DX LISTENING DIGEST 11-02, January 13, 2011 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 2011 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html Searchable 2010 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid0.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 WORLD OF RADIO 1547 headlines: *DX and station news about Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Cayman Islands, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ethiopia, France, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Italy, Mauritania, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Russia, Samoa American, Spain, Spratly Islands, Tibet, Uganda, UK, USA, Vanuatu, Zambia *Clandestine news about Burma, Cuba, Iran, Korea North, Sarawak, Sudan SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1547, January 13-19, 2011 Thu 0430 WRMI 9955 Thu 1600 WRMI 9955 [confirmed] Thu 2000 WBCQ 7415 Thu 2200 WRMI 9955 Fri 0430 WWRB 3185 Fri 1530 WRMI 9955 Fri 2130 WWCR1 7465 Sat 0900 WRMI 9955 Sat 1500 WRMI 9955 Sat 1700 WWCR2 12160 [?? On Jan sked but missing Jan 1, 8] Sat 1830 WRMI 9955 Sat 1900 IPAR/IRRS/NEXUS/IBA 6090 Sun 0730 WWCR1 3215 Sun 0900 WRMI 9955 Sun 1630 WRMI 9955 Sun 1830 WRMI 9955 Mon 1230 WRMI 9955 Tue 1630 WRMI 9955 Tue 2000 WBCQ 7415 Wed 1630 WRMI 9955 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 DXLD YAHOOGROUP: Why wait for DXLD? A lot more info, not all of it appearing in DXLD later, is posted at our yg without delay. When applying, please identify yourself with your real name and location, and say something about why you want to join. Those who do not, unless I recognize them, will be prompted once to do so and no action will be taken otherwise. Here`s where to sign up: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dxld/ ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. Clandestine --- Radio Sadaye Zindagi confirmed my reception in a personal e-mail from Mark Anderson, Pamir Productions after a couple of hours. Reports can be sent via http://www.AfghanRadio.org or to info @ afghanradio.org Frequencies now are 6125 kHz at 0230 UT and 9400 at 1500. The programs in Dari are designed for Afghanistan and the signal is optimized for that region. There is a "Streaming Dari Radio" on the web site and also a "shoutcast web site" on http://www.shoutcast.com/Internet-Radio/sadaye%20zindagi (Björn Fransson, Gotland, Sweden, Jan 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Site? : QSL: GERMANY, RADIO SADAYE ZINDAGA via WERTACHTAL, 9445. Mark Anderson, Pamir Productions, responded with a confirming e-mail in 91 minutes for a 9:10 PM report to http://www.afghanradio.org He stated they have been evaluating 9445, but their signal is on 2 other frequencies: 6125 at 7:00 AM & 9400 at 7:30 PM Afghan time --- UT + 4:30 hours (Wendel Craighead, Prairie Village, Kansas, USA, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) = 0230 UT on 6125, 1500 UT on 9400 (gh) ** ALBANIA. 7530, R Tirana, 2102 6 Jan (towards?) with program in English ad a very lengthy listing of frequencies and times. Signal just S4 or 354x3 (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, R75, 2x16 m H antenna and always with m@h40 [sic] Sennheiser head[phone]s, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANGOLA. (?) 4950, 1727 local music (22 December, Gonder). 1613 UNID in vernacular, SINPO 43533, 45433. Some African (28 December, Wondo Genet). Must have been Angola (Robertas Pogorelis, visiting Ethiopia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4949.8, RNA-Canal "A", Mulenvos, 2258-2310, 08 Jan, Portuguese, African pops, news at 2300; 24342, occasional utility QRM (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7217, Rádio Nacional at 0300 in Portuguese with a man and woman with apparent news with remote correspondents with mention of "Angola", Fair Dec 10 (Mark Coady, Ont., Jan CIDX Messenger & ODXA Listening In, as corrected, via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7216.015-odd UNID Angolan station? Heterodyne whisper heard at 1936 UT Dec 31, against even 7215.00 kHz of CRI Shijiazhuang in Mandarin, S=9+10dB. Angola was noted lately on 7216.76 kHz (Wolfgang Buschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 9 via DXLD) ** ANGUILLA. 1610, 2320-2330, 09 Jan, Caribbean Beacon, The Valley; 54444. I don't mention this for the catch itself, but for a question: is the listed power correct? [30 kW - WRTH 2011] Not higher than that? What sort of MF antenna are they using - a simple monopole [half wavelength, a quarter] perhaps? When it seems no TA signals above 1600 are to be heard, one can almost bet this stn is audible, and it is, frequently much earlier than in the above time. Typically a quiet TA channel at least until, say, 2330 UT. The sad thing of it is just the sort of program they broadcast... - but then this is just my humble opinion (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANGUILLA. Caribbean Beacon email address rejecting messages "Failed to deliver to 'beacon@anguillanet.com' LOCAL module(account beacon@anguillanet.com) reports: account is full (quota exceeded)" This is what I get after sending them a RR. Should opt for the snail mail address (Horacio A. Nigro, Montevideo, Uruguay, Jan 12, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANTARCTICA. I`m seldom monitoring at midafternoon with minimum noise levels, so took the opportunity Jan 6 at 2029 to seek LRA36 on 15476, in case it has resumed its old 18-21 UT M-F schedule. No, no sign of it, but not much signal from 15345v Argentina either. I still often check 15476 between 12 and 15, but nothing to report (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15476, RN San Gabriel. 01/06 at 1230 and 1853, no signal from Antarctica (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Embu SP Brasil, SW40 - Dipoles and Longwire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. 6060, RAE, General Pacheco. 2232-2325 January 7, 2011. Surprised to hear this one with RAE Spanish programming, northern campesino vocals (as opposed to the more-common tangos), ID's. Fair, and parallel very good 15344.98. WRTVH-2010 (since the Euro distributor doesn't want to supply the 2011 in a timely manner) lists 6060 as closing at 2300, with 15345 continuing till 2400. But not, as 6060 remained on through tune-out, presumably on till 2400 also (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11710+, Jan 8, UT Sat at 0627 surprised to hear a poor signal in Spanish; 0629 electronic music melody repeated, an IS? Suppose not. 0630 automatic 3-pip timesignal about 2 seconds late as music continues. Would be the OSOB were it not for stronger NZ on 11725. 0635 signal improving a bit, Radio Nacional mentioned in passing, as well as Argentina; 0636 ``Noche Nacional`` apparent program title, and plugs its blogspot. Deep fading, not flutter. Meanwhile I refined the frequency: yes, 11710.8, so no doubt it is LRA, but never before heard at this late hour. 11710v normally finishes weeknights after RAE French until 0400*. Perhaps General Pacheco is celebrating the decision to fund a new SW transmitter for this and RAE, with an all- night party (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11710.750v, Probably RAE Buenos Aires heard with tango music at 1012 UT Jan 7, hetting against CNR Beijing on even 11710.0 kHz (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 9 via DXLD) Radiodifusión Argentina al Exterior (RAE) --- Comentario del colega Daniel Camporini en su pagina, lo hallo interesante: "RADIODIFUSION ARGENTINA AL EXTERIOR Después de muchos años de un rumbo errático y con una política de transmisiones realmente incoherente el servicio exterior de LRA Radio Nacional, conocido como Radiodifusión Argentina al Exterior (RAE) solicita el apoyo de sus oyentes para evitar un posible cierre de sus transmisiones. La pregunta que muchos nos hacemos es porque deberíamos hacerlo. Seguramente las opiniones estarán encontradas ya que muchos diexistas creen que ante todo se debe ser solidario con una emisora de onda corta y su posible cierre. En lo personal creo que el cierre de RAE sería el resultado de sus propios errores ya que durante mucho tiempo malatendieron a la poca audiencia con la que contaban. Sé que en más de una oportunidad las cartas llegadas a la casilla de correos de la emisora volvían a su lugar de origen porque no habían pagado el alquiler de la misma al servicio postal, o simplemente no responden las cartas que les llegan o no envian las QSL's correspondientes. No voy a entrar a analizar la programación porque eso sería siempre una opinión subjetiva. hace ya muchos años en que RAE ha debido ser reestructurada en función del rol que en la actualidad juega la Argentina en el concierto de las naciones americanas y no vivir imaginando que el mundo nos escucha. ¿Debemos apoyar a RAE y pedir su salvataje? Creo que hay emisoras de radio de onda corta que merecen desaparecer." (via Horacio A. Nigro, Montevideo, Uruguay Jan 8 condiglist yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DXLD Exhorto por este foro a los colegas diexistas y radioescuchas a continuar con la campaña de cartas y mails dirigidos a RAE. Las autoridades de la "embajada radial argentina" es decir NUESTRA Radiodifusión Argentina al Exterior, están analizando seriamente la importancia que este servicio tiene, fundamentalmente merced a la avalancha de mensajes de los oyentes de los servicios en inglés, japonés y alemán. Demos un poco más de pelea a los que bregan por el cierre de RAE ya que muy probablemente siga en la onda corta! (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, via playdx yg via DXLD) El del colega Daniel Camporini es un análisis agudo que se sustenta en una apreciación que no dista de la realidad argentina. Es más, yo hasta diría ¿Cómo es que hemos tenido durante años una emisora que nos represente mundialmente? ... Viéndolo desde este otro ángulo es que - incluso- me pregunto ¿Habría sido mejor NADA?... y la respuesta -la que yo mismo me doy- es NO: ¡No es mejor NADA!... Es lo que podemos tener porque nuestros dirigentes son los que SON. Como toda emisora oficial expuesta al capricho partidario de turno, RAE subsistió con un puñado de empleados que alcanzaron a hacer siempre lo que pudieron y quizás, un poco más. En un país donde la gente ya no puede sacar su propio dinero de un simple cajero porque no hay billetes y debe esperar en la puerta de un banco, bajo el rayo del tórrido sol, que llegue el camión de caudales mientras tres boqueteros entran por un tunel para llevarse millones... En un país donde se repiten las colas de autos en centenares de estaciones de servicio para llegar a un surtidor que no larga ni una gota de nafta... En un país donde la propiedad privada puede ser de un grupo de usurpadores mientras la complaciencia gubernamental ordena actuar con policias desarmados a expensas de la barbarie... En un país, como lamentablemente es el nuestro, donde la circulación ha dejado de ser libre por calles y por veredas porque la asonada social desborda... ¿Que se puede esperar de una emisora que nos represente a escala internacional? ... Como argentino, yo todavía sueño con un país mejor... Y como diexista, deseo una RAE acorde a mis sueños. RGM (Ruben Guillermo Margenet, Argentina, condiglist yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DXLD) [... sic] ** AUSTRALIA. 2310, ABC Alice Springs at 1359 woman interviewing an Australian singer. Fair, //2325, 2485 the same, Jan 8. 2485, ABC Katherine at 1535 with Australian country music. Good. // 2310 fair, 2325 fair-good, Jan 8 (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening lakeside in my car before and during local sunrise, with Eton E1 and AN1 active antenna on car roof, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. 3210 kHz from Australia on air. I can hear it as I write this at 0945 UT. I presume it is them broadcasting uninterrupted pop music from when I tuned in at 0900 UT. S=3 signal and improving which isn't too bad for the very low power they are running (Barry Hartley, NZ, Jan 4, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 9 via WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DXLD) 3210 Aussie On The Air --- Hi Everyone, Thanks to a tip from Johno Wright (ARDXC)-- this station has been on for several days. I believe this is the ex-Pifo transmitter, now broadcasting from the Sydney area. (I had all the details but somehow misplaced that email. I also believe they are only low power with the exciter ATM.) I'm only 900+ kilometers from the presumed site, but after 0900 it's very strong, heard with S9+50 (or better) 6 January with non-stop pop music. (I believe this is the same station I heard a few days prior with a religious sermon.) Also, I measured the frequency last night and it seems to be very slightly below nominal (i.e. 3209.99). 73s (David Sharp, NSW Australia, Jan 7, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes David you are correct. It is running around 50 watts according to John Wright. Regards (Tony Magon, Carlton - Sydney, Jan 7, ibid.) How could 50 watts at 900+ km possibly reach S9+50+? (gh, DXLD) 50 W S9+50dB at 900 km does seem a bit incredulous doesn't it? In Sydney, tens of km away, signal is heard during the day, but amongst the man-made noise. At night the signal sometimes manages full LED lighting (on occasional peaks) on the 2001D signal LED meter with whip antenna, but that's a long way from S9+50 dB which usually only high powered International broadcasters with high gain antennas directed over here accomplish in this locality, with the exception of Radio Australia Shepparton broadcasts. Perhaps some sporadic E layer propagation occurring at the time enhanced the signals to those levels? For what it's worth, 3210 kHz broadcasts are stronger than Radio Symban's former broadcasts were heard on 2368.5 kHz at my QTH (Ian Baxter, NSW, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Band still very poor. No Aussies heard on 120 m. Only P/NG heard Radio E. New Britain which of late is plagued by a utility station sending pulses. There is a net on M/W/F on 7130 which starts at 0930 UT. Net control is VK7ROY in Tasmania. I usually check in and, if I can hear, the foundation stations it is a good indication that propagation will be good. The Australian foundation stations are only allowed 10 watts. They have distinctive call signs with 4 letters in their suffix with the first letter being an F. I worked VK2FALL last week. Sometimes, Kevin, VK0KEV, Macquarie Island checks in and other DX as well. Anyway if you can hear a 10 watt station, there's a good chance to hear a higher powered broadcast station at 3 MHz although it doesn't always correlate. At night, I listen for beacons on the Long Wave band. If you are interested, the web site that lists long wave DX being heard is "DX Beacon logger". Well, I've got to shovel some snow. I hope conditions are better in Oklahoma than they are here (Bill, W1OW, Smith, MA, Jan 9, WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. 9580, 9590, 9560, RA missing from all three, Jan 6 at 1339. Sometimes propagation is unusually bad, but there should be some sign of them in descending order of strength. Suspect an outage at Shepparton. So I check 6020 at 1342, and it is audible tho only fair. At 1352, 9580 and 9590 are back on with country music for the current flooding, ``No Rain, No River; No River, No Dam; No Dam, No Power`` by the Dingoes. Double absence earlier allowed thru on 9585: IRAN, q.v. RA doing well on multi-bands, in the nightmiddle here, Jan 11 at 0625: reports on the flash-flood in Toowoomba, 0629 outroed as a special edition of the program `PM`. Listening first on 13630, and // 13690 always a bit weaker. 0630 RA generic promo including clip suggesting Assange should get a Nobel Prize; 0632 RA announces it is joining ABC News 24 TV coverage of flooding, now extending from Queensland into northern NSW. By now found even better signals on 15160, 15240, audible on 15415, 17750, and at 0640 even 9660, but an echo behind the others. 9660 is 10 kW from Brandon, usually mixing with Vatican but dominating now. Brandon is near the coast in NE Qsld, in the Townsville area, north of Rockhampton; is Brandon threatened by flooding? John Babbis sent this story about Toowoomba, which is in SE Qsld, west of Brisbane, text and video: http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/7854427-youtube-inland-tsunami-hits-australian-town-10-dead-72-missing (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Brandon is in Far North Queensland and the horrible floods are confined to the Central and Southern parts of the state. Townsville is quite a distance from the floods yet is indeed in a flood and cyclone prone region in the Summer months (Robin Harwood VK7RH, Norwood, Tasmania 7250, Radio Monitor SWLR-KS001, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. ABC QUEENSLAND GOES NATIONAL DURING FLOOD EMERGENCY James Cridland writes in his blog: ABC Local Radio for Queensland is now broadcasting across all of Australia’s DAB+ radio network, and they’ve also promoted the online streams too: with the aim of, in their words, “giving all Australians a local perspective on the devastating floods currently affecting much of Queensland.” ABC says that the broadcast will include 24 hour rolling coverage of the unfolding events in Brisbane, the crisis in Toowoomba and the Lockyer Valley and the recovery mode across the state. If you’re in Australia, you’ll find “ABC QLD Floods” on your DAB+ radio, or you can listen to it streaming online at http://www.abc.net.au/emergency (You’ll also find ABC Brisbane on a PURE internet radio). (Source: james.cridland.net) (January 11th, 2011 - 17:15 UTC by Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog via DXLD) 4 Comments on “ABC Queensland goes national during flood emergency” #1 Richard Hunt on Jan 11th, 2011 at 22:37 The geoblock on the ABC New 24 (tv) streaming services has been suspended as well # Roy Sandgren on Jan 12th, 2011 at 13:36 Why don’t they use the am bands for all info. best coverage of the surface of this land. # #3 ruud on Jan 12th, 2011 at 16:51 To put on top of that, AM propagation is excellent in flooded area’s, this is the only advantage of flooding. Water has much better conductivity then dry land. # #4 Roy Sandgren on Jan 12th, 2011 at 16:54 To put it on next top; you can buy a wind up radio with AM/FM/SW all bands and get the news from all over the world about Asia. costs 30-40 USD (MN blog comments via DXLD) INTERNATIONAL GEO-BLOCK OF ABC NEWS 24 LIFTED FOR AUSTRALIAN FLOOD COVERAGE. Posted: 11 Jan 2011 for linx: http://kimelli.nfshost.com/index.php?id=10442 Twitter, 11 Jan 2011, Mark Scott, MD of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation: For news about the floods in Autralia, "International geo-block now lifted for #ABCNews24. Also broadcasting live into the region on Australia Network." Twitter, 11 Jan 2011, Mark Scott: Streaming link for #ABCNews24 - in Australia and around the world. http://j.mp/eJYdrD Twitter, 11 Jan 2011, Mark Scott: "Broadcasting #Qldfloods coverage internationally overnight: #ABCNews24 on Australia Network; @612Brisbane on Radio Australia." Twitter, 11 Jan 2011, Mark Scott: "No streaming local radio on 3G due to capacity constraints of mobile network during coming days. News Radio available as usual @qldfloods." ABC Digital Radio newsletter, 11 Jan 2011: "ABC Local Radio in Queensland is now broadcasting live on Digital Radio and nationally online, giving all Australians a local perspective on the devastating floods currently affecting much of the Queensland. The broadcast will include 24 hour rolling coverage of the unfolding events in Brisbane, the crisis in Toowoomba and the Lockyer Valley and the recovery mode across the state. The special digital station, ABC QLD Floods, can be heard on Digital Radio in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide and streamed nationally online at abc.net.au/emergency." -- Thanks to Matt Francis for this news tip (kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) 9590, Radio Australia at 1330 // 6020 and 9580 with ABC Queensland programming with Anne O'Keefe covering the flash flooding and taking calls from Brisbane residents - Very Good Jan 11 - this is an ongoing story worth tuning in to (Mark Coady, Peterborough, ON K9J 6X3, ODXA yg via DXLD) RA is providing continuous coverage of the flooding in Queensland, pre-empting regular programming. Fortunately, it is summer-vacation time, so regular programming is already on holiday anyway, e.g. not to be heard Wed at 1405 ``All in the Mind`` nor 1434 ``The Philosophers` Zone``. Jan 12 at 1345, 9590 Shepparton has ABC Local Radio, Queensland, announcing that if the AM transmitter in Brisbane goes off, that will be carried on the Classic FM frequency of 106.1. So what is the AM frequency? Strangely enough, WRTH 2011 does not mention ``Local Radio`` as one of the ABC networks! We hear a lot of it relayed on RA. Instead, on MW there are National, Regional, Metropolitan, and Parliamentary & News. So does ``Local`` = ``Metropolitan``? That would be 4QR on 612, 50 kW. National is 4RN on 792, only 25 kW. AM sites are typically in low- lying areas, and likely they would be at same site and both flooded if one is, but who cares about National? WRTH does not mention ``Local Radio`` among the FM networks either. Anyhow, we can follow the emergency tnx to RA. Gives local time chex as UT +10, no DST in Qsld, which must seem strange to the Victorians and New South Welsh. At 1345 it`s ``a quarter to twelve``, and max flood stage of 5 to 5.2 m in Brisbane is expected at 4 am = 1800 UT. At 1439 UT, it`s ``21 to 1``. This service is also being carried on multiple platforms as per frequent announcements, but omitting RA. Robin Harwood tells me that the RA site in Brandon is well beyond the flood area further south. BTW, I`ve noticed in various news clips that not only does Australia have a female PM, but NSW and Qsld also have female premiers, or rather premières (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also UNID 11660 Glenn, ABC Brisbane is indeed on 612 and have seen the huge transmitting mast north of Brisbane and west of the airport. It has a large capacity hat and is also the home of Radio National (792) and Newsradio (936) (Robin Harwood VK7RH, Norwood, Tasmania 7250, Radio Monitor, SWLR-KS001, Jan 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5995, relay via RA, 1407-1500, Jan 12. Special relay of “ABC Brisbane” (612 kHz.), “ABC Local Radio Queensland”, “ABC Coast FM”, with emergency flood warnings; local coverage of what was happening in and around Brisbane; many reports via phone; location given for evacuation centers; report of one person listening to them via SW; // 6080, 7240 and 9590; noted 6020 was off the air; all mostly fair; IDs included 4 to 5 different station names; 1500 went to RA news. Fascinating to hear what was happening down there! (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) David, I hear that the flooding is getting into northern NSW. I hope you are OK and it is not too near where you are. What is the outlook? 73, (Glenn to David Sharp, Jan 11, via DXLD) Hi Glenn, Thanks for sending an email, much appreciated. My area is still high and dry, even though the local river peaked at about 40' last week. We are awaiting additional flood water from QLD, to see what happens. Some areas, east of here, have had it much worse. Not that we aren't impacted. The local grocery store had no milk "due to roads being closed." Don't misunderstand, our stores aren't empty but many major roads are cut (and will likely remain that way for many more days). We're also experiencing a snake problem, as they escape to high ground. Not such a pleasant prospect, especially when you consider most of the snakes are King Browns-- very venomous! (As a sidebar, one person saw a Brown right in town, near the courthouse. Another nearly made it into the grocery store. Needless to say, people are buying snake repellers by the "two's and three's", at a cost of $80 each.) Thanks again for your concern. I do have some logs and will send them to you in the next day or two. With all the bad weather here (Florida- style thunderstorms), I have generally left my radios off. Take care, (David Sharp, NSW, Jan 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, Just another update -- towns east of here are now being evacuated, and they expect another peak in my area, by month's end. FYI, I am along the Darling River. Also of interest: three Brisbane stations, streaming online: The best is probably news-talk 1116 4BC: http://www.4bc.com.au But also try 693 4KQ: http://www.4kq.com.au or 882 4BH at: http://www.4bh.com.au Obviously, the ABC stations would also be streaming. 73s (David Sharp, NSW, Jan 13, WORLD OF RADIO 1547, ibid.) RA programs pre-empted --- Radio Australia hasn't had Late Night Live at 1200-1300 UTC on 9580 as usual. It's been all Queensland flood news. LNL, All in the Mind, and Saturday Night Country are online and in podcast if you want to hear them instead of river levels, but you'll have to go to the program's page. Live streaming is what you hear over the air, with a slight delay (Dan Malloy, KA1RDZ, Jan 12, ODXA yg via DXLD) Contrary to the night before, strange propagation Jan 13 at 0605: no sign of RA in English on 13630, 13690, 15160 or 15240. (Yet, RNZI at 0612 check was there on 13730 DRM, 11725 AM = SSOB and close to OSOB except for WEWN 11870). Is there some propagational barrier across the Tasman, or is Shepparton temporarily off? But I do hear some other signals on 19m, notably Indonesian, poorly on 15290. Nothing in HFCC --- but Aoki reveals it`s Radio Australia, 100 kW, 205 degrees via Tainan, TAIWAN, M-F at 0600-0630, while on Sat/Sun it`s filled by English. China, of course, forbids HFCC to include anything from Taiwan, even off-topic relays of other stations. See also CHINA. 6020, at 1216 Jan 13, RA continuous coverage of flooding from ABC Local Radio, Queensland, mentions access to much stuff via http://www.abc.net.au/emergency including an extensive `frequency finder` for all ABC radio and TV networks, but not updated to flag any transmitters flooded off. 9580, I am listening to the best frequency at 1223 Jan 16, with discussion of food shortages, such as fruit, vegetables and milk, because farmers cannot get them to market by road, rail, and air if possible is not cost-effective; shelves on many stores are bare. Some crops are going unharvested as a result, if they are not already inundated (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AZERBAIJAN. CAUCASUS: Radio Voice of Justice with an identification in Azeri language “Edaletin Sesi Radiosu“ was heard at the start of the broadcast 1408 ``chasa`` on the new frequency 9679.5 kHz. Broadcasts are on Tuesday and Friday from Stepanakert, Nagorno- Karabakh and talk about the peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan (Rumen Pankov, R. Bulgaria DX Jan 7 via Yimber Gaviría, Colombia, DXLD) ex-9677 or so, right? (gh) ** AZORES. Carlos and others, just to slip from one item to another, was there ever any solution why R Club de Angra of Açores was heard on shortwave. It was late 1989 when that station appeared to 13584 and it lasted several months. The signal was rather good during European evenings. I've never seen any explanation for this SW outlet. 73, (Jari Savolainen, Finland, Jan 8, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Jari, Sorry for the late comment/reply. I don't recall that HF outlet of RCAngra, but can tell you there could hardly be a chance of them to use HF, now or in the past, and ditto for any similar Portuguese station except RDPi or RR. 13584 might be the result of a transmitter fault or some unauthorised experiment, so this possibly explains the puzzle. As you surely know, RCA is off on MF since their monopole collapsed quite a number of years ago. Their webpage says nothing about it: Check "A rádio" in http://www.rcangra.com/a-radio/ Their history seems to have stopped in 1997! I admit, however, that RCA still keeps the MF licence, and ditto for Estação Emissora do Club Asas do Atlântico (1566 kHz 10 kW), deliberately off due to power costs, and Rádio Lajes - A Voz da FAP, last heard on 648 kHz 1 kW (planned to be reactivated on 1530, also 1 kW). 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, Jan 11, ibid.) Hi friends, You guys are bringing back memories here! I was stationed in the Azores back in the 60's. I lived in the barracks at the time. I had bought a Grundig Phonograph and radio console combination from the Exchange. After sneaking a wire up on the roof of the barracks, I heard dozens of stations from everywhere on Mediumwave band - especially Europe. I wasn't a DXer then, so listening to shortwave wasn't a priority, but when I did, I got good results, pulling in stations from the states. The summers were fun. The winters were cold (Chuck Bolland, FL, Jan 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BANGLADESH. 4750 - Tentative - Bangladesh, 1120 to 1140 subcontinental music with yl dj (Robert Wilkner, Pompano Beach, Florida, Sony 2010XA modified by Dallas L[ankford] [pre-amplifier, pre-selector and RIT with whip antenna]. Portable performed well during local power outage on Monday 3 January, logs late by the delayed departure of the flu, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4750, Bangladesh Betar, Shavar, 1144-1207, Jan 3, listed Bengali. W announcer with brief talk between Hindi/sub-continent music; instrumental fill at 1159; 4+1 pips at ToH and (Tentative) ID into news; ad string at 1205; ID at 1206 and talk between music bits; poor- fair (Scott R. Barbour Jr. Intervale, N.H. USA, NRD-545, MLB-1, 200' Beverages, 60m dipole, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4750, Bangladesh Betar, Jan 03 1413-1428 43443 Bengali, Talk and music, ID at 1421. Also: Jan 06 1401-1412 32432 Bengali, Music and news, ID at 1404 (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan, Japan Premium Jan 7 via DXLD) see also INDONESIA, probably mistaken for this (gh) ** BOLIVIA. 3309.98, Radio Mosoj Chaski, Cochabamba, 0907 música boliviana. 4700, Radio San Miguel, Riberalta, 0850-0910 noted with om en español, no music. 4716.4, Radio Yura, Yura, open carrier very strong from 0825. 4796, Radio Lípez, Uyuni, OM at 0945 (Robert Wilkner, Pompano Beach, Florida, Sony 2010XA modified by Dallas L[ankford] [pre-amplifier, pre-selector and RIT with whip antenna]. Portable performed well during local power outage on Monday 3 January, logs late by the delayed departure of the flu, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4409, R. Eco, Reyes. January 05-06, 2356-0005 local music, female in Spanish talks, back local music. Strong T-storm statics, 25222. 4796, R. Lípez, Uyuni. January 06, 2336-2352 music consisted by Bolero beat, Pop instrumental arrangement and some Andean flute, many canned IDs by female on music “está escuchando R. Lípez”, male in Spanish talks with significant lower audio level than when playing music. Unreadable 33333 (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Embu SP Brasil, SW40 - Dipoles and Longwire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4451.2, R. St.ª Ana, St.ª del Yacuma, 2230-2238, 07 Jan, Castilian, talks, music; 24331, adj. QRM de KOR (cland. stn Voice of the People, Goyang) or KRE on 4450. 4865, R. Logos, St.ª Cruz de la Sierra, 2216-2229, 07 Jan, Castilian, rlgs. propag., music; 34332. Very good on 08 Jan, 2245 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re 11-01: ``6165, Radio Logos – Santa Cruz, 1319, 12/29/10, in Spanish. Mellow Latin style ballad, segué to another similar ballad, announcer, woman with longer talk. Poor (Mark Taylor, Madison WI, Winradio g313e, Eton E1, Satellit 800, Kaito 1103; Flextenna, EWE, attic mounted Eavesdropper, NASWA Flashsheet Jan 2 via DXLD)`` ``Is that time correct? Sunrise in Santa Cruz was 0938 UT, so that`s 3 hours and 41 minutes later, and sunrise in Madison was 1330, so almost entirely a daytime path. BTW, RN is in Spanish via Bonaire on 6165 at 1100-1227 (gh, DXLD)`` Hi Glenn, Yes, that time is correct. That is partially why I submitted the log. I was having a hard time believing I was hearing it myself. I listened through the BoH and there was no ID announcements, so I cannot say definitively that it was R. Logos. (I probably should have logged it as a tentative.) I can say the songs & talk were definitely in Spanish. Conditions were such that I was hearing stations from the Far East, & Europe on 49 meters at the time, so a stray South American didn't seem entirely impossible. Is there another option? (Mark Taylor, WI, NASWA yg via DXLD) 4796.045, Radio Lípez, Uyuni, Presumed, 2340-2359 Jan 8, Just got a carrier here for frequency check. Can't hear any audio. It's possible that the station has closed down for the day and it's carrier is still up? Carrier was fair (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6134.80, Radio Santa Cruz, 1034-1045 Jan 8, Noted a male in Spanish live comments before a presentation by a female. Signal was good this morning (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston FL, 26N 081W, Used them all this morning: WR-G31DDC, WJ HF1000, JRC NRD545, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 3375.32, R. Municipal, São Gabriel da Cachoeira, 1013-1022, Jan 3, Portuguese. Music; M and W announcer with talk and presumed ad string; back to music at 1022; poor (Scott R. Barbour Jr. Intervale, N.H. USA, NRD-545, MLB-1, 200' Beverages, 60m dipole, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 4845.2, R. Cultura Ondas Tropicais, Manaus AM, 2217-2228, 07 Jan, music, all unreadable - clipped & distorted áudio; 45343. 4845.2 ditto, audio problem solved, but still a bit like telephone like quality, 2211-, 09 Jan, songs; 44433, CODAR QRM. 11915, R. Gaúcha, Pt.º Alegre RS, 07 Jan, advertisements, news; 55444! Now, one of the ads heard sounded weird; but then it's business, if you consider that what's being offered is not to be understood as an entirely municipal service in some countries: a crematorium. In a recent foreign TV program, I heard the presenter pronouncing the name "gaucho" in a wrong way, and I bet many out there don't know how to the read it, so please allow me: "guh-oo-shoo" masc. "guh-oo-shuh" fem., with the stress on the oo (ú). [UNLIKE Spanish! - gh] 15190, R. Inconfidência, Belo Horizonte MG, 2251-2309, 07 Jan, sports program Desporto pelo Ar, then "Inconfidência, Notícias at 2258; 24433, QRM de GNE (fairly strong) until 2300 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL [and non]. R Inconfidência, Belo Horizonte, (about 200 miles North of Rio de Janeiro) on 15190 at 2355z, Jan 1, with music into ID by male announcer at midnight. Surprising that 19m still open at this hour, about 2 1/2 hours after transmitter sunset, 20 minutes after local sunset with an all dark path. Aoki (& WRTH) list this with 5 kW beamed 122º. No stations on 19m from farther east but RN de Argentina on 15345 still audible although they're close to the gray line. Cuba and Okeechobee still heard on 19m but most signals were from the Pacific rim (Jerry Lenamon, Waco TX, Eton E1, sloper, ABDX via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 9592.3, surprised to hear the unmistakable wailpreaching of David Miranda here, Jan 10 at 0620, // 9565 but slightly out of synch with it. Can only assume that ZYE969, R. Globo, São Paulo, nominal 9585, but recently on 9587v, has varied even further. BTW, it`s missing completely from WRTH 2011! Above info is from Aoki. WRTH 2010 had same calls on 9585 as Radio CBN(Globo), SP. 9565 is Súper Rádio Deus é Amor, Curitiba (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9592.4 (!) SRDA, São Paulo SP, 2241-., 07 Jan, testimonials on miraculous healings.; 25433, distorted audio (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL [and non]. 9696-, big het on NHK English direct on 9695.0, Jan 7 at 1214, and with audio but can`t split them apart on the FRG-7. EiBi shows R. Rio Mar, Manaus on 9695.8 at 10-21, which fits nicely, as it was measured there by Manuel Méndez, Spain, Nov 28, 2010 at 1010-1020 including ID, so I presume it; rather than Madagascar, which I vaguely remember was once there (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn I have never listened to Rio Mar, but it is reported to be alive on 49 and 31 meters. 73 (Sarmento Campos, Brasil, radioescutas yg via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. After getting ARGENTINA [q.v.] at 0627-0636 Jan 8, I searched 25m for more signals, and at 0638 found weak 11815.0 with lively music, no doubt R. Brasil Central, a normal all-nighter. 11780 RNA was not yet on but should be within a semihour (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BURMA [non]. Democratic Voice of Burma in Burmese from Jan. 1, correxion 1430-1530 9355 ERV 300 kW / 100 deg SEAs Sat/Mon/Wed/Fri // 17790 MDC 1430-1530 11515 ERV 300 kW / 100 deg SEAs Sun/Tue/Thu // 17790 MDC 73! (Ivo Ivanov, Bulgaria, Jan 6, WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ERV = Armenia, MDC = Madagascar ** CANADA. The move of CHTK-560 Prince Rupert BC to FM (99.1 MHz, 160 watts, 578 meters) has been approved by the CRTC. It seems that the AM tower is in pretty sad shape:) The Commission approves the application by Astral Media Radio (Toronto) Inc. and 4382072 Canada Inc., partners in a general partnership carrying on business as Astral Media Radio G.P., for a broadcasting licence to operate a new English-language commercial FM radio station to replace the existing AM station CHTK Prince Rupert. Conversion of CHTK to the FM band 10. Astral stated that the conversion of CHTK to the FM band is necessary because the current AM transmitter site is no longer viable from a safety and economic standpoint. The AM tower facilities have been condemned and the tower can therefore no longer be climbed, re- lit or maintained. 14. As set out in the appendix to this decision, the licensee is authorized to simulcast the programming of the new FM station on CHTK for a transition period of up to three months following the commencement of operations of the FM station. Pursuant to sections 9(1)(e) and 24(1) of the Broadcasting Act and consistent with the licensee’s request, the Commission revokes the broadcasting licence for CHTK effective at the end of this simulcast period. Issuance of the broadcasting licence to operate an English-language commercial FM radio programming undertaking serving Prince Rupert, British Columbia The licence will expire 31 August 2017. The new station will operate on frequency 99.1 MHz (channel 256A) with an effective radiated power of 160 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 578 metres). 73, (via Deane McIntyre VE6BPO, AB, Jan 11, DXLD) ** CANADA. 9625, CBCNQ, Jan 6 at 0627 continuous tonetest after 0605 sign-off, yet again, why? S9+20, and I wish reception were typically this good during programming. Tone estimated at one semikHz, then refined to G-sharp = 415.3 Hz (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. 9865, Jan 7 at 1212, good signal playing Vatican Radio IS, at tail of Spanish relay via Sackville, reconfirmed. Surprisingly, 9650, Jan 7 at 1215 lacked KBS World Radio in English via Sackville, but by 1216 it started to fade in. It`s 250 kW, 268 degrees, while VR is only 100 kW, 227 degrees (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA [and non]. CBC RADIO OVERNIGHT SCHEDULE MOVES UP TO 11 P.M. http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/article/917658--cbc-radio-overnight-schedule-moves-up-to-11-p-m CBC Radio One has no intention of introducing foreign programming to its main schedule, despite its acquisition of the popular U.S. public radio program This American Life for its Sunday night lineup, says Chris Boyce, the CBC’s programming director for English radio. The program, produced by Chicago Public Radio and hosted by Ira Glass, tells the personal stories of everyday Americans. Though it will air at 11 p.m., This American Life is technically part of Radio One’s long established overnight compendium of popular CBC program repeats and information programs produced by public broadcasters in other parts of the world, Boyce told the Star Thursday. “Due to eroding finances (at CBC), the starting time of the overnight program has crept up to 11 p.m. from 1 a.m.,” he added. “Unless our finances improve, overnight begins at 11 p.m., with This American Life on Sundays and repeats of our own programs (Vinyl Café, Wire Tap, As It Happens, Quirks & Quarks) on other nights.” Too much of Radio One’s overnight schedule was Eurocentric, Boyce added, which prompted the decision to run repeats and to purchase This American Life, “as well as programs from other parts of the world, including Australia.” The addition of the 10-year-old This American Life to CBC’s schedule also offers the opportunity for future collaborations and co- productions with public radio stations in the U.S., Boyce said. “At the core of that program is innovative storytelling and narrative techniques we use in our own shows.” The trade isn’t a one-way street, Boyce said. Signature CBC programs As It Happens, Quirks & Quarks, Wire Tap, Q and the popular media/advertising literacy program Age of Persuasion have all been picked up for U.S distribution by Public Radio International, which also distributes This American Life. Despite its popularity among Canadian satellite and digital radio listeners, Radio One’s latest acquisition has raised some eyebrows and prompted emails, Boyce admitted. “People aren’t used to seeing the word American in program titles on CBC Radio.” Keillor joins the audience for Prairie Home Companion Garrison Keillor will finally get a chance to see what the audience sees at A Prairie Home Companion. In a first for his long-running U.S. radio show, Keillor will take a guest spot and let someone else host. Singer and fiddler Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek fame will host the Jan. 15 show, broadcast from the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul, Minn. Keillor will still appear as private eye Guy Noir and Lefty the cowboy and deliver the "News from Lake Wobegon." Keillor says he has never gotten to see the show himself. The 68-year- old humorist says for once, he wants "to stand in the back of the hall and watch for a few minutes." A Prairie Home Companion is heard on nearly 600 public radio stations across the U.S., drawing more than 4.3 million listeners weekly. Associated Press (via Kevin Redding, TN, ABDX via DXLD) ** CANADA [non] U K. Église du Christ in French via BABCOCK, last transmission on Dec. 30, 2010: 1500-1530 on 15265 SKN 250 kW / 175 deg to NoAf Thu, cancelled from Jan. 6 (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Jan 8 via DXLD) Per WRTH, this originated in Montréal (gh, DXLD) ** CAYMAN ISLANDS [and non]. Interesting change of conditions tonight. Wish I'd tuned in a few hours earlier. At 8 pm CST I had Algeria on 531 kHz, best ever heard. Then the northern paths mostly died about 8:30. Just tried LW now at 12:15 am CST. I am hearing CBC on 415 kHz from Cayman Islands for the first time in many years. Friday A-index increased to 11. Using an Icom R75 with 8" Quantum loop. 73, (George Sherman, MN, Jan 7-8, WTFDA-AM via WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DXLD) ** CHAD. 6165.0, RNT, 0427-0502, Jan 7. After RN (via Bonaire) went off the air heard Chad’s Balafon IS mixing with R. Zambia; 0431 in French and start of music program of African Hi-life music; most of the time Zambia had slightly better reception (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. Maoming Marine Meteorological Broadcasting --- According to Chinese media, Maoming Marine Meteorological Broadcasting Station began official transmission on December 30, 2010. The opening ceremony was held in the afternoon of the day. The station completed on December 14, and test transmission was done at 0500 on the day, proving the transmission reached 2000 km away. The station transmits on 3360 kHz USB with 1 kW, serving a million people along the South China Sea. With other two marine meteorological broadcasting stations in Sidao (in Shandong province) and Zhoushan (in Zejian province), all the seas along the Chinese coast now can be covered by shortwave broadcasting. Regular broadcasts, with weather forecast and weather report (weather, wind velocity, wind direction, visibility, wave height etc.), are broadcast four times a day. The schedules are not announced, but I noticed one at 0943-0945. Their mailing address is: Haiban road, Maogang district, Maoming city, Guandong province, China (Takahito Akabayashi, Japan, Jan 8, WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DX LISTENING DIGEST) So only 2 minutes each? ** CHINA. When Jim Young and I correspond about 5050 kHz, we are rather cavalier in our reference to China being there, as we both know from first hand observations that Beibu Bay Radio (BBR) is the only Chinese station on 5050 now. It was China Huayi BC that vacated 5050 back in June 2010 in favor of 6185. The Voice of Strait abandoned 5050 back in April 2009 and has not been heard here since then, even though I occasionally see a few questionable logs of it being on 5050. The confusion may come about because BBR mostly broadcasts in Vietnamese, but does in fact have some brief announcements in Chinese (Ron Howard, California, Jan 8, NASWA yg via DXLD) ** CHINA. 