DX LISTENING DIGEST 13-20, May 15, 2013 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 2013 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html [also linx to previous years] 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 1669 headlines: *DX and station news about: Antarctica, Argentina, Brazil, Central African Republic, China, Georgia, Germany non, India, Indonesia, Korea North non, Korea South non, Pakistan, Russia, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tatarstan non, Tunisia, USA, Vanuatu SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1669, May 16-22, 2013 Thu 0330 WRMI 9955 [confirmed on webcast] Thu 2100 WTWW 9479 [confirmed] Fri 0328v WWRB 3195 [on air but computer down, no WOR] Sat 0130v WBCQ 5110v-CUSB Area 51 [confirmed at 0143] Sat 0630 HLR 7265-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio [confirmed by wb] Sat 1430 HLR 7265-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio Sat 1500 WRMI 9955 [inaudible] Sat 2330v WTWW 9930 [unconfirmed] Sun 0400 WTWW 5830 [confirmed] Sun 2330v WTWW 9930 [not on the air] Tue 1100 WRMI 9955 Wed 0630 HLR 7265-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio Wed 1430 HLR 7265-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio Thu 0330 WRMI 9955 [or maybe 1670 if ready in time] Recent editions, such as 1665, have been airing in rotation at unpredictable times on WTWW 9930 between 17 and 24 UT. 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/98/10:00:00UTC/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/ ** ALASKA. QSL: martes, 2 de abril de 2013, NOJ - 12577 kHz - COMMSTA KODIAK GMDSS DSC - Kodiak (ALS) - QSL --- En un mes y medio me ha llegado por correo ordinario, la tarjeta QSL confirmando la recepción de una llamada selectiva digital al buque CHARLIE/V7WH2. El informe lo envié también por correo postal, a: COMMSTA KODIAK/NOJ, P.O. Box 190017, Kodiak, AK 99619-0017, U.S.A (Mauricio Molano, Spain, blog info http://moladx.blogspot.it/ via Dario Monferini, May 7, playdx yg via DXLD) ** ALASKA. Summer A-13 of KNLS only via one transmitter: 0800-0900 on 9655 NLS 100 kW / 285 deg to EaAs Russian 0900-1000 on 9655 NLS 100 kW / 285 deg to EaAs Chinese 1000-1100 on 9655 NLS 100 kW / 285 deg to EaAs English 1100-1200 on 9610 NLS 100 kW / 285 deg to EaAs Chinese 1200-1300 on 7355 NLS 100 kW / 285 deg to EaAs English 1300-1400 on 9920 NLS 100 kW / 285 deg to EaAs Chinese 1400-1500 on 7355 NLS 100 kW / 285 deg to EaAs Chinese 1500-1600 on 9920 NLS 100 kW / 285 deg to EaAs English 1600-1700 on 9655 NLS 100 kW / 285 deg to EaAs Russian 1700-1800 on 9655 NLS 100 kW / 285 deg to EaAs Russian (DX RE MIX NEWS #780 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, May 10, 2013 via DXLD) ** ALBANIA. Summer A-13 of China Radio International from Cërrik: 0000-0157 on 6020 CER 300 kW / 305 deg to NoAm English 0000-0157 on 9570 CER 300 kW / 305 deg to NoAm English 0200-0357 on 6020 CER 300 kW / 305 deg to NoAm Chinese 0200-0357 on 9570 CER 300 kW / 305 deg to NoAm Chinese 0500-0657 on 9515 CER 150 kW / 240 deg to NWAf Arabic 0500-0657 on 9590 CER 150 kW / 140 deg to N/ME Arabic 0500-0657 on 11710 CER 150 kW / 140 deg to N/ME English 0500-0657 on 11775 CER 150 kW / 240 deg to NWAf Arabic 0700-0857 on 11785 CER 150 kW / 310 deg to WeEu Chinese 0700-0857 on 13710 CER 150 kW / 310 deg to WeEu English 0900-0957 on 7285 CER 150 kW / non-dir to SEEu Romanian 0900-0957 on 9440 CER 150 kW / non-dir to SEEu Romanian 1100-1157 on 7220 CER 150 kW / non-dir to SEEu Bulgarian 1100-1257 on 13650 CER 150 kW / 310 deg to WeEu English 1200-1257 on 7345 CER 150 kW / non-dir to SEEu Serbian 1400-1557 on 11920 CER 150 kW / 240 deg to NWAf French 1400-1557 on 13670 CER 150 kW / 240 deg to NWAf French 1500-1557 on 7345 CER 150 kW / non-dir to SEEu Turkish 1500-1557 on 9565 CER 150 kW / non-dir to SEEu Turkish 1600-1757 on 5970 CER 150 kW / 330 deg to WeEu German 1600-1757 on 7380 CER 150 kW / 330 deg to WeEu German 1600-1757 on 9555 CER 150 kW / 140 deg to N/ME Arabic 1600-1757 on 11725 CER 150 kW / 240 deg to NWAf Arabic 1800-1957 on 5970 CER 150 kW / 310 deg to WeEu French 1800-1957 on 6055 CER 150 kW / 240 deg to NWAf French 1800-1957 on 9480 CER 150 kW / 310 deg to WeEu French 1800-1957 on 11695 CER 150 kW / 240 deg to NWAf French 2000-2157 on 5960 CER 150 kW / 310 deg to WeEu English 2000-2157 on 6185 CER 150 kW / 193 deg to EaAf Arabic 2000-2157 on 7235 CER 150 kW / 140 deg to N/ME Arabic 2000-2157 on 7285 CER 150 kW / 310 deg to WeEu English 2200-2257 on 6175 CER 150 kW / 280 deg to SoEu Portuguese 2300-2357 on 6175 CER 150 kW / 280 deg to SoEu Spanish 2200-2357 on 7210 CER 150 kW / 280 deg to SoEu Spanish (DX RE MIX NEWS #780 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, May 10, 2013 via DXLD) ** ALBANIA. 9850, May 11 at *0127:40, R. Tirana IS comes on prior to only English broadcast to North America, and only one of two to anywhere. Good signal and no QRM from 9860 WHRI here, but I continue to feel it would be safer to shift to 9845 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANTARCTICA. LRA36 informs the SWL Horacio Nigro, that it is transmitting from 1900 local time (Argentina?), 2200 UT, on frequency of 15476. Let's monitor. 73 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia 12 14´S 38 58´W - Brasil, May 8, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Assunto: [Lista ConDig] RV: Responde referente a : LRA36 ¿Será fidedigna la información?. Habrá que monitorear para confirmar o rectificarla (Horacio Nigro, May 8, condiglista yg via Freitas, ibid.) Lean... -----Mensaje original----- De: Fundacion Marambio Enviado: 08/05/2013, 20:45 Para: Horacio Nigro Cc: hanigrodx@yahoo.es Asunto: Responde referente a : LRA36 ---------------------------------------------------------- SUSCRIPCION: Nº Mre-06549 Estimado Horacio NIGRO GEOLKIEWSKY MONTEVIDEO - REPUBLICA ORIENTAL DEL URUGUAY Disculpe que no le respondí antes; al principio tardé un poco para averiguar lo que nos consultaba. Me lo informaron y traspapelé su mensaje y ahora lo encuentro y se lo respondo. Me dijeron que ahora está la estación en servicio sin ningún inconveniente, saliendo en 15.476 MHz aproximadamente a partir de las 19 horas local. Sin otro particular, lo saluda afectuosamente. [Horacio`s original inquiry to them a few weeks earlier:] ---------------------------------------------------------- ----- Original Message ----- From: Horacio Nigro To: info@marambio.aq Sent: Wednesday, April 17, 2013 8:59 PM Subject: LRA36 Estimados amigos, Seguimos sin novedades de la LRA36 Base Esperanza en Onda Corta, el verano pasó, estaban para colocar repuestos e hicieron pruebas, segun Mirta, una de las personas que estuvo hasta el año pasado... pero aún no se la escucha. Puedes facilitarnos alguna novedad al respecto? Horacio Nigro Geolkiewsky Montevideo Uruguay Mi blog: "La Galena del Sur" (via ibid.) 15476, Thursday May 9 at 1333, still no signal from LRA36, BUT: Horacio Nigro in Uruguay inquired April 17 of the Marambio Foundation in Argentina (which established Radio Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel and still has some contact with it) about its current status, and as he reported to the condig list, finally received a reply May 8: ``Me dijeron que ahora está la estación en servicio sin ningún inconveniente, saliendo en 15.476 MHz aproximadamente a partir de las 19 horas local.`` It is operating normally on 15476 from approximately 19 local time --- that would be 22 UT, instead of the mornings, assuming local time = Buenos Aires. We can hear General Pacheco poorly around that time on 15345, so now we need to go after Esperanza on 15476 in the evenings. {Previously they were never active on weekends, but that could have changed too.} Unfortunately this news arrived too late to include on this week`s WORLD OF RADIO 1668 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Twente SDR - carrier on 15476 at 1942 UT --- I can't hear it well because I am at work & I don't have any head phones, but there is a weak carrier on 15476. BBC Arabic is splattering it so I can't be sure if there is any audio there. Maybe LRA 36 is reactivated for real this time. It is a real white whale for me. The more I listen to the LSB I am sure I hear music & talking by OM. I'll check when I get home shortly. DH KCMO (Dave Hughes, Kansas City MO, May 9, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) At 2000 UT LRA 36 is on air, heard on footprint 15476.012 kHz with some Spanish canciones. At best on lower side, to exclude Arabic Abu Zabaal EGY [sic] 15480 kHz. Heard on Perseus net receiver at Iceland. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, 2009 UT May 9, ibid.) At that hour the 15480 Arabic is BBC not Egypt (gh, DXLD) Just confirmed in Chile and Buenos Aires. It's effectively on the air. 15476, LRA36, 1900, weak signal level, music: Argentine "bailanta". Man with lower modulation than music, SINPO: 24422. ID by w: "Seguimos en LRA36..." (Hugo López, Santiago, Chile, R-5000, dipolo "V", in Condig list YG, via Nigro, Uruguay, translated and edited). Also received by E. Paulero in B.A.) Renewed monitorings for the station were encouraged in Condiglist reflector yesterday evening, immediately after a reply via E-mail from the Argentinian Fundación Marambio (related to Antarctic topics by Argentina) was received. The answer was related to my query on the status of LRA36 broadcasts and its delayed appearance on the air, this year (Horacio Nigro Geolkiewsky, Montevideo, Uruguay, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Heard on Iceland Perseus network receiver, at 2023-2026 UT May 9. Mostly S=5 signal level, up to peaks S=7-8 strength. But NOTHING heard on Perseus units in NY, Toronto up to Chicago further west. Also nothing heard around 2015 UT here on best Perseus units in central Europe. vy73 de Wolfy df5sx (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Entonces, la hora 19 que decía la Fundación Marambio en la respuesta via mail, era en realidad 1900 UT; la que le hace interferencia es Egipto en 15480 (Arabe via Abu Zabaal). La señal llega a Europa pero el audio no parece aflorar, según reportes en la lista DXLD (Horacio Nigro Geolkiewsky, Montevideo, Uruguay, 2025 UT May 9, condiglista yg via DXLD) Checking at 2059 as Arabic station on 15480 is signing off there is now nothing to be seen or heard on 15476. Try again tomorrow. It was a nice birthday present to see LRA36 confirmed reactive (Dave Hughes, Kansas City MO, ibid.) Excuse; the 15480 kHz Arabic program is BBC London via Al Seela Oman relay site. EGY comes on air later from 2215 UT. ANTARCTIC ARGENTINE, 15476.012, Radio Nacional LRA 36 from San Gabriel, ATA, noted from 2000 UT May 9th. LRA 36 is on air, heard on footprint 15476.012 kHz with some Spanish canciones 2000-2054 UT, made a recording at 2023 to 2026 UT. At best on lower side, to exclude BBC London Arabic via Al Seela Oman on 15480 kHz. Heard on Perseus net rx at Iceland (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews May 9 via DXLD) I will confirm a weak carrier visible here at 2100 on 15476 with no detectable modulation (Mike in rural EC Iowa Gilchrist, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) LRA36 Radio Nacional Arcangel San Gabriel, 15476 kHz – Back on the air again http://youtu.be/FQrKdNrJ6tU -- (Rodolfo Tizzi, 2120 UT May 9, http://cx2abp.blogspot.com/ dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) According to a further report, Hugo López, in Chile states that: 15476, LRA36, R Nac Arcángel San Gabriel, it was off the air at 2101. Their last hour of broadcast was with Argentinian folk music only. Female IDed as being in // with FM 96.0. For moments it was received with acceptable sigs (3/4). He first spotted the stn at 1849, May 9 (Hugo López C., Santiago de Chile, Chile, in Lista Condig YG via Horacio Nigro, Uruguay, translated and reformatted, May 9), dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) LRA36 Confirmada en el aire. CONFIRMADA, SE ACABA DE IDENTIFICAR, Locutora "Seguimos en LRA36 ...". 15476 kHz, 1907 UT. Locutora hace comentarios con música de fondo. Por momentos llega hasta con un 34423. Bastante desvanecimiento. 1900 UT, señal baja, música "bailanta" argentina. Modulación de locutor baja en comparación con audio musical. [later] 15476 kHz, 2101 UT, fuera del aire. En la última hora sólo transmitió música folclórica argentina. Locutora a las 2004 UT identificó transmisión en paralelo en 96.0 MHz. Por momento llegó hasta con señal aceptable de 3(4). Mi primera escucha fue, a las 1849 UT. Cuando envié primer log sin tener certeza de que se trataba de LRA36 (CE3BBC, Dr. Hugo López C., Santiago de Chile, May 9, condiglist via BC-DX May 12 via WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DXLD) Confirmada, Glen[n], estuvo en el aire hoy 09 de Mayo de 2013 hasta las 2200 [sic] UT. Según confirman otros colegas puede ser a partir de las 1800. Mañana trataré de monitorear los horarios. 73 (Ernesto Paulero, Argentina, 2202 UT 9 May, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Por lo visto, o mejor dicho por lo escuchado, han vuelto al horario que casi siempre usaron en los últimos años de 1800 a 2100 aunque algunos años usaron 1830 a 2100. Habrá que seguir monitoreando mañana; no creo que haya emisión los Sábados y Domingos (Ernesto Paulero, 2159 UT May 9, condiglista yg via DXLD) 15476, May 9 at 2237, no signal from LRA36 during supposed reactivation starting at 2200: later learned from South American monitors that they were hearing it *before* 2200 and after 1800, so that is its approximate schedule, maybe M-F only. Just as well, since I had ACI from 15480 Egypt to South America which starts at 2215. Nothing at all is scheduled anywhere on 15470 or 15475 at 18-22, but 15480 also has BBC Arabic at 17-21, via UAE until 20 and via Oman after 20, so where that is problematic, the best window for LRA36 should be 21-22. Wolfgang Büschel was hearing the 15476 carrier only via a remote radio in Iceland. As before, RNASG will no doubt be a tough catch in North America with 1? kW. Compare to LTA LSB feeder on 13363.55 or 15820, not on today, but more likely on weekends; and to RAE/Nacional on 15345v which starts at 1800 except Saturdays from 2000. It`s still a long way from General Pacheco to Base Esperanza but those are the closest 15 MHz SW stations to LRA36. BTW, the WRTH 2013 National section under Antarctica lists LRA36, but for SW says ``see International section``, where there is NO ANTARCTICA entry at all! Removed from the 2012 edition. Will this be rectified in the imminent A-13 update due any day now via the http://www.wrth.com/updates_new.asp link? (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DX LISTENING DIGEST) MAY 10: Checking while at work and the carrier is there at 1812 but pretty much covered by BBC Arabic splatter. I am actually able to copy the station at 1910. I still don't have any headphones at work but clear LSB copy of 2 OM's talking. Into a guy singing & then YL talking at 1914. Definitely not BBC splatter as they are in a quiet talking part of the Arabic program allowing LRA36 to be heard clearly if weakly for a few minutes (Dave Hughes, Kansas City MO, ibid.) Via Twente SDR as usual for him (gh, DXLD) Yes, heard actually at 1950 UT, music and YL speaking (Spanish?) with SDR at Twente. Good (!) copy by moment, so short, SINPO 22322, propagation is as a wave. Carrier only seen at 1954 (Nicholas Delaunoy, May 10, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Nicolas, Signal visible here and even measurable. It is dead on 15476 kHz. No modulation visible or heard in EC Iowa (Mike GILCHRIST, 1945 UT, ibid.) ANTARCTICA, 15476.0, LRA 36, Radio Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel, Base Esperanza (presumed), 1945-2005, 10-05, very weak, best on LSB, at moments noted a female with talks, probably in Spanish and songs, and at moments only the carrier on 15476.0, interference from other stations on 15475. 13221 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Log in Lugo, Grundig Satellit 500, cable antenna, 8 meters, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15476, trying again for reactivated LRA36, Friday May 10 at 1929-1936, nothing audible, while BBC 15480 UAE was only JBA. However, I later learned that others were barely hearing it. Still nothing for me at 2045, so at 2059 I listen via Twente SDR, and am getting at least a het against BBC Oman which is about to go off. Closing in on 15476, I am still not getting anything, but that`s because it went off at 2102 per Mauno Ritola, an hour earlier than the day before. So the schedule could be 18-21 or 18-22 UT, more or less; in previous years it was never active on Sat or Sun, but check anyway. Manuel Méndez in Spain also heard it poorly with ``interference from other stations on 15475`` --- but there aren`t supposed to be any there!? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ANTARCTICA ARGENTINE, 15475.997. Audio level switch was off, from my tune-in at 1935 til 1949 UT. Then at 1950 UT increased audio piece a little bit, switched ON the volume controller at the Base Esperanza station. But signal is lower on May 10th, than compared to yesterday night 19-21 UT. Signal is footprint wise 15 Hertz lower on 15475.997 tonight; was 15476.012 yesterday, LRA36 Radio Nacional Arcangel, from San Gabriel (Base Esperanza, Antarctica), ATA. No interference from BBC London Arabic tonight. Heard again on Perseus network receiver at Iceland. Mostly S=4-5 just on threshold level. Used Perseus in S-AM mode, only bandwidth of 15470 to 15476 kHz range used. Recorded with Audacity software at Bitrate 48 kbit/s. Both e-mail addresses in WRTH 2013 p70 of LRA36 are on negative delivery yesterday and today. I don't know whether the records arrived on the remaining recipients. >This message was created automatically by mail delivery software. >A message that you sent could not be delivered to one or more of its >recipients. This is a permanent error. The following address failed: > "esperanzaantar@infovia.com.ar": > SMTP error from remote server after RCPT command: > host: vmx.terra.com > 5.2.1 Mailbox disabled for this recipient vy73 wb df5sx (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I tried radioesperanza@infovia.com.ar a few days ago. It didn't bounce, but no reply received so far. Neither a petition for friendship in Facebook for their program "Junto a vos" ("Close to you" in English) at https://www.facebook.com/junto.avos.756 73 (Horacio Nigro Geolkiewsky, Montevideo, Uruguay, May 13, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DXLD) Re: LRA 36 recording, - tonight on 15475.997 kHz via SDR Perseus network receiver at Iceland --- Not bad, Wolfgang; could it be that you record with AGC off? It`s two years ago that I heard LRA36, she sent me also a nice letter. Receive this after 6 months, so we are hoping to listen to LRA36. It`s a great favorite for me (Maurits van Driessche, Belgium, May 10, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews May 12 via DXLD) Yes, AGC taken off, switched the volume control by hand; and opened the bandwidth curtain only in 15470 to 15476 kHz range, to cut-out BBC 15480 kHz outlet range. 15475.997, Audio level switch was off, from my tune-in at 1935 till 1949 UT slot. Then at 1950 UT increased audio piece a little bit, operator switched ON the volume controller at the Base Esperanza station. But signal is lower on May 10th, than compared to yesterday night 19-21 UT. Signal is footprint-wise 15 Hertz lower on 15475.997 tonight; was 15476.012 yesterday, LRA36 Radio Nacional Arcangel, from San Gabriel (Base Esperanza, Antarctica), ATA. No interference from BBC London Arabic tonight though. Heard again on Perseus network receiver at Iceland. Mostly S=4-5 just on threshold level. Used Perseus in S-AM mode, only bandwidth of 15470 to 15476 kHz range used. Recorded with Audacity software at Bitrate 48 kbit/s (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, May 10, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews May 12 via DXLD) Checking 15476 from my QTH and I see a weak carrier, very weak. Nothing on the R 75. The Twente signal is fair & poor at times. BBC is not as noisy and splattering as yesterday. 1945 into YL talking over a thumpy musical bed. It pops up for a few seconds & then disappears then comes back a few minutes later (Dave Hughes, KCMO, 1953 UT May 10, ibid.) No visible carrier on Twente either at 2035. Tuning past 15476 does produce a weak het but BBC is all wide & splattery now, unlike earlier when they had a nice compact signal & LRA36 had a window of audibility. Nothing now (Hughes, 2045 UT, ibid.) S/off at 2102. Too weak for audio here in Finland. I got it 5 Hz below, FWIW. 73, (Mauno Ritola, Finland, ibid.) FB [= fine business = approval], Mauno! I use an audio frequency analyzer to measure these frequencies. I can get within .5 Hz usually. Like this: Tune to WWV, LSB (or another accurate RF source). Tune the VFO 200 Hz high (15000.200). Change the ppm setting in your software to put the 200 Hz spike right on in the audio analyzer. Now tune to your carrier you want to measure. Tune again using LSB until the 200 Hz (or 100) tone reads accurately in the audio analyzer. Your carrier will then be exactly 200 Hz lower in frequency. I have found this system more accurate than using a frequency standard for accuracy. The ppm settings in the software limit my accuracy to about half a Hertz. 100 Hz audio will work too, but I calibrate with 200 Hz because WWV puts out a 100 Hz tone already. 73, (Mike in rural EC Iowa Gilchrist, ibid.) I also used that method years ago before SDRs (SDR-IQ with Spectravue, Perseus) became available. Much easier and allows hearing audio at the same with measuring. I can't promise .5 Hz though, ±1 Hz is enough for me, especially on high frequencies :-) Seems they are off today, so Mon-Fri only. 73, (Mauno Ritola, Finland, Saturday May 11, ibid.) Anker y Wolfgang, hoy sábado no ha transmitido LRA36. He sintonizado los 15476 kHz desde las 1800 hasta las 2100 UT y nada en frecuencia. Buen fin de semana desde Sudamérica (CE3BBC, Dr. Hugo López C., Santiago de Chile, May 11, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews May 12 via DXLD) LRA 36 on air 15476 --- Carrier noted at 1806 UT. ACI from BBC arabic. Not hearing audio (Dave Hughes, KCMO, 1816 UT Monday May 13, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15476.0, Monday May 13 at 1825 on the Twente SDR, I can detect a carrier here on offset LSB setting (but in CW tuning it zeroes circa 15475.5 --- must be deliberately offset in the receiver). Anyhow, presumed LRA36 back on the air after weekend break. Dave Hughes in Missouri also reported it a few minutes earlier, presumably by same method. I`ve yet to see any direct logs of it this date, even from S America; still not clear whether schedule is M-F 18-21 or 18-22 UT, or if it varies (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Checking Twente from 1758 to 1815 UT and no sign of them. This was the first day that I bolted from the daily meeting that always ends late to try and be in my office at 1800 UT to check for their sign on. So of course this is the day that they aren't on (Dave Hughes, KCMO, Tue May 14, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) RADIO NACIONAL ARCANGEL SAN GABRIEL (Gov). kHz: 15476 Summer [sic] Schedule 2013 Spanish Days Area kHz 1900-2100 .t.t... SAm 15476lra* Key: * Tentative schedule (WRTH A-13 update first edition May 13, via DXLD) As in DXLD it has also been heard as early as 18 and as late as 22; nothing to indicate it is Tue & Thu only yet (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) {I now think the 22 must have been a typo as all other reports have it off the air after 21 UT -- -gh} LRA 36 carrier came on at 1801 UT [Wed May 15]. BBC splatter making it impossible to hear any audio though. 15476 Khz I am listening via Twente at work (DH KCMO, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) A peak string seen on 15476 approx. 1814 UT too, but seemingly NOW OFF, but now at 1822 UT only the BBC Al Dhabbiya on odd 15479.957 visible, latter S=9+10dB sidelobe into western Europe. 73 wb df5sx (Wolfgang Büschel, 1826 May 15, ibid.) Recheck at 1825 shows 15476 is [no!] longer on air (DH, KCMO, ibid.) I tried Twente too at 1829, heard nothing on 15476 (gh, ibid. Back at 1848 UT (DH, KCMO, ibid.) 1905 trace (gh, ibid.) When checked again, at 2034 UT May 15, seen a peak string on footprint 15476.003 kHz tonight, but the 20-21 UT powerhouse from BBC Arabic service via Oman relay on 15480 kHz makes the reception impossible. I guess tentatively I heard some bandoneón music in 15476 kHz range. 73 wolfy df5sx (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) Hola Ernesto, si lo que te escribe, y lo que me parece, dicen después de mencionar "facebook"; bueno te transcribo lo que escucho a partir del segundo 00:32" --- ``para comunicarse con junto a vós, solamente debes llamar al 08102220770 interior 216 o simplemente mándanos un mensaje a nuestro facebook... y búscanos como junto a vós..." Me parece que "junto a vós" debería ser un programa; el número telefónico según referencias encontradas es el de la base San Gabriel (Rafael Rodríguez, Colombia, condiglist yg via DXLD) En el Facebook no encuentro nada referente a ellos, aún buscando como "Junto a Vos". El teléfono está OK; alguien llamando desde BA podría hablar con ellos, preguntarles la potencia, comentarles sobre el audio bajo, la interferencia en 15480. Envié un mail de prueba con saludos a radioesperanza @ infovia.com.ar y no rebotó; aunque habría que ver si lo revisan (Horacio Nigro, Uruguay, ibid.) Later: Eureka: https://www.facebook.com/junto.avos.756 (Horacio Nigro Geolkiewsky, Montevideo, Uruguay condiglista yg via DXLD) Viz.: De izq. a der.: Gloria Boni, Analia Soledad Correa y Gabriela Bruzzo en BASE ESPERANZA ANTARTIDA. La señora a la extrema derecha no está identificada en la foto. [image: Imagen integrada 2] [image: Imagen integrada 3] Operador de mesa: Sergio. [image: Imagen integrada 4] [image: Imagen integrada 5] [image: Imagen integrada 6] GABY, GLADYS, ANALIA, GLORIA Y SERGIO "Junto a vos" es uno de sus programas. Según se indica salieron al aire el pasado 25 de marzo. Comentarios publicados en su muro: "Nos podes escuchar en la 15476 kilohertz en onda corta, somos JUNTO A VOS desde base esperanza, antartida argentina" .... ESTE PROGRAMA SE ESCUCHA AL MUNDO POR ESO VAMOS A HABLAR DE LAS PROVINCIAS ARGENTINAS, COMENZAREMOS CON LA PROVINCIA DE CORRIENTES. (23 de marzo). EL LUNES COMENZAMOS CON EL PROGRAMA!!!! !!! NOS PODRAN DEJAR SUS MENSAJES, SALUDOS. (23 de marzo). [image: Imagen integrada 7] (Horacio Nigro Geolkiewsky, Montevideo, Uruguay, ibid.) Photos of current personnel at LRA36, R Nacional Arcangel San Gabriel (Antarctica) Personnel of the current operation from LRA36. (from their "Junto a Vos" Facebook wall). http://static.dyp.im/1Cr096wrRt/67a5b24babfd5e5f5790acede2547da2.jpg L to R.: Ms. Gloria Boni, Analia Soledad Correa y Gabriela Bruzzo. The lady at the far left is not identified in the photo. http://static.dyp.im/aXv9k0HHvz/8d9bb12d8ee3cf48a67547c5451be182.jpg http://static.dyp.im/8FbG0ViNIf/3ba5f7f96236381722492ee0b4284a8c.jpg Console operator: Sergio. http://static.dyp.im/t5jCeBK6zW/bc0a2aa7f4be066a36f90fbcf29e2305.jpg http://static.dyp.im/9wvzkInJtm/7b397f1651ec4ac3f08593a6bd6c2541.jpg http://static.dyp.im/k6iIiMBPg1/53f35c3782bb05eb2ae7129d3c3a9457.jpg Ms. Gaby, Gladys, Analia, Gloria and Sergio. "Junto a vos" seems to be the name of one of their programmes. First aired on Mar 25, 2013 Comentarios publicados en su muro: http://static.dyp.im/6AXrBGoQzc/4a57e62bb3de46cba70c631dc2e92739.jpg (Horacio Nigro Geolkiewsky, Montevideo, Uruguay, May 10, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) No reply so far from their e-mail or facebook sources (Horacio Nigro, Uruguay, May 14, ibid.) ** ANTARCTICA. ARGENTINA [sic]. A-13 of LRA-36 Radio Nacional [Arcángel] San Gabriel, ex 1300-1500 Tue/Thu 1800-1900 15476.0 SGB 010 kW / 180 deg SoAm Spanish Mon-Fri irregular 1900-2100 15476.0 SGB 010 kW / 180 deg SoAm Spanish Mon-Fri confirmed 2100-2200 15476.0 SGB 010 kW / 180 deg SoAm Spanish Mon-Fri irregular (DX RE MIX NEWS #781 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, May 15, 2013 via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. 15345, May 9 at 1220, poor signal with song probably in Spanish from RAE. But things are changing there after years of stagnation: during an English broadcast, Ron Howard heard them announce that they will be adding Chinese. And Jorge Freitas got the details from the ADXB in Brasil, improved translation: ``RAE begins broadcasts in Chinese! RAE is happy to announce that as of Monday, May 13, will begin broadcasting in Chinese from Mondays to Fridays, 10-11 UT (live) and 04-05 (recorded). The incorporation of transmissions in the Asian language will change, albeit slightly, the timetable of morning programs in Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish: Japanese will begin to come out at 11-12 UT; Portuguese will have the hours 12-13 UT, and Spanish will be at 13-15. [this replaces: Japanese 10-11, Portuguese 11-12, Spanish 12-14; and previously closed at 04 after French. The morning Spanish broadcast will then be totally overshadowed by 15340 RHC from 1300 if not also HCJB Australia --- gh] The [Chinese] broadcasts will be on 6060 and 15345 kHz. However, the retransmission of Chinese, at 04 UT, is on 11710 kHz. We rely on your listening!`` That`s nice, but will be inconsequential compensation for Radio Australia terminating Chinese as rumored; putting a useful signal into China from Argentina at 0400 = noon in Beijing is a pipedream, and unlikely even at 1000 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DX LISTENING DIGEST) New A-13 schedule of Radio Argentina Exterior (RAE) from May 13 1000-1100 6060 # BUE 100 kW / non-dir SoAm Chinese Mon-Fri, new sce 1000-1100 15344.8 BUE 100 kW / 335 deg EaAs Chinese Mon-Fri, new sce 1100-1200 6060 # BUE 100 kW / non-dir SoAm Japanese Mon-Fri, ex 10-11 1100-1200 15344.8 BUE 100 kW / 335 deg EaAs Japanese Mon-Fri, ex 10-11 1200-1300 6060 # BUE 100 kW / non-dir SoAm Portuguese M-F, ex 11-12 1200-1300 15344.8 BUE 100 kW / 335 deg SoAm Portuguese M-F, ex 11-12 1300-1500 6060 # BUE 100 kW / non-dir SoAm Spanish Mon-Fri, ex 12-15 1300-1500 15344.8 BUE 100 kW / 335 deg NoAm Spanish Mon-Fri, ex 12-15 1500-1530 6060 # BUE 100 kW / non-dir SoAm Spanish Mon-Fri, new txion 1500-1530 15344.8 BUE 100 kW / 335 deg NoAm Spanish Mon-Fri, new txion 1700-1800 9690 # BUE 100 kW / 035 deg WeEu German Mon-Fri* 1700-1800 15344.8 BUE 100 kW / 035 deg WeEu German Mon-Fri* 1800-1900 9690 # BUE 100 kW / 035 deg WeEu English Mon-Fri* 1800-1900 15344.8 BUE 100 kW / 035 deg WeEu English Mon-Fri* 1900-2000 9690 # BUE 100 kW / 035 deg WeEu Italian Mon-Fri* 1900-2000 15344.8 BUE 100 kW / 035 deg WeEu Italian Mon-Fri* 2000-2100 9690 # BUE 100 kW / 035 deg WeEu French Mon-Fri* 2000-2100 15344.8 BUE 100 kW / 035 deg WeEu French Mon-Fri* 2100-2200 9690 # BUE 100 kW / 035 deg WeEu German Mon-Fri 2100-2200 15344.8 BUE 100 kW / 035 deg WeEu German Mon-Fri 2200-2400 9690 # BUE 100 kW / 035 deg WeEu Spanish Mon-Fri 2200-2400 15344.8 BUE 100 kW / 035 deg WeEu Spanish Mon-Fri 0000-0100 11710.8 BUE 100 kW / 335 deg NoAm Portuguese Tue-Sat* 0100-0200 11710.8 BUE 100 kW / 335 deg NoAm Japanese Tue-Sat* 0200-0300 11710.8 BUE 100 kW / 335 deg NoAm English Tue-Sat 0300-0400 11710.8 BUE 100 kW / 335 deg NoAm French Tue-Sat 0400-0500 11710.8 BUE 100 kW / 335 deg EaAs Chinese Tue-Sat, new sce # not active at present * news in Spanish in the last 3 minutes at xx57-xx00 A-13 of LRA-1 Radio Nacional Argentina (RNA): 2000-2400 on 6060 # BUE 100 kW / non-dir to SoAm Spanish Sat 2000-2400 on 15344.8 BUE 100 kW / 035 deg to WeEu Spanish Sat 0000-0230 on 6060 # BUE 100 kW / non-dir to SoAm Spanish Sun 0000-0230 on 15344.8 BUE 100 kW / 035 deg to WeEu Spanish Sun 1800-2400 on 6060 # BUE 100 kW / non-dir to SoAm Spanish Sun 1800-2400 on 15344.8 BUE 100 kW / 335 deg to NoAm Spanish Sun 0000-0300 on 6060 # BUE 100 kW / non-dir to SoAm Spanish Mon 0000-0300 on 15344.8 BUE 100 kW / 335 deg to NoAm Spanish Mon # not active at present (DX RE MIX NEWS #781 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, May 15, 2013 via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. 2368.5, 1021, Radio Symban, Sydney now carrying Samoan program at nights, first noted 10 April. Very good strength but audio distorted (Bryan Clark at Mangawhai (Northland), New Zealand with Drake SPR4, AOR7030+, EWEs to North, Central & South America, 100m BOG to NE and Alpha Delta Sloper antennas, May NZ DX Times via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. 2485, VL8K Katherine NT 1035 to 1050 some fading up of audio, good music on 8 May (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, South Florida, Icom 746Pro, Drake R8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [and non]. 4835, VL8A Alice Springs NT, 1207 till game ended at 1216, May 11; live coverage of Hawthorn’s Hawks vs. Sydney’s Swans; // 2325, 2485 and surprised to also find // to RA: 6140 (via Singapore), 6150 and 9580 (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11665, May 9 at *1259 RA comes on in English, 1300 into Chinese, mixing with MALAYSIA which had been playing a song, and quite similar on 9835, but not //. How much longer will the 11665 collision be allowed to last? 11665, May 13 at 1500, RA English is still usurping MALAYSIA`s only 25m channel, poor signals but roughly equivalent, and RA // stronger 12065 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA [and non]. 15490, HCJB Australia, 1155-1202, May 11. In Indonesian; gave PO Box number in Jakarta; ID in English; into “Making Life Better” in Indonesian; good reception. MP3 audio posted at https://www.box.com/s/3gh8t5r3sx0aatfjrvfi (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15340, May 13 at 1427, HCJB causes heavy CCI to RHC, but after 1500 RHC is off, and at 1504, HCJB in the clear with Protestant propaganda in English (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. 11387-USB, May 15 at 1232-1233*, VOLMET in robo YL English, too weak to catch details, and periodic bursts of ute noise QRM which should not bother such a frequency. Try again at 1301: now hear Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide mentioned amid the bursts, so per dxinfocentre it`s AXQ421, Brisbane, scheduled at top and bottom of hours. Others in rotation on same frequency: Calcutta [sic], Bangkok [sic], Karachi, Singapore, Bombay [sic] in that order every semihour but some not active 24 hours a day (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BANGLADESH. Logs 15-5: 4750, Bangladesh Betar, 2058 with Hindi song with ID on 2100, then with news 2130 with mentions about Islam. What is happening and they are operating this time?? S9 (Zacharias Liangas, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15th may 2013, 1830 UTC - Bangladesh Betar was noted with extended transmission for cyclone Mahasen on 4750 kHz // to 630 (Dhaka B), 693 (Dhaka A) & 558 (Khulna) kHz carrying emergency warning & frequent weather bulletins along with Bengali songs. Transmission was still going on during my last check at 0130 UT --- (Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, dx_sasia yg via DXLD) ** BANGLADESH. 15505, May 9 *1354.5, Bangladesh Betar carrier on, quickly adding continuous tone test and some hum; 1357.4 starts IS; 1359:43 (or decimally 1359.72) ends timesignal early, opening Urdu; very poor signal. I wonder if on their English broadcasts we can`t hear, BB are providing first-hand, objective coverage of the clothing factory disaster and scandal? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dhaka 15505 kHz 1515-1545 UT terrible audio of fence 50 Hertz peaks, 12 x 50 Hertz each side plus/minus, seen visible in Perseus screen. 1516-1521 UT, May 9. 73 wb df5sx (Wolfgang Büschel, dx_sasia yg via DXLD) 15505, May 10 at 1356 tune-in, already on with tone & hum, 1357:48 starts IS, and TS ends at 1359:47, sign-on mentions Bangladesh Betar, fair signal, 1405 music break, more talk in Urdu. 15505, May 11 at 1357, tone test, hum and flutter, peaking S9+12; 1358 IS, timesignal ending at 1359:46.5, Bangladesh Betar opening Urdu. 15505, May 12 at 1359 tune-in, BB IS is playing, timesignal ends at 1359:41.5, opening Urdu, very poor with flutter. 15505, May 14 from *1355:31 with IS; very poor signal but can barely make out timesignal ending at 1359:39.5 for Urdu service of Bangladesh Betar (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELARUS. Summer A-13 shortwave transmissions from Belarus: Belarussian Radio 1, including relay Radio Stalitza, Radio Grodno etc. 0400-0700 11930 MNS 125 kW / 072 deg EaEu Belarussian, not 0500-0800 1500-1700 7255 MNS 125 kW / 072 deg EaEu Belarussian, not 1600-1800 1500-2100 6080 MNS 100 kW / 127 deg N/ME Belarussian, not 1600-2200 Radio Belarus Minsk 1100-1400 on 11730 MNS 100 kW / 246 deg to WeEu Belarussian 1400-1600 on 11730 MNS 100 kW / 246 deg to WeEu Russian 1600-1800 on 11730 MNS 100 kW / 246 deg to WeEu Polish 1705-1800 on 7255 MNS 125 kW / 252 deg to WeEu Polish 1800-1940 on 7255 MNS 125 kW / 252 deg to WeEu German 1800-1940 on 11730 MNS 100 kW / 246 deg to WeEu German 1940-2000 on 7255 MNS 125 kW / 252 deg to WeEu German Tue/Wed/Fri 1940-2000 on 11730 MNS 100 kW / 246 deg to WeEu German Tue/Wed/Fri 1940-2000 on 7255 MNS 125 kW / 252 deg to WeEu French Sat-Mon/Thu 1940-2000 on 11730 MNS 100 kW / 246 deg to WeEu French Sat-Mon/Thu 2000-2020 on 7255 MNS 125 kW / 252 deg to WeEu Spanish Sat-Mon 2000-2020 on 11730 MNS 100 kW / 246 deg to WeEu Spanish Sat-Mon 2000-2020 on 7255 MNS 125 kW / 252 deg to WeEu English Tue-Fri 2000-2020 on 11730 MNS 100 kW / 246 deg to WeEu English Tue-Fri 2020-2200 on 7255 MNS 125 kW / 252 deg to WeEu English 2020-2200 on 11730 MNS 100 kW / 246 deg to WeEu English 2200-2300 on 7255 MNS 125 kW / 252 deg to WeEu Russian 2200-2300 on 11730 MNS 100 kW / 246 deg to WeEu Russian (DX RE MIX NEWS #780 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, May 10, 2013 via DXLD) 11730, Radio Belarus, 2146-2300*, May 7, man announcer with talks in English hosting a music program. Music fanfare at 2200 followed by ID and news with a woman announcer. Closedown at 2256 with rap song until carrier terminated. Poor to fair (Rich D'Angelo, Wyomissing PA, Ten- Tec RX-340, Drake R-8B, Eton E1, Eton E5, Alpha Delta DX Sloper, RF Systems Mini-Windom, Datong FL3, JPS ANC-4, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) QSL - Received a confirmation letter by email from the First National Channel of Belarusian Radio for the reception 8 Apr, 1610-1640 UT at a frequency of 6080 kHz. Confirmed the chief director of the First National Channel of Belarusian Radio, A.B. Vasyukevich. The report sent the e-mail: (Dmitry Kutuzov, Ryazan-RUS, deneb- radio-dx; midxb May 5 via BCDX May 12 via DXLD) 6080 kHz transmission via Minsk-Kalodzicy at 16-22 UT in Belarussian language to nationals living in northeastern Ukraine and towards Crimea and forefield of Caucasus, since soviet era (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) ** BOLIVIA. 