break. Eric has referred to it as the station of the stars a few times - I thought that was in Luxembourg? Keith Knight, Wireless Waffler, Feb 22, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. ON SATELLITE RADIO, BOB EDWARDS'S ORBIT KEEPS EXPANDING --- By Marc Fisher Washington Post Staff Writer Sunday, February 19, 2006; N08 His audience is no longer measured in the millions, but even if only some mysterious number of thousands listen to "The Bob Edwards Show" these days, the gentle baritone of morning radio is taking them into some unusual territory. In 2004, after National Public Radio clumsily pushed Edwards out of his post as host of "Morning Edition," he moved to XM Satellite Radio, which gave him an hour-long weekday interview program and built a public radio-style channel around him. NPR executives said they forced Edwards off the morning show after a quarter-century run because he wasn't comfortable doing the quick interviews and updates that the network wanted in a program increasingly oriented to breaking news. But in the 17 months since he jumped to pay radio, Edwards has displayed more range and reportorial chops than some at NPR had given him credit for. . . http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/17/AR2006021700423_pf.html (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [non]. The radioship St. Paul scrapped in Denmark or Grisslehamn??? Grisslehamn is the ferry port to Ekerö, Åland. roy Was sinking the 2 of february, but saved into a drydock at Algots warf. Meddelandet kan nu skickas med följande bifogade filer eller länkar: Genväg till: http://www.tidningen.aland.net/se/nyhet.asp?newsID=9497 Obs! För att skydda mot datorvirus kan e-postprogram förhindra att vissa sorters bifogade filer skickas eller tas emot. Kontrollera dina inställningar för e-postsäkerhet om du vill veta hur bifogade filer hanteras (Roy [Sandgren??], Feb 22, MWDX yg via DXLD) ** ITALY [non]. Re IRRS extended schedule: What he doesn`t tell you is that this if for that crackpot Brother Scare: http://www.overcomerministry.org/content/blogcategory/22/42/ tho he can`t decide whether it`s 15740 or 15750. And it`s not really from Italy. 73, (Glenn Hauser, NRI yg via DXLD) Thanks Glenn, well Brother Scare, what a waste of transmission time, huh? 73 (Tim Gaynor, ibid.) ** KUWAIT. Received a very nice QSL from VOA's Kuwait Relay Station, for a report sent direct to the site. Click on the link below to view the QSL: http://www.geocities.com/jdstephens_99/qsl/voa_kuwait.jpg 73, (J. D. Stephens, Hampton Cove, AL, USA HCDX via DXLD) Yes, nice design for Kuwait itself, not Americanized. But filled in 75 meters for 6235 (gh, DXLD) 13620 DRM, R Kuwait, 1320, Feb 8, perfect DRM broadcasting, no problem in demodulation. Drama in Arabic. Mono at 11.64 kbps bit rate. On the Dream window it was possible to read Moi Kuwait (Giampiero Bernardini and Dario Monferini, Italy, DSWCI DX Window Feb 22 via DXLD) ** LIBYA [and non]. 17665, Sowt Alamel, Feb 15, 1237-1301, 33443- 34443-34433 Arabic, Arabic music and talk, ID at 1238 and 1250 etc. (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan, Japan Premium Feb 24 via DXLD) 17660, Sawt al Amal, 1230, Feb 17, I can tell you for sure it is too strong to be Iranawila at my location; no jammers noted (G. Victor A. Goonetilleke, Kolamunne, Piliyandala, Sri Lanka, DSWCI DX Window Feb 22 via DXLD) Has Iranawila ever carried any covert broadcasts? (gh) Re 6-033: Dear friends, On Feb 20, I also checked Tony`s interesting observations here in Denmark at 0650-0740, 1155-1220 and 1310-1610 and heard more or less the same as Wolfy: 15475 Africa No. 1 heard in French *1600-1610 17630 Africa No. 1 heard in French 0735, 1155-1215* and *1531-1558*. Cf. 17680. 17660 Libyan music jammer playing non-stop Arab songs heard 1205-1220 and 1310-1400* SINPO 35444 17675 Sawt al Amal / Voice of Hope heard here 1310-1400* continuing from 17680 with the programme in Arabic about the "intifada" and frequent ID's. SINPO 54554 until 1340 with splashes from the two jamming stations which still were on 17680. 17675 A second and strong Bubble jammer appeared on this frequency *1340-1408* which brought Sawt al Amal down on SINPO 32442. 17680 Sawt al Amal / Voice of Hope heard after warm up tones *1200- 1220 in Arabic signing on with orchestral music, Qur`an recitation, street recording from the rebels burning down the Danish Embassy in Damascus and then a programme until 1400 about the "intifada". There were frequent ID's like: "Saut alamal daar alidhaat al libya fil mahgar - Voice of hope --- home of the Libyan radio in exile" (as previously described by Tarek Zeidan). SINPO mostly 55555, but at times the Libyan Bubble jammer and from *1215 the Afropop station could be heard underneath. When I switched the receiver on again at 1310, Sawt al Amal had moved to 17675, but the Bubble jammer and the Afropop station continued on 17680 for a long time. 17680 Station playing non-stop Afropop and French songs (probably Moyabi) heard here *1215-1530* with SINPO 55555 after 1400. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DX-plorer via Büschel, DXLD) I'm just wondering why Moyabi is shadowing Al-Amal, or is it just coincidence with their frequency hopping to avoid Libyan jammers?!? Cheers: (David Martin, Australia, ibid.) Hi David, that`s the QUESTION!!! There are at least four Libyan stations to jam/shadow Al-Amal, one constant on 17660 kHz, another very strong one hopping on various 17670/17675/17680 kHz channels, accompanied by two Libyan bubble oscillation stations. My wild speculation: the Libyan secret services did rent another FIFTH transmitter at Moyabi Gabon site, connection with closed ties of LBJ Tripoli with/to TDF Frequency Management Organization. This to cover Libya target from the southern side. Feb 21: today came back home late, but noted both Gabon transmissions on 17630 and 17680 (AfroPop) around 1500-1530 UT slot. 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, WORLD OF RADIO 1305, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 22 Febrero --- Saludos cordiales, chequeando hoy a Sawt Al-amal, transmitiendo por la frecuencia de 17680, 1200-1300, y por la frecuencia de 17660 la transmisión de música árabe, la señal muy fuerte y libre de interferencias; sin embargo a las 1227 irrumpe por la frecuencia de 17680 la emisora con música afro-pop, atorándola pero sin llegar a anularla. Así se mantiene hasta las 1300 en la que Sawt Al-amal cambia a la frecuencia de 17685, dejando sola en 17680 la emisora musical; poco después aparece una emisión jammer tipo burbuja, atorándola pero sin anularla. Se aprecia mejor ésta señal en los 17690; la transmisión se mantiene hasta las 1400 (José Miguel Romero, Spain, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Solar-terrestrial indices for 21 February follow. Solar flux 76 and mid-latitude A-index 16. The mid-latitude K-index at 1200 UTC on 22 February was 3 (29 nT). The mid-latitude K-index at 1500 UTC on 22 February was 2 (17 nT). No space weather storms were observed for the past 24 hours (SEC via DXLD) Hi-latitude propagation was depressed Feb 22, so altho I tuned in at 1330, nothing to be heard below 17680, where the usual SAH of 4 or 5 Hz from the African music jammer, no doubt Gabon, was underneath CVC; ditto at 1350 and after 1400. At 1350, BBC Skelton 17640 was inaudible, tho showed up after 1400, probably due to addition of Woofferton where the two overlap an hour per EiBi; 17620 France was very poor, 17630 ANO was missing, but 17595 Spain was inbooming (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Feb 23: 17660, 17665, 17670, 17675 and 17680 around 1125 UT Hello DXers, trying to figure out the situation on these frequencies before the mess starts and I noticed the following: 1125 UT on 17660 there was a carrier lasting for almost 3 minutes, then signed off 1128, sounds like the carrier moved to 17665 and lasted as well for a couple of minutes, then signed off 1130, a carrier on 17670 with test tones. That didn't last for long, but the carrier is still on as I'm writing this 1132, another carrier on 17675 that lasted as well for a couple of minutes and then off. It's 1140 UT now and the only remaining carrier is on 17670 kHz. 1142, a carrier signed on 17680 kHz, 1145 it went off. 1152, a carrier signed on 17660 kHz with a test tone 1200, 17660 kHz played the Libyan National anthem ALLAH AKBAR followed by a YL giving ID Idhaat aljamaheriya al'Ozma followed by Libyan songs 1200, 17670 and 17680 kHz were having the same programs, an OM reading the news followed by ID Sout Afrikia min aljamaherya al'Ozma, then a speech by Gaddafi. 