DX LISTENING DIGEST 6-188, December 21, 2006 Incorporating REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING edited by Glenn Hauser, http://www.worldofradio.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits For restrixions and searchable 2006 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn NEXT SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1340 Fri 2130 WWCR1 7465 Sat 1330 WRMI 7385 Sat 1700 WWCR3 12160 Sat 2230 WRMI 9955 Sun 0330 WWCR3 5070 Sun 0730 WWCR1 3215 Mon 0400 WBCQ 9330-CLSB Mon 0515 WBCQ 7415 [time varies 0500/0520] 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 CONTINENT OF MEDIA 06-10, December 20: (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/com0610.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/com0610.rm ** ALGERIA [non]. REINO UNIDO, 9850, RTV Algerienne, 2137-2142, escuchada el 21 de diciembre en idioma árabe con canción folklórica, locutor con comentarios, canto del Corán, SINPO 44444 (José Miguel Romero, Burjasot (Valencia) España, Sangean ATS 909, Antena Radio Master A-108, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AZERBAIJAN. Regular reception on 6110.8 around 1400, but as usual with almost no modulation. However, all the missing modulation can be found at approximately 6051 and 6171 kHz as strong, bubbling spurious signals. These are almost unreadable, but I recognized the station's interval signal, and when there actually is some audio on the carrier frequency, parallel listening confirms that the audio is the same as on the spurs (Olle Alm, Sweden, December 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELARUS. BIELORUSIA, 7390, Radio Belarus, 2121-2123, escuchada el 21 de Diciembre en idioma inglés, con emisión musical, canciones melódicas, locutora con comentarios e identificación, buena señal pero con audio muy bajo en paralelo por 7420, 35433. 7420, Radio Belarus, 2123-2130, escuchada el 21 de diciembre en idioma inglés a locutora con comentarios, música instrumental de fondo, SINPO 45544 (José Miguel Romero, Burjasot (Valencia) España, Sangean ATS 909, Antena Radio Master A-108, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. LV del Campesino, Sipe2, 5680.77, 1000-1015+ Dec 14, Spanish talk, rustic vocals. Fair level but slightly muffled audio (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) On such a distinctive frequency, an ID may be assumed (gh) ** BRAZIL. R. Capixaba, Vitória, 4935, 0040-0130+ Dec 15, Portuguese religious program with sermon, Portuguese talk, lite music, Portuguese gospel music. Presumed; irregular. Fair-good (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BULGARIA. Re 6-186: In WOR 1340 Glen[n] repeats the error made in the original publicity regarding European Music, which stated the station would air on Sundays from January 8. It should of course be Sundays from January 7, as 8 January is a Monday (PAUL DAVID, Wembley Park, United Kingdom dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BULGARIA. Tuning around Wed Dec 20 at 0717, I was attracted by lots of frequencies being mentioned in French on 9500. This turns out to be R. Bulgaria`s DX program, same 306 degree azimuth as used for English to NAm at 00 and 03 on 9700. ID at 0719 seemed to be R. Bulgarie Internationale (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BURKINA FASO. R. Burkina Faso, 5030, 2315-0002* Dec 16-17, French talk, Afro-pops, French phone-talk. 0000 sign-off with NA. Fair-good; University Network [COSTA RICA] not on air at this time (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. FESSENDEN ALERT: In the second hour of her program today, Shelagh Rogers on CBC Radio One is talking about Reginald Fessenden and the controversy over whether or not he was the first person to broadcast voice over radio. Just heard a promo for it before the news. http://cbc.ca/listen/ (Ricky Leong, Visiting Montreal, Dec 21, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) That would be Sounds Like Canada, at 11:05-11:30 am local, so webcast from Winnipeg at 1705 UT, Calgary & Edmonton 1805, BC stations at 1905. Stay tuned for O`Reilly & Persuasion on the half-hour. Glenn, ibid.) Thanks a lot for the info about the CBC broadcast. Am listening right now to this interesting broadcast from Winnipeg. 73, (Erik Køie, Copenhagen, ibid.) Later listened to it myself. Well done; featuring VA4IAN in Winnipeg. Above: advantage of dxldyg membership for timely tips (gh, DXLD) Might show up here? http://www.cbc.ca/soundslikecanada/podcast.html (Ken Kopp, KS, ibid.) Just a few podcasts listed, so odds against (gh) ** CANADA. LOCAL SHOWS COMING BACK TO CBC TV Buried in a CBC news release From http://www3.cbc.ca/sections/newsitem_redux.asp?ID=4467 "CBC Television returns to local daytime programming with a new series that is an entertaining, lighthearted, informative daily half-hour offering a fresh, hands-on approach to city living. Airing 1 p.m. weekdays, and produced by CBC regionally, hosts in cities across the country will bring viewers community stories that celebrate our unique differences and the communities integral to the vibrant lives we live. Your lifestyle guide to the best of our cities, the series will provide useful information, including ‘how to do it’, ‘where to get it’, and ‘who to call’ for viewers living life in our cities nation- wide." With the exception of news breaks, I don't recall any locally-produced programs on CBC TV from my teen years onward (post 1990). I'm looking forward to seeing what exactly they intend to do with this show (Ricky Leong, Visiting Montreal, Dec 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. So far the Firedrake jamming feeds appear to have had a common source, the delays between different transmitters having been normal for satellite feeds. Today, however, I noted a change to three different feeds, all apparently carrying the usual "programme", but with widely different starting times. As it seems, there is a main feed, carried by several jamming stations, and two separate feeds, each being carried by one specific jamming station only (synchronized audio for all transmitters carrying the respective feed). Frequencies noted: 1000: Main - 14500, 13970, 13765, 13650, 9855, 9200 --- separate A: 10400 --- separate B: 11665 1100: Main: 15375, 12040, 11590, 11540, 9680, 9200, 7470 --- separate A: 11750, 10400, 9605 --- separate B: 15545, 11785, 11665 1200: Main: 13625, 11590, 11540, 9425, 9200, 7470 --- separate A: 11775 (from 1215), 11750, 11710, 10400, 9605 --- separate B: 15545, 11785, 9680 (transmitter change on 9680) (Olle Alm, Sweden, December 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 1610, Radio Reloj, nailed! Location unknown but presumed Cuba, at 3:40 am ET, Dec 21 2006 (0840Z). Excitement abounds, cheering reverberates! The Radio Reloj I knew I heard last January on 1610 kHz but could not prove, has now been captured on both audio and video (Spectran). Finally I can stop listening to that damn channel. It would seem not to have been a one time thing, just a very hard thing to catch. Fortunately my noise monster usually sleeps by at least 1 or 2 am local, and other ambient noise was nicely at bay tonight. Accidentally leaving the GAP DSP on and playing with Spectran settings I hadn't used before seems to have had a positive effect on my success as well. All proof that one can not possibly have too many toys! Hopefully, now others will be inspired to sit hunched over their radios for countless hours listening for those minuscule insidious tones on 1610. I do have to apologize a little though, this is really more like a beacon catch than your typical MW AM DX. Like I care. :-D Such a nice little Christmas gift for me. In the spirit of Dr. Z., I offer this more or less appropriate quotation (value being in the eye of the discoverer): If I have ever made any valuable discoveries, it has been owing more to patient attention, than to any other talent. Sir Isaac Newton (1642 - 1727) (W. Curt Deegan, Boca Raton, (southeast) Florida [Ten-Tec RX-320D; LFE M-601; GAP DSP; Spectran], IRCA via DXLD) My listening situation here in Orlando has changed a bit recently and I've been much more actively DXing. Anyone who has scanned the dial from Orlando and points south (possibly the whole state) is well aware that Radio Reloj is more common here than C2CAM. On practically every frequency that doesn't have a strong local you can hear the tock, tock, tock... di-dah-dit di-dah-dit signature of Radio Reloj. I've done a number of searches on the internet for more information, but what I've found is primarily a description of RR. I've found nothing about official frequencies, transmitter locations, anything like that. Does anyone know where I could find this? Does anyone in the radio world give two hoots about RR? (Jay Heyl, Dec 20, ABDX via DXLD) I sent them a report and cassette recording of their 570 outlet last year, along with an inquiry about their other frequencies, which has so far gone unanswered. (So much for that promise I'd seen on a DX page that Reloj QSL'ed any and all reports!) Anyway, I did find a list at http://www.radioreloj.cu/secfijas/contacto.htm which is from the official Radio Reloj page. Obviously, it isn't 100% correct, as it doesn't mention anything about that one on AM-1020 that a few of us (Myself included) reported hearing a year or two back, but the list is certainly better than nothing! Of course, the whole page is in Spanish. Anyway, I hope this helps (Eric Berger, MI, ibid.) ** CUBA [and non]. CONCURSO DE LOS 500 RECEPTORES PARA CUBA Nuevamente dos emisoras internacionales (Radio Canadá Internacional y Radio Nederland Wereldomroep) aúnan sus esfuerzos para ofrecer a su vasta audiencia un único programa de contacto con el oyente: "EL CASTOR MENSAJERO y CARTAS@RN", respectivamente. En este programa conjunto, se da a conocer oficialmente el lanzamiento de un concurso. Es una propuesta dirigida exclusivamente a nuestros amigos oyentes que nos sintonizan en Cuba. Lea las bases del concurso y participe. Este programa conjunto animado por Jaime Báguena García (RNW) y Pablo Gómez Barrios (RCI), cuenta con la participación de Martín Movilla, Alfonso Montealegre, José Zepeda y con las declaraciones de sus invitados Roger Tetrault (director de programas en lenguas extranjeras de RCI) y Jan Hoek (director general de RNW). Escuche la emisión conjunta difundida por RCI y RNW, el domingo 17 de diciembre de 2006. Repetición el viernes 22 de diciembre dentro del marco de la programación especial de Navidad de RNW ¡ATENCIÓN CUBA! INVITACIÓN EXCLUSIVA PARA NUESTROS OYENTES QUE RESIDEN EN CUBA: Radio Canadá Internacional y Radio Nederland Wereldomroep les proponen un concurso que tiene como premio un receptor de radio de onda corta. "Cartas@RN" de RNW y "El Castor Mensajero" de RCI invitan a nuestros oyentes que residen en Cuba a que escriban una historia sobre su isla. El relato se basa en una promoción de lo que es el pueblo cubano y Cuba como país. Ejemplos del tema pueden ser la cultura, la historia, la familia, los lugares que se pueden visitar, la cocina cubana, anécdotas, etc. En definitiva, todo aquello que ustedes juzguen atractivo e interesante para dar a conocer Cuba al mundo. La historia tiene como máximo un límite de 500 palabras (el equivalente a aproximadamente 4 minutos o dos páginas). Sólo se permite una historia única y diferente por participante y debe ser enviado sólo a una dirección postal (Holanda o Canadá). Sus trabajos deben de llegar antes del 30 de marzo de 2007. En nuestro caso a esta dirección: Radio Nederland Cartas@RN concurso CUBA Apartado 222 1200 JG Hilversum Holanda O bien electrónicamente a: cartas @ rnw.nl No menos de 500 receptores serán regalados entre los concursantes. Participe con su redacción libre y hágase merecedor de un moderno receptor de radio. http://www.informarn.nl/programas/programasnavidad06/061221_cartasypastor Jaime Báguena. Cordiales 73. (via Jose Bueno / España, Dino Bloise / EEUU, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) This is a wonderful idea, but I can`t help