DX LISTENING DIGEST 6-190, December 26, 2006 Incorporating REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING edited by Glenn Hauser, http://www.worldofradio.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits For restrixions and searchable 2006 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn FIRST SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1341 Wed 2300 WBCQ 7415 Thu 0000 WBCQ 18910-CLSB Fri 2130 WWCR 7465 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 DX/SWL/MEDIA PROGRAMS Dec 26: http://www.worldofradio.com/dxpgms.html ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. 30 NOV, 1035 UT, 9990 KHZ, Radyoí Azadí. Darí. Identificación: "Injá, Radyoí Azadí". Noticiero Internacional, con un reporte sobre la visita del Presidente Bush a Amán, Jordania. Buena Calidad (Adan Mur, Ñemby, Paraguay, Conexión Digital Dec 25 via DXLD) Via Kuwait, 1030-1330, alternating Pashto/Dari/Pashto, per Eibi, so at 1030 should have been in Pashto instead (gh) ** ALASKA. 6150, 1652- Dec 21, KNLS, Superb reception in Russian with full slow ID in Russian with address in Alaska and St. Petersburg. Same again at 1658. Still in Russian when rechecked at 1720. Merry Christmas to all! A few days ago, I spent several days in Tofino, BC on the west coast of Vancouver Island, and a destination spot for hot DX. Trouble was (and is), the conditions have been nothing short of atrocious. Today, for example, I could barely hear WWV on any frequency. It's been a long time since conditions have been this poor. I keep poking around my connections to make sure that something hasn't loosened. I'm hoping that 2007 will yield better DX (Walt Salmaniw, Tofino, BC, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. 15820 LSB, Radio Continental, Buenos Aires, 1003-1012, 25-12, noticias, identificación: "Continental, informaciones confiables, 7 de la mañana con 4 minutos, 21 grados nueve décimas, máxima prevista para hoy, 27 grados". "Continental, la vida tal como suena". "94.1, Cadena Continental". Locutor, locutora. 25322 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, escuchas realizadas en Friol, 7º 48' 05'' W, 43º 02' 05'' N, Grundig Satellit 500 y Sony ICF SW 7600 G, Antena de cable, 10 metros, orientada WSW, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. 5025, 1655- Dec 21, VL8K Katherine. Strong signal, almost armchair if not for splatter from Chinese blowtorch on 5030 with call-in game show. No ID at TOH. Parallel to 2310. Nothing heard on 2325. Not sure whether this was a one-off, or whether transmitter repairs are continuing on the 120m transmitter (Walt Salmaniw, Tofino, BC, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I.e. should have been on 2485 at this hour (gh, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. VIA. South Australian Coast Radio service VIA was the call sign of Adelaide Radio which served the maritime community from 1912 when it opened as POA (Post Office Adelaide) to 1993. Operations over the years were by the PMG, RAN, AWA and OTC. This call sign has now been reissued for the South Australian Coastal Radio Service operated on behalf the South Australian Department of Transport, Energy & Infrastructure by Airservices Australia from their existing facilities at Broken Hill, NSW and Alice Springs NT. Frequencies 4125, 6215 & 8291 kHz are monitored by staff at Brisbane Flight Centre. MSI broadcasts are at 0357 and 0757 UT on 8176 kHz. (Allen Fountain, Australia, Dec 21, UDXF yg via DXLD) ** BELGIUM. VRT TOWER LIGHTENS [sic] UP [illustrated] http://www.vrtnieuws.net/nieuwsnet_master/versie2/english/details/061219_vrttower/index.shtml Tue 19/12/06 - As part of the plan to improve the image of Brussels, the VRT broadcasting tower has undergone a make-over. Every night from now on, the tower will be illuminated with different colour schemes that will render it visible from a much wider distance. As from tonight, the large VRT broadcasting tower will be lit in a special manner. The tower's illumination is part of the new lightning scheme for Brussels conceived by the Brussels Regional Minister for Public Works Pascal Smet (Flemish socialist). The idea is to illuminate famous Brussels buildings and works of art in order to do them better justice, improve the city's image as well as promote the image of Brussels throughout the world. The VRT broadcasting tower certainly is one of the capital's landmarks. Shared between the Flemish public broadcaster VRT and its Walloon counterpart RTBF, the 70 odd-metre tower dominates the skyline of the North Eastern part of Brussels. From now on, it will also be visible during the night and from an even wider distance. "It brings magic to the city" The light switch of the newly illuminated tower was switched on at 5 pm this afternoon. Pascal Smet (picture Belga) [caption] Wrapped up in a deep blue light, the tower also bears two red rings that are projected on the tower's dome. The current colour scheme is just of the many possible combinations. On public holidays, special effects will be projected onto the tower. According to Minister Smet, the broadcasting tower is a national symbol which in its ordinary state doesn't really possess an inherent beauty. The Minister says this all changes when the lights are switched on. "When illuminated the tower brings a special kind of magic to the city", Mr Smet said. The illumination of the VRT-RTBF tower marked the start of the Minister's new lightning scheme for the capital. With this scheme the Minister said he hoped to give the city a more defined identity as well as enhance the perception among its visitors and inhabitants. He added that other famous buildings and squares would follow soon (VRT Nieuws via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 4409.7. Radio Eco, Reyes 2320 clear signal with ID as Radio Eco, followed by music. 17 December. 4498.1, R Estambul, Guyaramerín, 1020 on 17 December with poor signal, 0955 instrumental music 18 December. 4650.2, Radio Santa Ana, Santa Ana del Yacuma noted each local morning in Bolivia, 1020 to 1130 week of 17 to 23 December. Modest signal strength, one ID on the 17th. 4694.7, Radio San Miguel, Riberalta, with Flauta Boliviana 17 December, good signal no ID; 0945 on 18 December 4694.8 flauta and OM, no ID; 4695.1 on 19 December. Station had similar frequency drift while on 4901. 4716.7, Radio Yura, Yura, 0928 to 0940 excellent music, good signal strength. Trio harmonizing, very beautiful 18 December. 4781.5 tentative, Radio Tacana, Tumupasa, Iturralde 1018 beautiful flute solo followed by OM with comment in the mud, two men with conversational Spanish, fade out. 18 December. [Wilkner-FL] 4796.4, Radio Mallku, Uyuni 0928 vocal very similar but not parallel to 4716. ``Buenos días, Santa Ana y buenos días, Santa Cruz``. 18 December. 5680.7, Radio La Voz del Campesino, Sipe Sipe, Noticed this off the air 18 December, 19 December 1000 to 1100 (Robert Wilkner, FL, SW Bulletin via DXLD) ** BULGARIA. 5775, Radio Marabu, 2014-2030, escuchada el 23 de diciembre con retransmisión de música melódica, locutor en alemán con identificación, buena señal pero se aprecia molesto zumbido, SINPO 55443. Audio: http://valenciadx.multiply.com/music/item/291 9310, Radio Six Int., 1240-1300, escuchada el 24 de Diciembre en inglés a locutor y locutora con cuña de la emisora, frecuencias e internet, segmento musical, terminan transmisión con un villancico, SINPO 34333. Audio: http://valenciadx.multiply.com/music/item/293 (José Miguel Romero, Burjasot (Valencia) España, Sangean ATS 909, Antena Radio Master A-108, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BULGARIA. The European Music Radio Christmas program via IRRS Italy is coming in now 1937 UT Dec 24, 2006 on 5775 with a fair signal (Wade Smith, VE9WGS, New Brunswick, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BURKINA FASO. 5030.0, 0150-0215 25-12 R. Diff. du Burkina, Ouagadougou. French, prolonged Christmas night schedule with several people talking in heavily accented French; native and French songs 35333. No sign here of University Network AP-DNK (Anker Petersen, Skovlunde, Denmark, @tivade DX Dec 25 via DXLD) ** CANADA. Had a chance to listen to the much-promoted ``Fessenden`s Follies`` on CFFF webcast, Dec 24 at 1700. I must say, it`s a very amateurish drama, with seemingly irrelevant elements such as paternity, crude language. College students will be college students! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. I'm operating on the amateur radio bands as CG9WGS commemorating Fessenden`s first radio broadcast (Wade Smith, VE9WGS New Brunswick, 1937 UT Dec 24, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Until when, or only on Dec 24? WTFK? (gh) ** CANADA. For the last several days - MBS Radio has been running 630 CFCY with an open carrier - they were supposed to go dark but they are still running the transmitter. Very annoying. No audio, not even a tone. Just wasting electricity. Time is up and its time to shut down the transmitter. Its been almost four months since the official launch of CFCY 95.1 and the CRTC allowed the usual 3 month simulcast period. Go dark 630 CFCY! (Phil Rafuse, PEI, Dec 25, ABDX via DXLD) ** CANADA [non]. Joe Cannon is doing a show on CINF 940 from Florida: thread discussing this (not all items on the thread link abottom), and whether it`s a secret or ethical: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/radioinmontreal/message/12900 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COMOROS. RADIO DZIYALANDZE FIRST TO GO LIVE ON THE WEB BBC Monitoring observes Radio Dziyalandze available on a live audio stream from their new website at http://www.radiodziyalandze.com This is believed to be the first ever terrestrial broadcaster to go live online from the Comoros. According to information on its website, Radio Dziyalandze is a non- profitmaking community radio station offering education and culture, entertainment and community information. The station has been on air since April 1992, broadcasting on 90.0 MHz FM from Anjouan, one of the four main islands of the Comoros archipelago in the Indian Ocean. The Comoros was a French colony until attaining independence in 1975. In 1997 Anjouan (along with neighbouring Moheli) declared independence from the Comoran state, leading to the island eventually being granted autonomy within the Union of the Comoros. The island's Government has a website at http://www.anjouan.gouv.km Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 23 Dec 06 (via DXLD) ** CONGO DR. 5066.34, 0425-0450 24-12, La Voix du Peuple, Bunia, Vernacular talks, native singing. Seems reactivated! 15121 AP-DNK (Anker Petersen, Skovlunde, Denmark, @tivade DX Dec 25 via DXLD) a.k.a. R. CANDIP; any ID as either heard? Reported already Dec 7 in 6- 183 as unID, but probable. Only report we had previous to that was Aug 18 (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** CUBA. Just what is the transmission schedule of RHC`s reactivated frequency 11705? It was still going at 0205 check Dec 24 in slanted Spanish news, rather weak signal // 9550 but a reverb apart indicating different feed routing and/or sites. 11760 not much better. OTOH, South American signals on 25m from Chile, Ecuador, Brasil were inbooming. [Note to editors: the word is inbooming, not in booming. If inbooming is unacceptable, please make it booming in %-}] O, RHC has finally posted a current (or currently dated) frequency schedule: http://www.rhc.cu/espanol/frecuencia/frecuencias-espanol.htm which I am reluctant to attempt to reproduce because of the usual ambiguities in layout, but it does show 11705 as follows: SPANISH Buenos Aires 11705 21–23 América del Sur 11705 / 11875 / 9600 00–05 PORTUGUESE América del Sur 17705 / 11705 22–2230 - 23–2330 / 23 – 24 So is 11705 in BOTH Spanish and Portuguese at 2200-2230? And why are there both a half-hour and one-hour broadcast shown at 2300? See 6-187 for Bernie O`Shea`s more accurate schedule, which also covers the 21- 05 span for 11705 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. Glenn, Is it common for Cuba to carry the same programming across all of their networks? I noticed a speech which sounded like it was part of the Castro birthday celebration playing on 530, 670, 710 and 5025 tonight around 6 pm Central [0000 UT Dec 26]. I believe the stations on these frequencies are part of different networks. It's possible it was all Rebelde. But it seemed unusual since I've never heard one program on so many stations at one time. My first thought was something happened to Castro. af (Alan Furst, TX, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, not that unusual. IIRC, Reloj network and Musical Nacional are less subject to this. Would expect more specials, even if his death is not announced, in the next week with the Jan 1 anniversary of the revolution. 