DX LISTENING DIGEST 6-053, March 28, 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 NEXT SW AIRING OF WORLD OF RADIO 1309: Wed 1030 on WWCR 9985 FIRST SW AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1310: Wed 2300 on WBCQ 7415 Thu 0000 on WBCQ 18910-CLSB Thu 2130 on WWCR 15825 Updated, plus tentative A-06 DST-shifted schedule: Full schedule, including AM, FM, satellite and internet, with hotlinks to station sites and audio: http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html For latest updates see our Anomaly Alert page: http://www.worldofradio.com/anomaly.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 DX/SWL/MEDIA PROGRAMS Mar 28: http://www.worldofradio.com/dxpgms.html ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. R. Solh, new 17700, March 28 at 1503, with SW Asian music, IDs and frequencies. Can`t seem to find their full A-06 schedule, tho I thought it had appeared somewhere. Ex-15265, but that ran only until 1500* Now it`s 12-18 on 17700 via 500 kW Rampisham (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AFRICA. Africalist updated on March 27. It's a list of Subsaharan shortwave stations, available on http://www.africalist.de.ms 73 (Thorsten Hallmann, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) hit the pdf link ** ALBANIA. SHIJAK OFF THE AIR --- Since last Friday, 24 March, around 1442 GMT Shijak radiostation is TOTALLY off air because of unpaid electricity - reported me earlier today in cel the Head of Shijak, while, its MW Tx on 1089 KHz is still off air since in the morning of February 3, 2006 at 0800 UTC - as ordered... Radio Tirana in Albanian, Turkish, Greek and Serbian on MW via Fllaka r/station can not be transmitted until the power will be ON at Shijak r/station. Fllaka gets studio signal via Shijak radio/relays. Sorry and all the best from a sunny warm and lovely day in Tirana, (Drita Cico, ARTV-Head of Monitoring Center, RADIO TIRANA, Monday, 27 March 2006, 1400 GMT via Swopan Chakroborty, and Alokesh Gupta, dxldyg via DXLD) While we surely do not wish for the old Marxist/Maoist days, it`s hard to fathom how a such government facility could be put off the air for failing to pay its bills (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) Hi dear Drita, welcome back on air. "Physics is nothing without main power", hi! Around 1759-1800 UT noted RT interval signal on both 1458 [Fllaka] and 7465 kHz [Shijak per sked], then into German language section program. Very powerful signals on both channels, S=9 and more. Feature about Albanian comedians. Huge signals. 73 wolfy (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, March 28, via DX LISTENING DIGEST) [Later:] After a main power break from March 24th to 28th, R Tirana is on air again, since 1400 UT today. At 1801-1829 UT heard German service with huge signals today on MW 1458 and SW 7465 kHz. At present from 1832 UT both SW channels 9920 and 7465 kHz on air with carrier only - S = 9 +20 dB in Germany, English section will start at 1845 UT lasting till 1900 UT. Please, send RRs to R Tirana. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. RAE periodo A-06 Horarios y Frecuencias - Timetables & Frequencies B-06 26/03/06 al 29/10/06 6060 KHz Banda de 49 metros 11710 KHz Banda de 25 metros 9690 KHz Banda de 31 metros 15345 KHz Banda de 19 metros 0900-1200 CASTELLANO 6060 AMERICA 1000-1200 JAPONES 11710 LEJANO - ORIENTE 1200-1400 CASTELLANO 11710 AMERICA 1800-1900 INGLES 9690-15345 EUROPA 1900-2000 ITALIANO 9690-15345 EUROPA 2000-2100 FRANCES 9690-15345 EUROPA/N AFRICA 2100-2200 ALEMAN 9690-15345 EUROPA/N AFRICA 2200-2400 CASTELLANO 6060-11710-15345 EUROPA/N AFRICA Y AMERICA 0000-0200 PORTUGUES 11710 AMERICA 0200-0300 INGLES 11710 AMERICA 0300-0400 FRANCES 11710 AMERICA Transmisión LRA 1 Radio Nacional Buenos Aires, AM 870 KHz Transmisión de Lunes a Viernes (Mondays to Fridays) Transmisión Sábados Fcias: 6060 y 15345 KHz de 1700 a 2330 HL (2000 a 0230 UT) / FREC 11710 de 1700 a 1900 (2000 a 2200 UT) Domingos Fcias: 6060 y 15345 KHz, de 1500 a 2400 HL (1800 a 0300 UT) / señal Radio Nacional AM 870 KHz / FREC 11710 de 1500 a 2200 (1800 a 0100 UT) On the air Saturdays on 6060 & 15345 KHz: 1700 & 2330 (2000 & 0230 UT) Fr 11710: 1700 & 1900 (2000 & 2300 UT) On the air Sundays on 6060 & 15345 KHz: 1400 a 0300 UT: signal Radio Nacional AM 870 KHz Rr 11710 1500 & 2200 (1800 & 0100 UT) (via José Miguel Romero, Spain, dxldyg via DXLD) ** ASIA [non]. Radio Free Asia A-06, and some other clandestines: http://www2.starcat.ne.jp/~ndxc/vt.htm Transmitter sites: 1 S Saipan 2 I Sri Lanka 3 WER Wertachtal 4 Vl Vladivostok 4 IRK Irkutsk 1-6 T1-6 Tinian 5 KA Yerevan 5 UL Ulan Bator 5 AA Almaty 3 KW Kuwait 2 TW Taiwan 5 DB Dushanbe 5 P Palau Isl. 5 UA Al Dhabayya-UAE [figures mean? Number of transmitter used at each?] A-06 schedule of Radio Free Asia: 1100-1200 LAOTIAN 9355 9545 15560 TIBETAN 7470 13625 13830 15510 17855 1200-1400 TIBETAN 7470 11590 13625 13830 15510 17855 1230-1330 BURMESE 9315 9455 11540 13675 CAMBODIAN 5890 13645 15525 1400-1500 CANTONESE 9780 11715 11850 VIETNAMESE 5855 9455 9715 11535 11605 11680 13680 13775 1500-1600 CHINESE 7540 9455 9905 11765 12025 13675 13725 15495 TIBETAN 7470 11550 11705 11795 13825 1500-1700 KOREAN 7210 9385 13625 1600-1700 CHINESE 7540 9455 9905 11795 12025 13675 13715 15530 UIGHUR 7465 9350 9370 9555 11750 11780 1700-1800 CHINESE 7280 7540 9355 9455 9530 9540 9905 11795 13625 13715 1800-1900 CHINESE 7280 7355 7540 9355 9455 9540 9865 11700 13625 15510 1900-2000 CHINESE 1098 7260 7355 7540 9355 9455 9760 9865 9905 11700 1900-2000 CHINESE 11785 13625 15510 2000-2100 CHINESE 1098 7260 7355 7540 9355 9455 9850 9905 11700 2000-2100 CHINESE 11740 11785 13625 2100-2200 CHINESE 1098 7105 7355 7540 9850 9910 11740 11935 13625 2100-2300 KOREAN 7460 9385 9770 12075 2200-2300 CANTONESE 9355 9955 11785 13865 2230-2330 CAMBODIAN 9490 9930 13740 2300-2400 CHINESE 7540 9910 11760 13670 13775 15430 15585 TIBETAN 7470 7500 9395 9805 9875 2330-0030 VIETNAMESE 9975 11580 11605 11670 12110 13740 15535 15560 0000-0100 LAOTIAN 12015 15545 0030-0130 BURMESE 11540 13820 13865 17835 0100-0200 UIGHUR 9350 11520 11895 11945 17640 17695 0100-0300 TIBETAN 9365 11695 11975 15225 15695 17730 0300-0600 CHINESE 11705 13670 13760 15130 15685 17525 17615 17880 21690 0600-0700 CHINESE 11705 13670 13760 15165 15685 17525 17615 17880 TIBETAN 17510 17720 17780 21500 21690 (Nagoya DX Circle via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. 4AY and 4KZ FNQ Australia Cyclone Larry --- This is from Al Kirton, the general manager and fellow ARDXC member in Innisfail near Cairns, Far north Queensland. In response to Cyclone Larry. A cyclone one better than Cyclone Tracy that flattened Darwin. 4AY Innisfail is off air plus the FM transmitters. So here is the state of serviceability as of 28/3/06 9 am local time 2300 UT (John (Johnno) Wright, Australian Radio DX Club, March 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: 3 out of 14 of our transmitters are on. 531 East Innisfail, 693 Tully and 1611 Karumba. 531 on omni at about 3 kw as one of the 400 foot towers and unused 256 foot tower fell down. The ATU hut on the present antenna blew away. Fortunately the Board with the 3 coils and ceramic cap was undamaged. The Army helped us put it into a temporary enclosure covered by a tarp. If anyone can DX us I will send a QSL with special Cyclone Larry notation on it. The town looks like a battlefield! (Kirton via Wright, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. RA: May be for the seasonal changes 17785 at 2200 is fading down in favor of better 15415 // 15515 starting at 0000. So 19 mb conditions are closing a little later (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. HCA (HCJB-AUSTRALIA) A06 FREQ STRT STOP CIRAF ZONES LOC PWR AZI SLW ANT LANG TO : SOUTH PACIFIC 11750 0700 0900 51,55,56,59,60,62 KNX 50 120 0 108 ENGLISH TO : EAST ASIA 15400 0930 1030 43,44,50,54 KNX 100 340 0 148 CANTONESE 15400 1030 1130 43,44,50,54 KNX 100 340 0 148 ENGLISH TO : SOUTH & SOUTH EAST ASIA 15425 1130 1200 41E,49,54 KNX 100 307 0 148 ENGLISH 15425 1200 1230 41E,49,54 KNX 100 307 0 148 INDONESIAN 15425 1230 1245 41E,49,54 KNX 100 307 0 148 NEPALI 15425 1245 1300 41E,49,54 KNX 100 307 0 148 TAMIL(SUN), BANGLA(MON-SAT) 15435 1300 1315 41,49,54 KNX 100 307 0 148 VARIOUS* 15435 1315 1330 41,49,54 KNX 100 307 0 148 HINDI 15435 1330 1400 41,49,54 KNX 100 307 0 148 ENGLISH(SUN), URDU(MON-SAT) 15390 1400 1500 41,49,54 KNX 100 307 0 148 ENGLISH *CHATTISGARHI(SAT/SUN), GUJARATI(MON), BHOJPURI(TUES), TELEGU(WED), MARWARI(THURS), MARATHI(FRI) [there`s no X in Kununurra] Note: a) Frequencies effective from 26/03/06 till 29/10/06. b) Program schedule is effective from 26/03/06 till 30/04/06. (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) As for HCJB Ecuador, still shows B-05 sked on website as of 3/27! (gh) ** BOLIVIA. 6165, Radio Logos, (presumed) 1007-1035 March 28. Noted a man in Spanish comments here briefly at 1007 then into music which continued until 1024, then man in Spanish comments thru the half hour. Signal was never steady, but kept fading into the noise. When audible, it was threshold. No Chinese on the frequency this morning (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston, Florida, NRD545, Homebrew Dipole, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6165, Radio Logos, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia (tentative), 1053- 1100, March 28, Spanish. Catholic talk by male in Spanish: "...bendita tu eres...", low signal, 24432 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, HCDX via DXLD) And after 1100 Bonaire is still on 6165. Is R. Logos Catholic? If so I would not expect them to carry ALAS from HCJB (gh, DXLD) ** BULGARIA. Hi Glenn: Radio Sofia may have not changed on our Saturday evening: I received too in Spanish in B-05 channel of 7500 at 0000, but for this Monday 27 they began on they left 41m and stayed on remaining 9500 (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BURKINA FASO [and non]. Glen[n]: I'm hearing very nice music from Burkina Faso on 5030 now. I was listening to music from Guinea on 7125 until Russia's transmission began at 2256 UT, one hour earlier now than during the winter (Des Preston, KB8UYJ, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 2327 UT March 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Problem with 9755 kHz 3/28/06 --- To the RCI staff: Please pass this on to the technicians at the Sackville transmitter site. The US-directed evening transmission Monday (3/27/06) at 0000 - 0200 UT 3/28/06 on 9755 kHz had some severe transmitter problem that caused the signal to splatter at least plus & minus 100 kHz on either side of 9755, and the splatter could be detected even further away. It made reception of even strong other signals, such as R. Netherlands from Bonaire on 9845 kHz, just about unlistenable. The distorted splatter was definitely the audio that was on RCI on 9755 kHz at the time -- I verified this by having several radios on at once, so that I could hear the 9755 audio and match it with the distortion product in the splatter. The degree of interference varied during the two-hour period, but it terminated exactly when 9755 went off-air just before 0200 UT. I hope that this reaches you in time to get the problem corrected before this evening's transmission. Thank you for your attention in this matter (William Martin, Saint Louis, MO, to RCI, cc to DXLD) They responded immediately. Here's their answer: Subject: Re: Problem with 9755 kHz 3/28/06 Date: Tue, 28 Mar 2006 12:40:48 -0500 Dear Mr. Martin: Thank you very much for your e-mail of the 28th. It has been forwarded to our technical people, both here in Montréal and at Sackville, so that they may fix the problem as soon as possible. We apologize for the mistake last evening. Yours very truly, (Bill Westenhaver, Audience Relations/Relations avec l'auditoire, Radio Canada International, via Martin, DXLD) ** COLOMBIA [and non]. 