but wonder how many of the 500 receivers can actually reach the individuals winning them --- and how many will be confiscated later; after all, merely owning a SW radio in Cuba implies you may be a counter-revolutionary, not satisfied with official commie government-controlled media (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** CUBA [and non]. COUPLE STRIKES PLEA DEAL IN CASTRO 'SPY' CASE --- A couple who worked at Florida International University pleaded guilty to reduced charges in a Cuban government 'spy' case. --- By JAY WEAVER Posted on Wed, Dec. 20, 2006 FEDERAL COURT Almost one year after his arrest jolted Miami, former Florida International University professor Carlos Álvarez pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiring to be an unregistered agent who informed on the Cuban exile community for the communist government of Fidel Castro. His wife, Elsa, an FIU counselor on leave, also pleaded guilty in federal court in Miami to being aware of his illegal activity, harboring him and failing to disclose it to authorities. The Álvarezes averted a difficult jury trial next month on the more serious, previous charge of being Cuban agents who did not register with the U.S. government, an offense that carries up to 10 years in prison. The plea deals were struck after a judge decided to allow a major piece of incriminating evidence at trial -- Carlos Álvarez's ''confession'' last year to the FBI of his collaboration with Cuban intelligence agents, including use of a home computer, encrypted disks and travel to the island. ''The entire case against Dr. Álvarez came from his own mouth,'' defense lawyer Steven Chaykin said outside the courthouse. He argued that his client told FBI agents ''everything he did'' after they dangled a ''promise'' to leave him alone if he told the truth. Both Chaykin and Elsa Álvarez's lawyer, Jane Moscowitz, stressed to reporters that their clients ''never sought to do any harm to anyone in this community.'' Chaykin said his client was simply trying to work toward lifting the U.S. embargo against Cuba through exchange programs -- an ''idealism'' infused with ''naivete'' that ''ensnared'' him in the Cuban intelligence service. Prosecutors condemned the Álvarezes' felony activities with Cuba's hostile regime. ''Today's guilty pleas serve as a stark reminder that there are among us some who, while enjoying the freedom and liberty our great nation offers, continue to serve the interests of another master,'' U.S. Attorney R. Alexander Acosta said. The plea agreements, approved by U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore, mean that Carlos Álvarez faces up to five years in prison and his wife, Elsa, up to three years at their sentencing, which is set for Feb. 27. Carlos, who has been held at the Miami Federal Detention Center since his arrest in January, smiled and blew kisses to a half- dozen supporters in the courtroom. His wife, who was released on a $400,000 bond by the judge in June, remained stoic. Álvarez, 61, was a longtime FIU psychology professor who formally resigned on Nov. 22, according to a school spokeswoman. His wife, Elsa, 56, was placed on a leave of absence without pay on Nov. 3. The couple, who have five children, had been on paid administrative leave. The FBI began targeting the couples' activities in 2001, when the agency installed a hidden microphone in the bedroom of their Miami- Dade home. In the summer of 2005, two FBI agents picked up Carlos Álvarez at a local Publix and took him to a hotel, where he detailed his ''conspiracy'' with Cuban agents. On Tuesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Axelrod, aided by prosecutor Brian Frazier, depicted the Álvarezes in distinctly different roles. Axelrod said Carlos Álvarez's involvement with the Cuba intelligence service began in 1977, noting he gathered information in Miami ``on prominent people, community attitudes, political developments and current events of interest to the Cuban government.'' Among the exiles under surveillance: FIU president Modesto ''Mitch'' Maidique. He declined to comment. Axelrod revealed a web of technology, secrets and cover-ups that would have been presented at trial. ''Álvarez received these instructions through personal meetings, messages written on water-soluble paper, coded pager messages and encrypted electronic communications,'' he told the judge. ``The electronic communications involved shortwave radio messages from the Cuban intelligence service, which Álvarez decrypted using a computer disk.'' Álvarez then gathered the requested information and compiled written reports, which he encrypted using another computer disk. Álvarez signed these reports with his code name, ``David.'' ''Álvarez mailed these reports to various post office boxes in New York,'' then destroyed the evidence, Axelrod said. Communication between Álvarez and his co-conspirators ''ceased'' when the U.S. attorney's office in Miami charged 10 suspects with espionage in the so-called Wasp spy case in 1998. The prosecutor said Elsa Álvarez became aware of her husband's ''conspiracy'' in 1982. He said her role ''helped conceal the true nature of his activities'' -- until July 2005, when she spoke to the FBI. Elsa Álvarez's lawyer, Moscowitz, said her client ``was very concerned for Carlos.'' (c) 2006 MiamiHerald.com and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** CUBA [non]. CONGRESSMAN SAYS HE'LL HOLD HEARINGS ON RADIO AND TV MARTI --- By Vanessa Bauza, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, (MCT) FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Rep. William Delahunt, D-Mass., who is likely to become chairman of the House International Relations Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, plans to hold congressional hearings to investigate charges of mismanagement at federally funded Radio and TV Martí. Delahunt, who last week led a 10-member congressional delegation on a trip to Havana aimed a furthering relations with the communist government, said recent news reports prompted his call for an investigation into the Miami-based stations. He said the hearings would begin in February. "We've had recent media reports indicating there has been mismanagement, corruption, and a declining audience," said Delahunt, a longtime critic of the Cuban embargo. "The bottom line is it's a mess or it would appear to be a mess. I'm not reaching any conclusions. I go in with an open mind ... if we didn't have hearings we would be doing a disservice to the American taxpayer and would be remiss in our obligation to conduct oversight." The anti-Castro stations, tasked with providing an alternative to Cuba's state run media, have a combined $37 million annual budget but their signals are routinely jammed by the Cuban government prompting critics to question the effectiveness of the programs. Delahunt announced the hearings a day after two commercial South Florida stations began airing Radio and TV Martí's programming in an attempt to circumvent the jamming. Recent U.S. government reviews of Radio and TV Martí's programming found that it included vulgarity and omitted news stories that were critical of the Bush administration and the Cuban American community in South Florida. The hearings come in the wake of an indictment last month of a senior executive of TV Martí charged with taking kickbacks from companies doing business with the station. The Office of the Inspector General, the State Department's watchdog agency, early next year will conduct its own investigation into management practices at the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, which oversees Radio and TV Martí, said spokesman Joe O'Connell. "We look forward to working with Congressman Delahunt and his committee," said O'Connell. "We are going to cooperate. Presumably there will be requests for testimony and so on and we're happy to take part." (via Zacharias Liangas, DXLD) ** CUBA [non]. RADIO, TV MARTI' FACE A CONGRESSIONAL PROBE --- A CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATION OF TV AND RADIO MARTI' IS SLATED FOR EARLY 2007, A MASSACHUSETTS DEMOCRAT SAID. BY CHRISTINA HOAG & OSCAR CORRAL http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/world/cuba/16278442.htm IN CUBA: Congressmen William Delahunt, D-Mass, was part of a delegation of U.S. lawmakers, who visited Cuba's Foreign Ministry in Havana, Saturday. JAVIER GALEANO/AP [caption] IN CUBA: Congressmen William Delahunt, D-Mass, was part of a delegation of U.S. lawmakers, who visited Cuba's Foreign Ministry in Havana, Saturday. [caption] Congress early next year will investigate allegations of mismanagement and political cronyism at taxpayer-funded Radio and TV Marti', a ranking Democrat said Tuesday. Rep. William Delahunt, D-Mass. -- slated to chair the oversight and investigations subcommittee for the House International Relations Committee -- said he will move to hold hearings on the Marti's in late January or early February. His comments came a day after Radio Mambi', WAQI-AM (710), and Azteca Ame'rica, WPMF-TV 38, each began carrying an hour of Marti' programming daily for payment. ''This will be a priority,'' said Delahunt, who was in Cuba this week as part of a congressional delegation. ``There's mismanagement . . . that really demands a thorough review.'' Government-funded media such as the Marti's cannot broadcast on U.S. airwaves because their mission is to present the U.S. viewpoint to foreign audiences. However, there are loopholes in the law: Time on an AM transmitter can be leased to circumvent signal-jamming, and TV Marti' can be ''inadvertently'' picked up by U.S. viewers as long as it reaches Cuba. The Office of Cuba Broadcasting, which oversees the Marti' operation, portrays the contracts as just another way to reach Cubans on the island. Radio Mambi''s signal can reach Cuba under certain circumstances, and WPMF-TV is carried on DirecTV, which some Cubans can receive via a pirated signal. Delahunt said the U.S. government is essentially hiring the stations to reach mostly local audiences, funded with taxpayer money. The six- month contracts call for Mambi' to be paid $182,500 and WPMF $195,000. WPMF general manager Enrique Landi'n said Channel 38 also will sell commercials during the Marti' newscasts -- which enraged Delahunt. ''Now we're subsidizing private commercial stations,'' said Delahunt, who called the Marti's politically motivated boondoggles. The Marti's will receive $37 million this year. ``This is outrageous.'' The criticisms didn't surprise U.S. Rep. Lincoln Di'az-Balart, who earmarks funds for the Marti' operation. ''I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for Delahunt . . . to stop trying to help the Cuban dictatorship,'' Di'az-Balart said through his chief of staff, Ana Carbonell. Larry Hart, a spokesman for the Broadcasting Board of Governors, the government arm that oversees the Marti's, said the charges of political patronage were ``ridiculous.'' Both Radio Mambi' and WPMF-TV were selected after a media market survey, Hart said. Although many government contracts are awarded through competitive bidding, the law allows some vendor contracts to be issued as ''sole source'' -- without bidding -- under circumstances such as urgency or a unique service. In this case, Hart said, time was of the essence after Cuban leader Fidel Castro transferred power to his brother Rau'l in July. ''We have been redoubling efforts to get through,'' Hart said. Two other South Florida stations were approached, WSBS-TV 22 and WJAN- TV 41, but neither was willing to lease the blocks of time Marti' was seeking. Representatives at WSBS-TV had no comment, and calls to WJAN were not returned. HIGHLY RATED Radio Mambi' is one of the highest-rated radio stations in South Florida and is known for its strong anti-Castro stance. Popular Mambi' commentator Ninoska Pe'rez-Castellon is also a board member and spokeswoman for the hard-line Cuban Liberty Council. Mambi' is the only Spanish-language AM station that carries a 50,000- watt signal through the night and is able