DX LISTENING DIGEST 6-156, October 21, 2006 Incorporating REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING edited by Glenn Hauser, http://www.worldofradio.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits For restrixions and searchable 2006 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn NEXT SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO Extra 72: Sun 0630 WWCR1 3215 Sun 0800 WRMI 9955 Sun 1530 WRMI 7385 Mon 0300 WBCQ 9330-CLSB Mon 0415 WBCQ 7415 [time varies] Wed 0930 WWCR1 9985 Latest edition of this schedule version, including AM, FM, satellite and webcasts with hotlinks to station sites and audio, is at: 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 ** ALBANIA R. Tirana, 6115 kHz, *0145-0158* UT, October 21, 2006. Problem with over modulated audio on both 6115 and 7450 kHz. Female announcer says, "This is R. Tirana. This is R. Tirana broadcasting in English". Broadcast time and frequencies given by female. Into news. Problem with over modulated audio! SIO 544. QRM from unknown stations on 6110 kHz. Heard Italian. Perhaps, RAI Italy? Unfortunately, as far as I know, SIO doesn't account for modulation problems. Checked // 7450. Also with over modulated audio. SIO 554. Broadcast closed with "Goodbye from Albania" by female announcer at 0158 UT. 73, (Kraig Krist, KG4LAC, VA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. 15820 LSB, Radio Continental, Buenos Aires, 0841-0853, 21-10, locutor, noticias y comentarios, español, "Hablamos aquí en Continental", comentario sobre portadas de diarios argentinos, diario "La Nación", diario "Clarín". 24322 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Grundig Satellit 500 y Sony ICF SW 7600 G, Antena de cable 10 metros, orientada WSW, Escuchas realizadas en Friol, 27 Km W de Lugo, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. Excelentes condiciones de propagación para Australia en la banda de 60 metros vía Pacífico, América y Atlántico, a través de la zona oscura de la Tierra, hasta el horario de cierre a las 0830, ya bien de día aquí en España. Nunca antes las había escuchado tan fuerte. 4910, VL8T, Tennant Creek, 0747-0830*, 21-10, inglés, transmisiones deportivas. En paralelo con 4835, Alice Springs. Buena señal. 44444 variando a 34333, pero a la hora de cierre, a las 0830, ya más débil. 4835, Alice Springs, 0747-0830*, 21-10, inglés, transmisiones deportivas. En paralelo con 4910, VL8T, Tennant Creek. 34333, si bién a la hora de cierre, a las 0830 ya más débil (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Grundig Satellit 500 y Sony ICF SW 7600 G, Antena de cable 10 metros, orientada WSW, Escuchas realizadas en Friol, 27 Km W de Lugo, DX LISTENING DIGEST) This is in the NW corner of Spain, and Lugo is 7.5 degrees west which means it would be the boundary between GMT and GMT -1. So the local time at 0830 UT if unaltered would really be 7:30 am, not 10:30 am; by LMT around 8, not long after sunrise (gh, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Was not expecting to hear English on 11825, but there it was as I tuned across, Fri Oct 20 at 1334, ``English from Australia Program No. 50``, in RA`s Standard Chinese service via Darwin (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) This one has Chinese weekdays and all English weekends (1300-1430) as I discovered after last logging it (Noel Green, UK, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) So was Friday considered weekend? I figured this was a language-teaching program in the Chinese service, certainly not your usual RA fare (gh, DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 4716.7, Radio Yura, 2333-2342, 20-10, locutor, español, comentarios, música de flauta. Señal muy débil, sólo audible en LSB. 14321. 5952.5, Radio Pio XII, Siglo XX, 2222-2235, 20-10, locutor, español, "noticias municipales", locutora, anuncios comerciales, canciones bolivianas, identificación: "Aquí en Pio XII" "Bueno, amables oyentes, continuamos con nuestro programa". Señal débil a muy débil. 23322 variando a 13221. 6025, Radio Patria Nueva, La Paz, 2307-2322, 20-10, locutor, "Espacio deportivo", comentarios sobre equipos de fútbol de Bolivia, "Partidos de la liga profesional boliviana", "Siete de la noche con once minutos, gracias por escucharnos en nombre de todo el equipo". "Radio Patria Nueva, noticias, gracias por su atención". Canciones bolivianas. "Radio Patria Nueva, La Paz, Cochabamba, Oruro, Tarija, Potosí". 24322 variando a 14321. 6134.8, Radio Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, 0013-0020, 21-10, locutor y locutora, comentarios, identificación: "Radio Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, estamos con los bolivianos". 24322 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Grundig Satellit 500 y Sony ICF SW 7600 G, Antena de cable 10 metros, orientada WSW, Escuchas realizadas en Friol, 27 Km W de Lugo, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Many more logs from Manuel, including BRAZIL and PERU appeared in the dxld yg ** CANADA. LISTER SINCLAIR 1921-2006, UNION TRIBUTES Newsgroup: alt.radio.networks.cbc and tributes from the Union (Now the Canadian Media Guild) [Expect more in coming days] http://www.cmg.ca/lister-sinclair.shtml Broadcasting icon and cherished colleague Lister Sinclair died on October 16, 2006. Guild members share their memories of Lister: Lister Sinclair, porte-étendard de la radiodiffusion et notre collègue bien-aimé est mort le 16 octobre 2006. Les membres de la Guilde partagent leurs mémoires de lui : I remember Mr. Sinclair coming to a general membership meeting so many years ago to make things right. It was across the street, a meeting before a strike vote, and several prominent members spoke strongly against giving the union the power it needed to get a good agreement. That's when Mr. Sinclair walked up to the mike and spoke. After that, there was no doubt the union would get the vote it needed. Mr. Sinclair was also a prominent presence on the picket line last year. - Michael D'Souza, Toronto I produced a documentary for Ideas in 1995. It was called "One Sex or Two". Perhaps a deceiving title, as it was really an hour-long discussion on female ejaculation. While researching it, I remember there would be certain hurdles in presenting this experience on air. Being a newbie at CBC, I wasn't familiar with the legendary Lister Sinclair. I figured the first hurdle would be the host introducing the words "female ejaculation". Well, Lister Sinclair didn't bat an eye. In fact, he made it sounds positively poetic. He read it just as he would the opening of a documentary on Einstein's brain or Hannah Arendt's theories. Lister Sinclair was simply one-of-a-kind. - Sue Campbell I felt Lister was my friend. I felt that even before I met him, just because he spoke to ME. Ideas was critical to the way I think today, as a journalist and as a person. I finally did meet the man behind the voice when Faith was sent to Corner Brook NL to "secure" the building during the Nabet strike. Lister came, and brought his wit, his intelligence, his warmth, and insight with him. And yes, his dapper garb as well. His, and Faith's, presence in Corner Brook lifted our spirits during what was a cold and harsh time in the corporation's history. Such class. Such a tribute to what this universe can produce, every eon or so. Such a loss. - Terry LeDrew (via Dan Say, BC, DXLD) OBIT ** CANADA. What happened to Quirks & Quarks Oct 21? It was supposed to be Part II of Arctic Odyssey, continued from last week, but instead it was a repeat Question Show. Arctic Odyssey II as topic appeared in the Hotsheets and online listings (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Glenn, I AM serious. All that CHU does is duplicate WWV. No matter the convenience, the operation is just a nationalistic idea. Taxes in Canada are exorbitant. How much of what Canadians do, is done just to say they are doing what the Americans are doing? Anyway, I'm glad we've been friends all these many years. Thanks for being a friend. 73, (Charlie Taylor, NC, Oct 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Likewise. Well, how about this: WWV could get abolished; retain CHU as a backup? (gh, DXLD) Please keep CHU On the Air VIA EMAIL to: raymond.pelletier @ nrc-cnrc.gc.ca To: Mr Ray Pelletier, National Research Council of Canada Time/Frequency Section Dear Mr. Pelletier - Please add this to your collection of requests from the Canadian public to KEEP CHU operating !! And kindly copy your boss on this too! Yes, even in "this modern world" good old fashioned short wave radio is still for many of us the most efficient, most flexible, least expensive and most accessible means of being able to access a reliable time standard regardless of where one is located. I hope your masters realize there are few other alternatives to CHU for many Canadians. I do not know where else I would turn other than some form of radio-based service operated by a foreign power whose signals are all too often not audible in Canada. For Heaven's sake, change frequency on 40 metres if you must, but keep the service on the air! To whom else do I need to write? Who is the minister responsible for NRC these days - is it Mr. Bernier ?? END OF MESSAGE FROM: (Michael Bryan, mbryan @ magma.ca 29 Wintergreen Dr., Bx #1367, STITTSVILLE, Ontario, C A N A D A K2S 1E5, Tel (613) 831-0698, Cell " 277-7700, Oct 19, cc to ODXA via DXLD) ** CANADA. TV GUIDE TOSSES ITS PRINT VERSION Free online listings coming Nov. 28; Bows to demands of new generation Oct. 20, 2006. 05:27 AM, THULASI SRIKANTHAN, BUSINESS REPORTER Remember the days of flipping through your TV Guide searching times for The Facts of Life or Diff'rent Strokes? Or perhaps it was The Cosby Show or The Dukes of Hazzard. You didn't realize it then, but the '80s were the height of TV Guide glory. It was a golden age that saw more than a million copies a week flying off the shelves. But how times have changed. Yesterday, Transcontinental Media announced the magazine — 243,695 in circulation at last count — will soon cease print copies and will move online. As of yesterday morning, six people were let go, leaving 28 others behind. The last print issue will be on stands Nov. 20 and the Web launch --- at http://www.tvguide.ca — is scheduled for Nov. 28. . . http://tinyurl.com/y8deuu (Toronto Star via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) The uselessness of a TV Guide without local listings has finally spread to the masses. TV Guide Canada to stop printing a hard copy version and will go web-only. http://www.cbc.ca/arts/story/2006/10/19/tvguide-web.html End/WRH. (Bill Hepburn, Niagara, WTFDA via DXLD) Can US be far behind? (gh) ** CHILE. RADIO BEETHOVEN CAMBIA DE DUEÑO Y MANTIENE SU LÍNEA La venta de Beethoven (96.5) fue el fantasma que más sobrevoló el mercado radial durante 2005, detonando todo un revuelo entre quienes abogaban por la mantención de su parrilla docta. El hecho finalmente se materializó ayer: la única señal dedicada a la música clásica en la FM fue adquirida por el Consorcio Periodístico de Chile (Copesa), a través de su grupo Dial, que ya cuenta con Duna, Zero y Carolina. Para tranquilidad de sus auditores históricos, Beethoven mantendrá sin variaciones su línea programática y sólo potenciará los espacios y nombres que ya integran su parrilla, entre los que destaca Patricio Bañados. Como muestra, su director artístico y uno de sus fundadores, Adolfo Flores, seguirá en el cargo. Anita Holuigue, directora de Dial, asegura: "La compra obedece a un interés por promover la cultura y por mantener la única radio dedicada a la música clásica. Nunca pensamos en hacer alguna otra cosa con ella". Los nuevos propietarios asumirán el 1 de noviembre (tomado de El Mercurio, Chile via Arnaldo Slaen, condig list via DXLD) ** CHINA. Firedrake with good signal, but fluttery, Oct 20 at 1312 on 10450; JBA on 14700 at 1335, and not audible on 13970 if there (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re 6-155: CHN Firedrake jamming, ``Have you actually heard and identified SOH on 15320, 15490?