4451.1, Radio Santa Ana, Santa Ana de Yacuma, 0021 fading up, on till 0132 YL and 0134 OM comments, first time logged this late. 0150 recheck was off. Best in USB, 7 May (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, South Florida, Icom 746Pro, Drake R8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 4716.65, Radio Yatun Ayllu Yura, Yura, 0047 percussion music, excellent listening "la nueva emisora ...." something, vocals OM en español at 0105 tune out. 7 May (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, South Florida, Icom 746Pro, Drake R8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4716.7, May 12 at 0106, Yura with Andean music, 0109 Spanish announcement, poor signal, but better than other S Americans on 60m, and pleased how well this holds up despite our latening sunsets, today 0128 UT in Enid (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 5952.3, Pio XII, Siglo Veinte, 0005 to 0023 possibly sports event, pounded by irritating ute 8 May (XM, Cedar Key, South Florida, NRD 525D, R8A, via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) jam? 5952.3, Pio XII, Siglo Veinte, 1040 to 1110 YL and pulsating jamming 7 May (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, South Florida, Icom 746Pro, Drake R8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 6025, 0849, Radio Patria Nueva, La Paz first noted opening earlier than scheduled 0900 on 3 April but reception initially marred by adjacent QRM. But since RA has dropped 6020 from 0900, reception of Bolivia much easier. Best reception on 12/4 with folk songs, Spanish news reports and political speech by or about President Morales. Audible past 0930 (Bryan Clark at Mangawhai (Northland), New Zealand with Drake SPR4, AOR7030+, EWEs to North, Central & South America, 100m BOG to NE and Alpha Delta Sloper antennas, May NZ DX Times via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 6105.48, Radio Panamericana, La Paz, 1008 to 1115 on 7 May: 1100 to 1110 on 8 May, same time 9 May narrow 1.2 USB filter to avoid China. Still on but marginal signal in South Florida (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, South Florida, Icom 746Pro, Drake R8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6105.49, May 11 2321, R Panamericana, La Paz, Spanish, lengthy religious? talk, faint het due to presumed RTI 6105. No definite ID but tell-tale offset frequency leaves no doubt it's them. Unfortunately gone already at 2334 re-check (Martien Groot, Netherlands, SW Bulletin May 12 via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 6154.9, Radio Fides, La Paz, 0015 to 0030 with marginal signal, anuncios and talk by OM, 8 May (XM, Cedar Key, South Florida, NRD 525D, R8A, via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 3375.1, Brasil, Radio Municipal São Gabriel da Cachoeira presumed 1000 to 1040 with Portuguese comments by om and music, under distant thunderstorm crashes, 8 May (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, South Florida, Icom 746Pro, Drake R8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 4754.9, Brasil, Rádio Imaculada Conceição, Campo Grande, MS, 2328 yl vocalist, 2343 repeated mentions of "problemas" and two mentions "América Latina " at 2345 the back to yl followed signal to 0012 4/5 May (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, South Florida, Icom 746Pro, Drake R8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. Rádio Difusora de Congonhas --- Olá colegas, A Rádio Difusora de Congonhas, 4775, está de volta com força total, ou seja, chegando aqui em Goiânia-GO com sinal 55555. Mais uma rádio que gosto muito de sua programação. Ela, que esteve fora do ar, se não me engano, desde dezembro do ano passado. Mais uma na banda tropical que está de volta. Abraço a todos, (Cássio Santos - Goiânia-Goiás, UT May 13, radioescutas yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DXLD) 4775, Difusora de Congonhas chegando com 45444 aqui em São Bernardo SP. Programa de música sertaneja de estúdio, jeitão interiorano mesmo. Muito bom! 73, (Rudolf Grimm, 9:07 pm [BST?] May 12, ibid.) Neste instante sinal 5555, música sertaneja, legal, limpinho (Aparecido Francisco Morato, PY5AAP, Avenida Alberto Carazzai 3278, 6300000- Corn. Procopio PR, ibid.) Ainda nao confirmei o prefixo dela, mas em Ponta Grossa, se escuta bem, uma emissora nessa frequencia, tocando musica caipira. Essas emissoras deveriam se identificar de hora em hora (Acir Camargo, ibid.) Comumente, emissoras brasileiras se identificam sempre na passagem (final e início) de um programa (Cássio Santos - Goiânia-Goiás, ibid.) Link relacionado: Administrativo http://www.radiocongonhas.com.br/administrativo.htm Fundação Radiodifusora de Congonhas Rádio Congonhas Praça da Basílica, 130, Congonhas Caixa Postal 05, Congonhas/MG Cep: 36.415-000 E-mails de contato: secretaria @ radiocongonhas.com.br gerencia @ radiocongonhas.com.br ouvinte @ radiocongonhas.com.br http://www.radiocongonhas.com.br/images/img_museu/museu_radio.htm http://www.radiocongonhas.com.br/galeria_fotos.htm (via Dario Monfeirni, playdx yg via DXLD) Olá Colegas, Hoje de manhã, com um sinal maravilhoso 55555, o locutor da Rádio Difusora de Congonhas 4775 disse que estão trabalhando com "tudo novo". Nova localização (mudaram de endereço), novo estúdio, etc. Assim, confirma o ótimo sinal que estou recebendo aqui em Goiânia. Antes o sinal chegava muito bom, mas não passava de 44444. Hoje está diferente, sinal quase local. Provavelmente devem ter "mexido" nos transmissores e antenas também. Brasil (UT) 4775, 0930 13/05, R. Difusora de Congonhas MG, recados ao vivo, seguido de músicas variadas, 55555, Abraço a todos, (Cássio Santos - Goiânia-Goiás, Receptor: Elecraft KX3Antenas: Wellbrook ALA 100M e PIXEL RF PRO 1B, radioescutas yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DXLD) Bad news for R. Tarma, Peru, which had been the usual S American heard on 4775; is it still active? Other 4775 stations per Aoki are AIR Imphal, INDIA; TWR Manzini, SWAZILAND; and lists this one as R. Sora de Congonhas. WRTH 2013 shows merely R. Congonhas, ZYG207 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 4865.031, May 11 0101, R Verdes Florestas with decent signal, nice music after ID at 0059. Seems to have irregular sign off, not noted at this time on May 12 (Thomas Nilsson, Sweden, SW Bulletin May 12 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 4915, Brasil, 0000-0020 both the Brasilians appeared to be in; Daqui had been signing off just before 0000. 8 May (XM, Cedar Key, South Florida, NRD 525D, R8A, via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 5015 tentative, Brasil, Rádio Cultura, Cuiabá, MT 0000 to 0000 seemingly the one in Portuguese, 10 May (XM, Cedar Key, South Florida, NRD 525D, R8A, via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 6105.04, Apr 29 2130, R Filadélfia quite strong this time, mostly noted just above noise level (Thomas Nilsson, Sweden, SW Bulletin May 12 via DXLD) ** BULGARIA. A-13 schedule of transmissions via Kostinbrod from Apr 22 1300-1330 on 12095 SOF 100 kW / 030 deg EaEu Russian Polish Radio 1330-1400 on 12095 SOF 100 kW / 030 deg EaEu Belorussian Polish R 1530-1630 on 6060 SOF 100 kW / 030 deg EaEu Polish Polish Radio 1600-1700 on 11610 SOF 070 kW / 195 deg EaAf Arabic M-F R. Shorouq 1630-1730 on 6060 SOF 100 kW / 030 deg EaEu Belorussian Polish R 1700-1730 on 11560 SOF 070 kW / 195 deg EaAf Oromo Dimtse R Erena 1730-1800 on 6060 SOF 100 kW / 030 deg EaEu Russian Polish Radio 1830-1915 on 9635 SOF 100 kW / 126 deg WeAs English Sun Bible Voice Broadcasting 1800-1900 on 11685 SOF 100 kW / 306 deg WeEu Brother Stair TOM and 1900-2100 on 7400 SOF 100 kW / 306 deg WeEu Brother Stair TOM, both deleted/cancelled (DX RE MIX NEWS #780 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, May 10, 2013 via DXLD) ** BULGARIA. SECRETLAND, Summer A-13 of transmissions via Secretbrod (with great probability) 0300-0600 11560 SCB 050 kW / 195 deg EaAf English/Arabic Radio Miraya 1600-1630 17870 SCB 050 kW / 195 deg EaAf Somali Mon/Fri Radio Xoriyo 1700-1800 15245 SCB 050 kW / 195 deg EaAf Tigrinya M/W/F V. of Assenna 1700-1800 15xxx*SCB 050 kW / 195 deg EaAf Amharic E SAT Radio *15355- 15390 different frequencies in different days and different weeks (DX RE MIX NEWS #780 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, May 10, via DXLD) Bible Voice Broadcasting via Kostinbrod: 1530-1730 15750 SOF 100 kW / 126 deg WeAs Persian from May 9. POWERFUL signal in Sofia 1830-1915 9635 SOF 100 kW / 126 deg WeAs English Sun from April 22. POWERFUL signal in Sofia -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGESET) ** CANADA [and non]. 990, UT Saturday May 11 at 0506 UT, CBW Winnipeg opening `Vinyl Tap`, when I was expecting to hear `As It Happens, Midnight Edition`, but apparently that does not apply to Friday nights on CBC Radio One; usual CCI and SAH from XET Monterrey, which we can never get rid of completely, despite supposed southward-only pattern ``covering all of Mexico`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. 6160, CKZU Vancouver, 1000 to 1030 in English, odd that 6160.7 not heard at all. 11 May. 6160.7, CKZN St. John’s in well. 2350 to 0000 10 May (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, South Florida, Icom 746Pro, Drake R8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Sunrise at CKZN is now circa 0800 UT! (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA [non]. Test transmissions of Bible Voice Broadcasting on May 6/7/8: 1530-1730 7485 KCH 300 kW / 116 deg WeAs Farsi SINPO 45544 in Sofia 1530-1730 15635 WOF 300 kW / 086 deg WeAs Farsi SINPO 55544 in Sofia 1600-1800 7535 NAU 100 kW / 110 deg WeAs Farsi from MBR, cancelled (DX RE MIX NEWS #780 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, May 10, 2013 via DXLD) ** CANADA. Is CKND in Manitoba still on? A Global Channel 2 from the west just suddenly rolled in (Rich McVicar, NY, May 15, WTFDA via DXLD) Yes, CKND-2 is still on. Probably not for long; they recently filed for permission to go digital somewhere on high-band -- channel 9 if I recall properly (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66, May 15, ibid.) ** CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC. RADIO STATION IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC BACK ON THE AIR 6 WEEKS AFTER COUP CAR19 packed radio equipment lr [caption] Radio ICDI staff members pack a car full of equipment that was used to put the station back on the air. (May 10, 2013 - by Ralph Kurtenbach) Arriving in the Bangui airport laden with luggage last week, Jim Hocking set his sights on checking in with his staff at Integrated Community Development International (ICDI) and helping get the office up and running again. His second task — or rather the task that his staff in the Central African Republic (CAR) put before him — was restoring the agency’s radio station, Radio ICDI, in Boali. “Is it completely safe and has peace completely returned?” wrote Hocking on a Facebook post that anticipated the likeliest question from his readers. “I would have to say no, but [my staff’s] argument with me is that we really need to get the gospel [programs] back on the air.” The agency operates two low-power shortwave transmitters in Boali, about an hour from the capital. Additionally, ICDI national staff drill wells for fresh drinking water and hold agricultural training to help their fellow Central Africans support themselves. Hocking closed his message, admonishing friends to “pray for them as they work on this installation — that God would be honored.” Several weeks of silence on Radio ICDI’s frequencies followed a coup in the CAR after looters had run off with $300,000 worth of equipment and vehicles from the nonprofit, nongovernmental agency. Violence in the country led to the fall of President François Bozizé and brought to power a new leader, Michel Djotodia, who has promised elections in 18 months. The civil conflict also left CAR, an already-struggling country, reeling from instability. Troubles in CAR had been brewing in the last half of 2012, but a Jan. 11 peace deal would have allowed Bozizé to finish out his term in 2016. However, after it was signed, the Séléka coalition, an alliance of militias in the country, accused the president of reneging on his end of the bargain. Hocking, based in Warsaw, Ind., arrived in CAR last week bearing laptop computers, iPads, electrical transformers, a printer and cartridges, a studio console and microphones—merely a start to the long list of components that needed to be replaced. What he didn’t take was a modem to connect the station to the Internet. CAR staff didn’t realize that it had been stolen. “We actually didn’t know our staff had removed it from the radio station, but apparently they had taken it to the main office in Bangui for safekeeping, and it was lost [to looters],” explained Hocking’s son, Jay, who serves as ICDI’s communications director. “So we have no Internet at the station, and getting another modem set up out there is a little tricky. We’re working on it. But until then, we’re a little limited in what we can transmit. Still, we’re on the air again!” When Jim Hocking posted to social media that “Radio ICDI was on the air for about one hour tonight (May 4),” it broke a lengthy silence. On March 24 as the fighters advanced on the capital, Bangui, ICDI staff members signed off the shortwave station to hustle the equipment to what they thought would be a safer place. In the ensuing weeks, the staff fed information to Hocking through phone and Internet contacts. He learned, for example, that at least four staff members’ homes were looted and two staff members’ sons were killed by Séléka troops. One of those fathers was Albert Yahimi. His thanks in the Sango language to those who had prayed for him was recorded by Hocking, then posted to Facebook. In the message Yahimi says, “I want to give much thanks to everyone who’s agreed to give me a hand in the way of prayers as I went through each of the three trials in the last three years.” Less than three years ago, Yahimi’s wife died, after which he remarried. Eighteen months later, that wife died too. Then a few weeks ago, his son died after being shot by Séléka fighters. Hocking has anticipated a return to CAR, where he grew up as a son of missionaries and later went on to found and lead the nongovernmental organization. He wanted to help his Central African staff to rebuild, but the unrest forced him to delay a planned April 23 trip, going a week later instead. Much of the equipment he took with him was supplied by the HCJB Global Technology Center in Elkhart, Ind., including some $10,000 worth of gear to help get the station going again. A partnership between the two agencies signed in 2005 resulted in establishing Radio ICDI two years later. The station not only shares the gospel, but helps the needy people of CAR with information about community development and agricultural initiatives. “Now to gear back up with the radio team,” anticipated Hocking, adding the word “awesome” to describe the staff at the shortwave facility. He specified that Boniface Lacpezion and Roger Kossi had skillfully assembled the equipment he’d brought from the U.S. Hocking’s visit marks the first Western assistance to ICDI since HCJB Global machinist Stephen Peacock of Indiana left the CAR on Thursday, March 21, shortly before the weekend coup. At Hocking’s Mercy Care Center in Bangui, he finished a two week visit by working on a community development project, installing two prototype water well pumps. The following Monday the agency’s main compound in downtown Bangui was looted. Source: (HCJB Global via WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DXLD) WTFK?? WRTH 2013 listed 6030, Mon-Sat 0445-1100 & daily 1445-2100; 3390 but inactive at 1600-2100, 1 kW each. Hardly ever reported by DXers, coverage limited to CAR; lots of luck hearing it beyond. Now they say two SW transmitters are on the air (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. JAMMERSTAN: Why is China jamming BBC and VOA in Uzbek but not any problems with receiving of Radio Liberty in Uzbek? (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. Firedrake [non], May 9 circa 1230, CNR1 jamming instead: 13830, fair at 1223 with CCI; none in the 14s 15970, fair at 1222 16920, fair at 1222 16980, fair at 1222 17080, good at 1223 17170, good at 1223; none in the 18s, 19s 13795, previously last known real Firedrake frequency is no longer heard at several chex 12-14 UT May 9. CNR1 jamming before 1400 UT May 9: 13830, fair at 1340, but Cuban noise jamming bleed from 13820 14750, poor at 1340 15115 & 15195, good with CCI as usual at 1335, inband and not ex-FD 15565, poor at 1332, het on hi side, i.e. V. of Tibet, Tajikistan 15610, poor 1332 under WEWN, also propeller noise, het lo side, ditto 16920, fair at 1335 17080, fair at 1335 18180, very poor at 1338 11300, no jamming and no Sound of Hope audible here at 1232, where Ron Howard was hearing it in clear yesterday at 1212, spelling out website in English, amounting to an ID. 12000, CNR1 also here on earthquake service, May 9 at 1228 as usual out of synch with the jammers. Ron says a good time when this is not relaying CNR1 is 1730-1830. Firedrake May 10, before 1300: 13795 is still/again heard, fair at 1230, the last of the lot, and not much CCI today from target R. Free Asia, Tibetans via KUWAIT at 12-14. CNR1 jammers on former FD frequencies: nothing found 12-18 MHz except: 13830, fair at 1256 15610, poor at 1340 under WEWN, het on lo side from V. of Tibet Firedrake, May 11: 13795, good around 1230 and fair at 1348, the only real FD left CNR1 jamming on ex-FD frequencies, May 11 before 1400: 13830, poor at 1347; none in the 12s 14700, good at 1347 14980, very good at 1347 15610, poor at 1351 under WEWN, also propeller noise, het on lo side 15900, very good at 1350 15940, very poor at 1350 16100, fair at 1351 16920, poor at 1351; none in the 17s, 18s Firedrake May 12: 13795, fair over CCI at 1250. All others are with CNR1 programming: 11500, fair at 1233 with ZRGD ID in passing; mostly traditional music during this hour, but not Firedrake 12870, fair at 1247 13830, fair at 1250 with CCI 13920, very good at 1250 14700, good at 1252, hets 14750, JBA at 1252 14800, very good at 1252 15870, very poor at 1253 15970, very good at 1253 16100, very good at 1255 17080, very poor at 1255 17300, fair at 1255; none in the 18s CNR1 jamming after 1300 includes: 15115, at 1309 vs VOA Chinese & weaker 15195 vs RFA Tibetan 15265, fair at 1308 plus deliberate het vs RTI, which as usual was running open carrier here at least a semihour early 15330, very good at 1305, more traditional music; vs BBC Uzbek via Oman, unheard, and in fact best of the inband CNR1 frequencies now 15570, poor at 1305 with hets 15610, fair at 1305 over WEWN, with propeller noise, het on lo side 15800, very good at 1325, still traditional music show Firedrake May 13, before 1300: 13795, good at 1248 As ever now, all the others occupied by CNR1: 13830, fair at 1250 14750, very good at 1250 15570, fair at 1251, het on lo side from V. of TIbet 15870, poor at 1251 15900, poor at 1250 16100, good at 1255 16360, good at 1255 16920, good at 1256 17170, very good at 1257; none in the 18s After 1300: 13795, still on with true Firedrake at 1308, now over some CCI (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, May 14: This morning I heard Firedrake, commencing a transmission at 1158:14 GMT on 13795 kHz. Beginning at 1159:55 in addition to Firedrake I could hear a series of five short time pips (tones) followed at 1200:00 GMT by a sixth time pip (tone) that was longer in duration and higher in pitch than the first five. The time pips were very similar if not identical to those used by CNR-1 in the run up to the top of an hour. Firedrake`s apparent jamming target is the Tibetan language broadcast of Radio Free Asia (not heard) that is scheduled at 1200-1400 GMT from Kuwait. It appears that Firedrake starts earlier than its target, preceding RFA's scheduled start time by one minute and forty-six seconds. May 14, 2013. PS: A check of 13830 and 15195, two other RFA frequencies, yielded CNR-1 not Firedrake during the 1200-1229 time slot. CNR-1 also found during the same time slot on 13920 at 1225 good signal, 15900 good signal at 1226, 15940 good signal at 1226, 16100 good signal 1226, 16360 fair-good signal at 1227, 17170 poor signal at 1227, 17250 JBA signal at 1227, 17370 fair signal at 1228 (Steve Handler, IL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Firedrake, May 14 before 1300: 13795, very poor at 1247 with CCI from presumed Kuwait All other ex-FD frequencies continue to provide CNR1 audio jamming: 13920, good at 1247 15940, good at 1247 16100, good at 1252 with flutter 16360, poor-fair at 1252 16910, fair at 1252 17170, fair at 1252 17250, very poor at 1252 17370, good at 1252, with ute beeps on hi side Firedrake, May 15 before 1300: 13795, poor with CCI at 1243. All the rest continue to use CNR1 programming for jamming: 13530, poor at 1242; none in the 12s 13970, poor at 1242 with hets 14700, poor at 1244 with hets 14750, very poor at 1244 14980, poor at 1244 15800, poor at 1245 15900, poor at 1245 15970, poor at 1245 16100, poor at 1247 16360, poor at 1247 16920, very poor at 1247; none in the 17s (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 5989.98, May 11 2246, Qinghai PBS, Xining, quiet orchestral music at tune-in, 2250 march instead of NA, 2251 Tibetan? male & female opening announcement. Weak but completely in the clear until co/channel CRI carrier came on at 2253:15. One of their erratic appearances, very pleased to hear them again here (Martien Groot, Netherlands, SW Bulletin May 12 via WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DXLD) CRI 5990 would be CUBA (gh) 5989.98, Qinghai PBS, Xining, 2238, May 14, carrier came on, warming- up tone, quiet early morning orchestral music, 2250 Ode to the Motherland took 1:30 mins, 2251 Tibetan male & female opening announcements. All in the clear until co/channel CRI carrier appeared 2252. Weaker than their Chinese service which was also audible at the same time on 6144.98 (Martien Groot, Schoorl, Netherlands, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 6100, May 15 at 1222, poor signal in Russian, immediately IDed as CRI by // much better 11935 (Mezhdunarodnoye Radio Kitaya). A reporter in Wisconsin to NASWA Flashsheet has twice claimed to hear ``Radio Kyzyl`` [Tannu Tuva] on 6100 signing on at 1200 in Chinese and Russian, listed as 5 kW. First he has to explain why he is NOT hearing CRI Russian which happens to be 500 kW aimed USward at 55 degrees on that same frequency at that time. To confuse matters further, DX Re Mix recently listed this 6100 as Krasnoyarsk, 5 kW at 10-13 in Russian (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. VOICE OF THE SOUTH CHINA SEA (Gov) (NEW ENTRY) W: http://vscs.cri.cn kHz: 1008, 13660 Summer Schedule 2013 Chinese Days Area kHz 0600-1700 daily CHN 1008bei* 2200-0400 daily CHN 1008bei* English Days Area kHz 0400-0600 daily CHN 1008bei* 0600-0700 daily SEA 13660xia* Key: * Expected to add high power tx on 1008 kHz, plus languages: Filipino, Indonesian, Malay and Vietnamese (WRTH A-13 update first edition May 13, via WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DX LISTENING DIGEST) First I have seen of a SW frequency: 13660, and in English. Is that active now?? And is 1008 really from Beijing site instead of somewhere next to the S China Sea?? (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) ** CHINA [and non]. 15430, May 13 at 1504, very heavy CCCCCCI, sounds like at least three signals, two of which would be jamming against R. Free Asia, Chinese this hour only via SAIPAN (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 17520, May 15 at 1411, good signal in Chinese with flutter; found // 11990, so it`s CNR1 which on 11990 is jamming R. Free Asia via Novosibirsk. Haven`t noticed this on 17520 before, and unlikely from East Turkistan, as the CRI 17 MHz frequencies are not propagating nearly as well today. Ivo Ivanov in Bulgaria reports: ``New frequency 17520 for CNR-1 National Emergency broadcast in Chinese. First noted on May 13 and 14 1200-1500 UT, strong co-channel Radio Pakistan in Urdu from 1330 // freqs 9800, 12000. On May 15 1200-1330 and s/off. Today May 15 no broadcast of Radio Pakistan 1330-1530 on 17520 & 15235. 17520 is back again on air at 1400 UT // 9800 and 12000. -- 73! Ivo`` Maybe, but the NE broadcast on 12000 was inaudible here today, with 9800 if any, blocked as usual by 9795 and 9805 signals; previously during the many hours it just relayed CNR1, 12000 was a delayed a few seconds, and today 17520 and 11990 were synchronized (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 17575, May 10 at 1257, adjacent 17580 Cuba, Chinese orchestral music, not Firedrake, 1300 Chinese announcement, but not your usual CRI or CNR1 opening, and cut off at 1300:33*. Listed by Aoki as CRI Russian service at 12-13, 500 kW, 315 degrees from Shijiazhuang 723 site at 11428E, 3804N (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 17560, Saturday May 11 at 1245-1300, lots of Beatles` greatest hits, interspersed with French announcements, from CRI via Kashgar, EAST TURKISTAN. Why would a station from China broadcasting in French be featuring the Beatles, in English? Why NOT? Usual very good signal but with flutter, and // 17650 from same at 12-14. These are commonly heard here far beyond the intended target of southeast CIRAF 27 = France (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [non?]. 21470, Tue May 14 at 0510, very poor signal here in Chinese, slightly on the low side compared to 1470. DX Re Mix News just published a revised schedule of VOA Tibetan showing 17605 from Tinang, PHILIPPINES, has been replaced by a different 21 MHz frequency each day of the week during this hour, including 21470 on Tuesdays, i.e. starting on Sundays: 21545/21460/21470/21480/21490/21510/21530. Latest HFCC as of May 8 shows both TINIAN and Tinang at 05-06 Tuesdays only. 21460, then at 0512 Tuesday May 14 found an equally weak signal here, also seems Chinese, not sure, but not // 21470. HFCC has that as IBB Mandarin via Tinian, plus IBB Tibetan via Tinang, but on Mondays only. However, one or both signals I was getting could have been ChiCom jamming (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [non]. CRI A-13 via ALBANIA: q.v. ** CHINA. Publicado por Mauricio Molano a las 18:15, miércoles, 17 de abril de 2013: QSL: XSQ - 13149 kHz - Guangzhou Coast Radio - Guangzhou (CHN) - QSL --- Ayer les mandé un informe de recepción de uno de sus boletines con información para la seguridad marítima que capté a las 1910. Son boletines muy cortos, de menos de 2 minutos, emitidos muy puntualmente a la hora señalada. El esquema de emisiones completo se encuentra aquí: http://www.gzrdo.com/intro.asp La página está en chino, pero Google la traduce decentemente. En unas horas he recibido la confirmación por correo-e : lmb (a) gzrdo.com (Mauricio Molano, Spain, blog info http://moladx.blogspot.it/ via Dario Monferini, May 7, playdx yg via DXLD) ** CHINA. YELLOW SEA BIG 600+ MILE TROPO! 5/14 late morning China > Korea tropo (log coming soon) --- If over- water or foreign tropo isn't interesting to you, feel free to skip this message :-) Bill's tropo maps for the Far East are typically quite accurate, at least when it comes to conditions over the Yellow Sea between Korea / Japan and mainland China. I counted on that when I woke up at 5:30 in the morning, took a train one hour south to my old DX spot, and set up shop with my MP3 player on the side of a hill hoping that China would be roaring in as it should when the conditions are shown as "very strong" or "intense". And all that when I have to work 2-11pm. (Any DXer can relate -- one super drowsy day is so worth it for a big tropo event!) My MP3 player is four years old and the built-in battery (USB charging only) is far weaker than it once was, weaker yet considering active DXing means the screen is almost always on, recording takes up more juice, and unlike before, where my computer was just across the street, once the battery is gone, that's it. Time to go home, no matter what's on the radio. So I had to really make the most of every station I heard. Unlike back home, most stations ID only at the top of the hour and sometimes the half hour. Sometimes not. Pick and carefully choose which IDs you are aiming for or else you will end up with an UNID that was in solid for 2 hours. Not cool. While I only got 2 1/2 hours in, the tropo didn't disappoint. Multiple solid Lianyungang stations (478 mi.) in pretty much all morning, some old favorites (China National Radio, 463 mi.), a few Qingdao stations (380 miles... ho-hum!), but then a lot of extras I was unfamiliar with. 105.5 i-Radio Dezhou (~610 miles; yet to confirm) with promos 87.5 mystery station with TOH ID I have yet to confirm (thanks to analog switching off in Korea, this frequency, formerly 87.7 slop, is open). 88.1 big signal at the same time, uncertain as of the moment. A log will come later. I'm expecting multiple 600+ mile catches on this one by the time I'm done IDing these, and probably a saddening number of unIDs due to the low battery that didn't allow me to wrap things up. But hey, when you have 220 frequencies to sift through, it happens. (China uses different spacing and some frequencies are off- center; such as 95.25, 98.55, etc., and with the distance, you will only hear them on that specific frequency oftentimes). And when my log from today is done, my Chinese tropo website will go online (It was sorta nearly finished, but now I am tempted to add these new stations to it). (Chris Kadlec in Songtan, Korea, May 14, WTFDA via DXLD) Chris: Do you understand Chinese well enough to ID the stations? Sounds like you found a good DX spot (Mike Hunter, W2MHZ, Neshanic Station, NJ, ibid.) I do understand enough Chinese to know when I'm hearing an ID at the very least (you tend to learn all those broadcasting related words, like "guangbo" after IDing enough stations), what is a local ad and what is a non-local ad, including phone numbers (which don't always mention area codes, which are a little more complex than the simple area code system back home), etc. I can also figure out when a station is CNR (China National Radio, which is like NPR, but government- operated in a typical Chinese style). CNR affiliates are spreading like the ebola virus in China. They even reserved a frequency on 97.7 in one nearby city, which had a local 97.5 already. Needless to say, they're are officially on 97.7, but unofficially... they haven't gone on air and probably never will. (That odd behaviour may remind some of the FCC's "what were they thinking?!" files!). They have affiliates everywhere and SARFT (like the FCC - the same government agency that censors the media in China) is NOT forthcoming with information. Not at all. Chinese people view their transmitter info as a state secret of sorts. Even some Chinese people won't tell me where towers are, knowing I'm a foreigner and the government and radio stations are reluctant with and skeptical of people who request tower locations, power, etc. (In other words, it's a major pain in the ass to find this information, and that's where 90% of the Chinese comes into play -- online research - you quickly begin to see city names in Chinese and know what they are!!) As for IDing stations, I have the help of the seriously awesome Taiwanese DXer who goes by the English name of Jeff. I found him randomly somewhat. He listened to the UNID 4 hours of my 15 hours total of Chinese audio from 2011-12 and came back with IDs for many UNID stations, and other valuable info that helped me track down otherwise-UNID stations. Hopefully he will be helping me with today's batch. Taking a looksie through the Chinese databases I have, some of these stations are unlisted in this region and others are gonna be a real challenge. But having recorded some TOH IDs, it should make it easier. And as for IDing stations -- most stations ID ONLY on the half hour and top of the hour. Some, not even that. It's a real toss-up, and for short events, if you don't know your stations well and know which station is unfamiliar/new, you will wait for an ID of a station you already have heard, and should already know. In short, it's a real challenge and the end result is not always a happy one (-Chris Kadlec, Seoul, Korea, ibid.) ** COLOMBIA. QSL: HJRD - 1330 kHz - Radio Fénix - El Peñol - Antioquia (CLM) - QSL === Los últimos días del pasado año 2012 trajeron señales desde Colombia como hacía mucho tiempo que no se recibían. En las primeras horas del 2013, el Perseus grababa en el pueblo mientras yo me dedicaba a lo habitual en la nochevieja; un poquito de cava, turrón, mazapán, etc. Lo típico. Repasando la grabación de aquellas horas me encontré en 1329.975 kHz una señal flojita que, de repente, pegaba unos buenos subidones. Lamentablemente, casi siempre con música. No era la WRCA con alguno de sus programas en español. Tampoco CARACOL Popayán, listada justo en esa frecuencia exacta. Una de las últimas subidas de señal coincidió con el final de una canción... se entendía alguna frase y un "Radio xxx" que hubo que trabajar un tanto hasta dejarlo entendible. ¡Radio Fénix! de El Peñol, Antioquia, Colombia. Una pequeña emisora de 1 kW sirviendo a esta localidad de algo más de diecisiete mil habitantes. Mi primer intento de contacto fue un fracaso: el correo-e que encontré estaba lleno. Buscando y rebuscando descubrí que el actual alcalde de El Peñol ha sido locutor en la emisora. Así que, ni corto ni perezoso, escribí al correo de la alcaldía, solicitándole al Sr. Alcalde, información fresca sobre la emisora. A los pocos minutos me contestó su secretaría, que había llamado a la estación y que me había conseguido el ansiado correo nuevo de la radio. A última hora de la tarde de ayer les envié un mensaje comunicándoles que su señal, después de recorrer 7715 km, había llegado hasta España. A primera hora de esta tarde he recibido la muy amable respuesta de Liliana Alzate, acompañada de varias fotos de El Peñol, una muy bonita villa. Muchas gracias por su amabilidad! penolradiofenix (a) gmail.com (Mauricio Molano, Spain, blog info http://moladx.blogspot.it/ via Dario Monferini, May 7, playdx yg via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. 5965, May 10 at 0455, REE relay is on right frequency, with sufficient signal but quite undermodulated, not enough vs the noise level, and no comparison to e.g. neighbor 5935 WWCR (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 5025, Radio Rebelde, 2100 to 2130 playing "Oh Darling" by the Beatles and several others in English -555- as local station, 8 May (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, South Florida, Icom 746Pro, Drake R8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [and non]. 11600 12/May 0031 UZBEKISTAN (Relay), TWR India in Hindi. Gospel music. At 0032 Yl talk. At 0036 preaching by OM. Before the signal of TWR I heard a broadcast in Spanish unidentified. At 0033 I still hear her in the background. There was no sign in Twente SDR of the transmission in Spanish. I will investigate afterwards of the transmission of TWR. Seemed to be Cuba. At 0044 full ID by YL. Again at 0058 full ID. At 0135 the signal in Spanish is weak, but audible. OM and YL present news. Yes, in // 11840 R Habana Cuba. End of news and quick music. Probably a signal spurious of a frequency in the 25 meters (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana Bahia, 12 14´S 38 58´W - Brasil, Degen 1103 - All listening in mode of filter Narrow the 4 kHz. Dipole antenna, 25 meters - east/west Escutas (listening, my blog): http://www.ipernity.com/doc/75006 dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11600 RHC would be a leapfrog mixing product of 11760 over 11680 another 80 kHz lower - if both those were on the air at that time. 73, (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) ** CUBA. Slipshod RadioCuba at 0500 UT May 9 radiates RHC English at the moment on 5040, 6000, 6010, 6060, 6165; since 6000 has not yet been moved to 6125; mañana. 6010, May 10 at 0457 is playing NA, i.e. closing of Spanish service // 5040 and 6060, despite 6010 not supposed to be on until 0500 and only in English, which is still on 6000, 6165; meanwhile 6125 already on too with open carrier. Previously it seemed that the 6000 transmitter was the one eventually changing to 6125. Maybe it was really the 11760 transmitter. 15215-15245, May 10 at 1235, buzz coming out of RHC 15230 transmitter, QRMing some neighbors, the level and extent fluxuating. 17580, May 13 at 1427, RHC AWOL from this frequency, still on 17730 et al. on lower bands. 15340 has heavy CCI from HCJB AUSTRALIA, q.v. (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. 