DX LISTENING DIGEST 12-04, January 25, 2012 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 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 1601 HEADLINES: *DX and station news about: Algeria, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium non, Bhutan, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Diego Garcia, Djibouti, Ecuador, Faroe Islands, France, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Russia, Sarawak non, Serbia non, Taiwan non, USA SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1601, Jan 26-Feb 1, 2012 Thu 0430 WRMI 9955 [1600 replayed this week] Thu 2200 WTWW 9479 [confirmed] Thu 2230 WBCQ 7490 [confirmed] Fri 0430v WWRB 3195 [confirmed on webcast] Sat 0900 WRMI 9955 Sat 1600 WRMI 9955 Sat 1830 WRMI 9955 Sun 0500 WTWW 5755 Sun 0900 WRMI 9955 Sun 1630 WRMI 9955 Sun 1830 WRMI 9955 Mon 0330v WBCQ 5110v-CUSB [alternate weeks including this] Mon 1230 WRMI 9955 Tue 1030 HLR 5980 Hamburger Lokal Radio Thu 0430 WRMI 9955 [or maybe 1602 if ready in time] 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/ ** ALBANIA. 7530, Jan 23 at 2100, R. Tirana opening English, barely audible in noise level. A month past shortest day, this transmission is losing out here, but should remain good for Europe, while we still have one other English broadcast, 0230 on 7420 (except UT Mondays) 7420, Jan 25 at 0235, R. Tirana`s only English to NAm is JBA tnx to the propagation disturbance. WWV reported at 0300: ``Solar-terrestrial indices for 24 January follow. Solar flux 136 and estimated planetary A-index 17. The estimated planetary K-index at 0300 UTC on 25 January was 3. Space weather for the past 24 hours has been strong. Geomagnetic storms reaching the G1 level occurred. Solar radiation storms reaching the S3 level occurred. Space weather for the next 24 hours is predicted to be moderate. Geomagnetic storms reaching the G1 level are expected. Solar radiation storms reaching the S2 level are expected. Radio blackouts reaching the R1 level are likely.`` At 0618, on air WWV reported the K-index at 0600 had risen to 4 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7420, 25/Jan 0230, R Tirana, in English. YL with ID, then OM talk e presents news. 24432. 7530, 24/Jan 2100, R Tirana, in English. YL start transmission with ID, then OM presents news. 35433 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, 12 14´S, 38 58´W - Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALGERIA. RADIO ALGERIA LAUNCHES NEW YOUTH STATION Radio Algeria recently launched a new youth station. Jil FM started broadcasting at 09:00 on Sunday 15 January on 94.7 FM, in the centre and centre-south, on 531kHz mediumwave in the east and south-east and on 549 kHz mediumwave in the west and south-west regions of the country. Jil FM will be providing its listeners with music, reports, debates, entertainment, comedy and news 24/7. Programming will comprise 65% national and international music, 20% programmes related to socio- professional youth issues, 10% culture and 5% news. The radio station, located at 12 rue Shakespeare (El Mouradia–Alger) will also be present on all social networking sites. (Source: EBU)( January 20th, 2012 - 17:43 UTC by Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog via WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DXLD) 4 Comments on “Radio Algeria launches new youth station” #1 Juan Carlos Aragón on Jan 20th, 2012 at 20:59 It`s also on Atlantic Bird 3 satellite, at 5º West. I can hear the station almost 24/7 and at nights perfectly on 549 Khz. #2 lou josephs on Jan 23rd, 2012 at 21:23 Jill FM in the US is an automated light rock station in Orange County, CA. #3 Glenn Hauser on Jan 26th, 2012 at 01:58 549 and especially 531 are frequently heard by eastern North America MW DXers, at least as heterodynes; 600 kW each, used to carry channel 1 per WRTH. So have these transmitters been totally reprogrammed, or just at certain hours? [WORLD OF RADIO 1601] #4 Kai Ludwig on Jan 26th, 2012 at 23:03 They have been taken out of the Chaîne 1 network completely, basically ending the previous duplication of the FM and longwave coverage. The matter even triggered the attention of a community of younger German-speaking radio freaks who otherwise have their focus elsewhere, because on 531 kHz Algeria dominates also in Central Europe now, with Burg and Beromünster having left this frequency: http://radioforum.foren.mysnip.de/read.php?8773,984146 Btw, the given location is nothing special, just the Radio Algérienne headquarters (MN blog comments via DXLD) ** ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS. 4760.00, Port Blair (presumed) here at 1348 first check, but no audio. Mixing with second station, both of about equal strength. Audio detected at 1518 with F voice talking, but didn't seem // other AIR stations. (Kolkata is not // either!). 1/19 (Jim Young, WPC6JY, Wrightwood and Inspiration Point (10 miles west of town), CA, ICOM IC-706, 756 ProIII and Grundig Satellite 800, 60-M vertical, 60-M inverted Vee, 80-M inverted Vee, 40-M yagi, NASWA yg via DXLD) An invitation to house sit for 12 days in mid-January in a leafy Singapore suburb was too hard to resist, so I packed my aging Sony 7600G and short wire antenna with the intention of checking out the local radio scene and hopefully some limited DX within the confines of a short inside wire antenna. I was pleasantly surprised by the low noise level, helped no doubt by all power utilities being underground and perhaps by the imminent Chinese New Year meaning some neighbours were on holiday. Singapore has no AM stations with the result that Malaysian and Indonesian signals are the easiest heard, along with the high-powered Thailand station on 1575 and the Chinese foreign service transmitter on 684. Disappointingly I have heard no trace of Bhutan on 5030 or 6035 to date. 4760, AIR Port Blair poor 1136 16 Jan with Indian vocals, generally disappointing signal level in local evenings. Fair with Indian vocals 1448 17 Jan. Daytime frequency 7390 weak carrier opened 0312 15 Jan but no audio detected. Traces of 684 AM signal possible at 1457 17 Jan during interval in programs on CRI Foreign Service transmissions which now dominate 684 frequency – Port Blair 684 was easily heard on my last Singapore visit in the early 90’s (Bryan Clark, visiting Singapore with Sony 7600G and short wire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANTARCTICA. 15476, Jan 19 at 1332, still no signal from LRA36. I missed checking the previous Thursday. Previous years they have shown up again in Februaries after summer vacation (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. Re: AM 1630 Diagonal --- Recién llamé al nro. 221 422 5122 que es el teléfono que indica Mika Mäkeläinen en su artículo (del año 2000) http://www.dxing.info/profiles/argentina_1630am.dx pero no hubo respuesta. ¿Alguien puede verificar el número? Se oye lejos: en el Brasil, en Gran Bretaña y en Escandinavia, hasta el círculo polar ártico (Henrik Klemetz, Jan 20, condiglist yg via DXLD) "A la punta del dial/mil seis treinta/diagonal" says the ID rhyme. Diagonal is the nickname of the town of La Plata. The station name is probably just AM1630. See http://www.gringostarr.net/posts/tag/tigre where it says "In 1880, when the decision was finally made to make Buenos Aires the capital of Argentina, a new site for the capital of the Province of Buenos Aires had to be found. It was decided to build a new city from scratch about 50 km from the new national capital. The result, La Plata, is known as La Cuidad del Diagonal (the Diagonal City), due to the large tree-lined avenues that criss-cross the usual square block layout." "Cuidad" in the text is a typo. Should be "Ciudad". 73, (Henrik Klemetz, Jan 20, MWCircle yg via DXLD) I just tried to call them at the number mentioned in Mika Mäkeläinen's article http://www.dxing.info/profiles/argentina_1630am.dx but no one came back to my call, so I do not know if what you see is what you are hearing (Henrik Klemetz, ibid.) Thanks Henrik, I did wonder what the significance of Diagonal could be. I think you mentioned earlier that there was a legal dispute between two stations in La Plata. Could it be that this is the other station and not the one that used to be called Buen Aire or Red 92? The Red 92 website (as given in Mika's article on AM 1630) mentions many FM frequencies, but no AM that I could find. Or maybe they cannot mention it if the AM operation is unofficial and not licensed (Jack [Weber?], ibid.) When you Google: "1630 diagonal" radio you find: Radiomaniacos/ facebook es-es.facebook.com/Radiomaniacos.../348609888... Incache- Vertaal deze pagina U heeft dit openbaar een +1 gegeven. Ongedaan maken En estos momentos la sintonizo y sólo emite la cuña ''AM 1630 ... diagonal ... He buscado en google y me encontré con una radio llamada AM 1630 La Plata. ... Estimados: Me tomé la libertad de crear este tópic que a mi juicio es de suma importancia, por la cantidad de emisiones argentinas AM que captamos desde el atardecer hasta el amanecer en nuestro país. Sabemos que de noche escuchamos másradioemisoras argentinas que chilenas en la Banda de Onda Media y Amplitud Modulada. E.. .l Amigo Chuki podrá sacarnos de bastantes dudas en todo caso...Yo he recepcionado una gran cantidad de radioemisoras argentinas aquí en Villa Alemana. Pronto subiré el listado. No obstante, tengo la primera consulta: ¿cómo se llama la emisora que transmite en los 1630 Khz.? En estos momentos la sintonizo y sólo emite la cuña ''AM 1630 ... diagonal ... sur'' una frase que no logro comprender. He buscado en google y me encontré con una radio llamada AM 1630 La Plata. ¿Será esa?La frase es así: ''En la punta del dial, con el corazón al sur... Diagonal''.saludos! AND: Valeria Herrera writes hola radiomaniacos, pues si, es am 1630, emisora que comenzo con programacion de musica y noticias al aire esta semana. Que sorpresa el comentario de ustedes por aqui! yo soy la locutora del turno de 7 am a 13 pm. Desde donde la sintonizaron? So, in the last part, announcer Valeria Herrera writes that this station with ''En la punta del dial, con el corazón al sur... Diagonal'' is AM 1630. BTW : this station was also heard in Belgium on January 13th with a nice signal using a Flag Antenna. 73 (Max van Arnhem, The Netherlands, ibid.) ** ARGENTINA. 13363.5, 0155, Radio Continental relay with Spanish talkback on LSB mode; ident, theme music & news at 0201, poor 5/12 due annoying QRM from adjacent AFN Guam 13362 in USB mode (Bryan Clark at Mangawhai, New Zealand, with AOR7030+ and Alpha Delta Sloper, EWEs to NE, E and SE, plus various 100 metre BOGs to the Americas, Jan NZ DX Times via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. 20/01/2012, 1914, 15345.8, RAE-Buenos Aires, AM, 333 programma in I + ID (Mauro - Giroletti, -Swl 1510- -IK2GFT- -JRC525Nrd - Lowe HF150- Filter PAR Electronics - BCST-LPF + BCST-HPF- DSP 9 - Eavesdropper SWL Sloper 11mt to 120mt Band- Loop ALA 100 M -Lat. 45 25'0"N Long. 9 7'0"E -Locator grid. Jn 45 Nk-, playdx yg via DXLD) ** ARMENIA. 4810.00, Voice of Armenia (presumed) under AIR Bhopal heard first at 1417. During breaks in India, mostly talking heard on frequent checks to past 1520. 1/19 (Jim Young, WPC6JY, Wrightwood and Inspiration Point (10 miles west of town), CA, ICOM IC-706, 756 ProIII and Grundig Satellite 800, 60-M vertical, 60-M inverted Vee, 80-M inverted Vee, 40-M yagi, NASWA yg via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA [and non]. 5025, ABC Northern Territory Service from Katherine with good signal 2145 21 Jan. Apart from the strong Chinese stations, this was best 60m signal at this time. 4835, VL8A Alice Springs poor but readable with morning program, 2139 21 Jan (Bryan Clark, visiting Singapore with Sony 7600G and short wire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Propagation plus my hi local noise level have prevented any modulated logs of the VL8s for months, but I often check for a 2325 carrier by BFO`ing 5 MHz down from CRI on 7325. Finally Jan 25 at 1313 I do get a trace of a carrier on 2325, also 2485, but not on 2310. And 3325, 4 MHz down from 7325, where there is usually something from Indonesia or maybe PNG, bore nothing today, with propagation still quite disturbed. http://rri.jpn.org/ does not yet show whether Palangkaraya was on the air Jan 24 or 25 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. 2368.5, R. Symban. Continuing with extended schedule. 1449 on Jan 17. One of their better days Jan 19 at 1447 with Greek songs. 2368.46, R. Symban, 1337, Jan 23. One of their better days; still with extended schedule; DJ in Greek playing Greek songs. Afraid I have been rather lazy in reporting this as 2368.5. In fact they have really been on 2368.46 for a long time now. Thanks to Thomas Nilsson for the reminder! (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA [and non]. 7240, Jan 23 at 1406, RA is interviewing an American pundit about the Republican primary race, who starts off by remarking that Santorum won Nebraska! Ooops, somewhere out there, but not close enough to be Iowa. Voice sounds familiar but who is it? E. J. Dionne as outroed at 1414 on `Talking Point`. Such international outreach have our overexposed and careless pundits! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 21725, 0345, RA Shepparton with test cricket Australia vs India very good here 30/12 // 17750.3 also very good (Bryan Clark at Mangawhai, New Zealand, with AOR7030+ and Alpha Delta Sloper, EWEs to NE, E and SE, plus various 100 metre BOGs to the Americas, Jan NZ DX Times via DXLD) ! Unusual for RA to be off-frequency (gh, DXLD) Here in West Virginia, B-11 is bringing some good afternoon listening from Australia, from 20 to 22, with a fairly good signal on 11660. Also on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, 1900-2030 there is some great vintage R&B music on 12080, although reception often isn`t very good (Kent Murphy, N Martinsville, Jan 17, by p-mail, WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRIA. 11690 ?? 1807 21/1 in unIDed lang with religious program; at 1809 church organ played, then man giving address. seeming as SBC dot sudan dot org as far as I could remember. S9 on LSB; there is an FSK signal of ca 50 bd. Aoki showx better than Eibi as Acholi (Sudan/ Uganda) from AWR (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, ICOM R75 / 2x16 V / m@h40 heads Sennheiser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 300 kW, 190 degrees from Moosbrunn, AWR in a different language every day, Acholi on St, colloquial English on Wednesday. FSK would be NAA 11687.5, Cutler ME, see UNIDENTIFIED (gh, DXLD) ** BAHRAIN. 9745, Radio Bahrain, 0055-0115, carrier + USB. Local Middle-Eastern vocals. Weak. Poor with adjacent channel splatter. Jan 22 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** BANGLADESH. 4750, Radio Bangladesh good in local language 1403 16 Jan. No sign of co-channel Indonesian. Fair at 1135 17 Jan with end of English language lesson - “Shakespeare was a good dramatist”. At 1137 Moslem call to prayer. Frequency clear at 1501 recheck (Bryan Clark, visiting Singapore with Sony 7600G and short wire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4750, Bangladesh Betar, 1320-1332, Jan 18. Subcontinent music; 1330 marching band and back to music. Jan 19 with subcontinent music 1351; at 1403 bagpipe band music that is always heard at this time; 1405 ID and news in assume Bengali. Jan 20 same format as on the 19th. RRI Makassar not heard (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) see INDONESIA 4750.00, Bangladesh Betar, Dhaka (presumed) at 1457 with Indian style music up to 1500. No TS, except for the two Chinese stations underneath. M voice, brief announcements, and immediately off. Our good friend Mauno Ritola sent me a PERSEUS scan of the 4750 kHz area earlier this morning. It shows Bangladesh exactly on 4750.000, with the two Chinese stations on either side by about 11 Hz each. 1/20 (Jim Young, WPC6JY, Wrightwood and Inspiration Point (10 miles west of town), CA, ICOM IC-706, 756 ProIII and Grundig Satellite 800, 60-M vertical, 60-M inverted Vee, 80-M inverted Vee, 40-M yagi, NASWA yg via DXLD) 4750, Bangladesh Betar, Jan 23. Usual format of subcontinent music at 1401 and at 1403 bagpipe band music followed by more subcontinent music till the news; poor with CNR1 QRM. RRI Makassar not heard (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELARUS. 11730, 19/Jan 2228, R Belarus, in Russian. OM and YL talk. The s-meter of the radio indicates a good signal, but the modulation is very low. 35432 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, 12 14´S, 38 58´W - Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Very good reception in BUL for Radio Belarus at 1530 on new 11730, ex- 7390, but no signal on // 7360, maybe deleted. 73! (Ivo Ivanov, Bulgaria, Jan 20, via Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELGIUM [non]. 17755, Jan 23 at 2038 tune thru 16m, I find DRM noise extending far beyond the alleged 10-kHz bandwidth of 17750-17760 for TDP Radio via GUIANA FRENCH. Stepping 1 kHz at a time on the DX- 398, with a few meters of external antenna plugged in, I can hear it gradually declining out to +/- 23 kHz, i.e. 17732 to 17778. Fortunately, not much else in AM trying to use the range at this hour, not even KVOH which has yet to reactivate 17775. Biggest victim would be RCI Portuguese on 17765 at 2000-2030 and 2100-2130, but only on Fri-Sat-Sun (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BENIN. Some images of TWR Benin. (Wolfgang Büschel, Jan 22, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews 24 Jan via DXLD) ** BHUTAN. BBS. The following received 1030 UT, Jan 25, in response to my sending a Happy Lunar New Year wish: “Thanks for the wishing. Same to you and your family. At present both our transmitters are down and OFF [5030 and 6035.05] ...so we are trying to do our best to solve the problem. With warm regards, Thinley Dorji, Transmission head, Thimphu, Bhutan”. So it must be serious, as it is almost a month now that BBS has had the problem! (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 4699.33, Radio San Miguel, Riberalta, 1/18 at 1008 thru 1029, fair signal and muffled mod with that "bottom of the barrel" sound, hi. 1014 seemed like a regional news segment with light echo. Clear mtns of Bolivia, and then, at 1016 "...las seis de la mañana y 16 minutos con la música de la madrugada en San Miguel . . .". Into nondescript vocals. Ad string at 1028 but couldn't pick up any product names (Ralph Perry, Wheaton, Illinois, Drake R8B; Japan Radio NRD-545; Eton E1; Hallicrafters SX100; Knightkit Star Roamer; Dentron Super Tuner + Ameco PLF-2 + Palomar P-408 + customized (tropical bands) Quantum Phaser antenna unit; Longwires (150' + 100'); Tuned Multi-Turn 20" Small Loop; Single-Turn Coax Loop, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 5952.5, Radio Pio XII, 0000 Jan 21, Spanish, man and woman with announcements but I didn’t catch the ID, into Andean flute music, modern style huaynos, 0008 possible news with many mentions of Bolivia as well as Presidente Morales. In the clear, no interference and good signal. Monitored periodically up to 0050. Fair (Harold Sellers, BC, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Harold, Heard tonight during same time period. Very nice signal. Best in months (Don Jensen, WI, NASWA yg via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 6134.851, Radio Santa Cruz, 1025-1045 Jan 22, Noted a male in Spanish comments briefly as he announces the next tune. Music followed. At 1032 a canned ID, "... Radio Santa Cruz", followed with a recorded program between a male and female talking. This sounded like a scripted program. Signal remained fair as there wasn't any other station blocking this morning (Chuck Bolland, Excalibur, 26N 081W, Clewiston FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 6154.90, R. Fides, La Paz, 5/01 23:20-23:50 33333 ads Banco de Crédito de Bolivia, ID “Por Radio Fides news sobre la situación de los bolivianos en el extranjero (Pedro F. Arrunátegui, Jan 24, El Chasqui DX, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. Jovem Pan AM em ondas curtas --- Alguem sabe se oficialmente a Rede Jovem Pan retransmite em 2220 kHz? Na Lista EiBi e na relação de afiliadas da emissora não consta esta frequência. Aqui em Araçatuba/S. P., tenho captado e em som limpíssimo, como se fosse emissora local. A única frequência em ondas curtas que consta na lista de afiliadas da emissora Jovem Pan é a RÁDIO METEOROLOGIA PAULISTA 4845 KHz, e na lista EiBi de Ondas curtas consta nesta frequência a RADIO CULTURA ONDAS TROPICAIS de Belém do Pará em 4845.2 kHz. Captação em Degen 1103 e Sangean ATS 909x (José Antonio Silva, 20 Jan, radioescutas yg via DXLD) Talvez seja espurio da Rádio Jovem Luz da sua cidade, que opera em 1110 kHz, exatamente a metade da frequência que você fita (2220 kHz). (Huelbe Garcia, ibid.) José Antônio, forneça os horarios ouvidos (Aparecido Francisco Morato, PY5AAP, Cornelio Procopio-Pr-Br http://www.ipernity.com/home/py5aap.morato ibid.) Praticamente dá para ouvir o dia todo. Todas as vezes que sintonizei lá estava ela com sinal bem audível. Durante o dia tem aquele chiado tipico das SW, mas hoje, por volta das 3 da madrugada o som estava limpo, agradável de se ouvir. Curiosamente em ondas média a Jovem Pan, que transmite pela nossa emissora local Rádio Jovem Luz 1110 AM, está tendo esta, como se pode dizer uma "reverberação de ondas de rádio" em 2220 kHz, ou seja exatamente o dobro da nossa frequência local. Não sei se isto poderia ser matematicamente comprovado, pois não sou especialista no assunto (José António Silva, ibid.) Or course, it`s a simple second harmonic you are hearing apparently at local range. If anyone manages to hear it elsewhere in Brasil, then there will be a remote chance to DX it beyond (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) Re: Jovem Pan AM em ondas curtas. Agora 2220 é segundo harmonico; ja ouvi aqui em Presidente Prudente o terceiro harmonico da Radio de Gloria de Dourados MS. Isso acontece porque muitas emisoras não tem um tecnico capacitado e com instrumental apropriado para aferir essa situação, abcs [abraços = embraces] PY2ARi (Ariovaldo Librito, 21 Jan, radioescutas yg via DXLD) Someone was confusing *receiver* produced -900 kHz 2 x IF image on LW 210 kHz with (probably) *transmitter* produced second harmonic on 2220. This happens again and again as listeners have to learn how these things happen, and the difference (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 4876.48, presumed Roraima, noted most mornings as early as 0930 and holding on past 1015 checks. As always, decent signal strength but very problematic modulation. Ballads noted early (0930 segment) and news talk show 1015 and thereabouts (Ralph Perry, Wheaton, Illinois, Drake R8B; Japan Radio NRD-545; Eton E1; Hallicrafters SX100; Knightkit Star Roamer; Dentron Super Tuner + Ameco PLF-2 + Palomar P-408 + customized (tropical bands) Quantum Phaser antenna unit; Longwires (150' + 100'); Tuned Multi-Turn 20" Small Loop; Single-Turn Coax Loop, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4877.30v, Rdif Roraima, 0315-0400, poor to fair signal level but with very wobbly, unstable carrier. Portuguese ballads. Portuguese talk. Sign off around 0402. Jan 22 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** BRAZIL. Olá Amigos, gostaria de saber de algum colega se estão tendo dificuldades de ouvir a faixa de 49 metros; tem uma emissora nesta faixa que atrapalha de 6010 até 6100 kHz com sinais espurius talvez. Acho que seja a Rádio Senado. Hoje tambem 24-01-20120 sintonizei por meia hora Gazeta em 15325 kHz, 1740 UT, aqui em minha City. Com sinal razoável mas não consegui ouvir em outra frequência (durval503, antena telescópica, tempo bom, rádio portátil aqui em Pompeu, Minas Gerais, radioescutas yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DXLD) Argentina 6060 has previously been cited as source of spurs in that area. 15325 R. Gazeta was believed inactive. Aoki Listed as only 1 kW at 350 degrees. Watch out for Spain in Russian at 1700-1730 or is that on 11755 now as in WRTH, which does not even list 15325 Brasil (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 6089.95, 0757, Rádio Bandeirantes in Portuguese at poor level 15/12, time pips on the hour & ident // 9645.38. Anguilla missing from 6090 this day and only heterodyne earlier from Nigeria 6089.87 to contend with (Bryan Clark at Mangawhai, New Zealand, with AOR7030+ and Alpha Delta Sloper, EWEs to NE, E and SE, plus various 100 metre BOGs to the Americas, Jan NZ DX Times via DXLD) Re 12-03, discussion of the significance of ``Bandeirantes``: ``Very interesting. For me at least, an example of learning something thanks to shortwave. The name is not exactly a positive reference, as the bandeirantes began as expeditions to enslave natives, then to mineral exploitation, and eventually to general `pioneering` expanding Portuguese/Brazilian influence to its present boundaries (gh, DXLD)`` In history, it’s a mistake to make judgments about the facts that happened a long time ago, by the actual context, reality. The bandeirantes had some questionable proceedings, repugnant, even for the context of that times, like enslaving natives. But things like their pioneering, taming the Brazilian inlands, opening the arduous way to its development; the hard journey of bandeirante Fernão Dias Paes, making accessible the way to Minas Gerais, and the consequent discovering of very large fields of gold and precious stones by other bandeirantes (Brazil was a Portuguese territory, so these minerals went in abundance to Lisboa. The monetary funds from these minerals, created deep commercial conexions between UK and Portugal, which financed the start of the England’s industrial revolution, that changed dramatically the products’ manufacturing). By this entire process and its consequences, not by an isolated fact, I think it is difficult to negate a positive reference to the bandeirantes phenomenon. But I have to admit that this matter generates some discussion (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Embu SP Brasil, Jan 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL [and non]. A bonanza of Brasilians in the nightmiddle Jan 23 from 0626, southern paths enhanced by propagation disturbance, instead of usual deadbands lately. 11765 with wacky wailing gospel huxter David Miranda, soon at 0628 found // on 9565 and 9585. 11765 and 9565 are SRDA (ex R. Tupi), Curitiba; 9585 is R. Globo, São Paulo per Aoki but missing from WRTH 2012! And it was right on 9585.0. Other Brazilians audible around 0626-0630: 11815 R. Brasil Central, Goiânia, Goiás with music, fair with flutter, and later at 0648 // weaker 4985, which I haven`t heard in a long time: used to be the best Brazilian on 60m. At same time 4885 Pará was stronger but suffered from CODAR unlike 4985. Others audible with separate programming at 0628: 9665 Voz Missionária, Florianopolis SC, and 9675, R. Canção Nova, Cachoeira Paulista SP; and I think 9820v, R. Nove de Julho (altho it`s 23 de janeiro), São Paulo. 5035, at 0649 poor signal seems Portuguese, likely R. Aparecida rather than R. Educação Rural, Coari with its limited schedule. Audible thanks to Cuba having finished with 5040, but still some splatter from 5025. 10000, Jan 23 at 0630, I am hearing another YL voice under WWVH and WWV, which have equally poor signals now. The voice keeps going thruout the minutes, with pips every dekasecond, and at minutetops adds two more pips before the big one on the minute, mostly during the pregnant pause between WWV`s announcement and TOM tone. Yes, it`s `Observatório Nacional`, rarely audible here, the 1 kW PPE, Rio de Janeiro, 24h per WRTH and on AM/U = uppersideband plus carrier. I should have tried that mode vs LSB. Bothered by lightning crashes from the big storms SE of here from Texas northeastward. WWV reported: ``Solar-terrestrial indices for 22 January follow. Solar flux 141 and estimated planetary A-index 21. The estimated planetary K-index at 0600 UTC on 23 January was 3. The estimated planetary K-index at 0300 UTC on 23 January was 4. Space weather for the past 24 hours has been moderate. Geomagnetic storms reaching the G1 level occurred. Solar radiation storms reaching the S1 level occurred. Radio blackouts reaching the R2 level occurred. Space weather for the next 24 hours is predicted to be minor. Geomagnetic storms reaching the G1 level are likely. Solar radiation storms reaching the S1 level are expected. Radio blackouts reaching the R1 level are likely.`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 19/01/2012, 2257, 9585, Super R Deus è Amor, AM, 333 São Paulo - px rlg // 11765, NO 9592 kHz!!!! (Mauro - Giroletti, -Swl 1510- -IK2GFT- -JRC525Nrd - Lowe HF150- Filter PAR Electronics - BCST- LPF + BCST-HPF- DSP 9 -Eavesdropper SWL Sloper 11mt to 120mt Band- Loop ALA 100 M -Lat. 45 25'0"N Long. 9 7'0"E -Locator grid. Jn 45 Nk-, playdx yg via DXLD) 9585 // 9565, Jan 24 at 0638, David Miranda wailpreaching, but MUF too low for more on 25m // 11765 as heard 24 hours earlier. Also separate Brazilian programming on 9645v, 9665, 9675. Now the 9820 station is definitely // Turkey 9700, not R. Nove de Julho varying on the low side. As for the identity of the 9585 outlet, Karel Honzík, Czechia, reminds us: Glen[n], there is SRDA São Paulo on 9585 kHz (exactly 9584.97 measured by me on 6 January). The station is really missing from WRTH 2012; I do not wonder that the editor did not find it on the frequency last year because it had drifted several kHz upwards. Now it is back again. Globo abandoned the transmitter several years ago`` (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9585 is on air again today (Jan. 24), and first noted on Sunday morning at around 0645. At this time it is still parallel 9565 with religious Deus é Amor (Noel R. Green (NW England), dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 15190, 23/Jan 1906, BRASIL, R Inconfidência, in Portuguese. Back, country music of root. Moderate QRM from R Pilipinas in English, at the same frequency. The two alternate on the frequency, with a slight predominance of R Inconfidência. 43433. Back at 1945, I perceive modulation with distortion (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, 12 14´S, 38 58´W - Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) [and non]. 15190-, Jan 23 at 2217, definitely Brazilian talk, from R. Inconfidência, slightly on the lo side, and nothing else. Before 2100 I had tuned past here and noted very weak signal vs YFR/Ascension 15195, and assumed to be the ZY too; however, Mark Coady in Ontario reported English preaching on 15190 from 2124 to 2140, believed to be R. Africa, Equatorial Guinea [q.v.] reactivated. That one sure is elusive/erratic; need to keep checking for it (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15190, 24/Jan 1941, BRASIL, R Inconfidência, in Portuguese. YL Conversation with a woman about beekeeping. Occasional fading, the signal almost disappears, but no signal of R Africa. Modulation with distortion. 35433. Back on 25/Jan at 0932, no signal of R Inconfidência. There is no propagation or they are not transmitting the morning. It was tuned in the mornings until recently (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, 12 14´S, 38 58´W - Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BULGARIA. Fwd: Please stay on shortwave! This is what I sent to R. Bulgaria; other listeners, I'm sure, can substitute similar experiences with online program delivery (what an ugly phrase...). The (former) international broadcasters need to know that however much they deny it, the emperor has no clothes. 73 de (Anne Fanelli, living in hope in Elma NY, Jan 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Subject: Please stay on shortwave! To: english@bnr.bg I am so sorry to hear that you may leave shortwave. Please reconsider; although I know that maintaining an international shortwave broadcast station is expensive, there is no alternative delivery platform which is as good. Radio Prague recently left shortwave; I've enjoyed their Czech and English services for a long time, but their online presence is not good. It's difficult to listen to their podcasts, because they usually crash; only rarely can I hear an entire half-hour podcast on the internet (and I try every day). NRK in Norway has similar problems; when many people try to listen on the internet at once, the stream crashes. Shortwave is much better overall, so I hope you stay there. Sincerely, Anne Fanelli (a listener to your station on shortwave since 1966) Elma, New York (near Buffalo) USA (via DXLD) I have just received the following email from Radio Bulgaria's Vyara Popova in response to an email I sent asking them not to leave shortwave: Dear Chrissy Brand, This is Vyara Popova writing, one of RB's hosts. Thank you very much for your heart-felt letter as well as for your concern about the current situation. Against the background of this transformation, we'd like to encourage you to keep listening to us via the Internet. For the time being we are going to keep our Answering Your Letters and DX programs, which are highly appreciated by our listeners. We're also thinking of diversifying our topics and introducing new features after we cease the shortwave. Radio Bulgaria will keep providing you with updates on the life in Bulgaria in 10 languages at http://www.bnr.bg As far as your comments are concerned, I agree with them and also sympathize with all the people for whom access to our station would get difficult, if not impossible. However, there's no coming back and this decision has not been within our power. Logically, we need to move on and try to give our best. Warm Regards, Vyara Popova, English Service of RB (via Chrissy Brand, Jan 20, BDXC-UK yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DXLD) I received an identical email from Vyara Popova on Wednesday - and I thought it was a personal reply ;-( Sadly, seems the decision to leave shortwave is irrevocable and their staff resigned to this fact, but no harm in showing your support by signing the petition at http://www.saveradiobulgaria.com/ and emailing the English service at english 'at' bnr.bg (Alan Pennington, ibid.) Dear Mr. Alex Klauber, In case you have not been listening to our broadcasts over the past few days, we have to let you know that, unfortunately, due to financial reasons, Radio Bulgaria has had to take a decision to cease its shortwave broadcasts quite suddenly, as of February 1, 2012. This decision has come rather unexpectedly to our staff here as well, and we hope that listeners will stay with us over the Internet, as well. We will continue our programs but they will be accessible only from our website: http://www.bnr.bg There are programs in ten languages there. I hope your interest in Bulgaria and in Radio Bulgaria's transmissions will not stop as of next month. Until then, you could write to us with more reception reports, we will be happy to send you other SQLs [sic] as well. Best regards from Sofia, Rossitsa Petcova, English section of Radio Bulgaria (via Alex Klauber, Jan 20, shortwave yg via DXLD) Rossitsa, at R Bulgaria, I will listen in one last time, but then I'm afraid it`s good bye, adios, etc. I don't use the internet for listening. Radio Sofia was my very first QSL card way back in 1957. It is now a good memento of better times, Regards (Don Rhodes, Melbourne Australia, WBRadio via DXLD) 5900, UT Sat Jan 21 at 0342 R. Bulgaria conveying its own schedule during weekly DX program; 0348 into DX news, 0350 NHK schedule. Poor and no better on // 7400 with ACI. One more week before this DX program will no longer be on SW, but will they continue to provide it on webcasts? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The answer, at least initially, is yes: "Dear Mr. Figliozzi, This is Vyara Popova writing, one of RB's hosts. Thank you very much for your concern about the current situation. We're going to discuss your ideas and refer them to our technical and internet team. For the time being we are going to keep our Answering Your Letters and DX programs, which are highly appreciated by our listeners. We're also thinking of diversifying our topics and introducing new features after we cease the shortwave. We very much appreciate your constructive ideas! Warmly, Vyara Popova, English Service of RB (I suggested that, in addition to using the podcast platform, they consider additional cost-effective options such as opening an internet streaming channel that mirrors their current shortwave schedule and purchasing time on the World Radio Network due to the latter's carriage on Sirius/XM.) I just checked the WRN web site and Radio Bulgaria is not one of the stations on offer there, unfortunately. If RB were to begin doing so, then – yes -- depending on timing, RB could effectively be on shortwave again albeit indirectly and unintentionally via WRMI (John Figliozzi, Halfmoon, NY, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7400, 2215-2300* Friday 20.01, R Bulgaria, Plovdiv, English ann closure of SW 31.01, 2240 DX-programme edited by Rumen Pankov, read by Rositsa Petkova, mentioning DX-contests, e.g. "The Grand Tour across all continents" from DSWCI. "DX-Mix" from Ivo Ivanov. The DX-program will continue in February on http://www.bnr.bg 54454 (Anker Petersen, Skovlunde, Denmark, on my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) Información recibida del equipo de Radio Bulgaria en español: 73, José Bueno Querido amigo: Como se habrá enterado ya por los anuncios que ponemos en nuestras emisiones o a través de nuestra página web, a partir de 1 de febrero Radio Bulgaria cesa sus emisiones en onda corta. Durante 76 años, por medio de las ondas cortas hemos entrado a los hogares de los radioescuchas y hemos sido acogidos siempre con los brazos abiertos, cosa por la que estaremos eternamente agradecidos a toda nuestra audiencia. El propósito de Radio Bulgaria siempre fue mantener los programas en onda corta pero, por motivos de índole económica, se ha visto en la necesidad de desistir de su empeño. Además, querámoslo o no, el progreso tecnológico va imponiendo sus normas al mundo moderno y Radio Bulgaria no podría ser la única excepción de esas normas. Desde que anunciamos el fin de nuestras transmisiones en onda corta en la dirección electrónica de esta Sección Hispánica, no cesan de llegarnos cartas de apoyo. Lamentablemente la decisión es definitiva: los recortes del presupuesto son un hecho y no habrá cambios. Así y todo, nosotros estamos muy agradecidos por estas expresiones de afecto y cariño. Enfrentándonos al nuevo reto, ahora necesitamos que los amigos oyentes de Radio Bulgaria no dejen de acompañarnos también en esta nueva situación. Por esto le invitamos a que siga nuestras transmisiones en Internet, dándole desde ya las gracias. Reciba los cordiales saludos de todo el equipo de Radio Bulgaria en español (via José Bueno, Spain, Jan 23, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST; also via Juan Franco Crespo, Yimber Gaviria, DXLD) Pertinent translation: ``Unfortunately the decision is final: budget cuts are a fact and no change. Still, we are very grateful for these expressions of love and affection`` (via José Bueno, WORLD OF RADIO 1601, ibid.) I remember, in the 1960s, Radio Sofia was one of the reliable signals on shortwave. Its interval signal at the time was ten notes from "Youth March played on organola." An organola is actually an accordion type instrument. I can't find any recording of that old interval signal, since replaced by the first notes of "Bulgarian Suite" by Pancho Vladiguerov. Really. Now Radio Bulgaria must face a new type of competition, that is, between its own media. Now that its audience must access the station via the internet, will they continue to listen to the audio? Or will they prefer to read the content off the website? And if text is preferred, Radio Bulgaria will also have to compete with novinite.com, the Sofia News Agency -- at least in English. Or will they bother to visit the website at all -- preferring to let the content come to their Twitter and/or Facebook accounts? And will Radio Bulgaria pick up additional audience through Google and other web searches? Kim (Kim Andrew Elliott, http://kimelli.nfshost.com/index.php?id=12672 with organola illustrated, via WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DXLD) ** BULGARIA. 576, Am 11. Jan. war kurzeitig BNR Hristo Botev zurueck auf 576 kHz. In den Nachmittagsstunden war noch nichts zu hoeren, als ich um 1930 UT eingeschaltet habe, lief das Programm mit einigen kurzen Aussetzern, um 2003 UT war dann wieder Schluss (Patrick Robic, Austria, A-DX Jan 16 via BC-DX Jan 24 via DXLD) I didn't hear Bulgaria anytime again on 576 kHz, maybe was only a single day maintenance operation recently? (Wolfgang Büschel, Jan 18, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 24 via DXLD) Re 576 kHz; Dear Mr. Bueschel, Thanks for your support. On MW 576 kHz NURTS conducted tests only 10 and 11 January with BNR Second Channel Hristo Botev and several different antennas: The truth about the relationship between BNR and NURTS is not such as is described in the letter from Vladimir Rangelov to Albert Muick (BC- DX 1049). But I'll shut up here. Just no money, about 2 million euros. The situation is tragic. BNR and Radio Bulgaria managements do not want to fight for money. Once again thank you. 73! (Ivo Ivanov, Bulgaria, Jan 20, via Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Please sign petition Radio Bulgaria on SW and MW to be ceased on Febr 1 / 14, 2012. Sign the Petition: Read letters of sympathy to Radio Bulgaria at Radio Bulgaria History 1929 - 2012. (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. QSL: XMJ329, Canadian Coast Guard, 518, full/data card with NAVTEX information and frequencies on rear of card in 28 days for English report and 1 IRC sent via airmail. V/s Frank Dwyer, Officer- In-Charge, who returned the IRC (Al Muick, Whitehall, PA, Jan 21, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. 1610, Jan 20 at 0643 UT I`m hearing Spanish, hoping for something Latin American, but loops toward Toronto, and peaks nicely vs KATZ IBOC noise at 0645 with ``CHHA`` singing ID, ``Voces Latinas, ahora con más alcance``, which certainly seems true as this Toronto station is better audible here. Helps to use LSB vs the IBOC which peaks around 1613 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Also heard into Portland, OR; Spanish around the same time ~0645z with occasional accordion music, likely CHHA Toronto, ON; no problem with IBOC noise this frequency here (KB7WOX, Jan 20, ABDX via DXLD) ** CANADA. 5745 and 5810, Jan 21 at 0513, both leapfrog mixing products from Sackville are audible weakly: 5745 with Vietnamese music // VOV 6175 relay, jumping over fulcrum 5960 CRI English relay, commies vs commies; and 5810 with music // NHK 6110 relay, over same fulcrum; both possible during this semihour only. Also looked for matches on the hi sides, 6260 and 6390, but could not hear them; 6390 blocked by ute noise (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. 6030, Calgary - CFVP relaying CKMX (AM 1060), 0359-0436, Jan 23. R. Marti 0359*; Cuban jamming 0406*; cowboy radio drama “The Lone Ranger” with episode about Geronimo; 0430 ads, PSA, ID; into cowboy radio drama “Gunsmoke”. Seemed to be slight QRM from Radio Oromiya (Ethiopia). Extremely heavy QRN (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) not for me: see CUBA ** CHINA. 1170: While looking for other stuff, I found a couple of Chinese web items. One concerns Jiangxi Transmitting Station 802, near Ji'an in Jiangxi Province (the site is near the town of Taihe, south of Ji'an city). The report mentions that construction at this station was due to start in mid-2008 in preparation for a new 600 kW transmitter to improve rural coverage of Central Radio and TV most likely I suppose this means another high-power mediumwave channel for CNR-1. Unfortunately there's no hint about the frequency planned from this site. So far Station 802 has a 10 kW on 540 kHz for CNR-1 and a 10 or 50 kW (reports vary) on 1350 kHz for Jiangxi PBS. Secondly, I found some mentions of a SARFT Transmitting Station 761 near Xiaotao in Yong'an County, Fujian Province, which has at least one Chinese-made 100 kW SW transmitter of model SW-100-F (a Continental clone I think). Presumably it's another jamming site. Unfortunately both of these stations seem to be in low-resolution areas in the usual imagery sources. [later] Re: 600 kW transmitter for Jiangxi, and another SW site in Fujian. Yes, CNR1 definitely sounds stronger on 1170 kHz also here. (Mauno Ritola, Finland) Following up on this, I've recently been hearing a new and rather strong CNR-1 signal on 1170 kHz which may be the new high-power transmitter reported below - but who knows for sure? The signal is comparable in strength to CNR-1 on 1377 and 1593 kHz (600 kW each). For what it's worth, a usually reliable Chinese- language blog recently reported CNR-1 via Station 802 at Ji'an, Jiangxi Province on new 1170 kHz, albeit with a listed power of only 10 kW. Semi jamming. 1170 kHz just happens to be co-channel with VOA transmissions to China via Poro-PHL. University dissertation dated Dec 2010 about the modulation system of a new ZF-600A transmitter, which is a Chinese-built clone of Harris technology. The acknowledgments and English abstract link it to Station 802 at Ji'an and "Project 1170". Text of speech by Director of Ji'an City Bureau of Culture, Radio, TV and Film dated 9 March 2011. Mentions that "Project 1170 at Station 802" has been completed and is undergoing full-power tests. Transmitter manufacturer's page about the ZF-600A with photo and specifications (Alan Davies, Indonesia, Jan 25/16/21, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews 24 Jan via DXLD) see also RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM Re: 600 kW transmitter for Jiangxi, and another SW site in Fujian. CHN 1170 kHz, 600 kW, 540 / 1350 kHz 10/50, Taihe, Ji'an, Jiangxi Province: three masts 26 49 41.47 N 114 58 38.80 E 26 49 35.62 N 114 58 58.00 E 26 49 28.09 N 114 58 43.32 E (Wolfgang Büschel, Jan 17, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 24 via DXLD) But the images are from 2010, I suppose the high power transmitter wasn't in operation then? (Mauno Ritola) 600 kW MW tx of BBEF. ZF-600A 600 kW digital AM MW Transmitter. Release time: 2011-08-31. Technical Specifications {a few to mention...}: Digital: The way to get direct digital synthesizer RF envelope; Solid state: solid-state machine components Durable capacity: high average modulation capability, continuous sine wave modulation 100% peak modulation capability and capacity; Antenna adaptability: the ability to provide full output matching to ensure the system performance. Carrier power 600 kW. Frequency range 531 ~ 1602 kHz. Output impedance 50 Ohm. VSWR 1.2:1 Digital amplitude modulation. 110% peak modulation capability. Frequency stability + 1.5 Hz 0 ~ 50 Ohm. Spurious and harmonic emission - 50 mW according to CCIR requirements. Drop is less than 1% of the carrier. Frequency response + 1.0dB 50 Hz ~ 10 kHz. Overall efficiency 83%, 86% typical. All Solid-state MW Emission Technical Training in Jiangxi concluded successfully. MW transmitting tower LW transmitting tower 68.5 kHz BPC Shangqiu Time Signal station, Henan Province, 100 kW. 268 m Transmitting Tower. 