DX LISTENING DIGEST 6-062, April 15, 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: Sun 0230 WWCR 5070 Sun 0300 WBCQ 9330-CLSB Sun 0530 WRMI 9955 Sun 0630 WWCR 3215 Mon 0300 WBCQ 9330-CLSB Mon 0415 WBCQ 7415 Mon 0500 WRMI 9955 Wed 0930 WWCR 9985 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 ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. Radio Solh on 17700, April 12 at 1336 UT. Lots of nice Asian music and short talks in unknown language. 44444 (Moisés Knochen, Cuchilla Alta (72 km east of Montevideo), Uruguay, Sony ICF- 7600DS receiver + 15-m long wire antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS. INTERNATIONAL HAMFEST IN PORT BLAIR Dear Friends, To celebrate World Amateur Radio Day 2006, National Institute of Amateur Radio (NIAR) is organising an "International Hamfest (VU4) India 2006" during April 18-20, 2006 at Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Lt. Gen. M. M. Lakhera (Retd.), Lt. Governor has kindly consented to be the Chief Guest at the Inaugural session of the HAMFEST on 18th April, 2006. The event is being held at Hotel Megapode Nest, Port Blair. A host of dignitaries from various sponsoring and supporting agencies of Government of India will be present at the event along with many world famous DX Hams. Several senior faculty members from prestigious educational Institutions in India attending this HAMFEST. The discussions at this convention will address various topical issues connected with Amateur Radio like DXpeditions, Emergency Communications, Disaster Management, Antennas, Propagation, latest technology developments.... etc. The WPC has permitted Indian and International Ham delegates to operate their stations from Port Blair by obtaining licence from Govt. of India from April 18 to 25, 2006. They shall use the VU4AN callsign followed by their individual Indian callsign. Several well known DX Hams have already received their reciprocal licences and will be active from VU4 along with many more Indian Hams. NIAR is issuing special awards to those stations who make contact with more number of VU4AN station. More details are available in http://www.niar.org/hamfest/awards.htm Hope to CU in the pile ups from VU4! 73 VU4AN/VU2JOS (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Raj Bhavan Road, Hyderabad 500082, India, Tel: 91-40-5516 7388 Telefax: 91-40- 2331 0287, EchoLink: Node No. 133507 VU2NRO http://www.niar.org April 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dear Jari & Glenn, I am already in Chennai now on the way to Port Blair and shall check up if the drifting station on 4666-4775 is AIR Port Blair. I shall be visiting the station also again of course. Yours sincerely, (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Raj Bhavan Road, Hyderabad 500082, India, Aug 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) This is the latest list of callsigns that have been issued to foreign amateurs for use during the Hamfest at Port Blair, Andaman Islands: VU3CHE (K4VUD/HS0ZCW) VU3RYE (DL9GFB) VU3FRK (DL4KQ) VU3RYF (DL9MS) VU3GMM (XU7ACC) VU3RYG (SP3CYY) VU3JLW (AA4NN) VU3RYH (WA6UVF) VU3KIE (OH2KI) VU3RYI (JR3MVF) VU3NZB (DJ8NK) VU3RYJ (W0GJ) VU3NZC (SP3DOI) VU3RYM (DL5OAB) VU3OHA (W3UR) VU3RYN (N6TQS) VU3OHB (OH2BH) VU3RYP (VK8FR) VU3PLM (IZ1GLO/K2LEO) VU3SIB (F4EGD) VU3RIC (DJ5IW) VU3SIC (F5CWU) VU3RVC (DK5WL) VU3SID (DJ7ZG) VU3RWN (SP3GEM) VU3SIE (DK1BT) VU3RWO (K3LP) VU3SIF (DL3GA) VU3RWP (JH4RHF/OE1ZKC) VU3SIG (DL7AFS) VU3RYB (DL7DF) VU3TLY (IK1PMR) Following Indian operators have been granted permission to operate: VU2BL VU2GHX VU2MTS VU2VPR VU2BMB VU2GL VU2MY VU2WDP VU2BVB VU2GRM VU2MYH VU3DHD VU2CKD VU2JJS VU2MYL VU3HDP VU2CMK VU2JMA VU2MYN VU3LGX VU2DBP VU2JOS VU2MYV VU3LMS VU2DH VU2JVA VU2NNA VU3MUV VU2DSV VU2LFA VU2PKV VU3NOJ VU2FI VU2LIC VU2RBI VU3RNU VU2FSX VU2LU VU2UWZ VU3RSB All of the callsigns above will have to be prefixed with VU4AN/ (e.g. VU4AN/VU3TLY). According to the information posted by Jose Jacob, VU2JOS on http://www.qrz.com/vu4an operations will run from 1830 UT on 17 April to 1830 on the 25th (425 DX News April 15 via Dave Raycroft, ODXA via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. 11710.8, RAE, 0246-0255, Apr. 15, "DX Special" program with schedules for various international and domestic SW broadcasters via ODXC [?] info. RAE contact info, sports news at 0250, IS/ID loop at tune-out. Fair (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH-USA, R75, 200' Beverages, MLB-1, DTS-4, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. Summer [sic] A-06 for CVC International / The Voice via DRW = Darwin: Chinese to China 2200-0200 on 15170 DRW 250 kW / 340 deg 0400-1000 on 17830 DRW 250 kW / 340 deg 1000-1400 on 13775 DRW 250 kW / 340 deg 1400-1600 on 13695 DRW 250 kW / 340 deg 1600-1800 on 11770 DRW 250 kW / 340 deg English to Indonesia 0600-0900 on 15335 DRW 250 kW / 303 deg 0900-1100 on 11955 DRW 250 kW / 303 deg 1100-1800 on 13635 DRW 250 kW / 303 deg Indonesian to Indonesia 2300-0200 on 15250 DRW 250 kW / 303 deg 0400-1000 on 17820 DRW 250 kW / 303 deg 1000-1300 on 9670 DRW 250 kW / 303 deg 1300-1700 on 7180 DRW 250 kW / 303 deg (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, April 14 via DXLD) ** AUSTRIA. Summer A-06 for CVC International / The Voice via MOS = Moosbrunn: English to West Europe in DRM mode 1000-1100 on 11815 MOS 035 kW / 295 deg (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, April 14 via DXLD) ** BELARUS [non]. RADIO POLONIA EXPANDS BROADCASTS TO BELARUS 14 April. 2006 http://www.polskieradio.pl/polonia/article.asp?tId=35427&j=2 Radio Polonia has launched a dedicated Polish language service for the ethnic Polish community in neighbouring Belarus. It will be available on medium wave and FM in the south and north of he country. The station's Belarussian language service has also been expanded. The European Union, the United States, as well as international human rights organizations have repeatedly voiced their concern over human rights abuses and disrespect for democratic principles by the Belarussian authorities. Poland has long urged its western allies to do more to promote democracy in Belarus, not least following the recent presidential elections, whose results were described by observers as dubious. Interviewed on Radio Polonia, Speaker of the Polish Senate Bogdan Borusewicz said that the sizeable ethnic Polish minority in Belarus, just like all the citizens of Belarus, are entitled to free access to information. Radio Polonia broadcasts intend to offer such information on a more extensive basis than until now. Polish language transmissions can be heard 20.00-21.00 Belarussian time on 105.3 FM in the south and 19.00-20.00 on 1557 kHz AM in the north of Belarus (via Zacharias Liangas, DXLD and Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) DST of UT +3 in effect, so means 17-18 & 16-17 UT resp. (gh, DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. R. Yura, "La Voz de los Ayllus", 4715 (aprox.) April 9, 2234 UT. Andean music and talks in Quechua. Heard later 0103 signing off with announcement in Spanish and music. Also heard in the morning (Moisés Knochen, Cuchilla Alta (72 km east of Montevideo), Uruguay, Sony ICF-7600DS receiver + 15-m long wire antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) usually reported as 4716 ** BOLIVIA. 6025, Radio Illimani, 2344-2358, 13-04, locutor, transmisión partido de fútbol de la Copa Libertadores de América entre Estudiantes de Argentina y Bolivar de Bolivia. A las 2358 la señal fue completamente interferida por China Radio Internatinal que comenzó su transmisión en inglés en 6020 kHz. Hasta entonces, señal débil a muy débil. 24322 variando a 14321 (Manuel Méndez, Grundig Yacht Boy 400, antena telescópica, escucha realizada en el casco urbano de Lugo, DX LISTENING DIGEST) had been inactive; will it stick when there is no FB? (gh) ** BOLIVIA. Hi Glenn, I hear on 6105 Radio Panamericana, La Paz in Spanish with sport info and full ID at 0100 UT, very strong, sinpo 45444, end of program 0100 14/4, no QRM. Rx AOR 7030, MFJ 9595b+MFJ 784b -DSP, longwire antenna 300 feet long (Maurits Van Driessche from Belgium (DX Antwerp), DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6105.5 kHz, R. Panamericana, La Paz, Bolivia. Apr. 5 at 1036-1046 in Spanish. SIO 232. Chorus till 1038, then ID. Guitar music & talk followed. Telephone interview from 1046 (Iwao Nagatani, Japan, Japan Premium April 14 via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 6165, 1044- March 16, Radio Logos. I spent some time searching for this one. At 0857 only a Chinese station could be heard. At this check, indeed there was some religious and possibly Spanish programming. At 1053 there was a clear ID for 'Radio Trans-Mundial'. At that time, the language sounded more indigenous than Spanish. Perhaps someone with more information about this station could shed some more light about their scheduled programs. An open carrier came on at 1057 [Bonaire], but the presumed Radio Logos programming could still be heard (Volodya Salmaniw, Napo River, Ecuador, April 15, dxldyg via DXLD) Walt`s Amazon DXpedition report just came in at press time; in full already on the yg (gh) ** BRAZIL. 4965 kHz, R. Alvorada, Parintins, Amazonas at 0859 UT, March 27. Tuned in just as station signed on. Have heard this tentatively a few times, but a positive ID this time. Chimes at tune in, a male speaks then piano music. One verse of Vatican Radio’s IS, possible prayer and then both male and female announcers give a station ID that includes R. Alvorada, frequencies they broadcast on and station location as Parintins, Amazonas. A series of announcement and jingles were played --- possibly an ad block. Another R. Alvorada, Amazonas ID then laser sound effects at 0509 then into first full- length song --- a lively tune. None of the music sounded religious, just basically Brazilian pops interspersed with male announcer giving time checks and some other info. Slow fade but still audible at end of my logging at 1000 UT with static and noise level rising (John Sgrulletta, NY, DX-plorer via RNM via DXLD) ** CANADA. After being silent for almost a year, the Pearson International Airport station CFYZ-1280 returned to the air today. If you think you've heard one airport TIS you've heard 'em all, CFYZ had live AM and PM drive time programs, with real-live hosts. They probably pulled in better BBM numbers than some of the Toronto market bottom-feeders such as "640 Toronto" (the former MOJO 640 before getting some estrogen supplements). 73 (Mike Brooker, Toronto, ON, April 14, IRCA via DXLD) ** CHILE. Summer [sic] A-06 for CVC International / Voz Cristã / La Voz via SGO = Santiago Portuguese to Mexico and Central America [sic, as they have claimed several times before. Is this an error at the CVC source??? Obviously supposed to be Brasil] 0000-0400 on 11745 SGO 100 kW / 060 deg 0400-1200 on 6110 SGO 100 kW / 060 deg 1200-1700 on 15525 SGO 100 kW / 060 deg 1700-2400 on 15340 SGO 100 kW / 060 deg Portuguese to Brasil in DRM mode 1800-2000 on 17660 SGO 015 kW / 045 deg Spanish to Central America 0100-0400 on 15585 SGO 100 kW / 340 deg Spanish to Northern South America 0100-0800 on 11655 SGO 100 kW / non-dir 0800-1200 on 5960 SGO 100 kW / non-dir 1200-0100 on 17680 SGO 100 kW / non-dir Spanish to Southern South America 2200-1300 on 6070 SGO 100 kW / 030 deg 1300-2200 on 9635 SGO 100 kW / 030 deg (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, April 14 via DXLD) ** CHINA. Qinghai Province Station, 4750 kHz, April 9, 2257 UT with talks in Chinese. At 2300 six time pips and ID "Qinghai Renmin Gunagbo Dientai", read first by man, then by woman. 