DX LISTENING DIGEST 12-20, May 16, 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 2012 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 1617 HEADLINES: *DX and station news about: Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium non, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia and non, Cyprus, Diego Garcia, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji non, France, Hong Kong, Iceland, Iran non, Japan, Lithuania, Mali, Mexico, Myanmar, Netherlands and non, Paraguay, Philippines, Spain, South Sudan non, Ukraine, USA, Venezuela, Zanzibar SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1617, May 17-23, 2012 Thu 0330 WRMI 9955 Thu 2100 WTWW 9479 [confirmed] Fri 0329v WWRB 5050 [last week 0335-] Sat 0130v WBCQ 5110v-CUSB Area 51 [last week after 0145] Sat 0800 WRMI 9955 Sat 1500 WRMI 9955 Sat 1730 WRMI 9955 Sun 0400 WTWW 5755 Sun 0800 WRMI 9955 Sun 1530 WRMI 9955 Sun 1730 WRMI 9955 Mon 0500 WRMI 9955 Mon 1130 WRMI 9955 Tue 0930 HLR 5980 Hamburger Lokal Radio Thu 0330 WRMI 9955 [or maybe 1618 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://www.wrn.org/listeners/#world-of-radio WORLD OF RADIO PODCASTS VIA WRN: http://www.wrn.org/listeners/customize-panel/addToPlaylist/98/09:00:00UTC/English OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO: http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html or http://wor.worldofradio.org DAY-BY-DAY ARCHIVE OF GLENN HAUSER`S LOG REPORTS: Unedited, uncondensed, unchanged from original version, many of them too complex, minutely researched, multi-frequency, opinionated, inconsequential, off-topic, or lengthy for some log editors to manage; and also ahead of their availability in these weekly issues: http://www.hard-core-dx.com/index.php?topic=Hauser 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/ ** ANGUILLA. 11775, May 10 at 1258 and 1346, no signal from Caribbean Beacon, nor at 1554; IIRC it was on 6090 as usual around 0535. 11775, missing earlier today, May 10 at 2001 check, DGS is back on air (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. Agradecería pasaran por 1710 a ver que cuál es la emisora argentina que la ocupa en la actualidad. Ya se pudo registrar en Suecia y en Finlandia pero no hay certeza en cuanto a la identificación si es AM1710 u otra cosa (Henrik Klemetz, Suecia, May 9, condiglist yg via DXLD) Henry, la nueva en Argentina es Nordelta pero en 1700. Esta noche le hago sintonía y te cuento; estoy a 1200 km de Buenos Aires (José A. Kucher, ibid.) Ojo gente, que en 1710 khz se reactivó AM1710 que a veces se identifica como Radio Urquiza y transmite desde el barrio homónimo de Capital Federal (Arnaldo Slaen, ibid.) Desde hace un rato, música de Pink Floyd; no se identifica ni hablan (Ernesto Paulero, Argentina, 2031 UT May 9, ibid.) Gracias Arnaldo - la verdad es que suena como "Radio ----ción" y luego de dar unas coordenadas que no entiendo, pasan su nro. telf. que es el 4521 3 pero los últimos tres dígitos no los oigo. La primera parte del nro. telf. coincide con lo que ya se sabe de la AM1710, pero me gustaría que los colegas le presten un poco de atención para ver si hay algún eslogan distinto, similar al que vengo de decir. Lo mencionado es de un audio procedente de Finlandia, y a decir la verdad, no es muy nítida la señal. Otra cosa es el tema de 1700. Ya di la noticia en este grupo el 30 abril, mensaje 54172, comentándolo Arnaldo casi en seguida, en el 54173, y poco después pude informar que ya se había recibido la QSL por Fredrik Dourén, en el 54177, también el 30 de abril. 73 (Henrik Klemetz, Suecia, ibid.) Re: 1710. Ya la escucho por internet. La identificación que acabo de oir no cuadra con la que tengo grabada. Dice "Transmite AM Mil 7 Diez, desde Buenos Aires, Argentina". A ver si hay variantes (Henrik Klemetz, May 10, ibid.) Resuelta la duda después de escuchar la emisión en vivo. El colega finlandés no tenía grabada la identificación pero sí unos segmentos de una publicidad que empieza "Dale criterio a tu pasión, estudiá periodismo deportivo en ESBA Villa Urquiza" y el nro. telefónico que se repite es el 45213500 (Henrik Klemetz, ibid.) ** AUSTRALIA. WRTH A-12 pdf Update May 10 item and comments: R. Australia. Rather disjointed schedule matches more or less our monitoring observations, the best anyone could do, still lacking an official, final A-12 schedule from RA; except still shows 9890 for English at 13-15, which has been canceled due to FEBC at 1330-1400. And: French has been revived as an RA language, on a small basis; I wonder if it`s just news, produced elsewhere?? (gh) ``French 0300-0315 mtwtf.. Pac 12080brn, 15240shp, 15515shp`` We were wondering where Indonesian from Shep at 0500 went, originally on 15415, then on 15240 for about a week, and now, 17750 (gh): ``Indonesian 0000-0030 daily SEA 12005dha, 15350tnn, 17750shp 0400-0430 daily SEA 11550tnn, 17800hbn 0400-0530 daily SEA 17750shp 0500-0530 daily SEA 11700sng, 11745tnn 2200-2330 daily SEA 9695dha, 11550tnn, 11695shp`` (Glenn Hauser, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) At last we have the full official RA A-12 schedule! Note it contradicts a number of entries in the WRTH Update. Indonesian is not on 17750, in fact on no SHP frequencies at all. French is at 0300-0330 M-F --- or not: I checked 15515 after 0300 UT Friday May 11 and it was still in English, along with 15160 and 15240 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: RADIO AUSTRALIA A12V1 ENGLISH TO PACIFIC REGIONS WEST PACIFIC & PAPUA NEW GUINEA TIME FREQ. TX SITE PWR AE BRG. COMMENT inc. Mode (UT) (kHz) (kW) (T) 0000-0900 15240 SHP 100 030 secondary service area 0300-0500 21725 SHP 100 355 0700-0900 7410 SHP 100 030 secondary service area 0700-0900 9475 SHP 100 353 0700-0900 9710 SHP 100 355 0800-0900 5995 BRN 10 010 0900-1400 6020 SHP 100 030 secondary service area 1100-1300 6080 SHP 100 005 1200-1400 5995 BRN 8 010 DRM 1400-1800 5995 SHP 100 030 secondary service area 1700-2030 9500 SHP 100 353 1730-2030 6080 SHP 100 005 1800-2000 9710 SHP 100 030 secondary service area 2000-2200 11650 SHP 100 030 secondary service area 2030-2200 9500 SHP 100 355 2200-0700 15415 SHP 100 355 SOUTH-WEST PACIFIC (inc. Bougainville, Solomon Is, Vanuatu) 0000-0900 15240 SHP 100 030 0330-0900 12080 BRN 10 080 0700-0900 7410 SHP 100 030 1100-1200 12080 BRN 8 080 DRM 1400-1800 5995 SHP 100 030 1500-1700 7240 SHP 100 040 1800-2000 9710 SHP 100 030 2000-2200 11650 SHP 100 030 2000-0300 12080 BRN 10 080 2200-0000 15230 SHP 100 030 CENTRAL PACIFIC (inc. Fiji, Samoa, Cook Is) 0100-0300 19000 SHP 100 070 0100-0500 15160 SHP 100 065 0330-0600 15515 SHP 100 070 0500-0800 13630 SHP 100 050 0600-1000 11945 SHP 100 100 0800-1000 9580 SHP 100 080 1000-1500 9580 SHP 100 070 1000-1530 11945 SHP 100 070 1500-1700 7240 SHP 100 040 secondary service area 1530-2000 11880 SHP 100 050 1700-2100 9580 SHP 100 070 1900-2100 11660 SHP 100 065 2000-2300 15515 SHP 100 050 2100-2300 13630 SHP 100 065 2100-0100 21740 SHP 100 070 2300-0100 19000 SHP 100 065 2300-0300 17795 SHP 100 050 ENGLISH TO ASIA SOUTH-EAST ASIA (Burma [SNG only], east Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos) 0030-0400 17750 SHP 100 329 0500-0700 21725 SHP 100 329 0530-0700 17750 SHP 100 329 1100-1300 9475 SHP 100 329 1100-1300 11945 SHP 100 329 1430-1700 9475 SHP 100 329 1430-1730 11660 SHP 100 329 1500-1700 5940 SHP 100 334 1600-1630 9540 SNG 100 340 to Burma 1700-1900 9475 SHP 100 329 2030-2200 11695 SHP 100 329 2200-0000 9855 DHA 500 105 2200-2330 15240 Taiwan 250 - to south-east Asia 2330-0000 17750 SHP 100 329 NORTH ASIA (China, Taiwan, Japan) 0030-0400 17750 SHP 100 329 secondary service area 0300-0500 21725 SHP 100 355 secondary service area 0530-0700 17750 SHP 100 329 secondary service area 1100-1300 6140 SNG 100 013 BURMESE 0100-0130 11780 SNG 100 340 2300-2330 9490 UAE 500 085 INDONESIAN 0000-0030 12005 DHA 500 105 0000-0030 15350 Taiwan 100 - to south-east Asia 0400-0430 11550 Taiwan 250 - to south-east Asia 0400-0430 17800 HBN 100 270 0500-0530 11700 SNG 100 140 0500-0530 11745 Taiwan 250 - to south-east Asia 0600-0630 15290 Taiwan 250 - to south-east Asia 2200-2330 11550 Taiwan 250 - to south-east Asia 2200-2330 9695 DHA 500 105 CHINESE 1300-1430 9475 SHP 100 329 to south-east Asia 1300-1430 9965 HBN 100 318 1300-1430 11660 SHP 100 329 to south-east Asia 1300-1430 11760 Taiwan 300 - to north Asia TOK PISIN * 0900-1100 5995 BRN 10 010 PNG service 0900-1100 6020 SHP 100 030 Coral Sea, b/u to PNG 0900-1100 6080 SHP 100 005 PNG service 0900-1100 9475 SHP 100 030 Coral Sea, b/u to PNG 0900-1100 9710 SHP 100 355 PNG service 0900-1100 12080 BRN 10 080 Coral Sea service * carries Pacific English 1000-1100 UT on Saturday & Sunday FRENCH (to Pacific) * 0300-0330 12080 BRN 10 080 0300-0330 15515 SHP 100 070 * carries Pacific English on Saturday & Sunday (Nigel Holmes, RA, via Ian Johnson, May 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See corrected schedule below [and non]. 15515, UT Friday May 11 at 0300, RA has signed on in English, // 15160 which also just started, and 15240 which was already on. I was looking for a revived French broadcast as in the WRTH Update, M-F 0300-0315 on 15240, 15515, plus Brandon 12080. Then received RA`s own A12 schedule at last, showing instead: French 0300- 0330 M-F on 15515 and 12080 only. But no French, at least not yet. 11945 has been a good new frequency for RA in our mornings, altho usually weaker than 9580. It`s always been clear when heard after 1200, but May 11 I am listening at 1138 and find there is CCI in Chinese underneath. HFCC (which still hasn`t been updated for a week, and still has no SHP registrations at all), shows the Chinese is R. Veritas Asia, PHILIPPINES, 250 kW non-direxional (or due north?) at 10-12. WRTH Update shows the RA 11945 hours are 0600-1530. RA`s own schedule agrees, but in two segments, 0600-1000 at 100 degrees, 1000-1530 at 70 degrees. 70 is best for us, and I don`t recall RA using a 100 degree azimuth before; it`s shown nowhere else on their complete schedule. Could it be a typo? Or a hefty slew. 100 from Shep is aimed across North Island NZ near Hamilton, then not much of anything except French Polynesia, and Pitcairn at 108 degrees, entering North America at Guatemala. 19000, May 13 at 0100 I tune in R. Australia amid its neat new frequency span 23-03, but it`s off to change antennas midway. Wait and wait, and finally good carrier comes back on at *0102:54, adding modulation at 0103:13 as news is joined well in progress. 17750, May 13 at 0549, JBA carrier from something; and then barely able to match a modicum of modulation with R. Australia on 15240, Grandstand in English. 17750 appears in the WRTH A-12 Update schedule, but not in RA`s own schedule, maybe omitted by mistake. Supposedly in Indonesian until 0530. 17750, May 14 at 0507, poor signal in non-English, 0509 mentioning Australia, so certainly seems that RA Shepparton is really on here in Indonesian until 0530 as in the WRTH Update schedule, but not in its own schedule (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. A-12 of Radio Australia from Brandon/Shepparton: [all languages, apparently] 0000-0100 on 9660 12080 15240 15415 17750 17795 19000 21740 0100-0300 on 9660 12080 15160 15240 15415 17750 17795 19000 0300-0500 on 9660 12080 15160 15240 15415 15515 17750 21725 0500-0600 on 9660 12080 13630 15240 15415 15515 17750 21725 0600-0700 on 9660 11945 12080 13630 15240 15415 17750 21725 0700-0800 on 7410 9475 9660 9710 11945 12080 13630 15240 0800-0900 on 5995 7410 9475 9580 9710 11945 12080 15240 0900-1100 on 5995 6020 6080 9475 9580 9710 11945 12080 1100-1200 on 5995 6020 6080 9475 9580 11945+11945 12080* 1200-1300 on 5995* 6020 6080 9475 9580 11945+11945, see below 1300-1400 on 5940 5995* 6020 9475 9580 11660 11945 1400-1500 on 5940 5995 6080 9475 9580 11660 11945 1500-1530 on 5940 5995 6080 7240 9475 11660 11945 1530-1700 on 5940 5995 6080 7240 9475 11660 11880 1700-1800 on 5995 6080 9475 9500 9580 9710 11880 1800-1900 on 6080 7240 9475 9500 9580 9710 11880 1900-2000 on 6080 7240 9500 9580 9710 11660 11880 2000-2030 on 6080 9500 9580 11650 11660 12080 15515 2030-2100 on 9500 9580 11650 11660 11695 12080 15515 2100-2200 on 9500 9660 11650 11695 13630 12080 15515 21740 2200-2300 on 9660 11695 12080 13630 15230 15415 15515 21740 2300-2330 on 9660 11695 12080 15415 15230 17795 19000 21740 2330-2400 on 9660 12080 15230 15415 17750 17795 19000 21740 And A-12 of Radio Australia by languages: Burmese 0100-0130 on 11780 SNG 100 kW / 340 deg 2300-2330 on 9490 DHA 250 kW / 085 deg Chinese 1300-1430 on 9475 SHP 100 kW / 329 deg 1300-1430 on 9965 HBN 100 kW / 318 deg 1300-1430 on 11760 TSH 300 kW / 325 deg 1300-1430 on 11660 SHP 100 kW / 329 deg English 0000-0900 on 15240 SHP 100 kW / 030 deg 0030-0400 on 17750 SHP 100 kW / 329 deg 0100-0300 on 19000 SHP 100 kW / 070 deg 0100-0500 on 15160 SHP 100 kW / 065 deg 0300-0500 on 21725 SHP 100 kW / 355 deg 0300-0600 on 15515 SHP 100 kW / 070 deg 0500-0700 on 21725 SHP 100 kW / 329 deg 0500-0800 on 13630 SHP 100 kW / 050 deg 0530-0700 on 17750 SHP 100 kW / 329 deg 0600-0630 on 15290 TAI 100 kW / 205 deg 0600-1000 on 11945 SHP 100 kW / 100 deg 0700-0900 on 7410 SHP 100 kW / 030 deg 0700-0900 on 9710 SHP 100 kW / 353 deg 0700-0900 on 9475 SHP 100 kW / 353 deg 0800-0900 on 5995 BRN 010 kW / 010 deg 0800-1000 on 9580 SHP 100 kW / 080 deg 0900-1100 on 6080 SHP 100 kW / 334 deg 1000-1500 on 9580 SHP 100 kW / 070 deg 1000-1530 on 11945 SHP 100 kW / 070 deg 1100-1300 on 11945 SHP 100 kW / 329 deg 1100-1200 on 5995 BRN 010 kW / 010 deg 1100-1200 on 12080 BRN 005 kW / 080 deg* 1100-1300 on 6080 SHP 100 kW / 334 deg 1100-1300 on 6140 SNG 100 kW / 013 deg 1100-1300 on 9475 SHP 100 kW / 329 deg 1100-1400 on 6020 SHP 100 kW / 030 deg 1200-1400 on 5995 BRN 005 kW / 010 deg* 1300-1500 on 5940 SHP 100 kW / 080 deg 1400-1800 on 5995 SHP 100 kW / 030 deg 1400-1800 on 6080 SHP 100 kW / 334 deg 1430-1700 on 11660 SHP 100 kW / 329 deg 1430-1900 on 9475 SHP 100 kW / 329 deg 1500-1700 on 5940 SHP 100 kW / 334 deg 1500-1700 on 7240 SHP 100 kW / 040 deg 1530-2000 on 11880 SHP 100 kW / 050 deg 1600-1630 on 9540 SNG 100 kW / 340 deg 1700-1900 on 9500 SHP 100 kW / 353 deg 1700-2000 on 9710 SHP 100 kW / 030 deg 1700-2100 on 9580 SHP 100 kW / 070 deg 1800-2000 on 7240 SHP 100 kW / 030 deg 1800-2030 on 6080 SHP 100 kW / 005 deg 1900-2100 on 11660 SHP 100 kW / 065 deg 1900-2200 on 9500 SHP 100 kW / 329 deg 2000-2200 on 11650 SHP 100 kW / 030 deg 2000-2300 on 15515 SHP 100 kW / 030 deg 2000-0900 on 12080 BRN 010 kW / 080 deg 2030-2200 on 11695 SHP 100 kW / 329 deg 2100-2300 on 13630 SHP 100 kW / 065 deg 2100-0100 on 21740 SHP 100 kW / 070 deg 2100-0800 on 9660 BRN 010 kW / 010 deg 2200-2330 on 15240 TAI 100 kW / 205 deg 2200-2400 on 9855 DHA 250 kW / 105 deg 2200-2400 on 15230 SHP 100 kW / 030 deg 2200-0700 on 15415 SHP 100 kW / 355 deg 2300-0100 on 19000 SHP 100 kW / 065 deg 2300-0300 on 17795 SHP 100 kW / 050 deg 2330-2400 on 17750 SHP 100 kW / 329 deg [French: missing from this version] Indonesian 0000-0030 on 12005 DHA 250 kW / 105 deg 0000-0030 on 15350 TAI 100 kW / 205 deg 0000-0030 on 17750 SHP 100 kW / 329 deg 0400-0430 on 11550 TAI 100 kW / 205 deg 0400-0430 on 17800 HBN 100 kW / 270 deg 0400-0530 on 17750 SHP 100 kW / 329 deg 0500-0530 on 11700 SNG 100 kW / 340 deg 0500-0530 on 11745 TAI 100 kW / 205 deg 0500-0530 on 17750 SHP 100 kW / 329 deg 2200-2330 on 9695 DHA 250 kW / 105 deg 2200-2330 on 11550 TAI 100 kW / 205 deg 2200-2330 on 11695 SHP 100 kW / 329 deg Tok Pisin 0900-1000 on 5995 BRN 010 kW / 010 deg 0900-1000 on 6020 SHP 100 kW / 030 deg 0900-1000 on 6080 SHP 100 kW / 334 deg 0900-1000 on 9475 SHP 100 kW / 030 deg 0900-1000 on 9710 SHP 100 kW / 353 deg 0900-1000 on 12080 BRN 010 kW / 080 deg 1000-1100 on 5995 BRN 010 kW / 010 deg Mon-Fri 1000-1100 on 6020 SHP 100 kW / 030 deg Mon-Fri 1000-1100 on 6080 SHP 100 kW / 334 deg Mon-Fri 1000-1100 on 9475 SHP 100 kW / 030 deg Mon-Fri 1000-1100 on 9710 SHP 100 kW / 353 deg Mon-Fri 1000-1100 on 12080 BRN 010 kW / 080 deg Mon-Fri *DRM mode. English sked may be subject to occasional variation day by day. (DX Re Mix News, Bulgaria, May 15, please visit: http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com via DXLD) Nigel Holmes sends a corrected RA transmission schedule, taking into account our observation of Indonesian on 17750; also explains why French does not always appear at 0300. Note it still includes the unique 100-degree azimuth for one 11945 broadcast (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: RADIO AUSTRALIA A12V1.1 RAOS - TECHNICAL SUPPLEMENT - 20120515nh ENGLISH TO PACIFIC REGIONS WEST PACIFIC & PAPUA NEW GUINEA TIME FREQ. TX SITE PWR AE BRG. COMMENT inc. Mode (UT) (kHz) (kW) (T) 0000-0900 15240 SHP 100 030 secondary service area 0300-0500 21725 SHP 100 355 0700-0900 7410 SHP 100 030 secondary service area 0700-0900 9475 SHP 100 353 0700-0900 9710 SHP 100 355 0800-0900 5995 BRN 10 010 0900-1400 6020 SHP 100 030 secondary service area 1100-1300 6080 SHP 100 005 1200-1400 5995 BRN 8 010 DRM 1400-1800 5995 SHP 100 030 secondary service area 1700-2030 9500 SHP 100 353 1730-2030 6080 SHP 100 005 1800-2000 9710 SHP 100 030 secondary service area 2000-2200 11650 SHP 100 030 secondary service area 2030-2200 9500 SHP 100 355 2200-0700 15415 SHP 100 355 SOUTH-WEST PACIFIC (inc. Bougainville, Solomon Is, Vanuatu) 0000-0900 15240 SHP 100 030 0330-0900 12080 BRN 10 080 0700-0900 7410 SHP 100 030 1100-1200 12080 BRN 8 080 DRM 1400-1800 5995 SHP 100 030 1500-1700 7240 SHP 100 040 1800-2000 9710 SHP 100 030 2000-2200 11650 SHP 100 030 2000-0300 12080 BRN 10 080 2200-0000 15230 SHP 100 030 CENTRAL PACIFIC (inc. Fiji, Samoa, Cook Is) 0100-0300 19000 SHP 100 070 0100-0500 15160 SHP 100 065 0330-0600 15515 SHP 100 070 0500-0800 13630 SHP 100 050 0600-1000 11945 SHP 100 100 0800-1000 9580 SHP 100 080 1000-1500 9580 SHP 100 070 1000-1530 11945 SHP 100 070 1500-1700 7240 SHP 100 040 secondary service area 1530-2000 11880 SHP 100 050 1700-2100 9580 SHP 100 070 1900-2100 11660 SHP 100 065 2000-2300 15515 SHP 100 050 2100-2300 13630 SHP 100 065 2100-0100 21740 SHP 100 070 2300-0100 19000 SHP 100 065 2300-0300 17795 SHP 100 050 [WORLD OF RADIO 1617] ENGLISH TO ASIA SOUTH-EAST ASIA (Burma [SNG only], east Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos) 0030-0400 17750 SHP 100 329 0500-0700 21725 SHP 100 329 0530-0700 17750 SHP 100 329 1100-1300 9475 SHP 100 329 1100-1300 11945 SHP 100 329 1430-1700 9475 SHP 100 329 1430-1730 11660 SHP 100 329 1500-1700 5940 SHP 100 334 1600-1630 9540 SNG 100 340 to Burma 1700-1900 9475 SHP 100 329 2030-2200 11695 SHP 100 329 2200-0000 9855 DHA 500 105 2200-2330 15240 Taiwan 250 - to south-east Asia 2330-0000 17750 SHP 100 329 NORTH ASIA (China, Taiwan, Japan) 0030-0400 17750 SHP 100 329 secondary service area 0300-0500 21725 SHP 100 355 secondary service area 0530-0700 17750 SHP 100 329 secondary service area 1100-1300 6140 SNG 100 013 BURMESE 0100-0130 11780 SNG 100 340 2300-2330 9490 UAE 500 085 INDONESIAN 0000-0030 12005 DHA 500 105 0000-0030 15350 Taiwan 100 - to south-east Asia 0000-0030 17750 SHP 100 329 0400-0530 17750 SHP 100 329 0400-0430 11550 Taiwan 250 - to south-east Asia 0400-0430 17800 HBN 100 270 0500-0530 11700 SNG 100 140 0500-0530 11745 Taiwan 250 - to south-east Asia 0600-0630 15290 Taiwan 250 - to south-east Asia 2200-2330 11550 Taiwan 250 - to south-east Asia 2200-2330 11695 SHP 100 329 2200-2330 9695 DHA 500 105 CHINESE 1300-1430 9475 SHP 100 329 to south-east Asia 1300-1430 9965 HBN 100 318 1300-1430 11660 SHP 100 329 to south-east Asia 1300-1430 11760 Taiwan 300 - to north Asia TOK PISIN * 0900-1100 5995 BRN 10 010 PNG service 0900-1100 6020 SHP 100 030 Coral Sea service, b/u to PNG 0900-1100 6080 SHP 100 005 PNG service 0900-1100 9475 SHP 100 030 Coral Sea service, b/u to PNG 0900-1100 9710 SHP 100 355 PNG service 0900-1100 12080 BRN 10 080 Coral Sea service * carries Pacific English 1000-1100 UT on Saturday & Sunday FRENCH (to Pacific) * 0300-0330# 12080 BRN 10 080 0300-0330# 15515 SHP 100 070 # n.b. the duration of the French program is nominal. It is produced primarily for interchange distribution to relay partners. * carries Pacific English on Saturday & Sunday [WORLD OF RADIO 1617] ------------------------------------- TIME ZONES Aust. EST=UT+10 PNG =UT+10 Solomon Is=UT+11 Fiji=UT+12 Jakarta=UT+8 ------------------------------------- TX SITES SHP=Shepparton, central Victoria BRN=Brandon, north Queensland DHA=United Arab Emirates HBN=Palau SNG=Singapore Taiwan --------------------------------- Address for correspondence Radio Australia GPO Box 428 Melbourne VIC 3001 AUSTRALIA ================== (Nigel Holmes, May 15, via gh, DXLD) Then the WRTH Update version 3 has red all over the Australia entry, including these changes (gh) ** BAHRAIN. R Bahrain 6010 kHz --- Hi Everyone, Been trying to get a good ID off this one for a while and what a task. I anyone else doing any better? From about 18 UT it is weak and then peaks up, a bit. Mainly music with about 5 minutes of English over TOH. I think I`ve had an ID (see attached [not]) 7 secs, jingle, YL sung "Radio Bahrain". After about 20 UT when you would hope for it to peak up, it just becomes noisy. It is just 1 kW and probably not firing at full strength and also the aerial is non directional. Anyone getting this weak domestic station? https://www.box.com/s/3ade195fa135a9a8d398 This is the a same "jingle" as given in Interval Signals online Looking forward to comments (Mark Davies, Anglesy, Wales, May 14, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) Hi Everyone, R Bahrain stronger tonight! Audio in English as I type 1840, very brief intro to a track I think. Do need headphones at the moment for the talk. Can only copy this in USB (Mark Davies, Anglesey, May 15, ibid.) ** BANGLADESH. 4750, Bangladesh Betar, 1235-1242, May 7 (Monday); for the third Monday have heard the SAARC news bulletin in English; poor mixing with CNR1; still no sign of RRI Makassar (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1617, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELGIUM [non]. [Re 12-19:] TDP Special for DX Antwerp --- Good reception in Sri Lanka 17880 kHz 0430-0530 in progress. http://soundcloud.com/user6004348/tdp-antwerp-17880-khz-5-12 (Victor Goonetilleke, 0516 UT May 12, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Fine reception on a clear frequency, 08 UT 9680 kHz. S9+10 dB. 73, (Erik Køie, Copenhagen, ibid.) Here in Germany 9680 is a powerhouse signal, as to expect. Carrier on shortly before 0800 or so, and after a bit less than a minute the playout started. Turned off the radio at 0810 because they were after ten minutes still killing airtime by reading out the transmission schedule in various languages again and again. It appears to be the goal of the effort to just put some QSLable modulation on air. Well, that's on the other hand closer to usual SWBC practices than one would be inclined to admit (Kai Ludwig, 0820 UT May 12, ibid.) Now2, you should have stayed tuned a bit longer for the speech (gh, DXLD) 17880, May 12 at 1408, DX-Antwerp thirtieth anniversary special is underway, fair signal but deep fading via Guiana French, 250 kW on 311 degree beam to E North America. I listen for the rest of the hour, to hear: 1408, announcements of full schedule for all these specials, in French, German; address for QSL: dxaqsl @ gmail.com 1410, schedules in Spanish, Arabish 1415, English talk, lamenting closing of several SW stations or reduxions; tropical band stations in Africa are disappearing too as equipment wears out and is not replaced, relying on FM instead; likewise, Latin America. Russia makes DRM a national standard [not any more!] but remains to be seen whether this will save SW elsewhere. Says DXA has about 100 members, including strong core of a dozen. Promotes their `open days` following weekend May 19-20 with schedule of events; and will have a fortieth anniversary broadcast if there is still SW 10 years from now. Never heard a speaker` name mentioned, but maybe Guido Schotmans, who organized this event. 1421, disco music, ``That`s the way I like it`` 1422, Jonathan Marks, greeting from Media Network and self-promotion 1424, Mika greeting in English and Finnish from dxing.info 1425, music, YL in Dutch talking about several SW stations 1432, more disco 1433, Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka greeting; someone else concluding with ``tot siens``; Ari Boender, Netherlands, in English on behalf of Benelux DX Club 1434, French; deep fades 1441, still French, about the open days events, music 1442, DSWCI greeting in English and Danish, presumably Anker Petersen 1443, greeting from gh of WOR and DXLD, in English 1444, German, about the OD schedule 1450, music, ``Radio – seems like a friend to me`` 1454, open carrier until 1500*. No further announcements, closing or sign-off; something missed? 1657, standing by on 21680 for the repeat to WNAm from GUIANA FRENCH, only 9 degrees further west at 320. *1659:45 much stronger and unfading carrier than at 1400; 1700 opening ``Special transmission for 30th anniversary of DX-Antwerp``, then same announcements in Dutch, French, German, Spanish, Arabish; 1702 full schedule in English, QSL info, 1704 Dutch, 1706 French, and this is where I came in three hours earlier. Retune 21680 at 1754 to hear whether there was more modulation, but it`s already in dead air again, with some hum, much stronger than RFI GUF in French Africawards on neighboring 21690. Tuning further around 13m, I find suspicious hummy and not clear carriers circa: 21565, 21644, 21664, 21716, 21788, 21797. The hum was at a somewhat different pitch than 21680, and wondering if it was some local device, but 21797, which was stronger than the lower ones, cut off at precisely the same time as 21680, 1800*, and then all the others had vanished too. I bet that if I had listened before 1754, I would have heard distorted DXA Special audio on them. Note that these do not match up neatly as equally-spaced displaced spur multiples. It should be interesting to find whether the final repeat, in DRM at 20-21 on 17870-17875-17880 also has spurs, tho only 100 kW instead of 250 DX-Antwerp special, e-QSL in pdf promptly received at 1045 UT May 13 from Guido Schotmans, added to my gallery at http://www.worldofradio.com/QSL.html Along with this note: ``Hello Glenn, First of all thanks again for your cooperation and also for your report. It was a great success. Until now we received some 90 reports from all over the world. I was not one of the speakers on the air. I don't have a radio voice :-) And I was not the only one involved in organizing this. It was a small dedicated team of 5 addicted ones. The speakers` names are mentioned on the back side of the QSL card. The "Arabish" language was Swahili. Danish was done by Erik Køie. It's interesting to know about the spur carriers. I'll have to check my spectrum recording to see if I can find them but the NAm broadcasts were weak here in Belgium. Please find attached an eQSL. You will also get a hard copy via the normal postal service. 73, Guido`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1617, DX LISTENING DIGEST) DRM started up at 1530. 15775 and says Greetings will be mentioned in the Text Box (Victor 4S7VK, Colombo, Sri Lanka, dxldyg via DXLD) And sent me clip showing text greeting to him while my greeting to DXA was being broadcast audibly (gh, DXLD) Hi Glenn, DX Antwerp responded in a few minutes via email. Thought you might enjoy (Victor J Latavish, Naples, Florida, 1552 UT May 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) With pdf QSL, like mine, blanx infilled differently Hello Guido, The DX-Antwerp broadcast on 21680 is coming in very strong and crystal clear, 55555. I am enjoying it again, and really appreciate listening on real radio. Have a good weekend (Victor J Latavish, Naples, Florida, via DXLD) Now on 21680 with good signal, slight static & fading , here in South eastern Massachusetts (Stephen Wood, Harwich, Mass., 1732 UT May 12, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) It was fair strength here in Sri Lanka and some splatter from 21690 also GUF 555 fantastic reception from them always. DRM on 15775 also came thru OK at 1530-1630 (Victor Goonetilleke, ibid.) Heard 21680 between 1700-1800 UT. Didn't hear 17880 between 0430-0530 UT, 9680 between 08-09 UT, 6015 DRM between 12-13 UT and 15575 DRM between 1530-1630 UT. Hoping from DRM at 20-21 UT. 73, (Kraig, KG4LAC, Krist, ibid.) DX Antwerp May 12, 2012 2000 UT DRM broadcast 17875 from French Guyana. Mostly a bust here in Manassas, VA. Severe digital dropout making listening useless. I only realized the DRM program was the same as the analog broadcasts having already listened to the analog broadcasts at 14 and 17 UT. If I was listening to only the DRM broadcast I would have turned off the receiver. Sackville, Canada might have been a better transmission site for DRM to North America. From what I was able to hear/understand the DRM broadcast was the same as the 14 and 17 UT analog broadcast with the addition of listener names in the text stream and an additional song played at the end of the broadcast. 73, (Kraig, KG4LAC, Krist, Manassas, VA, ibid.) Isn't that strange, Kraig. Reception on the west coast was absolutely perfect with 100% copy for their stereo DRM transmission. Yes, they did acknowledge listener names (3 or 4 were noted) (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, ibid.) 311 degrees mainlobe plus/minus 20 degrees from French Guiana. See the main signal direction to Puerto Rico, Haiti, FL, OK, UT, NV, in to California, Oregon. But VA is like at 330 degrees direction far easterly. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) Reading on DXA home page I've found the following: "and during the festive open days on Saturday, May 19th, 10-19 hours and Sunday, May 20th, 10-17 hours". Does that mean they're planning to transmit again next weekend? 73s (Andy Lawendel, Italy, ibid.) No, but maybe in 2022y. The May 12 specials were advance publicity for the local events you must attend in Antwerp the following weekend (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) ** BIAFRA [non]. 11870, Thu May 10 at 2054, poor signal with talk; 2058 unseems English, so Igbo? Mentions kilohertz, off at 2100. R. Biafra London, continuing its Thu/Sat only 20-21 broadcasts. HFCC shows this is via WRN, 125 kW, 180 degrees via Wertachtal, GERMANY (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Via GERMANY. 11870, Radio Biafra, London, *2000-2100*, sign on with local music and opening announcements. Discussion in an mix of vernacular and English. Short breaks of local music. Poor in noisy conditions. Thur, Sat only. May 12 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** BOLIVIA. 4716.70 10.5 0208 R Yura, Aillu Yura ”Radio Yura - La Voz de los Aillus” stängde med sitt bandade anrop med fin styrka. c/d 0210 med något kort Windows-ljud! FD 6024.99 11.5 0239 Red Patria Nueva, La Paz med ”anropsblock” hade sport före som sedan övergick till popmusik. Annonserade 6025, 1020 & 94.1 FD 6154.93 11.5 0204* (tent) R Fides stängde efter ett sportprogram, men kunde inte uppfatta något ID trots skaplig styrka. FD (Fredrik Dourén, Borlänge, Sweden, SW Bulletin May 13 via DXLD) FD is normally only on MW and one of the guys in Sweden hearing lots of good stations from the Andes. I think he is one of the most active on MW here. Translations: (Thomas Nilsson, SWB Editor) 4716.70, 10.5 0208, R Yura, Aillu Yura, "Radio Yura - La Voz de los Aillus", signed off with their recorded call with good signal strength. c/d 0210 with some short Windows-sound! FD 6024.99, 11.5 0239, Red Patria Nueva, La Paz with a "call block" sport just before going over to pop music. Announced 6025, 1020 & 94.1 FD 6154.93, 11.5 0204* (tentative), R Fides signed off after a sport program, but no ID could be heard despite a good signal level. FD (Fredrik Dourén, Borlänge, Sweden, SW Bulletin May 13 translated by editor Thomas Nillson for WORLD OF RADIO 1617, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also DX-PEDITIONS for some audio clips ** BOLIVIA. Recientes confirmaciones recibidas: 4410, Radio ECO, correo-e, v/s Gonzalo Espinoza C., demoró: 3 días. Informe enviado a: gonzaloeco @ hotmail.com (gracias al colega Fabricio Andrade Silva de Brasil por suministrar la dirección de contacto) 6025, Radio Illimani, correo-e, v/s Marina Arrocha C, Responsable, Marketing. Demoró: 4 días. Informe enviado a: radio @ patrianueva.bo ¦ marketing @ patrianueva.bo (Rafael Rodríguez, Colombia, May 10, condiglist yg via DXLD) = Red Patria Nueva above (gh) ** BONAIRE. WRTH A-12 pdf Update May 10 item and comments: TWR has a couple of exotic presumably Indian languages, axually in WRTH 2012 already, but just noticed here (gh): ``TWR BONAIRE (Rlg) kHz: 800 Summer Schedule 2012 Baniua 0845-0900 .....s. SAm 800twb English 0030-0100 .....ss SAm 800twb 2300-0030 daily SAm 800twb Macuxi 0845-0900 ......s SAm 800twb`` Elsewhen in Spanish, Portuguese (Glenn Hauser, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. Re 12-19: 4885, 11/02 0335, Voz do Coração Imaculado, Anápolis/GO, ID da emissora: "ZYH745, 770 kHz e ZYF692, 4885 kHz, Rádio Voz do Coração Imaculado", 44444 A emissora em Ondas tropicais que captei e listei há alguns dias consta em bancos de dados como Aoki e Eibi como Rádio Maria. Gravei a identificação e é feita como Voz do Coração Imaculado. Locais das escutas: Boituva/SP e Sorocaba/SP Equipamento utilizado: Receptores Quicksilver QS1R e Icom IC-R75 Antenas Longwire 100 m e Wellbrook ALA1530S+ 73 (Ivan Dias Jr. - Sorocaba/SP http://ivandias.wordpress.com http://twitter.com/ivandiasjr radioescutas yg via DXLD) The least of three ZYs on 4885 (gh, DXLD) see also DX-PEDITIONS for some audio clips ** BRAZIL. 6180 and 11780, UT Friday May 11 at 0454, surprised to hear samba music, RNA on the air late/early other than on a Sunday; usual madrugada DJ informing us the time is 1:55 am in ``um novo dia``, and it`s Day #6. Normally these are off roughly 0330-0800. Maybe testing now that both transmitters are back in service? More QRM that XEPPM 6185 does not need, see MEXICO. 6180, UT Saturday May 12 at 0458, RNA is on again; looks like this and 11780 have changed to all-night schedule every night instead of UT Sundays only, making it more of an ACI problem for XEPPM 6185 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) After the Sunday soccer cavalcade, identification as "ZYH707 Radio Nacional do Brasilia" on 6180 kHz // 980 kHz: http://youtu.be/wNrZxa-Vc4c 73 de CX2ABP (Rodolfo Tizzi, Uruguay, May 13, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6180 & 11780, May 15 at 0520, RNA continues to run all-night, every night (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1617, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 11765, only other 25m Brasilian audible at 0515 May 12, much weaker than 11780 but sufficient; nothing on 11815 or 11925 which sometimes are on and audible in the nightmiddle. 11765 seemed like news or at least talk in normal voices, but after some music at 0535, it was back at 0537 to wacky wailing gospelhuxter Davi Miranda, from ZYE726, SRDA Curitiba. 11915, May 13 at 0047, M&W conversation in Brazilian, poor signal from R. Gaúcha, but better than 11925, R. Bandeirantes. HCJB must have just concluded at 0045 its impudent intervention on 11920 also in Portuguese, via Chile. [and non]. 11925+, May 13 at 0538 considerable het slightly wavering, stronger station with music, caused by R. Bandeirantes always off- frequency to the hi side, circa 11925.2; and what else? HFCC shows 0500-0559 BBC Kinyarwanda/Kirundi, 250 kW, 7 degrees via Meyerton, SOUTH AFRICA. Only other ZYs audible on 25m at this time: 11780 RNA of course, and 11765 much weaker SRDA Curitiba with wacky wailer Davi Miranda. 9675, May 13 at 0601, fair signal made worse by undermodulation, but could hear ``Nova de Rádio`` mentioned, i.e. R. Canção Nova (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 15191.4, May 13 at 0037, poor signal in Brazilian, up to fair peaks, R. Inconfidência. Frequency measured by the count-the- clix-on-the-DX-398-BFO method [25 per kHz = 40 Hz each], after noting the current offset vs WWVH 15000.000, but I could be one or two off. Coincidentally, Jim Ronda in Tulsa had just logged it a bihour earlier: ``Hi Glenn: I noted this afternoon at 2246 R. Inconfidência on 15191.3 at exceptionally good level. I did zero beat the frequency as 15191.3 with both the R 75 and the NRD 545``. Nor was it ``exceptionally good`` when I heard it. Meanwhile, WYFR stayed far, far away on 15745 until 0045* (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Your frequency measurement method seems very accurate to me, Glenn! R. Inconfidência logged here 12 May at 2132 UT on 15191.44 with fair strength and in the clear, so SIO 353. Nice music with accordion plus ID (Alan Pennington, Caversham, UK, AOR 7030plus / ALA1530, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Apparently it does vary a little bit (gh, DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 28415-USB, May 13 at 0024, nothing much on 10 meters except a Brazilian accent here and another on 28420-USB. Not regular contacts, no IDs heard, and at 0029, 28415 is playing bits of music on and off, improper behavior for a ham, so apparently a CBer who should be about 1 MHz lower in the freeband. 0030 some chimes and sing-a- long. 27 MHz, however is full of mostly Spanish signals and hets, no doubt from Latin America. Brazilian DXers have been complaining about hearing overpowered American CBers all over 11m, vs their own ``PX`` stations which supposedly maintain only a few legal watts. I suppose PX- is the legal prefix for such stations, part of the ITU allocation for Brazil, unused by real hams? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [Cf USA: discussion of citizens` band] Hi Glenn: Brazilian prefix PX is only a Citizen Band Assignments, not hams in decametric bands. Here in Uruguay we can listen the Brazilian CBers operating between 24000 and 28300 kHz, sometimes more. In the afternoon, 10 mb segment of CW, digimodes an CW beacons is very polluted with this kind of emissions. Sad but true, as Metallica says. For a more detailed list of radio amateur prefixes take a look on http://www.ac6v.com/prefixes.htm 73 de (CX2ABP, Rodolfo Tizzi, Uruguay, dxldyg via DXLD) The idea of axually assigning callsigns to CB stations was abandoned long ago in the USA. For a while non-ITU-sequence calls were in vogue, then official K-prefix alfanumeric FCC calls, long forgotten (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA [and non]. 6080, May 10 at 0535, CRI English via Sackville is again on wrong frequency instead of 6190 during this hour, having failed to QSY at 0500. Shux, once again I tune in too late to hear the huge collision it must cause with NHK Bonaire in Spanish on 6080 until 0529. 11750, May 11 at 1220, interesting talk about Naha, Okinawa, major tourist destination. Can it be CRI? Their broad topix can fool you. But 1229 NHK World frequency announcement starts with the ones for 0500, 1000, and two of the 1200 ones, not including this before modulation cut, and carrier not cut until 1231. I can only assume this was another SNAFU at Sackville, since CRI English is on 11750 at 1100-1200 only, but they must have left the transmitter on by mistake, instead of 6120? Certainly better reception out here in the summer on 11750, tho BBC Thailand normally has the frequency to itself during this hour. 6080, May 12 at 0500, CRI English stays here as Sackville fails again to change to 6190 where scheduled, and this time I tune in early enough to witness the terrible collision it causes with NHK Radio Japón in Spanish via BONAIRE, both equally bigsigs. Come on! 11750, May 12 at 1224, Sackville has failed to put R. Japan on wrong frequency today, returning it to BBC London during arts show, incidentally USward from THAILAND. Morale at Sackville must be sinking and sinking, causing more and more transmission errors --- who cares, we are about to lose our jobs! The 05-06 CRI English relay supposed to be on 6190 has appeared several times on 6080 instead, despite NHK Spanish via Bonaire already on 6080 at 0500-0530. But May 13 they come up with yet another mis-frequency: 7305! Missing from 6190 and 6080, but super signal on 7305, S9+25 with CRI ID, ``news & reports``. Stayed there entire hour until 0559* uncovering weak BBC. Why 7305? That`s another frequency in the Sackville relay memory bank, supposed to be employed only at 0250-0400 for Vatican in English and Spanish, 250 kW, 277 degrees. Of course it could be a deliberate change for the CRI 0500 broadcast, but I doubt it; time will tell. BBC usage of 7305 is 0529-0629 in Hausa and French via ASCENSION. 