`` Jamming on 15320 and 15490: 15320 RTI Baujong-TWN, and CBS Taipei at 0300-0600 UT. Firedrake jamming by CHN against most of foreign broadcaster in Chinese and Tibetan, except NHK, DWL, and RFI. Also used against AIR Delhi program in Tibetan ! Tibetan (to Tibet) 1215-1330 9575(Ki) 11775(P) 15490, VoA Tibetan Iranawila at 0400-0600 UT (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, Oct 20, DX LISTENING DGIEST) ** CHINA. 7225, PBS Sichuan, Oct 20, 1042-1102, Chinese programming, ToH 5 + 1 pips, usual Chinese & English program ID ``This is the Voice of Golden Bridge`` (Life, Travel and City Service program), weak (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, RX340, with T2FD antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. Spy letters on MCW heard on another day of the week, UT Sat Oct 21 at 0605 on 5800.0 and again with weaker MCW in the background, print-thru or mixed message. Very strong (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. HCJB WORLD RADIO - Ecuador B06 BROADCAST SCHEDULE (29 October 2006 – 25 March 2007; rev. 20 October 2006) all daily, I say, saving you from 1111111 after every entry (gh) UT kHz KW Degrees Region COFAN 1100 1130 6050 50 18/172 S. America GERMAN (high) 0300 0330 9780 100 324 Mexico 0700 0730 9740 100 42 Europe 2300 2400 12040 100 131 S. America GERMAN (low) 0230 0300 9780 100 324 Mexico 0630 0700 9740 100 42 Europe 2230 2300 12040 100 131 S. America WAORANI 1030 1100 6050 50 18/172 S. America KULINA 2250 2300 11920 250 126 Brazil PORTUGUESE 0800 0930 9745 100 100 N. Brazil 0800 0930 21455 1 35/225 Eur./S. Pacific 1530 1800 15295 100 139 Brazil 2300 0230 11920 250 126 Brazil 2300 0230 12020 100 100 Brazil QUECHUA 0830 1000 6125 100 155 S. America 2100 2300 9745 100 155 S. America QUICHUA 0800 1100 690 50 000/180 Ecuador 0830 1300 3220 10 90 (Vert.) S. America 0830 1300 6080 10 90 (Vert.) S. America 0930 1100 21455 1 35/225 Eur./S. Pacific 2100 0300 6080 10 90 (Vert.) S. America 0000 0300 3220 10 90 (Vert.) S. America SPANISH 0100 0500 9745 100 325 Mexico 1100 0500 690 50 000/180 Ecuador 1130 1500 6050 50 18/172 S. America 1100 1300 11960 100 355 Cuba 1100 1500 11690 100 150 S. America 1300 1500 11960 100 324 Mexico 1100 1600 21455 1 35/225 Eur./S. Pacific 1900 0500 6050 50 18/172 Ecuador 2000 0500 21455 1 35/225 Eur./S. Pacific 2100 2300 12000 100 150 S. America 2300 0100 11700 100 160/330 N/S America Mailing Address: HCJB World Radio Frequency Manager: Allen Graham (HCJ) Casilla 17-17-691 Quito, Ecuador S.A. e-Mail: agraham @ hcjb.org.ec FAX +593 2 226 4765 73 (via Dino Bloise, FLORIDA, EEUU, dxldyg via DXLD) Since the 11960 broadcast is admittedly and specifically for Cuba, shouldn`t it be jammed? (gh, DXLD) ** EGYPT. Hello DXers, here's the tentative B06 of Radio Cairo. UTC KHz MB PROGRAM TARGET AREA 0000-0300 12050 25 GENERAL PROG N.AMERICA & EUROPE 0030-0430 11950 25 ARABIC E.N.AMERICA 0045-0200 7270 41 SPANISH N.AMERICA 0045-0200 9360 25 SPANISH C.AMERICA 0045-0200 9415 31 SPANISH S.AMERICA 0200-0330 7270 41 ENGLISH N.AMERICA 0700-1100 15115 19 GENERAL PROG W.AFRICA 1015-1215 17775 16 ARABIC M.EAST & AFGHANISTAN 1145-1230 15810 19 MALAY S.E.ASIA 1215-1330 17835 16 ENGLISH S.ASIA 1230-1400 15810 19 INDONESIAN S.E.ASIA 1300-1600 15365 19 ARABIC W.AFRICA 1330-1530 15490 19 PERSIAN TADZHIKSTAN 1330-1345 17835 16 BENGALI S.ASIA 1430-1600 9975 19 PASHTO AFGHANISTAN 1500-1600 13660 22 HINDI S.ASIA 1500-1600 11530 31 UZBEKI UZBEKISTAN 1530-1730 17810 16 SWAHILI C.& E.AFRICA 1545-1600 11760 25 SHONA C.& S.AFRICA 1600-1700 15155 19 AFAR E.& C.AFRICA 1600-1800 9365 22 URDU S.ASIA 1600-1800 6230 49 TURKISH TURKEY 1600-1800 9990 31 ALBANIAN ALBANIA 1600-1800 11740 25 ENGLISH C.& S.AFRICA 1700-1730 15155 19 SOMALI E.& C.AFRICA 1730-1900 15155 19 AMHARIC E.& C.AFRICA 1800-1900 7460 49 RUSSIAN W.RUSSIA 1800-1900 9990 31 ITALIAN EUROPE 1800-2100 9420 31 HAUSA W . AFRICA 1800-2330 11665 25 VOICE OF THE ARABS C.& E.AFRICA 1900-1930 15375 19 WOLOF W.AFRICA 1900-2000 9990 31 GERMAN EUROPE 1915-1930 15425 19 FULANI W.AFRICA 1945-2000 15375 19 BAMBARA W.AFRICA 2000-2200 7210 41 ARABIC AUSTRALIA 2000-2115 9990 31 FRENCH EUROPE 1900-2030 15375 19 ENGLISH W.AFRICA 2030-2230 9470 31 FRENCH W.AFRICA 2100-2115 9465 31 YORUBA W.AFRICA 2115-2245 9990 31 ENGLISH EUROPE 2215-2330 9360 25 PORTUGUSE S.AMERICA 2300-0030 11885 25 ENGLISH E.N.AMERICA 2330-0045 9735 31 ARABIC S.AMERICA 2330-0045 11755 25 ARABIC S & C AMERICA All the best my friends, yours (Tarek Zeidan, Cairo, Egypt, Oct 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE [non]. One more day the unscheduled English service of RFI survives, Oct 20, presumably via Japan on 6120, starting weakly but clearly at 1400 after 5-second-late 4-pip timesignal. RFI, 6120 presumably Japan, heard on one more day, Oct 21, opening at 1400 after delayed timesignal. This time Singapore turned off its 6120 carrier closer to 1400 than 1401 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. I thought DW was running DRM on 6140, but Oct at 21 it was lower, seemingly centred on 6135 so logged as 6130-6140, and the schedule at http://www.baseportal.com/cgi-bin/baseportal.pl?htx=/drmdx/main&sort=kHz,UTC shows it at 06-08 now on 6130, (i.e. 6125-6135), 200 kW ND to Eu. And it was right up against Spain [non] on 6125 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUAM. Oct 20 at 1355 on 12105, English lesson on how to spell HEAVEN, which is better than any vacation spot in eastern US or Canada; VIVID, and MINUTE [as in very small]. This educational service brought to us by KSDA `Mandarin` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HAWAII. Finally, KHCM-1180 HI has switched with KORL-690. KHCM-690 remains C&W, though only C&W oldies were noted during my limited listening time, while KORL-1180 remains ethnic, including Chinese, Japanese, Samoan and Filipino. 1610, Honolulu WPZH377 10/9 0523 usual tape loop by woman with slight local accent on events at Hawaii Convention Center. Quite good audible again now that the local talking house is off the air (Richard E. Wood, BIHI, Oct 1, IRCA DX Monitor via DXLD) Thanks for passing this one along. Maybe a good one to try for here on the coast! (Patrick Martin, ed., ibid.) Another version: 1610 HAWAII WPZH377 Honolulu (21 17'N 157 50'W) OCT 9 0523 - Usual tape loop by a woman with a slight local accent, about events at Hawaii Convention Center. Quite good, audible again now that the talking house near here is off the air [Wood-HI, NRC IDXD via DXLD] Listed in FCC database as WQAG957 Hawaii Convention Center (Bruce Conti, NRC IDXD ed., ibid.) ** HUNGARY [and non]. FIFTY YEARS LATER, RADIO FREE EUROPE STILL LIVING DOWN ITS ADVICE TO HUNGARIANS. "'The U.S. had a double-faced policy, a non-violent policy. They wanted to keep alive the desire for freedom in the communist bloc until the system failed, which it was bound to do. The message got sent by Radio Free Europe, but there was no promise of help. People didn't know it was just rhetoric. False hopes were created.' Radio Free Europe, staffed by right-wing émigré Hungarians, had slandered Nagy throughout the revolt, portraying him as just another communist -- which was how Washington saw him, unable to grasp that the communist world was not monolithic. ... After 1956, Radio Free Europe moderated its tone. 'Instead of liberation, they promoted liberalization.'" Toronto Star, 15 October 2006 . . . [plus 5+ other linx] http://www.kimandrewelliott.com/index.php?id=520 (via DXLD) ** INDONESIA, 9680, RRI Jakarta, Oct 18 (Wed.), 1001-1020, music and phone conversations. KGRE program was in fact preempted for Ramadan. 9525, VOI, Oct 18, not on during 1001-1020; Oct 19, not heard at 0840 (looking for their English segment); Oct 20, heard from 0954-1032, noted usual canned English ID, light QRM from weaker station in SE Asian language (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, RX340 + T2FD antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9525, Voice of Indonesia, 0955-1005 Oct 20. Noted a woman in Indonesian comments with music until the hour. On the hour a man IDs and gives email address. After more comments and musical background. Signal was good and sounded good. Absence paid off if they were repairing the transmitter (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston, Florida, NRD545, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Missing Oct 19, but 9525.0 was back Oct 20 with Suara Indonesia, at 1303 with Warta Berita by M, but now there is crosstalk from another program in Indonesian, W speaking clearly audible underneath. It`s always something! 1319 on the top channel, canned English ID and reference to website. Usual wide variety of music, 1358 NA and off (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11860 came in late today. Still OFF at 1420 and 1440 UT, but noted ON AIR around 1450 UT with fair strength, similar level like Oct 19th. But signal dropped down to poor tiny signal at 1600 UT Oct 20, noted Warta Berita song (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) [see also UNIDENTIFIED 11860] 15149.83, VOI at 1710 UT, Spanish, S=8-9. Superb signal. German will follow at 1800. On Oct 19th on 9525, but on 15149.83 kHz, Oct 20 & 21. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Suara Indonesia again missing from 9525 at 1332 check Oct 21 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. Thanks to Kai Ludwig for his observation about Eutelsat W3A satellite outage later this month. This explains why Polish radio and TV signals were absent on Intelsat Americas 5 on that date. I was forced to do without my favorite alternative rock music program on Polskie Radio 3 (Mike Cooper, Oct 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN. IRIB in Arabic, 15150, Oct 20 at 1337 with Qur`an, coming in well (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Not INDONESIA at this hr ** IRAN [non]. Radio Voice of Revolution has terminated its broadcasts on 3880 and 6425 kHz and now can be heard only on 4380 from 1725 to 1850 (Rumen Pankov, R. Bulgaria DX Oct 20 via John Norfolk, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ. What it takes to be the new VOA correspondent, and the alleged bennies: see U S A ** IRAQ. BASRA'S RADIO SHANASHEEL OBSERVED ON MEDIUMWAVE BBC Monitoring observed Basra-based Radio Shanasheel on mediumwave 1395 kHz at 1000 gmt on 20 October 2006. Radio Shanasheel is a private independent station which commenced operation on 1 September 2005. Currently it is on the air daily from 0700 to 0200 local time (0400- 2300 gmt), covering Basra, Nasariyah, Misan and Samawa. According to the Niqash website http://www.niqash.org the station airs cultural, political and religious programmes, and educates the public on issues pertaining to the constitution and the concept of federalism. Programmes are in Arabic and the station is funded by the director of the Organization for Human Life, a non-governmental organization. The name of the station is derived from the architectural style of houses in southern Iraq, specifically those on the river banks in Basra. Source: BBC Monitoring research 20 Oct 06 (via DXLD) WRTH 2006 shows a different station in Southern Iraq: R. Mustaqbal, 20 kW on 1395; same facility or successor? Hmmm, info under that station 14) shows it in Baghdad, instead, so if really there I suppose the two could coëxist especially with direxional antennas; unlikely (gh, DXLD) ** ISRAEL. KI, 15760 in Hebrew, Oct 20 at 1340 with big hum, into country song in English (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. 