35343. Other Chinese channels (unidentified) heard on 4620 kHz, April 9, 2241 UT (25332), on 4800 kHz, (April 9 2329 UT), on 4820 kHz, (April 10, 1113 UT, 34343), and on 5030 kHz (April 10, 1030 UT, 44444). The latter could be heard identifying as "Zhong Yang Renmin Guangbo Dientai". Perhaps CNR1? Another one heard on 5050 kHz, April 11 at 2320 UT. ID sounded to my ignorant ears like "Kwan Tei Mei Nai". I am not sure about the language in this instance (Moisés Knochen, Cuchilla Alta (72 km east of Montevideo), Uruguay, Sony ICF-7600DS receiver + 15-m long wire antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [non]. I`ve found CRI English at 2100 on 5960 // 7285 (Bob Thomas, CT, April 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Both Albania, 310 degrees ** CHINA [and non]. Speaking of coordination [see UK], I notice that CRI is still colliding with VOA`s long-established 9760 during the 1300 UT hour. The price for hospitality on Hainan? (Glenn Hauser, OK, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CROATIA [non]. Croatian Radio, 0200-0215, NAm 9925ge & 2215-2230 SAm 9925ge. An hour earlier than was listed (George Sherman, MN, PTSW April 15 via DXLD) ** CUBA [non]. BBG PLANNING RESEARCH ON PROGRAM PREFERENCES FOR RADIO/TV MARTÍ The Broadcasting Board of Governors is soliciting bids to design, develop, and execute a research study to ascertain the TV and Radio program preferences of the Cuban population. The study will cover the period May 8, 2006 through May 7, 2007. The purpose of the study is to prepare/submit to management an overall report detailing the survey results and provide specific recommendations for program improvements and new original programming for both Radio and TV Martí. The final report shall also define the target audiences(s) for Radio and TV Martí and the programming needs of Cubans on the Island. Full text of solicitation http://www.fbodaily.com/archive/2006/04-April/13-Apr-2006/FBO-01025296.htm # posted by Andy @ 14:16 UT April 13 (Media Network blog via DXLD) Now how are you going to such audience research in the police state? (gh, DXLD) Using the approved questionnaire, conduct a survey of a minimum of 400 recent Cuban arrivals to the U. S. that are representative of the Cuban population. The sample survey shall be weighted to reflect the current demographic composition of the population of Cuba (from the full text above, via DXLD) ** ECUADOR [and non]. Glenn, acabo de escuchar en HCJB "Dx Partyline" en la voz de Allen Graham que la última emisión en inglés desde Pifo/Ecuador será el sábado 6 de mayo a las 1330 TU. Thanks. 73. (Dino Bloise, FL, April 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 12005, 21455 (gh) HCJB/Quito to end English programming May 6, 2006 --- On today's DX Partyline, Allen Graham informed his listeners that on May 6, 2006, all English programming from HCJB in Quito will come to an end. He later mentioned that there are only three opportunities left to hear the DX Partyline program from the Pifo, Ecuador transmitters. Very sad news! The DXPL had been heard from HCJB/Quito since 1961. Many of us hope to hear the DXPL for a long time to come via HCJB/Australia, WWCR, or through internet streaming. They mentioned plans to have special programming on May 6th commemorating the event, just shy of HCJB's 75th anniversary, coming up this Christmas (Mark Vosmeier, N9IWF, April 15, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Also on WRMI. So are we sure the program DXPL will be continuing? Last time they were cutting English back on Pifo, they were about to cancel it (gh, DXLD) ** EGYPT. BBC ARABIC SECTION PRODUCING A PROGRAM ON EGYPTIAN RADIO ! Hello DXers, on the 6th of April a new show [began] called BBC-E, a special show in Arabic and English for the listeners of 2 Egyptian networks youth and sports radio and middle east radio. The program is hosted by 2 Egyptian actors, Khald and Abeer, mainly trying to help in improving the English language by listening to the radio. There is a quiz by 2 callers and they have to answer some questions; also the crew of BBC English on the Arabic section is participating in the show. Some shows on BBC Arabic are rebroadcasted during that show like Words in Music. They transmit the show twice every Thursday from 1500 to 1600 UT on the Middle East radio on FM 89.5 and MW 774, also on youth and sports radio from 2100 to 2200 UT on FM 108 and MW 711. You may check their site via the BBC Arabic site here : http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/arabic/elt/newsid_4882000/4882534.stm Greetings from Cairo, yours (Tarek Zeidan, Cairo, Egypt, April 13, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) WRTH 2006 says Egypt goes on DST of UT +3 from April 28. Timeanddate.com says April 27 for this year, the latest start for DST of any country, a week after Palestsine. So the above times may shift one UT hour earlier (gh, DXLD) This confirms the item that we published in the Media Network Weblog on 27 September 2005: http://www.blogger.com/email-post.g?blogID=5959598&postID=112782239160492936 (Andy Sennitt, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. Re 6-061: Radio Africa 2 is audible again today on 15190 kHz from tune-in just after 1000 UT with US evangelical programs. Yesterday CRI was stronger but today Radio Africa is dominant on the channel here with weaker China underneath (Dave Kenny, Caversham UK, AOR 7030 + 80 ft long wire, April 14, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** FALKLAND ISLANDS [non]. UK, BBC, 11720, 2130 3/31. Thanks to tip on World of Radio, heard the final "Calling the Falklands" after 62 years. Show talked about all the new web technologies; e.g. podcasts. They promoted BBC website. Talk about virtual online communities, e.g. one for Farmers in Canada. Quick "goodbye forever" and cut off at end. No anthem (Larry Russell, MI, MARE Tipsheet April 14 via DXLD) ** FRANCE [non]. Things are improving at RFI. Instead of opening 30 seconds late, they had it down to about 20 seconds, April 14: Tuned in 15515 at 1329, nothing there until carrier came on at 1329:40, and joined French news in progress at about 1330:20 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. Dear friends, Note the details about the special QSL card of Deutsche Welle. This is in reply to my query regarding DW special QSL card for FIFA World Cup soccer. 73s, (Swopan Chakroborty, Kolkata, India, April 15, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Subject: Special QSL --- Dear Swopan, Thanks a lot for your email. We will bring out two special QSL-Cards for FIFA World Cup in Germany, but it is a limited edition. We will only send one card to each listener. First of all, we would ask our monitors if they're interested in these QSL-Cards. I don't know exactly when we will get these cards. I will inform all my monitors about these cards, when I got them. Kind regards, Andrea (via Swopan, ibid.) ** GERMANY. Summer A-06 for CVC International / The Voice via WER = Wertachtal: English to West Africa and Nigeria 0600-0900 on 15640 WER 125 kW / 210 deg 1500-1800 on 15715 WER 125 kW / 210 deg 1800-2000 on 13820 WER 125 kW / 210 deg 2000-2100 NF 13820 WER 125 kW / 210 deg, ex 9765 (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, April 14 via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. RRI has regained presence at 1200 on 9525 since a couple of weeks or so. Heard with good signal and sharing the impression that this is the time slot they should have English programs, as some other Pacific and Asian stations used to. Without embargo, RRI program 4 on 9680 has even better signal from 1000, even giving us the chance to enjoy their native music (Raul Saavedra, Costa Rica, April 15, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) And Kang Guru Radio English at 1000 twice weekly (gh) ** IRAN. On April 12, the Spanish service from VOIRI at 0030 began on 9905 kHz (the official frequency), then suddenly went off the air and reappeared a few minutes later on 9900 kHz. This frequency was used for the rest of the Spanish broadcasts. I didn't check it in the following days (Moisés Knochen, Cuchilla Alta (72 km east of Montevideo), Uruguay, Sony ICF-7600DS receiver + 15-m long wire antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY. RAI International in Italian: 0625-1300 on 6195*ROM 100 kW / 052 deg, but registered 0700-1300!!! * strong co-channel BBC WS in English till 0700 (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, April 14 via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. QSL La Voz de Corea, confirmando escucha del 1 de marzo a las 1900 UTC por la frecuencia de 7570, acompañada de un pín envuelto en un delicado sobre de papel cebolla, un banderín de Radio Pyonyang, horarios y frecuencias de La Voz de Corea, RPDC (Emisiones en español), un ejemplar del ``The Pyonyang Times``, en inglés, concretamente Nº 6, Saturday, February 11, Juche 95 (2006). Una carta personalizada del Servicio Español con encabezamiento en coreano, inglés y francés. The Radio-Televisión Broadcasting Committee of the D.P.R. of Korea. Le Comité de Radiodiffusion-Télévision de la R.P.D. de Corée. Enviada por correo a ``Emisiones en español. Pyönyang``, contestada en 40 días (José Miguel Romero, Spain, bclnews.it via DXLD) ** LATVIA. Relays via Latvia --- Here's a round-up of the stations that have been heard using the 100 kW Ulbroka transmitter on 9290 during the past six months. Broadcasts are normally heard at weekends. Only Radio Six broadcasts weekly, others like Radio Joystick and Radio Casablanca broadcast monthly while others are heard occasionally: Radio 73: web: http://www.radio73.de email: radio73 @ hotmail.de Address: Matthias Krause, Dorfstrasse 36, D-25474 Boeningstedt, Germany. Also heard via IRRS in Italy [non]. Radio Caroline Eifel: web: http://www.radio-caroline-eifel.de.vu email: radio-caroline-eifel @ web.de address: SRS Deutschland, Caroline-Eifel, PO Box 10 11 45, 99801 Eisenach, Germany Radio Casablanca: address: lwin [sic] Borchers Ringstrasse 9, 26826 Stapelmoor, Germany Radio City: email: citymorecars @ yahoo.ca address: Ostra Porten 49, S-44254 Ytterby, Sweden Europa Radio International: http://www.europaradiointernational.co.uk email: admin @ europaradiointernational.co.uk address: PO Box 299, Whitstable, Kent, CT5 2YA European Music Radio: web: http://www.emr9290.co.uk email: studio @ emr9290.co.uk address: c/o A Taylor, 32 Shearing Drive, Carlshalton, Surrey SM5 1BL. Also heard via IRRS in Italy [non]. FRS Holland: web: http://www.frsholland.nl email: frs@frsholland.nl address: PO Box 2702, 6049ZG Herten, Netherlands Radio Joystick: web: http://www.radiojoystick.de email: chapri @ radiojoystick.de address: Radio Joystick, DJ Charlie Prince, PO Box 100812, 45408 Mulheim an der Ruhr, Germany KWRN Radio Nordland: email: kwrn @ freenet.de address: SRS Deutschland, KWRN, PO Box 10 11 45, 99801 Eisenach, Germany Radio Marabu: web: http://www.radio-marabu.de email: marabu @ radio- marabu.de address: PO Box 1166, D 49187 Belm, Germany Q103: web: http://start.at/Q103 email: jazzlighthouse @ gmx.li address: PO Box 2702, 6049ZG Herten, Netherlands Pipeline Radio: web: http://www.pipelineradio.org email: studio @ pipelineradio.org RMRC (Rhein Main Radio Club): web: http://www.telstarhitfm.tk or http://www.rmrc.de email: telstarhitfm @ gmx.net Radio RTN: email: janhenric @ radiortn.de address: Ostra Porten 49, S-44254 Ytterby, Sweden Radio Six International: web: http://www.radiosix.com email: letters @ radiosix.com; address: PO Box 600, Glasgow, Scotland G41 5SH. Also heard via IRRS in Italy [non]. Starship Radio: web: http://www.backtobasicsradio.co.uk mail: studio @ starshipradio.com address: Back to Basics Radio, 120 Goring Road, Colchester, Essex C04 0DB Radio Waves International: email: rwaves @ free.fr http://go.to/rwi address: PO Box 130, 92504 Rueil Cedex, France (Paul Watson, Radio Without Licence [non], April World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** LIBYA. En 1251 kHz se puede escuchar desde Libia a Voice of Africa en árabe. A las 2130 UT emiten un pequeño paréntesis en inglés y francés con la siguiente información: Dirección, fax y Tlfo. Te adjunto el breve fragmento porque algún número de teléfono no lo escucho bien y seguramente tú lo entenderás mejor. Un saludo (Ignacio Sotomayor, Spain, April 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Ignacio, Parece que mencionan varios números. Deben matar la música para escucharse claro. Entre los números incompletos, encuentro dos iguales a los alistados en WRTH: teléfono 4449206, fax 4446875 (aunque parecían decir 4449875). Además hay prefijo +218 21. 