6010, La Voz de tu Conciencia, 0701-0805, 27- 03. Luego de un tiempo sin escucharla, parece que estuvo inactiva por problemas técnicos, hoy entraba de nuevo con bastante buena señal. Locutor habitual con comentarios religiosos y canciones: "Los grandes temas de la Biblia", identificación: "Siga escuchando La Voz de tu Conciencia, desde Colombia para el mundo". "Transmite Alcaraván Radio, La Voz de tu Conciencia". Por detrás, eclipsada, se escuchaba ocasionalmente y muy débil a Radio Mil con su habitual programa de canciones románticas, muy perturbada por la colombiana. 34333 variando a 24322 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Grundig Satellit 500 y Sony ICF SW 7600G Escuchas realizadas en Friol, 27 Km. W de Lugo Antena de cable 10 metros, orientada WSW, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also MEXICO ** CUBA. Nice orchestral classical music on 6060, March 27 at 0710 to abrupt silence at 0723 and off at 0724* No doubt RHC relaying CMBF R. Musical Nacional, but no announcements heard (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. Altho labeled fall-winter 2006, the R. Martí frequency grid at http://www.martinoticias.com/frequencies.htm is obviously way out of date, still showing 4 frequencies at a time instead of 3. Noted back on summer channel 11845, along with heavy jamming, instead of 15330, where jamming also continued, at 1508 UT March 27; // 11930 jammed, and 13820 overriding most of the jamming as is often the case here. So how about a complete A-06 OCB schedule? (Glenn Hauser, OK, March 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. Spanish on 5910, March 27 at 2324, presumably R. República new A-06 frequency via Germany, and not yet jammed; jamming was still attacking ex-7160 as it did thruout the weekend when it was never on the air anyway (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. Noticed at 0653 March 28 that 6000 bore only Harold Camping drone, weakly in English, no RHC. I see that WYFR for A-06 is still scheduled on this frequency, so is Habana closing at 0500 now? I doubt it. RHC still running at that hour on 6060 with music. WYFR: 6000 0500-0600 SPAN 181 11 100 6000 0600-0700 ENGL 181 11 100 6000 0700-0945 SPAN 181 11 50 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. See SAINT HELENA [non]; AUSTRALIA ** EGYPT. Tho clear of QRM, 11885 had only a very weak signal at 2322 UT check March 27, if that was R. Cairo in English to NAm, so it didn`t really matter if the usual undermodulation was in play (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA ECUATORIAL. 5005, Radio Nacional, Bata, 2058- 2110, 26-03, Radio Nacional, Bata, tiene todos los días a las 2100 un informativo que realiza conjuntamente con Radio Malabo, con información de Guinea Ecuatorial, Africa y el mundo: "Amigos oyentes, a las 22 horas Diario Hablado del día de hoy en conexión simultánea con nuestros compañeros de Radio Malabo, Señores y Señoras, sigan escuchando su emisora favortia, Radio Bata, comenzamos el recorrido del tiempo de noticias". 45444 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Grundig Satellit 500 y Sony ICF SW 7600G Escuchas realizadas en Friol, 27 Km. W de Lugo Antena de cable 10 metros, orientada WSW, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA [non]. Re 6-052: Hi Glenn! The US address of Voice of Liberty listed in the WRTH is outdated. My letter returned last week after about a month. 73, (Patrick Robic, Austria, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FALKLAND ISLANDS [non]. Remembered almost too late to check for the penultimate Calling the Falklands, Tuesday March 28. Indeed it was on 11720 instead of 11680 for the last two shows, tho BBC-11675 is gone and 11680 would have been unimpeded. Tuned in at 2144 just to hear Deborah Vogel saying her goodbyes, how much she had learned about that remote place during her tenure on the programme --- so she must not be a native Falklander. Apparently the show itself will wrap up with the grand finale on Friday March 31 at 2130. Better reception than I would have expected and sorry I missed hearing the whole thing. This ought to be ondemand, and possibly it is somewhere in the labyrinthine BBC website, hint hint (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FINLAND. YLE good but somewhat fluttery signal in Finnish at 1511 on 13665, next to RCI --- good thing the latter didn`t really switch to 13665; YLE scheduled during this hour only with 500 kW toward 325 degrees (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE [and non]. RFI seems to have joined the national strike over the new governmental rules for firing the young people in France. Beautiful music and short announcements in French are heard over the usual RFI frequencies on March 28. No Russian-language broadcast at 1300 UT on 15155 and 17805, only African songs and brief French IDs. Did that happen before that RFI and Rai would go on strike at the same time? (Sergei Sosedkin, IL?, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. I did not see the regular reports about yet another strike at Radio France so far? Apparently there was one today, affecting at least the morning programme of RFI German service which was replaced by music and interspersed announcements in French and Italian: -----Original Message----- Date: Tue, 28 Mar 2006 17:21:00 +0200 Subject: [A-DX] RFI streikt From: "Eike Bierwirth" Hallo, RFI ist auch am streiken. Das deutschsprachige Morgenprogramm auf 98.2 in Leipzig (mein Wecker :) ) wurde heute durch Musik ersetzt. Ab und zu Jingles in Französisch und Italienisch. Ich hätte allerdings musikmäßig nichts dagegen, dieses Programm anstelle eines der vielen Hitradio-Antenne-Dudler 24/7 zu haben... Gruß, (Eike Bierwirth, via Kai Ludwig, DXLD) ** GERMANY. NPR is now on air in Berlin since yesterday (March 27). T-Systems switched the 104.1 transmitter at 0700 UT from Joy FM to the Eutelsat Hotbird feed of NPR Worldwide. Excerpts from the Joy FM swan sungs and the actual switch: http://www.radioeins.de/meta/sendungen/apparat/060325_A1.ram NPR set up this page, announcing locally produced programming to be inaugurated during the coming months: http://www.npr.org/berlin Last week there were reports about Joy FM considering a lawsuit against MABB, arguing that by common law 104.1 would be their frequency, not acknowledging that they made it on FM only by means of a DAB promotion which ran from IFA 2003 till last year, as well-known without any success. But apparently they now abandoned the idea and celebrated a tearful if not embarrassing close-down on Monday morning. However, at least the stream at http://www.joyfm.de continues, and they made announcements about an Astra and cable net distribution of their new project http://www.defjay.com Probably their DAB and/or DVB-T slots at Berlin are already carry the DefJay feed now, but I have no clear confirmation for this so far Germany continued: At least to me it appears to be rather unusual for the studio output of a major FM station to just go silent for five or more hours. But this happened on Sunday (March 26) at Berlin: Motor FM, the station now broadcasting on 100.6, went silent some time before 8 AM. Shortly before 1 PM there was still a dead carrier on 100.6, so modulation finally reappeared some time between then and 5 PM recheck. The web stream of Motor FM went silent as well, so it is obvious that it was not a problem with the feed circuit or the transmitter but indeed simply no audio came out of their studios, if one will dare to call their very basic voicetracking set-up (never any live broadcasts on Motor FM) a studio at all. I am aware of two cases of studio buildings going entirely dark, in both cases due to trouble with emergency generating sets. One concerned GDR radio at Berlin (Nalepastraße) in the mid-seventies. All programs went silent and returned after about one hour with the same news in parallel on all networks, read by an announcer they had put into the emergency-lit main control room while apparently all studios were dead. Another victim was the then ORB at Potsdam-Babelsberg just three years ago. However, in both cases the disruption lasted just one hour and not five or even more ones. So the frank comment by an observer was: This whole station is just a farce (Kai Ludwig, Germany, March 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. Glenn: The A06 VOG's frequencies are on this web site: http://www.voiceofgreece.gr/en/frequencies.asp Regards, (John Babbis, Silver Spring, MD, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Geez, in 10 different zip files by target area. Why make us go thru all that to get them? (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** GREENLAND. Mega-thrilled to receive a full-data QSL letter from KNR Greenland in about 2 months for one of their 3815 USB transmissions. V/s: Ms. Ivalu Søvndahl Pedersen - Communications Assistant. Address: Kalaalit Nunaata Radioa - TV, Vandsøvej 15, Postbok 1007, DK-3900, Nuuk, Greenland. Click on the link below to view the QSL: http://www.geocities.com/jdstephens_99/qsl/knrqsl.jpg NOTE: If your browser automatically shrinks the size of the pic (as mine does), you will probably get a better view of the QSL by downloading it to your desktop and opening from there. 73, (J. D. Stephens Hampton Cove, AL, USA, HCDX via DXLD) Or get the `enlarge` icon to show up in the lower right corner. Hi JD, Congratulations. Just wondering if you were at home in AL when you heard it, as I don`t recall seeing any report of that at the time (gh to J.D., via DXLD) Yes, I was at home in AL at that time. Thought I had posted a log to the listservers. These days, I'm "flying by the seat of my pants" so much, it's very possible posting that log was missed. 73, (J. D. Stephens, Hampton Cove, AL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Has anyone heard KNR 3815 further south or west in NAm? NTMK. Presumably has now shifted an hour earlier to 2000-2115 UT for DST; transmission will be totally in daylight until next winter (gh, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS. Footage of the Radio Caroline ship Mi Amigo sinking with comments from Tom Anderson posted in conjunction with the 26th anniversary of the event last Monday: http://media.putfile.com/Mi-Amigo-sinking (Mike Barraclough, UK, BDXC via DXLD) ** IRAN. VOIRI Español A-06 LA TABLA DE LAS FRECUENCIAS, ONDAS CORTAS: 2030-2130 ESPAÑA 41 M 7300 KHZ, 31 M 9650 KHZ 0030-0130 AMÉRICA CENTRAL Y DEL SUR 31 M 9655 KHZ, 31 M 9905 KHZ 0230-0330 AMÉRICA DEL SUR 31 M 9905 KHZ [sic, out of order] 0130-0230 AMÉRICA DEL SUR 31 M 9905 KHZ, 31M 9655 KHZ 0530-0630 EUROPA 19 M 15530 KHZ 16 M 17785 KHZ (via José Miguel Romero, Spain, March 28, Noticias DX via DXLD) ** IRAN [and non]. Qur`an at 1502 March 27 on 15150.0, presumably VOIRI; no het so expect Indonesia was not on the air at this moment (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) From before 1200 UT I noted two Indonesian stations today: 11860 RRI Jakarta usually til 1700...1710 UT various closing time. And v15149.832 wandering to 149.825 V. of Indonesia til 1600 UT. Co- channel QRM by Sirjan-Iran 15150 even. Measured with SpecLab software (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, wwdxc BC-DX Mar 26 via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. VOK has suddenly a big signal here on 12015 kHz in // with 7570 kHz at 15 UT in English. No sign of Mongolia on 12015. 