DX LISTENING DIGEST 10-01, January 6, 2010 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 2010 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html For restrixions and searchable 2009 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid9.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 SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1494, January 7-13, 2010 Thu 1300 WRMI 9955 Thu 2000 WBCQ 7415 Fri 0100 WBCQ Area 51 5110-CUSB Fri 0200 WRMI 9955 Fri 1230 WRMI 9955 Fri 1530 WRMI 9955 Fri 2130 WWCR1 7465 Sat 0900 IPAR/IRRS/NEXUS/IBA 9510 [resuming January 9? 2-weekly?] Sat 0900 WRMI 9955 Sat 1430 WRMI 9955 Sat 1730 WWCR3 12160 Sat 1900 IPAR/IRRS/NEXUS/IBA 6170 Sat 2000 WRMI 9955 Sun 0330 WWCR3 5070 Sun 0730 WWCR1 3215 Sun 0900 WRMI 9955 Sun 1230 South Herts Radio 5835 Sun 1615 WRMI 9955 Sun 2000 WRMI 9955 Tue 1200 WRMI 9955 Tue 1630 WRMI 9955 Tue 2000 WBCQ 7415 Wed 1630 WRMI 9955 [usually first airing] Wed 1930 South Herts Radio 3935 Wed 2000 WBCQ 7415 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 or http://schedule.worldofradio.org or http://sked.worldofradio.org For updates see our Anomaly Alert page: http://www.worldofradio.com/anomaly.html WRN ON DEMAND: http://193.42.152.193/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 WORLD OF RADIO PODCASTS VIA WRN: http://www.wrn.org/wrn-listeners/world-of-radio/ http://www.wrn.org/listeners/world-of-radio/rss/09:00:00UTC/English/541 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO: http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html or http://wor.worldofradio.org ** AFGHANISTAN. 1296, Radio Ashna, Kabul, Jan 1, 1731 - Another coup! Often excellent reception with many mentions of Afghanistan in presumed Pushto/Dari. Deep fades, but then comes in very well. Splatter from 1300 domestic. Has the VOA feel, so highly unlikely the listed Azerbaijani station! Wow, it's still super strong at 2001 with a very nice 'Radio Ashna' ID and finally into some music (mostly it's been a lot of talking!). (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) More of Walt`s fantastic MW and SW logs not in this issue appeared in full in the dxldyg. But most of them are below, with introduxion placed here as the first alfabetical entry, not first chronologically (gh) Wow, all I can say is that I’ve never experienced anything like these past several days here in Masset, on Haida Gwaii (formally the Queen Charlotte Islands, south of Alaska). I’ve heard stations that I’ve only dreamed of, and I’m sure that I’ve just scratched the surface. With several TB of Perseus SDR recordings, I think that I could be happy for the rest of my life just perusing these exotic treasures! As I type this at 1917 UT on January 2, 2010, I’m listening to IRIB on 1449 at armchair level with a Koranic recitation. Yesterday I emailed out a first version of some of the great DX that I’ve experienced. Today I’ll update what’s been heard. First, a summary of what I’ve used. Receiver-wise I have 2 Perseus SDR receivers on 2 separate laptops, and an AOR 7030+, and a JRC NRD 535D to complete the list. A third laptop carries my databases: primarily the PAL from Oct 2009, and a EMWG from Apr 2009, as well as some older databases (DBS, WRTH, and the 2008-2009 NRC AM Radio Log). For antennae, I have a number to choose from: ALA 100, oriented NE/SW, mostly for spotting, and SW (although it’s my only LW capable antenna), a permanent N/S mini-Beverage of about 450 feet terminated into the surf of the north Pacific, a 750’ Bog to the NW, and finally a spanking new QDFA constructed by my very good friend Guy Atkins and designed by Dallas Lankford. This new antenna has been my star performer with excellent gain. I’ve yet to tweak the null, though, as things have been so hot of late. I erected it over several days in a N/S direction, with the null to the south. I had to bushwhack and clear the thick salal, and alder to fit the 4 large delta loops, but it was well worth it! I’ll likely abandon some of the other antennae in favour of this very high tech antenna in the future! Normally, I DX from early morning to perhaps 10:00 am local before the Asians start to fade, and then again in the latter afternoon, from about 4:00 pm onwards for the Europeans. The past 48 hours, however, has turned everything on its head with the same morning start, but continuing right through to the evening as there hasn’t been a let up. The Pacific basically fades to Asia, then central Asia and India, and then to Europe. One good thing about the winter here, is that there’s no need for the 4:00 am rise to get the dawn enhancement with dawn being closer to 9:00 am this time of the year! Instead, I’ve arisen between 6:00 am and 7:15 am --- much more civilized! (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALASKA. Far North Daytime Only AMs --- A question: How does the FCC handle daytime only stations who are very far north? If you are licensed to a town that experiences 'midnight sun' or close to it, are you allowed to operate until local sunset - or maybe 24 hours a day - if the sun never sets? Do these stations need to operate only very short hours during the height of winter or are their concessions made for this circumstance? A broader question: Are there any daytimers located that far north to begin with? Thanks for listening, (Karl Zuk N2KZ, IRCA via DXLD) Karl, The only such daytimer I can think of was KYAK-630 Anchorage in the late 60s. I think they were on the air sunrise-sunset at the time. I was up there in July 1969 and KYAK signed off at 11 pm (local sunset). I would have to assume KYAK was on only 4-5 hours during the winter, unless they had pre-sunrise authority. If that's the case, they might've been on 6 am-2 pm or thereabouts during December & January. I'm not sure how long KYAK operated with this facility - I think it was a couple of years. It moved to 650 in October 1969. I don't think there have been any Alaskan daytimers since then. There may be a couple that reduce power at sunset, but I can't recall for sure (Bruce Portzer, ibid.) Just because KYAK signed off at 11 pm, doesnt make it a daytimer. Most daytimers who have flea power sign off at sunset. However, that being said, some stations don`t stay on all night even if they could. So KYAK signing off at 11 pm is no indication that it was actually a daytimer. KIAM 630 Nenana powers down from 10 to 3.1 kW, KNOM 780 Nome powers down from 25 kW to 14, KINY 800 powers down from 10 to 7.6 kW, KTKN 930 Ketchikan powers down from 5 to 1 kW and KXLJ 1330 Juneau powers down from 10 to 3 kW (Paul Walker, IL, ibid.) Karl and Bruce, Yes, I remember KYAK 630. Never heard here, but a friend in Anchorage sent me the ad out of the Anchorage Times. We moved from Seward back to the Oregon Coast April 67 I think KYAK signed on 68 or 69 (without checking). I remember how surprised I was to hear Alaska had a daytimer. Yes, they must have only been on about 5 hours a day in December. In those days they probably had to sign off because of KJNO. Why they picked 630, who knows? In those days so many frequencies were open. Seward had 5:32 of daylight Dec 21st and Anchorage being a bit more to the North would have less. No wonder KYAK moved to 650. Another interesting station when I lived in Seward in the 60s was KLAM Cordova. They were/still are 250 W on 1450, but they came on at 7:30 AM, signed off at 9:30 AM. Signed back on at 5 PM and off at 10 PM, Monday through Friday, off weekends. Lots of spots [sports?] I remember though. The signal popped right across Prince William Sound every day with good signals at over 100 miles. Listened to them often as a kid. In those days Alaska had 15 MW stations and a fair number of AFRTS outlets from 10-250 Watts. 73, (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, ibid.) Paul, I should have been more clear in my earlier post. KYAK was definitely a daytimer when it was on 630, based on published information from that time period. See for example the Van Jones log on Lee's website http://amlogbook.com/jones/0561.pdf or the 1968 Broadcasting Yearbook posted at http://www.davidgleason.com/Archive%20BC-YB/1968/B%201%20Broadcasting%20Yearbook%201968.pdf I vividly recall it being a daytimer back then, partly because it was such a tantalizingly hopeless DX target, partly from visiting the station when I was in Anchorage, and partly because it seemed like such an absurd idea to have a daytime only station in Alaska. You're correct pointing out that a station can sign off at 11 pm if it has full time authority (Bruce Portzer, WA, ibid.) Back then, most of AK was on UT -10, then shifted to UT -9 for DST; then made -9 standard, and shifts to -8 for DST; what a timezone mess (gh, DXLD) ** ALASKA. 7320, KNLS, Dec 30, 1726 - Only fair reception of their Russian language broadcast. Normally much better than this. Normal religious fare. Suffers from a lot of splatter from 7325 which has two very strong stations. One in Russian (?BBC from Cyprus) and another middle eastern language (?CRI?). (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALBANIA. 1394.866, TWR, Jan 1, 2013 - Excellent reception on the off-channel frequency. PAL lists Bosnian to 2015 Fridays, and then Croatian, but I didn't hear any break at 2015. Het from another transmitter on frequency. All in the clear at 2112, but not in the listed Polish, from my most recent PAL, but I suspect it's the time change. The previous PAL I have lists winter times, and this would be Croatian, which sounds more like this. Not certain in any case (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, BC, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALBANIA. 7465, Radio Tirana, Dec 30, 1945 - Lovely IS up to 1945, and then into English with schedule. The IS was very strong, while the YL is quite a lot weaker, so perhaps it was a sign-off of another station? Nothing heard on the 11635 to North America frequency (7465 is to UK). (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS. 684, (INDIA), AIR Port Blair, Jan 2, 1702 - Started listening to a very strong Chinese regional when I noted Indian music underneath. Sure enough, it was // to 4760 making this Port Blair. At times over the Chinese station. Not as strong today as in past, and weaker than my 648. See below! A few minutes later, though, it came up to good strength, with the Chinese station barely there. 4760 went off the air at 1730 (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, BC, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS. 4760, AIR Port Blair fair with instrumental music 1723 27 December, parallel other AIR outlets on 4810, 4880, 4910, 4965 & 5010. At 1728, Port Blair broke from the network and gave its own ident "Akashvani Port Blair..". Musical interlude followed until 1730 when transmission closed after another local ident. This was a Sunday, when signoff time appears to be later (Bryan Clark, Mangawhai, Northland, New Zealand, AOR7030+ and EWEs to the Americas, 36.11.70 S, 174.56.70 E, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANGOLA. 4949.77, R. Nacional Angola, 2102 with hi-life music (31 Dec) (Dave Valko, Microtelecom Perseus SDR with ARR preamp, 630' Beverage (BOG) at 50 , Pennsylvania State Game Lands #26, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** ANGUILLA [and non]. 11775 missing Jan 5 at 1411, helping NHKWNRJ English on 11780 via Rampisham to be clearly heard, with barely a sign of Brasília co-channel either. DGS was poorly audible on 13845 WWCR at 1517, again instead of Brother Scare. The Africans must be rejoicing over the absence of Anguilla. Recheck 1758, VOA Portuguese in the clear on 11775, which is São Tomé, 100 kW, 138 degrees toward Moçambique at 17-18, about to switch to Botswana 1800-1830, 100 kW, 350 degrees, per HFCC (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Continued under BOTSWANA ** ANTARCTICA. At 1923 UT Jan 6 I am getting a carrier on 15476, but too weak to surpass my noise level. LRA36 may be (back?) on. Please check, I immediately posted on the DXLD yg. (No more comparing with RAE on 15345v, as that transmitter broke down in late October, Gabriel Iván Barrera tells me.) Mark Schiefelbein, Missouri, tuned in 15476 and confirmed hearing Spanish 1943-2005+, so it`s clear that Radio Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel is active again (Glenn Hauser, OK, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: 15476, LRA36 (presumed), 01/06/10, 1943-2005+, Spanish. Some light pop-sounding music with a female announcer between songs, several minutes of open carrier at 1951, then into what sounds like discussion between a pair of announcers, clearly in Spanish, but the signal is too weak and my español is too poor to follow the conversation. Back to music at 2004. In and out of the noise, fading after 1950. Not heard here in some time. Poor (Mark Schiefelbein, MO, WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Poor here in TN at 1930 UT in listening in both USB for a while at 1907, then in full AM with noise altho in USB I detected a weak carrier so this must be LRA36! I could not make out music, but heard barely audible convos between announcers. Hopefully this station will return again tomorrow with better results. 73's, (Noble West, TN, Sangean ATS818ACS, 100 foot coax cable with coax 50 foot lead in wire mounted between two trees 50 feet east to west, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. 1630, 0412 02/01/10, R. Am Super Sporte, Buenos Aires ARG, Prog. com mx, chegando juntamente com a R. AM Restauración, também da Argentina, com mux [mx?] 33433. elc 1630, 0407 02/01/10, R. AM Restauración Hurlingham, Buenos Aires ARG Espanhol Prog. com loc feminina, seguida de mx popular 34433. elc 1640, 0402 02/01/10, R. Hosana AM, Isidro Casa Nova ARG, Espanhol Prog. religioso 24332. elc 1620, 0354 02/10/10, R. AM 1620 AM Novo, Mar Del Plata, ARG, Espanhol Prog. com mx tipica, seguida de mx romântica 44444. elc 1660, 0349 02/01/10, R. Hosana AM 1660, Ezeiza, Buenos Aires ARG, Espanhol Prog. c mx religiosa 34333. elc 1690, 0346 02/01/10, R. Apocalipcis II, Buenos Aires ARG. Espanhol Prog. com varias mx 23332. elc Arquivos de audio estarão disponível a partir do dia 04/01/10 no site http://www.radiodx.qsl.br/logs_escutas1.htm Equipamento utilizado: Icom IC-R8500, Antena Long wire 25 metros L/W Neste link, uma tabela das X-Band da Argentina http://www.conexion gra.com.ar/ Files/LISTADO% 20AM%20(X-BAND).pdf Att, (Eduardo Lopes Castaldelli, Mairiporã SP Brasil, radioescutas yg via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. In the Paraná DX Clube group, Luiz Chaine Neto in São Paulo raises the question, why did RAE take its 25 and 19m band transmitters off the air? Maybe Gabriel Iván Barrera knows. As a matter of fact, this reminds me that I have not heard any trace of RAE on 11711v or 15345v for some weeks. These were very old transmitters, so perhaps have finally died (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1493, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15345v off air at present. Unbestaetigten Branchengeruechten zufolge soll der Sender derzeit wieder mal defekt sein. Via Internet laeufts aber. Der Livestream laeuft in der Tat: Zur Zeit mit einem Programm in Portugiesisch. Sendezeiten und Frequenzen sind recht anschaulich auf der Website von RAE aufgefuehrt (die Zeitangaben aber leider nur in argentinischer Zeit): (Wolfgang Thiele-D and Markus Weidner-D, A-DX Dec 31 via BCDX Jan 1 via DXLD) RAE muda? Hola Gabriel Iván, Espero que todo le vaya bien en el año entrante. Hace varias semanas que no escuchamos a RAE en 11711v o 15345v, ni el menor heterodino. Así es que pensamos que se encuentre fuera del aire. O pésima propagación? Puede confirmar esto, e informarnos qué pasa en la emisora? Podemos esperar su regreso a la OC, cuando? 73, (Glenn to GIB, Jan 5, via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hola Glenn, Saludos igual. Buscaré la información y le informaré enseguida. Saludos (GIB, Jan 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Estimado Glenn, En relacion con las ondas cortas, frecuencias 11710 y 15345 kHz, desafortunadamente te tengo que confirmar que desde el pasado 27 de octubre estan fuera del aire por problemas técnicos del transmisor General Electric, un muy viejo transmisor que llegó a su fin de vida útil. La burocracia demoró un mes para aprobar la compra de un nuevo transmisor, y ya pasó otro mes desde que el proveedor prometió la entrega. Entretanto, las emisiones de RAE solamente se pueden oir via internet. Saludos, (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Argentina, Jan 6, WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DX LISTENING DIGEST) a.k.a.: 11710 & 15345 kHz, the General Electric transmitter is off the air by technical problems. Unfortunately our transmissions on SW are not functioning. But, in November 2009 the purchase of a new transmitter was approved, and now, we are waiting for the new equipment. Meanwhile, our transmissions are only via Internet (Gabriel Ivan Barrera, ARGENTINA, via Anker Petersen, Denmark, DXLD) However, the other transmitter still funxions, but unfortunately does not include the English hours M-F 1800 and Tue-Sat 0200, unless RAE have had the good sense to move it there in the interim (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: [and non]. Argentina, 6060, Radio Nacional Argentina, 2325-2335 Jan 6, briefly noted a male in Spanish language comments which were immediately followed with tango type music. Here's a tidbit about me, I like true Argentinian tango music. On the half hour, time ticks heard. At about 2333, the male returns in Spanish comments again, "... en programa Argentina" heard. More music follows. At about 2341, I start getting strong interference from Radio Martí on this freq. It sounds like they are just tuning up because the signal is fading to nil and then coming back strong. I can still hear Argentina on the frequency but with difficulty. So Argentina begins being a good signal and ends with a poor signal. At 2349 Martí takes over the frequency. (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston FL, Watkins Johnson HF1000, 26.27N 081.05W WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Martí on 6060? Are you sure? That`s supposed to be on 6030, but Havana uses 6060 from 0000 (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) 6059.995v, 3/1 2110, Radio Nacional Argentina, talks about Argentina and songs, "... en Radio Nacional", fair. I observed a clear carrier on 6059.964v, I presume Deus è Amor, Brazil (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italia, AOR AR7030, Drake R8, SDR-IQ - T2FD, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. The Argentine government has backed a radio station run by teenagers as a way of keeping people across the country in touch with each other. About half of the population lives in the capital, Buenos Aires, so the station is crucial in challenging the isolation felt by many in further-flung areas. Candace Piette reports from the Patagonian coast in southern Argentina. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8442759.stm (via Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, DXLD) Autolaunches video and audio. WTFK? 90.7, FM Escolar. So I doubt if it covers much of the country from Patagonia (gh) ** AUSTRALIA. Ionospheric radar from TASMANIA: RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM ** AUSTRALIA. 2355.000, Unidentified. Someone is indeed here, 0804, national news, (in)convenient fade during ID at 0805. Into talk by a man, who played a snippet of "Norman" by Sue Thompson (then wished 'Norman' a Happy Birthday). This one is very weak, and suffers from deep and prolonged fades, while 2368.5 at the same time was very strong. Either it's a new station testing with very low power, or, considering what I heard sounded like networked programming, a harmonic or mixing product. 30 December (David Sharp, NSW Australia, FT-950, NRD-535D, ICF-2010 etc., dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 2355 does not work out to be an harmonic of any 9-kHz-space MW channel (gh, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. 2368.48, Radio Symban, Dec 30, 1455 - Snippets of audio heard this morning. Also checked for the other reported private SW station on 2355. My Perseus SDR shows a very faint tracing on the waterfall, but that's all. Nowhere close to audio. Nothing at all on 3210. Definite audio [2368.48] but much weaker than in August, when rechecked at 1539. 2368.485, Radio Symban, Jan 2, 1618 - Fair reception with Greek (almost Arabic sounding) music. Best I've heard them on this trip and equals the reception from last August. Thanks John Wright for my 'special' QSL received a few weeks ago! Note slightly low on the frequency. Nothing at all from 2355 or 3210 for the other new Aussie SW station. A good morning as there was audio on a number of the X- band Aussies (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, BC, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. 6020, noticed RA singing Auld Lang Syne [all of which get red-lined by the spellcheck, er spell check], a few minutes before 1400 UT Dec 31. But in Vic and NSW they imagined the new year started an hour earlier by setting their clox forward. Only in Queensland UT +10 was it properly almost midnight, so program originating there? 6020 soon went off, but then at 1406 was listening to RA on 7240, with IDs for ABC Local Radio, tribute to Paul Kelly to follow, originally on Triple-J, beware of occasional coarse language (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11660, Radio Australia, Dec 30 2005 - Fair to good reception in English, with a favourable beam to North America (thanks to Glenn Hauser for the frequencies!). News program (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Axually, 11660 is 70 degrees from Shepparton, one I outpicked as ideal for OK, so not the best for you. They also have some frequencies on 50 degrees, better for you theoretically, at this hour on 11880, and some more at 30 degrees also good toward AK and maybe closer to you (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11980, Radio Australia, Jan 2, 1603 - My notes state that this is a new English/Burmese broadcast from Darwin. Excellent reception with English news and sports. Off frequency on 11979.947 as measured on my Perseus. ABC news ID at 1605, then Radio Australia ID, cut off after 'Radio Australia will keep'. Then ABC local radio ID! Interesting for sure. Update about a stolen Austen Martin in NSW. No sign that this is the new Burmese service! (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, BC, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. RADIO AUSTRALIA ANNIVERSARY - WANNEROO It was exactly 70 years ago, to the very day, that Australia Calling was launched by the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr Robert Menzies. In later times, Mr Menzies was knighted and became Sir Robert Menzies, and Australia Calling was re-designated as Radio Australia. At the time of its inauguration on Wednesday December 20, 1939, Mr Menzies was celebrating his 45th birthday during his first term as prime minister; and Australia Calling was on the air from just three shortwave transmitters at two different locations; two at 10 kW at Pennant Hills in New South Wales, and one at 2 kW at Lyndhurst in Victoria. During the following month, preliminary test broadcasts began from a 4th transmitter, again just 2 kW, at a 3rd location, Wanneroo in Western Australia. This then is the story of Radio Australia Wanneroo, and we present this information here in this edition of Wavescan in honor of Radio Australia’s 70th anniversary. It was back in the year 1932 that the PMG Dept procured the Wanneroo property on the northern edge of the state capital, Perth, for the purpose of establishing a new radio broadcasting station. At the end of the year, the eight year old mediumwave station 6WF, located on the top of a commercial building in downtown Perth, was retired and a new 5 kW transmitter for this ABC service was installed at Wanneroo. In 1938, work commenced at Wanneroo for the installation of two additional broadcast transmitters, one mediumwave and one shortwave. The one year old mediumwave 6WN was transferred from the city post office building to Wanneroo, and a new shortwave transmitter VLW was installed for coverage of outback areas in Western Australia. The earliest known test broadcast from the new shortwave station VLW was noted in the United States on 7170 kHz in September 1939. However, with the inauguration of Australia Calling, plans were laid for the incorporation of this new unit on the west coast of the continent into part time usage for programming beamed to South Africa and the islands of Indonesia. Additional test broadcasts from VLW were noted in Australia and New Zealand during the following weeks, and, in the New Year 1940, test broadcasts were beamed specifically towards Africa. This transmitter was officially taken into the programming service of Australia Calling on April 7, 1940, with programming in both English and Afrikaans. Interestingly, two sets of callsigns were in use from this low powered transmitter. One set of numeric designators was in use for the ABC outback service in Western Australia, and another set for the overseas service from Australia Calling. For example:- VLW2 was in use with ABC programming on 9615 kHz VLW2 Australia Calling 9650 kHz The initial series of broadcasts beamed to Africa from VLW with a relay of programming from Radio Australia in Melbourne lasted for less than a year. However, a new service in the Malay language for the Asian islands north of Australia was introduced in October 1941, though this service too was soon afterwards terminated. In 1945, the 2 kW VLW was dropped completely from Radio Australia programming and these program services were transferred to the three new high powered shortwave transmitters located at Shepparton in Victoria. Transmitter VLW was now on the air exclusively with the ABC regional service to the outback. In 1959, work commenced on a new transmitter building at Wanneroo in which several new mediumwave and shortwave transmitters were installed. These new units, three shortwave and four mediumwave ranging in power from 2 kW to 50 kW, were taken into full service in 1962. In 1963, a series of test broadcasts at 50 kW were beamed to Africa from Wanneroo; six years later another series of broadcasts were beamed to Africa using two transmitters at 10 kW; and in 1983, there was a series of test broadcasts lasting three days beamed to Africa. In 1984, there was a series of test broadcasts directed to Antarctica using a 10 kW transmitter and back radiation from a rhombic antenna beamed to the Kimberly region in Western Australia. Programming was in English and French with a relay from Radio France International in Paris. The shortwave transmitters at Wanneroo were in use for international and outback Australian coverage for some 55 years, but they are silent now. These units were withdrawn from service and closed down in 1994. During their more than half a century of service, they were on the air with programming for the outback from the ABC in Perth, and with a relay from Radio Australia beamed to Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Antarctica. On this occasion today, we salute Radio Australia for their 70 years of on air service, which included the initial usage of the small 2 kW shortwave transmitter VLW located at Wanneroo near Perth in Western Australia. QSL cards for this unique shortwave service during its initial one year period were issued from the ABC headquarters in Sydney Australia and these QSLs were the early version of the orange colored card featuring the wild kangaroo (Adrian Peterson, AWR Wavescan script Dec 16 via DXLD) ** AUSTRIA. 6155, ORF with News in English ending with a weather report for Austria, and then into news in French at 0712, and into general German programming at 0715. This station is a mere shadow of what it once was, but it is nice to at least hear SOMETHING in English from them! SIO 3+43+ 0710-0720 28/Dec (Kenneth Vito Zichi, Williamston MI, MARE Tipsheet Jan 1 via DXLD) --This very well may be gone forever by the time you read this--Ed. (Liz Cameron, ibid.) As we have outpointed, this frequency is now supposed to stay on air until 0715 weekdays, just in time to include the English and French IF they are still on schedule. Check starting Jan 4 (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) Austria: ORF Radio Osterreich 1 - Neues Ö1 Programmschema Ab 4. Jänner 2010 sendet Ö1 nach neuem Schema. Im Zentrum steht dabei die Neuorganisation des Nachmittagsprogramms. Link: Ö1 Programmschema (PDF) http://oe1.orf.at/pdf/Oe1_DOWNLOAD_Programm.pdf (Via Yimber Gaviria, Colombia, DXLD) Indeed that still shows in fine print that English and French news air M-F in the 0800-0815 local time block = 0708-0715 UT, but how about on 7325 following evenings 0000-0100 UT? (gh, WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DXLD) Checked for any English news on Austria's domestic service relay on 7325, UT-1/5 at 0039, and it was all in German -- no English news to be found, and off at 0055. Also heard with only fair level after 0100 to SAm on 9840. Guess it's all German content, a news and analysis program, so it's goodbye to English and French short news bulletins? That's sad, since at least it was available for us to hear in our evenings -- even if they were nearly a day old (replayed from earlier in the day). Haven't heard anything yet at 07-0715 on 6155 to see if news in English/French is still there, weekdays only (Joe Hanlon, NJ, Jan 5, WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, it is (gh) ** AZERBAIJAN. 9677.6, Heute war von *0559-0635* UT auf 9677.6 kHz ein starker Brumm mit S=9+10dB hoerbar. Hat das irgendwas mit "Aedaelaen Sesi Radio" zu tun, oder war's einfach nur Zufall? (Patrick Robic, Austria, A-DX Dec 30 via BCDX Jan 1 via DXLD) ** BAHAMAS. 810, ZNS3, Freeport, Grand Bahama. 0910-0928 January 2, 2010. Local band, complete with tuba (high school-like) with Bahamian tunes. Chatter by two women about Bahamian events in 2009 past, an interview with a band member and talk about a Bahamian band competition, times and locations. First log of this here in a very long time. Not parallel ZNS1 1540, Nassau which was mostly airing soca and soul vocals (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BANGLADESH. 693, Bangladesh Betar, Dec 31, 1714 - Nice ID at 1714 as 'Bangladesh Betar' and into Indian-type music. Good level, with splatter from CBU 690. Earlier, they were armchair copy. Very clean modulation! 693, Bangladesh Betar, Jan 2, 1540 - Checked at 1532 to note English news cochannel. Initially under JOAB, but within a minute totally dominated the channel. Over the next 15 minutes it continued to go back and forth (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, BC, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Brand new megawatt transmitter (gh) ** BANGLADESH. 7250.03, Bangladesh Betar (presumed), 1235 Press review and cultural program focusing on Iran and Iraq hosted by W and including sound bites. Faded after 1243, then Russia blasted it out at 1256. Never did get an ID. (30 Dec) (Dave Valko, PA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** BELARUS. I've been hearing presumed Belarus on 279 with a good signal past 2300, 0000 and 0100 for a few days now. There has also been another weaker signal under Belarus but too weak to hear even if the speech is by a man or a woman! This morning, January 6, at 0010 I heard a clear Belaruskaye Radio ID. http://www.emwg.info shows 0400- 2200 so is this a permanent change or just an extension for Christmas / New Year? Regards (Harry Brooks, North East England, UK, Jan 6, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST Harry, according to recent reports in the Russian DX-circles, BR returned to its 24x7 operation on 279 kHz (perhaps from Jan.1). To me this news came as a surprise since I didn't realize that 279 wasn't on around the clock (since when I wonder?). (Sergei S., ibid.) Sergei, http://www.beaconworld.org.uk/files/LWBC.pdf has Belarus as 0400-2300 in July 2005. I'm pretty certain they reduced 2300 back to 2200 either last year or the year before as well. I think that 279 is not as consistently as strong a signal as it was 3 or 4 years ago. Regards (Harry Brooks, North East England, UK, ibid.) ** BELARUS. 6155, Radio Belarus, Dec 30, 2213 - Good reception in English with schedule and contact details. Radio-stationbelarus@?? mentioned. Accent is a little difficult to follow. Other reported // (7360 poor, and 7390 at threshold). This one is 250 kW. Into music at 2215 (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7255, R. Belarus, 0759 end of announcement by W then instrumental filler music. M just before ToH with presumed ID in language, then after briefly and off the air. Fairly good and // much weaker 7280 which stayed on the air. (1 Jan) (Dave Valko, Microtelecom Perseus SDR with ARR preamp, 630' Beverage (BOG) at 50 , Pennsylvania State Game Lands #26, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** BELARUS [non]. R. Belarus via Radio 700, Germany --- Last night I heard R. Belarus' announcement in its news bulletin that starting January 1, 2010, its German Service will be relayed live on "the waves of Radio 700" in Germany for two hours daily. Relays will be conducted by Euskirchen transmitting center. Radio 700 website is http://www.radio700.de/ I don't see R. Belarus among its "partners and friends." But RFI is still there. There's no info on a new relay on R. Belarus' German site: http://www.radiobelarus.tvr.by/ger/ Any thoughts which frequencies will be used for R.Belarus' relays? I see FM and SW 6005 kHz mentioned on Radio700.de. Here's R. Belarus' news announcement in Russian: http://www.radiobelarus.tvr.by/rus/news.asp?type=cont&id=15676&date=29.12.2009 (Sergei S., Dec 30, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Probably because it is not being relayed on their two FM frequencies in eastern Belgium. A press release about this has been sent out to DX circles; I attach it below. So Radio Belarus in German will be put on 6005, the already running 1 kW low power signal, daily from 0700 to 0900. The text also says that it is possible "to transmit further programs on the existing frequencies or other ones in the frequency range between the 75 and 25 metres band". Some observers say that hereby Radio 700 and their partner engineer close a gap the big shortwave operators leave open. But which gap? The signal strengths of these low power transmissions are not sufficient for regular listening (which requires an acceptable S/N ratio) with small portables and their whip antennas. In my opinion the audience that can be reached this way is basically limited to DXers. But on the other hand: Is the situation for high power transmissions much different anymore in Central Europe? Here the first line of links lead to photos of the transmission facility near Euskirchen: http://www.classicbroadcast.de/radio.html (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Dec 30, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DX LISTENING DIGEST) VON KALL NACH EUROPA RADIO BELARUS STARTET IN DER NORDEIFEL AUF KURZWELLE. Rund 30 Hörfunkprogramme gibt es weltweit, die täglich ein bis zwei Stunden Sendungen in deutscher Sprache ausstrahlen, sogenannte Auslandsdienste. Ab dem 01.01.2010 wird das Funkhaus Euskirchen als Dienstleister das deutschsprachige Programm des belarussischen Auslandsdienstes („Radio Belarus") täglich 2 Stunden über die Kurzwellensendestelle in Kall ausstrahlen. Die Ausstrahlung erfolgt in der Zeit von 7 bis 9 Uhr Weltzeit, was im Winter 8 bis 10 Uhr MEZ entspricht. Zum Einsatz kommt die Frequenz 6005 kHz, die in der übrigen Zeit das Programm von „RADIO 700" europaweit überträgt. Bernd Frinken, Projektkoordinator im Funkhaus Euskirchen e.V. freut sich über den Zuwachs: „Neben dem Hamburger Lokalradio und unseren eigenen Ausstrahlungen freuen wir uns, Radio Belarus mit seinen deutschsprachigen Sendungen an Bord zu haben. Auf diesem Wege kann das deutschsprachige Programm aus Minsk in vielen Ländern Europas zusätzlich empfangen werden. Gerade wo sich am Abend zahlreiche Auslandsdienste auf den Kurzwellenbändern gleichzeitig tummeln, bietet sich so für Radio Belarus in den Morgenstunden die Möglichkeit, einen größeren Hörerkreis zu erschließen." Kurzwellenprogramme haben eine lange Tradition. Mit geringen technischen Mitteln ist es möglich, dass die von einem Kurzwellensender abgestrahlten Programme über große Distanzen empfangen werden können. „Während die über Ultrakurzwelle abgestrahlten Radioprogramme z.B. nur in einem Ort oder einem Kreis empfangen werden können, reisen Kurzwellensignale im besten Fall einmal um den Globus. Schuld daran ist eine elektrisch geladene Schicht im Himmel, die die ausgestrahlten Wellen wie ein Spiegel zurückwerfen. Damit ist es möglich, die Programme, die aus Kall abgestrahlt werden, in ganz Europa zu empfangen", erklärt Christian Milling, technischer Leiter aus dem Funkhaus die Eigenschaften der Kurzwelle. „Gerade im Zeitalter von Webseitensperrungen im Internet oder der nicht- Verfügbarkeit von schnellem DSL – wir auf dem Land sind da ja ganz besonders betroffen – bieten Kurzwellenprogramme einen adäquaten Ersatz sich über verschiedene Länder in aller Welt in deutscher Sprache zu informieren." Das deutschsprachige Programm von Radio Belarus sendet Nachrichten, Interviews mit führenden Politikern, Wissenschaftlern, Sportlern, Intelektuellen, Kulturschaffenden und Geistlichen. Dazu gibt es Beiträge über die Geschichte, die Kultur und die geistigen Werte des Belarussischen Volkes. Indem alle Aspekte des Lebens in Belarus berücksichtigt werden, schenkt Radio Belarus den einfachen belarussischen Bürgern und ihren Familien große Aufmerksamkeit. Eine beträchtliche Zahl der Hörfunkbeiträge sind genau ihrem Alltagsleben gewidmet. Die Musik, die Sie auf den Wellen von Radio Belarus hören, ist ausschließlich belarussische Volks – und Klassikmusik, sowie Musikwerke der modernen belarussischen Sänger, Sängerinnen und Bands. „In Zeiten eines zusammenwachsenden Europas ist es auch ganz besonders wichtig, direkte Informationen aus den Nachbarländern zu erhalten, in einer Sprache, die man beherrscht", so Bernd Frinken. „Auslandsdienste, wie Radio Belarus bieten hierbei die Möglichkeit sich authentisch über Land und Leute zu informieren." Die Redaktion ist sehr interessiert an Hörerfeedback über die Sendungen. Empfangsberichte werden mit sogenannten „QSL" Postkarten beantwortet, die Motive aus Belarus zeigen. Aufgrund der technischen Gegebenheiten besteht in Kall die Möglichkeit, auch weitere Programme auf den vorhandenen Frequenzen im 49m Band als auch auf weiteren Kurzwellenfrequenzen im Bereich zwischen 75m und 25m Band abzustrahlen (Via Ludwig, ibid.) Thanks for this additional info, Kai! I guess it's going to be a waste of funds for R. Belarus if it's only a low-power SW relay (I assume this arrangement is of commercial nature). R. Belarus already provides a satisfactory coverage of German-speaking Europe via its high-power SW transmitters (three frequencies) and MW 1170 (Sergei S., ibid.) Don't forget that they have a fully functional 20 kW Transmitter in Kall as well. The only problem operating is (or has been) that they have problems with the electricity line out there. As far as I know the operators have plans to build a better power line but that does cost a little bit. But with belarus as paying client there may be enough money to power up the 20 kW TX as well in near future. And there's the gap that can be closed: With 10 or 20 kW and a good transmitting antenna you can provide a quite useful signal in and around Germany. 73, (Stephan Schaa, Germany, ibid.) So has anyone in those DX-circles managed to hear R. Belarus' relays? (Sergei S., Jan 4, ibid.) I have not seen reports so far. Apparently nobody cares, considering that the reactions on the announcement where not really enthusiastic, even rather controversial (Kai Ludwig, Germany, ibid.) Yes, RADIO 700 is relaying RADIO BELARUS in German 0700-0900z. In attachment you can (just Save Target As) hear a recording from Radio 700 webstream "RADIO 700 - Kurzwellendienst" January 5, 2010 0857-0902z. You can easily understand the sign off announcement of R Belarus, and than switch at 0900z to Radio 700's music program... Radio 700 Shortwave Service webstream link [MP3/80kbps/mono]: http://streamserver.funkhaus.info:8310/listen.pls 73 (Dragan Lekic, Serbia, ibid.) ** BELGIUM. Made a point of tuning the very last SW broadcast from this country, as RTBF was previously publicized to be silencing 9970 forever at 2215 UT Dec 31. Tune in at 2205 but signal quite poor in French talk; at least WWCR was not blasting 9980, that fading down quite a bit. I wish I could have made out whether RTBF was saying anything special by way of farewell, but just too weak; at 2214 switched to a different announcer, 2215 still on the air with music, which ceased at 2217 and then the carrier was also gone (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Fim das transmissões da RTBF em ondas curtas, 9970 kHz --- Colegas. Segundo o boletim DXLD 9-087 do colega Glenn Hauser em http://www.w4uvh.net/dxld9087.txt a RTBF deixará de transmitir em ondas curtas e sua última transmissão se dará hoje, dia 31/12, das 0400-2215 UT. Assim é mais uma excelente emissora em ondas curtas que se vai. Quantas das vezes parava em sua frequência para apreciar a sua excelente programação musical, principalmente agora que o seu sinal melhora durante o nosso verão! A sua programação poderá continuar a ser ouvida via a internet. Essa notícia também pode ser confirmada no site da RTBF em http://www.rtbfi.be/rtbf_2000/bin/view_something.cgi?id=0189874_sac Nesse momento o seu sinal em 9970 kHz chega muito fraco, mas durante as manhãs e um pouco mais tarde seu sinal varia entre moderado a bom e fazia parte das minhas prazerosas escutas. 73 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana Bahia, Brasil, 2221 UT Dec 31, radioescutas yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DXLD) 9970, RTBF, Dec 31, 2215 - Tried to listen to the last broadcast from RTBF, but it was just barely above the noise floor. I could hear talk up to 2215 when there was music of some sort, perhaps the National anthem? This continued past 2217, so perhaps they would sign off at 23:15 after all? No carrier, though, noted at 2217:45 when rechecked. So they are gone for good (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BENIN. 1566, TWR Benin, Jan 2 0335 - Not quite armchair copy, but very nice reception with ID for TWR in English and an email address. Wasn't sure for sure it was them until the ID as the programming was pretty much continuous music. By far the best I've ever heard them! I've struggled to hear much content, and even last night, they were at or above threshold. As I type this, when they fade up, they're a good '8/10' on my scale of listenability! Interesting, as the rest of the evening is no comparison to last night which was perhaps 'once in a lifetime' as far as I was concerned! They faded for a while and then came back around 0353 with a preacher in vernacular, briefly at strong level. Went into a hymn shortly before 0400, but faded down at the TOH. That ionosphere must surely be dancing around! (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, BC, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 4409, R. Eco, Reyes. January 4/5, 2352-0005 Bolero beat with Andean flute music, 2357 Bolero beat music, 0000 male Spanish announcements, then seems messages service from listeners. Stronger than usual. 4451, R. Santa Ana was strong too, certainly an L.A. opening, despite not very clear due the noise, 34332 (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Embu SP Brasil - Sony ICF SW40 - dipole 18m, 32m, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOTSWANA. [continued from ANGUILLA] The Africans must be rejoicing over the absence of Anguilla. Recheck 1758, VOA Portuguese in the clear on 11775, which is São Tomé, 100 kW, 138 degrees toward Moçambique at 17-18, about to switch to Botswana 1800-1830, 100 kW, 350 degrees, per HFCC. Strange: there are no Portuguese-speaking areas at that angle from Botswana; can`t be for Angola or Moçambique, but maybe Cabo Verde, Guiné-Bissau? However, Aoki shows the angle as 10 degrees, even further from former Portuguese colonies, and extended M-F only for that semi-hour (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Botswana may have only one curtain array. Aoki shows only 3 different azimuths, 350 degrees, 10 degrees and 20 degrees. There may be sidelobes that are favorable for Mozambique (Jerry Lenamon, Waco TX, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, Google Earth show two 350 degree curtains on the left side of the transmitter building. Mainlobe approx. +/-30 deg each side, real above-average on 320 to 020 degrees angle. São Tomé 316 deg Luanda 312 deg easternmost tip of AGL 343 deg Dundo in northern AGL 335 deg (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) It looks as if they have four antennas, two each aiming at 350 and 10 degrees or thereabouts. But in practice this covers most of Africa, with the only real exceptions being Mozambique, South Africa (including inlaying countries) and Namibia. It's just a matter of a steep and broad beam, probably by not using all dipoles of an antenna when close targets are to be served (I know positively of this feature for the Wertachtal curtains). http://maps.google.de/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=de&geocode=&q=21%C2%B057'S+27%C2%B038'E&sll=51.151786,10.415039&sspn=19.508908,39.111328&ie=UTF8&ll=-21.955843,27.637932&spn=0.01405,0.019097&t=h&z=16 If you search for it: The 909 kHz transmitter is four kilometres west of the shortwave site (Kai Ludwig, ibid.) ** BRAZIL. 5940 Voz Missionária --- Alguns dias atrás, ouvi um ID da em que indicavam eles estão com 3 kW e o transmissor é localizado em Camboriú RS. ¿Essa informação já é conhecida? (Horacio A. Nigro, Montevideo, Uruguay, Dec 31, radioescutas yg via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. I made some frequency measurements: 5044.981v, 3/1 2240, Rádio Cultura, nice songs, fair signal & good modulation, after 2300 better. 6135.072v, 3/1 2312, Rádio Aparecida, religious talks, fair (on 6134.802 observed a carrier, must be Radio Santa Cruz [BOLIVIA] - another on 6135 exact: maybe BBC via Thailand) 9565.201v, 3/1 2333, Deus è Amor, usual religious talks, poor, only in USB to avoid Radio Martì on 9565 exact. 9629.914v, 3/1 2133, Rádio Aparecida, slow songs, fair 9645.307v, 3/1 2141, Rádio Bandeirantes, talks, poor/fair QRM from 9640 RNE & CRI both in Spanish! Better at 2345 without this QRM (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italia, AOR AR7030, Drake R8, SDR-IQ - T2FD, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 6185, RNA at 0700 Dec 31 with full ID claiming 500,000 watts, and ``Bom Dia, Amazônia``. Apparently they are adding the 250 kW each on 6185, 11780. Blasting away XEPPM as usual, and RNA starts considerably before 0700, unnecessarily (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Some Brazilian DXers are reporting that RNA 11780 must be on a low- power transmitter such as 7.5 kW. I suspected they had mixed it up with the inactive R. Guaíba on 11785. That odd power is a common one for some private Brazilian SW stations, from 6 to 11 MHz bands, if you search on it in Aoki, which also shows 7.5 in 11780! Possibly they have a backup to the regular 250 kW unit, and/or possibly Brazilians are in the skip zone leading to unwarranted assumptions that 11780 is low-powered. But it`s Aoki which is certainly mistaken. I suppose some manufacturer long ago was making SW transmitters of this power, and also sold a couple to Radio New Zealand, which was their rating until the 50/100 kW units at Rangitaiki went in. WRTH also shows 7.5 for Brazilians on 6-11 MHz bands, but none on trop bands except one inactive on 4945, R. Progresso. Reception of RNA 11780 varies widely here in the nightmiddle, but I attribute that to propagation. On Jan 3 at 0550, a UT Sunday when it is on all-night rather than cutting on sometime between 0630 and 0700, RNA 11780 was inbooming at S9+20 and could not possibly be only 7.5 kW. Normally it far outstrips the signal levels of any other 25m Brazilians that may be audible (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Amigo Glenn, Eu acredito que o transmissor da RNA seja originalmente de potência maior, dentro do padrão típicos dos fabricantes de transmissores. Porém acho que eles, muito provavelmente devem ter feito alterações nele, fazendo-o sair com potência menor. Isso é muito comum no pessoal de manutenção, quando ocorre falhas nos tanques finais do transmissores e eles os reativam, mas com saida menor que o original. É aquilo que chamamos vulgarmente de "gambiarra" no Brasil. Pois você tem razão, quando afirma que não compensa a nenhum fabricante montar unidades de 7.5 kW para Ondas Curtas, quando a diferença para um Tx de 100 kW é bem pequena. Como você pode ver unidade deste tipo de potência é muito raro. Um abraço, (Adalberto Marques de Azevedo, Barbacena - MG - Brasil, Membro do DX Clube do Brasil, http://www.ondascurtas.com Jan 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn. Eu que agradeço a sua resposta e a sua gentileza. Com respeito a Rádio Nacional da Amazônia, já houve uma discussão aqui na lista radioescuta sobre a maneira que a RNA informa sua potência na identificação, “500 kW”, e até um funcionário dela o Lucio Haeser, não soube explicar a potência real de cada frequência. Houve consenso apenas com respeito a frequência de 6185 kHz, deve ser de 250 kW. Particularmente acho que eles transmitem com uma potência conforme os antigos e sucateados transmissores permitam. Observe umas trocas de mensagens feitas aqui na lista radioescuta sobre o assunto. Uma coisa é certa, em 11780 kHz ela não transmite com 250 kW. Um abraço, (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana BA, Brasil, DX LISTENING DIGEST) And he attaches some correspondence from Nov 11-12 about this. Speculation was that these frequencies may have been running 80 kW; the two old transmitters are only kept going by cannibalilzing parts from the other ones. Lúcio Haeser, who is responsible for certain newscasts on RNA, laments that there are no formal sign-ons or sign- offs; they just switch the transmitter on and off at irregular times, circa 5 am and midnight local, as we have also been complaining (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn. Concordo plenamente com o seu comentário e informo que acredito que no caso de outras emissoras de ondas curtas do Brasil a baixa potência delas deva ser proposital e inferior a dimensão de seus transmissores para a economia de energia elétrica. Com respeito a RNA deve ser devido ao estado de desgaste, sucateamento mesmo, de seus equipamentos que os obriga a transmitirem em potência menor. Já tivemos diversas trocas de mensagens nas listas aqui no Brasil sobre a real potência das transmissões da RNA, R Senado e Rádio Nacional de Brasília e não se chegou a nenhum acordo. Um abraço, (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana BA, Brasil, Jan 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) In case I did not make it clear in previous report, I think RNA is running close to 250 kW on 11780, judging from the very strong signals here, not 7.5 kW as listed in Aoki. Of course many older transmitters are seldom running full rated power, so it may well be somewhat lower. But 11780 was also very strong S9+22 at 2316 Jan 3, altho as often in the afternoons, marred by trans-equatorial flutter. R. Bandeirantes was also audible, much weaker on 11925v. WRTH 2010 shows 11780 as 250 kW, and also lists *inactive 250 kW on 15200 and 15265; plus active 250 kW on 11950, which is certainly not the case. All of these are Radiobrás transmitters, but the station entry keys, callsigns and names shown are mixed up. The 250 kW ones: DF10 5990 ZYE773 Rádio Senado DF06 6185 ZYE365 Rádio Nacional da Amazônia DF06 11780 ZYE365 Rádio Nacional da Amazônia DF06 11950 ZYE773 Rádiobrás [but same call as Senado on 5990] DF06 *15200 ZYE365 Rádio Nacional da Amazônia DF06 *15265 ZYE365 Radiobras [but same call as RNA; sic, no accent, in which case the name could be taken to mean instead ``Radio Works``] 5990 is the only active frequency of R. Senado, so it gets a separate entry with its own address; while the DF06 info just refers to Radiobrás, not RNA (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, As to powers, the operator R. Brás txs at Parque do Rodeador, near Brasília, may be about 250 kW on 5990, but hard to believe it's the same on both 6185v & 11780 even considering that these two beams are not favouring Europe, they're towards NW Brasil. On many occasions, 11780 is simply weaker than other stations of theirs on 25 m, e.g. R.Brasil Central 11815, RTM 11735v. It might be taken to mean "radio works" if only "radiobras" (radio + obras) existed as word, and besides that "obras" is simply not the right word for "works" if applied to radio. 