DX LISTENING DIGEST 6-174, November 26, 2006 Incorporating REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING edited by Glenn Hauser, http://www.worldofradio.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits For restrixions and searchable 2006 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn NEXT SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1337 Mon 0400 WBCQ 9330-CLSB Mon 0515 WBCQ 7415 [time varies] 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 MUNDO RADIAL Noviembre-Diciembre: (corriente) http://www.w4uvh.net/mr0611.ram (descargar) http://www.w4uvh.net/mr0611.rm (texto) http://www.worldofradio.com/mr0611.html ** ANTARCTICA. A noticeable increase of the MARS Net is observed in Antarctic (McMurdo and South Pole Bases) 7365 and 11402.5, both active with normal group chatter at 1003 Z U 20098.5 and 14765 Both being Tested by unID "K ???" callsign, at 1200 Z, He also gave out 7370 and 7393 as additional Network Antarctic Mars reserved frequencies? Operator was oblivious to correct MARS procedure? I`m very doubtful as to Operators being "MARS" as I`ve never heard frequencies disclosed before, but the frequencies used are listed as Mars Antarctic ones in 2002. 73 (Dallas, LAT:- -41.36 South,. LONG:- - 171.52 East (Buller, New Zealand), Nov 24, UDXF yg via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. RA B-06 registrations, I guess contains also some wooden registrations??! (wb) [First ones are not RA, but ABC-NT --- gh] 2310 0830-2130 55,58,59 ALI 50 0 2325 0830-2130 55,58,59 TEN 50 0 2485 0830-2130 55,58,59 KTH 50 0 4835 2130-0830 55,58,59 ALI 50 0 4910 2130-0830 55,58,59 TEN 50 0 5025 2130-0830 55,58,59 KTH 50 0 5995 0800-1400 51,56,61,64,65 BRN 10 10 5995 1400-1800 2,6,7,51,55,56,61,64,65,76,77 SHP 100 30 6020 0900-1100 51,55,56,64,65 SHP 100 30 6020 1100-1400 2,6,7,51,55,56,61,76,77 SHP 100 30 6035 1100-1300 45,51,54E,55,56,64,65 SHP 100 5 6080 1400-1800 44,45,50,51,54E,55,59N,64 SHP 100 334 6080 1800-2100 45,50,51,54E,56W,64 SHP 100 5 7220 1600-2130 2-4,6-10,56,60-63,76,77 SHP 100 70 7240 1400-1700 2,6-8,56,60-63,76,77 SHP 100 50 7240 1800-2000 2,6,7,51,55,56,61,64,65,76,77 SHP 100 30 7240 2000-2100 51,55,56,61,64,65 SHP 100 30 7260 1400-1600 2,6-8,56,60-63,76,77 SHP 100 50 7260 1600-1900 2,6,51,55,56,61,64,65,76,77 SHP 100 30 9475 1100-1430 43,44,50,51,54,55,58N SHP 100 329 9475 1430-1900 27,28,43,44,50,51,54,55,58N SHP 100 329 9500 1900-2130 27,28,43,44,50,51,54,55,58N SHP 100 329 9560 1100-1400 45,51,54E,55,56,64,65 SHP 100 5 9580 0800-1400 2-4,6-10,56,60-63 SHP 100 70 9580 1700-2000 2-4,6-10,56,60-63 SHP 100 70 9590 0800-1600 2,6-8,51,55,56,60-65 SHP 100 30 9630 2200-2330 54 DRW 250 290 Indonesian 9660 0000-0800 51,56,61,64,65 BRN 10 10 9660 2100-2200 51,56,61,64,65 BRN 10 10 9660 2200-2300 51,56,61,64,65 BRN 10 10 BBC WS 9660 2300-2400 51,56,61,64,65 BRN 10 10 9710 0700-0800 45,51,54E,55,56W,64,65W SHP 100 353 9710 0800-1100 45,51,54E,55,56W,64,65W SHP 100 353 9710 1600-2000 2,6,51,55,56,61,64,65,76,77 SHP 100 30 11650 2000-2200 2,6,51,55,56,61,64,65,76,77 SHP 100 30 11660 1300-1700 27,28,44,49-51,54,55,58N SHP 100 329 11660 2000-2200 6-8,10,56,60-63,76,77 SHP 100 70 11695 2100-2130 50,51,54,55,58N SHP 100 329 11695 2130-2400 50,51,54,55,58N SHP 100 329 11825 1300-1430 44 DRW 250 340 Chinese 11880 0600-0800 45,51,54E,55,64 SHP 100 355 11880 0900-1300 44,49-51,54,55,58N SHP 100 329 11880 1700-2130 6,56,60-63,65 SHP 100 50 11880 2130-2300 51,55,56,61,64,65 SHP 100 30 11970 0600-0630 54 DRW 250 290 Indonesian 12010 2200-2400 49,50,54 DRW 250 317 English 12080 0000-1200 51,56,60-62 BRN 10 80 12080 2000-2200 51,56,60-62 BRN 10 80 12080 2200-2300 51,56,60-62 BRN 10 80 BBC WS 12080 2300-2400 51,56,60-62 BRN 10 80 13630 0700-0900 2,6-8,56,60-63,76,77 SHP 100 50 13630 2100-2300 51,56,61,64,65 SHP 100 65 13630 2300-0800 45,51,54E,55,64 SHP 100 353 13670 2300-0800 45,51,54E,55,64 SHP 100 353 15160 0500-0800 6-8,10,11,56,60-63 SHP 100 65 15230 2200-2400 51,55,56,61,64,65,76,77 SHP 100 30 15240 0000-0800 51,55,56,61,64,65 SHP 100 30 15360 2200-2400 51,55,56,61,64,65,76,77 SHP 100 30 15415 0000-1100 50,51,54,55,58N SHP 100 329 15415 2130-2400 51,54,55,58N SHP 100 329 15515 0200-0700 2,6-8,61-63 SHP 100 70 15515 0700-0900 6-8,10,61-63,77 SHP 100 70 15515 2100-2300 51,55,56,61,64,65,76,77 SHP 100 30 17585 2130-2400 2,6-8,56,60-63,76,77 SHP 100 50 17715 2100-0200 6-8,10,56,60-63,76,77 SHP 100 70 17750 0000-0900 44,49-51,54,55,58N SHP 100 329 17750 2330-2400 50,51,54,55,58N SHP 100 329 17775 0000-0130 49,50,54 DRW 250 317 English 17785 2100-2400 6-8,10,11,56,60-63 SHP 100 70 17795 2300-0200 6-8,10,51E,56,61-65 SHP 100 50 17855 0000-0030 54 DRW 250 290 Indonesian 17855 0400-0430 54 DRW 250 290 Indonesian 17855 0500-0530 54 DRW 250 290 Indonesian 21725 0000-0300 45,50,51,54W,55,56,64,65 SHP 100 355 21725 0300-0600 43-45,49-51,54,55,64 SHP 100 329 21740 2100-2400 6-8,10,11,56,60-63 SHP 100 70 (via Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DXLD) ** CANADA. Radio Canada Int`l axed their webstream, now only podcasting. New SW Schedule. New website. http://www.rcinet.ca (Robb Wise, Tasmania, Nov 25, swradionews yg via DXLD) Not new website. I had been able to reach the RCI1 webcast not long ago, since B-06 began, but now it is Unfound, as well as RCI2 and RCI3 whether Real or WM. This is not progress. Must now remove all RCI1 listings from Monitoring Reminders Calendar (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Well put --- had found the links still valid a few days ago, and, unfortunately, they'll be referenced in the December NASWA Journal since they were there when I wrote the column. 8-( I haven't done a thorough scan, but I believe everything on offer in RCI-1 and RCI-3 is available either on-demand from RCI or CBC or live from CBC R1, but it was always helpful to have the extra air times for favorite programs (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA swprograms via DXLD) Subject: RCI Streamcasting disappearing. From: Tester Date: Sat, 25 Nov 2006 16:59:42 -0800 Newsgroup: alt.radio.networks.cbc A while back, RCI streams disappeared from rcinet.ca to be replaced by Viva which has selected programs on demand and pointers to CBC 1 Toronto and SRC 1. However, the streams were still there if you knew where to find them. There were 6 streams - RCI satellite I (English) in Realaudio and WMF, RCI satellite 2 (French) in both formats and RCI satellite 3 (multilingual) in both formats. Now, however, RCI 1 (English) seems to be on the old RCI 3 URL's and none of the other URL's work. Pas de français! Appelez le PQ! rtsp://www1.rcinet.ca/encoder/liverci.rm (Realaudio) http://ms.radio-canada.ca/liverci?MSWMExt=.asf (Windows Media) (via Dan Say, DXLD) I get the rtsp link but not the other one; at 0342 UT Sun Nov 26, just running IS and IDs, so not clear which programming axually on it at other times. The RCI1 satellite schedule http://www.rcinet.ca/rci/PDF/B06_RCI-1.pdf is supposedly 24/7, with Vinyl Tap during this hour (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Both streams are working here, although the rtsp (Real Audio) stream is higher quality. No programming after 0400 UT - still just interval signal and IDs (Ken Kopp, KS, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. CKTS TO STOP REBROADCASTING CJAD Sherbrooke, Quebec's CKTS 900am was a zombie, now it dies: http://www.newswire.ca/fr/releases/archive/November2006/17/c5853.html (Elwood, Montreal, Nov 19, ABDX via DXLD) Viz.: MONTREAL, Nov. 17 /CNW Telbec/ - CKTS of Sherbrooke will stop rebroadcasting Montreal radio station CJAD on Sunday, November 19. The CRTC has been notified of the decision to relinquish the license. CKTS first began rebroadcasting CJAD, which is owned by Standard Radio, after a CRTC ruling in 1992. CKTS was subsequently acquired by Corus Québec in an exchange of assets with Astral in 2005. "The CKTS antenna needs major work, and expenses for annual upkeep are significant. Given Standard Radio's decision not to cover these costs, we have no choice but to relinquish the license to the CRTC," explained Corus Quebec network vice president Jacques Papin. This means that the frequency is now available in the Sherbrooke market. Listeners in the Sherbrooke area who want to continue tuning in to CJAD can receive the station via Bell ExpressVu. For further information: Frédéric Tremblay, CASACOM, (514) 286-2145, ext. 226, (514) 554-3733 (via Elwood, ibid.) Thanks for that news, Elwood. A total surprise here. I listened to them as recently as this morning at sunrise. Maybe I'll be one of the last DXers to hear them. Although CKTS was a smaller entity than CJAD, it always put a more reliable signal eastward in my direction. CJAD was always a struggle with the rest of the competition on 800, and CKTS was one of my last English-language links to my old hometown of Montreal. The Team 990 is rarely in, and CINW 940 is the only decent one around these days, and it's just usually Art Bell-ish stuff through the overnight with little local content. As a strong Habs fan, I could frequently pull enough audio from CKTS on a crowded 900 KHz to get the jist of the game when in the car. Usually, though, I just go to CKAC and listen in French. CKTS will be missed! Not sure how many Anglos still reside in the Sherbrooke area, but I'm surprised CJAD itself doesn't put a better signal into there, at least in the daytime (Brent Taylor, VE1JH Doaktown, NB - Grid FN66wn 60 mi inland from Northumberland Strait, ibid.) I used to live in Sherbrooke. That's a quite special area for DXing, because the Eastern townships are nested in the mountains. Reception varies a lot in the region and in the city itself. Moving 500 ft. in Sherbrooke can be like moving 50 miles elsewhere. While driving, you don't really hear that phenomena, but it is obvious with a desktop radio. The main am station in Sherbrooke, CHLT 630, is sometime hard to catch in its hometown. CKTS was a hit or miss. The only decent Maritime signal received around Sherbrooke is CBC Moncton (CBA) during the night. The other stations are "unusual visitors" and way easier to receive when going north closer to the St. Lawrence river. About the Anglos, their number is going down. It is about the same context with the French minority in Sudbury or Winnipeg. They mostly live in Lennoxville, Compton, Brome-Missisquoi county and along the Vermont border. It is nothing like Greater Montreal (Elwood, ibid.) ** CHINA [and non]. Again no Firedrake to be heard on 9200, Nov 25 around 1425 and later chex. Seems that was only a two-day appearance Nov 22-23, but have not found any replacement, presumably prompted by Sound of Hope moving around (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Firedrake 9200 was audible 25 Nov UT afternoon some time; unfortunately I did not write down the time. [Later:] And still on 9200 around 1745 UT (Jari in Finland Savolainen, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) And 9200 Firedrake again audible, fair, Nov 26 at 1429 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) At 1045 there was Firedrake jamming on five frequencies normally used by SOH: 17330, 14500, 13970, 10400 and 9200. During the 1100 break there was as usual fairly good audio on 10400, but nothing on the other frequencies. At 1200 reception was marginal on the higher frequencies, but the jammers were heard returning on 13970 and 14500 at 1205. Still not even a trace of a carrier on 9200 during the 1200 jamming break. I have a feeling that the jamming operators are adding some extra hours just to be sure that they are not letting anything through even when they cannot hear it. The jammers on 17330 and 13970 were synchronous, as were the ones on 14500 and 9200. 