DX LISTENING DIGEST 6-061, April 13, 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 SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO Extra 66: Fri 2030 WWCR 15825 Sat 0400 WRMI 9955 Sat 0800 WRN DRM 13865 Bulgaria Sat 1430 WRMI 7385 Sat 1600 WWCR 12160 Sun 0230 WWCR 5070 Sun 0300 WBCQ 9330-CLSB Sun 0530 WRMI 9955 Sun 0630 WWCR 3215 Latest edition of the above: http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html For 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 April 11: http://worldofradio.com/dxpgms.html ** AFGHANISTAN. R. Solh, 9345, 1638 23 March, Bagar talk, music, ID in vernacular, SINPO 24442 (Zdenek Elias, Czech Republic, April World DX Club Contact via DXLD) Bagar? Meaning Baghram? (gh, DXLD) ** ANTARCTICA. ANTÁRTIDA, 15476, LRA 36, Radio Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel. Como esta emisora lleva meses fuera del aire, y no respondían a los mails enviados a su dirección de correo electrónico lra36 @ infovia.com.ar he contactado con el colega argentino Gabriel Iván Barrera, para que, si lo consideraba oportuno, se pusiera en contacto con Base Esperanza vía teléfono, para saber lo que ocurría con la emisora. Pues bién, Gabriel Ivan Barrera, amablemente, contactó con el personal de la base y esto es lo que pudo saber con respecto a la emisora: "15476 kHz, LRA36 Radio Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel, de acuerdo a informaciones del Sargento a cargo de la estación, informó que desde hace varias semanas la emisora está inactiva por problemas en las antenas, las que actualmente están siendo solucionados y reparados. La emisora estará en el aire nuevamente a partir del próximo lunes 17 de Abril en su frecuencia habitual de lunes a viernes, de 1800 a 2100 horas." Así, que, buenas noticias con respecto a esta emisora, que, según el Sargento encargado de la misma, volverá de nuevo al aire muy pronto, y muchas gracias al amigo Gabriel Ivan Barrera por su colaboración e información (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, España, April 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Nothing like the original (gh) About LRA36 Antarctic Territory. Yesterday Sunday, I talk with the Sergeant in charge of the LRA36 Radio Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel at Base Esperanza, and he inform me that from already several weeks ago behind that the radio station is inactive on SW for problems with the antennas those that in this moments are repairing. The station will be again on air from next Monday 17th April on the usual frequency of 15476 kHz from Mondays to Fridays at 1800-2100 (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Argentina, wwdxc BC-DX Apr 10, via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. RA programming continues to be all screwed up. When I was updating MONITORING REMINDERS CALENDAR, I found that the times were one hour off as displayed in their too-smart system of local time for places such as Washington DC. And would London be GMT or BST?? Schedules not available in simple, straightforward UT. Even Melbourne time was questionable due to prolonged DST there. Now on Monday, April 10 before and after 1430 UT I am hearing a music- appreciation show about various forms of dance music thru the ages, from waltzes to rags, tangos, best on 9590, // 9625, 7240, 5995. Is there anything remotely similar on their posted schedule? Of course not! Pretending I am in Hawaii, where there is no DST confusion (unless RA thinks there is), at 4:30 am, Big Ideas is supposed to be on RA. Could it be something else taken directly from the Radio National schedule? No, Monday after midnight (really Tuesday) AET, it`s supposed to be Life Matters. Why is it so difficult for a major SW broadcaster just to present its own program schedule accurately and unequivocally? Then on Thursday April 13 I was listening to Rear Vision at 1330 UT on 9580 --- interviewing a number of American academics about the Sunni/Shiite split, not in very great depth; page about this and ondemand: http://www.abc.net.au/rn/rearvision/stories/2006/1609773.htm Ended at 1355, and into a commentary on the renewable energy market in China and Australian involvement in it, on a show called ``Perspective`` which does not appear on RA`s online program schedule! To add injury to insult, it was cut off after 3 minutes as 1358 was the mandatory time for the 9580 transmitter to close and change frequency to somewhere else. Fortunately, I knew I could keep listening by immediately retuning to the weaker 9590 which stayed on the air, and the commentary lasted right up till 1400, but why put listeners thru this? Not all of them will know what to do; and why insult your program providers by 1) not even mentioning them on the schedule, and 2) cutting them off halfway thru? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, the RA sched is quite bad; last year I emailed RA and they sent me a pdf on the full week programming schedule in UTC, but they made their site even better so now I really hate going anywhere near http://www.abc.net.au/ra because as you say Glenn, their system is too smart and as the saying goes, you feed rubbish in, you get rubbish out. Perhaps us listners should petition the site? (Robb Wise, HRi Radio, Tasmania, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA [and non]. HCJB, 15435, April 12 at 1322 in S. Asian language was bothered by QRDRM. That would be Kununurra in Hindi, daily during this quarter hour, and Sines, Portugal, 90 kW, 35 degrees to Europe on 15435-15445 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AZERBAIJAN. Adian Sasi R., 9677, *0600-0630* 18 March, music, OM ID in Azeri, SINPO 33433. Scheduled Wed and Sat only (Michael L. Ford, Staffordshire, World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** BELARUS. R. Belarus, 5970, 0200-0215+ April 8. 0200 IS and multi- lingual ID sequence; 0201 opening English announcements, news. Weak, poor with a lot of adjacent channel splatter. Barely audible on // 7210 (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. CBN Anhanguera, Goiânia, 4915, 0100-0200* April 8, Portuguese talk, mentions of Anhanguera, brief music breaks. Strong, but mixing with a slightly weaker R. Difusora Macapá. Fair on // 11829.94v and weak on // 6080. R. Difusora Macapá, 4915.04, 0200-0215+ April 8, good signal after Anhanguera signs off at 0200. Portuguese talk, Brazilian ballads, ID (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. Canção Nova radio has broadcasted its program Além Fronteiras in Spanish, Portuguese and English. Francisco Candia, Douglas Mello and Antônio Oliveira give information to DXers, read radios reports from listeners and inform about local activities of Canção Nova. The program has a chat channel where listeners have great participation. La Radio Canção Nova transmite su programa "Más allá de las Fronteras" (além Fronteiras) en Español, Portugués e Inglés. Francisco Candia, Douglas Mello y Antônio de Oliveira prestan informaciones a los aficionados de la radio, leen informes de recepción y también informan sobre actividades locales de Canção Nova. El programa tiene un canal de Chat donde los oyentes tienen grande participación. We confirm radio reports on the air and 100% QSL back. Program: Além Fronteiras (Beyond Boundaries) Every Saturday: 2200 to 2300 (GMT), AM 1020 khz- SW 49m 6105 kHz - SW 60m 4825 kHz - SW 31m 9675 kHz (Eduardo de Moura, April 10, dxing.info via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. BRASIL – A Associação Brasileira das Emissoras de Rádio e Televisão – Abert está fazendo lobby para que o programa Voz do Brasil não tenha a sua veiculação obrigatória entre 19h e 20h, no horário oficial de Brasília [22-23 UT except during DST]. A entidade recebeu o apoio do presidente da Câmara dos Deputados, Aldo Rebelo, eleito pelo Partido Comunista do Brasil. Segundo Rebelo, ``hoje os três poderes dispõem de outros meios, como canais de televisão, rádios e jornais`` para transmitirem sua programação. Os donos de emissoras de rádio querem a aprovação de um projeto que flexibilize a emissão da Voz do Brasil. Assim, ele iria ao ar em horário escolhido pela própria emissora, desde que seja entre 19h e 24h. As informações são do site www.sulradio.com.br. Os ouvintes devem estar perguntando: qual é a programação fantástica, excepcional e fora de série que irá substituir a Voz do Brasil? BRASIL – Grandes progressos na Rádio Gazeta, de São Paulo (SP). Após insertir o futebol em sua programação, a emissora voltou a emitir em 31 metros, na freqüência de 9685 kHz. Foi primeiramente captada, neste retorno, pelo Domingos Alfredo Loss, em Colatina (ES), em cinco de abril, por volta de 1300. Também a partir de 10 de abril, a emissora passa a contar com o consagrado apresentador Zé Béttio, entre 5h e 8h. Aos poucos, a Gazeta ``volta a ser uma rádio``, diz Marcos Ribeiro, do site http://www.radiobaseurgente.blogspot.com BRASIL – Estação Cultura é o programa que, há um ano, a Rádio Cultura FM, de São Paulo (SP), leva ao ar nos finais de tarde, de segunda a sexta, às 18h. A jornalista Gioconda Bordon faz um mapa da vida cultural da cidade de São Paulo. As informações são do site http://www.radiobaseurgente.blogspot.com Lembramos que a freqüência de 6170 kHz, em 49 metros, retransmite a Cultura FM em ondas curtas (Célio Romais, Brasil, Panorama, @tividade DX April 10 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 11749.8, R. Marumby, 2326 April 8, hymnlike vocal by soloist followed by animated talk in Portuguese apparently some kind of church service or gospel program past 2330. Weak with very low audio on this frequency but solid on \\ 9665. The 25M frequency isn't often observed here; listed in PWBR but not in WRTH (Bob Hill-MA-USA, DXplorer Apr 8 via BCDX via DXLD) ** BURKINA FASO. R. Burkina, 5030, *0558-0615+ April 8, sign-on with NA, 0600 opening French announcements, 0602 Afro-pops, French talk. Mixing with University Network [Defunct Gene Scott, Costa Rica], both in at equal level (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. RCI Euro service on its only remaining Sackville frequency, 15325, comes in very well here; April 12 at 2040 during the Spotlight show a musical excerpt was identified as a long-lost piece of music by Canadian composer André Mathieu, ``Rhapsodie Romantique``. The trouble is, the music heard was actually something extremely familiar --- it`s Rachmaninoff`s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini! Probably played the wrong cut from the recording without noticing; starts at 9:33 into the file of the RCI program audio is archived here: http://www.rcinet.ca/rci/en/emissions/1440.shtml and here is a MIDI of the Rachmaninoff: http://www.kunstderfuge.com/_/rachmaninov_40093a_rhapsody_on_a_theme_by_paganini_%28nc%29smythe.mid I notified Marc Montgomery about this, but no reply; possibly has fixed the file by now (Glenn Hauser, OK, April 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. CRI via Sackville, 6200 and 6205, 0515-0530+ April 8, slightly distorted weak spurs from 6190 with English news; 6190 slightly distorted (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6205 would be a mix with 6175 Vietnam relay at 15 kHz intervals, but 6200 unaccounted for in this way (gh, DXLD) R. Japan relay on 6110 & CRI on 6190 mixing together on 6270, 0535- 0545+ April 8; weak Sackville spur, both in English, 80 kHz separation (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. 