73, (Glenn to Alan via DXLD) ** CUBA. Compañeros de la lista: Anoche después de la cena de la Natividad llegué a mi casa y aproveché la noche para hacer algo de DX y ya a las 0925 UT capté con mi receptor una señal en los 9033 kHz que me parece que sea una emisión de espionaje dentro cubana con una voz femenina claramente cubana diciendo: Atenciòn, Atenciòn.... despuès empìeza a decir dígitos en series de a cinco en cinco durante aproximadamente unos diez a quince minutos. Finalmente, dice Final, Final.... Alguien podría darme consejo de qué hacer con esto. A mí me gustaría como no tener QSL de alguna forma, cómo podría lograrlo. A finales de este mes voy a viajar a La Habana y muy seguramente voy a visitar Radio Habana y a Manolo de la Rosa. Sé por ejemplo que algunos diexistas consiguieron confirmaciones al informar escuchas de esta naturaleza del servicio secreto checoslovaco y soviéticos. Algún consejo?? Atte (Luis Vallebueno E., Durango, Dgo, Mexico, Dec 26, condig list via DXLD) Hola: Interesante cuestión, pero precisamente si vas a visitar a Manolo de la Rosa, él te podrá aconsejar cuáles serían los hipotéticos pasos a seguir para lograr una QSL de esta escucha. De todos modos opino que la cosa pinta bastante difícil. Un saludo cordial y, suerte (Tomás Méndez, ibid.) Doubt he would even acknowledge it (gh) ** CUBA. Dentro-Cuban Jamming Command still wasting its kilowatts on 11750, Dec 26 at 1519, no trace of Martí (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. R. República, 9955 via WRMI, 0655 Dec 25, no jamming, talking about Jesus, and political prisoners in Cuba. I seldom listen much to RR, but when I do, not just on Xmas, they sound like a religious station. Is turning counter-revolutionary Cuba into a theocracy their real agenda? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. 5009.78, Radio Cristal,1120-1130 Dec 25. Noted steady salsa type music. Canned ID in Spanish and English at 1129 as "... Radio Cristal..." This followed with a promo then back to music. Signal was fair (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston, Florida, NRD545, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Others have reported only R. Pueblo IDs, but on this transmitter you never know which of their domestic stations will be relayed (gh, DXLD) REPUBLICA DOMINICANA, 5009.8v, Radio Cristal, 1100 to 1130; 1230. 18 December long string of numbers given, ``cuatro cero cero...`` mention of Presidente Leonel Fernández Reyna, Fidel Castro Ruz. ``En la capital de la República Dominicana, Radio Cristal, buenos dias``; news ``en la Isla de Puerto Rico; Palestina ocupada`` 1230 ID as Radio Pueblo. :-) Telephone numbers given 1105 on 19 December. 1050 to 1100 ``Radio Mil`` [tentative] ID by OM repeated. Only one syllable in the ID! Not Pueblo or Cristal on 20 December (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach FL, @tividade DX Dec 25 via DXLD) WRTH 2006 shows no R. Mil in the DR on or about 1000; o, that`s right, in Sto. Domingo R. Mil is on 1180, where else? But unseems same ownership, at least by key numbers (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. 3810, Estación de Señales Horarias, HD2IOA, Guayaquil, 0824-0833, 25-12, señales horarias, "Al oir el tono serán las 3 horas, 24 minutos, 0 segundos". 25322 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, escuchas realizadas en Friol, 7º 48' 05'' W, 43º 02' 05'' N, Grundig Satellit 500 y Sony ICF SW 7600 G, Antena de cable, 10 metros, orientada WSW, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. HCJB, 11960, Dec 25 at 1453 with usual very good signal aimed this way, but now I can detect some squealing, as the transmitter is starting to decay. YL preacher citing Lucas 2: 34-35, etc. If I had kept listening at 1459:30, you know what I would be saying (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EGYPT. 17.12, 9990 kHz (finalmente hanno lasciato i 9988!!!! - ma la distorsione rimane!) 454, 1900 UT, Radio Cairo in italiano (Davide Tambuchi IW2NZR, Como - Italia, via Roberto Scaglione, Sicily, shortwave yg via DXLD) ** EGYPT. 4680, 0215-0240 18+25-12, Spurious R. Cairo, Abu Zaabal, English news, comments about tension in Palestine, ID, 24242 heard // 7270 (55555). This is 11950 - 7270 = 4680! AP-DNK (Anker Petersen, Denmark, @tividade DX Dec 25 via DXLD) Both for NAm, 11950 being in Arabic (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA. 7110, R. Ethiopia, 1942-2000*, Dec 18, Vernacular. YL beween musical selections, OM from 1956 until NA at 2000 then co- channel AWR Farsi sign-on. Fair. // 9704v-poor. Last week at this time the signal quality of these frequencies was reversed (Scott R. Barbour Jr., Sugar Hill Outlook DX-pedition, Kancamaugus Hwy, NH-USA, R75, 150’ longwire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EUROPE. Mystery Radio tonight with lots of watts. Listen to the live broadcast with Andy Walker and Chris Ise on 6220 kHz right now -- - contact us mysteryradio@... [truncated] skype: mysteryradio and say "Merry Xmas" to your radio friends over MYSTERY RADIO. BTW: reports will be verified by e-QSL (``Chris Ise``, ``9:48 pm`` Sat Dec 23, swpirates yg via DXLD) Mystery Radio on 6220 is coming in very well at 2050 UT Dec 25, 2006. German/English talk and Rock Music. Email QSL received in 20 minutes (Wade Smith, New Brunswick, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also UNIDENTIFIED ** FINLAND. 11720, Scandinavian Weekend Radio, 1233-1240, 25-12, música pop, locutor, comentarios en finlandés. Señal débil. 24312 variando a 14311 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, escuchas realizadas en Friol, 7º 48' 05'' W, 43º 02' 05'' N, Grundig Satellit 500 y Sony ICF SW 7600 G, Antena de cable, 10 metros, orientada WSW, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FINLAND. YLE, 5970, JBA at 2159 Dec 23 until wiped out by BBC coming on 5975. Remember, this could be YLE`s final SW transmission on Dec 31; to SAm (Joe Hanlon, NJ, Dec 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GABON. Re 6-189: Is Gabuzz entering history from today? Who knows. No buzz detected here in Tiquicia at 2230, Sat. 23, on 9580; heard the usual afro pops with fair to poor signal and no buzz and no audio on 19160. In fact propagation has been poor on the higher frequencies at this time, with only occasional good hearings from the Southern Hemisphere, namely RAE 15345 and Radio Australia on 17785. 73s (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Heard on a DX-440 and aluminum window frame antenna. 4777, RTV Gabon, Moyabi, Gabon, 12/23 0555 with French announcer and French music (Kevin Redding, AZ, ABDX via DXLD) And no buzz mentioned RTVG, 4777, 0621 Dec 25, no buzz, but very undermodulated, apparently in French. Nothing on 19160 around 1445 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4777, R. Gabon, *0457-0516, Dec 26, on with open carrier for a minute, Anthem, French programming (news, high-life music, ID, etc). Mostly fair, clear audio (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, Etón E5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hoy 24 de diciembre he realizado un chequeo por la banda de 16 m; se aprecia que la propagación es pésima, a las 1413 capto en: 17525 a Voice of Greece en griego con un SINPO 45554. 17660 a la emisora afro-pop con un SINPO 45544. 17715 a Voice of América vía Botswana con un SINPO 24332. 17750 a la misma emisora vía Marruecos con un SINPO 34333. 17830 a la BBC vía Ascensión con un SINPO 35333. 17895 Voice of América vía Botswana con un SINPO 35322. Me ha sorprendido no captar a África Nº 1 vía Gabón en 17630, tampoco en 9580 ni en 19160. A mi entender cobra fuerza la posibilidad de que la emisora afro-pop sea transmitida desde algún lugar de Europa (José Miguel Romero, Burjasot (Valencia) España, Sangean ATS 909, Antena Radio Master A-108, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. See RUSSIA [and non] ** GOA/INDIA. INDIA / GOA. All India Radio, 9820, 1323-1434, 12/24/06, in Sindhi. Program of South Asian (Indian) music with M announcer. Periods of about 5 minute talks several times by different M and a W. News at 1330 (ToH in India), and 1400 (BoH in India), with mention of www site spelled in English at 1400, distinctive ID jingle at 1415 & 1431. Always pleasant listening to S. Asian music. SINPO 24343 (Mark Taylor, Madison, WI, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I often pause and listen to the music here too, but it`s the Sinhala service per http://www.qsl.net/vu2jos/sw/freq.htm 9820 250 Panaji 1300-1500 Sinhala (Sri Lanka), 1530-1545 English 73, (Glenn, ibid.) ** GUATEMALA. 4780, Radio Cultural Coatán, San Sebastián de Coatán, Huehuetenango, 2358-0115, 24-12. Buena señal hoy para esta emisora, que sólo se logra sintonizar por aquí de tarde en tarde. Locutor, identificacion: "Radio Cultural Coatán, departamento de San Sebastián de Coatán, Huehuetenango, a través de la onda corta, 4780 kHz, banda de 60 metros". Español y vernáculo, canciones. A las 0030 nueva identificación: "Radio Coatán". A la 0102 programa: "Luis Palau responde", contestando cartas de los oyentes. A la 0107: "Siete de la tarde con siete minutos". 34333 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, escuchas realizadas en Friol, 7º 48' 05'' W, 43º 02' 05'' N, Grundig Satellit 500 y Sony ICF SW 7600 G, Antena de cable, 10 metros, orientada WSW, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4780, 1020- Dec 21, Radio Cultural Coatan. Excellent reception noted after seeing that the power had gone out after yet another windstorm on the west coast. This time it was out until 10:30 AM local time, but allowed for very quiet conditions! Fumbling in the dark, I found my Degen/Kaito 1103 receiver and just used the whip to receive this station and to scan the bands. Also with me was my venerable Sony 2010. I put out about 150' of random wire through a 9:1 matching transformer. Full ID, by the way at this time (Walt Salmaniw, Tofino, BC, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUYANA. Guyana, in the 90 meter band, remains off the air (Robert Wilkner, FL, SW Bulletin Dec 26 via DXLD) 3291v ** INDONESIA. 9680, RRI Jakarta, Dec 20, (Wed.) 1002-1022, Kang Guru Radio English program about the Indonesian musical group Letto, played their song ``Truth, Cry and Lie`` http://the-letto.blogspot.com/ --- preview of am upcoming program about the work of the Indonesia Australia Partnership in Basic Education (IAPBE) in East Java. Fair, WYFR not heard, but was present on Sun., Dec 24, 1000-1025, mixing with RRI, but KGRE preempted with YL DJ playing EZL songs. The KGRE programs are made possible by the funding and support of the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and the good news is that AusAID has funded KGRE through Dec 2007 (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, Etón E5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. RRI Nabire, 6125.29, coming in well at 1240 tune-in with Christmas tunes in English up to 1259, local announcements, then about one minute of SCI and into Jakarta news relay. 