10400 was different from the others, and propagation characteristics indicate this one to be located in the far south, like Dongfang (Olle Alm, Sweden, Nov 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CONGO DR. Kahuzi 6209.66 --- Rather good reception on Mondays up to 1702 sign-off. They informed having English on Mon/Fri at 1600-1630, then Swahili and some discussions with listeners before sign-off about 17 UT. 73 (Tarmo Kontro, Espoo, Finland, Sun Nov 26, 2006 1151 U, dxing.info via DXLD) Mon/Fri meaning and not to (gh) ** CUBA. 5771.00, Espía; 1502-1504 24 November, 2006. Five-digit female strings, AM but with very bad 60-ish cycle hum, weak CW send mixing, no doubt from the same transmitter site. Excellent. 6867.00, CUBA, Espía; 1621-1624 24 November, 2006. Compressed and seemingly DSB-ish audio, the usual Spanish five-digit female. Excellent (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. Saludos: Acabo de leer tempranito este domingo la edición de Conexión Digital. Y he aquí algunas observaciones. Esta semana comenzamos en Radio Habana Cuba a utilizar los 13680 kiloHertz desde las 1300 a las 1500 UT y estamos recibiendo excelentes reportes de los oyentes en América del Norte. Esta transmisión es en idioma español, una hora de la Revista Despertar con Cuba y una hora de programación variada. Tambien iniciamos el uso de 15370 kHz en el mismo horario y con excelentes resultados de acuerdo con los reportes de recepción. En 6180 kiloHertz estamos utilizando entre las 0100 y las 0500 la nueva antena cortina de dipolos hacia la región central de América del Norte, obteniendo, según los oyentes, una excelente recepción de nuestras emisiones en idioma inglés, en las cuales se incluye mi programa Dxers Unlimited, cuya dirección electronica arnie@... [truncated] se ha visto muy activa con reportes de recepción de esta nueva frecuencia, la cual hubo de sustituir a 9820 kHz en dicho horario. El período B-06 hasta ahora se ha caracterizado por un desplazamiento de muchas emisoras (en los horarios de la noche en las zonas hacia la que transmiten) hacia frecuencias en las bandas entre 5.8 y 10 MHz, algo muy lógico si se tiene en cuenta el efecto devastador sobre la ionosfera de la muy disminuida actividad solar. Por último les diré que trabajando esta semana con mis colegas del Departamento de Correspondencia de Radio Habana Cuba autografié unas cuantas decenas de tarjetas QSL 45 Aniversario de Radio Habana Cuba, para satisfacer los reportes de recepción de los oyentes, y pude ver que todavía hay bastante correspondencia postal en vías de recibir respuesta. En cuanto a la correspondencia electrónica, la emisora recibe los reportes de recepción en la dirección radiohc@... [truncated] y se responde de inmediato. Me piden que les diga que envíen siempre la dirección POSTAL en sus reportes de recepción via correo electrónico, para poder enviar la QSL impresa, lo cual hacemos siempre por VIA AÉREA. Hasta pronto (Prof. Arnaldo Coro Antich, Radio Habana Cuba, Nov 26, condig list via DXLD) ** CUBA [non]. Finally checking here for R. República on new 6185, UT Sun Nov 26 at 0020: playing ``Guantanamera`` as they often do, too often --- yes, it is a quintessential Cuban song, but can`t they come up with more variety, more originality? Mixed with heavy DentroCuban jamming, and traces of another station underneath, no doubt poor R. Educación, Mexico, whose squatter`s rights to the frequency are a joke to the Big Boys. There was only residual jamming clicking on 7205, which presumably 6185 replaces via Rampisham. No jamming yet on 7110, which may still take over at 0200. Also jamming on 5970, even tho R. República via Germany is silent on weekends. The RR website http://www.radiorepublica.org/ still hasn`t been updated, showing outdated A-season times and frequencies, none of the latest changes or additions. Why tip off the jammers? Why not? They already know and if anything, over-jam rather than under-jam (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. HCJB, 11960, Aventura DX Sat Nov 25 at 1447 shortly after it started, with report produced by Pedro Sedano about Damascus, RNASD, Serbia, Taiwan. Spells out postal addresses. Must be not too recent as he said Serbia was still inactive on SW. 1453 Salvation Army spot, but it only lasted about a minute. 1454 into another report voiced by Dino Bloíse featuring recordings of R. Varna, 7600, and an old one from R. Yerevan, which has now abolished Western languages from SW. Program was cut off by automation at 1459:30 before ``Aventura DX`` could be said at closing. Canned ID still claimed to be on 11760 and 9745, and 1500* (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FAROE ISLANDS. Since October 1st, Kringvarp Føroya has 24h. service, including 531 kHz. During 2300-0700 local time (=UTC) non- stop music without any interruptions. Power is 100 kW, except for main news transmissions at 1230 and 1800, where it increases to 200 kW. After merging with the faroese television January 1st, 2005 the name has changed to Kringvarp Føroya (from Utvarp Føroya). Sámal J. Samuelsen, Kringvarp Føroya (Faroese Broadcasting Corporation) in an email (23/11-2006) (Ydun`s mediumwave.info via DXLD) ** GABON. Africa Numéro Un, Le Buzz, 19160 harmonic, Nov 25 at 1503 but it sounds different now with some higher-frequency elements, S9+. As for ANU fundamental on 17630, at 1505 in French obscured by squealing transmitter (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The station playing non-stop Afro-pop and thought to be coming from a transmitter at Moyabi in Gabon is now observed coming on-air at 1130 UT. Heard on 17660 kHz on both 25 & 26 November 2006 (Tony Rogers, Birmingham, UK, AOR 7030+ & Eton E1 / LW, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** GREENLAND [and non]. Hi Glenn, I can't remember now where I heard the information about KNR having an English newscast or some sort of a brief English program because it was back in 2004. It might have been on the Greenland Guide forum or possibly Dave Kernick of intervalsignals.com might have mentioned it just in passing but it's never something that I was able to confirm, and that's why I wanted to get more information on it. You're certainly right Glenn, with the whole world becoming so interested in the rate of speed that the Greenland icecap is melting and the scientific research being done there, it would really be great if KNR could provide some sort of English news, even if it was just printed text news on their website. Or alternatively, perhaps one of Greenland's newspapers could cover news in English. Because of my interest in the Arctic in general, I have always been interested in KNR's programming as well as other radio developments in Greenland. In this connection and this is in no way meant to take anything away from the DX hobby itself, it is sure nice to be able to finally hear the English programs from the northern CBC stations in Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, Yellowknife, Inuvik and Whitehorse with perfect armchair copy for the program content. As you know, for the most part only the CBC stations in Iqaluit and Rankin Inlet were relayed over the old CBC northern Quebec shortwave service back in the seventies and early eighties on 9625 and 11720 kHz which was eventually dropped (Sam Ward, Mississauga Ont, dxing.info via DXLD) I have read all Danish information on the knr.gl site and sorry to say no information about tourists programs in English. They seem to be short of journalists, cutting has to be done in the news casts! (Gert Nilsson, Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, Nov 25, ibid.) ** HUNGARY. Shortwave radio stations during the Hungarian revolt of 1956. An article just published Hungary, Iraq and shredding machines by Marvin Olasky refers to Radio Free Kossuth using shortwave during the 1956 Soviet intervention which was 50 years ago this Saturday, it also mentions two other stations: http://www.townhall.com/Columnists/MarvinOlasky/2006/11/02/hungary,_iraq_and_shredding_machines I found a recording of Radio Free Kossuth at this site, which has many other historic recordings: http://www.filatelia.fi/dx/ Googling around I found many transcripts of radio broadcasts around that time at this site: http://www.historicaltextarchive.com/books.php?op=viewbook&bookid=13&cid=2 including this from a broadcast of Radio Free Miskolc on October 28th 1956: "Pecs, Györ, Mosonmagyarovar, Miskolc, Debrecen and Nyiregyhaza and others are by now in possession of radio stations. Therefore it is possible to create adequate radio contacts. We suggest contact on 42 and 43 meters shortwave. Miskolc will signal on these wavelengths on every second, even numbered hour. All of you, call on the Soviet troops, in Russian too, not to fight for the suppression of the Hungarian people's legitimate struggle for freedom. We want to regard the Soviet Union as our friend but we want to be independent ourselves. We do not want to be at war with them." My question for any list members who were shortwave listeners at that time or have researched the events is was this use of 42 and 43 metres just for communications between the radio stations themselves or were there other domestic stations, apart from Radio Free Kossuth, transmitting on shortwave so that their messages could not only be heard domestically but abroad? In the book ``Broadcasting Freedom, The Cold War --- Triumph of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty`` by Arch Puddington, Chapter 6 says: "Another source of possible confusion was the dozen or so "freedom stations" that broadcast information about the progress if the revolution from various locations inside Hungary. The Voice of Free Hungary relied on these stations, most of which were regular provincial stations, for firsthand information. In addition since their signals were weak, RFE either summarised the freedom stations' broadcasts or, in some cases, beamed their programmes throughout Hungary over frequencies normally used by RFE. The freedom stations were staffed by revolutionary partisans, not journalists, and their appeals were often highly emotional, even poignant, as they begged Radio Free Europe to tell the world about the Red Army's atrocities. They beseeched the West for assistance, and they urged their countrymen to continue the struggle, no matter what the odds. Their accounts of fighting were gripping but not necessarily accurate. In retrospect, Griffth [sic] (who was RFE chief policy adviser in Munich) admitted that it may have been a mistake for RFE to have put its facilities at the service of the freedom stations." (Mike Barraclough, UK, BDXC-UK Nov 3 via BCDX Nov 24 via DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. Re: Denge Rojhalat in Persian: 1700-1900 on 7590* RUSorCIS transmitter to ME Daily * not yet active (R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX Nov 23) *7590 via Samara, Russia (Wolfgang Büschel, BCDX via DXLD) ** ITALY. Re 6-173: Prato means "green", "meadow", a green field, so Prato Smeraldo is quite literal. French has "prés". Italian's "prateria" (prairie), etymologically close. http://radiolawendel.blogspot.com/2006/11/onde-corte-rai-dicembre-si-chiude.html however... (English inside) (Andy Lawendel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: 24 novembre 2006 --- Onde corte RAI, a dicembre si chiude? Nei corridoi RAI le voci su una imminente soppressione delle trasmissioni internazionali sulle onde corte sono diventate delle grida. Ormai più o meno ufficiosamente c'è chi lo dice chiaro e tondo: a fine dicembre i trasmettitori verrano spenti per sempre. Al posto delle trasmissioni radio, ci saranno però due bei canali televisivi internazionali. Non è ancora chiaro se al posto delle onde corte verranno utilizzati canali radiofonici satellitari o Internet, immagino che per conoscere i piani definitivi bisognerà attendere ancora un poco. Sull'opportunità di tale mossa ragioneremo quando ci sarà piena ufficialità sulle decisioni dell'emittente. Since this is meaningful news for a broad, international audience, here's a short translation in English. Rumors about a total suppression of shortwave broadcasts from Italy are stronger than ever. It's highly likely RAI's shortwave facilities will be switched off