960 CHNS ABANDONS AM FOR THE FM BAND Staff Writer, HalifaxLive.com, Halifax NS, Canada, 12 April 2006 Radio in Halifax is changing and life on the AM dial will never be the same as 960 CHNS is abandoning ship for the more lucrative FM band. CHNS has a long history on the AM band, but reality bites as the vast majority of radio listeners abandoned the AM band several years ago. CHNS will be moving to 89.9 MHz with an effective radiated power of 100,000 watts. During the transition period, the CRTC ruled that the broadcaster will be allowed to simulcast the programming of the new FM station on CHNS for a period of three months following the commencement of operations of their FM station. The format is changing too. With the move to FM, CHNS will dump the stale and long-in-the-tooth oldies format for a more commercial Adult Contemporary music format with a mix of locally relevant programming service that is community-centred and community-driven. With CHNS moving out, Halifax will be left with just two local AM stations clinging for life in a market with very few listeners and slick FM competition and the new 'HOT' Canadian Satellite Radio networks Sirius and XM picking off their listeners on a daily basis. The recently released spring radio ratings show 920 CJCH at the bottom of the heap in the AM market with a market share of 2.7 down from 3.3 in the fall '05 ratings. CFDR AM (780/KIXX) sits at 3.9 down from 4.3 and rounding out the AM ratings, CHNS AM sits in second with a 3.5 down from 3.7. All three AM stations suffered losses over the previous period. The writing appears to be on the wall, the AM dial is on its final legs in Halifax. Rating for the remaining two AM broadcasters in Halifax will likely continue to plummet as CHNS takes a large chunk of the AM audience with them into the future of Halifax radio. http://www.halifaxlive.com/content/view/664/2/ "NOVA SCOTIA'S FIRST RADIO STATION" It was May 12, 1925 when Nova Scotia's first radio station was tuned in by many listeners in the Halifax Dartmouth area. Its beginnings.... Soldier, storyteller, pioneer broadcaster. Bill Borrett originally became interested in radio as a soldier and signal operator in World War I. After the war, he teamed up with Bill Johnson of the Northern Electric Company and others to form the Halifax Radio Listeners Club. The group launched a radio station, CHNS Halifax in 1926, with studios in the Carleton Hotel. The "HNS" part of the call letters stood for Halifax, Nova Scotia. CHNS went into regular operation with a 500 watt transmitter, on a carrier frequency of 930 kilocycles per second 930 kilohertz [sic]. After a year, the station was almost extinct as Bill Johnson sold the equipment to a station in Vancouver. But Senator Bill Bennett stepped in and provided another set of equipment for the radio station. From these humble beginnings, CHNS became a full-time station, which drew on the small communities of Nova Scotia for listeners and talent. Much of the radio station's growth happened in an era where there were limitations on how advertisers could reach their audience. Colonel Borrett took on anything, including hockey games, when the opportunity arose at an unexpected moment. One night, he had to improvise and fill 25-minutes as a hockey team left the arena halfway through a game. CHNS were also pioneers in establishing a radio network. In 1932, Bill Borrett had the honour to speak on behalf of Canada, immediately after King George V instituted the first British Empire Broadcast. It was CHNS that staffed and fed to the network the running account known as the "Moose River Mine Disaster" in which J. Frank Willis became nationally known. Until the CBC established its own station in Halifax (1946), CHNS played a major role in originating CBC programs to the network. Popular among these was "Atlantic Nocturne", a 30-minute Sunday night program featuring readings to organ accompaniment by J. Frank Willis. Col. Borrett, himself, drawing upon Nova Scotia's history, is best remembered for his own program "Tales Told Under the Old Town Clock". The place that Citadel Hill came to occupy among the outstanding attractions of our country was greatly due to Colonel Borrett's restoration efforts. CHNS pioneers associated with Bill Borrett included Arthur Grieg (Chief Engineer, who became Canada's first consulting engineer), Lionel Shatford, Cecil Landry and Gerry Redmond. Colonel Borrett represented the area for several years as a director of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters. Bill Borrett retired from CHNS in 1951. Posthumously, he was named to the CAB Broadcast Hall of Fame in 1986. Source: The History Of Canadian Broadcasting http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/ This station has been logged in the UK (Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) Some History --- doesn`t even mention its SW outlet CHNX (gh, DXLD) ** CHILE [and non]. CVC La Voz, 15525, has some co-channel QRM, almost equal level, about 8 Hz away, at 1321 April 12. Per S. Aoki listings this would be RFA Cambodian via Sri Lanka, 1230-1330 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. Hi Glenn: Sent an E-mail to CRI re A-06 schedule. Here is their reply: "Did you log on to - (our Web Site freq. Page?) The new frequencies started from March 26, 2006." Etc. Etc. There was no indication on the freq. page that the listings were for the Summer season. According to the above, however, the listed frequencies are official for A-06. Cheers from (Thomas Moyer, CA[nada], April 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) CRI A06 schedule now posted at: http://www2.starcat.ne.jp/~ndxc/ (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, April 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. Just watched Frontline on PBS, The Tank Man, an engrossing sesquihour on the Tiananmen massacre, and its broad aftermath. I couldn`t help but quit editing and give it my undivided attention. Must see! Look for a repeat on your PBS station (OETA does so Friday night), or it will also be available in its entirety online from Friday April 14. Plus much additional material already at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tankman/ (Glenn Hauser, OK, April 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [non]. SOUND OF HOPE RADIO NETWORK NOW ON SW 60 HOURS A WEEK The Sound of Hope radio network, which broadcasts programmes into China on shortwave from transmitters in Taiwan, has informed Media Network that its transmissions are now on the air 60 [transmitter] hours a week, and further expansion is planned. The current shortwave schedule is as follows, UT: 2200-2300 on 9635 2200-2400 (Sat/Sun) on 6280 2300-2400 on 7310 1100-1300 on 7280 1300-1400 on 7310 1400-1600 on 9450 1600-1700 on 11765 (Source: Xiaoxu Lin, Executive VP, Sound of Hope) # posted by Andy @ 08:29 UT April 10 (Media Network blog via DXLD) Not to mention the heavily jammed broadcasts above and below the 17 MHz band. Since the Chicom obviously know about them, why pretend they don`t exist? And is the rest of this schedule disinformation? (gh, ibid.) ** COLOMBIA. Hi Glenn, I hear Marfil Estéreo, Pto Lleras (Meta) on 5909.90 at 2230, 11/4 with nice music songs and guitar and harpmusic, full ID in Spanish. SINPO 44333, no QRM. AOR 7030 + MFJ 959B ATU+ MFJ 784B -dsp/Antenna 300 feet longwire (Maurits Van Driessche, from Belgium, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA. Was not my intention to hear Widow Scott's address on how things are going in the ministry she inherited. But looking as I do on weekends for Radio Singapore I found a good signal on 6080 but impossible on // 6150, as Cahuita's Scott site was still on the air after 1200 on this frequency, Sunday April 9; maybe they wanted to make sure that everybody learn what's cooking with DGS ministry (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. Don`t know when they got around to it, but the R. Martí frequency grid has finally been updated for ``verano 2006`` at http://www.martinoticias.com/frequencies.htm Showing Delano and Greenville sites, max 3 SW frequencies at a time, 2 overnight, and 13820 the highest. Program schedule for current week: http://www.martinoticias.com/media/Schedules/rm_sch_spa.html and for a good laugh, the same for the invisible TV Martí: http://www.martinoticias.com/media/Schedules/tv_sch_spa.html (Glenn Hauser, OK, April 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. Re 6-060, Radio Africa --- Tuned in to 15190 kHz just after 1000 UT this morning and could hear US preacher in English underneath China Radio International. At 1011 announcement giving PO Box address and two clear identifications as "Radio Africa Number 2" then into another religious program. This station has probably been off the air for several months - the last confirmed logging in Communication was around May 2005 (Dave Kenny, Caversham, England, April 12, AOR 7030+ 80ft LW, BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** ERITREA [non]. ETHIOPIA [Cland to Eritrea], 9561.22, V. of Democratic Alliance via Gedja at *1500-1521 UT on Apr 4. Talks in listed Tigrinya, with a music break at 1518. VG signal and \\ to 7165.11 kHz, which was fading fast (John Wilkins-CO-USA, DXplorer Apr 4 via BCDX via DXLD) ** EUROPE. Laser Hot Hits has made some frequency changes to avoid interference. It announced moves to 6275 (ex-6285), 7415 (ex-7460) and 9390 (ex-9385). It continues to use 4025 and 6219 (Paul Watson, Radio Without Licence, April World DX Club Contact via DXLD) Its move to 9390 brought a complaint from Scandinavian pirate Radio Spaceshuttle International which has been testing 9395 (alfalima.net, ibid.) All Europe Radio has been heard on 6910. Reports requested to alleuroperadio @ aol.com Thought to come from either the UK or Ireland, using 18 watts (alfalima.net, ibid.) ** FINLAND. In DXLD 5-054: ``English again from YLE! I am hearing a 3- minute summary including weather for Helsinki at 1255-1258* on 15400 and 13715, domestic service relay. Probably M-F only. 15400 has co- channel from NHK in French to Africa via Ascension at 1230, Swahili 1300 (Joe Hanlon, NJ, March 29, WORLD OF RADIO 1310, DX LISTENING DIGEST)`` That was reported on a Wednesday, but it seems he had heard it more than once. I have been wanting to check this out, but it`s a bit early for me and reception has been poor lately. On Tuesday April 11, I monitored 13715, which was better, and 15400 from 1253, but heard only a woman speaking in Finnish with what sounded like a dramatic reading or poetry. 13715 went off abruptly at 1258, but there was no English either on 15400 in the next two minutes. A few years ago YLE Radio Finland officially cancelled all broadcasts in English. What Joe heard was no doubt relayed from some domestic program, and I can`t find anything about English news segments in the just received, thanks John S. Carson, program booklet, also pdf http://www.yle.fi/rfinland/YLE_RFkesa06web.pdf nor elsewhere on the website, which however, being all in Finnish, is difficult for me to navigate. YLE no doubt does not go out of its way to publicize such an English service, but we would love to be able to listen to this reliably, even if it is only 3 minutes! So could Finnish members please look into this, and find out exactly when and on what SW frequencies these English news capsules are actually scheduled and heard? Thanks (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Exactly the same pattern today (Mike Barraclough, England, April 12, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Ditto (gh) Sorry, I don't have a real answer to this question, but some remarks. I have YLE Radio Finland's printed schedule 26 Mar till 29 Oct in my hands (it even includes some information in English) and I suppose that these English broadcasts are excerpts of the service called YLE Mondo - the foreign language radio of YLE available here in the Helsinki area on FM and througout Finland as a radio channel in the digital TV system. Navigating http://www.yle.fi/radiofinland or http://www.ylemondo.fi might help or you may ask directly on rfinland at yle.fi Regards (Risto Vähäkainu, koordinaattori Helsingin yliopisto, Tietotekniikkaosasto/sovelluspalvelut April 11, HCDX via DXLD) Mondo schedule shows YLE News in English only at 0430 and 0555 UT. Nuntti Latini on YLE is now scheduled Sunday 1050 on 11755, 620 to Eu; 1353 on 15400 to NAm (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE [non]. Re 6-060: Glenn: You noted the same thing I thought I'd detected, that 15515 is on for a half-hour at 1330, not 1300 as printed schedule indicates. I heard this once and wanted to verify it a second time before updating my previous RFI schedule report. I haven't actually heard RFI sign on at 1330 stead 1300, but I can't imagine they're running an hour instead of half-hour (Mike Cooper, Apr 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Nor have I caught them opening at 1330, but April 11 at 1300, nothing on 15515. As per the TDF schedule in 6-059: 15515 1330-1400 7S,8S,10,11S,12N GUF 250 300 French F RFI TDF (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) It does appear that RFI in French (via French Guyana) on 15515 is 1330-1400, not the 1300-1330 indicated in their .pdf schedule. The frequency actually came up at 1330:30, joining the news in progress. I've noticed that most RFI SW transmissions to the Americas are starting late, usually by a half-minute or so (Mike Cooper, Apr 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [and non]. This may be old news, but I thought I would send it in anyway. I just received a very nice personal thank you letter for a reception report sent to Deutsche Welle last month. The letter was from Margot Forbes from the ``Mailbag`` program and included a key chain, program guides and a station sticker. In my letter to them I asked about beaming some programming towards North America. Their reply was to try for the broadcasts aimed at Africa. I am very happy that DW took the time to reply and address my questions, even if the answer wasn`t what I was looking for. Interestingly, the letter states, DW also airs some of its programming via WYPL FM on 89.3 in Memphis, TN. In her letter, she also stated that Marco Vollmar is now the head of the English and German Service at DW. Maybe, if more SWLs took the time to write and request more English coverage, the stations might take notice. Obviously, DW takes the time to read and respond to listeners concerns. I also received a similar letter from RDP a few months back. 73 (Joe Wood, Greenback, Tennessee, April 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. Just checked 693 after 2200 when Zehlendorf should be off: Yes, DRM hiss dominates the frequency now. Underneath a station with lively programming in Arabic, who's this? Should have give it a listen a few days earlier . . . A report of 693 reception at Mönchengladbach with the unavoidable decoding software screenshot now appeared at http://forum.mysnip.de/read.php?8773,151753 Says that he saw the ID flags of Siziano and Zehlendorf alternately while listening to the analogue signals brought up hiss with traces of speech underneath, so BBC 5 Live reception on this frequency at Mönchengladbach is no longer possible. Quite remarkable for a location just 20 km away from the German-Dutch border (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) NDR took down the old, 110-metre-tall mast at Hemmingen (on the southern outskirts of Hannover) after it had been replaced by a new one four years ago: http://www1.ndr.de/ndr_pages_std/0,2570,OID2503178,00.html Pictures of the site with both masts and a set of three pictures featuring the mediumwave antenna mounted on the new mast: http://www.dxradio-ffm.de/NSA.htm (ca. the middle of this page) Back in the nineties NDR reduced daytime power on 828 from 100 kW to 20 kW after protests by residents, stating that mediumwave at Hemmingen will be switched off entirely once DAB receivers found widespread distribution. But apparently the plans have changed, since they did not take the opportunity to get rid of 828 but fitted the new mast with a mediumwave antenna, probably not only due to the failure of DAB but also following an ARD recommendation to keep the mediumwave frequencies for possible DRM operation (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. DLF report on NPR in Berlin Transcript: http://www.dradio.de/dlf/sendungen/marktundmedien/488511/ Audio: http://ondemand-mp3.dradio.de/file/dradio/2006/04/08/dlf_200604081725.mp3 Noteworthy the statement of Helmut Drück, last RIAS Berlin director and now the IBB trustee in Berlin: ´´It will be quite interesting to see if NPR will become a typical representation of the intellectual East Coast region from Boston to Washington and Philadelphia or if they will instead provide a picture of the whole American country with its broad conservative majority in the central and western regions. That's an interesting question, and in my opinion VOA with its partner would have provided a very good, complete picture.´´ Comment: Apparently Mr. Drück is not aware of the recent developments at VOA. And so VOA did not apply for a new licence at Berlin on their own but again with a new partner after they did not want to continue the cooperation with Star FM, hereby triggering a complete reallocation procedure which was fatal for them. Became anything known about this would-have-been partner? The old VOA licence at Berlin is valid until April 15, and apparently VOA plans to stay on air until then. Star FM announces at http://www.rocksender-berlin.de/website/default.asp that they will be on air around the clock from April 16. Old Star FM / VOA licence, expiring on April 15: http://www.mabb.de/start.cfm?content=Radio-Die_Programme&template=programmanzeige&id=155 New Star FM licence, valid from April 16, now without IBB/VOA: http://www.mabb.de/start.cfm?content=Radio-Die_Programme&template=programmanzeige&id=394 Good night, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GOA. Dear Glenn, I wonder why Goa usually appears featured separately instead of under India; I'm aware, however, it's either part of an Indian state or even an Indian state, but doesn't India comprise many other states? Is it because Goa (plus Damão and Diu, the latter close to Pakistan) became the "Estado Português da Índia" (the Port. State of India) some time during the 20th century and thus worthy of special credit abroad? Not just DX bulletins doing this intrigues me: even some TV ads promoting tourism in India carried by the BBC World TV and The Travel Channel for instance announce Goa in that manner. I am aware, of course, that while still retaining some Port. cultural heritage, Goa - as the most important of those mentioned Indian territories of ours - is in a good or better position to serve as a special attraction to foreign tourists. In other words, it may have a certain special "flavour" no other Indian state can match. As you can imagine, until '74, the official Portuguese stand vis-à-vis the Port. State of India was that Portugal was fully entitled to have her sovereignty upon Goa, even if admitting the irreversibility of the situation. 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Carlos, Yes, it`s a ``historic radio country`` thing, also applied to a number of other no longer separate radio countries, ex-colonies merged into other countries, etc. In the case of India, I am not aware of any other current SWBC sites which would also qualify in this way (with the exception of the sad case of Kashmir). (gh, DXLD) ** GRENADA. At the bottom, 0650-0730 UT, of the band, quiet conditions for WLIE 540 24433. 220 watts directional E-W with my location nearly due N. UK accented chap reporting news just below WLIE. Strongly suspect RGN 535 as this faded in at 0703 UT. I have heard this recently a few times in the last month. Report is 24422 very weak, intelligible with very little interference or noise. Fade in for 2 minutes then out 8-10. Upon recapture, Island Music. No RVC 530 heard (Paul Shaffer, Cheshire, CT USA, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. unID All India Radio station which I reported some days ago, has been heard here almost daily 1500-1700 sign-off. It's drifting around, lowest frequency I've noted has been 4666 and highest 4755. No luck yet in ID'ing. I still think it's either Leh or Port Blair (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, April 11, dxldyg via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. Altho Suara Indonesia was missing from 9525 when last reported April 8, until 1400* it has been there just about every morning since (Glenn Hauser, OK, April 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [non?]. BAHRAIN/INT. WATERS. As reported earlier by some DX'ers on 9223U and 6884U, this station was logged also here in Finland. On April 10 at 1923 on 6884U MARLO/Coalition Maritime Forces with Somali/English messages against piracy. Announced MARLO/Bahrain tel. number, e-mail and web addresses (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, dxldyg via DXLD) Is 6884 a new frequency? When I heard them a few weeks ago they were using 6844. Heard here around 2300 (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, ibid.) Yes they were yesterday on 6884, not on 6844. Actually the first sentence below should read "As reported earlier by some DX'ers on 9223U and 6844U, this station.." etc. 73 (Jari, ibid.) ** IRAN. 7235, VOIR-Voice of Justice very poor at 0213 April 3 with man and woman speaking in English but barely audible; an occasional word in English made the language clear enough for an ID; music between items; off at 0228 (Jim Ronda, Tulsa OK, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** ITALY. Sponsorship lessons --- Hi Glenn, re ``Calcio Tim [sic] Cup`` --- Lest you think it's "team" misspelled, TIM or Telecom Italia Mobile, biggest mobile op. in Italy, is a principal sponsor in the Tim Cup event, once known as Coppa Italia, a nationwide (and interdivisional) championship. 73s (Andy Lawendel, Italy, April 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH. A Positive Point --- During both of my tours on Okinawa, and an impromptu visit to S. Korea, N. Korea (AM) stations were easily heard. Things may have changed since I was last there (1989-90; 76-79 before that), but the music was excellent. I'm not that much into opera or classical music, but their style is excellent. The same can be said for just about any culture in Asia/SE Asia. That's just my observation (Comrade Mike Hardester, NC, IRCA via DXLD) Mike, The Classical and Opera might be fine, which I am not a fan of. But the marching a comrade music along with long speeches and ranting and raving in Korean is basically what I have heard through the years. I do like Korean pop music, that is played on the KBS FM side. 73, (Patrick Martin, ibid.) ** LATVIA. Relays this week 9290 kHz Fri 14 April Hamburger local radio 0900 - 1000 RWI 2300 - 0000 KWRN 2200 - 2300 only on 945 kHz Riga relay Sat 15 April Radio Six 0600 - 0700 parallel on 945 AM Hamburger Local Radio 0900 - 1000 Radio Marabu 1000 - 1400 RWI 2300 - 0000 Sun 16 April Radio City 0700 - 0800 RWI 0800 - 0900 Hamburger Local Radio 0900 - 1000 Mon 17 April RWI 0900 - 1000 Hamburger Local Radio 1000 - 1100 Good Listening (Tom Taylor, April 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBYA [non]. V. of Africa, 17850 via France, 1400-1557* April 8, English programming with IDs, sked and into hi-life music. 1411 program about geography of Libya. 1416 talk about Martin Luther King. 1430 news. 1444 talk about African Union. Good signal; barely audible on // 21695 (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBYA [and non]. One individual complained to José Miguel Romero about all his Sawt Alamel posts, so he has apparently quit sending them to all his lists, but fortunately sent this directly. We hope he will keep monitoring it every day if at all possible, as this is a service subject to constant changes, along with all the jamming. Gracias, José Miguel, por su trabajo muy precioso. This was sent April 9, but just missed DXLD 6-060: Saludos cordiales Glenn, un chequeo de Sawt Alamel de los últimos días. 6 Abril --- En el día de hoy a las 1200 por la frecuencia de 17660 La Voz de África con buena señal; Sawt Alamel inicia su emisión a las 1202 por la frecuencia de 17670, cambiando a la frecuencia de 17675 a las 1300 y anulada a las 1318 con el inicio de la emisión de música. 