6115, (tentative), Voice of Strait, Fuzhou, at 1521 with English-Chinese lesson, the subject of which was surgery for a cancerous tumor! They are listed in Amoy at this time, so was this Voice of Strait and was it Amoy instead of [Standard] Chinese? Poor, Jan 8 (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening lakeside in my car before and during local sunrise, with Eton E1 and AN1 active antenna on car roof, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 7115, CNR, 2212 surely blocking someone with S7 signal, 7 Jan (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, R75, 2x16 m H antenna and always with m@h40 [sic] Sennheiser head[phone]s, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ex-7105 vs SOH? (gh, DXLD) ** CHINA. Signs of spring? CRI showing up on 16m in the nightmiddle here. As I was checking for R. Australia, which was also audible on 17750, found CRI English poor on 17710 at 0637 with a clip briefly in Chinese; also 17740 at 0638 poor with Chinese music, then talk. I figured they might be from Kashgar, East Turkistan, but HFCC has 17710 as Beijing site, 17740 as Xi`an (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) With Australia [q.v.] strangely missing as the usual OSOB on 19m, I search for others and find two weak signals in Chinese, but not //, Jan 13 at 0609 on 15500, and 0611 on 15480. Aoki says these are: 15480, CNR1, 100 kW, 222 degrees from Beijing 572 site, and 15500, CNR2, 150 kW, 180 degrees from Beijing 491 site --- legitimate transmissions instead of jammers! But like the previous nightmiddle, China is also barely propagating on 16m: Jan 13 at 0610, 17710 in English, 17740 somewhat stronger in Chinese. Per Aoki, these are the external service CRI: 17710, 500 kW, 193 degrees from Beijing site 17740, 500 kW, 190 degrees from Xi`an site (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. Firedrake, first heard in quite a while --- Could be that I just haven't been tuning around on HF as much as I should, but have Firedrake with a good signal, at 0025 UT, on 10300. I'm actually intrigued by Firedrake music, though of course I'm against jamming. I guess it's part of the scene that I have little control over (Chuck in St. Louis Ermatinger, UT Jan 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 8400, Jan 13 at 1219, Firedrake all-musical jamming is audible, very poor with flutter. My first log of this frequency since Nov 30, 2010 at 1353; I am usually tuning in the 13-15 period, rather than before 13 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA. Hi Everyone, 6035, La Voz del Guaviare, San José del Guaviare, 0100 UT 11/1/11, ID at 9 secs, then National anthem. This is what I heard, no sign of Bhutan on the frequency. Is it on reduced power? http://www.box.net/shared/s93hsd96ex (Mark Davies, Anglesey UK, BDXC-UK yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DXLD) ** COLOMBIA [and non]. 14347-USB, Jan 13 at 1249, ``Spider Web`` net, hardly any stations audible except one which seemed to ID as HK3-zero, but the final character should be a letter, of course. Sounds like an American. One contactee later was WA9TIR. Net ran past 1259; not listed in the final April 1, 2007 edition of John Norfolk`s Nets to You, but googling finds this right away: http://www.spiderwebnet.net/ ``THE CAPTAIN Howard (Spider) Webb HK3WOP Silent Key on 4/30/10 He will be missed! The Spider Web Net meets every morning at 8:30 AM EST/DST on 14.347 MHz. The net is open to everyone, the list is the normal crew that may check in. Stop by and say hello! Thank you for stopping by, the web pages and pictures within are for the private use of its members.`` Most of the net members http://www.spiderwebnet.net/members.htm have US calls, but there are a bunch of HK`s, and I must have been hearing this one: http://www.spiderwebnet.net/Hams%20on%20the%20net/HK3ZOR%20Harry/hk3zor.htm Guess what, 8:30 am EST = 1330 UT, but it was really on earlier. HK3ZOR`s entry at QRZ.com is more correct: HK3ZOR HARRY MARRINER AA 100510 BOGOTA, Colombia Net Control Operator for the SpiderWeb Net 14.347 Mhz 1230-1330 GMT Spiderweb Web Site: http://www.spiderwebnet.net (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA [and non]. 5936 approx., Jan 6 at 0621, het upon weakened WWCR 5935 with so-called University Network, presumed spur from R. República via ELCOR on 5954.2v; matching frequency, approx. 5972.4, detectable with BFO tho nothing to het there. Seems the DentroCuban Jamming Command does not bother with the spurs, and even the fundamental can overcome jamming latenite. See also CUBA (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 960, Radio Reloj, Cienfuegos. 1228 January 9, 2011. Very poor with "RR"'s (as opposed to the often Sunday-only chimes). Obliterated 1231 with 970 WFLA's IBOC sunrise turned on. 1310, Radio Enciclopedia, Nueva Gerona, Isla de la Juventud. 1149 January 9, 2011. Surprised to hear this one (if my records are correct, last noted in 2008) at fair level with piano tunes, parallel strong flagship 530. Still audible at 1305 recheck, but another check a couple of hours later, nothing making it. Almost thought I had traces of the 1320 listed Enciclopedia in the 1200 hour at one point, but inconclusive. Presumed site based on propagation timing for my location (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 5040, 0308, R. Havana Cuba with news in Spanish, SINPO 25333. 29 December, Wondo Genet (Robertas Pogorelis, visiting Ethiopia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. Re Arnie Coro vs HFCC: As Arnaldo explains in long sentences, - the ITU Geneva is a bureaucratic monster. But the "real music" - we say in Aleman -, frequencywise on shortwave registration plays on HFCC organization meetings, with nearly 7000 registrations each twice a year, done by 120 engineers from various international broadcasting organizations. I guess only a single time in Johannesburg South Africa, Arnaldo Coro was guest on this twice a year HFCC meeting. Unfortunately Cuba is to be cushioned against reality in many aspects of international cooperation. My hint to Arnie, to cite an example for 'talk each other' with integrity and respect were the negotiations between the two German govts during cold war time in 1971 til 1990 year. btw. today Jan 3rd no RHC program on 6050 kHz at 1130 UT. Heard a terrible heterodyne of approx. 430 Hertz on 6050 kHz at 1130 UT Jan 3, but couldn't identify the suspect station program. On top undoubtedly RTM Sarawak from Kajang-MLA in BMalay, and HCJB Quito in Spanish too (Wolfgang Büschel, BC-DX Jan 9 via DXLD) RHC schedule is to close 6050 at 1100 (gh, DXLD) 6050, Jan 6 at 0618, RHC ID overmodulated and distorted unlike the other English frequencies, third night of problems with this transmitter. 17865, Jan 6 at 2113, pulse jamming here, 3 x 5955 vs R. República, and was not there before 2100, the nominal start of RR on 5954.2, changing from daytime channel 9965. By 2202 check, 9965 had only lite pulse jamming instead of Wall of Noise which then attacks neighbor 9955 WRMI with WORLD OF RADIO. But much of the day there are equal WONs on both. See also COSTA RICA, and USA: WRMI for more jamming observations; NIGERIA: 15120 QRM. 6010, Jan 7 at 0621 RHC in Spanish instead of usual and scheduled English! Today`s primary SNAFU. Checked the other overkill frequencies: Spanish also on 6120 and 5040; English on 6060, 6150- undermodulated as usual, and 6050-initially with Spanish underneath, but this time may have been crossmodulation caused by overload. See also USA: WINB, WRMI 6010, RHC in English Jan 8 at 0615 check; had been mistakenly in Spanish on this frequency 24 hours earlier. Prof. Arnaldo de Jesús Coro Antich continues to get DX-program-type segments into ``Revistas Informativas`` rather than in a dedicated DX program, such as ``En Contacto``, where he is never heard on Sundays. Sat Jan 8 at 1353 on 11760 and all the other frequencies, a SW primer about using batteries instead of AC to reduce noise, hook on a few meters of wire to improve whip antenna reception, and about propagation, ``cómo mejorar la recepción de onda corta`` until 1358 IS and ID: Now`s my chance to confirm whether Antonio Gómez is still announcing a frequency RHC used for only a few days in November before replacing it with 15230: yes, two months out of date, he is, ``15390``, where of course they should have stayed, as it is clear while at this hour 15230 collides with the ChiCom via their Canadian comrades [CanCom]. Full announcement says, in typical Soviet-style disorder: 15120, 15360, 15390 [sic]; from *13 on 13680, 13780; from *11 on 12040, 11760; from *13 on 11730; from *14 to 20* on 11690; 6140 until 05* (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. Martí Not Jammed! DX'ers: I am monitoring Radio Martí on 6030 at 2220 with NO DCJC noises! No interference. They were talking about an important anniversary in Cuban History. They introduced themselves but could not catch name as they were rapidfire delivered them. Got a "Saludos Amigos" at halfhour mark at 2231. Good but fluttery signal presumably from the keys or the ancient Greenville B using a GE TX. 73's, Noble West, BMSS, Clinton TN, Jan 6, Grundig YB500 and headphone cord mounted to indoor wall, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Fluke? ** CUBA. 4990, Radio Havana Cuba, Jan 6 2355-0010 Jan 7, Don't know if someone has caught this frequency being used by RHC, but here it is anyway. Prior to the hour, music presented until 2359 when a male gives ID in Spanish. On the hour, Interval Signal followed by ID in English by a male and female. This followed by an intro into the next program, but someone must have discovered the mistake and RHC drops off this freq and is found on 5040 kHz, their regular frequency. Signal on both freqs was good (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston FL, 26N 081W, WR-G31DDC, WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [and non]. 11760, RHC finally resumes Esperanto, Sunday Jan 9 at 1501 check, after missing for several weeks, continuing in Spanish instead (tho last week it was on 6050 and 6150 before and after 0700 UT Sunday). Distinctive theme music, then giving schedule of Sunday 1500 to N/C/SAm on 11760; Sun 0700 on 6010 [NOT!]; and new time of Sunday [missed, but skeds show 2230, as yet unconfirmed] on 15370. Also claims to have new webpage via http://www.radiohc.cu and http://www.ameriko.org The latter linx to obviously outdated sked: http://www.ameriko.org/eo/node/75 And the former linx to a slightly different obviously outdated sked: http://www.radiohc.cu/esperanto/c_frecuencia/frecuencias.htm When will RHC and the Esperantists ever get their acts together with the most basic of info? See also VENEZUELA [non] Sunday Jan 9 I was monitoring RHC on 6140, to find that the Spanish DX program repeat, ``En Contacto`` did not start until 2247 and ended at 2300. DCJC violates the Monday-morning traditional truce with Radio Martí, still pulsing away at 0620 Jan 10 on 7405, despite RM silent period; sounds like at least two pulsers are in play, and similar sound on 7365, where RM would not ever be anyway at this hour. 6030 at 0629 check also with pulsing, seems mixed with similar noise, DRM? Romania does use 6030 for DRM at other times, but at 0630-0700, RRI English is supposed to do so on 6015-6020-6025. Full-bore jamming is running on 5955, Jan 10 at 0631, when altho inaudible beneath it, R. República presumably observes no truces. 12000, RHC Jan 10 at 1448-1454, spur from 12040, and a match on 12080, as Arnie Coro is commenting on electricity produxion following Hurricane Ike, such as wind power on the NE coast with Atlantic breezes. See also ISRAEL [non] 6010, Jan 11 at 0645, today`s RHC SNAFU: VG signal but open carrier only instead of English, also when rechecked several minutes later, while English was nominal on 6050, 6060, 6150. Tho on 15360 as usual, RHC missing from 15120 at 1413-1500+; see NIGERIA 15120, once again today Jan 12, RHC is missing from this frequency, so at 1412 we can hear weak Bengali from BSKSA. 9965.5, Jan 13 at 1238 I am astounded to hear Spanish discussion about Cuba in the clear, no jamming. So R. República really exists on this frequency, presumably the ELCOR, Guápiles, COSTA RICA transmitter which at night is on 5954.2v. Meanwhile, 9955 has wall-of-noise jamming against WRMI, even tho current schedule shows NO Spanish exile programs any day between 12 and 13 (but R. Libertad daily at 13-14). The jamming presumably includes the new Monday 1230 airing of WORLD OF RADIO, tnx a lot, Arnie! See also USA: WRMI. At 1358, 9965 was being jammed, and at 1403, 9955 jammed but not heavily during audible English religious broadcast. As for RHC itself, Jan 13 at 1426: 11760, 12040 and 15120 are missing, but audible on 11730, 13680, 13780, 13880, 15230, 15360. At 1503, 11760 is on but weak, along with 11730, 11690. At 1506, strong open carrier is still on 13680, atop R. Farda music // 15410 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. NEW HERITAGE FOUNDATION REPORT: EFFORTS TO CEASE RADIO/TV MARTÍ BROADCASTS SHOULD CEASE. Posted: 09 Jan 2011 Cubapolidata, 5 Jan 2011, Armando F. Mastrapa 3d: "Last month, the Heritage Foundation issued a report http://thf_media.s3.amazonaws.com/2010/pdf/bg2499.pdf on why U.S. broadcasts to Cuba are vital: '…the U.S. should maintain its steadfast commitment to the Cuban people by equipping them with the tools required to establish freedom and democracy. Any effort to eliminate international broadcasting to Cuba should cease and Radio/TV Martí should be retained as the chief vehicle for reaching out to the Cuban public.'" (kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) ** CUBA [non]. BBG MAY INCREASE HOURS OF AIRBORNE TV TO CUBA The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) is seeking information regarding industry’s capability to provide airborne television broadcasting services to audiences in Cuba. A briefing will be held at 2:00 pm, EST, on 1 February, 2011 at the US Naval Air Station, Key West Operations Site. However, the BBG is not at this time seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Currently, the BBG utilizes Phoenix Air Group to provide highly specialized airborne TV services under a contract that expires on 31 May, 2011. The Incumbent uses two of its own Grumman Gulfstream I turboprop aircraft for performance of this contract. These aircraft broadcast off-air TV signals to an audience in Cuba for up to five days per week. The broadcast altitude is between 18,000 and 21,000 feet using an oval figure 8-pattern approximately 100 miles from beginning-to-end. The aircraft are operated from the US Naval Air Station, Key West. There is a possibility that the existing broadcasting schedule of five days per week for 2.5 hours per night may be increased, which may necessitate the use of both aircraft simultaneously as well as a second fully trained aircrew within a three day advance notice from BBG. The BBG briefing will be held at 2:00 pm, Eastern Standard Time (EST), on 1 February, 2011 (January 8th, 2011 - 12:26 UTC by Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog via WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DXLD) Comments on “BBG may increase hours of airborne TV to Cuba” #1 Richard Hunt on Jan 8th, 2011 at 21:29 This has to be the least cost effective broadcasting method ever devised. #2 Keith Perron on Jan 9th, 2011 at 02:04 What are they thinking. When I was in Cuba for 3 years not once was I able to pick up TV Marti. Even today the jamming is effective. No one I mean no one can pick it up. In Cuba the ones who have seen TV Marti are those waiting to get VISA’s at the US Interest Section (MN blog comments via DXLD) More details from fedbizopps: https://www.fbo.gov/?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=63afb31ecf8bd219bfda09769b8d619c&tab=core&_cview=0 (via kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) ** CURACAO. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO CUROM RADIO ON CURACAO ISLAND IN THE CARIBBEAN? An interesting exchange of information between well known and highly respected international radio monitors is printed in the November issue of the American radio magazine, NASWA Journal. The question under discussion was: What happened to Curom Radio on the island of Curacao? This exchange of information prompted a spate of research on our part; and in our program today, we present our findings, in this story of shortwave broadcasting on the island of Curacao. The island of Curacao is located in the Caribbean, just 44 miles north of Venezuela in South America. Curacao is just 44 miles long, and less than ten miles wide. The highest peak is Mt Christophelberg at 1230 ft high, and the island has no rivers and no lakes. It is understood that Amerindians from South America arrived on the island around 2500 BC as the first inhabitants, though none of these peoples are found on the island today. The first European colony was established by the Spanish around 500 years ago, and the Dutch took over a hundred years later. During the year 1800, the French attempted unsuccessfully to take over the island of Curacao, and subsequently the British took over twice for a few years, but the island still remains as part of the Dutch kingdom. During World War 2, the American & British forces took over the island temporarily as a protective measure that ended after peace returned to Europe. As a matter of human interest, the world’s oldest inhabitant, Eugenie Blanchard, died last November at the age of nearly 115. She had served on the island of Curacao as a Catholic nun. Wireless came to Curacao very early. In the year 1908, the Dutch warship, Jacob van Heemskerck, brought a set of wireless equipment to Curacao and this was established in Fort Rif at the mouth of Willemstad Harbor as a coastal wireless station. The original callsign was CRC, though this was regularized to PJC a few years later. This callsign, PJC on Curacao, is reminiscent of the more familiar callsign PCJ which was the call of the well known Dutch international shortwave broadcasting station back in the early days of radio broadcasting. In fact, back ¾ of a century ago, radio journals of the era sometimes got the callsigns mixed up, and the Curacao call was sometimes printed incorrectly as PCJ, instead of PJC. In 1928, for the first time, a radio telegraph service between Curacao & Holland was established by PJC on Curacao. Two years later a similar radio communication service was established between Curacao and New York. According to a report in the club magazine from the International Shortwave Club in the United States, Curom Radio, as a shortwave broadcasting entity was launched around April 1937. This was the first radio broadcasting station on the island, and it was installed in Rif Fort, as a function of the maritime radio station PJC. This new radio broadcasting service, under the specific callsign PJC1, emitted just 150 watts on 9091 kHz and occasionally it was heard in the United States. This was officially a government radio broadcasting service operated by the Curacao Radio Club, from which came the abbreviated name, Curom Radio. In 1941, the ISWC magazine proclaimed that Curom Radio would soon be upgraded to 2 kW; and in 1943, the station was relaying programming on behalf of AFRS, the American Forces Radio Service, on 5930 kHz with a power of 3 kW. A final listing during this era is found in a publication in New Zealand, which shows Radio Princess Juliana Radio on 7250 kHz in 1946. However, the World Radio Handbook lists PJC2 with 3 kW on either 7250 kHz or 5017 kHz from 1947 through 1953, though the last listing in this reference source shows that the station was inactive. A report in the NASWA Journal states that Curom Radio was noted on shortwave in the United States during the year 1960 with programming in the 31 metre band. According to Jerry Berg in his monumental book on Broadcasting on the Shortwaves, Curom Radio was again reactivated for a short period of time in the 1970s when it was heard again in the United States on 17513.5 & 20779 kHz. According to the WRTVHB, mediumwave radio came to Curacao in 1953 with a power of 3 kW on 722 kHz. Subsequently, other mediumwave stations, all commercially operated, have been inaugurated on the island. These days, there is no shortwave broadcasting service on the island of Curacao, and just one mediumwave station, though 24 FM stations are listed. The one mediumwave station is PJZ86, the familiar Radio Curom, with 10 kW on 860 kHz. It should also be noted that a mediumwave station under the callsign KWJG was installed at the Hato airfield on Curacao in the year 1943. This station was a local unit, probably quite low powered, operated for AFRS, the American Forces Radio Service. In its early years, Curom Radio was branded by the radio magazines of the era as being a poor verifier. However, as time went by, this scene changed and many QSL cards were issued. The highly desired QSL card from Radio Curom shows a stylistic map of Curacao with a tall antenna tower. It should also be stated that the maritime station on Curacao, with which Curom Radio was associated, also issued QSL cards as verification of listener reports. Two cards are known; one shows a map of the island, and the more recent card shows the figurative shield of Curacao in color. So, Curom Radio was indeed on the air shortwave, back many years ago, and apparently during three different eras, beginning in 1937 and ending in the early 1970s (Adrian Peterson, IN, AWR Wavescan script for Jan 2 via DXLD) ** CYPRUS. 9760, best of three weekend channels from Zyyi site. CyBC R Cyprus Limassol in Greek, family radioplay, strong S=9+30dB. \\ 6180 kHz also same strength, but modulation bit different. 3rd channel 7210 kHz is useless, at least in western Europe, due of co-channel CRI Cerrik-ALB relay in Spanish - ahead. CYBC Zyyi Service only Fri/Sat/Sun 2215-2245 UT only. Unmistakable IS starts earlier around 2210 UT (Wolfgang Büschel, Jan 1, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 9 via DXLD) ** CYPRUS. CYPRUS NOT MISSING --- The weekend broadcast in Greek from Cyprus is on the air today (8 Jan 2011), strong signal as usual. The programme is a radioplay, no news etc. Sign-on on 9760 was at 2214:40. Short IS with ID "I kipros kondasas", then right into radioplay. 9760: 54544. 6180: 44333 with frequent outages in the beginning. 7210: 52542 with CCI by CRI in Spanish; missing when the other frequencies signed on, active at re-check ten minutes later. Not parallel to any of their live streams on http://www.cybc.com.cy Sign-off at 2244:35 (9760) / 2245:32 (7210), in the middle of the ongoing radioplay. Strange; if they set up this special transmission thrice a week, they might want to put a programme on it that actually fits into the broadcast slot. 73, (Eike Bierwirth, Leipzig, Germany, JRC NRD525 + PA0RDT MiniWhip, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CYPRUS. 15163-15189, OTH radar pulsing, presumed from here, Jan 12 at 1411, mainly QRMing 15170, where unusually, ROMANIA was atop Costa Rica (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DJIBOUTI. R. Djibouti had a very strong signal in the evenings (checked between 18-21 UT) on 1539 kHz MW and 4780 kHz SW, both SINPO 45444, in local languages. Another program was audible on 1116 kHz, 1820 UT, with SINPO 44544. A strong station was also received on 1431 kHz, presumably R. Sawa from Djibouti, SINPO 45444, 22 December (Robertas Pogorelis, visiting Ethiopia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. 3810-LSB, Jan 6 at 0613, HD2IOA timepips and announcements every dekasecond audible beneath NAm hams also on exactly 3810-LSB, as if in contempt of this SAm timesignal station operating legally, which they can surely hear too (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR [non]. 12025, Jan 10 at 2104, strange language but good signal, spoken slowly and clearly by YL with pauses such that intermittent audio dropouts averaging every three seconds are not always obvious since some of them fall into natural pauses. 2107 a music break without IADs where they would have been obvious, so they were upstream only during the talk produxion or pre-feed. 2112 back to talk for outro, giving an Apartado in Torremolinos, Malága, España, but the intervening numbers in the language; then some phone numbers also uncopiable. 2115 switch to Arabic, again with address in Málaga, this time with correct accent, but pronounced in French! A bit of vocal music then sounds Hebraic to me. This has been around for years, but hard to track down. HCJB has acknowledged to me that it is one of their own services, altho those call letters would be meaningless, so are not used. Finding it in WRTH 2011 has been impossible --- nothing about it under Canada, Ecuador, UK or USA, and of course not Australia. Why look there? WRTH does have HCJB under Ecuador, with a limited schedule not including this. Its `corporate` info has an entry under USA, but no schedules at all. How about WRTH 2010? Under Ecuador are listed only German (hi and lo), and Russian, via Chile, Germany, and Lithuania. The WRTH A-10 update had it, but did not survive into the 2011 issue: ECUADOR: Summer Schedule 2010 Tachelhit Days Area kHz 2100-2115 daily NAf 12025rmp Arabic dialects Days Area kHz 2115-2145 daily NAf 12025rmp Aoki currently shows the same, adding 250 kW, 168 degrees from RMP. But as we discovered some years ago, altho the time and frequency remain the same, the site switches between A and B seasons. As HFCC B- 10 shows, currently it is Sackville, 250 kW, 73 degrees, and the good reception here certainly confirms that, instead of UK. Tachelhit (spelling varies) is one of the Berber languages spoken in southwestern Morocco by some three megapeople. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shilha_language We simply can`t find it anywhere in the WRTH 2011. If anyone locates it there, please let us know. A major problem is that neither in the 2010 nor 2011 WRTH is there a complete Babcock (ex-VTC) schedule, where it would likely appear among a great many other entries. Individual clients of Babcock beyond #1, BBCWS, may have some of their schedules scattered thruout the book, but the big, complete picture is missing! Babcock is one of the world`s major SW transmission providers, managing many more sites now than those originally owned by BBC. Why isn`t it in WRTH? Perhaps Babcock forbids it. However, the originally planned B-10 schedule as of Oct 8 has appeared in BC-DX and WWDXC. Because of formatting difficulties, it seems I never put it into DXLD. The same is conveniently archived here, and apparently updated since: http://www.bclnews.it/b10schedules/vt.htm Indeed it does include this 12025 HCJ via SAC in Arabic (only) as the only SW transmission of HCJB thru Babcock, but there are hundreds of other entries (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EGYPT(?). 702, 2003, UNID in Arabic, SINPO 45544. Mention of Abdilaziz, "Al Imaraat". I assume this was regional ERTU programming. 20 December, Bahir Dar (Robertas Pogorelis, visiting Ethiopia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EGYPT. 9280, 1910, R. Cairo in Russian, SINPO 45543, distorted modulation (29 December, Arba Minch); 6270, 1933, R. Cairo in German, SINPO 24322 (21 December, Bahir Dar); 6270, 1650, R. Cairo in UNID language, SINPO 35444. Clear ID (29 December, Arba Minch). 11510, 1910, R. Cairo in English, SINPO 25432 (21 December, Bahir Dar). 9990, 1908 R. Cairo (?), SINPO 55552, very distorted modulation (29 December, Arba Minch). (Robertas Pogorelis, visiting Ethiopia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EL SALVADOR. 25 AÑOS DE RADIO CADENA CUSCATLÁN Escrito por Óscar González, Miércoles, 12 enero 2011 00:00 Este domingo 16 de enero, como parte de su celebración, la radioemisora realizará un carnaval. Para celebrar los 25 años de fundación, tras nacer el 1.º de enero de 1986, Radio Cadena Cuscatlán organizó dos eventos. El 16 de enero, a partir de las 8 de la mañana, realizará en Manantiales de Jiboa el ``Carnaval de aniversario``. Mientras, el 28 de ese mismo mes ofrecerá una programación especial en la 98.5 FM. . . FUENTE: http://www.laprensagrafica.com/fama/espectaculos/164001-25-anos-de-radio-cadena-cuscatlan.html ESCUCHAR: http://www.cadenacuscatlan.com.sv/cuscatlan.wvx (via Yimber Gaviria, Colombia, playdx yg via DXLD) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. 6250, 1849, R. Equatorial Guinea, Malabo, in a mixture of Spanish and vernacular, SINPO 33433.21 December, Bahir Dar (Robertas Pogorelis, visiting Ethiopia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA. 5059.981, 7.1 1515, tentative Voice of Oromo Liberation? or R Bana? More or less only talk. Heard under a really strong Xinjiang on 5059.979 (Thomas Nilsson, Sweden, SW Bulletin Jan 9 via DXLD) ** ERITREA. New 4770.02, 0405-0440 fading out, 05.01, Voice of the Broad Masses, Asmara. Vernaculars news 0405 and 0430, interview, Horn of Africa songs, New frequency 35333 heard // 7175 (45444) and weaker 7120 (25222) and 7165 (25222) (Anker Petersen, Denmark, on the AOR AR7030PLUS with a 28 metres of longwire, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) 4770.02 Voice of the Broad Masses of Eritrea, Asmara, 0405-0440 UT fading out, Jan 05, new frequency also heard in the morning, news in local language (not Arabic as scheduled), 0410 UT ann, song from Horn of Africa, 0415 interview, another song from Horn of Africa, 0430 UT a proclamation read, news in a local language, 0433 UT Horn of Africa music and ads, 35333, heard \\ 7175 kHz (45444) and weaker signals on 7120 (25222) and 7165 (25222). (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DXplorer Jan 5 via BC-DX Jan 9 via DXLD) ** ERITREA. 7175, 9.1 0530, Voice of the Broad Masses, Asmara med nx och 0534 musik med trummor. Illegal frekvens på amatör- bandet. UQ 7175, 9.1 0530, Voice of the Broad Masses, Asmara with news and 0534 drum music. This is an illegal frequency in the amateur band. UQ (Ullmar Qvick, Sweden, SW Bulletin Jan 9, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) V of Broad Masses of Eritrea (I assume this is the correct name) was very strong on 7175 kHz in the evenings, at around 1700-1800 UT in Arabic or a similar language, SINPO 45434. At the same time the station was emitting parallel weaker signals on 7165 kHz, SINPO 24322, and 7185 kHz, SINPO 23433 (Robertas Pogorelis, visiting Ethiopia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) (?) 7175 Voice of the Broad Masses (p), Selai Dairo, 1635-1736, 08 Jan, Vernacular, talks, local songs, refs. to Somalia, news at 1700, more music; the IDs seemed to confirm Eritrea; Arabic at 1730, talks; noted off the air at 1800; 45433. The same program was also heard on 7165 & 7185, both rated 15431, occasional amateur QRM. This pair are surely spurs of the fundamental 7175 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) No they are not (gh, DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA [and non]. I spent my Christmas holidays in Ethiopia, and had my SONY ICF SW-7600 GR with me. Due to intense traveling I did not spend too much time listening, so my logs are rather sporadic. Nevertheless, maybe you will find some of them useful. Times UT everywhere. ETHIOPIA. Ethiopian national radio was received on the following parallel MW frequencies: 594; 684; 828; 855; 873 kHz. On 1044 kHz, Ethiopian R. seems to be audible in the north of the country and Kenyan BC – in the south. On shortwave, I received Ethiopian Radio on 4910 kHz [NEW; unlisted -- - gh] with SINPO 35333, 34433, 25333 (on different days and in different locations): at 1625 in vernacular, at 1735 in English. The signal was in parallel on 9560 kHz with SINPO 22322, with strong QRM from different stations, such as Deutsche Welle in English after 1600 and a strong station in Arabic on 9555 kHz. Interestingly, the signals were weak even in Ethiopia itself! Did not check if 7235 was parallel at that time. [4910 works out to be a leapfrog mixing product of 9560 over 7235, and does not have to be //, just from the same site -- gh] Regional Ethiopian stations on 6030 (in Oromo language, SINPO 45434) and 6090 kHz also seemed to be present with strong signals. So was the Voice of Tigray Revolution on 5950 kHz (SINPO 45434) as well as different relays on 7235 kHz. In Addis Ababa, the following FM frequencies are used: 90.7 (R. Zami); 92.3 (a station in Oromo language); 93.1; 94.5; 96.3; 97.1 (FM Addis – Ethiopian state radio); 98.1 (R. Fana); 102.1 (Sheger FM); 105.3 (Afro FM, in English). No other channels heard! While in Addis Ababa, I visited the ERTA and met with the English service staff, who are also producing English-language TV programs, as well as with the chief engineer. He was insisting that 7110 kHz is the best for listening to the Ethiopian Radio in Europe (yet I received nothing on this frequency, so I doubt if it is currently used). The head of the English service, Mr Kebede Gizachew, was very friendly and accommodating, and so was the chief engineer Mr Worku Gachena. Their efforts to find a QSL-card for me for half an hour were unsuccessful, yet they promised to send me one if I send them a report. Instead, I was interviewed on their TV for their Christmas show! (Robertas Pogorelis, visiting Ethiopia, WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA. 5950, V. of Tigray Revolution, Dec 28 1456-1504, 22432- 21431 Tigrigna, IS, Talk (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan, Japan Premium Jan 7 via DXLD) 5950, Voice of the Tigré Revolution, Dera Jawe site?, 1822-1840, 08 Jan, Vernacular, songs, phone-ins; 44433, adj. QRM only (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EUROPE. FRS Holland January broadcast delayed --- The 3rd part of the FRS Holland 30th anniversary broadcasts, scheduled for Sunday 16th January, has been delayed. The new date has not yet been arranged but should still be within the next few weeks. Peter Verbruggen will send an email to listeners and the usual free radio forums, etc., once it is known. Frequencies should be 7600/5800 and also relayed via Radio 700 Germany on 6005 or 5980 (Geraghty, Jan 6, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** EUROPE. News - Testing to Japan --- Checked out Harri Kujala's Pirate Radio DXing in SW Finland today. He's organizing tests for Japanese DXers to hear European pirates. Here's the info from his site: European SW-pirates testing to Japan European SW-pirates might never been received in Japan, so far I know. Or at least it is very very rare! I am arranging test weekend for European pirates to try to reach Japan on Short Wave! Japanese DXers Ushio Shimpei and Gosui Kazuhiro will have DX-pedition in Hokkaido, North Japan. It will be from Saturday morning 29th January till Sunday evening 30th January. Ushio and Gosui will monitor given HF- frequencies on the following times: Saturday 29.1.2011 >> Sunday 30,1,2011 1. Saturday morning 08.00 - 09.00 UTC 2. Saturday evening 18.00 - 19.00 UTC 3. Sunday morning 08.00 - 09.00 UTC 4. Sunday evening 18.00 - 19.00 UTC The broadcast-frequency should be from 9000 till 15500 kHz. I invite all European SW-stations to broadcast on these time-slots and try to reach Japan! Please contact me and give me your: 1) Station-name 2) Frequency or frequencies 3) Times of broadcasting 4) Power (about), AM or USB/LSB 5) Country This information will spread over whole Japan DX-community. So there might be dozens of listeners in Japan and Asia! I hope listeners in Canada and USA will also monitor the frequencies! I WILL LIST ALL STATIONS HERE who will try to reach Japan. If you would like to broadcast on some of these times between 9-15 MHz send me e-mail to: harriku(-at-)dnainternet.net LIST OF STATIONS ON AIR: I can also publish your station-name only 1-2 days before test-day! 1) Baltic Sea Radio / Location: Scandinavia --- BSR will broadcast on all these time-slots with 150-300 W in USB and AM. Frequency will be between 10000-14000 kHz (Exact Frq. given later). 