DX LISTENING DIGEST 12-26, June 27, 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 1623 HEADLINES: *DX and station news about: Antarctica non, Australia, Bhutan, Brazil, Canada, China non, Colombia, Equatorial Guinea, Europe, Fiji, Japan non, Korea South non, Mexico, Netherlands non, North America, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Russia, Solomon Islands, Sweden, USA, Uruguay, Vatican and non, Vietnam non, Zimbabwe SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1623, June 29-July 4, 2012 Thu 0330 WRMI 9955 [confirmed on webcast] Thu 2100 WTWW 9479 [confirmed] Fri 0329v WWRB 5050 [confirmed on webcast] Sat 0130v WBCQ 5110v-CUSB Area 51 [confirmed] Sat 0630 HLR 7265 Hamburger Lokal Radio [special; ever again?] 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 1624 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/ NOTE: altho this issue could not be completed for publication until June 30, information cutoff was June 27, coinciding approximately with WORLD OF RADIO 1623. Some significant news since, such as the finale of Radio Netherlands, and the Colombian on 14950, will appear in the next issue and have already appeared in the DXLDyg and gh log reports. ** ALASKA. 9655, June 25 at 1300, good signal from KNLS IS, 1302 sign- on in Chinese with website http://www.smzg.org pronounced in, what else? English! But some other word than ``dot``. That site`s transmission schedule presented in English http://www.smzg.org/Schedule_in_English.htm and in Chinese http://www.smzg.org/Schedule_in_Chinese.htm both still claim this 13-14 broadcast in Chinese is on 9920! 1303 on to pop song in English. Anyhow now in the clear with CRI/Sackville defunct [de-funked?] on 9650 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7355, KNLS, 1202 June 27, English, program previews, into music “Chasing the Sun” by The Wanted. Fair (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening from my car, beside Kalamalka Lake, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna on the car roof, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANGOLA?? 4949.75, R. Nacional Angola (tentative), 0046 finally getting a little audio on this with pop-like music. M announcer 0054 could have been Portuguese but just too low. M announcer 0101. Sound bit journalist report. Gone at 0126 check. (21 June) 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD-535D with T2FD antenna, HCDX via DXLD) ** ANTARCTICA [non]. ANTARCTIC MIDWINTER BROADCAST 2012 TODAY from BBC website: The BBC's Martin Redfern presents half an hour of music requests and special messages for the staff at the British Antarctic Survey. Produced and presented for an audience of just 44 - the brave and hardy scientists and technical staff who keep the Antarctic bases of the British Antarctic Survey running through the long, cold darkness of the polar winter - the Antarctic Specials are possibly the World Service's most unusual broadcasts. Once a year, on 21 June, in the dark days of the Southern winter, staff at the four Antarctic bases cluster round their shortwave radios to hear the BBC present half an hour of music requests and special messages from their loved ones back home. This year there are eight people stationed at King Edward Point on South Georgia, just four on Bird Island nearby. There are 18 at the biggest base, Rothera, on Adelaide Island near the Antarctic Peninsula, and 14 at Halley, the furthest South, on the Brunt Ice Shelf. Halley VI is a brand new base - the previous one was getting buried in snow and was threatened by a break-up of the ice shelf. [item has photo of Martin Redfern recording for BBC World Service inside an ice cave in the Rothera Glacier] There are special messages in the programme from surprise celebrity guests, and a selection of music that reveals a deep longing for sunshine! This year the broadcast is presented by Martin Redfern, who was fortunate to spend a month in Antarctica four years ago, reporting on research and visiting field sites and the Rothera base. As a result, says Martin, "We feel we are talking to friends. We can imagine the scene down there. "And, although we were only there for a few weeks in Summer, we know how food fantasies turn to salad and fresh fruit!" For more details about the work of the British Antarctic Survey visit the link on the right - http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/ First broadcast on 21 June 2012 http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/2012/06/120620_antarctic_midwinter_broadcast_2012.shtml?bw=bb&mp=wm&bbcws=1&news=1 [Scheduled 21 June: 2130-2200 UTC on 5950 kHz (via Skelton), 7360 kHz (via Ascension) and 9850 kHz (via Skelton) - presumably audio will also appear on the above linked page] Midwinter's Day this year was actually yesterday, 20th June, per this article on British Antarctic Survey's website: "Usually Midwinter's Day falls on 21st June, but because 2012 is a leap year, it will occur on the 20th June. The last time this happened was more than 30 years ago in 1975. Since it takes the Earth 365.25 days to orbit the Sun, every four years an extra day is added in February to prevent a gradual drift of date through the seasons." Full article at: http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/about_bas/news/news_story.php?id=1841 (via Alan Pennington, UK, June 21, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) As I expected, hardly any signal making it way out here from the UK or Ascension for the BAS annual special June 21 at 2130-2200, but we were glad to give it wide advance publicity for a few more listeners besides the 44 Antarcticans. At 2130, JBA carrier on 9850 UK, nothing on 7360 ASC; by 2145, 7360 had also acquired a JBA carrier, and of course never anything on 5950. But it was widely heard further east in North America, and no doubt very well in Eurafrica, South America, and perhaps Antarctica. Anyhow, this and previous years` programmes may now be heard easily via: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/2012/06/120620_antarctic_midwinter_broadcast_2012.shtml with the new one autolaunching if you are plugged in correctly. I`ve just enjoyed listening to it (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5950 loud and clear S9+60dB, 7360 S9+50dB, 9850 S9-40dB here in NW England – (Tony Molloy, nr Winter Hill, UK, SD639114, 53.6 N 2.55 W, IO83ro, http://swlistener.wordpress.com 2134 UT June 21, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Audible in New Zealand at 2130 on 21 June with introduction by host Martin Redfern speaking of a guaranteed audience of 44 who are wintering-over at Antarctic Bases. Reception as follows: 9850 Skelton - good reception with a little QRM from Chinese on 9845 7360 Ascension - fair signal with some splatter from 7355 Chinese which seems to be parallel to that on 9845. 5950 Skelton - good and clear reception! (Bryan Clark, Mangawhai New Zealand, AOR7030+ and EWEs to North, Central & South America, Google Earth: 36.11.70 S, 174.56.70 E, ibid.) BBC World Service midwinter Antarctica broadcast on now at 2130-2200 UT confirmed on 5950 (Skelton) 7360 (Ascension) 9850 (Skelton). Very strong on here on all three frequencies with greetings from relatives to BAS staff on Antarctica. 73s (Dave Kenny, Caversham UK, AOR7030/25m long wire, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) Was also very strong on all three channels here in Germany. 73 (Harald Kuhl, ibid.) Yes, hearing it well on all frequencies via a remote receiver in Europe. Only 9850 at first here in the Colonies on the South Carolina coast, now 7360 as well, but neither is good (Dan Ferguson, 2151 UT, ibid.) Only hearing 9850 here on the South Carolina coast. All three doing well on a remote receiver in Europe (Dan Ferguson, 2141 UT, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) And so it goes. Skelton carriers on 5950 and 9850 came on at 2127, programme started at 2130, by when Ascension on 7360 was on as well, literally out of the blue with dry "This is the BBC World Service...", in rather inappropriate crash-start manner not preceded by any interval signal (of which a decade ago the BBC requested a full ten minutes for this broadcast) or other audio. Opening included a welcome to interceptors, too (Kai Ludwig, Germany, ibid.) 5950 inaudible here, but 7360 in at S6 and 9850 in at S7 (John Figliozzi, Halfmoon, NY, Eton E1XM, A/D DXSloper, 2151 UT June 21, ibid.) 5950 very strong as expected as I'm only 100 miles south of Skelton, some QRM from CRI on 5960. Very weak for me on 9850 but fair reception on the frequency from Ascension (Stephen Cooper, ibid.) The usual splatter from Cërrik (and it can be noted from at least some of the sites in China as well) was quite obvious here in Germany, too. Otherwise 5950 was presumably best, "presumably" because it so happened that local noise was especially bad in this frequency range here. And the carrier on 5950 went off shortly before local midnight, probably at 2130:30, when the song fragment (Beatles, Here comes the sun) with which they wrapped up the programme had just barely faded out on the playout (or was this live? Don't think so). (Kai Ludwig, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) No it wasn't live. The programme was up on the BBC Website this afternoon: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/2012/06/120620_antarctic_midwinter_broadcast_2012.shtml My recording: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOBUUAN-ruo&feature=youtu.be The first 23ish mins from Skelton 5950, the last 7 from Ascension 7360 (with a few other switches between and a bit of trying to filter out CRI QRM). (Stephen Cooper, WORLD OF RADIO 1623, ibid.) GREAT BRITAIN: 9850, BBC; *2130-2200*, 21-June; Annual broadcast to Antarctica; succession of folks, including many children with greetings plus announcer reading e-mails. Group sang Happy Birthday at 2148. BBCWS IDs at 2130 & 2159; after the latter one, a group sang "Here comes the Sun". On & off abruptly. About 2127:46 a weak S-5/6 OC came up; just barely above the QRN. Sig improved noticeably toward the end but still fair at best. Nothing detectable on 7360 via Ascension till noted at 2152, well enough to tell it was //. All in English. Nothing at all detectable on 5960 [sic]. Totally cool! (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) U.K., 9850, BBC British Antarctic Survey Mid-Winter Broadcast (via Skelton), 2130 ID/Program, 3 men and woman (Martin, Dave, Peter, Caroline), hosts. Said was a "guaranteed audience of 44". 2132-2135 Personal messages from many people. 2135 poem. 2135 e-mails announced by Peter. Played "Comfortably Numb" by Pink Floyd several times. 2138- 2143 more personal messages. 2143-2144 more e-mails. 2144 ID by Martin "This is the mid-Winter broadcast for the British Antarctic Survey from the BBC World Service in London". 2144-2146 message from the Deputy Director. 2146-2148 round-table talk. 2148-2158 "Sunny Afternoon" by The Kinks and more personal messages. 2159 final closing ID announcement "Happy mid-Winter", then "Here Comes the Sun" by The Beatles and sung by the program hosts, and off at 2200. (21 June) 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD-535D with T2FD antenna, HCDX via DXLD) Comenzó la emisión especial en 7360 KHz SINPO 44444 9850 KHz SINPO 34333 5950 KHz SINPO 12111 La Tapa desparrame de RAE (Ernesto Paulero, Argentina, 2137 UT June 21, condiglist yg via DXLD) See ARGENTINA Acá en Rosario es así... 5950 kHZ SINFO= 34232 modo LSB para contrarrestar QRM de R. Pío XII, Siglo XX-Bolivia (5952.5 kHz) con buena señal 7360 Khz SINFO= 34333 9850 kHZ SINFO= 45333 (Rubén Guillermo Margenet, Argentina, 2153 UT, ibid.) If you missed the program live, you can listen online here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/2012/06/120620_antarctic_midwinter_broadcast_2012.shtml At that same website there's a link to the four prior editions as well. A bit ironic that 100% of the target audience of 44 listened via shortwave, I suspect, with none able to listen to the online edition. So this is hopefully one BBC service that won't be leaving shortwave soon (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, NASWA yg via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA [and non]. Comenzó la emisión especial en 7360 KHz SINPO 44444 9850 KHz SINPO 34333 5950 KHz SINPO 12111 La Tapa desparrame de RAE (Ernesto Paulero, Argentina, 2137 UT June 21, condiglist yg via DXLD) En realidad me parece que el desparramo no es R.A.E sino Radio Nacional, la emisión de 870 kHz; puede ser que pase eso? Pregunto porque no sé pero he corroborado qua a veces no es la misma transmisión que en 15345 kHz pero sé es la misma de AM 870 KHz (Ernesto Paulero, ibid.) Surely spurious from 6060, not 870 (gh) Por qué no hacen un piquete frente a LRA para que apaguen esa porquería de trasmisor en 49m? Perdonen la chanza, pero hace meses (Horacio Nigro, Uruguay, ibid.) 15345.16, Radio al Exterior (presumed); 2125-2132+, 18-June; M&W in German; BoH pips/tone, no ID. SIO=353- (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) 11710.76, approx., June 26 at 0200, RAE is signing on English with fair and fluttery signal, off-frequency as always but fortunately nothing to het it (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARMENIA. 18121-USB, June 21 at 2137, ham EK6TA was 5&9 giving his call several times fonetikally. I never can remember these CIS E- prefixes, so pleased to look him up later in QRZ.com as: EK6TA Armenia, Hovik Tarzyan, Artik, QSL direct via DJ0MCZ (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. 2368.48, R. Symban (presumed), 1202*, June 21. When last heard earlier this year they were on an extended schedule well past 1200, but now seems they have returned to their former sign off time; faintly heard singing (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. 2485, VL8K Katherine NT, 1010 with audio, still in at 1025 recheck on 19 June (Robert Wilkner, Pompano Beach, South Florida, NRD 535D -746Pro - R8 - Sony 2010XA - June 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 2485, VL8K Katherine, 1042 June 26, with oldies pop and rock, male host. Fair, better than 2325, 4835 barely audible under splatter from 4840 (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening from my car, beside Kalamalka Lake, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna on the car roof, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. 4835, VL8A, Alice Springs in English, 1841-1903, W / M talking (not much clear); music program with old song Singing in the rain, pop & rock songs & M announcement after each song (not much clear); M / W talk; pop song; heard in SSB with fast QSB (S. 9+10+ of peak); strong statics crashes; poor/ almost fair; 6/04 (Giovanni Serra, Roma, Italy. Equipment: JRC NRD 525; Alpha Delta DX-SWL Sloper- S; RG 8 mini coaxial cable; JPS NIR 12 Noise & Interference Reducer- Dual DSP outboard audio filter; Intek PS-35 5 ampere feeder; JRC – NVA 319 external loudspeaker unit; Yaesu YH – 77 STA stereo headphones; Zoom Corp. H2 handy digital recorder MP3 & WAV files; Oregon Scientific RM912 Radio controlled clock; Toshiba Laptop PC Windows XP2 (offline for loggings); Interkart framed wall board political world map (1: 46,400,000); the DX Edge-Xantek Inc.(daylight-darkness desk world map), DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4835, Alice Springs, NT at 1120 with 1.6 filter to avoid Splatter from 4840 [WWCR]. 23 June (Robert Wilkner, Pompano Beach, South Florida, NRD 535D -746Pro - R8 - Sony 2010XA - June 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4835, VL8A Alice Springs, 1320 June 27, phone-in program discussing raising special needs children. Good (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening from my car, beside Kalamalka Lake, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna on the car roof, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. 8113-USB, weather station with ID 1100 to 1115. 23 June (Robert Wilkner, Pompano Beach, South Florida, NRD 535D -746Pro - R8 - Sony 2010XA - June 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. 11945, R. Australia Shepparton in English 0731-0840 heard in // audio streaming at R. Australia site http://www.abc.net.au with some seconds of delay from signal via SW radio, and with very different tone of voices among my Hi Fi PC loudspeakers and JRC NVA 319 external speaker; M / talk sport program Grandstand, chatting with other Men and sport live (rugby match Sharks v Warriors); at 0800 other M ID as Radio Australia & announcement in SW only (not in // RA audio streaming, continuing sport live); brief IS into same M ID and reading news with some correspondents (mentioning ABC news and Radio Australia news) till 0805; again same rugby match live with some commentaries by M & W (heard in // audio streaming at R. Australia site with same conditions as above til 0829); W brief announcements & IDs as R. Australia in SW only; then again in // audio streaming, with M sport brief talking; again W brief announcements in SW only, then still again M sport talk program & same rugby match live heard in // audio streaming as above; a bit better in USB with mild fast QSB and mild QRN; from 0824 increasing QSB and QRN statics rustle; very good; 06/16 (Giovanni Serra, Roma, Italy. Equipment: JRC NRD 525; Alpha Delta DX-SWL Sloper-S; RG 8 mini coaxial cable; JPS NIR 12 Noise & Interference Reducer-Dual DSP outboard audio filter; Intek PS-35 5 ampere feeder; JRC – NVA 319 external loudspeaker unit; Yaesu YH – 77 STA stereo headphones; Zoom Corp. H2 handy digital recorder MP3 & WAV files; Oregon Scientific RM912 Radio controlled clock; Toshiba Laptop PC Windows XP2 (offline for loggings); Interkart framed wall board political world map (1: 46,400,000); the DX Edge-Xantek Inc.(daylight- darkness desk world map), DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA [and non]. Degraded Radio Australia Signal --- I listen to Radio Australia almost every morning for about an hour, usually between 1000 to 1300 hours GMT (same day evening hours in Australia). I listen on both 9580 kHz and 11945 kHz, switching back and forth to compare the quality of the two transmissions. While 9580 is usually a bit stronger and clearer here in Dallas, 11945 is usually very close in quality most mornings. Today was different! I was up early at 5:00 a.m. CDT, Dallas time, or 1000 GMT. I tuned R. Australia first on 9580 for the news summary and the signal was the usual strong, clear, steady RA signal. I then tuned 11945 to check it out, and found to my surprise an Asian signal (I think Chinese) in solid competition. With the signals "blended" one could hardly understand anything. I listened to the competing signals on 11945 kHz for about 15 minutes before tuning back to 9580. Anyone else hear this, or positively identify the competing station? (Grayson Watson, Dallas, TX using a portable Sangean 909x with an Apex 700DTA antenna, June 21, Cumbre DX via DXLD) HFCC Shows R. Veritas Asia, Philippines, 250 kW in Chinese at 1000- 1200 on 11945, nondirexional. But Aoki shows it 355 degrees toward China, while RA is 70 degrees toward Pacific and us, the stations must think they are not colliding in their target areas. Anyhow, 11945 is clear here after 1200 and agreed second only to 9580. 73, (Glenn Hauser, OK, ibid.) I have heard the same thing here in Arizona, and logged them both Friday (6/22) after 1100 UT on 11945, but R. Veritas Asia was barely audible underneath, not making RA unlistenable. Most of the time RA makes it thru well here, co-channel broadcast not withstanding. 73 and Good Listening, (Rick Barton, El Mirage AZ, ibid.) Degraded Radio Australia Signal - Part II: 11880, Radio Australia, 6/25, 1540. Radio Australia with news analysis/interview program, in huge collision with what must be FEBC via "The Phils". Noted that Australia was quite audible even over the QRM with the HQ-120 and Slinky oriented for E/W rx. But the R-8 and its random direction wire had the collision even worse with nothing useful from either broadcast. 73 and Good Listening (Rick Barton, El Mirage, AZ, June 27, Hammarlund HQ-120X , Drake R-8, R.W. and Slinky, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Aoki shows they both start 11880 at 1530, FEBC being in Banjar, 100 kW, 200 degrees from Bocaue but only until 1600; RA at 1530-2000, 100 kW, 50 degrees from Shepparton (gh, DXLD) 21525, 0813, Radio Australia here 30/5 only with political report from Canberra on “PM’” program, signal surging from poor to very good. Obviously a punch-up error – should have been on 21725 which was missing this day (Bryan Clark at Mangawhai (Northland), New Zealand with AOR7030+, EWEs to North, Central & South America, 100m BOG to NE and Alpha Delta Sloper antennas, June NZ DX Times via DXLD) 5995, June 25 at 1227, RA with interesting item on language diversity concluding `Asia-Pacific` show; good signal here, surely Shepparton, but missing from 6020 which is supposed to be on, and 5995 is supposed to be in DRM from Brandon. Maybe a sign of further schedule disruptions if RA is finally about to get a series of DRM frequencies activated from Shep? 6020, June 26 at 1215, R. Ustralia is back to normal, in AM here, DRM on 5990-5995-6000, contrary to yesterday at this hour when 6020 was off and 5995 was in AM (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. [Re 12-25] tribute to Alan Saunders can be found here http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/philosopherszone/tribute-to-the-philosophical-alan-saunders/4080066 I sure did enjoy listening to him. ef (Eric Flodén, Vancouver BC, swprograms via DXLD) To mark the sad passing of Alan Saunders we bring you tributes from key thinkers and highlights from Alan’s rich Philosopher's Zone archive. Here is a comment from philosopher Martha Nussbaum who was interviewed by Alan a number of times for the program. Alan Saunders was a prince among broadcasters. Of all the journalists I've ever met, he had the deepest love of, and also understanding of, philosophy, and his passion for ideas made doing a program with him a highlight of one's year -- even long distance by phone, and even more in person in the studio. What he brought to public discussion was priceless. - Martha Nussbaum, The University of Chicago (via Flodén, ibid.) ** AUSTRALIA. More info of HCJB Kununurra, WA - New SW TX site can be found at the following links : Pictures of the antenna's https://picasaweb.google.com/hcjb.au/CurtainAntenna?authkey=Gv1sRgCIHCvc_kttvlvAE# [in English it is illiterate to use an apostrophe to pluralize something, but not in Dutch; maybe that`s where we got it long ago] Pictures of the Melbourne Studio facilities https://picasaweb.google.com/hcjb.au/HCJBMelbourne?authkey=Gv1sRgCKTqyuTFrful2gE# Pictures of the new antenna's and explanation (Newsletter Dec 2011) http://www.hcjb.org.au/docs/143_Voice_and_Hands_Newsletter_HCJB_Australia_Dec_2011.pdf Pictures and article of the move of transmitter 2 to the new site http://www.hcjb.org.au/docs/144_Voice_and_Hands_Newsletter_HCJB_Australia_Mar_2012.pdf Have fun! Regards, (Jan Oosterveen, Netherlands, June 25, shortwavesites yg via DXLD) ** BAHRAIN. 6010, 20.6 1900, R. Bahrein, English program, drums, talk, unusual AM mode with suppressed lower side carrier http://www.sendspace.com/file/c8amna [overall merit:] 2-3 (Giampaolo Galassi, Savignano, Italy, SW Bulletin June 24 via DXLD) ** BHUTAN [and non]. Het on 6035 – PBS Yunnan and BBS/Bhutan? UNIDENTIFIED. 6035. This year I have just been hearing PBS Yunnan here with no trace of BBS/Bhutan. June 25 at 1154 for the first time heard a definite het. This would seem to correspond to reports from others that BBS is off frequency. This would tend to indicate that the BBS signal has suddenly improved to the point where I am hearing their het against PBS Yunnan. A good sign! With my Eton E1 was unable to tell what the two frequencies were (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, BBS is strong and clear today at 1330 overriding Yunnan. At 1435 BBS measured on 6034.740; no het as Yunnan has gone off. If BBC 6195 is considered 6195.000! 1500 BBS has English news (G. Victor A. Goonetilleke 4S7VK, "Shangri-la"' 298 Madapatha Road, Piliyandala. Sri Lanka, June 25, ibid.) Correction at 1437 low het, so Yunnan is back!!! (Goonetilleke, June 25, ibid.) Hello dear Victor, Bhutan is on 6034.744 kHz at 1514 UT June 25th. vy73 de (wolfy df5sx, ibid.) Hi Victor, Thank you for the confirmation BBS was indeed strong today. It has been a while since I last was able to check the PBS Yunnan sign off, but formerly I noted them consistently going off shortly after 1500 (Ron Howard, CA, ibid.) Now BBS is on at 6035 kHz dominating here just 100 km away from me; Dzonkha program going on - OM talking, BBS is on now most of the time of the day in 6035 kHz. Surprisingly, I couldn't hear 98 MHz FM from Chukha for 2 -3 days, neither Kuzoo FM 105 MHz, it happens sometimes in the year when hydel power generator there goes under maintenance, but SW is on (Partha Sarathi Goswami, Siliguri, W.B., India, 1746 UT June 25, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6035, BBS (presumed), 1130 and 1211, June 26. Continue to hear the BBS off frequency signal causing het with the signal of PBS Yunnan; by 1211 able to hear some of the Yunnan audio. With BBS doing better than before, Yunnan is now hard to copy. Thanks again to Victor, et al. for their confirmation that BBS is on the lower (6034.74) frequency from Yunnan (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Some help to ID this: On 6035 at 2010 UT here in Montevideo (CRI in Arabic and others to Africa, and Xizang, Lhasa strong in other points of the band): http://youtu.be/hcaSi-3-F-s Can be Bhutan??? Any ideas? 73 de CX2ABP (Rodolf Tizzi, Uruguay, 0125 UT June 28, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) [Later:] Yeah. Cool. Was Bhutan. Recorded by a Japanese Youtube friend at the same fq and time: http://youtu.be/ecr3DAWA988 73 de (CX2ABP, 1922 UT, ibid.) ** BIAFRA [non]. via GERMANY. 11870, Radio Biafra, London, *2000- 2059*, June 21, sign on with possible National Anthem followed by local African music and opening ID announcements. Vernacular talk. Occasional English. Sign off with instrumental National Anthem at 2058. Poor, weak at sign on but improved to a fair level by 2015. Thur, Fri only (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** BOLIVIA. 3310, Radio Mosoj Chaski, Cochabamba, 0945 YL talk 1016, several words en español; noted "escucha", "radio", and "emisora", 19 June (Robert Wilkner, Pompano Beach, South Florida, NRD 535D -746Pro - R8 - Sony 2010XA - and XM - Cedar Key - South Florida, NRD 525D - R8A -E-5, June 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 4451.2, Radio Santa Ana, Santa Ana de Yacuma noted 2330 to 0000 on 21 June (Robert Wilkner, Pompano Beach, South Florida, NRD 535D -746Pro - R8 - Sony 2010XA - and XM - Cedar Key - South Florida, NRD 525D - R8A -E-5, June 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 5952.42, Radio Pío XI[I], Siglo Veinte. 2358 June 18, 2012. Female ID 2359, long discussion, ID 0017, nondescript Spanish vocals, another ID 0041, flutes and rustic music till 0054 and yet another ID. Clear and good (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, FL static site with (highly abridged equipment list): JRC NRD-535, ICOM IC-R75, Sony ICF-7600GR, and Sangean PR-D5; 1 X roof dipole, 1 X room random wire. All times/dates GMT, frequencies in kHz unless otherwise stated, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re: 5952.42, BOLIVIA Radio Pío XI, Siglo Veinte, Now on air, fair S=6- 7 signal here in Europe on 5952.438 kHz male locutor at 23.45:50 UT June 25. Female at 23.46:40 UT (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 25, dxldyg via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 6055.097, 21.6 2159, Tentative signal from R Juan XXIII. A carrier is visible here but too weak for audio. Close down at 2201:30z indicates that this might be R Juan XXIII [pronounced veintitrés]. Every time heard last year cd and switching off the carrier was at about 2202z. TN (Thomas Nilsson, Sweden, SW Bulletin June 24 via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 6134.77, Radio Santa Cruz not present at all here on June 16 and June 21. The station seems to be off certain times at the moment. TN (Thomas Nilsson, Sweden, SW Bulletin June 24 via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA [and non]. 6154.9, Radio Fides not present at all here on June 16 and June 21 when checked at 2358z. The station seems to be off certain times at the moment. Terry Krueger noted the station on June 21 starting at 0038z. 6155, 27.6 0000, All India Radio with news in English. Coming up after China cd. No sign at all of R Fides on 6154.9 (Thomas Nilsson, Sweden, SW Bulletin June 24 via DXLD) Date must be wrong as this issue was sent on 24 June (gh) 6154.92, Radio Fides, La Paz. 0019 June 19, 2012. Spanish male announcer, nondescript Spanish vocal from 0022. Again on June 21 from 0038 with announcer, fill music, ID. Clear and fair-good. I’m amused at those who have been following this for weeks -- not knowing who it is or getting an ID -- a station that’s been here forever (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, FL static site with (highly abridged equipment list): JRC NRD-535, ICOM IC-R75, Sony ICF-7600GR, and Sangean PR-D5; 1 X roof dipole, 1 X room random wire. All times/dates GMT, frequencies in kHz unless otherwise stated, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re 6154.92, BOLIVIA, Radio Fides, La Paz. Weak signal just on threshold level, here in Europe. String visible in Perseus on 6154.932 kHz at 23.51 UT June 25 (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 25, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOTSWANA. Voice of America relay, 909, Selebi-Phikwe. June 22, 2012. Friday. 1853-1920 and still listening. Studio Seven. English, OM's talking about Makerere University. At 1855 changed to Shona, talking about Zimbabwe. Back to English at 1858. VOA jingle and ID at 1900, into news. At 1905, into "International Edition". Fair. Jo'burg sunset 1525 (Bill Bingham, RSA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOTSWANA. (not). 4820. June 23, 2012. Saturday. Prompted by suggestions of Radio Botswana re-activated (DXLD 12-25), checked this frequency at 1833 and 1901 for any sign of our next-door neighbour. At 9 pm Central African time on a Saturday night it should surely be on air now. Nothing heard, so suspect a mis-ID. Jo'burg sunset 1525 (Bill Bingham, RSA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also INDIA ** BRAZIL. 3375.1, Brasil, Rádio Municipal São Gabriel da Cachoeira, good music, 0950 to 1010 on June 19 (Robert Wilkner, Pompano Beach, South Florida, NRD 535D -746Pro - R8 - Sony 2010XA - and XM - Cedar Key - South Florida, NRD 525D - R8A -E-5, June 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 4877.88v, Radio Roraima, 0345-0402*, June 21, Portuguese pop music. Portuguese talk. Sign off with National Anthem at 0358. Very poor with unstable, wobbly, very distorted signal (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** BRAZIL. 4914.96-4914.97, R Difusora de Macapá (presumed) in Portuguese, 0309-0403 slow music with M talk & howling talk over it; song; M talk & howling over slow music; other M long talk with W in brief & other M talk at times (no much clear, possible mentioning Macapá); same M howling talk also over brief Also Sprach Zarathustra music; from 0335 M talk & howling talk over songs; from 0342:27 other M talk (no much clear); M howling talk over ballad songs; other M talk in brief; continuing M howling talk over ballads songs; other M brief talk; continuing M howling talk over ballads & slow songs; M talk; better heard in SSB with Nir 12; fast QSB & strong QRN crashes; frequency shifted to 4914.97; poor; 6/23 (Giovanni Serra, Roma, Italy. Equipment: JRC NRD 525; Alpha Delta DX-SWL Sloper-S; RG 8 mini coaxial cable; JPS NIR 12 Noise & Interference Reducer-Dual DSP outboard audio filter; Intek PS-35 5 ampere feeder; JRC – NVA 319 external loudspeaker unit; Yaesu YH – 77 STA stereo headphones; Zoom Corp. H2 handy digital recorder MP3 & WAV files; Oregon Scientific RM912 Radio controlled clock; Toshiba Laptop PC Windows XP2 (offline for loggings); Interkart framed wall board political world map (1: 46,400,000); the DX Edge-Xantek Inc.(daylight-darkness desk world map), DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 4974.98, Rádio Iguatemi with Latin vocals 0555 17 June, Portuguese ident with long list of frequencies and repeated identifications at 0602. Poor reception and first time I've heard this station. No trace of Radio del Pacífico, Perú that has previously been heard around this frequency to block Brazil (Bryan Clark, Mangawhai, NZ using AOR7030+ and EWEs to North, Central & South America, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 4985, R. Brasil Central (presumed), Goiânia in Portuguese 0251-0303, M unclear talk with Brazilian intonation; song; M unclear talk; song; better heard in LSB with inter filter & Nir 12, just above the QRN crashes threshold; barely audible / very poor at times; 6/23 (Giovanni Serra, Roma, Italy. Equipment: JRC NRD 525; Alpha Delta DX- SWL Sloper-S; RG 8 mini coaxial cable; JPS NIR 12 Noise & Interference Reducer-Dual DSP outboard audio filter; Intek PS-35 5 ampere feeder; JRC – NVA 319 external loudspeaker unit; Yaesu YH – 77 STA stereo headphones; Zoom Corp. H2 handy digital recorder MP3 & WAV files; Oregon Scientific RM912 Radio controlled clock; Toshiba Laptop PC Windows XP2 (offline for loggings); Interkart framed wall board political world map (1: 46,400,000); the DX Edge-Xantek Inc.(daylight- darkness desk world map), DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 5964.96, Rádio Trans Mundial with contemporary Christian vocals 0802 18 June, Portuguese announcements and ident at 0811, fair (Bryan Clark, Mangawhai, NZ using AOR7030+ and EWEs to North, Central & South America, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 6070, R Capital, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 2355-0005, Jun 09, 10 and 11, Portuguese at 2357 mentioning the names and frequencies of Brazilian radiostations. At 0000 full ID "Rádio Capital, Rio de Janeiro, 24 horas", best signal strength on June 10: 25442/3 (Max van Arnhem, Hoenderloo, The Netherlands, DSWCI DX Window June 27 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. According to information from dexista Demos Zoqbi, who lives in Sao Paulo, near R Cultura de São Paulo, they are not transmitting on SW because they are still bidding on the purchase of new equipment or replacement parts. See the e-mail from him: ``Oi Jorge, eu já fui consultado meses atrás sobre esta QRG [6075], mas não é a Cultura não. Aliás, sequer é em português, trata-se de uma emissão em espanhol que eu capto todas as noites. Fui lá para me certificar já que os transmissores ficam 5 minutos da minha casa, e não, a Cultura não volta enquanto a licitação de novos equipamentos não sair. ``Desta vez não tem nada a ver com governo e sim com fornecedores que formaram um cartel e jogaram seus preços lá pra cima. Aqui em SP compras públicas agora funcionam num processo chamado Pregão Eletrônico; vence quem fizer menor preço e justificar seus custos. Ninguém conseguiu provar porque 400% de aumento nas peças de reposição, portanto, compra negada. (Denis Zoqbi-B)`` 73 (via Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana BA - Brasil, June 21, dxldyg via DXLD) ** BRAZIL [and non]. 6180, June 26 at 0156, RNA is reactivated here with loud music causing heavy splash upon unfortunate neighbour 6185 XEPPM, which without that would have been listenable with sufficient modulation. RNA also VG at 0524 with more lively music designed to keep Amazonians awake; why? We may confidently expect RNA to be gone again unpredictably (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11780, 26/Jun 0222, No signal from R Nacional da Amazônia, but OK on 6180 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana BA - Brasil, 12 14´S, 38 58´W dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 9665, R. Marumby. Found with fair signal. Morning talk show with M and W hosts, occasionally taking phone calls and playing a song now and then. Faded really quickly after 0945 and getting some local QRN as well. 0930 nice singing jingle ID, promo, then ads. 0934 jingle with 4 "Bom-dia"s, and back to music. ID 0956. Plays a jack hammer SFX coming out of every song. A lot of talk and laughing. (21 June) 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD-535D with T2FD antenna, HCDX via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 9695.36, Rádio Rio Mar, Manaus, Amazonas. 1218 June 24, 2012. Very weak, presumed the one with Braso-Portuguese male, seemingly preacher (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, FL, with (highly abridged equipment list): JRC NRD-535, ICOM IC-R75, Sony ICF-7600GR, and Sangean PR-D5; 1 X roof dipole, 1 X room random wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. Enjoyed listening again to R.N. Amazonia da Brasil (in Brasilia) from 0114 to 0200 GMT on 11780. This station, with only 7000 kw of power, was heard in Dallas with a strong, stable and clear signal throughout. I got station ID's twice during the segment--both at 0120 and 0159 GMT. My S-Meter (10 scale) registered steadily from 8-10 through the entire 46 minutes. This station broadcasts mainly to the Amazon region (and state). Tonight I listened to an energetic DJ/Announcer chat with people who apparently called-in by phone from around the region; then he played wonderful country music popular in that area. I think the station broadcasts 24 hours a day, and its signal is usually strong here in the dark hours of the night and morning. It's a good listen for any DXer! (Grayson Watson in Dallas, TX using a portable Sangean 909x with an Apex Radio (Japan) 700DTA active antenna, Cumbredx via DXLD) Grayson, I agree this is a great station to listen to, and usually has a very good signal at night. I assume you meant 7000 Watts, not 7000 kW, and were referring to Aoki list where it is listed as 7.5 kW. No way it is that little. It`s a 250 kW transmitter as in the WRTH, but probably running considerably less, maybe only 100 kW. Still has a much better signal than any other Brazilian on 25m or other bands. The // 6180 has been erratic lately. 73, (Glenn Hauser, OK, ibid.) ** BRAZIL. 11925.22, Rádio Bandeirantes, São Paulo. 1237 June 24, 2012. Probably the one based on off-frequency and the few others propagating at the same time between 31 and 19 meters. Barely any audio though (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, FL, with (highly abridged equipment list): JRC NRD-535, ICOM IC-R75, Sony ICF-7600GR, and Sangean PR-D5; 1 X roof dipole, 1 X room random wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 15190.03, Rádio Inconfidência back close to nominal frequency 20 June with good clean signal 2055. At 2100 aired the usual daily rendition of 'Ave Maria'. On 21 June at this time was on 15190.04 but on 23 June at 2030 was back on 15191.48, and on 15191.5 on 24 June. I find signal quality is always better when close to nominal 15190 and wonder if there might be two different transmitters in use?? (Bryan Clark, Mangawhai, NZ using AOR7030+ and EWEs to North, Central & South America, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15190, R. Inconfidência finally fixed their frequency. They're now right on, heard at 0154. (19 June) 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD-535D with T2FD antenna, HCDX via DXLD) So you mean 15190.00? You report some other off-frequencies to two decimals (gh, DXLD) 15190.00, Radio Inconfidência, 0007-0030, June 22, not usually right on 15190.00. Classical music. Portuguese talk. Heard // 6010.03. Both frequencies weak in noisy conditions (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) 15191.56, Rádio Inconfidência, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. 1239 June 24, 2012. Clear but weak with Portuguese ballad, male announcer at 1248. Low modulation (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, FL, with (highly abridged equipment list): JRC NRD-535, ICOM IC-R75, Sony ICF-7600GR, and Sangean PR-D5; 1 X roof dipole, 1 X room random wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. 6160, CKZN St. John’s and CKZU Vancouver both audible at 0708, June 21, Vancouver carrying “As It Happens”, St. John’s with what I think was BBC “From Our Own Correspondent”. Poor to fair with the two stations taking turns as the dominant (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening beside Kalamalka Lake from my car with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. There's an updated HFCC file at http://www.hfcc.org/data/a12/index.phtml today. Running a comparison shows RCI entries now have an ending date of 6/24, with the exception of the entry on 9625 for the Northern Quebec Service and the entries for KBS. I now understand KBS, Babcock and NHK will stay until Oct 31, Vatican relays will end July 31, China R. Int'l relays end 6/24, República relay will end 6/25 at 0200 (Dan Ferguson, June 21, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) HFCC listings for RCI at http://www.hfcc.org/data/schedbybrc.php?seas=A12&broadc=RCI now show all its transmissions terminating June 24 (except for its relays via South Korea, surely an oversight), but CBCNQ on 9625 is still shown lasting until Oct 28. We hope so, but don`t read too much into this, since Oct 28 is the default end-of-season A-12 date in HFCC listings, also shown for many stations which have no real intention of using a frequency until then. And all the Sackville relays of CRI at http://www.hfcc.org/data/schedbybrc.php?seas=A12&broadc=CRI are still shown in effect thru Oct 28, FWIW (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. 9625, June 22 at 1329, CBC NQ in English with interview, but hard to copy with somewhat muffled usual undermodulation, despite only slight CCI from occasional fast SAH; 1330 CBC regional news, from where? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. SENATOR DECRIES DECISION TO END RCI'S SHORTWAVE SERVICE 22 june 2012, 15h38 http://www.rcinet.ca/english/news/15_42_06_2012-06-22-p-senator-decries-decision-to-end-rci-s-shortwave-service-p/ Picture Senator Hugh Segal (CP PICTURE ARCHIVE/Kevin Frayer) A member of the Canadian Senate has taken aim at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation for its decision to eliminate Radio Canada International's shortwave service. Hugh Segal, a member of the Senate's Foreign Affairs committee and chair of its special Committee on Anti-Terrorism, said the CBC's senior managers will be called to explain the decision to a special Senate inquiry. "This is probably the most destructive way the board of the CBC could find to manage the financial economies they have to face," said Segal. "It is going to take the Canadian message out of the international marketplace." Senator Segal said relegating RCI to an Internet radio station will block RCI from millions of people living under repressive regimes. "In those parts of the world where the Internet is blocked, such as the People's Republic of China, Iran and North Korea, there is no way for RCI's messages of freedom and opportunity to get there," he told the Senate. "I blame the board of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and its senior management, who cut far away from home rather than cutting here, because it was more convenient for them to do so." While the CBC was compelled by the Harper government to reduce its overall annual budget by 10 per cent, it chose to cut 80 per cent of Radio Canada International's budget, eliminating dozens of full-and part-time jobs. Along with the $10 million cut to RCI's budget - from $12.3 million to $2.3 million - the CBC is also ending shortwave transmissions from its station at Sackville, New Brunswick, on June 26th. RCI's multilingual shortwave service has been on the air since 1945 (via Mike Cooper, WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DXLD) ** CANADA [non]. U.K., Radio Canada International, 11765 Skelton. June 22, 2012. Friday. 