17660, around 1210 the afropop station started on the same frequency kicking Idhaat al jamaherya al'Ozma off. [you mean overriding it?] 17670, I could hear al Ghaddafi talking but underneath it I could hear the jammer on around 1215 UT and also another station broadcasting in Arabic, tentatively Saut al Amal, as the jammer is on the same freq. More to come. [Later]: Follow-up to my latest report. 1245 UT, the Afropop station moved suddenly to 17675 kHz; now we have like 3 station on that frequency: Saut Afrikia - Voice of Africa from Libya; the Afropop station; saut Alamal (tentatively) plus a jammer on the same frequency. Now it's 1320 UT and I could only hear 17670, nothing on 17660 and 17680 kHz (Tarek Zeidan, Cairo, Egypt, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi dear Tarek, reception changes every quarter hour in 17660 to 17680 range. Noted 1310 UT: 17660 Libyan station as every day. 17670 W African Pop station, Alamal? two different bubble jammers, ?? and supposedly AWR MDG Vietnamese very underneath. 17680 fragments of CVC Santiago and in peaks an Arabic comment station. At 1320 UT missed the bubblers, also additional on 17675 like two very tiny signals, one sounds like French ???, maybe an internal spur of my rx? 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, Stuttgart, Germany, ibid.) Hello DXers, around 1330 UT: Saut al Amal finally heard on 17675 kHz with ID around 1332. 17660 is back again with non stop Libyan songs 17670 is having the Voice of Africa, the afro pop station and the jammer is off, maybe getting ready to move to 17675 soon. 17680 nothing heard there. All the best (Tarek Zeidan, Cairo, Egypt, ibid.) 23 Febrero: 17670, Sawt Al-amal, 1225-1300, escuchada en árabe en su habitual programación con constantes identificaciones, señal fuerte y libre de interferencias hasta las 1245 que irrumpe la emisión de música afro- pop, SINPO 44433. 17675, Sawt Al-amal, 1300-1330, escuchada en árabe con identificaciones y referencias a Libia, levemente interferida por la emisora de música en 17670 y también por señal tipo burbuja que se establece en 17670, haciendo mas daño a la emisora musical que a la propia Sawt Al-amal, SINPO 44444 17660, Emisora música árabe, 1224-1400, con buena señal pero fuertemente interferida por emisión no identificada hasta las 1245 que queda libre, SINPO 54444. 17680, Voz Cristiana, señal debil. Español (José Miguel Romero, Spain, ibid.) All this is just too early for me, but I check when I can: Feb 23 at 1500 I could detect a carrier on 17685 aside CVC 17680, where there was no co-channel or SAH detectable; however, on 17670 I was hearing African music. And with similar signal to 17670, ANO itself is back on 17630 at the same time, 1500 with 4-pip TS, ID in French; this had a SAH of about 4 Hz, perhaps China or Germany collision; I see this matches Noel`s observations below (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Solar-terrestrial indices for 22 February follow. Solar flux 76 and mid-latitude A-index 11. The mid-latitude K-index at 1500 UTC on 23 February was 1 (8 nT). No space weather storms were observed for the past 24 hours (SEC via DXLD) And just to add to all of today`s intriguing information - ANO Gabon is back on air via 17630 BEFORE the Afro-pops signs off at 1530. I don't know the exact time it came on but it wasn't there before 1500. I assume that another unit is 'fired up' or becomes available. This signal is very similar to that on 17670 at my location except that it is tending to "flutter" due to a unID very weak co-channel. 17630 closed c1559 and 15475 appeared c1602. 73 (Noel R. Green, England, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBYA [non]. Saludos cordiales, chequeando a Libia ayer martes 21 de febrero, pude escuchar por los 9590 a la Voz de África entre las 1754-1800 en árabe a locutor con comentarios y la retransmisión de un miting político con público y para terminar un segmento de música folklórica local con un SINPO 55544. Entre las 1800-1810 también en árabe a locutor y locutora con ID ``...al Jamaherya al ozma``, con comentarios y música popular, retransmitiendo en paralelo por 11715, el SINPO 55544; sin embargo, esperando encontrar la misma transmisión en 11860 resulta que entre las 1811-1820 pude escuchar una transmisión en dialecto africano dando frecuencias y lo que posiblemente era una identificación, ``...África...Trípoli..``; muchas referencias a África con música de fondo y un SINPO 45444. Mi duda es esta última transmisión: no he encontrado ninguna referencia a ella, ya que lo que se anuncia en éste horario y frecuencia es a La Voz de África en árabe. ¿Se trata pues de algún nuevo servicio para ésta frecuencia? Por la frecuencia de 9590 transmisión en árabe a las 1820; sin embargo no coincide con la transmisión de 11715 ni tampoco con la de 11860, tampoco coincide la transmisión de 11715 con la de 11860. Por lo tanto se aprecian tres transmisiones diferentes. A las 1825 por la frecuencia de 9590 un boletín en inglés con ID y a las 1827 un boletín en francés. A las 1830 comienza otra vez la transmisión en árabe, con ID ``Al Jamahiriyah al Ozma``; no se aprecia en las otras frecuencias que exista los boletines antes mencionados (José Miguel Romero, Spain, Feb 22, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAYSIA. 1475 audio traces --- Weak audio on 1475 at 1430 UT, woman talking; pretty much the only audio I can find on a quick scan. Been a long time since anything's been heard here on that channel. Best wishes, (Nick Hall-Patch, BC, Feb 21, IRCA via DXLD) I heard non stop US pops there the other day. So it looks like Malaysia has returned (Pat Martin, OR, Feb 21, IRCA via DXLD) If you hear any audio after 1530 (Malaysia's sign-off), that would be a much better catch: there is also RKDT2 Karawang, Indonesia with 1 kW on this split frequency! They sign off at 1700 UT. I can detect traces of both carriers here, the Indonesian being usually on about 10 Hz lower. 73, (Mauno Ritola, Finland, IRCA via DXLD) It seems that my remark about Malaysia being the only country in the N/E hemispheres on 1475, based on nothing but Malaysia shown in the East Asia/Pacific MW frequency list on page 557 of the WRTH 2006, is technically correct; however, I see in the INDONESIA section, page 259, the above station is listed, but it is apparently in the Southern Hemisphere: A maplandia.com hit came up with ``Palilinggihan: This place is situated in Karawang, Jawa Barat, Indonesia, its geographical coordinates are 6 34' 0" South, 107 19' 0" East``. And Karawang is a level-2 administrative region in JB, not a specific locality. The 1475 station is axually in a place called Nasuha 2, but I have not found its coördinates. No, I did not mean Nashua (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALI. 4785, R Mali, Kati, seems to be alive on 60 m after all, 2249-2258, Feb 18, Vernacular, traditional songs; 25332, so untypically weak signal, and this is qualifying just the carrier, for the audio was almost voiceless, so a completely useless broadcast; however, // 5995 was at 54544 after adequate tuning to suppress the adjacent DRM QRM (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DSWCI DX Window Feb 22 via DXLD) ** MEXICO. Nuevamente al aire XERTA, ahora en una nueva fase experimental. La escuché a las 2300 UT con un programa de información técnica de la emisora. Me comuniqué y me informaron que estan probando una antena dipolo en "V" invertida ubicada en la parte alta del edificio en donde están sus estudios en el Centro Histórico de la Cd. de México, y por el momento con solo 300 vatios. 