73, (Glenn to Ignacio, via DXLD) ** LIBYA [non]. Voice of Africa on 17670 kHz heard on April 12 1214 UT. News in English followed by French and then Arabic. 35444 (Moisés Knochen, Cuchilla Alta (72 km east of Montevideo), Uruguay, Sony ICF- 7600DS receiver + 15-m long wire antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBYA [non]. Hello Glenn, Just read the latest posts by Jose Miguel Romero regarding Sawt Alamel, and would just like to add that I find these contributions very interesting, and useful, and I appreciate them, as do most folks. Gracias para sus artículos con respecto a Sawt Alamel. Es muy interesante y apreciado. Cheers and all the best (Christopher Lewis, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MADAGASCAR. Quoting Noel Green in DXLD 6-061: "the RNW schedule shows 7395 in // 5905 at 1800-1900 for Family Radio" Actually it doesn't. 7395 is carrying English, while 5905 is Swahili. I was not aware that the WYFR schedule on its own site was in such a mess. If it helps, I can add the languages of the WYFR transmissions via Madagascar. But I'm not in the office till Tuesday, so you'll have to wait a few days. Incidentally, there's an additional Family Radio English transmission from Madagascar starting on 1 July at 1900-2000 UT on 7395 kHz (Andy Sennitt, Radio Netherlands, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Would help to have languages for all broadcasts in that schedule, including other stations relayed (gh, ibid.) ** MALAYSIA. 15295 at 0700 Friday April 14 with ID by male announcer in English upon the notes of Frankie Valli`s ``Grease``. Good signal but distorted audio. This transmission is intended to Au/NZ per WRTH; that means I got a good side lobe (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. XEXQ, 6045, SLP, heard much better April 14 than 13: at 1319 classical piano music, peaking at good strength, but lots of fading. Local noise level not a problem, but instead T-storm crashes. Also suffered from overmodulation, all overlain with a ripple, fast SAH caused by another weak signal on frequency, presumably remnants of Hohhot. 1333 Spanish announcements, but fading out. They used to have news during the 1300 semihour. Saturday April 15, nothing audible around 1235 and 1305 checks, but at 1335 recheck, 6045 was on with a series of popular classics played on flute/piccolo, including Pomp & Circumstance #5 at 1337. No announcements until 1353 when it was fading out (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 6000(variable), Radio Insurgente may broadcast today, between 2000 and 2200. Clandestine location may be in Chiapas[?]. Friday broadcasts have been received as for north as PA by DXer Dave Valko. Hans Johnson was the first Florida DXer to log this broadcast. Speculation that Cuba is the location of this broadcast may be in error. Reception seem to favour the West coast of Florida over the East coast. rw (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, April 14, HCDX via DXLD) CLANDESTINE (MEXICO?) Radio Insurgente; heard here on 5999.95 from 2001 through 2120 tune out (due to complete and total boredom) on Friday, 14 April. No trace of it from 1920-2001, then Spanish M&W up at 2001 (though I was not certain if actual sign-on or just fade-up then, for the first time). Programming was mostly M&W babble, with a few vocals. The female reminded me of the old Radio Venceremos reader. Location stated by several is pure speculation until it is DF'ed or the station itself confirms. Chiapas? Isla de la Juventud? Guatemala? Heck, why not Immokalee, Florida? QRM in this period consisted of only a big open carrier from 2050-2054 (RHC?). Recheck at 2138, a fairly strong station with Qur`an recitals, Arabic man from 2144. Recheck at 2155, RAI ID X 2 by man in Italian, and plug pulled 2155. Not sure who the Arabic station was, since I was out of the room between the Arabic and Italian. Nothing audible from 2155 through 2113 [2213?]. Recheck at 2223, RHC already up with interval signal. The Insurgente signal appeared to be pretty consistent on east vs. west coast, as DX-F'ers monitoring were: myself (Clearwater: coastal west-central Florida), Bob Foxworth (Tampa, across the bay from me) and David Crawford (Titusville, east coast Florida). The signal was not much above threshold, and surprisingly, did not improve as the afternoon progressed. Since my log, John Santosuosso (Lakeland) reported something here at 2138 (could it have been the Arabic station I had at this time?) and Hans Johnson (Ochopee, FL) had Insurgente from 1952, so my first audio was a fade-in vs. sign-on (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Not really expecting to hear anything way up here, I did check 6000 around 2050 April 14, and sure `nuff, heard nothing. Perhaps RI is observing DST and starting an hour earlier than before, making it even less DXable. Had been heard as early as 2050 UT in winter. However, the Zapatistas previously had an issue with Mex Govt-imposed DST. I see no reason to doubt they are really transmitting from somewhere in Chiapas (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. R. Netherlands. 0400-0500 add 9590bo (George Sherman, MN, PTSW April 15 via DXLD) ? Referring to English, supposed to be on 6165 only as per RN transmission schedule; 9590 used until 0400 in Spanish. But only two of the three transmitters accounted for at 0400, with 5975 in Dutch. So did you axually hear RN in English at 04-05 on 9590 in A-06? (gh, DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. Re 6-061: RNZI Rangitaiki is maintained via BCL, Rotorua Branch Office. I partly assume this is to allow parts to be flown in easily via Auckland Airport. For shipping in a mobile SW transmitter, the Port of Napier is maybe better (cheaper) than Auckland. However, most of NZ's inbound or outbound shipping takes place via Auckland. BCL (corp) is part of TVNZ (crown corp), but the exact nature of the ownership is unclear to me. BCL also has operations in Australia providing transmission services similar to NZ offerings. The Rotorua --> Taupo --> (Napier / Hastings / Clive) route is rather scenic, but how one turns off in the Rangitaiki Ranges to reach the Rangitaiki Council Area is a mystery to me. The Rangitaiki Ranges are as complex and convoluted as Buller Gorge, but the roads are better. NZ road network's great vomitorium (not me, but many people) ... the 'King Country' roads near the Te Kooti Council Area that is North of New Plymouth. Proposal for a 2nd SW relay in NZ: http://CBC.am/ (Max Power, Vancouver, BC, April 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. [almost sic] WHOA WHOA WHOA HOLD UP!!!!! please. Major confusion going on here. I think Todd failed to mention something here. there are in deed TWO, yes 2, unlicensed transmitters operating on 101.1fm, independently. The first website listed here was ours, http://www.pirateaudio.org We are in NO relation to Todd Roberts or Hot fm http://www.hot101fm.net Parasite 101.1 fm is not a station, its just a small xmitter, a peice of eqipiment just like a drum machine or sequencer, to us. We are a small collective of oklahoma artists and musicians who use the 101.1 fm frequency as an outlet for our creativity. We operate a small 10 watt fm transmitter by the Penn Square mall area. Our signal can be picked up from nw 40th to nw 63rd, and from nw Shartel to nw Penn, We are a very small signal and have been transmitting since last summer. We have never been really too afraid of the big bad fcc til just recently because we have been so unnoticeable to most but our fans and friends in the area. We couldnt hide ourselves if we tried from internet searches so bother? We know exactly how the fcc goes about there confiscations etc, and we are quite fine with that. Someone has to complain or one of you vigelante types needs to tip them off about us, or unless we are using substandard (im talking southenr engineered) that creates bleed or interferrance. We are fully aware of the law, so please dont start that "irelevant - your going to jail" smart ass loop. we know exactly the nature of the fcc and the whole corporate industry game, no one here wants or desires to work for a radio station, we merely want to play our music on a signal that isnt being used, what happens next, happens next, we are quite prepared to play the game. a. They will issue a notice to the home of the xmitter, stating to cease operations in 30 days. for us, thats game over, til then, we will continue. b. When they arrive to take the candy jar, they will have a warrent for the location of the radio station, and will ask them where its at, well, since the coaxe cable is only long enough to run 5 feet from the tree with the antanae, our "station" is in a shoebox in someones backyard. so if they bypass step one, scenario 2 isnt so bad. c. Our transmitter was a gift, it was hand made by a tech who makes and sells kits, who will replace it when/if it goes. d. An fcc raid will only make our next cd sales fly and we wil fully exploit it to our benefit. e. Considering all the above, i doubt they will even issue a fine or confiscate non station equipment...if we cooperate. so all was cool with our lil private fm radio world till.... 2 weeks ago we noticed our transmissions were being wiped out by Todd's station. Our signal when they broadcast is knocked down to a city block. Let me state once again, we are not affiliated. After some confusion, Todd and I made contact and we were in the midst of negotiating the frequency between us when all this erupted on here. Until Hotfm hit hard, we were operating rather openly but not in an agressive manner. Our name itself is often associated with piracy, though it had more to do with throwing renegade concerts back in the 90's and not music/art piracy. We do not endorse theft of any sort, wether its frequency or music, copyright is copyright, and being musicians, (we dont have radio djs or personalitys, just music or the occasion interview with select artists), we respect other artists rights. There have been 2 other fm micropower broadcasters in the Oklahoma/ Moore area and we have created a good support group of techs. We all pretty much felt we were community voices in our areas, local musicians and listeners heavily support us because they know our content is truly unique and original. Each of us play a unique sound that generally does not get attention in the city. there are now 4 including Hot fm. Hotfm on the otherhand plays a more contemporary urban kj/the buzz/the spy/ style party jam sound, so that it does compete, though not on purpose i believe, with the other stations listeners, thus bring the heat of those supporters and backers. We doe not think of ourselves as a "radio station". Noun 1. radio station radio station - station for the production and transmission of radio broadcasts station - a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose; "he started looking for a gas station"; "the train pulled into the station" we are neither of those. we have a small transmitter we plug a mp3 player into, and leave next to a tree in one of our members yards. that is no station. Our main goal transmitting is to bump our music and our friends music in the inner city area. The local stations wont play our music, top 40 radio is not open, and local shows that do exist are locked up, so this is our voice. the whole "stations spend loads on finding out what the majority wants" is shite....and really meaningless when it concerns us. We play 60% original content by our collective group, 30% local artists, and 10% outside artists who have submitted content. The outside artists who have submitted are internationally recognised pioneers in the electronic music industry and give us unreleased