2) Mike Radio / Location: Holland Mike Radio will broadcast on Sunday 30th Jan. 0800-0900 UT with 250 Watts on AM-modulation. Frequency: 13900 3) Free Radio Nova / Location: Holland Free Radio Nova will be on the air on Sun 30th January from 0700-0900 UT with 50 Watts on AM-modulation. http://www.freeradionova.com Frq: 15070 ------------------------------- Harri's site is at: http://hkdx2.blogspot.com/ This should be a good opportunity for US DXers to hear Europirates & US pirates to test to Japan (via Andrew Yoder, Free Radio Weekly Jan 8 via DXLD) ** FRANCE. A summary of various French-language postings by Thierry Vignaud: On 3 Jan 2010 the Paris-Romainville site ceased to transmit FIP on 585 kHz, the very frequency (in its pre-1978 incarnation as 584 kHz) on which FIP went first on air on 5 Jan 1971. Hereby the site is completely off air after RFI abandoned the 738 kHz frequency there already on 4 March 2009. A permanent closure appears to be a likely scenario, considering that selling off the grounds should create much more income for TDF than operating a modest power mediumwave outlet could in many years. The frequency lists of Radio France continue to include 585 kHz, but it speaks for itself that they still show limited hours of operation while in fact 585 kHz was on air around the clock since 1997. At this time the old 2x4 kW tube transmitters had been replaced by a new solid-state 5 kW transmitter. Another such transmitter replaced the 4 kW tube rig for 738 kHz while the old 963 kHz equipment, until then used for Sorbonne lecture relays (a service nowadays available online as Radio Sorbonne Nouvelle), has been shut down without replacement. FIP celebrates its anniversary with special pages: http://fipblog.radiofrance.fr/fip-40-ans-fetons-nos-2-fois-20-ans A TV report about the launch of FIP: http://www.ina.fr/video/CAF97072010/fip.fr.html Paris-Romainville site: http://tvignaud.pagesperso-orange.fr/galerie/am/75romainville.htm (via Kai Ludwig, Germany, Jan 12, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DXLD) Au Revoir FiP 585 kHz? I guess it had to happen one day. One of Medium Wave's most enjoyable music channels seems to have finally been silenced - just days away from what would have been its 40th anniversary! Broadcasting since 1971 with originally a 10 kW transmitter (I believe) on 584 kHz to Paris, FiP (pronounced "pheep") has been broadcasting an eclectic mix of music and traffic reports to Paris and - thanks to its low frequency - beyond. The transmissions used to be daytime only, which was fine because beyond this the signal here in the UK would be drowned by the ever-present transmissions from a powerful Spanish transmitter on the same frequency. However, the transmitter became 24 hours-a-day around 1997. In recent years, the signal strength has dropped significantly, and over the past few months there has been evidence of a transmitter fault which affected the sound. Reading up on the Internet (with the help of "Google translate") it looks like the transmissions may well be off for good. Au Revoir, FiP en Ondes Moyenne[s]! (Andrew F. Tett, UK, Jan 5, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) Try the Following Link (You obviously have a Computer) and select FIP, near the top. http://www.listenlive.eu/france.html (You should have no trouble hearing it.) Good Listening!!! !! (Ken Fletcher CH43, WORLD OF RADIO 1547, ibid.) FIP 585 kHz Paris-Romainville --- According to a usually well-informed French newsgroup (fr.rec.radio), FIP has ceased transmitting on 585 kHz from Paris-Romainville since the beginning of this year. A sad coincidence indeed, as FIP is at the same time celebrating its 40th birthday: http://fipblog.radiofrance.fr/fip-40-ans-fetons-nos-2-fois-20-ans Paris-Romainville transmitting site had been active since 1930; some photos here: http://tvignaud.pagesperso-orange.fr/galerie/am/75romainville.htm And by the way, FIP was also relayed in FM by a pirate operator in Brighton some years ago (I wonder if this is still the case)? cf. http://lovefip.wordpress.com/ 73 de (Francis Mougenez, Jan 5, MWCircle yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DXLD) [non] Sorry to hear the 585 kHz relay has closed. The FIP relay pirate station was one of the UK's longest running land based unlicensed stations, running almost continuously for 10 years. Equipment was confiscated by Ofcom, but I don`t think there was any prosecution, it was extremely popular in the Brighton area. FIP is a really good music station; I quite often listen to it via netradio (Chris McCarthy, WORLD OF RADIO 1547, ibid.) ** FRANCE. Liste des stations en AM de France. French AM stations January 2011 COMPILATED by Christian Ghibaudo for PLAY-DX 162 kHz 2000 kW France Inter Allouis 585 kHz 10 kW F.I.P Paris (reported inactive) 603 kHz 300 kW France Info Lyon Emission locale N.D. des Ondes dimanche 18.00-19.00 711 kHz 300 kW France Info Rennes Emission locale France Bleu Armorique samedi 12.08-13.00 792 kHz 300 kW France Info Limoges 819 kHz 1 kW Sud Radio Toulouse 837 kHz 200 kW France Info Nancy 864 kHz 300 kW France Bleu 107.1 Paris 945 kHz 300 kW France Info Toulouse Emission locale France Bleu Toulouse samedi 11.45-12.45 999 kHz kW Tests en DRM/ DRM Tests Paris 1206 kHz 300 kW France Info Bordeaux 1242 kHz 150 kW France Info Marseille 1278 kHz 300 kW France Bleu Alsace/Elsass Strasbourg 1350 kHz 10 kW Radio Orient Nice 1377 kHz 300 kW France Info Lille 1404 kHz 20 kW France Bleu Frequenza Mora Ajaccio [Corsica] Emission locale 1210-1230 samedi "Mediterradio" et Replique lundi 1310-1330 1404 kHz 20 kW France Info Pau 1404 kHz 20 kW France Info Brest 1404 kHz 5 kW France Info Dijon 1404 kHz 5 kW France Info Grenoble 1494 kHz 20 kW France Bleu Frequenza Mora Bastia Emission locale 1210-1230 Samedi "Mediterradio" et Replique Lundi 1310-1330 1494 kHz 20 kW France Info Clermont Ferrand 1494 kHz 5 kW France Info Besançon 1494 kHz 4 kW France Info Bayonne 1557 kHz 300 kW France Info Nice 1602 kHz 1 kW Radio Orient Nimes Radio France 116 av. du Pt Kennedy 75220 Paris cedex 16 Tél. 01 56 40 22 22 http://www.radiofrance.fr http://www.france-info.com http://www.francebleu.com Foyer Notre Dame des Ondes 24 rue P. Sisley 69003 Lyon Tél. 06 88 22 22 24 France Bleu Armorique 14 avenue Janvier 35031 Rennes cedex Tél. 02 99 67 43 21 Fax 02 99 67 20 72 http://www.bleuarmorique.com France Bleu Toulouse 78 allées Jean Jaurès 31009 Toulouse Cedex 6 Tél. 05 34 41 70 00 Fax : http://www.bleutoulouse.com Sud Radio Immeuble Les Allées du Lac Bat. B Rue du Lac BP 48148 31681 Labège Cedex Tél. 05 61 63 20 20 Fax 05 61 63 20 24 http://www.sudradio.fr France Bleu Alsace 4 rue Joseph Massol 67000 Strasbourg Tél. 03 88 76 20 00 Fax 03 88 35 11 13 http://www.bleualsace.com Radio Orient 98 bd Victor Hugo 92210 Clichy Tél. 01 41 06 16 00 Fax 01 41 06 16 19 http://www.radioorient.com France Bleu Frequenza Mora 4, rue Favalelli 20200 Bastia ou BP 130 20289 Bastia cedex Résidence du Parc Les Pins 20000 Ajaccio Tél. 04 95 32 95 32 http://www.bleurcfm.com ALL TIMES ARE FRENCH LOCAL TIME UTC + 1 (WINTER) UTC + 2 (SUMMER) (via Dario Monferini, DXLD) That`s all?? (gh) ** GERMANY. As of 10 Jan 2011 Bayerischer Rundfunk has changed the programming on mediumwave from on3radio to Bayern Plus. 801 kHz has been switched over at local midnight sharp without any comment, abruptly cutting off the music that was just playing. The 729 kHz transmitters followed some hours later; I understand that no audio circuits to these sites (in particular Hof) are in operation anymore, requiring to do such a switch on site, at the satellite receiver. on3radio has been launched as new youth station in 2007 after a very controversial debate whether or not the classical music station Bayern 4 Klassik should be taken off FM in favour of the new station. Finally the Bayerischer Rundfunk council made in December 2006 a decision that for the youth program "all possible distribution platforms except FM" were to be used, and this simply included mediumwave, too. Meanwhile even people who, judging from their musical taste, should like on3radio have a rather negative opinion of it. on3radio did not manage until today to really emerge from its initial state of being a mere jukebox with the exception of just three hours a day. I hear from a former, meanwhile disappointed supporter that "something terribly bizarre has been created here" for which "a horribly expensive new studio, plug ugly, way too stuffed and without daylight" has been built in which "automation churns out its indie songs through a big Lawo Zirkon console in full configuration, out into the nothingness", and: "There is no more elegant approach for burning up money." Bayern Plus has been launched in 2008. It offers the kind of traditional music that used to be typical for Bayern 1 until this program went to mostly English-language oldies in order to reach younger audiences. Bayern Plus is meant to fill this gap. Up to now it was available via digital distribution platforms only, but with on3radio being fallen into oblivion and nobody insisting on its continued availability on mediumwave it has been determined that Bayern Plus would be a better choice, since this audience is more likely to use mediumwave, an assumption that is more than plausible of course. I heard that it was not meant as a wild joke when people said that the mediumwave audience of on3radio hardly exceeded 100 individuals. http://www.br-online.de/unternehmen/technik/mittelwelle-bayern-plus-heimatspiegel-ID1293190779443.xml A recording of the switch on 801 kHz: http://www.dateiupload.com/files/Q10Hm6cPgQ.mp3 Main transmitter on 801 kHz is a 100 kW Nautel at Ismaning, delivered by Telefunken when this company had no own AM solid-state transmitters to offer yet: http://www.ratzer.at/Ismaning2010/content/_MG_5238_large.html http://www.ratzer.at/Ismaning2010/content/_MG_5239_large.html http://www.ratzer.at/Ismaning2010/content/_MG_5241_large.html http://www.ratzer.at/Ismaning2010/content/_MG_5244_large.html http://www.ratzer.at/Ismaning2010/content/_MG_5248_large.html Audio processing is just an EMT 266: http://www.ratzer.at/Ismaning2010/content/_MG_5420_large.html (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Jan 12, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. 7475, VOG again turns over its transmitters to the Greek Orthodox Church, like Dec 25 and Jan 1, on Jan 6 at 0624 with chanting; 0640 for a while it`s a soloist, so harmony is suspended as a concern, but still sounding off-key, if there is one. 0653 abruptly cut off the air for frequency change. Jan 6 = GO Xmas, a.k.a. Epiphany (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. 9935, R. S. Makedonias via Avlis, 1318-1332, Jan 4, Greek. Two M announcer with "politico" banter; pop music; listener phone call at 1324; music at 1329 into news; full ID announcement at 1332; fair (Scott R. Barbour Jr. Intervale, N.H. USA, NRD-545, MLB-1, 200' Beverages, 60m dipole, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUAM. 5765-USB, AFN, after mostly standard newstalk format for a while, back with country music instead, Jan 6 at 1325. Ron Howard in California says: ```"Mainstream Country" music program; after the 1500 news, changed over to "Z-Rock" music```. The switch back to music, he first noted Jan 5. 5765-USB, AFN, Jan 8 at 1325 with country music instead of NPR ``Weekend Edition Saturday`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUATEMALA. QSL: 4052.5, Radio Verdad, Chiquimula, I have received, via snail mail, letter with full data QSL card, v/s Dr. Edgar Amilcar Madrid, Station Manager, calendar, sticker and brochures in about 40 days. The reception report was send by e-mail at the Station e-mail address. Radio Verdad, Apartado Postal 5, Chiquimula, Guatemala, Central America; e-mail: radioverdad5 @ yahoo.com http://www.radioverdad.org (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUYANA. 3290, Voice of Guyana, 0800 subcontinental music, om dj, 0923 [0823?] new music, into 'the possibility of faith ..." IS as "You are listening to the Voice of Guyana" followed by time check, 0855 pop rock music, "welcome to this Monday Morning", 0932 discussion of three lucky winners - Guyana lottery ? , second Voice of Guyana ID, 0943 religious message, chorus at end of the sermon, Baptist Bible announcement, 1010 "Voice of Guyana" ID "Good Morning and Happy New Year" Pres. message?. 3 January (Robert Wilkner, Pompano Beach, Florida, Sony 2010XA modified by Dallas L[ankford] [pre-amplifier, pre-selector and RIT with whip antenna]. Portable performed well during local power outage on Monday 3 January, logs late by the delayed departure of the flu, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 3290, GBC Georgetown, 0954-1007, Jan 3, English. M announcer with religious talk re "following Biblical instruction.."; program ID "Answering Life's Questions" via Central Baptist church with Georgetown contact info; ID and frequency announcement at 1006 followed by news; fair (Scott R. Barbour Jr. Intervale, N.H. USA, NRD- 545, MLB-1, 200' Beverages, 60m dipole, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HAITI. 4V1. Look for members of the Radio Club d'Haïti (RCH) to activate the special callsign 4V1 between January 10-20th. Activity is in remembrance of those who lost their lives during the earthquake that struck Haiti (NA-096) on January 12th, 2010. Operations are expected to take place from different locations on the island at various times. Frequency and times will be announced on 14300 kHz (Inter-Con and MM Net Frequency) in recognition of the assistance the nets provided for months following the massive earthquake. It is suggested to check 14300 kHz for operation times and frequencies often. QSL via N3OS (Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 993, January 10, 2011, Editor Tedd Mirgliotta, KB8NW, Provided by BARF80.ORG (Cleveland, Ohio), via Dave Raycroft, ODXA yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DXLD) ** HONDURAS. 3250, R. Luz y Vida, San Luis, 1128-1135, Jan 3, Spanish / English. M announcer in Spanish with "Battle Hymn of the Republic"; M announcer with English religious talk; W announcer with Spanish translation; fair (Scott R. Barbour Jr. Intervale, N.H. USA, NRD-545, MLB-1, 200' Beverages, 60m dipole, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. The following AIR stations were noted on SW for the Cricket Commentary yesterday evening with India winning the match. 4810 Bhopal 4880 Lucknow 4910 Jaipur 5010 Thiruvanthapuram 5040 Jeypore So, look out for these frequencies on 12, 15, 18, 21 & 23 January 2010 with extended broadcasts till around 2030 UT (2.00 am IST). 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, 0201 UT Jan 10, dx_india yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DXLD) ** INDIA. 4775.00, *0028-0045 04.01, AIR Imphal, English, *0028 AIR IS, 0029 transmitter fall out, returned 0033, Sitar music, 0035 "Akashvani", news and sports news in English from Delhi // 5010, 0040 "Akashvani" and local singing 35333 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, on the AOR AR7030PLUS with a 28 metres of longwire, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** INDIA. A couple of Regionals signing off last night Imphal 4775 signing off 1700 http://www.box.net/shared/i47dg0a65j Mumbai 4840 signing off 1730 http://www.box.net/shared/1ynkoaicey (Mark Davies, Anglesey UK, Jan 7, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4840, AIR Mumbai at 1420, Indian flute music, into man speaking in Hindi, sounding like news. At 1430 woman read news in English. Other AIR stations on 4920 and 4940 did not have English news at this time. Poor, Jan 3 (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening lakeside in my car before and during local sunrise, with Eton E1 and AN1 active antenna on car roof, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. Hi Everyone, 4910 khz, AIR Jaipur, Rajasthan, news in English at 1730-1735 10/1/11. Chennai was also good 4920 mixing with Tibet and Mumbai 4840 (off 1730). This is what I heard: http://www.box.net/shared/0vti3g5o67 (Mark Davies, Anglesey UK, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. 4940.00, *2358-0010 05-06.01, AIR Guwahati, Assamese (presumed), ann AIR IS, 0000 ann "Vande Mataram", Vande Mataram hymn, opening ann with frequency, local songs 45444 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, on the AOR AR7030PLUS with a 28 metres of longwire, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** INDIA. 5010, All India Radio – Thiruvanthapuram, 0119-0137 Jan 9. Man announcer with long talk in Hindi language followed by another man just before bottom of the hour. 4+1 time pips at 0130 followed by woman with ID and Hindi music. More talk from 0132. Fair with some flutter (Rich D'Angelo, Wyomissing PA 19610, Ten-Tec RX-340, Drake R- 8B, Eton E1, Eton E5, Alpha Delta DX Sloper, RF Systems Mini-Windom, Datong FL3, JPS ANC-4 [or some of the above], NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) 5010, AIR, 1350, Jan 12. Cricket coverage of the India and South Africa match; in English and Hindi; Jeypore off the air on 5040; unable to hear any parallels today (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. Hi Everyone, 5015, AIR Delhi, 1734 news in English, then to Hindi (I think). This was the best regional tonight but there is awful QRM over it. No extended cricket coverage heard. http://www.box.net/shared/0p8liipmoq (Mark Davies, Anglesey UK, Jan 12, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Well, maybe "QRM" is a wrong word to describe that buzz. I'd call it "lousy engineering work". This faulty transmitter/audio feed has been going on for months and months on this AIR frequency. Most days no audio at all, only buzzing carrier. Some days some audio with buzzing carrier. But who cares at AIR, no one (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, ibid.) Same type of buzz/hum we hear on 9575, 9690, etc., even tho from different sites. An endemic problem; multiple of 50 Hz powerline frequency? (gh, DXLD) ** INDIA [and non]. I have never contributed to the group but I thought I would let you know that I am in the middle of a two month trip to East and South Africa and I will be travelling back to the UK on board the RMS St Helena spending a week on St Helena island. I have been doing some monitoring of MW and tropical band reception when time and conditions allow, i.e. not too high levels of electrical interference using my Sony portable with internal ferrite and whip antennas. I intend to submit my reports on return to the UK but the item from Mark about Indian Regionals prompts me to submit this one of the AIR Regional News broadcast in English at 1530-1545 GMT on 1 January when I was at a farm at about 1500 m. asl in NE Tanzania. I give the SIO for each frequency heard, all in parallel. 5050 222; 5040 353; 5010 322; 4970 111; 4950 353; 4940 242; 4920 434; 4910 243; 4880 222; 4810 343; 4800 222 and 4760 222. On 22 December I was on the Kenyan coast south of Mombasa. At 1855 GMT I heard Indian music at SIO 354 on 1566 kHz and also at SIO 333 on 1044 and 594 kHz with a weak (SIO 121) signal on 774 kHz. I have heard no MW signals from Europe although Middle East and Egypt quite strong at night, e.g. Radio Sawa on 1170 kHz with ID at 1850 GMT on 22/12. Nador [MOROCCO] on 171 kHz was just audible at this time and several other European LW stations seemed to be there below the noise floor but I couldn't be sure. I would have needed a long wire antenna to be sure (John Mattocks, BDXC Member 339, Jan 8, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) ** INDIA. 9575, the buzz/motorboating with no intelligible modulation is here again, Jan 6 at 1415, presumably the AIR domestic transmitter at Kingsway. How does it sound withIndia? 9575, nothing but hum, very poor signal presumed from AIR Delhi (Kingsway) site, Jan 11 at 1406, matching the pitch of the hum always infesting AIR GOS 9690 via Bengaluru which had a good signal with modulation well atop the hum (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. 9870, Vividh Bharati, Bangalore, 1358-1408, Jan 4, vernacular. Hindi music and M announcer; no discernible ID at ToH; jazz-like music at 1401; more talk and up-beat Hindi music; ad string from 1407; booming (Scott R. Barbour Jr. Intervale, N.H. USA, NRD-545, MLB-1, 200' Beverages, 60m dipole, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 4750.01, RRI Makassar, 1123-1135 Jan 8. At tune in, noted music being presented. Don't expect much from this station this morning. The audio is barely heard. When Indonesian comments begin at 1130 from a female, she is barely audible. Back to music after she ID's. Signal remained threshold (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston FL, 26N 081W, Used them all this morning: WR-G31DDC, WJ HF1000, JRC NRD545, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See BANGLADESH, as Scott Barbour tentatively IDs 4750 at almost same time on a different day. Beside, RRI Mak has not been reported for many months from west coast by Ron Howard, and by Indonesia monitor Atsunori Ishida in Japan, silent since Sept 24. So would people monitoring 4750 please not jump to conclusions? Two China stations are also there! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 4869.925, 1.1 1350, OID men troligen RRI Wamena. Den kurdistanska frihetssändaren med uppvaktande störsändare flyttade tyvärr efter 5 minuter från 4890 till denna QRG och omöjliggjorde vidare lyssning. 1-2 SA 4869.925, 1.1 1350, Unid but probably RRI Wamena. The liberty transmitter from Kurdistan with associated jammer moved after 5 minutes from 4890 to this frequency and terminated further listening. 1-2 SA (Stig Adolfsson, Sweden, SW Bulletin Jan 9, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Wamena is currently active on 4870v, per Atsunori Ishida`s Indonesian monitoring site, http://rri.jpn.org/ (gh, WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 9525-, VOI still on its lower frequency, Jan 7 at 1300 with Japanese ID at end of hour in that language, but then a very long intermittent audio dropout of almost two minutes, missing the opening of English, finally JIP (joined in progress) during news at 1302, and back to fraxional seconds of IADs. 9525-, VOI at first thought absent Tuesday Jan 11 at 1335, then pulled a very poor signal with Banjarmasin mentioned, so at least we know that the every-Tuesday ``Exotic Indonesia`` excursion for a co- produxion with Jakarta continues. 1404 the signal had greatly improved now that it`s changed to Indonesian (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL. MORE CNN INTERNATIONAL ON CNN, BUT YOU HAVE TO WAKE UP EARLY. Posted: 11 Jan 2011 CNN press release, 10 Jan 2011: "Beginning Monday, January 17, CNN/US will add two more hours of live programming to its weekday lineup. CNN will now broadcast live from 4 a.m. through 11 p.m. each weekday. (All times Eastern). At 4a, CNN will air World Business Today, hosted by Charles Hodson and Andrew Stevens from London and Hong Kong. At 5 a.m., CNN will broadcast World One, hosted by Zain Verjee and Monita Rajpal from London, which is a general news program covering both international and domestic top stories. Both programs are simulcasts with CNN International and will air live around the world in more than 200 countries." (kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) [0900-1100 UT] ** INTERNATIONAL. "THE ERA OF LONG-DISTANCE INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING HAS FADED INTO THE PAST." Posted: 07 Jan 2011 Quora, 5 Jan 2011, Jonathan Marks, responding to the question "Which language departments are superfluous to BBC World Service in 2011?": "I personally think that the era of long-distance international broadcasting has faded into the past - at least with the exception of about 8 countries where shortwave still makes sense as part of a media strategy - Sudan, Somalia, Burma, Zimbabwe, Nigeria come to mind. But there is a definite role for focused international media which use relevant platforms to share ideas - and I believe the BBC has created an organisation which have become powerful because they have influence. That's been hard work and requires consistent standards of reporting and editorial independence. ... There is an old rule of international broadcasting. No [one] listens [to] or watches it - unless a government bans it or it can provide something different to what`s offered by local media. The viability [of] shortwave analogue broadcasting has been severely tested by the rise in oil prices. Many relay stations were built with the notion that oil was 40 dollars a barrel not a 100 [sic]. The industry itself has been poor at promoting the medium, with the result that SW listening has faded away in countries like Russia and India and the numbers for China are a fraction on what they used to be." (kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) -- By "long distance," I assume Jonathan means direct via shortwave. One of VOA's largest audiences is in Indonesia, where they watch VOA Indonesian programs on local television stations. That's long distance, but by another means (Kim Andrew Elliott, ibid.) ** IRAN. IRIB was received in the evenings (mostly in parallel) on: 1035 kHz, SINPO 35433; 1053 kHz, SINPO 34433 to 45444; 1170 kHz, SINPO 45444; 1242 kHz, SINPO 24322; 1251 kHz, SINPO 34443; 1359 kHz, SINPO 35434 (Robertas Pogorelis, visiting Ethiopia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN. 6010, Voice of the Islamic Rep. of Iran: 2015-2026:54*, 5- Jan; English, Iranian/Muslim news, using infidel Christian dates & odd head-banger bumper. Off abruptly. SIO=3+53- (Harold Frodge, MI, MARE Tipsheet Jan 7 via DXLD) 7370, Jan 13 at 1433, Qur`an with flutter, 1434 YL in Urdu?, 1436 news theme similar to Cairo`s, but weakening. HFCC has this as IRIB Hindi, 1430-1530, 500 kW, 118 degrees from Kamalabad. Now, would I be getting it by long-path, or off-the-back short path? 9585, Jan 6 at 1340 caught VIRI news theme, then Japanese, unimpeded by adjacents from AUSTRALIA [q.v.] on 9580, 9590 which normally dominate. Before 1405, RA was back on 9590, but VIRI still separable on 9585 with Qur`an for all the Japanese Shi`ites. This is 500 kW, 60 degrees from Kamalabad. 9830, Jan 11 at 1435 Arabic frequently mentioning Iran, under heavy RTTY QRM, a perpetual problem with this frequency which smart broadcasters would avoid. Yes, it is VIRI, 1430-1730 in Arabic southward from Kamalabad toward the Gulf states. 15550, Jan 12 at 1403, Qur`an verging on yodeling, neat. 1405 to different musical reverent-sounding voices, but surely not Qur`an as a female (ugh!) was involved. 1408 into Arabic talk by YL, mixed with musical bits. It`s VIRI`s Arabic service, 500 kW, 295 degrees from Sirjan over an 11-hour span, 0530-1630. Not audible after 1500, nor was co-channel WJHR, if it still exist (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [non]. Clandestine: 5825, R. Rahoya Iran, Dec 31 *1629-1650, 34333 Farsi, 1629 sign on with opening music, ID, Revolutionary song, Opening announce, Talk. Also Jan 03 1629-1640 33433 Farsi, ID, Revolutionary song, Opening announce, Talk (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan, Japan Premium Jan 7 via DXLD) Aoki says M/W/F 1630-1730, 100 kW, 104 degrees via `Krasnodar`, RUSSIA (gh) ** IRAN [non]. 7510, 29.12 1430, Günaz Radio, ny clandestine, troligen för Iran men med Azerbaijanskt ursprung. Förmodligen på azeri. En del vacker musik, men mest bara snack. S 4. BEFF 7510, 29.12 1430, Günaz Radio, new clandestine, probably in favor of Iran but with Azerbaijan origin. Probably in Azeri. Some beautiful music, but mostly talk. S 4. BEFF (Björn Fransson, Sweden, SW Bulletin Jan 9, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) Logs for 6-1-11: Clandestine, 7510, Günaz TV, 1735 with talks in Turkish (Azeri is very close to Turkish as far I know) with co channel FEBA in an African language (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, R75, 2x16 m H antenna and always with m@h40 [sic] Sennheiser head[phone]s, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [non]. R. Farda 1314? I heard on 7-Jan 1800 UT R. Farda on 1314 kHz. Any ideas what transmitter that is? (Jurgen Bartels, Suellwarden, N. Germany, Jan 8, mwdx yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DXLD) I guess reported two weeks ago by a Russian CeAS DXer. Probably Dushanbe TJK relay? Or is that the R Farda MW Kuwait outlet? which was VERY OVERDUE from August 2008, when planned on Kuwait probably 1386 kHz. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The offset is 0 Hz, so that may indicate a new transmitter? R. Farda web page doesn't indicate that frequency either (Jurgen Bartels, Suellwarden, N. Germany, mwdx yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DXLD) ** IRELAND [non]. RTE Irish Radio One, 8 January 2011 at 2010 UT tune in on 6225 kHz (listed as relay via SOUTH AFRICA). Interview on innovation and brainstorming. Fair signal in the clear but fading present. ID’d at 2028 as “RTE Ireland, a production of RTE Radio One,” followed at 2030 by ID: “This is the World Radio Network.” Since sign- off occurred, presumed that the World Radio Network was part of the just concluding program (Ed Insinger, Summit, NJ, Jan 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL [non]. 9955, Israel Radio, via WRN, via WRMI, Monday Jan 10 at 0614 at end of newscast with weather, headlines, 0615 WRMI ID, 0616 ``Maravillosas Palabras de Vida``, the Salvation Army show. Israel relay is M-F only at 0600, as nothing ever happens on Gentile weekends. Good signal but mixed with pulsing from DentroCuban Jamming Command, endorsed and presumably frequency-mis-managed by Arnie Coro (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISITENING DIGEST) ** ITALY. Voice of Russia starts daytime relays on MW in Italian: see RUSSIA [non] ** ITALY [non]. IRRS Shortwave, Milan via Slovakia relay, 1 January 2011 at 1900 UT on 6090 kHz. Exceptionally good conditions today allowed me to listen to the entire World of Radio Program #1545! Interesting readings at 1930 of literary works worldwide. Favorable reception conditions until 1950, when signal deteriorated. Their web site http://www.nexus.org mentions that IRRS is a nonprofit organization with less than 15 volunteers. Hence at least part of the difficulty in QSL’ing IRRS. Additional information can also be found at http://www.egradio.org/ (Ed Insinger, Summit NJ, WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Monitoring of IRRS on Thursday, January 6 1900-2000 UT: No broadcast on shortwave 6090 kHz, deleted Mon-Thu transmissions Monitoring of IRRS on Saturday, January 8 0900-1000 UT: 0900-0930 Outlook, instead of World of Radio 0930-0945 Music, instead of DX Party Line 0945-1000 39 Dover Street scheduled 73! (Ivo Ivanov, Bulgaria, Jan 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The last I heard from IRRS, the 0930 airing of DXPL was supposed to continue (gh, DXLD) IRRS Shortwave, 8 January 2011 at 1900 UT sign on in English, 6090 kHz, with World Of Radio #1546. Good signal to start, hampered by fading and drop in signal strength by 1920, barely audible by 1925 and gone by 1930. This is a clear channel for IRRS, only requiring better propagation conditions. I am glad that IRRS is open in this time slot for me to listen on the weekends. WRMI would be closer to home, were it not for the Cuban jamming. That’s where shortwave is so versatile; there are alternatives for the listener (Ed Insinger, Summit, NJ, Jan 10, WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IVORY COAST. UN URGES END TO HATE BROADCASTS IN IVORY COAST / OUATTARA’S STATION NOW STREAMING ONLINE The UN Security Council has urged an end to the broadcasting of false information in Ivory Coast aimed at inciting the kind of violence that has killed dozens of people in ethnic clashes. Ethnic violence in Ivory Coast’s western town of Duekoue last week killed 33 people and wounded 75, the chief of its main hospital told Reuters. “The members of the Security Council strongly condemned and demanded an immediate halt to the use of media, especially Radiodiffusion- Television Ivoirienne (RTI), to propagate false information to incite hatred and violence, including against the UN,” the council said a statement. (Source: Reuters) The Committee to Protect Journalists reports: “Cut off from the state media, Ouattara’s self-proclaimed government uses the international media and an improvised radio station to make itself heard. The station, called Radio Côte d’Ivoire, la Voix du Rassemblement, broadcasts political statements, music, and call-in programs 24 hours a day from the Golf Hotel and is also on the Internet at http://ADOsolutions.ci Lancine Koné, a reporter with the station, told CPJ. On December 13, RTI broadcast a statement from the National Broadcasting Council - which is loyal to Gbagbo’s government calling it a “pirate radio station” broadcasting on unauthorized frequencies.” Andy Sennitt comments: I am listening to it as I type this at http://radioci.net23.net/ (January 11th, 2011 - 9:43 UTC by Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog via DXLD) ** JAPAN. Yamata. Panoramio Image http://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/static.panoramio.com/photos/original/27009972.jpg (Ian Baxter, NSW, Jan 5, shortwavesites yg via DXLD) More pics of Yamata http://tvdx7.kt.fc2.com/yamata.html (Link courtesy Masaki Ikeda, Japan via Swopan Chakraborty) Regards, (Alokesh Gupta, India, ibid.) More pics here ... http://home.p04.itscom.net/yama/Yamata/Yamata.htm http://www.h4.dion.ne.jp/~jm1vwq/sub2.htm Regards (Alokesh Gupta, ibid.) Hi Alokesh, Thanks so much for these web page links. Excellent images. I also note also net style log periodics on site apart from the usual curtain arrays (Ian Baxter, ibid.) That's a fantastic site! I ran the URL through the Google translator so I can read it in English and followed that back to the home page which is jammed full of great info. http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http://home.p04.itscom.net/yama/index.html&rurl=translate.google.com&twu=1&usg=ALkJrhiiB-87YGzTVcTDKrR1s_qftKRtyA 73! (John k9RZZ, ibid.) ** KASHMIR [non]. 4870, V. of Kashmir, Dec 28 *1430-1446 1521-1530* 35432-45432 Kashmiri, 1430 sign on with opening music, Opening announce, Koran, ID, Talk, ID at 1525 and 1526, Closing announce, Closing music, 1530 sign off (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan, Japan Premium Jan 7 via DXLD) ** KASHMIR. 4950.01, AIR Kashmir, Srinagar, 0116-0201, January 8. Typical *0118 sign on with Test tone, IS, singing national music, ID, and into music. Not very good a sign-on, but by 0142 was extremely strong with singing Indian music. Mixing with het from Angola on 4949.76, and a second carrier on 4950.06 (first noted at 0030). Announcements at 0150, into more music, singing, and talking to 0200. Music has better audio, while announcements have weaker audio. Brief singing after 0200, but signal way down now. No other AIR outlets audible in 60 meters by 0148 checks (Jim Young, Wrightwood, CA, IC- 756ProIII + 40M yagi and antenna tuner, NASWA yg via DXLD) ** KASHMIR [non]. Azad Kashmir Radio received on 7100 kHz at *1445v- 1810v* UT from Jan. 1. 1500-1600 R. Pakistan NBS in Urdu, 1600-1615 R. Pakistan News in English and Kashmir National Anthem at 1808. The program of these other time is monitoring it now (S. Hasegawa, Japap, Jan 7, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Under PAKISTAN in 11-01 (gh) On January 7th I again found in the morning signal of Radio Pakistan on 7100 kHz, perhaps around 0115 UT; and around 0210 I heard once again news headlines in Urdu presented by a male voice, music was played after each headline mentioned & then he mentioned about Radio Pakistan website for details of the news, etc,, then end of the transmission announcements, etc. by a female presenter & then came recitals from Holy Book aired for a while and I monitored up to 0211 & after a few minutes I again checked 7100 kHz & found no transmission there. 73 & 55 (Gautam Kumar Sharma(GK), Abhayapuri(Assam)(India) via Alokesh Gupta, dx_sasia yg via DXLD) 7100, Azad Kashmir Radio from 1600 to about 1810 UT 7/1/11: This is them signing off then the National Anthem. It did come in better earlier but mainly music. This is what I heard: http://www.box.net/shared/x9xd3pb8oh (Mark Davies, Anglesey UK, Jan 7, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) After a few days of absence, again heard Radio Pakistan on 7100 kHz around 0129 UT on January 11th. That time religious talk in Urdu was on air. Later around 0203, heard news in Urdu in male voice. The signal strength was good on both occasions. 73 & 55 (Gautam Kumar Sharma(GK), Abhayapuri(Assam)(India), dx_sasia yg via DXLD) PAKISTAN, 7099.9, AKR Azad Kashmir Radio - Action urgently requested! From: IARU MONITORING SYSTEM Intruder Watch, Ulrich Bihlmayer DJ9KR / DL0IW E-mail Homepage http://www.iarums-r1.org Dear fellow Intruder Busters, here are the news from Victor 4S7VK. This is a QSP from DF5SX, good OM Wolf Bueschel fyi. 4790 Azad Kashmir R 0045-0215 Kashmiri 10 68 Rawalpindi PAK 4790 Azad Kashmir R 0230-0425 Kashmiri 10 68 Rawalpindi PAK = 7265 4790 Azad Kashmir R 1330-1430 Kashmiri 10 68 Rawalpindi API-8 PAK 4790 Azad Kashmir R 1445-1600 Kashmiri 100 ND Rawalpindi PAK alt 3975 4790 Azad Kashmir R 1600-1615 English 100 ND Rawalpindi PAK 4790 Azad Kashmir R 1615-1815 Kashmiri 100 ND Rawalpindi PAK Above is the sked from Aoki list via WB. Expect any of those transmissions to be on 7100v kHz. Right now at 0145 UT booming signal here near Colombo, Sri Lanka. The evening transmission in S Asia 1445- 1811 UT s.off has been regular in the last few days (Victor A. Goonetilleke-CLN 4S7VK, Jan 2) I have heard Azad Kashmir Radio (AKR) yesterday on 7099.9 kHz from 1454-1801 UT loud and clear with jingle and ID. Also I have informed the German Telecoms. Bundesnetzagentur "Federal Net Agency" who have also listened and have taken a fix. They will send an International Complaint to Pakistan. So here is my request: Could you, please, also inform your National Telecommunications Authorities about the activity of AKR on 7100(v) and ask them to send an International Complaint? The more complaints, the better! Thank you very much for your good work. Fraternally yours in Amateur Radio (Uli Bihlmayer DJ9KR, Vice Coordinator of IARU Monitoring System Region 1 http://iaru-r1.org/mailman/listinfo/intruderalert_iaru-r1.org Jan 3 all via BC-DX Jan 9 via DXLD) ** KAZAKHSTAN. 7515, V. of Orthodoxy via Almaty, Dec 31 *1530-1548, 33433-43433 Russian, 1530 sign on with IS, ID, Chorus music, Opening announce, Talk (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan, Japan Premium Jan 7 via DXLD) ** KENYA. (?) While in Arba Minch, I received a rather strong station on 1044 kHz speaking in vernacular, whose programme differed from Ethiopian Radio. I assume this was Kenyan BC. 1818 UT, SINPO 45444. 29 December. In north Ethiopia, Ethiopian Radio is audible on this frequency. I think I also received Kenyan BC on 1305 kHz at 1819 UT, SINPO 35434, on 22 December in Gonder, north Ethiopia (Robertas Pogorelis, visiting Ethiopia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH [and non]. 4450, V. of People towards N Korea, 2258 on 7 Jan with a `quite uncommon musical style song´ for the North Korean standards. Time pips followed together with a lengthy one, then ID, etc. Signal mixed with N Korea at nearly same level. At 2302 it signed off leaving North Korea in clear Heard being in // with 6518 and 6600 (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, R75, 2x16 m H antenna and always with m@h40 [sic] Sennheiser head[phone]s, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ex-7105 vs SOH? (gh, DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. 5985, Jan 7 at 1421, checking whether Shiokaze via JSR JAPAN has changed frequency yet, at first I thought it had, but weak signal is still there and cannot be sure it is in English as normally on Fridays unlike NYE, but intonation by OM seems to be. Plus weak het on hi side from Myanmar. Conditions from E Asia were subnormal this morning, but as sun rises earlier, the 1400 transmission will become harder and harder to hear here (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5910, Shiokaze, 1401, Jan 12. Ex: 5985. In Japanese; fair. Surprisingly 5985 was not jammed (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5910, reactivated frequency for Shiokaze, Sea Breeze via JSR Tokyo, Jan 13 barely audible at 1400 in Japanese, with piano background. Ron Howard first reported this ex-5985 on Jan 12, also in Japanese. Expect English on Friday (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. Logs with R75, 2x16 m H antenna and as always with m@h40 Sennheiser heads http://zlgr.multiply.com/journal/item/323/LOGS 9725, V Wilderness?? (>N Korea) 1317 Jan 9, YL with talks in Korean mentioning at the end amen, then quite lengthy talks by man. Signal S4 max and was in // to 6275 which had an S9 signal and has a audio priority of ca. 0.5 sec over 9725 but has a digital stream QRM (Zacharias Liangas, THS Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) > means `to`? Aoki shows both as 100 kW, 70 degrees via Dushanbe-Yangiyul, TAJIKISTAN, and VOW as part of Bible Voice Broadcasting Network, which under its own name precedes VOW on 9725 Sundays only at 1230-1300 (gh, DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH [and non]. 6348, KOREA REP., Echo of Hope, Hwaseong at 1633 with instrumental music, man in Korean, several people reciting a prayer and ending with “amen”, into hymn. Fair, presumed “growling” jammer, Jan 8 (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening lakeside in my car before and during local sunrise, with Eton E1 and AN1 active antenna on car roof, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KYRGYZSTAN. 5130, R. Maranatha (Presumed), Jan 03 1609-1643, 35433- 35432, Music and talk. Also Jan 05 1506-1535, 35433-35333, Music and talk (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan, Japan Premium Jan 7 via DXLD) ** LATVIA. QSL: Radio Casablanca World Service via Ulbroka, 9290 f/d QSL sheet in 761 days (!) for eMail report on broadcast in 2008. Has to be some kind of record without a follow-up. Specifies "ueber Krebs TV Lettland" which literally means "over cancer TV Latvia," unless they have some station called Krebs TV there. Also sent a sticker and a cool music CD and list of regional artists. So! I finally have Latvia QSL'ed. My day is made much better by this. Couple of nice ones this time around [see also PALAU], including radio Casablanca, which I had written off. Both of these stations were heard in Kabul. Hope everyone is well and enjoying the DX season! 73 (Al Muick, Kandahar, Jan 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBYA. 17725, Voice of Africa, (Sabrata), 1445-1501, 1/9/2011, English. Man and woman with brief descriptions of African cities and an occasional few bars of upbeat local pop music. ID at 1457 by woman, then music to 1500 ID. News followed. Good signal with usual slightly muffled audio (Jim Evans, Germantown, TN, on G6 with whip antenna, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Altho I can usually tell it is there, have not had readable signal from this for all year; even worse on 21695 where 13m barely opens if at all (gh, OK, Jan 12, DXLD) ** LUXEMBOURG. Reportedly the abridged 30 minutes version of the KBS programme in German, so far put on a DRM modulation of the Marnach 1440 kHz transmitter at 0700 UT, goes out in AM now. When being asked about this KBS said that it is a "temporary gift" with "could last until April or so". This WRN-brokered relay was the only remaining DRM on 1440, only followed by 30 minutes of RTL Radio (German). So it appears that all DRM operations on this frequency have ceased and 1440 kHz is now run in AM mode exclusively. Earlier Marnach used a new Transradio TRAM transmitter for DRM and AM transmissions with 300 kW while the missionaries and CRI have been transmitted with 1200 kW with a pair of S 4006 transmitters. Gossip has it that the TRAM equipment has meanwhile been upgraded to 600 kW, which is now the highest regular power level while the tube transmitters are supposed to be no longer in everyday use. However, these rumours are somewhat vague (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Jan 12, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Kai, The schedule at drm.org shows a DRM broadcast 0400-0445 Sunday on 1440, religious broadcast in German, as well as the 0700-0800 block, schedule last modified 22.12. Has this one gone off as well? http://www.drm.org/index.php?p=broadcast_schedule#Europe (Mike Barraclough, ibid.) ** MADAGASCAR. 5010, 1828, R. Madagascar, SINPO 45434. Male rap-style song. Not present at 1903! 20 December, Bahir Dar. Received again on 30 December at 1518 in Arba Minch with SINPO 33433, mixing with another station on the frequency (Robertas Pogorelis, visiting Ethiopia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5010.00, 2355-0015 31.12-01.01, R Nasionaly Malagasy, Ambohidrano. Malagasy all night New Year programme with local pop songs and ann by DJ, shouting by men, 35333 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, on the AOR AR7030PLUS with a 28 metres of longwire, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) 5010.0, sign on with music at 0201, in LSB tonight (as noted by others recently). Typical music and frequent IDs in language to past 0218. 