6190, May 14 at 0500, CRI English relay via Sackville is back on correct frequency, after excursion to 7305 the night before, and 6080 clashing with NHK Spanish Bonaire several previous nights. When and where next? 6140, May 15 at 0618, leapfrog mixing product audible, 6080 CRI English on wrong frequency instead of 6190, over 6110 NHK English on correct frequency, another 30 kHz higher, more audio from CRI than NHK. Looked for it after finding that tonight is another SNAFU at Sackville. How about leaping the other way to 6050? If there, totally obscured by RHC. 6190, May 16 at 0522, CRI English via Sackville is finally on the correct frequency for a change, ex-6080, ex-7305 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1617, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. 9625, CBC Northern Quebec Service with 'native' programming including OM 'chanting' and 'laid back' OM talking in Inuktitut. I've always thought this is a really cool sounding language! Abruptly into English CBC News at ToH with items about the latest underwear bomber (who apparently was a Saudi double agent!) and a bit about credit card companies in Canada accused of overcharging merchants with high and unjustified fees, and the Canadian Government is going after them. I am shocked, shocked, to discover credit card companies overcharge their customers. I actually AM a bit surprised a government would go after them instead of going to bed with them. Canadians should be proud -- on this side of the border we would have Congresscritters shouting and hand wringing about having too much regulation that is just not 'business friendly" and is causing unemployment and halitosis and we need to let credit card companies charge MORE fees because that will foster competition which will be best for 'everyone'. Now *I* sound like a left-wing-nut! Hey, I calls them as I sees them! :) At 0305 into "Vinyl Cafe" with the host telling a long rambling story about small town Canada preparing for "Summer at the Lake", and other folksy music and 'stuff'. The host was Stuart McLean, and he sounds like a cross between Garrison Keillor and Jimmy Stewart, transplanted to Ontario. The show was kind of fun actually -- in an olde tyme radio show kind of way! Hey, better than WHRI :) ! YL ID at :59 As "CBC North Quebec" and mention of Satellite and SW with frequency and another promo for the CBC North Morning show. Then into English CBC News at ToH, Weather at 0404 and into "As it Happens - Midnight Edition" at 0405, with items about a Canadian Soldier's suicide and the Military's handling of the situation, and the award- winning Canadian High School Chemistry student Janelle Tam (who sounds like a really SMART 16 year old kid!) from Ottawa who invented a substance from tree pulp that hinders aging by binding and stabilizing free-radicals. It uses nano-crystalline cellulose chemically bound buckminster fullerene in a process she developed -- as a Grade 12 student! Hummmm ... Bucky Balls came up at the last DXpedition! We must be psychic! This young lady is impressive! Also a discussion of the role of oil in the economy and society and how its cost increases will impact us -- not just affecting the 'speed' of life and technology, but he claimed it will also fundamentally alter the nature of the world too, with author Jeff Rubin who wrote “The End of Growth, but is that all bad?”. Mention of “Peak Oil” and the like, but the guy ignored the idea that perhaps we can find an economically viable SUBSTITUTE for oil. ID as before again at 0459, and into another English CBC News report. French ID and "O Canada" instrumental at 0505 and into a 400 Hz tone that continued a LONG time to carrier off – which didn’t happen smoothly. The carrier went off at 25:58, and then popped back with the 400 Hz tone TWICE during minute 26, but appeared well and truly done by 0526:55. It however, then re-appeared at :28:50 and continued until :30:25 Rather odd! I will say it -- I miss the CBC and I really miss RCI. Sigh. In OK, but the local QRM affected things during fades. 4+4+54+4, but reduced to 4+3+54+3+ from 0430-0450 when splatter from 9630 Costa Rica and 9620 Spain started to close in a bit! 0230-0530* 9/May (Kenneth Vito Zichi, MI, MARE Tipsheet via DXLD) ** CANADA. 15330, and better 15235 and best 17735, May 11 at 2017- 2026, RCI English `The Link` is discussing its own fate, report from parliamentary correspondent Amanda Pfeffer in Ottawa. Interviewed IBB guy; Alan Familiant, former RCI director; one Liberal MP who wants to save RCI, and another, Conservative, who had never heard of it until she asked him about it. Offered glimmers of hope, before moving on to next subject. Listen to first part of this May 11 edition here: http://www.rcinet.ca/english/program/the-link/home/ or this undated excerpt, really the same thing, 11.5 minutes: http://www.rcinet.ca/english/column/the-link-s-top-stories/15-28_2012-05-11-the-future-of-international-broadcasting/ But says towers in New Brunswick will likely be torn down at the end of this process (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The Link Radio Canada International "RCI inaccurate about facts" --- On Friday May 11, 2012 The Link on Radio Canada International did a report on international broadcasting. There were a few inaccuracies, I won't say what. I'll leave it to you to figure it out. I just think that RCI could have had someone who knows about international broadcasting instead of Amanda Pfeffer who from what I gather has never listenered to international radio. Click here to listen or download [same as above, presumably]: http://www.radio4all.net/files/kperron@gmail.com/3101-1-CUTS_TO_RCI.mp3 (Keith Perron on Facebook, via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) 17860, Sunday May 13 at 2128, end of RCI Portuguese `Canadá Direito`, 2129 cut to NHK World ID and IS before carrier off. Per HFCC, RCI`s Brazilian service is scheduled here an hour later at 2200-2230 Fri/Sat/Sun, but RCI`s own schedule at http://www.rcinet.ca/english/illustration/schedule/lOAcSP_RCI-TECH-A12-ENG.pdf does show 17860 used both at 2100-2129 and 2200-2229. Maybe they should tell HFCC about it. There is no NHK relay by Sackville at 2130, just another inexplicable SNAFU (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHAD. 6164.96, RNT, 0232-0259, May 7. Surprisingly good in French with Hi-Li music. Interesting mix of stations here! *0242 started to faintly hear the IS (African Fish Eagle) of Zambia; *0257 “This is the Voice of Turkey” and IS; *0259 RN covers everything. MP3 audio at https://www.box.com/s/f9efc4069786bdb0d7e8 (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. VOA "HELPFULLY RECORDED" QUESTIONS ABOUT AL JAZEERA'S MELISSA CHAN DELETED FROM CHINESE MINISTRY TRANSCRIPT Posted: 11 May 2012 [and many more stories about this:] http://kimelli.nfshost.com/index.php?id=13236 BBC News, 9 May 2012, Damian Grammaticus: "Today Melissa Chan, the al- Jazeera English television correspondent who, it was announced yesterday, had been expelled from China, seems to have become an 'unperson' in China. The only Chinese-language newspapers in which we could find reports on the expulsion on Wednesday morning were the Hong Kong-affiliated Ta Kung Pao paper from Henan province and the Global Times. ... At the Foreign Ministry's daily press conference on Tuesday, 14 out of 18 questions were about the decision, some of which were helpfully recorded by Voice Of America. Reporters wanted to know why Melissa Chan had been expelled, what rule she had broken and whether this was some sort of warning to all of us." (kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) ** CHINA. 9705, Voice of Pujiang (ex-5075), 1341, May 6. The first day of their usual seasonal change; // 3280 and 4950; all fair in Chinese. 11717.98, CNR1, 1245, May 8. Poor, but clearly // 6125. First time I have noted this (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. Firedrake scan, May 9 from 0430 to 0442 from 11500 to 18000 kHz. 11500 very poor 12230 poor 13430 poor 13850 poor 13920 poor-fair 14800 fair-good 15800 fair-good 15900 fair-good 15940 good 16100 fair-good 16980 fair-good 17170 good 17250 fair-good 17450 fair-good (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Firedrake May 9, before 1400: 16100, very poor at 1337 with heavy flutter; none in the 17s 15970, JBA at 1344 15490, very poor at 1344 with heavy flutter 14800, very poor at 1345 14700, very poor at 1345; none audible in the 13s, 12s, 11s, 10s Propagation was very disturbed. I`ve long suspected that many of the FD frequencies are coming from Kashgar, EAST TURKISTAN, also a major CRI relay site, and far enough west to ``provide`` good coverage of the populous regions of eastern China; but at this time I was also getting better than usual reception from India and Uzbekistan, qq.vv., vs. poor reception from east Asia. WWV reported at 1500: ``Geophysical Alert Message # Solar-terrestrial indices for 08 May follow. Solar flux 123 and estimated planetary A-index 9. The estimated planetary K-index at 1500 UTC on 09 May was 4. Space weather for the past 24 hours has been minor. Radio blackouts reaching the R1 level occurred. Space weather for the next 24 hours is predicted to be minor. Radio blackouts reaching the R1 level are likely.`` CNR1 jammers against R. Free Asia in Mandarin, all poor and synchronized, May 9 at 1940+: 9455, 9875, 9905, 11785, 13780. Aoki May 10 and HFCC May 4 (not updated since, unusual!) agree on the sites: 9455 Saipan, 9875 Tinian, 9905 Palau, 11785 Tinian, 13780 Tajikistan. No sign of RFA on any of these, so each must be efficiently beaming most of it inward to China. (If I were hearing RFA instead, all these sites would not be synchro.) It`s also rather surprising that ChiCom jammers are audible here across the noon zenith as low as 9455 when it`s almost summer: just another indication of the brute force they employ/enjoy. And/or maybe some are arriving longpath (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, Firedrake heard here: 15615 at 1348 on 9 May, Very good signal 15615 from 1343 to 1400 on 10 May, Very good signal Presumably target is "Voice of Tibet" from Dushanbe (AOKI) in which case the exact frequency is probably 15612. Best Wishes (Paul Kennett, Chorleywood, Herts. England, DX LISTENING DIGEST) VOT may be on 15612, but FD stays on multiples of 5 (gh, DXLD) Firedrake May 10, after 1300: 15485, good at 1305, het on hi side Before 1400: 16980, good at 1339; none in the 17s, 18s 16100, very good at 1339 15900, very good at 1341 just as there was a bad edit in the music 15615, good at 1340, mixing WEWN English! Had to happen, and -1400* 15490, good at 1359-1400*; open carrier a few sex after unlike 15615 14800, fair at 1342; none in the 13s, 12s, 11s After 1400: 17560, fair at 1402, over weak CCI from V. of Tibet, Madagascar; haven`t heard these shifted to 17570 lately 15605, good at *1405 Firedrake May 11, before 1300: 16980, poor at 1248 16100, very poor at 1247 14800, fair at 1248; none in the 15s 13850, fair at 1258 After 1300: 15565, fair at 1313 15490, poor at 1313; none in the 16s, 14s, 13s, 12s, but this is earlier in the hour than many of them normally cut back on Before 1400: 14800, fair at 1354 15490, poor at 1353, het on low side 16100, JBA at 1354; none in the 18s, 17s, 13s, 12s, 11s Firedrake May 12, before 1300: 11500, poor at 1256 12600, fair at 1256 13920, fair at 1257 13970, fair at 1257 14700, poor at 1258 15555, fair at 1258 15900, good at 1258 15970, good at 1258 16100, good at 1258 16980, good at 1258 17250, very poor at 1259-1300* Before 1400: 16100, very good at 1336, none higher 15940, very good at 1338 15900, fair at 1338 15615, fair at 1338 mixing with WEWN 15495, poor at 1336 14800, very poor at 1338 13850, very poor at 1341 12600, very poor at 1341 11500, very poor at 1341 but // 16100 Firedrake May 13, before 1300: 11500, fair at 1251 with CCI from VOR, no dobut 12230, very good at 1253 12300, poor at 1251 13920, very good at 1253 13970, very good at 1253 14800, fair at 1258 15555, poor at 1258 15900, very poor at 1258 16100, JBA at 1257; none in the 17s, 18s After 1300: 15565, poor at 1315. There was also one below 15500, but did not get it measured before it went off Before 1400, no time for full scan: 15900, poor at 1359 with flutter 16100, poor at 1359-1400* Firedrake May 14: no time for full check, just noticed: 15565, fair at 1308 15490, fair at 1308 Firedrake May 15, before 1300: 12230, poor at 1249 13130, fair at 1249 14600, fair at 1249 14700, fair at 1249 15555, fair at 1251 15765, fair at 1251 15970, good at 1251 16100, good at 1251 17250, poor at 1254 17450, fair at 1254; none in the 18s Before 1330: 13130, JBA at 1330; none in the 12s 13850, very poor at 1330 14700, fair-good at 1328 15500, fair at 1326, het on lo side 15970, poor at 1326 16100, good at 1326 17450, good at 1325 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Firedrake May 16, the dozen before 1300: 17450, poor at 1254 17250, very good at 1254 16980, poor at 1255 16920, very good at 1255 16700, very good at 1254 16100, very good at 1254 15900, fair at 1254 15555, good at 1256 14700, very good at 1257 13920, very good at 1256 13850, good at 1257 vs WWCR 13845 13130, very poor at 1258; none in the 12s, 11s Before 1400: 17450, poor at 1358 17250, good at 1358 16980, fair at 1358 16100, good at 1358 15900, good at 1358 15940, very good at 1359 14700, good to 1400* only heard a bit of open carrier at tune-in Ran out of time before could check the 13s, 12s After 1400, incomplete scan, just noted: 17570, fair at 1413 with CCI and fast SAH from VOTibet, Madagascar 15605, fair at 1417 with slush from WEWN 15615 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) "THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA: BEHIND THE GREAT WALL OF SILENCE JAMMING, RESPONSE, AND POLICY" Hi Glenn, Attached you will find a copy of my new publication "The People's Republic of China: Behind the Great Wall of Silence Jamming, Response, and Policy". It was released today. I hope that you enjoy it and find it interesting. This publication is subject to copyright. It may not be distributed in whole or part. Please do not quote or disclose the transmitter site information published in the book to anyone else. Please feel free to publicize the book. For a limited time I will make the a PDF version on the book available for free to people who send me an email to: shortwavereport @ yahoo.com They must include their name and country of residence. They do not need to include a postal address. Once again I hope that you enjoy the publication. All My Best (Steve Handler, WORLD OF RADIO 1617, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [non]. Sackville keeps putting CRI on wrong frequency 6080 instead of 6190 at 0500: see CANADA; JAPAN [non] ** COLOMBIA. Universidad de Medellín en 940 AM --- HOLA, DARIO: Te doy la primicia de contarte que en Medellín se emite desde hace 6 dias la señal de prueba de la Universidad de Medellín en 940 AM. En próximos días tendrán su programación bien hecha. Por ahora solo pasan canciones de todo tipo y en medio de cada canción solo suena este audio que te envío, donde su locutora habla de la señal de prueba. Te incluyo en este email el audio de dicha emisora; por ahora no tienen identificación. La Universidad de Medellín es la tercera Universidad que cuenta con emisora en Medellín; antes ya lo habían hecho la Universidad de Antioquia y la Pontificie Bolivariana (UPB). El Pasado lunes 7 de Mayo, Se encendieron los equipos para la emisión de prueba, de la emisora cultural de la Universidad de Medellín 940 AM, en el evento, que se realizó en San Cristobal, lugar en el que se encuentra la antena de la emisora, en conjunto con la cabina, ubicada en la instalaciones de la universidad, allí en compañía del rector Nestror [sic] Hincapie y el decano de la facultad de Comunicación, Mariano Gonzales, estuvieron miembros de la universidad, que han hecho posible este proyecto. http://webapps.udem.edu.co/FrecuenciaU/home.htm Asi que te paso ese dato que no tiene ningún otro diexista. Saludos y abrazos (Hector Arboleda to and via Dario Monferini, Italy, DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. 5910, UT Sat May 12 at 0544, HJDH good and clear with music, no QRM past 0545, as the TWR Polish service via Wertachtal at 0545-0600 is M-F only, and not on 7225 via Austria either tonite (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also DX-PEDITIONS for clip ** CONGO. 6115, 13/May 0620-0637, R Congo (?) (PRESUMED) in French (identified). Two OM alternate speech. Seem to present news. Moderate noise in the transmission. Signal degrading. 25332 (Jorge Freitas, Brasil, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1617, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Previously reported only for brief evening broadcasts around 1800- 1830. Morning would of course also audiblize it in N America, but is it this? Aoki does show longer morning and evening span; 6115 Radio Congo 0600-0830 1234567 French/Lingala 100 ND Brazzaville 6115 Radio Congo 1700-2030 1234567 French/Lingala 100 ND Brazzaville Beware of Nikkei, Japan, which does run languages lessons including French, which I have heard around 1300 on 6055/9595. But 0630 is too early for it (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1617, DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. 9630, May 10 at 0524, REE relay is back in whack, not wiping out the entire 31m band with spurs as it did 24 hours earlier, allowing us to hear again all the other stations (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CROATIA [and non]. 9925, May 13 at 0044, Voice of Croatia is back on summer frequency, good but not as solid as 7375 used to be. I suppose, all things considered over entire 22-05 UT span to Americas, 9925 is better for the May-August period. HFCC shows the dates for this are 10 May to 6 September, then back to 7375. Now there are two Wertachtal, GERMANY 100 kW transmitters overlapping between 23 and 03: 22-03 at 255 degrees, 03-05 at 330 degrees 23-01 on 300 degrees, 01-03 at 315 degrees Summer timings for English quarter hours are 2215 and 0200; Spanish 2230 and 0230; otherwise in Croatian, with lots of unfamiliar pop music. The 100 kW direct non-direxional broadcast takes over at 0500, now on 7410 instead of 7370 in B-season. We might hear it at the start before sunny fadeout, with EiBi showing 5 minutes of English news daily at 0600, too late? (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1617, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 1140, Radio Musical Nacional, unknown site. 1054 May 10, 2012. Fair in the mess of other sunrise stations, parallel 590. Possibly the same transmitter that is or at least was carrying Radio Cadena Habana (neither listed in the Molano list). Appears to LOB slightly east of Havana-proper, regardless. 1210, Radio Rebelde, unknown site. 1100 May 12, 2012. Again heard. Rebelde sounder and ID, poor under many others (Terry Krueger, Clearwater FL, (highly abridged equipment list): NRD-535, ICOM IC-R75 and Sangean PR-D5; 1 X roof dipole, 1 X room random wire. All times/dates GMT, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [and non]. 6010, May 11 at 0457, RHC already on here with VG signal in Spanish, promo for ``La Radio del Sur``, audio counterpart of Venezuelan-inspired TeleSur, // much weaker 6060. Shortly RHC switched to English on both from 0500. It would be interesting if RHC were to put LRS programming on SW. Slipshod RadioCuba operators produce this May 12: 6000, RHC English is still here at 0503, supposed to finish at 0500; in `This Day in History` segment (always something revolutionary and/or negative about the US), and not yet on 6010 which is supposed to start at 0500. NOT the same transmitter, as 6010 is soon on with carrier while 6000 is still going, modulation off and on, and from 0505, 6010 keeps modulating. Now I can tell 6000 and 6010 are an echo apart, i.e. different sites. The missing frequency was 6125 while 6000 was still on, as 6050 and 6060 were already normally in English. Strangely, 6000 does not display the same undermodulation that 6125 does. By next check 0541, 6125 is on and 6000 is off. 9790, large open carrier with hum is still on at 0513 May 12, following CRI relay ending at 0500. 11840, RHC music is still on at 0516, Spanish supposed to end at 0500. But 9810 is off, and so is 5040, which was already running IS at 0455. 12060, May 13 at 0539, two-tone pulse jamming fading in and out, obviously 2 x 6030 against R. Martí; also checked 3x on 18090 but not audible there. 15340, May 13 at 1402-1407+, open carrier/dead air from RHC, while funxioning normally on 17730, 13780, 11860, 11760. 11760, Sunday May 13 at 1911, RHC with open carrier/dead air; finally at 1913, `DXers Unlimited` starts, tune-out. 17580, absent May 14 at 1303 tho 17730 is audible, so another of those days then RHC 17580 is off by 1300, not even -1400, certainly not the always-announced and scheduled -1500. 17580, May 15 at 1254, RHC is missing, still on 17730. 15340 is also missing at 1328, re-opening frequency for HCJB Australia with S Asian music. RHC still on 15230 and the lower frequencies (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CYPRUS. 9760, Cyprus Broadcasting Corp, *2217-2247*, sign on with Greek music and Greek opening announcements. Greek talk. Short breaks of Greek music. Radio-drama. Sign off with Greek music. Very Good signal. Weaker on // 5925, 7220. Scheduled for Fri, Sat, Sun only, but very irregular. May 6. Heard here two days in a row, May 5 and 6. 9760, Cyprus Broadcasting Corp, *2216:30-2244:30*, sign on with Greek music and Greek talk. Very good. Slightly weaker on // 5925, 7220. Fri, Sat, Sun only. Irregular. May 11. Not heard the next day, May 12 (Brian Alexander, PA, WORLD OF RADIO 1617, DX Listening Digest) Nice carrier popped on 2214; dropped 2217:30 - no audio. 5/12 (DanF NASWA yg via DXLD) WTFD? I wasn’t around to check today, but that’s all I have experienced in the past several weekends, big carrier on about 2214 and never modulation, with the carrier snapping off about three or four minutes later. The Cypriots apparently are given the free air time but only infrequently make use of it (Don Jensen, ibid.) CBC-CYBC weekend shortwave transmission "Radiofoniko Idrima Kyprou" Fri/Sat/Sun only at 2210-2245 UT on 5925 7220 9760 kHz via Zyyi site. Tonight empty carriers heard on air approx. 2211 UT. Greek language program from Nicosia via Zyyi transmission started late at 2216:38 UT. 5925 kHz S=9+12dB 7220 kHz S=9+25dB, best channel here in Germany. 9760 kHz S=9+18dB, but TX is NOISY and an carries a lot of HUM noise. 9760 was stronger than ERT 9420 kHz from Avlis Greece at same time. 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, df6sx, May 11, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1617, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CYPRUS. 15490-15515, May 14 at 2104, OTH radar pulsing, presumed from here with no broadcasters audible in the range, but still a broadcast band where this stuff has no business. [and non]. 13455-13470, May 15 at 0511, OTH radar pulses, presumed from here, marred by CODAR much slower pulsing also in this range, ``Tie Me Kangaroo Down``-like (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DIEGO GARCIA. AFN - Diego Garcia - 12759 USB 0130 UT [May 15] Strong signal tonight into Manassas, VA on an IC-R75 with a Windom Antenna. If you haven't heard this one yet, it is in USB. It is not one of the usual AFRTS stations, this is a simulcast of their FM station called Power 99. Here is their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/AFN-Diego-Garcia/200133586714459 73, (Steve, N0DWB, Bryant, swl at qth.net via DXLD) It seems the present inhabitants are convinced it`s not spelt Diogo. I can never hear this despite frequent tries, nor on the night frequency 4319. So you axually heard a Power 99 ID on 12759? Is it always relaying that, or sometimes AFRTS LA? Only found this in FB 2012 posts: ``AFN Diego Garcia April 6 --- If you're listening on the short wave signal, please let us know when you're listening. Just give us a quick post and let us know what time it is, where you are and what you think of the programming. Thanks for listening!`` And later one post of hearing them on 12759: ``Masayuki Baba --- Hi guys! I listen to AFN Diego Garcia on 12759kHz(USB) now. Train kept a rolling by Aerosmith?? If signal would be more clear I could enjoy your program. 1 May 5 at 4:30am`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1617, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EAST TURKISTAN. 7340.00, 1640-1720, CHN, 12.05, Xinjiang PBS, Urumqi, Kazakh talk with singing in the background, Kazakh songs. No longer on winterfrequency 4850. 43433, QRM from another Asian station (Anker Petersen, on my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire in Skovlunde, Denmark, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. 4781.48, Radio Oriental, Napo noted per XM tip at 1115 with signal quickly drifting to .60 on 3 May, same time noted on 4 May, sign on at 1101 on 7 May with ID quickly given and audible till 1112, on 10 May from 1103 sign on with powerful signal, ID "Oriental" similar transmitter drift. Not noted 2300 to 0100 time period which would be open to our colleagues in Europe (Robert Wilkner, Pompano Beach, South Florida, NRD 535D -746Pro - R8 - Sony 2010XA, and XM - Cedar Key - South Florida, NRD 525D - R8A - Cumbre DX via DXLD) see also DX-PEDITIONS for audio clip of HCJB ** EGYPT. WRTH A-12 pdf Update May 10 item and comments: Shows for R. Cairo a DST shift for some but not all Arabic transmissions, presumably locked into domestic relay times; but timeanddate.com still doesn`t know of any DST in Egypt this year. They did go from UT+2 to UT+3 several previous years from various dates in late April to August or September thru 2009y, but not in 2010y or 2011y. The complete Arabic schedule as given): ``Arabic 0030-0430 daily NAm 6270abs 0700-1100 daily WAf 17510abz*,~ 1015-1215 daily WAs 17480abz 1300-1600 daily WAf 15080abs 1900-0030 daily CAf,EAf 11540abz**,~ 1900-0700 daily Eu,NAm 9305abs*,~ 2000-2200 daily Pac 9855abs 2330-0045 daily LAm 13855abs, 15480abz ~ These programmes are 1 hour earlier from May-Sept. Key: * General prgr; ** "Voice of the Arabs" prgr`` Besides checking independent sources for the current clock time in Cairo, the easiest way to confirm this would be whether 9305 is now going off at 0600, etc. Or starts doing so sometime this month. Also for R. Cairo, these planned but not yet in operation: ``Bosnian 1600-1700 daily Eu 13680abs*** Dari 1300-1400 daily WAs 15065abz***, 17725abz*** Pashto 1400-1600 daily WAs 15065abz, 15240abz*** *** Not yet in operation`` (Glenn Hauser, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Cairo Pashto service: New service of R. Cairo was started on May 13. 1400-1600 Pashto 15545 kHz. Bosnian and Dari are unconfirmed. de Hiroshi (S. Hasegawa, Japan, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Latest Radio Cairo A-12 registrations 6270 1900-2115 27,28 ABS 200 325 Ger,Fre EGY ERU 6270 2115-2245 27,28 ABS 200 325 Eng EGY ERU 13680 1600-1700 28 ABS 250 315 Bos EGY ERU 15240 1400-1600 40NE ABZ 250 70 Pus EGY ERU 15545 1400-1600 40NE ABZ 250 70 Pus EGY ERU 15770 1300-1600 46,47W,52N ABS 250 241 Ara EGY ERU 15800 1300-1600 46,47W,52N ABS 250 241 Ara EGY ERU 17725 1300-1400 40NE ABZ 250 70 Dari EGY ERU (Wolfgang Büschel, May 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Cairo started new Dari service from May 16 at *1327-1400 UT on 17725 kHz. Pashto service continues after 1400 on this frequency. I can't receive it on 15545 kHz. de Hiroshi (S. Hasegawa, Japan, May 16, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9305, May 11 at 0310, R. Cairo is undermodulated in Arabic talk, 0315 music is more distorted; comparing to English on 9315: just barely modulated. WRTH Update says some but not all of the Arabic broadcasts are 1 hour earlier from May to Sept, including 9305 General Program via Abis to NAm, at 1900-0700. But this assumes Egypt will go on DST of UT+3 instead of UT+2 sometime this month, which it has not done for the past two summers, and timeanddate.com does not expect it to this year either. If 9305 starts closing at 0600, that will indicate a timeshift. 13855, May 13 at 0019, poor signal with open carrier --- or rather, just barely modulated. What could it be? Cairo, of course! As scheduled this season in Arabic at 2330-0045, Spanish 0045-0200, 250 kW, 286 degrees from Abis to CIRAF 10 & 11 = Mexico, Central America and Caribbean, per Aoki and HFCC (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. 5005, Radio Nacional - Bata, *0458-0540, sign on with Spanish ballads. Spanish talk. Wide variety of Spanish pop music, local Afro-pop and hi-life music. Poor in noisy conditions. May 11. 5005, Radio Nac - Bata, *0536-0555, sign on with Spanish talk. Afro- pop music. African choral music. Weak. Poor in noisy conditions. Very irregular sign on time, varying between 0453-0539 the past 2 months. May 12 (Brian Alexander, PA, WORLD OF RADIO 1617, DX Listening Digest) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA [and non]. 15190, May 9 at 0550, R. Africa with hymn, but extremely distorted and squealing; at 0615 that was louder than the intentional modulation. Sounds like transmitter is about to blow up, putting it off the air again for months if not forever. Other African signals on 19m were in well, 15400 Madagascar, 15580 Botswana, 15120 Nigeria, 15275 Rwanda. 15190, May 10 at 2002, awful squeal/roar over talk and/or music from R. Africa, still very much ailing; how long will it last? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15190, 10/May 1010, EQUATORIAL GUINEA, R Africa in English. Finally after so long, I tune the R Africa, without the presence of R Inconfidência. OM speaks slowly. YL ask a question to the OM. At 1018 a news question. Good modulation. At 1021 short instrumental music between the talk of OM. At 1023 YL talk. Light QRM from R Inconfidência(?), but moderate noise. 23332 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, 12 14´S 38 58´W - Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I wonder if this could have been China Radio International in English which is scheduled on 15190 from 1000-1100 UT? (I think Radio Africa is usually off the air at this time) 73s (Dave Kenny UK, ibid.) I`m afraid it was. Listen for IDs or typical CRI content during this hour only; southward from Kashgar, EAST TURKISTAN (gh, DXLD) 15190, Radio Africa (presumed), 0530-0540, 12-05, male with English comments, religious. 34433. Also listened 0550-0604, 13-05, female with religious program, mentioned "Radio Bible Station". 24322 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Sony ICF SW 7600 G, cable antenna, 8 meters, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) [and non]. 15190, May 12 at 1909 two stations are here making a SAH of 4 Hz, one of them with music, the other preaching in English --- obviously R. Pilipinas and R. Africa respectively. (R. Inconfidência is probably on too, but not propagating much, and is way off-frequency now as confirmed by log a few hours later.). Recheck at 1929: preacher is on top, but other station is barely audible under, then from 1930 only R. Africa, the sign-off time of R. Pilipinas. 15190, May 13 at 0545, gospel huxtress in English, fair signal and R. Africa back in whack without distortion, but het on hi side, no doubt R. Inconfidência which lately has been around one sesquikilohertz off (Glenn Hauser, OK DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA. 7175, Voice of the Broad Masses, 0257-0302, May 10. IS, sign on announcements, local music. Poor under amateur QRM (Dustin Brann, Carmel, Indiana, USA, Icom R-75, EF-SWL in attic, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EUROPE. PIRATE. 6249.98, Radio Spaceman, 2345-0019*, pop music. Shoutouts. ID. Poor. Weak in noisy conditions and occasional RTTY QRM. May 11-12 (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg, PA, Icom IC-7600, two 100 foot longwires, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FIJI [non]. HOT NEWS: A station for Fiji named Domo I Viti should start on 4 June at 0830-0900 on 11565 via WRN from Palau. Not sure what its agenda is, clandestine or at least political? Seems there are at least two programs/stations by same name, in Auckland and Sydney by expatriates. Related to either of them, originating where? E.g.: http://www.aucklandfiji.org.nz/community_features_view.asp?newsid=408 (Glenn Hauser, OK, May 9, WORLD OF RADIO 1617, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. ELECTION OF FRANÇOIS HOLLANDE COULD CHANGE HOW TOP MANAGEMENT OF FRENCH INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING IS APPOINTED. Posted: 13 May 2012 Rapid TV News, 9 May 2012, Pascale Paoli-Lebailly: "Newly elected French President, François Hollande looks set to take advantage of his tenure to unravel some controversial TV reforms launched by former President Sarkozy. Likely first for reform is the emblematic nomination of PSB radio, TV and head of media groups by the president himself, und [sic, under? and?] the control of Parliament and TV regulator CSA. This power, which has traditionally attracted criticism, affects directly groups such as France Télévisions, Radio France, INA and Audiovisuel extérieur de la France. The Parti Socialiste (PS) political party for which Hollande was the presidential candidate, wants to hand back to the CSA its nomination power. Such a symbolic decision is expected to be taken very rapidly and could put into question the current tenures of people such as Rémy Pflimlin (FTV), Alain de Pouzilhac (AEF) or Jean-Luc Hess (Radio France)." (kimandrewelliott.com via WORLD OF RADIO 1617, DXLD) Sobre Radio Francia Internacional en español --- Pregunta general: Alguién sabe si Radio Francia Internacional sigue emitiendo en idioma español para América latina en este Período A-12???? El interrogante surge porque NO se halla listada en el esquema de Onda Corta en la versión PDF del WRTH-2012 (A-12) publicado en la Página Web: http://www.wrth.com/files/WRTH2012IntRadioSuppl2_A12Schedules.pdf - (Pagina 13)-.- Otra que desapareció ??? Gracias (Marcelo A. Cornachioni, Argentina, May 14, condiglist yg via DXLD) Al parecer no queda nada en la OC de español. Aquí su página de "Cómo captar RFI" http://www.espanol.rfi.fr/node/15892 (Horacio Nigro, Uruguay, ibid.) Estos fueron más inteligentes, ni avisaron, ni se despidieron. Demasiada historia para tanto desprecio ¿No? (Rubén Guillermo Margenet, Argentina, ibid.) Parece que terminaron el 1 de enero según esta entrevista de Cartas@RN. http://www.rnw.nl/espanol/radioshow/cartasrn-las-ondas-internacionales-en-cambio Un saludo (Pepe Bueno, Spain, ibid.) No me extraña que RFI elimine el español - y al parecer otros idiomas más - de la Onda Corta. En los últimos años se advertía con claridad que poco le interesaba a la emisora emitir por radio, teniendo a su disposición otros medios como el Satélite, Internet, Radios Asociadas y hasta por celular. RFI llegó al punto de no incluir el esquema de emisiones en la Web, y cuando empezaban y finalizaban sus emisiones por OC, jamás anunciaban su horario de frecuencias. Si la eliminación del castellano se confirma sin que nadie haya dicho NADA al respecto, tal hecho implica sin duda una falta total de respeto hacia aquellos oyentes de tantos años que han seguido sus transmisiones. La verdad una verguenza. Son impresentables los francesitos. Se apaga otra radio más del espectro de Onda Corta sin más trámite. Apostamos para ver cuál será la siguiente ???? Saludos (Marcelo A. Cornachioni, ibid.) Recuerdo haber escuchado de pura casualidad y hace tiempo el programa de Radio Nederland dirigido a América del Sur (cuando todavía lo hacían) en el que Jorge Valdes trataba de defender hasta quedarse sin respuestas el argumento bastante endeble que como había suficiente cobertura de internet en la región, por eso se suspendían las emisiones en onda corta. Se ve que los de RFI no quisieron meterse en camisa de once varas y por eso ni siquiera se molestaron en decir nada. De hecho, como todos sabemos, estas son no solo decisiones presupuestarias sino políticas. En estos últimos días comprobé que RFI sigue emitiendo para África tal y como lo hizo siempre en todos los idiomas, y hasta pude darme cuenta que emite en ruso, chino, laosiano o vietnamita también. Quizás si nos tomamos unos segundos para pensar, entendamos. 73 de CX2ABP (Rodolfo Tizzi, Uruguay, ibid.) Después de todo, Marcelo, si se quieren ir, que se vayan. Al fin y al cabo, creo que tiene mas gracia escuchar a la PBS de Xizang, Lhasa, a Radio Santa Cruz, a Radio Verdad de Guatemala, a La Voz Revolucionaria de Sudán del Sur o a la Radiodifussion Nationale Tchadienne que a cualquier transmisión desde Issoudun. 73 de CX2ABP (Tizzi, ibid.) Increíble lo que dijo esta señora, y que aparece en el enlace que dió recién Pepe: Geneviève Goëtzinger nos dice: ``Terminamos el 1 de enero con las emisiones en onda corta para América Central. Eso ya lo habíamos acordado con la empresa distribuidora TDF. Habíamos llegado a un acuerdo de reducir el número de frecuencias. No teníamos opción, fue una decisión económica. Ahí hemos castigado también a Cuba. Pero tenemos la esperanza que como seguimos emitiendo por la web los cubanos, quizás en el futuro, pudieran tener un mayor acceso a Internet y nos puedan escuchar``. ¡Qué razonamiento! (Horacio Nigro, Uruguay, ibid.) "Castigan" a Cuba pero "no castigan" a los países del África Subsahariana y a los de Indochina. Pensar que ese país fue la vanguardia intelectual del mundo en una época. Gone with the wind, junto con Rhett Butler y Scarlett O' Hara. 73 de CX2ABP (Tizzi, ibid.) Ahora, me pregunto: si nadie de nosotros se dio cuenta, es que al menos desde enero y antes, tenía muy poca audiencia, al menos nadie de nosotros aviso. (HAN, CX3BZ, Uruguay, ibid.) Todo esto me perece absolutamente PATÉTICO !!!!!! En verdad, desde luego que desde un punto de vista diexista, es preferible escuchar Radio Tanzania Zanzíbar que a RFI, pero es lamentable que por culpa de decisiones de este tipo, existan menos radios de Onda Corta, siendo que muchos gobiernos europeos han destinado fortunas a otros proyectos inútiles en vez de invertir en dar a conocer su voz a través del éter. Saludos (Marcelo A. Cornachioni, ibid.) Opino igual que ambos: Los dos tienen razones valederas. Cuando yo lamento la pérdida de emisoras internacionales lo siento como una historia que se cierra y que la viví durante gran parte de su vigencia; por lo tanto son experiencias que enriquecieron mis años de radioescucha de onda corta. Incluso me ayudaron a formarme en la práctica del DX y a saber distinguir que son pasiones diferentes pero surgidas por la magia de la radio. Siempre respeté la actividad de los radioescuchas (SWLer) y hasta debo reconocer que me entusiasmé durante años escuchando los programas destinados a oyentes y diexistas. Las emisoras internacionales han contribuido a la práctica del diexismo y a incrementar nuestros logros, en especial, en la conquista de radiopaíses identificados y verificados. ¿Hoy podríamos conseguir una QSL de Suiza, Bélgica, República Checa, Italia, Portugal, Eslovaquia, Suecia, tan fácilmente como lo hacíamos antes? Es cierto, se abrió el espectro pero también aumentó el silencio. El DX no morirá jamás pero - disculpen que insista - lo que hemos vivido durante las décadas del '70, '80 y parte del '90 no se repite más, queda en nuestro recuerdo, en mi caso, con sabor a nostalgia. Por esa razón y por más justificaciones tecnológicas, económicas y (sobretodo) políticas, resulta muy indignante que emisoras de la categoría de RFI desaparezcan como si jamás hubieran existido. Adiós también al español que solíamos escuchar desde lejanas geografías y que - en muchos casos - ni siquiera lo leemos o escuchamos por la plataforma que impuso el Internet con "aires" de globalización. La idea de Rodolfo no es mala, es la que nos queda, por ahora. ¡Aprovechémosla antes que sea tarde!. RGM (Rubén Guillermo Margenet, ibid.) Estimado Marcelo: El pasado 7 de enero 2012 mi maestro Glenn Hauser publicaba en DXLD lo siguiente: Radio Francia Internacional suprimió todas sus emisiones de onda corta en español, tanto como en inglés y portugués; y redujo además las horas en francés. Parece continuar su página en español, incluso audio de noticieros a pedido, tanto como via radios asociadas. http://www.espanol.rfi.fr/ [Lista ConDig - Glenn Hauser] 73 (Dino Bloise, FL, ibid.) ** FRANCE [non]. 