material. We represent a voice that does not get support from local radio and we offer electronic music culture to oklahomans in the inner urban area. So really, are we pirates or just citizens using there voice. the law may be the law, but it takes rightous citizens to stand up and break unjust laws. we believe in regulation, but not the way the fcc runs things and we will continue to do our thing until they come to take it from us (parasit101fm April 11, radio-info.com Oklahoma board via DXLD) There are many replies and several related threads at http://www.radio-info.com/mods/posts.php?Cat=&Board=oklahoma (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN. QSL: 11570, R. Pakistan, f/d "Alamgiri Gate" card and letter in 68 days for 1 IRC. V/S, Muhammad Ayub, Engineering Manager (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH-USA, R75, 200' Beverages, MLB-1, DTS-4, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 4835.46, Radio Marañón, 1042-1052 April 13. Noted music until 1046 when canned ID presented as, "4835, onda corta ... Radio Marañón..." by woman. A couple more promos and back to Huaynos music. Signal peaked from poor to good by 1050 (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston, Florida, NRD545, Dipole, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** POLAND. See BELARUS [non] ** POLAND. CATHOLIC RADIO STATION APOLOGIZES FOR ANTI-SEMITISM Radio Maryja, a Polish radio station which broadcasts primarily to the nation's Roman Catholics, has apologized for broadcasting anti-Semitic remarks, the British Broadcasting Corporation reported. http://www.nysun.com/article/31028 The station's Reverend Tadeusz Rydzyk apologized for broadcasting the views of one of its commentators, who suggested that Jews made a good business out of claiming compensation payments for being victims of the Holocaust, after the Vatican expressed deep concern that the Catholic station was transmitting anti-Semitic views. Warsaw's papal representative, Monsignor Jozef Kowalczyk, wrote to Polish bishops urging them to put pressure on Radio Maryja to withdraw the comment and apologize (via Zacharias Liangas, Greece, April 15, DXLD) ** PUERTO RICO. WIPR, *940, San Juan, had been on low power after a hurricane hit, but now is completely off. It is working on acquiring a new site, and hopes to be on in about seven months (Bruce Elving, April FMedia! [non] via DXLD) Cf previous reports; yet another variation on the reason for its absence, instead of ``going digital`` (gh, DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Summer A-06 for Radio Pacific Ocean in Russian: 0835-0900 on 9765 VLD 250 kW / 050 deg (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, April 14 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Some new frequencies for A-06 of Voice of Russia: 1500-1600 on 13685 S.P 500 kW / 145 deg Russian WS, ex 15440 for A-05 1700-1800 on 5810 SAM 250 kW / 285 deg Polish, ex 11980 for A-05 1900-2000 on 6245 IRK 250 kW / 290 deg Bulgarian, addit \\ 1413, 9470 (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, April 14 via DXLD) ** SERBIA & MONTENEGRO [non]. I`ve been looking around for RSM English if it still exists; nothing found yet. Of course, propagation has not always been good (Bob Thomas, Bridgeport CT, April 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) If you mean a NAm service at 0000, etc., that`s long gone. Only English is to Europe at 1830 on 6100, inaudible in NAm summer, and a tough catch in winter even at 1930 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SINGAPORE. OLI 96.8 FM is very famous FM station in Singapore. They also broadcast in 7170 for a long time, but today (14.04.2006) onwards they changed their frequency from 7170 to 7275 kHz. They also introduced podcasting service http://www.oli.sg (Raja Raja, India, April 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) This is obviously because Singapore is leaving the 7100-7200 kHz block to clear the way for Amateur Radio. Singapore has already given permission to Singapore hams to use this segment with the exception of 7145, 7170 (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, ibid.) ** SOMALIA [non]. U.K.(non), Radio Mustaqbal again on SW from April 10: 0600-0815 on 15515*DHA 250 kW / 240 deg to EaAf Somali Mon-Thu/Sat * strong co-channel Radio Australia in English (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, April 14 via DXLD) DHA = UAE ** SOUTH AFRICA. Summer [sic] A-06 for CVC International via MEY = Meyerton: English to Central and South Africa 0515-1545 on 9555 MEY 100 kW / 005 deg Portuguese to Central and South Africa 1905-2205 on 9620 MEY 100 kW / non-dir Portuguese to Mozambique 0600-0900 on 9805 MEY 100 kW / 076 deg (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, April 14 via DXLD) ** SOUTH AFRICA. Sonder Grense (tentative) on 3320 kHz, April 11, 2143 onwards with good signal and no interference. Talks in Afrikaans, apparently religious, no ID heard at 2200. Listeners' phone calls over the air. The station could be heard all night through with good to fair signal (Moisés Knochen, Cuchilla Alta (72 km east of Montevideo), Uruguay, Sony ICF-7600DS receiver + 15-m long wire antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SRI LANKA. TIME FOR CHANGE WHEN SRI LANKA TURNS BACK THE CLOCKS Sri Lanka permanently puts its clocks back thirty minutes at midnight on Friday. For those who regularly travel between government and rebel Tamil Tiger held areas, putting the two on the same time-zone for the first time in a decade will end a sometimes irritating and confusing difference. The Tigers, de facto rulers of a seventh of Sri Lanka since a 2002 truce halted two decades of civil war, never accepted the original 1996 time change and simply kept their clocks set five and a half hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), in line with neighbour India. Sri Lanka's decade long flirtation with setting time six hours ahead of GMT began when President Chandrika Kumaratunga put the clocks forward by an hour with the aim of giving an extra hour of light in the evenings and reducing electricity demand. But the dark mornings produced by setting clocks at GMT plus six and a half hours provoked outcry, and the same year the clocks were pushed back again, where they have remained ever since - except in Buddhist temples, astrologers' offices and, of course, in rebel territory. British-born science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke, author of "2001: A Space Odyssey" and some 80 other books, and resident in Sri Lanka since the 1950s, has complained bitterly about the change. In particular, the 88 year-old scientist - one of the first to predict the use of earth orbiting communications satellites - says he believes Sri Lanka's difference from GMT should be a full hour, not 30 minutes. [+5 or +6??] Clarke, who in the 1940s suggested man would land on the moon at a time when most rubbished the idea, has warned that Sri Lanka's frequent changes to its own time would harm the perceptions of foreign investors, banks, airlines and tourists. "We should always be in line with the rest of the world," he told Reuters Television in his Colombo home. "Otherwise, it's an incredible inconvenience... I mean some silly politician saying we should be different from everybody else." (Source: Reuters) # posted by Andy @ 11:39 UT April 12 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** UKRAINE. Hello Glenn, Just checked for Radio Ukraine International on 7490 at 2046 UT, no transmission at all. Maybe a power problem, or using an alternate channel? Happy Easter! (Christopher Lewis, England, April 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) How was English after 2100? (gh, DXLD) ** U K [non]. I heard BBCWS English at 2100 on 15390 and 15400, approx. 30 second difference in program run, on a Sunday. A lot of defence of new direction and dropping shows, features, etc. Also reading of listeners` comments. They`ll be coming to NYC in a few weeks to interview authors (e.g. Kurt Vonnegut) in partnership with WNYC. Over to You is their mailbag show. 15290 closed at 2200; 15400 continued until 2300 (Bob Thomas, CT, April 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. In DXLD 6-061, GH wrote: "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?" Glenn, you seem to have an obsession with the concept of "disinformation". In fact, as I have already told you, the final decision appears to have been taken very late, long after the frequency coordination conference. RNW were only informed a week or two before the start of the A06 broadcasting season that the BBC no longer required the use of Bonaire at 1200 UT. This frequency had been coordinated too, so are we also guilty of "disinformation" ? Another thing - even if the BBC no longer requires the frequencies, VT Communications (formerly known as Merlin) has other clients who might. Remember how Radio Netherlands was able to secure the temporary use of some of the North American frequencies that the BBC had dropped? When the BBC no longer requires frequencies, VT - which is a commercial operation - will no doubt want to protect its key frequencies, at least for a time, in case it can re-use them. The way to protect them is to register them. I don't believe anyone ever claimed that what's in the HFCC database necessarily matches what's on the air (Andy Sennitt, Holland, April 14, dxldyg via DXLD) Sorry, but BBCWS have given us every reason to suspect the worst of them, when it comes to cutting SW service. Of course this is only speculation, but the idea is that the decision to cut SW so much further was taken earlier, but not announced, even to colleagues who need to know, such as RN, until as late as possible, in order to stifle listener reaction. Spring it on them at the latest possible moment as a fait-accompli. Good point about protecting frequencies, altho there is a thin line between that and ``wooden`` registrations. If the BBC were not going to fulfill the original schedule, BBC should have been removed as the occupant of those frequencies/times (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) ** U K [non]. Summer A-06 for BBC in Azeri: 1700-1730 on 5875 CYP 300 kW / 077 deg 9570 CYP 250 kW / 007 deg 11855 SKN 300 kW / 110 deg Summer A-06 for BBC in Tajik: 1500-1530 on 11945 CYP 250 kW / 077 deg 15205 RMP 500 kW / 062 deg Summer A-06 fro BBC in Uzbek: 1300-1330 on 11915 NAK 250 kW / 280 deg 13765 CYP 250 kW / 077 deg 15330 RMP 500 kW / 062 deg 1600-1630 on 9615 SNG 100 kW / 340 deg 12015 SLA 250 kW / 095 deg 12085 MSK 250 kW / 117 deg 17630 RMP 500 kW / 095 deg All freqs jammed by China (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, April 14 via DXLD) ** U K. 30490, BBC Russian Service, 2 x 15245, 1500 UT 15/4/06, very poor. This is very strange since 10 & 11m had only local traffic and 21 MHz was very poor indeed. I was mobile at a local High Spot "Biddulph park" North Staffordshire using a CB whip and my icom R75. All the best (Tim Bucknall, England, harmonics yg via DXLD) That would be Woofferton, 250 kW, 70 degrees, presumably groundwave also on the harmonic. How far were you from there, in what direction? (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) Ah Woofferton! Thanks, Glenn it`s not listed in my copy of PWBR. That makes sense, it`s about 70 miles SSW from the hilltop I was on, maybe a bit more; you could hear what I now realise must have been aircraft scatter on the signal at times when it peaked a little. I could also hear the Northampton amateur repeater on 29640 at approx. 