7405, Sunday May 12 at 1206, above the jamming while // 9805 is below the wall of noise, R. Martí playing classical music! Something by César Franck. O, it`s that LDS show, so only in the context of worship, violating Separation of Church & State; later narration over organ music, and straying as far as ``Sound of Music``. Announcer asserts that music is the only thing in this world that will take us to heaven. More choral/organ music. 1228 closing show #4361 from ``el Templo de Salt Lake City, Música y Palabras de Inspiración`` (= Music and the Spoken Word, in English). 1229 promo for Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to which Cuba was a founding signer (long before Castro); also promo Martí via Radio Caracol, 1260, Miami, 9 pm to midnight ET, with text numbers; 1230 tie-in human-rights news about an Argentine diplomat visiting Cuba (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CZECHIA [non]. Radio Prague to air special broadcast on shortwave on May 18, 2013 --- On the occasion of Czech Radio’s 90th birthday on May 18, 2013, Radio Prague will air a special one-off broadcast on shortwave in cooperation with Radio 700. To find us on shortwave check out the table below: TIME (UTC) PROGRAM FREQUENCY AREA 14:00 - 14:30 (12:00 - 12:30) broadcast in German 7310 Europe 14:30 - 15:00 (12:30 - 13:00) broadcast in Czech 7310 Europe 15:00 - 15:30 (13:00 - 13:30) broadcast in English 7310 Europe 15:30 - 16:00 (13:30 - 14:00) broadcast in French 7310 Europe 16:00 - 16:30 (14:00 - 14:30) broadcast in Spanish 7310 Europe 16:30 - 17:00 (14:30 - 15:00) broadcast in Russian 7310 Europe 16:00 - 16:30 (14:00 - 14:30) broadcast in Spanish 6005 Europe 16:30 - 17:00 (14:30 - 15:00) broadcast in Russian 6005 Europe 17:00 - 17:30 (15:00 - 15:30) broadcast in German 6005 Europe 17:30 - 18:00 (15:30 - 16:00) broadcast in Czech 6005 Europe 18:00 - 18:30 (16:00 - 16:30) broadcast in English 6005 Europe 18:30 - 19:00 (16:30 - 17:00) broadcast in French 6005 Europe 21:00 - 21:30 (19:00 - 19:30) broadcast in English 3985 Europe, Asia 21:30 - 22:00 (19:30 - 20:00) broadcast in French 3985 Europe, Asia 22:00 - 22:30 (20:00 - 20:30) broadcast in Spanish 3985 Europe, Asia 22:30 - 23:00 (20:30 - 21:00) broadcast in Russian 3985 Europe, Asia 23:00 - 23:30 (21:00 - 21:30) broadcast in German 3985 Europe, Asia 23:30 - 24:00 (21:30 - 22:00) broadcast in Czech 3985 Europe, Asia The broadcast will be aired via the 1 kW Kall-Krekel transmitter in western Germany. All reception reports received will be acknowledged with a special QSL card issued on the occasion of Czech Radio’s 90th birthday. We wish you happy listening! Czech Radio 7 - Radio Prague Vinohradská 12 120 99 Prague 2 Czech Republic Tel: (+420) 221 552 933 Fax: (+420) 221 552 903 E-mail: cr@radio.cz (via Jaisakthivel, dxldyg via DXLD) Forward this item from hukubi contributor in Austrian newsgroup A-DX, on German section of Radio Prague website: Hello, 90th Birthday of Czech Radio is Radio Prague, in collaboration with Radio 700, on Saturday 18, May 2013 send on short wave, namely the following times: http://www.radio.cz/de/static/18-mai/ An interview on the subject with Mr. Gerald Schubert I heard on Tuesday at 1400 UT Outdoor Radio Freistadt (at 107.1 MHz) in Hoererforum of Radio Prague (via Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DXLD) ** DIEGO GARCIA. 4319-USB, AFN 2330 to 2350 pop rock music good signal until 0003 when killer ute appearson schedule 4/5 May (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, South Florida, Icom 746Pro, Drake R8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. QSL: HCJB, Pichincha, 6050, full data Wildlife in Ecuador card in 48 days for English report to German service and US $2.00 return postage. V/s Horst R. Also sent cardboard Spanish pennant and cloth German Service pennant. 73 (Al Muick, Whitehall PA USA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR [non]. HCJB: Kulina Days Area kHz 2245-2300 daily SAm 11920nau --- (WRTH A-13 update first edition May 13, via Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) DX Re Mix News reported as in DXLD 13-10: ``HCJB Global Voice: 2245-2300 11920 WER 100 kW / 240 deg BRA Kulina, deleted from Feb. 18 73! (Ivo Ivanov, Sofia, Bulgaria, Sony ICF-2001D 30 m. long wire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)`` So was Kulina reinstated? Latest A13 MBR schedule as in DXLD 13-18, shows the 11920 transmission not starting until 2300 in Portuguese. Kulina at 2245 needs to be deconfirmed (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EGYPT. R. Cairo English Days Area kHz 1600-1640 daily ISR 1008ela (WRTH A-13 update first edition May 13, via Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The ela site = El Arish, Egypt. Besides the usual SW broadcasts in English (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Frequency changes of Radio Cairo: 1330-1530 NF 15790 ABZ 100 kW / 070 deg to WeAs Farsi, ex 15245 co- channel V of Korea (DX RE MIX NEWS #781 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, May 15, 2013 via DXLD) ** EUROPE. Reception Report as of 1956/May 11, 2013 UT --- ----- Original Message ----- From: Stephen Mason To: radiomorningstar@home.nl Sent: Sunday, May 12, 2013 12:01 AM Subject: Reception Report as of 1956/may 11, 2013 UTC I would like to send you a reception report as stated above. SINPO; 44444 FREQ: 6300 My Location: New Jersey USA Equipment: SDR and a G8 TOPICS: Songs, Guitar Man, Cheating Heart, Sandman, Miles of Rainbow, Chuck Berry Song, Elvis - Hound Dog, If you want to Dance with me, Deep in the Heart of Texas, Signoff. If you could, would you please send me a eQSL or a Hard QSL Card to the following address: Stephen Mason 414B Willow Drive Ocean, NJ 07712, USA MrNavy2 @ gmail.com Thank you and Keep Free Radio going. Steve..... Hey, Glen[n], this is what I received a few minutes ago (Steve Mason, NJ, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ----- Forwarded message ----- [almost sic] From: "RadioMorningstar" Hello Stephen, Thank you for your reception report. Send you hereby my EQSL to confirm it Don't have hard copy QSL but think abt it to print some I'l was transmitting with apx 25 watt carrier, using a 2 element NVIS antenna directing straight up to the E Layer. My name is Jack Donio, my age is 66 and running Free radio for a very long time. My TX is home made, using a modified radio tuner as PLL frequence generatot followed by a small amplifier using 3 transistors and a IRF 640 FET, modulated with a old Akai amplifier. Location is East part of the Netherland abt 4 mile's from the German border My Homepage's: http://members.home.nl/radiomorningstar/ (in Dutch but contains lot's of self explaining diagrams) Also: http://www.wijktvenschede.nl/ incude's a audio stream + Chatbox This is on my home server, not 24 hours on line but mostly between 08:00 AM till 01:00 AM UTC so only a short brake during local night time. On: http://www.wijktvenschede.nl/audioplay.htm you find a lot of my shows to listen in or to download. During Live broadcast there is a webcam at : http://www.ustream.tv/channel/radiomorningstar Many thanks for your mail, good DX hunting and vy '73 from Jack. Radio Morningstar / 19PCB646 at CB sideband radio (via Steve Mason, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE [non]. 17660, May 14 at 1258, spirited discussion in French about telephones; slightly late 3-pip timesignal at 1300 and off with no ID heard. HFCC shows RFI via SOUTH AFRICA, 12-13 at 342 degrees (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. Frequency changes of Radio France Internationale: 0600-0658 NF 13695 ISS 500 kW / 185 deg to NWAf French, ex 9790 1430-1458 NF 15360 ISS 500 kW / 085 deg to WeAs Pashto, ex 21580 (DX RE MIX NEWS #781 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, May 15, 2013 via DXLD) ** GABON. AFRICA NO.1 ‡ (Comm). kHz: 9580 -- Summer Schedule 2013 French Days Area kHz 0500-2300 daily Af 9580gab‡ 2300-2315 .....ss Af 9580gab‡ Key: ‡ Inactive at time of publication (WRTH A-13 update first edition May 13, via Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Agreed, but it was active just last week and has come and gone; what next? Don`t ever confuse it with Morocco on 9579.1, but look out for the het from 9580 to return (Glenn Hauser, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GEORGIA. /ABKHAZIA/RUSSIA: Abkhaz Radio noted on May 06 at 0400 with IS and ID under REE in Spanish [9535]. On May 1 s/on at 0656 with instrumental ``Nights In White Satin``, 0700 IS and ID “Adzji Apsua, Apsua Radio” and program in Abkhaz, at 0800 switching to Avto Radio Moscow FM where a man was with speech about jubilee of Avto Radio “20 years on the air”, said he, next said “in Moscow is 12 h 01 minute” and news in Russian were – 1 news Putin gave medals on workers-heroes (similar procedure as in Soviet era), etc. All on 9535 and at 0400 also on 1350 MW (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria, WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. QSL: LifeFM Cork, via Weenermoor, 3995, full data QSL letter via email attachment in four days for English airmail report with US $4 return postage. Very surprised my airmail got there to Cork, Ireland that quickly! V/s Brian Daly, Manager. 73 (Al Muick, Whitehall PA USA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. Unidentified strong carrier on 17560 at 1459-1503 UT, S=9+20db here in Germany. Most probably the engineer in Riyadh set the unit for the scheduled next BSKSA transmission in Arabic at 1555-1757 UT, according read in Aoki Nagoya list. vy73 wb df5sx (Wolfgang Büschel, May 9, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Or why not this, not turned off promptly, and this is 5 = Thursday. How is your reception of Lampertheim? HFCC: 17560 1400 1500 42,43W LAM 100 77 0 215 5 280413 261013 D 16440 Tibetan D IBB IBB 18741. 73, (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) Yes, 100%, that could be for sure. Especially the new RL 110-120 degree Kurdistan/Somalia antenna is always strong result here, despite is only 80 km distance in DEAD Zone. 73 (Wolfy DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [non]. 12045, May 12 at 0515-0519, DW via RWANDA with hard- hitting report on the anti-Putin protest movement in Russia, by Marijke someone (not van der Meer, ex-RNW!). What`s left of DW gets pans by Germans, but I would like to put in a good word for its journalism, something you would never hear on VOR, and worthy of the BBC if that is any longer a compliment. Even if in North America we can only overhear broadcasts to Africa, no earlier than 0400 and no later than 2200. 9800, May 13 at 0508, DW English via RWANDA, due south from Kigali, has considerable CCI from algo, but can`t make out the language. HFCC shows nothing else scheduled here, but there is of course the recent almost-24-hour National Emergency Broadcast via the Shijuazhuang 723 site in CHINA, the bullies, as in Aoki, which clashes with many existing 9800 users. Either that or maybe Romania didn`t turn off 9800 by 0500, unlikely (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [non]. Harald Gabler: Sondersendung des RMRC - Mitteilung Hallo DX-Freunde, der Rhein-Main-Radio- Club, Germany macht am So. 2.6.2013 0300-0400 UT über Radio Miami International WRMI mit 50 KW. auf Kurzwelle 9955 kHz eine Sondersendung --- (((((( Nicht wie angekündigt - da wir uns mit der Sendezeit nach WRMI richten müssen ))))))))) Die Sendung ist von unserem Mitglied Klaus (Nick Barker) gestaltet worden und halb in engl., halb in dt. Sie dürfte in Mittel- und Südamerkia ebenso zu empfangen sein wie in USA, aber auch mit etwas Glück in Europa - schließlich sind wir DXer. Wir stellen in der Sendung den Rhein-Main-Radio- Club und seine Aktivitäten vor, denn in dieser Weltgegend sind wir noch nicht so bekannt. Für Empfangsberichte gibt es eine Sonder-QSL-Karte. Harald Gabler RMRC Vorstand http://www.rmrc.de DrGabler @ t-online.de (via Dario Monferini, May 13, playdx yg via DXLD) ** GREECE. VOICE OF GREECE (ERA5) (Pub) kHz: 666, 7475, 9420, 11645, 15630, 15650 Summer Schedule 2013 Greek Days Area kHz 0000-0350 daily NAm,Atl 15650avl 0400-0800 daily Eu,Am 15630avl 0400-0800 daily Af 11645avl 1200-0600 daily Eu 666ath 1200-0800 daily Eu,As,Am 9420avl 1200-1350 daily Eu,Am 15630avl 1400-1850 daily Eu,Pac 15650avl 1900-2250 daily Eu,Am 15630avl 2300-0350 daily Eu,NAm 7475avl Multilingual Days Area kHz 0600-1200 daily Eu 666ath (WRTH A-13 update first edition May 13, via Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) That`s the full schedule as given, thus implying that the multilingual Radio Filia service is no longer on 11645 in the 05-08 UT period. Is this correct? I have not monitored for it lately (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) ** GUAM. 5765-USB, AFN Barrigada, 0930 usual news items "having no idea of the circumstance, he...", good signal 0935 music bridge, 8 May (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, South Florida, Icom 746Pro, Drake R8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUAM [and non]. INDONESIA/U.K. Summer A-13 of Adventist World Radio-AWR As/Pac & AWR Eu/Af 0000-0100 17650 SDA 100 kW / 285 deg SEAs Burmese/Western Karen 0000-0200 12025 SDA 100 kW / 330 deg EaAs Chinese 0000-0200 17880 SDA 100 kW / 315 deg EaAs Chinese 0100-0200 15445 TAI 100 kW / 250 deg SEAs Vietnamese Sat 0100-0200 17650 SDA 100 kW / 300 deg EaAs Chinese 0200-0300 9690 MOS 300 kW / 090 deg WeAs Urdu/Punjabi 0230-0330 3215 MDC 050 kW / 020 deg MDC Malagasy 0300-0330 9530 ISS 250 kW / 125 deg EaAf Tigrigna 0300-0330 17645 SDA 100 kW / 345 deg FERu Russian 0300-0400 11610 NAU 250 kW / 140 deg EaAf Oromo/Amharic 0330-0400 9505 MOS 300 kW / 100 deg WeAs Farsi 0400-0430 6020 NAU 100 kW / 130 deg EaEu Bulgarian 0400-0600 15225 NAU 250 kW / 125 deg N/ME Arabic 0430-0500 6155 MOS 300 kW / 220 deg NoAf French 0500-0530 11955 MOS 300 kW / 190 deg WeAf Hausa 0700-0800 15225 NAU 100 kW / 210 deg NoAf Arabic 0800-0830 15140 NAU 100 kW / 205 deg NoAf French 0800-0830 15225 NAU 100 kW / 210 deg NoAf Kabyle 0830-0900 15225 NAU 100 kW / 205 deg NoAf Tachelhit 0900-1000 9790 NAU 100 kW / 180 deg SoEu Italian Sun 1000-1100 12010 SDA 100 kW / 315 deg EaAs Chinese Mon-Sat 1000-1100 12010 SDA 100 kW / 315 deg EaAs Cantonese Sun 1000-1100 17520 SDA 100 kW / 300 deg EaAs Chinese Mon-Sat 1000-1100 17520 SDA 100 kW / 300 deg EaAs Cantonese Sun 1030-1100 17550 SDA 100 kW / 270 deg SEAs Ilokano Sun/Fri AWR As/Pac 1030-1100 17550 SDA 100 kW / 270 deg SEAs Tagalog Sat/Mon-Thu 1100-1130 15620 SDA 100 kW / 255 deg SEAs Indonesian 1100-1200 11700 SDA 100 kW / 330 deg EaAs Chinese 1100-1200 12105 SDA 100 kW / 315 deg EaAs Chinese 1100-1200 15515 SDA 100 kW / 300 deg EaAs Chinese 1130-1200 15605 TRM 125 kW / 045 deg SoAs Shoshoni As/Pac 1130-1200 15620 SDA 100 kW / 255 deg SEAs Sundanese Tue/Thu/Sat/Sun 1130-1200 15620 SDA 100 kW / 255 deg SEAs Javanese Mon/Wed Fri 1200-1230 11800 TRM 125 kW / 045 deg SoAs Mon 1200-1300 9800 SDA 100 kW / 330 deg EaAs Chinese 1200-1300 12105 SDA 100 kW / 315 deg EaAs Chinese 1200-1300 15515 SDA 100 kW / 300 deg EaAs Chinese 1230-1300 12085 TRM 125 kW / 025 deg SoAs Meitei Sun/Wed/Fri 1230-1300 12085 TRM 125 kW / 025 deg SoAs Bangla Mon/Tue/Thu/Sat 1300-1330 15215 SDA 100 kW / 285 deg SoAs Bengali 1300-1330 15445 SDA 100 kW / 285 deg SEAs Kachin 1300-1330 17810 NAU 250 kW / 070 deg EaAs Chinese Mon-Fri 1300-1330 17810 NAU 250 kW / 070 deg EaAs Uighur Sat/Sun 1300-1400 12105 SDA 100 kW / 315 deg EaAs Chinese 1300-1400 15320 SDA 100 kW / 270 deg SEAs Khmer 1300-1400 17670 MDC 250 kW / 060 deg SEAs Vietnamese 1330-1400 9720 SDA 100 kW / 345 deg FERu Russian 1330-1400 15430 SDA 100 kW / 270 deg SEAs Lao Thu/Sat 1330-1400 15430 SDA 100 kW / 270 deg SEAs Thai Mon-Wed/Fri 1330-1400 15660 SDA 100 kW / 285 deg SEAs Hmong Thu/Fri 1330-1400 15660 SDA 100 kW / 285 deg SEAs Assamese Sun/Wed 1330-1400 15660 SDA 100 kW / 255 deg SEAs Malay Mon/Tue/Sat 1330-1500 17810 NAU 250 kW / 070 deg EaAs Chinese 1400-1430 15165 SDA 100 kW / 270 deg SoAs Sinhalese 1400-1430 15375 SDA 100 kW / 285 deg SEAs Uncoded languages 1400-1430 15440 MOS 300 kW / 090 deg WeAs Urdu 1400-1500 12105 SDA 100 kW / 315 deg EaAs Chinese 1400-1500 13575 SDA 100 kW / 300 deg EaAs Chinese 1400-1500 15150 SDA 100 kW / 285 deg SEAs Western Karen 1430-1500 17605 MOS 300 kW / 145 deg EaAf Afar 1430-1530 6155 MDC 050 kW / 020 deg MDC Malagasy 1430-1530 15715 SDA 100 kW / 285 deg SEAs Burmese 1500-1530 11940 MOS 300 kW / 120 deg N/ME Turkish 1500-1530 15680 SDA 100 kW / 285 deg SoAs Tamil 1500-1530 15690 SDA 100 kW / 285 deg SoAs Lushai 1500-1530 15735 NAU 250 kW / 080 deg SoAs Nepali 1500-1600 11995 SDA 100 kW / 285 deg SEAs Western Karen/Marathi 1500-1600 15265 NAU 250 kW / 090 deg SoAs Punjabi/Hindi 1500-1600 15605 SDA 100 kW / 285 deg SoAs Telugu/Hindi 1530-1600 15290 MOS 300 kW / 090 deg WeAs Punjabi 1530-1600 15335 NAU 250 kW / 075 deg SoAs English Sat-Wed 1530-1600 15335 NAU 250 kW / 075 deg SoAs Tibetan Thu/Fri 1530-1600 15620 SDA 100 kW / 285 deg SoAs Kannada 1530-1600 15680 SDA 100 kW / 270 deg SoAs Malayalam 1600-1630 9830 NAU 100 kW / 133 deg EaEu Bulgarian 1600-1630 15260 MOS 300 kW / 090 deg WeAs Urdu 1600-1630 15285 SDA 100 kW / 300 deg WeAs Urdu 1600-1630 15360 SDA 100 kW / 285 deg SoAs English 1600-1630 15670 SDA 100 kW / 285 deg SoAs English 1630-1700 15150 MOS 300 kW / 100 deg WeAs Farsi 1630-1700 15360 SDA 100 kW / 300 deg SoAs English Mon/Wed/Fri 1630-1700 15360 SDA 100 kW / 300 deg SoAs Sindhi Sun/Tue/Thu/Sat 1630-1700 17575 ISS 250 kW / 125 deg EaAf Somali 1700-1800 9600 MEY 250 kW / 019 deg CEAf Swahili/Masai 1730-1800 15155 NAU 250 kW / 140 deg EaAf Oromo 1730-1800 15170 NAU 100 kW / 210 deg NoAf Kabyle 1830-1900 11660 MOS 300 kW / 190 deg NEAf Arabic 1830-1900 11830 MEY 250 kW / 019 deg CEAf English 1900-1930 11945 ISS 250 kW / 200 deg NoAf Wolof 1900-1930 11955 MOS 300 kW / 190 deg WeAf Hausa 1900-1930 15205 ISS 100 kW / 185 deg WeAf Fulfulde 1900-2000 9610 NAU 100 kW / 210 deg NoAf Arabic/Tachelhit 1900-2000 15260 NAU 100 kW / 215 deg NoAf Arabic 1900-2100 11610 NAU 250 kW / 130 deg N/ME Arabic 1930-2000 15205 NAU 250 kW / 180 deg WeAf Ibo 1930-2000 15220 MOS 300 kW / 170 deg CeAf French 2000-2030 9610 NAU 100 kW / 210 deg NoAf French 2000-2030 11830 ISS 250 kW / 180 deg NoAf French 2000-2030 11955 MOS 300 kW / 210 deg WeAf Dyula 2030-2100 11755 ISS 250 kW / 165 deg WCAf Yoruba 2030-2100 15155 MOS 300 kW / 210 deg WeAf French 2100-2130 11955 MOS 300 kW / 210 deg WeAf English 2100-2200 11750 SDA 100 kW / 315 deg EaAs Chinese Mon-Sat 2100-2200 11750 SDA 100 kW / 315 deg EaAs Cantonese Sun 2100-2200 11790 SDA 100 kW / 330 deg EaAs Korean 2100-2200 15420 SDA 100 kW / 315 deg EaAs Chinese Mon-Sat 2100-2200 15420 SDA 100 kW / 315 deg EaAs Cantonese Sun 2200-2300 15320 SDA 100 kW / 255 deg SEAs Indonesian/English 2200-2230 15435 SDA 100 kW / 255 deg SEAs Sundanese Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat 2200-2230 15435 SDA 100 kW / 255 deg SEAs Javanese Tue/Thu/Sun 2200-2400 12120 SDA 100 kW / 330 deg EaAs Chinese 2300-2400 17520 SDA 100 kW / 315 deg EaAs Chinese 2300-2400 17650 SDA 100 kW / 270 deg SEAs Vietnamese Mon-Fri 2300-2400 17650 SDA 100 kW / 270 deg SEAs Vietnamese/English Sat/Sun (DX RE MIX NEWS #781 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, May 15, 2013 via DXLD) ** GUAM. DRM TEST 24th/25th May --- KTWR is planning a DRM test to Japan for May 24th and 25th. It will be on 15570 at 1230-1300 UT. The language will be Japanese. While we are really hoping that Japanese SWLs and radio clubs get involved in this test, reports on the side and back lobes would also be appreciated. We will be beaming at a heading of 335 degrees. We will be running 75 kW, so that Japanese listeners in Russia and the EU can tune in as well. We should have good side lobes into Southeast Asia and possibly India. The main beam should be quite strong in Europe. The main back lobe will be toward NZ (Mike Sabin, KTWR, May NZ DX Times via DXLD) ** GUATEMALA. 4055, R Verdad, 0913, IS and eventually into a very elaborate sign on with extensive choral anthem and info in both Spanish and English, usual good signal 6 May (XM, Cedar Key, South Florida, NRD 525D, R8A, via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUINEA. QSL: RADIO RURALE DE LA MOYENNE GUINÉE - 1386 kHz - Labé (GUI) - QSL === Gracias al colega Rolf Ahman conseguí la vía de contacto con la directora de la emisora. Anoche, tres días después del segundo intento, me llegó su respuesta confirmando la escucha de su emisora en septiembre del 2006. La emisora está inactiva en onda media 1386 kHz, en estos tiempos, pero me indica que, quizá pronto, se pueda volver a escuchar. Merci beaucoup Mme. Aissatou Bah, Chef de la Station (Mauricio Molano, Spain, blog info http://moladx.blogspot.it/ via Dario Monferini, May 7, playdx yg via DXLD) ** INDIA. CHINA/EAST TURKISTAN [non log]. 4850, Xinjiang PBS. Have recently (as of May 11) not been hearing any trace of them here; Aoki database is no longer showing them here. So now the frequency is clear for the return of AIR Kohima, should they decide to broadcast anytime soon! (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. Details of All India Radio's DRM plans are in: http://www.drm.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/AIR_DRM-Pres-to-ReceiverManufcts_-May-2013.pdf Thanks to Alokesh Gupta for the info. Yours sincerely, (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Hyderabad, India, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Including on SW: 1. 1 x 250 kW Khampur (Delhi) Commissioned On 16.01.2009 1. 1 x 500 kW Bangalore Under Commissioning 2. 2 x 100 kW Delhi Order Placed 3. 2 x 250 kW Aligarh Evaluation Within a year, All India Radio is to achieve almost nationwide coverage with new DRM compatible transmitters. Please note: http://www.drm.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/AIR_DRM-Pres-to-ReceiverManufcts_-May-2013.pdf gives a 10 kHz spacing between the original AM frequency of the medium wave station concerned and the additional digital frequency (Dr Hansjoerg Biener, DX LISTENING DIGEST) AIR Chennai DRM Log: 14 May 2013, 0857 IST - All India Radio, Chennai DRM noted on 793 kHz loud and clear, SNR 19, MER 15 MODE A, Bandwidth 9 kHz, SDC 4 QAM MSC 16 QAM, Service AAC mono, 8.1 kbps (Arun Kumar Narasimhan, Chennai) (via Alokesh Gupta, dx_india yg vi DXLD) Looking at http://www.drm.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/AIR_DRM-Pres-to-ReceiverManufcts_-May-2013.pdf I noticed a 10 kHz spacing between the original AM frequency of the medium wave station concerned and the additional digital frequency. This seems to be confirmed by your monitoring. It would be interesting to know if or in which way these tests affect the regular 792 kHz channel (Pune A). If the roll out of simulcast transmissions goes according to the announced plan, "one" or perhaps several years from now you would have analog signals in the traditional 9 kHz spacing and DRM signals 10 kHz higher than the original frequency all over the Indian medium wave spectrum (Dr Hansjoerg Biener, Nuremberg, ibid.) Here are my latest monitoring observations of All India Radio of interest: 1. 1071 kHz Rajkot 14 May 2013, DRM noted on 1071 kHz for long time till around 1530 UT at good level after which normal AM transmission heard. 2. 9640 kHz 15 May 2013, till 0045 AIR Tamil External Service heard with distorted signal. The normal frequency of 9835 was missing. (Parallel frequency of 9910 was heard as usual) The A-13 printed schedule of AIR has been received by me. The following MW channels of Vividh Bharti has been deleted in the new schedule compared to B-12 schedule 1278 Lucknow 1350 Jalandhar 1449 Kanpur 1503 Vijayawada The Vividh Bharti services are now available on FM Band in the above locations. Yours sincerely, (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Hyderabad, India, dx_india yg via DXLD) AIR Urdu Service on 9895 instead of 9595 --- My monitoring observations show that just now 15 May 2013, AIR External Service in Urdu is noted on 9895 kHz with distorted audio instead of the regular frequency of 9595. This was noted from around 0845 UT. It is scheduled till 1130. Yours sincerely, (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, May 15, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Hyderabad, India, dx_india yg via DXLD) ** INDIA. The website of AIR Shimla http://www.airshimla.com has been renovated and you may listen live programs of AIR Shimla. Feedback on the website to: shimla@air.org.in Yours sincerely, (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Hyderabad, India May 12, dx_india yg via DXLD) WTFK? SW frequencies: 4860/6020 (WRTH 2013 via gh, DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 3344.87, RRI Ternate (presumed), 1137-1337, May 13. Seemed to be a special broadcast; did not carry the Jakarta news relay at 1200; the format was not their normal programming; long segment of OM & YL chatting in Bahasa Indonesia; reciting from the Qur’an; long series of speeches; in two hours time started out very poor and faded up to almost fair and then faded down again; did not catch an ID. Their last broadcast was in June 2012. Will they broadcast again tomorrow? (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Suddenly s/off at 1429 UT. I look forward to tomorrow (S. Hasegawa, May 13, ibid.) I can receive it now [1233 UT May 14]. As ID at 1422 UT on May 13: http://rri.jpn.org/dat/mp3/2013/03345-130513-1421.mp3 by A.Ishida member of NDXC (S. Hasegawa, Japan, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 3344.87, RRI Ternate, 1155, May 14. Series of short tones and one long tone; into extensive coverage of a Qur’an reading competition (Tilawah Al-Quran); still going with reciting from the Qur’an at 1314; also heard by Timm Breyel in Malaysia and DXers in Japan. Will RRI Ternate broadcast again in English? If RRI Ternate continues to broadcast (as they have on May 13 & 14), it might be worthwhile to check for their former programming in English. In the past I have heard programs dealing a lot with the “Bali(?) International English Club” (BIEC). The primary announcer heard several years ago was an official with the BIEC, as well as being the Secretary of the English Department of “UMMU” (University of Muhammadiyah in North Maluku, a.k.a. Universitas Muhammadiyah Maluku Utara). Have no idea if this program is still on the air or when it might be broadcast. In the past it was on Thursdays from 1300 to 1400, but then it was changed to Sundays. MP3 audio of a past show posted at https://www.box.com/shared/mkuhyypd8b 3344.87, RRI Ternate. May 15 with another day of extensive coverage of a Qur’an reading competition (Tilawah Al-Quran); virtually non-stop reciting from the Qur’an by different persons during checks made from 1207 to past 1331; almost fair. During their broadcasting for the last three days they have not once carried the 1200 Jakarta news relay, as all the other RRI stations do (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I should think that merely reading from the Qur`an would not merit a competition: rote recitation from memory is what matters (gh, DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 4749.96, RRI Makassar, 1240, May 14 (Tuesday). Start of the weekly “information” segment in English; several pop songs in English (David Cook “The Last Goodbye”, etc.); 1253 “information for you”, “Now I want to say goodbye … nice to meet you. Meet you again next week … RRI Makassar”; so clearly a locally produced show (unlike former KGI which was produced in Bali); moderate QRM from stations on 4750.0 (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 4870a, 1006, RRI Wamena poor with Indopops 10 April, marred by Over the Horizon radar bursts. Freq measured as 4869.92 (Bryan Clark at Mangawhai (Northland), New Zealand with Drake SPR4, AOR7030+, EWEs to North, Central & South America, 100m BOG to NE and Alpha Delta Sloper antennas, May NZ DX Times via DXLD) Was briefly reactive and also heard over here; Atsunori Ishida shows the evening transmission heard only on April 10, 18 and so far in May only on May 4 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 9525.9, Voice of Indonesia, 1318, May 14 (Tuesday) with “Exotic Indonesia”; “Commentary”, “Today in History” and “Focus”; segment about Banjarmasin. Poorer reception than recently heard; QRM from white noise? 9525.9, Voice of Indonesia. Anomaly on May 15. No English noted from checks made from 1306 to 1331; instead was in Bahasa Indonesia. Rather unusual for them to miss the English segment! Certainly was in English yesterday for "Exotic Indonesia" (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET. Radio 2LO --- Hi Glenn, I have decided to start my new internet radio venture. It is in the very early stages and does not yet have a (.com) or a (www) but that will come soon. Live streaming is a while away and the annoying pop up ads will go in a few months. Interactive programmes will start being added from next week and the site will develop between now and late September when it should be properly finished. Meanwhile your feedback is most welcome. WOR coming to 2LO on demand next week! http://radio2lo.tripod.com 73, (Gary Drew. May 11 [ex-South Herts Radio], DX LISTENING DIGEST) 2LO as a callsign has a certain historical significance, but apparently no longer in use elsewhere (gh, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. Re: [Internetradio] Sirius/XM Dropping WRN (ch. 120) on 4/25 --- Hello, The new XM guide does not list anything on 120, but I noticed several added Canadian channels, including CBC Radio One (Eric Cottrell, WB1HBU, May 12, internetradio mailing list via DXLD) ** IRAN. [Re 13-19:] Glenn: -- "But what really intrigues me is that Arab station with somewhat distorted modulation on 1188." – To answer Kai Ludwig, whose observations I always enjoy: Radio Payam, Tehran, which has been heard on the North American East Coast more than once. Muy 73z – (GREG HARDISON, West Coast, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN. 15470, 0330, Voice of Justice via IRIB opening at excellent level [to North America] in English with ident and sung anthem, // 13650 very good, 23/4. Still announcing superseded 31 metre & 25 metre band frequencies (Bryan Clark at Mangawhai (Northland), New Zealand with Drake SPR4, AOR7030+, EWEs to North, Central & South America, 100m BOG to NE and Alpha Delta Sloper antennas, May NZ DX Times via DXLD) 17660, May 10 at 0525, VIRI`s IS is playing, poor with flutter; 17700, May 10 at 0527 found same, but not in synch; 0530 both sign on in standard format: brief ID, NA, another announcement, Qur`an (an exercise in piety), but I couldn`t make out the languages. HFCC shows ``Bosnian`` on 17660, Spanish on 17700, both 500 kW via Kamalabad, 297 and 289 degrees respectively (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Voice of the Islamic Republic, 21790 Sirjan. May 13, 2013 Monday. 0910-0930. Swahili, YL doing a monologue, with bits of Persian-style music. OM took over at 0922, then more music (piano) until ID which sounded like “Republic Islamia” before cutting off at 0930*. Fair. To East Africa (EiBi). Jo'burg sunrise 0438 (Bill Bingham, Johannesburg RSA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 21650, May 13 at 1259, VIRI IS with poor signal until 1300:21*, i.e. tail of the Chinese hour, 65 degrees from 500 kW Kamalabad; meaning that whatever next frequency from this unit would be late coming up. IRIB not often audible here on 13m; at this time, Kuwait and Saudi were better than Spain (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [and non]. JAMMERSTAN --- Voice of Kurdistan on 11510 is almost always in company with Iranian type of bubble jammer with tiny level of signal (not like over BBC in Farsi with strong jamming), observed April 25 – May 5 (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY [non]. IRRS–SHORTWAVE (NEXUS–IBA) kHz: 1368, 7290, 9510, 15190 Summer Schedule 2013 English Days Area kHz 0800-0900 .....s. Eu,ME,NAf 9510tig 0930-1200 ......s Eu,ME,NAf 9510tig 1500-1530 ......s SAs 15190tig 1800-1900 ....fss Eu,ME,NAf 7290tig (WRTH A-13 update first edition May 13, via Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Just to note in case there is any doubt, that WRTH puts transmitter site for all IRRS SW frequencies in Tiganeshti, ROMANIA. This still adds up to only 7 hours per week (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN [and non]. 6090, May 12 at 1200, two timesignals with second pips perfectly out of synch --- which one is right? Then ``Sakura`` so one is Radio Japan, and the somewhat weaker signal is in Chinese. HFCC shows NHK Yamata 289 degrees going from Korean to Chinese at 1200, and the other Chinese would be CNR Geermu at 1000-1605, 100 kW, 172 degrees. Aoki refines this to CNR2; apparently not intended as jamming but just poor frequency management by NHK. Rule No. 1: do not pick a frequency already used in the target country! Duh (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH. JAMMERSTAN: Confirming Olle Alm’s observation: On 13760 at 1255 is heard “Wuu – Wuu“ sound, same as on 6600 and 6348, also heard from 1300 when VOK’s program in English began, also on 15245. No Wuu-Wuu sound was on 9425, 11710, 11735 and 12015 (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15180, May 10 at 1240, VOK VG signal with nice harmonious choral music from paradise, then piano solo and band. Pulsating jamming noise could be heard during soft passages and pauses, but no other language mixing in. 1248 Korean announcement and anthem until 1250*. The jamming noise stopped a second before the carrier was turned off, which may be significant (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. 6020, Shiokaze/Sea Breeze via Yamata. May 10 (Friday) not in English (unusual!); quick check at 1402; also noted N. Korean jamming present. Back to their former 6135 (ex-6020), Shiokaze/Sea Breeze/JSR via Yamata (Japan), 1335, May 14. Tuesday’s stilted Chinese till 1400 switched to Korean; heavy QRM from CNR1 programming that is broadcast here to jam RTI. Very poor frequency choice! Ex 6020 now has CNR8 – Mongolian Service in the clear (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA SOUTH. 15575, Saturday May 11 at 1353, KBSWR `Listeners Lounge` concluding Jeff in Baltimore segment, over to Kevin O`Donovan in NM at 1353:45-1357:05, so this week he gets 3:20, and nothing but ordinary SW listening tips, no satellite stuff, heard on his DX-440 with telescopic antenna only: Australia, NZ, DW/Rwanda, France, Romania, Vatican, Turkey, Iran, Saudi, Egypt, Japan & BBC/Ascension. All seemed OK, except: he said Iran on 15470 at 0230-0330, while English there is an hour later still, isn`t it? And Saudi in Arabic on 9580 at 0355?? --- what about Morocco on 9579? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [non]. 13535, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, KBS World Radio – Dhabbaya (Presumed), 2028, 5/11/13, in Arabic. Song in Korean, woman and man announcers. Fair (Mark Taylor, Poynette WI, Unexpected couple of hours of listening with a Kaito 1103 and 22’ reel antenna at a park near Poynette, about 25 miles North of Madison (That’s why I carry a radio and antenna in the car), NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) That frequency can`t be right: o, it`s supposed to be 13585. Your typo or theirs? (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH [non]. Target: KOREA, Rep. of (KOR) ECHO OF UNIFICATION (NEW ENTRY) kHz: 684, 1080, 6250 Summer Schedule 2013 Korean Days Area kHz 0400-0600 daily KOR 684sag, 1080hju, 6250pyo 1200-1400 daily KOR 684sag, 1080hju, 6250pyo 2200-2400 daily KOR 684sag, 1080hju, 6250pyo (WRTH A-13 update first edition May 13, via Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KUWAIT. 21540, May 14 at 1305, 1346, 1422, R. Kuwait is missing from what had usually been the SSOB; while Spain 21515, 21610, Saudi +buzz 21505 are audible. Well, we got Tunisia back, so now we lose Kuwait (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) R. Kuwait on May 14 on new 21580 from 1300-1600, instead of 21540. Back to 21540 from 1600 (Ivo Ivanov, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) [and non]. Re my yesterday`s observation of RK missing from 21540, Ivo Ivanov replied [as above]: I did not notice it on 21580 then, and anyway today May 15 it`s back to 21540: at 1258 just barely modulated carrier with bits of Arabic, better after 1300, and normal at 1323 starting dramatic dialog with classical music; mentions California several times around 1330; at 1410 still going with good modulation. Maybe yesterday`s stray to 21580 resulted from a mixup, as that frequency is scheduled at 10-12 in Filipino (21580 today had RFI French until 1300*) (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KYRGYZSTAN (KGZ) SHORTWAVE RELAY SERVICE (Rlg), kHz: 5130 Summer Schedule 2013 Persian Days Area kHz 1500-1800 daily Was 5130bis† Key: † Irregular. (WRTH A-13 update first edition May 13, via Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) That`s the complete entry, no info about station(s)/program(s) (gh) ** LIBYA. 11600, Radio Libye (presumed), 2020, 5/11/13, in Arabic. Male announcer talking at some length. Fair except for “running water” ute from time to time (Mark Taylor, Poynette WI, Unexpected couple of hours of listening with a Kaito 1103 and 22’ reel antenna at a park near Poynette, about 25 miles North of Madison (That’s why I carry a radio and antenna in the car), NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** MADEIRA [and non]. 