DX LISTENING DIGEST 6-095, June 30, 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 1320: 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 NETS TO YOU, JULY, BY JOHN NORFOLK: http://www.w4uvh.net/nets2you.html ** ALGERIA [non]. PUBLIC BROADCASTER'S HOLY KOR`AN RADIO ON SHORTWAVE Algerian public broadcaster Entreprise Nationale de Radiodiffusion Sonore [ENRS, also known as Radio Algierienne] is currently using hired shortwave transmitters to relay their Holy Kor`an Radio service to North Africa. The schedule is as follows: 0400-0600 gmt on 7260, 9540 kHz 1900-2000 gmt on 9765, 11810 kHz 2000-2100 gmt on 9765, 12025 kHz 2100-2300 gmt on 7150, 9710 kHz The transmitters are located at Rampisham and Woofferton in the United Kingdom, and hired through broadcast service provider VT Communications. Source: BBC Monitoring research, in English 1310 gmt 27 Jun 06 (via DXLD) Nothing but Kor`an? (gh) ** ARGENTINA [and non]. Het on 15345? It`s got to be caused by perpetually off-frequency RAE, noted June 29 at 1832, against more accurate Morocco. Het wavered slightly too; did not attempt to measure it. I should think this would be especially annoying in RAE`s Europe target area, beyond the Moroccan skip zone, anyway. Does it matter that there are plenty of clear frequencies nearby on the 19m band? Of course not! Neither station could imagine making a change (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA [and non]. 15820 LSB, Radio Continental, Argentina is there, barely audible, but despite the weak signal there`s no problem to understand most of what they`re saying as usual, whenever there is fútbol around. Not necessarily every day. If someone heard what was going at 1500 with RAE on 15345, please let us know. Till this point this an ordinary posting. But today is like tragedy for Argentina. And the reason, you can easily bet is all because of football and its team being eliminated by local Germany from the World Cup. Someway, this is granting Glenn Hauser the right. Why that steady suffering for just a ``stupid`` (or not) ball game? Six hours have gone (it`s 0000 Sat. July 1st) since this game ended and they are kind of lamenting and makes you wonder how long this is gonna take. You can`t be sure that same thing will go on if it were Brazil or even Costa Rica, but to our ``relief for fools`` we were prepared with what happened and our team ended up --- not the WC have ended --- being in the 31st place among 32 teams, just because Serbia-Montenegro got the last position, thanks to Côte D’Ivoire. This happens when, as in most Latin American countries, football, religion and politics are like opium for the people, and I dare myself to blame the sport media for giving people too much unfounded hope over its team, whether they are good or not, raising it to the category of invincible. Surely some of you may have heard that saying ``La religión es el opio de los pueblos``. Well, apply the same for football; or could be, the favorite national sport. But our Argentinian colleagues must be proud of one thing: they got a world class of football team. Period. They were eliminated not for losing the game; it was by what in football is known as ``Russian roulette``: free kicks from the penalty spot. Well, let`s face it: someone had to win, altho this can be sustained upon human error. And you know what? I can`t imagine the Germans lamenting so long if they were eliminated. I don’t know if I`m wrong, but perhaps some of my British, French, Germans and even Africans can explain if they would go so brokenhearted because of this. Football, like many human activities, is just a game. And even further ``Life Is But A Dream``... Oh, I really love that Doo Wop song by The Harptones. After football there will always be music (Rául Saavedra, Costa Rica, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. 6080, RA, with assume ABC programming, June 30, 1032- 1048, live coverage of the AFL (Australian Football League) game (Kangaroos vs Essedon). Kangaroos were leading. Fair. I don`t imagine that Glenn was listening to this exciting coverage, hi (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, Etón E5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELARUS [non]. See GERMANY ** BERMUDA. FM Es to NY: Noted ZFB - 94.9 strong today on car radio for 15-20 minutes starting around 12:18 pm [EDT = 1618 UT] with reggae music, many local ads and lots of phone numbers with 441area code. Last heard about 2 years ago. Other skip noted today so far today included WFBX-94.5 Parker, FL and WBTS-95.5 Athens, GA (Jerry Bond, Rochester, NY, June 29, WTFDA via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. Rádio Inconfidência retorno --- Pessoal, não sei se alguém já postou alguma coisa sobre o assunto, mas acabo de sintonizar a Rádio Inconfidência de Minas Gerais em 6010 kHz - Sinal perfeito, pelo menos nesse horário 1510 (horário local [1810 UT]) - Acho que valeu à pena o grupo ter levantado o assunto da emissora fora do ar em ondas curtas - Domingo antes do jogo do Brasil, vendo uma reportagem na rede Globo sobre pessoas que, no interior do Brasil, caminham até 10 quilômetros para ouvir o jogo no rádio, me chamou a atenção para duas coisas, primeiro porque eu tenho três equipamentos, simples, o melhor é o DEGEN 1103, mas tenho e aquele povo nem isso tem e a outra a importância do rádio não só para nós hobistas, mas para muita gente nesse país, gente que não tem nem o rádio ou tem através de outros como meio de informação - Cada vez que pudermos levantar a bandeira para o retorno de uma emissora não estaremos só bringando pelo nosso hobby, mas também pela inclusão de muita gente que precisa dele. 73 (Paulo Cabral - Degen DE-1103, Antena coaxial loop magnética e Degen longwire, Vila Velha - Espírito Santo, Latitude 20º , 20' e 12" S, Longitude 40º , 17' e 28" W, June 29, radioescutas yg via DXLD) Sintonizei a Rádio Inconfidência em 6010 kHz às 7h30 (hora de Brasília) [1030 UT] do dia 29-6-2006, quinta-feira, com ótima qualidade de áudio. Valeu a manutenção. Pessoal, aqueles que a escutam pelo rádio de ondas curtas enviem o reporte de recepção pelo e-mail da emissora --- inconfidencia@... [truncated by yahoogroups] (Luiz Chaine Neto, LIMEIRA -SP- 29-6-2006, radioescutas yg via DXLD) Informo que também acabo de sintonizar a R. Inconfidência, com boa recepção aqui no Paraná --- 6010, 2330 29/06/2006, R. Inconfidência, PP, id: OM 'R.Inconfidência', ad: 'Fibracap - capotas de fibra de vidro...', OM: leitura de carta de ouvinte com pedido musical (Reginaldo Rossi - Garçom) música, fala do locutor, música (Mato Grosso e Mathias - 24 horas de Amor), '880khz..., 49m..., 100,9 MHz...,'. 33333 (Reinaldo Gomes, Altamira do Paraná - Paraná - Brasil, ibid.) What about 15190? Apparently they are not announcing or using it, as one report predicted (gh, DXLD) ** BRAZIL. BRAZIL ADOPTS JAPANESE DIGITAL TV STANDARD Brazil has announced that it will use Japanese technology as the basis for its terrestrial digital TV broadcasts. It chose the Japanese standard in preference to the standards used in Europe and the United States. Brazil will be the first foreign country to introduce the Japanese format, Jiji Press reports. Brazil plans to make some adjustments to the Japanese technology to make it suitable for the Brazilian market. The new system is expected be operational within seven years and the transition to digital television from the current analogue model will occur over 10 years, Brazil’s presidential press office said. Demand for terrestrial digital TV equipment in Brazil is estimated to total as much as US$20 billion over the next 10 years (Source: Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union, June 30th, 2006, 11:38 UT by Andy, Media Network blog via DXLD) ** CANADA. Is CFRX off the air? June 30 around 0530 on 6070 I was hearing only CVC La Voz, Chile, while CFRX is normally mixing. Also at 1245 no CFRX audible tho it usually is, weakly around this time. Just noise. However, propagation not so good with K=3 at 12 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) At 1645 UT Friday I'm getting NOTHING here at the home office in beautiful downtown Bridgenorth (approx 100 miles north east of the transmitter site). (Mark Coady, ON, June 30, ODXA via DXLD) Nothing heard in Newmarket, Ontario at 1730 UT June 30th. We`ve had thunderstorms the past three days, so the transmitter may have been knocked off the air (Harold Sellers, ibid.) A highly likely scenario, Harold, and, as we all know, this transmitter is more of a hobby effort than a broadcast undertaking, so servicing of it will have to wait (Mark Coady, ibid.) The question is: will they be in any rush to turn it back on, if ever? At some point, the hobby will become a liability and that will be the end of an old friend. vy 73, (Ori VA3XW Siegel, ibid.) Have a long time not hearing CFRX, more today than yesterday that CVC is on this frequency. Did they downgrade power? Used to hear it ten years ago after 0600, but no more (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Seems to me CFRX gets out well when it is on, for only 1 kW and a dipole(?); if only it had a clear frequency (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. Summer programming on CBC Radio is getting under way ---- lots of new programs with interesting subjects. Inspect the grid and links to shows for the week of July 2-8 at http://www.cbc.ca/programguide/schedule/weeklySchedule.jsp?network=CBC%20Radio%20One&genre=&startDate=2006/07/07&startTime=00:00&endTime=24:00 many of which have been entered on our MONITORING REMINDERS CALENDAR http://www.worldofradio.com/calendar.html We picked the following week on the assumption that there would be special programming July 1 for Canada Day, but there does not appear to be much and most of the new Saturday shows actually start this week. There is a Canada Day concert, however, scheduled for local noon to 2 pm on Monday July 3! As to how some of this fits onto RCI, a new schedule effective June 26 is at http://www.rcinet.ca/rci/PDF/A06_SW.pdf The RCI-1 satellite and webcast sked is also updated: http://www.rcinet.ca/rci/PDF/A06_RCI-1.pdf (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. The move of CBRU-1270 Squamish BC, which relays CBU-690 Vancouver, to FM (98.3 MHz, 1.55 kW), has been approved by the CRTC. Note that CBRU will go off the air on July 24 for good, when the FM goes on the air - there not be the usual three month simulcast period. I was able to log CBRU here in Calgary AB a few months ago - get them while you can. http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2006/db2006-275.htm CBU Vancouver – New transmitter in Squamish 1. The Commission approves the application by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) to amend the broadcasting licence for the radio programming undertaking CBU Vancouver in order to operate a transmitter in Squamish to rebroadcast the programming of its national English-language network service Radio One. 2. The new transmitter will operate at 98.3 MHz (channel 252A) with an average effective radiated power of 1,550 watts. 3. The Commission did not receive any interventions in connection with this application. 4. The CBC stated that the lease for the site of its transmitter CBRU Squamish will terminate 24 July 2006 and that it has been unable to find an alternate location for this transmitter. In the circumstances, the CBC concluded that the addition of an FM transmitter in Squamish would be the best technical and economical solution to the situation. 5. The CBC also indicated that CBRU will go off the air on 24 July 2006. After that date, the CBC’s Radio One service will be provided by the new FM transmitter approved in this decision. 