1/8/11 (Jim Young, Wrightwood, CA, IC-756ProIII + 40M yagi and antenna tuner, NASWA yg via DXLD) 5010 (carrier + usb), R. Madagasikara, Ambohidrano, 1722-1759, 08 Jan, Malagasy, advertisements, most with bits of French, Afr. Pops prgr; 35443 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAYSIA. A question for those hearing RTM (Malaysia) on SW --- it looks like most of the recent loggings have been for RTM domestic services, not the Voice of Malaysia external service. Correct? A couple years back RTM offered live audio streaming of the Voice Of Malaysia, including their English broadcast, but I haven't been awake at the time of night when they're in English, so I haven't been able to confirm its existence. If anyone has been listening to the VOM service, do they provide a contact e-mail address? There is none visible on their website, and an inquiry at the main RTM website yielded an invalid e-mail address for them. Would appreciate any guidance...thanks! (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, Editor, "Easy Listening", Jan 7, NASWA yg via DXLD) ** MALAYSIA [and non]. 6049.610, Heterodyne on 6050 kHz channel in 12- 15 UT slot. Checked the interference situation, long established channel of 6050 kHz in Quito-EQA, which is the fixed transmitter channel for the indigen population. In past two months hit by RHC La Habana co-channel selection ... Habe jetzt um 1445-1515 UT noch mal hinein gehoert. In jedem Fall hoere ich zwei Stationen gemixt, auf 6049.615/610 d.h. der gleiche Offset wie vor 3 Stunden, wenn ich die anderen Stationen im 49 mb, die alle auf x.000 kHz starke Signale abliefern zum Vergleich nehme. Eine Station hat 1500 UT geendet. Jetzt waren eindeutig die Nachrichten aus Malaysia zu hoeren und das Programm laeuft weiter, Aoki zeigt die MLA Schedule bis 1600 UT. Kajang, Malaysia liegt also wirklich 390 Hertz zu tief (Wolfgang Büschel, Jan 3, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 9 via DXLD) ** MALAYSIA. Today (Jan 8) I monitored 9835 randomly from 1433 to 1516. During that time period was // Sarawak FM on 5030, with their usual Saturday program of unique indigenous singing/chanting and DJ taking phone calls on air. As you can hear from the attached audio, 9835 continues to have extremely distorted audio, while 5030 has normal audio. Yesterday also had the same distortions. We can only hope they will shortly fix the new transmitter! (Ron Howard, CA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9835. RTV Malaysia (presumed) at 1554 on this new frequency with man and woman in Malay. Checked 5030, 7270 and 7295 and did not hear any parallel audio. Poor, Jan 8 (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening lakeside in my car before and during local sunrise, with Eton E1 and AN1 active antenna on car roof, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9835, Sarawak FM via RTM, 1330, Jan 12. Continues to have distorted audio; stronger than // 5030 (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MAURITANIA. Glenn, Don't contribute a lot, but this was doozy: 7245, Noukachott was blasting into Carlsbad, CA, last night with a +30 over on the peaks last night from 0825 to past 0915 (1/11/2011 UT) in Arabic and French. Caught two ID's, OM ann, trad. & modern W. African / Saharan music, and a call-in program in which "Mohammad" and Shaira" was mentioned, along with a couple of caller cut-offs. Sig was (gasp) well -modulated and in the clear. Was using a 1941 Hallicrafters SX-28 with a 50' longwire up 30'. NOTES: For a country as poor as this, run by a corrupt junta, that still has slavery and numerous tribal/ecological/agricultural/you- name-it problems, they seem to have no problem running a 100 kW (pointed at 077 degrees, BTW) xmtr full-blast; it's quite a jolt to see better-off countries in Europe shutting down their SW transmitters and SW services because of "financial problems". Guess what the Junta wants, the Junta gets. Either that, or the Bean-Counters have taken over Europe and the West. Or both. Weird. 73 DE (Lin Robertson/KJ6EF, WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO [and non]. 1300, XEP, Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Jan 9 at 1451 UT, romantic music in Spanish, 1452 TC for 7:52, government vivienda PSA asserting that ``en México somos 102 millones de habitantes``, ID ``Radio Trece, tradicionalmente original``, more romx. 50 kW station easily dominating frequency this late, but lower half of MW band had no Mexicans or other skywave to speak of. 1330 from west Texas was also still in, but not 770 from NM; see U S A (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. Radio por internet o audio en línea -- Cambio de frecuencia Fernando Mejía Barquera 2011-01-06•Tendencias Fuente: http://impreso.milenio.com/node/8891107 El IMER colocó en línea, a partir del 1 de enero, una programación a la que decidió llamar “Radio México Internacional”, denominación que tuvo la emisora de onda corta que ese organismo administró de 1983 a 2004 cuando su entonces directora, Dolores Béistegui, decidió sacarla del aire. Ahora, la dirección del IMER retomó el nombre de Radio México Internacional para transmitir no por onda corta, sino por internet, lo que ha suscitado un debate en el medio radiofónico y diexista (el diexismo es la actividad de transmitir y recibir señales radiofónicas por onda corta) acerca de si la trasmisión de contenidos de audio por internet puede llamarse “radio” o esta denominación sólo es aplicable a la difusión mediante ondas hertzianas a través de una frecuencia. Radio México Internacional Desde 1935 el gobierno mexicano mostró interés por tener una emisora radiofónica de alcance internacional. En aquella época la mejor forma de hacerlo era a través del segmento del espectro radioeléctrico denominado “banda de onda corta” (OC). Ese año fue creada la emisora XECR OC, a cargo de la Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores. En 1937 fue sustituida por la XEXA OC, administrada por el Departamento Autónomo de Prensa y Publicidad, el “laboratorio de comunicación social” creado por el gobierno de Lázaro Cárdenas. Luego pasó a la Secretaría de Gobernación y dejó de transmitir en los años cuarenta del siglo pasado hasta que, en 1968, Gobernación decidió revivirla. En 1969, la emisora internacional del gobierno mexicano reapareció en el aire con las siglas XERMX OC y a partir de 1983 empezó a ser manejada por el IMER, creado ese año. Fuera del aire En junio de 2004, Radio México Internacional dejó de transmitir. Ese año, el IMER contrató por 7.4 millones de pesos la asesoría de la firma Mercer Management Consulting, una de cuyas recomendaciones fue reducir el tamaño del instituto que, en ese momento operaba 20 emisoras en la República. Así, la directora Béistegui dispuso que el IMER devolviera al gobierno de Colima la estación XEBCO AM, operada por ese organismo desde 1986 mediante un convenio; que el IMER cediera al gobierno de Campeche la estación XETEB AM, cuya frecuencia estaba permisionada al IMER; y que XERMX OC, Radio México Internacional, despareciera. El equipo de transmisión de esta emisora fue donado a Radio UNAM. Según la directora del IMER, la onda corta ya era obsoleta: “Eso de Radio México Internacional nunca supe muy bien a qué nos referíamos, que nos escucharan los lapones o cuál era la idea de transmitir hacia fuera, cuando la gente de afuera escucha radio por internet. Cancelamos el proyecto y los transmisores los mandamos a Radio UNAM”, declaró Dolores Béistegui en una entrevista (Etcétera, 27 de octubre de 2006). ¿OC o internet? A finales de 2009, la actual directora del IMER, Ana Cecilia Terrazas, empezó a sondear la posibilidad de revivir Radio México Internacional. Se entrevistó con algunos especialistas en la radio de onda corta (diexistas) para ver la posibilidad de transmitir nuevamente a través de esa banda. Había, sin embargo, varios problemas. Uno, que los transmisores de onda corta de Radio México habían sido donados a la UNAM por la ex directora Dolores Béistegui y, dos, que pese a existir en el IMER un pequeño transmisor que podía utilizarse, había que rehabilitarlo e invertir en equipo adicional. Ante esos inconvenientes se decidió utilizar el nombre de Radio México Internacional para un proyecto de audio en línea aprovechando que el IMER había transmitido por esa vía, durante el año pasado, “Radio 2010” con programación dedicada al bicentenario de la Independencia y al centenario de la Revolución. Audio streaming Así, la denominación “Radio México Internacional” ha vuelto a ser empleada por el IMER. Los diexistas no están de acuerdo en que se utilice el nombre de una emisora histórica de onda corta para un proyecto que, en sentido estricto, no es de radio. En rigor, tienen razón: “radio” es un apócope que se utiliza para aludir a la palabra “radiodifusión” que, técnicamente, es la difusión de imágenes o sonidos a través de frecuencias ubicadas en el espectro radioeléctrico. La transmisión por internet no es radio, sino transmisión de audios que se producen siguiendo las técnicas desarrolladas durante más de nueve décadas por el lenguaje radiofónico: combinación creativa de la voz humana, la música, los efectos especiales y el silencio. Podría llamarse radio por internet a la utilización que muchas emisoras hacen de la red para transmitir por ella su programación, además de hacerlo vía ondas hertzianas. Pero cuando lo que se transmite por internet son audios hechos específicamente para darse a conocer por esa vía y no por el espacio aéreo, estamos ante un fenómeno nuevo que se desarrollará enormemente en este siglo. ¿Cómo llamar a ese fenómeno? Quizá audio por internet o audio streaming como se denomina correctamente en Estados Unidos (via Roberto E. Gómez Morales, México, Jan 7, dxldyg via DXLD) Radio México Internacional will add English/French Radio México Internacional, which was re-launched on 1 January 2011, is currently in Spanish only, but has already announced the launch of programmes in English and French, as well as in some dialects of South American Indians. Radio México Internacional was a shortwave broadcaster until 2004, when it was closed due to deterioration of the transmitters and the advent of new technologies. But the closure was not due to shortage of funds. Dolores Bestegi, the CEO of IMER (Instituto Méxicano de la Radio) at the time, said “Radio México Internacional was a shortwave project, working with six transmitters, five of which were worn out. To repair them would cost 60 million pesos. We could find 60 million pesos, but it was unclear who now listens to broadcasts on shortwave. Therefore, we closed the project. ” In 2009, IMER launched a special radio station to mark the 200th anniversary of the independence of México, which received great success in the world. Now the technical base of this channel has become the basis for the resumption of the new Radio México Internacional. (Source: ephekto.com)( January 12th, 2011 - 13:37 UTC by Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog via WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DXLD) ** MEXICO. 6185, XEPPM with dead air, just open carrier, Monday Jan 10 at 0628 when RFI relay should be running; still at 0637. Wake up! ¡Despiértese! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. Es from Mexico at tune-in 2321 UT January 9, from SSW, ch 2 with same offset CCI, one discussion audio, other soccer video; 3 with Sky TV HD commercial; 2327 signs of activity on 4. Pretty much gone by 2345, but from Sherlock maps, opening intensified while moving further east, lacking analog Mexican signals to skip into here. Tried FM for a while, but no Es noted (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MONGOLIA [non]. Voice of Mongolia in Russian via programmes Voice of Russia: Wed 1646–1658 UT - 801, 1026, 1089, 1143, 1251, 1494, 1503, 5900, 5940, 6140, 7240, 7340=DRM kHz Wed 2247–2259 UT - 612, 630, 648, 693, 999, 1026, 1143, 1170, 1314, 1323, 1431 kHz. http://rus.ruvr.ru/programmrasp/ http://www.dxing.ru/component/option,com_dxbase/Itemid,34/section,vorws/ (Aleksandr Diadischev / “deneb-radio-dx” via RusDX Jan 9 via DXLD) ** MOROCCO. 595, SNRT-"A", Oujda, 2316-., 07 Jan, Arabic, news bulletin; off channel again; \\ 207, 540, 612, 936; 44453, QRM de POR 594 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MOROCCO. 15345.1, RTV Marocaine (Nador), 1613-1620, 1/6/2011, Arabic. Alternating talk by man and woman with an occasional few bars of music behind them. Good signal with some fading and a het (Jim Evans, Germantown, TN, on G6 with whip antenna, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** MYANMAR. Dear Glenn! I am a DXer from Lviv, West part of Ukraine. I read you bulletin regularly. I am writing to you in order to give you some info for your next edition of World of Radio. I decided that this info may be interesting for you and another DXers around Globe. All Times UT. 5985, Jan. 8, 2011, 1435 - Radio Myanmar must be in English according to AOKI, but I couldn't ID language, YL talk, music looks like piano, song, YL singer, ad, child laughter. Weak signal with high level of noise and fades. Since 1447 V of Russia's tx signed on, and reception became impossible. 5985, Jan. 9, 2011, 1420 - Radio Myanmar, again, better than yesterday, English, contemporary music, OM talk, ID is given at 1426: "...External Service..." by female voice. Weak signal with local noise and fades (Ihor Karivets', Lviv, Ukraine; Sony ICF-SW35 & Loop active antenna Degen-31MS, DX LISTENING DIGEST) But also on 5985 currently at 1400-1430 only is Shiokaze = Sea Breeze, from Japan to North Korea. They feature piano music, and languages change from day to day: English, Korean, Japanese, sometimes Chinese (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) See KOREA NORTH [non], Shiokaze moves to 5910 5985.86, R. Myanma, 1434-1444 Jan 1. YL talking - English maybe? Can't tell due to low signal level and high band noise. Went into regional vocal music at 1439 (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge, Colorado, Drake R-8, 100-foot RW, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. New times for World of Radio on World FM Saturday 2305-2335 UT Thursday 0907-0937 UT and 2200-2230 UT Friday 2005-2035 UT The World FM schedule is at http://www.worldfm.co.nz/sched-db.php?sl=ft&offset=0 The schedule is VERY confusing because of the NZ time difference and marking the column headers with local time days instead of UT days. The correct UT programme times are shown in the second column marked "GMT" which is the same as UT. The "mouse over" info boxes show the wrong times. GMT programme times shown in the "top half" of the table before 0000 GMT are really the previous UT day. For example, World of Radio shown as being on at 2305 Sunday is really 2305 Saturday. GMT programme times shown in the "bottom half" of the schedule table after 0000 GMT and up to 1000 are really on the day shown at the top of the column. For example, World of Radio shown as being on at 0907 Thursday is really on a Thursday. Regards (Harry Brooks, North East England, UK, Jan 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The times aren`t so new, but in effect during NZ DST, until first Sunday in April. Then they will be (we assume) one UT hour later. It seems I had neglected to update for the DST shift at http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskds.html but now I have; it webcasts, and tnx to Chris Mackerell for including WOR (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGER. (?). UNID African station was received on 9705 kHz on 20 December at 1937 UT, SINPO 23533, and on 29 December at 1933 UT, SINPO 25433. Must have been Niger (Robertas Pogorelis, visiting Ethiopia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9705. Rdiff. TV Niger, Jan 06 2245-2259*, 33333 French, Music, Koran, Closing announce, IS, National anthem, 2259 sign off (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan, Japan Premium Jan 7 via DXLD) ** NIGERIA [and non]. 7255, V. of Nigeria, 2212-2300* Jan 5. Hausa talk to BoH, then program of regional music with man announcer; closing announcement at 2258 and national anthem. Strong signal (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge, Colorado, Drake R-8, 100-foot RW, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) 15120, wanted to hear VON news in English from the outset 1500 Jan 6: but the lackadaisical operators at RHC didn`t get around to turning it off until 1503:30*, uncovering poor signal from VON, and usual wobbling carrier with BFO --- is this a sign of defective transmitter and/or problems with the power grid beyond their control? 15120, since RHC broke down and was missing from its usual strong signal here, Jan 11 at 1413, leaving only a very weak station, presumably BSKSA in Bengali, I hoped to hear VON without QRM from 1500. But no sign of it then, so I moved on. 1509 recheck however, VON was on with fair signal, good modulation but carrier wobbling with BFO engaged, during news by well-spoken YL, including clip of Assange at 1511. 15120, VON, Jan 12 at 1512, announcer says this is ``15 Minutes``, apparently name of extended newscast. Today the modulation is more distorted, and carrier wobbling as usual (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA [non]. 7350, 15.12 0525, Hamada Radio International startade, men försvann snabbt och kom tillbaka igen, mycket svagare. BEFF 7350, 15.12 0525, Hamada Radio International signed in, disappeared rapidly but came back again but much weaker. BEFF (Björn Fransson, Sweden, SW Bulletin Jan 9, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. 1120, KEOR, Catoosa-Sperry-Tulsa, which had been more or less funxional recently, had reverted to open carrier, when checked Jan 11 around 1930 and 2130 UT. 1120, KEOR, Catoosa-Sperry-Tulsa, which was open carrier afternoon of Jan 11, has resumed soul music Jan 13 at 1605 UT check (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. 1520, KOKC, Sunday Jan 9 at 1447, ad for OCI, and back to ``The Native American Speaks``, host Michael Dotson interviewing someone from the Citizen Potawatomi tribe. TNAS is scheduled at 1430- 1500 UT, among other worthwhile specialty programs on Saturday and Sunday mornings, departing from weekday talk format primarily of farrightwingnuts: http://www.kokcradio.com/programming.aspx (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN [and non]. CHINA RADIO INTERNATIONAL AND PBC SIGN AGREEMENT TO ENHANCE MUTUAL COOPERATION Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation, Islamabad, Press Release http://www.radio.gov.pk/cms/index.asp?PageId=34 Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation and China Radio International have signed an agreement aimed at promoting greater understanding between the two countries and encouraging business and commercial relations. The agreement was signed in the presence of Chinese Prime Minister, Wen Jiabo and Prime Minister, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani in Islamabad on Friday. Under the agreement signed by Director General PBC, Murtaza Solangi and Chinese ambassador to Pakistan, Liu Jian Radio China International will broadcast two hours Urdu and English programmes daily from five FM-93 stations of PBC. These programmes will be broadcast from Islamabad, Multan, Lahore, Karachi, and Kohat from the middle of the next month. It is pertinent to point out that China Radio International has purchased air time from PBC for these programmes on certain terms and conditions. Commenting on the agreement, DG PBC, Murtaza Solangi said it is beginning of greater cooperation between two broadcasting organizations. He said it is for the first time that two hours Urdu and English language programmes of Radio China International will be aired on five stations of Radio Pakistan’s FM 93 network. He said these Radio programmes will be based on our bilateral relations and fields of cooperation. He said some programmes will be aired regarding Chinese culture and language as well. The contents of the programmes will be finalized with mutual consultation (via Abid Hussain Sajid, Mailsi-Pakistan, Jan 7, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PALAU. World Harvest Radio TG8W [sic?! Should be T8WH], 9930, f/d 20 years anniversary QSL in 171 days for airmail report and US $1.00 return postage. V/s: "LWV" [= Larry W Vehorn] Couple of nice ones this time around, including Radio Casablanca [LATVIA], which I had written off. Both of these stations were heard in Kabul. Hope everyone is well and enjoying the DX season! 73 (Al Muick, Kandahar, Jan 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) QSL: T8WH, 9930, f/d "20 years of Shortwave Ministry to the World" card in 370 days for $1 and a report sent to the WHR South Bend-IN address. Naalehu, Hawaii transmitter info crossed out and replaced with handwritten T8WH Palau. C/V # 117 (Scott R. Barbour Jr. Intervale, N.H. USA, NRD-545, MLB-1, 200' Beverages, 60m dipole, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3385, NEW BRITAIN, R. East New Britain, Rabaul, 1209-1218, Jan 3, Tok Pisin. W announcer with news; presumed ad at 1216 followed by lite, vocal music; fair (Scott R. Barbour Jr. Intervale, N.H. USA, NRD-545, MLB-1, 200' Beverages, 60m dipole, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. No sign of the "new" PNG station on 4775 kHz at present Jan 4. I suspect it may be Radio Fly - RFC Tabubil according Aoki list - as I can't hear them on 3915 kHz this evening, but they are still on 5960 kHz. (I think it was them I heard there). I have asked a friend in Cairns, Australia to have a listen to see if he can identify it (Barry Hartley, NZ, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 9 via DXLD) 4775 kHz at 1200 UT. Have noted what I think is a PNG station on 4775 audible around 1130 UT past 1230 UT. Can anyone identify it ? News in English heard at 1200 UT (John Durham, dxdialog ng Jan 4, ibid.) I asked a ham friend in Cairns to have a listen to this and here is his reply (Barry Hartley, NZ, dxdialog ng Jan 7, ibid.) Re 4775 kHz. I've listened for a couple of nights, and although I hear a carrier on 4775 kHz from 1000Z, I am unable to resolve the voice/music that seems to start approx. 1045Z. It is very weak and last night the noise was again very high. I have been used two receivers/antenna's, one tuned to R. Fly on 5960 kHz, and the other on 4775 & I have switched the receivers/antenna's, but the R. Fly transmission is not the same as on 4775 kHz, unless it's a delayed broadcast. I do not get any noise on 3915 kHz and Korea (in the clear) overpowers on 3912 kHz. Radio Fly ID'd the other night as being on 3915 & 5960 kHz, then later on ID'd again and said they were as also on 95.3 'Kiunga' & 103.8 'Tabubil'. I have noted 2 x USB contacts (Indonesian I think) on 4776 as well as 4773 kHz (Asian voice? Chinese fishing boats?) Sorry I'm unable to ID as I think the transmission while low power is a long way away (ibid., via Barry Hartley, NZ, dxdialog ng Jan 7 via BC-DX via DXLD) Radio Fly 3915 is indeed off air at the moment. The transmitter is being repaired. With any luck it will be back on air late January or soon afterwards. As for 4775 kHz. It is such a low level here. I have a "possible" lead on this, but need to do some follow up research and emailing. Can anyone tell me what kind of programming is being heard. Regards (Ian Baxter, NSW, Jan 11, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Fly - QSL Card printing (not) --- Hi Folks, I've once again had recent contact with Radio Fly regarding an update to the printing of QSL's. The company did complete design work of a QSL card some months ago & did submit design to a printer for a quote. BUT --- unfortunately this is as far as it went as the company has not received a response (quote) from the printing co. to date, nor have they apparently followed up with the printer. I would encourage all DXers who would like to receive a printed QSL from Radio Fly (in response to a submitted reception report) to again contact them and encourage them to organise printing of QSLs. Life is a little casual in pacific island nations, so if you want something done by someone you will have to keep encouraging them. So if you want a Radio Fly QSL please contact Radio Fly and kindly encourage them to organise the printing of the QSLs. Regards (Ian Baxter, NSW, Jan 9, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I had sent out in May of '10 a prepared card, return envelope and $'s and heard nothing from Radio Fly. Recently I sent off an email to Jobby Paiva inquiring about QSL's and have received no reply (Steve Lare, Holland, MI USA, ibid.) Hi Steve, Good to hear from you. I understand that it was their intention to QSL all reports with a specially designed (by staff members at the station) printed QSL card. They would have had the intention of holding all received reception reports & then when QSL cards received from printer to send out the cards then. Try to contact Jobby again via email & specifically ask him to ask the management to followup on the shortwave cards that were to be printed. Many PNG males are mad rugby football followers, that follow Australian rugby football, so a conversation that carries that topic might help with a response. Jobby was on the email today. I'm presuming he's still with Radio Fly, but maybe on holidays, I couldn't be sure. Let me know if you have some luck. Cheers (Ian Baxter, ibid.) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 7324.96, Wantok R. Light, Jan 06 0804-0827, 34333 English, Music and talk, ID at 0825 (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan, Japan Premium Jan 7 via DXLD) Today Jan 5 I heard Radio Wantok Light [sic] on 7325 kHz for the first time in several months. I tuned in around 0750 UT to hear a U.S. gospel drama I think was called "Unshackled", which gave a Chicago mailing address when ending at 0800 UT. Music then followed and I tuned out from 0810 to 0900 UT, when I listened again to hear the News in English being relayed from NBC. At no time was it very strong (Barry Hartley, NZ, Jan 4/5, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 9 via WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DXLD) ** PERU. 4746.92, R. Huanta 2000, Huanta, 1027-1042, Jan 3, Spanish. M announcer with talk into huaynos thru BoH; ad string from 1032; studio announcer at 1039; music at tune/out; fair. 4774.98, R. Tarma, Tarma, 1043, Jan 3, Spanish. Huaynos; brief M announcer at 1045 and back to music; poor. 4824.47, RV de la Selva, Iquitos, 1055-1102, Jan 3, Spanish. M announcer with talk over lite guitar music; techno/dance filler music at 1059; M announcer from 1100 with occasional W announcer; poor-fair with het via (Presumed) 4825-Brazil (Scott R. Barbour Jr. Intervale, N.H. USA, NRD-545, MLB-1, 200' Beverages, 60m dipole, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 4774.96, Radio Tarma, 1038-1050 Jan 8, Only occasionally does the audio fade in as a male comments in Spanish language followed by music. Signal remained threshold during the period. 3329.643, Ondas Del Huallaga, 1105-1115 Jan 8, Noted a male in Spanish comments until 1113 when music is presented. The music sounded religious in tone. Of course, CHU is almost on top of this station. Consequently, that makes copy difficult. Ondas Del Huallaga was threshold. 6019.301, Radio Victoria, 1025-1035 Jan 8, Hearing the preacher again this morning, David Miranda. It's so easy to pull his babble out of the noise when he's on the air. Anyway, the signal of Victoria is fair this morning which is a rarity at my location. As I get ready to tune away, the signal improves to a good level for a moment or two (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston FL, 26N 081W, Used them all this morning: WR- G31DDC, WJ HF1000, JRC NRD545, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES [and non]. Continuing to check whether R. Blagovest via RVA survives in 2011y: 9570, Jan 6 at 1459 tail of ID in English, 1500 bells, and opening Blagovest, all-talk in Russian, still going at 1512, 1521 (when it was gone yesterday), 1528; 1536 with classical music, slow movement from a Vivaldi Season, but 1537 back to talk. 1545 signal is fading out. 9570, RVA in Russian talk at 1500 Jan 12, only fair signal today, still Radio Blagovest program? No bells were heard, but did not listen long. 15435, Jan 6 at 1428 open carrier, just as 15440 AWR Urdu goes off [see U S A [non]]; 1430 trumpet IS, musical opening, sign-on mentioning Pakistan, more Urdu, now from R. Veritas Asia, via SMG, VATICAN relay (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES. 11730, 15190, R. Pilipinas, 1755-1900+ Jan 2. English ID at 1755 as "Radyo Pilipinas, the Overseas Service of the Philippine Broadcasting Service," followed by a man & woman in lighthearted Tagalog chat with much laughter. 11730 was mixing with, and soon overtook, co-channel RHC. 15190 was very poor at first but improved dramatically and was very good at 1810. Multiple ID's for Radyo Pilipinas, PBS, Radio Ng Bayan, etc. at 1858 were followed by a very long list of affiliates (DZRM, DWCC, and at least a dozen others). (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge, Colorado, Drake R-8, 100-foot RW, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** POLAND [non]. 11905, hoping again for some SLBC SRI LANKA, scheduled here from 1530 and aimed USward at 355 degrees: Jan 6 at 1528, ``Silent Night`` in Russian(?), nice rendition by YL soloist; 1529:30 cuts off, audiblizing some other music; then right back on but somewhat weaker in Slavic, mixing music with flutter. 1532 still/again playing ``Silent Night`` for OrthodoXmas. As before, the blocker is PRES via Woofferton, going from Belarussian to Ukrainian at 1530. Or is a lot of this ``Belarussian`` service axually in Red-Russian, as has been reported for some stations? On an earlier day, Terry Krueger in Florida kept listening longer than I and began to hear signs of SL. 9460, PRES via AUSTRIA in English, Jan 7 at 1313, classical music discussion about a sinfonietta by David ---, apparent modern composer as they played a bit of it. Only fair reception but not yet blown away by WTWW 9479 overload, not yet built up to daytime supersignal level (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Polish Radio’s External Service in English to Europe, 1 January 2011 at 1810 UT on 9650 kHz. Program of chamber music, followed by the Weekly Newspaper review. Discussions about Parliamentary elections, EU and Global economic growth. 1830 program entitled “Welcome to Europe”. Fair signal, with audio distortion present (Ed Insinger, Summit, NJ, DX LISTENING DIGEST) via UAE ** POLAND [non]. Poland's Foreign Radio financed by Foreign Office ministry, soon also introduce Chinese and Arabic language sections. Das Aussenministerium finanziert den Auslandsdienst. Das polnische Aussenministerium verlaengert den Vertrag mit dem Auslandsdienst des Polnischen Rundfunks. Das Aussenressort wird weiterhin den Auslandsdienst finanziell unterstuetzen. Der Vertrag, der gestern im Sitz des Aussenministeriums in Warschau unterschrieben wurde, knuepft an die Abmachung aus dem Jahr 1993 an. Der Vize-Aussenminister Jan Borkowski sagte, dass die Aufgaben des Auslandsdienstes im kommenden Jahr, waehrend der polnischen EU- Ratspraesidentschaft besonders wichtig seien. Laut dem Chef des Polnischen Rundfunks, Jaroslaw Hasinski, wolle der Polnische Rundfunk sehr stark in der Ukraine und in Weissrussland agieren. In naher Zukunft moechte der Auslandsdienst des Polnischen Rundfunks auch die *chinesische und *arabische Sprache einfuehren. Zur Zeit sendet der Auslandsdienst auf Polnisch, Weissrussisch, Ukrainisch, Russisch, Deutsch, Englisch und Hebraeisch (via Paul Gager, Austria, Jan 3,, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 9 via WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DXLD) ** PRIDNESTROVYE. Excuse me if I missed what you really said (I was listening to the latest WOR online at the office with headphones, and thus occasionally distracted). Thought you mentioned difficulty hearing Voice of Russia in English, finding only Spanish at decent level. It's massive from 0000 still on 6240, via PMR. PMR in English, French, etc. prior to (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida USA, Jan 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I hear 6240 too, tho would not call it massive. I was referring to later in the evening when I am usually listening (Glenn to Terry, ibid.) Check, on the timing of your attempted listens. Really big sig here; still listening. One of the few I listen to for content [VOR] (sad that I cannot say that for the BBC -- Sirius-XM is best I can do there). (Krueger, ibid.) See also RUSSIA PRIDNESTROVIE, 6240, PMR Radio, 2320-2359 Jan 5. YL in French to 2330, then man at 2330 with a full half-hour of German. Seamless transition to Voice of Russia in English at 0000. Very good signal (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge, Colorado, Drake R-8, 100-foot RW, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) Gente, Radio Priednestrovie entra como un cañón en inglés a las 23 UT en los 6240 khz con boletín de noticias, identificaciones y comentarios. Luego programa en francés. No dejen de intentar la captacion!!! !!! Enviado desde mi BlackBerry de Personal (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, Jan 6, condiglist yg via DXLD) ** RUSSIA [non]. V of Russia Moscow program in English was heard via Lviv Krasne 7440 kHz on Jan 5 & 6, but not on holiday Jan 7th! (Wolfgang Büschel, Jan 5-7, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 9 via DXLD) 03-04 ** RUSSIA. 9855, VOR English to Alaska, western Canada and western conterminous USA, finally audible in CNAm, Jan 7 at 0618, only fair with discussion of New Year celebrations in Moscow; seems undermodulated, and much weaker than 9865 RNW Dutch via Bonaire. 9855 is via Vladivostok, and supposed to be // 9840 via Pet/Kam but inaudible there. Used to be that 9840 would surpass 9855, tho both for exactly same targets. In Haida Gwaii, Walt Salmaniw on Dec 31 at 0501 found the opposite, 9855 VG and 9840 just a weaker open carrier. Such is the redundancy setup of this service, it seems (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA [and non]. 11635 drm, Voice of Russia, Moscow Taldom, ID: E07002, 17.38 kbps, but only S=4-5 signal today at 0820 UT on Jan 4, suffering SNRatio 6 dB. Very few times audio decoded at S=12.5 dB level or SNR 9.5 dB upwards. So you need a highly efficient outdoor antenna to fetch the VOR content in deep winter season. In comparison, V of Greece, Avlis is at S=9+20dB level at same time slot. I don't know what happened with the DRM gear at Taldom? I guess the output power lowered now, or different antenna angle target is in use. The Taldom DRM signal was much much stronger in previous years (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 9 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. CARL WATTS, VOICE OF RUSSIA, R.I.P. I was sorry to read the following on the Voice of Russia website: “Today is a very sad day for all of us here at the Voice of Russia. Gone is Carl Watts - a cherished friend and colleague, whose deep baritone carried far and wide enthralling audiences around the world. For more than half a century Carl Watts was by right touted as the signature “voice” of Radio Moscow International [sic], now known as The Voice of Russia. “A born radio personality and top-flight broadcaster, Carl Watts gave much of his energy and talent to the radio. For many decades he exhibited a masterful, disciplined stewardship that helped our English-language broadcasting come of age. “Our listeners often wondered where Carl picked up his Canadian accent. And they were quite right in thinking that it was in Canada. He was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where his parents moved from Ukraine in the 1920s. “Carl Watts was not only a renowned anchor and news reader, he was also a very fine interpreter and an avid hockey fan - an inclination he picked up back in Canada. One of his great moments came during the memorable 1972 Canada-USSR hockey series where his excellent work as a rink announcer made him an instant celebrity. “Over the years Carl’s easily recognizable voice lost none of its luscious texture and resonance as he carried on with the flair and gusto we admired so much around here just like so many of our listeners did around the globe. “Good bye, dear friend! We love you, we admire you and we always will!” (Source: Voice of Russia) Andy Sennitt adds: Some of our readers will probably remember him better as Carl Yegorev, the on-air name he used for many years. That’s why so many listeners wondered about his accent. He could also be heard on Radio Station Peace and Progress (January 9th, 2011 - 18:48 UTC by Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog via WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DXLD) There's a helluva story there somewhere. 