73, (Erik Køie, Copenhagen, March 28, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA SOUTH [and non]. Re: [dxld] Concurso KBS World Radio Hola Dino. Si no fuera por vos, no me hubiera dado cuenta de que KBS está corriendo este concurso. Creo que a muchos otros colegas latinos les ocurre igual, por esa tosudez de esta emisora de creer que todos en Latinoamérica estamos oyéndolos en su emisión de las 1100 en 25 metros, lo que sí ha de ser factible para quienes viven más al Sur y que a las 1100 ya andan sobre las 7 u 8 hora local. El anterior comentario viene a colación por cuanto ya comenté que el propio Rubén Guillermo Margenet obeservó que en el horario de las 0100, cuando más gente latina los escucharía, se mantienen en la inservible 11810 a través de Sackville, en lugar de gestionar salir en 9560 como si lo hace el servicio en inglés a las 0200. Ahora bien, contámelo de parte tuya, ¿tienes recepción de KBS en español a la 0100 en 11810? Yo les envié una protesta por esta "cabezonada". Tal vez haga falta la tuya y la de otros hispanoparlantes americanos. Saludos. (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, dxldyg via DXLD) Como ya discutido, 11810 a las 01 NO es Sackville aunque debe ser, sino en directo desde Corea, inundándose en el Pacífico (gh, DXLD) Saludos Raul, tratar de escuchar a KBS en el horario de las 0100 por los 11810 khz es totalmente negativo; no se escucha nada de ella acá en South Florida. En cambio a las 1100 por los 11795 llega muy bien aqui. 73. (Dino Bloise, FLORIDA, USA, ibid.) Bien Glenn, yo mismo debo haberme confundido esta última vez, pues lo que he querido decir y lograr es que otros dxistas convenzan a KBS World que su servicio en Español a la 0100 DEBERIA apoyarse en Sackville, preferiblemente en 9560, anterior a inglés a las 0200. Lo que debe ocurrir es que KBS no se da cuenta que Radio Australia ciertamente llega bien después de las 0000 a esta parte del globo, aún sin pretenderlo, pero en 15415//15515 con la propagación en alzada por la entrante período estacional. El caso de RRI entre las 0030 a 0400 es excepcional, aunque ya lleva días sin señal decente (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, ibid.) Saludos cordiales, pues el servicio para España a las 2000 por 9515 está igual; en estos momentos se escucha AWR y de fondo se intuye a KBS. Durante el 2005 fui incapaz de escuchar a esta emisora en este horario. 73 (José Miguel Romero, Spain, ibid.) ** MEXICO. Fuerte Jamming en 4810 kHz --- Leyendo las informaciones del colega Glen[n] Hauser para Marzo puedo leer que dice que ha sido reactivada la onda corta mexicana en 4810 kHz, pero hoy Lunes a las 2040 UT estoy escuchando un fuerte jamming estilo motor que elimina cualquier intento de radiodifusión. ¿Que pasa? será que a estos señores les va a dar ahora ahora por bloquear las señales radiales que salgan de Mexico. La verdad es que no entiendo. Alguien mas escucha este jamming ? Atte: (José Elías, Venezuela, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Saludos JE, 2040 es muy temprano para Mexico en 60m. ¿Qué pasa de noche? Sabemos que el transmisor de XERTA cuenta con muchos problemas de sonido. 73, (Glenn to JE, via DXLD) Saludos cordiales, querido amigo Glenn y demás colegas diexistas. Espero que se encuentren muy bien. Glenn, leyendo tu correo es que me doy cuenta que cometí un error al indicar la hora. La escucha no fue hecha a las 2040 UT sino a las 0040 UT, que fue a la hora que aproximadamente envié el correo. Así que presento mis disculpas por este error (José Elías Díaz Gómez, Venezuela, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO [and non]. Big het on 6010 at 0652 March 28, no doubt LV de tu Conciencia, Colombia, vs R. Mil: nobody wins. Still nothing on 5910 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also COLOMBIA ** MOLDOVA. Radio DMR Pridnestrovye programme heard signing on at 1600 March 28th in English on new 5910, ex 5960, though still announcing the old frequency. Very strong on clear channel though overmodulated. News bulletin followed the opening announcements (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth Garden City, UK, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ex-1700 ** MONGOLIA. See KOREA NORTH ** NETHERLANDS. I caught Radio Netherlands in English via Bonaire March 27th on 9700 at 0745, fair signal on clear channel, it was the first edition of a new programme Dutch Extra. The first four minutes was devoted to comments from listeners and answers to their queries. The programmes webpage says: A new season, a new programme. As of Sunday 26 March, we bring you Dutch Extra, a brand-new series featuring feedback, culture and opinion, with Bertine Krol. We look at your reactions to our programmes and answer any questions you may have. And there's news from the world of art, a column that casts a critical eye over Dutch society and a classic recipe. You can also now listen to the first edition online here: http://www.radionetherlands.nl/radioprogrammes/dutchextra/DutchExtraFeedback (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth Garden City, UK, March 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS [and non]. Radio Netherlands A06 frequency schedule now online I've spent most of the day preparing the Web version of the RNW technical schedule for the broadcast period A06, which started yesterday. It's now online at http://www.radionetherlands.nl/features/media/schedule060326.html I apologise for not being able to get this online before the weekend, as I would normally have done. As previously advised, last week I was recovering from a fall at home. I am still not 100% better, but I'm getting there. I've also corrected the English programme pages that were showing the wrong frequency for the 0400 UTC transmission to North America west - 6165 kHz is the correct one. # posted by Andy @ 14:58 UT March 27 (Media Network blog via DXLD) Would like to present it in DXLD, but it`s color coded, so see the page above (gh, DXLD) or below NETHERLANDS: R. Netherlands A-06 Schedule Dutch 0300-0400 NAM 6190bo 0400-0500 CAM 5975bo 0500-0600 EU 5955ho 6105fl/DRM 0500-0600 NAM/EU 6165bo 7125fl 0500-0700 EU 6015fl 0500-0800 EU 9895fl 0600-0700 EU 7300fl/DRM 0600-0700 NZ/EU 9625bo 9895fl 0600-1700 EU 5955fl 0700-0800 AU/EU 9625bo 9895fl 11935fl 0700-1000 EU 11895fl/DRM 0800-1000 EU 6035ho 0800-1500 EU (sa-su) 9895fl 13700fl 0930-1015 SAM (Mon-Sat) 6020bo 1100-1200 EU 7240fl/DRM 1200-1300 AS 17745ma 1300-1400 AS/AU 5880pe 9900kh 12065ta 13735ma 17585ma 1415-1500 EU 7240fl/DRM 1500-1600 EU 11890fl/DRM 1500-1700 EU 9895fl 13700fl 1600-1700 EU 11640fl/DRM 1600-1700 ME/EU 13840ma 15335ma 1700-1800 AF 6020ma 9895ma 11655ma 2000-2200 EU 6015gr 2100-2200 AF/SAM 17810bo 17895bo 2200-2300 SAM 15315bo 15540bo 2300-2400 AM/Car. 9525sa 11970bo English 0000-0100 NAM 9845bo 0100-0200 NAM 9845bo 0400-0500 NAM 6165bo 0600-0700 NZ 9700bo 0700-0800 AU 9700bo 1000-1100 EU 7240fl/DRM 1000-1100 AS 12065pe 13710ir 13820kh 1100-1200 NAM 11675bo 1200-1330 EU 7240fl/DRM 1400-1600 AS 9345ta 9890ma 11835ma 1800-1900 AF 6020ma 1800-2000 AF 11655fl 1800-2100 AF 7120ma 1900-2000 AF 11655fl 1900-2100 AF 5905ma 7120ma 17810bo 1900-2100 NAM (sa-su) 15315bo 17660sa 17735bo 2030-2100 NAM 9800sa/DRM 2200-2300 NAM 15195bo/DRM Indonesian 1100-1200 AS 9795sn 21480ma 1100-1300 AS 17585ma 1200-1300 AS 9795sn 15640ma 2200-2400 AS 6120sn 7400ma Spanish 0000-0200 SAM 6165fl 15315bo 0200-0400 CAM/Car.6165bo 9590bo 1100-1130 Carib 6165bo 1130-1200 SAM 6165bo 1200-1230 S+CAM 9715bo 9895bo 2300-2400 SAM 9895fl RELAYS: AWR 0230-0330 AF 3215ma 1300-1400 AS 17670ma 1530-1630 AF 3215ma China R Int 0000-0100 CAM 9745bo D. Welle 0200-0400 NAM 9735bo 0500-0600 AF 15410ma 0800-1000 AU/NZ 9855bo 1400-1500 NAM 15445bo Dem. V. of Burma 1430-1530 AS 17625ma Family R. 0500-0600 AF 9525ma 1800-1900 AF 5905ma 1800-1900 AF 7395ma 1900-2100 AF 6020ma Fiangonana Loterana Malagasy [Lutheran] 1630-1700 AF 3215ma NHK Japan 0100-0300 SAM 11935bo 2300-2400 SAM 15265bo R Sweden 0200-0300 S AS 9435ma 1700-1800 EU 5955fl/DRM 2100-2200 AU 7420ma R. Nile [for Sudan] 0400-0500 AF (sa-tu)12060ma 0400-0500 AF (sa-tu)9905ma RCI English 1330-1400 EU 7240fl/DRM V of the People [for Zimbabwe] 1700-1800 AF 7120ma V. of Tibet 1400-1430 AS 17505ma 1530-1600 AS 17505ma Vatican R - German 1400-1415 EU 7240fl/DRM Transmitters: bo = Bonaire fl = Flevo gr = Grigoriopol ho = Hörby ir = Irkutsk kh = Khabarovsk ma = Madagascar pe = Petropavlovsk-Kamchatski sa = Sackville sn = Singapore ta = Tashkent (Andy Sennit, RNW, following tip by Glenn Hauser in dxldyg mail list, re-arranged by Alan Roe, worlddxclub via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND [and non]. We have a major collision now between RNZI and WEWN on 9885. Noted RNZI slightly atop at 0702 March 27, with a SAH of about 5 Hz from WEWN in Spanish. Checking the currently posted schedules of both stations we find: WEWN 0500-2200 9885 RNZI 0655-1059 9885 So RNZI`s entire span on 9885 is conflicting with WEWN (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Thanks for the info --- we are still evaluating reception reports from within our target area. I am not sure that we can hear WEWN in this part of the Pacific (Adrian Sainsbury, RNZI to gh, via DXLD) Well, WEWN is at 155 degrees to LAm, so theoretically it may look like there is no overlap of target areas. Of course, NAm doesn`t really count for RNZI --- nor Europe (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The current registrations for the two stations are below: 9885 0500 1100 12-15 EWN 500 155 (not even registered correctly!) 9885 0700 1315 51,55E,56,64S,65S RAN 50 325 9885 0700 1315 61S,62,63W RAN 50 35 WEWN is beaming east of south and RNZI has two beams of 50 kW each - east of north and west of north (I don't know how that is done - a "split" transmitter power?!) so the theorists would have us believe that these two transmissions will not clash! Obviously it hasn't been picked up by either station. However, I can also hear WEWN and it is spoiling my reception of RNZI. Surely we can do better than this! 73 Noel R. Green (NW England), March 28, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) This is something that drives knowledgeable broadcast engineers absolutely bonkers. How anyone with shortwave experience can assume that a shared frequency with multiple users absolutely won't clash with one another because the beam for each is intended for different ITU zones, is something that vexes me as well. It's not like there aren't a wealth of frequencies out there not be used. There certainly is a lot of open space on my radio dials these days! Maybe the reps at HFCC are spending a little too much time at the happy hours (John Figliozzi, ibid.) ** NORTH AMERICA. WTPR: 6925U, 3/25, 2350+ ``Tire Pressure Radio``. Basically an audio version of a chain letter. Very well produced show about different DXers who didn`t heed the warnings of the show, kept listening, and later discovered that their car had flat tires or low tire pressure. Awesome signal here. Great show! I listened to the end --- and I still have tire pressure! He also didn't mention my name, so the gods of tire pressure must be smiling down on me. Please QSL! (Andrew Yoder, PA, HCDX via DXLD) ** NORTH AMERICA [and non]. Other People who use frequencies we like to listen to, reported over the past year; 6.8-7.0 MHz. 6819v La Voz de Huarinas, Peru 6833.5 MARS Net 6840 EZI Mossad, Israel 6844 Coalition Maritime Forces, Somalia 6850 US Gulf coast fishing boats 6855 WYFR Family Radio 6855 Numbers station 6875 WEWN Birmingham AL 6890 WWRB Manchester TN 6895v La Voz de Campesinos, Peru 6900 Numbers station 6940 Radio Fana, Ethiopia 6950 Central People's BS, China 6953 