1998-2007 Time-shared with BPL Pucheng station 100 kHz. In 2007, BPC Shangqiu low-frequency time code continuous broadcast station was set up and made trial broadcasting. But is NOT right visible in Google Earth yet. Single mast should be visible at VLF LW 68.5 kHz BPC Shangqiu Time Signal station, Henan Province, 100 kW. 268 m mast. 34 27 33.57 N 115 50 09.75 E see colour picture visible on website LW 68.5 kHz. When low-frequency time-code technology grant. When low-frequency time-code technology is granted Union (ITU) has recommended a technology. It is in the low-frequency bands, can be both analog and digital modes provide standard time and frequency signals. As the full use of microelectronics technology, the user equipment can be very simple and inexpensive, it has been widely in many fields of application. Such as low precision military, electric power grid synchronization, communication network synchronization, financial and securities system, electronic government (business) services, watches and many other areas of large-scale industrial applications possible. In the tradition of the watch industry, time-code technology is the time to bring the industry as "revolutionary" impact, "it appears to open up a new era of time measurement, which will have a significant economic development in the world effects "(from Chinese leaders watch the report to the Association). In national defense, national security areas have many possible applications. Such as the army of a comprehensive information system, command system, the technology is applied. In the international arena, following the successful development and wide application in Germany the technology, the United States and Japan also renewed emphasis on low-frequency time-code technology. The U.S. government developed a three-stage upgrade program, update the original WWVB radio equipment, radiated power from 13 kW to 25 kW, and increased to 50 kW. Japan destroyed the original JG2AS radio, re-purchase of U.S. equipment and northeast of Tokyo and Kyushu regions in two new power units, which sets the direction of Kyushu Figure clearly aimed at China. International Telecommunication Union, the latest proposal also shows that low-frequency time-code-related technology research and development in the 3 to 5 years will be the country of research. Low-frequency time-code timing system. National Time Service Center since 1993, began tracking the technology. After years of efforts, and business cooperation of the "low-frequency timing extension and application of industry" project has made decisive progress in the Time Service Center, built to a practical test bed has been successfully sent broadcast, send broadcast call sign "BPC", by the State without Committee approved the use of a frequency of 68.5 kHz. Systematic research made an important breakthrough. We study the encoding and decoding methods, the efficiency is similar foreign signal three times. Phase Control technology to solve problems important innovation in spectrum use. Successful development of collaborative business long-wave high-power solid-state transmitter, the main joint ventures leading products included in the 2002 Spark Program of Science and Technology, a number of products through the appraisal, and patent number, form a group of independent intellectual property rights. In 2003, a successful business cooperation with China's first launch of a Chinese standard radio clocks, watches in the domestic industry caused a huge reaction, and a lot of media coverage for the domestic, and to "Atomic Time Table" is no longer a family into the homes of ordinary people a dream. Currently, the industry good progress, began to market the product. Test-bed system has become an important national time extend and complement, began to play its effectiveness. Currently, BPC signal is continuously sent broadcast. start time: send broadcast 21 hours a day, 0500-0800{??} downtime; send broadcast frequency: 68.5 kHz; transmission power: 90 kW. Shangqiu sets the main technical parameters are as follows: Location Address: Shangqiu (antenna coordinates: Latitude 34.457 degrees east longitude 115.837 degrees. {means 34 27 33.57 N 115 50 09.75 E unfortunately dim resolution} Frequency: SRRC approved 68.5 kHz, emission bandwidth of + 1 kHz; Transmitter: solid-state. Transmitting antenna: umbrella single tower 268m height. Transmit power of 100 kW. Coverage radius: Sky Wave 3,000 km to 1000 km wave (to be defined). Modulation: modulation by the encoding unit to provide a pulse modulated wave negative keying. Send broadcast time: 21 hours a day. Timing accuracy: ground wave: 0.1ms; sky wave: 1ms. Shangqiu City, Henan Province. also on NTSC website described BPL Pucheng control center and transmitter 4 mast location, 100 kHz. 34 56 54.66 N 109 32 34.59 E masts 34 57 02.19 N 109 32 42.46 E 34 56 47.52 N 109 32 26.71 E 34 56 48.37 N 109 32 43.37 E A few more Chinese news items from that BBEF company website: The 600 kW MW transmitter in Jiangxi passes acceptance trials. The item is dated 27 Dec 2011, adding to the impression that the Ji'an 1170 kHz transmitter underwent tests and trials for a very long period (a year or more - teething problems?) and that it is only entering service officially in late 2011 or early 2012. 600 kW AM transmitter successfully passed the acceptance Jiangxi Radio and TV. Release time: 2011-12-27 "600 kW medium wave transmitters and related equipment, the five groups of tests, with all the technical requirements, a qualified acceptance!" - When the Director of Planning, Finance and Jiangxi Radio and Television announced that our long-awaited news, marks the North Canton 600 kW AM transmitter technology developed by a formal acceptance. North Canton developed a 600 kW medium wave transmitter is Guoneishoubu power AM transmitter, filled a self-developed high-power medium wave transmitters blank. It marks the successful application of the maturity of this technology to enhance China's comprehensive strength of the medium wave broadcast coverage. 600 kW medium wave transmitter's acceptance of the success of the project, with the company leadership is inseparable from the close attention, with our technical staff for their hard work inseparable, with a common company-wide coordination of various departments separated, with the marketing efforts of the Centre is not sub-open, so that all employees share the joy of success it! (via Alan Davies- Indonesia, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 21; location search by wb, BC-DX Jan 24 via DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. [CUBA/ETHIOPIA/KOREA DPR/VENEZUELA/VIETNAM] Visible are some items on CUB/VEN/ETH/KRE/VTN projects by BBEF. Visible are RHC Bauta La Habana Cuba project and picture of the refurbished BAUTA tx site. And the various WHITE NOISE Jammer / Radio Ethiopia projects mentioned too. Also interesting item of the North Korean SW and MW replacement projects built up UNDERGROUND in tunnels and handling the problems to do this. As well as a 100 kW SW tx replacement in Vietnam. 500 kW BBEF SW unit http://www.bbef-tech.com/templates/T_Second/index.aspx?nodeid=78&page=ContentPage&contentid=158> BBEF DF500A 500 kW PSM digital shortwave transmitter modulation. Release time: 2011-08-31. This series transmitters can work frequency range: 3.2 MHz ~ 26.1 MHz. System consists of power supply systems, automatic control system, automatic tuning system, the RF amplifier unit, part of the modulator, harmonic filters and other components. Mode or in single-sideband amplitude modulation mode to work as a general short-wave radio transmitter or communications transmitter. New DF500A power short-wave transmitters with advanced control systems, modular product structure, designed for reliable, efficient A3E run. 500 kW shortwave transmitter is not the end of our successful development of more than 150 kW shortwave transmitter power of history, to fill the gap. The newly developed solid-state digital transmitters PSM modulator, the core platform using DSP + FPGA, processing speed, high efficiency, advanced technology, simple structure. Overall performance indicators are achieved and better than similar products in the world. Emission frequency 5.95 ~ 22 MHz. Carrier output power 500 kW. Frequency stability of + 10 Hz. Need 60 seconds time for change the frequency. BBEF 150 kW SW unit TBH522 150 kW PSM SW transmitter. BBEF DF-100A 100 kW SW transmitter BBEF 50 kW short wave transmitter. Release time: 2011-08-31. This series transmitters can work frequency range: 3.2 MHz ~ 26.1 MHz, - 2.3 ~ 1.6 MHz or 3.90 ~ 26.1 MHz options. Power consumption: unmodulated 75 kW, 100% sinusoidal modulation 107 kW. Efficiency: In any modulation level, the better than 67%. see China Antarctica Great Wall Station Communication Tower [I assume this is just a name, and really has nothing to do with the seventh continent, or the Great Wall --- gh] BBEF antenna program shown 1. 500 kW SW Antenna Pulling Line Tower ... and also visible a MW tower on the background right. 2. 500 kW SW Rotatable Antenna ... two units visible at Jinhua, revolving former AEG Telefunken antenna clone 29 06 58.89 N 119 18 39.43 E 29 07 03.81 N 119 18 49.28 E 3. 500 kW SW Antenna Pulling Line & Self-Supporting Towers ... Hainan island project ? 2nd part 1. Angular SW antenna ...usual non-dir corner reflector antenna on 49/41 mb. 3. SW all direction antenna ... image could be taken on Ethiopia project ? Multifunctional FM + TV tower (BBEF website via wb + comments, Jan 21, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 24 via DXLD) See above countries for more details ** CHINA. 9200, 16/01 0936, Firedrake jamming, forte chiado e fading, 15221 (Arthur Antonio Raimundo, Goiânia GO Brasil, 16º40'50.91"S, 49º16'15.29"W, GH53IH76, com Rx DEGEN DE 1103, apenas com antena telescópica, radioescutas yg via DXLD) 15455, Jammer, 1331-1335. It’s my opinion that China is the probable source of “Propeller noise” jamming heard. Possible target is the Voice of Tibet’s 1330-1400 Tibetan language broadcast (not heard) which has been reported to use 15457 kHz. The jammer was heard with a 5 Khz wide signal. 1/16/12 (Steven Handler, IL, Icom IC-7200, Tecsun PL-660 and wire antennas, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) Firedrake, 1122-1134, Jan 18. 11500, 11970 and 11980 (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Jan 21, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Firedrake Jan 19: 11500, JBA with flutter at 1327; no others found 9- 15 MHz (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11500, et. al. Firedrake, 1438. music which in my opinion may be being used to jam or interfere with the the Sound of Hope’s Mandarin broadcast (not heard) that reportly uses this frequency. Unable to locate any other Firedrake frequencies in use. Strong. 1/21/12 (Steven Handler, IL, Icom IC-7200, Tecsun PL-660 and wire antennas, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) Firedrake Jan 21: 11500, fair at 1452; no others found up to 18 MHz before 1500 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Ciao Roberto, mi aiutate a identificare 14865 musica orientale, sinfo 34334; grazie (Valter Lafranconi, Italy? 1733 UT jan 22, bclnews.it yg via DXLD) Solitamente da quelle parti si sente Firedrake però non son sicurissimo (Ivan Guerini, 1737 UT, ibid.) Confermato ID Firedrake, grazie (Lafranconi, 1741 UT, ibid.) 11500, 23/Jan 0023, Firedrake, good signal (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, 12 14´S, 38 58´W - Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 13920, 24/Jan 0923, Firedrake. Also, 13970, 15900 good signal, 15800, 11500 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, 12 14´S, 38 58´W - Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Firedrake scan from 7500 thru 19000 from 1226 to 1244. A major change for SOH. Instead of being on mostly during their morning, instead on Jan 25 was predominantly broadcasting during their evening (checked during 8:26 PM to 8:44 PM Beijing time). 11500 good 12230 good 12600 poor 12980 poor-fair 13130 good 13680 very poor 14700 good 14970 good 15970 good 16100 good 16920 good 17250 fair-good (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 5050, Beibu Bay Radio usually the strongest 60m station at night; Chinese programs but frequent English idents regularly heard including “BBR” and “FM 96.4, Beibu Bay Radio” at 1400 14 Jan and 1130 17 Jan. Another station audible weakly in background 1355 14 Jan. Other Chinese stations audible at 1130 on 5075, 4950, 4940 (Bryan Clark, visiting Singapore with Sony 7600G and short wire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [and non]. 7220, Jan 20 at 1358 after giving up on PNG 7325, I amuse myself by catching another nonsensical airing of the Radio Exterior de España IS past 1359, prior to CRI`s 1400 Nepali service via Kunming, as they have been programmed to do every day for years. Checking EiBi, I see there is a // 7435 also Kunming: next time, hear if the same happen there. 7435, Jan 23 at 1358, better luck today in hearing the nonsensical Radio Exterior de España IS played by Kunming site before 1400 CRI Nepali service --- there it is, like on // 7220 where previously caught. Perhaps they owe REE another 2 x 2 minutes of airtime and fulfill it thus (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7435 and 7220, Jan 25 at 1358, both JBA with nonsensical REE IS for this biminute from Kunming site before CRI Nepali: 7435 had CCI, presumably Vietnam; 7220 had QRhaM (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 6125, CNR1, 1417, Jan 23. Coverage of news conference in Australia with Chinese tennis star Li Na; in English and Chinese; fair. 15375, CNR1, 1307-1315, Jan 23. CNR1 programming in Chinese used to successfully block and jam RFA; // 6125 (fair). I find the best chance to hear Fu Hsing BS (Taiwan [q.v.]) is on 9774, due to the unique frequency (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [non]. 5985, Jan 22 at 0601, CRI Arabic via ALBANIA with continuous noise QRM like jamming, or DRM co-channel? None scheduled. Definitely not centered on 5980, where the DentroCuban Jamming Command will ramp up to full force vs R. Martí starting at 0700. 9450, Jan 23 at 1422, Russian is atop, talking about Kitay; the announcer sounds so Slavic it`s hard to believe he could be an ethnic Han; with heavy Chinese mix QRM: because by using 9450 from 100 kW Paochung, Taiwan transmitter, at 14-16, Sound of Hope forces the ChiCom to jam their own CRI Russian service at 1400-1457, 500 kW, 37 degrees, also USward from Shijiazhuang site. Take that! But it also helps to jam SOH further. [and non]. 9755, Jan 24 after 2200, quite a mess with two or three stations in Chinese mixing. Aoki unravels this as VOA, at 22-23 only, 250 kW, 30 degrees via Udon Thani, THAILAND, so also USward, and it is *jammed, by CNR1? PLUS, CNR2 is also on 9755 at 2055-2300, 100 kW, 255 degrees from Baoji-Sifangshan 724 site: Chicom vs Chicom (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [non]. 15190, 23/Jan 1048, a weak signal with modulation of YL and OM talking. I believe that is CRI in English. Yes, via Tajikistan, in // 15210, with good signal. At 1054 ID by YL. No signal of Radio Inconfidência e Radio Africa (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, 12 14´S, 38 58´W - Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. Chinese Lunar New Year's Eve --- Hi Glenn, Perhaps the following will be of interest to some. Chinese Lunar New Year’s Eve will be during my local Sunday morning (Jan 22). New Year’s Day is on January 23. Also known as their Spring Festival, which lasts for many days. Many SW stations carry the audio feed from CCTV live coverage from Beijing of the New Year’s Eve Gala, which is over four hours of singing, dancing, comedy, etc. This year's TV coverage will be via 3D technology. When I was recently in Shanghai, I noticed many of the TV sets for sale now are 3D. This year there will be no advertisements during the gala. It will start at 1200 and run past 1600 UT, Jan 22. Many stations will be in parallel, so it will be fairly easy to ID them. Last year I noted all the CNR1 frequencies, plus PBS Nei Menggu, Voice of Strait and China Huayi BC all with the gala coverage. Traditionally CNR2/CBR, PBS-2 Sichuan and Voice of Pujiang do not carry the coverage. Please remember that all the CNR1 echo jamming will also be carrying the New Year’s Eve Gala, so it will be on a wide range of frequencies other than the usual “real” CNR1 frequencies (non-echo/non-jamming). Website: http://chunwan.cntv.cn/2012/index.shtml Happy New Year! (Ron Howard, San Francisco, Calif., Jan 21, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Tnx to tip from Ron Howard, looked for extensive CNR1 Lunar NYE special with celebratory musical programming, Jan 22 after 1431. Unfortunately, reception was generally poor with flutter, perhaps best on 7295, but managed to make all these //, some of them jammers and with QRM: 9825, 9785, 9450, 7365, 7350, 7305, 7295, 6175, 6145, 6125, 6105. Oops, Ron says this year the NYE special was on CNR2 instead, so all of these must have been normal CNR1 programming (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Jan 22 live audio feed from CCTV coverage from Beijing of the Chinese Lunar New Year’s Eve Gala, checking from 1230 to 1311; variety of musical selections, comedy skits, sound of the audience applauding and laughing, etc.; all //. The major change this year was that CNR1 did NOT cover the gala. Instead was broadcast via CNR2/China Business Radio on 6065, 6090, 6155, 7245, 7315, 7370 and 7425; mostly all fair. As in past years, the gala was heard on: PBS Nei Menggu (Chinese Service) – 7420 Voice of Strait – 4940 China Huayi BC – 6185 (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA. 5909.935, Alcaraván Radio, 0046. Latin pops spoiled by digital noise bursts. Good signal but only fair audio modulation. 22 Jan 2012 (Jerry Strawman, Des Moines IA, Perseus SDR, Drake R8, Wellbrook 330S Loop, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) 6010, Jan 21 at 0435 just as I tune in, call-letter ID as HJDH, i.e. The Voice of Thy Conscience, atop lo het from Brasil and/or Mexico, then hymn. Blasted away after 0500, of course, by RHC English (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CROATIA. Croatian Radio program with lovely Croatian folkloric pop song, S=9+30dB at 0311 UT Jan 23, on odd 3984.945 kHz (Wolfgang Büschel, during a `blackout`, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA [and non]. 5965, Jan 21 at 0411, REE relay is on // 9675; checking because it was missing at 0632 Jan 20. And still on at 0657 Jan 21. 9675, tho very strong aimed 340 degrees USward, by 0524 Jan 21 was suffering from CCI underneath, causing fast SAH, screaming preacher presumably Brasil, not Saudi Arabia (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 6030, Jan 23 at 0703, lite but sufficient residual DentroCuban pulse jamming here, even in R. Martí weekly Monday 6-hour silent period, no CFVP or anything else audible. Yet, earlier this date, Ron Howard was hearing CFVP after the jamming stopped at 0406*. So they turned it back on, just to be mean. 9955, Jan 23 at 0658, loud whining noises, not the usual jamming sound, obliterating WRMI, which at 0630 had been in the clear opening R. Praga in Spanish! No need to jam at 0700 either, just WRN programming in English scheduled (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. Re CHINA, BBFF transmitter manufacturer site: Cuba's global communications network modernization project began in 2000 as the nation's largest manufacturer of transmitters and antennas, North Canton Technology Co., Ltd. Since 2002, Cuba began to National Center for shortwave shortwave radio transmitter and short- wave antenna and tower and switch accessories (BAUTA tx site). As Cuba's successful Phase ? project, the company began in 2003, Phase ? project to Cuba equipment. These devices, all in BAUTA Cuba installation, and in 2005 completed and put into use. Since 2005, the old company to continue to buy batches of transmitter parts. The project, currently running normally, and achieved good results. With quality products, excellent service, very best in North Canton Technology "Blue Ocean", has taken steps to open up overseas markets. The project marks the North Canton achieved from a single technology to provide complete sets of export products and changes in the overall solution (BBEF website via wb + comments, Jan 21, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 24 via DXLD) ** DIEGO GARCIA. Is anyone hearing 4319 USB Diego Garcia (or 12759, as well) recently? I've checked at numerous times in recent weeks, but have not heard them (Harold Sellers, Editor of World English Survey and Target Listening, available at http://www.odxa.on.ca Jan 23, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I did receive 4319 on January 2, here is a recording I made: http://youtu.be/1pgXSE_WJGY 73s, (Tudor Vedeanu, (Gura Humorului, Romania), ibid., WORLD OF RADIO 1601) Harold, all I ever hear on 4319-USB is a loud utility station, so no chance to hear anything underneath. The utility I assume is military, and likely in the western part of the US or Canada (perhaps even Aldergrove, BC the origin of that awful ute near 3290 kHz (Walt Salmaniw, BC, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 16/01/2012 1944, 4319, AFRTS feeder, USB, 233, Diego Garcia-program music. 73 good DX! (Mauro - Giroletti, -Swl 1510- -IK2GFT- -JRC525Nrd - Lowe HF150- Filter PAR Electronics - BCST-LPF + BCST-HPF- DSP 9 - Eavesdropper SWL Sloper 11mt to 120mt Band- Loop ALA 100 M -Lat. 45 25'0"N Long. 9 7'0"E -Locator grid. Jn 45 Nk-, playdx yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DXLD) Implying local origination? I don`t think so --- AFAIK, this and Guam only relay one of multiple program feeds via satellite from HQ in Los Ángeles, never any local ID or reference, even tho there may be a local outlet on FM or AM at same base. Or did you hear DG mentioned? (gh, DXLD) 4319, AFN Diego Garcia very good on pops, mainly rap music 1356 14 Jan. But when rechecked at 1404 17 Jan, audio problems appeared to have returned with badly distorted signal. 4319, AFN audible again at very good level 1412 21 Jan with music (Bryan Clark, visiting Singapore with Sony 7600G and short wire, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DJIBOUTI. 4780, 1927-1934* 16.01, Rdif. TV de Djibouti, Arta, Afar (presumed) interview, but was abruptly cut off and did not come back by 1945 - reactivated! 25232. The broadcast was very irregular and was also heard 21.01 with much lower signal strength, than before its technical problems in Sep 2011! A stronger and more stable signal was heard 1430-1940, 17+18+19+20.01, news and talks in Somali and Afar (presumed), often mentioning Djibouti and Somalia, Horn of Africa songs, 35333. Please note, that a strong noise utility transmitter often disturbs Djibouti in USB and AM, but not in LSB! (Anker Petersen, Skovlunde, Denmark, on my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DXLD) 4780, Radio Djibouti fair with Qur`an at 1502 17 Jan, not long after their sunset and my bedtime (Bryan Clark, visiting Singapore with Sony 7600G and short wire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4780, Radio Djibouti, 0318-0410, tune-in to talk in unidentified language. Local tribal music at 0340. Some Horn of Africa style music. Poor to fair in noisy conditions. Improved to fair to good levels at 0340. Jan 19 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) 4780.00, RTV Djibouti, first tuned in at 0308 with strong carrier, but CODAR very bad this frequency! Heard as late as 0417, but in middle of cub scout astronomy program with telescope, so no details were logged. First time heard our evening in a long time! First heard with carrier at 1426, but later at 1507 with music. Arabic chanting/music here at 1512, but still too much CODAR. 1/19 (Jim Young, WPC6JY, Wrightwood and Inspiration Point (10 miles west of town), CA, ICOM IC-706, 756 ProIII and Grundig Satellite 800, 60-M vertical, 60-M inverted Vee, 80-M inverted Vee, 40-M yagi, NASWA yg via DXLD) 4780, Radio Djibouti, *0300-0410, sign on with short 25 second instrumental National Anthem followed by opening Arabic announcements. Local rustic music at 0302. Local chants at 0302:30. Arabic talk at 0312. Local tribal music at approximately 0332. Indigenous vocals. Poor to fair in noisy conditions. Jan 20 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) 4780, looking for reactivated R. Djibouti Jan 21, finally some weak talk audible at 0333, but gone at 0335. Brian Alexander logged them from *0312 to suddenly off at 0334*. Continues to be quite erratic, transmitter problems? And not as strong as it was last year (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4780, Radio Djibouti, 2140-2300+, talk in unidentified language. Some local African music. Poor in noisy conditions. On the air past 2300 but gone at 2340 check. Running past their normal 2100 sign off time. Jan 20 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) 4780, Radio Djibouti, *0312-0334*, abrupt sign on with Qur`an in progress. Arabic talk at 0316. Abruptly off the air at 0334. Poor in noisy conditions and occasional QRM from 2-way utility traffic. Jan 21 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) 4780, Radio Djibouti, 2045-2102*, talk in unidentified language. Horn of Africa style music. Sign off with instrumental National Anthem at 2101. Barely audible, threshold signal at tune-in, but improved to a very weak, but audible level by sign off. Jan 21 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) 4780, Radio Djibouti, *0308-0355+, abrupt sign on with Qur`an. Arabic talk at 0311. Local music at 0331. Indigenous vocals. Poor to fair in noisy conditions. Jan 22 (Brian Alexander, PA, WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX Listening Digest) Djibouti is back on 4780: heard strong signal and typical Horn of Africa music at 2030 UT Jan 23. (Derek Lynch, Ireland, 2335 UT Jan 23, WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DOMINICA. 24975-USB, Jan 22 at 2122, J79XB working many US stations in a row, from Tennessee, Virginia, etc. Uses fonetix Japan, 7, 9, xray, bravo. What`s he got against Juliet, to be consistent? QRZ.com lookup shows he`s Mike, a.k.a. VE2XB who gets out of Quebec in the winter, and the home call is where you have to go to find: Michael Shaer 4665 BEACONSFIELD STREET MONTREAL, QC H4A 2H8 Canada Does the second number in the call mean that there are 9 subdivisions within the `tiny island` of J7? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. 4814.98, Radio El Buen Pastor, 1/2 [January 2?] at 1106 with HC pasillos featuring guitars and piano, YL singers. Usual high- voiced OM announcer with timecheck at 1108, then back into pleasant program of folklórico music. Fair signal with usual blipping ute QRM. One of the only places on the band to hear wonderful HC folkloric music, the other being HCJB - Pichincha on 6050 kHz (Ralph Perry, Wheaton, Illinois, Drake R8B; Japan Radio NRD-545; Eton E1; Hallicrafters SX100; Knightkit Star Roamer; Dentron Super Tuner + Ameco PLF-2 + Palomar P-408 + customized (tropical bands) Quantum Phaser antenna unit; Longwires (150' + 100'); Tuned Multi-Turn 20" Small Loop; Single-Turn Coax Loop, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. Currently hearing Radio Quito, 4918.98 at 0428 with Spanish pop music. Spanish announcements somewhat distorted but ID heard. Fair to good signal strength (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg, PA, USA, Icom IC-7600, two 100 foot longwires, UT Jan 20, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) First heard this evening at 0028, and audio by 0120. Distortion or over-modulation noted tonight and yesterday same time. Heard to past 0500 at tune-out (Jim Young, Wrightwood, CA, NASWA yg via DXLD) 4918.98, Radio Quito, 0428-0610+, Spanish pop music. ID announcements. Very good signal strength but announcements somewhat distorted. Irregular. Jan 20 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) 20/01/2012, 0528, 4918.9, R Quito "LV de la Capital" AM, 222, Quito, - px mx loc fair (Mauro - Giroletti, -Swl 1510- -IK2GFT- -JRC525Nrd - Lowe HF150- Filter PAR Electronics - BCST-LPF + BCST-HPF- DSP 9 - Eavesdropper SWL Sloper 11mt to 120mt Band- Loop ALA 100 M -Lat. 45 25'0"N Long. 9 7'0"E -Locator grid. Jn 45 Nk-, playdx yg via DXLD) Heard what I presume was Radio Quito, Ecuador on 4918.98 kHz at 0818 UT this morning (20-Jan) on what was by then an almost completely empty 60 mb. Programming was mainly continuous songs but with an announcement by man then briefly by woman at 0832 UT before returning to songs. Too weak to copy announcement or even confirm what language was about half an hour after sunrise. Only other stations audible then on 60mb were WWCR 4840, R Rebelde 5025 and a weak Brazilian around 4880 - so Radio Quito would probably have been stronger earlier in the night. Will recheck this weekend, that's if last night wasn't a one-off: WRTH 2012 lists Radio Quito on 4919 as "irr" and also as "reported inactive, but may occasionally be reactivated." 73s (Alan Pennington, Caversham, UK, AOR 7030+ / beverage bdxcuk yg via DXLD) Radio Quito off at 1130 UT Jan 20; only 4920.000 PBS Xizang in Tibetan from Lhasa in China on air. 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, Jan 20, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4918.98, Radio Quito, "me too" on this one. Bumped into big signal this morning 1/20 at 1033, program of OM and YL in Spanish but mainly indigenous language (probably Quechua), reading items punctuated with bursts of música ecuatoriana. Program ran to 1054 when nice ID, then orchestral version of HC national anthem (long form, with prelude, chorus, vocal middle section and grand wrap-up). Again, ID for Radio Quito afterward and then at 1100, into news show which sounded like "Noticiero Ecuadoradio" (?) presented by YL in Spanish. After 1100, signal was much improved music. A few times heard some RTTY mixing with RQ, on same channel -- almost seemed same transmitter as R Quito. I wonder if they are sharing a utility transmitter for SW and using one of the sidebands for broadcast? (Ralph Perry, Wheaton, Illinois, Drake R8B; Japan Radio NRD-545; Eton E1; Hallicrafters SX100; Knightkit Star Roamer, Dentron Super Tuner + Ameco PLF-2 + Palomar P- 408 + customized (tropical bands) Quantum Phaser antenna unit, Longwires (150' + 100'); Tuned Multi-Turn 20" Small Loop; Single-Turn Coax Loop, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4918.98, 2335, UNID, 20.01, Maybe R Quito, Quito, (tentative), Spanish talk, QRM from Xizang PBS 4920, 21221 (Anker Petersen, Skovlunde, Denmark, on my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) Surely this (gh) 4918.98, Radio Quito, 0146-0300, Spanish talk. IDs. Spanish ballads and pop music. Some Ecuadorian style music. Fair to good signal strength but announcements somewhat distorted. Still here at 0520 check. Jan 21 (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg, PA, Icom IC-7600, two 100 foot longwires, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4919-, Jan 21 at 0325, pop Andean music, good S9+12 signal, much stronger than Brasil 4885; loud modulation and somewhat distorted, carrier unstable wobbling with BFO on, rolling fades, 0328 segué to slower tune; 0332-0333 ID as ``Radio Quito --- la voz en vivo``, time check as 10:30? Still going with variety of music, sometimes vocal, at chex: 0355, 0437, 0504, 0537, 0655, 0713, so presumably all-night. At 0400 caught another ID, ``Radio Quito --- la voz en vivo de la capital``, 23 horas TC. Slightly on low side of 1-kHz-off-4920 frequency. Brian Alexander measured it at same time as 20 Hz low, 4818.98. Maybe it`s reactivated for a longer stay than usual, first reported Jan 12, and usually gone again within a day or two. 4919-, Jan 22 at 0652 check, no signal from R. Quito, unlike 24 hours earlier when it evidently ran all-night. Gone again for another few months? (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Coincidentally I have been doing some 1940 station research and ran across the fact that R. Quito came on SW that year, 5975 kc., so they go back a long way. I don't know if they were on MW before that (Jerry Berg-MA-USA, DXplorer Jan 20 via BC-DX via DXLD) I have a bit about the history of Radio Quito in this article. http://www.pateplumaradio.com/south/ecuador/ecuador2.html According to the book "Radiodifusión en la Mitad del Mundo", Radio Quito used 1339 MW and 5970 SW when the station was officially inaugurated on Aug 18 1940. One interesting detail: Radio Quito was founded by the brothers Carlos and Jorge Mantilla. Carlos had worked with Clarence Jones in putting HCJB on the air in 1931 and Carlos became the first person to speak in Spanish over the air on HCJB on the first day of broadcasting (Don Moore via DXPlorer via SW Bulletin Jan 22 via DXLD) ** EGYPT. 6270, R Cairo (presumed), Test tone at a very low level from 2250 to 2259, then into English? (presumed). All I can know for sure was there was a YL talking and some Arabic sounding music, but even worse than usual level of audio. Apparently someone needs to tell the techs at Cairo that you actually have to PLUG THE WIRES INTO THE TRANSMITTER for the broadcast to be useful. Really great signal/not useable: 44+441+ because of poor modulation. BEYOND mumbleville. 2250- 2310 (and it never got better!) 14/Jan (Kenneth Vito Zichi, Williamston MI, MARE Tipsheet Jan 20 via DXLD) 15210, Jan 22 at 2112, big rumbling hum, maybe a trace of modulation, also later in the hour before 2200. I bet it`s Egypt, typical SNAFU`d transmission. Yes: HFCC shows R. Caire in French at 2030-2230, 250 kW, 241 degrees from Abis to West Africa, so another of their total-loss broadcasts, which have improved not a whit since the change of government (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15210, 22/Jan 2142, A strong buzz that is believed to be Radio Cairo. At 2145 completely distorted modulation. I do not understand these transmissions of Radio Cairo! (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, 12 14´S, 38 58´W - Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Nor can anyone! Scheduled to be in French (gh, DXLD) 15290, 23/Jan 1914, Very weak signal without modulation. Probably another ghost transmissions from R Cairo. Eibi informs transmission in English to Africa from 1900 to 2030. At 1920 a signal of 1 kHz coming on the air in seconds. The 1 kHz signal is repeated on the carrier and off the air, at 1923. The 1926 I hear the weak modulation of R Cairo with female and male voice, though the modulation is low, the speeches are clear! Until 1945 I didn't hear any more the signal of 1 kHz 15290, 24/Jan 1952, R Cairo, in English (listed). YL talk, but the modulation distorted and low that cannot understand anything. 45431 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, 12 14´S, 38 58´W - Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. Is Radio Africa back? (RIO MUNI) 15190, Radio Africa at 2124 in English with a man preaching then brief piano music at 2126 and more preaching - Very Poor and noisy Jan 23. I needed to use the narrow filter, IF Shift, and Passband tuning to get away from Family Radio on 15195 via Ascension Island. I'm not sure if the weird atmospheric conditions gave this one a bit of a boost or not but it begs further monitoring when the solar disturbances subside (Mark Coady, Peterborough, ON K9J 6X3, NASWA yg via DXLD) Mark, Noticed only very weak signal when tuning around 2038-2100+ aside 15195 YFR Ascension, assumed usual Brasil. Checking this out again at 2217, nothing but definite Brasilian on 15190-, slightly on the low side. Were you getting a het from it? Of course, EqG could have gone off in the meantime. 73, Glenn Hauser dxldyg Come to think of it there was a weak het. Radio Africa was lost to nothing but noise by 2140 (Mark Coady, CumbreDX, 2230 UT, ibid.) Here only the strong signal of R Inconfidência, even when there is fading I can not hear anything. 73 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana BA - Brasil 2235 UT dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Nothing now, 2239, in a radio remote from South Africa, Global Tuners. Since tuned around 2215 only the Brazilian noted here, on 15190.045 (Dan Ferguson, SC, 2327 UT, NASWA yg via DXLD) 15190, 22/Jan 2134, No signal from Radio Inconfidência, Brasil. Also no signal from R Africa via Equatorial Guinea. At 0053 the same situation (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, 12 14´S, 38 58´W - Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also BRAZIL; CHINA ** ERITREA. 4770, V Of Broad Masses, (S5) // 7175 21/1, S10 with HoA song and short phone ins in-between, low audio (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, ICOM R75 / 2x16 V / m@h40 heads Sennheiser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7170, 0452, VOBME, Asmara here 2/1 but heavily jammed by Ethiopia. At 0500 recheck found they and jammer had moved to 7165. At a further check at 0540 the frequency was 7185! Noted on 7175 and 7180 on 27/12 as they try to escape the jamming. BCM 7185, 1740, VOBME strong and clear of any jamming 5/12 with Arabic announcements, folk music // 4770 very weak audio, 7120 fair. All frequencies heard closing with anthem at 1800. BCM 7200, 0507, VOBME service in National languages here 27/12, alternating frequency with usual 7205. Poor to fair, mixed another Arabic-type language station when on 7200, only suffering 7210 QRM when on 7205. Overseas reports say Ethiopia is using 7200 to QRM Eritrea. First time I’ve noted VOBME s 7205 transmission being deliberately interfered with (Bryan Clark at Mangawhai, New Zealand, with AOR7030+ and Alpha Delta Sloper, EWEs to NE, E and SE, plus various 100 metre BOGs to the Americas, Jan NZ DX Times via DXLD) 7120.02, Voice of the Broad Masses of Eritrea, 0325-0355, Horn of Africa style music. Arabic pop music. Vernacular talk. Fair. // 7174.99 - fair to good. Jan 20 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) 7174.991, Asmara at 0330 UT Jan 22, S=9+5dBm, news read by male voice. Kind regards and warm greeting to Niromi too, de (Wolfy df5sx wwdxc, Wolfgang Büschel at 0419 UT Jan 22, using Victor Goonetilleke`s Perseus in Sri Lanka, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA [non]. via ETHIOPIA. 7234.80v, Voice of Peace and Democracy, via Radio Ethiopia transmitters, *0400-0425+, sign on with Horn of Africa music and opening ID announcements. Talk in listed Tigrinya. Local music. Fair. 7234.80 at sign on but drifted up to 7234.98 by 0425. Barely audible, very low modulation on // 9558.87v - drifting up to 9558.92. Mon, Wed, Fri only. Jan 20 (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg, PA, USA, Icom IC-7600, two 100 foot longwires, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA/ETHIOPIA. Seldom noted such big odd frequency appearance of R Ethiopia, this morning on 7234.700 kHz, drifted to 7234.659 kHz, and upwards again to 7234.689 kHz, at 0406 to 0412 UT slot on Jan 23. Stopped broadcasting at 0430 UT, and appeared as White Noise jammer unit against Asmara Eritrea in Amharic language on 7175 or 9820 kHz. Asmara Eritrea in the clear on their usual frequency on ham radio band section of 7174.992 kHz at 0413 UT Jan 23 presenting Arabic service. Not jammed, but was covered by white noise jamming from neighbour Ethiopia later on Eritrea's Amharic section at 0430-0530 UT. Same noise jammer noted on \\ Asmara in Amharic language on 9820.040 kHz at 0435 UT Jan 23, weaker S=7 signal. Latter mess mixture added by Brazilian station Radio Nove de Julio on very odd 9819.626 kHz at same time (Wolfgang Büschel, during a `blackout`, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA. 5950, Jan 21 at 0407, good signal with Amharish talk; recheck 0449, YL announcement HOA music, somewhat weaker. No, must be Tigrinya or Afar, as listed in Aoki for V of Tigray Revolution, 100 kW ND from Addis Ababa-Gedja, starting at 0300. And I did hear Afar mentioned. Now in the clear, unlike before 0400, no chance with Taiwan/WYFR on 5950; however, 5935 WWCR is so strong that it`s overloading onto 5950, more so than NHK Sackville from closer 5960 on the other side (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5950, Voice of Tigray Revolution, *0255-0305, sign on with local flute IS. Local music and vernacular talk at 0257. Weak under Okeechobee. Jan 22 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** ETHIOPIA. Radio Oromiya ?? 6030, Addis Ababa (Aoki) Jan 23, 2012, Monday. 1913-1922. Oromo?? Horn of Africa music, and talk, but if it is Oromiya it has overshot its normal sign off of 1900* (Aoki, EiBi). Poor. Jo'burg sunset 1704 (Bill Bingham, RSA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA. 9705.004, Radio Ethiopia, S=6-7 fluttery in Amharic at 0349 UT. One of their new 7x Chinese 100 kW SW txs (Wolfy df5sx wwdxc, Wolfgang Büschel at 0419 UT Jan 22, using Victor Goonetilleke`s Perseus in Sri Lanka, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA. Re CHINA, BBFF transmitter manufacturer site: SW and TV transmitter projects in Ethiopia. BBEF has constructed 4 radio transmitting stations and 28 TV transmitting stations for Ethiopia; meanwhile our company supplies corresponding equipments as well. The project wins high reputation and pushes forward the expanding process in overseas markets. I. SW & MW Projects Phase I and II. Ethiopia SW & MW Project Phase I started in 2007. The project was composed of 7 sets of 100 kW MW transmitter, the antenna-feeder system, studio facilities and the program transmission apparatus. Engineers from BBEF and Ethiopia worked together closely and overcame numerous difficulties. After intensive construction and careful debugging, they accomplished the project in time. The Ethiopian government highly appraised the work efficiency and appreciated the project. Anyway, the excellent performance of this project won the priority for the next phrase of SW & MW project. SW & MW Project Phase II included 50/150 kW SW transmitter, 200 kW MW transmitter, towers, antennas, etc. With our fighting spirits, the staffs got through the procedures of manufacturing, shipping, installation and debugging in time. The project was completed during a period of nearly one year. II. Ethiopia TV & FM Projects Phase I and II. After SW & MW Projects Phase I and II were accomplished, BBEF started Ethiopia TV & FM Project Phase I, which meant the establishment of overlay network in the country. It was required to construct 29 new stations, and supply 66 sets of TV and FM transmitters. The equipment to be supplied cover the satellite receiving system, program input devices, the transmitter system, the antenna-feeder system, remote microwave links, the machine room monitoring system and generating apparatus. With meticulous arrangement and organization, BBEF finished the equipment production, procurement and delivery on time. By for now, the procedures of construction, debugging and acceptance check has come to an end. Ethiopia is quite satisfied with the cooperation and highly appraises the project speed and quality. After Phase I, BBEF won the chance of TV&FM Project phrase II. On the base of Phrase I, more stations will be constructed as supplementary coverage in Ethiopia. Due to the large number of stations and various types of equipments, this project is a big challenge for us. However, by using the experience of Phase I, we are sure to complete the second phase successfully. Overseas Engineering: Ethiopia Project. Release time: 2011-09-05. Beijing Science and Technology Co., Ltd. for the Ethiopian North Canton built four radio transmitters, 28 TV transmitting station, and provide the appropriate equipment. Ethiopia project in establishing a good reputation abroad, winning a good reputation, to enhance the brand influence to promote the overseas market expansion process. First, the short-wave stage ?, ? phase of the project. Company from 2007, the Ethiopian short-wave phase ? construction work, engineering, including: 7 x 100 kW medium wave transmitters, antenna systems, studio equipment, studio to transmitter program transmission equipment. Construction company engineers and technical personnel in close coordination with Aye side, overcome difficulties, after intense construction and commissioning tasks completed on time. Both efficiency and quality of the project are given angstroms side [sic] spoke highly of the government, short-wave engineering for the next period to win the first move. Upon completion of the short-wave phase ?, the view of the company's product quality and efficiency of cooperation projects in Phase ? good performance, the company has successfully won Aise short-wave phase ? project, contract works include: short-wave transmitter 50/150 kW machine, 200 kW medium wave transmitter and tower and antenna. After nearly a year of hard work, company employees to carry forward the whole body from top to bottom with fearing neither hardship nor tired of fighting spirit, and fulfill the production, shipping and on-site installation and commissioning work, the successful completion of the project. Aise TV FM stage ?, ? phase of the project. Upon completion of the short-wave phase ? and ?, the company ushered in the Ethiopian TV FM phase ?, ? phase of the project need to Aise established a nationwide television coverage, the need to build 29 new stations, TV, FM transmitter total number of 66 sets. From the satellite receiving system, program input device, transmitter systems, Antenna systems, remote microwave link, engine room monitoring system, power generation equipment all need a new acquisition or construction. Deployment of the company carefully, well-organized, timely completion of the organization of production, outsourcing equipment, timely delivery and so on. Through the efforts of construction workers building, TV Tuner, Phase ? project has been completed and gradually the construction, commissioning and inspection. Aye side very satisfied with the company's cooperation, and the speed and quality of projects and spoke highly of. Completed a TV tuner phase ?, the company has ushered in a TV tuner phase ? project in Phase ? project based on the coverage across the country to make up points. Phase ? large number of stations, various models, the project organization is a big challenge, the company works through the east stage ?, drawing stage ? construction experience, will complete the project quality and efficient. Ethiopia Broadcast TV Training Phase II was Rounded off trainees in English. (BBEF website via wb + comments, Jan 21, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 24 via DXLD) ** EUROPE. PIRATE. 6420, Black Bandit Radio, 2138-2200+, tentative, country music. Tentative ID. Poor. Weak in noisy conditions, but fair in peaks. Jan 21 (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg, PA, Icom IC-7600, two 100 foot longwires, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) PIRATE. 6420, Black Bandit Radio, 2138-2230, country music. Some polka style music. Caught ID at 2226. Off the air at approximately 2233. Poor. Weak in noisy conditions, but fair in peaks. Jan 21 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** EUROPE. 7600, 0752, PIRATE, FRS Holland on special broadcast 18/12 opening with music, unique tuning signal, poor signal. Initially on 7599.9 and had drifted up to 7599.98 by 0810. Ident & announcements in English and Dutch at 0810. // 5800 was much weaker and barely audible (Bryan Clark at Mangawhai, New Zealand, with AOR7030+ and Alpha Delta Sloper, EWEs to NE, E and SE, plus various 100 metre BOGs to the Americas, Jan NZ DX Times via DXLD) ** EUROPE. DX update from northern Delaware - Borderhunter Radio 15515 kHz || 1633 UT || 15-Jan-2012 || Borderhunter Radio || Holland (Pirate) || End of Beastie Boys' '(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party)' followed by male with English IDs and frequency mentions. Into Johnny Wakelin's 'In Zaire'. At 1650, multiple IDs: "Free music radio ... Borderhunter Radio" || Poor to fair signal bothered by frequent fades. Many thanks to Brian Alexander for the tip that this station was on! Two .mp3 clips here: http://www.21centimeter.com/21centimeter/Recordings/15515-khz_1633-UTC_15-Jan-2012_Radio-Borderhunter_Holland_Pirate.MP3 http://www.21centimeter.com/21centimeter/Recordings/15515-khz_1650-UTC_15-Jan-2012_Radio-Borderhunter_Holland_Pirate.MP3 Rgds, (Pete Jernakoff, K3KMS, Wilmington, Delaware USA, http://www.21centimeter.com Jan 21, ABDX via DXLD) ** FAROE ISLANDS. Erik Kugland reports in the A-DX mailing list that the Faroe Islands transmitter on 531 kHz is at present on air with full 100 kW after storms damaged a number of FM transmitters. Usually the output is limited to 25 kW nowadays. Climbing the Akraberg antenna: http://picasaweb.google.com/106908783359348198419/AkrabergRMeistur The current transmission equipment, which this way turns out as Thomson M2W, still in the workshop in Switzerland: http://picasaweb.google.com/106908783359348198419/Sweitz And preparations at the Akraberg site with the decomissioned 200 kW Brown Boveri tube transmitter from 1990: http://picasaweb.google.com/106908783359348198419/MBSendariAkraberg (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Jan 21, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Ouch, Kai! Those tower pictures sure give me a lot of anxiety. I'd be very reluctant to climb any towers, especially those long decommissioned! (Walt Salmaniw, BC, ibid.) ** FINLAND. 