26 December 2006. (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, USA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL. YOU --- http://wvbf.blogspot.com/2006/12/you.html On New Years Eve, this blog is used to track the start of the New Year 2007 in various places around the world, via radio and webcam. This year I am going to try something different. I will create users who will be able to contribute to the record of events. Password and UID information will be available the morning of Dec 31st. I will be manning the electronic dump button to keep the event focused and readable by all ages. posted by lou josephs at 10:25 PM Sunday, December 17, 2006 (medianetwork blog via DXLD) ** IRAN. 6205 NO ID, ¿Emisión fantasma? Saludos cordiales, desde hace unos días capto una emisión en los 6205 a partir de las 1730; no acabo de averiguar en qué idioma, aunque sí he podido escuchar alguna referencia a Irán. En principio lo achacaba [attributed] a una emisión fantasma, pero no he podido encontrar la frecuencia original. Hoy, sin embargo, se ha captado con algo de mejor señal; se puede escuchar un audio en: http://valenciadx.multiply.com/music/item/307 ¿De qué emisora puede tratarse? Quizás algún servicio de VOIRI, ¿en esta frecuencia? O se trata de alguna emisión fantasma? (José Miguel Romero, Burjasot (Valencia), España, Sangean ATS 909, Antena Radio Master A-108, Dec 24, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Es el programa alemán de Irán. Oigo la identificación al comienzo. Acaban de cambiarse a 6205 para el italiano a las 1930, y parece igual en alemán a las 1730. 73, (Glenn, ibid.) Saludos Glenn, en efecto la estoy escuchando en paralelo por 6255; el caso es que lleva varios días. Intento entrar en la web de VOIRI a ver si hay confirmación de ésta frecuencia. [luego:] Resuelto, se trata de Voiri en alemán, en paralelo por 6255; en la web de IRIB anuncian 6200. ``Kurzwelle: Unser deutschsprachiges Programm wird jeden Morgen von 7:30 bis 8:30 Weltzeit auf 15085 Khz im 19 Meterband und auf 17590 Khz im 16 Meterband und jeden Abend von 17:30 bis 18:30 Weltzeit auf 7380 Khz im 41 Meterband, auf 6200 Khz im 49 Meterband und auf 6255 Khz im 49 Meterband ausgestrahlt. Außerdem sind wir In Teheran auf der Frequenz 100.7 FM zu hören.`` (JOSE MIGUEL ROMERO ROMERO, ibid.) A las 1830 en 6205 termina servicio en alemán y comienza en francés (José Miguel Romero, ibid.) See also WESTERN SAHARA [non] ** IRAN [non]. UKRAINE, 6245, 1713- Dec 20, Radio Zamaneh. Fair reception with presumed Farsi talk and little else (Walt Salmaniw, Tofino, BC, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH [non?]. Have been looking thru the website http://www.voiceofkorea.org referred to in 6-189. Head of VOK is one Jean-Baptiste Kim, illustrated on this page http://www.voiceofkorea.org/technical/inquiryform.htm Altho this website links to the (outdated) VOK SW schedule, it became clear to me that this ``Voice of Korea`` is not the radio station, but a separate organization, evidently based in Surrey, UK. JBK writes passionately about how he loves NK over SK, and how people are actually better off, have more freedom in the North. Start off at the homepage http://www.voiceofkorea.org/ where a rock festival (!) next MayDay is being promoted (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I got him in the ball park... How about this page? http://www.korea-dpr.com/cgi-bin/simpleforum.cgi?fid=06&topic_id=1162464747 (Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) Yes, Piontek`s B-06 VOK sked (gh, DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. Dec 25 at 1437 on 6348, weird version of Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, with a relentless beat and lyrix presumably in Korean, on Echo of Hope. 1442 Jingle Bells in another unique version. I trust this portend the oppressed masses of the workers` paradise are having a jolly Xmas (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA SOUTH. KOREA SEEKS TO ADOPT DIGITAL RADIO BROADCAST SYSTEM Analogue system has too few frequencies, says Ministry of Information and Communication official Korea Herald --- Saturday, December 23, 2006 --- By Hwang Si-young http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article-eastasia.asp?parentid=60027 The Ministry of Information and Communication is set to launch a committee to accelerate the application of digital technologies to the nation's radio broadcast system. "Under the current analogue system, newcomers can hardly find available frequency resources. Frequencies have almost been used up, and that's one of the reasons why we are trying to digitalize the whole radio broadcast system," Lee Jung-gu, head of the ministry' broadcasting-satellite division, told The Korea Herald. There are currently 51 radio broadcasters in Korea, including region- based ones. "There are a number of problems left to be examined before converting to digital, including whether to choose Europe's Digital Audio Broadcasting and the United States' In-Band On-Channel as the technology standard." Adopting IBOC will not require the hassle of changing radio sets across the nation to new ones. However, except in its competitive edge, the U.S. technology can not be viewed as a better match than its European counterpart that shares similar technical qualities with Korea's de facto mobile TV platform called digital multimedia broadcasting, Lee said. The digital radio broadcast system is expected to provide CD-level high-quality stereo sound and data services. The new system will also help create fresh market demand and develop related industries. Electronics makers, for instance, will be able to launch digital radio devices into the domestic market. The committee will consist of three working groups, each discussing technological requirements, legal frameworks and industrial demand. About 18 experts from the industry, academics and research institutes will work for the committee. The committee will focus on the future technology standard, particularly regarding transmission frequency band, sales of capable terminals, re-division of broadcasting areas, legal issues, as well as the most appropriate timing to digitalize the national radio broadcast system. There had been several working groups within the ministry that discussed various related issues ranging from market demand to system specifications, utilization of the existing frequency resources, broadcasting areas, and radio broadcasters' legal status. But it was difficult to narrow down all of the diverse opinions into one, the ministry said. The new committee will start working in January next year. Date Posted: 12/23/2006 (via Dan Say, DXLD) Same story truncated: http://www.abu.org.my/public/compiled/p252.htm Best regards, (via MD. AZIZUL ALAM AL-AMIN, BANGLADESH, DXLD) ** LAKSHADWEEP ISLANDS. A reminder that ham DX-peditions are underway on some of these rare islands off India, during December and continuing into January. For details of frequencies, etc., see VU7RG, http://www.vu7.in/ as well as press releases such as http://www.arsi.info/vu7/pressrelease11.html (info from OPDX via ODXA, Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LATVIA. 9290, Radio Six International, 0557*-0510, 25-12, Inicio de la transmisión, música de sintonía, a las 0600 comienzo del programa, identificación: "Radio Six International broadcasting from Scotland on 9290 with transmitting facilities in Latvia". "Good Morning and Merry Merry Christmas to you". Locutor, comentarios y canciones. 45444. 9290, Radio City, 1001-1007, 25-12, música pop, locutor, identificación: "Radio City", comentarios. 45444 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, escuchas realizadas en Friol, 7º 48' 05'' W, 43º 02' 05'' N, Grundig Satellit 500 y Sony ICF SW 7600 G, Antena de cable, 10 metros, orientada WSW, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBYA [non]. Voice of Africa via Issoudun, France. 7370, 2338-0000, 12/23/06, in English, French, & Arabic. End of English news (a lot on Palestine), 2340 French - apparently similar news items, 2350 Arabic, two announcers to 2356 when a third person spoke until the plug was pulled mid sentence at 0000. SINPO 14332. Wonder if it was the great leader who didn't finish his sentence? (Mark Taylor, Madison, WI, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBYA [non]. MOLDAVIA, 17655, Sawt al-Amal, 1302-1315, escuchada el 24 de diciembre en idioma árabe con emisión de música folklórica local, anuncian correo info @ libyaradio.net SINPO 44554. Audio: http://valenciadx.multiply.com/music/item/305 (José Miguel Romero, Burjasot (Valencia) España, Sangean ATS 909, Antena Radio Master A-108, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. Could not detect any trace of XEYU on 9599.4 Dec 26 at 1517 check (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MICRONESIA. Re 6-177: ``Re 6-172: Pacific Missionary Aviation, Pohnpei, SW plans: More info at http://www.pmapacific.org/projects/radio_station.php The tower for the antenna is 110 feet high (Mike Barraclough, England, Nov World DX Club Contact via DXLD) FM tower, that is. Axually there is nothing on this or related PMA pages I can find about SW, just AM and FM. The SW mention came from the Galcom Prayer Bulletin quoted in 6-143, with follow-ups in 6-149, 6-159. Jari, any further info on their SW plans, and are we sure they really mean tropical band/SW? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST)`` Shortwave mentioned here: Mission News Update October 2006 http://www.pmapacific.org/info/mission_news_update/read_archive_5.html POHNPEI, MICRONESIA --- We thank God for good weather on Pohnpei as they poured out cement on the foundation for the radio station’s tower. The project is going slowly but surely and we are praying that soon the radio station (an FM and shortwave one) will be up and running. There still is much to be done, but we are relying on God’s perfect timing and provisions. We are excited that God’s word can soon go forth to the remote islands of Micronesia. Our dream will soon be realized, thanks to your prayers, your generous donations and most of all to our God who has made all these possible. To Him be glory and honor! "May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word." 2 Thess. 2:16-17 --- Melinda R. Espinosa, PMA Headquarters (via Mike Barraclough, Dec 26, DXLD) Still extremely vague. As if God`s word were not already blanketing all the remote islands of Micronesia via numerous other and no doubt more powerful SW signals. Each gospel huxter always acts as if no one else is capable of doing the job. Vanity, vanity (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MOLDOVA. 6235, 1710- Dec 20, Radio DMR, Breakaway Republic of Pridnystrovya, just audible. I suspect the signal would be at fair level, if not for a ute bang on 6235 with pulsing noises. Talk is present, but too weak otherwise to make anything out, so a presumed logging. First logging from Tofino, BC at this session (Walt Salmaniw, Tofino, BC, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also LIBYA [non] ** NEW ZEALAND [and non]. On the final RNZI Mailbox for 2006, Adrian Sainsbury suggests that RNZI has the largest DRM audience in the world, as already seven Pacific Island stations are using it to relay RNZI, e.g. Cook Islands, FM-quality, a great improvement over the previous SW relays. You mean they weren`t already getting satellite feed in `FM quality`?? Dec 26 at 1505 I noticed QRDRM to WEWN on 9885, indeed covering 9885- 9890-9895. Looks like RNZI on earlier than scheduled 1530 for these frequencies, not surprising since they are not using 7145 as scheduled. I would think all the DRM frequency changes, as scheduled, let alone as not scheduled, would be a problem for the relaying stations to keep up with (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGER. 9704.5, LV du Sahel, 2003-2023, Dec 18, French. OM with talks between musical selections. Fair, in the clear after Ethiopia sign-off (Scott R. Barbour Jr., Sugar Hill Outlook DX-pedition, Kancamaugus Hwy, NH-USA, R75, 150’ longwire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA. FRCN Kaduna, 4770, Dec 25 at 0619, as soon as I tuned in heard Xmas and NY greetings in English (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. Am fairly familiar with the 60m band in the 06-07 UT period when I frequently tune around, so noticed a signal on 4790 Dec 25 at 0622 which normally is not to be heard. Must be one of the Peruvians, constantly mixed with CODAR swishes. Lively singing of some sort. 0645 recheck, demented preacher in seeming Spanish throwing in ``Aleluya, aleluya, aleluya`` three at a time, several times a minute. If there was an ID at TOH, missed it, but at 0702 was back in music. Due to format, presumably R. Visión rather than R. Atlántida; did not try to determine whether this one was slightly off frequency. Fortunately, Manuel Méndez, Spain, was listening to same just before I was and IDed it as R. Visión on 4790.2; evidently on late/early, all-night? for Xmas (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: 4790.2, Radio Visión, Chiclayo, 0546-0625, 25-12, locutor, español, predicaciones, comentario "Aquí está el Señor", identificación: "Radio Visión, Chiclayo". 