1530 Funchal --- Have been listening for Peruvians, as reported by others recently, with a remarkable lack of success. However, I was very pleased with a surprised catch on Monday morning, when this came up with a brief, strong peak: 1530, Funchal, Madeira; TS, splash, YL Portuguese TC “Cinco horas, quatro minutos”, OM ID as “Emissora Católica Portuguesa”, which I believe uniquely identifies this as Madeira; peaked briefly; personal first and new country. Fpks [fair at peaks], 0400 13/5 mah Last reported in the UK 30 years ago by our OM BD! [Barry Davies] 73 (Martin A Hall, Clashmore, Scotland. Perseus SDR, RPA-1 preamp, MFJ-1026 phaser (modified), beverages: 700m at 343 degrees, 490m at 276 degrees, both terminated; 400m at 231/51 degrees unterminated. http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/clashmoreradio/ MWCircle yg via DXLD) Does anyone have an accurate idea, based on recent listening, of what stations are still on the air in Madeira and in the Azores? I used to have Madeira on 531 and 603 once in a while. Azores was not uncommon on 837. I, and other well-known DXers in this area such as Marc DeLorenzo and Bruce Conti, haven't managed to log these for several years now, even at beach DXpeditions. Azores (AFN) used to show up on 1503 in US English years ago too. 531 is almost always Algeria here with Spain way under 603 is typically France and Spain alternating 837 is COPE Spain-Canaries, France Info, and "something Middle Eastern" 1503 is often Iran and sometimes Spain As far as 1530 goes, other than domestics (WCKY, WDJZ, WVBF) we get São Tomé VOA and occasionally Romania // stronger 1179. Vatican is a no-show unlike in the old days (Mark Connelly, WA1ION, South Yarmouth, MA, USA, ibid.) Hi Mark, The EMWG's information should be pretty accurate. Have a look at http://www.emwg.info Met vriendelijke groeten / Kind regards, (Herman -BOEL [of EMWG]], ibid.) According to WRTH, AZR has 693, 828 and 1503 kHz and MDR 1530 kHz. 73, (Mauno Ritola [of WRTH], ibid.) ** MEXICO. 960, May 13 at 0501:25 UT, KGWA Fox-hole of dead air except for hum when nulled, audiblized a mixture of stuff including ABC news, but clearly heard at this moment are the four descending ``XEW`` chimes which we know come on 960 from XEK in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas. KGWA Enid continues to fill the hole unpredictably but most nights is clear for a pentaminute (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. QSL: jueves, 21 de marzo de 2013, XEDK - 1250 kHz - Guadalajara, Jal. (MEX) - QSL --- Estoy revisando el amanecer de ayer; me han aparecido varias emisoras mejicanas en frecuencias, y desde sitios, nada habituales para mí. Una de ellas la "DK 12-50" desde Guadalajara (Jalisco). Una emisora listada con 5 kW de día / 1 de noche, y que no parece ser muy habitual en los receptores europeos. Ha costado bastante encontrar un correo de contacto, pues en su web no aparece ninguno y en la página corporativa de Radiorama de Occidente figura uno que no funciona. Por suerte, di con el del Director de Noticias, el Sr. Alfonso J. Márquez, quién me ha contestado en una hora confirmando la sintonía. Muchas gracias!. alfonso_marquez (a) hotmail.com (Mauricio Molano, Spain, blog info http://moladx.blogspot.it/ via Dario Monferini, May 7, playdx yg via DXLD) ** MEXICO. QSL: viernes, 22 de marzo de 2013, XETKR - 1480 kHz - "TKR Rancherita y Regional" - Monterrey, NL (MEX) - QSL --- Sigue dando sus frutos el "amanecer mejicano" del pasado miércoles, día 20 de marzo. En un principo confundí esta emisora con la WMDD "El 1480" de Fajardo, Puerto Rico. Pero seguí aguantando las barbas de 1476/1485 kHz porque tanta música mejicana no es normal en la emisora isleña, y por la presencia de más mejicanas en la banda. A las 0629Z llegó la primera confirmación: "12 29", osea: UT -6. Después vendría una mención a "Rancherita y Regional" y a "TKR". Hoy he escrito al director de la emisora, el Sr. Rodolfo Valleza, quién me ha confirmado la escucha en una hora. Muchas gracias!. rodolfo.valleza (@) multimedios.com (Mauricio Molano, Spain, blog info http://moladx.blogspot.it/ via Dario Monferini, May 7, playdx yg via DXLD) ** MEXICO. QSL: XECHZ - 1560 kHz - Radio Lagarto - Chiapa de Corzo (MEX) - QSL === En una de las pocas veces que Radio Disney NY (WQEW) no domina la frecuencia, pude captar la identificación de esta rara emisora mejicana. Fue el pasado 27 de febrero. En 13 días, al segundo intento, he recibido respuesta confirmando la escucha. No viene firmada. Envié el segundo informe radiolagarto (a) imer.com.mx (Mauricio Molano, Spain, blog info http://moladx.blogspot.it/ via Dario Monferini, May 7, playdx yg via DXLD) ** MOROCCO. 171 kHz, Médi 1, Nador, with Arabic talk and music, good signal 0300-0320 on 8 May (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, South Florida, Icom 746Pro, Drake R8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MOROCCO. 9579.1, May 10 at 0515, French news, 6h15 timecheck, and in the clear with no het from Gabon for a change, i.e. this is Médi 1 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MYANMAR. Actually (2238 UT), an unidentified Asian radio on 7200, talk between two peoples (YL and OM), Asiatic language. Much QRM with ham radio and noise. Maybe Myanmar radio, not sure. (Nicolas (Paris, France, Kenwood R600 longwire) Delaunoy, May 10, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Nicolas, May 10 heard Myanmar on 7200.08, with series of lectures in vernacular; their distance learning service; almost fair from 1337 to suddenly off at 1356*; running later than normal. Seems they fixed their audio, as only one audio heard instead of the double audio feed that they had been broadcasting recently (Ron Howard, California, USA, ibid.) Hello, Very good reception tonight in France. Myanmar radio on 7200 kHz, sign on at 2200 UT with time bip, talk in Burmese ?(YL and OM), music. SINPO 34333 (LSB mode; in AM some QRM from 7210: signal 59 + 50 dB!). (Nicolas (Paris, France, Kenwood R600 and longwire antenna) Delaunoy, May 11, ibid.) Re: 9730.000, Myanmar Radio, Rangoon. A few days before I left for Melbourne I heard 7110 kHz around 1400 with a test tone and into modulation and off. It appeared that the transmitter had technical problems, which as a result was off the air 2300-0130 on 6030, 0430-0630 9460 and 1030-1500 on 7110 kHz was being repaired, which might be the one Wolfy heard on 9730 kHz (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, 4S7VK, DXplorer April 30, mail from Australia trip via BCDX May 12 via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. Frequency changes of Radio New Zealand International in English 1551-1650 9700 RAN 100 kW / 035 deg AM Cook Isl, Samoa, ex 6170 1551-1650 6135 RAN 035 kW / 035 deg DRM Cook Isl, Samoa, ex 7440 1651-1750 9700 RAN 100 kW / 035 deg AM Cook Isl, Samoa, Tonga 1651-1750 6135 RAN 035 kW / 035 deg DRM Cook Isl, Samoa, Tonga ex 7285 1751-1850 9700 RAN 100 kW / 035 deg AM Cook Isl, Samoa, Tonga 1751-1850 6135 RAN 035 kW / 035 deg DRM Cook Isl, Samoa, Tonga ex 9440 -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, May 10, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) So the previous plan to replace the 7 MHz DRMs with 5975, as in DXLD 13-19, is inoperative (gh, DXLD) 11725, May 9 at 0516, RNZI is AWOL, not here, nor on 15720 scheduled until 0500 tho previously aired by mistake after 0500; nor any DRM noise circa 13730 or 11675; yet RA is VG in AM on 13630, 15240, 15515, so conclude that RNZI is totally off the air. Still nothing at 0530 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9700, Radio New Zealand, 9-may, 0945; English, ID, Woman announcer (Alison), discussion with man about fruit, volcanoes, conservation, and applied mathematics. Abruptly off the air at 0957; then back with news at 1000 with a weaker signal (111). 222 (Fred Kincaid, Spring Lake MI, MARE Tipsheet May 10 via DXLD) ?? There is not supposed to be any change in parameters around 1000, but at 1058-1059 per current online schedule (gh, DXLD) 9700, May 9 at 1233 during Pacific news magazine, at last RNZI has weaker off-beam signal appropriate for the NW 325 degree Timor antenna as supposedly scheduled, but I am convinced they were really on the NE 35 degree Pacific antenna the past week (except May 6 back on 9655). Until today, the 9700 signal had been rivaling 9580 Australia. What next? 11725 AM & 11675 DRM, May 10 at 0518 check, RNZI is back on both transmitters, unlike 24 hours earlier. 9700, May 12 at 1215, NO signal from RNZI, and none on 9655 either, so off the air, or on a totally different frequency? What`s next? 9700, May 13 at 1231, after missing yesterday, RNZI is back here obviously on non-solid Timor antenna, with ``29 until 11`` time check during `Checkpoint`, which is two hours late as local time is really 29 until 1 am (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) New A-13 of Radio New Zealand International English from RANgitaiki: 0459-0758 on 11725 050 kW / 000 deg AM All Pacific 0459-0758 on 11675 025 kW / 000 deg DRM All Pacific 0759-1058 on 9700 050 kW / 000 deg AM All Pacific 0759-1158 on 9890 025 kW / 000 deg DRM All Pacific 1059-1259 NF 9700 100 kW / 325 deg AM Timor, NW Pacific, ex 9655 1300-1550 on 6170 050 kW / 000 deg AM All Pacific 1551-1650 NF 9700 100 kW / 035 deg AM Cook Isl, Samoa, ex 6170 1551-1650 NF 6135 035 kW / 035 deg DRM Cook Isl, Samoa, ex 7440 1651-1750 on 9700 100 kW / 035 deg AM Cook Isl, Samoa, Tonga 1651-1750 NF 6135 035 kW / 035 deg DRM Cook Isl, Samoa, Tonga ex 7285 1751-1850 on 9700 100 kW / 035 deg AM Cook Isl, Samoa, Tonga 1751-1850 NF 9630 035 kW / 035 deg DRM Cook Isl, Samoa, Tonga ex 9440 1851-1950 on 11725 050 kW / 035 deg AM Niue, Fiji, Samoa 1851-1950 NF 9630 025 kW / 035 deg DRM Niue, Fiji, Samoa, ex 11675 1951-2050 on 11725 050 kW / 035 deg AM Niue, Fiji, Samoa 1951-2050 NF 9630 025 kW / 035 deg DRM Niue, Fiji, Samoa, ex 15720 2051-2150 on 11725 050 kW / 035 deg AM Niue, Fiji, Samoa 2051-2150 on 15720 025 kW / 035 deg DRM Niue, Fiji, Samoa 2151-0458 on 15720 050 kW / 000 deg AM All Pacific 2151-0458 on 17675 025 kW / 000 deg DRM All Pacific (DX RE MIX NEWS #781 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, May 15, 2013 via DXLD) It`s not ALL-English; some Maori, Pacific language bits (gh, DXLD) ** NICARAGUA. QSL: jueves, 4 de abril de 2013, YNA3RM - 1440 kHz - Radio Maranatha - Managua (NCG) - QSL --- Resulta fácil detectar su presencia, pues emite ligeramente desviada de frecuencia (1439.86 kHz). Poder escuchar algo es ya más difícil, pero al amanecer del pasado 27 de febrero consiguió hacerse un hueco entre los restos de la señal de RTL [Luxembourg], que ya estaba siendo devorada por el sol. Hoy, al segundo intento y en sólo 13 minutos, Samuel Duarte, Gerente, me ha confirmado la recepción enviado por medio del formulario de su pagina WEB http://radiomaranatha.fm/index-5.html Muchas gracias. Email: sam21- (a) hotmail.com (Mauricio Molano, Spain, blog info http://moladx.blogspot.it/ via Dario Monferini, May 7, playdx yg via DXLD) ** NICARAGUA. [Re 8989-USB, predicador pescador:] Maybe via coastal station transmitter Puerto Cabezas, Google gives: I did think the program is carried out by the coastal station transmitter. From Nicaragua, presumably from Puerto Cabezas. The content of broadcasts - preaching for 45 minutes (monologue), then about 5 minutes QSOs with fishing vessels, the blessings of a job and a good catch. Often referred to Nicaraguan placenames. But Google also leads to this report on Nicaraguan fishermen. (Wolfgang Büschel, May 5, BCDX May 12 via DXLD) about a tsunami 20 years ago, unrelated? (gh, DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. 1120, May 9 trying to determine the schedule, if any, of KEOR Catoosa/Sperry/Tulsa: still not on the air at 1352 past 1400, but next check at 1427 UT, now on with PMS = praise music in Spanish. 1120, May 9 at 1943 UT check, KEOR is off again. You never know whether they will be on the air or not. Is that any way to run a radio station? (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN. RADIO PAKISTAN EXTERNAL SERVICE LIVE STREAMING Hi Glenn, Radio Pakistan has recently launched live streaming of its external language service on its website http://radio.gov.pk I had repeatedly been requesting Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation in the past to provide live streaming of its external service broadcasts on its website till the new shortwave transmitters are brought in operation in view of poor condition of existing shortwave transmitters. After so much delay, now Radio Pakistan external service live streaming is available as per following schedule on the website: Bangla 0900-1000 UT Nepali 1000-1030 UT Hindi 1045-1145 UT Gujrati 1145-1215 UT Sinhali 1230-1300 UT Tamil 1300-1330 UT Chinese 1200-1300 UT Pushto 1345-1445 UT Dari 1445-1545 UT Persian 1700-1800 UT Urdu 0500-0700 UT Urdu 0830-1104 UT Urdu 0330-1530 UT Urdu 1700-1900 UT [as on website in local time UT +5] Mitali (Bangla) Service 1400-1500 Hrs (60 Mts) Bangladesh Nepali Service 1500-1530 Hrs (30 Mts) Nepal Hindi Service 1545-1645 Hrs (60 Mts) India‚ Sri Lanka Gujrati Service (PBC‚ Karachi) 1645-1715 Hrs (30 Mts) Indian Gujrat Sinhala Service 1730-1800 Hrs (30 Mts) S India‚ S Lanka Tamil Service 1800-1830 Hrs (30 Mts) S India‚ S Lanka Chinese Service 1700-1800 Hrs (60 Mts) China Pushto Service 1845-1945 Hrs (60 Mts) Afghanistan Dari Service 1945-2045 Hrs (60 Mts) Afghanistan Farsi Service 2200-2300 Hrs (60 Mts) Iran The live streaming is consistent with very few breakdowns. The programme content of each service is poor and mainly comprises only music and short new bulletins. Since now consistent live streaming is available for listeners, so Radio Pakistan external service should concentrate on improving programme content. For instance, Nepali service of Radio Pakistan does not broadcast news bulletin in Nepali, which is quite absurd for an external service. We do not have any update on shortwave transmitters under installation at Landhi Karachi, whether these have been abandoned or otherwise. Similarly the status of faulty 100 kW transmitters used for external language service from Islamabad is not known, whether the external language service are now only available on website. Regards (Aslam Javaid, Lahore Pakistan, May 14, WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN [non]. NEWSEUM MEMORIAL HONORS VOA REPORTER KILLED IN PAKISTAN WASHINGTON, D.C. - Slain VOA reporter Mukarram Khan Aatif-one of 82 journalists from around the world who lost their lives in 2012-was honored in Washington Monday as the Newseum added new names to its memorial for fallen journalists. "This is a solemn and sad occasion in many ways," said VOA Director David Ensor, "but the recognition of our colleague on this memorial is also a source of great pride for all of us." Keynote speaker Richard Engel, the Chief Foreign Correspondent for NBC News, told the gathering of family, friends and colleagues at the Washington D.C. news museum that journalists take risks because they want "to understand the world and how it changes." Engel, who was himself kidnapped and held for five days in Syria last year, said the reporters being honored "died doing what they loved. They died in the line of duty with their boots on and their pen in hand." The Taliban took responsibility for the killing of Aatif, who was shot while he prayed at a mosque near Peshawar in January of 2012. Aatif, a local reporter for VOA's Deewa radio and television, had been repeatedly threatened, but refused to stop reporting the news from the rugged tribal areas of Northwestern Pakistan. Since the Journalists Memorial was unveiled at the Newseum in 2008, the names of 2,244 reporters, photographers, broadcasters and news executives have been added to the soaring glass panels that make up the monument. In addition to the 82 journalists killed last year, 6 others from previous years were also honored during Monday's ceremony. During the event, a bell sounded after the name of each fallen journalist was read aloud. Family members later placed flowers at the base of the monument. For more information about this release, contact Kyle King at the VOA Public Relations office in Washington at (202) 203-4959, or write kking @ voanews.com For more information about VOA, visit the Public Relations website at http://www.insidevoa.com or the main news site at http://www.voanews.com (VOA PR via DXLD) ** PANAMA. QSL: martes, 26 de marzo de 2013, RADIO AVIVAMIENTO - 1530 kHz - Panamá - QSL === Me ha entrado varias veces desde diciembre del año pasado, siempre con un sonido muy distorsionado que hace muy difícil entender nada, excepto en ciertos momentos en los que el nivel de modulación es algo más bajo. Hoy, al tercer intento y en ocho horas, he recibido respuesta confirmando la escucha del pasado 29 de diciembre. Envié el informe a radioavivamiento (@) sopladios.net firma Ricardo A. Lay López. Muchas gracias! (Mauricio Molano, Spain, blog info http://moladx.blogspot.it/ via Dario Monferini, May 7, playdx yg via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3204.96, NBC Sandaun, 1252-1307*, May 11. In Tok Pisin/Pidgin; “NBC Sandaun good wishes for happy Mother’s Day”; full ID with many “NBC Sandaun, Maus Bilong Sandaun”; 1306 - “6 past 11. NBC National Radio, Voice of Papua New Guinea”; almost fair with QRN. (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 3204.9, Radio Sandaun West Sepik, 1043 om chat, seem continuous same person to 1054 6 May. 3260, Radio Madang, Madang, 1040 to 1055 om chat, second person at 1045. 0n 6 May. 3385, Radio East New Britain, Rabaul, 1040 to 1053, om chat 0n 6 May, 1015 to 1035 with better audio, 8 and 11 May (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, South Florida, Icom 746Pro, Drake R8, and XM, Cedar Key, South Florida, NRD 525D, R8A, via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 7324.96, Wantok Radio Light. May 11 (Saturday) with different programming than weekdays; 1220 dramatization in English; email address given for “Unshackled”; poor (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 3329.5, Perú, Ondas del Huallaga, Huánuco, 0945 early sign on with om comments, no CHU heard. 8 May (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, South Florida, Icom 746Pro, Drake R8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 4810, Perú, Radio Logos, Chazuta, Tarapoto, 1000 to 1100 on 11 May, programme of music and OM with religious messages heard every day this week with good signals. Easily the strongest 60 m b signal from Perú. Second strongest might be Radio Tarma on 4775. Good synrchro lock with R8. rlw (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, South Florida, Icom 746Pro, Drake R8, and XM, Cedar Key, South Florida, NRD 525D, R8A, via Bob Wilkner, WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 4955.00, Radio Cultura Amauta, 0020-0035 May 12. At tune in, noted a male and female in Spanish language comments until 0028 when music is presented. Signal was poor with QRM (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston, FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi, heard on May 11, 2013 around 0100 with "CVC La Voz" IDs only (Karel Honzik, CZECHIA, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** PERU. 5024.908, May 10 2256, R Quillabamba’s carrier often visible here but most times covered by the dominating R Rebelde (Thomas Nilsson, Sweden, SW Bulletin May 12 via DXLD) ** PERU. 5921.2, Radio Bethel, Arequipa, 2350 to 2358 when signal killed by WHRI sign on, 10 May (XM, Cedar Key, South Florida, NRD 525D, R8A, via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 5980, May 11 at 0055, R. Chaski with usual very poor but detectable signal, carrier and bits of modulation vs noise level. A bit better by 0102 as I recognize the devotional(?) segment theme music, and cut off the air at 0105:45*. I missed checking the past two evenings, but on May 8 it was 0105:29*, i.e. 16 seconds earlier, so the usual precession of approx. 5.3 seconds later every 24 hours continues (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5980, May 12 tuning in at 0103, having just finished off a tank of lawnmower gas, should be in time for another Chaski-check, but nothing there! Either an anomaly or they have finally reset their clock-timer closer to nominal 0100* whence I shall have to resume monitoring hereafter if not sooner (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hallo Glenn, Re: Chaski found missing May 12 at 0103. Ute usually blocking 5980 was off May 11 at 2239 tune-in, instead noted what was definitely R Chaski completely in the clear with Spanish announcements, preaching & hymns/praise songs to eventual 0059:45 early s/off May 12. Which explains why you could not trace them. As you suggest they must have reset their timer. 73, (Martien Groot, Schoorl, Netherlands, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5980, May 13 at 0053, R. Chaski carrier is weakly audible in all the noise, hash & splash from 5990 Cuba, and I monitor continually with BFO. It does go off circa 0100.0, but cannot hear a clear cut as it may have been in a fade at that instant. So the timer has been reset. Martien Groot has also been monitoring this [as above]: (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [and non]. 5980, May 14 at 0058, R. Chaski carrier is weakly detectable in the hash and noise level. This time it goes off at 0059:51.5* which is before Cuba cuts CRI carrier on 5990; in fact that was starting to open a delayed English hour. But it shouldn`t be long before Chaski cutoffs, 5 seconds later each day, become after 5990 is no longer a problem (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5980, May 15 at 0057, R. Chaski is audible poorly vs static crashes in Spanish; clean cutoff timed at 0059:57*, 5.5 seconds later than yesterday. Almost matches Martien Groot`s observation: (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5980.00, R Chaski, Urubamba, 0054, May 15, Spanish sermon cut off 0059:56 which confirms Glenn's prediction about them signing off 5 secs later each day. Completely in the clear, no ute or pulse jamming (Martien Groot, Schoorl, Netherlands, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 6173.947, May 7 0227, R Tawantinsuyo extremely strong this night. Got a good ID (Thomas Nilsson, Sweden, SW Bulletin May 12 via DXLD) 6173.9, Perú, Radio Tawantinsuyo, Cusco 1025 to 1100 on 6 May, same 8 and 9 May - seems the same announcer each morning and have Not heard music on this station during logs (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, South Florida, Icom 746Pro, Drake R8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES. 11945, Radio Veritas, 1030-1045, Rosary in Chinese, 10 May (XM, Cedar Key, South Florida, NRD 525D, R8A, via Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** POLAND [non]. BULGARIA, Frequency change of Polish Radio External Service from May 19: 1530-1630 NF 9400*SOF 100 kW / 030 deg to EaEu Polish, ex 6060 1630-1730 NF 9400 SOF 100 kW / 030 deg to EaEu Belorussian, ex 6060 1730-1800 NF 9400 SOF 100 kW / 030 deg to EaEu Russian, ex 6060 * till 1600 will be co-channel Voice of America in Special English (see below) (DX RE MIX NEWS #781 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, May 15, 2013 via DXLD) ** PRIDNESTROVYE. MOLDOVA, Summer A-13 of Radio PMR Pridnestrovye from April 1: 2300-2315 on 9665 KCH 300 kW / 309 deg to WeEu English Mon-Fri 2315-2330 on 9665 KCH 300 kW / 309 deg to WeEu German Mon-Fri 2330-2345 on 9665 KCH 300 kW / 309 deg to WeEu French Mon-Fri 2345-2400 on 9665 KCH 300 kW / 309 deg to WeEu Music Mon-Fri (DX RE MIX NEWS #780 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, May 10, via DXLD) I already confirmed and reported that this transmission IS ON THE AIR ON SUNDAYS, and explained why the correct UT days are Sunday-Thursday. How many more will copy the above incorrect info without comment? Is anyone paying attention? And the languages do not necessarily follow those exact timings. This was in DXLD 13-17: PRIDNESTROVYE. 9665, UT Sunday April 21 at 2339, Radio PMR is on, in German, music; 2358 ID, usual het from off-frequency Brazilian: great frequency choice! Just before 2400, another clear ID for Radio Pridnestrovye, and seamless transition without any break to V of Russia, Chariots-of-Fire and opening English to ``Latin`` America. Ever since someone discovered that Radio PMR had been rescheduled from 21-22 UT in B-12 to 23-24 UT in A-13, allegedly Monday-Friday, I have been suspecting the TRUE UT days are Sunday-Thursday, following their previous strange practice of saying ``Monday-Friday`` along with UT times, except the days of the week apply to local time where it is after midnite. Thus we may also confidently expect that this will NOT be on the air UT Friday as well as Saturday. The misassumption that it is M-F has been widely quoted without comment (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1666, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Strangely enough, this broadcast is missing completely from EiBi and Aoki (gh, DXLD) It remains to be confirmed that it is NOT on the air on UT Fridays: 9665, Friday May 10 at 2300 and later chex in the hour, NO signal from Radio PMR (but weak carrier from the off-frequency ZY on the lo side). This confirms what I have been reporting that the remaining 23-24 UT broadcast of Radio PMR is UT Sunday thru Thursday, NOT Monday-Friday even tho the station may put it that way, and others propagate this misinformation without checking or paying attention to what I have been trying to explain. Weeks ago I already confirmed it IS on the air on UT Sundays (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PUERTO RICO. 680, WAPA, ".. Wapa Radio" ID, 2350 to 0020 on 10/11 May (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, South Florida, Icom 746Pro, Drake R8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. Frequency changes of Voice of Russia: 1600-1800 NF 6035 NVS 250 kW / 180 deg to SoAs English, ex 6070 1600-1900 NF 5975 NVS 250 kW / 240 deg to CeAs Russian, ex 5925 (DX RE MIX NEWS #780 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, May 10, 2013 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Summer A-13 SW schedule of Adygeyan Radio: 1700-1800 on 7325 ARM 100 kW / 188 deg to CeAs Adygeyan Mon/Fri 1800-1900 on 7325 ARM 100 kW / 188 deg to CeAs Adygeyan Sun (DX RE MIX NEWS #780 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, May 10, via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Summer A-13 SW schedule of Tatarstan Wave: 0410-0500 on 15110 NVS 250 kW / 085 deg to FERu Tatar/Russian 0610-0700 on 9690 NVS 250 kW / 295 deg to CeAs Tatar/Russian 0810-0900 on 15195 ARM 100 kW / 327 deg to WeEu Tatar/Russian (DX RE MIX NEWS #780 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, May 10, via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. New summer A-13 SW schedule of Radio Rossii: 0000-0100 on 5930 P.K 100 kW / 030 deg to FERu Russian 0000-0100 on 5940 OKH 100 kW / 030 deg to FERu Russian 0000-0100 on 6085 KRS 050 kE / 348 deg to FERu Russian 0000-0100 on 6100 KRS 005 kE / non-dir to FERu Russian 0000-0100 on 6195 IRK 050 kW / non-dir to FERu Russian 0000-0100 on 7230 IAK 100 kW / 000 deg to FERu Russian 0000-0100 on 7320 OKH 100 kW / 045 deg to FERu Russian 0100-0500 on 5930 P.K 100 kW / 030 deg to FERu Russian 0100-0500 on 5930 MUR 050 kW / 339 deg to NoRu Russian 0100-0500 on 5940 OKH 100 kW / 030 deg to FERu Russian 0100-0500 on 6085 KRS 050 kE / 348 deg to FERu Russian 0100-0500 on 6100 KRS 005 kE / non-dir to FERu Russian 0100-0500 on 6160 MUR 050 kW / 333 deg to NoRu Russian 0100-0500 on 6195 IRK 050 kW / non-dir to FERu Russian 0100-0500 on 7230 IAK 100 kW / 000 deg to FERu Russian 0100-0500 on 7320 OKH 100 kW / 045 deg to FERu Russian 0400-0800 on 12070 MSK 250 kW / 267 deg to WeEu Russian 0500-1000 on 5930 P.K 100 kW / 030 deg to FERu Russian 0500-1000 on 5930 MUR 050 kW / 339 deg to NoRu Russian 0500-1000 on 5940 OKH 100 kW / 030 deg to FERu Russian 0500-1000 on 6085 KRS 050 kE / 348 deg to FERu Russian 0500-1000 on 6100 KRS 005 kE / non-dir to FERu Russian 0500-1000 on 6160 MUR 050 kW / 333 deg to NoRu Russian 0500-1000 on 6195 IRK 050 kW / non-dir to FERu Russian 0500-1000 on 7320 OKH 100 kW / 045 deg to FERu Russian 0830-1300 on 13665 MSK 250 kW / 267 deg to WeEu Russian 1000-1300 on 5930 P.K 100 kW / 030 deg to FERu Russian 1000-1300 on 5930 MUR 050 kW / 339 deg to NoRu Russian 1000-1300 on 5940 OKH 100 kW / 030 deg to FERu Russian 1000-1300 on 6085 KRS 050 kE / 348 deg to FERu Russian 1000-1300 on 6100 KRS 005 kE / non-dir to FERu Russian 1000-1300 on 6160 MUR 050 kW / 333 deg to NoRu Russian 1000-1300 on 6195 IRK 050 kW / non-dir to FERu Russian 1000-1300 on 7320 OKH 100 kW / 045 deg to FERu Russian 1300-1700 on 5930 MUR 050 kW / 339 deg to NoRu Russian 1300-1700 on 6085 KRS 050 kE / 348 deg to FERu Russian 1300-1700 on 6100 KRS 005 kE / non-dir to FERu Russian 1300-1700 on 6160 MUR 050 kW / 333 deg to NoRu Russian 1300-1700 on 6195 IRK 050 kW / non-dir to FERu Russian 1330-1700 on 13735 MSK 250 kW / 267 deg to WeEu Russian 1700-1900 on 5930 P.K 100 kW / 030 deg to FERu Russian 1700-1900 on 5930 MUR 050 kW / 339 deg to NoRu Russian 1700-1900 on 5940 OKH 100 kW / 030 deg to FERu Russian 1700-1900 on 6160 MUR 050 kW / 333 deg to NoRu Russian 1700-1900 on 7320 OKH 100 kW / 045 deg to FERu Russian 1730-2100 on 7215 MSK 250 kW / 267 deg to WeEu Russian 1900-2100 on 5930 P.K 100 kW / 030 deg to FERu Russian 1900-2100 on 5930 MUR 050 kW / 339 deg to NoRu Russian 1900-2100 on 5940 OKH 100 kW / 030 deg to FERu Russian 1900-2100 on 6160 MUR 050 kW / 333 deg to NoRu Russian 1900-2100 on 7230 IAK 100 kW / 000 deg to FERu Russian 1900-2100 on 7320 OKH 100 kW / 045 deg to FERu Russian 2100-2400 on 6085 KRS 050 kE / 348 deg to FERu Russian 2100-2400 on 6100 KRS 005 kE / non-dir to FERu Russian 2100-2400 on 6195 IRK 050 kW / non-dir to FERu Russian 2100-2400 on 7230 IAK 100 kW / 000 deg to FERu Russian (DX RE MIX NEWS #780 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, May 10, 2013 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. 6100, Radio Kyzyl, heard at 1200 GMT sign-on on 5/10/13. IS, ID in Chinese, then ID in Russian, "Govorit Radio Kyzyl." I believe this daily transmission is via Chinese transmitters (Bob Brossell, Pewaukee WI, JRC NRD-545; Eton E1; Sony ICF SW-77, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) EiBi and Aoki both show Radio Rossii, Kyzyl on at this time. A local ID or local programming? (Mark Taylor, ed., ibid.) I believe he is not hearing 500-watt (per Aoki) or even 5 kW (per WRTH) Kyzyl, Tannu Tuva, at all, but the scheduled CRI Russian broadcast, 500 kW, 55 degrees from Beijing also USward. Standard format for that it to ID in Chinese, then Russian ``Govorit Mezhdunarodnoye Radio Kitaya``, which would certainly not be relaying a small Russian station on its very same frequency, and which he should be able to confirm as CRI Russian by // to some other frequencies [such as 11935 which I later did]. My questioning his previous log of this was ignored (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA [and non]. /BURYATIA/PHILIPPINES: Buryat Radio under ?China? on 6195 was noted with ID in Russian followed by program in vernacular at 2240 on April 29. On 11650 at 1533 on May 2, ID “Radio Teos Buryatia“ and religious program in maybe Buryat language – usually 1500-1600 on 11650 is with radio Teos, St Petersburg program in Russian and Ukrainian (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria, WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6195 = SELENGINSK, SIBERIA (WRTH via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Arkhangelskaya oblast. Arkhangelsk. In late April, based on the reception of the radio center of Arkhangelsk radio television transmitting center began preparing for the next phase of tests of modern systems of digital short-wave radio. Very soon new data transmission technology will be many months "baptism of fire" in a really difficult climatic conditions of the National Park "Russian Arctic", located on the Franz Josef Land, and in the Nenets Autonomous District. Communications center will continue to Arkhangelsk - the oldest Russian "gateway to the Arctic." Recall that in the late summer of 2012 in Arkhangelsk and Naryan-Mar specialists of the Russian Television and Broadcasting Network and the famous German company Rohde & Schwarz conducted the first in our country successfully tested a new digital radio transmitters operating in the short-wave band. The positive results of the experiment clearly demonstrated the importance and potential introduction of advanced radio technologies in extreme conditions of the Far North, so a new test program has been expanded. - This year, the program provides not only technical testing equipment, and work in the real world for a particular customer, - said the head of the Radio RTRS Andrew Tereshin. - As stakeholders act of the Arkhangelsk Oblast and Nenets Autonomous District, as well as the leadership of the park "Russian Arctic", which requires reliable digital communications to remote areas. Another difference from last year's test is that this time, work will continue uninterrupted for several months, as compared with short sessions, with maximum precision will evaluate the quality of communication and to identify possible "bottlenecks". It should be noted that for the Far North of Russia and its Arctic coast, shortwave radio is not an alternative type of communication, and sometimes the only way to communicate with the "mainland." It is clear that the cost of paving, for example, fiber-optic cable over such distances would be "unaffordable" for the budget of any country. There is not much hope, and for satellite communications - in the polar regions with latitude above 70 degrees they work very unstable, and the traffic is obtained is extremely expensive: more than $3 per minute. In addition, in the event of a sudden deterioration of the military-political situation satellite communications can be instantly paralyzed, so its strategic reserve can not be considered. Special and truly national significance program development and implementation of a new generation of digital short-wave communication takes on priority development programs of the Arctic coast and the revival of the Northern Sea Route, one of the offices which, by the way, will be established in Arkhangelsk. The new road will cut travel time for goods in transit is almost three times, and it can prinestinashey country in the WTO substantial economic benefits, but it needs a lot of effort. The fact is that in Soviet times almost the entire coast was provided by hydro-meteorological stations and HF communication, and thus the court had links with the shore. To date, no communication infrastructure, and this creates, in particular for seafarers considerable inconvenience. According to the polar captains in parts satellite completely impossible, and other forms of communication available to sailors is now simply no ... - Returning to the short-wave communication - a measure of forced and completely justified, moreover, it is a worldwide trend - says Andrey Tereshin. - In particular, in the United States working to create such a system was carried out about 10 years ago and has cost taxpayers billions of dollars. As a result, today HF transmitters provide reliable communications with subordinate U.S. government agencies around the world. According to experts, the current stage of transition "back to the future" is not using outdated for today "classic" tube transmitters, and on the basis of an entirely new material - with the use of digital technologies and fundamentally different equipment. Practice shows that the whole civilized world has already successfully switched to packet data technology, and our country, too, there is no other way out. - At the trials in Arkhangelsk are two of the most modern type of shortwave transmitters - the Russian system PIER (the latest development of the Russian Institute of High-Power Radio - RIMR), and one of the most modern equipment sets (4000 series) company Rohde & Schwarz, - told nachalniknauchnogo Division 3 branches NIIR -SONIIR Sergei Sevostianov. - These types of equipment have not been used in Russia, so operational experience, particularly in the high latitudes, our signalers not. Our goal - to find out the behavior of the "figure" in the conditions of ionospheric disturbances, it is well known that in the North of radio propagation conditions are constantly changing. Participating in the experiment, scientists and communications experts are confident that they will be able to attract the attention of the country's leadership to the need to create a backup communications system. The best illustration of how popular and there is no alternative in extreme conditions is the HF bond may be events such as flooding in Krymsk when traditional forms of communication almost did not work. Since mid-May to late fall, "digital radio bridges" will connect with Archangel Franz Josef Land and the NAO. Poitogam work will make recommendations on the use of new types of equipment and antenna systems, the development of tariffs for the commercial use of communication channels. - Short-wave radio communication is inexpensive compared to other types of telecommunication, and this is one of its major advantages. At the same time it has its drawbacks, such as, for example, sensitivity to noise and magnetic fields, - the head of the radio RTRS Andrew Tereshin. - At HF communications netzadach work as usual for all of us high-speed Internet access. However, even today's rates for the transfer of "packets" of information will be sufficient to meet the needs of geologists, meteorologists, mariners, bankers. And in cases of emergencies HF communication was, is and will be an essential tool for maintaining systems of management of public institutions. http://rtrs.livejournal.com/120213.html (via Dmitry Kutuzov, Ryazan, Russia / "deneb-radio-dx", RusDX 12 May via DXLD) WTFK?? But all this seems utility, not broadcasting (gh) ** RWANDA. 