for good at year's end. RAI will be producing two international TV channels, instead. More, sadly, to follow (Andy Lawendel blog as above via DXLD) ** ITALY. Rai International: A NewCo By Name --- The next meeting of the RAI board of directors - November 28 - will once again tackle the thorny issue of appointments to the board of Rai International - the body that Marcello Venziani rebaptized 'Rai Internazionale' and which will probably in the future be called RaItalia. The new director of the body will be Piero Baldoni, who will replace Massimo Magliaro, hoping to head up RaiCorporation. The issue of who will take over the head of Rai International - or rather, NewCo Rai International SPA - is more complex. Created on February 28, 2003, the organization is currently without a president (Franco Scaglia was moved by Flavio Cattaneo in May 2004 to the head of Rai Cinema). Furthermore, it is without a director-general and its ghost board of directors is powerless (Pierluigi Malesani, Deborah Bergamini and Roberto Chionne). Furthermore, its managing director (Magliaro again) has been in his position as an extension of his mandate since 2005. The board could appoint Malesani to the presidency of this NewCo as early as Tuesday (the board initially proposed the retiree Alessio Gorta). While the current MD's tasks could go to the current marketing director Carlo Nardello, the NewCo RaiInternational SPA has social capital worth a million euros (200,000 shares worth five euros each), all in the hands of Viale Mazzini. It has no offices, no employees and a debit balance of 256,000 euros in 2005 owing to so-called survival expenses. In other words, an empty box that has been waiting for years for the sale of the firm branch (channels and Rai International) without which, the firm could never become a real corporation. What counts most, however, is not who will guide the NewCo but what this company must do and when it must start. The company was created by the decisions of a "smart board of directors: Antonio Baldassarre and Ettore Albertoni on the basis of a study by the then director general Agostino Sacca. This was no fantasy exercise, however. The summit merely anticipated the dictates of the Gasparri Law - Article 17(e) - which stated: "RAI guarantees the creation of a company for the production, distribution and transmission of radio and TV programs abroad, with the purpose of understanding and promoting Italian language, culture and businesses through the use of programs and the broadcast of the most significant productions from the national audiovisual panorama". Given that the company already exists - as well as the mission- Cappon has now decided to make it operative by selling off the branch (or branches) of the firm. For example, there is persistent talk of transferring into this new company not only the RAI publication and Rai International channel but also RaiNews24 and RaiMed (the Rai international has long been requesting clarifications on the subject, while the Rome labour tribunal declared the operation to be anti-unionist). There is also talk of entrusting the company the task of negotiating directly with the premier's office for the renovation of the convention (worth around 40 million euros a year) and assuming a precise industrial mission (Gianluca Vacchio / Velino via Roberto Scaglione, Sicily, Nov 25, shortwave yg via DXLD) ** ITALY [non]. IRRS transmitter sites, etc.: see SCOTLAND [non] ** JAPAN [non]. Radio Japan relay via Ekala heard at 1401 sign-on (due to change from 11890 sign-off at 1359) on 11840 with SIO 242 level. Yes, it's weaker than 11890 (1230-14) because it's beamed toward Oceania (Joe Hanlon, NJ, 11/25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH. Re 6-173: Often I can hear Pyongyang on 6250 with fair reception in the (local) mornings, and that strange noise is always present. So far I have heard the noise only on that frequency, not in // 6400. I would like to be able to identify it. May it be some kind of jamming? Any clue? (Moisés Knochen, Montevideo, Uruguay, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LITHUANIA. 25/11-2006 --- NETHERLANDS [non]. Former Pirate station KBC Radio from the Netherlands is back on the air starting December the 23th on 1386 kHz AM with 500,000 Watts from Kaunus [sic] every Saturday evening from 23.00 to 24.00 CET [22-23 UT until DST: 21-22 UT]. On December the 23rd and the 30th they will start with 2 test transmissions. In the seventies and eighties KBC was a very active pirate on shortwave and mediumwave. They are working on a special KBC International website, coming soon. Programs are mainly in English. 500.000 Watts of Musical Power, The Mighty KBC. Contact the station at info @ k-po.com Dates of transmissions Freq. kHz Station Power kW Antenna Broadcasting time (CET) 1386 Kaunas 500 Omnidirectional 23:00-24:00 December 23, 30 January 6, 13, 20, 27 February 3, 10, 17, 24 March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 April 7, 14, 21, 28 May 5, 12, 19, 26 June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 July 7, 14, 21, 28 August 4, 11, 18, 25 September 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 October 6, 13, 20, 27 November 3, 10, 17, 24 December 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 (Eric van Willegen (25/11-2006), Ydun`s mwinfo via DXLD) ** MALAYSIA. 6049.65, Asyik FM (RTM), Nov 25, 1147-1224, repetitive, indigenous chanting/singing; ToH news (possibly their own news, as no time pips heard and no mention of Nasional news or the Kuala Lumpur News Center), IDs ``Asyik FM RTM Kula Lumpur`` and singing ``Asyik FM`` jingles; pop songs, on-air phone conversations. Fair to poor, with ever present het. At 1529 Suara Islam (Voice of Islam) program, many IDs at BoH, into news, strong signal but het still present (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, RX340 + T2FD antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 6045.04, XEXQ Radio Universidad, San Luis Potosí; 1231 (*1258)-1312 24 November. Tune-in to open carrier, abruptly up at 1258 without anthem or ID; straight into classical piano solo through tune- out. Clear and fair (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I hadn`t heard any sign of this for some weeks on virtually morningly chex, but seldom that early, more like after 1330 or 1400. Perhaps overwhelmed by Asian ACI here. Tried again Nov 26 at 1420 and could pull some classical music on 6045 between much stronger stations on both sides (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 1700, XEPE, Tecate, E-mail letter in 1.5 hours, after sending 2nd follow-up. v/s Bill Lipis, CE. Sent to this old e-mail address: blipis @ earthlink.net [but cf 6-173, don`t use that any more] (Edward Kusalik, Alberta, CANADA, Nov 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MYANMAR. I heard Myanmar Radio which is called MRTV-3 from sign-on at 0030 UT until around 0130 (fade out) on 7185 kHz on 10th Nov with a weak signal and Myanma music and speech by female announcer in local language. Best reception at around 0100. As the same programme was on the web live stream, I can confirm it was Myanmar. The accentuation of the Bamar/Myanma language is rather unique, so easy to distinguish. On the web live stream frequencies are announced at the beginning of the English language programs. So I combined following schedule (after monitoring the live stream): 0030-0200 7185 Myanmar language 0200-0245 7185 English, then break until 0330 0330-0700 9730 Myanmar language 0700-0730 9730 English, then break until 0930 0930-1430 5985 Myanmar language 1430-1600 5985 English In earlier top-news I found listeners to confirm 9730 on 9731 kHz and 5985 on 5986 kHz. But the early morning program I heard on exact 7185. Are there others who heard Myanmar radio on these frequencies? I never traced them on 9730 in the morning. 5985 is absolutely impossible here in Germany due to DRM. (DRM LUX on 5990) (Udo Krueger, Germany, Nov 11, wwdxc BC-DX Nov 24 via DXLD) ** MYANMAR. 5770, Defense Forces Broadcasting Station (tentative), Nov 25, 1247-1253 & 1507-1528*, ballads and pop songs between talking. Have often heard this on before 1300. A new sign-on time? Brief selection of indigenous music at sign-off (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, Etón E5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS [and non]. Radio Netherlands winter schedule 2006/2007, valid 29 Oct 2006 - 25 March 2007 UTC Site kHz Beam kW Service Target 0000-0057 Bonaire 6165 341 250 English N America E 0000-0058 Bonaire 9745 290 250 China R Int Mexico Spanish 0000-0157 Madagascar 9895 265 250 Spanish S America N /Caribbean 0100-0157 Bonaire 6165 335 250 English N America C 0100-0400 Bonaire 11935 170 250 NHK Japan S America Jap/Eng 0100-0200 Madagascar 11550 50 250 R Sweden S Asia Swe/Eng 0200-0357 Bonaire 6165 275 250 Spanish C America 0200-0357 Bonaire 9895 290 250 Spanish Mexico/C America 0230-0330 Madagascar 3215 20 50 AWR Madagascar Malagasy 0400-0457 Bonaire 6165 335 250 Dutch N America C 0400-0457 Bonaire 5975 290 250 Dutch Mex/C America 0430-0530 Madagascar 13580 0 250 R. Sweden ME Weekdays Swe/Eng 0500-0600 Madagascar 9845 280 50 Family R. CAf + SAf Portuguese 0500-0557 Bonaire 6165 320 250 English N America W 0600-0657 Bonaire 6165 320 250 Dutch N America W 0600-0657 Bonaire 9625 230 250 Dutch New Zealand 0600-0657 Hoerby 5955 290 250 Dutch SE Europe 0600-0657 Flevo DRM 9850 123 40 Dutch SE Europe 0600-0757 Flevo 9895 127 500 Dutch SE Europe 0700-0757 Flevo 7125 123 500 Dutch C + SE Europe 0700-1600 Flevo 5955 210 500 Dutch W Europe 0700-0857 Flevo 6035 191 500 Dutch S Europe 0700-0757 Hoerby 6015 190 350 Dutch W+C+E Europe 0700-0757 Bonaire 9625 230 250 Dutch **Australia** 0700-0757 Flevo DRM 7300 230 40 English SW Europe 0800-0857 Flevo 11935 191 500 Dutch S Europe 0800-0857 Flevo 9895 205 500 Dutch SW Europe (Mo-Fri) 0800-1657 Flevo 9895 205 500 Dutch SW Europe (Sa/Su) 0800-0857 Flevo DRM 7240 123 40 Dutch C Europe 0900-1100 Hoerby 6035 190 500 Dutch W Europe 0900-1557 Flevo 13700 123 500 Dutch C + E Europe (Sa/Su) 0900-1059 Flevo DRM 7240 123 40 Dutch C + E Europe Sa/Su 0900-1059 Flevo DRM 6015 191 40 Dutch S Europe Mo-Fri 0930-1015 Bonaire 6020 110 250 Dutch Surinam (Mo-Sa) 1000-1057 Irkutsk 12065 152 250 English E + SE Asia 1000-1057 Pet. Kamch. 6040 244 250 English Far East 1000-1057 Khabarovsk 9795 218 100 English E Asia 1100-1157 Dhabayya 21560 95 500 Dutch S + SE Asia 1100-1257 Flevo DRM 15605 191 40 Dutch S Europe 1100-1127 Bonaire 6110 210 250 Spanish S America N 1100-1127 Bonaire 6165 320 250 Spanish Car/Florida 1100-1158 Madagascar 17580 85 250 Indonesian Indonesia 1100-1158 Madagascar 21480 85 250 Indonesian Indonesia 1100-1157 Singapore 9795 140 100 Indonesian Indonesia 1130-1157 Bonaire 9715 290 250 Spanish C America 1130-1140 Bonaire 9490 230 250 R. Sweden NZ+AU + Mo-Fri Swe S Am N 1130-1200 Bonaire 9490 230 250 R. Sweden NZ+AU +Sat+Sun Swe S Am N 1200-1257 Bonaire 11675 350 250 English N America e 1200-1257 Madagascar 21480 65 250 Dutch E Asia 1200-1257 Singapore 9795 140 250 Indonesian Indonesia 1200-1257 Madagascar 15640 85 250 Indonesian Indonesia 1200-1257 Madagascar 17580 65 250 Indonesian Indonesia 1200-1227 Bonaire 6110 210 250 Spanish S Am N 1300-1330 Flevo DRM 7275 123 40 R. Sweden C + E Europe German 1300-1358 Madagascar 17670 60 250 AWR E As Vietnamese 1300-1357 Madagascar 17815 85 250 Dutch Indonesia 1300-1357 Madagascar 17580 45 250 Dutch South Asia 1300-1357 Pet. Kamch. 