DX LISTENING DIGEST 6-079, May 26, 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 1316: Sat 0400 WOR WRMI 9955 Sat 0800 WOR WRN 13865 DRM via Bulgaria Sat 1430 WOR WRMI 7385 Sat 1600 WOR WWCR 12160 [or later] Sun 0230 WOR WWCR 5070 [start varies 0225-0235] Sun 0300 WOR WBCQ 9330-CLSB Sun 0530 WOR WRMI 9955 Sun 0630 WOR WWCR 3215 Mon 0300 WOR WBCQ 9330-CLSB Mon 0415 WOR WBCQ 7415 Mon 0500 WOR WRMI 9955 Wed 0930 WOR WWCR 9985 Complete schedule including non-SW stations and audio links: 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 ** BELARUS. On Behalf Of radio-minsk --- Subject: HA: Broadcasts audible in North America Dear listeners! Currently radio station Belarus is carrying out an audience survey campaign to better understand needs and preferences of the listeners. The results of the survey will than be used to improve our schedule in the new season by including your suggestions and comments. Please fill out the feedback form you'll find attached to this letter; here's the address to send it to: prohorov @ all.tvr.by P.S. In case someone you know listens to radio station Belarus but haven't yet contacted us, we would appreciate your sending this form to such a person/persons and returning it to us. With best regards, Belarusian Radio, International Broadcasting Service (r/s Belarus) Deputy Director, Ruslan Prohorov (via Jim Pogue, TN, HCDX via DXLD) No att came thru of course. Maybe they will send one if you ask for it. Hmm, for starters, their North American service needs to be audible in NAm without severe strain (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. Está siendo captada una emisión de CP92 Radio Panamericana de La Paz a las 0155 del día 25/5 UT en la frecuencia de 6105.45 kHz con el relato del partido de fútbol entre los equipos de Universitario y Bolívar; la señal llega a ser aceptable pese al fuerte QRM de Rai via Ascension Is. en los 6110 de 0130 a 0230 UT (Rubén Guillermo Margenet, Casilla de Correo 950, S 2000 WAJ - Rosario ARGENTINA, Noticias DX via DXLD) ** CANADA. Hi Glenn, Here's the link to an obituary in the 23 May 2006 Montréal Gazette for Axel Thogersen: http://www.legacy.com/can-montreal/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStoryPrint&PersonID=17870461 Thogersen worked with RCI's Danish service before it was discontinued in 1961. He stayed with RCI, and eventually served as Program Director from 1975 to 1978 (Bill Westenhaver, RCI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: OBITUARY: ERIK AXEL THOGERSEN, 1920 - 2006. Died peacefully at home after living a full and happy life, Axel Thogersen, born in Viborg, Denmark. He leaves behind his only son Norman and his daughter-in-law Brigitte, both of whom he loved dearly. Predeceased by both his first wife Adele Root, Norman's mother, and by his second wife Karinn Gunnlogsson, Axel leaves behind many friends and will always be remembered for his sense of humour, his generosity, his sense of duty and his deep attachment and commitment to Canada. After serving in the merchant marine during World War II, he settled here in 1945 and became a Canadian citizen. He spent the majority of his career with CBC/Radio Canada International and was well known and respected journalistic circles here and abroad. At various times he was also President of The Montreal Press Club, President of the United Services Club and President of the Danish Club of Montreal. Norman and Brigitte will receive condolences at Centre Funéraire Côté des Neiges, 4525 ch. de la Côté des Neiges on Thursday, May 25 from 2 to 6 and from 7 to 9 p.m. (indoor parking). A funeral mass in the presence of the ashes will be held on Friday, May 26 at 10:30 a.m. at Ascension of Our Lord Parish Church, corner of Sherbrooke and Clarke Avenue in Westmount (514-932-3131). In lieu of flowers, donations to the charity of your choice would be greatly appreciated. Published in the Montreal Gazette from 5/23/2006 - 5/24/2006 (via Westenhaver, DXLD) Also has a guestbook at website ** CANADA. FRENCH RADIO TOO FRENCH, SAY QUEBEC BROADCASTERS More Madonna wanted Graeme Hamilton, National Post Published: Friday, May 26, 2006 MONTREAL - Tune in to FM radio in Quebec and you enter a different world. U2 and Madonna fade into the background while such homegrown artists as Les Trois Accords and Eric Lapointe are in heavy rotation. It seems a striking illustration of the province's distinct cultural tastes, except for one problem. Given the choice, the province's broadcasters argue, Quebec kids would rather hear more Madonna and less Lapointe. At CRTC hearings last week in Gatineau, Que., Quebec's French-language commercial radio stations complained regulations force them to play too much French music. Canadian broadcasting rules state that 65% of vocal music played on French stations has to be French. In such bilingual markets as Montréal and Gatineau, where listeners have access to English radio, the audience is switching the dial. Pierre Rodrigue, vice-president of development for Astral Media Radio, explained that young francophones in Montreal are no longer growing up in the nationalist ferment of his youth in the '70s, when listening to French tunes was a political statement. "They are perfectly bilingual. They are much more open to the world," he said in an interview. "Adolescence is the moment for meeting the rest of humanity, and that is what English songs have always done. "They're a kind of open door on the rest of the world. They bring a sound, a reality that goes beyond their own," Mr. Rodrigue said. But with the current format dictated by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, commercial radio must play roughly two French songs for every English one, which means English content is limited to Top 40 fare. Astral, which owns 21 stations in Quebec, is asking that in the bilingual markets that account for more than half of Quebec's population, the quota be cut to 40%. The Canadian Association of Broadcasters, representing 400 radio stations across the country, also sought changes that would increase the amount of English music on French stations. The recommendations came as part of a sweeping review of commercial radio policy. Broadcasters fear they risk being left behind as a new generation turns to the Internet instead of the radio to discover new music. "Maybe it's time to open the tap and present something different," Mr. Rodrigue said. The suggestion is being greeted as heresy in some cultural circles. ADISQ, the association representing the Quebec music industry, said lowering the radio quota would harm emerging Quebec musicians. "It would be a huge setback for French music," Jean-Yves Blanchet, a record producer and president of ADISQ, said in an interview. "It's not the big stars who would be taken off the air, it would be new artists, the next generation who might be stars in five years." He said the privilege of using the public airwaves is accompanied by a responsibility to support Quebec talent. "You cannot ask a market of six million francophones to compete with the enormous Anglo-Saxon machine of 300 million people on the other side of the border," Mr. Blanchet said. "We must say, as a collectivity, we have the right and the necessity to protect our difference, and that happens through certain measures that allow artists to reach the public." The CRTC describes its 65% requirement as an effort "to support the francophone recording industry in Canada and to allow francophones to have access to music reflecting their culture." © National Post 2006 (via Kevin Redding, May 26, ABDX via DXLD) ** CHINA [and non]. Sound of Hope, 5/24/06, 11765, 1601-1700, SINPO 13333. In Mandarin. With Chinese firedrake jamming throughout. Sign off of (presumed) Radio Free Asia in Mandarin at 1558. Chinese opera only until 1601 with sign-on of Sound of Hope with ID, anthem, program of talks with musical bridges and short musical selections presented by several men and women. ID sequence at BoH as well. Quite audible despite Chinese jamming. Sign-off announcement and 4 time pips to end of broadcast (Mark Taylor, Madison, WI, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA. 5054.6, Faro del Caribe, noted with very poor signal 1015. Seems continued transmitter problems. Last month strong signal, but FMing. 25 May (Bob Wilkner, FL, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** CUBA. Opportunity to ID Cubanos now; 25 0047Z MAY 06; PVZ 2047 EDT, excellent opportunity to ID Cubanos. All BCB nets - Progreso, Musical, Rebelde, Cadena Habana, Doblevé, el Periódico del Aire/COCO, Metropolitana, Sancti Spíritus, Guamá - with exception of Reloj, running speeches // 5025 Rebelde. Don Fido speaking presently re old hobgoblins - 'La Mafia Miami', 'Jorge Mas Canosa', 'Estados Unidos vs. Pakistan', and some new ones: Steve Forbes, Jr. (sic). Inextricable linkage drawn connecting all parties. Forbes' wealth article musta really ticked off the Old Man. Still gassing off but strong tonight like Primero de Mayo. No more lapses into crying/chortling/giggling. Initial throat clearing - unfortunately not 'double-hick' congestive heart failure variety - only aberration in otherwise strong presentation. Fido's fling with Ooogoo Chávez has brought out the old lion. Who says May-December romances don't make old men young? Here's proof they do. =Z.= "I tell you, war with the American people is my destiny." - Fidel Castro, ca. 1958, letter to fiancée (Paul Vincent Zecchino, Manasoviet Key, FL, BT, IRCA via DXLD) ** CUBA. CUBA ELIMINATES RADIO & TV ZONES OF SILENCE http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID=%7B931E324B-BB2B-425C-8DA8-81CD75D695DA%7D)&language=EN Havana, May 24 (Prensa Latina) Cuba's first satellite platform for radio and TV broadcast will cover five channels and five radio stations and bring telecommunication to new zones of the country for the first time, especially in mountain areas. Recent investments allowed installation of satellite receptors and parabolic antennas in social institutions with joint work by Radio Cuba and Telecomunicaciones de Cuba (ETECSA). Specialist María Cristina Bravo, of Copextel Marketing and Communications Division, said the platform airs broadcasts of Cubavisión, Cubavisión International, Tele-Rebelde, Canal Educativo and Educativo 2. Radio Rebelde, Radio Progreso, Radio Taíno, Radio Habana Cuba and Radio Reloj will be the stations broadcast. The platform also helps with reception of TV and radio signals from throughout Latin America, Central America, the Caribbean and most of North America. She added that these changes modernize broadcasting via information technology that secure quality signals and enhance TV transmission and mid-wave services. Developing the modulated frequency will also improve quality and allow automation and installation of distance-management to control and supervise all transmitter centers. Radio Cuba will be in charge of securing international, national, provincial and local radio broadcasts, as well as national and provincial TV broadcast (via Zacharias Liangas, Greece, DXLD) Apparently this is about a new satellite network feed to local FM (or AM?) relays; maybe RHC will finally be able to get a reliable program feed from Habana to its nearby SW transmitter sites? Hmm, could there be an unmentioned jamming angle to this too? No glasnost here (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) This really isn't anything new. It's the ICRT feed on Hispasat (Ku) that hits most of the Americas. On the same satellite is Radio/TV Martí (Ku band satellite viewer, 05.26.06 - 3:32 am, Media Network blog via DXLD) ** CUBA. One continues to marvel at the perpetual problems of RHC, which may be held together by 48-year-old chewing gum and baling wire. May 26 at 1406 noticed severe audio breakup in Spanish on 11760, whilst // 11805 and 12000 had no such problem (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. Color bars in the middle of the day probably hence: see UNIDENTIFIED ** DIOGO GARCIA. 