DX LISTENING DIGEST 6-094, June 28, 2006 Incorporating REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING edited by Glenn Hauser, http://www.worldofradio.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits For restrixions and searchable 2006 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1320: Wed 2200 WOR WBCQ 7415 [first airing of each edition] Wed 2300 WOR WBCQ 18910-CLSB Fri 2030 WOR WWCR1 15825 Sat 0500 WOR WRMI 9955 Sat 0800 WOR WRN 13865 DRM via Bulgaria Sat 1230 WOR WRMI 9955 Sat 1430 WOR WRMI 7385 Sat 1600 WOR WWCR3 12160 Sat 1732 WOR WRMI 9955 [from WRN] Sun 0230 WOR WWCR3 5070 [start varies 0225-0235] Sun 0530 WOR WRMI 9955 Sun 0630 WOR WWCR1 3215 Sun 2230 WOR WRMI 9955 Mon 0300 WOR WBCQ 9330-CLSB Mon 0415 WOR WBCQ 7415 Mon 0500 WOR WRMI 9955 Wed 0930 WOR WWCR1 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 ** ALGERIA [and non]. The last listing for Algeria on SW in the WRTH was in 2002. They reappeared on the air via France in Jan 2006, then Merlin, then France again, now apparently via Merlin again (Jerry Berg, Jun 15, DSWCI DX Window June 28 via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Radio Australia's service to PNG and the SW Pacific puts in a super strong signal to Northern Queensland day and night. It could be a local station! [WTFK?] The service from Shepparton to Central Australia on 11880 and 6080 kHz was also super strong. I notice this service seems not to be on the air on Fridays, although I may be mistaken in saying that. I noticed on Saturday morning that this servie was not always in \\ with Tennant Creek on 4910 kHz (Barry Hartley, NZ, on tour to Queensland, wwdxc BC- DX June 28 via DXLD) see also under PNG, wb. ** AUSTRALIA. ABC-RA Darwin 11750 not verified yet; they denied ever using this channel in last year [on 9625 in our A-season summer, wb.] 11750/9625 "Radio Australia has not used this frequency for over a year. [RA still annoyed about the privation of DARWIN site ?, wb] Weiss Radio Australia wo es sendet? Ein Bericht vom Januar wurde heute mit der Ruecksendung desselben und der Bemerkung "Radio Australia has not used this freq for over a year" beantwortet. Es geht dabei um die Frequenz 11750 kHz. Diese wurde nicht nur von mir definitiv um 1500 UTC gehoert, sondern taucht in fast allen Ausgaben der Logs des Radiokurier von 2006 auf. Auch im derzeitigen englischen ADDX-Hoerfahrplan ist sie zu mehreren Zeiten gelistet, allerdings nicht im "offiziellen" RA-Sendeplan. Ist ja schoen, wenn man Berichte irgendwo auch noch kritisch beaeugt, aber man sollte doch wissen, auf welchen Frequenzen man tatsaechlich sendet (Rudolf Sonntag-D, A-DX June 27 via BCDX Jan 28 via DXLD) Rudolf, Jjjjjj-jein, ist natuerlich Wortglauberei oder Auslegungssache. Es kommt immer darauf an, wer den Bericht bestaetigt. Ist das ein Buero-Maeuschen, nur nach den Tabellen auf dem Schreibtisch ausgehend, kann es stimmen. Weil diese RA ABC QRG von dem Privatsender Christian Vision in Darwin fuer die ABC ausgesandt wird, in unserem Winter B-05 11750 1400-1600 49S,54 DRW 250 290 English AUS ABC CVI in unserem Sommer A-06 9625 1400-1600 49S,54 DRW 250 290 English AUS ABC CVI Dieser Darwin Frequenzwechsel ist mir seit 3 Jahren untergekommen, weil ich die DX Programmliste dieserhalb beim Saisonwechsel immer aendern muss ... (wb, wwdxc BC-DX June 27, via DXLD) ** BELARUS. Radio Mogilev 7145 kHz. Zu meiner grossen Freude kam hier gestern eine QSL-Karte von Radio Moghilev, gehoert am 22.5.2006 um 1500 UT auf 7145 kHz. Ich hatte einen CD-Bericht ohne Rueckporto geschickt. Bestaetigt wurde mit eigener QSL-Karte mit weissrussischem Text. v/s ist Yury Kurpatin. per e-mail geht's wohl auch: radiomogilev @ tut.by (Hans-Dieter Buschau-D, A-DX June 25 via BCDX via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT TO SIGN DECREE ON DIGITAL TV Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will tomorrow sign a decree providing for a digital television system in the country, the presidential office announced. It is widely expected the government will adopt the Japanese system. The government has spent months negotiating with US, European and Japanese business officials about the digital system that would be adopted by the country. The final decision rests with Lula. The Ministry of Communications confirmed that the government was close to reaching an accord on installing the Japanese system but declined to provide details. The Japanese model offers both economic and technological advantages, and the two government signed this year a memorandum of understanding on the subject. Officials believe the switch to a digital television system will create a 15-billion-dollar market in Brazil for adaptors and other technical devices. (Source: AFP) (June 28th, 2006, 14:53 UTC by Andy, Media Network blog via DXLD) ** CANADA [and non]. SAHARA --- I wrote and produced a radio documentary co-production for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and Radio-Canada (i.e. in English and in French) in 2003-2004, entitled Sahara. The three-hour English version of the series was licensed for broadcast on CBC's Ideas in 2004 and 2005, which included CBC Radio One and CBC's satellite platforms of RCI-1 and RCI-3. Doing this series gave me the opportunity of traveling in the deserts of Mauritania and Mali in West Africa. There were many surprises on the way between Nouakchott (where the Sahara reaches the Atlantic) and the legendary city of Timbuktu in north-central Mali. Equipped with mini-disc recorders and an assortment of digital mikes, I interviewed a wide range of people: Moorish and Tuareg nomads, barefoot herdsmen, geologists measuring desertification, a Sufi mystic in Chingueti who showed me a thousand-year-old illuminated Coran on gazelle skin, innkeepers (the inns consisted of tents in various oases), and a few former black slaves. Camels provided me with a lot of grumbling and groaning - right on cue. In Timbuktu I met up with conservators of a stunning collection of medieval manuscripts - many of which were written by black African authors in their own national languages. I tracked down a few explorers, male and female, who had crossed the Sahara on foot, by camel or, in the case of an eccentric English lord, by Land Rover. As a journalist and historian, this was one of my most challenging assignments. I narrated the series in both languages and also composed and performed original music. Sahara was licensed for broadcast by the CBC - but subsequently the Corporation went out and flogged my work as if it belonged to the CBC - which it didn't. By contacting Glenn Hauser and other radio experts around the world, I was able to confirm a number of foreign broadcasts. I learned for example that the series was heard several times on Public Radio International, and then, during CBC's lockout in August-September 2005, on many stations of American Public Media and National Public Radio. From Hawaii to Maine, executives at state public radio networks responded quickly, with full details of the airing of my work. Acting through the Canadian Media Guild, I called CBC on it and filed a grievance. In the end the issue was settled without having to go to arbitration; terms of the settlement itself are confidential. My general comment is that in the brave new world of digital and satellite radio, it is important for writers and producers to have watertight contracts and to defend their copyright. At the same time, it was gratifying for me to discover the universe of the DX Listening Digest, and to realize how many people around the world just love radio. Stay tuned, because my next three-hour series for CBC, due for broadcast in the second half of 2007, will take listeners to the rainforests, tepui mountains, snow-capped volcanoes and glaciers of South America - all places with rich sound and the most fascinating people, not to mention wildlife.... (George Tombs, June 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, it is really interesting to learn of this issue and how DXLD folks helped out. Radio programmes like this are rare gems and their authors/producers need to have their rights protected. I am glad a settlement was reached (Andy O`Brien, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) This story makes me really wonder how CBC usually treats the freelancers working for them. On the other hand there is probably not much need for guessing after the last lockout made it obvious how they treat employees. In the case of freelancers it's much easier: You do not agree? Sorry, we have no orders for you anymore. And who uses the buzzword "digital" even when selling microphones? (Kai Ludwig, Germany, ibid.) Now now, the outcome was at last satisfactory (gh) ** CHINA. A Chinese language station is now active on 14180 kcs AM, causing heavy QRM to ham radio operators in the 20 m band. May be a move from 17 mb? SINPO 34433 here in Germany around 1130 UT (Harald Kuhl-D, DXplorer June 22 via BCDX via DXLD) Apparently only lasted two days June 22-23. Has anybody heard 14180 or any other CNR transmission in 20m since? (gh, DXLD) 14180, CNR 1 (Voice of China), Guangxi, 0930-1000*, *1005-1100*, *1105-1200*, *1205-1215, heard here on Jun 22 and 23 only, Chinese programs heard // 11945 which was had continuous transmission. This is broadcast jamming on the clandestine Sound of Hope from Taiwan // 18180, ex 18160, with typical 5 minute "jam-check" breaks on the Hour, 34433. However, this one is right in the heart of the 20m ham band and will get most hams screaming!!! (Berg, Goonetilleke, Kuhl and Ritola in Dxplorer via DSWCI DX Window June 28 via DXLD) Nothing heard besides hams 1105-1130, Jun 26. Scheduled 2205-1800 except for "jam checks" (Anker Petersen, Denmark, ibid.) How do they know the site is Guangxi? (gh, DXLD) ** CUBA. Noticed RHC on 9600 instead of 11805 in Spanish around 1330 June 28; only time will tell whether this be a permanent change (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Havana Cuba --- I tuned in to 11655 a few minutes before 2100 UT on Wednesday June 28, to hear Cuban music. News from Cuba in English at 2100 followed by sports news. Mailbag Show at 2110. Strong signal parallel to weaker 9505. Nothing on scheduled 11760. Into French at 2130. Off 11655 sometime around 2145 and back on at 2150 but on the scheduled frequency of 11760. An apparent error in frequency, corrected half way through the French transmission (Bernie O'Shea, Ottawa, Ontario, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also GERMANY ** GERMANY. 