9485, Shiokaze (Sea Breeze) via TAIWAN, Oct 19 (Thurs.), 1314-1318, with news items in English about N. Korea. There was no English on Fri. (Oct 20) (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, RX340 + T2FD antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBYA [and non]. Saludos cordiales, quisiera preguntar a nuestro amigo Tarek por una canción que repiten últimamente en las transmisiones de Sawt Al-amal, parece un himno, recuerdo haberla escuchado la misma canción en un video de Al Qaeda que circuló en internet. Traducción mecánica: Warm greetings, wanted to ask our Tarek friend for a song that repeat lately in the transmissions of Sawt Al-amal, seems a hymn, memory it to have listened to the same song in a video of Al Qaeda that circulated in Internet. Recien grabado de Sawt Al- amal, hoy en 17685: http://valenciadx.multiply.com/music/item/209 Bonita canción 73 (José Miguel, dxldyg via DXLD) Hola José, I listened to the audio file and I can confirm - as expected - that song got nothing to do with al-qaeda or any other islamist group; it was mainly - somehow - a patriotic song talking about home and how we all want it to be. Of course home here refers to Libya. Gracias mi amigo, yours (Tarek Zeidan, Egypt, ibid.) Chequeando a Sawt Al-amal 16 Octubre --- Hoy comienza a emitir Sawt Al-amal a las 1200 en 17620, se aprecia a La Voz de África en paralelo por 17660 y 17670, a las 1300 Sawt Al-amal cambia a 17625 y a las 1321 cambia a 17635. 17 Octubre --- Hoy no se escuchó a Sawt Al-amal en ninguna frecuencia; sin embargo se aprecia la presencia de La Voz de África emitiendo en paralelo por 17625, 17640 y 17670, desde las 1208 hasta las 1330, sin cambios. 18 Octubre --- En el día de hoy pocas novedades con respecto a Sawt Al-amal, a las 1205 se la encuentra en 17685 y alas 1300 cambia a 17690. Sin rastro de La Voz de África. 19 Octubre --- A las 1205 se aprecia a Sawt Al-amal en 17690 con el canto del Corán, ID, sintonía y locutor con comentarios, se aprecia de fondo una débil señal tipo sierra, un chequeo por todas las frecuencias para verificar a La Voz de África con resultado negativo. A las 1257 cambia a 17685, y un chequeo posterior a las 1335 se la encuentra otra vez en 17690. 20 Octubre --- A las 1201 Sawt Al-amal en 17685, La Voz de África en paralelo por 17660 y 17670, a las 1247 se aprecia a Sawt Al-amal en 17675. A las 1306 cambia a 17680 (José Miguel Romero, Burjasot (Valencia), España, SANGEAN ATS 909, Antena Radio Master A-108, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) CVC Chile, 17680 had co-channel from Arabic music, Oct 20 at 1344, so Sawt al-Amal and jammers must have been there at the moment (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO [non]. Vatican Radio in Italian, totally blocking Mexico on 6185, and Vatican was also overmodulated, distorted, at 0602 Oct 21. This is supposedly aimed 35 degrees from SMG, but a LOT of signal is coming our way toward CNAm, and, Mexico, which does not exist as far as HFCC is concerned, despite having met in Mexico City a few seasons ago! In B-06 Vatican will be blocking R. Educación between 0330 and 0745; all we can hope for are propagation disturbances or extremely low MUFs from Europe. Then at 08-11, CVC Chile will ruin 6185 the rest of the night (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. RADIO EDUCACIÓN TUVO VARIOS LOGROS EN LOS ÚLTIMOS SEIS AÑOS October 19th, 2006 @ 5:39pm Por Luis Galindo México, 19 Oct (Notimex).- La directora general de Radio Educación, Lidia Camacho, comentó hoy aquí que a lo largo de su administración se rebasaron las expectativas de trabajo, como el aumento de programas radiofónicos, la automatización de onda corta, la creación de la Fonoteca y el equipamiento de computadoras. En entrevista con Notimex, realizada por teléfono, Camacho comentó que los logros en su administración han sido varios y desde muy diversas perspectivas y ámbitos, como el aumento en la producción de programas radiofónicos, que fue de un 16 por ciento. Abundó que otro aspecto importante en Radio Educación fue la automatización de la Onda Corta, "la cual no quisimos sacar de la señal de Onda Corta; no obstante, y en efecto pareciera que es una frecuencia de alguna manera que está muerta por el advenimiento del Internet". "Desde mi punto de vista lo que hace la BBC de Londres y las estaciones de radio de Francia, han mantenido sus Ondas Cortas y esta frecuencia de Onda Corta renacerá en muy diferentes aspectos", mencionó Camacho. . . . http://www.munhispano.com/?nid=255&sid=579454 (via José Bueno, Córdoba - España, condig list via DXLD) One of their ``accomplishments`` is automating the SW side, which they do not want to take off the air altho the medium has been killed by the internet, she says (gh, DXLD) ** MYANMAR. 5770, Defense Forces Broadcasting Station (presumed), Oct 21, 1305-1349, variety of ballads/pop/rap & indigenous songs, BoH indigenous music, language sounded same as heard on Myanma Radio, EiBi lists *1330, poor-fair (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, RX340 + T2FD antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. Dutch on 5910, Oct 20 at 1328 from RNW, mentioning website, 1330 Nieuws. This is Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy per EiBi, but not // 9900 which is Khabarovsk. At least not synchronized, as I did not take time to figure out the delay between them, and poor reception in these relays for FE/SEAs (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW ZEALAND. RNZI missing again from analog 7145, Oct 20 at 1331 and later, but DRM buzzing away on 6095. Beginning to wonder if they have changed frequency from 7145, but DRM obviously has priority now as the DRM transmitter is also capable of analog (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Again Oct 21 checked around 1337, no signal on the scheduled analog frequency of RNZI, 7145, whilst DRM on 6095 was grinding away. And again, no admission on the website http://www.rnzi.com that 7145 is not really on the air. Is anyone hearing any of their analog transmissions? Could it be they have turned analog off just to see if anyone notices or complains? My hand is up, but I fear I don`t count as a non-Pacificasian (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PORTUGAL. Em anexo, segue a informação sobre a nova grelha de emissões em Onda Curta da nossa RDPi, v.g. o horário B-06. Os dados sobre difusão via satélite seguirão separadamente. Nota: apenas os emissores de 300 kW estão a ser utilizados regularmente, sendo ajustados p/ 100 kW onde as contigências de antena o exigem, mantendo- se os restantes 4 emissores de 100 kW em prontidão. Attached pse. find the RDPi-R. Portugal schedule for the forthcoming BC period. The data re. RDPi via satellite follow later in separate mail. Only the 300 kW senders are being used on a regular basis, meaning their output is lowered to 100 kW due to antenna restrictions. The remaining four 100 kW senders are kept as stand by units. Melhores 73 / Best 73 Carlos Gonçalves. DIRECÇÃO DE ENGENHARIA E TECNOLOGIAS GAB. TECNOLOGIAS DE TRANSMISSÃO E DIFUSÃO RDP Internacional ~ Rádio Portugal Horário “B-06”, Horário de Inverno – Mapa em vigor a partir de 29-10-2006 2ª-fª a 6ª-fª: mo. to fri. ZONA DE RECEPÇÃO HORA UC (1) kHz kW Azim. EUROPA 0600-0700 7130 300 45 0700-1300 9815 300 45 0745-0900 11660 250 55 1700-2000 9455 300 45 2000-2300 ¦ 9795 300 45 2300-2400 ¦ 7145 300 45 MÉDIO ORIENTE e Índia 1400-1600 15690 100 81,5 ÁFRICA: 1100-1300 17745 300 144 São Tomé e Príncipe, 1700-2000 17620 300 144 Angola, Moçambique, RSA 2000-2400 ¦ 11825 300 144 1300-1700 ¦ 15560 300 300 EUA / Canadá 1700-1900 ¦ 17825 300 300 1900-2400 ¦ 15540 300 300 Brasil; Cabo Verde e Guiné 1100-1300 21655 300 226 1700-2000 15465 300 226 2000-2400 ¦ 11960 300 226 3ª-fª a sábado: tues to sat EUA e Canadá 0000-0300 9455 300 300 Venezuela 0000-0300 13700 100 261 Brasil 0000-0300 11655 300 226 sábados e domingos: sat & sun, 0800-1200 12020 300 45 1200-1455 15475 300 45 0930-1100 9815 250 55 EUROPA 1500-1800 11635 300 45 1800-2100 11630 300 45 2000-2300 ¦ 9795 300 45 2300-2400 ¦ 7145 300 45 ÁFRICA: São Tomé e Príncipe, 0800-1500 21830 100 142 Angola, Moçambique, RSA 1500-2100 17620 300 144 2000-2400 ¦ 11825 300 144 1300-1700 15560 300 300 EUA e Canadá 1700-1900 17825 300 300 1900-2100 15540 300 300 2100-2400 ¦ 15540 300 300 0800-1055 17710 300 226 Brasil; Cabo Verde e Guiné 1100-1700 21655 300 226 1700-2100 15465 300 226 2000-2400 ¦ 11960 300 226 ¦ Período reservado a transmissões extraordinárias 1) Hora UC = Hora de Lisboa 100/300 kW CEOC (RDP), São Gabriel; 250 kW (Pro-Funk), Sines (RDPI via Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, Oct 21, DXLD) ** ROMANIA [and non]. RRI, 15105, Oct 20 at 1336 in English mentioning Romania`s friendly people; doesn`t always make it but today good signal marred by flutter and usual muffled modulation, making it a poor alternative to the other English broadcasts from Europe audible at this hour, e.g. Sweden via Canada 15240. Re the Oct 20 report: rechecked Oct 21 at 1350, BBC in Hausa was the dominant signal on 15105 instead of RRI; nothing but a SAH of some 11 Hz presumably from RRI underneath. But BBC does not start until 1345. If you go by azimuths and targets, RRI should still be on top, as it is 250 kW at 307 degrees from Tiganeshti, while BBC is 250 kW at 65 degrees from Ascension. An excellent example of how transequatorial propagation trumps the other factors. It seems this situation will continue in B-06 as RRI doe not make a time or frequency shift (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ROMANIA [non]. WRN ASSISTS RADIO ROMANIA INTERNATIONAL WITH INAUGURAL DRM BROADCAST Press release Issued by WRN, London, 20th October 2006 Radio Romania International (RRI) has commenced its first ever broadcast using DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale), the international standard for digital Medium Wave, Long Wave and Short Wave, with the assistance of WRN, the London-based digital radio and television transmission provider. Since 16th October 2006, RRI, the international voice of Romania, has been broadcasting a daily, 30 minute, English language show to Europe from 1400 UT during the Summer season on 7160 kHz and during the Winter season from 1500 on 7340 kHz at 60 kW (RMS DRM power). WRN has organised these DRM broadcasts for RRI using a transmitter site in Germany and is undertaking service monitoring and technical support. Eugen Cojocariu, Head of Radio Romania International, says, "It is our great pleasure to announce that Radio Romania International is the first Romanian radio station to enter the DRM Club. We are very happy to be there because we are sure that the future is digital with DRM. I hope our European listeners will enjoy the daily half an hour English show coming from Bucharest.” Gary Edgerton, Managing Director of WRN, adds, ``WRN is delighted to assist Radio Romania International to remain ahead of the changes in digital radio broadcasting. DRM is a vital new digital platform for international radio and WRN is pleased to be providing RRI with a world-class service solution for its digital broadcasting requirements.