to reach Cuba, Hart said. Most AM stations reduce their signal at night when there are fewer listeners. [but not for that reason!! gh] Hart acknowledged that the Cuban government's Radio Rebelde transmits on the same frequency as Mambi' -- 710 AM. But he said the jamming does not block Mambi' in all locations or at all times, and that the signal gets through, particularly on the northern coast. Representatives at Univisio'n, Mambi''s corporate owner, had no comment. WPMF-TV is a small, low-power TV affiliate of the Azteca Ame'rica network, owned by Mexico's TV Azteca. The station is carried on local cable systems, as well as DirecTV and over the air. It was selected because it is carried on DirecTV Latin America, which is pirated in Cuba, Hart said. Landi'n and Jorge De Ca'rdenas, a marketing consultant to the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, are former business partners. State corporate records show De Ca'rdenas and Landi'n were partners in Creative Developers, a real estate investment company that dissolved in 1980. They also had a 30-year business relationship, De Ca'rdenas said, when Landi'n sold radio time to De Ca'rdenas, then an advertising executive, to place ads for his clients. De Ca'rdenas said a 2003 consultant report for the Office of Cuba Broadcasting recommended using radio stations around the Caribbean to transmit Radio and TV Marti'. That never happened, but the idea remained. Calls to Pedro Roig, director of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, weren't returned Tuesday. VIOLATION OF LAW Former Director Herminio San Román, who ran the operation from 1997 to 2001, said the Marti's transmitted via a Miami station, WCMQ, in the late 1980s for several months. But an attorney for the U.S. Information Agency found such transmissions violated the law, he said. He could not provide a copy of the opinion. This is not the first time the U.S. government has contracted U.S.- based radio stations to air its propaganda, said John Nichols, associate dean of Pennsylvania State University's College of Communications. During the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, the government leased time on private radio stations in South Florida and as far away as New Orleans to beam Voice of America into Cuba. And in September 1987, Radio Mambi' and WQBA-AM La Cubani'sima rebroadcast a Marti' interview with Cuban defector Florentino Azpillaga Lombard after U.S. officials did not make him available to U.S. media. Nichols noted that using the Miami stations to broadcast overseas violates international law because they are licensed to serve only U.S. audiences. Cuba has long complained to international telecommunications authorities about the Marti's. ''This gives more fuel to the Cuban government's position,'' he said. The hearings are almost certain to be politically charged. Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Arizona, a longtime critic of the Marti's, said Tuesday that the transmissions over the Miami stations appeared to be legally fuzzy (via Zacharias Liangas, DXLD) Apostophically-offset acutes I have left as in original item, something rarely seen in press, and better than nothing (gh, DXLD) Same story, truncated: http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/nation/16277292.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp (Via Brock Whaley, DXLD) RADIO, TV MARTÍ TO BE AIRED LOCALLY http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/16270804.htm U.S. audiences will be able to get news from TV and Radio Martê via two South Florida stations, despite a law that generally prohibits distribution in the United States. BY CHRISTINA HOAG * Problems dog broadcaster Taxpayer-funded TV and Radio Martí are spending $377,500 to air select programs on South Florida broadcast stations over the next six months, using loopholes in a law that prohibits the propaganda channels from distribution within the United States. The deals appear to be the first of their kind between the Martís and private commercial stations with mostly U.S. audiences. The stations - - Univisión's Radio Mambí 710 AM and WPMF-TV 38, the Azteca América affiliate owned by TVC Broadcasting -- technically can reach Cuba. The agreements come at a time when Fidel Castro, Cuba's longtime leader, is thought to be dying. The Cuban government jams Martí transmissions directly to the island, but experts said the signal from a South Florida AM radio station can get there, very clearly at night. And WPMF-TV, an over-the-air station, can be seen by Cubans with satellite dishes. ''It's another method to get our signal in,'' Pedro Roig, director of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, which runs the Martís, said on Radio Mambí Monday. Roig estimated that 30,000 Cubans can receive satellite TV. ``It's a decision taken at the White House.'' Critics, however, noted that a Cuban audience for either station is only an infinitesimal fraction of their South Florida audience, and both stations are clearly aimed at South Floridians. ''It certainly sounds like it's inconsistent with the spirit of the federal law,'' said John Nichols, associate dean of Pennsylvania State University's College of Communication. He is a longtime monitor -- and critic -- of the Martís. Joe García, executive vice president of the New Democratic Network, said he was outraged. Radio Mambí, known for its virulent anti-Castro commentary, is blocked in Cuba, he said. ''This is a fraud,'' García said. ``This is using taxpayer dollars for a political payoff to benefit the most Republican and politically charged radio station in Miami. They know well that the station isn't heard in Cuba, because Cuba transmits Radio Rebelde over the exact same frequency.'' Ninoska Pérez, a commentator for Radio Mambí, declined to talk to The Miami Herald. Mambí general manager Claudia Puig did not immediately respond to a request for comment. TV and Radio Martí, and other U.S. government-funded media such as Voice of America, are prohibited by law from airing in the United States because their content is designed for foreign audiences. The Martí programs -- which include documentaries, comedies, interviews and talk shows -- are aimed at balancing the information Cubans on the island receive from their government, which restricts press access, with the viewpoints of the U.S. government. However, there are exceptions to the prohibition, said Larry Hart, a spokesman for the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which oversees the Martís. ''We believe we have the authority to do this,'' Hart said. He added that the deals were made after extensive consultation with the congressional committees overseeing the Martís. According to the act governing Radio Martí, the U.S. government is allowed to lease time on the AM band to overcome significant signal- jamming by the Cuban government. The provision for the TV Martí broadcasts is far less clear. The Broadcasting Board of Governors appears to be relying upon a paragraph in the law that terms dissemination in the United States illegal unless ``such dissemination is inadvertent.'' Hart likened inadvertent dissemination to a person in the United States picking up Radio Martí on a shortwave [sic]. However, in the case of WPMF-TV, South Floridians are not ''inadvertently'' tuning into the station, they are the station's main audience. Hart noted that the law was written before the advent of new technology, such as satellite and the Internet. On Radio Mambí Monday morning, Jorge Luis Hernández, director of broadcast operations for the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, said the White House pushed to have the Martís broadcast using local stations in Miami. ''The U.S. government has decided that DirecTV, as of today, is a new way for TV Martí to broadcast,'' he said. Under the six-month contracts, Mambí will earn $182,500 to carry Radio Martí from midnight to 1 a.m. nightly. [0500-0600 UT] WPMF-TV will earn $195,000 to air TV Martí's half-hour news programs at 6:30 p.m. and 11 p.m., plus one-minute news briefs from noon to midnight. WPMF may pick up Saturday programming as well, said general manager Enrique Landín. ''We're hoping that Cuba will pick up the signal on DirecTV and Dish network,'' said Landín, who is Cuban. ``The newscast is well done. It's not too political and it's very informative.'' Miami Herald staff writer Oscar Corral contributed to this report (via Zacharias Liangas, DXLD) RADIO, TV MARTI SEAL DEAL IN S. FLORIDA http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/miami/sfl-amarti20dec20,0,5356904.story?coll=sfla-news-miami News reports seen as way to boost Cuban audience By Vanessa Bauza' and Madeline Baro' Díaz South Florida Sun-Sentinel Posted December 20 2006 Federally funded Radio and TV Marti' have struck six-month deals with two commercial South Florida stations to broadcast news reports to Cuba in the latest attempt to circumvent jamming of their anti-Castro programming. U.S. law prohibits the use of public airwaves for propaganda aimed at foreign audiences, such as Radio and TV Marti' and Voice of America. However, Tish King a spokeswoman for the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which oversees the Cuba broadcasting programs, said the law that created Radio Marti' allows U.S. stations to carry the programming if signals to Cuba are jammed. After consulting with a congressional oversight committee, the board decided similar rules could be applied to TV Marti', King said. The agreements represent the first time private stations are allowed to carry programming from Radio and TV Marti'. The broadcasts began Monday. The agreements, worth $377,500 combined, are an attempt to boost Radio and TV Marti''s Cuban audience at a critical time. In Havana, it is unclear whether Fidel Castro will ever return to the presidency, while in Washington anti-embargo legislators are increasingly criticizing the administration's hard line against the island nation. A bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation visited Havana last week and plans to hold hearings on legislation to ease travel restrictions to Cuba. They will also examine federally funded programs that have mismanaged millions of dollars for Cuban dissidents, according to a government oversight board, and they question the effectiveness of spending millions on broadcasts that are rarely seen or heard. Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., who led the 10-member delegation, called the decision to air Radio and TV Marti' on local commercial stations a politically motivated maneuver meant to appease South Florida's Cuban American community. "It's always been a show in search of an audience and I think now they are simply removing the charade that this is intended for Cuba," Flake said of Radio Marti'. U.S. Rep. Lincoln Díaz-Balart, R-Miami, said he supported "all available technologies and broadcasting methods for TV and Radio Marti' to break through the information blockade imposed on the Cuban people." According to the Broadcasting Board of Governors, Radio Mambí, one of the top Spanish language stations in South Florida, will receive $182,500 to broadcast Radio Marti' between midnight and 1 a.m. on weekdays. In a similar contract worth $195,000, half hour newscasts of TV Marti' will be aired twice daily on WPMF-TV, Channel 38, a Miami- based affiliate of the Spanish-language Azteca Américas network picked up by DirecTV. Authorities on life in Cuba estimate Cuba has 10,000 black market DirecTV dishes, which are regularly confiscated by the Cuban government. Hans de Salas del Valle, a research associate at the University of Miami's Institute for Cuba and Cuban American Studies, said Cubans' access to DirecTV is too limited to make an impact. "It seems again that the Cuban government has been able to anticipate the tough measures that the administration has taken over the years," de Salas del Valle said. "They seem to be a step ahead in terms of knowing where their vulnerabilities are and taking steps to prepare. I don't think this will have a major impact." Enrique Landín, general manager of WPMF-TV, said he did not think the programming would affect South Florida viewers. "This is something that we are doing for the benefit of Cubans," said Landín, who was born in Cuba (via Brock Whaley, Zacharias Liangas, DXLD) This story also had some offset-apostrophe acutes, but not everywhere they should be, so I added those accents in the usual manner (gh) Doesn't the law apply to VoA only? Chicago's WKTA 1330 has been carrying R. Liberty in Russian during its evening/night hours for years now. Looking at WKTA's advertized coverage somehow I doubt that its signal would reach any part of Russia: http://www.pclradio.com/images/logo_WKTA_advertising_coverage.gif Actually, it is WKTA's day pattern when the station "blasts" at 5 kW. Their night power is only 17 Watts! (Sergei Sosedkin, IL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. FRANCE VINGT-QUATRE --- I had trouble finding the live video stream at http://www.france24.fr On the English home page, it says: "Watch France 24 live. Click on 'live feed'." That "live feed" is a link, but it is not the link to the live feed. Instead, it takes you back to the French-language home page. The live feed link that you are looking for is in much smaller type, just above. Maybe France 24 could have given us at least a hint where the live feed link is. Is it similarly difficult to find the ignition switch on a Citroën? Posted: 21 Dec 2006 (Kim Andrew Elliott, kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) ** GREECE. Some observations on Radio Friendship (Filia in Greek). MW 666 kHz: 0555 IS, 0600 in Albanian, 0700 in French, 0735 fade out. 9420 and 12105: 0555-0900 Greek, feature 0600-0730 \\ MW 729 kHz. 15630: 0600-0730 and 0800-0900 Greek \\ previous; 0700 French. [something doesn`t fit on above line; 0600-0700 then? --- gh] MW 666: 1500 Bulgarian, 1530 Polish, 1600 Romanian, 1630 Turkish, 1700-2000 Greek. All SWs in Greek 1500-2000 UT (Dec 9). On Dec 10: MW 666: 0600-0730 own program in Greek; 15630: 0600-1000 own program in Greek 9420 and 12105 at 0600 UT own program in Greek. 0700 religious in Greek till 1000 (0600-0800 fade out \\ MW 729 kHz). Very different from the official schedule. On MW 666 at 1800 UT heard Greece, Lithuania and strong prgr "Mayak" \\ LW 198 (Dec 10). (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, Dec 17, wwdxc BC-DX Dec 22 via DXLD) So much for a reliable hour in English at 0700 on 15630 as previously reported (gh, DXLD) ** INDIA. AIR Projects Commissioned During 9th & 10th Plan No, Place, Project, Date of Commissioning PROJECTS COMMISSIONED DURING 1999-2000 47 Kurseong(WB) 50 kW SW Tr. (Repl. of 20 kW SW) 15.08.1999 49 Ranchi(Jharkhand) 50 kW SW Tr. (Repl. of 20 kW SW) 21.09.1999 50 Ranchi(Jharkhand) 6 kW SW Tr. (Repl. of 1 kW MW, VB) 24.03.2000 PROJECTS COMMISSIONED DURING 2000-2001 59 Delhi(Khampur) 2 X 250 kW SW Tr. 26.05.2000 PROJECTS COMMISSIONED DURING 2002-2003 1 Aligarh(UP) 250 kW SW (Repl. of 250 kW 2 No) 03.02.2003 5 Delhi 3 x 250 kW SW (Repl. of 100 kW 3 No) 04.02.2003 10 Jammu(J & K) 50 kW SW (Repl. of 1 kW SW) 10.12.2002 Source : http://www.allindiaradio.org (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, dx_india via DXLD) From hundreds of entries, mostly FM, some MW, and other equipment covered, I excerpted only these mentioning SW (gh, DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 6125.29, RRI Nabire at 1317-1402* on Dec 18. Tuned in just as Jak relay was ending at 1317; a female announcer and a couple of songs followed; after a drum IS at 1329, lokal berita was presented by the same YL; 1337-1359 uninterrupted Indo vocal selections; a nice 3-minute version of "Love Ambon" followed, with a short voice-over at 1400. Went off immediately after end of Love Ambon at 1402. Nice S=9+10 dB peak right at close-down. Nice to see another Indo re- activated, although there was no sign of them next day (19 Dec). 6125.29, RRI Nabire at 1344-1354* UT on Dec 20. Two Indo vocals, then an old English C&W Christmas tune; 1353 Love Ambon and M with closedown; off at 1354. A bit different from Monday's log, which had a YL, a sign-off time of 1402, and a long version of L.A. Very good signal again, in spite of rather bad condx overall (John Wilkins, CO DXplorer Dec 21 via BCDX via DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. New programs on Radio Farda. But why? "Radio Farda has introduced several new thematic programs during the last several weeks that provide listeners in Iran new depth and breadth in program content about human rights and democracy issues in their own country as well as in Iran's relationship with the United States." Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty press release, 20 December 2006: http://www.rferl.org/releases/2006/12/452-201206.asp (via kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) Were these new programs the result of focus groups of Iranian listeners? Or of "focus groups" of Washington decision makers or conservative critics of the station? For criticism of Radio Farda, see previous posts on 14 December and 14 November. Posted: 21 Dec 2006 (Kim Andrew Elliott, ibid.) ** ISRAEL. Kol Israel, 6280 in English at 2015 with traditional music, interviews; fair // 7545 which was very good; 6280 now in use until Feb. 28 (Joe Hanlon, on the Sea Isle City NJ beach with Grundig G5 12/16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. 6280, Kol Israel, 2046-2051, escuchada el 21 de diciembre es español a locutor con boletín de noticias, SINPO 34232 (José Miguel Romero, Burjasot (Valencia) España, Sangean ATS 909, Antena Radio Master A-108, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH. With DW on 6075 less noisy nowadays, the dear comrades on 6070 have been audible almost daily around 1200. On most days the carrier is swinging back and forth irregularly, but occasionally it may be properly locked on channel (Olle Alm, Sweden, December 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LAOS. Re 7145, 6-187: Certainly someone there prior to 1300, but RNZI comes on at 1300 with DRM spoiling any chances here after that (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LATVIA. [Re 6-187:] Relay schedule of the Ulbroka transmitter on 9290 kHz (100 kW) between Xmas and New Year: Sat December 23 Radio Joystick 0900-1000 Mon December 25 Radio Six International 0600-1000 Radio City 1000-1200 Sat December 30 Latvia Today* 0800-0900 Radio Joystick 0900-1000 Sun December 31 Latvia Today* 1300-1400 *) Latvia Today is produced by the national Latvian commercial radio station Radio SWH (Raimonds Kreicbergs via Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, Dec 21, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) In English? Others too? (gh) ** LIBYA [non]. V. of Africa, via France, 7320, 2224-2226 Dec 14, two minutes of English news, ID, 2226 French. Good, strong (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBYA [non]. [dxld] Para Tarek Zeidan, Email de Sawt al-Amal???? Saludos cordiales Tarek, la emisora Sawt al-Amal lleva unos días anunciando un correo electrónico; podría ser tan amable de intentar descifrarlo? Le adjunto una dirección para que pueda escuchar la grabación; lo anuncian después del canto del Corán. Audio: http://valenciadx.multiply.com/music/item/289 Muy agradecido, atentamente, José Miguel Romero. Traducción mecánica [cleaned up by gh, human]: Warm greetings Tarek, for a few days, the Sawt al-Amal transmitter has been announcing an e-mail address; could you please try to decipher it? Here`s a link where you can listen to the recording; they announce it after reciting the Qur`an: Audio: http://valenciadx.multiply.com/music/item/289 Many thanks (José Miguel Romero, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Interesting. My old ears are no good anymore and listened only thru tiny pc-loudspeakers. It sounds like info @ libyaregion.net or info @ libyaregime.net Can't find any of these nets with google. Maybe someone with better ears get this correct (Jari Savolainen, Finland, ibid.) Clandestina para Libia. MOLDAVIA, 17670, Sawt al-Amal, 1245-1300, escuchada el 20 de diciembre en idioma árabe a locutor con comentarios y referencias a Libia. Se aprecia fuerte colisión con Radio Budapest en húngaro, locutor con comentarios y villancicos, sintonía y cuña de identificación, SINPO 43443. 17665, Sawt al-Amal, 1300-1310, escuchada el 20 de diciembre en idioma árabe con sintonía, cuña de identificación, canto del Cor`án, SINPO 45554. 17655, Sawt al-amal, 1320-1330, escuchada el 20 de diciembre en árabe a locutor en conversación con invitado, 45444. Esta emisora se puede escuchar en internet en: http://www.libya-nclo.org/ Anuncian el siguiente correo electrónico: libyaradio @ libyaradio.com 73 (José Miguel Romero, Burjasot (Valencia), España, Sangean ATS 909 Antena Radio Master A-108, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) = National Conference of the Libyan Opposition; 5622G Ox Rd, PMB 26, Fairfax Station, VA – 22039 – USA - Web Site: http://libya-nclo.org/ - E-mail: muatmar @ libya-nclo.org says the above website, partly in English and linx to more English pages abottom (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I guess your audio file announcement says info @ libyaradio.net which has been the address for Advanced TV & Satellite Ltd., a company involved in Al Amal broadcasts. http://www.libyaradio.net seems to be "under construction" (Jari Savolainen, Finland, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. Radio Educación --- Los cambios en los medios públicos, Radio Educación --- Por: Elvira García, Publicado en el periódico: El Universal, Columna: Medios de por medio, 05 de diciembre de 2006 Hoy hablaré de Lidia Camacho y su labor emprendida en Radio Educación. Ella puso al día a esa emisora cultural, desde todos los puntos de vista. Recordemos que hace seis años la recibió con un atraso tecnológico de más de dos décadas y que, desde hace un año, funciona con tecnología de punta y digitalización en todos sus procesos, cosa que la pone por delante de todas las radios públicas y privadas del país. Actualmente, Radio Educación cuenta con una fonoteca totalmente automatizada, cuyo acervo - uno de los más grandes e importantes de México - ha sido íntegramente trasladado a formatos digitales, con lo cual se amplía la vida de esos fonogramas en al menos unos 30 años más. Tales audios guardan voces, música y testimonios que cuentan parte de la historia de país. Asimismo, tanto el edificio, el área administrativa y la de noticias, como los estudios de grabación y las cabinas, han sido renovados. Así las cosas. Esta radio - que en los 80 y hasta principios de los 90 fue líder por sus contenidos y su calidad, pero cayó en el ostracismo a mediados de la década pasada - hoy está por iniciar un nuevo ciclo. Queda pendiente la modernización de toda su programación, así como una mejora salarial considerable a los talentosos realizadores, locutores y guionistas que le han dado su vida y el sello a esa emisora cultural. Es fundamental que el nuevo titular de esa estación pueda dar continuidad a la tarea realizada, que conozca de radio cultural y que tenga el talento para seguir elevando la respetable calidad de Radio Educación (via Roberto E. Gómez Morales, Noticias DX via DXLD) ** MEXICO. Re DXLD 6-187, XEYU testing again from Dec 19: Dec 20 at 1857 check I was able to detect the carrier on 9599.4 as before, and bits of audio, but too far down in the noise level (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Solar-terrestrial indices for 19 December follow. Solar flux 73 and mid-latitude A-index 12. The mid-latitude K-index at 1800 UTC on 20 December was 2 (28 nT). No space weather storms were observed for the past 24 hours. Space weather for the next 24 hours is expected to be minor. Geomagnetic storms reaching the G1 level are expected. Solar-terrestrial indices for 20 December follow. Solar flux 72 and mid-latitude A-index 21. The mid-latitude K-index at 1500 UTC on 21 December was 3 (28 nT). No space