5910, 0230, CUBA (Non). Location?? Radio República. Fair, but improving in Spanish with spoken programming ``revista. . . technologia``. Announced frequency of 5910 kHz and later announced another frequency of 6135 kHz. Heard thru to s/off at 0400 when mixing with RDW sign-on. Programming not in // with 7110 kHz at the same time. 27/5 DL 5910, 0349, GERMANY. Radio Deutsche Welle, Wertachtal 0359 fair signing on in Russian. Initially mixed with Radio República. // 11650 good. 27/5 DL (Dene Lynneberg, Pukerua Bay, ICOM ICR-70 and AOR7030+ 100m longwire, June NZ DX Times via DXLD) As reported long ago in DXLD, 5910 RR is via Nauen. Interesting that DTK are not coördinated enough to avoid overlapping with Wertachtal, tho the Russian does not officially start until 0400. He also wonders where 7110 RR is --- Rampisham UK (gh, DXLD) ** GREECE. Non registered: Harmonics with talking and music in Greek noted at 1930-2000 on 3181, 3132, 3203, 3258, 3234, 3257, 3274, 4895, 4920 (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, June 3, wwdxc BC-DX June 28 via DXLD) ** GUAM. He Glenn, I hear AFRTS, Barrrigada, on 13362 usb, time 2020 UT 26/6. Talks news to the army, in English. SINPO 33222. RX AOR 7030 + NRD 535 antenna LW 100m. MFJ 959b (Maurits Van Driessche, Belgium, member DX Antwerp 111, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 9680, RRI Jakarta, June 28 (Wed.), 1001-1022, repeat of the Sunday (June 25) KGRE program #5112; frequencies ``FM 92.8, M wave 1332 and S wave 9680, every Sunday and Wednesday, at 6 o'clock in the afternoon``. Fair-good (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, Etón E5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL. I will not be watching or listening to any WC or ANY other stupid ballgames. I regret having given you false `hope` by commenting previously on the US/Ghana match. Apparently my negative comments about this business have not sunk in. SBGs are a TOTAL waste of time for all concerned (except for the exercise the players get to the extent it is beneficial rather than harmful), even if only a few enlightened individuals such as myself seem to realize this. You are of course free to spend your time however you like, but I am trying to give my friends in the DXLD community some food for thought. You are certainly welcome to continue discussing this nonsense in the yg especially as it relates to broadcasting, especially shortwave. 73, (Glenn, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) U.S. ISN`T EXACTLY WORLD CUP-CRAZY WEEKLY STANDARD: SOCCER IS JUST NINETY MINUTES OF NOTHING http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/06/23/opinion/main1746998.shtml (via Sergei Sosedkin, dxldyg via DXLD) RF ID at the World Cup Every ticket holder of 2006 FIFA World Cup games are carrying an RFID (radio frequency identification) tag, scanned whenever a fan arrives at the gates of any of the 12 stadiums across Germany. Philips supplied the RFID tags, the track-and-trace chips are to combat counterfeiting and ensure only those with legitimate tickets can get in to watch the matches. At the games themselves, referees come under fire not only for an imbalance of penalties but also scoring accuracy. In last Sunday weeks 1-1 draw between France and South Korea FIFA refs said the South Korean goalkeeper, Lee Woon Jae managed to keep the ball out of the goal before it had crossed the line. Television replays, however, clearly showed that the ball had indeed crossed the line and the referee should have allowed the goal. This and other similar episodes could have been settled by "smart balls" which contain a microchip that sends out a radio signal to refs whenever the ball crosses the touch line, but it's said FIFA say that technology is still regarded as 'imperfect'. (source? via Ajoy Dhar, S21001SWL, June 25, SWR-Worldwide yg via DXLD) Re: ``If the Dutch team had progressed to the final, there was a plan to have our own studio in the stadium... sadly after the Battle of Nuremberg that isn't going to happen.`` And the German crowd considers it funny to sing "ohne Holland fahr'n wir nach Berlin" ("we're going to Berlin without Holland"). Embarrassing idiots. But no comment on the usual practice to refer to the Netherlands as Holland here, since apparently the Dutch themselves do not care for the other regions of their country either, or what else should I think about "hup, Holland, hup"? Here is a slideshow of the Radio 1 WKFM operations in Germany: http://s61.photobucket.com/albums/h59/ProFMSolutions/WK%20FM%20Germany%202006/?action=view&slideshow=true Don't confuse their antenna on the SWR building at Stuttgart with the antenna system of the regular FM transmitters there, the horizontally polarized four element yagis visible on the left edge of one of the pictures (a typical example for German low power FM outlets, by the way). (Kai Ludwig, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET. INTERNET ANTI-CENSORSHIP MEASURE PASSES HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE Global Online Freedom Act unanimously passed by House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations. "Internet service providers could ... face fines of up to $2 million per offense and imprisonment for blocking access to any U.S. government-sponsored Web site or content, such as Voice of America." CNET News, 22 June 2006. . . http://news.com.com/House+panel+OKs+global+rules+for+U.S.+Net+firms/2100-1028_3-6087112.html See also Rep. Chris Smith press release, 23 June 2006. http://www.house.gov/list/press/nj04_smith/prGOFAsubmarkup.html (kimandrewelliott.com June 28 via DXLD) How to enforce abroad? ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. XM RADIO: SUBSCRIBER DISCONTENT CONTINUES OVER COMMERCIAL-FREE MUSIC POLICY --- About Radio By Corey Deitz http://radio.about.com/od/xmsatelliteradio/a/aa062706a.htm In a recent article (Anger and Confusion Over XM Satellite Radio's Commercial-Free Music Policy), I outlined the reason XM Satellite Radio was forced to add commercials to a handful of music channels. This action was the result of a legal settlement with Clear Channel Radio which entered into a programming agreement with XM back in 1998. Unfortunately for XM, abiding by this settlement has meant it had to break the promise of all its music channels being commercial-free. Now, although most of XM's music channels are commercial-free, a few programmed by Clear Channel Radio are not. XM listeners will have to put up with this until at least 2008 - the year the agreement with XM and Clear Channel supposedly ends. I'm sure back in 1998 when XM was formulating, it welcomed Clear Channel Radio's investment in the service. I'm sure it did not foresee that years later it would be forced to renege on its original commercial-free music channel policy. I doubt it realized at the time that Clear Channel's investment would turn out to be a form of "blood money" which would later give the radio chain enough legal standing to force XM to sell its commercial- free soul years later. You can be assured that this chink in its commercial-free music armor has not been taken lightly and has probably caused more angst in XM hallways than you can imagine. You can also be sure, in my opinion, that Clear Channel new exactly what it was doing when it sought a legal footing to air commercials on the XM music channels it was contracted to program. To a chain with over 1200 terrestrial radio stations, the real benefit was stealing some of the lustre away from XM's claim to commercial- free music. At least that's the way I see it. Damage has been done and XM's credibility has been called into question - at least by many site visitors who send me email on the subject. To their credit, XM has attempted to deflect criticism by creating clone music channels to offset the commercial-not-so-free ones the Clear Channel settlement has forced them to live with. That said, people have a right to expect what they've been promised for payment rendered and this whole affair has no doubt soured a portion of subscribers who are literalists with little lattitude for forgiveness. After all, isn't the "Holy Grail of Satellite Radio" the promise of commercial-free music - something those cluttered AM and FM stations could never do? Excerpts of Recent Emails: "I subscribed to XM for the commercial-free music. I feel bad about abandoning XM because of the commercials on Clear Channel stations. I think airing the commercials is a misguided attempt on the part of CCC to wring money from an audience that fled to XM to escape the control of a sponsor-driven business model. If we all just walk away, no audience, no XM." - George "I switched to their service ONLY becuase they advertised this as a commercial free service. What recourse have we got ? It seems that XM thinks we are a bunch of idiots held hastage by the fact that we cant return the radios to them !!" - Allan "...if I'm paying for xm's service of 'commercial free' radio I don't want to listen to someone blabber about their pets medications. Before I had to deal with that I loved XM but now I'll be listening to my favorite tune and my XM will loose signal come back and I'll have to listen to a commercial. I'm not saying this perturbs me enough to switch providers but if things keep going this way I may. Between the spotty service and now the commercials I am beginning to get fed up." - Dan "I pay decent money for radio with no commercials. How can they get away with deceiving their customers like this? Is Sirius doing the same thing? If not - I'm 'seriously' considering a swith." - A Concerned Listener "I think I have been duped! When I purchased my XM radio w/ accessories and a two year subscription, I paid serious money for the SOLE purpose of not having to listen to commercials any more. Well I was hoodwinked, there are commercials everyday on XM 'commercial free' radio." - Roger For the record, readers should be clear on XM's commercial-free policy. It originally applied to music channels but the service does and has had commercials on other channels. It has never concealed that fact. (The author wishes to disclose in a separate position he is an employee of Clear Channel.) (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** IRAN [and non]. IRIB Lithuania relay, time / language sorted. Sorry missed monitoring the 0530-0630 UT slot, woke up late near 0650 UT because of the football TV claim. So, I don't know is there a very early IRIB service - either Bosnian or Spanish via Sitkunai?? 15235 0530 0630 28S KAM 500 298 BOSSNI IRN IRB 13750 0530 0630 28S SIR 500 310 BOSSNI IRN IRB 15530 0530 0630 27S,28S,37,3KAM 500 289 SPANISH IRN IRB 17785 0530 0630 27S,28S,37,3SIR 500 300 SPANISH IRN IRB 11555 LTU S=8-9, no time delay against 13770 and 15085. 13770 S=1-2, very weak today. 15085 S=7 13770 0630 0730 28S KAM 500 289 ITALY IRN IRB 15085 0630 0730 28S KAM 500 310 ITALY IRN IRB There is no IRIB German relay via Sitkunai, due opening procedure of R Vilnius-LTU broadcaster on their own 9710 kHz around 0749 UT. IRIB's / ME and BUL propagation on 13 and 15 MHz channels this morning didn't work properly, poor signals of S=1-3 level. But 'fair normal' signals from other parts of the world like FIN, GB, ALB, POR etc, at very same time slot. 15430 0730 0830 27,28 SIR 500 310 GERMANY IRN IRB S=2 15085 0730 0830 27,28 KAM 500 310 GERMANY IRN IRB S=2-3 9315 LTU S=9+. Noted only \\ 9580 SIR S=7 7165 1430 1530 30,31 KAM 500 58 RUSSIAN IRN IRB 9580 1430 1530 29-30 SIR 500 330 RUSSIAN IRN IRB 9900 1430 1530 30,31 AHW 250 26 RUSSIAN IRN IRB 7540 LTU S=9+20 dB. 11855 S=7-8, buzzy audio feeder, echo. No delay. 15085 S=9, 0.5 second behind LTU. 11855 1730 1830 27,28 SIR 500 322 GERMANY IRN IRB 15085 1730 1830 27,28 KAM 500 310 GERMANY IRN IRB 7540 LTU S=9+20 dB. 13755 S=1-2. No delay. 15085 S=9. 0.5 second behind LTU. 9905 S=7, echo. No delay. 13755 1830 1930 46,47 KAM 500 259 FRENCH IRN IRB 15085 1830 1930 27,28 KAM 500 310 FRENCH IRN IRB 9905 1830 1930 27,28 SIR 250 310 FRENCH IRN IRB 7540 LTU S=9+20 dB. 9800 S=1. Weak, RFI 9790 powerhouse. 7205 S=7. 0.5 second behind LTU. 6205 S=7. one eights second behind LTU. 9925 S=1. Weak. 9800 1930 2030 52,53,57 SIR 500 211 ENGLISH IRN IRB 7205 1930 2030 27,28 SIR 500 313 ENGLISH IRN IRB 6205 1930 2030 27,28 KAM 500 304 ENGLISH IRN IRB 9925 1930 2030 52,53,57 KAM 500 205 ENGLISH IRN IRB 7540 LTU S=9+20 dB. 9650 S=9. No delay. 7300 S=9. 