24322 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, escuchas realizadas en Friol, 7º 48' 05'' W, 43º 02' 05'' N, Grundig Satellit 500 y Sony ICF SW 7600 G, Antena de cable, 10 metros, orientada WSW, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4790.16, this morning before and after 0600 UT, Spanish religious, think I heard "voz de la población". Could it be Visión in Perú?? There was a song at 0603 which lasted at least 18 minutes!! Trance- like!! (Patrice Privat, France, Dec 26, HCDX via DXLD) And another item below ** PERU. 3172.6, Radio Municipal, Panao 1020 to 1040 on 23 December., 1020 on 20 December. A good indication of band condition to Perú. Occasional IDs by OM; usually threshold signal. 3234.9, Radio Luz y Sonido, Huánuco, 1000 to 1045 with excellent signal, IDs as ``Radio Luz y Sonido`` by OM 18 December. 3329.6, Ondas del Huallaga, Huánuco. Really blasting in at 1015 to 1030, IDs by OM, excellent Andean music. Locked well with the Sony 2010 AM Synchro and whip antenna. 20 December. 4790.1, Radio Visión, Chiclayo, 0900 noted with strong signal every morning week of 17 to 23 December. Maybe on a 24 hour a day schedule? (Robert Wilkner, FL, SW Bulletin via DXLD) ** PERU. 5323.73, Radio La Voz del Anta, (presumed), 1109-1115 Dec 24, Only hearing music at this time. Signal is barely audible as it is threshold (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston, Florida, NRD545, HCDX via DXLD) ** PERU. 5460.22, Radioemisora Bolívar, La Libertad, 0012-0020, December 23, Spanish, romantic songs and local ads by male in Spanish, 24442. 6536, Radiodifusora Comercial, Huancabamba, 0002-0010, December 23, Spanish, bulletin by male with local activities, very [many?] ann. as: "...en la ciudad de Huancabamba", 24432 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 22 NOV, 1812 UT, 18060 kHz, (6020 x 3), Radio Victoria, Lima, Perú. Castellano. Identificación: "Através de Radio Victoria...". Referencia a la Iglesia Pentecostal "Dios es Amor". Programa: "La Voz de la Liberación". "El Evangelio de la Prosperidad. Alcanzando lo Imposible". Calidad Variable (Adan Mur, Ñemby, Paraguay, Conexión Digital Dec 25 via DXLD) Fundamental is slightly off 6020, so the harmonic should be 3 times as far off 18060 (gh, DXLD) Viz.: 6019.6, Radio Victoria, Lima, 0800-0835, 25-12, locutor, español, predicaciones, "Continuamos aquí en la madrugada de Lima". Canciones religiosas. 23322 (Manuel Méndez, Spain, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 25.12.2006, SW PERUVIAN STATIONS Freq - Station - QTH - UT SINPO Language 4755.2, Radio Huanta 2000, Huanta, Ayacucho 12:03 55423 Spanish 4775.0, Radio Tarma, Tarma, Junín 12:05 44423 Spanish 4824.4, La Voz de la Selva, Iquitos, Loreto 12:07 34223 Spanish 4826.4, Radio Sicuani, Sicuani, Cuzco 12:09 23222 Spanish 4955.0, Radio Cultural Amauta, Huanta, Ayacucho 12:12 55544 Quechua 4974.3, Radio del Pacífico, Lima LOW MODULATION 12:15 44423 Spanish 5024.8, Radio Quillabamba, Quillabamba, Cuzco 12:17 44413 Spanish 5039.2, Radio Libertad de Junín 12:21 44423 Spanish 5939.4, Radio Melodia, Arequipa 12:28 34323 Spanish 6018.5, Radio Victoria, Lima 12:35 44423 Spanish 6114.8, Radio Unión, Lima 12:38 34423 Spanish 6173.8, Radio Tawantinsuyo, Cuzco 12:44 44223 Quechua 6193.3, Radio Cuzco, Cuzco 12:52 34222 Spanish 73!!!!! Alfredo Cañote, Icom R71A (DXSPACEMASTER, ALFREDO BENJAMIN CAÑOTE BUENO, Lima Perú, TELF: 51-1-9958-6329 (13-01 UT), ANTENNA: RADIO SHACK 20-181, NOISE CANCELLER: JPS ANC-4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES. 15325, FEBC Radio, Manila, 0953-1003, 25-12, Música de sintonía e identificación entre las 0953 y las 1000: "This is FEBC Radio, broadcasting from Manila, Philippines". A las 1000 programa en inglés. 34333 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, escuchas realizadas en Friol, 7º 48' 05'' W, 43º 02' 05'' N, Grundig Satellit 500 y Sony ICF SW 7600 G, Antena de cable, 10 metros, orientada WSW, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** POLAND. R. Polonia`s Esperante broadcasts will continue in 2007, but only on internet: http://www.polskieradio.pl/polonia/audio2.asp?rId=11 ``Atenton Gesinjoroj! La esperantlingvaj elsendoj gis la 31-a de decembro 2006 estas emisiataj same kiel gis nun pere de la mallongaj ondoj kaj pere de satelito. La elsendojn eblas ankau auskulti interrete pere de la pagaro de WRN http://www.wrn.org alklakante unue ``Listeners` area``, sekve elektante: Radio Polonia, lauvice: Esperanto kaj la celitanan tagon. Ekde la 1-a de januaro 2007 estos inaugurita la emisiado de esperantlingvaj elsendoj ekskluzive pere de la interreto.`` Thanks to kimandrewelliott.com for pointing to the above page, which includes audio on demand, different files for Eu and Am, altho they do not SWBC to Am. Also, strangely enough, as I copied the text into MS Word, the diacritics disappeared but did not turn into garbled letters. E.g. circumflex over g of gis to make it soft, and a hook over the u of ankau to make it a diphthong (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PUERTO RICO. Re 6-189: I received a QSL letter from WIPR 940 last week for a 2005 report. Said they should be on the air again at the end of January. Had been off since March 2006 (Gert Nilsson, Scandinavia, mwdx yg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. Voice of Russia unveiled its new official site: http://www.ruvr.ru It is unclear what the abbreviation RUVR stands for. The old site http://www.vor.ru is still operational. However, it is safe to assume that the old address will eventually disappear, due to its unpleasant sound to a Russian ear. - In most Slavic languages, the word "vor" means "thief." (Sergei Sosedkin, IL, Dec 25, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Ha! Nice logo, whatever it means. And convenient program schedule to NAm, with linx on the side for much more info about each program: http://ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&e=154&p= (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) At first glance, the new site appears to be much more logically designed, and has the potential to be much more useful for checking programme information. But we were surprised to click on ``What’s New`` for the English service, to find a single item about `The Christian Message from Moscow`’ which is `on air as of August 28th`. The text refers to ``the next three editions of the program`` but neglects to mention the dates, so it’s not clear if this is old information or current information. Then, if you select About Us, you see a short message from the Editor- in-Chief of the World Service in English, but the links underneath to `Our Narrators` and `Editorial Staff` go to pages in Russian, not English. So it appears that this new site is still a `work in progress` (Andy Sennitt, Dec 26, Media Network blog via DXLD) [and non] The German section on the new website contains so far only a few items, most of them dating back to September and even August, apparently posted as first tests of the system. Looks like they want to move to the new system step-by-step, not with a big bang which can result in lots of annoying trouble. While clicking around I also found an announcement re. mediumwave transmissions of Sodruzhestvo: http://ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=rus&e=120&p= Gives a schedule 0900-1200 on 936 (Krasne/Ukraine) and 1400-1600 on 999 and 1548 (both Grigoriopol) effective from January 1st; are these transmissions really new? Also says in some way that they want to extend the mediumwave transmissions in future (Kai Ludwig, Dec 26, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA [and non]. Muffled audio on Voice of Russia I seem to recall that notes about muffled speech audio on VOR broadcasts appeared here, so the following could be of some interest: This circumstance is related to new studios VOR put in operation this year (or probably starting in last year), and some people with interest in studio equipment were wondering quite a lot about the mics in these new studios for the mentioned reason. Some of the stuff one can see on lots of commercial stations? Yup, the new website finally reveals it: http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&rt=130&p= and http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&rt=135&p= (picture of Carl Watts at bottom, the other one shows an old studio with Oktava small cardioid condenser mics) So they are using Shure SM7, one of the praised "radio legends". Well, the most recent studios built by public broadcasters here in Germany (RBB Potsdam-Babelsberg, apparently also DW at Bonn) were again equipped with proven condenser mics. Now it can be heard on VOR why, although I have to add that these SM7's are capable of producing better quality, and apparently some adjustments were meanwhile made at least in an English service studio. Nevertheless I maintain my earlier exclamation "bring back on the Oktavas" (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Dec 26, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. RUSSIA ``JAMMING`` BBC RADIO - GERMAN PAPER | Text of report by Russian Ekho Moskvy radio on 24 December [Presenter] For the first time after the fall of the Iron Curtain, Russia has reverted to the practice of jamming Western radio stations. For instance, the German daily Tagesspiegel reports that jamming makes it practically impossible to listen to BBC Russian Service in Moscow... http://blogs.rnw.nl/medianetwork/?p=6859 (BBCM via Media Network blog via DXLD) WTFK? Presumably 1260 kHz as in WRTH 2006. The way things are going with Putin, I wouldn`t put it past Russia to resume deliberate jamming, but I suspect this is another case of people not knowing what they are talking about. The weakish AM signal could simply be subject to the usual noise sources in a big city. This should be easy to confirm one way or another by anyone technically competent in Moscow. Guess what: there are still a few SW frequencies on the air with BBCWS in Russian, from UK, Cyprus, etc. (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Reports about BBC reception in Moscow Hello all, I just read with quite some surprise, to say the least, how Ekho Moskvy misquoted a report by the Tagesspiegel newspaper: http://blogs.rnw.nl/medianetwork/?p=6859 This is the quoted piece: http://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/archiv/24.12.2006/2985731.asp Its headline "Rauschen auf Kurzwelle" means "noises on shortwave" (actually the German term Rauschen specifically denotes white noise). And this is the passage in question: >>> Schon Ende November wurde der russische Dienst der BBC seine Frequenz im Moskauer FM-Band los. Der Sender ist momentan nur per Internet zu empfangen oder auf Kurzwelle mit extrem gewöhnungsbedürftigem Rauschpegel. Die Abschaltung, so zitierten britische Medien eine BBC-Sprecherin, sei auf direkte Anweisung des Kremls erfolgt. <<< Verbatim translation, as good as I can give it: "Already in late November the BBC's Russian service lost its frequency in Moscow's FM band. At present the station can be heard only via the Internet, or on shortwave with a noise floor that very much requires to get used to. British media quotes a BBC spokeswoman with a statement that the switch-off took place on direct order by the Kremlin." In other words, the Tagesspiegel report considers Radio Arsenal, which cancelled the BBC rebroadcasts (reportedly after it had been sold to new owners who want to reformat the station), as kind of a BBC venture which to all I know it never was. It also omits the fact that the BBC is in Moscow on mediumwave 1260. There appears to be a slight possibility that the statement about a "noise floor" one has "to get used to" could refer to 1260, since recently this frequency has been moved from the previously used Oktyabrskoye polye site inmidst Moscow to Kurkino, outside the town, reportedly resulting in a considerable loss of signal strength in the city. The wording of the report indicates that in particular it was a female representative of the BBC's press office who said that the Kremlin had ordered the end of the BBC rebroadcasts. But what is of particular interest here: This report speaks about a noise floor in the same manner than the CEO of Media Consulta (the company running European Radio for Belarus) did when he dismissed the Belorussian service of DW: "Shortwave, that's were you always have these funny noises, something nobody would voluntarily listen to." As a native speaker of German I can't find any hint on deliberate jamming in the wording of this piece. I'm so surprised about this misquotation by Ekho Moskvy after I tried to find out about Radio Arsenal when doing some background research on the story about the BBC being no longer on FM in Moscow. The sources I found said that Radio Arsenal was founded by former staff members of Ekho Moskvy in 2002 after Gazprom became a major shareholder of Ekho Moskvy, something these journalists did not agree with. Of course this is by no means surprising, but what about Ekho Moskvy erroneously (at least I think so until I read about evidence from monitoring by knowledgeable people) reporting jamming against the BBC? Would a mouthpiece of the Kremlin (a Gazprom-controlled station would to be considered as such, at least acc. common belief) be supposed to accuse the Kremlin of revamping the old Soviet practice of jamming? What's wrong here??? By the way, Elke Windisch (the author of the Tagesspiegel piece) used to work for the Voice of Russia but quit years ago, if I'm not terribly messing up names here. I'm not sure if it was she who mentioned something like a relapse back into old habits as reason. I'm not really in a position to say much about the current programming of VOR's German service either, away from the circumstance that the differences between the German and the English service appear to be quite considerable (meaning, English sounds much more like it did in old times than German). Merry Christmas, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Dec 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I think the fact that it was Ekho Moskvy carrying this (albeit mistranslated) item is interesting in itself. It will be interesting to see if there are any follow-ups from either Tagesspiegel or Ekho Moskvy (Andy Sennitt, ibid.) Of course, I would even go farther and say that this is the very aspect which makes the whole story so interesting. Otherwise it is not just about the BBC relays but rather about what happened to Radio Arsenal in general. For the Tagesspiegel side it would of course need them (or Elke Windisch as author in particular) to know what Ekho Moskvy made of their report. For the other side it depends if the Ekho Moskvy piece (judging from the transcript it appears to be a rather brief correspondent talk, buried in some current affairs programme) had any impact or if it became yet another case of "das versendet sich", some German saying that is difficult to translate into English. I think I did not refer to the mentioned reports about Ekho Moskvy / Gazprom / Radio Arsenal in detail, so here they are: http://www.sptimes.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=5325 http://www.gazeta.ru/2002/02/28/EkhoMoskvyTe.shtml From 2001 and 2002, respectively; I could not spot any more recent stuff. And about Kurkino: http://porokhov.guzei.com/kurk.html http://konfetta.tripod.com/id23.html I think Olle Alm mentioned in his well-known writing about shortwave sites in the FSU that Kurkino was amongst them as well but is no longer operational. This was way back in the nineties, so I assume the shortwave transmissions there ceased already in the USSR days? Anyway the pictures leave not much doubt about a tower of a shortwave curtain now being used as home of the antenna for Ekho Moskvy's 91.2 CCIR band transmitter (they also have an OIRT band outlet on 73.82 from the Ostankino tower). The video shots in the second link also provide a glimpse of what appear to be the mediumwave antennas (BBC, RL, VOA etc., etc.). (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Dec 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SINGAPORE. 6150, Mediacorp Radio, Singapore, 1425-1440, 25-12, música pop en inglés, identificación: "93.8 Live". A las 1230 noticias en inglés, noticias del mundo. El tiempo en Singapore: "The weather, 32º Celsius". "93.8 Live", "Mediacorp Radio". 23322 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, escuchas realizadas en Friol, 7º 48' 05'' W, 43º 02' 05'' N, Grundig Satellit 500 y Sony ICF SW 7600 G, Antena de cable, 10 metros, orientada WSW, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN. TAIWAN'S BIGGEST RADIO STATION CHANGES HANDS http://www.playfuls.com/news_09_1496-Taiwans-Biggest-Radio-Station-Changes-Hands.html December 26th 2006 --- Taiwan's Broadcasting Corporation of China (BCC), the island's biggest radio station, has been sold by the opposition Nationalist Party, or Kuomintang, to a major media company, the new buyer said Tuesday. "It took half a year to negotiate the deal and finalize it last week," said Jaw Shau-kong, former parliamentarian and ex-chairman of UFO radio group. Jaw declined to reveal the transaction value, though local news media estimated it to be somewhere around 700 million Taiwan dollars (21 million US dollars). The 78-year-old BCC, which was moved to Taiwan from Nanjing in China by the Nationalist government, was sold by the financially strapped party to an investment firm held by Taipei-based China Times news group last year. The group recently resold the station to Jaw. The Kuomintang governed China in the middle of the last century, until being defeated in a civil war by the Communists in 1949. They fled to Taiwan and set up a local government that reigned until it lost the presidency to the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party in 2000 (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) Next question: what effect upon R. Taiwan International, part of BCC? And shouldn`t they both really be property of the Taiwan government, or a public corporation, independent of the party in power? (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** TURKMENISTAN. Lunatic Exits --- Having done some studies on the lunatic president Saparmurat Niyazov of Turkmenistan, I am sure that the feigned sadness I am seeing from the public on satellite TV will quickly wear off. He reminds me of Nicolae Ceausescu - completely bonkers, kept in power by secret police. Niyazov was bizarre for banning listening to car radios in his country! This place could do with a Borat to bring them back into the real world. But not a great holiday destination just yet. I feel so sorry for the people (Jonathan Marks, Dec 21, Critical Distance blog via DXLD) 5015, TURKMENISTAN, presumed Turkmen Radio, 2056-2120, Dec 18, Vernacular. YL and OM with talk over music between nice ``Persian`` style musical selections. Rough copy at tune-in though improving by tune-out (Scott R. Barbour Jr., Sugar Hill Outlook DX-pedition, Kancamaugus Hwy, NH-USA, R75, 150’ longwire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [and non]. I knew the main broadcast of H.M. The Queen`s Xmas message was to be at 1505 GMT Dec 25, so I dutifully tuned in the only BBCWS frequencies I could hear, altho poorly, 17830 and 17885, but no! The African streams could not be pre-empted merely for that. Then checked 6040 to Asia, and not on there either. Later checking the BBCWS online schedules, I find that 1505 was merely the time on the European/internet stream, and she was delayed for Africa until 1740. Meanwhile, this page has two different linx to the video version: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6208529.stm lasting some 7 minutes, featuring low-quality sound, 21 kbps and video with extraneous location sound. When I paused it, only the sound resumed at 8 kbps, with the video frozen. Let`s try the video and audio linx here: http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page1.asp Audio-only runs just 3 sesquiminutes, and embedded WM player claims both ``song`` and ``artist`` are BBC. For starters, she axually buys into the myth that Jesus was born at Xmas, which even devout religionist scholars admit is nonsense, and there she is, the titular head of the church! It was hard to pay attention to the body of her no-doubt well-intentioned message about respecting elders after such an introduxion (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [non]. UnID relay point, 6140, BBC, 1030-1103 Dec 26. Noted news and commentary in Spanish Language. IDs every once in a while as "...BBC... Mundo...". Don't know where this is being relayed from, but it's nearby my location judging from the quality and strength of the signal which is good. Can't find this broadcast listed in any of my current reference material and that includes EiBi. BBC promos on the hour followed by another ID, "BBC ...." (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston, Florida, NRD545, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Sigh. You really ought to use DXLD as ``current reference material``, where details of this were recently published (gh, DXLD) Viz.: 6140, BBC via Greenville, 1032-1105, Dec 26, Spanish programming, good reception. Listed as 1000-1230 UT. In the past this was the time period when I listened to R. Líder (COLOMBIA) when they were occasionally on, but Líder will not do well if they return again during this time period. Even being slightly off frequency (6139.8) will probably not help them much (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, Etón E5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Use it or lose it ** U K [non]. BBC `Jammed` in Moscow: see RUSSIA ** U S A. Hi Jeff, Wanted to hear your Viva Miami Cayman show as you predicted at 0500 UT Dec 25, but Global Crisis Watch is on instead (I see they have been in a production spurt lately). So when may we hear the Cayman show? 73, (Glenn to Jeff White, via DXLD) Glenn: Yes, GCW has reappeared, unfortunately in this particular case. We did run the Viva Miami Cayman Christmas show at 2330 UT Sunday. I'll try to find another place for it in the coming days, but not sure where yet. In fact, GCW will be pre-empted next Sunday night (0500 UT Monday) because of a special New Year's Eve program from Cuba Virtual from 0500-0600. All the best (Jeff White, WRMI, Dec 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WHRA, 15665, Dec 25 at 1512 UT IDed as Pulse FM and timecheck as 8:06! Pulse FM is their 96.9 outlet in South Bend, and is also the ``program`` on the WHRA schedule at 1505-1520, obviously a filler. Time check was 2 hours and 6 minutes slow, close enough for God`s work? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. Heavy Interference from the Cuban Bubbler on 5070. It appears they are trying to jam some type of religious broadcast on that frequency, it is very hard to hear over the bubbler. 