5910 247 250 Dutch FE+ E + SE Asia 1330-1400 Flevo DRM 7275 123 40 R. Sweden C + E Eu English 1400-1557 Madagascar 15595 35 250 English South Asia 1400-1557 Madagascar 12080 50 250 English South Asia 1400-1557 Tashkent 9345 131 100 English South Asia 1400-1427 Madagascar 17550 45 250 V. of Tibet SW Asia 1430-1500 Flevo DRM 7240 123 40 RCI C + E Europe 1430-1526 Madagascar 17495 55 250 Dem. V. of Burma SE Asia 1530-1628 Madagascar 3215 20 50 AWR Madagascar Malagasy 1530-1600 Madagascar 17550 45 250 V. of Tibet SW Asia 1600-1657 Flevo 9895 205 500 Dutch SW Europe (Mo-Fri) 1600-1657 Flevo 9895 127 500 Dutch SE Europe 1600-1657 Flevo 6035 191 500 Dutch S Europe 1600-1757 Armavir 5955 290 500 Dutch W Europe 1600-1657 Flevo DRM 7240 230 40 Dutch W Europe 1600-1657 Madagascar 13840 0 250 Dutch Middle East 1600-1657 Madagascar 11655 335 250 Dutch Eu + E Africa 1600-1657 Madagascar 9590 320 250 Family R. East Africa Swahili 1630-1655 Madagascar 3215 20 50 Fiangonana MDG Loterana Malagasy 1659-1757 Madagascar 11695 265 50 V of the People Zimbabwe 1700-1757 Flevo 6010 191 500 Dutch S Europe 1700-1757 Madagascar 9895 335 250 Dutch SE Eu + E Africa 1700-1757 Madagascar 6020 255 250 Dutch South Africa 1700-1757 Madagascar 11655 320 250 Dutch SW Eu + E Africa 1800-1857 Madagascar 6020 255 250 English South Africa 1800-1957 Madagascar 11655 300 250 English C+E Africa 1800-1959 Flevo 9895 142 500 English East Africa 1800-1957 Madagascar 7395 320 250 Family R. East Africa English 1800-1857 Madagascar 11805 320 50 Family R. East Africa Swahili 1900-2057 Madagascar 7120 270 250 English C + S Africa 1900-2057 Bonaire 17810 80 250 English W Africa 1900-2057 Bonaire 15525 350 250 English N America E (Sa/Su) 1900-2100 Bonaire 15315 320 250 English N America C (Sa/Su) 1900-2100 Sackville 17725 285 250 English N America W (Sa/Su) 1900-2100 Madagascar 6020 255 50 Family R. East Africa English 2000-2100 Madagascar 7420 125 250 R. Sweden Australia Swe/English 2000-2057 Madagascar 11655 295 500 English West Africa 2100-2300 Grigoriopol 6040 275 500 Dutch W Europe 2100-2300 Madagascar 9895 305 250 Dutch C + NW Africa 2100-2157 Madagascar 11655 295 250 Dutch West Africa 2100-2157 Bonaire 15315 133 250 Dutch Surinam/NE Brazil 2100-2157 Bonaire 17810 80 250 Dutch West Africa 2100-2157 Bonaire 17895 170 250 Dutch S America S 2100-2157 Madagascar 7120 280 250 Dutch Central Africa 2130-2200 Sackville 9800 268 70 English N America E DRM 2200-2257 GUF DRM 15425 320 150 English USA/Canada 2200-2257 Bonaire 11730 65 250 Dutch NW Africa + Canada 2200-2257 Bonaire 15315 185 250 Dutch S America NW 2200-2258 Madagascar 7380 95 250 Indonesian Indonesia 2200-2258 Madagascar 11955 95 250 Indonesian Indonesia 2200-2357 Singapore 6120 140 250 Indonesian Indonesia 2300-2357 Madagascar 9590 75 250 Indonesian Indonesia 2300-2357 Madagascar 9940 85 250 Indonesian Indonesia 2300-2359 Bonaire 17605 170 250 NHK Japan S America Japanese 2300-0157 Bonaire 15315 170 250 Spanish S America S 2300-2357 Bonaire 6165 341 250 Dutch N America E 2300-2357 Sackville 9525 189 250 Dutch S America N/Caribbean (Sked at RN website at 10 Nov 2006 via JKB, Nov WWDXC DX Magazine via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. RNW special Nov 22 on 1314: Already at 1400 the open carrier was on the air. No tests of sound or no music. However at 1658 music came on the air and relay of RNW newscast at 1700. The relay stopped at 1702 and the open carrier was going on all the evening until some minutes before 2000. I think that Norkring was afraid of something going wrong and wanted to test the "stand-by" transmitter. Remember that the climate at Kvitsøy is horrible. Salt water, storm and a tough atmosphere. 702 kHz was very strong at 2300 when I pitched the loop more west to avoid SVK and D. Probably they ran by power [?] (Bengt Ericson via Mauno Ritola via Kai Ludwig, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Meanwhile I read in another posting that shortly before 1920 music, presumably again RNW audio, came on 1314 for about ten seconds. Re. 702: Media Network blog specified the power for that as 400 kW (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Nov 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW ZEALAND. DRM RNZI 7145 / 9890 kHz --- I wonder if reception is actually about to crash. I often have noticed extremely good reception one day followed by terrible reception the next. I wonder if this is the case with your DRM reception? Certainly strong signal strength is required to decode DRM. When I was in Cairns, North Queensland a few months ago I listened to RNZI DRM there and in spite of the generally strong signal being received, there were still dropouts in the audio during fades. So I can't really see that DRM will be the saviour of shortwave, because of that. At least with analogue there is always something to be heard, even during fades. I had a bit of trouble trying to hear RNZI in Western Australia a couple of weeks ago. I guess that is to be expected given that most of the time the RNZI transmission is beamed due north at 0 degrees and Western Australia is something like 250 degrees in a line from N.Z. and is about 7,000 km away. I couldn't hear anything at all during daylight on 15720 or 17675 kHz. At night I could hear 9890, 13840 & 5950 kHz, but not very well. I always like to keep up with News from N.Z. via RNZI when I am overseas, but it was hard to in W.A. Almost no N.Z. is ever reported in Australia, apart from a gruesome murder, sport, or some kind of oddball happening! (Barry Hartley, NZ, Nov 21, wwdxc BC-DX Nov 24 via DXLD) ** NORTH AMERICA. Hey Glenn, I caught the pirate radio broadcaster Dr. Benway's Undercover Radio on 6925.000 kc USB between 0430-0447 UT November 26, 2006. SIO 555. Gave mailing address in Ontario, Canada for QSL cards. He was rebroadcasting the Memorial Day weekend broadcast, which included spooky Halloween stories. ID at 0438 and 0447, then sign off. --... ...--, (Thomas F. Giella, KN4LF, Lakeland, FL, USA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. Undercover Radio 6925 USB 1420z Sun, 26 Nov 2006, weak but good overall reception, low noise conditions (Chris Smolinski, Black Cat Systems http://www.blackcatsystems.com The ACE Pirate Radio List via DXLD) see also UNIDENTIFIED 6875 ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 4890, 17.11 2205, Papua Nya Guinea med nyheter på engelska. DO (Dan Olsson, Sweden, SW Bulletin via DXLD) So there is some confirmation it is still on, but is anyone hearing it around 1200 in NAm? (gh, DXLD) ** PERU. Radio Visión (Chiclayo), 4790.13, 0111­0345+, 11/25/06, in Spanish. Chanting / group prayer at tune in, 0114 M talk, 0119 chanting, 0131 M announcement including frequency and probable ID to different M talking before a crowd; chanting resumed 0139 with same pattern as 01 hour through chanting ending 0235 with announcement and probable ID, M speaking before a crowd (including alleluia Š alleluia! and applause), gospel hymn sung by W, 0309 M announcement, fanfare, M introducing speaker, 0331 complete ``Radio Visión ... Chiclayo`` audible, congregational song, M speaking. Conditions were too poor to get definitive ID. Very poor initially with conditions improving to fair after 0300. I heard Radio Atlántida on 4790.00 as recently as 11/14/06, 0330+ with very different programming. It took almost 2 1/2 hours to get a positive ID tonight for R. Visión. This programming was religious in nature - like that Chuck Bolland recently reported. I presume that we are either hearing one or the other and the .13 or .14 offset is Visión, and Atlántida is right on frequency (Mark Taylor, Madison, WI, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** POLAND [non]. Re 6-173: Obviously some wrong subcarrier linked at T-systems NAUEN site, understand some live football coverage in Croatia instead of Radio Polonia ??? 5975 1300-1400 tx18 360degr NAU 100kW PRW HRT Zagreb Croatian program used at Nauen til 1000 UT. 11690 0600-1000 58,59,60 265degr NAU 100 HRT [Later:] 5975, Wertachtal instead of Nauen site used today. Walter Brodowsky of T-systems Juelich just phoned me back. He will enlighten that wrong subcarrier feed. He phoned both sites already, Nauen and Wertachtal. Definitely Wertachtal site used today on 5975 kHz at 1300- 1400 UT. Now from 1400 UT RPW in Russian is okay on 7275 and 11675 via WER. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi, After the phone calls yesterday, it now seems that the error has been corrected, as they did have English on 5975 kHz at 13 UT today, Sunday. By the way, one strange thing that I noted Friday/Saturday was, that the German program prior to the English one (1230-1300) did go out OK on 5975, and that Croatia was faded nicely in at 13. 73, (Erik Køie, Copenhagen, Nov 26, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Has anybody else noticed that the announcements in between the interval signal, at 1300, sound like "radio kolonia"? 5975 at 1302, wrong feed again, unidentified language. Dear Glenn, I notice you have included my message from Nov 24 at 1:13 pm in dxld 6-173 and also note that you have "corrected" "radio kolonia" to Radio Polonia. Please see my message at 1:33 pm today which I hope explains. I am going to try and make a recording of the start of the Radio Polonia programme at 1300-1301 and/or 1800-1801 and put it in the dxld yg station sounds folder. Please listen to this recording and post your opinions to the group as to whether the announcer says "radio kolonia" or "radio polonia". Thank you. Regards (Harry Brooks, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Polonia/Kolonia, sort of borderline depending on your mindset. Surely they are not really saying kolonia (gh, DXLD) ** ROMANIA. 6055, Totally DISTORTED audio of RRI German service at 0700-0730 UT. Best and clear audio on \\ 7175 kHz. More or less distorted audio on \\ 7160 and 9690 (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, Nov 22, wwdxc BC-DX Nov 24 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. 5960, R. Tikhiy Okean (Pacific Ocean), Nov 20, 22 & 23, *0935-1000*, // 7330; on with "Govorit Vladivostok", chimes IS, IDs for ``Radiostantsiya Tikhiy Okean``, usual news items in Russian, some Russian ballads. 5960 always stronger than 7330. A few times have noted 2 time pips at sign-off (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, Etón E5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAUDI ARABIA [and non]. Bad clash observed the other day on 17730 kHz at 0830-0900 UT, Ryiadh 500 kW in Arabic and IBB Farda Persian of Iranawila-SLK 250 kW (Wolfgang Büshchel, Nov 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SCOTLAND [non]. radio six international "Around the clock around the world" 5110 kHz - from transmitters in Monticello, Maine, USA for listeners in North and South America. [sic: see below] 5775 kHz - from transmitters administered by the Italian Radio Relay Service in Milan, Italy, for listeners in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. 7415 kHz - no transmissions currently scheduled. 7585 kHz - from transmitters at Sitkunai, Lithuania, for listeners in North America and Northern Europe. No transmissions currently scheduled 9290 kHz - from shortwave transmitters in Ulbroka, Latvia, for listeners in Europe, Asia and the Pacific. Regular weekly transmissions will resume in mid December, 2006. 9310 kHz - from transmitters administered by the Italian Radio Relay Service in Milan, Italy, for listeners in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. 