25000 kHz, MIKES TIME SIGNAL STATION, 1005-1115, 22-01, Time signals, pulses with seconds, no identification, no at the hour and 30 minutes and no at the hour, at 00 seconds, silence, no pulse. 24322. [later:] FINLAND, I am hearing now, at 1357, Time Signal Station Mikes from Finland on 25000. Fair to good signal now. The correct sequence of pulses is: pulse each second and silence at 58 and 59 seconds (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Log in Friol, Sony ICF SW 7600 G, Cable antenna, 10 meters, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 25000, 1045 22/1, MIKES, Espoo, Finland, time service, very good (Giampiero Bernardini, Winradio Excalibur Pro, Ant: t2fd 15 m long, Milano, playdx yg via DXLD) ** FRANCE [and non]. 9955, RFI from WRN in English via WRMI flirting with the noise level and fighting with the Cuba-jamming. LSB made things a little better. News about Standard & Poor’s downgrading of France’s credit rating to AA+ and the schemes known as 419 scams that seem to proliferate on the Internet, etc. Sports at :45 and then a longish item about Mexican drug wars killings. Signal was OK but noisy. Wonder what is Cublasphemous about the WRN and/or France? 2+3332 improving to 3+3+443 by ToH 14/Jan 0530-0559 (Kenneth Vito Zichi, Williamston MI, MARE Tipsheet Jan 20 via DXLD) RFI's strike seems to be over for now. At least, the Russian service is back broadcasting its usual diet of anti-Putin propaganda. (In recent years RFI Russian acquired a taste for localized programming à la Cold-War Radio Liberty.) Steve, RFI says it's against the merger because it would mean the end of different language services (Sergei S., 1622 UT Jan 20, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The deal was suspended on Monday by a Paris Court, pending a particular "cahier des charges" (I think it's a kind of accountability report). Later on, the Ministry declared that its publication on the "journal officiel", by decree, would remove any obstacle: http://teleobs.nouvelobs.com/articles/fusion-rfi-france-24-bientot-un-decret-au-journal-officiel 73, (Andy Lawendel, Italy, ibid.) RFI/FRANCE 24 MERGER SHOULD BE COMPLETED THIS WEEK The management of Radio France Internationale (RFI) has received the official terms of reference for the merger of the radio station with France 24 from the Ministry of Communication, and will hold a Works Council consultation on Thursday, officials said today. On 16 January the Paris Court of Appeal suspended consultation on the proposed merger until the definitive version of the terms of reference had been received. RFI management confirmed that it received the relevant documents several days ago. Thursday’s meeting will see the formal presentation of the terms of reference to the RFI Works Council, and on Friday the boards of RFI and l’Audiovisuel Extérieur de la France (AEF) - consisting of RFI, France 24 and TV5 Monde - are expected to confirm their approval of the merger plan. (Source: l’Express)(January 24th, 2012 - 11:29 UTC by Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog via WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DXLD) ** GERMANY. 6085, 1040-1201* 17+21.01, PUR Radio 1, Vall, HOLLAND (tentative), via Kall-Krekel, Dutch, non-stop pop music, German ID and address for QSL, closing ann in Dutch, 45344 deteriorating to 25232 (Anker Petersen, Skovlunde, Denmark, on my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** GERMANY. 6135, Intermodulation Wertachtal at 1130-12 UT, Sat/Sun ? Ich habe heute Jan 22 gegen 11:57 UTC den Sendeschluss der Evangelischen Missionsgemeinde gehoert. Die Frequenz war 6135 kHz. Mir ist deren Sendung via Wertachtal auf 6055 kHz von 1130 bis 1200 UT bekannt. Ist es ein Produkt des DE 1103, er ist ja gern anfaellig, oder ein Nebenprodukt aus Wertachtal? (Ralf Ladusch-D, Jan 22, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 24 via DXLD) Re 6135. Nein, das ist nur eine Intermodulation in Wertachtal an Samstagen / Sonntagen, nicht waehrend der Wochentage. 2 x 6095 = 12190 kHz minus 6135 = 6055 kHz 2 x 6055 = 12110 kHz minus 6015 = 6095 kHz Mighty KBC Radio Programm 6095 muesste auf der Intermodulation 6015 kHz aufscheinen, EMG Programm aber dagegen auch auf der 6135 kHz. (Wolfgang Büschel, Jan 22, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 24 via DXLD) ** GERMANY. 20./21. Januar 2012 --- We now got the tx working with full modulation without distortion. So this weekend we'll test with 300 watts PEP, then using the PA getting 1 to 4 kW PEP. At least, we hope so :-). We would like to get reports and audiofiles. If you could inform your friends it would be great. Within the next weeks we will send the QSLs for all reports, we got till now. Mark West, Radio 6150, "Radio 6150" (via Roberto Scaglione, Jan 19, shortwave yg via DXLD) Radio 6150. 6154.995 kHz at 1110 UT Jan 21. No tone set, no program, just plain carrier. Now wandered to lower side from 6154.993 to 6154.992 kHz at 1123 and 1230 UT. Stuttgart S=8-9 and some 100/200/300 Hertz buzz tones visible on screen. Spain S=9 Bologna Italy S=7 Austria S=8-9 England S=7, up to S=9+10dB Amsterdam S=9+10dB Belgium 2 x S=9+10 Flensburg Germany S=9+10dB close to Osnabrueck Germany S=9+15dB Heilbronn Germany S=7 Munich S=8 fluttery Switzerland 2 x S=9+5dBm. Originate from Kall Eifel tx site ? or BNetzA / ITU licensed Radio 6150 Ingolstadt at Rohrbach approx. to 48 36 35.12 N 11 34 36.61 E 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Since what you heard was almost 5 kHz off with no specific ID, are you sure this was even Radio 6150? What does Mark West say? 73, (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) 49 mb is usually blank here in Europe in our mornings now, except the short MBR religious transmissions and these four channels of Kall, Eifel, 3995, 5980, 6005, 6085 kHz. Radio 6150 was announced to be on test this weekend, which means Sat + Sun. Tests on Saturday on 6154v was only a technical one, with wandered unstable signal. Tests on Sunday on 6150v contained instead the Radio Northsea International signature of the 60ties. Not anybody knows these Mr. Mark West. Never heard this name label before. Not any more details are to be known so far, yet. vy73 de Wolfy (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) 6149.985, 22.1 0748, Radio 6150 with testtransmission and call in German and English. Quite strong but a little fading. Asking for reports. Last time I heard them I sent a report to the mailaddress mentioned but no reply so far! (Thomas Nilsson, Sweden, via SW Bulletin Jan 22 via DXLD) ** GERMANY [non]. 7350, Jan 21 at 0418, report on human rights violations, corruption in Equatorial Guinea, and then Gabon, VG signal from DW via RWANDA. Heard the same thing repeated one hour later on 6155 with fair signal (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. 9480, 0758, European Music Radio via MV Baltic Radio’s 1 kW transmitter at Göhren, with tuning signal and s/on 25/12. Initially fair but RA 9475 eventually made reception difficult. Classic English pops, DJ patter and email address for reports – quick verifier! (Bryan Clark at Mangawhai, New Zealand, with AOR7030+ and Alpha Delta Sloper, EWEs to NE, E and SE, plus various 100 metre BOGs to the Americas, Jan NZ DX Times via DXLD) ** GERMANY [and non]. USA: RICHARD LOBO JOINS RIAS BERLIN COMMISSION January 20, 2012, Washington, DC -- Richard Lobo has been appointed by the U.S. ambassador to Germany, Philip Murphy, to the RIAS Berlin Commission, a bi-national organization that promotes German-American understanding in the field of broadcasting. With historic roots tied to “Radio in the American Sector” of Berlin following World War II and founded in 1992, the Commission’s mission today is to promote the exchange of persons and information in the field of broadcast journalism between Germany and the United States. “I am honored to join this bi-national commission which fosters excellence in our profession of broadcast journalism as well as transatlantic understanding,” Lobo said. “The great history of RIAS reinforces the undeniable value of balanced news and information historically in Germany as well in today’s volatile international climate,” he added. The Commission consists of ten members, five from Germany and five from the U.S. Since 1994, a total of 1,201 American and German journalists have participated in RIAS’s unique transatlantic professional exchanges. In addition, the RIAS Berlin Commission annually presents awards for radio, TV and Internet productions that make special contributions to mutual understanding between the people of Germany and the United States. Lobo is the Presidentially-appointed, and Senate-confirmed Director of the International Broadcasting Bureau, and operates as an extension of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) in its oversight of U.S. international broadcasting. He provides day-to-day management of BBG operations including oversight of the technical, professional, and administrative support as well as strategic guidance and management of other programs. Additionally, Lobo serves as the principal liaison for the Board with other U.S. government agencies, foreign governments and private-sector organizations. For more information about the RIAS Berlin Commission visit http://www.riasberlin.de/ (Via Yimber Gaviria, Colombia, Jan 22, DXLD) For more information about the RIAS Berlin Commission visit http://enews.voanews.com/t?r=357&c=3031934&l=4774&ctl=4055609:BF6AE9FCB50C3952B287BEB9862083D2DFA9BAF804C666F9& (via Clara Listensprechen, dxldyg via DXLD) 2 Comments on “IBB Director appointed to RIAS Berlin Commission” #1 SRG on Jan 21st, 2012 at 14:21 Here’s a video of 2011 RIAS tour for US journalists to Germany http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbPi9DdZO44 I appreciate guy’s honest response at 1:44 when he is asked why he applied for this tour. What’s up with RFE/RL conference room at 3:28? Is it in Germany? #2 Andrea on Jan 21st, 2012 at 20:31 RIAS? I thought they abolished that 50 or 60 years ago. Journalistic exchange? Who is supposed to be learning from it? Is the Truth being suppressed in Germany or the United States? Or is this just one more excuse for Overseas Travel and Shopping for the Wealthy chosen few who get appointed on both sides of the Atlantic? Does CNN have exchange programs with its equals? Does the CBS Morning show exchange with its NBC counterpart? More importantly, how much U.S. taxpayer money is this boondoggle program wasting? This sounds much less useful than the Reconstruction Finance Corporation. Or the Panama Canal Commission after the Canal was turned over to Panama (MN blog comments via DXLD) ** GOA. 15209.956, Odd frequency AIR Arabic service via Goa Panaji, S=9 here in Europe at 0512 UT Jan 21. Excellent audio quality on well feed at refurbished transmitter installation. 12024.966, Odd frequency AIR Hindi GOS service via Goa Panaji, S=9 +10 dB here in Europe at 1720 UT Monday Jan 23. Excellent audio quality on well feed at refurbished TX installation (Wolfgang Büschel, Jan 21/23, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 24 via DXLD) ** GREECE. 7475, 25/Jan 0304, Voice of Greece, in Greek. Pop Greek music. // 7450 good, 9420 with weak signal. In 7475 45444 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, 12 14´S, 38 58´W - Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREENLAND. Coastal radio station Ammassalik Radio (OZL) in Tasiilaq on the Eastern coast of Greenland closed down for good yesterday December 1st 2011. It was from this site KNR until recently could be heard twice a day on 3815 kHz (via Stig Hartvig Nielsen. HCDX 02/12/11) From the Kalaallit Nunaata Radioa (Greenlandic Broadcasting Corporation) website: It is something of an era ending, when Coastal Radio Service Ammassalik Radio from today, on 1 December, reorganized so that all coastal radio functions transferred to Aasiaat Radio. Ammassalik Radio was established in 1925 and came to serve the East Coast Seafarers throughout 86 years. But technological progress makes now an amalgamation of coastal radio service possible, and it fits very well with that in time have become fewer and fewer calls to Ammassalik Radio. VHF and MF frequencies that previously operated from Ammassalik Radio, will from today be served from Aasiaat Radio. Coverage areas and service levels will be unchanged and the only consequence for users will be that they continue to say “Aasiaat Radio” instead of “Ammassalik Radio” when they call the coast radio. And if any of habit comes to call on Ammassalik Radio, we’ll make sure to call is redirected to Aasiaat, says coast radio boss Carl Johan Colberg soothing. He is even in Tasiilaq right now, to say goodbye to the 86-year-old Coastal Radio Station. The closure cost no jobs. Three employees are in Kulusuk, where they will work with the weather balloon launches, five others transferred to another job on the coast. Coastal Radio Service receives about 10,000 reports a year. Approximately 400 of them relate to sea rescue reports, ranging from engine problems for actual shipping accidents, the rest consists of seafarers who will call home for the family, or people who say their route when they need from one place to another. So keep an eye on the Coast Radio on reaching home safely. My apologies to the person who contributed the above as I am unable to acknowledge the source (via Arthur de Maine, ed., Utilities, Jan NZ DX Times via DXLD) ** GUAM. 5765, AFRTS, 1430 in USB, military PSAs re drugs, etc., 1432 reporting on the South Carolina Primary, their audio feed was breaking up badly today, sometimes brief, sometimes up to 5 seconds off. Fair. Jan 21. (Sellers-BC) Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia Listening lakeside from my car with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna on the car roof. ** GUAM. 15660, Jan 23 at 1434, fair signal in Burmese, i.e. 100 kW, 285 degrees from KSDA Agat daily at 1430-1500 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUATEMALA. 4055, Jan 19 at 1312, some music is JBA, rather late for R. Verdad to be heard, but no doubt that is the source; sunrise there was 1228, sunrise here 1341 UT (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HAITI. The radiostation 4VVE, Radio Voix de l'Espérance (Radio Voice of the Hope, a branch of Adventist World Radio), is celebrating its 30 years of service on FM 89.7, and since 2 years also on Internet http://www.voixdelesperance.com The target area of FM broadcasts is the greater Port-au-Prince region. This is taken from a recent article from the on-line Le Nouvelliste journal; original text in French is here: http://www.lenouvelliste.com/article.php?PubID=1&ArticleID=101826 Radio Voix de l'Espérance, 30 ans au service de la communauté 4VVE 22 janvier 1982 - 22 janvier 2012, 30 ans depuis que Radio Voix de l'espérance émet sur le 89.7 FM, 2 ans depuis qu'elle émet sur http://www.voixdelesperance.com A photo of their building at Diquini (south west of Port-au-Prince) is also given (Dr. Anton J. Kuchelmeister, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HONDURAS. 3250.06, Radio Luz Y Vida with fair signal and light het on 1/17 at 1140, high pitched OM with talks re "La Biblia" (Ralph Perry, Wheaton, Illinois, Drake R8B; Japan Radio NRD-545; Eton E1; Hallicrafters SX100; Knightkit Star Roamer; Dentron Super Tuner + Ameco PLF-2 + Palomar P-408 + customized (tropical bands) Quantum Phaser antenna unit; Longwires (150' + 100'); Tuned Multi-Turn 20" Small Loop; Single-Turn Coax Loop, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. 4800.00, AIR Hyderabad (presumed) found overriding China at 1442 with singing music and F voice at 1445. Strongest heard here in many years. AIR still dominate after TOH, and mixing equal at the AIR Net relay after 1520. India heard well under China on 4940 and 5050 at same time, with suspected hints of Kohima on 4950. 1/19 (Jim Young, WPC6JY, Wrightwood and Inspiration Point (10 miles west of town), CA, ICOM IC-706, 756 ProIII and Grundig Satellite 800, 60-M vertical, 60-M inverted Vee, 80-M inverted Vee, 40-M yagi, NASWA yg via DXLD) ** INDIA. Check 4895 --- Just now 24 Jan 2012 1245 UT on 4895 a severe heterodyne is noted on the regular AIR Kurseong channel indicating a new 2nd station. Kurseong was always clear here. Upon my scanning 4835 Gangtok is missing. Any punching error? 4895 instead of 4835?! The sked of both stations are a s follows for check up tonight and tomorrow morning transmissions: Gangtok 4835 0100-0500, 1030-1600 (10 kW) Kurseong 4895 0055-0400(Sat Sun 0430) 1130-1700(Sat, Sun 1741) (50 kW) 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Hyderabad, India, 1305 UT Jan 25, dx_india yg via DXLD) ** INDIA. 5010, All India Radio Thiruvananthapuram, very good with news in local language, 1401 16 Jan (Bryan Clark, visiting Singapore with Sony 7600G and short wire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5010, A.I.R., Thiruvananthapuram, 0035 English. Man with news concluding with report of the Australian Open in tennis, 0040 into Hindi with mix of talk and music, 0055 some type of promotional announcements with fanfares, 0056 possibly news headlines, but fading badly now. Occasional QRM from possibly fisherman speaking in Spanish. Poor. Jan 20. Next evening, Jan 21, I was listening for their 0020 sign on and English news at 0035. Although a carrier was detectable at 0035, it wasn’t until 0045 that the signal rose out of the noise. Hindi vocals until 0057 when a man spoke. Very poor (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening lakeside, from my car, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna on the car roof, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Thanks to Jose Jacob for supplying additional details (see below) for this logging posted earlier. The main language of this station is Malayalam (my mother tongue!), not Hindi. At 0035-0040 English News relayed from New Delhi. At 0055 advertisements followed by newspaper head lines. Then a discussion or program on a selected topic. - Jose Jacob, National Institute of Amateur Radio, India, January 21 (via Sellers, ibid.) ** INDIA. 7340.204 AIR GOS Urdu from Mumbai?, very odd frequency, but only 2% modulation feed, rather pure carrier, 0359 UT (Wolfy df5sx wwdxc, Wolfgang Büschel at 0419 UT Jan 22, using Victor Goonetilleke`s Perseus in Sri Lanka, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also GOA ** INDIA. REPUBLIC DAY SPECIAL BROADCASTS 25 & 26 JAN 2012 All India Radio will broadcast following special programs in connection with the Republic Day celebrations on 26th January, 2012 25 January 2012: Eve of Republic Day: 1330 UT onwards President Mrs. Pratibha Devisingh Patil will address to the nation. This will be broadcast by all stations of AIR on MW, SW & FM. The SW info is as follows: Delhi frequencies: 5015 6030 6085 9575 & 9835. Regional stations on SW are using 60 MB frequencies at that time. Also National Channel: 9425 (Bengaluru) 9470 (Aligarh) & Vividh Bharathi 9870 (Bengaluru). Shortly after this broadcast, the local stations will broadcast its translations in local languages. 26 January 2011: Republic Day: Running Commentary of Republic Day parade from 0350 UT onwards Hindi: 6155 (Bengaluru 500 kW); 9595 (Delhi). 11620 (Aligarh 250 kW); 15135 (Delhi 50 kW) The following regional stations will change from their Morning frequencies on 60 Meters (4 & 5 MHz frequencies) to their day time frequencies between 0335-0350 UT as follows: 6000 Leh 6040 Jeypore 6085 Gangtok 6150 Itanagar 6190 Delhi 7230 Kurseong 7240 Mumbai 7280 Guwahati 7295 Aizawl 7315 Shillong 7325 Jaipur 7440 Lucknow So some unusual reception of AIR stations can be observed as they are using the daytime channels much earlier than on normal days. The following stations are already scheduled to be on air daily at this time and will also relay the running commentary. 6020 Shimla 6110 Srinagar 7210 Kolkata 7290 Thiruvanthapuram 7335 Imphal 7380 Chennai 7390 Port Blair 7420 Hyderabad 7430 Bhopal Note: Unfortunately AIR Kohima which used to appear on such special occasions on 4850 & 6065 will not there this time also. Please send your reception reports to: spectrum-manager @ air.org (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Hyderabad, India, http://www.qsl.net/vu2jos 1025 UT Jan 25, dx_india yg via DXLD) Wish he has posted this on the dxldyg ahead of time. I happened to be listening to the AIR GOS on 9690, which had usual newscast at 1330, but after 1400 Jan 25, some woman was speaking, presumed her (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Jan 25 heard President Mrs. Pratibha Devisingh Patil address to the nation on 4810, 4820.83, 4880, 4895, 4910, 4920, 4970, 5010, 5015, 5040, 9425 and 9470. Almost all of 60m reception was poor. Nothing heard on 4835 at 1304, but by 1322 had an open carrier, but never able to hear any audio. AIR Kohima on 4850 was not broadcasting. 1330 - In English; ID and introduction to speech; National Anthem. 1331-1350 – The address given in Hindi. 1350 – Start of the same speech again in English. Video of her speech at http://republicday.nic.in/pspeech12.html (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. Radio Islam Sabili (presumed) 1533 kHz --- Hi All, I am listening to an Indonesian station on 1533 kHz which I presume is Radio Islam Sabili which should be on 1530, via the Karratha Global Tuners receiver. I started listening at around 1425 UT, when there was either an ID or advert with many mentions of Jakarta. I will need to go back and listen to the recording later. Regards (Tony Magon, VK2IC, Sydney NSW, UT Jan 21, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA [and non]. 3325, RRI Palangkaraya with local ident 1115 14 Jan, English pops - good & clear in Indonesian – strongest 90m signal. Only other stations detected at this time were weak audio on 3205 & 3385, presume Papua-New Guinea. On 17 Jan at 1140 UT, RRI signal level was very good and solid. Weak carriers detected on 3205, 3260, 3280 and 3315 this day (Bryan Clark, visiting Singapore with Sony 7600G and short wire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I am sure you guys will like this clip of RRI Palangkaraya. Daily 1359.30 they have their Interval signal and a clear ID. 3325 kHz of course. Quite nice signal, usually good in Dec-Jan. Enjoy!! http://soundcloud.com/victor-goonetilleke/rri-palankaraya-3325-khz-1-13 (G. Victor A. Goonetilleke 4S7VK, "Shangri-la"' 298 Madapatha Road, Piliyandala. Sri Lanka, DXPlorer via SW Bulletin Jan 22 via DXLD) 3325, RRI Palangkaraya. Jan 18 off the air more than on; heard 1015; not heard during many checks from 1110 to 1336. Jan 20 at 1201 Jakarta news relay in Bahasa Indonesia ending with news headlines and 1224 the usual national song at the end of the news relay; // 9680 RRI Jakarta (their first day back on the air after being off for about a week). 4749.96, RRI Makassar. A reminder that this was last heard in late Oct and was routinely noted back then on a slightly lower frequency from that of Bangladesh Betar on 4750.0. I suggest it is counterproductive to report the reactivation of Makassar based solely on a reception heard at just threshold level. Just my opinion. 4869.96, RRI Wamena, 1211-1225, Jan 18. Rare situation to find this being the only RRI station heard; both 3325 (RRI Palangkaraya) and 9680 (RRI Jakarta) being off the air. Jakarta news relay in progress; 1224 played the usual national song at the end of the news relay; poor (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. Re 12-03: I remember how this order of a bunch of 250 kW Marconi transmitters in the mid-nineties has been noted with quite some surprise, especially when schedules for extensive tests appeared. Now it seems that at Cimanggis only three ones have been installed at all: "I went to V of Indonesia from Dec 3 to 10, winning a contest of free trip from VOI. I saw the transmitter site as well as VOI HQ in Jakarta. I went to RRI Mataram also. There are 3 transmitter side by side in the site. But due to high electricity expenses they run only one." And at least the 9525 kHz transmitter in question is indeed such a B 6131: https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/105380817212213049468/albums/5688585197159411937#photos/105380817212213049468/albums/5688585197159411937/5688585383106898338 Calling it an "old transmitter" not really hits the nail, the vast majority of the shortwave broadcasting equipment around has been installed already in the old millennium (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Jan 21, dxldyg via DXLD) Also from communications [below], I think it obvious that the WRTH SW transmitter count & details for the Cimanggis site require updating for the next edition. Swopan [12-03] mentions 3 SW transmitter side by side. Perhaps (to be confirmed), only one 250 kW operational for FS, one 250 kW for DS SW service and another SW transmitter (of unknown power) not in operation (or faulty). Or the side by side transmitters are the FS transmitters and the domestic service SW transmitter is elsewhere in building? With the recent transmitter fault, one wonders if the others are working, are fixed frequency and if in fact the site has a switch matrix that exists or is functional? Can we confirm? One does wonder what happened to the SW transmitters from the 90's era. Would be good to source further information. I wonder if Swopan has any email contacts with the technicians at the Cimanggis site? (Ian Baxter, NSW, shortwavesites yg via DXLD) ** INDONESIA [and non]. 9526-, Jan 23 at 1430, VOI is back! After off a biweek: must have cobbled together some needed part, but altho on the air, it`s still very weak, in Indonesian, characteristic off-off frequency, very poor with flutter, no comparison to gamelan on RRI domestic relay 9680 from same Cimanggis site. Ishida agrees at http://rri.jpn.org/ that 9526 is back for the first time since Jan 9: ``Jan 23 9526 kHz *1357- 1357 EE, 1404 IN, 1456 CC, 1556 AA....`` BTW, he says 9680 was also missing Jan 15-19. And the ONLY other active Indonesian frequencies are 3325, 4870 and 7290 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) But I heard VOI back on 31 mb on 9525.975 kHz today Jan 23rd at 1500 UT, hit extremely co-channel CRI Kashi 9525 even in English at S=9+40dB level. And also 9680.050 domestic RRI Jakarta Indonesian sce heard yesterday Jan 22 at 0345 UT. vy73 (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9680.050, RRI program 4 from Jakarta in Bahasa Indonesia, at 0345 UT on Jan 22, S=5 rather weak signal, but understandable (Wolfy df5sx wwdxc, Wolfgang Büschel at 0419 UT Jan 22, using Victor Goonetilleke`s Perseus in Sri Lanka, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, Think I am hearing V of Indonesia transmitter back on 9525v. Woman reading Arabic script 1630 UT Monday Jan 23. Sounded like she could not read the script or had poor Arabic: faltering, hesitant, slow, with many corrections. I have not checked evenng broadcasts. (Derek Lynch, Ireland, 2335 UT Jan 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9526v? 9526-, Jan 23 at 2056, I notice a carrier plus het, music from one of them, and then measure VOI`s characteristic off-frequency before 9525.0 goes off at 2057, probably CRI Russian, 318 degrees from Beijing, while 9526- continues, but that too gone at 2105 check. Unusual to hear anything at all here from VOI at this hour, but it did reactivate earlier today. French is supposedly the final European language until 2100; 30 degrees per Aoki but 290 degrees per HFCC, which makes a lot more sense for audibility in Europe. However, Atsunori Ishida logged it in Japanese at 2054 Jan 23, in which case the 30-degree antenna also USward should have been used. Besides their severe transmitter problems, I have also suspected they have antenna problems, or at least put 9526-/9525- on the `wrong` ones, as the 13- 15 UT signal in NAm went from sufficient to very insufficient. 9526-, Jan 24 at 1415, VOI is on again with talk in Indonesian, poor signal with flutter, but no QRM during this hour only; much weaker than RRI 9680 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Voice of Indonesia heard here with English broadcast in progress from tune-in at 1310 UT on 9526 kHz. Weak but fair signal here, only audible in USB which avoids co-channel interference/heterodyne from stations on 9525. ID at 1315. Had been off the air for at least the past couple of weeks with a transmitter fault. Radio Australia had also been coming in well for the past couple of hours on 11945 kHz (English signed off at 1159 UT). So despite the ongoing solar storm, HF conditions currently seem to be quite good. This confirms the HF propagation indicator on the club web site - http://www.bdxc.org.uk - home page which is displaying good to excellent, though warning of radio blackouts expected. 73s (Dave Kenny, Caversham, Berks, AOR 7030 + 25 m long wire. BDXC-UK yg via DXLD VOI is back today on 9525 kHz (Swopan Chakroboroty, Kolkata, 1715 UT Jan 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I assume he too meant 9526- (gh, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL. CONTESTS AND QUIZZES FOR SHORT WAVE LISTENERS Radio Bulgaria DX Program January 20, 2012 Listening to different radio stations, writing letters and reception reports, and collecting QSL cards are some of the favorite activities of radio listeners at medium and short waves. And perhaps one of the most attractive of these activities is participating in the various contests and quizzes. These are organized by various radio stations, radio clubs or groups of listeners. With the exception of just a few radio stations which sometimes award their listeners with trips to the respective country, in most cases the winners in such radio contests receive books, guides and souvenirs of the country. Despite the modest awards, the participation in contests is done on a regular basis by numerous radio listeners and is a matter of prestige. For example, the competition in the form of Question of the month features four times a year in the program of the radio station KBS World Radio of the Republic of Korea, once a month in The Voice of Turkey and once a week in Radio Sweden International. The contests of Radio Voice of Russia, China Radio International and others are usually connected with important anniversaries of historical events or celebrities as last year with Radio Polonia and the anniversary of the great Polish composer Chopin. Many competitions and quizzes at various radio stations aim at promoting local tourist landmarks in their countries. Some stations which have left the airwaves and broadcast only via the Internet also have quizzes with prizes, perhaps in order to attract their former short-wave and medium-wave listeners. The radioclubs in India, Italy, Mexico and other countries organize competitions for the most avid DXers once a year. The awards are symbolic, but these competitions often attract world-famous names in the field of broadcasting. For many years on end, the DX Club in the Czech Republic organized at the end of each year an international competition entitled The Grand Tour across Cancer and Capricorn, dedicated to the radio transmitters in the tropics. In 2010, it was replaced by The Grand Tour Across All Continents under the auspices of the Danish Short Wave Club. A very popular competition is also the one of the Adventist World Radio, specially prepared for Dxers, as well as the annual contest of the Italian Radio Listeners’ Association (Associazione Italiana Radioascolto). Radio listners can find detailed information on the ongoing contests and quizzes organized by radio stations worldwide from the print editions published by radio clubs, in electronic media on the Internet, as well as from the DX programs broadcast by radio stations on short-wave. More and audio at http://bnr.bg/sites/en/Lifestyle/DX/Pages/DXProgramJanuary20,2012.aspx (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET. Recently, Shortwave America has started broadcasting two shows a week at http://thelook247.com and the Jan 21st show was really hot! The show was a response to the pending FCC case in the Supreme Court of The United States. Read about these two shows here, and read the Shortwave America essay on The Miller Test. http://shortwaveamerica.blogspot.com/2012/01/first-two-shows-successful-at-look-247.html (SWAm, dxldyg via DXLD) Shows are now four hours long; link to listen: http://shortwaveamerica.blogspot.com/2012/01/shortwave-america-broadcast-schedule.html (gh, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET. NetRadio Project -- TEST transmission January 28 - 29th --- QSL card [illustrated] Since our first test transmission yesterday we found more than 100 listeners worldwide listening to us. Some of them sent us their reception reports too. Though we received many criticisms, people also encouraged us! And hey we have our mailbag show today!!! Today we are acknowledging listener emails here, mainly from Germany, India and Bangladesh. Our next "TEST transmission" will be on next Wednesday. Please send us reception reports for that. NOTE: From Next weekend i.e. "January 28-29th" We will have a special DX programme and as usual our Mailbag programme will be there. Regards, Netradio Project Team Thanks to: Ether Wave via twitter ((( LISTEN ))) http://soundcloud.com/nrproject/sunday-mailbag-january-22-2012#play [6:31 with pseudo-synthesized feminine voice, British accent] NetRadio Project ~ We are an experimental radio station operating on internet. If you listen to us, send us a reception report, we will send you a QSL card. our email: lettermug @ gmail.com Website: http://netradioproject.blogspot.com (Via Yimber Gaviria, Colombia, DXLD) ** IRAN. English noted last night (21 Jan 2012) at 1530 to 1630 on 14118.5 AM Mode on 20M [hamband]. Excellent signal. Some wrong frequency punching? -- Thanking you, Yours sincerely, (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Hyderabad, India, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Let`s see --- 1530 English is supposed to be only on 13785 Sirjan, and 15525 Kamalabad. Hard to relate those to 14118.5, nor as mixing products, with MW, and could not be with each other as from different sites. Maybe there is some other frequency at one of the sites not in English at 1530 which would fit? HFCC IRB B-11 schedule shows all these in use until 1630: Kamalabad 17670, 5920, 9830, 7380; Sirjan 6115, 9850; Zahedan 6200; until 1600: 6070 and 7215; from 1600: 5955, 5995, 6175, 7295, 7315. Good luck, calculators! (gh, DXLD) 13840, 24/Jan 0918, Voice of Iran, in Dari. YL talk between short instrumental music. At 0921 OM and YL talk. 25332 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, 12 14´S, 38 58´W - Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15735, Friday Jan 20 at 1403, throaty Qur`aning, with heavy venue echo (or SFX?), also distorted modulation, old recording? 1406 soft announcement and more traditional recitation; has Spanish SSB 2-way QRM on hi side from 15739. 1412 segué to yet another Qur`aner. Ever notice how they are always tenors? No basses need apply? 1429 recheck, now in more secular music, still distorted modulation until cut off at 1429:25*. Aoki shows it`s VIRI`s lengthy Arabic service at 0530- 1427[sic], 500 kW, 289 degrees from Zahedan (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also KURDISTAN ** IRAN [non]. Ofcom update: Press TV licence revoked 20 January 2012 Ofcom Ofcom has decided to revoke the Licence held by Press TV Limited with immediate effect. Through the course of 2011, Ofcom was engaged in a sanctions case with Press TV regarding an interview obtained under duress from the Newsweek and Channel 4 journalist Maziar Bahari while in an Iranian prison which Ofcom had held to be a serious breach of the Broadcasting Code. This resulted in the imposition of a £100,000 fine on Press TV Limited. During the course of the sanctions hearing the licensee (Press TV Limited based in London) made representations that suggested to Ofcom that editorial control of the channel rested with Press TV International (based in Tehran). Broadcasting rules require that a licence is held by the person who is in general control of the TV service: that is, the person that chooses the programmes to be shown in the service and organises the programme schedule. Ofcom gave Press TV Limited the opportunity to apply to have its operations in Tehran correctly licensed by Ofcom and Ofcom offered to assist it to do so. Press TV Limited was given the opportunity to make representations on Ofcom`s ``minded to revoke`` letter. Press TV Limited has failed to make the necessary application and Ofcom has therefore revoked Press TV`s licence to broadcast in the UK. Press TV is expected to be removed from the Sky TV platform by the end of 20 January 2012. In addition, Press TV Limited has indicated it is unwilling and unable to pay the £100,000 fine and Ofcom is pursuing this as a separate matter. (The station is still on air as I write). (via Mike Terry, Jan 20, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) Prepare for inaccurate reporting of this news! OfCom is revoking Press TV's licence to broadcast FROM the UK, not TO the UK. And Sky does NOT transmit Press TV (as there is no such thing as a Sky satellite) - it just includes Press TV in its EPG (electronic programme guide). Press TV may continue to transmit via the Astra satellite, and even if goes from there it would still be visible in the UK from Hotbird and Eurobird, and of course live via http://www.presstv.com (Chris Greenway, 1758 UT Jan 20, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) Press TV has now been removed from the Sky EPG and ceased broadcasting from the 28 E slot. It is still broadcasting on Astra 1 and Hotbird however. Currently broadcasting anti UK and anti OFCOM propaganda at 1750 UT. Regards, (Gareth. Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange, ibid.) ** IRELAND. 1752 kHz, USB, Valentia Radio (weather), Ireland - 0239 UT 1/18 - Very weak audio just above the noise floor with very distinct Irish accented OM reading navigational warnings, off by 0240 UT. You have to be quick to catch this one as the scheduled broadcasts only last for a few minutes (Tim Tromp, Muskegon MI, MARE Tipsheet Jan 20 via DXLD) ** ITALY. RAI MW frequencies, night program --- Hi Dario, please publish the list; I think at least North American DXers would be very interested in this. 73, (Mauno Ritola, playdx yg via DXLD) Who originated the list, if not Dario?? (gh) Viz.: Here My suggestions about RAI MW night stations : 2330-0457 UTC RELAY RAI 1 FM NETWORK : 567 usually Caltanissetta is ACTIVE ! 657 usually active Pisa-Coltano & Napoli Marcianise (BOTH !!!) 693 OK but attention they repeat 24 hours RAI 2 FM program !!! 819 usually Trieste is ACTIVE ! 900 OK MILANO 936 usually TRAPANI is ACTIVE ! 981 usually TRIESTE B is ACTIVE ! 999 usually RIMINI is ACTIVE ! 1062 usually CATANIA is ACTIVE ! 1107 OK Roma Monte Mario 1116 usually PALERMO is ACTIVE ! 1449 ACTIVE but difficult to say which one. The other TX seems OFF the AIR at NIGHT, but it difficult to say if this list is regular. So please do control [monitor] yourself and report. 73's (Dario Monferini, ibid.) 657: Non so dire se avviene regolarmente tutti i giorni, ma mi è capitato di essere all'ascolto dei 657 kHz prima delle 0500 UT e di sentire il tono di accensione di un tx intorno alle 0447 pur avendo in sottofondo il relay di RAI 1. Visto la zona dove mi trovo, presumo quindi che durante la notte rimanga acceso Napoli e che Pisa venga accesa alle 0500. Anche i 1107 kHz trovati attivi anche dopo la mezzanotte (Robert Rizzardi, Porto S. Stefano (GR) Italy, ibid.) Qualche settimana fa, dopo le osservazioni sulla chiusura di Portofino-Vetta 1575, ho provato per curiosità anche Pisa 657 che a Rapallo arriva senza fatica pure con una radiolina e la ferrite incorporata di pochi centimetri e alle 23.02 UTC si sente il segnale di telecontrollo, poi viene spento. Approfitto anche per riferire che alle 4 italiane in FM annunciano Stereonotte o Stereounonotte adesso non ricordo bene, però non so se è la stessa programmazione passata sugli impianti AM che restano accesi, non ho provato (Luca Botto Fiora, Italy, Jan 22, ibid.) ** ITALY. 5000, IBF, with reel ID; though S7 was pretty poor audio (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, ICOM R75 / 2x16 V / m@h40 heads Sennheiser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) No time, on 21/1; no time? ** JAPAN. 3925, Jan 19 at 1304, R. Nikkei 1, JOZ is in French lesson on this Thursday; better signal than the Koreans on 75m. 9760, Jan 21 at 0525, poor signal with Japanese sounding much like than on 9595, but not //, as 9760 is R. Nikkei 2, and 9595 is R. Nikkei 1 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KASHMIR. 6110.01, 21.1 0245, AIR Srinagar, English "Morning News" opened with headlines, frequency is clear while Fana is off (Martien Groot, Netherlands, SW Bulletin Jan 22 via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. Re CHINA, BBFF transmitter manufacturer site: Projects in North Korea - D.P.R. our company supplies North Korea with 10 kW TV transmitter, 20 / 50 / 100 / 150 kW SW radio transmitters, 600 kW MW radio transmitter, together with the accessories. From 1-27 June 2011 a delegation of eight technicians from KPPTC, North Korea, joined a training programme at the company, centred on the current SW transmitter contract and the previous MW contract. "Due to political factors on the North Korean side, the site where the shortwave transmitter(s) will be installed is a state secret, so the installation and set-up of the 100 kW shortwave transmitter(s) will have to be solved entirely by North Korean technicians and it will be impossible for technicians from our company to visit North Korea to inspect. Meanwhile the installation of the shortwave transmitter(s) is taking place in (a) tunnel(s), and there are a huge number of technical problems to be overcome." North Korean trainee project. North Korea SW Project Technical Training was Rounded off. (BBEF website via wb + comments, Jan 21, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 24 via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. KOREA D.P.R., Between 13-15 UT on Jan 24th I checked the various North Korean broadcasts and jamming stations on different remote units worldwide. 621, 1053, 2349.721, 3220.117, 3911.990, 3959.028, distorted audio modulation 3966v and 3979v, 3985, 4450, 5855, 6003, 6015, 6100, 6185.011, 6230, 6251 distorted, 6284.990, 6348, 6400, distorted 6509...6531, plus OHR 6522-6545 of unknown country origin, 6600, 7570.017, 9335.010, 9849.968, 9975.011, 11680, 11709.983, 12015.286 kHz. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH [and non]. 6185, Jan 25 at 1402 I am checking just in case for another XEPPM [see MEXICO] overtime, as happened 48 hours earlier: there is a similar fast SAH, but this time it`s the N Korean NA mixing with presumed China Huayi, so one of them is similarly off- frequency to Radio Educación. KCBS at 1400 is scheduled to start 50 minutes in Korean at 238 degrees. I was also hearing same SAH an hour earlier when VOK Kujang is in Chinese (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH. 11680, 23/Jan 2015, KCBS, in Korean. OM with an emphatic speech. At 2016 short music and OM talk. Very weak signal (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, 12 14´S, 38 58´W - Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. 5985, Jan 20 at 1345, still no Friday English from Sea Breeze, or rather Shiokaze, interview in Korean but thought I heard some Japanese too; het from Myanmar audible as usual, but no noise jamming heard. 5985, Shiokaze/Sea Breeze via Yamata, 1335, Jan 17 (Tuesday). In Chinese; fair/light jamming. Friday, Jan 20 again not in English (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5985, Tue Jan 24 at 1408, Shiokaze is in Chinese, spoken slowly by YL with piano background; via JSR Tokyo/Yamata, JAPAN at 1330-1430 mainly in Korean and Japanese, with no more English at all? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA SOUTH. 3912, Jan 19 at 1304, YL talk in Korean; no jamming audible, but some zero-beat SSB QRhaM; 3985, Jan 19 at 1304, OM talk in Korean, no jamming either. 3912 is V. of the People, 3985 is Echo of Hope, both clandestines from S to N Korea. Lacking Indonesians any more, it`s nice to hear something on 75m besides JAPAN, q.v. (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA SOUTH [non]. Re 12-03: A look at the XM Sirius channel lineup indicates that Korea Today, which appears to be all-English, is online only. That would markedly reduce opportunities to hear the channel while driving, and makes distribution via XM Sirius not much more advantageous than via a standalone website. In fact, the audience is limited to XM or Sirius subscribers. Arirang Radio and Korea Today compete with the English service of KBS World Radio, which also seeks audiences in the United States (Kim Andrew Elliott, kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN-IRAN-IRAQ. 4875.01, Voice of Iranian Kurdistan, 0405- 0429*, presumed with talk in unidentified language. Sign off with Middle-Eastern style music. Fair. Also heard earlier with QRM from Brazil’s Roraima 4877.3v. Jan 22 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** KURDISTAN. R Voice of Kurdistan's transmitter in a very cold Kurdistan night, S=9+20dB signal wandered down from 3929.688 frequency at 0302 UT played like National Anthem song, drifted down continuously to 3928.592 kHz at 0345 UT! Usual Iranian bubbler at 0317 UT Jan 23 on 3961.070 ... 3961.086 kHz at 0340 UT, but only lonely on 3960 - 75 mb, no Kurdish opposite program could be traced here on this morning. Another Iranian security forces bubbler noted on 4876.000 kHz, hit against Kurdish program, little down frequency on 4874.947 kHz at 0334 UT Jan 23 (Wolfgang Büschel, during a `blackout`, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KURDISTAN [non]. 11530, OPPOSITION. Denge Mezopotamia via Ukraine (Targeting Kurdistan), 1449. F announcer in Kurdish and then short few-second musical bridge and then more F talk and then music. 1/15/12 Also heard 1/20/12, 1431-1440 with music and then 1434 Kurdish by M with what sounded to me like rifle drill commands with what sounded like rifle bolts being opened and closed in response to commands and then M with Kurdish talk. At 1436 M with responsive replies by children, sounded military-like with music in the background. 1438 sitar or similar instrument being played and then M singer joined in (Steven Handler, IL, Icom IC-7200, Tecsun PL-660 and wire antennas, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** KUWAIT. 21540, Jan 21 at 1500, R. Kuwait in Arabic still on after collision with Spain had ended, but cut off at 1502*. Supposed to be on 21520 in B-11 but never went there, preferring to keep colliding with REE. ¡Vivan los moros! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KYRGYZSTAN [and non]. 4050.07, Radio Rossii, Bishkek (presumed) at 0124 tune in with talking very weakly. Splatter from Guatemala. M voice at 0140, F at 0144, some music interludes, then F voice with piano music thru 0152. Sounded like the old morning exercises I use to hear on 4635 kHz in the mid 1970s from Dushanbe [Tajikistan]. Orchestral music with piano while she continued talking to 0159. No TS at TOH, M voice after the hour. Strongest at 0150, along with 4010.03 (also Bishkek), 4765.07 (Dushanbe), and 4795.00 (also Bishkek). The latter is the weakest, but also covered by CODAR. Heard at 1456 with talking, but very weak. 1/19. 