DX LISTENING DIGEST 13-52, December 25, 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 1701: *DX and station news about: Australia, Belgium non, Bonaire, Canada, Chad, China, Congo DR, Cuba, Diego Garcia, Ecuador non, Equatorial Guinea and non, Fiji non, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Italy non, Kashmir, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Mexico, Myanmar, Nigeria, North America, Russia, South Carolina non, Suriname, UK, USA SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1701, December 26-January 1 Thu 0430 WRMI 9955 [replayed 1700] Thu 1330 WRMI 9955 [NEW; confirmed but truncated] Thu 2201 WTWW 9475 [confirmed] Fri 0428v WWRB 3195 [confirmed] Sat 0730 HLR 7265-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio Sat 1530 HLR 7265-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio Sun 0030 WTWW 5085 [confirmed] Sun 0501 WTWW 5830 [confirmed, but poor propagation here] Mon 0400v WBCQ 5110v-CUSB Area 51 [NEW ex- Sat 0300v] Tue 1200 WRMI 9955 [now better via Okeechobee] Wed 0730 HLR 7265-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio [pre-empted till Jan 8] Wed 1530 HLR 7265-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio [pre-empted till Jan 8] Thu 0430 WRMI 9955 [or 1702 if ready in time] Latest edition of this schedule version, including AM, FM, satellite and webcasts with hotlinks to station sites and audio, is at: http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html or http://schedule.worldofradio.org or http://sked.worldofradio.org For updates see our Anomaly Alert page: http://www.worldofradio.com/anomaly.html WRN ON DEMAND: [no longer available] WORLD OF RADIO PODCASTS VIA WRN: [no longer available; shall we set up our own podcasting?] 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. 9615.00, *1400-1410 19.12, KNLS, Anchorage [sic], Long fanfare, Chinese talk, 25212. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, on my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire in Skovlunde, Denmark, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) Anchor Point, nothing to do with Anchorage (gh, DXLD) [and non]. 9655, KNLS, 1504 Dec 21, audible in English under a very strong co-channel Romania in Arabic. Very poor (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening in my car, by the lake, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALBANIA. Strange spurious signals of China Radio International via Cërrik: 0700-0857 11785 CER 150 kW / 310 deg WeEu English // 11925, co-ch VOT 0700-0857 11855 CER 150 kW / 310 deg WeEu Chinese // 11715. Formula is: Chinese 11855 minus 140 = 11715, English 11785 plus 140 = 11925 -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, Equipment: Sony ICF-2001D, 30 m. long wire, Dec 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Ivo, this intermodulation of two CRI En/Mandarin outlets at Cerrik on 25 mb in our UT mornings has been happening always since the Chinese came back to use Cërrik site some 10 years ago. This from my archive of 7 Dec 2004: ALBANIA / (history) 11715 kHz spur of new powerhouse CRI Cerrik Albania relay 11855 kHz. 0700-0857 Chinese 11785 \\ 17650KAS [ciraf 27] WeEUR 11925 kHz spur of new powerhouse CRI Cerrik Albania relay 11785 kHz. Both spurs of 11785/11855 kHz are 70 kHz apart, the normal procedure, upper spur carries lower freq program content, and lower spur carries upper frequency program content, v.v. (wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 7, 2004) (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) ** ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS. 4760, AIR Port Blair, [presumed]. 21/12 1705-1730, Best S4 very noisy. Hindi. OM, YL singing, Indian music. 73 (Nick VK2DX Hacko, Sydney NSW, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANGOLA. 4849.75, RNA-Canal "A", Mulenvos, 1900-1924, 20/12, português, ID, anúncio das freqs. (*), Jornal das Vinte Horas; 35433, melhor sinal em 21/12, pelas 1850. *) 11955 (!), 4950, 1088, 1010, 944 kHz (em OC foram anunciadas as faixas e, em OM, os comprimentos de onda equivalentes) e 99.0, 93.5, 94.2, 99.5, 99.9 e 101.0 MHz. Resumidamente, a qualidade do sinal em 4950n é "ao sabor das ondas"... e se aquele depende igualmente do equipamento, bom, isso pode esperar, que o dinheiro não dá para tudo, pois, à cabeça, temos os gastos com a "família real" e respect.º séquito, ou não será? Como poderiam eles comprar os Cartier, carros de luxo e um grande "et coetera"? Um episódio passado bem recentemente (Novembro p.p.), em Luanda: segue uma carrinha com determinados visitantes e, a dado passo, é mandada parar por uma patrulha da polícia; o sinal é ostensivamente ignorado, para espanto dos turistas, e o motorista explica-lhes: "parar para quê, eles [a patrulha] estão numa esquadra intinerante, não têm carros, portanto, parar para quê, se não podem vir atrás de nós? Aqui, é assim mesmo." Bom, palavras, para quê, é "aquela África"? E mais haveria ainda para contar (Carlos Gonçalves, PORTUGAL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4949.8, Radio Nacional, 0211 Dec 24, Portuguese, popular music, male announcer on the telephone with someone. Heard at same level during checks through to 0400+. Poor (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening in my car, by the lake, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AMSTERDAM ISLAND [and non]. DXpedition === LATEST PRESS RELEASE - FT5ZM The Amsterdam Island DXpedition is on schedule and all systems remain "GO!" All the equipment the Amsterdam Island DXpedition team shipped to New Zealand is now aboard the MV Braveheart. Our documentation - sanitation inspections, hull inspections, de-ratting certification, and bio-security clearance has been completed. The vessel will be fueled for its voyage to Australia on December 23rd. On December 24th, fresh produce for the initial voyage will be taken aboard. The crew will celebrate Christmas day at home with their families and then on December 26th at 1400 local time, during high slack water, the vessel will sail for Fremantle, Australia. The Braveheart will sail around the north cape of New Zealand's north island, across the Tasman Sea, across the Great Australian Bight, and up the west coast of Australia to the