4319 kHz usb, AFN putting a dreadfully distorted audio 1934-..., 20 May, couldn't copy the program content; don't they monitor this locally too? Interesting news on BBC World (TV) last week about the lawsuit by the evicted islanders (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. 5005, Radio Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial, Bata, 2216-2222, May 20, Spanish, talk by female about different government activities, 23332 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, May 25, ``latest logs``, HCDX via DXLD) GUINEA ECUATORIAL, 5005, Radio Nacional, Bata, 2125-2235, 25-05, locutor, espanol, noticias y comentarios de Guinea Ecuatorial. Himno y cierre a una hora inusual 2235, cuando lo normal es que cierre a las 2300. (Manuel Mendez Lugo, Spain Escuchas realizadas en casco urbano de Lugo Grundig YB 400, antena telescópica, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. 26 May 2006 at 1807 I heard an unID station in an African language on 23670 (2 x 11835). According to the HFCC schedule this programme is coming from Issoudun, France. Heard at low level during Es propagation. vy 73 de (Juergen Lohuis, Germany, harmonics yg via DXLD) ** FRANCE [non]. See GABON ** GABON. RFI Moyabi -- Hi Tony, Wonder if you have come to any definite conclusion by now as to whether RFI are no longer using Moyabi at all? 73, (Glenn to Tony Rogers, May 11, via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, I apologise for the delay in replying. So far I haven't been able to find any evidence that RFI is using Moyabi at present, so my belief is that relays were discontinued at the end of the B-05 season. So far I haven't heard anyone say that I am wrong, but then again nobody has agreed and said that I am right! I have emailed RFI's English section twice to see if they could give me any information, but I haven't had a reply. So, I wouldn't like to say that I have reached a definite conclusion, but there is simply nothing I can find that says RFI is still using Moyabi. I think RFI first started relays via Moyabi in 1981, so it looks as if the association lasted exactly 25 years. If I get any further information I will let you know. Best regards (Tony Rogers, UK, May 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [and non]. Since yesterday Voice of Russia is carried on the channel LE DAB ensemble at Berlin, see the first posting at http://forum.mysnip.de/read.php?8773,412479 while the remainder of this thread shows the sorry shape of some young people's minds. No further details given here, especially not about bitrate / audio quality. VOR's satellite feed to Germany uses 192 kbps for two channels, so should be 15 kHz quality, unlike the now abandoned cable feed with about 8...10 kHz audio bandwith and lots of non-linear distortion. This channel LE ensemble was related to the 104.1 FM outlet now used by NPR: The FM frequency was used as PR tool by broadcasting excerpts from the LE channel programs in a time-sharing manner. As well-known this did not help, most broadcasters abandoned LE and 104.1 again, and the former Joy FM dropped DAB as well when they had to go off 104.1, leaving the LE ensemble almost empty with only one 192 kbps and another 96 kbps program remaining. So it is no surprise at all that T- Systems was more than happy to put Voice of Russia on air there (Kai Ludwig, Germany, May 25, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUATEMALA. Radio Verdad, 4052.5, 4/15/06, 0345-0415 UT, F/D card less v/s. Package included card, cover letter, pennant, sticker, reading material, and a report showing that through 5/10/2006, they received 392 reception reports from 46 countries, and from 30 states within the U.S. Power is listed at 720 watts (Joe Miller, Troy MI, MARE Tipsheet May 26 via DXLD) ** ICELAND. Icelandic Broadcasting Corp. 12115 USB. 24 Mar 06. 2316. Received a f/d Blue Lagoon card in 57 days for an English report, $1, 1 IRC, and an applause card. Really nice stamps on it too. I am quite happy with this one! Illegible v/s. Station addy: Icelandic National Broadcasting Service, Efsatletti 1, 150 Reykjavik, Iceland (Joe Wood, Greenback TN, MARE Tipsheet May 26 via DXLD) ** INDIA. 3325 kHz, AIR, Bhopal, monitored at its extra schedule 2130- 2140, 20 May, English & Vernacular, cricket test match reports; 45332; \\ 4960 Ranchi. 4960 kHz, AIR, Ranchi, 2113-2124, 20 May, cricket test match reports in both English & Vernacular; 44332; tone signal along with the audio; \\ 3325 Bhopal (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. Re 60 and 90 m stations previously reported from Florida at 15 UT: another report from Bob Wilkner, via Japan Premium May 26, covers a raft of such stations in the 15-1730 time period, this time specified as via `` DXTuner Phuket, Thailand`` so presumably that was the method before. In order for DXing to have any significance, it is extremely important for DXers and editors ALWAYS to be sure such loggings are published as via a certain DX tuner. There have been several instances lately of logs or QSLs for virtually ``impossible`` paths not being specified as having used a remote receiver. I am not saying there was any intent to defraud. Furthermore, any QSLs received as a result should be annotated as such for posterity, if not done so by the station itself. Bob`s logs of PERU below are presumably with his own receiver in Florida, as one is forced to assume u.o.s. (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. Re 6-078: Hi Glenn, RRI: DSWCI DBS 8th Edition gives 7289.9 to RRI Nabire, last logged Feb 06. No mention of Serui which has been deleted from DBS. Cheers (Ken Baird, Christchurch, 8005 New Zealand, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL. Old QSL query, follow-up comments Thanks to all who have responded to my question about old QSL's. Here's a summary of some of the comments I've received, plus some of my own web research. 1. Commander [sic --- it`s Commando] Solo 8699 - Afghanistan, Diego Garcia or??? "Dr DX and I are of the opinion that they were broadcasting from Afghanistan airspace. Passport to World Band Radio also lists this as Afghanistan." [Gary Neal] Jim's comment: I heard this signal night after night, and it was widely understood to be in Afghan airspace. I'm inclined to count it as "Afghanistan". 2. Radio Venceremos 6659, MAR 19 1988- Morazon (or Morazan) El Salvador? Harald Kuhl leaves it as an unanswered question whether they transmitted from El Salvador or not. [Kai Ludwig] "First published in El Salvador, where it was a national bestseller, this is an earthy, funny, inspiring collection of oral histories told by the participants in one of the most audacious and successful people's political actions in the modern history of the world. During El Salvador's civil war, a clandestine radio station, Radio Venceremos, operated in-country by broadcasting in secret mountain locations, constantly on the run from the army. Rebel Radio: The story of El Salvador's Radio Venceremos is the heroic, incredible, and thoroughly human story of this endeavor, an extraordinary account of adventure interwoven with the embattled modern history of Central America." [from a Curbstone Press sales blurb for Rebel Radio, The story of El Salvador's Radio Venceremos by José Ignacio López Vigil] "Radio Venceremos is definitely El Salvador. There was quite a bit of documentation around that Don Moore gathered." [Rich D'Angelo] "Of course to DXers, El Salvador is remembered as the location of two of the 1980s most interesting clandestine stations, Radio Venceremos and Radio Farabundo Martí. Although there were some questions about if the stations might really be broadcasting from Nicaragua, they were visited by enough international journalists to confirm beyond a doubt that the broadcasts came from guerrilla controlled territory. Today a fragile peace has come to El Salvador and the two former clandestines are now legal FM stations in San Salvador. Mayans and More: DXing Central America." By Don Moore (A slightly edited version of this article was originally published in the November, 1993 issue of Monitoring Times magazine) http://donmoore.tripod.com/latindir/cenam123.html Jim's Comment: Sounds like I can reasonably claim this as "El Salvador". 3. Radio France International 17690, SEP 1 1991 - card says "Hungary", but which sites there? "I think RFI relays via Hungary used both Diosd and Jaszbereny, but perhaps I am wrong here." [Kai Ludwig] 4. Voice of the Libyan People, SEP 16 & NOV 10 1989 - Chad? "So says Harold Kuhl in an article written in late 1990: Chad was the presumed origin. Schedule mentioned in this article was from 1400 until ca 2200 on 11825, by the way. And he also mentions effective Libyan jamming, sounding like the start of a car race, played over and over. Not transmitted by Issoudun I presume." [Kai Ludwig] Jim comment: this was a fairly easy reception, so a transmitter with some power. If Chad, where is the transmitter now? In any event, not enough evidence to claim "Chad". 5. Radio Yugoslavia 6100, JAN 24 1997 - Bijeljina or Stubline? "Bijeljina. What came out of Stubline, until the transmitter got air- raided was 7200, carrying Beograd 1 programming // 684 which suffered the same fate (transmitter deliberately destroyed in an air raid)." [Kai Ludwig] "Mediumwave listening in Belgrade, first week of June 1999: Dragan Stankovic reports: On Sunday, May 30th NATO destroyed Radio Belgrade's MW transmitter located at Stubline. The transmitter on 684 kHz was one of the strongest in Europe, with a power of 2000 kW. Since other transmitter sites have also been hit during the course of the bombing campaign, it's now very difficult to listen in to radio transmissions from Serbia on MW. Among the rare stations I've noticed still operative on MW is Radio Jagodina (1440 kHz) with a power of 20 kW. This transmitter which previously used to carry the local radio station, now relays the programmes of Radio Belgrade. Domestic Shortwave Relays: State-controlled Radiotelevizija Srbije increased its shortwave relays of the main domestic network Beograd 1. In addition to the regular broadcasts at 0500-2200 on 7200, Beograd 1 was observed by Mikhail Timofeyev in Russia at 2200-2300 on 6185 and 2300-0400 on 6190 kHz. However, transmissions were silenced in late May when a NATO bomb hit the Stubline transmission plant." [Phil Taylor's Web Site, Institute of Communications Studies, in an undated article "Yugoslav media from Radio Netherlands" http://ics.leeds.ac.uk/papers/vp01.cfm?outfit=pmt&requesttimeout=500&folder=4&paper=418 ] Jim's Comment: I heard this transmission two years before the May 1999 air-raid on Stubline. Since the reception was 6100 it appears that what I heard was Bijeljina, now considered to be "Bosnia". I have a 1968 QSL for 9620, and this would be Stubline, since Bijeljina did not come on the air until 1986. 