7 Abril --- A las 1152 se aprecia una señal sin emisión por la frecuencia de 17680; a las 1159 inicia por esta frecuencia la emisión de Sawt Alamel; a las 1305 se aprecia señal de pulso de fondo, apenas perjudica a la emisora; a las 1300 cambia a la frecuencia de 17685 y a las 1320 se inicia emisión musical. 8 Abril --- Hoy sin grandes cambios, a las 1200 inicio de Sawt Alamel por 17670, a las 1300 cambia a 17675 y a las 1311 inicia emisión musical. 9 Abril --- Hoy 9 de abril curiosamente ha habido cosas curiosas: por la frecuencia de 17660 a las 1200 comienza La Voz de África con su programación normal; sin embargo por las frecuencias de 17670 y 17680 se escucha una emisión en paralelo con noticias en francés, a las 1214 la emisión es en árabe, pero a las 1225 se escucha perfectamente cómo se identifica, ``Idahat Aljamehiriya al de Ozma``. Se trataba de La Voz de África, con tres emisiones al mismo tiempo. Sawt Alamel se las escucha por la frecuencia de 17685 con fuerte confrontación con emisora en chino; a las 1300 cambia a la frecuencia de 17690 y a las 1321 irrumpe la emisora musical (José Miguel Romero, Spain, April 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Saludos cordiales Glenn, agradezco sus palabras. Reconozco que he estado tentado de no seguir publicando más el seguimiento de Sawt Alamel. Por respeto a quien se quejó, lo comprendo, pero no me parece justo que un ``Anónimo`` me silencie; si alguien le molesta este tipo de mensajes, lo más justo es que lo haga público, pero no me parece correcto que alguien se esconda en el anonimato para acallar a nadie, mal tiene que ir las cosas en el diexismo para que se lleguen a estas posturas. Yo siempre firmo mis mensajes con nombre y apellido, así cómo mis opiniones; por lo tanto no me parece bien que yo tenga que convertirme en un ``Sawt Alamel`` y tener que esconderme y mucho menos sucumbir a un ``Jammer`` en forma de anónimo para silenciarme. 10 Abril --- Hoy no había buena propagación y las emisiones venían acompañadas de mucho ruido, sin embargo se aprecia a Sawt Alamel en su primera hora de transmisión por la frecuencia de 17670 y en su segunda hora por la frecuencia de 17675; la emisora musical se hace presente a las 1314. No recibo ninguna señal de las otras emisiones de La Voz de África. 11 Abril --- Las condiciones tampoco son buenas, mucho ruido, en 17680 Sawt Alamel, después pasa a 17685 y poco después la emisora musical en la misma frecuencia. 12 Abril --- Han cambiado las condiciones; a las 1155 se aprecia señal de tonos previa a la emisión de La Voz de África en su emisión musical por la frecuencia de 17660 y en 17680 una portadora sin señal, pero a las 1159 en esta frecuencia se inicia la emisión de Sawt Alamel, excelente señal acompañada de un ligero ruido. En 17660 la emisión musical y en 17670 hoy se escucha una emisión en árabe; la señal es muy débil, mucho ruido. Es probable que se trate de La Voz de África, también en 17680 junto a Sawt Alamel un rumor, es la interferencia de 17685, una emisión sin identificar, están representando una especie de radionovela; sin embargo cortan bruscamente a las 1229. A las 1300 Sawt Alamel cambia a la frecuencia de 17685; en 17660 continua la emisora musical y en 17670 la emisión en árabe, casi inapreciable y con mucho ruido. Atentamente (José Miguel Romero, Burjasot (Valencia), España, April 12, dxldyg via DXLD) ** MALI. Sunday Apr 9, 06 (Presumed), 11960 at 1630z, tuned in to very excited male announcer calling a sporting event. I think it was in French with an African accent but the announcer was so excited and was speaking so fast I'm not certain. It wasn't in parallel with any of the Portuguese or Spanish frequencies that are often heard with football matches on weekends. There seemed to be a break in the contest at about 1650z with African music filling the gap. Contest resumed after 1700z but there was interference on the channel from another broadcast that started at about 1700z (Jerry Lenamon, Waco, Texas, Drake R8B with sloper, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Lucky you, Jerry! I have tried these recently last weekends, whether Saturday or Sunday, to tune Mali back after 1500, but you know what happens on SW: when is not one thing is the other one. HCJB ends in Spanish at 1500 on 11965, so no more splatter 5 Kcs down, but RDP is sharing this same frequency, basically for football on weekends. But recently there's another drawback for A-06 in this part of 25m. If I'm not mistaken, guess is WYFR in Spanish on 11970 around 1600 (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, ibid.) RTM Bamako 11960 is seldom heard on No/NoWe path. Even on Mediterranean basin or POR/ESP I never could log this channel during our holiday stay on the beach side. RTM 11960 bearing is straight East at 96 degrees (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) ** MEXICO. Para entender más sobre la ley de radio y televisión y telecomunicaciones promulgada este día, visite la siguiente dirección de Internet: http://www.noalaleytelevisa.org/ Saludos cordiales (Roberto Edgar Gómez Morales, México, April 11, Noticias DX via DXLD) This is an important story we haven`t covered much. There have been lengthy reports in Spanish about it, many of them garbled (gh, DXLD) ** MEXICO. Desde las 2200 UT escucho con muy buenas presencia aquí en la ciudad de México, D.F., a XEXQ Radio Universidad de San Luis Potosí en los 6045 kHz. Dejé de escucharla hace casi dos semanas y hoy nuevamente está presente esta emisora de contenido cultural. En estos momentos se escuchan arias de ópera. 73's (Julián Santiago, DF, April 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Also audible here with flashy violin music at 1255 April 13 past hourtop, fighting very high local noise level (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW ZEALAND. Re 6-059: Oh, I know Rangitaiki is automated and some 300 km distant from Wellington, but then this a kind of exception --- like NZL being an exception in certain aspects of wild life too, hi! I don't know how far the engineers must drive (?) to reach the site though (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Continued: PORTUGAL Altho I initially had good reception of RNZI on 7145, shortly after it opened at 1300, lately it has been quite poor, such as April 12 at 1402 with news, much inferior to R. Australia on 7240 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. Laurel: to the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority for reaching its pledge goal of $1,251,145. Their six o`clock [M-F 2330-2400 UT] newscast is the best in Oklahoma, commercial or otherwise. Dart: to Tulsa`s KFAB [sic; KFAQ] 1170 AM, which has replaced OKC`s KTOK [1000 AM] as the single worst radio station in Oklahoma. Most recently they have promoted the elimination of the public schools. Did they have special ed when host Michael DelGiorno was a boy? (Frosty Troy, Observerscope, Oklahoma Observer April 10 via DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. Their Turkish service at 1630-1700 is actually using 6215 and not 6255 kHz as written on their schedule. This change was made at my suggestion during B-05 when they were using the same transmitter at 1600-1615 on the same bearing, and obviously they have decided to continue with it. A-06 season. The only change is to transmissions via API-2 at 0045- 0215, 1230-1330, 1350-1400, 1420-1428 and 1615-1700 new 5055 replaces old 5095 kHz. There was a transmission via API-4 added during B-05 at 0800-1200 via 5925. It was designated Rawalpindi-II and beamed towards Kashmir. This has been dropped in A-06 so API-4 continues via 5080 at 0200-0400 and 1300-1800 with Current Affairs as previously (Noel R. Green-UK, wwdxc BC-DX April 9 via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. R. Central, Port Moresby, was heard again on 3290 this morning at 2000 UT April 12; had been absent for months. Also heard, the 3235 station (Chris Hambly, Vic., DX LISTENING DIGEST) R. West New Britain, Kimbe (WRTH 2006) ** PHILIPPINES. Several DXers in Japan had monitored that PBS, Philippine Broadcasting Service came back on 6169.8 kHz after long long absence. This station seems to relay DZRB-Radyo ng Bayan on 738 kHz, but detail is unknown because of heavy QRM. In Japan, this frequency is mainly heard in evening, around 0900 to 1200. Streaming sound is heard on http://www.pia.gov.ph/pbsradio.asp?fi=dzrb-live My received sound in Japan is http://tomsk-7.hp.infoseek.co.jp/index_e.html This information was showed me as un-ID station by Mr.'e-geta'. Many thanks for all my friends. -- As for my all information it is for all people. But I prohibit the fact that all ILG's personnel utilize. 73 & FB DXing! (Kenji Takasaki in Mie pref, JAPAN, JRC NRD- 545/535D/525/515, April 10, HCDX via DXLD) ** PORTUGAL. The only soul around at São Gabriel after the staff ends their pathetic "9 to 5" shift is a security man! Until not that long ago, the national guard was there permanently. The CEOC facility actually comprises two halves: that of the HF site on the west side of the road, and the personnel facilities on the east side, and these were designed in the early 50's to comprise, like they still do, dwellings which even included the doctor's house (!), a cantina, amenities like tennis court and children`s playground and --- a chapel, possibly to go with the site name itself! The site was originally named CEU-Centro Emissor Ultramarino, which was changed to CEOC in the late 70's I think. 1997 photo: This was taken from the "Praceta do Ultramar" (Overseas Square), in front of the cantina, which looks more like a restaurant! The national guard house next to the wall is partly visible to the left, ahead of the front of our Land Rover. . . (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. 9765, R. Tikhiy Okean, Vladivostok, Apr 12, *0835-0900*, IS and IDs, with Russian programming, Russian song, phone numbers given numerous times, fair-good, 0901 test tone on till transmitter off at 0907 (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, RX340, with T2FD antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Not quite right. Correct URL is http://oceandx.narod.ru --- No underscore before "dx" needed!!! That is an unofficial site, created for the station by Roman himself. Among other nice things, you may find Tikhiy Okean audio clips sent by Mauno Ritola, Alexander Beryozkin and Ron Howard there. Roman Nazarov would be glad to have more clips and info about station's audibility, as well as station- related stories and remembrances. Write to: dx_monitor @ mail.ru (Dmitry Mezin, Russia, wwdxc BC-DX Apr 4 via DXLD) ** SINGAPORE [non]. Dear Radio Colleague, The new Asian edition of the DX program, Wavescan, is now on relay to the Americas. Jeff White of Radio Miami International states that the program is now on the air five times each weekend from WRMI in their regular shortwave services to North America, Caribbean & Latin America. Wavescan is the official DX program from Adventist World Radio; it is produced on a regular weekly basis in Singapore, and it is also heard each Sunday in Asia in the English Service from Adventist World Radio. Two QSL cards are available for the North American relay of Wavescan; one from the AWR address in Indianapolis and the other from shortwave station WRMI itself. UT Saturday 0530-0600 on 9955 to Caribbean and Latin America UT Saturday 1500-1530 on 7385 to North America UT Sunday 0630-0700 on 9955 to Caribbean and Latin America UT Sunday 1500-1530 on 7385 to North America UT Tuesday 0430-0500 on 9955 to Caribbean and Latin America (Dr. Adrian M. Peterson, Adventist World Radio - Indianapolis, April 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. The Brother Scare SW schedule now says it was updated April 2: http://www.overcomerministry.