port of Fremantle. Additional provisions will be taken aboard in Australia and the vessel will be re-fueled for the voyage to Amsterdam Island and back. FT5ZM team members will begin arriving in Fremantle on January 9th. There will be team meetings, toasts, and shopping trips. Our good VK6 friends have acquired some additional supplies for us and we will take these aboard. The team will board the Braveheart on January 14th, configure our maritime mobile station, and sail for Amsterdam Island on January 15th. You will likely hear from us one more time before we leave our respective countries and fly to Australia. However, as always, thank you to the amateur and DX community for your support and interest. Visit our website frequently for late breaking news and updates. We’ve not yet reached our financial goals, but with your continued support, that goal is in sight. Ralph - K0IR (via ICPO mailing list via Dave Raycroft, Dec 21, ODXA yg via DXLD) ??? Why not start the expedition in Fremantle WA, *MUCH* closer to the destination, rather than New Zealand??? How about putting one transceiver on a SWBC band with programming? (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. 11711-, UT Friday Dec 20 at 0213, and later chex, RAE is AWOL again from what should be its weeknight English service. Will it be back UT Saturday before the weekend break? Also check whether 15345v is off (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15344.706 kHz and hopping around at least 10 Hertz, played tango music, what else? French service of RAE Buenos Aires, heard also on Ceylon island. S=6 signal (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, logged at Victor's remote Perseus on Ceylon island, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) No time or date but between other logs indicating 2039 / 2048 UT Dec 20, and that is during the French hour (gh, DXLD) 11711-, UT Saturday Dec 21 at 0050, RAE is back after missing last night; now in Brazuguese but with porteño accent, fair signal, 0051 into tango. Also was heard by Wolfgang Büschel earlier Dec 20 on 15345v European service (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11711, R.A.E., 0205 Dec 24, English, profiling a late Argentine popular music artist. Good but muffled audio (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening in my car, by the lake, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15345, RAE, 25/12 1945 UT. Noticias internacionales en idioma italiano acerca de Carlos Menem y deportistas argentinos. SINPO: 55454 (Claudio Galaz, Antena: Hilo de 20 metros, RX: Tecsun PL-660, QTH: Sector sur de Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) ** ASCENSION. BBC Atlantic Relay Station Ascension Island http://www.thelivingmoon.com/45jack_files/03files/ECHELON_Ascension_Island.html A few photos of the BBC Atlantic Relay station's antenna towers and transmitter room (James Mills, Dec 19, shortwavesites yg via DXLD) Other photos on this are more interesting: golf course, wind farm, strange unID antennas by other agencies (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. 2325, VL8T, Tennant Creek, 1227-1238 Dec 17, man and woman chatting with laughter followed by ABC news at 1235. Poor to fair with // 2485 (VL8K – Katherine) poor. No sign of 2310 (VL8A – Alice Springs) which usually is best of the three. Possibly out of service? (Richard A. D`Angelo, French Creek State Park, PA, DXpedition No. 44, Ten-Tec RX-340, Drake R-8B and an Eton E1, 500-foot wire essentially north for the RX-340 and 250-foot wire essentially northeast for the R-8B and a whip antenna for the E1, via Craig Seager, ARDXC via DXLD) ?? VL8A has stayed on 4835, 24 hours for the past couple of years (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. ABC RADIO'S IDEAS NETWORK--RADIO NATIONAL--GOES ON SUMMER HOLIDAY The regular programs of ABC Radio National (ABC-RN) along with most of their presenters go on hiatus during an extended Christmas/New Year holiday period that just happens in the southern hemisphere to coincide with summer vacations! There are some highlights and repeat broadcasts of regular programs, as well as a trove of special programming, including holiday specials. For full details, point your browser to: http://www.abc.net.au/rn/legacy/newsletters/rn_newsletter.htm There also is full summer schedule detailing all the temporary changes at: http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/summer-2013/5104916 Everything slowly gets back to normal through January, returning to the regular schedule by the end of the month. Live streaming and podcasts from http://abc.net.au/rn (John Figliozzi, http://wwlgonline.com Dec 20, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9580, Dec 25 around 1430, RA in `Conversations` with Richard Fidler interviewing Michael Ware about his experiences as a war correspondent in Iraq and Afghanistan, for TIME and CNN, now recovering from PTSD. Radio National`s show archive has nothing new since Dec 13, as it`s summer re-run time. Searching on guest name, it`s this one from last August, altho he also appeared in 2012; in fact that show was a repeat of the previous one, so this is a rerepeat; but new to me. http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2013/08/16/3827038.htm?site=conversations (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [and non]. 9890, UAE, Radio Australia 2255 English (sked 2200-2330). “Merry Christmas to You” song and man and woman chatting, 2300 news, // 17795. Very poor, Dec 24 (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening in my car, by the lake, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) surely not synchronized (gh) ** AUSTRALIA. Correxions: According to http://www.hcjb.org.au/docs/HCJB%20Australia%20B13%20Schedule.pdf in Ivo Ivanov`s B-13 shortwave schedule of HCJB Australia 0000-0030 on 15400 KNX 100 kW / 310 deg to SEAs Malayalam Sun should read: Bahasa Malaysia [...] 0100-0115 on 15400 KNX 100 kW / 310 deg to SEAs Chinese Wed/Fri 0100-0115 on 17760 KNX 100 kW / 310 deg to SEAs Chinese Wed/Fri 1130-1145 on 11700 KNX 100 kW / 320 deg to SEAs Chinese Wed/Fri Chin Hakha (Duhdim Nun (Abundant Life), also see http://www.hcjb.org/hcjb-global-news/asia-pacific/programs-produced-by-chin-hakha-pastors-in-australia-touch-persecuted-believers.html [...] 