6. Radio Prague 5930, JUL 29 1984 - which site? "5930 used to originate from Litomysyl when relaying CRo1 after 1991, but this does not necessarily say anything about the situation in the old days (when, I seem to recall, 6055 was at times run with all five Litomysl transmitters, and so all other frequencies had to come from Rimavska Sobota or Velke Kostolany)." [Kai Ludwig] 7. La Voz del CID 9940, SEP 10 1987 - Guatemala or Costa Rica? "Harald Kuhl mentioned at least an address in Costa Rica, and I also recall that Costa Rica had been suspected as a transmitter site." [Kai Ludwig] "If you're new to clandestine radio, two stations are easily heard. They are excellent targets for getting your feet wet. Probably the easiest clandestine to hear is La Voz del CID, operated since 1981 by Huber Matos' anti-Castro Cuba Independiente y Democrática organization in southern Florida. They use a relatively high powered transmitter in Central America, almost certainly in Guatemala. Financial shortages at CID have currently caused them to abandon their longtime 9942 kHz frequency during the daytime, but the station can still be heard on 6206 kHz during the wee hours and in the morning. Try checking 6206 kHz near 1200 UT (around sunrise in the Eastern time zone). Their slick Spanish language programming continually attacks and ridicules Fidel Castro." [From an undated ACE web page] La Voz del CID is an interesting clandestine that began mysteriously in 1981. Its programs were (and still are) the propaganda piece for the anti-Castro group Cuba Independiente y Democrática, a group that would increase its profile in the Eighties. Within its first year of broadcasting, the station was apparently located by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the US government, in Florida and was closed down for transmitting without a license. According to Gerry Dexter, it was "found to be using two Heathkit transmitters rated at 490 watts, operating from a horse ranch in Miramar... (It) was discovered to also be using a mobile transmitter housed in a van. The FCC termed it a 'very professional operation'" (Dexter, p.53). Following the bust, the FCC officials cabled Washington to say "This outfit has some big money behind it, they even buy time from stations in Venezuela and other countries (Dominican Republic), besides the two Florida transmitters" (Soley 188). La Voz del CID returned to the air in 1983 with a flurry of well- produced programs named after important figures in Cuban history that were rebroadcast on both Radio Rumbos in Venezuela and Radio Clarín in the Dominican Republic, not to mention its own transmitting facilities that were located somewhere in Central America. According to Dexter, the group claimed that its annual production and broadcasting costs exceeded US$750,000 - which came from "American foundations, businessmen in Latin America and individual contributions" (Dexter, p.55). The station was a regular on the shortwave bands for over ten years on numerous frequencies and suffered from occasional jamming from Cuban government transmitters. During the war in Nicaragua, La Voz del CID cooperated with CIA-backed Radio Quince de Septiembre in various activities (Soley, 188). Much debate was spent arguing over where people believed it to be emitting from: Guatemala or Costa Rica. But those arguments were proven to be both wrong. Things began to change for La Voz del CID in 1994, when in June WRMI owner Jeff White reported on Radio Netherlands' "Media Network" program that it had gone off the air in May. "Nobody will admit it, of course, but there are a lot of rumors here in Miami that La Voz del CID has long been funded by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency and that their funds were cut off several months ago... They've been appealing for money publicly here in Miami among the Cuban-American community to keep the station on the air" (Zeller, p.20). CID had just begun to purchase airtime over WRMI to supplement its own transmissions, but then vanished from the air. After a few weeks, it returned to its usual 9941.65, 6305, 7340 and 11940 kHz frequencies. In August 1997, La Voz del CID suddenly went silent again after months of rumors that the group was suffering from financial problems. It reappeared once again in December 1997 and currently buys time off of commercial US broadcaster WRMI to transmit its message of freedom to the Cuban people. When the latest WRMI relays of CID programs commenced, Jeff White revealed that his sources pointed to El Salvador as CID's "gray" clandestine location. This station went from being a US-based clandestine / pirate, to a covert "gray" clandestine, to finally an overt "white" clandestine. We will probably never witness another station like this. [Dexter, Gerry. Clandestine Confidential. Universal Electronics. Columbus, OH: 1984. Soley, Lawrence C. and John S. Nichols. Clandestine Radio Broadcasting. Praeger. New York: 1987. Zeller, George. "Clandestine Profile." The ACE, August 1994. http://www.qsl.net/yb0rmi/cid.htm Re: La Voz del CID: "Broadcasts from: El Salvador until mid-1997." http://www.qsl.net/yb0rmi/americas.htm Jim's Comment: Looks like I should consider this one "El Salvador". 7. IRAN, IRIB 9022 - Kalamabad? Always Kalamabad, never moved to other sites. The same goes for 15084, here I even saw the transmitter specified: it was said to be the Thomson TRE2330 (350 kW model), installed at Kalamabad in 1972. [Kai Ludwig] 8. Radio Iran JAN 9 1988 - Egypt? No statement by Harald Kuhl here, he mentioned Egypt as transmitter site only for Iran's Flag of Freedom Radio. [Kai Ludwig] 9. Radio SW Africa 11705, 11845, and 11995 - Transmitter site? Jim's Comment: The QSL Information Page gives the site of 11705 and 11845 as Rampisham. Earlier broadcasts on 4880 were considered to be Meyerton. 10. BFBS 7125, AUG 22 1990 - Oman? Still no idea. 11. Merlin Network One, MAR 28 1998 - site? This was a special QSL for a first year anniversary broadcast. No mention of transmitter site on the card, and I failed to write it down in my logbook when it happened (Jim Renfrew, Byron NY, May 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also PUBLICATIONS ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET. [ISP advice]. It depends on what you want to do and what you've got. Some might tell you to go with AOL. Personally I think AOL sux big time, but just for an example - AOL would be fine if you had a new computer. Do you? Last I heard you actually have an older computer. AOL's proprietary software will absolutely KILL that old thing and bring it to its knees. So will many of the other companies (Earthlink, Netzero, Netscape, etc) that all have "their own software" that you install. If you have an older machine and don't want to tax it down, then I would check your local phone book and look for a LOCAL ISP. Someone that provides just a plain old dial-up or DSL internet connection and DOES NOT require any external or additional software. You already HAVE the software. I'm sure your computer has a browser and it has a program to get your email (Outlook Express or whatever). That's all you need. You don't need all the other junk that MANY companies stick on your machine when you sign up with them and put in their CD. That's my words-eye view as a computer business owner (Michael Richard, WY, ABDX via DXLD) Not only does AOL suck, but they're communication protocols still require extra layers in order to get it to work with TCP/IP. If you do get AOL, just try to get away from them. You will cancel your credit card to get away because they can't manage to follow through with termination of service. There have been and still are suits pending on that method of doing business. Any providers that want you to use their branded browser usually ends up screwing up your machine to one degree or another. SBC/Yahoo (now using the alias ATT) is notorious for that here, and its all designed to steer you to their site for everything. I use them for DSL and have carefully avoided using any of their software after seeing what is has done to other computers (Mike Hawkins, ibid.) It is a very complex thing. I have been with Earthlink dialup for years, and I couldn't be happier. My father uses a local DSP here in Tampa, and his connections run twice as slow as the Earthlink (but also at about half the price). It is true that to fully take advantage of all of the various features of proprietary software like Earthlink's, you pretty much need Windows XP. One of the nice features of the proprietary spamblocker software is that, not only does it automatically block out a lot of spam, but you can use keywords as a filter to block out additional spam that the program might not catch. For instance, I filter out emails with titles that contain words like "explicit", "adult", "viagra", etc. The result is that I get almost no spam of that type in my inbox. If you're on Windows XP and use dialup, I would heartily recommend Earthlink. On Windows 98, you won't be able use all the features of the proprietary software. Anyhow, good luck! (Dick W., ibid.) As was mentioned, avoid AOL like the plague. It is the absolute worst excuse of an ISP (they're really not an ISP, being an online service) with it's proprietary non-standard everything. And any ISP wanting to install "special" anything is to be avoided. Dial-up is straight PPP (point-to-point protocol) and it doesn't need any special junk installed to work. Period. The biggest issue with dial-up is the quality of the phone lines where you live. I used dial-up for years, and some phone lines are really bad. I was lucky to get 19.2 K at times several places I lived. A separate hardware firewall *really* helps with Internet look-and-feel speeding up, as you can run a transparent proxy cache and caching DNS server locally to avoid going back out to re-display any previously seen pages. It really snaps up dial-up. I ran an install of IP Cop http://www.ipcop.org a freeware hardware firewall that runs on a separate PC machine that can be pure junk PC hardware for years and shared a single dial-up connection with 4 PCs at the time. It actually worked pretty darn well. It was a major improvement over just dialing in with a PC. A really good modem can help with this, as they fight like a bulldog to keep the speeds up and re-try (it's called re-training) to get them back up if the speeds fall off. Winmodems are really poor in this regard (and if the modem is a PCI card it probably is a Winmodem.) Almost any external modem is a lot better (not a USB modem) but the best modem there is (IMHO) is a US Robotics Courier. I've seen these maintain a reliable 56K connection halfway around the world for days. They are expensive new, but show up cheap on Ebay for some reason. They're flashable to the latest firmware, so any Courier will do the job. If you have to be on dial-up, one of these helps a lot. And they'll work flawlessly with any operating system as they are just a standard external serial modem. Most large ISP's don't own the access points they use. They lease time from companies that offer a point-of-presence (a modem bank co-located in a telco exchange, or located nearby) in your local calling area. You think you're going to get better speeds by changing ISPs but if they share the same modem bank, it doesn't help and you get the same poor performance. So do call around and see if you can find a real ISP, one that does not force you to install any special software. If you head over to http://www.broadbandreports.com you can input your address, area code, and phone number, and get a free search of what's available in your area. This includes telco offerings like DSL, cable, satellite (yuck with their caps on usage and latency) and dial-up. There are also wireless ISP's using special systems, as well as cell phone based wireless, too. You get a nice little report on screen that shows some places to call about service. It might turn up something. And they cover lots of possibilities. There's also a place on the site to see what others say about the service in the area to see if the provider is good or bad, and ask questions about what other people are doing about service too. (All for free.) Maybe some of this will help. (Rick Kunath, ibid.) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM [non]. Anyone know who carries Stern on 88.1 (seems an odd place for Stern) and 92.9? Heard during the skip to MS, LA and AL. The most sexually explicit material I've ever heard on radio. I thought he moved to Sirius. The shows were parallel on each frequency (Saul Chernos, Toronto ON, May 26, WTFDA via DXLD) I ran into this also. It is the Wireless Modulator for Sirius. I have one for XM but I use 107.5 (Jeff Rostron, Springfield MA, ibid.) I almost hate to say this, but I wonder if this might not have been the first Es reception of a Sirius-to-FM transmitter from a home or gym or ??? There's been some noise lately in the rumor mills which has been refuted by Stern's reps that he will be rebroadcast, but it's not happening yet as best I know (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell, PA, ibid.) I was listening to him through downtown Hartford yesterday on 92.1. Impressive audio for a car modulator - unless pirates are starting to rebroadcast ??? BN (Bill Nollman, ibid.) These are also in numerous homes some gyms/spas and who knows where else. And yes, a pirate has to be considered (Russ Edmunds, ibid.) 92.9 was solid for most of the opening, 88.1 was solid for a good ten minutes. I highly doubt a pirate. We have on Sirius pirate, just north of Toronto, on 104.9 (Saul Chernos, ibid.) Thursday night I was in Stuck on I-84 at 4:30 approaching downtown Hartford and started through the FM band and on 89.??? "SIRIUS 60'S ON 6" was booming in I have also heard Howard in the car also. When you are stuck in traffic and hear this just look around and you will see a car with a little black square antennna. I have XM and can go wireless but there really are no clear FM frequencies between Springfield MA and Bristol CT, 51 miles. I use 107.5 FM for mine but mine is hardwired to the antenna and does not radiate. It`s much cleaner audio and does not bother any one else`s radio. I am doing my part to help the rest of us DX the low FM Band (Jeff Rostron, Springfield MA, ibid.) ** LATVIA. 9290 RELAYS Thu 25 May: Radio Caroline Eifel 0800-0900 UT Sat 27 May Radio Six 0600-0700 UT Radio Caroline Eifel 0700-0800 UT Sun 28 May Radio Caroline Eifel 0800-0900 UT Radio Joystick 0900-1000 UT Good Listening (Tom Taylor, May 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBYA [and non]. Re: DXLD 6-078, May 24, 2006: ``Idha`at al Jamaheriya al de Ouzma``. [is there really a `de` in the ID?] Saludos cordiales Glenn, casi con toda seguridad de que no hay un "de" en la ID, pero se le parece, según en ésta grabación. Pero entre "al" y "Ouzma" algo hay, no se lo que es, quizas el amigo Tarek puede sacarnos de dudas. http://valenciadx.multiply.com/music/item/41 73 (José Miguel Romero, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) It goes by very fast about 2:20 into the 4-minute file, otherwise full of lovely music, the first an anthem? Hmmm, I can`t move around in the file, must play it only from the start (Glenn, ibid.) Saludos cordiales, el esquema de esta emisora empieza siempre igual, primero con esa especie de Himno, probablemente el de Libia, pero tengo que comprobarlo si lo encuentro, luego se identifica y después el mismo tema musical, una pieza que creo se utilizó en una película. Esta introducción dura unos 15 minutos; a partir de ahí empiezan con música folkórica en árabe. En el siguiente link se puede escuchar un boletín en inglés, está completo: http://valenciadx.multiply.com/music/item/133 73 (José Miguel Romero, ibid.) Saludos cordiales Glenn, hoy estaban transmitiendo en paralelo por las frecuencias de 17660 y 17670, con buena señal; he conseguido una nueva ID. Creo que se escucha un poco más clara que la anterior. Entre "al" y "Ozma", parece que hay algo parecido a "de" o al menos a mí me lo parece. 73 (José Miguel, ibid.) This time it sounds like ``tul`` Ozma, including the definite article, right? (gh, DXLD) 24 Mayo --- En el día de hoy la situación ha sido de la siguiente manera: en 17680 cómo es habitual desde las 1200 a 1400 la emisión musical en árabe, Sawt Al-amal en 17670 de 1200 a 1300 con interferencia de señal tipo sierra. Hoy no se ha utilizado la débil señal de burbuja, a las 1300 cambia a la frecuencia de 17665 y se mantiene hasta que aparece la emisora jammer musical a las 1320 y Sawt Al-amal cambia otra vez a 17670 hasta el final de emisión a las 1400. 25 Mayo --- Hoy han aparecido otra vez las emisiones de La Voz de África en árabe; a las 1200 por 17680 la emisora musical en árabe, por las frecuencias de 17660 y 17670 emisión en paralelo de La Voz de África, comentarios, ID y música. Sawt Al-amal se escucha por momentos en la frecuencia de 17660; con este panorama se llega hasta las 1300. A partir de aquí Sawt Al-amal cambia a 17655, la emisión de La Voz de África en 17670 cesa su emisión y sólo se mantiene la de 17660 y la musical de 17680; a las 1317 comienza la emisión musical jamer afro- pop en 17650 y a las 1332 Sawt Al-amal regresa a 17660 (José Miguel Romero, ibid.) I checked at 1339 May 25, found 17665 // 17660 with Arabic talk, 17650 with African music (before WHRA comes on), something Slavic on 17645, Arabic music on 17655 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Saludos cordiales, en 17645 aquí en Valencia no se escuchaba nada, probablemente Voz de Rusia en ruso para Asia SE. 17645.0 VOICE OF RUSSIA 1200-1300 1234567 Vietnamese seAS RUS AM External Service 1300-1400 1234567 Russian Hoy he bajado hasta 17620 y me he encontrado a RFI con muy buena señal en su servicio de 1200 a 1300 para wAF; sin embargo me ha sorprendido que en el horario de 1300 a 1400 la señal era prácticamente inaudible, muy pobre. No sé por qué tanta diferencia en la señal en pocos minutos de intervalo en la misma frecuencia. 73 (José Miguel, ibid.) Libya (non)/ Gabon. African music jammer. 5/25/06, 17650. 1440­1530. While tuning to check if there was anything from the Sawt al-Amal & jammers audible in the 17650­17680 range, I came on WRHA on 17650 and noticed music in the background. WHRA was, of course, dominating here. I thought the background station might be the ``African music jammer`` and attempted to retune up or down. The background station was right on 17650. After listening for several minutes, trying tuning tricks using ECSS, and finally with a fade down of WHRA, I heard definite afro ­ pop from the second station. One tune segued to the next with only brief pauses between. Fortunately there were several fades from WHRA until about 1505, so the background station could be tracked fairly easily. On the background station there were silent breaks 1445-1446 and 1459-1501 (to listen to make sure Sawat al Amal was still there?), then return to seguéd music. SINPO 22432 under WHRA until 1505. WHRA slowly dominated more & more and my migraine medication kicked in so I had to stop at 1530. The music station was no longer audible after about 1520, but I can`t tell if it signed off or faded out. Only Voz Cristiana on 17680 and Radio Solh on 17700 audible in this range otherwise during this time. This corresponds with José Miguel Romero Romero's observations from earlier today. (Thanks - I was much more tentative before.) (Mark Taylor, Madison, WI, ibid.) Sawt Al-amal, Libia y Francia. 26 Mayo --- La emisora Sawt Al-amal está transmitiendo por 17625 cuando son las 1200 en fuerte confrotación con Radio Int. de China en Mandarín, creo que transmitiendo desde Chile; en 17680 a las 1200 la emisora musical de La Voz de África. [Luego:] En el día de hoy Sawt Al-amal inició sus emisiones a las 1200 en la frecuencia de 17625, en 17680 la emisora musical e árabe de 1200 a 1400. En la frecuencia de 17625 además de Sawt Al-amal estaba emitiendo Radio Int. de China en mandarín; al poco de iniciarse la emisión aparece una tercera emisora en árabe, emitiendo en paralelo por 17660 y 17625. A las 1307 deja de emitir en 17660 y queda en 17625 junto a Sawt Al-amal y el servicio en inglés de China con emisión de 1300 a 1400. Ni RFI en 17620 ni África Nº1 se ven afectadas por la triple emisión. Sin embargo a las 1355 se aprecia en 17620 y 17625 el final de una emisión en árabe; a las 1403 cesa las emisiones en árabe y se inicia una emisión de música afro-pop en 17620 (José Miguel Romero, ibid.) I tuned in at around 1330 and found Sawt Al-amal still using 17625 and co-channel a weaker CRI in English - via SGO? [Yes, gh] This went off at 1357 and the Clandestine at 1400. The Afro-pop station was heard on 17620 same time and, in quiet periods, I could hear a bubble jammer co-channel but no trace of RFI. The Afro-pops seem to be via the same transmitter as previously heard in the 17650-17690 range - its modulation splashes adjacent channels. It is still on air at 1410 minus bubble jammer and so I assume it will go until 1530 as usual. The Libyan VoAfrica (Ozma) transmission was heard on 17680 until off at 1400. I did a scan of the 17600-17700 range and these are what I could hear same time.... 17610 unidentified buzzy mush with traces of audio 17630 Africa #1 - Gabon 17640 BBC English via listed SKN 140 deg and WOF 70 deg 17645 Russia - Russian World Service via listed Moscow 17650 WHRA opened at 1358 17685 VOA English via HFCC listed Morocco opened c1359 (drat - I didn't listen for an IS!!!) 17700 Radio Sohl via RMP (Noel R. Green (NW England), May 26, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Checked around 1315 May 26, nothing much audible in this range except CRI via Chile on 17625, CVC itself much stronger as usual on 17680, and ANO with hilife music on 17630 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEPAL. Documentary on FM radio in Nepal available on YouTube Unfortunately, the video sharing site YouTube has imposed a 10-minute limit on the length of videos that members are allowed to upload. But videos already uploaded before the limit was imposed are still available for viewing, and we found one that will be of interest to some readers of this Weblog. "Scattered Frequencies: Radio Networking in Nepal" is a half hour documentary about the emergence of FM radio in Nepal. Produced in 2002, before recent restrictions were placed on FM stations there, it follows a group of journalists who pooled resources and efforts towards establishing a self-sustainable FM radio network. The video streamed quite well when we checked it today, but those who know how to download and convert the YouTube videos into another format may wish to do that and view it offline. The Flash video file size is 73 Mb. To view the video, go to this URL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofwagWK5-nc # posted by Andy @ 14:08 UT May 26 (Media Network blog via DXLD) Lasts 31:14 and starts playing almost immediately (gh, DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. RADIO NETHERLANDS ANNOUNCES WORLD CUP COVERAGE Radio Netherlands will carry live commentaries in Dutch on all the World Cup matches involving the national team, relayed from our domestic broadcaster NOS. Extra shortwave coverage will be provided. Details of shortwave coverage for the group stage matches are given below. If the Dutch team proceeds to the knockout stages, we will announce details of coverage when the dates and times of matches are known. Sunday 11 June 1200-1457 UTC: 5955 kHz West Europe 13700 kHz (second transmitter) Central Europe, Balkans, Southern Europe 9895 kHz Central France, Northern Spain, Northern Italy, Switzerland 15545 kHz Spain, Portugal, NW Africa, Canary Islands 21735 kHz Central and Southern Africa:. 