4010.03, Kyrgyz Radio, Bishkek (presumed) at 0125 tune in with no audio detected until F voice heard at 0145. M and F voices on and off thru 0153, and no music heard. This is strongest reception at this hour since 1975/76 for me. Only carrier heard at 1453 to 1458. 1/19. NOTES: If we use the HFCC HF Skeds, 4010 uses 50 kW 4050 uses 100 kW, 4635 uses 100 kW, and 4795 uses 15 kW. Bishkek has vertical antennas, but Dushanbe (Yangi Yul) uses curtain antennas, and is always the strongest of these particular stations. Dushanbe is in Tajikistan [q.v.], but only 456 miles to the SW of Bishkek (with a 12 minute later sunrise). Although the HFCC says all 4 stations use ND antennas, I wonder about Dushanbe. 1/19 (Jim Young, WPC6JY, Wrightwood and Inspiration Point (10 miles west of town), CA, ICOM IC-706, 756 ProIII and Grundig Satellite 800, 60-M vertical, 60-M inverted Vee, 80-M inverted Vee, 40-M yagi, NASWA yg via DXLD) 4009.974 was the frequency of Kyrghyz Radio from Bishkek, S=8 at 0313 UT. Another 4795.000 much even also from Bishkek Kyrghyz Republic at 0400 UT (Wolfgang Büschel, during a `blackout`, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4050, *2300-2310 21.01, R Rossii, via Krasnaya Rechka, Open carrier on more than 15 minutes before s/on, time signal, Russian ID: "Radio Rossii" and talk - heavily disturbed by technician talk on the same line from Moscow, 42442 (Anker Petersen, Skovlunde, Denmark, on my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** LAOS. Lao National Radio, 6130, heard here at 1200 with 5 time pips + one that I can only describe as a "clunk", along with 7 gongs indicating 7 PM local time. Heard almost to the day I QSL'd them 25 years ago (January 23, 1987) on the same frequency (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, USA, Jan 25, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LEBANON [non]. Little-known relay of FM station on SW: see VATICAN ** LIBYA. 11600, Radio Libye, 1602:30 carrier on and s/on by man in French. 1603:50 fanfare music and man again, perhaps news with music bridges between items, 1608 tune-out. Very poor. Jan 19 (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening from my car with Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna on roof, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11600, 1645-1805* 17+19+21.01, R Télévision Libye, Sabrata, French talk about Muammar Gaddafi and Vienna Waltz, ID: "Ici Radio Télévision Libye", French chanson "Avec toi", some days poor voice audio and early sign off, 45433 (Anker Petersen, Skovlunde, Denmark, on my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) 11600, 21/Jan 1620, R Libya, in French. YL talk between short music. Even without the location information and of power. The sound of modulation is very bass. YL has much to say, speaks for a long time. For me, the failure of [why] so many are ending shortwave: the program does not please the listener. Of course, in an economic crisis the cuts always go to projects that do not generate return. At 1645 YL continues monologue. Listen to Radio Australia: animated interviews with several participants and excellent music. At 1649 about 30 seconds without modulation, back with pop music. At least the YL talks animatedly. Until 1654 weak signal, without QRM, but improving. At 1702 finally ID, YL reports from Tripoli, then pop music (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, 12 14´S, 38 58´W - Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11600, V of Libya, 1756 21/1 with carrier tune in 1801 with talks in French but then a sudden stop, then back at 1802, 1807 with ID, R Libye de la capital Tripoli (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, ICOM R75 / 2x16 V / m@h40 heads Sennheiser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11600, Radio Libye, 1742-1807*. mix of vocals and French talk until dead air from 1732 to 1800. At 1800 a woman began speaking alternating with soft instrumental music. Nice ID at 1806 and brief closedown announcement with more soft instrumental music ending program. Carrier remained on for over ten minutes before I tuned away. Fair signal. Jan 21 (Rich D'Angelo, 2216 Burkey Drive, Wyomissing PA, Ten-Tec RX-340, Drake R-8B, Eton E1, Eton E5, Alpha Delta DX Sloper, RF Systems Mini- Windom, Datong FL3, JPS ANC-4, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** MADAGASCAR. AFRICAN ON 4910 KHZ - PRESUMED MADAGASCAR --- Tuned into weak African station at 1809 UT on 4910 kHz this evening (20-Jan) with African and other songs. Presume it was RNM Madagascar as not audible on LSB (i.e. in AM+USB) and no sign of RNM on 5010. RNM has been reported on 4910 which WRTH 2012 lists as an alternative frequency to 5010. Went off abruptly at 1831 (Alan Pennington, Caversham, UK, AOR 7030+ / longwire, BDXC-UK yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DXLD) 5010 Carrier+USB, RN Malagasy 2246 21/1, still on the frequency with fast talks, Football???? S2 (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, ICOM R75 / 2x16 V / m@h40 heads Sennheiser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5010.00, Radio Madagasikara, 0220-0250, carrier + USB. Tune-in to African choral music. 25 second IS at 0226 followed by National Anthem. Opening ID announcements at 0228:30. Malagasy talk. Local music. Weak but readable. Jan 22 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) R. Madagasikara, 5010.0 USB + carrier, 1440-1501, Jan 23 // with 6135.18 which went off at 1459, while 5010 continued on; both about equal strength playing pop songs and in French; via long path (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Madagasikara ?? 5010, Antananarivo ?? Jan 23, 2012, Monday. 1906-1910. Someone talking, but too poor and noisy to even guess the language. No music for clues. If it was Madagasikara, the last ten minutes after 1900 are listed as irregular by EiBi. Very poor. Jo'burg sunset 1704 (Bill Bingham, RSA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAYSIA. 7295, Traxx FM 1538 English. Male disc jockey, pop music including Lady Ga Ga, 1547 speaking to someone on the phone. Poor. Jan 19 (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening from my car with Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna on roof, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) As for yesterday during a radio band scanning, on 7295 kHz I found a station playing at the start with a Russian like song, then well known oldies with `hello´ at 2124, at 2126 with `Pretty Woman´ with short comments +in English+ in between all songs aired. At 2130 they aired two Chinese songs. After ToH clock there was not an ID as they immediately announced news. There is a short mention of ID inside news program. Also twice in this program they announced transmission towards Malaysia and Singapore, once at 2108 and 2135, which I hope is included in these recordings. I suppose this is Traxx FM as the program seems identical to Traxx AFAIK, to the announcements noticed, but seems that the ID was quite clear circa 2207. Notice that due to parallel tasking (writing articles) I was just hearing rather than listening to the program. Signal level about S3 at 21xx (21331) but S5 after 2200 (35333). Included in my Multiply posting you will find two recordings at 2113 and 2156 of 11 and 6 minutes respectively http://zlgr.multiply.com/journal/item/421 (Zacharias Liangas, Jan 22, DX Listening Digest) Was it ever gone? Above, Harold had it two days earlier, also Jan 14 below (gh, DXLD) ** MALAYSIA. 5965, RTM with news headlines in Malay 0203 14 Jan. Jingle ident for “Klasik Nasional”. 6050 with separate program also vgd – the only 2 stations audible on 49 metres at this time. 6050, Asyik FM in Malay with pops 0840 14 Jan; Moslem call to prayer 0847 and back to pops 4 minutes later, vgd signal. 7295, Traxx FM very good signal 0142 14 Jan with English pops on the Retro Show. At 0200, time pips & ident “English Service of RTM” then news. Fair with news at 0300 recheck. Excellent 0841 with sports results. 9835, RTM Sarawak FM relay with news in Malay at 0300 on 14 Jan - not parallel with 49m or 41m frequencies. Very good (Bryan Clark, visiting Singapore with Sony 7600G and short wire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAYSIA. Glenn, Que emissora transmite em 11630 agora às 1822? HFCC diz: 11630 1800 1955 44,45 DHA 500 60 -30 218 1234567 301011 250312 D UAE ADM ADM 5502 Está com um sinal regular aqui. Toca música pop e vinhetas parecendo propaganda. Está no ar agora. 73 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, 12 14´S 38 58´W - Brasil, Jan 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11630, 20/Jan 1815 UNID Arabic(?), pop music, YL talks animatedly. YL talks to listeners on the phone. At 1833 OM participates in the conversation. Follows the programming with pop music, OM talk, and talks with the listeners. Some cuts in the modulation. At 2125 Song the Koran . At 2131 short talk of YL e more song the Koran. Follows still in the air at 2138. 35433 (Jorge Freitas, Brasil, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Probably I think that it is new frequency of RTV Malaysia via Kajang (S. Hasegawa, Japan, 0609 UT Jan 21, ibid.) Yes it's now (21 Jan 0830) in Malay in parallel with 9835 kHz. 11630 is about the same strength here as RTM's other Sarawak network on 11665 kHz, which is to say very strong, also via Kajang. Best regards (Alan Davies, Jakarta, Indonesia, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Thanks, Alan, It is blocked in Japan until 1200 by CNR-1/8. Probably relay Wai FM (S. Hasegawa, ibid.) Thank you very much, Hasegawa and Alan. The program really made me believe that was the Wai FM. The signals of this region are coming here very well, even during the day. The first log was of Álex Robert, from Duas Estradas – Paraíba – Brasil, on 19/Jan. 73 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana BA - Brasil, 12 14´S 38 58´W, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11630, Sarawak FM via RTM, assume via Kajang (near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), randomly from 0955 to 1120, Jan 21. Thanks to Jorge Freitas for reporting on this new frequency and for additional comments from Alan Davies and Sei-ichi Hasegawa in dxldyg. Fair to good in vernacular; // 9835. 1000-1012 two time pips; news. After 1012 variety of music. 1055 Moslem call-to-prayer. Many IDs for Radio Malaysia Sarawak FM. Problem with the audio; weaker second echo audio offset/delayed which was especially noticeable during the call-to-prayer. Along with some IADs (intermittent audio dropouts). This was not Wai FM, which was heard as usual on 11665 with IDs;was heard stronger than usual and did not have news at 1000 or 1100. Edited MP3 audio: http://www.box.com/s/un5aoe9me8xrex5fsajl 11630, Sarawak FM via RTM, assume via Kajang (near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), Jan 23 at tune in at 1327 was poor, but clearly // 9835; by 1415 was back to normal with fair reception and equal strength with 9835. Question – With Sarawak FM now having two SW frequencies, would it seem logical to conclude that RTM will soon start a second SW frequency for Wai FM? Will be checking for another frequency // 11665 (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11630, 22/Jan 0914, Sarawak FM via RTM (or Wai FM?), in Vernacular (listed). YL talk and music. This morning, the three frequencies in // 9835 and 11665. Good signal in 11665 and 11630. In 9835 with QRM moderate. 11665, 23/Jan, RTM Wai FM, in vernacular. YL conversation with listeners on the phone. At 0027 YL with ID. I clearly heard her say “www.Sarawak… “ Good signal. 9835, 23/Jan 1033, RTM Wai FM, in vernacular. Local pop music. At 1037 YL talk, then more local pop music. Today's transmissions are not parallel. 35433. 11630, 23/Jan 1036, Only a good signal without modulation. I believe it is the RTM. Until 1102 the signal without modulation. 11665, 23/Jan 1043, RTM Wai FM, in vernacular. OM answers calls from listeners, then music. Moderate QRM from jammer CNR1 and RTI, on the same frequency. 9835, 23/Jan 1955, RTM Sarawak FM, in vernacular. Local pop music. At 2002 YL talk. Moderate QRM of a transmission in English. I hear what seemed to be religious preaching, but I find nothing in the lists. The QRM was on the same frequency. On // 11630 with good signal, but with constant cuts in the modulation. No signal in 11665. QRM in English was no more heard after 2000. At 2012 without QRM, 35433 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, 12 14´S, 38 58´W - Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALPELO. HK0NA en el aire --- En este momento al aire por los 18130 kHz en USB la expedicion de radioficionados transmitiendo desde la Isla Malpelo en el Pacífico colombiano, activando para la IOTA la estacion HK0NA. más sobre la misma en http://hk0na.com/ (Rafael Rodríguez R., Bogotá D.C. - Colombia, 2357 UT Jan 24, condiglist yg via DXLD ** MAURITANIA. 7245, Jan 20 at 0629, IGIM not yet on as I am hearing Vatican bells on 7250; but at next tuneby 0637, IGIM is on with chanting. 7245, Jan 22 at 0606, IGIM is on and chanting; was not on at previous tuneby circa 0550. 7245, Jan 23 at 0635, still no signal yet from IGIM. 7245, Jan 24 at 0650, IGIM is still not on (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 1610, XEUACH Chapingo, Edo. Mex. JAN 11 0135. Announcements by man and woman followed by rock song. In the evening this station plays a wide range of music. Station typically signs off at 0200. Excellent steady signal (Mike Beu KD5DSQ, Austin TX; Drake R8B, 17 x 28-ft terminated Delta at 40 , 7 x 14-ft Mini-Flag at 110 , NRC IDXD Jan 20 via DXLD) ** MEXICO [and non]. 6185, Jan 23 at 1354, undermodulated classical music making fast SAH typical of off-frequency XEPPM when clashing with Vatican around 0600 --- so I bet the Mexican is on way past its nominal 1200*. This happens on rare occasions, usually on Mondays --- perhaps because a different operator is on duty Sunday nite/Monday morning who forgets to turn off the SW transmitter? SAH station missing from HFCC, but Aoki shows China Huayi, Chengdu and V. of Korea both on 6185 before and after 1400. Bothered by *1355 NHK IS from stronger 6190 despite being 290 degrees from Yamata in Korean at 1400 (HFCC also shows Chinese until 1400 on same beam, but was not on before 1400 and Aoki agrees on a 1330-1400 break). Still able to hear 6185 with difficulty, and at 1400 YL Spanish back-announcement mentions a preludio, 1401 ID with 1,060, keeps talking, maybe news headlines. Don`t know how much longer stayed on, but previous extensions ran even unto 1530. 6185-, Jan 24 at 1405 check, no signal from XEPPM, unlike 24 hours earlier when transmission was extended; just something Far Eastern (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. Finally a sporadic-E opening reaching TV channels, Jan 21 first noticed already in progress at 1925 UT, with CCI on 2 and 3, Spanish from the SSW or so; then up to ch 4 with a letterboxed movie, Televisa bug in LR, f bug in UR, i.e. net-4, 1928 interrupted by a `Corte` = news bulletin about a 6.0 earthquake in Chiapas which hit at 12:47 local time (1847 UT). Then graphic of map showing affected nearby states too, forotv bug in lower left. I checked the 6m DX Sherlock map which showed a couple of Mexican paths, but a huge number of paths converging over southern Indiana obviously separate from the opening I am witnessing. Mixture of stations continued constantly on chs 2, 3, and 4, hitting 5 by 2033 and 2129 which means FM might be open too. At 2023, ch 2 displayed a phone number in GDL = Guadalajara; at 2033, ch 2 had an ad aimed at Poza Rica, Veracruz. At 2101 on ch 2, there was a +tv bug in UR, i.e. Mas Visión in Guadalajara, along with COSA FACIL, apparently a movie or episode title. 2146 ad for Guadalajara. Opening may have been set off by a coronal mass ejexion; still going strong as I wrap this report at 2150 UT Jan 21. Continuing my sporadic-E TVDX observations from previous report, Jan 21, UT: At 2129, MUF is still up to channel 5 audio as well as video. At 2153, on 3, promo for MegaCine 5, i.e. net 5 At 2238, on 4, `Se Vale` variety show with the V like a check mark, i.e. net-2 At 2256, on 5, movie with net-5 bug UR At 2304, on 2, net-7 bug UR At 2325, on 4, large letters on screen including SINALOA TV, TELEVISION ESTATAL + another word. Trouble is, the only two ch 4s in that state are Televisa, XHBS in Los Mochis with net-2, and XHMAF in Mazatlán with net-5, both 100 kW, per W9WI.com. I suppose it is more likely that the net-5 would cut away for local announcements. At 2326, on 4, `A John Badham Movie` opening(?) credits on net 5, so that probably makes previous log XHMAF, tho dominant signals in this opening kept moving around geographically. Then promo(?) in Spanish for ``Human Target``. Dubbing often includes saying the film title, never done in original. Apparently unrelated to Badham. UT Jan 22: At 0005, still mix of weak signals on 2 and 3 At 0011, soccer with italic 3 in an oval bug in UR, i.e. XHQ, Culiacán, Sinaloa as illustrated: http://tvdxtips.com/mexlogosch3.html At 0041, still traces of signals on 2 and 3; not checked further. Another Es opening prompted by the CME and disruption to Earth`s ionosphere, but a minor one, UT Jan 25 at 0054, weak signal fades in, 0056 identifiably in Spanish from SSW; in and out, mostly out, but noted an IFE PSA at 0116, not much afterwards. IFE = Instituto Federal Electoral, one of numerous Mexican government agencies getting mandatory PSA time on radio and TV stations (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MICRONESIA. 4755.449, PMA - Pacific Missionary Aviation - The Cross Radio, at Jan 24 heard at 0720 UT just above threshold on remote receiver unit in California. S=5 fluttery. Like South Sea music song at 0728 UT (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 24 via DXLD) ** MONGOLIA. 4830.00, Mongolian Radio 2 not found here at 1446, nor on 4895.00 (under AIR Kurseong). However, at 1505 check, a strong carrier without any audio was found on 4830.01, but doubt Mongolia. Not found after 1515, however. 1/19 (Jim Young, WPC6JY, Wrightwood and Inspiration Point (10 miles west of town), CA, ICOM IC-706, 756 ProIII and Grundig Satellite 800, 60-M vertical, 60-M inverted Vee, 80-M inverted Vee, 40-M yagi, NASWA yg via DXLD) ** MOROCCO. 15349, S.N.R.T. 1822-1827 Arabic. Female program host with another woman and a man on the line carrying on a discussion. Good but low modulation made it sound weaker. Jan 20 (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening lakeside, from my car, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna on the roof, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Usually 15349.1, maybe up to .2 as some report (gh, DXLD) ** MYANMAR. 5985, Yangon monitored from 1500 16 Jan with easy- listening music program, anthem at 1529 followed by English news, good and clear (Bryan Clark, visiting Singapore with Sony 7600G and short wire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) On 7100 Burmese (?) station heard with songs and talks from tune in at 1325 UT (21 Jan 2012). Very strong. Thanking you, Yours sincerely, Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Hyderabad, India, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED, 7100.00, tuned in at 1348 with lite pop style music in SE Asia language, chorus group as well. Then my e-mail 'dinged' from Jose Jacobs [as above]. Flute music, and into F voice, announcements, No TS at TOH, F spoke on/off with brief musical interludes to 1405, and into more pop music program past 1420. Very strong here, with occasional Indonesian ham operators heard (LSB) on same frequency. F announcements at 1430, no TS at BOH, indigenous music and off, 1/21 MP3 file attached. (ham operator heard in background) (Jim Young. WPC6JY, Wrightwood and Inspiration Point (10 miles west of town), CA, ICOM IC-706, 756 ProIII and Grundig Satellite 800, 60-M vertical, 60-M inverted Vee, 80-M inverted Vee, 40-M yagi, NASWA yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DXLD) I hear it from about 1250UT on 7100 kHz, but can't copy ID. I don't understand a language. Minority language? Sound File: http://ani.atz.jp/FBDX/NowBBS/img/5909.mp3 by DFS in Shimane-pref. at 1230 UT on Jan. 21. Resemble Vietnamese! (S. Hasegawa, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DXLD) Hi Sei-ichi, Back in 2003-2004, Voice of Vietnam was on 7100, in various languages (Ron Howard, San Francisco, Calif., ibid.) S/off at 1430. Closing announcement(?) in Burmese by female. Probably Myanmar Broadcasting Service: http://ani.atz.jp/FBDX/NowBBS/img/5927.mp3 by XYZ in Akita-pref. at 1430 UT (S. Hasegawa, ibid.) S/on at 0830UT today (Jan.22) on 7100 kHz (S. Hasegawa, ibid.) MYANMAR/BURMA. 7100, Myanma Radio, 1329, Jan 22. In the past have countless times heard their signature indigenous theme music and four chimes followed by one lone chime, played in the past at this time on both 5985.83 and 7185.75. So I can say it is definitely Myanma Radio; in vernacular with variety of music (indigenous, pop, etc.); almost fair with QRN. Thanks to Jose Jacob (India) for the alert. At 1317 could confirm // to a very weak audio on 5985.83, which was certainly not normal for them; the carrier was at a decent level, but audio only occasionally made out. Usually this frequency has fair to poor reception and decent audio. Signature indigenous theme music and chimes MP3 audio at http://www.box.com/s/pfhgi0gsmv96an8nikel For a comparison I have posted a MP3 audio from May, 2010 at http://www.box.com/s/6d48bylrakgtc0ln1kpj , with a similar format (running a double/overlapping audio at the time). The 1329 format is very distinctive and should help confirm the ID for this station (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7100, Jan 22 at 1349, weak carrier with flutter, just barely modulated, with Spanish SSB QRhaM. This was first reported Jan 21 by Jose Jacob in India, further monitored by S. Hasegawa in Japan as *0830-1430* and identified by Ron Howard in California earlier Jan 22 at 1317 by confirming it was // 5985.83 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7100.02, fade in 1405-1430* 22.01, Myanma R (presumed), vernacular announcement, local song, sign off with gongs and carrier off immediately after. 33332, QRM from hams (Anker Petersen, Skovlunde, Denmark, on my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) 7110, Jan 24 around 1405, very weak carrier served as BFO for some hams, but none on 7100 where I was looking for new Myanma Radio frequency. Then I see report from Ron Howard that it was indeed on 7110 instead of 7100 today when he heard it at 1237-1337, and not // 5985.83 or 5915 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7110 kHz Jan. 24 1215: Currently playing soft Western style pop music. Poor reception, getting worse. Couldn't identify the language between songs. Is this R. Ethiopia?? Or Burma up from 7100 kHz? (Bruce Fisher, (Lexington, MA, USA, Palstar R30CC, 70 ft. longwire) 1224 ut Jan 24, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX LISTENING DIGEST) It is Burmese of Myanmar Radio to hear as of 1330 UT on 7110 kHz. I was able to receive it on 7110 at 1140 on Jan. 24 (S. Hasegawa, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Myanmar was monitored on 7110 last night 24 Jan 2012 sign off at 1430 UT in local language; the other day they were on 7100. This morning i.e. just now day 25 Jan 2012 at 0100 they are again being heard on 7110 in local language (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, Hyderabad, India, ibid.) 7110, Weaker than is normally with me here Ron but that may have do with the current solar storms. OTHR was also bad here and it is the Chinese version. I didn't crosscheck 5985.7 (Robin VK7RH Harwood, Tasmania, Jan 25, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7110, Myanma Radio, randomly 1215 to 1430*, Jan 25. Weaker than usual; mostly EZL pop songs (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7110, Jan 25 at 1309 I am listening earlier and consequently get better reception of Myanma Radio`s new frequency a semihour before local sunrise here: still poor signal, but can hear some music, not much QRhaM except a CQ from an N4 on the hi side. At 1313, nothing audible on 5915 or 5985v to compare. At 1316 the S-meter shows 7110 fluttering with peaks around S9+17, pop vocal music, but still tough copy. 1322 weakening some. Around 1330 I hear some widely separated beeps, maybe stray CWQRM rather than timesignal at their hourtop, as YL announces something (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7110, Myanmar noted from 2330 to 0130 sign off in local language for last 2 days. Before 2330 test tones noted for over 10 minutes. In local evenings they are noted sign off at 1430 on same frequency (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, UT Jan 26, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9730.833, S=7-8 signal from Myanmar Radio Rangoon, typical Burmese / Lao / Thai instruments / music. 0352 UT Jan 22. NOT NAYPYIDAW with these odd figures! (Wolfy df5sx wwdxc, Wolfgang Büschel at 0419 UT Jan 22, using Victor Goonetilleke`s Perseus in Sri Lanka, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Ron, see my short morning log, oddity of 833 Hertz on 9730 equals to your 5985.83 observation (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. Rwanda: 11615, R. Netherlands via Kigali (They getting ready to mothball Madagascar?) in English with The State We’re In programming -- is it my imagination or is this station getting even more ‘generic’ than before -- for example, this segment was clearly produced in Canada rather than the Netherlands, and just not up to RN standards. Didn’t keep my interest well! Programme ID at BoH. but no mention of Radio Netherlands at any point. Again: Generic! In well, 454+44 - hummy mod. 2020-2031 14/Jan (Kenneth Vito Zichi, Williamston MI, MARE Tipsheet Jan 20 via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. 9765, RNZI Rangitaiki with time signals and news read by Chris Whitta, poor level but quickly improving 1000 18 Jan. At 1100 checked 15720 which is supposed to be directed towards Southeast Asia but the signal was only marginally better. After this I succumbed to online streaming! (Bryan Clark, of NZ, visiting Singapore with Sony 7600G and short wire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5950, Monday Jan 23 at 1331, RNZI `Mailbox` is starting after a summer hiatus of almost two months. Always opens with a bit of music, for reasons unfathomable: it`s not a `Jukebox`, is it? Then John Durham`s DX report, which is well-done and accurate, but notably lacking any tropical logs --- not much lower than Laos on 6130 with a clip. Besides a Europirate on 21 MHz, all the other logs were pretty routine, even treating us to a clip of Brother Scare via IRRS via Romania on 15190, which I can avoid any morning at 13-15. John is back with another DX report in two weeks. 1345 on to Adrian Sainsbury with propagation report (there was no propagation for the past bimonth, apparently), and mailbag of reception reports to RNZI including some DRM decoded in Europe, finished at 1351. Adrian says RNZI reception in the North has been good during our winter, but I disagree; most of the frequencies have been fair at best, and this only fair signal on 5950 is going to worsen gradually as our sunrise earlies, already at 1339 today. From A-12 March 25, they go back to 6170 from 1300, which won`t be any improvement for us. The earlier, higher, frequencies should do better if we are awake (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGER. 9704.99, LV du Sahel, 2250-2259*, indigenous music. French talk. Local chants at 2254. Flute IS at 2257. Choral National Anthem at 2257:30. Seven second test tone at 2259 and off. Poor to fair with some adjacent channel splatter. Jan 18 (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg, PA, Icom IC-7600, two 100 foot longwires, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA. 6089.87, 0611, Radio Nigeria, Kaduna well heard some days with Caribbean Beacon, Anguilla missing from 6090. First noted as heterodyne against Anguilla 11/12 and positively identified 16/12 when Anguilla off, with regular idents in Hausa as “Radio Nigeria Kaduna”. Fade in from 0520, readable after 0600 past 0700. Also in the clear with Anguilla off on 2/1 at 0636 (Bryan Clark at Mangawhai, New Zealand, with AOR7030+ and Alpha Delta Sloper, EWEs to NE, E and SE, plus various 100 metre BOGs to the Americas, Jan NZ DX Times via DXLD) ** NIGERIA [and non]. There is a unknown station playing non-stop Afro pop music on 15120 since 1130 today Jan. 23rd, and still on air as I type at 1415. Some of the songs lyrics are in English, so could it be Nigeria? The signal is very strong and the audio quality very good - so unlikely to be the Ikorodu sender that was heard earlier today with the usual bad audio distortion. There has been co-channel interference since 1200, probably from the Bengali service of Saudi Arabic. This should close at 1455 (Noel R. Green (NW England) dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Noel, thanks for a tip. Tuned in a few minutes before 1500 and the afropop station was somewhere around 15119.85. At 1500 V of Nigeria came on the air on approximately even 15120 with buzzy signal. Pop station continues (Jari in Finland Savolainen, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The unID station with continuous hip-hop and similar music that Noel reported is on 15119.85 kHz. From 1501 suffering interference from V of Nigeria on 15120.0 kHz with English news. Both unID and VON similar strength (Alan Pennington, Caversham, UK, AOR 7030+ / longwire, ibid.) Voice of Nigeria has opened as scheduled at 1500 in English with the usual buzzy transmitter on 15120, and there is severe mutual interference between this and the unidentified station still playing Afro pops. BUT - the Afro pops station has suddenly ceased at 1510 leaving VoN in the clear. So have the engineers at Abuja received a telephone call from Ikorodu or.....??? (Noel R. Green (NW England), ibid.) Dear Noel, re 15120 kHz Nigeria, at 1510 UT I heard the usual Ikorodu signal on their scheduled 15-16 UT English foreign service. Audio quality was NOT GOOD. During spring 2012 we are awaiting further information on: 3 x new TX units at Madagascar, 4 x new units at Algeria at Bechar and Ourgla, Bechar (curtain ant at 135degr) and Ourgla (curtain ant at 206degr), 3 x new units at Abuja, Nigeria. [never paid the invoice YET] 1 x 100 kW SW replacement at Vietnam. some 20 / 50 / 100 / 150 kW shortwave replacement on Korea D.P.R. some more 3 x 150 kW units at Ethiopia, seven SW txs delivered approx. some 3 years ago. [maybe already in service for jamming?? gh] at least a 100 kW SW unit {plus 1x reserve?} at 100 kW site in Calabozo-Venezuela. as well as the new Continentals on refurbished Jeddah Saudi Arabia site. and don't forget the new {never used by Croatian R} excellent TCI curtain antenna at HCA Kununurra Australia site. 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) There is now confirmation via Mauno Ritola that the Afro pop music heard on the 24th ]means 23rd] on 15120 did originate from the new Abuja (Lugbe} Transmitting Station. The station is not heard on 15120 today, and it isn't known when further tests will be made (Noel R. Green (NW England) 1511 UT Jan 24, ibid.) In fact, it was strange for me tuning VON 15120 on unusual English schedule on Christmas morning, 1400 UT, with an extensive report about that church bombing. No more tests heard on the following days. 73s. (Raul Saavedra, Costa Rica, Jan 24, ibid.) Hello Raul, The normal sign on for 15120 is 1500 so I would guess that VoN came on earlier due to Christmas. The Ikorodu transmitter is very easy to distinguish due to its distorted audio and lots of noisy sidebands on this frequency. The Afro pops was a nice clean signal. Greetings and Regards from (Noel, Jan 25, ibid.) This item of Dec 4: ``Last time Abuja heard in early October when the Thomcast engineer Bodo Fritsche DF8DX {exDL3OCH - 5N0OCH} - of Thomcast Turgi Switzerland checked also the bigger international service TX site in Abuja too. Today heard only KBS World radio Kimjae in Jpn/Korean on this channel, and on European monitoring posts also XJBS PBS Xinjiang, Urumqi in Uighur domestic service (wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 4, 2011)`` I guess R Nigeria HAS NO FULL ACCESS on this new Abuja site, - after 25 months from the completion date Dec 2009 - because they never paid the BILL to Thales-Thomcast yet, and therefore the TX unit is 'under seal'? So, if new test or maintenance broadcast appear from this site, one of the Swiss-French engineers would be on visit the tx site (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX LISTENING DIGEST) New Dec 2009 V of Nigeria, Abuja Lugbe estate, building site. 7255 9690 11770 15120 17800 kHz two fixed curtains, one ALLISS like revolving antenna 08 57'53.00"N 07 21'46.00"E http://g.co/maps/d8geg 73 wb (Büschel, ibid.) History of Oct 2011: ``11770 DRM, Voice of Nigeria testing in DRM mode ? Bodo Fritsche - der Ingenieur von Thomcast Turgi Schweiz ist seit anfangs Oktober wieder vor Ort, testet die 3 neuen Sender in Abuja jetzt auch im DRM mode`` (via wb, dxldyg via DXLD) Exacta dirección eMail de Voice of Nigeria --- Con esta Mail deseo enviar la exacta dirección de correo electrónico por enviar reporte de recepción a Voice of Nigeria que envía regularmente su QSL de recepción completa de datos. Puedes enviar los reporte de recepción a la siguiente direcciòn. englishvon @ yahoo.com Queridos 73 (GABRIELLI Dario, Viale della Resistenza, 33b, 30031 DOLO (Ve), ITALY, condiglist yg via DXLD) ** NIGERIA [non]. Hello my friend! I am young (16 years old), enthusiastic DX-er from Bulgaria. I listen to shortwave broadcasting stations since 2006, but I started QSL-ing stations and transmitters three months ago. Now, I have about 50 in my collection. I would like to ask you, if you know the mailing or e-mail address of Radio Hamada International, broadcasting from Wertachtal to Nigeria in Hausa language on multiple frequencies every day? Thank you in advance. All the best and 73! (Georgi Bancov, Jan 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) He also helped Ivo Ivanov set up the saveradiobulgaria petition Hi Georgi, Glad to hear from a young DX enthusiast! As most of us are sure getting old. For Hamada, try the broker, Radio Miami International, info @ wrmi.net Or the form at: http://apps.wrmi.net/webform/?event=form.show&formId=9333&key=96BA446143 I expect Jeff White will QSL it, altho I don`t know whether you can reach the station itself thru RMI. 73, (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) Hamada International is relayed by WRMI? I heard it via Wertachtal, by the way. Thanks (Georgi Bancov, ibid.) Georgi, It`s not via the WRMI transmitter in Miami. RMI also brokers (facilitates, re-sells), some airtime via Wertachtal, currently with Hamada (Glenn to Georgi, ibid.) ** NORTH AMERICA. [Pirate]. 6925v, Radio Bleh Bleh Bleh, *0010-0038*, pop music. IDs. Also IDed as Radio Bleh Bleh and Radio Bleh Bleh Bleh Bleh Bleh. Strong. Drifted down to 6924.79 by 0038 sign off. Jan 19 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** NORTH AMERICA. [Pirate]. 6924.79v, Captain Morgan Shortwave, *0039- 0100, pop music. IDs. Email address. Music by Three Dog Night, Rolling Stones and others. Strong. Drifted down to 6924.72 by 0058. Exact same frequency as Radio Bleh Bleh Bleh so possibly the same transmitter. Jan 19 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** NORTH AMERICA. [Pirate]. 6925 USB, Wolverine Radio, 0044-0055, oldies music of the 30s-40s. IDs. Excellent signal. Jan 22 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) Brian, I was listening to them last night as well, and they were just booming in here as well. They must have one big transmitter! (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, ibid.) Even reaching Brasil! -- RADIO WOLVERINE 6925 kHz Olá colegas, Consegui ouvir a radio pirata Wolverine 6925 duas vezes; a primeira foi na madrugada do dia 1º de janeiro, com muita QRM, e a segunda vez foi sábado passado 21/01 às 2330 UT. Estou cada vez mais perto de captar mais emissoras ditas piratas/clandestinas. Segue alguns logs: 6300 - Rádio Crazy Wave - 24/12/2011; 2000 UT; Mx románticas; [EUROPE] 6925 - Rádio Wolverine - 1º/01/2012 - 0000 UT; Mx Jimmy Cliff-Black Roses; 15515 - Rádio Borderhunter - 14/01; 0800 UT (Tentativa); [EUROPE] 6925 - Rádio Wolverine - 21/01; 2330 UT; Mx Rock anos 80 - Seguida de vinheta "wolverine radio". Equipamentos Utilizados: Receptores: Perseus SDR, ICOM R-75+Tuner MFJ 956, Degen DE1103 Antenas: Dipolo cortada para banda 48metros e Loop sony AN-LP1 Cassio Secundino Borges Santos Secundino (Cássio Santos - Goiânia- Goiás, DXCB-234, - PP2008SWL, 24 Jan, radioescutas yg via DXLD) ** NORTH AMERICA. [Pirate]. 6925.14, Radio Free Euphoria, 0352-0405, IDs. Song parodies. Pro drug talk. A lot of obnoxious laughing by announcer. Fair to good. Jan 22 (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg, PA, Icom IC-7600, two 100 foot longwires, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OMAN. 15140, 24/Jan 1946, R Sultanate, in Arabic. OM talk. At 1948 short music and OM talk, It seems to present news. Today with moderate signal. 35433 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, 12 14´S, 38 58´W - Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN. An usual opening to specific areas in Central Asia was noted, particular on the local evening of January 20th UT. 3975, Radio Pakistan, Islamabad, presumed the one, 0107 Urdu. Chorus at tune in, 0110 man with either a speech or possibly a religious teaching, 0117 Islamic devotional song. Checked periodically through to 0143 and noted speaking and frequent devotional songs. Poor. Jan 20. The next evening, Jan 21, only a carrier was detectable, but no audio (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening lakeside, from my car, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna on the car roof, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN. VOA PAYS TRIBUTE TO REPORTER SLAIN IN PAKISTAN Washington, D.C. — January 20, 2012 — Friends and colleagues of slain VOA reporter Mukarram Khan Aatif paid tribute Friday to a “courageous man” who refused to be intimidated by the Pakistani militants who took responsibility for his murder. VOA Director David Ensor noted that Mr. Aatif, “had been threatened many times, but he refused to stop doing what he believed in.” Mr. Aatif, who also worked for local Pakistani television, was buried on Wednesday amid an outpouring of grief and frustration by other journalists in Pakistan, who urged the government to fully investigate his murder. The head of VOA’s Deewa Radio service, Nafees Takar, called the assassination a “huge loss for Deewa and a tragedy for his family and friends.” Richard M. Lobo, the Director of the U.S. International Broadcasting Bureau, joined the VOA Director and others at the agency’s headquarters in Washington for a moment of silence to pay tribute to Mr. Aatif. Ensor said, “Deewa remains committed to bringing fair and unbiased news to the people of Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas.” Slain VOA reporter Mukarram Khan Aatif [portrait] Mr. Aatif is the third journalist reporting for the Voice of America to be killed in the line of duty. He is the first reporter to be killed this year in Pakistan, which has been described as the most dangerous country in the world for journalists. A spokesman for the Taliban claimed responsibility for the murder of Mr. Aatif, who was shot several times during evening prayers Tuesday at a mosque near his home in the volatile Northwest tribal area of Pakistan. VOA’s Deewa Radio and television broadcasts in the Pashto language to the lawless tribal region along the border with Afghanistan (VOA PR via Dr Hansjoerg Biener, DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3315, NBC Manus, 129-1313, Jan 18. In Tok Pisin playing C&W and pop island music; 1301 bird call; news in English and back to C&W; poor with QRN. 3325, NBC Bougainville (presumed), 1143-1154, Jan 20. Not one of their better days; far underneath RRI Palangkaraya with C&W and pop island songs; poor with CW QRM (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 3325, NBC Bougainville. Could a DXer in the Pacific confirm the sign- off time? It seems to me that I am hearing them before 1200, but not after. Appreciate any help with this! (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Jan 23, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Jan 25 from Mauno Ritola: “I think the sign-off today was fairly exactly at 1200, NBC Bougainville was clearly lower than RRI, when I checked via Japan remote rx.” Thanks to Mauno for his confirmation! Perhaps on a timer as is NBC East New Britain on 3385? 3365, NBC Milne Bay (presumed), 1401-1404*, Jan 25. Well above normal reception; pop island song; National Anthem and off; no announcements. (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA [non]. 5960. Normally now it is either PBS Xinjiang or CRI (English 1100 to 1157) that completely blocks reception of Radio Fly (PNG), which I have not heard for some time now. 3915 still off the air (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Jan 21, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA [and non]. [re 12-03] 7325-, Jan 19 at 1357 as huge CRI Japanese signal cuts off, I detect a JBA carrier here, presumably Wantok Radio Light. It may be tough to equal or exceed my slightly better reception of Jan 16, during this 1357-1429 UT window. BTW, someone else heard them on Jan 15, so the Aoki schedule showing WRL closing earlier on Sundays is not correct. 7325, Jan 20 CRI Japanese service cuts off as always at 1357* in mid- word, uncovering JBA carrier, presumably Wantok Radio Light: another day of frustratingly inadequate signal, no point in monitoring further. 7325-, Jan 24 at 1403, JBA carrier, maybe a tad stronger than yesterday during this Wantok Radio Light window between CRI transmissions. Just mentioned as a reminder to keep checking in case there be a better propagational night (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7324.95, Wantok Radio Light (presumed), 1405-1429, Jan 25. One of their better receptions; one announcement in English, but unable to make it out; then non-stop music (EZL Christian songs, gospel songs and EZL instrumental music); varying amounts of adjacent QRM; was able to clearly hear several of the songs. Conditions vary a lot from day to day, as Glenn has been reporting (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, By way of comparison to my Jan 13 reception audio clip at http://www.box.com/s/ecpj37qb8m82cij5iht6 here is a three minute MP3 audio clip of the Jan 25 songs: http://www.box.com/s/xus3jxa8308913ak4d0l (Ron Howard, San Francisco, ibid.) 7325-, Jan 25 at 1357 I am listening as CRI abruptly cuts off its Japanese service at mid-word, leaving a JBA carrier, presumably Wantok Radio Light, another inadequate signal. Au contraire, Ron Howard in California had one of his better receptions of it today at 1405-1429. And Bill Smith, W1OW in Massachusetts reports: ``Hi Glenn, Probable logging on Wantok Radio Light, 7325. Noted on 1/22 between 1405 and 1415 UT fadeout. Choir music and then man singing a hymn then faded out. Heavy static with fair signal strength. Using 575 foot horizontal loop, 1030 feet above sea level with DX Engineering balun to match frequency. Palstar R30A with Collins 2.5 kc mechanical filter for receiver`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 4774.95, Radio Tarma, 1/18 noted at 1030 check with good signal but under thick pulse ute. YL huayno with guitar, to 1032 OM announcer. (Perry, Illinois) 5038.18, Radio Libertad de Junín, came here from Tarma on 1/18 at 1035 and found fairly good signal, certainly best Andean signal on the band. Morning folklórico program, nice huaynos with yipping singers backed by guitars. At 1040 reverb taped ads followed by very nice, live ID by OM: "...en la ciudad de Junín, amables oyentes, ustedes [están] escuchando a Radio Libertad . . . esperando [que] le gusta . . . la música nacional . . " Then into huayno with YL and guitar (Ralph Perry, Wheaton, Illinois, Drake R8B; Japan Radio NRD-545; Eton E1; Hallicrafters SX100; Knightkit Star Roamer; Dentron Super Tuner + Ameco PLF-2 + Palomar P-408 + customized (tropical bands) Quantum Phaser antenna unit; Longwires (150' + 100'); Tuned Multi-Turn 20" Small Loop; Single-Turn Coax Loop, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also UNIDENTIFIED [non] 6059.99 ** PERU. UNIDENTIFIED. (PERU?) - 6059.99, weak LA station noted 1116 on 1/19, Spanish not Portuguese announcements. Program of pop ballads and plenty of announcements by super-fast-talking OM in Spanish. Needed ECSS-LSB to optimize reception. Blotted out at 1129 by big signal from RN Venezuela (that is, unless earlier station actually WAS the YV broadcaster, which suddenly did a beam or power change for 1130 . . . but tend to think not, as earlier station sounded much more like a commercial station.) Would be great if this was the new Peruvian, Aroma Cafe Radio, but needs a lot of work. Open carrier noted here at 1055 the day before, so station may be signing on at *1100 (Ralph Perry, Wheaton, Illinois, Drake R8B; Japan Radio NRD-545; Eton E1; Hallicrafters SX100; Knightkit Star Roamer; Dentron Super Tuner + Ameco PLF-2 + Palomar P-408 + customized (tropical bands) Quantum Phaser antenna unit; Longwires (150' + 100'); Tuned Multi-Turn 20" Small Loop; Single-Turn Coax Loop, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Ralph, while Aroma Cafe Radio would be a hot catch, it would also be big news if R Nacional de Venezuela relays via Cuba have resumed. The daily broadcasts have all been missing since last summer. Just because they`re still listed in Aoki doesn`t mean they really exist! I suggest the big signal from 1129 was really CRI in Tagalog as listed unless you are sure it was in Spanish? Argentina in Portuguese is also on 6060 M-F at 11-12. 73, (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) 6059.99, thanks gh for clarification. Didn't stay on the frequency more than a few moments, once the new signal obliterated my unid and had assumed -- perhaps incorrectly -- that it was RN Venezuela as per Aoki; but frankly, had no real interest to determine. So, for now, a stronger Unid covering up my weaker, more interesting, Unid! (Perry, Illinois, ibid.) [non] I might throw in here that, because of the 333 year colonization of the Philippines by Spain, the many island languages (including "official filipino" - Tagalog) contain many Spanish words. I can see how, with the imperfections of AM reception at such great distances, one might be lured into thinking they have Spanish, were they to recognize certain words. Even the "hello" greeting there ("Kumesta"), obviously came from the Spanish way of saying "how are you ?". 