73's (Julián Santiago Díez de Bonilla, DF, Feb 20, WORLD OF RADIO 1305, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO [and non]. Mexico and USA [cf. DXLD 6-032 and 6-033] XTRA 690 is testing streaming audio at http://www.wradiousa.com which comes up labeled as "XTRA 690 AM Los Angeles". The ToH announcement gives location as "Rosarito, Baja California". The station, ex-Mighty 690, was purchased by the Spanish Prisa Group and is part of the "La W" group /"W Radio"/ as from February 5. Programming will target the 11-million Spansh speaking population of Southern California, says a news report in Spanish at http://www.radionotas.com/newdev/articledetails.asp?artid=7513 Other "W" (in Chile "doble vé", otherwise "doble ú") outlets are Miami http://www.caracolusa.com Panamá http://www.wradio.com.pa México City http://www.wradio.com.mx Bogotá http://www.wradio.com.co and Santiago Chile http://www.radiow.cl (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Without embargo, XTRA cannot be the real call in Mexico, since XT- prefix belongs to BURKINA FASO (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** NEPAL. Radio Nepal is now heard on 5005 kHz with good condition SINPO 34333. Slight beat interference, but signal was clear. Feb. 23, Male talk in Nepali till 1415, then time pips and ID in English as "This is Radio Nepal." English news followed. Talk in Nepali and local song from 1426. I wonder if their transmitter was improved or renewed (Iwao Nagatani in Kobe, Japan, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 23 Feb at 1537 noted R Nepal on even 5005.0 with ad block. Really good audio and signal strength. A new transmitter or the old one fixed? They were still couple of days ago on 5005.3 with real weak audio level (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) It may be a different transmitter. They have 3 x 100 kW at Khumaltar according to information on their website at http://www.radionepal.org/schedule.htm (Andy Sennitt, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS. Re: Cambios en Radio Nederland Wereldomroep! AMIGOS, TAMBIEN SE SEÑALÓ QUE LA EMISORA TENDRÁ UN NUEVO LOGO A PARTIR DEL MES DE MARZO. ESTO FUE MENCIONADO EN UN PROGRAMA DE CARTAS @ RN. SALUDOS (CLAUDIO GUZMAN, LA CUMBRE, CORDOBA, ARGENTINA, Noticias DX via DXLD) Hi Andy, I`m getting items in Spanish but not in English about changes at RN, such as a new logo, and new continuity announcing transmitter sites (at least the three owned by RN?). Does this apply to English too? And the other languages? 73, (Glenn to Andy Sennitt, via DXLD) Hi Glenn, Yes, the new logo is coming, but I don't know the official date. It's all part of the ongoing "revitalisation process". As far as I know, announcing the transmitter sites is only being done by the Spanish. Dutch, Indonesian and English all use some non-RNW sites, and it's too complicated to do it. Other presentation changes are being phased in - new music etc. I am no longer in the Programme Division, so I don't have all the information to hand. 73, (Andy Sennitt, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Some of you may be wondering why Radio Netherlands has disappeared off the radar on Google News, which until recently was displaying all the new stories from the Radio Netherlands home page. Well, this is of course an automated procedure, but they haven't yet got software that recognizes domain changes and automatically updates the database. That bit is still performed by human beings, and apparently takes a while. My colleague Stijn de Bekker forwarded an e-mail message from our colleagues at Google which says "We have updated your site's information in our system. We should start to crawl more articles from http://www.radionetherlands.nl/ within a few weeks. We appreciate your patience during this process." (Andy Sennitt, Media Network newsletter Feb 23 via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. RNZI tentative A-06, as of 17 Jan: Days of week and dates in effect all: 1234567 260306 291006 kHz UTC CIRAF TARGETS SITE kW DEG SLEW ANT N=DRM 6095 1300 1900 61S,62,63W RAN 50 35 0 148 N 6095 1300 1900 51,56,64S,65S RAN 50 325 0 148 N 7145 0700 1315 61S,62,63W RAN 50 35 0 148 N 7145 0700 1315 51,56,64S,65S RAN 50 325 0 148 N 7145 1300 1700 51,56,64S,65S RAN 50 325 0 148 D Test 7145 1300 1900 61S,62,63W RAN 50 35 0 148 D 9440 0445 0700 61S,62,63W RAN 50 35 0 148 N 9440 0445 0700 51,56,64S,65S RAN 50 325 0 148 N 9440 1845 2000 51,56,64S,65S RAN 50 325 0 148 N 9440 1845 2000 61S,62,63W RAN 50 35 0 148 N 9520 1100 1315 51,55E,56,64S,65S RAN 50 325 0 156 D 9520 1100 1315 61S,62,63W RAN 50 35 0 156 D 9615 0445 0700 51,56,64S,65S RAN 50 325 0 148 N 9615 0445 0700 61S,62,63W RAN 50 35 0 148 N 9630 1845 2000 51,56,64S,65S RAN 50 325 0 156 D 9630 1845 2000 61S,62,63W RAN 50 35 0 156 D 9870 1100 1315 61S,62,63W RAN 50 35 0 156 D 9870 1100 1315 51,55E,56,64S,65S RAN 50 325 0 156 D 9885 0700 1315 61S,62,63W RAN 50 35 0 156 D 9885 0700 1315 51,55E,56,64S,65S RAN 50 325 0 156 D 11675 1945 2100 61S,62,63W RAN 50 35 0 148 N 11675 1945 2100 51,56,64S,65S RAN 50 325 0 148 N 11725 1945 2100 51,56,64S,65S RAN 50 325 0 156 D 11725 1945 2100 61S,62,63W RAN 50 35 0 156 D 13730 2045 0500 61S,62,63W RAN 50 35 0 156 N 13730 2045 0500 51,55E,56,64S,65S RAN 50 325 0 156 N 15720 2045 0500 61S,62,63W RAN 100 35 0 156 D 15720 2045 0500 51,56,64S,65S RAN 100 325 0 156 D (via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. Re KACO 98.5: The upgraded signal of KACO may put a secondary signal contour over part of OKC, but it's more of a Lawton signal, though it doesn't completely citygrade Lawton either. As I understand it, Perry is getting KACO as part of the deal to downgrade KJMZ from a C1 at 98.1 to an A at 97.9 licensed to Cache. KACO had a sister station in Bridgeport, TX in KBOC 98.3, which the owner wanted to move into Dallas/Ft. Worth. KACO had to be moved, and KJMZ had to be downgraded in order to accomplish the move (Kent, Feb 18, radio- info.com Oklahoma board via DXLD) + a lot more discussion and speculation on this ** OMAN. 17630, R Sultanate of Oman, Thumrait, 0645-0740, Feb 20, Arabic talk, interview delayed two seconds compared to // Seeb on 13640 (45444), Arab songs, 0700 chimes, ID, news, 34433 QRM Africa No. 1 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Feb 22 via DXLD) ** ROMANIA [and non]. RRI Galbeni 9655 in German at 0700-0730 UT totally covered by digital DRM mode transmission today Feb 22. Later on the day 9655 WER & SIN DRM test from 1200 UT onwards, scheduled in http://www.drm-dx.de (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. BBCWS back on MW in Moscow: see U K [non] ** SAUDI ARABIA. 9714.95, ARS Riyadh and Qur`an program around 0500- 0530 UT (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) BTW, the 15-17 transmission on 15435.2 and 15315 is not the Holy Qur`an Station, as I have been referring to it, but the separate ``Call of Islam`` service. No doubt the Sa`udis are more aware of the distinxion than I (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOMALIA. More than 1000 different languages are spoken in Africa but Somalia is the only country in the continent --- and indeed the world --- where all the citizens speak one language, Somali (Africa fact file, Channel, Jan, AIB, via DXLD) Source? And where the greatest anarchy reigns. What does that tell us? Of course, they are divided by clans if not tongues (gh, DXLD) ** THAILAND [and non]. Transatlantic DX was knocked out last night with an ionospheric K index of 6. But there were a couple of good Asian signals. At 2315 UT, 1386 was occupied by an Asian language station which I could not ID; mostly gone by 2330. Judging by earlier fade than Thailand makes me think this was China. From 2335 to 2400 Thailand was present on 1476. I presume it was Thailand with lengthy chanting in a very odd language (possibly the Mong hill tribe language as per previous messages concerning this station). At 2345 signal was a massive S9 but by midnight it was fading out fast. Looking at the data shows sunrise in Thailand around 2340. 