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) It's the same broadcasting organization anyway, so the same licence, filed by the bureaucrats under "ZYE365". 11950 kHz was once licenced to another broadcaster (Radio MEC, Rio de Janeiro), thus "ZYE773" instead (if it is really still in the official files under this docket number). 15265 kHz was in use at least since the eighties for transmissions to Europe until they disappeared without any announcements. Still remembered here in Germany are their German broadcasts that ran from 1930 to 2020. Often the frequency faded out during this period. Not that they had much to say anyway, besides governmental propaganda. Other frequencies included 15445 (transmissions to Europe during the seventies, which at this time in German indeed included true journalism; in the nineties 15445 was again used for CRI), 17750 (own programming to Africa and Suriname relays) but also 6075, 9545, 11810 for DW and 17730 for SRI. WRTH 1994 shows another interesting outlet for the 250 kW transmitters: Radio Cabloca from Manaus on 4845. Here you can take a look: http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13424664 The perspective confuses me a little bit, but anyway the largest masts with the beams are two curtains aiming at Africa/Europe while the smaller antennas beam northwestwards. Also just barely visible is the power line to the transformer plant on the station grounds, and one of all the masts is not for shortwave but for 980 kHz / 300 kW (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Jan 5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Kai, Rádio Cabocla (check the spelling) may have been some planned operation specifically targeted to the Amazónia, Amazon, given the power, if real, and the name; for "caboclo", see http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caboclo 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, ibid.) ** BRAZIL. 9565.21, Rádio Tupi, Curitiba, Paraná. 0446-0451 January 3, 2010. Portuguese preacher, clear and fair. 9645.21, Rádio Bandeirantes, São Paulo. 0451-0455 January 3, 2010. Clear and fair with soft Brazilian vocal, canned ID with a long battery of frequencies at 0452 (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 9819.4, Brazilian talk, M&W mentioning Santa Maria every few seconds, fair signal above het with something on 9820.0 – only other thing scheduled is Turkey in Turkish. Rádio Nove de Julho, of course, a Catholic station rather than Pentecostal. Brazilians also audible on 9565 wailing Miranda, and 9645v Bandeirantes. By 0632, RNA open carrier on 11780, but did not catch start of modulation. 11925v Bandeirantes, 11815 RBC also audible (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 10000, Observatório Nacional, Rio de Janeiro, at 2020-2030, with ID and time check every 10 seconds. 24342 2009/12/29. Best 73s (Pedro Turner, Gondomar, Portugal, Kenwood R-2000 + Sony 7600GR, 17m TTFD + Loop, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) No passado as transmissões do Observatório Nacional foram muito problemáticas e fruto de inúmeras críticas, inclusive minhas. Hoje, no entanto, seu sinal tem sido ouvido em boa parte da terra e aqui consigo ouvi-la durante a maior parte do dia com sinal que varia entre fraco a bom. Com o Degen tenho a recepção de uma boa modulação e no site do Observatório Nacional, serviço de hora certa, http://pcdsh01.on.br/ baixei o programa DSHO que sincroniza o relógio do computador. Com respeito ao objetivo deles de gerar uma frequência padrão em 10000 kHz não possuo equipamento que possa analisar isso, mas em termos de frequência recepcionada pelo meu Degen e uma análise feita de ouvido parece estar estável e não mais ouvi distorções. O sinal do ON com apenas 100 W tem sido ouvido e relatado em diversas partes da Europa e dos USA. Aqui fica os meus parabéns! 10000 31/12 2013 BRASIL, Observatório Nacional, sinal horário, 35433 73 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana Bahia, Brasil, dxclubepr yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 11815, Rádio Brasil Central, Goiânia, 1001-1105, 03-01, identificación: "8 horas 1 minuto, Rádio Brasil Central, Onda Media, 1270 kHz, 50 kW, Onda Tropical, 4985 kHz, 10 kW, Onda Curta, 25 metros, 11815 kHz, 7,5 kW, Rádio Brasil Central, Goiânia, Goiás". Comentarios, canciones. 45444 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, España, Escuchas realizadas en Friol, Sony ICF SW7600G, Antena de cable, 10 metros, orienta WSW, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BULGARIA. 9400, R. Bulgaria, where 2010 had already begun, UT Dec 31 at 2241 in Spanish with NY greetings to listeners, march music, audio somewhat distorted, M&W announcers alternating, poor with flutter, eventually mentioning búlgaros. Separate programming on 7400 must have been English (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BURMA. TATMADAW 'USING AUSTRALIAN RADIO TECHNOLOGY' By WAI MOE, Tuesday, January 5, 2010 Burma's armed forces, the Tatmadaw, are using Australian radio technology despite a Canberra arms embargo, a Sydney-based newspaper reported on Tuesday. At least 50 high frequency radio sets supplied by the Perth company Barrett Communications Pty Ltd are being used at the Tatmadaw headquarters in Naypyidaw, the Burmese capital, and by three regional military commands in central, eastern and north-eastern Burma, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. Barrett Communications confirmed to the newspaper that it has sold 50 radio sets to Burma, although it denied that they were being used by the Burmese military. . . Source: http://bit.ly/8zQQxs (Via Yimber Gaviria, Colombia, DXLD) ** BURMA [non]. 7400, 3/1 0018, Democratic Voice of Burma, Clandestine, long talks, QRM from Radio Ukraine International on the same channel (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italy, SDR-IQ, Drake R8, T2fd, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Glenn, I was surprised and delighted to hear The Age of Persuasion this morning on CBC Radio One. It is scheduled for Saturdays at 10 a.m. I'm sure there'll be repeats, too. 73, (Ricky Leong, AB, Jan 2, WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes! It`s on today`s Hotsheet: AGE OF PERSUASION: They are the ads that make everyone squirm - consumers, media, and especially ad copywriters: ads for the funeral industry, laxatives, incontinence pads, and the queen mother of unpleasant ads - feminine hygiene products. Terry O’Reilly kicks off the 4th season of The Age of Persuasion with an insider’s look at marketing the unpleasant, from the strange-but-true history of marketing menstruation products, to Wal-Mart’s recent decision to sell caskets and urns online. That’s on The Age of Persuasion, with Terry O’Reilly --- Saturday at 10:00 a.m. (10:30 NT) on CBC Radio One. CBCR1 program grid for first week of January also shows AOP at 11:30 am local on Mondays, altho not mentioned on Jan 4 Hotsheet. Program website http://www.cbc.ca/programguide/program/age_of_persuasion still refers to starting the third season a year ago. On the contrary, the current blog is at: http://www.cbc.ca/ageofpersuasion/ And will presumably also offer on demand audio/podcasts (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I, too, thoroughly enjoy this program, no doubt because my business background includes marketing and I have long been a student of communications. In addition to repeats, the program has been available for on-demand listening with prior episodes archived back to October 2008 (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, ODXA yg via DXLD) It's confirmed: The repeat for The Age of Persuasion was this morning (Monday) on CBC Radio One at 11:30 MST. The show's website http://cbc.ca/ageofpersuasion was also updated this afternoon. As for podcasting and whatnot, see their note on why it's not happening yet. http://www.cbc.ca/ageofpersuasion/index.html?copy-podcast (Ricky Leong, Calgary, Jan 4, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. I keep hoping to hear CBW 990 in daylight now near solstice, even low noon, as it`s the closest full-power MW Canadian, due north. Especially since KTOK 1000 OKC has turned off IBOC leaving 990 more or less clear, but not quite yet: on the caradio Dec 30 at 2310 UT after CBC news, starting third hour of ``Up to Speed``, evidently the local Winnipeg drive-time show (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also USA: KXTR ** CANADA. 6660 Harmonic / 9990 Harmonic, CHU, Ottawa, ON. 1234-1240 January 2, 2010. As per D. Crawford log, fair-weak with HFDL utility QRM on high side of 6660; 9990 threshold, under presumed Radio Free Afghanistan. So much for Standards. Curious: do they share engineering tips with CBC/Radio Canada International? 7850 and 14670 seem to be behaving, as nothing heard on multiples, then again the MUF just may not be letting any through at this hour (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6660, CHU time signal station, 1630-1640+, Jan 3, 2nd harmonic. 2 x 3330. Poor to fair with occasional utility QRM. Thanks to D. Crawford and Terry Krueger for tip (Brian Alexander, PA, WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DX Listening Digest) ** CANADA [and non]. Re 9-087, INTRODUCTION TO CANADIAN RADIO DX Tool Box by Shawn Axelrod Very funny Shawn, but in my experience if Canada is mentioned at all it's probably a Canadian station. US news coverage usually stops above the Great Lakes & the 49th parallel. And in the unlikely case there is a mention of events in Canada the province isn't mentioned, just the name of the town and Canada. Don't take it personal though, news coverage in the states is dominated by New York, Washington and Los Angeles with only fleeting references to the other 48 states and 85% of the population (Jerry Lenamon, Waco TX, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHAD. 6165, 04/Jan 2111, CHADE, R. N'Djamena, French, desde Ndjamena. Curta música africana e OM fala atendendo a ligações de ouvintes. Uma frequência disputada, transmitem nesse horário: CNR 6, Radio Croácia até as 2127 UT; R. Zambia 2 até as 2205 UT. 2129 entra o sinal ID da R Tirana. Sinal fraco em volta de diversas QRMs (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana Bahia, Brasil, condiglist yg via DXLD) ** CHILE. HCJB via CVC Calera de Tango, 11920, in Portuguese Jan 3 at 2320 sounds OK on fundamental, but still accompanied by motorboating spurs making music mushy centered at 11900 and 11940. HCJB has been mailing out erroneous info about its own schedule, apparently confused by UT and the difference to DST in Brasília which is really only two hours. This should make Brazilians subjected to it feel 33% closer to Europe, but they mustn`t believe what HCJB tells them. HCJB also claims to ``transmit from Curitiba`` while that is only a studio location; not admitting to SW via Chile (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. OTH radar pulsing, presumed from here, Jan 3 at 1416 ranging approximately 4835-4870 and 4935-4970 --- hmm, these two are paired exactly 100 kHz apart (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 5050, Beibu Bay Radio, Dec 30, 1522 - Excellent reception with Chinese duet. Then lots of Vietnamese talk. No English ID heard as was observed recently, at 1530. AIR presumably barely audible co- channel. 6095, CNR 1, Dec 30, 1933 - On yet another Chinese attempt at jamming RFA, I hear multiple, slightly out of phase transmitters extremely strong over just barely audible RFA. Carrying CNR1 in the clear. 7105, Nei Menggu PBS, Hohhot, Dec 30, 2228 - Armchair level Chinese with lots of ads. Not sure whether this is Nei Menggu or not, but found it on an old DBS survey. Martial music, and Dientai mentioned at 2230. // noted 9520, but out of sync, with 7105 about 2 sec behind 9520 (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. Bands above 12 MHz are usually dead here in the nightmiddle, but Jan 5 at 0617 was hearing CRI English on 13645, about two sex behind Sackville 6115; fair signal. A strange opening as 13645 is via Xi`an at 190 degrees, 06-08. Also had Mandarin at 0618 on 13750, which is CRI via Kunming at 177 degrees, also 06-08. I ascended to 15 MHz band, kept hunting for signals, and at 0619 on 15570 found something Chinese-sounding non //. That`s listed in Aoki as CNR11, i.e. the Tibetan service at 01-08, 100 kW, 255 degrees from Baoji-Sifangshan site #724, and BTW including English at 0530-0600; but closing early on Wednesdays for the 0600 [2 pm local] siesta. Am I really hearing Mandarin-language segments within nominally Tibetan- language services? All of the above are legitimate broadcasts, not jammers! At 0618 I had another non // Chinese signal on 15665, where RFA is scheduled via Tinian, but more likely CNR1 jamming. Nothing audible on 17 MHz (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. CNR1 echo jamming running on both 6030 and 6040, Dec 30 at 1303, but different victims underneath. What`s trying to go on here? Aoki shows 6030 at 13-14 with Ming Hui Radio, 100 kW, 325 degrees from Tanshui, Taiwan, altho that was an A-09 schedule, and *jammed. CNR1 is also scheduled on 6030 from the Beijing 572 site, 1955-0600 & 0900- 1735, but the ChiCom ruin their own broadcast in order to drive away listeners to Ming Hui; CNR1 has countless other frequencies so this one is certainly expendable. What`s Ming Hui? WRTH 2010 classifies it as clandestine/target, on page 497, as Falun Gong-affiliated, a sister station to Sound of Hope, HQ in New York, 24h a day via satellite, but only this one hour on SW. On 6040, the offender is VOA in Chinese, 13-14, 250 kW, 30 degrees via THAILAND. In this case, CNR1 is not even pretending to have a legitimate broadcast on the frequency; like a spoiled child, yelling so that he cannot hear what anyone is trying to tell him for his own good (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 22.12: 9000, Firedrake jamming at 1134. SINPO 14232 (Richard Bianchino, Las Vegas, NV USA. Etón S350DL, 32' longwire antenna, indoor, ABDX via DXLD) [and non]. Firedrake Dec 31: at 1407, fair on 8400, nothing on 9000, 10210, 11300 or 11350. Almost at local noon, 1814 UT Dec 31, good signal in Chinese on 7445, // weaker 7415, these two by far the strongest stations on the 40m band. Both have R. Free Asia via TINIAN during this hour, and consequently jammed by the ChiCom. But I was hearing only one station on each frequency, no echoes either; unsure whether RFA or CNR1 jamming. RFA aims northwestward, while the jamming is usually atop, more likely non-direxional. Another Firedrake check at 1815: poor on 8400, 9000, 11300, but not on 10210 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 8400, Firedrake jammer. 0849-0852 January 2, 2010. Clear and good. Still there at 1320 check. 9000 noted in passing the following day, 1215 January 3 (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Firedrake Jan 2 at 1435: 8400 fair with flutter, 9000 very poor, nothing audible on 10210, 11300 or 11350. (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 8400, 3/1 0016, Firedrake, Chinese "music jamming" radio to stop Sound of Hope Taiwan. good // 9000 (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italy, SDR-IQ, Drake R8, T2fd, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Firedrake Jan 3 at 1427: good on 8400, JBA on 9000, not audible on 10 or 11 MHz frequencies. Firedrake Jan 3 at 2321: fair with flutter on 11300, not on 10210 or elsewhere. Jan 4 at 1410, very poor, flutter on 8400 only (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 8400, 05/Jan, 0002, Firedrake chinês com sinal quase local, mas não se ouvia sinal em 9000 e 10210 kHz (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana Bahia, Brasil, condiglist yg via DXLD) Firedrake Jan 5: at 1417, very poor on 9000. At 1430, JBA on 8400. Firedrake Jan 6: at 1412, poor on 8400, 9000 but not on 10210 or 11300; at 1453, JBA on 11300, // 9000 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [and non]. 9450, TAIWAN / CHINA. Sound of Hope – Yunlin, TAIWAN / CRI – Shijiazhuang / CNR 1 jammer – Unknown, 1440–1505, 1/1/10, in Mandarin / Russian / Mandarin. CRI and CNR presumed from content, and language. SoH on top with Contemporary Chinese music with a woman announcer, ID sequence with music at ToH, announcer with apparent news. This dominated once CRI went off at 1457. CRI in middle with various announcers with longer or shorter items, 1455 Chinese music, 1457 off (as scheduled). CNR 1 jammer, barely audible with alternating woman and man announcers, to time pips at ToH, fanfare, one announcer. SoH was Fair, CRI was Poor, CNR jammer was barely audible. I’ll bet anyone trying to listen to CRI in Russian was being jammed by CNR 1 (Mark Taylor, Madison WI, R-75, Winradio g313e, Eton E1, Satllit 800, Kaito 1103; 2 Flextennas, EWE, attic mounted Flextenna, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. 7405, CRI English, via Urumqi, EAST TURKISTAN, Jan 2 at 1531 but with lite pulsing QRM from the DentroCuban Jamming Command, which failed to close down completely with nemesis Radio Martí at 1400: Commies vs Commies! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. CRI RECEIVED NEARLY 3 MILLION LETTERS/EMAILS IN 2009 The Director-General of China Radio International (CRI) mentions in his New Year Speech that CRI received a new record high of over 2.9 million letters from overseas listeners and online users in the past year. He also said that “in 2009, we have 59 language services, including six new languages, turning CRI into the media agency with the largest number of languages broadcasting to the world. We also built another 14 overseas 24-hour radio stations, and our production capabilities of localized programming has also been enhanced dramatically.” ¦Read the whole speech on the CRI website http://english.cri.cn/6909/2009/12/31/45s539397.htm (January 1st, 2010 - 15:13 UTC by Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog via DXLD) 4 Comments on “CRI received nearly 3 million letters/emails in 2009” #1 Aleksandr on Jan 1st, 2010 at 16:23 What they are talking about? Religious broadcaster Trans World Radio broadcasts in more than 200 languages and dialects #2 Andy Sennitt on Jan 1st, 2010 at 16:58 Good point. Are you going to tell him or shall I? Seriously, I suppose it depends how you define ‘media agency’. I think he was referring to government-financed (or in his case stated-controlled) broadcasters. #3 Mike Barraclough on Jan 1st, 2010 at 21:33 Reading this incredibly self-congratulatory speech I have to conclude that his definition of the truth is somewhat different to mine. #4 Jonathan Marks on Jan 3rd, 2010 at 19:26 I agree with Mike. Check the twitter feed of Radio86, the CRI affiliate, to see that those fantasy figures are not coming via twitter. http://twitter.com/Radio86 I cannot believe those webpages are scoring - or that they are shifting much Chinese tea (MN blog comments via DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. CHINA RADIO INTERNATIONAL NOW ON AM IN GALVESTON A struggling AM station in Galveston, Texas, started leasing airtime to China Radio International as of 1 January. KGBC on 1540, which has been on the air since 1947, carried local programming since March 2009, but was unable to attract sufficient advertising. There was little warning about the format change because the transaction happened so quickly and China Radio International, which made the station’s owners Siga a lucrative offer, wanted to be on the air by 1 January. (Source: Galveston County Daily News) Andy Sennitt adds: The hours are not mentioned, but the station’s website at www.kgbc1540.com has been taken offline, so it appears that CRI has leased the entire airtime (January 5th, 2010 - 12:19 UTC by Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog http://blogs.rnw.nl/medianetwork/china-radio-international-now-on-am-in-galveston via Dragan Lekic, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DXLD) Indeed, their website is closed, but I've found the direct link of KGBC webstream. According to FCC, the power is 2.5 kW at day, 0.25 kW at night: KGBC 1540 AM Galveston, Tx [WMA, 32 kbps, 32 kHz, dual mono]: mms://nyc04.egihosting.com/105105 In attachment you can hear my recording of KGBC webstream on January 05, 2010 at 1800z. 73 (Dragan Lekic, Serbia, ibid.) KGBC still has an application at the FCC to change city of license to Dayton TX, which is NE of Houston, so that would end its identity with Galveston --- hardly necessary now by importing programming from the ChiCom. There would be two different sites: day with 5 kW ND halfway between downtown Houston and Dayton, at the south end of Lake Houston, near Deussen Park. Night site would run 187 watts from ESE of Houston, between South Houston and Pasadena, 3 tower-direxional, pattern an oval with a bit of a null due north, not toward Waterloo. But I suppose following thru on the app is unlikely unless the new deal brings in a lot of cash. How well does KGBC get into Houston now, day and night? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Here is the original full story: ** CHINA [non]. ISLE RADIO STATION LEASES AIRTIME TO CHINESE By Laura Elder The Daily News Published January 5, 2010 http://www.galvnews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=4e313341cbf9d47c GALVESTON — Unable to dial in enough financial support from advertisers, owners of KGBC radio have leased all the station’s airtime to one of China’s state-owned media companies, ending a yearlong effort at local programming. The sudden format switch killed local shows and surprised and disappointed loyal listeners and a few advertisers. People who tuned into 1540 AM on Jan. 1 expecting classic rock and local talk instead got Asian music and political forums, along with an array of unfamiliar programming. Principals with Siga Broadcasting, which owns the station, declined to name the group to which it leased the airtime, citing confidentiality agreements as the parties finalize contracts. But on air, China Radio International, an external radio station of the People’s Republic of China, is taking credit for the programming. The switch comes less than a year after Siga, which owns six stations, announced it would attempt to deliver music, local news and coverage of community events. KGBC began broadcasting from Galveston in 1947, but its economic viability declined through the years as FM dominated music and national retailers spent advertising dollars in the Houston market. In recent years, the station has offered religious and foreign- language programming. Siga, which acquired KGBC about seven years ago, announced in March it would return the station to its roots with more personal, local programming. But the timing wasn’t good, said Julian Arango, whose family owns the station. With businesses struggling to recover from Hurricane Ike, which in September 2008 caused catastrophic flooding and left some businesses closed for months, advertisers weren’t forthcoming, Arango said. Radio stations survive by selling airtime to advertisers and sponsors. “We had tons of listeners but not enough financial support,” Arango said. There was little warning about the format change because the transaction happened so quickly, and China Radio International, which Arango said made Siga a lucrative offer, wanted to be on the air Jan. 1. Along with Asian music, the station plays gospel hip-hop and all types of international programs, Arango said. During the lunch hour Monday, the station was airing oddball news stories (woman hit by falling stuffed moose head sues) from around the world. It also played a song by Janet Jackson. George Douglas Lee, host of the Electric Theatre Radio Hour, formerly at 9 a.m. Saturdays, said he was surprised and disappointed about the change. Lee’s show, which lampooned prominent island residents, including Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas, was gaining popularity, he said. KGBC programming and sponsorships were growing, Lee said. Had it been public knowledge that Siga was about to cancel the local programming, investors might have stepped in, he said. Lee said he worried about the political bent of some of the English- language programs, calling it propaganda. “There’s mostly forum discussions about nation-building by the United States; there’s some British commentators,” Lee said. “It’s peculiar.” But Arango said the new format was not filled with propaganda. Lee’s show began as a podcast and will continue on the Internet at http://www.georgedouglaslee.com China Radio International has a goal of promoting understanding and goodwill between the people of China and others throughout the world, according to online resources. It has 30 overseas bureaus and broadcasts 1,520 hours of programs each day in 53 languages, according to Wikipedia. Its programs include news, current affairs, features on politics, the economy, culture, science and technology, according to Wikipedia. Officials with China Radio International could not immediately be reached for comment. Arango said he planned to reimburse advertisers for slots they paid for when the station was broadcasting local programming. “After Hurricane Ike, we tried to do something with the station, let it do what it used to do,” Arango said. “It was pretty much a one-year effort; it’s very bittersweet.” (via Artie Bigley, WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DXLD) This is typical. Again I say, when will VOA, BBC, RNW and others start to buy airtime on stations in China. Oh wait! That`s right, they can't! More communist propaganda on US airwaves. Why not let the Cubans or North Koreans do the same. Oh wait! I just remembered. The US economy is now more or less controlled by the Communist Government in Beijing. Has anyone in the US figured out how they let this happen? (Keith Perron, Taiwan, ex-CRI, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Keith previously revealed that one of his jobs while at CRI was getting the ball rolling for CRI relays via US stations (gh, DXLD) It's a sign of the things to come. It seems that most AM stations in or near major US markets have been receiving sweet offers from CRI. And that applies to all countries where such deals are remotely possible. Personally I don't have any issues with one or two hours of CRI on one of my local AM stations. But when a station goes all CRI, all the time that doesn't sound right. What about the public service? The local listeners should definitely file their complaints with both the station and FCC (Sergei S., ibid.) Public service? What a quaint notion. These requirements were all but dropped from FCC licensing requirements decades ago when government policymakers were tripping all over each other to grant favors to broadcast group owners like Clear Channel, Westwood One and others. The latter loaded the stations with debt, the country became enamored with morons like Limbaugh and Stern and when the smoke cleared local radio was dead and the industry -- at least its commercial side -- was effectively looted. Also reference "newspapers", "local banking", "offshore corporations" and "domestic manufacturing" for similar stories. How does this happen? How have the Chinese accomplished what they have? Greed, my friend. Simple American greed, unimpeded by the government agency charged with protecting that public interest, has opened the door and ushered all this in. It's called "being hoisted on your own petard" in some places. It's far too late to file silly complaints. To coin another phrase, it would be like closing the barn door after the horses have all left (John Figliozzi, Halfmoon, NY, ibid.) Here`s a rather different, narrow-minded version, extremely misleading, and not getting the big pixure: (gh) KGBC 1540-AM killed it's [sic thruout] signal last week Galveston radio station is "no more" ThePoliceNews.Net The Police News January 5, 2010 GALVESTON - As quick as it popped up on the local airwaves less than a year ago, it was gone. Galveston's radio station KGBC 1540-AM killed it's signal last week, locked the doors on it's offices and transmitter and disappeared. According to at least one local advertiser there was little or no notice, "they just shut it down and that was it." A former employee of the station said the owner, a Houston chiroprator [sic], sold the station to a California radio group that supposedly will put it back on the air with an automatic music programming format. There will be 'piped in' music requiring no announcer or disc jockey, according to the ex-employee. The Police News once produced a weekly program on KGBC called Police News Live, a roundtable discussion with top area law enforcement officials. The Police News elected to discontinue it's broadcast after only a few programs aired. Breck Porter (via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) CHINESE LEASE GALVESTON RADIO STATION FOR BROADCASTS By HARVEY RICE Copyright 2010 Houston Chronicle Jan. 6, 2010, 10:18PM GALVESTON — George Lee was stunned Saturday to hear a Chinese news agency broadcasting during the time his news and variety program usually aired on Galveston's only radio station. “It was so bizarre, I thought I must be in a coma, and I'm dreaming this,” Lee said. Station manager Julian Arango had phoned Lee on New Year's Eve and told him that his Electric Theater Radio Hour wouldn't be broadcast as usual the next day because KGBC 1540 was being leased. Since Saturday KGBC has been broadcasting the state-owned Chinese Radio International along with some hip hop, reggae and other assorted music offerings. “From China for the world, this is CRI,” an announcer says in a smooth radio voice with the hint of an accent. . . http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6802570.html (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) [+27+ comments] ** CONGO. 6115, Radio Congo, Dec 30, 1824 - Highly tentative reception at threshold level. I'm measuring exactly 6115.000 on the Perseus. Apparently no one else listed at this time. Very weak talk, but I can't identify the language. Worth keeping an eye on, though (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, BC, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA. 2859.82, Radio San Carlos, 1110-1140+, Dec 31, 2nd harmonic. 2 x 1430v. Spanish talk. Spanish ballads. Promos. Announcements Fair in peaks (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) 2860 (2 x 1430), Radio San Carlos, 0145-0200 Jan 1. Noted here for the first time. I do not speak Spanish, but clearly heard several IDs by announcer. Recorded music and what sounded like a remote broadcast, perhaps having to do with New Year's celebration. The signal was surprisingly strong (David Hodgson, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 2859.8, Jan 6 at 0201 check, R. San Carlos, quite good signal for a second harmonic, Spanish talk, but outside on the portable to diminish the noise level, it was too cold to stay with it, much as I wished to; probably about to sign off (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CROATIA. 3984.978. Croatian Radio via Deanovec, phone in program in Croatian at 2230 UT Dec 31. S=7-8 fair signal (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 31, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [and non]. 6000, 31/12 0104 Voice of Turkey, Turkish songs, over & below Radio Habana in English; no one can be heard well (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italia, Drake R8, SDR-IQ, Yaesu FRG-7, Icom R71E; T2FD 15 meter long, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. Some frequencies missing Dec 30 at 1520: no RHC 6110, which was good news for Yucatán 6104.7, see MEXICO; and no Rebelde on 5025, which despite the late hour this time of year should have been at least detectable, good news for China/Malaysia 5030, see UNIDENTIFIED. RHC was still going e.g. on 11760, 11800, so only a partial power failure, or antenna/transmitter work at one of the sites? 11600 with heavy DentroCuban Jamming Command noisewall, Dec 31 at 1821, no trace of a victim. Is there really something underneath, or are the Cubans super-paranoid? Even I get bored with tracking the anomalies of Radio Habana Cuba, ignored lately, but Jan 5 at 0634, 6140 was in Spanish // 6150, 6120, while English was on 6060, 6010. The previous night, 6140 was in English around this time. 11600, again with heavy jamming against nothing, Jan 5 at 1601. I just realized something else really strange about RHC: almost all their frequencies end in -0, not 5. This can hardly be accidental, but why? Random would make it 50-50. The only one in -5 is 17705, and the only Habana relays in -5 are Venezuela on 17705, 11705. Rebelde is on 5025, tho (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. Re 9-087: ``Our 11760 kiloHertz frequency, running 100 kiloWatts into a phased array of dipoles that provide 6 db of omni- directional gain, continues to be heard by many listeners in North America who have sent very nice reports via e-mail, making our transmitter engineers very happy. Likewise we have received many reports of our Spanish language morning local time broadcasts on 6110 kiloHertz, that is heard not only in North America, but also all around the Caribbean and Central America; on 6110 kiloHertz we are using a similar omnidirectional antenna, but with a 250 kiloWatt transmitter (Prof. Arnie Coro Antich, CO2KK, RHC DXers Unlimited Dec 19 via DXLD)`` On New Years Day, just before noon local time [CST = 1800 UT; EST = 1700 UT], R Habana Cuba on 6110 is S-8 to S-9 with very little noise. 11760 is // but with more noise and S-5 to S-7. Arnie's comment about the phased dipoles is interesting. Omni- directional gain is achieved by lowering the angle of radiation, something good for long distance propagation but not necessarily desirable for regional coverage. I wonder if the skip zone is enlarged by such low angle radiation? Waco is about 1100 miles from Havana with pretty good reception even on 49m at high noon in Havana. Can anyone in Florida or the Caribbean comment on signal strength at midday? How about those in locations even farther away, especially more than 1 hop away? (Jerry Lenamon, TX, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Jerry, I have RHC on 6110 at 0030 with a good signal. I live in Central Florida just SouthWest of Lake Okeechobee - 26.27N 081.05W (Chuck Bolland, UT Jan 2, ibid.) It appears you're about 250 miles from Havana, outside of the ground wave coverage. So we know that even with a relatively low angle of radiation the skip zone is less than 250 miles. That's actually closer than I would have expected. Thanks for the info (Jerry Lenamon, ibid.) ** CUBA [and non]. In WORLD OF RADIO 1492, recorded 12/23/09, you gave the account of a man who worked for Radio Havana in the 1980s, who said that the only letters he received were from DXers, and wondered, ``who is listening?`` I listen to Radio Havana, because it tells me things about both this country and the outside world that I don`t hear anywhere else. Why is that? A few years ago, a local station provided a BBC feed, which I came to rely on, and when the station changed their format, I turned to SW to find the BBC; and, of course, I also found Spain (one of my favorites), Havana, Taiwan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, WWCR, WBCQ, etc., so now I *never* listen to mainstream American news, except a few curious minutes wasted on the morning TV shows, looking for a trace of substance between talk about Super Bowl ads and ``Where in the world is Matt Lauer?``. How stupid do they want us to be? Did you ever think that perhaps mail isn`t received in Cuba? It is my understanding the US Postal Service does not deliver mail to Cuba, perhaps routing it through a third country, or equally likely, routing it through the FBI/CIA, who then route acceptable letters through the said third country. Are other countries, which are forced to comply with export restrictions, also restricting communications? Maybe letters form opinionless DXers are allowed to slip through, just to make it seem that communication isn`t being restricted. It seems that I`ve heard Ed Newman read a few letters that were sent from the US, and it seems they took months to arrive in Havana, and were simply requests for a schedule, calendar, or some sort of souvenir that make Cuba spend money they don` have (Ha! Ha! Ha! FBI/CIA.) Sounds like a `psy-op,` to make the adversary think all their efforts are in vain and to make them waste their money. Sort of like jamming, isn`t it? Shouldn`t somebody start jamming the sh** coming out of NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox, CNN, PBS, NPR, etc.? The Russians were behind an ``Iron Curtain``. What kind of curtain are we behind? I say it is a ``Corporate Fascist Zionist Curtain``. The Russians supposedly scoffed at the ``truth`` (Pravda) they were given, so when are Americans going to start scoffing at the `news` we are given? (Kent D. Murphy, New Martinsville WV, Dec 28, by P-mail retyped verbatim by gh for DX LISTENING DIGEST) You had me going there, until you included PBS and NPR with the bad guys, and threw in the Zionists as if they mattered in America (gh, DXLD) ** CUBA [and non]. THE WAR OF WORDS AMONG DXERS I am very surprised because of the war of words amongst Glenn, Arnie and some DXers. The jamming issue has shown the political dimension of the problem and the only way out is leaving in the past the Cold War thinking that is led by the US. Financing Radio/TV Martí and allowing other stations to transmit war propaganda towards Cuba is such a stupid-Cold-War-attitude. The States started the aggression against the Cuban people and war is not only on the airwaves. It is also in the fields of politics, economics, migration and culture. This 24/7 psychological hostility has got the goal of destroying the Cuban Revolution and its paradigm to the rest of the world. Several American Administrations have devoted money from taxpayers like you –Glenn- to support terrorism inside Cuba. Invasions, biological war, bombing and sabotaging, among other CIA-sponsored-activities have been enough evidence to assume there is a situation of non-declared war between the two countries. Of course, one of the two countries involved is the major superpower on Earth. That is such an irrelevant detail, isn’t it? Jamming on Radio/TV Marti and other stations broadcasting war propaganda towards Cuba, it could be assumed as a self-defence mechanism in the middle of a warfare scenario. Terrorist media have got a very dangerous influence on people and we all know these mercenary radio stations have instigated people inside Cuba to break the law. Few years ago, a group of people in Havana stole a truck and headed it against the wall of an Embassy. They claimed having made that decision because they had listened to fake reports from Radio Martí. As you can see, jamming is not 100% effective but it is the way a country has chosen to neutralise enemy’s attacks. If you are at a non-declared war with a foreign country that is also a superpower, jamming is a valid tool to defeat the counterpart too. The one who says the opposite it is such a “naïf” or a liar --- or maybe too right-winged to analyse things into a whole perspective. Unfortunately, radio stations like WRMI broadcast programmes which are produced by anti-Cuban organisations and that is why it is also targeted with jamming. It is a WAR, people! Glenn is angry because his wonderful show is also jammed. Perfect! But Glenn has to understand the context of this difficult situation between the two countries. For example, you Glenn, why don’t you write a letter to the lawmakers in the Senate and ask them to stop Radio/TV Martí broadcastings because they violate the US laws? Why don’t you say on DXLD you disagree that money from American taxpayers is spent in that illegal way? Money that could be invested in health care for more than 40 million Americans who have not got any health care coverage. The reason for jamming is very clear – stations like Radio Marti, Radio República, WRMI, amongst others. If US lawmakers did their job properly, jamming could be easily erased from the airwaves. Why do some of you still ignore the real cause? I do not see any point at Glenn criticising Arnie Coro’s English-language-punctuation-style or his misspelled words. In the past, I have told Glenn on the wrong use of some words or verbs in Spanish. Even when Glenn speaks Spanish very well he also commits mistakes. Those below-the-belt hits are not fair. I have a lot of respect for Glenn and Arnie and I really admire both of them because of their valuable contribution to the hobby of DXing. Nevertheless, one has to see the whole photograph and not only just a little bit of it. Jamming is not an isolated topic and discussing about it has to involve its political implications. There is a war on the airwaves and some people try to hide it. P.S. Mr. Keith Perron (or Pardon? Hahaha!) CAPITALISM is a failure, indeed. Revolutions try to save human beings from a system which will lead the planet to collapse. Your pathetic comments to Arnie on the American Passport simply show the actual size of your brain and your really-poor speech. Let’s hope Santa brings you a brand-new-tête. Intelligent speech is urgently needed! Merry Xmas to everybody and good DX! Happy 2010! (Adán González, Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, Dec 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I did not correct Arnie`s spelling or English in that thread, but kept it [sic] precisely so I could not be accused of altering what he was saying, and now I am accused of denigrating his English skill. Normally I am constantly correcting everyone`s mistakes as far as possible to make DXLD as literate as it can be. Adán`s response is to be expected, as for him, anything to further the Revolution is justified. As for jamming, I am well aware that there is no way I am going to talk Cuba out of doing it. Much of my criticism is about the way they are doing it, i.e. spreading in time and space far beyond where it is necessary to prevent evil counter-revolutionary instruxions in Spanish, grossly polluting the shortwave bands, which Arnie pretends to respect. Nor am I going to convince the USG to eliminate Radio Martí, but that possibility keeps coming up and it may one day happen with no tears shed here. Yes, capitalism has certainly failed in many ways, I agree. What a pity that your communism is no solution since at too high a cost it inevitably eradicates freedom (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. 9810, 3/1 0008, Radio República, Clandestine to Cuba, program on history of Cuban music with great songs, good (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italy, SDR-IQ, Drake R8, T2fd, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) No jamming audible? See also VENEZUELA [non] ** CYPRUS. Typical British OHR from Limassol in 15885 to 15915 kHz range at 1118 UT Dec 2. Signal S=7-8 (wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 2, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CZECHIA. Radio Prague until 31-01-10 --- Hi: Appears on the website of Radio Prague emissions sched, until 31-01-10. Here the link to all programs: http://www.radio.cz/es/static/acerca-de-radio-praga/frecuencias (spanish) http://www.radio.cz/en/static/about-radio-prague/frequencies (english) They also heard about the extension on the radial issue of the day (heard at 0911 UT in Spanish). Cordialmente, (Tomás Méndez, QTH: El Prat de Llobregat-Barcelona España, Dec 30, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) IOW, no cutbacks yet (gh, DXLD) see EUROPE: pirate Bila Hora ** DIEGO GARCIA. 12759, 31/12 1346, AFRTS, Diego Garcia, in USB, reports, weak (heard again after a long time). 4319, 4/1 2353, AFRTS, Diego Garcia, talks in English, USB, fair with a narrow filter (1.8 kHz) to avoid RTTY above (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italia, RX: AOR AR7030, Drake R8, SDR-IQ - ANT: T2fd, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DJIBOUTI. 1431, Radio Sawa, Jan 2, 1839 - I've heard this one a number of times. This morning, it's cochannel with Ukrainian Radio 3rd program (Muz), with Ukraine mostly dominating at very good level! Music program on the latter with some call-ins as well (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, BC, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 1431, Radio Sawa, Arta, Jan 2, 1854 - When I rechecked at 1854, Sawa was there giving their Washington address and IDs at fair/good level. No sign of the Ukrainian transmitter at that minute (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, BC, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DJIBOUTI. 1539, Radio Djibouti, Jan 2 1933 - I'm quite sure that I can hear French under VOA from Kuwait and Arabic sounding music, so this should be RTV de Djibouti. Kuwait occasionally fades down, allowing for better reception of this cochannel (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, BC, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DX LISTENING DIGEST) You mean UAE 4780, RTV Djibouti, Dec 29 1727 - African (more high life than Horn of Africa style) at fair level. Brief talk at 1730, and right into more music (this time more Horn of Africa style). (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4780, RTV de Djibouti, Jan 3 at 1512 - Good reception except for CODAR QRM with very melodic Horn of Africa type music. Better than I've ever heard them before! (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., IRCA via WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DXLD) ** EAST TURKISTAN. 1422, CHINA, CRI, Jan 1, 1550 - Many mentions of CRI and Islamabad and Pakistan, so this must be Kashi, China's Urdu service at very good levels. PAL notes an English service 1400 to 1500, so I'll have to check that one out! Other weak cochannels noted. Did fade down (to be replaced by another Chinese station or possibly JORF with music, but then came back a minute or two later (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6190, CHINA, Xinjiang PBS, Urumqi, Dec 31, 0133 - No sign of Belgrade. Instead, a very powerful Xinjiang in Mongolian (listed), parallel to 4500 (also good/very good), which is a fraction of a second ahead of this frequency. A very unusual language; difficult to place! Lots of mentions of Urumqi. Another armchair copy! (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also CHINA [non] ** ECUADOR. RADIO ARUTAM, EL CELULAR SHUAR Los micrófonos de La Voz de Arutam [sic: no accent in this article] están a disposición de los shuar que desean saludar a sus parientes, reclamar atención de sus líderes y más. Radio La Voz de Arutam, que enfrenta un proceso de reversión de su frecuencia por parte del Conatel, es considerada por los shuar como su propia voz. Lleva el nombre de su dios y es la única forma de comunicación para la mayoría de las 500 comunidades asentadas sobre todo en la Cordillera del Cóndor, límite con Perú, adonde no llega ni la señal del celular. . . Fuente: http://www.eluniverso.com/2010/01/03/1/1355/radio-arutam-celular-shuar.html?p=1354&m=1835 (Via Yimber Gaviria, Colombia, DXLD) ** ECUADOR. CORREA OFRECE FRECUENCIA A INDÍGENAS SI SE CLAUSURA EMISORA EN LA AMAZONÍA --- EFE 02/01/2010 18:15 PM EFE. Quito. El presidente ecuatoriano, Rafael Correa, aseguró que entregará la frecuencia de radio a la etnia Shuar si las autoridades respectivas deciden la clausura de la emisora La Voz de Arútam, que cubre parte de la Amazonía del país y está acusada de incitar a la violencia durante unas protestas en septiembre pasado. . . Fuente: http://www.laverdad.com/detavance.php?CodAvance=35836 (Via Yimber Gaviria, Colombia, DXLD) ** ECUADOR. 3810-LSB, HD2IOA, Guayaquil. 1044-1101 January 2, 2010. Excellent with the usual male time announcement/single tone every 10 seconds. Big ID 1059:50 (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. 6050, no doubt HCJB the station in Spanish, Dec 30 at 1301, preaching about praying, and hetting always-off-frequency Asian on lo side, no doubt Malaysia. Terry Krueger, FL says HCJB was missing Dec 27, but we hear it back today. Surely this is via the replacement Pichincha site for some time now, but it would be nice to know exactly when the Pifo transmitter left the air (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6050, HCJB. 1101-1105 January 2, 2010. In presumed Quichua with female announcer, indigenous vocals, children's song. Excellent (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6050, HCJB, Pichincha, 0945-1000 03-01, locutor, quechua, comentarios. A las 1000 señales horarias. 24322 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, España, Escuchas realizadas en Friol, Sony ICF SW7600G, Antena de cable, 10 metros, orienta WSW, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR [non]. CALENDARIO 2010 DA RADIO HCJB A VOZ DOS ANDES [sic, no accents, original spellings, wrong cedillas, few caps, run-on sentences; I tire of fixing all this up --- gh] 11920 kHz, Recebi da emissora hcjb a voz dos andes uma correspondençia com uma carta muinto atenciosa e com dois postais muinto bonitos com os integrantes da radio hcjb voz global BRASIL e tambem um bonito calendario 2010 da emissora na frente do calendario os meses do ano e dias atras uma foto de toda a equipe da hcjb novos e antigos inclusive com os integrantes do serviço do equador da emissora. A radio hcjb não transmite mais do equador em portugues as audições ja a algum tempo acabaram hoje a hcjb BRASIL transmite de curitiba parana na frequençia de 11920 das 20:00 as 21:30 hora brasileira 22:00 as 23:30 utc. a hcjb é uma emissora crista evangelica de boa qualidade e sempre tratam muinto bem os ouvintes que mandam correspondençia são muinto carinhosos com os ouvintes e muinto antigos no mundo das ondas curtas O site da emissora é http://www.hcjb.com.br O e-mail é hcjb@... [truncated by yg] Quando os colegas escreverem e-mail para a radio hcjb peçam o calendario 2010 que eles mandam mais só mandam para quem pedem em poucos dias receberão o calendario e os postais e carta o meu levou 15 dias vale a pena o calendario é muinto bonito. 73 a todos e todas boas escutas bons dx (paulo michelon, porto alegre rs, Dec 29, radioescutas yg via DXLD) Prezados, ! Já originam há muito tempo programação em Curitiba, mas as emissões em 11920 transmitem do Chile = CVC, Calera de Tango, como já informamos muitas vezes. Também com espúrios em 11902, 11938 mais ou menos. Erros também no horário que é em TU: 2300-0045 = 2100-2245 Brasília verão. Acho que os integrantes da HCJB nem conheçam os datos mais importantes das suas emissões. 