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=101 Yet there is still no sign of WBCQ 7415 overnight on it! How on Earth can anyone believe this guy is in direct touch with God when he can`t even convey his own SW broadcast schedule? (Glenn Hauser, OK, April 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN. Checking REE during the 2030 semihour for reconfirmation of Nuestro Sello, as heard a week ago Monday, April 12 at 2045 on 15110 there was instead a stupid ballgame, but that would be a preëmption of whatever is normally on the schedule (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SRI LANKA. RE: BBC INCREASED ITS PRESENCE IN SRI LANKA This is really a disaster for the SLBC. Many people like me who are BBC and International radio fans do not like the move. SLBC English National Service and the BBC are two separate favourites of English speaking audiences like us. When BBC places large chunks of its broadcasts instead of our national programmes, we start resenting it and tuning off. BBC should be a separate FM or local relay so that when we want to listen to the BBC we can do so and when we want the SLBC, it should be there. I get turned off when I want to listen to the SLBC and find the BBC on it. There is a particular local English culture and flavour in every country. That can not be replaced by anything foreign. So much so, I have stopped looking for the SLBC English Service. BBC on SW is fine for me. What the SLBC and the BBC should realise is that these two are distinct products. BBC can never cater to a Sri Lanka need. While BBC thinks it is finding a larger audience, maybe an increased audience to some extent, people are tuning off the SLBC channels and are listening to other competitive private channels. 30 minutes a day of Sinhala and Tamil are a totally different matter unlike almost 10 hours of prime time of Sri Lankan programmes being replaced by BBC. For SLBC is getting the BBC to buy their airtime. SLBC's English programmes have not been able to compete with the private media for revenue even though it has a much wider coverage of the country. Revenue aside, a National Broadcaster has a different role to that of making money by private broadcasters (G. VICTOR A.GOONETILLEKE, 4S7VK, "Shangri-La," 298 Madapatha Road, Piliyandala, Sri Lanka, April 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN [non]. I have got a nice reply from Southern Sudan Interactive Radio Instruction (sSIRI) Project. This EDC project is located in Kenya with the postal address: 28 Mugumo Road, P O Box 25010 00603, Lavington, Nairobi. They have sub offices in places in Southern Sudan where their staff monitor students and teachers response to the program. VT Merlin is their provider and the signals come from a transmitter in Russia. There are plans to boost the broadcast through Egypt but this is not yet decided. At the moment the broadcast is halted as schools in Southern Sudan have closed for holidays. They will resume broadcasts on May 8th, and there might be new frequencies then. They have promised me to give me the new times and frequencies as soon as decided and I promise to forward this information to you! Best wishes from (Björn Fransson, DX-ing on the island of Gotland, Sweden, April 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Boosted from Egypt? What does that mean? Egypt is not known to be an overt SW relayer of anybody. Hope sSIRI doesn`t wind up on a modulation-plagued transmitter (gh) ** SWEDEN. With new programmes and features, R. Sweden offers a summer smorgasbord of news and current affairs, sport, science & technology, lifestyle, and culture. R. Sweden explore, debate, analyse and give insight into the way Swedish society and its people are changing to meet today`s challenges and opportunities. Let R. Sweden navigate you through the delights of the Swedish summer in new segments in the weekday and weekend editions that explore lifestyle, history, society and literature. Meanwhile, politics are in focus as the country counts down to pivotal national elexions in September (via Michael Beesley, Radio World, April World DX Club Contact via DXLD) How vague; R. Sweden does have a specific schedule of rotating weekly and monthly features; why don`t they publish it explicitly? (gh, DXLD) ** U K. Private Eye on BBCWS cuts --- The timing of the World Service's closure of 11 languages strands - including the Thai service just as Thailand is undergoing a major constitutional crisis and a Muslim rebellion in the south - could not have been worse. But that doesn't explain why many disillusioned BBC producers and many others involved with English programmes that have also been cut - like Praise of God, Everywoman, Calling the Falklands and Pick of the World- decided to boycott the official party to mark their closure and "celebrate" their achievements. Host at the sparsely attended gathering was Phil Harding, also known as "the smiling assassin". Before he settles into comfortable retirement with an index-linked BBC pension, the ex-editor of Radio 4's Today programme and ex-head of Radio Five Live seems to be pulling down the structure of Bush House like Samson in the Temple to make it virtually a news and current affairs network only. Harding had to be briefed before he made his speech about the programmes he had axed and had to talk about. He then promptly forgot to mention Pick of the World, the World Service version of Pick of the Week, and had to be prompted. You can imagine how well this went down with the few who had bothered to turn up (Private Eye Media News, 14/4 via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) ** U K. Hi, Glenn: Anything new about BBC in Spanish to the Americas? Nothing heard at 2300 nor 0000. Dino Bloise told me about he listened them at 0300. Best regards. I'm a listener of WOR since many years ago (Julio Legon, April 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Regarding the BBCWS Spanish service diminishing to one hour on two frequencies, let`s take another look at the planned VT Merlin A-06 schedule in 6-048, which showed all these Spanish entries, as disinformation? Knowing fullwell they were going to cancel most? 9525 0000 0100 smtwtfs Ascension 250 235 Spanish S AM 6110 0000 0100 smtwtfs Ascension 250 235 Spanish S AM 11765 0000 0100 smtwtfs Ascension 250 250 Spanish S AM 5875 0000 0100 smtwtfs Rampisham 500 260 Spanish C AM 5875 0000 0100 smtwtfs Skelton 300 230 Spanish S AM 6110 0000 0100 smtwtfs Montsinery 250 295 Spanish CARIB 9515 0300 0400 smtwtfs Delano 250 125 Spanish C S AM 5995 0300 0400 smtwtfs Delano 250 125 Spanish C S AM 7325 0300 0400 smtwtfs Rampisham 500 285 Spanish C AM 7325 0300 0400 smtwtfs Skelton 300 260 Spanish C AM 6110 0300 0400 smtwtfs Montsinery 250 295 Spanish CARIB Only the last two are still shown on the BBC Spanish website (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. VERY UPDATED VOA SCHEDULE Dear Wolfgang/Glenn, Here is the latest, VERY UPDATED frequency schedule of the Voice of America. On VOA website http://www.voanews.com many frequencies and times are still not updated, and there are also some errors. For example: English to Europe, Middle East and North Africa 1100-1200 15205 VOA doesn't transmit at that time in English on short waves! Remark: between MW and SW bands I've added "," sign to separate them. VOICE OF AMERICA (VOA) UPDATED A06 FREQUENCY SCHEDULE ----------------------------------------------------- AFAN OROMO 1730-1800 9875 11500 11675 11905 13870 MON-FRI ALBANIAN 0500-0530 1215, 11805 1600-1630 13740 1830-1900 1458, 9840 AMHARIC 1800-1900 9875 11500 11675 11905 13870 ARABIC (Radio Sawa) 0000-0800 990 1170 1260 1431 1548 0800-1500 990 1170 1431 1548 1500-2400 990 1170 1260 1431 1548 ARMENIAN (VOA TV only) (Satellite and local affiliates only) AZERBAIJANI 1730-1800 7125 7170 13725 BANGLA 0130-0200 11735 15205 1600-1700 1575, 7430 11835 BOSNIAN 2130-2200 792 MON-FRI BURMESE 1130-1200 1575, 11850 15215 17820 1430-1500 1575, 5955 12015 12120 2330-2400 6185 9505 11980 CANTONESE 1300-1500 1170, 7115 9355 CHINESE (Mandarin) 0000-0200 9545 11830 11925 15150 15385 17765 0200-0300 9545 11830 11925 15385 17765 0700-0900 13610 13740 15250 17780 17855 21705 0900-1000 11825 11965 13610 13740 15250 15665 17780 17855 1000-1100 9575 11825 11965 12040 13610 15250 15665 17855 1100-1200 1170, 6110 9575 11785 11825 11965 11990 12040 1200-1230 6110 9845 11785 11825 11965 11990 12040 1230-1300 6110 9845 11785 11805 11825 11965 12040 1300-1400 6110 9845 11785 11805 11965 11990 12040 1400-1500 6110 9770 9845 11805 11965 11990 12040 2200-2300 7190 7200 9510 9845 11925 13775 CREOLE 1130-1200 11890 11925 15390 MON-FRI 1630-1700 15390 17565 2100-2130 11895 13725 21555 CROATIAN 0430-0500 756 792 1458, 5965 1830-1900 7175 15180 DARI (Radio Ashna) 0130-0230 1296, 12140 1500-1530 1296, 12140 1630-1730 1296, 12140 1800-1830 1296, 7555 1930-2030 1296, 7555 ENGLISH to Europe, Middle East, and North Africa 1400-1500 15490 17730 1500-1600 15195 15445 2200-2230 1593 ENGLISH to Africa 0300-0330 909 1530, 4930 6080 7340 9885 12080 15580 0330-0400 909 1530, 4930 6080 9885 12080 15580 0400-0430 909 1530, 4930 4960 6080 9575 9885 11835 12080 15580 0430-0500 909, 4930 4960 6080 9575 11835 12080 15580 0500-0600 909, 4930 6080 6180 12080 15580 0600-0700 909 1530, 6080 6180 12080 15580 1400-1500 4930 6080 13795 15580 17685 17720 1500-1600 4930 6080 13795 15580 17895 1600-1700 909 1530, 4930 6080 15410 15580 1700-1800 4930(Sat-Sun) 6080 15410 15580 1800-1830 909(Sat-Sun), 4930(Sat-Sun) 6080 11975 15410 15580 17895 1830-1900 909, 4930 6080 11975 15410 15580 17895 1900-2000 909, 4930 4940 6080 11975 15410 15445 15580 17895 2000-2030 909 1530, 4930 4940 6080 11975 15410 15445 15580 2030-2100 909 1530, 4930 4940(Sat-Sun) 6080 11975 15410 15445 15580 ENGLISH to Zimbabwe 1730-1800 909, 4930 11975 17895 MON-FRI ENGLISH to Afghanistan 0000-0030 1296, 7555 2030-2400 1296, 7555 ENGLISH to Far East Asia, South Asia, and Oceania 0100-0200 9885 11705 11725 1100-1130 1575 Sat-Sun 1200-1230 1170, 6160 9645 9760 11750 1230-1300 6160 9645 9760 11750 1300-1400 9645 9760 1400-1500 7125 9760 15185 1500-1600 7125 12150 13735 15105 2200-2400 7215 15185 15290 17740 2230-2400 1575 Fri-Sat ENGLISH-SPECIAL 0000-0030 1575 1593 0030-0100 1575 1593, 9715 9780 15185 15205 15290 15560 17740 17820 0130-0200 7405 13740 TUE-SAT 1500-1530 1575(Sat-Sun), 6110 9590 9760 12040 15550 1530-1600 1575, 6110 9590 9760 12040 15550 1600-1700 1170(Mon-Fri), 12080 13600 17895 1900-2000 7395 9670 2230-2330 1593, 9570 13755 15145 2330-2400 1593, 7260 9570 13725 13755 15145 FRENCH to Africa 0530-0600 1530, 4960 6035 6095 9885 13710 MON-FRI 0600-0630 4960 6035 6095 9885 13710 MON-FRI 1830-2000 1530, 9815 9830 12080 15730 17785 2000-2030 9815 9830 11720 12080 15730 2030-2100 9815 9830 11720 12080 15730 SAT-SUN 2100-2130 9815 9830 12035 12080 MON-FRI GEORGIAN 1530-1600 11805 15475 GREEK (Satellite and local affiliates only) HAUSA 0430-0500 9600 11680 MON-FRI 0500-0530 1530, 4960 6035 6095 1500-1530 9710 11905 13745 1800-1830 1530, 4940 9565 11955 12080 17785 SAT-SUN 2030-2100 4940 9815 9830 11720 12080 15730 MON-FRI HINDI 0030-0100 7430 11805 1600-1700 7260 9315 INDONESIAN 0000-0030 9535 11805 13705 1100-1300 9700 9890 12010 1400-1500 13620 15105 THU-SAT 2200-2400 7225 9535 11805 KHMER 1330-1430 1575, 5955 7155 2200-2230 1575, 6060 7130 13725 KINYARWANDA/KIRUNDI 0330-0430 6095 7340 13725 1600-1630 11925 15430 17725 SAT KOREAN 1300-1400 648, 7215 7235 11740 1400-1500 7215 7235 11740 2000-2030 6060 7125 9510 2030-2100 6060 7125 9510 15470 KURDISH 0400-0500 7115 9730 11890 1300-1400 1593, 9825 15130 15390 1600-1630 1593, 9825 15545 17745 1630-1700 9825 15545 17745 1800-1900 7205 11520 15545 1930-2000 1593 LAOTIAN 1230-1300 1575, 9510 11930 MACEDONIAN (Satellite and local affiliates only) NDEBELE 1800-1830 909, 4930 12110 15730 MON-FRI PASHTO 0030-0130 1296, 12140 1300-1400 9695 15500 1430-1500 1296, 12140 1530-1630 1296, 12140 1730-1800 1296, 7555 1830-1930 1296, 