1804-1825. Mark Montgomery welcomes us to "The Link", and "Our final radio show". Fair at first, lots of atmospheric QRN but quite readable. Getting very noisy and barely readable by 1820, but on to music. No entertainment value by 1825. To East Africa (EiBi). Jo'burg sunset 1525 (Bill Bingham, RSA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Comments on The Link website: http://www.rcinet.ca/english/archives/program/the-link/home/ http://www.rcinet.ca/english/archives/column/the-link-s-top-stories/15-25_2012-06-22-historical-farewell/ 23 June 2012 - 12:20 I listened early this morning to the final episode of The Link, and I am literally grieving right now. I feel as though I've lost a friend, and our country has lost much more with the silencing of RCI's shortwave service. The choice of "The Mary Ellen Carter" as a finale could not have been more appropriate; Stan Rogers had a way of expressing in song what few could, or can, articulate. I can't really do justice to the way I felt listening to you say goodbye, Marc, but it was heart-wrenching, and I actually wept at the end of the show, something I don't often do. I am very sad, and very angry right now. Angry mostly that our current government sees so little value in an institution that means so much to Canadians. I sincerely hope that a change in government comes with the next election, and the process of rebuilding and repairing all their damage can begin. But that will probably come too late for you and your fine show with all its insight, wit and enjoyable banter. I particularly enjoyed the interactions between yourself and Terry Haig. Your show was my late-night companion, and now CBC Radio One overnight will just not be the same. I wish you and your colleagues all the best of luck in your future. Remember the final words to the Mary Ellen Carter, and let that give you strength. Godspeed to all of you. You meant a lot to me. Sent by Hugh Logie, Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada 23 June 2012 - 08:11 How horrible to cancel The Link. I would deliberately awake at 2 am just to listen to The Link. Thanks Marc and the rest of your crew. LIke the Mary Ellen Carter, you will rise again to see the smiling rats scurrying off into the deep and I will be there to cheer you on. Lots of Love to you all. Mary Frances O'Hagan, R. R. # 4, Iona Station, ON N0L 1P0 23 June 2012 - 05:54 Last Night, I prayed this night wouldn`t come. I will be a faithful internet visitor (unless Mr. Harper decides that too should not be allowed). Best wishes to all RCI and LINK staff members who are affected by this idiotic cutback decision, Bless you all and thank you so much. Sent by Jim Hill, Prince George BC, Canada 23 June 2012 - 04:24 Just a word to thank those working on the Link for their work. Nice show, interesting content, well-balanced. Hope you all land on your feet quickly and we get to enjoy your work again soon. Sent by Gwynneth Jones, Vancouver, Canada 22 June 2012 - 14:45 Oh, my dear Mr. Marc and all the rest of the highly dedicated team. It was horrible to hear the silence after the programme. I must compliment you to the choice of music, indeed very appropriate. They are not saving the programmes, but they should at least save this last programme, considering the sixtysomething years RCI has been on the air. It would be the tombstone of such a tragic decision to kill RCI but also the monument of an excellent era, which brought so much joy and knowledge to all the listeners around the world. I have no words to express how much you have meant to me so I just thank you all sincerely and wish you all the best. Sent by Margaretha Löfkvist, Stockholm, Sweden (via DXLD) A TEARFUL FAREWELL TO SHORTWAVE LISTENERS Radio Canada International journalist Marc Montgomery broke down in tears during his farewell speech to listeners - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVjmvaa8SZY -- (via Tony Molloy, nr Winter Hill, UK, June 24 dxldyg via DXLD) EMOTIONAL FINAL BROADCAST OF "THE LINK" ON RCI Extremely emotional and tearful ending to "The Link" on RCI Friday June 22. Usual newscast with an announcer goodbye at the end, then features on trans-Pacific trade, a Van Gogh exhibit, and caribou migration in Labrador. But the last few minutes of the hour was an emotionally charged farewell, thanking the listeners, promoting the virtues of shortwave distribution, and a final hope that the budget cuts would be reversed at the last minute. In an odd observation, it was noted that "The Link" with its emphasis on Canadian stories and content had moved RCI closer to the CBC mandate, while the CBC itself had drifted away from that same mandate. The broadcast closed with Stan Rogers "The Mary Ellen Carter" and the song's familiar "rise again" refrain--perhaps a hope of the RCI staff. I listened at 2000 on 17735 via Sackville. Weak co-channel QRM the first few minutes [from Tunisia] but clear the rest of the hour, good signal throughout (Steve Luce, Houston, Texas, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) A very moving video, Tony. Thanks so much for sharing. I've shared it with some announcer friends at another International radio station. Not to upset them, but for their government & financiers to realize that the job that they are doing is so important & so appreciated by us, the listeners. To take a quote from Marc: "International Broadcasting is one of the most cost effective initiatives in public diplomacy." So true. But personally I think International Broadcast Stations are easy economic targets by their local governments wanting to save a few dollars as there is less likelihood of a significant local population protest. And of course the carnage continues in Europe with my favorite broadcaster from the 80's & 90's era Radio Nederland disappearing next week. We'll sadly all be the poorer for the loss of diversity in International broadcasting. Let's just hope that in 5-10 years time it's not down to a choice between CRI & China Radio International for International broadcasts (and yes, I did type that correctly) (Ian Baxter, Aussie SWL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) This is the farewell announcement I referred to in my earlier post about the last broadcast of "The Link." Yes, extremely emotional, as Marc had been fairly upbeat during most of the broadcast. Of course, the farewell speech could have been recorded separately. You can complain about governments and financiers, but the rapid demise of shortwave in recent years is due to a perfect storm of technological change combined with a long record of government budgetary irresponsibility, resulting in governments that are drowning in debt. International broadcasting is not a priority in such a scenario, and you will have a hard time convincing the taxpaying public that their money should go towards providing free radio broadcasts to an external audience. What I've heard out of RCI over the past three months has been much like the five stages of grief: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance. Marc was in a border region between Bargaining and Depression when he made that statement. I checked out the first few minutes of "Masala Canada" on June 23 and Wojtek Gwiazda was moving into the "Acceptance" phase as he said "It looks like this really is the last edition." He did hold out some hope for a reversal of the decision but added "We are off the air for now." Once the broadcasts are gone after June 24 I think everyone will move on. Perhaps there might be an expanded internet presence in the future, but SW is probably done for good. The Harper government is in office for the next several years, and I don't sense the Canadian political mood has any appetite for a return to free-spending Trudeau- style economics. One other thing: By switching its focus to potential immigrants in 2006, RCI probably ran off a lot of its audience, including myself. And the immigrants that Canada is looking for are those with high levels of education and lots of money, who will come to Canada and enhance the social and economic fabric of the country. Such people most likely already have access to satellite/cable TV as well as the internet, so SW is virtually irrelevant in reaching them. Keep an eye on what the Chinese do to get an idea about the future of international broadcasting. Seems Beijing is now emphasizing local AM/FM distribution deals along with expanding television offerings in order to target an international audience. Sorry for the long post (Steve Luce, Houston, Texas, June 24, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I just wish Mr. Luce would keep his political pronouncements to himself. Once or twice perhaps is understandable. But every time a station goes off, off goes Mr. Luce on his soapbox that invariably includes his views on where governments have gone wrong. Not everyone agrees with this analysis and it is not only tiresome, but insulting to have to be hit with it every time someone expresses a bit of sadness and anger over the loss of something valuable to them and which they feel has value beyond that which the prevailing political wind of the day may think. Having said that, I believe that Mr. Luce has the right to his opinion and to express it. But so do I. And I just did (John Figliozzi, Halfmoon, NY, ibid.) ** CANADA. According to Tam-tam Canada (French section), RCI Portuguese final transmission will be on Friday 22 (not on June 24) Regards (JM Aubier, France, June 21, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I think that`s merely the POV of the program producers, which they also say on the RCI Portuguese site: http://www.rcinet.ca/portugues/ ``22 Junho 2012, 10h56 --- Ouça o último programa --- Hector Vilar apresenta o último [this linx to audio, but as of 1600 UT June 22, there is a 10-minute clip of something else about religion, NOT the finale special yet!] ``Hoje, 22 de junho de 2012, a seção brasileira da RCI é encerrada. A partir de hoje, então, a RCI deixa de transmitir em português para o Brasil. Para marcar o fim deste ciclo, toda a equipe se reuniu para produzir um programa especial. Cá estou eu dando os últimos toques no derradeiro 'Canadá Direto', que vai ao ar nesta sexta-feira, dia 22. Este programa especial marca o fim da seção brasileira da Rádio Canadá Internacional. Nele, eu converso com Gilda Salomone, Cristiane Hirata, Gisele Dutra, Gabi Veras, Marcelo Paolinelli e Leila Monteiro Lins. Todos falamos dos momentos mais marcantes vividos ao longo dos últimos 8 anos do 'Canadá Direto'.`` But normal procedure is for the same program to be repeated on Saturday & Sunday, and I see no reason why this will not still happen as other RCI programming continues thru Sunday. Per HFCC, RCI Portuguese schedule in UT, Fri/Sat/Sun: 2100-2129 15455, 2200-2229 17860, 2300-2329 13760 This conflicts with the schedule on the RCI page which frames something from Facebook, in local time: ``Sexta-feira, sábado e domingo 17:00-17:29 (Freq: 15455 e 17860) 18:00-18:29 (Freq: 17860) 19:00-19:29 (Freq: 13760).`` That would require a 4-hour difference from UT! Which is correct only for a few western states, not the usual UT-3 standard of ``Hora de Brasília``. However, RCI`s transmission schedule still shows the two frequencies at 2100 (Glenn Hauser, Calendar via DXLD) ** CANADA [and non]. China. Radio Canada International relay, 11675 Kunming // 15125. June 23, 2012. Saturday. 1535-1557*. Discussing Canadian economic interests and China. ID at 1541 "Radio Canada International" followed by music "Against All Odds". At 1544, OM tells us we can listen via their webpage 24 hours a day. To which I think, "No thanks, and goodbye". At 1546 mentioned my favourite musician Ravi Shankar, but now getting progressively more noisy and unreadable. ID at 1549 "Radio Canada International" followed by Joni Mitchell song "Big Yellow Taxi". More talk, but almost unreadable. Sounded like it was cut off in mid sentence at 1557*. At 1600, French talk suddenly faded in, probably Radio Okapi via Dhabbaya (Aoki). Note added later: Okapi ID confirmed; see UAE. Fair at first, quite readable despite atmospheric QRN. Deteriorated quickly to unreadable. To South Asia (EiBi). Jo'burg sunset 1525 (Bill Bingham, RSA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Turkestan. Radio Canada International relay, 9530 Kashi // 17810, 11765. June 23, 2012. Saturday. 1804-1822. Came on after 17810 via Skelton, I missed the start. Poor, barely audible let alone readable. To East Africa (EiBi). Jo'burg sunset 1525. Turkestan. Radio Canada International relay, 15125 Urumqi // 11675. June 23, 2012. Saturday. 1536-1538. Audible but unreadable. Very poor. To South Asia (EiBi). Jo'burg sunset 1525. U.K. Radio Canada International relay, 11765 Skelton // 17810, 9530. June 23, 2012. Saturday. 1804-1822. Came on after 17810, I missed the start. Poor, barely readable. To East Africa (EiBi). Jo'burg sunset 1525. U.K. Radio Canada International relay, 17810 Skelton // 11765, 9530. June 23, 2012. Saturday. *1759-1822. Carrier on at 1757. ID at 1759 "Radio Canada International" and web address, followed by the news. Then discussed shut down of shortwave and transfer to web. Too poor to even make out the programme name, but it is clearly the same programme as the earlier (1500) transmission from Kunming. No entertainment value, so gave up. Poor, barely readable. To West Africa (EiBi). Jo'burg sunset 1525. Decided to stay up for the 2000 RCI Sackville to West and Central Africa. Nothing heard on any of the frequencies as of 2013. Maybe Africa doesn't matter any more and they have already dumped it. 15235 to Central Africa, and 15330 + 17735 to West Africa. June 23, 2012. Saturday. 1955-2013. AWOL. Jo'burg sunset 1525 (Bill Bingham, RSA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) They were coming in as usual here as I tuned across sometime during the hour. Solar flux is way down to only 84. Masala Canada is the Saturday program and audio of the last show is here, starting with comments by Wojtek Gwiazda, host and leader of the RCI Action Committee, and at the end he says he is one of the few people who will remain at RCI (the website): http://www.rcinet.ca/english/archives/program/masala-canada/home/ (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) Hi Glenn, Thanks for yours, it came in after I'd gone to sleep last night. I finally gave up on Sackville at 2030. Still no sign of them, not even a trace of the carriers. Must have been atrocious propagation, I can normally hear at least something of broadcasts targetted towards this region. Regards, (Bill Bingham, RSA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) One hour later (2100), 15235 and 17735 were active as usual (with 9525 SMG in //) in French (Jean-Michel Aubier, France, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Reminder to monitor the very last `Maple Leaf Mailbag` on RCI today Sunday June 24, at 1800-1900 on 17810 & 11765 Skelton; 9530 Kashgar; and at 2000-2100 on Sackville 15235, 15330, 17735 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Ultima de El Castor Mensajero y adiós a RCI en OC La emisión del domingo 24 de junio es la última de El Castor Mensajero y además cerrará las emisiones de onda corta de Radio Canadá Internacional. Para la ocasión, contamos con la participación de varios oyentes con sus saludos y mejores deseos para la etapa que se inicia en RCI. A manera de reconocimiento y agradecimiento a todos ustedes, estaremos todo el equipo latinoamericano y los que hemos participado en nuestro Castor durante estos años. Acompáñenos. Nos dará un enorme gusto estrecharlos en un abrazo intangible, como las ondas cortas, a través de las ondas castoreanas. (via FB) 73 (via Horacio Nigro, Uruguay, June 22, noticiasdx yg via DXLD) ** CANADA. CONSIDERAÇÕES SOBRE O FIM DA SEÇÃO BRASILEIRA DA RCI Escutei, no início da noite de ontem, o programa de despedida da seção brasileira da Rádio Canadá Internacional (RCI). Que tristeza! Tristeza para nós ouvintes e para os profissionais que ali trabalharam por quase uma década. Mesmo sendo um programa gravado, a emoção tomou conta de todos, chegando ao ápice quando o apresentador, no encerramento, não pôde dizer "até a próxima semana". Era, de fato, um "até nunca mais". O maior patrimônio de uma emissora de rádio é o seu público. Ele é a razão de existir dos programas e das estações. No entanto, o que temos visto nos últimos tempos é um desrespeito ao ouvinte, que de uma hora para outra deixou de ser considerado. Ou os dirigentes das emissoras acham que TODOS passarão a ouvir os programas pela internet, como num passe de mágica? Público de rádio é público de rádio; público de internet é público de internet, embora haja interseção. Infelizmente, não há um meio seguro de medir a audiência dos programas de ondas curtas. Não é possível fazer uma pesquisa do IBOPE nessa mídia, porque os sinais transmitidos alcançam vastíssimas áreas territoriais, inviabilizando qualquer mensuração. Além disso, a maioria dos ouvintes não interage com a emissora, ao contrário dos internautas, que podem mandar mensagens instantâneas. Isso ilude esses maus dirigentes de rádio, que de radialistas nada têm. Assim, o prejuízo para o público radiofônico - que é maior em quantidade - é mais do que evidente. Certa feita, li aqui nesta lista o recado - deselegante, diga-se de passagem - de um companheiro que apoiava o "golpe" da RCI, justificando que o governo canadense não deveria tirar os recursos de hospitais e escolas, para que nós, reles brasileiros, continuássemos a ouvir programas de rádio às custas do contribuinte daquele país. Se assim deve ser, por que criaram a emissora? Por que instituíram um programa que, entre outros fins, objetivava atrair imigrantes e empresários do Brasil para o Canadá? Ou será que o investimento que esse tipo de programação representa não iria, de um modo ou de outro, engordar no final das contas os polpudos cofres da receita canadense? Prefiro aplaudir o exemplo da Rádio Rio de Janeiro, que respeita seu público e procura meios mais racionais e econômicos para desempenhar sua tarefa. Assim é que adquiriu dois transmissores CANADENSES, da marca Nautel, além de geradores. A economia de energia elétrica desses equipamentos de estado sólido auxiliou na cobertura do investimento e fez cair as despesas da emissora. Na sede, na Ilha do Governador, foi iniciada uma campanha de coleta de cartuchos de impressoras com uma empresa parceira. Os resultados obtidos possibilitaram a quase total informatização da emissora. Lá também existe o uso racional de papel na redação. Com isso, a audiência da Emissora da Fraternidade aumentou imensamente, fazendo-a alcançar o TERCEIRO lugar entre as emissoras AM do Rio. O exemplo da Rádio Rio de Janeiro deve ser aplaudido e seguido. O da RCI, da Rádio Vaticano, da Rádio Netherland e de outras que rezam pela mesma cartilha, NÃO (Fabiano Henrique, Niterói - RJ, ZYJ462, 23 June, radioescutas yg via DXLD) ** CANADA. 6110, June 23 Sackville does not turn on the NHK World R. Japan relay in English until the opening minute is almost over, *0500:40. I was getting worried (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. A GLIMPSE OF RCI SACKVILLE TRANSMITTER SITE Thomas Witherspoon's SWLing post blog, short account and some photos from an extensive tour of Sackville he made last Friday, fuller post to come. http://swling.com/blog/2012/06/a-glimpse-of-radio-canada-internationals-sackville-new-brunswick-transmission-site/ (Mike Barraclough, UK, June 22, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) A GLIMPSE OF RADIO CANADA INTERNATIONAL’S SACKVILLE, NEW BRUNSWICK TRANSMISSION SITE --- Posted on June 22, 2012 by Thomas The large RCI sign that has long stood beside the Trans-Canada Highway in Sackville, New Brunswick. (Click to enlarge.) Last Friday, I was fortunate enough to receive an extensive tour of the Radio Canada International transmitter site in Sackville, New Brunswick. Of course, in light of the extensive cuts looming over this facility, the visit was bittersweet. It was an honor to see the transmitters and antennae I’ve listened to since I was eight years old, when I began listening to shortwave. But more impressive, still, are the people behind the scenes: despite a gloomy outlook, the site is busy and even humming due to their dedicated professionalism. The staff actively maintains the transmitters, antennae, and grounds, and it shows – the equipment, building and even floors are immaculate, demonstrating a palpable pride in a remarkable and still very useful site. I thank them all, and wish them well… Soon to come: I’m writing a much more extensive post, outlining the tour and all that I learned. I took hundreds of photos in an effort to photo-document the site. Stay tuned! Until then, here are a few teaser images: (via DXLD) ``Dedicated professionalism,`` I would like to believe, but how to explain the numerous instances of transmissions on the wrong frequencies I have logged again and again the past several weeks? May I suggest that broadcasting according to schedule is more important than immaculate floors? Maybe the installation of remote computer control [caption to the second photo: ``The new control station -- completed only recently -- allows for full remote operation of the site via the internet``] has something to do with all the SNAFUs (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) What happened to the engineers who took care for the operations until this new remote control system has been installed? Meanwhile CBC Radio One has, as already noted for "RCI 1", also been put on the former "RCI 3" channel on Hotbird, which used to contain a multilingual output. Presumably this Hotbird signal had been used by the relay exchange partners in Europe as audio source, and it could well have been the very studio output Sackville had on air as RCI swan song. The former "RCI 2" on Hotbird now carries some other French programming. It should be save to assume that this is Première Chaîne. Now it remains to be seen if CBC Radio One and Première Chaîne will be carried on Hotbird only as short aftermath or permanently (Kai Ludwig, June 25, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Is it outside the realm of possibility that these apparently random snafus could be a subtle form of protest on the part of some within the CBC/RCI? (John Figliozzi, ibid.) Automation is all about computers, and you know what they say about computers: Garbage in, garbage out. I sense that such systems often are not programmed correctly, or inadequate fail-safe software is in place. It would be pretty foolish for engineers facing layoffs to deliberately screw up a transmission schedule for not only their own broadcast organization, but several others. Any future employer would not be impressed. There were plenty of transmission errors in the hands-on manual days. How many times have we read the phrase "punch-up error" in DXLD? Babcock appears to use automation at its various facilities, which usually run like clockwork. Same thing at RNW Bonaire, where transmitter power up/power down times are usually consistent to the second every day (Steve Luce, Houston, Texas, ibid.) ** CANADA. Maple Leaf Mailbag just readable in ECSS:LSB on 15330 with fading, S9+25 dB at peak. Occasionally just audible on 15235 but not readable, nothing on 17735 – (Tony Molloy, nr Winter Hill, UK, 2014 UT June 24, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15235 at 2000 R Canada Int with the final Mapleleaf mailbag - but it's not - They're playing last week's edition from June 17th! Last week's episode also on the RCI website labelled as today's edition (Alan Roe, Teddington, UK, 2012 UT June 24, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Wrong playout? One of the captions at http://rciaction.org/blog/2012/06/22/last-day-for-many-at-radio-canada-international-and-russian-service/ to which meanwhile more photos, not just from the Russian service, have been added, goes "Terry Haig (later he signed off Maple Leaf Mailbag) ...", which I read in such a way that on Friday another, final issue for this weekend has been recorded (Kai Ludwig, ibid.) I smell a rat. I listened incredulously (again) to the whole thing on SW to be sure there wasn`t anything new or final in it. There was not. Terry clearly intended to do one last show for June 24. Managements can be cold-hearted about allowing program hosts to have the last word. Maybe he recorded a final show but it was nixed as too hot to broadcast. And the online Listen ``last show`` now labeled June 24 is also really the June 17 again. Shame! (Glenn Hauser, 2124 UT, ibid.) Yes, it appears the very last English broadcast from RCI was, alas, a rerun. Frequent mentions of "upcoming June 24th" shutdown date, and the mailbag show closed with "We'll see you next week." I have a feeling CBC management might have pulled the plug on any actual final show to keep the predictable anger and criticism off the air. The goodbye at the end of the final edition of "The Link" on June 22 was appropriate. Good reception of the final broadcast in Houston at 2000 on 17735. Fair signals on 15235 and 15330 during a couple of quick checks. I first heard RCI in 1966, when it was known as the "International Service of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation." The RCI moniker didn't come along until the early 1970's. At that time there were two daily broadcasts in English to North America at 1215 and 2300, both on 9625 (the morning broadcast also had frequencies to Europe and the Caribbean, and the evening output had two additional frequencies to the Caribbean.) This was when there were only the three 50 kW units at Sackville, and only one program stream could be transmitted at a time. I will miss having RCI as a listening option, but its glory days were long ago. I have rarely listened since the format change to "The Link" and the discontinuation of domestic CBC programming on SW. However there are a large amount of other sources of news from Canada on the internet, so it is not as if the country is going to disappear from the international media stage (Steve Luce, Houston, Texas, ibid.) Last hour of RCI English is on SW right now 2000-2100 UT Sunday: fair signal here on 15235 and 15330, weak on 17735, all from Sackville. Very disappointingly they seem to be carrying a repeat of the "penultimate" Maple Leaf Mailbag presumably from last week - if so, there's no special programming for their very last broadcast. 73s (Dave Kenny, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) 15330 // 15235 // 17735, Radio Canada International. 6/24, 2000-2059. 15330 best of three. Maple Leaf Mailbag reset. Canadian listener wrote the Government saving 38 cents per person in Canada by eliminating RCI. "Where do I send my 38 cents?". Concluded near TOH with announcer "You're listening to Radio Can - - - " and off mid-word to static. Might have been a little savings in cutting tx off before "....ada International" could get off the antenna, who knows? No Canadian beer in the fridge, I drank a toast to Ian, et al., with a fav Pinot Grigio. Good Night Now. 73 and Good Listening (Rick Barton, El Mirage, AZ, Hammarlund HQ-120X, Slinky, ABDX via DXLD) Hi Glenn, Still nothing at all of the final 2000 transmissions from Sackville. Canada. Radio Canada International relay, 15235 Sackville. June 24, 2012. Sunday. 1955-2015. Nothing heard, not even a trace of carrier. To Central Africa (EiBi). Jo'burg sunset 1525. Canada. Radio Canada International relay, 15330 Sackville. June 24, 2012. Sunday. 1955-2015. Nothing heard, not even a trace of carrier. To West Africa (EiBi). Jo'burg sunset 1525. Canada. Radio Canada International relay, 17735 Sackville. June 24, 2012. Sunday. 1955-2015. Nothing heard, not even a trace of carrier. To West Africa (EiBi). Jo'burg sunset 1525. China. Radio Canada International relay, 11675 Kunming // 15125. June 24, 2012. Sunday. *1500-1557* Chinese music filler from 1458, and at *1500 into ID "This is the news from Radio Canada International". At 1502 announced close of shortwave service, and recommended listening via the web. Song by the Kinks, "You really got me", into the "penultimate" ?? editon of "Maple Leaf Mailbag". Lots of letters criticising RCI's demise. One of them points out that RCI costs each Canadian taxpayer 35c a year. I assume the US and Canadian dollars are about equal, so that 35c would buy me about 7MB of data in SA (at 40 SA cents / meg). So I can't afford to listen to RCI, or any other station, on the web. Programme finished with "see you next week", and cut off in mid-tune at 1557*. Started fair-good, much better than yesterday. Deteriorated to just fair by 1515, but easily readable right through. To South Asia (EiBi). Jo'burg sunset 1525. Turkestan. Radio Canada International relay, 9530 Kashi // 17810, 11765. June 24, 2012. Sunday. 1892-1810. Unreadable, but same programme as 1500 transmission. Poor, barely audible let alone readable. To East Africa (EiBi). Jo'burg sunset 1525. Turkestan. Radio Canada International relay, 15125 Urumqi // 11675. June 24, 2012. Sunday. 1505-1508. Same programme as 11675, but I missed the end. Poor but readable, better than yesterday. To South Asia (EiBi). Jo'burg sunset 1525. U.K. Radio Canada International relay, 11765 Skelton // 17810, 9530. June 24, 2012. Sunday. *1800-1810. Almost unreadable, but same programme as 1500 transmission. Poor, barely readable. To East Africa (EiBi). Jo'burg sunset 1525. U.K. Radio Canada International relay, 17810. Skelton // 11765, 9530. June 24, 2012. Sunday. 1801-1805. Almost unreadable, but same programme as 1500 transmission. Poor at start, barely readable. Faded out completely by 1805. To West Africa (EiBi). Jo'burg sunset 1525. Just past 2030 UT. Listening to last English HF broadcast from RCI. My other comments, tweets, links to blog posts on this later this evening and during the week via Twitter feed @derekflynch Signal poor for first half hour here on both 15235 and 15330 but picked up a little in last few minutes. Broadcast did not open with special announcement or even with interval sig O can ada (Derek Lynch, Ireland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. 15235, Radio Canada International Sackville giving a solid last day signal, 2042 on 24 June with final "Maple Leaf Mailbag" airing (though advising one more airing to come). Parallels 17735.05 poor and 15330.04 poor. That quirky Canadian sense of humour showed through at the end with the playing of song "Get a Haircut and Get a Real Job". Closing English announcement then said something like "from 25 June, information about Radio Canada International will only be available at rci.net.[ca]" (Bryan Clark, Mangawhai, NZ using AOR7030+ and EWEs to North, Central & South America, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. THE LAST DAY for RADIO CANADA INTERNATIONAL, June 24: 15330, at 2005 `Maple Leaf Mailbag` sounds awfully familiar; yes, introduced as the ``Pentultimate`` [sic] edition, references to June 17 and going to present the final edition a week later. RCI is playing back last week`s show, depriving Terry Haig of his farewell program!! Was it pulled by management as too ``emotional``?? I listened incredulously to the entire hour, again, in case something new was edited in, but it was all the same as last week, ending with song ``Get a Haircut, Get a Real Job``. Then Terry`s final words were ``You people are a total gas. Thank you, thank you, thank you``, into canned closing, and 15330 cut off the air while // 15235 switched to French. Then checked the website, but found audio of the same last-week show of June 17 is now presented as the ``last show`` of June 24! Harry Brooks points out: Also available at WRN to play and download: http://www.wrn.org/listeners/#radio-canada-international But their ``June 24`` file of 1800 UT is also a repeat of June 17. Tony Malloy points out: The RSS feed has the last broadcast http://www.rcinet.ca/audio_on_demand/Audio/english/The_Maple_Leaf_Mailbag/EN_1200_The_Maple_Leaf_Mailbag_Balado-20120624.mp3 so I listen to that immediately before it gets deleted, and Terry does intro it as the June 24 podcast, but it`s not the same as the broadcast would have been, much shorter with music and what else removed? He said something about listening to the broadcast to hear more letters. I asked Wojtek Gwiazda of the RCI Action Committee about this and he replied: ``Hi Glenn, I don't know what happened. I very seriously doubt the programme was censored. I'll check in with Terry tomorrow. If something screwed up, I want him to at least have a quiet night of sleep tonight. He will be devastated to know the last programme was not broadcast. I may be wrong, but there are a number of steps before a program is ready for broadcast, enough steps for something to go wrong.`` On June 25 at 1640, we find that the MLM archive page has a ``June 24`` show recorded June 22 with this link: http://www.rcinet.ca/english/archives/program/the-maple-leaf-mailbag/archives/episode/12-11_2012-06-25-/ Note, it says June 25, as if it may have just been corrected, but there is no audio play link! 15455, June 24 at 2100, ``último programa em português de RCI,`` `Canadá Direto`, // stronger 17860. As far as staff were concerned, it was all over June 22, since the pattern had been to play this same half hour nine times each weekend, three each on Fri, Sat and Sun, and there would be two more June 24 at 2200 and 2300. 15455, June 24 at 2302, now it`s Spanish with finale of mailbag `El Castor Mensajero` = ``The Messenger Beaver`` which loses something in translation. This also on weaker 11990, along with Portuguese on 13760 were really the final, final, RCI SW transmissions. At 2328 inserted a bit of French and English, including ``the last of all RCI shortwave programs``. But it was not the last language! Inexplicably at 2329.5 to 2330.5* we heard Arabic! Plugged their website, opened program till cut off. I suppose this is what followed on a satellite feed which didn`t belong on SW, never any Arabic scheduled at this hour. What about other relays via Sackville? CBC Northern Quebec: 9625 is still on at 0202 June 25, CBC news in English, as usual blasted away by Spain/Costa Rica 9630 but at least in analog instead of DRM as before 0200. NHK World Radio Japan: 5960 for Japanese from 0200 June 25 is missing; instead Qur`an with weak signal, still at 0203, presumably Kuwait. However, NHK must have come on late, as it`s there at 0256 and beyond. The 0500-0529 English still exists too, thankfully, very good at 0513. 11655, 1259 June 25, NHK IS starting the bihour in Japanese. Bill Patalon III also confirms English still at 1200 on 6120. So NHK relays are lasting longer, until ---? Voice of Vietnam: 6175 is still going including English from 0100, altho when I tune in at 0114 it`s Vietnamese, soon voiced-over. Also for the rest of the evening, plus 9555 after 0430 at 0519 check with happy kidsongs. How much longer? But: CRI is gone from all these previously scheduled and heard broadcasts: 0100 on 9790, 0300 on 9560, 0400 on 6020, 6080, 0500 on 6020, 6190, 1300 on 9650, 15260. Also missing: Cantonese after 1200 on 11850. I`m rather surprised at this, since SAC was the #1 way for CRI to cover N America. These transmissions have still not been deleted from http://www.hfcc.org/data/schedbybrc.php?seas=A12&broadc=CRI showing effective until Oct 28. That leaves inferior signals from Cuba, Albania, Spain. If they wanted to, plenty of frequencies could also reach us intentionally direct from China. Maybe CRI thinx the increasing numbers of relays on MW stations in the US are sufficient? Hardly! KBS World Radio: 9560, at 0200 June 25, ID pronounced in English, then opening Spanish with constant audio artifacts as always from them. I assumed the 0230 English would follow, but it`s not there at 0253 check, following inquiry from Mick Delmage who was not hearing that broadcast at 0235, nor the previous night; how come? [see below] 9650 at 1232 check, the KBSWR 1200 English broadcast is still going, and so is the 1400 Korean at 1407 check. Jean-Michel Aubier confirmed the 0600 Spanish is still going too on 6045. Vatican Radio: The 0250 English broadcast is still there with VG signals on 9610, 7305. Did not awaken in time June 25 to check the 1130-1214 on 13730. VR is making their own cuts as of July 1, so these may only last one more week (via BONAIRE 15470 also still on in Spanish at 0200). There is no more RCI to be heard on SW, except: still a few RCI IS and IDs accompanying relays of other stations: 0529 on 9555 after Vietnam; 1259 on 9650 after KBS. O, Canada (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DX LISTENING DIGEST) EL CASTOR MENSAJERO (Radio Canadá Internacional) El Castor Mensajero es un puente entre Canadá y América Latina. Durante la media hora de duración, los oyentes del hemisferio, a través de cartas, entrevistas, mensajes telefónicos, correos electrónicos, concurso, música y otras sorpresas, aprenden a conocerse y a ligarse en amistad. La cita con El Castor Mensajero es todos los domingos, a través de la onda corta, Internet, radios asociadas en América latina, y en Canadá a través de la red satelital Sirius. El Castor Mensajero, un espacio semanal de Radio Canadá Internacional, presentado por Pablo Gómez Barrios, acompañado por Ginella Díaz. Programa del domingo 24 de Junio 2012 Hola Castoreanos y Castoreanas. La emisión del domingo 24 de junio es la última de El Castor Mensajero y además cerrará las emisiones de onda corta de Radio Canadá Internacional. Para la ocasión, contamos con la participación de varios oyentes con sus saludos y mejores deseos para la etapa que se inicia en RCI. A manera de reconocimiento y agradecimiento a todos ustedes, estaremos todo el equipo latinoamericano y los que hemos participado en nuestro Castor durante estos años. Acompáñenos. Nos dará un enorme gusto estrecharlos en un abrazo intangible, como las ondas cortas, a través de las ondas castoreanas. Direcciones de contacto: Email: castor@rcinet.ca Página de El Castor Mensajero: http://www.rcinet.ca/espagnol/emision/castor-mensajero/portal/ Cordiales 73 (via José Bueno, noticiasdx yg via DXLD) A Truly Canadian Letdown --- When other stations have shut down their shortwave service the final program is usually quite special. I think back to Radio Prague's final program with an excellent retrospective and taped comments from listeners such as Richard Cuff and yours truly. And I eagerly anticipate Radio Netherlands' final program on June 29th - especially considering that they have added extra broadcast times for it. These final shows act as a retrospective and a thank you to the many listeners over the years but not so our dearly departed Radio Canada International. In true CBC fashion, possibly to avoid an emotional send-off or to save a few shekels in production costs, their final broadcast of "The Maple Leaf Mailbag" was merely a repeat of the June 17th program. What a letdown! The RCI I miss is the one from before 1991 with Ian McFarland and his "SWL Digest" (previously known as "The DX Digest"). The RCI I miss had in depth news and newsmagazines. The RCI I miss relayed "CBC Sunday Morning" and "As It Happens". The RCI I miss cherished its history and its listeners. This just departed RCI had an opportunity to celebrate its past and its listeners and chose not to. I do not miss this RCI as it was an imposter. The real RCI died over twenty years ago. Its frequencies are better suited for stations that care about their history and their listeners (Mark Coady, Peterborough, ON K9J 6X3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I feel your pain myself, Cody. The RCI I missed used to broadcast The World at Eight weekday mornings and The World At Six weekday evenings. With 30 years of strikes, layoffs, budget cuts, downsizing and reduced hours, I'm guessing there wasn't even enough in the budget to give RCI a decent retrospective ending like that of Radio Prague and RNW. It truly was a letdown (J K Johnson, Atlanta GA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) The RSS feed has the last broadcast http://www.rcinet.ca/audio_on_demand/Audio/english/The_Maple_Leaf_Mailbag/EN_1200_The_Maple_Leaf_Mailbag_Balado-20120624.mp3 73s (Tony Malloy, UK, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) The podcast version of the program is generally around about 30 minutes in length as all the music is edited out. Actually - I think the podcast is a whole separate recording. Compare the podcast from last week at: http://www.rcinet.ca/audio_on_demand/Audio/english/The_Maple_Leaf_Mailbag/EN_1200_The_Maple_Leaf_Mailbag_Balado-20120617.mp3 with the download version on the website at: http://www.rcinet.ca/english/archives/program/the-maple-leaf-mailbag/home/date/17-06-2012/ So maybe the broadcast version was substantially different?? (Alan Roe, Teddington, UK, ibid.) Just checked at 1914 UT and the entry for the 24th has now gone from the RSS feed, but the link to the file still works (Malloy, June 25, ibid.) Some tweets via the RCI Action Committee website: RCI_Action It appears last week's Maple Leaf Mailbag was aired this weekend rather than this week's final edition #RCI 2 hours ago reply retweet favorite RCI_Action Chaos on #RCI website on last shortwave radio weekend tinyurl.com/85mw2st Radio Canada International #CBC #cdnpoli yesterday reply retweet favorite RCI_Action Latest on #RCI website - all addresses for programs, audio links, changed with no re-directs! Go to button "Autres saisons" to get old site. yesterday reply retweet favorite RCI_Action RT @kaedotcom: Want to hear last weekend of Radio Canada International? Transmsn schedule already pulled from website. t.co/xB3Jg ... yesterday reply retweet favorite (via gh, DXLD) The three RCI channels on Hotbird are as of 2200 still active. "RCI 1" (English) and "RCI 2" (French) appear to carry reruns of the mailbag shows over and over. "RCI 3" runs kind of // shortwave, it had English 2000-2100, French 2100-2200 and as of 2200 now apparently carries Chinese which in previous years used to be relayed by Radio Sweden and Radio Vatican if I recall correct. The last French show was here in Germany quite good on 9525, off the back of the Santa Maria di Galeria antenna, with the kind of modulation typical for this site (no hefty multiband compression, no upper-mids boost, slight distortion). The programme consisted of lengthy phone talks, nothing particular was to be noted. It did not go out in full on shortwave, 9525 went off inmidst the closing announcement at 2158 and 15235 (did not check the other Sackville outets with less favourable beams) followed just ten seconds later. Sackville was a good two seconds ahead, by the way. Enclosed the end of RCI English at 2055, as transmitted via Hotbird. In all likelyhood this was the same studio output as heard via Sackville, i.e. the one week old show. [Yes, it is --- gh] If this is really the result of internal censorship by this certain Hélène Parent (who presumably has not lost her job, or has she?) or someone else there would be a precedent for such an action: The closure of Radio Budapest, where the farewell message from the German service has not been broadcast, instead just music and repeated read-outs of the official press release. A closer look at the "RCI 1" channel on Hotbird reveals that it now carries what has been described to me as "CBC Radio", presumably one of the CBC Radio One variants. Was this always the case or has this satellite channel so far carried RCI programming over and over? If the latter this could already be a result of the closure of RCI as a radio station. Remains to be seen if the CBC keeps up this Hotbird feed (Kai Ludwig, Germany, 2216 UT June 24, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Also available at WRN to play and download http://www.wrn.org/listeners/#radio-canada-international (Harry Brooks, North East England, UK, ibid.) 9490 Radio Republica --- Noted them fine in Spanish, but cut off in mid-sentence about 2359:30 UT. I guess that's when they pulled the plug. Oops, not so fast, there they are again just before 0001 UT. Fair to good level. Maybe a hiccup in Sackville, or did they switch to a different site? (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, 0002 UT June 25, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) No, RCI Engineering said their last broadcast would end 6/25 at 0200 (Dan Ferguson, ibid.) The last Spanish programme by RCI is available to download here http://www.rcinet.ca/audio_on_demand/Audio/spanish/El_Castor_Mensajero/ES_2000_El_Castor_Mensajero_Balado-20120624.mp3 There are a couple of old recordings near the start, the formal opening of Canada's international broadcasting service by the Canadian PM and presumably the start of the first Spanish broadcast. About a minute from the end there is a short announcement in English that this is the last programme on shortwave by RCI (Harry Brooks, North East England, UK, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Bom dia a todos, A pedido do Sérgio Partamian, estou informando que hoje será feita a última transmissão em espanhol da Rádio Canada International. Ouçam no link abaixo o último programa que foi ao ar em Português no dia 22.06. pp. http://www.rcinet.ca/radio/index.php?language=po&type=chronicle&media=audio&id=1511 att (Eduardo/ Partamian, June 24, radioescutas yg via DXLD) Radio Canada International leaves shortwave, rather inelegantly, in the middle of an Arabic sentence. Posted: 24 Jun 2012 RCI Spanish had the the unhappy task of closing Radio Canada International's shortwave service. The last RCI transmission was at 2300-2330 UT. The Spanish staff was unbeat [upbeat?] during the program. Near the end of the broadcast were announcements in French and English. Listen to the English here. The entire broadcast ended with "Ciao," and applause. After the broadcast were announcements in, strangely enough, Arabic, promoting the website that replaces RCI broadcasts on shortwave. Radio Canada International signed off shortwave midsentence during the Arabic announcement. @RCI_Action, 24 June 2012: "It appears last week's Maple Leaf Mailbag was aired this weekend rather than this week's final edition #RCI" @RCI_Action, 24 June 2012: "A unique institution, only broadcaster in the world to explain Canada to the world, is gasping its last breaths right now." See more tweets at Twitter.com/RCI_Action And you don't have to speak Russian to get the sense of the final RCI Russian broadcast, 22 June 2012. http://www.rcinet.ca/radio/index.php?language=ru&type=program&media=audio&id=1033 (Kim Andrew Elliott, kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) Voice of Vietnam on 6175 kHz via Sackville on at 0100 UTC June 25 with The Sunday Show. 73 (Mick Delmage, AB, DX LISTENING DIGEST) China Radio International not on via Sackville at 2300 UT on 6145 or 11840 and at 0100 not on 9790. Vietnam is on 6175 at 0100. At 0200 Japan is not on 5960 in Japanese; all I'm hearing is probably Kuwait in Arabic. S. Korea is on 9560 in Spanish. At 0250 Vatican is on. Japan is now on 5960 at 0250 (Peter W Hansen, LINY, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) CRI via Sackville missing on 6190 at 0500 June 25. NHK Radio Japan Sackville relay on 6110 powered up about 0500:40, audio about 15 seconds later. Missed opening announcements, but up in time for the news. Same power up time I think Glenn mentioned the other day, perhaps wrong time entered in automation instead of 0459:40? (Steve Luce, Houston, Texas, ibid.) Hi Glenn. Just passing this along. I don’t know how long this will continue, if at all, but the Radio Voice of Vietnam broadcasts to North America (English at 0230 and 0330 UT) were on last night as scheduled on 6175. So was NHK at 0500 on 6110. This morning, the NHK broadcast (6120) and KBS English came on at 1200 (9650). Just found that interesting. And was happy to have found it (will enjoy as long as I can). (Bill Patalon III, Baltimore, June 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. 9625.03, CBC Northern Service, 0958-0959 instrumental NA, then W with ID and sked in French. R. Canada ID by W, then news. 1403- 1404 English news by W, weather, then ID with mention of satellite and Sackville, e-mail, and phone. Good with buzzing in the audio. (22 June) 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD-535D with T2FD antenna, HCDX via DXLD) 9625 - CBC Northern Quebec Service - English news into commentary with feature on the last day of RCI including clip from the last broadcast of the Link featuring a choked up announcer about the situation regarding the end of RCI. Signal was very good with only slight co- channel interference at 2311 June 25. Followed up with additional features on conservative Coke(?) brothers republican fundraising event in San Diego (Stephen Wood, Harwich, Mass., Perseus SDR, 25 x 50 superloop antenna with Northeast termination, dxldyg via DXLD) It`s Koch --- among the multitude of Koch products to boycott is toilet paper by Georgia-Pacific, e.g. Angel Soft. Or at least think of them while employing it (gh, DXLD) Hey everyone! Just ironic tonight, to hear Radio Canada International interval signal for about 10 seconds before the Voice of Vietnam in English at 0100 UT 6175. At least I am happy that the Sackville relays continue; but for how long? (Gilles Letourneau, Montreal, Canada http://www.youtube.com/tecmtl ibid.) Voice of Vietnam still on 6175 in English at 0100 this Tuesday (as Gilles Letourneau pointed out). Radio Martí heard before 0100 on 11775 via Greenville and after 0100 (via Sackville?) But Radio Martí no longer on 11775 at 0130. CRI is missing on 9790 at 0100. NHK back on 5960 at 0200 in Japanese. KBS WR still on 9560 in Spanish at the same time. Regards (Jean-Michel Aubier, France, UT June 26, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6175, Voice of Vietnam, 9560 KBS, 11775 R Martí, on air at 0207 5960, 26/Jun 0211, Kuwait, R Kuwait in Arabic. Song the Koran, in background R Japan. 43433 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana BA - Brasil 12 14´S 38 58´W, ibid.) ** CANADA. CBC'S DISPATCHES, CONNECT SAY GOODBYE --- RADIO CANADA INTERNATIONAL SHORTWAVE SERVICE ALSO ENDS AFTER BUDGET CUTS CBC News Posted: Jun 22, 2012 5:30 PM ET Last Updated: Jun 22, 2012 5:47 PM ET http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/story/2012/06/22/dispatches-connect-rci.html?cmp=rss CBC Radio foreign affairs program Dispatches aired its final episode on Thursday and CBC News Network's Connect closes down after Friday's show, both victims of budget reductions at the public broadcaster. Radio Canada International, which broadcasts in seven languages, also stops its shortwave service on Friday. Employee Wojtek Gwiazda said Canada had lost "the best ambassador it has internationally" with the end of the service. Mark Kelley is the host of Connect, which airs its final show Friday on the CBC News Network. Mark Kelley is the host of Connect, which airs its final show Friday on the CBC News Network. (CBC) [caption] The programs were cut after the federal government reduced CBC's parliamentary allocation by $115 million over three years. CBC has already unveiled a more modest fall and winter schedule and begun steps to eliminate as many as 650 jobs in response to the cut. Dispatches, a well-regarded CBC Radio One program that allowed correspondents to tell stories that might not have fit into more conventional news programs, has run for 12 years. An experiment that works "Dispatches was an experiment and it worked. It still works. The formula didn't fail the audience. I'm always going to be proud of that. That's my takeaway," said host Rick MacInnes-Rae on Friday. "That, and when you get knocked down, you get back up and push the hell back. That's the takeaway in this for all of us." Dispatches earned international radio awards from Amnesty International, the Gabriels and the New York Festival. Just recently, Alison Crawford's October 2011 report on the legacy of Argentina's 1970s rights abuses won an award for human rights reporting. Connect, hosted by Mark Kelley, is a news magazine that got behind the day's headlines with longer interviews and in-depth coverage of issues such as bullying, the Montreal protests and the cost of Canada's fighter jets. 