15305 kHz Surinam 1230-1457 UTC: 11725 kHz Florida, Bahamas, Cuba Friday 16 June The following regular transmissions will be dropped: 1500-1700 UTC 13700 kHz to Europe 1600-1700 UTC 13840 kHz to Middle East 1600-1700 UTC 15535 kHz to Middle East, Europe and Norh Africa 1700-1800 UTC 11655 kHz to East Africa Football coverage will be as follows: 1500-1757 UTC: 5955 kHz Western Europe 9895 kHz SW Europe, South Italy, Tunisia, Southern Europe 15640 kHz North and Central Africa, Canary Islands + West Africaa 15330 kHz Southern USA, Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica 15305 kHz Surinam and surrounding area 1600-1757 UTC: 6020 kHz Southern Africa 15610 kHz Middle East Wednesday 21 June 1800-2057 UTC: 6035 kHz Western Europe 9695 kHz Spain/Portugal/NW Africa, Southern Europe, Middle East 9895 kHz Southern Italy, Tunisia 15315 kHz Southern USA, Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, Central USA 15530 kHz Surinam 1900-2057 UTC: 11730 kHz Europe 6015 kHz Europe (Media Network newsletter May 25 via DXLD) Standard disclaimer ** OKLAHOMA. It broke our heart to lose our friend Brad Edwards, 58, one of Oklahoma`s top TV reporters in the past 30 years at KFOR-4. He was a consummate professional in a field that needs more like him (Frosty Troy, Observerscope, Oklahoma Observer May 25 via DXLD) MEMORY OF LOCAL NEWSMAN HONORED BY HOUSE --- May 24, 2006 09:47 PM Linda Cavanaugh (KFOR News Channel 4 Anchor), state Rep. Paul Wesselhoft, Ashton Edwards (Brad Edward's daughter) and MaryAnn Eckstein (Brad Edward's wife). [caption] Related Information [links] Page one of resolution honoring Brad Edwards Page two of resolution honoring Brad Edwards OKLAHOMA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OKLAHOMA CITY - State Rep. Paul Wesselhoft and the full House of Representatives paid tribute to the memory of local news anchor Brad Edwards for his career achievements and life long dedication to his job and the state. . . http://www.kfor.com/Global/story.asp?S=4945950 (via DXLD) We finally learn his wife`s name. She has really run a low profile through all this, even tho she is news director at KFOR. On that station she was never identified as such, just as a `colleague` --- no doubt on her orders as it`s her department. But one of the other stations gave it away. Footage of the funeral showed their daughter, but not her. I never could find anything identifying news director or other management on KFOR website, but plenty about the on-screen people (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA [and non]. Re 6-078, One-upping in OKC: Glenn; It may not be accurate but those OKC TV stations are not alone in the (insert obnoxious / puker DJ voice) "Super Long Ranger forecast." (voice off) Accuweather.com has a 15 day forecast and weather.com (Weather Channel) has one that goes out 10 days. Personally I don't care if it's a 5, 7 or 9 day 'cast, as long as they keep me posted during fits of severe weather (Dave in Indy Hascall, WTFDA via DXLD) That nonsense started here in Philadelphia over a year ago, with one channel running 7 days, another 10, and another 10+2 and another 7 + 4. Of course they don't talk about the accuracy of their guesswork at that range (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell, PA, ibid.) The GFS forecast model goes out to 384 hours --- 16 days! It's fun to look at because one day it will say rain and the next 30 degrees warmer. Mostly it's good for trying to diagnose something large-scale, like a pattern change --- but forget trying to use it to plan your picnic or wedding. No model is that good. Funny that OKC stations are trying to go over the top with the forecast. How much does the day-10 change --- probably a lot. I wouldn't want to be held to it that far in advance (but Rick, you *said* it wouldn't rain on my garage sale last week!) (Matt Sittel, NE, ibid.) ** PAKISTAN. Radio Pakistan can be heard with news in English between 16 and 1615 hours on 4790, 9375, 11570 kHz and on the unusual frequency of 5081 kHz (R. Bulgaria DX Program March 26 via John Norfolk, dxldyg via DXLD) ** PERU. 4790.31, Radio Visión, Distrito José [sic], Chiclayo, (presumed), 0915-0945 May 25. Noted steady Huaynos music until 0935 when man in Spanish comments. Signal was poor and comments were very weak to copy details (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston FL, NRD545, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4385.80, Radio Visión, Distrito José, ? Chiclayo has been silent for the last two days. 4790.29, R. Atlántida, Iquitos seemingly? 0220 to 0320 with religious program, same om during entire period with "palabras de Dios... en las palabras de milliones de ...en la navidad ...en la plata..."? "hermanos en Cristo"? 0930 to 1010 back with om and yl . 23 MAY 06 4790.292, R. Visión, Distrito José, ? Chiclayo? 0900? "Radio Visión? ....kilociclos banda de ..." by om, into lively "flauta andina" then to Palabras de Dios at this moment - 1033, now back to music at 1041. At 1043 continuous ments de Palabras de Dios. Received tip from Arnaldo Slaen reporting same frequeency switch per DXer Miguel Castellino. Many thanks Arnaldo! Happy with this, but would have enjoyed the return of Radio Atlántida. :-) 4824.425, La Voz de la Selva, Iquitos 1033 to 1040 returned after being off the air for three days. OM with ID, 26 May 5005.9, Radio LTC, Juliaca seemingly the Peruvian 1000 to 1020, poor signal; seems to test transmitter every three weeks. 25 May, Nothing 26 May (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach FL, Japan Premium via DXLD) Información que aparece en las páginas amarillas de Telefónica sobre el teléfono de Radio Visión : Radio Imperio, Av. Pedro Ruiz, 1250 Chiclayo, Lambayeque (+51) (74) 22-9494 (César Rojas Gordillo, Perú, Noticias DX via DXLD) ** PERU. Carlos Gamarra Moscoso es el conductor del programa deportivo "La Hora Deportiva" que se irradia habitualmente por Radio La Hora, Cusco, Peru (4855.6). En un correo electrónico personal, Carlos me comentó que la emisora ha mandado hacer un nuevo banderín, sencillo pero que demuestra el renovado interés que la emisora cusqueña tiene por sus oyentes. El mismo está disponible para los oyentes del exterior que envíen sus reportes de sintonia. Radio La Hora está en el aire por la onda corta a partir de las 1000 UT (de lunes a viernes) con un corte a las tardes y retoma transmisiones de 2000 a 0100 UT. También puede ser escuchada los fines de semana aunque no sé su esquema. En la zona del Rio de la Plata sobre las 2230/2300 UT es el mejor segmento horario para lograr la escucha (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, ConDig Últimas Noticias May 25 via DXLD) Cf 6-078; and 6-077 where the same person said the schedule is: M-F 10-14, 23-24 UT (gh, DXLD) ** PORTUGAL. (Cf. my previous messages dated 10th & 15th inst. on this issue) The group holding R. Comercial and its sister stations, among which RC(P)-R. Club (Português) - currently off MW to make way for this temporary "football station" called R. Portugal - is indeed considering the use of DRM after all, be it with any of the new 100 kW THALES transmitters or the new ones for the sites that are off for years, but the latter will have to wait. Those idle transmitters are indeed no more: they were taken to scrap soon after the RDP sold R. Comercial and the period when the transmitters could still be housed together with those of the RDP; when the period came to an end, RC decided to get rid of them. I also learned these new DRM-capable 100 kW units (one installed in Belmonte for 1035 kHz, the other expected to take the air within a month, at Avanca for 783 kHz) were delivered... five (5) years ago!!! Let's hope the one for Avanca hasn't got any moths... Meanwhile, I've observed that Belmonte 1035 kHz is behaving rather strangely after some repair was done days ago: the transmitter is at approx. mid power and its DCC-Dynamic Carrier Control system is causing the signal to rapidly fluctuate like under fast QSB, which is what was noticed. Having said that, the transmitter is not fully "cured" yet. Interesting. Until the crumbling Canidelo unit on 783 kHz 10 kW is scrapped for good, a new valve is being installed, possibly because of the temporary special programming content aired under the odd label "R. Portugal"... ..... speaking of which, I was also told this name was registered just a few years ago along with others to be used by the group when needed, so there's apparently nothing the state owned RDP can do to remedy that as "RDPi - Rádio Portugal" doesn't seem to be a registered name. 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, May 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. 9765, Radiostantsiya Tikhiy Okean, 0835-0900 May 25. Noted opening IS briefly, that canned ID by man, "... R. Tikhiy Okean...". This was followed by a woman with live Russian comments until 0841 when another canned ID by a man. Woman comments again. At 0845, music presented. Noted parallel signal on 12065 but weaker that 9 megs. Signal was good during the period. 12065, Radiostantsiya Tikhiy Okean, 0835-0900 (see details for 9765 entry). This signal was poor but still audible. However, by 0851, the signal began to fade into the noise (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston FL, NRD545, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. Voice of Russia What`s New http://www.vor.ru/English/Exclusives/what_new.html OUR HOMELAND (On the air as of May 29th). The two upcoming editions of the program will be devoted to the developments in the USSR in 1950s. We will be telling you of the way this country lived during the time when the Stalin personality cult reached its climax and after Joseph Stalin`s death in April 1953y. Please tune in to OUR HOMELAND weekly feature on Monday at 0330, 0830 and 1930, Tuesday 1530, Wednesday 0430, 0730 and 1730, Thursday 0230, 0530, Friday 0730, 1430 and 1930, Sunday 0130 and 1930 UT [add a sesquiminute to all times]. (via John Norfolk, dxldyg via DXLD) ** SLOVAKIA. RADIO SLOVAKIA INTERNATIONAL SHOULD CEASE ITS SHORTWAVE BROADCAST AS OF JUNE 30. The Radio Council approved the new organisational structure of the public broadcaster. http://www.slovakradio.sk/inetportal/rsi/core.php?page=showSprava&id=2281&lang=2 The transformation of Radio Slovakia International was a part of the Wednesday discussion on the proposal of new General Director Miloslava Zemkova. According to the approved document, Radio Slovakia International should cease its shortwave broadcast as of June 30. The transformation of the shortwave broadcast to a part of the Internet service of the public radio will follow shortly after. Apart from the Internet, the program of Radio Slovakia International will continue to be broadcast via satellite. The transformation process counts on redundancies. Instead of a staff of 4, the program of each language section will be secured by 2 editors. The discussion on the future of Radio Slovakia International included contributions by several members of parliament as well as the RSI editor in chief Ladislav Kubis. According to Kubis, the suggested proposal will not secure quality standard broadcast of the foreign service of public radio as defined by law. Several members of Radio Council supported the arguments against the transformation. Nevertheless, this proposal was passed by a majority in the final vote. The existence of Radio Slovakia International is directed by the state. However, due to insufficient financial support, the Radio management transformed its existence. [25. 05. 2006, 15:29:54] (via Jean-Michel Aubier, France, dxldyg via DXLD) Bad news :-( In view of its importance, I have published this in the Media Network Weblog already with credit to you and the DXLD mailing list. I've a feeling this might still be reversed - it may be a bit of "brinksmanship" on the part of Miloslava Zemkova to embarrass the government into agreeing extra funding. I think if they're only going to be on Internet and satellite they might as well pack up altogether. Hands up all those who regularly visit Swissinfo? (Andy Sennitt, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Since this was picked up by Media Network it was further widely quoted (gh) Same article at http://snipurl.com/qxvu (Mike Barraclough, worlddxclub via DXLD) ``I've a feeling this might still be reversed`` Probably, since they wrote "should" instead of "will". Apparently no matter of translation, since in the German version http://www.slovakradio.sk/inetportal/rsi/core.php?page=showSprava&id=2279&lang=3 it reads "sollte" as well. ``it may be a bit of "brinksmanship" on the part of Miloslava Zemkova to embarrass the government into agreeing extra funding.`` I have an impression that Jaroslav Reznik, her predecessor, tried this strategy as well. So I think that it once again remains to be seen if they will really cancel the transmission contract this time. ``I think if they're only going to be on Internet and satellite they might as well pack up altogether. Hands up all those who regularly visit Swissinfo?