7555 PERSIAN (VOA) 0230-0330 9695 11870 17855 1630-1700 1593, 6040 9700 11520 1700-1730 1593, 6040 9770 1730-1800 1593, 6040 9770 11740 1800-1830 648 1593, 6040 9770 11740 1830-1900 648 1593, 5860 6040 11740 1900-1930 1593, 5860 6040 11740 PERSIAN (Radio Farda) 0000-0030 1575 0030-0200 1575, 7295 9805 9865 0200-0400 1575, 9775 9805 9865 0400-0600 1575, 9510 9865 15225 0600-0800 1575, 9510 15290 17845 0800-1000 1575, 15290 15690 17755 1000-1400 1575, 7125 15690 17755 1400-1500 1575, 9435 13870 17745 1500-1600 1575, 15170 13870 17745 1600-1700 1575, 13870 15170 17670 1700-1900 1575, 7105 7580 9760 1900-2000 1575, 7105 9505 9760 2000-2100 1575, 7190 9505 9760 2100-2130 1575, 7190 9505 9960 2130-2400 1575 PORTUGUESE to Africa 0430-0500 1530, 6095 7340 1700-1730 1530, 9565 12080 1730-1800 1530, 9565 9815 12080 15730 1800-1830 1530, 9565 9815 17785 MON-FRI RUSSIAN 1300-1400 11725 15120 15205 17730 1700-1900 6105 7220 9520 11805 SERBIAN 0530-0545 1458, 11805 1930-2000 792, 9705 2100-2130 756, 7210 MON-FRI SHONA 1700-1730 909, 4930 11975 17895 MON-FRI SPANISH 0100-0200 9560 9885 11815 1100-1230 7370 9535 13790 SWAHILI 1630-1700 9815 13670 15730 1700-1730 9815 13670 15730 MON-FRI THAI (Satellite and local affiliates only) TIBETAN 0000-0100 7255 9855 11690 0400-0600 15265 15490 17685 1400-1500 6030 11520 11975 TIGRIGNA 1900-1930 9875 11500 11675 11905 13870 MON-FRI TURKISH 0330-0400 792, 7205 MON-FRI 1030-1100 15205 17670 MON-FRI 1800-1900 792, 11865 15235 UKRAINIAN 0400-0430 7265 9710 MON-FRI 2000-2015 7230 11840 2015-2030 7230 11840 MON-FRI URDU (Radio Aap ki Dunyaa) 0000-0100 972 0100-0200 972, 7145 11805 1400-1500 972, 9510 15530 1500-1700 972 1700-1800 972, 9315 9785 1800-2400 972 UZBEK 1500-1530 801, 11520 11780 15390 17685 VIETNAMESE 1300-1330 1575, 5955 9720 1500-1600 1170, 5955 6120 9780 2230-2330 6060 13725 Best regards & many 73s! (Dragan Lekic from Subotica, Serbia, April 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. The Pentagon Channel and the VOA I am attending the NCTA National Cable Show in Atlanta and came across a new cable channel operated by the Department of Defense and aimed at the domestic U.S. audience called The Pentagon Channel. Now, by what sort of twisted logic is the Pentagon allowed to use taxpayer funds to operate what can only be described as a service intended to propagandize those very taxpayers, yet the VOA which has a Charter in effect prohibiting propaganda on its airwaves is barred from broadcasting to the very taxpayers that support it! Pogo was right. "We have met the enemy and he is us." (John Figliozzi, April 9, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I've heard The Pentagon Channel as mentioned by John via AFN/AFRTS (the shortwave services that is) and it seems to have been on air for quite some time via this outlet. I can't remember any of the content but perhaps it is of more interest to the Armed Forces than to the general public? I've been listening to a new SW outlet this morning (April 10) on 9380 USB which I think is AFN/AFRTS (no ID's heard so far) but I haven't heard this programme as yet. It might be ex 9340 Keflavik which is unheard today. 73 (Noel R. Green (NW England), ibid.) Hi Noel. The 9380U AFN is just as good as was 9340U earlier. Carries the same program feed as Diego Garcia 12579U, Iceland a fragment of second delayed. Guam 5765 usually has a different feed. I too believe 9380U is Iceland. 73 (Jari Savolainen, Finland, April 12, ibid.) The logic is quite clear: The Smith-Mundt Act applies to the USIA, not the Pentagon. If you don't like it, write your Senators and Congressperson and ask them to either expand the reach of Smith-Mundt or repeal it entirely, in order to level the playing field. In any event, you have nothing to fear from the Pentagon Channel. Sirius uses it as filler material on its conservative talk channel between 3-6 am Eastern, and I can assure you it is some of the most deadly dull content ever created in the English language. If you are not a member of the US military or in a military family, it will be of zero interest to you. And I'm being kind by suggesting that even immediate family members will have much desire to listen or watch. The stuff they air is most definitely not designed for general public consumption. By the way, the TV channel has been around for at least nine months, and already reaches something like 15 million households in the United States. That you only learned of its existence at the NCTA convention speaks volumes as to how effective it is as some sort of "propaganda outlet". If anyone is interested in checking them out, they offer live video streams and podcasts: http://www.pentagonchannel.mil/ (Aaron Dickey, ibid.) ** U S A. Looking at Alex Jones` website, he deals in the usual conspiracy stuff and moonbat theories. The Illuminati blah blah blah - -- New World Order --- Freemasons --- Skull and Bones --- yadda yadda yadda. WWCR and other shortwave radio stations have been home to, shall we say, less than mainstream viewpoints almost since its initial sign on. (I should add that there are many wonderful, credible and entertaining shows on shortwave in the US. However, the nutbars stand out.) George Bush senior was head of the New World Order, was going to declare martial law and seize power, was going to refuse to leave office, Bush was going to throw all the patriots in concentration camps (psst buy gold and silver and MREs). Then Clinton arrived. Clinton was running drugs out of Mena, Arkansas. He had a number of people killed (Vince Foster, Ron Brown). He blew up the Murrah Building with Janet Reno. Clinton was head of the New World Order, was going to declare martial law and seize power. He and his wife were going to throw all the patriots in concentration camps (psst buy gold and silver and MREs). He was going to refuse to leave office. Then Bush II arrived. The conspiracies have changed little, just the characters have switched roles. H. L. Mencken would love some WWCR programming (Fred Waterer, Ont., Programming Matters, April ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** U S A. Ran across some really odd transmissions from WBCQ Friday night (UT Saturday 4/8/06): At 0400 UT on 5110 kHz, there was a mix of program audio that combined Good Friends Radio and This Week in Amateur Radio. This continued on and on, eventually settling on just This Week in Amateur Radio, which then repeated their hour-long program all night over and over until it finally was cut off and terminated when the transmitter was taken off- air at 5 AM (my time) -- 1000 UT. I had just left the radio on and had woken up now and then during this marathon and heard TWiAR until I fell back asleep each time. I just happened to be awake to hear the 1000 UT turn-off. This was the timeframe when WBCQ was supposed to be airing GFR all that time, but something caused the TWiAR audio to be fed into the transmitter instead. At the same time, on 7415 kHz at 0400 UT (which surprisingly happened to be clearly receivable that night here in St. Louis, MO, at that time -- it's often faded into the noise by then): instead of "Amos & Andy", a TimTron program was begun. That was cut off and A&A began after a few minutes. Then, when "Herald of Truth" was to be started at 0415 UT, it *did* begin, but the "Amos & Andy" audio continued too, mixed with the HoT audio. After HoT ended, yet another A&A program began at 0432 UT! That was finally killed at 0434 UT, followed by an incomplete WBCQ ID and yet another A&A program started anew! That was *finally* killed at 0437 for real this time, and Brother Stair came on as scheduled for an 0430 start. I think Allan had said earlier that evening on Allan Weiner WorldWide that he was there alone; I have a vision of him running around frantically trying to turn off CD players and patch signals while maybe half asleep or otherwise exhausted. :-) Other WBCQ news as announced by Allan on that AWWW program, and this updates the posted April 2 WBCQ schedule: Lost Discs Radio, now on Friday evenings (UT Saturdays at 0200-0300 on both 7415 and 5110) will be switched with Christian Media Network now on Saturday evenings (UT Sunday 0200-0300 on 7415), effective April 15 '06. This does make sense, putting Lost Discs in with the other Saturday-night entertainment lineup, where CMN didn't really fit, and adding another hour of CMN to follow the existing CMN time on Fridays. I would think it would increase both programs' audience. Allan had a long interview with James Lloyd of CMN on that AWWW program with some interesting discussion. He seems to follow James' theology, and one must admit that CMN is better listening than Bro. Stair, for example, and other preachers of that ilk. 73, (Will Martin, MO, April 9, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. Re the WYFR A-06 schedule via TAIWAN in March 3 DXLD: Today April 11th I heard the Burmese programme at 1300-1400 on 11520 and I see this registration: 11520 1300 1400 49 TAC 200 131 0 216 1234567 260306 291006 D UZB YFR GFC 1811 Yes - in B-05 Burmese was carried on 9310 same time via Tashkent. Instead of WYFR in Indonesian at 1400-1500 I hear RFA in Tibetan with Chinese jamming on 11520. English to India is shown at 1300-1500 on 11520 - obviously it isn't, even though their web site says it is too! I heard nothing on 11560. So are we completely sure that all of the above are via Taiwan or even on air? There isn't even a listing for Burmese on their web site unless it's one of the unknown scripts so I don't know if 11560 is also on air at 1200-1300. Their web site is a compilation of transmissions via Okeechobee and various relay stations. None are specified. For instance there is another Korean service at 0900-1200 on 9450 - via Irkutsk apparently - and Russian on 9495 - Tashkent - is shown at 1700-1900 in addition to all of those listed on the WYFR pages. And where does Kiswahili Kwa Africa come from at 1800-1900 on 5905 and 1900-2000 on 7385 - why 5905 is via the 50 kW unit on Madagascar. 7385 I don't know, but the RNW schedule shows 7395 in // 5905 at 1800-1900 for Family Radio. And did you know that they had a Polish service at 1800-1900 on 5810 - via Samara that one. Is it not possible for Evelyn Marcy to provide a COMPLETE schedule of Family Radio broadcasts - or is there some subtle difference between WYFR and Family Radio that I am missing? (Noel R. Green (NW England), dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) WYFR is only the callsign of Family Radio's shortwave transmitter site in Florida. So transmissions from other sites (Taiwan, etc.) probably don't use the WYFR callsign - they would only ID as Family Radio (Dave Kenny, UK, ibid.) ** U S A. I listened to the last few minutes of The Shortwave Report, since it was running late on R. Veronica US, April 13, and WORLD OF RADIO did not start until 2337. The last segment was from V. of Russia, but there was NO fading or distortion, and it was pretty clearly from a webcast, not recorded off SW, which I thought was the point of the show. Has Dan Roberts lost his way? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. RADIO STATION FALLS SILENT --- FUTURE UNCERTAIN UNDER FCC REALIGNMENT --- Tuesday, April 11, 2006 By CURT YESKE Staff Writer, Gloucester County Times WEST WINDSOR -- After 43 years on the air, radio station WHWH-AM, once a prime outlet for the Princeton and Trenton areas from its broadcast location on Alexander Road, has an uncertain future. Launched in 1963 as a community service station, WHWH went off the air just after midnight Friday at the direction of the Federal Communications Commission. The most likely scenario is that it will be back on the air, but only for a limited time to give its owner, Multicultural Broadcasting, time to sell the station, according to company officials. WHWH, according to industry sources, is worth "several million dollars." Several years ago, the FCC, in a move to alleviate congestion at the middle of the AM broadcast band, especially in the Northeast where WHWH held forth at 1350, had about 70 stations across the country begin operating on a second spot between 1610 and 1700, at the upper end of the AM band. The stations had five years to comply, and WHWH settled in at 1680 as well as 1350. "The five years were up last Thursday," said Mark Lipp of Washington, D.C., the attorney for Multicultural Broadcasting. Unfortunately for WHWH, the 1680-AM spot was assigned by the FCC to WTTM and has been moved to South Jersey to better reach the Spanish- speaking market in Philadelphia, Lipp said. "Under the FCC requirement, we had no choice but to stop broadcasting at that time," said Lipp. He said the 70 stations facing the same fate have petitioned the FCC to go back on the air. "We are getting indications we may get temporary permission for an indefinite period of time," said Lipp. . . http://www.nj.com/news/times/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1144742821246660.xml&coll=5 (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) For the rest they want personal data (gh) ** U S A. Good Morning Glenn, et al. On the overnight received WWLV 1620 here 23423 during 0615-0650 UT. Fade-out 8-10 min: reception for 1-2 minutes. Main interference was Gospel Music with similar but offset reception. Also heard was religious talk presumed as WHRI. "I got the power" lead-in bumpers. WHKT 1650 and WPTX 1690 also received 23323 and 23122. WPTX poor due to noise band now appearing at top of X-band recently (Paul Shaffer, Cheshire, CT USA, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WWLV is new call for the South Bend IN station. WHRI? You mean the SW station also in South Bend? I did not think the two were related (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Re KCKN 1020 Roswell DX test: Haven't tallied the results of the DX test; another straggler came in today from PA. Should be 50-60. You might mention for those that didn't include their postal address to email it to us as we are planning to mail all the confirmed reports a QSL card. Glad you could get us so close to Perry. Farthest are Hawaii, Florida, N.H., Mass and Ont. Thanks (Jerry Kiefer, NM, April 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Honda Radio billboards --- The below is from radio- info.com's Tampa Bay board. It looks like Son of Radio Cadillac is born. Check your nearest urban locale between 1610-1700 kHz, as I'm sure these are being nationally placed at a rapid pace. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: The Honda Commercial on the AM X-Band [Reply] Posted by: FloridaBear1776 Posted on: 04/10/06 01:14 AM There are two frequencies looping at low fidelity a commercial about the difference between a Honda Prelude and a Platypus. One is on 1650 and is heard only around the U.S. 19 - East Bay interchange [Largo, FL – Krueger]. The other is on 1690 and seems to be reaching out for several miles. I assume the Honda people or a dealership are behind this, but why is one of the signals showing up all over the place? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow up [by Terry L Krueger]: My office happens to be located very near the US-19 and East Bay intersection, so I took a short lunch drive, and indeed 1650 kHz is active. Threshold level on the car radio at about two miles range. There is a large Viacom billboard on the south end of the Honda AutoWay Honda parking lot on US-19 northbound - - the closest dealer, on US-19, just north of East Bay, at 17275 US Hwy 19 N, Clearwater, FL 33764-7524 -- though I'm not so sure it isn't coming from one of the two other billboards a few hundred feet south (southbound US-19), as the signal peaks better there. In any case, the sign at the dealership promotes Honda for southbound traffic, and the northbound side advertises the unaffiliated Harley dealer on the property nearby. Nothing on the Honda board promotes the radio signal, unless I missed it while driving. The other two billboards on the opposite side of the road also do not promote any Honda product. No trace of 1690. Audio times to exactly 60 seconds consisting of stupid banter between the Platypus car (bad, faux Aussie accent) and the other model, US accent. And located a Honda link with the exact text of the billboard audio: http://automobiles.honda.com/element/index.aspx Upon arriving home, 1650 blows in on the NRD-535, about 2.3 miles from the transmitter. Barely present in the skywave mess at night, however. Also, no trace of 1690 here at home. Note: a reply post on radio-info.com also referenced hearing a Honda signal in Hillsborough County (Tampa, Florida) just above 1600 kHz (frequency unknown), on Hillsborough Avenue near the Florida State Fairgrounds. So, there's more out there. In fact, do a google.com search, and you'll find a reference to one in NY on 1660, maybe others. (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W Visit my "Florida Low Power Radio Stations" at: http://home.earthlink.net/~tocobagadx/flortis.html or: http://www.geocities.com/geigertree/flortis.html April 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. SPINNING HOPE ON INCARCERATION STATION By PAUL VON ZIELBAUER Published: April 12, 2006 New York Times ANGOLA, La., April 6 — KLSP, a radio station with one turntable, six employees and a $48 weekly payroll, has limited reach over this patch of swampy farmland and razor wire northwest of Baton Rouge. It is meant to be that way. The station director and most of the D.J.'s are convicted murderers. Most of its 5,100 listeners are serving life sentences at the Louisiana State Penitentiary here. The 100-foot metal pole that transmits the station's F.C.C.-approved signal — a relatively weak but consistent 100 watts — rises from a grassy knoll behind death row. Death row, home to 83 men, is where KLSP-FM (91.7), which prison officials say is the nation's only licensed prison radio station, finds its most dedicated audience and inspiration for its core mission: spreading the word of Jesus (and an occasional message from the warden) to men doomed to die behind bars. . . http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/12/arts/12radi.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1 (via Don Moore, DXLD) Even the NYT can`t spell ``trusties``. A TRUSTY in a prison is QUITE DIFFERENT from a TRUSTEE outside, tho no doubt some dishonest ones have wound up in prison; station gives false hope to the hopeless (gh) ** VANUATU. RADIO VANUATU GETS US$20,364 FROM AUSTRALIA Australian High Commissioner John Pilbeam has handed over a cheque for 2,181,000 Vanuatu vatu [US$20,364] on behalf of the Australian Government to the General Manager of Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation, Jonas Cullwick. These funds were made possible through AusAID funding and will be used to replace two Studio Transmitter Links that transmit Short Wave and Medium Wave frequencies from the main studio to the Emten Lagoon transmitter site. This transmission has not been operational since May 2005 and Radio Vanuatu has had to use alternative FM transmission to enable shortwave and mediumwave to be broadcast to the outer islands. "This alternative method, however, was unreliable and depended on a number of conditions, such as wind speeds [sic], that were often beyond the control of our local technicians," commented Mr. Cullwick. Radio Vanuatu plays a vital role in disseminating vital information to the wider rural population of Vanuatu, especially during the cyclone season, and these ongoing transmission problems from the studio to Ematen Lagoon have severely hampered this role. In presenting the check, Mr Pilbeam expressed Australia’s ongoing commitment to the Vanuatu Government in ensuring that essential government services are delivered to all Vanuatu’s people and particularly those living in the outer islands and hoped that this would mark another step in the continuing the relationship between Australia and Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation. (Source: Vanuatu Daily Post) # posted by Andy @ 13:31 UT (Media Network blog April 10 via DXLD) Also via Scott Walker N3SW ** VIETNAM [non]. Happened to tune to 9920 April 12 at 1359, hearing two stations mixing; one wrapping up Vietnamese then IDed in English as KFBS, Saipan, as the TWR IS was heard in the background. That proved to be another Vietnamese broadcast, by KTWR as scheduled on same from 1400; I wonder if they are also totally in synch theologically. Can`t wait until all Vietnamese are turned into good little westernized Christians (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE. GOVERNMENT TO SINK OVER Z$250 BILLION INTO PROPAGANDA By Lance Guma 11 April 2006 http://www.swradioafrica.com/news110406/propaganda110406.htm The embattled government of Robert Mugabe intends to sink over Z$250 billion in propping up the New Ziana news agency amid a worsening human rights record. New Ziana boss Munyaradzi Matanyaire told the parliamentary portfolio committee on Transport and Communications the agency had been unbundled into three strategic business units but needed money to begin operations. The agency plans to set up radio and satellite television in addition to the news agency already running and churning out state propaganda. War veteran and broadcaster Happison Muchechetere has been lined up to run the stations. Matanyaire, who was presenting oral evidence to the committee, conceded that the proposed New Ziana short-wave radio project in Gweru was political and could not generate `the much needed revenue'. He said the radio and satellite television stations were meant to counter what he called `negative publicity against Zimbabwe by the hostile Western media.' Observers have however pointed out that given the country's dire economic situation the Z$250 billion needed for this propaganda campaign would better serve the interests of ordinary people via the purchase of food and medicines. Zoe Titus a programme Director with the Media Institute for Southern Africa (MISA) told Newsreel `the government has no business operating media institutions.' She said authorities in Zimbabwe should be providing platforms for other players to enter the broadcasting sector instead of trying to control it. The government could avert negative publicity by doing positive things in the media and that includes granting licences to community broadcasters and local FM stations. Titus also said the billions of dollars they wanted to use in the propaganda war could be better spent on essential services for poor Zimbabweans. The government has also invested heavily in equipment thought to be from China to jam the shortwave transmissions of independent stations like SW Radio Africa. Harsh media laws like the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) have been selectively used to shut down 4 newspapers (SW Radio Africa Zimbabwe news via Mike Cooper, DXLD) Or is it only 152 gigadollars zim? ** ZIMBABWE. ZIMBABWE SINKS $152 BLN ON PROPAGANDA TV, RADIO STATIONS By Staff Reporter http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/ciogate29.14019.html THE Zimbabwe government will sink Zim$152 billion setting up a propaganda radio and satellite television station targeting its nationals in the Diaspora as it fights to win the hearts and minds of a restive population. In a report to the parliamentary portfolio on Transport and Communications presented Monday, New Ziana Chief executive officer Munyaradzi Matanyaire said George Charamba, President Robert Mugabe's press secretary had told him that the projects had the "support from the highest level and I repeat from the highest level". Former Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation television anchor and Zanu PF adhererent Happison Muchechetere would be in carge of the stations. Matanyaire also said all the equipment for the radio project was already in place. The Zimbabwe government has enacted harsh press laws that have resulted in