`` - Ends- For more information contact: Tim Ayris, Marketing Manager, WRN: E-mail: tim.ayris @ wrn.org Tel: +44 20 7896 9000 Web: http://www.wrn.org (WRN press release Oct 20 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Don`t usually hear this aside DGS WWCR 5935, but Oct 20 at 0532 dialog in Russian was making it on 5940: per HFCC that would be Yakutsk, 50 kW, 40 degrees, at 17-13 UT (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The WRTH shows Arman (Magadan) in summer on 5940 1900-1500 and on 5935 in Winter 1800-0900. I wonder which is correct - the WRTH or HFCC? I've heard something indistinct as yet on 5940 myself around 0630/0700 but it becomes badly splattered by a strong DTK carrying some religious outfit on 5945. Magadan only carries Rossii now but Yakutsk does have regional programmes - there's one Sat/Sun at 0410-0455 according to the Handbook. You should hear the Sakha (or is it Yakutian?) language as well as Russian (Noel R. Green (NW England) Let`s seek out another opinion: PWBR `2006` says 5940 at this hour in summer is Magadan Radio, via Yakutsk. The two are 20 degrees of longitude apart, Yakutsk being roughly 1 megameter inland to the west, and the next city of any consequence (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. Re 6-155, EDXC special broadcast Oct 21: It is acceptable that the transmitter facility people cannot afford time and effort to verify reception reports. However, it is not acceptable at all that the organization behind the broadcast (that is, the content provider) does not show any commitment to serve the DX community. This very behaviour has been highly criticized also in the German language based mailing list A-DX. It strongly proves that the EDXC fully has forgotten what its purpose should be! - R.I.P. More than disappointed, jointly with all the many silent readers, (Dr. Anton J. Kuchelmeister http://www.swl.net/agdx/ via Timofeyev, HCDX via DXLD) As this transmission obviously is intended for the DX community, and you have decided not to verify reports, why bother at all? If there is something which DX-ers really are concerned about, it is the QSL - be it by mail or snail mail. Besides, as you are actually asking for reception reports you should consider yourself obligated to verify these reports in one way or another. This is a matter of common courtesy. We in Delsbo Radioklubb have made several special broadcasts over the years and naturally, sending out QSLs have had high priority. If you as the transmitter provider has decided that you do not have the time to verify reports, surely EDXC should be taking care of the matter and see to it that all reports are confirmed (Ronny Forslund, Delsbo Radioklubb/DRAK --- Welcome to visit our website at http://hem.passagen.se/drak/ ibid.) Thanks, Anton and Ronny, for your comments. I am sorry that my "we do not verify reports for this transmission" is really too peremptory. Unfortunately, I really do not have any time now to confirm these reports (even by e-mail). On the other hand, I would like to publish our QSL card to the end of this year - but first of all I am planning to confirm most of the old receptions reports (for last some years) for our St. Petersbrug and (I hope) our former Kaliningrad locations. A lot of new reports (and time that will require for them) will make my goal too difficult. I do not know about any plans for EDXC St. Petersburg 2006 special QSL card from other sources yet - maybe our St. Petersburg DX Club could help? In any case, we can know about it later this month after special announcement, or not. Our special program was already recorded on Friday evening in the studio of Radio Gardarika located in the very popular St.Petersbrug night club called Metro. There are two parts of this talk-show including English one with Alexander Beryezkin (EDXC 2006 organizer), Anker Petersen (EDXC Auditor) and Tibor Szilagyi (EDXC Secretary general) and Russian one with Valentina Jolkver-Krasnopolskaya (DW), Vadim Alexeyev (VOR) and me (only some words). Thanks (Mikhail Timofeyev, St. Petersburg Regional Center (SPBRC) technical department, HCDX via DXLD) How sad that some are so deeply into DXing that a broadcast is not worth carrying out, or listening to, unless it can be QSLed (gh, DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. WWRB with Brother Scare, 9385, incredibly bad modulation, distorted and splattering with spikes out to 50 kHz away, Oct 20 at 1324; to boot, crosstalk from The Power Hour as I heard that mentioned underneath as BS paused for breath (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN. TELEVISION ESPANOLA CELEBRATES 50 YEARS On October 28, RTVE will celebrate its 50th anniversary of TV broadcasting. As part of this anniversary, the government run network has put on air a cable channel appropriately called RTVE-50, which shows repeats of its old programming. But my favorite clip is the four minute tribute that has been shown as a commercial on TVE1 and TVE2 here in Spain. It can be access via Youtube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OZ-MaxE1nQ (Marty Delfín, Madrid, Spain, Oct 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Quite a montage, including glimpses of some old US TV shows (gh, DXLD) ** SYRIA. MEDIA OVERVIEW - OCTOBER 2006 Media environment The government and Ba'th Party own and control most of Syria's print and broadcast media. Although the constitution provides for freedom of speech and the press, in practice the government significantly restricts these rights. Criticism of the government and discussion of sectarian issues, including religious and ethnic minority rights, are prohibited. Journalists and writers practise self-censorship. All newspapers are censored before publication. Imported publications are also censored, and foreign journalists rarely get accreditation. Satellite dishes are widely used, and the government does not interfere with broadcasts from abroad. However, the pan-Arab satellite TV channel Al-Jazeera has still not been allowed to open a bureau in Damascus. In the view of the Paris-based media freedom watchdog Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF), "Syria is one of the worst offenders against internet freedom and censors opposition and independent news websites, barring access to those that deal with Syrian policy, monitors online activity to silence dissident voices, and jailing internet users and bloggers." Despite all these constraints, media analysts see improvements in the Syrian media landscape. Since Bashar al-Asad took over as president in 2000, media availability in Syria has been greater than during the 30- year rule of his late father, Hafiz al-Asad. Syrians now have more access to sources from around the world. Parliamentary elections due for 2008 are set to follow the introduction of a new law to license independent political parties for the first time in Syria under Ba'th rule. The press There are three main newspapers: Al-Ba'th (Ba'th Party paper); Al- Thawrah (The Revolution - government daily); and Tishrin (October), as well as the English-language Syria Times. In recent years some privately-published newspapers and magazines have been launched, the first to be openly circulated since the early 1960s. These quasi-independent publications are predominantly owned and operated by figures with good government connections. The government has taken some symbolic steps to promote a freer press. New press laws issued in 2001 permitted independent publications, but also spelt out the penalties for crossing political red lines. In July 2003, an official committee was formed to encourage greater diversity in the state-run press. Before the Ba'th Party Congress in summer 2005, the then-Information Minister Mahdi Dakhlallah, a former journalist, publicly criticized Syrian newspapers as being "unreadable" and urged journalists to insist on freedom of expression. Eight private publications joined forces in October 2005 to form an independent media association. Recently, Syrian opposition writers - usually critics of corruption rather than opponents of the regime - have been given limited and controlled access to official newspapers. But none of these moves has resulted in improved news coverage. "State papers remained bland and unflinchingly supportive of the regime. Other private and party newspapers that have won permission to launch in recent years are politically toothless," in the view of the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). The most-read Syrian papers are Al-Thawrah, Tishrin and Al-Ba'th. The most-read Arab newspapers are Al-Diyar, Al-Hayat, Al-Sharq al-Awsat and Al-Safir. The number of magazines in circulation reportedly exceeds 140. LINKS: Al-Ba'th - http://www.albaath.news.sy Al-Thawrah - http://www.thawra.com Tishrin - http://www.teshreen.com Syria Times - http://www.teshreen.com/syriatimes Television Improvements in the three state TV channels and pan-Arab news and entertainment channels have built ever-greater TV audiences. Many TV viewers have access to foreign TV broadcasts, usually via satellite. There are no restrictions on the use of satellite receiving equipment. Since satellite dish ownership became legal in Syria in 2002, those who can afford the subscription fees have access to broadcasts from all over the world. State-run Syrian TV operates two domestic terrestrial channels broadcasting in Arabic, English and French, and a satellite service which offers news bulletins in English, Hebrew and Spanish in addition to Arabic-language programmes. Syrian TV has cautiously begun carrying political programmes and debates featuring formerly "taboo" issues, as well as occasionally holding interviews with opposition figures. Sham TV is Syria's first private network. Owned and operated by Syrians, it is the first of more than 10 that the government says it plans to license. Its editor-in-chief is Muhammad Abd al-Rahim. In June 2005, Sham TV started test broadcasting from Dubai. It started official broadcasting on 26 September 2006, according to United Press International news agency. Some 17 applications have been lodged for licences for new private satellite TV channels to operate in the free media zone set up in Damascus. The Amman-based Arab Advisors Group believes that Syria's foray into private broadcasting is an initial step towards the country falling in line with the trend of governments in the region towards liberalizing radio and TV, while trying to maintain controls on political content and news. LINKS: Syrian Arab television - http://www.rtv.gov.sy Radio Syrian Arab Republic Radio is the state-run broadcaster, which currently operates three radio stations: Al-Barnamij Alam (The General Programme), Sawt al-Sha'b (The Voice of the People) and Sawt al-Shabab (The Voice of Youth). These stations broadcast in Arabic with a variety of programmes including news and entertainment. It also operates Radio Damascus, the external service, which broadcasts in several languages including English. In 2002 the government set out conditions for licensing private, commercial FM radio stations. It ruled that they could not broadcast news or political content, and were limited to broadcasting music, entertainment and advertising. The first private stations were licensed in 2003. Three licensed private radio stations are now on the air in Syria: Al- Madina FM, launched in March 2005, the first private commercial radio station in Syria; Sawt al-Musiqa; and Arabesque. On 19 October 2006 the cabinet licensed another two private commercial radio stations, Version FM Middle East and Sahm FM. Arabic-language programmes from Radio Monte Carlo-Middle East, the Arabic-language French radio station of the Radio France Internationale (RFI) group, have been audible on FM in Damascus since March 2003, when the station set up a relay station in Ajlun in Jordan. Some FM stations based in Lebanon can also be heard in Damascus. The US-based Reform Party of Syria radio station Radio Free Syria started Arabic-language broadcasts in June 2004, on 13650 kHz shortwave. In April 2004, Radio Free Syria started broadcasts on the internet. "The intent of Radio Free Syria is to educate the Syrian public on issues of democracy, freedom and cessation of violence. RFS will be entertaining and educational to appeal to a large cross-section of Syrians," according to the Reform Party of Syria. However, when checked in October 2006, the former Arabic-language website of Radio Free Syria - http://www.radiofreesyria.net - redirects to a weblog page - http://www.reformsyria.org/blog/ LINKS: Syrian Arab Republic Radio - http://www.rtv.gov.sy Reform Party of Syria - http://www.reformsyria.org/blog/ News agency The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) provides general news services in Arabic, English and French. LINKS: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) - http://www.sana.org Internet In September 2006 there were about 800,000 internet users, the Internet World Stats website http://www.internetworldstats.com reported. Two of Syria's three internet service providers are government-owned. The third, Aya, bills itself as "the first fully private ISP in Syria", and is owned by Muhammad Hamshu, a Syrian entrepreneur "known for his close ties with the president," according to the US organization Human Rights Watch. All three appear to exercise some form of censorship, banning access to certain websites (Israeli websites, for example) or temporarily blocking access to others. The internet is emerging as the vehicle for the voice of dissent. Recent years have seen the emergence of independent news websites and online discussion forums related to Syria but hosted outside the country e.g. the Levant News site http://www.thisissyria.net