1000-1030 on 15400 KNX 100 kW / 345 deg to EaAs Fijian Mon-Fri 2300-2330 on 15525 KNX 100 kW / 345 deg to EaAs Fijian Mon-Fri should read: Fujian-Chinese [...] (Ivo Ivanov, DX RE MIX NEWS #826 December 16, 2013, via DXLD) (Dr. Hansjoerg Biener 26. December 2013, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BANGLADESH. 4750, Bangladesh Betar HS, 1540, Dec 18. In English with "News Commentary" about the country observing "International Migrants Day" today and telling about the number of Bangladesh workers outside the country; QRM (Ron Howard, Calif., Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4750, Bangladesh Betar, 1540 Dec 23, English, woman with news to 1542, then into song. Poor, mixing with China (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening in my car, by the lake, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna, Editor of World English Survey and Target Listening, available at http://www.odxa.on.ca dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7250, Bangladesh Betar, 1949-2000* Dec 15, instrumental music followed by a man announcer with talk in listed Bengali language followed by ID and apparently closedown announcements. Poor to fair with some ARO QRM. 15105, Bangladesh Betar, *1229-1259* Dec 17, IS followed by time pips, man announcer with TC followed by ID and frequency announcements opening English service. News followed with a news commentary at 1237. Good signal (Richard A. D`Angelo, French Creek State Park, PA, DXpedition No. 44, Ten-Tec RX-340, Drake R-8B and an Eton E1, 500-foot wire essentially north for the RX-340 and 250-foot wire essentially northeast for the R-8B and a whip antenna for the E1, via Craig Seager, ARDXC via DXLD) 7250.00, *1313-1325 21.12, Bangladesh Betar, Khabirpur, IS on violin and tanpura, 1315 Nepali ann and instrumental music, 1317 news mentioning Bangladesh, 35333. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, Denmark, from Skovlunde on the AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** BARBADOS [and non]. [Re 13-51:] BBS FM 90.7 MHz - Barbados - Caribe Amigos, postei no Youtube alguns trechos da abertura de propagação transequatorial de ontem à noite: http://youtu.be/lwPYScQwsec http://youtu.be/mntaCzC3ftM http://youtu.be/y3Zq4RzW5Uo http://youtu.be/K4j8LpcRLRk http://youtu.be/uKT51bc_U4Y http://youtu.be/-GnGznbFNV4 73´s (Fran Jr., - São Paulo SP, Sony XDR F1HD, Antena Interna Direcional Yagi 5 Elementos, Dec 20, radioescutas yg via DXLD) ** BELARUS. 11730, 20/Dez 2002, R Belarus in English. OM presents newscast. 34433 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELGIUM [non]. BULGARIA, 7535 kHz, 1600-1900 UT, 100 kW, Dec 28 ONLY. RTR Radio Europa via Spaceline Ltd. Kostinbrod (bei uns noch als Radio Traumland aus Ostbelgien besser bekannt) informiert. Hallo lieber Bernd, es hat mit der KW Frequenz dann doch noch rechtzeitig geklappt. Es wird am 28. Dez. von 1600-1900 UT die 7535 kHz im 41-m-Band eingesetzt!!! Sie duerfte mit 100 kW in Europa fuer eine gute Abdeckung sorgen. Wir wuerden uns natuerlich besonders freuen, wenn Du Eure Mitglieder dazu anhalten koenntest, nicht nur kurz einen Empfangstest vorzunehmen, sondern moeglichst komplett der Sendung zuzuhoeren, da die Erstellung und auch das Drumherum vor allem inhaltlich und produktionstechnisch sehr aufwaendig war und weit ueber das uebliche Mass hinausgeht, weil wir nun mal Perfektionisten sind !!! Vielen Dank! (Bernd Seiser-D, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 18 via WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DXLD) Radio Traumland - RTR1 Radio Europa in Belgien, Sonntag 7. Dec 2013 (Bernd Seiser-D, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 18, ibid.) ** BOLIVIA. 3310, Radio Mosoj Chaski - Cotapachi, 0130-0204* Dec 17, man announcer hosting program of rustic music with ID and closedown announcements at 0204. No anthem at closing. Poor (Richard A. D`Angelo, French Creek State Park, PA, DXpedition No. 44, Ten-Tec RX- 340, Drake R-8B and an Eton E1, 500-foot wire essentially north for the RX-340 and 250-foot wire essentially northeast for the R-8B and a whip antenna for the E1, via Craig Seager, ARDXC via DXLD) ** BOLÍVIA. 4716.7, R. Yatun Ayllu Yura, Yura, 2315-2326, 19/12, quíchua ou aimara, texto, canções índias; 35332 (Carlos Gonçalves, PORTUGAL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Yura --- en el aire buena señal, 4716.10 kHz AM, UT 0120 (Ernesto Paulero, Argentina, UT Dec 23, condiglista yg via DXLD) 4716.7, R. YURA, 23/12 0132 UT. Transmisión de programa musical, especialmente de cumbias. SINPO: 44444 (Claudio Galaz, Antena: Hilo de 5 metros de cable de cobre, RX: Tecsun PL-660, QTH: Poblado de Barraza Bajo, Comuna de Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) 4716.7, Radio Yatun Ayllu, Yura, 0234 Dec 24, Spanish, man frequently talking over techno-beat music (not the kind of music I expect to hear from Bolivia!), 0240 mention of Yura. Fair (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening in my car, by the lake, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 6134.8, R. SANTA CRUZ, 25/12 0501 UT. Transmisión de música bailable con ritmos tropicales y de influencia brasileña hasta las 0529 cuando sale del aire. SINPO: 55454 (Claudio Galaz, Antena: Hilo de 20 metros, RX: Tecsun PL-660, QTH: Sector sur de Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) Very late s/off for Xmas eve ** BONAIRE. 500 KW FOR RADIO TRANSMUNDIAL http://www.twr.org/news_and_blogs/2013/11-01/cubans-dream-of-stronger-signal-from-bonaire "[...] For many years, TWR broadcast from Bonaire at a half-million watts but then made the transition to 100,000 watts in 1999 to reduce operating costs. In the summer of 2013, the ministry’s international board decided to undertake the return to higher power, a move already legally permissible because of a license granted the year before. The upgrade is projected to cost more than $3 million and would extend a much stronger AM signal well into northern Brazil and into Cuba, whose northwest-southeast expanse sits roughly 700 to 1,200 miles from Bonaire. [...] TWR planners are already organizing for the Bonaire Power Restoration Project, which likely will be launched in the spring of 2014 with a completion schedule likely measured in years rather than months. But prayer is fervently sought from the TWR family throughout the Americas and around the world so that Cuba may one day become a mission field of dreams." (via Dr Hansjoerg Biener, Dec 19, WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DXLD) In the old days, with 500 kW, PJB on 800 kHz made it well into North America (gh, DXLD) ** BOTSWANA. 