Fishing boats 6957v La Voz de Campesinos, Peru 6959 Numbers station 6960 Radio Shabelle, Somalia 6973 Galei Zahal, Israel (sometimes on 6975) Plus other assorted beeps, braaaaps & buzzes (Harold Frodge, Free Radio Weekly via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. RADIO SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS GOES OFF AIR http://www.thenational.com.pg/032706/nation20.htm THE Southern Highlands provincial radio station, NBC Nek bilong Muruk, has been off air for three weeks now. Disgruntled landowners from Longo and Kave, just outside Mendi town, forced the radio station close on March 3 over a K1 million compensation demand for the land on which the transmitter is located. They are also demanding payment from the provincial government for a road maintenance contract that was never honoured. The work was carried out in their area. An NBC staff told The National in Mendi last Saturday that the landowners confronted them on March 3 and forced the staff to stop broadcasting until their demand was met by Governor Hami Yawari. The staff member, who requested anonymity, said when station manager Andrew Meles and provincial administrator Brian Pebo went to talk to the villagers to resolve the matter, the landowners presented Mr Pebo with a petition and were adamant that they be paid the money before they allow the station to go back on air. Mr Pebo is understood to have briefed Mr Yawari about the matter but nothing positive has transpired. The NBC staff said that many listeners complained because they were missing out on news and other programmes (The National, PNG, March 27 via DXLD) WTFK? 3275! ** PORTUGAL. RDPI, new 7240, the best if not the only signal from Europe making it on 41m, March 28 at 0645 with good Portuguese ``music for the world``. 7240 intended for Europe, now scheduled 05-08 M-F only. In B-05, Channel Africa occupied this slot (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. Hi Glenn, Checked Voice of Russia's new frequencies at 1700 UT and tuned into 11675 kHz. This was delivering excellent reception, altho it is not scheduled to start until September 3, 2006. Regards (Christopher Lewis, England, March 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAINT HELENA [non]. Re. ``Here is a note from Dieter Reibold (Germany) about his 2 Min 45 Second message over Radio HCJB about the Radio St. Helena Project. From Radio HCJB on 08. April 2006 (Summer broadcasting schedule): from 0600 to 0630 UT on 9740 from Ecuador and also from 1730 to 1800 UT on 6015 via Relay in Germany. This could be in German or English, I am not sure.`` This is German, the only language department at Quito still targeting Europe. 9740 is from Pifo, so there is again a transmission from there to Europe, confirmed but with a different time of 0630-0700 UT at http://deutsch.hcjb.org/index.php?Sendungen:Sendeplan:neuer_Sendeplan For B05 they had cancelled the Pifo transmission, stating that reception is too unreliable during winter to justify it. There was some uncertainty if a suitable antenna would still be up in 2006 to allow a revival of this transmission, but apparently it is. On Saturdays the German programme of HCJB for Europe is devoted to DXers, using regular contributions from German DX clubs and from Dieter K. Reibold, cf. http://deutsch.hcjb.org/index.php?Sendungen:Programmplan:F%FCr_DXer (Kai Ludwig, Germany, March 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAUDI ARABIA [and non]. Pretty good collision on 13710, March 27 at 1510; couldn`t stay with it to figure out, but my guess is Riyadh and Kashi (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SCOTLAND [non]. Effective March 29th 2006, this is the broadcast schedule for Radio Six International from Scotland. 0000 - 0300 Sat/Sun 88.5 MHz LPFM Tawa, New Zealand 0600 - 0700 Sat 88.5 MHz LPFM Tawa, New Zealand; 945 kHz 2.7kW Riga, Latvia; 9290 kHz 100 kW Ulbroka, Latvia 0700 - 0800 Sun (2nd of month) 13840 kHz 20 kW IRRS Italy [non] 0830 - 0930 Sat (2nd of month) 13840 kHz 20 kW IRRS Italy [non] 1900 - 2000 Daily 945 kHz 2.7 kW Riga, Latvia 1900 - 2000 Thu (2nd of month) 5775 kHz 20 kW IRRS, Italy [non] 0000 - 2359 Daily http://www.radiosix.com Regards (TONY CURRIE, Director of Programmes, Radio six international, March 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SERBIA & MONTENEGRO [non]. Re SENTECH schedule below including CHINA RADIO INTL: 1500 1900 6100 100 1234567 Southern Afr Eng/Chinese Saludos cordiales, ya se nota el conflicto de esta emisión con las de Serbia y Montenegro; si esta emisora no cambia de frecuencia, cosa que a fecha de hoy no ha hecho, nos va a privar de poder escuchar con ciertas garantías a Radio Serbia y Montenegro, una pena (José Miguel Romero, Spain, March 27, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Is the signal from RSA to SAf really that overpowering way up in Europe? (gh, DXLD) Tremendo Glenn, para poder escuchar algo en estos momentos hay que escorarse a 6102, ya que en 6100 sólo se escucha cómo el ruido de un reactor, espantoso. En los últimos meses siempre ha sido así (José Miguel Romero, ibid.) Y por cierto ese ruido proviene desde China via Sudafrica? Sintonizar a 6102 no debe mejorar la recepcion de S&M porque China transmite tambien su banda lateral igual en 6102 (Glenn to JMRR, ibid.) El ruido no sé si proviene de China vía Sudáfrica, pero en 6100 se escucha un ruido como un reactor, en 6102 se escucha a Serbia y Montenegro, a veces a China por encima, otras veces por debajo; la música es inconfundible. En estos momentos en 6100 cuando son las 1900 emitiendo en español, para escuchar algo en 6102, interferida por emisora de fondo, la recepción es aceptable hoy, SINPO 43343, mañana quizás mejore o nó (José Miguel Romero2, ibid.) ** SINGAPORE [non]. (or Guam). Did you hear anything on new 15320 for Wavescan on AWR for A-06. For this time I guess we'll have to wait the end of now starting A-06, or better yet, I'll have to try today again (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Missed checking March 26 at 2230; however, I ran across a pretty good AWR English signal March 27 at 1510 on 11640; maybe Wavescan will be on that Sundays. KSDA, 15320 at 2230 UT March 27, barely audible, so unseems this will do for Wavescan reception in NAm on Sundays; besides, beside Bonaire on 15315 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH AFRICA. SENTECH A06 Schedule Updated : 22 March 2006 Start End kHz kW Days Target Area Language AWR 1700 1800 9600 250 1234567 East Africa Swah/Masai 1800 1830 3215 100 1234567 Namibia English 1800 1830 3345 100 1234567 Zimbabwe English 1800 1830 9600 250 1234567 East Africa English 1900 1930 11860 250 1234567 West Africa Fulfulde 2000 2030 9390 250 1234567 West Africa French 2000 2030 9735 500 1234567 Central Africa French 2000 2030 7180 250 1234567 Central Africa English 2030 2100 7175 250 1234567 West Africa Yoruba BBC [how does this differ from BBCWS separately below????] 0300 0330 6050 500 1234567 East Africa Swahili 0300 0400 6035 500 1234567 West Africa English 0400 0430 9835 250 1234567 East Africa Swahili 0400 0500 7120 250 1234567 West Africa English 0430 0500 3390 100 1234567 S.Moz Portuguese 0430 0500 6135 250 1234567 N.Moz Portuguese 0430 0500 7205 500 1234567 Angola Portuguese 0500 0700 11765 250 1234567 West Africa English 0530 0600 15400 250 67 East Africa Kirundi 0700 0730 17695 500 1234567 Cent Africa French 1500 1700 11690 500 1234567 East Africa Eng/Swahili 1700 1900 11945 250 1234567 East Africa English 1745 1800 7230 500 1234567 East Africa Swahili 1800 1830 5985 250 1234567 Indian Ocean Isles French 2030 2100 3390 100 1234567 S. Moz Portuguese 2030 2100 6135 250 1234567 N. Moz Portuguese 2030 2100 7370 500 1234567 Angola Portuguese BBC WORLD SERVICE 0300 0600 3255 100 1234567 Southern Afr English 0300 0600 6190 100 1234567 Southern Afr English 0600 1600 6190 100 1234567 Southern Afr English 0600 1600 11940 100 1234567 Southern Afr English 1600 2200 3255 100 1234567 Southern Afr English 1600 2200 6190 100 1234567 Southern Afr English CHANNEL AFRICA 0300 0500 3345 100 1234567 Southern Afr English 0300 0400 6120 250 1234567 East Africa Swahili 0300 0400 5960 500 1234567 East Africa English 0400 0500 7305 500 1234567 Central Afr French 0500 0600 9685 500 1234567 West Africa English 0500 0800 7240 100 1234567 Southern Afr English 0600 0700 15255 250 1234567 West Africa English 0800 1600 9620 100 1234567 Southern Afr Eng/Loz/Nya 1500 1600 17770 500 1234567 East Africa English 1500 1600 17780 250 1234567 East Africa Swahili 1600 1700 15235 500 1234567 West Africa French 1700 1800 15235 500 1234567 West Africa English 1900 2200 3345 100 1234567 Southern Afr Port/English CHINA RADIO INTL 1500 1900 6100 100 1234567 Southern Afr Eng/Chinese CVC 0515 1545 9555 100 1234567 Southern Afr English 0600 0900 9805 100 1234567 Mozambique Portuguese 1905 2205 9620 100 1234567 Southern Afr Portuguese FAMILY RADIO 1900 2100 3230 100 1234567 Southern Afr English 2100 2200 6045 250 1234567 East Africa English 1902 2002 5925 250 1234567 East Africa Swahili FEBA RADIO 1430 1500 12125 250 1234567 Sudan Nuer 1530 1545 12125 250 1234567 Sudan Dinka 1545 1600 12125 250 1234567 Moz/Tanzania Makonde 1600 1700 12125 250 1234567 Ethiopia Amharic HIRONDELLE FOUNDATION [R. Okapi for Congo DR] 0400 0600 11690 250 1234567 Central Africa French/Various 1600 1700 11890 250 1234567 Central Africa French/Various RADIO FRANCE INTL 0300 0400 5925 250 1234567 East Africa French 0700 0800 15170 250 1234567 West Africa French 1100 1200 17525 250 1234567 Central Africa French 1200 1400 15160 250 1234567 West Africa French 1230 1300 17525 250 1234567 West Africa French 1600 1700 7170 100 1234567 Southern Afr English 1600 1700 15160 250 1234567 West Africa English 1900 2200 7160 250 1234567 Central Africa French RADIO SONDER GRENSE 0000 0530 3320 100 1234567 N.Cape Afrikaans 0530 0800 7185 100 1234567 N.Cape Afrikaans 0800 1600 9650 100 1234567 N.Cape Afrikaans 1600 2400 3320 100 1234567 N.Cape Afrikaans SA RADIO LEAGUE [amateur DX programme] 0800 0900 7205 100 7 Southern Afr English 0800 0900 17695 250 7 East Africa English 1900 2000 3215 100 1 Southern Africa English TRANS WORLD RADIO 0327 0357 7215 250 7 Ethiopia Oromo 0330 0345 7215 250 123456 Ethiopia Amha/Sidamo 0600 0645 11640 500 12345 Nigeria English 0600 0615 11640 500 67 Nigeria English 1600 1630 9675 250 1234567 Burundi Kirundi 1625 1655 9660 500 1234567 Somalia Somali 1645 1800 9930 250 1234567 Ethiopia Amha/Oromo 1657 1712 9660 500 23456 S Sudan Juba 1657 1727 9660 500 1 7 S Sudan Juba 1703 1733 7265 250 1 346 Mozambique Sena/Yao 1703 1748 7265 250 2 5 7 Mozambique Sena/Yao 1755 1825 9620 500 1234567 Mali S Niger Pulaar/French 1810 1940 9720 250 1234567 West Africa Various 1830 1930 9510 500 45 West Africa Fulfulde/Yoruba 1830 1945 9510 500 123 West Africa Various 1830 2000 9510 500 6 West Africa Various 1830 2015 9510 500 7 West Africa Various 1830 1915 9745 500 1234567 Nigeria Hausa/Kanuri UN RADIO 1700 1715 6055 100 12345 Indian Ocean Isles French 1700 1715 11715 500 12345 Central Africa French 1730 1745 7130 100 12345 Southern Afr English (Kathy Otto, Sentech via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, dxldyg via DXLD) ** SPAIN. RADIO LIBERTY TOWERS AT PLAYA DE PALS DESTROYED I've uploaded a video of the masts' final moments + some shots of the transmitter hall for your enjoyment. http://tinyurl.com/on5c4 Rgds (Martin Peters, BDXC-UK via DXLD) From a Russian newscast, 26 seconds; not exactly the same as the previous video (gh) see also USA ** SPAIN. REE, French on 15385 around 2330 March 27, fair with deep fades, likely to worsen before the English hour conclude at 0100. We know this would have been much better had it stayed on 6055, or compromised somewhere in between for the spring, 9 or 11 MHz band (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN [non]. Sudan Radio Service on new 17660, March 28 at 1502 previewing English programs; fair but subject to splatter from WHRA 17650. SRS was generally better here on B-05 channel 15575, but have hopes that on good days 17660 via UK will be adequate (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWEDEN [non]. Once again on Monday March 27, Sackville relay on 15240 had an unscheduled broadcast in Swedish at 1447 check until abrupt 1500*, due to Week of Confusion mixup (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UKRAINE. 