'Heartbroken to let go' "I built a great team of young, courageous, whip-smart people, who inspired me every day with their creativity. Together, we made a great show that I am so immensely proud of. And so heartbroken to let go," Kelley said on Friday. "Behind the scenes, we took chances, we pushed our luck, and we tried harder each day. And we succeeded. However, cancellation is no reward for success." Aired at 8 p.m. every weeknight on CBC News Network, Connect began as a two-hour show, then was chopped in 2010 to just an hour. Both Connect and Dispatches were produced out of Toronto. 'Voice of Canada' muted Radio Canada International is headquartered in Montreal and has correspondents in Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Halifax. Begun in 1945 as the "Voice of Canada" to the world, it has reports in English, French, Spanish, Russian, Mandarin, Arabic and Portuguese. CBC reduced its budget from $12.3 million annually to $2.3 million, resulting in dozens of job cuts and the need to end the shortwave service. RCI will continue to broadcast via the internet. Staff at the show said they were unclear at this point where the reports for the internet would come from, after such a deep cut. Gwiazda said RCI has had cutbacks for decades, including losing its Russian and Brazilian programming, and these latest cuts amount to the effective end of the service. Internet censorship will block RCI Jian Wang, who prepares news and current affairs reports for the Chinese section, says many people in China may not have access to RCI over the internet because of censorship. "As you know in China ... almost 10,000 [internet] pages are blocked by the government with firewalls, so people cannot go there, including RCI Chinese programs, so they can't listen to us anymore," he said. Wang said people in China need objective sources of information. "So we need some perspective, some objective news from Canada. We tell the truth and many of our listeners know that already." Rashi Khilnani, who does a radio show called the Indo-Canadian report, says Canada will miss out on potential ties with the subcontinent with the loss of a shortwave service. "Jason Kenney has called Indian immigrants 'good immigrants,' so if you're trying to lure immigrants here surely they're entitled to know more about the country before coming here. And to realize that Canada is more than the stereotypes. It's such a shame, we're losing the opportunity to share that with the world," he said. Many people on the subcontinent do not have access to the internet, he said. Literacy is only 65 per cent, so people rely on radio. With files from Lauren McCallum (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** CANADA. RCI ENDS SHORTWAVE BROADCAST SACKVILLE, N.B. TRANSMITTERS WILL BE SOLD CBC News Posted: Jun 26, 2012 1:35 PM AT Last Updated: Jun 26, 2012 3:41 PM AT http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/story/2012/06/26/nb-rci-transmission-ends.html After decades of service, the transmission towers outside of Sackville, N.B are no longer broadcasting Radio Canada International to the world. The international broadcasting service ended its shortwave transmission Sunday night. "I find myself, on behalf of all of us, saying goodbye to 67 years of radio," said host Marc Montgomery, breaking down on air. In April, CBC reduced RCI's budget from $12.3 million annually to $2.3 million, resulting in dozens of job cuts and the need to end the shortwave service. RCI will continue as an online-only service. However, Montgomery called it a huge loss for many listeners around the world. "There's no denying the importance of the internet. There's also no denying that it can be and is regularly blocked by authoritarian regimes. Shortwave broadcasts on the other hand, almost always get through to people hungry for information," said Montgomery. Martin Marcotte, director of CBC Transmission, said he's now looking to sell the New Brunswick towers and land. He said he's focussing on selling the site to other shortwave broadcasters or wind farm companies. "It will be fairly costly to dismantle and as a last resort we would dismantle the facility, return it to bare land as it was when we first acquired that site," said Marcotte (via Alokesh Gupta, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DXLD) I wonder if China would buy it and run CRI 24/7 out of Sackville? (Pat Blakely, ibid.) I doubt the Chinese are interested in purchasing Sackville. If they wanted expanded transmission capability in the Western Hemisphere, they could have purchased the RNW Bonaire facility as well as the old BBC/DW relay on Antigua. If Venezuela gets its new shortwave transmission center on the air, it is quite possible CRI could utilize that facility as is currently done with Radio Havana Cuba's transmitters (Steve Luce, Houston, Texas, ibid.) ** CANADA. Report on CBC TV News New Brunswick on RCI site closure There was a report CBC News New Brunswick at 6 tonight on the impending RCI site closure. Charles Guitard an RCI technician and retiring Rigger Dave Wheaton are interviewed in this report. It airs 13:33 in to the newscast, which can be found at http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Canada/NB/ID/2250624227/ Titled CBC News: New Brunswick at 6:00 | Jun 27, 2012 | 31:06 New Brunswick - June 26, 2012 CBC TV news and weather from New Brunswick Actual air date was June 26th and it is now posted so I'm not sure why the date June 27th is part of it (Wade Smith, VE9WGS, June 26, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. TORY SENATOR WANTS CBC CALLED ON CARPET FOR SLASHING SHORTWAVE SERVICE http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/ OTTAWA — Unless the CBC rethinks its “utterly reprehensible” decision to eliminate Radio Canada International’s shortwave service, its senior managers will be called to explain the decision to a special Senate inquiry, Conservative Senator Hugh Segal said Thursday. “This is probably the most destructive way the board of the CBC could find to manage the financial economies they have to face,” said Segal. “It is going to take the Canadian message out of the international marketplace.” Segal, a member of the Senate’s Foreign Affairs committee and chair of its special Committee on Anti-Terrorism, says the busting down of RCI to an Internet radio station will block RCI from millions of people living under repressive regimes. “In those parts of the world where the Internet is blocked, such as the People’s Republic of China, Iran and North Korea, there is no way for RCI’s messages of freedom and opportunity to get there,” he told the Senate. “I blame the board of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and its senior management, who cut far away from home rather than cutting here, because it was more convenient for them to do so.” CBC is slashing 80 per cent of Radio Canada International’s budget, cutting dozens of full- and part-time jobs, eliminating much original programming and confining the 67-year-old Voice of Canada [sic] broadcast to a website. In many developing nations, access to the Internet is either limited or non-existent, with millions of people relying solely on radio for national and international news and information. Along with the $10 million cut to RCI’s budget — from $12.3 million to $2.3 million — the CBC is also ending shortwave transmissions from its major relay station at Sackville, New Brunswick on June 26. CBC has defended the cuts to RCI as necessary because the federal government has slashed its budget by 10 per cent over the next three years — to about $115 million. Because the CBC has no public shareholders’ meeting, said Segal, it falls to Parliament to hold the publicly-funded broadcaster accountable. “We in the Senate have the right to discuss and debate, and have called before our committees, public institutions that make decisions that are not in the public interest,” he told the Citizen. “Someone has to be held accountable.” Any Senate inquiry into RCI would likely be at the Foreign Affairs Committee in the fall, he added. “But who knows? In the time between now and then, the CBC board might be giving some thought to the decision they made.” © Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen (via Kevin Redding, TN, June 26, ABDX via DXLD) I always understood that Hugh Segal had some clout with Prime Minister Harper's government. Maybe something good will come out of this. Accordingly, people who feel strongly about this should continue to persuade the Government of Canada. It`s OK to be blunt, just be blunt in a nice way. You can attract more flies with honey than vinegar (Phil Rafuse, VY2PR, Stratford PE Canada, ABDX via WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DXLD) ** CANADA. RADIO CANADA INTERNATIONAL: BUDGET CUTS TAKE THEIR TOLL [with Video] TheWashingtonPost, By Olga Khazan, June 26, 2012 These are tough times in journalism, even for our neighbors to the North. In April, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation announced it was dramatically cutting the budget of its international broadcasting service, Radio Canada International, and would stop RCI’s shortwave service on June 24, according to reports in the Montreal Gazette. Dozens of RCI employees received pink slips, and RCI programs will now only be available via Internet broadcast. The move sparked demonstrations in front of the Radio-Canada-CBC building in Montreal last week, and some Canadian Twitter users have been writing that they are “speechlessly dismayed,” and calling the move “inexcusable.” Some of the most moving sentiment came from Marc Montgomery, host of the English-language program the Link, during his final broadcast on Friday: Video here http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/radio-canada-international-budget-cuts-take-their-toll-video/2012/06/26/gJQAXLAa4V_blog.html Through sobs, Montgomery thanked users for listening for the 67 years the service has been on the air. “Goodbye to you, my radio friends, with whom we’ve shared so many stories. It’s a privilege I’ve been thankful for every single day.” He also touched on an interesting point: Many authoritarian regimes, including China, block certain Internet sites, but shortwave service continues to penetrate. Montgomery said shortwave listening continues to be important for people who don’t have Internet access. “China, North Korea and Cuba remain convinced of the strategic value of shortwave,” Montgomery said. Overall, shortwave radio bands have become less popular worldwide, and major broadcasters have been dropping their shortwave services over the past few years. According to the Montreal Gazette report, “The CBC has said it decided to transform RCI ‘consistent with currently shifting media consumption behaviours, as well as strategies adopted by other public broadcasters.’ The BBC, Voice of America, Deutsche Welle and RFI have reduced their shortwave services in some markets, the CBC points out.” http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/radio-canada-international-budget-cuts-take-their-toll-video/2012/06/26/gJQAXLAa4V_blog.html (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) RCI Sackville Update --- Just now I called the RCI relay in Sackville, New Brunswick. And got some very very depressing news. All the clients to the station KBS, VOV and others are being contacted to look for a new relay. I called to see if there was a chance to get some time once a week for PCJ. He said if it was up to him he would. But that the CBC has all intentions to tear down the station and not keep it going. He said the CBC wants to shut it down as soon as possible, but they can keep operating until October 31st if some of the stations that use it need time to find new relays. But he said the CBC is putting lots of pressure on them to get rid of anyone using the station (Keith Perron, Taiwan, June 27, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi all, Interesting news to have the Sackville transmitter site for sale; but I wonder who would want to buy this equipment. The fact that they are also considering selling for wind farm means they don`t really care who buys this land. Yes, it is a great place for North American broadcasts, but I don`t think anyone will be interested in the Sackville transmitters. On a different note, CBC northern Quebec coming in well today. Service is continued for the time being. 9625 in English at 1400 UT June 27th 2012. 73's (Gilles Letourneau, Montreal, Canada, ibid.) I'm sure TDF has already contacted the Sackville clients in regard to the availability of Montsinery for B-12 and beyond. Have to wonder if any of the private American SW operations (WWCR, WWRB, WTWW, WBCQ, WRMI) would be a possibility? Somehow I doubt it, but interesting thought. Curious as to what will happen to the nine transmitters. The three Harris units from the mid-80's will probably be stripped for parts, but the newer ABB units (mid to late 90's) should have quite a bit of life remaining in them. Not any older than the Telefunken units RNW moved from Sweden to Madagascar (Steve Luce, Houston, Texas, ibid.) Written on June 25, 2012 at 22:39 by Admin RCI Action Day 001 at the new (non-radio) Radio Canada International Filed under 2012 CUTS/COUPURES, UPDATE no comments The silence at Radio Canada International this morning was deafening. Everywhere you looked, empty desks, silent studios, and the knowledge that we are now embarking on a road so very different from what we’ve ever known in the past. We have weathered innumerable cuts of people, programmes, language sections, finances. And we’ve survived, sometimes it seemed impossible that we could even imagine that we could go on. But we did. Now powers above us have taken away our soul, the core meaning of what we do. They’ve taken us off radio, and turned us into an on-line service, a service without any of our previous programming, designed to confirm the public relations needs of those who said Radio Canada International was being “transformed” not “destroyed”. Written on June 26, 2012 at 22:45 by Admin RCI Action VIDEO: TV report on the last day of radio on Radio Canada International Filed under 2012 CUTS/COUPURES, UPDATE no comments As the last radio newscasts and last radio programmes were broadcast, a journalist from our national public television broadcaster Raffy Boudjikanian interviewed a number of us to give viewers an understanding of what had happened to us: we stopped being a radio station after 67 years on the air. [but there is no video here] What can you do to help us restore Radio Canada International? Please go here: http://rciaction.org/blog/what-you-can-do/ Written on June 27, 2012 at 00:12 by Admin RCI Action Day 002 at the new (non-radio) Radio Canada International Filed under 2012 CUTS/COUPURES, UPDATE no comments There were more colleagues in the office today. Many of those who are being laid off came in to empty their desks. Some are here for the orientation sessions on how to find a job. Others are taking training to know how to fill in for us, with our new duties as web posters for our website. Speaking of the website. Every time we looked at it today, it kept changing. The good news is that the links to all the archived programmes, and audio, are (finally!!) being restored after three days of chaos. That said, there’s still lots of work to be done. Lots of language mixups on the new web site, and quite a few broken links on the archived site. By the way, if you’re trying to find the old site, on our new site, look for the button to the left of the LIVE RADIO (or other language equivalent) button. And of course, the live radio is not ours, it’s the live radio of our French radio at the national public broadcaster CBC/Radio-Canada. If you find it a bit weird that there’s so much publicity and links to both the English and French services of our national broadcaster, so do we. And if you’re wondering why the news on the English and French pages of our website aren’t contextualized, you’ve probably realized if you clicked on the connect buttons, that you’re sent to our domestic national broadcaster for news. Since our newsroom is closed, and our journalists laid off, our administrators scrambled to give the impression that things are still fine, and running smoothly. They’re not. We’re also finding that it’s hard to concentrate on the task of presenting well thought out reports and interviews. That’s because we no longer have technicians to record us in studio. Booths have been set up for us to do telephone interviews and record continuity. Even our phones have been set up for interviews, just in case. But that does take away from our main tasks. And then there’s the website. It keeps on changing. And we’re now responsible for inputting texts, photos and audio onto the website. For some, this is their first experience. The days are stressful. Only bright spot, seeing some of our colleagues who were laid off. But it’s a bit melancholy, they’re no longer really our colleagues. Such a waste. These people have decades of experience in explaining Canada to the world. Another bright spot, the Washington Post has discovered us, thanks in part to that video of Marc Montgomery, host of “The LInk”. The video shows him tearfully saying goodbye to the listeners. You can see it here. This is the human part of what we do, real radio, talking to people. So we survived Day 002 – but it’s still hard to walk by the Russian Section’s area. They’re not there. I’m wondering, will we water their plants? (RCI Action Committee via WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DXLD) Hi Glenn, Thanks for the shout out. Very nice of you. Hey, I wanted to pass along something that I'd heard. I was told that KBS, VOV and NHK will continue using the Sackville relay until Oct. 31. As tapped in as you are, you probably already picked this up after this post, but wanted to pass this along just in case (Bill Patalon III, June 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) MAPLE LEAF Mailbag - June 24, 2012 Dear Friends, I am distraught that the final edition of the MLMB did not go out properly this past weekend because of technical glitches. The show can be heard on line by clicking on the search button on the RCI website and writing in "Maple Leaf Mailbag." Then hit "programs" and click "listen." My apologies that we could not spend our final hour together as planned. Once again, I thank you all for your undying love, support, insight, graciousness and generosity. You are wonderful and magical. I shall never forget you. Be well, everyone. Au Revoir and peace! Terry H. http://www.rcinet.ca/english/archives/program/the-maple-leaf-mailbag/home/ Axually you can play it from this page (via Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** CANADA. Confirmed Sackville closure & schedule Hi, Glenn, I am just about to post the following on the SWLing Post-- thought you could share this as well: <><><><><><> I was just informed by RCI Sackville that they plan to continue to broadcast their North Quebec service and various relays of other broadcasters until the end of October. Specifically: - The North Quebec service will continue to operate until all five FM relays are in service to replace the shortwave broadcasts on 9625 kHz. So far, only two of the five relays are in service. - They will continue to broadcast the following station relays until October 31st, 2012, unless the various broadcasters decide to pull out early. Below are a list of relays: ----Voice of Vietnam ----NHK ----KBS ----Vatican Radio (which, reportedly, will continue to broadcast until end of July 2012) Again, this schedule is subject to change and the October 31st date could be altered depending upon when VOV, NHK and KBS decide to either discontinue their relays or broadcast them from elsewhere. The implication is that the North Quebec service on 9,625 kHz will be removed, perhaps even without warning, as soon as the remaining three local FM relays are in service. <><><><><><> Glenn, thanks for posting those updates on farewells and specials. Really appreciate them! Cheers, (Thomas Witherspoon, June 28, http://swling.com/blog DX LISTENING DIGEST) Since no one else has mentioned it, and no one asked me for my reminiscences for their final programming, I would like to point out for the record that I, Glenn Hauser, had the privilege of appearing on RCI for a good many years, as the DX news contributor on DX Digest / SWL Digest (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHILE. 11880, June 21 at 2144, NHK in Portuguese, fair signal signing off? No, just concluding a program before usual dekasecond break in automation, which at 2145 would start `Enfoque de Rádio Japão`. This is 100 kW, 60 degrees from Calera de Tango near Santiago at 2130-2200 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 17398-USB, Guangzhou Coastal Radio Station, *1100-1105*, June 24. In Chinese with assume marine weather conditions; almost fair, with QRN; was not on at 1000, per their schedule (0100, 0200, 0300, 0400, 0500, 0600, 0700, 0900, 1100, 1300 and 1500) (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. Hi Glenn, Here are some of this week`s Firedrake logs [June 16-22] 11500, 1156. Poor, 6/19/12 12230, 1156. Poor, 6/22/12 13970, 1158. JBA, 6/19/12 14700, 1159. Fair-good, 6/19/12 14870, 1159. Fair, 6/19/12 15435, 1210 to 1214 sign off. Poor, 6-16-12 15435, 1209 to 1214 sign off. Poor, with het heard from another station. 6-19-12 15445, 1216 abrupt sign on. Poor, 6-16-12 15445, 1217 to 1230 sign off. Poor, 6-16-12 15555 1254 to 1306 sign off; did not sign off at ToH but continued on. Poor, 6/16/12 15900, 1159. Poor, 6/19/12 (Steve Handler, IL, June 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6150, jamming by both Firedrake and CNR1 programming to block out RTI; noted at 1033 and 1330 on June 21. Has been a while since I last heard their maximum effort to jam; not often that both are heard together (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Firedrake June 21, before 1300: 12320, fair at 1255 13920, fair at 1256 14700, good at 1257 14950, very good at 1257 15555, good at 1258 16100, very good at 1258 16980, very good at 1258 17170, fair at 1259; none in the 18s Before 1330: 7365, poor at 1319 with flutter // 15565. Unusual on this band, especially 7365 which is scheduled this hour with VOA Cantonese via Thailand, and the Beijing ChiCom don`t normally bother to jam this minority language! Getting tougher, even more paranoid? 15485, fair at 1310 15560, fair at 1310, ex-15555 above 15565, good at 1320, ex-15560 Before 1400: 7365, JBA at 1357; see above 15495, good at 1349 15605, fair at 1320 After 1400: 13430, fair at 1423 vs CODAR; recently new, first heard in May; wondered if it was a punch-up error by SOH or FD for previous 13130 14700, fair at 1422 15605, fair at 1403; this one only stayed on from before 1400 above 15615, very poor at 1412, ex-15605, and WEWN is missing 17450, fair at 1420 17565, poor at 1420 with CCI; so V of Tibet via Madagascar is here today instead of 17560 or 17570 Firedrake June 22, after 1300: 15555, fair until 1317* cutting off just as I tuned in; none lower 16100, very good at 1318; none higher. Poor propagation today Before 1400: 15490, very poor at 1351, het on lo side; none lower 16100, good at 1352; none higher (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also COLOMBiA, 14950.68 [and non]. Sabato 23 giugno 2012, 0353 - 15265 kHz, FIREDRAKE + VOA Tibetan, Segnali sufficienti-insufficienti. Not CNR 1 Jammer? (Luca Botto Fiora, QTH G.C. 09E13 - 44N21, Rapallo (Genova) - Italia, bclnews.it yg via DXLD) Firedrake June 23, before 1200: 9970, fair-good at 1142, none higher until: 15900, very poor at 1146 16100, JBA at 1146 After 1200: 15435, poor at 1209 Firedrake June 24, before 1200: 14700, good at 1158 14950, fair at 1158-1200* Before 1300: 13920, good at 1237; none in the 12s 14700, very good at 1240 15555, very good at 1242 15780, very good at 1241, way over 15775 VOA Korean Tinang USward 16100, very good at 1244 16920, very good at 1244 17450, JBA at 1245 After 1300: 15555, good at 1304; the only one still on past hourtop (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, Here are some of this morning`s (6-25-12) Firedrake loggings 11500, JBA at 1158 13920, JBA at 1159 with sign off heard 1200; also 1224 and 1246 poor 13970, Poor-JBA 1246 14700, JBA 1225, and 1247 with poor signal Good DX (Steve Handler, IL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Firedrake June 25, after 1300: 15560, poor at 1312 Before 1400: 17450, JBA at 1359 16920, very poor with flutter at 1359 16100, very poor with flutter at 1359 15900, JBA at 1359 14700, very poor at 1359 Started too late, unknown if any below 14 Firedrake June 26 around 1250: none found 11-18 MHz in very poor conditions. It`s the unreasonably low solar flux rather than disturbances. WWV reported: ``Solar-terrestrial indices for 25 June follow. Solar flux 89 and estimated planetary A-index 9. The estimated planetary K-index at 1200 UTC on 26 June was 2. No space weather storms were observed for the past 24 hours. No space weather storms are predicted for the next 24 hours`` Firedrake June 27, before 0500: 17450, very good at 0449 16100, very poor at 0452; no others found lower After 1200: 15435, fair-good until 1214* Before 1300, eleven: where`s the other one? 11500, very poor at 1242; none in the 10s 12800, poor at 1242 13920, fair at 1241 13970, good at 1241 14700, fair at 1242 15555, good at 1244 15940, very good at 1244 with flutter 16920, very good at 1244 16980, very good at 1244 16100, fair at 1246 17450, very poor at 1246; none in the 18s After 1300: 15485, fair at 1313 15560, fair at 1313 ex 15555 before 1300; het on hi side Steve Handler's Firedrake Logs of 6-27-12 1200-1329 GMT: Hi Glenn, Here are some of today's early logs of Firedrake 11500, Poor 1242 12230, Good 1322 13920, Fair 1242 13970, Fair 1242 14700, Poor with het 1243 and 1324 15555, Fair with het 15940, Fair-poor 1244 16920, Good 1245 and 1325 16980, Good 1246 Good DX (Steve Handler, IL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 11686 // 11702 // 11718 // 11726 // 11734, CNR1, 1128-1140, June 25. In Chinese; // 6125. Last May when I heard CNR1 on 11717.98 (DXLD 12-20) I should have been more curious, otherwise I might have found these other frequencies. Spurs? What is the primary frequency? (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. CNR 1, 17580 and 17605. M&F in Chinese at 0515, 24 June. Good on both frequencies (Brock Whaley, Kandahar, AFGHANISTAN, SW-11 for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [non]. 13650, June 24 at 1206, CRI English with CCI, surely V. of Korear, followed 5 or 6 words later by 13645. 13650 is via Cerrik, ALBANIA; 13645 is via Kashgar, EAST TURKISTAN (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [non]. All the Sackville relays of CRI appear to have been canceled as of June 25: see CANADA. This leaves inferior signals via CUBA, ALBANIA, SPAIN intended for us, plus numerous off-beam broadcasts direct. 13740, June 25 at 1401 no signal tho RHC is big on 13780. CRI English finally cuts on late at *1402 JIP news with undermodulation, hum, lo- fi audio. Sometimes this transmitter is warming up already by 1350 with open carrier. This 14-16 relay and equally defective 13-14 on 9570 are all that`s left for CRI English in the morning to us. Whatever became of the new transmitters China was installing in Cuba? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I saw your note about CRI. After dropping everything from the Sackville relay; is there any way to hear their English language broadcasts here, now? I ask this because, as a business journalist, I listen regularly to CRI's news broadcasts to help keep up with what's going on in the Pacific Rim. This week has been a bit frenetic here at work, so I haven't tuned in since the weekend. Any help on that question will be much appreciated (Bill Patalon III, Baltimore MD, June 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) CRI still has relays via Cuba, Spain and Albania for North America, some with weaker signals, some with inferior modulation compared to Sackville. 13-14 9570 Cuba 14-16 13740 Cuba 23-24 5990 Cuba 00-02 6020 & 9570 Albania 01-02 9580 Cuba 03-04 9690 Spain [best], 9790 Cuba (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA [and non]. [Re 12-25:, URUGUAY] "Los países que están bien, sin problemas, escuchan blues y rock and roll. Los países que caen en desgracia escuchan cumbia" (declaraciones del filósofo contemporáneo argentino Roberto Napolitano al diario Los Andes, de Mendoza, 9 de marzo de 2002) (via Rodolfo Tizzi, condiglist yg via XLD) Excelente reflexión!! Da para hablar bastante y este no es el ámbito pero una lectura rápida de esa frase. No me permite más que estar de acuerdo. Yo añadiría el folklore de cada lugar como un símbolo de "estar bien" desde el terreno musical (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, ibid.) Cuarenta y cinco años atrás, al viajar por Colombia, observé como en la Costa tocaban determinada música, en el Valle otra, mientras que en "el Páramo" (o "la Sabana") ni la una ni la otra. La música que ponían las emisoras variaba según parámetros como altura sobre el nivel del mar, flora y fauna, temperatura y hora del día, y lógicamente de acuerdo al color de piel de los habitantes del lugar. 40 años más tarde, ya residiendo en Bogotá, intenté un esbozo de los formatos musicales de la radio bogotana: http://www.pateplumaradio.com/south/colombia/formatos.htm En los países de América Latina advertimos todavía hoy en día como en las radios pueblerinas pasan distintos géneros musicales según la hora del día. En Centroamérica, por ejemplo, rancheras por la madrugada, baladas por la tarde, música tropical por la noche y antes de cerrar unos bolerazos. Yo recuerdo que en mi país, en Suecia, en el año 1965, en un ambiente panamericano (de latinos hispanohablantes), la música que siempre ponía a tono a los presentes era la cumbia. Eso probablemente ya no se daría hoy, pero desde entonces a esta parte han pasado muchas cosas. La urbanización ha seguido su curso y la influencia de la cultura anglosajona también. Pero ese es otro cantar... 73, (Henrik Klemetz (Suecia), ibid.) ** COLOMBIA. QSL Report for Al Muick 25 June 2012 --- Hello All, It's been a long time since I have had anything to report. The well has been essentially dry, and I have been corresponding via registered airmail as well as talking with several consulates about retrieving outstanding QSLs. COLOMBIA, Radio Alcaravan [sic], 5910, full data card and assorted stickers in 280 days for Spanish airmail report with 2 IRCs and follow-up in Spanish via registered airmail with US $5.00. QSL received 37 days after follow-up. V/s. Rafael Rodríguez R., QSL Manager. Rafael did send me a very nice and polite email when he got the follow-up, stating that he never received the original. 73 to all! (Al Muick, Williamsport, PA, June 25, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also IRELAND For Alcaraván Radio, Rafael Rodríguez is a nice verifier, always helpful to DXers, he even doesn't require return postage! (Partha Sarathi Goswami, Siliguri, W.B., India, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6010.14, La Voz de tu Conciencia at very good strength 0704 on 18 June. On 24 June the frequency was 6010.08v but with heterodyne from about 6009.9. I could detect audio from Rádio Inconfidência, BRAZIL underneath but couldn`t determine its frequency (Bryan Clark, Mangawhai, NZ using AOR7030+ and EWEs to North, Central & South America, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA. [Re 12-25 unID] 14950.64, UNIDENTIFIED (Central-Mexi- merican). 2242 June 21, 2012. Per D. Crawford alert, this recently- appearing one audible with deep fades, trading-off Spanish male and female, norteño-ish vocals. Some of the female announcements are reverbed. Almost seems a feed from a legit source. Full AM mode (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, FL static site with (highly abridged equipment list): JRC NRD-535, ICOM IC-R75, Sony ICF-7600GR, and Sangean PR-D5; 1 X roof dipole, 1 X room random wire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 14950.68, 0015-0025+, June 22, I'm hearing this unidentified station again with Spanish music. Very weak in noisy conditions at this time. (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg, PA, USA, Icom IC-7600, two 100 foot longwires, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Initial tip; full report: 14950.68, 0015-0105+, June 22, I'm hearing this unidentified station again with Spanish music. Spanish talk. Very weak in noisy conditions (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) 14950.68 as measured by Brian Alexander, PA, tnx for this tip. So I tuned in at 0046 UT June 22 to find a weak signal with deep fades, but a few words readable occasionally at peaks. It seemed carrier plus USB (less modulation but some also on LSB), but soon found it was really more readable in the AM mode on the DX-398. Immediately heard ``hoy ha venido la salvación``, and it`s definitely a religious station. 0049 hymnic harmonies; 0051 mentioned ``la luz``, more music. 0055 announcements past hourtop, but too weak to make anything out. Unfortunately I had a date with the lawnmower, so had to suspend monitoring, but at 0137 brief recheck, it was in Spanish preaching, well worth more mowing. When I had finished the lawn at 0214, praise- music was playing, sounded like a child singing. A couple times including 0220 sounded like an automated timecheck by a YL, but couldn`t read it for a very good clue. Assertive OM informing us about pecados (sins). 0222 an even weaker het started, probably trace of Firedrake and/or Sound of Hope, on a typical frequency and start-time for them, 14950 even. 0226 Bible lesson. I was torn between keeping listening or heading for the shower, escaping the mosquitos on the porch where I was monitoring to minimize household computer/TV noise, and/or getting POV on PBS taped, when the station solved that problem by cutting off the air abruptly at 0229:10*. It might have come back on, but I didn`t give it a chance. Toward the end the signal was a bit stronger than at first. For the record, I also checked semi-frequency 7475 around 0055 and it was definitely not // the music from Greece. Surely from somewhere in Latin America. Perú has a history of unofficial out-of-band stations; remember there was one above 10 MHz several years ago. This is no hobby pirate, but a professional- sounding gospel huxter. I`m sure some IDs must have gone by during fades or while I was not monitoring. Next time! Note: this religious format is at variance with the ``Mexican music`` several NASWA listeners reported the last time it was heard, UT June 17. This increases the possibility that it`s some pirate picking up and relaying different local stations. Should also look for it in our mornings, if Firedrake isn`t on the frequency (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Again, June 22 2154 on 14950.66 with Spanish Christian vocals, poor (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, FL static site with (highly abridged equipment list): JRC NRD-535, ICOM IC-R75, Sony ICF-7600GR, and Sangean PR-D5; 1 X roof dipole, 1 X room random wire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 14950.65v, 2210-2305+, June 22, carrier + USB. I'm still hearing this unidentified station, but now the frequency is a little lower. Spanish religious sounding music. Spanish talk. Instrumental music. Very weak- threshold level, but fair to good on occasional peaks. Drifted up to 14950.66 at 2330 check. I hope someone can eventually ID this station. (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg, PA, USA, Icom IC-7600, two 100 foot longwires, ibid.) 14950, 22/Jun 2356, UNIDENTIFIED, ballads in Spanish. It seems to be gospel, yes is gospel. Very noisy. Very weak signal, but fair on occasional peaks. At 0014 what appears to be a jingle, but I do not understand, then more gospel music. At 0017 carrier only, without modulation. Back at 0021 with YL talk. At 0027 more jingle and OM talk, but when OM or YL talk, the modulation is low. At 0036 jingle with good signal. At 0055 what appears to be a short prayer by OM. Signal degrading. I recorded the listening today, but I did not get ID, since the signal faded. The recording is on my blog at: http://www.ipernity.com/doc/75006 73 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana BA - Brasil, 12 14´S 38 58´W, 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 ibid.) Ahora en 14950 entra una señal bastante fuerte; parece musica pop (Ernesto Paulero, Argentina, 0136 UT June 23, condiglist yg via DXLD) 14950.7, June 22 at first check 2311, JBA signal from the mystery LA station, so I`ll get back to it later as TVDX from Mexico is still incoming. June 23 at 0040, can hear some music, unseems religious but maybe Mexican; 0045 it`s a JBA carrier; 0054 announcement. I find slightly better reception on the porch with the DX-398 and a few meters of wire, than on the FRG-7 in the shack with much longer wire. 0054 announcement, maybe sermon past 0100, mentions Satanás at 0103. 0122 is no better so I quit for a while again. Annoying regular noise bursts from some local source at the rate of 90/minute. From 0159 I start recording some of the peaks when there are announcements. Now it`s Mexican style but it`s also religious music mentioning ``oración``; 0200 announcement, 0201 timecheck ending ``6 minutos``, more music. 0205-0206 as I am recording again, announcement interrupted by street light firing initially with a large RF burst, but noise level then settles back down, by when music has resumed. More announcements at 0209, 0214, nothing copiable. Around 0220 I hear that very weak het again, likely Firedrake starting up on 14950 even. 0224 music peaks stronger, unseems religious or Mexican. 0225 YL timecheck for 9:29, so 4 minutes fast: OM voice says ``La hora exacta en --- (fade)``, YL voice says automatically, ``9 de la noche, 29 minutos``. That`s the UT-5 zone, same as here, and also: México, Panamá, Colombia, Ecuador, Perú – one of those. The sporadic E into VHF might be boosting this a bit, but on HF the geographic span affected is much broader than on VHF, so not necessarily Mexico. 0227 fades up, religious music mentions ``mi señor``. Another TC I can`t copy. 0229 announcement, ID, I think mentioning ``Ciudad de Pasto`` i.e. Colombia. If not Pasto it`s fonetically similar. 0231 Bible quotation, ``mi padre levanta los muertos – Juan 5, versículo 21``, timecheck in same format as 9:36: ``La hora exacta en CVC(?? Or something fonetically similar; doubt it is really CVC La Voz), so 5 minutes fast, then an Aleluya song. Claiming a timecheck is ``exact`` does not make it so, a disservice to listeners. 0234 announcement but weaker; 0235 het grows 0240 still on later than last night, but weaker, het and I quit 1219 I check again and singing is barely audible, in and out, then JBA; 1237 a brief peak with harmonies, and now het from presumed Firedrake 1240 mentions ``una vida nueva`` but this is certainly not KNLS; pitch of het compared to keyboard is approx. 750 Hz. 1301 the het is still heard, after I expected FD to make its usual break, but nothing more copiable from the unID. I have put up a clip of the Pasto (?) mention, and the 9:36 ID and timecheck, and welcome any ideas about what others hear them say: http://www.w4uvh.net/14950.rm (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 14950.7, June 24 at 0058, another try at the station previously filed under UNIDENTIFIED. Much better signal than before! Peaks at 6 bars on the DX-398 instead of the usual zero, maybe 1. As I tune in, again mentioning ``Ciudad de Pasto`` with a phone number. 0059, plug for Cristo, 0100 Mexican music. 0107, music segué, lyric includes ``la salvación``, quote from Isaías, YL timecheck, more music 0113, announcement includes ``ellos no pueden esperar``, song. 0117, Bible quote, then timecheck in a different format by YL only, ``---- Estéreo informa la hora: 8 de la noche, 22 minutos``. But she`s still 5 minutes fast! Unfortunately the canned IDs are somewhat muffled, harder to copy than the music. And now it`s weakening. 0121 quoting another Bible versículo, timecheck, weaker still. On the Pasto lead I had researched all the radio stations there, starting with AM. There are only a few, with the best bet being per WRTH on 1250, Radio Vida/Radio María. I later got their webcast to work and it did not have this religious element. The official Colombian government station list is here: http://www.mintic.gov.co/images/documentos/radio_difusion_sonora/listado_emisoras.xls In three different categories. Once I heard ``stereo`` I knew the originating station was very likely FM, not AM. Again there are only a few possibilities in Pasto, all with webcasts: Tropicana Estéreo 97.1, certainly not the right format; Amor Estéreo 94.1, but that`s RCN and 14950 is local; Romántica Stereo 88.1 HJU86 looks promising, as licensee is the Cooperativa de Trabajo Asociado Arca de Noé, implying religious connexion with Noah`s Ark, but it sounds secular too. I`m running this on my FM feeder 87.85 MHz as I resume monitoring 14950 on the porch at 0158. Switching back and forth, no match. 0202, announcement about something with dates in junio. 0205, the street light photocell again fires up the arc starting with a big RF blast on SW. This is the current dusk time with a clear sky. 0205 another automated timecheck, 0210 announcement, 0214 fading and I quit. Final recheck at 0343 to find it gone, probably off much earlier. Meanwhile I check one more Pasto station, R. Capital Pasto, 104.1, which despite the seemingly secular name is obviously religious from its Facebook, but again the announcements and music style don`t fit. Another check in the morning June 24: at 1158 Firedrake is dominating 14950, off at 1200, with JBA signal uncovered maybe from Colombia, but now one of my DTV cable boxes has decided to vary to this frequency with its bubble-jamming, still at 1224. So nothing fits for Pasto. Since 14950 is obviously piratical, maybe the FM station is too, and not in the official lists? No, Pasto turns out to be a mislead. Fortunately, I need pursue this no longer, as Henrik Klemetz reports to the dxldyg: ``Thanks to Torolf Johnsson, of Stockholm, for providing two good audio files. The programming heard on 14950.6 is that of Salem Stéreo, which operates on 106.5 FM from Rioblanco, Tolima, Colombia. I am inclined to believe that the SW frequency is being operated by some local or semilocal ham. Pasto is mentioned in an ad as the home town of Freddy Noguera, who is co-hosting a youth meeting June 26-26 [sic].`` [Henrik added this on the radioescutas list: Torolf Johnsson gravou uma emissora sem identificar ouvida em 14950.65 kHz. Trata-se da programação do Salem Stéreo, Rioblanco (Tolima), Colômbia. E' uma emissora que opera em 106.5 FM. O sinal de OC deve ser iniciativa de algum radioamador local interessado em divulgar a mensagem até paises tão longinquos como a Suécia. Henrik Klemetz] BTW, this station does not appear on the official list! Here`s its website: http://www.salemstereo.com/ and stream with strange title Radio Ipuc: [hmm, maybe means something like Iglesia Pentecostal Unida Colombiana] http://www.salemstereo.com/radio/salemstereo.html Format matches checked at 1511 UT with timecheck only 2 minutes fast. ID is pronounced ``Salén Estéreo``. I would not rule out possibility that other times in past and future, 14950 may relay some other station. And since Salem Stereo does webcast, the relay really could be anywhere, unless 14950 is suitably ahead of the webcast delay. I later read that Terry Krueger, FL, had also IDed it: ``14950.68 COLOMBIA Salem Stereo, Ibagué or Río Blanco, Tolima. 2145 June 23, 2012`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Then again June 23 from 1215 (8:15 a.m. My local time) on 14950.70, clear and fair with soft Spanish Christian praise vocals, 1231 male announcer with probable ID or slogan but not copied. Signal just as good USB vs. LSB, in fact this morning log better in LSB. 14950.68, Salem Stereo, Ibagué or Río Blanco, Tolima. 2145 June 23, 2012. Spanish Christian and non-secular Spanish pop vocals (a couple of the latter I vaguely recognize from elsewhere plays, including local Hispanic FM). Female reverb 5:54 time check 2159 (-5 GMT), then male reverb “Transmite... Salem Stereo.” At 2259, same reverb female voice “... Salem Stereo, 6 de la tarde, 2 minutos...” Never any call letters it seems on the top-of-hour ID, or any blatant paid advertisements heard for that matter. Live male 2334 with mention of upcoming Sunday programs. Looks like the legitimate station is on 106.5 MHz, at least per this possibly useful and rather extensive Spanish format FM list: http://www.encuentro.ca/how_to_find_us/ which lists as Rio Blanco, while http://www.radioreforma.com/index.php?option=com_emisoras&Itemid=58&pais=COLOMBIA&tip=radio says Ibagué. So, presume either a low power transmitter serving as a remote audio queue or STL, or someone roguely relaying for reasons unknown (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, FL, with (highly abridged equipment list): JRC NRD-535, ICOM IC-R75, Sony ICF-7600GR, and Sangean PR-D5; 1 X roof dipole, 1 X room random wire, WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I found those websites too, affiliate lists of programs produced elsewhere (gh) 14950, June 25 at 0113 I have set up my 87.85 MHz feeder with Salem Stereo programming in order to compare its delay with the SW relay tuned on the porch --- but no signal at all heard now, at 0119, or later. Is it gone for good? If so, we got it identified just in time. I did find a JBA carrier on 14885, not necessarily from any broadcaster. Timechex on the webcast only 3 minutes fast now. My nearest streetlight as it flickers on is still blasting RF at *0205 but only briefly. 14950, one more check for Salem Stereo relay, June 26 at 0155, nothing heard. No, I will not keep reporting non-loggings, but will keep checking from time to time. You never know when out-of-band-scanning will produce another such treasure (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DX LISTENING DIGEST) More to this next issue, already in DXLD yg ** CONGO DR [non]. United Arab Emirates. Radio Okapi, 11675 Dhabbaya. June 23, 2012. Saturday. *1600-1633. French, OM and YL talking, sounded newsy. At 1612, jingles mentioning "Okapi" followed by music best described as afro-pop. At 1622 YL ided by what sounded like "Radio de l'Okapi", but by now too weak and noisy to be certain. Followed by more talk and music. No entertainment value. Poor, barely readable. To the DRC (DXLD 12-15). Jo'burg sunset 1525 (Bill Bingham, RSA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [and non]. 