73 (Steve Whitt, UK, Feb 20, MWC via DXLD) ** TUNISIA. Listening to RTT 7275, usual good signal with some Arabic music at 0555 UT Feb 22, but then into the Arabic version of ``Old MacDonald Had A Farm``, complete with barnyard noises, a fun bit, and now I know how to say ``E-I-E-I-O`` in Arabic. Would be neat if they played this every morning as a ``dawn chorus``; worth checking, anyway (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKEY [and non]. 17720.10, TRT Emirler, 500 kW to SE Asia oddly 100 Hz up, grumble growl sound, hetting NHK Al Dhabbaya-UAE on co- channel 0800-1100 UT (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [non]. BBC RESUMES MEDIUM-WAVE BROADCASTS IN MOSCOW PRESS RELEASE 22 February 2006 BBC World Service is back on medium wave in Moscow. Following a brief interruption, BBC Russian has resumed broadcasting on 1260 kHz frequency. The BBC came off air in Moscow when the technical licence of its former distributor, Octode, expired in late December 2005. The Head of BBC Russian, Sara Beck said: ``I am delighted by this news, as will be our medium-wave audience in Moscow. They`ve got into the habit of listening to BBC Russian on medium wave, and they have been letting us know just how much they were missing us. We are extremely pleased that it`s business as usual, bringing international news to our listeners in Moscow.`` BBC Russian continues broadcasting on 1260 kHz in St Petersburg and on 666 kHz in Ekaterinburg. BBC Russian is also available in Moscow on FM via partner station, Radio Arsenal 87.5 FM. The audio of all BBC Russian programmes is available via its popular http://bbcrussian.com For more information contact: Lala Najafova, International Publicist, BBC World Service +44(0)207557 2944; lala.najafova @ bbc.co.uk (BBC Press Feb 22 via DXLD) ** U S A. YOUR CHANCE TO SPEAK UP ON VOA'S FUTURE Friday - February 24, 2006 --- Open Phones Today is the 64th Anniversary of the Voice Of America. So we thought we'd celebrate by opening our phone lines to discuss what ever it is you'd like to talk about. Tune in and call us, you pick the topics. Talk To America is VOA's first daily international call-in talk show. Join host Doug Bernard and his guests each weekday for lively and informative discussions on a wide range of topics. To participate, call us during the show between 1600-1700 UT Monday - Friday. Call +1- 202-619-3111 or send an email to talk @ voanews.com A New Way to Participate - Send a SMS Text Message Asia & Worldwide: +63 928 761 4588 Africa & Worldwide: +27 838 894 3335 Direct VOA Frequencies - (in Kilohertz (kHz)) NOTE: Frequencies were updated on 02-Feb-06 Europe, Middle East & North Africa: 96.9 (FM) [Kuwait], 9685 11835 Africa: 909 1530 4930 15240 17715 17895 Far East Asia, South Asia & Oceania: 1170 6160 7125 9645 9760 (via Sergei Sosedkin, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. As the BBG proceeds with plans to shred VOA English broadcasts, they hold yet another in a series of secret meetings: Federal Register Vol. 71, No. 33 / Friday, February 17, 2006 / Notices BROADCASTING BOARD OF GOVERNORS Sunshine Act Notice DATE AND TIME: Wednesday, February 22, 2006, 1:30 p.m.­4 p.m. PLACE: Cohen Building, Room 3321, 330 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20237. CLOSED MEETING: The members of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) will meet in closed session to review and discuss a number of issues relating to U.S. Government-funded non-military international broadcasting. They will address internal procedural, budgetary, and personnel issues, as well as sensitive foreign policy issues relating to potential options in the U.S. international broadcasting field. This meeting is closed because if open it likely would either disclose matters that would be properly classified to be kept secret in the interest of foreign policy under the appropriate executive order (5 U.S.C. 552b.(c)(1)) or would disclose information the premature disclosure of which would be likely to significantly frustrate implementation of a proposed agency action. (5 U.S.C. 552b.(c)(9)(B)) In addition, part of the discussion will relate solely to the internal personnel and organizational issues of the BBG or the International Broadcasting Bureau. (5 U.S.C. 552b.(c)(2) and (6)). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Persons interested in obtaining more information should contact Carol Booker at (202) 203­4545. Dated: February 14, 2006. Carol Booker, Legal Counsel. [FR Doc. 06­1548 Filed 2­15­06; 11:57 am] BILLING CODE 8230­01­M (via WORLD OF RADIO 1305, DXLD) Former VOA Director John Hughes checks in with one of the best commentaries yet on the BBG destruction of VOA English broadcasts ---- RADIO PROGRAMS ARTICULATE US VALUES TO THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY The message that all people have the right to liberty is as important as ever. By John Hughes from the February 22, 2006 edition - SALT LAKE CITY - When I was a foreign correspondent in Africa and Asia, the most valued part of my kit after my portable typewriter was a little shortwave radio. It was my link to the outside world in the remotest parts of those continents. Across the static over thousands of miles, I would tune in each night, when reception was better, to the news from Voice of America - its rousing familiar introductory chords momentarily stirring pangs of homesickness - to get a trusted briefing on what was happening in America and elsewhere in the world. . . http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0222/p09s02-cojh.htm (via Jim Moats, Mike Cooper, Mike Barraclough, Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. USING VOICE OF AMERICA IN TERROR WAR THREATENS ITS EFFECTIVENESS --- DAVID H . MOULD, Columbus [OH] Dispatch February 17 http://www.dispatch.com/editorials-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/02/17/20060217-A15-01.html The Bush administration’s proposal to ax most English-language radio programming on the Voice of America would damage America’s already shaky reputation for providing accurate and balanced information to countries where media freedom is lacking. The cutbacks, which must be approved by Congress, would eliminate almost all English language shortwave transmissions, and radio broadcasts in Turkish, Thai and Hindi. Most Balkan languages would also go. Ironically, the White House is proposing to increase the VOA budget to $671.9 million for 2007, and that’s on top of a 7.5 percent increase the previous year. Where is the money going? To television in the war on terrorism. The strategy calls for increasing satellite TV broadcasts to the Muslim world. The Persian TV service to Iran also would expand from 30 minutes to four hours a day. Viewers in Afghanistan would receive a one-hour program, but not that many outside the major cities will see it; according to the most recent statistics, there are only 14 TV sets for every thousand people. Established in World War II to broadcast into Nazi-controlled Europe, the VOA became a major source of news and information for listeners in the Soviet bloc. Although never earning the same reputation for impartiality as the BBC World Service, VOA journalists prided themselves on even-handed reporting of controversial issues. From Watergate to the fall of the Berlin Wall to the impeachment of President Clinton, they resisted pressures to toe the official line. VOA programs also