50 years at Pyanitskaya ulitsa 25 (like, the propaganda of the Kremlin); parents from Ukraine but born in Winnipeg (how/why did he end up/appear in Moscow) (Theo Donnelly, BC, ODXA yg via DXLD) Parents went back to Moscow. he still has a brother that lives in Canada (Maryanne Kehoe, ibid.) Re: Carl Watts (aka Karl Yegorov) RIP What a sad news! I didn't know Carl personally. But I remember admiring his voice while at my grandparents' back in 1985 or 1986. They lived in the south of Moscow where there was a great reception of RMWS local AM relays. I was really impressed with English, esp. due to the fact that his onair last name sounded very Russian, Yegorov. When Internet arrived I found out more about Carl. What a life! Here's from VoR's special broadcast about Carl that went on the air in 2005: People of Uncommon Destiny - MY COLLEAGUE Our story is about a radio personality, whose voice has become a visiting card of sorts of our World Service in English — my colleague Carl Watts. "The thing is that I like coming to the radio," Carl Watts says. "Honestly, this is not a propaganda thing, I come to the radio, because I'm going to meet very good people here – my closest friends. People I can joke with. We talk about our work and everything else, and I can say that I try to give everything I have to the radio." Carl Watts has indeed given much of his energy and talent to the radio. He may be truly called a born broadcaster, for he has an excellent radio voice. Our listeners often wonder where Carl picked up his Canadian accent. And they will be quite right in thinking that it was in Canada. He was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where his parents moved from Ukraine in the 1920's. Theirs was a Russian-speaking family. "I remember that at home we, naturally, spoke Russian with our parents," Carl Watts reminisces. "And when we went out in the streets and played with other kids, we said, "Hey, mum, they're talking some kind of a language that we do not understand." We did not understand English first. We began speaking English when we went to school. It was an ordinary public school in Winnipeg, and, naturally, all the classes were in English, and at home we tried to speak Russian. There was what we called a Federation of Russian Canadians. It was a very progressive organization. They organized schools for kids of Russian parents, and we went to those schools to study Russian. They were not professional teachers, they were Russians who had pretty good knowledge of Russian, and we learned the ABCs." Carl recalled that at school he liked history, geography, and took private violin lessons. And, like most boys, he liked playing ice- hockey with his age-mates. "We had a little patch in the back of the yard with ice," Carl Watts continues his story. "And we said, "Hey, Johnny, get your guys over, we're going to play a game of hockey." At that time, naturally, we were not well off. All we had was a stick, a puck, and skates. But still we liked it and we played. In the summertime we took a tennis ball and played hockey in the street, where there were no cars going by. And later on, this happened here in Moscow, somebody heard my voice, and they invited to do the announcements in English at the stadium. That was an international game. When they heard me, Tarasov, famous coach of ours, said, "Hey, why the hell did you hire an American?" And they said, ""He's no American, he's ours." And ever since I've been working on these tournaments." Small wonder that Carl is familiar with many ice-hockey stars, both Russian and Canadian. "I'm very proud of it," Carl Watts says. "That was in 1972. I did the Canada-USSR series, I did the four games in Moscow as a rink announcer and also the interpreter at post-game press-conferences. And, naturally, we had all these guys, the Esposito brothers, Bobby Hull, Gordy Howe, and then also the Russian stars, the big names, Maltsev, Yakushev, Tretyak, whom I consider the best goal-keeper in all the times. There never will be a series like this in ice-hockey anywhere at an international level." You'll probably be surprised, like I was, to hear that in his youth Carl Watts was a pilot. "When I was at school – this was during the war years – we had to join some kind of cadets," Carl Watts says speaking about his school years. "Somebody joined the army cadets, naval cadets and that. And I joined the Royal Canadian Air Cadets. I wanted to become maybe a fighter pilot, but didn't turn out. I served up to be a flight sergeant. We had a uniform. We had square-bashing, marching. We had parades, and we also had classes in flying. My mum and dad signed a paper to say that, if anything happened to me, they won't hold them responsible. I didn't have to pay anything. This was free of charge. A very beautiful plane, and I remember the take-off with the instructor, right turn, left turn, we pick up the speed and the height. I think it was five or six hours with the instructor, and he said, "How do you feel?" I said, "OK". We made a landing, and he said, "How do you feel?" And I said, "OK". "So, you want to take it up by yourself?" I said, "OK. I'll try". I made just one flight around the aerodrome. I landed, and, naturally, I got congratulations. And after that I treated everybody to Coca-Cola." Another interesting fact in Carl's biography is that later he became a Soviet Army officer. A pilot in the Canadian Royal Air Cadets and an officer in the Soviet Army. Isn't that an unusual combination? "When we studied at the Institute of Foreign Languages, there were army classes. In the summertime we had to go to a summer camp, do all kinds of square-bashing and marching, all kinds of physical exercises. And then we got the rank, and I became a Senior Lieutenant in the Soviet Armed Forces. And then I had to leave, because I was over-age. I don't think many people can pride that they were a pilot in the Royal Air Cadets and an officer in the Soviet Army. If they are, I'd like to meet them." It was in Canada that Carl and his brother George finished high school. After graduation George became a student of McMaster University in Hamilton, and Carl went to work at a factory. He felt that thus he could help his brother receive a university education. But things changed pretty soon, as their father decided to come back to the USSR with his family and filed an application to the Soviet Embassy in Ottawa. "That was way back in 1948, and he said he wanted to come back to the USSR to help the country," Carl Watts recalls. "He said he had two sons, and maybe we could do something. And we received information – only in 1951 – that we were granted permission to come back, that is for my parents to come back. For my brother and I that was the first time coming here. He received permission, and at the beginning of March 1952 we left Canada for the USSR." The family settled in the Eastern Ukraine. Although Carl and George knew Russian from their younger years, it wasn't up to par, so they went to school in the evening and worked during the daytime. After their Soviet school course was over, the two Canadian brothers were taken on to the Leningrad Institute of Foreign Languages. A few months later they transferred to the Translator's Faculty of Moscow's Institute of Foreign Languages. Both of them wanted to work with the language, and so it happened, for they soon joined Radio Moscow. "When we transferred from Leningrad to Moscow, just before the World Youth and Students Festival in 1957, there were a lot of very experienced people working at Radio Moscow," Carl Watts recalls. "And they heard about those two Canadians. They invited us to Radio Moscow and said, "Would you, boys, like to do some work, some interviews and that?" I remember they gave us a tape recorder that was as heavy as hell. I remember the USSR-USA track-and-field meets. We used to go to the stadium and after the meets interviewed the athletes – the Soviets and the Americans. We did all kind of interviews, on-the-spot recordings and evening like that. This was all in the time we were still studying. Upon graduation in 1959 we had a standing invitation to come to the radio. I was taken on as a broadcaster and announcer, and my brother was taken on as a translator. And so, we began to work here at that time, in 1959." It was also at the radio that Carl met his wife. That romantic story began with a paper clip. "The English and the French translators were in one and the same room," Carl recalls. "We had to come in and pick up the material. I came in this room and saw this very beautiful young girl. I tried to attract her attention but didn't know how to do it. So, I took the paper clip and threw it into her typewriter. We got to talk to each other. She was very nice. I asked her out. I said, "I've got a brother. Have you got a girl-friend so that we can go out together, the four of us?" And she said, "Yes, I have a girl friend." They sat at the same desk right through primary school. Galya is her name. And so, the four of us began to go out. That was in 1959. And in March 1961 my brother married Galya, and in April 1961 I got married to my wife, Maka. And so, we've been happily married ever since. The main thing is that they're good women and good wives. We go on vacation sometimes – the four of us together. We spend two weeks together. We come home, we just put our suitcases by, and my wife picks up the phone: "Galya, I forgot to tell you something…" Our kids and grandchildren are also very close friends. That is something fantastic, and I'm very proud that now only our wives have been friends for 44 years, but our kids and our grandchildren too." Carl Watts has been a broadcaster for over forty years now. "In my younger days I used to do simultaneous interpretation," Carl Watts goes on to say recalling his work at the radio. "I used to interpret some "pretty big names". The first one was Minister of Culture Furtseva, and then Primakov, Gorbachev, and others names. Although you feel that you know the language, but still your knees are shaking. And, after it's all over, you feel good." http://english.ruvr.ru/radio_broadcast/2248834/2316467/index.html And here's a brief write-up from 2009: Carl Watts came to Radio Moscow in 1959. He is a born radio announcer, what with his beautiful, velvety voice and natural broadcasting flair. "Back then we were all so young," recalls Carl, "and we had no radio experience at all. However, we were all full of enthusiasm, we longed to work, wanted to prove to ourselves just what we were capable of. But most importantly, we had excellent mentors, such as Joe Adamov, Anetta Setyaeva, Olga Manevskaya, Eddie Ruderman, Bernard Cooper, Annabelle Buchar, Nick Kurnakov, and many others. Carl Watts has long since become a `visiting card' of the English language broadcasts of the Voice of Russia. In fact, he was the one to open the very first programme of the World Service broadcasts in English in October 1978. "I recall that when the world service first went on the air, all car radios in Moscow were tuned to our radio station," recalls Carl. "That was October 3, 1978. I was on the shift that day, and we knew that we were going live and open the World Service of Radio Moscow. Before that we'd been broadcasting to the United States and Canada, to Africa, to South-East Asia. And then a decision was adopted to reform all these services into one. And this is how the World Service began. I was asked to read the news, and, naturally, I was pretty nervous – I wanted it to make it sound good. When we started broadcasting, the first letters from our listeners said, "Well, now we know that there're actual human beings working on Radio Moscow", because we made mistakes, we coughed, we excused ourselves and so on and so forth. It was a great day!" Source: http://english.ruvr.ru/radio_broadcast/2248140 More stories about other Radio Moscow's broadcasters/editors there. And note the link to three special broadcasts in case you missed them http://english.ruvr.ru/2009/09/07/278356.html VoR's link about Carl's passing: http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/01/09/39146329.html (Sergei S., dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DX LISTENING DIGEST) obit Dear Glenn: Here is a message sent by The Voice Of Russia with an invitation to tune in to a special "Moscow Mailbag", a tribute to The Late Carl Watts. Enjoy! 73's, Noble at BMSS, TN, DXLD Thank you for your letter, it was nice to hear from you again after such a long time and know that you keep tuning in. We very much appreciate your sending your condolences on Carl Watts’ demise. Tonight we will air a tribute program dedicated to Carl and invite you to listen to it on Moscow Mailbag, the program Carl had been co-hosting for so many years. Wishing you good listening and looking forward to hearing from you soon again. Sincerely yours, Elena Osipova Letters Department World Service Voice of Russia (via Noble West, TN, Jan 12, dxldyg via DXLD) Available to listen and download here http://english.ruvr.ru/radio_broadcast/2248880/39623015/index.html http://english.ruvr.ru/data/2011/01/13/1271569333/MB_13_01_11.mp3 Regards (Harry Brooks, North East England UK, ibid.) Quotes letters of condolence from Noble West, Maryanne Kehoe. BTW, new host of Moscow Mailbag is Max Gorbachev – any relation? (gh) ** RUSSIA [non]. Inizio delle trasmissioni della Voce della Russia su Ondamedia BROADCAST A partire dal 18 Gennaio Ondamedia BROADCAST trasmettera' in esclusiva per l'Italia la replica del programma in italiano della Voce della Russia alle 0900 e alle 1300 ora locale. Come previsto dall'Accordo di Collaborazione e Scambio Culturale Radiofonico sottoscritto dalle due emittenti, oltre alla ritrasmissione in Italia del programma nella nostra lingua, si realizzeranno altre produzioni radiofoniche, sia in Italia che in Russia, per la reciproca emissione. Invitiamo quindi Enti, Associazioni ed Imprese interessate a partecipare attivamente allo scambio culturale italo-russo cui e' stato dedicato l'Anno 2011, a proporre iniziative di produzione radiofonica attinenti l'incrocio delle due culture (via Roberto Scaglione, Sicily, Jan 11, shortwave yg via DXLD) WTFK?? ** RUSSIA [non]. Voice of Russia --- on MW in English? Apparently so, if you're living in greater NYC. WNSW / 1430 AM / Newark, NJ recently switched from Spanish language programming to the Voice of Russia; no mention if 24/7 or just part of the day. 5000 watts, directional at night. Couldn't hear them on MW on my E-1 using its internal antenna at 1555 UT. Updating -- Voice of Russia website states it's 24/7 -- not just on WNSW but also in Washington, DC, on AM 1390. Source: Northeast Radio Watch / Scott Fybush, http://www.fybush.com/nerw.html Also http://english.ruvr.ru/2010/10/01/23541245.html (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA Jan 10, NASWA yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DXLD) The Voice Of Russia's English service is currently being broadcast in the NYC area on 1430 WNSW. Read about this in Scott Fybush's NE Radio Watch. Just tuned in to it (UT 2145) here at Bethpage, Long Island, New York and it was coming in as well as the shortwave broadcasts usually come in (PeterTheRock, Jan 10, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. 6075, R. Rossii via Pet/Kam, Jan 11 at 1358 mostly motorboating, but some music audible underneath to 1400 6-pip timesignal, 5 seconds late, and carrier stayed on until 1401* as no 8GAL came thru on 6074 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. FORMER RUSSIAN TELEVISION HOST DESCRIBES PRESENT RUSSIAN TELEVISION NEWS. Posted: 10 Jan 2011 RFE/RL Transmission blog, 10 Jan 2011, Andy Heil: "Must-see viewing for anyone with even a passing interest in Russia or the muzzling of the free press. It's Leonid Parfenov -- a popular former NTV host who was fired in June 2004 for violating his employment agreement, which obligated him 'to support the company leadership' -- speaking at a ceremony for an award named after slain journalist Vladislav Listyev. He ... [indicts] a situation in which Russia's political leadership serves as puppetmaster and independent media are ruthlessly extirpated." Parfenov, from the video, describing Russian television news: "Reports are replaced by protocol shootings from the Kremlin, reporter's intonation sounds supportive of the officials and basic broadcasting models are about showing the country's leader receiving a minister or a governor, the leader reaching out for the masses or conducting a summit with a colleague from abroad." (kimandrewelliott,com via DXLD) ** RWANDA. 6055, 2051, R. Rwanda, SINPO 45544, with music (21 Dec, Bahir Dar). 1850 R. Rwanda in French, SINPO 44544 (29 December, Arba Minch). (Robertas Pogorelis, visiting Ethiopia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAMOA AMERICAN. According to some six meter Pacific DX types, channel 2 in Pago Pago continues to operate analog(ue): KVZK(TV) 55.2496 [1.4 Hz below standard video carrier frequency] (Bob Cooper in NZ, Jan 7, WTFDA via WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DXLD) Hi Bob, The Aussies have been getting it in quite a bit. KVZK operates under the authority of the U.S. Dept. of the Interior, and not the FCC, so it was exempt from the DTV transition (Curtis Sadowski, IL, WORLD OF RADIO 1547, ibid.) Curtis - understood BUT the two commercial stations in Pago Pago have been digital for some time (Bob Cooper, via Curtis, WORLD OF RADIO 1547, ibid.) Bob, Wikipedia says that as long as KVZK is run by the Government of American Samoa, the station is under the authorization granted them in 1964. All stations placed on the air since them are under FCC authority. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KVZK-2 (Curtis Sadowski, ibid.) Do a search for KVZK in the FCC CDBS database. You won't find it. The station is not licensed by the FCC (which is legal, if it's authorized by some other branch of the federal government. Note that the military AFRTS stations aren't in CDBS either. Same reason: they're authorized by the Defense Department, not the FCC.) (Doug Smith W9WI Pleasant View, TN EM66, ibid.) From my work dealings with the US govt, I believe that these stations are licensed by the NTIA - the equivalent of the FCC for federal government radio & TV stations, and listed in their top secret frequency database. NOAA Weather Radio is listed in this database as well. Although you won't find this database anywhere, their "redbook" of general frequency assignments is online here... http://www.ntia.doc.gov/osmhome/redbook/redbook.html ITU's IFL [International Frequency List], which does list some NTIA entries, has KVZK's city of licence as "Mount Alava" -14 16 -170 41 38020 watts h. On air date Oct 5, 1964. -- (William R Hepburn (VEM3ONT22), Grimsby ON CAN 43 10 59.4 -79 33 34.5, http://dxinfocentre.com/hepburn/ ibid.) A job for WikiLeaks? ;-) (Saul Chernos, ibid.) Jan10 06:13 UT, KVZK-2 from American Samoa at S9. Audio also in. Not bad for 1700 miles on my 10 element LPY that covers 40-60 MHz. - ZL1RS RF64 (TV-FM Skip log via DXLD) ** SARAWAK [non]. 6205, R. Free Sarawak via Tajikistan: Jan 01 *1200-1214, 43433 Iban, 1200 sign on with ID, Opening announce, Talk. Jan 02 *1200-1211, 33433-34443, Iban, 1200 sign on with opening announce, ID, Talk. Jan 03 *1200-1221, 32432-43443, Iban, 1200 sign on with opening announce, ID, Talk and music. Jan 06 *1200-1227, 44444-44433, Iban, 1200 sign on with IS, ID, Opening announce, Talk (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan, Japan Premium Jan 7 via WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DXLD) CLANDESTINE, 6205, R. Free Sarawak, 1214-1252 Jan 2. Presumed the one with talks in presumed Bahasa Malaysia on this date and others (when I'm up that early). Fair signal at best but noisy band keeps readability down. CLANDESTINE, 7590, R. Free Sarawak has not returned to frequency yet in the 2230[-2330] time slot per checks on Jan 4 and 5 (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge, Colorado, Drake R-8, 100-foot RW, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) Logs for 7-1-11 while reading fast latest two DXLDs in my e-book!! 7590, R F Sarawak was vacant in that frequency. Logs for 8-11: 15420, R F Sarawak heard in a very poor signal on 1035, that was zero signal even with preamp on! (carrier could only be traced using SSB) Same time, VoM 15295 was about S3-4 though RFI [15300] with powerhouse signal S20 was damaging their reception. Later at 1206, RFS can be heard on 6205 (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, R75, 2x16 m H antenna and always with m@h40 [sic] Sennheiser head[phone]s, WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also MALAYSIA 6205, R. Free Sarawak, 1241, Jan 11. In vernacular; song in English (“Tequila Sunrise”); 1245 series of “Radio Free Sarawak” IDs; monologue; ID and “Bye bye” before 1300 sign off; almost fair. Thanks to Bruce Churchill for the suggestion to catch this one while they are still here (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Clandestine --- Radio Free Sarawak confirmed my reception of the station/program on 15680 with a very simple QSL-card and a letter from Erwin Zbinden, Documentation, Bruno Manser Fonds, Socinstrasse 37, CH- 4051 Basel, Switzerland. The station started on November 16 2010. Website: http://www.freesarawakreport.org (Björn Fransson, Gotland, Sweden, Jan 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15680 was via PALAU, now 15420 ** SAUDI ARABIA. Saudi Arabian Radio was received on 549, 648, 999 and 1521 kHz. On 648 and 1521 kHz at 1842 UT I heard multiple IDs as “Al Maujaatil FM”, followed by frequency announcements (Robertas Pogorelis, visiting Ethiopia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAUDI ARABIA(?). 9556, 1945, UNID in Arabic, SINPO 33443. Mention of "Al Najar". 20 December, Bahir Dar (Robertas Pogorelis, visiting Ethiopia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAUDI ARABIA. 15250, BSKSA Riyadh, 1221-1235*, Jan 3, English / Arabic. W announcer with program credits; pop/dance music at 1222; EE ID s/off announcement at 1229; Arabic at 1230 with M announcer and call to prayer; announcer at 1235 then pulled the plug; fair-poor (Scott R. Barbour Jr. Intervale, N.H. USA, NRD-545, MLB-1, 200' Beverages, 60m dipole, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SIKKIM. 4835.0, AIR Gangtok, test tone 0054 to 0058, IS to 0100 Singing NA (?) by chorus till 0101, then ID, short announcement, and into Indian music with flute, female voice and other instruments. This all despite WWCR coming on at 0059:30 on 4840. Heard till 0108 when music on WWCR just too much! This very similar to what was heard yesterday starting at 0117 on AIR Srinagar on 4950. Can anyone verify this is their NA by a singing chorus as noted above? (Jim Young, Wrightwood, CA, IC-756ProIII + 40M yagi and antenna tuner, NASWA yg via DXLD) posted at 0147 UT Jan 8, presumably right after log (gh) Hi Jim, Very nice to catch the AIR Gangtok sign on! Imagine it is about the same format as we both have heard on 4950 (R. Kashmir/AIR Srinagar). They play "Vande Mataram" after the AIR IS. It is a national song, but not their National Anthem. The NA is normally only played when their president is making a nation wide speech via AIR (eve of Independence Day, etc.). Here are two sites to listen to: Vande Mataram (sounding just as heard on AIR): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g8nQuX8dUg&feature=related National Anthem: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dQfQq_Qxyk&feature=related Hope this helps (Ron Howard, CA, ibid.) ** SLOVAKIA. Radio Slovakia International, 31 December 2010 from 1930 to 2000 UT on 5915 kHz. Program centered around special Parliamentary Election coverage, followed by sports news. Then a detailed reenactment of the shooting which took place in Bratislava on Monday (27 December) by a lone gunman with an assault rifle, taking the lives of 8 people, including himself. At 1957, a male announcer said “Goodbye,” but no mention that this was the last day of SWBC’s from Radio Slovakia International. ID at 2000: “You are listening to the Foreign Service of Radio Slovakia International.” So goes another voice on the shortwaves; this one departing at a young age at that (Ed Insinger, Summit, NJ, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Look out for piece of real estate of TOWERCOM in Slovak Republic ? ... Google Search: for example: see pages 5-9 - Vajnorska, Bratislava-Nove Mesto, Slovak Republic da stehen 3 Masten herum, lokaler Ersatzsender fuer alle Notfaelle gewesen? 48 10 59.89 N 17 10 13.45 E see PDF pages 10-17 - Velke Kostolany - der Haupteingang zum Gebaeude das war noch Architektur! - Respekt -, angelehnt an die Mussolini Bauten in Rom, Bozen anderswo, aber auch bei Radio Monte Carlo RMC Gebaeude von 1947, - auf der TWR Monaco QSL zu sehen. see page 16 - eight Rhombic Antennas, according Google Earth/Maps like six rhombics on the left side of the area 235/055 180m 48 31 18.30 N 17 43 24.61 E 235/055deg 260 m 48 31 15.60 N 17 43 24.92 E 145/225deg 220m 48 31 07.93 N 17 43 22.02 E 125/205deg 120 m 48 31 05.42 N 17 43 20.42 E 125/205deg 250m 48 31 02.00 N 17 43 19.58 E 145/225deg 120m 48 30 58.38 N 17 43 16.07 E on the right - outer - side of the area 010/190deg 120m 48 31 06.14 N 17 43 35.63 E 073/253deg 140m 48 30 53.20 N 17 43 26.70 E Probably 6055 / 7345 non-dir antenna at 48 31 11.79 N 17 43 25.93 E two MW antennas at 48 31 12.99 N 17 43 34.28 E 48 30 55.59 N 17 43 23.43 E Sehr guter Signaleffekt - breitbandig, obwohl das keine hochklassigen Vorhangantennen sind. Die CSSR ist damit gut gefahren. Die Reichspost hatte ja in Muenchen Ismaning auch nur Rhombicantennen zu Kriegsende, und die hat die VOA bis 1990 weiter benutzt. Ich habe mal Google Earth ausgemessen, die Winkel und die Laengen, die Pols sind noch schoen zu sehen. In der Mitte steht auch noch ein aehnliche Rundstrahlantenne wie in Litomysl, wurde wohl ueber Jahrzehnte auf 6055 und 7345 non-dir benutzt. Ich hoere heute noch die Fucikfanfare und den Akzent vom Hobbyonkel Frantisek Saicek im Ohr (Wolfgang Büschel, Jan 5, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 9 via DXLD) ** SOLOMON ISLANDS. 5019.874, 6.1 0900, tentative SIBS with carrier. Weak audio but not enough to get an ID. Way below what we were used to from last season. Also the same day at 1905 and a little stronger signal (Thomas Nilsson, Sweden, SW Bulletin Jan 9 via DXLD) ** SOMALIA [non]. 15750, R. Bar-Kulan via Dhabbaya UAE, Jan 02 *0500- 0511 35433 Somali, 0500 sign on with opening announce, SJ, Koran, ID, Talk (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan, Japan Premium Jan 7 via DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. 17580, new frequency for Brother Scare, very poor Jan 8 at 1443. Not synch with WWCR 9980 but discussing same subjects; I waste a few minutes trying to tell which is ahead of the other and by how much, but 17580 is too weak to catch keywords. This is not in latest HFCC, nor EiBi, nor Aoki, but surely the latest change in Germany, perhaps starting today. It is, however, on the Overcomer`s own but always undated SW schedule ftp page, as to Europe, daily at 9-10 am from somewhere (nowhere?) = 14-15 UT. It also says 9460 daily at 9-11 am = 14-16 UT is from ``UK``, while this is already listed in HFCC et al. as Wertachtal. The only other unattributed one is 13810 also daily at 9-10 am, which is Nauen per HFCC. TOM still doesn`t show the WWRB and WWCR frequencies in sequence, nor with accurate times, zone not specified either but surely EST = UT -5: Claims WWRB 3145 is ``all night`` while really it`s only 9 pm-midnight per WWRB`s own schedule, = 0200-0500 UT, I think. TOM says 3215 is 6- 10 pm = 2300-0300 UT, a one-hour overlap disparity. TOM also has the hours on WWCR wrong, ``8 am-10 pm`` on 9980 = 13-03 UT, and ``10 pm-8 am`` on 5890 = 03-13 UT, while it`s currently 12-02 on 9980, 02-12 on 9980. 13810, Jan 9 at 1411, Brother Scare is still here via GERMANY, // weaker new 17580, but not precisely synchronized, a reverb apart. If 13810 is Nauen, 17580 may be Wertachtal. 9460 // 13810 // 17580, or almost so within a few millisex, with slight reverb among them, carrying Brother Scare, Jan 12 at 1507 after criticising gospel huxters all over SW who claim to know the date J.C. will be backcoming in May, thinly veiled reference to Harold Camping. I suppose 17580 replace 17485 where no longer heard; that had been HFCC-scheduled 15-16 via Wertachtal, while 9460 and 13810 are 14-16 via Wertachtal, Nauen, respectively. Does this correlate with the SW sked at TOM, curiously as an ftp?? No, claims 9460 is 9-11 am, 13810 is 9-10 am, and 17580 is 9-10 am, i.e. EST, so at 1507 UT the two higher ones should be off! BS doesn`t even know the correct times of his own broadcasts (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also U S A: WTJC/WWRB ** SPAIN. España: LA GUIA DE LA RADIO EN ESPAÑA - Edición 2010 Por 17º año, ya está disponible la nueva edición de LA GUIA DE LA RADIO EN ESPAÑA. La edición de 2010 tiene un volumen de 1,85 Gb, frente a los 1,45 Gb de la edición anterior. En esta edición encontraremos fichas de las MÁS DE 6.000 emisoras existentes, entendiendo por emisora cada una de las frecuencias utilizadas. MÁS DE 1.500 Jingles, videos, etc... . En cada ficha y dependiendo de la información disponible, encontraremos: - Nombre, Logotipo y Frecuencias - Dirección postal, Teléfonos y Fax - Página web y correos electrónicos - Indicativo oficial y cadena o tipo de emisora - Potencia, Centro emisor, texto en RDS - Equipo directivo - Horarios de emisión local y conexiones - Breve reseña histórica y política de QSL - Programación - Fotos, Jingles y Videos ... y todo ello desde las grandes cadenas a las pequeñas emisoras comunitarias o escolares. Las búsquedas puedes realizarse por provincias o por cadenas. Esta edición incluye además como novedades: - El Plan Técnico Nacional de 2006 con las futuras concesiones. - Listado de todas las emisoras ordenadas por frecuencia. - Archivo en Excel preparado para mailings adaptable a cualquier necesidad. - Resumen del EGM de 2009. Más información en: http://www.guiadelaradio.com/laradio.html (via Yimber Gaviria, Colombia, playdx yg via DXLD) Is on DVD-rom, 25 Euro in Spain, via PayPal, costs vary (gh, DXLD) ** SPAIN. 4675 (transmitter spur?) REE, Noblejas, 2224-, 09 Jan, Castilian to Africa (via 7265), interviews on Afghan film makers; 34343; not parallel to other REE frequencies, just 7265 (Carlos Gonçalves - PORTUGAL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Calculation: Another frequency on the air then is 11940, and 11940 minus 7265 = 4675 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGST) ** SPAIN. 9780 drm, REE Noblejas digital transmission, Spanish at 0830 UT Jan 2. ID=4711. S=9+30 dB, SNR 13 up to peak at 22.1 dB. Program of "Murcianos emigrantes en Argentina y Manitoba", Noticias regionales. \\ 13720 kHz in AM mode on very same S=9+30 dB level. 9780 drm, REE Noblejas digital transmission, Spanish at 0835 UT Jan 4. ID=4711. S=9+30dB, SNR up to peak at 22.0 dB. History report of American rock band 'The Doors' in 1968 etc. REE in DRM mode has the best beautiful and phantastic digital sound on shortwave on 31 meterband (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 9 via WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DXLD) [and non]. 9765, via COSTA RICA, Jan 6 at 1333, REE without Basque, which I know I noticed during this semihour only a day or two ago; instead, Castilian with ``Sexto Continente`` program talking about winners of a cuento-concurso. Maybe this was just fill for a holiday the Basques had off, Día de Reyes/Epifanía del Señor. BTW, are the Basques just as Catholic as the rest of Spain? 1343 went by next Cariari frequency 11815, and still in Spanish. And too at 1351 when my bandscan reaches 17595, which is REE direct from Noblejas. This signal is really a standout, strong and clear even when nothing much else is making it from Europe on 15 or 17 MHz. I gather that ``Sexto Continente`` refers to the imaginary ``Hispanoamérica`` landmass with a big salt-water body in the middle: http://www.rtve.es/podcast/radio-exterior/sexto-continente/ 9605, Jan 6 at 2048, sillyballgame coverage by announcer so enthusiastic I am not sure of language, but hear bits of Spanish mixed with French, then away from the stadium to French talk, so it`s REE`s direct French service M-F at 20-21; considerable ACI from RCI 9610 in Arabic. 11780, trying to detect the Sephardic service from REE to S America, UT Tuesdays only at 0115-0145: Jan 11 at 0122, dominant RNA Brasil does have some weak co-channel interference making a SAH, both of them talking at the moment. If Brasil were in music, could not have detected REE. Nothing audible on 11795, REE`s alternate frequency, where it should obviously be to avoid such a collision. 17595, Tuesday Jan 11 at 1342, REE is back in Basque after having been replaced by Castilian on Jan 6, for Xmas? With ETA`s latest `cease- fire`, it should have been interesting to monitor if one could understand it, scheduled M-F at 1330 on this and several other frequencies. May we assume that when REE speaks Basque, even originating from Bilbao, it is objective, or pro-central government, anti-ETA? 17850, REE via COSTA RICA, just as I tuned in Jan 11, ``muy buenas tardes``, beep and cut carrier at odd time of 2222* (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPRATLY ISLANDS. DXØDX POSTPONEMENT --- Jan. 12, 2011 – 0506 GMT To the DX Community at large - It’s with regret that as Team Leader, I have to announce the postponement of the DXØDX Spratly Islands DXpedition 2011, due to circumstances beyond the control of the DXØDX Team. Our situation began when our original mode of transport by ship was terminally damaged back in late October 2010. We then went to our contingency plan which was to fly in, as there were no ships deemed to be safe and provided facilities for safe passage to Pag-Asa, available. We hand landing permission and booked the correct sized aircraft and with the security cleared pilots. To simplify it, there was conflicting agreements and hence the aircraft could not get approval of its flight plan. The bottom line is this. We have a licence, we have authority to land via ship, hence when the ship becomes available in the near future, it is my intention to activate this entity in 2011. The team has worked tirelessly to remove the hurdles that were placed before the team in the last minute. As time was running out for this window of opportunity, and before more operators become stuck here in Palawan, the decision was made to postpone the activation. A call was placed to PARA advising them that a postponement of the activation would be sought to a date in in the near future, where the activation will look at again taking place. All equipment will need to be exported out of Philippines to comply with current Philippine Customs Law in which it was brought into the country. The plan is to be re-assessed so the current operators have the first opportunity to be on this future trip. Once more information is at hand, I will advise the DX Community. Regards Chris de VK3FY Team Leader DXØDX (from http://www.dx0dx.net/ via gh, WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DXLD) Despite the date on the top of this announcement, we found it five hours earlier at 0015 UT Jan 12! (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SRI LANKA. 11905, SLBC/Radio Ceylon assumed the one noted briefly underneath Polish Radio at 1622 with Ceylonese vocals. Either off or faded out at 1627 re-check. Very poor, Jan 8 (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening lakeside in my car before and during local sunrise, with Eton E1 and AN1 active antenna on car roof, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SRI LANKA. 'LTTE RADIO EQUIPMENT WORRIED INDIA' Sutirtho Patranobis, Hindustan Times Colombo, January 07, 2011 First Published: 18:11 IST(7/1/2011) Last Updated: 18:09 IST(8/1/2011) 31 Comments http://www.hindustantimes.com/Radio-equipment-for-LTTE-by-SL-worried-India/Article1-647447.aspx India had expressed concerns after the Sri Lankan government imported radio equipment from Norway for supplying to the separatist Tamil Tigers, a new US cable leaked by Wikileaks has revealed. The secret cable sent by the US Embassy in Colombo claimed that the United National Party (UNP), which was in power in 2002, had requested and received radio equipment which was then handed over to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) through the government departments. The equipment was meant for LTTE's radio channel, Voice of the Tigers (VoT), broadcast out of areas under control of the rebels. "The equipment in question was brought into Colombo harbor last month in a shipping container. Because the consignment was for the Norwegian Embassy, no duty was paid. The Norwegian Embassy has confirmed that it turned the consignment over to the GSL's (government of Sri Lanka) Peace Secretariat, which then passed the items over to the LTTE with the assistance of the Defense Ministry," the cable - leaked to the Oslo-based Aftenposten newspaper, explained. The incident had worried India because New Delhi was apprehensive that the radio broadcast could reach Tamil Nadu and other parts of South India. "The Indian government reportedly has expressed concerns to the GSL that the equipment will allow LTTE broadcasts to reach Tamil Nadu. It is not clear what range the new equipment will allow the VoT to have," the cable said, adding "the station has broadcast some pretty bloodcurdling stuff in the past, including salutes to the LTTE´s terrorist acts." Colombo defended the move, saying that by helping the LTTE in getting advance radio equipment, it was successful in bringing the VoT under government regulations and that the rebels would have anyway smuggled the equipment into the country. Norway tried to deflect the controversy by saying that it was helping the peace process. However the Government of Norway "(GoN) only agreed to help if the equipment was provided to the (Sri Lankan) Peace Secretariat -- and not directly to the LTTE," the cable added (via Alokesh Gupta, dx_sasia yg via DXLD) ** SUDAN. AUDIOCLIP: IL SUDAN SU 765 kHz. Dopo la disattivazione del TX svizzero di Sottens sulla frequenza dei 765 KHz si è ascoltata per circa mezz'ora la radio anzionale del Sudan con un buon segnale. La clip audio è disponibile sul link: http://blog.libero.it/radioascolto/9737601.html 73's (Francesco Cecconi, Italy, 9 Jan, playdx yg via DXLD) see SWITZ ** SUDAN. Sudanese R. in Arabic was received on 963 kHz (SINPO 33333) and 1296 kHz (SINPO 43443) at about 1832 UT. 22 December, Gonder. 7200, 1850, R. Omdurman in Arabic was heard every day in the evenings on 7200 kHz, best SINPO 44544 in north Ethiopia. Undermodulated signal (Robertas Pogorelis, visiting Ethiopia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN [non]. "SUDAN" - 11615, R. Dabanga, 1638-1702 Jan 1. Talks in Arabic; phone-ins; singing ID's at 1659, followed by Arabic talk. Good signal (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge, Colorado, Drake R-8, 100-foot RW, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** SUDAN [non]. 17745, Sudan Radio Service via Portugal, 1636-1657*, Jan 8 (Saturday). Excellent coverage, all in English, regarding the start of tomorrow`s elections; many different people interviewed for their opinion about the referendum to determine the independence for southern Sudan; comments from various officials; promo/dramatization wanting people to vote during the seven days of the elections; 1650 started music segment with patriotic songs in English (“War Child” and “Freedom”); suddenly off in mid-song; many “S-R-S” IDs, as well as the full “Sudan Radio Service”. Would imagine Sunday will also see a continuation of this outstanding coverage in English. Thanks again to Glenn for his reminder in WOR about this station (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Sudan Radio Service also has a website with audio available; the most recent audio appears to be from Friday, however. Text-based news does appear to be freshly updated, however. Check out http://www.sudanradio.org/ (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, NASWA yg via DXLD) Referendum day Jan 9: SRS 17745 via Portugal had some English clips at 1613+, but voiced over in Arabic. From 1629 it seems to be fully in English, starting with contact info, US AID sponsorship. Thanks to Ron Howard for finding the correct English segment time 1630 on Sat; WRTH listed as 1730 on other frequencies as I mentioned on WOR 1546. Should be equally interesting subsequent days with results of referendum, aftermath. At first, reception here is OK, holding own against El Hugazo via CUBA on 17750, in use Sundays only. Recorded SRS for later attentive playback. O o, at *1642, VOA GB carrier on 17740 squeezes it tightly prior to 1700 Portuguese. 1644 tone test briefly, but mostly OC from IBB. SRS seems off by 1657, maybe a bit earlier. 17745, Sudan Radio Service via PORTUGAL, checked again Jan 10 at 1630, but not in English unlike Sunday Jan 9. Periodically punxuated by drums (talking?). At least there is no ACI from CUBA on weekdays, and GB is not yet on 17740. 1643 did hear an English expression ``available through loan``, 1650 mostly music. Meanwhile VOA 17740 carrier had come on, with some ACI, but much stronger from 1655, as SRS was about over. Listening to my Jan 9 tape when SRS was in English, around 1632 had clip of president of S.S., and heavily-accented interviews with others. Has anyone heard of a planned or proposed name for the new country, other than Southern Sudan? How about Jubaland. It already has NASWA`s blessing as a radio country (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn: Here is a handy link to Wikipedia explaining more about Jubaland: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jubaland 73's, (Noble West, BMSS, DXLDYG via DXLD) Unfortunately, that Jubaland is/was the southwesternmost part of SOMALIA, so the name is already taken (gh, DXLD) ** SUDAN SOUTHERN. Voting is going on currently to determine if the southern portion of Sudan will become separate and independent of the Khartoum administration. It is considered likely that the referendum results will approve of independence. As there is/are/was/were shortwave broadcasting operation(s) in this region, the NASWA Country List Committee already has decided that if and when independence actually occurs, that the new entity, whatever its name turns out to be, will be added to the list as a new radio country. Given how many radio countries are going silent, will be a pleasure to be able to add a new one (Don Jensen, Chair, NASWA CLC, Jan 9, NASWA yg via DXLD) ** SWEDEN. Some notes about the Hörby and Sölvesborg transmitters have been posted here: http://forum.mysnip.de/read.php?8773,848627,870359,sv=1#msg-870359 Summary: The shortwave transmitters are for sale, but there is not much demand for them. The Sölvesborg transmitter will be sold for spare parts or as scrap metal, since it is almost 26 years old and the modulator tube is no longer in production. The Hörby transmitter site staff had learned about the closure from the newspapers; SR has not talked with Teracom about it. A certain manager from SR is blamed for having made a solitary decision here. Comment: The statement about the shortwave transmitters that are "zu verkaufen" = for sale could be unclear and mean airtime on these transmitters. However, the posting closes with the remark "why not keeping Hörby and Sölvesborg as museum", which seems to indicate that indeed the equipment is supposed to go away. Remarkable is also the statement about modulator tubes for the S 4006 transmitter at Sölvesborg being no longer available. In all likelihood the S 4005 shortwave transmitter uses the very same tube (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Jan 12, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWITZERLAND [non]. Re 11-01, now that Sottens is off 765: Received this from Patrick Robic, Austria, 4/1: I could identify the following stations on January 3rd between 1600- 2200 UT on 765 kHz: Radio Beograd 1 (SRB), SRTC Omdurman (SDN), IRIB External Service in Arabic (IRN), IRIB Radio Iran (IRN - 764.67 kHz), BSKSA Qur´an Programme (ARS). And from Adam Birchenall, G 5/1: I have also heard a weak Arabic signal on 765 at around 2330 UT, on the 2nd jan 2011, I think it was BSKSA (ARS) Happy New Year and good dxing (Ydun Ritz, Denmark, Jan 5, http://www.mediumwave.info MWCircle yg via DXLD) Anyone hearing anything else? (Paul Logan, UK, ibid.) Hi, I would like to add what I can hear here in the middle of Europe beside the stations mentioned: BBC Essex (esp. in the morning) Radio Rossii, Petrozavodsk What I have not heard yet: SRTC Omdurman (SDN) What is inactive: Radio Maiak (UKR) - heard with a strong signal in the first half of December, still under the RSR loop. No signal now (Karel Honzik, CZECHIA, Jan 6, ibid.) Hear also: SUDAN Hi Karel, I just got confirmation from Ukraine that Petrivka on 765 kHz is indeed still active. However, their power output is now probably a lot lower than the 40 kW my EMWG mentions. 73 (Herman Boel, Jan 11, MWCircle yg via DXLD) Hi Herman, thanks for your information. In the first half of December I heard a strong signal of Radio Maiak, Petrivka, UKR on 765 kHz competing with the strong RSR loop. The UKR signal was booming in the background or it was even dominating esp. in the afternoon. I have it recorded. Between December 10-29 I was in the city and I could not check the band. When I returned to my DX location in the country at the end of December, the signal was missing and it did not return on the air before January 7, when I left the place again. I was checking the 765 channel many times a day during that period, because it was a newly emptied frequency since January 1 and I was anxious to hear possible DX stations that could appear there. I am sure that the UKR TX was not operating unless it reduced its power to units of Watts (Karel Honzik, CZECHIA, ibid.) ** SWITZERLAND [and non]. Austria/Germany --- Radio Gloria Switzerland, transmitting via Kall, Germany confirmed my reception with a personal letter from Peter Galliker. He promised me to send a QSL card by ordinary mail. The transmitter is 1 kW and what I heard was a test transmission on January 1st 2011. On 18th or 20th of January Radio Gloria will start transmissions on medium wave, 1566 kHz, from central Switzerland, with a power of 250 watts. These are test transmissions during one month. Web site: http://www.radiogloria.ch or the unofficial site for the tests: http://radiogloria.beepworld.de (Björn Fransson, Gotland, Sweden, Jan 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SYRIA. 783, 1839, Syrian R. in Russian, destined for Israel. SINPO 23322. 