5954.276, COSTA RICA (CLANDESTINE), Radio República, Guápiles or Cariari. It’s been a long time since I checked for this at sign-on, and I don’t read where anyone else has bothered to check on consecutive or close-to days, so here we go. One may assume it is presently 0100, but one would also be wrong, viz. June 17, 2012: no trace of anything on 5955 (including Cuba jammers) at 2100 or 2200. Recheck 0029 (now GMT June 18), República already on and unjammed. Recheck 0055, jammers are now on, but República audio still coming through OK. Next log, June 18, nothing on 5955 – including any jammers – 2200, 2300 and 0000 checks. But jammer #1 up at 0055:00 (now June 19), followed within a total of two minutes by at least two more pulsers. Next log, June 19, 5955 silent 2100 and 2200 checks. Jammers up 0054:08 (now June 20), with three more following at the: 24, :47 and :52 marks. At 0056:18, República carrier up on measured 5954.226 and immediately into the Cuban national anthem, Radio República ID by man followed by the República theme, all audible under the jammers. What quantifies this as transmitting 10 kW from Cariari (and is that the REE site that houses 3 X 100 kW units [no, but nearby]) vs. the originally reported Guápiles site via the 10 kW ELCOR transmitter, when this was testing with the canned music loop? I still think it could be more than coincidence this is on almost exactly the same off- frequency channel that the long-defunct Radio Casino, Puerto Limón used. Could this be the old Casino transmitter, be it still at Puerto Limón, or relocated elsewhere? And what ever happened to our Costa Rican DXer? So many questions, so few answers (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, FL static site with (highly abridged equipment list): JRC NRD-535, ICOM IC-R75, Sony ICF-7600GR, and Sangean PR-D5; 1 X roof dipole, 1 X room random wire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5954.276, COSTA RICA (CLANDESTINE) Radio República, Guápiles or Cariari: nothing on air at 2347 UT June 25 (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 25, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 12300, Radio Habana Cuba, 1110-1126, Spanish news with male and female announcers alternating between stories. Het on frequency. Then a man was interviewing another man. No IDs caught. At 1122 with female presenter speaking. Numerous IDs. Fair signal. // RHC's program on 6150, 9550, 11760, 11860. Re-checked at 1218 and RHC was still there but signal strength had declined to poor. What is RHC doing here? This is a Sound of Hope frequency that is normally jammed by Firedrake. 6/19/12 (Steve Handler, IL, NASWA Flashsheet June 24 via DXLD) It`s a second harmonic, 2 x 6150 (gh, DXLD) 12120, RHC, 0645 June 21, harmonic, 2 X 6060, English, “The Mailbag Show” responding to listener letters. Very good with RTTY QRM (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening beside Kalamalka Lake from my car with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11860, June 21 at 1356, RHC Spanish is very undermodulated, tho strength is only a little less than OK 11760 // synchronized from same site. It was that way too much earlier in the hour. 6000, June 23 at 0501, RHC is late again in turning this frequency off and turning 6125 on for the last bihour of English, // 6010, 6050 and 6060. 5955, June 23 at 1136, lite pulse jamming marring CRI English direct, so the DCJC still thinx R. República, Costa Rica is here, altho probably only in the evenings; Commies vs Commies! Another UT Monday, and another week with the DentroCuban Jamming Command ignoring the truce offered by R. Martí`s silent period at 0300-0900: still wall-of-noise jamming at 0511 on 6030, 0516 on 7405. Not exactly ``against nothing`` on 6030, as this impossiblizes any DX from Calgary, Central African Republic, or Ethiopia. Tnx a lot, Arnie! While Cubans go hungry as all this electrical expense is wasted (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also CHINA [non] ** CUBA [non]. RADIO MARTI VIA RADIO CARACOL MIAMI 1260 WSUA. CORAL WAY. CORAL GABLES, MIAMI. Miércoles 27 de Junio del 2012 a las 11:00 PM hora local (0300 UT) con el programa noticioso "Ultima Edición". Durante la emisión se anunció que Radio Martí emitirá de Lunes a Viernes desde las 10:00 PM hasta la Medianoche (0200-0500 UT) vía Radio Caracol 1260 AM. Las voces habituales de los locutores Bruno Tocars y Ernesto Monroy. Identificación de la emisora a las 0330 UT. Al parecer la OCB le está rentando tiempo a Radio Caracol Miami para que algunos puntos del Occidente de Cuba, puedan escuchar la emisora en AM. 73 (Oscar de Céspedes, FL, June 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [and non]. 7210-LSB, PENNSYLVANIA, N1NR (Nelson Roig), Bushkill. 1307 June 23, 2012. Tune-in, a rare English moment from Nelson as he exchanged signal readings with a fellow piggy in Clermont, Florida. But the best part was the frequent jammer, a sound file snip of acoustic guitar-accompanied group male rendition of “La Cucaracha” repeatedly cycling with short breaks on the channel (probably CO2KK or an assigned puppet), all while Nelson ranted about Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías, Fidel Castro (please, Fidel is so passé) and the present government of Nicaragua in exchange with another piggy or two, all in Spanish, including another one in Florida (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, FL, with (highly abridged equipment list): JRC NRD-535, ICOM IC-R75, Sony ICF-7600GR, and Sangean PR-D5; 1 X roof dipole, 1 X room random wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CYPRUS. 15490-15515, June 21 at 0453, OTH radar pulses, presumed from here, like 24 hours earlier, but this time no matching twin area a few hundred Hz higher (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DJIBOUTI. 4780, R. Djibouti, Atta in Arabic 1844-1908 local chant; chorus chant pause then M announcement; continuing chorus chant till 1858; W / M announcements; other two Men talk with some pop music breaks; M announcement; music break at 1900 into M talk (possible news with some mentioning Djibouti) with music break & correspondent; heard in SSB with fast QSB & mild QRN but increasing; good / fair; 6/20 (Giovanni Serra, Roma, Italy. Equipment: JRC NRD 525; Alpha Delta DX- SWL Sloper-S; RG 8 mini coaxial cable; JPS NIR 12 Noise & Interference Reducer-Dual DSP outboard audio filter; Intek PS-35 5 ampere feeder; JRC – NVA 319 external loudspeaker unit; Yaesu YH – 77 STA stereo headphones; Zoom Corp. H2 handy digital recorder MP3 & WAV files; Oregon Scientific RM912 Radio controlled clock; Toshiba Laptop PC Windows XP2 (offline for loggings); Interkart framed wall board political world map (1: 46,400,000); the DX Edge-Xantek Inc.(daylight- darkness desk world map), DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4780, Radio Djibouti, *0324-0335, June 22, late, abrupt sign on with Arabic talk. Rustic local music at 0326. Poor in noisy conditions (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** ECUADOR [non]. 12025, June 21 at 2143, Arabish announcement about Facebook, poor signal from Woofferton UK about to sign off, service starting at 2100 in Tachelhit from HCJB, except there are no such letters in Arabic. They`ll have to find some other solution in the B- season, than switching same frequency to Sackville as they have done for years, making for much better signal back here and supposedly in NW African target (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EGYPT. R. Cairo didn't have news this evening until 0227 and still had that double audio effect again. (21 June) 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD-535D with T2FD antenna, HCDX via DXLD) WTFK? 9315? 17870, R. Cairo, 1245 on 25 June. Wish I could tell you more, but it sounded like ten percent modulation at best. F[emale] Arabic accented announcer reading feature stories. Brief music between stories at better levels, but very hard to follow a complete spoken sentence. Carrier was fair. Would have been 100% readable if the concept of a VU meter had reached their shores (Brock Whaley, Kandahar, Afghanistan. sw-11 for DXLD) ** EL SALVADOR. New calls for El Salvador TV --- I received a TV database from the Salvadoran gov't today. Interesting fact is that the calls for skip targets YSR ch 2, YSU ch 4 and YSLA ch 6 have changed: they are now YSWR ch 2, YSWUR ch 4 and YSWA ch 6. My Central America list has been updated accordingly: http://dxinfocentre.com/tv-cam.htm Still hoping for some info from Colombia. (Bill Hepburn, Ont, WTFDA via DXLD) YSU especially goes way back (gh) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. 15190, 21/Jun 0845, No signal R Africa, a few days ago with no signal (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, 12 14´S 38 58´W - Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15190, June 21 at 1938, nothing heard from R. Africa, nor for the past few days at this or morning times. Are they gone again? 15190, June 22 at 1917 no signal from R. Africa (nor Philippines, nor Brasil). Last log I`ve seen for it was June 15, altho I had not logged it since June 1. 15190, June 24 at 1951, still no signal from R. Africa. 15190, June 26 at 0512, no signal from R. Africa, while R. Dabanga was propagating well from Madagascar on 15400. Is anyone still hearing R. Africa at any time? (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA [non]. Sabato 23 giugno 2012, 0428 - 9558.86 kHz, prob. VOICE OF ERITREA - Gedja (Etiopia), Canzone OM, annuncio YL e s/off 0434. Segnale sufficiente-insufficiente. Modulazione un po' bassa. Per EiBi solo lunedì-mercoledì-venerdì. New? [and non]. Sabato 23 giugno 2012, 0415 - 9705 kHz, prob. VOBME 2 - Asmara (Eritrea), Riferimento OM all'Eritrea. Segnale buono- sufficiente. Co-ch altra portante, forse R. Etiopia (Luca Botto Fiora, QTH G.C. 09E13 - 44N21, Rapallo (Genova) - Italia, bclnews.it yg via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA. 9705, Radio Ethiopia, *0258-0310, June 22, sign on with electronic keyboard IS along with opening announcements. National Anthem at 0259 followed by gongs. Amharic talk at 0301. Horn of Africa music. Poor in noisy conditions. Weak QRM from Voice of the Broad Masses of Eritrea on 9705.03 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. CLANDESTINE, 17870, R. Xoriyo Ogadeniya (via France) 1559 OC, 1600 program start with HoA music and M announcer with voice-over ID in Somali and what sounded like mention of "meterband". Then jammer started. (22 June) 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD-535D with T2FD antenna, HCDX via DXLD) ** EUROPE. PIRATE RADIO NIGHT Planned for July 6th and 7th http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/pirate-radio-night.html (via Gary Drew, June 21, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I'm planning to organize such event on 6th and 7th of July. I would like to invite every pirate broadcaster to take part. It would be great if many stations are on air. Here I will publish the list of the stations, I hope at least 20 stations from Western and Central Europe will take part (Georgi Bancov blog via WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DXLD) ** FIJI. Latest news is that all their AM stations except one are now gone. The sole survivor seems to be 558 AM. Everything else is now on FM (David Ricquish, June NZDX Times via WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DXLD) A check of the http://FBC.com website shows Radio Fiji One on 558 with coverage for Deuba, Navua, Lami, Suva, Nausori, Korovou and Lau, but no medium wave listings for other networks (Bryan Clark, ibid.) 558, Radio Fiji One, Suva all alone in Fijian on NE EWE 0547 29/5, good. The only Fijian AM still operating – see news above. Mixed Radio Sport co-channel 0618 30/5 on East EWE (Bryan Clark at Mangawhai (Northland), New Zealand with AOR7030+, EWEs to North, Central & South America, 100m BOG to NE and Alpha Delta Sloper antennas, June NZ DX Times via DXLD) An end of an era. In case anyone has missed this from Bryan Clark, via DXLD, Fiji is off AM except for 558. 639 was once a regular many mornings on the west coast, and provided enjoyable Fijiian music and programming. Too bad. A sign of the times, I suppose (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, IRCA via DXLD) Walt, Thanks for posting this. Yes, I missed it. I have nearly all of the Fijian MW stations heard and QSL'd through the years. I remember well 890/891 Lautoka for years back in the 70s/80s. That frequency used to be all Fijian except for BBC News at 0800 UTC. Later on they switched to Hindi after 0700 and then all Hindi. But Lautoka was a real Island friend to me for many years. They were always the strongest too running 10 kW. They will be missed. 73, (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, ibid.) DXLD is not just about SW (gh, DXLD) Hi Walt (and Patrick) [sic], Thanks for the information regarding the Fiji stations, especially the 10 kw Radio Fiji One station on 639 kHz in Lautoka. That station's strong signal and distinctive island music certainly were popular with TP-DXers. During a couple of Oregon coast trips last summer 639-Radio Fiji One already seemed to be missing in action on most days, with unusual dominance of the frequency by the 2 kW RNZ relay in Alexandra (// 675). This was a big contrast with the summer of 2010, when Radio Fiji One was received on 558, 639 and 684 kHz in Lincoln City. 73, (Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA), IRCA via DXLD) Who is on the cover of latest PopComm as promotor of ``Ultralight`` DXing (gh) Radio Fiji had some different frequencies back in the late 70s when I first heard them. They were using 1323, 1206, 891, and 711. Later on they switched to 774 and 1152 vacating the above 4. I think the only 2 frequencies I never heard were 990 and 1089. 1089 was a 1 kW portable unit. The regular one here that I could depend on was 891. Their 10 kW from Lautoka had a great signal. I called Dave Williams and we were talking about the old 890, later 891. But the 890 was common through the 70s before the switch to the 9 kHz plan. After WLS would fade out (before KDXU), Fiji was there. Back in the 60s Radio Fiji had that old fashioned blue card with the picture of a Suva Street scene. I have a few of those and then later a smaller card of a beach scene with a boat and then the new card of a map of the Pacific. Really nice cards (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, ibid.) Shoot! All I heard on 890 in the late 70s was AFRS Adak; Would have loved Fiji (Don Kaskey, San Francisco CA, ibid.) ** FIJI [non]. FDFM Radio - Na Domo i Viti - Kacivaka na Dina: Logging & QSL --- PALAU? USA?: FDFM RADIO – NA DOMO I VITI – KACIVAKA NA DINA via KOROR or CYPRESS CREEK, 11565. 0830-0900 June 25. Man speaking in presumed Fijian with frequent island-sounding choral music, sometimes featuring male vocalist. Occasional mention of "Domo i Viti" & "FDFM". Excellent signal throughout broadcast. Some sources say Palau (which would seem the logical site for broadcasts to Fiji and Australia), but strong signal suggests Cypress Creek —- and, for whatever it’s worth, WHR website indicates this to be the site for 11565. Report sent to fijidemocracy @ hotmail.com and unsigned partial-data verie received from the same address in 5 hours (Wendel Craighead, Prairie Village, Kansas, USA, June 25, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Why should there still be any doubt it`s WHRI? We have explained in detail how Palau was a misunderstanding at WRN, and T8WH was set up with antennas aimed only toward Asia, while WHRI has one just right for Fiji. Apparently the QSLers are still not making this clear (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** FINLAND. 5980, 1820-1835 Sat 23.06, Scandinavian Weekend R, Virrat. Finnish conversation in special midsummer broadcast, pop songs and orchestra music, 1828 ID, 35343 AP-DNK 6170, 2030-2040 Sat 23.06, Scandinavian Weekend R, Virrat. Finnish report, jazz, 45333. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, on my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire here in Skovlunde, Denmark, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** FRANCE.?? R. Sauti ya Injili (Voice of Gospel) according to Aoki, But EiBi suggests the Lutheran World Federation ?? 11975 Issoudun ?? June 22, 2012. Friday. 1843-1849. Hausa (Aoki) or Fulani/Fulfulde (EiBi). Whichever, it is unreadable. Very poor. Jo'burg sunset 1525 (Bill Bingham, RSA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) These names are all the same thing (gh) ** FRANCE [and non]. 13780, June 26 at 1957, some vocal music of uncertain origin, no announcements until 5+1 timesignal and off at 2000*. The signal was about 0.5 second late compared to WWV one minute later. Meanwhile, I was noting a SAH of about 7 Hz with another carrier. HFCC and Aoki show the two both scheduled on 13780 until 2000 are R. Free Asia in Chinese via Tajikistan, and RFI in French, 155 degrees from Issoudun, which I assume is the primary one I was getting. Of course, there would also be ChiCom jamming on frequency. Different subaudible heterodyne ranges require different methods of calculating, lacking any precise instrumentation. In this range, I watch the seconds ticking by on my digital watch, and count to myself matching the fades, 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 over and over, and if this stays in synch that`s the separation. For me this is practical only up to 10 or 12; then it gets too difficult. If they were a little closer I could have counted the fades in a 15-second period and multiplied by 4 for how many per minute, and divided by 60 for the Hz. Or any other fraxion of a minute with appropriate multipliers, altho counting for a whole minute would be most accurate (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. 6105, Trans World Radio via Nauen first noted 17 June at 0708 with religious talk in English. On 19 June identity confirmed with music box tuning signal at 0658, ident and "Music Box" feature from 0700 (Bryan Clark, Mangawhai, NZ using AOR7030+ and EWEs to North, Central & South America, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. Radio 6150 now on 6070 --- Wie einige vielleicht schon im Internet gesehen haben, haben wir eine neue Frequenz beantragt und zugeteilt bekommen. Ab sofort sind wir nicht mehr auf 6150, sondern auf 6070 kHz zu finden, und zwar haben wir diese QRG rund um die Uhr, sieben Tage die Woche. Unsere neue Frequenz ist national komplett frei, und ab dem 1.07., wenn Radio Vatican seine Sendungen auf 6075 kHz voraussichtlich beendet, frei von Nachbarkanalstörungen. Mit Testsendungen unserer-seits ist kurzfristig zu rechnen; am Besten regelmäßig mal auf http://www.radio6150.de nachschauen! Grüße aus dem sonnigen Bayern. (Radio 6150, Dr Tims Piraten News 19, June 20) Google translation summary: Radio 6150 has applied for (and presumably been allocated though not on HFCC update June 22) a new frequency of 6070. They will use this frequency from now on. When Vatican Radio goes off 6075 July 1 it will be free of interference. Test transmissions planned in the short term. Reports of reception from listener in Germany and Holland around 1110 June 24, presume the one weak with music at 1120 here and weak to fair at same time on Global Tuners receiver Harz. Website at 1155 says they are currently relaying Radio Seagull with 100 watts (Mike Barraclough, June 24, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Aktuell im Grossraum Halle/S. 6070 kHz Musik ohne ID, aber // http://hera.jarasoft.org:8000/seagull Signalstärke am FRG100: S9 in den Spitzen (zum Vergleich: Radio 700 / 1 kW hat hier übliche 9+10) Antenne: Dipol für 43mB Spricht also für ~ 100 Watt Testleistung auf 6070 kHz, SINPO zwischen 35333 bis 25322. Tote Zone ausgeschlossen, Julisruh Senkrechtreflektion f2 bei 5.7 Mhz roger (Roger, Germany, ibid.) Radio 6150 noted here June 24 at 2302 with 60s pop and rock music, weak but steady signal on clear channel [6070], SINPO 24443. Website was showing Aktuelles Non stop music on 6070 kHz (80 watt) as it is now (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth Garden City, UK, ibid.) ** GERMANY. 6190, Deutschlandfunk, Berlin Britz. I received the following e-mail Jun 21 from DLF: ”Dear Mr. Wagai, I am sorry to tell you that "Kurzwelle" was closed down this month. You will find our livestreams under the follwing link: http://www.dradio.de Best regards, Udo Schefczik, Hörerservice, Deutschlandfunk, Raderberggürtel 40, 50968 Köln” (Tomoaki Wagai, Wakayama, Japan, DSWCI DX Window June 27 via DXLD) ** GERMANY. 7265, Sunday June 24 at 0459 past 0500, no signal from Hamburger Lokalradio, just North American SSB hams in their Field Day frenzy, overfilling the bands once a year; they were even atop Vatican on 7250. Thomas Voelkner had tipped us that HLR would be on today, including a special airing of WORLD OF RADIO at 0630. Aoki shows it`s only 1 kW, 230 degrees from Bremen, starting this early only on Sat & Sun (but not always?), so how was reception in Europe for WOR? Noel Green, Blackpool, England reports: ``Hello Glenn, Yes, WOR was heard on 7265 today (24th) at tune in around 0635 till close at 0800. Their signal was varying from nil on the meter with surges up to 9, but mostly about S2. That's not strong enough to over-ride my local noise level and so I missed hearing clearly some of the programme. But, I hope they will do it again another weekend`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) HH Lokalradio, MV Baltic Radio and Radio Gloria this weekend: Saturday, 30th of June 0500-1000 UT, Hamburger Lokalradio on 7265 KHz: 0500 Radio Tropical in Portuguese and Spanish 0600 Literature program in English 0630 WORLD OF RADIO 1623 special time 0700 Radio Nostalgie 0800 Literature program in German 0900 Science Forum in German 1000 Literature features German and/or English? SUNDAY JULY 1 0900-1000 MV Baltic Radio on 6140 KHz (100 KW via Issoudun) Details: 0900 Music and Information from North- East- Germany 0930 Music special "Eine kleine Beatmusik - 50 years Rolling Stones MV Baltic Radio stops temporarily for technical reasons the transmissions on 9480 KHz 1000-1200 Radio Gloria International on 7265 (Repeat broadcast from last weekend) (Tom Taylor, June 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST, and in advance on the dxldyg, Calendar) ** GERMANY [non]. DW Sines going to be recycled: see PORTUGAL ** GREECE. Kavala - Another Look --- Some might ponder about Greece's economy being near collapse, but on the shores of Dasochori near where the IBB Kavala SW TXer site is located we still, surprisingly, find this site intact with the antenna towers standing stall. This is another SW TX site with refreshed BING MAPS image coverage. Nice imagery too with the feeders to the curtain antennas clearly seen. A significant amount of recent Google Maps imagery has been a bit average in terms of resolution & colouring, but I'm pleased to see many of the Bing Maps imagery to be good in terms of colouring & resolution over past year. I still find it a tad annoying not seeing image dates on their imagery, but difficult to criticize a free product & service. Another nice surprise is the upload of some very recent Panoramio images of this site. http://www.panoramio.com/photo/71257632 http://www.panoramio.com/photo/12523168 http://www.panoramio.com/photo/71257791 (Ian Baxter, June 23, shortwavesites yg via DXLD) ** HAWAII. HEARING THE WORLD, WHILE STAYING AT HOME [no, not about shortwave listening, but equally significant --- gh] Cory Lum for The New York Times [caption:] Gene Schiller, music director for Hawaii Public Radio, with a rare recording of the “Maximilian Robespierre” Overture by the composer Henry Litolff. By MATTHEW GUREWITSCH Published: June 22, 2012 TOP musicians travel all the time. Aficionados often wish they could do the same, but not Gene Schiller. To Mr. Schiller, the music director of Hawaii Public Radio, the feeling of wanderlust is unknown. http://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/ “People think Hawaii is just a rock in the middle of the Pacific,” he said here in a recent interview. “But we have some world-class music.” And, thanks to Mr. Schiller, others on the islands get to hear world- class music all the time. Spinning records, preferably vintage, and conducting the odd on-air interview with big names as they pass through, he provides some of the most kaleidoscopic, inventive and compulsively listenable classical programming to be found anywhere. Granted, that proposition is hard to prove. The national Association of Music Personnel in Public Radio http://www.amppr.org/wordpress (to which Hawaii Public Radio does not belong) claims more than 600 members at more than 330 stations. And with few exceptions classical announcers exist in hermetic bubbles, known only to their flocks, ignored by their peers. Still, excellence defines its own parameters. Bill McGlaughlin, one of the few syndicated celebrity hosts in the field, describes the broadcasting booth as the occupant’s personal universe. “It’s a bit godlike,” he said on a recent visit to the islands, where Hawaii Public Radio presents his series “Exploring Music” on weekday afternoons. “You give the time and the temperature, and no one can tell you you’re wrong.” Having family on Oahu, Mr. McGlaughlin comes around periodically, and he knows Mr. Schiller’s work well. “Gene has such a beautiful voice, such beautiful presentation,” Mr. McGlaughlin said. “He works very close to the mike, in a very soft voice, but with so much color and so much skill, like a Hollywood actor doing voice-overs. He takes such delight in surprising you. I’ve never heard him laugh, but he makes me laugh. Gene doesn’t say a lot on air, but it’s like someone said once in the movies: What he does say is cherce.” . . . http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/24/arts/music/gene-schiller-music-director-for-hawaii-public-radio.html?_r=1&ref=music (via Terry Krueger, FL, DXLD) Per http://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/khprprogramlistings Schiller`s normal hours are M-F 8:30-noon and 3-4 pm HST on KHPR, i.e. 1830-2200 & 0100-0200 next UT day. Webcast: http://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/jwplayer/listen_khpr.html (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** HAWAII [and non]. Perseus WAV Files Recorded in Hawaii Available see RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM ** INDIA. NHK now relayed here: see JAPAN [non] ** INDIA. Re: Old habits die hard at Kolkata A AIR Kolkata note with better signals on 4820 kHz. Latest monitoring shows they are slightly higher than 4820, around 4820.86 creating a hetrodyne whistle with Chinese station in the evenings. The evening transmission now ends at around 1841 UT, i.e. 0011 IST. Earlier they used to sign off at 1744 UT. Clear reception noted at 1800 to 141 [sic] when there is other station on frequency to interfere. Yours sincerely, (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Hyderabad, India Mobile: +91 94416 96043, http://www.qsl.net/vu2jos June 21, dx_india yg via DXLD) Re 12-25: With regard to the station 4820 heard at 1830 to 1841 it seems to be All India Radio, Kolkata. As per the new schedule monitored, they now a days sign off at around 1841. They also have English News at 1830 & News in Hindi at 1835 which tallies with T. L. Breye posting. I also observed that AIR Kolkata is heard at better strength than before. The updated frequency schedule of AIR is available in my site at: http://qsl.net/vu2jos/sw/freq.htm Yours sincerely, (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio, India, June 23, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) cf BOTSWANA AIR Kolkata, 4820, has replaced 7210 for 0230-0410 UT. 4820 runs 0050- 0410 for the morning session carrying Kolkata B which has relays of English news from Delhi at several slots at half hour (Supratik Sanatani, ibid.) Yes, exactly as VU2JOS said, nowadays 4820 kHz (Some DXer says 4820.8) AIR Kolkata mostly relays B instead of A and shuts down at 1841 UT; they are sometimes even fairly audible even with strong QRM from China (Partha Sarathi Goswami, Siliguri, W.B., India, ibid.) Yes, I still do occasionally hear AIR Kolkata off frequency, about 4820.77. At least once in June. All other times mixing with China on 4820.0 (Ron Howard, San Francisco, Calif., USA, ibid.) ** INDIA. AIR KOHIMA STATION DIRECTOR PASSES AWAY All India Radio (AIR), Kohima station director Mrs Neizokhonuo Nakhro passed away Wednesday after a prolonged illness. She was 59. Born on December 1, 1953, she joined AIR, Kohima as assistant editor (script) in 1977. More at: http://www.nagalandpost.com/ChannelNews/State/StateNews.aspx?news=TkVXUzEwMDAxOTkxNA%3D%3D-Xkm%2FaOpts9I%3D (Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, June 21, dx_india yg via DXLD) AIR Kohima was noted on 4850 last night 23 May 12. They suddenly went off air at 1401 UT after the News in English. Reception was fair. On earlier occasions also they were noted going off the air at around 1400. Yours sincerely, (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Hyderabad, India, dx_india yg via DXLD) ** INDIA. 13695, June 21 at 1203, S Asian pop music, good with flutter: no news on the hour/half hour here, AIR`s Tamil service at 1115-1215, 500 kW, 108 degrees from Bengaluru per Aoki (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. AIR PLANS TO UP FM COVERAGE TO 90% OF POPULATION All India Radio proposes to set up 385 new FM transmitters in the Twelfth Plan in the country to increase the FM coverage to 90 per cent population. However, this is subject to allocation of funds and approval of the Planning Commission, Information and Broadcasting Ministry sources said. At present, AIR FM reaches out to 41.43 per cent population and 29.18 per cent area. This is part of the total AIR coverage of 91.87 per cent area and 99.19 per cent population. Even prior to the 12th Plan scheme, FM Transmitters of varying capacities are being installed in 224 more places throughout the country by AIR, apart from 40 MW transmitters. This will take the coverage to 38.75 per cent area and 53.53 per cent population including villages and hamlets. In addition, the power of 12 MW transmitters is being increased and 40 new MW transmitters are being installed under the 11th Plan. At present, 432 AM/FM transmitters are installed in the country. New stations are being set up in 225 places, and a total of 62 new Akashwani kendras were set up in the past three years. A total of 276 AIR radio stations are functional in the country at present. A total of 278 more stations will be set up under the 12th Plan if the budgets are approved. Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology has said it is ‘unhappy to note that out of the planned allocation of Rs three billion for upgradation of studios and transmitters of All India Radio in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, only Rs 18 million had been spent. The Committee was not convinced with the reasons cited by the Ministry that delay in approval of Schemes only on 27 April 2010 delayed procurement and implementation of the project resulting in low expenditure. The Committee was "of the considered view that when the budgetary provision had already been made for the project, the Ministry should have set the physical targets, closely monitored the progress of physical targets and ensured full utilisation of funds in the Island". The Committee took serious note of the above underspending and recommended the Ministry should take adequate measures during 2012-13 so that projects are expedited and funds utilised optimally during the current Financial Year. [Indiantelevision.com 20 June 2012] (via Jaisakthivel, ADXC, Tirunelveli, India, June 24, dxldyg via DXLD) I don`t see anything mentioned here about DRM! I thought that was the future of radio in India, and now all these FM plans?? Or are the going to put DRM on the VHF band so it`s not really FM (gh, DXLD) AIR HAS 4.7 MHZ SPECTRUM FOR FM SERVICES Indiantelevision.com Team (25 June 2012 7:44 pm) NEW DELHI: All India Radio has a spectrum of just 4.7 MHz exclusively reserved for its FM services and will need more spectrum to achieve its objective of setting up 385 new FM transmitters in the Twelfth Plan to increase the FM coverage to India's 90 per cent population. Information and Broadcasting Ministry sources said that only 100 to 103.7 was presently reserved exclusively for FM broadcasting services by AIR. In contracts, 103.7 to 108 MHz and 91.5 MHz to 95 MHz is exclusively reserved for expansion of the private sector FM services. At present, AIR FM reaches out to 41.43 per cent population and 29.18 per cent area. This is part of the total AIR coverage of 91.87 per cent area and 99.19 per cent population. More at : http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k12/june/jun238.php (via Alokesh Gupta, dx_india yg via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 4869.96 RRI Wamena. Wednesday, June 27 checking for the English program of Kang Guru Indonesia (KGI) at 1000, per the KGI schedule, but was not heard. Wonder if KGI is on at all here? (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7289.96v, RRI Nabire, randomly from 0908 to 1016*, June 26. The longest broadcast I have ever heard here; normally they suddenly pull the plug sometime after 0800. In Bahasa Indonesia; pop songs; several segments of monologue; some Gamelan music; seemed to be a real sign off; 1011 interesting song partially in English at sign off; started with “Remember (name?), you are deep in our hearts. Remember (same name), . . .” MP3 audio of ending song https://www.box.com/s/fcda513c99ebc4cb99dc Would be interested to know the name of this song! Anyone? I have an email to Alan Davies (Indonesia) with the hope he will recognize it (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 7289.96v, RRI Nabire, 0744-0842*, June 21. In Bahasa Indonesia; program of children singing till 0804; they often carry children’s programming during this time period; distinct ID: “Programa Satu, Radio Republik Indonesia Nabire”; into show of EZL pop songs; one segment with a monologue; signal improving the whole time; almost fair. Very nice to finally catch a positive ID, as heard at 0:12 on edited MP3 audio at https://www.box.com/s/45555e0f8c8b55636f5c (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 9525.97, Voice of Indonesia, *0952, June 24. Pop song; English intro with frequencies and schedule (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9526-, June 26 at 1250, VOI carrier detected, but very weak and no modulation. Since it`s Tuesday, and last week Ron Howard confirmed they were still doing `Exotic Indonesia` with RRI Banjarmasin, I condescended to go to the webcast in order to hear it at all. Live linx are right on homepage http://www.voi.co.id and came up promptly at 1302 in audio-only version (is there really video from studios on the other one?), and heard back-and-forth between Jak and Banj, the latter with hum on the feed, and everything kept hiccuping, and crashing the flash player – either stopping or disappearing completely. Restarted several times until it would not cooperate at all. Even tried the mobile link which wanted to open a Real Player, but that would not connect either. Listening to VOI online is just as frustrating as on SW, but at least you can hear something intermittently. One more problem: very heavy accents from the announcers made them hard to understand even when the audio was working. Yet kudos to VOI for plowing on with dignified attempts at English broad/webcasts even under such daunting circumstances (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL. Radio Nederland Wereldomroep --- Última edición de Cabildo Abierto: ¿Qué ha pasado con las radios internacionales? Debate: Cambios en la radiodifusión y medios internacionales hacia América Latina: ¿crisis financiera, error político o retraso tecnológico? Participan: Julio Feo, periodista por más de 3 décadas en Radio Francia Internacional (RFI); Oscar Barceló, gerente de mercadeo para América Latina de la Voz de América (VOA), y José Zepeda, representante especial de Radio Nederland para América Latina. Producción de Sergio Acosta Última emisión del programa sábado 23 y lunes 25 de junio Radio Francia Internacional La desaparición de los programas en español está programada y ya ha empezado con la reducción de algunas horas de difusión y con la nueva parrilla de programas. Comenzaron anunciando que el español sería una lengua prioritaria, y ahora han empezado a desmantelar el servicio en esta lengua, creando una antena hispanófona, y amputando el portal de Internet. Cortando además las emisiones en onda corta. RFI cuenta en estos momentos con más de 100 emisoras asociadas. Radio Nederland El Gobierno holandés decidió reducir en un 70% el presupuesto de Radio Nederland, el despido de la misma cantidad proporcional de trabajadores, y enfocar a RN solo en regiones y países donde la libertad de expresión esté coartada. De ahí que nuestra amplia producción diaria (de varias horas de noticias y programas de fondo, y nuestra amplia red de asociadas de más de 500 radios) se queda cercenada a solo producciones en Internet, con el enfoque hacia los jóvenes y un programa de radio de 30 minutos de lunes a viernes. Voz de América El servicio en español de la VOA, con más de 30 personas en plantilla, y una red de más de 100 medios asociados, escapa por el momento de las reducciones de presupuesto, y se enfoca en informaciones por Internet con programas y videos. El experto en medios de EE. UU. Alan L. Heil Jr., sugería recientemente que la salida de las grandes emisoras occidentales de la información global podría ser una oportunidad para la emisora internacional estadounidense. Cambios y adiós Los cambios en las radiodifusión internacional han significado el cierre de muchas emisoras o la reducción drástica de las mismas. Tal es el caso de uno de los socios estratégicos de RNW, Radio Canadá Internacional. En esta última edición de Cabildo Abierto nos acercamos a estos cambios partiendo de la particularidad de la situación de RFI y de RNW. . . [with 20-minute audio; RN will keep its archive] http://www.rnw.nl/espanol/radioshow/%C3%BAltima-edici%C3%B3n-de-cabildo-abierto-%C2%BFqu%C3%A9-ha-pasado-con-las-radios-internacionales (via Horacio Nigro, Uruguay, June 24, noticiasdx yg via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET. Re Blogspot, ``He`s in Malaysia, so why is his blog in Argentina?`` Hi Glenn! I observed that since 2 or 3 weeks ago when typing a blogspot.com address into the browser it redirects to an address in your own country. Here shortwavedxer.blogspot.com becomes shortwavedxer.blogspot.co.at 73 from Austria, (Patrick Robic, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN. 1098, IRIB, Zabol, 0800 on 26 June. Very good, with Farsi music and female announcer during the midday program. This xmtr often used for the FS, and observations are that the signal level changes just prior to each foreign language service. I assume a multi-pattern DA in use. 200 kW at 250 miles DA (Brock Whaley, Kandahar, Afghanistan. sw-11 for DXLD) ** IRAN. 13785, June 23 at 1215, assertive speaker in Arabic, poor signal. It`s the 6-sesquihour transmission of IRIB, 500 kW, 178 degrees from Kamalabad at 0530-1430 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN. VOIRI, 21520 and 17655. Close down of Russian service at 0527, 24 June. 17655 Huge signal. No fading. 21520 best signal on 13 meters at the time (Brock Whaley, Kandahar, AFGHANISTAN, SW-11 for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN. 17550, June 27 at 1316, very good signal with little fading from VIRI, Arabic ID. Is 500 kW, 259 degrees from Kamalabad at 0530- 1630 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ. IRAQ SUSPENDS PLAN TO CLOSE VOA, RADIO SAWA, BBC TRANSMITTERS Posted: 26 Jun 2012 AP, 26 June 2012: "Iraqi authorities have suspended plans to close 44 media operations in the country including the BBC and Voice of America. The reversal comes after an outcry by press freedom advocates. Ali Nasir, the deputy director of the Communications and Media Commission that regulates the news media, says the agency will give the news organizations an unspecified amount of time to obtain licenses and pay outstanding fees." AP, 25 June 2012, Qassim Abdul-Zahra: "An Iraqi press freedom group condemned authorities on Sunday for ordering the closure of 44 news organizations, including a U.S.-funded radio station. The country's media commission said it was only targeting unlicensed operations. No media outlet is reported to have been forced to close so far. But critics say Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, whom they accuse of sidelining and silencing opponents in order to consolidate his Shiite party's power, is sending a warning to the media. ... The list, which officials say was compiled a month ago, only became public on Sunday. Most of the 44 newspapers, radio and television stations targeted for shutdown are Iraqi, although foreign broadcasters including the BBC and Voice of America were on the list as well as the U.S.-funded Radio Sawa. The BBC and Voice of America have closed most permanent news operations in Iraq. ... One broadcaster targeted for shutdown, U.S.-funded Radio Sawa, says it does have a license. 'We were surprised to see our radio station on the list because we think that we work in accordance with all Iraqi laws,' Sawa deputy director Salah Nasrawi said. Radio Sawa — operated by Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc., which is funded by the U.S. Congress — was broadcasting normally on Sunday." NOW Lebanon, 25 June 2012, citing AFP: "Iraq's Communications and Media Commission ... 'published an announcement in all newspapers in February calling for them to take licenses in two months to resolve their situations,' said Salem Mashkur, a member of the board of trustees of the CMC, the independent authority charged with regulating media organizations in Iraq. 'But only a small number applied, and 39 media outlets preferred not to come and not to apply the law,' he said. Mashkur alleged that Voice of America had never obtained a license, while the BBC had done so for its Arabic but not its English service." Voice of America, 25 June 2012: "In a statement issued Monday, VOA said it is investigating reports about the Iraqi regulator's move. The statement said 'this appears to be a regulatory matter concerning frequencies and licensing that is being discussed between local and federal officials in Iraq.' It said there is 'no indication that this regulatory issue is being directed at VOA reporters in the field.' The statement also said VOA and Radio Sawa 'will continue to work with Iraqi authorities to ensure full compliance with any new Iraqi regulations and licenses.' The BBC said its journalists in Baghdad are not experiencing any issues reporting from the country. The British broadcaster said 'it is important that the BBC and other international news organizations are able to operate freely, and bring independent and impartial news to audiences in Iraq and the wider region.'" RT (Russia Today), 25 June 2012: "Iraq's communications and media commission announced the impending closure of several media outlets, including the BBC and Voice of America. While officials chalk the matter up to expired license fees, press freedom groups fear a looming crackdown. RT was one of the first to publish reports of the potential closures – and can now confirm that Iraqi officials from the media commission have forwarded the list of 44 outlets to the Interior Ministry. They will be the ones responsible for the actual closures once they begin. Only offices without an operating license will be closed down, the commission’s chairman Safaa Rabie told journalists. 'It is an organizational matter, not a crackdown on the press,' Rabie said." Journalistic Freedoms Observatory (Iraq): "The JFO calls on CMC to withdraw regulations which violate the Iraq constitution, which guarantees the freedom of the press, and to follow existing media legislation, instead of those enacted by the CPA under Paul Bremer. The JFO also calls on the PM Nouri al-Maliki to reign in the behavior of the CMC, since he appointed its acting chief." (ALL: kimandrelliott.com via DXLD) In many Iraqi cities, there is a full time Radio Sawa FM frequency, and another FM frequency that carries a mix of RFE/RL's Radio Free Iraq, VOA Kurdish, VOA English, VOA Special English, and VOA English teaching programs. Alhurra also has terrestrial transmitters in Iraq, but is not mentioned in any of these reports (Kim Andrew Elliott, ibid.) This is the first time ** IRAQ has been a heading in DXLD since DX LISTENING DIGEST 11-47 November 23, 2011 --- and that item was historical about MW 20 years earlier. Of course, tnx to US bombing in the first Gulf war, there is still no SWBC from Iraq, except for maybe some of the Kurdish clandestines, not headed IRAQ (gh, DXLD) ** IRELAND. Shannon Aeradio, 8957, full data folder card in 275 days for initial online report via their form, and finally follow-up in English via registered email with US $5.00 (returned). V/s Joe Ryan, Watch Manager, who promised to look into why the reports submitted online were not being brought to his attention. Joe also sent some station material concerning their broadcasts. Still many outstanding QSLs that I am following up on. This is becoming an expensive hobby for those of us who like the tangible QSLs. I have not had much time for listening. Work has been all consuming, along with a short stay in the VA hospital in Wilkes-Barre to remove some long-troublesome shrapnel. I am hoping to spruce up antennas and get back into the swing of things for this autumn/winter's DX season. 73 to all! (Al Muick, Williamsport, PA, June 25, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also COLOMBIA Dear Al Muick, Congrats and I wish you quick recovery. For Shannon Aeradio - I have eQSL issued by John Power, I thought they issue only e-QSL but now I am sure return postage may yield a tangible QSL :) Although only 5 kW, Shannon comes fair here in this part of India at the time when propagation should permit (Partha Sarathi Goswami, Siliguri, W.B., India, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) My experiences have been similar. Shannon's website has a wonderful on-line form for reception reports, but I've tried twice with no responses. About a week ago, I sent a report via regular mail so hopefully the third time will be the charmed one (Bruce Portzer, WA, HCDX via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. 6973, Galei Zahal; 0200-0205+, 21-June; M in Hebrew to 0203+ into lite music with talkovers. 6973 poor in AM, fair in USB; //15850, SIO=2+53-. First time I've heard 6973 in quite a while (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) 15850, Galei Zahal, 2138 found here. Listened off and on and noted all features with only an occasional song. Dropped off by 220 [sic] but came back up by 2340. Found // 6973 which was also pretty decent at 0045. (20 June) 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD-535D with T2FD antenna, HCDX via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. 15760, Kol Israel, OC at 1355, usual fanfare-like IS start at 1356. 