100 miles to the SE and I would hear the white noise from the London DRM tests on 25700 which was even further away to the SE. I'll check 45735 for a 3rd harmonic next time I get a chance; this is a new facet of the hobby for me --- DXing SW harmonics on groundwave ;-) Many thanks indeed, interesting catch, all the best (Tim Bucknall, ibid.) ** U K. QUEEN TO VISIT BROADCASTING HOUSE The Queen will visit BBC Broadcasting House on Thursday 20 April 2006 to mark the 80th anniversary of the granting of the Corporation's Royal Charter. The Queen will officially re-open the original Broadcasting House in Portland Place, London, which has recently been refurbished as a part of a redevelopment of the site. The Queen's schedule is as follows: Upon arrival at Broadcasting House, The Queen will meet the Director-General of the BBC, Mark Thompson, and the following BBC Radio breakfast presenters: Radio 1 - Chris Moyles Radio 2 – Sir Terry Wogan KBE Radio 3 – Penny Gore Radio 4 – John Humphrys and James Naughtie Five Live – Nicky Campbell and Shelagh Fogarty 1Xtra – Jason and Iyare Asian Network – Sonia Deol The Queen will be shown a model outlining building project plans for Broadcasting House by Sir Richard MacCormac, Architect, and the BBC's Chief Operating Officer, John Smith, and will view a display of digital radio technology and Broadcasting House artefacts. The digital radio technology consists of: A DAB digital radio featuring an electronic programme guide (EPG) A wi-fi radio, which can pick up, via wireless broadband, internet radio stations around the world including all the BBC's national stations A plasma TV screen with a Freeview box, displaying the BBC's 24/7 radio service via digital TV A laptop computer demonstrating listening to radio via the internet on the BBC Radio Player Mobile devices capable of receiving radio services i.e. iPod featuring a selection of the BBC's podcasts and a new mobile telephone with DAB radio access The Broadcasting House artefacts consist of: A 'royal' microphone used by King George V for Christmas broadcasts in the 1930s The 'King's Radio', a specially created version of a high quality radio set made by Murphy, the electronics manufacturer, and presented to King George V. The model was subsequently known to the public as the 'King's Radio.' A cigar box in the form of Broadcasting House presented to Lord Reith on his 10th anniversary as Manager/Director-General of the British Broadcasting Company/Corporation. The Queen will then watch a production for BBC 7's The Big Toe Radio Show. The Queen will meet presenters Kirsten O'Brien and Kevin Duala and young competition winners in the Drama studio. The Queen will view a recording for Radio 4's Woman's Hour and meet presenter Jenni Murray, programme engineers and interviewees Dr Sarah Childs from Bristol University and Dr Rosie Campbell from Birkbeck College, London. Dr Childs and Dr Campbell will be discussing the results of a Woman's Hour/ICM survey looking at the changing role of men and women in society. The Queen will then join a reception hosted by the Chairman, BBC Governors, Executive Board members, senior BBC executives and artists associated with BBC Radio, including: Chris Evans, Sir Clement Freud, Richard Briers CBE, David Jacobs CBE, Paul Merton, Nicholas Parsons OBE, Prunella Scales CBE and Timothy West CBE. The Queen will receive a gift and unveil a plaque before departing. As she leaves from BBC Broadcasting House, The Queen will meet local schoolchildren who will have gathered to wish her a happy birthday. On being told they would be introduced to The Queen, some BBC radio presenters made the following comments: Radio 2's Terry Wogan said: "The last time we met I had to tape back my somewhat large ears lest she'd have one of them off with the sword. Luckily she wields the blade like an expert and I got away with just a flesh wound." Penny Gore, from Radio 3, said: "Well, since I'll have got up at 4.45 am that morning to get ready for presenting Morning on Three, I think it would be safer if I stuck to a small bow rather than bending the knee. I don't want to risk any dizzy spells due to low blood-sugar if I attempt the full curtsey!" Shelagh Fogarty, from Five Live, said: "I'll happily curtsey for any 80-year-old lady who wants me to, especially on her birthday!" Sonia Deol, from the Asian Network, said: "Yes I will curtsey because it's the done thing with Royalty isn't it? But I haven't got a clue how to do it elegantly. In Birmingham we don't have much call for this sort of thing." 1Xtra's Jason & Iyare said: "Our mums would be proud, all we've got to do is remember not to curtsey because that's for girls." (BBC Press Office via Mike Barraclough, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** U S A. FIVE U.S. SENATORS SEND BUSH LETTER ASKING TO STOP THE CUTS Non-copyable reproduction of an April 7 letter about VOA signed by Sens. Mikulski, Sarbanes, Durbin, Landrieu, Feingold: http://www.afge1812.org/ Currently at top of this page (via Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. Summer A-06 for VOA's "Border Crossings" Mon-Fri: 1505-1600 on 4930 BOT 100 kW / 000 deg 6080 SAO 100 kW / 138 deg 7125 UDO 250 kW / 300 deg 12150 IRA 250 kW / 356 deg 13735 IRA 250 kW / 049 deg 13795 IRA 250 kW / 275 deg 15105 UDO 250 kW / 280 deg 15195 BIB 100 kW / 085 deg 15445 LAM 100 kW / 077 deg 15580 BOT 100 kW / 350 deg 17895 BOT 100 kW / 350 deg (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, April 14 via DXLD) Found 6160 an adequate source for Press Conference USA, Sat April 15 from 1230 until 1300* referring Asian listeners then to 9645, 9760 --- but 9760 has the China collision (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. Some changes for Voice of America: Burmese 1130-1200 on 17820 additional frequency \\ 11850 15215 1430-1500 on 12120 additional frequency \\ 5955 12015 2330-2400 on 11980 additional frequency \\ 6185 9505 Persian, retimed 0230-0330 on 9695 11870 17855, ex 0200-0300 on 9635 11810 17855 1630-1700 on 6040 9700 11520, ex 1600-1700 on 6040 9670 11760 1700-1730 on 6040 9770 11520, ex 1700-1800 on 6040 9700 11520 1730-1830 on 6040 9770 11740, ex 1700-1800 on 6040 9700 11520 1830-1930 on 5860 6040 11740, ex 1800-1900 on 6040 9770 11740 Urdu Radio Aap Ki Dunyaa 1700-1800 NF 9785, ex 9585 \\ 9315 (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, April 14 via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Frequency change for Radio Liberty: Avari/Chechen/Cherkassi 0400-0500 NF 9845, ex 11785 \\ 9855 (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, April 14 via DXLD) ** U S A. WORLD OF RADIO missing again from WWCR, 15825, Friday April 14 at 2030, where it had only been a couple of weeks, ex-Thursday. Don`t yet know if this was a permanent change. Extra 66 confirmed still Sat 1600 on 12160, April 15. Also confirmed on WRMI UT Sat 0400 on 9955, webcast (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Miami International, with tremendous, practically local signal, as honestly never heard before on 9955 at 0400, Saturday April 15, starting transmission with GH`s Continent of Media with an interesting commentary about WLW in Cincinnati, which I used to receive on 21640 by mid afternoon some decade ago and got verification by letter, but now seems to be gone. Anyway is worth the occasion to congratulate Jeff White for that good signal and superb audio for future hearings of WOR. At least for this season I won`t have to depend on that distorted audio of WWCR at 0230, Sunday (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Maybe Jeff, now cruising the Caribbean is ``attracting`` a better signal. You mean WLW`s low-power 11 m outlet, 26440? (gh, DXLD) WLW on 11m, wasn't exactly 26450? Remember now there was an occasional Black religious station from Florida on 26470 (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, ibid.) WJFP; I think the latter was 26490, not sure about WLW but if we really need to know we can dredge up the info, hi (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. It looks like my local "TIS" (or what I thought was a TIS) on 1680, which is broadcasting from Fort Meade, Maryland, and which location has been verified, is now broadcasting a digital signal. It sounds very much like IBOC (if is is something else, I can't tell the difference). First heard 4/14 at 1500 EDT. I have to wonder for what purpose is the Federal Government, specifically, the DoD is doing broadcasting a digital signal on what was assumed to be a TIS. Is there cooperation between iBiquity and some Federal Governmental organzation? Remember that the iBiquity headquaters are located in Columbia, Maryland, which is about 5 miles from the transmitter site for this signal. I heard this station re-broadcasting the NOAA weather reports from Baltimore-Washington International Airport before this digital signal appeared (Bill Harms, Elkridge, Maryland, April 14, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) [more under DIGITAL BROADCASTING below] Bill, iBiquity tested IBOC on IBB Delano's DL-4 transmitter for a week. Agreement with IBB, that's all I know. (IBB=means VOA and/or Radio Martí, if you're not into alphabet soup). iBiquity engineers got in the way. We (techs) listened on a remote receiver via Internet. I wouldn't bother to think or write about it. Expect iBiquity's got enough influence to get time on a DOD TIS. Maybe will get to try it on a transportable Continental 317F. Fly over Cuba and transmit Radio Martí-530 in IBOC. Makes sense to me, too. I was government for 32 years. Excuse me while I calm down (Charlie Taylor, NC, IRCA via DXLD) ** U S A. re: Honda Element ads on X-band --- Hi, Glenn, Funny you should mention that -- in the Detroit area they had a very similar thing out near Detroit Metro Airport! This was located at 1610 kHz (A very stupid place, as WAAM-1600 Ann Arbor usually creates bleed over there...) and they would repeat two Honda Element ads: the aforementioned one with the platypus, and a second one with the Element and a beach crab. Ads also gave a Website, which turned out to be nonexistent. Signal was strongest on Goddard Road east of Vining Road. Since the signal was strong there, and it was next to where the Airport TIS at AM-920 used to transmit from, I thought it was just the Airport Authority testing a new location for their TIS --- WPDE847-AM 920 got bumped off the air a couple of months ago, when WFDF-910 moved to their shiny new fifty kilowatt transmitter down in Carleton (About fifteen miles south.) However, the "Transmitting billboard" makes sense as well, as I-94 is just on the other side of the Norfolk Southern railway. I noted the "Station" for maybe a month or so, and it's been off the air now for the past week or two. Strong signal along Goddard between the north entrance to the airport and Vining Roads, and weak but audible signal (On my car radio) to about maybe three miles out. This would also explain why I never found anything in the TIS Database about it at the FCC Website. Take care, (Eric Berger, Detroit, Michigan, April 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. I'm hearing what I assume is WOAI's IBOC "hiss" on 1210 and 1190, 2230-2245 CDT 12 APR 06, totally covering 1210 and only marginally weaker on 1190. Bummer! (Bruce Winkelman AA5CO, Tulsa, OK R8, 50 foot wire/balun, Quantum Phaser in the hospital for a pot transplant, NRC-AM via DXLD) My Receptor HD certainly believes there's an IBOC signal on 1200. Looks like WOWO is too strong to stand any chance of decoding anything - WOAI is NOT trashing 1190 here. – (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66, http://www.w9wi.com ibid.) 800-mile HD DX... REGULAR DX LOGGINGS 1200 WOAI-HD TX San Antonio - 4/13 ~0230 radio captured the WOAI "text ID". Thanks to Bruce in Oklahoma for noting WOAI's HD was on tonight. Text ID only, no digital audio (DS-TN: Doug Smith, Pleasant View, Boston Acoustics Receptor HD, 320-foot center-fed antenna), ibid.) ** U S A. ON-AIR OUTLAW? UNLICENSED Q-C STATION SAYS IT BROADCASTS UNDER WARTIME CLAUSE --- By Rita Pearson, QC Online http://qconline.com/qcnews/archives/qco/sections.cgi?prcss=displa Posted online: April 13, 2006 10:52 PM Print publication date: April 14, 2006 Photo: Dan Videtich Jason Duncan, 26, of Bettendorf is the program director and disc jockey of pirate Quad-Cities radio station, Power Hits 103.3 FM. The station operated under a federal regulation the operators say allows them to