22 December, Gonder (Robertas Pogorelis, visiting Ethiopia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN. Radio Taiwan Internet Audio Streaming Quality --- Has anyone written to or emailed RTI lately to complain about the horrible audio quality of their audio on demand & streaming audio services via the Internet? I have, but haven't managed to get anywhere with them despite many emails to various folk there. Problem is apparent on at least the German, Spanish & English streaming services. Problems have been apparent now for over 7 weeks. APATHY RULES!!! (Ian Baxter, NSW, Jan 10, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Funny you should mention this. I did the same thing just before the holidays with the IT department at RTI. The problem from I gather, just as with the technical department. Lack of experts (Keith Perron, Taiwan, ibid.) Hi Keith, Initially about 6-7 weeks ago there was distortion on the high audio peaks on just RTI audio stream (not the Audio on Demand feed). I complained about this a few times. As of about a couple of weeks, this problem, probably in an attempt to fix the problem, it appears, that the techs have compressed the audio to such an extent that digital artefacts are now present. People sound like they are talk with a lisp & talking with clothing covered over their mouth. Years ago the RTI IT technicians used to fix problems and correspond with the people who reported the problem. Now they do neither. Paula from the RTI English section has physically gone to the Engineering section and asked to have the problem fixed many times. It appears to be a futile exercise. I had wondered if the problem was laziness, lack of skills in the Engineering Dept with staff turn- around or a problem with finance to fix problem. Interestingly the RTI International Coordinator tells me yesterday that problem fixed. Listening again today it clearly isn't. Perhaps this has to do with the regional culture of saving face?? I know the RTI English language staff are frustrated by this, but many didn't initially know about the problem. It would not surprise me to know that RTI upper management are unaware of the problem. I would suspect that the problem is heard on all the language services that Internet stream, but haven't confirmed this. Keith, we need someone with fluency in Mandarin to contact the highest level of RTI management to get this problem resolved. Can you assist us? Thanks so much for your feedback & concern. Kind regards (Ian Baxter, NSW, ibid.) Dear Ian, Can you please post the links for the streams so I can check? Greetings from Austria (Tom W., ibid.) Hi Tom, Pick any date & any program over the past 10 days or so. You should hear the problem. We need people to write/email RTI to complain - if they care (Ian Baxter, ibid.) Ian, Could you please post the url of the Radio Taiwan live audio stream here. Regards (Harry Brooks, North East England, UK, ibid.) Hi Harry, The direct Windows Streaming Media link for the latest Tuesday English program is here: mms://play.ccdntech.com/vod09/wma/4_20110111_0010_68.wma (Contains Hear in Taiwan & We've Got Mail programs) The RTI English page is here: http://english.rti.org.tw/default.aspx One can easily access the Streaming Media & Audio on Demand stream files from the left menu. RTI's webpage layout is simple & functional. Regards (Ian Baxter, ibid.) I am currently hearing the stream from Taiwan now. Near studio quality sound, too. Much appreciate the link. 73's, (Noble West, BMSS, TN, DXLDYG via DXLD) R Taiwan Intl web streams I guess RTI has bad audio quality on the web because the person responsible for audio recording changed audio settings from January 1, 2011. I guess they have an automated recording system, which later does the transcoding to other formats (from WAV to compressed 3 formats). All of their audio is mono, and it is a wastage of kilobits to transcode them to "stereo" (that is dual mono). Exactly from 01.01.2011 the audio is changed from 44 kHz to 16 kHz, and also file names has been altered (for example 3201012312300 to 3_20110101_2300_104)... RTI web audio settings: MP3 till 12/31/2010 was 128 kbps, 44 kHz, stereo (dual mono) MP3 from 01/01/2011 is 128 kbps, 16 kbps, stereo (dual mono) WMA till 12/31/2010 was 32 kbps, 32 kHz, stereo (dual mono) WMA from 01/01/2011 is 28 kbps, 16 kbps, stereo (dual mono) RM was & is 20 kbps, 22 kbps, mono GOOD QUALITY AUDIO example (10 minutes of News) R Taiwan Intl S T R E A M links example (12/31/2010): mms://play.ccdntech.com/vod09/wma/3201012312300.wma rtsp://play.ccdntech.com/vod09/rm/3201012312300.rm R Taiwan Intl D O W N L O A D links example (12/31/2010): http://mediafile.rti.org.tw:8080/45day/3201012312300.mp3 http://mediafile.rti.org.tw:8080/45day/3201012312300.wma http://mediafile.rti.org.tw:8080/45day/3201012312300.rm POOR QUALITY AUDIO example (10 minutes of News) R Taiwan Intl S T R E A M links example (01/01/2011): mms://play.ccdntech.com/vod09/wma/3_20110101_2300_104.wma rtsp://play.ccdntech.com/vod09/rm/3_20110101_2300_104.rm R Taiwan Intl D O W N L O A D links example (01/01/2011): http://mediafile.rti.org.tw:8080/45day/3_20110101_2300_104.mp3 http://mediafile.rti.org.tw:8080/45day/3_20110101_2300_104.wma http://mediafile.rti.org.tw:8080/45day/3_20110101_2300_104.rm (Dragan Lekic, Serbia, Jan 11, ibid.) Thanks so much DrAgan for your technical investigation into this matter. It is very much appreciated. It is now very apparent that the new lesser quality encoding/sampling settings is certainly responsible or greatly contributing to the sub standard audio quality. I have forwarded this info off to an assistant manager within RTI & also asked for some improved monitoring & fault communication handling procedures with RTI by listeners reporting problems. My thanks also to another listener who also contacted RTI with a copy my email in this group. It got the attention of RTI. Let`s hope the problem gets fixed within the next couple of days. Regards (Ian Baxter, ibid.) ** TAJIKISTAN. Ovozi Tochik (Voice of Tajikistan) Voice of Tajik in Russian : 31.12.2010 0900-0930 7245 23332 01.01.2011 0900-1000 7245 23322 Very bad reception, but speech in Russian from time to time was audible and is audible the Tajik music (Dmitry Kutuzov, Ryazan, Russia / deneb-radio-dx via RusDX Jan 9 via DXLD) ** TANZANIA. 1377, R. Free Africa, Mwanza, 2332-2348, 08 Jan, Swahili, local pops; 44433, QRM de F. France Info was really totally dominated this time (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** THAILAND. 7465, Jan 11 at 1330, R. Thailand chimes, ID and opening in Thai, good signal despite supersplash from WWCR 7490 and very strong WYFR 7455 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9720, R. Thailand, Udon Thani, 1256-1300*, Jan 4, English. M and W announcer with Pacific Rim business news and market reports; pulled the plug mid-sentence; fair-poor (Scott R. Barbour Jr. Intervale, N.H. USA, NRD-545, MLB-1, 200' Beverages, 60m dipole, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TIBET. China Tibet Broadcasting Station was audible in English from 1530 to 1557 UT on 4905, SINPO 35333, with the programme “Holy Tibet”, and at other times in Chinese. At 1742 it was parallel to 4920 kHz, SINPO 34443 (Robertas Pogorelis, visiting Ethiopia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4905, Xizang PBS-Lhasa, 1530-1600, Jan 8. For a long time the “Holy Tibet” program in English always started with a unique laughing chant. Now it’s gone. The new introduction has added a native speaker of English and changed the wording. Clearly they want to improve the intelligibility of their English presentation. Today’s broadcast was their “Sunday Focus on Music” show; yes, it’s common practice recently for them to carry this only on Saturday and not on Sunday; explaining about categories of Tibetan music and playing examples; fair. Is always a pleasure for me to hear this show! Audio of new introduction attached (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4905, PBS Xizang, Lhasa, at 1527, music and talk by man and woman in Tibetan (presumed), 1531 heard woman say “Hello everyone”. During frequent checks noted program in English, with traditional music and discussion of musical artists. 1600 closing with website (which I didn’t copy) and into Tibetan. English is sked 1530-1600. Poor to fair. // 4920 fair. 5240, poor, noted // after 1600 when they were in Tibetan. Jan 8. Ron Howard in California was also listening and IDed the program as “Sunday Focus on Music”, which is carried every Saturday at this time. 4820, PBS Xizang at 1614 in Chinese with Tibetan vocals. Very similar to music heard on 4905, 4920 and 5240, but not parallel of course. Fair, Jan 8 (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening lakeside in my car before and during local sunrise, with Eton E1 and AN1 active antenna on car roof, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi everyone, Following Ron Howard's report, recorded 4905 at 1530 for Holy Tibet programming in English. Far weaker than Ron`s reception but still clear(ish): http://www.box.net/shared/01oykzc44b (Mark Davies, Anglesey UK, Jan 9, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TRINIDAD & TOBAGO. Agora a propagação escancarou de vez pro Caribe; o que falta é operador lá. Ontém de noite eu tava recebendo com sinais extremamente fortes o canal 4 NCC de Trinidad e Tobago e o Canal 2 TTT Channel de Trinidad e Tobago, cores e audio perfeitos sem QSB. Para terem uma ideia da itensidade de sinal aqui na minha cidade, a poderosa Globo usa o canal 2 e TTT de Tobago cobria o sinal dela quando se direcionava pra Tobago (PU8WWW, Jan 10, radioescutas yg via DXLD) Hams make us look up where they are when it is significant propagationally. Per QRZ.com: (REN) Fábio Renato Araujo. Tv. Senador Jose Pinheiro, 136 Bragança, PA 68600000 Brazil So he`s not that far from T&T like southern Brasil. Roughly 2 megameters away, easily one-hop sporadic E rather than TE (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKEY. 15200, Jan 6 at 1459 VOT piano-variations IS, Arabic ID, 1501 opening mentioning kiloHertz several timez. Don`t think I`ve run across this one before, but is 500 kW, 252 degrees from Emirler at 15- 16 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UGANDA. On different evenings there was an African station present on 4748-4750 kHz with local and English songs. Received at different times between 1545 and 1809 UT, SINPO 33433 to 45544. As per Internet, this could have been Dunamis Shortwave (Uganda). (Robertas Pogorelis, visiting Ethiopia, WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UGANDA. Uganda Broadcasting Corporation in English was decently audible in the evenings on 4976 kHz, SINPO 33433 to 45434, with slightly distorted modulation, mainly in English (Robertas Pogorelis, visiting Ethiopia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I'm getting a carrier, with some very tentative music audio buried in the noise, on 4975.96 (8 Jan 2011, 2040 UT). The band is very noisy for me today, so others should check, too, maybe Uganda is back on 60m from extended use of the daytime frequency recently. I can't detect a carrier on 7195, at least. 73, (Eike Bierwirth, Leipzig, Germany, JRC NRD525 + PA0RDT MiniWhip, HCDX via DXLD) Well, the 4976 is their evening frequency and they usually are there. 7195 evening use has been random, every now and then it seems they for some reason haven't switched to 60 mb. I didn't check 4976 today, but I think they've been there rather regularly this week. 73 (Jari Savolainen, Finland, ibid.) Uganda, 4976, noted here on 3 November, until 2225* (Steve Lare, Holland, MI USA, ibid.) ** UGANDA [non]. FRANCE, QSL Clandestine to Uganda. 17725, Radiyo Abaganda via Issoudun, France verified through Media Broadcast with an electronic reply in 12 days from Walter Brodowsky, TDF Group Short- Wave Project Leader. Walter noted they were "using a 250 kW transmitter in combination with a High gain curtain antenna system HR 4/5/0.5 from Short-wave Radio Station Issoudun. The original target area is Uganda and it is really amazing that you were able to pick up the backbeam of the signal in such good quality." (Rich D'Angelo, PA, USA, DXplorer Jan 2 via BC-DX Jan 9 via DXLD) ** UKRAINE. RE 11-01: ``I haven't heard 7440 at 2300 in weeks -- a great shame, since reception was excellent when it was operating. Interesting times indeed...73 and Happy New Year de (Anne Fanelli in snowy Elma NY, Jan 2, WORLD OF RADIO 1546, ibid.) But was it really off for `weeks` (gh)`` ---Didn't check every day, Glenn, but I hadn't heard RUI at 2300 on 7440 since about December 10th. I miss 'em (again). 73 de (Anne Fanelli, Jan 8, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7440 is OFF this night again. Heard night Jan 5/6. I guess is now VERY HIGH USSR holiday tonight, with Wodka brandy and Caviar served, even on TX desk at Krasne? Congrats to Tres Reyes Papa Frost. 73 wolfy - good night (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, 0200 UT Jan 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also RUSSIA [non] Updated B-10 schedule of Radio Ukraine International from Jan. 1: 0800-1100 on 9410 SMF 250 kW / 312 deg to WeEu En/Uk/Uk, cancelled 1000-1100 on 11655 LV 300 kW / 276 deg to WeEu German, V of Russia 1500-1800 on 7435 KHR 100 kW / 055 deg to RUSS Uk 1800-2100 on 6030 KHR 100 kW / 290 deg to WeEu Ge/Uk/En 2100-2200 on 6140 KHR 100 kW / 290 deg to WeEu Ge 2300-0300 on 7440 LV 500 kW / 303 deg to NoAm En/Uk/En/Uk, cancelled 0300-0400 on 7440 LV 500 kW / 303 deg to NoAm English, V of Russia (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Jan 8 via DXLD) RUSSIA / UKRAINE --- Despite cancellation of transfers RUI through Lvov, the Voice of Russia still broadcasts in English in 0300-0400 on 7440 kHz and in German in 1000-1100 on 11655 kHz (Alexander Egorov, Kiev, Ukraine / “open_dx” via RusDX Jan 9 via DXLD) The world service of radio of Ukraine: UKRAINIAN After January 1st, remained only 1500-1800 7435 1900-2000 6030 (Aleksandr Diadichev / deneb-radio-dx, via RusDX Jan 9, via DXLD) ** U K. BBC WORLD SERVICE FACES AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE Alan Philps, Last Updated: Jan 9, 2011 http://www.thenational.ae/featured-content/latest/bbc-world-service-faces-an-uncertain-future?pageCount=0 Throughout her 15 years of house arrest, the Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi had a bank of radios to make up for her inability to get out and meet people. She listened to the BBC World Service for about six hours a day. "I never felt alone. All that time, the BBC kept me in touch with the world," she said on her release in November. An American diplomat who visited her at her lakeside villa commented: "She knows more about the world than almost any other person I've met." Such accolades are what the 2,000 staff who work for the BBC World Service - in English and 31 other languages - live for. It is almost as good as the praise lavished on the BBC Russian service by Mikhail Gorbachev, the last Soviet president, who declared after emerging from house arrest by communist hardliners in 1991: "The BBC was the best." If you were going to be left alone on a desert island, the one thing you would want to keep you sane would be a wind-up radio. But best not to stay on that island too long. The BBC World Service is going through a crisis, one that many think it will struggle to survive. While the BBC as a whole remains a giant among global broadcasters, the venerable World Service, with its radio broadcasts to the farthest ends of the earth, is facing its deepest budget cuts. Hundreds of staff will have to go, and grim bets are being placed on which language services are for the chop. Officially the budget is to be slashed by 16 per cent, but the cuts could reportedly be as high as 26 per cent if the pensions deficit is to be cleared. Not surprisingly, morale is falling. A staffer who covers Africa says: "I try to keep my head down and do my job. I cannot think about the future." A newly retired editor sighs: "The World Service is dying slowly. No one decided to kill it. It's just that there is no strategy beyond saving money." Is it really that bad? All journalists like to moan about their employers. What is true is that the British government has fallen into disastrous debt and is slashing all expenditure. The World Service is currently funded by a Foreign Office grant of £272 million (Dh1.5bn). In order to save the jobs of diplomats, the Foreign Office has hived off the broadcaster to the domestic BBC, which now has to find funds from its squeezed budget to support external broadcasting. The problem is that the BBC is funded by the so-called licence fee - a tax on every household with a television in Britain of £145 per year. Licence fee-payers, egged on by the right-wing press which hates the BBC as a manifestation of socialism, are not likely to want to see their money spent on radio for Hausa-speakers in west Africa (60 million of whom tune in daily) when the money could go on glitzier TV talent shows. The financial crisis has sent shock waves around the world. Devoted listeners from far and wide have written in to the BBC to volunteer to pay the licence fee to support the World Service. Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, personally lobbied the BBC director-general Mark Thompson not to abandon the airwaves to anti-western broadcasters. Thompson defends the new arrangements, saying he rescued the best possible deal for the BBC when ambushed by a cuts-hungry government. The World Service, he says, will have a secure home within the BBC and will be insulated from future Foreign Office budget cuts. "However well-resourced the BBC is, we cannot afford to run two global news operations," he told The Guardian newspaper last month. The fear is that its unique news values will be lost when the World Service is swallowed up by the BBC domestic arm, which is influenced by the rambunctious news values of British tabloids. Jean Seaton, a professor at Westminster University and the official historian of the BBC, says the World Service's news values enable it to find a space in the minds of foreign audiences. Unlike Voice of America, which offers Washington's view of the world, it is not overt propaganda but rather a more subtle promotion of British values. "The value of the World Service lies in understanding how the audience hears things, and being frank about where we are coming from," Seaton says. "The big question for the future is, how do you preserve that when, managerially and financially, the World Service and the domestic service are coming together?" External broadcasting is not static. The radio spawned BBC World News television which is not funded by the licence fee, but (unusually for the BBC) by advertising. The radio no longer caters for far-flung expats who want game shows that would be incomprehensible in Accra. Such people resent losing their favourite programmes but the truth is that they can get domestic BBC radio on the web. By cutting out some of the language services, the BBC launched Persian and Arabic television services. The Persian service has captured an audience inside Iran (and won the undying loathing of the government) for reporting the complex story of the struggle between government and opposition. The Arabic TV, operating in a crowded market, has failed to make its mark, in the opinion of many observers. While it is slick, it has no convincing "narrative" to challenge Al Jazeera in Arabic. And the field is going to get even more crowded next year with Sky's Arabic service opening in Abu Dhabi. Experts are asking whether it was sensible to close down six language services to set it up. Sir John Tusa, the former director of the World Service, says the broadcaster has to stick to old-fashioned values and avoid the trap of being "twisted into a slightly international version of the domestic BBC'S news agenda". It is easy to predict how that could happen. If the BBC has a choice between a correspondent in Birmingham and a World Service correspondent in Washington (who reports on the US from the point of view of someone in the Middle East, Africa or Latin America), the domestic option is likely to triumph. Phil Hall, the former director of news at the World Service and now a global media consultant, says the cuts will be "large-scale and brutal". But still he sees a great future for an integrated BBC. The World Service, he says, was too "insular" and the domestic service could benefit from a more global outlook, particularly when the world is growing more complex and the power of the West is waning. "It is going to be a very difficult 12 months. This is a great opportunity for the World Service and the whole of the BBC. The World Service is more than capable of dealing with this challenge. There is competition from every corner of the globe but the BBC can still stand out." Such optimism is in short supply. There are some who think that the World Service will eventually go the way of the audio cassette in today's fast-changing media market. After all, in future the likes of Suu Kyi and Gorbachev will have smart phones, won't they? No need for twiddling dials to get the best short-wave reception. An accountant would say, strip it all down to a few foreign language websites. How things work out depends on whether Thompson and the rest of the BBC management are ready to fight the battle for the BBC to be heard in every corner of the world. During the Cold War, the BBC faced down the communist broadcasters. Thompson now faces a challenge closer to home: the little-Britain lobby who do not see why, at a time when the government is cutting half a million public sector jobs at home, they should be paying for radio for people who do not pay British taxes (The National, UAE, Jan 9, via David Cole, LA, WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DXLD) ** U K [and non]. BBC World Service, 7445 at 0220z, Jan 5, via Seychelles (250 kW at 270º). // 6190 at 0232, off suddenly at 0234. 6190 listed via Meyerton, RSA from 0300. Perhaps tuning up a little early. Reception from Seychelles at this hour is quite variable but 7445 is usually much better after 0300 switch to Ascension Island (Jerry Lenamon, Waco TX, Eton E1, sloper, ABDX via DXLD) 5875 drm, BBCWS via Woofferton site, English Current Affairs programme at 0812 UT Jan 4. S=9+40 dB tremendous level hit the needle instrument, SNR up to 27.1 dB. ID: E1C238 (Wolfgang Büschel, BC-DX Jan 9 via DXLD) Frequency change of BBC in Hindi to SoAs from Jan. 7: 1400-1500 NF 11985 CYP 250 kW / 097 deg, ex 11620* // 5865, 6030, 7395, 9505 * to avoid AIR in English and KTWR in Korean (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Jan 8 via DXLD) ** U K. South Herts Radio 2011 --- Hi, this is the first broadcast of 2011. Some shows will be as scheduled and some new ones added in between. This will be the first time we have run the server this year after a break of three weeks. Hope you enjoy our programmes and DX info today from 1200 to 2000 UT approx. http://www.southhertsradio.com 73 (Gary Drew, Sunday Jan 9, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Today just internet folks. No shortwave yet but I do have plans to resume sw soon (Drew, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) Included WORLD OF RADIO at 1300 Sunday. In case you are not sure how to pronounced ``Herts``, going to the webpage you will hear it (gh) ** U S A [and non]. JEFFREY GEDMIN WILL DEPART AS RFE/RL PRESIDENT (updated again). Posted: 12 Jan 2011 RFE/RL president Jeffrey Gedmin today informed RFE/RL employees that he will leave his post "to pursue a new course." He added, "It was a difficult decision. ... I'll share with you shortly news of my next steps. Meanwhile, I'll begin to support our board in their search for a new president. ... For now, though, I'm here till the end of February." http://kimelli.nfshost.com/index.php?id=10440 (kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) ** U S A. More early history of the Voice of America, by someone who was there. Posted: 11 Jan 2011 American Diplomacy, 11 Jan 2011, Walter Roberts: http://www.unc.edu/depts/diplomat/item/2011/0104/fsl/fsl_robertsvoa.html "In an undated memorandum (but probably written in June 1942) intended for incoming OWI [Office of War Information] director Elmer Davis, [then VOA director John] Houseman wrote that the German broadcast, 'was the only broadcast made and transmitted directly by the COI in New York.' Two other daily broadcasts (in French and Italian) were handled for the COI [Coordinator of Information] by the National Broadcasting Company. Cabled comment from London soon justified our belief that for clarity and propaganda value, the new Voice of America [multiple announcer] technique was distinctly superior to the routine broadcast with a single announcer. We also discovered that it was difficult to give to a broadcast, made by a private company outside the immediate control of the COI, the degree and intensity of angling which seemed desirable in the first American medium-wave broadcast to be heard by the population of Europe. For these reasons, on February 26th the COI began the daily transmission of three fifteen minute programs for re-broadcasting by BBC: one German, one French and one Italian. On March 8, an English program was added ... "During World War II, the term 'Voice of America' was not well known outside our office. If someone had asked me then where I worked, I would have answered, 'in the Office of War Information,' rather than in the Voice of America. After September 1, 1945, when President Truman transferred the foreign information activities of the OWI (including VOA) to the Department of State, I probably would have answered differently. Working in New York, I would have felt it misleading to tell people that I was employed by the State Department, and would have said that I worked in the Voice of America. It is therefore not surprising that William Benton whom President Truman appointed in August 1945 as Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs was astonished by the scope and role of the VOA programs that had become his responsibility." See previous post for the first part of Dr. Roberts's history of VOA. And this previous post for research by Chris Kern (kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) *Highly* recommended reading. Dr. Roberts explores many of the intracacies of US international broadcasting during the war years. We learn that the effort was basically divided into three parts: 1) Coordinator of Information (COI) broadcasts from New York to Europe, 2) COI broadcasts from San Francisco to Asia, mainly via the General Electric shortwave station KGEI (and not apparently called "Voice of America" until 1944), and 3) Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs (CIAA) broadcasts to Latin America, in partnership with private US shortwave stations. I read many histories and memoirs of World War II, looking for accounts of people listening to international radio broadcasts. In histories of the European theater, it is striking how often the BBC is mentioned, compared to few mentions of VOA. This might be due to VOA having less favorable access than BBC to medium wave transmitters in the UK, and thus having to rely on long-haul shortwave transmissions from the United States. (In Europe, radios with medium wave bands were much more common than those with shortwave bands.) Or it may have to do with the vagueness of the Voice of America brand (as discussed in Dr. Robert's essay), in contrast to the crisp "BBC," easy to pronounce in any language, and easy to remember. But I think the main reason is the motivation people had to listen to foreign broadcasts. They wanted to know what was really going on, and they needed to cut through the propaganda that was pervasive on the European continent during the war. The BBC "single announcer" newscasts provided that. The Voice of America, at the time, was more interested in "propaganda value." By the end of the war, however, VOA had a better sense of what its audience wanted. It dropped the Houseman quasi-theatrical news productions, and concentrated more on the transmission of accurate information (Kim Andrew Elliott, ibid.) ** U S A [and non]. VoA frequencies --- I asked the VoA where I could find their frequencies used - as they seem to have disappeared from their web site, and I got this amazing reply: ``Hello, Unfortunately, we no longer have an overall listing of frequencies as it was difficult to keep accurate. Each language is keeping their frequencies up-to-date, some by program though.`` 73, (Erik Koie, Copenhagen, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) So, if you speak English, and you want to know when, and on what frequencies, VOA broadcasts in Burmese, first you learn Burmese, then go to the VOA Burmese web page, where, theoretically, the schedule can be found. Same procedure for all other VOA languages (Kim Andrew Elliott, kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) The A-Z schedule has been appearing sporadically. I think I found it only a few days ago: http://www.voanews.com/english/about/frequenciesAtoZ_a.com but at the moment that forwards to: http://www.insidevoa.com/ It wouldn`t be so hard to update if someone would apply to the task and make whatever changes are required every day, with inside info from IBB frequency management. Perhaps someone with access to HFCC updates at least would like to provide a `private` overall VOA frequency schedule and keep it current (Glenn Hauser, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, Thanks for the reply! Yes, I also tried different VoA pages, but no frequencies. Maybe they are trying to stop short wave listening when nobody can find where to seek for them? Good evening from a misty zero C Copenhagen, (Erik Koie, Denmark, ibid.) I can well imagine the day when the wording is thus: ``Unfortunately, we no longer have an overall listing of progammes as it was difficult to keep accurate. Each language is keeping their schedule up-to-date, some by program though. We cannot provide website details for all our 50+ radio and TV services`` Sarcastic, but its a sign of the times! (Keith Bradbury, UK, ibid.) I can access the VOA frequencies here : http://author.voanews.com/english/about/frequenciesAtoZ_a.cfm Regards, (Alokesh Gupta, VU3BSE, New Delhi, ibid.) Ah yes, the ``author`` version which I had bookmarked somewhere else. But I think that too has been coming and going, and now we must question whether it is being updated at all (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) AMAZING that you found them! They hide them quite well. Thank you & vy 73, (Erik Koie, ibid.) Erik, just don't write to VoA bragging you found the link. Otherwise, they'll take it offline. Kim A.E. once mentioned in his blog that he used to be on the list for getting VoA frequency updates (even frequencies used for special broadcasts). But he had a nasty DX-habit of publishing those frequencies. So eventually he was taken off the list. 73, (Sergei S., ibid.) ** U S A [and non]. 9360, Jan 6 at 1400, ``VOA-direct-from- Washington`` jingle, opening the weekend-only hit music show announced in Englonesian, not even time for news headlines, who cares? Fair signal. Is Thu-Fri-Sat only, 250 kW, 200 degrees via Tinang, PHILIPPINES, so it is really quite `indirect` from Washington. 9885, Jan 7 at 1212 big open carrier, obviously IBB Greenville-B preparing for the 1230 VOA Spanish broadcast. Was on for a while but did not monitor whether it stayed on all the way to 1230. 9885, VOA Spanish with ``Enfoque Andino`` news of Brazilian flooding, which is hardly Andean, Jan 13 at 1235, then frequency announcement as ``9885, 13715 y 15590`` --- weeks after 13715 shifted without notice to 13750, they still don`t know about it in the studio! And reconfirmed on 13750 at 1247 check, poor signal this early unlike VG 9885. 15580, Jan 6 at 1457 open carrier, 1458 fade-in tone test, then cut it off, and carrier off at 1459*. Presumably IBB Greenville tuning up for *1700 VOA transmission. They often do the same on 17740, but it was not audible at this time. 15580, VOA with `African Beat` music show, fair but with some IADs of several sex each until *2057 Jan 10, when a stronger carrier hits, making a 6 Hz SAH. Modulation from first signal stops during ``Down to Jamaica`` at 2059, dead air for a minute, no YDD or sign-on, then upcut modulation from second signal at 2100 with VOA News. Rather rough transition from BONAIRE to BOTSWANA relay sites, but could have been worse with programming overlap (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. BOARD CONTINUES STRATEGIC REVIEW The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), the Agency that oversees U.S. international broadcasting, continues its strategic review with the first in a series of regional assessments. This month’s regional review will focus on Africa and will engage internal and external experts in discussions to be held in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 11-13. “First, we need to get our own strategy right by understanding what we need to know, what we must learn, and where gaps in our knowledge exist,” said BBG Governor S. Enders Wimbush, who co-chairs the Board’s Strategy and Budget Committee. “Second, we need to decide how the BBG can allocate resources most effectively to empower our customers by putting the right programming on the right targets with the right technologies.” The Board will also participate in the launch of the Agency’s model government ethics program. At its December meeting, the Board continued its exploration of social media initiatives and heard a number of reports, including from the Strategy and Budget Committee about further details on the BBG strategic review, from Governor Ashe about his recent trip to the Middle East, and a detailed analysis from the Chairman of the International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB) Coordinating Committee of the current distribution platforms for BBG programming. A webcast of the meeting along with additional information on Board activities is available online here http://enews.voanews.com/t?r=357&c=2448259&l=4774&ctl=34A9D1F:BF6AE9FCB50C3952E1712DE46CCEE8B93C9D590B43FC028B& (via Clara Listensprechen Jan 10, dxldyg via DXLD) See also CUBA [non] Could someone explain why bother to make such a complicated URL in this and so many other cases? Are these simply random alfanumerix or do they have some deeper significance? (gh, DXLD) Who are the "customers"? Audiences? Affiliates? Entities? Members of Congress? And "empower"? Well, perhaps, in that knowledge is (em)power(ment). (Kim Andrew Elliott, kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. First airing of WORLD OF RADIO 1546 confirmed on WRMI webcast after 0430 UT Thursday Jan 6. But at 0458 check of 9955, totally blocked by wall-of-noise DentroCuban jamming. Tnx a lot, Arnie! 2200+ UT Thursday also totally jammed. Next airings on WRMI are: Fri 1530, Sat 0900, 1500, 1830, Sun 0900, 1630, 1830, Mon 1230. BTW, Jeff White says WRMI`s NAm antenna is still out of axion, but they still hope to get it back on this season, at least for the 15-17 UT slot; all broadcasts remain on the Caribbean/S American antenna. WOR 1546 confirmed on first WBCQ 7415 airing Thursday Jan 6 at 2019 check, fair signal. Repeats Tuesday and perhaps Wednesday from 2000. Upcoming airings on other SW stations: WWRB UT Fri 0430 on 3185. WWCR Fri 2130 7465, Sat 1700 12160 (we hope; pre-empted last week); Sun 0730 3215. IRRS/NEXUS-IBA/IPAR: Sat 1900 on 6090 to Eu but can also make it to NE America. 9955, WORLD OF RADIO 1546 confirmed on WRMI, Friday Jan 7 at 1538, along with pulse jamming but much less than the wall-of-noise on 9965 against never-audible Radio República. Tnx a lot, Arnie! WOR 1546 also confirmed on WWCR 7465, Friday Jan 7 at 2130, VG as always. Next, please check Sat 1700 on 12160. Also on ACB Radio Mainstream webcast during 2-hourly repeats on Fridays, heard at 0600, 2400 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) No WOR on WWCR this AM listening from 1700-1800 when I had enough saving for a while, hi! 73 and Happy New Year! (Mick Delmage, AB, Jan 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 12160, WWCR, Sat Jan 8 at 1712 check again this week has something other than WORLD OF RADIO, despite WOR still appearing on the current pdf schedule dated 1 Jan. Could WOR have been shifted back to its previous time 1730? No. That leaves only two times for WOR on WWCR confirmed by monitoring: Fri 2130 on 7465, Sun 0730 on 3215 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The second WRMI airing of WOR 1547, Thursday Jan 13 at 1605 check, was unjammed, tho signal poor. Probably will be jammed for next airing 2200 Thursday. Best WORLD OF RADIO chances next: Thursday 2000 on WBCQ 7415; UT Friday 0430 on WWRB 3185, Friday 2130 on WWCR 7465. Full updated sked: http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 15825, WWCR Jan 10 at 1439, VG signal with panty-liner ad, ergo sporadic E is hopping on HF, also 13845 saying nothing about panty-liners. 11715, as a result, I check for KJES NM at 1441 Jan 10, and its undermodulated English robokid is in at S9+18 rather than usual trace or absence, plus het since KJES is off-frequency. Not at the moment but a semihour earlier, WWV was unusually well audible on 15000. Later in morning, started monitoring ch 2, but Es had not reached VHF, nor were there any lines on the 50 MHz DX- Sherlock map, nor any current Es reports on the TV/FM Skip Log. 9350, Jan 10 at 2133, WWCR missing, allowing 9355 WYFR in Spanish to be heard; 2134 WWCR super-signal cuts on for a few sex with hair- growing ad, off again (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WINB on 9405 kHz can be heard in New Zealand with a good signal in English around 0800 UT (Barry Hartley, Jan 5, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 9 via DXLD) 9405, another check of WINB`s new overnight frequency, Jan 6 at 0627: JBA, but I can tell the carrier is typically unstable. Is Rod Hembree really paying for 8 hours of this airtime? 9405, Jan 7 at 0616, surprised to find big signal here, S9+20, must be WINB, which until now in the first week of its existence, has been poor to JBA. Trouble is, there is no program modulation, just open unstable carrier, hum, and crackling. Same at 0628 when I quit. Must have been: unusual propagational opening; or: until now has been way under-powered. We shall continue to check. Is Rod Hembree really paying for 40 hours a week on 9405 (plus more on 13570 in daytime)? WINB is still using 9265 in the morning, but shorter span than before: on the air in Spanish, presumed WYFR relay, Jan 7 at 1223; and at 1258, doing its offensive frequency change announcement to 13570 as talkover to the National Anthem!! Worse, cut off the end of The Star Spangled Banner at 1259 before it was over. Did not check 13570 immediately, but at 1309 it was very poor, not yet up to daytime propagation level. At this time, only Cuba had good signals on 13 MHz, and just about the only signals on 15 MHz. If 9405 really runs until 1130, as publicized, that leaves only 1130-1300 for 9265 in the mornings. 9405, WINB, Jan 8 at 0622, YL preacher, fair signal at S9+15, less than BBC on 9410. 9405, Jan 11 at 0642, WINB back to very poor signal for its new overnight broadcast. 9330-CUSB, WBCQ with Good Friends Radio Network, YL preacher, music, S9+18 at 0550 Jan 9, seven seconds behind // WINB 9405 which had better S9+20 signal. Unknown how long WBCQ stayed on, but I don`t recall hearing it after 0600 before. 9405, WINB still very poor signal at 0615 check Jan 13, with Radio 2:11 from Good Friends Radio Network. 13570, WINB, Jan 13 at 1405, ``Radio 2:11 on WBCQ, 9330, with 50,000 watts of amplitude modulation`` --- No mention of WINB, so Rod Hembree is still unaware he has bought gobs of time on this station, or hasn`t got around to recutting his IDs. Apart from the lack of AM on 9330, and the lack of a stable carrier on 13570, modulation is equally distorted on both, emanating thus from Orangeville, Ontario. I can`t imagine anyone really wants to listen to this, even if it were clear (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 9394, big dirty distorted carrier-less spur from WTJC 9370v, matching modulation there, Jan 9 at 1406. 9370v itself more distorted than usual and undermodulated. Also same circa 9346, = 24 kHz on the other side, but weaker. The spurs also had a rapid pulsing. WWRB 9385 not on yet; 9394 spur still audible at 1420 when WWRB had come on. The spurs from WTJC 9370v, previously reported at 1406-1420+ Jan 9, are still there Jan 10 at 0623: awful distortion circa 9393, 9347, plus weaker ones to the lower side around 9323 and 9301. Fundamental 9370 undermodulated and distorted, softer than the spurs. And again, Jan 10 at 1444 spurs around 9345 and 9395, still there but weaker. 9395, dirty spur from 9370 WTJC again audible Jan 10 at 2227, and also on 9345, the lower too close to super-strong WWCR 9350, now back on to stay. 9395, the WTJC 9370 spur which has been audible the last few days, not audible Jan 12 at 1435; instead one from WWRB 9385 Brother Scare circa 9400. 9370, WTJC`s defective transmitter is still undermodulated on fundamental, but squeezing out loud extremely distorted spurs: Jan 13 at 0615 circa 9400. At 1221 circa 9394 and 9346; at 1425 circa 9345 and 9395 plus more 25 kHz lower around 9320, but fortunately not 25 kHz higher, leaving Greek music spur-free on 9420 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. 15440, Jan 6 at 1425, South Asian music, announcement mentioning Punjabi, Tamil and other languages, 1427-1428 AWR theme. This is Urdu via Austria, 300 kW, 90 degrees. Off just in time for more Urdu from 15435, see PHILIPPINES [non] (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. 7240, 8.12 1900, Family Radio (via Ryssland?) med program på SVENSKA! Vi har tydligen fått en ny svensksändare (åtminstone fram till domedagen den 21 maj 2011 - det mesta i det 60 minuter långa programmet handlade om just detta). 4 CB 7240, 8.12 1900, Family Radio (via Russia?) with program in Swedish! Obviously we have got a new station carrying Swedish (at least until judgement day at May 21 2011 – most of the 60 min long programme was about just this item). 