5+1 time ticks, ID announcement by W, then fanfare and more announcements in presumed Farsi. Sounded like sked and then web site URL. 1401 M announcer in presumed news. Weak with heavy quick QSB. (22 June) 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD-535D with T2FD antenna, HCDX via DXLD) ** ITALY. GUGLIELMO MARCONI SI RIVOLTA NELLA TOMBA Ciao! direi che Marconi è da almeno 70 anni che si rivolta nella tomba visto come hanno usato per scopi bellici molte delle sue fantastiche invenzioni ....ed il nostro governo non ha neanche saputo ricostruire l'Elettra la nave delle sue invenzioni piú segrete. Dario Cliccate e leggete con attenzione Bologna: "Guglielmo Marconi si rivolta nella tomba". http://www.elio.org/ondamedia Cordiali saluti (via Dario Monferini, June 27, playdx yg via DXLD) ** ITALY. UNIDENTIFIED. 10000, June 21 at 1210, as I tune across, hear some music and talk in unID language --- could it be the new Italian station widely heard in Europe, Italcable? Probably not, as peaking preselector got rid of it, so overload from some other signal on 31m, maybe WTWW; see U S A. Italcable, which used to transmit point-to-point voice mirrors on SW sesquidecades ago, merged with something else, and now someone has acquired that name and put a transmitter on 10 MHz with time signals and even music! See That site is registered to one Marco Volpe in Viareggio, and the location is in grid square JN53DV. See also Andrea Lawendel`s blog: translated if necessary and especially the comments appended, where Marco says it`s not a pirate. Anyhow, our best chances for hearing this are during the minutes when neither WWV nor WWVH is making an announcement or intoning, such as this one, 10 minutes past the hours. I wish I had a handy list of when all of them are (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ITALY, 10000, Time Signal Station Italcable, 0552-0601, 23-06, time signal announcements each minute by male in Italian, at 0600 identification by female: "Italcable, stazione radio Italcable, trasmissione sperimentale del segnale orario, frequenza dieci megahertz. Per maggiori informazioni www.italcable.it". Interference from WWV, Fort Collins on the same frequency. 22322 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Logs in Lugo, Sony ICF SW 7600 G, cable antenna, 8 meters, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Una curiosità: il segnale Italclable che viene trasmesso a 10 MHz, in questo esatto momento (19,49 locali italiane [1749 UT]) mi arriva veramente forte s9+20 con qualche evanescenza a 9. La mia curiosità è questa, siccome tra un segnale orario ed un altro trasmette vari spezzoni di musica anche recente, ed oltre al trillo che utilizza anche la Rai 1 (che ho provato a demodulare con multipsk - clock e mi da sempre le 16 come orario, penso quindi che sia registrato). Non ci sono obblighi verso la SIAE o enti simili quando si trasmette musica in etere? io non sono informato su queste cose ma sapevo di cose simili; però essendo una trasmissione sperimentale forse siano esenti?? 73 e buona domenica sera a tutti -- (*Ivan Guerini, *# Swl I2 - 5759 #, http://swl-i2-5759.blogspot.com/ June 24, bclnews.it yg via DXLD A curiosity: Italclable the signal that is transmitted at 10 MHz, at this very moment (19.49 local Italian [1749 UT]) I get really strong s9 +20 with some fading to 9. My curiosity is that, as between a clock signal and another transmits various pieces of music, but recently, and over the ring that also uses the RAI 1 (which I tried to demodulate with multipsk - clock and I always like the 16 hours, then I think that it is registered). There are no obligations to the SIAE or similar body when transmitting music on the airwaves? I am not informed about these things but I knew such things, but being an experimental transmission may be exempt? 73 and good evening to Sunday (defective Google translation for DXLD) ** ITALY [non]. 15190, IRRS, Instrumental NA from 1457, ID by M in English, "This is I-R-R-S shortwave in Milano signing on". Then into Arabic program. Weak and very fady. Came upon this totally by accident. (22 June) 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD-535D with T2FD antenna, HCDX via DXLD) Dave reported as plain ITALY, but we know it`s via ROMANIA; so the Friday-only women`s show still exists (gh, DXLD) ** JAPAN [and non]. Further to DXLD 12-21, I think that I've now pinned down the Saturday programme line-up for NHK World Radio Japan, which varies according to whether there are 4 or 5 Saturdays in the month, as follows: Let's Sing in Japanese: 1st Sat Music Cafe: 2nd Sat Music Cafe: 3rd Sat (only when 5 Sats in month) Media Watch: 2nd Last Sat (i.e. 3rd or 4th Sat as appropriate) Japanese Pop Culture: Last Sat (i.e. 4th or 5th Sat as appropriate) Today's edition of Media Watch (Sat 23 June) is mostly dedicated to the NHK World iPhone App (... and no, Apps are not available for other Smartphones). Audio archives on the website of all programmes appear to exist back to October 2011, although no links on the webpages are provided. Just amend the date string (20120623) in the following link to the required date (in the format yyyymmdd) and paste into your browser: http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/radio/asx/201206231430.asx (Alan Roe, Teddington, UK, June 22, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) They should explain this setup explicitly on their schedules, rather than force listeners to figure it out (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) 6110, June 26 at 0524, NHK World R. Japan still on via Sackville, with folk tale about a child-rearing ghost. Also noticed the only other English relay still on the 6120 air around 1215 as it struggled against ever-increasing day-path absorption (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) / CANADA, 9795, R Japan, via Sackville, 0900-0920, Jun 13, Japanese ID: ”Kochirawa NHK Warudo Rajio Nippon ...”, domestic news, 25332 (Tomoaki Wagai, Wakayama, Japan, DSWCI DX Window June 27 via DXLD) His spelling sic. I had overlooked this one: yes, HFCC says site is Sackville at 0900-1000 (gh, DXLD) 11815, June 27 at 1245, NHK with comedic song and audience laughter, as usual mixing with but atop REE Costa Rica (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN [non]. Radio Japan via AIR details --- Response for my report to Radio Japan NHK on their relays via All India Radio is as follows: Dear listener, Thanks for your e-mail. We are glad to inform you that we are planning to commence daily FM relays in India in coming October. The relay transmissions will be carried by All India Radio's "FM Rainbow" network stations. Sunday, October 28 will be the first day of this FM relays. Prior to this, FM Rainbow Hyderabad will commence TEST transmissions on the daily basis starting from Sunday, July 1. Listeners in Hyderabad and its suburbs can hear us every night at 2130 Indian Standard Time, or 1600 UT on 101.9 MHz. Duration of this transmission is for 30 minutes. You can hear our daily 30 minutes programs. Hyderabad will be followed by Jaipur, Mumbai, and some other major cities across India. We will try to increase the number of the stations by Oct. 28. More news will be given from time to time through our broadcast as soon as we get updated information. So please stay tuned and writing to us. We are sending material. With thanks and best wishes, NHK WORLD RADIO JAPAN, Hindi Service http://www.nhk.or.jp/hindi/ Note: Radio Japan is already heard daily via All India Radio FM Rainbow on 101.9 MHz at 1600-1630 UT although they say that it will start in July. Yours sincerely, (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Hyderabad, India; Mobile: +91 94416 96043; http://www.qsl.net/vu2jos June 21, dx_india yg via DXLD) NHK via AIR is arranged by WRN. They tell me it is daily at 1600-1630 UT in Hyderabad and will also be in Jaipur from 1st July. In Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore and Lucknow it is currently Fridays only (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) OK Thanks for info Glenn. Dear friends, As other radio hobbyists are unable to monitor Radio Japan via AIR yet, I am giving a summary of their programs heard by me. The Hindi program of Radio Japan at 1600-1630 via AIR Hyderabad Twin Cities FM Rainbow is called DARPAN. In it there are music programs, Japanese language course, Mailbag program, cultural and scientific programs but no news or current affairs. It seems that are broadcasting selected programs of their original Service in this testing stage. Let us wait and see if any news and current affairs will be broadcast when they start regular service. Yours sincerely, (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Hyderabad, India, June 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Jose! It is the policy of the Govt. not to permit any station other than those of AIR to transmit news! 73 SG (Sudipta Ghose, India, Mune 25, dx_india yg via DXLD) ** JAPAN. 9595, R. Nikkei, Monday June 25 good at 1318-1325 with English lesson explaining in Japanese various expletives, such as ``Holy Hell`` (more like ``Hoary Hair``), ``O My God``, ``Holy Moses``, etc. (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KAZAKHSTAN. PHOTOS OF ANTENNA FIELD NEAR DMITRIEVKA (KAZAKHSTAN) The inactive antenna field is situated near the village of Bayserke (ex Dmitrievka), which is located near the route A350, Almaty – Taldykorgan. Its coordinates are N 43 30’14” E 77 0’20”. The photos were taken on June 16, 2012 http://kzdx.blog.com/2012/06/20/antenna-field-near-the-village-of-bayserkealmaty-region/ (Dmitry Puzanov, DXing in Central Asia via Aleksandr Diadischev, Ukraine, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Enlarge; curtain wires strung among towers barely visible (gh, DXLD) There are FIVE radio tx sites close to Almaty Dmitrievka in past and present, and Qaraturuk site too, -- some 95 kilometers northeasterly. 73 wb df5sx (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KIRIBATI. 1440, Radio Kiribati, Tarawa, good with English, 0636 17/5 over Moana Tauranga. Statement from the Officer in Charge, Ministry of Environment, Land & Agricultural Development. At 0657 English ident, time check for ‘1 minute to 7, 1 minute to 9 in the Line Group’ and closing English transmission. News in local language followed. Also heard 18/5 with English news from 0600 (Bryan Clark at Mangawhai (Northland), New Zealand with AOR7030+, EWEs to North, Central & South America, 100m BOG to NE and Alpha Delta Sloper antennas, June NZ DX Times via DXLD) Last week we had his later QSL ** KOREA NORTH KOREA. 6070.75, V. of Korea, OC at 0956. N.K. NA at 1002. M announcer in language (Japanese??) then W briefly. Patriotic song. W announcer again at 1008 but not // 15180 English. So must be different program. Of course QRM from CFRB. (22 June) 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD-535D with T2FD antenna, HCDX via DXLD) Yes, it`s Japanese service (gh, DXLD) 6070, Voice of Korea, 1102 June 26, Japanese sign-on, national anthem, announcement and then choir with patriotic song. Poor (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening from my car, beside Kalamalka Lake, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna on the car roof, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I was still hearing a het above CFRX some 25 hours later, closer to 6071 (gh, DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH. Escucha interesante --- Estimados: En la frecuencia de 6300 kHz escuché el pasado 20.06 una debilísima señal en idioma desconocido y de la zona de Oriente Lejano. La estación estaba interferida por un poderoso jamming. Hoy, 23.06, sobre las 11 UT, fui directamente a intentar captarla nuevamente y la escuché con señal aceptable (QSA 2) y casi sin jamming, lo cual no sólo fue una sorpresa, sino que me permitió corroborar que se trata de un idioma asiático que casi con seguridad sería coreano. Mirando la sección "Clandestine and Other Target Broadcast" que bajé de Internet de la página del WRTH en Mayo de 2012, me encuentro que en esa frecuencia y en ese horario está mencionada la emisora "MND Radio" con programas, justamente en coreano, dirigidos hacia Corea del Norte y que emitiría en paralelo con 5410 kHz (inaudible en esta QRG si es que estaba en el aire). ¿Alguien conoce algun dato de esta emisora? Desde ya gracias. 73 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, June 23, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Aldito: Esto salió publicado en el World DX Club: MND (Ministry of National Defense) Radio is a clandestine station from South Korea via New Cuncheon transmitter site, broadcasts jammed. Schedule is male version: 0500-0540 6230, 0700-0740 and 1000-1040 6135, 1200-1240 6230. On December 8 a female version was added at 0600-0635 and 1100-1135 on 6435 and 6550 (S. Hasegawa, Japan, ibid) [originally from DXLD yg!] Fíjate que tambien transmite en 6060. Mira este video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDP2M6hAP6A con Icom R70 (nunca vi uno de esos funcionando). Saludos y que te mejores de la garganta (Enrique A. Wembagher, Argentina, condiglist yg via DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH [non]. 9560, June 26 at *0159, RCI IS and IDs in French and English a few times, 0200 KBS World Radio opening in Spanish. Altho the station name must always be in English, this time it was pronounced with a Spanish accent. Re missing English at 0230-0300 on 9560: I confess to not having tried to hear this for a long time until searching out Sackville relays. I think it was canceled long ago, not in WRTH update, nor HFCC A-12, nor own schedule: http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/about/about_time.htm There is still an hour of English at 0200-0300 on 9580 direct to S America, which is useless in N America with CRI Chinese via Cuba (and I`d think back radiation would also mess it up in S America) (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KURDISTAN [non]. via UKRAINE. 11530, Denge Mezopotamya, *0300-0330, June 23, sign on with 40 seconds of local chants and into Kurdistan National Anthem. Indigenous music at 0304. Fair to good (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** KUWAIT. 11565, R. Ashna (VOA), Signal on at 0128, program start 0130 with canned ID by M over instrumental music, talk, brief music fanfare, and presumed news with mention of Washington, Pakistan, Afghanistan. (21 June) 11565, R. Ashna (VOA) (via Kuwait) 0130 same fanfare opening the broadcast as heard on R. Aap ki Dunyaa, short "Ashna R." ID by M, then talk by W in apparent Dari. Good clear signal. (22 June) 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD-535D with T2FD antenna, HCDX via DXLD) ** KUWAIT. 15540, June 21 at 1937, R. Kuwait in English today, YL probably concluding `This Day in History` feature, into music, poor signal. 15540, June 22 at 1916, quick check of R. Kuwait finds it with western pop music, not Arabic today. 15540, June 23 at 1809 check, R. Kuwait is in Arabic intonations, not Qur`an recitation, then into English translation, fair signal. So it`s the regular Islamic-evangelism show, not default to total Arabic today; fair signal. More anomalies from R. Kuwait: 15540, June 26 at 1953, English frequency is again in Qur`an, then Arabic talk, 2001 discussion in Arabic, and with 17550 now on the air too, I find it in a *different* Arabic service. They had always been // before if 15540 was not in English; 17550 seems like news headlines, stinger, but soon back to Qur`an, then traditional music with lots of drumming at 2035. At this time, 2035, 15540 had Qur`an discussion, and for a change did *not* go back to English for headlines at 2050-2053; before 2100 this one was back in Qur`an, still not // 17550, and stayed on very late until cut off at 2115:20*. WRTH 2012 page 257 has confusing info about all the different domestic programs and their hours, apparently two different ones with Qur`an, but evidently the other ones also include some Qur`an. It would be nice if some Arabic speaker would listen and sort this out. 15540, June 27 at 1833, R. Kuwait is really in English today during main newscast, about, who else, government honcho Sheikh al-Sabah; at 2009 in rock music, while 17550 was in Arabic. Both with good, improved signals (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LAOS. And a good news is Lao National Radio came up with a printed QSL; no return postage is required. Communicate with the email ID provided in the WRTH National Radio Section :) (Partha Sarathi Goswami, Siliguri, W.B., India, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6130, Lao National Radio, presumed at 1258 June 27, Asian music, 1259 male speaker, 1300 five tones, followed by speaker. Very poor (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening from my car, beside Kalamalka Lake, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna on the car roof, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBYA. Radio Libye, 11600 Location ?? June 22, 2012. Friday. 1725- 1735. Three stations head-on, two with talk and one with music. This one in French, so presumably Libya (Aoki). Head-on collision, nothing readable. Jo'burg sunset 1525 (Bill Bingham, RSA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11600, Radio Télévision Libye - Radio Libye, 1737-1807*, June 22, French talk. Lite instrumental music. French ballads. IDs. Poor to fair (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** LITHUANIA. [Re 12-25] QSL for RMRC EDXC Broadcast --- Hi QSL collectors, just received a note from Harald Gabler of RMRC: Printed QSL-cards containing all details will be sent later to all DXers who provided detailed reception reports for the RMRC EDXC broadcast. But this will take some time. I suspect they need return postage for this, so I will send them a reception report by postal mail. Address: RMRC e.V. Postfach 700849 60558 Frankfurt am Main Germany 73 (Harald Kuhl, DL1ABJ, June 21, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) Re: DXLD EDXC-RMRC broadcast and QSLs ``What`s ``valid`` or not as a QSL is a matter of opinion. Victor is obviously a hard-liner about this. Long ago I concluded that QSLs have no intrinsic value, and one may as well consider them as nice souvenirs and nothing more. In far too many cases the people issuing them for stations don`t diligently check or reject phony reports, and/or are not well-informed about their own station`s activities, about propagation, or radio in general. QSL-collectors are increasingly lucky that anyone bothers to issue them of whatever kind (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST)`` Glen[n], I am not a hard liner, but I would love to have all those details and as you say today we are lucky even to have a response in whatever form from a broadcaster. It is in that backdrop that I pointed out that EDXC-RMRC would be in a great position to do just what DXers would love to have. I don't demand anything from a broadcaster, as you pointed out Glenn anything and everything I get back I consider lucky indeed even if I have sent a follow up with IRCs, mint stamps etc. So to ask RMRC which is one of the finest and well respected clubs, (whose QSL calendar hangs in my shack) it would be natural for DXers to expect that favour of an E-QSL with those details. It might take time, but that is understandable and this is for a one off broadcast. RMRC knows what the standard DXers want as their hard copy QSL has all those, so in this instance what is a QSL doesn't arise. Many DXers in our part of the world cannot afford IRCs and to travel to one of the main post offices is a long journey to get an IRC. Besides, the DXer in this case who waited for the broadcast, listened under hard conditions and immediately sent a sound clip as well, definitely did a favour to the club and the club did request reports by e-mail too and said they would QSL. If I sounded a bit disturbed in my mail, this was because a simple request and a polite one got a curt reply saying I am the only one dissatisfied. And when I asked whether I should send return postage, I got no answer. (Since then I have a very nice reply and a QSL from the club, but I speak not for myself alone). What is more valuable, an e-mailed report, during the broadcast and immediately after even with a sound clip asking for an e-QSL or a postal report received 10-15 days later from South Asia with a written report and an IRC-for a special broadcast, for a one off broadcast? My appeal was to RMRC to help DXers as a respected club for an E-QSL. RMRC could have said before the broadcast that they can not QSL and all would have been OK. Am I unreasonable? -- (G. Victor A. Goonetilleke 4S7VK, "Shangri-la"' 298 Madapatha Road, Piliyandala. Sri Lanka. E-mail: victorg@slt.lk victor.goonetilleke@gmail.com Skype: victorgoonetilleke +941 12614098 Mob: +94 718328336, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Correct / Proper e-QSL received today from RMRC as a PDF file can be seen here http://goo.gl/w4Jau QUOTE On Sun, Jun 24, 2012 at 9:47 PM, Haun < migu-koenigstein@t-online.de > wrote: Dear Partha, attached please find the QSL for your reception report. Many thanks for listening to our broadcast. 73 Michael Haun RMRC Treasurer UNQUOTE I find it very partial when many hobbyists want to communicate via e- mail to stations for sending reception reports but in reply they want - even become sometimes rigid for a printed QSL card!!! Why, if they want to save their postage, why shouldn't the stations? What's wrong with a proper e-QSL and if you want a hard copy just get it printed!!! If sending RR's via e-mail is fast then e-QSL is fast & secure too, no way to lose in the snail mail. The things can be much better if we think both sides! I have seen many hardcore QSL hunters who always include reply postage or USDs. If I can't send it, e-QSL is a blessing for me against my email report!!! And we are really thankful to station who provide hard copy by post - long ago (about 15 years) in many DX programs it has been already discussed that stations do QSL as a courtesy and PR measure. We can't claim or demand it (Partha Sarathi Goswami, Siliguri, W.B., India, June 25, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) This is NOT intended as criticism of anyone, but my feelings on this issue are much more ambiguous than Victor’s. Of course, Victor is correct. The longstanding “tradition” in DXing says a QSL should be a full-data response containing three things 1. Time and date of the listener’s reception. 2. Frequency on which the signal was heard, and, 3. Some type of indication that the report was correct. The RMRC EDXC e-card has frequency, and the confirmation word QSL. It includes time and date scheduled, but NOT the time and date of MY report. So while I might have preferred the missing words, I am not too upset about their absence. And I realize that RMRC knows what DXers prefer, since they are a premier DXer club. I also know that RMRC could have, but didn’t add the personalized date and time data, and that it probably would not have taken much more time or effort to do so. But the reply is what it is, and I am not especially disappointed. I’d prefer to focus more on the positives, with thanks. RMRC deserves considerable praise for the initiative of sponsoring this broadcast. They spent the funds to buy airtime and voluntarily contributed the time and effort to create the program and respond to reports. This is a rather drab and disappointing time in DXing. Our special targets these days seem to focus mostly on “last programs.” (e.g., RCI and RNW). There are few other special listening targets, few other special moments left to us. And in this dismal time, RMRC has shown enterprise and initiative in bringing one of them to us. The RMRC/EDXC program was for me, an interesting and unusual bit of listening. And for that, I offer my thanks to RMRC. And I thank them for the response, even though it may not have included those few “magical words” of a traditional QSL (Don Jensen, WI, in DXplorer, Jun 19 via DSWCI DX Window June 27 via DXLD) ** MADAGASCAR. 5010, RTV Malagasy Antananarivo in local language 1931- 1952 M talk; some Men chatting & talking mentioning Madagascar; afropop; Men / W talking (no much clear); heard in usb with inter filter; fast qsb & strong statics crashes; poor; 6/19 (Giovanni Serra, Roma, Italy. Equipment: JRC NRD 525; Alpha Delta DX-SWL Sloper-S; RG 8 mini coaxial cable; JPS NIR 12 Noise & Interference Reducer-Dual DSP outboard audio filter; Intek PS-35 5 ampere feeder; JRC – NVA 319 external loudspeaker unit; Yaesu YH – 77 STA stereo headphones; Zoom Corp. H2 handy digital recorder MP3 & WAV files; Oregon Scientific RM912 Radio controlled clock; Toshiba Laptop PC Windows XP2 (offline for loggings); Interkart framed wall board political world map (1: 46,400,000); the DX Edge-Xantek Inc.(daylight-darkness desk world map), DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MADAGASCAR. 5010.00, Radio Madagasikara, 0305-0340, June 24, carrier + USB. Malagasy talk. African choral music. Poor to fair (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** MALAYSIA. 7295, Traxx FM via RTM, 1124, June 26. DJs with promo for the Rainforest World Music Festival 2012 to be held from July 13 to 15, organized by the Sarawak Tourism Board and held at the Sarawak Cultural Village; the most common ID is now "Radio Malaysia Traxx FM"; website: http://rainforestmusic-borneo.com/ (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAYSIA. 6050, Asyik FM, 1305 June 27, Bahasa Malay, Malay pop songs, woman DJ, 1312 took a call on the phone. Fair, but fading. 9835, Voice of Malaysia, 1313 June 27, Bahasa Malay, pop song, male DJ, 1316 man and woman with several Voice of Malaysia IDs. Good, strong signal (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening from my car, beside Kalamalka Lake, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna on the car roof, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ``VOM`` was the external service ID; surprised they are using that for this domestic service (gh, DXLD) ** MALI. 5995, RTVM, 2345-0002*, June 22-23, wide variety of Afro-pop music, Euro-pop and US pop music. French talk. National Anthem at 0000:45. Strong carrier but weak modulation. Overall poor signal in noisy conditions (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** MAURITANIA. 7245, UT Friday June 22 at 0532, IGIM is on with lively W African music, poor signal but much better than presumed Vatican on adjacent 7250, solstitially too far into the dayside now. Another instance of on-early (or all-night) for the Fribbath. 7245, Monday June 25 at 0517, IGIM is on early for a change on a non- Fribbath, Arabish with phone calls, poor (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. [See USA: TIS report] Speaking of 1610, it is amazing how well XEUACH comes in throughout West Texas. They sign off shortly after 0200 UT / 9 pm CDT but they are an easy catch up to that point. 73, (Tim Hall, on the road, June 22, ABDX via WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DXLD) ** MEXICO. 6185, June 25 at 0203, XEPPM with good modulation for a change and no ACI from either side; talking about Turquía, Malta (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. Signs of NTSC video on channel A2 fade in from south at 1430 UT June 22, but nothing develops by 1500. But 1515 video plus Spanish audio start infading. 1612 on 3, Televisa program promo, loud audio, then non-comedic dark animation for younguns; so probably net 5, probably XHBQ Zacatecas 1613 on 2, TeleVer bug in UR, novela, so XHFM, Veracruz 1633 on 5, CCI including a discussion 1633 on 4, speech, maybe political 1635 on 6, MUF briefly reaches video here; tried FM but none heard 1636 on 5, TeleVer, video only, novela, so XHAJ, Las Lajas 1651 on 4, MUF down to here, net-5 toon, with zero-CCI beat bars 1651 on 5, briefly parallel 4 above 1659 on 2, hoy, net-2 program at conclusion? 1708 on 2, +tv bug in UR, i.e. másTV, i.e. XEWO, Guadalajara 1803 on 2, convoluted bug in UR I have not seen before; looks like a large lower-case a with other stuff overlain; maybe Cristina or similar talkshow, Televisa closing credit, then Televisa Música with a video 1810 or so the opening finishes 2300 on 2, Es fades in again 2332 on 2, classic video of a concert aria or lied; TELEACTIVA in upper right, so XEFB Monterrey NL; surprisingly cultural UT June 23: 0011 on 3, Televisa promo, net-5. Opening continued but I switched to SW trying to ID the Spanish station on 14950+, see UNIDENTIFIED 0245 on 2, next check opening is still going, CCI in and out for more than an hour more 0351 on 2, newscast, with constant crawler, Televisa bug in LR 0412 still some video on 2 but almost gone as I call it a night 1649 on 2, fade-in Spanish from south. Grafix showing Mesa 5, Mesa 6, Mesa 7, audio announcing premio after premio in the 20s. Some kind of game show, auxion, lottery? Signs of sporadic E analog TV DX June 24, UT: 1931 on 2, fade-in some video from south; 1933 it`s fútbol. Nothing more. Some more sporadic E analog TV DX June 26, UT: 2115 on 2, note some weak video fading in from south 2132, it`s a toon like Spongebob, probably net-5 2145, signals increase with CCI on 2 and also on 4 2145, peaks at ch 5 with brief video and audio in Spanish, nothing IDed (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MICRONESIA. 4755.47, PMA-The Cross Radio, 0930-0940, June 27. Christian songs; 0938 ID: “Hi. My name is Norse(?). I listen to the Cross Radio”; poor with QRN (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MOLDOVA. RADIO MOLDOVA INTERNATIONAL MARKS 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF FIRST BROADCAST AllMoldova.com 23 June 2012 http://www.allmoldova.com/en/moldova-news/1249053601.html Radio Moldova International (RMI), a radio station that is oriented towards a foreign audience, marks on Saturday, June 23, two decades since its first broadcast. In 2000, RMI switched to internet broadcasts. Monday through Friday, programs that relate to the political, socio-economic, and cultural activity in Moldova are aired in five languages: English, French, Spanish, Russian and Romanian, reports Info-Prim Neo, the station said in a communique. The station’s director, Clara Bacalym, says that the 20 years of activity have coincided with the emergence and foundation of the young Moldovan state. “It is natural, after such a long way, for us to desire changes, ascension and perfection”, says the director. Head manager of Radio Moldova Alexandru Dorogan claims that the current changes, after 20 years of activity, place new objectives in front of RMI, development strategies, delivery tactics and broadcast format. “I can easily picture the station’s existence on an easily accessible and up-to-date web page”, says the head of Radio Moldova. RMI dedicated this year’s “Discover the Republic of Moldova” contest, which is organized annually for foreign listeners, to its twentieth anniversary. In this edition, the seventh one, are competing over 30 listeners from Italy, Germany, France, Brazil, Chile, India, Russia, Argentina, Morocco, Nigeria etc. Traditionally, the winner of the prize gets a trip to the Republic of Moldova, to the Wine Festival. In the numerous letters received at the headquarters, RMI listeners are saying that they would like to listen to the station through internet or satellite waves, to listen to daily events from the Transnistrian region, shows in Italian and German, listen to a course of Romanian, and lots of Moldovan music. In a letter recently addressed to RMI, Christian Gibaudo [sic], from France, mentions that, along with the Eurovision contest, RMI is one of the few get-to-know opportunities for this small south-eastern European country. “RMI programs are important, because Moldova is still an unknown country”, says the listener. RMI was founded in 1992, due to the outbreak of the Transnistrian conflict, information on which was either scarcely known to the exterior, or purposely manipulated. The global opinion on the situation in Moldova was fed by sources from Moscow. (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) Just my 2 cents in: As usual, Moscow is 'the root of all evil'. As if information is not 'purposely manipulated' elsewhere, Moldova included. Let`s think a bit. How on earth could RMI have its first broadcast aired on the 23th of June, 1992, given the fact that the Maiac transmitting facilities were fully controlled by Pridnestrovians with relays of Chisinau-produced/fed programs stopped as of May, 7th (1992)? I do believe they intended to launch foreign service in late June and even taped their first program as such, but was is actually broadcast? Don`t think so. Interestingly, RMI frequency schedules (even for the Romanian Galbeni site in use a year later) were coordinated via Moscow. I can remember an interesting coincidence back then - both RMI and Radio Pridnestrovya were assigned, and actually used (from different transmitter sites and at different time slots throughout the day, though) the very same channel of 7520 kHz. Given the rather questionable quality of Romanian transmitters, i wonder why Moldovan authorities didnt bother involving the local SW site in downtown Chisinau, previoulsy used for jamming, communications and broadcasting (!) purposes. At least the site's three palm-tree towers were dismantled in mid-to-late 90s, the only surviving 'relic' being just one of them (although 'decapitated') now used for cell phone repeaters etc. Best regards, (Leo, (Chisinau / Moldova), dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MORROCO. 171 kHz, Medi Un with alternating Arabic/French headlines over a music bed with stabs after every story. 2200, June 23. Fair with the usual Radio Free Chechnya/Radio Rossii absent from the frequency (Brock Whaley, Kandahar, AFGHANISTAN, SW-11 for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MOROCCO [and non]. 15349, June 21 at 2140, no signal from IMM. I haven`t been paying much attention since it`s been keeping to itself on this off-frequency, but apparently signing off circa 2100 now with DST in effect from April 29* to Sept 30*, per timeanddate.com which does not explain what their a*terisks mean; during standard time it`s on until 2200. Resultantly, RAE on 15345 escaped any 4 kHz het; very weak but maybe French? No, listed German this hour weekdays. IMM is still operational, tho, this off-frequency carrier confirmed at 1450 UT June 22 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MYANMAR. 7110, 1149, Thazin BC Station (tentative), Fair in SE Asian vernacular with local m-o-r pop music, periodic drum beats & various sound effects, YL/OM talk; still going when dropped at 1300. Similar format 25/4 with s/off and sked in vernacular at 1429, then in English. Folk story in English & Western songs continued until transmitter off at 1500 - 21/4 (Kelvin Brayshaw, LEVIN, New Zealand, Eton E-5, Tabletop Loop, 100m BOG, June NZ DX Times via DXLD) ** MYANMAR. Continuing to be on their new frequency of 7200.0, Myanmar Radio. Ex: 7200.1. June 25 at 1146 in vernacular. Thanks to Mauno Ritola (Finland) for his June 22 email: “I tried to estimate the carrier via Japanese remote Perseii, checking the offset against WWVH on 10000 kHz and got the same result as you Ron: the new fq is very close to 7200.00 kHz.” (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MYANMAR. 5985.84, Radio Myanma, Yangon, presumed at 1244 June 27, indigenous singing and musical instruments, re-check 1302 and man in Asian language, but muffled and weak. Very poor (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening from my car, beside Kalamalka Lake, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna on the car roof, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MYANMAR [non]. via ARMENIA. 11595, Democratic Voice of Burma, *2330-0030, June 23-24, sign on with local music and talk in Burmese. Short breaks of local music. Many mentions of Myanmar. Good (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. Radio Netherlands hasn't seen a whole lot of news coverage, but following up on their abandonment of SW, they now are stopping even their web streams and ALL programming in English and I believe many other if not all languages. I've said this before, but will reiterate: if you become invisible you become expendable. When stations go off SW they become 'invisible' to the international community even when they maintain a web presence. Who LOOKS for "Radio Netherlands" on the web? People are too busy looking at Facebook or Twitter, or scanning for salacious gossip or reading the latest about Lady GaGa's wardrobe to care about such things, after all! (Ken Zichi, MARE Tipsheet June 22 via DXLD) Special QSL for final RNW English broadcast I am pleased to inform you that there will be a special QSL-card for reports on Radio Netherlands Worldwide's final English broadcast on 29 June. From the website: For those listeners who enjoy picking up shortwave broadcasts and sending in a reception report, this is your last chance to dispatch your SINPO to our P. O. Box 222, 1200 JG Hilversum, The Netherlands, or letters @ rnw. nl (subject: 29 June Reception report). We'll return the favour by sending you a special QSL card commemorating the closing of RNW's English service! Extra Shortwave frequencies on 29 June 2012 0159-0257 UT - North America (East) - 6165 kHz - Bonaire (that's late Thursday, local time!) 0259-0357 UT - North America (Central) - 6165 kHz - Bonaire (that's late Thursday, local time!) 0459-0557 UT - North America (West) - 6165 kHz - Bonaire (that's late Thursday, local time!) 0459-0557 UT - New Zealand + Australia (South East) - 12015 kHz - Bonaire 1859-2057 UT - Europe - 6065 kHz - Wertachtal (via Andy Sennitt, Netherlands, June 24, ODXA yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DXLD) There's now also a slideshow of RNW staff past and present at: http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/heres-looking-us (via Alan Pennington, BDXC_UK yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DXLD) An the complete RNW schedule as of July 2, both via Bonaire and both Mon-Fri only: 0930-1000: 6020, Dutch 1100-1157: 9895, Spanish 6020 is run on a quadrant antenna (HQ 1/0.3), thus in fact non- directional, serving the Carribean to which Dutch is supposed to continue and to remain in the public broadcasting system. So it is already now of interest who provides the programming carried on 6020 (is it NOS content now?), and it will be interesting to see if this shortwave outlet continues beyond Oct 28. Due to the closure of Bonaire this question concerns of course 9895 as well. And will Witte Kruislaan continue to operate the Talata Volonondry site beyond Oct 28? (Kai Ludwig, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST 12-25, via WORLD OF RADIO 1623) RNW Indonesian ends on June 29 at 1257 (SW-wise on 17840, 21485). (Kai Ludwig, Germany, June 21, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) LOS CAMBIOS EN RADIO NEDERLAND A partir del 1ro de julio habrá cambios importantes en Radio Nederland, tanto en nuestras emisiones como en esta página web. No contaremos más con los programas de fondo: Un Mundo Mejor Gran Angular Voces Cabildo Abierto Cartas@RN Ciencias Tampoco con nuestros espacios musicales: Podium Neerlandés Pódium Europeo del Jazz Molinos RN Escucha el Mundo Las series y coproducciones, entre ellos, la Ronda Informativa de Aler, Agroenlace y el Europarade continuarán a través de esta página web. Nuestro despertar informativo La Matinal seguirá emitiéndose de forma usual por satélite y onda corta hasta el fin del verano europeo y volverá en un nuevo formato en la próxima temporada. En Internet continuaremos proveyéndole de artículos, entrevistas y videos relacionados con nuestra nueva tarea: promover la libertad de expresión en áreas donde la gente no dispone de esa libertad para acceder a información independiente o expresar sus ideas libremente. En nuestra página web permanecerán en el archivo todos los programas, series, especiales y espacios que lo han acompañado durante las últimas décadas. Y continuaremos el desarrollo de nuestras nuevas plataformas, entre otras, la recientemente lanzada Hablemosdeamor.nl sobre sexualidad, relaciones y salud sexual. EMISIÓN DE DESPEDIDA El próximo 29 de junio emitiremos un programa especial con una mirada a la trayectoria del Departamento Latinoamericano de Radio Nederland. La emisión en directo podrán escucharla a través de nuestro Real Audio a las 1400 horas UT (las 16:00 horas de Holanda) y luego en las acostumbradas emisiones nocturnas de RN, y en video (streaming) en nuestra página web http://www.radionederland.nl Publicado el : 22 Junio 2012 (RNW via FB via Horacio Nigro, June 22, condiglist yg via DXLD) I'm choosing also to see these ferocious words as passion for RNW and support for their mission, aborted as it may be for the time being. I was glad to "get in touch with the Dutch," learning the language and visiting many times. I hope the unique Dutch perspective, culture and character will reappear in a similar form some time in the future, though I imagine the considerable talent and familiar names currently working there will disperse, and the traditions will have to be re- established and reinvented. What next, the Rijksmuseum? Ah well, history has many ups and downs, and I'm glad to say RNW was a part of it for so long (Dave Maddox, June 25, happystation yg via DXLD) We only hope that a great International service can resume someday in the future, in any form of communication. We are in a time of changes, but I realize that the Economy is pushing the Man, and not the reverse. RNW leaves in the memory and the history an example of a solid organization and great journalism, across the decades. Best wishes to all (Horacio Nigro, Uruguay, ibid.) 27 June, 2012 - 13:41 RNW’s Spanish desk: presidents asked for interviews changes at RNW’s Spanish desk data/files/teaser-bye-rnw-latam-270612-v2_0.jpg Radio Netherlands Worldwide (RNW) is changing course and going forward in a slimmed-down version: a smaller organisation focussing on Free Speech. From the old RNW ("2.0") to the new: a tour of the desks which will be terminated or are changing their approach. Part II: the Spanish desk “The Chinese will be quick to fill the gap we leave behind,” says Wim Jansen head of the Spanish department. “Under the military dictatorships of the 1970s and 1980s, Radio Netherlands Worldwide provided many in Latin America with a lifeline to the outside world - a solid source of trustworthy information. At the time, we were unaware of precisely what impact we had but, when the dictatorships ended and democracy emerged, it became crystal clear. We’d been of enormous value for people from high to low on the social ladder. Bolivia’s President Evo Morales, who was in prison during the 1970s, says RNW kept him going. We were the only reliable broadcaster which he could get in prison.” Political prisoners The first Spanish-language broadcasts were aired shortly after RNW was founded in 1947. At first, they were chiefly informative and cultural but they increasingly became more political during the time of the dictatorships, providing information to countries without press freedom. In the 1970s, RNW’s role was enhanced by the great interest generated in the Netherlands. This interest was partly fired by the stream of political refugees entering the country. One of them was José Zepeda, a former political prisoner who fled the dictatorship in Chile in 1976. He started working for RNW that year and became head of the Spanish desk in 1994. Jansen: “His enormous network and standing meant he was essential in putting the department on the map. Doors opened for him at the very highest level. Presidents asked José ‘Pepe’ Zepeda to interview them, not the other way round.” Impact The figures relating to RNW’s impact in Latin America speak for themselves: a million short-wave listeners; eight million via partner stations; 200,000 internet visitors a month; 110,000 audio downloads via partner stations and 75,000 video viewings. Especially popular were programmes such as La Matinal, a daily current affairs show, the weekly interactive radio show, Cartas, and the monthly Spanish- language version of the Euro Hit 40 show. Highlights among years of successful programmes included coverage of the marriage of Crown Prince Willem-Alexander to his Argentinian-born wife Máxima in 2002. Her father Jorge Zorreguieta had served as a minister in Argentina’s Videla military regime and because of this was stopped from attending his daughter’s wedding. The Spanish desk’s live coverage of the royal wedding included a report from the mothers of the Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires - who are still demanding information about loved ones who disappeared in the Videla regime’s Dirty War. Its reports about Hurricane Mitch, which left a trail of devastation across half of Latin America were another highpoint. While the communications networks of the affected countries were out of action, RNW was able to disseminate a mass of information. New course As part of the new RNW, the Spanish desk is set to become much smaller: it will lose more than half its staff. It will only produce programmes catering to the new focus (free speech), the new target audience (people from 15 to 35), and the new target countries (Cuba, Venezuela and Mexico). Internet will become far more important as a means of distribution, with only La Matinal and some successful radio projects continuing to be broadcast. The response to the changes to the Spanish desk has been fierce and emotional and has come from throughout Latin America. Thousands of e- mails and letters have been received, mostly from the countries which will no longer be covered by RNW. A group of intellectuals wrote to the Dutch government, and the board and editor-in-chief of RNW. Petitions were organised in Colombia and Venezuela and the ombudsman of Costa Rica wrote to his Dutch counterpart. Despite all the efforts, the changes are nevertheless going forward. Who will replace RNW? The question remains as to who will take over RNW’s journalistic work in the region. Jansen: “Radio France International and Deutsche Welle are both present in the region, but they are relatively small players. The Voice of America has never been taken seriously due to mistrust. The BBC is also back in the region. The probable winners, though, are the Chinese, an up- and-coming power in the media world. They’ve been working on getting a foot in the Latin American door for a couple of years. Their broadcasts are not fired by politics, but centre on culture and background. They’ll now be certain to take the opportunity they’re being given.” (mw) Source: http://m.rnw.nl/english/node/146246 (via Horacio Nigro, Uruguay, Jun 28, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. Say it ain't so! Does anyone know if Live at the Concertgebouw is among the casualties of surgery at Radio Nederland? After listening to Herbert Blomstedt conduct the orchestra in a tightly-coiled performance of Dvorak's Symphony No. 7 this afternoon, I think that would be tragic (Harry van Vugt, Windsor, Ontario, Canada, June 25, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Harry, Yes I think it will probably end this week although RNW Classical was supposed to end last month and it's still streaming as I type this message. There are a lot of links to RNW music programmes on these 2 pages http://download.radionetherlands.nl/rnw/smac/?C=N;O=A http://download.radionetherlands.nl/rnw/smac/cms/?C=N;O=A if you need to download anything. Be quick though as I suspect all archive recordings will be deleted soon. Regards (Harry Brooks, North East England, UK, ibid.) I forwarded Harry van Vugt`s inquiry to Andy Sennitt, ex-RNW, and the replies came: Hi Rob, Can you give me an authoritative answer on this? Do we knowwhat will happen to the RNW Music catalogue (i.e. has it been sold to someone else?) Thanks, (Andy to Rob Kievit, RNW English, 26 June, via DXLD) Hi Andy, I'm forwarding the questions about the RNW Music catalogue etc. to Marcel van Tilburg at the RNW Music Department, so he can fill you and Glenn in on this. As far as I've been told, Live at the Concertgebouw will continue for the time being as an independent production with RNW's blessing (and some help). But it will have to stand on its own feet within the foreseeable future. That's at least a partial answer. More from Marcel, I hope (Rob to Andy, ibid.) Subject: RE: Vragen over Live@Cgb en RN Music-archief Dear Harry, Glenn and Andy, Rob is well informed. This year will see no change in the production of the Live at the Concertgebouw series. However, from January 2013 the program has to be independent of RNW. Producer Lodewijk Collette is now in the process of finding out if that's possible. With kindest regards from (Marcel van Tilburg, RNW Music Department, June 28, ibid.) Since no one else has mentioned it, and no one asked me for my reminiscences for their final programming, I would like to point out for the record that I, Glenn Hauser, had the privilege of appearing on RN for a good many years, as the North American DX Reporter on DX Jukebox from the Harry van Gelder era; and for longer on Espacio Dxista / Radio Enlace with DX news in Spanish every month (often spread out over 2 or 3 weeks), until that program finally went off the air (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. Martedì 19 giugno 2012, 0845 - 6095 kHz, TRANSPORT R. - Wertachtal (Germania), Olandese, phone-in show. Segnale molto buono. Dal lunedì al venerdì (Luca Botto Fiora, QTH G.C. 09E13 - 44N21, Rapallo (Genova) - Italia, bclnews.it yg via DXLD) ** NICARAGUA. ? 