6055, R. Rwanda heard this evening (10 May) from 0303 UT tune with armchair quality signal - best heard here. SINPO 55444. Various pop and ethnic music selections and occasional man in presumed Kinyarwanda until suddenly disappeared at 0332 UT and did not reappear until 0345.5 UT with a man - program tune (classical piece) and a feature program with man announcer at 0346. Program tune at 0359 UT followed by IS on a local instrument and station ID by man in new language (assume Swahili). Into news by man and woman with recorded announcement by woman and man with echo at 0401.5 UT. "International Justice Mission" mentioned in news at 0402.5 UT. It seems this is not the original 50 kW R. Rwanda transmitter but either the 100 KW or 250 kw formerly used by Deutsche Welle (Bruce W. Churchill, CA, DXplorer May 10 via BCDX May 12 via DXLD) ** SAINT HELENA. With new closings of shortwave services being announced every few months, here is some good news for some displaced broadcaster ready for a bit of adventure. Have you ever thought about living in an exotic DX location? The following advertisement appeared in the 25 April 2013 edition of the Saint Helena Sentinental [sic]. "VACANCY (SOUTH ATLANTIC MEDIA SERSVICE) SAMS RADIO 1 Presenter "SAMS Radio 1 has a vacancy for a dedicated presenter. The role requires someone with a confident, bubbly personality who will lead our Sunrise and Afternoon Drive shows. A good knowledge of music and general interest topics will be preferred. The presenter will also be required to conduct interviews with various guests. There will be a requirement to work outside of regular work hours, including weekends and some location work. Salary dependent on skills and experience. Please contact Darrin Henry at SAMS to apply. Ceo @ shbc.sh tel +(290) 2727" (via Joe Buch, DXLD) ** SAIPAN. NORTHERN MARIANNA ISLANDS, Presumed KCNM from Saipan heard on 21 April on 1079.91 (Hiroyuki Okamura, Japan via MW OZ Yahoo Group via May NZ DX Times via DXLD) Any time, or program details?? ** SARAWAK [non]. 15460, Radio Free Sarawak via Taiwan. May 9 was clearly a repeat of yesterday’s show; per their website, was the last program they will produce at this time; they really are winding down post-election; fair to good; Dr. Mohd Faisal from the “Universiti Malaysia Sarawak” with commentary in assume Iban; numerous IDs during random listening from 1136 to 1250. Brief audio attached. Attachment(s) from Ron Howard 1 of 1 File(s) Radio Free Sarawak, 15460 kHz, 1159 UT, May 9, 2013.mp3 (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Free Sarawak, nothing heard on 15460 via Taiwan at 1100-1300 UT on May 11 and 12. QRT or accident? (S. Hasegawa, Japan, ibid.) Hi S. Hasegawa, A pause after the elections and the last program was on 09/May [see Ron`s report above] (Jorge Freitas, ibid.) Dear Jorge, I confirm service on May 10 at *1055-1259* UT. But, it was only music and filler on May 11 at *1055-1107* UT (S. Hasegawa, ibid.) Hi S. Hasegawa, So QRT after 10/May. Let's monitor. Thank you, (Jorge Freitas, ibid.) Sorry for any confusion. "Last program" did not mean their last broadcast, but was simply the last program that was produced by RFS. That identical "last program" was broadcast each day on May 8, 9 and 10. Aoki: 15460x Radio Free Sarawak 1100-1300 Paochung TWN Apr. 28-May 10. (Ron Howard, ibid.) Cancelled transmissions of Radio Free Sarawak: 1100-1300 on 15460 PAO 100 kW / 200 deg to SEAs Iban from May 11 (DX RE MIX NEWS #781 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, May 15, 2013 via DXLD) Radio Free Sarawak Services Suspended By Rob Wagner in Cumbre Facebook. http://medxr.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/radio-free-sarawak-is-taking-rest-break.html 73 (via Jorge Freitas, May 15, dxldyg via DXLD) Viz.: Radio Free Sarawak is taking a rest break after last week's Malaysian elections. Transmissions were suspended from May 7, until further notice. Radio Free Malaysia is also reported to have closed down. I expect to see both these stations operating again in the future. The public face of RFS is Clare Rewcastle Brown. In a recent email, she said: “We are just taking a pre-planned rest like we did after the (2011) Sarawak election. We are such a small team and have worked non-stop for a year to provide people with information and support up to the election and now we are taking a month to re-charge our batteries.” She went on to say that the team would "re-group soon". An interesting article in The Star Online news outlet tells the story, and mentions RFS receiving the Free Media Pioneer Award during World Press Freedom Day on May 3. RFS began broadcasting in November 2010. Brown said: "We were not expecting the award, which was a huge boost, but my staff are only human and they were promised a holiday and they are getting it! We will be back, I am sure, bigger and better.” Some feedback from listeners at the station's website included these comments: Clare, Michael, Christina, K Burung Tiong, Papa Orang Utan, you are big celebrities in the Sarawak. Please, please don't shut down RFS for good. I witnessed longhouse folks looking forward to gathering around their little radios each day. You are much loved. RFS gave people the platform to voice what they have been feeling all these times, and it liberates and empowers them. The state election will be here before you know it. Please tell your listeners how they can help you continue RFS. (Linda) This is awful news - free radio stations are essential to democracy. I hope it will not be too long till you are back on the air. If anything, I hope that there will be free radio stations for all parts of Malaysia one day! (lovemalaysia2) Perjuangan belum selesai, thank you RFS you all did an extraordinary sacrifices. So long we meet again. WE SALUTE YE !!!!! (Anak Melikin) The website also stated: "While most PR supporters are still reeling from the results of the GE13 amidst widespread rigging that are essentially acts of treason, activists and ordinary people alike are not giving up on booting out the BN government The have set their sights on the 11th state election that will have to be conducted latest by early 2016." One radio but lots of listeners! Longhouses are perfect for communal listening [caption] The Star Online also reported: The radio’s broadcast was a major part of Pakatan’s campaign in the lead-up to the 13th general election. Sarawak PKR vice-chairman See Chee How yesterday said he fully expected RFS to return “after a long break”. “We are very sure they will return,” See said. See, a native land rights lawyer who won the Batu Lintang state seat in 2011, said RFS was the most effective means of communicating with rural voters. He said PKR has for the last two years distributed close to 50,000 free receiver sets in the rural areas to encourage more people to listen to the station. “The station was one of the most effective ways for us to communicate. It allowed listeners an opportunity to listen to alternative news. It also helps rural listeners to feel connected to other villagers and towns,” See said. There is an excellent article on RFS's International Media Award in the Malaysia Chronicle, published on Friday May 3. It includes some insights into how the station operated and the impact it had on its targeted audience. Recommended reading. You'll find it at: Radio Free Sarawak Wins Top International Media Award 73, Rob VK3BVW (via Freitas, ibid.) Including: There is an excellent article on RFS's International Media Award in the Malaysia Chronicle, published on Friday May 3. It includes some insights into how the station operated and the impact it had on its targeted audience. Recommended reading. You'll find it at: Radio Free Sarawak Wins Top International Media Award http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=96142:radio-free-sarawak-wins-top-international-media-award&Itemid=2 73, (Rob VK3BVW, blog as above via DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA. 15434.983, Terrible hum / buzzy outlet from BSKSA Call of Islam from Riyadh site, at 1450-1800 UT according Aoki Nagoya list. Broadband hum buzz visible also on 15414 to 15456 kHz range ... S-9+35dB signal strength. 73 wb DXLDYG ** SAUDI ARABIA. Note: New Jeddah SW transmitter site has been reported with random test transmissions (WRTH A-13 update first edition May 13, via Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) e.g. 15500 heard one day only in April; so not Riyadh site (gh, DXLD) ** SERBIA [non]. 9685, May 11 at 0057, International Radio Serbia is back! Usual VG signal, hitting all the bars on the DX-398, significantly stronger than VOR/Pridnestrovye on 9665, with folk music, 0059 English announcement with website http://www.voiceofserbia.org which is a lot simpler than the original Serbian version; 0100 IS variations, 0102 in Serbian. This had vanished after last log on UT May 2; altho not checked May 9 or 10, I have yet to see any other reports of it back on those dates. Transmission schedule (miscalled ``program schedule``) tho bearing current A-13 season dates at http://voiceofserbia.org/program-schedule is still headed ``Radio Yugoslavia Shortwave``! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) They are on air tonight on 6100, noted around 1830, wrapping up Russian with plugging the next, non-existant transmission on 9635 (or has the low power transmitter at Stubline been reactivated?). A bit of IS, then next broadcast in English. Unsurprisingly no carrier break in between. I understand that the transmitter at Jabanusa is now permanently connected to a northwest- aiming curtain and the antenna switch disabled (and/or all other antennas unusable?). (Kai Ludwig, May 11, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn/Kai, I meant to post this earlier, but forgot - however I noted International Radio Serbia on air on 6100 with news at 2100 in English last night (10th May). (Alan Roe, Teddington, UK, ibid.) ** SOMALILAND. 7120, May 9 at 0332, no signal detectable from R. Hargeisa around its usual sign-on. I had not sought it lately, but Ron Howard was also surprised to find it absent May 6 at 0350. Others, please check (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Kouji, Are you still hearing Somaliland 7120 until around 1900*? We are no longer hearing it in the mornings from 0330. Regards, (Glenn to Kouji Hashimoto, May 10, via DXLD) R. Hargeisa inactive on May 10 from Apr 30: 7120, R. Hargeisa, May 11 1355-1359*, 34433, Somali, HOA music, ID at 1357, National anthem, 1359 sign off. 7120, R. Hargeisa, May 11 1850-1901*, 34333-35333, Somali, Talk, ID at 1856 and 1900, 1900 Closing music, 1901 sign off (Kouji Hashimoto, RX, IC-R75, NRD-525+RD-9830, NRD-515, NRD-345, Satellite 750, DE-1121; ANT, 70m Sloper Wire, WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7120, Radio Hargaysa, 1323-1341, May 11. Their daily segment in English; 1341 went to assume Somali language and played their usual theme music at end of English segment; poor (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Surprised still propagating this time of year, long-path (gh) ** SOUTH AFRICA. Is anyone picking up a carrier on 9378.70? It is // to Channel Africa on 9625, but a very odd frequency offset for a spur or similar. A quite readable signal; I first noticed it on a FRG8800 I have just repaired, but then, rather puzzled, confirmed it on my usual Drake R8. May 14, 0805-0822 and ongoing. [Later:] Definitely a spur; also present on 9871.3 (Bill Bingham, Johannesburg RSA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH AFRICA. AMATEUR RADIO TODAY (EX AMATEUR RADIO MIRROR INTERNATIONAL) kHz: 3230, 7205, 17660 Summer [sic] Schedule 2013 English Days Area kHz 0800-0900 ......s SAf 7205mey 0800-0900 ......s EAf 17660mey 1630-1730 m...... SAf 3230mey (WRTH A-13 update first edition May 13, via Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Note change of name (gh, DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. THE OVERCOMER MINISTRY (Rlg) kHz: 3185, 5890, 7490, 9370, 9655, 9980, 13810, 15420 Summer Schedule 2013 English Days Area kHz 0000-1200 daily NAm 3185wrb 0200-1200 daily NAm,CAf 5890wcr 1000-1200 .....s. NAm,CAm 15420bcq* 1200-2400 daily NAm,CAf 9980wcr 1200-2400 daily NAm 9370wrb 1400-1600 mtwt... Eu 9655nau 1400-1600 daily Eu,NAf,ME 13810iss 1400-1600 ....fss Eu 9655mos 2000-2300 daily NAm,CAm 7490bcq Key: * AM/USB (WRTH A-13 update first edition May 13, via Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) NOTE: the bcq times are incorrect, evidently EDT, not UT. Separate WBCQ schedule is correct. Also completely misses the fact that TOM is on WRMI to the tune of 110 hours per week; see U S A below (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN. QSL: viernes, 3 de mayo de 2013, EAJ62 - RADIO VITORIA - Vitoria (E) - QSL --- El programa especial de Radio Vitoria 1602 kHz, cerrando las emisiones de la EAJ62, después de casi 80 años en antena, no llegó en buenas condiciones hasta Aldea del Cano. Se mantuvo de fondo casi todo el tiempo a las emisoras de la SER, especialmente fuerte llegaba Radio Linares. Este programa se emitió entre las 2030 y las 2200 UT del pasado 30 de abril. Alguno de los mejores momentos me han servido para enviarles el informe de recepción que solicitaban. Esta mañana he recibido la respuesta de Fco. Javier Machain Irastorza adjuntando la e-QSL en formato pdf. Muchas gracias! (Mauricio Molano, Spain, blog info http://moladx.blogspot.it/ via Dario Monferini, May 7, playdx yg via DXLD) ** SPAIN. 15385, 15-17 UT, REE distorted audio, wrong final tube or feeder --- REE Spanish service weekdays 15-17 UT at 162 degrees towards Guinea Ecuatorial former Spanish empire target, on this channel terrible scratchy audio like R Cairo quality level, needs alignment or exchange of the final tube; compared to much better audio on \\ 21610 kHz. 73 wb df5sx (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, 1529 UT May 9, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) [non]. 11910, Sunday May 12 at 1240, `Amigos de la Onda Corta`, via Beijing. Audio on this relay is harsh, verging on distorted, nothing like Noblejas or Cariari (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SRI LANKA. At 18 UT today, noticed no SLBC on 11750. Closed early? Gone? Not there, not a Q of bad reception (Derek Lynch, Ireland, May 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SRI LANKA. Sinhala Days Area kHz 1630-1830 daily ME 11750trm (WRTH A-13 update first edition May 13, via Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Note all other SLBC on SW shown still as via Ekala site (gh, DXLD) In the meantime I am on a project with PCJMedia of Keith Perron, Taiwan, who is hiring airtime on Trincomalee site for 4 Sundays starting very soon 1300-1400, and 1400-1500 UT beaming to East and SE Asia, 125 kW from Trincomalee. Will advise about frequencies and times as soon as we work them out. Might be as early as 2nd Sunday in May. PCJ will issue e-QSLs. By the way, Trincomalee is available for airtime. They have 3 x 300 kW SW transmitters on DRM capable and one 400 kW MW also capable of DRM. Easy to calculate cost of hiring, $1 per kW hour. Minimum 125 kW or $125 an hour for 125 kW or 250$ at 250 kW! For regular customers discounts available. Anyone wants to do a special DX program? You are welcome (Victor Goonetilleke, 4S7VK, Sri Lanka, DXplorer April 30, mail from Australia trip via BCDX May 12 via DXLD) see TAIWAN [non] ** SRI LANKA [non]. Voice of Tigers at 1500-1600 UT on 12250 kHz, 17- 18 May 2013 ??? (Jaisakthivel, Tamil Nadu, May 16, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) So you heard something like this was in the offing? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Anything heard? ** SUDAN [non]. 11560, May 10 at 0519, good signal with hilife music, 0521 non-English announcement, i.e. Miraya FM, which does have some English portions. Ivo Ivanov`s latest DX Re Mix schedule puts it thus: ``SECRETLAND Summer A-13 of transmissions via Secretbrod (with great probability) 0300-0600 on 11560 SCB 050 kW / 195 deg to EaAf English/Arabic Radio Miraya`` --- meaning the contentious Kostinbrod site near Sofia, BULGARIA (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWAZILAND. 15104.972, TWR Manzini SWZ noted with a very fine signal at 1608 UT on May 9, here in Germany on S=9+20dB level! Kirundi language requested for 1557 to 1627 UT slot, sounds little like similar "Brazilian Portuguese" sound tonality. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN. 15800, 0728, SOH Xi Wang Zhi Sheng (tent), music only, poor – 23/3 JW 17370, 0750, SOH Xi Wang Zhi Sheng (tent), music only, good – 23/3 JW (Jonathon Wood, Mosgiel, New Zealand, FRG-7, Dipole & Inverted L pointing SSE/NNW, May NZ DX Times via DXLD) ?? music only and a good signal ought to make it tentatively ChiCom Firedrake jamming, as then in effect, not SOH, unless you recognized the music as NOT Firedrake (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN. 9774, Fu Hsing BS. The past week they have been erratic! May 11 found // 9410 (clearly under much stronger CNR5) at 1150. Recently noted that sometimes one or the other frequency is not broadcasting (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN. New frequency 9746.00, Voice of Han, ex 9745.0. Noted May 15 during checks from 1215 to 1328; in Chinese, mostly long conversations with some EZL music; adjacent QRM; nothing heard on ex 9745.0. Information at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voice_of_Han ; VOH website at http://www.voh.com.tw/ (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9746.2!!! V Han / Kuanghua, 2205 15/5, with Chinese songs 2208, discussions at 2222 with poor modulation. Signal S7. Bahrain is ‘clear’ on 9745 (after removing the het). If Taiwan are to shift is better to shift in lower frequency so that Bahrain to be heard clearer!! (Zachrias Liangas, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN [non]. PCJMEDIA TESTS FROM TRINCOMALEE Keith Perron of PCJ Media informs that two special broadcasts between 1300-1400 on Sunday 19th and 26th May will take the air on 11750 kHz from Trincomalee, Sri Lanka beamed to East and SE Asia with 125 kW. Reports are wanted and all reports will be QSLed --- pcjqsl @ pcjmedia.com with all details with E QSLs and hard copy for those who want them. Two more broadcasts will also take place between 1400-1500 on the following two Sundays. Frequencies will be announced later. Your reports will be most welcome (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, May 13, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Previous info had the last two also at 13-14. Over here there will be a problem with Habana on 11750 starting at 1300, altho normally weakish, supposedly 250 kW aimed to S America. At 1400-1500 per Aoki and HFCC, there will be a big problem in Asia, with Philippines` FEBC in the first semihour, RVA in the other. What are they thinking? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Now time to reveal the content of the PCJ test transmissions from Trincomalee on 11750. The first 15 minutes will be Focus Asia Pacific presented by Andy Sennitt. This will follow a special Happy Station Show for listeners in Southeast and East Asia. There will be a surprise giveaway. But I'm not going to say what it is. You will need to tune in (Facebook, Keith Perron posted in PCJ Media and PCJ Radio May 15 2013 via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) PCJ Radio International will be conducting a test: 1300-1400 on 11750 TRM 125 kW / 045 deg to EaAs Sun May 19, 26 and June 2, 9 (DX RE MIX NEWS #781 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, May 15, 2013 via DXLD) see also SRI LANKA ** TAIWAN. FROM RTI Website dated May 15th. "Starting from July 1st, RTI will be concluding its (English) transmission to the Philippines from 0100 to 0200 UT on 11875 and from 1100 to 1200 UT on 9465 kHz." As both transmissions emanate from Tainan, you can bet that this is the date that all transmissions from this transmitter site cease (forever). IB (Ian Baxter, NSW, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAJIKISTAN. See also newly designed JSC "Teleradiocom" website also various photo image sites visible at Yangi Yul and Orzu sites, in collaboration with IBB Lampertheim Germany {taken four images #1-4}, which erected the Thomson 800 kW MW unit on Orzu 972 kHz in 2006/2008, as well as new 500 kW Continental shortwave, plus older 250 kW unit removed from previous IBB Kavalla Greece site, in 2010 (Wolfgang Büschel, May 6, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews May 12 via DXLD) ** TAJIKISTAN. IN TAJIKISTAN, THE RUSSIAN BEGAN TO JAM RADIO "STAR" Tajik communications service started jamming signal to the Russian radio station "The Star", which is relayed to the territory located in the Republic of Russian military base. This RIA Novosti reported. "They have established a powerful transmitter next to a military base and began to broadcast - quoted by a customer service representative" Asia-Plus ". - That is why we have taken steps to block the signal covers the entire territory of Dushanbe." The source pointed out that the frequency for the radio station "Star" in Tajikistan did not stand out. In the local Committee for Television and Radio, in turn, said that the broadcasting license in Tajikistan "Star" can not receive. According to the Tajik legislation, such licenses are not available television and radio broadcasting organizations controlled by foreign nationals. A spokesman for the 201st Russian military base Dmitry Matushkin, in turn, said that the relay is Russian radio since 1996. "Our TV and Radio ... is accredited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan, and so far no such problems arise. However, we have repeatedly called for an official letter to the CTE for a license," - he said. According to the source, the signal is sent from the transmitter to the military base. "But this is a circular light, and we can not fully control the space to which it applies," - he explained. A spokesman also referred to the agreement on the terms of Russian base in Tajikistan, the Tajik side on which undertakes to provide Russian military channels of communication, electricity and other forms of public utility supply. Radio station "Star" is a media group of "Radio Company of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation "Star", "together with the same TV channel. It positions itself as a "contemporary music radio conversation that pays special attention to the patriotic and military issues." The Russian military base in Tajikistan was established in the mid- 2000s. It was formed on the basis of the 201st Motorized Rifle Division, located in the territory of the republic in the Soviet times (she participated in combat operations in Afghanistan, and after graduation was stationed on the territory of the Tajik SSR). Russian troops are based in Dushanbe and Kulyab and Kurgan-Tube. lenta.ru (OnAir.ru) (via RusDX via DXLD) I know it would entail a fair amount of work, but someone fluent in Russian and English could render a great service by translating these machine translations into something that makes sense in English. Some of this stuff comes out saying the opposite of what was surely intended, if not just incomprehensible (gh, DXLD) ** TAJIKISTAN. Subject: [vhfskip] Re: 29760 unID radio broadcast: Thanks to Mauno this is most likely: 6th harmonic of VOR Dushanbe in Dari from 4960 kHz. The song Russian "Rozovyy Slon" song is another indicator. Thanks to all who helped. Jurgen Bartels Suellwarden, N. Germany Ant. hor: 29-45MHz 7-el, 45-87MHz 11-el, FM 15.11, Band-3:13-el, UHF: 48-el TV: Winradio G305 / Fly2000 + video noise filter & variable IF BW FM: Downconverter + Perseus + Speclab as WFM demod. MW: 30 x 4m EWE 320 with JB-terminator, Winradio & Perseus http://zeiterfassung.3sdesign.de/station_list.htm (May 8 via Tim Bucknall, Congleton, UK, harmonics yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DXLD) date and time? Original log was not forwarded. Pashto & Dari scheduled at 12-14 UT (gh, WORLD OF RADIO 1669, ibid.) ** TATARSTAN [non]. Re: ``15110, May 4 at 0458, poor signal with flutter in non-Russian talk, no doubt Tatarstan Wave as scheduled from 0410; 0459 a bit of music and different talk, maybe a bit of Russian? Off 0500* before I could decide. Need to listen from the outset for the music. What is the real site now? HFCC, Aoki and EiBi all show Samara, RUSSIA which is also still in HFCC for many other transmissions (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, Interesting your question about transmitter site for Tatarstan Wave. The new "Dx Re Mix News #780" posted to dxldyg shows major changes. 0410-0500 on 15110 and 0610-0700 on 9690 both are now via Novosibirsk- Oyash (NVS), while 0810-0900 on 15195 is now via Armavir (ARM). Both sites a long way from former site of Samara! Samara site closed down? (Ron Howard, CA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, Samara SW site seemingly closed down now. Tatar nationals were expelled and scattered over a wide area in former USSR Stalin's dictatorship. Tatar descendants, they live widespread from Kaliningrad, Belarus, Ukraine, St. P. area in the western part, up to central Asia regions. 15110 and 9690 are meant to Central and Eastern Russia/Siberia target, up to Baikal Sea and Amur region. At 58 degrees from Samara to Russian Far East. 15195 from Armavir is meant to the descendants at western part of Russia. At 294 degrees from Samara, now meant towards Moscow, St.P, Baltic States. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Sorry, but you are mixing up between the Crimean Tatars, who were really expelled during late WWII to the Central Asia, and the Volga Tatars, who live in the Republic of Tatarstan and all over Russia for centuries. Although both Crimean Tatar and Volga Tatar (in which "Tatarstan Wave" broadcasts in) languages are Turkic, they are quite different. – (Aleksandr Diadischev, Ukraine, ibid.) The closing of the Samara site was already discussed at the end of last year, along with St. Petersburg, et al. Yet it continued to be listed, even in A-13 HFCC for many transmissions. How about some glasnost? As in DXLD 13-01: ``And concerning the transmission facilities in Russia: Going dark will Krasny Bor (sorry for Mikhail Timofeyev, of course, as elsewhere, also his colleagues) and Samara. What still remains to be seen is what will become of Kurovskaya, Novosibirsk town and the other main plants further east (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Dec 28, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Also check winter B-12 schedule of Tatarstan Wave in Tatar/Russian: 0410-0500 on 11895 SAM 160 kW / 058 deg to FE 0610-0700 on 9410 SAM 250 kW / 058 deg to RUS 0810-0900 on 11610 SAM 250 kW / 294 deg to WeEu (DX RE MIX NEWS #761 from Georgi Bancov & Ivo Ivanov, Dec. 30, 2012 via DXLD) Because Samara is closing, so will this continue from elsewhere? (gh, DXLD) SUMMARY OF SW, MW CUTS FROM 1 JANUARY Below is a summary of various SW and MW transmitter closures which are are mostly due to take effect from 1 January. This is summarised from reports which will be in January Communication (DX News and Medium Wave Report): Russia -St Petersburg SW/MW site is closing (including MW 1494 kHz) -Samara SW site is also reported to be closing. -Mayak is closing on MW/LW throughout Russia -Voice of Russia is reducing some of its SW/MW output across its language services following budget cuts. (Dave Kenny, BDXC, 29 December 2012)`` Na volne Tatarstana 15195 (Re: Dx Re Mix News #780) 15195 kHz: Carrier already on when first checked at 0957 [sic; must be MESZ = 0757 UT], with a background hiss/roar reminding me of earlier transmissions from the Tbilisskaya site, related to the 100 kW transmitters there I think, suggesting that indeed the Navolne Tatarstana transmissions have been moved out of Samara and this site is in all likelihood gone for good. No test tones, just open carrier until the programming started at 0810 and my chin dropped: Badly muffled, distorted, chopped by a noise gate with very high treshold, as if they dusted off equipment last used in the era of Boris Yeltsin. The transmission is just unlistenable and a mere waste of money until they fix this (Kai Ludwig, Germany, May 11, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Messages from the "open_dx": Bulgarian DXers reported that "In the wake [sic] of Tatarstan" is no longer going through Samara and Novosibirsk and Krasnodar through radio centers. This would mean that the Samara radio center is now fully open [sic]. It's someone may confirm, for example local observations? Thank you in advance! (Eike, Bierwirth, Leipzig, Germany, via RusDX via DXLD) Terrible translation, as per previous discussion here, Nov and Kras reported to be the sites now, and saying Samara is fully CLOSED, not open. But is it? (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) Viz.: RUSSIA Summer A-13 SW schedule of Tatarstan Wave: 0410-0500 on 15110 NVS 250 kW / 085 deg to FERu Tatar / Russian 0610-0700 on 9690 NVS 250 kW / 295 deg to CeAs Tatar / Russian 0810-0900 on 15195 ARM 100 kW / 327 deg to WeEu Tatar / Russian [DX ReMix News] 11 May Accept [meaning received!] "Na volne Tatarstana": - From 0410 UT on 15110 with 55555 points on folded telescope. Neither of which Krasnoyarsk and Novosibirsk in this point of the question, obviously, can not. - "Na volne Tatarstana" I hear c 0610 UT on 9690 with 45554 points. If take into account that the transfer to Central Asia, and I'm in the opposite aside from the RC to the north-north-west, then all logical. - Last broadcast today on "Na volne Tatarstana", in 0810 UT on 15195 with 55555 points, on a folded telescope, without fading. - Thus, the move "Na volne Tatrstana" from Samara anywhere else - not yet taken place (QTH Samara, Rx Tecsun, PL-660, Vladimir Emelyanov, Samara, Russia, ibid. via WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DXLD) The main factor in my opinion is the presence of fading. Local Radio Centre almost never stops (Alexander Egorov, Kiev, Ukraine, ibid.) RUSSIA. NA VOLNE TATARSTANA (TATARSTAN DULKYNYNDA) (Gov) (RE-INSTATED ENTRY) kHz: 9690, 15110, 15195 Summer Schedule 2013 Tatar/Russian Days Area kHz 0410-0500 daily EAs 15110sam 0610-0700 daily CAs 9690sam 0810-0900 daily Eu 15195sam Note: Also known, in English, as ‘Tatarstan Wave’ (WRTH A-13 update first edition May 13, via Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Discussion about true transmitter site(s): still Samara here too (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TUNISIA. (TUN) RADIO TUNISIENNE ‡ (Gov) kHz: 7225, 7275, 7335, 7345, 17735 Summer Schedule 2013 Arabic Days Area kHz 0400-0510 daily NAf,ME 17735sfa‡ 0400-0625 daily Eu 7275sfa‡ 0600-0810 daily NAf 7335sfa‡ 1600-2010 daily NAf,ME 17735sfa‡ 1700-2110 daily NAf 7225sfa‡ 1900-2310 daily NAf 7345sfa‡ Key: ‡ Inactive at time of publication (WRTH A-13 update first edition May 13, via Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) But 7275 was back on May 14 as I reported; apparently the others are not – yet? But here is the [former] full schedule. Keep checking – gh 7275, May 14 at 0526, IWT is back! With Arab music, 0530 Arabic talk somewhat undermodulated. Only fair signal now unlike winters, with lots of absorption in the way. Have been checking this every night since last heard April 23, i.e. missing for 20 days, as were all other frequencies. Are those back too? 17735 & 7335 mornings, 17735, 7225, 7345 evenings (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Nothing heard at 1830 UT on either 17735 or 7225 kHz from Sfax Tunisia (Wolfgang Büschel, May 14, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7275, May 15 at 0521, Arabic music, undermodulated; 0532 no ID heard but Arabic talk for a while. I stayed up past 0600 to hear whether the other IWT morning frequency, 7335 would come on, but it did not, and by then 7275 was almost fading out. One must also watch out for FRCN Abuja, Nigeria on 7275, supposedly starting at 0530, partly in English, but suspected inactive. During IWT`s latest absence, I never heard even a carrier on 7275. It was always very undermodulated, and in the winter sometimes in clear after Tunisia closed 7275 at 0626 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [non]. UAE. BBC WS. 21470 Dhabbaya. May 13, 2013 Monday. *1358- 1406. Carrier on at 1358. Modulation starts at 1359 with OM in Somali. Brief Somali music and at 1400 id “BBC”, mention of “Somalia” and into news. Lots of mentions of Boko Haram. Good, to East Africa (EiBi). Jo'burg sunset 1530 (Bill Bingham, Johannesburg RSA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 7389-SSB, May 11 at 1311, NWVC, calls frequently in fonetix, from USS LST 325, ``welcome aboard`` to numerous US hams, including N4NY at 1316, as this is the one day a year for crossband contacts, Armed Forces Day [non; supposed to be every third Saturday in May, i.e. May 18, 2013, but for this purpose celebrated today in order not to clash with Dayton Hamvention: why couldn`t this be part of that?]. Main op Ray says they have only four personnel, another guy on CW, a logger, and a supervisor. But at 1323 another op, Steve was calling CQ, and contacting K5SGG. Steve is from Ohio, home call W6VM. Listening on 7240-LSB, where I heard a few coördinated transmissions, but failed to check whether 7389 was on USB or LSB; anyhow, constant het from an AM broadcaster on 7390, i.e. R. Free Asia in Burmese, switching from Sri Lanka to Tinian at 1330. But where in the world is NWVC? Finally R-I-C-K mentions at 1344 that she`s at Evansville, Indiana on the Ohio River. At QRZ.com she goes by the strange (but apparently real and appropriate) call of WW2LST: [sic] from http://www.qrz.com/db/WW2LST --- ``Remember to always send a SASE when requesting a QSL. Our home port is Evansville, Indiana EM 67 LST-325 used the Navy call sign NWVC in WW2 and has been currently assign that call sign for use on Marine frequencies. The WW2 voice call sign of LST-325 was "Checker Five" The task of being the Trustee of WW2LST has been assumed by Bob Pointer N9XAW. (we appointed him when he left the room before he came back) Senior Chief Perry Ballenger W8AU heads up the radio division. He is very active in Navy Mars and an avid CW operator (although I actually saw him use a microphone once). The ship will be on the air from Evansville from time to time using WW2LST. While underway on one of our trips we will use WW2LST/MM marine mobile. The ship takes a goodwill tour every year in the fall. We visit many cities along the river ways to allow visitors to come aboard and visit the ship. Our goal is to keep history alive and remind us of the sacrifices our veterans have made four our freedom. While underway we also activate APRS using the HF 30 meter band. You can follow us at http://www.aprs.fi or visit our web page and click on the link there. While underway we use WW2LST We have the radio room restored with equipment from the WWII and Korean war era as well as some modern ham gear. About 80% of the equipment is fully operational and used from time to time. See our web page at http://www.lstmemorial.org Thanks for coming aboard. 73 n 88`` Where we learn that LST means Landing Ship, Tank. Here`s the NWVC info from: http://usamars.us/crossband_2013.htm STATION: NWVC (11 MAY 1200Z - 12 MAY 0400Z) FREQUENCY EMISSION AMATEUR BAND 4041.5 KHZ LSB/CW 80M 7389.0 KHZ LSB/CW 40M 13826.0 KHZ USB/CW 20M 20678.5 KHZ USB/CW 15M ADDRESS: USS LST 325 840 LST DRIVE, EVANSVILLE, IN 47713 POC: PERRY BALLINGER, NNN0VNO COMMERCIAL: 330-932-8612/330-705-8449 There is another ship involved, NWKJ (EX-USS YORKTOWN, PATRIOTS POINT MARITIME MUSEUM SC) Hunting for more Armed Forces Day [non], crossband activity per the schedules at http://usamars.us/crossband_2013.htm Before 2359 UT May 11, punching up most of the frequencies, nothing heard, except: 14402-USB, AAZ, Fort Huachuca AZ, May 11 at 2355 repeatedly calling CQ and listening on 14256-USB, but no replies past 0001 May 12. Possibly because 14402 is amid a huge radar pulsing blob from 14388 to 14420. If AAZ were monitoring his own frequency simplex, might have realized this. 4041.5 CW, May 12 at 0121, repeated CQs de NWVC, i.e. USS LST 325 docked in Evansville IN as heard earlier on 7389-LSB. There was something between the CQ and the DE, maybe AFD. Axually was trying to hear USB on 4038.5, not an Armed Forces Day special, but a regular Navy MARS net, with some NNN0 presenting a tutorial on RMS Express, but first explaining WinLink, which got heavy QRM from NWVC (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. Frequency change of Voice of America: 1500-1600 NF 9400 PHT 250 kW / 349 deg to EaAs Special English, ex 9485 (DX RE MIX NEWS #781 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, May 15, 2013 via DXLD) 5745, VoA Radiogram with program 7 of the tests, with all MFSK mode tests. Even with just my R-3 and a whip antenna inside my brother’s house, the slower modes decoded just fine. They had a schedule of the modes to be used in MFSK-16 then a story about the World Wide Web turning 20 on April 30, in MFSK-32, (which my battery died in the middle of!) I caught the battery issue at 0246 and they were still in MFSK-32 mode with a FLMSG story about the Saturn hurricane photographed by the Cassini probe. As usual, the MFSK-128 mode provided no copy at all. They then provided a photo (above) of the old GE transmitters used to broadcast the Radiogram programs. Unfortunately, there was enough thunderstorm static to make the photo a bit fuzzy, but it came in well enough. Even with the portable set-up, this was in 444 *0230-0300* 5/May (Kenneth Vito Zichi, MI, visiting Jacksonville FL, MARE Tipsheet May 10 via DXLD) Hello friends, VOA Radiogram for the weekend of May 11 and 12 will feature long stretches of VOA News in plain text, using the MFSK 32 and 64 modes. No Flmsg or Flamp this time. This weekend's program will also include our first test of slow scan television (SSTV). The first of the three stories will be in Spanish. This is to determine how letters with accent marks appear on your display. The second VOA news story will be followed by an accompanying MFSK32 image ======================================================= The radio reception was as good as always (17860 kHz at 1600z). For the Spanish text I had only changed the character set in FLDIGI from "ASCII" to ====> "UTF-8" to avoid gaps of letters. The result can be seen in this html: http://www.rhci-online.de/voa-radiogram-2013-05-11_17860kHz.htm QTH: D-06193 Petersberg/Germany ANT: Boomerang/11m RX: IC-R75 + STUDIO1 + FLDIGI+MMSSTV+RX-SSTV (Roger, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15670, Very weak signal at 1930 today from VOA, but still surprisingly robust demodulation of the MFSK signals, though the image is a tough catch. I'm copying about 75% of the MFSK64 signal at present. Here's a screen shot of what I'm seeing: Inline image 1 73, (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, Sunday May 12, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) VOA Radiogram transmission schedule In VOA Radiogram for the weekend on 18 and 19 May, we will continue to experiment with images. In fact, we will transmit the same picture three ways: in two SSTV modes and then as an MFSK32 image. Bring something to read, or an electronics project, because these picture transmissions will take 4 to 5 minutes each. To decode the SSTV modes, several software programs are available. They include the RX-SSTV (receive only) from http://users.belgacom.net/hamradio/rxsstv.htm MMSSTV from http://hamsoft.ca/pages/mmsstv.php and Digital Master 780, part of the Ham Radio Deluxe suite, from http://www.hrdsoftwarellc.com Before the images will be two VOA news stories in MFSK32 text, with the usual center audio frequency of 1500 Hz. The second story is in French, as we continue to determine if accented letters appear correctly on your display. To view accented characters in Fldigi: Configure > Colors & Fonts > next to Select Char Set, select UTF-8. To keep your selection of UTF- 8, under Configuration, click Save Config. Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram the weekend on 18 and 19 May: 2:55 MFSK16 Program preview 1:59 MFSK32 VOA News in English 4:03 MFSK32 VOA News in French 1:07 MFSK16 Intro to SSTV transmissions 4:31 Scottie DX SSTV :10 Tone (to give you time to save your Scottie DX image) 5:08 Pasokon P5 SSTV :25 MFSK16 intro to MFSK32 image 4:07 MFSK32 image 1:10 MFSK16 closing announcements 1:22 Surprise mode of the week (mixes somewhat with the closing music) On VOA Radiogram during the weekend of 25-26 May, we will experiment with the Easypal digital SSTV mode, comparing it to MFSK32. Please download Easypal from http://vk4aes.com Easypal images are transmitted by radio amateurs on 14233 kHz. VOA Radiogram transmission schedule (all days and times UT) Sat 1600-1630 17860 kHz Sun 0230-0300 5745 kHz Sun 1300-1330 6095 kHz Sun 1930-2000 15670 kHz All via the Edward R. Murrow transmitting station in North Carolina. This weekend, there will also be digital transmissions from Radio Australia: http://voaradiogram.net/post/50573915377/radio-australia-digital-text-and-image-may-18-and-19 And The Mighty KBC: http://voaradiogram.net/post/50575221277/more-hell-this-weekend-on-the-mighty-kbc (Jaisakthivel, ADXC, www.dxquiz.wordpress.com Via Kim Elliott) Axually it`s Kim Elliott, via, etc., etc. Via is a vector in one direxion, from ----> to. And it`s not all-caps either unless maybe you are talking about some railroad (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. 15775, May 10 at 1341, VOA Korean with usual bigsig via Tinang, PHILIPPINES also aimed USward. English lesson based on lyrix from Pink Floyd`s ``The Wall`` with clips, weirdly apropos for NK audience: ``We don`t need no education`` --- then explaining how that is not proper English: make it ``any education``, or ``we need no education``. And even more so: ``We don`t need no thought control``; ``Teachers, leave them kids alone`` -- again, should say ``those``, not ``them``. ``You`re just another brick in the wall``. Finally at 1354 let the whole song play for a while without interruption. BTW, VOA has been indicted by BBG Watch for propagating NK propaganda unchallenged, with video evidence. Well worth reading about this and other issues: http://www.usgbroadcasts.com/bbgwatch/2013/05/07/broadcasting-board-of-governors-information-war-lost-dysfunctional-defunct-and-ungovernable-david-ensor-speaks-%E2%80%93-the-newsroom-and-the-fy2014-budget/ http://www.usgbroadcasts.com/bbgwatch/2013/05/09/broadcasting-board-of-governors-%C2%A0information-war-lost-%C2%A0dysfunctional-defunct-and-ungovernable-%C2%A0the-latest-numbers-game/ (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9825, May 11 at *0116, VG open carrier from VOA Greenville, 0129 YDD sign-on, 0130 Spe-cial Eng-lish. IBB frequency management must have finally got my message that ex-9820 confronted the off-frequency Brazilian and its het. HFCC shows 9825 went into effect 4 May, altho this is a UT Tue-Sat-only transmission. You`re welcome (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 25950, 0226, KOA, Denver, tentative, Fair in English on occasional peaks, talk format, MA advises to “stay safe on the road”, Heard intermittently 2200-0600 throughout month; on 20/4 partial ID …850 (MW freq for KOA) - 16/4 (Kelvin Brayshaw, Levin, New Zealand, DR-31, ATS-909, Tecsun PL-390 Coax Loop, May NZ DX Times via DXLD) Haven`t seen this reported for a long time within North America. Should be showing up by sporadic E / short skip season now underway, so look for it, as well as The Metroplex on 25910 & 25990, if and when any of these are still on air (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WORLD OF RADIO 1668 monitoring: first cast confirmed on WRMI web, UT Thursday May 9 at 0331, but no signal detected on 9955, despite no jamming; nor at 1256, 1344, so suspect off the air. Scheduled 9955 repeats: Sat 1500, next Tue 1100. So go for: Thu 2100 on WTWW-1 9479; UT Fri 0330v on WWRB 3195 (and we hope maybe 5050); UT Sat 0130v on Area 51 via WBCQ 5110v-CUSB; Sat 0630 & 1430 on HLR 7265-CUSB (please confirm in Europe); Sat & Sun 2330v on WTWW-2 9930; UT Sun 0400 on WTWW-1 5830. Recent WORs have also been airing at random times between 17 and 24 UT on WTWW-2 9930. WORLD OF RADIO 1668 monitoring: Jeff White confirms that WRMI was off the air with minor transmitter problem during what would have been the first airing UT Thursday May 9 at 0330; since has returned. Next on 9955: Sat 1500, Tue 1100. First airing confirmed Thu 2100 on WTWW-1 9479; meanwhile, 9930 continued, and would play back WOR 1665 at 2210. Second 1668 airing confirmed UT Friday 0330 on WWRB 3195, but under heavy spring storm noise level. I have urged Dave to go up to 5050 for the rest of the season. Next: UT Saturday 0130v on Area 51 via WBCQ 5110v-CUSB; Saturday 0630 & 1430 on HLR 7265-CUSB in Germany; Saturday & Sunday 2330v on WTWW-2 9930; UT Sunday 0400 on WTWW-1 5830. WORLD OF RADIO monitoring: 9930, WTWW-2 is playing WOR 1665, started at 1927. WORLD OF RADIO 1668 monitoring: confirmed on Area 51 via WBCQ 5110v- CUSB, starting late from 0136:39 UT Saturday May 11, after a prolonged live `Allan Weiner Worldwide`. Next chances on WTWW: Saturday 2330v on 9930, UT Sunday 0400 on 5830, Sunday 2330v on 9930. WORLD OF RADIO 1668 monitoring: confirmed on WTWW-2, 9930, Saturday May 11 starting at 2328:46, which should end by 2357:46 in plenty of time for the QSY to 5085. Also confirmed on WTWW-1, 5830, UT Sunday May 12 from 0400.5 or so. Next: Sunday 2330v on 9930. WORLD OF RADIO 1668 monitoring: confirmed Sunday May 12 starting at 2328:46 on WTWW-2 9930. This is exactly the same time it started on Saturday May 11, so I conclude it is now controlled by computer/automation (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 5050, UT Sunday May 12 at 0111, WWRB is on, sounds like Martha Garvin hymning, and // weaker 3195. Hope WWRB will keep using 5050 evenings, or just replace 3195 for the summer (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WWRB: kHz: 3195, 3215, 5050 Summer Schedule 2013 English Days Area kHz 0000-0400 daily NAm 5050wrb† 0100-0400 daily NAm 3195wrb† 2300-0100 daily NAm 3215wrb† Key: † Irregular (WRTH A-13 update first edition May 13, via Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 3195 and 3215 are regular, while 5050 is irregular (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. WRMI – RADIO MIAMI INTERNATIONAL, kHz: 9955 Summer Schedule 2013, English/Spanish Days Area kHz 1400-2200 .....ss LAm 9955rmi 2200-1400 daily LAm 9955rmi (WRTH A-13 update first edition May 13, via Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Note: overlooks some other languages, DX programs in Italian and Portuguese. More importantly, has been 24/7 since the Brother Scare contract started, at least until Mayend (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I'm hoping by May's end, there will much better programming on Radio Miami International other than "Brother Scare". WRMI could revert back to being an all-day relay of the World Radio Network (J. K. Johnson, May 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Not quite, but plenty, we hope (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. 12025-12075, May 9 at 1949, WEWN 12050 accompanied by undefined (no particular peaks) noise field plus/minus 25 kHz. Normally strong daytime signal may have been enhanced by sporadic E. 13830, May 9 at 1949 is squealing on the other Spanish frequency. 15610, English is not as strong, however, and its squishy spurs are weak but detectable at plus/minus 8 kHz (not the usual 9). Suspect they have swapped transmitters on 15610 and 12050, or tweaked something without really fixing the problems (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 15040, May 11 at 0110, very weak and fading signal with gospel huxter, but on peaks matches 7520, i.e. WWCR-4 airing `Call to Decision` with Butch Paugh. First heard on the DX-398, then also audible on the FRG-7 at 0114. 7520 is of course very strong, but I think this is a real propagated second harmonic. Also synchronized // WWCR-1 on 3215 as scheduled UT Tue-Sat, but 7520 is not on the air during this hour on weekends while 3215 has other programming (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. 15260, May 10 at 1932, fair signal with S Asian song, I thought, so surprised to find this listed in HFCC as AWR Arabic via Nauen, GERMANY, 100 kW, 215 degrees at 1900-2000 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. Summer A-13 schedule of WYFR Family Radio: 1100-1200 on 6220 HUW 100 kW / 265 deg to SEAs Burmese 1100-1200 on 11520 BAJ 100 kW / 180 deg to SEAs Tagalog 1100-1300 on 6240 BAJ 100 kW / 310 deg to EaAs Chinese 1100-1300 on 9280 PAO 100 kW / 335 deg to EaAs Chinese 1300-1400 on 7580 TAI 100 kW / 250 deg to SEAs Vietnamese 2200-2245 on 17575 YFR 100 kW / 140 deg to SoAm Portuguese 2300-0045 on 13695 YFR 100 kW / 160 deg to SoAm Spanish 2300-0100 on 11565 YFR 100 kW / 140 deg to SoAm Portuguese 2230-0300 on 6115 YFR 100 kW / 355 deg to NoAm English 0000-0145 on 5945 YFR 100 kW / 181 deg to SoAm Spanish 0100-0145 on 15440 YFR 100 kW / 285 deg to CeAm Spanish 0100-0200 on 11825 YFR 100 kW / 160 deg to SoAm Spanish 0200-0400 on 6875 YFR 100 kW / 285 deg to CeAm Spanish 0200-0400 on 9930 YFR 100 kW / 222 deg to CARB Spanish (DX RE MIX NEWS #780 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, May 10, 2013 via DXLD) WYFR: more drastic cuts --- Just in from WYFR: following to be deleted from 1 June, Spanish and Portuguese: 5945 0000-0045 S 6875 0200-0400 S 9930 0145-0400 S 11565 2300-0100 P 11825 0045-0200 S 13695 2245-0045 S 15440 0100-0145 S 17575 2145-2245 P Comparing to A-13 HFCC listings: These remain: 6115 2200-0400 9690 2245-2400 11565 0100-0200 15440 2145-0100 Some of which are RTI relays, and perhaps only English from FR is left, on 6115 (Glenn Hauser, May 14, WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DX LISTENING DIGEST) So is this meaning that all Spanish and Portuguese broadcasts are cancelled from June 1? Tnx in advance for clarifying this. 73 HAN in Uruguay (Horacio Nigro, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) They have not said that explicitly but the cuts match exactly the Spanish and Portuguese transmissions in the original A-13 schedule: PORT 2200-2245 17575 140 12,13,15 100 LPA527 PORT 2300-0100 11565 140 12,13,15 100 LPA527 SPAN 2300-0045 13695 160 12,13W,14 100 LPA527 SPAN 0100-0200 11825 160 12,13W,14 100 LPA527 SPAN 0100-0145 15440 285 10 100 LPA516 SPAN 0200-0400 6875 285 10 100 LPA516 SPAN 0000-0145 5945 181 11,12N 100 LPA515 SPAN 0200-0400 9930 222 10S,11SW 100 LPA516 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Any bets on whether WYFR survives into B-13? I wonder if there has been any attempt to sell the Okeechobee facility to another broadcaster? Maybe not, given the demise of other Western Hemisphere SW facilities (Steve Luce, Houston, Texas, May 14, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) FAMILY RADIO MINISTRY STARTED WITH A WRONG TURN IN OAKLAND Richard Palmquist met Harold Camping after making an illegal left turn in Oakland. It was 1958, and Palmquist was a salesman for Sacred Records. The wrong turn brought him near a friend's house, and he stopped in for dinner. Palmquist shared a business idea with the man and his wife. "I told them I thought the Bay Area needed a Christian radio station, and my friend told me, 'I know exactly who you should meet,'" said Palmquist, now 91 and living in Nipomo, near Pismo Beach. Palmquist met Camping in April of that year, and Camping -- whose East Bay construction company had just helped develop Jack London Square -- said he would put up $5,000 in seed money. With Camping's money they printed brochures soliciting donations and raised $20,000 in loans. They bought Bay Area radio station KEIR, beginning the ministry's journey down an often turbulent road, capped off by a 2011 Rapture prediction that drew worldwide attention -- and ire. Five years into the ministry, Palmquist was pushed out by Camping, who wanted an executive director with a "larger stature," Palmquist said. With offices on Hegenberger Road in Oakland, the nonprofit Family Radio now reaches listeners around the world in 75 languages -- locally on 610 AM and at www.familyradio.com. It started as a station airing religious songs, hymns and Bible studies, with no commercials. "Family Radio had been one of the most legitimate, scandal-free religious organizations on earth," said Matt Tuter, Camping's longtime second-in-command. "Most of the people who built Family Radio are theologically conservative people." Camping began his Judgment Day predictions in the early 1990s. "Harold is a numbers person. As he looks at the Bible, he looks at numbers," Palmquist said of the onetime UC Berkeley engineering student. "He's one of the most ardent Bible students I've ever met. "He was a very brilliant man. The irony in what he says is he tells listeners, 'Don't believe what I say, believe the Bible.' But the semantics get reversed, because he wants them to actually believe what he tells them the Bible says." After his 2011 stroke, Camping felt like his place in the ministry was over, said board member Tom Evans. But at 91, Camping still comes into the Oakland headquarters almost every day. "His mind is still sharp," Evans said, although acknowledging Camping's memory has suffered since his stroke and "he can no longer do detailed Bible study." And Evans said Family Radio will continue after Camping is gone. "Family Stations would continue to operate just fine without him," he said. "We believe God is the power behind Family Radio." By Matthias Gafni, Contra Costa Times Source: http://www.mercurynews.com (via Jaisakthivel, ADXC, India, Visit http://www.dxquiz.wordpress.com dxldyg via DXLD) http://www.insidebayarea.com/breaking-news/ci_23224368/end-world-oaklands-family-radio The critics But some observers say the sale of the big three stations -- especially WFME, which served 14 million listeners -- is a disaster for the network. Each of the stations was sold to a secular operator. Evans acknowledged Camping had a long-standing policy against selling radio stations to other religious organizations, saying such sales would "create confusion." But after these sales, Evans said, the board voted to reverse the policy -- with Camping's blessing. To replace the FM stations sold, Evans said, Family Radio picked up AM stations, including Philadelphia's WKDN 950 AM. But critics call the AM station a "dog" with coverage problems and high overhead costs. Another challenge for Family Radio is that over the years it has taken a large number of loans -- one estimate puts the amount at $22 million -- from devotees, exchanging them for promissory notes that pledge to use the money to "proclaim the gospel of the Lord." (via Bill Mead, PA, dxldyg via DXLD) Inside Bay Area http://www.insidebayarea.com/breaking-news/ci_23224368/end-world-oaklands-family-radio (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) A much more detailed story; even mentions SW!: END OF THE WORLD FOR OAKLAND'S FAMILY RADIO? By Matthias Gafni Contra Costa Times http://mercurynews.com Posted: 05/11/2013 04:47:42 PM PDT May 12, 2013 2:57 PM GMT Updated: 05/12/2013 07:57:26 AM PDT Click photo to enlarge A car in the parking lot near the Oakland based Family Talk Radio Ministry on Hegenberger Rd. in Oakland, Calif. has a sticker over an older message that preaches a more positive message along with the radio station call sign on Monday, Oct. 17, 2011. The Oakland-based Family Radio ministry building has no signs warning the public of the end of the world five days before their leader, Harold Camping, predicts the world will end, for real this time on Oct. 21. (Laura A. Oda/Staff) [caption] Two days before the date his boss had predicted as the Apocalypse, Matt Tuter made an auspicious decision: He canceled the skywriters. Family Radio, the Oakland-based evangelical network run by Harold Camping, had already spent more than $5 million on 5,000 billboards announcing Judgment Day -- May 21, 2011 -- according to tax documents. Now, Tuter said, he feared that the airplanes, which were to inscribe the warnings in the skies above major U.S. cities, were one expense too many for a business operating as if there really would be no tomorrow. Two years later, Camping's predictive powers have been thoroughly discredited. But the financial reckoning that Tuter foresaw for Family Radio may be coming soon, according to public financial documents and current and former high-level Family Radio employees who spoke to this newspaper. Among the indicators: The nonprofit has sold its three largest radio stations, all cash generators. At the start of 2007, Family Radio was worth $135 million, according to its tax returns, and by the end of 2011 its net assets had dropped to $29.2 million, even though Family Radio received $85.2 million in donations over that five-year period. By the end of 2011, Family Radio reported $282,880 in cash on hand, down from $1.5 million at the start of the year and $2.5 million at the end of 2008. In 2012, records show it took out a $30 million bridge loan to keep operating while awaiting the station sales proceeds; it is not clear whether that loan has been paid off. Former and current insiders allege the situation may be even worse than it appears, claiming donations have dropped almost 70 percent since the Rapture prediction proved incorrect, leading to numerous layoffs of longtime Family Radio staff members. Those insiders say the nonprofit mishandled the sales of the stations, reaping far less than they were worth, and is on the hook for millions of dollars to devotees who have loaned them money over the years. Since the failed prediction, at least two letters have been sent to the California Attorney General's Office requesting an investigation into the station sales and Family Radio's handling of donations. The office does not confirm or deny investigations. "You eliminate those three (FM stations) and, ultimately, the rest of it dies," said Tuter, a 55-year-old San Leandro resident and longtime right-hand man to Camping, who was fired last year. "I believe they are killing it off." Not everyone predicts Family Radio's demise, however. Board member Tom Evans, who has taken over day-to-day operations since Camping suffered a stroke in June 2011, said Family Radio is hurting like any [caption:] Harold Camping, the broadcast evangelist who predicted that the world would end on May 21, answers questions from the media on his Family Radio "Open Forum" show, Monday, May 23, 2011 in Oakland, Calif. Camping now predicts that the end of life on Earth will come on Oct. 21, 2011. (D. Ross Cameron/Staff Archives) ( D. ROSS CAMERON ) other nonprofit in this slow-to-rebound economy. But it is not closing, and the financial problems aren't nearly as serious as some allege, said the trustee, who instead envisions a downsized, more efficient ministry emerging. "Sufficient funds were in the bank and, thankfully, we didn't spend everything (on May 21, 2011)," he said. "But it did force us to make quick changes." At least some of those changes had an air of desperation: In a November letter to his followers posted on the Family Radio website, Camping wrote: "Either we sell (our biggest radio station) or go off the air completely." And Evans acknowledged the bridge loans, while insisting the nonprofit is not insolvent. Camping, who hasn't been able to conduct his "Open Forum" radio show since suffering his stroke, still shows up for work and is involved in the nonprofit's operations, Evans said. The 91-year-old president was not available to comment for this story. Tuter says Camping had long been telling him that when he dies, he wants the Oakland-based nonprofit to die with him. The ailing evangelist may get his wish. The demise? Family Radio, founded more than a half-century ago, built itself into a powerful religious ministry with 66 full-service radio stations, more than 100 FM broadcast relay stations and a handful of television stations across the country. Fourteen shortwave transmitters allowed broadcasts to Africa, Russia and elsewhere in the world. Its stations had no commercials, providing 24-hour, seven-days-a-week Christian programming in 30 languages -- including hymns, Bible teachings and gospel talk shows -- with Camping's "Open Forum" program airing every weeknight for 90 minutes. The nonprofit paid its bills through donors' philanthropy, amassing $216.4 million in donations from 1997 through 2011, according to tax returns (2012 totals are not yet available). On its website and during broadcasts, listeners were told how to donate. Camping became more engrossed with predictions of Judgment Day as the years passed, espousing multiple possibilities before ultimately focusing on May 21, 2011, as the highly publicized date. Contributions spiked, with stories surfacing across the country of followers donating their life savings, as Family Radio spent prodigiously to publicize the end of the world. Evans said it was a "buyer beware" scenario. "We spent a significant amount and we didn't hide it. We were very open and the whole world knew what we were doing," Evans said. "None of us have any regrets." However, Evans said, in some cases where donors could show financial hardship, Family Radio has reimbursed up to half the value of their contributions. The free spending before May 21 combined with the drop in donations thereafter has left a shell of a nonprofit two years later. Earlier this year, Family Radio sold the last of its three powerhouse East Coast FM stations -- WFME in Newark-New York City, WFSI in Annapolis, Md.-Washington, D.C., and WKDN in Philadelphia -- the nonprofit's cash cows. The New York station was sold to Cumulus Media in January for $40 million, the Philadelphia station went the previous month for $22.5 million to Merlin Media, and the Annapolis station was sold to CBS in November for $8.5 million. Family Radio kept most of its significantly smaller radio stations and other assets -- even buying some smaller stations -- but has trimmed the on-air staff and cut its international schedule by 80 percent, sources said. The programming remains similar, although they run only edited repeats of Camping's "Open Forum," with occasional brief live Bible study lessons by the founder. Still, in November, Family Radio posted a special message from Camping on its website about the WFME sale: "Many listeners have heard news of this sale and are very concerned that it signals the demise of Family Radio. But, let me reassure you - - nothing could be further from the truth." The critics But some observers say the sale of the big three stations – especially WFME, which served 14 million listeners -- is a disaster for the network. Each of the stations was sold to a secular operator. Evans acknowledged Camping had a long-standing policy against selling radio stations to other religious organizations, saying such sales would "create confusion." But after these sales, Evans said, the board voted to reverse the policy -- with Camping's blessing. To replace the FM stations sold, Evans said, Family Radio picked up AM stations, including Philadelphia's WKDN 950 AM. But critics call the AM station a "dog" with coverage problems and high overhead costs. Another challenge for Family Radio is that over the years it has taken a large number of loans -- one estimate puts the amount at $22 million -- from devotees, exchanging them for promissory notes that pledge to use the money to "proclaim the gospel of the Lord." On its 2011 tax return, Family Radio lists $35.1 million in liabilities, but does not specify how much is owed toward the promissory notes. Evans would not say. However, he said, "The biggest concern of Harold and the rest of the board, if Family Radio went out of business, would be to pay off the promissory note holders." While some critics are surprised there have not been lawsuits or more complaints, others are not. "People that follow religious groups think it's almost an affront against God to file a lawsuit or ask for their money back," said a longtime Family Radio manager, who requested anonymity fearing repercussions at work. "Bernie Madoff should have become ordained and made his operation a nonprofit and he probably would have gotten away with it." Since the Rapture prediction flamed out, a religious freedom group and a part-time Family Radio employee wrote the California Attorney General's Office requesting a fraud investigation into Family Radio's handling of donations. Evans said the complaints were unfounded. Meanwhile, Tuter -- Camping's former top assistant -- believes his ex-boss is running the ministry into the ground on purpose. In 1996, about a week before Camping had heart surgery, Tuter said his boss confided in him his concern for Family Radio's future upon his death. "He was very specific he did not want it to continue," Tuter said, quoting Camping in the meeting, "'God raised up Family Radio just as a platform for me!'" The future? What will Family Radio become? It depends on whom you ask. Some followers still debate future Rapture dates. But others hope Family Radio will return to its pre-Rapture roots as a more mainstream religious radio network. "Most of us were sad to see the stuff happening, but we thought, 'OK, once the (Rapture) date goes by we'll get back to orthodox programming,'" said Craig Hulsebos, 70, Family Radio's longtime director of programming who was let go in September 2012. "But we didn't." Evans envisions a new mission. "We feel we can be a comfort to listeners and a comfort to people affected by events, like the one in Connecticut or Hurricane Sandy," he said. "We want to be a comfort and reminder of God's strength and mercy. ... In the end, our founding mission is to proclaim the word of God." Matthias Gafni is an investigative reporter. Contact him at 925-952-5026. Follow him at Twitter.com/mgafni. Copyright 2012 San Jose Mercury News. All rights reserved. (via Mike Cooper, WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DXLD) CHRISTIAN RADIO GROUP FACES FINANCIAL HARD TIMES Family Radio's founder predicted Jesus would return and the world would end on May 21, 2011 [caption] NASHVILLE -- A Christian radio ministry may be facing a financial apocalypse after its predictions about the end of the world failed to come true. Three years ago Oakland-based Family Radio Inc. placed billboard messages around the country, claiming that Jesus would return on May 21, 2011. Forty of the billboards were in Nashville, Tenn., bearing the message "He is Coming Back Soon." Some of the Rev. Harold Camping's followers had quit jobs or emptied their bank accounts to help pay for the billboards, and some traveled the country in a caravan to spread the word. They also set up a website called wecanknow.com and spread the word on T-shirts, bumper stickers and postcards. Volunteers such as Allison Warden, who orchestrated Nashville's billboard campaign, were convinced that Camping's prediction was right. "It's a certainty," she told The Tennessean in 2010. When the end of the world did not happen, Family Radio's founder, Camping, admitted he'd been wrong. Now his charity has fallen on hard times. The group lost more than $100 million in assets from 2007 to 2011, according to the Associated Press, falling from $135 million in 2007 to $29.2 million at the end of 2011. It's had to sell off three of its largest radio stations. Camping, 91, suffered a stroke after his prediction did not materialize and has since said he has no more interest in considering future dates for the end of the world. In 2012, records show that Family Radio took out a $30 million bridge loan to keep operating while awaiting money from the sale of the stations. Board member Tom Evans, who has taken over the network since Camping's stroke, said the network is hurting during the economic slowdown like other nonprofits. But he said it is not closing. "Sufficient funds were in the bank and, thankfully, we didn't spend everything," he said, referring to the May 2011 prediction. "But it did force us to make quick changes." Family Radio, founded more than a half-century ago, had 66 full- service radio stations, more than 100 FM broadcast relay stations and a handful of television stations across the country at one time. Smietana also writes for The Tennessean. Contributing: The Associated Press --- Source: http://www.usatoday.com/ (via Jaisakthivel, ADXC, May 6, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U S A. Hi, this is Curtis Mcmenamin in Vacaville; just wanted to pass this on to all the DXers out there: KMPH 840 Modesto CA is back on the air, just noticed tonight with newstalk format, top of the hour ID as KOMY and KMPH Modesto. Stations must be simulcasting (0703 UT 10 May, IRCA via DXLD) KMPH Modesto must be changing their format from Spanish to newstalk programming. Noted Coast to Coast program, George Noury and also Phil Hendrie program. Also station has been IDing as KOMY Watsonville and KMPH Modesto. Tonight they are running a tone on 840 and 1340 must be simulcasting; then hear Dial Global radio network. Dial Global Radio Network operations and to dial a phone number from 8 am to 10 pm Eastern standard [sic] time, then continuing tones. Tones are being heard on AM 840 and on AM 1340 (Curtis, May 13, ibid.) Satellite feed filler we have also heard elsewhere, certainly not intended for broadcast. Wake up! (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. 1020, KCKN Roswell NM granted STA for U1 10 kW day & night with auxiliary transmitter after main transmitter failed (April NRC DX News via May NZ DX Times via DXLD) Still in effect? I haven`t heard it. I do hear that they are really only running 1 kW! That should open up 1020 for lots of DX in the West, yet maybe audiblize KCKN to the east if non-direxional instead of deep null toward KDKA and me, but normally blocked by KOKP Perry OK here, which we can only hope will fail again itself (Glenn Hauser) ** U S A. 1230, WBLQ, Westerly, RI, 04/13 2147 EDT - LUCKY YOU, YOU LISTEN TO BLQ followed by an oldie about San Francisco. Huge signal, slightly on top, some stereo separation, but a good deal of platform motion on the Sony CFS-6000 from Chris Cuff and the PK passive mediumwave tunable loop ordered from Australia, from Paul Karlstrand. My best domestic DX catch on a graveyard channel! Am I the only one to get graveyard DX in C-QUAM STEREO when and where available? I also get from time to time WIKE in Newport, VT on 1490 kHz C-QUAM even though they are close to the VT/NH border! (BC-QC) 73, may the good DX be with you! (Bogdan Alexandru Chiochiu, QC, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** U S A. QSL: miércoles, 24 de abril de 2013, WELP - 1360 kHz - Easley, SC (USA) - QSL --- Otra de las sorpresas de los amaneceres de abril: WELP 1360 kHz, una emisora que no debería de haber llegado! y menos con esa señal! dado que se supone que emite con 36 vatios durante la noche. Supongo que algún problema hizo que siguieran en el aire con los 5 kW diurnos. Pero, en definitiva, y como dice mi amigo Manolo, "otra a la talega"! Confirmó en dos días Steve Stigall, Director of Operations, Wilkins Communications Network. Thanks!!. steve (a) wilkinsradio.com (Mauricio Molano, Spain, blog info http://moladx.blogspot.it/ via Dario Monferini, May 7, playdx yg via DXLD) No time, but apparently around daybreak in Spain = nightmiddle ** U S A. QSL: lunes, 1 de abril de 2013, WQLL - 1370 kHz - Pikesville, MD (USA) - QSL --- Entró al amanecer del pasado día 29 de marzo, con alguna racha buena que coincidía siempre con música. En un momento determinado, emitieron una promoción de un programa, con lo que a mí me parecía un indicativo --- resultó que no. Gracias a los amigos de RealDX quedó despejada la duda. Andrew Brade vino con la transcripción de buena parte de lo que decía la locutora. Esta tarde le he enviado un informe de recepción a ella directamente y, en menos de media hora, me ha respondido: "Thank you for your email. That is in fact my voice and our station. I will pass this along to our program director so he can listen and email you the appropriate confirmation. It is remarkable that you were able to hear us from so very far away. Too bad they don't have ratings in Spain! We could use the listeners. :) Thank you again for the information." Many, many thanks, Shari! sharielliker (a) hotmail.com (Mauricio Molano, Spain, blog info http://moladx.blogspot.it/ via Dario Monferini, May 7, playdx yg via DXLD) ** U S A. QSL: martes, 12 de marzo de 2013, WOIR Radio ZOE - 1430 kHz - Homestead, FL (USA) - QSL --- Esta emisora (5 kW/día-500 W/noche) no es de las más fáciles de escuchar en 1430, pero está entrando regularmente con alguna racha inteligible, como la que pillé al amanecer de ayer día 11 de marzo, cuando emitían una "promo" de su página en Facebook. En poco más de cuatro horas me ha respondido Andrés Martínez, Gerente General. Escribí al correo que aparece en su web: produccion (a) zoe1430.com , la respuesta viene directamente del correo-e personal del Gerente: andresmartinez (a) zoe1430.com (Mauricio Molano, Spain, blog info http://moladx.blogspot.it/ via Dario Monferini, May 7, playdx yg via DXLD) ** U S A. WKAL Rome NY, 1450 full data transmitter eQSL in less than 5 hours for English email report and audio recording. V/s Bob Carter, Engineer. 73 (Al Muick, Whitehall PA USA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) DX test ** U S A. 1480, WQOH, AL Irondale – 4/14 0633 [EDT] – Poor upon tune in. "Hi, this is Father Kevin ... of the Diocese of Birmingham. This is 1480 WQOH Ironton-Birmingham ...," talk of shows, podcasting and lost to others. Lucked out good! 1480 #37, AL #58. NEW! First new log on 1480 since Nov. 15, 2007. Only 3rd NEW log in 2013. Last was Feb 3 (John J Rieger, South Milwaukee WI, Icom IC-R75, Kiwa loop, MFJ-959B tunerpreamp, NRC DX News May 6 via DXLD) Catholic station in Irondale (not Ironton?)??? Could it be related to SW station WEWN? Not directly: FCC AM Query shows licensed to QUEEN OF HEAVEN CATHOLIC RADIO, INC. with 5000/0.028 kW, facility ID: http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/amq?list=0&facid=726 Corporate HQ in Austin TX but all the directors of this are in Alabama, not including Mother Angelica, who would be a directress (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** U S A. What happened to WNEW? Copy of e-mail to Lee J. Freshwater who amongst many things operates the AMLOGBOOK blogspot page. UPDATE** WNEW-AM is not in the database as of this time. IIRC WNEW was an important and possibly historic FM station in NYC late 60's 70's The FM has moved to Bowie MD on 99.1. Until Jan. 2013 WNEW-AM was on 1580 from Morningside, MD. Quite by accident while updating my personal edited copy of AMLOGBOOK tonite (5/10/2013), I found an interesting series of events not appearing in AMLOGBOOK. While editing the entry for WRDD 1580, I noticed a callsign of WNEW. So this is where it went from the "old-days" when in NYC on FM. Interested, I went to Wikipedia for some history and got redirected to a page for WJFK (AM). Well, this is new. Side Note: WJFK used to be on 1300 as an ESPN Sports station that was easily heard under WAVZ 1300 in local New Haven, CT. In 2008, the callsign changed to the present WJZ with a // on 105.7 FM. WJZ-FM. /Side Note So it turns out that the former WNEW-AM has changed callsign to WJFK- AM with a // on 106.7 FM WJFK-FM as of 1/28/2013. AM and FM are running CBS Sports, and are considered a major affiliate. Further investigation on WJZ-AM reveals that as of 1/2/2013, WJZ AM and FM have also joined CBS Sports, and dropped the ABC/ESPN affiliation. As one might surmise, where did WNEW (AM) go? As of 11PM EDT, I was not able to access the FCC AMQ database, But I will when I can. In summation... 