73 and Good Listening, (Rick Barton, El Mirage, AZ, Cumbre DX via DXLD) PERU - 6059.99, tentatively Aroma Café Radio. Again heard weakly this morning 1/20. Am now becoming very confident this is indeed the new one in Distrito de Pichanaki, Provincia Cajamarca [sic, corrected below], Dpto. de Junín. No ID yet but the "fit" is becoming strong. As previously noted, signed on late, well after 1100. Fading in and out and very poor modulation. Need ECSS to copy decently. Today seemed to "fade up" (as if transmitter being warmed up and modulation being cranked up) about 1114, when heard with OM announcements in Spanish. Seemed "en eco" and perhaps this was the opening. Very noisy today and poor signal, but clearly noting yipping YL and fragments of OA folklórica music thru to 1123, when big QRM carrier blotted out the Peruvian. Have only today noted that Pedro Arrunátegui in his initial logs of this new one, also measured to a precision frequency of 6059.99 -- same as I independently determined (I was previously unaware of this). By the way, stuck around to ID the QRMing station and indeed, it is CRI with their Tagalog program. Very small window for DXers to bag this one during local mornings. I expect this should come in nicely down in South Florida, etc. Alfred Cañote in Lima has emailed this morning to indicate he, too, is quite sure that this logging is of the new Peruvian. Aroma Cafe Radio, pls note that Distrito de Pichanaki is in Provincia de Chanchamayo (not Cajamarca as previously indicated), in the Departamento de Junín. Good luck to all going after this, as we seem to have a short window within which this one is available, bounded by 1100++ s/on time and by the arrival of overwhelming co-channel QRM 1120a-1129! Anyone know if this station has any affiliation with the Café Perú social welfare organization? (Ralph Perry, Wheaton, Illinois, Jan 20, Drake R8B; Japan Radio NRD-545; Eton E1; Hallicrafters SX100; Knightkit Star Roamer, Dentron Super Tuner + Ameco PLF-2 + Palomar P-408 + customized (tropical bands) Quantum Phaser antenna unit, Longwires (150' + 100'); Tuned Multi-Turn 20" Small Loop; Single-Turn Coax Loop., dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6059.959, Aroma Café Radio, (presumed), 2345-2359 Jan 23, Noted a male and female in Spanish conversation. Was barely audible with QRM and other interference causing problems. At 2358 noted second/new station, Radio Havana Cuba, coming on the air, blasting me away. It just played piano music over and over drowning out my Aroma (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston FL, Excalibur, 26N 081W, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6059.99, Aroma Cafe Radio: Here you can listen to their call: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wg3shImS9C0 (Thomas Nilsson, Sweden, SW Bulletin Jan 22 via DXLD) Yes, clear mention of Aroma Café Radio at :12, but what language is that by the woman following, same station or QRM? Sounds Portuguese- influenced. And by whom was this recorded and where? Clip says Jan 13 at 1129 UT, from ``2010 DFS`` in Shimane, Japan; and linx to another longer one, from ``LAzanmai`` Jan 9 at 2025 JST, so that one must be also from Japan at 1125 UT. I don`t get it, why all this anonymity on YouTube? (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** PERU. CQ, CQ, CQ; Aquí Pedro F. Arrunátegui para compartir algo con los que disfrutan y aman el DX latinoamericano, todas las horas son UTC, desde la tierra de los incas, les informo mediante este Quipus lo siguiente: 790.00, R.P.P., Trujillo, La Libertad 3/01 0500-0530, 22222, new ID “Yo quiero enviar un saludo a los amigos de Radio Programas del Perú” px La hora satelital en // 730 AM de Lima 979.98, R. Primavera, Chiclayo, Lambayeque, 9/01 mxf huayno… NOTA: verificando el QTH durante el apoyo a un amigo finlandés: detecto que la estación no se encuentra en la ciudad de Huancayo como la reporté en Octubre donde por su música y el directorio del MTC, puse el QTH. Después de varios días y consulta con Facebook y telefónica, encuentro el teléfono de la estación: 51-074-498762; conversé con el señor Humberto Neyra quien me comunicó el QTH de la estación: Alfonso Ugarte 721, quinto piso, Chiclayo. Así mismo conversamos sobre el hobby que realizamos y de los diversos correos que recibirá. Cabe indicar que número telefónico que esté colocado en el Facebook no corresponde al que contacté con ellos. 3329.50, R. Ondas del Huallaga, Huánuco, 5/01 0958-1030, 33333, ads Agro Falcón, lo mejor en la agricultura, ID “Ondas del Huallaga, cubertura total…” 4747.10, R. Huanta 2000, Huanta, 23/01 1021-1045, 55555, ads, ahora llegaron los jueves de los patas con Pilsen Callao, programa en quechua y español ID “Lo mejor de la trova solo está en radio Huanta 2000”, música folklórica, Slogan “Trasmite desde la bella esmeralda de los Andes en los 4755 kHz, OAZ5B banda internacional de 60 metros onda corta, OBX5O 1160 kHz onda media y OACC5A [sic] 92.9 FM Estéreo Radio Huanta 2000” NOTA: anteriormente la reporte en 4747.40. 4774.95, R. Tarma. Tarma, Junín, 20/01 1134-1204, 44444, programa Noticiero El Demoledor, ID “A través de Radio Tarma Internacional…” news ID “En Radio Tarma.” 4826.35, R. Sicuani, Cusco, 23/01 0950-1016, 33333, mv [male voice] en quechua, música folklórica huayno, ID “Radio Sicuani, 18 horas al día y 7 días a la semana, más información, es su compañía hoy..” música folklórica huayno, ID “Radio Sicuani, http://www.radiosicuani.org.pe/ música folklórica y ads en quechua. NOTA: Sugiero escuchar la grabación [¿?]con audífonos para un mejor entendimiento 4955.00, R. Cultural Amauta, Huanta, Ayacucho, 22/01 2210-2245, 55555, programa religioso, ID “Desde la bella esmeralda de los Andes, Radio Cultural Amauta” 4974.75, Pacífico Radio, 14/01 1128-1145, 44444, música religiosa, ID “Pacífico Radio, ahora está en Facebook programa La Biblia Dice. 5024.90, R. Quillabamba, Cusco, 20/01 1105-1130, 44444, programa Panorama Mundial, news, ID “Por Radio Quillabamba”. 5039.15, R. Libertad, Junín, 9/01 1105-1155, 33333, ads, Pollería Kikiriki, los mejores pollos a la brasa, música folklórica huayno, ID “Ellos no dejan a Radio Libertad” 6173.90, R. Tawuantisuyo, Cusco, 24/01 1036-1106, 55555, programa Informativo el pueblo news, ID “A través de Radio Tawuantisuyo”, news, ID “Trasmitiendo por Radio Tawuantisuyo desde Cusco y a todo el Perú…” música folklórica huayno La recepción la he efectuado del 3/01 al 24/01 en compañía de mi sabueso Icom IC R72 acompañado del Mizuho KX-3, una grabadora Alesis Palm Track, una antena de hilo largo de 15 metros y una antena loop. Muchos 128´s PFA. NOTA: Amigos, no tengo inconveniente que la información del Chasqui DX PFA que reporto se comparta en el mundo del DX, les agradeceré que siempre ponga la fuente de información (Pedro F. Arrunátegui, Jan 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also BOLIVIA ** PHILIPPINES. 9520, Jan 22 at 1429, English is only a continuity- announcement language at R. Veritas Asia, not worthy of any full broadcasts: as I tune in, jazz music with ID as from Quezon City, introducing Telugu to follow, and starting that at 1430. Sufficient signal here, far afield from the target area, vs no signal from Indonesia 9526v (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES. 9355, Jan 24 at 1506, strong S9+22 open carrier with some flutter, brief breaks at 1509 and 1511, off at 1512*. Must have been IBB Tinang tuning up for the 1530-1630 VOA Burmese broadcast due west. Another check of how well IBB Tinang manages to change frequencies from 9555 to 9760, Korean to English, at 1500, Jan 22: 9555 cuts off at 1459* with announcement still in progress. 9760 cuts on at *1500:10, missing only a few sex of the news --- trouble is, when they hustle to do it that quickly, the #2 transmitter dumps off the air again, and that`s exactly what happened again today; back on, apparently to stay, at *1501:10 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES. Probably -- on remote Tokyo SDR unit noted again the DZFM relay of PBS Radyo Magasin, Quezon City-Marulas in Filipino language on odd 9580.178 kHz drifted to 9580.208 kHz at 0355 UT Jan 23, S=4 poor just above threshold (Wolfgang Büschel, during a `blackout`, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES. 15190, Radyo Pilipinas, 1811 Tagalog and some English, man interviewing a woman about air quality monitoring in urban centres. Fair-good. Jan 20 (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening lakeside, from my car, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna on the roof, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 17700, R. Pilipinas/VOP, 0216-0240 & 0330*, Jan 23. Above the norm with almost good reception; “Dateline Malacañang”; “Mindanao Update”; many IDs along with wish for “a very Happy New Year”; PBS News; National Anthem at sign off. Excellent coverage of local news; http://www.box.com/s/hvzhu49mcqoa27ohjc60 has a six minute MP3 audio clip (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PITCAIRN. NCDXF PRESS RELEASE. Kip, W6SZN, NCDXF Secretary, sent out the following press release on January 16th: "NCDXF ANNOUNCES GRANT TO VP6T PITCAIRN ISLAND DXPEDITION – The Northern California DX Foundation is pleased to announce a contribution of 6,000 USDs to the VP6T Pitcairn Island DX-pedition. The operation will take place from January 20th to February 4th, 2012. Pitcairn Island is No. 41 on the DX Magazine's Most Wanted List for 2011. Five veteran DXpeditioners anticipate more than 30,000 QSOs and plan to have three stations on the air around the clock on nine bands. A special effort will be made to work Europe and the U.S. East Coast. The group and the HK0NA DXpedition have coordinated operating frequencies to avoid mutual interference. For the past 40 years the NCDXF has funded major DXpeditions to many Most Wanted countries. The credit for these large grants goes to the NCDXF contributors who make DX like this possible. Have you contributed yet? " VP6, PITCAIN [sic] ISLAND. After a three day sail, the team of five operators are now active as VP6T from Pitcain [sic] Island (IOTA OC- 044, WFF GFF-053) until February 4th. They arrived on the island on Friday, around 1700z, January 20th. Their activity will be on 160-10 meters CW, SSB and RTTY, and giving this extremely rare entity to deserving DXers on as many bands as possible, especially on the lower bands. QSL via G3XF, direct or by the Bureau, LoTW and OQRS. More details are available on their Web site at: http://www.vp6t.org LAST MINUTE UPDATE: They have begun uploading QSOs to LoTW (Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 1046, January 23, 2012, Editor Tedd Mirgliotta, KB8NW, Provided by BARF80.ORG (Cleveland, Ohio), Relayed this week from Murfreesboro, TN, via Dave Raycroft, ODXA yg via DXLD) Also a letter dropped on the QSL route - it's via Nigel G3TXF (Don Moman, AB, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Heard them on 10 meters last night. Weak but readable. They're working split. Usually listening +5 or 10 kHz and transmitting on the lower frequency. Most hams (not all) are abiding. No content at all, strictly boring call sign after call sign (Walt in Victoria, BC, Salmaniw, ibid.) ** PRIDNESTROVYE. 927 / 2169 intermodulations MOLDOVA [separate PRIDNESTROVYE] At this hour 05-06 UT Jan 20 noted Grigoriopol spurious signal on 927 and 2169 kHz, as reported by Patrick Robic, Austria, in A-DX ng on Jan 16 too. Fundamentals are 621 and 1548 kHz at Maiac, Grigoriopol in Moldova. ID noted as Golos Rossii program. Intermodulation on 927 kHz hit heavily by ERA2 program from Zakinthous Greece. 1548 plus/minus 621 kHz = 2169 / 927 kHz (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PRIDNESTROVYE. 7290, MOLDOVA (PRIDNESTROVIE), Radio PMR, 1834 English. Lengthy news items with music bridges, 1842 ending news with address, mention that broadcast is Monday-Friday, 1843 “This is Radio Pridnestrovie on the air”, into music. Poor. Jan 20 (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening lakeside, from my car, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna on the roof, Editor of World English Survey and Target Listening, available at http://www.odxa.on.ca dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PUERTO RICO. 1660, WGIT, Canóvanas JAN 8 1015 - Strong signal with announcements by man and many mentions of Puerto Rico (Mike Beu KD5DSQ, Austin TX; Drake R8B, 17 x 28-ft terminated Delta at 40 , 7 x 14-ft Mini-Flag at 110 , NRC IDXD Jan 20 via DXLD) SIN MATERIALIZARSE LA VENTA DE LA EMISORA WIAC --- JUNTA DE DIRECTORES DE LA EMISORA RECHAZA TRANSACCIÓN CON LA EMISORA NOTILUZ 1660AM Por Jonathan Lebrón Ayala / jonathan.lebron @ elnuevodia.com Un 'tweet' de Ray Cruz ha generado un efecto dominó desestabilizando al personal de la emisora WIAC, que opera bajo el nombre comercial Boricua 740 AM. La información comenzó a tomar fuerza luego de que varios talentos de la radioemisora realizaran expresiones en sus espacios informativos sobre la alegada fusión con la emisora Notiluz 1660AM. Sin embargo, fuentes consultadas por ELNUEVODIA.COM, aseguran que la transacción no se ha materializado. La Junta de Directores que preside el periodista Luis Penchi, fue convocada esta noche para discutir varios asuntos, entre ellos las expresiones que Cruz y los talentos hicieran durante la tarde. Según las fuentes, se piensa que el ex directivo de WIPR, está utilizando la opinión pública para ejercer presión a la empresa mediática. No obstante, se conoció que al finalizar la reunión, la Junta ha desautorizado cualquier expresión en torno a la venta de la emisora. Además, se desconoce las consecuencias legales que podría generar este dilema debido a que WIAC mantiene un contrato con Boricua 740. Exempleados llegaron hasta la emisora Según publicara la agencia de noticias Inter News Service (INS), hasta exempleados habían llegado para conocer sobre el dinero que se les adeuda hace meses por las terminaciones de sus trabajos junto a los actuales trabajadores del medio de comunicación. Desde Enero, Cruz se encuentra inmerso en su proyecto Notiluz. Esta emisora que transmite en el cuadrante 1660AM. Es conocido por varios directivos de la industria, que el ejecutivo anda en busca de expandir su cadena radial realizando ofrecimientos a varias emisoras radiales del País. De hecho, la versión electrónica del semanario la Perla del Sur, publicó varias impresiones del ejecutivo radial que apuntan a que había obtenido el control de la emisora y su cadena. WIAC es propiedad de Alan Mejías, sin embargo, desde hace dos años es operada mediante un contrato de alquiler con opción a compra, por un grupo de inversionistas bajo el nombre comercial de Boricua 740. FUENTE: http://bit.ly/zCx2RO Sitio Web: http://www.boricua740.com/ (((ESCUCHAR))) http://www.ustream.tv/channel/boricua-740 (Via Yimber Gaviria, Colombia, DXLD) 940 PUERTO RICO WIPR, San Juan JAN 2 0200 - Canned ID that included "...Magistral AM..." in midst of old-fashionned Spanish tropical grooves; mention of San Juan and of Puerto Rico. Fairly good / often armchair / minimal fading. As expected, the mid-band signals are fading a bit more often than those on the low-end of the MW band, but the fades are never really deep. Felt asleep listening to this one on the Sanyo CFS-3000 / Select-A-Tenna combo. That's it for now! May the good DX be with you! (Bogdan Chiochiu, DXing mostly, but not only, from Pierrefonds (Montreal's West Island), QC, HCDX via DXLD) ** ROMANIA. Winners of the Radio Romania International competition “Busteni- the Jewel in the Foothills of the Caraiman Peak”: 20 honorable mentions [. . .] Grand Prize: Cristina Russo and Giulio Pagani, a couple from Genoa, Italy. Edith and Claude Unsinger of Strasbourg, France. . . http://www.rri.ro/art.shtml?lang=1&sec=8&art=212772 (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. 6074, since I just woke up in time, checking Jan 25 at 1259 for 8GAL or 2MTL V/CQ marker from Russian army in the wake of R. Rossii, 6075, Pet/Kam signing off at 1300. Final timesignal as usual some six seconds late, and carrier stays on a bit longer, but no trace of the CW. However, starting about 1302:15 there may have been some imagination-level CW (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA [and non]. Voice of Russia's Spanish service surprised me with very poor propagating signal ON ODD FREQUENCY 9474.932 kHz! from Dushanbe Orzu TJK relay at 0430 UT Jan 23. S=5 weak signal on very poor propagation condition from Asia this morning, some sunspot flares predicted. \\ report on MIR space station to save energia there, as well as program for DXistas, Clube de Oyentes - phone in by SWL listener from Canary Islands, odd Moscow transmitter 7210.710 kHz S=9+20dB, \\ Gavar relays 9765 and 7440 kHz, both strong from Armenia at S=9+30dB level (Wolfgang Büschel, during a `blackout`, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9865, Jan 21 at 1450, OC and Russian tones, 1507 song, 1508 Russian announcement, instrumental music. Not in latest HFCC, but Aoki shows it as V. of Russia in Russian from Moscow site at 1500. Updated VOR sked from Wolfgang Büschel in DXLD 12-03 shows site is instead Grigoriopol, Moldova = Kishinov, PRIDNESTROVYE (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11830, 22/Jan 2206, VOR, in English. OM and YL talking animatedly between laughs, a characteristic of this transmission in English. Well unlike the broadcast in Portuguese to Brazil that inspires tedium. 25432 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, 12 14´S, 38 58´W - Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. 29080, 1415 22/1, Voice of Russia, Harmonic 7270 x 4, Turkish, reports, ID, fair (Giampiero Bernardini, Winradio Excalibur Pro, Ant: t2fd 15 m long, Milano, playdx yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DXLD) site Moscow per HFCC (gh, DXLD) ** RUSSIA [and non]. Voice of Russia feeds to Germany messed up again While implementing these changes Voice of Russia again messed up its feeds to Germany, as happened already a couple of times. Rescheduled Kurdish 1500-1600 now ends up on 630/693/1323/1431, // 5945 and 7215, instead of scheduled German. Beyond this German is scheduled 1700-1900 also for 1323, but instead now Russian goes out instead, at least followed by scheduled French from 1900. And this situation presumably persists for almost three weeks now. How can this happen again and again? Is it too uncommon for Voice of Russia engineers that the transmitters in Germany are unattended and just broadcast the audio from the once specified satellite channel, so these channels can not be used for any feeds of other programming to other transmitter sites? (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Jan 19, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Let's hope it's not some kind of media assistance to Roj TV that just lost its main satellite. I hope someone already wrote to VoR about this issue. 73, (Sergei S., Jan 20, ibid.) ** RUSSIA. I believe starting this year, VoR launched its "multi-media broadcast channel": http://player.streamtheworld.com/liveplayer.php?CALLSIGN=RUVR_LIVE_VIDEO Basically, it's a video channel that consists of different pre- recorded (not live!) video shots of Moscow: Red Square, various churches, Stalin's skyscrapers, people on the streets, etc. Sometimes they even show VoR's building but you wouldn't recognize it unless you know how the surroundings look. The purpose of this channel isn't very clear to me. 73, (Sergei S., Jan 20, ibid.) ** RUSSIA [and non]. 27185, 1058 22/1, Two eastern stations: one Samara Meteo with male voice giving meteo info in Russian. Another female voice giving continuous info pronouncing several times "Ukraìne". QRM from other Russian activities. fair/good (Giampiero Bernardini, Winradio Excalibur Pro, Ant: t2fd 15 m long, Milano, playdx yg via DXLD) Will share their observations of the range 27 MHz during December of last year. Well passed the city of Siberia - Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk. As a rule heard taxi drivers of long-distance truck drivers. It is interesting passage was December 3, at a frequency of 27200. The operator of the Chui valley works with the driver somewhere near Krasnoyarsk, all of this comments on some poor young man. Audio recording posted here: http://www.4shared.com/mp3/LtPlXRBS/27200.html A unique passage was December 23, at a frequency of 27185. Well I could hear how it works the Moscow Rescue Service with the information for drivers on the traffic conditions in the area of the third ring road. At the same time on the channel he worked as an informer of the Nizhny Novgorod Auto Radio Channel. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPoCgkQ4nSo (Oleg, Southern Primorye, Russia / "open_dx") via RusDX via DXLD) There have been several reports from Europe of these Russian communications on 27185 --- a frequency totally blocked in North America as the #1 most active CB channel, for calling, whenever there is any skip (gh, DXLD) ** SAINT KITTS [and non]. ZIZ St. Kitts --- If anyone on the east coast is still awake: At this moment, 0455 UT, 25 January 2012, ZIZ National Broadcasting Corp. of St. Kitts and Nevis is coming in with a fair signal on 555 kHz in English relaying the BBC. There is a local ID on the hour and they are scheduled to switch back to local programming at 0600 UT [sic, means 0500?], according to their website. Caught the local ID on the hour. QRM from 550 as well as 560 kHz, heavy at times, but this is here and DX-able! Also check 526 for NDB ZLS from Stella Maris airport in the Bahamas which is also booming in here at the same time with bad QRM from CIAO 530 out of Toronto. 73 (Al Muick, Whitehall PA USA. WinRadio G303e and Wellbrook ALA1530P active loop, 0505 UT Jan 25, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SARAWAK [non]. 15560, 1003, TAJIKISTAN, Radio Free Sarawak via Dushanbe, good signal 5/1 with frequent idents in Malay. Some splatter from strong 15570 station (Bryan Clark at Mangawhai, New Zealand, with AOR7030+ and Alpha Delta Sloper, EWEs to NE, E and SE, plus various 100 metre BOGs to the Americas, Jan NZ DX Times via DXLD) Does the more recently reported 15420 via PALAU replace 15560 or add to it? (gh, DXLD) 17560, Radio Free Sarawak via Dushanbe very good & steady signal, 1047 UT 13 Jan. Frequent idents as “Radio Free Sarawak” (pronounced as Sara-wah). NF ex 15560 (Bryan Clark, visiting Singapore with Sony 7600G and short wire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re 12-03, RFS on new 15420: Hi Tudor, Per Aoki, dated Jan 19, is via Palau: ``15420 Radio Free Sarawak 1000-1200 1234567 Iban 100 270 Koror PLW`` (Ron Howard, San Francisco, Calif., Jan 19, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Ron, You're right. I had the Jan. 17 version of Aoki schedules. If it's Palau this means the signal travelled some 10780 km to my QTH. :) 73s, (Tudor, Romania, ibid.) This explains why the signal came good here. The signals from Palau are coming good here, in most of the day. 73 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana BA - Brasil, 12 14´S 38 58´W, ibid.) ** SAUDI ARABIA. 9714.929, BSKSA Riyadh's HQ service, female phone-in interview at 0350 UT Jan 22, S=6-7 fluttery signal, only non-direction corner reflector antenna to around ARS (Wolfy df5sx wwdxc, Wolfgang Büschel at 0419 UT Jan 22, using Victor Goonetilleke`s Perseus in Sri Lanka, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9555, B.S.K.S.A. 1844 Arabic. Songs, 1845 ID, program intro with soft music, into what sounded like a drama. Good, // 9870 also good. Jan 20 (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening lakeside, from my car, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna on the roof, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SERBIA [non]. RADIO SERBIA INTERNATIONAL OFF SCHEDULE TONIGHT I tuned in Radio Serbia International on 6190, early this evening (0130 - Jan. 26) to see how well they were broadcasting and found the English news already in progress. They continued to broadcast their usual program and abruptly signed off at 0147. Then they signed right back on in Serbian. Instead of 0130, they must have begun the English program about 0117 (Stan Schmitt, Evansville IN, WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SINGAPORE. 17860, Voice of Croatia via Kranji relay excellent with Croatian pop songs 0840 14 Jan (Bryan Clark, visiting Singapore with Sony 7600G and short wire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOLOMON ISLANDS. 5020a, SIBC Honiara poor but clear in Pidgin 1130 14 Jan (Bryan Clark, visiting Singapore with Sony 7600G and short wire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOMALIA [non]. 11970, 23/Jan 2029, UAE, Radio Damal, in Somali. Pop Somali music. At 2030 OM and YL talk, several references to Somalia. QRM unidentified. 33433 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, 12 14´S, 38 58´W - Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH AFRICA. The Radio Pulpit relay from Johannesburg has stopped in Cape Town on 729 kHz from beginning of January 2012 (John Plimmer, Montagu, Cape Province, South Africa, Jan 18, mwdx yg via DXLD) It seems we caught this at the right time from Newfoundland Canada at the DXped. Will this be returning, perhaps on a different freq? 73 KAZ (Neil Kazaross, ibid.) Neil, good catch! No it's off air, they had a temporary license only and it they come on air again it will be on the same frequency (John Plimmer, Montagu, Cape Province, South Africa, ibid.) ** SOUTH AFRICA. South African Radio League, 4895 Meyerton. Jan 23, 2012, Monday. 1802-1825. Talking about SA's bid for the Square Kilometer Array, a new radio telescope. Also mentions of the Meerkat telescope which is currently under construction. Typical South African own-trumpet blowing. ID at 1815 "Amateur Radio Today" then on to other radio-related topics. Apparently a repeat of Sunday's transmission. Generally strong but some deep fades and distortion, unlike SW Radio Africa three channels down on 4880. Occasionally unreadable as a result. Jo'burg sunset 1704 (Bill Bingham, RSA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH AFRICA. 7285, Jan 21 at 0358 `Whiter Shade of Pale`, how appropriate from this Afrikaaner service, R. Sonder Grense, its subtle theme? 0500 time signal 1 second late, presumed news in Afrikaans. Fair signal, much weaker than 7275 Tunisia (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH AFRICA [and non]. Jan 23 at 0626 when I am hearing Brasil on 25 and 31m, I also check 19m, and find it open from Africa and Pacific, but no 15190. 15255 with Channel Africa, 15400 with BBC also from South Africa, and 15580 VOA Botswana; plus Australia audible on 15240, 15160, but no Nigeria on 15120; is it really on at +05-07+? Noel Green and others were hearing unID ``Afropops`` from 1130 on 15120, and still past 1500 mixing with VON --- maybe a test of VON`s new Abuja site conflicting with the old Ikorodu. Alan Penninigton measured the unID on 15119.85 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN [and non]. 6125, REE with music that for all the world sounded like Spanish step dancing tunes (really!) and YL announcer in Spanish between songs. Bizarrely compelling stuff. Clear REE ID at :24 and into more of the Scottish/Irish/Spanish music complete with Bagpipes in this piece! After the BoH they went into more varieties of stuff, but still with an ‘ethnic’ theme. One piece sounded like New Orleans Jazz, another like a traditional Russian folk tune and a third sounded Arabic. Most interesting stuff! // 9620 was in OK 3+53+43+ this channel and // 9535 were a little better both at 3+5444 2315-2355 14/Jan (Kenneth Vito Zichi, Williamston MI, MARE Tipsheet Jan 20 via DXLD) 5965, Jan 20 at 0632, REE COSTA RICA relay is absent; normally runs until 0800 on this frequency unlike the other two, 3350 and 9675 which close at 0600. In previous seasons this would have uncovered Vatican, but it`s no longer on 5965 at all; nothing from Brasil either as in Aoki. 7435, Jan 22 at 1358 past 1359, checking for REE IS on this // to 7220 Kunming where CRI nonsensically plays it before 1400 Nepali --- but no, just continuing music which may have been V. of Vietnam-1 as scheduled before and after 1400 on 7435. Quick retune to 7220 found REE IS at 1359, but very poor reception today. See also CHINA 15110, Jan 23 at 2040, REE usual very strong signal direct, is crackling on fundamental, and splattering out to +/- 21 kHz, i.e. 15089-15131, corresponding to modulation peaks, at the moment during sports coverage, likely calcio, with an Italian trying to speak Castilian. Noblejas, please adjust your transmitters (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SRI LANKA. 11750, SLBC? 1815 21/1 Sri Lanka. Although listed as Sinhala, language seemed to me Hindi. Plays of Tamil type music. At 1822 with web address slbc.org Sudden s/off 1830. S9, 44533 (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, ICOM R75 / 2x16 V / m@h40 heads Sennheiser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SRI LANKA. 15745, 24/Jan 0114, No signal from SLBC Sri Lanka. I also did not find in other radio remote. Now, at 0147, in 15745, the SLBC with old American music. At 0152 OM talk in English. Signal 35433 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana BA - Brasil, 12 14´S 38 58´W, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN. 7200, Omdurman 2039 21/1 with HoA music. YL with talks in Arabic with many mentions also of Darfur and Sudan. At 2053 back to songs. A signal of S9 max but low modulation (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, ICOM R75 / 2x16 V / m@h40 heads Sennheiser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN [non]. UKRAINE, 9940, Miraya FM radio operated by the UNMISS - United Nations Mission in Sudan in partnership with Fondation Hirondelle, a Swiss non governmental organization, heard via Mykolaiev Ukraine relay site towards South Sudan at 0554 UT Jan 21. Scheduled at 03-06 UT daily. S=9 signal, phone in report from Sudan about International Red Cross' children`s aid service (Wolfgang Büschel,l Jan 21, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 24 via DXLD) ** SUDAN SOUTH [non]. 7315, Jan 21 at 0426, `HoA` music, 0627 IDs as R. Tamazuj (sounds more like Tamázuy), fair, squeezed by 7320 Russia. 0428 mentions some kHz, ID again at sign off; 0429 without break, R. Dabanga song takes over; neither audible on // 11940. 7315 is 135 degrees from Issoudun, FRANCE for both; 11940 scheduled to switch from Madagascar to Issoudun (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN SOUTH [non]. 17745, Jan 21 at 1524 I am checking whether Sudan Radio Service is again in English during this hour on Saturday instead of Arabish: soul song in English; 1528 English ID with totally confused `change of schedule` announcement I heard two weeks ago in UT+3; she says 6-8 pm on 9840 near 10 on your dial, change in the last hour, the rest the same, 7-9 am on 13720, 6-8 pm on 17745 near 18, and the last hour on 9840. But when is this ``last hour``, exactly? Does that mean 17-18 after the 15-17 on 17745? Or is 9840 still used in the mornings? Anyhow, 17745 via UK still in English on our Saturday mornings: 1530 feature about ethnic representation in government, ``The Road to Peace`` as in dentro-promo at 1533, but I think still claiming to be on Wednesdays. After 1545 it was mostly music; 1559 strumming and ID into another language (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWAZILAND. 4775, Jan 21 at 0347 weak talk in tonal-sounding language, noticed after 4780 lost Djibouti [q.v.]: is TWR in Lomwe at 0342-0357, 50 kW at 3 degrees from Manzini. Contends with weak bonker nearby. After 0400 switches to German, 233 degrees toward Namibia (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWITZERLAND. QSL: HEB BernRadio, 13025.5, f/d antenna/logo card in 145 days for English report and US $2.00 and follow up via email. V/s. Michael Zesigner. Follow-up was sent to info(dot)broadcasting(at)swisscom(dot)com but Michael Zesiger can be reached at michael(dot)zesiger(at)swisscom(dot)com It would seem they may have sent an original card, but Michael jokes "Your first QSL was maybe 'Lost in Space.'" It would seem that utility stations are much better QSLers than broadcast stations these days. It has been like pulling teeth to get QSLs out of broadcast stations, and recordings, while great, just don't do it for me. I think it is having something tangible to put up on the wall that makes me collect QSLs. After all, if you show your grandchildren or friends nice cards and letters you have received from far away, they are more apt to take interest than they would if you played them a crackling MP3 where they might just barely hear a station ID in a language they may not understand. This is especially the case, if they have no knowledge about DXing whatsoever. I had to laugh at Michael Zesiger's comment about the QSL being "lost in Space." I appreciate a good sense of humor, and am very happy that he was nice enough to re-send the QSL. BTW, this is a very nice card, so if you do happen to catch them, it is well worth the effort. Have a great weekend, everyone! 73 (Al Muick, Whitehall, PA USA, Jan 21, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SYRIA. 9330, 19/Jan 2202, R Damascus, in Spanish. YL with ID. Good signal, but the modulation is very low, hindering the listening, as usual. 45442 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, 12 14´S, 38 58´W - Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9330, R Damascus, 1655 21/1 has a strange problem with its signal with a repeating on-off signal all the time I listened (about 5 minutes) (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, ICOM R75 / 2x16 V / m@h40 heads Sennheiser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN. 14700, Sound of Hope (presumed), 1316-1334, Jan 20. Seemed to be them in Chinese with many phone calls; poor (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) The radio station known as radio “Sound of Hope” and broadcasting from Taiwan to China was heard on 9 January from 0900 h on 17920 and from 1000 on 14970, 16100 and 17920 kHz (Compiled by Rumen Pankov, R. Bulgaria DX program Jan 20 via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) Was there any Firedrake? (gh, DXLD) See also CHINA QSL Sound of Hope 7105 kHz + adesivo in 33 giorni. Si 1 IRC. Address : 6-4, Lane 84, Guo Tai st. - North Dist - Taichung 404 - Taiwan http://asia-cast.com/shortwave-broadcasts/ Roberto Pavanello (via Dario Monferini, Jan 24, playdx yg via DXLD) That website is a proposal by Allen Zeng, Palo Alto, to upgrade SOH to a ``Radio Free China`` (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) 14970, 24/Jan 2004, SOH (PRESUMED) in Chinese. OM talk. Already tuned here at other times, with the signal better. 25332 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, 12 14´S, 38 58´W - Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN. 15285, Radio Taiwan International fair 0220 14 Jan with English commentary about ‘The Taiwan Miracle’ economic success story (Bryan Clark, visiting Singapore with Sony 7600G and short wire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN [and non]. THE LUNAR NEW YEAR ON RTI --- Join the hosts of Radio Taiwan International for a week-long celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year! Each day we bring you a taste of the holidays in our programs: [maybe some of the expired dates` programs are still available OD? Apparently not: podcasts do not include them, and individual program pages such as Jade Bells do not have audio linx, but tell us to listen to them anyway --- gh] Friday, Jan. 20 Sound Postcards: Andrew Ryan shares sounds associated with the Chinese New Year. Saturday, Jan. 21 Feast Meets West: Foods containing the Chinese word for dragon are featured in this edition of the Feast; Ellen Chu and Andrew Ryan also share some interesting facts about this mythical beast, which is the zodiac sign for the coming year. Sunday, Jan. 22 (New Year's Eve) Trends: Find out why a small neighborhood in Taiwan is suddenly seeing shoppers turning out in the thousands two weeks before the Chinese New Year. Made in Taiwan: Learn about Taiwanese nougats, "niu za tang", and why they're a popular treat during Chinese New Year. Monday, Jan. 23 (New Year's Day) CNY Encyclopedia: This is the first of five Chinese New Year Encyclopedias that will be featured in the daily news this week; learn about the Year of the Dragon, which officially begins today! Hear in Taiwan: Today, for New Year's Day, the hosts of Hear in Taiwan visit a Taipei hotel to partake in a traditional New Year feast. Soundwaves: Shirley Lin introduces songs that contain the Chinese character for "dragon" in honor of the Year of the Dragon. Chinese to Go: Huang Shihhan features the Chinese lesson: "Do you want dragon babies?" Tuesday, Jan. 24 CNY Encyclopedia: Learn about how married women traditionally visit their parents today, the second day of the new year holidays. Hear in Taiwan: Join the hosts of Hear in Taiwan for a look at how people celebrate the Lunar New Year. Wednesday, Jan. 25 CNY Encyclopedia: Learn about "Spring Couplets", which are pairs of propitious verses that people hang on their doorways during the lunar new year holiday. Hear in Taiwan: Find out how to wish your friends a Happy Year of the Dragon in Chinese. Plus, we'll bring you the story of the Mouse bride, which takes place on the third day of the Lunar New Year. Jade Bells and Bamboo Pipes: Carlson Wong shares a selection of Chinese New Year-related music. Thursday, Jan. 26 CNY Encyclopedia: Red envelopes containing money are a popular new year gift; learn more in today's Chinese New Year Encyclopedia. Hear in Taiwan: Find out about the top ten things you can see in Taiwan during the New Year holidays. Occidental Tourist: Wesley Holzer and Shirley Lin take a trip to Taipei's Dihua St., the lively shopping district where people stock up on New Year's goods. Friday, Jan. 27 CNY Encyclopedia: Learn about the basic rules of mahjong, and why it's such a popular game during the Chinese New Year. Hear in Taiwan: The hosts of Hear in Taiwan present the sounds of the Lunar New Year holidays. Saturday, Jan. 28 Feast Meets West: In this edition of the Feast, hosts Ellen Chu and Andrew Ryan feature a dish called Deep-fried Dragon Pearls. What could they be? We'll give you a hint: the "pearls" are part of a squid. SOURCE: http://english.rti.com.tw/thmeInfo4.aspx?tid=BEDEDB1A84FD0746 Frequencies: http://english.rti.com.tw/info.aspx?pid=D3C5BBCF8E60CF3D&cid=63377200539E3F94 [don`t you believe the 0500 on 6875 is in English --- as we have repeatedly reported, this hour has been in Chinese for several months, due to continuing inability of WYFR to put the right languages on the right frequency at the right time --- gh] (Via Yimber Gaviria, Colombia, Jan 22, noticiasdx yg via dxldyg Jan 23 via DXLD) 6875, Jan 24 at 0641, weird novelty sorta-rap song in Chinese with English words mixed, mainly refrain ``bye-bye`` (or is it ``bai- bai``?), ending with ``a shave and a haircut: two bits`` riff, so is it still the German service of RTI via WYFR, instead of scheduled Spanish? Yes, 0645 German outro by YL. Truly multi-cultural. 11995, Jan 25 at 0253, poor carrier here, and I can`t make out any modulation, during RTI`s Spanish service relay 02-03 via GUIANA FRENCH. Like WYFR relays, this has been problematic, but sometimes axually worx. Prompted by RTI schedule of special New Year programming all this week: rechecking what is happening with the scheduled WYFR relays: Jan 25 at 0238, RTI English is not only on scheduled 9680 and 5950, but also still on 9355, which is supposed to be in Spanish. [Please note the following change (effective 1 February 2012) to the WYFR B-2011 Schedule: Delete 9355 kHz, 0200-0300 UT, Zone 16, 160 degrees (Brenda, WYFR, Jan 23, WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX LISTENING DIGEST)] Jan 25 at 0315, 6875 is on RTI`s schedule grid as in English to WNAm, but it`s really in Chinese. Not rechecked tonight, but presumably the 04-05 broadcast on 6890 is still in Chinese instead of Spanish, making it // 6875. Jan 25 at 0620, 6875 is still in German instead of Spanish, starting `Kaleidoscop` program. Surprised at 0630 to hear the exact same ``bai- bai`` novelty song heard yesterday, ending with the ``a shave and a haircut, two bits`` riff. Are they playing back the same hour? No, last night it ran 10 minutes later. Maybe it`s the #1 song in Taiwan, so merits daily replays? Outro had M&W in German gabbing on for several minutes. Per German program grid, `Kaleidoscop` is a Tuesday show, so we Mexikaner (und nein) are getting it the next UT day, long after the evening in Europe times when German is supposed to air via other sites. The final program on the `Monday` schedule is `Hit Parade`, where the tune would have been more expected. I was looking for the `DX` program that someone had reported UT Wednesday around 0640, but it`s not on the schedule per se. However, the German homepage http://german.rti.org.tw/ has a link to ``DX Tips von Hans-Werner Lange (und Bernhard Seiser) with monthly mp3 files from December back to August, no presentation in text script, i.e. ``DX-Tipps von Hans Werner Lange in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Vorsitzenden des RTI-Hörerklub Ottenau, Bernd Seiser hören Sie jeden 4. Freitag im Monat im Hörerbriefkasten`` on the fourth Fridays within the mailbag show, which according to the grid occupies the last two- thirds of the `Friday` broadcasts; so the next one should be Jan 27+ (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15375, 23/Jan 1102, Fu Hsing BS, in Chinese (listed). OM and YL talk. With only 10 kW and signal not directed. At 1107 interviewing a man on the phone. 35433 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, 12 14´S, 38 58´W - Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Jorge, Please note per Aoki database (Jan 21): ``15375* R.FREE ASIA 1100-1200 1234567 Tibetan 500 75 Dhabbaya UAE`` Best regards, (Ron Howard, San Francisco, Calif., USA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAJIKISTAN. Tajik Radio from Dushanbe Yangi Yul site, local TJK/AFG type drums music on 4765.074 kHz, S=8-9 at 0322 UT Jan 23 (Wolfgang Büschel, during a `blackout`, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** THAILAND. 1575, VOA relay fair in English with news of Republican primaries at 2345 13 Jan // 7480 SW also fair. 15275, Radio Thailand, fair 0238 14 Jan with English report on Thai education, then trade report “on Radio Thailand’s News Magazine”. 15310, BBC World Service via Udorn relay site, poor-fair in English, 0712 18 Jan. Only English language station readable on 19 metres at this time (Bryan Clark, visiting Singapore with Sony 7600G and short wire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UGANDA. 4750.00, 1705-1715 19.01, Dunamis Broadcasting, Mukono, Kampala (presumed), vernacular talk, 25232 (Anker Petersen, Skovlunde, Denmark, on my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** UKRAINE. Recently, in the last 3 or 4 years, I was listening to Radio Ukraine on 7440, on a regular basis. They had nice music, news, and historical shows. Their 500 kW signal was LOUD here on the East Coast, but didn't bother to QSL or correspond. Now they're gone also! (Joe Smith, Jan 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. 12045, 21/Jan 1712, R Ibrahim, in Arabic. Arabic gospel music. At 1714 OM talk. At 1715 more Arabic gospel music, many mentions of Alleluia. At 1716 YL talk. Very weak signal. 73 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, 12 14´S, 38 58´W - Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [and non]. Re BBC - Babcock deal: Some history: In 1997, BBC World Service privatized its shortwave transmission operation, selling it to a group consisting laregly of its own engineers. The resulting company was called Merlin Communications. It owned the BBCWS shortwave sites in the UK, operated its relay sites abroad, and leased back transmitter time to BBCWS -- and to other stations. In 2001, Merlin was acquired by VT Group, reportedly yielding a nice profit for the ex-BBCWS engineers. In 2010, Babcock International acquired VT. An interesting aspect to this deal is that BBCWS has made clear that, because of its reduced budget and shifting media patters, it intends to reduce and eventually eliminate shortwave. The "six high-power sites" are, I think, at Ascension Island, Oman, Cyprus, Thailand, Singapore, and Seychelles (Kim Andrew Elliott, kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) ** U K [non?]. Right now at 2200 UT I am listening to BBC WS on 5940 kHz. Good signal here in Northern Romania. This transmission isn't listed in EiBi, Aoki, HFCC schedules or the BBC WS web site. 5940 should be from Limassol but not at this hour. Who knows, maybe they decided to throw again a SW signal over Europe? 73s, (Tudor Vedeanu, (Gura Humorului, Romania), Jan 23, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Zyyi CYP ends usually at 2100 UT. But at 0100 UT they use also 5940 kHz. Could be a hardware measurement test on TX or feeder/antenna gear, switch of the unit to 5940 channel, latter which to be used for 0100 UT start? Nothing heard here at 0045 UT. 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, ibid.) BBC WS is on again tonight at 2100 UT, on 5940 kHz, mixing with Voice of Russia in Portuguese. They've updated their SW schedules page. The broadcast on 5940 kHz is between 2100 and 2300 from Cyprus, beamed to East and South Africa. http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/schedules/frequencies/ (Tudor Vedeanu, (Gura Humorului, Romania), Jan 24, ibid.) Here predominance of Radio Guarujá, Brasil, on moderate mixing with other transmissions. 73 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana BA - Brasil, 12 14´S 38 58´W 2126 UT, Jan 24, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9740, Jan 24 at 1432, BBCWS via SINGAPORE with `Discovery`, first of two parts on depression --- does it serve any useful purpose, and if not, why haven`t we evolved out of it? Truncated show is already over at 1450, into `Foreign Correspondent` with two reports, on Syria, and on replanting lemon trees. Have they retitled FOOC? Outro still said `From Our Own Correspondent`. Maybe ``Foreign`` was really ``From Our Own`` slurred? Good signal here, better than // 11890, 6195, 5875, not // 5975 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. "BBC local radio to be reprieved" 25 January 2012 --- BBC Radio 4 News just reported that Lord Patten, BBC Trust chairman, is expected to ask the Director General today to mitigate £15m cuts that would have led to less programmes, and job losses. Horray! Most stations are streamed online with many overseas listeners (Mike Terry, England, Jan 25, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) BBC TRUST OPPOSES LOCAL RADIO CUTS The BBC’s controversial proposed cuts to local radio stations across England have met opposition from the corporation’s governing body, the BBC Trust. Trust chairman Lord Patten is expected to ask management to go back to the drawing board with its plans to cut £15m from the budget of the BBC’s 40 local radio stations, which if implemented would lead to the loss of 280 jobs. This proposal prompted thousands of complaints, more than for any other part of BBC director general Mark Thompson’s Delivering Quality First (DQF) initiative to save £700m a year. The BBC Trust, which met to discuss the cost-saving proposals last Thursday, is keen to reduce the level of the cuts and is said to be particularly concerned by the proposal for neighbouring BBC local stations to share afternoon programmes. Read more from The Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/jan/23/bbc-trust-opposes-local-radio-cuts (January 23rd, 2012 - 11:10 UTC by Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog via DXLD) 3 Comments on “BBC Trust opposes local radio cuts” #1 lou josephs on Jan 23rd, 2012 at 21:21 Looks like the trust is interested in replacing the DG, as they are advertising for a replacement; very interesting, poltics #2 Andy Sennitt on Jan 23rd, 2012 at 21:53 Mark Thompson has been DG since 2004, a relatively long time. He will remain in office at least until after the Olympics. Lord Patten says ‘he can stay as long as he wants’. His wife is American so there’s speculation he’ll move to the US. I suspect he already has something lined up. His successor will be paid a lot less as the BBC continues to reduced its corporate wage bill. #3 Anthony on Jan 24th, 2012 at 07:32 I think BBC Local Radio should stay as it is. I don’t like programme sharing; the loss of local content would create a similar situation to independent local radio(or should that be media group radio as it currently is because nobody runs their own affairs anymore in the UK), it’s all media group owned these days and all the worse for it. The Tories are responsible for local radio and TV’s demise with the 1990 Broadcasting Act causing the breakup of the IBA and the allowing of group players to buy out as many local radio stations as they could to create inferior national branding (Media Network blog comments via DXLD) ** U S A. [Re BRAZIL, trying to hear 10000 PPE without blockage]: Seems that WWV/H have fewer atonal minutes than before, facilitating DX of other STFT outlets. Anyone have a schedule of when they are? WWV is not even mentioned on the homepage http://www.nist.gov/index.html which is what you get if you try for http://wwv.nist.gov as in WRTH. Instead you have to search, leading to all this info on the format: http://www.nist.gov/pml/div688/grp40/wwv_format.cfm 500, 600 and 440 Hz tones are used at various times, except no tones: None WWV 0, 8 to 10, 18, 29 to 30, 43 to 51, 59 None WWVH 0, 8 to 10, 14 to 19, 29 to 30 However, many of those minutes are occupied by voice announcements from one or the other, e.g. WWV propagation at 18-19, WWVH prop at 45- 46. It looks like all but the 43-51 WWV segment are occupied by voice announcements from WWV, but are they on WWVH? Above page has a clock for WWV only, not WWVH! As I was searching separately on WWVH I was diverted to a random survey. Except the Foresee Survey window told me to continue browsing the NIST site in the other window, and never came up with the survey. Until rechecked an hour later, and now it shows up. Trying again, there does not seem to be an equivalent page showing a circular clock format for WWVH, but a slightly different page also lacking the WWV one: http://www.nist.gov/pml/div688/grp40/iform.cfm (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Please tell me what you know about AFRTS (or whatever they call it now). I am keen on tuning in remote areas such as Diego Garcia, Guam, Midway, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Bases in the Far East. (Not much interest in Iceland. . .Brrrr!