brought an appreciation of American history, art, music and popular culture to millions. However, U.S. administrations have been uncomfortable with the idea of public money supporting an agency that can be critical of U.S. policy. When President Reagan decided to use broadcasting to target the regime of Fidel Castro, he set up Radio (and later TV) Marti outside VOA control. During the first Persian Gulf War, administration officials claimed the VOA’s Arabic service was "too balanced." Journalists knew this was not a compliment. The current administration does not trust the VOA to carry its message to the Arab world. The VOA’s Arabic-language service has been replaced by Radio Sawa, a satellite service targeting a young audience with a mix of Western and Arabic pop music and short news bulletins. Sawa has been more successful than its TV cousin, the satellite news channel Al Hurra, which is widely regarded as a U.S. propaganda tool and has been unable to compete with market leaders Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya. Kenneth Tomlinson, chairman of the presidentially appointed Broadcasting Board of Governors that oversees the VOA and other international broadcasters owned by the U.S. government, says audiences for the English-language shortwave broadcasts have been shrinking. "Satellite television is to the future what shortwave is to the past," he said on a recent National Public Radio broadcast. That depends on who you are trying to reach. Most countries’ external broadcasting services – from France and Germany to Russia, China and India – continue to use shortwave radio because it reaches populations in areas where AM and FM signals are spotty or unavailable. What would be lost under the proposed cuts? In Thailand, where the BBC also stopped broadcasting last month, listeners will have to rely on government and private media dominated by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to find out what’s going on in their country. In India, where commercial radio stations are not allowed to air news, Hindi- speaking listeners will have to turn to other foreign broadcasters as an alternative to the government-dominated All-India Radio. The major target outside the Muslim world is Venezuela, where Washington hopes an increase in VOA TV and radio broadcasts will undermine support for President Hugo Chavez. But Chavez can also play the game: Telesur, a left-wing satellite TV operation jointly owned by Argentina, Cuba, Uruguay and Venezuela, started broadcasting anti-U.S. propaganda in July. There is little prospect that these government media strategies will have much impact. Satellite and cable TV and a growing commercial- radio sector have given audiences in Venezuela, like those in many Middle Eastern countries, more media choices than ever. They don’t have to put up with propaganda from their own government – or counterpropaganda from the United States. Using the Voice of America as a strategic weapon is a mistake. How can it be regarded as credible when the government keeps deploying it in the war on terrorism? David H. Mould is associate dean of research and graduate studies in the College of Communications at Ohio University (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. 7465, WWCR, 2210-2230, 20-02, programa en español, a las 2215 programa de Glenn Hauser "Mundo Radial", con noticias del mundo de la onda corta. 34333 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Escuchas realizadas en el casco urbano de Lugo, Grundig Yacht Boy 400, antena telescópica, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Good, decent signal in Europe (gh) ** U S A. WBCQ Schedule Update: A rebroadcast of Allan Weiner Worldwide has been added at 1900 UT Sundays on 7415. I first noted the 1900 repeat here on February 12 and confirmed the schedule addition with Allan earlier this week (Larry Will, Feb 23, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. RUSSIA, 6220, V. of Joy, Feb 18 *1400-1432 1455-1458*, 35333-33333-35333 English, 1400 sign on with IS, ID, Music, ID at 1423 and 1457, 1458 sign off (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan, Japan Premium via DXLD) Saturdays only ** U S A [non]. US MILITARY PLANES CRISS-CROSS EUROPE USING BOGUS CALL SIGN --- Jon Swain and Brian Johnson-Thomas in Rome The Sunday Times February 19, 2006 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,176-2047074,00.html THE American military have been operating flights across Europe using a call sign assigned to a civilian airline that they have no legal right to use. Not only is the call sign bogus — according to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) — so, it appears, are some of the aircraft details the Americans have filed with the air traffic control authorities. In at least one case, a plane identified with the CIA practice of "extraordinary rendition" — transporting terrorist suspects — left a US air base just after the arrival of an aircraft using the bogus call sign. The call sign Juliet Golf Oscar (JGO) followed by a flight number belongs, says the ICAO, to a now bankrupt Canadian low-cost airline called Jetsgo of Montreal. But for several years and as recently as last December it has been used selectively by both the American air force and army to cover the flights of aircraft to and from the Balkans. These range from Learjet 35 executive jets to C-130 transport planes and MC-130P Combat Shadows, which are specially adapted for clandestine missions in politically sensitive or hostile territory. A Sunday Times analysis of flight plans and radio logs has placed these aircraft at locations including Tuzla in Bosnia, Pristina in Kosovo, Aviano, the site of a large joint US-Italian military air base in northern Italy, and Ramstein in Germany, the headquarters of the US Air Forces in Europe (USAFE). On December 11, 2004, USAFE in Ramstein filed a flight plan for a Learjet 35 to fly from Tuzla to Aviano. The flight plan was copied to 15 addressees including Tuzla airport, Aviano airport and a mysterious recipient labelled "xxxxxxxx". The aircraft's identity was given as JGO 80, the flight was a Learjet 35 operated by the Department of Defence and the registration was 99999E. The status of the flight was given as "humanitarian". But it was also given as "state", which means government, and as "protected", which means diplomatic. During the time the plane was in the air, USAFE changed some of the flight plan timings and at the same time the registration changed. The aircraft metamorphosed into 40112E but continued to be a Learjet 35 and was still JGO 80 and a humanitarian, government and diplomatic flight. While the Learjet was on the ground at Tuzla, an Ilyushin 76 was loading a cargo of 45 tons of surplus weapons and ammunition sold off by the Bosnian military and destined for Rwanda in defiance of a UN embargo. The Ilyushin left Tuzla, flew over Italy and headed south in the direction of Africa. The American Learjet took off 55 minutes later. In a report exposing arms trafficking to war-torn central Africa, Amnesty International has suggested that "US security authorities were engaged in a covert operation to ferry arms to Rwanda in the face of political opposition from the European Union". Another interesting convergence of flights occurred in February 2004. On February 24, an MC-130P Combat Shadow using the call sign JGO 50 took off from Aviano for an unknown destination (via Paul, G7VAK, monitoring monthly yg via DXLD) Paul, The call JGO is (as far as I know) a legitimate call-sign used by US aircraft involved in flights to/from the Balkans. The last letter denotes the country involved i.e O=USA but there are many others e.g. JGN=RAF, JGB=Canada, JGC=Denmark etc., etc. I suspect this story has little credibility (Steve Foster, ibid.) ** U S A. KPH to run an event on HF and LF 26 Feb HISTORIC MORSE CODE STATION TO BROADCAST FROM ORIGINAL MARCONI SITE The Maritime Radio Historical