15580, Dec 21 at 2100, VOA news has some rumble on the transmitter, this frequency just having switched from Greenville the previous hour during `Music Time in Africa` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. BRASIL: 4805, R. Dif.ª do Amazonas, Manaus AM, 2232-2240, 21/12, canções; 23341, QRM de CODAR. 4815, R. Dif.ª, Londrina PR, 2312-2325, 19/12, canções; 34342, QRM de CODAR + sinal adjacente de emissora de ponto a ponto. 4845.2, R. Cultura Ondas Tropicais, Manaus AM, 2310-2324, 19/12, A Voz do Brasil; 44433, QRM de CODAR; áudio de má qualidade, igualmente notado em 21/12. 4865.8, R. Alvorada, Londrina PR, 2306-2317, 19/12, propaganda religiosa; 23341, QRM de CODAR. 4895, R. Novo Tempo, Cp.º Grande MS, 2218-2230, 21/12, propag. relig. Da Igreja Adventista do 7.º dia, anúncios de programação; 34432. 4925.2, R. Educação Rural, Tefé AM, 2237-2246, 21/12, entrevista; 24331, QRM da China, em 4920. 4985, R. Brasil Central, Goiânia GO, 2216-2228, 21/12, canções; 43432, QRM adjacente de sinal de teletipo; // 11815 com SINPO 45433. 5035, R. Aparecida, Aparecida SP, 2300-2311, 19/12, programa `Com a Mãe Aparecida`, lista de retransmissoras; 44432, espalhamento do sinal cubano, em 5040. 6120, SRDA, São Paulo SP, 2341-2349, 19/12, D. Miranda "vociferando" propag. relig. e escutando testemunhos de curas, com as frases principais traduzidas para castelhano; 33421. 6134.9, R. Aparecida, Aparecida SP, 2343-2353, 19/12, entrevista acerca de um restauro de igreja; 44433, QRM da BOLIVIA [6134.8ish] 9515, R. Marumby, Curitiba PR, 2235-2244, 19/12, propag. relig.; 45433 9586.15, SRDA, São Paulo SP, 2237-2245, 19/12, D. Miranda "vociferando" propag. relig. e escutando testemunhos de curas, com as frases principais traduzidas para castelhano; 35332. 9665.2, R. Voz Missionária, Camboriú SC, 1918-1931, 22/12, entrevistas, sempre no âmbito de propag. relig.; 24432, em ascensão, apesar da QRM adjacente. 11894.9, R. Boa Vontade, Pt.º Alegre RS, 2005-2015, 19/12, música e propag. relig.; 25432. 11915, R. Gaúcha, Pt.º Alegre RS, 2001-2014, 19/12, informação meteorológica, noticiário; 32441, QRM da ARABIA SAUDITA. 11925.2, R. Bandeirantes, São Paulo SP, 2003-2020, 19/12, anúncios comerciais, anúncio das freqs. ao que se seguiu rubrica de futebol; 24442, QRM adjacente (Carlos Gonçalves, PORTUGAL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 3365, Radio Cultural [sic] - Araraquara, 0018-0043 Dec 16, man announcer with Portuguese talks, jingle IDs and plenty of Brasilian pop music with several IDs. Fair (Richard A. D`Angelo, French Creek State Park, PA, DXpedition No. 44, Ten-Tec RX-340, Drake R-8B and an Eton E1, 500-foot wire essentially north for the RX-340 and 250-foot wire essentially northeast for the R-8B and a whip antenna for the E1, via Craig Seager, ARDXC via DXLD) Cultura (gh) ** BRAZIL. 4815, Rádio Difusora - Londrina, 0104-0109* Dec 16, man announcer with Portuguese talk followed by another man with ID and frequency announcements over instrumental music. Another man began preaching with choir music before another man gave closedown announcements and carrier was terminated. Fair signal but suffering from CODAR QRM (Richard A. D`Angelo, French Creek State Park, PA, DXpedition No. 44, Ten-Tec RX-340, Drake R-8B and an Eton E1, 500-foot wire essentially north for the RX-340 and 250-foot wire essentially northeast for the R-8B and a whip antenna for the E1, via Craig Seager, ARDXC via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 4875, R. Difusora Roraima, 21/12 0155 UT. Música de “funk brasileiro” con SINPO: 33333 (Claudio Galaz, Antena: Hilo de 5 metros de cable de cobre, RX: Tecsun PL-660, QTH: Poblado de Barraza Bajo, Comuna de Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 4925, R. Educaçao Rural, 21/12 0140 UT. Música pop y romántica en portugués y con identificaciones como “Radio Rural” con SINPO: 44333 (Claudio Galaz, Antena: Hilo de 5 metros de cable de cobre, RX: Tecsun PL-660, QTH: Poblado de Barraza Bajo, Comuna de Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 6180, RNAMA, 25/11 0545 UT. Música popular brasileña, villancicos y jazz con anuncio de la radio acerca de una campaña de salud y de algunos ministerios. Aparte de ello, cada 15 minutos se dan avisos y al volver al programa “No Tabuleiro do Brasil” se escuchan pequeñas partes de arias de Bach y el locutor lee relatos sobre el nacimiento de Jesús y el pesebre. SINPO: 55444 // 11780 con SINPO: 54554 con leve QRM de otras emisoras que no son identificables (Claudio Galaz, Antena: Hilo de 20 metros, RX: Tecsun PL-660, QTH: Sector sur de Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) ** CAMEROON [non]. Sawtu Linjiila, religious clandestine to Cameroon 9800, Sawtu Linjiila, from Germany. 22/12 from 1830 in Fulfulde. Weak and noisy but very readable on a clear frequency. Until 1859 when wiped out by VOA in Korean. Christmas a cappella songs, African station intro recorded here: http://goo.gl/OUkGGj 73 (Nick VK2DX Hacko, NSW, Dec 23, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) from HFCC registration entry, via Issoudun France instead: 9800 1830-1900 46S,47SE ISS 500kW 180deg 0 216 daily Hausa language F MBR 3325 A.316 HFCC Dec 25 table from Prague: (Wolfang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 23/25, ibid.) Here we go again: someone PLEASE explain how this transmission qualifies as clandestine, while countless other missionary broadcasts to specific countries in their languages do not??? Is it an admission that they axually call for overthrow of the government? Or is it merely a fluke of how this broadcast has been organized, brokered, registered, categorized? WRTH files it under CLANDESTINE AND OTHER TARGET BROADCASTS; it`s Lutheran, after all, and even has an address in Cameroon. I suggest that it is at most an ``other target broadcast``, but the question remains, how does this rate an entry under Cameroon while countless other missionary broadcasts do not? WRTH header explains ``other target`` as for ``zones of regional or local conflict``, which is a very broad and vague definition. There is a lot more conflict in other parts of Africa (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. 