73, (Guilherme Glenn Hauser, ibid.) Prezado guilherme glenn hauser as informações de horarios que coloquei das transmissões da hcjb estão corretos pois a informação tirei dos foldens que recebi esta semana da emissora e pela confirmação da escuta que fiz coloquei pelo horario brasileiro e utc abraço grande boas escutas bons dx (paulo michelon, ibid.) Os folders que são impressos pelas emissoras são feitos em quantidade e muitas das vezes o esquema de transmissão incluindo horário e frequência são alterados, no entanto eles continuam a enviar os folders antigos com o esquema errado, geralmente eles são impressos com descrição da programação e essas permanecem. Esse deve ter sido o caso da HCJB, eles possuem em estoque folders que constam o esquema das transmissões antigos, mas continuam enviando para os ouvintes. O horário correto da transmissão da HCJB é de 2300-0045 UTC na frequência de 11920 kHz e como disse o Glenn ela continua a gerar sinais espúrios, aqui em Feira de Santana ela é ouvida em 11900 kHz, 11920 kHz e 11940 kHz, todas com quase a mesma intensidade. Nesse momento 0008 UTC eu a escuto com sinal 45444 na frequência de 11920 kHz, portanto acho que o colega não a ouviu no horário por você indicado. 73 (José Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana BA, ibid.) ** EGYPT. This is among the UT+2 countries, so I was checking Cairo just before 2200 UT Dec 31 for any signs of celebration. 6270, the English frequency, should have been in an ideal position, as the transmission is in progress rather than starting or ending at hourtop like so many stations, but at 2157 I could barely make out some modulation, sounded like Arabic music. Up to 6290, the Arabic service, which has plenty signal and modulation, but distorted, and nothing special happening; turned out I was tuned to GREECE [q.v.] at hourtop (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EGYPT. 7580, Radio Cairo, Dec 29, 2354 - Very good reception with Arabic male vocal. Rather good modulation for a change! At 0012 noted an Arabic language lesson, and yes, the modulation could be a bit better! (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EGYPT. ERTU launches a live stream of different networks on ertu.org --- Hello DXers, checking the wesite of ERTU http://www.ertu.org I noticed that there's a new window with live stream for the following networks (in the same order as on the site): 1- Holy Qur`an Radio (ID Idhaat al quraan alkareem min al qahira) 2- General Program (ID Idhaat albarnamaj al aam) 3- Middle east radio (ID Idhaat alsharq al awasat) 4- Voice of the Arabs (ID Idhaat sout al arab) 5- Youth and sports (ID Idhaat alshabab wal reayada) The quality is not really good but at least Egyptians living abroad can tune in to voices from home from time to time now. It's all in Arabic, but hopefully they will add more networks like the European local service which broadcasts in English, French, Italian, Greek and Armenian. All the best (Tarek Zeidan, Aalborg,Denmark, Jan 5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Tarek, I always enjoy the European local service during my visits to Egypt. But every time I'm wondering about the choice of languages... Is it something historical? Why are there Armenian and Greek? And even the choice of Italian isn't so obvious to me. There are no German and Russian broadcasts on the European service. That's really surprising from the perspective of a visitor to Sharm El Sheikh and Hurgada. Back in 1980s WRTH used to list a Russian broadcast on a local AM station in Cairo. But this one has disappeared a long time ago (Sergei S., ibid.) Hello Sergei, As you stated my friend, it's a historical thing; that network started in the 50's, back then we used to have a huge Armenian, Greek and Italian community. So that's why they have these programs till now. I'm not sure about the feedback, but they get phone calls from listeners when they have live shows which means there are some listeners over there. There is a German section - I forgot about that - but it's broadcasting like 3 hours if I ain't mistaken, usual stuff, I hear lots of phone calls from the students of the German school in Cairo :) The problem about Russian would be the feeb k [?] and having Egyptians who can be fluent in Russian, not to mention the budget, as I know from sources that they get very low salaries over there. Same applies for the overseas section as well :( The usual transmission for the European local service starts from 4:00, till 00:00 GMT. I guess they can't have a 24/7 service though they keep the transmitter running even when they ain't on air !!!!!!! So adding a new language is a bit difficult from my point of view, but you'll never know what will happen. Soon as I have some info about new FM networks to start broadcasting soon within 2010. All the best (Tarek Zeidan, Aalborg, Denmark, ibid.) Thanks, Tarek, for your explanations! I'm afraid the salaries at Egyptian radio are indeed very low. And perhaps the Egyptians fluent in Russian (such people do exist) can earn much more in other areas. - Like working for RT Arabic. The good thing is that the External Service still manages to put out one hour of Russian programming daily. I wish they would just run it on FM. The European channel also includes a one-hour relay of BBCWS at night (at 11 pm or midnight local time), right? 73! (Sergei S., ibid.) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. 15190, Radio Africa (Bata), 1808-1815, 1/1/2010, English. Religioius fundamentalist closing his broadcast with a request for donations. A minute of silence at 1809 followed by a few bars of music before the next preacher began his pitch at 1810. Good signal strength, but low audio on the second program (Jim Evans, Germantown, TN, RX-340, R8B, IC-R75, E1, ICF-SW7600G, Random Wires (90' and 200'), ALA100M, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA [and non]. 7165, ?Voice of the Broad Masses of Eritrea, Dec 30, 1510 - Fair reception, but with two transmitters noted. One's on 7164.977 and the other on 7165.267. Both are equal strength, but causing a loud het. Also ham QRM. The upper frequency seems to be the one carrying the VOBME programming. Nothing noted on 7175. Mostly talk. Possibly also jammed (?the lower frequency?). Tough to sort out. 7175, ERITREA, Voice of the Broad Masses of Eritrea, Dec 30, 1848 - 2nd program listed at good level with talk, in presumed Eritrean. News seemingly at 1858 re-check, with many mentions of Somalia. 7210, ERITREA, VOBME, Dec 30, 1908 - First program listed with Horn of Africa music (and similar to 7175), but suffering from moderate adjacent splatter. Fair level (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ESTONIA [and non]. 1035, Tartu Family Radio, Jan 3 0128. Conditions are down a bit from the last two days, but still quite respectable for my last evening in Masset. Religious music (I recognized the work 'sertse' which means 'heart'). Lots of Russian talk after 0130. Appears to be right on 1035.001 on the Perseus. Another slightly weaker carrier is on 1035.031 which might just be Pakistan according to the MW offset list. Another very weak carrier on 1035.028 as well. No idea who that would be. Fair bit of splatter from 1040 domestic. Generally fairly good. Interesting, the 1035.028 transmitter just went off the air at 0139. Ideas?? The fun just won't let up. Now the Asian station is dominating, and it's clearly from that part of the world. Could it be Iran, with Radio Payam in Yazda listed at 20/50 kW, or Jordan's Amman FM, or RTM Morocco, Rabat with 5 kW, or even Pakistan Broadcasting Corp. with 120 kW in Multan, Punjab. Wow! I've got the audio clip, but now it's back to Tartu at good level at 0143 (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., IRCA via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA. 6030, Radio Oromiya, 0407-0504 Dec 28, news by a man announcer in presumed Oromo language. Instrumental music at 0414 with another man talking over the music ending the news. ID followed by Horn of Africa vocals. Mix of talks and HoA music until ID at 0500 followed by a talk by another man announcer. Fair to good at tune in but beginning to fade around 0450. This is becoming a Sunday night / Monday morning regular after the Cuban jammer leaves the airwaves (Rich D'Angelo, PA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) 6030, Radio Oromiya, Jan 1, 0324 - Thanks to a tip from Ron Howard in California, I decided to check for this rarely heard station and sure enough at 0320 tune-in I was already hearing the repetitive xylophone- like instrument. This continued to 0329:30 when there was an announcement in possible French. I don't have access to my home resources, and am not sure whether I have the proper station ID and location. Please confirm or clarify! Very weak, but no sign of Martí or the jammer at my location! Nice ID and very decent reception at 0400. Whew, what a night!!! (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA. 7110, Radio Ethiopia, Dec 30, 1508 - Fair to good reception in presumed Amharic with rapid speaking male and short music bridges. 7110, Radio Ethiopia, Dec 30, 1840 - Another armchair copy this morning with very enjoyable Horn of Africa male vocalist (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, BC, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9704.25, R. Ethiopia Addis Ababa, 2043-2101*, Dec 29, listed Amharic. Continuous HoA music with brief announcer at 2055; s/off announcement at 2058 between techno-music bits; NA at s/off; poor-fair with occasional deep fades; // 7110-fair at best (Scott R. Barbour Jr. Intervale, N.H. USA, NRD-545, RX-350D, MLB1, 200' Beverages, 60m dipole, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9704.19, Radio Ethiopia, Geja Jawe. 0455-0505 January 3, 2010. Nice Ethiopian vocals, possible news in presumed Amharic at 0500. Clear and fair, with parallel 7110 modulating better (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA. 7165.20v. Heard the usual trio of Ethiopia / Eritrea stations on 41m band (7110.0 and 7175.0) at 1642, Dec 30, but this one clearly off frequency. Last heard on 7164.44v on the 28th (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. 7530, RUSSIA, presumed R. Xoriyo Ogadenia, Samara, 1725-1730*, Dec 25, listed Somali. Stumbled upon this while looking for Pakistan; HoA music; presumed s/off announcement, very weak, at 1730; fair (Scott R. Barbour Jr. Intervale, N.H. USA, NRD-545, RX- 350D, MLB1, 200' Beverages, 60m dipole, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) WRTH 2010 page 499 reminds us that this is clandestine for Ethiopia`s Somali-speaking region, not Somalia itself (gh, DXLD) ** EUROPE. Radio Bila Hora --- hi, at the moment you can hear RBH the Czech pirate station on 3334.4. All the best to you all and your families in 2010, 73 (Andree Bollin, Germany, 1536 UT Dec 31, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) R Bila Hora heard with Czech music, drifting around 3334.7v, quite weak here with utility QRM, at 1600 tune-in. Thanks to Andree for the tip. 73s (Dave Kenny, England, 1603 UT, ibid.) New 3333.79, 0000-0035, PIRATE, 01.01, UNID Czech (?) Pirate, Czech (presumed) late night show with much laughter, played "Yankee Doodle", a local song and pop music, ann e-mail address in English: RBH @ mail.cz as far as I could hear, instrumental hard rock music, slightly overmodulated; not a harmonic 45344 AP-DNK http://rbh.czechian.net/qsl.pdf http://rbh.czechian.net/ohlasy.htm (Anker Petersen, Denmark, on my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** FAROE ISLANDS. 531, Kringvarp Faroya, 0316 "What is Love". Nonstop music. Deep fades. Possibly Faith Hill at 0340. "Mambo #5" at 0347. According to sked, it`s supposed to be basically 24 nonstop music. Pretty much fits what we heard. (29 Dec) (Dave Valko, DX Session in Zion PA with Brett Saylor, and Don Moore hosting, Perseus and NRD- 535D, antennas of 780' at 45 , 900' at 90 , 300' at 120 , and 315' at 170 , Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** FRANCE. FRANCIA: RADIO FRANCIA INTERNACIONAL (RFI) EN HUELGA "POR TIEMPO INDEFINIDO" --- rfi.fr Los sindicatos de Radio Francia Internacional (RFI) convocaron a una nueva huelga "por tiempo indefinido" a partir de las 00H00 del jueves (23H00 GMT del miércoles) para que todos los aspirantes al retiro anticipado que impulsó la dirección puedan hacerlo efectivo. El jueves, el personal de RFI está convocado a una asamblea general para decidir si prolonga o no la huelga, indicó María Afonso, secretaria del Comité de Empresa (CE) de RFI. Después de haber luchado durante meses contra un plan social propuesto por la dirección de RFI y contra las condiciones de retiro anticipado que los responsables de la radio proponían, los sindicatos piden ahora que todos los candidatos puedan beneficiarse del retiro anticipado. La dirección había previsto la supresión de 201 puestos de trabajo, de un total de un millar. Pero unos 270 trabajadores de RFI --entre periodistas y técnicos-- presentaron su expediente de retiro anticipado, es decir más del número previsto por la dirección. El plan social anunciado por la dirección de RFI en enero de 2009 preveía inicialmente el recorte de 206 puestos de trabajo, pero luego fue reducido a 201. Los sindicatos piden que los 69 aspirantes suplementarios puedan irse de la radio y que la dirección contrate personal para "compensar" esas partidas. El plan social de RFI, contra el cual los trabajadores de la emisora cumplieron varias huelgas en 2009, prevé el cierre de sus redacciones en alemán, albanés, polaco, serbocroata, turco y laosiano. juc/gc/lmm. Fuente: http://usa.invertia.com/noticias/noticia.aspx?idNoticia=201001061733_AFP_173300-TX-FEL31&idtel= (Via Yimber Gaviria, Colombia, Jan 6, WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DXLD) I could not find anything about this on the English pages of the RFI website (gh, Jan 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn: I hadn't previously noticed this, but the "RFI Riposte" Web site highlights a December 22 Agence France Presse story (in French) which says four labor unions called for an unlimited strike against RFI beginning January 7. The unions object to plans by 270 employees to retire, when a reorganization plan would have fired 201. The labor organizations say 270 departures is too many to allow RFI to continue to function. The AFP story notes that radio broadcasts in German, Polish, Laotian and Albanian ended on December 19. Programs in Turkish, only available on the Internet, was scheduled to end on December 31. Programs in Serbo-Croat are being broadcast through an affiliate, the AFP report said. There are a number of reports today from various French news outlets confirming that the strike is still set to take place, with a meeting called Thursday morning among RFI staff and a meeting with France's Culture minister and RFI management taking place on Friday (Mike Cooper, GA, Jan 6, WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RFI unions call “indefinite” strike from 7 January Excerpt from report by French news agency AFP Paris, 6 January 2010: A call for an “indefinite” strike at Radio France Internationale (RFI) has been issued by the FO, SNJ, SNJ-CGT and SNRT-CGT trade unions, beginning at 0000 on Thursday [7 January - 2300 gmt on 6 January], calling for the management to agree to the departure of all volunteers for redundancy under the restructuring plan. A general assembly of the staff is scheduled for late Thursday morning to decide whether or not to extend the movement. It cannot be said in advance whether or not this will cause any disruption [to services] at the station. Around 270 members of staff at the state-owned station have volunteered for redundancy under the restructuring plan announced a year ago, which makes provision for only 201 job cuts out of around 1,000. The trade unions are demanding that the 69 “refused voluntary redundancy” be able to leave and for the management to recruit to “compensate for these additional departures”, it was explained by Maria Afonso, the (FO) secretary of the works committee. “The management has submitted a request to the regulatory authority (including the Ministry of Culture and Communication) to take care of the additional departures,” said Ms Afonso. A meeting with RFI Chairman and Managing Director Alain de Pouzilhac and General Manager Delegate Christine Ockrent is scheduled to take place at the Ministry of Culture on Friday, according to [Culture Minister] Frederic Mitterrand’s agenda. [Passage omitted: background] The restructuring plan announced in January 2009 made provision for 206 job cuts, but as five posts had already been left vacant, the figure was set at 201. The closure of six language desks (German, Albanian, Polish, Serbo- Croat, Turkish and Laotian) was also announced. (Source: AFP news agency, Paris, in French 1621 gmt 6 Jan 10 via BBC Monitoring) (January 6th, 2010 - 20:54 UTC by Andy Sennitt. via Media Network blog via DXLD) AFP reports today that the indefinite strike at RFI has been postponed for 24 hours, after only 2 percent of employees participated. RFI said 97 percent of its programs would air despite the strike (Mike Cooper, Jan 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GABON. 9580, Africa Número Un, Dec 31 at 2223 in French with phone calls, during their final hour of 2009, and hoped for some NY celebrations by 2300 UT, but at 2254 it was off or outfaded (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. As a reminder: The era of Frankfurt on mediumwave will end tonight. The last block of foreign language broadcasts just ended at 2130 UT, and in all likelihood the two transmitters on 594 kHz will be switched off at local midnight, i.e. 2300 UT. The foreign language block also included Russian and Polish broadcasts from Berlin, probably (i.e. if I do not overlook something) the last ones from RBB studios that went out on mediumwave, four years after RBB shut down its own AM transmitter. Hessischer Rundfunk not only abandons mediumwave but also stops the cooperation with Westdeutscher Rundfunk on the foreign language field (RBB only provides studio capacity anymore since their Radio Multikulti closed down a year ago). WDR plans to itself produce broadcasts in Greek and Spanish, until today provided by HR. In order to free up some money for this the broadcasts in Turkish will be abridged, a plan that triggered a controversial and in parts just nonsensical debate (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Dec 31, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Thanks for a tip, Kai! Just a few days ago I got an "assignment" from a Moscow DXer to check a Russian relay on 594 kHz. Well, I guess I was too late. Listened to 594 here, in SW Germany today, 20 minutes before a local midnight. Pretty good signal. And then 20 min. afterward, no German anymore. Do I hear some weaker French station? Sorry I had to leave my SONY radio behind due to Lufthansa luggage limitations. For a few days I'm stuck with some digital radio from Tchibo. It has limited SW plus MW, LW and FM. But selectivity is pretty bad. Happy New Year, everyone! I still can't believe all the noise and smoke in this German village due to fireworks we experienced after the midnight. I bet Chicago police would arrest a half of the population here ;) (Sergei S., ibid.) Yesterday would have been your last chance, indeed. Of course this concerns only the (time-shifted by an hour) rebroadcast on 594 kHz. The programme itself still exists: http://www.funkhauseuropa.de/sendungen/programma_na_russkom_jasyke/index.phtml As mentioned there it is broadcast Mon-Fri 1930-2000 UT, and of course a live stream is available. This Russian programme is, like Polish which follows at 2000, produced in the Berlin studios of Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg, as a last remnant of RBB's Radio Multikulti that has been shut down a year ago. Here is WDR's announcement of the new weekly programmes in Spanish and Greek that will substitute for the now cancelled HR productions: http://www.funkhauseuropa.de/sendungen/funkhaus_europa/2010/neue_sendungen.phtml And an example for the criticism on the planned airtime reductions for Turkish (I pick out one that qualifies as objective): http://www.tgd.de/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=998&theme=Printer Concerning the closure of 594 kHz: It appears that the Hoher Meißner synchro transmitter left the air a few seconds before local midnight. The main transmitter at Rodgau-Weiskirchen (near Frankfurt) stayed on air for another five minutes of last news, then the carrier had been killed at 23:05:33 UT during the opening announcement of ARD- Nachtkonzert. I suspect this has been done by engineers on-site, not by timer or remote control. This relay of ARD-Nachtkonzert replaces as of today the former overnight relay of MDR Info. It's absolutely crazy: Now the all-news station relays overnight the same programme of classical music than hr2. And to my knowledge this saves not even money. No idea why they did this (there are even conspiracy theories), the announcement of the "changed overnight programming" does not mention any reasons: http://www.hr-online.de/website/radio/hr-info/index.jsp?rubrik=20772&key=standard_document_38515355 Now 594 kHz is here in Germany dominated by Bulgaria and the BBC relay in the Ukraine. In the case of Bulgaria it is ironical that this is a transmission site which looks like a clone of GDR sites, simply because in fact it is one. Only the original Funkwerk Köpenick transmitter has at some point (1995 acc. to this source; the old one was a 250 kW, too) been replaced by a Russian rig: http://www.predavatel.com/bg/8/pleven.htm#rrts > I still can't believe all the noise and smoke in this German > village due to fireworks we experienced after the midnight. > I bet Chicago police would arrest a half of the population here ;) I learned only a year ago that this excessive use of pyrotechnic is completely unknown in the USA. Have you also noted the next morning all the case shreds and brown ashes, making an awful slop with wet snow? Letter boxes that got blown up? I just saw a newspaper from yesterday: Some organization in all earnest recommended ear protection for persons using or watching so- called Kanonenschläge, because they can produce a sound pressure of 180 decibels. Haha, if they are so dangerous (and I think they certainly are), then why get such bombs a type approval in the first place? (Kai Ludwig, Germany, ibid.) 593 / 594 kHz. After the news and followed by announcement of night concert relay at 00.05:33 CET on Jan 1st, 2010 Hessische Rundfunk Frankfurt's mediumwave stations at Weiskirchen and Hoher Meissner switched off for ever. So a mixture of Bulgarian, Moroccan and Portuguese programs remain on our ears here in southern Germany. Personally heard this program often in past 58 years. History. Radio Frankfurt started after WW II on Aug 23, 1947 at Heiligenstock site [by Reichspost in 1935y] via movable mediumwave "Martha" transmitter, which carried on 14 trucks and was one of numerous movable transmitter units by former "Reichspost" and used by special technical forces from places all over Europe, like Soldatensender Belgrade, in Sowjetunion, Netherlands, Norway and Karelia Finland. Four towers at 121 m height. Was screened towards 16 and 121 degrees at Sundvall-SWE and Pleven-BUL. [nulls as we put it --- gh] Address was Friedberger Landstrasse 525, Frankfurt/Main suburb at 50 09'16.59"N 08 42'56.62"E http://maps.google.de/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=de&geocode=&q=Friedberger+Landstrasse+525,+Frankfurt&sll=51.151786,10.415039&sspn=20.808164,57.084961&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Friedberger+Landstra%C3%9Fe+525,+Seckbach+60389+Frankfurt+am+Main,+Hessen&t=h&z=16 Replaced on Oct 16, 1967 to new Weiskirchen site. Maximal 950 kW ERP, screened towards Sundvall-SWE and Sofia-BUL at 50 03'21.82"N 08 51'45.42"E http://maps.google.de/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=de&geocode=&q=50%C2%B003%2721.82%22N++08%C2%B051%2745.42%22E&sll=51.151786,10.415039&sspn=0.010135,0.027874&ie=UTF8&ll=50.056061,8.862617&spn=0.005187,0.013937&t=h&z=17 To cover Northern Hesse due to the screening towards Sweden, Hessischer Rundfunk erected a smaller relay station at Hoher Meissner (Hausen Lichtenau) on June 1, 1952. Started with 20 kW, was increased later to 100 and then maximal 250 kW of power during cold war time. Two towers of 110 and 160 m height. Signals were also screened at 17 and 127 degrees. This caused a heavy buzz on daytime, because exact sychronization between the two MW locations was not very sufficient these days in 1952, 1953 ... The station was also well heard up to 300 kilometers into communist GDR (Soviet Occupied Zone of Germany) area. Location at 51 12'29.60"N 09 50'48.82"E http://maps.google.de/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=de&geocode=&q=51%C2%B012%2729.60%22N++09%C2%B050%2748.82%22E&sll=51.151786,10.415039&sspn=20.808164,57.084961&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=51.208281,9.845853&spn=0.005061,0.013937&z=17 (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 1, 2010, mwdx yg via DXLD) ** GERMANY [and non]. 1269, DLF, Jan 1, 1658 - 300 kW from Neumünster puts out quite well, with German talk. One of my first Europeans in our local morning. I'm not surprised after the fun from last night. Simply put, the most amazing propagation I've ever experienced! What a way to celebrate the new year! At 1700 on came 'This is Moscow' and into VORWS in English. This is a relay from Yunnan, China. Excellent level (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. 6190, SW Berlin Britz transmission lost audio feed, only carrier noted at 1100-1200 UT, though usual DLF winter signal of steep angle antenna S=9+20dB some 750 kilometers away in southern Germany. Old RIAS/VOA unit of 1951year with 17 kW of power, - to enthuse about this "ripe performance" (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 2, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [non]. Deutsche Welle should be a good source for Jahrwechsel programming, but I was trying to hear it on 6075, Dec 31 at 2259 when the signal was poor; could only make out a DW jingle and NY greeting at 2300. Instead of 6075 which is Sines, PORTUGAL at 40 degrees, as uplooked later, I should have tried other relays on 11865, 12025 or 15640, altho higher-frequency propagation from eastward was not very good either (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. Deutsche Welle left 19.2 deg. East --- As announced Deutsche Welle has taken its TV service off Astra 1L and also removed the "DW 1" and "DW 4" radio channels from the ARD program bouquet. Here the former DW channels now carry a bilingual, rather smeary (at least the German part) announcement that mentions the remaining Hotbird 8 signal and, no surprise of course, otherwise redirects listeners to DW's online offerings (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Jan 2, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also INTERNATIONAL VACUUM: Iran jams ** GERMANY [non]. Frequency change of Deutsche Welle in German from Jan. 1: 0800-1000 NF 9785 BON 250 kW / 230 deg to AUS/NZ, ex 9885* *to avoid Voice of Islamic Republic of Iran in Arabic from 0830 (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Jan 4 via DXLD) ** GREECE. Another UT+2 country which ought to mark the yearchange at 2200 Dec 31: separate programming on 7475 and 7450, the lower one stronger but always with ute het. Music on 7475 seemed to keep going, so shifted to Macedonian station on 7450 at 2200 and was hearing a countdown in Greek, but it was about 10 seconds late! Then applause. At 2224, 7475 V. of Greece was taking some phone calls while 7450 was in music (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) There has been no signal from Avlis 3 (9420) for the last 3 days. Is there something wrong with the transmitter? John Babbis, Silver Spring MD, to Babis Charalampopoulos, ERT, Jan 1, via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 3rd TX at Avlis out of order today? 15630, Seldom heard so powerful in 19 mb, VoGreece in Greek at 0805 UT Jan 2. \\ 9420 kHz. B u t 12105 kHz channel is off today 0600-1000 UT. From 1100 UT, 9420 kHz is OFF today. Only ERA-5 VoGRC 15650 kHz and ERT-3 Thessaloniki regional relay on 9935 kHz on air. 1100-1650 UT (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. 9420, no signal from ERA, Avlis, Jan 2 at 1520 check, tho there was a poor signal on 15650. Constant VOG monitor John Babbis in Maryland says 9420 has been missing since Dec 28 when he checks every evening. One of the transmitters is definitely down. Wolfgang Büschel, however, says 9420 was on and 12105 missing until 1000 Jan 2, then 9420 missing from 1100 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, I was also wondering what happened to the VOG on certain fqs, particularly 9420. It vanished the other day in the middle of a broadcast, not to return since. 12105 is not heard for days, and even 7475 evenings has been absent. 15650 & 15630 have not been constant either. About half an hour ago, 15630 was hardly audible. Acc. to the WRTH, the Avlida site houses no less than 5 x 250 kW txs plus 1 x 100 kW tx, clearly "too much" for what the VOG uses nowadays. Does anyone know any further details on their HF operations? (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, 1954 UT Jan 2, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn and Carlos, At this time, 2004 UT, I hear the Voice of Greece with good signal. I have heard daily on 7475 kHz. 7475 02/Jan 2006 GREECE, Voice of Greece, in Greek, from Avlis, with 250 kW. At 2007 UT has just finished a news program and start a program of Greek music by OM. 44444 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana BA, Brasil, Degen 1103, Dipole antenna, 19 meters - east / west, ibid.) Caro Jorge Freitas: Sim, tem razão. Após ter colocado aqui a minha mensagem, verifiquei os 7475, e abriu emissão às 2000. Agora, 2236, o sinal é bastante bom, mas não admira! Quanto aos tais 5 txs, dá que pensar o que a Voz da Grécia faz - antes, poderia fazer! - com eles, tendo em vista a magra grelha de programas. Poderíamos estabelecer um paralelismo com o centro de txs da R.Brás, lá no Parque do Rodeador, junto a Brasília. Ou seja, é pena que não os utilize para emissões ultramarinas. Melhores 73 (Carlos Gonçalves, ibid.) And now at 2000-2300 UT segment - 9420 kHz is missing again, only ERA- 5 at 7475 and ERT-3 on 7450 kHz heard at 2030 UT, Jan 2nd. WRTH is wrong on this matter. Who is the editor of Greece part? They use three TX units only in past decade. Also HFCC registration entries of VoGRC on many SW channels are wooden and far of reality. So, one of three txs is out of service at present, and two remaining units work on a emergency schedule. As always in past years when similar broke down appeared at Avlis. Except ERT-3 Radiophonikos Stathmos Makedonias (Thessaloniki) program which has always priority Wb (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) ``I think that the Greeks have a bunch of VOA-Portugal 250-kw. transmitters sitting around either at Avlis or Kavala, plus the ones at Kavala when they shut down that facility. As Glenn Hauser calls it "wooden" frequencies, perhaps being held if needed, of which there are two chances, slim and none. John Babbis`` Re: Greek SW txs; as you say, there may be more which are not actively used. So Wolfy, maybe your expression: "WRTH is wrong on this matter. Who is the editor of Greece part?" was a bit strong? The transmitter listing is different from actual usage: the whole transmitter potential with nominal powers are listed and the actual situation has less transmitters and run on lower powers (of which details are very hard to get, especially about final dismantling). But I am sure Sean Gilbert welcomes all corrections to international section (copy of this message to him) and John has helped a lot with the actual VOG frequency schedule. I think it has been fairly reliable in the latest editions. 73, (Mauno Ritola, ibid.) Satire: In Munich Ismaning BR museum also some 3 x 35 kW Collins of VoA 1949year and some Tesla Prague(CSF/CFT/CFR Paris licence) Nazi Reichspost txs of 70 kW manufactured and used on rhombics since 1943[from 1945 by VOA] til feeder service in Rhodes, Monrovia and old-Tangiers ceased resp. in 1990, -- are still visible on the storage ... Okay, somewhere in Greece there are more txs of IBB(VOA/RFE/RL) as a gift to the Greek Govt in mothballs, which should arrive at Avlis in 1996 from Gloria Lisbon, Portugal. And documented on http://www.tdp.info/grc.html since past 14[!] years now. But only a single 250 kW tx unit is connected and ready in service yet, with max. 170 kW only, supposedly due of limitation on either main power, antenna matrix, feeder lines or antenna dipole feed. In 1996 year "to get an earful of these txs" discussed amongst DX magazines already. Each time in the past decade (rather since the Collins 35 kW units in Thessaloniki dismantled) when Avlis was short of tx units due of various failures, the station was o n l y on air with t w o TXs. The only exact information about Voice of Greece we've got in various ways in past two years was via John in the US, who has close ties with some staff in Greece. Thank you John. Wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Jan 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) NOTES CONCERNING AVLIS TRANSMITTERS Dear Kai: From what I can determine, there are 2 Marconi 100 kw. and 1 Continental 250 kw. transmitters at Avlis being used for ERA 5 (VOG) and ERT 3 (Thessaloniki) programming and 4 Continental 250 kW transmitters from Portugal which are exposed to the elements in containers (possibly being used for parts). The 4 35 kw. transmitters in Thessaloniki are probably stored in containers. The 2 Continental 250 kw. transmitters from Portugal are probably stored in containers at Kavala. At least, that is the way it looks to me (Open attached file to see B-07 Frequency and Azimuth Chart.) (John Babbis, ibid.) GREECE: Avlis = 2 x 100 and 1 x 250 kW. This "potential" cannot be listed for Thessaloniki programming separately, because all three transmitters are in use for Voice of Greece outside the 1100-2300 period. All other listed transmitters are ghosts or must rot away in whatever storage area, they are certainly not connected to anything and setting them up should be impossible since no suitable antennas exist. Best regards, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, ibid.) Dear all: I looked into my files and came up with the following items about The Voice of Greece. I had been in communication with Demetri Vafeas in the late 1980s when he was their Frequency Manager. He had an excellent knowledge of the English language as did his successor Dionisios Angelogiannis. In the early 2000s, Babis Charalampopoulos followed with very limited knowledge of the English language. Below are excerpts of e-mails that he has sent me: "Dear Mr. John Babbis: My name is Babis Charalampopoulos and for the last two years my subject is SW frequency scheduling of the ERA 5 radio programs. Up to now Mr. Dionisios Angelogiannis was working on the same subject with me but now he has different duties and I am the only one left to deal with the SW frequencies. All the reception reports you keep sending reach me every month and I find them very interesting and valuable for my subject. Thanking you once again for your valuable help and cooperation. I remain. Sincerely yours Charalambos Charalampopoulos" In an e-mail dated February 27, 2004 -- "Dear John: In Avlis is 2 transmitters 100 KW and 1 250 KW where it works 70 kw. Babis" In an e-mail dated December 10, 2004 -- "Dear friend John Good morning: I received your e-mails and thank you for the report. Firstly Mr Vafeas he is here and he is working in the department for new technology. Secondly the program is cooperation with me for any problem with frequencies, propagation etc. is the connection with listeners and me." Sincerely yours Babis" In an e-mail dated December 22, 2004 -- "In passed photograph look at some containers includes 3 HF transmitters 250 kw! They are in Avlis area above 6 years exposed in the sun, rain, snow, etc., what do you say! It is related to studio 3? (figuratively)." [ERA3 = Makedonias] In an e-mail dated December 9, 2005 (transliterated in part) -- "Dear John: Upgrading is on air in Avlis 3 transmitter, includes power increase 200 KW and super modulation upgrade. The transmitter function is on 9420 MHz, 323 deg. This is the news from here, I hope the (UPGRADING) and the (TRANSMITTER) 2 for 15630 MHZ & 7475 MHZ not in (POWER) but (MODULATION). Babis" I sent the below web sites to Babis Charalampopoulos a few years ago and he agreed that these are the types of transmitters presently being used by The Voice of Greece. Click the below to see. http://www.transmitter.be/mar-b6123.html http://www.transmitter.be/con-419f2.html Regards, (John Babbis, Maryland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Thank you John for the info. So the 'incorrect' 4 x 250 kW mentioned in the WRTH should not be counted to the 'potential', because they will only be used as spare parts, but I could easily imagine that it wasn't the only possibility for the transmitters from the beginning and there could have been other alternatives, so they remained in the count for too long. Generally speaking, I don't really see the transmitter count per site a matter of being totally correct or totally incorrect. I don't think any part can get 100 % reliable and current information from each SW transmitter site in the world, whether the txs not used actively are maintained properly, possibly to be used later on or to be sold or the decision has just been done that they will be used as spare parts or are simply scrapped. And what is the difference from the point of actual broadcasting operation if a transmitter is run once a year just to see if it works or it is used as spare parts? Both are outside the operation. It would be good if the transmitter operators would send updates to WRTH, but as far as I know they very seldom do that. Does anyone know if tdp.info is updated at all any more? 73, (Mauno Ritola, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ERT-3 Thessaloniki relay 7450 kHz, and ERA-5 VoGRC Avlis 7475 kHz both heard well around 1950 UT Sun Jan 3rd. Nothing on 9420 kHz channel though ... 7450 kHz at 323 degrees is far stronger at S=9+20dB level, 7475 kHz at 285 degree antenna towards Madrid, Lisbon, Azores and Greek fishering and merchant fleet on Atlantic Ocean and behind on peaks at S=9+5dB level. (Wolfgang Büschel, Jan 3, ibid.) 7475, Jan 6 at 0623, Greek Orthodox chanting, not on Sunday, but it`s Xmas v. 2, Epiphany (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. 9935, 3/1 1430, ERT3 Makedonias, Greece, songs, in Greek, 9+30 super strong! (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italia, AOR AR7030, Drake R8, SDR-IQ - T2FD, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dear Babis: I have received no signal on Avlis 3, 9420 kHz. since December 28, 2009 at 2300 UT. Is your transmitter down or is there something wrong with my receiver on 9420 kHz? Thanks, (John Babbis, Jan 5 to Babis Charalampopoulos, ERA, via DXLD) ** GREENLAND. 3815-USB, KNR, Tasiilaq. Finally caught this one, but only for a short time. "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem" at 2211-2213. Then deadair, fade, or off at 2214. Weak of course but no doubt about it. Surprised and very pleased to hear it. (24 Dec) (Dave Valko, Microtelecom Perseus SDR with ARR preamp, 315' Beverage (BOG) at 50 , Pennsylvania State Game Lands #26, Cumbre DX via DXLD) And with a different antenna as below: 3815-USB, KNR, 2111 found weakly with talk by W with roomy audio. Awful ham QRM from net above on 3818. Brief dead air at 2114 then M took over. W then returned around 2116. 2117:50 clear briefly with W. Language definitely sounded like an Inuit language. W and M still going across the BoH. 2132:30 finally instrumental music bridge, then talk by different M briefly (ID anmnt??). Thought it went off after this, but I did hear W and what sounded like the same M alternating at 2203, so the audio must have just been extremely weak. 2206:55 W clear for 10 seconds as hams let up. Hams finally went off and got romantic ballad starting at 2210!! Some audio breakup during song at 2211 then a little deadair before music came back. More breakups. Guess it went off in mid-song at 2214. Weak signal but steady with no QSB. (31 Dec) (Dave Valko, Microtelecom Perseus SDR with ARR preamp, 630' Beverage (BOG) at 50 , Pennsylvania State Game Lands #26, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** GUAM. 11590, KTWR in Mandarin Chinese, carry a very bad BUZZ audio, like satellite dish feed alignment failure. 1125 UT Dec 2 at signal level S=9+10dB. Registered at 1015-1100 UT (wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 2, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9975, at 1423 Jan 4, amid the crap from SAIPAN [q.v.] 9990, heard preacher in English, but already to outro by announcer giving contact info including a twr.in address, P O Box and even phone number. 1424 signing off with frequency 9975 given, from ``life-changing radio, KTWR, Agaña, Guam`` and off at 1425* Aoki shows KTWR B-09 on 9975 as 285 degrees in English at 1400-1420 on Mondays and Thursdays, 1400-1440 other days. The frequency is on daily from 1130 to 1400 at 308 or 315 degrees in a mixture of Mandarin, Cantonese and Nosu Yi (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUIANA FRENCH. 21690, RFI via Montsinéry the best 13 metre signal 1829 on 26 December with theme music, ident & news in French. Fair level with surging fades (Bryan Clark, Mangawhai, Northland, New Zealand, AOR7030+ and EWEs to the Americas, 36.11.70 S, 174.56.70 E, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUINEA. 7125, Radio Guinée, 2335-0049*, Dec 31-Jan 1, on late for New Year celebration with French talk. Short breaks of Afro-pop music. Abrupt sign off. Fair (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) 7125, RTV Guniéene, 2253-2330 Jan 2. Presumed with nice West African music, M in French, mentions of Guinée. Off without fanfare at 2330. Good signal (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge, Colorado, Drake R-8, 100-foot RW, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) 7125, Radio Guinea, Conakry, 1201-1210, 03-01, canciones africanas. 23322 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, España, Escuchas realizadas en Friol, Sony ICF SW7600G, Antena de cable, 10 metros, orienta WSW, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HAWAII. 10320, USA (HAWAII), AFN, Dec 29 1810 - No signs of them either last night nor today. Hopefully not gone for good? (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HONDURAS. 3250.04, R. Luz y Vida, 1212-1230 Dec 30. Man with Spanish religious talk; deteriorating by 1230. QRM from co-channel Korea, which eventually dominated after Luz y Vida faded away (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge, Colorado, Drake R-8, 100-foot RW, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) and then: [and non]. 3250, Dec 30 at 1255 in Spanish giving phone numbers, then Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo wishes from businesses, no doubt R. Luz y Vida; and with fast SAH of some 15 Hz, no doubt P`yongyang, which was also audible on 2850, 3320 plus the higher jammers; see KOREA NORTH (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HONDURAS. While going through documents, I see that I have a PDF document from Conatel (Honduras license authority) dated October 17, 2009. The document is two pages and in Spanish and is their OFFICIAL announcement that they will be transitioning to DTV (no date set yet and no stations licensed yet to broadcast digital). They readily say they have adopted the ATSC standard. While its been known for sometime that the Central American countries would follow suit with the United States when transitioning to DTV, this is the first OFFICIAL document I have seen in this regard for Honduras and the future of their terrestrial TV (Jim Thomas, wdx0fbu, Milliken, Colorado, WTFDA via DXLD) ** INDIA. 648, AIR, West Indore, Jan 2, 1719 - I'm very pleased with this one, which I stumbled upon by accident. There was Indian music in the background. Suffers from domestic splatter. But I was able to 100% ID it to the // on 4760! They were running the same feed and also // to 684. My head is spinning! Listed as 200 kW. 4760 went off the air at 1730, but 9425 appeared to still be in //. Wow! 4810, AIR Bhopal, Dec 29 1733 - Fair level with English news by YL. Off when rechecked at 1743. 5015, AIR Delhi, Dec 30, 1830 - I'm suspecting that this was the buzzy transmitter that was here with an OC until off at 1830. Less likely Turkmen Radio. Strong reception (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. Re: Special Xmas broadcasts --- NE Stations are actually floating in yuletide spirit this season. Even that infamous hum which AIR Shillong (4970) dutifully puts out, was a little subdued when I checked on Tuesday during listeners call in programme. Merry Xmas and Seasons Greetings! (Ashok Satpathy, 0735 UT Dec 30, dx_india yg via DXLD) ** INDIA. 60m had lots of intriguing grayline signals, Jan 1 at 1335 but most of them were quite weak. These fit for All India Radio: 4800 Hyderabad, 4820 Kolkata, 4840 Mumbai, 4850, 4920. The last, probably Chennai, had S Asian music, tho Lhasa is also on frequency. 4850 was open carrier at the moment (or very low mod); would like to think it was AIR Kohima, altho the steady signal makes me doubt it. 4800 had something SAHing underneath fifth harmonic of my local KGWA-960. See also TAJIKISTAN. Walt Salmaniw, from his Masset BC DXpediton was also hearing a ``big open carrier`` on 4850 around 1735 Dec 29 and 30. One idea: possibly the Alaska DRM transmitter in non-DRM mode, which was active a couple months ago centered on 4845?? Or some utility since after all this is a fixed band in NAm (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) And Ron: ** INDIA. 4820.78v, AIR Kolkata, 1522-1531, Dec 30. Another day off frequency! Not parallel to Delhi programming; poor-fair. Also here at 1634 with fair reception. Kolkata is now randomly off frequency from their normal 4820.0. 4850, on several days have heard an open carrier here. Dec 30 from about 1310 till last check at 1530. Seems about the correct strength to be from AIR Kohima, but why no audio? [see UNIDENTIFIED] 4970, AIR Shillong, 1609-1630*, Dec 30. Non-stop songs by the Carpenters; English sign off announcement with local ID; “North Eastern Service of All India Radio broadcasting from Shillong” “The time now on the studio clock is a few seconds past 10 PM and with it we come to the end of the evening transmission. We will be back with you at 6”; then suddenly off; fair; did not notice their usual strong hum today (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. Glenn - AIR [GOS via] Bangalore, 6180 is very, very strong (44344) here at 1830 in southern New England with an interview with a Captain Singh, India's first female jet pilot. Much better on 49m than previous 25 mb frequencies - Best, (Jim Garman, Newport RI USA, Jan 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA [and non]. 7270, AIR Chennai, Tone at 1253, then IS start at 1258, M in apparent Sinhala weakly with ID and presumed news to 1302. Beautiful Indian vocal music. Nice signal with some ham QRM. (3 Jan) 7340, AIR Mumbai, Dead air from 1224, then IS suddenly on at 1228 wavering in speed for a few seconds, so must be on tape!! W weakly apparently in Sindhi from 1230 to 1231, then into vocal by W. Although the audio was still there at 1247, it was almost inaudible allowing WYFR Irkutsk to come through easily. Signal was no weaker however. Later at 1310, obviously still there as Indian vocal music was mixing. (3 Jan) Viz.: RUSSIA, 7340, WYFR Irkutsk relay. Usual IS at 1259, 1300 W in Chinese language for a minute then IS once, and into religious filler music. Weak but readable. (3 Jan) (Dave Valko, Microtelecom Perseus SDR with ARR preamp, 630' Beverage (BOG) at 50 , Pennsylvania State Game Lands #26, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** INDIA. AIR National Channel, 9425, fair Jan 3 at 1430 with news in English by well-understood YL, including at 1432 fog disrupting train service around New Delhi, and along with cold weather blamed for dozens of deaths. 1435 after brief Hindi announcement, into talk by OM, and I had trouble deciding whether it was English with a heavy Hindi lilt, or really Hindi. // 9470 if on was not audible between stronger 9465 and 9475 signals. 9870, AIR VBS, Sunday Jan 3 at 1442 with enthusiastic drama, including music produxion, and also hum which normally is not heard on this frequency. Was the hum on the program recording only? 1445 Vividh Bharati ID, sirens, SFX, music; 1451 ads in Hindi, first one for ``Super Het`` ! Is that a radio receiver brand? If not, what else could it be? 9425, at 1432 Jan 4, AIR news in English, including bitter cold in north India, regions of Kashmir cut off, icy winds at New Delhi, poor visibility at airport, temp in Leh -13.6 C [= +7.5 F but we are predicted to subpass that this week in Enid], dense fog in U.P. causes bus services to be canceled. 1435 ID as National Channel with MW frequencies plus 9425, 9470, and into another English program starting with a few minutes of distorted music. S9+18 signal on 9425, with flutter, but JBA on 9470. 1441 into talk on historic monuments but just barely modulated for first semi- minute, then they turned it up! Geez, what amateurs in the studio. Something about 1618 AD = 1048 in another calendar, this speaker easier to understand, but her pauses were truncated unnaturally, in over-editing or less likely some digital playback problem. Mentioning The Red Fort, mixing Persian, Indian and English art forms (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. Jan 5 I did not get down to scan 90 meters until 1442, after finding not much on 60 or 75m, so surprised to hear some weak talk on 3325, fading, ute QRM on lo side, amounts to only broadcast station on band, CHU also outfaded. But on 3325 we are faced with the usual quandary whether it`s R. Buka, Kieta, Bougainville, PNG, or RRI Palangkaraya, Kalimantan, Indonesia. Going strictly by schedule in Aoki, PNG is off after 1300 while RRI is on until 1615. WRTH leans even heavier toward the latter with the same sign-off shown, and not attempting to show individual Kundu Network station schedules, just 0800-1200v for them all. A US MW harmonic or mixing product is outruled since it ends in -5. Atsunori Ishida, http://www.max.hi-ho.ne.jp/a-ishida/ins/ says RRI runs until 1610v* daily, often with poor modulation, and with Buka QRM but doesn`t say when that ends. John Wilkins, CO, was also hearing 3325 past 1500 Jan 5, says it was in Indonesian, Palangkaraya. Based on all this I am not filing this as unidentified as first intended, but as INDONESIA presumed (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz: 3325, RRI Palangkaraya, 1420-1500+ Jan 5. Indo talk to BoH, then program of indigenous music and chanting, occasional man announcer in language. Fair in the band noise; still there weakly at 1500 with the same program continuing past ToH to 1502 tuneout (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge, Colorado, Drake R-8, 100-foot RW, Cumbredx mailing list via WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 7289.804, RRI-Nabire, 0810. Nice local vocals with Indonesian woman announcer. Plug pulled at 0825. Very irregular. Last log here was 12 December. Thanks Clark tip. 30 December (David Sharp, NSW Australia, FT-950, NRD-535D, ICF-2010 etc., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. Third day in a row with no sign of a signal from VOI on 9526v, Dec 30 at various chex between 1300 and 1500. VOI apparently back on the air Dec 31 at 1411, as very weak carrier detectable on 9526.0, and could not make out any modulation. 