0800-0816 UT (Paul Armani, CO, Dec 26, ABDX via DXLD) 5070 would be WWCR, of course. I seriously doubt this. Most likely you are getting an image from the heavy Cuban jamming against R. Martí (or not) on 5980 which starts at 0700; 910 kHz, twice the receiver IF, below that (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. FRANK STANTON, BROADCASTING PIONEER, DIES AT 98 By Holcomb B. Noble, New York Times, December 26, 2006 Frank Stanton, a central figure in the development of television broadcasting in the United States and the industry's most articulate and persuasive spokesman during his nearly three decades as president of CBS, died Sunday afternoon at his home in Boston, a longtime friend, Elizabeth Allison, said. He was 98 and had been in declining health, she said. Dr. Stanton was the right-hand man of William S. Paley, the tycoon who built the Columbia Broadcasting System empire from a handful of struggling radio stations in 1928. From 1946 to 1973, they operated as probably the greatest team in the history of broadcasting, making CBS, for a time, the most powerful communications company in the world, and the most prestigious. It was under Dr. Stanton and Mr. Paley that CBS, mixing entertainment programming with high-quality journalism and dashes of high culture, earned its reputation as the Tiffany Network. . . http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/26/business/media/26stanton.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ei=5094&en=cfbaee8a4dc9b2c3&hp&ex=1167109200&partner=homepage (via Mike Terry, Brock Whaley, DXLD) OBIT ** U S A. Re 6-189, KVNS: You are correct, Glenn, it is La Preciosa. My teachers used to take off for spelling too. Oh well. af (Alan Furst, TX, ABDX via DXLD) Around 11 PM CST last night (Friday 22 Dec 2006), I heard a "La Preciosa" slogan on 1700 kHz. Signals were pretty strong and stable. I'm pretty sure it's the Brownsville station based on the direction my KA-1103 was turned and the signal strength. And, Glenn, PLEASE don't retire! The rest of us need your DX experience and expertise!! 73 y Feliz Navidad! (Steve N5WBI Ponder, Houston TX, NRC-Am via DXLD) ** U S A. You may wish to note in your DXLD that WCHB-AM 1200 Taylor, MI was noted with IBOC back on last Wednesday morning around 0600 EST. They apparently turned it on sometime Tuesday, as I was cleaning out my car last Monday the 18th and had WOWO coming in on 1190 around noon. WCHB has been running that junk 24/7 since (Eric Berger, MI, Dec 25, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. Both Boston Air America outlets have switched to Spanish, 1200 WKOX Framingham & 1430 WXKS Everett. 73 (Tom Jones, Mason NH, Dec 23, IRCA via DXLD) ** U S A. WITH 1230 Baltimore vacated the AM band and is "broadcasting" on the internet as News Talk DC dot com and Town Hall DC dot com. They are not currently broadcasting from any AM or FM station. I am not sure how they are going to attract new "listeners" especially since their are using a narrow band feed for their audio. What are others` opinions on this? (Bill Harms, Elkridge MD, Dec 23, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) They left the AM (and FM) band. All they are doing is re- routing audio feeds on a webcasting feed. They have NO local programming. This can all be automated. For all intents and purposes the station disappeared, despite Salem calling it News Talk DC dot com (Bill Harms, IRCA via DXLD) The 1230 facility's not going off the air. It's been sold to another religious broadcaster, which operates WRBS-FM 95.1 in Baltimore, and either is already back on the air as WRBS(AM), or will be very soon. All that's happening here is Salem cashing out of a marginal market where it only owned one station and had little hope of buying more to create the sort of clusters it prefers to operate (like KPDQ AM/KPDQ FM/KFIS FM/KTRO FM in Portland). The back story here is that Salem had already pulled its news-talk format (Bill Bennett, Dennis Prager, Hugh Hewitt, etc.) out of the DC market a year or so ago, when it flipped WABS 780 to religious talk as WAVA(AM). While that programming continued up the road in Baltimore on WITH, Salem was already heavily promoting the "NewsTalkDC.com" webcast as a way for DC-area listeners to hear the format. (The WITH signal doesn't get into the DC market, day or night, with any kind of listenability.) So while Salem loses some over-the-air listeners by getting rid of the WITH broadcast signal, it keeps the webcast listeners in DC, and pockets some cash by selling the WITH license to WRBS, which will probably move the religious spoken-word half of its programming to 1230 and turn 95.1 into full-time contemporary Christian music. s (Scott Fybush, IRCA via DXLD) How is this in the public interest. SILLY question! (gh, DXLD) Scott: What you are saying does sound like what is going on. However, I do question the move to all Internet. I doubt they had that many listeners in DC to begin with and their internet audio feed sounds terrible. The whole concept of local stations going to the internet and staying viable is beyond me. Going to the internet alone means that the station joins the 100,000's of other audio feeds out there. That means instead of being one of say 25 to 50 options (on AM and FM), they become just another webcaster. I even tried streaming audio myself with old time radio programs. With all the people out there trying webcasting, how is a station like NewsTalkDC.com going to compete? WRBS started their programing with an ID at 1500 EST 12/22 as far as I can determine. WITH with Dennis Prager was on during the 1200 to 1500 slot and WRBS was on at 1500 (Bill Harms, ibid.) Re WITH 1230 move to the Internet --- I am listening to the 20 kbps WITH stream now. The stream is stable (very important) but does suffer from the audio artifacts that results from heavy compression. It is NOT pleasant to listen to. For talk, I think 32 kbps is an absolute minimum for a relatively pleasant experience. 56 kbps will give good vocal audio quality. I listen a lot to internet music stations. Unfortunately, many still use bandwidths down to 64 kbps which is unacceptable. 96 kbps is acceptable for music, 128 is fine. Actually, the music streams I listen to are all 128 kbps, and fed through a PC speaker system like Creative or Logitech the audio is good. But if you want to compare it to a good-quality stereo system you will hear the quality differerence. And while I'm at it: Merry Christmas everyone! (Bjarne Mjelde, http://www.kongsfjord.no http://www.arcticdx.blogspot.com amfmtvdx at qth.net via DXLD) FWIW the bandwidth of an AM-IBOC stream is a maximum of 60.6 kbps and a minimum of 36.4 kbps. For FM-IBOC the maximum *for the sum of all streams* is 148 kbps and the minimum 98.4. For stations that multicast this may be split among as many as three different programs. In both cases the data services ("text ID", "RDS") are separate from these figures. To answer my own question (posted some time ago), both sidebands are usually redundant -- it should be possible to recover audio from an AM-IBOC station on 720 if a signal on 730 or 740 is wiping out the upper sideband, as long as 700 and 710 are clear. Likewise, an FM-IBOC station on 97.1 should be receivable with interference on 97.3, as long as 96.9 is clear. However, for AM-IBOC this redundancy requires that the analog audio be limited to 5 kHz bandwidth. (apparently stations feel this redundancy is *necessary* as most engineers seem to believe limiting the analog audio to 5 kHz is required if one runs IBOC) -- (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66, ibid.) Assuming that you are referring to the hybrid IBOC systems that are currently in use, these figures are incorrect. 36 kbps is actually the *maximum* for the AM hybrid system, and it will drop to 20 kbps (the "core" stream) when the going gets rough. Similarly, the 98 kbps figure is the *maximum* rate for the FM hybrid system that is currently permitted by the interim FCC rules. 148 kbps applies to the *extended* hybrid system. It's true that a few stations are experimenting with the extended modes under an STA (but not, to my knowledge, up to the full 148 kbps), but the extended hybrid system was not evaluated/recommended by the NRSC. Season's greetings to all, (Barry McLarnon, VE3JF, Ottawa, ON, ibid.) Whether low bitrates is a problem or not depends of course. In a car, 20 kbps isn't necessarily bad. In a home stereo of "average" quality, it is. The bitrate issue is not only with IBOC but with DRM and DAB as well. As I am writing this I am listening to the new Classic Rock Central stream at 192 kbps --- see story on Medianetwork's blog at http://blogs.rnw.nl/medianetwork/ --- and the quality is very good. For stationary audio systems (home, office) internet streams will probably be the dominant source, leaving broadcasting in some form or another for those that are on the road (Bjarne Mjelde, Norway, ibid.) ** U S A. KPBS-FM continues its fine tradition of news for San Diego. No one else comes close in local coverage — and no one else has Tom Fudge. Expect excellence (SDRadio.net via DXLD) In how many other major markets, any markets, can this be said of a public radio station?? (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** U S A. DISPUTED RADIO TOWER BACKED December 24, 2006, By Eric Carpenter, The Orange County Register La Mirada --- A proposal to reconstruct a radio tower, destroyed two years ago when a plane slammed into it, has been recommended for approval despite sharp criticism from Fullerton officials and local pilots who said it would be a glaring hazard. The La Mirada Planning Commission voted 3-0 Thursday night to recommend that the City Council allow KFI-AM radio to rebuild its tower at 16608 Trojan Way, less than two miles northwest of the Fullerton Municipal Airport... http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/homepage/article_1396810.php (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) Every pol has his price (gh) ** VENEZUELA. I'm currently hearing an unidentified station on 5125v kHz Dec 25, 2006, 0317 UT. The signal is poor with distortion and ute QRM. Seems to be Spanish talk by man with upbeat music. Can't find any listings for this frequency. It's hard to pinpoint with the QRM (Wade Smith, New Brunswick, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Answer in 6-189, first reported in 6-187, R. Amazonas, nom. 4940 (gh) ** VENEZUELA. Time Signal Station YVTO, nice strong signal under WWV and over WWVH 12/25 0615. Also fairly strong and clear spur on 5100. Also weaker spur on 4900. Not much other unusual activity Christmas Eve night going into Christmas Day on 60 m.b. Best Holiday Wishes and Happy New Year to everyone from atop the Blue Ridge! (Alex Vranes, Jr., Harpers Ferry, WV, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5000, YVTO, Observatorio Naval Cagigal, Caracas, 0644-0835, 25-12. Señales horarias, identificación cada minuto: "Observatorio Naval Cagigal, Caracas Venezuela, al oir el tono serán las 2 horas, 44 minutos, 0 segundos". Ligera interferencia de WWV Fort Collins, en la misma frecuencia. 23222. De acuerdo con la información de José Elías, estuve chequeando la frecuencia de 5100, mientras escuchaba en 5000; en principio no logré captar nada, pero a las 0826, pude escuchar, con señal débil, pero perfectamente audible a YVTO también en los 5100, con señales horarias e identificación "Observatorio Naval Cagigal, Caracas Venezuela, al oir el tono...". 14221 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, escuchas realizadas en Friol, 7º 48' 05'' W, 43º 02' 05'' N, Grundig Satellit 500 y Sony ICF SW 7600 G, Antena de cable, 10 metros, orientada WSW, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA [non]. 10 DIC, 1722 UT, 17750 kHz, Venezolana de Televisión. Castellano. Identificación: "Venezolana de Televisión. El Canal de Todos los Venezolanos". Reporte sobre las maniobras binacionales, con el Brasil, de carácter de control del espacio aéreo. Buena Calidad (Adan Mur, Ñemby, Paraguay, Conexión Digital Dec 25 via DXLD) That was a Sunday, so really Aló Presidente via Cuba (gh, DXLD) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. Re 6210: Sorry, checked RASD radio here in central Europe twice, but far weaker signal than former 7425/7460 kHz in 40 mb outlet. Only S=2 at best. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Dec 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Was hearing it in Spanish, just went off at 2400*. Didn`t have time to measure whether exactly on 6210 (Joe Hanlon, NJ, Dec 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) New 6208.00 2320-2400*, Clandestine, 20+22-12, National R of the Saharan Arab Dem. Rep., Rabouni, Algeria. Spanish interview, commentary about Sahara, news about Spain and Kofi Annan, 2355 closing announcements, new frequency ex 6215, 44444. AP-DNK (Anker Petersen, Skovlunde, Denmark, @tividade DX Dec 25 via DXLD) [Cf. IRAN] Por cierto la Radio Nacional Saharaui dejó 6208 y pasó a 6210 cuando apareció en 6205 la VOIRI; hoy también emitiendo en 6210, sigue buscando una frecuencia para evitar interferencias (José Miguel Romero, Spain, 1831 UT Dec 24, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZAMBIA. 4965, R. Christian Voice, 0405-0450, Dec 26, religious programming in English (with African accent), talks a lot about their listeners waking up (jingle ``Getting On Up``), religious songs and one Christmas song, ID’s (Radio Christian Voice. Reaching across Africa 365 days a year. Your number one station.), BoH news headlines, into religious program. Fair (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, Etón E5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE. 3396, R. Zimbabwe (tentative), 0243-0401, Dec 26, in vernacular, DJ playing nice selections of mostly high-life music, 0300 African drums, frequencies listed, more high-life music, 0354 choral Anthem, ToH briefly mentions ``Anti-corruption Commission`` and drums again. Several mentions of Zimbabwe, but no positive ID. The reception got better the longer I listened (Zimbabwe sunrise about 0320 UT) (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, Etón E5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 2670, SSB, Dec 26 at 0559 found marine weather including winds and seas; said next broadcast would be at 1035 Z = 0435 local time. Could not catch ID in noise before it went off shortly after 0600. Therefore Central timezone, Gulf Coast, LA or TX. I am sure a schedule of such USCG? broadcasts exists somewhere (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 3316, Sierra Leone?? 2035 choir, weak, 25 Dec 06 (Michel near Paris, jn19ak, ala1530, HCDX via DXLD) Has been inactive for years (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. NEW, 4855.6, 0125-0235, ???, 25-12, UNID Central Asian station on new frequency Vernacular announcement and choir singing in the beginning, but then non-stop Central Asian folkmusic with no breaks for ID at 0200 or 0230. Language sounded like Turkmen, Kazakh, Kirghiz or similar! 23333 QRM AIR Delhi 4860 AP-DNK (Anker Petersen, Skovlunde, Denmark, @tivade DX Dec 25 via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. UNKNOWN, 5930, 0731- Dec 20, CW. Unknown intruder with continuous CW at strong level from 0720 tune in past 0732. AM signal, though. All I could make out was: WATGN WATGN = = = NRIGS. Seems to be in code as nothing makes a lot of sense and my MixW2 is pretty accurate at decoding CW. Lots of 5 letter groups, so perhaps a spy station in CW. Any Ideas? 1000 Hz tones. Ended at 0738 with a * S *. I note that Ron Howard in Calif noted CW on 5920 around 1400 in Nov (Walt Salmaniw, Tofino, BC, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I logged a similar station (perhaps the same?) transmitting AM code on 5945 kHz on December 3, around 0900 UT, and reported it to the CONDIG list. Unfortunately I can't read code, but I think it was a kind of "numbers station". I can't imagine why use AM instead of CW, and why within the 49-m broadcast band... unless you are using a broadcast transmitter. With 100 kW or so, a spy could easily receive the message with a cheap radio bought in a supermarket without making himself suspicious. 73, (Moisés Knochen, Montevideo, Uruguay, ibid.) I have reported this several times in the last year in DXLD. Another frequency with the same is 5800. You will find my reports if you search DXLD on 5930 and 5800. These seem to be on a regular schedule; at least I frequently run across them late at night, but haven`t bothered to log and report them lately. ENIGMA files confirmed they are from Cuba. On occasion, mixed with RHC audio. If you are doing numbers in Morse, it makes a lot more sense to substitute each number with a letter for ease of copying, that`s all. It`s a dead giveaway when only ten letters are ever sent, in whatever combination. 73, (Glenn, ibid.) UNIDENTIFIED. On 6220, apparent UK pirate, dance tracks, from 2250 to 2325 Dec 23. DJ announcement with UK accent hard to copy, maybe ``Next Free Radio``. Could be Mystery Radio as gh suggested (Joe Hanlon, NJ, Dec 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also EUROPE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Welcome --- It's Xmas Weekend! I know I have waited too long for this. Maybe I’ve been enjoying lately while Christmas season feelings and emotions are growing by the day. Since I was a limonense child in the 50s I learnt to love this special time of year, thanks to family union, good toys and of course good food, not necessarily living in richness, but having in mind those homeless or those passing through calamities and turmoil. But I’ll have to charge beautiful music with the blame for the good times, as this is food for the spirit. My dad imported a couple of albums back in 1955 or 1956, “The Sound of Christmas” by The Three Suns and “Christmas In High Fidelity” by George Melachrino Orchestra. Those of you who have been blessed listening to these will surely know what I’m talking about. This spiritual food has been running though generations from our parents to our children and soon to come (they are delayed) grandchildren. Also there’s a good chance for us SW listeners with some Christmas carols while WYFR used to play constantly their repertoire of traditional Xmas tunes. Best heard here in Tiquicia at 1400 on 17765 and 11850. Problem with 11530 at 1300 is a clashing with Denge Mesopotamia. With all that said, sound like justifying to let you know Glenn, how much I appreciate your great will to keep at work gathering valuable information from here, there and everywhere, which represent the essence of this hobby, that I dare to say on behalf of the rest of our colleagues, how grateful we feel in posting our contributions and points of view. So why not? We have our own SW Xmas party at a distance but keeping the spirit alive to share warm seasons greetings wherever each one of us might be. Have yourself a Merry Little (size got nothing to do) Christmas and at Very Happy 2007 with plenty blessings and a flooding of health!!! (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) LANGUAGE LESSONS ++++++++++++++++ Thanks? Don't Mention It --- By John Kelly, Thursday, December 21, 2006; B03, Washington Post So, here's my idea: I apply for a research grant to study whether the "thank you/thank you" I wrote about not long ago is a new phenomenon or something that's been with us since the days of crystal radio sets. To recap: The "thank you/thank you" -- or TU/TU -- is when a radio personality ends an interview with a "thank you," only to have the interviewee parrot back "thank you." My research project would consist of sitting down with recordings of radio shows from the 1920s and '30s to see whether they did the same thing back then. . . http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/20/AR2006122001956_pf.html (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ESPERANTO: see POLAND W, Y --- re 6-189: Throughout my junior to high school years, 1957-1967, what we call here in Tiquicia ``desde la escuela al colegio``, they taught us that w is pronounced ``doble ú``, (maybe gringo influence) despite the fact that anyone can see a couple of letters v linked. First time for me hearing that ``doble ve`` reference was in WRUL Spanish service around 1964, which I took as a South American influence. For many years, both b and v letters were for us pronounced the same until mid 70s, letter v became ``uve`` and b remained ``be`` (sounding beh for gringos). My Spanish mate newsreader at Eco News have told me that in her country there`s no difference when pronouncing b or v. But here has becoming a custom to pronounce v with your upper teeth upon your inferior lip (as in English) with a slight blowing tending to sound like a faked ``fi``. Now for letter y. We ticos learnt its pronuciation as ``i griega`` (like a road or railway divides in two branches) and from the 70s this began to change to ``ye``. Trying to understand the way castellano is pronounced in different countries tends to be a mess. Just a couple of examples: I heard rural Chileans change the word ``eléctrica`` to ``eléutrica`` and Guatemalans pronounce ``silla`` (chair) like ``sia``, so ll is mute. Good thing of all this is we are here to support each other and try to evacuate doubts, specially from English speakers, in the way pronunciations change from one LA country to another. 73s. (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, Dec 26, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ WORLD RADIO TV HANDBOOK BINDING Hi Glenn, I was reviewing some old comments and came across this from you: "What bothers me more is that it won`t open flat, so when I am trying to refer to it and type something, I need three hands. Long ago I think they had stitched binding, which would open flat, but it was a much smaller book then. My copy came direct from UK, but I doubt there is a differently printed US edition (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST)" WRTH was not sewn for many years but when I took over I decided it should be and each edition since 1999 has been sewn. You can fold the covers right back on themselves and pages will not come out. That's what I do to make it lie flat. It does not look so pretty after a few months but it works. You are right: all the copies are printed in the UK. I hope you have a very good Christmas, and my best wishes for the New Year. (Nicholas Hardyman, Publisher, World Radio TV Handbook, Dec 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Nicholas, I see what you mean, but it`s very hard for me to `mis- treat` a book like that! Perhaps with your blessing. . . (gh, DXLD) WORLD OF HOROLOGY +++++++++++++++++ Re 6-189, set clox ahead half an hour everywhere --- DST may be fine in northern latitudes but in the south there are some drawbacks. It is HOT during the summer. REAL HOT. So you get off work at 5:00 with time to go play golf or work in the yard but the sun tells you it's still mid-afternoon. And it won't start cooling off until 7 or 8 when the sun starts sinking. Here we should set our clocks the other way, (spring back if you will) so that when we get off work at 5, it feels like 7 and we might be tempted to do something other than sit in an air-conditioned house (Jerry Lenamon, Waco, Texas (home of hot as hell summers but normally very mild winters), dxldyg via DX LSITENING DIGEST) But Jerry, I dare say you have the advantage in the summer of it getting darker much earlier than places on the Canadian border on your longitude (PAUL DAVID, Wembley Park, United Kingdom, ibid.) Which means in practice that on hot days it does not start to cool down before 8 PM. One could blame DST on this, but without DST the temperatures would rise already at 9...10 AM instead of 10...11 AM. It does matter in areas where air-conditioning is hardly a matter of course. But at present there is another advantage, independent from the weather, thus already present around this time of the year: More daylight than on our northern longitude. It severely limits outdoor activities when you have daylight only from 8 AM til 4 PM, and honestly I would prefer if this would shift a hour (means, Germany being on UT +2 hours all year long): You have to get up in darkness anyway but at least this would result in one more hour of daylight into the afternoon. Anyway on overcast days it gets already close to a kind of polar night here. For a long time I considered this as a mere feeling, but not so anymore since I noted that under such circumstances the light is hardly sufficient for handheld photography even at noon. I just checked it out, now, shortly after 12 PM: At ISO 100/21 speed I could shot with 1/60 seconds only with iris fully open (f-stop 2.8). This is by no means "broad daylight". Excuse this lament, but it is quite bothersome here when day after day around the winter solstice most of the remaining daylight gets stolen by thick stratus clouds (Kai Ludwig, Germany, ibid.) I guess they can't satisfy all of us. But I am glad that our winter days are longer than six hours. Merry Christmas, (Jerry Lenamon, TX, ibid.) POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ FCC DISMISSES BPL COMPLAINTS IN MANASSAS, VIRGINIA The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has dismissed complaints by local amateur radio operators alleging that the broadband over powerline (BPL) system in Manassas, Virginia, interferes with their signals. In March 2006, the FCC directed Manassas and Communication Technologies Inc. (COMTek), the city`s BPL provider, to investigate the allegations and take steps to eliminate ``harmful interference.