21690, May 12 at 1303, surprised to hear RFI in French still on the air past the 1200-1300 hour scheduled, poor signal. Finally cuts off at 1306:40*. Meanwhile heard nothing on 17620 or 15300. HFCC shows 21690 is via GUIANA FRENCH during this hour, changing to Issoudun from September 2 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [and non]. [Re 12-19]: Wiederau 783 kHz back on air "Some point" was exactly at 1212 UT, just in time for Bundesliga SBG coverage, making evil tongues joke that the engineers wanted to hear that. The signal has been restored with 50 kW and will be brought back to full 100 kW when the necessary components arrive from Switzerland. Here is a picture of the new Faroer islands transmitter being tested in the Thomson plant. It's like the Wiederau rig a 100 kW M2W, too: https://plus.google.com/photos/106908783359348198419/albums/5261945916 101427713?banner=pwa&gpsrc=pwrd1 The source of the thunderstorm photos sent around as explanation has meanwhile being spotted: http://www.fotocommunity.de/pc/pc/display/27823874 Here is a photo of the antenna tuner that has until 1989 being used to connect the incoming 50 ohms coax line from the transmitters to the mere 22 ohms the antenna had on 1323 kHz (for 531 kHz operation the special function of the condenser block was not necessary): http://www.qsl.net/dh7wm/hsm1.html And here a promo video of MDR Info, the program carried on 783: http://www.mdr.de/mdr-info/mitarbeiter/index.html Perhaps more impressive this photo of the telephone booths in an open space they use instead of news studios: http://www.halleforum.de/mediacontent/img16_12481620380-800.jpg Perhaps also of interest: Another site with pictures from Burg, the plant last used for broadcasting with the KBC tests on 531 in last autumn: http://www.pakendorf-burg.de/sender.htm (Kai Ludwig, Germany, 1652 UT May 11, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. The 1 kW low-power broadcasts from Germany are intended for daytime reception in Europe, but since Tom Taylor`s advance publicity for May 13 said Hamburger Lokalradio (or ``HH Lokalradio``, strange abbr.), via MV Baltic Radio from Göhren, would be on 7265 at 0500-0800, I might have a chance to hear the start of it: No, not even a carrier audible at 0505 May 13; just some ham SSB in the area. Later saw an UP-DATE from Tom no longer listing a broadcast from 0500, instead 09-14 on 7265. So was there really no broadcast at 0500? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, Not such a strange abbreviation in "HH Lokalradio". "HH" is the standard abbreviation for Hamburg, and appears on auto license tags issued there. It stands for "Hansestadt Hamburg", referring to the fact that Hamburg was a member city-state of the Hanseatic League back in the day. 73, (Saul Broudy, Philadelphia, PA USA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Tnx, Saul, I need to learn something every day and this is a good example (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) Hamburger Lokalradio - TEST on 5980 KHz via the short wave transmitting station Göhren. Dear Listeners, Hamburger Lokalradio are on this Thursday the 17th of May 2012. Station Names Channel Station E-mails HH Lokalradio 5980 kHz m.kittner @ freenet.de TEST Transmission Times, UT: 0600-0700 via Göhren 0800-0845! via Göhren 0900-1000 via Kall 1100-1200 via Göhren 1300-1400 via Göhren 1500-1600 via Göhren Good Listening, 73s (Tom Taylor, May 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) And in advance in the dxldyg (gh) ** GERMANY. 9735, Thursday May 10 at 0524, fair signal with gospel huxter in English, keeps mentioning ``Yeshua``, citing Matthew XXI: 43. Haven`t noticed this before. 0529 outro as Bible Voice Broadcasting, P O Box 207, Asouk(??), Egypt. (I can`t find any such postal address on their website, nor in WRTH under CANADA.), or mail @ biblevoice.org and off at 0530*. No wonder I haven`t noticed it before: per HFCC, this 250 kW, 105 degrees from Wertachtal is scheduled 0500-0530 only on Thursdays, what luck! Plus 0500-0515 on Fridays; 0430-0500 on Tue/Wed/Thu. Remember when 9735 was a prime frequency of Deutsche Welle? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. Three medium-wave transmitters to switch back on Submitted by radiofono.gr on Fri, 11/05/2012 - 03:47 The Executive Board of ERT, during its No. 1040 meeting, reviewed, on the recommendation of the relevant DG, the issue of disruption of three medium wave transmitters at the Greek Radio Broadcast Centers at Megara, Malgara and Tripoli. "The Board, taking into account the demands of local communities, the broad range they offer to the Greek Radio, and the fact that their operation is possible with reduced budget, decided to restart the operation the specific transmitters." Although this statement does not mention the names of the stations (apart from E.RA. Tripoli), it is speculated that the frequency of E.RA. Sports at 981 KHz (from Megara) and one of the two frequencies of Radio Macedonia (from Malgara). One transmitter had continued to operate in each of the last two broadcast centers, so the operation of a second transmitter out of the same premises seemed a low cost solution. The "ex post" maneuver of the administration of ERT was the result of many complaints. The absence of powerful transmitter ERA Sports was "missed" by a large audience in southern and insular Greece , while the radio station Macedonia had difficulties to obtain broad Macedonian coverage with just FM transmitters . Complaints are also voiced by official lips from the local radio stations, such as the fact that E.RA. Tripoli reported that areas of the municipalities o Gortynia, North and South Kynouria not covered after the close of the middle. Such a move also is indicative of the superficiality with which the original decision was taken because its scale had strong elements of sensationalism, without prior study and dialogue with the local community (source? via John Babbis, MD, May 14, DXLD) ** GUAM. WRTH A-12 pdf Update May 10 item and comments: ``KSDA (AWR ASIA/PACIFIC RELAY STATION) Note: Known previously in WRTH as AWR Guam (KSDA). Schedule is in the AWR Asia/Pacific entry, see under ‘Indonesia’ [q.v.]`` (Glenn Hauser, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUAM. Subject: A12 KTWR (TWR ASIA) --- Dear Sir, This is to draw your attention to WRTH A12 schedule especially on page 13 GUAM - KTWR (TWR ASIA) - Sundanese 1230-1300 daily 15170 1430-1500 daily 15170 According to monitoring, should be: Minangkabau 1230-1300 daily 15170 Javanese 1430-1500 daily 15170 Best regards, (Tony Ashar, BDN C3/3, Depok 16434, Indonesia, to WRTH, cc to DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HONDURAS. 5/11 Es Analog TV -Honduras > SC --- in with strong signals in Spanish for about 15 minutes. 1631 [EDT] HJRS-2 HN San Pedro Sula - Vica TV logo U/r (1323 [miles]) 1648 [EDT] *HRLP-4 HN San Pedro Sula - cartoon - with circular Telecadena 7/4 logo U/R (1323) *=new logging (Fred Nordquist, Moncks Corner, SC, 33.21756N 79.95798W, KJ4BUG Grid FM03AF, WTFDA via DXLD) ** HONG KONG. 8828-USB, Cape d'Aguilar, 1045 to 1050 9 May. Neat to hear Hong Kong similar to the weather broadcasts for the Hong Kong Boat Races (Robert Wilkner, Pompano Beach, South Florida, NRD 535D - 746Pro - R8 - Sony 2010XA, and XM - Cedar Key - South Florida, NRD 525D - R8A - Cumbre DX via WORLD OF RADIO 1617, DXLD) ** ICELAND. 189, Gufuskalar, 0122 to 0140 with music, using Scotka long wave pre amplifier for first time. 3 May (Robert Wilkner, Pompano Beach, South Florida, NRD 535D -746Pro - R8 - Sony 2010XA - Scotka long wave pre amplifier, Cumbre DX via DXLD) 0200 to 0230 logged by 3 May (XM - Cedar Key - South Florida, NRD 525D - R8A - via Robert Wilkner, Cumbre DX via WORLD OF RADIO 1617, DXLD) ** INDIA. ALL INDIA RADIO GEARS UP WITH A NEW TRANSMITTER AT RAJKOT Thomson Broadcast recently delivered a 1000 kW Medium Wave transmitter to All India Radio for installation in Rajkot. Installation of the transmitter, which can be operated on two medium wave frequencies, is now complete and test transmissions in both analogue and digital are being conducted now with full commissioning expected at the end of May. Source : DRM Newsletter May 2012. Read the newsletter at : http://newsletters.lavishcreative.com/t/ViewEmailArchive/r/0124FA1E3EBE82A5/C67FD2F38AC4859C/ (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, May 11, dx_india yg via DXLD) Update from Sudipta Ghose, Kolkata on 1000 kW MW txer under installation at Chinsurah, West Bengal: "Full equipment has not been received up till now. Tests cannot take place before middle or end of June." (Alokesh Gupta, May 11, ibid.) WTFsK??? Rajkot was 1000 kW on 1071 kHz, but has been off the air for installation of new transmitter, says WRTH 2012, ditto for 1134 at Chinsurah; and another 1000 kW Chinsurah is on 594 kHz (gh, DXLD) ** INDIA. AIR Kolkata 4820 kHz noted today 12 May 2012 with extended morning transmission beyond 0215. At 0230 UT heard with news relay from New Delhi. This frequency is scheduled to run 0025-0215 when programming shifts to 7210. No signals noted today on 7210 which is scheduled 0230-0401 UT. For the last three weeks, Kolkata B, 1008 kHz is off the air, presumably for upgrading to DRM capable transmitters. During this period, program is to be aired via SW (Supratik Sanatani, Kolkata, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. 9690, May 9 at 1355, AIR GOS, fair with Indian classical music, 1400 news of Olympix. Better than usual, this transpolar signal while other Asians were degraded; see also UZBEKISTAN, CHINA (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9704.97, All India Radio, 2300-2315, audible after Niger signed off at 2300. English news. ID. Commentary. Local music. Weak. Very weak on // 9950. Fair on // 13605. May 12 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) 13695, May 15 at 1240 South Asian song stops, fair signal, then open carrier for 2+ minutes. HFCC shows this is the end of AIR`s Tamil/Telugu service at 1100-1245, (really 1115-), 500 kW, 108 degrees from Bengaluru; to resume same parameters from 1315 (really 1330-) with AIR GOS III in English. That`s ex-13710, whence CRI via Kashgar must have driven AIR off (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. ANNIVERSARIES OF AIR IN MAY, 2012, year commissioned: 1, 6 kW, FM AIR Kurnool (Andra Pradesh), Patiala (Punjab), Raigarh (Chhattisgarh), Akola (Maharashtra) 1992 6 kW, FM AIR Bilaspur 1991 10 kW, FM AIR Hospet (Andra Pradesh) 1992 2, 6 kW, FM AIR Sagar (Madya Pradesh) 1993 6 kW, FM AIR Sasaramr (Bihar) 1991 3, 6 kW, FM AIR Chitradurga (Karnataka) 1991 4, 6 kW, FM AIR Hassan (Karnataka), Cannanore (Kerala), Shivpuri (Madya Pradesh) 1991 7, 1 kW, MW AIR Ooty (Tamil Nadu) 1994 8, 20 kW, MW AIR Rohtak (Haryana) 1976 14, 100 kW, MW AIR Calicut (Kerala) 1950 15, 6 kW, FM AIR Swai Madhopur (Rajastan) 1992 16, 300 kW, MW AIR Jalandhar (Punjab) 1949 100 kW, MW AIR Tiruchirapalli (Tamil Nadu) 1939 17, 3 kW, FM AIR Daman (Union Terriotry) 1995 18, Introduction to National Channel, 1988 20, 10 kW, FM AIR Jorhat (Assam) 1991 22, 200 kW, MW AIR Indore (Madya Pradesh) 1955 25, 20 kW, MW transmission at Kupwara commissioned to strengthen radio coverage in the border area of J&K, 2004 26, 100 kW, MW AIR Sambalpur (Orissa) 1963 29, 6 kW, FM AIR Anantapur (Andra Pradesh), Nanded (Maharashtra) 1991 31, 200 kW, MW AIR Tuticorin External service (Tamil Nadu) 1994 ~ AIR Baroda become a CBS station, 1980 +++++++++++++++++++ Extract from Dxers Guide April~June 2012 issue Dxers Calendar column (Via Jaisakthivel, ADXC, Tirunelveli, India; For sample copy visit http://www.dxersguide.blogspot.com dxldyg via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 9526-, May 15 at 1335, no signal detectable from VOI, altho RRI 9680 was incoming well atop the Chinese radio war. Atsunori Ishida http://rri.jpn.org shows he last heard 9526 May 12 until 1056* 9680, May 10 at 1351-1355+, YL solo music, then joined by gamelan orchestra, good signal way over China/Taiwan radio war, this RRI domestic service; unlike VOI 9526- which was a JBA carrier. Something is very wrong when the DS is so much better heard than the external service (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA [non]. WRTH A-12 pdf Update May 10 item and comments: ``AWR ASIA/PACIFIC (Rlg) (NEW ENTRY, ex KSDA)`` This has been done so an integrated schedule by these target areas can be shown, including sites Guam, Sri Lanka, Germany. So get used from WRTH 2013 to finding KSDA listings under INDONESIA! (Glenn Hauser, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. Re DXLD 12-18, it is inaccurate for Gareth Foster to state that there is now "only one analogue satellite transponder world wide." A number of transponders on North American satellites carry analog signals, such as C-SPAN and shopping channels, fulltime. And there continues to be analog use for occasional feeds (Mike Cooper, GA, May 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN. 17550, May 10 at 1320, nice Arabic vocal music, duet, good signal with no flutter, weakened quite a bit after 1330, but still fair after 1401. Is IRIB, 0530-1630, 500 kW, 259 degrees from Kamalabad. 17660, May 16 at 0528, nondescript music, seems repetitive, IS? 0530 announcement in uncertain language, Iranian NA, and into, what else? Qur`an. Listed as ``Bossni``, i.e. something like Serbo-Croatian, at 0530-0630, 500 kW, 297 degrees from Kamalabad (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [and non]. Summer A-12 for VOIRI/IRIB Albanian 0630-0727 on 15500 17595 1830-1927 on 9570 11980 2030-2127 on 6090 9830 Arabic 0230-0527 on 11660 11760 12080 0330-0427 on 9610 11875 "Voice of Palestine" 0530-0827 on 13785 15150 17550 0830-1027 on 13740 13785 15150 17550 1030-1427 on 13785 15150 17550 1430-1727 on 11815 11995 1730-2027 on 9715 12080 2030-0227 on 12080 Armenian 0300-0327 on 7220 11700 0930-0957 on 11850 15225 1630-1727 on 7230 9505 Azeri 0330-0527 on 11670 1430-1657 on 9655 Bengali 1430-1527 on 11700 13840 15400 1630-1657 on 11825 13730 Bosnian 0530-0627 on 15320 17660 1730-1827 on 9655 11865 2130-2227 on 9810 11685 Chinese 1200-1257 on 17610 17670 21500 21650 2330-0027 on 13670 13715 15470 Dari 0300-0627 on 11940 13740 0830-1157 on 13840 15500 1200-1427 on 9565 13840 1430-1457 on 9565 English 0330-0427 on 11920 13650 "Voice of Justice" 1030-1127 on 21590 21640 1530-1627 on 11945 13780 1930-2027 on 9540 9800 11750 11885 French 0630-0727 on 17610 17890 1830-1927 on 9860 11865 17650 German 0730-0827 on 15500 17610 1730-1827 on 9570 11980 Hausa 0600-0657 on 17750 1130-1157 on 21505 21750 1830-1927 on 13710 15550 Hebrew 0430-0457 on 9610 11875 1200-1227 on 13685 15240 Hindi 0230-0257 on 11890 13750 1430-1527 on 13725 15300 Indonesian 1230-1327 on 17560 21670 2230-2327 on 9655 11870 Italian 0630-0727 on 15480 17665 1930-1957 on 5910 9600 Japanese 1330-1427 on 13630 15555 2100-2157 on 11745 13710 Kazakh 0130-0227 on 9790 11800 1530-1627 on 9940 11700 Kurdish 0430-0527 on 7365 9715 1330-1627 on 9490 Pashto 0230-0327 on 5940 9620 0730-0827 on 13740 15440 1230-1327 on 11870 13730 1430-1527 on 5985 1630-1727 on 6005 7340 Russian 0300-0327 on 11925 13670 0500-0527 on 13750 15480 17655 21520 1430-1527 on 11955 13595 13800 1700-1757 on 7350 9800 1800-1857 on 6140 7240 1930-2027 on 6030 9570 Spanish 0030-0227 on 9860 11740 0230-0327 on 9860 0530-0627 on 15530 17530 2030-2127 on 7355 9790 Swahili 0400-0457 on 13750 15340 0830-0927 on 17660 21650 1730-1827 on 11830 13670 Tajik 0100-0227 on 7285 9615 1600-1727 on 6110 7435 Turkish 0430-0557 on 11860 13710 1600-1727 on 7210 9870 Urdu 0130-0227 on 7325 9730 11930 1300-1427 on 9705 15300 15400 1530-1727 on 6060 Uzbek 0230-0257 on 7295 11870 1500-1557 on 5945 11860 All [IRIB] transmissions via Sitkunai are cancelled from May 1: 1730-1827 on 5940 SIT 100 kW / 259 deg to WeEu German 1830-1927 on 5940 SIT 100 kW / 259 deg to WeEu French 1930-2027 on 5940 SIT 100 kW / 259 deg to WeEu English (DX Re Mix News, Bulgaria, May 15 via DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. 9760, May 10 at 0525, SW Asian music, Turkey? Off without announcement at 0528*. No, it`s R. Farda, 100 kW, 108 degrees from Lampertheim, GERMANY at 0230-0530[sic] (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [non]. NEW VOA SHOW LAMPOONS IRANIAN POLITICS PRESS RELEASE 5/10/2012 3:00:21 PM Voice of America’s newest Persian TV program hits the airwaves in Iran Friday with an off-beat look at the Iranian political scene. The new show, OnTen, which means Antenna in English, is more than just a wrap-up of the week’s headlines. The half-hour mix of parody, satire, comedy and news, gives viewers a tongue-in-cheek look at Iranian government policies and the people behind them. Antenna co-host Saman Arbabi, who also played a key role in the creation of the hit VOA show Parazit, says the new program and its playful features will be unlike other Persian Service programs. VOA's Saman Arbabi “People always used to make fun of Cold War era documentaries from the 1950s,” Arbabi says, “so one of the fun ideas we had was to use that format for a weekly segment that profiles people who play a powerful behind-the-scenes role in Iran.” These are serious people and serious topics Arbabi says, but there is no reason we can’t examine them in a humorous way. In addition to a weekly news roundup with commentary, Arbabi says the show will have a video blog and a rapid-fire four-way debate format that will include VOA’s Arash Sobhani and two guests from opposite ends of the political spectrum. VOA Persian Service programs are broadcast to Iran on satellite and the Internet. Antenna will air Fridays at 10 PM Tehran Time, and will be available on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter (Kyle King, VOA PR, May 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [non]. 7460, 0302 9 Apr, MOLDOVA, R Payam e-Doost (tentative), vernacular music, YL Farsi? 0305*, SINPO 25432 (Alan Roe, May World DX Club Contact via DXLD) 7460, MOLDOVA, R. Payem-e-Doost, May 12. Poor at 0250 with man speaking in Farsi; short vocal selection at 0258; announcement with internet address at 0259; after 0300 a woman speaking with short music selections between items (Jim Ronda, Tulsa, OK, NRD-545, R-75 + PAR- SWL and attic-mounted Eavesdropper T, NASWA Flashsheet via WORLD OF RADIO 1617, DXLD) The Bahai clandestine. I was wanting to check its exact times, but missing from WRTH 2012 Iranian target/clandestine page 504, altho it is in the SW frequency list under 7460 as 500 kW from Moldova. Aoki, matching HFCC, shows: 7460 R. Payem e-Doost(Bahai) 0230-0315 1234567 Persian 500 116 Kishinev-Grigoriopol MDA 02924E 4717N PAYEM a12 BAB Then tried the WRTH A-12 update, and found it filed as religious, under USA! RADIO PAYAM–E DOOST (Rlg) kHz: 7460, 7480 Summer Schedule 2012 Farsi Days Area kHz 0230-0315 daily ME 7460kch 1800-1845 daily ME 7480kch And then also found on page 494 of WRTH: USA, right after Pan American, explained: ``Payam-e Doost (``Message from a friend``) is a satellite radio station run by members of the Baha`i Faith in the USA. Regular relays on SW started 21 April 2001 and on satellite from May 2002. Jammed`` (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. 6973, Galei Zahal, 0020-0030, Hebrew talk. Weak but readable. Fair on // 15850. May 11 (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg, PA, USA, Icom IC-7600, two 100 foot longwires, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) [and non]. 15850, May 12 at 0120, pop music at S9+10 level, much better signal from Galei Tzahal than we get at other dayparts; Greece 15650 was also good (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY. 5000 kHz --- Continua lo spam sui 5 MHz, frequenza internazionalmente riservata alle emissioni campione di tempo e frequenza: 5000 kHz, 15/5/2012, 2100 UTC: "VVV VVV VVV DE CSP ICT RESEARCH CENTER QTH TURIN ITALY JN35UB VVV DE CSP KKK" in A2A distorta, shift +/- 700 Hz. S7 a Forlì con RX Perseus e antenna Miniwhip. A tratti disturbata da BPM Xian (Cina), sempre su 5 MHz. Mi chiedo perché una stazione che pare sia autorizzata dal ministero non debba usare un indicativo ufficiale e soprattutto perché, nel caso, il ministero debba autorizzare l'occupazione di una frequenza riservata a servizi ufficiali. Se poi si fa il parallelo con la situazione delle onde medie in Italia, le domande aumentano (Fabrizio Magrone, Forlì, Italia, May 16, bclnews.it yg via DXLD) Ne ho parlato domenica in trasmissione e in questi due giorni ho avuto parecchi scambi circa la opportunità / legalità di questa operazione (Roberto Scaglione, ibid.) see also DX-PEDITIONS for audio clip ** ITALY [non]. Studio DX e AWR da domenica 20 maggio da ISSOUDUN. SEGUIRANNO DETTAGLI. Sempre 9790 kHz (Roberto Scaglione, Sicily, May 16, bclnews.it yg via DXLD) ** ITALY [non]. ROMANIA: 15190, Overcomer Ministry via IRRS; 1442- 1510+, 11-May; Tuned to hear the gravelly tones on B.S. huxtering away, also had screechy W singing. 1459 English IRRS spot with QSL info. Said "signing off" but went right into jazz -- maybe some testing as went off/on a few times. At 1505 missed an English intro, but went into "The California Report" with CA news. SIO=252+ with QRN & very fady. Nothing audible on 15190 at 1623 (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 125 ft. bow-tie; 85 ft. RW & 180 ft. center-fed RW, All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) That was a Friday, so another week that ``Arab Women Today`` in Arabic, scheduled at 1500-1515, was missed, and fill programming inserted, probably from KQED. Would go off anyway at 1515 on Friday (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** JAPAN. Radio Nikkei 1 --- At 1145 GMT I stopped tuning abruptly at 9595 on 31 meter band because I was startled to hear the sublime notes of Bach's "Sheep May Safely Graze". Bit of talk in Japanese, then more Bach. My Strength Meter (0-10 scale) measured a signal of moderate strength from 3-5. It must have been Radio Nikkei 1 from Japan via their 50 kW transmitter at Chiba-Nagara. I checked a frequency service and they were the only Japanese service listed on that frequency at that time. I listened until the turn of the hour (Grayson Watson in Dallas, TX on a Sangean 909x with 25' random wire antenna, May 14, Cumbre DX yg via DXLD) Yes, the do that, sometimes by Tomita (gh) ** JAPAN [non]. 6110 via CANADA almost synchronized with weaker 11970 via FRANCE, May 15 at 0515, NHK World with `Radio Japan Focus` talk about the new Sky Tree antenna tower in Tokyo, and how it is protected against lightning. 0522 on to `Once Upon a Time in Japan`, gross story about a mountain-witch a fellow mistakenly marries. 0529, 6110 cut off as usual before the full English schedule could be announced. 6080 via BONAIRE, at 0518, could hear R. Japón as usual with same subject in Spanish translation, equal mix with CRI English via Sackville once again on wrong frequency instead of 6190 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also CANADA; CHINA ** KOREA SOUTH [non]. 9650, May 12 at 1225, KBSWR in English again with strange audio artifacts at peaks of modulation. Since I have never heard same on any other Sackville transmissions, I conclude it is the fault of something closer to Seoul. 1250 retune to find Kevin O`Donovan in progress giving V. of Greece schedule, something about XM, propagation from SWPC; 1252 on to Tech Tips from Jeff in Baltimore, telling us about what he is going to tell us next week about which of the five leading browsers are best to use on KBS website. 9650, May 13 at 1405, KBSWR in Korean, again with the clicky artifacts on the modulation, longtime problem in the feed from Seoul to Sackville (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA SOUTH [and non]. 6348, SOUTH KOREA, Radio Echo of Hope, 1154, May 15, Korean, man and woman, instrumental music, 1200 woman with announcements and maybe news, poor with noise jamming. // 3985 poor with jammer and hams, jammer went off 1157, back on 1200; // 6003 poor with Chinese station and het; 6348 jammer off 1157, back on 1201. 6600, SOUTH KOREA, Voice of the People, 1220, May 15, Korean, male speaker. Poor, // 3480 very poor and 4450 poor, all with noise jammers (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening lakeside from my car with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna. Editor of World English Survey and Target Listening, available at http://www.odxa.on.ca dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA SOUTH. CHANNEL 6 ON FM - 87.75 VS. 88.0 FEEDS I'm curious about the frequencies of analog TV carriers. Every time I do bandscans locally, I run into the same thing every time. Locally, I have two Channel 6s on 87.75, one from Seoul, 34 miles to my north, and another from Daejeon, 50 miles to my south. Both have strong signals on 87.75 (and all nearby frequencies as well, of course). However, they also broadcast on 88.0. Actually, a little closer to the city, my radio actually stops on 88.0 when I use the seek function. 88.0 is usually silent, even when finding it on seek. However, sometimes, such as during news broadcasts, it broadcasts background music and sometimes totally different feeds and is quieter than 87.75. Flipping to 87.75 reveals the same background music with the voices added and a louder signal. Is this normal for TV carriers? I also get a TV channel on 103.65 nearby the city. Any idea if there is an equivalent to, anything TV-related (South Korea uses the same analog system as the US did)? It's rather far-reaching and I can't quite figure out what it is aside from it being a wildlife documentary yesterday (Chris Kadlec, Songtan, Korea, 13 May, WTFDA via DXLD) Not in the US. The channel 6 audio carrier is at 87.75, period (well, unless it was an analog station with + or - carrier shift, in which case it would have been at 87.74 or 87.76.) 88.0 sits right on the edge between the channel 6 spectrum (82-88 MHz) and the FM channel 201 spectrum (88.0-88.2 MHz, with carrier at 88.1). It may be that South Korea is using some sort of TV stereo system with a separate L-R carrier at 88.0, or perhaps that frequency is used for an IFB-type channel. I don't know enough to say. 103.65 isn't used for broadcast TV in North America, of course, since it's right in the middle of the FM band. Cable systems can use those frequencies, but 103.65 doesn't fit with the US cable plan, either - cable channel 96 has its audio at 101.75 and cable channel 97 has its audio at 107.75. I don't know whether South Korea uses the same bandplan; it's possible you're getting cable leakage from a system that uses a different bandplan, I suppose. You might also be getting a receiver-induced image of a VHF TV signal higher up the dial. I used to get channel 13 (215.75 MHz) audio around 102 MHz on FM radios near the channel 13 transmitter site (Scott Fybush, Rochester NY, ibid.) Thanks Scott! I'm guessing Korea does something a little differently, although I have to admit I wasn't using the same tuner in the US before the digital switch, so I couldn't really compare to the situation back home. My tuner does pick up a few oddities here and there, especially with overload, and the dial here is already massively overloaded, which doesn't help. As for the 103.65, we do have some issues with spurs, especially on 88.3, and 92.7. The stations that are showing up in the spurs are also at the area's major TV tower site as well, so any one of those channels could show up I suppose. This particular 103.65 spur only shows up at locations with a direct line-of-sight path. TV channels broadcasting from one of two nearby mountains include channels 25, 27, 37, 41, and 43, as well as 7, 9, 11, 13, and 34. Ch 13 just happens to be the educational channel likely to show a documentary of that type. In the meantime, I'm just happy to hear analog TV on FM to begin with. Digital takes over here at the end of this year (Chris Kadlec, Songtan, Korea, ibid.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zweikanalton This is exactly what it is. There's a second analog audio carrier on 87.974 MHz, either silent (during mono programs), with the right channel (during stereo programs), or with a second language. I would concur that this is either a spur or cable leakage from an other-than-American frequency plan: 103.65 is not a valid audio carrier in any frequency plan. – (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66, ibid.) ** KOREA SOUTH. Incheon, Korea Bandscan With only a few days left in Korea before leaving for good, I had to visit a friend up in Incheon, along the Yellow Sea. I figured in my extra time, I would do a bandscan to compare the stations where I live, 38 miles to the southeast, with those in Incheon, atop Wolmi Mountain (for those not familiar, it's where the US Navy carried out their Incheon Landing during the Korean War). The result was only three additional stations I don't already receive, all of them either AFN (Armed Forces Network) stations or repeater stations to cover the northern suburbs along the border with North Korea. Some of the stations I always get in perfect at 50-60 miles were exactly the same 38 miles further away, as solid as can be, nearing 100 miles for many (mountaintop) stations. 101.7, which struggles here on some days, was the same, if not stronger, at 160 miles. Tropo conditions were pretty dead, but air quality is far better for being on the water. I was surprised to catch my local AFN stations at 30 and 50 watts, both in nearly perfect. Reception quality is marked as: in, good, very good, or perfect. "Omni" indicates 360 degrees, so "perfect omni" means in a turn of 360 degrees, the station was perfect all the way around. Others are marked as perfect dir / very good omni, etc., indicating it was perfect aiming at the station, and the quality was very good in all other directions. "Perfect omni-" indicates it was perfect almost all the way around, but not quite. "PART" means it is only on part-time. Military jammers aren't on 24/7 and other networks like Voice of Freedom along the DMZ have schedules that include multiple hours of broadcasting (example: 9-12pm, 2-6pm, 8-11pm, 12-6am, etc., turning the transmitter off in the meantime). "*" means the station came in on seek in all directions, while "*-" is seek only in one direction. The bandscan was done during Pyongyang's off period, so I was not able to test coverage, but I suspect it is very poor being in line of sight to the jammers, despite being close to the Haeju (on North Korea's southwest coast) towers just 60 miles across the water. When the jammers are off, as they were while at Incheon Int'l Airport two years ago, the Haeju stations blast in. Only 92 stations were received at this location as compared to about 120 at my home location. China was heard, but not anything worth mentioning. Tower coordinates have been taken out of the list for space constraints. INCHEON / WOLMISAN, KOREA BANDSCAN Wolmisan Peak / Wolmi Park (354 ft) Coordinates: 37 28 21.65N, 126 36 08.29E Distance to Seoul: 13 mi. (73 degrees/ENE) Distance to Pyongyang: 113 mi. (337?/NNW) Distance to border: 20 mi (358?/N) May 12, 2012 12:00-3:00pm, 92 stations total Freq. / Location / Network / Calls / Dist. / Dir. / Power / Reception quality + Notes * 87.7 Seoul Namsan / SBS-TV (6+ TV) / HLSQ-TV / 22 mi 76?ENE 50kw perfect omni 88.3 Dongducheon / AFN The Eagle (Casey) / AFNK / 40 mi 41?NE 0.25kw very good dir / good omni 88.3 Pyeongtaek / AFN The Eagle (Humphreys) / AFNK / 43 mi 147?SSE 0.05kw good dir 88.5 Songtan / AFN The Eagle (Osan) / AFNK / 36 mi 138?SE 0.03kw perfect dir / very good omni 88.5 Uijeongbu / AFN The Eagle (Red Cloud) / AFNK / 30 mi 51?NE 0.1kw perfect dir / very good omni 88.7 Eumseong / MBC FM4U / HLAO / 70 mi 120?ESE 3kw perfect omni- 88.9 x * 89.1 Seoul Gwanaksan / KBS Cool FM / HLKC / 20 mi 96?E 10kw perfect omni 89.3 = 89.1 89.5 Wonju / KBS Classic / HLCW / 77 mi 101?E 3kw perfect dir * 89.7 Seoul Gwanaksan / WBS Woneum / HLQK / 20 mi 96?E 3kw perfect omni 89.9 Cheonan / KBS R 1 / HLKI-S / 57 mi 144?SE 1kw perfect omni 90.1 Jeonju / JTV Magic FM / HLDQ / 123 mi 167?SSE 5kw good dir * 90.3 Yongmunsan / KBS R 1 / HLKA-S / 52 mi 83?E 1kw perfect omni 90.5 Gwangju / KBS R 1 / HLKH-S / 164 mi 172?S 5kw perfect dir / very good omni * 90.7 Incheon / Gyeongin iTV / HLDO / 4 mi 105?ESE 5kw perfect omni 90.9 = 90.7 * 91.1 Hwaaksan / KBS Classic / HLKM / 61 mi 54?NE 5kw perfect omni *- 91.3 Seosan / MBC / HLCQ-S / 53 mi 180?S 0.5kw perfect omni- 91.5 Paju / KBS R 1 / HLKA-S / 38 mi 32?NNE 0.5kw perfect omni 91.5 Cheongju / CBS-FM / HLAC / 73 mi 142?SE 3kw perfect in null 91.7 Daejeon / CBS-FM / HLDX / 94 mi 149?SSE 5kw perfect omni- +91.9 * 91.9 Seoul Namsan / MBC FM4U / HLKV / 22 mi 76?ENE 10kw perfect omni 92.1 Eumseong / KBS R 1 / HLCH-S / 70 mi 120?ESE 1kw good in null of 91.9 INT 92.3 Chuncheon / MBC / HLAN-S / 71 mi 69?ENE 3kw perfect omni * 92.5 Seoul Namsan / Military Jammer / KMND / 22 mi 76?ENE N/A perfect omni PART 92.5 Daejeon / MBC / HLCQ-S / 94 mi 148?SSE 3kw perfect omni- ABSENCE 92.7 Wonju / MBC / HLSB-S / 77 mi 101?E 1kw perfect omni- 92.9 x * 93.1 Seoul Gwanaksan / KBS Classic / HLKA / 20 mi 96?E 10kw perfect omni 93.3 Daejeon / FEBC Geukd. / HLAD / 94 mi 149?SSE 5kw per dir / v good omni +93.1 93.5 Seongnam / KBS R 1 / HLKA-S / 32 mi 92?E 0.02kw very good dir / good omni 93.7 Chuncheon / CBS-FM / HLDC / 72 mi 66?ENE 3kw per dir / v good omni +93.9 * 93.9 Seoul Gwanaksan / CBS Music FM / HLKY / 20 mi 96?E 7kw perfect omni 93.9 Ganghwado / CBS Music FM / HLKY / 21 mi 334?NNW 0.5kw perfect omni (repeater) 94.1 Cheongju / KBS Classic / HLKQ / 76 mi 139?SE 1kw good in null of 93.9 INT 94.3 Jeonju / MBC / HLCX-S / 123 mi 167?SSE 2kw good dir * 94.5 Seoul Cheonggye / YTN News / HLQV / 24 mi 98?E 3kw perfect omni (51.5kw ERP) 94.7 Gyeryongsan / KBS R 1 / HLKI-S / 85 mi 157?SSE 3kw perfect omni- 94.9 x * 95.1 Seoul Gwanaksan / TBS Gyotong / HLST / 20 mi 96?E 5kw perfect omni 95.3 x 95.5 Taegisan / KBS R 1 / HLCV-S / 93 mi 84?E 1kw in dir 95.7 Daejeon / TJB Power FM / HLDF / 94 mi 149?SSE 5kw perfect omni- +95.9 * 95.9 Seoul Gwanaksan / MBC / HLKV-S / 20 mi 96?E 10kw perfect omni 96.1 = 95.9 96.3 x *- 96.5 Seosan / TJB Power FM / HLDF / 53 mi 180?S 0.5kw perfect omni * 96.7 Seoul Namsan / Gukkun Friends / HLSF / 22 mi 76?ENE 2kw perfect omni * 96.7 Hwaaksan / Gukkun Friends / HLSF / 61 mi 54?NE 5kw per omni / minor multipath 96.9 Jeonju / KBS R 1 / HLKF-S / 123 mi 167?SSE 5kw very good dir 97.1 Wonju / KBS R 1 / HLCW-S / 77 mi 101?E 1kw perfect omni +97.3 * 97.3 Seoul Gwanaksan / KBS R 1 / HLKA-S / 20 mi 96?E 10kw perfect omni 97.5 Daejeon / MBC FM4U / HLCQ / 94 mi 149?SSE 5kw perfect omni +97.3 97.7 Seongnam / KBS Cool FM / HLKC / 32 mi 92?E 0.02kw good dir +97.8 * 97.8 Seoul Namsan / Military Jammer / KMND / 22 mi 76?ENE N/A perfect omni PART 97.9 x * 98.1 Seoul Gwanaksan / CBS-FM / HLKY-S / 20 mi 96?E 10kw perfect omni 98.3 = 98.1 98.5 Gyeryongsan / KBS Classic / HLKI / 85 mi 157?SSE 5kw very good dir * 98.7 Hwaaksan / KBS R 2 H. / HLCE-S / 61 mi 54?NE 3kw perfect omni 98.9 Wonju / MBC FM4U / HLSB / 77 mi 101?E 3kw perfect omni * 99.1 Seoul Namsan / Gugak FM / HLQA / 22 mi 76?ENE 5kw perfect omni 99.3 = 99.1 * 99.5 Hwaaksan / KBS R 1 / HLKM-S / 61 mi 54?NE 5kw perfect omni 99.7 x * 99.9 Yongin/Suwon / KFM Gyeonggi / HLDS / 25 mi 110?ESE 5kw perfect omni *100.5 Incheon / TBN Gyotong / HLSU / 4 mi 105?ESE 1kw perfect omni 100.7 Seoul / Mapo FM / HLMA / 19 mi 73?ENE 0.001w perfect omni- +100.5 100.9 Daejeon / KBS R 2 H. / HLQT-S / 94 mi 149?SSE 3kw good omni +INT *101.1 Yongmunsan / Gukkun Friends / HLSF / 52 mi 83?E 3kw perfect omni *101.3 Seoul Namsan / TBS eFM (English) / HLSW / 22 mi 76?ENE 1kw perfect omni (2.04kw ERP) 101.5 Cheongju / CJB Joy FM / HLDR / 76 mi 139?SE 3kw perfect dir / very good omni 101.7 Namwon / MBC / HLCX-S / 159 mi 161?SSE 3kw good dir *101.9 Seoul Gwanaksan / BBS Bulgyo / HLSG / 20 mi 96?E 5kw perfect omni 102.1 Daejeon / KBS Classic / HLKQ / 94 mi 149?SSE 3kw perfect omni- *102.3 Seosan / EBS Gyoyuk / HLQL / 53 mi 180?S 0.5kw perfect dir *102.3 Ganghwado / Military Jammer / KMND / 21 mi 334?NNW N/A perfect omni 102.5 Taegisan / MBC / HLSB / 93 mi 84?E 1kw good dir *102.7 Seoul Namsan / AFN The Eagle / AFNK / 22 mi 76?ENE 5kw perfect omni 102.9 Daejeon / TBN Gyotong / HLDT / 94 mi 149?SSE 3kw very good dir / good omni *103.1 Ganghwado / VOF Jayuui Sori / KMND / 21 mi 334?NNW N/A perfect omni PART 103.3 x *103.5 Seoul Gwanaksan / SBS Love FM / HLSQ-S / 20 mi 96?E 10kw perfect omni *103.7 Seoul Namsan / Military Jammer / KMND / 22 mi 76?ENE N/A perfect omni PART 103.7 Chuncheon / TBN Gyotong / HLSV / 72 mi 66?ENE 3kw very good dir ABSENCE 103.9 Seosan / TBN Gyotong / HLDT / 53 mi 180?S 0.1kw perfect omni- 104.1 Eumseong / EBS Gyoyuk / HLQL / 70 mi 120?ESE 3kw very good dir / good omni 104.3 x *104.5 Seoul Gwanaksan / EBS Gyoyuk / HLQL / 20 mi 96?E 10kw perfect omni 104.7 x *104.9 Seoul Gwanaksan / KBS R 3 / HLKC-S / 20 mi 96?E 2kw perfect omni 105.1 Chuncheon / G1 Fresh FM / HLCG / 71 mi 69?ENE 3kw perfect omni *105.3 Seoul Gwanaksan / Pyeonghwa / HLQP / 20 mi 96?E 5kw perfect omni 105.5 x *-105.7 Gyeryongsan / EBS Gyoyuk / HLQL / 85 mi 157?SSE 5kw perfect omni 105.9 Wonju / TBN Gyotong / HLSV / 77 mi 101?E 1kw perfect omni- *106.1 Seoul Gwanaksan / KBS R 2 H. / HLSA-S / 20 mi 96?E 10kw perfect omni 106.3 Daejeon / Pyeonghwa / HLQO / 94 mi 149?SSE 3kw perfect omni- *106.5 Hwaaksan / EBS Gyoyuk / HLQL / 61 mi 54?NE 5kw perfect omni 106.7 x *106.9 Seoul Gwanaksan / FEBC Geukd. / HLKX-S / 20 mi 96?E 5kw perfect omni 107.1 = 106.9 *107.3 Hwaaksan / VOF Jayuui Sori / KMND / 61 mi 54?NE N/A perfect omni PART 107.3 x ABSENCE 107.5 Taegisan / EBS Gyoyuk / HLQL / 93 mi 84?E 0.5kw very good dir +107.3 *107.7 Seoul Gwanaksan / SBS Power FM / HLSQ / 20 mi 96?E 10kw perfect omni 107.9 Daejeon / EBS Gyoyuk / HLQL / 94 mi 149?SSE 3kw good dir +107.7 When in operation, the 92.5 Namsan jammer occupies 92.4 to 92.8 MHz. If you like this sort of thing, my full bandscan complete with TOH IDs for all 120 stations on the dial at my home site, will be posted online next month (Chris Kadlec, Songtan, Korea, 13 May, WTFDA via DXLD) ** KUWAIT. Radio Kuwait on 15515 at 0537 May 8. Male announcer in Arabic. Poor copy, only slightly above the noise level (Alex Klauber, Oneida NY, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I never hear anything but R. Australia, in English on 15515 until 0557, loud and clear. Kabd is registered as 05-10, 250 kW, 59 degrees (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KUWAIT. [Re 12-19:] After yesterday`s total mixup in R. Kuwait transmissions, I am checking out what happen May 9: 15540, May 9 at 1802 signal is only fair, at first in Arabic, but it`s just a divergence within the English-language ``Islam & Peace`` evangelism show. At 1933 recheck, poor signal, in English, probably this-day-in-history segment. At 1959 is playing Arabic music, so switched program source? Maybe not, 2005 segué to country-rock in English. 13650, May 9 at 1802 is very poor with flutter, seems to be in Arabic as it should be. At 1937, Arabic music, heavy flutter. Off at 1959, and at *2001, 17550 comes on, very poor with flutter, bolstering our assumption that it`s the same transmitter despite some schedules showing overlapping times. Both are destined for Europe/N America. At 2012 it`s talking while 15540 is music so definitely not // now. R. Kuwait is operating nominally May 10: at 2002, 15540 is good in western pop music, i.e. English service. At 2001, both 13650 and 17550 are unheard, just before 17550 comes on, and then it`s good with flutter at 2004 in Arabic music, roughly equal signal to 15540. 15540, May 15 at 1930, R. Kuwait in English with `This Day in History` --- it`s only a 10-minute daily feature, and the full first two minutes are taken up by the generic introduxion about how significant everything was that they will be talking about; lots of music intermixed too. After 1940, back to romantic western vocal music album trax, familiar-sounding but unID YL singer, helped me doze past 2000 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LAOS. 6130, LNR, 1401-1430, May 9; in English; intro ID does indeed seems to be: "This is the Lao National Radio, broadcasting from Vientiane, the [Lao?] Democratic Republic . . .”, but not sure of the remaining portion of ID; item about the “dry season and rainy season”; usual adjacent QRM. Certainly seems to be a daily broadcast now! (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re: Laos - LNR in English on 6130 kHz again on May 8 --- LNR official confirms that their English language programme is broadcasted from 21.00 to 21.30 local time (1400-1430 UT) every day on 6130 kHz. Actually, they broadcast five languages for 30 minutes each: Thai, English, French, Vietnamese And Khmer, starting from 20.30 to 23.00 local time. Thanks, (Swopan Chakroborty, Kolkata, India, May 10, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Thank you, Swopan, for your posting. May 10 had an almost three minute opening with no QRM (1357-1359) on 6130. Unusual! Fortunately the intro to the English segment was slightly early, so was able to record it. "This is the Lao National Radio, broadcasting from . . ., the [Lao?] Democratic Republic. Our (?) English program broadcast at 2100 . . ." MP3 audio posted at https://www.box.com/s/b66ef8af5df5a344cfe5 (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, Calif., USA, ibid.) The English ID words seem to be similar to the External Service ID on the Interval Signals Online site. http://www.intervalsignals.net/ (Jari Savolainen, Finland, ibid.) Hi Glenn, Timm Breyel (Malaysia) and I have been corresponding about our reception in English today of LNR on 6130. Timm's reception was excellent compared to mine. His detailed log is located at his blog http://shortwavedxer.blogspot.com/2012/05/lao-national-radio.html Also he has a wonderful audio (100% better than mine!) of the full ID at http://soundcloud.com/shortwavedxer/lao-national-radio Thanks to Timm for posting it to his blog! (Ron Howard, San Francisco, ibid.) ** LEBANON [non]. 