1300 WJZ changes to CBS Sports // 105.7 WJZ-FM 1580 WNEW changes to WJFK-AM // 106.7 WJFK-FM with CBS Sports WNEW callsign is an unknown assignment Thanks for all you do, Lee (Paul S. in CT also of ULDX and DXLD Y- groups) To make this clearer, it should be pointed out that you are talking about tracking the callsign WNEW, rather than the ownership of the famous WNEW-FM from NYC in the 60's and 70's (Andy O`Brien, ibid.) ** U S A. QSL: lunes, 15 de abril de 2013, WGBW - 1590 kHz - Denmark, WI (USA) - QSL --- ¡Sorpresón al amanecer del 12 de abril! Las condiciones fueron buenas, dentro de la normalidad. Las señales más comunes de los Estados Unidos llegaban bien, fuertes a ratos. En 1590 la emisora habitual es WARV (Warwick, Rhode Island, 5 kW) y, como casi siempre, ahí estaba con su programación de costumbre (Life Changing Radio) dominando la frecuencia. Hacia las 0530Z se había ido debilitando y se escuchaba algo más debajo de ella. En una racha fuerte, por sorpresa, a las 0535Z, irrumpió la identificación entre canciones de WGBW emitiendo desde Denmark, Wisconsin, con 540 vatios!! Eran las 0230 de la madrugada (hora española) del día siguiente, cuando envié un informe de recepción por correo-e. En algo más de una hora me respondió el dueño, jefe de operaciones e ingeniero de la estación, Mark Heller: "Hello Mauricio: Mark Heller here at WGBW in Denmark, Wisconsin USA confirming your reception. That in fact is Scott Shannon with the call letters, and Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves by Cher, as our originating song. What is truly amazing, is this is NOT from our 10,000 watt blowtorch transmitter, but rather our nighttime signal which is only 540 watts. There are no 1590's operating in Canada, at all, and once our signal goes north, there's no guessing who will be listening. We have been heard in Italy, Sweden, Finland and happy to hear from Spain! I will be sending you a coverage map and DX reception card, in the mail, this Monday. Best wishes, and thank you very much for the report! Mark Heller, President, Owner and Chief Engineer, WGBW AM-1590 "True Oldies Channel" , Denmark-Green Bay, WI". Sin duda, uno de mis mejores DX desde las Américas. Thank you very much Mark!! (Mauricio Molano, Spain, blog info http://moladx.blogspot.it/ via Dario Monferini, May 7, playdx yg via DXLD) ** U S A. TOM WHEELER, AN INDUSTRY MAN FOR THE F.C.C. - NYTimes.com May 8, 2013 By THE EDITORIAL BOARD President Obama has picked a former telecommunications lobbyist and campaign fund-raiser to serve as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, raising serious questions about his 2007 pledge that corporate lobbyists would not finance his campaign or run his administration. When Mr. Obama announced the nomination of Tom Wheeler last week, he said Mr. Wheeler's knowledge of the industry would help ensure that "we're staying at the cutting-edge of an industry that again and again we've revolutionized here in America." Some prominent former government officials have endorsed Mr. Wheeler and say he would make telecommunications more competitive. There is no question that Mr. Wheeler, who was chief executive of the National Cable Television Association for five years and the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association for 12 years before becoming a venture capitalist, understands the industry. The question is whether his long career representing the interests of telecommunications companies would make it hard for him to be an independent and fair regulator when consumers have few choices and pay high prices for cellphone, cable TV and broadband services. He was also a big "bundler" for Mr. Obama in the 2008 and 2012 campaigns, which means that he raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign donations from relatives, friends and business associates. Political campaigns disclose their donors, but they are not required to disclose which of them were recruited by bundlers like Mr. Wheeler. Given his background, it is almost certain that he raised money from people whose companies he would regulate, creating potential conflicts of interest. Mr. Wheeler's supporters argue that he backed the modest net neutrality rules the F.C.C. adopted in 2010 to prevent Internet service providers from discriminating against content that competes with their own. (Verizon has challenged the regulation in court.) But he has also suggested that federal regulators should merely impose conditions on AT&T's 2011 bid to buy T-Mobile, which, thankfully, was blocked by the Obama administration because it would have left only three national cellphone companies. Before Mr. Wheeler is confirmed by the Senate, he and Mr. Obama's campaign should disclose how much money he raised from telecommunications executives and explain how he would make sure that those relationships would not influence his decisions at the F.C.C. Among the agency's tasks is improving wireless and broadband services, which are dominated by a handful of companies. How would he, for instance, use auctions of electromagnetic airwaves, which are currently controlled by TV broadcasters, to get new and smaller companies to provide innovative Internet and video services? Surveys by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development show that a smaller proportion of Americans have high-speed Internet service at home and pay far more for it than consumers in nations like South Korea, France and Canada. Mr. Obama has said that he wants the United States to lead the world in telecommunications technology. The next chairman of the F.C.C. will need to have credibility and vision to carry that out (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** VANUATU. Hi Bryan, Any chance R. Vanuatu was testing their transmitter on May 12? Recently have been hearing nothing at all except hams on 3945, but today had a definite open carrier with decent signal strength during 1210 to 1223. Might have been them testing the tx, as there was no audio at all. Think I would have had a trace of audio if they were broadcasting any modulation/audio. Perhaps you or others in your area can check on this? Thanks. Appreciate your input! (Ron Howard, California to Bryan Clark, NZ, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DXLD) [later:] Thanks to Mauno Ritola for confirming that Radio Vanuatu is indeed broadcasting again, after having been off the air for a while. He listened via Brisbane remote receiver at 1827 and had solid reception with many clear IDs (Ron Howard, ibid.) Yes, Radio Vanuatu S=8 fluttery signal on remote unit in Australia, at 0830 UT May 13. No signal on empty 7260 kHz channel. 73 wb 3945 kHz, Program is - probably - in native Melanesian language BISLAMA, with a lot of interspersed French and lesser English. Lady said "Thank You ...", followed by some French word talk. vy73 wolfy (Wolfgang Büschel, 0911 UT May 13, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VATICAN. 11625, Thursday May 9 at 0520, good signal with talking drums, then VR opening `Communications Update`, heavy Afro accent from own announcer, but then segment from UNESCO about 121 journalists killed last year; prompted by World Press Freedom Day May 3. This English semihour is 184 degrees from SMG CVA, while French before and Portuguese after employ different azimuths (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA. QSL: martes, 23 de abril de 2013, YVNE - 1340 kHz - RADIO UNO - Caracas (VEN) - QSL --- ¡Qué bueno! ¡Ha debido de ser telepatía! Repasando la lista de informes de recepción enviados y no respondidos hasta el momento, he visto que hacía ya quince días que escribí a Radio Uno 1340 kHz. He vuelto a su web, a ver si encontraba otro correo de contacto, y me he quedado escuchando el programa "El enchufe". Muy bueno. Me he reído mucho con un comentario sobre "el chisme" en Venezuela y me ha encantado la música. Me he desconectado cuando han tenido que entrar en "cadena nacional" para un espacio sobre los acontecimientos que sacuden al país en los últimos días. Al desconectarme y mirar el correo ¡zas! ¡me encuentro con un mensaje desde Radio Uno confirmando la escucha! Tan agradable sorpresa viene firmada por Carolina Martínez, Directora de Administración. Mi informe se envió a radiouno1340 (a) hotmail.com, pero la respuesta viene de 1340amradiouno (a) gmail.com Muchísimas gracias, Carolina! (Mauricio Molano, Spain, blog info http://moladx.blogspot.it/ via Dario Monferini, May 7, playdx yg via DXLD) ** VIETNAM. 7280 + 9730, V Viet, 1802, 7 May with program in Spanish instead of listed German! Both at S7 http://www.delicious.com/gr_greek1/@zach (all mypages !!) (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, Standard rig: ICOM R75 / 2x16 V / m@h40 heads Sennheiser; Pesawat penerima: ICOM R75, Lowe HF150, various Degen Tecsun models. Antenna: 16m hor, 2x16 m V invert, Loops: SW mag loop 1 m2 for MW, AN200 MW loop, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIETNAM. VIETNAM PROVIDER DROPS FOREIGN NEWS TV CHANNELS By CHRIS BRUMMITT Associated Press May 16 HANOI, Vietnam (AP) -- A Vietnamese satellite TV company stopped airing international channels including BBC and CNN on Thursday, citing a law that foreign governments have warned would result in international news and entertainment channels ending their broadcasts in a country increasingly cracking down on freedom of expression. . . http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_VIETNAM_FOREIGN_NEWS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-05-16-06-56-32 (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** VIETNAM [and non]. 12130, May 10 at 1411, Vietnamese with whoop- whoop jamming audible underneath, i.e. as in Aoki, RFA at 14-15 via SRI LANKA, but no asterisk denoting this is jammed, unlike the later 12130 entry, RFA via Tinian at 16-17 M/W/F in Uyghur. As often happens, HFCC contradicts Aoki on site for Vietnamese, as also TINIAN, presumably more recent info (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIRGIN ISLANDS US. NEW STATION (ALMOST) ON THE AIR: 1690, WIGT, Charlotte Amalie – Applies for license to cover and program test authority for this new station CP, U1 920/920; should be on the air soon (via AM Switch, NRC DX News April 15 via DXLD) ** YEMEN. BBC French till 0500 but from 0450 rumbling signal was and from 0459 Yemen in Arabic rising with news on 6135. 9780 was covered by Spain DRM on May 01 (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZANZIBAR. 11735, Zanzibar Broadcasting Corporation, Dole, 1915 to 2050 fading in with music and better signal by 2050 as reported and discussed on social media, 8 May (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, South Florida, Icom 746Pro, Drake R8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Excellent reception here tonight on 11735 kHz from ZBC Zanzibar from tune in at 1803 UT with news in English. ID at 1804 "This news is coming to you from ZBC``. Into Swahili at 1810 and some amazing African music still in the clear now at 1836. ICF-SW7600GR + Sony AN- 71 antenna at 4 mtr via washing line! Yes, I am sitting in my back garden enjoying some late evening sun and a beer; it is a bit breezy! 73's (John Faversham Hoadd, May 9, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) 11735, TANZANIA-ZANZIBAR, ZBC Radio at 2100 running late with a mix of Afropops and African High Life with many promos and many "Spice FM" IDs - and off at 2116. Fair to Good May 10 (Mark Coady, Ont., dxingwithcumbre yg via DXLD) At 18 UT today, English news on Zanzibar 11735. As before (Derek Lynch, Ireland, May 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. TAJIKISTAN/MADAGASCAR, 12109.967, Voice of Russia's Arabic service from Orzu-TJK site towards Kurdistan and Near East North Africa, suffers a lot of adjacent signal of 12105 kHz by Radio Dialogue to Zimbabwe from Madagascar site, S=9+25dB strong signal here in Germany, W African nice dance music at 1650 UT May 9. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. Re 13-19: Just confirming the report that Voice of the People is indeed missing; at least it is tonight, May 12, on 9345. And as expected, nothing on 9435 either. Voice of the People, 9345, Talata Volondry. May 12, 2013 Sunday. 1755- 1813. Nothing heard. Jo'burg sunset 1531 (Bill Bingham, Johannesburg RSA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. INDIA?/CHINA Unidentified signal on odd 4820.093 kHz noted and hit PBS Xizang Chinese service from Lhasa site on exact 4820.0 kHz around 1725 UT May 9. Probably AIR from Kalkutta is on odd frequency. Aoki Nagoya shows AIR till 1840 UT. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 15310: like Propeller jamming on 15303 to 15317 kHz waterfall range noted at 1620 UT May 9. Is that meant against previous BBC London in Persian 15-16 UT outlet from Nakorn Pathom Thailand according to Aoki Nagoya list? Or waiting for coming Radio EYSC Tigre, which scheduled only Tue/Fri? 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. UNID LOCATION, 15835. One can improve his Russian knowledge in numbers, male voice heard here around 1820 to 1826 UT May 14. S=9+20dB in western Germany (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews May 14, dxldyg via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 17055-USB, May 15 at 1251-1255+, one side of a conversation in a non-tonal SE Asian language, concluding each transmission with ``over``; maybe Tagalog as heard occasional Spanish ``hasta la fecha``, and English ``love you``s. Good signal and presumably from a shore station to a ship, but what may be listed? UDXF yg hits on 17055 mostly go to the Polish Army in Afghanistan, unlikely (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 17450, May 9 at 1338, ear-splitting whine centered here; with BFO, it`s made up of multiple carriers closely spaced and apparently beating against each other; gradually diminishes out to 17420-17480. This has being showing up sporadically for years around 17450, and yet to be explained (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 17720, May 13 at 1506, steady open carrier for a few seconds before cutoff: maybe Greenville checking out a transmitter, altho nothing scheduled from it or anything the next few hours on 17720. VOA often tunes up on otherwise unused frequencies (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 18965, May 14 at 0516, fair open carrier with slow fades; and there it is again at 1255-1301+. The fading indicates it is not local, and could be utility, but this is officially an almost never-used SWBC band. BTW, latest HFCC May 8 shows absolutely nothing on the 18 MHz band, not even R. Australia 19000 as there are no ABC entries at all (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED ON WORLD OF RADIO 1670: David Eastman, Loudon NH, via PayPal to woradio at yahoo.com One may also contribute by check or MO in US funds to P O Box 1684, Enid OK 73702. PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ WRTH SUMMER SCHEDULES FILE NOW AVAILABLE FOR FREE DOWNLOAD The WRTH editorial team are pleased to announce that the Summer (A) Season broadcast schedules file is now available to download for free from http://www.wrth.com just follow the link on the front page (updates). Included in this file are: Broadcast schedules for international and clandestine/target broadcasters, international broadcasts in DRM, International frequency listing, and selected language broadcasts. Also included is a decode table for site and target area codes. The 80 page file is just over 2MB in size and in PDF format (with bookmarks to assist in navigating between sections) and unique section page numbering to assist with printing. You will need the free Adobe Acrobat reader in order to open this file. The Acrobat Reader can be downloaded from http://www.adobe.com We hope you find this file a useful accompaniment to the printed WRTH. Please feel free to pass this information on to others, post on your Facebook groups and walls, by Twitter, email etc. On behalf of the WRTH editorial team, Regards and happy listening, (Sean D. Gilbert, International Editor - WRTH (World Radio TV Handbook) E-mail: sean.gilbert@wrth.com / sean@hfradio.org.uk Web: http://www.wrth.com / http://www.hfradio.org.uk Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/WRTH-World-Radio-TV-Handbook/208899345815073 Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@WRTHinfo Hashtag: #WRTH 1108 UT May 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Keep checking back as there are usually one or two further versions (gh) LANGUAGE LESSONS ++++++++++++++++ VOA Pronunciation Guide Gets Innovative Makeover http://www.insidevoa.com/content/voa-pronunciation-guide-gets-innovative-makeover/1660967.html WASHINGTON, D.C. - Mastering hard-to-say names from around the world is now easier and faster than ever with Voice of America's newly updated online pronunciation guide. VOA Pronounce http://names.voa.gov/ gives you access to nearly 7,000 hard-to-say newsmaker names and locations, and it puts them at your fingertips on mobile devices, tablets or desktops. Choose the "What's Hot" category, or go country by country and look through the list of world leaders and places. Audio clips tell you exactly how the names should sound. "For more than a decade, journalists at Voice of America and elsewhere have relied on our pronunciation guide to help them prepare radio and TV programs. This innovative upgrade makes the program more versatile and provides a much better look and feel than the old version," says VOA Production Specialist James Tedder, who keeps the database up-to- date. "Using the correct pronunciation of a name shows that the speaker cares about his audience," Tedder says. "It also builds credibility, which is very important for a news organization." VOA's original online Pronunciation Guide was the first of its kind on the Internet when it was released in 2000. The site has been featured in the Washington Post, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/29/AR2005092901959.html mentioned in the Columbia Journalism Review, and used on the quiz show Jeopardy. "The primary aim of the upgrade is to make the guide more user- friendly and universal, with a responsive design that is accessible on the mobile devices that are in use today," says Steve Fuchs of the Broadcasting Board of Governor's Office of Digital Design and Innovation, which led the project. http://www.innovation-series.com/2013/04/27/voa-pronunciation-guide-reimagined-for-2013/ "We think we've done that," says Fuchs. In addition to the re-launched pronunciation guide, VOA has many handy online tools for English learners, including the interactive English Wordbook, http://learningenglish.voanews.com/archive/learningenglish-programs-radio-words-stories/latest/978/987.html which helps students to find the right word, the Business Wordbook, and many others. http://learningenglish.voanews.com/archive/learningenglish-programs-radio-words-stories/latest/978/987.html To explore the VOA Pronunciation Guide further, visit http://names.voa.gov/ For more information about this release, contact Kyle King at the VOA Public Relations office in Washington at (202) 203-4959, or write kking @ voanews.com. For more information about VOA, visit the Public Relations website at http://www.insidevoa.com or the main news site at http://www.voanews.com (This release was originally published on insidevoa.com.) (VOA PR via DXLD) GERMAN DIALECT IN TEXAS IS ONE OF A KIND, AND DYING OUT 14 May 2013 Last updated at 20:02 ET Help The first German settlers arrived in Texas over 150 years ago and successfully passed on their native language throughout the generations - until now. German was the main language used in schools, churches and businesses around the hill country between Austin and San Antonio. But two world wars and the resulting drop in the standing of German meant that the fifth and sixth generation of immigrants did not pass it on to their children. Still the biggest ancestry group in the US, according to Census data, a large majority of German-Americans never learned the language of their ancestors. Hans Boas, a linguistic and German professor at the University of Texas, has made it his mission to record as many speakers of German in the Lone Star State as he can before the last generation of Texas Germans passes away. Mr Boas has recorded 800 hours of interviews with over 400 German descendants in Texas and archived them at the Texas German Dialect Project. He says the dialect, created from various regional German origins and a mix of English, is one of a kind. "We have found no two speakers that speak roughly alike," Mr Boas told the BBC at his office in Austin. The BBC's Franz Strasser went to Weimar, New Braunfels and Austin to find the last speakers of this dialect. . . http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22490560 (BBC Altered States, via Terry Krüger, FL, DXLD) 4-minute video+audio CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ JOINT CLUB DX CONVENTION 2013 UPDATE The program agenda for the combined 2013 DX Convention is taking shape. This year’s event is called “Learning and Sharing 2013” and we have a lot of both for you. Folks from the National Radio Club, the IRCA and the Minnesota DX Club will keep your attention through the three days of the get-together. Here’s a partial list of topics: ? “Interference workshop” (DX-ing in noisy environments, how to enlist the help of the power company for electrical noise; how to quiet down smaller antennas). ? We’ll hear about Nick’s “DXFISHBARREL” and share a session on using the grey-line. There’ll be updates on what’s going on these days from Long-Wave to 10 gigahertz. ? Sessions on Ultralights and SDRs. ? Antenna design sessions will include short verticals for MW, antenna advancements by Kaz; the quest for the ‘perfect’ loop antenna, and the latest on the FSL antenna. Thursday night we’re trying to put together a DXPedition with a Beverage antenna on an abandoned railroad bed. We also hope to set up an antenna at the hotel for your use in capturing signals in the Minneapolis area. As a bonus, we’ve added a Friday lunch to the schedule, featuring a fascinating presentation by the IEEE on state-of-the-art antenna advancements. Friday night at the Museum we’ll enjoy a Pizza-Fest, “Show-and-Tell” from members and we’ll block out time for separate club business meetings, followed by discussions of general interest. (Among topics will be “the aging of the clubs,” how to attract new members, what services club members would like.) The world-famous auction will also be held at the Museum Friday night, and this year we anticipate some very nice radio gear going on the block. Saturday evening’s banquet will feature Dean Sorenson, long-time radio broadcaster and a DX Audio Service member who’ll share a fascinating look at what it’s like to build and manage radio stations. The banquet will be followed by the DX Quiz. The agenda continues under construction and may include Sunday-morning sessions. If you haven’t registered, please get it done now because the hotel is filling up. Registration information is found at http://www.nrcdxas.org/ (NRC DX News May 6 via DXLD) Not mentioned! Is another club participating, WTFDA (gh, DXLD) DX-PEDITIONS ++++++++++++ Monitoring/DX-ing on a cruise ship, in the Caribbean? I brought a radio on a cruise a few years ago, wanting to listen to some local tropical sounds while in my cabin, but found that reception was nearly impossible. If I stood out on my balcony, there was 'some' reception. I probably would have gotten some reception on the deck of the ship, but didn't want to sit in the dark with a radio. Anyone else have experience trying to do some DX/monitoring on a cruise ship? (B- T-M, dxldyg via DXLD) I've been on lots of cruises and have DX'd on each one of them. Best place to DX is on the top deck at the stern (back) of the ship, and after dark. I did this on a 37 day cruise between Sydney and LA a few years ago, and heard a lot of great DX on both SW and MW. After dark, no one's around, usually, and I've found very little noise, at least on the many ships I've been on. If you have a balcony, that's an option, although not quite as good. Al's active antenna option makes sense, although I haven't done this. Inside a cabin, forget it! 73s (Walt Salmaniw, BC, ibid.) I have to agree with Walt. In the late 1960's I travelled on the S.A.Vaal from Cape Town to Southampton, up the west coast of Africa, a journey of 7 days and nights if I recall correctly. It was a passenger liner rather than a cruise-ship. Using just a little Telefunken portable (Telestar Junior) with its own ferrite rod, reception of West Africans on medium wave was outstanding, especially at night. Using the telescopic antenna the tropical bands came to life, but the icing on the cake for me was All India Radio on shortwave; I've never received it so good, before or since, as I did every night sitting in a deck chair on the rear deck, under the Atlantic stars. And as Walt says, there was no one around after dark; presume they were all in the various bars. Also, absolutely no QRN, just perfect electrical silence. I've no experience of modern cruise ships, but I would recommend at least giving it a try. Just get out on the rear deck, it's hopeless from within the ship; a near-perfect Faraday Cage (Bill Bingham, Johannesburg RSA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I did it on a Western Caribbean cruise, and did most of my DXing on the balcony, and got excellent reception off the Yucatán Peninsula. DX was okay during the day, and even better after dark. Got a few MW and SW stations from Central America & México, Radio Habana Cuba, Radio Caracol from Colombia, V of Greece, V of Turkey, CRI, R Cairo, and a few others (BILL BLAIR, ibid.) Will you be on the ship the whole time, or will you spend any nights on land? If it were me, and there was a balcony, I would take an active antenna that could be bolted to the balcony railing. Just a thought. Never been on a proper cruise. Only the ferries across the channel and was the broadcast engineer aboard the Voice of Peace in the Med in 1990. I didn't have a radio with me during that gig, but boy, did we get reception reports for the AM and the shortwave tests that I ran! (Al Muick, Whitehall PA USA, ibid.) Al's mention of Voice of Peace brings some memories. In 1983 I was with my ship in Ashdod, Israel. During the night the Voice of Peace radio ship had arrived to the same pier next to us. A bit rusty boat with high antenna mast. I recall it was registered in Panama. Possibly arrived Ashdod for some repairs that couldn't be done at sea. Didn't have time to visit them as we sailed out soon. Well, some hippie looking guys were walking in and out of that ship. Maybe famous DJ's :-) The VOP AM signal was great in the eastern Med, even during the daytime (Jari Savolainen, Finland, ibid.) MUSEA +++++ BBC ON LONGWAVE TO DENMARK I have an electronic copy of the first edition of World Radio Handbook (1947), which as well as giving four SW wavebands for BBC Danish also lists 1796 metres [167 kHz]. This was a 50 kW transmitter at Ottringham, near the Yorkshire city of Hull on the east coast, and WRTH last listed it in the 1949-50 edition. Anyone know when this tx was put into service? (David Kernick, England, May 15, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Some websites suggest it was in operation 1943-1953 (Jari Savolainen, Finland, ibid.) Ottringham began test transmissions on 22 January 1943; station came into service on 12 February 1943 with 600 kW on 200 kHz. Had four 200 kW Marconi transmitters. Had been hoped to operate the station 10 months earlier with a single 200 kW Marconi transmitter but a number of setbacks occurred, most serious of which was the collapse of two of the 500 foot masts August 1942. Changed from 200 kHz to 250 kHz 29 July 1945, 400 kW, changed to 271 kHz 16 September 1945 due to problems with the second harmonic on the marine distress frequency. "Finally a more suitable channel was found, 167 kHz although it was necessary to accept a power restriction of 200 kW. This frequency was used until the Copenhagen Plan came into effect on 15 March 1950." Then broadcast the European Service on 200 kHz outside domestic broadcasting hours, also contributed to the mediumwave transmissions of the European service 6 July 1945 to 20 September 1946 using 977 100kW and from 29 June 1947 to 1 March 1949 provided one day maintenance relief for Crowborough on 1122. From 15 March 1950 onwards carried European service on 1295. Closed down 15 February 1953. All from BBC Engineering 1922-1972 Edward Pawley. Webpage on the site and link to photos http://www.bbc.co.uk/humber/content/articles/2006/02/19/bbc_ottringham_feature.shtml I lived in nearby Withernsea until 1962 and remember going round the site when my Dad, the local bank manager, went round the site with customer, farmer and good family friend Len Nettleton, who as the article says ended up buying it (Mike Barraclough, ibid.) Dave: A great document for details of BBC LW and MW transmitters and their frequencies and what services they carried since 1922 is http://www.mds975.co.uk/Content/bbc_transmitter_development_clive_mccarthy.pdf On Ottringham, I recall reading that one original specification for the station was that it should be able to put a clearly audible longwave signal into Berlin during the daytime (Chris Greenway, ibid.) DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DTV ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ BUT WHAT IF FCC'S INCENTIVE AUCTION FLOPS? TVNewsCheck Focus on Washington Because the FCC's planned spectrum incentive auction requires the cooperation of at least some large-market broadcasters, and it’s unclear whether enough will agree, there are market-based alternatives to the auction being talked about quietly in Washington that may be more lucrative for broadcasters. There is also risk that the government could take spectrum without giving broadcasters any compensation. By Doug Halonen, TVNewsCheck, May 15, 2013 8:33 AM EDT If the FCC’s plan to hold an incentive auction to repurpose broadcast spectrum for smartphones and other wireless devices blows up in the agency’s face in the next couple of years, some industry analysts say broadcasters could get another shot to cash out — through a market- based system that might give the broadcasters a bigger payday. Among market-based alternatives to the incentive auction that are being talked about quietly in Washington policymaking circles, broadcasters would simply be freed to sell or lease parts or all of their TV channels to wireless companies — a concept that even Tom Wheeler, who President Obama has tapped to be the next FCC chairman, once endorsed. . . http://alturl.com/7be67 (via Jim Thomas, Springfield, Missouri, WTFDA via DXLD) I read the article, but didn't see any concern for the needs of us DTV DXers! If the FCC repacks TV, those of us in high density areas need compensation for the loss of open channels. We need enough money to move our shacks to rural areas and DX far from the crowded cities. I think I will start a petition... :) (Mike Glass, N9BNN Indianapolis, Indiana USA Digital - Zenith DTT900 Mobile DTV - Coby DTV111 Analog - Samsung 12" Low Band - Winegard HD7084P at 30' AGL High Band/UHF - 10' Superdish at 40' AGL Misc - Icom PCR-100 Preamps - HDP 269 HDHR-US for real time Indy DX at http://www.n9bnn.ham-radio-op.net/TV/ Current count since May 2007 - 208 analog, 344 digital, ibid.) Sounds good to me. I can think of a few warm islands that would be nice to relocate to. But as non payTV subscribers we will have a loss of service when repacking takes place. We have already lost one channel (on occasion) with channel 31 from Wichita "blacking out" channel 31 from Kansas City. As DXers, of course, we are familiar with interference and I have been familiar with CCI since 1953 when I started DXing. But this is different. Co-channels too close to each other. It doesn't take a good tropo opening anymore. Just some slight enhancement at those short distances. We all also know what packing too many programs on the same channel will do to quality. Just look at your local TBN station (I don't for viewing) and notice the poor technical quality of all of the programs. The Topeka Fox station (KTMJ-43) is LPTV but does broadcast network programs in 1080i. Because it is LPTV, the co-owned NBC station (KSNT- 27) carries KTMJ on channel 27.2. It is not 1080 and you can tell the difference. We watch Fox on WDAF-34 from Kansas City or on channel 43.1. There is only one program on channel 43 (Dave Pomeroy, Topeka, Kansas, ibid.) DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- IBOC +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ CADILLAC NO GOOD WITHOUT GOOD HD RADIO Item on WNBC-4 tonight: A consumer complaint aired on WNBC-4 tonight. Seems this lady leased a new Cadillac in January and had problems from the start with the radio's inability to hold/receive HD signals. She's been bothering Cadillac ever since; even got them to put in a new radio. Still N.G. Now she wants them to replace the car!!! From the story, the problem stations included WHTZ-100.3 and WWPR-105.1, although she looked a little old for that kind of music. I wonder if she would have had a problem with WNSH-94.7 (is there a secret test going on where this one is running 20% or 30% of analog power?). (Joe Fela, NJ, May 14, AMFMTVDX mailing list via DXLD) IBOC OFF AND ON When I think of Cheap Channel, which I do my best not to, I think of I-Block. Today a friend in the San Francisco Bay Area told me that 50 KW powerhouse KCBS turned it off, which is nice because it opens up 730 and 750 for me in Southern California. That reduces the number of stations there still using it to just two, and both are well to the north of San Francisco. This breaks my heart (not). I-Block cannot possibly die fast enough to satisfy me (Dennis Gibson, CA, ABDX via DXLD) I should have mentioned for perspective that although $250-300K might only buy a double-wide in a trailer park in some of the upscale states, it still buys a very nice house in desirable yuppie neighborhoods in Ohio. Houses are comparatively cheap there, but the property taxes are not. The cities there are more than double in property taxes what we pay in the Denver area. It's hard to figure why some companies (like cheap channel) run the hash spewers on some of their stations, but not all, even within the same market. Here in Denver, it's usually on at KOA and KKZN, but not KHOW. I think KHOW used to run it, but I haven't heard it for a long time when I have scanned the band. My only local AM listening is KRWZ (the former KIMN) for oldies now and then. They spew it. I was hoping they would ditch it when they went on a translator, but they ended up switching the translator to one of their FM subs running all comedy, so the AM is left to sink or swim again. I wish they would revert to C-QuAM, if they still have it. KPOF (910) is another local spewer, but they recently acquired a translator, so we'll see if that magically saves them. It hasn't been activated, and it had been silent for at least a couple of years. They are moving it from just east of Boulder to their 910 tower in Westminster, which sits on much higher ground than the old translator site, which was in the valley (Kit W5KAT, CO, May 15, ABDX via DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DRM See GUAM; INDIA; NEW ZEALAND; SRI LANKA; ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ YEMEN; PUBLICATIONS: WRTH RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ WELLBROOK AL 1530 ACTIVE LOOP ANTENNA nearly miraculous For years I have used all sorts of wire antennas in an RF-rich suburban environment. Out of sheer frustration at high noise levels I finally took Don Jensen’s advice and contacted Andy Ikin at Wellbrook Communications. After a series of useful e-mail exchanges I bought an AL 1530 active loop. There is no such critter as a Miracle Antenna but the Wellbrook loop comes close. The logs this week all represent a comparison between the Wellbrook and my PAR EF-SWL. In virtually every case the loop provided a clearer signal with far less noise. At least to my ears the signal is not so much louder as the noise is much reduced making for far better reception. A case in point is 9835 RTM Sarawak FM. The signal was barely audible with the wire antenna; with the loop with signal was fair-good. I’ve just begun to live with the loop but I am rapidly becoming a believer. The Wellbrook loop is not cheap but I think it is certainly worth the investment. The careful review of the Wellbrook loop done by Guy Atkins and available at the Wellbrook website is worth special attention. I might add that I have been able to locate the loop about 15 feet from our house and elevated at about 10 feet. The loop does seem to be omni-directional for HF reception (Jim Ronda, Tulsa OK, NASWA Flashsheet May 12 via DXLD) Re: RFI report for you FM DXers - LED LIGHTS IN CARS AND TRUCKS Good thing I have an old technology Toyota with the Pontiac badge slapped on aka Pontiac Vibe / Toyota Voltz American sibling of the Canadian Toyota Matrix. Even though my car is from 2006 it doesn't even have ABS! I did have to put in an LED compatible flasher - nearly busted my fingers getting the old one out. I agree the whole resistor thing is counter productive. Now for some good news - the LEDS have almost no effect on the MW [AM] band. Zero effect on most frequencies, a couple above 1500 kHz have only a mild put-put with the turn signal activated, and that is on completely open frequencies. If I tried the radio at night I'm confident there would be no interference from the lights on the AM band. In the old days FM was described as "static free" meaning interference free. Not today. Many LED traffic lights I encounter wipe out any non- local FM station. With some of them I even get some advance warning the light will change, sort of a 'traffic report', lol! Not to mention various bizarre interference I encounter on the FM band - sometimes I think that the FM band has more interference than AM! And, yes, my good 'friend&# 39; Bell Aliant Fibre OP 2.0 is quite capable of trashing the FM band as well as the AM band if the FM antenna is say within 20 feet of the various boxes of the Fibre OP system. The interference from the LED traffic lights makes the interference from the LED signal and brake lights seem quite trivial. But, they would drive a car bound FM DXer nuts. For those DXers who want to "upgrade" your car to LEDs - go minimalistic - e.g. if you have a centre mount high brake light with a filament, just replace that with a nice bright LED and that will give the safety edge with minimal to no RFI increase. Most current cars have that already. A lot of us do dashboard DX - the time behind the wheel can be productively used for DX on AM or FM. My all time favourite was DXing Greenland on 720 kHz in the car. I was driving home the day CHTN went dark, listening to hear what might be on when I was rewarded with that catch. Sadly, Greenland on AM is no more. I've also had a few e-skip FM experiences while in the car. Thankfully, often the signals on e-skip are rather strong and for those the turn signal RFI really won't be much of an issue (Phil Rafuse, PEI, May 8, ABDX via DXLD) BROADSIDE ARRAY TESTING GIVES ME A GY DX RECORD KGGS 1340 My 10 pm CDT Perseus recording last night had a nice surprise for me with, "Brought to you by the Kansas --- Big Dog Sports AM 1340 KGGS..." ID and then into Fox sports (I think was same station), poor but atop. KGGS in Garden City KS came on the air in Nov 2011 and is about 735 miles from here. Broadside means that the array elements are side by side and facing the same direction. My two Double KAZ (Double Delta) face due west and are separated by 260 ft. Each antenna is 120 ft long with the two apexes 23 ft high and the bottom wires 2 ft above ground. Here's a Bill Whitacre drawing of the basic idea for a single one. http://realmonitor.com/BH/DKAZ_2_sizes.pdf Why space two cardioid loop type antennas side by side? Two reasons: 1) to make the array beamwidth more narrow. 