0.25 second behind LTU. 9650 2030 2130 27S,28S,37,3SIR 500 295 SPANISH IRN IRB 7300 2030 2130 27S,28S,37,3KAM 500 289 SPANISH IRN IRB I'll check the morning service tomorrow again, LTU 11555 kHz at 0530- 0627 UT (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX June 28) I'll also try to remember to listen before 0630 / 0730 UT tomorrow for either 11555 or 9315. Thanks for the sched of 9315 and 7540. I'm "sitting" on 9315 as I type this at 1420 and there's a nice strong open carrier on there, but with some cyclic type of fading from 9+10dB down to about 7 in quick 'jumps'. I wonder if there is an eastward directing antenna at Sitkunai as signal strength is very good here if so. I cannot hear any trace of a digital signal but I do have a fairly high noise level that could be masking it. I can hear what sounds audio in the background - 9315 was used in B-05 by WYFR from A-A I think - but not currently. Maybe it was on the Sat link? Yes - feed started at about 1529:45 UT. Parallel 9580 is peaking to S=9. I can hear 9900 but it is splashed badly by RNW 9895. 7165 is inaudible due high local noise. Iran seems to have a problem with some of its transmitters - 13770 was awful here this morning. Surely not running full 500 kW? And 15085 was only fair too. How come they can't get a decent signal into Europe from Iran currently - they used to do so (Noel R. Green, UK, wwdxc BC- DX June 28, ibid.) At 1450 UT I hear Teheran in Russian on 9315 kHz and no digital signal (Olle Alm, Sweden, wwdxc BC-DX June 27, ibid.) Yes, heard 1430-1527 UT Russian too, S=9 and accompanied digital signal lower side, only \\ 9580 here, from Sirjan, a fifth second behind the LTU signal. Ahwaz signals not heard here, due of azimuth direction signal towards Siberian Russia (Wolfgang Büschel, Stuttgart, June 27, ibid.) ** IRELAND. IRELAND`S COMREG LAUNCHES LICENSING SCHEME FOR COMMUNITY AND RELIGIOUS TRANSMISSIONS Ireland`s Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) has launched a licensing scheme that will allow religious and community organisations to transmit services and events, such as religious services, for the benefit of people in local communities throughout the country. ComReg’s Wireless Public Address System (WPAS) licensing scheme will allow religious and community-based organisations to transmit services and events – such as, for example, Mass to people who are unable to attend. ComReg has allocated a specific part of the radio spectrum, the 27.6 to 27.99 MHz band, for this scheme. A licence is required for each WPAS transmitter and costs €100. The licence is valid for 5 years and is renewable. People who wish to listen to services transmitted via WPAS are not required to buy a licence. Such services will only be available on receivers capable of being tuned to the 27.6 to 27.99 MHz band. Such receivers are widely available from electronic equipment suppliers and are relatively inexpensive to purchase. ComReg says this new licensing scheme will allow Churches and community-based organisations throughout the country to cater for parishioners who are housebound and are unable to attend Church or other community services (June 26th, 2006, 1213 UT by Andy, Media Network blog via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. 9855, Shiokaze (Sea Breeze), via TAIWAN (presumed site), Jun 26 (Mon.), *1030-1057*, repeat of June 22 (Thurs.) program in English; ``News Flash`` segment with news stories from different sources, music between items; editorial; off in mid- sentence. Many IDs: "This is Shiokaze, Sea Breeze, from Tokyo, Japan". Good: best reception so far. June 27 also good in JP or KO, similar format as the Sun. English program, with long list of names. Still no sign of the mysterious Freedom North Korea Broadcast (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, Etón E5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) TAIWAN/RUSSIA/JAPAN/D.P.R. KOREA --- E-mail from Toshi Ohtake, JSWC, confirms that Shiokaze is 1030-1100 on 9855 and 2030-2100 on 9785; FNKB is 1000-1030 on 11750 and 1700-1730 on 9760. I have very weak signals on 11750 at 1000 and 9855 at 1030, but nothing useable. In a separate cover E-mail transmitting the JSWC bulletin, he says: Shiokaze started last Oct in order to collect info about the abducted Japanese in No. Korea and encourage them until their rescue operation is materialized. Program was being exposed to severe jamming, presumably from North Korea, since early May. So on Jun 15 the following changes were made; new sked is 1030-1100 on 9855, 2030-2100 on 9785. The 1030 program is either in KO, EG, CJ or JP, depending on the day of the week. News in KO, EG and JP and reading of the victims' names and personal data in KO, EG and CH are given. The 2030 program is a reading of the victims' names, and letters and voice calls by the victims' families, all in Japanese. As far as confirmed in Tokyo suburban area, the jamming has been kept on the old frequency of 5890 and the new frequencies are not jammed yet as of Jun 27 (Toshi Ohtake-JPN, JSWC, via DXplorer June 28 via BCDX via DXLD) 9855, "KOREA(DPR)", presumed Shiokaze program via Taiwan, *1030-1057*, June 26, unID/English-? Announcer over piano music at sign-on, talks of various lengths in unID language, from 1033-1050, each separated by a pop-like instrumental bit. Presumed English at 1050 by YL with positive mentions of "North Korea" and the years, "1998" and "1999". Same repeated by OM. Sign-off announcement over piano music at 1056, cut off at 1057. Poor/weak and noisy. Unsure if entire broadcast in English or just latter part. Ron Howard tip says he's heard an all English broadcast on a Monday. 11750, "KOREA(DPR)", presumed Freedom North Korea Broadcast via Taiwan, 1003-1027, June 26, Korean-?, 2 OM at tune-in, announcer over music at 1006, OM at 1007; YL joins in around 1019. Gone at 1027, carrier still on. Poor/weak (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, 200' Beverages, MLB-1, DTS-4, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) NORTH KOREANS TURNED ON BUT TUNED OUT --- By Andrei Lankov One might expect North Korea to be the target of many outside Korean- language stations. After all, it is one of the few despotic regimes whose survival still largely depends on myths about the country's situation and its place in the world. However, almost no outside broadcasting targets North Korea. Until the mid-1990s, it didn't make sense to broadcast to North Korea. Authorities since the 1960s had dealt with the "foreign broadcast problem", which created so much trouble for other communist regimes, by outlawing all radios with free tuning. Radios sold in North Korea had fixed tuning and thus could receive only three or four official channels. . . http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/HF28Dg04.html (via Jilly Dybka, DXLD) Almost none --- except for R. Free Asia, Free North Korea, and VOA, he goes on to concede. Apparently unaware of Shiokaze, Echo of Hope, Voice of the People from Japan or South Korea. The following non- clandestines also have broadcasts in Korean according to http://www.addx.de/cgi-bin/hfp.cgi --- CRI, NHK, Bible Voice Broadcasting, AWR, TWR (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KURDISTAN [and non]. FM DX: Voice of Kurdistan (presumed from Northern Iraq), news in Arabic at 1100 UT on 90.7 \\ 91.4 \\ 91.5, ID "BBC Extra" and program in Arabic on 96.05 MHz at 1122 \\ SW 7140 kHz. Unid on 92.00 in some sort Kurdish (presumed) an. At 1130 UT www.besearadio-? nua.com [sic] 103.3 at 1145 ID "Burasi Moral FM" in Turkish. 1148-1411 99.5 \\ 90.05 \\ 88.6 "Sowti Shabat" with DJ Silva and serial phone calls (presumed Voice of People from Syria"). 0700-1000 69.75 Armenia; 72.7 Radio Yunost, news by Miss Elena Sturm (Rumen Pankov-BUL, wwdxc BC-DX June 3 via DXLD) ** LATVIA. Re discussion of who will be running 9290 from now on: As so often, releases from within the "anorak scene" should be read with a bit of salt. It is Raimonds Kreicbergs who is the exclusive license owner for the SW frequency 9290 in Latvia. Not RNI, but Kreichbergs in person received this license. RNI is the idea of a relay service project by Andrew Yates, who in earlier years was sub- renting SW airtime of Krebs TV under the label "Euronet Radio". All relay services on 9290 from Latvia (in whatever form or under whatever name) will be based on the license of Raimonds Kreichbergs (Bernd Trutenau. Lithuania, SW-pirates June 23 via BCDX via DXLD) ** LIBERIA [non]. 11965 2101 LIBERIA/ASCENSION ISLAND Star Radio Liberia opening abruptly with English announcements, into feature about Liberian vocalists. Good signal but gradual fading, audible past 2130, 3/6 BCM (Bryan Clark, NZ, NZ DX Times via DXLD) That was before this transmission was cancelled June 12 or 19, per 6-090 (gh, DXLD) ** LITHUANIA. See IRAN [non] ** MALAYSIA. 6050, Suara Islam via RTM-Kajang (site presumed), June 27, 1400-1421, religious program Voice of Islam, mostly talking in vernacular, reciting from the Quran, "Suara Islam" IDs, fair-good. This station is now the most consistently well heard Malaysian. Have not heard Wai FM on 7270 for some days now, but 5965 (Nasional FM) and 7295 (Traxx FM) are still heard (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, Etón E5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MONTENEGRO. UN Makes It Official: Montenegro Now Number 336 on the Current DXCC List (June 28, 2006) --- A new ARRL DXCC entity has come into being! The United Nations has admitted the Republic of Montenegro as its 192nd member, and that action automatically makes the tiny Balkan nation the 336th current DXCC entity, effective June 28 at 0001 UT. Full Story at http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2006/06/28/1/?nc=1 (via John Norfolk, dxldyg via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. RNW DIRECTOR-GENERAL SAYS WORKING GROUP’S REPORT ``SLOPPY AND POORLY INFORMED`` Radio Netherlands Worldwide (RNW) Director-General Jan Hoek says that the proposals relating to RNW in the report ‘Andere Publieke Omroep’ are sloppy, and the working group is poorly informed about the role of the Dutch international service. In a statement to the press, Mr Hoek says that it’s a pity the working group did not take the opportunity to be better informed, as their advice damages the credibility of what could have been a useful contribution to the discussion about public broadcasting. The working group suggests incorporating Radio Netherlands into NOS to strengthen the news function of public broadcasting. Jan Hoek points out that only a small proportion of the staff at RNW are working on Dutch language news bulletins. The cost of producing the Dutch language news is only a fraction of the 14 million euro that the working group thinks can be saved. In fact, this 14 million euro is half the total budget for broadcasts in nine languages. Apparently, the working group is unaware that RNW works in eight other languages besides Dutch, says Mr Hoek. Of course, RNW accepts that public organizations must be careful with public money, says Mr Hoek. That’s why cooperation with the NOS and regional public broadcasters has been greatly increased in recent years, during which time the number of editorial jobs in the Dutch department at RNW has been reduced by about one third. There is no more duplication of effort, and RNW can concentrate on putting the news into context for Dutch people abroad (June 26th, 2006, 08:57 UT by Andy, Media Network blog via DXLD) see also POLAND ** NEW ZEALAND. As per recent postings about RNZI frequency change announcements. At 0500 UT they have announced this week, closing of 15720 kHz and moving to 31 meters but it never happens. After a few minutes of the Bell Bird Interval Signal they continue on 15720 with Check Point with Mary Wilson. It was nice to hear Wayne Mowatt tonight (UT June 28) fill in hosting the program "Afternoons". Wayne had been one of my favorite presenters until his removal from the former afternoon (NZ time) program on RNZ, "In Touch with New Zealand" that was replaced last fall with the new "Afternoons" program on RNZ, relayed by RNZI from 0100-0300 and 0400-0457 UT. 73 (Mick Delmage, Sherwood Park, Alberta, June 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Until RNZI gets on to its tracks again, I'm afraid to say one should better not take the schedule for granted, at least entirely: 1651-1850 means 7145 DRM & 6095 AM (i.e. as per schedule) and that's also what http://www.rnzi.com announces on its upper right corner, but reception of the analogue signal is being on 7145 as I write this, 28 Jun, 1736 UT. A mistake or not, it enables us "amplitude modulated mortals" to keep listening as 6095 AM would be useless for various reasons. 