Society, in cooperation with the Marconi Conference Center, will return historic Morse code radio station KPH to the air from its original Marin county, CA location on Sunday, 26 February. KPH, once called the "wireless giant of the Pacific", arrived in Marin county in the early 1920s. With its receiving station at Marshall, CA and transmitters at Bolinas, CA, KPH provided telegram service to ships at sea via Morse code. Operation at Marshall continued until the beginning of WWII when KPH was shut down for the duration. After the war the receiving station was moved to the Pt. Reyes peninsula. But on Sunday, 26 February, KPH will return to the air from Marshall for the first time since 1942. Vintage equipment will be used. The transmitters at Bolinas will be operated remotely from Marshall just as was originally done. Messages will be exchanged with historic ships including the SS Red Oak Victory, a WWII Victory ship using its original radio equipment. And radiograms will be accepted from the public for transmission by Morse code and delivery anywhere in the U.S. On HF, KPH will transmit on 6477.5 kc and listen for calls from ships on 6276.0 kc. On MF, KPH will transmit on 500 kc and 426 kc. K6KPH will also be operational for handling radiogram traffic from visitors to the event. K6KPH will guard 7050 kc for calls. Reception reports may be sent to: Ms. DA Stoops P. O. Box 381 Bolinas CA 94924-0381 USA Operations are expected to begin at 1000 pst/1800 gmt. The public is invited to visit the receive site at Marshall. For directions to the Marconi Conference Center see: http://marconiconference.org/ http://marconiconference.org/openhouse.htm (via Kevin Redding, ABDX via WORLD OF RADIO 1305, DXLD) ** U S A. Re Format tallies for domestic stations: And the M Street version of the count... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Using June 2005 data from the 2005-06 "RadioBook" (formerly the M Street Directory), the most recent I can get my hands on late on a Saturday night... Country - 2030 News/Talk - 1933 Religion (teaching, variety) - 882 Spanish - 792 Oldies - 789 AC - 692 Contemporary Christian - 678 Top 40 - 532 Sports - 499 Classic rock - 465 Variety - 424 Adult Standards - 415 Hot AC - 388 Alternative rock - 347 Soft AC - 327 Black gospel - 302 Southern gospel - 285 Rock - 282 Classic hits - 265 Modern rock - 204 R&B - 165 Classical - 162 Jazz - 159 Urban AC - 154 Ethnic - 125 Pre-teen - 59 Adult Hits ("Jack," et al) - 54 Gospel - 49 R&B Adult/Oldies - 49 Easy Listening - 29 Modern AC - 28 Format not available - 3 Off the air - 93 CPs not yet on air - 507 Scott's notes - These, too, are somewhat subjective - both on the part of the stations responding to our questionnaires and on the part of the M Street/100000watts researchers who assemble the data based on those questionnaires and other information. Where's the line between "Alternative rock" and "Modern rock"? Beats me - and ditto for "Classic hits" vs. "Classic rock" and "AC" versus "Soft AC." AAA is missing from this list completely, and I suspect it got lumped with alternative rock, which it shouldn't be. At the same time, there are about 15 different formats all lumped together here as "Spanish," and for next year we should probably break them out a little better. (We do track the individual format variations pretty closely in the database, just not in this particular report.) As for Bill's question about how to handle the station that's talk in the morning, Tradio at 10, country midday and baseball later in the afternoon, the database codes primary, secondary and tertiary formats. "Primary" is whatever runs during AM and PM drive, and that's what shows in this list. A station like the one Bill describes would probably end up coded as "VTY" for variety in our database. Oh - and as for some of those oddball formats? Polish is WNVR 1030-IL, WPNA 1490-IL and WRKL 910-NY (and was on WLIM 1580-NY as well until recently). Vietnamese is on KJOJ 880-TX, KREH 900-TX and KYND 1520-TX around Houston, as well as KALI-FM 106.3 Santa Ana CA, KZSJ 1120-CA, KVNR 1480-CA and KVVN 1430-CA. "Assyrian" is on KBES 89.5 Ceres CA and KBDG 90.9 Turlock CA. There's Portuguese on KLBS 1330-CA, WHTB 1400- CA, KSQQ 96.1 Morgan Hill CA, WAKX 102.7 Narragansett Pier RI and WJFD 97.3 New Bedford MA. Iranian/Persian is on KIRN 670-CA. The Russian stations are in NYC - WKDM 1380-NY and WSNR 620-NJ. (KICY 850-AK is Russian at night to Russia, and I think KJNP 1170 is as well.) Japanese? Hawaii - KZOO 1210. Haitian is WHSR 980-FL, WRHB 1020-FL and WJCC 1700-FL (and every pirate Bruce Conti hears in Boston, hi). WWTR 1170-NJ is all Indian, as are KYAA 1200-CA, KRVA 1600-TX and KVRI 1600-WA. KQEQ-1210 CA is Hmong, and KJAY-1430 CA is Hmong and Lao. WDGR-1210 GA is Korean, as are KYPA 1230-CA, KWYZ 1230-WA, WPBC 1310-GA, WNSW 1430-NJ (most of the time), KSUH 1450-WA, KFOX 1650-CA and WWRU 1660-NJ. Lots of tongues out there - and that's not even touching all the Asian languages on the air in Hawaii, or the many Native American stations in the southwest! (Scott Fybush, NRC via DXLD) Here's my take on this subjective subject. Classic Hits plays a wider range of former Top 40 rock hits such as those by the Grassroots, Elton John, and Three Dog Night, while Classic Rock is slanted more toward hard rock hits and guitar blues from the likes of Led Zepplin, The Allman Brothers, and Black Sabbath. 106.3 Frank FM (WFNQ) is an example of Classic Hits, while 100.7 WZLX is Classic Rock. There is plenty of crossover between the two, but in general Classic Rock is more hard core. Others formats that may on the surface appear the same, probably have similar variances upon closer inspection. For example Adult Contemporary covers a wide range of music, while Soft AC probably excludes hits that sound too hard like The Eagles "Hotel California." An example of Adult Contemporary would be 95.7 WZID while 96.1 WSRS is a softer version. Likewise for Alternative Rock which features a wider variety, while Modern Rock sticks to a tighter rotation of hits. R&B/Soul plays more vocals than Urban Contemporary which is heavy on rap. And so on... There are three Spanish formats in Boston; tropical/pop on Power 800 WNNW, tropical/classic on 1330 WRCA, and Mexican/Central American on 1600 WUNR R.Internacional. Subjective or not, formatology has become quite the science. There must be something available that defines each format for the corporate execs to use as a guide. It would be interesting to see how the corporations actually differentiate between AC and Soft AC, etc. (Bruce Conti - Nashua NH, ibid.) ** U S A. BRAGGING RIGHTS TO BRAGGING You've got to hand it to Dick Ebersol and the NBC press people. Faced with declining ratings for their primetime network Winter Olympic coverage, they could have just sulked, blamed ABC and Fox for aggressive counter-programming, and moved on. But instead they found something to brag about: MSNBC averaged 1.6 million viewers for its U.S.