11715, May 11 at 0452, very poor signal with bits of music; WRTH Update says Vatican Radio is carrying Sawt al-Mahabba daily at 0430-0455 on 11715, following its own Arabic at 0400, which is also on 9645. When I heard it during the B-11 season timing at 0530, 9645 was on the air and better audible, but not now. It had come on in English after 0500, poor with Brasilian het at 0502 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBYA [and non]. 11600, Radio Télévision Libye - Radio Libye, 1732- 1805*, lite instrumental music. French ballads. ID. French talk. Weak. Poor in noisy conditions. Weak modulation at times. May 10 (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg, PA, USA, Icom IC-7600, two 100 foot longwires, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I still hear nothing midday on 11600; watch out for two other stations that are in HFCC, Aoki at this time: CRI in Swahili from Beijing site; and YFR in Russian via Wertachtal; are both really on? Someone in South America did report CRI, having first thought it was Tripoli (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LITHUANIA. Re: IRIB remark re Sitkunai http://german.irib.ir/startseite/frequenzen meanwhile no longer shows 5940. So probably it's indeed over this time, after six years. Would not be a bad idea to check if the listed transmissions of RFE/RL, RFA and NHK World to Asia are still on air. Do not bother with the LRTC registrations, they have at yearend 2008 left this transmitter, installed and paid for by the Lithuanian tax payers for them in 1999, cf. http://www.zilionis.lt/rtv/qth/sit/RNW_lithuania020204.htm (Kai Ludwig, May 12, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, - need check NHK relay 6165 kHz, whether the Sitkunai transmitter is still on air; though more comfortable listening time for European listener, and stronger than backlobe of 79 degrees Russia target signal. 73 wb 3955 1400 1600 29NW SIT 100 79 Eng ZRC ZRC 3955 1800 2000 18,28,29 SIT 100 79 Eng ZRC ZRC 3960 1600 1800 29NW SIT 100 79 Eng ZRC ZRC 5940 1430 1530 29NE,29NW,29SE SIT 100 79 Rus ZRC ZRC 5940 1630 1730 28NW SIT 100 259 Deu ZRC ZRC 5940 1730 1830 28NW SIT 100 259 Deu ZRC ZRC 5940 1830 1930 27SW,28NW SIT 100 259 Fra ZRC ZRC 5940 1930 2030 18,27N,27SW,28NWSIT 100 259 Eng ZRC ZRC 6055 2000 2300 18,27,28,36,37N SIT 100 259 Spa ZRC ZRC 6165 0430 0500 27,28 SIT 100 79 Rus NHK NHK 6180 1530 1630 29,30 SIT 100 79 Rus ZRC ZRC 7440 1430 1530 29NE,29NW,29SE SIT 100 79 Rus ZRC ZRC 9400 0100 0200 43,44 SIT 100 79 Uyghur IBB IBB 9555 0600 1600 29,30 SIT 100 79 RUS, LTU LRT LTU 9635 0300 0400 29,30 SIT 100 79 Tatar-Bash IBB IBB 9635 0500 0600 29,30 SIT 100 79 Tatar-Bash IBB IBB 9710 0700 1500 27,28 SIT 100 259 LTU, Eng LRT LTU 9755 1500 1700 27,28 SIT 100 259 LTU, Eng LRT LTU 9770 1430 1530 18,19,27,28,29 SIT 100 79 Lit,Eng ZRC ZRC 9770 1530 1630 29,30 SIT 100 79 Rus ZRC ZRC 9770 1630 1730 27,28NW SIT 100 259 Eng ZRC ZRC 9875 2300 0100 4,8,9 SIT 100 310 LTU, Eng LRT LTU 11690 0000 0400 4,8,9 SIT 100 310 LTU, Eng LRT LTU 9400 0100-0200 RFA Sitkunai 100 79 Uyghur Chn 9635 0300-0400 RFE/RL Sitkunai 100 79 Tatar-Bashkir Rus 9635 0500-0600 RFE/RL Sitkunai 100 79 Tatar-Bashkir Rus (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DXLD) Most/all of those ZRC and all of those LRT registrations above are wooden. R. Vinius itself is long gone! Still with RFA/RL? (gh, DXLD) WB> LITHUANIA Yes, - need check NHK relay 6165 kHz, WB> whether the Sitkunai tx is still on air ... Yes, it's still on the air (as well as MW outlet on 1386 kHz). (Aleksandr Diadischev, Ukraine, May 16, WORLD OF RADIO 1617, ibid.) ** LUXEMBOURG. Radio 2 will be broadcasting a two part documentary about Radio Luxembourg on May 31 and June 7 at 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. BBC Media Centre has released details of the first part: http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2012/22/208-Your-Station-Of-The-Stars.html (Mike Barraclough, England, dxld yg via DXLD) ** MALAYSIA. 9835, Sarawak FM via RTM via Kajang. Normally at 1301 would have carried the RTM National news and been // 5964.7 Klasik Nasional and 11665 Wai FM, but not so on May 5; had a long program carrying speeches about Islam and not // to the others which did carry the national news. 7295, Traxx FM via RTM via Kajang, 1410, May 6. DJ with local time “10-10 PM” and frequencies: 90.1 Ipoh, Perak, 91.7 Baling, Kedah, 104.5 Miri, Sarawak and 90.3 “K-L”; sports update; pop songs; MP3 audio https://www.box.com/s/cc70e80412486e40acd9 fairly good (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALI. Have been wondering if the CRI Bamako relay is still funxioning amid strife in this country. It had been hard to hear for a long time, probably underpowered, and certainly not aimed USward. 17630, May 16 at 1400, very poor carrier detectable, nothing audible on 13685, the two frequencies which are supposed to be on in English Some broadcasts to check, from HFCC registrations for BKO: 1300-1400 13685 and 17880 French [also checked at 1302, heard neither] 1400-1600 13685 and 17630 English 1600-1700 15125 and 17880 Arabic 1700-1800 13645 and 15125 unknown language 1800-1830 13645 and 11640 Hausa 1830-1930 13685 and 11640 Arabic 1930-2000 13630 and 11640 Portuguese 2000-2130 13630 and 11640 English 2130-2230 13630 French 2230-2300 15505 Chinese 2230-2400 11975 Chinese 2300-2400 7295 Chinese (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1617, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MAURITANIA. 7245, May 12 at 0538, IGIM poor signal sounds like Qur`an but not chanting. 7245, May 13 at 0558, IGIM is on and chanting with poor signal; had not been on a semihour earlier. 7245, May 16 at 0542, IGIM is on with good signal and chanting (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 810, May 14 at 0520, a Radio Mexicana is dominating the frequency, looping southwest. IRCA Mexican Log and WRTH show the only one called this on 810, and the direxion fits too, is XESB, in Santa Bárbara, Chihuahua, ``Radio Mexicana, La S-B``, but it`s a 1 kW daytimer, supposedly signing off at 0100 However, Cantú, http://www.mexicoradiotv.com/frec_am_0800-1090.htm shows it as full-time 1 kW, instead in a nearby town: 810 XESB Radio Mexicana, Hidalgo del Parral, Chih. 1,000 1,000 All lists also show a similar station name not to confuse with it: 810 XEIM Fiesta Mexicana + FM 91.3 Saltillo, Coah. 1,000 500 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 660, XEDTL, Radio Ciudadana, México DF. 1050-1115 May 11, 2012. Ads 1056 with peso quotes, female mentioning “Antena Radio” whatever that was about and today's date, into news headlines by man, mention of “Instituto Mexicano” into horribly long choral version of anthem 1100-1105, female, “... radio pública... XEDTL... Radio Ciudadana...” into ads, then oldie female vocal. Peaking 1100, almost gone by tune-out. [Antena Radio is the newscast name of IMER --- gh] 900, XEWB, Los 40 Principales, Veracruz, Veracruz. 1052-1110 May 8, 2012. Finally ID'ed this mystery XE under the bigger Mexican "W" Radio on 900 this morning. XEWB, Veracruz (which used to be another "W" relayer) with Spanish techno-pop vocals, female DJ mentioning, "... Martes, 8 de mayo..." and time check, anthem from 1101, clear "Los Cuarenta Principales" heard a couple of times, which made no sense till checking Fred Cantú's list, which shows: 900 XEWB Los 40 Principales + FM 98.9 Veracruz, Ver. 50,000 / 10,000. So, for certain no longer simulcasting “W” Radio (which explains not hearing the out-of-synch “W” Radio audio here for awhile). “W” seems to air the anthem just before 1100 consistently, with this one 1-3 minutes later. And here is a nice quality full ID (I didn't hear anywhere near all of this) which I happened to find on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1b8xZ6rWRI So I ask, what's the significance of "40 Principales" in context to a radio slogan? Not very snappy for a station with such hip music as Shakira and current Mexican dance-oriented bands per their website. [trying too hard to literally translate ``Top 40`` requiring 8 syllables instead of 3 --- gh] 980, MEXICO, unidentified. 1039 May 5, 2012. Spanish female nonstop talk about children's social services issues, destroyed at 1045 by 970 WFLA's IBOC up. Seemed to point around 280-290 degrees. Not a Spanish religious format, so I think KRTX, Rosenberg-Richmond, TX 1000/4000 can be ruled out, putting this in Mexico regardless of my LOB on an active portable loop and compass. [LOB = line of bearing?] 990, MEXICO, unidentified. 1105 May 5, 2012. Weak with Mexican national anthem from 1106, into Tejano vocals, probably after an ID that was not heard, immediately lost. Suppose 980 and 990 will be my next pursuits for ID's though the coveted 1100 anthem time with almost guaranteed ID's before/after are quickly slipping away to an earlier peak local mornings here. 1170, XERT Ke Buena, Reynosa, Tamaulipas. 1057 May 10, 2012. National anthem up at 1057. Very, very poor and no ID caught after, then immediately lost. IDed the next day: 1029-1038 May 11, male, “... Ke Buena... AM...” 1030 just before PSR power up from WAVS, Davie, FL with their English Caribbean programming, though pieces of XERT were audible with Mexi-tunes under (Terry Krueger, Clearwater FL, (highly abridged equipment list): NRD-535, ICOM IC-R75 and Sangean PR-D5; 1 X roof dipole, 1 X room random wire. All times/dates GMT, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 6185, Radio Educación (tentative), 0305-0330 May 10. Very weak under strong local noise. Possible news/discussion program between OM & YL with 5-10 second music interludes between segments. Possible ID at 0312. Into two pieces of Mexican music with flutes, bird calls. Lots of fading, fell beneath noise level around 0325 (Dustin Brann, Carmel, Indiana, USA, Icom R-75, EF-SWL in attic, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6185, May 11 at 0459, XEPPM, ``se acabó el programa de hoy``, bit of classical music, poor signal, fair modulation, which means an improvement, but blasted away just before *0500 by CRI Sackville 6190, another night on its correct frequency. 6185, May 12 at 0458, XEPPM poor signal but modulation sounds sufficient, if it weren`t for Brasil expanding 6180 schedule to ACI it; lucked out tonight on the other side, with CRI via CANADA from 0500 again on wrong frequency 6080 instead of 6190; just weak BBC audible on 6190. Not that it matters, as XEPPM is still signing off at 0500 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1617, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MOLDOVA. 1413, V of Russia, received QSL card in 75 days, after trying twice from transmitter site in Moldova, from reception 1/23/09. I am really pleased with this one. V/S: Alla Molodkina. Address: Pyatnitskaya st. #25, Building #1, 115326 Moscow, Russia. MW QSL #3029. New Country QSL'd (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, HCDX via DXLD) ** MYANMAR. Kachin BC Station, Myanmar. Befinde mich zurzeit in Bangkok. Die Station kann hier um 0200 UT auf 9590 kHz mit mittlerem Signal, aber fast stoerungsfrei gehoert werden. Falls doch noch jemand eine genauere Adresse ausfindig machen und bekannt geben kann, waere nicht nur ich dankbar (Juergen Waga-just on tour in Bangkok Thailand, A-DX May 4 via Wolfgang Büschel, BC-DX via WORLD OF RADIO 1617, DXLD) Die neu aufgetauchten lokalen Stationen aus Myanmar scheinen doch unabhaengig von MRTV zu sein. Zumindest kam heute ein Brief von Myanma Radio aus Nay Pyi Taw als Antwort auf einen Bericht ueber die Aussendung auf 7110 kHz, dass man meinen Bericht nicht bestaetigen koennen, da Myanma Radio auf der KW nur auf 9730, 7200 und 5985 kHz sendet (Patrick Robic-AUT, A-DX May 2, ibid.) Re: Kachin BC Station, Myanmar. Hallo Juergen, statt MRTV wuerde ich mal die 2. bekannte Armee-General Radiostation anschreiben >Psychological Warfare at the Ministry of Defence !!!< >Psychologische Kriegsfuehrung des Verteidigungsministeriums !!!< im WRTH p. 638: Myawady Radio Pyay Rd. Mingalardon Tsp. Yangon, Myanmar Am besten mit registered Mail aufgeben vom General Post Office am Orientalhotel Bangkok, so war das vor 34 Jahren erfolgreich... Ich wuensche Dir Erfolg. Dies schrieb Patrick vor kurzem: Die neu aufgetauchten lokalen Stationen aus Myanmar scheinen doch unabhaengig von MRTV zu sein. Formal ist das richtig, was Du schreibst. Obwohl natuerlich die Armeegeneraele bei allen Dreien - MRTV - Myawaddy TV & Radio sce - und der MDF Armeesender an der Grenze Taunggyi 5770 kHz. das Sagen haben. Der beste westliche Kenner der Radio-Szene in Asien, der Englischlehrer Alan Davies aus Thailand/Indonesien von ASIAWAVES hat folgende Verbindung ausgegraben: Thazin/Rakhine/Kachin Radio bzw. Teil der Myawaddy radio station [es gibt auch einen military's Myawaddy TV service] >Psychological Warfare at the Ministry of Defence !!!< >Psychologische Kriegsfuehrung des Verteidigungsministeriums !!!< Beobachter schaetzen ein, dass statt einem Stoersendernetz eher auf moderne auf-gepeppte Programme fuer die burmesische Bevoelkerung gesetzt wird, in den verschiedenen Landessprachen ausgestrahlt und damit der Einfluss von westlichen Stationen gleich gegen Null geht. Der KW Sender 7110 Pyin Oo Lwin ist einer dieser Programme. Deine QSL Anfrage muesste demnach an die Myawaddy TV & Radio Organisation gehen. MRTV stellt sich dumm und leitet Deinen Brief auch nicht an den Psycho-Sender weiter (Wolfgang Büschel, May 2, wwdxc BC- DX TopNews May 10 via DXLD) ** MYANMAR/BURMA. 7345, Rakhine Radio via Pyin Oo Lwin (site per DXLD 12-14); 1322-1330*, May 8. Underneath CNR1; in vernacular with pop songs; off with indigenous instrumental music. MP3 audio at https://www.box.com/s/2406c544456485335143 (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. RNW END BEGINS The 1296 transmitter came with a hiccup on air at 1955, into ongoing interval signal. 5955 followed with audio at 1959 after a minute or so of open carrier. I think first it was not in //, not too surprising in the light of a remarkable delay of six seconds Wertachtal is behind Orfordness. This was not the case when checking 6035 this morning, around 0515, for what may have been the last RNW transmission from Woofferton; here the delay was just a third second. Probably 5955 still uses the satellite feed labeled "RNW 1" which may have carried regular programming straight up to 1957 while 1296 now gets a dedicated feed through another route, probably classic ISDN dial-up if that still works between Netherlands and England, or is it even the latest Audio over IP stuff? 1296 suffers from crackles and some hum, mostly covered by all the ambient noises on the broadcast they do as public event, but the issues are rather unmistakable in dry parts. Hard to tell if the feed or the transmitter are to blame. This morning I had an impression that they already played out only untimely, canned stuff anymore, as Glenn observed, too. Anyway by now the news magazine is already history: http://www.rnw.nl/nederlands/radioshow/nieuwslijn-bereikt-eindpunt The photo in full glory, providing a nice view of the CRT TV displaying the NOS teletext: http://cdn.radionetherlands.nl/data/files/images/lead/uitzending1.jpg (Kai Ludwig, Germany, 2037 UT May 10, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Beautiful clean signal S9+60dB on 9895 here in NW England listening in ECSS- DSB mode with SDR-Radio. S9+40dB on 5955 but needs ECSS-USB to remove het from adjacent channel SDR-Radio & Pebble CCW SDR-4+ http://www.crosscountrywireless.net/sdr-4.htm Slinky dipole running N/S (Tony Molloy, nr Winter Hill, UK, SD639114, 53.6 N 2.55 W, IO83ro, Twitter @swlistener, swlistener.wordpress.com, 2052 UT May 10, ibid.) Here, 130 km south of the Nauen transmitters, 9895 is just a faint backscatter signal of course. Btw, the antenna set-up appears to be the very same as used from 1997 till 2007 on 9545, for some station that used to broadcast on 6075, too. 5955 gets here increasingly splashed by 5960, Cerrik with CRI in English. And no trace of listed Talata Volonondry on 6020 here. Btw2, I just received word that RNW 1 on Hotbird 13A is 3...4 seconds ahead of Astra 1L although the Hotbird signal is now uplinked from Israel (must have been moved from Media Broadcast to RRSat some time ago) but the Astra signal from Hilversum, at least if one trusts Lyngsat. Indicates a pretty circuitous routing for the latter, probably from Hilversum via terrestrial circuit to Israel, uplinked to 13E, picked up again next door at Hilversum and remuxed to 19.2E. (Kai Ludwig, Germany, 2153 UT May 10, ibid.) Bonaire, Radio Nederland. Special broadcast signifying the end of Dutch language broadcasts of Radio Nederland. From 2310 until 2327 May 10 in Dutch on 17605, "...a collage of broadcasts put together of a historical purpose, all in Dutch. Some of sports some political and come of a comical nature, all regarding the news. The word "nieuws" was repeated several times." Broadcast was repeated again on 6190 at 0115 May 11 (~ Alex Klauber, KPS3ASK, Oneida, New York, 38 Miles (61 km) East of Syracuse, NY, Coordinates - Latitude = 43.0922 Longitude = 75.6568, Sangean ATS 909, 200" [you really mean inches, or feet?] random longwire antenna with a "Slinky" toy in the middle, MFJ 1045C preselector, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Checking in Houston between 0000 and 0050 UT Friday May 11, RNW 5955 via Wertachtal with a borderline fair to poor signal, 9895 Nauen poor. The 6020 frequency of course has CRI to NA via Albania at this hour, but I can hear RNW via Madagascar underneath. Would actually be a pretty good signal if China wasn't present. Listened to most of the condensed farewell transmission at 0000 on 9445 via Bonaire. Music/audio montage at the end, a final goodbye, then what sounded like birds chirping in a park until audio cut at 0027 and xmtr off a few seconds later. Programming not // to the marathon frequencies. Unusual occurrence will happen later on May 11: RNW Bonaire will be operating on three 13 meter frequencies simultaneously -- 21555, 21720, and 21750. I don't recall the Bonaire facility ever using multiple 13 meter channels over the past 43 years (Steve Luce, Houston, Texas, ibid.) Rechecking before 0900 it turns out that things are a bit different than I assumed last night: In fact 5955 is six seconds behind also 6035, listed as Issoudun, and 6120, listed as being co-located. What are they doing here? All three 49 mB signals are pretty poor, basically unlistenable. Nothing on 9895 at all. And also no trace of 21485 and 21710 from Madagascar so far. The programming until 0900 included a live performance of classical music, which, to be frank, is something I would not have expected here. Such is the impression Dutch broadcasting created, in particular in recent years (Kai Ludwig, 0913 UT May 11, ibid.) Gentlemen, Thanks for info, right now I'm still hearing them on 21485 // 21710 with country music, and mostly interview. Regards, (Tony Ashar, Indonesia, 0939 UT May 11, ibid.) RNW 13700 Wertachtal with a fair signal into Houston at 1145 UT Friday May 11. 21720 via Bonaire came up with a strong signal just after 1200. Earlier, 5955 Wertachtal had improved at 0330 but suffered some slopover from RTI via WYFR 5 kHz down. Unable to listen to the rest of the marathon, workday awaits (Steve Luce, Houston, Texas, 1207 UT May 11, ibid.) RNW is sending itself off with a 24-hour Dutch-language marathon May 10-11, on many additional frequencies. Apparently the regular ones are on too for one last time, including: 17605, May 10 at 2102, very good from Bonaire. 6165, May 11 at 0510 is blasting in as usual from Bonaire, for very last time? That will also put an end to the leapfrog mixing product on 6250, NHK Spanish from 6080 at 0500-0527, and people can no longer imagine they are hearing Equatorial Guinea there unless it really return. Also will unclog 6165 for Chad. 9895, special scheduled from Nauen at 20-24, inaudible here. Scheduled all day from Bonaire until 2000 May 11 only, three frequencies in the 13m band, to Africa/S America, not us. At 1311, 21555 is poor, better than 21720, better than JBA 21750. By 1354, 2155 and 21720 are equally good, still better than 21750. Since we know Bonaire units make leapfrog mixing products on other bands, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to find some on 13m if at least two of the fundamentals become strong enough: try 21945, 21845, 21780, 21690, 21390, 21360 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The whole 13 metres affair, which anyway looks rather like a last experiment (put the Talata Volonondry and Bonaire transmitters, while not being used for scheduled broadcasts, on 21 MHz and see how it gets out), is far from being exciting here. 21710 became audible before 1300, but it was a far cry from the transmitter tests in December. And no trace of Bonaire now, also not on 21750 where the beam is about right. See also http://www.rnw.nl/nederlands/article/de-radiomarathon-live-blog Perhaps it has been widely overlooked, just mentioned in passing with a Spanish quotation in DXLD 12-18: Spanish, at least radio, at RNW will close at the end of June, with June 30 being the last day on air, it seems. No word about Indonesian and English so far, but I would not be surprised if by July RNW is gone from shortwave altogether. Considering the future of RNW, see this, indicating that it in reality, contrary to their own PR, looks rather bleak: http://www.rnw.nl/english/bulletin/rnw-editor-chief-resigns (Kai Ludwig, 1318 UT May 11, ibid.) At 1415 UT in Romania: - 9895: very strong signal - 5955: good - 21750: fading from weak to fair - 13700: fair but with heavy interference from CRI on 13710. (Tudor Vedeanu, ibid.) Right now, until 1727, the last playout of the 27-minute farewell quickie, not // the full live broadcast, should take place, or will there be another one on the scheduled 2100 slot when they are otherwise already finished? Best here on 9445-Trincomalee an a bit weaker on 13730-Talata. 15710-Wertachtal and 15720-Nauen are in use as well, unless the faint carriers I have here are not something else. Still no trace of 13 metres from Bonaire here. But at least 5955, which at noon was very weakish, meanwhile became for a last time the powerhouse signal one would expect it to be, with audio still lagging six seconds behind co-located 9895 as one would not expect (Kai Ludwig, Germany, ibid.) Here's a recording off satellite from 1600, for those who perhaps want it in best possible quality: "Four hours left" ... In the hour from 1700 to 1800 they discussed the future of RNW, and it appeared to be a quite controversial talk, with tough questions being asked. Details were unfortunately beyond my capabilities to understand Dutch. On the signals side now, at 1820, 1296 has started to reappear, about a quarter second behind Nauen on 9895. From Bonaire 21750 weakly appeared around 1750 but is already gone again. At Stuttgart it appears to be noticeably better as Wolfy just wrote to me (Kai Ludwig, 1831 UT May 11, ibid.) Not understanding much Dutch, I couldn`t justify spending its last 24 hours with R. Nederland, but tuned in again just before The End, May 11 at 1958, when 21555 was very good from BONAIRE. A bit of the national anthem played, then a sad song, watch ticking, heartbeat, historic Dutch announcement judging from the scratches on the record, and one final word, ``nil``, then carrier cut immediately at 2000***************. As expected, various regular Dutch transmissions are now gone: 6190, May 12 at 0122, nothing, but Spanish still on 6165 Bonaire 6165, May 12 after 0500, nothing; also ending the NHK leapfrog on 6250 9650, May 12 at 1305, at last, no big collision with CRI English via CANADA; had been RNW Dutch via Tinang, Philippines. We are truly out of touch with the Dutch (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9895 and 5955 both equally strong at S9 + 60dB here at 1955 UT; subjectively 9895 has better quality audio, 5955 is lagging 9895 by 4 seconds (Tony Molloy, nr Winter Hill, UK, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) During the last hour finally also the 13 metre signals from Bonaire came in, in particular 21750 which used the right beam. Surprise: They run first of all, at least five seconds ahead of 1296. Probably the feed was in this case indeed ISDN or Audio over IP. If so Wertachtal perhaps used the Astra signals and all other transmitters in Europe Hotbird. And I did not miss to roll tape on 21750, considering the possibility that Bonaire will never come in so good again. The last minutes were prerecorded, in a style not exactly matching prevalent stereotypes about Dutch radio. 5955 cut off some moments before 2000, missing the last seconds it seemed. Was a bit difficult to tell, since the ending transmission was almost blown away by Cerrik, the SARFT branch in Albania, signing on CRI English on 5960. What a strong symbolism! 1296 was towards the end quite severely interfered by co-channel Spain, but at least the crackles that plagued it last night were gone. After the end the silent carrier stayed on air for another minute until the transmitter has been switched off at (or a few seconds before) 2001, probably this time for good. The "RNW 1" satellite channel now carries a looped announcement, using the RNW interval signal as bed and being recorded in rather dubious quality, with popping and heavy, badly pumping compression on the mic preamp, thus again matching all prevalent stereotypes about Dutch radio. Besides advising of the closure it also suggests visiting wereldomroep.nl and bvn.nl for podcasts of the farewell broadcast. Checked after 2100 if another 27 minutes broadcast takes place: No traces of signals on the scheduled frequencies here (Kai Ludwig, 2119 UT May 11, ibid.) Yes, I listened too, the last 10 Minutes of RNW Dutch service tonight, S=9+20 to +25dB signal of Wertachtal 5955 kHz in 49mb. See recording attached. Very last words at 2000 UT, on Wertachtal 5955 in Dutch "Goede reis, and altijd ..." "good journey, and ever ... " end/c u t At 1959 UT an unwanted ute BUZZ signal appeared for 20 seconds on the 5950 kHz scene. I guess some Dutch vessel radio operator or the Dutch Marine on the Atlantic Ocean / North Sea said special FAREWELL via the airwaves to this really necessary broadcasting service in these days. vy73 wolfy df5sx (Wolfgang Büschel, 2130 UT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi All, Today I visited Radio Nederland during the marathon transmission in Dutch, the last hours. It is the last time I was at the station after so many years of listening and visits. I remember all those meetings of the Benelux DX Club in the building of Radio Nederland, listening to DX Jukebox (Harry van Gelder), attending the Happy Station (Tom Meyer), interviews about my DXing and travelling in Media Network (Jonathan Marks) and Radio Enlace (Alfonso Montealegre, Jaime Báguena). Even snorkeling at night in front of the Bonaire relay station with the red light in the antenna as a marking in the dark, Radio Nederland has always been in my life. Sad, it has gone today. You can download the the last 24 hours transmission in Dutch on: http://www.rnw.nl/nederlands/radioprogramme/streams-podcasts 73 (Max van Arnhem, The Netherlands, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The "nil" Glenn heard from Bonaire was indeed the last word. The feed was cut after two further seconds during which some audience claps could be heard, down in the pretty bad hum which was obviously a ground loop on their side, in the temporary set-up in the foyer of their building. This presumably went out in full via 1296 kHz as well; the announcement loop started only after two minutes of silence, so it was not necessary to first cut the modulation for having the final minute of open carrier there. When talking about the technical side, it must also be noted that the quality of the satellite output is less than convincing, unclean with way too much artifacts. With 192 kbps a considerably better quality than this can be achieved. If I recall correctly, it's the same with the domestic public programs from Hilversum, at least Radio 1, as discussed back in last year on the occasion of the temporary 648 kHz usage. Opinions about the way they closed differ, it seems. I meanwhile received a comment "good-byes have to be theatralic ;-)". Well, one is obviously inclined to be rather uncritical here when knowing the shabby ways in which others went away. Talking about memories, the first one that comes to mind here is a summer evening, in 1993 if I'm correct, on which RNW broadcast as first organization not based in Moscow via 1386 kHz, which at this time still ran with full 2500 kW. I remember noting in the car radio how Radio Moscow in German had been taken off immediately before the hour (7 PM or so) and after half an hour of open carrier the chimes from Hilversum started. And in 1997 RNW was the peg to hang on a radio piece about shortwave broadcasting in general, with a clip of them opening in English, on 6045 kHz via Jülich, which now is just history like the majority of the other clips used therein. Never established really close contacts to Hilversum, primarily due to a feeling of seeing a bit too much PR and a bit too little open communication from there. So I also never visited them after indeed considering the possibility although it would have been a trip of more than half a thousand kilometres (but Cologne, which I got to see in 2003 a few weeks before game was over there, is not much closer). An so remain just some recordings and the pictures that are online. All the best, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Kai, You should have a listen to Keith Perron's latest May 12th edition of 'Happy Station' for another perspective of what perhaps the future holds for RNW as per Jonathan Groubert's comments. Also in Keith's usual style, it's an entertaining 55 minute broadcast, well worth a listen. Also: http://www.rnw.nl/english/video/rnws-dutch-service-goes-out-style#video All the best (Ian Baxter, NSW, dxldyg via DXLD) Re: RNW & PCJ Media RNW Final Dutch Program Special Edition --- To be frank: I do not intend to spend even more time on this matter, especially due to the complete lack of any answers to the obvious question what will happen next, even for the really close horizon of just seven weeks. And I think it would really go too far here to start more general discussions of the Dutch society, as it is perceived here in Germany by people with some cultural background. But instead read this: http://criticaldistance.blogspot.de/2012/05/free-voice-or-no-voice-what-remains-for.html (Kai Ludwig, May 14, ibid.) Video of last 10 minutes of Radio Nederland Wereldemroep Dutch service on the Dutch RNW website just posted including outdoor shots and firework display: http://www.rnw.nl/nederlands/video/de-laatste-tien-minuten-vanuit-hilversum (Mike Barraclough, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1617, DX LISTENING DIGEST) also via wb This is RADIO. 65 years. 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DXLD) Axually, he said after ``nil``, which was the end of a long imprecise minute-by-minute countdown: ``het`s over, de Wereldomoroep`` or something like that, but I did not hear that on SW (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) Had a great signal from Bonaire on 21750 kHz 1750 UT onwards, listened till the last drop - the last 30 minutes was exotic - an audio collage of many past announcements / Jingles with good audio mixing - but very sad too. 21720 // was weak here. -- Thanks & Regards, (Partha Sarathi Goswami, Siliguri, Dist. Darjeeling, West Bengal, INDIA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I will miss the Dutch National Anthem on Short Wave. I could never tune out until the last strains of it. Lost it when Happy Station ended the show. and now with Dutch. Regards (Victor 4S7VK, Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, dxldyg via DX LISTENINGN DIGEST) And another sad chapter begins in SWL/DX. It is a crying shame that it will take another conflict, a major world crisis, to bring the broadcasters back to the airwaves. Having traveled in the tropics and into the hinterlands of the U.S., trust me, there is no "Wi-Fi" to tune into one's favorite station. I shall truly miss this old friend and RCI when they go dark also (Phil M, FL, dxldyg via DXLD) Nothing heard on 9445 at 0000 UT Saturday May 12, so RNW Dutch is completely gone. Still RNW Spanish on 6165 as usual at the same hour, though that service apparently will be gone in around six weeks. I suppose that means there will be no RNW programming from Bonaire during the facility's last four months of operation? (Steve Luce, Houston, Texas, Iibid.) RNW Spanish at 1230 and 1300 has been almost downgraded lately on 6165. Very poor signal. // 9810 is not going anymore. 73s (Raúl Saavedra, COSTA RICA, ibid.) Your clock is off or listening an hour too late: Morning broadcasts in Spanish now as in HFCC, presumably for the duration: 9895 1100 1127 8S,11 320 250 1234567 25-Mar-2012 28-Oct-2012 6165 1130 1157 11SW,12 210 250 1234567 25-Mar-2012 28-Oct-2012 6165 1200 1227 11S,12N 180 250 1234567 25-Mar-2012 28-Oct-2012 9715 1200 1227 10,11W 290 250 1234567 25-Mar-2012 28-Oct-2012 So 6165 is aimed south from Bonaire at 1200, but 9715 is toward you (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) In Houston, RNW Spanish on 9895 varying from fair to good at an 1115 check May 14. At 1140 6165 very poor, virtually unlistenable. 9715 strong at 1200, 6165 barely audible at the same time. Daylight path to target areas at these times in May from Bonaire, so 49 meter coverage extremely limited (Steve Luce, Houston, Texas, ibid.) RNW Media Network - "The Future" The fourth and final part of Andy Sennitt's retro- and prospective look at Media Network, shortwave, and international broadcasting has now been posted: http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/media-network-years-future With this post, Andy is now officially "retired" -- leaving behind impossible shoes to fill, considering his work with both RNW and WRTH before that. Best wishes for an enjoyable retirement, Andy! (Richard Cuff, Allentown, PA USA, May 14, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) "Like" it or not, this appears to be the future of Radio Netherlands Worldwide. Posted 13 May 2012 http://kimelli.nfshost.com/images/409.png Radio Netherlands Worldwide, 10 May 2012, Jannie Schipper: "You can be one of the judges in a competition for young Arab cartoonists. Radio Netherlands Worldwide has organised the Cartoon Spring Competition together with Stripdagen Haarlem and Cartoon Movement. Twelve young cartoonists will have the opportunity to show their work at the Stripdagen Haarlem international comics festival. They will also be published online by Cartoon Movement and RNW. Faced with a large number of entries the organisers decided to shortlist two extra cartoons. These will be selected by visitors to RNW’s Arabic Facebook page. The two cartoons which have the most Facebook ‘likes’ by 12 noon (Dutch time) on 16 May will be added to the shortlist. A jury consisting of well-known Arab cartoonists like Ali Ferzat and Mohammed Shennawy will chose the winner from the final 12 cartoons during the Stripdagen Haarlem. The winning cartoonist will be invited to become a member of Cartoon Movement and will receive an iPad. Like your favourite cartoon on RNW’s Arabic Facebook page!" (kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. MBR changes: Transport Radio in Dutch/English/Music from May 14: 0800-1000 on 6095 WER 100 kW / non-dir to WeEu Mon-Fri (DX Re Mix News, Bulgaria, May 15 via WORLD OF RADIO 1617, DXLD) Mighty KBC Radio in English/Dutch/Music from May 12: 0900-1000 on 6095 WER 125 kW / non-dir to WeEu Sat/Sun 1000-1600 on 6095 WER 100 kW / non-dir to WeEu Sat/Sun 1600-1700 on 6095 WER 250 kW / non-dir to WeEu Sat/Sun >>> not yet active (DX Re Mix News, Bulgaria, May 15 via WORLD OF RADIO 1617, DXLD) So there are still Dutch broadcasts on SW, privately (gh, ibid.) ** NEWFOUNDLAND. Mack Furlong, the host of CBC's "The Great Eastern" more than a decade ago, has ended a stint as host of CBC Newfoundland's "Weekend Arts Magazine." He announced this morning that his year-end contract to fill in as WAM's host has ended (Mike Cooper, May 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGER. 9704.99, LV du Sahel, 2215-2300*, local music. Indigenous vocals. French talk. Local chants at 2255. Short flute IS and choral National Anthem at 2258. Four second test tone at 2300 and off. Fair to good. May 12 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** NIGERIA. 15115-15120-15125, May 8 at 1953, DRM noise audible with BFO, so VON Abuja is active; and today no spurs from Spain 15110 around 15119.5. 15120, May 9 at 0549, VON Ikorodu in analog with good signal, hum, YL talking about ``photo-gráphy``. 15120, May 11 at 0505, VON in analog English is audible tonight unlike last night, fair signal with hum/growl, and weakening as the hour goes on. 15120, UT Sat May 12 at 0520, analog VON has VG signal with less hum than usual, in some reggae music, then resuming mailbag so I forewent ontuning and listened for a while: acknowledged report from Jorge Raúl somebody in Jalisco (they sure don`t know the first thing about Spanish pronunciation at VON). He reported to *VON* that he heard *1Africa* on 9430! back in January. They think he must have been listening to 9690, since that`s VON`s only frequency on that band, altho his report was during the 0425-0500 period with a number of songs and commentaries, SINPO (with a long I) 44444. Hostesses say it`s ``difficult to reconcile`` his report with VON since they don`t start until 0445 [and not on any 9 MHz frequency then], and go on to plug a number of their own programs at times on 9690, 15120 that he should listen to. Nevertheless, they are sending him a QSL card! plus sticker and magazine. 0528 outro the `Listeners` Letters` show; addresses englishvon @ yahoo.com or englishservice @ voiceofnigeria.org CVC 1Africa, Zambia, was on 9430 at 04-06 in the B-10 season, as in WRTH 2011, but later dropped the segment before 0600 on any frequency, as in WRTH 2012. So he could not have been hearing it on 9430 in January of this year. And certainly had nothing to do with VON, altho those 1Africa broadcasts are aimed *at* W Africa, mainly Nigeria, and onward across North America. Total SNAFU. 