`` However, the difference is that Swissinfo abandoned radio altogether. Contrary SRo plans to still produce shows for WRN distribution (what else should "satellite" refer to?). On the other hand it remains to be seen how extensive they will be, with only half of the editorial staff remaining (Kai Ludwig, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) So yet another 'international station' bites the dust to all intents and purposes as the very people it should be 'calling' are those who have supported it over the years by listening on the easiest mode possible - terrestrial radio. If an 'international' radio station discontinues its support of its main listening audience and becomes restricted to an elite population - by its own doing - it should recognise its apparent wish to limit such things as tourism and general interest in that country it is the 'voice' of . However, as it seems those 'in charge' in many walks of life these days with little or no consultation with the recipients (and often sufferers) of their 'we know best, don't criticise' decisions, the words public consultation and listener research are used but rarely it seems acted upon (Rog Parsons (BDXC 782), Hinckley, Leics., BDXC-UK via DXLD) A Spanish version was also posted, maybe fitting in next issue. As of May 26, hunting for a direct link to this on their website, could not find it, just a much shorter item about it (gh, DXLD) ** SOMALIA [and non]. LATEST GLOBAL CRISIS WATCH PODCAST MAY 15, 2006 Global Crisis Watch discusses the case of Fathi elJahmi in Libya with Mohamed Eljahmi in Boston, the deepening crisis in Somalia with Radio Shabelle's Mohamed Amiin in Mogadishu, and new documents that unravel the history of Castro's "revolution" in Cuba with George of TheRealCuba.com. Visit http://www.globalcrisiswatch.com (Martin Schoech - PF 101145 - D-99801 Eisenach, Germany, May 25, CRW list via DXLD) Why isn`t there a link to just stream or download the mp3 file from the GCW site? Well, you can go to the yahoo link and then merely listen instead of subscribe. I see it is now timed 29:30, so it fits into a half-hour slot on WRMI. The Somalia segment starts exactly 9:00 into it. Richard Lafayette and Nick Grace pronounce it sha-BEL as if it were pseudo-French! I had been adding a third syllable. O, it seems I am right; in the 18th minute, the guy from the station, Mohammed Amin, says it my way. Yes, I know this is serious life-and-death business discussed; please understand my fixation on pronunciation, as a broadcaster. Libyan and Cuban segments don`t deal with broadcasting. After this the previous edition of May 8 automatically started playing, so is it now a new one every week? The menu shows 20 programs now available, another one from May 1, and less weekly before that, but all the recent ones in the 30-minute range; don`t see any other recent mentions of radio in the blurbs (gh, DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. Re Brother Scare tests via Guiana French: Second 17720 kHz broadcast [May 23] Both 17720 kHz broadcasts were received with a SONY-ICF 2010 (AC) SW Radio Rx and a 75 foot outdoor, inverted "L" antenna which was 25 feet above the ground. I used earphones to monitor same. 17720 kHz 1558+ to 1700 UT Via MSY French Guiana 1558+--- Power on 1600 to 1601+ -- Music overwhelming...audio garbled 1602---- 3+ 4 3+ noise......very satisfactory audio.... 1618-- 3+ 4 3+ noise....very satisfactory audio... 1621-- 3+ 4 4 noise...good audio..."from Walterville [sic], South Carolina" 1648 to 1700 ---3+ 4 4 noise....good audio This shortwave radio test transmission had a medium signal strength, slight to medium interference from atmospherics and a very satisfactory to good audio (George J. Poppin, Technical Monitor TDF, San Francisco, cc to DX LISTENING DIGEST) So is he going with these? ** SURINAME [non]. Checking 15540 again May 26 at 1403, a rather equal mix of two stations, one of which was indeed in Dutch, so R. Boskopoe relay, and the other in Slavic. Per HFCC this would be VOR Moscow, already there at 13-19, 250 kW, 190 degrees. Boskopoe via Bonaire nowhere near as loud & clear as it was at 2100 on same (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SYRIA. Today May 23 I tried all scheduled Damascus Radio frequencies with their English broadcasts at 2115 UT. Absolutely best reception noted on 9330 kHz with very strong signal, 12085 was poor and no reception on 13610 at all. Audio level was low on 9330, but overall reception quite good. Programme included "News and Reviews", "Local Press Review" and "Listeners Overseas". 73 (Jouko Huuskonen, Turku, FINLAND, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I think they have only two transmitters, so you never hear all three frequencies at once. Then I look at WRTH and it says 4 x 500, but never more than two frequencies scheduled. Maybe they double them up, or more likely only two of them work --- sort of (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** U S A. 7415, WBCQ Monticello ME; 2231-2259+, 24-May; Glenn Hauser's World of Radio #1316; item from Liz Cameron. To WBCQ SID at 2258:44. SIO=4+54- (Harold Frodge, MI, MARE Tipsheeet via DXLD) Another instance of WBCQ running WOR twice in a row, since the original broadcast was at 2200. I guess it is deliberate, to fill open space. No complaints, but wish I could predict these (gh, DXLD) Thursday, May 25, 2006, 8:00 PM EDT [0000 UT Friday May 26] -- WBCQ 7415 is offline due to a transmitter problem. Programming scheduled for 7415 shall air on WBCQ 5110 kHz as appropriate. We apologize for the inconvenience (Larry Will, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WEBY-AM GETS BROADCASTING BOOST --- Amy Sowder http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060525/NEWS01/60525012 A local talk radio station based in East Milton received permission from the Federal Communications Commission Thursday afternoon to expand its broadcast power from 5,000 watts to 25,000 watts. The expansion of WEBY-AM 1330?s coverage area is from central Santa Rosa County to all of Santa Rosa and Escambia counties and parts of Mobile and Escambia counties in Alabama. That will make WEBY the most powerful AM radio station on the Gulf Coast from New Orleans to Tampa, said Mike Bates, part owner. ``After six years, we just got the authorization from the FCC to crank up the power,`` he said. ``I?`e been through so much red tape that I could wrap all the Christmas presents in the world.`` Other local AM stations have 5,000 or 2,500 watts of broadcast power. The increased coverage area will allow WEBY to be a resource during hurricane season, he said. One popular program on WEBY is a political talk show by 1963 Pensacola High School alumnus Neal Boortz. For program listings, go to http://www.1330weby.com (via Andy Sennitt, dxldyg via DXLD) Basic journalism: WHEN? WHY? Such power increases have been granted to a number of FL stations complaining of Cuban QRM, but unseems in this case as WRTH only has a 1 kW and a 500 W listed (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. OutFront --- AFTER PAUL HARVEY, WHAT? Alan Farnham 06.05.06, Forbes Magazine As much as Howard Stern's departure hurt CBS, ABC stands to suffer more when it loses its 87-year-old master pitchman. Paul Harvey hip? Of course not. The blog crowd wouldn't pay him any heed. Yet his daily programs (News & Comment and The Rest of the Story) haul in 15 million listeners on 1,100 stations. In the course of 55 years with the ABC Radio Networks Harvey has probably brought it close to $1 billion in revenue. So strong is the bond of trust that he has built with listeners that when Paul says, "Buy," they do -- everything from Buicks to Bose Wave radios to steel buildings. He may be the greatest salesman in the history of the medium. So even the merest whiff of Harvey preparing to issue his final "Good ... day!" would be earth-shattering to ABC, not to mention listeners. Rumors have started. ABC broadcast personality Curtis Sliwa says staffers have been told internally that actor and former Senator Fred Thompson already is being groomed as Harvey's permanent replacement. Thompson fills in for Harvey occasionally, as he did for the first time last month. Not true, says John McConnell, head of programming; neither Thompson nor anybody else is being groomed as Paul's successor. As for the living legend, he looked hale and jaunty in a robin's-egg-blue suit when he appeared at a luncheon recently to celebrate the 30th anniversary of one of his shows. Dismissing the very notion of retirement, he quips, "I'd retire, only I have never found anything else that I would rather do." Harvey, 87, has been on the air since 1933. He has delivered more pregnant pauses than a rhetorical obstetrician. He's fit. He's sharp. He's still only five years into his latest ten-year contract. But the schedule he maintains is punishing: He's at the studio, without fail, by 4:00 a.m. How long can this go on? His departure, whenever it comes, will pose a bigger challenge for ABC than Howard Stern's departure did for CBS-owned Infinity Broadcasting. Stern, too, is a puissant pitchman. He all but built the Snapple brand. After he decamped in late 2005 to Sirius Satellite Radio (nasdaq: SIRI), CBS sales fell 6%. His former flagship station in New York dropped from number one in morning drive-time radio to number 22. Harvey brings in more than 10% of the network's $300 million in billings, says Michael Connolly, ABC's director of sales. Sliwa says ABC's loss of Harvey "would be like Krakatoa, East of Java" compared with the "tremor" felt by CBS from its loss of Stern. As for Thompson as replacement: "They could bring Jimmy Stewart back to life, and you still couldn't replace Paul." Advertiser Neill Walsdorf Jr., 46, president of Mission Pharmacal, remembers the thrill he felt ten years ago when Harvey first advertised Pharmacal's dietary calcium supplement, Citracal. It was Harvey himself who came up with the catchy slogan for the product, as he does for many of his advertisers' wares: "'Cit,' as in 'citrus.' 