8989-usb, "Pescador Preacher" 2330 to 2340 om with español religious talk being hammered by RTTY, 21 June (Robert Wilkner, Pompano Beach, South Florida, NRD 535D -746Pro - R8 - Sony 2010XA - June 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA. Martedì 19 giugno 2012, 0657 - 15120 kHz, VOICE OF NIGERIA - Ikorodu, English, musica afropop e IDs OM. Segnale buono-molto buono (Luca Botto Fiora, QTH G.C. 09E13 - 44N21, Rapallo (Genova) - Italia, bclnews.it yg via DXLD) 7255, V. of Nigeria 2130 strong signal with no buzzing but audio almost nil. (20 June) 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD-535D with T2FD antenna, HCDX via DXLD) 15120, Voice of Nigeria, 0623 June 21, English, ID, economic news, 0624 sports news. Strong carrier but low modulation and hum on transmitter (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening beside Kalamalka Lake 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) 15115-15120-15125, Friday June 22 at 1917, DRM noise confirming VON is active, presumably to take Saturday & Sunday off as usual. 15110 Spain behaving itself, no spurs (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7255, Voice of Nigeria, 2245-2259*, June 24, talk in listed Hausa. Some short breaks of Afro-pop music. Sign off with National Anthem at 2258. Transmitter remained on the air past 2305 with test tone. Strong signal but also a strong whine. Overall poor signal quality (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) 15115-15120-15125, Sunday June 24 at 1951, with BFO on, can detect DRM here from VON; have they expanded to 7 days a week now? Tho useless to all but a few enthusiasts, and more with take-it-or-leave it capability. 15120, June 26 at 0512, no signal from VON, while Africa was propagating well from Madagascar, 15400, R. Dabanga (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. Hobby Pirates: 6925, 0506, Turtlehead Radio logged 3/6 till closing 0529, poor level but clear announcements & regular idents. BCM 6940, 0700, Radio True North ran past 0746 2/6 with poor to fair signals, regular idents & variety of music. Also heard past 0700 3/6 with comedy track, poor. Measured frequency varied between 6940.17 and 6940.03 (Bryan Clark at Mangawhai (Northland), New Zealand with AOR7030+, EWEs to North, Central & South America, 100m BOG to NE and Alpha Delta Sloper antennas, June NZ DX Times via WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DXLD) HOBBY PIRATE, 6925, Blue Ocean Radio, a new one for me, logged from 0547 to past 0916 UT 24 June, peaking very good. A wide variety of music styles heard, with slogan announced as "We play the best of music - Blue Ocean Radio". Recorded identifications by a woman and man were reminiscent of another pirate I've heard so suspect this may be a rebranding (Bryan Clark, Mangawhai, NZ using AOR7030+ and EWEs to North, Central & South America, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. [Pirates]. 6924.97, Pirate Radio Boston, 0140-0150, June 22, pop music. IDs. Gave email address and Belfast, NY mail drop address. Strong but slightly distorted. 6950.73, Captain Morgan Shortwave, 0105-0125, June 22, blues music. IDs. Very good signal. 6955.19, WMPR, 0150-0200, June 22, instrumental music. IDs as “WMPR, peace, love and understanding.” Fair. 6925, Captain Morgan Shortwave, 0050-0110, June 23, blues music. IDs. Email address. Very good. 6924.98, WMPR, 0228-0235, June 24, instrumental music. ID. Fair. 6925.04, Radio 2012 International, 0209-0215, June 23, weird electronic music. IDs. Good. 6935.2, Radio Appalachia, 0100-0115, June 24, bluegrass music. Some Johnny Cash music. IDs. Poor to fair. 6950 USB, Wolverine Radio, 0300-0320, June 24, ID. Music by The Who, Santana, The Police. Very good (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** OKLAHOMA [and non]. Legal ID you could fall asleep to. If KJIL adds more translators, the legal ID may take up the entire hour ;-) Clip: http://forums.wtfda.org/showthread.php?7291 This was most likely full-power 88.9 in Guymon OK rather than the xltr in Follett TX as I've heard it multiple times this season by Es, and for good durations and with good stable signals. But there are many cases of multiple xltrs for the same station on the same channel. Can make it impossible to log something with certainty. I ran into that last summer with CSN on 89.3 (SC & GA). (Saul Chernos, Burnt River ON, June 26, WTFDA via DXLD) I've heard some long network IDs but that one takes the cake. As for multiples on the same channel, I tend to settle for logging one of them (with a footnote) rather than logging none of them. I've gotten lucky sometimes when there are two possibles on the same channel and I hear one echoing the other (from delay), or the audio processing is different between the two hearing the other one a short time later in the same event. Then I can log them both (Steve W., K3PHL, ibid.) ** OKLAHOMA. I applaud Ben et al. on KOSU doing more and more local reporting, but why does this have to be at the expense of always excellent material on NPR Morning Edition and ATC? I realize that the NPR programs are formatted with optional cutaways all thru them, as that`s the way the affiliates want them. But whenever there is something local on (other than a minute or two of weather, headlines, banter), I wonder what we`re missing. (And how come Ben never mentions the temp in Enid? We are increasingly marginalized.) Having your local features (and mini-features from outside) scattered all over the schedule is annoying and causes them to be missed, sometimes hit. I would much rather have a daily half-hour (or whatever it takes) with ALL the local material in one place, and then let the national shows air intact. And what is the point of switching to APM for the Biz news at :50? Yes, it`s well done, but so is NPR`s. You have ATC on for 3.5 hours each weekday, even tho it`s only a 2- hour show, right? (except for news updates, the 5 pm hour repeats the first, and 6:30 repeats 4:30, right?). So 4:30 or 6:30 would be a good time for your local intact half-hour. And if you didn`t do all this repeating, you could start ATC at 4, and give us BOTH hours of TOTN, shifting The World to 3. A similar case could be made about Morning Edition, which is also two hours occupying four hours of your valuable airtime. An all-OK half- hour could best be placed at 8:30, and listeners could be advised to start listening at 6:30 if they want to hear all of ME. Regards, (Glenn Hauser, Enid, to KOSU Stillwater, via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. Ch-ch-ch-changes --- KOSU to pilot new shows on weekends As you may have recently heard, Car Talk will cease production in October. While we will continue to air archives from the show, the retirement of Click and Clack and the recent results of our listener survey continue to indicate it’s time to look at the possible next generation of public radio programming. So, with that in mind, we’re going to do some experimentation with some new shows on KOSU over the next few weeks, and you get to put in your two cents. As a warning, it will be at least a temporary departure from the programming you’re used to listening to on the weekends because we need a place to test these shows. We hope that you’ll participate with us and let us know what you think. Starting Saturday, June 30, we will begin airing the pilot versions of three new shows. The TED Radio Hour will offer a fresh step back from the frenetic pace of news. Each year, TED hosts the world's most fascinating thinkers - convention-breaking mavericks, icons, and geniuses - who give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes or less about the best ideas in Technology, Entertainment, Design and much more. Through this exciting co-production between TED and NPR, each episode will focus around a theme (such as "Happiness") and TEDTalks that put ideas about the theme through the paces. The TED Radio Hour will air Saturdays at noon. NPR's Ask Me Another is a lively hour of puzzles, word games, and trivia played in front of (and with) a live audience. Ask Me Another's entertaining melange of brainteasers and fun is a descendant of Weekend Edition Sunday's Puzzle Segment with Will Shortz, but infused with the vibrancy and quick wit of Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me. It will air Saturdays at 1 p.m. John Wesley Harding's Cabinet of Wonders is a variety show recorded live at the City Winery in New York. It features an exciting mix of musicians, authors, comedians, and other artists. Imagine you're in the audience of a talent show put on by your friends, your very talented, critically acclaimed friends. They sing, read from their novels, tell jokes, make you laugh, make you think, and keep you entertained. That's the Cabinet of Wonders, hosted by musician and author John Wesley Harding. It will air Sundays at 3 p.m. [CDT = 2000 UT] After you've listened to these new programs, we hope you'll fill out our short survey (KOSU newsletter June 25 via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3260, Radio Madang, Madang noted at 1050 with very strong signal, never this strong before, music, vocals with om 1053, fading 1058, still in with weaker signal, music 1115, 23 June (Robert Wilkner, Pompano Beach, South Florida, NRD 535D -746Pro - R8 - Sony 2010XA - and XM - Cedar Key - South Florida, NRD 525D - R8A -E- 5, June 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Note 3204.9 PNG, Radio Sandaun West Sepik was in at the same time but with weaker signal. 3325 PNG also strong same time. rlw (Wilkner, ibid.) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. A good opening to Papua New Guinea this morning. 3205, PNG (NEW GUINEA TERRITORY), NBC Sandaun, Vanimo, 1204 June 27, English, man with news to 1206, plug for NBC as the “official broadcaster of the national elections”. Fair. (Sellers-BC) 3260, PNG (NEW GUINEA TERRITORY), NBC Madang, 1217 June 27, Tok Pisin, woman making some kind of announcements that included numbers and date of June 28th in most cases. Strong signal. (Sellers-BC) 3275, PNG (PAPUA TERRITORY), NBC Southern Highlands, Mendi, 1204 June 27, English news in parallel to 3205, at 1213 noted in English with announcer asking quiz questions of callers on the telephone. Fair to poor. (Sellers-BC) 3315, PNG (ADMIRALTY ISLAND), NBC Manus, Lorengau, 1227 June 27, Tok Pisin, two men in discussion, mentioning mines and Minister of Development. Fair. (Sellers-BC) 3325, PNG (BOUGAINVILLE), NBC Buka, 1211 June 27, Tok Pisin, two men, sounded like interview, discussing Australia and Papua New Guinea. No sign of RRI Palangkaraya. Poor. (Sellers-BC) 3365, PNG (PAPUA TERRITORY), NBC Milne Bay, Alotau, 1229 June 27, Tok Pisin, popular PNG music, 1232 male announcer. Poor. (Sellers-BC) 3915, PNG (NEW GUINEA TERRITORY), presumed Radio Fly, Kiunga, 1234 June 27, Western pop music, including “Hopelessly Devoted to You” by Olivia Newton John and “Money, Money” from Mama Mia, no announcements heard, fading by 1245, best in USB due to a het. Poor (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening from my car, beside Kalamalka Lake, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna on the car roof, Editor of World English Survey and Target Listening, available at http://www.odxa.on.ca dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3915, R. Fly Just caught end of Pidgin talk by W and into reggae song at 0940. Mention of R. Fly and Friday at 0942, into more Reggae. Surprised to get an ID. (22 June) 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD-535D with T2FD antenna, HCDX via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 7325, 0727, Wantok Radio Light with sponsorship announcement for ‘Focus on the Family’ & PSA for Papua New Guinea Electoral Commission 24/5. Much improved audio and frequency steady on 7324.95 (Bryan Clark at Mangawhai (Northland), New Zealand with AOR7030+, EWEs to North, Central & South America, 100m BOG to NE and Alpha Delta Sloper antennas, June NZ DX Times via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3260, NBC Madang/Maus Bilong Garamut, 1138-1203, June 26. The Tok Pisin term “garamut” means a slit drum or slit gong. Recently heard with well above normal reception. Indigenous chanting/singing and pop Pacific Island songs; DJ in Tok Pisin with list of dedications; ID: “N-B-C Madang, Maus Bilong Garamut”; 1201 local ID and into national NBC news in English; almost fair. Similar reception to that at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmWcpiKqaIk Very enjoyable! 3325, NBC Bougainville (presumed), 1022-1039, June 25. Heard daily mixing with RRI Palangkaraya; C&W songs. 3915, Radio Fly, randomly from 0942 to 1038, June 27. Mostly in Tok Pisin; frequent IDs; pop songs (“Gypsy Woman”, etc.); ID at 1007 started and ended with Irish music, full ID with frequencies including two for shortwave, but believe 5960 is still off the air; 1012-1030: public service information about road safety (“If you vehicle is broken down make sure other vehicles can get around it. Also important . . ”). 7324.95, Wantok Radio Light, randomly from 0738 to 0914, June 24. End of a syndicated Christian show; mostly Christian songs; 0817 PSA about the elections; 0832 start of the preaching by Dr. Tayo Adeyemi (New Wine Church); 0850 gave address and phone number for “New Wine” Church; filler organ music till 0902 news in English, which was // 3260 NBC Madang; poor, but has been very regular recently (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. On May 5th I had a fair signal on 1610.144 with an ID at 0103Z: "Radio Flor de los Andes" in Perú. The ID was found by Henrik Klemetz! Good signal at times (Arne Nilsson, Sweden, via MW Offsets Yahoo Group, June NZ DX Times via DXLD) ** PERU. CHASQUI DX PFA – JUNIO 2012 --- CQ, CQ, CQ; Aquí Pedro F. Arrunátegui para compartir algo con los que disfrutan y aman el DX latinoamericano. Todas las horas son UT. Desde la tierra de los Incas, les informo mediante este Quipus lo siguiente: 750.02, R. Altura, Cerro de Pasco, 31/05 0205-0245, 33333, mxf huayno en español, ads Farmacia Naturista Renovación Universal en Cerro de Pasco, mxf por Sonia Morales, ID “En Radio Altura..”, mxf. Slogan: Radio Altura para el Mundo, en los 90.9 FM, 750 AM y 5010 onda corta tropical, Altura sin competencia… poder en radio”. NOTA: A pesar del anuncio de trasmitir en OC (escuchar ID copiado en OM) en este año lo he escuchado, solo la capté en los 5014.30 el 21/10 entre las 2315-0005 y hasta ahora no me ha sido posible escucharla nuevamente en OC. 3329.50, PERU, R. Ondas del Huallaga, Huánuco, 3/06 2305-0010, 33333, ads Automotores Nopal en Huánuco, programa Huellas y relatos (tratan sobre la arqueología de Cotos – pre Inca) ads Universidad Nacional de Huánuco. NOTA: a pesar del tiempo de escucha no dieron el ID. 4747.05, PERU, R. Huanta 2000, Huanta, Ayacucho, 24/05 2245-2330, 44444, mxf huayno, programa musical bilingüe; hablan en español y quechua, ID “Por Radio Huanta 2000” 4826.55, PERU, R. Sicuani, Sicuani, 24/05 0015-0108, 33333, programa trasmisión de la Santa Misa; al término de ésta dan ID “Radio Sicuani y punto…” mxf huayno 4940.00, PERU, R. San Antonio, Villa Atalaya, Ucayali, 28/05 2010- 2050, 44444, música romántica LA. NOTA: Tocan pieza musical tras pieza, hasta que después de casi media hora dan su ID “Por Radio San Antonio…” 4955.00, PERU, R. Cultural Amauta, Huanta, Ayacucho, 30/05 2346-0010, 44444, mxf, ads en español y quechua, programa Avisos y Comunicados, ID “Radio Cultural Amauta, sirviendo a Dios y la Patria…” 5039.15, PERU, R. Libertad, Junín, 11/08 1140-1220, 44444, mxf huayno ads Lubricantes Maicol, Bazar Margarita, Orquesta Juventud de Junín, Agropecuaria Gamarra en esta ciudad de Junín; programa El Noticiero Libertad news. NOTA: a pesar del tiempo de escucha no dan su ID. 6173.90, PERU, R. Tawuantisuyo, Cusco, 30/05 2320-2340, 33333, hablan sobre el curanderismo… NOTA: tiene problema con las trasmisión: por momento se presenta fuerte zumbido, ads, ID “Radio Tawuantisuyo, la voz de la expresión andina, trasmitiendo desde Cusco, Perú…” [I was just hearing a het/carrier on that frequency against Vietnam via Canada --- gh] La recepción la he efectuado del 28/05 al 24/06 en compañía de mi sabueso Icom IC R72 acompañado del Mizuho KX-3, una grabadora Alesis Palm Track, una antena de hilo largo de 15 metros y una antena loop Muchos 128´s PFA (Pedro F. Arrunátegui, Lima, June Chasqi DX, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 6173.909, 21.6 2359, R Tawantinsuyo with good signal this night. Music (Thomas Nilsson, Sweden, SW Bulletin June 24 via DXLD) 6173.9, June 26 at 0204 I notice a significant het upon V. of Vietnam still via Canada, 6175.0, no doubt R. Tawantinsuyo, Cusco. This is exactly the off-frequency just reported for it independently by Pedro F. Arrunátegui, Lima, in Chasqui DX, and as he spells it: ``6173.90, R. Tawuantisuyo, Cusco, 30/05 2320-2340`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) However: En 6173.22 kHz desde las 1000, ahora 1050, apareció interferencia de emisora china adyacente (Ernesto Paulero, Argentina, June 26, condiglist yg via DXLD) ** PERU. 3329.7v, Ondas del Huallaga, Huánuco no logs since 13 June; transmitter had been drifting during last few logs (Robert Wilkner, Pompano Beach, South Florida, NRD 535D -746Pro - R8 - Sony 2010XA - June 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 4824.42, Perú, La Voz de la Selva, Iquitos 1000 om en español, into flauta andina, 1006- identificación "La Voz de la Selva ...banda tropical ..." 1024 vocal with percussion, several shouted announcements, good signal at 1035 recheck -also- 4826.658 Perú, Radio Sicuani, Sicuani, Cusco 1015 to 1035 both in well. Iquitos not often broadcasting at 1000. 12 June (Robert Wilkner, Pompano Beach, South Florida, NRD 535D -746Pro - R8 - Sony 2010XA - June 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 4940, Perú, Radio San Antonio de Atalaya, 2330 to 0000 weak here but identified by XM-Cedar Key and several others per fb request. 21 June (Robert Wilkner, Pompano Beach, South Florida, NRD 535D - 746Pro - R8 - Sony 2010XA - and XM - Cedar Key - South Florida, NRD 525D - R8A -E-5, June 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 4986.34, Perú, Radio Manantial, Huancayo, 0030 to past 0140 several rechecks. Only 20 June, as silent since then (Robert Wilkner, Pompano Beach, South Florida, NRD 535D -746Pro - R8 - Sony 2010XA - and XM - Cedar Key - South Florida, NRD 525D - R8A -E-5, and MAR - Vero Beach, South Florida, Sony 7600GR- Sangean ATS-909X, June 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 5120.01, R. Ondas del Sur Oriente, 0118 end of announcement by M, into nonstop OA campo songs. Echo shouting by W at 0127 but prob. just part of song. Nice flutes at 0134. 0142 live M finally returned but just too noisy to copy. Back to music 0143. M again 0146- 0147 and 0151-0152. 0200-0212(!!) long ad block with mentions of Perú, Cusco, camposina [sic], Quillabamba, onda corta, and radio popular. Back to music. 0215 live M returned. Oddly no UTE and in the clear but noisy. (19 June) 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD-535D with T2FD antenna, HCDX via DXLD) ** PORTUGAL. Deutsche Welle (DW) has made an official call for proposals for a comprehensive material utilization project at its relay station in Sines, Portugal. The broadcasting center boasts more than 500 tons of high-quality steel (ST 37 and ST 51) that can be reused and recycled. More at : http://www.recyclingportal.eu/artikel/28815.shtml (Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, June 22, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz., with an illustration of steely antenna towers: Following the considerable decrease of shortwave broadcasts, Deutsche Welle is planning on shutting down the relay station in Sines, Portugal, completely and liquidating its assets there. The relay station has been in service since 1970. The winning proposal should outline a plan for dismantling the station while reusing or recycling the antennae, transmitters and associated materials. The list of materials also includes the motor pool, stock and commercial inventory. The contractor will receive a commission of 25-35% of net revenues for services provided. Several appraisers have reported that the relay station is in very good condition. The transmitters will be maintained daily until the realization of the project begins. Deutsche Welle made an official announcement with the EU on behalf of Pro Funk GmbH. Further information: http://www.dw.de/zentraleinkauf Quelle: Deutsche Welle (via WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DXLD) ** ROMANIA. 21500 and 17760. Radio Romania International with IS leading up to 0530 s/on. F[emale] in English with frequencies and news. Both signals outstanding with no fades. Clean modulation (Brock Whaley, Kandahar, AFGHANISTAN, SW-11 for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. UNID in Moscow on 1584 --- I arrived in Moscow yesterday. What's the mystery local station I hear on 1584, evenings only, with continuous music? Last night continuous Frank Sinatra, this evening continuous Abba (Chris Greenway, June 25, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DX LISTENING DIGEST) No real idea here, Chris, but with continuous Frankie and then continuous ABBA, I can only imagine this must be some sort of black ops station involved with auditory torture! (Tongue planted firmly in cheek!) :P (Al Muick, Williamsport, PA USA, ibid.) Heard again tonight (Tuesday), though it did not appear until after 1800 (10 p.m. local time), later than last night whan it was in progress by 1735. Tonight's uninterrupted music is from Whitney Houston. Very strange! What can this be? (Chris Greenway, June 26, ibid.) http://www.mwlist.org/mwlist_quick_and_easy.php?area=2&kHz=1584 shows some low power stations on 1584 for Russia, with Rossii opening at 1800. Maybe another low power relay for Moscow as well? 73s (Tony Molloy, UK, ibid.) Thanks Tony. But all those transmitters in mwlist are in the Russian Far East or Siberia. What I've been hearing is definitely local to Moscow. And Radio Rossii is already on 261 and 873 in Moscow so there is no need for a further relay (Chris Greenway, ibid.) ** RUSSIA. Had for a few minutes an R1 carrier on 49.747 MHz which I'm told is Moscow. Too weak for video (Mike Bugaj, Enfield, CT, 1940 UT June 25, WTFDA via DXLD) ** SARAWAK [non]. 15420, R. Free Sarawak via Palau, randomly from 1026 to 1132, June 24. Almost good reception with frequent IDs; in vernacular. *1000-1020, June 25. Test tone; music (IS?); IDs and phone calls; playing some pop songs. MP3 audio file of sign https://www.box.com/s/6da965b83c2127d9eff5 (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAUDI ARABIA. 17895, Holy Koran program. 0545, 24 June. Arabic chanting. Excellent signal. Clean audio at good level (Brock Whaley, Kandahar, AFGHANISTAN, SW-11 for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOLOMON ISLANDS. 5019.87, SIBC Honiara with BBC's "The World Today" fair 0128 [sic; means 0628??] 22 June. At 0629:15 broke away with English ident "This is the National Service of the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation, Radio Hapi Isles", then programme summary. Transmitter was absent some days previously, e.g. when checked at 0803 on 20 June (Bryan Clark, Mangawhai, NZ using AOR7030+ and EWEs to North, Central & South America, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5020, S.I.B.C., 1148 June 27, Tok Pisin, woman with events list of meetings and such, islands music, 1156 devotional Bible message in English, 1201 “You have been listening to the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation, Radio Happy Isles.”, frequencies, national anthem to close. Good (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening from my car, beside Kalamalka Lake, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna on the car roof, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOMALIA [non]. CLANDESTINE, 11990, R. Damal (via Woofferton) On 1830 with Koran in progress, cutoff at 1831 for HoA music. 1832 W in Somali with quick mention of R. Damal, then back to Koran at 1833 going past 1840. (22 June) 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD-535D with T2FD antenna, HCDX via DXLD) ** SOMALIA [non]. via Woofferton, 11990, Radio Damal, 1923-1929*, June 24, only heard an open carrier at various checks between 1830-1905. Qur`an at 1923 tune-in. Local Middle-Eastern style music at 1924- 1929*. Good (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg, PA, USA, Icom IC-7600, two 100 foot longwires, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH CAROLINA. GRAMMY NOMINATED RAPPER CRAIG MACK NOW AT OVERCOMER MINISTRY --- Whilst seeing if I could find anything more about the item in DXLD 12-22 about Brother Stair's health I came across news that Grammy nominated rapper Craig Mack has joined the Overcomer Ministry. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Mack The news first surfaced February 19, according to a Wikipedia revision since removed for unreliable sourcing, on this site. The link they removed is here http://dedicated7.webs.com/audio.htm Scroll down to pictures of Mack, some audio, and a YouTube video of someone commenting on all this. News is also here as a "world exclusive" with audio dated March 8 http://cdn.mediatakeout.com/54672/mto-world-exclusive-former-bad-boy-artist-craig-mack-joins-a-cult-he-s-living-in-a-compound-run-by-a-man-who-calls-himself-the-messiah.html On May 22 a member of the Overcomer Ministry posted 4 and a half minutes of live footage from Stair's sermons; first part has Craig announcing he has joined the Ministry and saying prior to joining his life was wickedness, second part is Stair, presumably having read the comments posted underneath the news item, saying Mack having joined the Ministry has become a boy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dR1IEw-a7Qw (Mike Barraclough, England, June 26, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN. Radio Exterior de España, 17755 Noblejas. June 23, 2012. Saturday. 1825-1832. RCI via Skelton on 17810 might be almost unreadable, but Sod's law dictates fairly good reception of the stupid football commentary from Nobeljas just 55 kHz lower. To "Africa" (EiBi). Jo'burg sunset 1525 (Bill Bingham, RSA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN [non]. 11880, June 27 at 1240, REE via COSTA RICA in Castilian instead of the weekday Basque semihour: it`s sporadically missing for reasons unknown. Interview about medicinal plants. First noticed under Japan on much weaker // 11815. No signals direct from Spain audible to compare, in case Cariari lost satellite feed and had to substitute (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SRI LANKA. 15745, SLBC M with opening at 0130, and into music. Modulation just too low to copy at this time. "My Love" by Paul McCartney and Wings later. "Let`s Get It On" by Marvin Gaye. 0200 time ticks, M in English with TC, ID, and news intro. (19 June) 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD-535D with T2FD antenna, HCDX via DXLD) ** SRI LANKA. 7460, R. Aap ki Dunyaa (VOA), Signal on at 0059, 0100 W announcer briefly, fanfare, then VOA ID with mention of Internet by M in apparent Urdu and into news with mention of Pakistan, Washington. Fair signal. (22 June) 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD-535D with T2FD antenna, HCDX via DXLD) ** SUDAN [non]. Vatican City. Afia Darfur/Hello Darfur. 11740 Santa Maria. June 22, 2012. Friday. 1801-1804. Arabic, YL and OM's talking, sounds like news. Good. To Sudan (EiBi). Jo'burg sunset 1525 (Bill Bingham, RSA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN [non]. CLANDESTINE, 15150, R. Dabanga (via Woofferton) *1530 signal already on at 1525. Program start 1530 with singing "R. Dabanga" ID, then M announcer with opening announcements, then possible news with brief Arabic music between items. 1532 same M talk with many mentions of Dabanga at beginning and also Internet. Fair but very fady. Weak signal on 15725 but couldn't //. (22 June) 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD-535D with T2FD antenna, HCDX via DXLD) ** SUDAN SOUTH [non]. Ukraine: 11560, R. Miraya with OM English announcer and African Music with "Stay Tuned for the 7 AM newscast coming up next" and into English introduction to a programme about children with disabilities where an OM and YL discussed things in Arabic (presumed). At :41 they recapped what was said in English this time, and gave a phone number to call in on. ID at :44 as "Radio Miraya" and mention of "The Miraya Breakfast Show taking you from this moment to 9 o'clock" and more chatter and African vocal music. Mention at :55 of "The News from Radio Miraya" but still into more music. ID and an actual news broadcast (finally!) at the ToH. Not bad reception. 253+43 with a hum in the modulation making things a bit dodgy at times, and VERY short ute blats VERY occasionally kicking reception to 221 when they were on but they never lasted more than a second or two and were few and far between. 0330-0415 16/June (Kenneth Vito Zichi, Howell & Pt Hope MI, MARE Tipsheet June 22 via DXLD) Miraya was supposedly operating in both Sudans, but WRTH 2012 has it listed under SOUTH SUDAN (gh, DXLD) ** SUDAN SOUTH [non]. Martedì 19 giugno 2012, 0646 - 15725 kHz (mi ero sbagliato, c'è sempre), VOICE OF SOUTH SUDAN REVOLUTIONARY RADIO, Vernacolo, dialoghi OMs. Segnale buono-sufficiente. Chissà, però, perché persevera sopra a R. Pakistan. Venerdì 22 giugno 2012, 0732 - 15725 kHz, VOICE OF SOUTH SUDAN REVOLUTIONARY R., Vernacolo, parlato OM. Segnale sufficiente- insufficiente. R. Pakistan s/off alle 0700 (Luca Botto Fiora, QTH G.C. 09E13 - 44N21, Rapallo (Genova) - Italia, bclnews.it yg via DXLD) See also UNIDENTIFIED 15725 15725, 0423, CLANDESTINE, Voice of South Sudan Revolutionary Radio” and “VSSRR” idents in English 4/5, confirming identity of my report last month. Lengthy speech in English appealing to President Obama and the American people to look closely at what is happening in South Sudan. At 0444 conclusion of speech, continued in Arabic. Fair signal and good readability. Not heard in recent weeks (Bryan Clark at Mangawhai (Northland), New Zealand with AOR7030+, EWEs to North, Central & South America, 100m BOG to NE and Alpha Delta Sloper antennas, June NZ DX Times via DXLD) ** SURINAME. 4990, Radio Apintie, Paramaribo 0945 om; difficult copy, 0958 fade out, Has similar fade pattern with 3290 Guyana which is much stronger in the 0900 to 1000 opening (Robert Wilkner, Pompano Beach, South Florida, NRD 535D -746Pro - R8 - Sony 2010XA - and XM - Cedar Key - South Florida, NRD 525D - R8A -E-5, June 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWEDEN. Hello Glenn, Maybe an item of interest for your calendar? Radio Nord Revival will be on the air one last time to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the closure of offshore station Radio Nord on June 30th, 1962. Our license runs for two weeks from June 25 and the following frequencies will be used: MW 603 kHz (the original Radio Nord channel) with a maximum of 2,5 kW of power from Sala. SW 5895 and 6065 kHz with 10 kW of power from Sala, one at a time. FM 102.7 MHz with a maximum of 100 W from Södermalm, Stockholm. We have also applied for a temporary FM frequency from Sala and hopefully it will be cleared soon. We will install the transmitter and aerial for Stockholm on Sunday, June 24 and test transmissions can be expected as soon as our license period starts. Reception reports can be sent to Ronny Forslund Vita Huset SE-17995 Svartsjö Sweden or by e-mail info (at) rock.x.se If you want a QSL card, please include some form of return postage. E-mail reports will be verified with plain emails. Further information on http://www.radionordrevival.blogspot.com http://www.radionordrevival.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/radio-nord-revival-2012.html On June 30th we will be broadcasting live from Kammakargatan 46 in Stockholm where the Radio Nord studios were located. Today there is a youth hostel in the premises and anybody wanting to join us can book a room or a bed through their website http://www.interhostel.se/ More details will follow soon. 73/ (Ronny Forslund, June 21, WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWEDEN. Lars Kalland, SM6NM, has been circulating this info: SAQ 2012-07-01 Alexanderson Day REMINDER! We will remind you of the Grimeton Radio/SAQ transmissions on 17.2 kHz, CW, with the Alexanderson alternator on Sunday July 1, 2012 ,"Alexanderson Day", at 0900 and 1200 UT. We will start tuning up some 30 minutes before message. The radio station is open to visitors. There will be activity on amateur radio frequencies with the call "SK6SAQ" from 0915 to 1130 and 1215 to 1300 UT. Any of following frequencies: - 14035 kHz CW, - 14215 kHz SSB; From 0700 UT also on: 3755 kHz SSB QSL-reports are kindly received: - E-mail to: info@alexander.n.se - or fax to: +46-340-674195 - or via: SM bureau - or direct by mail to: Alexander - Grimeton Veteranradios Vaenner, Radiostationen Grimeton 72 SE-432 98 GRIMETON, SWEDEN (NB: new address) Also read our web site: http://www.alexander.n.se/ (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD 12-25 via WORLD OF RADIO 1623) ** TAIWAN. 9745, June 27 at 1225, very poor signal with Chinesish talk sandwiched between Kranji and Yamata, presumed V. of Han, 250 kW, 300 degrees from Kuanyin, per Aoki at 0745-2405; tho V of Russia in Russian via Chita is also scheduled this hour (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN [non]. 6/26/2012 0530-0545 R. Taiwan International, 5050 kHz, 55555, Reading Listener Mail. Tuned off frequency signal heard best on 5047. Pulse Jammer present on frequency but I was able to tune off frequency to hear signal. First time I heard Radio Taiwan International on this frequency (Richard Lewis, Forest, MS, Kaito KA- 1103, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5050 is surely a receiver-produced 2 x 450 kHz IF image from 5950 via WYFR, if not a typo. Or did WYFR punch it up wrong? The pulse jammer is normally on 5955 against Radio Republica [non]. (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) ** TAIWAN [non]. [Re 12-25, PCJ Special UT June 29:] A bit cheeky you say? The answer is yes. There will also be a second frequency added, but that won't be announced until a few days before. Also not going to say until the show is on air where it is from (Keith Perron, June 20, happystation yg via DXLD) No show on second frequency (gh) ** U K [non]. Sabato 23 giugno 2012, 0424 - 9565 kHz, BBC Farsi (dominante) + Bubble Jamming. Segnale buono-molto buono (Luca Botto Fiora, QTH G.C. 09E13 - 44N21, Rapallo (Genova) - Italia, bclnews.it yg via DXLD) Via CYPRUS 0230-0430 (HFCC) The bubble jamming is probably from Cuba vs Martí which is not really on this frequency after 2400 (gh, DXLD) ** U K. The last BBC broadcast from Bush House will be the 1100 GMT WS news in English on Thursday 12 July. Many/most WS programmes are already being broadcast from New Broadcasting House (Chris Greenway, June 21, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I lose track of how many "New Broadcasting House"s there are in the BBC portfolio of buildings ... I think you mean the new extension to London Broadcasting House :-) Many of the language services are already in BH doing radio, tv and online. Arabic and Persian are of course still in Egton Wing which is a slightly older part of the new extension (sorry Peel wing, just to add confusion to the Peel Media buildings in Salford) (Mark Hattam, June 21, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) New Broadcasting House is the formal and widely-used name for the new extension. The name "W1" is being used as the collective term for Old BH, New BH, the Peel Wing, Western House (which will be home to Radio 2 and 6 Music), Grafton House and Brock House (Chris Greenway, ibid.) Focus on Africa is from New Broadcasting House. They announced last Friday that Friday was their last day from Bush House (Stephen Cooper, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) The last broadcast of The World Today from Bush House is tomorrow morning according to the BBC WS Facebook page (Stephen Cooper, June 21, ibid.) BUSH HOUSE NIGHTS --- By Emma Crowe A fascinating feature about working at Bush House ( 8:07 minutes) The BBC World Service celebrated its 80th anniversary earlier this year. For over 70 years, it has been broadcasting programmes from the historic Bush House in London. Soon, this will no longer be the case. From mid-July, the World Service will be based at new BBC premises in London. For many employees, Bush House is a unique building, full of history and charm. It’s also a building that never sleeps. Work goes on here 24 hours a day. So … what exactly is it like inside Bush House in the middle of the night? http://soundcloud.com/emma_crowe8/bush-house-nights?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=twitter&utm_content=http://soundcloud.com/emma_crowe8/bush-house-nights (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) THE GHOSTS OF BUSH - SOUND MONTAGE AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD/STREAMING Homage to Bush House and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop made available for streaming and/or download this morning by Robin the Fog `Ghosts Of Bush' was created entirely using the natural acoustic sounds of Bush House, the iconic home for the past seven decades of the BBC World Service which will shortly be closing its doors for the last time. All of the sounds were captured in the small hours of the morning in empty offices, corridors, stairwells and other hidden corners by a Studio Manager working overnight --- buried deep within the mix are call-signs or `idents' from a number of the BBC's Language services, many of which have also closed down in recent years. It's an attempted homage to the work of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop who crafted the most incredible of sound-worlds from the most basic of sources. But mostly it's my way of saying goodbye to a building that I and so many people have loved. A former hive of industry that now stands almost deserted. I really hope that on this album the listener gets a sense of all these things." http://thefogsignals.com/album/the-ghosts-of-bush (via Mike Barraclough, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U K. ON THE MOVE: THE BBC WORLD SERVICE The Irish Times, By Paul Clements, June 14, 2012 http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2012/0614/1224317876323.html An Irishman's Diary: On the move: the BBC World Service is saying goodbye to its historic home in Bush House. Two imposing male figures carved from Indiana limestone, above the main entrance: 'Between them they hold the torch of human progress, and over a Celtic altar at the centre of the portico, is the motto "To the friendship of English-speaking peoples" (photo). When he worked at the BBC World Service – then called the General Overseas Service – in the 1940s, George Orwell, using his real name Eric Blair, memorably described the organisation as a “mixture of whoreshop and lunatic asylum”. The Ministry of Truth and its canteen which are depicted in his final novel Nineteen Eighty-Four are believed to be a satire on his experiences of the time he spent there. Set up in 1932, the World Service has been based in Bush House in central London for 80 years. At its inception, the BBC director- general John Reith announced: “The programmes will neither be very interesting nor very good.” Nonetheless, despite drastic cuts in recent years, it has survived and those who have worked there – in many cases for a lifetime – are now saying goodbye to their historic home as they prepare to “migrate” and amalgamate with the wider BBC in Broadcasting House. A huge rambling building on an island site between the Strand and Fleet Street, Bush House was named after the man who built it, Irving T Bush of the Bush Terminal Company, New York. At the main front entrance in the Aldwych stand two imposing male figures carved from Indiana limestone representing Anglo-American links. Between them they hold the torch of human progress, and over a Celtic altar at the centre of the portico, is the motto “To the friendship of English- speaking peoples”. When it was completed in 1935 at a cost of $10 million, it was declared the most expensive building in the world. Built of Portland stone, the front and back entrances as well as internal staircases are clad in Travertine marble and are listed by English Heritage. Looking down Kingsway at the floodlit building at night, it is one of London’s most impressive landmarks exuding an almost pagan effect. The building’s genius loci was the canteen – a veritable polyglot that gave a new meaning to eavesdropping. Amongst the babblative chatter of this “town hall of the world”, as it was sometimes called, it was hard to distinguish the individual languages. During my sojourn there in 1989 – a fascinating year marked by the Central European annus mirabilis – the newsroom was mostly staffed by elderly men in cardigans padding around in slippers; it was a fun place to work. The corporation’s soft shoe allowance was still paid which meant journalists could tiptoe into radio studios to deliver late-breaking news to the presenters from far-flung corners of the globe. To walk the corridors, wander through the newsroom, peer into some of the 54 studios, or stray into one of the wings, was to experience a linguistic tour of the world. Catch the right time and you could hear snatches of Pashto, Persian, Swahili or Hausa, as well as the distinctive strains of Lilliburlero, originally written as a skit on the Irish Catholic supporters of King James and which since 1955 has been used as a famed news signature tune. More than 100 journalists worked shifts in the sprawling newsroom. Many were hard-bitten hacks who had been seasoned reporters in the field with a wealth of experience but were still mildly excited at reports of a ministerial reshuffle in a little-known African republic. Aside from its reputation for accuracy, the newsroom’s proudest boast was that it was open all year. In the late 1980s smoking was common and the air was perfumed with a mix of Havana cigars and the fog of Benson Hedges. One of the chief- subs, a Scotsman nicknamed “Jimmy two fags” had a cigarette permanently on the go. His journalistic claim was that there was no complicated story that he could not sub-edit in the time it took to smoke two fags. In some of the language sections occasional misinterpretations in the meaning of stories produced lighter moments. The grammar of the English language, its phrasal verbs and nouns, often proved challenging for the translators. On one occasion, when Margaret Thatcher suffered a serious loss of face during a House of Commons vote, the Serbo-Croat mistranslation “suffered a severe disfigurement to her head”, caused hilarity. The men’s singles championships at Wimbledon once became the “men’s bachelors championships”, and politicians in America, who were taking stock of a White House drama, were reported to be “raiding cattle”. It was not always easy to explain to the HUBs (Hindi, Urdu, Bengali) translators certain terms that to them seemed anomalous. For example, I was asked how a building can speak and what meaning was being conveyed when my stories started with the words: “Downing Street said . . .” or “Buckingham Palace has just issued a statement . . .” One of the more notorious tricks played on new sub-editors who joined, or like me, were on “attachment” (not as painful as it sounds) from a “mother” department, was to pretend there had been a coup in Suriname. The senior duty editor would approach the lowly sub and hand over a news flash from an agency quoting unconfirmed reports of the coup. The sub’s job was to find out about it and establish verification from two sources. After much hand-wringing, the raw recruit – no Google, Wikipedia or non- user-generated content then – could be seen a few minutes later slipping discreetly to the back of the newsroom to peruse the magisterial Times Atlas of the World and check on the exact location of Suriname. Most would turn, without success, to Asia, flick through to Africa, and in desperation eventually discover it on the northern tip of South America, in between French Guiana and Guyana. He, or she, would then set about the daunting task of trying to find out what was happening in the capital Paramaribo, only to be told 10 minutes later that it was a World Service joke to test their geographical knowledge. The journalistic initiation of the new sub complete, drinks were served in the club, and a toast proposed to the friendships of the peoples of the world and to all would-be Surinamese coup planners. (via Mike Terry, June 27, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U K. BBC's Peter Horrocks: "So what is your big moneymaking idea?" I imagine John Tusa will have something interesting to say on this one... BBC WORLD SERVICE SHOULD NOT BE THREATENED BY HAVING TO MAKE MONEY Asking journalists for money-making schemes was a bad idea. But the service could operate commercially with integrity. . . http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jun/26/bbc-world-service-making-money (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, internetradio via DXLD) He has indeed http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/tv-radio/shock-at-the-bbc-as-reporters-are-told-to-start-making-money-7879748.html (Paul Webster, ibid.) ** U S A. 2359-2400 June 30, LEAP SECOND, the 61-second minute on WWV, WWVH and all the world`s timesignal stations. It might be interesting to check whether some of the more obscure ones miss it, e.g. in the next few minutes are they one second out of step? http://hpiers.obspm.fr/iers/bul/bulc/bulletinc.dat (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DXLD) ** U S A. 17530, June 21 at 1325, open carrier and brief tonetest, off, typical behaviour of IBB Greenville checking out creaky transmitter, hours before needed for later transmission today. 