broadcast during wartime without a license. The station began broadcasting April 7. [caption] A pirate radio station began broadcasting over Quad-Cities airwaves this week, under a federal regulation that operators say allows them to broadcast during wartime without a license. Power Hits 103.3 FM will stay on the air for as long as possible, said station founder Jason Duncan, 26, of Bettendorf. The station's been broadcasting current pop hits and '80s and '90s music since April 7. On Wednesday, he introduced himself to listeners and explained why the station was broadcasting without federal approval from the Federal Communications Commission. Mr. Duncan said he believes in the freedom of speech and First Amendment Rights and the power of the little guy to buck corporate dominance of the airwaves. Two major communications companies, Clear Channel and Cumulus, own the Quad-Cities' 11 radio stations. Mr. Duncan said there is a need for music by independent artists and other radio programming not allowed by the corporate giants. His long- term goal is to provide these alternatives, and others, if he is allowed to stay on the air. Larry Rosmilso of Clear Channel, said it's "almost unheard of" to have a renegade station broadcasting in a market as small as the Quad- Cities. Typically such stations would broadcast in larger metropolitan areas where it is more difficult for federal regulators to locate and shutdown the broadcast studio. "I'm not mad. I'm not upset. They are a little station and won't hurt us, but it's against the law," he said. "We have to play by the rules and pay licensing fees and get approvals and all the other things the government requires. If we have to, so should they." Jack Swart of Cumulus said the upstart station was "more of an annoyance" than anything, and an engineer working for his station had notified the FCC of the renegade station. "If they want to be radio entrepreneurs, this is not the way to do it," he said, adding that the deejays have probably hurt their chances of ever working for a legitimate radio station. He said Mr. Duncan's station was operating illegally and does not expect them to be operating much longer. "It will come to an end," he said. "It's not fair to those building a real radio business." Mr. Duncan acknowledged his station is just trying to get listener's attention with their combination music and talk format, where callers can weigh-in on a subject by leaving a voice message on their telephone line. They would like to broaden the format, by adding such programming possibilities as broadcasting live at a parade or from a high school football game, he said. He would also like to allow high school students to produce their own radio show. He said he once wanted to go into radio broadcasting but couldn't afford the millions of dollars needed to start his own station and couldn't afford to provide a living for his family on a disc jockey's wages. He said he owns his own company and is a partner in other businesses unrelated to the radio station, which he declined to identify. He said he is not doing this for the money, as some of his detractors claim. He also started and runs an online radio station, Power Mix Online Radio, which has been operating since June 2005. With the backing of several unnamed investors, Mr. Duncan says he obtained a transmitter and an antenna for about $15,000 and started broadcasting over an open space on the FM dial. He and his group will continue broadcasting for as long as the FCC allows. He is selling advertising for the radio station. The FCC says there is no available broadcast space in the Quad-Cities region, Mr. Duncan said. The group found the opening at 103.3 while searching the FM dial. After researching broadcast regulations, they believe they found an opening under the FCC's Code of Federal Regulations, Title 47, Section 3542: Application for emergency authorization. The regulation grants a emergency broadcast on a temporary basis, in extraordinary circumstances, under such situations as emergencies involving danger to life and property, a national emergency proclaimed by the President of the United States, and the continuance of war, where such action is necessary for the national defense or security. Mr. Duncan said his group sought the legal advice of two attorneys specializing in broadcast law before starting their radio broadcast. Renegade radio Power Hits 103.3 FM Hit the QC airwaves April 7 Broadcasts pop hits and '80s and '90s music 24 hours a day, seven days a week Studio: (309) 740-1650 (via Brock Whaley, DXLD) ** U S A. 102.1 MHZ, FLORIDA (PIRATE) unidentified, Tampa; a presumably new one, Haitian Kreyol of course, and presume Tampa. Noted here in Clearwater on the car radio from 2304+ GMT 14 April, fair signal with kompa vocals nonstop. The stereo pilot never came on, seemingly running mono. Last activity I have logged here was in 2003, then "Essense F-M" Haitian pirate in Tampa. The way they pop up and go away, this one is likely a new one (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 DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Thanks to a late season, short notice DX Test from KCKN, New Mexico was added to the logs of DX'ers across the country! For those needing a QSL from this test, you can send in reports to the very DX- friendly staff of KCKN at: KCKN PO Box 220 Roswell, NM 88202-0220 The station has asked that DX'ers who e-mailed their reports re-send them along with a postal mailing address. The station plans to mail out QSL cards for all reports! kckn @ swwmail.net Again, our sincere thanks to Don Niccum, Jerry Kiefer, and the staff of KCKN for one of the most widely received tests in several seasons! ================================================ Martin Foltz of Mission Viejo, CA was the first to report reception of the test. He nulled local KTNQ to hear Roswell's powerhouse. Next up, Les Rayburn in Birmingham, Alabama heard the station switch to their day pattern and give a clear voice ID just after the top of the hour. Jim Renfrew of Byron, NY reported hearing the sweeps and Morse Code starting at :17 minutes past the hour. New Mexico #2 in his log! Patrick Martin of Seaside, OR pulled in the test signals, as did Tom Jasinksi of Shorewood, IL, Bill Harms of Elkridge, MD, and Saul Chernos of Burnt River, Ontario, Canada. Bill Block heard the test "very strong" from his shack in Prescott Valley, Arizona. Doug Smith in Nashville, TN had to battle thunderstorms, power outages, and KDKA to pull in his first logging from New Mexico. Mike Stonebridge in St. Isidore, AB added the second Canadian logging, hearing the sweep and codes clearly despite strong slop from 1010 CBR. Also hearing the test was Steve Ratzlaff in Oregon, the editor of the DX Test web site, Brandon Jordan from his home in Memphis, TN, and Mike Hawkins in California. Dan Riordan used the Drake R8B and a Palomar Loop to pull in the tests from his shack in Sherwood, Oregon, near Portland. The birthplace of the Atom Bomb, Los Alamos, NM is the stomping ground of DX'er Mike Westfall who reported hearing the test despite a little QRM from KTNQ. John Hunter of Rossville, GA was overjoyed to add his first logging of a New Mexico station despite thunderstorms and lots of interference from KDKA. Bob Foxworth used only a "barefoot" DX-398 in the kitchen to null KDKA and pick out the test tones quite clearly from Tampa, Florida. Neil Kazaross used his famous BOG (beverage on the ground) antennas to log a new one. The nearby thunderstorms even caused a small fire in his neighborhood when lightning stuck a neighbor's home. Despite the fire truck sirens, Neal stuck to the headphones to pull in the test from Illinois. Doug Pifer of Albany, OR used a Drake R8B and a Kiwa Loop to pull in the test. Brett Saylor also used a Drake receiver and an EWE antenna to pull in the test, reporting it about "equal with KDKA" at times. What makes this remarkable is that Brett is in Central PA! James Niven heard the test, "bigger than life" in Moody, Texas, while Bruce Winkleman had more of a fight with the QRM from KDKA but still managed to log the test easily in Tulsa, OK. New Mexico was a new state in the logbook of Greg Coniglio of Alden, NY, along with many other DX'ers. Dave Pyatt of Burlington, ON used a NRD-545 and a four foot box loop to log this over KDKA, while Rick Turner of Bemidji, MN used a Select-A-Tenna 541 to good effect. Also logging the test was Christos Rigas of Wood Dale, IL. New Mexico was a new state for him as well (#47!). Ace technical whiz Mark Connelly used a Drake R8A, and a dual-feedline "flag" antenna along with his homebrew DXP-6 phasing unit to receive the test in Billerica, MA. Others pulling in this widely heard test included Scott Fybush of Rochester, NY, Marc DeLorenzo in Cape Cod, MA, and Barry McLarnon of Ottawa, Ontario. Another notable logging was that of Ron Gitschier in Palm Coast FL, who managed to hear his first New Mexican station using only a stock Radio Shack DX-398 and a RS loop sitting on top of his car in the driveway. James Beer of Houlton, WI heard the test using the popular Quantum Q-Stick antenna. Joe Miller added Michigan to the long list of states hearing this test, when he pulled in the Code and sweep tones from his shack in Troy. Others hearing the test included Art Peterson of Richmond, CA, Curtis McMenamin of California, and Frank Aden of Boise, ID. Michael Procop added state #44 to his log from his shack in Bedford, Ohio, and Dave Hochfelder heard the string of "VVV's" followed by the station ID using a Drake R8B in Highland Park, NJ. Bob Galerstein of Monroe, NY reported that the "Sci-Fi" tones got out well; a comment that is echoed in many reports. They allowed Tom Jones of Mason, NH to put a new state into his log book as well. Others who were successful included Richard Line of Sterling Heights, MI, and Gerry Bishop of Niceville, FL. Russ Johnson reported his amazement at hearing the test from his home in Lexington, NC. It's New Mexico #1 for his log too. Into every DX test, a little rain must fall -- and this one was no exception. Among those who tried for the test without success was Bruce Collier of York, PA who simply could not overcome nearby powerhouse KDKA to hear the test. Also disappointed was Randy Stewart of Springfield, MO who overslept despite sitting an alarm clock for the event. Russ Edmunds of Blue Bell, PA also had trouble with KDKA and the familiar Radio Reloj station in Cuba. Another sleepy DX'er was Bert New of Watkinsville, GA who was especially sad to sleep through the alarm, having never logged New Mexico before. He hopes Jerry and Don will be willing to repeat the test in the fall or Winter months. (We hope so too!) SOAPBOX This is New Mexico #1 for me from eastern MA. -Mark Connelly, Billerica, MA Hey, there's the sweeps and code at 0217. Wow! NM #2 I presume! -Jim Renfrew, Byron, NY It is my second NM station here in Maryland. I heard KOB years ago. -Bill Harms, Elkridge, MD Signal is weak under very dominant KDKA. NM #2 here, guess which is the other one! -Saul Chernos, Burnt River, ON KCKN making it in to N.E. MN quite well at 0117 with sweep tones and code I.D. and more sweep tones. Very surprised how good the signal is at times. -Paul LaFreniere, Grand Marais, MN NM #2 here, I have KPAR-1190 Albuquerque (now KXKX-1190) verified back in 1978. -Brandon Jordan, Memphis, TN Despite the severe storm QRN and KDKA I managed to pull in the DX test. Sometimes the sweep tones were quite loud for the distance. Thanks to Don, Jerry, and Les for giving me my first NM station! -John Hunter, Rossville, GA Heard at 2:17am EDT with sweep tones, almost equal with KDKA and Reloj on the E-W EWE antenna, thanks to those who made this possible! -Brett Saylor, Central PA Thanks to those who helped me to get a NEW STATE!!!! -Greg Coniglio, Alden, NY Sweep tones heard underneath KDKA, along with an UNID OLD station. No audio or code heard. Surprising how sweep tones can stand out. (RT-MN) -Rick Turner, Bemidji, MN I wasn't expecting to hear much of anything, with only a McKay Dymek DA5 amplified ferrite rod to try to null KDKA, so even the sweep tones are a bit of a surprise to me! Thanks, Don. Thanks, Les. Fun test! -Scott Fybush, Rochester, NY I phoned Jerry the second I heard his sweep tones at his home in New Mexico. He had just returned from the station to flip it to 10kw NDA for the test. This is my first ever log of NM! -Ron Gitschier, Palm Coast, FL I have heard 10 FM stations from New Mexico but that state would never show up on AM, until now! Many thanks to those that arranged and conducted the test! This was a much needed log. -Michael Procop, Bedford, Ohio Thanks to Les and to KCKN for the test - received in New York's Hudson Valley. The sci-fi sounding tones got out well, the code almost as well. New state - tape in the mail tomorrow. -Bob Galerstein, Monroe, NY Amazing! Both the sweep tones and the cw cut through several times during the 2 hour period. I have one absolutely great cw ID that made the trip. Put me down for NM, Les! Thanks a lot for arranging this. My first NM and I think my furthest west (need to check). -Russ Johnson, Lexington, NC Thanks again to Don, Jerry, and everyone in the "Land of Enchantment" for giving so many of us back-East this much needed state! This has been a wonderful season for DX Tests, and we appreciate all the stations who tested for us -- thanks for making 2005-2006 so memorable. 