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, June 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. I am now back in N.Z. after spending eight days in Far North Queensland at Port Douglas which is about 60 km North of Cairns. The weather was nice and warm, around 25-27 degrees C during the day and around 20 at night. I took my Sony ICFSW7600G with me and ran out several metres of wire from my apartment deck to the trunk of a coconut tree. I listened to RNZI every day for news from N.Z. and was rather pleased to learn that I was missing N.Z.'s coldest spell in recent memory! Naturally being close to Papua New Guinea I had a look at what stations were on air and this is what I heard. NBC Port Moresby was strong morning and evening on 4890 kHz and on 9675 kHz during the day. However RRI Jakarta on 9680 kHz knocked them around a bit. That is an example of poor frequency planning I would think! Not all of the 90 mb regional stations are on air at present. The strongest was Radio Central on 3290 kHz in the local evenings, but some days there was no modulation, just a strong carrier. The other stations heard were on 3305, 3315, 3325, 3345 & 3385 kHz, as well as R. New Ireland on 3905 kHz. I only heard two medium wave stations, NBC Port Moresby on 585 kHz and Radio Morobe, Lae on 810 kHz mixing with RRI Merauke in Indonesian West Papua. R. Morobe could not be heard on 3220 kHz. The Catholic Radio Network on 4960 kHz could be heard every evening between about 0800-1200 UT. It wasn't very strong but was readable. They had a Vatican Radio programme on Saturday around 0830, complete with Vatican Radio's interval signal (Barry Hartley, NZ, on tour to Queensland, wwdxc BC-DX June 28 via DXLD) ** PERU. QSL Radio Tawantinsuyo --- 6173.8, Cusco, recibida carta QSL con datos completos en 45 días. V/S Ivan Montesino. En la carta se puede leer: "Radio Tawantinsuyo, en el corazón del pueblo OAX7B 1190 Kcs. Onda Media Servicio Local OAX7V 4910 Kcs. Onda Tropical 60 metros, Servicio Regional [inactive?] OAX7C 6175 Kcs. Onda corta 49 mts. Servicio Nacional e Internacional FM 91.3 Mgs. Señor Manuel Méndez, Lugo, España --- La gerencia de Radio Tawantinsuyo, a cuyo frente se encuentra el señor Iván Montesino certifica la sintonía internacional de nuestro oyente Manuel Méndez en España el día 13-05-2006 en nuestra frecuencia de 6173.8 kHz., lo que certificamos la sintonía internacional. Atentamente Radio Tawantinsuyo OC 49 Mts. Cusco-Perú 5 Kw. Av. Sol nº 806 Cusco-Perú" El informe de recepción con 1 US $, se envió a D. Carlos Gamarra Moscoso, director de frecuencias de Radio La Hora, Cusco, y que, además, se encarga, gentilmente, de gestionar QSL's para los DX-istas europeos y americanos de emisoras peruanas de los departamentos de Cuzco, Juliaca, Tacna, Puerto Maldonado, Quillabamba y Sicuani. Agradece se acompañe IRC ó US $ para el sello de retorno. Su dirección: Carlos Gamarra Moscoso Avenida Garcilaso 411 Distrito de Wanchaq Cusco, Perú (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, June 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** POLAND [and non]. The segment about European languages, Esperanto, etc., on RNW`s EuroQuest starts at 17:15 into the 31-minute file, presumably available for one week only since June 26, at http://www.radionetherlands.nl/listenonline/weeklyarchive The Esperanto sample at 23 sure doesn`t sound like Esperanto me, but Polish! The only Esperanto word I could make out was ``kaj``. If it is Esperanto, it is spoken with an extreme Polish accent or is full of Polish proper names! (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. Correxion to 6-093: Frequency changes for Voice of Russia: 1200-1400 Japanese NF 7175 VLD 250 kW / 180 deg, ex 7315 1700-1800 Polish NF 5925 SAM 250 kW / 285 deg, ex 5810 (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, June 28 via DXLD) ** SERBIA. Former R. Yugoslavia transmitter sites. [c.f. BC-DX TopNews #763] Wolfgang wrote: Hi dear Igor F. Pifat YT1MM, do you know the exact former MW 684 and SW 7200.03 kHz site of R Beograde domestic service, before US/NATO air force strike on May 25/31, 1999 ??? Was it near Stubline Obrenovac 44N59 20E10? Or was their only the SW site, many log-periodic antennas are seen on the Google Earth satellite snap. Or was the powerful 684 kHz MW site on Mount Avala ?? (wb, wwdxc BC-DX June 18 via DXLD) Hello Wolfgang, nice to hear from you! The SW and MW sites were separate. The large 2000 kW mediumwave site was close to the village of Zvecka, and that was about 10 km to the north of the Stubline site, and much closer to the town of Obrenovac on the banks of the river Sava. The log periodics you are referring to are most probably from the government antenna farm at Grabovac, also near Stubline and Obrenovac, and they were used primarily for the communications with the embassies abroad. As for the Mount Avala site, ever since the former transmission tower was erected in mid-sixties (till it was brought down by the NATO missiles in 1999), it was only a VHF/UHF radio and TV site. The efforts are in progress right now to erect a brand new tower similar to the old one. Best regards, Igor F. Pifat YT1MM (wwdxc BC-DX June 26 via DXLD) ** SOLOMON ISLANDS. I also tried listening during the day for Solomon Islands on 9545 kHz but only heard Deutsche Welle or China. I don't believe SIBC is operating at present on this frequency (Barry Hartley, NZ, on tour to Queensland, wwdxc BC-DX June 28 via DXLD) ** U K. Re 6-093: Yes, BBC News24 still exists, but it's going through a metamorphosis. It now carries the flagship news bulletins broadcast on BBC1. There are plans to re-launch it under a new name, but I haven't seen a date for that. I agree, it doesn't exactly have a high profile on the website at the moment, but I imagine that's because they're working on the relaunch (Andy Sennitt, Netherlands, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Andrew, BBC News 24 definitely still exists, as I'm watching it right now ;-) But you're right, they no longer have a web presence it seems. I was unaware of this until your message, but on visiting http://www.bbc.co.uk/news24 you are presented "The News24 website has been closed". AFAIK, any live webstream of News 24 coverage will appear on BBCNews.com as and when, but with a "BBC News" logo (the same goes for any webcasting of news coverage from BBC World). As it happens, it appears that the BBC News 24 channel will soon become simply "BBC News" during a forthcoming rebranding, which is aimed at providing a uniform look and brand for the news operation across all BBC services. Regards, (Stephen Howie, UK, ibid.) ** U K. UK HOUSE OF COMMONS DISCUSS PIRATE RADIO TODAY [in 2 parts] http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm060626/debtext/60626-0652.htm http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm060626/debtext/60626-0653.htm (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U S A. VOA News Now and VOA Greek, Turkish, Thai, Georgian, Croatian saved from their slated elimination? From the Broadcasting Board of Governors section of House Report 109-520 [see below] Science, State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, Fiscal Year 2007: "The (Appropriations) Committee recommendation provides $172,897,000 for VOA. The Committee recommendation restores proposed reductions to VOA broadcasts and radio, as well as Worldwide English. The Committee recommendation includes $6,071,000 for the Worldwide English Division, an increase of $1,048,000 above the request." Still awaits full House, Senate, and Conference action [Kim]. Meanwhile: Greek-Americans and Turkish-Americans unite to try to save VOA Greek and Turkish. "As the only BBG-funded projects in the Eastern Mediterranean region, the programs of the VOA Greek and Turkish Services offer America’s perspective in this marketplace of ideas, correct misperceptions created by other media, and enhance understanding by broadcasting accurate, objective and balanced news and information about the United States and the world." Greek News, 26 June 2006. http://www.greeknewsonline.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=5130 (kimandrewelliott.com June 28 via DXLD) Here`s the full text of the House Report 109-520 from http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/cpquery/?&dbname=cp109&sid=cp109FTCKo&refer=&r_n=hr520.109&item=&sel=TOC_387979& House Report 109-520 - SCIENCE, STATE, JUSTICE, COMMERCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS BILL, FISCAL YEAR 2007 BROADCASTING BOARD OF GOVERNORS The Committee recommendation includes $658,903,000 for the Broadcasting Board of Governors, $13,000,000 below the request and $14,893,000 above the fiscal year 2006 level. The appropriation accounts under this heading provide operational funding for the United States non-military, international broadcasting programs--including the Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Radio Free Asia (RFA), Radio and Television Martí, Middle East Television, including Radio Sawa -- and the associated facilities, engineering and support activities. INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING OPERATIONS The Committee recommendation includes $651,279,000 to carry out United States International Broadcasting Operations for fiscal year 2007, which is a decrease of $2,338,000 below the request, and $18,022,000 above the fiscal year 2006 level. This account funds the operating and engineering costs of Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, and the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG). The recommendation also includes funding for Broadcasting to Cuba under this account. In the request, this funding was proposed under a separate account. The Committee places a priority on broadcasting to China and broadcasting in languages that are important in the context of the global war on terror. Arabic Broadcasting. -- The United States continues to face an enormous challenge to provide the people of Arab and Muslim countries with accurate information about U.S. policies and values. The Committee continues to support efforts to expand the audience of listeners and viewers in the Arab and Muslim world. The Committee recommendation includes $89,366,000 for television and radio broadcasting in Arabic, including Middle East Television and Radio