73, (Deane McIntyre VE6BPO, Calgary AB, June 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. YUKON TERRITORY RADIO AMATEUR EXPLORING LF SPECTRUM J Allen, VY1JA of Whitehorse, Yukon Territory in Canada, recently became the first radio amateur to put the Yukon on LF. Allen has joined the half-dozen or so Canadian hams authorized to experiment on low frequencies. Perhaps best known as the ham who most often hands out the hard-to-work Northern Territory multiplier, Allen now is beaconing nightly on 137.574 kHz. On May 25, Allen completed the first LF contact from the Yukon by working LF aficionado Steve McDonald, VE7SL, in British Columbia. ``Running just 30 watts into a loaded inverted L antenna, J`s ERP was likely well below 100 milliwatts,`` McDonald estimated. He reports Allen`s very slow-speed CW signal was 100-percent copy using ARGO software on the receiving end. In Whitehorse, Allen reported that VE7SL`s signal was strong enough to copy by ear at normal speeds. Observed McDonald: ``At 1,000 miles distance, the initial contact demonstrates that amateurs can enjoy inter-provincial or out-of-state CW ragchews on 2200 meters using simple stations and backyard antenna systems.`` (Dimiter Petrov, LZ1AF, R. Bulgaria DX program June 30 via John Norfolk, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CAYMAN ISLANDS. Does anybody have any calls or city on "Heaven 97" Grand Cayman Island. Just got this one along with RJR, Kingston, Jamaica (Girard Westerberg http://www.DXFM.com Lexington, KY, WTFDA via DXLD) Hi Girard, Isn`t Grand Cayman so small that there is only one city of any significance, George Town? Yes, WRTH 2006 puts it there. And it seems they do not bother with callsigns, tho some may be on record. 73, (Glenn Hauser to Girard, via DXLD) Glenn, Thanks. That's pretty much the conclusion I came to, but it's nice to have some confirmation. I sent them an email asking about city and call letters, but my understanding is they aren't very good about answering such questions. We shall see (G.W., DX LISTENING DIGEST) Here's the 'shortened' link to Cayman Islands FM radio station information. It appears that the majority of FM's are located in Grand Cayman, as has been mentioned. http://mawbreso.notlong.com/ (Jim Thomas, wdx0fbu Milliken, CO - 40 mi N of Denver, WTFDA via DXLD) Thanks to all who provided info on Heaven 97 Grand Cayman Island. It's assumed to be in George Town, and it may or may not have "official" call letters. I sent them an email asking if they have any government assigned call letters, confirmation of their location, and power output. If I get any better info on them, I'll pass it along. Last night yielded a lot of FM activity out of S. Florida, but no new logs there. However, I got two new countries on FM (#6 & 7) with Grand Cayman and Jamaica. I heard several other Caribbean sounding stations, but there was nothing that would ID them (Girard Westerberg http://www.DXFM.com Lexington, KY, June 29, ibid.) Yeah, it is in Georgetown. I have seen the studio from street level. It looked less than impressive. It's right across from some tourist trap jewelry stores. PB (Peter Baskind, J.D., LL.M. N4LI Germantown, TN/EM55, ibid.) ** CHINA. Since CNR1 had not been reported on 14180 for almost a week, I went looking for it elsewhere on the 20m band June 29; at 1320 I found it! 14260, very weak, but definitely in Chinese and // 15285. At 1330 there was a bit of music which made it stand out even more in the hamband, but shortly lost to fading signal and increasing ham QRM. Presumably 14260 is the locality of Sound of Hope today, requiring CNR1 to jam it. Unlike 14180, 14260 might also be explained as a 2nd harmonic, of 7130 where there is Taiwan and consequent mainland jamming, but I doubt it. Note that so far on 17-18 and on 14 MHz bands, SOH has always used frequencies ending in -0, never -5. Where will they be tomorrow, or later today? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The above was monitored before turning on my computer today and finding others had discovered 14260 independently (gh) Viz.: CRI now on 14260 kHz very strong --- Dear fellow intruder busters, This morning at 0308 there is CRI on 14260 kHz. The station is still there now at 0530 UT. The signal is 5 9 plus with my 3 element beam. I have alerted the German telecoms. authorities BNetzA. Please do the same with your authority. Regards, (Uli, DJ9KR, Coordinator of DARC-MS and Vice-Coordinator of IARU-MS Region 1, via Wolfgang Büschel, HCDX via DXLD) Most likely CRI program jamming from mainland against Taiwanese "Sound of Hope" clandestine program from CBS Tanshui on Taiwan. Formerly in the 17.3 and 18.1 MHz range. 73 (wb, HCDX via DXLD) 14260, CNR-1, June 29, noted 1025 and 1100*, Chinese programming, strong, could not detect anything under them, // 5030 (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, Etón E5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 14260, CNR-1, still here {June 30} with strong signal, 1024 and 1100*, with 5+1 time pips and immediately off (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, Etón E5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Maybe to come back in 5 minutes after a monitoring check; but not audible here around 1330 (gh, OK, DXLD) NEW HF BROADCAST INTRUDER --- A new intrusion has been detected in the 20 and 17 metre bands. Identified as Radio China, intrusions are characterised by strong AM signals, either carrier or program in Chinese dialects on or around 14180 and 18160 and can be heard the world over. WIA National Intruder Watch Co-ordinator Glenn VK4DU has been liaising with other national radio society interference monitoring services to build up an operational profile of the broadcast intruder. Complaints have already been lodged with a number of national communications authorities around the world in an effort to stop the intrusion onto Amateur Radio Bands. Arasu VU2UR, MS Coordinator for the Amateur Radio Society of India commented on the 27th June - ``Whatever their authorities say, is off the actual situation. The signal level points out that it is not a spurious, but, a strong fundamental signal to establish themselves on the 18 MHz band. This move is to be discouraged and curbed at the start.`` Australian operators are asked to note times (in UTC), signal strengths, program content description and if possible a bearing and send this information on to WIA National Intruder Watch Co-ordinator Glenn Dunstan intruders@... or vk4du@... [truncated by yahoogroups] (sourced to vk4zz) (Wireless Institute of Australia National News yahoo group dated July 2, posted June 30, via John Norfolk, dxldyg VIA DXLD) Radio China? What`s that? WIA have not caught up with the latest frequency, as reported here, 14260. To ``establish themselves`` on the 18 MHz band? No, just that jamming has the highest priority. If Sound of Hope moves somewhere else, preferably outside any hamband, so will the jamming. New on the 17 MHz band? Been there for months, but maybe no longer if 14 MHz replaced it (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. Glenn Dude: Just want to let you know that CRI still may be jamming the Chinese programs of VOA, RFA. I'm glad CRI can't get on VOA's website and jam them! I'm enclosing a copy of a message sent to Beijing. You may find it interesting. Dear CRI: Please send me some materials from CRI. The Messenger as well as stickers, pennant and China flag if possible. PLEASE DO NOT interrupt Chinese services of VOA or RFA. It is a violation of ABU as well as HFCC Rules regarding frequency usage. I don't want "warbling" on any frequency jammed by CRI. We are a peaceloving nation and want to make friends not enemies! I loved your cd! It Kicks. Do you still have my return address? Lian is my friend at CRI. Please bring back the organola style "East is Red" tune replacing the boring music similar to RFI's repetitive looptape crap. Thanks (Noble West, TN, June 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [and non]. I listened to the first hour or so of the Falun Gong episode of Extension 720 on WGN, UT June 29 at 0205, as previously previewed here. Milt had a hard time getting his guests to say anything but platitudes about FG, and finally confronted them with some writings of the founder, asserting that aliens are on earth and are increasingly controlling human beings through scientific advances with the objective of eventually replacing us. Hmmm, maybe it is a cult. But still, if it`s anathema to the Chicoms it can`t be all bad. BTW, commercial breaks on E 720 have gotten a lot longer and more frequent than before; management must have decided to load up more ads on it; and there was even a break for news, weather and traffic on the half hour. At least on webcast, the adstrings are replaced by music but it is quite insipid. I usually tape E720 and listen later on caradio cassette, FF thru adstrings. Show is still just about the best talk session on commercial radio, tho, and monthly previews are here, with July up shortly: http://www.wgnradio.com/shows/ex720/list.htm There are plenty of pre-emptions or late starts for SBG, especially summerly. If you listen live, somewhere in 2nd hour phones open and E- mail participation also invited (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CONGO DR [non]. "IN THE NAME OF THE GIRAFFE!" RADIO OKAPI BROADCASTS FOR PEACE http://www.sdc.admin.ch/index.php?navID=26476&&langID=1&userhash=08d0b361e44a39c649b9ed367fb2850e (via José Miguel Romero2, dxldyg via DXLD) WTFK? This article never gets around to mentioning times or frequencies, or just *how* it covers the entire country --- i.e. from outside! South Africa! on shortwave! Geez! (gh, DXLD) ** COOK ISLANDS. (PREFIX CHANGE) ---> Victor Rivera, ZK1CG reports that the prefix change from ZK to E5 for the Cooks Islands was officially announced in the local newspapers on 28 June. Please be advised that as of 1 July 2006 the new prefix for the North and South Cook Islands will be E5 (Echo Five), but only the first two characters will change, while the rest will remain as it is. So ZK1CG, ZK1USA and ZK1JD will become E51CG, E51USA and E51JD. Local amateur radio operators normally get 2-letter callsigns and visiting operators get 3-letter calls. [TNX K1XN and The Golist] (425 DX News July 1 via Dave Raycroft, ODXA via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. Missing yesterday, but back today, 9725 from DGS, June 29 at 1342 check (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, TIRWR is back on 5030 with good signal, heard after 0200 June 29, this time with Melissa (?) Scott in a kind of live transmission. If those transmitters at Cahuita are 50 kW, gave the impression they were running at half power or less in the past few days (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, June 30, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. RHC was on 9600 yesterday, but back on 11805 today June 29 at 1338 check (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FINLAND. Scandinavian Weekend Radio 30th June - 1st July SWR's 2-3rd of June transmission [sic; means June 30-July 1] Welcome to listen SWR's 6th Birthday Party programs -24 hours pure party time on air....! Programe schedule (times local Finnish time) 00-02 Tricky Trev show 02-04 04-07 07-10 Huomenta Suomi- Good Morning Finland. Madman vaihtelevan Suomimusiikin maailmoissa- various Finnish music. 10-11 Lauantailuotain by Pena-setä. 11-12 Studiossa dj Janne 12-13 Studiossa dj Janne 13-14 Studiossa Peeveli 14-15 Virrat Tänään - Virrat Today by Häkä 15-16 Pohjanmaa vuonna nolla. Seurassanne toimittajat Olavi Letku ja Tenho Liiteri. 