945 kHz (317m) - for listeners in Latvia and parts of Finland, Sweden, and Poland. Regular daily transmissions have ceased, but we still use the frequency from time to time for special programmes 88.5 MHz in Stereo - from the transmitters of World FM in Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand, for listeners in Tawa & the Porirua Basin. Internet - http://www.radiosix.com/internet_schedule.html On Saint Andrew's Day (next Thursday) we'll be broadcasting a live Ceilidh from the tiny Island of Lismore, tucked away between Oban and Mull in the Inner Hebrides. Most of the population of 120 will be in the Lismore Public Hall to take part in the proceedings, with Glasgow- based country dance band The Rusty Nails providing the music, along with the Lismore School Choir and soloists from the local community including Mary MacDougall. The star guest compere will be one of Scotland's best-loved broadcasters, Jimmie Macgregor, and he'll be talking to some of the island's characters. If you'd like to come along, tickets will be on sale on the door from about 8.30pm - £5 admission (£3 concession), with all of the proceeds being divided between the British Lung Foundation Special Nurses Fund and the Lismore Public Hall. As well as the web feeds, we are aiming to include a live shortwave feed of this programme on 5775 kHz (we're still working on this - our regular transmitter is undergoing maintenance work but we are hopeful that we can find a standby), the broadcast will also be carried live on 945 kHz (317m) Medium Wave in Latvia, 88.5 MHz in Tawa and Redwood, Wellington, New Zealand, and locally by Nevis Radio on 102.3 MHz (Skye & Mallaig), 102.4 MHz (Loch Leven), 96.6 MHz (Fort William), and 97.0 MHz (Glencoe) and Cuillin FM serving Portree on Skye on 106.2 MHz. It's on air at 2100 GMT on November 30th with repeats at 00:00 (via satellite and FM Slovakia) and 06:00 (via FM in New Zealand). (radio six international website via Mike Terry, John Norfolk, dxldyg via DXLD) 5775 and 9310 rather origin from Sofia Kostinbrod, Bulgaria site. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) Really on WBCQ 5110 now? I think this is outdated (Glenn, ibid.) ** SRI LANKA. Radio Ceylon or SLBC was one of the favourite stations in South India due to their regular film song broadcasts. Almost all households used to tune into their film song programmes from 0900 UT (2:30 pm). We were not interested in the morning English broadcasts from Ceylon (Old timers still use this name and I too like it) as the time slots were borrowed by numerous Christian broadcasters pumping their messages from heaven! But the Anglo-Indian community really glued their ears to the morning broadcasts as Ceylon used to broadcast the latest English pops and nice talk shows. All that was a matter of past. The arrival of TV, mostly Cable Television, put an end to the popularity of SLBC. During my high school days I could to hear almost all low power medium wave and domestic shortwave channels from Sri Lanka. But these are not active now due to the advent of FM on the Island. In this edition of Report from India I have written an article on history of SLBC. Hope everybody enjoy this article on my childhood companion, SLBC. Sri Lankan Broadcasting Corporation History Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) was one of the first British colonies to introduce radio broadcasting a few years after its inauguration in Europe. The arrangements made for broadcasting service in Great Britain in 1923 involved the granting of a license to the British Broadcasting Company for the establishment of stations in different parts of the country. This sparked off unusual interest in broadcasting in a number of British colonies. In Sri Lanka a committee was appointed to report on the feasibility of Radio broadcasting. A significant event took place in 1921. Mr. Edward Harper arrived in Ceylon on July 21, 1921 to take up duties as Chief Engineer of Telegraphs. Harper brought with him a deep interest in the medium of radio broadcasting. He was ably supported in the endeavour by a team of British and local enthusiasts. Harper was instrumental in banding the radio enthusiasts together by forming the Ceylon Wireless Club. The committee recommended that making use of the existing plant at the Colombo Wireless Station and equipping it with additional apparatus should commence radio broadcasting. Mr. Harper's vantage position as Chief Engineer was helpful in introducing radio broadcasting. The first experimental broadcast was done on 22 February 1924. The new home of the YMCA in Colombo was opened by the Bishop of Colombo. The proceedings of the opening ceremony were broadcast, creating a new history in Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Just four months after the YMCA experiment, radio broadcasting was inaugurated by Sir William Henry Manning, the then British Governor on 27 June 1924 at 2.30pm. Sir Manning was due to address the members of the Engineering Association of Ceylon at the annual session. It so happened that Mr. Harper made it the occasion to inaugurate broadcasting. This event was very significant since it marked the inauguration of broadcasting in the first South Asian country. There is a difference of opinion on the date of the inauguration of radio broadcasting in the country. December 16 1925, was actually the day on which the improved transmitter was opened by the then Governor - the actual date of inauguration was 27 June 1924. On June 27 1924 at 3.30pm a programme of recorded music was broadcast by placing a microphone in front of an ordinary gramophone. The studio amplifier and transmitter were all housed in one small room in the Central Telegraphic Office building. The public was informed that this temporary apparatus was Limited range and power and that the broadcasts were experimental and liable to disturbances. After July 1, 1924 broadcasts were somewhat irregular, two or three times a week, depending on programme materials available, much of which were gramophone records. Mail news, universal time signals and weather reports were subsequently broadcast daily. At the end of 1924 a total of 53 licences had been issued. The available evidence suggests that by the end of 1925 the service had emerged from its early stage. The station was providing a regular broadcast service on 800 meters using the Colombo Telegraph transmitter with Certain modifications. The Governor of Ceylon, Sir Hugh Clifford, inaugurated broadcasting on the new plant on 16 December 1925. The transmitter opened on this day was a 1 kW one compared to the previous one, which was only 1/2 kW. With afternoon broadcasting, there commenced the transmission of an Extended news service. In the evening a musical programme consisting of songs and solos on the piano, banjo and violin contributed by Mrs. Spencer Shepherd and Messrs F. J. Harlow, J. Mackenzie, John Murray, C. Wilding and H. O. White was broadcast. The acoustical properties of the new studio, which was used for the first time on 16 December 1925, proved a great improvement on the old arrangements. The transmission was remarkably free from disturbing street noises. A series of Christmas Carols was broadcast on 17 December 1925 from 6.00 pm onwards. All in all 160 radio licences has been issued by December 1925. A dual transmission was introduced in 1947-48 for the first time in the country. Short wave 61.2 meters was reserved for broadcasts in English and Medium wave 428.6 meters for Sinhala and Tamil. Establishment of Radio Ceylon After the Second World War, the impending vacation of the Cotta Road Premises showed the need for a permanent and modern type of broadcasting station. A plan for constructing eight highly specialised studios at Torrington Square was, therefore launched, but progress was not quite satisfactory, due to the scarcity of building material in the wake of the war. However completion of the eight new studios and conversion of the building were done by September 1949. Also Radio SEAC (South East Asia Command) was taken over in March 1949. The SEAC radio station had been set up during World War 2 by the British Services to bring within the reach of Servicemen overseas. On 1 October 1949, the subject of radio broadcasting was organised under a government department and came to be known as Radio Ceylon. A BBC officer John Lampson was brought in to head Radio Ceylon. On 5th January 1967, Radio Ceylon became a public corporation. The late Dudley Senanayake, then Prime Minster ceremonially opened the newly established Ceylon Broadcasting Corporation and appointed Mr. Neville Jayaweera as the Chairman. The organization acquired its present name, Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, with the transition of the state into the status of "Republic of Sri Lanka" on 22nd May 1972. SLBC has since continued in the same legal status as a state corporation, and is currently listed under the scope of the Ministry of Information and Media of the Government of Sri Lanka. Transition of Domestic Broadcasting from Medium Wave to FM As was the case with many national radio stations with the same standing several decades ago, SLBC was relying on medium wave as the primary mode of domestic broadcasting until the dawn of '90s. Some sporadic FM broadcasts had nevertheless been already introduced at several transmitting stations more as a means of 'relaying' the broadcasts to medium wave transmitting stations. However, by late '80s SLBC was acting in recognition of the strategic importance of switching from MW to FM as the primary mode of domestic broadcasting. Accordingly, in 1993, 'the FM Stereo Broadcasting Facility at Colombo' was commissioned with the technical assistance of the government of Japan. This was followed by the "Islandwide FM Development Project" that was launched in 1995. The objectives of the project were to develop an Islandwide multi-channel FM stereo broadcast transmission network and to divest the costly domestic medium wave transmitting stations, which were typically broadcasting only one or two programme channels per transmitting station. By 1999, more than 95% country's total population was being covered by SLBC's FM transmissions with nearly 90% of them receiving all six nationwide channels. Radio Services currently maintained by SLBC. At present, SLBC's Islandwide (domestic) FM network broadcasts six Regular programme channels on a nationwide basis, and those six 'national' channels account for the major proportion of its domestic broadcasting. The sixchannels are: 1. Sinhala Swadeshiya Sevaya' (Sinhala National Service) 2. Tamil National Service 3. English Service 4. City FM (Sinhala) 5. Velenda Sevaya' (Sinhala Commercial Service), and 6. Thendral (Tamil Commercial Service) While the first three channels are dedicated for public service broadcasting in the three languages Sinhala, Tamil and English, the fourth one (City FM) is maintained as a channel dedicated for the youth. The last two channels, whilst representing 'an adult contemporary' genre, accommodates a certain amount of commercial content. Besides the above six channels operated on a regular basis, SLBC also operates on nationwide basis a seventh channel, namely the 'Sports Service', which is a channel dedicated for sports, but only during the times of major sports events such as international cricket matches. The other component of domestic broadcasting comprises of four Regional Services, each of which are originating from respective regional studio centres, and five community radio services, operated in five specific areas with substantial socio economic homogeneity. All of these regional and community radio services maintained by the SLBC largely represent a public service broadcasting format with regional community focus. External Broadcasting In addition to the above domestic services, SLBC is also operating an Overseas service, transmitting in shortwave to the South & South-West Asia and the Middle East, in Sinhala, English, Hindi and several Indian sub-continental languages. Their shortwave transmitting station at Ekala consists of 10 x 10, 3 x 35 KW, 2 x 100 and 2 x 300 KW transmitters. All the 10 KW transmitters were used for domestic broadcasting and all of them are inactive/discontinued broadcasting during the past few years. Radio Japan/NHK leases the two 300 KW transmitters from SLBC for their relay broadcasts to South & South East Asia and Middle East. Also, there is a medium wave transmitting facility for broadcasting mainly to the Southern regions of India. SLBC is not a good verifier of reception reports and many Dxers have not received any reply even though return postage is enclosed. However interested listeners may try their luck for verification by writing to the following address: Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation P.O.Box.574, Torrington Square Colombo 7, Sri Lanka Courtesy and References: 1. Sisira Chandrasekhara's website 2. SLBC website 