Sawa. The increased level of resources would provide for expanded news capability to 24 hours, including breaking news. The Committee provided initial start-up costs for a television program stream specifically tailored for the Iraqi audience in Public Law 108-106. Developing quality news and entertainment programs in the Arabic language should to the maximum extent possible involve the creative talents of the private and not-for-profit sectors. The Committee continues its direction to the Board to integrate new approaches in developing programming, to more effectively engage key audiences. Language Service Review and Research. -- The Committee continues to support the Board's efforts to objectively and systematically review and evaluate the performance, results, and priority of every U.S. Government-sponsored international broadcasting language service and to propose corresponding reallocations of funds. The Committee endorses this process as a means to improve broadcast quality and meet emerging program priorities within limited resources. The Committee expects that the Board will establish comprehensive performance measures and improve coordination of programming streams across component organizations, including the grantee organizations. The Committee continues to direct the Board to ensure that foreign policy implications are given full consideration before adopting language service review recommendations. The Committee expects the Board to submit a comprehensive report on Language Service Review results and corresponding reallocations of funds, as appropriate. The Committee anticipates that the continuing language service review effort will result in the dedication of additional resources to emerging priority programs, through the normal reprogramming process. Anti-jamming efforts. -- The Committee continues to support initiatives by the BBG to defeat jamming and reach a wider audience for Radio Free Asia and Voice of America broadcasts to China, Tibet, Vietnam, and North Korea. The Committee is aware that new technologies may allow the VOA and RFA to more effectively defeat jamming efforts. The Committee encourages the Board to evaluate the usefulness of these technologies. The Committee expects the BBG to expand such efforts in fiscal year 2007. Further, the Committee supports efforts to counter Internet censorship imposed by China and Iran. The Committee remains concerned about a potential blurring of the distinction between the international broadcasting conducted by the Broadcasting Board of Governors and that conducted by the Defense Department. While the Committee continues to strongly support all necessary efforts to provide for national security, close collaboration with the Defense Department may foster misunderstanding among foreign audiences as to the principles and goals of BBG broadcasting. Within sixty days of enactment of this Act, the BBG shall report fully to the Committee on the nature and duration of any cooperative efforts with the Defense Department over the last year. In addition, the BBG shall notify Congress in writing of any projects or programs to be undertaken with the Defense Department within seven days of the beginning of such activities. Both reports should include a description of services provided and any financial arrangements between the entities. The Committee recommendation includes funding for the principal broadcasting entities as follows: Voice of America (VOA). -- The Committee recommendation provides $172,897,000 for VOA. The Committee recommendation restores proposed reductions to VOA broadcasts and radio, as well as Worldwide English. The Committee recommendation includes $6,071,000 for the Worldwide English Division, an increase of $1,048,000 above the request. The Committee continues to support the creative efforts of VOA broadcasting to the continent of Africa. The Committee notes that forty-five percent of VOA's listenership is in Africa and expects VOA to create radio formats to ensure information is available to young audiences. Nearly 45 million listeners have access to VOA's objective, balanced and accurate news. VOA fills the information void with daily targeted and credible coverage of sub-Saharan Africa often not available from any other media. The Committee supports the use of radio broadcasts as a component of sustained HIV/AIDS prevention efforts undertaken by many African governments, African countries, humanitarian organizations, and U.S. assistance programs. VOA's Africa Division continues to incorporate thousands of broadcasts about HIV/AIDS into its regular programming for broadcasting to Africa. The Committee recommendation does not include funding for VOA to assume budget responsibility for a popular USAID program for Zimbabwe. The Committee supports broadcasting to respond to the crackdown on press freedom by the government of Venezuela, but the Committee questions the viability of locating an affiliate to carry new programming. Therefore, the recommendation does not include funding for this effort, but the Committee would entertain a reprogramming of funds for this purpose should affiliate commitments be secured. The recommendation includes $1,900,000 for broadcasting to North Korea in accordance with the North Korea Human Rights Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-333), as proposed. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (REF/RL). -- The Committee recommendation provides $75,319,000 for RFE/RL. Within these amounts, $3,814,000 is for Radio Farda, $3,664,000 is for Radio Free Afghanistan, $1,903,000 is for Radio Free Iraq, and $995,000 is for broadcasting in Romanian to Moldova, as proposed. Further, $8,545,000 is recommended for broadcasting services in Russian, and $2,391,000 is for broadcasting services in Ukrainian. A total of $4,077,000 is provided for the news and current affairs function. The Committee commends RFE/RL for developing programming in Avar, Chechen, and Circassian, and for expanding broadcasting to the Northern Caucasus. The Committee recognizes the continuing importance of broadcasting objective, uncensored information to the isolated minorities of the Northern Caucasus in their native languages and has provided the full request for these efforts. Broadcasting to Cuba. -- The Committee recommendation includes $36,102,000 for radio and television broadcasting to Cuba. The Committee recommendation continues funding for aircraft dedicated to transmitting Radio and TV Martí programming. In addition, the recommendation includes $2,700,000 to improve transmission capabilities via aerostat for broadcasting TV Martí. Radio Free Asia (RFA). -- The Committee recommendation includes $30,985,000 for RFA. The Committee strongly supports increased broadcasting efforts to China, Tibet, Burma, Vietnam, North Korea, Laos, and Cambodia. Increased funding is provided for broadcasting to North Korea to pursue objectives outlined in the North Korea Human Rights Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-333). The recommendation includes funding for RFA to continue daily Uyghur broadcasts. The Committee encourages the Board to increase the number of broadcast hours of the Cantonese service. The Committee expects the BBG to reprogram funds, if necessary, to achieve such an increase. The Committee urges the Broadcasting Board of Governors to focus programming on the promotion of religious freedom and human rights. The BBG should work with the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom on the scope and content of programming that will instruct and inform on the merits of religious freedom as part of a civil society (via DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. BROADCASTING BOARD OF GOVERNORS LOOKING FOR HELP WITH AD HOC TV BROADCASTING The Broadcasting Board of Governors, International Broadcasting Bureau (BBG/IBB), Voice of America (VOA), has a requirement for the services of one or more proven experienced firms to gather and transmit television programmes from various locations worldwide on an ad hoc, short notice, and quick reaction basis. This appears to be related to the ``surge broadcasting`` plan we reported on 19 June, and suggests that the BBG/IBB is now embarking on a new strategy of delivering radio and TV broadcasts from temporary locations as needed, rather than broadcasting on shortwave 365 days a year. More details of TV requirements http://www.fbodaily.com/archive/2006/06-June/23-Jun-2006/FBO-01074289.htm Related story: Broadcasting Board of Governors announces ``surge broadcasting`` plan http://blogs.rnw.nl/medianetwork/?p=5387 (June 26th, 2006, 15:45 UTC by Andy, Media Network blog via DXLD) ** U S A. More USIA revivalism. "The State Department should stick to its knitting. Re-create the USIA as an independent agency charged with conducting public diplomacy." http://washingtontimes.com/commentary/20060621-085647-9726r.htm (George H. Lesser, Washington Times, 22 June 2006 via kimandrewelliott.com, via DXLD) Overseas public diplomacy officers operate through U.S. embassies. They advocate and must be completely in step with U.S. foreign policy. So why, then, the need for the re-creation of and "independent" agency, other than all the senior-level plum jobs that will be made available? And if USIA is revived, there will be the temptation to bring at least VOA and perhaps other elements of U.S. international broadcasting back under its fold, thereby losing the independence that U.S. international broadcasting fought for decades to acquire, and without which U.S. international broadcasting cannot succeed (Kim Elliott`s own comments, ibid.) ** U S A [and non]. Re BBG / IBB annual report 2005. Just go to http://www.bbg.gov/bbg_press.cfm Right-click on "view report", then select "save target as". Compare the unID transmitter site picture with http://www.bclnews.it/qsl/afr/marocco/liberty2003.jpg Design of masts and fence strongly suggests this is indeed Briech. The other high quality pictures in this document are also nice. The satellite dishes in Algiers aim at two different positions; Hotbird and Nilesat, respectively? Note also the Radio Farda studio in Prague from where the talk content originates (but not the music which they play out at Washington instead). The Radio Sawa photo probably shows already their new studios at Springfield (Alhurra headquarters), since another, older one can be seen in a similar picture in the 2004 report (where it has to be still a Cohen Building studio I think). It is also interesting to note that VOA and RFE/RL reporters (still) use Minidisc recorders with fragile miniplug connectors. Speaking about the 2004 report: Pages 16 and 17 -- what's this? Iranawila, Udon Thani? All the best, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes Briech, see attached Briech picture. [2004:] Typical costume is like a Thai worker, I would say picture shows Udorn Thani site. Uwe Volk visited that site two years ago. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) ** U S A. Looking Back --- Looking Back is a nostalgic reflection on the shortwave scene of yesteryears, written from the personal experience of the author, who has been DXing the shortwave bands for over seven decades. GENERATION X [original article illustrated with vintage QSLs] Tom Williamson, 166 Burris St., Hamilton, Ont. L8M 2J8 Shortwave broadcasting in the U.S.A., prior to World War II, was very different from today. It was entirely commercial in the sense that government was not involved in transmitting programs and most of the active stations were affiliated with the well-known networks (CBS, NBC, etc.) or commercial companies such as General Electric and the Crosley Corp. Relaying a main mediumwave affiliate was a common source of programming, although some broadcasts were specifically prepared for shortwave use. Philosophically, the idea of a distant pickup point and re- broadcasting the signal over a local AM mediumwave station was the motivation for thinking of the SW transmitter as an ``experimental`` one. Hence, in the good old days of callsigns, they were allocated the letter X. The full grouping of letters and numerals was reminiscent of ham calls, using the number to indicate the geographic region. Thus we had combinations such as W2XAD Schenectady, NY, W3XAU Philadelphia, PA, W8XAL Cincinnati, Ohio, W9XJL Superior, Wisconsin, etc. The Westinghouse Company seems to have been the leader in this relay idea, with broadcasts from the KDKA mediumwave station sent out by a shortwave transmitter, 8XS, picked up at KFKX in Hastings, Nebraska, and retransmitted to KGO mediumwave on the West Coast. At a later date the callsign on shortwave became W8XK in Pittsburgh, PA. Despite the efforts involved, it was obviously difficult to make a commercial success in SW broadcasting, for both technical and logistic reasons. Quite frankly, as a teenager living in England in those days (1938), I do not remember advertisements in the U.S. stations’ programs. But then I would not have been interested in farm products or soap from across the Atlantic! However, I do remember some excellent historical medical ``discovery`` programs under the title of ``Men Against Death``! This type of docu-drama, as well as educational programs from an unusual station, W1XAL of the World Wide Broadcasting Foundation, in Boston, made life interesting. In addition to the aforementioned ``big boys`` of U.S. origin, there were a number of smaller operations, such as W4XB, ``from the palm- fringed shores of blue Biscayne Bay in tropical America``, operated by the Isle of Dreams Broadcasting Company. This one was in the ``experimental`` HF band of 11 meters, often assumed to be occupied by FM stations (but these tended to use slightly higher frequencies toward the top of the band). In the late thirties, war clouds were gathering, and a few weeks before the declaration of war (September 3rd, 1939), the U.S. callsigns were suddenly changed to 4-letter combinations. This was confusing, to say the least. W1XAL became WRUL, W8XK became WPIT, as examples. Note that in the original calls, the number was always followed by the X. Now let`s take a look at what was available on the dial from the U.S.A. in those times. Here are the main stations: W1XAL – WRUL Boston, MA 10k W World Wide Broadcasting Foundation W1XK – WBOS Millis, MA - Westinghouse W2XE – WCBX Wayne, NJ 1 kW C.B.S. W2XAD – WGEA Schenectady, NY 40 kW General Electric, NBC relay WGY W3XAU – WCAI Philadelphia, PA 10 kW relay WCAU, CBS W3XL – WNBI Bound Brook, NJ 35 kW R.C.A. W4XB – WDJM Miami, FL 1 kW Isle of Dreams Broadcasting Co. relay WIOD W6XBE – KGEI San Francisco. CA - General Electric W8XK – WPIT Pittsburgh, PA 40 kW Westinghouse, relay KDKA W8XAL – WLWO Cincinnati, OH 10 kW Crosley Co., relay WLW Soon after these changes, the U.S. regulators required SW stations to use higher power and directional antenna systems. Powers had been in the 10-40 kW range mostly, but were upped to 50 kW minimum, which seemed huge to us in those days. Not long after this, the U.S. government took over all remaining SW broadcasters (some smaller ones had quit) in the early days of establishing the now famous Voice of America. In its starting days they even used utility point-to-point transmitters, such as WCW, WCB and WJQ Press Wireless. By some time in the forties, the 11 meter band had disappeared from use and private SW broadcasting was virtually dead (no doubt to the relief of some of the owners, who thence could concentrate on making a profit from AM and FM stations!). Furthermore there were no religious organizations putting stations on the air. Yours truly cannot help but wonder how long the present crop of ``Christian`` stations will last; it must be an expensive task. I hope you have enjoyed this look back at early times – and I haven`t even mentioned the reception problems of battery-operated sets, body capacity, etc.! (July ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** U S A. INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS SNAP UP US SPANISH-LANGUAGE NETWORK Univisión Communications, the largest Spanish-language broadcaster operating in the US, has agreed to sell the company to a consortium of investors for US$12bn (EUR9.5bn). Univisión owns three major television networks, including Univisión, TeleFutura and Galavisión. Leading the group of buyers is Haim Saban of Saban Capital Group, together with Madison Dearborn Partners, Providence Equity Partners, Texas Pacific Group and Thomas H. Lee Partners. They are paying US$36.25 (about EUR29) a share for the company although reports suggest that Univision had been seeking US$40 (about EUR 32) a share when the company was put up for sale. It is believed that Univision's directors turned down a rival takeover bid from a group led by Mexican broadcaster Grupo Televisa SA (AIB News Briefing 28 June via DXLD) APROBADA VENTA DE UNIVISION POR $13,700 MILLONES DE DOLARES COPIADO DE "EL NUEVO HERALD". El Nuevo Herald | 06/27/2006 | Aprueban venta de Univisión a consorcio; Televisa, `decepcionada' http://www.miami.com/mld/elnuevo/14914696.htm ============================================================== Posted on Tue, Jun. 27, 2006 --- DANIEL SHOER ROTH, El Nuevo Herald Un consorcio de fondos de inversiones liderado por el creador de las Tortugas Ninja, dejó fuera de la carrera al Grupo Televisa, al adquirir hoy a Univisión Communications, la joya de los medios de comunicación en español en Estados Unidos. Meses después de haberse llevado a subasta, el consejo directivo de Univisión dio su bendición a una oferta de $13,700 millones, que incluye $1,400 millones en deuda, presentada por un grupo encabezado por Haim Saban, un magnate oriundo de Egipto que es conocido como ``el rey Midas de los medios''. El grupo comprador está compuesto por Madison Dearborn Partners, Providence Equity Partners, Texas Pacific Group y Saban Capital Group. La compra marca un hito histórico en la industria hispana de las comunicaciones, pues pone de relieve su magnitud. Hace poco más de dos décadas, Jerrold Perenchio, en unión de Gustavo Cisneros y Emilio Azcárraga Milmo, pagó $550 millones con el fin de adquirir la cadena televisiva de manos de Hallmark Cards. Inc. ''Hace 25 años, los medios hispanos eran el hazmerreír de la industria. Esta venta demuestra que son una fuerza tanto de entretenimiento como de política en Estados Unidos'', afirmó José Cancela, un ex ejecutivo de Univisión quien ahora asesora a empresas acerca del mercado latino. El canje de dueños en principio no contempla ningún tipo de cambio de programación para los televidentes del sur de la Florida. Univisión se ha coronado como la quinta cadena televisiva más poderosa de la nación, y el ritmo de crecimiento de sus ganancias e índice de audiencia ha dejado marcadamente atrás al de sus competidores en inglés. Si los reguladores federales aprueban la transacción el próximo año, las dos principales cadenas de televisión en español habrán perdido su independencia. En el 2001, la compañía NBC de General Electric adquirió Telemundo, con sede en Hialeah, por $2,700 millones. La venta del martes marca un revés para Emilio Azcárraga Jean, el presidente de Televisa, quien vio esfumar sus sueños de reconquistar la compañía que fundó su abuelo hace 45 años. Azcárraga y Perenchio, el presidente de Univisión, han estado en ascuas por reñidas asperezas entre las que resalta una demanda al conglomerado estadounidense por presunta violación de contratos. En esa acción judicial interpuesta en una corte federal de California, Televisa, la principal productora de programación en español del mundo y proveedora del 70 por ciento de los segmentos del horario estelar de Univisión, busca disolver el contrato con este último. ''Televisa hará lo que sea posible para disolver ese compromiso'', aseveró Teddy Hayes, vicepresidente de servicios mediáticos de La Agencia de Orcí en Los Angeles. ``Actualmente, Univisión no tiene los recursos para programar tantas horas de contenido televisivo como las que necesitan''. En un comunicado, Televisa, en cuyo consorcio se encontraba la firma de inversión de Bill Gates de Microsoft, dijo que buscaría otras alternativas. El conglomerado mexicano se declaró ''decepcionada'' por el resultado de la subasta. ''A pesar de nuestras reiteradas ofertas para discutir todos los aspectos de nuestra propuesta, incluyendo precio, Univisión y sus asesores se negaron a entrar en cualquier discusión con nosotros'', declaró Televisa en el comunicado. ''Univision es ciertamente una propiedad única en su clase. Es una extraordinaria marca de medios con posiciones excepcionales en los mercados de más rápido crecimiento en el país, bienes de clase mundial, fuerte gerencia, programación popular y niveles de audiencia sin rival'', indicó el grupo comprador. La firma de investigación Global Insight estima que la minoría hispana en Estados Unidos aumentará 68 por ciento -- a 72.1 millones de personas -- en el 2025, conformando un 20 por ciento de la población. Por otra parte, Nielsen Media calcula que 11.2 millones de hogares en el país miran televisión en español. El consorcio tomará las riendas con sus tres cadenas de televisión, Univision, TeleFutura y Galavisión, más de dos docenas de estaciones de televisión, una división discográfica, un portal en internet y radiodifusoras en español. En el sur de la Florida, donde radican los principales estudios de la cadena, las propiedades incluyen al canal 23-WLTV, univision.com y las estaciones Amor 107.5, La Kalle 98.3, en el dial FM, y Radio Mambí, WQBA 1140 y WAQI 710, en AM. Saban, quien hizo su fortuna de las Tortuga Ninja y de otras producciones como X-Men, ha tenido Univisión en la mirilla desde que, en el 2001, vendió su canal de cable Fox Family a Walt Disney Co. por $1,500 millones. Cordiales 73 (via Oscar de Céspedes (Miami, FL), condig list via DXLD) ** U S A. LPTV CH-6 IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK ALLEGEDLY BECOMES AN FM A verbal report indicates that WNYZ-LP, CH-6, New York, New York has become an FM instead of a TV station. There is reportedly no visual carrier, but the aural carrier contains a 19 kHz FM stereo pilot tone and the audio is grossly over-modulated per TV standards. TV CH-6 aural carriers are typically centered on 87.75 MHz and can easily be received on many radios by tuning to 87.7 MHz. If any of our readers can confirm or refute the technical descriptions given above, let us know. If anyone has specific information on the aural ERP of WNYZ-LP, we'd like to know that too. Whether a TV station can legally convert itself into an FM station is a high level question for FCC's Media Bureau in Washington. As many of you know, Venture Technologies' KSFV-LP, CH-6, on Mt. Harvard/Los Angeles has also been behaving like an FM station for some time, although KSFV had a visual carrier on the air last time checks were run (CGC Communicator June 27 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) SETBACK FOR VENTURE TECHNOLOGIES The following FCC letter