4 CB (Christer Brunström, Sweden, SW Bulletin Jan 9, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. Winter B-10 of WYFR Family Radio via MBR: [seems disorganized? Grouped by target area] 1800-1900 on 6120 NAU 250 kW / 230 deg to SoEu in Spanish 1800-1900 on 6050 WER 100 kW / 090 deg to SEEu in Romanian 1800-2000 on 3975 WER 250 kW / non-dir to SEEu in Hungarian/Serbian 1700-1900 on 6140 WER 250 kW / 060 deg to EaEu in Russian 1700-1800 on 11690 WER 100 kW / 180 deg to NoAf in Arabic 1800-1900 on 9845 ISS 250 kW / 134 deg to NoAf in Arabic 1900-2000 on 9500 WER 250 kW / 150 deg to NoAf in Arabic 1900-2000 on 9695 WER 500 kW / 210 deg to WeAf in French 2000-2100 on 9515 NAU 250 kW / 210 deg to WeAf in Arabic 2100-2200 on 6010 WER 250 kW / 210 deg to WeAf in Arabic 2200-2300 on 5960 WER 250 kW / 210 deg to WeAf in Arabic 1800-1900 on 9535 WER 500 kW / 183 deg to WCAf in Hausa 1800-1900 on 11665 WER 500 kW / 180 deg to WCAf in English 1900-2200 on 9925 WER 500 kW / 180 deg to WCAf in English 2000-2100 on 9595 NAU 500 kW / 180 deg to WCAf in French 2100-2200 on 7305 NAU 500 kW / 180 deg to WCAf in French 1600-1700 on 13660 NAU 500 kW / 125 deg to EaAf in Oromo 1600-1800 on 11975 ISS 500 kW / 131 deg to EaAf in Amharic/Swahili 1800-1900 on 12015 ISS 500 kW / 155 deg to SoAf in Sesotho 1800-1900 on 12140 WER 500 kW / 165 deg to SoAf in Solano 1800-1900 on 13660 WER 500 kW / 165 deg to SoAf in Setswana 1900-2000 on 12140 WER 500 kW / 150 deg to SoAf in Zulu 1900-2000 on 11955 NAU 500 kW / 177 deg to SoAf in Kikongo 1600-1700 on 11995 WER 250 kW / 120 deg to N/ME in Arabic 1700-1800 on 9850 WER 250 kW / 120 deg to N/ME in Arabic 1600-1700 on 11885 NAU 500 kW / 105 deg to WeAs in Persian 1700-1800 on 6105 NAU 500 kW / 105 deg to WeAs in Persian 1700-1800 on 9630 WER 500 kW / 105 deg to WeAs in Kurdish 1400-1500 on 13605 WER 250 kW / 075 deg to CeAs in Uzbek 1300-1500 on 13820 NAU 500 kW / 085 deg to SoAs in Bengali 1400-1500 on 15325 WER 500 kW / 090 deg to SoAs in Oriya 1400-1500 on 15315 WER 500 kW / 105 deg to SoAs in Malayalam 1400-1600 on 13655 WER 500 kW / 090 deg to SoAs in Sindhi/Kannada 1400-1600 on 13700 NAU 500 kW / 095 deg to SoAs in Hindi 1500-1600 on 9800 NAU 500 kW / 084 deg to SoAs in Gujarati 1500-1600 on 11935 NAU 500 kW / 094 deg to SoAs in Tamil 1600-1700 on 9405 NAU 500 kW / 094 deg to SoAs in Hindi 0100-0200 on 11730 GUF 250 kW / 306 deg to CeAm in Creole 2200-2400 on 7360 GUF 500 kW / 170 deg to SoAm in Portuguese 2200-2400 on 9465 GUF 500 kW / 215 deg to SoAm in Spanish 0000-0100 on 7360 GUF 500 kW / 170 deg to SoAm in English 0000-0100 on 7395 GUF 500 kW / 215 deg to SoAm in Spanish 0200-0300 on 5930 GUF 500 kW / 215 deg to SoAm in English USA(and non) Winter B-10 of WYFR Family Radio via RNW: 1800-2000 on 7395 MDC 250 kW / 320 deg to EaAf in English 1600-1700 on 9590 MDC 250 kW / 320 deg to EaAf in Swahili 1900-2100 on 6020 MDC 050 kW / 255 deg to CSAf in English 1700-1800 on 7385 MDC 050 kW / 310 deg to SoAf in English (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Jan 8 via DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. Winter B-10 of WYFR Family Radio via CIS txs: 1800-1900 on 7590 ERV 100 kW / 330 deg to WeEu in Polish 1800-2000 on 7490 ERV 300 kW / 305 deg to WeEu in German 1900-2000 on 6000 MSK 250 kW / 240 deg to WeEu in Italian 2000-2100 on 7510 A-A 500 kW / 301 deg to WeEu in English 2000-2200 on 7590 A-A 300 kW / 301 deg to WeEu in French/English 1900-2100 on 7240 MSK 250 kW / 285 deg to NWEu in Swedish/English 1800-1900 on 7600 ERV 300 kW / 280 deg to SEEu in Bulgarian 1500-1600 on 7550 ERV 500 kW / 100 deg to WeAs in Pashto 1200-1300 on 9320 DB 100 kW / 024 deg to CeAs in Russian 1400-1500 on 5825 TAC 100 kW / 131 deg to SoAs in Nepali 1400-1500 on 9440 ARM 300 kW / 110 deg to SoAs in Assamese 1400-1600 on 6150 ARM 300 kW / 110 deg to SoAs in Punjabi 1400-1600 on 7565 KCH 300 kW / 116 deg to SoAs in Urdu 1500-1600 on 5825 ERV 100 kW / 125 deg to SoAs in Marathi 1600-1700 on 6070 ARM 250 kW / 110 deg to SoAs in Punjabi 1600-1700 on 7590 ERV 300 kW / 110 deg to SoAs in Urdu 1000-1100 on 7265 NVS 250 kW / 085 deg to EaAs in Japanese 1000-1200 on 9460 IRK 250 kW / 110 deg to EaAs in English/Korean 1100-1200 on 7300 IRK 250 kW / 125 deg to EaAs in English 1100-1200 on 9720 NVS 250 kW / 125 deg to EaAs in Cantonese 1100-1500 on 5995 P.K 250 kW / 244 deg to EaAs in Chinese 1100-1500 on 6115 IRK 100 kW / 110 deg to EaAs in Chinese 1200-1300 on 6005 K/A 250 kW / 213 deg to EaAs in Korean 1100-1200 on 5900 IRK 250 kW / 152 deg to SEAs in Ilocano 1200-1300 on 6075 VLD 250 kW / 220 deg to SEAs in Cebuano 1200-1300 on 9450 NVS 250 kW / 155 deg to SEAs in Thai 1200-1400 on 7340 IRK 250 kW / 180 deg to SEAs in Vietnamese 1200-1400 on 9310 A-A 200 kW / 132 deg to SEAs in Tagalog/English 1200-1500 on 9485 IRK 500 kW / 180 deg to SEAs in Indo/Indo/English 1300-1400 on 6075 TCH 250 kW / 194 deg to SEAs in English 1300-1500 on 5835 A-A 500 kW / 121 deg to SEAs in English 1300-1400 on 7560 A-A 200 kW / 132 deg to SEAs in Burmese 1400-1500 on 6070 TCH 250 kW / 194 deg to SEAs in English (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Jan 8 via DXLD) ** U S A. 11665, Jan 10 at 2119, good steady signal, continuous talk only by M in a tonal language, reminds me of Burmese, with rising -eh? at the end of many sentences, but surely not at this hour in the middle of the Myanmarian night; 2130 heard one English word, ``visitation``. Stronger than adjacent R. Australia English on 11660. Off already when rechecked at 2157. Current schedules including WRTH 2011, Eibi and Aoki, show this hour as WYFR Arabic via Okeechobee, really only until 2145 per the last two, but this was definitely no Arabic! HFCC shows English, likely in default. Looking at other YFR languages earlier on this frequency, I spot Yoruba at 19-20 via Ascension --- that sounds more like it, maybe a switch or mixup? Or some other African language has been added. At 2210, 11665 was preaching in Spanish, surely WYFR too, weaker than 11670 RNV via CUBA. No, this is not in the new schedules just above. 11665, checking WYFR again for new unID language service, Jan 11 at 2143, tuned in too late for some music, 2144 closing in Arabic to 2145*. Arabic had been on some of the schedules, but it was certainly not the day before. Back to Arabic, or maybe body of program was still in the other tongue (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11665, checking again for the unknown language on WYFR during the 2100-2145 half-sesquihour, Jan 12: 2059 tune-in, closing Polish as scheduled from O`bee, no break in transmission, and opening Arabic to Europe before 2100 sharp. 2104 still in Arabic. Yes, to Europe, same 44 degree azimuth (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15325, Jan 10 at 1437 Bachish organ music, but at 1438 ruined by YFR riff and S Asian talk, also bothered by R. Martí 15330 splash rather than DCJC bleed at the moment. It`s Oriya, due east via 500 kW Wertachtal at 14-15 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 3160, so far I have not been able to hear the WPJK Orangeburg SC 2 x 1580 harmonic in 2011y. Finally on Jan 7 I am up in time to check for the 1230v sign-on which had been in effect in Nov- Dec 2010, and 1130v during Oct+ DST since first heard Oct 12 as in DXLD 10-41 and most subsequent issues. Monitored Jan 7 from 1228 continuously until 1246, no sign of any carrier, and still not at final check 1305, while 3185 WWRB was still VG. Nor as of Jan 7 have I been able to detect it in evening before nominal 2245* in Jan or even 2215v* as in Dec. So has the harmonic finally been fixed? Is anyone else hearing it now morning or evening? Or midday as Terry Krueger in FL succeeded in doing? (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [and non] Hi Glenn, As per your query, I checked 3160 khz this morning (1/8). Nothing heard. I have heard WJPK a few times usually with good strength, but nothing today. Conditions were OK - La Voz del Napo, 3279 and Guyana, 3290 had good signals; WWRB was extremely loud as usual. Perhaps, the problem has been fixed. I have been hearing another harmonic WSBA (910 x 3) York, Pa on 2730 kHz from time to time. Again audible with fair strength this morning (1/8) at 1100 UT. I will continue to check 3160 for a few days. Overall, conditions have been pretty poor on the tropical bands for the past week. I have been checking every day for the new Australian on 3210 with no results. Symban was logged only once this winter. Happy and a Good DXing New Year, (Bill Smith, W1OW, FN42, Douglas, MA, Jan 8, WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The harmonic [WPJK 3160] has been taken care of. Myself and FCC Atlanta intervened. Sorry it`s a disappointment, I know. But, legalities are legalities (Gary E. Davis, W1IT, Inman, SC, UT Jan 9, WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, Thanks for the information. WSBA is still on 2730 heard this morning (1/9). (Bill, W1OW, Smith, MA, ibid.) ** U S A. 2730, WSBA York PA; 0505, 6-Jan; "News Radio 9-10 WSBA" into talk show. 3 x 910. Much cleaner with less distortion than last night. PA #58 (Harold Frodge, MI, WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 4050, Jan 6 at 0614 check, nothing audible from KWMO x 3 --- so back to night power on 1350 of 84 watts? 4050-, Jan 7 at 0624, very poor but can detect the usual YL DJ from KWMO, Washington MO on 3 x 1350 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 720, WGN Chicago ID at 1930 UT Jan 11, on caradio at a quiet hotspot in western Enid, skywave already in less than an hour after low noon (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1240 / 1270, FLORIDA, WFSX, Ft. Myers and WNOG, Naples (respectively). 1214 January 8, 2011. Enzime pill quack doctor brokered show, noted poor on 1240. Then tuning up, the same show, very slightly out-of-synch audio. On January 9, also in parallel 1224 with spots for a local BBQ joint and a store on US-41 in Bonita Springs. 1270 marginally better up here. 1280, FLORIDA, WTMY, Sarasota. 1216 January 9, 2011. Phil Hendrie, commercial break, canned promo for sales inquiries to "564-WTMY, Sarasota-Bradenton-Venice" by male voice-over. Fair (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, Florida DX News and "Florida Low Power Radio Stations" are at: http://sites.google.com/site/floridadxn/ dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. "Highway Advisory Radio" AM 1260 (Licensed to the City & County of Denver), WQKK262 --- Giving highway exit information for the National Western Stock Show. It is a continuous looping broadcast. I have never heard this station before, so this must be something new. 11:20-11:41 PM MST [0620-0641 UT Jan 11]. It took a few minutes to figure out the ID because it is not exactly a clear broadcast a lot of interference from other AMs in the area (Paul Armani, Denver, Jan 10, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. 1330, Jan 9 as I tune in at 1441 UT, ``At KCKM, we`re proud of our large music library``, into Johnny Cash. Loops ENE/WSW over nearest groundwave station KNSS (ex-KFH) Wichita KS. 1450 ad for a doctor in Monahans TX with a 943- phone number. XEP 1300 in Juárez was also in [see MEXICO], but skywave gone from lower half of band by now. For example, checked 770 for KKOB Albuquerque NM at 1500, but no signal; presumably would have clicked on at 1415 UT, the January official sunrise time for non-direxional operation lasting until 2415 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, Happy to the see report on KCKM. Signal with 12 kW is great but with a half wave tower it's magic. The gang down there will enjoy hearing of your catch. Take care (Jerry Kiefer, KCKN Roswell NM, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WLAC-1510 pattern changes --- Top-of-the-hour unattended timer recordings this weekend turned up a potentially helpful discovery. Nashville sunrise and sunset times this month are both at ToH - sunrise at 8:00 EST and sunset at 6:00 EST [1300-2300 UT]. WLAC (the past two days, anyway) has made its pattern changes right at ToH, at about 59:56. This I could barely believe: in each case, there is about four seconds of WLAC being totally OFF the air, carrier and all. Right before 8 am EST yesterday, I was treated to the usual local-like WLAC signal, then a quiet but perfectly readable "You're listening to WWBC, Cocoa-Merritt Island ... ", followed by WLAC again. Ten hours later, at 5:59:56 pm EST, it was a shouted "ESPN Deportes Radio!", i.e. WRRD Waukesha WI. Both WWBC and WRRD are relogs, but I never expected to hear them in the clear, if only for four seconds. It felt like a 1974 Monday morning. This is encouraging news if WLAC's dedication to exact times continues. Months where Nashville sunrise and/or sunset times are on the quarter-hour or half-hour will be of little use, but this month both are at ToH (Steve Francis, Alcoa, Tennessee, 10 Jan, NRC-AM via DXLD) When stations change pattern, they usually do drop off the air for a second or two, maybe 3, so that part is nothing new. At WGGH, when we power up, we go off the air for about 1 1/2 seconds; when we power down, we're off the air for about 3 seconds (Paul B Walker, Jr, Marion IL, ibid.) ** U S A. 1600, Jan 9 at 1445 UT, strong open carrier looping NNW/SSE, presumably KRVA in The Metroplex TX, the Vietnamese station often heard here as long as skywave is in. Is no one paying attention at KRVA? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1600, Jan 10 at 1418 UT, weather with lows in the teens, highs in the forties, then Red River ski area ad, ``Real Oldies 1600``. Therefore, Albuquerque`s KRKE. Fortunately, K may substitute for QU, otherwise it would have to be QUERQUE, a forbidden call in more ways than one. 1550, Jan 10 at 1421, Albuquerque Traffic Network, mentioning familiar streets such as Candelaria (never pronounced as in Spanish, but ``– air – ee – uh``. Otherwise, there is also a Candelaria Street in El Paso del Norte --- do they at least pronounce it as in Spanish?). Then 1550 also has a Red River ski area commercial; some Elvis, who is a real oldie too, but apparently only as intro to chat about him. This is KIVA, with talk format, strangely enough at the same address as KRKE on San Pedro NE. Thanks to frequential/propagational advantage, these two 10 kW were putting in much better signals than 50 kW non-direxional 770 KKOB, which I had checked at 1415 after quitting night pattern. KKOB did build up a bit later at 1424 with ID, 1434 ``KKOB First News`` starting with Tucson (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 570 KLIF on 1700? What did I hear?? I was listening to the oldies on KVNS 1700 last night (Sunday night through Monday morning) on my Toyota pickup truck radio while at work. Around 0545 [CST = 1145 UT] KNVS faded down and I heard an ad for The Wall Street Journal and something about KLIF570.com. Later after I got off work I listened to 1700 while driving home and once again heard KLIF on this frequency. Now my truck radio is stock with a usual 5 to 7.5 kHz bandpass so I was wondering if I might have been hearing part of a 3rd harmonic on 570 on 1710. So I went up there and no sign of KLIF at all. Went to 570 and KLIF was much weaker than what I was hearing on 1700. So a minute ago I did a search on KLIF 1700 on Google & found listings that stated KKLF Richardson Texas simulcasts KLIF on 1700. So it seems that I was really hearing KKLF's 1 kW night time signal instead. Interesting (Robert M. Bratcher, Jr., TX, Jan 10, ABDX via DXLD) According to the message boards down that way, KKLF has been bouncing back and forth between its usual relay of "Ticket" sports KTCK 1310 Dallas and sister station KLIF. Probably a technical glitch at the studios that nobody's caught yet. (KKLF, as the calls suggest, was indeed a full-time relay of KLIF for a while a few years back.) I believe their longtime chief engineer moved on and is now in station ownership in a smaller market nearby. s (Scott Fybush, NY, ibid.) ** U S A. Just stumbled onto this link while emailing for stickers (for my collection). Talk about DXer friendly radio!!!! http://www.dakotaradiogroup.com/DXers.htm This is a link to a DX report form... pretty nifty. Wonder how many stations are this nice!! (Phil Bytheway, IRCA Bookstore, Seattle WA, Drake R-7 / KIWA Loop, IRCA via DXLD) But don`t offer a QSL (gh) ** U S A. SHAKE-UP AT NPR PROMPTS OUTCRY --- By Paul Farhi, Washington Post Staff Writer, Saturday, January 8, 2011; C01 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/07/AR2011010706366_pf.html People at NPR and in public radio reacted with shock and anger Friday over the resignation of NPR's top editor for her role in firing commentator Juan Williams, with one official telling colleagues that NPR's response amounted to "capitulation" to conservative critics. Some blamed congressional conservatives and Fox News - which had repeatedly denounced NPR since the October firing - for inflaming the situation, which led to the resignation on Thursday of Ellen Weiss, NPR's senior vice president for news. Weiss was the NPR executive who terminated Williams for saying he was "nervous" flying on a plane with people in "Muslim garb" on Bill O'Reilly's TV program. Since his firing, Williams signed a three-year contract with Fox for almost $2 million. "We have allowed Fox News to define the debate," wrote Peter Block, a member of the board of Cincinnati Public Radio, in a posting to an e-mail group consisting of public radio managers. He added, "I do not think this kind of capitulation [by NPR] assures the future of an independent press. . . . Democracy is on the line and NPR is one of the last bastions of its possibility." Block said in an interview that NPR's reaction "lacked integrity." NPR's ombudsman, Alicia Shepard, also pointed to Fox, noting in her column, that the Williams "incident has become a partisan issue in Washington's hothouse atmosphere, with Republicans (egged on by Fox News) using it as a rallying cry to demand that NPR be 'defunded' by the federal government." Following a two-month internal investigation, NPR's board questioned the "speed and handling" of Williams's firing, which Weiss carried out with a phone call and without a face-to-face meeting. As a result of the investigation, the board also voted to deny NPR President Vivian Schiller, who approved the termination, a bonus in 2010. Neither Schiller nor board members have commented in detail about the reasons for her disciplinary action or for Weiss's resignation. NPR hadn't set a bonus for Schiller this year when the board voted to deny her one, but the sanction seems costly, given previous bonuses. According to tax records released by NPR on Friday, Schiller received a bonus of $112,500 in May 2010, about 17 months after she was hired by the Washington-based organization. This was in addition to a base salary of $450,000. The bonus was included in her hiring package, NPR said. The preceding year, before Schiller's arrival, NPR paid out $1.22 million in salary, bonuses and deferred compensation to Schiller's predecessor, Kevin Klose, who retired that year. It paid another $1.22 million to Ken Stern, its president, who was forced out. Stern's compensation was swelled by a early buyout of his contract, according to NPR. People at NPR said resigning may have preserved severance payments that Weiss would have had to forgo had she been fired. NPR's journalists and others in public radio offered effusive praise for Weiss, a highly popular figure who worked her way up from a job answering phones in 1982 to become the organization's top editorial manager. Over the years, Weiss, 51, served as executive producer of NPR's evening news program, "All Things Considered," and ran NPR's national desk, among other assignments. "She's the greatest," said Ira Glass, the host of "This American Life" who worked with Weiss when he started as a 19-year-old employee at NPR (Glass's program is distributed by Public Radio International, an NPR rival). "As a journalist and a manager, she's an ally for everything good in public radio. It's a shame that she's having to go out because of this one decision. It's bad for public radio and bad for everything we believe in as journalists." Glass suggested that Weiss was a victim of political forces aligning against public broadcasting in a newly conservative Congress. "The only possible way to understand her resigning is to prepare NPR and public radio in general for this fight that will happen over funding in the coming months," he said. Guy Raz, who hosts the weekend edition of "All Things Considered," called Weiss "the finest journalist I ever worked for. . . . She's a pretty legendary figure in the newsroom. For many people, she's an inspiration that you could start at the bottom and make it to the top if you worked hard it. It's a cliche, but she really set the standard for integrity." Some employees interviewed Friday steered clear of criticizing NPR's upper management, but Raz said there was some anger in the newsroom. "Yeah, I think we're angry because she was such a good leader. She really knew how to lead this organization," he said. Economics reporter Adam Davidson said Weiss had "the single most important role in the development of NPR over the past 20 years. . . . I don't think there's anyone in the history of public radio who has had as positive an impact. I'm shaken and shocked" by her exit. (c) 2011 The Washington Post Company (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. PIRATES: Here in Coeur d'Alene, ID (100 miles south of BC, 30 miles East of Spokane), we have at least two I think. 99.5, a non-talking DJ type with 70s/80s records 100.5, I can't find a license for one "Republic Broadcasting", very right-wing wacko outfit who runs a slew of 800# ads and political diatribes (has other outlets) [such as 99.9 in Enid --- gh] 87.5, only once, heard non-stop music here but dunno if a pirate. Anybody pursue the FCC with this stuff? (Randolph Schiller, Jan 10, WTFDA via DXLD) ** U S A. F.C.C. FINES --- KABR ISLETA, NM In this Forfeiture Order, we issue a monetary forfeiture in the amount of five thousand, six hundred dollars to The Alamo Navajo School Board, Inc. , licensee of KABR(AM), Isleta, New Mexico (“Station”), 1 for its willful violation of Section 73.3539 of the Commission’s Rules by failing to timely file a license renewal application for the Station, and its willful and repeated violation of Section 301 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, by engaging in unauthorized operation of the Station after its authorization had expired. On February 13, 2007, the Bureau issued a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture in the amount of seven thousand dollars to Licensee for these violations. As noted in the NAL, Licensee’s renewal application for the Station’s license term was due on June 1, 2005, four months prior to the October 1, 2005, expiration date. Licensee did not file the application until January 12, 2006, over three months after the Station’s license had expired, and provided no explanation for the untimely filing of the renewal application. Licensee submitted a response to the NAL on January 11, 2008. On November 22, 2010, Licensee filed a separate Supplement to Response to Notice of Apparent Liability attaching financial information to support its claim of financial hardship. In its Response, Licensee asserts that the proposed forfeiture should be cancelled because: payment of the proposed forfeiture would cause it financial hardship due to its limited financial resources, it made a good faith effort to comply with the Rules in a timely manner, and it has a history of overall compliance with the Rules. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED, pursuant to Section 503(b) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and Sections 0.283 and 1.80 of the Commission’s Rules,26 that The Alamo Navajo School Board, Inc. SHALL FORFEIT to the United States the sum of five thousand, six hundred dollars for willfully violating Section 73.3539 of the Commission’s Rules and willfully and repeatedly violating Section 301 of the Act. (IRCA DX Monitor Jan 1 via DXLD) ** U S A. New LPFM bill is now law http://www.radiosurvivor.com/2011/01/05/fcc-promises-swift-action-on-low-power-fm-law/ http://www.radio-info.com/news/president-obama-signs-the-lpfm-act-community-radio-activists-celebrate (via Artie Bigley, Jan 5, DXLD) OBAMA SIGNS COMMUNITY-RADIO LAW Posted on Wed, Jan. 5, 2011 President Obama has signed the Local Community Radio Act and the new legislation will now be implemented by the Federal Communications Commission. The legislation should lead to the creation of hundreds and possibly thousands of low-power radio stations. Its leading champion was the West Philadelphia nonprofit Prometheus Radio Project. A Prometheus official had said in an earlier interview that there could be three to seven new low-power radio licenses in the Philadelphia area. - Bob Fernandez Find this article at: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/breaking/business_breaking/20110105_Obama_signs_community-radio_law.html (via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. We just returned from two weeks in central Mexico (sure enjoyed the warm weather) and I expected to find Antenna TV on WDAF- 34's 4.2 sub-channel [Kansas City]. Instead, they are running a SD feed of their programming on 34.1 (4.1 virtual). Is Antenna TV programming being broadcast yet? (Dave Pomeroy, Topeka, 4 Jan, WTFDA via DXLD) WPIX-DT New York City is running Antenna TV on a new virtual - 11.4. Endless re-runs of Sanford and Son - not bad! (Karl Zuk, N2KZ, FN31eh, ibid.) Sure is. They ran a 3 Stooges marathon over the weekend and this afternoon Father Knows Best, Hazel and the Partridge Family. It's fast becoming one of my wife's favorite channels (Mike Bugaj, Enfield, CT, ibid.) Don't forget, my fav TV show "Dennis the Menace" sandwiched between "Father Knows Best" and "Hazel". I see it here on WITI-DT 33.2 virtual 6.2 (-John L., Muskego, just outside Milwaukee, WI, ibid.) Dave, Check the affiliate list on the antennatv website. Some of them are now flagged as not starting yet, like `late January` for KFOR-27 here, so we still are unsure whether it will be 4-2, replacing weather, or 4-3 in addition. 73, (Glenn Hauser, OK, ibid.) Glenn, Thanks. I did check and WDAF-34 is scheduled to add Antenna TV in March. Since they are already on with a simulcast of regular WDAF- TV programming on channel 34.2 I don't know why they haven't already added Antenna TV. Maybe they need additional receive equipment? I called the station but couldn't get through to anyone who knows anything about it. I'll be in South America when it goes on so I will miss the debut (Dave Pomeroy, KS, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** URUGUAY. Infoideas. Nueva no oficial en 6678 en prueba: Esta en el aire una emisora no oficial desde José Pedro Varela, departamento de Lavalleja, Uruguay. Ha estado haciendo pruebas con 10 W; ha estado ayer y hoy hasta las 2400 UT. Pude captar una portadora de señal regular, cuya contenido de modulación no logro distinguir, por el nivel de QRN. Esta emisora emite via web originalmente desde http://www.infoideasweb.com/ Tambien audio streaming en http://www.raddios.com/foro1.php?radio=infoideasweb Al menos se podría detectar una portadora en esa frecuencia. En este momento está conectada, 6678 khz, 25 watt con antena dipolo. ID: "Web radio infoideas desde José Pedro Varela, Uruguay``, música variada (Horacio A. Nigro, Montevideo, Uruguay, 2318 UT Jan 6, condiglist yg via DXLD) [Later:] 6678, Sked de 2100 a 0000 UT, segun me confirma el operador via mail (Nigro, ibid.) 6678 (No oficial), Infoideas. Está en el aire una emisora no oficial desde José Pedro Varela, departamento de Lavalleja, utilizando dipolo invertido "v" 25 watt. Sked de 2100 a 0000 UT, según confirma el operador. Esta emisora emite via web originalmente desde http://www.infoideasweb.com/ [Monitoreada por: Horacio Nigro, Arnaldo Slaen, Ernesto Paulero, Rubén Guillermo Margenet] 73 (Dino Bloise / Frecuencia Al Día, Jan 8, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Infoideas 6678 kHz AM captada en Cuchilla Alta 2100 UTC (1900 CX) con señal muy fuerte y SIO de hasta 454. Supongo que a medida que caiga el sol irá aumentando el fading. ID, slogans y música. Distancia hasta QTH, 170 km. Ahora puedo hacer zapping entre ésta y Emisora Chaná 5873 kHz :D 73, (Moisés Knochen, Uruguay, Jan 8, condiglist yg via DXLD) "Esta canción de amor va para mi mamá..." dice la canción que se emite a las 2145 UT por 6678.03 kHz en medio de una fuerte estática minimizada en USB con mi Kenwood R-5000 y antena T2FD. ¡Mejor que ayer! Estoy grabando por Cool Edit Pro para reportar a la emisora uruguaya. RGM (Rubén Guillermo Margenet, Argentina, ibid.) Está llegando con un 35443 en Santiago de Chile. Son las 2356 UT (Kenwood TS-50 Dipolo "V" 10 metros por tramo.) Música y locutor pasa telefonos y saludos a oyentes de Argentina. (ce3BBC, Hugo López, C. Casilla 9570, Correo Central http://www.qrz.com/db/ce3bbc ibid.) Esté en el aire los 6678, 0106 UT y llega por la zona central de Chile, Santiago con un 35433. Agrego que me informa una amiga radioaficionada de la III Regiòn, en Copiapò, muy cerca de la Mina San Josè, pleno desierto de Atacama, que llega con la misma señal, con altos y bajos. TS 50 Santiago, TS 850 Copiapo, Antenas V dipolo 40 metros (ce3BBC, Hugo López C.Casilla 9570, Correo Central http://www.qrz.com/db/ce3bbc UT Jan 10, condiglist yg via DXLD) Seguindo as informações de Horácio Nigro e de outros colegas na Lista Conexión Digital, pude ouvir aqui em São Carlos-SP, Brasil, a nova emissora pirata uruguaia Rádio Infoideas, transmitindo em 6678 kHz. A escuta foi entre 2340 e 0020 UT com dance music variada; a emissora utiliza o slogan "Radio para escuchar y para copiar". Recepção com sinal 2 em alguns momentos e com bastante fadding. Um pequeno trecho desta escuta pode ser encontrado em http://www.ipernity.com/blog/76129/home (Samuel Cássio Martins, São Carlos SP, Brasil 0234 UT Jan 10, ibid.) Muchachada de la condiglist: estoy al borde de la parrilla, cuidando el fuego para preparar luego dos pizzas justamente a la parrilla. Mientras me pongo en sintonía con un aperitivo manon con soda, les cuento que tengo en mi Degen 1103 a infoideas con 34333 a las 0020 UT con musica cumbia tropical (Arnaldo SLAEN, Argentina, UT JAN 9, ibid.) A la hora que se reporta en Mar del Plata y Santiago (0000 UT+), como era previsible aquí en Cuchilla Alta, Uruguay, a apenas 170 km del Tx ni rastros de la señal, a lo sumo un mísero heterodino casi inaudible en SSB. Es un placer ver trabajar a la ionósfera. Mañana vuelvo a MVD, veré si en mi QTH se recibe algo a eso de las 2100 UT. 73, (Moisés Knochen, ibid.) Estimados Condiglistas: Hoy pude mejorar la escucha de Radio Infoideas de José Pedro Varela, Lavalleja-Uruguay. Incluyo un audio dividido en dos partes. Datos de Recepción: Fecha: 8.1.2011 Horario: 18:50-19:05 Horas de Uruguay - 2150-2205 UT Frecuencia exacta: 6678.03 Khz Modo USB Receptor: KENWOOD R-5000 Antena: Diplolo plegada tipo T2FD. Lugar de recepción: Barrio Parque Field (zona norte) de la ciudad de Rosario Latitud/Longitud: (-32.89289426816079 5, -60.71483999490738) http://www.cienciayfe.com.ar/arg/testeo.php?lat=-32.95&lon=-60.65&zm=13 Audio: Está dividido en dos partes, la primera de pocos minutos referida al anuncio de la temperatura y la humedad y la segunda parte refiere a las identificaciones de la emisora y a un anuncio sobre tabaquismo. Calificación SINFO=35343. Copia del presente reporte ha sido enviado a la emisora. Saludos! (Ruben Guillermo Margenet, ibid.) (Pirate), 6678, Web Radio Infoideas, José Pedro Varela, Dept of Lavalleja. This is a new unofficial radio station from Uruguay (not many in the Uruguayan radio history), running in AM mode, with 25 W nominal (effective 10 W considering current SWR value, feeding an inverted "V" dipole. Sked: 1900-2400v. So far has been reported in Argentina (BA, Mar del Plata, Rosario, including down to the southern Patagonian Neuquén Province), Chile and Uruguay. Email: ideasfm @ gmail.com. Relays a Web Radio streaming from: http://www.raddios.com/foro1.php?radio=infoideasweb Station webpage is: http://infoideasweb10.blogspot.com/ http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__v1AxIoj-_w/TASbiYFLAUI/AAAAAAAADvE/XO9u1mgFVD8/S1600-R/infoideasweb.png 73 (Horacio A. Nigro, Montevideo, Uruguay Jan 9, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Horacio, te cuento que entre las 21 y las 22,30 (hora lu) la estuve escuchando perfectamente aquí por Buenos Aires y les mandé un mensaje de texto diciéndoles que los estaba resepcionando muy bien por onda corta, el mensaje lo leyeron al aire y me saludaron pero la parte que decía que los escuchaba por onda corta no fue mencionada al aire; por lo que me pareció que tratan de que no se sepa demasiado o talbés pretenden cuidarse (Federico Fuleston, Jan 9, condiglist yg via DXLD) ? Hoy lunes, siendo las 2330 utc no llega a Mar del Plata. Presumo que no está en el aire. 73 (Arnaldo Slaen, Jan 10, condiglist yg via DXLD) HOY: descanso al personal... :-) (RGM, ibid.) Plus many more posts about this from deep S America; evidently on air weekends only (gh) ** URUGUAY [and non]. 100 años de Marconi en el Rio de la Plata (Entrevista en radio Uruguay [5 minutos] Entrevista a Horacio Nigro en CX26 Radio Uruguay, 5 de enero de 2011 http://audioboo.fm/boos/249988-100-anos-de-marconi-en-el-rio-de-la-plata?utm_campaign=detailpage&utm_content=retweet&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook (Horacio A. Nigro, Montevideo, Uruguay, 6 Jan, radioescutas yg via DXLD) Nuevo enlace con la entrevista completa. Entrevista a Horacio Nigro Geolkiewsky (Primer Museo Viviente de la Radio y las Comunicaciones, "Gral. Artigas"), en CX26 Radio Uruguay, Programa "Visión Nocturna", 5 de enero de 2011. http://www.goear.com/listen/fae0730/--- (Horacio A. Nigro, Montevideo, Uruguay, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UZBEKISTAN. 10090 kHz - Tashkent Meteo, Tashkent/Uzbequistão Recebido: Cartão QSL. 22 dias. V/S: Renat Grenaderov IR enviado por e-mail para grenad @ rambler.ru QTH: 13 Lokomotivnaya Street, Tashkent 100167 - Uzbekistan Obs.: A escuta reportada foi realizada em 17/12/2010, mas o verificador pôs no cartão 17/nov. Em breve a imagem desta confirmação estará disponível no http://pqslfabricio.blogspot.com/2011/01/tashkent-uzbequistao.html Forte 73 (Fabricio Andrade Silva, PP5002SWL, Tubarão - SC, radioescutas yg via DXLD) ** VANUATU. 7259.96, 29.12 0900, Tentative Vanuatu in battle with another Asian, presumably Mongolia on 7260.002. Other days I have heard at about the same time another Chinese speaking station. Later China R Intl carries Japanese and is easy to recognize. Sometimes I have heard Russian at about 1030 UT but don’t know from where. It is also a little odd that Vanuatu is at maximum on my Flag pointing at 120 degrees and weaker on the one pointing in 30 degrees, the latter always best towards Australia and Indonesia. TN A recording was sent to Mauno Ritola and he replied on Nov 29: It most certainly is Vanuatu there, although I don't recognise any specific words. The upper station sounds clearly Mongolian. Seems that China is off, as it often is on Tuesdays at this time. You could confirm it as 100 % by simultaneous listening via Australia remote rx. In new mail from Nov. 30: I can hear now at 1035 Vanuatu on top and // with Brisbane remote rx. 3945 kHz much weaker. Antennas can act strangely sometimes! /Mauno The picture [Perseus screenshot] is from Jan 6 when Vanuatu was almost alone and undisturbed. Caught a weak ID at 0900 for the first time on this frequency (Thomas Nilsson, Sweden, SW Bulletin Jan 9 via DXLD) 3945 kHz appears not to be on this evening, although 7260 kHz is, Jan 4. Yesterday I said Vanuatu 3945 kHz was off the air. However the transmitter is back again today Jan 5 with 7260 kHz. Both transmitters though, have a loud "buzz" with their modulation (Barry Hartley, NZ, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 9 via WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DXLD) 7259.963 kHz, Vanuatu at 0720 UT Jan 8. Vanuatu liegt heute Morgen mit seiner Signalstaerke gerade an der Hoergrenze und ist somit mehr zu erahnen als zu hoeren. :-( (Wolf-Dieter Behnke, Germany, Jan 8, A-DX via BC-DX Jan 9 via WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DXLD) Wolf in Berlin says, just approx. THRESHOLD very weak signal this morning Jan 8th (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) 7260, R. Vanuatu, Port Vila. January 07, 0758-0808 Pacific music, female in an uncertain language hosting listeners by phone, back Pop music. 33423 (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Embu SP Brasil, SW40 - Dipoles and Longwire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VATICAN [and non]. 9755, Jan 6 at 2014, English talk about Sudan, good signal. BDXC-UK Broadcasts in English booklet IDs it right away at the top of 2000 listings, as Vatican Radio. HFCC says 500 kW, 170 degrees from Santa Maria di Galeria. 5885, Jan 6 at 2021, checking the +6+ MHz band for anything audible this early = 1349 LMT, music on this frequency must be Vatican Radio, which at 1940-2120 is favorably aimed USwards at 326 degrees. Aoki confirms this is a 10-minute music break, except on Sundays only Esperanto at 2020-2030. Not // 9755. Besides Cuba 6140, also had signals on 6200 Bulgaria and 5960 CRI Albania, both aimed USward beyond western Europe. see also PHILIPPINES [non] (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VATICAN [non non]. 4005, R. Vaticana (yes, it’s feminine in Italian, while the city’s name is masculine: Città del Vaticano…). This previously elusive outlet (at least for me!) is being heard daily at different times since 31/12/2010. Transmitter location is listed as Vatican City proper (and, for once, not Santa Maria di Galeria), with 10 kW. Languages confirmed as per RV schedule on their website. USB is always needed, more so during UT morning hours due to severe ute QRM. Heard as follows: 31/12 several checks between 0432 and 0500, Slovak and Hungarian listed; 1/1 at 2131 Spanish; Arabic at recheck 2151, several IS to 2200; 2/1 at 0557 French, ID, several IS to 0600, then English; same day, Arabic at 2155, no Ute QRM, only QRN, and clear enough to understand report on Christians in the Middle East; 6/1 at 0644 hard to copy, but apparently Mass in Latin, as listed. Signal for all of the above goes from poor to fair at times, in spite of noise or ute QRM (Victor C. Jaar, Longueuil, Québec, IC-R75. Long wire, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) Yet in Spanish the station is known as Radio Vaticano. Perhaps they think of it as being the name of the city, instead of matching the gender of Radio, which despite ending in -o, is feminine. And perhaps I should enter all non-4005 logs as VATICAN [non], i.e. from SMG, which is extraterritorially Vaticanish, but I don`t bother (gh, DXLD) 4005, Jan 13 at 0627, poor signal in English on reduced-carrier SSB, mentions Vatican Radio, 0629 ``Laudetur Jesus Christus`` and bells. This is the small transmitter within the City/State itself, rather than in extra-territorial Santa Maria de Galeria, Italy. Aoki shows 10 kW, 340 degrees. Latin Mass is scheduled to follow at 0630. I often tune across here on the way down from Chiquimula and/or Washington, and notice DW German 250 kW via Skelton on 3995, but first time recently that I have heard VR (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA [non]. El Hugazo is finally back on the air with another episode of ``Aló, Presidente`` after missing several weeks. Sunday Jan 9 at 1610, 13750, 17750 and 15370, in decreasing order of strength, are separate from mainstream RHC on 11760, 11690, 13680 --- tho the latter two are supposed to be carrying A,P too (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIETNAM. Hola, Por esta vía le informamos sobre la nueva casilla electrónica del equipo de redacción en español de la Voz de Vietnam. A partir de ahora podremos intercambiar correspondencia por el correo vovmundo @ gmail.com Esperamos que mantengamos el contacto y la sintonía. Atentamente. Sección español, VOV Mundo --- La Voz de Vietnam, 45 Ba Trieu, Hanoi. CORDIALES SALUDOS / GOOD LUCK / (via JUAN FRANCO CRESPO, Spain, Jan 8, DXLD) ** VIETNAM [non]. Clandestine, PALAU, 13745 R. Hoa-Mai, Jan 06 *1300- 1309, 25332-24332 Vietnamese, 1300 sign on with IS, Opening music, ID, Opening announce, Talk (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan, Japan Premium Jan 7 via DXLD) ** VIRGIN ISLANDS US. 1620, WDHP, Christiansted 12/19/2010 at 2255 EST [0355 UT Dec 20]. A song ended, then "WDHP 1620 AM in United States Virgin Islands. Our transmitter is located at number 1 Mahogany Rd, Frederiksted and our studio is located at number 79A Castle Coakley, Christiansted... downtown... WDHP, the powerhouse of the eastern Caribbean". Then into what I believe was a station jingle. Moderate QRM and interference from mostly nulled KSMH in Auburn, CA, a very weak WTAW and the SS thought to be Radio Rebelde in Cuba (GARRY STOKLAS, Imperial CA Jergar @ sbcglobal.net DXing with Kenwood R1000 and 4 foot Box Loop, DX Worldwide, IRCA DX Monitor Jan 8 via DXLD) Great catch Garry. I have not heard WDHP for several years (Pat Martin, Seaside OR, DXWW ed., ibid.) It would be here too, having to get past Omaha and Waco (gh, OK, DXLD) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. 6297, ALGERIA. Radio National de la RASD (Rabuni), 2205-2222, 1/6/2011, Arabic. Talk by man, joined at times by a woman and a second man. Appeared to be news. Headlines at 2219. ID at 2220 and talk by multiple people. Upbeat local music at 2221. Poor signal with some utility interference at start, improving to moderate by 2215 (Jim Evans, Germantown, TN, on G6 with whip antenna, Cumbre DX via DXLD) CLANDESTINE, 700, Polisario Front, Rabouni, Algeria, *1704-2314, 08 Jan, "natl." anthem after which they went immediately to prayer, Castilian program at 2300, songs, etc.; 34443 rating at s/on, adjacent QRM. \\ 6297.15 rated 55444 also at s/on. I don't recall such a long use of this fq: they're on 700 since, what, late August/early September last, with 1550 silent all this time. Sometimes, there's no signal on HF, just on MF - it's not as strong / good as on HF, but it provides a signal whenever 6297.15 is too bad for a number of reasons like deep fades, flutter, sometimes even utility QRM which at least I can attenuate with the K9AY (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** YEMEN. 909, 2008, Yemeni R. in Arabic, SINPO 55544. 20 December, Bahir Dar (Robertas Pogorelis, visiting Ethiopia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZAMBIA. 5915, ZNBC-Radio 1, Lusaka, 1831-1852, 08 Jan, Vernacular, talks, music; 35433, adj. QRM after 1900 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZAMBIA. 