17530, June 22 at 1919, big open carrier, atop station in French, ergo it`s VOA vs VOA! At 1930, São Tomé hands 17530 over to Greenville for continuation of French, but GB is already on. It should be warming up on some open nearby frequency instead, as is often the case. I don`t blame GB but IBB HQ for scheduling such an unnecessary site swap in the middle of a transmission and failing to assure there will not be such overlaps (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. PHILIPPINES. 12150, VOA relay 1210 on 25 June. F with feature on the anniversary of the Korean War. Very good. SRI LANKA, 12075, VOA relay 1215 on 25 June. Good and // the 12150 Philippine relay (Brock Whaley, Kandahar, Afghanistan, SW-11 for DXLD) ** U S A. 25910/FM, WQGY434, Fort Worth (Dallas xmtr) TX, WBAP studio relay (presumed); 1907, 16-June; Only 1-2 second peaks, into the mud between; talk. Poor, nothing on 25990 which has been // lately (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) ** U S A. 25950/FM, KOA Denver CO studio link (presumed); 2057-2101+, 19-June; Poor with only short peaks in the scratchiness. Fire news at ToH. Nothing in from Fort Worth (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) ** U S A. 26110, 2055, CBS Channel 13 Sacramento TV audio noted with solid NFM-mode signals 22/5, frequent ads, Dr Phil program, CBS News Traffic Alert 2259 then promo for “CBS 13 News at 10”. Also hearing 25910 - WBAP Texas and 25950 - KOA Denver at same time. 26110 still audible 0416 23/5, fair on peaks. Also logged at 0303 29/5 with ads for McDonalds, Toyota, Listerine, surging NFM-mode signal peaking good (Bryan Clark at Mangawhai (Northland), New Zealand with AOR7030+, EWEs to North, Central & South America, 100m BOG to NE and Alpha Delta Sloper antennas, June NZ DX Times via DXLD) I`ve yet to see any reports of this 26110-FM KOVR-TV auxiliary from NAm! Need to look for it more often when sporadic E/short skip is funxional to OK, maybe double-hop Es or F2 to east coast (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DXLD) ** U S A. WORLD OF RADIO 1622: completed in time for first airing UT Thursday June 21 on 9955 WRMI; repeats: Sat 0800, 1500, 1730; Sun 0800, 1530, 1730; Mon 0500, 1130. Also: Thu 2100 on 9479 WTWW; UT Fri 0330v on 5050 WWRB; UT Sat 0130v on 5110v-CUSB Area 51 via WBCQ; UT Sun 0400 on 5755 WTWW. Full schedule including FM, webcasts: http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html WORLD OF RADIO 1622 monitoring: Thursday June 21 at 2100, 9479 WTWW goes from SFAW feed to local ID, but WOR playback must have started at same time, as upcut to my opening already in progress after the ID. O, well. Puts in terrific uninterrupted signal for the rest of the show. Next airing confirmed on 5050 WWRB, first checking convenient webcast, to hear again a healthy sesquiminute of respectful dead air after the SC preacher until 0329, WOR starting about 0330.5 UT Friday June 22. And well heard on 5050 itself at 0350 check. After that: UT Sat 0130v on Area 51 via WBCQ 5110v-CUSB; UT Sun 0400 on WTWW 5755; on WRMI 9955: Sat 0800, 1500, 1730, Sun 0800, 1530, 1730, Sun 0500, 1130. On WRN via SiriusXM 120: Sat & Sun 1730, Sun 0830. WORLD OF RADIO 1622 monitoring: confirmed on WTWW 5755, UT Sunday June 24 at 0400. Once again like Thursday, the ID causes my opening to be upcut in progress. Remaining airings on WRMI 9955: Sunday 1530, 1730, Monday 0500, 1130; on HLR 5980: Tuesday 0930 [see also GERMANY]. On WRN via SiriusXM channel 120: Sunday 1730. WORLD OF RADIO 1622 monitoring: 9955, UT Monday June 25 at 0521 via WRMI, about equal level to pulse jamming (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 9479, June 21 at 1214, WTWW-1 is already on with SFAW discussing B-vitamins, usual huge signal causing some overload here on 31m. As of today, the switchover time from 5755 has been moved up from 1300 to 1200, and the evening switch from 9479 to 5755 had already been moved later from 0000 to 0100 UT, due to the current paucity of darkness (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. http://www.qsoradioshow.com/ http://forums.qrz.com/showthread.php?351064-International-shortwave-broadcast-quot-Field-Day-Live-quot-everyone-invited-to-call-in ---------------------------------------------------------- from: WB8PUM --- International shortwave broadcast "Field Day Live" everyone invited to call in The QSO Radio Show will once again be broadcasting “Field Day Live” on Saturday from 12PM CDT to 6 PM CDT on International Shortwave Radio. This year the broadcast will be on the new WTWW just outside of Nashville TN with 100,000 watts of power and heard around the world. This is double the power than the years before now on the new WTWW facility so the outreach will be phenomenal! We have some things we will be giving away on the air. Call us from whereever you are and talk to us live “on the air” about your group, club, organization and your Field Day set up. Including what the chef is cooking for Field Day. If you are not part of a group, it matters not; we want to hear from you. We want to promote amateur radio and international good will, by letting you and your Field Day group talk to the world about the fun and unique experience of amateur radio. Feel free to line up some people in your group to talk about the fun they are having and share their own Field Day experiences. This broadcast will be repeated thoroughout the year and will be downloadable as a podcast on Itunes for years to come. Help us get the word out again this year and be sure to give us a call and get on worldband shortwave radio and share the hobby with millions of listeners. The phone number to call to get on the air is 615-469-0702. The time is 12PM EDT to 6PM EDT [sic; means CDT??] The station is WTWW Lebanon TN The frequency is 9990 KHZ The live stream will be at http://tedrandall.com/pages/qso-live.php Will update the website for any additional information http://www.qsoradioshow.com Should the phones get real busy feel free to email us your phone number and we will call you back. Let’s have a great Field Day and share it with millions listening all over the world. 73’s Ted Randall WB8PUM QSO Radio Show http://www.qsoradioshow.com tedrandall@tedrandall.com P.S. To avoid any confusion as in years past, WTWW is a federally licensed shortwave broadcasting facility with multiple transmitters. 9990 KHZ is a shortwave broadcasting frequency just outside of the 31 meter band. This broadcast is not on amateur frequencies (QRZ.com via Harald Kuhl, DL1ABJ, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) 9990, Saturday June 23 at 1730, no signal from WTWW-2 despite advance publicity from Ted Randall that he would be doing a live show from Field Day near Nashville at 12-6 pm (=17-23 UT). Next check at 1745 it was on with music; 1815 a live interview and onward for at least two hours, alternating with classic rock/country. Meanwhile after 1800, his pre-recorded regular QSO show was airing on WTWW-1 9479. 12105, June 23 at 1813, noticed that WTWW-3 was in Arabic, which is normally heard from *1400, but now with piano music background, so not Arabible? I don`t think languages they really broadcast have ever matched the nominal schedule on website: ``Transmitter 3 Scripture readings 12.105 Mhz New schedule to start shortly: Central UTC 6 - 9 am Russian 1200 - 1500 9 - 12 noon Arabic 1500 - 1800 12 - 3pm French 1800 - 2100 3 - 6pm German 2100 - 0000 6 - 9pm Spanish 0000 - 0400 9 - 12 midn Portuguese 0400 - 0600 12MN - 3am English 0600 - 0900 3 - 6am English 0900 - 1200`` Note the time conversions are for MDT/CST, not CDT. And not really on the air between 0500 and 1400 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 12105, June 24 at 1951, WTWW-3 is again in Arabic at unscheduled time. Unseems Arabible, instead Arabic talk with lively music. Maybe this is the dramatic programming George McClintock had been wanting to add (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 9980, June 23 at 1910 I notice that WWCR-4 is off early, so no competition for 9990 WTWW; but June 24 at early 1223, I notice that 9980 is on with ``The Last Radio Program``, VG signal, Alun(sp?) giving his e-mail address. This show does not appear anywhere on the WWCR program schedule. So they are messing with the schedule again. According to their own PDF program schedule dated June 4, on Saturdays, 9980 goes off at 2000 after BS; Sunday sign-on not until 1400 with more BS. Don`t you believe it (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 9385, June 22 at 0534, WWRB has once again failed to switch to night frequency 3185 for the Brother Scare End-of-World Service, VG S9+25 signal and nothing on 3185. Seems to happen about once a month. As often noted recently, TOM feed has a slight echo self-imposed upon it, certainly not long/short path. Compensating for this intrusion, 9330 WBCQ was missing, q.v. (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 9330, June 22 at 0535, no signal from WBCQ which is summerly very good even in the nightmiddle; compensates for WWRB, q.v., using up 9385 when it`s supposed to be on 3185. Next check at 1247, WBCQ reduced carrier is on but no mod; then cuts on for a few words two or three times, and right back off. 1252 stays on with `Unshackled` closing plus organ music fill, 1254 plug for Quick Study Ministry, but with some breaks; 1310 still on. 7490, June 23 at 0503, open carrier, WBCQ not turned off yet (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WEWN anomalies, June 21: 15615, English channel absent at 1350, so no QRM to Firedrake; see CHINA. WWCR 15825 was inbooming with sporadic E help from approx. same distance in somewhat different direxion; 1412 still no trace of WEWN on 15615. Spanish frequencies at 1424: 12050 distorted and crackling; 11550 better, breaking up less. 15610, June 21 at 1938, WEWN is back on the air, morning English frequency 15615 having been missing earlier today. 12050, June 23 at 2028, open carrier/dead air from WEWN Spanish, while 13830 is crackly. 7555, June 24 at 0501 and still 0511, no signal from WEWN Spanish which is missing a lot, but not every night. 7555, June 25 at 0516, another night off for WEWN Spanish. 7555, June 26 at 0523, WEWN, R. Católica Mundial is on again tonight, unlike last night (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7555, 0906, KJES good in Spanish – 27/4 (Des Davey, Te Kuiti, New Zealand, Grundig 750, copper spouting on bach [beach?], June NZ DX Times via DXLD) No, it isn`t. Haven`t I corrected this before? The only time KJES uses 7555 is 0100-0230 (irregular). At 05-13 UT it`s WEWN (irregular) (gh) ** U S A. 11715, KJES Vado NM; 1349, 21-June; Robo-kids missing (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) Meaning not on the air at all, I assume (gh, OK) Missing stations department: 11715v, no signal at all from KJES, June 22 at 1312, 1410, 1450 chex, including the hour when they have supposedly rotated the LP to send max signal right across Oklahoma, 70 degrees at 13-14. Nor has it been heard lately on 15385v during the 18-20 UT broadcast. Need to check the third scheduled frequency, 7555 at 0100-0230. 15385, June 22 at 1916, still no trace of KJES; nor on 7555 at 0142 June 23. 7555, June 26 at 0203, no signal from KJES on the 0100-0230 schedule. The robokids are often missing for weeks at a time and no one cares, sometime to reshow, but eventually it may crash forever (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Reported on WRNO Radio Facebook page that WRNO Worldwide anticipates to be back on the air about July 1. This report, however, I do not give very much creedence to and I will have to hear this to believe it. Have been checking frequency regularly and no signal on 7505 (Richard Lewis, Forest, MS, Kaito KA-1103, June 26, dxldyg via DXLD) 7506v, June 26 at 0203, no signal from WRNO Worldwide. Richard Lewis says their Facebook page claims they will be back on air circa July 1, but we`ll believe it if we ever hear it. Mañana, mañana, mañana (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 15550/USB, WJHR Milton FL (presumed); 2135-2143+, 18-June; Anti-Catholic stuff, keying on Mexico. Must be an old program as kept referring to Pope J-P2. 2141 abruptly switched to prayer & Genesis 5 lesson. That's the chapter where everyone lived 800+ years. SIO=2+53. Aoki continues to list this incorrectly from Milton CA (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) ** U S A. 13570, June 25 at 1257, 1310, no signal from WINB with Brother Scare, but audible poorly at next check 1404. Propagation degraded, so maybe it was really on from 1200, but I doubt it (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. 17605, June 24 at 1306, good signal in Burmese from YFR, so presumed still on substitute site Grigoriopol/Kishinov, Pridnestrovye/Moldova, instead of originally scheduled Tashkent, Uzbekistan (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. TIS update - West Texas Big Bend National Park - both the Persimmon Gap (north) and Maverick (west) entrance stations have stations on 1610 using the call sign KOP740. The Maverick station uses a female announcer and the Persimmon Gap station uses a male announcer. There are signs in Fort Stockton for a TIS on 1610, but no station was on the air when we drove through. Pecos has a city TIS on 1610, WPDG260, with information about the upcoming Pecos rodeo. The HAR station at the east end of El Paso gets out well. I logged them from Fort Davis and Big Bend National Park with information about highway 54, 62, 180 and "375 loop." 73, (Tim Hall, on the road, June 22, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. THE ELUSIVE WSBS DTV 3 KEY WEST FL --- This morning I was on the telephone with the Key West Chamber of Commerce, as well as the office for Comcast, the cable television provider for Key West. The question posed to both offices was: does WSBS actually have a terrestrial signal that can be received with an antenna locally (Key West). Everyone in the Chamber office was consulted; however they could not arrive at an answer to the question. The representatives at the Comcast office were worthless, as they don't 'know' how they receive the WSBS signal. They said it is in their channel lineup. Attempts to connect with the telephone number in Miami for WSBS went unanswered. The WSBS website actually takes you to the Mega Television website, which is the network for several affiliates. On a side note from the Chamber rep that I spoke with: she said that cable/satellite television penetration on the Keys is almost 100%. Otherwise, viewers would have very little to watch. Little is known about using a television antenna there, from her opinion. At this point, the question is still unanswered and at large (Jim Thomas, wdx0fbu, Springfield, Missouri, June 20, WTFDA via WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DXLD) Sounds like there needs to be a DX'pedition to the Keys to find out! (Mike Glass, N9BNN, Indianapolis, Indiana USA, ibid.) The final nail in the elusive coffin (or should that be question mark) to the elusive WSBS signal? I received an email today from the president of the Key West Amateur Radio Club. At my request, he asked his members to check on the status of WSBS and the existence of an over-the-air signal. One cannot be found, at least by a few of the members, that have a TV antenna. It appears that 99% of the residents of Key West use Dish, DirecTV, Comcast, or u-Verse for television. There is hardly anyone there that even uses an antenna. The big question remains: does WSBS even use a terrestrial signal? I wonder if someone would find one, if a Dxpedition were charted to the island (Jim Thomas, Springfield, Missouri, June 21, ibid.) WSBS sounds like a ghost station. With the 10 year licensing, many such stations are still listed in the FCC query long despite being off air for long periods and/or silent. I don't reckon that whopping 300 watts gets out far even if its on the air and its a niche station (not a major English language network). – (Fritze H. Prentice, Jr, KC5KBV, Star City AR EM43aw, twitter.com/fritzehp ibid.) Jim, Did you ask the hams about Channel 3, or did you ask them to look for "a signal somewhere around 60.31 (MHz)". If the local hams there heard your request, they quite possibly checked their CABLE lineup to see what was on channel 3, or checked channel 3 with an old analog TV set. Having one of them pull out a radio that covers those frequencies (many HTs from the 1995-2008 era) would be far more productive. Very few hams are interested in (or have even heard of) TV DXing. I've met hams, some of whom have even held extra class tickets, who were unaware that TV is a form of radio at all (that is to say, they did not know TV used electromagnetic waves). (Robert Grant, ibid.) Robert, I hate to say it but you are right about many hams. I know several radio amateurs that have little to no interest in OTA TV (either viewing or DXing). One ham I know lives in rural Desha county (w/o Internet access) and could receive the Greenville-Greenwood MS stations OTA but instead watches Little Rock locals via DirecTV. Also prior to the US analog shutdown in 2009, I heard a roundtable discussion on 75m concerning digital TV vs analog. Those hams were absolutely clueless about remapping/proper antenna selection. Another ham that ironically headed the Arkansas DX Association (ham radio) scoffed when I told him about DXing TV. For many hams, receiving/DXing broadcast stations (FM or TV) is something that is "beneath" them, akin to CB Radio. Because of my work schedule (many weekends at work and off days often during the week), I'm unable to be at the radio when many hams are on the air on 6m SSB, 2m SSB (or long-distance FM simplex). However with few exceptions the broadcast stations are always on (and function as good propagation beacons). At times in recent years, I've felt almost inactive as a ham (with DTV DX and last-gasp analog TV DX). That said, I do appreciate the contributions of WTFDA members whom are also active radio amateurs – (Fritze H. Prentice, Jr, KC5KBV, Star City AR EM43aw, twitter.com/fritzehp ibid.) ** U S A. [Re 12-25] New DTV skip --- I just returned from Istanbul this evening and found that WACP-4 [Atlantic City NJ] did indeed come in some time between June 7 and today as the PSIP reads out as WACP DT1. Also found a weak but steady signal on channel 4 which could be WHBF [Rock Island IL] via tropo. Weak signal also on channels 7 and 10 and several UHF channels -- none strong enough to produce PSIP ID with the exception of channels 20 and 22 from Omaha. I guess I am lucky that the channel 4 in now hasn't been strong enough to replace the WACP PSIP (Dave Pomeroy, Topeka, Kansas, June 26, WTFDA via DXLD) ** U S A. WPGF LP (6) --- There has been a format change on FrankenFM WPGF [Memphis TN]. It is now simulcasting WHBQ-560 with local sports. I have no idea what is on the visual side. Of course, they only get a few years a this. The drop-dead date for digital flash-cut remains in place. Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, I guess. WHBQ is also set to go on the soon-to-be upgraded translator on 97.7. The CP is issued; that should come soon. It's to be on the same tower as WPGF (Peter Baskind, J.D., LL.M., N4LI Grid: EM55, Germantown, TN 38138, 901- 413-4006, June 25, WTFDA via DXLD) That's the 3rd FrankenFM format change on WPGF-LP 6 (87.75MHz audio). Next question, when will The Pig return to 87.7? :) Seriously, the previous format *may* have worked if not for the changeover at WKIM 98.9 (which itself is a revolving door of formats). But even with the suburbs/North MS I don't think there was quite enough audience for three stations of that format (and WPGF of course was having to make do with the scraps). – (Fritze H. Prentice, Jr, KC5KBV, Star City AR EM43aw, twitter.com/fritzehp ibid.) ** U S A. 88.7, KRZA Alamosa CO/Taos NM, I often listen to webcast for the weekday 1430 UT features; June 26 before 1500 they announce that their ``antenna is down`` and may not be back on air until later in July, so webcasting only. Not sure if bilingual Glenda means it is literally on the ground, or just off the air, perhaps due to wildfires? Site is on San Antonio mountain, 10908 feet, just south of the CO/NM border, near US 285. This will not be helpful for their current fund drive. They still legally announce several translator frequencies but I suppose they cannot be fed either. No details on http://www.krza.org --- just ``Currently KRZA cannot be heard on a regular radio, but we can be heard online. Click the "Listen Live Now!" button on top of this page. Our technicians are aware of the problem and are assessing the issue. Thank you for your patience!`` Glenda hinted that people should not leave the Live365 stream running if they are not really listening, due to limited capacity. Still heard Jim Hightower at 1506. Under normal conditions, they often have problems getting NPR news to work at 1501, etc., or miss Jim (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. PT DROPS THE NEWS WINDOW STARTING IN JULY. DOES THIS AFFECT YOUR STATION? "Starting on Monday, July 2, Performance Today will modify its two- hour format. Each hour of the program will remain 59 minutes long with two internal breaks, but the news window will be eliminated. In the new clock, the first three segments (billboard, news cutaway and A segment) will be combined into one. We believe this change will provide our audiences with a better listening experience, and it also eliminates the need for irregular, two-segment hours. Each hour of Performance Today will comprise five parts: three show segments divided by two floating ID breaks. Segment A 0:00 -c.20:00 (fixed start time, floating end time) ID Break 1 c.20:00-c.21:00 (floating) Segment B c.21:00-c.35:00 (floating) ID Break 2 c.35:00-c.36:00 (floating) Segment C c.36:00- 59:00 (floating start time, fixed end time)?" (Association of Music Personnel in Public Radio (AMPPR) May 10, http://www.facebook.com/amppr via gh, DXLD) ** URUGUAY. Re: From yesterday, Radio Sarandí seems back on air on 6045 kHz (6044.95 in my rig). In parallel with 690 kHz MW. Now (0322 UT) on air. http://youtu.be/mHaz46jDjys 73 de CX2ABP (Rodolfo Tizzi, Uruguay, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Thanks for the tip. R Sarandí (presumed) was audible in Central Texas this morning at about 1030z (along the gray line). Still dark here but near sunrise in Montevideo. I didn't hear an ID but the station was on LSB (no het, no audio on USB) and was in Spanish with male conversation with a bit of female talk. Best sound at 6044.9 on Eton E-1. I don't think this would have been audible on AM. Fade out by 1050 (Jerry Lenamon, Waco, Texas, June 25, WORLD OF RADIO 1623, ibid.) 6045-LSB, Radio Sarandí continues to be heard at weak levels here in NZL. Noted 23 June from 0444 UTC tune-in till blocked by KBS Seoul via Sackville opening co-channel at 0559:30. Seems mainly talkback or newstalk format (Bryan Clark, Mangawhai, NZ using AOR7030+ and EWEs to North, Central & South America, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I was listening this morning, 26 June, from 0845 to 0930. Frequency resolved here to about 6044.95 LSB. Male and female talk, with some nice Spanish guitar tossed in. No ID heard here either, but then I didn't bother to put the headphones on either! Pretty good signal if only 300 watts. Using the Drake R8B and 70' N-S wire this morning. I have a dedicated 49mb inverted vee in the process of being put up, and I can't wait to see how it works out (Steve Lare Holland, MI, USA June 26, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also ZIMBABWE ** USTRALIA. See AUSTRALIA ** UZBEKISTAN. 13630, CVC International, 0710 on June 26. In F/F tele talk and Hindi music. Looking for Australia here, but it won’t get past his very good signal (Brock Whaley, Kandahar, Afghanistan. sw-11 for DXLD) ** VATICAN [non]. 15470, June 23 at 0143, VR IS on VG signal via BONAIRE; 0145 opening Spanish again. I think they run the same half- sesquihour twice at 0100 & 0145. VR says their Portuguese service preceding at 0030 will continue past July 1, but I haven`t found a similar statement about Spanish. 13765, June 23 at 0515, VR in African English, this time with a mosquito-like buzz/whine of slightly varying pitch. Is due west from Madagascar; I remain uncertain whether this is self-inflicted. Has anyone noticed such on other relays from there? 13730, June 23 at 1210, VR in English, what was suspected to be the final one via Sackville, since there`s no English on Sundays, but now it seems post-RCI, the site may keep some other relays going for a while longer. We`ll see on Monday. Story about PBXVI being concerned about the growth of non-Catholic sects in Latin America, pentecostal and evangelical; solution: be better ``Christians``. At 1213 announcement that as of July 1, this transmission will no longer be audible in Europe on MW, or in America on SW, but still on internet. Off at 1214* without any IS (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) VATICAN CITY STATE --- On Jun 13, Vatican R Italian newscast hosted a conversation with Fr. Lombardi talking about the future of Santa Maria di Galeria as a telecommunications centre for the Holy See. The interviewer reported all medium wave broadcasts and "most of SW transmissions to Europe and all to America" will be discontinued as from Jul 01. According to my observations 1530 and 1611 (mainly operating in DRM) will be discontinued and MW antennas at Santa Maria dismantled. SW transmitters (some of them saved by Vatican R engineers from the dismantling of Prato Smeraldo, RAI former SW Centre) should operate at 50% of their capacity for 3 to 5 years. Exchanges with RCI and RNW will be suspended by the end of June, but Dutch Media Freedom programming is said to be continued at least until October. BBG, VOR, R Veritas, R Charité relayed broadcasts should remain unhurted by the new situation as they provide valuable exchanges to Vatican Ro programmes to China, South Asia. Operations at Madagascar former RNW centre are also said to continue to serve Eastern Africa. On the other hand, local MW transmitters (likely operating from Vatican Gardens in Rome on 585 and 1260) will remain on air. It's still unclear if they are going to change programming on these frequencies. Until now 585 relays local programme to Rome area in Italian (also on 105 MHz FM) and 1260 overseas broadcasts in foreign languages (Luigi Cobisi, Italy, DSWCI DX Window via WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DXLD) Radio Vatican does not go away with a SW and MW with 01.07.2012. New schedule, announced in the programs of the Russian service. With 01.07.2012. UT. 1232-1258 13685 kHz 17865 kHz 1260 kHz. 1610-1640 9585 kHz 11715 kHz 15185 kHz 1260 kHz. 2000-2030 9775 kHz 11850 kHz 1260 kHz. 0230-0300 1260 kHz. Will be broadcasting and satellite (Vladimir Pivovarov, Boyarka, Ukraine / “deneb-radio-dx”) On the site they had information about it, here is the link: http://www.oecumene.radiovaticana.org/rus/Articolo.asp?c=597462 (Dmitry Kutuzov, Ryazan, Russia/ “deneb-radio-dx” via RusDX via DXLD) ** VATICAN [non]. Canada (not). Vatican Radio, 13730 Sackville. June 23, 2012. Saturday. 1155-1215. Listened out for the final Vatican English broadcast via Sackville. Hardly surprising nothing heard in Jo'burg, as it is targeted at the Caribbean (EiBi). Nevertheless, many thanks to Glenn for his most useful calendar of events to watch out for; very useful and much appreciated. Jo'burg sunset 1525 (Bill Bingham, RSA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) No, on for another week? 13730, June 26 at 1213, VR concluding `World News` about Ukraine, mixing in activities of bishops, which no other station would bother with; poor signal via Sackville, CANADA as frequencies this high are much attenuated, and hardly anything on 15 MHz yet. Again mentioned about no longer being on SW or MW from July 1 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIETNAM [non]. Voz de Vietnam --- en 6175 kHz en español 0300 UT. SINPO 34333 [via CANADA] Respuesta de la Voz de Vietnam a mi pregunta --- Les pregunté, cómo iban a transmitir para Sudamérica si cerraban el centro emisor de Canadá y me contestan que no me preocupe que ya encontrarán otra frecuencia adecuada y que seguirán en el aire a quien quiera escucharla, se la envio (Ernesto Paulero, Argentina, UT June 24, condiglist yg via DXLD) ** ZANZIBAR. Audio recording of Zanzibar ZBC 11735 kHz at 1600 UT using only telescopic antenna on Degen DE 1103: http://soundcloud.com/amondal/zbc-11735khz-1600utc (Vijit Mondal, Nadia, West Bengal, India, June 24, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Swahili; needs tighter selectivity vs ACI hets (gh, DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE [and non]. 6045.00, ZBC Gweru, 0127-0202, June 26, carrier noted in the clear after several weeks absence. Presumed, not beyond S3, ruins any chance of ever hearing Sarandi here. Can Bill Bingham perhaps confirm? (Martien Groot, Schoorl, Netherlands (TenTec RX340, 25m. longwire), dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Martien, Yes, confirmed Radio Zimbabwe. Still very poor, will try again later tonight. Radio Zimbabwe, 6045 Gweru. June 27, 2012. Wednesday. 1610-1625. Shona, YL talking followed by afro music. Poor, still too early here, just one hour after sunset. Jo'burg sunset 1526. Regards, (Bill Bingham, RSA, WORLD OF RADIO 1623, ibid.) [later:] Hi Martien, Following my previous post, surprised to find that instead of improving after dark, Radio Zimbabwe on 6045 had faded out completely by 1730. Still no sign of it at 1950, although I did pick up India in the interim. No doubt about the earlier ID though. India. All India Radio, 6045 Delhi (Kingsway). June 27, 2012. Wednesday. 1809-1821. Urdu (Aoki). OM singing a devotional song, accompaniment sounds like tabla alone. Very poor, unreadable. To Pakistan (EiBi). Jo'burg sunset 1526. Zimbabwe (not). Radio Zimbabwe, 6045 Gweru. June 27, 2012. Wednesday. 1932-1950. Nothing heard. Jo'burg sunset 1526. Regards, (Bill Bingham, RSA, dxldyg via DXLD) Hi Martien, Zimbabwe. Radio Zimbabwe, 6045 Gweru. June 28, 2012. Thursday. 0440-0710. No-show at several checks overnight (including 0350), but it was there when I switched on again at 0440, with fair - good reception. Shona language, breakfast show hosted by OM and YL with typical Zimbabwe music. One song at 0448 made several mentions of "Zimbabwe" and several more of "Robert Mugabe". Time check at 0449 "11 minutes to 7", then at 0450 a song by South African group Ladysmith Black Mambaza. At 0500 OM mentioned "Zimbabwe" and into the news with mentions of local personalities, places, and political parties. Also mentioned the "Zimbabwe National Roads Administration". ID by OM at 0505 "Radio Zimbabwe, 5 minutes past 7". At 0511 an advert in English reminding people to renew their motor vehicle licences. Mentioned "Ndebele" at 0511, but continued in Shona. More IDs for "Radio Zimbabwe" at 0512 and 0513, with local phone numbers. Still audible as of 0700 (into news), but unreadable. Since I heard it fade out last night I can only assume that it was on-air all night as usual, but that propagation prevented it reaching Jo'burg. I was going to suggest that I was only receiving it by greyline at present, but now at 0700 it is 2 hours after sunrise and still audible. Will try again tomorrow morning to see if it fades in or "switches-on". Jo'burg sunrise 0456. Regards, (Bill Bingham, RSA, ibid.) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. 9870, June 24 at 0453, African language with distortion; I remember that Saudi Arabia, Iran and India use this frequency, but it`s none of those now. Aoki shows: ``9870 R. VOICE OF PEOPLE 0400-0500 1234567 English/Shona/Ndebele 50 265 Talata-Volondry 3 MDG 04737E 1843S RVP a12`` So apparently the 50 kW Madagascar transmitter has its problems. I don`t think it was jamming (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. [Re 12-25] 4940: Come ha chiuso la VOA è partito il piratone con la ritrasmissione del canale di Radio 1 RAI. Roby (Roberto Rizzardi, bclnews.it yg via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 5972.27, OC here at 0114. Pretty crowded and getting slop QRM from 5970 ZY. Gone at 0218 but was there at ToH. (19 June) 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD-535D with T2FD antenna, HCDX via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 6045, June 25 at 0509-0512, a JBA carrier. Looking for reactivated R. Sarandí, Uruguay, which Horacio Nigro says is 24 hours with 300 watts on LSB. But is there any reduced carrier? They are hearing it well in Argentina, and even Bryan Clark in NZ is pulling it in. The only other possibility at this hour would be Zimbabwe, also supposedly 24 hours, but sunrise there is around 0430 now. Don`t you believe Aoki and EiBi listings for XEXQ on 6045, long inactive. Huge problem for us here is the bigsig from Habana on 6050; but those awake should try after 0700 when that`s off and so is Korea/Canada 6045. While you`re at it, check 6075+ for LV de Artigas, also active from Uruguay (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 6075.725, Brazilian R Cultura station --- Glenn, Thanks a lot for the info in DXLD 12-25, URUGUAY. But I am a little confused with this latest info. LV de Artigas is on 6075.1 (max) and the unID heard here is on 6075.725. Not a big difference but still a difference. Also more than one R Cultura ID are heard from the files on my website by Henrik Klemetz, Carlos Gonçalves and Mauricio Molano Sánchez. I think there might be two stations and the PP is not using the LV de Artigas transmitter. If you listen with wide ears and much hope there might be a chance they say R Cultura Quarai or something similar, not São Paulo and certainly not Uberlândia. The latter is checked by a Swedish friend living in that town since 30 years back. Conclusion is that a better signal and certainly a better ID is needed. Unfortunately closedown on June 19 was already at about 2255. The last days no sign of the signal. Hope we find a solution soon. It really is mysterious. 73 (Thomas Nilsson, Sweden, June 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6075.72, 24.6 0134 UNID, weak carrier, back again, noted during random checks to 0205 tune-out. Also noted on June 27 (Martien Groot, Netherlands, SW Bulletin June 24 via DXLD) 6075.725, 15.6 2245, UNID Brazilian. R Cultura ??? First observed June 15 at 2245. Also heard by Arne Nilsson the same night at 2311 mentioning a faint R Cultura. The next night also observed by Martien Groot till 0302 at tune out. Further listening on June 19 revealed that the transmitter switched off at 2255. Not heard June 20, 21 & 22. Back again June 23 with sign off as early as 2226. See more info below. Also noted today, June 26 from 2158z, but very weak. TN (Thomas Nilsson, Sweden, SW Bulletin June 24 via DXLD) To rule out that it was not R Cultura Filadélfia drifting, I asked Carlos Gonçalves to check 6105 kHz and he says: I did not forget your request about the Braz. stn on 6105, so I checked this fq every evening between Thursday and yesterday. On the first day, 14/6, I think the tiny signal was indeed from Brazil, presumably R. Filadélfia, but they seemed to have vanished after 2100, and I was unable to find them again on Fri, Sat or Sun. And too much adjacent QRM to fight against too. My comments about the 8 clips of "6075 Rádio Cultura + ????: 1st one: it sounds like a Brazilian station 2nd: ditto 3rd: unsure about it, probably B too 4th: B stn, I think I hear "R. Cultura" 5th: B stn for sure 6th: partly unsure, most probably B stn; too noisy 7th: B stn, no doubt 8th: "R. Cultura" heard at secs. 12 & 35. /73, Carlos. Martien Groot says: Yes, I agree the situation is still very confusing. I don't know how accurately these Latinos can measure frequencies; if only someone could pinpoint this on 6075.72 then I suppose the case would be clear for Voz de Artigas. What struck me in the discussion is CX2ABP (= Rodolfo Tizzi) saying that he could hear VdA "... junto a la brasilera no identificada comentada por Glenn Hauser y otros." The use of "junto a" seems to suggest that the UNID and VdA are very close together and in fact two different stations? Finally my old DX-friend Nils Olsson, living in Uberlândia since 1970, says after listening to the extracted clip: I have not been able to identify the radio station on the recording you attached. I checked with an old transistor radio on 6075, but failed to hear anything at all except disturbances. It's at least not Rádio Cultura de Uberlândia, nor any other station in the vicinity. Could be from western or northern Brazil. Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do sul, Goiás, Rondônia, and Tocantins; these areas have had huge development, and new cities and towns have been growing up during the past 20-30 years. In the 49 mb I hear mostly Belo Horizonte and São Paulo stations. If anyone succeeds to get an ID of the station, please inform me. I am really curious. /Nils Olsson Well, that’s about the situation at the moment. In latest DXLD Glenn Hauser also summarises the present status. We just have to wait until the station can be heard with decent strength and also for a good ID. Most of the times I have heard the station it is mostly music and quite seldom any speech at all. Thanks a lot for all those involved up till now for trying to dig out information from the recordings made and for trying to listen on this frequency (Thomas Nilsson, Sweden, SW Bulletin June 24 via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 6115, Beatles songs were heard here nonstop from 0804 till tuneout at 0847 24 June. Good signal level. Frequency was clear at 0916 recheck (Bryan Clark, Mangawhai, NZ using AOR7030+ and EWEs to North, Central & South America, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Bryan, Sounds very much like the Radio Nikkei 2 format that I have heard in the past. The good signal level would also be consistent for them. Sunday and Saturday 0900*. Per Aoki database: 6115 RADIO NIKKEI 2 2300-0900 1.....7 Japanese Would be // 3945 and 9760 (Ron Howard, San Francisco, CA, USA, ibid.) UNIDENTIFIED. 6135.011, 22.6 0006, Maybe a sign of R Aparecida?? very weak here. Disturbed by Russian Utility station repeating the same message in USB over and over again with 30 sec intervals. TN (Thomas Nilsson, Sweden, SW Bulletin June 24 via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 7077, June 21 at 1221, ``polytone`` transmissions, presumably hams using this strange mode. First one heard has very regular alternation of several tones, each lasting the same amount of time. Seems to be regular AM, with this as modulation, rather than CW cutting carrier on and off. Finishes and a much weaker signal replies. At 1226 a different one comes on with tones which are much faster and less regular; the last note prolonged before cutting carrier. This is not Morse code being sent in A2 instead of A1, but must be conveying messages somehow. Polytone is what Richard W Parker, PA called this in a log on 80 m which he thought was spy-numbers, but doubtful within the ham band, tho I don`t find any use of polytone in ham radio terminology, rather in music. What is this really called and how does it work? How are the tones generated? Probably mechanically or electronically, altho playing a flute, recorder or keyboard would suffice. The 7077 area is a favorite for this stuff at many different hours. The ARRL bandplan is far too vague: http://www.arrl.org/band-plan-1 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re your question about these polytones on 40 m around 7075, that`s an amateur digital mode, which has become very popular, probably PSK-31. It`s very easy to decode, just takes a patch cable between a digital synthesized SW set and a computer, and free software. It`s a low power mode. I`m using ancient equipment, an old Hammarlund, not stabilized to copy 50 watt signals out of France, European Russia. Google amateur radio digital modes or PSK31 and you can get the info (Keith Fowler, Fort Worth TX, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Of course I`d heard of PSK31, but not connected it with these sounds. Means phase-shift keying, 31 baud. One may start here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PSK31 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 9510.8, 1225 June 24, 2012. Just a weak carrier audible here, who is responsible for this nonsense? (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, FL, with (highly abridged equipment list): JRC NRD-535, ICOM IC-R75, Sony ICF-7600GR, and Sangean PR-D5; 1 X roof dipole, 1 X room random wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 9860, 25/Jun 1945, OM seems to be talking in Russian. At 1948 instrumental music. At 1949 OM back talk. Nothing in Aoki, HFCC and EIBI. At 1954 YL talk. At 1955 went off the air, while still speaking YL. 35433 http://soundcloud.com/jorge-freitas-5/9860khz-25062012-1946z-unid (Jorge Freitas-B) Without listening to your clip, which as usual is so soft that even with my volume turned all the way up, I cannot hear it above my air conditioner (it`s 105F outside, 77 inside) --- in a case like this, check who was on 9860 just before this time: Iran in French via Kamalabad until 1930. What languages is that site using at 1930? Including Russian, supposed to be on 6030 // Sirjan 9530, per EiBi. I`ll bet they failed to make the frequency change at 1930. Maybe someone can hear something about Islam or Iran mentioned (gh, DXLD) Usual IRIB Russian til 1957 UT on registered 7240 500 kW Kamalabad. Engineer was sleepy and fired up/switched the 306&310 degr antenna on 9860 kHz on the air. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DXLD) Utilizo-me de um rádio degen 1103 com um circuito montado por mim em uma ponte de terminais para fazer a gravação em meu mini gravador digital. Infelizmente não tenho como melhorar o áudio que admito tem muito ruído de fundo devido aos ruídos da minha rede elétrica, mas o volume não me parece estar tão baixo, a não ser algumas gravações de emissoras com a modulação baixa. Faço as gravações como confirmações de minhas escutas, já que não costumo enviar relatórios de recepção. Se isso não pode ajudar aos colegas eu peço desculpas. 73 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana BA - Brasil 12 14´S 38 58´W, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Jorge, I listened to it this morning before I had to turn on the air conditioner. Could not hear any mention of Iran, but I still think that is probably what it was. There was a slight echo all the way thru it; did it sound that way as you heard it, or was that caused by the recording? If received that way, might mean there were two conflicting transmitter sites. I was only concerned about the volume level of the playback, not the modulation level of the signal, background noise or interference which are to be expected and unavoidable. 73, (Glenn to Jorge, ibid.) UNIDENTIFIED. 11605v, 2150-*2200, 16-June; Found OC centering about 11605.13. Music started about 2158 -- not a few notes IS, but more tuneful; pips & tone at 2200 into talk. Too weak to copy; Radio Taiwan Int'l from Taiwan in Japanese only thing listed (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) UNIDENTIFIED. 11702.00, 1253-1300* June 23, 2012. Low modulation with bits of instrumental music audible, time sounders 1300 and plug pulled. Who is this? Presume Iran can be ruled out, with time sounders at the top of the real hour. Anything North Korean-ish here? Again June 24, 1117 muffled talk in who knows what language, time sounders 1200, transmitter off 1256.39, but back up 1257:28, then transmitter off 1259:53 just before any time sounders, and off for good today. Ron Howard? (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, FL, with (highly abridged equipment list): JRC NRD-535, ICOM IC-R75, Sony ICF-7600GR, and Sangean PR-D5; 1 X roof dipole, 1 X room random wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See CHINA: multiple spurs UNIDENTIFIED. 15725, June 24 at 0510, music with very poor signal, 0511 YL maybe in Urdu; 0517 intonation sounded more like English, then music. The choices are: R. Pakistan, and V. of South Sudan Revolutionary Radio (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 461.4 MHz, UNID Bay City [Michigan] plumbing co.; 4:02 PM [EDT], 16-June; sewer backup at a B.C. address; needs cleanout; "Customer pulled stool." (Apparently they don't use the term "throne" in the plumbing trade. Maybe he was referring to that other kind of "stool".) Can hear both dispatch & mobiles. 12:27 PM, 21-June; "All calls clear in Bay City". Most of the traffic heard here the past few days are plumbing related & concentrated in the Bay City area (but also surrounding towns & counties)--just can't figure out if this is related to the 20-yard load calls. 12:40 PM, 21-June; Took a road trip to a nearby call in Saginaw Twp. (God, I love this hobby!) A candidate is the "Dependable Sewer Service – Bay City" (sign on truck). I didn't catch them at the site, but saw their truck heading out. (Frodge-MI) 461.4 MHz, UNIDs; 11:20 AM...12:05 PM, 19-June; I may have two different ones coming in. Plumbing problems in Bay City and Saginaw; drain plugged & washer backup. "40-yard" delivery to Mt. Pleasant address on University & "20-yard" delivery to a contractor in Houghton Lake; also mentioned Standish. I'm guessing dirt. How long can a load of cement be on the road? Plumbing dispatcher is a woman dirt? dispatcher is male. (If this were in Lexington NE, it could be a manure hauler. Fred K thought it might be a load of Viagra for the Michigan Legislature. Coal for coal-fired radios?) At 4 PM, heard call for a "20-yard pickup on Garfield in Freeland". 