-U.K. curling match, which NBC Universal said was its highest viewership delivery since the Iraqi war coverage on April 6, 2003. You've got a "news" channel, and its highest ratings in three years are for curling, and you're proud. There's got to be a gold medal for that. So now we see MSNBC's future: Chris and Keith, protect the rock. Tucker, man the broom. Rita, stand by (Harry Shearer, Eat the Press blog, huffingtonpost.com via DXLD) ?? Curling is on USA network in the mornings here. Say, why is this sport sexually segregated? Calls for finesse in sweeping, not brute force; no stick to stick combat (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I have to admit; watching a rock slide across a sheet of ice beats listening to Tucker Carlson's horseshit or Rita Cosby's electric knife voice any day of the week. Posted by: jpspencer1966 on February 22, 2006 at 04:11pm (Eat the Press blog, ibid.) Man, it's a good thing I wasn't drinking when I read that. Good one. I've always been searching for a good descriptive phrase that would capture Rita's dulcet tones. I think you've found it. Posted by: drv on February 22, 2006 at 05:58pm (ibid.) Interesting the excuses about no USSR being why Americans don't care about the Olympics. For southern folk, it's because we can't even imagine why someone would sweep ice, or go out into snowy weather. Rita Cosby's voice is mellifluous to my ears. It harkens to Saturday morning after a college blowout party. Rita is the voice of cigarette butts and scotch the next morning. Oh, is she relaying news? Did she do stories about Hurricane Katrina? I must have been still out after her keg-stand. Happy Mardi Gras! See you at the Jefferson City Buzzards Carnival Morning. Posted by: dillyberto on February 22, 2006 at 10:17pm (ibid.) ** U S A. NEWS CORP TO LAUNCH NEW US TV NETWORK IN SEPTEMBER Rupert Murdoch's News Corp said today that it will introduce a new TV network in the US to air programming on stations left without a network after the creation of Time Warner Inc's and CBS Corp's CW channel. The announcement of the new network, dubbed MyNetworkTV, comes a month after Time Warner and CBS created the CW and said they would shut down their respective WB and UPN networks. The shutdown of those networks left about 10 stations owned by News Corp without a network. "From our perspective it created a unique and wonderful opportunity," News Corp president Peter Chernin said at a press conference. MyNetworkTV, which will be overseen by Fox Television Stations Chairman Roger Ailes, will feature a combination of self-produced shows and shows by outside producers. It will also include several reality shows, such as "Celebrity Love Island." While the network will initially launch on those 10 Fox-owned stations, it will seek affiliations with more stations. Jack Abernathy, chief executive of Fox Television Stations, said he expects the network to be profitable at the time it launches. (Source: Reuters) # posted by Andy @ 17:29 UT Feb 22 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** VATICAN. EL MUNDO ÁRABE Y ASIA, NUEVAS PRIORIDADES DE ``RADIO VATICANO`` Celebrará sus 75 años de vida recibiendo al Papa en su sede CIUDAD DEL VATICANO, martes, 20 febrero 2006 (ZENIT.org).- La programación en árabe y en los idiomas de países asiáticos se está convirtiendo en la nueva prioridad de Radio Vaticano, han revelado este martes sus directivos. Con motivo de los 75 años de vida de esta emisora pontificia, se celebró en el Vaticano una rueda de prensa en la que intervino, entre otros, el padre Federico Lombardi, S.I., director general. El sacerdote aclaró que la misión de la Radio consiste, según su Estatuto, en ``anunciar con libertad, fidelidad y eficacia el mensaje cristiano y unir el centro de la catolicidad con los diversos países del mundo``. Asimismo confirmó que Benedicto XVI visitará la sede de la emisora el 3 de marzo para celebrar el simbólico aniversario de la ``radio del Papa``. Por su parte, el padre Andrzej Koprowski, S.I., nuevo director de programación, ilustró algunos de los desafíos que se presentan a Radio Vaticano para los próximos 75 años. Entre las ``fronteras prioritarias`` para el futuro de la emisora, el sacerdote mencionó ``la de la lengua y cultura árabe, que ya no son algo exclusivo de Oriente Medio, sino también de otras regiones de Europa y del mundo``. ``Otra frontera prioritaria hoy``, reveló, es la ``asiática``. ``Conocemos bien el desarrollo de la Iglesia en la India y somos conscientes del papel del cristianismo de la India para el futuro de la iglesia universal, así como de la importancia de que se desarrollen y permanezcan abiertos lazos `universales` entre la Iglesia en India, la Santa Sede y las iglesias particulares en los demás continentes``. El sacerdote polaco mencionó, además, ``la necesidad vital para la Iglesia de dialogar y comprender las culturas de los demás países del inmenso continente asiático: China, Japón, Vietnam, etc.``. Otra oportunidad estratégica, según el religioso, es la nueva ``situación cultural y religiosa`` que se ha creado en los países europeos poscomunistas. En todo caso, los dos directivos subrayaron las posibilidades que ofrece Internet, que a través de su página web ofrece ya información escrita y en audio en treinta idiomas en la dirección http://www.radiovaticana.org En onda la emisora emite programas en 40 idiomas. ``Radio Vaticano`` cuenta con 384 trabajadores (269 hombres y 115 mujeres), en su mayoría laicos (a excepción de 34 sacerdotes y 9 religiosas), según se informó en la rueda de prensa. La emisora cumple también la función de archivo audio de la voz del Papa. En estos momentos, almacena 13.000 horas de intervenciones de los pontífices. El costo anual de «Radio Vaticano» oscila entre los 20 y 25 millones de euros; el 57% de esta cantidad se destina a los salarios del personal. Fuente: Zenit.org (via CLAUDIO MORALES, condig list via DXLD) English version of this at Media Network blog. See also RADIO PHILATELY ** VENEZUELA. Hola Glenn, Saludos desde Catia La mar, VENEZUELA. - Reactivada luego de muchos meses fuera del aire, YVTO, en 5000 kHz. Captada el 20/02 a las 2246 UT con SINPO de 33322. Muchísimo ruido en la banda. La señal suena más débil de lo normal, aunque el "buzz" de fondo y la sobremodulación han desaparecido. Ojalá el regreso sea para quedarse; prácticamente es la única venezolana activa en la onda corta. 73s y buen DX (Adán González, Catia La Mar, Estado Vargas, VENEZUELA, Feb 21, WORLD OF RADIO 1305, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re 6-033: another answer to what`s their e-mail? Con muchísimo cariño querido amigo. La dirección para contactar a YVTO es la siguiente: Observatorio Naval Cajigal, shlv @ dhn.mil.ve Recibe un fuerte abrazo (José Elías, Venezuela, playdx yg via DXLD) ** VIETNAM. Voice of Vietnam in German (time & frequencies) http://www.hanoi.diplo.de/de/Startseite.html Radiosender "Voice of Vietnam" sendet ab 1. März auch auf Deutsch Der vietnamesische Radiosender "Voice of Vietnam" sendet ab 1. März auch auf Deutsch. Die Sendungen sind täglich wie folgt zu empfangen: UKW in Vietnam (VoV 5): von 07.00 bis 07.30 Uhr (lokale Zeit) auf den Frequenzen 105.5 MHz (Hanoi) und 105.7 MHz (Quang Ninh, Ho-Chi-Minh- City). KW in Deutschland: von 1530 bis 1600 Uhr UT, von 1800 bis 1830 Uhr UT und von 2130 bis 2200 Uhr UT auf den Frequenzen 7280 kHz und 9730 kHz. Das Programm wird darüber hinaus auch im Internet angeboten (via Jean- Michel Aubier, France, Feb 22, dxldyg via DXLD) ** YEMEN. 9779.46, R. Sana'a in Arabic, S=9 at 0440-0600 UT, afterwards S=7-8 (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. R. Voice of the People, 11705, from Madagascar to Zimbabwe, heard this evening from sign on 1700, 22 Feb with the usual cycle jamming. Although the jamming is severe, the audio content of the broadcast is not totally affected and the broadcast is still listenable most of the time. Programming in local Shona vernacular with a political discussion, probably a studio archive tape being re- aired. Jamming is severe at times! (David Pringle-Wood, Harare, Zimbabwe, DX LISTENIG DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 1422 kHz, 1759 UT, Democratic republic, what sounded like they said, Pakistan playing some music from the movie Wild Wild West, 33334. Will listen to 1422 kHz again tonite to verifiy this one. Radio used: Sangean 909; Ant: ant60 reel. 73's from (Larry Fields, n6hpx/mm off northern Somalia, Feb 18, swl at qth.net via DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Stop this nonsense! (Bob Padula, Australia) Yes! (gh, DXLD) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ BJÖRN MALM`S SITE DIES BUT MIRRORS LIVE ON Saludos cordiales, en fecha de hoy la página web de Malm no se abre: http://www.malm-ecuador.com/ Desconozco si existe algún típo de problema en el servidor, o lamentablemente se a perdido para