16-17 World Radio Roulette- Around The World with Radio. Madman on air. 17-19 Tricky Trev show 19-21 Hot Summer Sounds with Madman 21-22 Saunan lämmitys - Warming up the Sauna by Häkä 22-23 Studiossa Peeveli 23-24 Closing seremony by Häkä Here's our A06 schedule for this transmission day: MW 24 hours 1602 kHz 48 MB 00-01 (21-22 UTC) 6170 kHz 01-06 (22-03 UTC) 5980 kHz 06-19 (03-16 UTC) 6170 kHz 19-21 (16-18 UTC) 5980 kHz 21-24 (18-21 UTC) 6170 kHz 25 MB 00-09 (21-06 UTC) 11720 kHz 09-14 (06-11 UTC) 11690 kHz 14-21 (11-18 UTC) 11720 kHz 21-24 (18-21 UTC) 11690 kHz Postal address for reports is SWR, P O Box 99, 34801 Virrat Finland. Do not forgot handlig cost of 2 Euro for QSL's. More info can be found: http://www.swradio.net 73' (Alpo Heinonen, Scandinavian Weekend Radio, June 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I reminded him that HCJB is now on 11720 at 23-01 UT in case SWR should want to use 11690 instead (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) ** GERMANY. MV Baltic Radio this Sunday -- 2nd July 2006 at 1300 UT, 6045 kHz, Good listening (Tom Taylor, June 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) From where? We know it is now GERMANY; for how long? (gh, DXLD) ** GERMANY. GERMANY`S DEUTSCHE WELLE TO LAUNCH NEW RADIO PROGRAMME FOR BELARUS Text of report in English by Belarusian news agency Belapan Minsk, 30 June: German broadcaster Deutsche Welle [DW] plans to launch a 30-minute news and analytical radio programme for Belarus on 1 August. The programme called ``Belarusian Chronicle`` will go on the air at 0700 [0400 gmt] on 5945 kHz and via Hotbird [satellite]. . . http://blogs.rnw.nl/medianetwork/?p=5476 (June 30th, 2006, 14:28 UTC by Andy via DXLD) ** GREECE. Radio Philia was received in Sofia with a broadcast in English between 1830 and 19 hours on 666 kHz. It was announced that short emissions in English will be aired in the one-hour programs in Greek at 9 hours on 9420, 12120 and 15630 kHz; at 12 hours on 15630 and 9420 kHz but this time schedule would be subject to changes (Rumen Pankov, R. Bulgaria DX program June 30 via John Norfolk, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Sunday only at 0905-10 is It`s All Greek to Me, as previously reported here; don`t know of any English at 1200, nor whether this really refers to ``short``, i.e. less than 55 minute previously unknown English broadcasts (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HONDURAS. About WRFU Sister Station: Radio Lenca --- Information about WRFU`s sister station in La Esperanza, Honduras LA VOZ DEL PUEBLO LENCA 97.3 (THE VOICE OF THE LENCA PEOPLE) Located in La Esperanza, Intibucá, Honduras The radio station La Voz del Pueblo Lenca (Voice of the Lenca people), has as a motto of "We Have Lost Our Language But Not Our Voice - The Voice Unites The People." Radio Lenca is a not for profit station, created in 2003 by COPINH (Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras). The station currently broadcasts to an area of approximately 50 square kilometers (about 2.5 miles range). In the majority of the indigenous communities affiliated with COPINH, there is no electricity, and the main medium of communications and information is radio. There is a small radio in every home and it's the only modern device from the outside world, accessing the region, but also the world. Lamentably, there aren't many stations which program for the people. The majority of stations broadcast commercial music and don't deal with social messages or with objective or alternative information. Thus was born the necessity to create our own radio station, our space of permanent encounter with the communities. . . http://www.wrfu.net/radiolenca/en (via DXLD) I was looking at the WRFU website (not .org), since they are a new affiliate of WRN; but for limited hours weekdays and do not webcast. Site has extensive minutes of staff meetings (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ICELAND. 12115U, Rikisutvarpid, heard Jun. 27 at 2318 UT, in Icelandic (presumed) with many songs of Françoise Hardy. YL talks between songs with fair signal, but program did not end around 2335 UT and was still present at 0003 recheck but with much weaker signal and strong atmospherics ruining reception (José Turner, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. DD, AIR NOT MOUTHPIECE OF PARTY IN POWER: Prasar Bharati CEO The Prasar Bharati CEO K S Sarma, who is credited with an aggressive strategy on TV rights and giving a commercial orientation to the running of Doordarshan and All-India Radio, feels the Government needs to adopt a "middle path approach" on operational and editorial matters in the running of the public broadcaster. . . http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200606301150.htm (via Jaisakthivel, Chennai, dxldyg via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL. Hi again, Glenn. I took the liberty of paraphrasing Brandon Jordan's HCDX post on Propfire which appeared in 6-057 for the little newsletter I put out for the Empire Slow Speed Net, a CW traffic net I manage (6 pm Eastern...oops, 2300 UT winter, 2200 summer, 3590 kHz; Andy O'Brien is an occasional checkin). Attached is the relevant page. I can barely cough up two pages a month (and feel like Dickens, getting paid by the word), and have no idea how you continue doing what you do year after year. A labor of love, I guess. 73 es tnx again de (Anne Fanelli in Elma, NY, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz., the rest of it: (Still More on) International Traffic Several weeks ago W2MTA weighed in via e-mail, in response to several brief articles in this space concerning changes in the way international traffic (such as it is) is handled --- specifically, the deactivation of the International Assistance and Traffic Net and its replacement by Earl, WX4J, a 4RN digital outlet. While not ``amateur radio`` --- wireless --- in the strictest sense, a WINLINK outlet is preferable (from the standpoint of efficiency) to a net with such a reduced level of participation that its effectiveness is severely compromised. Time will tell, of course, if WINLINK will provide any improvement. IATN continues operations Saturdays and Sundays on 14303 kHz at 7 a.m. Eastern (6:30 a.m. in winter; Bill continues as Sunday NCS) under the able tutelage of Dudley (WA3JXW), a longtime digital/SSB traffic man in western Pennsylvania. In addition, Bill reports, an ``analog`` alternative to WINLINK for Western Hemisphere (non-US/Canada) traffic has been the Friendly Caribus Connection net on 14283 kHz at 6 a.m. Eastern. While Bill’s e-mail is too long and detailed to reprint here, he provides an invaluable first-person history of NTS HF digital operations over the past two decades. Don’t forget --- when accepting international traffic which is not addressed to another amateur, be sure that the destination is a country which has a third-party traffic agreement with the U.S. Field Day In Review Field Day 2006 is history and I trust a good time was enjoyed by all, with only brief visits by Murphy and Moe Skito; what is becoming a tradition of late-contest thunderboomers here on the Niagara Frontier continued for yet another year. On the traffic front, the volume generated was gratifying (during a couple of deliveries I had the pleasure of meeting Joe, KC2DKP, our new --- at least to me! --- WNY SEC). Its composition, though, left a bit to be desired. There seemed to be more than the usual quota of night-letters, with little or no effort made to ``tighten`` the text. Don`t get me wrong --- sometimes a message has to be long, to say all you need to say. But think of a radiogram as you would a telegram --- if you were paying for every word, would you really feel the need for an opening salvo of HI X JOE BLOW HERE when the signature would clearly indicate that the sender was, indeed, Joe Blow? Experience on NYS, 2RN or EAN (or your local equivalents) --- particularly in summer static and particularly at sunspot minimum --- clearly demonstrates the importance of clarity and conciseness in message texts, especially for the poor slobs among us laboring in the vineyard with barefoot rigs and low antennas. There is a unique satisfaction in putting together a message text which ``says it all,`` without saying a superfluous word (via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. 9855, Shiokaze (Sea Breeze) via TAIWAN (presumed site), June 29 (Thurs.), *1030-1057*, entirely in English; gives schedule as: ``7:30 AM to 8 AM, Japanese Time`` (think this should have been PM) ``on 9.855 kilohertz`` (yes, they had a ``point`` in the frequency) and ``5:30 AM to 6 AM Japanese Time on 9.785 kilohertz``, address as P. O. Box 1022, Tokyo Central; program consists entirely of reading names and birth year of Japanese abducted by N. Korea (``The following number is a birth year.``) Fair, no jamming so far! (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, Etón E5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) TAIWAN, 9855, 1029-, Shiokaze, Jun 30. Carrier on just before 1028. Opening signature tune at 1030 and ID (?) presumably in Japanese with piano in background. Strong S9 to S9 + 10 signal strength. Mentions of Tokyo and Shiokaze and tampa a number of times. Into current program at 1034. I'm not 100% certain that this is not Korean. In any case it's not in English on UT Friday. Darn! Up to 1042 they were not reading any lists of names. Same brief sign-off announcement as at sign-on, with carrier off at 1056:55 (Volodya Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) JAPAN/NORTH KOREA: RADIO FOR JAPANESE ABDUCTEES ADOPTS NEW SCHEDULE A radio station aimed at missing Japanese citizens believed to have been abducted and held in North Korea has recently changed its shortwave schedule. Shiokaze [Sea Breeze] radio now broadcasts as follows: 1030-1100 gmt on 9855 kHz, in Korean (Sunday and Wednesday), English (Monday and Thursday), Japanese (Tuesday and Friday), Chinese (Saturday). 2030-2100 gmt on 9785 kHz, in Japanese (daily). Shiokaze broadcasts on a hired shortwave transmitter, currently believed to be located in Taiwan. Programmes are produced by the Investigation Commission on Missing Japanese Probably Related to North Korea [COMJAN], a Tokyo-based organization with a website at http://www.chosa-kai.jp Source: BBC Monitoring research, in English 1350 gmt 27 Jun 06 (via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [non?]. Iran [sic]. The new radio station recently spotted on 4680 most likely is named Voice of Free Iranian Kurdistan and was received in Sofia between 1625 and 1827 hours (Rumen Pankov, R. Bulgaria DX June 30 via John Norfolk, dxldyg via DXLD) Surely it does not transmit from within the boundaries of the IRI (gh, DXLD) ** MALDIVE ISLANDS [and non]. ONE QUARTER OF MALDIVIANS LISTEN TO MINIVAN RADIO --- By Minivan News June 29, 2006 http://www.minivannews.com/news/news.php?id=2225 Almost a quarter of Maldivians regularly listen to Minivan Radio, an audience survey has shown. The survey was commissioned in May to assess the popularity of the radio and garner the opinions of listeners. It is the first time the opposition-leaning radio station has assessed how many people regularly tuned in to its daily one hour bulletins. Six hundred people from across the country were asked about Minivan Radio. Twenty-four percent of those asked said that they currently listen to the station. Sixty three percent of those who listen to Minivan Radio said they tune in either daily or at least three times per week. Editor Fathimath Shaheeda said she was pleasantly surprised by the survey`s findings: ``I know the radio is popular from the feedback I receive when I call different islands. However, I didn`t realize that around a quarter of the population listens regularly. That`s great news.