6030, CFVP, Calgary 2327 “The all-new Funny 10-60.”, ads for Bell Mobility, Honda and WalMart. Fair, Dec 24 (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening in my car, by the lake, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Possible bad news from Steve Canney, the QSL manager for CFRB and CFRX, who posted on the ODXA Facebook group page on December 17th an update on CFRX which has been off the air: “From a chat with one of the engineers this morning, it`s up to the new Bell Media establishment as to whether the CFRX transmitter gets sent down to the manufacturer to get repaired, or not. With plans to move CFRB and the assorted FM stations from the 2 St. Clair Ave. West location to the Queen St. address in 2014, who knows what priority CFRX will get at all. My contact really doesn't know what will happen at this point. Not that this is a sign of optimism but the license for CFRX was renewed for a few more years and hangs nicely at the transmitter building, as to whether they have the ambition to keep it going is another story. That's all I know. I wouldn't expect any news for a while. I'll keep you posted when I hear something.” My own thoughts on this? Don't hold your breath. When Bell Media bought the CHUM Group they had no problem shutting down a number of TV and radio stations that, while serving their communities nicely, did not fit their corporate plans. I won't be surprised if CFRX never returns (Mark Coady, ON, ODXA YRX Dec 22 via WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DXLD) ** CANADA. 6160, CKZU/CKZN, 0044-0125+ 14 Dec. Vancouver's CBC station with political chat and the Newfie doing lifestyle features, echoey "This is CBC" at TOH, into CBC news (M on 'ZU, W on 'ZN) and holiday props & cheers to 'ZU for playing The Waitresses: "Christmas Wrapping" (a request from Jordana to her husband Rob) at 0125 (Dan Sheedy, Swami's Beach, CA PL380/6m X wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6160, CKZN St. John’s and CKZU Vancouver both heard at 2343+, Dec 21. CKZN airing “Laugh Out Lord” comedy show and CKZU playing “Secret Santa” story on “WireTap”. CKZN 22442, poor and fading down (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening in my car, by the lake, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CAYMAN ISLANDS. 344, ZIY (NDB beacon), George Town, Grand Cayman. 1625 December 23, 2013. Fair. If I only had a dollar for every time someone spells/lists the George Town in the Cayman Islands as one word. [HISP] 415, CBC (NDB beacon), Cayman Brac. 1625, December 23, 2013. Fair. [HISP] (Terry L. Krueger, local late morning/early afternoon December 23, 2013 at Honeymoon Island State Park, which is almost Dunedin, Florida, using an ICOM IC-R75 hooked to the cigarette lighter and with 150 feet wire tossed on ground; Sangean PR-D5 portable; and the car radio, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHAD. [Re CUBA below:] BTW, no sign of CHAD on 6165 despite vacancy of RHC; has it been inactive lately? At least the CBCs on 6160 get no ACI from above (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I haven't been checking this one of late, but agreed, no sign of Chad tonight, December 23, at 1913-1915 (Bill Bingham, Johannesburg RSA, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes Glenn, 6164.9v Chad missed a lot of days now, not heard here in Nov/Dec 2013. My last log: 6164.962, Radio Tchad, Rdif. Nat. Tchadienne, Gredia, N'Djaména, in mixture of vernacular/French language, 0137 UT Oct 6, S=8-9. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Dec 25, WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 7310, CNR1 at 1301 in Mandarin with a woman with possible news – Fair Dec 12 (Steve Handler, IL, ODXA YRX Dec 22 via DXLD) Steve notes that this one is legitimate as it is registered with the HFCC as being from Urumqi with a sked of 1157–1800 (Mark Coady, ed., ibid.) That may be, but per Aoki, Sound of Hope via a 300 kW Taiwan transmitter is *also* on 7310 at 13-14 only, so what you heard was certainly ``illegitimate`` CNR1 jamming, not just Urumqi, or even not Urumqi at all. The pileup is commonly heard here (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7255, Dec 20 at 1407, Firedrake with poor signal, QRhaM. New spot for me to hear it; Aoki shows target is VOA Tibetan via Kuwait at 14-15 (also 00-01). 14-15 is a one-hour break in CRI usage of 7255, but also scheduled is PBS Xizang! during both hours and beyond. Thus evil IBB forces the ChiCom to jam their own broadcasts as well. Seems FD is showing up more and more as inband jamming, but could just as easily employ CNR1 jamming instead. Then checked 6145 and 6075 where FD remains regular, but poor today; all three still in but worse at 1444 recheck. 9670, Dec 20 at 1455, Firedrake is fair, again vs VOA Tibetan via Germany at 14-15 only (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5865, Firedrake music jamming, ahead of RFA Marianas in Chinese at 1955 UT. S=9+15dB, same Firedrake jamming also on 6020, 6095, and 7495 kHz. All heard on remote unit at Queensland. 9344.3-9365.3 Firedrake mx jamming against RFA Marianas in Chinese (Wolfgang Büschel, Stuttgart, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Time? presumably after 2020 UT Dec 20, previous log on list (gh) CHINA/ASCENSION ISLAND Das ist hier und in der DXer Szene überhaupt kein Thema. Die Chinesen jammen nicht nur diverse Chinesisch, Tibetanisch und Nepali Programme aus verschiedenen Ländern mit Word- und Firedrake Musik Jamming, um ihr Volk 'zu schützen'. Seit einem Jahr gibt es auch das nächtliche "Weisse Rauschen Jamming" also digitale Breitbandgeräusche - ein Zischen und Brodeln - auf Englischprogramme der BBCWS und VOA angesetzt. Vor allem auf Ceylon und in Australien konnte ich heute die Breitbandsignale - zufällig - loggen, da gibt es bestimmt aber noch mehr gejammte BBCWS Kanäle ... Severe BBCWS jamming by the Chinese broadband buzz noise jammer. 