'Cal,' as in 'calcium.' CIT-ra-cal." Orders hit "like a tsunami," says Walsdorf, "and we never looked back. He has a way of taking the essence of any product and putting it across in a conversational manner that rings true with consumers." If he had to, would Walsdorf advertise with Howard Stern? No. "It's not that Howard doesn't deliver a great message. He can be cutting and hilarious." Then, after a suggestive, Harvey-like pause, Walsdorf says: "There're all sorts of things he could say, I'm sure, about the importance of strong bones." (via Pete Kemp, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. This year`s National Geographic Bee appeared on OETA May 25. Once again, maddeningly, Alex Trebek wasted a full third of the hour in chatting with each of the 10 contestants!! Can`t they come up with enough questions to fill an hour? Trebek also, wink-wink, reminds us he is Canadian, altho he then refers to ``our`` country, meaning the USA. For a Canadian, his French pronunciation is, at best, laboured. One of the first ``correct`` answers was that Montevideo, Uruguay is ``in a humid, subtropical climate``. I beg to differ: latitude 35 degrees south cannot by any stretch of the imagination be considered sub-tropical. Perhaps the Northern Hemispherians at the NGS in Washington think that anything southward is sub-tropical? That`s almost as far south as Enid is north. It may well be humid, on the Atlantic, but then so is Enid in the summer. The other multiple-choice answers were Madrid and Mexico City. Well, México is sub-tropical by latitude, but at its high elevation is not exactly humid. I just checked intellicast and the RH there at noon was 27% (Glenn Hauser, May 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA. LA VOZ DE VENEZUELA AL FIN ENCUENTRA DOLIENTES En las últimas semanas el Gobierno Nacional ha enviado positivas señales con respecto a la reactivación de la señal internacional de Radio Nacional de Venezuela, o bien para el rescate del antiguo proyecto de La Voz de Venezuela. Como recordarán los colegas de la lista, ya a principios de 1990 el Estado Venezolano había habilitado modernas instalaciones en la Península de Paraguaná, Estado Falcón, para la puesta en marcha de una emisora internacional denominada La Voz de Venezuela. En el marco del proyecto se estipulaba un transmisor de onda media que cubriría toda la zona del Caribe y parte de Estados Unidos. Ya en el gobierno de Rafael Caldera (1994-1999), se había prometido la entrada en servicio del canal 1240 kHz, de la onda media, para el nacimiento de la famosa Voz de Venezuela. En efecto, la señal estuvo por unos meses en el aire, a mediados de la década de 1990, pero sólo se limitó a ser un vulgar "repetidor" del antiguo Canal Ligero 630 kHz, de Radio Nacional. En el pasado se había prometido una estación con programación propia, en varios idiomas, y totalmente independiente de la parrilla de programación de RNV; a pesar de ello, La Voz de Venezuela nunca vio luz. Después de varios años de abandono, los costosos equipos de la frustrada Voz de Venezuela encontraron dolientes en el actual gobierno revolucionario. En la actualidad, hay mucha expectativa en relación con la reactivación del proyecto, aunque todavía no está claro si será un ente separado de RNV o si por el contrario será la ampliación del Canal Internacional de la emisora del Estado, tanto en horas de emisión como en idiomas. En el famoso programa "La Hojilla", emitido por el canal estatal VTV, el día 6 de abril de 2006 hubo una interesante conversación entre el conductor del espacio - Mario Silva - y el presidente del citado canal, Jesús Romero Anselmi. Hablaban acerca de los equipos de La Voz de Venezuela en Paraguaná y de la importancia estratégica que para el Estado implicaba la retoma de dichas instalaciones; disertaron largamente sobre la onda corta y pusieron de ejemplo Radio Habana Cuba, como arma informativa para contrarrestar las mentiras de los medios controlados por Estados Unidos y sus lacayos. Sin duda, la charla de Mario Silva y Jesús Romero Anselmi tuvo su eco. Días después en un "Aló Presidente", el presidente Chávez hizo referencia a la recuperación del proyecto de La Voz de Venezuela. Casualmente, dicho anuncio fue en Falcón, lugar donde se hallan las antenas y transmisores del citado proyecto. Es de esperar en los próximos meses acciones concretas por parte del Estado para la puesta en el aire de una estación internacional que emita al mundo las verdades de la Revolución Bolivariana. Ya en el alto gobierno hay conciencia de la significación de la onda corta en el campo de la "guerra mediática". Evidentemente, una muy buena noticia para los diexistas y amantes de la radio que hemos esperado este histórico paso por varias décadas. 73 y buen DX (Adán González, Catia La Mar, Estado Vargas, VENEZUELA, May 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE. 09/maio/2006, 3306, 2100, Radio Zimbabwe BC Corp - S32322 - Locutores falam incessantemente em algum dialeto africano (jumming tipo grilos ao fundo) (Márcio António Dias, May 26, Divinópolis - MG, radioescutas yg via DXLD) Hard to believe this is being jammed tho it would certainly serve them right; usually reported on 6612 instead (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Came across a Spanish speaking station 25/5 at 0020 on 6053.4, fair on peaks but often fading below local noise, mostly two male speakers, no music heard, identification 0045 by lady but could not get much out of it as was fading down. Nothing else on 6055. The transmitter was slightly unstable so difficult to use either LSB, USB or synch detection to monitor them. Spain signed on 6055 at 0058 and wiped them out. Better tonight already heard 2335 but still fading up and down, all talk, two mentions of La Paz made me think it was Radio Juan XXIII which is listed here, but at 2358 identified as Radio República, the Cuban exile station. Where from? Spur? (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth Garden City, UK, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Since this was heard before and after 0000 when Rampisham`s R. República changes from 6135 to 7205, maybe it`s a spur from the Nauen, Germany non-// transmission on 7160. Next time see if the audio is in synch with that, or with 6135/7205 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 3/4 (or more like 2/3) Color bars and tone on 2, May 26 at 1707 UT. I suppose this points to Cuba? Habana not often seen here, tho some 1300 miles away. In & out, mostly out, but don`t think there is any ID or bug on it (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, WTFDA via DXLD) At 1:15 EDT [1715 IT], I also see it, in with WPBT [2 Miami], so I assume Cuba (Bob Timmerman, Fort Wayne, IN, ibid.) Got it here too. Also VE1YX in NS and some Mexicans on TV, and HI3TIJ in Dominican Republic. 73, (Jeff Kadet, Macomb, IL, ibid.) The hams being 6 meters, I assume. I doubt that many other Latin American TV stations would be running color bars in the middle of the day, or do some others take a siesta or sign on that late? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 25 May 2006 1500 EWT Channel 4 - Color bars test pattern. Just has to be Cuba. Strong signal in TN. This is just amazing skip today!! (Willis, Old Fort, TN Monk, ABDX via DXLD) EWT = Eastern War Time, the original name for EDT in WW II = GMT -4, i.e. 1900 UT (gh, DXLD) 5/26 WESH-2, KPRC-2, WPBT-2, WEDU-3, KIII-3, KGBT-4, WWL-4, WTVJ-6, WUFT-5. Also colorbars and tone on ch. 2 from 1300 to 1330 [EDT - 1700-1730 UT]. (Bob Timmerman, Fort Wayne, IN, ibid.) 3/4 CB on 3 and 4 and 3 is Cuba in almost local. 4 not sure if on or still testing (OLD ROY Barstow, Cape Cod, ibid.) I'm seeing them on ch 4 at 1620 ET [2020 UT] and their audio is music. So, if you hear music, it's them (Mike Bugaj, Enfield, CT, ibid.) 3 and 4 // is Cuba BUT --- There are more color bars on 2, 3, and 4 also who?? Maybe time will tell (OLD ROY Barstow, MA, 2027 UT, ibid.) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ COMMENTARY ++++++++++ SHORTWAVE AROUND THE WORLD A Brief Look at Some Trends in Shortwave Ownership and Use --- Based on recent InterMedia surveys in Bosnia, China, Kuwait and Nigeria Summary of a presentation by Stephen Hegarty, Deputy Research Director of InterMedia, at the 2006 NASB Annual Meeting. InterMedia is contracted by organizations such as the U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) to conduct audience research studies. A Brief Overview Shortwave competes against an ever-wider array of media and delivery systems -- from satellite TV to the Internet. Shortwave radio ownership and use is generally low and on the decline in most regions. Africa is an exception. Shortwave has a niche audience. The heaviest users tend to be well-educated men. The data presented here are not exhaustive, but are representative of trends in a few regions. Shortwave use in Bosnia peaked during the Cold War in a closed, restricted media environment. Television is the most popular medium in this country, but radio remains a vibrant medium. More local choices have undermined the importance of shortwave as a "go to" source for alternatives. The emergence of Internet radio mirrors the decline of shortwave in Bosnia. The ownership of shortwave radios in the country was 33% in 2001, 31% in 2002, 29% in 2003 and 2004, and 23% in 2005. The weekly use of shortwave was 14% in 2001 and 4% in 2005. China: Not a Strong Radio Market There has never been a strong "radio culture" in China. Regular use rates are among the lowest in the world. There were no significant "peak" years for shortwave use, as there were in eastern Europe. Though percentages are low, the numbers still represent millions. Internet is all the rage in China, but not really for radio. The ownership of shortwave radios in China was 13% in 2002, 12% in 2004, and 4% in 2005. The weekly use of shortwave was 4% in 2002 and 3% in 2005. Kuwait: Satellite Television is King Radio is used widely and frequently in Kuwait, but less as a source of news. Satellite TV has become the dominant force in Arab media environments -- especially in the Gulf -- contributing to the decline of shortwave. Intenet use is extremely high in Kuwait, but not so much for radio. Ownership of shortwave radios was 46% in 2003, 32% in 2004, and 15% in 2005. The weekly use of shortwave was 12% in 2003, 6% in 2004, and 1% in 2005. Nigeria: Shortwave Still Thrives Throughout sub-Saharan Africa, radio remains the most widely accessible and heavily used medium. Shortwave is still very much a mass medium in this region. Nigerians use radio most often for news, music and religious programs. The ownership of shortwave radios in Nigeria was 54% in 2003, 64% in 2004, and 63% in 2005. The weekly use of shortwave was 29% in 2003, 43% in 2004, and 45% in 2005. In Nigeria, where shortwave has a mass audience, all demographic groups use shortwave regularly. In Bosnia, where it is a niche medium, the heaviest users are well-educated, 35 to 49 year old men. A Word on Internet Radio In Bosnia, the trend for PC ownership and Internet radio listening mirrors shortwave -- in the opposite direction. More people say they "never" use shortwave (from 28% in 2001 to 54% in 2005). They turn instead to the web to sample radio programming from around the world. The ownership of shortwave radios was 33% in 2001, compared to an 8% ownership of personal computers. However, by 2005, shortwave ownership had dropped to 23% and PC ownership had risen to 20%. The weekly use of shortwave in Bosnia dropped from 8% in 2003 to 4% in 2005, while weekly use of Internet radio rose from 1% in 2003 to 9% in 2005. NASB Audience Reaction These InterMedia surveys, conducted for the U.S. BBG, contain mostly bad news for shortwave broadcasters, with the exception of the shortwave scene in Africa. Adil Mina of Continental Electronics, who travels regularly to China, asked how many persons were surveyed in that country. Mr. Hegarty said that there were 10,500 interviews -- a large number perhaps, but Adil Mina pointed out that China has a population of 1.5 billion. He questioned the survey results, pointing out that in rural areas the rate of shortwave listenership is much higher. Don Messer of the DRM Consortium, and formerly with the IBB, said he has done a lot of work with statistics, and his opinion is that the rural population is often not taken into account enough in these types of surveys. He also emphasized that the introduction of DRM will make a difference in the use of shortwave in places like China. Kim Elliott, a VOA audience research officer, said that companies like InterMedia generally go to great lengths to make sure that they get correct samples of urban and rural populations, for example. Nevertheless, he feels that radio has great potential in China, with Chinese companies like Tecsun making shortwave receivers and with lots of new programming becoming available. John White of Thomson Broadcast & Multimedia said that his company sells a lot of shortwave transmitters, and like Adil Mina of Continental, he questions surveys that show shortwave listenership is declining. Alan Heil, a former deputy director of the Voice of America, said that it is also important to take note of the type of audience -- not just the quantity -- that listens to shortwave, which includes the presidents of many countries around the world. Mike Adams, Vice President of NASB, asked Mr. Hegarty about the shortwave audience in North America. Unfortunately, InterMedia has not done surveys of the audience in this part of the world, but Mr. Hegarty said they should perhaps do so. Mike asked if the NASB