`` Minivan Radio was founded in August 2003. The station broadcasts over short wave radio and can also be accessed via the Minivan News website. Minivan Radio is the only alternative to the state run Voice of Maldives. The popularity of Minivan Radio has not been lost on the President Gayoom, who is labeled a ``predator of press freedom`` by Reporters Without Borders. Gayoom`s government regularly jams Minivan Radio in Male` and Shaheeda was briefly detained by the police in May (via Kevin Redding, June 29, ABDX via DXLD) ** MONTENEGRO. NEW DXCC ENTITY: THE REPUBLIC OF MONTENEGRO According to DXCC Rules, any entity that is a United Nations Member State is considered a Political Entity under DXCC Section II, Part 1. At 1512 UT on 28 June the United Nations admitted the Republic of Montenegro as its 192nd member, and this action automatically makes Montenegro the 336th current DXCC Entity. Effective 28 June 2006 (UT), ARRL has added the Republic of Montenegro to the DXCC List. QSOs made on or after this date will count for DXCC credit. Claims for DXCC credit will be accepted immediately. Montengrin amateur radio operators may use their current callsigns until the International Telecommunication Union designates a new prefix block for the new country. ARRL will accept any prefix deemed legal by the appropriate Montenegrin authorities; please note that Montenegro is not a participating member of CEPT, so portable operations by operators from other countries (e.g. YU6/homecall) are not automatically authorized. Current Montenegrin prefixes are 4O3, 4O6, YT3, YT6, YU3, YU6, YZ3 and YZ6 (425 DX news July 1 via Dave Raycroft, ODXA yg via DXLD) see also TINY TRAP ** NETHERLANDS [and non]. Hello from Hilversum, As you will no doubt be aware, the Dutch football team was beaten by Portugal in the World Cup knockout stages, so there are no more special football transmissions until the final on 9 July. We will be carrying that on shortwave, but details are still being finalised so I will have them for you next week. In the meantime, there are a few schedule changes going into effect on 1 July, and I've just updated the technical schedule at http://www.radionetherlands.nl/features/media/schedule060326.html - which explains why this edition of the Newsletter is being sent out a little later than usual. In summary, the changes are: * A frequency change for Dutch via Petropavlovsk=Kamchatski at 1300-1400 UT. 5880 kHz replaced by 5910. * An additional Family Radio transmission in English via Madagascar at 1900-2000 UT on 7370 kHz. * Some additional DRM transmissions and beam changes at Flevo, following an upgrade of the switching matrix allowing the DRM transmitter to access more antennas. (I'm told that due to a transmitter problem today, the DRM transmissions are off the air). * Dutch language coverage of the Tour de France means that the transmitters on 9895 and 13700 kHz serving southern parts of Europe will be on the air Mon-Fri at 1200-1500 UT in addition to the normal weekend service (Andy Sennitt, Media Network Newsletter June 29 via DXLD) Big L 1395: see U K [non] ** NEW ZEALAND. RNZI, 7145-analog, UT Fri June 30 at 1246 with Monty Python routines; didn`t know they had a comedy show then. Presumably // 6095 in glorious DRM, buzz also audible (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORWAY. KVITSØY 1314 kHz CLOSES --- In late May Bjarne Mjelde reported the following news. ``According to a feature program on NRK P2 last Saturday, 1314 will go silent from July 1st. As many will know, the transmission on 1314, named Europakanalen (something similar to The European Channel) was a mix of NRK P1 and P2 programs primarily aimed at Norwegian listeners in Northern Europe and at sea. To supply the fishing fleet with updated weather reports, NRK will launch a 24- hour satellite weather channel.`` This still leaves a few MW transmitters in Norway but these are not easy to hear in Europe let alone other parts of the world. Here are the coverage maps of 153, 630 and 675 kHz. [already linked in DXLD] 630 kHz Vigra 100 kW 153 kHz Ingøy 675 kHz Røst 20 kW A BIT OF BACKGROUND --- By Bernt Erfjord Ingøy Kringkaster (The Ingøy transmitter station) is equipped with a new 100 kW Telefunken transmitter remotely controlled from Norway's AM control center at Kvitsøy. The antenna mast is among the tallest manmade constructions in Europe, and definitely the tallest on Norwegian soil. It is a 362 meter high steel construction. Including stays it weighs more than 300 tons. Surrounding the mast, 44 km of copper cables have been spread to form the best possible earthing. The station has its own 600 kW generator to provide sufficient power to both the station and all the homes on Ingøy during power failures from the mainland. In rough winters this is not uncommon. The total cost of Ingøy Kringkaster is estimated around 25 million NOK (2.75 million USD). Ingøy Kringkaster, like the rest of the Norwegian AM transmitters carries the NRK Europakanalen programme. This is a mixture of domestic channels P1, P2 and P3, a daily hour of Radio Norway International, and some exclusive weather forecasts. Apart from Kvitsøy, the other AM'ers in addition to Europakanalen relay regional programmes from their area. Ingøy Kringkaster will include programmes from NRK Finnmark in Vadsø. The old mediumwave transmitter in Vadsø on 702 kHz (20 kW) was closed by the end of 2000. Ingøy is located at 71 06'N, 23 50'E. It is almost as far north as North Cape, which is 65 km to the east of Ingøy. Ingøy was an important trading port in the 16th century and is home to the world's northernmost manned lighthouse, Fruholmen Fyr. This is also an important meteorological station. It holds the Norwegian record with 257 days in a year with gale force winds or stronger. Ingøy is part of Måsøy Kommune (Community of Måsøy). The total population of Ingøy is only 40-50 persons. Up to WWII, Ingøy had its own coastal radio station, Ingøy Radio, located not far from the current LW-site. Ingøy Radio was destroyed during the war and not repaired. The building of a new high powered AM-station in northern Norway is the result of decades of lobbying from pressure groups. The 1978 Geneva frequency plan brought changes to the usage of medium and longwave in Norway. Until then a few highpowered transmitters and a large number of low powered fillers were used to cover the country. By the mid-70's the network of VHF-transmitters basically had replaced AM for domestic broadcasting, and the new frequency plan eliminated all the AM fillers and boosted power of a few remaining allocations, which were primarily intended for reaching remote parts of the country, neighbouring countries and the oceans surrounding the country. The first superpower station was built, Kvitsøy with its 1.2 megawatt transmitter on 1314 kHz. Then NRK decided not to pursue their usage of AM, and gradually closed 216 kHz in Oslo and 153 kHz in Tromsø without replacing them with the proposed new high power plants. Pressure for a better radio coverage of the Arctic oceans where Norwegian fishery is still an important industry have never ended, and eventually NRK, together with the Ministry of Fisheries, entered a long term agreement with Norwegian transmission facilities provider Norkring to rent transmission time on a new longwave transmitter in the county of Finnmark. Stage one of this plan was completed in spring 2000 with the old 675 kHz transmitter at Bodø being replaced by a new 20 kW unit on the island of Røst improving reception along the northwestern coast, and since 1st October 2000 Ingøy has improved the coverage of the Barents Sea immensely. Ingøy Kringkaster provides a daytime signal almost reaching Spitsbergen. (Spitsbergen has its own mediumwave transmitter on 1485 kHz). The usage of 153 kHz elsewhere in Europe and Asia will naturally affect reception possibilities of Ingøy in these areas, but a good antenna and a fair portion of luck could bring unexpected results! The lack of longwave broadcasting in North America should make it possible to receive the signal at least along the east coast of Canada and the USA (July MW News via DXLD) Is NRK doing anything to mark the imminent passing of 1314 kHz? Or will it just be switched off mid-programme? I can't find anything on the website but then I can't read Norwegian! (Steve Whitt, UK, June 30, MWC via DXLD) I don`t know about any special programme, but they use to have a sea weather forecast, which only airs on this frequency, 1314 kHz, at 2005 to 2015 UT daily. Maybe the last time tonight...? 73`s (Bernt-Ivan Holmberg, Möklinta, Sweden, ibid.) KVITSØY 1314: OVER AND OUT --- The Kvitsøy station stopped its transmissions of NRK programming on 1314 kHz at 2200 UT, i.e. local midnight; actually they switched off the transmitters when the new day was already a few seconds old. Not any announcement or even special programming, just the regular P1, with SBG coverage until 2100 and a country music show after the 2100 news. Wonder if really nobody cared or if rather management had verboten to do something. A recording of the very end is in the "station sounds" section of the yg (Kai Ludwig, Germany, June 30, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN. Radio Pakistan in English: from 0105 to 0110 hours on 7445 and 9340 kHz; from 0730 to 0830 hours in English and Urdu on 15100 and 17835 kHz; from 1530 to 16 hours Saturday only on 4790 and 5022 [variable] kHz, from 16 to 1614 hours on 4790, 5022, 9375, 11750, 12105 and 15725 kHz (Rumen Pankov, R. Bulgaria DX program June 30 via John Norfolk, dxldyg via DXLD) 0105-0110 must be the (only? regular?) English segment in the Assami- language 0045-0115 service; 0730-0830 has previously been reported as entirely in English; 1530-16 is a home service; 1600-1614 is both on HS and external service frequencies (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 4835.36, Radio Marañón, 0956-1002 June 30, Man in religious comments until the hour. Then canned ID by a woman, "...Marañón ... Radio ..." Signal was fair. 4790.12, Radio Visión, 1001-1010 June 30, Man in Spanish comments with many TC's. At 1005 woman with ID as, "Radio Visión" This followed with religious chanting. Signal was poor (Chuck Bollland, Clewiston, Florida, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAINT HELENA. Further to the item in the June 2006 issue of the New Zealand DX Times concerning Radio St Helena returning to shortwave, additional information from organiser Robert Kipp has been forwarded by Peter Grenfell. The project to acquire a transmitter and antennas for the shortwave broadcast later this year is not just a short-term or one-off operation. Robert says that the equipment will be permanently installed and under full control of Radio St. Helena. RSH will decide how and when the shortwave broadcasts take place in future. In 2007 there will be a double anniversary at RSH that may result in another broadcast, however the focus at present is to get the equipment to the island and the station built. Robert continues "we are within the time plan and intend to ship the entire station (except for the beam antenna) from England in mid-July. The beam will accompany me on the ship at the end of September. As of mid-October, I plan to be on the island and to start putting all the equipment together." Robert will be trying for the first weekend in November 2006 for the "Revival" broadcast. At this stage he hopes to beam a program from Radio St Helena to Japan on the morning (St. Helena local time) of Sunday 5 November 2006. Immediately thereafter, a programme will be beamed to New Zealand. These will be "one-off test and thank-you" programmes. Donations are still being solicited for this project to revive Radio St Helena on shortwave, with some US$10,000 all up being required for all the equipment and transportation costs. In NZ, Peter Grenfell is coordinating receipt of donations, including that from the NZ Radio DX League. His mailing address is 1 Stour Street, Oamaru, and whilst the DX League has set a target deadline of 15 July for individual donations from local enthusiasts, they will be appreciated by the Revival organisers at any time. A sponsor has been secured for the new QSL cards. DXers will need to send at least 3 IRC's or 3 "Greenstamps" for a QSL response and, of course, additional donations will be most welcome. More information on the project can be found on the Internet at http://www.sthelena.se/radioproject Be sure to look also at the other information on the "RSH History" page. Cheers, (Bryan Clark, NZ, June 29, ripple via DXLD) ** SLOVAKIA. A reminder that R. Slovakia International is about to quit shortwave. The exact time of final broadcast is not clear, but it could be that by Friday night (UT July 1) at 0100, it will be over already. So this Thursday evening in North America, UT June 30 at 0100 -0130 could be the finale, on 5930 and 9440. 