12091.2 to 12099.2 11806.1 to 11814.3 Chinese broadband white noise jamming against BBCWS in English at 2050 UT Dec 20. 12095 2 x 250 kW BBCWS on 27 and 65 degr, 20-24 UT, also 11810 1 x 250 kW at 18-22 UT. Ist das Raumwellenjamming, oder sind 'nur' Grossstadt Beijing Lokaljammer, deren Signale im Winter vagabundieren? 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Dec 20, logged at Victor's remote Perseus on Ceylon island, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 12910, Dec 21 at 1344, CNR1 jamming, fair with flutter; not in synch with 9530, and no other OOBs found in the 8s, 10s, 13s or 14s. 12910 is of course one of countless 100-watt Sound of Hope nuisance transmitters on Taiwan, per Aoki, doing its job of tying up a jammer where no one would really hear SOH anyway. Yet someone will list-log this as really SOH, ignoring the mandatory jamming. 9400-9425 approx., Dec 21 at 1405, extremely distorted CNR1 FM blob centered roughly 9415. 6075, Dec 21 at 1409, CNR1 jammer is on top, but Firedrake also audible, vs RTI; on 6145, only Firedrake, VG. 7255, Dec 21 at 1443, Firedrake with SAH and CCI from talk, i.e. target VOA Tibetan via KUWAIT, longpath? 9670, Dec 19 at 1454, Firedrake, fair with CCI and ACI, again today vs VOA Tibetan via Lampertheim, Germany, this hour only (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also UNIDENTIFIED 9670 ** CHINA. 11955, Dec 19 at 1325, good signal but very heavy flutter in Indonesian, or is it Malay? Giving website in .cn, so it`s CRI, sounds the same at 1342 recheck. Per Aoki, it switches at 1330 from Malaysian to Indonesian, both 500 kW southward from Kunming (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) CONCURSO DE MISS CHINA 2013 y NUEVO CERTAMEN FOTOGRÁFICO CON 10 VIAJES COMO PREMIO --- The prize for the ten winners from the general public: a seven-day all-paid tour of Hainan Island, including transportation and accommodations. The prize for the ten winners from the media sector: a seven-day all- paid-for tour of Hainan Island, including transportation and accommodations. The winners will also be invited to take part in the "Discover the Beauty of Hainan" photograph competition. http://english.cri.cn/11354/2013/12/21/2361s804458.htm (via Juan Franco Crespo, Dec 24, DXLD) That link is only about Miss China --- See some fantastic costumes. Here`s the page about the photo/video competition http://english.cri.cn/other/beauty_asia/index.html (gh) ** CHINA. 3900, Emissora de Hulun Buir, Hailar, 2243-2254, 21/12, mandarim, texto; 25331 (Carlos Gonçalves, PORTUGAL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) texto = reading something, rather than digital ** CHINA. 4940.0, Voice of Strait, Fuzhou, in Chinese, with a lot of international mixtured music program, like Swiss alps "Laendler" music, some Swiss-French accordion harmoni[c?]a music, followed by Brazilian and Cuban music, nice S=9+15dB signal (Wolfgang Büschel, Stuttgart, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Oops, no time or date, but between other logs indicating 1230-1245 UT Dec 20 (gh, DXLD) 4940, Voice of Strait with Focus on China; 1500, Dec 21 (Saturday only show); not a current show but an older format show (a repeat) with older news; 100% readable; few IDs (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 5050, Beibu Bay Radio, 21/12 1441 in Vietnamese, Asian pop music S7 noisy, 1444 F presenter, classic music, 1446 guitar / rock. 73 (Nick VK2DX Hacko, Sydney NSW, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 6060, Sichuan PBS-2 (tentative), 1049-1130 Dec 17, possibly with one with music program until 1100 music fanfare and apparent IDs hearing some English words. Long talks and eventually blocked by CRI *1130 opening to Philippines in Tagalog. Poor (Richard A. D`Angelo, French Creek State Park, PA, DXpedition No. 44, Ten-Tec RX-340, Drake R-8B and an Eton E1, 500-foot wire essentially north for the RX-340 and 250-foot wire essentially northeast for the R-8B and a whip antenna for the E1, via Craig Seager, ARDXC via DXLD) Chicom vs Chicom ** CHINA [and non]. 6115, Voice of Strait, 1034, Dec 25. As usual at this time found // 4940 till 1057, after which not //; playing pop songs; both fair. Being // seems to be a daily occurrence (1030-1057). Heard Russian sign on (6115) at 1100 in Chinese under VOS (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 9750, Nei Menggu PBS, Hohhot, Inner Mongolian AU. 1224 December 25, 2013. Presumed with vocals with heavy percussion, presumed Mongolian male announcer, another vocal, female from 1230. Clear and fair, parallel very weak 7270 (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA. JRC NRD-535; JRC-NRD-515 (stolen/being held hostage); ICOM IC-R75; Hammarlund HQ-180A; Sony ICF-7600GR; Sangean PR-D5; Aqua Guide 705 RDF Marine Radio; GE Superadio III; JPS NF-60 Notch Filter; JPS ANC-4 Noise Phase; 1 X roof dipole; 1 X room random wire; custom active portable loop; Terk Advantage non-active portable loop, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. THE NEW FACE OF CHINESE PROPAGANDA By MURONG XUECUN The New York Times December 20, 2013 BEIJING -- An old schoolmate of mine is now a midlevel government official. This friend, Mr. Lin, is also a member of the Chinese Communist Party. He worships Mao Zedong and often quotes Mao's saying, "Man must have some spirit." He once told me that when he visited New York, he most liked the Statue of Liberty, because it had "spirit," and least liked Times Square, because it was "all about business." Times Square and Tiananmen Square seem to have little in common, except that both are filled with advertisements: in New York, for consumer brands, and in Beijing, for the Communist Party. For a while, the slogan "Long live the central people's government!" hung from the Gate of Heavenly Peace, on the north side of Tiananmen Square. (Later, it was changed to "Long live the great unity of the peoples of the world.") Every Oct. 1, the anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic, huge banners with the message "Long live the great Communist Party of China!" adorn the square. The party has used such slogans as a governing tool since the People's Republic was established in 1949. In the post-totalitarian era, however, this crude and simplistic discourse has lost much of its former effectiveness. In a digital age, these painted and printed slogans seem quaint. But this year, I've noticed a new kind of propaganda: billboards and giant posters, with fresh designs, typefaces and graphics, in many cities. They are ubiquitous: They have been put in parks, along building construction sites, on school walls and in other public places. There has been little coverage in the press. Who created these posters, and why? How much did they cost? It's all a mystery . . . http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/21/opinion/sunday/murong-the-new-face-of-chinese-propaganda.html?pagewanted=print (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. 