3. World Radio TV Handbook 2006 (T. R. Rajeesh, Report from India, Nov World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** SRI LANKA [and non]. LTTE TERRORIZES ANTI-LTTE RADIO IN LONDON - REPORT According to Tamil sources in North London, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) members in London broke into the premises of the anti – LTTE radio station, the Tamil Broadcasting Corporation (TBC) and vandalized it on the early hours of morning on Saturday. The Asian Tribune says the TBC was planning to broadcast the heroes’ day message by Col. Karuna Amman, the leader of the TMVP, a breakaway group of the organization, to eclipse the hero’s day speech of Prabakaran, the leader of the LTTE who is wanted by Interpol. The newspaper suggests the break-in was a deliberate attempt to sabotage the broadcast. TBC radio is broadcast in Sri Lanka via a local radio network and, according to the Asian Tribune, the LTTE seems to be trying to prevent Sri Lankan Tamils from listening to the thoughts of Karuna Amman, perhaps the most formidable commander of the LTTE, who won many battles for the LTTE before turning against the organization. The Asian Tribune says the LTTE seems to be pursuing a strategy to become the sole radio broadcaster of the Tamils as well as intimidating radio stations which are not aligned to the organization into silence. According to these Tamil sources, broadcasting equipment of the TBC was looted, and equipment which was too heavy to be carried away was destroyed. The police were alerted and investigations are being conducted. The newspaper notes that the radio station had been broken into previously, with the LTTE constantly harassing the staff, management, and supporters of TBC. (Source: Asian Tribune) Tamil Broadcasting Corporation http://www.tbcuk.com/ (November 26th, 2006, 11:39 UTC by Andy, Media Network blog via DXLD) Not to be confused with IBC Tamil, on SW, also from London (gh, DXLD) ** SWEDEN [and non]. Re SWE / IRN 6065 clash --- Same QRM on 6065 kHz as EVERY WINTER season for at least five years. Though, R Sweden could easily avoid, and move down to 5820-5860 kHz range. Never solved that problem on previous HFCC registration conventions. ?What they talk to each other on the Athens five star Luxury Hotel buffet? 73 (Wolfgang Büshchel, Nov 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TANNU TUVA. RUSSIA. 6100.53 Nov 15 0930- RUS: R. Rossii, Kyzyl. (Mauno Ritola, Turku, Finland - JihadDX 1735, 15/11/2006 via World DX via Rus-DX via DXLD) ** TIBET [non]. Re: USA(non), Frequency change for Radio Free Asia in Tibetan: 1500-1600 NF 7550, ex 7495 \\ 7470 11500 15145 (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Nov 23 via DXLD) HFCC had 7495 as BBC via Dushanbe, Tajikistan (gh) 7550 is Dushanbe 200 kW (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UKRAINE. A bit more about shortwave transmitters at Brovary, recently tested on 5970: It seems they are out of regular service since autumn 2002, when the current, dramatically reduced transmission arrangement for RUI came into force. Presumably no relays of foreign clients since the early nineties (when Radio Moscow had been replaced by Radio Ukraine programming on unchanged frequencies, very shortly after the decline of the USSR I think), perhaps with the exception of some Voice of Oromo Liberation transmissions (Kai Ludwig, Nov 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. THE BUDGET BILL FOR THE BBG LIKELY TO BE ROLLED INTO AN OMNIBUS BUDGET BILL Dateline: Washington, 11/15/06. The budget bill for the BBG passed the full House but did not go to the full Senate. It is likely that the bill will be rolled into an omnibus bill and that it will be passed before the new Congress takes control in January. There will probably be an omnibus conference committee and the members of that committee (who will be working on the BBG bill) will be the chairman and ranking members of the Subcommittees who oversee the BBG budget. They are: Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Chairman: Mitch McConnell 361A Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Fax: (202) 224-2499 Ranking Member: Patrick Leahy 433 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Fax: (202) 224-3479 Send letters to(with copies to the Senators listed above) Senator Barbara Mikulski 503 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Fax: (202) 224-8858 U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee for Science, the Departments of State, Justice and Commerce and Related Agencies Chairman: Frank Wolf 241 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Fax: (202) 225-0437 Ranking Member: Alan Mollohan 2302 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20215 Fax: (202) 225-7564 (AFGE Local 1812 via DXLD) ** U S A. Many stations in the UK and USA have hired external security firms who have no interest in the broadcast business and probably present the worst business card of that station to the outside world. They must get thse guys from nightclubs. The worst I ever experienced was the security at Radio Marti in Washington DC, who refused to let me bring a tape recorder into their building to interview Ernesto Betancourt, the director at the time. The reason? They had never heard of him and were too lazy to pick up the phone to check (Jonathan Marks, Nov 24, Critical Distance blog via DXLD) ** U S A. VOICE OF AMERICA'S NEW LEADER FACES CHANGING TIMES By Doreen Carvajal, International Herald Tribune http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/11/26/business/voa.php?page=1 For generations of listeners, the Voice of America and its crackling international shortwave broadcasts are heirloom memories of huddling around radios to mark the Allied landing at Normandy or the toppling of the Berlin Wall. Today, the VOA headlines are delivered as mobile phone news alerts, satellite television shows or Webcasts streamed over the Internet. But the 64-year-old international broadcasting service of the U.S. government is still searching for relevance with a brand new director and an increasingly fierce market with rivals from commercial networks to public broadcasters jostling for global influence. "I'm afraid that I'm not listening to Voice of America," confessed a participant from Madras, India, last week in the VOA's own global open forum on international broadcasting. "The shortwave is not so good, so I've switched over to NPR on satellite." Last month, the VOA service - which reaches about 115 million people weekly in 44 languages - received fresh leadership after the abrupt departure of its director, David Jackson, a former Time magazine foreign correspondent, and the appointment of Danforth Austin. Austin, 60, is a former chief executive of Ottaway Newspapers, a community newspaper subsidiary of Dow Jones. He was appointed to the top spot by the Broadcasting Board of Governors, a politically appointed group. In his first few weeks in his new post, Austin said during an interview, he was hoping to bring his organizational skills to bear on an institution that has been buffeted in the past year by proposed budget cuts and plans to reduce English-language programming to divert resources to Arabic-language services. "There is a proliferation of media, and it's not just government- funded services," he said. "How could the United States not want a broadcast service in the midst of all that, which keeps and maintains the kind of journalistic values that really reflects who we are as a country?" Austin is a newcomer to international broadcasting, although he worked outside the United States on short-term assignments as a reporter. He said that the notion of taking over the VOA from its Washington headquarters was "not on my radar screen" because he had just taken a retirement package from Dow Jones in March. "I was contemplating taking some time off, reading. I've done some work for charity kinds of things and then through an acquaintance who knows one of the governors on the board, they asked me if I had any interest in the Voice of America," Austin said. Given his newness, Austin's plans for the VOA remain largely vague and general beyond trying to make sure that the news agency is responsive to its audiences. "For some people, shortwave radio is and will remain very important," he said. "For others, it's through television and the Internet." He added: "We look at markets. We decide what to provide based on what those audiences want and how they use information." Critics, though, complain that the VOA is an institution that is too slow-moving and hampered by its strategy of issuing government editorial newscasts on topics ranging from President George W. Bush on Iran's "intransigence" to Donald Rumsfeld, the secretary of defense, on the pursuit of nuclear weapons in North Korea and Iran. Jonathan Marks, a radio consultant and former executive at the international broadcaster Radio Netherlands, is among those critics. "Don't you think that John Stewart on YouTube has more impact on the way people see America than anything VOA could muster on radio or TV?" he asked. He complained that the VOA's Now 24/7 program in English has been nicknamed "VOA Now and Then" because of reduced programming. "Both times that Saddam Hussein has been world news with his capture and death sentence, VOA English has been off the air," Marks said. "To be fair, its radio in Arabic and Farsi was running." With control of the U.S. Congress shifting to the Democrats, many VOA employees and supporters are hoping that reductions in the $166 million annual budget will be restored to avoid further cuts in English-language programming. As it is, VOA continues to offer slower-paced "special English" programs to reach non-native English speakers. Ted Lipien, a Voice of America employee who retired last April as a marketing director for Europe and Asia, created FreeMediaOnline.org, a foundation to support independent journalism. He is lobbying against some VOA cuts. "They have focused on the Middle East and taken money away from programming for other regions," he said. "Once your audience goes down, it creates a vicious circle." He added, "The soft power of information and news is grossly under-appreciated." To a certain extent, though, the VOA is facing some of the cold realities of the end of the Cold War. Simon Spanswick, chief of the Association of International Broadcasters, said the VOA has taken the approach that "it's not worth trying to compete in saturated markets with highly competitive broadcasters." -- (via Ken Kopp - KKØHF, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U S A. Something I've never had before - KOA on HF! I was enjoying the mild weather out back with my DX-360 and much to my surprise found KOA Denver on HF sitting right at the 25 MHz point on the dial. Needless to say, the calibration must be a bit off up there, I found a reception of this presumed STL reported previously on 25950. Anyone with a suitable receiver should try for it now, if you'd like something unique (Curtis Sadowski, Spending the morning at Rantoul, Illinois, Nov 26, WTFDA-AM via DXLD) ** U S A (non [sic; what`s `non` about it?? --- gh]) Winter B-06 for World Harvest Radio: Angel 1 0100-0600 on 5860*HRI 250 kW / 315 deg *Mon-Fri 0100-0600 on 7315#HRI 250 kW / 152 deg DXWC Sun 0330 #Sat/Sun 0600-1200 on 7315 HRI 250 kW / 152 deg 1200-1300 on 7520 HRI 250 kW / 315 deg 1300-1500 on 9495*HRI 250 kW / 315 deg 1300-1500 on 11785#HRI 250 kW / 315 deg HMLR Sat & Sun 1400 1500-1600 on 11785 HRI 250 kW / 315 deg DXWC Sun 1530 1600-2100 on 15285 HRI 250 kW / 173 deg DXWC Sat 1930 2100-2300 NF 9480 HRI 250 kW / 188 deg, ex 9660, relay BBC English 2300-0100 on 7315 HRI 250 kW / 315 deg Angel 2 0300-0400 on 6110 HRI 250 kW / 188 deg, relay BBC Spanish 0400-0600 on 7490 HRI 250 kW / 072 deg 0600-0900 on 5860 HRI 250 kW / 072 deg 0900-1100 on 7520 HRI 250 kW / 025 deg 1100-1200 on 5875 HRI 250 kW / 188 deg, relay BBC English 1200-1300 on 9660 HRI 250 kW / 188 deg, relay