could theoretically participate in this kind of survey in North America. The answer was yes. Note: Reports covering other presentations from the NASB 2006 Annual Meeting will be carried in upcoming issues of the NASB Newsletter. (May NASB Newsletter via DXLD) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ SHORTWAVE SITES UPDATE Dear members of the shortwavesites Yahoo Group, I will be updating the Excel files of the existing & extinct SW transmitter sites soon. I would welcome any contributions, feedback, publicity & assistance with the project if you have the time & interest. Yours faithfully. (Ian Baxter, Australia, shortwavesites @ gmail.com May 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ Re DXLD 6-078: BAND I ANALOG TV IN GERMANY The Kreuzberg is 928 metres tall and located in the Rhön mountains, southeast of Fulda. The transmitter site there is owned by Bayerischer Rundfunk, and ch. 3 is to be switched off for the same reason as Biedenkopf ch. 2: All civilian TV transmitters in Hesse and the northwestern corner of Bavaria will change over to DVB-T. In just five days all remaining analogue TV transmitters in Hesse will run 525/60 with NTSC colour. . . However, this is not the end (yet!) for Band I in Germany. There will still be the Göttelborner Höhe (Sarre) and Grünten (Bavaria) transmitters on ch. 2, alongside with Raichberg (Baden-Württemberg) and Ochsenkopf (Bavaria; this one with vertical polarization) on ch. 4. And the discussion of still signing off TV stations (none here in Germany anymore) brought back memories of watching TV going off for the night 15-20 years ago. The Czechs did it in a rather elaborate way: A VTR of a waving flag (must have been the "video clip" for the national anthem I could not hear on our B/G system TV set), then they brought up one after another, each one for a few seconds, the test cards of TV's main control room, the radio communications switching centre at Prague and finally the individual transmitter site until finally shutting down the transmitters. GDR TV did it without anthem and without test cards: Just a final announcement by the program anchor, over to a "we wish you a good night" slide from which the studio faded to black, and after a few seconds the transmitters cut off so that those with older TV sets without muting suddenly woke up and went to bed. Pschschschschschsch (Kai Ludwig, Germany, May 24 dxldyg via DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING ++++++++++++++++++++ FM IBOC DX via SPORADIC E At 2:55 PM EDT -- I successfully decoded the IBOC digital for KBCO (97.3), Boulder, CO. I'm trying to get a picture of it, but my main digital camera is broken. The nice thing is the display will stay put even though KBCO is now gone. [Later:] I borrowed the wife's digital camera and got a pic of the HD Radio's KBCO display. It ain't great, but it's the best I can do with my Sony camera out of commission. It's posted at http://www.DXFM.com This radio does NOT have RDS capability. KBCO's HD has been in and out a few times since that initial reception (Girard Westerberg, Lexington, KY May 26, WTFDA via DXLD) a first? (gh) Excellent, Girard! The first DTV Es reception and now the first IBOC FM Es reception -- that's cool! Is that an older JVC HD tuner? I don't think I've seen it before (Glen Hale, ibid.) Yes, this is the HD tuner I bought from Craig Healy a few months ago. It's a great overall performer. This the first real FM opening I've had here this year, and the first time I've really tried DXing HD radio. With Denver area stations popping up I went to the Ibiquity site to get a list of targets. I tried KCFR (90.1) first. While the analog was solid, there was no hint of the digital. Likewise, KTCL (93.3) was booming in, but again no hint of digital. Then I went to KBCO (97.3), Boulder and the HD immediately locked and decoded. I used to work at KBCO, and it was my favorite station to listen to when I lived in Denver. It was nice to hear its new digital signal from the top of Eldorado Mountain for the first time (Girard Westerberg, ibid.) WTIC 1080 ON NOW WITH IBOC 5/25 01:00 ET Obviously testing HD radio, only dead air on the main carrier for a while now. 1090 WBAL, with a strong signal, still has that jet engine sound mixing in most of the time, but 'BAL at times does fade up to almost wipeout the upper HD sideband of 1080. 1070 CBA & CHOK are almost totally undetectable under the hash. (Andrew MacKenzie, Greenville (Greene Co.) NY, WTFDA-AM via DXLD) 0640 ET, Up early for a meeting and reading Andy's post. Went out to the car and WTIC has iboc (Gee, with all the downtime WTIC has had lately, who woulda suspected that ha). It's a new era in AM radio now. God help us all :-) – (Mike Bugaj, Enfield, CT USA, ibid.) Well, this should be interesting. With WBZ, WILD and now WTIC on the air, some people in the New England area will have hash from 1010 all the way to 1100! I've found that locally (Hingham MA) WBZ's hash covers 1010, 1020, 1040, 1050 -- absolutely no reception at all of anything (with or without phasing, nulling, etc.) on 1020 and 1040 --- some daytime DX is possible on 1010 and 1050. It will be interesting to hear how much hash WTIC puts out in this area during the day. WOR's hash can be heard weakly here at times during the day. I've found that the 5 kW stations here that run IBOC only have hash affecting the first adjacents and it can usually be phased or nulled. Mike, let me know how bad the hash is for you on the second adjacents (Keith McGinnis, Hingham MA, ibid.) As long as this crap is only sunset to sunrise we'll still have an AM hobby. Even if it is 6 AM to 6 PM we'll still have a hobby, although it will do even more damage to late fall/winter sunrise and sunset DX. If this stuff is on many stations at night --- oh well, this hobby is basically done for any of us in the 48 states who don't live in the NE or NW corner and have real good setups. I leave you an example of what IBOC on til 6PM local does here. KOA 850 is close to 900 miles away but leaves IBOC on legally til 7 PM my time (CST in winter) there is enough hash on 860 to prevent me hearing occasional heard Oregon (CJBC phased) and to try for a couple needed SSS targets. There's also enough hash on 840 to prevent Vegas and WA (KMAX)(WHAS phased out) from being DXed and off course to prevent needed target (have had bits of oldies and bits of C&W music) from having a chance. So I need to try for these stations later in winter or earlier in fall so that their KOA's IBOC is off as these station's sunset is later. My fear is that the coming fall/winter season will be the last of no 24 hr IBOC and thereby the end. 73 KAZ near Chicago (Neil Kazaross, IL, ibid.) I am told that IBOC does not work with a directional antenna. Yet these are. What is the basis for that belief and is it true? (Rich Shaftan, NJ, ibid.) Don't know where you got that from - but it's not true, at least not as a generality. There is an issue with what's called "pattern bandwidth" - for many DAs, the pattern at the center frequency (1080, let's say) is rather dramatically different from the pattern at the edges of the IBOC bandwidth (1065 or 1095), which can create either unwanted lobes or unwanted nulls in places where they shouldn't be. Just one of the many issues that will need to be resolved if all this is to work. (And in the case of WTIC, this shouldn't be an issue - WTIC is ND days and doesn't go DA until Dallas sunset.) s (Scott Fybush, NY, ibid.) Not true. IBOC *may* not work with *some* DA arrays - those with particularly tight nulls and/or large # of towers and/or multiple patterns for D, CH, PSA, N etc. I'm ( not! ) looking forward to what happens when WINS-1010, KDKA- 1020, WEPN-1050, KYW-1060 & WBAL-1090 all go IBOC... (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell, PA ( 360' ASL ), [15 mi NNW of Philadelphia], ibid.) LONDON DIGITAL RADIO SHOW The second London Digital Radio Show for UK industry representatives takes place next week. Links to the website and details of the programme posted below. The programme gives a good overview of the various digital radio technologies, their future use and prospects: Website http://www.digital-radio-show.com/ Programme (317 KB pdf) http://www.digital-radio-show.com/images/stories/Programme_2006.pdf (Mike Barraclough, BDXC-UK via DXLD) DRM: see PORTUGAL CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ 21ST INTERNATIONAL SPACE COLLOQUIUM Amateur Radio Satellite Group AMSAT-UK is holding its 21st International Space Colloquium at the University of Surrey, Guildford, England from July 28 to 30. The highlight of the event is a guided tour of the satellite assembly facilities and satellite mission control center at Surrey Space Center. There will be a program of lectures on amateur radio satellites, including a special beginner`s session aimed at showing how to use amateur satellites. The Colloquium is open to radio amateurs and short wave listeners. Further details can be found on the AMSAT-UK website (R. Bulgaria DX program May 26, via John Norfolk, dxldyg via DXLD) LANGUAGE LESSONS ++++++++++++++++ Re: DXLD 6-078, Chile, Would it be possible to explain to an English speaker the difference between Paraguayan and Chilean accents? (gh) I can't. It is mainly based on the intonation and the way some consonants are pronounced. It may be subtle for a non-Spanish speaking person. Generally speaking, there are marked differences between Spanish accents in different South American countries, especially when spoken by common people, it may be a bit more difficult when spoken by professional announcers. For me it is easy to distinguish for instance, between Chilean, Paraguayan, Colombian and Venezuelan accents. I have a bit more trouble trying to distinguish between Bolivian, Peruvian and Ecuadorean accents - perhaps because I didn't hear many stations from those countries :-) There is an even more difficult challenge: to tell the difference between Uruguayan and Argentinian (especially Buenos Aires) accents. We can recognize each other, but others can't. In this particular circumstance it may be useful to pay attention to different word usage. For instance, Argentinians say "a la mañana, a la tarde" (i.e. "in the morning", "in the afternoon") while we Uruguayans say "de mañana", "de tarde", etc. Also, the way the years are spelled, for instance the year 1985 in Argentina would be informally read as "mil nueve ochenta y cinco" (one thousand-nine-eighty five), while in Uruguay we would use the more conventional "mil novecientos ochenta y cinco" (i.e. one thousand, nine hundred and eighty five). However I guess that during the current century there will be no differences concerning this point between both margins of the River Plate, as there are no "hundreds" in the year :-). 73, (Moisés Knochen, Montevideo, Uruguay, May 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ HAWAII/CALIFORNIAS TROPO CONNEXION COMING? Here are some tropo maps you probably hardly ever look at.... http://www.dxinfocentre.com/tropo_enp.html If you are in southern CA or the Baja (MX) on Saturday, Sunday, or Monday, looks like there might be a real chance of Hawaii via trops! Very interesting colors there (Jim Thomas - wdx0fbu Milliken, CO - 40 mi N of Denver, May 26, WTFDA via DXLD) THE KN4LF DAILY LF/MF/HF RADIO PROPAGATION OUTLOOK #2006-004 has been published on 1700 UT Thursday May 25, 2006 at http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf6.htm. --... ...--, (Thomas F. Giella, KN4LF, Retired Meteorologist & Space Plasma Physicist, Lakeland, FL, USA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) TIPS FOR RATIONAL LIVING ++++++++++++++++++++++++ DR. GEORGE Laurel: to the OSU faculty committee for their quiet humor in awarding commencement speaker Geroge W. Bush an honorary doctorate --- a Doctor of Laws. OSU has no law school (Frosty Troy, Observerscope, Oklahoma Observer May 25 via DXLD) ###