siempre. José Miguel Romero, Spain, Feb 23, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) A mirror is available since months on http://www.bclnews.it/malm Another mirror is in Hard Core Dx web site, http://malm.hard-core-dx.com/ (Roberto Scaglione, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) AM FM ZIP SIGNAL BY ZIP CODE http://www.v-soft.com/ZipSignal/zip_answer.asp Mildly interesting (Bill Smith, W0WOI, Feb 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Default sort is in decreasing dBu computed signal strength, AM and FM mixed in together, separate day and night figures, where applicable, for AMs, down to 50 dBu, which in the case of 73701 brings in some stations from KS as well as OKC. Does not take into account the slight problem of graveyard QRM at night, e.g. KFH-1240 Wichita, which since it is 1 kW ND day and night, has identical figures, even tho it is unlistenable at night. Also appears to include stations not axually on the air but licensed (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RADIO PHILATELY +++++++++++++++ 2004 STAMP HONOURING HUGO GERNSBACK, RADIO PROMOTER The rôle in the popularization of the radio hobby is fundamental. In 2004 the Luxembourg postmaster issued a stamp honouring him, as part of a 2 stamp series. See http://www.ept.lu/index.php?lm4=86C1071FAA72 Quoted from there... "Hugo Gernsback Born in Luxembourg on 16 August 1884 of German parents, Hugo Gernsback studied at the Industrial School in Luxembourg-Limpertsberg. At the age of 20, he emigrated to the United States where he became a naturalized citizen. Engineer, inventor, editor, and writer, it is in the area of science fiction that Hugo Gernsback left his imprint, to an extent that today he is considered the father of the genre. Fascinated with technology, he founded the magazine "Modern Electrics" in which he published his science fiction adventures. In 1926 he founded the first magazine of "scientifiction". In "Amazing Stories" reprints of Verne and Wells were published as well as stories by new science fiction authors who, until then, had to rely on horror magazines to publish their stories. Forced to give up "Amazing Stories" in 1929, Hugo Gernsback founded a new magazine, "Science Wonder Stories", which included in the editorial of the first edition the first known written record of the term "science-fiction". To honor Hugo Gernsback, who passed away on 19 August 1967, the most prestigious prize in science fiction bears his name: "The Hugo Award". -I don't have such stamp in my collection (Horacio Nigro, Uruguay, Feb 20, radiostamps yg via DXLD) STAMP ISSUE SEARCH ENGINE Those wishing to learn about issued stamps in any country on a certain topic can search at http://www.wnsstamps.ch/en/ (Horacio A. Nigro, Montevideo, Uruguay, radiostamps yg via DXLD) VATICAN RADIO COMMEMORATION La radio vaticana ha recentemente celebrato i suoi 75 anni di presenza nell'etere. Per ricordare l'evento, il 12 febbraio, in occasione della 18a fiera del radioamatore e dell'elettronica di Monterodondo (Roma), è stato emesso un annullo filatelico speciale e una QSL card dedicata alle trasmissioni DRM. Gli interessati possono vedere e scaricare le immagini dal mio blog su http://swli05639fr.blogspot.com/ 73's (Francesco Cecconi, Feb 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Thanks to Francesco Cecconi via Dario Monferini from Italy for sending two pictures regarding R Vaticana recent 75th Anniversary postal issue. Look at: http://img52.imageshack.us/my.php?image=vatradio752rg.jpg for the special cancellation and http://img52.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cardvatrad750kd.jpg for a commemorative card(?) (Horacio A. Nigro, Montevideo, Uruguay, radiostamps yg via DXLD) Same stamps are a little clearer here, and they seem to be for the 50th anniversary, 1931-1981 (gh, DXLD) That's okay, so that previous info that mentioned stamps was indeed incorrect. The only new thing is the cancellation. DM adds further that this is indeed a Vatican Radio QSL, one side with the cancels the other -properly the front of the QSL- with the Popes. HAN URG (Horacio Nigro, ibid.) See also VATICAN RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ Re: [dxld] Good price on Grundig/Eton S350DL Hi, again! A followup on this that I posted a week ago. The people at Sieglers assured me that this really was the S350DL at $99.95. It is backordered until early March. However, I just received a special 10% discount coupon code in an email offer which just about makes up for the $15 shipping cost: it is "MISSYOU10", which you type into the coupon-code box on the online order form. However, I was never able to get that discount to work when I tried it, but that may be due to some strangeness on this specific computer I'm using (it's my neighbor's) or some glitch in their online ordering process. I called their 800 number while I was trying that and spoke with a nice lady in their phone-order shop, and eventually she was able to apply the discount that way and I just ordered the radio over the phone. Thought you'd like to know if you're interested in one of these. The 10% online- order discount is good through 2/24/06 only! 73, (Will Martin, MO, Feb 22, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ The geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to unsettled at middle latitudes and quiet to minor storm levels at high latitudes. The period began with the solar wind speed around 380 km/s. Wind speed slowly decreased to 300 km/s late on 14 February. During this time the geomagnetic field was quiet. Early on 15 February, The IMF Bz began fluctuating between +/- 10 nT as the solar wind speed increased to around 600 km/s due to the onset of a coronal hole high speed stream. The geomagnetic field responded with minor storm periods on 15 and 16 February at high latitudes while only quiet to unsettled levels were observed at middle latitudes. By 17 February, solar wind speed was decreasing with the IMF Bz not varying much beyond +/- 5 nT. Mostly quiet conditions were observed at middle and high latitudes for the rest of the period. The solar wind speed ended the period around 400 km/s. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 22 FEBRUARY - 20 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 and again on 20 March. The geomagnetic field is expected to range from quiet to minor storm levels. Active to minor storm periods are possible on 22 - 23 February, and again on 19 March due to effects from recurrent coronal hole wind streams. Otherwise, quiet to unsettled conditions are expected. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2006 Feb 21 1953 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 21 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2006 Feb 22 75 20 4 2006 Feb 23 75 15 3 2006 Feb 24 75 15 3 2006 Feb 25 75 12 3 2006 Feb 26 80 10 3 2006 Feb 27 80 8 3 2006 Feb 28 80 5 2 2006 Mar 01 80 5 2 2006 Mar 02 80 8 3 2006 Mar 03 80 8 3 2006 Mar 04 80 5 2 2006 Mar 05 80 8 3 2006 Mar 06 80 5 2 2006 Mar 07 80 5 2 2006 Mar 08 80 5 2 2006 Mar 09 80 5 2 2006 Mar 10 80 8 3 2006 Mar 11 75 5 2 2006 Mar 12 75 5 2 2006 Mar 13 75 8 3 2006 Mar 14 75 5 2 2006 Mar 15 75 8 3 2006 Mar 16 75 5 2 2006 Mar 17 75 5 2 2006 Mar 18 75 8 3 2006 Mar 19 75 15 3 2006 Mar 20 75 10 3 (http://www.sec.noaa.gov/radio via WORLD OF RADIO 1305, DXLD) TIPS FOR RATIONAL LIVING ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Glenn: Re your Rational Living tip of February 20: Many years ago, I heard this one about the Jewish fellow who was touring the Shrine at Lourdes. His guide was ecstatic about all of the miracles that had been done there, showing him all of the wheelchairs, crutches, and braces that were hanging on the wall as proof of the miracles. His skeptical response: "I'll believe it vhen I see a vooden leg hanging up there!" Regards, (John Babbis, Silver Spring, MD, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###