weather storms were observed for the past 24 hours. Space weather for the next 24 hours is expected to be minor. Geomagnetic storms reaching the G1 level are expected (SEC via DXLD) Checked again Dec 21 at 1450, before firing up the TVs and computers, and found 9599.4 with monolog in Spanish, interrupted at 1451 by some guitar music; 1454 resumed with R. Universidad Nacional ID in passing, back to monolog. Very steady signal, hardly any fading, but constant het until 9600.0 carrier went off at 1501. XEYU at 10 over S9 gets a SINPO of 33343, but modulation only fair, not very crisp, and hard to understand. Maybe a mention of ``Instituto Antropológico`` gives a clue on the subject. Then I went looking for R. UNAM webpage. The one I had bookmarked for program schedule no longer works: http://www.unam.mx/radiounam/htm/programa.htm But starting at the UNAM homepage (which BTW has a UK flag for the English-language version --- how`s that for a snub from our dear neighbours?), I eventually found this: http://difusion.cultural.unam.mx/index.php?option=com_weblinks&catid=31&Itemid=62 Which has linx to webstreams; the one on the bottom doesn`t look like audio, but clicking on it, audio launched auto, ruining my recording in progress of Paul Winter Solstice concert from KMUW (but it was already inferior as not coming thru in stereo as indicated --- stereo adds so much to the listening experience with the ambiance from the Cathedral of St. John the [allegedly] Divine). (BTW, I have been spelling it ambience, to match ambient, but MS Word spellchecker claims it should be ambiance. Would you believe my 50+ year-old Merriam-Webster does not have it in either spelling? Must be a neologism, considered just plain French at démi-siècle. Google translator is very accommodating, accepting either spelling E to F and F to E! The last word: Google search on ambience gets 15 megahits, while ambiance gets 41 mega, so there! But I digress.) I will have to search further for an XEUN program schedule when it be safe to do so (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I did follow the links past the flash opening page with the unwanted music loop and eventually got to day by day program schedule. For XEUN-AM Thu Dec 22 at 8:30-9:30 am it`s Plaza Pública, which is // FM. Both AM and FM stations are obviously well worth listening to, online if no way else (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. XE Fun --- Finally broke away from other interests and obligations (including tenacious and tedious redo of the Mexican list I put out a couple of years ago) to tune the radio. I was tempted, after learning that the first indigenous Indian station I'd logged, XEANT in San Luis Potosí, had moved from 1070 to 770 ... might be audible at sign-off. Tuned 770 at 0059 UT, turned on tape and got a nice XEANT ID, but they continued beyond 0100 with woman talking. Went to 720 and found Radio Fórmula station dominating XEDE (with its relatively new slogan, "La Kaliente" and found great string of local commercials with frequent "Radio Fórmula Veracruz" mentions for good tape; all that's missing is an XEAVR call ID. LG, LG, La Grande was good on 680 at brief look-in. For a couple of nights XERFR-740 has been strong,(that's the only call I get; want a local Torreón break but it seems totally enlaced with 970. Old friend XEGF and another Latino were in there, too, but instead of trying to do something further with 740, I found loud, dominant signal on 960 with Imagen net informational programming, undoubtedly uneeded XEK (though I'd like to tape a full ID from them some night.) Up to 980 for a long string of Tampico commercials: (XETU not new). But on 950, two new stations added, fighting for domination, with about as different a programming as possible. A lot of shouting by excited man, with a couple of female voices and occasional crowd noise, ranchera and banda music is XECEL, Radio Lobo, in Celaya, Gto., while the station with romantic music and slogan "Romántica 950 AM" with slogan twice and time check between each record is XETO in Tampico. Interesting on XECEL to hear raucous banda musical selection to the tune of that slow, sedate U.S. love song from 40 years ago, "Eternally." "R-R" code faintly audible in the background from Cuba. Fun ... (John Callarman, Krum TX, Dec 20, ABDX via DXLD) Both XETE in Tehuacán ("Digital") and XEXF in León are listed as ACIR stations. Fred Cantú shows "Radio Felicidad" for XEXF; WRTH-2006 shows "Radio ACIR" as slogan. The ACIR stations have been known to shuffle back and forth from one format to another. Unfortunately, I haven't stopped often at 1140; XEMR in Monterrey has a pipeline into Krum, and it's often alone on the frequency since XESOS moved to 670. I seem to have a pipeline, too, into Guanajuato, because such stations as XELG-680, XEXV-1300, XERW-1390 regularly appeared here, and all I've been able to identify on 840 has been Radio Pachanga in Celaya. But Alan, you're far enough down the road from me that your reception patterns could be altogether different. I note the log on Movidita in Puebla on 1020. XENAS is still missing from my log, though I have occasionally heard a second Mexican there. I've only been able to identify XETGO in Zacatecas on 1100, and when I've nulled it in the past, I get the Cuban pest (assuming that the Cleveland signal is diminished.) (Juan Callarman, Krum TX, ibid.) ** NETHERLANDS. RN Programming Change --- Heard something interesting at the end of yesterdays "Euroquest": The program will be ending. This was the last newly-produced show; there will be 16 repeat ("Best Of") programs aired from now until May, when a new "hour-long" program will replace it. No details were given about the new program; but what is interesting is that it was described as "hour-long". Either that means that RN is changing its current half-hour-based program lineup, or this will be a weekend program (those tend to fill the hour transmission). 73, (Will Martin, MO, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) A lot of changes are being phased in between now and the start of the summer schedule. There is no change to the Mon-Fri format, with Newsline filling half of the transmission. Other programmes are also disappearing or merging and changing format. If you're interested in knowing what's on, please check http://www.radionetherlands.nl/listeningguide/this_week or subscribe to the weekly programme Newsletter at http://www.radionetherlands.nl/listeningguide/weekly_newsletter I don't work in the English department, so I cannot answer programming questions, but you're always welcome to write to letters@rnw.nl which is the general E-mail address for the department (Andy Sennitt, Radio Netherlands, ibid.) ** NIGERIA. Chaos of Nigeria --- Hi Glenn, here's Voice of Nigeria again: Dec. 21st, 1615-1701* 11770 Igbo, Arabic, fair signal, *1701- 15120 English, but weak as usual in December/January. 73 (Thorsten Hallmann, Münster, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7255, Voice of Nigeria, 2115-2120, escuchada el 21 de diciembre en idioma francés a locutor con boletín de noticias internacionales, SINPO 44444 (José Miguel Romero, Burjasot (Valencia) España, Sangean ATS 909, Antena Radio Master A-108, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORWAY [and non]. Thanks to Feico de Boer, Anorak Nation for the alert: http://www.northernstar.no/press.htm (Mike Barraclough, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: NORTHERN STAR PROJECT TO CONTINUE WITH NEW NAME AFTER ANOTHER SETBACK. Press Release ===== Dated 12th of December, 2006 For Immediate release Northern Star International Broadcasters AS After Norkring AS announced in 2003 it was not able to house the AM 216 frequency at its shortwave site in Sveio, Northern Star International Broadcasters AS decided to follow a more flexible strategy: The company decided to keep the offer for 216, while concentrating on campaigning for another Norwegian high power channel AM 1314, knowing this was likely to be given up by the NRK in 2006. It was thought that starting transmissions on this channel, besides of making revenue, would open up the complex challenges regarding building the longwave station. Subsequently, for 3 years there has been a low-profile process with extensive lobbying work in the bureaucracy and the leasing market to get this alternative frequency and its present site. At the end of July 2006 at last the company was able to register a significant success as it secured an exclusive offer for the combined 1314 package from Kvitsøy 24/7. This process has temporarily stopped though as the investors (and the company itself) thought the price asked by the site owner was much too high. It has emerged that at the same time the 1314 frequency permit(not a license) has been advertised in Oslo. At the moment, it is not clear what this will mean for our process. Northern Star International Broadcasters AS at any rate has decided to broaden its flexible strategy and will now with interested investors also consider transmitter sites in other countries including other frequencies and wavebands than 216, 1314 and Long-and Medium Wave. Northern Star International Broadcasters AS also has decided that this is a good occasion to re-launch the project with a new name: Radio Norway International. The proposed on-air identity is new, but the Northern Star project is continuing. http://www.northernstar.no/ (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 7120, Radio Wantok [sic], nice program in English with religious music and info, 1223 UT 21/12 (Maurits Van Driessche, from Belgium, HCDX via DXLD) ** PERU. 5323.65, La Voz del Anta (Tentative), 1045-1100 Dec 20. Noted steady Huaynos music from tune in. Spanish comments at 1057, but really threshold and beyond the possibility of copying details. At initial tune-in the signal was poor, but by 1100 it had degraded to threshold (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston, Florida, R390A, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I assume Chuck referenced the archive at Mark Mohrmann`s LA-DX to find these 5-6 year old logs, one of which matches the frequency precisely: 5323.6, PERU R La Voz de Anta, Anta, Acobamba, Huancavelica (.6-.7) 5323.65, PERU R LVd Anta, Anta [1155/0020-0400](.58-.7) Jun 00 X 5323.6, PERU R LVd Anta, Anta [0950-1230/0036-0100*] Aug 01 B *1130 Please cite your references to save us some trouble (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. LV de la Selva, 4824.48, 0245-0310* Dec 17, Spanish pop music, Spanish announcements, ID. 0307 closing announcements followed at 0308 by NA. Fair (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ROMANIA. Strange item! According to RRI German letterbox today Dec 17: RRI German at 1200-1300 UT suffered by severe echo on 11940 kHz in past weeks. Many complaints by the German language listener audience occurred then. The technical editor Alexandrescu discovered the cause, that both outlets used 11940 kHz via Galbeni Eastern Romania, and Tiganeshti Southern Romania sites, and never synchronized the audio!! see WRTH page 465. One transmitter site moved to 11790 kHz now (Wolfgang Büschel, Dec 16, wwdxc BC-DX Dec 22 via DXLD) Left hand, right hand (gh) ** SINGAPORE [non]. AWR via Wertachtal: lesser signal strength in Asia? With AWR switching from the UAE site to Wertachtal from Jan. 1, I'd be very interested in how listeners in India and China are receiving the frequencies since reception from Germany will be different from the closer Dhabbaya site; on the other hand listeners on the US east coast might have some luck with hearing Wavescan, 1200 Suns. on 15140 from Jan. 7, with the antenna coming off the back-- better luck here than with uncertain reception from Guam (Joe Hanlon, NJ, Dec 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TIBET [non]. The station on 7543 / 7547 is the Voice of Tibet. Broadcast started at 1400 UT in Tibetan, switch to Mandarin at 1420 UT. It`s rather a late hour in Tibet I must say. I visited Tibet last year and remembered seeing an old Russian made SW radio in Dalai Lama's summer palace, the Norbu Lingka (Richard Lam, Singapore, Dec 19, wwdxc BC-DX Dec 22 via DXLD) 1400 UT = 22 all-China time, but really only around 20 hours local mean time in Tibet, removing the double-daylight time imposed by the Chicom (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) During summer season via Madagascar and Uzbekistan on various 17 MHz channels, always odd xxxx2 xxxx3 xxxx7 xxxx8 kHz. Seems Chinese jammers have only xxxx5 or xxxx0 kHz spacing (Wolfgang Büschel, BCDX Dec 22 via DXLD) ** TURKEY. Re 6-185: Dear Sedef Somaltin, 15350 - I checked the 15 MHz band at 1410 UT again. Disturbtion dis-appeared partly. But still I noticed some BUZZ QRM, caused by the faulty Çakirlar transmitter unit. Around approx. 