Prominent Syrian human rights activist Aktham Na'issa, president of the Committees for the Defence of Democratic Liberties and Human Rights in Syria, told the New York-based organization Human Rights Watch: "The internet is the only way for intellectuals to meet and share ideas in Syria today." According to HRW's report (False Freedom: Online Censorship in the Middle East and North Africa: Syria), "the Syrian government ... censors the internet - as it does all media - with a free hand. It monitors and censors written and electronic correspondence. The government has detained people for expressing their opinions or reporting information online, and even for forwarding political jokes by email. Syrian bloggers and human rights activists told Human Rights Watch that plainclothes security officers maintain a close watch over internet cafes." LINKS: http://www.thisissyria.net http://http://hrw.org Blogging Increased access to information and talk of political reforms at the start of 2005 has led to the launch of a relatively large number of Syrian blogs. Some blogs have expressed the writers' frustration with the slow pace of reform. Others have gone further, criticizing the regime and calling for political change. Those which have crossed red lines have been blocked or threatened. The remainder are sites that deal with a range of social, political, and other issues. The bloggers are mostly young students or professionals who write in English. Some of these "bridge bloggers" say their objective is to clear up what they refer to as misconceptions about their country to those outside Syria. To improve access to the growing number of blogs, bloggers developed Syria Planet http://syplanet.com The site, launched in March 2006 has a constant feed of blogs from inside as well as outside Syria in English, Arabic and French. LINKS: Syria Planet - http://syplanet.com Source: BBC Monitoring research 20 Oct 06 (via DXLD) ** U K [and non]. BBC OUTSOURCING TO INDIA BBC Press Office 20 October 2006 The BBC announced today that it has selected Xansa as the preferred supplier for the BBC's outsourced finance and accounting services. The new contract will run for a period of ten years. . . http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2006/10_october/20/finance.shtml (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U S A. SHAKEUP AT VOICE OF AMERICA In a development that was not unexpected, Voice of America Director David Jackson, announced to a morning meeting of VOA division directors that he plans to step down as early as next week. Jackson is a former TIME magazine reporter and Editor-in-Chief for the Pentagon's DefendAmerica.gov, a website devoted to news about what the Bush administration calls the Government War on Terrorism. His tenure has been marked by numerous run-ins with members of VOA's professional journalist staff, who have accused him of slanting the VOA and its radio and newer television programming and Internet website sharply toward Bush administration policies. Jackson was at the center of a controversy involving allegations, supported by internal email traffic and first-hand accounts of VOA radio and television journalists, that he exerted pressure on numerous occasions to kill reports or soften reporting on issues that might be embarrassing to the administration. In recent months, this has included efforts to reduce the quantity of reporting on U.S. domestic politics, according to VOA news staff with knowledge of events, prompting at least one face-to-face confrontation between Jackson, and VOA journalists struggling to protect the organization's legally-mandated requirement to be comprehensive in its news coverage. Steps Jackson took also led to a confrontation in print with a former VOA director, Sanford Ungar, who at one point accused Jackson of politicizing the organization, something Jackson sharply denied. Ungar's criticisms also brought a defense of Jackson from Kenneth Tomlinson, the BBG chairman who came under fire at, and was eventually asked to step down from, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for what an internal report there said were efforts to politicize programming there. Tomlinson has remained at the head of the BBG, however, but is not expected to remain much longer in the wake of a State Department Inspector General's report accusing him of using his office to run a ``horse racing operation`` and saying he "improperly put a friend on the payroll, "repeatedly used government employees to perform personal errands," and "billed the government for more days of work than the rules permit." The announcement that Jackson will be leaving VOA has sparked intense speculation as to a replacement. Many VOA staffers expect that choice may be made by the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) when it meets next week. BBG gatherings are designated national security sensitive, and therefore are closed to employees of U.S. international broadcast entities, the media and the public. VOA employees note that ``town hall`` meetings under Jackson's leadership as the 26th VOA director have been rare, reflecting the poor relations he has had within VOA's headquarters near the U.S. Capitol. As Jackson departed, he continued to be the center of controversy, this time involving an advertisement put out by the BBG for a VOA correspondent in Baghdad. VOA has operated under the same dangerous security circumstances and threats that other media organizations have since the U.S. invasion in 2003. However, guidelines painstakingly developed over the decades of VOA's existence have sought to underscore the independence of the station's correspondence and their separation from the U.S. foreign service structure. The advertisement for VOA Baghdad correspondent, which ran among other places, on the JournalismJobs.com website, contains lengthy description of work requirements and conditions, but includes perks that have been deliberately ruled out by VOA's news management. One line states: ``[Employees] have access to a movie theater, a DVD library, a fully equipped gym, and a pool. Special activities are frequently scheduled. Religious services are regularly scheduled in the Annex Chapel.`` The ad also implies that a VOA Baghdad correspondent, who would live in the Baghdad ``Green Zone``, would have access to ``a small Army and Air Force Post Exchange (PX)``, something that has specifically been forbidden to VOA journalists over the years. When confronted over the wording of the advertisement, say VOA insiders, Jackson initially sought to downplay his responsibility saying only that he had decided to approve the ad, which was drawn up by the BBG Office of Personnel. VOA news sources say Jackson also did not seek approval for the language of the advertisement from the U.S. State Department, which has worked with VOA's news division over the decades on specific language aimed at clarifying the status of VOA correspondents as independent journalists. In May of this year, the Washington Post reported that the VOA bureau in Baghdad had been closed for six months, after the organization's correspondent was withdrawn after she was fired upon in an ambush and her security guard later killed. As one VOA news broadcaster put it: ``That Jackson would give a stamp of approval to something like this, just as he prepares to walk out the door, is kind of like a slap in the face of VOA's professional journalists, present and past.`` Link (unless it's been taken down) to VOA Baghdad ad: http://www.journalismjobs.com/Job_Listing.cfm?JobID=694178 (Informed VOA Sources, Oct 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: Description: Please Review How to apply before submitting your application package. (FAILURE TO SUBMIT ALL REQUIRED MATERIAL AND KSA STATEMENTS WILL RESULT IN YOUR APPLICATION NOT BEING CONSIDERED) VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT, BROADCASTING BOARD OF GOVERNORS, INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING BUREAU, VOICE OF AMERICA Announcement No: FS - 07-01 Opening Date: October 20, 2006 Closing Date: Open Until Filled (First Cutoff is November 3, 2006) Position Title: VOA OVERSEAS CORRESPONDENT (Full Time Temporary Excepted Appointment NTE 13 months) Duty Location: Baghdad, Iraq Salary Range: $97,247 - $183,500 *Class Level and Salary will be determined based on factors such as candidate's qualifications, current compensation, and assigned responsibilities. *Salary includes danger pay and post differentials paid at the rate of 35% each. Please see benefits section for specific details. *Iraq is an unaccompanied post. Family members cannot reside at or travel to post. Who May be Considered: All U.S. Citizens and Status Candidates. INTRODUCTION TO AGENCY Voice of America is a component of the Broadcasting Board of Governors. VOA broadcasts news and information to millions of people throughout the world in 44 languages, via radio, television and the Internet. Our diverse, multicultural and dedicated professionals staff correspondent bureaus around the world and in our main office in Washington, DC. Job Summary: The incumbent will serve as a correspondent for the VOA Central News Division in Iraq. The correspondent provides unbiased, accurate, comprehensive and balanced news coverage in Iraq; may be responsible for overall administration, budget and local staff; and supervises and provides program direction to stringers based in the region. Long and unpredictable hours, including nights, weekends and holidays are frequently required, as is travel, wherever needed and at any time, often with little or no advance notice. Type of Appointment: Those appointed will receive Foreign Service (Non-Career) Limited appointments. These appointments may not exceed five years in duration. Key Requirements: Possess [sic] at least three years of experience as a news correspondent, including at least one year of news correspondent experience overseas. Have a command of written and spoken English and a level of competency expected of a professional broadcast journalist. Candidates must be at least 21 years of age and United States Citizens (22 CFR Part 11) Meet suitability requirements, undergo a thorough security background investigation, and obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance. Obtain a medical clearance from the U.S. Department of State. Knowledge, Skills and Ability Factors: To qualify one must have sufficient experience as a broadcaster, writer, and announcer to demonstrate an ability to perform the duties described. Work experience must indicate that the applicant: 1. Demonstrated knowledge of broadcast journalism, e.g., reporting, interviewing, voicing, editing, and producing full radio, television and/or Internet pieces, live interviews; use of microphones, recorders, computers, and telecommunication transmissions via satellite phones and/or Internet. 2. Demonstrated professional journalistic ability, i.e., ability to collect, verify, analyze, and summarize facts into an objective, accurate, and appropriate product for use in radio, television, and/or Internet. 3. Demonstrated ability to write domestic and international news reports for audiences of varying backgrounds and interests. 4. Demonstrated ability to function effectively as a news correspondent while living and working overseas, particularly in areas of conflict. 5. Demonstrated ability to exercise sound and independent judgment to determine the relative importance of news events and how best to approach their coverage. 6. Demonstrated ability to manage available time and resources independently to meet daily and hourly deadlines. 7. Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, and handle multiple assignments simultaneously under stringent timeframes and changing priorities and conditions. 8. Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain news contacts and conduct effective interviews. 9. Demonstrated ability to voice radio and television correspondent reports effectively, including on-air work, for international broadcasting in accordance with professional standards. 