9526, VOI carrier but little modulation detectable, Jan 1 at 1355. But no carrier at all detectable Jan 2 at 1444. However, RRI Jakarta, 9680 had good signal Jan 2 at 1447 with drama, singing, cut off rudely and abruptly at 1457* (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9525.974v, 3/1 1953-1958, Voice of Indonesia, finally again with "free signal" without QRM on 9525 at 1953. Pop songs, web address in English, fair to good, fading S6 to S9. But at 1958 China R. Int. in Russian on 9525 starts with extra strong signal (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italia, AOR AR7030, Drake R8, SDR-IQ - T2FD, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also SWAZILAND VOI still missing from 9526v, not a trace Jan 4 at 1415 but RRI 9680 was poorly audible. VOI still missing from 9526v, Jan 5 at 1415, and presumably also during the previous hour in English when another Tuesday excursion to Banjarmasin might have happened. No, Atsunori Ishida http://www.max.hi-ho.ne.jp/a-ishida/ins/ reports that 9526v was on the air in English at 1300 Jan 3 and 5 but went off the air at 1408 and 1405 respectively. However, at 1609 there was a 9526/9525 het, one of them with music, so suspect it was back on at that hour. I wondered if earlier, VOI had switched to 11786v as it has unpredictably in the past; too much QRM there now to tell. 9680, RRI at 1446 rated S9+15 on the meter, but Indonesian talk was at quite low modulation, so this transmitter has problems too. Usually it is sufficient. I resolved to listen to VOI online for the Exotic Indonesia show, via http://www.voi.co.id which switches automatically to http://en.voi.co.id/ --- This was just as frustrating. Live streaming embedded player just sits there when you hit play. Below it is a header ``VOI AV ON DEMAND`` but cold and nothing to go with it. Various other linx on the page are dead. There is a link to ``VISIT INDONESIA 2009``, so apparently time travel is possible with Indonesia! Was it a better place to visit last year? Time will tell. At least if you do that, you know which tourist places to avoid, terrorist attacks already dated on the historical record. I see that ``Dignity`` is an obsession of theirs here too, with a ``Dignity Forum`` -- goes nowhere; some ``VOI DIGNITORIALS``, and another header with no content, ``VOI - World Dignified View``. Perhaps they should focus more on Competence. 9526-, VOI, tune-in at 1402 Jan 6 to hear VG S9+15 open carrier, except barely audible tones over and over for 7 seconds, pause for 2 seconds, approx. and off at 1408*. This corresponds with monitoring by Atsunori Ishida, Japan; it seems the English hour is usually running at 13-14, but the Malay hour which used to follow is lost. At http://www.max.hi-ho.ne.jp/a-ishida/ins/ he says English on Jan 6 was from 1301 and 9526 went off at 1400*. But carrier was certainly back on for another 6 minutes as I heard it (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9680, RRI Jakarta, 0931-0945 Jan 4, Noted a very strong carrier here, but the audio was almost non-existent. However, still heard a male in Indonesian language comments for a couple of minutes until music was presented. After the musical segment, noted a female in Indo comments (Chuck Bolland, FL, WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello, Does anyone have an email address for the Voice of Indonesia ? I tried france @ voi.co.id and english @ voi.co.id but it's not working. Thank you in advance (JM Aubier, France, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Try this ??? english @ rri-online.com like deutsch @ rri-online.com V of Indonesia, German Service voi @ rri-online.com V of Indonesia (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) Also feedback @ voi.co.id seems to work, but no reply (Mauno Ritola, Finland, ibid.) ** INTERNATIONAL. 2009 CLANDESTINE ACTIVITY SURVEY. During the year 2009 the activity of political clandestine stations broadcasting on shortwave has decreased by 13.4 % to 1088 Weekly Broadcasting Hours (WBHs). This is the lowest level of activity ever recorded since this survey has been introduced in the year 1986 (so far the low had been 1116 WBHs in the year 1999). The activity of clandestine stations broadcasting to target areas on the Asian continent has dropped by 18.7 % to 744 WBHs. On the American continent the activity has decreased by 8.4 % to 197 WBHs. However, on the African continent the activity has even increased (although from a very low level) by 21.5 % to 147 WBHs. For the second year in a row the most active target area worldwide is North Korea with 252 WBHs (+7 when compared with last year), followed by China P.R. with 226 WBHs (+2). On the third place is Cuba with 197 WBHs (-18). The number of different target areas active worldwide has remained unchanged at 17, although some changes have occurred. While Laos and Iran are no longer thought to be active, Madagascar and Sudan have emerged as new/reactivated target areas (Mathias Kropf, Germany, wdxc- UK / wwdxc Dec 31 via BCDX Jan 1 via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. Satellite jamming: see IRAN ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. INDIA: THEY KILLED MY RADIO (WORLDSPACE) Thursday, December 31, 2009 4:26 IST Nine years back, I got hooked on to Worldspace. I thought it was a marvel --- many radio channels, including foreign ones, via satellite, crystal-clear. For nearly 20 years, I was fed up struggling to listen to the British Broadcasting Corporation, Voice of America, Radio Australia, Radio Ceylon and many other stations on my shortwave radio, with continuous disturbance. There was no television then. Worldspace was godsent. I immediately purchased a Hitachi receiver online, after borrowing a colleague's credit card. It was pretty costly, but I knew it would be worth it. When the set finally arrived, it was hell for many days. There were no customer care centres in place in India. I searched all over the internet and decided to do install it myself. I succeeded after going through hell, getting the antennae at the right angle, hanging out from my window. [like at:] http://www.rediff.com/news/2000/dec/20diary.htm Office colleagues laughed at what they thought was my foolishness. But, soon, I was enjoying nearly 40 channels of pure music and the latest news. I was in heaven. News, pop, rock, love songs, Christmas carols, country music, Hindi music... I had it all. Of course, intermittently, there were the bumps. The antennae on the building terrace had to be adjusted each summer and winter; satellite problems. Some of you may say, but there is FM. But, FM interested me very little. Now on the final day of Worldspace's service in India (see below), I can say confidently, with my head held high, it was worth it. I will miss you, Worldspace. Source: http://www.dnaindia.com/blogs/post.php?postid=249 (via Yimber Gaviría, Colombia, DXLD) WORLDSPACE LISTENERS WANT MUSIC TO PLAY ON By: Harpreet Khokhar 30 Dec 09 15:06 IST MUMBAI: The news of Worldspace Radio shutting down has shocked its subscribers in India, a country that housed 95 per cent of its subscription base. Music lovers are aggrieved at the abrupt termination of the music service from 31 December. It is the loss of music that the users are upset about most, over the monetary damages they will have to bear. Says a Worldspace regular, "It was the only thing that kept the music alive to the best of quality and diversity. It really feels strange and profoundly sad to refer to Worldspace in the past tense." . . . [much more] http://www.radioandmusic.com/content/editorial/special-reports/worldspace-listeners-want-music-play (via Alokesh Gupta, dx_india yg via DXLD) More: http://kimelli.nfshost.com/index.php?id=8106 ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM [non]. JEFF WAYNE'S WAR OF THE WORLDS http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00lqpl7 The programme was repeated on New Years' Day on BBC Radio 2. There are 3 days left to listen (Fred Waterer, Ont., Jan 5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Sort of a rock opera with narration. Some great music, sound effects. And a stirring 6-note motif rerepeated again and again we recognized immediately. Two hours including a lengthy introduxion. I could not get the hi version to I-play, but lo was sufficient. Truly a radio produxion, as befits. This should be played on Hallowe`ens besides the Orson Welles original over and over (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) Thanks, Fred. I first heard it when I was in an creative writing class when I was in high school. I have it on vinyl, and on CD. Great music to go with the spoken words. My favourite song has always been "Forever Autumn". Jeff also wrote and performed the really nice song called "It Won't Be Easy", used as the theme song for the British science fiction TV series called Star Cops (Kevin Cozens, ODXA yg via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [and non]. LAST SURVIVING CREW MEMBER OF KON- TIKI EXPEDITION PASSES AWAY --- ARRL Knut Magne Haugland, LA3KY, of Norway, passed away on December 25. He was 92. Haugland was one of six men, who with Thor Heyerdahl in 1947, successfully crossed the Pacific Ocean in a 45 foot raft made of balsa wood and bamboo -- named Kon-Tiki -- to prove that people from South America could have settled Polynesia in pre-Columbian times. Called the "most unusual expedition ever to place reliance on Amateur Radio for communication" in the December 1947 issue of QST, Kon-Tiki departed Peru for Polynesia on April 28, 1947. "It was the theory of Thor Heyerdahl, Norwegian ethnologist and leader of the venture, that the settlement of the Pacific Islands resulted from a migration of American peoples who had sailed there many of years ago, rather than a trek from Asia as claimed by other scientists," the article explained. "To prove that such a migration was possible, Mr Heyerdahl decided to attempt the trip in a raft of the type preserved in Incan legends and early Spanish historical accounts. He named the expedition on honor of the pre-Incan Sun god. The Kon- Tiki raft was fashioned out of logs of the lightest wood in existence and lashed together with native-made hemp rope. Its only sources of locomotion would be the Pacific trade winds and the Humboldt Current which sweeps northward along the west coast of South America and thence in the direction of the Tuamotu Archipelago." . . . much more, ham radio angle] http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/12/28/11269/?nc=1 (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** IRAN. 1188, Radio Payam, Tehran, Jan 1, 2214 - I'm thinking that this is the station hear with fair to at times very good reception with music typical of that part of the world. Listed as 100 kW in Tehran. Male announcer at 2217 mentioned 'Iran'. Very good at this point! Sure sounds Farsi to my untrained ear! Into a CSNY song at 2220. Powerful at 2230 and into presumed news. I need to pinch myself to assure myself that this is really happening! 1449, VOIRI, Jan 1, 1605 - Often very strong signal in listed Turkmen with central Asian language and many mentions of Iran. Last night's amazing trans-Polar reception continues this morning! 1449, IRIB 1, Jan 2, 1904 - Tentative pending positive ID. Very strong and clean modulation. Doesn't sound like Arabic from Libya to me, but I stand corrected if it is! To me it sounds very much like a VOA type broadcast, but nothing's listed in my resources that would match that. It could also be the 800 kW transmitter at Bandar-e-Torkaman which broadcasts both the IRIB 1 program and VOIRI. I did hear many mentions of Iran as I type this. Also one mention of Turkmenistan, which they do have a VOIRI broadcast from listed 1500 to 1730. Into regional music at 1913. Quite certain that it is Iran (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, BC, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN. 6175, Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Sirjan. *1300- 1320 January 3, 2010. Popped up at 1300 atop Voice of Malaysia with opening theme instrumental, presumed Urdu man, Qur'an poetry 1302- 1305, female briefly, Iranian classical music, man with news from around 1310, frequencies ("kiloHertz") at 1315, a "Radyo Iran" mention, then news continued with mention of Barack Obama, etc. Better than Malaysia. Parallel strong 9790 and 9835 via Kamalabad. Heard these last Saturday, but after sign-on (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6120, VOIRI Voice of Justice, Dec 30, 0131 - As Glen[n] Hauser has mentioned, both frequencies are bad choices. 6120 is strong enough, but suffers from almost equal strength cochannel from a middle eastern sounding station (?CNR Urumqi?), while 7250 is obliterated by another Chinese station (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6120 clash here is with Cuba (gh) 9575, GIRI in Russian, Jan 2 at 1446, S9+18 but just barely modulated! Same at 1517 recheck. What in the world are they doing at Sirjan? Might as well turn it off if they won`t modulate it. This is 330 degrees, so also USward accounting for the strong signal. Well, if we can`t hear Russian there, tune down to 9570 for PHILIPPINES (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [and non]. 9855, VOIRI, Dec 30, 1936 - English programming to South Africa heard best here at good level, while 11695 is fair, and to Europe 6010 is just audible, while 7320 is obliterated by Radio Rossii from Kamchatka and 6040 via Lithuania not audible. Interesting that the 7320 frequency has an irritating time [sic] pip around every 1 1/2 seconds followed by a data burst (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [and non]. IRAN JAMS WESTERN MEDIA REPORTS OF PROTESTS Published on : 30 December 2009 - 1:23pm | By Andy Sennitt http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/iran-jams-western-media-reports-protests As the Iranian opposition continue their protests against the regime of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, there are signs of growing unease at the heart of government in Tehran. Jamming of a satellite carrying the BBC’s Persian television service began about ten days ago, and the US government’s international broadcasts to Iran are now also being subjected to deliberate interference. President Ahmadinejad claims that the United States, Great Britain and Israel are behind the opposition protests. The Revolutionary Guard says the foreign media and Iran's enemies are waging a psychological war aimed at bringing down the legitimate Iranian government. Persistent interference BBC Persian television first reported "persistent interference" soon after it began extended coverage of the death of leading reformist cleric Grand Ayatollah Hoseyn Ali Montazeri. The jamming began on Sunday 20 December and affected the Hotbird 6 satellite which carries the BBC's international television and radio services in various languages as well as services from other broadcasters. On 28 December, reader Duncan Hill reported to RNW’s Media Network Weblog that "it appears that BBC Persian has left the Hot Bird 6 satellite this afternoon, 28 December 2009, around 1500 UTC, replaced by an info card instructing viewers to turn to Telstar 12. The jamming has also thankfully stopped, which was affecting all unfortunate channels on the transponder, with R1 and Yes Italia also constantly suffering the same picture break-up and sound drop-outs, rendering them unwatchable". BBC looking at options The BBC says it is looking at ways to increase the options for its Farsi-speaking audiences in Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan, which may include broadcasting on other satellites. In June this year, BBC Persian television suffered similar deliberate attempts to interfere with its signal when airing extended coverage of the Iranian elections. At that time, the satellite operator traced the interference and confirmed it was coming from inside Iran. BBC World Service Director, Peter Horrocks, said: "The fact that someone would go to these lengths to jam BBC Persian television's signal is indicative of the impact we make in Iran. The Iranian people want to know the truth about what is happening in their country, and they know they will get impartial and independent news from the BBC. We'll do everything we can to give them that news." The US Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), which is responsible for all US government-financed broadcasts to foreign countries, says its technical experts have determined that on 27 December, the Government of Iran engaged in the intentional jamming of satellite transmissions of the Voice of America's Persian News Network and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Radio Farda. BBG issues statement In a statement, the BBG said that "these efforts continue a pattern by the Iranian Government to block the broadcasting of objective and balanced news and information to the Iranian people, efforts which the Government of Iran has amplified since the June 12 Iranian elections. As Iranian citizens once again demonstrate against the current government, Iran has stepped up its measures to ensure that the Iranian people are deprived of the international reaction, as well as of accurate news about the protests taking place in various cities in Iran." The BBG added that these latest actions of the Iranian government in jamming commercial satellites "appear calculated to intimidate the commercial satellite providers that are targets of the jamming into complicity with the actions of the Government of Iran and deprive the Iranian people access to free press and information." BBG Governor D Jeffrey Hirschberg added: "Private industry is an essential partner in freedom of the press. We urge our satellite partners to stand united in the face of these authoritarian acts or risk even greater human rights losses. This type of intentional, harmful interference is not only a violation of the rules of the International Telecommunication Union to which the Government of Iran has subscribed, but is also a flagrant violation of the internationally recognized right of the people of Iran to receive news and information without government censorship." Government fears There is increasing evidence that the Iranian government fears the situation in the country could get out of control. Reports from Iran indicate that the Supreme National Security Council has ordered a complete check-up of the jet on standby to fly Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei and his family to Russia should the situation in Iran spiral out of control. The order, to the Pasdaran Revolutionary Guard Corps, was dated Sunday, 27 December. A fax containing the order was sent to Dutch-based Shahrzad News (RNW via WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DXLD; see original for linx) IRAN INTERFERES WITH GERMAN NEWS SATELLITE The German state foreign broadcasting network Deutsche Welle (DW) was the target of a deliberate jamming signal originating in Iran, according to a report in news magazine Der Spiegel. According to the report, the French national radio regulatory agency Agence Nationale des Fréquences wrote to the Iranian Ministry of Communication saying that on December 7 and December 8 signals had been detected that looked like "deliberate interference" with the DW satellite. The affected satellite was the Hot-Bird satellite belonging to Eutelsat. The satellite operators apparently reacted to the disturbance by increasing the broadcasting power, whereupon the disturbance signal was also strengthened, cutting out an Arabian language TV broadcast from DW. The origin of the disturbance was traced to the area of Tehran. Similar disturbances coming from Iran were already detected by the French authority in May and June 2009. Published: 2 Jan 10 11:55 CET Online: http://www.thelocal.de/national/20100102-24309.html (via Sergei S., dxldyg via DXLD) This has got to be violating some type of world communication treaty, but then again what does Iran care about a stinking Treaty. Badges, what badges? (Steven Wiseblood, TX, ibid.) Of course these translations of German news items should not be weighed too heavily. More as written under http://blogs.rnw.nl/medianetwork/deutsche-welle-latest-target-of-iranian-jamming#comment-982482 The translation of the Spiegel Online report is a bit rough. The original says "affected was, amongst others, also the DW-TV Arabia channel". This is decisive in as far as of course the whole multiplex on 11.604 GHz, run by the Media Broadcast uplink at Köln-Poll, was affected. It contains all program output of Deutsche Welle, including radio broadcasts in Persian. But it is in use also by other broadcasters, amongst them RNW, feeding this way the Arab broadcasts to the individual transmitter sites if my informations are correct. In theory all broadcasters in this multiplex could have been the primary target of the Iranian jamming. It appears that international broadcasters could indeed be at risk to lose their access to telcom satellites if this Iranian jamming further escalates. The Broadcasting Board of Governors already shares this fear, as it expressed in its recent statement. I think it is a worrying precedent that BBC Persian TV has been taken off Hotbird (Kai Ludwig, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [non]. 9520, UNIDENTIFIED LOCATION (Clandestine), Radyo Farda. 0818-0828 January 2, 2010. Farsi techno/dance vocals, female "Radyo Farda" ID, French torch vocal. Clear, good. I couln't find this listed operating at this time on 9520, but 'tis (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Lampertheim, 07-09. (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) THE SITE IS LAMPERTHEIM, Germany, 104 degrees... 73 (Dragan Lekic, Serbia, ibid.) ** IRELAND. NEW PIRATE RADIO STATIONS PUT RTE ON THE OFFENSIVE Irish Independent, December 31 2009 http://www.independent.ie/national-news/new-pirate-radio--stations-put-rte--on-the-offensive-1994756.html The Department of Posts and Telegraphs published a draft memorandum aimed at regularising the airwaves following the emergence of pirate radio stations. It was based on a set of proposals from RTE relating to a big increase in broadcasting hours that were set to result in the development of their radio services over a period of years. Among plans from the nationwide broadcaster were the establishment of a Radio Dublin; the extension of the existing single radio channel to 12.45 am each day; and the introduction of a second national "light in character" radio service. RTE also produced a survey showing that more people than previously were rising before 7.30 am and going to bed after midnight. The network said with the then attitude of RTE staff to pirate stations and the recognition of the threat to their income, they hoped to convince trade unions of the need to establish Radio Dublin "with certain manning practices that will achieve considerable economies". A draft timetable for Radio Two incorporated: light entertainment, requests, Irish music and country and western programmes (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** IRELAND [non]. 6225, 04/Jan 2016, AFRICA DO SUL, RTE Radio, English, desde Meyerton. Uma conversa no estúdio envolvendo várias pessoas. As 2020 UT sequência de música instrumental. As 2028 UT ID por OM e YL. As 2029 UT várias ID. Depois YL parece apresentar notícias. Não houve encerramento às 2030 UT conforme indicado na lista Aoki. Alguma QRM de tx em Morse e acho que sinal RTTY(?). Voltando a frequência as 2100 UT o sinal não estava mais presente. 44444. Monitorando a frequência no dia 05/Jan a tx encerrou as 2030 UT (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana Bahia, Brasil, condiglist yg via DXLD) See also SOUTH AFRICA ** ISRAEL [and non]. 6973, UNIDENTIFIED jammer vs. Galei Zahal. *0200- 0220 December 31, 2009. Qur'an poetry popped up at exactly 0200, atop the Galei Zahal time sounder and news summary. Good level, though Galei stayed mostly atop. Almost seemed Farsi, but could well have been Arabic. This is the first time I've ever heard (or seen reported) any intentional jamming or at least accidental co-channeling of Galei Zahal on shortwave. Final log in 2009 (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I'm not sure if it's jamming. I've been hearing similar background station(s) under Galei Zahal 6973 for few weeks. I guess they take the audio to the sw transmitters simply tuning a receiver to one of GZ mw frequency. Earlier they used 1287, and when that changed to 945 they may use that or some other mw output. And the reception seems to be poor and qrmed at times. 73, (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, Jan 3, ibid.) 6973, 31/12 0048, Galei Zahal, Israel, talks and songs, weak. 15785, 31/12 1316, Galei Zahal, Israel, talks and music, fair/good (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italia, Drake R8, SDR-IQ, Yaesu FRG-7, Icom R71E; T2FD 15 meter long, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15785, 3/1 1124, Galei Zahal, Israel, talks, the best signal in these weeks: good (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italia, AOR AR7030, Drake R8, SDR-IQ - T2FD, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) A few days ago I was wondering if Galei Tsahal was inactive on 19m, but others are still reporting it and now I am too: 15783.8, presumed this at 1503 Jan 4, very poor signal with talk in presumed Hebrew; far enough away from much stronger 15790, BBC Arabic due south from Cyprus (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [and non]. 15785.0, Jan 5 at 1545, Hebrew talk; this time Galei Tsahal is back on frequency unlike 15783.8 Jan 4. Recheck 1602, 15785 totally blotted by WYFR in Arabic with presumed Christian hymn, unlike the Arabic music you hear on most stations (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Galei Zahal Radio can be heard very well in India. I tried them with two reception reports earlier. One directly from India and other via Swedish DX friend. But I have not received a reply. Any idea what's going on at Galei Zahal and do they require return postage or report other than in English? (T R Rajeesh, India, Jan World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** ISRAEL [and non]. 9955, Israel Radio via WRN via WRMI, Jan 5 at 0626; unfortunately by the time I intuned it was nothing but WRN fill music; must keep trying to hear Israel from the start 0600 M-F. Trouble is, often inaudible, but good S9+10 signal tonight, and no jamming; 0630 into RCI relay. Assumed WRMI still on SSE antenna, but corresponded with super-strong S9+22 signals from WYFR on 9680, 9715, along with mixing products on 9645, 9750, and plenty strong on 9985, 9355 fundamentals. 13850, Jan 5 at 1518, Kol Israel direct in Farsi; if I were inside Iran, I would be threatened with incarceration as a counter- revolutionary for listening to this, as just heard on RFI news item at 1500 on 15300; other no-no`s being R. Farda, BBC and VOA. Better signal than weak WWCR overskipping 13845 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DX LISTENING DIGEST) More: http://kimelli.nfshost.com/index.php?id=8113 ** ITALY. 26010, 31/12 1300, Radio Maria, Andrate, Italia, usual program // FM, weak (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italia, Drake R8, SDR-IQ, Yaesu FRG-7, Icom R71E; T2FD 15 meter long, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Groundwave, apparently; not too far away, W of Milano and N of Torino (gh, DXLD) ** ITALY [non]. Sabato 26 dicembre 2009, *0900 - 9510 kHz, Tempo fa avevano annunciato R. Rasant e invece alle 0900 c'è stato World of Radio e alle 0930 DX Party Line (Luca Botto Fiora, G.C. 09E13 - 44N21 Rapallo (Genova)m Italia, playdx yg via DXLD) So WOR was on the air after all, Sat Dec 26 at 0900, instead of pre- empted as planned. Was then also pre-empted on Jan 2, to return Jan 9? (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** JAPAN. 3945, R. Nikkei 2, Chiba-Nagara. January, 3 0833-0859 orchestrated pop classic selections like “Hey Jude” of The Beatles, “Bridge over Troubled Waters” of Simon & Garfunkel (that kind of music good to fall asleep), 0858 male in Japanese talks, 0859 s/off and no Vanuatu signal. 34333 (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Embu SP Brasil - Sony ICF SW40 - dipole 18m, 32m, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN [and non]. This year we did not have any advance info on special New Year`s Eve NHKWNRJ transmissions; were there any? Unfortunately, it`s not normally on the air leading up to local midnight 1500 UT. Caught tail of 1400 English on 11705 via Canada, as they were concluding part 2 of 2, top Japanese songs of 2009, and off by 1430 Dec 31. 9535 is on in Japanese USward after 1500, but did not tune in this usual good direct signal until 1502 when it was mostly yak, 3-way discussion involving two genders, some excitement, but no obvious NY festivities. 5955, NHKWNRJ, Sat Jan 2 at 1414 unusually playing classical music, a movement from one of Vivaldi`s Seasons. Quickly switched to Sackville relay 11705 for much better reception. Turned out this was a `live` performance by a Japanese string quintet named `Seasons` (but the final S is silent; go figure); players were interviewed briefly – all young women and the extra is a violinist. Then played a somewhat more modern opus, ``Twenti-First Century Schizoid Man``; an unrelated song by some singer; back to the SQ for their version of a Nirvana tune, ``Smells Like Teen Spirit``. Wow, I really dig string quartets/quintets which transcend classical and modern, as pioneered by Kronos. Outro: this was a special `live` concert on Pop-Up Japan, more of same next weeks in January. Went back and listened to this week`s 19-minute audio: http://www.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/radio/asx/saturday.asx Access to all past week`s programs: http://www.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/radio/program/index.html 5955, Jan 5 at 1436 M&W talking in Burmese about Al-Qa`ida, Mrs. Clinton, fair signal from NHKWNRJ. Unlike 11705 via Canada, which closes at 1430 following English, 5955 Yamata stays on in Burmese, same antenna, but per Aoki power drops from 300 to 100 kW, contrary to other listings. 17810, NHKWNRJ IS at strange time of 2307 Jan 3; next check at 2312, Indonesian was underway. Reason: this frequency is on the air from 2310 to 0020, with a semihour of Indonesian, and then a third of an hour each in Chinese and English. Apparently allows 5 minutes before and after for this 300 kW transmitter to change frequencies, until 2300 and from 0025. Meanwhile Indonesian and Chinese listeners have to get used to odd start times (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN. WALLPAPER DOWNLOAD NHK'S INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING SERVICE "Acrobatic Display" By Susumu Imaeda [cover] NHK WORLD, produces souvenir calendars each year featuring thirteen prize-winning photographs from an annual photo contest. Beautiful scenes of the seasons are captured by the fresh gaze of amateur cameramen across Japan, and have long been treasured by our audiences. The photographs on this year's NHK WORLD Calendar can be downloaded as wallpaper for your personal computer. Source: http://www.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/info/wallpaper/index.html (Via Yimber Gaviria, Colombia, DXLD) ** JORDAN [and non]. 11960, Jan 5 at 0623, serious Arabic dialog, one side on the phone line, when nothing else on band from Mideast, but must be R. Jordan as scheduled 0500-0715, 500 kW, 350 degrees intended for Europe, but also favoring WNAm. Music after 0630. Band was more open from Africa, e.g. DW English good on 12045 via Rwanda (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KASHMIR [INDIA]. 4950, AIR Srinagar with English news 1733 on 27 December, fair. At 1735 "Radio Kashmir" ident. News in local language (presumably Urdu) followed with several more "Radio Kashmir" idents. Transmission closed at 1744 (Bryan Clark, Mangawhai, Northland, New Zealand, AOR7030+ and EWEs to the Americas, 36.11.70 S, 174.56.70 E, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH. 873, KCBS, Jan 1, 1813 - Excellent level with the usual concert fare of a hundred happy voices. Bang on frequency and good modulation. // to SW 3250 (and much stronger). PAL lists them off at 1800, but they're still going strong. 819's carrier is easily visible but not heard. 882 is not in parallel, but has strident talk by a YL. Also good audio, and on frequency, although there's a het caused by a carrier on 882.42 (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH. 7100, Voice of Korea, Dec 30, 1837 - Armchair level with French language programming. Excellent accent too. Difficult to hear any kind of Korean accent. 7180, Voice of Korea, Dec 30, 2227 - P`yongyang in the amateur band with their choir singing to the glory of their dear leader. Fair to good reception. Not sure of the language service (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH. Juche jammer check Dec 30 at 1256: 3985, noise mixing with Korean; 3480, just jamming, tone-modulated pulses. However, on 4450 music and then assertive Korean talk, no jamming; 4557 just open carrier vs CODAR. Just before that, had detected NK broadcasters on 2850, 3250, 3320 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH. 3970.548, KCBS-Wonsan, 1312. Weak, but obviously the one, with 'trademark' (near hysterical) delivery by male announcer. Ute low side, best in USB. Parallel to much stronger 2850.046. 30 Dec (David Sharp, NSW Australia, FT-950, NRD-535D, ICF-2010 etc., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH. D.P.R., 15245v [wandered 15244.929 to 15245.070 kHz and back within a single minute] Der grosse Fuehrer sitzt wohl heute frueh selbst auf dem Fahradgenerator. Voice of Korea Pyongyang in Russisch heute am 30. Dez. um 0815 UT mit nur S=8-9 Signal. Der Traeger wanderte innert einer Minute um 140 Hertz von 15244.929 bis 15245.070 kHz und wieder zurueck, so schnell kommt man mit dem Mausrad gar nicht hinterher. Da hilft auch die Stabilisierung in den guten schweizerischen BBC 250 kW Sender nichts mehr. Letztere wurden in den 90ziger Jahren von der SwissPTT uebernommen (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, Dec 30, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 1 via DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH. KBS-Global Korean Net. started at 0000 KST Jan. 1 (1500 UT Dec. 31) on 6015 kHz. KBS-Voice of Love, Global Korean Net and/or test tone signal of 1000 Hz came by the 24 hour reception from Dec. 16 on this frequency. Sked: 0400-1500 UT 972 and 6015 kHz for N. Korea, NE China, Japan and Sakhalin. The transmitter of 6015 kHz operated the Hwaseong transmitter station (100 kW) which used until January, 2007 again. However, it was KO'ed at 0643 UT on Jan.1 by the noise jamming from North Korea. http://ndxc.org/aoki/binews/au/kbsscrjam-20100101-0643_6015.mp3 de Hiroshi (S. Hasegawa, Japan, NDXC, Jan 1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA SOUTH [and non?]. 1566, SOUTH KOREA, HLAZ, Dec 29, 1757 - Very good reception with Russian religious sermon. ID given as Radio Theo at 1759. Mentioned the South Korean transmitter on 1566. Transmitter cut at 1759:30. Weaker time pips at 1800 followed by English, and then ?Chinese translation. Then, Yankee Doodle. English lesson, as they mentioned, 'today we are going to talk about the problem of pollution'. Suddenly improved markedly by 1802. Not listed in the most recent PAL. I'm assuming that this is still HLAZ, but I'm not 100% sure. Not a religious program at all. More akin to VOA! 1566, SOUTH KOREA HLAZ, Jan 1, 1804 - After the Russian program, when I rechecked a few minutes after the TOH, there was an English language lesson at good to very good level, over someone else, but too weak to know. ?AIR. Chinese interpretations briefly. Not listed in my PAL (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KURDISTAN. New 4769.93, 0428-0509*, CLANDESTINE, 30.12, Voice of Iranian Kurdistan (presumed), via Salah Al-Din, Iraq, Farsi. Was on 4790 0425-0428 with jammer. The clandestine then jumped to this frequency where Farsi talk was clearly heard 35333. However the Iranian jammer followed from 4790 at 0430 and reception became 33333. The jammer closed routinely at 0505*, but the clandestine continued this morning until 0509*! (Anker Petersen, Denmark, on my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** KUWAIT [and non]. 1548, Radio Sawa, Jan 1, 1922 - Armchair copy at very strong level, but there's someone else on the channel, and my guess is Grigoriopol, Moldova which occasionally comes up. PAL lists Bulgarian. Each goes up and down, so it's difficult to know who is dominating! Main transmitter is on 1548.008 while another is on 1547.901 creating a het. Actually, I can see 7 carriers at least, with the strongest to the weaker being: 1548.004, 1547.903, 1548.101, and 1547.981 and several weaker ones too. At 1930 there was a weak IS for Mayak. No idea from where. Perhaps Moldova? Very fascinating frequency for sure! 1548, KUWAIT, Radio Sawa, Dec 30, 1805 - Very good levels, but now with some deep fades with technopop dance music. After 10:00 am local! 1593, VOA/Radio Free Iraq, Jan 2, 1833 - Not sure how accurate the most recent PAL is, but I'm assuming this is the 150 kW transmitter which mostly dominates the channel with Arabic programming. I'll need to confirm, though. Often very good level. PAL lists VOA Persian to 1830, then Radio Free Iraq in Arabic after (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, BC, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KUWAIT. 11990, Radio Kuwait, 1810, 31 Dec, Messenger of God history lesson, good (Larry Flaitz, Rochester NY, Hammarlund SP-600, Alpha Delta DX-SWL, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) Maybe it`s common further east, but I sure have trouble hearing this at all, so glad to have it reconfirmed; sometimes on 11630 by mistake (gh, OK, DXLD) R. Kuwait heard today 1 January 2010 from tune-in at 2026 until sign- off at 2100 in English on 11630 with mix of oldies records including Simply Red, Peters and Lee (who else remembers this duo?), and The Carpenters (I think), amongst others. R. Kuwait is scheduled on 11990, as referred to in the sign-off announcement. Maybe the egineer forgot to change frequencies from 11630 to 11990 at the end of the Qur'an broadcast at 1745? (Alan Roe, Teddington, UK, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) That is our hypothesis to explain previous instances (gh, DXLD) 11630, Jan 6 at 1450 Arabic talk and then Qur`an recitation, fair signal but slightly off frequency to the hi side, causing het with something else. Per EiBi and WRTH, the other station here at this hour is VOR in Urdu via Tajikistan. Kuwait is aimed 230 degrees, so they may hope there is no collision in targets. Non-Qur`an Kuwait also heard on non-// 15110 in Arabic at 1505 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) This is contrary to the sked below which puts 11630 among the regular Arabic service channels, and HQ only on 17885 (gh, DXLD) ** KUWAIT. Radio Kuwait hat folgenden Wintersendeplan 2009/10: Arabisch 0200-0800 6055 0200-1100 13650 0900-1300 13620 1000-1745 11630 1305-1700 15110 1505-1755 13620 1800-0000 15495 2200-0200 11675 (DRM) Holy Quran 1305-1500 17885 Farsi 0800-1000 7250 Englisch 1800-2100 11990 (Ulrich Wicke, Dec 1, via Dr. Hansjoerg Biener-D, ntt Jan 1 via Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LAOS. Finalmente sono riuscito a ricevere il Laos in modo decente, su 7145, era davvero tanto che non mi capitava. 7145, 3/1 0025-0032* Lao National Radio, Laos, finally I could appreciate their music, even if with fading (poor to fair). At 0029 short talk by male, music, off at 0032 (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italy, SDR-IQ, Drake R8, T2fd, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7145, 3/1 2354, Lao National Radio, Laos, slow talks and slow Oriental music, this night is coming better, only some QRM by hams 7145, 4/1 2345, Lao National Radio, Laos, now here in Milano all the nights, talks, music, at 0000 talks man. Fair when no hams over (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italia, AOR AR7030, Drake R8, SDR-IQ - ANT: T2fd, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBERIA. 6070, 05/Jan 0725, ELWA MONROVIA, English, desde Monrovia. Música gospel (provavelmente) africana, 0727 OM fala entre risos. 0730 YL fala, ela parece ser a entrevistada, ou uma dos entrevistados. 0740 OM fala pausadamente. Sinal degradando. 33433 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana Bahia, Brasil, condiglist yg via DXLD) ** LIBYA. 15215, Voice of Africa, Dec 29, 1707 - Very good reception with French program, followed by an African song with 'Africa, Africa, Africa' noted in the French song. I might have thought that it sounded rather Caribbean! Parallel 11965 only poor (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MADAGASCAR. 5010 (LSB + carrier mode), RTVM, 1537-1602, Dec 30. That’s correct: in LSB! In French and vernacular; long series of ads; Christmas song; fair to poor with QRM from AIR. Was rather surprised to be unable to hear them in their normal USB mode, which I just heard on the 26th (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5010, R. Madagascara (presumed), 2055 Hi-life music. 2058 live remote broadcast with M and W talk in vernacular over ToH. Back to vocal music at 2103. Still there at 2105. Tuned away, then gone at 2123 check. (31 Dec) (Dave Valko, Microtelecom Perseus SDR with ARR preamp, 630' Beverage (BOG) at 50 , Pennsylvania State Game Lands #26, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** MADAGASCAR. 50 KW TRANSMITTER AT RNW MADAGASCAR BACK ON THE AIR We now have three transmitters back on the air following the fire at the RNW Madagascar relay station. The 50 kW transmitter was activated today. The fourth transmitter, a 250 kW ABB rig, has suffered some heat damage and must be repaired, which will take up to a week. Our Head of Distribution Jan Willem Drexhage says that the Dutch word for the damaged components is "hoogspanningsschakelaarbeveiligingselectronica" which he suggests would be a good word for Scrabble, at least if you're playing it in Dutch :-) There have also been some changes to which broadcasts are assigned to which of the Philips transmitters. A revised schedule for all three transmitters, effectively immediately, is in the Media Network Weblog. http://blogs.rnw.nl/medianetwork/ (Andy Sennitt, RNW, Jan 2, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) THREE TRANSMITTERS NOW ON AIR AT RNW MADAGASCAR There was a fire on Christmas Eve in the high voltage room of the external mains power supply at Radio Netherlands Worldwide’s relay station in Madagascar. Firefighters from the Madagascan capital Antananarivo managed to bring the blaze under control within hours. The fire destroyed the high voltage circuit breaker equipment, so broadcasts from Madagascar had to be suspended while repairs were carried out. Satellite and Internet broadcasts were not affected. A temporary schedule went into effect on 1 January using the two Philips transmitters, and the 50 kW Siemens transmitter began tests on 2 January. The fourth transmitter (250 kW) is still out of service and requires some repairs, which are expected to take up to a week. Installation of the new 20KV/400V-160KVA for the auxiliary equipment inside the power plant building [captions] The visible damage to the Siemens transformer after a summary clean up (20KV/400V- 400KVA). There is also some oil leakage. The situation as from 5 January 2010: All times UTC: Transmitter 1 (250 kW): ¦0300-0428 on 9660 kHz Vatican Radio (multilingual) ¦0430-0457 on 9660 kHz Vatican Radio (French) ¦0500-0527 on 9660 kHz Vatican Radio (English) ¦0530-0630 on 7265 kHz IBB (French) ¦1300-1357 on 17670 kHz AWR (Vietnamese) ¦1400-1557 on 15595 kHz RNW (English) ¦1600-1657 on 9590 kHz Family Radio (Swahili) ¦1700-1727 on 9895 kHz RNW (Dutch) ¦1730-1757 on 6020 kHz RNW (Dutch) ¦1800-1957 on 7395 kHz Family Radio (English) ¦2000-2030 on 7395 kHz Radio Sweden (Swedish) ¦2030-2100 on 7395 kHz Radio Sweden (English) ¦2100-2130 on 9680 kHz IBB (French) Mon-Fri ¦2200-2300 on 7380 kHz Deutsche Welle (Indonesian) Transmitter 2 (250 kW): ¦0200-0230 on 11550 kHz Radio Sweden (Swedish) ¦0230-0300 on 11550 khz Radio Sweden (English) ¦0330-0358 on 7360 kHz Vatican Radio (Swahili) ¦0400-0500 on 11610 kHz Radio VOP (multilingual) ¦0500-0600 on 12015 kHz IBB (Persian) ¦1330-1428 on 17550 kHz Voice of Tibet (Tibetan) ¦1430-1527 on 17495 kHz DVB (Burmese) ¦1530-1627 on 13800 kHz Press Now (multilingual) ¦1630-1657 on 13740 kHz RNW (Dutch) ¦1700-1757 on 12080 kHz IBB (Multilingal) ¦1800-1857 on 6020 kHz RNW (English) ¦1900-2057 on 7425 kHz RNW (English) Transmitter 3 (50 kW): ¦0230-0330 on 3215 kHz AWR (multilingual) ¦0400-0500 on 11610 kHz Radio VOP (multilingual) ¦1430-1530 on 3215 kHz AWR (Malagasy) ¦1630-1655 on 3215 kHz FLM (Malagasy) ¦1900-2000 on 6020 kHz Family Radio (English) ¦2000-2100 on 6020 kHz Family Radio (English) Madagascar transmissions temporarily via other sites: RNW: The following arrangements remain in effect: ¦2100-2131 UTC Dutch via Bonaire on 13700 kHz azimuth 80 degrees ¦1957-2057 UTC English via Montsinery on 11655 kHz azimuth 80 degrees ¦1730-1757 UTC Dutch via Nauen on 11655 kHz azimuth 300 degrees Vatican Radio: Transmissions at 0300-0530 UTC have returned to Madagascar, but the transmission at 1600-1630 UTC on 13765 kHz is broadcast via Santa Maria di Galeria. See original for photos, updates, above info probably inapplicable: http://blogs.rnw.nl/medianetwork/fire-puts-rnw-madagascar-relay-station-off-the-air (January 4th, 2009 - 16:45 UTC by Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog WORLD OF RADIO 1494, via DXLD) ** MALAYSIA. 6175 / 9750, Voice of Malaysia, Kajang. 1254-1315 January 3, 2010. Tune-in to Indonesian talk, two clear "Suara Malaysia" ID's by man, bumper music, one short and long time sounder 1300, ID and world news by man in Indonesian. 9750 clear and fair, but hummy, not unlike many of those All India Radio transmitters. 6175 clear and weak, and co-channel clobbered by their Islamic brothers in Iran at 1300 (see log). (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAYSIA. 7295, Traxx FM, 1208 pop and rock music program including Hall & Oates. Promo ID jingle by W at 1211. Russia starting to mix in by 1230, and equally by 1245, then overtop Malaysia by 1300. (3 Jan) (Dave Valko, Microtelecom Perseus SDR with ARR preamp, 630' Beverage (BOG) at 50 , Pennsylvania State Game Lands #26, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** MALAYSIA. 15295, V. of Malaysia, Kajang, 1202-1210*, Dec 28, presumed Indonesian, W announcer with talk; music at 1204 followed by more talk until pulled-the-plug at 1210; fair (Scott R. Barbour Jr. Intervale, N.H. USA, NRD-545, RX-350D, MLB1, 200' Beverages, 60m dipole, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAYSIA. Extreme speedy/urgent QSL card arrived from K-L. Da sage noch jemand der Versand von QSL-Karten ist fuer Rundfunkstationen nicht wichtig. Heute kam per DHL Express Flyer und Kurier ("extremely urgent") in einem Riesen-Kuvert eine QSL-Karte der Voice of Malaysia / Voice of Islam fuer einen Bericht vom 28.11.2009. Adresse: Vo Malaysia, P. O. Box 11272, 50740 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia neue eMail auf QSL: (Rudolf Sonntag, Germany, A-DX Dec 30 via BCDX Jan 1 via DXLD) ** MALI. 7285.864, odd frequency of RTVM Bamako with S=7 signal on Dec 29 at 0810-0830 UT. \\ on 9635 kHz (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 1 via DXLD) 9635, Radio Mali, Bamako. 0829-0834 January 2, 2010. Nice west African highlife vocals, two "Radio Mali" IDs by French female. Clear and fair (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 6104.7, XEQM, Mérida, Dec 30 at 1308, YL in Spanish, vs splash from Cuba 6110 and also squeezed by weaker 6100 signal. No het but confirmed off-frequency by comparing to 15105.0. At 1520 Cuba was off 6110, and 6104.7 detectable, but now a het from something on 6105.0 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) XEQM, 6105 kHz en Mérida, Yucatán, el día 03 de enero a las 2000 UT en un receptor Radio Shack 12-472 (analógico) con música de la Sonora Matancera, identificación de emisora y voz de la locutora, demasiada interferencia de Radio Habana Cuba inclusive hasta esta hora. Envío archivos de audio. http://rapidshare.com/files/330224942/SW6105KHZ-03ENE2010-2000UTC.WAV.html (Ing. Civ. Israel González Ahumada, M.I., Jan 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 6184.95, XEPPM Radio Educación, México DF. 1131-1149* January 3, 2010. Excellent with fantastic electric violin solo covers of mostly 30's standards and 30's/40's movie show tunes nonstop. Around 1146, into female Portuguese vocal -- sounded like Astrud Gilberto -- as I flipped to 1060 to look for the parallel. Indeed 1060 was there at 1148 with the same vocal, but when I flipped back to 6185, they had just pulled the plug! Too bad, as 1060 is mostly all Cuba here (Radio Veintiseis). (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. RADIO ÑOMNDAA CELEBRATES ITS FIFTH ANNIVERSARY by Carolina S. Romero, Wednesday Dec 30th, 2009 11:01 PM The Word of the Water flows in music, solidarity ties and new proposals. “We hope to see you in Suljaa'”, says the invitation sent out by Radio Ñomndaa, la Palabra del Agua (Word of Water), to celebrate “5 years of our free voice on the air.” Reason enough for dozens of students, musicians, communicators from community radios and other independent media, human rights defenders, video filmmakers, representatives of the community police, literacy workers, and social activists to travel to Costa Chica of Guerrero to participate in the activities planned for December 19, 20 and 21. We came from different regions of Guerrero, from Oaxaca, State of Mexico, Mexico City, and Morelos, and also from other parts of the world, including Greece, Colombia, England, Galicia, Italy and the United States. Some people were already acquainted with the small cabin on the Cerro de las Flores in Suljaa’ (Xochistlahuaca), where the Word of the Water is spoken, broadcasted, and defended. Others were not. Some had been doing a good job of organizing beforehand. But all of us had a sense of the tremendous accomplishment represented by the five years of life of this community radio. Faced with increasingly harsh repression, Radio Ñomndaa continues to be a fount of rebellious energy, with its music, clarity, and more and more people to count on. . . [much more] Fuente: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/12/30/18633912.php For more information, see: http://lapalabradelagua.org/ more... sintoniza la Radio Ñomndaa, La Palabra Del Agua, en vivo a través del 100.1 MHz de tu FM o por internet http://lapalabradelagua.org/escucha.mp3.m3u (Via Yimber Gaviria, Colombia, DXLD) ** MEXICO. Tips for Mexico TV DX --- It is extremely rare for a network relayer to run any kind of local programming (other than local commercials), but it is becoming more common for Televisa independents to run *network* programs on a delayed basis. A few relayers like XHPVE-4 Puerto Vallarta (Canal Cinco) and XHAGU-2 Aguascalientes (Galavisión) do run some local programs during the daytime. At the same time, many Televisa independents do relay some programs from XHTV-4 DF. Some of the stations place local logos over the "4TV" local upper right. These programs are generally // to XHTV. However, XHBC-3 and XEPM-2 are examples of Televisa independents that run XEW Canal de las Estrellas soap operas on a delayed basis. The ones on XHBC are from the previous day. The XEW logo is upper right on the shows, and many of the XEW promos are intact. A few weeks back XEPM-2 had a circular object above "tucanal," obviously intended to cover the XEW and XHTV logos. It wasn't lining up perfectly at that time (Danny Oglethorpe, Shreveport, LA, Jan 1, WTFDA via DXLD) Since XHBC Mexicali is two hours behind DF time, that could explain it, and XEPM Juárez is one hour behind; however, there are lots of other stations in the MST and PST zones which evidently do not delay programming? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MONGOLIA. 4830.01, 2258-0005, 29.12+02.01, Mongoliin R, Altay, Mongolian announcement, TS, talk 35333 // 4895, but at 2300-2400 4895 Murun carried a different conversation programme not // 4830 which had opera! (Anker Petersen, Denmark, on my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) I have long wondered whether this spelling ``Mongoliin`` which appeared a few years ago was just a typo for ``Mongolian``. After all, the word ``Mongolian`` is an English one, not a Mongolian one! Sort of: WRTH 2010 instead spells it Mongolïn, that is with two dots over the I, as in French, but not meaning double-I. We assume this is the preferred rendering of the full name in Roman letters: Mongolïn Ündesniy Olon Niytiyn Radio meaning Mongolian Public Radio (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4895, 3/1 *2300, Mongolian Radio, start broadcasting with himn, talks, fair (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italia, AOR AR7030, Drake R8, SDR- IQ - T2FD, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MYANMAR. 7200.104v, 29/12 *0030, Myanma Radio, Burma, start of broadcasting with fair to good signal, some QRM from close above channels. The transmitter was slowly drifting down towards 7200. At 0052 the QRG was 7200.101. At 0105 7200.097. RX: Drake R8, SDR-IQ, Icom R71E - ANT T2FD. 5769.993v, 5/1 0030, Myanma Army Radio, Burma, Start of program with trumpet and talks by woman, then slow music, frequency slowly drifting, fair 5915, 5/1 0010, Myanma Radio, Burma, talks, later slow songs, fair 7200 4/1 0030 Myanma Radio, Burma, start of BC, fair (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italia, RX: AOR AR7030, Drake R8, SDR-IQ - ANT: T2fd, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MYANMAR. BURMA: TAKING OVER THE AIRWAVES By KO HTWE, JANUARY, 2009 - VOLUME 18 NO.1 Private FM radio stations are sprouting up all over Burma, offering listeners a variety of entertainment and, of course, government propaganda Almost every household in Burma has a radio on nowadays. Many families fight over what program to listen to. Father wants to hear the news and sports; the kids listen to pop music and celebrity interviews; mum tunes in every day to the fortune-teller, while grandmother enjoys the Buddhist monks’ recitals. Many Burmese own cheap, Chinese-made radios that can pick up both FM and shortwave broadcasts. (Photo: YUZO/The Irrawaddy) FM radio is booming in more ways than one in Burma. The stale government broadcasts of the 80s and 90s have been replaced by popular independent stations all across the country, from Moulmein to Myitkyina. . . Source: Irrawaddy http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=17504 (Via Yimber Gaviria, Colombia, DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. Re 9-087: Netherlands, Zeewolde 747 kHz: Besides the Lopik aux being thrown in time and again, it must also be asked how much power is in use from the transmitter near Zeewolde on Flevoland, the site usually dubbed as "Flevo". 400 kW was the original full power, but reduced power operation is quite likely. Some time ago I heard that 747 is (or was at this point) usually run at 160 kW (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Dec 31, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS. 1395, HOLLAND, The Big L, Jan 1, 0027 - Excellent reception with very fast paced modern pop music in English. This station has recently reactivated. A fine signal here in Masset. By far the best night since I've arrived! (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. Re my previous questions about RNW`s Arabic service via RWANDA on 9895 at 2200-2257 --- Andy Sennitt explains that they currently have funding for programming only M-F, but it costs no more to stay on the air Sat & Sun too, thus the music fill. Calling it ``Huna Amsterdam`` was a pragmatic decision since more Arabs would recognize Amsterdam than Hilversum --- and RN did even have an English program, ``Amsterdam Forum`` which was mostly recorded in Hilversum. I still think it`s a shame that Holland`s historic radio city is so self-deprecating, suburbanly abandoning its legacy to the metropolis (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1493, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. Hello from Hilversum, This edition of the Newsletter is being sent out earlier than usual as I shall be leaving the office early today. I must begin with a correction to what I said in the Newsletter last week - unfortunately Radio Netherlands Worldwide is *not* available on shortwave in North America via WRMI. It seems that I misunderstood something I was reading just before completing the Newsletter. Jeff White of WRMI emailed me to explain that the experimental relay of WRN starts at 0600 UTC, not 0500, because WRMI already has a contract with Radio Prague to relay its English service at 0530-0600 UTC. So my apologies for misleading you. If you tuned in and heard Radio Prague instead of us, I am sure you will not have been too disappointed, as they have always been one of my favourite international broadcasters apart from RNW :-) In addition, Jeff mentioned that WRMI's North American antenna is temporarily out of service pending repairs, so the signal is currently beamed south from Miami instead of north! Memo to self: check all facts before publishing them (Media Network newsletter Dec 31 via DXLD) That came from DXLD, and rechecking the original message from Jeff White in 9-086, he did say WRN relay was starting at 0500, not 0600; and we received no correxion from him. Naturally, it was I who found RNW on the WRN schedule at that hour. The erroneous info also made it into the January NASWA Journal, regrettably (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. The two Happy Station New Years Specials are now uploaded at http://www.pcjmedia.com The first show with guest co-host David Monson is from Taipei. The second show is from Hong Kong (Keith Perron, PCJ Media, Jan 1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Two hours each PCJ Media is proud to present a new series on classical music. The series will be produced and presented by David Monson. Details to be announced later (Keith Perron, Jan 1, ibid.) Good! (gh) Hi Everyone, The two specials from Dec 31st and Jan 1st have now been uploaded online: December 31, 2009: 0200-0400 UT live with special co-host David Monson January 1, 2010: 1600-1800 UT, Happy Station Live from Hong Kong Also uploaded a special edition of the show that was for broadcast on our partner stations that aired December 26, 27, 28 which is an interview I did with Tom Meijer a few years ago. This show is part of a historical Happy Station series. Coming up very soon a special about Edward Startz which will also include a piece Eddy recorded for Happy Station in 1956 that was never broadcast and was recently discovered in the Radio Netherlands archives. The notes on the box mentioned why it was not used, “this segment did not air because of time”. Also coming up this year a Taiwan dentist who has a collection of barrel organs and much more. Next week my special guest is Steve Lawrence. All shows are uploaded to the PCJ Media site after transmission. http://www.pcjmedia.com (Happy 2010, Keith Perron, Jan 2, ibid.) American legend Steve Lawrence is my special guest on this week`s Happy Station Show. This edition of the show will be broadcast to all regions. To find out all Happy Station broadcast times go to http://www.pcjmedia.com Regards, (Keith Perron, PCJ Media, Jan 5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW ZEALAND. Matinee Idle --- It's summer in the Southern Hemisphere: ABC in Australia and Radio New Zealand National have many summer shows running. Perhaps my favourite of these is Matinee Idle. It appeals to my twisted sense of humour. "Phil O'Brien and Simon Morris present an afternoon of music and entertainment, including a Classic Concert. "'Matinee Idle is Radio New Zealand's Mufti Day. They let me and Simon "loose in the asylum". We get to be the guys testing the outer limits of listener patience and we benignly abuse this privilege.' says O'Brien. 'They let us play whatever we want! It's every radio presenter's dream.'" http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/matineeidle Here in North America the program, because of the time difference can be heard at 6:35 pm EST or 2335 UT, the day before, since NZ is 18 hours ahead of us. Sunday to Thursday nights here in North America. Where else can you hear Hooked on Yodelling and Harlem Shuffle in the same program? Also note that Matinee Idle is followed by a "Classic Concert" at 10 pm EST, 0300 UT. These are top notch productions. I stumbled onto Matinee Idle a couple years ago while anticipating a particularly amazing Louis Armstrong concert (Fred Waterer, Ont., Dec 30, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DX LISTENING DIGEST) That figures: you will not find any sign of Matinee Idle on the current RNZI program grid at http://www.rnzi.com/pages/schedules.php nor any single program it replaces, including ``Radio National``, which merely means relaying whatever is on the domestic network, but instead if on from 2335 to 0300 replaces lots of different stuff including RNZI produxions. But if you check the programme website as above, you find that at least on Jan 1, the Classic Concert was an hour earlier at 02-03 UT, interrupting the entire M.I. show which runs until 0400, and a complete playlist is presented, along with linx to some audio excerpts, including Chatham Islands being half a sesquihour ahead of the mainland (?), in getting into a new day and a new year. Should you axually wish to listen to this on SW, all but the first minute of the entire show are on 15720: 2236-0458 15720 AM 17675 DRM Pacific Daily (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) It's interesting how our expectations have changed over the years. Back in the day, one knew that Australia and New Zealand radio offerings were substantially altered during the mid-December to mid-January period (Roger Broadbent called this period the "silly season" a while back), but there was no online reference that advised what was on as a summer replacement. Now we expect stations' websites to be kept consistently up to date during special seasons or when special program timings occur. Just a musing as I contemplate 2010 (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA, swprograms via DXLD) What occurs to me is that, if international broadcasters really do see the Internet as a legitimate transmission medium, they have to make a quantum leap in the attention they give their websites. (Yes, that's all one sentence.) (Scott Royall, Conch Republic, ibid.) Yep. Some do this better than others; the BBC World Service website is updated pretty well. So is the CBC. For the most part, Radio National is also current (at least during the regular season). The CBC, better than most broadcasters (at least in my own opinion), has successfully sorted out that the website is both a reference for radio and TV as well as a medium itself, requiring its own reference. The Voice of Russia did a reasonably good job until their recent revamp. Radio Prague also "gets it" pretty well. Radio Australia is a lot better than it used to be 2-3 years ago, when it was much more static than it is nowadays (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA, ibid.) It's amusing how they carefully snip the on-demand audio to exclude all the colorful music. Yep, the international counterpart of the RIAA has done a wonderful job of intimidating broadcasters (Scott Royall, Conch Republic, swprograms via DXLD) You could listen live (or set up for automated capture) and I believe the music wouldn't be stripped out (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA, ibid.) ** NEW ZEALAND. 6170, 3/1 1345, Radio New Zealand International, songs, news at 1400, poor to fair. 11725, 3/1 1920, RNZI, reports in English, fair 13660, 3/1 1136, Radio New Zealand International, in English, talks, really good signal but some QRM from China on 13665 (and all over...) (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italia, AOR AR7030, Drake R8, SDR-IQ - T2FD, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW ZEALAND. Glenn Hauser wrote: "I suppose some manufacturer long ago was making SW transmitters of this power, and also sold a couple to Radio New Zealand, which was their rating until the 50/100 kW units at Rangitaiki went in." [at BRAZIL] The two 7.5 kW transmitters that were the foundation of Radio New Zealand's shortwave voice from 1948 until 1990 were built by Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia) Ltd in 1945-46, and I believe were originally intended to be used by the US Forces bases here during World War 2. A 1976 leaflet from RNZ said "they are manually tuned and capable of operating on any frequency from 6 mHz to 22 mHz. Each transmitter has an operating power of 7.5 Kw. High level modulation is employed, the modulated amplifier and the modulator each using two BR170 valves." (Bryan Clark, Mangawhai, New Zealand, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA. 9690, Voice of Nigeria, Ikorodu. 0834-0838 January 2, 2010. Highlife vocals with heavy percussion, female announcer in language (listed as Hausa 0800-0900). Clear and fair, slightly better than Mali on 9635 (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. 6925, CANADA, Radio True North, Dec 29, 2330 - Very strong pirate, announcing that they were broadcasting from the west coast of Canada. A bit difficult to pinpoint the frequency --- perhaps wandering a bit between 6925 and 6925.5. For some reason, my AOR 7030+ and Perseus SDRs had trouble demodulating. They announced, 'This is Radio True North, broadcasting from the west coast of Canada' at 2333. Marred after the announcement by a harsh whistle. If this indeed is a Canadian pirate, that would be quite rare! Last heard a BC pirate perhaps 10 years ago (Radio Free Vernon, I think it was called). Another canned ID at 2346 giving an email address as 'Radiotruenorth@hotmail(dot)'. No com heard! Will have to send them an email when I go into town in a few days! (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. [Pirates]. 6925 USB, Outhouse Radio, 1910-1925, Dec 31, instrumental rock music. ID. Weak. 6930 USB, Wolverine Radio, 0535-0710+, Jan 1, IDs. Music by The Pretenders, Led Zeppelin, James Brown, Beatles, War, Beach Boys, David Bowie, Clash and others. Strong. Very Good signal. 6924.8 USB, Sycko Radio, 1540-1553*, Jan 1, IDs. Email address. Complaining about the poor audio quality of some pirate radio programs. Commander Bunny skit. Very good signal. 6950 AM, Radio Zero, 0055-0104*, Jan 1, rock music. IDs. Weak. Poor (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) 6925-USB, USA (PIRATE) unidentified. 0036-0044 January 3, 2010. Good with nonstop Big Band and jump jive-era jazz, clobbered by Voice of KAOS sign-on at 0044. 6925-USB, USA (PIRATE) Voice of KAOS. *0044-0045 January 3, 2010. Up atop the good music pirate with male ID. Didn't stick around for anything else. Fair in the co-channel (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 3425.93 AM, WNKR, 0257, Jan 2, someone re-broadcasting this U.K. pirate again. British pop music. ID. Very good. 3425.97 AM, WHYP, 0035-0050, Jan 3, ID. “Who Wants to be a Pirate Radio Operator” skit. Fake ads. Good signal but occasional utility QRM. 6924.1 USB, Captain Morgan, 2135-2145, Jan 2, Blues music. IDs. Email address. Poor to fair with deep fades and some distortion. 6924.7 AM, MAC, 1745-1755+, Jan 1, “MAC” IDs. Talk by young boy. Instrumental music. Radio-drama. “Guitarman Show” with rock/pop music. E-mail address. Strong. Very good (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** NORTH AMERICA. Anybody familiar with this website? http://www.disgraceland.info/ It's a blog and portal for mostly North American pirates, though running very stale on posts, but far more image-intensive than most. May be worthy of bookmarking (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. During 2009 I have created a database of the FRW logs and graphed some of their aspects. First, a couple disclaimers. The data is taken only from the North American logs of the Free Radio Weekly. As such this is only a sample of all HF pirate activity, and not all pirate broadcasts that were made in 2009. I have made some assumptions in reducing the data such as removal of multiple logs of a single broadcast, dissimilar spellings of station names and rounding of reported frequencies. That being said, I think the graphs reveal some interesting trends. The usage of 6925kHz as the primary frequency is no surprise, however the degree that it surpassed other frequencies is notable. The fact WBNY had more shows than any other station is probably due to the fact that earlier this year CB produced several short duration shows that were repeatedly broadcasted. Additional graphs and more detailed information can be found on the ACTIVITY page http://shortwavepirate.info/pw/wordpress/activity/ of http://shortwavepirate.info/pw/wordpress (Ragnar Daneskjold, Free Radio Weekly via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. A local mixing product no one else will hear, but the computation may be of interest, applicable elsewhere. 2250 kHz, Jan 3 at 0615, extremely weak modulation in the noise level, but quite steady, making me suspect it`s local, rather than a 3 x 750 DX harmonic. As always, time to check my only two strong MW locals, KGWA 960 and KCRC 1390. Yes, sure enough, 2250 audio matches 960, and it is mixing with something else, but how does it get on 2250? Out comes the calculator: 3 x 1390 = 4170 (where KCRC is always audible with its weak third harmonic). Subtract 2250 from 4170 = 1920, which is the second harmonic of KGWA, where it is also audible weakly. So we have 2250 as the difference between the third harmonic of KCRC and the second of KGWA. The two sites are about 5 km apart, so how do they mix? Externally. Another local external mixing product on 4600 with KCRC 1390 audio, Jan 6 at 0630. Fortunately these are mostly quite weak. Calculating its origin, I find that 4600 is the difference between 5 x 1390 (6950) and KGWA 960 + KCRC 1390 (2350) (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN. Frequency change of Radio Pakistan in Urdu WS to WeEu: 1700-1900 NF 7535 ISL 250 kW / 313 deg, ex 7530*. No signal on \\ 9340 *to avoid 1700-1730 Ginbot 7 Radio in Amharic Tue/Thu/Sat & 1700-1730 Radio Xoriyo Ogadenia in Somali Mon/Fri (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Jan 4 via DXLD) ** PALAU. Re attempts to visit T8WH, 9-087: Finally seen the station but not from land as my ship got underway and is now heading to Guam; we passed it from sea. Thanks for the help and hope to view it next time (Larry, n6hpx/mm, Fields, Jan 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I finally found the site as posted in the myradio world and catches I posted the pictures as my ship sailed past it, on January 2, thanks to all and hope to view these closer (Larry enroute to Guam, Jan 3, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello from Guam Island, First wish to wish everyone a Happy New Year and hope our world of radio and DX improves for the coming year and decade. As you might have read, I was on Palau for the Holidays and did some looking for the relay station of WHRI or better known as T8WH. Despite the thoughts of locals there on Palau, and the comments it might been moved, I want to rest everyone`s mind that it was found and seen; unfortunately for me, I saw it only after my captain picked up anchor and went out that side of the harbor near Koror. The antenna that the locals were thinking was Harvest Radio was a totally destroyed former Japanese antenna that was either damaged by a storm or someone who didn`t want it in service. It must have been there a while, as it was very rusty and beyond use. Palau has a ham station you can rent and its located at the VIP Hotel, operated by George T88GN; bad part, if you try to get licensed locally, the office has moved. The good part, the address on the forms are still good, and costs a whopping $40. I loved it on Palau and for anyone else is worth the time to visit. 73's de (Larry n6hpx/mm http://www.myradioworldandcatches.blogspot.com Jan 4, swl at qth.net via DXLD) See blog above for his photos of T8WH et al. Three masts are barely visible in longshots from asea. Also on land, a WWFM 89.5, not to be confused with the classical music station in Jersey (gh, DXLD) ** PERU. At the moment, 30 December 2008: 4857.335, Radio La Hora, Cusco being heard well in Florida at 2330 to 2340 with OM ID as Radio La Hora as is 5120.461, Ondas del Suroriente, Quillabamba at 2340 de (Bob Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, Florida, DX LISTENING DIGEST) And Dec 31: 4857.31, Radio La Hora, 0003-0010, Noted a female in Spanish comments. The signal was threshold. 5120.58, Ondas del SurOriente, 0007-0015, female in Spanish here also. She continued during the period while the signal was threshold. 4746.92, Radio Huanta Dos Mil, 0011-0015, Promos and IDs at tune in. Noted a male afterewards with live comments. Signal was fair (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston FL, Watkins Johnson HF1000, 26.27N 081.05, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES. While Iran was failing to modulate its Russian hour on 9575, Russian could be heard clearly on adjacent 9570, Jan 2 at 1521. The Shiites better watch out lest they lose their audience to the Catholix: it`s R. Veritas Asia, Philippines, carrying the R. Blagovest program at 1500-1557 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES [non]. 11715, VATICAN CITY, R. Veritas Asia, Sta. Maria di Galeria, 1459-1518, Dec 28, listed Filipino. Carrier at tune/in; 1500 s/on with IS; announcement into "Angels We Have Heard On High"; M with continuous talk from 1503 thru tune/out; fair (Scott R. Barbour Jr. Intervale, N.H. USA, NRD-545, RX-350D, MLB1, 200' Beverages, 60m dipole, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Straining to hear any trace of KJES on 11715, Jan 4 [see also USA non]: none of that, but at 1520 a sermon in what I finally decided was English but with a heavy French accent, ruling out PB16 tho with similar aged voice, 1528 praying, 1531 slow hymns. This has to be the scheduled R. Veritas Asia relay via Vatican in Tagalog, back to Mideast gastarbeiter. I can only assume it`s another case of ESL being familiar to the Tagalog-speakers, but I`m sure they could do without the French accent; and surely preferable to robokids from Vado. 11715, RVA via Vatican, Jan 5 at 1523 was back in Tagalog talking about Pilipinas, unlike English 24 hours earlier. Still no sign of KJES (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also USA: KJES ** PHILIPPINES. 11730, 3/1 1925-1929*, Radio Pilipinas, Philippines, in National language not in English as reported, abrupt signal off at 1929, fair (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italia, AOR AR7030, Drake R8, SDR-IQ - T2FD, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PITCAIRN ISLAND. CALLSIGNS & QSL CARDS On four occasions in recent time here in Wavescan, we have presented special features about radio broadcasting on Pitcairn Island, way out there in the center of the South Pacific. Since then, a very interesting item of information that answers a previously unanswered question has been discovered among the many items of Pitcairn memorabilia provided by John Scuddas here in the United States. This interesting information is found in a two page article written by Dorothy Hall, W2IXY, and printed in the British radio magazine, “T & R Bulletin”, dated December 1938. It is remembered that Dorothy Hall in New York City made frequent radio contact with Pitcairn during this era. Back there in the years 1938 & 1939, three different styles of QSL cards were issued to verify the reception of transmissions from the station that was variously identified on air as PITC, VR6A & VR6AY. The callsign PITC was in use for the relay of broadcast programming to the RCA station KKW located at Bolinas in California, and the callsigns VR6A & VR6AY were in use for amateur radio QSO contacts. The first QSL card showed a map of the Pacific with Pitcairn highlighted, and also a photograph of the radio equipment that was exported from the United States to Pitcairn Island. The callsign was printed in large red letters and it showed VR6A. The next QSL card issued from Pitcairn was actually this same card, but with the letter Y handwritten at the end of the callsign, thus identifying the station as VR6AY. The third QSL card issued from Pitcairn was a re-printing of the original card, with a slight re-alignment of the text on the address side of the card, and the listing of the callsign as VR6AY. The final letter Y was added at the time of printing. However, the question that has caught the interest of the radio world, is this: Why the change in callsign? What was happening back there more than half a century ago? The most common answer was that the first printing of this QSL card contained a printing error, and that the second printing corrected the mistake by adding the letter Y at the end of the callsign. However, further information demonstrates that this answer is incorrect. This is what really happened. When the radio pioneers Granville Lindley & Lewis Bellem visited Pitcairn Island for the purpose of establishing the 60 watt shortwave station, they also took with them 1,000 generic QSL cards that would be used to verify the reception of this new amateur radio broadcasting station. The callsign on this card was printed as VR6A, without the final Y. The supply of these QSL cards was soon used up, and so another batch of 5,000 cards was printed, with a slight re-adjustment of the text on the address side, and the identification of the station as VR6AY, including the final Y. The magazine article by Dorothy Hall states that the Pitcairn station PITC made its inaugural transmission on March 5, 1938, as VR6A. It would appear that the callsign, VR6A, identified Pitcairn Radio as, for example, the first station on the island. However, at this stage, it was without a license, and as the article states, “panicky engineers” in the United States ordered the station off the air until the license situation was clarified. Radio station PITC-VR6A was off the air until the legal paper work arrived, and it was re-launched in early April as VR6AY, with the last two letters of the callsign as the initials of the local operator, Andrew Young. The first QSL card, as VR6A without a hand written alteration, is nowadays quite rare, though a few were issued for the original brief period of on air activity. We hold one QSL card of this nature, without the handwritten alteration. We also hold as well one amateur card from Canada and a letter from an amateur operator in the United States, which confirm QSO contacts on March 8, 1938, during the four day era of its unlicensed operation before the station was temporarily closed. The second QSL card issued from Pitcairn is actually the same card, but with the letter Y added in hand writing at the end of the callsign. This card is more common these days. The third QSL card, which was actually the second print run, contains the full callsign as VR6AY. This card was used to confirm QSO contacts, and operations as a broadcast program provider, and also as a tourist souvenir, until the complete stock was depleted. This card is these days the most common. Thus far, we have not seen one of these QSL cards confirming a broadcast transmission under the commercial callsign PITC. Thus, the reason for the change of callsign on these QSL cards was not because of a printing error as previously thought, but because the paperwork had not arrived. When the paperwork did arrive, it was an amateur license for Andrew Young, with the callsign VR6AY (Adrian Peterson, AWR Wavescan script Dec 16 via DXLD) ** POLAND [non]. Hearing Poland on 9650 (via UAE) at 1800 is sure hit and miss. You can go a week or more and hear nothing but noise. On December 29th I heard them with a weak and noisy signal at 1800 with Elzbieta Krajewska with "News from Poland". Then today, January 2, I caught them at 1850 with a good signal of John Beacham presenting a New Year's version of "The Krakow Panoptikon" with local pop music and interviews of foreign nationals living in Krakow. I wish this transmission was as reliable as 11675 at 1300 via Austria (Mark Coady, Ont, NASWA yg via DXLD) 9650, UAE, Polish Radio, Dec 30, 1817 - Very good reception with English. Always an enjoyable program (I often listen while travelling in Europe; one of the better SW broadcasters, IMHO). Discussing wine making in Poland. Parallel 6130 not audible. Even better at 1854 at armchair level, with Polish news summary. Sign off announcement at 1857. Gave an email address to write as Englishsection @ polishradio.pl Normally a really tough DX target in western North America, so very welcome to monitor this one so well (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UAE/U.K., 5980.043v, PRW Warsaw in Polish, midnight mass 2200-2259 UT Dec 31, via V-group Al Dhabbaya relay, S=9+5dB in peaks. Suffering audio level, no Optimod in use? On of the eight txs at UAE is often odd frequency. \\ 5990 kHz via V-group Woofferton facility, excellent powerful audio with S=9+40dB at 2225 UT (wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 31, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** POLAND [and non]. Re: Radio Bucharest on Ceaucescu's overthrow > Also found this video from Singapore relating to Ceaucescu's last > public appearance. The footage of the rally begins at 1:28 and it > looks quite similar to the second link Kai posted. Note the clashing > audio from the newsreader and the videotape. > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vj6Dcy39gSE Must have been an off-air recording of the live broadcast, taken abroad and put into the news exchange. The interesting question is who did this. Hungaria, Serbia, Bulgaria would be possible. Soviet Union is less likely I think. Reminds me on a story I got from third hand, so I just quote it for what it's worth: Sender Freies Berlin was able to pull in a TV signal from Poland (presumably either Jemiolow ch. R-3 or Szczecin ch. 12) for Wojciech Jaruzelski declaring martial law, but this DX signal was too unstable to lock a VTR machine onto it. Thus they had to catch the picture by taking it with a camera from a monitor, as if it had to be converted from 525/60. This speech is on Youtube as well. Note the acoustic characteristics of the room, including noises from outside. Apparently no TV studio, and I suspect they produced this, uh, programme already during 12 Dec 1981, the day before. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ibp5ci0qOgk Btw, Jaruzelski's claim that he prevented a Soviet invasion is apparently a mere lie. It seems that he rather asked for support by the Soviet Forces, which "Moscow" denied (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Dec 30, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PORTUGAL. RDPI SPURS --- Glenn, I spoke to the RDPi HF site chief, Dipl. Engineer Luís Abrantes, and he explained the spurs were caused by one of the old reserve 100 kW units, and when they noted the malfunction, the transmitter was changed in the middle of the broadcast. They've got four 100 kW Continental transmitters that are kept as reserves and put to work regularly during the time when the São Gabriel site is manned, i.e. not just Mon-Fri as I may have reported, but Sat/Sun included, albeit 0900-1700 only though. That clearly means some of the supposedly 300 kW power levels may, at some point, be just 100 or even a bit less depending on the state of the transmitters, mainly because what one's picking up is a signal from the good old Continental units. So the recent problems with frequency change on the Africa/144º beam after 1700 arise because no one is there to switch a reserve transmitter thus "bypassing" the still ongoing automation fault (transmitter memory & software) which is partly due to Thalès itself and a bit of customs bureaucracy in both countries, i.e. Portugal and Switzerland. The other playing part in this dragged process stands with the RTP top bosses, i.e. administration, much to the despair of RDPi and its HF site. The 2000-2400 extra broadcast on 11825, Africa 144º for instance is simply off for months on end due to what I reported, an obvious demonstration that HF is no longer considered as important for the RTP-Rádio e Televisão de Portugal administration as it was in the recent past when the radio branch (RDP) & the TV (RTP) branch were completely separated. 73 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, Dec 30, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I visited the RDPi HF centre, CEOC, at São Gabriel on 31st December. The antenna farm is bigger than I thought it was after the installation of 4 new curtain or Sterba arrays, the smallest of them being the one at 45º/Europe but which according to the CEOC Director enables Euro-coverage in a wide angle and better than with the still existing vertical log-periodics. I had last visited them back in 1996. The old antennae were not dismantled, so the total number at their disposal is 20, ranging from the curtain arrays to the rhombics and the above mentioned LPs. A former curtain array (year 1989) for 144º is still in place, but not used. As to the old 100 kW tx units, just 3 of the 4 Continental are being used while the 4th acts as a components/parts supplier. Also installed, but not operational for quite some time, is a 100 kW Brown Boveri Co. It is almost self evident why the administration chose to keep it there: it means extra expenses just to take it off. The remainder consist of 3 x 300 kW THALES and 1x300 AEG (from 1989). The antenna matrix is in a wide new building next to the old tower, at the back of the tx building. The control shack in the tx hall houses modern equipment, most of which was designed and built by the RTP itself. Like the CEOC director pointed out: there was one item they didn't make, and that was the table. The inside of the nearly 60 year old site blends state of the art equipment and old pieces, from txs to the buildings themselves which clearly denote the state-defined architectural lines of that era also common in several other [MF] tx sites around the country. _________ It was confirmed that the pathetically imposed 09AM-05PM working time determined by the administration is *the* major source of problems whenever there's need of using the reserve units, make a last minute repair... or even activate a mere protection relay beyond the working hours. The automation does not "cure" power failures or voltage fluctuations that make the system simply shut the txs off for protection; so if no one is there, then no HF signals. Much to the despair of who's working there and is often compelled to improvise so as to keep things running, the top bosses for RTP surely show without doubt they don't care much about HF - the sole means of communication that is national and not dependent of satellite misfortunes or internet. In other words, if a tx is off for some reason, well, so much the better because the electricity bill is thus alleviated. 73 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, Jan 2, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Many pictures of the 100 hectare CEU-Centro Emissor Ultramarino, inaugurated in 1953. Later (after the April, 1974, coup d`état) it was pathetically renamed CEOC-Centro Emissor de Ondas Curtas, just like the EN became RDP: http://www.flickr.com/photos/biblarte/3146550741/in/set-72157611824253132/ (two of the photos don't actually belong there: one tx building + inside of the duplex hut + tall MF tower are "CEN"-Centro Emissor Nacional, Castanheira do Ribatejo, near Lisbon) The former HF site of the EN, initially named CEI-Centro Emissor Imperial, had been established in the mid 1930s at Barcarena, western outskirts of Lisbon. Barcarena then became the laboratory and measuring/monitoring site of the radio authority, currently ANACOM. In the beginning, Barcarena also housed MF txs, which were replaced when the newly (early 1950s) constructed CEN (see above) became operational. Today, little has changed on the exterior, except for the new antennae and new antenna matrix hut, and the dwellings, kindergarten, recreation fields, cantine and church on the opposite (north) side of the road are idle and part thereof are actually used for storage only. Those houses can be seen on the album too. The "bairro", as it was referred to by EN personel, stopped being used for decades, and even the last remaining active construction, the cantine, is no longer used: the state in which they all are at present reflects how well government property is handled and cared by the state itself in this country by the post April, 1974 régime. 73 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, Jan 3, ibid.) ** PRIDNESTROVYE. 6240, MOLDOVA (PMR), Radio PMR, Dec 29, 2343 - Tuned into the end of the program with details in French, then into IS, once, and into German. Good reception. Announced to Europe and North America. Usual thick with politics (first story starts with Pres. Smirnov). I suspect they don't start until 2315 (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ROMANIA. [DRM 6095-6105], 6100, Radio Romania International, Dec 31, 0622 - French language programming with only occasional dropouts. DReaM software states this is 'Transradio Bln.' with Stereo at 20.96 kbps. ID and schedule for B09 announced at 0624. Surprised at how well it came in from Europe at this time of the night! One of my rare European DRM transmissions I've actually demodulated (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) If up early enough, North Americans can hear RRI in English in our mornings: Dec 30 at 1244 an historical talk about the Securitate (Communist-era secret police), and 1245 on to another historical subject, a royal palace. Ran across it first on 11970, where it was the best if not the only signal making it from Europe on the band, and then also on weaker 15105, the two frequencies aimed UK- and US-ward at 12-13 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re: Radio Bucharest on Ceaucescu's overthrow Also found this video from Singapore relating to Ceaucescu's last public appearance. The footage of the rally begins at 1:28 and it looks quite similar to the second link Kai posted. Note the clashing audio from the newsreader and the videotape. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vj6Dcy39gSE (Jon Pukila, Thunder Bay, ON, Canada, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. After Hessischer Rundfunk closed on 594 khz I checked to see what else could be heard here. I tuned in at 0058 on 4 January and heard a very weak signal with somebody speaking over music. This finished about a minute later and there were 2 iterations of the Radio Mayak interval signal before time pips for 0100. From http://fmscan.org/net.php?r=m&m=s&itu=RUS&pxf=Radio+Mayak&rg= there are 2 possibilities for the location of this signal, Surgut 1000kw at 2500 miles away and Krasnoyarsk 150kw at 3400 miles. From http://www.hermanboel.eu/emwg/online-mw1.htm there is another site, Vladikavkaz 25kw at 2200 miles. It could be any of those sites but it's been quite a while since I've heard Radio Mayak so that was very nice anyway from any distance. Regards (Harry Brooks, North East England, UK, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Vladikavkas carries Vesti FM, so can be ruled out. Presumably Surgut, listed as on air at http://victorcity.dxing.ru/Cities/surgut.htm Other sources suggest that this transmitter is no longer on air, but 1000 kW from western Siberia are certainly more likely than 150 kW from even further away. (Kai Ludwig, Germany, ibid.) Yes, two R. Mayaks heard yesterday after 1600 with clear audio delay separation. After 1800 the other was gone and the remaining closed at 2000. So probably Krasnoyarsk 2300-1800 and Surgut 0100-2000. Radio Rossii, Izhevsk was also heard, but no trace of Vesti FM. 73, (Mauno Ritola, Finland, Jan 5, ibid.) Thanks to Kai Ludwig and Mauno Ritola for both lots of information there. I think I can say that its highly likely I've heard Radio Mayak from Surgut. Regards (Harry Brooks, North East England, UK, ibid.) So what's up with the Vladikavkas transmitter (a Tesla SRV-20, installed in 1974)? It's still listed on the Radio Mayak website, BUT this page has been last updated in 2007: http://www.radiomayak.ru/info.html?id=35032&cid=242 In summer 2008 both 594 kHz and 72.8 MHz had been taken away from Radio Mayak and switched to Vesti FM, unrelated to VGTRK's short-lived practice to use its remaining mediumwave frequencies for Vesti FM instead of Radio Rossii. http://victorcity.dxing.ru/Cities/vladikavkaz.htm suggests that this (i.e. Vesti FM on 594 kHz and 72.8 MHz) is still the case. http://www.vesti.ru/vesti.html?id=246474 is a joke, this website still gives the impression that Vesti FM is transmit in Moscow only, which is far from reality now (Kai Ludwig, Germany, ibid.) Yesterday evening, 5 January, at 2359 I tuned to 594 again and was surprised to hear 2 iterations of the Radio Mayak interval signal before the time pips up to the hour. So was this Krasnoyarsk or are there other transmitters with Radio Mayak on this frequency? I don't know. Somebody who knows more than me may be able to answer that one. Regards (Harry Brooks, North East England, UK, Jan 6, ibid.) ** RUSSIA. 5940, Govorit Magadan, Dec 31, 0213 - Right at 0210, both 5940 and 7320 cut to a local Magadan program, while 7140 and 7200 stayed with the network Radio Rossii feed. Both at excellent levels. Lots of New Year's greetings (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. 6075, Dec 31 at 1400, R. Rossii ID but instead of going off at this hour, kept going with newscast, no 8GAL audible. Must be on late because of NYE, tho 2010y already started there at 1200 UT in the UT +12 zone. 6075, R. Rossii, Pet/Kam, Jan 1 at 1400 timesignal 4 seconds late, and 8GAL overlapped it; see UNIDENTIFIED. RR`s motorboating carrier remained on past 1402, but no programming unlike yesterday/year (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. 7140, Radio Rossii, Dec 31, 0132 - Another 'intruder' in the amateur band. Very good reception with Russian New Year programming, // to 7320, 5940 and 7200. My Perseus database lists this as Yakutsk at 20 kW. 7200, Radio Sakha, Dec 31 0448 - Unknown language at armchair levels. ?Indigenous programming, with the odd Russian word, like 'Rossiska Federatsiya'. Also // 7140, but not 5940 or 7320 which are carrying Radio Rossii network programming. Back into Russian mentioning Vladivostok at 0451. Mentioned the Radio Company Sakha, so this must be the program, Radio Sakha (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. Re 9-087: Glenn, there is a misprint on this item, should read 860.00 Hertz instead of kHz. Correct: Opening procedure of VoR Novosibirsk Spanish at 2050-2056 UT on 7340 showed great Hertz tone appearance some minus/plus 860.00 Hz apart on Perseus/Fujitsu Notebook (Wolfy Bueschel, Germany, Dec 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. UNID: I wish you all A Happy New Year 2010! I have an unID Arabic speaking station right now, starting at 1600, on 9480 kHz. I can't find in any of my lists. Who can help me to identify it? Thanks in advance and 73 from (Björn Fransson, Sweden, Jan 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello Bjorn, It's V of Russia // 5920. Best wishes too (Jean-Michel Aubier, France, ibid.) In which language broadcast Voice of Russia on 9480 kHz? Is English scheduled. wb Once in August scheduled Dushanbe 11795 ceased, but remaining Arabic service at 1600-1700 UT seemingly: cross-check ERV 1314 Gavar site StP 5920 NVS 5945 StP 7215 MSK 9480 MSK 12030 StP 12060 MSK 13855 (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) ** RUSSIA [and non]. US Airports Reject Controversial RT Ads + DW in Moscow US AIRPORTS REJECT CONTROVERSIAL RT ADS THAT ARE TURNING HEADS ACROSS THE UK Major US airports refused to display this and other images (below) intended for use in the RT´s December´09 US advertising campaign. An alternative version was accepted though, and can be seen on display in airports of New York NY, Washington DC, Baltimore MD and Newark NJ. RT advertisements juxtapose provocative images which show different sides of a story. We ask questions and encourage viewers to question more, since you can only reach a balanced judgment by being better informed. By challenging the accepted view, we reveal a side of the news that you wouldn´t normally see. After all, the more you question, the more you know. Whatever your personal point of view is on any of these stories, we at RT believe it is valid to pose the questions. For rejected ads go here: http://rt.com/ads A few days ago I saw a billboard ad for DW in Moscow subway. It features a huge coffee cup to go and an inscription "Take us along with you!" DW's tiny logo and fine print are there too. No SW or local AM relays are mentioned. But there's info on non-existent SMS/texting news service in Russian. DW ad can be considered somewhat controversial as bringing a coffee along is prohibited by Moscow subway rules and frowned upon by popular etiquette guidelines. As compared to the US, it's very rarely you see people drinking coffee outside cafes. But eating ice-cream is a totally different matter. Also, one can sometimes see adults and even teens drinking beer and stronger beverages on Moscow subway trains. But I'm yet to see anyone drinking coffee (Sergei S., dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DX LISTENING DIGEST) What makes coffee so taboo? (gh, DXLD) FOX Attacks Russia Today! RT Strikes Back! It's the first time on my memory that one of the major US TV channels would start polemics with RT. I'm not sure if FOX broadcast is available online but here's RT response: Out-FOXed: Bill O'Reilly bites the RT bullet http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAlV5QFGUjw Of course, RT routinely criticizes the US media for "brainwashing Americans." Here's one of the most recent reports: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-5pK9uGS8w (I believe Lauren Lyster is a new pretty face at RT-DC.) This whole public commotion is making me think if Der schwarze Kanal format is making a comeback. While you are on YouTube you can also watch the first minute of RT Spanish from Dec. 28, 2009: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_D8Zt6yc0c (Sergei S., dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DX LISTENING DIGEST) My question is, do US citizens really take FOX seriously? I think not. When people in the US want news, do they really turn to FOX? I think not. Sure, FOX has a large audience, but who makes up that audience? Here in Taiwan we have seven 24-hour news channels, six of which are scary like Fox. One which is a little more serious has by far a smaller audience. The main six just like FOX target what we call he "the low end of society". In Chinese the meaning is the same that people in the US have for trailer park trash (Keith Perron, ibid.) Keith, you sound like a true Canadian :) I understand that now FOX has the largest audience of any news channel in the US. I've know quite a few people who'd take FOX very seriously. What worked for AM talk radio in the US seems to be working for FOX, too (Sergei S., ibid.) ** RUSSIA. RT TV CHANNEL LAUNCHES 24/7 BROADCASTING IN SPANISH Saturday, 02 January 2010 --- RT news TV channel has launched its feed in Spanish for viewers across the globe via satellite. The first ever Spanish-language TV news channel operating from Russia was launched on December 28th 2009, and will be on air 24 hours daily. RT’s Spanish service adds to its lineup of existing TV news feeds in English and in Arabic. The channel broadcasts from Moscow via satellites IS9, Hispasat 1D and the satellite television system Digital+. Millions of viewers across Europe, North and South America have access to its open signal. . . Fuente: http://www.auto-mobi.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13408&Itemid=50 EN Vivo: http://actualidad.rt.com/mas/envivo (Via Yimber Gaviria, Colombia, WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DXLD) ** RWANDA. Single log 29/12: 6055, 1950-2010, R. Rwanda, Kigali - African news in English, no I/S at 2000, then Afro music with talk in Vernacular - good! (ascoltata anche con la stilo della de1103 e della tecsun pl310wt appena arrivata) – (Leonardo Bolli - Italy, playdx yg via DXLD) So English news was at 1950-2000 that Tuesday anyway (gh) 6055, R. Rwanda, Kigali, 2025-2042, Dec 29, French. M announcer reading list of sorts; music at 2029; Afropop bit at 2033 into talk with mentions of Rwanda & Tanzania; sounded like a call-in program; fair-good prior to co-channel 2030 VOIRI via Lithuania s/on; post- 2030, Rwanda the more dominant signal of the two (Scott R. Barbour Jr. Intervale, N.H. USA, NRD-545, RX-350D, MLB1, 200' Beverages, 60m dipole, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6055, like Xmas eve, RRR was on late NY Eve, but reception not quite so good, Dec 31 at 2155 with party talk in presumed Kinyarwanda, perhaps some French inmixed. 2201 a bit of yelling as 2010 had just arrived in Kigali. 2227 excited talk with (live?) music background (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6055, Radio Rwanda, 2235-2257+, Dec 31, on late for New Year celebration with French/vernacular talk. Phone talk. Mentions of Rwanda. Occasional Afro-pop music. Some bits of English with mentions of “Happy New Year”. Good signal but completely covered by Spain’s IS at their 2257 sign on. 6055, Radio Rwanda, 2030-2100*, Jan 2, Euro-pop music. Afro-pop music. French talk. Phone talk. Fair but weak co-channel QRM from Iran (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** SAIPAN. 9990, Jan 4 at 1420, very strong distorted FMy signal seems to be centered here, but splattering 9920 to 10025, with Vietnamese dialog, QRMing or blocking several stations, including WWV 10000, 9975 KTWR, Macedonian 9935, and incredibly, even WWCR 9980! At 1426, 9990 was registering S9+15, 1428 spelling out an e-mail address with English letters, 1429 announcement mentioning kHz; 1430 signal drops in strength as WWCR jumps in strength so now 9980 overload overcomes it. Recheck at 1457, 9990 had American English announcement, ``good night from Washington`` and off by 1458. I figured this would be the IBB Saipan transmitter which has gone haywire before, and sure enough it is, Radio Free Asia in Vietnamese, 100 kW, 285 degrees on 9990 at 1400-1500 only. Furthermore, the same kind of disorder was centered around 9727 in the next hour, at 1545, now a very distorted English lesson presented in a SE Asian language. This was splattering 9670-9750 roughly, again QRMing several unfortunate stations in the vicinity. Slope detexion makes it slightly more intelligible. 