the closure of four newspapers in an effort to stem negative publicity triggered by its ruinous policies. Recently, the government has been funding visits by journalists on guided tours from Asian countries as part of Mugabe's 'Look East' project. Matanyaire said: "The radio programme to be on Shortwave (SW) and the satellite television would solely target our people in the diaspora to counter the negative publicity from those countries." The station would be stationed in Gweru, but would have separate offices from the state-run Power FM which targets locals. Matanyaire added that they would needed $152 billion from treasury to implement the two projects. Over the years, the government has been blaming negative publicity over its appalling human rights record by the international media as the cause of an unprecedented economic crisis. Presenting his monetary policy in January, the country's central bank chief Gideon Gono also blamed the economic mess on negative publicity that he said portrayed Zimbabwe as a war zone. Gono said: "The negative publicity by local, regional and international media has thus, in effect, worked to undermine and destroy business confidence and investor sentiment towards Zimbabwe." JOIN THE DEBATE ON THIS ARTICLE ON THE NEWZIMBABWE.COM FORUMS (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) Also appeared on Media Network blog. . . By way of clarification, the $152 billion are Zimbabwean dollars - which, according to Yahoo's currency converter is equal to $1,532,236 US --- a slightly more approachable figure for Mr. Mugabe to find in his nation's troubled times, I think! (Del (North Wales), 04.11.06 - 1:52 pm, Media Network blog via DXLD) Thanks. It did say Zimbabwe dollars, but that got lost in the editing. I am not sure about the conversion - a billion means different amounts in the US and the UK, so I won't put that figure in the main story. It's still a lot of money, though (Andy Sennitt, 04.11.06 - 2:28 pm, ibid.) UNIDENTIFIED ++++++++++++ UNID Pirate on 6925 kHz USB at 0300 GMT -- male announcer 0312: "Shortwave radio... hanging out on the bands," in between rock 'n roll music, additional ID at 0316 and 0319: "Check you air pressure (laughter) "Check the air pressure... check your air pressure... where's those damn carrots?" Good level at 0300, dropped by 0320. On 4/8/06, DXing with Cumbre over WHRI on 8 April mentioned a "Radio Bunny" being heard in the 1926 to 1934 time slot. To improve reception at my location, I installed a 100 foot end-fed longwire last weekend between two of my tallest trees, hoping to reduce noise levels on the SWBC bands. This replaced a 60 foot longwire which was only 12 feet above the ground. Best 73's, (Ed Insinger, NJ? DX LISTENING DIGEST) So was it really WTPR, ``Tire Pressure Radio``, or R. Bunny talking about WTPR? (gh) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Thanks for all your hard work (Karl Zuk, N2KZ) Dear Glenn, Best wishes for your birthday and once again thanks for the work, you are doing for DXers. Always listening to and reading your comments with great pleasure. 73s from a rainy, +3C cold Vojens, (Ydun Ritz, Denmark, April 12) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ 15 APRILE CHIUDE LA LISTA WUN Ciao a tutti, una brutta notizia purtroppo, il 15 aprile chiudera' la storica lista utility WUN. L'annuncio e' stato da Ary Boender, l'attuale presidente di Wun che ha inviato sulla lista il messaggio che vi riporto qui sotto. I motivi sono la mancanza di persone per mandare avanti WUN come Club e non come una semplice mailing-list. E' gia stata creata una nuova lista, non un club, all'indirizzo: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/udxf/ Saluti, (Andrea Borgnino, bclnews.it via DXLD) Viz.: [WUN] Message from WUN's board. Please read Ary Boender ary at luna.nl Mon Apr 10 01:12:12 EDT 2006 Dear WUN members, In January 1995, we formed a new, internet based, utility listeners club; WUN (Worldwide Utility News club). This was not just another internet list but a real club. Since the beginning we have counted on a great many people to provide the newsletter, website and maintain the mailing list and perform other club duties behind the scenes. Basically, the same people have been involved since we started. We have recently received the resignation of Jason Berri as webmaster and Day Watson as editor of the popular Digital Review column. They are not the only ones. Lack of time and other responsibilities force me to step down myself. This means that also the Utility Round-up column need a new editor. We know from personal experience that finding new editors is a very difficult task, especially for a very specialized column as the DR. There are many duties and much time is needed to run WUN as a club. Our staff is not in a position to donate any further time than what we do already. Therefore, we believe that WUN as a club should cease to exist. We do not have the staff to keep going. We have certainly appreciated the input and assistance of many longtime members. However, the work involved simply is too much. - UTILITY DXers FORUM As a replacement, I have started a Yahoo list that is easy and simple to maintain, called Utility DXers Forum. This will eliminate the need for website support and many of the other duties required of an actual non-profit club. UDXF will not be affiliated with WUN. UDXF will focus on the same sort of stations as WUN did, so why not join the list and keep ute dxing alive! http://groups.yahoo.com/group/udxf/ Effective April 15, 2006 the WUN list will be terminated. Members are encouraged to join UDXF. - NUMBERS & ODDITIES As you know, I edited two columns for the WUN newsletter: the "Utility Round-up" column and "Numbers & Oddities". The latter also appeared as a separate newsletter for members of the Spooks list and other dxers who are interested in numbers stations. N&O included info that was sent to the WUN and Spooks mailing lists and info sent directly to me. Please, note that N&O a.k.a. "The Spooks Newsletter" and the N&O website will continue. Numbers stations logs posted to the UDXF and Spooks mailing lists will be included in N&O's future editions. On behalf of WUN's staff end editors, I thank you for your support in the past 10 years and I hope to read your logs on the Utility DXers Forum. 73, Ary Boender, WUN President (via Andrea Borgnino IW0HK, bclnews.it; also via Phil Atchely via Ed Stone, DXLD) Ary, Rick, Jason, Day and all others, thanks for the high quality of the unique WUN club during the 11 years of his live. It was great to be a Wunner! Pim Ripken, Editor Utility Panorama Benelux DX Club The Netherlands. www.bdxc.nl (BDXC via DXLD) INTERNATIONALES RADIO IN EUROPA Editor Thomas Völkner, 104 pages of A5 format, cf. http://www.gardez.de/htm-dateien/buecher/voelkner_radio_bild.htm (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello Glenn, Thank you for mentioning "Internationales Radio in Europa" in the latest issue of DXLD. I should have sensed you would be finding a lead for this publication, though it has not yet been advertised outside Germany (which will be done any time now). Editing this book has been my task, so I can tell a bit more about the project. It came about after some discussions with friends and colleagues about the state of "traditional" international broadcasting in German. As we all know, many broadcasters have been experiencing cutbacks, and German-language services have featured prominently here over the past few years. This all happens, one might add, despite the fact that there is a good number of enthusiastic listeners and DXers in Germany and Austria who, by and large, have supported the radio stations to the best of their abilities. So, I thought there is a need for a little publication that contains articles by people who either work for international broadcasters (who can explain their plans and strategies), or who used to work for stations that have closed (and who can perhaps share their experience). In addition to the authors that were mentioned in the RJ advert, the book features Ingrid Huettmann (Voice of the Mediterranean), Miroslav Krupicka (Radio Prague), Julie Baechtold (Voice of Russia), Aleksander Opalski (Radio Polonia), plus a text by myself. The publisher at Gardez in Germany http://www.gardez.de --- specialised in academic titles, particularly film/media --- has been enthusiastic about the project and gave me all his support. Though the script has been finalised a while ago, publication of the book (slightly more than 100 pages) had to be brought back to spring 2006, which means it will be available any time now (Thomas Voelkner, Germany, April 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ The geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to severe storm levels. Solar wind speed ranged from a low of near 250 km/s early on 03 April to a high of about 700 km/s late on 09 April. From 03 April through midday on 04 April, weak solar wind flow was evident as wind speed was generally at 300 km/s and below and the Bz component of the IMF did not vary much beyond +5 to -1 nT. As a result, the geomagnetic field was very quiet. By about 04/0600 UTC, the IMF Bz turned sharply south to -10 to -15nT and remained south through about 05/1800 UTC. During this time period, wind speed gradually increased to about 350 km/s, and by 05/1800 UTC, it rose more sharply to near 400 km/s and continued to rise slowly to about 450 km/s by late on the 5th. At middle latitudes, the geomagnetic field responded with unsettled to active levels through 06/0900 UTC and at high latitudes, active to major storm levels were observed through about 06/1800 UTC. This heightened activity was due to the presence of a geoeffective coronal hole wind stream. By late on 06 April and through late on 08 April, the IMF Bz relaxed and did not vary much beyond +/- 3 nT while the solar wind speed gradually decayed to near 300 km/s. During this period, the geomagnetic field was generally quiet with isolated unsettled to active periods at high latitudes through midday on 08 April. Early on 09 April, ACE sensors detected increases in temperature, density, and wind velocity, along with fluctuations in the IMF Bz to +10 to -18 nT. This was the result of a co-rotating interaction region preceding a high speed stream from a coronal hole. The geomagnetic field responded with unsettled to minor storm at middle latitudes, while high latitudes experienced active to severe storm levels. The period ended with the IMF Bz fluctuating between +/- 10 nT and solar wind speed near 700 km/s. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 12 APRIL - 08 MAY 2006 Solar activity is expected to be at predominately very low to low levels with isolated moderate activity possible after the return of old Region 865 on 22 April. 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 12 – 22 April. The geomagnetic field is expected to be at quiet to unsettled levels for the majority of the period. Active to major storm conditions are expected on 14 – 17 April, while active to minor storm conditions are expected on 02 May and again on 06 – 07 May, all due to effects from recurrent coronal hole wind streams. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2006 Apr 11 2124 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 Apr 11 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2006 Apr 12 85 8 3 2006 Apr 13 85 10 3 2006 Apr 14 85 25 5 2006 Apr 15 80 30 5 2006 Apr 16 80 20 4 2006 Apr 17 80 15 3 2006 Apr 18 75 10 3 2006 Apr 19 75 5 2 2006 Apr 20 75 5 2 2006 Apr 21 75 7 2 2006 Apr 22 80 7 2 2006 Apr 23 85 7 2 2006 Apr 24 95 8 3 2006 Apr 25 100 8 3 2006 Apr 26 100 8 3 2006 Apr 27 100 5 2 2006 Apr 28 100 5 2 2006 Apr 29 100 8 3 2006 Apr 30 100 8 3 2006 May 01 100 8 3 2006 May 02 100 20 4 2006 May 03 100 12 3 2006 May 04 95 10 3 2006 May 05 90 5 2 2006 May 06 90 25 5 2006 May 07 85 15 3 2006 May 08 80 8 3 (http://www.sec.noaa.gov/radio via DXLD) ###