`` The FCC responded to Manassas’ report on its progress in June and directed both the city and COMTek to further address interference issues and the system’s non-compliance with FCC emission regulations. In April, COMTek began updating its equipment to the latest technology. COMTek spokesman Scott Stapf said the company has begun upgrading about 600 overhead lines and plans to have the upgrade complete in early 2007. In October, the FCC sent engineers to Manassas to coordinate with COMTek to test for interference in six areas of the city that were chosen based on their proximity to locations identified in the interference complaints, city attorney Bob Bendall said. The FCC then made measurements and stated on 14 December that the system is ``in compliance with the radiated emission limits`` and dismissed the complaints. But George Tarnovsky, vice president for Ole Virginia Hams, a local ham radio group, said he thinks the ``whole thing was mishandled,`` and still doesn`t believe the results the FCC obtained. Tarnovsky said the FCC was supposed to contact him and other ham radio operators to be present for the FCC`s tests in October, but neither he nor any other hams ever heard from the commission, he said. ``I think we were dealt the wrong deal by the FCC,`` Tarnovsky said. He insists the fight is not over and that he and fellow hams plan to continue registering complaints. Manassas became the first American municipality to implement the technology citywide in 2003. By plugging a modem into any city electrical outlet, subscribers can get high-speed Internet access for about $29 per month, approximately half of what cable providers charge. COMTek’s BPL service runs through the city’s power grid and has about 850 subscribers. (Source: Potomac News Online) (December 25th, 2006, 12:12 UTC by Andy, Media Network blog via DXLD) ARRL CHALLENGES FCC DISMISSAL OF VIRGINIA BPL INTERFERENCE COMPLAINTS http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2006/12/22/100/?nc=1 [illustrated] (via kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING IBOC: see KOREA SOUTH; USA ++++++++++++++++++++ DRM A WASTE As regards to the short wave DRM technology now in use , my opinion can be summarized in two aspects: One, the transmitters used for broadcasting DRM short wave signals are evidently not well suited for operating on that mode, and Two: the lack of receivers in general, and of at least medium priced receivers in particular is making DRM a quite useless effort, and for station managers a real waste of their budgets. More comments from listeners about the terrible effects of poorly adjusted DRM transmissions. According to several reports received here, signals up to thirty, yes you heard it right, thirty, three zero kiloHertz wide have been reported on some of the DRM transmissions, making reception of stations located up to thirty five kilohertz away from the poorly adjusted DRM broadcast very difficult indeed. I think it is up to the telecommunications authorities of the nations where the affected stations are located to file up the corresponding complaints to the offending broadcaster's telecomms administration, so that appropriate action can be taken. Discussing this excessive bandwidth problem with one of Cuba's top most broadcasting engineers, he told me that, in his opinion, had to do with the fact that the DRM technology requires that the transmitter be capable of a very high degree of linearity, and at the same time be able to manage a very wide margin of peak to average power ratio. He then added that old transmitters used for standard AM type broadcasting are certainly not capable of handling the DRM requirements. If you, as a regular listener of short wave broadcasts hear a rush type noise that seems to blanket your favorite station reception, be almost sure that a DRM transmission is taking place nearby without due regard and respect for your station from the broadcaster using DRM. I am Arnie Coro in Havana (RHC DXers Unlimited Dec 26, ODXA via DXLD) DRM: see also NEW ZEALAND; U S A RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ FESSENDEN CENTENNIAL Suddenly, and with all justice, Reginald Fessenden is receiving the credit he deserves for being the pioneer transmitting music and voice on the airwaves, despite other respectable forerunners who with their contributions paved the way to what radio is today. And no other time as good as Holy Night to commemorate this. In fact, I was listening Radio New Zealand on 9765, Sun.24 at 0720, with a very detailed presentation of Fessenden's achievements. A good way from Down Under to honor his memory. 73s & Happy Holidays (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, dxldyg via DXLD) I heard part of that too; sounded very familiar. Believe it was the BBC Discovery show from last week (gh, DXLD) Did the Fessenden Broadcast Really Happen? Here is an apparently credible research article which sets out to verify whether the famouus Fessenden speech and music broadcast ever occurred in 1906. The conclusion -- there is no contemporaneous evidence which proves the broadcast took place. http://www.rwonline.com/pages/s.0052/t.437.html (Dan Srebnick, ibid.) As already referenced here, discussed and rebutted, but anyway (gh) Viz.: There's a reply to that article, and another similar one written this year here: http://www.radiocom.net/Fessenden/BelroseXmas.htm (Mike Barraclough, ibid.) ENTERTAINMENT RADIO REACHES ITS CENTENARY By Kevin Bissett, The Canadian Press, 24 December, 2006 It was on Christmas Eve, 100 years ago, that an eccentric Canadian inventor made history when he produced the world's first public radio broadcast. Reginald Aubrey Fessenden, born in Knowlton, Que., isn't well known in his native land, but his technological feat rivals that of other, better-known radio pioneers, including Italy's Guglielmo Marconi. . . http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20061223.RADIO23/TPStory/National (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) BROADCAST RADIO CROSSES THE CENTURY MARK December 24, 2006 By Darren Murph http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/24/broadcast-radio-crosses-the-century-mark/ We'll admit, there's not a whole of gizmos invented 100 years ago that we still rely on (and bicker about) on a near-daily basis, but broadcast radio has managed to stay in our homes, cars, hearts, and complaint letters for a full century. Exactly one hundred years ago today, Reginald Fessenden fired up his transmitting station at Brant Rock, Massachusetts in order to broadcast a "brief speech," followed by an Edison phonograph recording of Handel's Largo." He also sent out a few other holiday jams and well-wishes to those spending Christmas "onboard US Navy and United Fruit Company ships equipped with Fessenden's wireless receivers." Fessenden earned more than 500 patents in his lifetime, including credit for the "radio telephone, a sonic depth finder, and submarine signaling devices." So while the FCC tries to regulate it, and we prefer the cleaner, less ad-filled satellite rendition of radio, we're still raising our glasses to a technology that's changed technology over the past hundred years, and here's to a hundred more (via Mike Terry, UK, dxldyg via DXLD) I`m listening to an excellent show on KUNM at 1805 UT Sunday: HEARING AMERICA: A CENTURY OF MUSIC ON THE RADIO http://americanradioworks.publicradio.org/features/radio/index.html It`s also ondemand. Much better than Fessenden`s Follies. 73, (Glenn Hauser, Dec 24, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also CANADA PROPAGATION +++++++++++ Merry Christmas to all! Actually got enough WWV on 15 MHz to set the time on a watch I bought my Mom for Christmas. There were a few signals on 19m and 20m (SSB) and a few things on 25m. Geepers, the shortwaves look like a grey old dog limping along a dead-end road into oblivion. Very sad, (Colin Newell - in Victoria B.C. Canada, Editor- Creator http://www.coffeecrew.com via Walt Salmaniw, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Colin, just imagine a young child receiving a SW portable and tuning across the bands hears virtually nothing. Any chance of snagging a young enthusiast has just gone down the drain! I still recall my first "real" receiver --- a 12 band portable, which cost me the princely sum of $32 back in the late 60s. You know what the first SW station I heard from Toronto? It was the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation! Well, I was immediately hooked, and used that same receiver for years to listen to Radio Australia's Mailbag every Saturday morning, and then Radio Tashkent's English program. Sigh!!!! Those were the days. I feel sorry for the upcoming generation having to fight more and more with QRM, and fewer and fewer stations to monitor (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, ibid.) Now2, propagationally, things are looking promising: (gh, DXLD) Re: Heavy solar activity predicted in 2010/11 Hi all. The article states that the new cycle (#24) will have much more solar activity (solar flux and sunspots numbers) than any for the past 50 years. I looks like it will be close to Cycle 21 (about 1976- 1986). The last 3 cycles have been on a steady decline (21, 22, & 23) and Cycle 21 (the better one) was nowhere close to Cycle 19 in the late 1950's. All this means is that the higher frequencies (above 14 MHz to 60 MHz should be very entertaining in a few years (about 3+ years). Examples: you might see 17 & 21 MHz SWBC open around the clock and good activity on 26 MHz. You would also see TV Channel 2 and maybe Channel 3 "F2" at the peak (2010 or 2011). This last cycle was a bit of a dud and nowhere as good as Cycle 22 was. I worked no Trans-Pacific here in Texas on 50 MHz (6 Meters) in Cycle 23. We have lots of time to enjoy the bottom of 23 and get ready for the next peak of 24. 73 (Art, KA5DWI, Cowtown, Texas, Jackson, ABDX via DXLD) ARNIE CORO'S DXERS UNLIMITED'S HF PLUS LOW BAND VHF PROPAGATION UPDATE AND FORECAST Solar activity at very low level, but two small sunspots are now in sight, after days with a spotless Sun, solar flux hovering around 75 units, and the A index has moved down now, after the solar wind speed has diminished. Good chances for VHF E skip openings during the next two weeks, so keep watch on the low band TV channels where they are available, and on the amateur bands, watch for very short skip on twenty meters, as both are good indicators of ongoing Sporadic E openings (RHC DXUL Dec 26, ODXA via DXLD) TIPS FOR RATIONAL LIVING ++++++++++++++++++++++++ As one who thinx all religions are equally imaginary, I hardly celebrate Xmas in the traditional manner. Yet I found myself listening to lots of Xmas music --- avoiding the hackneyed, and enjoying it immensely, without the baggage of belief. No matter how sacred the lyrix, I am not fooled in the least, but beautiful harmony is beautiful harmony, even if inspired by nonsense. Likewise, I don`t give gifts nor expect to get any for the occasion. If I need or want something I`ll get it for myself, thus saving all kinds of bother, and doing my part to thwart the Christo-capitalist yearend money-making machine. Likewise eschew I sending greetings on paper or electrons, tho I certainly reciprocate with good wishes to those received anyway (Glenn Hauser) ###