73, (Glenn, June 29, dxldyg via DXLD) I understand that the contract for the shortwave transmissions is about "two transmitters to be run at 150 kW". Hence also the large number of repeats: Cutting back here would have saved no money, as the German service explained a while ago. So the contract could expire tonight at local midnight = 2200 UT, and so Spanish 2000-2030 could be the last transmission ever, from SRo on shortwave and probably also from the Rimavská Sobota station as well. Some excerpts from the farewell of L'ubica Tvarožková, the head of the German service: ``Radio Slovakia International is a part of Slovak Radio, or should I say it was? I think it will turn out soon. Radio Slovakia International will merge with the online department of Slovak Radio as of July 1, leading to staff redundancies. The section responsible for broadcasts in Slovak has been dissolved entirely, and only two editors will remain for each foreign language service. The music editor and some audio engineers were fired as well. This mutilated team is supposed to still produce the same amount of broadcasts than now four and until a few years ago even six editors per language service. I have to admit that in my opinion this plan is just impossible or at least presumptuous. I have also to admit that it was a democratic behaviour when we were asked to decide over us themselves: Stay or leave. It was not easy for me to solve this dilemma. After carefully thinking about it I came to the conviction that I do not want to participate in this destruction. So today I speak to you for the very last time. I'm sorry that we failed to save the shortwaves.`` All the other three editors so far responsible for the German programmes decided to leave as well, if I copied the names she mentioned in the farewell talk correct. And here are the official words, not posted in English so far, so a link to the German version instead: http://www.slovakradio.sk/inetportal/rsi/core.php?page=showSprava&id=2694&lang=3 (Kai Ludwig, June 30, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Made a point of listening to and taping RSI`s UT June 30 broadcast at 0100 on 5930, in case it be the ultimate instead of penultimate. Were already giving English schedule at 0059; news with Pete and 0105 into announced repeat of mailbag show, where the demise of SW was discussed. Altho the signal was pretty good for 49m from Europe in mid-summer, there was also plenty of atmospheric noise and some of my line noise, making it hard to follow (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Adiós a Radio Eslovaquia Internacional --- Último programa de Radio Eslovaquia Internacional en español. 11600 kHz 1430-1500 UT. Si desean escuchar este programa pulsen en el enlace: http://telefonica.net/web2/radioescuchadx/au_archivos/R_Eslovaquia_ultimo_programa_30_06_2006.mp3 (José Bueno - Córdoba - España, June 30, HCDX via DXLD) RADIO SLOVAKIA INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTS ITS FINAL SHORTWAVE PROGRAMMES Radio Slovakia International (RSI) is, as earlier announced, closing down its shortwave service today. On the final edition of the English- language programme Slovakia Today to be broadcast on shortwave, presenter Pete Miller, says: ``The sad news is that this is the last broadcast from Radio Slovakia International on shortwave from Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, and right in the heart of Europe. We will of course continue via satellite on the World Radio Network, and we`ll also be available on the Internet.`` He continues: ``Well, in spite of all the hard work put in by many, this is our last broadcast on shortwave. I realise that some broadcasters have realised the folly of this policy, and have gone back to shortwave. I just hope that the light will dawn on the movers and shakers here in Slovakia. Today, therefore, is a special programme. For, as well as leaving shortwave, a number of our presenters are also leaving for pastures new. There has been, to use the common jargon, a measure of downsizing as far as the staff here are concerned.`` Miller explains that in future, there will be just two full-time staff for the English section, assisted by two part-timers. After explaining the schedule of RSI via the World Radio Network, the rest of the programme features the departing presenters talking a little about themselves and saying goodbye to the listeners. The MP3 file of the broadcast (dated 30 June) can be downloaded or streamed from the links on this page http://www.slovakradio.sk/inetportal/rsi/core.php?lang=2 (June 30th, 2006, 21:47 UTC by Andy, Media Network blog via DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. June 29 had a chance to check Brother Scare`s new relay via Guiana French, 17815. At 1827 I found that altho this is billed as a `live` hour, it was not // WWRB on 15250. Well, not exactly. On a hunch, I noted a marker word on 15250 and then forced myself to listen to him on 17815. Finally, 90 seconds later, the same thing came by on 17815, so there is a full sesquiminute delay between the two, presumably GUF getting a well-buffered internet feed. Or he has a satellite relay for this some 13.4 gigameters away, somewhere between the Moon and the Sun (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SVALBARD. JW - Hans, SM3TLG will be active as JW/SM3TLG from Longyearbyen (EU-026), Svalbard on 5-10 July. He plans to operate on all bands and modes. QSL via home call, direct or bureau. [TNX SM3TLG] (425 DX News July 1 via Dave Raycroft, ODXA yg via DXLD) ** U K. Anniversary Watch --- It was on 30 June 2001 that BBC WS closed their short-wave services to North America and Australasia. In the case of Australasia this obviously occurred in mid-afternoon UT on 30 June, whereas for North America the closure occurred at 0700 UT on 1 July (PAUL DAVID, Wembley Park, United Kingdom, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. BBC PLANNING TO EXPAND SIX NEW CHANNELS IN THE INDIA AND US BBC Worldwide, its commercial arm, is planning to expand its international activities by starting six new channels in the India and US. . . http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200606291864.htm (Jaisakthivel, Chennai, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U K [non]. BIG L CONFIRMS IT PLANS TO RETURN TO 1395 KHZ NETHERLANDS --- Since September 2005, the station has only been broadcasting on Sky Digital and the Internet. A couple of weeks ago we saw reports that Dutch transmission facilities provider Broadcast Partners was involved. We contacted Broadcast Partners, but they declined our invitation to clarify the situation, citing customer confidentiality. UK commercial radio station Big L has confirmed it plans to return to mediumwave 1395 kHz shortly. An E-mail has been sent out to those registered with its online forum, which states: "We have upgraded the forums today and are sending this email out as a security test and also ready for our AM system returning. As soon as we have the final date for our AM 1395 transmitter to return we will be contacting all users with this mail system. So keep checking your mail box for this important information." Big L has also been announcing on the air that it will be returning to 1395 (RNW MN NL via BrDXC-UK June 29 via Wolfgang Büschel, DXLD) Is that a service via Lopik Holland technical facilities? 1395 will not work in southern Germany, due of regular Albania powerhouse co- channel, which is registered here since four decades (wb, wwdxc BC-DX June 29) Hi Wolfgang, No, it's Trintelhaven, on the coast, as before. Lopik is no longer permitted to broadcast on 1395 kHz. Maximum permitted power from Lopik is 140 kW (100 kW for Arrow on 675 + 40 kW reserve for Radio 747). (Andy Sennitt, Netherlands, wwdxc BC-DX June 29 via DXLD) ** U S A. STATEMENT BY VOA DIRECTOR CONCERNING VOA BROADCASTS TO ZIMBABWE http://voanews.com/english/About/2006-06-29-zimbabwe-jamming.cfm PRESS RELEASE - Washington, D.C., June 29, 2006 -- Voice of America Director David S. Jackson issued the following statement today concerning VOA broadcasts to Zimbabwe: "There has been some jamming of our broadcasts of Studio 7, but so far the interference appears to be limited to medium wave broadcasts to Harare, so many of our loyal listeners throughout Zimbabwe have been able to hear our shows on shortwave and in other locations of the country without any problem. We take any interference seriously, however, and we will continue to monitor the situation." VOA's Studio 7 is broadcast to Zimbabwe each Monday through Friday from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. local time (1700-1830 UT) in 30-minute segments in Shona, English and Ndebele (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U S A. Since cancelling the so-called Power Hour last week, WHRI also cancelled broadcasts in our mornings on 9840; perhaps a convenient chance to do some maintenance? But it was back June 29 at 1340 check with some cooking show preparing an item called ``Xantax [sp?] Special``. Seemed like a TV soundtrack, perhaps one of the sterling shows on WHT (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The Power Hour is on WINB, replacing the loss of WHRI: See end of original announcement -- (From Bill in Somerset Pennsylvania) UPDATE ON FREQUENCY CHANGES Effective Monday, July 3, 2006 - The Power Hour will be broadcasting on WINB live for all three hours on: 13570. The replay will be broadcast at 9-12 PM on 9265 Additional Frequencies: WWCR 7465 (7-9 am CST [sic]); 9985 (3rd Hr) WWCR Replay 3215 (10-12 pm CST) (via Clyde Ickes, June 30, DXLD) Ha, WINB`s signal and modulation are lousy, no comparison to WHRI and WWCR, yet WWCR gets second billing (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** U S A. WBCQ, 9330, Friday June 30 around 1310 and 1350 checks was in English, not French; believe I also checked during this hour on Wednesday and did not hear it then either. Believe this language never made it to the published WBCQ schedule (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WRNO'S NEW TENTATIVE DATE FROM ROCK TO RANT IS JULY 4TH Publicly, CC has come out again and has proposed a date that the Rock of New Orleans will be no more. Tentative is July 4th as per today's Times Picayune. http://www.nola.com/living/t-p/index.ssf?