10. Ability to recruit, develop, assign and guide stringers. 11. Ability to manage a foreign correspondent bureau, including management of contracts and other administrative matters and supervising a culturally diverse, locally employed staff. 12. Competence in foreign language relevant to possible VOA assignment. Security - All candidates for employment must obtain a minimum of a Secret security clearance. Even if the candidate has previously held a government security clearance or still holds one, the candidate must complete a Questionnaire for National Security Positions (SF-86), a credit/consumer report release form, and two fingerprint cards. Full disclosure and candor is imperative when completing this paperwork. Medical - candidates are required to receive a medical clearance from the State Department's Office of Medical Services (MED) before departure to Iraq. Agency employees whose medical clearance is current (defined as issued within 2 years or tour of duty overseas) are asked to complete a Medical Clearance Update form (DS-3057) and submit it to Med/Clearances. These individuals may request an optional early full physical clearance exam. Employees and applicants who do not have a current medical clearance must have a physical examination and have this evaluated by the State Department's Office of Medical Services (MED). The purpose of the medical clearance is to identify health needs and medical conditions that may require specialty management, follow-up or monitoring or could be prone to exacerbation in certain environments. If one does not have an unlimited (Class 1) medical clearance, there must be further post approval for Iraq. This is required in order to ensure that medical conditions can be properly monitored and managed. Medical clearances are based on an individual assessment of the needs of each employee or candidate in light of his or her particular medical history and status. Iraq entails some unique medical challenges. Travel in and out of Iraq is physically demanding. The trip may take several days and use military aircraft. Personnel must wear heavy body armor and helmets, and carry all of their own luggage over long distances. During the summer months this is all done in extreme heat. Medical resources are limited to the primary care services provided by the Embassy Health Unit staffed by Department of State clinicians and nurses. (The U.S. military hospital provides lifesaving care to those wounded by hostilities and its personnel and material resources must be prioritized to that goal.) If one needs to be medically evacuated, this process can take considerable time. The following immunizations are recommended but none are mandatory: Hepatitis A Hepatitis B Influenza Measles Rubella Polio Tetanus and Diphtheria Typhoid Meningococcal Rabies pre-exposure Anthrax (allowing at least 6 weeks before departure) Smallpox (allowing at least 2 weeks before departure) Employees are strongly encouraged to participate in the voluntary DNA identification program. Blood samples are kept at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology repository. Samples may be collected in State's MED clinic/laboratory or at overseas U.S. Mission Health Units. Ethics - Employees must receive an ethics clearance, which may require completing and executing the appropriate Financial Disclosure form. Ethics clearances are required to help ensure that employees do not violate, or participate in any actions crating the appearance that they are violating the law or standards governing ethical conduct for employees of the Executive Branch. The Federal ethics and conflict of interest laws and regulations are important tools intended to foster public confidence in government. Benefits and Other Information: Post Differential - Employees will be eligible for post differential and allowances in accordance with Agency regulations. Employees in Iraq earn the foreign post differential, which is currently 35 percent of salary, after serving 42 continuous days at post. After 42 days, the post differential will be payable back to the first day. Danger Pay - Employees will also be eligible to receive danger pay, calculated as a percentage of basic pay for regular duty hours only (currently 35% for Iraq). Danger pay begins to accrue after four hours of service in-country, and is provided for every hour of regular duty worked at post. Danger pay is terminated when a person leaves country. Consultation Trips - Employees will be authorized consultation trips to Washington, DC for every 12 months served in Iraq. The Agency will fund consultation trips to Washington, D.C. for employees serving in Iraq. All consultation trips will be taken in economy class. Employees may be authorized administrative leave to take in conjunction with a consultation trip. In addition to the consultation visits, employees can be authorized Personal Leave Breaks (PLB). Five days administrative leave may be given for each. PLB trips are to be authorized at the supervisor's discretion with the intent to provide the member a break from post approximately every 60-90 days. A PLB is on No-Cost government orders. This allows the traveler to take the military flight to either Amman or Kuwait. All lodging and onward travel during the PLB is the responsibility of the traveler. Employees will have a choice between two consultation visits and three PLB trips OR three consultation visits and no PLB trips during a 12- month period. PLBs and consultation visits are prorated for employees who serve less than 12 months. Training - Employees will be required to attend the seven and one-half day Diplomatic Security Anti-Terrorism Course (DSAC-Iraq) prior to deployment to Iraq. This training includes an overview of policy objectives and life at post presented by the Bureau of Near East Affairs; country and language familiarization (FSI Area Studies and Language; and Diplomatic Security's Iraq-specific personal security training (emergency medical, weapons familiarization, improvised explosives recognition, hostage survival, chemical/biological awareness, surveillance detection, and coping with stress). Immediate Benefit Plan (IBP) - The American Foreign Service Protective Association (AFSPA) offers a $15,000 Immediate Benefit Plan (IBP) for direct hire Foreign Service and Civil Service employees of the agency. Living Conditions - Employees will work and reside within the ``International Zone`` - an area of approximately five square kilometers, about 6 miles from the Baghdad International Airport (BIAP). Employees are housed in modular units on the heavily guarded and fortified Embassy Annex compound. Post will make every effort to ensure that each permanently assigned employee on a one-year tour of duty is the sole occupant of one room, sharing a bath with the occupant of the other room in the modular unit. Each modular unit consists of two separate rooms with a shared bathroom/shower. Rooms typically contain at least one single bed, a small closet, an air conditioning/heating unit, a small refrigerator, and a television. The internal measurement of each living unit (minus the bathroom) varies, but the average is 80 square feet per room. Internet/Intranet - Internet is not available from local service providers. The Department of State's Open Net Plus allows Internet and State Department Intranet access on desktops. Personal laptops may not be networked to any Embassy network. Money - Credit cards and travelers checks are not yet a means of transacting business in Iraq. Shop owners only accept cash, including the wide use of U.S. dollars. The New Iraqi Dinar currency exchange rate is currently about 1460 NID to 1 USD, but the rate can fluctuate. ATMs are available in Kuwait City, but they are NOT available in Iraq at the present time. It is recommended that employees bring cash as well as their checkbook to Iraq, where checks can be cashed at the military finance station or Embassy cashier. Credit cards and checks are accepted in the PX. Morale and Welfare - employees have access to a movie theater, a DVD library, a fully equipped gym, and a pool. Special activities are frequently scheduled. Religious services are regularly scheduled in the Annex Chapel. Television, Radio and Telephone - Armed Forces Network (AFN) is provided via satellite terminal installations in some offices as well as housing areas, the logistic support contractor compound, and some U.S. military encampments. Satellite cable TV is currently being installed in all Embassy housing units. Cellular telephone communications is currently provided by the U.S. carrier MCI. Individuals should bring a calling card to make personal calls (i.e., using 800 access). Support Facilities - The following services are provided by the logistics support contractor: expendable supplies; motor pool; free laundry service (both drop-off and self-service) and dry cleaning; barber shop; beauty shop; full-service cafeteria; small theatre; gym; swimming pool; shuttle bus, facilities maintenance, morale and welfare; and other services. Residents are charged a nominal fee per service for barber/beauty services. A small Army and Air Force Post Exchange (PX) within the International Zone usually has a good stock of basic toiletries along with snack and quick food, beverages, basic clothing items, photo supplies, and T- shirts. Step-down transformers, dual voltage appliances, and outlet adapters are usually available. Those who have strong preferences in particular brands of toiletries or cosmetics are encouraged to bring their own supply of products, given the limited choices at the PX. Transportation - employees are not authorized to ship or own privately owned vehicles (POV). Official and personal travel outside the International Zone will be in accordance with post policy in Full- Armored Vehicles (FAV) with personal security details. Frequency of travel may be limited due to security threats, the availability of vehicles, personal security details, and drivers. Official travel has priority over personal requirements. Use of public transportation is not allowed. Travel/Transportation to Post - The logistics support contractor transports employees to the military side of the Kuwait airport. Meal tickets will be provided. The logistics support contractor will issue a helmet and protective vest. There is usually a long wait and departure schedules are not published due to security concerns. Luggage is palletized. Employees must carry their helmet and vest on the plane and wear them during the trip into Baghdad. Only one briefcase or small backpack can be hand-carried onto the C-130 aircraft in addition to protective gear. Required Application Materials: A complete resume; A Supplemental Qualifications Statement describing your possession of the relevant KSAs listed above; . Demonstration tapes (audio and/or video) and writing samples HOW TO APPLY: (FAILURE TO SUBMIT ALL REQUIRED MATERIAL AND KSA STATEMENTS WILL RESULT IN YOUR APPLICATION NOT BEING CONSIDERED) DO NOT ATTACH ANY ADDITIONAL FORMS THAT ARE NOT REQUESTED IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. To submit the documents requested, follow the instructions below: Your resume, curriculum vitae, the Optional Application for Federal Employment (OF-612), or any other written format you choose to describe your job-related qualifications can be submitted by fax, mail or by hand-deliver. Please ensure that your resume contains your full name, address, phone and your social security number. In addition to the Supplemental Qualifications Statement, demonstration tape and writing samples, your resume or application must contain: JOB INFORMATION - Announcement number and Title of the position for which you are applying. PERSONAL INFORMATION Full Name, mailing address (with zip code) and day and evening phone numbers (with area code) Social Security Number Country of Citizenship (U.S. citizenship is required) Veteran's Preference Reinstatement eligibility Highest Federal civil grade held (provide job series and dates held) Instructions on submitting resume and supporting documents in hard copy via fax or mail. If you fax your documentation you must use