1549 registering S9+18 as some English-language phrases were being spelt out. Off at 1558* uncovering an Arabic station on 9725, presumably Tunisia on much earlier than scheduled *1700. Yes, nominal 9725 is also IBB Saipan, exactly the same parameters as 9990 but this hour in Vietnamese is VOA instead. Pity the poor Vietnamese audiences of both stations, subjected to this. Is no one paying attention at Agignan Point? After 1600 I quickly scanned the 7 and 9 MHz bands looking for a third outing of this monstrosity, but none found. Checking Aoki later, it might have been on 11720 as scheduled for RFA Uighur, but it`s hard to know which individual transmitter is used for which service. Also beware of 9455, RFA Chinese at 16-22, and 9355 at 17-22. Two+ months ago we had the same kind of problem during VOA Cantonese service on 9705 between 13 and 15; that was Oct 25, see DXLD 9-078. Pleased to note that IBB transmitter is back in whack, vs yesterday`s distorted blobs: Jan 5 at 1423 check weak Vietnamese with normal signal on 9990; at 1521, Vietnamese also OK on 9725 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAUDI ARABIA. 1440, General Arabic Programme, Jan 1, 2049 - Presumably the Saudi at often very good levels with Arabic music. No sign of any domestic, although at times the Saudi does fade somewhat. I continue to be amazed at this marathon! 1440, General Arabic Program, Jan 2, 1902 - Very good reception well over the Japanese (and perhaps domestic) stations. Clear mentions of Arabiyah and Saudi. Nothing specifically heard at 1900, but had to wait until 1902 for any kind of ID (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, BC, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAUDI ARABIA. 9675, good signal Dec 31 at 1818 talking about Iran, so first suspected that, but all the umlauting pointed to Turkish language. It is BSKSA service in that language at 18-21, 500 kW, 340 degrees from Riyadh, thence USward. No sign of BBC in French, 250 kW, 168 degrees from Rampisham toward Africa, also scheduled during this semihour only on 9675. [and non]. 13710, Jan 4 at 1501, Arabic just barely modulated on S9+12 signal, vs SAH and RHC modulation, and shortly into Qur`an with slightly better mod. BSKSA really needs to keep its audio levels up if it is to overcome the RHC leapfrog of 13770 over 13740 CRI relay landing on 13710. Meanwhile at 1505, BSKSA 15435 had bigger signal with wideband buzz (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15250, SA'UDI ARABIA, BSKSA, Riyadh. 1225-1228* January 3, 2010. Presume the one, with what would have been the English service if I would have made it here sooner, as per Rich D'Angelo logs of recent. Tune-in to rather pop-ish Arabic vocal with lots of percussion, plug pulled abruptly at 1228* (exit time matching Rich's two logs). Fair and clear, save for crackly conditions up here (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15435, Buzzing Service of the Kingdom of Sa`udi Arabia already on at 1459 Jan 6, very strong extending 15405 to 15455, QRMing Farda on 15410; with traces of Arabic modulation underneath // clear 15225, where at first it was a spoken sermon, 1503 very long pause with nothing but crowd noises, then recitation at 1505 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SERBIA. Radio (FM)/ TV (UHF/VHF) tower AVALA, near Belgrade, 202 meters high, after NATO bombing in 1999, has been fully rebuilt. New tower will be officially opened in January 2010. You can download a 4-minute video presentation of AVALA tower, thanks to Intl R Serbia website [flv file, 20.8 MB]: http://server2.glassrbije.org/Video/avalski%20toranj.flv 73 (Dragan Lekic from Serbia, Dec 31, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SLOVAKIA. Radio Slovakia International gets 5 year funding Edwin Southwell wrote to me advising that he'd heard on-air that Radio Slovakia International had got future funding. I found the item, dated December 21, on the RSI website: SLOVAK TELEVISION AND SLOVAK RADIO SEAL SUBSIDY DEALS WITH STATE Representatives of the state-run Slovak Television and Slovak Radio signed framework agreements with the Culture Ministry on Monday. The two media organisations will receive funds towards making programmes in the public interest. The deals were signed by Culture Minister Marek Madaric and the general directors of Slovak Television and Slovak Radio, Ivan Niznansky and Miloslava Zemkova for a period of five years. At least 10 million Euros per year will flow into Slovak Television, while Slovak Radio will receive 4 million Euros annually. The allocated funds will cover expenditures incurred by Slovak Television in the production of almost 400 programmes such as fairy tales, documentaries and films. Slovak Radio, in turn, will put the money towards making over 8000 programmes related to music, religion, education and documentary work. Support for broadcasting in six foreign languages via Radio Slovakia International is also included in the subsidy. [21. 12. 2009, 16:54:04] (via Mike Barraclough, Dec 30, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [and non]. 6055, Jan 2 at 1432, poor and fluttery signal in German, so has to be R. Slovakia International as scheduled, 305 degrees, unusual time for C Europe-to-CNAm, but apparently close enough to grayline; and despite two other broadcasters you would expect to be dominating, per Aoki, so it`s odd there was no sign of these, altho as far as I can tell they are still scheduled: R. Liberty, Turkmen, 300 degrees via Thailand, CRI, Cambodian, 200 degrees via Nanning R. Nikkei is never on 6055 this late, altho closing time depends on day of week. WRTH shows it until 1415 on Fridays only; 1400* some other days, while Aoki shows B-09 until 1400 on Fridays too. 6055, checking again for anomalous reception of RSI, Jan 5 at 1433, German weakly audible, but this time atop some weaker music, which unless that was on the RSI audio, would be from China or Thailand (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Slovakia International: For their transmission from 0100 to 0130 UT it changed from 7230 to 6040 kHz quite long ago. They announced the change only once in their program. They gave their English schedule in a recorded announcement before the start of their program. This announcement is shameful. It is also false, for the changed frequency is not given. In a Listeners' Tribune program they indicated a frequency had been changed but did not divulge the new one. In a later Listeners Tribune' they did give details, including the fact that Radio Canada International uses the same frequency at the same time. However, Slovakia's target is Central America and Canada's is South East Asia. At 0100 I get Slovakia okay on their second frequency' 9440 kHz. Obviously they did not update their web site either. There are only four people instead of six. (at the English Section? -- WDXC ed) (David Crystal, Israel, Jan World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** SOLOMON ISLANDS. 5020, SIBC, 31.12.09, 1455, phone-in, New Year's greetings, ID: "Radio Happy Isles" and "SIBC"; O=3. Vy 73 (Michael Schnitzer, Germany, NRD-535, EWE-antennas, HCDX via DXLD) 5019.9, 1504 UT Dec 31, Solomon Island Broadcasting Corp., Honaria, programma con telefonate ascoltatori e auguri per il nuovo anno 2010, annunciatrice femminile alle 1522 ID "Radio Happy Isles" -Segnale Sufficiente- Buoni DX 73!!! Auguri per un Buon 2010 Happy New 2010 (Mauro Giroletti, Italy, -Swl 1510-, -IK2GFT-, JRC525Nrd - Lowe HF150- , Filter PAR Electronics - BCST-LPF + BCST-HPF, -Eavesdropper SWL Sloper 11mt to 120mt Band- Loop LFL1010, -Lat. 45 25'0"N Long. 9 7'0"E -Locator grid. Jn 45 Nk-, bclnews.it yg via DXLD) 5020-, Jan 6 at 1415, weak talk in English, about one second behind BBCWS Singapore 6195; could not get it to match Thailand on 5875. Have detected carrier on 5020 several mornings lately, but not any modulation until now. SIBC had some local-origination New Year programming heard by others pre-empting BBC relay. 2010y started at 1300 UT Dec 31 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH AFRICA. UNIDENTIFIED: 2 Jan at 2000 on 6460.65 a station in English with what sounds like phone-ins or studio talks. Wonder if this is some pirate relay? [later:] Went off around 2029 with RTE ID. Again a spur of Meyerton transmitter about 236 kHz from nominal (6225). (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH AFRICA. 15235, Channel Africa, Dec 29, 1710 - English programming with short/long path echo effect at very good level. Young woman describing her experience with the South African embassy in Egypt. An activist in the Middle East (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. 9385, WWRB Brother Scare service, Jan 4 at 1412 with hum, but worse, audio cutting out, and still doing so at 1432. For those who hang on his every word, there were still some available. Again Monday Jan 4, WWCR stayed with PMS on 13845 past 1500, instead of scheduled BS. Still PMS at 1742 check, so is BS gone again from WWCR? His contract may have expired at decadend. But, the updated program schedule now as of Jan 1 at http://www.wwcr.com/program-guides/WWCR_Program_Guide.pdf still shows BS daily at 15-19 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Following mornings, still TUN/DGS/PMS on 13845, not TOM/BS (gh) ** SPAIN. One can depend on REE for some the best pre-midnight entertainment on NY Eve. 9640 had good signal Dec 31 at 2220 UT with presumably live pop music in Spanish; 2244 amateur singers in Spanish, something about keeping you well-informed with the news, so maybe that was the news department performing. 2250 into English song, ``O Baby, Oops, I Did It Again`` --- no, not Britney, but really retro in the style of a 1930s cabaret. That was the highlight, and it had just finished when at 2255, 5 minutes before 2010y, REE cut to the frequency-change/sign-off announcement it always runs on ordinary nights at that time, grrr! By 2257 the IS was running on 6055, and more weakly on 6125, but at 2300 6055 opened in French without a live NY celebration. In fact, it sounded like a playback of the original French hour earlier in the evening. So much for Spain. How about another UT+1 land, GERMANY? q.v. (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SRI LANKA. 882, TWR Sri Lanka, Dec 31, 1656 - A fascinating channel for sure. Several co-channels with South Asian sounding talk and male vocal. Most definitely TWR Sri Lanka, as they went into English at 1700 without an IS, but south Asian accented English with greetings. Several transmitters noted, and this one seems to be on 882.02 according to the Perseus spectrum display (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SRI LANKA. 7190.083, ?SLBC, Dec 31, 0120 - Fair reception with what sounds like a sermon. Initially I was sure that it was in English, but it's not now for sure. The preacher may have given an address initially. My Perseus database states SLBC in Hindi, so perhaps this is it. Confirmation needed. At 0127 there was definitely a hymn sung, (What a friend we have in Jesus), so very likely SLBC which has many Christian programs. Indian style music at 0130, so almost certainly SLBC. 9770.19, SLBC, Dec 31, 0113 - Presumably them with pop music, but very weak (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7190.122, SLBC, 1211 Subcontinental vocal music, and again at 1217 recheck. 1218 talk by M in lang. Deadair at 1230, then went off at exactly 1231:07. Not very strong and severe ham QRM. (30 Dec) (Dave Valko, PA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) 7190.09. SLBC (presumed). Found on this frequency today after 1208. Really no audio, but a respectable signal. Finally sounded like music at 1226. Went off at exactly 1231:34. (3 Jan) 73 (Dave Valko, Microtelecom Perseus SDR with ARR preamp, 630' Beverage (BOG) at 50 , Pennsylvania State Game Lands #26, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** SRI LANKA. Live Stream Radio. Die verschiedenen Programme der Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) kann man auch als Livestreams hoeren, die Streams sind von der Homepage aus gut sichtbar verlinkt: Neu scheint dabei der Stream fuer den englischsprachigen Dienst zu sein (20 kb/s, WMA): Zur Zeit laeuft ein weihnachtliches Programm, gestaltet von einer Baptistengemeinde in Colombo (Wolfgang Thiele, Germany, NET-RADIO Dec 26 via BCDX Jan 1 via DXLD) ** SRI LANKA. WHO’S AFRAID OF AMATEUR RADIO? TSUNAMI’S HEROIC TECHNOLOGY HAS FEW BACKERS IN SRI LANKA --- December 31, 2009 at 7:00 am Categories: Disaster Management, Media, Politics | by Nalaka Gunawardene When all else fails, shortwave persists Five years ago, in the immediate aftermath of the Indian Ocean Tsunami, amateur radio helped revive emergency communications with some of the worst affected locations. The decades old practice was hailed as the ‘low tech’ miracle that literally helped save lives. Where electricity and telephone services — both fixed and mobile — had been knocked down, amateur radio enthusiasts (or ‘radio hams’) restored the first communication links. They were at the forefront of relief efforts, for example, in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in India, and in Hambantota in southern Sri Lanka. Within hours of the tsunami, a short wave radio link was established between the disaster management operation at the Prime Minister’s office in the capital Colombo and government offices in the stricken south. “We went in because the District Secretaries office only had a satellite phone and communications was difficult,” recalled Victor Goonetilleke, then President of the Radio Society of Sri Lanka (RSSL). The service was discontinued when other disrupted communications networks resumed. As he later summed up: “When all else is dead, short wave is alive.” Goonetilleke, one of the island’s best known radio hams (call sign: 4S7VK),reported at the time that “uncomplicated shortwave” radio saved the day. And it was accomplished by unpaid radio enthusiasts using nothing more than basic equipment and determination. The only cost to the state was providing food for volunteers operating round the clock. Sir Arthur C Clarke, inventor of the communications satellite and long time resident of Sri Lanka, wrote in Wired magazine: “We might never know how many lives they saved and how many minds they put at ease, but we owe a debt to Marconi’s faithful followers.” Sidelined and overlooked Now, fast forward five years to the present. Notwithstanding their celebrated role after the tsunami, radio hams have been sidelined in Sri Lanka. Their very hobby is being frowned upon by the state on the grounds of…national security. . . [more] Source: http://www.groundviews.org/2009/12/31/who’s-afraid-of-amateur-radio-tsunami’s-heroic-technology-has-few-backers-in-sri-lanka/ (Via Yimber Gaviria, Colombia, DXLD) ** SRI LANKA [non]. Germany, 6045, Voice of the Tigers, Tentative, 0028-0100 Jan 1. Noted two males and sometimes a female in comments. The language listed is Tamil. At 0037 music presented which sounded very much like it had originated from South East Asia or India. Believe the area that this broadcast is concerned with is north of Trincomalee in Sri Lanka, or maybe I got my countries mixed up? Checking out an Atlas, I see the Tamil region listed on the southern tip of India at about 11 South and 78 East. Two men back at 0043 in conversation. Signal was poor to fair, but with all of the splatter and noise, it was difficult to glean anything significant. I don't know if the name of the station is correct (Voice of Tigers)? I seem to recall that the Tigers Military was exterminated earlier in 2009? It's getting bad! Please go easy with the criticism if any of the above is wrong. Thanks (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston FL, Watkins Johnson HF1000, 26.27N 081.05, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) This is not a criticism but my understanding of the situation: This transmission is officially IBC Tamil, which has long denied any direct connexion or support of the LTTE. Some additional special broadcasts last month by IBC Tamil turned out to be overtly Voice of Tigers, according to Tamil-understanding monitor in India. Tamils inhabit both south India and north Sri Lanka. Of course, not all Tamils in either country support(ed) the LTTE. Only he could evaluate how much Tiger content is on the current broadcast (gh, DXLD) ** SUDAN. 7200, Sudan RTVC, Dec 30 1847 - Fair reception with mix of talk and African/Arabic sounding music. Not nearly as strong as the old days when I used to hear them on 8000 kHz, as I recall (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, BC, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [and non]. 7200.02, (poor to fair with great local music at 0747), 7125 Guinea (fair with African pop-dance music at 0749), 7110 Ethiopia (weak with Horn of Africa music at 0749) all still coming in. (1 Jan) (Dave Valko, Microtelecom Perseus SDR with ARR preamp, 630' Beverage (BOG) at 50 , Pennsylvania State Game Lands #26, Cumbredx mailing list via WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DXLD) ** SUDAN [non]. 17745, Sudan Radio Service via PORTUGAL, Jan 4 at 1540, but audio cutting in and out, mostly out, making the whole thing pointless. Ain`t the digital age wunnerful? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Seemed to be OK since ** SURINAME. 4990, R. Apintie, Paramaribo. January, 2 2315-2345 romantic slow music, 2317 long female talks segment seems in Dutch, 2332 slow music, pop music, short female talks returning music. In a hard battle agaisnt Brazilian 4985, some fade out, 22432 (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Embu SP Brasil - Sony ICF SW40 - dipole 18m, 32m, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWAZILAND. 9525, 3/1 1900, TWR starting broadcasting in an African language (over Voice of Indonesia) end religious songs, from where? Not reported by Eibi. Good (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italia, AOR AR7030, Drake R8, SDR-IQ - T2FD, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Aoki shows SWAZILAND; 1905-1935 Lingala, 1935-1950 French (Sat -2020) (gh, DXLD) ** SYRIA. 9330, 29/Dez 2248. Uma forte portadora sem absolutamente nenhum áudio. Situação já acompanhada por mim desde há algum tempo atrás nessa frequência e nesse horário. Provável R Damasco que volta com o mesmo problema que tinha antes de interromper suas transmissões e com o problema muito parecido com aquela mumificada que finge que transmite para enganar seu governo em 9390 kHz (Jorge Freitas, Bahia, dxclubepr yg via DXLD)) ** TAJIKISTAN. 4975, VoR, in English, via Dushanbe, at 1650-1710. Several IDs, and news after 1700. 25332, 2009/12/29. Best 73s (Pedro Turner, Gondomar, Portugal, Kenwood R-2000 + Sony 7600GR, 17m TTFD + Loop, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4975, Voice of Russia, Dec 29, 1748 - Very good reception with an instrumental ?Christmas song. One of the stronger stations heard at this time (9:48 AM local). (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 60m had lots of intriguing grayline signals, Jan 1 at 1335 but most of them were quite weak. See also INDIA. A pair which point to Dushanbe were 4765 and 4975: 4765, Jan 1 at 1335, weak music, flutter. Only thing known on this frequency now is Tajik Radio 1 at 2300-2000 per Aoki, 100 kW ND from Yangiyul site. However EiBi shows the time as 14-11, so by that, would theoretically be off the air when I was hearing this. But WRTH 2010 sides with the 23-20 version. 4975, Jan 1 at 1335 with talk in Asian language, 1339 familiar music briefly as theme, Polovetsian Dances from Borodin's Prince Igor, then other music, fluttery, gone by 1355. It`s the VOR relay in Pashto/Dari at 13-15, same site and parameters (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Meanwhile: 4975, TAJIKISTAN. Voice of Russia – Yangiyul, 1338, 1/1/09, in (probable) Dari. Woman announcer ending likely news, start of a program with flute and different announcer. Fair (Mark Taylor, Madison, WI, R75, WinRadio G313e; Alpha Delta Sloper, EWE (oriented the "wrong" direction), NASWA yg via DXLD) 4765, Radio Tajikistan, Dec 31, 0156 - Good reception except for some deeper fades in presumed Tajik. Actual frequency measured on 4765.061 on the Perseus SDR. Seems to be // to very weak 7245 at 0205 when checked. I'm not 100% certain of this, though. Listening further, I don't think that's the case. 7245 is usually the FS, and I've rarely heard them on the west coast. The 60m channel is far easier to hear (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** THAILAND. 7520, Radio Farda, Dec 30, 2006 - Excellent reception with Persian music, and exactly in sync with its MW parallel of 1575 (also very good). All this at local noon in Masset! (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, BC, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) However, 1575 Farda is not from the megawatt in Thailand, which is taking its overnight break, but from the other side via UAE (gh, DXLD) ** THAILAND. 7570, Radio Thailand, Dec 30 1909 - Good to very good reception in English to Europe, except for cochannel Voice of Korea, P`yongyang in Spanish, which at times over-powers Thailand in strength. 9680, Radio Thailand, Dec 30, 0010 - Good reception, except for splatter from extremely strong CNR on 9675. English programming (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9725, R. Thailand, aimed SE from Udorn, but fairly good here to the NNE, Dec 31 at 1415 amid English semihour, item about Japan and Indonesia at the Institute of Peace and Democracy in Bali, spoken by YL with accent different than we hear from other Asians; music liner and 1417 into a 2-minute PSA by OM on the policy of the Thai government regarding VAT refunds. Enumerated lots of hoops to jump through, and I sure hope those tourists needing the info were recording or adept at shorthand. 1419 a pro-education PSA from ASEAN, ``ten nations --- one community``. 1420, weekly Thursday feature ``Health Focus`` on the medical benefits of bananas, such as in milkshakes vs heartburn; rub peels on mosquito bites, tnx to high potassium and magnesium content; reduce stroke risk by 40% per NZ Journal of Medicine; four times the protein of apples, and other good stuff, so make it ``a banana a day, keeps the doctor away``. Hmmm, does Thailand export bananas by any chance? Never see any here, but I couldn`t wait to munch a Guatemalan one for breakfast, congratulating myself on all the benefits I was ingesting (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TIBET. 4905, Jan 2 at 1400 Chinese talk and music, flutter, somewhat better than 4920 which is supposed to be // but did not confirm that. The only station listed on 4905 is PBS Xizang, Lhasa, but it`s supposed to be the first channel, in Tibetan, // MW 594. (BTW, looking up in WRTH 2010 page 143 I see a string of listings on ``595``, between 576 and 594, all of which must be typos for 585. These were correctly 585 in WRTH 2009.) Aoki also shows 4905 with no Chinese, mainly Tibetan except for a bit of English and Kham. So the Han are encroaching even on their Tibetan- language network? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TUNISIA. After the blob from Saipan [q.v.] cut off 9727 at 1558 Jan 4, it uncovered Arabic music on 9725, then at 1559 very expressive talk seemingly by or for children, 1600 heard same music theme twice, and presumed news in Arabic for adults. RTT supposedly opens this frequency at 1700 per Aoki, but WRTH has it from *1600, which is closer but still not early enough (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKEY. 9839.972, TRT Çakirlar with Georgian program at 1100-1200 UT. Turkish pop mx, S=9+10dB. Signal not stable frequency, wandered to 9839.977 kHz at 1153 UT (wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 2, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UKRAINE. 5830, RUI, Dec 30, 2218 - English program for Europe at poor to fair level. Male announcer has a very distinctive voice (as does the YL), identifiable from their Hello From Kyiv program. [and non]. 7440, Radio Ukraine International, Dec 30, 0000 - Interesting clash between RUI in Ukraine and presumed Voice of Burma via Wertachtal, both at about equal levels (both well heard). Haven't noticed this clash in Victoria. Cultural program for RUI in Ukrainian. At same time, 5830 was audible at fair level with RUI's German program. Many mentions of Yulia Tymoshenko (the present prime minister, and hoping to become president in January). 7510, RUI, Dec 30, 1956 - Fair reception in Ukrainian to Europe, but totally marred by ute interference on both sides of the channel. IS at 2000 and into English (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U A E. 1539, VOA Radio Aap Ki Dunyaa, Dec 30, 1624 - Absolutely armchair copy with Indian type music, presumably with their Urdu program. Best ever heard here! Still there at great level at 1710 recheck, but mixing with CNR1, which should be off at 1735. 1539, VOA Radio Aap Ki Dunyaa, Al-Dhabbaya, Jan 2, 1845 - Checking for Djibouti, but of course VOA completely dominates the channel in Urdu at armchair level. There is someone under though, so worth checking at the TOH. Earlier, CNR1 is very strong here before they sign-off at 1735 (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, BC, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 1539, VOA, Jan 2, 1937 - Noted VOA news in English at 2000 (noon local!) at excellent level, with occasional fade revealing possibly Djibouti underneath. Not listed in the PAL (the English program). This continued to 2005 and went back into Urdu (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, BC, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 1575, UAE, Radio Farda, Dec 30, 1808 - Good to very good level with Persian music. After 10:00 am local (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Below link below is from Google showing Radio Farda's towers in UAE. [1575 kHz, IBB] http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=24.233056,54.416111&=0.03805,0.06727&t=k&hl=en (Dennis Vroom, Salmon Creek, WA, IRCA via DXLD) Quite interesting; has four self-supporting in a diamond/square (gh, DXLD) ** U K [non]. RUSSIA: 6135, BBC WS via Vladivostok (per HFCC) with English s/on with ID although no mention of transmitter site. There was no IS, only an intermittent tone leading up to the sign on ... do they just not do ISs any more? At any rate, they had WS news until the audio cut out at 2206 (but the carrier remained) for over a minute and a half, when it returned there was an ‘in progress’ English program re the world economy, and IMF policies as well as other depressing things (Happy Christmas?) like unemployment figures in progress. They cut out again at 2222 at which time they had a prerecorded blip saying (OVER AND OVER!) “we’re sorry but we are unable to bring you our normal service at this time, we will return to our regular programmes as soon as we can” and offering that you can go to http://www.bbc.com/news until 2225:31 when they just went into a different BBCWorldService.com promo repeatedly. Note to BBC, if I want to browse the internet, I will; if I want to listen to the radio, I turn on a radio. Figure out the difference and stop trying to funnel everyone to the internet! Back with regular programming (news and “Digital Planet” tech programme with an item about Firefox for mobile devices) at BoH. SIO 343+ *2200-2255 25/Dec (Kenneth Vito Zichi, Williamston MI, MARE Tipsheet Jan 1 via DXLD) ** U K [non]. BBC Bangla changes its schedule to keep pace with Changes in Bangladesh Local time. BBC Bangla schedule from 1st January 2010 0030 - 0100 UT 6065, 9510, 11750 kHz 0130 - 0200 UT 9510, 11995 kHz 1330 - 1400 UT 5835, 7550, 11850 kHz 1630 - 1700 UT 6155, 7205, 9650 kHz Sunday Special Broadcast 1400 - 1500 UT on 7550, 11915 kHz BBC Bangla website does not mention these changes. Its frequency page http://www.bbc.co.uk/bengali/institutional/frequencies.shtml displays one year old b08 schedules (Supratik Sanatani, West Bengal, Dec 31, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [non]. Glenn, Here are the next dates for English football commentaries in Chinese. Saturday 9th January Hull v Chelsea 1245 Sunday 10th January Liverpool v Tottenham 1600 Saturday 16th January Man Utd v Burnley 1500 Sunday 17th January Bolton v Arsenal 1600 Saturday 30th January Liverpool v Bolton 1500 Sunday 31st January Arsenal v Man Utd 1600 (WRN Jan 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Still 6230 via Tashkent, UZBEKISTAN. Evidently the commentaries in English via Ukraine to Scandinavia have ended (gh, Jan 3, ibid.) No: Further match in English on 5800 kHz, Wednesday 6th January: Kick Off: 1945 – Arsenal v Bolton Wanderers Off Air: 2145 (WRN Jan 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) in advance on the yg ** U K [non]. BFBS TO REVIVE RADIO 2 THIS MONTH By Nathan Morley January 1, 2010 BFBS bosses are planning to revive the defunct Radio 2 service this month, just nine months after the station was axed and replaced with a pop-music channel. The easy-listening station, which was popular with ex-pats, was shut down in March 2009 after a series of cost cutting measures, which saw thirty staff lose their jobs. . . http://www.cyprus-mail.com/cyprus/bfbs-revive-radio-2-month/20100101 (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U K. The 2009 Radio Bloopers UK has been posted to YouTube. This edition's main theme is "It's important to teach your staff how to operate the equipment" and "Be aware of what you are reading before you say it out loud". This is the third annual collection, occasional bad language on all of the compilations which are at this link: http://www.youtube.com/user/radiobloopers (Mike Barraclough, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) There's also a website that regularly posts audio of various UK radio bloopers, that is frequently updated. Again, parental discretion is advised for some of the clips in terms of language! The site: Radiofail Web address: http://radiofail.wordpress.com/ (Ian Kelly, UK, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) ** U S A. OPINION --- IN THE WAR OF IDEAS, UNCLE SAM’S VOICE MUST BE HEARD. With a new board, government broadcasters like Voice of America could thrive again. By John Hughes / January 4, 2010, Provo, Utah During the cold war, radio networks like the Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Europe (RFE), and Radio Liberty (RL) played an important role in communist nations’ march to freedom. Today, in the war of ideas against Al Qaeda and other disciples of Islamist extremism, the US government’s international broadcasting operation is targeting Muslim and other audiences in Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, and a host of other lands where terrorists breed. The new age demands new technology, not only the latest forms of radio transmission, but TV, and Internet platforms delivering content, like President Obama’s address to Muslims last June, in real time to computers and mobile phones. In earlier years, the government radios came under the loose mantle of the United States Information Agency. When USIA was dismantled in 1999 and its remnants transferred to the State Department, the radios came under the authority of a new entity, the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG). The BBG provides oversight for all the government’s nonmilitary international broadcasting. Today the lineup includes not only VOA and RFE/RL but also Radio and TV Martí to Cuba, Radio Free Asia to a slew of Asian countries, Alhurra TV and Radio Sawa to Arab countries, and Radio Farda to Iran. Though the BBG has had some successes, it has in recent years become highly controversial. Established as a nonpartisan entity, it has at times been highly partisan. Not satisfied with mere oversight, it intruded like a collective CEO, shifting budgets and dictating which language services should run and not run. VOA’s longtime Arab-language service was canceled on grounds that Alhurra TV and Radio Sawa, broadcasting mainly pop music, covered the Arab world effectively. VOA’s Russian language service was canceled 12 days before Russia invaded Georgia. VOA’s English-language broadcasting was sharply curtailed. Eventually, membership of the eight-person board dwindled to the point where reaching a quorum, and thus the board’s utility, was problematic. Clearly, a shake-up was desirable. The good news is that the Obama administration recently opted for a clean sweep. It has nominated a new, fully bipartisan board with eight members. The chairman is to be Walter Isaacson, a respected former CEO of CNN and editor of Time magazine. The Senate must confirm them. The Senate recently approved a budget of $746 million for all broadcasting in the board’s coming financial year, $204 million for the flagship VOA. But the Senate and House, in a report accompanying approval, spoke sharply of the need to maintain key language services, especially VOA English and various other language services, which the outgoing board had wanted to cut. Once confirmed, the new board faces some unenviable challenges: •It must determine whether, with the rapid growth of private Arab TV networks like Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya, the government’s troubled Alhurra is an effective competitor. •It must decide whether, in the light of small audiences in Cuba, Radio Martí and TV Martí should continue to exist in their present form. •It must tackle the problem of overlapping broadcasting with other government entities. The State Department is pursuing its own radio programming to counter Taliban inroads in Afghanistan. The much better financed Department of Defense has a huge “strategic communication” plan – public diplomacy. •It must determine the appropriate balance between radio broadcasting, which is still the informational lifeline for millions, and television, which has become the new provider for many in the Arab world. There is also the powerful technology of the Internet’s social media to engage in a dialogue with a vast audience of friends and foes around the globe. With new voices on the BBG, it should be given a chance to succeed. John Hughes, a former editor of the Monitor, was director of the VOA in the Reagan administration. He writes a biweekly column for the Monitor's print weekly edition (via David Cole, Bastrop TX, DXLD) An important defect of the International Broadcasting Act of 1994 is that it did not provide for a CEO with authority over all the US international broadcasting entities. And, so, the BBG must be a collective CEO. "Shifting budgets and dictating which language services should run and not run" are among the BBG's most important tasks. Otherwise, duplication within US international broadcasting would be even worse than it is now. Mr. Hughes' reference to the State Department doing broadcasting and the Defense Department doing public diplomacy points out the American befuddlement about which agency should do which type of international communication. Here's a schema: The State Department should provide public diplomacy globally (minus the United States). The Defense Department should conduct information operations in its areas of combat, defined restrictively. The BBG should transmit accurate and reliable news to places where the news available domestically is biased or otherwise deficient. See also Kim Andrew Elliott, "The New BBG Can Expect Occasional Poor Reception," http://uscpublicdiplomacy.com/index.php/newswire/cpdblog_detail/the_new_bbg/ USC Center on Public Diplomacy, 18 December 2009. Posted: 02 Jan 2010 (Kim Andrew Elliott, kimandredelliott.com via DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. FILIPINO WOMAN, MOROCCAN FAMILY GIVE UP LIVES OVERSEAS TO GIVE CHILDREN BETTER OPPORTUNITIES, THANKS TO HELP FROM QUINCY MAN --- By DAVID ADAM Herald-Whig Staff Writer How they got to Quincy Originally from northeast Ohio, David Strawman was recruited by Harris Corporation to Quincy in 1975. One of the projects he became involved with was Voice of America, which produces high frequency shortwave non-military radio and television programming for the U.S. government in 62 languages. It has an audience of approximately 125 million people. . . Strawman, 61, manages the IBB in the Philippines and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), a U.S. territory with a population of about 80,000 people in the western Pacific Ocean. He and his wife, Karen, maintain a home in Quincy (and he actually spent three months of vacation time here this fall), but he has lived overseas for 21 years in Greece, Thailand, Morocco and the Philippines. Strawman manages 300 employees at four sites in the Philippines and CNMI, and after nearly two decades of living internationally, "you get to know the cultures and you get to know the people," he said. "These people become your family." Some of the better employees working for Strawman -- and the U.S. government -- eventually become eligible to receive a special immigrant visa (SIV). Candidates must have at least 20 years of "exceptional" service and be sponsored by a government employee, and they must show they can survive in the United States . . . [more] http://www.whig.com/printerfriendly/Immigrants-010309 (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. "VOA DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A BALUCHI LANGUAGE SERVICE!" "Right now you are playing with the lives of young American boys and girls from the countryside by not talking to us. You are proposing drone attacks but the Voice of America doesn’t even have a Baluchi language service! A simple language service would cost you less than what it costs to maintain a single US soldier in Afghanistan." Pakistani Baluch journalist Ahmar Mustikhan, interviewed by Stewart J. Lawrence, CounterPunch, 30 December 2009. Posted: 01 Jan 2010 (kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. 9565 fair in SW Asian language, Dec 31 at 1455 vs lite DentroCuban jamming way off-time. Uplooked later in Aoki, it`s IBB`s Deewa Radio in Pashto, via Wertachtal, GERMANY at 75 degrees; haven`t noticed it before. I am *still* hearing DRM noise on 9445-9450-9455, such as Dec 31 at 1817, even tho it is not on any schedule I can find: HFCC, Aoki, EiBi, and even http://www.drm-dx.de/ which was supposedly updated just today. We can only assume this prolongs the test from IBB Greenville with HCJB assistance which started in August (?), altho not initially on these frequencies. I can`t find any recent reports of it in the DRM Software Radio Forums; are they even aware of it? And the last mention of this in the drmna yg was November 27. 11975, VOA English like a local signal, directly off the back from Greenville, report on malaria in Africa, Dec 31 at 1820, but gone after 1830. Unfortunately, GB uses 11975 only for this semihour, tho missing from Aoki probably because it started after B-09 season began. Per EiBi, VOA English on 11975 continues at 1830-1900 but via Thailand, so no wonder not audible here; and 1900-2100 back to Bonaire, whence well heard again. [non]. 11525, fair but fluttery, VOA World News Now, Jan 2 at 1528 with Today in History, the jam-packed 2-minute segment hourly at this time, announcer properly pronouncing ``short-lived`` with a long I, since the term derives from ``life``, which is not pronounced ``liff``, and whenever that happens I find it worthy of note. 9310 at 1534 Jan 2, VOA, Art Chimes introducing science-technology magazine show, ``Our World``, // 11525 but about one second ahead of it. 9310 is 283 degrees from Tinang, PHILIPPINES, while 11525 is 25 degrees from Iranawila, SRI LANKA (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7840 Spur, NORTH CAROLINA, Voice of America, Greenville. 1310-1320 January 2, 2010. Spurious piece of the Tarheel State here with VOA Spanish, parallel 9885, 13715, 15590 (all Greenville) with male hosting US Country music program. Fair (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Must be a mixing product, but nothing fits among those three frequencies. What else is on from Greenville at that hour? Aha, can it be coincidental that 2 x 9885 minus 11930 = 7840? I think not! 11930 is of course R. Martí which starts at 1300. BTW, I see that frequency is missing from Aoki (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. Frequency change for Voice of America in Tibetan: 1400-1500 NF 11695 LAM 100 kW / 075 deg, ex 15530 BIB, re-ex 17520 BIB (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Jan 4 via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Updated winter B-09 schedule of Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty Arabic 0200-0700 on 1593 R.Free IRQ 1500-1530 on 1593 1830-2000 on 1593 2100-2300 on 1593 Avari 0400-0420 on 5885 15205 1600-1620 on 9725 11605 Azeri 1600-1700 on 7480 9485 Belorussian 0400-0600 on 612 6105 6120 1600-1800 on 612 7220 9520 1800-2000 on 612 6150 9865 2000-2200 on 612 5825 7220 Chechen 0420-0440 on 5885 15205 1620-1640 on 9725 11605 Cherkassian 0440-0500 on 5885 15205 1640-1700 on 9725 11605 Dari 0330-0430 on 1296 9335 12140 15335 R.Free AFG 0530-0630 on 1296 12140 17530 19010 0730-0830 on 1296 12140 17530 19010 0930-1030 on 1296 12140 17530 19010 1130-1230 on 1296 9335 9990 12140 1330-1430 on 1296 9335 12140 Kazakh 0100-0200 on 7235 9790 1300-1400 on 9445 15450 Kyrgyz 1200-1230 on 9465 13755 1500-1530 on 7480 11790 Pashto 0230-0330 on 1296 9335 12140 15335 R.Free AFG 0430-0530 on 1296 12140 15335 19010 0630-0730 on 1296 12140 17530 19010 0830-0930 on 1296 12140 17530 19010 1030-1130 on 1296 9990 12140 19010 1230-1330 on 1296 9335 9990 12140 Persian 0000-2400 on 1575 Radio Farda 0000-0030 on 6115 0030-0200 on 5860 6115 7415 0200-0230 on 5860 6115 7415 9765 0230-0300 on 5925 6115 9765 15690 0300-0400 on 5860 5925 9765 15690 0400-0500 on 5860 9430 9760 13615 15690 0500-0600 on 5860 9760 12015 13615 15690 0600-0700 on 5860 9760 13615 15535 15690 17675 17840 0700-0730 on 5860 9520 9760 13615 15535 15690 17675 17840 21715 0730-0830 on 5860 9520 9585 13615 15535 15690 17675 17840 21715 0830-0900 on 5860 9520 13615 15535 15690 17840 21715 0900-0930 on 5860 13615 15535 15690 17815 17840 21715 0930-1200 on 5860 11690 13615 15690 17815 17840 21715 1200-1230 on 5860 13615 15410 15690 17840 21715 1230-1300 on 5860 13615 13680 15410 15690 21715 1300-1400 on 5860 11750 13615 13680 15410 15690 21715 1400-1500 on 11750 13615 13680 15410 1500-1530 on 7520 9485 13615 13680 15410 1530-1600 on 7520 9485 11790 13615 13680 15410 1600-1700 on 7520 7580 13615 1700-1730 on 7520 7580 9785 11885 1730-1800 on 7520 7580 9785 1800-1900 on 7520 7580 9595 1900-1930 on 7520 7580 9335 9570 1930-2000 on 7520 7580 9335 9570 9925 2000-2130 on 7485 7520 7580 9335 9925 2130-2230 on 7520 7580 9925 2230-2300 on 7520 9925 2300-2330 on 7520 Moldovian 0500-0600 on 5890 Mon-Fri 1600-1630 on 5850 Sat/Sun 1700-1730 on 6135 Mon-Fri 1900-1930 on 6135 Mon-Fri Russian 0400-0600 on 5840 7230 9520 17770 0600-0700 on 9520 9535 15250 17770 0700-0800 on 9535 12015 15250 15285 0900-1100 on 7220 9520 15130 1300-1400 on 9715 13660 15130 1400-1500 on 7225 9715 15130 1500-1600 on 7225 7280 11805 11870 1600-1700 on 7305 9790 11805 11870 12020 1700-1800 on 7435 9405 9640 12025 1800-1900 on 5820 6105 9405 9435 9625 1800-1900 on 9525 9780 >>>>> Caucasus Echo 1900-2000 on 5820 6105 9405 2000-2100 on 5895 6150 9520 2100-2200 on 6105 7335 7425 Tajik 0100-0300 on 7275 11795 0300-0400 on 9740 11795 1400-1500 on 7215 9695 1500-1700 on 7260 9695 Tatar 0400-0500 on 5940 7220 0600-0700 on 11730 1600-1700 on 5895 7380 2000-2100 on 7470 Turkmen 0200-0300 on 864 7295 12015 0300-0400 on 5955 12015 1400-1500 on 6055 9445 1500-1530 on 6055 9835 1530-1600 on 864 6055 9835 1600-1800 on 5820 6060 Uzbek 0200-0400 on 9680 12025 15590 1400-1500 on 9595 11715 12015 1500-1530 on 864 1600-1700 on 6060 9625 9760 (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Jan 4 via DXLD) ** U S A. Still QRXing for the first appearance of WTWW, Lebanon TN: owner/operator/engineer George McClintock told me Dec 29 that the ex- KAIJ transmitter had to be kept in storage longer than expected so some things deteriorated, still requiring repair or replacement, such as rubber parts, beryllium springs holding tubes, etc., so not likely to start this year. Also, despite what Pastor Pete Peters may think and be publicizing, no final commitment on programming has been made, which in any event will only follow after a period of testing. WTWW did make it on the air in 2009, Central Time, at least: transmitter first fired up at 0545-0600 UT January 1, 2010, George McClintock tells me, with 15 kW on 5755, but just with carrier and squealing tones, like sometimes audible on WWCR and others, showing that some modules need to be replaced. But did anyone hear it? No reports have been received yet, nor have I heard it, so this is info, not a log. He says the FCC has been extremely helpful, willing to authorize program test authority upon filing of the licence application by e- mail; but not yet ready for that. The high voltage meter had been wired backwards, so he fixed that. Some other problems: getting the water pumping properly for the cooling system, but that and the leaks have now been fixed; a couple bad buttons on the frequency selection keypad, so only eight funxion instead of ten. However, WTWW will surely not need all those, altho George says there are some frequency issues to be resolved, and would like to try some others besides these two. Yet to test on other registered frequency, 9480, unknown when. 5755 was on again the next night, no time given; did anyone catch that? The latest as of Jan 2, Saturday morning: ``Now have audio to transmitter. Ran ID audio on carrier (5755) for about 5 minutes last night before an overload. I will need to look at this today. Transmitter ran about 35 kW. Tube is mounted in water and will need to get new water cleaning agent before proceeding forward in power.`` George McClintock advised that WTWW Lebanon TN was testing on the air at 0235 UT January 6, only 2.5 kW, and some arcing problems, so would probably not be on much longer that evening. I quickly checked 5755 0238-0245 and could detect a carrier, and I think some modulation but too weak vs the noise level. Anyone hearing them better? Later he said he got a report from High Point, NC where reception was OK. Only problem remaining to be worked out is some kind of overload causing transmitter to trip off if power raised above 5 kW. Antenna loads up nicely on 5755, not quite so well on 9480; may go to a higher band which would work better. Using a CRL audio processor which is better than Optimod. Still no final decision on programming. Taking necessary time to get everything right, rather than a rush-job. A 2- minute video of work on the modulator is now on the website http://wtww.us A good view of what it looks like inside the transmitter building, with George McClintock and helpers (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. WRMI observations on 9955, Dec 30: at 1239 preacher in English, good signal, no jamming audible. Seems it usually starts just before 1300 when Radio Cuba Libre used to air. Wavescan had been scheduled at 1230 Wednesdays, but apparently not today unless I caught them in a devotional break. Pulse rather than wall jamming was still going at 1542 vs something in Spanish, when DX Partyline was previously scheduled. At 1635, could barely detect new WORLD OF RADIO 1493 at its first airing, but no jamming audible. Apparently WRMI is still not able to use its NW antenna during the 15-17 block (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn: We just made a last-minute decision to rebroadcast the two special live Happy Station programs. The program that ran live from 0200 to 0400 UT Thursday will be repeated at 0200-0400 UT Friday, and the program that ran live from 1600 to 1800 UT Thursday will be repeated at 0400-0600 UT Friday. So four hours of Happy Station New Years Eve programming to the Americas tomorrow night [NY eve]. (This will unfortunately pre-empt WOR, Wavescan and some other programs for this one-time event.) We have an engineer coming to Miami to hopefully resolve the antenna problem "once and for all" around the second or third week of January. We might be able to have the North American antenna working again provisionally sooner than that, but I can't say for sure at this point (Jeff White, WRMI, Dec 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WRMI, 9955, Monday Jan 4 at 1543 in Italian with Studio DX, weak but fortunately no jamming, so don`t say I never have anything nice to say about the DentroCuban Jamming Command. There was however a fast SAH and some co-channel audio, no doubt Family Radio as scheduled in Russian via Tainan, Taiwan. They are making progress, with only a SAH instead of the previous audible heterodyne, further off-frequency. Also in clear, DX Partyline from 1601 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. As I tuned by WYFR, 15210, Dec 30 at 1507, paused for a moment as an Open Forum caller told Mr. Camping, ``If 2011 comes and goes, you`ll be a basket-case`` (implying he is not already). But he replied with absolute certainty: ``May 21, 2011 will be the end of the Gospel --- it absolutely will happen!!`` We can hardly wait for the Rapture to get rid of all the wackos on earth, taking Family Radio with them. Trouble is, he has done this end-of-world date-predicting a few times before with embarrassing results, but ever-optimistic. 15785, Dec 30 at 1615, VG signal in Arabic, this one hour only, as scheduled northeastward from WYFR, despite being northwestward from O`bee. No sign of Galei Tsahal, ISRAEL on or near the frequency, and since it`s not in HFCC, the WYFR frequency manager might not have been aware of it, surely causing a collision in the target area. However, have not heard GZ at any time for quite a while on 19m, so is it inactive? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) No, it is not inactive: see ISRAEL, heard in Italy, OK (gh) FAMILY RADIO'S HAROLD CAMPING ANNOUNCES DATE OF THE RAPTURE http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/01/01/BA8V1AV589.DTL&feed=rss.news I think the date actually corresponds to the peak of the current sunspot cycle (W9VQ, Norman Wald, Jan 2, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Also via Yimber Gaviría, Colombia That would be a little early unless there is a very rapid rise. The SFGate story explains how Camping arrives at that date, May 21, 2011, silly goose. That`s what they get for promoting an engineer to be an evangelist: for starters, why should an omniscient, omnipotent god think only in terms of the decimal system like Camping, upon which all of this depends according to his calculation? Can`t think outside the box. We may look forward to May 21, 2011, when Family Radio will vanish from all over our SW bands (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DXLD) This is a little off topic. But I though I needed to respond: I really think that we know a lot more today than what Harold Camping said. I have heard that the season of things in Revelation are things that are to come to pass and is near us. And that a whole bunch of things are yet to come. But 2011 in my studies may be a little too premature. People like Bro. Camping are using the old way of looking for Jesus by misinterpreting the Revelation. There are things that were interpreted as signs that has come and the rest of the book is then spiritualized as each step is pulled out of the book of Revelation. The way to look at Revelation in the Bible is to interpret it and other related books of the Old Testament as the literal guide to the end of time as we know it. The thing to remember is we`re one more step toward the day that these days will occur. I can read the literature of end time prophecy to know what the latest thing will happen but at the same time you'd better ask if his account of Revelation turns out to be true. So if it turns out to be true and the winds of time affirms this prophetic occurrence to be true, then he is one to pay attention to. I don't believe Harold Camping is the true prophet that the New Testament alludes to and he might turn out to be a false prophet on this subject. We should agree that he is a good teacher of the word and he has his SW stations and his network of stations is good at spreading the Gospel. But things like this are more of a surprise than anything else (Rick Lewis, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) This whole end-of-the-world / rapture / Revelation / biblical prophecy stuff is total BS. If Camping has even got you to take any of it, or him, the least bit seriously, he has done his job. The only ``end- times`` we need to worry about are those potentially caused by humanity`s rape of nature, or probably inevitable asteroid strike, another accident of celestial mechanix (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The guy who wrote an article didn't do such a good job. Harold Camping doesn't believe in rapture in popular US evangelical understanding. He does predict the coming of Christ on a set date but that's not the chapter from Left Behind series. My sources tell me that very few workers of Family R. believe in Camping's predictions. But he maintains a full control of the small Board. As the result, little can be done for now (Sergei S., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. GERMANY, Frequency change of WYFR Family Radio via MB from Dec. 30 1400-1500 NF 9770 NAU 500 kW / 082 deg to SEAs, ex 11995 in English 1400-1500 NF 15315 WER 500 kW / 105 deg to SoAs, ex 17670 in Malayalam 1500-1600 NF 9675*NAU 500 kW / 084 deg to SoAs, ex 11610 in Gujarati 1500-1600 NF 11610 WER 500 kW / 090 deg to SoAs, ex 13655 in Kannada *co-channel Voice of Russia in English to WeEu in DRM mode (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Jan 4 via DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. 5745, WYFR in English, fair Jan 3 at 0607 mixed with pulses from the DentroCuban Jamming Command, which only *needs* to jam 5745 at 11-14 when R. Martí is using it! WYFR is scheduled 05- 10, and runs such a risk by daring to use an elsewhen jammed channel. WWRB is also authorized on 5745 at 21-04, but I think they are not using it so long, perhaps because of more offtime jamming? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 13570, Dec 30 at 1613 tuneby, the unmistakable monotone of convicted child-sex-offending evangelist Tony Alamo, good signal on WINB interfering with CODAR, now almost seven weeks since he was sentenced to 175 years in prison, inconsequential for this SW station of the scum (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. The US-based Adventist World Radio finally has a US station carrying its programming: WINB. Sunday Jan 3 at 1438, when 9265 was on the air unlike weekdays, concluding Your Story Hour with contact info, mentioned 3ABN (7DA`s Three Angels Broadcasting Network; actually I am not sure how closely related are AWR and 3ABN, mainly on satellite and as feeder to domestic outlets. Could be they have doctrinal differences like the ``Historic Adventist`` ex-WVHA crowd? But YSH is a longtime Adventist program carried by AWR.) Trouble is, YSH is not on the WINB program schedule, even tho it was just updated December 6: http://www.winb.com/schedule.htm nor is anything like it on the programs by title. They also still unabashedly include Tony Alámo, convicted child-sex predator, sentenced to 175 years in prison. BTW, despite the December update, WINB still thinx Eastern Time is 4 hours behind UT. I suppose that makes the ET listings correct as EST, with all the UT times shown as one hour off (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. DXing with Cumbre "confirmed" time on DX PROGRAMS list http://www.worldofradio.com/dxpgms.html Hi, Glenn! Last weekend I finally remembered to tune in on 9410 to hear that sole "confirmed" airing of DX w/C you have on the DX Pgms list [Sunday 1200]. Well, maybe it was because of this holiday season, but it wasn't there. I did hear a WHR ID, but at the 1200 UT time there was a ranting shouting preacher instead. I did hear your WoR comment about the monitored WHR sked in DXLD 9-086 and have printed it out for future reference. Now, if we can get the program titles added to it... :-) (That'd be a good assignment for some fanatical Xtian; have to be, to endure hearing all that stuff...) Have a Happy New Year! 73, (Will Martin, MO, Dec 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Tnx for checking. Now noted in the Jan 1 update of DX Programs. Will Martin reports that the only known SW airtime for DXing with Cumbre, Sunday 1200 on WHRI 9410, was replaced by a preacher on Dec 27, so I checked Jan 3 at 1220: yes, preacher, no Marie. However, searching on the WHR website by program host, ``Marie Lamb``, it now shows the 1200 broadcast on 9410 as Saturday instead of Sunday. Previously, we had confirmed that when it was on Sunday at this time, it was not on Saturday, tho listed for both. Readout now claims 18 other airings per week on WHRI, and 9 on T8WH, all of which are probably imaginary, but maybe on corresponding webcasts/satellite feeds. If anyone axually hears DXing with Cumbre on SW, which it seems is no longer produced every week, perhaps leading to many of its scheduled times missing, please let us know (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. 11715, nothing but Tagalog audible, Jan 2 at 1515, i.e. R. Veritas Asia, via Vatican at 130 degrees; no trace of robokids underneath even during modulation pauses, so where is KJES? WRTH 2010 shows 14-17 on 11715 to NAm, from which you would not know that they rotate the antenna every hour, from 70 to 350 to 150 degrees, per FCC and Aoki, the first two hours in English, then Spanish. 350 is certainly unfavorable for here, so we should try during the previous hour 14-15 when it`s supposedly aimed 70 degrees from The Lord`s Ranch, right on Oklahoma City, but really too close and may be skipping over if really on and the MUF is adequate; the collision then is with R. Liberty, Uzbek via Lampertheim, Germany. The 70-degree boresight from Vado NM carries on thru Cairo IL, Lexington KY, between which the first hop should come down best, exiting North America across the DelMarVa Peninsula, and next hitting land at Dakhla, ex-Villa Cisneros, Western Sahara. 70 degrees is not used at all on its other frequencies 7555 and 15385. We suspect KJES operation is quite irregular. However, tho FCC, HFCC, WRTH and EiBi all show it daily, no doubt reflecting its authorization, Aoki says it runs M-F only, and this was a Saturday. In any event, another instance of Vatican collisions, Catholix vs pseudo- Catholix. Re my previous comments about KJES missing from 11715 on Saturday: still missing on Monday during the one hour scheduled to be aimed toward Oklahoma, Jan 4 at 1448, nothing at all audible but presumed Uzbek from RFE Lampertheim. Of course, the last we heard KJES, it was just barely modulated anyway, so perhaps they have given up? See also PHILIPPINES [non] for next hour on 11715 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Unknown religious station --- Anybody out there any idea what religious preaching I'm listening to at 1615 UT on 15420 kHz? It`s fairly poor strength & certainly isn't the BBC! It sounds very much like the Overcomer ministry. However both Eibi & Aoki only list WBCQ on the frequency starting at 1700 (Russ Cummings, Hull, UK, Jan 2, BDXC yg via DXLD) At 1730 UT I can only hear BBCWS on 15420 with "Sports World" in parallel with 15400. No trace of any religious station now. But it could have been WBCQ that Russ heard earlier (Dave Kenny, ibid.) I must assume it is WBCQ; however their website states that they don't start until 1800 on this frequency with the "Global Spirit Proclamation" http://schedule.wbcq.com/main.php?fn=show_program&id=19 Thanks, (Russ Cummings, ibid.) As I have reported a number of times, WBCQ does carry Brother Scare on 15420-CUSB (+ remnant LSB) on Saturday (Sabbath) mornings only, from about 1500, I believe, despite never appearing on their schedule, which has a number of other anomalies. If there is any doubt it`s BS, try // WWRB 9385, or [formerly, it seems] WWCR 13845. WBCQ should have still been on the air well past 1730 to 2200, switching over to Global Spirit Proclamation at some point. It makes a terrible clash with BBC here until 1900 (which is via South Africa 17- 19, and via Cyprus before 17). 73, (Glenn Hauser, OK, ibid.) e.g.: 15420, SOUTH AFRICA. BBC (Meyerton), 1811-1815, 1/3/2010, English. Man and woman with news and commentary. Audible behind excited female preacher with chanting style prayer via WBCQ (Jim Evans, Germantown, TN, RX-340, R8B, IC-R75, E1, ICF-SW7600G, Random Wires (90' and 200'), ALA100M, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 9369.787, NORTH CAROLINA, WTJC, Newport. 0808-0818 January 2, 2010. English Christian vocals, canned promo mentioning that you can listen not just on your car radio (I guess in reference to AM affiliates), but also online at fbnradio.com. Excellent signal, shoddy frequency alignment. Measured on the ICOM IC-R75 (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9369.924, odd frequency of WTJC Morehead City with week S=6-7 signal on Dec 28 at 0840 UT. 7505.702, odd frequency of WRNO New Orleans with S=7 signal on Dec 29 at 0430-0500 UT (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 1 via DXLD) 7505, WRNO. 0403-0419. 02 Jan 2010. English. Inspirational music with a very strong signal hampered by very deep fades. Continuous music with a canned ID as “This is W-R-N-O” at 0412. Can anybody tell me where they are broadcasting? The reception ranged from VG to Poor (Joe Wood, Greenback TN, Eton E1, DX 390, Grundig PE-100, Flextenna, and 7 Metre Random wire, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) What do you mean, ``where they are broadcasting?`` -- from , or to? Transmitter is where it has always been, Metairie, Louisiana, suburban New Orleans. Studio in Fort Worth TX. To: 20 degree azimuth, i.e. SW Ontario. A more pertinent question would be: WHY are they broadcasting? (gh, DXLD) I believe that the older facilities at Metarie LA are completely kaput. One of our flock thinks he saw an item (somewhere) that WRNO's current xmtr is in Texas. Any info on actual location? A quick Google check was no help (Harold Frodge, MI, Jan 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The current owner`s HQ and studios are in Fort Worth. I am sure the transmitter is still in Metairie LA. There was a big cover article in Monitoring Times a few months ago, by a guy who visited it, with photos (Glenn to Harold, via DXLD) Gracias. I recall seeing a pic of the facilities several years ago, and it was pretty pathetic looking. I'll go with Metairie (Harold Frodge, ibid.) ** U S A. 13845, WWCR at 1555 Sunday Jan 3 was carrying PMS // 11775 Anguilla, instead of Brother Scare, who supposedly is 7 days at 15-19, as we also heard on a corrected announcement a few days ago at the 1500 changeover. WWCR 15825 had a good altho not solid signal, at 1557 Jan 3, so I tried 18770 just in case, the second harmonic of nearby WWRB 9385, and there it was, Brother Scare clearly readable, so that compensates for losing out on 13845. No sign of sporadic E on VHF, unfortunately (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also SOUTH CAROLINA [non] 3215, open carrier at 2227 Dec 31, no doubt WWRB wasting its watts (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) More below: LYQ 529 ** U S A. 15550, WJHR, Dec 30, 1812 - First time I've heard this one from Milton, FL. At poor to fair level in USB with preaching. I suspect that this one will get stronger as our short day goes on. Fair to good level at 1954 recheck. ID at 2002 after a brief hymn, and then back into the 40 years of recorded sermons! (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15550, 02/Jan 2236, Há alguns dias que não escuto mais o sinal da WJHR (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana Bahia, Brasil, condiglist yg via DXLD) 15550-USB, have not been able to hear WJHR for several days now checking around 1500, nor occasionally later in the day, e.g. 1757 UT Jan 5. Could be on and just too weak to pull thru the noise level without some enhanced propagation (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 3325-USB, Navy MARS net, Fri Jan 1 at 2358, NNN0AVT explaining a WinMor (?) program and then running digital test. Googling indicates this is in the Kansas/Nebraska area (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4517-SSB, AF MARS net Sunday Jan 3 at 1410, with AFF7MO, Gene, conveniently giving his e-mail address based on his ham call, WA0KHP. This was during an informal QSO without giving any callsigns for several minutes, off topic into global-warming-doubting, as tends to happen in winter when it`s still cold, duh. Finally IDed at 1414, and his contact was AFA7DP. ARRL lookup shows WA0KHP as: FOLLMER, EUGENE L, WA0KHP (General), 34 NW 79TH ST, KANSAS CITY, MO 64118-1434 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Boldly looking for Radio Symban, 2368.5, tho there were only very weak carriers from the 100 kW 120m Aussies, Dec 30 at 1249, I was hearing instead a beacon with nothing but A2 ID over and over, ``LSA`` --- a beacon on 120m? Could it be an harmonic? Yes! Searching on that call at http://www.dxinfocentre.com/ndb.htm we find LSA is in Lamesa TX, on 338 kHz, and SEVEN x 338 = 2366. It had been hard to pin down the exact frequency as it was beating against another (?) carrier producing negative keying, i.e. a tone when there should be silence. Lamesa is S of Lubbock on the way to Midessa, due east of Hobbs NM. It really helps to tune 120m with BFO on, more effective against the noise level, and also upturning signals like this otherwise missed, not a bad substitute for Symban, but also could bloQRM it elsewhere. If LSA puts out a seventh harmonic, chances are it puts out others, in this case more likely odds than evens. Frequencies to check: 676, 1014, 1352, 1690, 2028, (2366), 2704, 3042 . . . I don`t think I`ve ever heard a LW beacon harmonic on SW before; or I should say above the MW broadcast band 1700, since 2366 is still MW. I found a couple of 2+ year old logs of it on 338 in the MARE Tipsheet. Also have looked for it subsequent mornings and other night times, but unheard. S/N ratio is the killer, but like many beacons it could be turned on only on request as a flight approaches a small airport (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 2366, Jan 4 at 1400, the seventh harmonic of beacon LSA in Lamesa TX, as previously identified, was again just barely audible, but could not get past the negative keying, and I have a hard time reversing my brain to copy Morse code that way. No sign of it on x9 = 3042, and it would be pointless to attempt it on x5 = 1690, a broadcast channel (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Why Dave Franz (WWRB) picked 529 kHz for his aircraft beacon (LYQ) is beyond me. Seems to me he would want a clear spot without any interference from Radio Enciclopedia. He's operating split channel at 529 kHz. The LW channels are 9 kHz and they would go 504, 513, 522, and 531. He should be at 522. It would be awful for an aircraft (flying at night) relying on his LYQ beacon to crash because of interference from Radio Enciclopedia. Does the FCC know about this (or even care)? (Lou Johnson, KF4EON, Jan 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Agreed, the frequency choice doesn`t make sense, but I doubt if anyone ever uses LYQ for its explicit purpose, aeronautical navigation, except perhaps pilot Dave himself. We suspect not everything is as it seems there. 529 is not LW, but MW. EurAsian 9-kHz spacing on MW and LW broadcast bands is not really relevant here. Beacons can be at any kHz or sometimes even split-kHz (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1860-AM, WA0RCR in MO, Jan 3 at 0621 with classic Jean Shepherd monolog somehow mixing being hung up on a girl he wanted to take out, with a young man`s conflicting desire to spend the few dollars he had on some component at a ham radio store; that was from This Week in Amateur Radio, altho it dates from many years before this week, Shep`s WOR radio show. It seems WA0RCR may broadcast entertainment as well as information (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1700, KVNS Brownsville TX is about three times as far as KKLF in Richardson TX, but periodically overcomes it, e.g. Dec 30 at 2200 UT with ID like ``Playing the best of the 60s and 70s, Classic Hits 1700, KVNS Brownsville and The Rio Grande Valley``; shortly fading back below an ESPN station, presumably KBGG Des Moines IA. These three are close to collinear from here, but caradio antenna is nondirexional anyway. Also heard KVNS some other times peaking in the late afternoons before sunset (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. As I was falling asleep, Jan 3 around 0645 UT, old time radio show on 1670. Must be WTDY Madison WI, which favors far-right wacko talkhosts much of the time, Beck, Miller, Medved, Ingraham, but per sked http://www.wtdy.com/content/SHOWS-16.html When Radio Was is indeed on its air UT Sundays 05-08. This title does *not* refer to ``when radio was subject to the Fairness Doctrine``. Also of possible interest: UT Mondays 00-03, Sunday Night Bandstand with Ben Benedetti (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. I have heard KXTR 1660 Kansas City several times since last report, with classical music, but Jan 4 at 2145 UT on caradio I was hearing nothing on the frequency but ``ESPN 1660``. Since the predicted temps were negative F, must have been KQWB ND rather than KRZI TX (and we never hear WBMX NC here --- all with ESPN per NRC AM Log). It faded down a few minutes later, and there was a SAH, and then barely detectable classical music, so apparently KXTR was on the air after all, but why so weak? Chicago 1690 and Madison 1670 were also in at the time. KXTR has been off and on for some weeks due to antenna work. Could be they are running much less than 10 kW at the moment; hope it is not a permanent reduxion in power or skywave coverage. But homepage http://www.kxtr.com no longer says anything about antenna work. BTW, the player which linx to all Entercom stations puts this and a bunch of its other KC stations in the KC KS, not MO market. Of course, it`s really both, but the MO side is larger and usually dominates. KXTR`s city of license is KC KS and KXTR transmitter site is in fact in Kansas, at 94-36-56 W longitude, i.e. less than one minute west of the straight N-S border between the states, counties, and cities. The same meridian is named State Line Road, at least a bit further south, and I have driven it with the peculiar feeling of being in two places at once, but nothing like the Four Corners monument, until we found out it is in the wrong place. However, classical music was dominating 1660 at 0648 UT Jan 5. Possibly the daytime reception (non) was a propagational quirk. KXTR is the ONLY MW signal normally audible here playing classical music, as there are NO public radio stations left on MW in this part of the country, let alone any other commercial classicals. What a vast wasteland, culturally, geographically and frequencially. Even CBC has banned classical music from Radio One, often audible via CBW 990 --- the closest they come is Inside the Music, UT Mondays 0305-0400, but that`s a lot of talk ABOUT classical music (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. KGBC 1540 Galveston sells out to the ChiCom, literally : see CHINA [non] ** U S A. While bandscanning on the caradio for TA carriers, also happened upon KKOB, 770, Albuquerque NM, Dec 30 at 2349 UT, with 39- degree temp, ad for NYE at a casino, some guy from Oklahoma subbing for regular local talkhost; he`s normally heard on KNML-610. Topic of the moment: ABQ`s DUI policy. Some noise from WBBM 780 IBOC. This is one of the best times to hear KKOB, after sunset here but before sunset there when they go extremely direxional westward. According to the FCC SR/SS table for KKOB coordinates: http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/srsstime?dlat=35&mlat=12&slat=9.00&dlon=106&mlon=36&slon=41.00&tzone=C LSS in December is 5:00 pm MST = 0000 UT. In January they gain a quarter-hour until 0015 UT. Interesting that the *other* KKOB, the nondirexional 230 watt fill-in co-channel relay in Santa Fe, has a different sunset time in December of 4:45 pm: http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/srsstime?dlat=35&mlat=40&slat=56.00&dlon=105&mlon=58&slon=21.00&tzone=C FCC classifies it as an ``experimental synchronous operation``. But I suppose they don`t turn it on until the primary transmitter goes direxional a quarter-hour later. Even so, at certain places between the two cities the signals interfere with each other, and I believe someone reported they are not precisely zero-beat as one would expect. While we are there, we see that the sunrise times are 7:00 am MST in Dec, 7:15 in Jan, i.e. 1400 and 1415 UT for both cities, when we should also have a good chance eastward if we are not too far away. The KKOB ABQ night pattern is a classic two-tower broad cardioid with a deep null toward New York (and Enid, and less precisely, Santa Fe): http://www.fcc.gov/ftp/Bureaus/MB/Databases/AM_DA_patterns/84381-2608.pdf BTW, KKOB and KKOB are bankrupt Citadel stations, so may we expect some changes? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Hi Glenn, I just ran across a station on 1190 that had me rather confused for a while there. It turns out to KQQZ, De Soto/St. Louis, MO. This is a call letter change from the former KRFT. Fair to good sig here with some XECT QRM. They play classic C&W music with IDs as "The all new KQQZ 1190" and "Cool killer country, KQQZ." Features CNN news headlines around the TOH but not always precisely at the top. They have streaming audio online at : http://kqqz1190am.com/streaming.htm A report on: http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/68061/new-owners-make-changes-at-st-louis-ams has this to say about the change: ``KRFT-A and WFFX-A/ST. LOUIS have changed its call letters under new owner ENTERTAINMENT MEDIA TRUST (INSANE BROADCASTING COMPANY) to KQQZ- A and WQQX-A, and the stations have flipped from separate Sports formats to a "Hot Talk and Cool Classic Country" simulcast. The new owner, headed by BOB ROMANIK and trustee DENNIS J. WATKINS, bought the stations from SIMMONS and BIG LEAGUE BROADCASTING, respectively.`` I'd like to wish you a Happy New Year and a DX-filled 2010 (Kirk Allen Pasadena, TX, Dec 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) All-access has this thing about adding an imaginary -A to (AM) callsigns (gh, DXLD) Yes, I believe I have been hearing this too tho had not IDed it --- CNN news, plus country music. Was wondering if it was a change at the DFW station. Nothing really dominates 1190 around here, probably like Ponca. I was also hearing a low het, someone significantly off- frequency from 1190, this evening around 2346 UT. Any ideas? (Glenn to Kirk, via DXLD) Glenn, I started to speculate that maybe it was from XECT, but I just rechecked the channel, and Monterrey is quite audible but no heterodyne is there right now. Earlier this evening it was much louder, SO....I don't know yet. Will be checking that freq more often in the future. You may have already read this, but I found it online concerning KQQZ: ``Entertainment Media Trust d/b/a Insane Broadcasting Co. has completed its purchase of KRFT 1190 AM DeSoto/St. Louis from Big League Broadcasting. On Saturday, the station flipped from Sports Talk programming to a Classic Country format with the new calls KQQZ, simulcasting sister station 1510 AM in Highland, IL, which has switched call letters from WXOZ to WQQW. 1190 has a huge 10kW Daytime signal that can heard 150+ Miles to the South and Southwest of St. Louis. They broadcast currently at flea power at night, however, they have a Construction Permit for 6.5kW from a seperate tower site, and a new City of License of University City. Online streaming is already available at kqqz1190am.com. Running jockless, with CNN News at :55 past the hour. The mix of music they are playing is very broad, with even a few currents mixed in.`` [source?] All for now, Glenn. Take it EZ, amigo. -K- (Kirk Allen, TX, ibid.) ** U S A. WANB Waynesburg, PA moves from 1580 to 1210 WANB in Waynesburg, PA, my hometown station, is now on air with a 5 kW signal on 1210 daytime (710 W critical hours). The old 1580 (which signed on in 1958 as I recall, 51 years ago, when I was 14) is gone. Not sure when they made the frequency switch, but must have been this week, as I heard them on 1580 a few days ago (being clobbered by the 1580 in Morningside, MD, only a few miles from the transmitter). The new 1210 transmitter site is actually in Uniontown, PA, 25 miles east of Waynesburg, but the 5 kW puts a powerhouse signal into our town -- and Pittsburgh's south side. I grew up with "Wan-bee," as we called the station. I worked there briefly as a tech the summer after high school. In those days, it was a 250 W daytimer, with the most distant DX report from British Columbia. My daughter was on-air talent there from her junior year in high school thru college, Sunday mornings (I often listened to her 6 a.m. sign-on). Format is "Cool Country." (Fred Schroyer, Freelance Science Writer / Editorial Consultant, Waynesburg, PA 15370 (40 air miles S of Pittsburgh, 20 N of Morgantown, WV), Jan 1, IRCA via WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DXLD) From http://www.pbrtv.com/blog/entry_1213.php Broadcast Communications began broadcasting WANB-AM (Waynesburg) on 1210 today, after nearly 50 years on 1580 AM. The move was made to have a better coverage area which is easier to achieve the lower you go on the AM dial. For now, WANB is still heard on 103.1 FM, now known as WKVE and will continue to be heard on a translator FM station at 105.1 FM. BCI will very soon be ready to operate WKVE (103.1) with its new Mt. Pleasant city of license. Sincerely, (via Paul B. Walker, Jr., ibid.) Today meaning Dec 31 (Walker, ibid.) Geez, so much for hearing Philadelphia in Pittsburgh or SW PA! It`s roughly 225 miles from Philly to Uniontown, which in mid-America would be plenty close to hear a 50 kW station groundwave daytime, but not I suppose over PA`s poor ground conductivity. As of Jan 1, FCC AM Query still has WANB 1210 only as a CP: http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/amq?list=0&facid=32211 and it is non-direxional day and critical hours reduced to 710 watts, so even 5 kW is not a threat to WPHT`s coverage area, which is also non-direxional day and night. Just what are the critical hours, i.e. when does WANB really sign on and off in January? Presumably related to SR/SS at WPHT which are 1215 and 2200 UT this month (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) "Critical hours" are two hours *after* LSR and two hours *before* LSS, "local" in this case being to Waynesburg, not to Philadelphia. WANB- 1210 has no operation at all before LSR or after LSS at Waynesburg. s (Scott Fybush, NY, ibid.) Critical Hours --- It's from your local sign on time [pre sunrise not included] for 2 hours and 2 hours before your local sign off time on your license not local sunrise and sunset. If you have a pre sunrise power then you sign on with that power until you get to go to the critical hours power. If you have post sunset you go to that at the end of critical hours. You mostly see critical hours in the upper part of the band as it skips more readily and greater distances early on (Powell E Way III, W4OPW, NRC-AM via DXLD) Does this station have a directional pattern to protect Philadelphia? (Tom Dimeo, ibid.) Fred, According to radio locator, the transmitter site for WANB hasn't changed. No, it is non directional. http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WANB&service=AM&status=L&hours=D (Paul B. Walker, Jr., IRCA via DXLD) My question is: Was it a good idea to switch to 1210 with a big powerhouse in Philly only a couple of hundred miles away maybe causing some reception problems for people outside a 30 mile or so radius around Waynesboro [sic] and area at this time of the year with daytime skip happening? (Bill in BC Kral, ibid.) YES, I`d say it was definitely a good idea, going from 720 W on 1580 to 5 kW on 1210 (Paul B. Walker, Jr., ibid.) Hi guys, A little more background on WANB. First, it's in WaynesBURG, PA in the extreme SW corner of the state, not WaynesBORO, which is over east. The old 1580 had been virtually unlistenable for the past 2 years or more. For reasons never clearly explained to me, they made some change that dropped the modulation level into the mud. The result was that, during local critical hours, WHFS in Morningside, MD, would render WANB-1580 unlistenable only a few miles from the transmitter, often right in Waynesburg itself! I have no data at all, but I really wonder if anyone continued listening to WANB-AM. They run parallel on 103.1 with a good-quality signal & sound, which is what I see people listening to. For a while, WANB had an app for 1190, but WVUS-1190 in not-far-away Grafton, WV came on, and then I saw that WANB had applied for 1210. Not a bad choice of frequency, as WPHT in Philly usually doesn't show up here until critical hours & the channel is silent otherwise. (Someone suggested 1200, but the New Castle, PA station on 1200 is audible here.) And the move of the transmitter site to Mt. Pleasant (Uniontown, PA) makes sense, to throw the new 5 kW signal northward into the south side of Pittsburgh. I have a friend who works at WANB. I'll call him this week & see if I can learn anything of interest, including the v/s & possible interest in a DX test (Fred Schroyer, Waynesburg, PA 15370 (40 air miles S of Pittsburgh, 20 N of Morgantown, WV), ibid.) Fred, Checking FCCINFO.COM, I dont see WANB-AM's transmitter site as having moved at all (Paul B. Walker, Jr., IL, ibid.) Hi all, updating info on WANB-1210: I spoke with the on-air person, who said: WANB-1210 new 5 kw transmitter remains in Waynesburg, at the coordinates shown in Radio Locator, with the studios at the transmitter site, as before (Sorry for the misinformation, based on old info) The FM, now WKVE-103.1, is moving to Mt. Pleasant (near Uniontown, PA) "in a few days," with studios somewhere in Uniontown area. Reception reports go to the owner, Bob Stevens. I'll try to reach someone in management re a DX test (Fred Schroyer, Waynesburg, PA, ibid.) ** U S A. KMXA-1090 Slogan Change --- Local KMXA-1090 is now using "Maria 10-90" and "María 10-90 siempre romántica" slogans in a woman's voice. They are playing Mexican romantic music. There was no mention of FM during their legal ID. Yep, they still use IBOC. They used to use "La Tricolor" slogans and had an FM simulcast //96.5 KXPK. I just checked 96.5 and it wasn't // to 1090. 73, (Chris Knight, Fort Lupton, CO, Jan 2, IRCA via DXLD) So this Mary is no virgin. What a loopy name (gh) ** U S A. 1530 Daytimer bonanza --- Have recorded overnite 3 nites this week on 1530 and have 4 daytimers logged, 2 of them new. Not a peep from WCKY.... 29DEC09 0159CST WWDX Huntingdon TN c&w mx and "Classic Country AM 15- 30 The Dixie" NEW 29DEC09 2300CST KQNK Norton KS AM/FM ID and "Your Hometown Radiod Station" into AP network news 02JAN10 0000CST KVDW England AR rel pgm ending then ID as "Vern 1530 broadcasting from towers in England, Arkansas" and an "ID" for KZTD 1350 in Cabot, Arkansas as well NEW 02JAN10 0600CST KLBW New Boston TX IRN Radio News then "1530 The Light KLBW" ID. Last heard as KNBO in 1996 (Bruce Winkelman, Tulsa, OK, Drake R8, Quantum Phaser, 2 - 50 foot wires, ABDX via DXLD) CST = UT -6 ** U S A. DISCLAIMER FOR ANY LW/MW ITEMS, INCLUDING ALL TIS; MIS; PIRATE; AND LPAM ENTRIES, OR ANYTHING THAT CAN BE LINKED BACK TO A LW/MW REFERENCE: No portion of the below may be reproduced in any format and/or redistributed by the National Radio Club and/or their editors without my expressed written permission, which will then be swiftly -- and we do mean swiftly -- denied. Editors receiving this directly from me are excluded, provided this entire disclaimer is included once where any of the aforementioned items are first reproduced. 1410.051, ALABAMA, WIQR, Prattville. 0854-1015 UT, January 2, 2010. Another domestic off-frequency. Tune-in to rambling old man ranting about the banking conspiracy, how the Secretary of the Treasury is not paid by the US government, "... the banks own everything..." into Star Spangled Banner 0858, "Wake up America" by the geezer, then promptly faded. Back up at 0902 with Papa John national spot, back to Bank Conspiracy Man. Retune just before the next top-of-hour, Star Spangled Banner again, no ID heard, into CNN Radio News (I think), Sears Automotive national spot embedded 1002, female ID but couldn't copy. Into bird-fed sports talk, finally a "WIQR 1410 A-M" ID at 1022. Measured on the ICOM IC-R75 (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. ENFORCEMENT WATCH - SELECTED ITEM Every once in a while, a blockbuster MO&O is released by the Commission. This is one of those. The spotlight is shined on unauthorized cross-border (U.S./Mexico) microwave links and all kinds of shenanigans are exposed. Four separate cases are discussed involving Anderson Desk, More Enterprises, Uniradio Corp. & Kojo. http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-09-114A1.doc o The FCC has extended the negotiation and mediation periods for Wave 4 NPSPAC (Stage 2) and non-NPSPAC (Stage 1) licensees in the U.S.- Mexico border region: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-2645A1.doc (CGC Communicator Jan 4 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. KILLING OVER-THE-AIR TV BROADCASTING BY ADDING NEW COSTS Professor Stuart Benjamin, the newest advisor to FCC Chairman Genachowski, favors regulations that heap costs on over-the-air broadcasting to speed its demise. This is a great story -- worth the free subscription to TV News Check: http://www.tvnewscheck.com/articles/2009/12/18/daily.7/ TV BROADCASTERS FIGHT THE SPECTRUM GRAB The potential loss of TV broadcast spectrum to broadband interests includes some important observations from the TV side: o TV broadcasting is one of the "twin pillars of the digital economy," complementing wireless broadband service as a means for distributing mobile video, according to a study commissioned by NAB and AMST. o TV broadcasting's point-to-multipoint model is far more efficient at delivering mobile video than broadband's point-to-point model. o Studies are needed to determine whether broadband will even have a spectrum shortage in light of improvements anticipated for compression algorithms and the advent of over-the-air Mobile TV -- those two things will lighten the load on broadband. o A spectrum inventory is needed to assess what frequency bands might be available to meet the spectrum shortage, if one exists. o TV uses just a "small fraction" (5.18%) of the spectrum between 225 MHz and 3700 MHz and TV has already given up 140 MHz through its DTV transition and ENG microwave transitions. o Reducing free TV spectrum will directly impact the viewing choices offered to the lowest economic class in the U.S. – is this really what a Democratic Commission wants to do? o Why not seriously investigate giving wireless users microwave frequencies where large bandwidths exist, rather than UHF spectrum which would only lead to another alleged "spectrum crisis" on short order? o Let's say you gave wireless 10% of the spectrum from 100 to 1,000 MHz. That would yield 90 MHz of new spectrum, not a big deal. If instead you gave them 10% of the 1,000 - 10,000 MHz microwave band, they would get 900 MHz of new spectrum, and that would be a big deal. o In a national emergency, diversity of information delivery systems is essential. The bottom line is this: Don't kill or cripple free over-the-air TV. http://www.tvnewscheck.com/articles/2009/12/22/daily.14/ http://tinyurl.com/yezdwee http://tinyurl.com/ye4df9z MORE TV NEWS o FCC's Blair Levin sharpens his focus on reducing TV broadcast spectrum; says "there is a distinct possibility" of a national broadband spectrum problem within five years; no mention of using microwave spectrum for broadband: http://tinyurl.com/FiveYearProblem o What broadband spectrum shortfall? LIN television asks this important question: http://www.tvnewscheck.com/articles/2009/12/22/daily.1/ (CGC Communicator Jan 4 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) ** URUGUAY. CHAN: 03/01/10: 2130, 5748, Música en español, chamarrita típica, Juan Juan Juan, de la costa al ...32232 2140, 5752, Música en español, música, hombre cantando con un coro detras, y piano 33333 2153, 5750 Ham. radioaficionados hablando. 22232 Es la primera vez que la capto (Julio Anzoátegui, Posadas, Misiones, Argentina, Sangean ats505, antena cable telefónico extendido, radioescutas yg via DXLD) That`s the pirate, more widely variable? Watch out, WTWW (gh) ** URUGUAY. 6045-USB, R Sarandí, Montevideo. Información nueva suministrada por via de entrevista telefónica al Técnico de Planta Sr. Fernando Gopar, en la Planta Trasmisora ubicada en L. Batlle Berres 6061, Montevideo. La frecuencia nominal es de 6045. Estaba trasmitiendo en 6043.22 estos días y en el preciso momento que estoy hablando con él, resintoniza el trasmisor a 6045 para, siguiendo mi comentario, evitar las heterodinas. La potencia es 300 W o algo más (mencionó incluso 400 W. La antena es una "V Invertida", aunque reconoce la existencia de alguna R.O.E., y que debe ajustar aún más la antena. El horario es 24h. Retrasmite a OM 690 Radio Sarandí. La dirección de E-mail para enviarle informes de recepción es: fgopar34 @ gmail.com El audio de la entrevista telefónica que hice al Sr Gopar está en http://www.radiomus eo.org/fgopar29_ 12_2009.m3u y dura unos 6 minutos y medio (Horacio A. Nigro, Montevideo, Uruguay, Dec 29, playdx yg via DXLD) R. Sarandí y R. Uruguay en 49 m --- Estimados, esta mañana se escuchaba con buena señal R. Sarandí en SSB, pero en la frecuencia corrida de 6043 kHz. La modulación era bastante pasable. También se escuchaba R. Uruguay SODRE en 6125 kHz con muy buena señal y modulación muy clara. Y de paso R. Nacional Buenos Aires en 6060 kHz con tremenda señal. Si bien fue una escucha al pasar, creo que no era en español (tal vez portugués?) por lo que sería programación de RAE. No me pregunten la hora UTC, estoy de vacaciones :-) sólo sé que cantaban los pájaros y yo estaba tomando unos mates. Las escuchas las hice durante una breve estadía en Cuchilla Alta, Cañelones. 73, (Moisés Knochen, Montevideo, Uruguay, Dec 29, condiglist yg via DXLD) Te estás mandando un excelente laburo Horacio! Che; nos autoconvencimos con Rubén. En enero vamos a Sarandi del Yi. Voy a arreglar una entrevista con la dueña! (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, ibid.) Yo me "molesté" mucho con ella y se lo dije, cuando pudiendo haber contestado un informe de un DXista norteamericano en tiempo y forma, no lo hicieron y éste colega falleció al tiempo. La última referencia que tengo de la emiosra es que no pasaba una buena situación económica. Tiene el estudio al revés, o sea, entras a la radio por él y más adentro está la cabina de control. La última vez que intentaron visitar la "planta emisora", el camino no daba paso por las lluvias caídas. Ojalá no pase esto esta vez. En Sarandí del Yi, está el Monumento al mate. Suerte! Y se viene el agua otra vez! (Horacio A. Nigro, Montevideo, Uruguay, ibid.) 6045-USB. R. Sarandí, Montevideo, active, as heard now 0346 UT Jan 2. Power 300 W. Was off last two days (Horacio A. Nigro, Montevideo, Uruguay, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Since Horacio Nigro had confirmed it reactivated two hours earlier, I looked again for R. Sarandí on 6045, Jan 2 at 0552. I could detect an extremely weak carrier, and perhaps some music at 0557 before blasted away by KBS/Sackville *0559:45. But there should not be any carrier if the CX is pure SSB; is it? Equally unlikely possibilities on 6045 at this hour: Zimbabwe and XEXQ. BTW, Aoki still shows KBS at 0600 as only half an hour tho it was expanded to a full hour some months ago, so forget about Uruguay until 0700; in fact, forget about it until 0800 as KBS runs another hour via UK (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6045, Radio Sarandí finally confirmed here 30 December from 0802 in USB mode. Frequency is clear from 0800 when KBS World Radio closes, until 0829 when splatter from HCJB 6050 can be an issue. I have been monitoring 6045 since 15 December when Spanish programming first noted at poor level between 0800 and 0930 UT. References to Uruguay and Montevideo made me confident I was hearing Sarandí but the lousy AM modulation at that time prevented a positive identification. The station was not heard between 20 and 27 December, but on 28 December (many thanks to Horacio Nigro for keeping us informed!) I found the SSB signal on 6043.22 over several nights. Finally, with their switch back to 6045 and use of SSB, it was possible to catch the station ident and some commercial sponsors, despite the weak level. Now to find time to construct a reception report! Note - nothing heard on 6045 on 4 January (Bryan Clark, Mangawhai, Northland, New Zealand, AOR7030+ and EWEs to the Americas, 36.11.70 S, 174.56.70 E, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6045, R. Sarandí, Montevideo. January 4, 2323-2350 predominant male and female in a eloquent Spanish talks, short music, seems ads, mentions of “Uruguay”. QRM, seems some distortion in audio, few words readable, 22432 (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Embu SP Brasil - Sony ICF SW40 - dipole 18m, 32m, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VANUATU. 3945, R. Vanuatu, Port Vila. January, 4 811-0821 Pop music selections alternating short female, seems in English, talks. 24332 73's (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Embu SP Brasil - Sony ICF SW40 - dipole 18m, 32m, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also JAPAN, on 3945 just before this (gh) ** VATICAN [and non]. 9540, Jan 2 at 1445, Asian language poor with BBC Woofferton QRDRM 9540-9545-9550. Listed on 9540 is Vatican in Urdu during this semihour. I could avoid most of the DRM by sidetuning below 9540, but should I have to? Of course, Vatican emits some DRM transmissions too, so they can hardly complain (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also PHILIPPINES [non] ** VENEZUELA. CAMBIO DE HUSO HORARIO REDUCIRÁ EN 20% CONSUMO DE ELECTRICIDAD El ministro Angel Rodríguez no descarta la medida si persiste la sequía. El Gobierno nacional no descarta la posibilidad de modificar nuevamente el huso horario del país para reducir el consumo de energía eléctrica. El ministro Angel Rodríguez anunció que si la sequía se prolonga adoptarán la medida que consideran "profunda", entre otras de carácter severo que no adelantó, con las que busca mantener los niveles adecuados de agua en la represa del Guri al menos hasta el primer trimestre de 2010. "Si llega agudizarse el problema de la sequía, nosotros tendremos que apelar a todo los que nos permita ahorrar agua para generar energía eléctrica, por tanto en este momento yo no descarto que tengamos que cambiar el huso horario, tomar algunas medidas más profundas de la que estamos tomando", dijo a Unión Radio el ministro de Energía Eléctrica. Sin embargo, el funcionario no precisó detalles del cambio que se hará al huso horario del país. . . Deisy Buitrago, El Universal http://www.eluniversal.com/2009/12/30/eco_art_cambio-de-huso-horar_1711208.shtml (via Yimber Gaviria, Colombia, DXLD) Vague plan to change the timezone if the drought persists, in order to conserve electricity; ?? But they already adelanted it a semihour a sesquiyear ago to UT -4:30 putting V out of step with the rest of the hemisphere except Newfoundland. Now what? (gh, DXLD) ** VENEZUELA [non]. No-show again from El Hugazo, Sunday Jan 3 looking for Aló, Presidente on scheduled Cuban relay frequencies: 13750 came on at *1558, off at 1559, back on with carrier only, but nothing further heard, nor 12010. Rechex of both at 1655 and 1850: nothing on the air. However, RHC`s Esperanto show on 11760 was not a no-show at 1520 check (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Saludos amigos, Mi amigo Denis en Honduras me informa que no le están funcionando los correos electrónicos de Radio Nacional de Venezuela canalinternacionalrnv @ gmail.com no funciona internacional @ rnv.ve no funciona rnv @ rnv.gov.ve Falla internacional @ rnv.gov.ve me la devuelve ondacortavenezuela @ hotmail.net no está vigente Aunque conseguí ésta: infornv@rnv.gov.ve ¿Alguien sabe algo al respecto? Feliz Año 2010 (Yimber Gaviria dxreport @ yahoo.com DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yimber Gaviría forwards a note from Denis in Honduras about five e- mail addresses for Radio Nacional de Venezuela, Canal Internacional, none of which work! This is hardly surprising; since the announcers do not know the correct times and frequencies of their own broadcasts, why should they know and announce correct addresses? I heard these two announced, first at the beginning of the 2300 UT Jan 3 transmission via CUBA on 15250, and the second one two minutes later: canalinternacional @ rnv.gov.ve canalinternacionalrnv @ gmail.com I have not tried them, since I have nothing to say to RNV. The second one is on Denis` list as `no funciona`, but the first one is not; however, internacional @ rnv.gov.ve is, marked as bouncing. The transmission began in clear Spanish, then switched to broken English by YL, with a long credit list of the dozen or so people it takes to produce this one-hour broadcast. Then a program summary, including ``Barrio Adentro`` which also happens to be the name of a show on Radio República, 9810, clandestine to Cuba as I recently observed, at this very same hour (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) HOLA AMIGOS! Después de la solicitud del correo electrónico de Radio Nacional de Venezuela, llegaron respuesta de Rafael Rodríguez, Colombia, y Glenn Hauser, Estados Unidos. Gracias, 73 de Yimber Hola Yimber, Hace unos días atrás el 21 de diciembre le escribí a esta emisora por el canalinternacionalrnv @ gmail.com y me respondieron a través del canalinternacional @ rnv.gov.ve --- prometiendo QSL y otro material. Buen DX en el 2010 (Rafael Rodriguez R., via Gaviría, noticiasdx yg via DXLD) ** VIETNAM [non]. NOSTALGIA: ARMED FORCES VIETNAM NETWORK Rick Bednar has written article for Radio World about his time working for the Armed Forces Vietnam Network headquarters in Saigon. He owns and operates a recording studio in Champaign, Ill, specializing in radio and television voice overs and spot production. ¦Read the article http://www.rwonline.com/article/92596 (January 6th, 2010 - 15:41 UTC by Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog via DXLD) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. Ajuda sobre a radio em 1550 kHz --- Olá a todos, 1550 khz, radio ?, no dia 26/12/09 às 2040 local [2340 UT], locutor falando em espanhol, sobre a república de raparaui ou rapanui, algo pareçido, leis islâmica. Que radio será esta? Com razoavel QRM. SIO - 333 (Flavio Romero, Sony 2001D, João Pessoa PB, Jan 5, radioescutas yg via DXLD) Rapa Nui would be Easter Island, tee hee Flavio, Se você captou exatos 1550 e não 1548 kHz, voce pode ter sintonizado em 1550 a Radio Nacional de La RASD (50 kW), sinais vindo da Argelia, segundo o WRTH2010, cidade de Rabouni. Voce é um privilegiado, por estar num local bem mais próximo do continente africano do que muitos de nós. 73, (Rudolf Grimm, São Bernardo, SP, ibid.) Olá Rudolf, Valeu, foi essa emissora, que sintonizei, a página na web http://web.jet.es/rasd/radionacional.htm pode ser ouvida na internet, segundo o site, tb em ondas curtas, em espanhol. Como tenho um apt. em João Pessoa próximo do mar e costumo ir nos feriados, ai foi possivel captar a emissora; aqui em Natal, fica mais dificil, muito ruido na long wire, será que o faseador da mfj, tira esses ruidos? Muito obrigado (Romero, ibid.) 6297.188v, 3/1 2033, National Radio of Saharahui D.R., talks in Arabic, some music, good (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italia, AOR AR7030, Drake R8, SDR-IQ - T2FD, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** YEMEN [and non]. 9780, Radio Sana`a, Dec 30, 1821 - Looking for Radio Echo of Caucasus and instead likely came across Sana`a on 9780.144, although I can see a weak carrier on 9780. Threshold level also noted on 9525 which is likely the RFE/RL program (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Can anyone confirm a little more certainly that Yemen be active on 9780v, even including English at 18-19 and/or 06-07? (gh, DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE. 6045, 05/Jan 0732, ZIMBABUE, R Zimbabwe, em Shona / Ndebele/, desde Gweru. Dois OM conversam. As 0745 entra na conversa que passa a ficar animada, entre risos. As 0748 mx em segundo plano. 0748 curta mx parece que termina a conversa anterior e dois OM passam a conversar. 24432 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana Bahia, Brasil, condiglist yg via DXLD) ZBH may well dominate Uruguay in Brasil, but elsewhere look out for KBS World Radio in Korean via UK during this hour on 6045 (gh, DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. 