/base/living-6/1151214249224210.xml&coll=1 (RFLA June 25, radio-info.com Louisiana board via DXLD) Note: this has nothing to do anymore with the silent SW station of the same calls. Surely they will want to change them, if they ever get back on the air (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Discussion of WGN, Extension 720: see CHINA [and non] ** U S A. 1700 WJCC and FCC Database --- 1700, WJCC, Miami Springs, Florida, continues to broadcast daily after returning to the air as was reported on 6/6/6 by Tony Simon. WJCC had been off air as I reported on 2/26/6, and presumed gone forever. Scott Fybush suggested this was part of the X-band license relinquishments. Now they're back all day and though not hearable here, possibly all night, with no signs of an FCC license. A check of the FCC AMQ DB returns nothing, but searching for DWJCC in the General Reports, turns up an entry I don't know how to square with the existing situation: Online License Data Callsign: DWJCC Service: AM Facility ID: 87169 Party Name: MULTICULTURAL RADIO BROADCASTING LICENSEE, LLC Company: Address: 449 BROADWAY City, ST, Zip: NEW YORK, NY 10013 Community of License State: FL City: MIAMI SPRINGS License Expiration Date: 2/1/2012 Status: LICAN Status Date: 2/23/2006 Facility Address: 8400 N.W. 52ND ST. SUITE 101 City, ST, Zip: MIAMI, FL 33176 Country: US Channel: Frequency: 00001700.00000000 Facility Type: Station Type: M As I understand it, DWJCC means the license has been deleted. As can be seen though, the expiration date, status, and status date would seem to indicate the license is still potentially valid. Of course these entries may just be left as they last were when the license was deleted. That still doesn't explain why the station is back on the air. I have read of a legal effort to reinstate some of the relinquished X-band licenses, could this be a premature move back on air as part of that action? Is it possible the originally licensed owners are not behind this latest reincarnation of WJCC? 1210 WNMA Miami Springs, also operated by Multicultural Radio Broadcasting, is not // 1700. The format of 1210 is Spanish Talk, while 1700 WJCC has been broadcasting a very pleasant mix of English and Spanish music with little else besides station IDs. Prior to leaving the air on 2/26/6, WJCC was // 1580 WSRF Fort Lauderdale, with its Caribbean format. And prior to that time of // operations, WSRF had been off the air for an extended period before returning 2/3/6, after the hurricane Wilma caused outage that began 10/24/05. Now, 1700 is not // 1580, nor as I say, 1210. All rather confusing, but strangely interesting as the stations do their programming dance (W. Curt Deegan, Boca Raton, (southeast) Florida, June 30, IRCA via DXLD) It may be possible that there is some legal action pending before the FCC. In that case, they may be allowed to continue broadcasting until there is resolution in the matter. I've seen it before (Michael Hawkins, ibid.) ** U S A. BOSTON CLASSICAL MUSIC LOVERS KEEP THEIR RADIO STATION, TEXANS NOT SO LUCKY --- By Vivien Schweitzer 29 Jun 2006 http://www.playbillarts.com/news/article/4835.html Boston classical music lovers can rest assured that their local radio station will stay on the air, but fans in east Texas won't be so lucky, report The Boston Globe and The New York Times. The Globe writes that WCRB-FM (99.5) is being sold to Greater Media, which is in negotiations to sell its frequency to New Jersey-based Nassau Broadcasting. Greater Media would retain the WKLB call letters and country music format and switch them to 102.5, a stronger signal in Boston, while Nassau would launch a classical music format on 99.5. Louis F. Mercatanti, president and CEO of Nassau Broadcasting, told the Globe that he intends to keep a classical WCRB on the air. "We believe that there are a few markets in the country that do extremely well with classical and Boston is certainly one of them. You have a unique market, a product that is a niche format so it doesn't have any competition and you have a marketplace that wants the format to stay." It doesn't look like classical lovers in northeast Texas, however, will be so fortunate. The Times reports that KTPB, the station of Kilgore College, has been sold to a Christian broadcasting company. But locals are fighting back with a newly-formed group called Save Our Arts Radio. They have generated at least 175 letters and sent some of them to the Federal Communications Commission, which has yet to approve the deal. "Just because we live out here in the middle of nowhere doesn't mean we have to be a cultural void. This radio station has reached people who have no other access to the arts," Nancy B. Wrenn, executive director of the Tyler-based East Texas Symphony Orchestra, told the paper. The area has plenty of Christian music stations, but KTPB is the only classical music station between Dallas and Shreveport, Louisiana, a distance of 190 miles, according to the Times. The station has about 15,000 listeners and reaches a population of 300,000 to 400,000 (via Kevin Redding, June 29, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. HARRY HELMS ON HIS CANCER TREATMENT, AND LIFE http://futureofradio.typepad.com/the_future_of_radio/2006/06/taking_a_break_.html (via gh, DXLD) Best wishes to you, Harry. Individual replies are building up on his blog, the place to put them (Glenn) ** U S A. My local graveyarder KRSN 1490 just came back on after a year's silence under new ownership. The broadcast started at 3:00 pm MDT [2100 UT], and kicked off with a legal ID, then "Do You Believe In Love" by Huey Lewis and the News (Mike Westfall, N6KUY, WDX6O, Los Alamos, New Mexico (DM65uv), June 29, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. INDEPENDENT NATIVE NEWS CEASES PRODUCTION KUNM recently received notice that Independent Native News (INN) will cease production as of June 30. We have carried this weekday, five- minute headline news service since it began, about five years ago, so we’re very sad to see it go. INN actually had a very interesting genesis, born out of a journalistic ethics conflict at National Native News (NNN), the other weekday Native American oriented news service. The then-host of NNN, Nellie Moore, felt so strongly opposed to a management decision that she believed compromised journalistic integrity that she left, and started INN. Several other staffers from NNN followed Nellie to the new program. The result for KUNM was positive, I believe, because we continued broadcasting NNN and also added INN to our schedule. For several years, we’ve had two distinct, daily Native American news programs. Nellie and her crew produced INN independently for a few years, and then the program found a new home and very welcome support at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. The university produced INN for several years, but has now decided to cease production because it cannot continue to fund it. Such has been the fate of many public radio programs over the years. In my view, this seems to be especially a problem for programs that serve people of color, or bring our stories to the public radio airwaves. INN is currently airing on KUNM at 6:30 p.m. When it ceases production, it will be replaced by an NPR headline newscast, at least until we decide whether to air something different instead (KUNM Zounds, July, via DXLD) It seems the June issue never made it to the website, but the July issue is at http://www.kunm.org/pdf/Zounds_20060701.pdf (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. KGO 810 San Francisco testing IBOC: see DIGITAL BROADCASTING ** U S A. "Hybrid" State Names (as heard on TV/radio) Let's see --- ones I've heard on radio or TV: Arklahoma (Fort Smith stations like to say it) Arklatex Arklamiss Georgialina (WNGC-95.5 Athens said this a lot) Illiana Michiana Tuckasee (home of the Beaver, WBVR, Russellville, Bowling Green, Fort Campbell, Clarksville...) Tenneva* [especially Bristol] Texoma (KFDX, your spirit of Texoma station) Wyobraska (forgot about this one!) * used to be a show on WCYB-5 called "Rural Tenneva" back in the 70s. As a kid I had *NO* idea what a "Tenneva" was and why it was rural!! :) Any others? I'm sure I left some out... (Matt Sittel, NE, WTFDA via DXLD) Matt - This may have been answered already but there is also "Kentuckiana." Lots of Louisville / Southern IN stations use this mention. Much more descriptive and fun than the "Tri-State" wording that the Cincinnati area stations use. In fact there is a truck dealer in Southern Indiana that seems to just roll off the tongue, "Kentuckiana Mack." 73, (Dave Hascall, ibid.) Don`t forget Coloklatexicosas widely used in No Man`s Land, except perhaps on 92.7 and 91.7. 73, (Glenn Hauser, Enid, ibid.) Sounds like that one comes from Jurassic Park! (Guy in Lockport, NY Falsetti, ibid.) ** U S A. North Carolina Bandscan (New and Improved Version) Monday, June 19, 2006, Wingate Inn & Suites, Greenville, North Carolina, 2125 - 2150 [EDT?] SONY ICF-2010: 530 NC Greenville - 06/19/06 2125 - Decent, steady signal plagued by electrical noise in the room. "You're listening to AM 530, East Carolina University's Parking and Information station." Thursday, June 22, 2006, Ferry at Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, 2003 Isuzu Rodeo In-Dash Audio System 4340: 1690 NC Hatteras - 06/22/06 1455 - North Carolina Ferry and Highway Information. Good signal. "North Carolina Highway Advisory, Hatteras Inlet Ferry Operation". (Bert New, Watkinsville, Georgia, Proudly Serving You Since 1964! IRCA via DXLD) From a long log list; gh excerpted only the TIS/HAR Generally speaking there are two categories of TISs. One are the local government TISs, which are licensed by the FCC and the other are federal government TISs, which are licensed by the NTIS and other Federal agencies. The US Fish and Wildlife have a string of TISs thoughout the country. You will not find them in the FCC database. There is at least one here in Maryland at the Blackwater Wildlife Refuge on 1700. It also operates information about Dorchester County. The transmitter is located on the South end of the Frederick J Malkus Bridge in Cambridge. Good luck with getting information from NTIS. Mike Hardester and I have been trying to do that for years. For some reason they don't have a master list of stations readily available. We have been depending on DXer reports to inform others about these stations (Bill Harms, Elkridge, Maryland, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. FCC HEAD 'IN BED' WITH BUSINESS IN MAGAZINE SPREAD By Arshad Mohammed Washington Post Staff Writer Monday, June 26, 2006; D01 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/25/AR2006062500743_pf.html When you run an independent federal agency, you generally want to avoid the appearance of being in bed with lobbyists or big business. So why is Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin J. Martin standing on an unmade bed in a hotel room in a glossy magazine photograph that also features an influential lobbyist and a communications executive? Details magazine, which ran the picture in its June/July issue as part of a photo essay on people influential in the media world, showed the usually buttoned-up communications lawyer sans jacket and tie, his shirt open at the neck and his sleeves rolled up. Perched on edge of the bed is Alex Vogel, a partner at the high-tech lobbying firm Mehlman Vogel Castagnetti, who is playing cards with Eric Logan, an executive at XM Satellite Radio, the District-based company that often has matters before the FCC. (Vogel and Logan are misidentified in the magazine's caption.) The three men are on Details' list of 21 media mavericks whom the magazine describes as "quietly shaping your world" and "determining what you'll be watching and listening to in the near future." The piece on the 21 gets prime billing in the magazine, which also includes an article on "24 of the best beers in the world" and one on "sex and the public restroom -- how the swankiest bathrooms became the new Motel 6." FCC spokeswoman Tamara Lipper, asked about the photograph, said only: "We're FCC bureaucrats. We were happy to be with Ashton Kutcher." The actor turned producer was among those featured in another photo. The Martin photograph caused perplexity in Washington telecom circles. Martin has a reputation as a shrewd political operator who is disciplined in his dealings with the media. "It probably seemed okay at the time, but in light of the flap that has ensued, I am sure chairman Martin has come to regret taking this picture," said Andrew Jay Schwartzman, president of the Media Access Project, a public interest law firm that often takes positions against major media companies at the FCC. "Didn't the guy realize there is a phrase 'you are in bed with the industry'? It is incredible," said Jeff Chester, executive director for consumer-advocacy group Center for Digital Democracy and a frequent critic of Martin and the agency. "I think the chairs of the FCC should be above reproach, should have a open mind on the issues and certainly not be seen in bed with lobbyists metaphorically, pictorially or otherwise," Chester said. A spokesman for Logan's company, XM, declined to comment on the photo. Vogel, the lobbyist, said the magazine photographer had choreographed the photo shoot and posed the men for the shots but did not appear to know what each did for a living. "The fact that Kevin is standing on the bed and I am sitting on the bed and everyone in Washington is like 'Oh my God, it's a regulator in bed with a lobbyist' -- I honestly believe that didn't necessarily occur to the photographer," Vogel said. "They certainly took other pictures and