5840 kHz, Radio Ukraine International, full data computer- printed QSL-letter (excluding transmitter site), cards shows the Vydubetski monastry, no v/s. The letter also contained a schedule and a reception report form. The envelope has several nice stamps. In 32 days for a report in German with no rp to Radio Ukraine International, ul. Chrestschatyk 26, Kiew, 01001, Ukraine. QSL Information Pages QIP : http://www.schoechi.de/qip.html Clandestine Radio Watch : http://www.schoechi.de/crw.html (MARTIN SCHOECH, Eisenach, Germany, March 2006, RX: Sony ICF 2001D ANT: Sony AN 1, GRDXC via DXLD) ** U K [and non]. See WORLD OF CLOX ** U K. RADIO 4 CHIEF FINDS THAT AXED UK THEME WON'T GO AWAY By Sally Pook, Daily Telegraph, 28 March 2006 (I have just listened to it this morning, I will miss it --- met) The controller of Radio 4, who has announced his intention to banish the UK Theme from the airwaves, could have expected nothing less from his fearsome army of listeners. As a topless Routemaster bus repeatedly circled his office at Broadcasting House yesterday, the threatened medley of tunes was blasted from the top deck. Mark Damazer's decision to axe the theme, which has heralded the opening of Radio 4 every morning for 33 years, has already prompted three Commons motions, a listeners' petition and open revolt in middle England. Gordon Brown has objected and Tony Blair has referred to "the strong feeling" across the country. The theme will be replaced by a news, sport and business briefing. Coinciding with the Routemaster protest, the medley of songs was launched in the shops as a CD, opening up the very real possibility that it could top the charts. It was impossible to establish whether the executioner heard the loud strains of Rule Britannia, Scotland the Brave, Early One Morning, Drunken Sailor and Danny Boy. "I couldn't say either way," a Radio 4 spokesman said. "I think it is unlikely, as there is building work going on right outside his office, so he has to keep the window shut." Had he been aware that the protest was to take place? "I don't know," the spokesman said. "Possibly. It has been in the papers - and he does read them." The protest was organised by Mike Flowers, 45, a singer whose career, by his own admission, has been on the quiet side since he had an unlikely No 2 hit with his version of the Oasis song Wonderwall 10 years ago. But he denied that it was a ploy to boost his fortunes. He persuaded the Birmingham Royal Ballet Sinfonia to record the CD in less than three, unrehearsed hours. Ernest Tomlinson, a friend of Fritz Spiegl, who created the medley, found the only surviving copy of the arrangement stored in the attic of Spiegl's widow. Flowers then hired the Routemaster and was joined by his band, the Mike Flowers Pops, and Spiegl's daughter, Julia. They came armed with flasks of tea, biscuits and "God save the Theme" banners. "It is very special to me," Miss Spiegl said. "I don't remember him arranging it. I was a stroppy 15-year-old and wouldn't have been interested at the time. But now it makes me think of him. The reaction is surreal but funny. I think it would have made my father laugh." http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/03/28/ntheme28.xml (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) That`s currently at 0430 UT on BBC Radio 4 stream, ending 3/31? (gh, DXLD) ** U K. I have now found the BBC Ulster-Scots programmes I asked about in DXLD 6-045. 14 were made during 2002 and 2003. They are all available online at the link below: Fair faa ye tae a kistfu o yairns, music, wittens an crack, aa gien ower i the Ulster-Scotch leid wi Conal Gillespie. Welcome to a chestful of stories, music, news and crack presented in the Ulster Scots tongue by Conal Gillespie. http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/radioulster/shows/kist_o_wurds.shtml (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth Garden City, UK, March 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. But you see, Ricky, if you still use a shortwave radio in the Western Hemisphere, the WS has made it quite clear that you are not the kind of listener it is seeking. Insomniacs who listen to FM? Or owners of a DRM receiver (which, incidentally, still does not exist)? Now that's a different story (John Figliozzi, swprograms via DXLD) ** U K. I'm unclear if this might be a schedule change or not, but I was listening to the BBC on 12095 up until 2100 and heard it go off. I then left the house and came back in at 2135 and found the BBC back on the frequency in English. I looked through the schedule info and did not find anything listed for 12095 past 2100. Did I miss something in the skeds? (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, USA, March 27, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) The current VT schedule sent out some weeks ago by Alokesh Gupta has: 12095 1900-2100 via Ascension 250 kW 114 deg to S. Africa and then 2100-2300 via Rampisham 500kW 180 deg to W. Europe. 73 (Noel R. Green, ibid.) According to the new A06 charts on the BBCWS website 12095 is scheduled as follows: 1400-1900 to Europe (via UK) 1900-2100 to Southern Africa (via Ascension) 2100-2300 to W & C Africa (via UK) (Dave Kenny, UK, ibid.) 12095 0400-0700 28N,29,30SW,40W WOF 250 78 G BBC MER 12095 0600-0700 28,29S,38E,39 WOF 250 140 G BBC MER 12095 1300-1900 28,29S,38E,39 WOF 250 140 G BBC MER 12095 1600-1800 28N,29,30SW,40W WOF 250 78 G BBC MER 12095 1900-2100 52,53W,57N ASC 250 114 G BBC MER 12095 2100-2300 27SE,28W,37 RMP 500 180 G BBC MER (via Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) See also FALKLAND ISLANDS [non] ** U K [and non]. Articles on Woofferton - Ancient and Modern with several pictures and Memories of BBC Kranji Singapore, both by Richard Buckby, have recently been added to the www.bbceng.info site: http://www.bbceng.info/Operations/transmitter_ops/Reminiscences/Woofferton/Woofferton_2.htm http://www.bbceng.info/Operations/transmitter_ops/Reminiscences/Kranji/Kranji.htm (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth Garden City, UK, March 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. A PUBLIC DIPLOMACY COUNCIL COMMENTARY --- Is the US about to silence its own radio voice in English? Incredibly, it is. Unless Congress or the Administration reverse course, in most of the world the English service of the Voice of America will be off the air forever this October. The sole survivor would be a few hours of Africa-focused news in English for that continent. This is truly unthinkable, in the view of many inside and outside of government, because English is: … The universal language of international politics, trade, entertainment and the Internet, spoken by more than a billion people … The primary tongue of the world’s only superpower and largest predominantly English-speaking country; … The language of choice for new around-the-clock services of Al Jazeera, Russia and China, as even Iran ramps up its English broadcasts to the world. At a recent panel of the Davos World Economic Forum in Switzerland, the presidents of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq and the Queen of Jordan engaged in a discussion about change and challenge in each of their countries. To no one’s surprise, the leaders of four countries pivotal in the anti-terrorism struggle of ideas were conversing in English. The Voice of America is the nation’s official overseas network, the largest civilian publicly funded U.S. multimedia outlet overseas, with an audience of more than 100,000,000 listeners, TV viewers and Internet users each week. About one out of six listens in English. The Wall Street Journal quotes former VOA directors as being ``shocked``, ``horrified`` and ``appalled`` at a budget-driven decision to silence ``an invaluable national strategic asset: America’s ability to communicate globally (in its own language) about its culture, values and foreign policy.`` The members of the Public Diplomacy Council strongly agree. The Council consists of more than 70 veteran professionals and scholars who advocate strengthening the nation’s overseas information, cultural and educational exchange programs. Most have served abroad. Like millions around the world, Council members have often depended on VOA hourly newscasts and indepth analysis as their daily window on America and the world. The Broadcasting Board of Governors that oversees VOA and other U.S. international broadcasters says that this decision to virtually abolish English and eliminate entirely five other Voice languages --- Turkish, Thai, Georgian, Greek and Croatian --- is painful but essential. The Board maintains that resources should be redirected toward Arab and predominantly Muslim countries to fight the war on terror and that short wave is used by fewer and fewer people in a digital age. Further, specialists in public diplomacy can hardly believe that cutting off VOA radio and television in Turkey is consistent with the goal of winning the war on terror, despite expansions in Arabic, Persian, Urdu to Pakistan and the Afghan languages. Turkey is a vital strategic bridge between the Islamic world and Europe, essential to support stability in Iraq if that nation descends into a sectarian civil war. The planned disappearance of English to China is equally baffling. There are more people studying English in China than there are speakers of English in all of North America. Today, VOA is the only U.S. publicly funded overseas network broadcast in English, and our only unjammed American broadcast to the world’s most populous nation. But aside from simplified Special English transmissions to the PRC, VOA’s present nine hours daily of English to China will disappear next year unless wiser heads prevail. Slated to disappear as well are VOA’s three and a half hour daily Russian radio broadcasts, as Vladimir Putin continues to restrict foreign relays of radio and TV into Russia and coaches his Central Asian neighbors to do the same. VOA Russian will remain only on television, and hence always vulnerable to Kremlin interdiction. We are convinced that it is a strategic imperative to preserve the radio base for all these transmissions --- English and the foreign languages --- if VOA is to continue to serve the nation as it has so well for the past 64 years. But as VOA reallocates talent and resources to different audiences, television and Internet to keep pace with changes in global media habits, it must retain a central informational news and current affairs core based on the highest standards of accuracy and objectivity and reflecting, as they always have, our country in its noisy and cantankerous diversity. Based on our Council’s analysis, a reallocated or supplemental funding of some $23 million would maintain VOA worldwide English to all areas of the world and make its strategic languages viable, including the threatened Russian and Turkish. That is only about three percent of the entire international broadcasting budget request for fiscal 2007. And it would make the Voice whole and hale once again. We know that in today’s world untold millions surf the Internet, in English. They include those influential, university-educated listeners to VOA English curious about American economics, business, politics, science and culture. Elimination of VOA English broadcasts on four of five continents amounts is an abdication of a vital public diplomacy responsibility facing a cacophony of media voices. The world’s listeners, TV viewers and Internet users would have no choice except to hear about us in our own language from the Al Jazeeras, Radio Beijings, and Radio Russias of the world. We cannot be ready to let that happen. Let our Voice continue to be heard (PDC via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Found VOA English on 12150, March 27 at 1503 with news; 1505 Beatles` ``Help``, presumably Border Crossings. Moderate flutter, so suspect transpolar: yes, it`s Sri Lanka site, 356 degrees aimed close to us (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. It happened last year too during the Week of Confusion: collision at 2200-2230 on 11895 between NHK Warido in Japanese via French Guiana, and VOA in Kriyol via Greenville, // 13725 in the clear. This is because Haiti, like USA, waits another week to go on DST, when this broadcast should push up to 2100-2130 and it will no longer conflict, if they remember to make that shift. But shouldn`t something else be done in the meantime? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. Radio Liberation (Radio Osvobozdeniye), posteriormente Radio Liberty (Radio Svoboda) En http://www.portalmundos.com/mundoradio/desaparecido/radioliberty.htm se habla del año de 1955 como si fuera el año de arranque de la radio. Debe ser un malentendido, porque fue en marzo de 1953, justo después de la muerte de Stalin, cuando Radio Osvodozdeniye empezó a transmitir en 7130 y 6175 kHz, ambas frecuencias con 10 kW, desde el sur de Alemania. Para un radioaficionado sueco, como el que esto escribe, la fecha no se le olvida tan fácilmente. Con el inicio de sus transmisiones y con la consiguiente interferencia intencional soviética se tapó la señal de la Dux Radio Stockholm Tanger, empresa comercial sueca, que se valía de las antenas de Radio Africa Tánger, en 7126 kHz, para sus populares emisiones comerciales dos veces a la semana. (En Suecia estaba vedada la radio comercial). Mi tarjeta QSL del año 1955 fue enviada desde el ACLB, o sea el American Committee for Liberation from Bolshevism, Inc., sito en Lilienthalstrasse 2, en Munich. Por el mapa del anverso, con la Europa del Este tapada por alambres de púa, se ve que las emisiones emanaban desde Alemania y en un gran número de frecuencias, todas interferidas por los soviéticos, a saber 3990, 6055, 6175, 7130, 7225, 9565, 9585, 9765, 11935, 11935, 11780, 11965, 15225 y 15430. Sobre la nefasta interferencia intencional, el jamming, que por poco mató la onda corta (cfr. la DRM de ahora), escasean los comentarios. Había que vivir la época para entender que se trataba de "una guerra de las ondas" que de "fría" en realidad tenía muy poco. No se pierdan la lectura de los comentarios en http://www.portalmundos.com/mundoforo/viewtopic.php?t=795 (Henrik Klemetz, Suecia, condig list via DXLD) ** U S A. A06 U.S. Private SW Broadcast Schedules. Hi Glenn: The above has been posted this afternoon (Mar. 28) on the FCC-IB Web site. Regards from (Thomas Moyer, Bowmanville, Ont. Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: http://www.fcc.gov/ib/sand/neg/hf_web/A06FCC01.TXT A set of new call letters grabbed our attention as we scanned thru the listings, KTMI. That`s the new station planned in Oregon by Transformation Media International, which is supposedly to have a website http://www.transformationmediainternational.com/ but nothing there yet. Appearing in this list does not mean they are on the air, or even close, but they MAY be on the air by October 29: 9820 0700 1100 KTMI 50 309 35 1234567 260306 291006 9845 0200 0400 KTMI 50 130 10 1234567 260306 291006 11570 0100 0500 KTMI 50 70 3 1234567 260306 291006 Previous references to this are in DXLDs: 5-048, 5-052, 5-189 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST 6-053) Googling the full name of TMI is rather unproductive, but I did find this at http://radio.xpam.de/show_broadcas.php?code=TMI --- 9465 TMI 0000 0400 11 TMI 50 110 1234567 010206 260306 D USA FCC 9820 TMI 0700 1100 35 TMI 50 309 1234567 010206 260306 D USA FCC 9845 TMI 0100 0400 10 TMI 50 130 1234567 010206 260306 D USA FCC 11570 TMI 0100 0500 3 TMI 50 70 1234567 010206 260306 D USA FCC Which is almost the identical schedule, plus 9465, as from 1 Feb, so perhaps they were hoping to start up as early as that, but obviously have not. Note that the missing item in the A-06 schedule is for CIRAF zone 11, i.e. CAm/Caribbean, incidentally crossing the US to get there. FCC records show a construction permit was granted on Oct 3, 2005 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WEWN collision with RNZI: see NEW ZEALAND [and non] ** U S A. Checking WRMI 9955 again UT March 27, on my portable in the yard around 0525 could barely detect a carrier, and imagine hearing my own voice; recheck on FRG-7 with longwire around 0700 weak signal in Spanish, seemingly R. República, no jamming (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. CVC, Voz Cristã on new 15340 in Portuguese before and after 2200 March 27, scheduled 17-24. Ex-15485, which clashed with something in the FE in B-05, not to mention Greece via Delano until 2200, which also moved, to 17705. Perhaps that will leave 15476 relatively clear between 19 and 21 in case LRA-36 reactivate (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. Mrs. DGS was preaching for a change, March 28 at 0650 on 6090 Anguilla; wonder if their player of old DGS recordings broke down? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. KCKN 1020 kHz Roswell, NM Maintenance Test Date(s): April 3, 2006 (Test starts late Sunday night, April 2nd) Time: Midnight to 02:00 AM MDT (0600-0800 UTC) Modes of Operation: 10 KW, Non-Directional Programming: Morse Code ID's, Sweep Tones, Voice ID. Classic Country Music Notes: Test will consist of a one minute audio CD prepared by the BTC. CD contains Morse Code ID's, phonetic voice ID's, various NRC Sweep Tones, etc. Station will also run their extensive collection of classic country music. Sweep tones and codes will be inserted in local breaks (2-3 minutes in length). These breaks occur at :15, :30, and :40 roughly each hour. Other times programming will consist of classic country music format. Station is doing maintenance work on their audio chain during this period. Reception reports are desired via e-mail or US Mail. Station would prefer to receive audio CD's (1st choice) or Cassettes. If sending report on e-mail, station prefers MP3 format. kckn @ swwmail.net Please put "KCKN DX Test" in the subject line. Snail mail at KCKN PO Box 220, Roswell, NM 88202-0220. ATTN: Mr. Don Niccum Be sure to include a business sized SASE. Don, Jerry, and the whole staff at KCKN are very DX-Friendly, with some of them being members of the National Radio Club. We're very grateful for this rare test from the "Land of Enchantment"! (Les Rayburn, N1LF, NRC/IRCA Broadcast Test Coordinator, Please call anytime 24/7 if your transmitter will be off the air for maintenance. 253-4867, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Normally runs 50 kW day and night, but as shown in the coverage map recently discussed, direxional NW/SE. Is that 10 kW correct? (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) Hi Glenn, The 10 kW is correct but with a twist; since we are going to tie this into doing some phasor maintenance on both the day and night phasors, we'll be running non directional. The coils have years of microscopic New Mexico gritty grime on them. This should present an opportunity for folks in your neck of the woods to snag it. We'll probably be on non-d most of the night but just the first couple hours with steady audio. Thanks (Jerry Kiefer, KCKN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. More on KCLW 900 Hamilton TX: a 3-year old story: Press Release 16 February 2003 KCLW Featured Cover Story in Houston Chronicle's Texas Magazine http://users.htcomp.net/kclw/texasmag.html (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) Even then they were trying to make a big deal of being on a ``clear channel``, 900 kHz. Trouble is, it is not cleared FOR KCLW, but BY KCLW, for XEW, the primary station on the frequency (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Pleased to note that ``The Organ Loft`` has been restored to a regular weekly hour-long slot on KING.org, UT Mondays 0600-0700 (but from next week 0500-0600). March 27 was a tribute to E. Power Biggs on his 100th birthday. The playlist does not mention any program name, just a string of organ works; some other weeks it has not been strictly organ, with choral music, and this week included some pedal harpsichord which EPB also played (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. AIR AMERICA GETS NEW HOME ON RADIO DIAL IN VALLEY Mar. 28, 2006 12:00 AM http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0328B1-talker0328.html The liberal-talk network will debut Monday on KPHX-AM (1480). Nova M Radio, a company headed by Valley radio personality Mike Newcomb and Air America founders Sheldon and Anita Drobny, will lease the radio station. Newcomb's nationally syndicated show will air from 6 to 9 a.m., followed by Air America programming. Air America previously was heard on KXXT-AM (1010), but the station changed ownership and switched formats this month. "There was a palpable sense of loss in the community," said Newcomb, who takes over as general manager at KPHX. "To pull this off is a great victory." - Randy Cordova (via Kevin Redding, March 28, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. THE RISE & FALL OF RUSH LIMBAUGH By Brian Wilson Sunday, March 19th, 2006 at 8:48 am Wanted: 600 Conservative Radio Talk Show Hosts to re-place nationally syndicated talk personality. Contact your local Rush Limbaugh affiliate. It wasn't a blip on the radar outside of Baltimore - but it sure got everybody's attention in the radio biz: big, popular talk radio station - WBAL - dropping the Rush Limbaugh Show. Up until Monday (3/13) when the news broke, making such a move was tantamount to ratings suicide. But BAL's move - the product of "extensive station research" (and an apparently hefty increase in the affiliate fee from Premier, Limbaugh's syndicator) - pulled back the curtain on what many talk programmers across the country have been whispering: El Rushbo is losing it. According to Arbitron, which rates radio stations, Limbaugh's audience share on WBAL "dropped 27 percent in the Fall 2005 ratings compared to Fall 2004". In radio ratings, 27% is a BIG number. This doesn't necessarily represent a trend. At some stations - including mine - Rush's numbers remain fine. But a 27% erosion over a year is a sign of serious trouble. When it's a nationally syndicated show, it's gets programmers' attention pronto. In addition, WBAL's own research told them their audience wanted a focus on local issues with local hosts. Unsurprising but unreported: the ever-present need to generate more and more revenue, especially among the multi-station owners like publicly traded Infinity (one of my former employers) and Clear Channel (my current employer). The pressure to exceed quota is staggering; the search for innovative ways to produce NTR (Non- Traditional Revenue) is relentless. Cost-cutting measures are non-stop ad ridiculum. Ratings, Revenue, Relevance Rush made