---Too Cold!) (Wendell Lloyd, Rockport, Texas 78382, primetimeshortwave yg via DXLD) Wendell, A lot of your questions could be answered by consulting the 2012 World Radio TV Handbook (subject to updating). Page 484 has info about AFN. The only SW outlets still on the air are from Saddlebunch Keys FL (called ``Key West``), Diego Garcia on 12759 and 4319 (rarely heard here), and Guam on 5765 (most mornings) and 13362, all USB. If you are looking for exotic local programming, forget it -- all they do is relay one of the satellite program feeds out of HQ in Los Angeles. 73 (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) Later, Wendell says he has ordered WRTH (gh) 7811-USB, Jan 25 at 0241, AFN is carrying Pres. Obama`s State of the Union speech, a few sex ahead of a TV network. I doubt that VOA or any private US SW station broadcast it, right? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, Wrong! Apparently live via VOA Botswana: 909 Selebi-Phikwe. Jan 25, 2012, Wednesday. *0300-0327. Yankee Doodle Dandy then straight into Barak Obama's State of the Union speech at *0300, without introduction (half way through, it was due to start at 4am local, i.e., 2 ut). Speech ended at 0316, "God Bless America". Followed by the talking heads with analysis. Good, at least whilst the crappy Chinese low energy light bulbs were off. If the lights were on, it was inaudible due to hiss and buzz. Jo'burg sunrise 0337 (Bill Bingham, RSA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) So VOA cut in and out of it depending on regular SW/MW transmitter usage from 0200 past 0300? Dis (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. 17655, Jan 22 at 1416, open carrier abutting Saudi French on 17660. Presumably Greenville tuning up for 1700 Portuguese broadcast on 17655. BTW, the 19 Jan edition of HFCC *still* has not been updated to show 17655 instead of 17650. Nor has Aoki. Is anyone paying attention to our monitoring reports? EiBi has moved 17650 to 17655 but only for the M-F 1800-1830 extension, still showing 17650 at 1700. [non]. 9705, Sunday Jan 22 at 1354, English lesson explained in Cantonese, ``to try your hand at``. Same thing repeated exactly one hour later on same. Aoki and HFCC show VOA Cantonese for both hours, 100 kW via Saipan, the first at 285 degrees, the second at 310 --- for Guangzhou immigrants further north in China? They are not significant enough to merit jamming (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 21/01/2012 1346 25910 WBAP Fort Worth, TX FM USA 111 px talk news fair (tentative ) QRM TAXI CIS 21/01/2012 1344 25990 KSCS Arlington,TX FM USA 233 Relay FM 96,3mhz country music fair QRM TAXI CIS Ciaooooooo (- Mauro - Giroletti, -Swl 1510- -IK2GFT- -JRC525Nrd - Lowe HF150-, bclnews.it yg via DXLD 25910, 1437 22/1, WBAP, Dallas, TX, USA, talks in American English, phone numbers, mentioning many times Dallas, fading, poor/fair. 25990, 1505 22/1, KSCS Dallas, TX, USA, talks, fair, fading (Giampiero Bernardini, Winradio Excalibur Pro, Ant: t2fd 15 m long, Milano, playdx yg via DXLD) If this was a talk format, rather than just some announcements amid country music, 25990 had already switched to KLIF 570 relay as IDed by Harold Frodge: (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) 25910/FM, WBAP Fort Worth TX studio link; 2050, 22-Jan; 820 AM & 96.7 FM WBAP; non-local ad string into Real Estate Today program. VGood. 25990/FM, KLIF Dallas TX studio link; 2035-2047+, 22-Jan; Not the usual KSCS! Talk Radio 5-70 KLIF; Infomercial for Annuity Watch; 2045 promo for a branding seminar then ID. VGood (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 125 ft. bow-tie; 85 ft. RW & 180 ft. center-fed RW, logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX LISTENING DIGEST) If now under common ownership, the SW IFB transmitters could carry any of the stations as needed, now perhaps under same roof. See also UNID 26000 (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) ** U S A. 25950/FM, KOA Denver CO studio link; 2047, 22-Jan; 8-50 KOA; Rockies BB promo; ads for Chain Co. Jewellers & Littleton Radiation & Oncology; call-in program about traffic enforcement cameras. Good, but a little scratchy (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 125 ft. bow-tie; 85 ft. RW & 180 ft. center-fed RW, logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WORLD OF RADIO 1600: the forty-squared edition airs first on SW from WTWW, Thursday Jan 19 at 2200 on 9479; then on WBCQ at 2230 on 7490; on WWRB, UT Friday Jan 20 at 0430v on 3195. On WRMI 9955: Saturday 0900, 1600, 1830, Sunday 0900, 1630, 1830, Monday 1230. Also on WTWW, UT Sunday 0500 on 5755. BTW, the Radio Free Sarawak item on 15420 was thought to be via Tajikistan, but HFCC shows Palau. WORLD OF RADIO 1600 monitoring: first SW broadcast confirmed Thursday Jan 19 at 2200:30 on WTWW 9479; also 2230 on WBCQ 7490. And at 0430 UT Friday Jan 20 on webcast of WWRB 3195, after a very respectful 95- second pause following the SC preacher, standard disclaimer. Next on WRMI 9955: Sat 0900, 1600, 1830, Sun 0900, 1630, 1830, Mon 1230. On WTWW 5755: UT Sunday 0500. WORLD OF RADIO 1600 monitoring: confirmed after 0500 UT Sunday Jan 22 on 5755, WTWW. Not expected this week on Area 51, so next chances to hear are on WRMI 9955: Sunday 1830, Monday 1230, Maybe Thursday 0430 unless 1601 is ready by then as I strive for it to be (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WORLD OF RADIO 1601: first airing will be Thursday Jan 26 at 2200:30 on WTWW 9479; then at 2230 on WBCQ 7490. UT Friday 0430v on WWRB 3195; On WRMI 9955: Sat 0900, 1600, 1830, Sun 0900, 1630, 1830, Mon 1230. On WTWW: UT Sunday 0500:30 on 5755. On Area 51 via WBCQ: UT Monday 0330v on 5110v-CUSB (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5755, 0509, WTWW Nashville [sic] TN with Glenn Hauser’s ‘World of Radio’ DX program 4/12, fair on Sundays (Bryan Clark at Mangawhai, New Zealand, with AOR7030+ and Alpha Delta Sloper, EWEs to NE, E and SE, plus various 100 metre BOGs to the Americas, Jan NZ DX Times via DXLD) Re 12-03, George McClintock tells me that the WTWW website has been updated to include some video tours of the transmitters: http://wtww.us/pages/transmitters.php Thanks Glenn - I really enjoyed the WTWW videos. A number of years ago I got the Scott Fybush syndrome, for which there is no cure. The syndrome turns one into a broadcast facilities geek (Dennis Gibson, WB6TNB, Jan 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) As of Jan 25, it was 99% sure that the 6-hour test of WTWW-2 would take place this Saturday January 28, at 22-24 UT on 9990, 00-04 on 5085, with Ted Randall hosting a live call-in show as has been done a few times before. If not, it could be postponed another week. Listeners please check whether there is any noise/spur problem around each frequency (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 7520, UT Sat Jan 21 at 0351, VG signal with expressive narration in Russian, then second speaker with American accent, more drama; mentioned synagogue cognate as some point, but surely Christian, i.e. WHRI at 47 degrees, 03-04. 21450-22030, Jan 22 at 1418 as I start tuning up the 13m band, I hear continuous splatter, crescendo to distorted center at 21600 with YL gospel huxter in English, i.e. WHRI! Thus LeSEA are disrupting *all* other current signals on the entire 13m band! 21505, 21540, 21540, 21560, 21610, 21630. This habitually happens whenever WHRI turns on a 13mb transmitter, fortunately this one only on Sundays (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 21630.008, Has something to do with hugh disturbed sunspot flare propagation? Noted WHRI Program in English with free bible book offer at 1615 UT Jan 22. But RASPY modulation quality and transmission spread broadband on 21580 to 21720 kHz with spikes. The only other transmitter on that 13 mb was REE on 21610 rather even frequency. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Later on Jan 22 at 1615, Wolfgang Büschel in Germany was hearing same noise from WHRI 21630.008 spreading from 21580 to 21720. This is a far greater hazard to world broadcasting than KJES being a few Hz off- frequency, yet the FCC ignores it and slaps KJES with a Notice of Violation (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 15385.1, KJES Lord's Ranch, Vado NM (presumed = no ID of any sort heard); 2008, 21-Jan; DX program! Just kidding -- M in Spanish with long prayer. SIO=554 (Frodge-MI) 15385.2, KJES Lord's Ranch, Vado NM; *1900, 20-Jan; On with call ID by YL in Spanish and right into Spanish robo-kids. SIO=554-. Found weak OC there at 1857, then much stronger OC at 1858 (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 125 ft. bow-tie; 85 ft. RW & 180 ft. center-fed RW, logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11715.1, Jan 22 at 1422, KJES with undermodulated singing, producing slightly lower het against weak 11720 signal than one against 11710, i.e. KJES is slightly on the hi side, but close enough now for FCC standards. 15385.1 approx., Jan 23 at 2045, KJES NM has very good signal and close enough for US government work, during Spanish catechisms. Probably sporadic-E enhanced, but did not reach VHF from old Mexico. 7555.1, Jan 25 at 0237, KJES has a good signal during YL sermon in Spanish. I finally get around to checking how far off their third frequency is, approximately during the 0200-0330 broadcast. FCC .0015% tolerance means they have to keep within 113.325 Hz of the nominal, and I can`t be sure they were less than that (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGESET) ** U S A. 15619 and 15627 approx., centers of filthy squishy spurs constantly spewing from the WEWN English transmitter, Jan 23 at 2105 when fundamental 15610 is very strong with sporadic-E enhancement from one megameter away, and likewise on the low side (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 5890, Jan 21 at 0339, WWCR with non-BS preacher referring to Gene Scott, hooking a fish with money in his mouth. Better watch out: saying anything disrespectful about DGS can get you banned from WWCR where he is a revered demigod. Schedule shows during this hour weeknights it`s TruthHouse Ministries, E.C. Fulcher. VG signal, but prolonged Cuban jamming audible underneath, long after VOA finishes 5890, at 0200: the risk of sharing a frequency with a jammed service. At 0410 I find 5890 is dead air, not filled until Brother Scare cuts on at 0417, nominally starting now at 0400 weeknights, 0500 UT Sun & Mon. 4840, WWCR screws up again: UT Monday Jan 23 at 0643 I settle in to enjoy an episode of `Fibber McGee & Molly` on Golden Age of Radio Theatre, but rudely ruined at 0645 as equally loud USA Radio Sports starts, 0646 commercials, 0647 more of same. Someone at 1300 WWCR Ave. forgot to close the USA network feed pot. Is no one paying attention? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WWCR Google Maps 45-degree view --- WWCR transmitter site now viewable with Google Maps 45 degree view (4 views). Must zoom close to see in 45 degree view. 36 12N 86 53W. Rhombics seen, but not their antenna wires (Ian Baxter, NSW, Jan 25, shortwavesites yg via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. 15315, Jan 20 at 1417, nice organ rendition of Stanley`s ``Trumpet Voluntary`` which is not really religious, but close enough for Family Radio; then FR `IKMRL` theme (``I Know My Redeemer Liveth``), announcement in S Asian language, on to violin/piano variations on `Good King Wenceslaus`/`God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen` --- it`s almost like Xmas! Aoki shows Malayalam, at 1400- 1500, 500 kW, 105 degrees from Wertachtal, GERMANY. I gather that even in tropical India they dream of White Xmases. 6115, VG Jan 21 at 0345, ``Hallelujah Chorus`` // 6890, abutting RHC 6120 with `Gaceta Cultural`. 6115 is new frequency for WYFR, HFCC registered as starting 2 January, 100 kW, 355 degrees at 2315-0400. Not sure what it replaces, if anything, but notification direct from WYFR said it started January 16, all in English. 6860 & 6905, Jan 21 at 0416, JBA signals in Chinese, i.e. RTI leapfrog mixing products from very strong WYFR 6875 and 6890 which are // during this hour instead of one in Spanish (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Family Radio and the sale of Stations --- In the past few months Family Radio has sold off two stations and is preparing to sell off its New York properties. There has been a lot of buzz concerning New York's and Family Radio's other properties in radio-info.com. It has sold off WKDN in Camden, NJ (Philadelphia) and their station on 99.1 in Washington-Baltimore markets (which CBS is turning into a FM News Radio operation) and it seems logical to me that WYFR may be on the selling block. This is speculation on my part. This may be something to look for in the near future (Richard Lewis, Forest, MS, Jan 21, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Family Radio's station in the Baltimore-Washington area was on 107.9 in Annapolis, not 99.1. But they still have their 750 and 860 stations in Baltimore, for what they are worth. Their WFSI translators are also either dark or have been sold off (as in Dover DE, Hagerstown and Frederick MD). (John Cereghin, WDX3IAO, KB3LYP, Smyrna, Delaware, My radio page http://wdx3iao.wordpress.com/ (please note NEW site!) The Ultralight Scoreboard http://wdx3iao.wordpress.com/the-ultralight-scoreboard-2/ (NEW site!) Jan 22, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) e.g.: The End of Family Radio --- November 5, 2011 John Cereghin WDX3IAO In the aftermath of Harold Camping’s multiple failures in predicting the dates of the rapture and second coming (in 1994 and 2011), it looks like his radio empire is starting to unravel. The sales of his Philadelphia and Baltimore (Annapolis) outlets on 106.9 and 107.9 respectively to CBS seem like a done deal. They still maintain their two Baltimore outlets on 750 and 860. I’m a Baptist preacher with a doctorate in theology so I have been an outspoken critic of Camping for years on a number of issues, including his extreme form of Hyper-Calvinism. But there was a time when I did get a blessing from Family Radio, up through the mid-1980s. Camping really started his fall about that time. His teachings became more erratic and unscriptural as his spiritual arrogance only deepened. I was a registered monitor of their shortwave transmitters in the late 1970s. Family Radio’s demise will leave a void. In spite of the heresies, Family Radio did have good sacred traditional music about 85% of the time. I would listen to Family Radio for the music and turn it off when Camping came on. The Annapolis outlet (WFSI) may go all-news or Spanish. I don’t know the fate of the Philadelphia station (WKDN). Let’s hope we don’t get yet another hip hop/rap station or a “classic rock” or “modern country” or a bland, female-oriented “Your Official Listen-At-Work” AC/CHR station (via DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. 7210-LSB, Jan 25 at 1324, N1NR, Nelson Roig in Pennsylvania is discussing antennas, rather than ranting about the Revolution, with stronger contact N4RAU (whose name I bet is Raúl --- yes, per QRZ.com lookup: ``Raul L Oropesa, 3141 SW 142 Ave, Miami Dade, FL 33175 USA``), and the latter also greeted Sergio, CO8ADK, whom I could barely detect, with `un abrazo cariñoso electromagnético``. I assume the DentroCuban would have been less likely to contact a FueraCuban gusano if the subject were politix. (QRZ.com shows him: ``Sergio Fuentes, Calle 3ra # 26 A, Herrera, Holguín, 84340, Cuba``) (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. QSL: WFLF, Maitland Florida, 540, no data confirmation email in 141 days for English report via first-class mail and 1 first-class stamp return postage. Follow-up via email on January 16 2012 and email QSL arrived the next day. V/s. Katherine Brown, Program Director. Ms. Brown apologized profusely for the delay and said that it must have fallen through the cracks. katherinebrown(at)clearchannel(dot)com (Al Muick, Whitehall, PA USA, Jan 21, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Tornado hits Alabama station --- A night of storms didn’t let up with daylight as an early-morning tornado hit a radio station in Clanton, AL today around 7 am local time. The National Weather Service says a tornado destroyed the studios of Southeastern Broadcasting’s “98 Gospel” WKLF (980) and also brought down much of an adjacent 302-foot transmitter tower. Fortunately there were no injuries. Clanton is about 50 miles south of Birmingham (Inside Radio January 23, 2012 via Mike Terry, Jan 23, dxldyg via DXLD) Photo of partly demolished tower: http://photos.al.com/birmingham-news/2012/01/january_23_2012_storms_23.html (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) Not praying hard enough? (gh) ** U S A. Others have noted IBOC noise missing from WHO and KFAB the last few days, and so do I, Jan 19 at 1340 UT. That opens up some adjacent frequencies for better reception, 1030, 1050, 1100, 1120. But still IBOC from 1170 KFAQ, 1160 KSL, 1120 KMOX, 1080 KRLD, 850 KOA. 1200 WOAI also seemed to be IBOC-free at the moment, where it comes and goes. 1110, Jan 20 at 0649 UT, `Coast to Coast` from KFAB Omaha NE which has resumed putting IBOC noise on adjacent frequencies; however, WHO 1040 still IBOC-free (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. KRSN DX Test Reminder --- Just a reminder about the KRSN DX test coming up this weekend: KRSN Los Alamos, NM 1490 kHz The DX test is scheduled for early Saturday and Sunday mornings, Jan 21 and 22 at midnight Mountain time. (0700 UT) The test will run for 10 minutes each time. Included are sweep tones, 20 WPM Morse code at 700 Hz, telephone "offhook" signal, and vocal IDs & announcements provided by Paul Walker http://onairdj.com Thanks, Paul! Also included is 20 WPM Morse code at 5 kHz, so those of you with the equipment can try to detect the sidebands as CW at 1485 or 1495 kHz. The transmitter is a Harris DAX-1 at 1000 Watts into a 3-wire folded monopole antenna located at N35? 53'37.6", W106? 17'36.8" Preferred reception report method is via email to DXTEST @ KRSNAM1490.COM [dxtest at krsnam1490 dot com] Attach an audio clip of what you heard if you can. At least give a good description of what you heard. If you simply must use snail-mail, send your report (and a CD or cassette, if you can) to: DX Test C/O David Sutton 3801 Arkansas Ave, Ste. E. Los Alamos, NM, 87544 -- (Mike Westfall Los Alamos, NM http://mesamike.org http://www.facebook.com/mesamike http://twitter.com/mesa_mike Jan 18, IRCA via DXLD) ** U S A. 1490, UT Sat Jan 21 at 0700 I am all set for the KRSN Los Álamos NM DX test, monitoring both on the FRG-7 with E-W longwire, and on the handheld but AC-powered DX-398 with internal ferrite loop only. I hear it first and best on the DX-398 so stick with that: immediately hear some unreadable Morse code on 1490; 0701 sweep tones; 0701 VVV CQ KRSN in fast Morse; then I shift the DX-398 to 1488-LSB and hear the code better. 0703 again hear the slower code on center frequency, then sweeps. 0704 some other station briefly fades up during network news in English. 0705 code again I think. 0706 sweeps easily heard at 1488- or 1487-LSB settings (less QRM from 1480 than 1500, so stuck with lower side), and VVV KRSN IDs again. 0707 slow code on center. 0708 sweeps heard on center, and finally one more time on 1487-LSB, code IDs with KRSN sent multiple times. Said to be 20 wpm; I couldn`t normally copy `CW` cold that fast, but I knew what letters to expect, and clearly made them out. There was more to the message I could not copy, maybe the city. Never could hear any voice from Paul Walker on this test. Certainly proves that the code and sweep technique is a winner for cutting thru hundreds of stations QRMing on graveyard channels! I am 759 km = 471 miles away. Thanks to Mike Westfall for arranging this test on his local station, which recently upgraded its facilities. It is to recur UT Sunday Jan 22 also at 0700-0710 UT. Having clinched it the first time Jan 21, did not stay up to try again Jan 22 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) QSL received KRSN-1490 test heard here in Colorado Springs, CO --- KRSN test made it here easily with various combos of code ID's, vocal ID's, sweep tones and dial tones, good in my local KXRE Manitou Springs, CO. null. Report sent to station. Thanks for arranging the test! (Robert Wien, Colorado Springs, CO, 0757 UT Jan 20, ABDX via DXLD) KRSN 1490 DX Test: Observations from Michigan A fast sweep tone was heard and visible on the waterfall display at 0736 UT [means 0706?] while the song "Turn! Turn! Turn!" by the Byrds was being played by another UNID station in the background. Something resembling very slow morse code followed at 07:07 UTC which was also visible at +/- 4.9 kc (wasn't exactly 5.0) on the waterfall, but no chance of copying anything meaningful. I wish reception had been slightly better, I'm on the fence on whether to count this one or not. (Tim Tromp, West Michigan, Perseus SDR + Phased BOGs, ABDX via DXLD) KRSN-1490 Los Alamos, NM test made it here quite easily in null of my local KXRE-1490 Manitou Springs, CO at midnight-12:10 AM MST 1/21, with various combinations of code ID's, sweep tones, and vocal ID's, quite dominant, first 1/2 of test seemed stronger than 2nd half, ran lower power?? This test should've gotten out well, will send report to station. I'm ~ 290 miles from Los Alamos (Robert Wien, Colorado Springs, CO, Rx: C-Crane radio, Antenna: Select-a-tenna, IRCA via DXLD) There was no slow morse included in the test. It was all at 20 WPM. (Mike Westfall, test arranger, Jan 21, ABDX via DXLD) Hi all, Heard the DX Test from KRSN 1490 for the 10 minute period using the Grand Junction CO Global Tuners receiver. Signal was poor to fair. Regards (Tony Magon, VK2IC, NSW, 0724 UT Jan 22, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) The 2nd test 1/22 made it here relatively easy though 2nd half of test seemed stronger than 1st half, a reversal of Saturday morning's when 1st half was stronger than 2nd half. Had radio (C-Crane) on 1492 khz. upper sideband and the code ID's, voice ID's, dial tones and sweep tones made it through even clearer than on 1490, though 1488 khz. (lower sideband) was much more muddied. Saw reports test may have been heard in OR. and WA., did make it so. CA., don't know about east coast though... even heard the station after the test with ID's at 12:11 and 12:25 AM! Also got nice ID from KGOS-1490 Torrington, WY. on top with C&W. Thanks to Paul Walker and Mike Westphal for these 2 tests, they were great! (Robert Wien, Colorado Springs, CO, ABDX via DXLD) KRSN Test update. So far we've had verifiable reports from CA, AZ, CO, NE and OK. A couple of listeners used the remote tuner in Grand Junction CO. QSL cards will be sent soon. Here's a spectrogram of the sweep tone used on the KRSN test, as heard in northern Colorado https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/329203_10151200038870206_830255205_22546969_1359308548_o.jpg (Mike Westfall, N6KUY [sic], Los Alamos, NM, Jan 23, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. DX Test Alert – WHP Radio, Harrisburg, PA PLEASE GIVE THIS INFORMATION WIDEST POSSIBLE DISSEMINATION: WHP Radio, 580 kHz, Harrisburg, PA will conduct a DX Test on Monday morning, Feb. 27, 2012 at 12:05, 12:33, 1:05, 1:33, 2:05, 2:33, 3:05, 3:33, 4:05 and 4:33 a.m. Eastern Time for one minute [add 5 hours for UT]. The test will consist of voice announcements and Morse code identifications. Operations Manager R.J. Harris is also investigating the possibility of using WHP’s daytime antenna pattern during the test periods. More information regarding the DX Test will be provided as it is developed. Reception reports and digital audio recordings may be directed to RJHarris@ClearChannel.com DXers can receive a WHP QSL card for correct reception reports by sending their reports along with a self-addressed envelope and return postage to the following address: Mr. R.J. Harris, Operations Manager, WHP Radio, 600 Corporate Circle, Harrisburg, PA 17110. Many thanks to Mr. Harris who is also amateur radio operator W3HP (Test arranged by J.D. Stephens and Jim Pogue) DX Test Alert – WTKT Radio, Harrisburg, PA WTKT Radio, 1460 kHz, Harrisburg, PA will conduct a DX Test on Monday morning, Feb. 27, 2012 at 12:15, 12:45, 1:15, 1:45, 2:15, 2:45, 3:15, 3:45, 4:15 and 4:45 a.m. Eastern Time for one minute [add 5 hours for UT]. The test will consist of voice announcements and Morse code identifications. Operations Manager R.J. Harris is also investigating the possibility of using WKTK’s daytime antenna pattern during the test periods. More information regarding the DX Test will be provided as it is developed. Reception reports and digital audio recordings may be directed to RJHarris@ClearChannel.com . DXers can receive a WKTK QSL for correct reception reports by sending their reports along with a self-addressed envelope and return postage to the following address: Mr. R.J. Harris, Operations Manager, 1460 The Ticket, c/o Clear Channel Communications, 600 Corporate Circle. Harrisburg, PA 17110. Many thanks to Mr. Harris who is also amateur radio operator W3HP (Test arranged by J.D. Stephens and Jim Pogue, Jan 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1860-AM, UT Sunday Jan 22 at 0604, WA0RCR weekly broadcast of amateur news from Wentzville MO, concluding RAIN report obviously outdated as they said to listen for 500 kHz activity on November 3! After ID, onto current ARRL report dated Jan 19 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. QSL: WPUC469, SailMail Radio South Daytona Beach FL, 18381.41, full/data QSL letter featuring map of worldwide locations, in 18 days for English report sent via first-class mail with 2 first- class stamps as returned postage, one of which was returned. No V/s (Al Muick, Whitehall, PA USA, Jan 21, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. All-news WNEW debuts as competitor to WTOP By Paul Farhi, Sunday, January 22, 10:33 PM http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/all-news-wnew-debuts-as-competitor-to-wtop/2012/01/13/gIQAGwXpJQ_story.html Radio station WNEW made its local debut Sunday afternoon, bringing news, weather and traffic reports to Washington's airwaves and a question to mind: Can a second station broadcasting news, weather and traffic reports make it in the region? The station, owned by media goliath CBS, is entering what its managers acknowledge is one of the most news-clotted markets in the country. They also recognize that they're up against the all-news equivalent of an aircraft carrier --- mighty WTOP, which dominates the local radio dial so thoroughly that it attracts more than three times the advertising revenue of any other station in Washington. Nevertheless, WNEW (99.1 FM) is betting that it can be scrappier, livelier and just plain newsier than its primary competitor. Its first broadcast from its new studio, a former office-machines sales office just outside the Beltway in Prince George's County, sounded much like WTOP. There were brief reports about the death of former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, an apartment fire in Laurel and Newt Gingrich's win in the South Carolina Republican primary. As on WTOP, there were also weather and traffic updates at regular intervals. Even the advertisers were similar. Starting early Monday, one of WNEW's most prominent voices will be a familiar one to WTOP's listeners. The station's morning traffic reporter is Lisa Baden, who called the drive-time grind every weekday for more than a decade on WTOP until early last year, when the station began using its own employees to report traffic (Baden is under contract to a company called Total Traffic). Having Baden on board suggests the importance of traffic reporting to news radio, as well as WNEW's determination to go right to the heart of WTOP's success. For decades, WTOP has been uncontested in news radio in Washington, although a few stations (notably public station WAMU-FM and WMAL-AM and FM) offer a hybrid of news and talk programs. The absence of direct competition enabled WTOP, which is heard primarily at 103.5 FM, to grow into the richest radio station in the nation. Its annual revenue was $57.2 million in 2010, according to BIA/Kelsey, a Chantilly research firm. WTOP's success in some ways became a self-fulfilling prophecy, scaring off would-be challengers, said CBS's top Washington executive, Steve Swenson. News radio, he notes, is an expensive format. Unlike a music station, which can be programmed by autopilot, a news station requires a relatively large staff of reporters, anchors and editors to keep the news coming round the clock. Competitors, he said, resisted the initial start-up costs, which run into the millions of dollars. But Swenson, 56, knows the format can also be mega-profitable: Until recently, he ran CBS's two all-news stations in New York City, WCBS and 1010 WINS, which were the third- and eighth-highest-ranking stations by revenue in the nation. So, rather than being put off by WTOP, Swenson says he sensed the area was ripe for an alternative. He began plotting WNEW's launch last summer. "There are usually choices in any radio format in a market" — two or three pop music stations, for example, he said. "In this market, there wasn't" a second all-news station. CBS and Swenson probably know as well as anyone how this is done. The company operates eight of the dozen or so all-news stations in the country, with outlets in New York (where an earlier incarnation of WNEW once aired), Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, San Francisco, Detroit and Los Ángeles. Swenson himself has spent more than 30 years in radio news. "We kind of know what works and what doesn't work," he said. The new station lit its "On the Air" light on Sunday with 39 people in its newsroom, about one-third as many as WTOP. Robert Sánchez, WNEW's program director, acknowledges that his staff of eight field reporters "is not a lot of boots on the ground" to cover a region of some 5.6 million people. But between weather updates every four minutes, traffic reports every 10 minutes, business and sports twice hourly, plus 17 minutes an hour of commercials, there's only so much time left over for actual news on an all-news station. "The goal is not to be WTOP," said Sánchez, a veteran of news stations in Miami and New York. "The idea is, you punch the button and you'll find out what's happening now. You don't always get that on WTOP. I hear a lot of process on WTOP — national-security stories, political minutiae. They can sound like a very glossy magazine. That's great, but when something is happening, you don't pick up a magazine to find out about it." WNEW intends to spend less time reporting on developments at the Pentagon or Capitol Hill and more on a breakdown on the Red Line, adds Michelle Dolge, the station's news director. "We don't want our people to be in here," she said. "We want them in the neighborhoods." If WNEW's managers know a bit about their rival, it's probably because they used to play for the other team. Swenson ran WTOP between 1996 and 1997, and Dolge spent 17 years there. Among Swenson's hires at WTOP was Jim Farley, who has headed its news operations and built its powerhouse reputation over the past 15 years. Farley calls WTOP vs. WNEW "a friendly rivalry" but doesn't think much of the upstart's chances. "They have a tough task ahead of them," he said. "The news appetite is already satisfied" by what's available. "News is just everywhere. It's on the radio, TV, print, your cellphone." Farley says he "still has scars" from the last attempt to cram more news onto local radio --- "Washington Post Radio," which featured newscasts and discussions with reporters from The Post. The collaboration between the newspaper and WTOP's then-owner, Bonneville International (WTOP is now owned by Hubbard Broadcasting of Minnesota) died in 2007 after 18 months of low ratings and indifferent advertiser reaction. In preparation for WNEW, Farley insists WTOP isn't making any preparations. "We're not changing a thing," he said. WNEW may be at a disadvantage right out of the gate. Its dial position, 99.1 FM, is a familiar one to a generation of local rock fans, having been the home of the "legendary" alternative music station WHFS until 2005 (it was replaced by the Spanish pop music station WLZL, now moved to 107.9 FM). But broadcasts over 99.1, which emanate from transmission facilities in Bowie in Prince George's, tend to come in stronger in Baltimore County than on the far western and southern fringes of the Washington area. WTOP, by contrast, simulcasts on three signals (103.5, 107.7 and 103.9 FM) with a massive "footprint" that stretches from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Eastern Shore and north into Pennsylvania. As a result, more people may tune into WTOP than WNEW simply because more people can pull in WTOP. Swenson isn't concerned about the station's signal strength; he says it has come in loud and clear in tests throughout the region. Even so, he's keeping his expectations modest. WNEW will be a success, he said, if it can capture about $10 million in advertising during its first year. That's a pale echo of WTOP's annual total, of course, but would put the newcomer solidly in the middle of the pack among local radio stations. And in the all-news game, that would be pretty big news, indeed (via Blaine Thompson, IN, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. Neil Macdonald: Media hatred and the rise of Newt Gingrich By Neil Macdonald, CBC News Posted: Jan 22, 2012 4:18 PM ET Last Updated: Jan 23, 2012 9:25 AM ET Read 681 comments Neil Macdonald Washington file --- About The Author: Neil Macdonald is the senior Washington correspondent for CBC News, which he joined in 1988 following 12 years in newspapers. Before taking up this post in 2003, Macdonald reported from the Middle East for five years. He speaks English and French fluently, and some Arabic. A few days ago, driving through South Carolina, I saw a billboard advertising a radio station that's part of the "Excellence in Broadcasting" network. So, always seeking excellence, I tuned the dial to the station and found myself listening to Rush Limbaugh. "Excellence in Broadcasting" is a term Limbaugh modestly invented for his own show. . . http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/01/22/f-rfa-macdonald.html (via Eric Flodén, Jan 22, DXLD) ** VATICAN [non non]. LAST CHANCE FOR RADIO COUNTRY ON SHORTWAVE? By Bryan Clark The B11 schedule for Vatican Radio shows the only shortwave operations from within the Vatican City State are a 1 kW DRM transmitter operating around-the-clock on 26060 kHz and a 10 kW AM transmitter on 7250 kHz on air with French and English between 0540 and 0630 UT and a variety of languages between 1730 and 2030. At other times 7250 is used by a 100 kW transmitter located at Vatican Radio’s Santa Maria di Galeria transmitting site which is about 25 km north of the Vatican. It is within Italy, but classified as an extraterritorial area belonging to the Holy See. I am currently hearing the 10 kW transmitter on 7249.89 kiloHertz with French prior to 0600 when half an hour of English commences. Reception is poor to fair at my listening post. The off-frequency seems to be a ‘signature’ for this transmitter as when scheduled previously on its long-time registered frequency of 4005, it was usually on the low side, for example 4004.37 when I last logged it in February 2011. A year ago my wife and I toured the Vatican Gardens (having explored the interior Sistine Chapel, etc. in 2003) and for a DXer the bonus was seeing the various broadcasting installations within this tiny city state. There have been shortwave operations from within the city site since Guglielmo Marconi organised the first Vatican Radio broadcast for Pope Pius XI on February 12th 1931. The transmitting antennas within the Vatican Gardens are most spectacular as these photos will show, and our guide pointed out the building where the 1931 transmitter was located – it ceased operation in 1952 but according to Ludo Maes’ comprehensive ‘Transmitter Documentation Project’ --- see http://www.tdp.info --- there are still 3 shortwave transmitters inside the grounds, including a Telefunken S379GR dating from 1937. Our guide also confirmed that the Santa Maria di Galeria Transmitting Station had been donated by Dutch Catholics in 1952. It is possible the 7250 operation may be the last genuine shortwave transmission from inside the Vatican, so I suggest you try for a QSL while you can! (Bryan Clark at Mangawhai, New Zealand, Jan NZ DX Times via DXLD) [non] 9660 and 9645, Jan 21 at 0529, VR IS synchronized, so plugged into common playout (maybe running continuously to be brought up whenever needed), 0530 splitting with 9645 in Arabic, 9660 in Portuguese. 9645 a bit stronger but with pervasive off-frequency Bandeirantes het. 9660 with no QRM yet, but often mixing with RA Brandon 10 kW later. Arabic is supposed to run from 0500 to 0600 daily, so they put a break in the middle? O yes, I remember that Vatican Radio carries a program from a Lebanese Catholic station, and buried in the LEBANON info on page 259 of the WRTH 2012 is this about V. of Charity, 106.0 and 107.7 FM: ``relayed by Vatican Radio 0530-0555 on 11715`` which is also the // to 9645 for the entire hour (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [non?]. 7385, Jan 23 at 2059 I am tuning across the 7 MHz band, not hearing much, but the SSOB is here with VR IS; suspect an African relay, but it goes off at 2059:30*. Trouble is, the only schedule per all the sources is Russian *starting at 2100 direct from SMG at 35 degrees, which I would not expect to be so good here, so early in the afternoon. VR does have this annoying habit of running the IS after transmissions, then turning off instead of starting one. Maybe they moved Russian a UT hour earlier than originally planned, due to the permanent time change in Russia? But it was supposed to be only half an hour. Hmm, EiBi shows the target as Far East, rather than Europe, i.e. for the morning. HFCC shows CIRAF targets as 29, 33, and 34, i.e. western Russia (late evening) plus southeastern Russia = FE, skipping all of Siberia in between?? In case there was a feed mixup, nothing else scheduled just before 2100 on 7385. And now from 2059, WWCR signs on 7465, becoming the SSOB by far (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [non]. Confirmações recebidas --- 11690 kHz: R. Vaticano, Sackville (CAN), 14 dias. Recebido Cartão QSL, cartão, imã e folheto de programação/schedule. Informe enviado para sedoc @ vatiradio.va brasil @ vatiradio.va V/S: não consta (Marcelo Herondino, Brasil? 20 Jan, radioescutas yg via DXLD) A relay I had {not} been aware of, as in Aoki: ``11690 VATICAN RADIO 0030-0057 1234567 Portuguese 100 163 Sackville CAN 06419W 4553N VAT b11`` BTW, in my recent logs of Vatican I was hunting and hunting for my copy of VR`s printed schedule folder for B-11, which I was sure I had stashed somewhere near the computer, but never could find it. Now I know why: it just arrived *today* Jan 23, 2012 in the p-mail, almost 3 months after it went into effect and with only two months to go! There is no longer any fancy meter imprint on the envelope, just a plainly printed bulk mail permit, ``Economy`` which looks suspiciously like an English word from Poste Italiane (not even mailed from Vatican any more, and suspect deliberately by surface mail, with no hint of airmail --- they could be promoting their lucrative philatelic business with real stamps, why not? Internal rivalry at RCC HQ?) In it, there is no specification that Arabic at 0530 on 9645 and 11715 toward ME is a relay of that Lebanese FM station, Voice of Charity --- and as for every transmission, there is no way to tell from this schedule when the 0500 Arabic broadcast is supposed to end, except by inference, the next time the same frequencies appear with some other language, i.e. Latin at 0630 in the case of 9645. For broadcasts outside Europe, eight relay sites are shown by color coding, but this schedule too misses the Sackville 9865 relay of Spanish at 1130-1200 which we have reconfirmed by monitoring both in December and January! (The 11690 in Portuguese is listed.) For broadcasts to Europe, there is no way to tell that certain times from 7250 are really via the low-power transmitter inside the Vatican proper --- however, several transmissions lack a target-letter suffix, ``omnidirexional if capital letters are omitted`` altho we know registrations show the antenna is rotated to different direxions. The unappended ones are: 0540 French, 0600 English, 1400 Spanish, 1415 Portuguese, 1730 Slovenian, 1750 Croatian, 1810 Hungarian, 1830 Czech, 1845 Slovak, 1900 Polish, 1920 German, 1940 Rosary, 2000 Italian, 2020 Sundays Esperanto. 7250 is also on the air between 0630 and 1400, and until 2200, but with direxional targets, and presumably high-power from Santa Maria di Galeria relay. We have heard the huge increase in signal strength at 0628-0629 as the tail of the English broadcast transfers from Vatican Gardens to SMG. During the 0540-0630 and 1730- 2020+ periods, 7250 is always // high power SMG on 3975 and 6075, so hardly necessary except as a relic. Bryan Clark in NZ has also been hearing this on 7249.89 and recommends we QSL this VG site before it is too late, altho there have been no announcements about it being closed. His photo of the antenna a sesquiyear ago graces the cover of the January NZ DX Times. It`s a 20- element log-periodic on a very hefty tower with an internal staircase. At 1400-1430 the // are 9645 and 11740. This raises the question whether the `plain` 7250 for Spanish and Portuguese are also the Vatican Gardens transmitter? These transmissions are missing from HFCC, so we can`t tell from that. Please check in Europe for signal strength. WRTH assumes they are SMG. A lot of detailed info is crammed into the VR schedule folder, certainly more convenient to refer to than their website, as long as I don`t lose it, but it`s too bad they don`t go a little further and clear up these inconsistencies. I am glad still to be on the p-mailing list of VR, one of only a few remaining SW stations reaching me. A lot of space in the 16-page folder is devoted to promoting listening on the web. In the same mailer is the usual liturgical calendar on heavier slick stock, showing the holy or saint`s days for every date in 2012y. Let`s see: Jan 23 is for St. Barnard (not Bernard). Down under, it could be a dog day (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA. (parte 2) VISITA EMISORAS Y SITUACIÓN RADIAL DE SAN CRISTÓBAL --- Hola Colegas, Le envio el enlace a la segunda parte de mi relato con motivo del II Encuentro Diexista Colombo venezolanoa, en esta entrega una reseña sobre la visita ha algunas emisoras y la situacion radial en San Cristobal. . . http://dxdesdecolombia.blogspot.com/2012/01/ii-encuentro-diexista-colombo_20.html Buenos DX (Rafael Rodríguez R., Bogotá D.C. - COLOMBIA, Jan 20, condiglist yg via DXLD) Including ex-SW stations Ecos del Torbes and Radio Táchira (gh, DXLD) ** VENEZUELA [and non]. A couple of reports of R. Nacional de Venezuela had me looking for a possible reactivation of the Cuban relays of daily broadcasts, but they were apparently mistaken. I checked sometime during the following hours on former frequencies and never heard any sign of it Jan 19-20: 20 on 17705, 22 on 11670 (instead AIR GOS), 23 on 13680, 15250, 11 on 6060, 15 on 11680. (Not to be confused with the `Aló, Presidente` show on Sunday mornings, which did resume SW via Cuba on Jan 8 but was missing again Jan 15.) El Jefe del Canal Internacional, Daniel Peralta, made an appearance at the Colombo-Venezuelan DX Encuentro early in January; did anyone ask him if any new programming is being produced, lacking the Cuban SW transmissions, and why those stopped? Website http://www.rnv.gob.ve/noticias/index.php?pg=internacional *still* displays the totally outdated SW transmission schedule unchanged since they started in 2004y, with colorful but imaginary map of coverage areas; and the drop-down linx for `Audio en Vivo` do not include this network; but does link under `Espacios RNV`, to this page, implying there is C.I. audio on demand of 58-minute broadcasts: http://www.rnv.gob.ve/noticias/index.php?s=26c17322715a28b75ee9d856ef195daf&act=SF&f=46 Click again on Escuche: http://www.rnv.gob.ve/noticias/index.php?act=ST&f=46&t=152727 and you get linx to five audio files for 17 thru 21 December 2011 and yes, the latest one does play, starting with the IS we have not heard on SW since last May or June. Evidently they store one 5-day week at a time, one month late --- or did they really quit after Dec 21? It`s best for users and userettes who do not understand Spanish, thus escaping the wacky monomaniacal Bolivarian propaganda; or advance the file to enjoy the music mostly in the second half. (No English noted on this one, but could have been some I missed.) I skipped the hefty dose of El Hugazo lasting until the midpoint, then remonitored the schedule announcement, which is equally outdated and confusing with local times for each city targeted, rather than UT, as only *one* of the broadcasts remained in effect before the SW service crashed, ``17- 18`` [20-21 UT] to Rio de Janeiro on 17705 (but if it were active now, the local time would be off one hour due to DST). The music from :35 was really mostly talk interviewing the leader of some group, with the music only in background. Further spot chex found more and more yak rather than shutting up and playing some unimpeded music. Another Sunday, Jan 22 so another check for `Aló, Presidente` via RHC transmitters: at 1408, nothing on 13750 while RHC was nominal on 13670, 13780. Until the Jan 8 reactivation of the A,P broadcasts, RHC would turn on 13750 anyway with its own programming by 1400 Sundays only. Recheck at 1558 found El Hugazo in progress, maybe started circa 1530, on 13750, // undermodulated 17750, good on 15370, fair with echo on 13680, and poor on 11690. Meanwhile, RHC itself had not yet closed on 15380 and 13670. Next check at 1747, El Hugazo still going with 13750 and 15370 best, 17750 undermodulated, 13680 JBA, and 11690 inaudible if still on. Final check 1813, it`s all over, except the 15370 carrier is still on hetting Canada 15365. At 1817, live video and audio streaming is still going via http://www.alopresidente.gob.ve/ (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re CHINA, BBFF transmitter manufacturer site: {as assumed also in DXing circles previously: ... wb.