15120, May 13 at 0545, no signal from VON, unlike the night before, despite Equatorial Guinea in well on 15190, Botswana on 15580 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) VOICE OF NIGERIA – REACHING THE WORLD LOUDER AND CLEARER -- 10-May-12 VON’s terrestrial broadcast Transmitters and Curtain Antennae, are able to transmit to all the continents of the world where its signals are received with relatively little impairment resulting from receiver fidelity and environmental conditions. VON, fully aware of the constraints of analogue broadcasts, in terms of limited quality resulting from long distance propagation processes and, the desire to satisfy its audiences, has embraced the DRM technology. This has enabled VON to transit to digital transmission techniques with the result that it now provides the improved sound quality that is needed to retain its listenership who, no doubt, have other alternative media to choose from. With a strong partner in Thomson Broadcast AG in Switzerland, the Nigerian Government has been able to install and commission three (3) 250 KW DRM shortwave Thomson Transmitters in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city. The three Transmitters were recently commissioned by Nigeria’s President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR on 13th March 2012. Before the inauguration of the transmitters, test transmissions were done to Southern Africa, North Africa, West and Central Africa, the Americas, Europe and other regions of the world. VON has received encouraging reports of strong and clear signals from all the regions reached. One of such reports came from engineer Reinhart Mazur in NUSSDORF, AUSTRIA who simply said “Reception is EXCELLENT” with 24dB S/N at–73dBm using the DREAM software to report the reception characteristics. Mr Reinhart also reported 55555 SINPO. Presently, VON transmits every evening from 1930 – 2000 GMT (Monday– Friday) on 15120 kHz to Europe on the DRM mode and will soon go full blast with its rotatable Antenna to all parts of the globe. VON, today, is positioned to make Nigeria’s voice to be heard loud and clear in the comity of nations. Report from A. A. AbdusSalam, Special Assistant to Director General, Voice Of Nigeria (DRM news May 10 via DXLD) So far only one DRM transmitter (at a time) has been heard on a very limited basis, currently 15115-15120-15125 at 1830-2000 (gh, DXLD) ** NORTH AMERICA. [Pirates]. 6925 USB, WPON, *2318-2340, IDs. Parody song of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. Rap music. George Carlin bit. Good. May 11. 6925 USB, Rave on Radio, 0100-0120, music by Johnny Cash and others. ID. Weak. May 12 (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg, PA, USA, Icom IC- 7600, two 100 foot longwires, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. Undercover Radio --- Hi Glenn, Today I received a QSL from Dr. Benway for my report on his 21 April broadcast on 6935 kHz. So your QSL should be on its way to you. 73's, (Ed Insinger Summit, NJ, May 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTHERN MARIANAS (USA) [and non]. Radio Free Asia, 9455 Agignan Point // 9540 Tinian Island. May 10, 2012. Thursday. 1735-1754. Nice continuous almost-Chinesy music but not quite. Heard against a background of Chinese talk which was presumably CNR1 jamming. Both music and jamming were // on 9540 and 9455, and I assume the almost- Chinese music was the Radio Free Asia component. Fair-poor. Jo'burg sunset 1532 (Bill Bingham, RSA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORWAY. Sveio (RIP) --- Wolfy found this excellent Panoramio image of the Sveio site. Beautiful & clear photograph of 4x4 caged dipole curtain arrays with reflector seen. Taken in July 2011. http://www.panoramio.com/photo/63393810 I see the photographer uploaded the excellent image in December 2011 and later indicated that the towers (site?) demolished in January 2012. We’re very lucky to have both the GE image & Panoramio photo of the site/towers, along with the notes. 73’s (Ian Baxter, shortwavesites yg via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. 640, May 12 at 1348 UT, ESPN Radio promo after promo, from what used to be WWLS: no IBOC noise on at the moment, whence seems like it is less and less imposed, fortunately. 1400 ID as ``KWPN AM, Moore-Norman, a Cumulus station``. I had been wanting to catch their new ID for the record, as another W-call far west of the Mississippi bites the dust. But this one was not really heritage; it was strangely granted on 12/7/81 according to FCC callsign history for facility 22190, when it replaced WNAD, which really was a heritage call at the University of Oklahoma, which got out of the radio business (only to resume it years later with KGOU, class-A FM non-commercial, yet on 106.3, with much inferior coverage, altho has now built up spotty relays at several other locations in the state). We can only assume having that the old W- call made it easier to get a new W-call. I thought 640 was a Clear Channel station operating out of 50 Penn Place in OKC. But application/ownership info shows it was previously owned by Citadel, WAPI in Birmingham AL, and before that by Citadel, KKOH in Reno NV! I assume that`s just for bookkeeping. Now they obviously want to brand it more clearly as an ESPN affiliate. While I was at FCC, took a look at their day and nite patterns: 5 kW day has major lobe to the SW, not much toward Enid tho not a full null. 1 kW nite has null west toward KFI, of course, and a lesser null to the east, protecting what? Memphis, I guess. Major lobes sort of kidney-shaped toward NNE and SSE (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. I don`t pay a lot of attention to local RDS displays, but I don`t recall seeing one before from KCSC 90.1 Edmond OK, our classical music station: UT May 14 at 0105 it is statically displaying on the DX-398 window: KCSC UCO --- UCO meaning University of Central Oklahoma (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. STILLWATER NPR STATION ADDS TO MORNING LINEUP KOSU “Morning Edition” host Ben Allen came from a large staff in New York City to virtually no staff once he started in Stillwater. But Allen continues to try to improve the station's quality BY ADAM KEMP | Modified: March 31, 2012 at 12:42 am | Published: April 1, 2012 http://newsok.com/stillwater-npr-station-adds-to-morning-lineup/article/3662558 STILLWATER — Ben Allen's weather reports make grandmothers swoon. photo - KOSU “Morning Edition” host Ben Allen graduated from Fordham University in May and started at KOSU almost immediately after. PHOTO BY ADAM KEMP, THE OKLAHOMAN It might be something in the way the 22-year old host of KOSU's “Morning Edition” delivers the degrees and rain chances with a slight laugh as he throws in quips about Oklahoma's constantly changing weather, but Allen said he suspects it's just because he's finally made listeners his friends. “Radio is just so personal,” Allen said. “They wake up with me, we talk about the day's news and upcoming events and they get to know me, and that's pretty cool.” Allen, who graduated from Fordham University in New York City less than a year ago and started at KOSU not long after that, said it's taken quite a bit of work to grow his audience for his 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. time slot. By offering to get [to] know people through on-air question and answer sessions and lunch offerings, Allen said he has gained a consistent group of listeners. Questions about what Allen eats for breakfast came from a listener from Enid, while another posted about a colorful shirt Allen wore in a photo posted to the KOSU Facebook page. “It takes real personality to pull off a peach shirt,” said a female listener from Oklahoma City. Allen said he was asked by one of his listeners if he might have any interest in going on a coffee date with their granddaughter. It was grandmother's idea to have Allen ask her out on air. “I kind of laughed it off, but I think she might have been serious,” he said. “That was really sweet of her to offer, though.” KOSU Director Kelly Burley said the addition of Allen really helped the station get back to connecting to the local audience. It was airing prerecorded morning shows before Allen took over the morning spot. “When we were looking to fill this position, we were looking for someone to take us to the next level,” Burley said “Ben gave us a fresh perspective and the change we were striving to get back to.” On one morning, Allen and KOSU reporter Michael Cross debut their in- depth look at smoking in Oklahoma. Allen asks the KOSU Facebook group at 6:25 a.m. to discuss whether every public place in Oklahoma needs to become smoke-free. “There are about three people talking back and forth,” he said. “They always say for every two people that comment in a discussion that there are 100 people that are looking at it. I'm not sure that's true this early in the morning.” Before KOSU The push for more listener feedback comes from Allen's experience at Fordham where he worked as a student at the second largest NPR station in New York — WFUV Allen said the transition from the staff of 30 full-time professionals and 90 students to his new solo job in Stillwater took some time to get used to. “It takes a lot of self-motivation and working on your own because now when I go out to stories, I'm the only person who is out there or who had that story idea,” he said. “I'm kind of getting used to it but we try and make it work.” Allen goes on air six times an hour for about 4 minutes each time, usually updating the major stories across the state plus any late- breaking reports and, of course, his much-loved weather updates. All the while, he is doing the job of host, producer and content generator. “We are really covering up the bare minimum of what a healthy NPR station covers up for ‘Morning Edition,'” Allen said. “Some stations run a half-hour program that they themselves produce the content. There is so much more we could do but it's hard to do everything with such a small staff.” But instead of giving in and conceding a good show because of a small staff and budget, Allen and the rest of KOSU have gotten creative. Jennifer James, a local Oklahoma City blogger, provides an audio essay every Tuesday while Michael Dean, of the Oklahoma History Museum, gives a ‘This week in Oklahoma History lesson' once a week. “We are small and always looking for innovative ways to make content,” Burley said. “Part of what we want to do is grow community and try and encourage listeners to participate. We want an interactive listening experience.” Burley said he hopes KOSU can get more involved in the community. “The long-range hope for KOSU is that we can get down to street level, create a space,” Burley said. “Some place where we could invite the public to watch radio being made.” Allen said he is excited about the future of the station. “We are working around the equipment, and we are working around the bodies but we are still producing good stuff,” he said (via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. Enid`s 93.3 translator is still off the air May 13 at 2137 check, and not on 93.1 either where it is licensed to move (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. Some area tropo is enhancing the signal from my last remaining semi-local analog, ch 48 in OKC, May 11 at 1358 UT, Estrella TV in a movie; at 1400 for a few sex, super ID in tiny white letters in lower-left corner: KOCY 48 OKLAHOMA CITY The movie continues, sort of a mixture of Batman and Lucha Libre, starring a guy in a mask plus full-head satin covering and a cape, uses grappling hook to climb up side of building (anyone can do that! Some superhero). Soon referred to as ``Blue Demon``, and the movie is ``Blue Demon y las Diabólicas``, from 1966-67. Interesting to Google up the background on this. The movie name gets only three hits, one in German. But Blue Demon himself gets 5,690,000. At first I thought it might be dubbed, as part of it was set in NYC, but it`s original Mexican; has radio-communication scenes using codes such as QRX and QSL! This is typical low-brow entertainment provided by minor network Estrella TV. Signal faded down to normal JBV level by 1500 UT. At its peak I also checked ch 19 and found traces of video there, so maybe the other OKC LPTV is still on the analog air (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. Re 12-19: FALLIN SIGNS BILL AUTHORIZING OETA FOR TWO MORE YEARS --- Oklahoma state Capitol briefs for May 11 By Michael McNutt | Published: May 11, 2012 http://newsok.com/oklahoma-state-capitol-briefs-for-may-11/article/3674348 Oklahomans will be able to continue to watch Elmo and Lawrence Welk on Oklahoma's Public Broadcasting Service for the next two years. Gov. Mary Fallin on Thursday signed House Bill 2236, which extends the sunset date of the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority, the statewide broadcaster of national programs such as “Sesame Street” and “The Lawrence Welk Show,” through July 1, 2014. The measure drew opposition from legislators who said OETA is not a core state service and it's time for the state to stop subsidizing the TV system. Supporters said OETA is the only source of local programming that nearly all Oklahomans can receive for free and its daylong programming for children is a terrific learning aid (via DXLD) The Daily Disappointment is skewing this story to imply that OETA is good for nothing but the very young and the very old (gh, DXLD) ** PARAGUAY. Radio Nacional del Paraguay llegando fuertísimo ahora, a las 23 UT hace un rato, 920 kHz, prueben! Aqui la grabación: http://youtu.be/gFfnL36-R68 (José A. Kucher, May 10, condiglist yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1617, DXLD) Seguramente el nuevo trasmisor rompiendo fronteras en la OM (Horacio Nigro G., CX3BZ, Uruguay, WORLD OF RADIO 1617, ibid.) New 100 kW unit Radio Nac del Paraguay ahora 0024 UT --- está entrando bastante bien por acá por Buenos Aires con la antena de cuadro de 27 cm. 920 kHz programa con Alejandro Ortigoza sobre deportes, sobre fútbol y se identifican como ``Radio Nacional del Paraguay, la emisora que llega a todo el país`` (Ernesto Paulero, Argentina, 0027 UT May 11, ibid.) Perfecto, Ernesto, tal cual la escuché yo con el programa de deportes. Para confirmar el audio, entra a http://www.desdeparaguay.com y búscala ésta en la lista (José A Kucher, ibid.) Copiada en tránsito callejero, de regreso al QTH, por mi barrio. Splatter obviamente de 930 CX20 Montecarlo. La orientación de la ferrita salva la "pieza". Con deportes, buena modulación (Horacio Nigro, CX3BZ, Uruguay, 0123 UT May 11, ibid.) Se sigue escuchando en 920 KHz bastante buena señal con desvanecimientos largos (Ernesto Paulero, 2210 UT May 11, ibid.) Sí, acá en Neuquén también (José A Kucher, 2310 UT, ibid.) ** PERU [and non]. CHU alert N O W --- 3329.53, Perú, Ondas del Huallaga, Huánuco, in the clear with CHU seemingly off at 1032. Now is the time for a good log ;-) 73s (Bob Wilkner, FL, 1035 UT May 10, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** PERU. 4824.49, Perú, La Voz de la Selva, Iquitos, 0055 to 0100, narrow filter to avoid Brasil on 4825 and Radio Sicuani, on 4826.6, 11 May (Robert Wilkner, Pompano Beach, South Florida, NRD 535D -746Pro - R8 - Sony 2010XA, and XM - Cedar Key - South Florida, NRD 525D - R8A - Cumbre DX via DXLD) 4826.533, Radio Sicuani, Sicuani, Cusco from 0850 to 1030 on 3 May. Good signal avoiding Brasil on 4825 and 4824.6 Perú (Wilkner) 5039.9, Radio Libertad de Junín, Junín, 1032 noted off frequency. Silent at 1040 recheck ...transmitter problems? 9 May. Normal frequency on 10 May (Robert Wilkner, Pompano Beach, South Florida, NRD 535D -746Pro - R8 - Sony 2010XA - Scotka long wave pre amplifier, Cumbre DX via DXLD) see also DX-PEDITIONS for some audio clips ** PERU [and non]. 4790, Iquitos PRU, Rádio Nueva Atlantida (Presumida), 0002 12/05/2012, Mxs Andinas Seguidas de Cx da Apresentadora em Espanhol, 34333 4995, Huacayo [sic] PRU, Rádio Andina, 0013 12/05/2012, Mxs Andinas Seguidas de Cx da Apresentadora em Quechua(?) e ID Clara, 33333. (Álex Robert, SWL: PR7006, RX: Tecsun DR 920, ANT: Long Wire 15mts e Vertical 3mts; QTH: Duas Estradas, Brasil Web: http://lex-dx.blogspot.com radioescutas yg via DXLD) Here`s what happens when you start logging stuff by list, not keeping up with developments long ago reported: R. Atlántida is long gone; the Peruvian now on 4790 is R. Visión, Chiclayo. R. Andina is shown in WRTH 2012 as not inactive, on 4996v, but hasn`t been reported in almost 5 years. LA SW Logs shows: ``4995.90v PRU R Andina, Huancayo [0926-1204/2245-0302*](95.36-96.6) Jul07 H 0302->0955*`` Last report I can find of it in DXLD was 31 July 2003. It would be nice if really reactivated. Don`t know what else would be on 4995 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: ``PERU. 4995, R. Andina, Huancayo 0300-0307 31/Jul SINPO=35222/35221 Leyendo carta de un "hermanito' a quien supuestamente le hicieron brujerías por medio de un muñeco y lo invita "a venir a mi consultorio en la ciudad de Huancayo... Usted me está escuchando a través de Radio Andina" y luego algo ridículo: "Les voy a adivinar de qué color es su radio. Hay un hermanito que nos escucha con un radio color negro. Otro hermanito nos escucha con un radio color gris, otro hermanito con un radio color plata...." (hi hi hi). El ruido atmosférico y el "fading" hacen muy difícil la escucha (Elmer Escoto, San Pedro Sula, Honduras, SONY ICF-SW7600GR y antena "random" de 10 metros, DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-150, August 19, 2003)`` ** PERU. RELEVAN 53 EMISORAS DE RADIO PIRATAS EN LA REGIÓN DE AYACUCHO by gruporadioescuchaargentino La dirección de Telecomunicaciones de Ayacucho, reportó la existencia de 53 estaciones de radio que funcionan de manera ilegal y que próximamente serían intervenidos. La provincia de Huamanga presenta 8 radios piratas, en el Valle de los Ríos Apurímac y Ene (Vrae) 14, entre las provincias de Lucanas y Sucre existen 16 y entre las provincias de Cangallo y Fajardo 15. Las intervenciones a éstas señales, actualmente, sería una competencia del Ministerio de Transportes y Comunicaciones aunque en los próximos meses la referida dirección recibirá la transferencia de dicha competencia; por lo que vendrían implementando un localizador de espectros y equipos de alta tecnología para realizar dicho trabajo y evitar la filtración de señales no autorizadas. Hace unos días habrían intervenido 8 radiodifusoras ilegales entre ellos a la estación enlace de Radio Nova, Candela, Imperial, Tropicana, Fuego, Fiesta, Mega Mix y Radio JCJ de Tambo. Además, intervinieron la estación del canal de TV 19. Por otro lado, también habrían notificado a más de un centenar de empresas de la localidad por haber utilizado la señal para publicitar los productos; por lo que estarían estudiando una sanción por publicidad ilegal, según ley (Diario Correo, Peru via GRA blog via DXLD) So are any of them on onda corta?? (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** PHILIPPINES. 9430, May 15 at 1337, FEBC Chinese music and talk, poor signal and carrier wavering with BFO engaged; was much stronger before 1300 and only slightly distorted. My previous report about this May 8 drew a response from Guy West, N0MMA, Team Leader of the Engineering Support Team. He says none of the Bocaue transmitters are vintage, all now Continental 418F, but ``I suspect for one reason or another the program in question was running on our oldest Iba unit, since retired, as part of a maintenance strategy to free up a transmitter in Bocaue for service`` (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz: Re: "** PHILIPPINES. 9430, May 8 at 1247, FEBC Chinese, gospel pop music, strong signal but distorted, and carrier wobbling. This problem has been going on for many months, some days worse than others. Listed as a 100 kW transmitter at Bocaue, all the way from 09 to 17 UT. Are they ever going to fix it or replace it with one of the ex-KFBS units? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Subject: Thanks for FEBC Signal Report Dear Glenn, Some of our listening staff picked up your report on the Chinese broadcast (copy above). It`s always good to hear if we have technical issues with the broadcasts. The guys will be looking to see what the issue was with this since we have not had any vintage equipment in Bocaue for nearly a decade now. Contingent of transmitters in Bocaue is one continental 418 transmitter installed in '92 and upgraded to series F in 2002, one ex- KFBS Continental 418 upgraded to series F which was moved in in 2002 plus two Continental 418F transmitters also installed in 2002. We had a 5th Continental 418F unit installed in Bocaue which went on the air in April from the ex-KFBS units decommissioned last year. We recently completed a complete renovation of our Iba, Philippines facility which included replacement of our last "vintage" transmitter with an ex-KFBS 418F unit. We also installed a second ex-KFBS Continental 418 at Iba and moved the existing Continental 418D there to backup service since it has not had the digital modulator upgrade. I suspect for one reason or another the program in question was running on our oldest Iba unit, since retired, as part of a maintenance strategy to free up a transmitter in Bocaue for service. In any case recent listening by some of our monitoring volunteers showed better signals. We have been working through major refits of both Bocaue and Iba for the past 10 years and are nearly complete. Our local staff are enjoying being able to provide stronger cleaner signals with new gear. It was quite a race over the last 12 months to see if the old transmitter at Iba (GE circa '40's) could be kept alive until we could get the unit moved from KFBS and installed. We will keep an eye on your reports. Sincerely (Guy J. West, N0MMA, FEBC International Office, Team Leader, Engineering Support Team, WORLD OF RADIO 1617, DX LISTENINGN DIGEST) Dear Guy, I`m glad my observations were helpful. And thanks for all the background info. A lot of other stations have technical problems I point out, but never hear from them and nothing is done about them. Best wishes, (Glenn Hauser, to Guy, via DXLD) ** PHILIPPINES. Summer A-12 of Radio Veritas Asia Bengali 0030-0057 on 15265 PUG 250 kW / 300 deg to SoAs 1400-1427 on 11870 PUG 250 kW / 300 deg to SoAs Burmese 2330-2357 on 9720 PUG 250 kW / 280 deg to SEAs 1130-1157 on 15450 PUG 250 kW / 280 deg to SEAs Chin 0130-0157 on 15255 PUG 250 kW / 280 deg to SEAs 1430-1457 on 11870 PUG 250 kW / 280 deg to SEAs Hindi 0030-0057 on 15280 PUG 250 kW / 280 deg to SoAs 1330-1357 on 11870 PUG 250 kW / 280 deg to SoAs Hmong 1200-1227 on 11935 PUG 250 kW / 280 deg to SEAs Kachin 2330-2357 on 9645 PUG 250 kW / 280 deg to SEAs 1230-1257 on 15225 PUG 250 kW / 280 deg to SEAs Karen 0000-0027 on 11935 PUG 250 kW / 280 deg to SEAs 1200-1227 on 15225 PUG 250 kW / 280 deg to SEAs Khmer 1000-1027 on 11850 PUG 250 kW / 280 deg to SEAs Mandarin 2100-2257 on 6115 PUG 250 kW / 350 deg to SEAs 1000-1157 on 11945 PUG 250 kW / 359 deg to SEAs Tagalog 2300-2327 on 9720 PUG 250 kW / 331 deg to CeAs 1500-1557 on 15350 SMG 250 kW / 130 deg to N/ME Sinhala 0000-0027 on 11855 PUG 250 kW / 280 deg to SoAs 0000-0027 on 15460 PUG 250 kW / 280 deg to SoAs 1330-1357 on 9520 PUG 250 kW / 280 deg to SoAs Tamil 0030-0057 on 11935 PUG 250 kW / 280 deg to SoAs 1400-1427 on 9520 PUG 250 kW / 280 deg to SoAs Telugu 0100-0127 on 15530 PUG 250 kW / 280 deg to SoAs 1430-1457 on 11750 PUG 250 kW / 280 deg to SoAs Urdu 0100-0127 on 15280 PUG 250 kW / 300 deg to SoAs 0100-0127 on 17860 PUG 250 kW / 300 deg to SoAs 1430-1457 on 15435 SMG 250 kW / 070 deg to SoAs Vietnamese 2330-2357 on 9670 PUG 250 kW / 280 deg to SEAs 0130-0227 on 15530 PUG 250 kW / 280 deg to SEAs 1030-1127 on 11850 PUG 250 kW / 280 deg to SEAs 1300-1327 on 11850 PUG 250 kW / 280 deg to SEAs (DX Re Mix News, Bulgaria, May 15 via DXLD) ** ROMANIA. 15340, May 16 at 0521, good signal in French, jazz. I haven`t noticed this before, but 0525 sign-off is talking about Eutelsat, so must be RRI: yes, that IS soon followed. HFCC shows it`s 0500-0530, 300 kW, 187 degrees from Tiganeshti, so way offbeam here. 17770, May 16 at 0527, RRI IS also audible here, weaker. This is closing of same service, same parameters. The higher bands are hopping tonight, as we get into solstitial conditions, higher-latitude paths mostly or partly illuminated across the midnight-sun area, solar flux level permitting. BTW, HFCC-all file for A-12, normally updated just about every weekday, finally updated May 16 after stalling since May 4 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ROMANIA. 15135, May 9 at 1340, intense drama in Russian, fair signal. Or so I thought: Listed as RRI in Romanian from Galbeni. Maybe I was misled by some Slavic elements in the language, obscured by the dramatization (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) V SOUTH CAROLINA ** RUSSIA [and non]. VOA'S USE OF MEDIUM WAVE RELAY IN MOSCOW IS "BRAIN-DEAD," SHE WRITES. Posted: 13 May 2012 Heritage Foundation, The Foundry blog, 10 May 2012, Helle Dale: "Depending on Russian government-funded media to broadcast news from Voice of America (VOA) is about as brain-dead as depending on Russian spaceships to send American astronauts into space or depending on Russian fuel supply for the U.S. ground and air forces in Afghanistan. The outcome will surely not be in America’s interest. And yet, the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) has contracted with Voice of Russia for rebroadcasting VOA programs in English. The BBG has closed down most of its own radio transmitters around the world and even closed down VOA’s Russian-language broadcasting in 2008. The board’s reasons are, firstly, to cut costs and, secondly, to move away from radio toward other more glamorous media, like satellite television and the Internet. The fact remains, however, that most of the BBG’s global audience are still radio listeners, and the way U.S. radio programming now gets on the air is through contracts with local broadcasters. Unfortunately, relying on others for rebroadcasting U.S. programs gives them de facto control of programming content and leads to self- censorship. A particularly shocking example of self-censorship as a consequence of foreign pressure was provided by the run-up to the Russian election. According to employees of Voice of America, VOA managers told them to cancel plans for coverage of the Russian presidential election on March 3 and 4, the day prior to and the day of the Russian vote. The reason? Voice of Russia was threatening to tear up its rebroadcasting agreement with the BBG unless the U.S. government’s broadcasters complied with limitations on election coverage imposed by Russian legislation." (kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) Russian government restrictions keep VOA and RFE/RL content off of Russian television and FM radio stations. Very few Russians still listen to shortwave. Not taking advantage of a medium-wave relay facility that covers Moscow, uncensored 99% of the time, would really be brain-dead. Follow the advice of the Heritage Foundation, and there would be no American astronauts in space, no fuel for US forces in Afghanistan, and no VOA listeners in Moscow (Kim Andrew Elliott, ibid.) ** RWANDA. Hi Everyone, Good conditions to Africa last night. 6055, R Rwanda up 'til sign off at 2100. Local music then YL in Swahili with ID, then she is singing along to the music; bless! https://www.box.com/s/f5724ba503586e4dc402 (Mark Davies, Anglesey, Wales, May 10, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RWANDA. 17820, May 9 at 0612, DW English audible again, but only poorly in the nightmiddle, unlike previous log, roughly equal to // 13780, and much better on // 15275 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SARAWAK [non]. 15420, R. Free Sarawak via Palau, 1145-1200*, May 8. Phone conversations; pop song; ID at sign off (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) "DIFFICULT FOR ACTION TO BE TAKEN AGAINST" RADIO FREE SARAWAK, BECAUSE IT'S ON SHORTWAVE FROM OUTSIDE MALAYSIA. Posted: 12 May 2012 Bernama, 10 May 2012: "Radio Free Sarawak operates from abroad, thus making it difficult for action to be taken against it for discrediting the Sarawak government and the country, the Dewan Negara was told Thursday. Deputy Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Joseph Salang said it was difficult for the ministry to monitor the radio and exercise control over its broadcast. 'We know that several Sarawakians are involved in the broadcast and are liable to legal action,' he said when replying to a supplementary question from Senator Lihan Jok. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) was reported to be prepared to investigate the existence of the radio and its broadcast content after several police reports had been made, including by the youth wing of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), claiming that it was illegal and disseminated false accusations directed particularly at Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud. The radio station, said to be engaged in a clandestine operation, reportedly broadcasts out of London and promotes anti-government propaganda to Sarawakians while criticising the state's leaders in its twice-daily broadcast." (kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) -- Contrast this inability to control Radio Free Sarawak, on shortwave from abroad, to the previous post about censorship of BBC World News and Al Jazeera English on Malaysia's Astro satellite TV platform. That post now includes an account by radio futurologist James Cridland of his 2009 visit to Astro headquarters (Kim Andrew Elliott, ibid.) Borneo Post, 10 May 2012: "PAS [Pan-Malaysia Islamic Party] Miri has accused BN leaders in Sibuti of being afraid of the influence of Radio Free Sarawak on rural voters. Its Miri chief and state deputy commissioner III Jofri Jaraiee said it was fair that the rural people had access to the independent radio channel because through it they could obtain unbiased news on political developments in the state and country. He was reacting to a recent remark made by Sibuti MP Ahmad Lai Bujang that the people in Sibuti should turn a deaf ear to Radio Free Sarawak. The MP had also claimed that the radio channel was meant to mislead its listeners by disseminating false information and spreading malicious lies that could jeopardise racial unity and harmony." (kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) ** SERBIA [and non]. page 28/29 under Serbia, IRS Beograde Stubline replaced 9640 by 9635 kHz, noted on May 9th, 1300-1759 UT. 17 kW mobile unit on otherwise NATO bombing destroyed location area (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews May 10 via DXLD) Refers to WRTH A-12 update. As of May 15 it`s in Version 3, with updates since Version 1 in RED, including 9635. That was the original frequency, then shifted to 9640 for a while, now back (gh, DXLD) 9685, May 10 at 0121 tune-in, IRS with some music, but soon interrupted by 4-note ``Windows closing down`` logo! Who needs to turn on/off a computer to hear this wonderful music?? Followed by two minutes of dead air, so figured they were finished, but 0123 music resumed, must have rebooted, 0124 Serbian announcement, more music and no further talk until off at 0130*. A few days before, it was off long before 0130, as I reported (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9685, UT Sunday May 13 at 0041, IRS is on in Serbian, fair in the noise, but gone at 0100 recheck. It remains undependable, as Aoki shows the 0030-0100 English broadcast on UT Mon-Sat shifts to 0100- 0130 on Sunday = Day 1. The WRTH A-12 update seems more correct: ``Serbian 0000-0030 daily NAm 9685bij 0000-0100 m.....s NAm 9685bij 0100-0130 mtwtfs. NAm 9685bij English 0030-0100 .twtfs. NAm 9685bij`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH AFRICA. 7285, May 13 at 0530, Sonder Grense is still in with fair signal, as sun rises later and later over Meyerton, sometimes even better than 7275 Tunisia, 7245 Mauritania, etc., altho the latter was not even on yet (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH AFRICA. 7310, May 14 at 0459, BBCWS, 0500 opening teasers for `The World Today` but poor signal cut off the air at 0500:40*. Figured it would turn out to be another example of the slipshod operation at Meyerton, and indeed it is: supposed to be on at 0400-0500 only, 250 kW, 328 degrees. I was checking 7305 whether Sackville would make an every greater mistake as it did 24 hours earlier with CRI English instead of 6190, but not tonight (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. 15190, with Alex Scourby bibling also audible better than usual, May 9 at 1340 i.e. the Brother Scare service via IRRS via Tiganeshti. These signals making it thru despite degraded propagation conditions (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Same time as RRI on 15135, see ROMANIA [Armenian relays:] No transmission of Brother Stair TOM in English on May 12: 0700-1000 15750 ERV 300 kW / 192 deg EaAf Sat, please check next Sat! Also please check next Saturday May 19 additional test transmissions: 0300-0400 15425 ERV 300 kW / 125 deg SEAs, but same is CRI Russian 0300-0500 9400 ERV 100 kW / 305 deg WeEu 0600-0700 9400 ERV 100 kW / 305 deg WeEu Also please check next Sunday May 20 additional test transmissions: 1200-1300 15425 ERV 300 kW / 125 deg SEAs 2230-2400 15425 ERV 300 kW / 125 deg SEAs Also please check next Monday May 21 additional test transmissions: 1400-1500 15425 ERV 300 kW / 125 deg SEAs 2300-2400 15425 ERV 300 kW / 125 deg SEAs (DX Re Mix News, Bulgaria, May 15 via DXLD) ** SPAIN [and non]. REE engineering department must be non-existent or incompetent. Not only do some Noblejas transmitters put out horrible spurs, but also Cariari, COSTA RICA. This one has done it before, disrupting much of the 31m band, but now it`s worse than ever, disrupting the entire band! 9630, May 9 at 0555, extremely distorted and splattering out to approx. plus and minus 300 kHz, i.e. 9330-9930 or so, during talk. Then during music it`s out to 400 kHz, 9230-10030 or so!! Fortunately it was almost sign-off time, but could have been like this for the past four hours or more. Was anyone trying to listen to anything on 31m during that period? 0600 timesignal and the buzz around the band could still be heard during the few sex of unmodulated carrier which followed before cut off; and then, suddenly, all other stations on band became audible again (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1617, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WRTH A-12 pdf Update May 10 item and comments: ``REE minority languages: 2300-0200 daily LAm 15160nob** 2300-0200 daily SAm 11680nob** 2300-0500 daily SAm 9620nob** 2300-0500 daily NAm,CAm 9535nob** ** Includes news Mon-Fri, in Galician & Catalan, at 2330-2345.`` So I check all but 11680, which is probably covered by Cuba, May 10 at 2338 and find Galician, with a heavy Castilian accent. You have to listen closely to hear the difference, such as pronouncing gallego as if it were ``galego``; 2340 into plain old Castilian. So maybe Catalan was first at 2330? These have been cleverly scheduled when the Costa Rica relay is not on the air, best here on 9535. [see below] 11880, May 11 at 1233, REE via COSTA RICA continues in Castilian the rest of the semihour, talking about Lorca and poesía, no Basque today, as sometimes happens, with no apology or explanation ever heard. WRTH Update maintains all the frequencies on air at this time ``Include news Mon-Fri, in Basque, at 1230-1255``. At 1255, double take here as I hear the RHC IS and ID, and then Manolo de la Rosa, but he`s just congratulating REE on its seventieth anniversary. Cariari could have been playing fillers, as I couldn`t get any frequency direct to compare, but by 1300, 5+second late timesignal it was obviously hooked up with Madrid and // 17595. 15385, May 11 at 2015, VG signal in Castilian, what?? It`s REE on wrong frequency instead of 15110, which is absent, and this transmitter has brought with it the distortion on peaks altho not the spurs. 15385 is used by REE earlier in the day, so forgot to change frequency! 15110 normally starts at *1855, so I bet this made huge collision with KJES, entitled to 15385 at 1800-1930 (unless it happened to be off the air today), and also making a het. Hope this happen again during that sesquihour so I can witness it! Was discussing películas, and still on 15385 at 2107+. 15160, May 11 at 2333, today this is the best of REE`s Noblejas-only frequencies, and 11680 is indeed blocked by former colony Cuba. And it is in Catalan, closing with a different theme than we used to hear in our mornings, 2335 into Galician, with familiar sea-shanty theme. So it`s M-F 2330-2335 Catalan, 2335-2340 Galician. 15385, May 12 at 1908, neither KJES nor REE was to be heard, unlike yesterday when REE was on 15385 by mistake. Today it is back on correct 15110. But these things tend to happen again and again, so let`s keep checking. The two could collide between 1850 and 1930. Instead, I am rewarded by another panoply of spurs from the Cariari, COSTA RICA relay centred on extremely strong 17850, May 12 at 1914, at multiples of intervals of somewhere between 13 and 14 kHz above and below: I did not attempt to pin them down to the tenth of a kHz, so approx., and more or less weakening the further away from 17850 with sports: Below: 17725, 17739, 17753 (vs REE Noblejas 17755!), 17767, 17781, 17795 (obscured by BBC), 17809 (not heard here, why?), 17823, 17836. Above: 17864, 17878, 17891, 17905, 17919, 17933, 17947, 17960, 17974, 17988, 18002, 18016, 18030. Except for the very outer ones, all of these had some audio easily identifiable as REE. That`s out to nine spurs below, and thirteen above, including the skips. Do I hear 10, or 14? Next time. The one on 17878 could have disrupted the DX Antwerp DRM special at 20-21 centered on 17875 from Guiana French, unchecked since I had already heard two transmissions in the superior AM mode (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1617, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11880, May 15 at 1231, REE via COSTA RICA is back in Basque this Tuesday, having defaulted to Castilian last Friday May 11; supposedly Basque M-F. 15097.6 & 15122.4, May 15 at 1925, REE has decided to provide some different spurs from the 15110 transmitter, instead of multiples of plus and minus 9.5 kHz. Only these two heard, weakly, the higher one amid the DRM noise from Nigeria --- enough to disrupt DRM decoding somewhere? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Is this a change of policy by REE I wonder? They discontinued QSLs some years back but I did get a verie letter last year now this Regards Ian. ----- Original Message ----- From: RNE EMISION INGLES To: Ian Cattermole Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2012 4:20 AM Subject: Re: REE. Reception report. 9665khz Dear Ian Cattermole, Thank you so much for your reception report! A QSL card is ready to be sent so you should be receiving it within the next few weeks. All our best, Alison, Justin and Frank English Language Service Radio Exterior de España Corporación RTVE - http://www.rtve.es (Ian Cattermole, May NZ DX Times via DXLD) ** SPAIN. ESPAÑA RETROCEDE --- Manuel Barrientos informa sobre recientes decisiones del gobierno español que afectan el carácter público de RTVE, considerado hasta ahora un punto de referencia para los sistemas públicos de medios. Por Manuel Barrientos * Considerada como punto de referencia para los sistemas de medios públicos de toda Iberoamérica, la Corporación de Radio y Televisión Española (RTVE) está viviendo una de sus crisis más graves desde la consolidación democrática lograda en ese país hace ya tres décadas. Con la asunción de Mariano Rajoy como presidente en diciembre último, el gobierno del Partido Popular (PP) impulsó una reforma del órgano de dirección de la RTVE, que incluyó también un profundo recorte presupuestario. Desde los partidos de la oposición, las organizaciones sociales y los sindicatos se alzaron voces críticas que señalan que estas medidas restringen los niveles de pluralidad y de calidad que había logrado el multimedios estatal en los últimos años. . . FUENTE: http://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/laventana/26-193588-2012-05-10.html (Via @yimbergaviria, May 10, DXLD) ** SUDAN SOUTH [non]. 15725, 0405, CLANDESTINE, Unidentified station at good strength 2/5 in Arabic-type language until blocked by Radio Pakistan co-channel from 0457. DX Mix News says this is “Voice of South Sudan Revolutionary Radio” in Sudanese Arabic. Martial songs and speeches, partial English ident “Voice of” heard at 0458 (Bryan Clark, Mangawhai, (Northland), New Zealand, AOR7030+, EWEs to North, Central & South America 100m BOG to NE, and Alpha Delta Sloper antennas, May NZ DX Times via DXLD) V of South Sudan Revolutionary Radio in Arabic/English on May 12-15: 0544-0800 15725, co-ch till 0700 Radio Pakistan World Service in Urdu 1244-1500 11650, very strong co-ch 1300-1500 CRI in Esperanto & Amoy. (DX Re Mix News, Bulgaria, May 15 via WORLD OF RADIO 1617, DXLD) ** SWAZILAND. 9500, May 10 at 0523, poor signal with African-accented preacher in English, past 0531 when maybe a different voice. We have been hearing this for weeks, but 9500 is on the HFCC registered schedule for TWR only in the evenings. Is it there now? No, still absent from latest HFCC dated May 4. Is in Aoki May 10 and EiBi May 6 as 05-08, 100 kW, 13 degrees from Manzini to CAf. Just-issued WRTH A- 12 update has it under SOUTH AFRICA, this transmission to E Africa (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN. WRTH A-12 pdf Update May 10 item and comments: A notable oddity for R. Taiwan International (gh): ``Amoy 0800-0900 ..w.... EAs 15290tnn* 0900-1000 ..w.... EAs 11550tnn* Key: * Relay of Taiwan Fishery R. Stn.