revokes the licenses for LPTV stations K53IB and K59IB, Bakersfield, CA. Both licenses were issued to Venture Technologies Group, LLC. Reason for the revocation: The stations were apparently never built, and a request for an investigation into whether Venture willfully, knowingly and unlawfully made false certifications in the dismissed license applications is pending before the Enforcement Bureau. http://earthsignals.com/add_CGC/Letters/FCC_06_20_06.htm (CGC Communicator June 27 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. FCC FORFEITURE WATCH - SELECTED ITEM This NOUO (Notice of Unlicensed Operation) to an alleged pirate broadcaster contains a wealth of interesting information in a question and answer format. For example, "Q: Well then, if I am a low-power broadcaster and don't have an FCC license, they [FCC Inspectors] need a search warrant, right? A: Wrong again....." Interesting reading. http://www.fcc.gov/eb/FieldNotices/2003/DOC-266088A1.html FCC FORFEITURE WATCH - COMMENT Last week we mentioned that the FCC had issued a warning to a Louisiana pirate who was allegedly broadcasting from the antenna structure of former broadcast station KTRY-FM. According to one seemingly well informed bulletin board post, the "pirate" may be none other than the former licensee of KTRY who simply "goofed up" when filing the last license renewal, and was subsequently granted an STA to continue operating the station for now. Those interested can do a CDBS "Applications" search at the URL below. Enter the Call Sign "DKTRY-FM" (without the quotes) and note the BLSTA item near the top of the resulting list - that's the STA. (The "D" in the call sign will bring up the now deleted or "hidden" records for KTRY.) http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_sear.htm (CGC Communicator June 27 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. KOOP-FM in Austin, Texas, is building new studios after two fires destroyed the community station's old home and knocked it off the air earlier this year, reports News 8 Austin. . . http://www.news8austin.com/content/headlines/?ArID=165277&SecID=2 posted at 10:31 AM EST June 27 (Current via DXLD) Also has 3-minute video; there is no real channel 8 on air in Austin; this is apparently a cable-only channel. Does it eclipse the big on air stations in local news? (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. KTPB CAMPAIGN --- A group known as SOAR -- Save Our Arts Radio -- has taken out a quarter-page ad in the Sunday Longview News- Journal, rallying support to oppose the sale of KTPB at Kilgore College. Prominent members of the arts communities in Longview and Tyler are listed as figureheads in the campaign and the ad itself points up some salient arguments against the station's sale. But opponents all along have overlooked the fact that the FCC likely won't block a licensee from divesting itself of a frequency if the license holder no longer wishes for whatever reasons -- financial or otherwise, to continue its right to broadcast. The ad urges people contesting the sale to send nine copies of their letters of protest to the FCC by Thursday of this coming week. Critics of the opposition group's action are calling the campaign too little, too late, especially since the comment period opened weeks ago and those against the change over are just now getting around to getting an organized effort moving to call the FCC's attention to opposition of the sale. KTPB of course for more than a decade has performed a significant service to patrons of the arts, but a better effort probably would be made by people with the needed money and motivation to seek another frequency for arts broadcasting in the East Texas area. The ad pointed out that listeners in East Texas have been receiving "free access to the arts" via KTPB, so it's likely those persons wanting that access are going to discover that it will now come at a price. Kilgore College has grown tired of financing a public service that has been largely funded by the college itself and decreasingly supported by the public (nuzguy, June 18, radio-info Texas board via DXLD) I wish the SOAR folks luck. I'd prefer that KTPB remained more or less intact and continued broadcasting some form of fine arts programming. I’d also prefer it was local. But I can't see it happening. Under current rules, the FCC really can only consider the legality of the sale. A willing seller has made a deal with a willing buyer. As long as neither party has any unwanted baggage, then there is little the Commission can do. The idea of broadcasting being in the public interest is pretty much history, thanks to the folks we elected, who brought us the Communications Act of 1996. I think that is sad, but it is the reality of broadcasting it the 21st Century. About the only thing the SOAR people can do, at least as I see it, is convince the FCC that they should not issue a waver of the local origination studio in the station's City of License. The current plan is EMF would get a waiver, and set up some minimal "local origination" facilities at the transmitter site. That doesn't have to be much. A small mixer and a microphone would qualify. The rest would be delivered by satellite. The fly in the ointment is the KTPB transmitter site is not in Kilgore, the station's City of License. If they don't get a waiver, it would require EMF to set up a local studio and office somewhere in Kilgore. That might prove to be interesting, if they did. On a recent trip to Shreveport, I had a chance to listen to K-LOVE on a full power station that EMF owns, licensed to Homer, LA. It is a very slick format. I think it will do very well in East Texas. I probably won't have it set on my car radio's buttons, but I can see how a lot of folks will. That's not very good news for the existing Christian stations. In fact, I'll bet that it eats into some commercial ratings as well. We'll see (chuck, ibid.) Chuck's observation on the now mostly ignored public interest (convenience and necessity) clause of the Communications Act of 1934 accurately summarizes the FCC's attitude of rarely, if ever anymore, considering that particular requirement in licensing and license transfer actions. Time was a group such as SOAR opposing a license change possibly could have mounted a campaign based on a switch over allegedly not being in the public interest. The public interest requirement survived the Communications Act of 1996, but many observers say little of what goes on under consolidation and corporate monopoly of radio is in the "public interest." The folks in SOAR quite obviously aren't the first to oppose a license transfer, anywhere, and like the other opponents of changes, they will find, as Chuck said, provided there is a willing buyer and a willing seller, the FCC most probably will approve the change pro forma, rubber stamp the paperwork, and that will be it. SOAR has valid concerns and for the most part well states its case, but, plainly, its best hope is to seek another outlet for arts programming in the Kilgore-Tyler-Longview and surrounding area, because unless there is some heavy hitting political and other pressure brought to bear by big forces in Washington (not likely) the sale to EMF is a done deal. The final stage of the planned change could possibly involve the political dynamic, and as the old saying states, "Politics DOES create strange bed fellows." (nuzguy, ibid.) The war may be escalating. I went to KTPB this afternoon for a routine inspection of our 105.3 translator which shares tower space at the KTPB studio. While I was there, a free lance photographer from Dallas was also visiting. It seems the New York Times has picked up on the story. I'll be interested in reading it. If nothing else, they are going down fighting. I wish them luck. Quite a few of my friends work there (Chuck, June 23, ibid.) They seem to be getting quite a response from the story. A friend who works at KTPB tells me that they've had calls from as far away as New Zealand, and offers to help from various far flung places (Chuck, June 26, ibid.) Be interesting to see this play out I don't think they can do anything to block the sale but when EMF asks for a main studio waiver that could be a different story (arklatexradio, ibid.) That's for sure. The big push to save the station just began much too late, as if those wanting KTPB to stay put never really thought the school would close the deal and would back down when the opposition showed itself. Folks, this decision is about money, which schools especially must be hyper-sensitive to in this era of dwindling budgets. The idea for the sale wasn't a capricious administrative decision by the college president and the trustees. It was financially driven. True, the sale goes against the grain of a lot of people, and understandably so. Listeners had grown accustomed to a good, solid broadcast service and now it's on the verge of going away at the flip of a switch. A bitter pill to swallow, but there's virtually no way a save can be effected. The widespread support and calls to the station are interesting but in itself the moral support won't change what's in the making (nuzguy, June 26, ibid.) ** U S A. Here's a pic of KRSN 1490 tower. The station is about to come back on the air in the next couple of days. This tower was only supposed to be temporary when it was installed 5 or six years ago, (and its STA expired but the station kept right on using it until they went silent a year ago. The new owners have obtained a fresh STA to use this tower at 640 Watts, and are negotiating with the county for a permanent tower location. Note that tower does double duty as a cell phone tower. The other tower in the background does not belong to the station. From what I can tell, it is only supporting some weather station instruments, and belongs to the Los Alamos National Laboratory. The lab has several of these weather station towers placed around the Lab property. I do wonder how this tower affects the radiation pattern of the radio station though. It seems awfully close http://gentoo.net/mike/radio/mwdx/pics/krsn_tower_medium.jpg (Mike Westfall, N6KUY, WDX6O Los Alamos, New Mexico (DM65uv), ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. WCBS DUMPS IBOC, RETURNS TO "HIGH DEFINITION" AM After less than a week of transmitting the IBOC buzz, NYC's 880 WCBS has returned to "High Definition" analog AM with crisp, clear 10 kHz audio. A possible reason for this may be the numerous complaints they received due to the 8-1/2 second delay the IBOC exciter added to their audio, which made their Yankees play-by-play out of synch for people listening at the game or while watching it on TV. I first noticed the IBOC hash generator was off during a Yankees game today, but now during normal "Newsradio" programming it is still off, and their audio sounds a lot better too. When they had the IBOC on, their analog audio was still pretty crisp (they had it in 8 kHz bandwidth mode) but it had a strange kind of clipping distortion which made the announcers sound like they were holding their nose while they spoke, and for an all-news format that can get rather annoying. There was also some rather obvious slack in the AGC; when jumping from one programming element to the next, the audio would often start out very quiet and gradually ramp up in level. With their old processing (Optimod 9100?) now back in service, there is still a little gain-riding in these instances but it is a lot smoother and all of that nasty distortion is gone. And of course on a wideband receiver there is no mistaking that beautiful full-bandwidth audio! (Kevin Tekel, June 28, BC radiolist via Bill Harms, DXLD) ** U S A. Clear Channel now streaming stations --- For those who are having troubles IDing stations or have unIDs/more than one possible stations but remember hearing a certain something: Clear Channel has finally... all at once it seems... added live streams to their station's websites. It's a good way to check on what you heard. I've used this method already to rule out some when I had an ID I wrote down on paper --- "The Edge 103.9" that I thought was nearby but matched only Phoenix. Turned out, by listening to their live stream and their ID I heard on it, that it wasn't. It was a syndicated show locally mentioning the Phoenix station's ID. Just a thought (Chris Kadlec, Fremont, Michigan, AMFMTVDX mailing list via DXLD) ** VANUATU. 