} And the common Cuban/Venezuelan project of new SW 100 kW site in Calabozo-VEN: Overseas projects: Venezuela Project. Release time: 2011-09-05 The Cuba Radio Cuba and GKT's introduction, North Canton in 2006, with Venezuela's state broadcasting company to cooperate, and at the end of 2006 signed a 100 kW shortwave transmitter and antenna tower contract. Goods was in October 2007 sent to all parties appointed by the initial customer acceptance. Currently the project is progressing well, the Commission is very satisfied customer side, is in talks to two short- wave projects (BBEF website via wb + comments, Jan 21, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 24 via DXLD) ** VIETNAM. Re CHINA, BBFF transmitter manufacturer site: 100 kW SW Project in Vietnam mentions BBEF 500 / 600 kW in 2009 and 2010, unfortunately Chinese text is an image, and could not be translated by Google Chinese / English translator (BBEF website via wb + comments, Jan 21, wwdxc BC- DX TopNews Jan 24 via DXLD) [and non]. 9550, Jan 23 at 1440, pop music with Vietnamese announcements. Aoki shows the CRI Vietnamese service is here, 500 kW, 193 degrees from Beijing site, at 1100-1557; while V. of Vietnam overlaps the final hour at 1500-1600 also in Vietnamese, then an hour in English and French, all 100 kW at 290 degrees from Hanoi-Sontay site. That`s a slight improvement, as in previous seasons on 9550, China was in Vietnamese and Vietnam was in Chinese at the same time, but it`s still Commies vs Commies (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7480, Jan 25 at 1312 siren jamming against talk in unknown language. Aoki shows it`s ``Mnong Central`` (Hmong? No, WRTH also spells it Mnong), Wednesdays at 1300-1330 from FEBC, 100 kW, 270 degrees from Iba site, PHILIPPINES, which shares the 13-14 transmission with six other minority languages in a complex schedule depending on day of week and which half hour. The Vietnamese Commies are so threatened by the Christians in Manila, FEBC being one of the few (only?) missionary broadcasters meriting jamming anywhere. Are they doing anything about it? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZAMBIA [and non]. ZNBC1, 5915 Lusaka. Jan 18, 2012, Wednesday. 1821-1827. Afro music, followed by OM talking. Good. Jo'burg sunset 1705 ZNBC2, 6165 Lusaka. Jan 18, 2012, Wednesday. 1821-1831. ID at 1822 "Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation", followed by light orchestral music. Then details of a girl who has gone missing, please report if you have any info, etc. I can hear co-channel talk in the background, french so presumably Chad. At 1825 YL sings a very nice african song, then at 1829 back to western-style music, possibly a very young Michael Jackson (Daddy?) right through BOH. Horrible SAH, with a higher frequency (about 1kHz) and wavery one as well. The strong SAH is presumably Chad, not sure about the other one; hopefully someone jamming Chad (just a personal opinion !!). Jo'burg sunset 1705 (Bill Bingham, RSA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZAMBIA. 1Africa, 4965 Lusaka. Jan 23, 2012, Monday. 1833-1906. "Urban Edge" talking about the gospels. Web address at 1836. At 1847 an OM tells us that "proud people are an abomination to The Lord". I wonder if the telescope guy on 4895 [see SOUTH AFRICA] was listening? ID by various "CVC"s, but nothing more specific, even at TOH. Good. Jo'burg sunset 1704 (Bill Bingham, RSA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE. Voice of Zimbabwe, 4828 Gweru. Jan 18, 2012, Wednesday. 1807-1813. News in English read by YL. Discussing the cyclone that has caused severe and long-lasting thunderstorms - several days of continuous heavy rain - in the region where Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa come together. At 1811 ID "Voice of Zimbabwe", then moved on to discuss an outbreak of Shigella diarrhoea in Zim. "Business News" followed at 1812, inflation is still rising in Zim. Good (Good reception, not good that inflation is still rising). Jo'burg sunset 1705. [Note added for info: There is widespread flooding and extensive infrastructure damage - roads and bridges washed away, etc. - in all three countries, and more rain is forecast. One farmer in the north- east recorded 446 mm of rain in 24 hours. Tourists have been rescued from the Kruger National Park in RSA, and others have been evacuated by SA National Parks staff for their own safety. Thousands of locals are still trapped and there have been calls for a State of Emergency to be declared]. The amateur bands don't interest me, but amateur band monitors might find interesting traffic from RSA, Zim and Mozambique right now (please don't shout at me if you don't!) (Bill Bingham, RSA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4828, Voice of Zimbabwe noted with weak audio, 2140 21 Jan (Bryan Clark, visiting Singapore with Sony 7600G and short wire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. 4880, SW Radio Africa, 1732 21/1, signaled S9 QRMing AIR with folk music, ID then talks in English with news, 43423 (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, ICOM R75 / 2x16 V / m@h40 heads Sennheiser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) South Africa. SW Radio Africa, 4880 Meyerton. Jan 23, 2012, Monday. 1746-1803. Discussing Zimbabwe politics. At 1751 programme name "Behind the Headlines" and ID "SW Radio Africa". Again at 1752 "SW Radio Africa". At 1753 reporting on calls for a civil servants' strike in Zim, and many excuses for why previous such calls have failed. Talked right through BOH. Good. Jo'burg sunset 1704 (Bill Bingham, RSA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 1190 HET --- Last night I heard what sounded like a 40 to 60 Hz Het on 1190, with a Beverage pointing SW from Minneapolis. Has anyone heard this? (Mark Durenberger, Jan 10, NRC-AM via DXLD) [non]. Re 1189.85: Why is this a mystery? I've reported this one often for many years. It's WMEJ, Bay St. Louis, MS, and the current format is Spanish-Mexican. Up until a year or two ago, it was WBSL with a wonderful Blues/Soul format. Audible daytime (weakly) from my QTH. Does anyone actually read/research DXLD? (Terry Krueger, FL, Jan 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 4717.30, carrier found here at 1353, with no audio while searching for AIR Leh. Gone at 1412 check. A very unstable and raspy sounding carrier found 4743.3 at 1416, but faded quickly. Also heard two stations on 4760.00. Could Leh be back there? 1/20 (Jim Young, WPC6JY, Wrightwood and Inspiration Point (10 miles west of town), CA, ICOM IC-706, 756 ProIII and Grundig Satellite 800, 60-M vertical, 60-M inverted Vee, 80-M inverted Vee, 40-M yagi, NASWA yg via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 4724.37, found here at 1349, with some hum on carrier. No audio. Still here at 1357, and gone at 1427 check. This was much stronger than the last several weeks when suspected AIR Leh was observed on 4747.60. Victor G had Leh very near here on the 17th. 1/19 (Jim Young, WPC6JY, Wrightwood and Inspiration Point (10 miles west of town), CA, ICOM IC-706, 756 ProIII and Grundig Satellite 800, 60-M vertical, 60-M inverted Vee, 80-M inverted Vee, 40-M yagi, NASWA yg via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 4864.32, 13.1 0300, UNID in Arabic sounding language, drifting heavily from 4864.6 to 4864.3 in less than an hour. 2-3 (Thomas Nilsson, Sweden, SW Bulletin Jan 22 via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 5365, Jan 25 at 0625, squishy pulses at a slightly varying rate averaging four per second, much like Cuban jamming, but certainly nothing here to account for it. At first I thought it might be a local appliance; also heard some 24 hours earlier. Is anyone else getting it? BTW, in frequent bandscans I have yet to run across *any* hams on their five authorized discrete so-called `60 meter`` USB frequencies in this range: 5332, 5348, 5358.5, 5373, or 5405, subject to change as recently happened to one of them. Axually they are all in the ``55 meter band`` -- why would that be so hard to say instead of sixty? When it comes to metrical names for ham bands, being way off is standard: 6m is really only below 50 MHz, 15m is really 14m, 17m is really 16m, 20m is really mostly 21m, 30m is really 29m, 40m is really 41m, 80m is really 75+m except below 3750, 160m is only that below 1875; below 2000 kHz it`s 150+m. Having to cut antennas for specific bands, you`d think the hams would be more precise in their nomenclature, as we SWLs are without even thinking about it. Anyway, 12m is really 12m! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. What is the source of the unID signal hetting HCJB at approx. 6050.84, many mornings? Can never raise audio from it but certainly tantalizing (Ralph Perry, Wheaton, Illinois, Drake R8B; Japan Radio NRD-545; Eton E1; Hallicrafters SX100; Knightkit Star Roamer; Dentron Super Tuner + Ameco PLF-2 + Palomar P-408 + customized (tropical bands) Quantum Phaser antenna unit; Longwires (150' + 100'); Tuned Multi-Turn 20" Small Loop; Single-Turn Coax Loop, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 6100, Jan 22 at 0557 as I was tuning by here, surprised to hear the unmistakable REE IS, but just once before carrier off. Did not even have time to pin down the frequency which could have been 6095 or 6105. Nothing in the schedules to account for this: REE doesn`t operate anywhere near 6100 at any time. Maybe overload from 5965 Costa Rica relay? Quickly checked that, but in programming, not IS. Possibly another case of some unrelated site relaying REE by misprogramming mistake, like 7220 Kunming at 1358-1400 every day (Glenn Hauser, OK, DXLISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 7465, Jan 21 at 1439, S9+22 open carrier with lite fading; gone at next check 1451. Probably VOA Tinang, PHILIPPINES, preparing for the 1500 English broadcast westward (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. I've noticed recently that there is a station broadcasting in Chinese on 9580 mixing with R. Australia during mornings here on the east coast of the US - around 1000 to 1200 UT. Who is this station and why must they choose 9580 from all the frequencies in the universe? R. Australia has been on 9580 since the 1960s! (Karl Zuk, N2KZ, Jan 22, HCDX via DXLD) Karl, Checking the three major online schedule listings: Nothing to account for this in Aoki, which covers Taiwan and China better than the others. Nor in EiBi. HFCC shows KBS, S Korea registered on 9580 at 0900-1200 eastward, so likely in Korean or Japanese rather than Chinese, if really in use. Not in WRTH 2012, tho. China has a service from Tibet which is is supposed to end 9580 at 0930. Possibly today there was a New Year`s Eve extension, but you have been hearing this for how long before? I suggest you try to parallel what you hear on 9580 with the numerous known CNR1 frequencies, many of them jammers, to see if there is a match. 73, (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) In reply Karl says he was hearing this *after* rather than before 1200, but still no clews (gh, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. [Re 12-03]. Last week I posted hearing an UN-ID on 9690 kHz on Jan. 15 from 2215-2245, playing Afro-pop music. Glenn Hauser suggested it might be Cyprus BC on the wrong frequency because they have a scheduled broadcast on Fri/Sat/Sun at this time, but on 9760, 7220, and 6135kHz. Well I am hearing what sounds like Greek on those frequencies, but nothing on 9690 except the usual Family Radio in English. Cyprus BC is on the air as I type this, best on the 49m band, speech only but no music. I did receive an email from a listener in Finland who suggested that the UN-ID on 9690 kHz that I heard may have been Nigeria doing a test (Bruce Fisher (Lexington, MA, USA Palstar R30CC, 70 ft. longwire), Jan 20, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 11500, till 18* 21/1 with HoAfrica songs!!! Sudden Sign- off, S7, no info on Eibi nor Aoki (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, ICOM R75 / 2x16 V / m@h40 heads Sennheiser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED [non]. 11690, 22/Jan 2153. Few days ago I noticed a good sign of RTTY on 11690, but a utilitarian of RTTY in this frequency? (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, 12 14´S, 38 58´W - Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) This is *constant* in North America, bothering any broadcaster foolish enough to use 11690 (such as Cuba); presumably a holdover from the old days when the 25m broadcast band started at 11700. Axually it`s a bit on the low side. In DXLD 9-003 there was an old reference to it being NAA at Cutler, Maine, US Navy on 11687.5, and that appears still to be the case as in: http://qrg.globaltuners.com/details.php?id=31286 Bookmark its original page for lots of other utility frequency lookups (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Despite poor propagation in South Asia this morning, two poor local groundwave Iranawila outlets heard on Victor's Perseus unit in Colombo, a strange Arabic program noted on 13745 kHz at 0349 UT Jan 23, S=3-4 just above threshold, still a PUZZLE. I couldn't find any registration for 13745 kHz yet so far (Wolfgang Büschel, during a `blackout`, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 15100 24/Jan 0854 UNID. YL talk, seemed to be speaking in English with a strong Asian accent. At 0858 pop music. At 0901 YL talk, but does not seem to talk more in English. At 0902 end transmission. 25332. http://www.ipernity.com/doc/75006/12092000/ 15100, 25/Jan 0850-0905, No signal from the [previous] UNID (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, 12 14´S, 38 58´W - Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED [non]. WEIRDNESSes --- 15330/all modes, Random? buzz pulses; 2022, 22-Jan (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 125 ft. bow-tie; 85 ft. RW & 180 ft. center-fed RW, logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) Or course, it`s the DentroCuban Jamming Command still running after R. Martí is finished with 15330 at 2000 (gh, DXLD) 15330, Radio Martí (presumed); 1821, 25-Jan; Spanish drama. S30 with weak rumble jammer; // 11930, S20 with weak rumble jammer; // 13820, S20 with stronger jammer than other two, but easy copy. 15330 has been logged recently with such descriptions as electronic goose honking & buzz pulses when Martí is off (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 125 ft. bow-tie; 85 ft. RW & 180 ft. center-fed RW, logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 15770: Hola amigos de Conexion Digital; reenviando a ustedes a ver si le damos una manita al colega Mexicano. Gracias por cualquier ayuda (Dino Bloise, FL, 21 Jan, condiglist yg via DXLD) Subject: Ayuda para identificar una transmisión de prueba 73's Dino: Molestándote nuevamente, ahora quisiera me ayudaras a identificar una señal que escuché minutos antes de las 1400 UT, por los 15770, con ID y menciona el locutor "test transmission" , pero no puedo identificar ni la estación ni su e-mail. La señal es un poco débil. Ya a las 1400 en la misma frecuencia, inició Polish Radio en ruso?, pero mi duda es si la transmisión previa, minutos antes es de la misma estación o es otra. Porque el audio de pruebas se corta abruptamente, se apaga el transmisor, y segundos más tarde entra Polish Radio. Así que te envío un fragmento de mi grabación para ver si acaso puedes distinguir la emisora. Muchas gracias, saludos desde México (Magdiel Cruz Rodríguez, My radio-shack: Alinco DX-R8T with 15X15 meters Longwire Antenna. QTH: 21 33'45.62" N 98 53'41.83" O (Google earth location) Tel. (Celular) (+52) 777 110 94 56 Calle Aurelio Manrique s/n, Barrio Tepetzintla, 79860 Coxcatlán, S.L.P. MÉXICO, http://entre-ondas.blogspot.com via Dino, ibid.) Prueba efectuada por Woofferton. La misma prueba y la emisión que le siguió en ruso de la radio polaca se encuentra en Youtube en una grabación hecha por DXSanttu en Finlandia. (Pienso que también puedo identificar al oyente que la subió a internet, pero esa no era la pregunta). En la emisión de prueba pedían informes a la dirección siguiente: testtransmission @ gmail.com http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MH23Mb7ch8o http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Pz5FfenD2w O sea testtransmission arroba gmail punto com. En realidad se escribe test transmission en dos palabras pero no se indicaba que fuera en dos palabras. /HK (Henrik Klemetz, Suecia, ibid.) Muchas gracias, amigo Henrik. Después de escucharlo una vez más, debo señalar que el correo para reportar la escucha es: transmissiontest @ gmail.com Gracias por tu atenta y rápida ayuda (Dino Bloise, ibid.) Por supuesto es así, Dino. Gracias por la rectificación. Debo haber tenido los cables cruzados (Henrik, ibid.) UNIDENTIFIED. 21630, Jan 24 at 1515, open carrier, fair signal. Only one scheduled now is WHRI but normally not active weekdays, and besides, there were no spurs; monitored a while longer but nothing developed. BBC Ascension, and IRIB Sirjan use 21630 at other times (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See U S A UNIDENTIFIED. 26000/FM, UNID studio link; 2033, 22-Jan; Buried in the QRN; definitely commercial broadcast and not CBers (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 125 ft. bow-tie; 85 ft. RW & 180 ft. center-fed RW, logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Extensive listing of such stations at http://dxinfocentre.com/stl.htm does not show any on 26.00 MHz; except in Europe a few DRM outlets, and one on AM, R. Maria in Italy, unlikely at that hour (gh, DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ ACKNOWLEDGED ON WORLD OF RADIO 1601: Hi Glenn: Thanks for another year of WOR - a great source of info! All the best for 2012! Regards, (Mike Beu, KD5DSQ, Austin, Texas, with a contribution via PayPal to woradio at yahoo.com) TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED ON SUBSEQUENT PROGRAMS: Thanks to a check in the mail marked ``confidential`` with a postit ``Keep up the great work``, to P O Box 1684, Enid OK 73702 Thanks to Jack Smith, Newport NC, for an MO in the mail to P O Box 1684, Enid OK 73702. Thanks for a contribution from Chuck Ermatinger, MO (gh) Hi, Glenn, Been quite a while! About 20+ years since I last contacted you with SW news; from Minneapolis, I believe. The first time I called you was for my logging of Radio Grønlands on 3999 kHz, which had been reactivated. I think that was 1985 or 86' via the old fashioned way, telephone! I'm usually in the wrong place at the right time to listen to WOR via SW like I used to. So, I just go to your website; much more convenient for me. I've also donated to WOR via PayPal. Keep up the good work, Glenn! (Terry Palmersheim, KT7DX, Helena, MT 59602) Thanks for the weekly show which I used to listen to on WRN but now usually via your webstream (Andrew Rogers, Worcester, England, with a contribution in US$ via PayPal to woradio at yahoo.com) Dear Mr. Glenn Hauser, It is with great pleasure that I send you this letter. My name is Tomoaki Wagai and I am a Japanese listener on radio. Thank you for sharing your information of DXing every time. I can only offer you a beggary donation. Please use for your work. I would very much appreciate your work (with a donation to P O Box 1684, Enid OK 73702 USA) Re: Glenn Hauser logs January 19-20, 2012: You are hella cool-! (Robin Springer, cookingshowaddict) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ BOB SCHMARDER'S OLD TIME RADIO DX PAGE Hi fellow radio DX'ers. I am proud to show you some scans of what my dad used to do to waste his time as a teenager, and then after us kids were all here. He used to stay up late at night seeing how far away he could hear radio stations on the broadcast band. At the tender age of 11, he discovered the magic of radio. As I'm piecing the story together, his first radio was a Majestic 90B. The family had a moderate income as his dad was a pharmacist and was half owner in a drug store on South Salina St. in Syracuse, NY. Life was good in the late 20's. . . Read the full story at http://makearadio.com/qsl/ (Hittade denna sida av en ren händelse. Vem har hört talas om stationen på QSL:et La Voz de Radio Philco på Cuba. På sajten finns många trevliga MV-QSL. /TN) (Thomas Nilsson, SW Bulletin Jan 22 via DXLD) Lots of neat antique QSLs including `Radio Philco, Cuba` (gh) TINY TRAP +++++++++ ``In the tiny desert nation of Tunisia. . .`` starts the 2011 year in review on page 20, of The Week, Dec. 30-Jan 6 issue. O, come on; it`s relatively small compared to neighbors Algeria, Morocco, but hardly tiny if the word has any meaning. Area is 59,900 square miles, which is slightly larger than the U state of Georgia, considerably larger than Portugal, and twice as large as Ireland, for example, none of which, we hope would be deemed ``tiny`` (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) LANGUAGE LESSONS ++++++++++++++++ UNDERSTAND SPANISH IDs --- Identification of Spanish language radio stations with Andrew Brade Following observations from some DXers regarding difficulties with identification of Spanish language transmissions, these notes are aimed at providing some information that will help those unfamiliar with the language. Countries that broadcast in Spanish --- All Central and Southern American countries use Spanish with the following exceptions: Portuguese – Brazil Dutch – Suriname, Aruba French – Haiti, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique English – Guyana, Jamaica, Barbados, Belize and Leeward/Windward Islands, Trinidad and Falkland Islands. Outside the Americas, the world’s only other Spanish speaking countries are Equatorial Guinea, Western Sahara, Philippines and Spain. Words to know. Knowledge of a few words in Spanish can help enormously. All serious Latin American DXers should know the Spanish words for: Numbers 1-100 and hundreds up to 1000 Days of the week Months of the year All letters of the alphabet Note that two digit numbers are formally connected with a “y” – for example “veinte y dos” = 22. However when spoken the “y” is usually inaudible, being lost in the “tens” part of the number. [or combined as: veintidós --- gh] How stations identify. The form of identification varies tremendously. Some stations just announce their name in music breaks. Others have more formal identifications, so it helps to know the words they might use immediately before the station name can be expected. Some stations, especially Mexicans, have a very formal announcement at local midnight preceding or, more often, following the National Anthem. These stations are often the easiest to identify because they may give call sign, postal address, telephone number and then the anthem itself can be a useful identification aid. Key phrases to listen for include: "Ésta es ..." (This is ...) "Estás escuchando ..." (You are listening to ...) "Transmite ..." (Transmitting ) "Sintonice ..." (You are tuned to…) [that`s imperative; rather ``Sintoniza`` --- gh] Most North American stations can be relied upon to ID very close to the top of the hour - within a few seconds of the exact time. Latin Americans don't - their IDs can be anywhere and many seem to occur between one and two minutes past the top of the hour. When following a long national anthem the ID could be five minutes past the top of the hour! National Anthems (Himno Nacional). National Anthems tend to be played just after local midnight. Various web resources are available from which it is possible to download rather simple mp3 files that play the tune. One such site is http://www.national-anthems.net Religious stations (emisoras religiosas). Many Latin American stations are affiliated to a religious group and often carry programming provided by the group. Sometimes it is possible to identify the station from the church. Often there are references to particular gatherings or venues from which a location can be determined. The most common religious broadcasters are IURD (Iglesia Universal del Reino de Dios) – a Brazilian-based sect that is in fact active in many countries of the world. It uses the “Pare de Sufrir” slogan. Another is the IPDA (Iglesia Pentecostal Dios es Amor). The web sites of these two organisations list local transmitters – for example: http://www.ipda.com.br/nova/vozlibertacao/venezuela.html Time (la hora). A key identifier for stations is the time zone. The time zones in Latin American countries varies between UT -3h (Argentina) to UT -8h (Mexico), with some but not all having Daylight Saving Time. In Spanish the time is given like this: “son las con minutos” - e.g. “son las tres con treinta minutos” - half past three. Sometimes stations omit the “son las”. Time before the hour is denoted by “menos” or “para”. For example “son diez para las dos” or “son las dos menos diez” are both ten minutes to two. Sometimes one hears “faltan diez minutos para las dos”. At one o'clock it is "Es la una con..." [not always ``con``, sometimes just `y` before the minutos --- gh] When the exact time is told, the time is supplemented by the phrase “en punto” – e.g. “son las dos en punto”. Some countries use the 24- hour clock. Night is “la noche”, morning (and tomorrow) is “la mañana”, afternoon and evening is “la tarde”. Midnight is “la medianoche” and mid-day is “el mediodía”. The early morning is “la madrugada" - a phrase often heard by European DXers who are listening in local early hours in Latin America. The table below summarises the time in the main Latin American countries; more information is on the web or in the WRTH. Time Zone table Zone Countries Daylight Saving Time 2012 UT -3h Argentina (LR-LU) No Uruguay (CV-CX) Yes (7 Oct - 11 Mar) UT -4h Bolivia No Chile (CA-CE) Yes (14 Oct - 11 Mar) Dominican Republic (HI) No Paraguay (ZP) Yes (7 Oct - 8 Apr) Puerto Rico (W) No UT -4 ½ hrs Venezuela (YV) No UT- 5h Colombia (HJ) No Cuba (CM) Yes (18 Mar - 11 Nov) Ecuador (HC) No Panama (HO) No Perú (O) No UT -6h Belize No El Salvador (YS) No Guatemala (TG) No Honduras (HR) No México (XE) – Most states Yes (1 Apr - 28 Oct)* México (XE) – [cities bordering USA - gh]: Yes (11 Mar – 4 Nov)* Nicaragua No UT -7h México (XE) - Sonora No UT -8h México (XE) – Baja California N Yes (11 Mar – 4 Nov) *The start and end of DST in México are complicated – see Internet resources. Frequency (frecuencia). The numerical part of the frequency of a station is more often expressed in the form "1280" (mil doscientos ochenta) rather than "12- 80" (doce-ochenta). This is quite different from normal English language practice. [I disagree: the ``12-80`` format is quite common - -- gh]. It is usually followed by "kilohertz" (but sometimes "kilociclos"), then "A.M." or "amplitud modulada". FM frequencies are expressed as in English with the decimal point given as "punto" - e.g. "noventa y seis punto uno". Very few stations nowadays may also announce a shortwave frequency. Use of call signs The use of call signs on the air is really confined to Venezuela (YV-- ), Colombia (HJ--) and México (XE--). A handful of Argentine (LR/LS) stations use them with some from Ecuador (HC--) and Cuba (CM--). México makes the most extensive use of them. News and Weather (Las noticias y el tiempo) Perhaps a little sophisticated, but listening for news items and local weather can help – the temperature is given in degrees (grados). [Celsius everywhere in LAm, except some US borderstations also give F --- gh] Events. Sometimes a clue to the station can be obtained from an event that is being publicised - for this knowledge of dates, days and times is useful as is information about public holidays. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_holidays_by_country Telephone Numbers (números teléfonicos). [no, it`s telefónicos, altho the root word is teléfono --- accents move around as required --- gh] When a telephone number is given, it may be preceded by "Teléfono" or "Llámenos a". The number itself is always given in pairs such as 26- 53-25-88 or 6-44-58-79. Postal Addresses (direcciónes [sic] postales) [there is no accent on direcciones, altho one is required on singular dirección --- gh] Addresses usually have the name of the street followed by the house number. The street can begin “Calle” = Street or “Avenida” = Avenue. Especially in Mexico, a “Colonia” or neighbourhood may follow. In Colombia, the term “barrio” is used for a neighbourhood. Postal addresses sometimes contain a PO Box number (Casilla). If you need more information about addresses in Latin America (particularly if hearing an address on air, or if you plan to write to a station for a QSL) these websites could help: http://www.escapeartist.com/Zip_Codes/ and http://www.columbia.edu/~fdc/postal/#latin Web Addresses (sitios web) These are usually given as “doble-ve punto …” [sic, only one W?] or “triple-doble-ve” or “doble-doble-doble”. The web address suffixes for the different countries are listed below: .ar = Argentina (usually spoken as “punto arr”) .bo = Bolivia .cl = Chile .co = Colombia (usually spoken as “punto co”) .cu = Cuba .ec = Ecuador .mx = México .pe = Perú .py = Paraguay .uy = Uruguay (usually spoken as “punto oy” [sic]) .ve = Venezuela Sometimes the address ends with an extra .com for good measure - “...com.ar” for example (January Mediumwave News via DXLD) Despite my inserted comments & correxions, this is an otherwise accurate and useful guide (gh) CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ CARTAS@RN EN EL ENCUENTRO DIEXISTA COLOMBO-VENEZOLANO con entrevistas a los participantes del encuentro dx Emisión: 15 Enero 2012 11:10 - 17 Enero 2012 17:10 (Sergio Acosta/RNW) El programa Cartas@RN de esta semana nos lleva a San Cristóbal, Táchira, Venezuela, donde tuvo lugar el II Encuentro Diexista Colombo- Venezolano. Producción de Sergio Acosta Emisión domingo 15 y martes 17 de enero; Contacto cartas@rnw.nl "Onda Corta e Internet, las dos son importantes. Qué no se nos cierren las puertas. Sin Onda Corta nos sentiremos aislados" son algunas de las afirmaciones de los entrevistados en el programa que dedicamos a ese evento, en el que Radio Nederland fue la invitada especial. En el programa se habla de los peligros de recortes existentes para las transmisiones de onda corta de radios internacionales, y de las iniciativas para intentar salvarlas en el futuro. También conversamos con el fundador de Radio Ciudad Global de Colombia y con un oyente que nos escucha desde hace 35 años. De paso, preguntamos sobre la nueva misión de nuestra emisora: la libertad de expresión. En el programa participan Santiago San Gil, Williams López, César Augusto Rodríguez, y Mario Archila. Estos son algunos de sus comentarios: Licenciado Williams López, Venezuela: "Se mantiene en peligro la onda corta. Creo que esta crisis que está pasando Europa y el Mundo globalizado está atacando la onda corta. Los gobiernos están buscando espacios en el presupuesto y eso conlleva a recorte de estas emisiones. Pienso que estamos en peligro aunque aquí en el encuentro conocimos sobre ideas para proteger estas emisiones y que continúen las radios internacionales" . Profesor César Rodríguez, Colombia: "Siempre hay una incertidumbre, porque las tecnologías cambian constantemente. No es que yo quiera que la radio internacional por onda corta termine, quisiera que esa magia continuara, pero sin duda la Internet ha hecho mella y ha encontrado ya su espacio y su lugar. Así como dice el teórico francés Régis Debray el libro no destruyó la catedral diciendo que la biblia no acabó con los edificios góticos, pues de la misma manera yo creo que igual que la televisión no acabó con el cine y con el teatro, entonces la internet tampoco va a acabar con la onda corta. Encontrará y seguirá teniendo su espacio y su lugar". Ingeniero Santiago San Gil: "La importancia de Radio Nederland en sus emisiones para Venezuela y el Caribe, no sólo recae en que durante tantos años nos han acompañado a través de sus emisiones en Bonaire y Flevo. La escuchábamos como una emisora local, en la frecuencia de 800 khz en onda corta y onda media. El hecho que van a retroceder lo vamos a sentir, porque siempre han estado. De una u otra manera aunque exista internet como plan B mucha gente quiere seguir escuchando a través de la onda corta. Ojalá y tengamos esa rectificación a tiempo. Hicimos una campaña que quizás no tuvo el resultado que esperábamos pero por lo menos nos hicimos sentir con la intención de que reconsiderará n la medida y ojalá nos escuchen algún dia. Wim Jansen, nuestro director de departamento iba a asistir al evento, pero por cuestiones de agenda no pudo. Aún así su mensaje se hizo escuchar en el evento: ¿Significa todo esto que asistimos a la muerte de la Onda Corta? Vamos a decirlo muy fuerte: No. Pero sí asistimos a su declive. Y el matiz es importante. No es la muerte porque la Onda Corta posee tres cualidades, que por ahora, son insustituibles: su acceso difícilmente puede ser obstaculizado de forma voluntaria. Con otras palabras, los enemigos de la libertad tienen serios problemas para interferir las transmisiones de Onda Corta. Allí, donde hay ausencia de libertad, la Onda Corta, es la aliada de los demócratas. La otra cualidad es que necesita de poca tecnología para transmitir en situaciones de emergencia, sean estas catástrofes naturales, o crisis humanitarias. Asimismo la Onda Corta alcanza a los lugares en donde todavía falta de todo, entre ellos el acceso a la electricidad. ¿Somos los de Radio Nederland partidarios totales de las nuevas tecnologías? Sí y No. Sí, porque las nuevas tecnologías abaratan nuestros costos de producción. Son considerablemente más económicas que los instrumentos clásicos como la radio analógica, el periódico, e incluso la televisión. Su calidad es tan alta que permite llegar con el mensaje del mejor modo posible hasta la fecha. Su rapidez es tan alta que prácticamente ha eliminado las conjugaciones del pasado y el ahorita, en este mismo instante, es real y puede darle la vuelta al mundo en cuestión de segundos. También las nuevas tecnologías han aumentado las expectativas de la gente que ahora tienen acceso al mundo y quieren participar de él. Ese conocimiento adicional al cual acceden produce más demandas. Es síntesis, es muy difícil ser periodista y ser adversario de las nuevas tecnologías. Y no, porque los fundamentalistas de las nuevas tecnologías creen que éstas van a solucionar todos los problemas de este mundo, y eso es mentira. No, porque ahora se ven y destacan solamente las virtudes y no nos damos el tiempo suficiente para criticar sus deficiencias. Por ejemplo, la reducción de los mensajes amenaza con hacernos seres humanos carentes de contexto y perspectiva histórica. El saltar o cambiar en un lapso de tiempo mínimo de un mensaje a otro, no nos hace más inteligentes, sí más rápidos en reaccionar, pero con menor profundidad. Por otro lado Internet propicia lo digerible de inmediato, sobre todo si es entretenido y divertido. La entretención y la diversión son parte sustantiva de los medios de comunicación, pero no exclusivamente. A veces enterarse realmente de algo requiere un esfuerzo mental y una dedicación menos graciosa. No, y éste no es grande, en América Latina, según Latinobarómetro, un 15 por ciento usa Internet. Lo que se diferencia notablemente de la radio y la televisión, que superan el 70 por ciento, cada una. La tradición oral, tan presente en la historia de estas tierras incide en los gustos culturales de la gente y hace de la radio su compañera favorita. Qué mejor que tener una amiga que no molesta, que no nos aburre, que nos consuela siempre con sus palabras y su música. Además, el informe 2011 de Latinobarómetro dice que después de Iglesia, la radio es la institución más prestigiosa del subcontinente. Para leer todo el mensaje de Wim Jansen al II Encuentro Diexista Colombo Venezolano pinche aquí http://sites.rnw.nl/documento/Radio%20Nederland.pdf Audios y mas fotos, visite: http://www.rnw.nl/espanol/radioshow/cartasrn-en-el-encuentro-diexista-colombo-venezolano (via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) WORLD RADIOCOMMUNICATION CONFERENCE 2012 BEGINS TODAY IN SWITZERLAND ARRL January 23, 2012 The World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-12) opened in Geneva, Switzerland on Monday, January 23. Attendees will review and revise the Radio Regulations, the international treaty governing the use of radio frequency spectrum and satellite orbits. One of the items to be considered at WRC-12 is Agenda Item 1.23: To consider an allocation of about 15 kHz in parts of the band 415-526.5 kHz to the Amateur Service on a secondary basis, taking into account the need to protect existing services. More than 3000 participants -- representing more than 150 out of the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) 193 Member States -- are expected to attend the four-week conference. About 100 Observers from among the ITU’s 700 private sector members -- along with international organizations, including the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) -- are also in attendance. A number of WRC-12 delegates are radio amateurs. On the first day of WRC-12, various interests have introduced several ways to implement the proposed MF secondary allocation, while some are not interested in making any changes that would grant it. The European countries, represented by CEPT, offered an 8-kHz-wide band between 472 and 480 kHz. CITEL, which represents the Americas, has proposed the secondary allocation be at 461-469 and 471-478 kHz. Colin Thomas, G3PSM, introduced the CEPT proposal, while ARRL Technical Relations Specialist Jon Siverling, WB3ERA, had the honor of introducing the CITEL proposal to the Conference. Siverling, ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, IARU President Tim Ellam, VE6SH, and ARRL Chief Technology Officer Brennan Price, N4QX, are participating in the Conference, representing the Amateur Radio Service at the Conference. Price is serving as Chairman of the working committee that will draft the final proposal. Ellam has been using Twitter to keep interested radio amateurs apprised of what is happening at WRC-12. According to his tweets, the African Telecommunications Union (ATU), the East African Community (EAC), the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) and the South African Development Community (SADC) also support an MF secondary allocation to the Amateur Service. The Regional Commonwealth in the Field of Communications (RCC), which represents Russia, has proposed no change to the current frequency allocations, aligning themselves with the Arab States, China, Iran and the International Maritime Organization. You can follow Ellam on Twitter at twitter.com/IARU_President. According to the ITU, WRC-12 will address the changes required to the regulation of orbit/spectrum resources in the interest of the users of these scarce resources, with global implications for policy-makers, regulators, the telecommunications industry as well as end-users. “The World Radiocommunication Conference will review and modify global spectrum regulations to ensure that this most precious resource is used effectively to benefit all players,” said ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun Touré, HB9EHT. “The aim is to ensure reliable radio services are available everywhere and at any time, enabling people to live and travel safely while enjoying high performance radiocommunications.” ITU Radiocommunication Bureau Director François Rancy concurred: “The decisions taken by the ITU Membership during WRC-12 will play a vital role in contributing toward improved access and development of information and communication technologies (ICT) wireless infrastructure, in particular in meeting the challenges of mobile broadband and ensuring that ICTs work for the benefit of all the world’s people. The objective is to enable the introduction of the latest technological developments, while protecting investments and favoring economies of scale.” Fuelled by rapid technological developments in ICT, along with increasing convergence of radiocommunication services in today’s communication devices, there is an urgent need to ensure the best efficiencies in the use of spectrum, a finite resource. WRC-12 will examine the technical, regulatory and operational aspects to address frequency allocation and frequency sharing to ensure the high quality of radiocommunication services for maritime and aeronautical transport, as well as for scientific purposes related to the environment, meteorology and climatology, and disaster prediction, mitigation and relief. The management of satellite orbital slots and associated spectrum resources will be a key area of focus for WRC-12.The Conference goal will be to ensure that the modifications made to the international procedures for the coordination and registration of satellite systems provide for equitable and efficient use of these resources. WRC-12 will also advance the introduction of mobile broadband and other advanced technologies such as the development of Ultra High Definition Television (UHDTV), promote the use of the digital dividend resulting from the switch over to digital TV, as well as consider the potential for radiocommunications to act as a catalyst to reduce the impact of human activity on the environment. During WRC-12, 4U1ITU -- the ITU HQ station -- will be the ITU HQ station, will be signing 4U1WRC. The station will revert back to 4U1ITU just in time for the ARRL International DX CW Contest, scheduled for February 18-19. According to Sumner, the station is in really good shape, with two operating positions capable of going on any two bands at the same time. The agenda for WRC-12 was set at the last WRC meeting, held in 2007. WRC-12 participants will be tasked with preparing the agenda for the next WRC, scheduled for 2015. WRC-12 runs through February 17. -- Thanks to the ITU for some information. http://www.arrl.org/news/world-radiocommunication-conference-2012-begins-today-in-switzerland-will-consider-secondary-mf-amat (via Mike Terry, UK, Jan 23, dxldyg via DXLD) WORLD OF HOROLOGY +++++++++++++++++ WORLD RADIOCOMMUNICATION CONFERENCE AND THE FUTURE OF GMT World Radiocommunication Conference 2012 (WRC-12) Geneva, Switzerland, 23 January-17 February 2012 http://www.itu.int/net/newsroom/wrc/2012/ ABC News published an article about the GMT issue: Leading scientists around the world are meeting in Britain to consider a proposal that could eventually see Greenwich Mean Time relegated to a footnote in history. The meeting in London will look at the implications of abolishing the leap seconds and moving fully to atomic time. . . http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-03/time-for-change-gmt-could-be-history/3617226 (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) The leap second decision has been postponed to WRC 2015. See here http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16625614 (Harry Brooks, North East England UK, ibid.) Leap seconds to stay (more details): Southgate January 19, 2012 On Thursday, January 19, France and the USA failed in their attempt to break our traditional link with astronomical time. The world currently uses solar based Universal Time (UT) which is tied to the natural rotation of the Earth. Abolishing leap seconds would result in a growing discrepancy between our clocks and nature's time. Sundials, used by humankind for 5500 years, would be rendered useless and we could eventually see midday occuring in darkness. David Willetts, Minister of State for Universities and Science, told the BBC: "The UK position is that we should stick to the current system used throughout the world. Without leap seconds we will eventually lose the link between time and people's everyday experience of day and night." The ITU Radio Assembly meeting in Geneva was unable to reach a consensus on the matter, so the discussion was deferred to a meeting in 2015. BBC News - Leap second decision 'postponed' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16625614 Leap Second Debate video http://www.southgatearc.org/news/january2012/leap_second_debate_video.htm http://www.southgatearc.org/news/january2012/leap_seconds_to_stay.htm (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) GMT? ended worldwide on 1 January 1972 Wikipedia English black masked before, is wide open again: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwich_Mean_Time wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Jan 19, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 2012 BRINGS A LEAP DAY AND A LEAP SECOND When February arrives, we will receive the gift of an extra day because 2012 is a leap year. But that isn't all the extra time we get this year. On the night of June 30, after the very last second of the conventional day, an extra second will be added, a "leap second." Bet you did not know that not every fourth year is a leap year. If it's a hundred-numbered year (e.g. 1900), the number must be exactly divisible by 400 to be a leap year. For example, 2000 was a leap year but 1700, 1800 and 1900 were not. [I bet I did --- gh] http://tinyurl.com/LeapSecondToBeAdded http://www.nist.gov/pml/div688/leapseconds.cfm (CGC Communicator Jan 23 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) AGAINST SUMMER TIME IN BRITAIN There is an e-petition here http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/16447 "UK time should be kept at GMT all year round, as it is less confusing and there is enough daylight in the summer without adding an hour to GMT Responsible department: Department for Business, Innovation and Skills British Summer time (BST) is kept an hour head of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) in the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October, all changes taking place at 01.00 GMT. GMT is regarded as daylight saving (giving more daylight during waking hours) in the winter, so why not continue to use GMT in the summer. In the summer there is often enough sunlight in UK from 5 am (0400 GMT) onwards till about 8 pm (1900 GMT), so it is unnecessary to keep BST ahead by 1 hour. Keeping to GMT all year round meant that there is still daylight in the summer between 4 am till 7 pm GMT. The advantage of keeping GMT all year round is that there is no need to expand effort & resources in altering clocks by an hour twice every year and less confusion about adding one hour at 1am GMT on last Sunday in March and subtracting one hour every last Sunday of October at 2am BST. This will also be confusing to others in the internationally community, as well as to animals." http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/16447 (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) I'm amazed that anyone would be stupid enough to admit to creating this petition. It's a pathetic excuse for a petition. ``UK time should be kept at GMT all year round, as it is less confusing`` It's confusing if you're not intelligent enough to comprehend that the amount of daylight available through the year changes due to the rotation of the earth and that this change needs to be compensated for by changing local time to suit. This is the opening line of the petition and the writer has already admitted that they're stupid! ``GMT is regarded as daylight saving (giving more daylight during waking hours) in the winter, so why not continue to use GMT in the summer.`` Simple answer. No it's not. ``In the summer there is often enough sunlight in UK from 5am (0400 GMT) onwards till about 8pm (1900 GMT), so it is unnecessary to keep BST ahead by 1 hour. Keeping to GMT all year round meant that there is still daylight in the summer between 4am till 7pm GMT.