`` (Glenn Hauser, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN. New PCJ transmitter --- On Facebook there is a picture of where the antenna and transmitter will be for PCJ's 20 kW. It's still bare, but over the next few months it will begin to look like a relay (Mike Terry, 9 May, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I'd be interested to see it -- though as not a Facebook member, it won't let me. Is it elsewhere? Thanks (Eric Flodén, BC, ibid.) This is the link to see it from outside facebook https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/398261_10150776399362271_524612270_9595877_1631313310_n.jpg Today he updated in facebook as follows: "Next Wednesday some experts are coming to check the soil where the antenna will be located. Taiwan sits on fault line so earthquakes are common. They will test the soil and ground to check to see if a regular mount can be built or if it will need something different." Thanks & Regards, (Partha Sarathi Goswami, Siliguri, Dist. Darjeeling, West Bengal, INDIA, May 9, ibid.) ** TUNISIA. WRTH A-12 pdf Update May 10 item and comments: ``RADIO TUNISIENNE (Gov) kHz: 7225, 7275, 7335, 7345, 12005, 17735 0300-0510 daily NAf,ME 12005sfa 0400-0625 daily Eu 7275sfa 0600-0810 daily NAf 7335sfa 1600-2000 daily NAf,ME 12005sfa 1600-2010 daily NAf,ME 17735sfa 1700-2110 daily NAf 7225sfa 1900-2310 daily NAf 7345sfa`` Since IWT`s registered schedules are always wrong, we need the real schedules. However, this misses 17735 in the mornings (until 0510?) which we logged recently [unless it was on by mistake?] (Glenn Hauser, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Fixed in Version 3 ** UKRAINE. Here in NE Romania I can receive Radio Promin from Ukraine on 549 kHz. The daytime signal is good. I wonder what's the transmitter location and power. It's not listed in EMWG or MWLIST. (Tudor Vedeanu, (Gura Humorului, Romania), mwdx yg via DXLD) UKRAINE'S MEDIUM WAVE SCENE UPDATE On May 15, Ukrainian Radio resumed broadcasting via five medium wave transmitters which were previously silent. 549 kHz - Brovary, Kyiv region (UR-2 "Promin" program), tx power is unknown yet, 0300-2100 UT 549 kHz - Krasne, Lviv region (UR-2 "Promin" program), tx power is unknown yet, 0300-2100 UT 549 kHz - Luch, Mykolaiv region (UR-2 "Promin" program), 550 kW from 0300 till 1700 UT and 55 kW from 1700 till 2000 UT. 1242 kHz - Dokuchaevsk, Donetsk region (UR-2 "Promin" program), tx power is unknown yet, 0300-2100 UT 1431 kHz - Luch, Mykolaiv region (UR-3 "Kultura" program), 150 kW from 0700 till 1700 UT and 25 kW from 1700 till 1900 UT. Besides, 972 kHz (Luch) carrying UR-1 is now on the air at 0230-1600 UT (350 kW) and 1700-2200 UT (40 kW) (ex 0700-1900 UT 250 kW) 837 kHz (Taranivka, Kharkiv region) carrying UR-1 is now on the air also at 0230-2200 UT, 150 kW (ex 0700-1900 UT) Revised schedule of Radio Khvylia (Vinnytsia region), 1377 kHz, 7 kW 0600-1015 and 1200-1615 UT. Note UR-1 starts broadcasting at 0230 UT on Mondays-Fridays and at 0300 UT on Saturdays ans Sundays. P.S. Although UR's former QSL manager Aleksandr Yegorov left NRCU some years ago, it is still possible to receive QSL card from the Ukrainian Radio. The postal address is: Monitoring Department, National Radio Company of Ukraine, Khreschatyk 26, UA-01001 Kyiv, Ukraine. 73! -- (Aleksandr Diadischev, Ukraine, May 16, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1617, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. A while back the BBC said that R4 LW would close down once the existing stock of 6 valves had been used up as they were unobtainable. I came across the following comment on a French expat forum today and wonder what others think. Gareth. QUOTE: Each transmitter uses two TH573V water cooled ceramic valves in push-pull and used to use two more in the modulator as well with a very similar type as the modulator driver and RF PA driver. It is a 1934 design though. Ceramic valves of this size are re-buildable and Thales France at 45 rue de Villiers 92526 Neuilly-sure-Seine Cedex, France, still have them in the catalogue. I think there's a whiff of accountants knowing the price of everything and the value of nothing here, along with some topical BBC cost- cutting; their justification being: 1. No one essentially needs wide area "Long Wave" signals now. 2. Its use as a frequency standard is superceded by modern equipment. 3. The target audience is now well-served by DAB (which is a rubbish service) or the remaining FM transmitters. 4. R4 is available on satellite or the internet. The remaining unobtainable valves excuse just allows them to close and demolish the Droitwich site and save all the operating and maintenance costs. Very high power, low freq RF devices are still available as are complete, modern-build AM transmitters (Germany). Here's hoping, but I reckon they'll have it off the air sooner rather than later (via Gareth Foster, May 14, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) BBC TRUST POSTPONES DECISION ON MW CLOSURES The BBC Trust today published its final position on the Corporation's "Delivering Quality First" savings. The full 31-page document is at http://tinyurl.com/cx5a89a On radio transmission platforms, the Trust says: "... we agree with the plans to: "Invest in the roll-out of the BBC national DAB multiplex to 97 per cent coverage of the population by 2017 and partner to expand local DAB coverage to 90 per cent of UK homes by 2017, subject to the Government's decision on switchover. "Not re-invest in Long Wave technology once the current infrastructure, which relies on technology that is no longer being manufactured, has reached the end of its life. Although this is unlikely to happen for several years, we welcome the Executive's commitment to make the existing programmes provided on LW available on other analogue BBC radio stations, so remaining as accessible to listeners as they are now. "We also agree with the principle to try and reduce medium wave transmission for local radio in places where coverage duplicates that of FM. However, establishing the audience impact of these changes is not straightforward, and the Executive needs to undertake further technical and feasibility work to establish the costs and impact of these changes within each part of the country. We will engage furtherwith the Executive on this issue over the coming months before any final decisions are taken." Other plans are for all local radio stations in England to join together for the same programme on weekdays between 1900 and 2200, although stations will have the flexibility to opt for local sports coverage (Chris Greenway, May 16, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) BBC SCALES BACK LOCAL RADIO CUTS TO £8M from Press Gazette (16 May): 16 May 2012 By Andrew Pugh http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=49328&c=1 The BBC has halved its proposed cutbacks across its local radio network from £15m to around £8m. Within the new figure, direct savings to "scope and content" have been slashed from £8.5m to £2.1m. [British usage confusingly employs a small m to mean ``million``, i.e. a thousand thousand; while in scientific parlance, m stands for metres, or milli- = one/thousandth, or more loosely, (one) thousand = kilo, while a million, mega, should always be a capital M. That`s also why `mHz` or `mhz` is totally nonsensical --- gh] But there are still plans to scale back local radio coverage - including the creation of a new shared all-England programme broadcast on weekday evenings from 7-10 pm. The corporation's governing body, the BBC Trust, also announced today: a.. "Afternoon sharing will be limited to a very small number of stations, either where currently operational or where there are strong editorial reasons for doing so b.. "Sport and other community output will be more protected than originally proposed to ensure range and variety. There will be a number of editorial changes to how stations schedule minority output, with most of this output scheduled at weekends c.. "Cuts to on the ground journalists and reporters will be much lower with additional efficiency savings targeted at reducing layers of management within local stations." The BBC had originally planned to cut the BBC local radio budget by 14 per cent as part of the Delivering Quality First initiative, but the organisation has met with protest from the public and politicians. BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten signalled a retreat on the proposals in January when he said the corporation should water down its proposed cuts to local radio. Other proposals featured in the BBC's final conclusions on DQF include: a.. On weekday evenings (19:00 - 22:00) all radio stations will join together for a new all-England programme, although stations can opt- out for local sports coverage b.. Local broadcasting (apart from BBC London 94.9 and a small number of other stations where editorially relevant) should commence by 06:00 rather than 05:00 c.. The locally split breakfast programmes within Devon, Three Counties, Wiltshire and Cambridgeshire will end d.. All stations will broadcast Radio 5 live from 1am until the start of their breakfast programme (already the case in most stations, but now BBC Newcastle and BBC London 94.9 will also broadcast Radio 5 live overnight) e.. As originally proposed, within all shared programming, individual stations would continue to provide local news bulletins as at present, and would be able to opt-out of shared schedules in times of civil emergency or bad weather f.. Some re-investment funding, targeted at local newsgathering, will be made available. The BBC also announced that proposed savings at the Asian Network have been cut from 40 per cent to 18 per cent. BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten said: "This is the end of a lengthy process for the BBC, designed to ensure we can meet a tough but fair licence settlement for the next five years. Delivering the changes we have approved today will be challenging, but they are necessary. "We've listened carefully to the views of those who care about the BBC, and taken our time to get this right, encouraging the executive to amend plans where we think they need further thought, as the changes to local radio proposals show. "Our focus now is to ensure that audiences notice as little change as possible to the services they know and love, and we will be monitoring audience reactions very carefully through our ongoing programme of reviews and reports." (via Alan Pennington, May 16, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) "Analogue BBC radio stations" can mean MW and standard FM of course. A real shame. Enjoyed Radio 4 long wave in both Germany and Ireland (where it has a following) this year. As I have reported to DXLD, the 198 kHz frequency does well here after Droitwich sundown. Much later in the evening now that summer is close. And I'm sure some company can still build a 500 kW long wave transmitter, if the price was right (Brock Whaley, Kandahar, Afghanistan, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [and non]. 6190, May 12 at 0458, fair signal from BBCWS in English, about to be blasted away by CRI/Sackville? Not tonight, stays on wrong frequency 6080 instead to collide with NHK Spanish Bonaire, so BBCWS remains audible past 0500. That`s 7 am in SOUTH AFRICA, where later and later sunrises now are in its favour. 9915, May 14 at 0503, BBCWS in Arabic again with strong signal(s) as both Woofferton and Skelton are sheduled, and again with bad crackle on one or both of them (Glen Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [non]. WRTH A-12 pdf Update May 10 item and comments: ``AWR AFRICA/EUROPE (Rlg) (NEW ENTRY) Note: Schedules moved from AWR HQ, under USA, to regional Offices (also see Indonesia).`` This includes sites: Moosbrunn, Wertachtal, Nauen, Meyerton, Madagascar. Note that the German sites are also used for the Asia/Pacific service, under INDONESIA (Glenn Hauser, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) What better places to file AWR than INDONESIA and UK, whence they do not transmit at all? Also implies that KSDA has been demoted, but it still exists as a station and callsign! (gh) ** U S A. 7811-USB, May 10 at 0544-0546, AFN with Jim Hightower commentary on Walmart. Intermittent ACI from another SSB on the hi side, too close for comfort, but I never could get that tuned in precisely. 5446.5-USB, 7811.0-USB, and 12133.5-USB, May 14 at 0505, no signals from AFN Saddlebunch Keys. Doubt the cause was propagation or noise level; sometimes they are off, but eventually come back. 12133.5-USB, May 15 until 0513, AFN Florida, NPR News closing, delayed from 0501-0506, then Air Force Radio News, the latter with annoying background music. Other two frequencies also back on tonight, and confirmed as 5446.5-USB and 7811.0-USB. WRTH continues to mislead about the correct frequencies with latest update. Says KEW USB frequencies are 0.5 kHz higher than: 5446, 7812 and 12133. They are NOT in Key West; that is merely the nearest city on a totally different island. The exact frequencies (i.e. reference frequencies where you tune your BFO), are: 5446.5, 7811.0 and 12133.5. The other method of referring to SSB frequencies, NOT recommended, would put them all 1.5 kHz higher, 5448.0, 7812.5 and 12135.0 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) NOT corrected in Version 3 of update ** U S A. 5000, May 9 at 0608, WWV with weather info, by non- professional announcer so soft spoken and mumbling that it was hard to understand, worsened by background noise and even other talk on the recording; ``to be continued`` and finished up after 0609 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non non and non]. 15470, 1620 8 April, VOA BOTSWANA relay, Learning business phrases, English, SINPO 25432 (Alan Roe, May World DX Club Contact via DXLD) Since heard as below obviously from Greenville. Checking HFCC registrations as of April 9: 15470 1600 1700 46-48,52,53,57 BOT 100 350 0 156 1234567 250312 271012 But not really fulfilled past April 3: current HFCC May 16 shows: 15470 1600 1700 52,53,57,47,46 GB 500 94 0 883 1234567 040412 271012 I.e. changed to Greenville on April 4, tho there was a delay in updating HFCC entry (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15470, May 9 at 1342, steady open carrier at S9+15 but some deep fades, cut off at 1342:22, soon back on until cut off for good at 1343:16*. It`s the Edward R. Murrow station, Greenville-B tuning up for later broadcast on this frequency (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re: VOA Greenville rededication report and videos This is good news, and the tour video was a nice look into the workings of VOA. Thank you for the link. As an aside, there's a petition to save VOA broadcasts to China and other Asian Commie dictatorships, online at http://www.change.org/petitions/save-voice-of-america-radio-to-tibet I have signed it, and hope that others will also. (Darryl W3DBJ Jones, May 11, ODXA yg via DXLD) 17650, May 12 at 1334 HOA? Music and 1335 announcement, fair signal. HFCC and Aoki shows it`s IBB/VOA Somali, 250 kW, 139 degrees via VATICAN at 13-14 since April 17. SMG is sure relaying a lot of IBB stuff now; fortunately there is no reciprocity via Greenville, but there is via Tinang and Tinian, still raising church/state separation issues. 17530 and 15730, May 14 at 2002, exuberant Mathieu laVoie in VOA French, VG signals and synchronized. Now we don`t have to worry about mixing up the digits, as both are via Greenville at 2000-2030 only (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. IBB STAFF TRIES TO AVOID SENATE CONFIRMATION OF NEW BBG CEO By BBGWatcher on 11 May 2012 in Bureaucracy v. Strategy, Featured News, Hot Tub Blog with 2 Comments BBG Watch News Commentary The International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB) Director Richard Lobo and his staff are working behind the scenes on Capitol Hill trying to get approval for legislation that would limit Congressional oversight of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), the federal agency in charge of taxpayer-supported U.S. international broadcasts, and allow them to hire a new CEO who would not be subject to Senate confirmation and Congressional oversight. Keep Quiet BBG Watch has learned that some of the nine members of the Broadcasting Board of Governors have been kept in the dark about significant details of the efforts by the International Broadcasting Bureau Director Richard Lobo and his staff to reorganize the federal agency in charge of U.S. international broadcasts by reducing Congressional oversight. At least one BBG member, Victor Ashe, is demanding a more open process and public discussion of the proposed changes and expressing concerns that they could drastically limit public scrutiny of BBG operations. Ashe is the senior Republican member and former mayor of Knoxville and former U.S. Ambassador to Poland. BBG member Michael Meehan, a Democrat, also raised objections at the Board meeting last month in Miami over the proposal to merge the so-called grantee or surrogate broadcasters into one administrative structure. Meehan is in favor of a more comprehensive merger, including the Voice of America and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB). He indicated that a partial merger may not succeed and would waste the BBG's time and resources that could be used for more urgent international broadcasting needs. Ashe has expressed concerns about any kind of merger without public hearings, public input and proper safeguards. Another Democratic BBG member Susan McCue was in favor of the partial merger. She may also be working on the Hill trying to gain support for the proposed legislation to establish the position of a powerful CEO without the need for a Senate confirmation. Both Meehan and McCue supported Ashe at the meeting in Miami in opposing the IBB staff's proposal to end Voice of America radio broadcasts to Tibet and to close down the VOA Cantonese Service. Lynne Weil is sworn in by IBB Director Richard Lobo [caption] According to our sources, the newly-hired Director of Communications and External Affairs Lynne Weil who works for IBB Director Lobo sent out an email to BBG members earlier this week informing them about some of her efforts on Capitol Hill to get approval for a new bill that would effectively strip much of Congressional control over the BBG. The proposed legislation would place the Voice of America and Radio and TV Marti, as well as the grantee broadcasters like Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) under a CEO who would not be appointed by the President, confirmed by the Senate or answerable to the U.S. Congress. While the IBB staff uses the rationale that this change would establish a journalistic firewall between the Congress and the BBG, critics have pointed out that BBG and IBB executives want to exempt themselves from public and Congressional scrutiny and use the firewall argument as an excuse to get greater control over public funds to spend them as they want and to eliminate news broadcasts to countries like China. Outside experts familiar with the history of U.S. international broadcasting have pointed out that if it were not for Congressional interventions during the Cold War, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, as well as some broadcasting services of the Voice of America, would have been eliminated at the request of the State Department or the White House. But they also point out that more recently an even greater threat has emerged from the entrenched BBG bureaucracy. Members of Congress of both parties again had to step in to save various broadcasting services from being eliminated at the insistence of some BBG members and IBB officials. Ted Lipien, a former Voice of America acting associate director and co-founder of the nonpartisan Committee for U.S. International Broadcasting (CUSIB), warned in a recent Washington Examiner op-ed that the Broadcasting Board of Governors staff is grasping for power in an effort to limit public and Congressional role in U.S. international broadcasting. He argued that editorial as well as administrative independence was the essential element of the success of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty in helping to bring down communism in East Central Europe and the former Soviet Union. He also argued for strong Congressional oversight of the BBG. Many journalists working at Voice of America, Radio and TV Marti, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, and Middle East Broadcasting Networks (Alhurra TV and Radio Sawa) see the U.S. Congress as their only protection from IBB executives who, among other things, wanted to end VOA broadcasts to Tibet and China and to reduce RFA transmissions to other countries without free media. Critics say that the most needed firewall would be the one between the BBG/IBB staff and the journalists who are committed to U.S. International broadcasting serving the needs of those who need uncensored news and information. We have learned that the proposed legislation covers several areas, but the last two proposals are the most important as they would create a position of a powerful CEO and would give BBG members and BBG and IBB bureaucrats vastly greater authority to run U.S. international broadcasting without worrying about Congressional mandates and public criticism. Our sources told us that this is what the legislation proposed by the IBB staff would do: - Authorizes the Board to hire, fire, and fix the compensation of a CEO answering directly to the Board. - Authorizes the Board to delegate certain of its authorities to the CEO, which the CEO would exercise subject to the supervision of the Board. - Converts the IBB Director position into the CEO position, preserving the journalistic firewall by eliminating the requirement that the position be Presidentially-appointed and Senate-confirmed. - Clarifies that the VOA and OCB Directors report to the CEO. We have learned that at least some BBG members were upset about not getting this information earlier and in greater detail and by Ms. Weil's directive not to share the information that she provided with anyone outside of the Board. She reminded them that at its January 2012 meeting, the Board voted to pursue legislation to create a CEO of United States international broadcasting in the context of a proposed International Broadcasting Innovation Act. This action was planned while the BBG was still led by Walter Isaacson who had plans to turn U.S. international broadcasting into a CNN-like operation and allow it to operate in the United States like NPR and PBS. Isaacson resigned as BBG Chairman and left the Board. Our sources told us that Lobo and Weil informed BBG members that they have identified an opportunity to implement the front-end goal of the International Broadcasting Innovation Act (IBIA) in the current Congress, rather than the 113th as originally envisioned: adding a provision to a foreign affairs authorization bill now being prepared in the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Conversations with key House Foreign Affairs Committee majority staff indicate that this initial window of opportunity is open only for a brief time, Weil reportedly told BBG members. Weil did not identify House Republican staffers who may have told her about the "window of opportunity." She also did not disclose information about any contacts with members of the Senate and their staff. According to BBG Watch sources, Lobo and Weil did inform BBG members that the proposed provision creating the position of a CEO was revised and no longer includes language regarding the relationship between the CEO and the grantees, to be settled later upon further consideration by the Board. This proposed provision enables the Board to decide the CEO's responsibilities, authorities and compensation, as well as to hire or fire the incumbent, who would answer directly to the Board. It appears that the Congress would have no role in this process. Apparently, not even the heads of the Voice of America, the Office of Cuba Broadcasting and the grantee organizations were informed about the latest proposals for the authorities of a new CEO as outlined in recent communications to BBG members from Director Lobo and Lynne Weil. The secrecy of the process and the way the BBG/IBB staff is trying to rush the proposed legislation, which may have a significant impact on the ability of the United States to inform and influence foreign audiences, raises very strong concerns. It appears that even BBG members are being kept in the dark and are ordered by bureaucrats to keep quiet. American taxpayers who pay the salaries of these officials and pay for U.S. international broadcasting have the right to know what is being proposed. They should be invited to offer comments and be part of this process. Any proposal that puts Broadcasting Board of Governors and International Broadcasting Bureau officials outside of public scrutiny should be rejected by the Board and by members of Congress. SIGN A PETITION TO SAVE VOICE OF AMERICA to TIBET, CHINA and OTHER NATIONS WITHOUT FREE MEDIA http://www.change.org/petitions/save-voice-of-america-radio-to-tibet Related posts: CUSIB Joins Efforts to Free Gao Zhisheng, Defends VOA Broadcasts BBG Super Executives out of touch with reality Broadcasting Board of Governors launches pre-emptive coup to limit Congressional oversight Shortlink for this post: http://wp.me/p1PTlq-3Sx 2 Comments 1. Edite Lynch says 11 May 12, 10:07pm The International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB) Director Richard Lobo must not be allowed to continue with his proposed changes for how IBB and the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) will operate. To change the rules and tenets of the Voice of America (VOA) Charter, which is what this proposal would do, should be a non-starter and Congressional hearings should take place. It would be completely foolhardy to allow what Director Lobo is doing to stand. Taxpayer funded operations need to be transparent insofar as to why and how American-funded news broadcasts are generated and transmitted. The BBG and IBB executives should not be given a free hand to do as they please without major oversight by Congress. What America pays for in broadcasting news to foreign audiences and thus reflecting its human rights and freedom values as well as its rule of law should be upfront and clear for everyone to understand. What is happening at the moment seems to resemble a type of a pre-emptive coup against trustworthy journalists and broadcasters themselves as well as trying to negate what Congress has a right to know and observe -- how news and information about America is presented overseas. It is somewhat frightening and of great concern what has been happening under the watch of the present U.S. administration. Good men and women need to step up and let their voices be heard. Operating in a vacuum or a dark closet is not what U.S. international broadcasting is supposed to be all about and therefore it becomes even more important that these activities are stopped in their tracks. U.S. Senators and Representatives have the opportunity to declare that what has been happening at the Broadcasting Board of Governors and the International Broadcasting Bureau is completely unacceptable and will not be entertained by any stretch of the imagination by the U.S. Congress. 2. Quo Vadis says 11 May 12, 11:18pm The BBG Executive Staff wants no congressional scrutiny. No controls. No oversight. No nasty Inspector Generals poking around. No accountability to the U.S. taxpayers. Above all, they want no pesky questions from the governing Board members who are expected to follow, like robots, whatever course, however wrong, that the Executive Staff insists upon with utter disregard for the fact that some BBG members do take their presidential appointments quite seriously. What does the omnipotent Executive Staff want? Like an out-of-control toddler, they want what they want when they want it. Absolute power to run roughshod over anyone who stands in their way, including the Congress and the American taxpayer (via Mike Cooper, WORLD OF RADIO 1617, DXLD) See also RUSSIA [and non] CONGRESS MOVES TO PROTECT INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING Not too often one sees good news these days when it comes to funding international broadcasting. It appears that the funding, if restored, would reduce the list of cuts that are shown in the link below; at least I think that's the case... http://blog.heritage.org/2012/05/15/congress-moves-to-protect-international-broadcasting/ (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA, May 16, NASWA yg via DXLD) ** U S A. WORLD OF RADIO 1616 monitoring: first audible SW airing confirmed Thursday May 10 at 2100 on WTWW 9479, excellent signal. Next airing scheduled 0330 UT Friday May 11 on WWRB 5050: tuned in at 0328 to hear preacher ending with ``Amen and amen`` at 0328:55. Then a full five minutes` *very* respectful pause before WOR started at 0334. Next airings: UT Sat 0130v on Area 51 via WBCQ 5110v-CUSB; UT Sunday 0400 on WTWW 5755. On WRMI 9955: Sat 0800, 1500, 1730, Sun 0800, 1530, 1730, Mon 0500, 1130. Also on WRN via SiriusXM 120: Sat & Sun 1730, Sun 0830. WORLD OF RADIO 1616 monitoring: confirmed on very strong 5755, starting UT Sunday May 13 at 0500 on WTWW. WORLD OF RADIO 1616 monitoring: 9955, May 13 at 1542, JBA carrier, can almost believe some traces of modulation intonation are my own; no jamming, anyway. Confirmed on shoutcast webcast (after a commercial for Food Network). I wonder if on SW, the 5- or 10-kW backup transmitter is really in use instead of the 50. See the 14 photos from the transmitter site at http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151262031175387.809013.269268060386&type=3 At this hour there should not be any other station on 9955. WOR Repeats at 1730, UT Monday 0500, 1130 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Too late now, but found on WBCQ homepage: DIGITAL TRANSMISSION EXPERIMENT ON WBCQ Posted May 4th, 2012 in Programming • Tags: allan weiner worldwide On Friday, May 4, 2012, during Allan Weiner Worldwide (8 pm US eastern time, 0000 UT [Sat May 5]), we will be presenting an experiment in the transmission of text messages in digital formats. During the show, we will transmit a brief message in MFSK64 format. This message consist of text that listeners can save to a file with an .htm suffix, then open and view it in a web browser. [7490, 5110] The message can be decoded using a variety of free software packages. One such package is FLDIGI, which can be found at http://www.w1hkj.com/Fldigi.html Thanks to Kim Andrew Elliott, audience researcher at the International Broadcasting Bureau, for coordinating this test (via gh, DXLD) 9330-CUSB, May 10 at 1241, dead air again from WBCQ Radio 2:11, but remodulating at 1312 recheck. Poor propagation and poor signal today. 5110v-CUSB, UT Saturday May 12 at 0137, I am a bit concerned as WBCQ Area 51 is still playing music instead of WORLD OF RADIO at nominal time 0130. 0145, still music. But at next check 0150, WOR has started. Meanwhile I check http://www.worldmicroscope.com and find that Area 51 has been re-expanded to 7 days a week! ``Thanks to an appeal from Allan Weiner and resulting donations, we are pleased to return to daily operation on 5110. Look for new and interesting programming Monday through Thursday from 8 to 10 p.m. US eastern time (0000 to 0200 UTC) on 5.110 MHz.`` And longer hours on other nights: UT Sat 0000-0300 [tho this week must have run past 0300 with half-sesquihour Jean Shepherd after late WOR]; Sat 23-Sun 03, and Sun 23-Mon 03 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1617, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WRTH A-12 pdf Update May 10 item and comments: WRTH continues to claim that the 7 MHz WBCQ transmitter is AM/USB like all the others instead of full AM as anyone listening can tell. We try again to point this out (gh) Excerpt: ``2000-0400 daily NAm,CAm 7490bcq* 2300-0300 .....ss NAm,CAm 5110bcq* Key: * AM/U`` (Glenn Hauser, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WRMI transmitter site, 14 photos: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151262031175387.809013.269268060386&type=3 (via Ian Baxter, shortwavesites yg via DXLD) Besides the main Wilkinson 50 kW transmitter there are two backups, one of 5 kW, and one of 10 kW, news to me. Confirms that the NAm antenna (in the background) is not in use (as of this Feb); looks like some of the elements are bent. 9955, UT Sat May 12 at 0512, WRMI, poor signal but no jamming, with preacher in English, instead of R. Vaticano in Spanish on latest WRMI programming grid dated March 31; probably other changes by now too, needs updating (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 5050, May 12 at 0455, very good open carrier, and still at 0543, presumably WWRB not turned off after programming finished at 0400; why? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WRTH A-12 pdf Update May 10 item and comments: ``WWRB, kHz: 3185, 5050, 9385, Summer Schedule 2012 English 0000-1200 daily NAm 3185wrb* 1200-2300 daily NAm 9385wrb* 2300-0400 daily NAm 5050wrb Key: * Relay of Overcomer Ministry.`` That`s the complete schedule, lacking 3215, and is there really a one- hour gap between 23 and 00 on the Brother Scare service? (Glenn Hauser, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Gap fixed in Version 3 WWRB continues to slide down the technical drain broadcasting over an hour of dead air last night. He must be getting his electricity for free if he can afford to operate like that. Last week he broadcasted Brother Ben's program with about 5% modulation. No doubt, he won't get paid for that. I get the impression he does program switching by moving clip leads on a terminal strip and sometimes they fall off. When I was in commercial TV broadcasting, the management was paranoid about too much black (silence) on the air. It was well known, if an operator sat in black too long, he would soon be sitting out the door (fired). (Lou KF4EON Johnson, Atlanta, May 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Standard disclaimer (gh) ** U S A. 12105, May 11 at 1820, WTWW-3, Bible service is missing; certainly not due to propagation as nearby 12160 WWCR is inbooming/ Ditto almost 24 hours later at 1815 May 12. Something must be wrong. And we are still awaiting regular service from WTWW-2 which tested 9990, 5085 three months ago (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 15385.1, KJES Vado NM; 1856-1902+, 9-May; English hymn at tune-in to YL English ID at 1859:35 to VYL/Spanish ID at 1900 & into Spanish hymn. S9-10, hummy & vweak co-channel audio (nothing else on the lists -- maybe a studio thing, or robo-kids in the back not paying attention). (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 85 ft. RW & 180 ft. center-fed RW, All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15385, May 13 at 1905, undermodulated Spanish, hum and fades on fair signal, KJES active today, and Spain is staying on 15110. 11715.2, May 16 at 1407, KJES, Vado NM, in English with catechism repetitions by adult voices, undermodulated, distorted and hum, but readable; probably HF-sporadic-E assisted; 24 hours earlier it was JBA (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. 7555, May 9 at 0604, WEWN is missing again tonight from usual ``Peace in the light of the moon`` Spanish service, ``Paz a la luz de la luna EN VIVO``, which runs the catch-phrase ``por su dolorosa pasión`` into the ground. Still audible poorly on 11520 and 11870. Since all three transmitters continue to be heard at other dayparts I am beginning to wonder if there was a permanent QSY from 7555, but haven`t found it elsewhere yet, and 7555 is still on the web schedule at http://www.ewtn.com/radio/freq.htm between 05 and 13; however, we know that is not necessarily kept up to date. 7555, May 10 at 0534, WEWN, R. Católica Mundial is missing again for at least the third straight night; and also absent at 1238 recheck. However, Regina Cœli is running at 1259 on 11550, about to join 12050. Maybe the 7 MHz antenna is out of order, or they decided to quit 24- hour operation. Around 0535 I trolled the 5-10 MHz area for a replacement and found none. 5810, May 11 at 0308, WEWN Spanish is missing here too, scheduled 00- 05, as well as still absent 7555 after 0500; but still on 11550 from 1300. Nothing about this at http://www.ewtn.com/spanish/Frequencias_radio.asp That opens 5810 for possible leapfrog mixing product of the HJDH Colombian stations, 6010 over 5910, neither of which is on exact frequency so 5810 will not be either. 5810, May 12 at 0456, WEWN is reactivated on this Spanish frequency, playing ``Regina Cœli`` IS (equivalent to steel drums QSY music on WWCR), and off at 0456:48*. Was suffering from squeal. Then I retuned to 7555, whether it would also reactivate there: not for a while, but finally on at *0502 with carrier, 0503 adding modulation in progress. 0546 in ``por su dolorosa pasión`` monomania, not squealing on this frequency. Instead, at 0517, much weaker only fair signal on 11870 could be heard squealing, making it seem that they also swapped transmitters. I wonder if there was also a break in 11870 broadcast. 7555 must be back to normal 05-13 schedule, as also still on at 1232 during usual morning mass in English being voiced-over in Spanish. The original in English is on 11520, with crackles. See also CHINA: Firedrake 15615 12028-12072, May 12 at 1928, the extent of the hash surrounding strong WEWN 12050 in Spanish, which on the fundamental is also marred by the usual squealing. The hash gradually diminishes as one tunes away from 12050, but detectable to this extent at this moment. A true airwaves hazard for other stations. The spur field is always there, the range depending on just how strong the signal be. Similar surrounding 11870 later in the evening. 7555 and 5810, May 14 at 0501, WEWN Spanish on neither, but presumably amid QSY effort, as 7555 audible by 0506. 7555, May 16 at 0542, WEWN, R. Católica Mundial is missing again after a few nights of revival. This had been the one transmitter which was not squealing or squishing out spurs (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1617, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 9860, WHRI, Cypress Creek SC with an apocalyptic wing-nut talking about the riots that will be going on and how this means the end times are coming, "but I'm not trying to frighten people or become a drama queen, but I tell you *I* am preparing" for the end times. His prediction is that the fertilizer will hit the ventilation device in July, and the "last six months of this year will be a disaster." "Homelandsecurityus.com" mentioned as well as "Radiobible.org", but I never did catch the actual program name. Sked says this should be "TruNews" with Rick Wiles which makes sense as the website has the 'tags' "Christian news; Bible prophecy news; End Time news; Last Days news; Antichrist and Mark of the Beast; New World Order news; true news; Big Brother and surveillance news; Implanted microchips; Apostasy and falling away." This is rather like a car crash -- I just had to stop and listen even while my better self said 'this is foolish -- don't look!' ID at :59 with call and location, and Ident "fanfare" (not really an IS) and then into "The Prophesy Club" with a whole different kind of crazy. Sigh .... 54+4+4+4+ 0150-0215 9/May (Kenneth Vito Zichi, MI, MARE Tipsheet via DXLD) Envelope with a Frequency Schedule only arrived from World Harvest Radio; it remains to be seen if the same will happen with my last reception reports as before when they told me after eight years that QSLs cannot be sent because they did not keep records of the programs” (Günter Jacob in Passau, Germany, May NZ DX Times via DXLD) 17510, Sunday May 13 at 2131 and for rest of the semihour, some gospel huxter in English, not `DXing with Cumbre` as previously scheduled on WHRI. So one of only two times confirmed axually on SW is gone again. Aha, searching the WHR program schedule, we find it has been moved a semihour earlier to 2100-2130 Sundays, IF 17510 is also on the air then (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WRTH A-12 pdf Update May 10 item and comments: ``WINB (Rlg) kHz: 9265, 13570 Summer Schedule 2012 English 1030-1200 daily NAm,CAm 9265inb† 1300-2100 daily NAm,CAm 13570inb 2100-0300 .twtfss NAm,CAm 9265inb 2100-2200 m...... NAm,CAm 9265inb 2300-0300 m...... NAm,CAm 9265inb Spanish 2200-2300 m...... NAm,CAm 9265inb Key: † Irregular.