1:30 PM, 20-June calls to pull a stool in Silverwood & 20-yd pickups in Linden and the Standish Yard. Whatever these guys are hauling, they work all over east-central Michigan! Too early for sugar beets. This has now officially become a project -- to find out who these folks are and what the hell they're hauling; and why are they pulling stools too? 2:33 PM, 21-June; Can #389 weighing 9 tons to be dropped off at the Standish Yard. Trash/construction debris dumpsters, maybe? Also heard a call for a 20-yard pickup from a roofing contractor in Kawkawlin (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) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ ACKNOLEDGED ON WORLD OF RADIO 1623: Many thanks to Gerald T Pollard, Raleigh NC, for a solstitial check in the mail to P O Box 1684, Enid OK 73702. Gerald, Many thanks for another generous check, solstitially. Glenn You're entirely welcome, sir. We the listeners and readers of DXLD will never be able to repay our debt to you (Pollard) Hope you’re having a nice summer. Your “roundup” of final broadcasts was much appreciated – and was the typically superb and useful kind of information that you consistently and repeatedly deliver. This hobby is incredibly fortunate to have you as one of its leading citizens. I know I speak for lots of others when I say “thank you.” (Bill Patalon, III, Baltimore) Thanks, Mr. Hauser. Your logs and links greatly help the enjoyment of my hobby (Craig Champagne, June 24, ABDX via DXLD) Amen to that! And does anyone have any idea why the "Maple Leaf Mailbag" just concluding now on RCI appears to be last week's edition? s (Scott Fybush, ibid.) see CANADA PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ DSWCI NEWSLETTER (1): FREE TRIAL E-MEMBERSHIP The homepage of the Danish Shortwave Club International http://www.dswci.org has been updated as follows: New: Free trial e-membership with full access to the DSWCI homepage for limited time. http://www.dswci.org/contact/trial_membership.html Best 73 (Rolf Wernli, June 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) "SPIES, KIDNAPPINGS, DEATH AND SHORTWAVE RADIO!" Hello all, A new article is posted on my web site http://shortwavereport.com/?page_id=618 (Steve Handler, June 22, NASWA yg via DXLD) PARTHA`S QSL ACHIEVEMENTS My recent Achievement is Hard Copy QSL from REE via Cariari, Costa Rica (other part of the world, Hi!) Hard Copy QSL from Radio Africa, Eq. Guinea, txn. via Bata Hard Copy QSL from DX Antwerp on their special Anniversary broadcast, via Issodun and French Guinea, eQSL (Properly filled) QSL from RMRC on EDXC conference via Sitkunai, Lithuania and Hard Copy QSL from Radio Japan NHK in Japanese via Bonaire. You all are very welcome to my recent QSL's on the Facebook (no membership or login required) in the following URL http://tinyurl.com/qth26n88e (Partha Sarathi Goswami, Siliguri, W.B., India, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) RADIO STATIONS LOCATED IN THE STATE OF [MICHIGAN] http://www.ontheradio.net/states/michigan.aspx ``To visit a radio station`s website click on the Website column on the far right and a new window will open. To search by specific location and/or music format or genre click Radio Station Search.`` (23-June-12) [Not totally up-to-date] (via Harold Frodge, MI, DXLD) In frequency order displays call, MHz, name (if any), city, phone (but none shown!), formats, website. Presumably same is available for any other state, and beyond? I took a quick look at the OK list, and note a number of absences, especially translators and LPFM, the newish stations near Enid on 90.3, 90.5, etc. (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) "THE AMAZING WORLD OF SHORTWAVE LISTENING" This excellent quality recording vividly brings back the excitement from many years ago when shortwave radio was a major part of international communication. In 1959 the Hallicrafters Company released a 45 rpm single called The Amazing World Of Shortwave Listening. Its now digitized. HALLICRAFTERS (1959) http://www.radio4all.net/ http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.radio4all.net%2Ffiles%2Fkperron%40gmail.com%2F3101-1-THE_AMAZING_WORLD_OF_SHORTWAVE_LISTENING_-_HALLICRAFTERS_(1959).mp3&h=pAQGVUc66 (Via Keith Perron) (via Mike Terry, June 27, dxldyg via DXLD) I believe this thing has shown up online before. Somewhere I have the original record. Narrated by Alex Dreier, ``The Man on the Go`` (gh) WORLD OF TELEPHONY ++++++++++++++++++ WORLD OF RADIO VIA PHONE I have not heard it myself, but I hear from someone that your show can be heard via phone at 1-616-883-2999. Press #, pause press 2 and #. (GEORGE THURMAN, (Houston, TX), June 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I tried it, reaching something called The Conversation Station, for blind people. Press 4 for podcasts, then you will hear a menu including WOR for 2# (Glenn Hauser) WORLD OF HOROLOGY +++++++++++++++++ MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE LEAP SECOND EVENT JUNE 30 2359 UTC Más información acerca del evento "leap second": http://tycho.usno.navy.mil/leapsec.html http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/info/leap-second.htm http://hpiers.obspm.fr/eop-pc/earthor/utc/leapsecond.html http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/time/master-clock/leap-seconds http://www.timeanddate.com/time/leapseconds.html (via Manuel Méndez, Spain, noticiasdx yg via DXLD) CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ PICTURES: HAM RADIO 2012, FRIEDRICHSHAFEN My little tour in pictures of this weekend's Ham Radio 2012 in Friedrichshafen is now attached to my website: http://www.ratzer.at/ Enjoy! 73 (Christoph Ratzer, http://remotedx.wordpress.com dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) THE 12th ERKRATH RADIODAY --- Saturday 1st September 2012 On Saturday 1st September 2012, we organise the annual meeting for radio makers and listeners for the 8th time in the rooms of the observatory Sternwarte Neanderhöhe in D-40699 Erkrath. The event is scheduled from 13:00 to 19:00 hours EST, entrance is from 12.00 o'clock EST. Our special guest wil be Arnold Layne (Greg Bance). He is known to many by his broadcasts on Radio Northsea International. Have a look at his career from Radios Essex, Radio 270, Radio 390 and Radio Caroline North up until today. Resistance from the High Seas: Martin van der Ven recalling the offshore station Sender der Deutschen Freiheitspartei,a free German voice from excile in 1938. Nick Barker was engineer at BFBSCologne and London. Have a look behind the walls of that station. OffshoreRadio and ShowBiz: Chet Reuter tells the story of Radio City, whose raid and the death of Reg Calvert had a basic influence on establishing the British MOA. As always the DJs of Radio Marabu and Radio Northsea Internationalwill be present. The location: From Düsseldorf railway station one can get there by train S 8, direction Wuppertal/Hagen. You leave at stop Hochdahl-Millrath and walk the road in direction of the train to small way. on right hand named Hausmannsweg. After a vew hundred meters you see the observatory. By car you leave Autobahn A 46 at exit Haan West to Erkrath, in the town the way is marked 'Observatorium'. The entrance fee is 12.- EURO including a welcome drink. Preliminary registration or requests please to: Jan Sundermann, Millrather Weg 74, 40699 Erkrath, Germany. e-mail: radiotag@fastmail.fm phone ++49 - (0) 171 - 492 5829 (0) 171 - 492 5829 http://www.offshore-radio.de/caroline/erkrath2012/index.htm (via Mike Terry, June 25, dxldyg via DXLD) MUSEA +++++ BROADCAST COMMUNICATIONS MUSEUM OPENS IN CHICAGO: http://tinyurl.com/BroadcastMuseum CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL RADIO SOCIETY/BAY AREA RADIO MUSEUM SEEKS HELP TO BUY BUILDING: http://tinyurl.com/BayAreaRadioMuseum (CGC Communicator June 20 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) All listening was done in real time without reviewing a previously recorded capture of one sort or another. However, by reviewing a previously recorded capture of a sort, I can report reception of 6.005, CFCX, Montreal, Canada (Brock Whaley, Kandahar, AFGHANISTAN, SW-11 for DX LISTENING DIGEST) DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DRM See AUSTRALIA; CANADA; INDIA; NIGERIA; ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ VATICAN DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DTV See also USA: WSBS; WACP ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ VHF DTV PILOT OFFSETS For anyone who might care about this. All heard and measured this afternoon. WACP-4 66.309440 USB WEDY-6 82.309440 USB WRGB-6 82.309048 USB WABC-7 174.309455 USB WNJB-8 184.309445 USB WEDN-9 186.309440 USB WTNH-10 192.309440 USB WWLP-11 198.308400 USB WPRI-12 204.309412 USB WNAC-13 209.309440 USB For this I used my Winradio WRG-305i and Spectrum Lab software. WWLP- 11 is way off the chart and you can easily see the difference between WEDY-6 and WRGB-6 (Mike Bugaj, Enfield, CT, June 21, WTFDA via DXLD) Re: [Tvfmdx] Another new low-V DTV soon? ``FYI, the owners of WACP-4 have now requested call letters for their other new station, WMDE-5 Seaford, Delaware. WMDE will use virtual channel 36 when it signs on. – (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66, June 20, WTFDA via DXLD)`` While I have been very aware of this station coming for some time now, I was surprised this evening to note that while Rabbitears.info lists this station, they show no CP or even application for it. Also both the w9wi site and the FCC TV query don't list this station at all? Is this correct? Was the owner waiting to get WACP on the air before even filing an application for DT-5 Delaware (WMDE)? It doesn't sound like WMDE will be on the air any time soon (Chris Lucas - Poughkeepsie, NY - FN31bs, Insignia NS-DXA1-APT DTV Converter Antennas Direct 91-XG UHF antenna @ 25', w/ CPA19 pre-amp Winegard YA-1713 VHF-Hi antenna @ 21', w/Channel Master 7778 pre-amp. Winegard YA-6260 VHF-Lo antenna @ 14', w/Chromstar 2000 pre-amp. 24 June, ibid.) WMDE was granted but is erroneously marked as "Archived" in the FCC database. I have overridden it on RabbitEars now. (Trip Ericson, http://www.rabbitears.info ibid.) Being marked as "Archive" would also cause the station to disappear from my listings (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66, ibid.) http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/dKhuCBnShseBlUbQfCqNgkcOVSgc?format=standard MORE ON FUTURE REPACKING OF DTV Below is a link to a recent article on the future repacking of the DTV spectrum from ch 2 - 51 to ch 2 - 30. On the bright side, we may get more Es opportunities! http://www.dailywireless.org/2012/06/19/300-mhz-expected-from-refarming-and-tv-spectrum/ (Mike Glass, N9BNN, Indianapolis, Indiana USA, WTFDA via DXLD) Viz.: FCC TO DELETE CH. 31-51, GIVE TO CELLPHONES dailywireless.org » 300 MHZ EXPECTED FROM REFARMING AND TV SPECTRUM Spectrum refarming, including digital dividend, is expected to free up to 300 MHz by 2016, according to the most recent report published by Maravedis-Rethink. The research reveals that on average, each region will free up to 300 MHz of refarmed and digital dividend (DD) spectrum by 2016. Region 1 (EMEA) will add 72 MHz of spectrum from the DD, as well as up to 220 MHz of refarmed 900 and 1800 MHz spectrum. Region 2 (Americas) will add 164 MHz of spectrum from the DD and could refarm up to 190 MHz of the 2.6 GHz band. Region 3 (Asia) will also free 164 MHz spectrum from the DD, plus refarmed spectrum in the 1800 MHz band for up to 150 MHz. On average, countries in all regions could have an additional 300 MHz of spectrum from the 700-800 MHz Digital Divide auction and the refarming process, utilizing current 2G and 3G spectrum for LTE. Digital Dividend spectrum refers to spectrum which is released in the process of digital television transition. The digital dividend spectrum is usually between 174 to 230 MHz (VHF) and from 470 to 862 MHz (UHF). However, the location and size of digital dividend vary among countries. The U.S. FCC hopes to open 120 MHz of TV spectrum for wireless broadband through an incentive auction in which participating broadcasters receive a share of the proceeds. The FCC’s Report and Order establishes a framework for how two or more television licensees may voluntarily share a single six MHz channel in conjunction with the auction process. The FCC is planning to auction unused television frequencies for licensed broadband wireless after “repacking” broadcasters into the VHF and lower UHF spectrum. Currently US television uses channel 2 (54 Mhz) through channel 51 (698 MHz). The FCC hopes to vacate channel 31-51 and auction them for mobile broadband. The “incentive auction” of channels in the UHF television band is expected to raise some $25 billion. Auctioning 120 MHz between channels 31 and 51 should still leave 29 (“free”) DTV channels between Channel 2 and Channel 30. The FCC hopes it will entice weak stations to double up (or even triple up) on channels, then turn over their unused spectrum to the FCC and participate in a voluntary “incentive” auctions. Posted by Sam Churchill on Tuesday, June 19th, 2012 at 10:52 am. (via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) The article mentions that currently US television uses channel 2 (54 Mhz) through channel 51 (698 MHz). But it was my understanding that actual VHF channels 2 through 6 have mostly been abandoned by the industry due to technical problems on those channels with HDTV. Is that correct? (Dick W., ibid.) Yes, the noise on Low band VHF makes it useless for HDTV. The High Band Channels 7-13 are not much better and are nowhere near as good as UHF for HDTV. The ABC Station for my area is on VHF 13 and I cannot see their HDTV signal, but I could see their temporary UHF when it was up, and I can see the PBS UHF station on Channel 33 that is on the same tower. I also can't see my Local CBS on VHF 7 but could see their temporary signal on UHF. Now the only way to watch CBS is they have a Simulcast on a Secondary Channel from their Co-Owned UPN Station on UHF. 73, (Kevin Raper, KJ4HYD, CE WCKI WQIZ WLTQ, ibid.) Thanks, Kevin. I know that under analogue TV, the lower VHF channels were considered the most desirable. Now it seems like it would be smarter to auction off the lower VHF channels 2-6, rather than auction off the UHF channels 31-51. I wonder why that`s not under consideration (Dick W, ibid.) Perhaps a little expansion of the FM broadcast band is in order? Part of which going to LPFM Community broadcasters? And the commercial assignments divvied out to other than major cities/metros? I've heard some terrible stories from over-the-air television installers in regard to HDTV Multicasters on the VHF Bands. Not sure if the FCC did its homework completely in performance of this system in each of the television bands. Makes me wonder. Like the Ibiquity system effects on AM at night, another related case in point (Ron Gitschier, Palm Coast, FL, ibid.) So is the eventual plan to take all broadcast TV off the air in the US? One wonders how crowded things will be with no more channel 31- 51!! (Neil Kazaross, IL/WI, ibid.) I do not know how useful a signal is if it never 'bends' enough to reach a receiver. I get zilch here now. Too many hills. Once the lower VHF would come through much better than 7 up. (thirsty ?) UHF forget it. BUT now if the UHF signal never gets here to begin with?? I am no expert but in my opinion somebody always wants some new radio spectrum and there is none but the whole spectrum is over-used? Ya know, need more room than 235-45 MHz but no one has ever heard anything there in 100 years. I think the population could use another FM type broadcast band and sure, wireless internet, more space for the Cheyenne, WY police department? (KJ4HYD, ibid.) NAB, Harris: FCC NEEDS TO BUILD IN MORE PLANNING TIME TO TV STATION RELOCATION --- FCC WORKSHOP KICKS OFF PROCESS OF DESIGNING STATION RELOCATION/REIMBURSEMENT FRAMEWORK By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 6/25/2012 4:21:25 PM http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/486394-NAB_Harris_FCC_Needs_to_Build_In_More_Planning_Time_to_TV_Station_Relocation.php The National Association of Broadcasters and tech powerhouse Harris Corp. told the FCC Monday that there could be chaos unless broadcasters have the flexibility to take more than three years after spectrum auctions to relocate and repack their signals. The FCC held a workshop on its design of a program to reimburse broadcasters for channel relocations after the FCC reclaims some broadcast spectrum for wireless broadband through reverse auctions, and the general agreement was that the FCC needed to provide sufficient opportunity for planning of those moves. In introducing the panel discussion, which was moderated by the Media Bureau's Rebecca Hanson, Bureau Chief Bill Lake said the FCC's goals in coming up with a plan and spending up to $1.75 billion to do so were simplicity, promptness and fairness. He said the reimbursement was not meant to be Christmas or winning the lottery. He also said the workshop was more about teeing up the right questions to ask when the FCC issues its first notices of proposed rulemaking this fall. Currently, the deadline for the FCC and broadcasters to complete what amounts to a second DTV transition is within three years after the end of the auction. While that deadline was set by Congress, Jane Mago, who represented the National Association of Broadcasters, said the FCC could ultimately control the time period by tying the end of the auctions to when broadcasters had had sufficient time to plan for their moves, which would be after the FCC made it clear how many stations were moving and where they would be going. Making the end of the auction when everyone has full knowledge of what is going on "might not be a bad definition," said Mago. That was seconded by Harris Corp. VP Jay Adrick, who suggested that three-year deadline could not start until 18-24 months after the auction bidding had filled in those blanks, or there would be "chaos." Among the questions the FCC said needed to be answered was whether and how much of the funding should be in advance and how much in arrears. Most of the workshop panelists agreed that some smaller stations, noncoms, religious, others, would need money in advance. Another was whether that should be an exact payment or receipts, or in "bands" or ranges of payments. Simplicity may be one of the FCC's goals, but Adrick made it clear what kind of complexity the commission must deal with. There will be tower studies, permits, testing, zoning issues, not to mention, though Mago and Adrick did more than once, the limited number of crews -- 14 in the nation says Adrick -- that have the expertise to work on tall towers (1,000-2,000 feet). Another reason Mago gave for not rushing broadcasters was that when smaller companies with less tall-tower experience had been enlisted to help with tower revamps in the first DTV transition, in some cases lives were lost. One of the reasons for building plenty of planning time into the relocation, said Mago and Adrick, who were clearly on the same page was that the technology would need to be tailored to different stations' needs to replicated their coverage areas. Mago conceded that stations might be able to replicated that coverage exactly -- the statute says the FCC ahs to do its best -- that still needed to be pretty close. Brett Haah, of consulting firm Deloitte, said that another reason was that planning would give stakeholders confidence in the process. Patrica Tillala, VP, of spectrum, for Verizon, wasn't as high on broadcasters extending that three years. She said that wireless buyers of spectrum needed to be able to do planning of their own. Adrick had plenty of other complications--and expenses--for the FCC to ponder, including insurance, power to temporary facilitates so broadcasters could stay on their while they were being relocated, manufacturing capacity, the need for either larger antennas or more powerful transmitters and broadcasters moved to lower bands. Adrick said that until it was determined how many stations were moving, when they were moving, and where they would have to move, they were just dealing with conjecture (via NAB Smartbrief, via DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ PERSEUS WAV FILES RECORDED IN HAWAII AVAILABLE Dave Aichelman, N7NZH, recently made a trip to Kauai, Hawaii and returned with top of the hour (TOH) and bottom of the hour (TOHH) Perseus WAV recordings of the medium wave band. His compact, phased array antenna was mostly aimed south toward Tahiti and the South Pacific. He used a tent-pole micro-loop (7' X 7') and both an FLG100 and ALA100 antenna head. The ALA100 recordings were done on 6/15 with the TOH aimed south and the TOHH aimed east. The 6/11 recordings were done with the FLG100, both aimed south and were about 10db lower signal level. All recordings have the Hawaii stations on them. You can clearly hear Tahiti, Samoa and what is probably Australia and New Zealand. There are a few surprises also. 1610 appears to have 'The Valley' station from the Caribbean and there were numerous Brazilian stations as well. Dave's WAV files are 904MB and 4GB in size (two each from June 11th and 15th), and they are hosted on my Mediafire.com account. So, give your broadband Internet connection some exercise and download the files from: http://www.mediafire.com/?112tbwh3e9a5c The 4GB files are a full eight minutes long, across the top of the hour. Thanks, Dave, for sharing your Perseus recordings with the DXing community! (Guy Atkins, Puyallup, WA USA, June 26, HCDX via DXLD) Hi Guy, Care to share the name of this alternative software with the rest of the class? Inquiring Perseus users want to know :-) Thanks! (Tim Tromp, West Michigan, ibid.) Thanks to all involved in making these recordings available to the DXing community. I've long wanted to explore the MW bands on the West Coast to hear first hand what Pacific DX sounds like --- now it's no longer just a pipe dream. You have to love the "Silver Age of MW DXing" that we currently are entering. As the AM band continues to fade into the realm of nostalgia for the public, there will be many DXing opportunities. Couple this with new technology such as the Perseus, and Ultralights, and you have an exciting time in the history of our hobby. Quick question. Is it possible to download the Perseus software to playback these files if you don't own the receiver? It's on my wish list, but out of my price range currently. 73, (Les Rayburn, N1LF, ibid.) Hello Les, Here's the demo version file: http://microtelecom.it/perseus/Perseusv21hDemo.zip (Sylvain Naud, Portneuf, QC, ibid.) Thanks Sylvain, you answered my question!! Thanks for giving us the link, Guy, much appreciate it! I have downloaded these files, how do you listen to these files? Thanks, Regards, (James Niven, Austin, Texas, ibid.) Hi James, These large files are not typical audio recordings. They are specialized WAV files with encoding that represents a large swath of RF bandwidth. In this case, the files contain the medium wave band as heard by Dave Aichelman when he was visiting Hawaii with his Perseus SDR and antennas. It requires Perseus software (such as the demo mentioned by Sylvain Naud) or the free HDSDR software. Once loaded and playing back in the host program you can tune around the band, apply filtering and modes, change AGC, passband tuning, etc. just like you can in "real time" with the receiver. The entire band is there for you to explore, and with WAV files recorded in a far away place you can experience what the band sounds like as you explore the many stations. It is this recording capability for the entire band that is the #1 feature of a good SDR like Perseus. My Mediafire.com file storage account has quite a few similar recordings made by Perseus owners from around the world. 73, (Guy Atkins, Puyallup, WA USA, ibid.) Thanks Guy for the detailed description, you have answered my question very well. I would love to have a Perseus receiver here in Austin, Texas; the Mexican stations just roll in on many channels, but at this time a little out of the budget...LOL!! The demo will have to do the job for now and listen to files that other DXers have and just drool from the mouth...LOL! Regards, (James Niven, Austin, Texas, ibid.) Hi James, there is another SDR, that can record 1250 kHz and it is much cheaper: AFEDRI SDR. http://4z5lv.net/index.php/afedri-sdr-net-description 73, (Mauno Ritola, Finland, ibid.) Hi Les, The Perseus SDR can indeed operate without the Perseus hardware connected, *but* the software needs to run at least once with an actual Perseus rig connected before stand-alone operation of the software is possible. However, I think a better alternative is to install the free "HDSDR" program http://www.hdsdr.de/index.html This is the best of the programs based on the original Winrad SDR software, IMHO. I'm fairly confident that you can load a Perseus WAV file with HDSDR without needing a physical Perseus receiver attached. If you are interested in more Perseus WAV files recorded from around the world, I have quite a few of them available for download. The WAV recordings were available on the Perseus SDR blog I operated for three years until Feb. 2011. There is a lot of trans-Pacific action available on some of these files (esp. the ones recorded from Haida Gwaii by Dr. Walt Salmaniw, and the files recorded at Grayland, WA by myself and others. I'll post a message tonight or tomorrow to this list with information on how to access the Perseus files. 73, (Guy Atkins, Puyallup, WA, ibid.) That's where I will be in 5 days for two weeks! Should be very useful! My wife and I will be on the big island for 5 days, Kauai for two days and Maui for 7. Looking forward to a lot of DX and seeing the sites [sic] (Todd Skaine, Woodbury, MN, 2010, PL 310 or, Toyota radio, ibid.) GLOBAL PERSEUS WAV FILES FOR DOWNLOAD From 2007 to 2010 I operated the *Five Below* blog for Perseus SDR enthusiasts, I also hosted Perseus WAV recordings sent in by DXers around the world. Although the blog is history (but available in a 36mb archived ZIP form http://realmonitor.com/Five_Below.zip the Perseus WAV files live on. There are currently 91 files freely available for download at: http://www.mediafire.com/?1shbad73mby1c This folder includes the recently uploaded Hawaii recordings made by Dave Aichelman. If you do not own a Perseus SDR, you can still explore the MW band (and often LW too, depending on the file) by downloading and installing the demo Perseus software or using the free HDSDR software Because these WAV files contain "IQ" data representing a swath of RF spectrum that Perseus can play back, the files can be very large. The reward for your downloading patience, however, is gaining access to the MW band as heard in other parts of the world than your own. This can be a great way to access local programming, check IDs, or simply vicariously DX from another location. In most cases there are comments on the WAV files, notes on antennas used, etc. found in my archived Perseus blog You'll just need to cross-reference the dates of the WAV file uploading to the articles/entry date in the blog. Thanks to all the Perseus owners who shared their Perseus WAV files with other DXers via *Five Below*. 73, (Guy Atkins, Puyallup, WA USA, HCDX via DXLD) TURNING OUT SOME TOWER LIGHTS AND SAVING $$$ Broadcast towers that are lit at night typically have one or more flashing beacons and a number of steady-burning side lights. The following article (first URL) indicates that it is okay to turn off steady-burning red side lights. The motivation is to reduce bird deaths as explained in the article, but the other benefit is that stations will reduce electric power consumption and maintenance costs. While this sounds like an important win-win situation, we suggest that no action be taken until you clear the idea with the FCC or your broadcast attorney. This is big news but the story is fresh out of the starting gate and needs further research. Check the second URL below if you'd like to get a head start on that research. http://tinyurl.com/ReducingTowerLighting http://oeaaa.faa.gov/ (CGC Communicator June 20 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) NEW MOBILE DX RADIO! As many of you know, I drive a Big Truck for a living. This Spring I finally got my own Truck. I also found the perfect AM-FM-CD Dx machine! The Stereo is Sold by a company in Ft Wayne, Indiana. The company is called the Custom Radio Corporation. The Radio has a great tuner. During Summer/Daytime conditions I can pretty much pick up our Chicago Blowtorches at 300+ miles! My old radio would get only noise at 220 miles. I have the CSS 6520A model. It is really sensitive on AM & FM, (NO Digital AM), with decent selectability. My model has an input for Mp3 or whatever. It also has a memory built in to it . I believe that it is for putting music or books on tapes for later listening! I'm also wondering if you can record radio (TOH ID's) to the memory. For $7.00 you can order the optional remote, (so I can DX from the sleeper when I can't get home!). The radio is standard size. It was a direct plug & play for my Volvo Truck, but I'm sure that their tech dept can help with adapters. The pricing is about $200.00 + or -, depending on the model. This winter should be pretty interesting! (Chet, June 26, NRC-AM via DXLD) PALESTRA SOBRE INTERFERÊNCIAS Olá amigos, Compartilho a palestra exposta no Seminário Técnico de Radiodifusão, dentro do Congresso da ABERT: http://www.archangelo.net/exp/archangelo-rfi-abert2012.pdf [22 pages profusely illustrated, much in English, IIRC] E aqui o release: http://www.congressoabert.com.br/sala-de-imprensa/noticias-cat/ruidos-interferem-na-transmissao-das-emissoras-de-radio O tema foi "Interferências no Serviço de Radiodifusão", mas as origens dos ruídos são as mesmas que encontramos no Serviço de Radioamador. Também como LABRE estabelecemos bons contatos que abriram portas de integração com o governo e informações relevantes sobre outros temas que merecem atenção, como as medidas ANATEL sobre a eficiência do uso espectral. Depois iremos abordar isso com mais detalhes nos Informativos GDE/LABRE. A tese principal exposta na palestra é que produtos de não-telecomunicaçõ es sejam também certificados segundo quesitos de compatibilidades eletromagnéticas via INMETRO no CBAC - Comitê Brasileiro de Avaliação e Certificação. Obtivemos boa resposta da comunidade de radiodifusores e de alguns gestores públicos. Gostaria muito de agradecer a todos que colaboraram na questão "elevadores". Todas as mensagens foram selecionadas. Depois poderemos voltar a nos comunicar caso esta linha de trabalho realmente progrida. 73! (Flávio PY2ZX Archangelo, radioescutas yg via DXLD) This presentation was by Flávio himself (gh) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ CAN WE CALL IT A "DUD"? Is is just me or is the e-skip season turning out to be more than disappointing? Either that or people are not reporting what they're getting, if any! Maybe it's a bit too soon to draw conclusions. (I'm secretly hoping this message will "de-jinx" the situation) 73, (Charles Gauthier, Brossard, QC, 23 June, WTFDA via DXLD) We've had only a couple of openings here which a) lasted more than an hour, b) brought a high MUF, and c) had sufficient strength to poke through semi-locals or IBOC hiss. We've had a lot of lesser openings, though. This weekend has historically been a good one for skip, but so far nada (Russ Edmunds, WB2BJH, 15 mi NW of Philadelphia, ibid.) It didn't help that the solar flux took a huge dive in the past day; it`s below 90 for the first time in a while. I did a quick bandscan on 10m (28 MHz) about 2 pm while on lunch and heard nothing at all. This weekend is usually a busy one with Field Day weekend. Seems the June Lull came late this year and at a bad time (Fritze H. Prentice, Jr., KC5KBV, Star City AR EM43aw, ibid.) Solar flux does not correlate directly with Es (gh, DXLD) No. It is not unfair to call the Season so far as a "dud." It has been quiet, indeed. The landmarks of a good season have all been absent. So far, there has been NO 2m Es in North America. Trans- Atlantic Es has been pretty rare. The June VHF Contest was unimpressive -- with a nice opening, it is mass hysteria. And, as was pointed out, the upper HF bands during Field Day yesterday were quiet. Very quiet. I played Field Day in my usual manner yesterday -- dipoles and a bicycle. Running QRP (5W), I was hoping 10m or 6m would open. Working 20m with QRP during FD is tough; the band is jammed full of HUGE signals. But, I worked my share. If anyone is interested, here is what my Field Day looked like: http://twitpic.com/9zr7sq Very simple -- battery, wire and a bicycle. And water; lots of water. Will July be better? Maybe. But July was really quiet last year. I hope that doesn't repeat. Otherwise, I'll not get much out of this season on 6m/2m. I did manage to work both of the stations in the Big Bend Expedition on Friday. They were LOUD, too. N5K was peaking +30. PB – (Peter Baskind, J.D., LL.M., N4LI Grid: EM55, Germantown, TN 38138 ibid.) I've had Mexico at over 1500 miles twice on FM, and DE-MD at about 500 miles once. So have had 2Es (or very long single) twice, and very short twice, too - also had Madison WI FMer 89.9 at about 500. I'd rate as follows: Number of openings: B MUF of openings: C- Duration of openings: D Quality of catches: B Overall C+ One note: I get the feeling DXers in MI have had FM Es when I've had none. Openings more restrictive, geographically, than *perhaps* has been the norm (Saul Chernos / Burnt River ON, ibid.) Here in Springfield, MO, I'd rate as follows: Number of openings: 0 MUF of openings: 0 Duration of openings: 0 Quality of catches: 0 Overall F- What Es openings that have happened for Ontario and environs have put the center point directly over Missouri. I've had much better success with E-skip when I was living in Colorado. Even last year wasn't much better than what this year has shaped up to be thus far (Jim Thomas, wdx0fbu, Springfield, Missouri, WTFDA via DXLD) No, that's too kind. All references are FM. From Seattle WA: Number Of Openings: F Total: 1 (June 4 2012) Duration: 2 Minutes Signal: Weak ID: None Quality of Openings: F Season So Far: F The DX gods are unmotivated slackers who aren't even trying, except for a few paths which affect a handful of DXers, who seem to score every time. The early season seemed to hold promise, with other DXers reporting northern paths a bit more than usual. But that tendency disappeared before the season could open here. If this season ends early, as I fear it will, I could have taken up almost any venture with more success, like, maybe, Middle East diplomacy, Political unity in the U.S., or fusion. I'd love to see even one long, massive, productive opening, rather than what I expect: a season shutdown around July 10. I desperately want to be proven wrong, but an early end would be typical for this disappointing year. On the other hand, how can something end if it hasn't begun? -- (Rick Lewis, ibid.) In Lake Worth FL have had 2 hours of E on one day with SE TX and NE Mexico (Ken Simon, just been getting rain from TS Debby, ibid.) My last FM Es was on the 10th of June. That's 15 days ago! I know this isn't as bad as Rick Lewis or Jim Thomas, but for here, that's real bad. Yesterday I went under the assumption that nothing was going to happen so we spent the afternoon at the zoo in Providence and then drove down to Aunt Carries in Pt. Judith for seafood. That was a good call because there sure as heck wasn't any dx happening around here yesterday (Mike Bugaj, Enfield, CT, June 25, ibid.) I have yet to catch a Florida opening this year. In a normal year, I would've had a station like 94.9 WWRM 3 or 4 times by now. I don't usually complain about the lack of skip, but yes, this year has been a dud (Jeff Lehmann, location unknown, ibid.) I haven't been impressed, but there has been a few good, solid openings into FM, especially from the middle of May, up to a week or so ago. I've had at least 6 or 7 days of observed FM e-skip thus far (2 or 3 solid openings), and I know I missed at least one fairly big opening about 2 weeks ago. The negative point of FM Es activity is that it's been to mostly the same area. With the exception of some really anemic, brief openings to Mexico/S. TX and Cuba/S. FL, all the activity has been to the northwest, in fairly sparse FM areas of ND, SD, WY, etc that I've logged heavily. What was most disappointing, as Peter mentioned, was the lack of activity during the VHF contest and Field Day, which last year were both very active on VHF/high HF frequencies. There appears to be some activity in the far southern states as I speak, and the season is barely halfway over. Tropo activity over the last year was much more a disappointing "dud" for me than this summer's Es (Bryce Foster - K4NBF, Murfreesboro, TN EM65, ibid.) I have read with some interest the various comments on the Es season. I am glad some of you have had decent opening. But bear in mind, that's anecdotal. I am looking nationally in scope. And from that perspective, it has been very disappointing judging by the criteria I mentioned. Enjoy. PB (Peter Baskind, J.D., LL.M., N4LI Grid: EM55, Germantown, TN 38138, 901-413-4006, ibid.) Actually, there were some brief 2 Meter E-Skip noted during the June ARRL VHF Contest, though none here in EM63. :-( The season has been well below average on 6 Meters, FM, and low band TV. It started a bit earlier than normal here, with openings to Texas and the mid-West as early as April, but not much since. Openings have also been very brief on average. No time for ragchews, but only a brief exchange of grid squares. Hoping that we'll still get a late season flurry, possibly for the CQ VHF Contest (my favorite event!). -- 73, (*Les Rayburn, N1LF*, EM63nf, 121 Mayfair Park Maylene, AL 35114, 6M VUCC #1712, Grid Pirates #222, Life Member Central States VHF, ibid.) L.A. E-SKIP Limited space only allows for indoor rabbit-ears, but the bulb is usually on & tuned to A2 this time of day & year just for the hell of it. 6/25 at 1935 UT brought four dueling video signals on 2, the strongest showing a Michael Jackson (died 3 years ago today) stand-up, yielding enough audio to reveal his belting of "Billie Jean". Frames wafted in & out with each other; next strongest appeared to be some form of infomercial (producing no audio), views of a rather rotund female working out with indoor-gym equipment, next to a less- voluminous mic-holding talking head with curlyish, above-shoulder hair. Third signal brought quick views of an obviously-attractive young femme, and an apparent interview show. One of 'em featured an oval bug, enclosing what could have been a stylised "2", in the U/R corner; not enough audio present to pick out a suspected XHRIO (Fox2) in Murdoch's English. Had one signal on A3, not Tijuana, 20-ish male with full head-shot, but no audio. 2 & 3 pretty much gone by 1945, but getting video now on A4!: very appealing young Latina-apparent, holding a toothbrush with the English word "SMILE" in large letters, about 1/3 down from the top of the frame. No audio; 4 view faded as quickly as it came. Local frankenweenie KSFV-LP/A6 being torn to shreds by at least two other signals; tropo is very weak today so don't suspect XETV involvement. Back to A2: pulsating rumble in audio (sounds fairly ominous in my double-amped, 8-spkr sound frankensystem); video=a mess, God knows how many signals fighting it out. Looks like 3 signals appropriately battling now on A3 with no one dominant & some very quick fades. Nothing on 4 or 5; KSFV-LP local a little more intelligible with strong QRM-vid from someone 20 kHz offset (XETV = 10 kHz away). 1957 UT now, with about :05 seconds of a clear Michael Jackson view on A2, then an audio burst about :30 seconds later. Of course, nothing in well enough at 2000 ID time, but a fun little romp nonetheless. Will check for more as the week wears on; very 73z (GREG HARDISON, LA CA, June 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) GRAND E OPENINGS MONITORED 21 June 2012 - Today observed a long sporadic E condition from 0430 to 0930 UT logged stations from Bangkok, Chennai and Karachi Many videos are uploaded at http://www.facebook.com/fmdxing (membership not required to view) small part entered in my FM LIst Log as follows - Propa Date UTC QRG ITU Program name Location Reg kW km Azi Details SINPO R N OM Remarks: PI Action Es 21.06.12 0646-0646 89 THA Banana FM Bangkok=Krung Thep bmp 5 1912 137 song by OM O=3 slgin Es 21.06.12 0647-0647 88 THA Radio Thailand Wave 88 FM Bangkok=Krung Thep bmp 10 1912 137 Song by YL O=3 slgin Es 21.06.12 0647-0647 88.5 THA FM Max/Siang Jaak Thahaan Reua Bangkok=Krung Thep bmp 5 1912 137 mx + ann O=3 slgin Es 21.06.12 0705-0708 90.5 THA DED National Radio Bangkok=Krung Thep bmp 5 1912 137 News read by YL O=4 X slgin PI: PS:DEDRADIO Es 21.06.12 0713-0715 87.5 THA Sathaanii Witthayu Ratthasaphaa Bangkok/Rama VI Rd bmp 5 1912 136 YL talk O=4 slgin RDS - PTY:Affairs Es 21.06.12 0755-0801 91.1 IND Radio City Chennai=Madras tnd 10 1739 211 song announcements in Tamil, with ID ann. O=3 slgin It is 10 kW commercial station Es 21.06.12 0855-0910 89 PAK City FM 89 Karachi shd 2 2147 269 songs, DJ talk, various, ads etc, recording http://youtu.be/vzSJkGWNAsw O=4 X slgin PI: PS:CITYFM http://youtu.be/vzSJkGWNAsw (Partha Sarathi Goswami, Siliguri, W.B., India, June 21, dxldyg via DXLD) Today also observed a good sporadic E reception - continued through few hours, Logged some Stations from Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia and Pakistan. Below is the extract of my fmlist.org log for today --- Partha Sarathi Goswami, IND-734001 SILIGURI 88e26/26n43 Redsun 2100RP, Sangean ATS909X, Telescopic Rods 2012-06-22 MHz UTC ITU Program + Location Details Remarks km 88.00 0655 THA Radio Thailand Wave 88 FM, Bangkok=Krung Thep (bmp) vernaculer talk vernaculer talk in Thai, promo etc 1912 km 89.00 0701 MYA Yangon City FM, Yangon/38th Street (ygn) OM talkin with mx in background OM talkin with mx in background 1363 km 90.00 0706 THA Balance FM-Phon Neung Ror. Or., Bangkok=Krung Thep (bmp) OM talking in Thai OM talking in Thai 1912 km 91.00 0708 THA Sor Wor Por FM91 Traffic, Bangkok=Krung Thep (bmp) OM talking in vernacular, mx bumpers OM talking in vernacular, mx bumpers 1912 km 91.25 0711 THA Radio Thailand, Sakon Nakhon (snk) song in Thai another Thai station interfering 1934 km 91.25 0711 THA Witthayu Chomchun=Community R., Ayutthaya (pay) 2 thai stations in same frequency interfering each other song in Thai 1864 km 91.90 0713 CHN Shandong RGD Xiangcun Pindao, Jinan/Yanzishan (SD) talk and ads promo talk and ads promo in Chinese 2911 km 92.20 0713 CHN Hotan RGD Uighur, Hotan (XJ) YL Talk in Chinese YL Talk in Chinese 1405 km 92.25 0713 THA Democrat Wave Community R., Bangkok=Krung Thep (bmp) talk in Thai and interefered by a chinese station talk in Thai and interefered by a chinese station 1912 km 93.00 0715 THA Radio Thailand, Kalasin (kls) Song by YL local strong stn 92.7 causing problem 1930 km 94.00 0716 CHN Provincial Economic Radio, Chengdu (SC) EE Song YL talk in Chinese EE Song & YL talk in Chinese 1586 km 94.00 0716 THA EFM 94, Bangkok=Krung Thep (bmp) promo talk promo & talk in thai 1912 km 94.75 0717 THA Tamruat Trawen Chaidaen, Tak (tak) YL talking, mx 2 stations 1551 km 94.75 0717 THA Sathaanii Witthayu 909, Sakon Nakhon (snk) Song by OM 2 stations 1934 km 95.75 0719 THA Radio Thailand, Phetchaburi/Khao Bandai It (pbr) YL talking with mx strong + stereo 1930 km 89.00 0730 PAK City FM 89, Karachi (shd) Hindi Eng Pop song commercials song & commercials 2147 km 97.50 0750 THA Seed 97.5 FM, Bangkok/Lat Phrao 107 (bmp) talk, mx strong 1918 km 98.00 0752 THA Business Station, Bangkok=Krung Thep (bmp) OM talking in Thai OM talking in Thai 1912 km 98.25 0753 THA Mor. Thor. Bor. Sip-Sii, Chonburi/Khao Suwan (cbu) talk vernaculer, mx bumpers unstable 1979 km 98.75 0754 THA Jor. Thor. Lor., Lopburi (lpb) Thai Song 2 stations 1831 km 98.75 0754 THA Trinity Radio, Bangkok=Krung Thep (bmp) om talking with mx 2 stations 1912 km 99.50 0757 THA DFM99.5-Advance Radio, Bangkok/Phitsanulok Rd (bmp) talk in vernaculer fading in/out 1910 km 101.25 0759 THA Seahorse Radio, Bangkok/Saphan Sung (bmp) OM Talking / promo unstable 1923 km 101.50 0801 THA CU Radio, Bangkok/Chulalongkorn Univ. (bmp) yl talking fare 1915 km 101.75 0802 THA MCOT, Uthai Thani (utt) yl with promo, ads/commercial fare 1743 km 102.00 0803 THA BKK Radio, Bangkok=Krung Thep (bmp) OM Talking, ads commercials 1912 km 102.50 0804 THA Get 102.5, Bangkok=Krung Thep (bmp) yl talking stereo 1912 km 103.00 0813 THA Max 103, Bangkok=Krung Thep (bmp) yl song good 1912 km 103.25 0814 CBG Sweet FM, Batdâmbâng (bab) OM talk // 103.5 unstable 2157 km 103.50 0814 CBG Sweet FM, Sisophon (bmy) OM talk // 103.25 news 2103 km 103.75 0815 THA Healthy Radio, Bangkok=Krung Thep (bmp) OM YL promos nice reception 1912 km 104.00 0823 THA Or. Sor., Bangkok/Chitralada Palace (bmp) YL talking nice reception 1911 km 104.25 0825 THA Smart Radio, Phitsanulok (psl) yl talking, mx, ID smart Radio yl talking, mx, ID "smart Radio" 1638 km 105.00 0828 THA Smooth 105 FM, Bangkok=Krung Thep (bmp) song by YL good 1912 km 105.50 0829 THA Eazy FM 105.5, Bangkok/Petchakasem Rd (bmp) song by OM good 1905 km 105.75 0831 THA Ice FM/Multiwave, Bangkok=Krung Thep (bmp) Song by YL average 1912 km 106.25 0832 THA Radio Thailand, Nakhon Ratchasima (nrt) Ads/ commercials average 1927 km (Partha Sarathi Goswami, Siliguri, W.B., India, June 22, dxldyg via DXLD) Geomagnetic field activity ranged from quiet to minor storm levels during the period. Early on 18 June, minor storm levels were observed as the result of residual effects from the 13 and 14 June CMEs. Conditions recovered to quiet levels later on the 18th and remained so for the rest of the period. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 25 JUNE - 21 JULY 2012 Solar activity is expected to begin the period at very low to low levels and remain so until around 03 July. Beginning on 04 July, a chance for M-class flares will exist when old Region 1504 (S17, L=087) is expected to return. No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit, though a slight chance may exist when Region 1504 returns. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to begin the period at normal to moderate levels, and remain so through 02 July. Flux values are expected to increase to high levels on 3-8 July due to recurrent coronal hole high speed stream effects. Normal to moderate levels are expected to return from 9 July through the remainder of the period. Geomagnetic field activity is expected to begin the period at mostly quiet levels and remain so through 28 June. On 29 June, a possible Co- rotating Interaction Region is forecast to produce mostly unsettled levels with a chance for active conditions prior to the onset of a coronal hole (CH) high speed stream. CH effects are expected to produce unsettled to active levels with a chance for minor storm periods on 30 June through 03 July. On 04-05 July, quiet to unsettled levels are expected as the CH effects wane. Mostly quiet conditions with isolated unsettled periods are forecast from 06 July through the end of the period. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2012 Jun 25 1246 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 2012-06-25 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2012 Jun 25 85 5 2 2012 Jun 26 85 5 2 2012 Jun 27 90 5 2 2012 Jun 28 90 5 2 2012 Jun 29 90 10 3 2012 Jun 30 90 18 5 2012 Jul 01 90 15 4 2012 Jul 02 100 15 4 2012 Jul 03 110 15 4 2012 Jul 04 120 8 3 2012 Jul 05 130 8 3 2012 Jul 06 135 5 2 2012 Jul 07 140 5 2 2012 Jul 08 135 8 3 2012 Jul 09 135 8 3 2012 Jul 10 130 5 2 2012 Jul 11 130 5 2 2012 Jul 12 125 5 2 2012 Jul 13 125 5 2 2012 Jul 14 120 5 2 2012 Jul 15 115 5 2 2012 Jul 16 110 5 2 2012 Jul 17 105 5 2 2012 Jul 18 100 5 2 2012 Jul 19 90 5 2 2012 Jul 20 85 5 2 2012 Jul 21 85 5 2 (SWPC via WORLD OF RADIO 1623, DXLD) TIPS FOR RATIONAL LIVING ++++++++++++++++++++++++ TITLES OF NOBILITY By Mark Steyn, June 14, 2012 10:44 P.M. National Review http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/302924/re-mr-romney-mark-steyn I’m with the president in preferring “Mr. Romney” over “Governor Romney.” The primary debates were all “Governor”, “Senator” and “Mr. Speaker”, even though there wasn’t a single governor, senator, or speaker on the stage. What’s the point of a republic if a guy can serve one term in the House of Representatives in the early Seventies and be addressed as “Congressman” until he keels over half-a-century later? Turning offices into titles of nobility is, to my mind, even more unrepublican than having a bunch of marquesses and viscounts queening it up because “Senator”, “Governor” et al. are titles that by definition are in the gift of the people and, when the people are no longer willing to bestow said title or the office-holder declines to submit himself to their adjudication, the use thereof should cease (National Review, via The Week, June 29 via DXLD) ###