his mark as an entertainer in what had been a ratings loser format. His show is rarely "entertaining" anymore. As a GOP/Bush ideologue and apologist, he no longer entertains with "Updates" and satirical songs. His show has devolved into a 3 hour rant against anything that isn't "conservative", "Republican" or "pro-Bush". Some still think it's the best it's ever been. Others listen for lack of any suitable alternative. But when the Ratings "domino" falls, disaster follows. In today's market, radio management will not stay with a ratings loser one nanosecond longer than contractually necessary. "All politics is local" and so is Talk radio. Rush and his acolytes were fine for awhile. But after 20 years, the audience is way more savvy. It is human nature to be more concerned about what's going on in your state than Washington, your town than your state, your neighborhood than your town. When a station can address your state, town and neighborhood's issues just reasonably well - and still keep you posted on national and international issues - you will very likely listen there instead of listening (again and again and again) to how "right" Rush is on everything and how "you people" are so woefully uninformed. While syndicated programming is "cheap" on the surface (no employee, FICA, fringe benefits, vacations), it gets expensive. In Rush's case, the affiliation fees have grown exponentially. The theory was that raising the cost to the smaller stations that carried Rush in the early days would force them to drop the show and free the syndicator to move the bigger, more powerful stations which now saw the advantage and value of Limbaugh. Now, even the big guys like WBAL are finding the costs prohibitive when compared to falling ratings and the subsequent inability to sell the available time at a rate that turns a profit. Plus, along with the up-front costs, Premier and other syndicators take a certain number of available minutes - anywhere from 2 to 8 or more per hour - to fill with their own sponsors. Multiplied by 3 hours per day, 5 days a week, which amounts to a considerable amount of "inventory" the station can't sell itself. Do the math: increased cost, falling ratings, lower ad rates, fewer ads to sell = Bye Rush. Today's Talk radio audience is demanding a lot more than it can get from the Rush or most any syndicated show. Listeners want to know what their City Council and Mayor are up to now. What's that smoke in the sky over the Wal-Mart? Why did they cancel the Christmas parade? What about that teacher with that student that was on TV last night? Those are the issues more and more relevant to the audience than who outed Valarie Plame or what skullduggery Karl Rove is planning now. Leno's Man on the Street can't identify a picture of Dick Cheney! Yes, what happens in Washington is important - but with cable TV, the Internet and the plethora of talk programs from any source in any given market, shows like Limbaugh, Hannity et al, while informative, are becoming less and less relevant as audiences become more and more focused on local issues - which only receive the attention they require locally. It won't happen tomorrow - but look for more and more stations to start following WBAL's lead. (Source? some blog? via Rick Shaftan, NJ, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** UZBEKISTAN. Hi Glenn, Checked Radio Tashkent website today, and the program in English is being streamed on the first audio channel. Best Regards (Christopher Lewis, England, March 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE. Radio Zimbabwe: ZBC, Gweru, currently being heard on both 3306 & harmonic 6612 this evening, 27 Mar. at 1730. Heard these frequencies yesterday 26 Mar. and have checked out the other reported logged harmonic of 6688 and there is nothing here this evening. Guess that the ZBC Gweru transmitter has both a harmonic fault and 'human tuning' error one (David Pringle-Wood, Harare, Zimbabwe, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Regarding Zimbabwe's reported frequency hopping, I caught them on 6613 on March 24 at 0115z. I haven't heard the (presumed) fundamental in months (Jerry Lenamon, Waco, Texas, R8B with 60 foot sloper, ibid.) ZBC Zimbabwe: 6688, 3/25, 2240+ Pop and reggae songs. I had it on for background music for more than an hour. Mostly music early on, but then went into some talk programming later. I was hoping for Sudan or Somalia, but Ed Rausch got the ZBC ID later on (Thanks, Ed!). On 3/26, they were back to 6612 kHz (Andrew Yoder, PA, HCDX via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Leyendo las informaciones del colega Glen[n] Hauser para Marzo puedo leer que dice que ha sido reactivada la onda corta mexicana en 4810 kHz, pero hoy Lunes a las 2040 UT estoy escuchando un fuerte jamming estilo motor que elimina cualquier intento de radiodifusión. ¿Que pasa? será que a estos señores les va a dar ahora ahora por bloquear las señales radiales que salgan de Mexico --- la verdad es que no entiendo. Alguien mas escucha este jamming? Atte: (José Elías Díaz Gómez, Venezuela, March 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Saludos JE, 2040 es muy temprano para Mexico en 60m. Que pasa de noche? Sabemos que el transmisor de XERTA cuenta con muchos problemas de sonido. 73, (Glenn to JEDG, via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 5904.76, 1045-1052/1100-1110, March 28, Spanish, Catholic programme. Interview. Perhaps, Radio Virgen de Remedios, Tupiza, BOL in a new frequency. 33433 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, HCDX via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 13865, RADIO HANOI, HANOI, VIETNAM, 0945 to 1000 EST, 27/03/06. ID at 0945 as "Radio Saigon" or so it sounded. Followed by Vietnam music and at 0952, the ID given as "WWW.RADIOHANOI.COM"; more music but sounded western style. Then at 0955 ID as "Radio Hanoi" Poor modulation, perhaps due to polar flutter???? Weak signal S5 peaks (DXer: Willis, K4APE, Monk, QTH: Old Fort, TN, Antenna: 40 meter dipole, RCVR: Drake R-4C, ABDX via DXLD) Willis, there is no Radio Hanoi, no Radio Saigon, and no such website; just Voice of Vietnam. Possibly a pirate playing around, known to use this frequency range. Were they speaking English? Iceland also uses 13865, nominally 1410-1440 UT tho it could run later. Let`s check this out further. 73, (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) Glenn, Like Fox news, "I report -- you decide", I know the Viet language when I hear it. (This comes from far too many memories from the past). I had a signal on 13865 that had flutter and a lot of QSB in it. The ID, "Radio Saigon" caught my ear. The address on the web was given as I wrote it. Next there was a "Radio Hanoi" ID followed by rap sounding 'singing' with a western beat, but in Viet. They switched back and forth between Radio Saigon and Radio Hanoi ID's. Pirate?? Perhaps, don't know. Iceland, no. I am 98% sure this wasn't Iceland. Been there while in the navy. I know that Saigon is no longer Saigon, it's Ho-Chen-men City or something like that. It's now named after some communist. So Glenn, I don't know. As for checking this out tomorrow, maybe, but I am hardly ever up at this time of the day. This was just fluke for today. I never go to bed before 0600 EST (Willis Monk, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I checked 13865 March 28 at 1415 UT, only a very weak signal, but sounded Scandinavian, and I assume Iceland as scheduled. Did not go off at 1440, but heard past 1449 when there was a bit of music interrupting the talk. However, on 13870 was Radio Fardá, a name which I suppose could be mistaken for ``Hanoi`` or ``Saigon`` with poor reception, if there is any chance that was the frequency instead. This is via Sri Lanka at 14-17. 73, (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Hi, Glen, I found your address in LeRoy`s address book and thought I would let you know. He died very peacefully and suddenly at home on Valentines day. Probably a heart attack. He loved his radios and hobbies. Today I began cleaning out some of his bookshelves and was astonished at how much radio magazines, book and items he had collected. Just thought I'd let you know. He was such a fan of your show (Carol Long, Edmond OK, March 27) Carol, I am so sad to hear this. I had been wondering how he was doing since I had not heard from him in a long time, tho he has been on my mailing list. My deepest condolences. Glenn Hauser (to Carol) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ CENTRAL ILLINOIS TV HISTORY SITE A newly revamped site, courtesy of Doug Quick, the WICD ch. 15 Champaign, Illinois weatherman: http://www.dougquick.com (Curits Sadowksi, IL, WTFDA via DXLD) Lotsa interesting stuff there, including annotated program schedules from 1954 (gh, DXLD) DX PODCAST It appears as if the server on which the DX Podcast is being housed is temporarily down. I have tried to trace a route to it and it fails in Saint John, several hops before it gets to my box. Must be a network problem with Bell/Aliant. I received an email from a VE3 a few minutes ago but inadvertently trashed it before I could reply, but thanks to whomever it was who alerted me to the server problem. In the meantime, the DX Podcast can be downloaded from the following back-up source: http://www.am-dx.com/dxpodcast.htm Thanks! [slightly later:] The network seems to have repaired itself. We're up to 32 subscribers! Thanks to everyone. http://feeds.feedburner.com/TheDxPodcast (Brent Taylor, VE1JH Doaktown, NB March 26, ODXA via DXLD) WORLD OF CLOX / HOROLOGY ++++++++++++++++++++++++ GMT BEING SURRENDERED TO EUROPE! Folks, Any one know more about this:- http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200506/ldbills/048/2006048.htm The House of Lords, normally our last line of defence, are proposing this: Scotland (who would be the biggest opponent), Wales and N Ireland can opt out leaving England to fall in line with Europe. We could have two time zones on this little island soon! Don't the people get a say on this? Whatever happened to democracy. I'm phoning my MP Monday morning to find out why this is being kept quiet. You can stick GMT +2 hours in the summer as far as I'm concerned! (Colin Knight, March 26, Monitoring Monthly yg via DXLD) Lord Sainsbury, for the Government, says he is against the proposal: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4834108.stm (Mike Barraclough, ibid.) Isn't this a "hardy perennial"? My model is that it's always being proposed by somebody. I'm sure there's been publicity about the latest campaign but it comes up so often that it gets boring after a while. Note that the UK has already had a "summer time all year" experiment (1968-1971), and double summer time was in force for a while during and just after the 2nd World War. Chances are it will happen sooner or later. The main thing likely to go wrong is that they won't give enough notice to enable the timezone tables in computer systems to be updated to cope with the changes automatically. This will be a pain. I don't see why we can't just get up earlier and go to bed earlier. What does it matter what the clocks say? (Martyn M1MAJ Johnson, ibid.) I have just spoken with my MP. He says the Lords did pass it on Friday, but the government threw it out later the same day, so the government got it right for once --- and probably the only thing they'll get right this year! Well, at least I can continue to cut my grass early in the summer mornings now --- phew! (Colin Knight, ibid.) Completely agree - just stick to UTC throughout. That's certainly what I do on cameras etc. even when travelling abroad. All my images are timestamped in UTC. 73, (David