a cover page. The vacancy ID number, your Name, and SSN should be written accurately and neatly. If the information is inaccurate or incomplete it will delay the processing of your application or you may not receive consideration for this position. You can mail or hand-deliver your application materials to the address below: International Broadcasting Bureau, 330 Independence Avenue SW, ATTN Office of Human Resources, Room 1543 Cohen Building, Washington, DC 20237, Attention: JoAnn Lusby AGENCY CONTACT INFO: JoAnn Lusby Phone: (202) 619-1109 FAX: (202) 401- 0557 or (202) 205-8427 Internet: jlusby @ ibb.gov (via DXLD) ** U S A. Thailand. After the recent coup d`état in the country, the Voice of America has introduced special programs for Thailand that have replaced the routine Special English program from 1530 to 16 hours on 6160, 9590, 9760, 12040 and 15550 kHz (Rumen Pankov, R. Bulgaria DX Oct 20 via John Norfolk, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Special? You mean they are in English and targeted specifically at Thailand and the coup aftermath? The VOA language schedule still shows this as one of several ``Special English`` broadcasts: 1530-1600 UTC 1575 6160 9590 9760 12040 15550 (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** U S A. VOA MOBILE GOES WHERE YOU GO: VOA Mobile is an all-text version of our top stories for use on web- enabled handheld devices such as cell phones and PDAs. VOA Mobile allows users worldwide to access text versions of our top news stories in a user-friendly format. The content is generated from the VOANews.com home page and is updated, almost hourly, seven days a week. Now you can take VOA with you wherever you go, in English, Chinese, Indonesian, and Turkish. For more information on accessing this free service, visit the http://www.VOAMobile.com homepage. To access VOA Mobile stories directly, go to http://www.VOAMobile.com (English), http://www.xinwencn.com (Chinese), http://www.VOAHP.com (Indonesian), and http://www.VOACEP.com (Turkish). (VOA Website) Best regards, (via MD. AZIZUL ALAM AL-AMIN, RAJSHAHI, BANGLADESH, Oct 20, DXLD) Do Smith & Mundt care if dentroAmericans subscribe? (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. WBCQ Schedule Update, Friday, October 20, 2006 [NOTE: in one week, the UT conversions will be one hour later --- gh] Full Gospel Hour moves from Sunday 5-6 pm ET (2100-2200 UT) on 18910 to Saturday 1900-2000) 3-4 pm on 7415. World Music Half Hour starts Wednesday 6:30-7 pm ET (2230-2300) on 7415. Behavior Night starts Friday 5-6 pm ET (2100-2200) on 7415, replacing The Real Amateur Radio Show/Piss and Moan Net, which moves to Wednesday 5-6 pm ET on 7415. I caught Behavior Night's inaugural broadcast on October 20 at 2100. The show reminds me of a cross between Marion's Attic and Uncle Ed's Musical Memories. Note also that Timtron has been filling the Real Radio Show with Radio Timtron Worldwide Timtron broadcasts lately, but he will eventually start up the amateur-focused show again. The Scankuary Night starts Sundays 6-7 pm ET (2200-2300) on 7415. Note: the spelling is exactly as Allan provided it (Larry Will, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. No sign of KAIJ Oct 20 at 1258 on 9975, just KTWR; nor Oct 21 in the 1300 hour (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WRMI B06: 0000-0500 7385 North America Tuesday-Saturday 0000-0500 9955 Caribbean/Latin America Sunday, Monday 0500-1300 9955 Caribbean/Latin America Daily (7 days/week) 1300-1600 7385 North America Daily 1600-2200 9955 Caribbean/Latin America Daily 2200-2300 7385 North America Daily 2300-0000 7385 North America Monday-Friday 2300-0000 9955 Caribbean/Latin America Saturday, Sunday (Jeff White, WRMI, Oct 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. CBS News correspondent Christopher Glenn says a space shuttle launch was the highlight of his career. http://audio.cbsnews.com/2006/02/22/audio1336992.mp3 Correspondent Christopher Glenn on what he enjoyed the most in his career at CBS News. http://audio.cbsnews.com/2006/02/22/audio1336993.mp3 (from an obit via NRC via Brock Whaley, DXLD) ** U S A. STRUGGLING NBC CUTTING 700 JOBS By DAVID BAUDER, AP Television Writer 12:31 PM PDT, October 19, 2006 NEW YORK -- NBC Universal announced Thursday it will cut 700 jobs, abandon MSNBC's New Jersey headquarters and shift spending from traditional broadcast TV to digital entertainment, reflecting both hard times at the network and changing times in the media world. The company, a unit of General Electric Co., said the various moves were expected to save $750 million by the end of 2008. . . http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-nbc-universal-cuts,1,6896673.story?coll=sns-ap-nation-headlines (via DXLD) The 8 o'clock [Eastern, Pacific] time period for decades was the locomotive of the network prime-time lineup, attracting viewers and pulling them through three hours with one network. It was the home of "Happy Days" for ABC in the 1970s, "The Cosby Show" for NBC in the 1980s. And "Friends" in the 1990s (WSJ via Brock Whaley, DXLD) May I add: And at 8 PM, such great programs (?) as "Doorway to Fame", Front Page Detective" and the ever popular "Film Filler" on DuMont. "I can't wait to see what's on Film Filler Tonight" (Brock Whaley, GA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. SLAVIC FUNDAMENTALISTS, NEW TO U.S., RAIL AT GAYS By Rone Tempest, Los Angeles Times ... After a wave of religious refugees that began coming here in the late 1980s, Sacramento now has one of the largest Russian-speaking populations in North America, an estimated 80,000 to 100,000 Slavic immigrants, community members say. They came primarily from Ukraine, Georgia, Belarus and the other southern Soviet republics, settling mostly in Sacramento's northern and western suburbs. . . Many refugees learned about Sacramento from two sources: a short-wave fundamentalist religious radio program, "Word to Russia," that originated here, and a Russian-language newspaper, "Our Days," that was printed in Sacramento and distributed to underground churches in the Soviet Union. A local Russian Baptist church persuaded several Sacramento evangelical churches to sponsor the refugees... [much more] http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003311889_gays19.html (via DXLD) Anyone know which SW station(s) carry/carried ``Word to Russia``, and what is the title exactly in Russian? --- if it`s in Russian, not made entirely clear (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** U S A. In many cities, Air America and Salem's conservative talk stations do about equally well. That actually bodes well for AA because Salem has better facilities in most markets. On the minus side, AA performs poorly in L.A., but then again, that 1150 facility hasn't done well for decades, no matter what programming has been carried. In Phoenix, known for being in a Republican state, the 1010 AA facility was able to garner a 1 share, which it hadn't gotten as a religious station. After that AM was sold and AA moved to KPHX-1480, another no-show in the ratings before that, KPHX began to show up with similar numbers to the former 1010 Air America affiliate. Granted, in most markets AA is on second-tier stations, and so are Salem's talkers. KTLK in L.A. doesn't have KFI's budget or signal, and KPHX in Phoenix doesn't have KTAR's budget. KQKE has a poorer signal than mixed-ideology KGO --- and conservative KSFO in San Francisco. Generally stations aren't going to change format to an entire network unless they're not doing well to begin with, a problem that plagued NBC's excellent News and Information Service in the 1970s. There are audiences for varying points of view. In 1985, many would have argued that Rush Limbaugh wouldn't do well, but he did (How quickly we forget.) (Rick Lewis, AZ, amfmtvdx at qth.net via DXLD) ** U S A. AIR AMERICA FOUNDERS LAUNCH NEW LIBERAL TALK-RADIO NETWORK 21 October 2006 The Advocate http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid37762.asp The cofounders of Air America Radio have launched a new liberal talk network, the Phoenix-based Nova M Radio. The Air America affiliate in Phoenix was bought out by a religious broadcasting company in March, which led affiliate directors to seek alternative means to broadcasting their content. Nova M Radio officially formed in April as a local operation, and now its directors are setting their sights on the rest of the nation by recruiting big-name talent. Mike Malloy, whose popular program on Air America ended in August, will debut the revamped The Mike Malloy Show on October 30 live from 9 p.m. to midnight Eastern time on all Nova M affiliates. The program will also stream live on the channel's Web site, http://www.novamradio.com Internationally renowned pollster John Zogby will also join the Nova M stable with his hour-long show The Pulse of the Nation, where he will poll a variety of crucial social, political, and cultural issues. In addition to polling, interviews with special guests and audience participation will round out the show's content. Nova M CEO and chairman Michael "Dr. Mike" Newcomb will also host a daily chatfest from 9 a.m. until noon. Peter Collins, a veteran San Francisco-based radio personality, will host his own talk-radio show from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays. In light of Air America's recent filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Nova M has also secured Howard Dean presidential campaign fund-raiser Joe Trippi and his consulting firm to help the new company establish a firm base of financial contributors and supporters (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U S A. 840 KMPH CA, Modesto heard using IBOC at 1714 PDT 10/20. Frequency measured as a steady 840.00000 kHz. At 1830 [0130 UT] they shut off the IBOC and cut their carrier momentarily for their pattern change. They came back with a stronger signal and no IBOC on the frequency of 839.99939 kHz (Albert Lehr, Livermore, CA, Allied A-2515 receiver, Homebrew external sync detector Frequency measurement system, phase-locked to WWVB, Two 8x35x8 ft. Ewe antennas at 218 and 293 degrees, 6 ft. outdoor loop, IRCA via DXLD) ** U S A. Re 6-155: WQFJ525 1610 kHz has been activated. This apparently happened just yesterday. It is run by Los Alamos County and calls itself "Los Alamos Emergency Management Radio Station". There are two transmitters, one in the Los Alamos townsite at the police station, the other at Chamisa Elementary School in the White Rock community. Both are 10 Watts. The TIS is just relaying the Santa Fe NOAA weather station (WXJ33 162.55 MHz) and breaking in every minute with a prerecorded ID. Hear it here: http://www.gentoo.net/mike/radio/mwdx/mp3/WQFJ525.mp3 Oh what fun! Now I'll never get to hear Dr. Gene Scott on the Caribbean Beacon (Is that station still there? Haven't seen any reports of it in a long while...) Maybe they're just testing it for now and will turn it off until there is an actual emergency that needs to be managed? Prolly not (Mike Westfall, N6KUY, WDX6O, Los Alamos, NM (DM65uv), ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. 1550 WSRY MD Elkton - It`s interesting to note that this station is indeed running their night time power authorization of 1.2 Watts! This was noted on a recent early morning trip past the station, and found out the signal went a total of THREE blocks off the back of their directional array. I was in the Elkton area before power up time so decided to ride right past the station to see what they were doing. It literally faded away completely off the back of their array within a 1/4 mile and CBE was there alone. At least we know the DA still works. And being that it`s probably the lowest power listed on any night authorization going, thought it would be of interest that they’re even using it. What I can`t figure is how that Gates One transmitter likes being at that low a power level, as most don`t (Dave Schmidt, AM Switch, NRC E-DX News Oct 23 via DXLD) Another wee xmtr? ** VATICAN. See MEXICO [non] ** ZAMBIA. 