15293 to 15328 and on 15383 and 15397 kHz. When I checked again around 1458 UT, the fundamental 15350 kHz signal has been dis-appeared and ALSO the three BUZZ signals nearby. According our band checks in recent moths, here in Alemanya - we at the shortwave listening scene are aware, that one of the 250 kW units at Çakirlar is in FAULTY shape, and should be on corrective maintenance totally soon (Wolfgang Büschel, Dec 15, BCDX Dec 20 via DXLD) 9840 TRT Emirler, at 0935 UT in Persian. Nominal on 11795 and 17690, but I guess the technician was lazy this morning. He didn't switch back from Georgian service on 9840, which is in use at 0900. And later the day at 1130 also 9840 in Greek too (wb, wwdxc BC-DX Dec 15) TRT Çakirlar solved the 15350 spur problem of Dec 15th. And TRT Persian is also back to scheduled 11795 and 17690 today Dec 16th. [TRT Persian was on faulty 9840 on Dec 15th, 0930-1030 UT]. (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) ** U K [non]. WHRI's relays offered the potential of satellite reception of BBCWS radio for a few hours a day, as all of World Harvest's shortwave transmissions are also made available in MPEG on C-band satellite Galaxy 16. Oddly, though, the satellite feed appears to be an Internet stream of poor quality, which lags way behind the WHRI SW relay. At 1210 this morning, the satellite feed was about 30 seconds behind the transmission on 9660. I'm totally baffled as to why there should be any significant difference. Is BBCWS so adamantly opposed to North Americans having any chance to hear it via (non- XM/Sirius) satellite that it has ordered WHRI to put a degraded signal on its satellite feed? I can think of no rational technical explanation. I appreciate WHRI making any sort of BBCWS feed available, either via shortwave or satellite, but I don't understand what's going on here (Mike Cooper, GA, Dec 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Maybe the transmitter site in SC gets the BBC feed directly and not thru South Bend as they do other programming. And South Bend just puts the degraded internet feed on their uplink to fill the time? I suppose it could even be that SB don`t want to bother to access BBC downlink there (gh, DXLD) Glenn: That's my suspicion, too. Makes sense, but odd that WHRI would even bother to fill the time on the satellite feed from South Bend instead of just running usual religious programming. mc (Mike Cooper, ibid.) Or it could be as backup (gh, DXLD) ** U K [non]. A thunderclap woke me up at 1003 UT Dec 20, so after disconnecting the outside antennas, quickly tuned around and found BBCWS in Spanish inbooming on 5835, but not 7315, so presumably another frequency change for the new WHRI relay, but still not reflected as of 1735 UT Dec 21 at http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/spanish/tuning_in/newsid_4294000/4294086.stm which also continues to imply that the 0300 frequencies are also in use at 1000-1230! Also, searching the WHR program guide for BBC does not get any of these new (temporary?) morning Spanish transmissions, only the previous one at 03-04 on 6110, plus the English relays at 21-23 and 11-13 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Join me Tuesday, 2 January 2007, on VOA's Talk to America for another discussion about international broadcasting. The program follows the news at 1400 UTC (9:00 a.m. EST) on these shortwave frequencies http://www.kimandrewelliott.com/?id=649 or via the VOA News Now Windows Media or RealPlayer live audio streams. Join the conversation by calling +1-202-619-3111 or e-mail talk @ voanews.com (Kim Andrew Elliott, 21 Dec 2006, kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) ** U S A. MARK MCKINNON: MEMBER OF THE BROADCASTING BOARD OF GOVERNORS? SENIOR STAFFER ON THE MCCAIN PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN? REPUBLICAN? DEMOCRAT? Mark McKinnon is recess appointed to be a member of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, thereby sidestepping the Senate approval process. "Bush had picked McKinnon for a Democratic seat on the board. When Senate Democrats objected, Bush did did some juggling and named McKinnon to a GOP seat, but there never was a confirmation hearing." Austin Statesman, 20 December 2006. McKinnon is described as a senior staffer on the John McCain presidential campaign, by the Boston Herald, 21 December 2006 and New York Times, 20 December 2006. Posted: 21 Dec 2006 (see http://www.kimandrewelliott.com/index.php?id=797 for linx to the four stories referenced, via DXLD) Another scandalous act by Bush. See also IRAN [non]; CUBA [non] ** U S A. GOODBYE BEETHOVEN? D.C. MAY LOSE ITS LAST CLASSICAL RADIO STATION --- By BRETT ZONGKER, The Associated Press Dec 19, 2006 2:15 PM (9 hrs ago) Current rank: # 267 of 8,346 articles WASHINGTON - Classical music may soon virtually disappear from the airwaves in the nation's capital. The last radio station dedicated to classical music in the Washington area may be sold to Redskins owner Daniel Snyder, who is expected to make it an outlet for sports programming. Salt Lake City-based Bonneville International Corp. is in talks to sell radio station WGMS-FM to Snyder's media group, Red Zebra Broadcasting, station officials said. Negotiations continue, and terms of the deal have not been finalized, said Joel Oxley, senior vice president and general manager of Bonneville's Washington operations. "The sides have been having high-level discussions, and we just don't know," Oxley said. "Unfortunately that's the thing that makes this the most difficult for those folks who don't have a clear picture of the timeframe, including myself." Oxley cited a changing "business situation" as the reason behind laying off three sales employees last week. WGMS is one of the country's highest-ranked commercial stations for classical music, and it has consistently rated among the top radio outlets in the Washington market. The negotiations come amid a steep decline in classical music stations nationwide. The number of commercial stations in this category fell 30 percent to 28 last year from 40 in 1998, according to a September study by the National Endowment for the Arts. Public radio stations have been moving away from classical programming as well, in favor of news and talk programming that can build larger audiences. The potential sale could leave one of the largest media markets with no classical music station at all. One of Washington's public radio stations, WETA-FM, dropped the classical format in 2005 for news and public affairs programming. But officials at WETA have signaled they may switch back to classical if they don't face competition from WGMS. "We believe classical music is an important asset to this city, and we have a unique expertise in presenting it. So we would have to look at that option," said Mary Stewart, a vice president at WETA. "The market is radically different than it was two years ago." Miami, San Diego, St. Louis, Portland, Ore., and Tampa, Fla., are also on the list of markets that have experienced similar losses in classical music stations since 1990, according to the NEA report. Classical music has been a success for WGMS, which has had the largest commercial audience of any classical station nationwide. The station, which broadcasts from a transmitter in Waldorf, Md., reaches the District of Columbia, northern Virginia and suburban and southern Maryland. A weaker signal extends as far north as Baltimore. Bonneville would like to find a way to keep a home for the classical format, but there are currently no plans for another classical station, Oxley said. Pressure for higher profits is likely pushing Bonneville to consider the sale, said classical music programmers and observers. "We live in a time when just making a profit is considered a failure. You have to make a huge profit," said Martin Goldsmith, a longtime classical program director who now directs the classical channels on XM Satellite Radio, based in Washington. "The folks at Bonneville obviously thought they could make more money selling their station to Mr. Snyder, even though they were doing just fine." Representatives from Red Zebra, Snyder's media group, did not return e-mail messages seeking comment Monday and Tuesday. A telephone message to Bonneville's headquarters also was not returned. Information about a possible sales price for WGMS has not been disclosed. Classical music, rather than news programming, was dominant among public radio stations in 1994, but over 10 years those statistics flipped, even as programming hours grew for both formats, NEA research found. In 2005, public radio aired 224,000 hours of news programming and 168,000 hours of classical music. "We're not pointing fingers at public radio," said Sunil Iyengar, NEA director of research and analysis. "It's more just to say that we would think that public radio would be programming diverse classical music." Part of the problem is that many public radio stations in the same markets are now duplicating programs. In Washington, public stations WETA and WAMU air the same national news programs in the morning and evening. "We just feel like in those cases, not only is it irritating to the listener, it's not doing the public the best service either," Iyengar said. Consumers would get even less exposure to classical, jazz or gospel music if the federal government eases rules to allow more media consolidation, according to a study this fall by the Benton Foundation and the Social Science Research Council. For the past five years, XM Radio has worked to fill a void in the classical music niche by offering three classical music channels. They draw an estimated 2 million listeners, said Goldsmith, who has spent 35 years in classical music programming for commercial stations and public radio. Goldsmith said it was troubling to see stations disappear, but he was comforted by the reality that classical music has always been a select taste of an older generation - similar to an appreciation for wine, he said. "I am still very optimistic that people will be listening to Beethoven 200, 400 years from now in the same way that they do now," he said. (via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. WODI 1230 kHz Brookneal, VA DX Test Update! West Coast Take Note! Tony Dee at WODI informed me via e-mail today that they'll be adding another 5 minute duration DX test each Weekend starting at 03:00 AM Eastern time to make it a bit easier on the West Coast DX'ers!!! This gives all of us double the chances to log this one each weekend, including this coming weekend! ========================================== WODI 1230 kHz Brookneal, VA DX Test Date(s): Sunday Morning (Late Saturday Night) Starting October 1st and continuing until further notice. Time: Midnight until 00:05 AM Eastern Time (5 Minute Test weekly) 03:00 Eastern Time until 03:05 AM Eastern (5 Minute Test weekly) [Sundays 0500-0505 & 0800-0805 UT] Modes of Operation: Special DX Test. 1,000 Watts, Non-Directional Programming: Morse Code ID's, Sweep Tones, Voice ID. Notes: This DX friendly station is co-owned by two amateur radio operators, and they have decided to conduct this rare, on-going DX test, giving listeners a weekly opportunity to put these station into the log books. The 3 AM Eastern test was