73, (Les Rayburn, N1LF, NRC/IRCA Broadcast Test Coordinator, Please call anytime 24/7 if your transmitter will be off the air for maintenance, (205) 253-4867 April 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Fwd: Tell a Friend About The Big Broadcast This is not a "fundraising" letter. There'll be plenty of time for that later this month during WFUV's Spring Drive. Besides, chances are you care enough about /The Big Broadcast/, and the music it brings you each week, that you've already done the right thing. I need a favor that doesn't involve a major credit card. During my recent trip out West, I was listening to /The Big Broadcast/ online in a bowling alley (!) in Payson, Arizona. I wondered, "Am I the only person in this town that knows about my show? Is /anybody/ else in Arizona listening?" Isn't it possible, even likely, that five, ten, maybe fifty people in Arizona enjoy music from the 1920s and 30s? Could there be others who would like this wonderful music, if they only had the chance to hear it? For all we know, there could be thousands around the country, more globally, who like this music, but have no idea /The Big Broadcast/ exists. Barring some unanticipated national exposure, they're unlikely to find out. That's not good for the music, and, ultimately, is /terminal/ for /The Big Broadcast./ // This is not a chain letter, either. All I'm asking is for you to send it along, or write your own note, to somebody you think might enjoy the show. With our tower issues solved, our NYC signal is the strongest it's been in my thirty three years at WFUV. And the online and archived shows mean there's nobody who can't hear the program. Your friend, and my future listener, can find out more at http://www.bigbroadcast.com/ or http://www.wfuv.org/ And here's a link to Terry Golway's article on /The Big Broadcast /from the /New York Observer/: http://www.observer.com/20060213/20060213_Terry_Golway_media_wiseguys.asp It's my first caricature! If /The Big Broadcast/ brings you even a fraction of the joy it gives me, you'll want to see it continue. Please tell a friend. One last thing. On Wednesday, June 21st I'll be hosting "Ragtime to Swingtime," at the Kaye Playhouse, for the JVC Jazz Festival. It features Vince Giordano's Nighthawks, Dan Levinson's Roof Garden Jass Band, Bryan Wright, Nancy Anderson and Andy Stein's Blue Five. The concert includes salutes to Ben Pollack and the Casa Loma Orchestra. Watch this site: http://www.festivalproductions.net/jvcjazz.htm for more details. Good. That just saved me /another/ email! Thanks, Rich Conaty, "The Big Broadcast", Sunday 8-Midnight, 90.7 FM & WFUV.org -- (via Ken Kopp - Topeka, Kansas, April 15, dxldyg via DXLD) That 5-9 pm in AZ, UT Mondays 0000-0400 (gh) ** UZBEKISTAN. Summer A-06 for CVC International / The Voice via TAC = Tashkent: English to India 0100-0300 on 7355 TAC 100 kW / 131 deg 0300-0600 on 13685 TAC 100 kW / 131 deg Hindi to India 0100-0400 on 12070 TAC 100 kW / 153 deg 0400-1100 on 13630 TAC 100 kW / 153 deg 1100-1400 on 13820 TAC 100 kW / 153 deg 1400-1700 on 9855 TAC 100 kW / 153 deg (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, April 14 via DXLD) ** VIETNAM. The Voice of Vietnam has an English program 1130-1157 UT on 12020 and 9840 kHz. This broadcast is not listed neither in WRTH 2006, nor in the current (still unfinished) EiBi list. Both list Cantonese instead. Also not listed in VOV's website (which BTW is not very user-friendly). I heard them for the first time on February 27, and now again on April 12. 9840 better than 12020, strong signal and little interference. In the mailbag program they were reading my reception report sent on February 27th! (Moisés Knochen, Cuchilla Alta (72 km east of Montevideo), Uruguay, Sony ICF-7600DS receiver + 15-m long wire antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZAMBIA. Summer [sic] A-06 for CVC International / Christian Voice via LUS = Lusaka: English to South and Central Africa 0600-1500 on 6065 LUS 100 kW / non-dir 1500-0600 on 4965 LUS 100 kW / non-dir (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, April 14 via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE. Hi Glenn, Yes, it is billions that the ZW government want to plough into the airspace. They can't figure out how to plough the land that they have already. BTW, a billion ZWD is 1,000,000,000 --- it`s around 4,200 USD at current black market rates (David Pringle- Wood, Zimbabwe, April 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE. VOICE OF THE PEOPLE BOARD MEMBER RECOUNTS PERSONAL STORY We've reported a great deal on the harassment they've had since the station was raided just before Christmas 2005. Now, for the first time, one of the individuals concerned has talked at length - anonymously, for obvious reasons - to the Institute for War and Peace Reporting about his/her experiences. Read the story from the inside on this page. # posted by Andy @ 09:03 UT April 15 (Media Network blog via DXLD) Viz.: ZIMBABWEAN RADIO JOURNALISTS TO FACE TRIAL http://www.iwpr.net/?p=acr&s=f&o=261103&apc_state=henh The silencing of the country's last independent radio station. By a staff member of Voice of the People radio (AR No. 60, 14-Apr-06) On December 15 last year, police raided Voice of the People, VOP, radio offices in Harare. I was out of town on private business but the news was relayed to me on my mobile. When I saw that message, I smelt big trouble. Relatives and friends advised me to go into hiding immediately for they knew the kind of story that was inevitably about to unfold - detention and torture at the hands of the police. I would be detained together with other board members and station managers, even though the charges would be pathetically insufficient to warrant it. Zimbabwean police are known to torture detainees with beatings and through the sheer humiliation of being locked up in the country's prisons, which are among the filthiest in the world. Cells are notorious for being overcrowded and lice-infested. The food, if available, is barely fit for human consumption. It was a few days to the Christmas and New Year holidays, so the possibility was high that I would be thrown into prison throughout the festive period and held with common criminals. Zimbabwean police like to make a prisoner's humiliation total. Court officials are unavailable during holidays, so detainees cannot be brought to trial in the 48 hours stipulated by our increasingly fragile and often ignored laws. The "crime" for which I was sought was being a leading journalist and board member in one of Zimbabwe's last independent news outlets, VOP. In fact, independent broadcasting had become so impossible in our own country that we had been reduced to beaming our taped reports, made inside the country, via a Radio Netherlands shortwave transmitter on the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar back into Zimbabwe. The ruling ZANU PF government was upset that villagers could pick up our signals more clearly than those of state radio and television, which broadcast a steady stream of ruling party propaganda. I heeded my friends' and relatives' advice and went into hiding immediately. I threw a few clothes and personal belongings into my bags and rushed to a friend's house. I left my kids with my spouse and asked relatives to check on them the following day. But later on, during the night, I worried about my children and went back for them and sent them off to my parents' rural home. I became a wandering refugee in my own country. I went back to my friend's house. He was the only person I could think of, because I suddenly realised that when you're in that kind of trouble, you are virtually on your own. Very few people want to have anything to do with you. The enormity of living in a country that does not value human rights hit me like a tonne of bricks. My life changed dramatically. Not only did I I have to abandon my house, but my car too, in case they spotted me driving around town. I sneaked into town now and again, but I felt very insecure and I had to rely on the country's increasingly decrepit and inefficient public transport. It was the rainy season and I caught a heavy cold which kept me bed-ridden for days. Come Christmas, my friend had to travel with his family. What was I to do? I did not feel comfortable being left alone in someone else's house. Fortunately, an uncle took me in and for two weeks I did not set foot outdoors. I slept, ate, watched TV and slept again. I was afraid to answer calls on my mobile in case it was the police. After the festive period, the kids came back from my parents' home so they could go to school. It was another headache, because my spouse was also now on the run. A long-time friend took the kids in. It was traumatic for them because they did not know what had happened to their mum and dad. I got word that the police were now searching vigorously for me and other VOP Radio executives. Ten policemen were permanently stationed outside the house of one of my colleagues. At another board member's place, they harassed and arrested a gardener and a driver, and broke a picture frame containing my colleague's photograph, which they took away with them. Finally, our lawyer intervened and took me and other senior colleagues to the police station, where six of us were charged with broadcasting without a license under the country's draconian media laws, which heavily constrain press freedom. Strictly speaking, we were not actively broadcasting, but merely sending taped reports to the Netherlands for subsequent transmission from Madagascar. We were fingerprinted and photographed before appearing in court, where we were remanded on bail, each with orders to report regularly to Harare Central Police Station. It was a relief to return to my own home after two months on the run. The grass was overgrown and water and electricity had been cut off because of unpaid bills. We had little money because our income dried up with the collapse of VOP. We have been reduced to near-destitution because in the police state that Zimbabwe has become other organisations are afraid to employ us. We remain on remand to this day, and are waiting anxiously to see what happens next. The VOP was established through a Communications Trust registered by the Government of Zimbabwe in the run-up to the 2000 parliamentary elections as an alternative voice to the only other registered broadcaster, the government-owned Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation. We applied for a broadcast license, but were refused one - which was absurd because the mandate of the