5915, Zambia Nat. B. C., Oct 21, Fish Eagle IS from 0240 to 0254, followed by choral anthem, weak. On 6165, clearly heard Fish Eagle IS 0242-0251, into choral anthem, under QRM (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, RX340 + T2FD antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Re 6-154, INDONESIA, QRDRM on 11860 kHz --- Hi Glenn! This is a data service: Data Service MOT Broadcast Web Site VTC Sea Trial Bit Rate 18,24 kpbs EEP/ID: 4097 Why the hell are they allowed to transmit in the middle a radio- broadcasting band ??? There´s enough QRM made by DRM radio broadcasts. 73, (Patrick Robic, Austria, Oct 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) That`s the wonderful thing about DRM. It can be used for all kinds of data transmission, not just mere broadcast programming. It all sounds alike on a non-DRM receiver. What is your source for this info? What are MOT and VTC and EEP? Location? (Glenn, ibid.) I just tried listening to the station (1330-1400 UT) but it was a data service only with no audio signal. And that was all the information I got from the Dream Software. The label was VTC Sea Trial; I don´t know what that is. EEP has something to do with the DRM transmission like the bit rate, but what that exactly is, you have to ask a DRM expert. MOT Broadcast Web Site seems to be the type of data service transmitted. According to the DRM Web page MOT stands for "Multimedia Object Transfer". VTC could be VT Communications. 73, (Patrick Robic, ibid.) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LANGUAGE LESSONS ++++++++++++++++ SENDERISMO Re 6-154, Thanks to Eduardo R. Heinrich who did a lot of research on this word and it usage, rounding up several citations, which I will not reproduce here, but all of them seem to relate to Sendero Luminoso, the former Maoist movement in Perú, Shining Path: ``A few words about: SENDERISMO, es el mismo que seguidores de Ollanta Humala, de Sendero Luminoso ... Senderismo is ended; all living participants are in jail for the rest of their lives.`` I was aware of SL, of course, but the item from Mexico using the term mentioned senderismo casually as if it were one of a number of hobby passtimes, so I thought the word must have a more generic meaning, such as I suggested. I still wonder that (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) HEY, GUYS. . . Just listened to this week`s Monitor DX on WRMI webcast at 2350 UT Oct 21. Lots of clips of V. of Guyana and other stations. Spanish speakers insist on pronouncing it goo-YAH-nah, which would make sense if it were a Spanish word, but it isn`t. There was no such thing as ``Guyana`` until independence, and the colony was respelt Guyana instead of (British) Guiana just to make the point. As the many clips confirm, they Guyanese pronounce it in English ``Ghigh-ANN-uh``. Before ``Guyana`` came along, the three Guianas were pronounced perfectly well in Spanish as ghee-AH-nah. There was also a variant, for the adjacent Venezuelan territory, Guayana, pronounced of course, gway-AH-nah. Either of those would be preferable to this monstrous ``goo-YAH-nah`` The Y is there only to make the name have a long-I in English, not to be divided into two syllables in Spanish (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ MEDIUM WAVE CIRCLE ANNOUNCES HISTORIC CD ARCHIVE Dear Radio Colleague, The Medium Wave Circle has been publishing Medium Wave News for more than 50 years but only recently has MWN been available in a fully electronic format. Now that is all about to change! The Circle has been extremely busy converting its unique paper archive into electronic form. Sadly, no paper copies survive from the earliest years of the club but now even the rarest paper copies from the 1950s onwards will be accessible to everyone. We have scanned every issue into pdf files which are now available on CD to anyone interested in MW listening or indeed in radio history. Looking at copies from 30, 40 or 50 years ago gives a fascinating insight into what was achieved using much more basic equipment than today. It also shows how much has been learned over subsequent years. What is perhaps amazing is that some of the names that pop up in the early issues are still appearing in Medium Wave News in the 21st century. We are now ready to take orders for the seven archive CDs that span four decades. The CDs will be despatched from December 1st so you should have them in good time for Christmas. For full details of these CDs including pricing and how to securely order them online click here http://mwcircle.org/mcd.htm See the 60s and 70s CDs: http://mwcircle.org/mcd.htm#60 See the 80s and 90s CDs: http://mwcircle.org/mcd.htm#80 We hope you enjoy this journey through the unique history of the Circle. best wishes Steve P.S. Specially for Members: ============================= The 1960s Archive CD will be presented absolutely FREE to members with December's Medium Wave News. Circle e-members will be able to receive this CD FREE when they purchase any other double CD from the Medium Wave Circle store (Steve Whitt, MWC, Oct 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) INTRUDER WATCH ++++++++++++++ INTRUDERS WATCH REPORT DE IARU REGION II, SEPT 2006 Glenn, No estoy seguro si has visto esto antes y consecuentemente publicado en DXLD; por las dudas te envio el enlace: http://www.iaruregion2.org/september2006.html 73 (Horacio Nigro, Montevideo, Uruguay, DX LISTENING DIGEST) No, I had not. Covers monitoring in August, now outdated frequencies of Firedrake against Sound of Hope, and some others (gh, DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ TEN-TEC RX-350D RECEIVER DISCONTINUED, AND OTHER RECEIVER NOTES Universal Radio, on its website, notes that the Ten-Tec RX-350D DSP communications receiver has been discontinued and is no longer available; checking Ten-Tec's website there is no information on the '350D anymore. On the other hand Japan Radio Co. plans to launch a new professional- grade receiver with a big price tag, probably around $5000+: the NRD- 630 which will be available sometime in 2007. Compact portables: the Grundig G5 portable is now available at Universal, along with some Radio Shack stores; price is $149.95 (Joe Hanlon, NJ, Oct 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) DIGITAL BROADCASTING ++++++++++++++++++++ MORPHY RICHARDS Does anyone know if the Morphy Richards DAB/DRM set now available from T-Online would reliably pick up the DRM broadcasts for NAm? (Mike Cooper, Oct 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Or will they even sell it outside Euro? (gh, DXLD) DRM OVER ANALOG SW [see also GERMANY; NEW ZEALAND; ROMANIA] Dario Monferini in DXLD 6-154, INDONESIA: ``...But at 1330 the unID Bloody DRM started and destroyed the reception of RRI. Really Destroy Radio Medium (DRM) is brutalizing the listenings...`` [see also UNIDENTIFIED 11860 above] Fellas, both trains and automobiles have wheels, but have you ever seen a car running on the railroad track, or vice versa? That`s in some way, what I figure when I read about this lack of respect from some international broadcasters stealing a ``right of way`` they don`t belong to. On and on I wonder what kind of brains permit this atrocity to go trampling over our SW listening rights. Is it the ITU? If so, they are radio spectrum dictators. Can we DXers write a statement, as the respectful community we are, inviting them to go with their futuristic garbage to other part of the SW or HF spectrum to make their tests, and let us enjoy SW the way we want? Sure, there`ll come the time when we`ll be looking for that at present DRM noise when we got the right receivers. That`ll be the day when we get our conviction to step down from the lovely analog SW to climb up to DRM, as once many people left the lovely rails to go for what they considered most reliable, but no less dangerous, the highways. As you see, my English has a lot of limitations and I`m not so technically minded as is the case of many of my colleagues. Somebody has to do something, like install a committee and ask for an audience at the ITU or whoever corresponds. Honestly, I won`t expect my folks to keep quiet and muting on this. 73s (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) The DRM promoters are well aware our objections to mixing it up with analog, but as I reported from Dallas a couple years ago, Don Messer in particular thinks the success of DRM requires it not to be segregated where it is more easily ignored. Axually, I have seen cars on railroad tracks, that is, a pickup road vehicle adapted for trax, like for track inspexion journeys. It can also run on tired wheels (Glenn Hauser, far too close to BNSF, Enid OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re: Commentary: Dump AM IBOC, Move the AM Band http://www.rwonline.com/pages/s.0044/t.417.html Oh sure, like that'll work! 1) You still have the same FCC to make the same screwy decisions and have no enforcement budget and be twisted in the political winds. 2) You'll still dramatically reduce the number of stations on the new band from what's on AM now. 3) You'll still create a windfall for manufacturers 4) You'll almost totally eliminate what's left of local service currently on AM because those are exactly the same stations who will fall out due to economics 5) You'll have an even greater concentration of large-owner domination 6) You'll still have nobody listening, for the same reasons they don't for IBOC 7) The content will still be poor. So tell me now, exactly what problems does this solve and how does it improve on the IBOC mess ??? (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell, PA, Oct 17, IRCA via DXLD) IBOC: see also U S A: KMPH POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ THE BPL WAR: EMI INGRESS SHOWN IN AUSTRALIA Some observations in Australia seem to prove that Broadband Over Powerline interference is a two-way street. Not only can a B-P-L system interfere with radio reception. Even a low power transmitter can make some B-P-L operations go away. VK7TW and his team at REAST have measured the susceptibility of the Aurora Energy BPL service in Hobart to nearby HF radio transmissions. The Mt Nelson RF Susceptibility Report, demonstrates a very high degree of disruption from very low power radio transmitters. In some cases Aurora's client was required to re-enter their username and password and log back into the service. In fact, less than 5 Watts power output from a mobile station within 60 to 80 meters of an Aurora clients modem adversely affected their BPL service. This represents an effective radiated power of less than 1 watt due to the inefficiency of the mobile antenna. Remember, mobile HF radio equipment normally operates with an output power of 100 watts so severe disruption from an amateur mobile station to a nearby access BPL service is probable. This test down-under seems to show the degree of susceptibility to electromagnetic interference a BPL subscriber might expect if a ham or even a legal 5 watt CB operator were to drive by the power pole providing his B-P-L signal. This means that the apparent inability of at least Australia's Aurora Energy to deliver quality customer service in the presence of nearby radio transmissions, should be of great concern to BPL equipment manufacturers, BPL service providers, and their end-user clients as well (WIA News via Bill Smith, IA, W0WOI, DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ Weak [MW] signals on high latitude paths seem to vary in strength from minute to minute (and hour to hour) inversely with the intensity of the auroral zone, and the animation at http://sec.noaa.gov/pmap/AnimateN.html gives a good display of how variable this has been over the past 24 hours. 73s (Martin A. Hall, Clashmore, Scotland. NRD-545, RPA-1 preamp, beverages: 513m at 240 degrees, unterminated; 475m at 265 degrees, terminated; 506m at 290 degrees, terminated, 550m at 340 degrees, terminated. http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/clashmoreradio/index.html MWC via DXLD) 27 - DAY MAGNETIC ACTIVITY FORECAST OCT 18 TO NOV 13, 2006 http://www.spaceweather.gc.ca/forecast27days_e.php (Space Weather Canada via gh, DXLD) ###