they decided to use that one because they are trying to sell magazines." (c) 2006 The Washington Post Company (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. It appears the recently cancelled "Enterprise" may be going to SciFi Channel. Complete with the Russell Watson opening Theme! Tell Will in St. Louis he can download the song at http://www.russellwatson.com The site is owned by NBC Universal who owns Sci-Fi Channel! (Noble West, TN, June 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** URUGUAY. La Rosa de Tokyo para el próximo domingo "LA ROSA DE TOKIO" (( LS11 RADIO PROVINCIA )) El Grupo Radioescucha Argentino está colaborando con LA ROSA DE TOKIO, el programa de DX y comunicaciones que se irradia por LS11 Radio Provincia, La Plata, Argentina, con 56 kW en su horario habitual de 13 a 14 hora argentina (1600 a 1700 UT) y también en Internet, en: http://www.radioprovincia.gba.gov.ar EN EL PROXIMO PROGRAMA DE LA ROSA ENTREVISTARÁ AL AFAMADO DIEXISTA DE MONTEVIDEO HORACIO NIGRO, CON DETALLES DE SUS PRIMERAS EXPERIENCIAS, UN ANALISIS SOBRE LA RADIO URUGUAYA, LA ONDA CORTA URUGUAYA, ACOMPAÑADA DE RECUERDOS DE LOS AÑOS 80 CON GRABACIONES DE VARIAS EMISORAS CON DETALLES RELACIONADOS CON EL ENTREVISTADO. OTRO DE LOS AFAMADOS RADIOESCUCHAS Y ENTUSIASTAS DE LA RADIODIFUSION: GABRIEL GOMEZ TAMBIEN DE MONTEVIDEO SE REFERIRA A SUS PRIMERAS ETAPAS, SU VISION DE LA RADIO RIOPLATENSE (URUGUAYA Y ARGENTINA) Y EL ABANDONO DE LAS ONDAS CORTAS EN URUGUAY, INTERNET Y LA OC, ACOMPAÑADO DE REGISTROS SONOROS. [mayúsculas sic] Ademas, a las 18 Hs. Argentina, 21 UT, comenzamos con el nuevo horario para la retransmisión del programa para todos aquellos que no puedan escucharlo en el horario habitual de transmisión. Les recuerdo, que la retransmisión se realizará en la siguiente dirección: http://www.frecuencia9.com.ar La temática que se desarrolla cada domingo consiste en la investigación y análisis de la situación radiofónica en un país. Se revisa su historia, su actualidad política y social y, por supuesto, se revisan y analizan sus emisoras de radio y TV más representativas. También pueden escuchar su grabación a cualquier hora, cualquier día desde Programas DX: http://es.geocities.com/programasdx/ No dejen de escucharlo!!! (Arnaldo Slaen & Omar Somma / Argentina, Noticias DX via DXLD) ** VIETNAM [non]. Surprised to hear VOV in English, UT Friday June 30 at 0522 on 6175 via Canada. But this turned out to be Vietnamese language lessons, giving phrases and their English translations. Trouble is, if you are teaching Vietnamese to English-speakers, the program ought to be in the English-language broadcast, not the Vietnamese. But now you know it exists, so go for it (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE [and non]. Plus ça change... The press freedom situation in Zimbabwe continues to deteriorate week by week, day by day, along with the country's infrastructure and the quality of life of its citizens. The developed world is so concerned with fighting its own "war on terrorism" that it seems to be turning a blind eye to the state terrorism being conducted by the regime of President Robert Mugabe. This week, a new acting Information Minister was appointed. But we're not holding our breath about improvements in the dire press freedom situation. The names and faces may change, but for Robert Mugabe and his Zanu PF party, it seems to be a case of Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose. . . http://www.radionetherlands.nl/features/media/zim060629 (Media Network Newsletter June 29 via DXLD) VOA reacts to jamming: see U S A ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ I have some WOR's on my mp3 player and enjoy them. Don't work too hard! See you on WOR! 73's (Noble West, TN, June 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) THE TINY TRAP +++++++++++++ MONTENEGRO --- Almost missed it! In 6-094, was called a ``tiny Balkan country`` in the ARRL item on DXCC status. This should be a useful website for TTT purposes, giving all kinds of statistics, and comparative sizes: http://www.indexmundi.com/ But in this case they have not got around to separating Serbia from Montenegro! Together, they are smaller than Kentucky. But here is a site which recognizes Montenegro independently: http://www.montenegro.org/geograph.html ``Montenegro's territory measures 13,812 square km. (about the size of Connecticut) and its population numbers about 620,000.`` Would you ever call Connecticut tiny? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) TRINIDAD & TOBAGO --- Glenn, By the way I was watching the World Cup soccer games on ABC today. During the game between Sweden and Trinidad & Tobago. Trinidad & Tobago is the smallest country to qualify for the world cup. Trinidad & Tobago was called small a couple of times and then at the end of the broadcast at 12:58 pm CDT the announcer referred to it as a tiny country (Daniel Sampson, WI, June 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) This is getting closer, as Indexmundi, based on CIA World Factbook, says T&T is slightly smaller than Delaware. But that`s still huge compared to many other countries, including some much smaller Caribbean islands (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ MISPOST ON LATEST DXLD? Glenn, it appears that the text for DXLD 6-061 was inadvertently posted in place of the supposedly newest 6-094 --- at least that what comes up under the "Latest Edition Here" link, FYI (Stephen Luce, Houston, TX, June 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dear Glenn, The two links in your recent SWL and HCDX messages about new DXLDs that are to lead to the latest issue continue to take me to no. 6- 061 from April 13, rather than the current one. I hope that my pointing this out may be helpful. 73, (Tim Noonan, Oak Creek WI, ibid.) Tim, Tnx for advising me of the problem. You are the third person to do so. But when I try the dxlatest link I do get the latest issue 6- 094. Can`t figure out why this is happening. At first I thought someone was getting an old cache in their own computer, and needed to refresh/reload the link. I will go ahead and put 6-094 at its permanent link already: http://www.worldofradio.com/dxld6094.txt (Glenn to Tim, via dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) For what it`s worth, a check of http://www.w4uvh.net/dxlatest.txt this morning still takes me to 6-061, and refresh does not help. 73, (Tim Noonan, June 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) This happens to me a lot. In that case I just remove the "www." in the URL and the correct one comes up. If that doesn't work, I then bring up Internet Explorer (instead of the aol browser) and get it that way. Once even that didn't work so I brought up Netscape (which I seldom use) and that worked. Somehow, I think it all goes back to one's computer (John Norfolk, ibid.) Also previously had some correspondence with Carlos Gonçalves about this problem (gh, DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ SONY SRF-M37V REVIEW Now I can combine exercise (that I need), and TV DX. I walk every day. I just bought a Sony SRF-M37V at Target for around $30.00. I have seen it priced higher on radio store web sites. A friend used "Froogle" on Google.com and found some very low prices. Much lower then my $30.00 Here's the lowdown. Just my opinion. TV --- Covers US channels 2-13. Selectivity and sensitivity very good. I can hear Macon on channel 13 at 80 miles most days. Today, June 29, while walking. 1400-1500 UT, E-skip in effect. All of these stations heard on channel three, with the Walkman headphone cord as the antenna. An unID CBC (kids show and promos. I saw the video and logo before leaving the house, then put on the Walkman, same audio). Then, all E-skip hell broke loose. WFSB Hartford (news promo), WPSU Clearfield (a nice full audio legal ID), KIII Corpus Christi (into Tony Danza, lucky them!), and KFDX Wichita Falls (with ads and promos), all heard drifting in and out as I walked. Has a local/distance setting. 5 presets. MW --- Sensitivity and selectivity good. These ratings can be bumped up to very good, because it can null very well. Very impressive for its small size. And it is small. Only one "AAA" cell needed. 9 or 10 kHz tuning steps easily selected. 5 presets. 3 3/8 x 2 1/2 x 1 inches. 3.32 oz. with the AAA battery and belt clip. About half the size of a 6L6 glass audio tube. WX Band --- Covers all 7 US VHF weather frequencies. I am only 2 or so miles from our local NOAA transmitter, so I get the same station on all seven presets. I cannot evaluate this band. FM --- Selectivity and sensitivity fair here in a metro area. Tuning in 100 kHz steps. FM starts at 87.5 MHz. You have be able to tune 400 to 600 kHz away from local stations and their IBOC (if used) to hear semi-local or distant stations. Local/distant switch. 10 presets. In summary, Since it can tune 9 kHz steps on MW, I wish it included longwave, for European use, and because I DX longwave. The FM is average for a Walkman, The MW above average, but the TV reception is very impressive. Oh, I should mention that all the TV DX I heard on channel 3, was never bothered by our local full powered WSB-TV on adjacent channel 2 (Brock Whaley, GA for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ROBERT "TONY" GRIMES NAMED NEW PRESIDENT OF CONTINENTAL ELECTRONICS We have received the following news release from Adil Mina of NASB associate member Continental Electronics. DALLAS, TX — (June 14, 2006) — Robert A. "Tony" Grimes has been named president of Continental Electronics, a world leader in providing commercial, defense, government and scientific industries with the most reliable high power RF products on the market. Grimes is responsible for all day-to-day operations. Grimes brings to Continental Electronics a proven background in business management and program planning for wireless products. Grimes' background includes more than 20 years of engineering design, marketing and sales, organizational development and presidential leadership, making him the ideal candidate to further develop Continental Electronics’ role in the ever-growing digital marketplace. He comes to Continental Electronics after serving as president of TRAK Microwave Corporation and on the board of directors for Radyne Corporation. He also served as manager of international projects for Harris Corp. "Continental Electronics has an incredible history of innovation with a strong worldwide reputation. With the digital revolution sweeping into U.S. and international markets for broadcasting and scientific applications, we have tremendous opportunities to expand our leadership role in cutting edge technologies such as HD Radio and HF/DRM systems," he said. "Continental is a good company with good people making good solid products, and I am proud to be at the helm. My main objective is to take this company to the next level as we continue our excellence in customer service." (June NASB Newsletter via DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING ++++++++++++++++++++ DTV: see BRAZIL ANTENNAS FOR DRM [transmitting] Summary of presentation by Gordon Sinclair of TCI International at the American Shortwave Conference 2006 Shortwave broadcasting in DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale) format can take place between 2 and 26 MHz, providing local, regional, national or global coverage. Antennas for regional, national or global coverage can be located far from the intended audience area on relatively inexpensive land. An antenna for local coverage using 26 MHz must be located within line of sight of the audience area, like FM and TV. These local transmissions would use low power (100 to 1000 watts). For long range shortwave coverage (thousands of kilometers), transmitters of 50 to 500 kilowatts are used in a frequency range of 6 to 21 MHz. This requires antennas with directional patterns and low take-off angles. Typical antennas used include a dipole array (with towers 120 meters tall) and a high-gain log periodic (with towers 70 meters tall). An example of long range coverage using DRM would be a transmit site of Mexico City with a 500-kilowatt transmitter using a 4/4/0.5 dipole array antenna to cover all of the West Coast of the United States (a range of 3800 kilometers). This would produce a signal strength of 55 to 65 dBu (560-1780 uV/m). Regional shortwave coverage using DRM would be for distances of 100 to 1500 kilometers using 10 to 100 kilowatt transmitters on frequencies between 2 and 18 MHz. This requires antennas using either directional or omnidirectional patterns and high take-off angles. Typical antennas for this type of broadcasting would include a broadband dipole (25 meters tall) and a short range log-periodic (40 meters tall). A theoretical example of regional coverage would be a transmit site of Syracuse, New York using a 50-kilowatt transmitter and an omnidirectional HF antenna [not permitted at this time by FCC rules]. This would cover New England, New York, New Jersey and the Mid- Atlantic states (0 to 600 kilometers) with a signal strength of 50 to 55 dBu (320-560 uV/m). 