6010.2, La Voz de tu Conciencia – Puerto Lleras, 1100- 1130 Dec 16, choral national anthem (sign on?) followed by a man announcer in Spanish with ID and opening announcements followed by long religious talk by another man. Fair to good but slowly fading down (Richard A. D`Angelo, French Creek State Park, PA, DXpedition No. 44, Ten-Tec RX-340, Drake R-8B and an Eton E1, 500-foot wire essentially north for the RX-340 and 250-foot wire essentially northeast for the R-8B and a whip antenna for the E1, via Craig Seager, ARDXC via DXLD) ** CONGO. -Brazzaville, 6115 R. Congo, 1808-1847, 21/12, francês, notícias, retransmissão de sessão parlamentar; 44433. Às 1900, o sinal já fora fechado (Carlos Gonçalves, PORTUGAL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6115, Radio Congo, Brazzaville (presumed), 0608-0640, 25-12, Vernacular African music, male, female, French, comments, "Bon jour". Weak. 14321 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Logs in Friol, Sony ICF SW 7600G, cable antenna, 10 meters, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Not in Aoki at any hour, but usually reported only circa 1800; here we would assume it were R. Nikkei, Japan around 0600, but WRTH 2014 says of Congo, ``0600-1830 (irregular)``. Propagationally, 0600 is our best chance to hear it in N America, JOZ permitting (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** CONGO DR. -Kinshasa, 5066.3, R. Télé Candip, Bunia, 1923-2001*, 21/12, dialecto local, texto, canções, sinal musica de ID e anúncios informativos, em francês, pelas 2000, anúncio da freq., fecho logo após o habitual acorde de tambor; 35332 (Carlos Gonçalves, PORTUGAL, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. LA EMISORA CUBANA “COCO EL PERIÓDICO DEL AIRE” CELEBRA SU OCTOGÉSIMO ANIVERSARIO --- by gruporadioescuchaargentino Guillermo Pavón Pacheco, vicepresidente del Instituto Cubano de Radio y Televisión (ICRT) otorgó el diploma a la entidad radial, ante el colectivo de trabajadores que sellaron el acto con un fuerte aplauso de respeto a la historia, la continuidad, y permanencia de las ondas sonoras de la COCO. Con un incremento de su producción en el que prepondera el tema deportivo, la emisora capitalina cuenta con un staf de profesionales de una vasta experiencia profesional entre los que figuran narradores deportivos, locutores y periodistas ganadores de reconocimientos por su dedicación a la emisora, cuyo maestro fundador fue: Guido García Inclán. Otro momento del acto de reconocimiento lo constituyó la amplia ovación que provocó en el colectivo de la Radio COCO cuando miembros del Buró Municipal de la Unión de Jóvenes Comunistas de Plaza de la Revolución le otorgó a la emisora la condición “18 Festival” por la amplia cobertura de prensa y en su sitio web a los acontecimientos de la delegación cubana al XVIII Festival Mundial de la Juventud y los Estudiantes, que tuvo lugar en Quito, Ecuador. Ilsa Marquetti, cubana de 70 años de edad y 50 años como oyente de la emisora COCO felicitó al colectivo por su cumpleaños 80, y manifestó sentirse muy orgullosa porque desde que vivía en Alquízar (territorio ubicado al sureste de la actual provincial de Artemisa) escucha El Periódico del Aire, incluso antes del Triunfo de la Revolución, y se considera una oyente muy especial porque en tantos años y la irrupción de nuevas tecnologías jamás ha cambiado su dial (tomada de radiocubana.cu) (via GRA blog via DXLD) ** CUBA. 339, UJM (NDB beacon), Habana, La Habana. 1613 December 23, 2013. Fair. [HISP] 380, UCY (NDB beacon), Cayabo, Pinar del Río. 1613 December 23, 2013. Very good. [HISP] 1000 / 1020, Radio Artemisa, Artemisa. 1721 December 23, 2013. Cuban current music hits show, 1020 about three seconds behind 1000. [HISP] 1140, Radio Mayabeque, La Salud, Mayabeque. 1750 December 23, 2013. Cuban vocals, into their neat electronic faux steel pan interval signal for almost a minute to fill time until joining the Noticiero Nacional de Radio news feed at always 1300 local. [HISP] 1140, Radio Rebelde, unidentified site. 1750 December 23, 2013. Weak under Radio Mayabeque and the others here. Several sites, of which this would be one of the sites from western to central Cuba daytime here. [HISP] Noticiero Nacional de Radio news is the daily half-hour magazine that stations pick-up from 1300-1330 local time. Nothing new here, but just an updated observation that network Radio Rebelde (no trace of Rebelde FM on 1180 or 1620, assuming transmitters relaying said); Radio Mayabeque; Radio Artemisa; (presumed, 1060 kHz) Radio 26; Radio Metropolitana; and COCO carried NndR. Not carrying: Radio Enciclopedia; network Radio Progreso; network Radio Reloj; network Radio Musical Nacional; Radio Cadena Habana. [HISP] (Terry L. Krueger, local late morning/early afternoon December 23, 2013 at Honeymoon Island State Park, which is almost Dunedin, Florida, using an ICOM IC-R75 hooked to the cigarette lighter and with 150 feet wire tossed on ground; Sangean PR-D5 portable; and the car radio, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 5025, Dec 19 at 0704, R. Rebelde has just come on after RHC is finished with 5040, but the 5025 carrier is wobbly altho with VG strength. 17730, Dec 19 at 1405, RHC is back here after missing yesterday, poor signal weaker than 17580, but by 1407, 17730 is stronger and steadier. 