6162.000, kväll ZNBC, Radio Two i Lusaka hörs i stort sett varje kväll med px på EE. Stänger A2205. 1-3 SA 6162.000, evening, ZNBC, Radio Two in Lusaka can be heard almost every evening with program in English. Closedown at A[pproximately?]2205. 1- 3 SA (Stig Adolfsson, Sweden, SW Bulletin Jan 9, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) Since it was on 6162 to three decimal places, unlikely to have been a variant, but hitting a 2 instead of a 5 on the frequency keypad (gh DXLD) 6165.0, ZNBC/R. Zambia 2, 0404-0502, Jan 7. Ex: 6162. Thanks to Thorsten Hallmann (Germany) for the alert that Zambia was absent from their recent 6162. Perhaps my Jan 5 log at 0245 was the last broadcast there? Heard today under RN (via Bonaire) with mostly Hi-life and some EZL pop music; after RN off at 0427, mixing with Chad’s IS and Chad’s music; 0444 end of music segment; in English; 0445 xylophone-sounding fanfare; phone interview seemed sports related; 0455 fanfare again; very poor by 0500. The winner by a slight margin was Zambia. Overall was a mess with them mixing together (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE. Voice of Zimbabwe in English was received on the evenings of 21 and 22 December after 1700 UT on 4828 kHz, with SINPO 34433 and distorted modulation. The station was not received on 28, 29 or 30 December – so must be irregular (Robertas Pogorelis, visiting Ethiopia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4828, Voice of Zimbabwe, Gweru. January 07, 0407-0418 African music, female in an uncertain language “Zimbabwe”, some seconds silent, back Hilife music. 25332 (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Embu SP Brasil, SW40 - Dipoles and Longwire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. SOUTH AFRICA, 4895, 1556 UT, Zimbabwe Community Radio via Meyerton, in English, SINPO 34433, later 33333. There also seemed to be a weaker station in Arabic on the same frequency. 28 December, Wondo Genet (Robertas Pogorelis, visiting Ethiopia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. SOUTH AFRICA, SW Radio Africa in English (destined for Zimbabwe) was received between 1716 and 1813 UT on 4880 kHz, with SINPO 33433 to 44544 (Robertas Pogorelis, visiting Ethiopia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 764.95, Yemen? 2319-, 10 Jan, talks, music, but not strong enough to determine its kind or origin; heterodyne with another UNID on 765; 14441, adj. QRM de E (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 950, USA stn, 2325-2336, 07 Jan, English, youngsters songs, advertisements, announcements, Radio Disney IDs; 43443, adj. QRM. It doesn't seem to fit in Lee J. Freshwater's CAN+USA MW List (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) No Disney in the NRC-AM Log either on 950 (gh, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 1070, Sunday Jan 9 at 1438 UT I can get a nice sharp null from groundwave KLIO Wichita, which instead of oldies has a preacher on, and in that null I am hearing a country hymn. Surely not KNX, which ordinarily occupies this spot earlier. Looks like WDIA Memphis is most likely from distance and direxion, 50 kW daytime, but both day and night patterns have major lobes to the south, little toward OK. NRC AM Log says its format is UC:AC = urban/American contemporary. But like KLIO, prime format goes out the window when gospel huxters ramp up on Sundays. Slightly unnulled, the two make a SAH of 3.5 Hz; we have already determined that KLIO is sub-audibly off-frequency (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 1530, Maybe domestic. 1050-1058 January 9, 2010. Rapidly unstable carrier or bad exciter, no audio and present only in LSB. In USB, WCKY, Cincinnati with preacher on a local Sunday morning. The unstable signal was lost 1t 1058 when WCKY's antenna switch and audio gain clobbered this (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 1560, on caradio, Jan 6 around 1710 UT, KEBC Disney Radio in OKC has fast heavy SAH and QRM from some other station. This is less than a sesquihour from low noon at 1832, and by 1730 no longer there. I suspect it is residual skywave from 50 kW KGOW Houston TX, altho its lobe aims 15 degrees, quite a lot less toward 345 degrees, but I seem to recall a similar SAH from it before. But could also be Harold Camping`s KKAA in Aberdeen SD, which is often heard here earlier, has a latitudinal advantage and a lobe right toward us. Cannot either rule out 10 kW KLNG Council Bluffs IA, non-direxional (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 3201.681, 1053-1100 Jan 8. Heard a male in Spanish language comments at tune in. This was followed with music, a female singing. After the music (1058) a female comments in Spanish. Music continues after the hour. Signal is too weak to catch any specific details. Checked back at 1120 and the signal was still broadcasting but weak (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston FL, 26N 081W, Used them all this morning: WR-G31DDC, WJ HF1000, JRC NRD545, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 3240-3410, Jan 7 at 1306, most of the 90m band is blanketed by a wideband multi-carrier noise source, peaking circa 3319. Had not noticed it before 1300. Can`t be certain whether it is local nor whether it is related to the carrier I have been getting on 3319 at many hours of darkness, for several nights, which puts het on 3320 South Africa in evenings, Korea North in mornings (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. I have two strange logs from 30 December from Arba Minch. First, at 1521 UT I received parallel music on 3310 kHz (SINPO 35444), 3320 kHz (SINPO 24322) and 3375 kHz, SINPO 25322 (Robertas Pogorelis, visiting Ethiopia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 4417, have a weak signal at 0040. Don't know if this is a broadcast or a utility? Can hear a male in occasional comments. Language unknown and comments are not steady (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston FL, 26N 081W, WR-G31DDC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED [non]. I received a station in some language of the region (or possibly Arabic) on 4770 kHz – seemed different from R. Nigeria Kaduna. Mentioned Sudan, “Oromu”, SINPO 33433. Then found parallel signals on 5060 kHz, SINPO 32543, and 5070 kHz, SINPO 25322. Did not check if these were not receiver spurs. 30 December, Arba Minch (Robertas Pogorelis, visiting Ethiopia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ERITREA (gh) UNIDENTIFIED. 4800, 1135-1145 Jan 8, Noted a male and female in Unidentified comments. Tried different receivers and still no success. Comments continued with just a few seconds of bridge music here and there. This could be Radio Buenas Nuevas which broadcasts a couple of vernacular languages during this time period? (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston FL, 26N 081W, Used them all this morning: WR-G31DDC, WJ HF1000, JRC NRD545, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Unident, 4800, 2350-2359 Jan 10. Noted a female and a male in comments. Language sounds like it's from the African Continent but signal is very poor making copy difficult. At 2357 noted a series of canned promos. Still can't recognize the language? I am thinking this might be Radio Buenas Nuevas, Guatemala, although at tune above, I thought it might be an African? Still on the air, if anyone wants to take a try at it, 0008 (Chuck Bolland, ibid.) The Guatemalan has been inactive for years. It would be nice if you or someone could get something more definite. Why not guess India or China? (gh, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 4880, 2007 Spy numbers station in English, SINPO 25333. 28 December, Wondo Genet (Robertas Pogorelis, visiting Ethiopia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 4885 kHz, 0305 sounded like a jammer?? 29 December, Wondo Genet (Robertas Pogorelis, visiting Ethiopia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 5058 kHz, 1621, UNID in local language, SINPO 44544, later 34333. 30 December, Arba Minch. Probably a clandestine from Eritrea (Robertas Pogorelis, visiting Ethiopia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 6064-SSB, intruder Jan 7 at 1227, weak 2-way Spanish vs weak AM carrier on 6065, which would be either KBS or Beijing (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. USA – UNID Pirate, 8 January 2011 at 2130 UT on 6924.7 kHz. Program of rap music, with no ID’s heard. Posted my logging on the Free Radio Network Vines; several others heard it as well in this time slot. Initial ID was for Liquid Radio, which was on at the same time, but conformed that they were not playing rap music. Apparently they were on the same time as Liquid Radio; I noticed a strong heterodyne as well. 73’s, (Ed Insinger, Summit, NJ, Jan 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 8989-USB, (LATIN AMERICA) "El Buen Pescador". 2259-2332 January 6, 2011. Thanks Crawford tip (and his branding), very good with Spanish male solo preaching, lots of "Hallelujah hermano" and occasional simplex channel calls from listeners, to which he occasionally responded briefly before going back to his preaching. Comes up roughly 2300, local weeknights at least (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Sounds like should be in marine band, not aero. Seems like we had report of this also long ago (gh, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. On 11 January from 0904 to 0922 Zulu (when it ceased) I monitored a continuously repeating, non-modulated CW transmission of the number series 4 5 6, zero beat on frequency 9886.0 kHz. RST at my location in southern France was 59+9 on a Palstar R30C utilizing a Sony AN-1 active antenna mounted on a balcony 30 feet above ground. There were no commercial broadcast stations audible at 9885 9890 at this time. I'm wondering if anyone else has heard this and/or has any ideas what it might be. My initial thinking is it may have been some sort of general alert to station(s) monitoring numbers transmissions. ..? Or a commercial broadcaster doing some sort of test slightly off frequency? A further note: at 0943 I heard a single unmodulated CW tone (dah) on the same frequency; at 0947, another; at 0949 another; at 0951 another; lastly, at 0953 (Ralph Anderson, K9GGZ/F, primetimeshortwave yg via DXLD) Most SW broadcasters are non-commercial, but he means something else (gh) Nothing more heard when I monitored the same frequency at the same time today. The transmission was obviously "machine generated," but no other clue except good signal strength at my location. Cheers, (Ralph, Jan 12, ibid.) UNIDENTIFIED. 11520, strong open carrier Jan 6 to 1534*, back on at *1535; from HFCC you would think WEWN is the only station in the world on 11520, but only at 0000-0900; testing or mixup? Equivalent level to 11550 in Spanish, but supposed to be on 15610 in English where it was inaudible, but sporadic-E-less propagation is no help. In Aoki we find there is lots more on 11520, from YFR via Taiwan, Sound of Hope and consequent ChiCom jamming --- but none of it during this hour (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 11660, Jan 12 at 1424 past 1433, oscillator-jammer, i.e. two tones quickly alternating between 6 and 7 times per second, obvious with BFO on, but can`t hear what it is blocking, aside stonger NHK 11655 via Sackville. Also the pitch changes slightly every few sex. We figured this type of jamming would be from KOREA NORTH, as used to be heard on 6348 and other clandestine channels. From HFCC, the only thing on 11660 at this time is VOR via Tajikistan at 12-15. Eibi and Aoki show VOR in English during this hour, and also have R. Australia in Chinese via Shep until 1430, then English, but no sign of either audible here (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 14313 USB, 2012 UT: Amateur stations talking about the recent tragic events in Arizona and comparing it against the Fort Hood shooting, then comparing religions and then asking if any of the participating stations ever thought about shooting anyone --- scary conversation! One station keeps referring to being a white man and not being able to understand tragic behavior as a white man. No callsigns given at any time (Dan Hensley, KC9NCF, Chicago IL, Jan 10, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Hi, there's two UNID stations on 19 m right now, 9 Jan 2011, 1515 UTC: One strong station, with Chinese chat, on 15145 kHz (not // CRI 9705), and one weak station, with some Asian language, religious?, on approx. 15209.35 kHz, apparently fading out, first heard at 1455 UTC, the sermon or whatever it is was not interrupted for the top of the hour. Doesn't sound like WYFR Portuguese/Spanish to me, that might be the carrier on 15210.0. 73, (Eike Bierwirth, Leipzig, Germany, JRC NRD525 + PA0RDT MiniWhip, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Hi Glenn, Happy New Year! Hope all is well with you. I admire your efforts to keep WOR going. Great of you! Many thanks! (Robertas Pogorelis, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Thanks this week for financial support from Tom Roche, Atlanta, as in 11-01 (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1547) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ EiBi list broadens In case you have not noticed, Eike has been adding more non-broadcast listings. Besides selected MW items, dealing with external broadcasting, now there are lots of utility entries, such as VOLMET and marine weather broadcasts, and even some fax entries. Lots and lots of stuff in 2-3 MHz and beyond (gh, DXLD) ITU GE75 A new GE75 update was published today by the ITU. http://www.itu.int/ITU-R/publications/brific-ter/files/ge75/2011/ge75_125.pdf (Olle Alm, Sweden, Jan 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) List of proposed MW changes in Eurasia (gh, DXLD) CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ WINTERFEST 2011 – COLLINSVILLE, IL, JANUARY 29 It’s not often that a DX club puts in a blurb about a Hamfest. These are great places to find wire and other materials for an antenna or other project, or even a good new or used receiver. (I should know, I picked up my current shortwave receiver, a Sangean ATS-803A, at a Hamfest, as well as my HF Amateur Radio transceiver, an ICOM IC-745.) The St. Louis and Suburban Radio Club (WØSRC/WØDCW), of which your Editor-in-Chief is a member, presents Winterfest 2011. The Hamfest will be held at the Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville, IL (Interstate 55/70 at Illinois 157; you can also use the Horseshoe Lake Road exit off of Interstate 255) on Saturday, January 29, 2011. For more information, go to http://www.slsrc.org (IRCA DX Monitor Jan 1 via DXLD) 2011 IRCA CONVENTION – COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, JUNE 23-25 The convention will be held June 23-25, 2011 at the Airport Value Inn http://www.airportvalueinn.com located on the east side of Colorado Springs at 6875 Space Village Avenue, Colorado Springs 80915. IRCA has set aside a special block of rooms with a special reservation rate of $69.99/night (regularly $79.99/night during the summer months), please call the hotel directly at (719) 596-5588 or toll-free (800) 596-5588 to book the special rate (the special rate is only available over the phone), views of the rooms can be seen on their website. The Colorado Springs Airport is located about 5 miles south of the hotel and is a relatively easy drive from the airport to the hotel (taxis are available at the airport, the hotel doesn't have a shuttle). Convention registration is $30, please send registrations to: Robert Wien 2910 North Powers Boulevard, #106, Colorado Springs, CO 80922. If you wish to donate items for the auction, they can also be sent to this address as well, all AM radio-related donations are welcome. The convention will include radio station tours (specifics to be announced later), an AM transmitter tour around the city, DX quiz with prizes, business meeting, banquet, and the traditional Saturday night auction. The banquet will be held at the Golden Corral Buffet located on 1970 Waynoka Road (near Powers/Palmer Park Blvd., about 4 miles NW of the hotel) Saturday night 6/25/11 at 6 PM (we will have a room reserved at the Golden Corral, it is a 'pay-your-own-way' all-you-can-eat-buffet, cost is approximately $10/person (NOTE: COST OF BANQUET IS SEPARATE FROM CONVENTION REGISTRATION FEE), beverage extra, to see the menu, go to http://www.goldencorral.net with the auction to occur in the hotel meeting room after the banquet at approximately 8 PM. (Thanks to Mike Sanburn, KG6LJU, for the information.) (IRCA DX Monitor Jan 1 via DXLD) DX-PEDITIONS ++++++++++++ Re 11-01: A DXing.info link for my recent DXpedition A link to my loggings/report of my recent 1 week holiday in Masset, Haida Gwaii (off north-western B.C). Had a great time as always, and the DX superb. Here's the link you might be interested in: http://www.dxing.info/dxpeditions/haida_gwaii_2010_12.pdf 73s, (Walt Salmaniw, IRCA mailing list via DXLD) MW portion only LANGUAGE LESSONS ++++++++++++++++ Re 11-01: Or could they be in a Great Lake? What is DAID? (gh, DXLD) Dash After ID. Typical of Canadian aerobeacons; it's a long dash (Harold Frodge, MI, Jan 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ KAITO KA1107 In a follow-up letter to his receiver last month of the Kaito KA1107: I have obtained two photos of Cinderella from Universal Radio and permission has been given that they maybe used in this magazine. Universal Radio has changed their policy and is now happy to export, even by surface mail, provided that it is made clear that the buyer must wait three months for it to arrive. Surface parcel post for Cinderella to the UK is $13.45. The ac adapter from Universal is for 110 volts. I advise using a transformer from UK power and not buying an adapter for UK power, because we want to use the power lines as an outdoor antenna. Also because the wrong adapter can cause harm and this is not a simple matter. Kaito is pronounced Kay'-too. It would be nice to have a Kaito distributor in the UK. Then the original adapter would work with UK power. I have only Kaito USA contact information. I phoned them but only got recorded announcements. I fear they are hard to do business with. There was no Israeli customs duty for Cinderella, so I expect there would be no UK customs duty. Kaito Electronics Inc., 5185 Cliffwood Drive, Montclair, CA 91763 USA Tele: 909 628 6088 E-mail: info @ kaitousa.com (David Crystal, Israel, Radio Topics, Making Contact, Jan World DX Club Contact via DXLD) Experience over many years, David, would show that surface mail from the USA to the UK is not all that slow. When we ordered 'Passport' via the US Secretary direct from the publisher it usually took three weeks and never more than four. Before that 'Proceedings' arrived roughly in the same time. Members who have imported heavy pieces of US gear via the club never waited much over three weeks. As for UK customs its difficult to judge their stance. Sometimes fair but far back when the club stencil duplicator was re-shipped back from the Channel Islands we were charged a fortune (Arthur Ward, ed., ibid.) REMOTERIG Hi all, For those who have the possibility to operate a remote WEB- controlled station I recommend to use Remoterig, a fantastic solution developed by ham SM2O. Actually, the only frustrating thing in remoting a station is the fact to operate the remote radio from a PC. With Remoterig you don't need any PC (you need a PC only to configure the system). The system works with 2 little boxes (control and radio), containing all the functions you need (power supply, USB and RS232 serial ports, inputs and outputs, audio transfer with speaker amplifier). You can also transmit from your MIC or a paddle/straight key for CW operation, and locally you can operate directly from the detachable panel of RTX's like TS480, IC706 etc., really feeling your station like a real RTX. Visit Remoterig at http://www.remoterig.com 73's, HB9GCE, Andy http://www.hb9gce.ch (Stumpf Carl Andreas, 8 Jan, playdx yg via DXLD) WEATHER RADIO FOR OTHER EMERGENCIES Hello Glenn, Hope the new year is doing you well. Saw the discussion about the suggestion to tune into NOAA weather radio in national emergencies. I believe that is said because they are all supplied with the latest EAS tech and can be accessed by federal emergency agencies at any time. These days, you can't tell if an AM or FM broadcaster has that correctly hooked up. Take care! (Eric Loy, Catlin, IL, Jan 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ONE POTENTIAL DANGER OF AM RADIO DXING A word to the wise is sufficient, ya ha ha, HAHAHAHAHA...MW DXing hasn't bothered me a bit, a bit a bit.... http://comics.com/get_fuzzy/2011-01-01/ (Kirk Allen, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) SOFTWARE DEFINED RADIOS ADDIXION I haven't jumped on the SDR bandwagon yet, and most of my reasons are the same as mentioned by Russ. Unless you are exceptionally affluent, it's hard to justify spending that kind of money on a hobby activity. Aside from that, there is the apprehension that having an SDR could become a huge time waster. Like Russ, I make extensive use of timed recording. Virtually every day, I record the periods around TOH from just before sunset until at least an hour after sunrise. When reviewing the recordings, I listen from a minute before each TOH until just after TOH, and if it sounds promising, I do further listening, especially in the period where stations typically come out of a news break. Just to do a reasonably thorough job of reviewing one day's worth of recordings takes a considerable amount of time, and that's for a single tuned frequency. If I had an SDR recording that covers 100+ channels, I can imagine the temptation to check one more, and another after that, and maybe just one more... before you know it, you've run out of hours in the day, and neglected other important things that you should be doing. In short, too much of a good thing. Sure, you just need to exercise some self-discipline to avoid slipping into this trap, and we all know how easy that is. :-) I think SDR's are perfect for expeditions to special listening locations where you want to make the most of the limited time available, but for routine monitoring, having that full band recording capability is a bit scary! Lastly, with 2300+ stations logged from this location, I've heard all the easy ones, and many of the not-so-easy ones. These days, I'm usually going after a specific target, which involves careful phasing to null out a pest on a given channel. This applies to timed recording as well as live listening. Since this setup applies to a specific channel, having the capability to record many channels at once wouldn't really be much of an asset. Having said all that, I can still think of a few instances where having an SDR would be nice. The main one would be when there is some very unusual propagation happening, which can bring in some new stations without the use of phasing. This is especially true of auroral events, which have been exceedingly rare in recent years, but likely will become somewhat more frequent as we head towards the next sunspot peak. The next time one happens, I'll probably be kicking myself for not having an SDR to make the most of the event. The SDR would also be useful for GY hunting, to grab all 6 GY channels at once... but again, there's that time element involved in checking the recordings. Anyway, that's how I see it. In the long run, though, I'm sure that resistance is futile! (Barry McLarnon VE3JF Ottawa, ON, Jan 9, IRCA via DXLD) You've done a great job of characterizing several of the "down" sides of SDR's, Barry. I've fallen into the trap of recording the band here at home far too many times and, now that I've filled several hard drives with Perseus recordings, I'm reluctant to throw them away in case there might be a hidden gem or a great opening buried somewhere in the terabytes of data. And, I do find myself sometimes losing track of time as I step through 100+ TOH's from a single 2-minute wide band recording. But then again, I was doing single-channel audio recordings like you and Russ for years prior to getting an SDR and have several gigabytes of un- reviewed MP3 files, too. I keep telling myself I'll get to them all someday when I'm retired :-) I also found that I seldom used my phaser after getting an SDR - I was afraid of screwing up the wideband reception - which I truly believe was a step backwards. I'll have to train myself to start using it again, even if it means dedicating another radio to phasing, since some of my best receptions were as a result of the phaser. For me, though, there have been two key benefits of the SDR: (1) the ability to record some outstanding conditions at DXpeditions, the summer beach house, or even a nearby location using a beverage antenna and listening to them later at my leisure, and (2) the ability to "visualize" the conditions on the band (signal strength, modulation, IBOC/interference, multiple carriers, etc.) that were just theoretical in my mind prior to the waterfall display of an SDR. I feel as though I have a greater understanding of what's taking place now that I can both hear and see the station's signal. I guess the real indication of the impact of SDRs on me has been how seldom I listen to my "regular" receiver since getting the Perseus - other than taking it out of the box once or twice a year for a DXpedition, the Drake spends most of its time in a box in the basement. It makes me sad that my regular radio isn't used much anymore, and I may end up selling it, but I never see myself turning away from the SDR path in the future (Brett Saylor, ibid.) I think that Brett hit the nail on the head when he said about "seeing" the band. This was the pivotal change for me, when I can, at a glance, immediately see whether conditions are good or not. I often just have my Perseus running in the background without audio. I can see the MUF clearly. Who is open. Whether there are any TA signals propagating. When I momentarily went back to using my AOR 7030+, it was as if I was blind (reminded me of that old joke about a blind man feeling an elephant and describing what he was feeling --- totally dependent on where he happened to be). The visual effect gives me a HUGE advantage in DXing. I would never go back to the old style of DXing. Heck, one doesn't need to record hours and hours of SDR files. I sure don't at home, anyway. I reserve these for my trips to my DXpedition cottage way up north. Now, when conditions stink, I can continue to explore those files all I want. I know of at least one very distinguished DXer who does just that --- rarely listens at home, but goes on DXpeditions, and then spends months digesting the SDR files afterwards (Walt Salmaniw, IRCA via DXLD) Yes, the Perseus not for everyday use, at least for recording spectrum grabs. It's a nice set-up for live listening though, with the waterfall giving a clear view of TAs and other off-channel signals. I like it. It is invaluable for DXpeditions, in doing spectrrum grabs that can be reviewed later (Jim Renfrew, Holley NY, ibid.) THE REAL WORLD OF FM TRANSMITTING DIREXIONAL ANTENNAS There are limitations on how directional a DA can be. In practice, no antenna manufacturer can make an antenna that will precisely match some of the more complex DA patterns already being licensed in the noncommercial band. What actually ends up happening is that a station gets licensed for a DA that might have some deep nulls and sharp lobes, and then builds a real-world antenna that fills much, but not all, of that allocations envelope. It's not great spectrum-management policy, IMO, because it results in stations having protection from interference over areas they don't actually serve, and thus leaves people in those areas unserved by anyone on that channel. On the commercial band, the use of DAs is much more restricted, since stations still have to show that a site exists where a fully-spaced non-DA signal could be allocated on their channel. All that a DA can do is to minimize interference to another short-spaced signal on a co- or adjacent-channel. That's where the rule that *does* allow a 3 kW class A station to upgrade to 6 kW comes in. It's a particularly convoluted part of a complex rule (73.213), and I don't claim to fully understand all the details of it, but my understanding is that it requires some degree of cooperation among neighboring stations seeking to upgrade to "A6." That's how WKNL is getting its upgrade - a mutual-interference agreement with co-channel WRNX. Without doing a study, I'm not sure which stations would have to sign off on a 6 kW upgrade for WILI-FM, but I'd guess WKJY and WBZ-FM figure into it, and probably WNLC as well. In any event, I'm not sure the upgrade by itself would do as much for WILI-FM as one might think - it's only a 3 dB increase, after all, and there's a good chance you could get that much improvement in the real world (with no change on paper) by optimizing the transmission system, especially the antenna. (There's really no such thing as a non-directional FM transmitting antenna. Even an antenna licensed on paper as "ND" has certain directional characteristics that can vary widely depending on how it interacts with the tower structure on which it's mounted. A good antenna maker can do some amazing things to create a real-world directional boost in a desired direction, even though it still appears ND as far as the FCC is concerned.) s (Scott Fybush, NY, Jan 11, WTFDA via DXLD) POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ NEW D-LINK ROUTER CREATES "CHALLENGING SITUATION" FOR SHORTWAVE RADIOS. Posted: 06 Jan 2011 D-Link press release, 4 Jan 2011: "D-Link's whole-home wireless connectivity portfolio now features hybrid networking solutions for extending wired and wireless networks in challenging situations, by tapping into the electrical wiring in the home. By integrating Atheros' industry-acclaimed Hy-Fi technology into a hybrid Wi- Fi/PowerLine Router, D-Link makes it easy for consumers to solve nagging coverage and performance problems. ... This product may interfere with devices such as lighting systems that have a dimmer switch, short wave radios, or other powerline devices that do not follow the HomePlug PowerLine Alliance standard." Money Morning, 5 Jan 2011, William Patalon III: "[A]s a career-long journalist who's very interested in global investing trends, I've for years been a regular listener to world-band (shortwave) radio broadcasts. And Radio Australia is one of my favorite listening targets." (kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DRM See AUSTRALIA; CUBA; FRANCE; LUXEMBOURG; ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ MONGOLIA; RUSSIA; SPAIN; UK; some as QRM DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- RDS ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Meteor Scatter FM DX: Caught my first one ever this year, thanks to the RDS. Driving home at about 1 PM local time on Jan. 6, I had the car stereo tuned to my "fishing hole" spot of 96.9, the clearest frequency in the area. I get snips of everything from Spanish to French there driving in the early morning. This time I heard a sudden burst of music, about two seconds long, then it was gone. Looked down to see the RDS shining "KMFY-FM", a needed station from Grand Rapids, MN about 575 miles away. Gotta love that RDS. Take care! (Eric Loy, Catlin, IL, Jan 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DTV See also U S A ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ LUDWIG ENTERPRISES PREPS FOR LAUNCH OF 'THE ONE' RADIO By leasing portions of over-the-air DTV data all across the U.S., Ludwig Enterprises is getting ready to unleash 50 channels of "digital" radio programming to specialized hand-held radios it has patented. A one-time subscription fee is charged to the listener upon activation; the radio itself is included. http://www.rwonline.com/article/111310 (CGC Communicator Jan 5 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) THE FUTURE OF TV Lately, most Twin Cities TV stations have been running a 'spot' promoted by the NAB. They are asking what is the future of broadcast TV. Web site listed is "thefutureoftv.org". I haven't tried to bring it up (John Ebeling, MN, Jan 7, WTFDA via DXLD) I've been seeing them too. I didn't realize "the future of TV" would require a yearly PSA from the National Association of Broadcasters (Jeff Kitsko, Unity Township, PA, ibid.) DXer wrote: ``They had an article in the Dec 25 edition of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. In fact the NAB website you are talking about has a link to the MJS article.`` Indeed, there was an article on this subject in "USA Today" this week. (I didn't read the article but did see the headline). (Doug Smith W9WI Pleasant View, TN EM66, ibid.) The article in USA TODAY appeared in the Tuesday, January 4, issue. I picked up a copy at the Dallas airport on our way home from Mexico, having not read an English newspaper for a couple of weeks. The headline is "Is it time to cut the cord on cable TV?" The article credits the drop in pay TV subscriptions to not only the economy but also to new technologies -- particularly the internet (Netflix, iTunes, YouTube, Amazon, Vudu, Hulu Plus and Crackle). There isn't much mention of OTA but there is some. One Oklahoma City viewer said he dropped U-verse and replaced it with an Apple TV box for Web video and "a rabbit-ear antenna to get local over-the-air channels free." The article also says pay TV has lost some viewers "who bought subscriptions in 2009 because they mistakenly thought that would be the only way to watch TV after broadcast stations made the federally mandated switch from analog to digital transmission." Gee, I wonder who caused those misconceptions? Time-Warner and Cox Communications sure spent a lot of money to fool people around here. Unfortunately, broadcasters did little to dispel those lies. As I bicycle around the area (not currently due to cold weather) I have noticed some new TV antennas popping up. Apparently some are finally learning about the superior quality of HD over the air. But the message is not coming from local TV stations here. Must be by word of mouth. There are indeed those (like our family) who rely on Blu-ray, DVD, the internet and OTA for all of our TV, but increasingly I talk to people who are returning to OTA to supplement their pay TV service to get better quality HD and to get stations that aren't offered by local cable or satellite or only for higher pay tiers. To get any HD on cable here (Cox) requires a minimum of $76 per month for only one set. We sure aren't going to pay almost $80 per month just to watch HDTV (Dave Pomeroy, Topeka KS, ibid.) I think rabbit ears may be an unmentioned part of many of these conversions. I've heard from a number of people who complain about the high cost of cable, mentioning in the same breath that all they watch is the local news and movies. Absolutely, a set of rabbit ears & a Netflix subscription is a very economical scheme for filling that demand! > As I bicycle around the area (not currently due to cold weather) I have noticed some new TV antennas popping up. I notice this as well -- obviously *new* outdoor antennas. Nobody seems to talk about it, but in my experience cable systems deliver OTA stations' HD signals in the clear -- no HD subscription is required, just a basic subscription. I've found this to work on three different cable systems in three states and with three different multiple-system owners. I'd be surprised if it doesn't work just about everywhere. – (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66, ibid.) Once again there's a wide range of cable providers and packages. Basic cable here is reasonably robust but of course lacks several premium channels. As I don't have it, I can't tell you whether or not the local HDTV's are included in basic or premium with either Comcast or Verizon. But what I can tell you is that even the basic service isn't cheap, and premium is less so. For those who don't watch a lot of TV, basic cable isn't the best value proposition around, quality not considered. If I purchase phone, internet and TV in one package, I'll get an introductory price of about $100/month for basic TV and internet. After the first year, it's up over $150 per month. If you don't take all 3, your unit price for TV goes higher. I may end up putting up a small yagi just to get rid of the multipath that makes the VHF channels and also some of the UHF ones an adventure, but TV isn't worth that kind of money to me, and I think to increasing numbers of others, because I'm noticing the same things in conversation and in driving around the area. Some numbers of people are going back to OTA. – (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell, PA (15 mi NW of Philadelphia), Grid FN20id, ibid.) Yes, a basic cable subscription plus a QAM-capable DTV tuner (built-in or STB) should provide the local OTA HD stations. Cable companies just don't want too many subscribers to KNOW this. Most subscribers THINK they have to rent a digital receiver from the cable company in order to receive the local HDs (Steve Rich, Indianapolis, IN, ibid.) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ Geomagnetic Summary December 1 2010 through December 31 2010 Tabulated from email status daily. Date Flux A K Space Wx December 1 87 2 0 no storms 2 87 1 0 no storms 3 87 0 0 no storms 4 87 1 0 no storms 5 88 1 1 no storms 6 89 3 1 no storms 7 87 3 1 no storms 8 87 5 2 no storms 9 87 2 0 no storms 10 88 0 0 no storms 11 87 1 1 no storms 12 89 5 2 no storms 13 88 7 3 no storms 14 90 11 3 no storms 15 87 11 1 no storms 16 84 5 1 no storms 17 82 4 1 no storms 18 81 3 1 no storms 19 81 2 2 no storms 20 78 8 3 no storms 21 78 1 0 no storms 22 78 1 0 no storms 23 80 1 1 no storms 24 79 3 0 no storms 25 79 4 0 no storms 26 81 3 1 no storms 27 80 2 1 no storms 28 81 14 2 minor 29 83 4 0 no storms 30 83 5 1 no storms 31 91 4 1 no storms (via Phil Bytheway, IRCA DX Monitor Jan 8 via DXLD) ARTICLE ABOUT NEW IONOSPHERE INDEX Here is a recent research paper about a new index that describes the state of the ionosphere. http://www.ann-geophys.net/28/2227/2010/angeo-28-2227-2010.html 73, (Eike Bierwirth, Germany, Jan 12, HCDX via DXLD) Viz.: A modified index for the description of the ionospheric short- and long-term activity J. Mielich and J. Bremer Leibniz-Institute of Atmospheric Physics at the Rostock University, 18225 Kühlungsborn, Schloss-Str. 6, Germany Abstract. A modified ionospheric activity index AI has been developed on the basis of ionospheric foF2 observations. Such index can be helpful for an interested user to get information about the current state of the ionosphere. Using ionosonde data of the station Juliusruh (54.6 N; 13.4 E) this index has been tested for the time interval from January 1996 until December 2008. This index has no diurnal and seasonal variations, only a small positive dependence on the solar activity could be found. The variability of this index has, however, a marked seasonal variability with maxima during the equinoxes, a clear minimum in summer, and enhanced values in winter. The observed variability of AI is strongly correlated with the geomagnetic activity, most markedly during the equinoxes, whereas the influence of the solar activity is markedly smaller and mostly insignificant. Strong geomagnetic disturbances cause in middle latitudes in general negative disturbances in AI, mostly pronounced during equinoxes and summer and only partly during winter, thus in agreement with the current physical knowledge about ionospheric storms (via DXLD) linx to full pdf article Geomagnetic field activity was at quiet levels from 27 December until 28 December at 1200 UTC. During 28/1200-2100 UTC, activity increased to unsettled to minor storm levels, with two isolated periods of severe storm levels observed at high latitudes. Activity decreased to predominantly quiet levels for the rest of the period. The increased activity on 28 December was associated with the CME observed on 23 December. During this period, the Bz component of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), as measured by the ACE spacecraft, reached a maximum deflection of -13nT at 28/1401 UTC, while total field (Bt) peaked at 14nT at 28/1315 UTC. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 05 - 31 JANUARY 2011 Solar activity is expected to be at very low levels with a chance for low levels from 05 to 13 January, as Regions 1141, 1142 and 1140 rotate off the visible disk. Activity is expected to decrease to predominantly very low levels for the remainder of the period. No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at normal to moderate levels during 05 - 09 January. Flux levels are expected to increase to high levels during 10 - 14 and decrease to normal levels for the remainder of the period. Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at quiet levels on 05 January. Activity is expected to increase to quiet to unsettled levels during 06-07 January in response to a co-rotating interaction region in advance of a coronal hole high-speed stream (CH HSS). From 08 to 11 January, quiet to unsettled levels with isolated active levels are possible as the CH HSS moves into a geoeffective position. Activity is expected to decrease to predominantly quiet levels during 12-20 January. Quiet to unsettled levels are expected on 21-22 January in response to another CH HSS. Mostly quiet conditions are expected for the remainder of the period. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2011 Jan 11 1925 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 2011-01-11 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2011 Jan 12 82 5 2 2011 Jan 13 80 5 2 2011 Jan 14 80 8 3 2011 Jan 15 80 7 3 2011 Jan 16 78 5 2 2011 Jan 17 78 5 2 2011 Jan 18 78 5 2 2011 Jan 19 80 5 2 2011 Jan 20 80 7 3 2011 Jan 21 80 7 3 2011 Jan 22 80 5 2 2011 Jan 23 80 5 2 2011 Jan 24 80 5 2 2011 Jan 25 80 5 2 2011 Jan 26 82 5 2 2011 Jan 27 88 5 2 2011 Jan 28 88 5 2 2011 Jan 29 88 5 2 2011 Jan 30 88 5 2 2011 Jan 31 89 5 2 2011 Feb 01 87 5 2 2011 Feb 02 84 5 2 2011 Feb 03 84 7 3 2011 Feb 04 84 7 3 2011 Feb 05 83 7 3 2011 Feb 06 83 5 2 2011 Feb 07 82 5 2 (SWPC Jan 11 via WORLD OF RADIO 1547, DXLD) ###