26 MHz local coverage with DRM provides line of sight coverage, similar to FM. The transmitter power is 100 to 1000 watts, covering a radius of 50 to 75 kilometers. The antenna for this type of local DRM broadcasting must suppress the skywave coverage to avoid interfering with distant stations. Field tests were conducted in the San Francisco area in December of 2005, and they verified the coverage of a TCI skywave suppressing antenna. The antenna location was Milpitas, California. The antenna elevation was 100 meters above sea level using 150 watts on 26 MHz. Signal strength was measured at 23 locations. At the recent NAB Convention in Las Vegas, a 26 MHz demonstration was conducted at a site 20 kilometers from the Las Vegas Convention Center using a Transradio exciter, a 30-watt CEC amplifier and a TCI skywave suppressing antenna. This provided excellent signal strength at the Convention Center and local hotels. A propagation analysis using VOACAP has been performed to compare the TCI skywave suppression antenna with a standard vertical dipole. Conclusions drawn from this analysis are that Sporadic E propagation could cause some interfering signals at times of high sunspot numbers in the winter. The skywave suppression type of antenna will not propagate sufficient signal to cause interference. Standard dipole or yagi antennas will cause signals to propagate at higher levels which may cause interference. A transmitter power of 300 watts appears to be the optimum level to ensure interference is not a problem, even using the skywave suppression type of antenna. Examples of opportunities for DRM in the United States include: a) using the 26 MHz band, doubling the number of available FM-like signals in a city. b) covering the entire U.S. with a small number of HF stations at a tiny fraction of the cost of a satellite service or multiple FM/AM stations. This could be done from within the U.S. if the FCC authorizes domestic shortwave broadcasting, or from outside the U.S. (June NASB Newsletter via DXLD) DRM: also NETHERLANDS; NEW ZEALAND; RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM IBOC: THE END OF MEDIUMWAVE DX? Those days may be coming to an end. Instead of picking up the powerful signal of a far away station, they were fixing to lose that freedom anyway - as soon as the FCC railroads nighttime IBOC operation on the country, nighttime skywave reception will be impossible (Bruce Carter, ABDX via DXLD) I also hear that in addition to nighttime IBOC will be ruling eliminating any protection beyond the city grade coverage --- EWWW! (Powell E. Way III, ibid.) The end is near boys...one or two seasons for our AM hobby for 95% of us, including me... oh well...I'll make the best of this season which should be the last before night IBOC. 73 from a very sad KAZ (Neil Kazaross, IL, ibid.) The Radiosophy HD receiver is targeted for a fall (Sept.?) release in the mid-200 dollar range. Learned this at the local SBE chapter meeting last night. A local non-com FM is planning a promotion in which a couple hundred of these sets will be given away. That's one way to get PR (Bob 0719 edt Foxworth, FL, ibid.) Great Scott!! KGO 810 is testing IBOC!!! --- I just tuned in to listen to KGO tonight at 0400 EDT 6/30 and found an open carrier on 810. I thought, gee they are off for a test, but when I went from the Super Radio to the R8, and found S9+15 DB hash on 800 & 820. You can hear KGNW -820 & Penticton BC on 800, but the hash it there loud and clear. KGO will own 800/810/820 at night up and down the West Coast with their powerhouse signal and hash on 800/820. Not good news at all, even though I do enjoy the talk on KGO. They do not need IBOC. In checking, every time KGO would go to IBOC, their main signal would drop and it would sound "flat", or and without the usual presence. The "Booming" signal of KGO had lost the fire in their signal. In fact the hash on 800 and 820 was stronger than the 810 signal and even interfered with it. It sounded terrible. If they do indeed go IBOC, then I hope they clean on their signal. They will lose most of their listeners. Here in the NW, KGO is so powerful they even made the Portland ratings book in the 70s. They came in number two and shocked the whole market. KGO pretty much "owns" the channel here at night. KGO has always been one of those stations you could depend on for talk, news, or whatever. It was always there no matter what at night, on the car radio, portable, whatever. The thought of their signal dying off is really sad. 73, (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, IRCA via DXLD) I was in a Best Buy locally last week. I made a point of tracking down a sales rep and asking about HD Radio. After I told him I worked in radio, and said I was merely curious about overall sales, he said they had never sold one. He was familiar with it, which was good. The only radio that they had was an "HD Ready" Kenwood. They didn't stock the adapter, however (Craig Healy, Providence RI, ibid.) Low sales? That is because HD-AM Radio is an oxymoron. It will not catch on - XM and Sirius Satellite radio is totally "on fire" in terms of sales. The consumer will not buy into this IBOC ruse and it will, like AM-Stereo, die a slow and painless death. KGO: I listen to it from time to time only for "Dr. Ray" - touted as the smartest man on the Planet -- if only to laugh myself to sleep listening to his drivel or the nonsense his callers come up with. Happy friday Dxers! (Colin Newell, Editor/Creator http://www.coffeecrew.com Victoria - B.C. Canada, ibid.) Hopefully Mr. Newell is correct, believing HD will follow AM Stereo to swift silent oblivion. Still, those determined to seize radio with IBOC spent years, resources, and effort to gain their ends. Troublingly they kept the most important link - listeners - in the dark. AM Stereo lacked HD's poison pill. The public as well as TeamBLIGHT knows a long obsolete, serially superseded, backwardly destructive product when they see it. But isn't TeamBLIGHT above all else clever? Why do they care if anyone listens to HD? Albeit unheard, HD jammers left running will inexorably grind listeners into submission. Above all it's sad. It's like watching a loved one slowly succumb to cancer, or more specifically to this matter, die from poisoning at the hands of avaricious liars. =Z.= (Paul Vincent Zecchino, Manasota Key, FL BT, ibid.) Hopping on the bandwagon, I'll take this opportunity to ask a question that occurred to me. Ultimately the IBOC plan is to migrate from the current supposed, compatible hybrid mode to full digital. Since digital signals lend themselves to encryption, could the eventual objective be subscription AM/FM? Dump the commercial advertising and compete with satellite on a fee basis. Blanket the countryside with myriad stations so signal coverage would be irrelevant, just so long as some stations could be received by the subscription activated receiver. Lots of channels to choose from because all the stations would be broadcasting in concert (or should I say cahoots), or maybe in two or three separately subscribed services to feign competition. XM already uses terrestrial repeaters to augment their satellite signal, IBOC could be used to do the same, sans satellite. Just a horrible vision seared into my brain by the penetrating hiss of IBOC (W. Curt Deegan, Boca Ratón, (southeast) Florida, ibid.) THE END OF FM DX? As for 'Game Over", a new roof will be going on sometime during the last half of July. That means the antenna system is coming down. As it is old, aside from a Hy-Gain rotor, it will be disposed of. Now that leaves me with two problems and a choice. The person who put this up years ago is no longer around and I have no one else to do the work. Even if I can find someone to do the job, I will have to spend an estimated grand to try to DX through an awful lot of IBOC hash. It's not just NYC. Philly is giving me a lot of problems on 102.3 and 103.1 just as a for instance and more is to come, Maybe it's time to turn on the Game Over light on this hobby (Joe Fela, So. Plainfield, N.J., WTFDA via DXLD) Now here's a thought.. How about one antenna up as high as possible, and another just over head level. Then phase one against the other to null a pest or IBOC hiss. Chances are one antenna will hear the DX better than the other, even if they are both from the same direction (Craig Healy, RI, ibid.) I tried this years ago, not for IBOC (it was only a thought then), but to improve phasing (as my antennas are just far enough apart for phasing; always thought if they were farther apart the phasing would be better), and to possibly improve Es reception by possibly diminishing local signal strengths a bit. Bottom line --- it didn't work on either count (Joe Fela, ibid.) CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ NASB TO PARTICIPATE IN EUROPEAN DX COUNCIL CONFERENCE As part of NASB's worldwide publicity campaign, the Association will have a display at the 2006 European DX Council (EDXC) Conference in St. Petersburg, Russia October 19-22. The display will feature photos, brochures and souvenirs from member stations and some associate members as well. Three NASB representatives will attend the EDXC Conference. Mike Adams of Far East Broadcasting Company, who is NASB's Vice President, plans to give conference attendees an introduction to the NASB. Adrian Peterson of Adventist World Radio, who is a member of our Board of Directors, is preparing a presentation about "The World's Oldest Radio Cards" for the meeting. And a representative of the St. Petersburg listener follow-up office of NASB member World Christian Broadcasting, which operates KNLS in Alaska, is also planning to attend the conference. The EDXC is the umbrella organization for shortwave listener and DX clubs throughout Europe. This is the first time in the EDXC's history that its annual conference has been held in Russia. NASB is participating in this conference to introduce the Association and its members to shortwave listeners, DX club leaders and publication editors from around Europe. In previous years, the NASB has had similar exhibits at the Shortwave Listeners Winter Fest in Pennsylvania and the Mexican National DX Meeting in Mexico (June NASB Newsletter via DXLD) PROPAGATIION ++++++++++++ NEW SUNSPOTS After several days of utter spotlessless, the face of the Sun is changing. Two new sunspots have emerged: one is large and the other is growing with wild abandon. It's a good show for solar observers. So far neither 'spot poses a threat for strong solar flares, but this could change if the rapid growth continues (From our friends at http://spaceweather.com via Mark Coady, June 30, ODXA yg via DXLD) TIPS FOR RATIONAL LIVING ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Whew! Hurry, hurry! Burn your flags while it`s still legal. And Happy Fourth! (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###