`` WINB schedule is not correct. 13570 is not on the air from 1300 daily, but from 1530 or so weekdays, before 1300 on Saturdays and Sundays; and there is a few-hour break weekday afternoons until resuming at 2030, according to our reported monitoring. Own website is not completely accurate either, but indicates early start at 1000 only on Sundays, not daily on 9265 (Glenn Hauser, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Amended in Version 3, still shows no break around 2100 M-F ** U S A. WRTH A-12 pdf Update May 10 item and comments: ``WTJC – FUNDAMENTAL BROADCASTING NETWORK (FBN) (Rlg) kHz: 9370 Summer Schedule 2012 English 0000-2400 daily NAm 9370tjc [except! :] Russian 0635-0640 mtwtf.. NAm 9370tjc Spanish 0030-0045 m...... NAm 9370tjc 0605-0620 ......s NAm 9370tjc`` WTJC used to claim it airs Chinese at 8:30-9 pm ET, which would now be 0030-0100 UT, but the page referenced in DXLD 11-49 last December is now 404. We did really hear them in Chinese at some point. Their program schedule now shows some scattered Russian and Spanish like above, but no Chinese. We were hearing hymns in indeterminate language, poor reception at 0040-0100 UT May 11. BTW, on their current homepage http://www.fbnradio.com/index.html what in the world has WTJC on the Carolina coast to do with the Grand Tetons? (Glenn Hauser, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WRNO Worldwide Radio website hacked --- Proceeding to check the WRNO Shortwave site on the Internet, I found that the site was hacked and was not online (Rich Lewis, 0003 UT May 11, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 4045, May 13 at 0057 I am hearing a mix of WWCR signals, one saying changing frequency to 5890, with steel drums, and cuts off at 0058. Therefore, that was WWCR-4 on 9890, and the mix was with WWCR-2 on 5935, which had started an hour earlier. 9980 minus 5935 = 4045! This was on the DX-398 on the porch, and could have been due to receiver overload rather than transmission, and I had no time to check it on another receiver. I was tuning around here looking for WUG-2B, Army Corps of Engineers in Memphis, for Armed Forces [non] Day cross-band contacts, but unheard on 4030 or any of the other five publicized frequencies. 4055 TGAV was already audible, tho (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Frequency changes of WYFR Family Radio: 2300-0100 NF 15620 YFR 100 kW / 160 deg to SoAm, ex 6915 in Spanish 2200-2300 NF 11650 YFR 100 kW / 142 deg to SoAm, ex 7520 in Spanish 2300-2400 NF 11650 YFR 100 kW / 142 deg to SoAm, ex 7520 in Portuguese 0000-0045 NF 11650 YFR 100 kW / 142 deg to SoAm, ex 7520 in English (DX Re Mix News, Bulgaria, May 15 via DXLD) ** U S A. Dr. Donald Messer, formerly of IBB engineering and former head of the DRM Technical Committee, presented the good news that a new system of oceanographic radar that is using HF frequencies has decided to stay clear of most of the frequency ranges that U.S. shortwave broadcasters use (NASB via WORLD OF RADIO 1617, DXLD) CODAR? ** U S A. KWKH 1130AM is off the air http://kwkhonline.com/tags/off-the-air/ "KWKH is having transmitter issues and is off the air." (Blaine Thompson, IN, 1922 UT May 12, ABDX via DXLD) Maybe they'll come back on running proper night pattern? (Neil Kazaross, IL, ibid.) Above notice was still visible three days later. So is it still really off 1130? I don`t see anything about it on the homepage now, but maybe doesn`t matter to them that much, since one can listen online and on mobile devices (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** U S A. 1190, May 11 at 1200, KFXR Dallas ID, NBC News Radio, but lasted only two minutes with an optional cutaway at one minute! This is the extremely direxional multi-stick array, the original KLIF, and dominating the frequency for a bit here (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1430, FLORIDA, WLTG, Panama City. 0026 May 3, 2012. Briefly and very poor with Tampa Bay Rays coverage fading in/out, female “WLTG 14-30” ID 0038. Lots of co-channel post-sunset, including WTMN, Gainesville, FL with Southern Gospel (mostly dominating) and briefly, WOIR, Homestead in Spanish. 1430, FLORIDA, WTMN, Gainesville. 0044 May 3, 2012. Spots, one with a 352 area code followed by “... disable the cable...” spot and “...Gospel 14-30...” slogan after Southern Gospel song ended. Then at 0111, female canned, “Gospel 14-30, Gainesville, Your Inspiration Station” slogan (slight variation on the 2012 NRC AM Log). Remains dominant throughout darkness, so are they really running 45 watts nights (U1 1000/45)? (Terry Krueger, Clearwater FL, (highly abridged equipment list): NRD-535, ICOM IC-R75 and Sangean PR-D5; 1 X roof dipole, 1 X room random wire. All times/dates GMT, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. DX Test scheduled for Saturday, May 26, 2012: WFNY 1440, Gloversville, NY will test on Saturday morning, May 26, 0100-0200 ET (0500-0600 UT). Format rock and roll music, Morse IDs, etc. (also via Rich Line) (MARE Tipsheet via DXLD) ** U S A. ACT NOW: COUNTER A SERIOUS ATTACK ON PUBLIC BROADCASTING So far this year, Congressional opposition to public broadcasting has been pretty quiet. But yesterday all that changed when Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) began circulating a letter to his colleagues asking that the federal government eliminate future funding for public broadcasting. Right now, Senator DeMint is pushing his letter to every office in the Senate- asking his fellow Senators to sign on. We need to counter this dangerous attack on public broadcasting , and demonstrate the strength of the public support for public broadcasting to every Senator! Please, help us spread the word now. Call, email, tweet or facebook your Senators today and ask them to SUPPORT PUBLIC BROADCASTING and urge them to OPPOSE SIGNING SENATOR DEMINT’S LETTER to eliminate funding for public broadcasting. To send an email to your Senators, click here Tweet: @YourSenator I urge you to support public broadcasting: I do. http://170MillionAmericans.org#standupforpublicbroadcasting Facebook: Senator Jim DeMint from South Carolina began circulating a letter to his colleagues, asking the federal government to eliminate future funding for public broadcasting. This would cut top-of-the- line, in-depth news, educational shows for all ages, and local programming. These are programs that are important to us all. More than 170 Million Americans access public media every month! Protect your local station: Join us with 170 Million Americans for Public Broadcasting http://www.170millionamericans.org/ and call your Senators today. Ask them to support public broadcasting and urge them to OPPOSE SIGNING SENATOR DEMINT’S LETTER. Your voice is critical to the future of public broadcasting. Please help safeguard continued federal funding for your local public broadcasting station. Please contact your Senators today. Thanks for being on the frontline, Stacey Karp and Lisa Radzak 170 Million Americans for Public Broadcasting 170 Million Americans for Public Broadcasting is a collaboration of public radio and television stations, national organizations, producers and our viewers and listeners throughout the country in favor of a strong public media in the United States. This project receives no government funding. 170 Million Americans for Public Broadcasting 480 Cedar Street St. Paul, MN 55101, USA ©2011 All rights reserved (May 11, via gh, WORLD OF RADIO 1617, DXLD) ANOTHER THREAT TO PUBLIC BROADCASTING Dear Glenn, We’ve got another hurdle to clear. Just last week we asked you to contact your Senators and urge them to oppose Senator Jim DeMint’s (R-SC) efforts to eliminate funding for public broadcasting. And you and your fellow advocates responded in volumes - sending over 12,000 emails and placing countless calls to Senators, while tweeting and Facebooking hundreds of messages pledging support of public broadcasting. And we thank you for using your voice to help protect public broadcasting. Unfortunately, a new threat to public broadcasting has surfaced. Congressman Doug Lamborn (R-CO) is circulating a letter in the House of Representatives asking that the federal government eliminate funding for public broadcasting. To make matters worse, Congressman Lamborn has introduced legislation, H.R. 68, to cut all funding for public broadcasting. Today, we ask you to make your voice heard in the House of Representatives as you and your fellow advocates did last week in the Senate –sending thousands of emails, placing numerous calls, tweeting and Facebooking your support of public broadcasting. Call, email, tweet or Facebook your Representative in the House of Representatives today and ask them to SUPPORT PUBLIC BROADCASTING and urge them NOT TO SIGN CONGRESSMAN LAMBORN’S LETTER and NOT TO COSPONSOR H.R. 68, both of which would eliminate funding for public broadcasting. Please call Rep. Frank D. Lucas at (202) 225-5565 TODAY and tell them to support public broadcasting, and oppose Congressman Lamborn’s letter and legislation (HR 68). To send an email to your Member of Congress, click here. Tweet: @Your Member of Congress I urge you to support public broadcasting: I do. http://170MillionAmericans.org #standupforpublicbroadcasting Facebook: Congressman Doug Lamborn from Colorado is pushing a letter and legislation to eliminate funding for public broadcasting. This would cut unparalleled in-depth news, educational shows for all ages, and local programming. These are programs that are important to us all. More than 170 Million Americans access public media every month! Protect your local station: Join us at 170 Million Americans for Public Broadcasting and call your Representative today and ask them to support public broadcasting! Please call your Representative today and ask them to support public broadcasting and urge them NOT to sign Congressman Lamborn’s Letter and NOT to co-sponsor H.R. 68. Thanks for all that you do, Stacey Karp and Lisa Radzak 170 Million Americans for Public Broadcasting P.S. Please forward this message to any friends or family members that value their local public broadcasting station and would be interested in protecting its future. 170 Million Americans for Public Broadcasting is a collaboration of public radio and television stations, national organizations, producers and our viewers and listeners throughout the country in favor of a strong public media in the United States. This project receives no government funding. (170 Million Americans for Public Broadcasting 480 Cedar Street St. Paul, MN 55101, USA ©2011 All rights reserved May 17, via DXLD) ** U S A. 7457-USB, May 15 at 1320, ``AFE4TN for net control`` calling all stations in South Carolina; then Tennessee. Few audible replies; Air Force MARS. Of the 41,669 posts so far in the UDXF yg, only one hit on that call, for Jan 31, 2009, as a MARS Tennessee net, but no further ID info (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 21310-USB, May 13 at 0026, ham who says he has a speech impediment, causing his voice to go up and down, so keep your finger on the RF gain, he jokes --- and it certainly does, but no stopping him from hamming without resorting to CW or digital modes. Was afraid I could not copy his call, but I am pretty sure it was KB3RN, as he spoke clearly without fonetix, i.e. per ARRL/FCC lookup: TITTERTON III, EDWARD G, KB3RN 855 MANATAWNA AVE PHILADELPHIA, PA 19128 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. The Bowl --- Acredito que muitos desta lista ja devem ter ouvido geralmente a tardezinha, em 27025 kHz na banda de 11 metros, uns americanos que ficam falando sem parar, muito rapidamente e de um modo quase que incompreensivel. Sempre fiquei curioso e passava um bom tempo tentando saber doque se tratava estas transmissões. E hoje sem querer descobri que se trata de transmissões feitas ulizando-se de até 10 kW, e que se trata de um tipo de competição entre eles, denominada de "the bowl"; também são realizados eventos denominados "keydowns". Neste exato momento escuto duas estações aqui S9; uma se denomina "Great Trucker 31" e a outra "Nicksilver" e parece haver uma outra que coloca uma baita portadora encima das duas. Nestes videos vocês podem ver do que se trata um destes eventos; observem as "estações moveis" que estes caras tem ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVLJmi0XK8k&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nef-FbmuefI&feature=related Um que escutava direto por aqui era o "DrFox" e o "Texas Bigman". Desculpe pelo off topic (Dinan Rogerio, Brasil, 9 May, radioescutas yg via DXLD) Olá Dinan e amigos da lista. Resolvi botar o meu Sony ICF SW 7600G na frequência de 27025 MHz [sic]. Captei os sinais descritos por você. Há umas 2 estações americanas onde uns americanos falam rápido. Quase não dá para se entender o que falam. Há uma terceira estação em inglês, mas parece ser da Argetina, pelo sotaque. Os sinais variam de S59+10 a S59+30. Essas estações seriam de Ham? 73! (Rubens Ferraz Pedroso (PY5-007 SWL). Bandeirantes - PR, ibid.) No, CB! We can hardly understand them either. On CB you have to exaggerate ignorant redneck accents. Somehow, CB becomes ``PX`` in Portuguese, as below (gh, DXLD) Não Rubens não são radioamadores, quase todos os dias vc escuta estas estações, ja ouvi este com o sotaque tbem mas nao tenho certeza de onde é, lá nos EUA existem as competiçoes que comentei, algo semelhante com as competições de carros com super som que ocorrem por aqui. Nunca ouvi falar de algo parecido aqui no Brasil, sei lá se o famoso "Alemão" poderia ser incluido nesta categoria :) (Dinan Rogério, ibid.) Pessoal, Os sinais captados, são de caminhoneiros radiocidadãos ou pexistas dos Estados Unidos e da América Central. A propagação aberta os traz em AM na QRG descrita. Caminhoneiros como os daqui. Somente. Só que lá a lei da faixa do cidadão é bem respeitada e essa faixa é bem explorada por todo o país. Não são discriminados por radioamadores de lá, os chamados hams. Diferentemente daqui, eles são unidos. Cada um na sua. Aqui no Brasil, quando um radioamador ouve falar em PX, torce o nariz e critica, como se fosse um suprassumo. Questão cultural. Simples. É o que há. 73 (Luiz Chaine Neto, Limeira sp, 9-5- 2012, ibid.) ? hams also look down noses at CBers here (gh, DXLD) Tenho PX 11 metros, e realmente os canais básicos estão infestados por norte americanos e jamaicanos emitindo com muita potência, estes dias vi em 1 site de radioamadorismo que eles por lá operam com potentes botinas lineares entre 300 watts e 3 Kilowatss. Imaginem o estrago, a nossa legislação daqui permite apenas 10 watts em AM e 21 SSB banda lateral, além de usarem antenas direcionais, com sinal smeter até 9 +15. Os canais mais carregados por eles são o 6 e 26, especialmente ao amanhecer e no pôr do sol (Edison Bocorny Jr., Novo Hamburgo- RS, ibid.) Alguns se utilizam de 10 kW; tem um video no youtube, perdi o link, feito em um dos encontros de Keydowns que eles realizam, mostra um sujeito com uma "botina" de 10 kw e antena não aguenta tanta potencia que chega pegar fogo (Huelbe Garcia, May 11, ibid.) Luiz, Uma rápida pesquisa na web mostra que nos EEUU e Reino Unido mostra que tópicos em fórum discutindo o "ódio" na relação entre operadores da Faixa do Cidadão e Radioamadores: "Porque PXistas odeiam radioamadores tanto?" http://www.eham.net/ehamforum/smf/index.php?topic=44058.0 "Porque radioamadores odeiam PXistas no Reino Unido?" http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110922041050AAeMaHI "Porque todo ódio pelo PXistas vindo dos operadores de rádio-amador"? http://forums.qrz.com/archive/index.php/t-332666.html Nos EEUU, segundo a Wikipedia, os limites de potência para a Faixa do Cidadão é de 4W AM ou 12W (SSB). Se há estações de 1 kW, isso mostra um profundo desrespeito com a legislação local: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens_Band_radio#United_States Penso que radioamadores e operadores da faixa do cidadão têm exatamente os mesmo problemas, em qualquer lugar do mundo. Arrogância e intolerância não é exclusividade do Brasil (Huelbe Garcia, ibid.) Huelbe, Aqui em minha região, os operadores da faixa cidadão, sempre se autodenominaram, radioamadores por desconhecerem a legislação mas eles sempre mantiveram um bom relacionamento com o radioamadores. Um dos problemas que as vezes acontece, é que muitas das vezes os operadores PX com transmissores com alta potencia e antenas mal ajustadas provocam interferências em serviços diversos e o leigo ao ver aquele monte de antenas direcionais dipolos e outros, na casa do amador, os mesmos acabam levando a culpa. O falecido Waldemar, construtor de antenas, comentou ter sido alvo das agressões de vizinhos que se sentiam interferidos na TV, sendo que o Waldemar, 99% radioescuta, 1% radioamador ativo, descobriu que um PX na sua vizinhança com um transmissor mais um amplificador de muita potencia, apagava a imagem das TVs na região. Tem pais que exige prova de legislação para ingresso na faixa do cidadão, o Brasil poderia fazer o mesmo, assim muitos problemas poderiam ser evitados pela ignorância dos operadores. Eles não são culpados, pois desconhecem a legislação. As vezes ouço nas faixas de amadores o "jargão" - os PX de hoje serão os radioamadores de amanhã! Nem sempre isso é verdade! Muitos operadores da faixa do cidadão não tem nenhum interesse em ser amador. As relações PX/radioamadores já foram piores, hoje parece que se consolidaram, o número de radioamadores e PX no Brasil também caiu muito por causa das novas tecnologias que são mais atrativas para comunicação! 73` (Wilson Rodrigues, ibid.) See also BRAZIL ** U S A. JOE GRAGG --- Glenn, Did you know Joe?? He went to our radio meetings in San Antonio in the 80s. You mentioned in DXLD in 2004. He was in the WTFDA and IRCA. http://palestineherald.com/obituaries/x743762434/Joe-Richard-Gragg (Artie Bigley, OH, May 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: August 15, 2010 Joe Richard Gragg Palestine Herald-Press [Texas] PALESTINE — Joe R. Gragg, 63, stepped into eternity on Aug. 13, 2010 after a valiant fight with Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS). Joe was born April 28, 1947 in Palestine to Jack E. and Elizabeth D. Gragg. He graduated from Palestine High School in 1965 and went to Texas A&M University where he received his Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering in 1969. After graduating he served in the U.S. Army for two years and while there received the National Defense Service Medal. He worked most of his life for various radio stations and TV stations throughout the state and Mexico. . . (via DXLD) I remember meeting him at one or two DX gatherings. Note the date; it`s been quite a while. Not sure if this news reached WTFDA and IRCA (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UZBEKISTAN. 17605, May 9 at 1331, familiar hymn, ``Church`s One Foundation``, rendered beautifully in Burmese, as became obvious from the talk that followed, and source also obvious when a YFR theme played, ``Know Redeemer Liveth``. Fair signal, site? Uplooked later, it`s Tashkent at 1300-1400, 100 kW, 131 degrees. Propagation was generally very degraded, but some near-trans-polar signals like this were enhanced. Aoki shows this transmission is under the auspices/brokerage of BaBcoCk, rather than the Russians. I`d still prefer to hear Radio Tashkent. WWV reported at 1200: ``Geophysical Alert Message # Solar-terrestrial indices for 08 May follow. Solar flux 123 and estimated planetary A-index 9. The estimated planetary K-index at 1200 UTC on 09 May was 3. Space weather for the past 24 hours has been minor. Radio blackouts reaching the R1 level occurred. Space weather for the next 24 hours is predicted to be minor. Radio blackouts reaching the R1 level are likely.`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VATICAN. WRTH A-12 pdf Update May 10 item and comments: ``Arabic Days Area kHz 0400-0430 daily ME 9645smg, 11715smg 0430-0455 daily LBN 11715smg*** *** Sawt al-Mahabba.`` Remember that Lebanese Catholic station in Arabic we were reporting in the B-season at 0530 on 9645? Now shown at 0430 on 11715 only, yet to be confirmed, as it was also listed then on 11715 only (Glenn Hauser, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) See LEBANON [non] [non]. 17520, May 16 at 1414, very poor signal with VR IS, then hit by local noise source; still on at 1416 respite. HFCC shows 1410-1430 Urdu via MADAGASCAR at 35 degrees, plus other languages at 1430-1600 at 45 degrees (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA. MUST-WATCH TELEVISION. LITERALLY. Hugo Chávez`s long-running, totally bizarre talk show, `Aló Presidente`, is both a throwback to an earlier era and a completely different kind of reality TV. By Rachel Nolan . . . http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/06/magazine/hugo-chavezs-totally-bizarre-talk-show.html?pagewanted=all (NY Times Magazine May 6, via Bob Foxworth, FL, WORLD OF RADIO 1617, DXLD) Very good article, but she makes no mention of shortwave! Reaxion: http://josemartiblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/seccion-constante-2.html (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1617, DXLD) ** VIETNAM. 11720, Not on the air May 5th at 1340 UT, but heard VOV Hanoi in English on 12019.273 kHz, S=9+10dB heard in Moscow, Nagoya, Tokyo and Brisbane remote network units. Also domestic services heard at 1350 UT: VOV 1 in Vietnamese 5975 Hanoi Xuan Mai, 7210 Dac Lac, 7435 Son Tay, 9635 Son Tay. VOV 2 6019.940 Dac Lac (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews May 10 via DXLD) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. 1550 - MOROCCO / WESTERN SAHARA, R. National Dem. Sahara Rep., 2315 UT May 9, man in Arabic talk, mention of Sahara. Receivers: Kenwood R-5000 & Yaesu FRG-100 with 320' wire. Good DX to All (Allen Willie, VO1-001-SWL / VOPC1AA, Bristol's Hope, Newfoundland, 47:43 N 53:11W, IRCA via DXLD) ** ZANZIBAR. Re: ``I think I saw years ago somewhere explanation for Radio Tanzania Zanzibar using 11735 kHz. It was beamed to Persian Gulf for the Zanzibarians working there (Jari Savolainen-FIN, dxld May 2)`` ``That may be, but FWIW, Aoki shows it as non-direxional, not beamed. Could be merely a default assumption lacking real data as in other entries. Not in HFCC, of course, and EiBi does not get into azimuths, nor does WRTH, unfortunately, but saves a lot of space / number type. (Glenn Hauser-OK-USA, dxld May 2)`` See my comment of ""...shows it as non-direxional, not beamed..."" The newer curtain Made in China is NEVER non-dir type ! ... Finished new equipment on July 11, 2005 ! (wb) Two latest designed curtains from China - first reports of July 11 in 2005 year - for the 50 kW units 6015 and 11735 kHz. Looks like two rows stocked dipoles. At 06 06 01.54 S, 39 15 32.52 E two curtains at 010/190 degrees towards Yemen, Saudi Arabia and UAE/Kuwait. 25 mb ant left, 49 mb antenna right side. At 06 06 05.98 S, 39 15 20.26 E see on G.E. image of 25 Febr 2008 only: older era easy dipoles on lower height masts visible, but in east-westerly direction towards Ea/CeAF instead, left of the transmitter house. These were used til June 2005 on ODD frequencies (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews May 9, via DXLD) Then, 11735 ex-11734 (gh) 6015, ZBC, *0257-0316, May 9. Test tone heard at 0256; tone ended and started their repetitive xylophone or marimba sounding IS from 0257 till 0259; 0301-0306 reciting from the Qur’an; 0315 some type of song; poor. Nice to have them back to routine broadcasting again here! (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1617, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11735, May 10 at 2056, ZBC very poor signal with music, 2059 sounds like NA, brief announcement and off (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Tanzania Zanzibar, 6015 Dole. May 11, 2012. Friday. 0255-0308. At 0255, 1 kHz modulated carrier starts. Marimba IS at 0258, anthem at 0259. 5+1 time pips at 0300, YL with ID sounding like "Radio Tanzania (something)". Koran at 0301. Poor, mostly unreadable, very weak and noisy. Jo'burg sunrise 0437. QUESTION: Has anyone (are you there Ron ?) managed to catch all the IDs for this early morning broadcast on 6015? I have been dipping in and out since it came back on air, but reception is still very poor and difficult to hear more than two or three consecutive words. But I am in no doubt that the most common ID is now a simple "ZBC Radio". I have heard it several times, also an occasional (but rare) "Zanzibar Broadcasting Corporation". I fancy I have also heard a few "Radio Tanzania (something)" and "Radio (something) Tanzania Zanzibar"; maybe old habits die hard, either at the studio or in my head. Surprisingly, I do not think I have heard "Sauti ya" in any of its likely pronunciations, but maybe that's just my ears (or lousy reception). Would love to resolve this (Bill Bingham, RSA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZANZIBAR. Radio Tanzania Zanzibar observed on 11735 on May 12 and 13 from 2000 to 2100. Lots of nice musical selections on both days. On May 12 after brief sign off announcements at 2058, pulled the plug at 2059 with no Anthem. On May 13, sign off by male announcer at 2058, and once again no Anthem, transmitter off at 2059. Using the Drake R8A today and 200' W-E wire (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, USA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) The station identifies in English as "ZBC Radio" so presumably is Zanzibar Broadcasting Corporation (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1617, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ZBC Radio on 11735 kHz: At 1700 TBC Taifa News relay from Dar es Salaam in Swahili, ID as "TBC Taifa", "TBC Dar es Salaam". TBC: Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (S. Hasegawa, Japan, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1617, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11735, 14/May, 2006, TANZANIA, Zanzibar Broadcasting Corporation in Swahili. YL talk. At 2015 local pop music. At 2026 YL back talk. Confirmation of listening via a radio in Greece, via global tuners (good signal). Signal degrading. 25332 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE [and non]. ZIMBABWE EXILE SHORTWAVE STATION WANTS MORE INFORMATION ABOUT LICENSE DENIAL --- By Matthew Lasar May 12, 2012 The owner of a shortwave radio station that broadcasts to Zimbabwe via the Netherlands is pressing for more information about that country’s denial of its license application. Vox Media wants a record of the proceedings leading to the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe’s decision to authorize other stations, but not Vox’s Radio Voice of the Peoplesignal. The winning licenses have ties to the Zanu PF party of Robert Mugabe. “The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe is refusing to provide us with details of the complete recordings and yet for the court to make a decision they must have complete record of proceedings,” explained Vox’s Tafadzwa Mugabe, referring to Zimbabwe’s Supreme Court, to which Vox has taken its case. A lower administrative court rebuffed Vox’s petition on technical grounds. The company needs the BAZ records to further challenge the decision. This is a case in which several independent radio stations have charged that Zimbabwe’s government is issuing licenses with links to Zanu. “Having survived severe bombing of offices, arrests of trustees and staff members, followed by an extended court case, Radio VOP has shown its total commitment towards supporting the opening up of the airwaves in Zimbabwe by applying for an FM radio licence in 2005, 2011 and 2012 as VoxMedia Productions Private Limited,” Radio VOP’s about page notes. When last we followed this story, the other station, KISS-FM, announced that it was giving up on a license. “The media landscape, globally, has drastically changed, particularly with the migration of airwaves from the analogue to the digital platform,” a KISS-FM spokesperson told newspapers on February 2. The KISS announcement came as the government said it was considering a move to ban foreign newspapers, including The Zimbabwean, run by exiles in the United Kingdom. But a representative of KISS showed up at a government hearing on the controversy on Thursday. Vox did not, contending that an appearance would prejudice its case. The Voice of America quotes Mugabe insisting that the Vox license denial was justified. Why not just release the records so that the public can decide for itself? SOURCE: http://www.radiosurvivor.com/2012/05/12/zimbabwe-exile-shortwave-station-wants-more-information-about-license-denial/ (Via @yimbergaviria, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Hello Glen[n], Caught a Spanish or Portuguese station on 1573 kc (heard 1571-1577 kc) last night between 0645 and 0703 UT. Good music, male announcer referred to program as "Musica da Monda", kind of a Sergio Mendez style. SIO 433 to 322. Listened for ID at 0700 but either missed it or not given. Looked on several frequency lists but nothing in either Spanish or Portuguese listed near that time. A local station I into [sic] or do I need another reference for small local foreign stations? You are still my go to source when all my efforts fail. Thanks for all your work (Steve Cross, Del City, OK, May 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Steve, This seemed like something one would hear on SW, but since you mention the frequency more than once I guess you must really be referring to MW. There aren`t supposed to be any stations anywhere in the world on 1573 kHz. So it would have to be a variant, spur, or image. Is your receiver subject to images from SW such as the 6 MHz band? Was the carrier right on 1573? Hope you can hear it again and perhaps get more details or ID, and a recording. If you do, you could also check out strong SW signals in the 6 MHz area (most likely) for a match. 73, (Glenn to Steve, ibid.) UNIDENTIFIED. 6071 approx., May 11 at 1145, het upon CFRX 6070. What could it be? Could not pull any modulation from it (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 9900, 12/May 0915, Some quick words of an OM in English and then only the Carrier. At 0921 a few short signals of 1 kHz. At 0924 went off the air. Good signal (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, 12 14´S 38 58´W - Brasil, Degen 1103 - All listening in mode of filter Narrow the 6 kHz. Dipole antenna, 16 meters - east/west, Escutas (listening, my blog): http://www.ipernity.com/doc/75006 dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Channel 18 NTSC, May 14 at 1440 UT, I am getting a weak analog video signal not locking in, seemingly peaking from the NE when there is a bit of tropo enhancement, e.g. full-power DTV KSNW-45 Wichita KS is in from the north, but not the DTV OETA-38 Ponca City translator from the NE, just a `bad` signal. W9WI.com shows KTEW-LD in Ponca on ch. 18, i.e. should be DTV by now, not analog. FCC and W9WI.com show the only analog 18 in OK is K18BV, an 815-watt translator of KFOR-27 in May, which is in NW OK beyond Woodward and Fort Supply, certainly a possible DX catch here, and my antenna has some strange lobes which have fooled me before. Next time I should aim directly at it (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ ACKNOWLEDGED ON WORLD OF RADIO 1617: Hi Glenn, Thanks for all your ``all-killah, no-fillah`` DXLD work; the info in `LD has given me a lotta new loggings over the years --- & belated congratulations on DXLD`s 8th anniversary --- may there be many more (easy for me to say --- you do all the work!). Continued success with DXLD, good listening & happy Spring (with not so many tornados, ya?) Alla best from Encinitas (Dan Sheedy, with a check to P O Box 1684, Enid OK 73702) TO BE ACKNOLWEDGED ON FUTURE EDITIONS: Thanks for all you do! (Ron Howard, Monterey CA, with a check in the mail to P O Box 1684, Enid OK 73702) Dudstin Brann, with a contribution via PayPal to woradio @ yahoo.com Hello Glenn, Today I was delighted to receive a QSL for my report to WRMI dated 14 April 2012, from 1507 to 1529 UTC on 9955 kHz. I was rewarded with the Glenn Hauser's World of Radio QSL, complete with vintage radio and microphones. This is a most welcomed addition to my collection! Thank you for sending out the WOR programs, to keep me informed and updated on happenings. 73's, (Ed Insinger, Summit, NJ, May 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WRMI has a special WORLD OF RADIO QSL card, only for reports of WOR on 9955 and sent directly to WRMI only, not to gh. I think they have some other cards for specific programs (gh, DXLD) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ WRTH A-12 UPDATE, VERSION 3, http://www.wrth.com/updates_new.asp As of May 15 it`s in Version 3, with updates since Version 1 in RED. Is there any way to search a pdf file on a certain color? Otherwise you have to page thru the whole thing looking for red updates, which also include AUSTRALIA, EGYPT, GUAM, LAOS, NETHERLANDS, SWEDEN, TUNISIA, WINB, WWRB, as originally discussed in the DXLD yg, a prime source for WRTH updating, and/or this DXLD (gh) PERE JUSTO BLOG Amics diexistes: els invite a visitar les últimes novetats del meu bloc dedicat al diexisme i la literatura, en http://elblocdeperejusto.blogspot.com.es/ Pere Justo, València, Espanya (via Juan Franco Crespo, Spain, DXLD) Includes some QSL illustrations (gh) JUST RELEASED - NEW PACIFIC RADIO GUIDE Media Release Radio Heritage Foundation May 14 2012 Pacific Radio Listener Guides The latest version of the PAL Radio Guides covering all AM [mediumwave] radio stations across the Asia and Pacific region is now available from http://www.radioheritage.com The PAL Radio Guides list all known AM and SW radio stations operating in the region --- with detailed station data such as operating times, languages, location, and much more...across many thousands of individual stations. The very latest mediumwave [AM] version can be downloaded today. The PAL Radio Guides are compiled in Seattle [USA] by our editor-in- chief Bruce Portzer from monitoring reports, official sources and feedback from listeners across the region. Search the two guides online now by options such as location and frequency or download copies for your own personal use. Access is free for non-commercial use. Also available for free are these radio station guides: *Australia Radio Guide covering AM, FM and Digital stations *Pacific Travellers Guides including AM and FM stations in Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia *New Zealand Low Power FM Radio Guide Feedback, corrections and updates from users are always welcome and will be incorporated in future versions. Simply email your comments to info @ radioheritage.net. **************************************************** Radio Heritage Foundation is a registered non-profit connecting popular culture, nostalgia and radio heritage. Please make an online donation via PAYPAL to help keep these guides free (David Ricquish, RHF, DX LISTENING DIGEST) MWLIST - LONGWAVE, MEDIUMWAVE, TROPICAL BANDS, AND SHORTWAVE RADIO DATABASE --- http://www.mwlist.org This is a radio station database of all Longwave (LW), Medium wave (MW) and Tropical bands stations worldwide. You can browse frequency and location lists, search for stations, and get technical information. If you register, you can use a online logbook, create bandscans, and provide update information to the database editors. This is a free, open and non-commercial hobby project which depends on the cooperation of many individuals. Please support this project with your data and information or as country editor! If you are interested in FM radio, please visit FMLIST http://www.fmlist.org (via Mike Terry, May 15, dxldyg via DXLD) LANGUAGE LESSONS ++++++++++++++++ SHORTWAVE, GH JARGON Hi, Glenn: Well, you requested examples of your abbreviations and jargon. Here goes: What are? TADIL-A bonkers; SAH, CCI from VOR; ACI; QRM; XEPPM; DRM; REE --- for starters. Thanks, (Wendell Lloyd, Rockport, Texas, ptsw yg via DXLD) TADIL-A bonkers: Tactical Digital Information Links. Google it for more explanation. Sounds like pounding on an anvil. Really annoying in several spots inside the broadcast-only( ?) bands. SAH: Subaudible heterodyne. Two signals within 20 Hz or so of each other produce a regular fading rate, beating against each other. Count the fades per minute, divide by 60 for the Hz separation. (Or any other rate per fraxion of a minute) CCI: Co-channel interference: interference on the same (or almost) channel. VOR: Voice of Russia. Abbreviations of major station names should not need to be explained. ACI: Adjacent channel interference (e.g. normally 5 kHz away on the SW bands) QRM: interference, one of many Q-codes originating with hams XEPPM: callsign of Mexican station on 6185 DRM: Digital Radio Mondiale: the digital transmission system being promoted rather unsuccessfully for shortwave; sounds like noise 10-kHz wide or more on a regular AM receiver. Google for much more on it REE: Radio Exterior de Espanya = Spanish Foreign Radio (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) ADYGEY, et al. IN my language directory http://www.mediafire.com/?7fwpl575bnw5u you will find four new entries: Marathi, Uzbek. Turkmen and Adygey the last with 20 minutes programming. 11/5, 7325, Adygey R, 1710, A program mixed with talks and music, 44523. In my mediafire languages directory you can find a 20 minute sample from this program (Zacharias Liangas, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WHY Y ? On Monday 14 May 2012 10:44:34 Rick wrote: ``Something I may have known a long time ago and since forgotten: Can anyone tell me why Canadian VOR omni-range and NDB stations have identifiers that nearly always use the letters Y and Z?