BBC English 1300-1400 on 6095 HRI 250 kW / 025 deg 1400-1700 on 9840 HRI 250 kW / 025 deg 1700-1900 on 15650 HRI 250 kW / 072 deg 1900-2000 on 13760 HRI 250 kW / 072 deg 2000-2200 on 11765 HRI 250 kW / 072 deg 2200-0300 on 7490 HRI 250 kW / 025 deg Angel 3 0100-0500 NF 17525 WHR 100 kW / 270 deg, ex 17655 DXWC Sat 0330 0500-0800 on 15610 WHR 100 kW / 270 deg 0800-1200 on 9930 WHR 100 kW / 270 deg 1200-1400 on 12130 WHR 100 kW / 270 deg 1400-1800 on 9930 WHR 100 kW / 270 deg DXWC Sun 1500 Angel 4 0500-1100 on 11565 WHR 100 kW / 225 deg DXWC Sat 0700; Sun 0500 Angel 5 0500-0700 on 7555 HRA 250 kW / 075 deg 1200-1600 on 15665 HRA 250 kW / 075 deg 1600-2000 on 17650 HRA 250 kW / 075 deg 2000-2300 on 15665 HRA 250 kW / 075 deg 2300-0500 on 5850 HRA 250 kW / 075 deg DXWC Sat 0230; Sun 0230 DXWC=DXing With Cumbre, duration 30 min HMLR=Hmong Lao Radio, duration 60 min (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Nov 23 via DXLD) ** U S A. 4440.00S, FLORIDA, WEBY, Milton; 1253-1258 24 November, 2006. Presumed the one, as reported by Jon on DX-F and responded to as the likely one, with transmitter spurs from fundamental 1330. This as per Gerry Thomas, who briefly got the mess corrected with a complaint. This after they went 25 kW on the daytime pattern. At this hour, threshold with only fragments of English talk (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. CBS OWES ED BRADLEY AN APOLOGY --- by Eric Boehlert After breaking the news that legendary newsman Ed Bradley had died of leukemia, CBS News officials said, and did, most of the right things. Bradley's former colleagues at CBS toasted him for being "everything you admire in a great journalist," and the network devoted an entire night of 60 Minutes to highlighting Bradley's distinguished career as a skilled storyteller. When a tribute to Bradley is held November 21 at the Riverside Church in New York City, the CBS News team, synonymous with Bradley for more than three decades, will likely have a significant presence. But CBS still owes Bradley a belated apology stemming from its shameful decision during the 2004 presidential campaign to pointedly refuse to run a factually solid story of his that chronicled how the Bush administration had misled the country into war. . . http://mediamatters.org/columns/200611200004 (Media Matters via DXLD) ** U S A. New station launches in Taos!!! on: October 23, 2006, 07:09:59 pm Hey everybody! Taos has received yet another new station! This one is adult contemporary KLNN: Luna 103.7. I have waited for a long time to have an AC station here. It's amazing; nearly a year ago to the day, two radio stations, KKTC/K264AE and KVOT, launched here (I believe they officially launched on October 26th). So, in commemoration of the launch of this new radio station, I thought it would be interesting to give everybody a quick run-down on Taos radio. KRZA-Based in Alamosa, Colorado. Community radio and NPR affiliate for northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. 88.7 FM. 91.1 (Arroyo Seco?) and 91.9 (Taos)-KUNM translators. KKIT-"The Mountain." This radio station's format reminds me of The Peak. Moved from 99.9 FM in Angel Fire and translator K264AE on 100.7 FM in Taos to its new frequency on 95.9 FM last October. Nice-sized playlist. KXMT-"Radio Éxitos." Don't ask me to translate this; I have no clue what it means. Spanish music. 99.1 FM. [Hits --- literally, Successes] KKTC (Angel Fire)/translator K264AE (Taos)-Plays a Jones satellite feed of True Country. Mix of old and new country favorites. Launched last October. KTAO-"World-famous solar (powered) radio." Plays a bunch of...eclectic music. From what I've cared to pay attention to, it seems like they have a pretty large playlist. 101.9 FM. KLNN-"Luna." Adult contemporary. From what I've heard so far, it reminds me of Magic with a much larger playlist. They just launched, so there are no DJs yet, although they do say that they will be adding them in their promos. Then, of course, we can pick up many Class C FM stations from Albuquerque, like Magic, the Peak, Ed, KIOT, Big Oldies, etc. with a decent receiver and antenna. We can also pick up stations like KBOM, KQBA, and KSFQ from Santa Fe/White Rock. And it looks like that's a wrap! (Jmpstar, Oct 23, radio-info NM board via DXLD) Gee, sounds like Taos is ripe for a hostile takeover. I wonder if those are stations being started up for speculation value? (Gnarlodious, Oct 30, ibid.) ** U S A [non]. TIMES CHANGE AS RADIO 2 SIGNS UP DYLAN SHOW Owen Gibson, media correspondent November 23, 2006 The Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1954562,00.html The times they are a changin' for Radio 2 listeners. The station, once mocked for its cosy image but now both credible and popular, is to give British listeners their first taste of Bob Dylan's critically acclaimed radio show. The BBC yesterday announced it had signed a deal to broadcast Dylan's US show, Theme Time Radio Hour, throughout 2007. Dylan, who surprised fans by taking up a new career as a DJ with a weekly radio show on the satellite broadcaster XM Radio this year, has been praised for his eclectic taste. Each programme has a different theme - one is the weather, and the track list features A Place in the Sun by Stevie Wonder, The Wind Cries Mary by Jimi Hendrix and Keep on the Sunny Side by the Carter Family. Other themes include cars, dance and whisky. "Bob Dylan is a legendary figure and I'm sure these shows will be of great interest to our audience," said Lesley Douglas, controller of Radio 2 and 6 Music. "It'll be fascinating to hear who his favourite artists are and who has influenced him throughout his career." The first six shows will be broadcast daily on Radio 2 over Christmas, beginning on December 23. (all at 1900 UT except 1700 on 24 December 2006 - schedule available at http://bbc.co.uk/radio2 –RN Media Network). Thereafter they will be aired weekly on the digital station 6 Music at 9 pm on Friday nights from December 31. (schedule available at http://bbc.co.uk/6music -RNMN). Coming hard on the heels of his decision to appear in an underwear advert and sell a CD exclusively through Starbucks, some fans accused Dylan of selling out when the show was first broadcast in May - an accusation first levelled decades ago when he plugged in for the first time. But they have been won over by the shows, which have received rave reviews (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) Hope webcast not blocked (gh) ** U S A. ARRL Bulletin 27 ARLB027 From ARRL Headquarters Newington CT November 22, 2006 To all radio amateurs SB QST ARL ARLB027 ARLB027 "Omnibus" Amateur Radio Report and Order Takes Effect Dec 15 With publication in the Federal Register November 15, the long-awaited changes to the amateur rules are set to take effect 30 days later, at 12:01 AM EST December 15. The so-called "Omnibus" Amateur Radio proceeding, WT Docket 04-140, includes a significant expansion of the 75 meter phone band and a variety of other changes. The highlights: * For Amateur Extra class licensees, the 75 meter phone band will start at 3600 kHz, while Advanced class licensees start at 3700 kHz and Generals at 3800 kHz. The high end of the CW/RTTY/Digital band is now 3600 kHz (although CW is allowed on the entire band). * On 40 meters, Amateur Extra and Advanced licensees will be able to operate phone beginning at 7125 kHz, while Generals start at 7175 kHz. The top end of the CW/RTTY/Digital band will be 7125 kHz (although CW is allowed on the entire band). * There are no changes to the 20 meter band. * On 15 meters, the General class phone band now starts at 21275 kHz. * On 10 meters, Novice and Technician Plus licensees can now operate CW/RTTY/Digital from 28000 kHz to 28300 kHz. * In addition, Novices and Tech Plus licensees can use CW only on the same frequencies as General and Advanced licensees on the 80, 40 and 15 meter bands: 3525-3600 kHz; 7025-7125 kHz and 21025-21200 kHz. The Report & Order as published in the Federal Register clarified two items that had raised some concerns when it was first released October 10: That the 80/75 meter band split applies to all three IARU Regions, and that FCC licensees in Region 2, which includes North America, can continue to use RTTY/data emissions in the 7075-7100 kHz band. Several controversial aspects of the proceeding are still to be resolved, although the FCC is working on an erratum for the inadvertent elimination of J2D emissions of more than 500 Hz bandwidth. The Commission intends to release the erratum by the December 15 effective date. The FCC also took several other miscellaneous actions. NNNN/EX 73. (via Dino Bloise, FL, USA, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U S A. 'THE MIC' LISTENERS WON'T LET GO --- By Kevin Lynch "The Mic" may be on the verge of being unplugged, but its fans and local advertisers are hanging onto the cord in a tug of war with over who owns the airwaves. Already more than 3,600 citizens have signed an online petition to keep the progressive political talk format of WXXM/FM 92.1. Clear Channel Radio-Madison has announced it will switch the format to local and college sports coverage from Fox Sports on Jan. 1. The change will come despite recent ratings showing that the station's combination of national Air America talk shows and like-minded local programs is the No. 1 talk format in the Madison market. Clear Channel's poorest performing station, WTSO/AM 1070, is already doing local sports coverage. . . http://www.madison.com/tct/business/index.php?ntid=108489&ntpid=1 (Madison Capitol Times via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. 1630, KKGM, Texas. They are currently running southern gospel music, sports and ministry programs. Nothing in the Spanish language. Address for reports: AM 1630 KKGM, 5787 South Hampton, Suite 108, Dallas. Texas 75232. Address reports to: Mr. Jack Davis. Program Director. This in response to a my second follow-up report, which he rejected, (Despite hearing a clear KKGM ID at TOH); then again this report was a old log, dating back to November 2004. Will try for another attempt on this one, knowing the format that they use now (Edward Kusalik, Alberta, CANADA, Nov 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Re 6-173, KFI 640: Glenn: -- "...You mean, the old tower lacked these??!!..." -- Only the strobes. The thing was packed with Red lights, de riguer for every tower above 100' in the US; the daytime strobes would be something new (GREG HARDISON, CA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VATICAN. Listened to VR to South Asia again, sign-on of the 1530 church service on Saturdays. 11850 was good on the Drake SW8; and 13765 had fair-to-good signals. Also could barely hear 9310 from CIS site. Opens with bells of St. Peters, and announcements by male with frequencies. Ends at 1600 on Saturdays, but normal program with features closes at 1550 Sun-Fri (Joe Hanlon, NJ, 11/25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 6875, Nov 25 at 1422, the Beatles`s ``Help``, 1424 after a couple of false starts, clip of JFK calling for Moon mission; 1425 more Beatles; 1437 ``Battle of New Orleans``, 1441 something else from JFK, still going at 1455 but weakening, and 1502, and at 1535 recognizably an MLK clip. No IDs heard, but I might name this ``Voice of American Martyrs of the Sixties``. Axually, it is likely The Crystal Ship, pirate, which has been reported several times on this frequency the last few months in Free Radio Weekly, and even during this time period, and does programming like this (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re: UNID on 6875 kHz. 11/25. Hey, Glenn, yes this was The Crystal Ship that you and I both heard. As a matter of fact, right now as I type this 'The Poet' and TCS are back on 6875 11/26 at 1649 playing one of my all-time favorites, the title track from King Crimson's first album, 'In The Court of the Crimson King,' with Greg Lake, later better known from Emerson, Lake and Palmer, on lead vocals and bass guitar. Always seems to put in a good signal here. Been a very active Thanxgiving holiday weekend on the pirate bands. Logged 7 new pirates here since Thursday (Alex Vranes, Jr.