2) To get better side nulls from the array. If you place two antennas side by side a half wavelength (at the incoming wave angle) apart, in theory the resultant array pattern has perfect side nulls. Of course, this also creates a nice narrow main beam. As you go farther apart than 1/2 wavelength, the main beam will become even more narrow but at the expense of side lobes which can become large. Of course, 260 ft is too close for major side null improvements except for the upper BCB, but it is all the room I have here in Barrington. Top banders take note that this would be a nearly ideal spacing for 1900 KHz. A good compromise for the entire BCB would be about 400 ft spacing. (Wider would still be better for the low end, but even at 400 ft, the X-band will be suffering somewhat from some side lobes for ground wave and low angle skip.) OK, so let`s see how performance is improved vs using a single element and noting that with this close spacing the real improvement is for the high end. Daytimes 1690 WVON to my south is definitely reduced with the array and similarly WKSH 1640 to my north is reduced. At night the effect is less, since there's some high angle skip from these two and at that high angle of incidence, 260 is close so I have nothing close to 180 deg phase difference between the two antennas. But for 1680 WRJO at night which is low angle skip, I get a nice improvement in side nulls, often leaving Iowa TIS's almost alone. On 1340, the frequency of interest for my new catch, the calculated array pattern shows a beamwidth of a bit less than 70 degrees for the array (15 deg above the horizon) vs about 100 degrees for a single element. This should result in significant improvements. Daytimes, both Joliet to my south and Milwaukee to my north are reduced enough to allow KROS to be mostly dominant. This is in contrast to a single one where KROS is still in there but not dominant and also better than I've ever had with any BOGs which I think have beamwidths in the 75 to 80 deg range. When ever I can narrow the beamwidth of my antenna systems, I get better DX. Sometimes it seems like all the same stations come in, but many of these stations are almost never reported by nearby DXers and once in a while something really nice sneaks in. The resistor terminations are good enough on each antenna to pretty much kill any back end regional or GY signals leaving me with a nice narrow beam towards the west. Similar effects are noted all over the upper half of the band with many regionals and GYs from IA, MN (mostly southern) KS, NE, SD, and some ND and MO. Colorado regionals also come in as does CO on 1510, 1530, and 1580 on night powers. There's simply less side QRM when I use the array vs a single antenna, and even lower down in the band I can tell there's at least slight difference. I've yet to break the GY wall and get into CO/WY/NM or MT but hopefully someday, although May certainly isn't the best time for long distance DX to the west from here. A DXer not interested in just a specific frequency could use a phasing unit to put a deep null off one side or the other and steer the beam a bit. The beam is wide enough that steering won't help much, but phasing a 40dB+ null could really clobber a pest from the side. In summary and before I continue to describe a somewhat smaller array with more simple elements, I strongly feel that my testing this month has proven the concept of arraying two antennas in a broadside manner. One could also array normal single loop type antennas, like the SuperLoop, Flag, Delta Flag (KAZ) or whatever as they are simple to build and broadbanded and not so critical of slight tolerances or signals coupling in from nearby wires and fences etc. A simple broadside array of two Delta Flags could be built on a good sized suburban lot and perhaps cheaply using a tree for each support. A typical Delta Flag has a 138 deg beamwidth and 5.5 dB front to side ratio. This means that while stations from the back side are nicely reduced, stations from the side can still be major pests. Here in the RF jungle that is the Midwest, it is difficult to get GYers with much clarity when the BW is the wide since too many are coming in at once. Here's some calculated measurements for a simple broadside array of two DF's spaced 225 ft that could fit into some good sized lots. You'll see how performance improves across the BCB as frequency increases. 600 KHz BW 121 deg F/S 6.5 dB ... 900 KHz BW 108 deg F/S 7.5 dB ... 1200 KHz BW 93 deg F/S 9 dB ... 1500 KHz BW 80 deg F/S 11 dB. This simple array would allow one to make an assault upon the GY DX records list and to get all sorts of rare upper band stations. Of course at about 400 ft spacing, beamwidths would be considerably more narrow and a superb antenna system would result. If you have less side by side room even at close at 150 ft could help out the upper band somewhat vs a single antenna. For much of the winter season, I tested an end fire array (in line) array of two Double KAZ elements aimed 285 deg which I could just shoe hammer into my field. Results were superb with often improved F/B and null aperture and beamwidths just under 80 degrees from my calculations and observations which seem to be about the same BW as BOGs. However, my DX was clearly better with the array than I'd ever had with the Phased BOGs. Some of this is because F/B is much more broadbanded so I can record much of the band, but some is also because patterns were cleaner with fewer extraneous lobes. As an example, over nearly 20 years and with many antennas favoring the WNW direction I'd spent hours in good conditions on 1590 trying for KLFE from Seattle without success, but on the endfire array they were reasonably common! Similarly, I never expected to get KCLK 1430 from WA late at night a few times. I took down my endfire array to make room to aim due west for the broadside array testing but! expect it may reappear for fall SSS. Dallas Lankford has done some superb work with endfire arrays of Delta Flags and is to be thanked for developing this concept and expanding upon it with his superb QDFA. I didn't try to build a QDFA since I don't have room for 4 endfire elements here in Barrington and since I don't feel that I have the ability to build the circuitry and hardware required, but for those who have ample room and can build circuits better than I can, the QDFA would be tremendous. I simply make do with the hardware and space I have available and strive to improve my DX, and hope that others can expand upon my experiences and improve theirs. I'll close in again stressing that improved directivity will improve anyone's DX, especially domestic DX on crowded channels. 73 KAZ Barrington IL (Neil Kazaross, May 13, IRCA via DXLD) Thanks for this good discussion, Neil. I always enjoy reading this stuff even though I doubt that I'll ever have a site that would allow for any kind of broadside array. An inline array of two conventional Flag, Kaz, or SuperLoop antennas with a center-to-center distance of about 120 ft. might be the most I can manage here at the home QTH. The caveat is that one side of the yard is closer to a noisy power line so one antenna getting more RFI than the other isn't going to help DX much. One DKAZ or Bowtie with in-the-shack termination control might actually do better. Dallas Lankford killed off his Yahoogroup page but he does occasionally post to 'dxing.info'. I still can't quite figure why he doesn't regularly post logs or technical discussions in DX News and DX Monitor as he once did. Many DXers have heard of him and his great projects but have found access to his vast information treasure trove not easy since the articles disappeared from Bjarne Mjelde's Kongsfjord website. I routinely posted links to those articles on DX discussion lists, Facebook, etc. but now we just have a handful of things on http://www.dxing.info/ to look at. What I have found interesting is that, with terminated (cardioid- pattern) loops and arrays of these, there are now real substitutes for Beverages that fit into modest size yards. This concept was virtually unknown in the MWDX hobby 20 years ago and was just starting to get "on the map" a decade ago. Still some are experimenting with Bev's and BOG's as well. Neil, you and some of the other experts on this list might want to look into this one: http://www.pixelsatradio.com/uploads/BevPro-1-Information-for-Web-site1.pdf There's been a lot of solar activity chatter around the 'net lately but last night I wasn't noticing as much suppression of northerly stations (Toronto, Montreal, Rochester, Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit) as I would like to see to make DX interesting. Any observations by others will be welcomed, along with any further antenna discussions (Mark Connelly, WA1ION, South Yarmouth, MA, NRC-AM via DXLD) (KAZ) A Bowtie of 18 ft height x 90 ft length has been modelled here to work almost as well as a DKAZ and might be a good solution for your back yard as people and animals are less likely to come into contact with this than a DKAZ with a long low wire 2 ft above ground (deer here jump right over this wire on one of mine). The Bowtie is best fed at the center points of the two vertical ends. This could be ideal for those with a shack upstairs. Your results a couple years ago testing a Bowtie and being able to vary Rt from the shack were producing stunning F/B ratios. (KAZ) Yes, nearby wires will also interfere with the patterns (ie you are less likely to have 30 dB+ F/B) as crud couples in from them. My DKAZ on the south side of my field is less than 25 ft from powerlines and phone lines coming down my street. Sometimes there's an arcing noise preventing DX sometimes not. I cannot seem to get F/B as good in the X-band on this one, but low end F/B is better than the other element. In spite of this, a broadside array is forgiving and has clearly more narrow beamwidth for the upper half of the band. Broadside array F/B is set by the worst element's F/B of course. Ideally I'd have both elements far away from wires and fences etc. Double loop type antennas are more bothered by signals coupling in to mess up F/B than single loops (KAZ/SuperLoop/Flag etc) since they are essentially two loops in series fed in anti-phase resulting in a configuration that is more sensitive and can be messed up by phase and amplitude errors caused by coupling. >What I have found interesting is that, with terminated >(cardioid-pattern) loops and arrays of these, there are now real >substitutes for Beverages that fit into modest size yards. This >concept was virtually unknown in the MWDX hobby 20 years ago and was >just starting to get "on the map" a decade ago. (A BSEF (Broadside/Endfire array of 4 loop-type elements (especially if double loop type)) would clearly outperform Bevs and also be able to cover the entire BCB with great F/B. > >Still some are experimenting with Bev's and BOG's as well. Neil, you >and some of the other experts on this list might want to look into this one: >http://www.pixelsatradio.com/uploads/BevPro-1-Information-for-Web-site1.pdf (KAZ) That's a very nice design and also should be broadbanded, but in less than 10 minutes with EZNEC I was able to come up with a 2 element BS array of KAZ antennas spaced 127 ft apart (ie much less land needed) for 4 MHZ that has better F/B, a slightly more narrow main beam, clearly low level back ear side lobes and those two side lobes near 90/270 are gone. But of course this would not be optimal at 2 MHz or 8 MHz (Neil Kazaross, ibid.) MODULATION DEPENDENT CARRIER LEVEL (MDCL) The following stations have been granted experimental authority to use various forms of MDCL technology: KGNW-820 Burien-Seattle WA; KRLA- 870 Glendale CA; WNYM-970 Hackensack NJ; WHIM-1080 Coral Gables FL; KFAX-1100 San Francisco CA; WYLL-1160 Chicago IL; KCBQ-1170 San Diego CA; WHKW-1220 Cleveland OH; KPXQ-1360 Glendale AZ; and WLQV-1500 Detroit MI. These are in addition to KPAM-860 Troutdale OR, which we reported last issue was granted the same authority. These grants are for all of the applications we reported last issue, plus WYLL. For more details (such as we understand them), see last AM Switch (AM Switch, NRC DX News April 15 via DXLD) The following station has been granted experimental authority to use various forms of MDCL technology: WWRC-1260 Washington DC (NRC DX News May 6 via DXLD) AM EXPANDED BAND: FREE LICENSES? A case out of Indiana highlights the unsolved problem of AM stations that were supposed to leave the air but never did. Before consolidation in the 1990's, the FCC was trying to decide how to use the newly expanded portion of the AM band (1620-1700 KHz) and decided to allow existing stations to move to the new band in an effort to ease congestion. However, due to concern that listeners who had old radios would be left out, the FCC issued new licenses to the "moving" stations with the idea that the could keep the old frequencies on the air for up to five years. However, it was soon determined that the old and new frequencies didn't have to simulcast, and, even after some stations turned in their old licenses as planned, the five-year limit was forgotten amid deregulation that allowed groups to own multiple stations anyway. In essence, many groups got an extra AM license without having to go through the usual process associated with signing on a new station. Now comes the case of WHLY/1580 (South Bend, IN) and its expanded band counterpart, WDND/1620. The stations ended up with separate ownership when the FCC approved a deal to sell both to the same buyer, but the buyer only closed the deal on one of the stations. Each station recently filed for ownership changes to separate companies, which the FCC has now denied, saying both would have to be sold to the same buyer. The FCC points out it also issued denials in a similar case in Michigan. Not addressed in the FCC letters is what will ultimately be done about the stations that never left the air as originally planned. Some in the industry once thought the FCC's rationale for letting the old frequencies remain was to allow them to serve minority audiences. However, some of the stations have since adopted mainstream formats like Sports or Oldies. Stations that were originally slated to go off the air but remain on include WLMV/1480 (Madison), KCFI/1250 (Cedar Falls-Waterloo), and KZOT/1180 (Bellevue-Omaha). The FCC recently granted license renewals for WLMV and KCFI even though their expanded band counterparts have been on the air for twelve years. KZOT is currently up for license renewal; its license was last renewed in 2005, four years after its expanded band counterpart signed on. Stations in Des Moines (1390), Iowa City (1560), West Fargo (1550), and Sussex-Milwaukee (1370) left the air as originally planned (Northpine (Apr. 3) via Shawn Axelrod, NRC DX News April 15 via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ MESSAGE ENCODED IN NEUTRINO BEAM TRANSMITTED THROUGH SOLID ROCK By John Matson | March 16, 2012 | Comments 10 Neutrinos are having a moment. They’re speeding across Europe (just how fast is under review), they’re changing flavors in China and, now, they’re carrying rudimentary messages through bedrock in Illinois. A team of physicists encoded a short string of letters on a beam of neutrinos at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, Ill., and sent the message to a detector more than a kilometer away. On the journey the neutrinos passed through 240 meters of solid rock, mostly shale. What was the word they transmitted in the preliminary demonstration? “Neutrino.” The experiment is described in a paper posted to the physics preprint server http://arXiv.org Neutrinos have been proposed for a variety of communication scenarios in which radio waves or optical signals fall short. Neutrinos rarely interact with ordinary matter, and they easily pass through solids that would screen out most other particles. So neutrino beams could be used to send messages through the Earth, or to communicate with a planetary rover parked on the far side of Mars, out of radio contact. . . http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2012/03/16/message-encoded-in-neutrino-beam-transmitted-through-solid-rock/ (via Robert Ellis, retiring utility editor, May CIDX Messenger via DXLD) Geomagnetic Summary April 1 2013 through April 30 2013 Tabulated from email status daily (K @ 0000 UTC.) Date Flux A K Space Wx 1 119 6 1 no storms 2 122 4 2 no storms 3 127 3 1 no storms 4 129 4 1 no storms 5 134 3 1 minor, R1 6 137 5 1 no storms 7 138 5 0 no storms 8 139 3 1 no storms 9 147 4 1 no storms 10 148 5 2 no storms 11 137 5 2 moderate, S2, R2 12 138 5 1 minor, S1, R1 13 125 6 3 no storms 14 117 10 2 no storms 15 113 5 2 no storms 16 113 3 1 no storms 17 108 3 1 no storms 18 105 3 0 no storms 19 99 2 1 no storms 20 105 4 1 no storms 21 109 3 1 no storms 22 113 4 1 no storms 23 118 7 3 no storms 24 115 19 3 no storms 25 119 8 2 no storms 26 122 17 3 minor, G1 27 127 6 2 no storms 28 132 5 2 no storms 29 142 5 2 no storms 30 154 7 3 no storms Sx – Solar Radiation Storm Level Gx – Geomagnetic Storm Level Rx – Radio Blackouts Level (via Phil Bytheway, IRCA DX Monitor May 11 via DXLD) DAYTIME LONG WAVE BANDSCAN FROM IRELAND Daytime (1000-1400 local) long wave band scan in Holycross, Bruff Ireland (Just south of Limerick) miles kW ERP my direction 153 Germany Donebach DLF 794 500 DA-250 Good 162 France Allouis F Inter 602 2000 V. Good 171 Russia Bolshakovo R. Rossii 1240 150 Poor* 171 Morocco Nador Medi Un 1236 2000 DA-320 Poor* 177 Germany Zehlendorf D.Kultur 917 500 Fair 183 Germany Saar Europe 1 698 2000 DA-1600 V. Good 198 England Droitwich BBC 4 272 500 Excellent 207 Germany Aholming DLF 972 500 Poor 216 France Roumoules RMC 902 1200 DA-3000 Good 225 Poland Solec PRJ 1115 1000 DA-350 V. Poor 234 Luxembourg Beidweiler RTL 671 2000 DA-1600 V. Good 254 Ireland Clarkestown RTE 1 104 300 Excellent 270 Czech R. Topolna CRO-RZ 1115 650 V.Poor * Both at equal strength (Brock Whaley, Ireland, May 9, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Brock. Interesting. Not much different to what we get here in southern England, though I would describe our reception of 153 and 216 as Fair rather than Good. Poland on 225 is barely audible at all. On 171 a very weak signal from Russia covers anything that might be co- channel from Morocco. But like you we have Good/Excellent reception of 162, 183 and 234. I guess North American readers may be jealous to read of this great ground wave reception we get on longwave over many hundreds of miles!! After dark the band doesn't change dramatically, though 279 fades in from Belarus and on 252 you can null out Ireland to hear cochannel Algeria. After dark on 153 Romania is often as strong as Germany, or stronger. I think the Romanians installed a new transmitter a while ago. But it is slightly off channel (unforgivable at such a low frequency) so there is what Glenn would call an SAH. BTW, 183 is now from an omnidirectional antenna after the directional one fell down last summer. Reception here actually improved as a result (Chris Greenway, ibid.) Chris, I have heard Romania and Algeria on 153 at night. I have had no luck with Iceland so far. As to Morocco on 171, they and the Russian trade places throughout the day here. And yes, Europe 1 is better now. Regards, (Brock Whaley, ibid.) Hi Brock. Iceland on 189 can be quite regular here - BUT only during the winter!! Reception can be surprisingly good at times, given that it's wedged between Europe 1 and the BBC. Massive signal the other night from Algeria on 252 overriding Ireland. Algeria also used to be a daytime regular on that channel before Ireland (at that time, Atlantic 252) started in 1989 (Chris Greenway, May 13, ibid.) Yes, I have heard Algeria on 252 when in London on a portable. Algeria 153 and 252 can be heard days in Cork, but it's on the water. I am inland here. About 15 miles/20km south of Limerick. Still, some French and Spanish stations make it here daytime on medium wave (Brock Whaley, ibid.) MAPPING IONOSPHERE WITH LONG WAVELENGTH ARRAY Paul Harden, NA5N of Socorro, New Mexico wrote about a fascinating project at the Very Large Array, the world's largest radiotelescope, where he works: "I am an electronics engineer at the Very Large Array (VLA) radio telescope. My current project is our low-band system (60-500 MHz) and the Long Wavelength Array (LWA) for 10-88 MHz. Though a few years away, one of the science goals of LWA is to make real time 3D maps of the ionosphere. The prototype system clearly paints the locations of the E/F layers and it's depths as it migrates around. Really cool, and when completed, should be made publicly available on the web and a great tool for hams." He sent this link to the project: http://www.aoc.nrao.edu/~pharden/LBR/lbr.htm (QST de W1AW, Propagation Forecast Bulletin 19 ARLP019 From Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, WA May 10, 2013 To all radio amateurs, via Dave Raycroft, ODXA yg via DXLD) P.I.G. Bulletin 130512 SOLAR & GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY FORECAST THE PERIOD MAY 13 - JUN 8, 2013 Solar activity will continue to fluctuate at solar flux levels between 115 - 165 s.f.u. during next few weeks. Occurrence of isolated C class flares is expected, isolated M class flares are likely, X flares are exceptionally possible. Geomagnetic field will be: quiet on May 14 - 20, 27, June 5 - 8, mostly quiet on 21, 25 - 26, 31, June 1, 4, quiet to unsettled on May 13, 30, June 2 - 3, quiet to active on May 23 - 24, 28, active to disturbed on May 22, 29. High probability of changes in solar wind which may cause remarkable changes in magnetosphere and ionosphere is expected on May 26, (31,) June 5. Remarks: - Parenthesis means lower probability of activity enhancement. - If during present year solar activity will not reach a similar or higher level as in November 2011, then 2012 will remain to be the maximum of 24 cycle (R = 70) - and vice versa. F. K. Janda, OK1HH, Czech Propagation Interest Group (OK1HH & OK1MGW, weekly forecasts since 1978) e-mail: ok1hh(at)rsys.cz (via Dario Monferini, DXLD) :Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts :Issued: 2013 May 13 0755 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center # Product description and SWPC contact on the Web # http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/weekly.html # # Weekly Highlights and Forecasts # Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 06 - 12 May 2013 Solar activity was low for the first half of the week, and moderate for the second. After a slow start with only low-level C-class flares from the regions on the disk, activity jumped up to moderate levels on 10 May when Region 1745 (N14, L=336, class/area=Ekc/600 on 12 May) unleashed an M3.9 flare at 0057Z shortly after rotating around the east limb. Later that same day, Region 1745 produced an M1.3 flare at 1256Z. Region 1745 and 1744 (N05, L=259, class/area=Dai/190 on 12 May) were the most productive regions on the disk during the week, with 10 C-flares each to their credit. Region 1744 was responsible for the largest C-class flare of the week, a C9.0 at 09/2316, immediately preceding the beginning of moderate activity. The 11th was relatively quiet; the largest flare was a C8.0 from Region 1746 (S27, L=337, class/area=Dhi/270 on 12 May) shortly after it emerged on the disk. However, there was a 16 degree filament eruption centered near N39W50 which began at 11/2230Z. The resulting CME was visible in LASCO/C2 coronagraph imagery by 12/0000Z. WSA-Enlil output suggested this CME may brush past Earth late on the 14th or early on the 15th. Moderate activity returned on 12 April with two M- class events, an M1.9 at 2032Z and an M1.2 at 2244Z, from a newly emerged region beyond the east limb. No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal to moderate levels all week. Geomagnetic field activity was at quiet to unsettled levels all week. A positive polarity recurrent coronal hole high speed stream brought unsettled conditions for the first three days of the week. The remainder of the week saw quiet geomagnetic conditions. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 13 MAY - 08 JUNE 2013 Solar activity is expected to be at low levels with moderate activity likely and a chance for high activity levels throughout the forecast period. No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at high levels begiining on 24 May and lasting through 31 May in response to a recurrent coronal hole high speed stream. Normal to moderate levels are expected for the balance of the period. Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at quiet to unsettled levels through the period with the exception of 15-16, 21-23 and 28-29 May. Unsettled to active levels are expected on 15-16 May with the arrival of a glancing blow from the CME observed on 12 May. Conditions are expected to be unsettled to active on 21-23 May, and 28-29 May with in response to recurrent coronal hole high speed stream. Another high speed stream may bring unsettled conditions on 2-4 June. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2013 May 13 0756 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 2013-05-13 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2013 May 13 150 8 3 2013 May 14 150 5 2 2013 May 15 150 12 3 2013 May 16 145 8 3 2013 May 17 140 5 2 2013 May 18 140 5 2 2013 May 19 130 5 2 2013 May 20 150 5 2 2013 May 21 145 15 4 2013 May 22 150 10 3 2013 May 23 150 15 4 2013 May 24 155 5 2 2013 May 25 160 5 2 2013 May 26 170 5 2 2013 May 27 160 5 2 2013 May 28 160 15 4 2013 May 29 155 10 3 2013 May 30 155 5 2 2013 May 31 150 5 2 2013 Jun 01 155 5 2 2013 Jun 02 160 10 3 2013 Jun 03 160 5 2 2013 Jun 04 155 5 2 2013 Jun 05 150 5 2 2013 Jun 06 145 5 2 2013 Jun 07 145 5 2 2013 Jun 08 145 5 2 (SWPC via WORLD OF RADIO 1669, DXLD) X-Ray Event exceeded X1 (R3) Space Weather Message Code: SUMX01 Serial Number: 83 Issue Time: 2013 May 13 0237 UTC SUMMARY: X-ray Event exceeded X1 Begin Time: 2013 May 13 0153 UTC Maximum Time: 2013 May 13 0217 UTC End Time: 2013 May 13 0232 UTC X-ray Class: X1.7 Location: N15E90 NOAA Scale: R3 - Strong Comment: This event originated from an unnumbered region from around the east limb at about N15. NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at www.swpc.noaa.gov/NOAAscales Potential Impacts: Area of impact consists of large portions of the sunlit side of Earth, strongest at the sub-solar point. Radio - Wide area blackout of HF (high frequency) radio communication for about an hour (SWPC via DXLD) Space Weather Message Code: SUMX01 Serial Number: 85 Issue Time: 2013 May 14 0144 UTC SUMMARY: X-ray Event exceeded X1 Begin Time: 2013 May 13 2359 UTC Maximum Time: 2013 May 14 0111 UTC End Time: 2013 May 14 0120 UTC X-ray Class: X3.2 Optical Class: 2b Location: N12E77 NOAA Scale: R3 - Strong NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/NOAAscales Potential Impacts: Area of impact consists of large portions of the sunlit side of Earth, strongest at the sub-solar point. Radio - Wide area blackout of HF (high frequency) (SWPC via DXLD) :Product: Geophysical Alert Message wwv.txt :Issued: 2013 May 13 0300 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center # # Geophysical Alert Message # Solar-terrestrial indices for 12 May follow. Solar flux 147 and estimated planetary A-index 5. The estimated planetary K-index at 0300 UTC on 13 May was 1. Space weather for the past 24 hours has been strong. Radio blackouts reaching the R3 level occurred. Space weather for the next 24 hours is predicted to be moderate. Radio blackouts reaching the R2 level are likely (SWPC via DXLD) MASSIVE SOLAR FLARE STRONGEST OF THE YEAR Vancouver Sun May 14, 2013 2:06 AM - The sun has fired off a massive flare, the strongest solar eruption this year. The powerful flare occurred Sunday and erupted on the side of the sun that was not facing Earth. While the planet was not hit with radiation, space weather forecasters say the solar blast briefly disrupted high-frequency radio signals. [...] Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Massive+solar+flare+strongest+year/8380851/story.html#ixzz2TG2lKx00 (via Ron Howard, dxldyg via DXLD) Temporary information on May 14 at 0130 UT, NITC-Japan Space Weather Information Center announcement. May 13 at 0152UT X1.7 1536 X2.8 May 14 at 0058 X3.2 http://swc.nict.go.jp/contents/index_e.php (via S. Hasegawa, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) SUN UNLEASHES THREE RECORD X-CLASS FLARES : Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/space/astronomy/sun-unleashes-three-x-class-flares-130513.htm The weekend ended with the biggest solar flare of the year — an X- class flare measuring X1.7. X-class flares are the most energetic type of flare, but an X1.7 is at the lower end of that scale. Obviously disappointed by its 2013 personal best, the sun let rip with not one, but TWO more X-class flares within 24 hours, each bigger than the last. The X1.7 erupted at 9:17 p.m. EST (Sunday), and then a X2.8 followed- up at 11:09 a.m. EST (Monday). Then, the biggest flare completed the hat-trick at 8:17 p.m. EST with a new 2013 record of X3.2. The largest flare of the day is nearly 3 times more energetic than the first X1.7 flare. PHOTOS: Simmering Solar Views from SDO All the flares originated from the same active region — AR 1748 — which is currently crackling with intense magnetic activity. The first flare was spotted erupting just beyond the limb of the sun, but now AR 1748 is rotating into the Earth-facing side bringing with it the possibility of more flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). According to Spaceweather. com, NOAA space weather forecasters estimate a 40 percent chance of further X-class flares over the next 24 hours. The intense X-ray emissions that are generated by flares of this type can boost ionization in the upper layers of the Earth’s atmosphere. This can, in turn, affect global communications. During periods of intense solar activity, upper layers of the atmosphere may expand, making the orbital environment unexpectedly dense, increasing drag on satellites. If left unchecked, satellites can deorbit sooner than predicted. ANALYSIS: Sun Celebrates ‘Solar Max’ New Year With Flare CME’s on the other hand are bubbles of magnetism carrying highly charged particles that can interact with our planet’s magnetic field, generating aurorae. Sometimes, if the conditions are right, geomagnetic storms can induce electric currents through the atmosphere, potentially overloading national power grids. So far, AR 1748 hasn’t generated an Earth-directed CME, but that could change over the next few days. The sun is currently undergoing “solar maximum” — a period of peak activity in its 11 year solar cycle. So far, solar max has been mediocre at best, but as this explosive trio has just shown us, don’t count the sun out quite yet — we could be in for a period of rather inclement space weather courtesy of AR 1748. Image: The three X-class flares as observed by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) — the observations were grabbed using the 304A filter, highlighting multi-million degree plasma in the sun’s lower atmosphere. Credit: NASA/SDO (via Kevin Redding, ABDX via dXLD) More solar flares! ANOTHER X-FLARE ON MAY 15: When the week began, the sun hadn't unleashed an X-flare all year long. In only two days, sunspot AR1748 has produced four. The latest X-flare from this active sunspot occured on May 15th at 0152 UT. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured the extreme ultraviolet flash: Although the sunspot is not directly facing Earth, this flare might have produced a CME with an Earth-directed component. We are waiting for coronagraph data from SOHO and the twin STEREO probes to check this possibility. Stay tuned for updates. In summary, AR1748 has produced an X1.7-class flare (0217 UT on May 13), an X2.8-class flare (1609 UT on May 13), an X3.2-class flare (0117 UT on May 14), and an X1-class flare (0152 on May 15). These are the strongest flares of the year, and they signal a significant increase in solar activity. http://spaceweather.com/ (via Mike Terry, May 15 dxldyg via DXLD) NOAA : ANOTHER X-FLARE ON MAY 15 Top News of the Day: 2013-05-15 14:34 UTC Solar Radiation Storm Begins The recent eruptions from Region 1748, first causing enhanced levels of solar protons and now passing event threshold, have produced an S1 (Minor) Solar Radiation Storm as of 1335 UTC (9:35 EDT) today. That condition is expected to linger in the S1 category, pending further eruptions. In addition, the CME associated with the most recent R3 (Strong) Radio Blackout (0148 UTC today) is predicted to sideswipe the geomagnetic field early on May 18 (UTC). Forecasters do not anticipate any Geomagnetic Storm activity with that. Back at the Sun, Region 1748 is still potent; forecasters are looking for more of the same today. http://spaceweather.com Stiamo raggiungendo rapidamente il massimo della attività Solare del Ciclo 24, i sintomi ci sono tutti ..... senza voler fare la "Cassandra`` di turno, prepariamoci al peggio.... se il sunspot AT1748 esploderà di nuovo nei prossimi 5 giorni...... . i sistemi informatici ed energetici del nostro "granello di senape" sperduto nell'universo. ....verranno polverizzati. ANOTHER X-FLARE ON MAY 15: When the week began, the sun hadn't unleashed an X-flare all year long. In only two days, sunspot AR1748 has produced four. The latest X-flare from this active sunspot occured on May 15th at 0152 UT. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured the extreme ultraviolet flash: Although the sunspot is not directly facing Earth, this flare might have produced a CME with an Earth-directed component. We are waiting for coronagraph data from SOHO and the twin STEREO probes to check this possibility. Stay tuned for updates. In summary, AR1748 has produced an X1.7-class flare (0217 UT on May 13), an X2.8-class flare (1609 UT on May 13), an X3.2-class flare (0117 UT on May 14), and an X1-class flare (0152 on May 15). These are the strongest flares of the year, and they signal a significant increase in solar activity. ION WAVES IN THE ATMOSPHERE: Although AR1748 is not directly facing Earth, its strong flares have nevertheless affected our atmosphere. UV and X-radiation hitting the top of the atmosphere ionizes atoms and molecules, creating ion waves over the dayside of the planet. Roberto Battaiola detected these waves on May 13th using a Sudden Ionospheric Disturbance monitor in Milan, Italy: Sudden ionospheric disturbances- -"SIDs" ; for short--make themselves known by the effect they have on low-frequency radio signals. When a SID passes by, the atmosphere overhead becomes an good reflector for radio waves, allowing signals to be received from distant transmitters. Battaiola monitored a faraway 21.75 kHz radio station to monitor the SIDs over his location. More SIDS are in the offing as NOAA forecasters estimate an 80% chance of M-flares and a 50% chance of X-flares during the next 24 hours. http://www.solen.info/solar/indices.html (all via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ONDREJOV: WEEKLY FORECASTS FROM ONDREJOV SUNWATCH Solar activity forecast for the period May 17 - 23, 2013 Activity level: mostly low to moderate X-ray background flux (1.0-8.0 A): in the range B2.5-C1.5 Radio flux (10.7 cm): a fluctuation in the range 115-160 f.u. Events: class C (1-15/day), class M (0-5/period), class X (0- 2/period), proton (0-2/period) Relative sunspot number (Ri): in the range 50-120 Astronomical Institute, Solar Dept., Ondrejov, Czech Republic e-mail: sunwatch(at)asu.cas.cz (RWC Prague) ______________________________ Geomagnetic activity forecast for the period May 17 - Jun 8, 2013 Geomagnetic field will be: quiet on May 20, 27, June 5 - 8, mostly quiet on 19, 21, 25 - 26, 31, June 1, 4, quiet to unsettled on May 30, June 2 - 3, quiet to active on May 17 - 18, 23 - 24, 28, active to disturbed on May 22, 29. High probability of changes in solar wind which may cause remarkable changes in magnetosphere and ionosphere is expected on May 17 - 18, 26, (31,) June 5. Remarks: - Parenthesis means lower probability of activity enhancement. - If during present year solar activity will not reach a similar or higher level as in November 2011, then 2012 will remain to be the maximum of 24 cycle (R = 70) - and vice versa. F. K. Janda, OK1HH, Czech Propagation Interest Group (OK1HH & OK1MGW, weekly forecasts since 1978) e-mail: ok1hh(at)rsys.cz (via Dario Monferini, May 16, DXLD) ###