`` Only a tiny percentage of people are awake at 5 am therefore most people don't feel the benefit of the sunlight at that time or for at least another 2 hours. The claim that "it is unnecessary to keep BST ahead by 1 hour" because it's light until 8 pm is nonsense. It's still nonsense when the writer repeats it in the next sentence. Most normal people's "day" doesn't end until between 10 pm and midnight. The times quoted for hours of daylight are also incorrect as in the middle of the UK it is light from 4am until 10 pm BST. The petition writer clearly has there clock set to the wrong time as they are losing a few hours of daylight already. No wonder they want the rest of the country to change to suit them. ``The advantage of keeping GMT all year round is that there is no need to expand effort & resources in altering clocks by an hour twice every year and less confusion about adding one hour at 1am GMT on last Sunday in March and subtracting one hour every last Sunday of October at 2 am BST`` See my first point. It's only confusing if you're an idiot and if it requires such an effort then may I suggest that the writer buys a smaller clock as the pointers on there own clock are obviously far too big and heavy. ``This will also be confusing to others in the internationally community, as well as to animals."`` See my previous points about confusion and please post all pictures of dogs, cats, rabbits etc. setting their watches and clocks to WWV in the "Photos" album. I can't help feeling there is a hidden agenda with this petition. It would have been helpful if the writer had given the real reason why they want this change. A much better idea which the majority of people would actually feel the benefit of is "double summertime". Hardly anyone would even notice the difference in the morning but everyone would enjoy it being light an hour later in the evening. The less than 0.5% of the population, i.e. farmers, who usually object to GMT and BST being changed can be ignored as we don't have to pander to minorities any more now that we don't have a labour government (Harry Brooks, North East England UK, ibid.) DIARY - World Time Changes - Jan-Apr 2012 | Reuters http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/16/diary-world-time-changes-idUSFLLDM92XK20120116 Mon Jan 16, 2012 7:01am EST REUTERS DIARY OF TIME CHANGES AROUND THE WORLD *** DATE AS PER GMT *** SATURDAY, JANUARY 21 FIJI - Clocks go back by one hour to GMT+12 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26 BRAZIL - Clocks go back by one hour to GMT-3 in Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Salvador and GMT-4 in Campo Grande. SUNDAY, MARCH 11 CHILE - Clocks go back by one hour to GMT-4 in Santiago, Punta Arenas and to GMT-6 in Easter Island. URUGUAY - Clocks go back by one hour to GMT-3 SAINT-PIERRE and MIQUELON - Clocks go forward one hour to GMT-2 CANADA - Most of Canada puts clocks forward by one hour; (Newfoundland time) St John's returns to GMT -2:30; (Atlantic time) Happy Valley- Goose Bay, Saint John (New Brunswick) and Halifax return to GMT -3; (Eastern time) Ottawa, Québec, Pond Inlet (Nunavut Territory) and Toronto return to GMT -4; (Central time) Baker Lake (Nunavut Territory), Resolute (Nunavut Territory) and Winnipeg (Manitoba) returns to GMT -5; (Mountain time) Calgary, Edmonton, Inuvik and Yellowknife return to GMT -6; (Pacific time) Vancouver and Whitehorse return to GMT -7 BERMUDA - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT-3 GREENLAND - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT-3 in Qaanaaq. BAHAMAS - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT-4 TURKS and CAICOS ISLANDS - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT-4. UNITED STATES - Clocks go forward by one hour; new time in the eastern zone is GMT-4, central zone GMT-5, mountain zone GMT-6, Pacific zone GMT-7, Alaska GMT-8 and Aleutian Islands GMT-9. MEXICO - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT-5 in Matamoros; GMT-6 in Ciudad Juárez; GMT-7 in Mexicali and Tijuana. SUNDAY, MARCH 18 CUBA - Clocks go forward one hour to GMT-4 TUESDAY, MARCH 20 IRAN - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT +4:30 SATURDAY, MARCH 24 LEBANON - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+3 ARMENIA - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+5 SUNDAY, MARCH 25 AZERBAIJAN - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+5 GREENLAND - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT-2 in Nuuk. GREENLAND - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT in Ittoqqortoormiit. PORTUGAL - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT in Azores and GMT+1 in Lisbon. FAROE ISLAND - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+1 IRELAND - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+1 ISLE OF MAN - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+1 SPAIN - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+1 in Las Palmas, GMT+2 in Barcelona, Madrid and Palma. UNITED KINGDOM - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+1 ALBANIA - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+2 ANDORRA - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+2 AUSTRIA - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+2 BELGIUM - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+2 BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+2 CROATIA - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+2 CZECH REPUBLIC - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+2 DENMARK - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+2 FRANCE - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+2 GERMANY - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+2 GIBRALTAR - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+2 VATICAN CITY - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+2 HUNGARY - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+2 ITALY - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+2 KOSOVO - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+2 LIECHTENSTEIN - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+2 LUXEMBOURG - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+2 MACEDONIA - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+2 MALTA - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+2 MONACO - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+2 MONTENEGRO - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+2 NETHERLANDS - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+2 NORWAY - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+2 POLAND - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+2 SAN MARINO - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+2 SERBIA - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+2 SLOVAK REPUBLIC - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+2 SLOVENIA - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+2 SWEDEN - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+2 SWITZERLAND - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+2 BULGARIA - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+3 CYPRUS - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+3 ESTONIA - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+3 FINLAND - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+3 GREECE - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+3 LATVIA - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+3 LITHUANIA - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+3 MOLDOVA - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+3 ROMANIA - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+3 TURKEY - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+3 UKRAINE - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+3 THURSDAY, MARCH 29 JORDAN - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+3 PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+3 in West Bank. FRIDAY, MARCH 30 ISRAEL - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+3 PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+3 in Gaza Strip. SATURDAY, MARCH 31 ANTARCTICA - Clocks go back by one hour to GMT +12 [surely refers to NZ bases only --- gh] NEW ZEALAND - Clocks go back by one hour to GMT+12 in Auckland and Wellington. Clocks go back by one hour to GMT+12:45 in Chatham Island. SAMOA - Clocks go back by one hour to GMT-13 [wrong! It`s now on the plus side of the dateline, i.e. west --- gh] AUSTRALIA - Clocks go back by one hour to GMT+10 in Canberra, Hobart, Melbourne and Sydney; to GMT+9:30 in Adelaide; GMT+10:30 in Lord Howe Island. SUNDAY, APRIL 1 NAMIBIA - Clocks go back by one hour to GMT+1 MEXICO - Clocks go forward by one hour; new time in the central zone is GMT-5 and Pacific zone GMT-6 [see also LANGUAGE LESSONS above] THURSDAY, APRIL 5 SYRIA - Clocks go forward by one hour to GMT+3 SUNDAY, APRIL 8 PARAGUAY - Clocks go back by one hour to GMT-4 COUNTRIES/TERRITORIES WHICH DO NOT HAVE TIME CHANGES ==================================================== ARGENTINA - Local time is GMT-3 hours AFRICA - Most countries in Central, East, South and West Africa do not change their clocks AFGHANISTAN - Local time is GMT +4:30 hours ALGERIA - Local time is GMT +1 hours AMERICAN SAMOA - Local time is GMT -11 hours ANDAMAN ISLANDS - Local time is GMT +5:30 hours ANGOLA - Local time is GMT+1 hours ANGUILLA - Local time is GMT -4 hours ANTIGUA & BARBUDA - Local time is GMT -4 hours ARUBA - Local time is GMT -4 hours BAHRAIN - Local time is GMT +3 hours BANGLADESH - Local time is GMT+6 hours BARBADOS - Local time is GMT -4 hours BENIN - Local time is GMT +1 BELIZE - Local time is GMT -6 hours BHUTAN - Local time is GMT +6 BOLIVIA - Local time is GMT -4 hours BOTSWANA - Local time is GMT +2 hours BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS - Local time is GMT -4 hours BRUNEI - Local time is GMT +8 hours BURKINA FASO - Local time is the same as GMT BURUNDI - Local time is GMT +2 hours CAMBODIA - Local time is GMT +7 hours CAMEROON - Local time is GMT +1 hour CAPE VERDE ISLANDS - Local time is GMT -1 hour CAYMAN ISLANDS - Local time is GMT-5 hours CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC - Local time is GMT +1 hour CHAD - Local time is GMT +1 hour CHINA - Local time is GMT +8 hours [even in the west, TIBET] COOK ISLANDS - Local time is GMT -10 hours COSTA RICA - Local time is GMT -6 hours COTE D'IVOIRE - Local time is GMT DJIBOUTI - Local time is GMT +3 hours DOMINICA - Local time is GMT -4 hours DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - Local time is GMT -4 hours ECUADOR - Local time is GMT -5 hours EGYPT - Local time is GMT +2 hours EL SALVADOR - Local time is GMT -6 hours ERITREA - Local time is GMT +3 hours ETHIOPIA - Local time is GMT +3 hours EQUATORIAL GUINEA - Local time is GMT +1 hour FRENCH GUIANA - Local time is GMT -3 hours FRENCH POLYNESIA - Local time is GMT -9 hours GABON - Local time is GMT +1 hour GAMBIA - Local time is GMT GEORGIA - Local time is GMT +4 hours GHANA - Local time is same as GMT GRENADA - Local time is GMT -4 hours GUADELOUPE - Local time is GMT -4 hours GUAM - Local time is GMT +10 hours GUATEMALA - Local time is GMT -6 hours GUINEA - Local time is GMT GUINEA BISSAU - Local time is GMT GUYANA - Local time is GMT -4 hours INDIA - Local time is GMT +5.30 hours IRAQ - Local time is GMT +3 JAMAICA - Local time is GMT -5 hours JAPAN - Local time is GMT +9 hours KAZAKSTAN - Local time is GMT +6 hours KENYA - Local time is GMT +3 hours KERGUELEN ISLANDS - Local time is GMT +5 hours KUWAIT - Local time is GMT +3 hours KYRGYZSTAN - Local time is GMT +6 hours LAOS - Local time is GMT +7 hours LESOTHO - Local time is GMT +2hours LIBERIA - Local time is GMT LIBYA - Local time is GMT +2 hours MACAU - Local time is GMT +8 hours MADAGASCAR - Local time is GMT +3 hours MALAWI - Local time is GMT +2 hours MALAYSIA - Local time is GMT +8 hours MALDIVES - Local time is GMT +5 hours MALI - Local time is GMT MARSHALL ISLANDS - Local time is GMT +12 hours MARTINIQUE - Local time is GMT -4 hours MAURITANIA - Local time is GMT MAURITIUS - Local time is GMT +4 hours MAYOTTE - Local time is GMT +3 hours NAURU - Local time is GMT +12 hours NEPAL - Local time is GMT+5:45 hours NETHERLANDS ANTILLES - Local time is GMT -4 hours NICARAGUA - Local time is GMT -6 hours NIGER - Local time is GMT +1 hour NIGERIA - Local time is GMT +1 hours NIUE - Local time is GMT -11 hours NORFOLK ISLAND - Local time is GMT +11:30 hours NORTH KOREA - Local time is GMT +9 hours NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS - Local time is GMT +10 hours OMAN - Local time is GMT +4 hours PALAU - Local time is GMT +9 hours PANAMA - Local time is GMT -5 hours PAPUA NEW GUINEA - Local time is GMT +10 hours PERU - Local time is GMT -5 hours PHILIPPINES - Local time is GMT +8 hours PUERTO RICO - Local time is GMT -4 hours QATAR - Local time is GMT +3 hours RUSSIA - (The new legislation eliminates the yearly switch between standard time and daylight saving time). Kaliningrad Time GMT +3, Moscow Time GMT +4, Yekaterinburg Time GMT +6, Omsk Time GMT +7, Krasnoyarsk Time GMT +8, Irkutsk Time GMT +9, Yakutsk Time GMT +10, Vladivostok Time GMT +11, Magadan Time GMT +12. RWANDA - Local time is GMT +2 hours ST. LUCIA - Local time is GMT -4 hours SAMOA - Local time is GMT -11 hours SAUDI ARABIA - Local time is GMT +3 hours SENEGAL - Local time is GMT SEYCHELLES - Local time is GMT +4 hours SIERRA LEONE - Local time is GMT SINGAPORE - Local time is GMT +8 hours SOLOMON ISLANDS - Local time is GMT +11 hours SOMALIA - Local time is GMT +3 hours SWAZILAND - Local time is GMT +2 hours TAIWAN - Local time is GMT +8 hours TAJIKISTAN - Local time is GMT +5 hours TANZANIA - Local time is GMT +3 hours THAILAND - Local time is GMT +7 hours TIMOR-LESTE - Local time is GMT +9 hours TOGO - Local time is GMT TONGA - Local time is GMT +13 hours TRINIDAD/TOBAGO - Local time is GMT -4 hours TUNISIA - Local time is GMT +1 hours TURKMENISTAN - Local time is GMT +5 hours TUVALU - Local time is GMT +12 hours UGANDA - Local time is GMT +3 hours UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - LOCAL time is GMT +4 hours UZBEKISTAN - Local time is GMT +5 hours VENEZUELA - Local time is GMT -4:30 hours VIETNAM - Local time is GMT +7 hours VIRGIN ISLANDS - Local time is GMT -4 hours WESTERN SAHARA - Local time is GMT YEMEN - Local time is GMT +3 hours ZAMBIA - Local time is GMT +2 hours ZIMBABWE - Local time is GMT +2 hours ------------------------------------------------------- * All clock times are subject to change ----------------------------------------------------- Please send feedback to diaries @ thomsonreuters.com (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DRM See BELGIUM; CHINA; NEW ZEALAND; ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ NIGERIA; VATICAN; UNIDENTIFIED 26000 DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DTV ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ BLUE BOX CHANNEL Now! For a limited time only! WCBS brings you The Blue Box channel! Watch a blue box move up and down while listening to the classic sound of audio test tone. 'A delight!' - Clive Barnes (WCBS-DT is warming up their new 2.2 channel CBSNY+ 'News, Traffic, Weather, Sports') I guess Bob Siedel and company are worried about the performance on 2.1 HD when channel 2.2 finally goes on the air (Karl Zuk, N2KZ, FN31eh, Jan 17, WTFDA via DXLD) Goodbye pristine pq on CBS HD OTA progamming from O&O stations. This will also affect cable providers in those areas who will be taking this same bandwidth-starved signal. I know, many will say "who cares" considering the multitudes of "flat screens" installed in varied businesses which are pumping out stretchovision via basic cable or a shared RF ch3 output from a common DirecTV or Dish receiver. But as a long term (since late 2005) HD viewer, the additional subchannels on a 1080i stream via ATSC do cause pixelation and such. Especially during sports (my CBS *affiliate* KTHV suffers from this). The worst cases of this can even be noticeable on analog tvs via converter boxes. But I'm just a guy (and DXer) in Southeast Arkansas with a HDTV and an OTA antenna. (and DX starved for now :( ) -- -- (Fritze H Prentice Jr, KC5KBV, Star City, AR, ibid.) WCBS on 2-2 (33) is transmitting a 1000 Hz tone, black screen with a Pong looking moving white box. CBSNY+. The guide shows News, Weather, Traffic and Sports. I agree, their picture was the best in town. On the other hand, ABC dropped the weather a while back on WPVI and WABC which I kind of miss. WFMZ from Allentown still has continuous weather and traffic cams, with the usual local quality weather people (Mike Hunter, W2MHZ, Neshanic Station, NJ, ibid.) My CBS O&O is running their signal at a little under 16 MB/sec, but they can still add a subchannel without causing issues on the main channel. My NBC affiliate is running a little over 15 MB/sec on their main channel and MeTV is almost 3 MB/sec on their subchannel without any problems. I am looking forward to the possibility of getting a 24 hour news channel OTA since I can't get my city's cable news channel on DIRECTV. (Jeff Kitsko, Unity Township, PA, ibid.) DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- IBOC see also U S A +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ My rant about HD Radio Keep in mind, this was written late at night, and I was punchy, but here goes: http://stuboysfilm.blogspot.com/2012/01/facts-and-misuse-of-hd-radio.html (wilkinspeak, Jan 20, ABDX via DXLD) WBZ has turned IBOC back on. WBZ 1030 kHz has turned its IBOC back on. Noted 2 pm local Eastern in Boston MA area (Paul McDonough, Jan 19, NRC-AM via DXLD) It still amazes me that all talk stations want IBOC and to compromise their analog audio, which it does. 73 KAZ (Neil Kazaross, IL/WI, ibid.) I suggested a number of times that DXers who are *local* to a station that turns off IBOC, and then turns it back on, should write to the general manager (by paper mail) (and not to the CE) commenting on thanking them for the period it was off, and mentioning the signal quality while it was off. This of course is writing them as a listener, and not as a DXer. (so is why you have to be local to them). I never have seen a single report here that any DXer actually took the minimal time and effort to do so, or has even mentioned it here. I have to conclude that it is not nearly as important issue to these DXers as it would appear from the numerous posts saying "Wow it's off and I hope it stays off" etc. Practically every listener to AM radio is clueless about IBOC so every letter a station does receive has a 'multiplier effect' when they (1) actually acknowledge IBOC and (2) mention the comparative quality of the analog signal when the IBOC is off. Sure maybe it is a wasted effort. But what's the downside, a stamp and a half hour of your time. Unfortunately (or not) my 3 HD locals (in Tampa) are too far away for me to even decode them (30+ miles) and they never shut it off anyhow based on presence of sidebands; and yes all 3 are talk. (620 970 and 1250) (this is about HD on AM only of course) Comments? (Bob Foxworth, FL, Jan 19, ibid.) In the case of WBZ, you would be wasting a stamp. As has been noted here and elsewhere, IBOC on CBS AM stations is a decision made at the corporate level, and it's as much a personal/political issue as a technical decision. (To put it another way: the corporate chief engineer for the group used to be a top executive at Ibiquity. As long as he is at the company, it's my understanding that IBOC will not go away from their stations unless it is completely impossible to do, as at KDKA.) s (Scott Fybush, NY, ibid.) Scott, One thing in the industry as we all know, people move around, so that engineer head may move on or retire or who knows? Things change. Nothing lasts forever. 73, (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, ibid.) Without a doubt, and when he does, there are a bunch of local station engineers who will have IBOC off their AMs before the next legal ID hits. But until then...nothing will change. s (Scott Fybush, ibid.) Scott, I have been at the dials now for nearly 50 years and I have seen so many changes since the early 60s and I am sure give another 10 or 20 years, who knows what will be coming down the pike, maybe even sooner. I was just thinking of Quad back in the 70s. 73, (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, ibid.) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ BBEF BEIJING DELIVERIES, INCLUDING NORTH KOREA Just came across this presentation from Chinese broadcast technology company BBEF: http://www.bbef-tech.com/templates/T_Second/index.aspx?nodeid=18 Top to bottom, after the unspecific line-out of mobile radio stations: * Cuba: Two lots of shortwave equipment in 2003 and 2005 (well known, but here is a photo of the apparent Continental clones now installed at Bauta). * Ethiopia: A lot in 2007 called for seven 100 kW mediumwave transmitters with antennas and studio facilities plus signal distribution. This was followed by another lot: Shortwave transmitters 50/150 kW and mediumwave transmitter 200 kW. Page also presents a large FM/TV project carried out as well. Note the transmitter room full of the shiny blue Continental clones. [Geez, no color change? Better not, might affect performance --- gh] * Venezuela: Ordered 100 kW shortwave transmitters and antennas, project makes good progress. * North Korea: TV transmitter 10 kW, shortwave transmitters 20/50/100/150 kW, mediumwave transmitter 600 kW. * Vietnam: 100 kW shortwave transmitter (portrayed). * Zimbabwe: Ordered 4 x 50 kW shortwave transmitters, mediumwave transmitters (one portrayed) 1 x 100 kW, 2 x 50 kW, 3 x 25 kW (!! --- I think I read some time ago already mentions of a project to revive mediumwave in Zimbabwe, but no follow-ups afterwards). * Burma: MW 400 kW (portrayed, appears to be the new 711 kHz). * Zambia: Shortwave equipment (not further specified, photo apparently shows just visit of customer reps at BBEF headquarters). * France: Power amplifiers (so no complete systems), marking entry into the European market. * Indonesia: TV transmitters. Some background about the North Korea project can be found in the news articles. One from 24 June 2011 is about the training of North Korean engineers on the 100 kW BBEF shortwave equipment. "For political reasons" the location of the transmitter plant is a state secret, thus BBEF staff can not do any on-site work and only hands out the transmitters. There are numerous challenges while the transmitters are in the tunnels for installation. Here the question is how far the machine translation can be trusted, but indeed no building that appears to be a transmitter hall can be spotted at the Kujang plant (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Jan 21, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also more under KOREA NORTH and each individual client country WHERE DO WAVES COME FROM? Fred Lloyd's accurate record of Mexican Hams local knowledge re coordinates http://centrosemisores.blogspot.com/2011/01/where-do-waves-come-from-de-donde-nos.html (via Dan Goldfarb, mwmast yg via DXLD) Uses QRZ.com mapping funxion on coordinates for Mexican MW stations and also long list of world SW stations, including many extinct sites (gh, DXLD) See also CHINA, et al. PERSEUS OFFER FROM SRI LANKA I missed observing the blackout as my Perseus was on line. What a paradox, Wolfy noticed what is happening under my nose. I would run a Perseus 24x7 from here if I had an extra Perseus. I just can't afford another one, but if someone has an extra and is not pleased with SDRs I would have it 24x7 from my location and I will meet the cost of electricity!! (which is anything but cheap here!!) I offered to put an Icom IC 706 MKII radio for Global Tuners, but they were very lethargic about a year ago. I thought they will jump at it!! Anyway I try to keep the Perseus on line as often as I can as I see it`s the only one in Mainland Asia out of about 50 on line at any time. 73 (Victor Goonetilleke, DX LISTENING DIGEST) THE "MOST IMPORTANT ALGORITHM OF OUR LIFETIME" Fascinating article on how an MIT breakthrough could speed up Fast Fourier Transforms (FFT) calculations by X10. For those of us interested in communications, FFT has made possible the creation of Software Defined Radios (SDR), moonbounce communications with small antennas, and low power, and countless other innovations. Imagine if you could work moonbounce at exciter power levels using a small Yagi, or if you could purchase an SDR USB key that would offer performance far exceeding that of a Drake R8B? It's all within the realm of possibility within the next few years. http://www.fastcompany.com/1810522/mits-math-breakthrough-could-transform-your-phone-tablet-pc-tv-mri-scans?partner=homepage_newsletter -- 73, (*Les Rayburn, N1LF*, EM63nf, 121 Mayfair Park Maylene, AL 35114, Jan 24, ABDX via DXLD) WIND TURBINE NOISE VS DXING [Re: WINDMILLS Vs TVDX, 11-52]: TV AND Radar: Locally, the weather radar is "plagued" with a 24/7 line of severe "thunderstorms" lying diagonally (NE-SW) across northwestern Wyoming County, NY. Our local weather guru (Kevin Williams-WHEC) attributes these to windmills in the area. Also, I remember the need for the windmill company to build translators for viewers of the Scranton TV stations in Wayne County, PA. These are licensed to Waymart, PA and are there as a result of interference from the windmills in the area (Rick Lucas, Rochester, NY, Dec 28, WTFDA via DXLD) Rick, The wind generators are located on the mountain between Waymart, PA and the local transmitters. The translators are located north of the wind turbines and provide signals into the Waymart area. All of the local stations are on these translators. The power company that owns the wind generators paid to install and maintain these translators. The wind mills create multipath signals as the blades turn. I would think that the blades would affect both UHF and High VHF. I haven't noticed or heard of them having any affect on FM, unless you are very close to them. There are a number of them to my southwest, north of Mahanony City, PA, between the Harrisburg, PA transmitters and my location. I had noticed when TV was still analog, that they seemed to affect CH 33 WITF. Once they were installed, the signal on WITF would fluctuate in strength, usually at a fairly constant rate. I only noticed this using the 2-bay on the bedroom TV. If I used the larger UHF antenna, the signal strength was only affected slightly. The local doppler radar on WNEP does pick up the wind generators. They appear as areas of light precipitation on the ridge tops where they are located (Bob Seaman, Hazleton, PA, ibid.) TSID Issues [Transport Stream ID] As many of you know, I have an Autoscan setup (from Russ Dwarshuis) that logs DTV receptions on a PC. The program continually scans TV channels with a HDHomeRun network tuner and downloads PSIP information. From the primary channel PSIP it extracts the call letters, looks up the station on the FCC database, and plots the location of the transmitter on a Google map. It works quite well unless the station is not kind enough to put their call letters in the PSIP, which is not required and happens quite often for marketing reasons. ION stations generally have "ION" in the PSIP which is not helpful at all. To improve the reliability of this system I changed the program to get call letters using the TSID (Transport Stream ID) which is to be unique to each station and enables Guide programs to work properly. However, I am finding that some stations do not use TSID or use the TSID assigned to their old analog stations (WCET-DT 34 Cincinnati). Some LDs use the TSID of their parent station's pre transition transmitter while the parent uses the same TSID on their post transition. (Ex: WALV-LD 46 and WTHR-DT 13 Indianapolis). Do any of you TV station engineers know if TSID is to be enforced? With the right software this would be the ultimate station ID for DX. 73s, (Mike Glass N9BNN Indianapolis, Indiana USA Digital - Zenith DTT900, RCA ATSC11 Mobile DTV - Coby DTV111 Analog - Samsung 12" Low Band - Winegard HD7084P at 30' AGL High Band - pair F1922-5/12s at 37' AGL UHF - pair 91XGs at 40' AGL Misc - Icom PCR-100 Preamps - HDP 269 HDHR2 for real time Indy DX at http://www.n9bnn.ham-radio-op.net/TV/ Current count - 207 analog, 266 digital 11 Jan, WTFDA via DXLD) My understanding is that any station that transmits PSIP will have a TSID -- but the ATSC standard itself seems to acknowledge that a number of stations have entered the *wrong* TSID: "5.4 Most Common Mistakes Experience in the U.S. has shown that certain errors in configuration of PSIP generation equipment can occur if proper care is not given to their setup or maintenance. These problems may include the following: ... ? TSID set to 0 or 1, the NTSC TSID, or another station?s TSID; or not correctly set in the three required places." Where a station is relaying some other station, it seems acceptable to use the same TSID. WTVF's two transmitters here in Nashville are transmitting identical bitstreams -- and from my reading of the standard this is perfectly OK under ATSC. I haven't carefully examined TSIDs here -- don't really have a handle on how common it is for TSID to be wrong. It would indeed be unfortunate if wrong TSIDs were common, as it is indeed a useful means of IDing a station -- much like a "PI code for DTV". – (Doug Smith, W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66, ibid.) Many low-power stations do not have TSIDs at all, and thus have their TSIDs set to 0 or 1. Or some other random value. A few owners like Daystar have been reliable about them, and I intend to make sure the Luken LPTV stations have them as well, but outside of that LPTV stations have been horribly inconsistent about their use of TSIDs. Most full-power stations have their TSIDs correct, though not all, and many low-power stations are not identifiable by TSID. I know this because I have code for RabbitEars that depends on accurate TSIDs and find myself spending a fair amount of time making manual corrections to compensate. In your area, Doug, the TSReader data I have for WJDE-CD and WRTN-LD (both from 2010) show incorrect TSIDs. And in the case of WJDE-CD, it's not just the TSID that is invalid (Trip Ericson, http://www.rabbitears.info ibid.) I don't receive WRTN on a regular basis, and have never seen WJDE at home. Guess I should take another look with the analyzers at work & see what I can pull up. The antenna on the thing is designed specifically for channel 10, and is pointed up into the air at our transmitting antenna -- so it doesn't work very well for any station but ourselves! Last seen, WJDE didn't have any PSIP at all -- which come to think of it does mean there is no TSID. I`m of the distinct impression WJDE is an afterthought -- am very surprised that it went digital at all. A common comment when you Google on TSID is that the assignment of TSIDs is horribly informal. Between inconsistent TSIDs, one station getting more than one Facility ID, and the Canadian database with no consistent primary key at all, I'm beginning to think SBE certification should require passing a class in SQL fundamentals (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66, ibid.) I guess there is no "silver bullet" for automated station ID. It is hard to beat the experienced human brain, which can sort things out. However, I have set up my Autoscan to use both TSID and PSIP to *hopefully* come up with the true station ID (Mike Glass, N9BNN, ibid.) First of all, Mike, if there's anything I can do with RabbitEars to help make your tool any better, let me know. As you know, I do track PSIP in my database as well, and you can always query the PSIP Search tool to gather that information. Doug, the data I have from WJDE-CD doesn't even show an ATSC-compliant transport stream. It looks like DVB. http://www.rabbitears.info/screencaps/tn-nsv/61026-0_0.htm And yes, TSID assignment is extremely informal. I e-mailed Hossein [at FCC?] and asked for a TSID for WOOT-LD and gave the facility ID number. A day or two later, an e-mail came back with a TSID in it with the call sign next to it. That reminds me, I need to request a TSID for K61HD (Trip, ibid.) Thanks, Trip for your interest in my project. Right now I have a spreadsheet of your TSID database which I am using to create a text file for my Autoscan program. I will eventually want to query your database live to see how well it works for me (Mike Glass, ibid.) TWO STATIONS, ONE CALL SIGN? Locally in Indy we have two stations on different channels, 9 and 17, but they are both WISH-TV. I am wondering how this can be? Obviously one would not need to be a translator since they are on the same tower (Mike Glass, N9BNN, Indianapolis, Indiana USA, WTFDA via DXLD) It's one station with two transmitters, one on 9 and one on 17. That's how the FCC has been treating fill-in translators, like a DTS but on different channels instead of the same channel (Trip Ericson, http://www.rabbitears.info ibid.) You will probably get a good explanation soon from someone like Doug Smith who knows about this stuff, but we have the same situation here in Topeka where WIBW-TV is on channel 13 (full power) and channel 44 (low power). The station's transition frequency was channel 44 which was shut off when channel 13 went from analog to digital. The reincarnated channel 44 uses the same antenna and transmitter but at a lower power to reach viewers who have difficulty receiving digital channel 13. Both decode at my location without difficulty. They supposedly are considering moving to only channel 44. I wish they would settle on only one channel to open up channel 13 for DX. Currently KTWU-11, KSKA-12 and WIBW-13 fill the top of the VHF band. (Dave Pomeroy, Topeka, Kansas, ibid.) Trip has the right answer. The FCC regards Distributed Transmission Systems (DTS) and Digital Replacement Translator (DRT) transmitters as being all part of the same license. The DRT license cannot be transferred independently of the main license -- WISH could not sell the channel 17 transmitter, except as part of a package deal that includes channel 9. It's kinda like the situation with auxiliary "backup" transmitters: a station that has a backup transmitter cannot sell the backup license while keeping the main. Largely, the reason is that DRT transmitter applications were able to circumvent the normal application procedure. They didn't have to wait for a LPTV filing window & didn't have to compete with applications for new LPTVs. Channel 17 technically *is* a translator. The FCC doesn't evaluate how necessary a translator is; if the station feels they need it, that's good enough for the Commission. Indeed, for radio translators owned by the primary station, the translator MUST be located in a place where the main transmitter is already defined as providing service. I'm sure WISH's idea is for channel 9 to serve more rural viewers, outside Marion County, who are more likely to have adequate VHF antennas and more likely to need the higher relative power of the VHF station. Channel 17 is for viewers in Marion County, who are more likely to have indoor antennas that don't work worth a darn on VHF, but are close enough to the tower that 15 kW of UHF power is enough to deliver a useful signal. This situation is not unusual. Here in Nashville, WTVF's main transmitter is on channel 5 -- with a DRT on channel 50 on the same tower. WMVS Milwaukee (main transmitter ch. 8, DRT ch. 36) is another example; then, there's Chicago's WLS-44, wishing to operate a 4.75 kW DRT on channel 7. There are more (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66, Tvfmdx mailing list via DXLD) I wonder if this is also a tactic? Rather than sharing channels like the FCC wants, stations are using two channels per broadcast. Gotta love it. wrh (Bill Hepburn, Ont., ibid.) EAS RULES UPDATED The FCC opens by saying, "In this Fifth Report and Order, we continue the process the Commission began in 2007 to transform the EAS into a more technologically advanced alerting system by revising our Part 11 Emergency Alert System (EAS) rules to specify the manner in which EAS Participants must be able to receive alert messages formatted in the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) and by streamlining our Part 11 rules to enhance their effectiveness and clarity." Among other things, the FCC has eliminated, "as unnecessary, the requirement that EAS Participants receive and transmit CAP- formatted messages initiated by state governors." http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-12-7A1.doc COMMENTS ON THE NEW EAS RULES o Final EAS-CAP rules allow converters and eliminate gubernatorial alerts. Many other changes are made as well (Radio World): http://tinyurl.com/RWonEAS o Richard Rudman has a number of things to say about the new EAS rules and has posted his thoughts in Tech Letters: http://www.earthsignals.com/press/ (CGC Communicator Jan 16 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) WINRADIO EXCELSIOR REVIEW John Rose passes along a link of note: The British magazine Radiouser has done a review of the new Winradio Excelsior. Here is a link to a pdf of that review posted by a dealer. Warning! Make sure your teeth are well attached before reading or you just might drop them. This thing makes Star Trek look primitive. John neglects to call out the bottom line: 1900 British pounds, a/k/a US$3000. That is more than I paid for my first car! And you still need a computer! That is a 1/4 of what my parents paid for their first house! Ah well -- it's only money (Kenneth Vito Zichi, Williamston MI, MARE Tipsheet Jan 20 via DXLD) HOW SAMUEL MORSE GOT HIS BIG IDEA Smithsonian.com January 6, 2012 A crowd of hushed spectators packed into the small red factory house at the Speedwell Ironworks in Morristown, New Jersey, unsure of what to expect next. Samuel Morse, along with his colleagues Leonard Gale and Alfred Vail, had packed over two miles of wire into the building, attempting to demonstrate to the public that his strange new invention could be used to transmit messages over long distances. Finally, the inventors manipulated a primitive transmitter, and a receiver scratched Morse’s simple message — ”A patient waiter is no loser” — via a code of lines and curves. On this day in 1838, the small group of onlookers saw something special: the first-ever public demonstration of the telegraph. . . http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/aroundthemall/2012/01/how-samuel-morse-got-his-big-idea/ (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) F.B., Morse! (gh) 2010 MORSE CODE SHIRAZ In this digital world, we remember the craft of the postal telegraphists. For decades their Morse signals, dexterously delivered across Australia's great telegraph line, connected us with the world and helped to save countless lives. We honour the Morse Codian Fraternity with this collection of fine wines. http://www.henrysdrive.com/our-wines/morse-code-shiraz (Henrik Klemetz via NORDX via SW Bulletin Jan 22 via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ LONG-HAUL TRANS-EQUATORIAL FM DX, CARIBBEAN TO SOUTHERN BRAZIL [example, one of many such reports we can only dream of in S NAm] Amigos, a propagação tem melhorado consideravelmente em FM. Havia ouvido a dias atrás outra FM caribenha em 91.1 MHz. Trata-se da Talk City, Trinidad & Tobago. [in date/time order even tho MHz is first] 96.7 28/12 2354 VCT Nice FM, Kingstown, OM/OM, talks, EE 44333 107.5 28/12 0022 VCT NBCSVG, Kingstown, OM, nxs, EE 45344 92.7 28/12 0023 TRD Radio Tambrin, Scarborough, OM, anúncios, EE 45344 97.1 28/12 0025 VCT Hot 97, Kingstown, mx caribenha, EE 45344 98.1 28/12 0029 TRD ISAAC 981, San Fernando, OM/OM, talks, relg, EE 44344 101.7 28/12 0031 JMC Love FM, Kingston, OM, pregação, relg, EE ????? 103.7 28/12 0036 VCT Hitz FM, Kingstown, YL/OM, anúncios, EE 43333 97.1 30/12 0112 VCT Hot 97, Kingstown, mx hip hop, EE 45344 91.1 30/12 0113 ATG Observer Radio, Saint John`s, mx caribenha, EE 35333 92.5 30/12 0115 ?? Unid, id OM: "------- 92 punto 5", mx salsa, YL, SS 35333 92.7 30/12 0122 TRD Radio Tambrin, Scarborough, mx caribenha, id OM, EE 45344 96.7 30/12 0127 VCT Nice FM, Kingstown, mx caribenha, EE 45333 98.1 30/12 0129 TRD ISAAC 981, San Fernando, OM, anúncios, relg, id OM, EE 45344 96.7 10/01 0026 VCT Nice FM, Kingstown, OM/OM, talks, EE 43343 97.1 10/01 0027 VCT Hot 97, Kingstown, mx hip hop, EE 43333 91.1 10/01 0028 ATG Observer Radio, Saint John`s, OM/OM, talks, EE 43343 90.5 10/01 0030 ATG ABS Radio, Saint John`s, OM, nxs, EE 43333 92.7 16/01 0038 JMC Fame FM, Coopers Hill, ON, nxs, id, EE 43333 106.6 20/01 0023 GDL RCI Guadeloupe, Marie-Galante, mx caribenha, FF 45333 106.9 20/01 0024 PTR WMEG - La Mega, Guayamas, mx caribenha, YL, id YL, EE 35333 91.1 21/01 0032 TRD Talk City, Port of Spain, OM/OM, talks, EE // Net (stream) 33333 91.1 21/01 0032 ATG Observer Radio, Saint John's, mx caribenha, EE 33333 103.7 21/01 0036 VCT Hitz FM, Kingstown, YL/OM, anúncios, EE // Net (stream) 34333 107.5 21/01 0040 VCT NBCSVG, Kingstown, OM/OM, talks, EE 35333 106.6 21/01 0041 GDL RCI Guadeloupe, Marie-Galaante, OM/OM, talks, FF 35333 102.7 21/01 0044 ATG ZJF Radio, Saint John's, OM, anúncios, EE 35333 89.7 21/01 0132 ATG Catholic Diocese Radio, Saint John's, mx gospel with coral [choral?], relg, EE 35333 90.5 21/01 0134 ATG ABS Radio, Saint John`s, OM/OM, talks, EE 44333 Receptores: Sony ICF SW 7600G, Sony ICF SW 7600GR e Tecsun PL310. Antenas: Sony AN 71, RC3-FM e Castelo M6001 (VHF-UHF-FM) 73! (Rubens Ferraz Pedroso, Bandeirantes PR, radioescutas yg via DXLD) BLACK OUT OF BANDS NOTED NOW Just now from 0355 UT 23 Jan 2012 I am observing a partial black out of radio stations. Must be that severe solar storm that was forecast is on now. Usually I get lot of stations but now most of them are missing. I can hear only the following on a quick scan AIR: 7270 Chennai faint, usually excellent (100 kW) 7380 Chennai very faint, usually excellent (50 kW) 7420 Hyderabad Excellent (My local station!) 9870 Bangalore Good (usually excellent) 15290 Panaji faint (usually good) 17845 DelhiGood as usual Missing major ones are that used to be excellent power houses 6155 Bangalore 9595 Delhi 11620 Delhi However China noted as follows: 15110 English Good 15210 Hindi Good 15290 China Good 15170 Chinese 0400 good 15310 BBC English Good (Usually excellent) 15690 VOA? 17790 BBC Good (usually excellent) Ham bands are also empty but at 0340 UT I contacted a Russian Ship RW3LG/MM on 14 MHz. 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Hyderabad, India, 0414 UT Jan 23, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) BLACK OUT IN JAPAN. Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpGUIy9fdjk de DFS (S. Hasegawa, Japan, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) PETR KOLMAN: SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC FORECAST P.I.G. BULLETIN 120122 Solar activity will be slowly encreasing, radio flux 10.7 cm 140 - 160, flares will be numerous weak, isolated middle. Geomagnetic field will be quiet to unsettled on January 23 - 24, unsettled to active on January 25 - 27, mostly quiet on January 28 - 31. High probability of changes in solar wind which may caused changes in magnetosphere and ionosphere is expected on January 25 - 27. Petr Kolman OK1MGW, Czech Propagation Interested Group (OK1HH & OK1MGW), e-mail: kolmanp(at)razdva. cz (via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) :Product: Geophysical Alert Message wwv.txt :Issued: 2012 Jan 23 0300 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center # # Geophysical Alert Message # Solar-terrestrial indices for 22 January follow. Solar flux 141 and estimated planetary A-index 21. The estimated planetary K-index at 0300 UTC on 23 January was 4. Space weather for the past 24 hours has been minor. Geomagnetic storms reaching the G1 level occurred. Radio blackouts reaching the R1 level occurred. Space weather for the next 24 hours is predicted to be minor. Geomagnetic storms reaching the G1 level are likely. :Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts :Issued: 2012 Jan 24 2144 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/weekly.html # # Weekly Highlights and Forecasts # Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 16 - 22 January 2012 Solar activity reached moderate levels as Regions 1401 (N18, L=213, class/area Eki/540 on 19 January) and 1402 (N28, L=214, class/area Eko/630 on 17 January) both produced M-class events. Region 1401 produced an M1/1n on 17/0453Z and an M1/1n on 18/1912Z. Region 1402 followed with an M3/2n on 19/1605Z. The 19 January event was associated with and Type IV radio emission and a full halo CME. Type II emissions were detected on 19/1252Z and 19/1933Z with speeds of 933 km/s and 694 km/s respectively. Partial halo CMEs were also observed on 16 and 18 January. Activity decreased to very low levels late on 19 January. Isolated low-level C-class flares were observed on 20 - 22 January. Plage Region 1396 (N27, L=287, class/area Dao/110 on 17 January) produced a C1 flare at 20/2112Z associated with a Type II radio sweep (945 km/s) and a non-Earth-directed CME. Region 1402 produced a long-duration C1 flare at 20/2333Z associated with a weak Type IV radio sweep. An enhancement of the greater than 10 MeV proton flux at geosynchronous orbit began around 20/0800Z and continued through the end of the period. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal to moderate levels the entire period. Geomagnetic field conditions ranged from quiet to unsettled levels, with a brief excursion into active-major storm levels at high latitudes on 22 January. Field conditions were predominately quiet from 17-21 January. On 22 January, an interplanetary shock passed the ACE spacecraft at approximately 22/0514Z, likely indicating the arrival of the full-halo CME observed on 19 January in LASCO imagery. This was followed by a geomagnetic sudden impulse (SI) at 22/0614Z (31 nT observed by the boulder magnetometer). Field activity increased to unsettled to major storm levels at high latitudes following the SI. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 25 JANUARY-20 FEBRUARY 2012 Solar activity is expected to be low with M-class flares likely until Regions 1401 and 1402 depart on 28 January. Predominantly quiet levels are expected for the remained of the period. Protons greater than than 10 MeV are expected to remain above event threshold from 25 - 26 January. A return to background levels is expected for the remainer of the period. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at normal to moderate levels the entire period. The geomagnetic field is expected to be at active to minor storm levels on 25 January as effects from the CME from 23 January wane. Quiet levels are expected on 26 January. Quiet to unsettled levels are expected on 27 January as a coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS) becomes geoeffecitve. A return to quiet levels is expected until 02 - 03 February, with quiet to unsettled levels expected as another CH HSS becomes geoeffective. Predominantly quiet levels are expected from 04- 08 February. Another CH HSS is expected to become geoeffective with quiet to unsettled levels expected from 09-10 February. Predominantly quiet levels are expected for the remainder of the period. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2012 Jan 24 2144 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 2012-01-24 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2012 Jan 25 145 20 5 2012 Jan 26 145 5 2 2012 Jan 27 145 8 3 2012 Jan 28 140 5 2 2012 Jan 29 140 5 2 2012 Jan 30 135 5 2 2012 Jan 31 135 5 2 2012 Feb 01 135 5 2 2012 Feb 02 135 8 3 2012 Feb 03 140 8 3 2012 Feb 04 140 5 2 2012 Feb 05 140 5 2 2012 Feb 06 140 5 2 2012 Feb 07 140 5 2 2012 Feb 08 140 5 2 2012 Feb 09 145 8 3 2012 Feb 10 150 8 3 2012 Feb 11 155 5 2 2012 Feb 12 155 8 3 2012 Feb 13 155 8 3 2012 Feb 14 150 5 2 2012 Feb 15 150 5 2 2012 Feb 16 150 5 2 2012 Feb 17 150 5 2 2012 Feb 18 150 5 2 2012 Feb 19 150 5 2 2012 Feb 20 145 5 2 (SWPC via WORLD OF RADIO 1601, DXLD) TIPS FOR RATIONAL LIVING ++++++++++++++++++++++++ MISTER SPEAKER I am baffled why mainstream newspeople refer to and address Newt this way without any hesitance, e.g. Bob Schieffer on CBS` Face the Nation --- Whatever you may think of him, surely unlike most former officials referred to by their ex-titles, he does not deserve to be called this, considering the way he lost the position. Newt never objects, and no doubt this enhances his standing among those with short memories (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###