broadcasting authority, on paper at least, was to ensure plurality on the airwaves. Police found no broadcasting equipment, only computers, during the most recent raid on our offices, although we are charged among other things with transmitting broadcasts illegally. Our counsel, the distinguished human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa, brought an expert witness, Amon Matambo, an engineer, who - in his testimony - defined broadcasting as the transmission of an audio or television signal via a transmitter. Matambo told Harare magistrate Rebecca Takawadi that mere possession of computers, recorders and microphones could not be construed as constituting the act of "transmitting" broadcasts. We, the accused, did not possess the necessary equipment and gadgets to transmit programmes. Matambo further argued that broadcasting via the Netherlands and Madagascar did not constitute broadcasting "in" Zimbabwe. Zimbabwean radio listeners were merely recipients of products transmitted from Madagascar. Our case has been adjourned and we return to court on April 27. We do not know what will happen. Long ago we applied for a broadcasting license, but all applicants other than state radio have had their applications turned down. The government obviously considers us dangerous. In August 2002, government agents planted a bomb and blew up our offices in Harare, destroying our computers, recording equipment and files. Then last October the Chinese brought in equipment which was used to jam our signal from Madagascar. Defending freedom of thought and speech in Africa, and particularly in Zimbabwe, is not for the faint-hearted. But we take comfort from the fact that someone like former Liberian president Charles Taylor has been arrested and will be put on trial for crimes against humanity. Our struggle is tough and often dangerous. We want a mature democracy, and we know that tyrants do fall and freedom will one day prevail (via Zacharias Liangas, Greece, April 15, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. S Asian station on 17600? Hi, I am listening to 17600 kHz and have been hearing an unlisted station with South-Asian music and language. The Afghan president, Mr Karzai, was mentioned once, but mainly it's Indian-style songs with some announcements in between. It is fading between O=3 and O=1, with splatter from REE 17595 when the Spaniards play music. An hour ago, a similar station (the same???) was heard on unlisted 21740. After some music and an announcement (which I would place to India or Pakistan) they suddenly signed off at 1145. Any ideas, from our South-Asian friends maybe? QTH: Langenselbold RMRD DX camp, Rx JRC NRD525, Ant longwire (Eike Bierwirth, Germany, Apr 15, HCDX via DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ I thought you were going so far celebrating your birthday, for almost a week without DXLD. Well, you deserve it. Lots of blessings upon you. Doing myself a little effort I guess I'll tie your 61!!! (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, dxldyg via DXLD) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ SOUND FILES INTERVAL SIGNAL SITE I've just been enjoying a DX-related web site I've never seen before. It has some vintage IS's that I haven't heard anywhere else. It's http://my.reset.jp/~fairuzyy/ A lot of the site is in Japanese, but some is in English, and the links to the sound files are in English (Rich McVicar, USA, DXplorer Apr 4 via BCDX via DXLD) QSL COMPILATION Ciao! In the PLAYDX WEB page has been edited the International News with informations about the verifications received from Radio stations in the period January 2005-March 2006. http://www.playdx.com/news/news2005.htm This panoramic offer a view of QSL card received. Good Dxing! (Dario Monferini, April 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Very large file in alfabetical order by country, with QSL info compiled from many publications including DXLD (gh) WORLD OF HOROLOGY +++++++++++++++++ SUSTAINED CONFUSION NEXT YEAR? I might have overlooked this in previous DXLDs, but has there been any talk of the change in Daylight Saving Time next year? On the good side, it eliminates the Week of Confusion at the end of March but will introduce almost a month on confusion beginning around Halloween. Just a thought. 73, (Ricky Leong, AB, April 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Axually, will be 3-4 weeks of confusion from first Sunday in March to last Sunday in March; and one week of confusion from last Sunday in Oct to first Sunday in Nov. Any info on whether Canada will go along with this US nonsense? (gh to Ricky, via DXLD) Ah, I mis-remembered the shift in DST. As for whether Canada will be going along with the new plans, it will be determined province by province. As I recall, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec are among provinces that have decided they will follow the U.S. scheme. There is no doubt other provinces will follow, too, for fear of trans-border business disruption (Ricky Leong, AB, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also SRI LANKA DIGITAL BROADCASTING ++++++++++++++++++++ DIGITAL TRANSITIONS NOT GOING WELL ANYWHERE It has been my experience that the core of the digital mess is much deeper than management at Best Buy (et al). A very tiny handful of folks in the broadcasting industry have selfishly retained their knowledge and even at the broadcaster level there is but token comprehension of what analog to digital transition REALLY means. Not just in USA - all over the world with the possible exception of Germany where government has spent huge sums of money to educate the entire population. In the UK, which leads the world in digital penetration (something like 60% now), digital ONLY means more FTA (free to air) programming channels at the consumer level. And their situation is unique because with analog you have 5 FTA while with DVB-T you have 30+ channels including such 'choice' channels as Fox News, CNN, Cartoon Net, TCM and others of a similar "cable basic" stature. In Australia, digital means NO new programming and maybe yes - maybe no better reception quality. Australia is stuck at 15% penetration, stymied in growth. Spain did a massive changeover to digital and when nobody came to the party (i.e. consumers said "Que pasa?") back into government it went. France is sort of following the UK lead (lots more channels versus analog). The shortfall is a total lack of planning that transcends the individual levels involved - from programmer to broadcaster to transmitter operator to the consumers that will make or break it in the end. Nothing about this is going well, anyplace in this world (Bob Cooper, New Zealand, April 13, WTFDA via DXLD) VT COMMUNICATIONS LONDON DRM TESTS Following a message from James Briggs in the DRM-L group I have heard DRM transmissions on 25700 being made by VT Communications from London. According to a thread on the drmrx forum they are using a 20 kHz wide spectrum so with some receivers you need to tune 5 kHz below, which was the frequency James mentioned in his post. More here: http://www.drmrx.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1380 (Mike Barraclough, England, April 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also UK SPECIAL DRM TRANSMISSIONS FOR NAB 2006 LAS VEGAS [NV] NAB 2006, the world's largest electronic media event, takes place in Las Vegas from 22-28 April. A number of international broadcasters have arranged special DRM transmissions for demonstration purposes. These will start a few days before the show to facilitate the setting up and testing of DRM equipment in Las Vegas. From 17 - 28 April 2006 Radio Netherlands will have some additional DRM transmissions from Bonaire towards Las Vegas between 2300-0100 UT: Frequency: 15195 kHz Azimuth: 320 degrees DRM power: 5-10 kW For the regular DRM schedule see our technical schedule: http://www.radionetherlands.nl/features/media/schedule060326.html Radio Canada International will simulcast its existing English DRM service from Sackville that's beamed to the NE of the USA. Daily 17-28 April only: Mode B, QAM 16, 15 kbs, DRM Power 70 kW, azimuth 285 degrees. The schedule is as follows: 1900-1945 UTC 13740 BBC World Service 1945-2030 UTC 13740 Vatican Radio 2030-2057 UTC 13740 Radio Netherlands 2100-2200 UTC 13740 CBC/RCI 2200-2230 UTC 11830 Deutsche Welle 2230-2300 UTC 11830 Radio Sweden 2300-2400 UTC 11830 NHK Japan # posted by Andy @ 09:00 UT April 14 (Media Network blog via DXLD) DRM also mentioned above under AUSTRIA; CHILE Re USA, 1680 IBOC: In trademark endearing cut-the-bullshale manner, have long maintained iBLOC is a cheesy half-baked ill-conceived rushed-to-market-90's shonk. It's a blatantly sleazy scheme to jam AMs off air & into bankruptcy, leaving a bile-splat toilet of oleaginous fecalithic greaseballs in control of the formerly free flow of information. As with all disingenuous designs to take that which rightfully belongs to others, it will fail miserably. Mr. Stern was top-o-the-world-Ma as he cockily walked the plank of the good ship Terrestrial. Under his stewardship, he claimed, satellite radio would transport listeners to the promised land. As with all best laid plans.... Personally, iBLOC is unsurpassed as a jammer. Should have an atavistic appeal to Fido's regressed sensibilities. Other than that, have no opinion on the matter. =Z.= (Paul Vincent Zecchino, Manasoviet Key, FL, BT, April 14, IRCA via DXLD) POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ BPL CLAIMS IT DOESN`T REALLY INTERFERE; HAMS FILE MORE COMPLAINTS April 13 2006 --- The ongoing BPL battles in Manassas, Virginia, and Briarcliff Manor, New York, underscore the need for better FCC rules to protect radiocommunication systems from BPL interference. House Resolution 230, introduced by Rep Mike Ross, WD5DVR, of Arkansas, calls on the FCC to "conduct a full and complete analysis" of radio interference from BPL, particularly with regard to public safety radio systems. H Res 230 recently received a boost when the March issue of NPSTC Spectrum, the newsletter of the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council, carried an article, "Ham Radio and Public Safety Ask for FCC Reevaluation of Broadband over Power Lines." The article notes "significantly high levels of potential interference in the VHF low band 30 to 50 MHz range" in several test locations. More details at http://www.house.gov/ and http://www.arrl.org/ Interference persists on Amateur Radio frequencies from the Manassas, Virginia, BPL system, radio amateurs there say. Their reports fly in the face of an April 7 news release from system operator COMTek that a recent engineering survey found "no interference unique to BPL" in the amateur bands. On April 6, COMTek filed a report with the FCC in response to an earlier interference complaint from Dwight Agnew, AI4II. COMTek said it does not believe the Manassas BPL system caused the interference Agnew and other Manassas ham radio operators have heard. Agnew told the ARRL this week that the BPL interference continues. The BPL signal can be heard along "miles of road" on 40, 20, 17 and 15 meters one Manassas amateur reported. Full story at http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2006/04/12/102/?nc=1 (via Mike Terry, UK, April 14, dxldyg via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ Solar-terrestrial indices for 14 April follow. Solar flux 79 and mid- latitude A-index 50. The mid-latitude K-index at 0300 UTC on 15 April was 3 (26 nT). The mid-latitude K-index at 0600 UTC on 15 April was 4 (65 nT). The mid-latitude K-index at 0900 UTC on 15 April was 5 (81 nT). The mid-latitude K-index at 1200 UTC on 15 April was 4 (54 nT). The mid-latitude K-index at 1500 UTC on 15 April was 3 (27 nT). The mid-latitude K-index at 1800 UTC on 15 April was 4 (63 nT). Space weather for the past 24 hours has been minor. Geomagnetic storms reaching the G1 level occurred. No space weather storms are expected for the next 24 hours (SEC via DXLD) ###