3944.76, R. Vanuatu (presumed) at 1118-1210+ UT on June 23. One or two men talking with occasional music breaks to 1157, then choral music and into impassioned speech, sounded either political or religious. At 1210, a ham op signed on 3945 and trashed further reception. Signal had been fairly good from RV, but could not read much due to static noise. At any rate, on much later than usual 1115* (John Wilkins, CO, DXplorer June 23 via BCDX via DXLD) ** VATICAN. Vatican Radio. 0038-0100 June 29. Noted a woman in comments. Believe the language was Vietnamese. Comments filled the half hour except for a minute or two of religious music. At 0057, the Italian NA theme was presented until the hour when the signal dropped off the air. Over all, the signal was good here in Clewiston, Florida. Vietnamese is scheduled between 2300 to 2400 in all of the current reference material I have on hand for this station. None scheduled for the 0001 hour (Chuck Bolland, NRD545, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA. REVOLUTIONARY RADIO IN VENEZUELA Mérida is a city of 250,000 people in a beautiful Andean valley at the foot of Venezuela’s highest mountain, Pico Bolívar. It is the capital and commercial center of the mountainous state of Mérida, population about 750,000. In March 2002 the mass media was utilised to create huge demonstrations in Caracas to demand that President Hugo Chávez resign. According to television news, the vast majority of people were against him. People in Mérida, three hundred miles to the west, were in contact with friends and relatives in Caracas and in the army. They knew that what the media were telling them was not the whole story, but they needed information about what really was going on. A few friends decided to set up a low power FM transmitter in Mérida and broadcast whatever reliable information they could gather. Upside Down World, an online magazine uncovering activism and politics in Latin America, has published an article by Peter Lackowski telling the story of Radio Zamorana. . . http://upsidedownworld.org/main/content/view/335/1/ (June 28th, 2006, 12:55 UTC by Andy, Media Network blog via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Once again noted a Slavic espionage number station on exact 11830.00 kHz right inside the 25 m broadcast band, at 0741-0745 UT June 28. Sign-off 0745:58 UT. S=9. Opening loop, female voice in Russian, over and over again: tschinsch, tschetiree, pjat. Short message numbers at 0744:30-0745:40 UT only, very short message of only six number groups (Wolfgang Büschell, Germany, BC-DX June 28 via DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ My TVDX-pics If someone's interested, my tvdx-images can be found on http://kotisivu.dnainternet.net/vesahien/tvdx.htm 73 (Vesa Hienonen, Finland, June 25, tv at hard-core-dx.com via Curtis Sadowski, WTFDA via DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING ++++++++++++++++++++ $25 REBATE CERTIFICATE FOR HD RADIO PURCHASED BY JULY 31 http://www.ibiquity.com/i/hdradio_rebate_certificate.pdf (via Rick Shaftan, WTFDA via DXLD) See also USA: WCBS DRM: NEW ZEALAND; DTV: BRAZIL RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ PRECISION DTV FREQUENCY OFFSETS AND CLOCK JITTER Do you have a DTV station that must hold a precision frequency offset (plus and minus 3 Hz) against the visual carrier of a lower adjacent channel NTSC station? Are you curious about the term "clock jitter" even if you do not have a 3 Hz offset? If so, this letter may help you improve the performance of your DTV station. (This is a longer-than- usual letter but one that was invited by CGC because of the unusual issues involved.) http://earthsignals.com/add_CGC/Letters/DTV_Clock_Jitter.htm (CGC Communicator June 27 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) LADIES OF THE HEIGHT This is an interesting article about female tower climbers, a rare breed: http://www.wirelessestimator.com/t_content.cfm?pagename=Women%20Climbers (CGC Communicator June 27 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) NAB FINDS 13 OF 17 MINI-FM TRANSMITTERS VIOLATE PART 15 A series of tests recently performed for the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) on 17 wireless FM modulator devices (mini-FM transmitters) show that 13 of the devices (76%) exceed the field strength limits set by the FCC. Six of those devices exceed the FCC field limit by 2,000%. One device transmits a signal that is 20,000% stronger than allowed by law. Mini-FM transmitters are used by many consumers to transmit audio from their satellite radios and MP3 or iPod players to their in-dash car radios. Many of the devices tested also transmit signals that are substantially wider in bandwidth than ordinary FM broadcast signals, resulting in potential interference to first and second adjacent channel broadcast stations. NAB has sent letters to both FCC Chairman Martin as well as Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens and Co-Chairman Daniel Inouye notifying them of these results. The study's author reminds readers that people or companies who sell non-compliant equipment to users violate the FCC Part 2 marketing rules "as well as Federal Law." (The Technical Report linked below is easy to read and worth a glance. It includes additional topics.) http://tinyurl.com/ea4mv (NAB Summary Statement) http://tinyurl.com/kgcs5 (Technical Report) (CGC Communicator June 27 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) Security & Terrorism --- RAYTHEON PUSHES 'TROPOSCATTER' ENVELOPE BOSTON, June 16 (UPI) -- Raytheon has wrapped up a demonstration of new technology for military communications using non-satellite "troposcatter" technology. The tests were aimed at reducing the volume of equipment military units would require for troposcatter communications, which transmit signals great distances without the aid of satellites by bouncing signals off atmospheric irregularities in the troposphere layer. Raytheon said Friday it established a Ku-band link between two locations in New England at an industry-first 20 megabits-per-second. The link held steady for several months in varying weather conditions. . . http://tinyurl.com/o68rg (UPI via Jilly Dybka, TN, DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ TROPO: HAWAII > WEST COAST Just as Bill Hepburn's tropo maps suggested, the tropo duct between Hawaii & the west coast of the US has been strengthening. Yesterday evening (Monday)the KH6HME 144 MHz CW beacon has been audible as far north as the Columbia River mouth between Washington & Oregon, also inland in the Portland area. Paul KH6HME learned of this and drove to the top of Mauna Loa on the big island of Hawaii where the beacon is located. A number of 144 MHz operators on the California & Oregon coast got to work Paul and a few lucky ops in the Portland area also completed 2 way contacts via the tropo duct. The KH6HME 432 MHz UHF beacon was also heard at times in southern Oregon. My stacked 17 element 144 MHz array is currently pointed towards Hawaii monitoring the 144.170.4 MHz frequency used by the KH6HME beacon with an MP3 recording stream handling the monitoring chores while I'm at work. I am ready to be the first British Columbia VE7 station to work Hawaii on 144 MHz, having recently upgraded my RF amp to a 1200 watt unit. During the tropo duct opening of July 1, 1995 when some lucky Seattle & western Washington ops worked KH6HME, I could barely hear his CW signal, but it was audible (Mike Cherry VE7SKA, Salt Spring Island BC, Canada, 1924 UT June 27, WTFDA via DXLD) The west coast got in on another day of the Hawaii to west coast tropo duct last evening (Tuesday)! This time the propagation made it as far north as Tofino & Ucluelet on the west coast of Vancouver Island (right on the 49th parallel - the boundary between CN78 & CN79) Unlike myself, Gabor VE7DXG is self-employed and can drop work to make the 4 hour drive out to the west coast. He wasn't rewarded with a 2- way contact, but did hear the KH6HME 144 MHz CW beacon from Mauna Loa, Hawaii. Between 5:45 and 7:15 pm PDT (0045-0215 UT) Gabor reported the signal strength as anywhere from 559 to 579. This proves without a doubt that the Hawaii tropo duct is workable from British Columbia! At my home location, somewhat inland, KH6HME 144 MHz beacon was just above the noise level at approx 6:40 pm PDT last night. It was only detectable for about 5 min using headphones and a 250 Hz narrow CW filter to reduce the noise. Cooler marine air is returning to the BC coast so the tropo duct is dissipating & shifting to more southerly coastal areas such as Calif. where the duct is more common. -- QRV 50 & 144 MHz SSB/CW; TV/FM/MW DX. grid: CN88gt IOTA: NA-75 SMIRK: #5638 WTFDA member since 1989 (Mike Cherry VE7SKA, Salt Spring Island BC, Canada, June 28, WTFDA via DXLD) ONE DAY. ONE CHANNEL. FOUR COUNTRIES. We all know what a tremendous TV and FM E-skip DX season this has already turned out to be. Wednesday, June 28 was a good example of how many E clouds can form and shift in a six hour period. This is all on one channel, US channel 4. At 1400 UT my usual WYFF (NBC) From Greenville, SC was in with a very clear signal from 135 miles. At 1500, I had "Mr. Dressup" from Canada's CBC on channel 4. The CBC logo was in the bottom right hand corner. I presume this is CBOT- Ottawa, as channel 3 at this time was WFSB (CBS) -Hartford, CT. A promo and ID was seen for WFSB. No local ID for Canada on 4. At 1600 Channel 4 (and channel 3) had a political rally in a stadium for Felipe Calderón, who is a presidential candidate in Mexico. A logo that I could not make out, but looked circular, was in the upper right corner. I can only presume this is Mexico. I had a dental appointment some miles away, and had to leave the screen, but when I returned to my car, around 2000 UT, I heard a tone on the car radio on 87.7, close to the channel 6 audio of 87.75. When I got home, I found "bars and tone" on channels 3, 4, and 6. No ID on the bar chart. At 2030 a beautiful Cubavisión, ID on channel 4 as well as 3 and 6. A 15 minute newscast followed the ID, with the male newsreader off screen, and a woman signing for the deaf on screen. Cubavisión promos at 2045 after the news, and then Cartoons. Four countries on channel four. The TV is ten dollar RCA Goodwill special, black and white. Antenna is a yagi rotated by the "Armstrong" method, but I should note that Canada, Mexico, and Cuba were seen on just an indoor monopole as well. Best of DX to all. I enjoyed today (Brock Whaley, GA, June 28 for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###