`` Y not? :-) As someone else mentioned, this question boils down to the question of why most Canadian airport identifiers start with "Y". The answer seems to be shrouded in mystery, but there is some discussion of the topic here: http://www.airlinequality.com/Interact/Q1_J00135.htm My guess is that, at the time, the Canadian authorities took a look at the situation, and realized that they'd never be able to get the obvious choices for many airports (TOR for Toronto, VAN for Vancouver, etc.), since many of them were already taken. So they opted instead to lobby for a block of identifiers so that at least the country was readily identifiable. Since there were very few existing airport identifiers beginning with "Y", they chose that as the first letter, since it would provide lots of choices (there are a few "Y" codes outside Canada, such YOK for Yokohama). The use of "Z" codes in Canada probably represents an overflow situation after the "Y" codes ran out (Barry McLarnon VE3JF Ottawa, ON, ABDX via DXLD) CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ VOA CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT HEADLINES NASB ANNUAL MEETING The Voice of America's Chief White House Correspondent Dan Robinson spoke to the 2012 Annual Meeting of the National Association of Shortwave Broadcasters (NASB) in Washington on May 10 and 11. Robinson, an avid shortwave listener since 1968, talked about how his interest in shortwave radio led him to a career as an international broadcast journalist. Over the years, he has served as VOA correspondent in East Africa and Bangkok, and director of the VOA's Burmese section. Today, he works out of the White House and travels with the U.S. President to places like Cartagena most recently, where he reported on the Secret Service controversy and the other news made at the recent Summit of the Americas there. Other recent news events such as the activities surrounding Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng made the NASB annual meeting location quite timely. The conference was hosted by Radio Free Asia at its headquarters in Washington. Dan Southerland, Vice President for Programming at RFA and editors of the Chinese, Tibetan, Burmese and Korean services talked about the challenges they have with newsgathering and reporting in their target countries, and about the loyal following they have among millions of listeners throughout Asia. They explained that while RFA is using a lot of new technologies to reach Asian listeners, shortwave radio remains a primary form of delivery for the station. In countries like North Korea, shortwave is virtually the only means of reaching listeners from abroad. Dr, Kim Andrew Elliott, audience research specialist at the U.S. International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB), presented survey results showing what types of media, including shortwave receivers, people have access to in Asian and Africa countries, and via what means they listen to international broadcasters. While he noted that shortwave listenership is small or decreasing in many countries, Elliott said it is still very popular in some countries, including many parts of Africa and in other areas of the world where press freedom is limited and people seek information from abroad. Other speakers at the NASB annual meeting included A.J. Janitschek, RFA's director of program and operations support, who told broadcasters about many smartphone applications that help broadcasters and engineers do their jobs more easily. Janitschek was also the principal organizer of the NASB meeting for RFA. Part of the meeting was dedicated to presentations by the USA DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale) group. DRM Consortium steering board member Adil Mina of Continental Electronics in Dallas gave an update on the status of DRM, which is the only method of digital broadcasting approved for shortwave broadcasters in the United States and around the world. He talked frankly about the political and technological obstacles that DRM has encountered, including slow development of mass-production, low-cost DRM receivers. But Mina said that there are positive developments in that regard under new DRM Consortium leadership, and he demonstrated a new DRM receiver that currently costs about $120, but is not yet available in the U.S. market. Charles Jacobson of HCJB's Global Technology Center in Elkhart, Indiana told about their conversion of 100-kilowatt shortwave transmitters to DRM transmission capability, and John Wineman, also of HCJB, explained how a group of students at LeTourneau University is helping to develop a “DRM diversity receiver.” Jacobson said that HCJB's German partner, Vozandes Media, has just decided to abandon its plans to build a new 100-kilowatt shortwave transmitter site in Ecuador to transmit to the Amazon region of South America. A low-power (eight kilowatt) shortwave transmitter on 6050 kHz intended to reach rural areas of Ecuador is the only remaining HCJB shortwave transmission from Ecuador, and it is operated by Vozandes Media. Dr. Adrian Peterson, International Relations Coordinator for NASB member Adventist World Radio and a member of the NASB Board, provided a report on the latest activities of AWR, which continues to rely highly on shortwave broadcasts in many parts of the world. AWR is installing new antennas at its shortwave station in Guam, and it uses many shortwave relay stations around the world to transmit its programming from dozens of studios located worldwide. Thomas Witherspoon heads a non-profit organization called Ears to Our World, which distributes “wind-up” shortwave receivers free of charge to teachers in Africa and other areas of the world where there is little or no electricity or Internet. He gave an emotional presentation called “Shortwave for Good” about how these listeners often have no other form of contact with the outside world, and about how shortwave radio transmissions are being used to educate young people in remote locations. Tom Lucey of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) International Bureau presented his new colleague Shahnaz Ghavami to the group and said that there have been two recent applications for new privately-owned shortwave stations in the United States. Lucey said that it is still very difficult to find clear in-band frequencies, so shortwave is far from dying. Dr. Donald Messer, formerly of IBB engineering and former head of the DRM Technical Committee, presented the good news that a new system of oceanographic radar that is using HF frequencies has decided to stay clear of most of the frequency ranges that U.S. shortwave broadcasters use. Mark Allen of NASB's newest associate member, Antenna Products of Mineral Wells, Texas, explained the work that his company does with government and private clients around the world, including sophisticated high-power shortwave transmission antennas. He pointed out that 90 percent of the world's airports have antennas manufactured by Antenna Products. [Anyone who would like a printed or electronic copy of the Antenna Products master catalog may e-mail Mark Allen at: allen@antennaproducts.com.] Another new NASB associate member is the Far East Broadcasting Company. FEBC was one of the founding members of the Association in 1990, but in 2011 it closed its shortwave station KFBS in Saipan, a U.S.-administered area in the Pacific Ocean. Only FCC-licensed shortwave stations can be voting members of the NASB, so FEBC is now an associate member. FEBC's Chris Slabaugh explained that his organization decided to consolidate its shortwave operations as a cost-cutting measure, so the transmitters in Saipan were moved to two shortwave transmission sites which the company already owns in the Philippines. Dismantling the Saipan station and moving everything to the Philippines turned out to be a long, complex project, but it has now been successfully ccompleted. Dr. Jerry Plummer of NASB member WWCR in Nashville, Tennessee, presented to the group the results of a one-year survey of Spanish- speaking shortwave listeners that the NASB carried out via its webage. Not surprisingly, most respondents were from Latin America and Iberia. Interestingly, however, the survey showed that the average age of respondents to the Spanish language survey was significantly lower than that of respondents to a similar English-language survey that the NASB did the year before. This supports a conclusion that shortwave listeners in Latin America are overall younger than shortwave listeners in North America, Europe and some other parts of the world, perhaps boding well for the future of shortwave listening in Latin America. The final speaker at the 2012 NASB annual meeting was NASB President Glen Tapley of WEWN in Birmingham, Alabama. He invited everyone interested in shortwave broadcasting and listening to attend the 2013 NASB annual meeting, which his station will host in Birmingham on May 16 and 17, 2013. Activities will include a visit to the breathtaking mountain location of WEWN's shortwave transmitter facility on the outskirts of Birmingham, complete with a mountain-top barbecue. More details will be available shortly on the NASB's webpage, www.shortwave.org. In the coming days, the website will also be posting audio files of most of the presentations at this year's annual meeting, and PowerPoint presentations as well. At the annual business portion of the meeting, Brady Murray of WWCR was elected to a second three-year term on the NASB board of directors. Murray was re-elected NASB Vice President, and Glen Tapley was re-elected as President. Jeff White of WRMI in Miami was re- elected Secretary-Treasurer, and Thais White of WRMI was re-elected Assistant Secretary Treasurer. The NASB board voted to grant the status of “Associate Member Emeritus” for the first time, issuing the award to George Jacobs, who for decades worked as an HF frequency planner for the International Broadcasting Bureau and later for many privately-owned shortwave stations in the United States. Photos from the NASB 2012 annual meeting will soon appear on the Association's Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/nasbshortwave (Jeff White, May 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WORLD OF HOROLOGY +++++++++++++++++ WORLD TELECOMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION SOCIETY DAY 2012 The purpose of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) is to help raise awareness of the possibilities that the use of the Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICT) can bring to societies and economies, as well as of ways to bridge the digital divide. 17 May marks the anniversary of the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention and the creation of the International Telecommunication Union. http://www.itu.int/en/wtisd/Pages/default.aspx http://www.itu.int/en/wtisd/Pages/about.aspx Greeting to all radio friends on the occasion of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2012 Yours sincerely, (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Hyderabad, India, dx_india yg via DXLD) MUSEA +++++ 1922 UK RADIO MAP [it`s big --- 25 MB] Hi, Interesting mapping of UK radio stations from yesteryear at - http://www.dxarchive.com/mw/map_radio_map_of_britain.html 72, Brian, G0NSL. BDXC-1262, May 10, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) Fascinating map, Brian! Link to it dates it around 1922 - http://www.dxarchive.com/vintage_wireless.html - and shows just six Broadcasting stations in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle, Glasgow and Cardiff (with their wavelengths) and includes Marconi's 2MT Writtle as an Experimental and a Commercial station (Alan Pennington, Moderator, ibid.) EUROPEAN TEST CARDS There's some nostalgic European TVDX here from 1986 filmed by a guy on Super 8 movie camera in Germany. All test patterns, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Spain, Portugal, Soviet Colour one, and it ends with their old "0249" monoscope which they'd used for years, must have been the end of it around then. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8QfWs_jbZA&feature=related (Hugh Hoover, Portugal, WTFDA via DXLD) LARADIO - MAGNIFICENT MONTAGUE LOSES TREASURES (CNN) Glenn: -- This is a little off-topic, but not by much. (Pretty sure he was on KGFJ/1230 out here, WLIB/1190 in NYC, and not sure which station they refer to in Palm Spgs; could've been either KWXY or the old 1270 daytimer in Palm Desert.) 73z. -- Calif. G H (Greg Hardison, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Black history 'undertaker' loses treasures By Tiffany Alexander, CNN updated 12:30 PM EDT, Wed May 9, 2012 Rare pieces of American past need a home STORY HIGHLIGHTS For decades, Nathaniel Montague collected historical African-American artifacts. His collection is now boxed up and hidden under tight security in Las Vegas. If a buyer doesn't step up soon, the collection may be broken apart and sold to pay his debts. "I've done my thing," says Montague, whose hope is that the collection stays intact Las Vegas (CNN) -- Nathaniel Montague spent more than 50 of his 84 years chasing history, meticulously collecting rare and one-of-a-kind fragments of America's past. Slave documents. Photographs. Signatures. Recordings. Montague -- Magnificent Montague, as he's been known since his days as a pioneering radio DJ -- amassed an 8,000-piece collection reflecting names from the well-known to the forgotten to those history never thought to remember. It's valued in the millions; some call it priceless. One assessment of just five of the pieces puts the total value of those treasures alone somewhere between $592,000 and $940,000.. . [with video, audios, illustrations] http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/08/us/montague-collection-auction/index.html (via gh, DXLD) AWR WAVESCAN ARCHIVE Audio File program downloads of the weekly AWR program 'Wavescan' can be accessed here: http://www.awr.org/en/listen/ program/143 There's often SW TXer site/txer info of historical interest in each edition. Regards (Ian Baxter, shortwavesites yg via DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DRM See AUSTRALIA; BELGIUM non; INDIA; ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ NIGERIA; SPAIN; USA; LANGUAGE LESSONS; CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES; RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- IBOC and DAB +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Re: [Tvfmdx] LIKE A RASH THAT WON'T GO AWAY I'm always amused that the simple mention of IBOC or HD causes a Pavlovian response by DXers. It`s even faster than the conservative talk show response to Obama opening his mouth (Mike Hawkins, 11 May, WTFDA via DXLD) I've been a broadcast engineer since 1970. That's been my full-time work for most of that 40+ years. A large majority of the engineering community likewise makes a strong negative response about HD Radio when the subject surfaces. Engineers would absolutely vote HD Radio out of office, if there was an election for it. Consider the experience in radio these people have, and the work they do in keeping them on the air. Currently I have about ten radio stations as my clients. None have HD Radio. Two AM stations did have HD Radio daytime, but not for a couple of years or so. When that was shut down there were zero complaints or even comments. The public didn't even shrug (Craig Healy, Providence, RI, ibid.) The CBC's report can be found online.... http://www.cab-acr.ca/english/radio/drb/DRCG_Report_final.pdf wrh (Bill Hepburn, Ont., ibid.) Well, even putting aside the hobby for a moment, (even though it's why we're all here), non-HD stations really should oppose this scheme because it diminishes their coverage areas and devalues their licenses. For example, (and I'm sure all geographical areas have one or several like this), the Seventh Day Adventists put a full-power station on 91.1, about 60 miles down the road from Seattle. KROH could certainly have a listenable signal in some parts of the city and suburbs if it weren't for the digital hash from KBCS-91.3 in Bellevue. The HD folks might argue that their new sideband scheme may help in this situation, but what would really help is the elimination of the interference. Here in the Seattle area, there are plenty of interference producers: [. . .] That's 22 local-grade HD signals with some areas having 24. So up to 48 frequencies jammed by a transmission mode hardly anyone is listening to. Even more appalling is the fact that many of the companies with HD stations are putting money into HD, but firing personnel they claim they can't afford to pay. Add to that the huge number of unnecessary satellators, and the FM band has been transformed from a valuable resource to a virtual wasteland (Rick Lewis, ibid.) Craig, It's very simple. The public doesn't care about HD; most listeners don't feel they've gained a thing. I think most of us only care about it because of the damage it has done, which its proponents dismiss or deny (Rick Lewis, ibid.) Frankly, I'm puzzled about HD radio implementation. For example, IF a station is assigned to 97.3 but their signal is actually broadcasting on 97.5 or 97.1, I'm pretty certain you could report them to the FCC for a technical violation. So, a station that broadcasts on 97.3 but also occupies 97.5 and 97.1 by virtue of the product that HD (IBOC) produces, that's all right with the FCC. What? Why is that all right with the FCC? 97.5 and 97.1 does not belong to the station broadcasting on 97.3. If I were to the call the engineer(s) at the station on 97.3 and tell them to fix their HD signal because there is a station on 97.1 nearby that I want to hear but their signal is ruining the channel, they would probably think I'm crazy. I guess I wouldn't have any ground to stand on. So I guess the bottom line question is: how can the FCC allow and assign the use of a technology that essentially destroys the integrity of the FM band? Currently the Springfield, Missouri market does not have very many HD FM stations. I am very sympathetic with dxers in markets where HD has trashed the FM band (Jim Thomas, Springfield, Missouri, ibid.) IBOC was/is a failed attempt to glitz up and gloss over the facts that programming was redundant and listeners were finding other media more attractive for their audio entertainment. It used the normally tried and true method of trying to make the same thing seem more modern and technologically functional. In most cases IBOC is kind of like putting lipstick on a pig (Russ Edmunds, WB2BJH, 15 mi NW of Philadelphia, ibid.) I'm pretty sure IBOC is a panic reaction to the development of DAB overseas. Especially in light of the simultaneous development of digital TV (which in the US was essentially a panic reaction to the realization cable could do digital/HD at any time without having to wait for regulatory action). At the time it was perfectly reasonable to believe that digital radio could be VERY successful. If Eureka had caught on in Europe (and at the time, there was every reason to believe it would) it would have been difficult to impossible to keep it out of the U.S. Problem is, adoption of Eureka in the U.S. would have greatly increased competition. AM stations with uncompetitive night signals would have fully competitive digital signals. Ex-AM stations would no longer suffer an audio quality penalty or an interference penalty. IBOC was, IMHO, developed for the sole purpose of preventing deployment of a digital radio scheme that would create additional competitive signals. It is of course no longer necessary for that purpose. Eureka hasn't proven as popular overseas as expected; blocking it is no longer necessary. And so today, IBOC exists for two primary purposes: - To allow NPR stations to deliver additional program services; - To allow commercial LPFM (through the translator loophole. I think the FCC made a SERIOUS SERIOUS mistake by allowing this, and I wonder whether any of the Commissioners knew the staff was going to rule the way they did?, and whether the Commissioners would have approved such a thing if it hadn't been presented as a done deal?) Unfortunately for the DXer, neither purpose is likely to go away anytime soon. I suppose the upside (and I think it's probably a big one) is that there is little incentive to maintain HD when neither of the above purposes is being served. I think we're going to see a lot of attrition among HD operations over the next 5-10 years. But it's not going to go away completely (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66, ibid.) They've just switched off DAB in Portugal. It was never promoted; the national networks have been on for 7 years. No radios were ever for sale that I saw. Audio quality was horrible low bit rate mp3, sounded "approaching telephone" quality. Spain isn't interested in DAB at all. It's quite popular in the UK with some stations not available on FM including BBC World Service, BBC 5 live 6,7 and various commercial networks. Now the digital hash has gone from the top of band 3/highband on 224 MHz it's freed up E12 for weak Gibraltar, Algerian and Moroccan stations (Eu highband went higher then N. America though E12 now is officially allocated for DAB in Eu). (Hugh Hoover, Portugal, ibid.) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ FIRST BETA, THEN VHS, NOW DVD-/+R RECORDERS I was in a local Walmart tonight and swung by the electronics dept briefly. Along with the dozens of flat-panel TV's (LCD, LED, Plasma) were various BluRay players, DVD players, several models of streaming internet STB's, and even some DTV converter boxes. Of course there were no stand-alone VCRs (although there was a low-end Funai/Emerson branded VHS player/DVD player combo), but what was interesting was the lack of DVD recorders. Those devices were common for a few years on store shelves. But like non-subscription DVRs, the DVD recorder has been supplanted by cable and satellite supplied DVRs, many of which also record in HDTV. This is leading to a potential problem with those in the TVDX hobby in the near future. There will be no longer any NEW devices to record and archive DX content/loggings without using a DVR or a desktop/laptop. I've already had one of my VCR's lose FF and load tape (after 11 years use), although the other (purchased used) works fine. Since VCR's are dirt cheap these days, and its still somewhat possible to get new blank VHS tapes I may look into getting a couple more used machines provided they are not the low, low end units. I'm partial to Panasonics because they seem reliable and can be set to not "blue screen" on weak analog DX signals. I've not owned a Sony, but what other makes of recent vintage VCRs can be set to not "blue screen" and display weak signals. I'm not a fan of recording analog DX on DVD recorders because of the analog to digital back to analog conversions that take place and its effects on weak analog signals. – (Fritze H. Prentice, Jr., KC5KBV, Star City AR EM43aw, twitter.com/fritzehp WTFDA via DXLD) Fritze and gang, Yes, I've noticed the same thing about the disappearance of DVD recorders. It was supposed to be replaced by Blu- ray recorders but apparently pressure from the film and cable industry has more or less stopped that, at least in North America. I'm holding on to my SONY DVD recorder I bought about 8 years ago and is a fine piece of equipment. Cable companies and channels are even starting to block copy of their signal. I had a message on my DVD recorder the other night that it couldn't record the program because it was copy protected! It's really getting ridiculous. As ridiculous as regional coding. Incidentally, I bought a new RCA Digital converter box for my kitchen TV. Cheap box but it suits my TV dinner time needs! I've reconnected the Zenith DT-901 to my outside antenna, it's easier to DX with the Zenith than with the SONY BRAVIA TV. I've connected the Zenith box to my DVD recorder so I can record DX. Hopefully my DVD recorder has a few years of good use left. Sorry, my English stinks tonite! 73, (Charles Gautier, Brossard, QC, ibid.) Oh yes, the good ol' MPAA. Jack Vallenti once compared the VCR to Jack The Ripper. The infamous broadcast flag. Do you have analog or digital cable? I've heard of premium channels in the US (HBO, Showtime) invoking this. Which channels are doing this? The RCA box isn't DX friendly. A used unit was purchased recently at Goodwill with the box, remote and paperwork. Works fine on the bedroom TV and freed up my other Zenith box for DX. The living room TV is connected to a Panasonic combo VHS/DVD recorder unit (2007 vintage) with an internal ATSC tuner, but DTV won't record on VHS via the internal tuner. (Fritze H. Prentice, Jr., KC5KBV. Star City AR., EM43aw twitter.com/fritzehp ibid.) RADIOJET 1102S IF RADIO Radio group info --- Hi, Recently I got myself the new RadioJet 1102S IF radio. This radio is no SDR but an IF-software controlled black box of a high quality level and software dedicated to broadcast reception with extensive database and memory support with a map display where the broadcasters are plotted and includes point and click support among other things like grayline visualisation. DRM reception is supported in the software and does not need an external program. I made a discussion group about this nice radio and like to share this with you as this is a marvelous tool for navtex reception among other uses. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/radiojet11 02s Feel free to drop by! 73' (Ron Liekens, ON2RON - DXA64, May 13, MWCircle yg via DXLD) DX-PEDITIONS ++++++++++++ UTAH TRIP --- REPORT 1: My friend Mike and I set up two 1800-foot Beverages in the Eastern Utah desert; one is a BOG and the other elevated about 3 feet. Beverages are at 320 degrees; we're looking for Alaska. Counterpoises on the ends are four 300-foot radials of copper supplemented by ground rods. The new single-wire remote termination control has proved a great success. Even though the DC resistance on our dry-desert-earth path measures close to 2 megohms (!) the 'current amplifier' works well and drives a Vactrol for ideal termination. (Of course "ideal" is only for one frequency but the SDR does a nice job of showing the overall front-to-back changes.) We already know that it's working; those of you who've been in this area know how tough it can be to remove [K]KOB 770 in favor of KTTH, and KOKC [1520] in favor of KKXA, without phasing, using only the F-B termination. Today's work will include measurements (with two SDRs) comparing the elevated Beverage and the BOG, logging RF levels across the MW band in various conditions of connectivity. Of particular interest is what we learn when the BOG (running directly under the elevated wire) is used as a counterpoise. Audio reports will appear on DXAS. The weather has been semi-adverse. Nice temps, but strong winds have meant DUST! Today however appears a bit more benign. We've also been plagued by an "atmospherics-like" elevated noise floor, though the noise is more continuous than random atmospherics would be. We hope to share today's results in the next report (Mark Durenberger, On the road, May 6, NRC-AM via DXLD) REPORT 2: We concluded our work on Monday 5/7 and 'struck the set'. SDR recordings had been made over several evenings on both the elevated Beverage and the BOG (1800 feet). Mike's suggested antenna azimuth was validated by the high number of stations received in the corridor: Eastern Washington--Western Montana. I'll post the catch-list later as we look for the unlikely Alaska catches. I say unlikely BECAUSE: In addition to the weather issues we encountered an abnormally high noise level throughout the weekend. With the bandwidth we used (6 kHz), the SDRs were displaying noise around -75 to -80 dbm. (I'm used to Beverage noise floors below -110.) This was one difficulty we just couldn't overcome. The noise (certainly QRN) was broadband and continuous, as opposed to the spiky stuff you hear when it's primarily atmospherics. Other measurements involved switching an SDR between the elevated Bev and the BOG and recording signal levels; both broadband and narrowband. These results and other data will be published later. To be determined on further playback is whether the BOG was performing as an electrically-longer antenna than the elevated, on this very dry desert floor. On one occasion when we lit up in daytime we heard a rhythmic interference spike several db above that dreaded broadband noise. Of interest is that this noise was greatly reduced when we switched from the elevated to the BOG. The single-wire remote beverage terminator worked very well, as noted earlier. Further Facts Follow From us Fools in the Field (Mark Durenberger, On the road, 9 May, IRCA via DXLD) I was hoping someone on the list had the answer. It was the sort of noise that pervades the entire band; definitely not sparkling atmospherics, just a continuous noise. It varied from day to day; Sunday for example it had dropped a few db. Wish I knew more about the relationship of this sort of noise to solar noise effects. Thom, do you have any thoughts? (Mark Durenberger, On the road, ibid.) Hi Mark, the noise was probably from several tenflares associated with sunspot group #11476. Discrete frequency radio bursts, tenflares and type IV radio sweeps can occur with some solar flares. Some solar flares produce a lot of noise on the bands and some don't. Oops, I should not have said sunspot group #11476 for last weekend. It produced tenflares during the present work week. 73, (Thomas F. Giella, NZ4O, Lakeland, FL, USA, ibid.) If you were in a remote area Mark, was there (ahem) something in your own power supplies that might have been generating noise? If so, maybe you should have been using coaxial chokes on your lead-ins, if you were using coax lead-ins from matching transformers. Did you have isolated grounds if using matching transformers? Best wishes, (Nick Hall-Patch, BC, ibid.) Oh yah, you betcha! EVERYTHING was on battery. Computers isolated from SDRs. Isolated grounds and the whole mugillah. DX Engineering RF-CC1s were tried to no avail (Mark Durenberger, On the road, ibid.) I'll chime in here and state that when ever there's any chance that the cable or tramsformer is causing a problem, I just hook up the Bev directly to the receiver to see if there's a major difference in noise. The noise level reported does seem quite high to me for a desert QTH but one never knows. 73 KAZ (Neil Kazaross, IL/WI, ibid.) Yep; tried that too --- also tried separate passive transformers and various grounding schemes. Yes, the noise level was substantially higher than previous expeditions with the same lash-up. Good thing the Bev was also able to deliver as expected. Oh BTW: C/N on the elevated antenna (for solid stations) was improved a slight amount when we dropped down to the BOG (Mark Durenberger, On the road, ibid.) You mentioned that there were winds and dust during the time you were out there. Makes me think that there was triboelectric charging and discharging happening over your beverage. Question: If no winds and no dust is this noise still there? (Alex, ibid.) Noise floor was slightly lower when the wind had abated somewhat; but not ever as low as we've seen it on previous (windy) trips. I'm not sure about the charging/discharging; doesn't that take the form of a rapid built up of clicking noise? Sort of zzzzzzzzaPP! None of that present; perhaps because we had static drains on both ends of the wires. This was just an ever-present background; between -70 and -80 at 6 kHz BW. When I find time to produce the video and tabulate the data you'll be able to see/hear what we ran into. BTW: Just checked back to some previous recordings: -110 was not unusual for the same Beverage set-up (Mark Durenberger, On the road, ibid.) Good to hear there were static drains. I assume the antenna part was connected to earth via resistors or chokes?? Can you provide a little more info on the setup; a diagram? Regarding tribo, the discharge repetition rate can be fast enough where it "sounds" like a steady noise. Discharge rates depend on the velocity of charged particulates and the area/length of the respective elements that have a discharge path. I assume that it was dry and there were no clouds in the sky? You mentioned that the earth resistance was very high? was it higher than usual? Would like to google the location and see what assets are in the vicinity. Can you give me a specific location? (Alex P Winston, ibid.) MOBILE DXING IN SWEDEN, FROM LATIN AMERICA A bunch of extraordinary recordings from Fredrik Dourén dx-ing from his car in the woodland. The other day I got some extraordinary good recordings from FD who is DX-ing from his car out in the woodland near Borlänge in central Sweden. Normally FD only listens to MW but occasionally, when the conditions are too bad, he also scans the SW bands. The antennas used are 900 m in 290 o and 550 m in 295 o. A more southern direction had been desirable for optimal reception of Brazil / La Plata. But FD has a feeling that the signals are coming in from a more northern direction than showed by the compass direction. The receiver is a Perseus. When signal levels are low, a Norton amplifier is switched on. Here are a bunch of FD’s recordings from April-May. Note the quality and silent background. http://www.thomasn.sverige.net/4699-20120429-0313-4699.28-CP-R-San-Miguel.mp3 http://www.thomasn.sverige.net/4717-20120510-0207-4716.70-CP-R-Yura.mp3 http://www.thomasn.sverige.net/4885-20120418-0355-4885.02-ZYG362-R-Clube-do-Para.mp3 http://www.thomasn.sverige.net/4915-20120413-0258-4914.98-ZYF360-R-Dif-Macapa.mp3 http://www.thomasn.sverige.net/4975-20120416-0355-4974.77-OAZ4X-R-del-Pacifico.mp3 http://www.thomasn.sverige.net/4975-20120430-0305-4974.95-ZYG865-R-Iguatemi.mp3 http://www.thomasn.sverige.net/5000-20120504-0249-5000.000-Associazione-Italiana-Radioascolto.mp3 http://www.thomasn.sverige.net/5120-20120427-0238-5120.01-R-Ondas-del-Suroriente.mp3 http://www.thomasn.sverige.net/5940-20120424-0301-5940.00-R-Voz-Missionaria.mp3 http://www.thomasn.sverige.net/5970-20120430-0310-5969.99-ZYE523-R-Itatiaia.mp3 http://www.thomasn.sverige.net/6010-20120424-0258-6009.94-ZYE521-R-Inconfidencia.mp3 http://www.thomasn.sverige.net/6010-20120416-0337-6010.07-HJDH-LV-de-tu-Conciencia.mp3 http://www.thomasn.sverige.net/6050-20120418-0327-6049.93-HCJB.mp3 http://www.thomasn.sverige.net/6070-20120424-0301-6070.00-ZYE765-R-Capital.mp3 http://www.thomasn.sverige.net/6080-20120424-0258-6080.04-ZYE726-R-Marumby.mp3 http://www.thomasn.sverige.net/6174-20120509-0213-6173.91-OAX7C-R-Tawantinsuyo.mp3 For a comparison of antenna behavior I made two recordings with my 12x4 m Flag in direction 300o. The signal level is not as good as from the beverages, but fortunately the background noise is at a decent low level also at my location here in the countryside near Engelholm. http://www.thomasn.sverige.net/5120-120509-2359z-Sur-Oriente.mp3 http://www.thomasn.sverige.net/6173,917-120510-0000z-Tawantinsuyo.mp3 (Thomas Nilsson, SW Bulletin May 13 via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ BIG SUNSPOT CRACKLING WITH FLARES AND RADIO BURSTS Space Weather News 9 May 2012 http://spaceweather.com RADIO-ACTIVE SUNSPOT: Huge sunspot AR1476 is crackling with M-class solar flares and appears to be on the verge of producing something even stronger. The sunspot's 'beta-gamma-delta' magnetic field harbors energy for X-class flares, the most powerful kind. Radio operators are recording strong bursts of shortwave static from the sunspot as it turns toward Earth. Visit http://spaceweather.com for sample recordings and forecasts. SUNSPOT TELESCOPE: AR1476 looks magnificent through a properly- filtered telescope. Explore Scientific's White Light Solar Observing System is perfect for sunspot watching, and it's available now in the Space Weather Store: http://www.shopspaceweather.com/explore-scientific-white-light-solar-observer-system.aspx (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) RTP E2 finally off air [PORTUGAL] Muro Ch E2 48.242 [MHz video] finally closed this morning after a week of hanging on longer than the other RTP analogue stations (Hugh Hoover, Portugal, 1017 UT May 11, WTFDA via DXLD) R.I.P. Does that mean no E2/E3/E4's left in Europe, just R's? wrh (Bill Hepburn, Ont., ibid.) Some Italy IA's (53.75) till end June E4 Macedonia E3, 4 Iceland still going, good targets for you under right Es conditions. Maybe a Greek Pirate on E3 still to be confirmed. Hungary 49.744 is best N American R1 to aim for probably. Not sure length of life (Hugh Hoover, Portugal, ibid.) P.I.G. Bulletin 120513 Solar activity will decrease in subrange 100 - 140 s.f.u., with irregular occurence of C class and occasionally M class eruptions. Probability of X class flares (only in next few days) is low. Geomagnetic field will be: Quiet on May 15, 17, 26 - 27, 31, June 1 - 3. Mostly quiet on May 16, 24 - 25, 29, June 4. Quiet to unsettled on May 14, 18 - 19, 23, 28, 30, June 6 - 8. Quiet to active on May 21 - 22. Active on May 20 and June 5. High probability of changes in solar wind which may cause changes in magnetosphere and ionosphere is expected on May 20, 23, 30 - 31 and June 5. F. K. Janda, OK1HH, Czech Propagation Interest Group (OK1HH & OK1MGW) e-mail: ok1hh(at)rsys.cz (via Dario Monferini, DXLD) GEOMAGNETIC INDICES Compiled by: Phil Bytheway Geomagnetic Summary April 1 2012 through April 30 2012 Tabulated from email status daily. Flux A K Space Wx 1 107 6 2 no storms 2 106 8 3 no storms 3 104 4 2 no storms 4 102 6 3 no storms 5 101 13 2 no storms 6 97 4 2 no storms 7 99 10 2 no storms 8 93 5 1 no storms 9 95 4 2 no storms 10 93 8 3 no storms 11 93 5 2 no storms 12 95 13 4 no storms 13 98 19 2 minor 14 98 9 1 no storms 15 102 5 1 no storms 16 108 5 2 minor 17 114 8 2 no storms 18 122 8 2 no storms 19 138 5 2 no storms 20 142 7 1 no storms 21 149 6 3 no storms 22 148 7 1 no storms 23 142 23 5 minor, G1 storms 24 134 35 5 moderate, G2 storms 25 127 21 4 no storms 26 119 17 2 minor 27 118 8 3 minor 28 121 5 2 no storms 29 116 5 0 no storms 30 114 3 0 no storms (Phil Bytheway, IRCA DX Monitor May 12 via DXLD) Geomagnetic field activity ranged from quiet to active conditions with minor to major storm periods observed at high latitudes. The week began with quiet conditions on 7th and the majority of the 8th. Around 08/0400 UTC, a solar sector boundary crossing from positive to negative was observed at the ACE spacecraft. By midday, the solar wind speed at ACE began to rise, marking the arrival of a coronal hole high speed stream (CH-HSS). Significant southward Bz began around 1730 UTC and reached a minimum of -13 nT late on the 8th before beginning a gradual return to neutral conditions late on the 10th. The geomagnetic field responded with active conditions from the last synoptic period on the 8th through the 9th. Minor to major storm levels were observed at high latitudes on the 9th. Activity subsided to mostly unsettled levels on the 10th, followed by mostly quiet conditions on the 11-12 May. The solar wind speed at ACE remained above 500 km/s until around 13/0000 UTC. Conditions were mostly unsettled on the 13th. Although there were a number of CMEs identified as potentially earth-directed, there was no definitive indication of CME arrival reflected in the ACE data suggesting the transient signatures were obliterated in the high speed stream. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 14 MAY - 09 JUNE 2012 Solar activity is expected to be at low to moderate levels throughout the period, with moderate activity most likely with the return of Old Region 1476 on 31 May. No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at normal levels except on 14 May, 23-29 May, and 06-09 June. The high levels are expected in response to the presence of recurrent coronal hole high speed streams. Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be quiet to unsettled with occasional active periods. The unsettled to active periods are associated with the geoeffective periods of recurrent CH-HSSs on 14 May, 21-23 May, and 05-08 June. Unsettled to occasionally active conditions are also expected on 14 May with the anticipated arrival of a CME from 12 May. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2012 May 14 1333 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 2012-05-14 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2012 May 14 130 10 3 2012 May 15 130 15 3 2012 May 16 130 8 3 2012 May 17 125 8 3 2012 May 18 125 5 2 2012 May 19 120 5 2 2012 May 20 125 5 2 2012 May 21 125 8 3 2012 May 22 125 15 3 2012 May 23 120 8 3 2012 May 24 115 5 2 2012 May 25 115 5 2 2012 May 26 115 5 2 2012 May 27 115 5 2 2012 May 28 115 5 2 2012 May 29 115 5 2 2012 May 30 115 5 2 2012 May 31 115 5 2 2012 Jun 01 120 5 2 2012 Jun 02 125 5 2 2012 Jun 03 125 5 2 2012 Jun 04 130 5 2 2012 Jun 05 135 8 3 2012 Jun 06 135 10 3 2012 Jun 07 135 15 3 2012 Jun 08 135 10 3 2012 Jun 09 135 5 2 (SWPC via WORLD OF RADIO 1617, DXLD) MAGNETIC POLE CLEANSES OF ALL EVIL? I have to tell you about when I used to live near the magnetic pole. One day while doing a radiosonde flight, I had someone knock at the door. I answered and there was this couple. The man asked me what I was doing, and I explained to him what a radiosonde was, that it was transmitting a microwave signal (1680 MHz) with weather data, and that my dish upstairs was automatically tracking it. When I mentioned the word "microwave", I saw his eyes light up. He then proceeded to tell me how dangerous the microwave signal was (where'd this guy come from?), and that it was a source of evil (!!!). (His wife the whole time has a "space cadet" look on her face). He then also told me that the evil around the world is caused by electromagnetism. He and his wife wanted to go the Magnetic Pole and be cleansed of all evil. His theory was that since the magnetic lines of force are almost vertical there, there is no evil there - evil is cancelled out (!?). The man and his wife then left. I continued doing my radiosonde obs, hoping that they didn't burn down the building on the way back to the hamlet. When I got to the weather office, I told the guys about what happened and they were all laughing. They said that Jim, our weather briefer, heard their crazy story but went ahead and gave them a serious weather briefing anyway. Apparently they wanted to be able to hop on the next government plane that flew near the Magnetic Pole and have the plane just drop them off there and leave them !!! Since they paid taxes, they thought they should be able to. Of course, the answer was no. Apparently they had spend their life savings for the commercial flight up to Resolute. They spent the winter in an abandoned shack. Not sure what happened to them after that (Bill Hepburn, Ont., WTFDA via DXLD) Did you suggest degaussing them? Maybe waving a loop around them? That's a great story (Mike Hunter, ibid.) Never thought of that, lol. Great idea. (I could have told them that electromagnetism causes O2 oxygen to turn to O3 ozone; and that I better measure their ozone level with an ozonesonde sensor to see how much they have, how 'evil' they've gotten). When you're in a remote building by yourself and a couple of weird loonies knock on your door, you just want them to safely go away. wrh (Bill Hepburn, Ont., ibid.) Yes, but don't you want them to part with their money? (Saul Chernos, ibid.) ?? Not sure what you mean Saul. They wanted to go to the Magnetic Pole for free since "they were taxpayers". They were broke. I was hoping they had enough money so that they could go back down south. wrh (Hepburn, ibid.) ###