Taylor, GM8ARV, ibid.) Really needs to be called GMT - we have given far too much away already. This GMT+1 [z+1] is a right pain. Went upstairs at 0510 this morning to download the 0400z sending of M10 and it was still being sent. Details: 3522//4485kHz 0400z 27/03 555 517 47 20 676 41 31 0 0 0 0415z for those interested in Number Stations. Mind you I'll get to catch the 0330z sending live tomorrow and Thursday! Just leave it at GMT, forget the +1 it solves nothing, and stop calling it UTC. 73 (Paul G7VAK, Marsh - M0YET, ibid.) Risking propagating this twice annual argument, I agree with Martyn and the two Pauls. Keep GMT, Greenwich Mean Time, and leave the clocks on it. Time, as recorded by a clock, is a human invention, and man cannot alter the orbit of the earth around the sun by altering the angular position of a sliver of metal around the circumference of a circle. Many man-hours are wasted every year by the tedious re-setting of clocks and watches, except in this household, where the main time- pieces are tuned to the Rugby time constant. GMT is supposed to be based on when the sun is at its zenith, that moment being called noon, or mid-day. Messing around with a simple mechanical calculator cannot create more hours of daylight, any more than it can affect the duration of the lack of light. Leave the clocks on GMT and adjust your lifestyle to suit the rotation of the earth, which has been here a lot longer than us, and if we don't do something about it, NOW, the earth will still be here when we have succeeded in destroying ourselves. Who's next on the soapbox? Support Prostate Cancer research. With regards, (Eric, m3xwg, Warrington, Cheshire, England, ibid.) And go to sleep when the Sun goes down?????????? KW (Ken Ward, ibid.) That's OK for Windows, but not good enough for Unix systems. These handle time correctly (IMHO) by running the internal clock in UTC whenever and wherever you are, and converting to local time for human presentation. This means that different users on the same system can run in different timezones if they wish. However it does mean that you need a table giving conversions going all the way back to the epoch (1970) as well as future changes in so far as they are known. For example, if you do a directory listing, the tables need to be consulted to convert the UTC timestamps on the files to the local time that was in force at the time, and if you schedule a job to start in the future, the local time you give needs to be converted to UTC. Lots of other systems out in the Real World need to be programmed in advance to deal with clock changes, not to mention printing of diaries, calendars etc. Last minute changes by Act of Parliament or Order in Council are not a good idea (Martyn Johnson, ibid.) Martyn, Windows also runs internally in UTC, and shows the time to the user based on the presentation settings from Control Panel. The difference, from what you are saying, is simply that Windows has a per-computer presentation setting, and Unix a per-user setting. [There is a difference in what time is stored in the BIOS real-time clock]. By the way, for anyone interested in keeping the time precisely on their PC, there is an Internet standard protocol which you can use called NTP. It runs on many systems including Windows, Linux and Unix. Adding a simple, low-cost GPS device, you can get down to accuracies of a few microseconds with a little home-construction and a trash-bin PC. http://www.david-taylor.myby.co.uk/mrtg/daily_ntp.html http://www.david-taylor.myby.co.uk/ntp/FreeBSD-GPS-PPS.htm 73, (David J. Taylor, ibid.) http://www.satsignal.net POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ MANASSAS CITY BPL Follow up to my post of a few weeks ago. Definitely was BPL QRM I was hearing in Manassas City. Confirmed by listening to samples at http://www.ve3hls.com/noise/utilities.html Also, noticed the past several days, 2 cars parked on the side of Grant Ave in Manassas City. 2 men, tables with receiving equipment and directional antenna. Last Thursday a power company truck was also present. BPL QRM testing? I have not had a chance to stop and talk to them as it is on the opposite side of the street from the way I am traveling. Also, there is no parking. The men have their cars parked in the bike lane with traffic cones around the cars. Anyone have info on this setup? 73, (Kraig Krist, KG4LAC, Manassas, VA, March 27, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) DIGITAL BROADCASTING ++++++++++++++++++++ DRM: mentioned in this issue above under: NETHERLANDS; UK; USA SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HD RADIO UPDATE An HD Radio listener in the San Diego area reports that 570-KLAC and 740-KBRT are both running IBOC now. In San Diego, the report indicates that only one station, KPBS-FM, is encoding a second audio stream (HD- 2), and their "Groove Salad" format is also available on the Internet via kpbs.org. For a treasure trove of HD Radio (IBOC) information directly from the FCC, use the URL below: http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/digital/ "The FCC will soon act on the final digital authorization for terrestrial radio and the final rules will include provisions for AM nighttime digital broadcasting and multicasting...." http://www.rwonline.com/dailynews/one.php?id=8702 (CGC Communicator March 26 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ A CURIOUS PRODUCT - THE ROKU SOUNDBRIDGE Competition for the ears of America is increasing, and the Roku SoundBridge fills an important gap. The SoundBridge plays PC or Mac digital music files anywhere in the house.... and tunes into a variety of Internet Radio stations even with your computer turned off. See: http://www.rokulabs.com/products/soundbridge/index.php (CGC Communicator March 26 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) SOME MINI FM TRANSMITTERS INCLUDE POWER ADJUSTMENT POTS Some miniature FM transmitters, like the one shown at the URL below, are perhaps Part 15 compliant when they leave the factory, but a power adjustment potentiometer conveniently located inside the unit allows end users to crank up the power. If the resultant field strength then exceeds the level allowed by FCC Part 15 rules - as implied by the web posting below - the manufacturer could be violating the spirit and intent of the Commission's rules. Do you know of other mini-FM transmitters with convenient power adjustments inside, or companies that sell, for example, external antennas to increase the range of mini FM transmitters beyond the level allowed by FCC Part 15 rules? If so, send us the specific web addresses for forwarding to the Commission. It would also be helpful if a broadcast lab (or the FCC) spot checked various XM and Sirius transmitters for Part 15 compliance (not that we believe they are non-compliant, but they are implicated in many transient interference cases). Tests are particularly needed on the many add-on transmitters that are sold for use on iPods. A letter received by the CGC Communicator indicates that some of these devices radiate well beyond Part 15 specs. Here, then, is the web site claiming to show how to crank up the power on one popular mini FM transmitter: http://www.xmfan.com/viewtopic.php?t=3257&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 BUYING AN FM TRANSMITTER IS TOO EASY A prospective pirate operator might ask, "Why bother to crank up the power on a Part 15 compliant transmitter if I can buy a high powered transmitter directly off the Internet?" Turns out that high powered (non Part 15 compliant) transmitters are available in many places, including from Hobbytron.com at the first URL below. Hobbytron will apparently sell you a 50 watt FM transmitter today if you sign a disclaimer indemnifying "Gibson Tech Ed, Inc. or HobbyTron.com," and fax the document back to them (see the second URL below). The disclaimer makes fascinating reading. Fortunately, the FCC is not sound asleep on pirate broadcasting; the next story in this newsletter shows a $14,000 fine that was recently affirmed against Gibson Tech Ed, Inc. for marketing two models of unauthorized FM broadcast transmitters. Hopefully the Commission will stem the tide on pirate transmitters before the FM band becomes like the 11-meter CB service, and the FCC loses control. http://www.hobbytron.com/FMTransmitter.html http://www.hobbytron.net/forms/VeronicaFMForm.doc FCC FORFEITURE WATCH $14,000 fine affirmed against Gibson Tech Ed, Inc. for marketing two models of unauthorized FM broadcast transmitters. http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-606A1.doc (CGC Communicator March 26 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ ARNIE CORO`S EXCLUSIVE AND NOT COPYRIGHTED HF PROPAGATION UPDATE AND FORECAST. Sunspot count once again ZERO, and no coronal holes in sight, so expect very low ionospheric absorption during next three days. Solar flux hitting bottom low figures of around 75 units. And now just before going QRT here is Arnie Coro`s exclusive and not copyrighted HF propagation update and forecast. Solar activity is very low, and the geomagnetic field is expected to remain quiet for several days in a row; solar flux hovering at bottom low levels of 75 units and the A index will also be very low during the next few days helping low band propagation a lot, so AM medium wave band and Long Wave AM broadcast band DXers are going to be able to pick up some very nice DX, and the same holds for 160 meters and 80 meters band amateur operators (Arnie Coro, Radio Havana Cuba, Havana, Cuba, DXers Unlimited March 28 via ODXA via DXLD) Geomagnetic activity ranged from quiet to active levels at middle latitudes, while quiet to major storm levels were observed at high latitudes. Solar wind speed ranged from a high of about 725 km/s early on 20 March to a low of near 375 km/s early on 26 March. The period began with the solar wind speed around 700 km/s as a coronal hole high speed stream was moving out of a geoeffective position. The IMF Bz fluctuated between +/- 8 nT through late on 20 March, while the geomagnetic field responded with active to major storm levels at high levels through late on 21 March. During this period, middle latitudes experienced unsettled to active conditions. Thereafter, and through the balance of the summary period, wind speed slowly decayed and ended the period near 375 km/s, while the IMF Bz did not vary much beyond +/- 5 nT. As a result, the geomagnetic field was at mostly quiet to unsettled levels at all latitudes. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 29 MARCH - 24 APRIL 2006 Solar activity is expected to be at very low to low levels. 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 16 – 22 April. The geomagnetic field is expected to be at quiet to unsettled levels for the majority of the period. From 14 – 16 April, active to minor storm conditions are expected due to effects from a recurrent coronal hole wind stream. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2006 Mar 28 2054 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 Mar 28 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2006 Mar 29 75 5 2 2006 Mar 30 75 5 2 2006 Mar 31 75 5 2 2006 Apr 01 75 5 2 2006 Apr 02 75 8 3 2006 Apr 03 75 10 3 2006 Apr 04 75 5 2 2006 Apr 05 75 5 2 2006 Apr 06 75 12 3 2006 Apr 07 75 12 3 2006 Apr 08 75 5 2 2006 Apr 09 80 5 2 2006 Apr 10 80 5 2 2006 Apr 11 80 8 3 2006 Apr 12 80 5 2 2006 Apr 13 80 5 2 2006 Apr 14 80 20 4 2006 Apr 15 80 20 4 2006 Apr 16 80 15 3 2006 Apr 17 80 12 3 2006 Apr 18 80 10 3 2006 Apr 19 80 5 2 2006 Apr 20 75 5 2 2006 Apr 21 75 7 2 2006 Apr 22 75 7 2 2006 Apr 23 75 7 2 2006 Apr 24 75 10 3 (http://wwws.sec.noaa.gov/radio via WORLD OF RADIO 1310, DXLD) ###