- Harpers Ferry, WV, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I was hearing something with rock music on 6875 again Sunday Nov 26 at 1425, poor (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6875.40, USA (PIRATE), unidentified; 1537-1750 24 November, 2006. The same one as heard on 23 November till 0045* on 6925.05U. AM mode, tune in to some skit about tire pressure, faux alpha spy numbers by female, POB 1, Belfast, NY mail drop, parody songs, "You're listening to the worldwide service of [seemingly] K--- ..." Fair at peaks (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Well, WTPR, Tire Pressure Radio, specialises in such programming, unless someone else was doing parody of same. Note that I had something on 6875 an hour earlier, presumed The Crystal Ship. Not unusual for one pirate to hand off the frequency to another (gh, DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Your regular work with the DXLD every week is something that makes this hobby more of a pleasure than it is already. The DXLD brings us all together. Thanks to you (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston FL, Nov 24) DIGITAL BROADCASTING ++++++++++++++++++++ NEWS OF TRIUMPHANT HD ROLLOUT; 25 1515Z NOV 06; PVZ Radiolists BC board has inspiring news of chap acquiring exciting new HD radio from popular electronics vendor. Thing include alla piggie-tails, snouts, & Tee-poles needed to hear even sta's whose towers you can see, let alone those beyond horizon. Wow! Such a marvel of regressive engineering is this! 99 bucks! That kinda dough I gotta five suit from Gazoot the Tentmaker. Looka great now that I'm down to sleek 458 pounds ! Best of all, this great iBLOC-a-ceiver is deaf as post to 50 K/snot flamethrower six miles distant. OoooohhhWow! The 'HD Rollout' continues! Digitalis uber alles, Dr. Zecchino P.V. Zecchino, T.D., Manalog Key, FL, IRCA via DXLD) I try to limit myself to one post a month on the HD topic, so here goes for November. This will be the Achilles' Heel of HD. I have had two JVC HD radios. Both were exceptional analog receivers on both AM and FM. Yet HD coverage was half the radius of good quality analog on both AM and FM - and I'm being generous. This same experience was echoed by two other local BC techs who have a Kenwood and Panasonic respectively. It's not a brand issue, as it seems to be the norm across every radio out there. Once the public seizes this information from their early adopter friends, it'll stifle sales. This dog won't hunt. One claim made for FM is that they will provide a greater span of programming choices. I think it will be opposite by killing off choices. A case in point: In the Providence area when I'm not near the shared 94.1/95.5 site, WMVY-92.7 is often listenable. Once WSNE-93.3 fired up HD, the broadband noise wiped them out over a wide radius. I have an FM antenna at 80' aimed toward WMVY at home. Still NG. For every new HD signal, I'd bet several "stations between the stations" become inaudible. Net loss. I am frankly very offended when a broadcaster tells me I have no right to listen to a station outside their city grade coverage. I have been able to do so for decades. I've gone so far as to tell one guy to go procreate freely with himself when he said that. The HD2 signals have been pretty much unlistenable unless I'm quite near the transmitter site for FM. Even some traffic signals emit noise that vex it. There is no analog to fold back to, so it just shuts off until it can resync. Too choppy for me. So far my clients have all come to the same conclusion about HD without my uttering a word. I simply reinforced their decisions. (Craig Healy, Providence, RI, IRCA via DXLD) Craig and IRCA friends - Reception blockage, not mere ix, from traffic sigs, etc., reported by others as well. No fix. Agree, offensive to hear we've no business listening to outa contour sta's. HD bund claims so doing 'hurts' local sta's & sponsors. Isn't this 90s VictimSpeak? How would people react if local merchants had city fathers ban out-of- town shopping? Will HD-buro next lobby FCCronies to ban Yagis? Don't laugh --- why give 'em ideas? Besides, now you need them just to hear local FM HD. Didn't Cable & Sat TV thrive by providing freedom to view 'out of contour stations'? Prime objection, one increasingly held: Innovation means more choices, not less. Slopping syndicated feeds on HD-2/3/ad infinitum fools no one. HD-bund's high-minded dissemblings notwithstanding, polluting the spectrum to crimp listener freedom is unjustifiable. TeamBLOC's greed will be its undoing. Cabal-BLOC's 'no distant listening for you, little man' ham-fist approach is nicely complimented by whining dishonesty. As with Ed Wood films, nothing HD is believable. Investors boast of twenty year investment. Best they load up onna Brioschi. =Z.= (PV Zecchino, T.D., Manalog Key, FL, ibid.) DRM [see also MYANMAR; NETHERLANDS; NEW ZEALAND] Re: DRM de Montsinery, Guiana francesa Vejam resultados da escuta [17875, also CVC 17860]: http://paginas.terra.com.br/lazer/py4zbz/sdr/sdrz.htm#t 73 de (Roland M. Zurmely, py4zbz, radioescutas via DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ TV ANTENNA SOURCE http://www.dennysantennaservice.com/index.html And take a look at his car with almost 500k miles on the engine. The guy did some serious driving for his installations. (this sent to me by Bob Cooper). – (Mike Bugaj, Enfield, CT USA, Nov 26, WTFDA via DXLD) PASSPORT RECEIVER REVIEWS (from rec.radio.shortwave) Passport does some nice reviews of serious radios, better than I read in most mags that seem too keen not to upset their advertisers who supply them with loan radios. I had some e-mails from Larry Magne and he explained that market research had shown that the main interest for readers was in the $50 to $150 portable radio range, and that there was only a handful of those like myself interested in the more expensive tabletops. With only a few top end radio's now available now that Drake has gone off the scene, here's my comment on what's left: Eton E1 - a couple of my DX pals own this new offering and rave about it's abilities to do serious DX, even connected to a big antenna which will not overload it. Icom RC-75 - for the price really good value for money. Many of my serious DX contacts use this radio with excellent results. AOR 7030+ is probably the top analogue DX machine, but not everyone can get used to its difficult and quirky operating system, small limited display and tiny cramped remote keypad. Those who got used to it's limitations love it. JRC NRD545 - every serious DXer I know had one, sold it on. Its early 16 bit digital processor limits its performance. Here's what one serious DXer says about the one he sold: "I will never advise anyone to buy a 545". Ten Tec RX340 and WJ 1000 - these expensive radios have only 16 bit processors which limits them. However owners in this newsgroup defend them to the hilt. Two of my DX friends had RX340s and sold them for better options. SDR computer radios - some of my pals have moved onto these radios and love them. I don't like computer radios at all though - prefer to have a large radio in front of me with full functions and a nice tuning knob. So, that's not a very wide choice left anymore, but there is another set of radios that represent good value for money and offer the listener outstanding performance, and that is the ham transceivers. I asked Larry Magne why he doesn't include some selected ones in Passport like WRTH sometimes do, and he replied again that the interest was too limited to a very few diehard DXer's and he could not therefore devote the limited space and resources of Passport to this small market. Here's my take on a few ham transceivers that I think you could have a look at: Icom IC-7000 has a 32 bit processor and every bell and whistle you could want, plus FM up to 450 MHz. See Bjarne Mjelde's review at: http://www.kongsfjord.no/bm/ic-7000%20review.pdf Very small and highly portable, also does not need to have the MW band enhanced. $1500. Also at $1500 is the more heavy weight Icom 746Pro with a 32 bit processor. See the Dallas Lankford review: http://www.kongsfjord.no/dl/Icom/IC-746Pro%20Impressions%20&%20Mods.pdf Its only drawback is like most Icoms, the MW band has been attenuated and you are going to have to get a skilled techie to remove that. Otherwise great value for money and a great DX machine. Friends who own them rave about their performance. Finally, if you want to spend big bucks on the ultimate with every bell and whistle you could hope for, then take a look at the: Icom 756 PRO III and the Yaesu FT2000. At a price of $3000 they will outperform the 16 bit processors in the TT RX340 & WJ1000 with their 32 bit processors. See my review of the 756 at http://www.dxing.info/equipment/ The ham transceivers do not have a sideband selectable sync detector in AM, except for the Icom 746Pro. If you just like listening comfortably to AM broadcasts then a ham transceiver will not suit you. Rather look on eBay for a good used Drake R8B with its superb sync detector. And if you are squeamish about having a transmitter around, just get a techie to disable the transmit function, a simple and inexpensive mod that can be reversed later if you want to again sell the radio. Good DX and don't forget to have fun (John Plimmer, Montagu, Western Cape Province, South Africa via rec.radio.shortwave) John, Thanks for the excellent assessment of current receivers available to DXers! The fact that we are not seeing new, traditional communications receivers come along once or twice a year as we used to is a sad commentary on the hobby decline. I believe that more and more, DXers will need to content themselves with quality used gear (in the traditional sense of radios with knobs), unless they go the route of transceivers as you mentioned. I used to own a Yaesu FT-900 and an ICOM IC-756Pro for receive-only use, and they are fine performers. I had various reasons for selling them, but now am resigned to operating computer-driven SDR radios for the foreseeable future if I want cutting-edge performance. The advances in communications equipment will be in the SDR devices, not labor- and parts-intensive analog receivers bristling with knobs. Like you and most others, I prefer knobs to tweak, but the unique features and hotrod performance of radios like my SDR-1000 make up for the lack of the tactile feel of quality knobs, buttons, etc. when operating a receiver. I do use a Contour Shuttle Pro and a Griffin Powermate knob when controlling the SDR-1000, but they are a token nod to traditional receiver controls. You mentioned the E1's usefulness with long antennas. I've been very impressed with this ability, too, but only when keeping the "DX" preamplifier turned OFF. My E1 is more prone to overload and spurious images with big antennas if the preamp is enabled. If extra gain is needed (usually it isn't), I found that a quality external preamp works better, something like a Wellbrook preamp or Kiwa, which use the very stout "negative-feedback" design. When I owned AR7030s, they had the same trouble with the stock, internal preamp. Performance was always better with a good external preamp, one that had better dynamic range & IP3. Bjarne Mjelde's review of the Eton E1 is very thorough in this regard. He describes his experiences hooking up long antennas to it, along with other comments and information about the E1. His review is here: http://www.kongsfjord.no/bm/The%20Eton%20E1%20Story.pdf 73! Guy Atkins, Puyallup, WA http://www.sdr-1000.blogspot.com (all via SW Bulletin Nov 26, via DXLD) TIPS FOR RATIONAL LIVING ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion. - Stephen Weinberg (via Dan Roberts, http://www.outfarpress.com via Conexión Digital Nov 26 via DXLD) ###