added to give West Coast DX'ers a better shot at hearing this one. That puts the test on at Midnight on the West Coast. Reception reports are desired via e-mail (first choice) and snail mail (only if e-mail is not available) Station would prefer to received recordings of the test (MP3, CD, or cassette). Submit reports to: les @ highnoonfilm.com Please put "WODI DX Test" in the subject line. All standard mail reports should go to: Les Rayburn High Noon Film 100 Centerview Drive Suite 111 Birmingham, AL 35216 *SASE Required for reply. Thanks to Dave Marthouse, N2AAM & Tony DeNicola, WA2IHZ for putting on this unusual, long term DX tests for the benefit of distant listeners! (Les Rayburn, Dec 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Re 6-187, UNIDENTIFIED [non], KVNS-1700: Glenn, I think the unofficial ID "La Grande`` is a program or network slogan on US Spanish stations since I sometimes listen to a Portland Ore. Spaniard on 1520 running 50 kW mentioning La Grande as a plug on their morning music show until fadeout at around 11 am local time (Bill Kral, Victoria BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. MOCK FUNERAL PROCESSION MOURNS AIR AMERICA LEADERS SAY THEY WILL FIGHT FOR LIBERAL TALK RADIO POSTED: 7:36 pm CST December 20, UPDATED: 9:42 pm December 20, 2006 MADISON, Wis. -- Some Air America supporters held a fake funeral procession Wednesday, saying that a Madison radio station pulling the plug on the liberal Air America Radio programming is the "Death of the free speech." VIDEO: Watch The Report . . . http://www.channel3000.com/news/10578496/detail.html (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) CLEAR CHANNEL KEEPS AIR AMERICA STATION --- By RYAN J. FOLEY MADISON, Wis. Clear Channel Radio says it will keep its Air America affiliate on the air instead of switching the progressive talk format to sports on Jan. 1. Citing the overwhelming negative reaction to the planned change, the nation's no. 1 operator of radio stations said it would keep The Mic 92.1 FM on the air as a progressive talk station... http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8M5GTE82.htm (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. After many years running on WSUI Iowa City IA (I`ve lost track of how many), WORLD OF RADIO will no longer be heard on 910 in 2007. It no longer fits into the new combined Iowa Public Radio program schedule of which WSUI will form a part. Our gratitude to WSUI`s Dennis Reese for keeping WOR on the air these many years. The last two broadcasts are confirmed not to be pre-empted on Xmas Eve and NY Eve, Sundays Dec 24 and 31 at 10:30 pm CST, 0430 UT Mondays, also webcast. Our listeners on WSUI are being referred to SW broadcasts such as WBCQ later Sunday evenings on 7415; webcasts from numerous other stations, or ondemand (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1340, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. I am having a hard time finding a webcasting public radio station with a good quality true stereo stream that is broadcasting the Paul Winter Solstice Concert. Sunday night I didn`t even try to listen to KWGS Tulsa because it is low-quality mono. I tried Thursday morning on KMUW Wichita, which is 128 kbps `stereo`, except it is really in mono. They say they are working on getting a stereo line into the server in a few weeks. Then there`s KVPR in California, where Paul Winter runs at 0600 UT Saturday --- but checking them UT Friday, I find that their 128 kbps `stereo` stream isn`t stereo either! No separation even in music, except that the balance is off toward the right channel. Are they trying to fool us? An inquiry to them has been sent. Will have to keep hunting, but as Dec 21 was Solstice, North American time, 0020 UT 22nd, the peak date for scheduling the concert should be passing (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. R. Nacional de Sahara [etc.], 6215, 2210- 2400* Dec 14. Tune-in to Arabic talk, local pops. 2300 into Spanish with 2302 IDs. Music by children, local music, Spanish talk. 2359 sign-off with march-type NA. Good but some occasional 2-way radio ute communications (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Since shifted to 6208. I`ll bet US maritime users complained, but hard to believe station would be so responsive; probably shifted on its own to avoid some other QRM; viz: (gh) ALGERIA: R. Nacional SADR via Tindouf/Rabouni. No ID heard yet, but presume this is the one heard on 6208.0, 12/20, 2210 UT, with talks in Arabic (Alex Vranes, Jr., Harpers Ferry, WV, dxlyd via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Saludos Alex, en efecto se trata de Radio Nacional Saharaui. 6208, 2222-2225, escuchada el 20 de Diciembre en idioma árabe a locutora con noticias, constantes referencias al Sahara, SINPO 54444. 73 (José Miguel Romero, ibid.) ARGELIA, 6208, Radio Nacional Saharaui, 2052-2257, escuchada el 21 de diciembre en idioma árabe a locutor con comentarios, referencias al ``Saharauia`` y ``Magrebia``, SINPO 34343 (José Miguel Romero, Burjasot (Valencia) España, Sangean ATS 909, Antena Radio Master A- 108, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE. STATE SECURITY AGENTS ORDERED TO RETURN SEIZED RADIOS 19 December 2006 --- A Gokwe magistrate has ordered two identified security agents to return the radio receivers they seized from teachers in the area after the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) successfully filed an application for the granting of the provision order. The provisional order which was granted on 16 December 2006 also requires the officer-in-charge at Gokwe police station to serve the application and provisional order on the security agents identified as Mr Mlotshwa and Mr Emmanuel Takadiyi working for the President’s Office. Full story: http://zimbabweoutpostoftyranny.typepad.com/zimbabwe_outpost_of_tyran/2006/12/state_security_.html (via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Heard something this morning 12/20 on 4850 that has me scratching my head! Tune-in 1135 UT to very low-key announcer; couldn't make out what he was saying or even language. 1143 program of choral music (seemed all selections by the same choral group), except for announcer speaking 1150-1154. Couldn't make out in what language, but most songs were Christmas carols, such as 'Silent Night,' 'O Come All Ye Faithful,' 'Joy To The World,' and 'Hark, The Herald Angels Sing.' Hard to describe, but music had sort of a Pacific Island flair to it, such as heard on S. Pacific or PNG stations in the past. Just before 1200 seemed different announcer speaking, still fairly low-key, but either speaking a little louder or mic at slightly higher volume level, and seemed maybe different language (Hindi?). 1200 sounded like he mentioned "Akashvani," but maybe it was just me still only half-awake. 1214 back to music by what seemed the same choral group, though didn't recognize selections as Christmas music or not, and signal weaker as fully daylight here now. Fadeout or off around 1221; when I tried SSB at 1223 couldn't even detect a carrier, so unsure if fadeout or off. Only station I could find listed currently active is AIR Kohima, though in past R. Luz y Vida in Loja, Ecuador was active, though not heard in some years here. Could Indian station in Nagaland be playing Christian Christmas carols? Or is Ecuadorian active again, maybe just around holidays, or another station now on this freq.? Also heard Christmas carols around this time of day on 4850 same time last year, but also wondered if was AIR Kohima playing Christmas carols or someone else. (Some other AIR stations also heard, though not greatest day for Indian regionals, and neighboring Myanmar heard with decent signals on both 5040.4 Minorities Program and Main Program on 5985.8, which I heard for the first time ever 12/7 and has also come in fairly decent few more times since.) Anyone else have any ideas what I heard? (Alex Vranes, Jr. Harpers Ferry, WV, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Certainly would not rule out Kohima. You`d be surprised how widely Xmas carols are played with no particular Christian connexion (gh) UNIDENTIFIED. Hi all, Can you please help me to find out what I am hearing on 5050 kHz every day 1500-1630 UT? There is one strong Chinese and sometimes possibly another Chinese, but after 1500 hours and time signal pips, seemingly one of them signs off and/or starts playing nonstop music, soft pop of ballad type always in English and only very seldom very wellknown melodies. It goes on for an hour and continues after time signal "pips" at 16 hours with the same style of nonstop played music and no announcements or identifications. After 16 hours there are lots of QRM from "pulses" and RTTY. I think that I heard Vietnamese from the other "Chinese". Maybe it is the Chinese, playing this kind of music nonstop, but maybe it is something else. I believe it is too strong to be Humpty Doo, although I would like to have it there! One day it was down to 5049.6 and then I thought of that, but the last few days it has been very close to 5050 kHz. Any help to solve this is welcomed Best wishes for a Merry Christmas to you all! (Björn Fransson, DX-ing on the island of Gotland, Sweden, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I checked Eibi, which shows Guangxi FBS in Vietnamese 1400-1600, and Voice of the Strait in Mandarin 1200-1700, so maybe this is what you are hearing? (Alex Vranes, Jr., Harpers Ferry, WV, ibid.) On lists I read the following organizations broadcasting near 5050: ARDS Darwin English Voice of Strait 2 1400-1700 UT Amoy-Hakka Guangxi FS from Nanning 1400-1600 UT Vietnamese AIR Gauhati Aizawl 1130-1630/1700 UT Hindi PAK PBC Islamabad 1500-1545 UT Pushto and I guess 5050 R. Tanzania 1300-2100 Swahili 50 ND Dar-es-Salaam TZA is off at present. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) If it's not ARDS after all, I think that it's Voice of Strait 2, which I have thought from the beginning. But I can't understand why the hell they play English music nonstop every day for an hour and even more. Well, I have to listen again... and again... to find out! (Bjoern Fransson, Sweden, wwdxc bc-dx Dec 21 via DXLD) The stronger Chinese station is probably Voice of the Strait Entertainment Channel, // 7280 and there 2225-1700, and web stream here: http://www.am666.net The Vietnamese-language one is probably Guangxi Foreign Broadcasting Station, // 9820 and Vietnamese there 1400-1600, and web stream here: http://www.gxradio.com/foreignradio/index.asp Hope that helps, God Jul! (Dave Kernick, HCDX via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. For the last five days I've been hearing a very strong carrier each evening on 6240 kHz, commencing shortly after 2300. No programme material has been heard and it remains on the air for only a few minutes. This could be numbers station idling on the frequency but in view of its exceptional signal strength I tend to believe it's a high-powered broadcast transmitter. It has the same propagation characteristics as CRI Albania and the Voice of Turkey at around the same time, so I'd put my money on it being located somewhere in southeast Europe or the Middle East. Can someone DF this signal? (Roger Tidy, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Only scheduled use of 6240 at other times is ``Armavir``, Russia (gh) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Hola Glenn, te deseo pases muy Feliz Navidad y que el año 2007 sea de paz y felicidad. También aprovecho para felicitarte y darte las gracias por todos los buenos años que nos has dado de divulgación e investigación en favor del DX-ismo, y ojalá que sean muchos años más. Un abrazo (Manuel Méndez, Spain, Dec 20) LANGUAGE LESSONS ++++++++++++++++ FINE POINTS OF SPANISH PRONUNCIATION Centuries ago the Spanish pronunciation of letters "B" and "V" started to merge. For obvious reasons, spelling did not change. Today, only in countries with considerable non-Spanish immigrant population people seem to distinguish between "B" and "V". Non-educated people will pronounce the two letters correctly and in accordance with the rules, but they will often mix them up in writing, sometimes throwing in a mute "H" for good measure, for instance "Haber si viene" instead of "A ver si viene". Many QSL´s from Latin America contain spelling errors of this kind. Another bone of contention is the letter "Y", which is also felt as non-Spanish and non-Latin in origin. In their respective countries, Venezuela, Nicaragua and El Salvador, YV-, YN- and YS- call-signs are pronounced "ye". When spelling a word, a Christian name for example, many people will not distinguish between "I" and "Y", both being pronounced as "i". To tell them apart you will have to say, "i griega", Greek Y, and "i latina", Latin I, respectively (Henrik Klemetz, RealDX yg via DXLD) Henrik: Thank you for your input. How does the station on 840 in Cuba CMHW pronounce W? I had always thought it was Doblevé as listed in several sources (Bill Harms, MD, ibid.) Sorry Bill, but it is not "doblevé" but rather "doble-ú" on this station. "W" is pronounced differently in various part of the Spanish speaking countries. As for "W Radio" which exists in Mexico, Panama, Colombia and Chile, only the Chilean outlet announces "doblevé radio"; all the others "doble-ú radio" (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, ibid.) Purists in Spain (mainly those in the Burgos area) will argue that there is a very small difference between the pronunciation of b and v. Sometimes I thought I could hear the slightest of differences, but almost always not. I decided it was not an issue in day to day life. You're right about the spelling errors - I quickly thought of a hand-lettered sign in Guatemala for "serbicios". (Chuck Hutton, ibid.) I was discussing the pronunciation of W in the first place. But B and V are not unimportant. Most of us would expect to find a difference between the two. This sometimes poses a problem. I would find it hard to distinguish between the callsign CB121 (Chile) and CV121 (Uruguay) if the speaker is Latin American (unless he is Argentinian of course). In European Spanish, the call signs pose no problem, as V would be "uve" (Henrik Klemetz, ibid.) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ THE FEDERAL LAW ON ANTENNAS AND HOAS You must read the WHOLE thing to understand everything you can and can not do. You can do a LOT! Clinton signed this into law in 1996 and it was amended in 1999 for rental properties, 2000 for fixed transmit antennas, and all the amendments became official May 25, 2001. Put up a SMALL antenna. You have the right to do that and it IS FEDERAL LAW. http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html I used this law to put up a TV and FM antenna I use to DX with. I live in a HOA who thought they had deed restrictions (Kevin Redding, AZ, ABDX via DXLD) Home Owners Association DIGITAL BROADCASTING DRM: see LAOS as QRM; also mentioned below ++++++++++++++++++++ IBOC SANGEAN HDT-1 REVIEW This came from the FMtuners mail list, a review of the Sangean HDT-1. I do not have one so all I can do is read just like you and hope to glean a little knowledge. Kevin Bob Smith wrote: Sorry I promised I wouldn't bring this up again, but I'm so happy I can't stand it. I did a careful comparison between my 10B and the Sangean this morning, and guess what? HD is awful! Dead, Lifeless, and according to the scope in my Model 18, phase information is GONE. When a solo instrument plays on the classical station in analog, you see the vectorscope swirling around, going from phase quadrature, to in phase and all phases in between. With HD, you pretty much just see an in phase component; guess that's not considered important enough. Well, enough said, I'm just glad to report I'm more pumped about analog FM than ever. I just added another feature to my 'perfect tuner' wish list. A way of eliminating IBOC, either by filtering, null antenna steering, or a combination of both. There must be a way. Anyone want to buy a Sangean HDT-1??? Forgive me for talking about HD, but I'm so happy it's such a POS. Bob Smith (via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) HD RADIO, A YEAR LATER December, 19, 2006, by Bob Harper, Keystone Media Research http://www.keystonemediaresearch.com/ It was last November when I conducted a series of twelve Focus Groups across the country researching radio listener reactions to various aspects of HD Radio. How are we doing a year later? The Dial. The chief issue before us last year was the design of the display; the tuning dial. Overwhelmingly, radio listeners preferred the Expanded display to the one we have now (94.7 HD-1, 94.7 HD-2, etc.). Almost 90% of your listeners would rather have all the new, HD, stations, grouped together and corralled in their own place on the dial; above 108, for example. The listeners lost that battle. What about the other fronts? Quality. The two biggest potential attractions for HD Radio revolve around its promise for improved technical quality - "FM will sound like CDs" and "Reception will improve," making hisses, clicks, fading, and dropouts a thing of the past. By most accounts, AM stations in HD do meet the challenge. But, improved FM quality and cleaner reception is dubious so far. Recently, Sean Ross shared his experiences on the Edison Research web site. Briefly: no HD reception in the Radio Shack store ... in-and-out signals ... inability to find listed HD stations ... poor and uneven reception at home and in the office ... a lack of punch from the audio quality. If you had the same experience Sean did, would you buy a second HD Radio? Would you be telling your friends to go buy one? Not good, folks. We need to do better in the things most important to the listeners: Research 101. The Buzz. Inside our own Radio Information Loop we keep reading about manufacturers and stores getting behind the HD Radio revolution. The Alliance has repeatedly reported strong sales figures from Radio Shack, for example. This is terrific news. The promotional commitment by Radio Stations and Groups is unprecedented and positive for HD Radio as well. But, it seems to me that Radio is carrying the full advertising load. If someone comes into the store or shops on the web for an HD Radio almost certainly they heard about the innovation on a radio station. This is the season for the largest electronics sales push of the year. And, last weekend were two of the biggest last-minute sales days before Christmas; a Saturday and Sunday supported by hundreds of pages of newspaper inserts. I was curious. "How many newspaper ads and inserts for audio products would mention HD Radio?" So, before the NFL games started, I counted them. Computer stores, WalMart, Electronics outlets, even Camping and Drug stores. In all, I found 208 ads for various audio products and devices in the Sunday inserts alone. MP-3's, Sirius and XM players and subscriptions, cell phones that do everything, clock radios that don't. Home theaters, car radios, portable DVDs, emergency radios with a crank for power, I-pods, I-pod speakers, I-pod wanabees, I-pod meets Nike for your daily run, multi-colored I-pods ... you get the drift. 208 separate products and models. Not a single mention of HD Radio. I even went back and double checked. Not one. While our industry's HD Radio commitment in time and advertising dollars is substantial, have our new HD formats captured the imagination and created Buzz for the listeners? Do the on-air commercials and promos sell the excitement of this new medium in a way that cranks up interest? When the retailers and manufacturers pick up on that kind of Buzz, they'll feel HD Radio is something worth talking about in the stores and Sunday inserts. Last year, I summarized a key point in the research this way: There was a lot of curiosity about what programming might be on these new stations and who would own them, established Radio companies or newbies. Interest in the idea of More Free Radio Stations increased considerably when listeners thought the new stations might provide programming not now available on their Radio dial ... and if the new stations could be commercial-free, all the better. Conversely, if the new channels were to provide ``more of the same old same old,`` interest was reduced. Let me say it again -- More new stations, in and of itself, is not necessarily a positive spin for HD Radio. What will make a splash is programming they can't get anywhere else ... programming that strikes listeners as interesting and innovative ... programming that comes from somewhere other than the usual broadcasting suspects. If we give them another bunch of ``regular radio`` formats, the listeners will be ho-hum. With the investment our Industry has made in the technical side of HD Radio and the commitment to millions of spot dollars in promotion, it is well past the time when we can treat these new channels as step- children and eventual spot carriers for value-added. Last year the listeners voted 136 to 20 for a display we rejected. In last Sunday's inserts the retailers in my town have voted 208 to 0. "We've got some work to do now, Scooby-Doo..." You betcha! Let's make 2007 the year we put our very brightest and very best in charge of getting this right and move the HD Radio effort from part- time to Top Priority. How many "first impressions" do you think the listeners will give us if we don't? (via Brock Whaley, DXLD) Maybe there's light at the end of IBOC tunnel. Radio World magazine, one of IBOC's biggest proponents, has an editorial "Rethinking AM's Future" (Dec 20, 2006) suggesting that perhaps IBOC for AM wasn't such a good idea after all. They even go so far as to suggest DRM. Radio World is a good magazine but they have been a mouthpiece for the big vendors and broadcasters. Maybe they've come to realize IBOC is going to make things worse rather than better (Jerry Lenamon, TX, ABDX via DXLD) This week's R/W editorial between lines seems to pronounce HD AM DOA. Boo hoo. Either that or they're giddy over novel way to stay warm during New England winters - bust up furniture. These cannibals are cooking themselves (Paul Vincent Zecchino, NRC-AM via DXLD) Got HD? Try New Analog-gesic, fast acting topical creme to rid your set of irksome itchy noisome HD spirochetes. At your pharmacy now, or contact Dr. Zecchino directly (PVZ, IRCA via DXLD) I spent time in the Best Buy store in Richfield, MN, with their headquarters being about a mile away. I could not find any HD radios, but lots of Sirius ready stuff, including car radios, and lots of iPod boom boxes, etc. ODD! (John Ebeling, Bloomington, MN, WTFDA via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ SCIENTISTS PREDICT BIG SOLAR CYCLE + Play Audio | + Download Audio | + Join mailing list Dec. 21, 2006: Evidence is mounting: the next solar cycle is going to be a big one. --- Solar cycle 24, due to peak in 2010 or 2011 "looks like its going to be one of the most intense cycles since record- keeping began almost 400 years ago," says solar physicist David Hathaway of the Marshall Space Flight Center. He and colleague Robert Wilson presented this conclusion last week at the American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco. . . http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/21dec_cycle24.htm?list773018 (via Bill Smith, IA, DXLD) TIPS FOR RATIONAL LIVING ++++++++++++++++++++++++ RICHARD DAWKINS AND GOD Listen Now - 26112006 | Download Audio - 26112006 The eminent scientist Richard Dawkins puts forward, in a no holds barred manner, the arguments again religion - be it Muslim, Christian, Jewish or any of the other hundreds of gods across the world and across time. This talk was given in Philadelphia recently. Show Transcript http://www.abc.net.au/rn/backgroundbriefing/stories/2006/1794986.htm (via Richard Cuff, swprograms via DXLD) ELECTRONS TO ENLIGHTENMENT A five-part series on science and religion http://wpr.org/book/GOD/index.html Has Real Audio icon for each episode, but actually downloads mp3 files! Apparently each complete show (gh, DXLD) ###