4880, SOUTH AFRICA, SWR Africa, Dec 29, 1741 - Poor reception with English noted. Political talk as usual (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4895, SOUTH AFRICA, Zimbabwe Community Radio, Dec 29, 1753 - Already present at 1753 tune-in with light piano fare to 1754:30. Seemed to come on in talk at 1756:20. Just above threshold level. Better on the 30th with fair reception at 1835 tune-in (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Trans-Pacific MW carrier scan, Dec 30 from 1318 to 1332 UT, on the DX-398 inside, with AC power and built-in ferrite antenna only, hand-held aimed more or less NW, tuning in 9 kHz steps with BFO on which is slightly off-frequency producing a telltale het whenever there is a carrier, even a very weak one only 1 kHz from a 10-kHz channel: rearranged here in descending order, not exactly the order I was tuning: 1566, 1548, 1475, 1457, 1332, 1323, 1314, 1287, 1224, 1197, 1179, 1134, 1116, 1089, 1053, 1044, 1035, 972, 873, 828, 783, 774, 711, 693-, 666, 621, 612, 603, 594. None really strong enough to pull any audio here in deep North America, not even NHK 774, but the standouts are off-channel 1475 which must be Malaysia/Sabah, and 693 considerably off-frequency to the lo side, but I don`t find any leads on that. This just shows all the DX that is hiding between the big NAm signals; and every 90 kHz, no doubt also directly under them (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Had lots of Trans-Pacific carriers on MW the morning of Dec 30, so also looked for Trans-Atlantic carriers in the evening, bandscanning from 2301 UT until 2349, but this time only on the 10- kHz-stepping caradio while driving around Enid or parked. Listened for hets of various pitches, once I heard that Saudi 1 kHz het on 1520 KOKC, which is quite strong here. The carriers, by interpolating hets between adjacent frequencies, etc., rearranged into descending order: 1521, 1476, 1431, 1269, 1251, 1215, 1179, 1089, 999, 909, 819, 729, 711, 621, 549. Notes: 1089 was especially strong. Probably Talksport, UK. 1215 produced a slightly different het against 1210 and 1220, i.e. off-frequency to the hi side. This points strongly to Albania, as in Mwoffsets, altho primary listing had it on the lo side as of 13 months ago: 1215 1214.933 ALB Radio Tirana/VOA/TWR Europe/CRI (Fllakë) [1214.27- 1215.07 ] 0600-2300 2008-11-27 v strong drifter 711 was a double het, i.e. two stations off-frequency from each other. Morocco, 300 kW El-Aiun is a notorious variant, but 50 kW Libyan also varies, and there is also a high-power station in France (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 1439.82, 1109-1112 January 2, 2010. Someone else off- frequency, but no audio making it here, and this could well be Latin American. Measurement estimated (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 1710, Jan 3 at 1540 - Just happened to be tuning through the band and came across 1710 (actually around 1709.985) and heard light elevator type music briefly before they faded down. Any ideas? Is that Russian station near Seattle still on the air? (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., IRCA via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 4620, 2225 03/01/10, UNID B Portugues Prog. com mx, propagandas, entrevistas. obs: Venho monitorando esta frequencia por varios dias, sempre chengado com sinpo 34432, contudo por varais vezes no momento da identificação ou por fading ou por ruidos não tenho conseguido ouvir, se mais alguem puder acompanhar seria interessante. Equipamento: Icom ICR8500, Antena Longwire 25 ms. Att, (Eduardo L. Castaldelli, Mairiporã- SP- Brasil, radioescutas yg via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 4850: see INDIA: Ron, I've heard the same thing up here on Haida Gwaii and wondered. Very strong here, but never a peep. I'm wondering whether this is a ute of some sort, as I thought that I might have heard some RTTY briefly. It seems too strong and perhaps a bit too narrow to be a broadcaster (Walt Salmaniw, Haida Gwaii, Cumbre DX via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 4850, Dec 29, 1735 - Big open carrier first noted last night, and still there now. No idea who this may be. Continues there on the 30th (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Re 9-087, 4926.93 --- Glenn & Stig, I got this info from Jari Savolainen tonight: Hi Thomas and Happy New Year. This might be the spur of AIR Kurseong that I reported on DXLDYG on Dec 20th. If you wish, you can forward this also to Stig and Glenn. 73, Jari Savolainen, Finland [Viz.:] ------- Another faulty AIR transmitter is Kurseong 4895. For last few weeks it's been putting out FM'ing symmetric spurs every now and then on 4927 and 4863. Last noted this Dec 20 at 1400 UT. Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland (via Thomas Nilsson, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 5030, CNR1 as usual the best/only signal from Asia holding up late on 60m, Dec 30 at 1523, still at 1541, but also as always with rippling subaudible heterodyne from a co-channel station which never manages to overcome China. It was doing better than usual this time, with some music audible; and Rebelde`s absence from 5025 was a plus. We don`t see how the other 5030 station could be anything but Malaysia Sarawak, 10 kW nondirexional, as nothing else is listed or could possibly be propagating at this hour. It`s still a remarkable performance against the 100 kW Beijing transmitter aimed 37 degrees USward. If only the Beijing 572 site would ever go off the air --- or if only Sarawak would have the good sense to move to a clear frequency (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 5055, (possibly R. Jornal A Crítica) at 1520 14 Dec, Portuguese, YL announcer. P-F signal (Richard Bianchino, Las Vegas, NV USA. Etón S350DL, 32' longwire antenna, indoor, ABDX via DXLD) Manáus where it`s mid-day, very unlikely propagation path, but nothing else on frequency and in Portuguese; mixing product, image? (gh) UNIDENTIFIED. 5900, Dec 30 until 1306* open carrier, with a bit of hum/noise upon it. Per Aoki, most likely slow to turn off Pet/Kam transmitter scheduled with IBRA Radio True Light in Chinese at 12-13; altho another TRW client might be on 5900 via Novosibirsk until 1330 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 6035, either Bhutan/BBS or China/PBS Yunnan, 1333-1429, Dec 30. I check here almost daily, but today is the first time this DX season that I actually heard some definite audio. Tend to believe it may be BBS, but the adjacent splatter was too strong just before and after the ToH and was unable to make out the litmus test for BBS: English after 1401. Best reception was about 1345. This is encouraging! (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) No luck here, compared to my armchair copy last year at this time (Walt Salmaniw, Haida Gwaii, Cumbre DX via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 6074, Jan 1 at 1400, V/CQ marker from 8GAL weakly audible at first mixing with final timesignal of R. Rossii, 6075 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED [non]. 6930-USB, pirate at 0607 UT January 1, 2010 with weird music, 0611 announcement with ID but could not catch it; 0619 soul music; 0635 ``Sloop John B`` by the Beach Boys, 0639 ``Paperback Writer`` by the Beatles; 0642 ``Low Rider``. Poor signal with occasional peaks. That could be enough for a QSL, please? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, Your following unidentified pirate is Wolverine Radio. I heard them at the same time. See my log below. 6930 USB, Wolverine Radio, 0535-0710+, Jan 1, IDs. Music by The Pretenders, Led Zeppelin, James Brown, Beatles, War, Beach Boys, David Bowie, Clash and others. Strong. Very Good signal (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The pirate I heard on 6930-USB, Jan 2 at 0607-0642+, was Wolverine Radio, says Brian Alexander, PA, who was listening at exactly the same time and heard some of the same music. Tnx, Brian (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 7415, Jan 2 at 1530-1532* open carrier. I think it was in Chinese before 1530, but was not paying much attention. Should have, as nothing is on the schedules after 1500 when YFR is via Pet/Kam, so maybe that has been extended. Fortunately, tho authorized 24 hours on 7415, WBCQ is not attempting to use it in the mornings (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 9583.5, approx., strong 2-way Spanish intruder on SSB, VG signal but intermittent, Jan 2 at 1516; apparently discussing ETA or itinerary, but could not hear the contact, maybe duplex on another frequency. Concluded at 1519 with ``igualmente; buen día``. Poachers or narco-traffickers? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 9600.3, extremely weak het on estimated frequency vs something equally weak on 9600.0, Jan 2 at 1521. So another entry in the could-it-possibly-be-XEYU-annals? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 9790, very strong S9+22 and steady open carrier at 1607- 1611:45* Dec 30. Only thing scheduled this hour is R. Liberty in Russian, due northeast from Wertachtal, but I bet it was Greenville with another warmup test on a frequency otherwise unused (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 9830 at 1013 28 Dec, language possibly Portuguese, OM announcer. Heard what sounded like soccer news. 55445 (Richard Bianchino, Las Vegas, NV USA. Etón S350DL, 32' longwire antenna, indoor, ABDX via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Very strong S9+20 open carrier again heard on 11435.0, Jan 6 at 0620 then going to some digital data noise bursts, a variety of sounds for about a minute, back to OC. 0625 more data bursts, OC; off at 0629. Then tuned to 11532 and found a similar strength carrier hetting WYFR 11530. These appear to be on a regular schedule as heard several times previously; signal levels equivalent to RHC on 11760 and strongly suspect Cuban origin (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 13800, Dec 30 at 1614 continuous tone test, fair signal. This had been R. Dabanga, for Sudan at 1530-1627 via Talata-Volondry, Madagascar, until the Xmas fire putting the relay station completely off the air. The Media Network blog updates on replacement transmissions show: Update 6: The following transmissions via Nauen have been added from 28 December: 1627-1727 UTC Press Now multilingual on 13800 kHz (250 kW) azimuth 325 degrees Update 8: TDF will carry a Press Now transmission from 29 December as follows: 1529-1557 UTC via Issoudun on 13800 kHz azimuth 143 degrees (replaces a 60-minute broadcast) So that leaves a semi-hour gap, but which site would be running the tone? Perhaps this is relevant, just updated on the MN blog: ``On 30 December, our Station Manager in Madagascar reported that the two Philips transmitters are in working order, and have been tested using generator power. Technicians are still working on restoring the mains supply and will finish tomorrow (31 December). A temporary schedule will then be put into effect on 1 January using these two Philips transmitters. ``The other two transmitters (one 250 kW and one 50 kW) are also thought to be OK, but still have to be tested at the weekend. New switches also have to be installed to connect these two transmitters to the antenna system. We hope to bring them back on the air in the course of next week. ``Tomorrow (31 December) I will publish details of the interim schedule which has been worked out for next week using two transmitters at Madagascar. In the meantime, the temporary arrangements are still valid`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, 1920 UT Dec 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also MADAGASCAR, also in 9-087 UNIDENTIFIED. 15800, open carrier of fair S9+8 strength with slow fades, Jan 6 at 1455, still same at 1502, but gone at next check 1518. Only broadcast station ever scheduled on this frequency is Egypt at 07-11. Sometimes these OCs as heard on AM are axually RTTY, at least intermittently, if you turn on the BFO, so can be dismissed as utes, but not this time (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Thanks to Michael Gorniak and Terese Sorenson, Braham MN, who sent a check in the mail to P O Box 1684, Enid OK 73702 (gh) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ AOKI AND THE ALTERNATIVES They are listing a lot of stations, who are inactive according to WRTH. For instance they list all the stations in Uruguay. How accurate is the data base? Should we rather trust the WRTVH? Regards (Alex Wellner, Australia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Alex, You are right, Aoki list has a lot of inactive or gone Latin Americans (and some others). I am not sure why they keep them in; perhaps as a reminder in case they ever come back (and some Uruguayans have). They really should flag such entries known to be off the air. Use Aoki with caution. But for major international broadcasters, especially Asia, it is pretty accurate. Usually at the right it will say B-09 indicating from the current season schedule, sometimes even with a specific date when a change was made since it started. If unavailable, will reference to A-09, B-08, etc. At this point the 2010 WRTH should be about the same for B-09 info. Overall it is no doubt more up to date for LA listings, tho they miss some stuff, like recently discussed in DXLD, Brasil on 11925. No reference is perfect; better to consult several of them and be familiar with their strengths and weaknesses, than just rely on one of them. There are several others, notably EiBi and HFCC. Links are on my homepage http://www.worldofradio.com --- look for the ones mentioning B-09 (Glenn to Alex, via DXLD) And if you are especially interested in Latin America, you need to bookmark and check http://www.mcdxt.it/LASWLOGS.html and/or subscribe to the DSWCI Domestic Broadcasting Survey and Tropical Bands Monitor covering all areas 2300-5700 kHz: http://www.dswci.org/tbm/ (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) SOBRE LA LISTA DE EMISIONES EN ESPAÑOL DE ADXB Hola: La Lista de emisiones en español de ADXB ha sido actualizada con fecha del día 2 de enero, correspondiente al vigente periodo de emisiones B09. Estos son los enlaces, tanto para consultar como para descargar. http://www.mundodx.net/portada_lista.asp http://lista.adxb.org/ ¡¡Buenas escuchas!! Cordialmente, (Tomás Méndez, El Prat de Llobregat- Barcelona, España, noticiasdx yg via DXLD) Glancing thru the listings, many of them are labeled B-09 with expiration date (validez). Should be good for that part of the listings. And where unavailable yet, marked A-09 or whatever. But also mixed in are many small LAm stations, which don`t exist, much like Aoki`s approach, e.g.: 0900-1600 6.110,0 PRU R. Intern. del Peru San Pablo Diario And Rebelde 5025 shown with a 2-hour break which I have not noticed: 0900-0700 5.025,0 CUB R. REBELDE La Habana Cam Diario Plus other frequencies, tho Rebelde abandoned all but 5025 years ago: 1000-1315 11.655,0 CUB R. REBELDE La Habana Cam Diario usw (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) BDXC FREQUENCY LISTS UPDATED The various frequency guides compiled by Tony Rogers on the British DX Club web site have now been updated for January 2010: -Africa on Shortwave -External Services on Mediumwave - NEW -Middle & Near East on Shortwave -South Asia on the Tropical Bands -UK on Shortwave All of the above can be found on the ARTICLES INDEX page at http://www.bdxc.org.uk The DX Diary and DX Programme lists have also been updated. (NB: Please note that we recently transferred the BDXC web pages to a new hosting location so if you previously bookmarked our old waitrose web address these pages are no longer being updated and will soon be removed. For the latest documents always use www.bdxc.org.uk ) (BDXC- UK, Jan 1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) QUICK & EASY MW FREQUENCY LIST Re 9-087: Glen[n], Thanks for posting the Quick & Easy MW frequency list. I have been having fun clicking on the call letters and have the antenna site come up on Google earth. I even check out 1134 CRN1 China and saw two towers pop up. Even local Ridgefield's HARS station on 530. A nice street level view of their antenna on the I-5 Ridgefield off ramp (Dennis Vroom, Salmon Creek, WA, IRCA via DXLD) Hello Glenn and all readers, I'm a active database editor in the relatively new MWLIST project, may I introduce myself, my name is Björn Tryba. The MWLIST Quick & Easy was proposed by me a few weeks ago, then laid out by Günter Lorenz & me, it is not yet completely finished and a few features are yet to be completed and final details will come very soon. One of the main reasons behind this new MWLIST Quick & Easy feature was to offer a different way to look at data in MWLIST sorted by continents, otherwise listed per country or by frequency inside the MyAM interface. The new jumplist menu can be useful, it was added by Günter Lorenz. (Quote from Steve Whitt, MW Circle) > Do we really need another list unless it offers better or more > accurate data from primary sources? If this list is derived from > primary data sources, it would help if it said so. Yes, we admit that in MWLIST we could have prepared or organised a bit better, we spent a lot of time during 2008 and 2008 making corrections, updates, adding new data. Hopefully now we can concentrate more on the communication part with different organisations, DX listeners to enable a better exchange of data and ideas. MWLIST is not only derived from primary sources, and in a few countries there are now already other direct sources or reports from listeners and anywhere possible official broadcast authority data is used. MWLIST offers a direct update report feature, using this could be simplified more. Via Global Tuners webreceivers direct monitoring is done in different places. We now hope to have fully aknowledged all data sources and we wish to cooperate as much as possible with all involved organisations. (Quote from Steve Whitt, MW Circle) > On the plus side, there are some neat touches like the link to > Google maps for the tx site which does zero in on actual tx site (at > least for those I tested). But who gets credit for all the primary > research of accurate locations? But for the effort involved in > setting this up for thousands of tx sites, how often will it be > used? The links to webstreams look like a nice idea but I suspect > will need quite a bit of maintenance to keep them working & up to > date. 73 (Steve Whitt, MW Circle, mwcircle yg via DXLD) Yes, I'm very active in editing transmitter locations in MWLIST and currently work is under way to add as many accurate transmitters coordinates as possible to the database. More features are on the way soon, separate day & night columns, links to transmitters images (often hosted in Panoramio). Also the sorting of data could be adjusted, we can think about that. Please post your comments or views, more ideas are welcome, 73 and a happy new year 2010 (Björn Tryba (MWLIST database editor), MWDX yg via DXLD) NOSTALGIC AND HISTORIC DX FROM THE SEVENTIES My good DX friend Gary Deacon has just added some nostalgia of his early years of DX; from his early teens in the seventies to his status today as one of the world's most talented MW DXer's. Gary is very talented in many directions, not just radio DX, and his absorbing blogspot reveals his great talents. See: http://www.capedx.blogspot.com/ Here Gary has assembled a very interesting collection of stories, pictures and rare QSL's to tantalise the reader, and reveals his marvelous catches on often modest radios and antennas. Today, Gary, always retro, is busy DXing with his little Sony hand held ultralight, to which he wraps round his 220m BOG (beverage on the ground) and gets the most amazing catches that awes all of us with our expensive top of line equipment. Do yourself a favour this holiday season and take a half hour to browse through Gary's outstanding blogspot - you will not be disappointed but awed at this mans talent. It's never too late to start your DXing career. I had the best DX year of my life in 2008 at the bottom of the solar cycler, and this in my dotage. If you are a bit jaded with your present DX, the ULR ultralight radio group provides new and challenging goals. A very happy New Year to all in 2010, and of course great DX (John Plimmer, Montagu, Western Cape Province, South Africa http://www.dxing.info/about/dxers/plimmer.dx MWDX yg via DXLD) EMWG NEW SERVICE & OTHER INFO Dear all, You will surely all agree the long and medium waves are fun bands to explore. They regularly bring new surprises and discoveries. However, most of you will surely also agree that there are actually interesting stations and programmes to listen to, totally beside the DX aspect. But the 'listeners' to long and medium wave stations are being left pretty much in the cold. There is nowhere to turn to to get to know interesting programmes.. . they need to discover them themselves. Well, no more! Both the EMWG online and PDF versions now contain a list of interesting programmes one can listen to on long and medium wave, in various languages and on various days of the week. Yet, this list is only a starting point. The idea is that people who listen to specific programmes add their favourite programmes to the list (by simply sending me an e-mail with the info). Hard-core DXers who feel this is not something that may have any value to their DX activities, are wrong. If they presumably hear a station, knowing what programme is on may help in identifying the station. Besides this new list, I can also tell you that the web site links in the address section have been completely updates, all links having been checked manually. With the new list and with the continual updates, I feel the EMWG has now become a real LW/MW Guide, void of all kinds of unnecessary whistles and bells which may seem neat but which don't really contribute to the listening or DXing of these bands, but filled with all the basic information, as accurate as possible. Comments, additions, corrections, ... are always welcome. 73 (Herman - Boel, http://www.emwg.info Jan 3, MWCircle yg via DXLD) IN CONCERT: KSHE AND 40+ YEARS OF ROCK IN ST. LOUIS http://www.ksheschtuff.com/inconcertksheand40yearsofrockinstlouis.aspx Price: $49.95 in USA --- The History of KSHE In this book, you will see images of KSHE’s earliest broadcasts from the basement of station founder Ed Ceries' home. You will learn how the station affected a small but loyal following after it turned to rock in 1967. There are stories from those who were there, including Richard Palmese, (whose on air name was Brother Love), Ron Elz (Johnny B. Goode) and family and friends of the late Ron Lipe (Prince Knight), the late Bob Skaggs (Big Jack Davis) and the late Lee Coffee (The Musical Pumpkin). You will become acquainted with their struggle to put this station on the map, along with outrageous moments that have almost faded into oblivion . . . (Via Dario Monferini, DXLD) BCmapII Folks: The work on the new version of the AM BC mapping program is finished for the moment. This is a seriously upgraded version of BCmap and now shows all stations in Region 2 as long as they are in the FCC database as of December 1st 2009. See the details and download here: http://tonnesoftware.com/bcmap2.html Feedback is welcome (- Jim Tonne Tonne Software W4ENE, Jan 1, NRC-AM via DXLD) MONITORING TIMES Talk on GH here: http://www.rfprograms.com/ Download the Pirates Week podcast... Glenn, I don't get MT but you said they are going to be doing a new SW column after you leave, just not by GH. But when I listened to the podcast above, George Zeller says NO more SW DX news in MT. This is the unedited interview with George Zeller: http://worldmicroscope.com/archives/2009-1227%20RJI%20George%20Zeller%20Interview.mp3 Thanks, (Artie Bigley, Jan 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Monitoring Times magazine has dropped the 'Outer Limits' a pirate radio focused column penned by George Zeller. Unsurprisingly the new direction Monitoring Times has taken is a loss to the HF Pirate Radio listening and has angered many in the community. George, a frequent contributor to the Free Radio Weekly, was recently interviewed on Radio Jamba International a show on WBCQ's Area 51. George discusses not only his recent departure from Monitoring Times but also the state of pirate radio and some of its history. This one hour interview is available for download HERE http://www.shortwavepirate.info/audio/RJIzeller122909.mp3 and at http://www.worldmicroscope.com/?p=1559 (Free Radio Weekly via DXLD) I think the Monitoring Times decision to drop the coverage of the shortwave broadcasting is a bad one. Monitoring Times will find the decision will hurt them. The radio listening hobby is a small group. It does not help to eliminate any of members of the radio listening hobby. Most people in the radio listening hobby participate in multiple areas. They are looking for a source of information on all areas. The individual areas information is available on Internet in various forums and chat rooms. There is a need for a source that covers all (Greg Majewski, CT, ibid.) HARRY HELMS VERY SAD --- It just caught me by surprise the news on the death of Mr. Harry Helms, author - among others - of the well known Shortwave Listening Guidebook. After reading this book (from page to page) I sent him a note asking me if he would autograph my copy. He said it was ok so I sent him the book for this purpose. Our hobby for sure will miss this great man, Luigi (Héctor Pérez-Díaz, PR, Jan 1, HCDX via DXLD) WORLD OF HOROLOGY See also VENEZUELA +++++++++++++++++ NEW YEAR TRACKER Neat little page I just stumbled upon... http://www.timeanddate.com/counters/multicountdowna.html (Fred Waterer, Ont., Dec 31, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010 Hello, enjoy happy new year via Livestream Radio and your PC soundcard 11:00 UTC The Breeze FM, Wellington, Newzealand Alternative: Radio New Zealand National 13:00 UTC 702 ABC Sydney, Australia 13:30 UTC Radio Adelaide, Australia [surely there are some streamers in the UT+10 and 12 zones! gh] 15:00 UTC BeachFM 78.9 Tokio, Japan 16:00 UTC RTHK Radio 1, Hong Kong 17:00 UTC Radio Bangkok 18:00 UTC Radio Uniton, Nowosibirsk, Russia 18:30 UTC Craze FM, Neu Delhi, India (hat bei mir nicht funktioniert) Alternativ: Hello FM 106.FM, Chennai, India 19:00 UTC City FM, Islamabad, Pakistan 20:00 UTC Oman FM, Maskat, Oman (not functioning here, wb.) 20:30 UTC Radio Farda, Teheran, Iran (US station) 21:00 UTC Echo Moskvy, Moskau, Russia Alternativ: Radio Mayak 22:00 UTC Oi FM, Joensuu, Finnland Alternativ: YLE Radio 1, Helsinki, Finnland 23:00 UTC Deutschlandfunk (Live- from Berlin) Alternativ: ORF OE 3 Vienna Austria 00:00 UTC BBC Radio 1, London, GB 02:00 UTC Globo 92.5 FM, Rio de Janeiro(?), Brasil 03:00 UTC Corazon FM, Santiago de Chile, Chile 04:00 UTC Radio Fides, La Paz, Bolivia (no stream link found yet) Alternativ: "LA X" WXYX-FM 100.7, Bayamón, Puerto Rico 05:00 UTC WNYC 93.9 FM, New York City, USA 06:00 UTC Beat 100.9 FM, Mexico City, Mexico 07:00 UTC CBC Radio 1, Calgary, Canada 08:00 UTC KTWV 94.7 The Wave, Los Angeles, USA 09:00 UTC KSKA FM 91.1, Anchorage, Alaska 10:00 UTC KINE-FM 105.1, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA (Wolfgang Thiele-D, in Net-Radio http://www.ratzer.at/net-radio.php/ via df5sx Dec 31, dxldyg via DXLD) File this away for NYE 2011 MUSEA +++++ OLD BBC BROADCASTING EQUIPMENT AND MEMORIES http://www.roger.beckwith.btinternet.co.uk/bh/menu.htm (via Fred Waterer, dxldyg via DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ GOOD NEWS FROM TAZZY TIGER OHR IN TASMANIA. Dear fellow intruder busters, I hope that you have all started the new year well. IARU-MS ALSO has been very careful in the end of 2009 spotting and removing the Bruny-"Tazzy"-Tiger radar from Tasmania. If you want to learn more about this *Successful Action* just hit http://www.iarums-r1.org/iarums/actions.pdf You will also find this report on the "new" homepage of IARU-R1, http://www.iaru-r1.org Big thanks to all hams who have helped in this case, especially to Glenn VK4DU, Peter VK3MV, Brett VR2BG, and Arasu VU2UR. Keep up your good work! (Uli Bihlmayer-DJ9KR, INTRUDERALERT mailing list Jan 2 via Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DXLD) IARU-MS was only concerned with keeping TIGER out of the 10100-10150 kHz 30m hamband, but where else might it be? Link above includes this: On a real time data display on internet you are able to read the transmission frequency of the different TIGER radars. You can also see a picture with the “fan” in different colours showing the structures of the ionosphere. Please hit http://www.tiger.latrobe.edu.au/ And the above link includes this, rather unspecific info: ``TIGER is controlled remotely from La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia. It uses HF radio waves in the 8 - 20 MHz range. It consumes only 2 kW of power, the same as some electric kettles and transmits an average of 200W - the same as two bright light globes. ``TIGER typically operates near 14 MHz during day-time and 12 MHz at night but this changes with the level of solar activity. It is also capable of swept-frequency operation meaning that when irregularities are widespread throughout the ionosphere, the radar detects ionospheric and sea scatter over much of its range window and over a broad band of frequencies`` Altho obviously doing valuable ionospheric research, which might even be applicable to SWL/DXing, it seems it could also interfere with many other transmissions unless it is disallowed e.g. from broadcast bands. I have enquired about its actual frequency usage (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dear Dr Devlin, I have been reading with interest the IARU reports of resolving the problem of interfering with the 10100-10150 kHz amateur radio band. As a shortwave monitor, I can see that you are doing valuable research on the ionosphere. Looking through your website, I don`t find anything definite about your total or current frequency usage, just 8-20 MHz, and around 14 MHz in daytime, 12 MHz at night. Could you supply some more exact frequency bands you have been using, and any bands which are disallowed for your experiments? It would also be helpful if you could provide, perhaps on your website, an audio file of what TIGER sounds like on an ordinary shortwave receiver in the AM mode. Thanks, (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO, Oklahoma USA, to Dr John Devlin, via DXLD) Dear Glenn, Thanks for the email. Tiger lists its frequencies on the realtime display applet accessed from our webpage http://www.tiger.latrobe.edu.au Click on Bruny (or Unwin A or B) and bring up the control box. Then click geographic and get a display of returns for the scanned area. The current frequency in use is listed there. You can use the toolbox and other displays to look at other aspects of the operation. We have a restricted frequency table (i.e. frequency bands we exclude from use), that was recently programmed incorrectly. It is: # Restricted frequency table for the standard radar. default=13500 8000 9040 9995 10150 (was incorrectly set with 9995-10100 recently) 11175 11400 12230 13410 14000 14350 14990 15100 16360 17410 17900 18030 18068 18168 18780 18900 19680 19800 19990 20010 Measured output is attached. Remember it is a CW signal in pulses (300 usec duration) at a pseudorandom pulse rate of approx. 100 Hz average. When monitoring remember that there are about 20 of these radars around the world. The other radars operate similarly, except their restricted frequency table is set as required for local conditions by the relevant authorities in the country of operation (John Devlin, Jan 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Thanks. The attachment shows the 11.5-12.5 MHz range, with a very sharp peak at 12.0. The restricted frequency table is enlightening: off-limits are bands allocated for aeronautical, maritime, amateur and standard frequencies. That leaves fixed service and BROADCASTING bands where it IS allowed. Perhaps with such low power and direxionality toward the South Pole, it is felt that interference to much higher-powered broadcasters will be negligible, while potential QRM to lower-powered and vital 2-way communication services would be significant. I am not aware of any complaints from Australian or NZ SWLs/DX listeners about such QRM, but they may be getting it without knowing what it is, not to mention the 20 other such radars worldwide. They and others might like to try monitoring Tiger in realtime on the specified frequencies. Does ``default=13500`` really mean it is more likely to be on that frequency? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ IEEE PUBLISHES 1901 DRAFT STANDARD FOR POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS 1901 Moves Closer to Final Approval as an Official International Standard --- Jan 06, 2010 10:03 ET LAS VEGAS --(Business Wire)-- Jan 06, 2010 At the 2010 International CES, the HomePlug® Powerline Alliance today celebrates the publication of the IEEE 1901 Draft Standard for powerline communications (PLC), a major milestone for the industry. The standard covers both Medium Access Control and Physical Layer and is targeted to all major applications for PLC devices, including in-home networks for data, audio and video distribution, Smart Energy and Smart Grid, plug-in electrical vehicles and audio/video distribution. The IEEE P1901 Working Group met in Tel Aviv from December 8-10, 2009 and accomplished many important goals. In the 14-week period prior to and during the meeting in Tel Aviv, the P1901 Working Group reviewed and resolved more than 3,000 comments received on the initial draft. The vast majority of these comments were resolved with the approval of submitters, leading to significant gains in consensus on the technical content. As a result, the updated draft was approved on January 5 with overwhelming Working Group support. With this approval, the IEEE 1901 Draft Standard is sufficiently mature for general release and publication, and it is available now through the IEEE online store. “The publication of the IEEE 1901 Draft Standard is an extraordinary step for the powerline communications industry,” said Rob Ranck, president of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance. “The first PLC standard from the world’s premier standards body for network technologies is now available to implementers and manufacturers. Publication effectively means that the draft is considered stable, and no significant changes are anticipated prior to final publication. This is similar to the process that IEEE 802.11 went through. This will help boost the adoption rate of this technology, and we expect an increasing number of new products and players entering the PLC market in 2010,” continued Ranck. The IEEE 1901 Draft Standard was developed using HomePlug AV as the baseline technology, and it is designed to accommodate Smart Grid applications as well as next-generation broadband-speed solutions. The new HomePlug “Green PHY” (GP) specification, currently being developed by HomePlug members as a profile of IEEE 1901, will provide a low power Smart Energy/Smart Grid standard. HomePlug GP will help establish the industry’s only powerline solution that meets the IP networking requirements of utility companies and appliance manufacturers. Please visit www.HomePlug.org for more information on the HomePlug Powerline Alliance. Additional details on the IEEE 1901 standard are available at http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/1901/ About the HomePlug® Powerline Alliance Founded in 2000, the HomePlug Powerline Alliance, Inc. is an industry- led initiative with more than 70 member companies that creates specifications and certification logo programs for using the powerlines for reliable home networking and Smart Grid applications. The Alliance accelerates worldwide adoption for HomePlug technology by collaborating with international standards organizations such as the IEEE and through market development and user education programs. Sponsor members include Atheros Communications (ATHR); Cisco (CSCO); Comcast (CMCSK); GE Energy, an affiliate of General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE); Gigle Networks; Motorola, Inc. (MOT); NEC Electronics Corporation (TSE: 6723); and SPiDCOM Technologies. Contributor members include Arkados (OTCBB: AKDS); Corporate Systems Engineering; Renesas Technology Corp., Texas Instruments Incorporated (NYSE:TXN) and Yitran Communications Ltd. The Ardell Group for HomePlug Megan Novak Shockney 858-442-3492 megan@ardellgroup.com (from http://shar.es/aQscf via Benn Kobb, DXLD) More: http://kimelli.nfshost.com/index.php?id=8102 DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DRM See INDIA; KUWAIT; NEW ZEALAND; ROMANIA; ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ USA IBB; VATICAN DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DTV see also HONDURAS ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ RABBIT EAR ANTENNAS ARE MAKING A COMEBACK FOR TV RECEPTION. In a way this seems like a flashback to the 1950s until one realizes that the laws of physics have not changed: http://tinyurl.com/RabbitEarReturn (CGC Communicator Jan 4 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ JUST WHAT IS A DUCT? BOB COOPER - FROM A POST ON THE TRANSATLANTIC EMAIL LIST There seems to be some misconception of what a 'duct' is or does. Think of an almost lossless piece of large (HUGE! in fact) diameter coaxial cable, extending from your QTH to one hundreds, thousands of miles distant. Now give that 'cable' an elevation above sea/ground level (ASL/AGL), a physical vertical dimension (height) and a physical horizontal dimension (width). If your transmit/receive antenna is at the correct height (ASL/AGL) your transmit energy 'couples' into the duct and it transports your signal with very small incremental attenuation over whatever length as the duct exists to a receiving terminal (1) along the way, or, (2) at the terminus of the duct (end) - provided the station at the opposite end of the 'path' (imaginary cable) ALSO has their receive (and transmit) antenna at the height required (ASL/AGL) to ALSO be inside of the duct's vertical height parameters. My apology for the basics here but based upon email responses, it is apparent not all, who should, understand the physical properties at play here. If you are (at either end of/OR along the duct) above OR below the duct's physical parameters (height or vertical thickness) no reasonable amount of energy on the transmit end will 'couple' (connect) you into this invisible-to-the-eye "waveguide." Ducts tend to have a "resonant frequency range" and for us it is fortunate 100-200 MHz fits the "typical" duct resonance. I have experienced 50 MHz signals from Hawaii into California on ducting and 55.25 signals from Boston to the Turks and Caicos Islands (approaching 1,400 miles) but on average anything below the FM radio band in frequency (88 MHz not to be specific but as a class of signals) is non-resonant in a duct. So you can miss out on the high energy transfer efficiency of a duct by being (1) at the wrong height (too low or too high ASL/AGL), (2) the wrong north-south/eastwest coordinate; simply beyond where the duct has formed), or, (3) on the wrong frequency. A percentage, fairly high in fact, of ducts 'resonate' well at say 400-900 MHz but not so good at 200(144) MHz. TV DXers can recount endless examples of this; signals at 600 miles on UHF, nothing unusual on VHF (including FM). The reverse also happens; FM (88-108 MHz or the weather radio channels in the 160-165 MHz band) are 'hot' and UHF is "dead." It pays to have a variety of receivers and the skills to monitor more than say only 144.300. All of this leads to my own attention to ducts from at least 1970 onward. In 1974-1979, it was my good fortune to be associated with CATA (the Community Antenna Television Association; and its monthly journal CATJ) within which several members including CATA head Kyle Moore owned their own two engine private plane. Kyle, and I, made dozens of short (under 1,000 mile) trips out of Wiley Post Field (Oklahoma City) and as he was a TV guy (operating cable TV systems) he understood when I climbed aboard with a battery or 12V operated color TV set and stuck a whip antenna to the Plexiglas window on his Bonanza. I can recount (will not) perhaps a dozen incidents when we lifted off the Oklahoma turf and he very slowly - much slower than he had been instructed by ground control - climbed through 400-600-1,000- 2,000 feet to his assigned cruising altitude. The distance to, say, Lexington, Kentucky was just over 600 miles as we lifted aloft. "Stop - slow the climb down" I would instruct and for several tens of miles I could fine tune Lexington's channel 18 or 27 to allow him to fly and me to measure the duct's height. The answer was plus or minus 300 feet much of the time and with some skill he would drift up and down to allow me using his altimeter to define where the duct boundaries occurred (typically VERY sharply defined). Of course traveling to Ohio at say 800 feet elevation would have been a violation of (1) air traffic rules, and, (2) fuel consumption common sense so my 'measurements' seldom lasted for more then a few minutes. After settling at, say, 12,000 feet, I'd urge him to drop 'back down' every few hundred miles and we'd run smack dab into the duct at the logical height virtually every time. "You are using up my fuel" was his usual chiding remark. Not to speak of why he was deviating from his 'assigned' altitude and needed to request permission to 'drop down to 800 feet' over say Joplin, Missouri! Now move me to the 1980-1990 period. I now am VP5D and twice a month on average for ten years (200+ times) I flew in a Beechcraft D18 tail- dragger from Providenciales to Fort Lauderdale, and return; +/- 600 miles x 2. The pilot was the last of the surviving WW2 fighter pilot guys, 'Crazy Ed,' and he would do anything you asked as long as you gave him cash. Crazy Ed paid absolutely no attention to FAA/CAA rules, lied his way out of dozens (even hundreds) of official inspections with me standing beside him, and flying with Ed was akin to being a Japanese Kamikaze passenger. Once over the Bahamas his HUGELY overloaded D18 ("Weight and balance???" he would say to anyone stupid enough to ask; "If this sucker gets off the ground I pass!!!") with me in the co-pilot seat because the rear end was so badly overloaded with freight there were no seats left, we lost the entry door when the cargo bounced onto the loading door latch (only the cargo net strung in the doorway kept the freight on board with a gaping hole now where the door had been). Someplace down there in perhaps Eleuthera there is a D18 door buried in the coral. Or he would take paying passengers and stick them into the one seat crapper/loo (toilet). Once I tried to get in there through an aisleway jammed with freight and discovered a native Turks & Caicos lady with two kids crammed into the 'john.' You get the picture - Crazy Ed was totally off the wall. He 'loaded' each flight, especially from Fort Lauderdale Exec Airport down to Provo, from the front; "You are co-pilot" he would assign and then from front to back the boxes and Caterpillar D8 gears and foodstuffs and who knows what was jammed in until they reached the rear loading door. At that point a ground guy, after loading the 'john/loo' as well, would use all of his force to shut the door against the protruding boxes and freight. I cannot believe I did this - and still alive to relate the story - over 200 times! The good times were when I had enough 'room' to operate my 12" GE battery operated TV set using a whip antenna 'Crazy Ed' had 'graciously' allowed me to install on his top fuselage - mostly because I was his best (and cash paying) client. I won't bore you with why he stopped in the Bahamas both to and from Provo but there were certain 'services' along the Bahamian chain which SOME passengers really wanted to use (read the book: "Television's Pirates" from Amazon.com). Getting to ducting; Ed was reasonably accommodating as to my '800 feet please' requests - subject ALWAYS to my promise to pay for the extra fuel these diversions would cost him. I can tell you that over a decade I witnessed dozens - tens and tens - of ducts especially in March-June, where we would lift off Exec Airport with me to tuned to a Fort Lauderdale or Miami UHF channel and 500+ miles later (or 300 miles later when we let down on a Bahamian island for 'service') as we descended down to Providenciales runway there it was - still there at about the same altitude but gone at sea level. These two generic examples sort of illustrate my point; either you are "in" the duct or you are "out" and if you are below - well - no reasonable amount of ERP (power) is going to get you in - or the other guy's signal out. Being inside the duct is paramount here - being below is to suffer a double whammy; first you are not in, and worse yet, your signal is being shielded from getting in by the moisture/temperature parameters of the bottom (or top if you are well elevated) of the duct. Think METAL waveguide here - those inside are home free; those "outside" (whether 'above' or 'below' ) might as well be in New Zealand; ducts, like metal waveguide, keep signals 'out' as well as 'in.' So this effort - to reach Europe on 144 MHz or above, if by the troposphere, is REALLY all about wave propagation. It is not about red blobs on Bill's maps or what happens between two distant points; it is about being conscious of what it takes to get 'inside the magic waveguide' (where power is not an ingredient; being in the right place at the right time is!) (Robert B. Cooper, Jr., NZ, Jan WTFDA VHF-UHF Digest via DXLD) DXING ON THE BALTIC SEA --- by Stephen P. McGreevy Between 04 to 20 September 2009, I visited 11 countries in northern and Eastern Europe as part of a tour group with Cosmos Tours. Naturally being an LF, MF and FM DXer, I brought along two receivers and two digital audio recorders--a Sony ICF-SW7600GR, a 1981-era Realistic Am/FM/TV receiver (analog, for doing seamless band-scans on MW and FM), a Zoom H2 and Olympus voice-recorder. Besides London (where I transferred from Heathrow Airport), we stayed in Copenhagen, Berlin, Poznan (Poland), Warsaw, Vilnius, Riga, Tallin, St. Petersburg, Helsinki, and lastly, Stockholm. In each city, I recorded bandscans of the local FM broadcast station scene and also made recordings of wonderful longwave broadcast DX, and I also DXed the MW broadcast band, which is so uncongested compared to the MW BCB in North America, and where a lot of stations still leave the air in the wee hours, even clearing up more channel too. Contrast that to the 24/7 crush of signals on what a friend and I call "The Graveyard Band" which one could consider the entire MW broadcast band in the States now that they have completely ruined/filled-up the once clear channels. Anyway, I made fascinating bandscans and airchecks of FM stations in each city. Berlin had a great FM dial with a good variety of formats, but Warsaw was the truly best, with three jazz, three classical stations, and an incredible variety of music including a stations that played ambient electronica music and traditional Polish folk music-- the FM dial was so jam-packed in Warsaw - channel spacing seemed like 400 or 600 kHz max. I also enjoyed the FM band in St. Petersburg, Russia, and there was a surprising amount of local AM stations, unlike in any of the other European capitals we visited which only had a few, or even none as was the case in Copenhagen (Denmark has no MW stations on-air now). In Vilnius, Lithunia, there was one station in English - BBCWS on 95.5 FM and only one MW station on 612 kHz that went off-sir after midnight, leaving the MW dial totally free of local stations. Wish we had this situation in North America! In Tallin, Estonia, I found a nice opera/classical music station on 87.9 that was so strong that I could listen to it in our hotel room with just 10 inches of whip antenna extended - turns out it was from Espoo, Finland with 60 kW, across the Gulf of Finland. In fact, more than half the FM stations audible in Tallin were coming from the Helsinki area and were semi-local in strength (the Estonian language is very similar to Finnish). Beginning in the 1970's when Helsinki, Finland put up a tall TV tower, television broadcasts from there were viewable across the waters in Tallin, which was part of the Soviet Union back then. Hundreds of TV antennas sprouted up on rooftops and were pointed at Helsinki, and people could watch western TV broadcasts (and assumably could listen to western FM stations as well as I did from Tallin). This fascinating scenario is documented on a new film entitled "Disco and the Atomic War" with a 5 minute trailer viewable on You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watvh?v=D80cuy6LsDw This created a crisis for Soviet radio/TV technicians on how to jam the TV signals from Helsinki, which never came to pass even by the time the Soviet Union fell in 1991. One of the highlights of the trip was the 13-hour ferry crossing (Silja Line) between Helsinki and Stockholm. The ferry left Helsinki at about 1700 local time, and the next morning about 0200 (I figured by then we would be halfway between Helsinki and Stockholm in the middle of the Baltic Sea (I left my berth and brought my Sony portable receiver and Olympus voice-recorder up to the top deck and walked back to the stern of the ship. The weather was mostly clear with some high- cirrus clouds, but a bit cold and windy due to the motion of the ship. I pulled up the whip antenna of the Sony and was quite pleasantly surprised to find the FM dial full of signals, including a still strong 87.9 classical-music station from Espoo, Finland, but most of the signals had slow-fading (10-20 sec. cycles) similar to an Es opening - likely also due to the movement of the ship, and if a signal faded out all I had to do was slightly shift the position of the whip antenna and I would regain good reception (probably polarization fading). I assume there was considerable oceanic-tropo occurring to have such a full FM dial out in the midst of the Baltic Sea. I also did some MW and LW DXing. At 0500 local time, I went back out on deck and to the stern of the ship again - first-light was occurring and I was beginning to see the gorgeous Swedish Archipelago pass slowly by as it grew lighter. We were still about 3 hours from port in Stockholm in the shipping passageway amidst the Archipelago. I was fascinated to be able to still receive 87.9 Espoo, Finland quite strongly even within the multitude of those islands to the east of Stockholm. And so I would heartily recommend bringing along a radio if you plan on a European trip, especially if traveling by ferry across any of the many routes ferries take in Europe for a great DXing experience (Jan WTFDA VHF-UHF Digest via DXLD) Geomagnetic field activity was at quiet levels during the entire period. Observations from the ACE spacecraft were consistent with the quiet geomagnetic conditions. During the period, solar wind speed varied between a low of 259 km/s at 31/1142Z to a high of 376 km/s at 28/0037Z as the density increased to a peak of 13 p/cc. The Bz component of the IMF ranged between + and -7 nT during the period, while density peaked at 9 p/cc near the end of the period. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 06 JAN - 01 FEB 2010 Solar activity is expected to be at very low to low levels for the entire forecast period. Isolated moderate activity is possible from 06 - 18 January with the return of old Region 1035 (N30, L=252). No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at normal levels through the period. The geomagnetic field is expected to be mostly at quiet levels for the forecast period. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2010 Jan 05 2351 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center # Product description and SWPC contact on the Web # http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/wwire.html # # 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table # Issued 2010 Jan 05 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2010 Jan 06 72 5 2 2010 Jan 07 74 5 2 2010 Jan 08 76 5 2 2010 Jan 09 78 5 2 2010 Jan 10 80 5 2 2010 Jan 11 82 5 2 2010 Jan 12 84 5 2 2010 Jan 13 84 5 2 2010 Jan 14 84 5 2 2010 Jan 15 82 5 2 2010 Jan 16 82 5 2 2010 Jan 17 78 5 2 2010 Jan 18 76 5 2 2010 Jan 19 76 5 2 2010 Jan 20 78 5 2 2010 Jan 21 80 5 2 2010 Jan 22 80 5 2 2010 Jan 23 80 5 2 2010 Jan 24 80 5 2 2010 Jan 25 80 5 2 2010 Jan 26 80 5 2 2010 Jan 27 80 5 2 2010 Jan 28 80 5 2 2010 Jan 29 78 5 2 2010 Jan 30 76 5 2 2010 Jan 31 74 5 2 2010 Feb 01 72 5 2 (SWPC via WORLD OF RADIO 1494, DXLD) TIPS FOR RATIONAL LIVING ++++++++++++++++++++++++ We are getting hit by more and more climate-change deniers including someone who slips it in while circulating SW propagation info. Let us get real: EVEN if there were ONLY a 10% chance that global warming is happening and human-caused, (for which the evidence is really indisputable) we can`t afford NOT to do everything possible to slow it down, prevent it. Even if that should prove to be unnecessary, scientific progress would ensue, the world would be a better place and more secure for our descendants (Glenn Hauser) ###