17580 has its own problems besides CCI from IBB Germany: at 1405, signal strength cuts up and down every few seconds, as easily audible, and visible on the S-meter, while modulation continues; a short somewhere? Still so at 1408. 11840, Dec 20 at 0216, RHC Spanish modulation is suppressed and distorted as often the case on this transmitter. 5040, Dec 20 at 0637, RHC English sounds almost OK, but with BFO confirms the transmitter is wobbly. More and more RHC anomalies, making my day: 15230, Dec 20 at 1447 is just barely modulated, much softer and weaker than // 15340. 11860, Dec 20 at 1450 is missing, unlike the other three 25mb channels 10432-AM, Dec 20 at 1452, RHC Spanish is here, good signal and modulation, but heavy QRM amid hi-speed RTTY, 1453 `Estampas de Cuba`, nothing to do with philately, but meaning aspects, or illustrations. 10432?! What in the world is RHC doing here? Heard on three receivers. Maybe it`s the 11860 transmitter, missing today. Hard to tell whether the RTTY and RHC are coming out of the same mixed-up transmitter, but likely. Recently heard by others on 10100, so it pays to tune thru the entire 10-11 MHz non-SWBC band, as one also listens for ChiCom jammers (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5040, Dec 21 at 0643, RHC English on defective transmitter, audibly rumbling in the AM mode, and with BFO on, unstable carrier wobbling. I assume same is the case with 5025 for Rebelde after 0700. DentroCuban Jamming Command stupidly keeps running pulses on long- abandoned frequencies of former targets, Dec 21 at 0055 on 5955 and 5890. 5954+ was once the tiny transmitter of R. República in Costa Rica, not heard in ages, but now jam bothers innocent bystander collaterally, 5952+, R. Pio Doce, Bolivia. 5890 was once a VOA Spanish frequency, a horrible threat to The Revolution. Jamming real stations is bad enough, but the incompetent Cubans are polluting the airwaves even more by all this nonsensical jamming. Don`t ever forget that, if you hear anything seemingly positive, or innocuous, or ``friendly`` on RHC. 15230, Dec 21 at 1504, RHC is just barely modulated here, but // 15340 plenty modulated; still unable to give correct timechex, claiming at 1504 it`s ``exactamente las 10 con 3 minutos``. 5025, Dec 22 at 1256, R. Rebelde music still propagating enough to tell that the carrier has the same wobble as heard before 0700 when on 5040 with RHC. 11860, Dec 22 at 1309, this RHC frequency is missing while 11760 is VG; At 1422, 11860 is now on and undermodulated as is 11760; while 11750 and 11690 tho much weaker are better modulated; at 1426, 11860 mod is OK, but at 1431, 11760 is dead air only vs CNR1 CCI while 11860 continues OK. [and non]. 13680 // 13740, Dec 22 at 2220, RHC Spanish with cultural/musical item, now on both these frequencies, for Europe and S America respectively; and // 11840 = very distorted as usual; also on weaker // 9710, 9810 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15230, RHC, 23/12 0235 UT. Programa “En contacto” con lectura de diexistas con cumpleaños y de la respuesta de un auditor argentino a la pregunta: ¿Qué le ha traído a Ud. el diexismo? con SINPO: 55555 // 5040 SINPO: 54454 // 6060 con audio de RNA y otras emisoras // 9810 emisora sin ID, pero en un idioma diferente al español // 11670 con SINPO: 55454 // 11760 con SINPO: 55454 // 11840 con SINPO: 54554 con cortes del audio y siseos de CNR-2 en 11845 // 13740 con SINPO: 55444 (Claudio Galaz, Antena: Hilo de 5 metros de cable de cobre, RX: Tecsun PL-660, QTH: Poblado de Barraza Bajo, Comuna de Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) 6165, Dec 23 at 0625, RHC English missing from this frequency but still on the other four overkills: 5040, 6000, 6060, 6100. In order of decreasing modulation level: 5040 = 6000, 6060, 6100, but 5040 remains wobbly. Oh2, they`ve done it again, put RHC on a spy numbers frequency instead! 5855, Dec 23 at 0629, RHC English VG here instead of 6165; obviously mixup facilitated by running espionage and propaganda from the same transmitters; not the first time this has happened. At the moment clip of a Mandela speech, tho he rejected Communism long ago; shhh. 0630 into mailbag, wherein I doubt they ever acknowledge making an operational mistake. Does anyone ever tell them? BTW, no sign of CHAD on 6165 despite vacancy of RHC; has it been inactive lately? At least the CBCs on 6160 get no ACI from above. 5980, Dec 23 at 0630, wall-of-noise jamming already, altho R. Martí never starts before 0700, but today not even until 1000 after Monday silent period. Meanwhile countless Cubans subsist on rationed scraps of food while all this electrical expense is totally wasted on mind- control over nothing. 5990, Dec 23 at 2304, no show from CRI English relay which is supposed to start at 2300. 5040, Dec 24 at 0655, RHC English carrier still has heavy wobble with BFO engaged. 6000, Dec 24 at 0700, RHC English is very distorted here, modulation somewhat suppressed, 0701 reopens the Monday Dec 23 broadcast, until cut off at 0701:10* between ``Ed`` and ``Newman``. 5040 was also on a bit too long, but 6060, 6100 and 6165 were already off. 11840, Dec 24 at 2257, RHC Spanish, good signal level, but just barely modulated, and distorted. Why bother to broadcast such a degraded frequency at all like this? 5040, Dec 25 at 0153, RHC Spanish is still rumbling in AM, and wobbling with BFO (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also JAPAN [and non] ** CUBA [non]. As I tuned across a R. Martí frequency, I think in the 22-23 UT hour Dec 22, tho I failed to note details, someone was pointing out that in Cuba there are not only Roman Catholix, but naming a bunch of other sects including Testigos de Jeová. Could this mean that RM is broadening its religious services beyond Catholic and Mormon? Don`t bet on it (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. Cuba: HM01 now apparently on 11435 kHz -- or something close to it -- (not 10345 as listed in the usual sources) at 0558-0655 UT. Note early starting time: derived thusly Program Notes: First run of program: 27 minutes long (six 5 digit number groups, followed by Data transmissions based on those number groups, etc.). Off at 0625 UTC (thus program must begin two minutes BEFORE the hour) since: No transmission for THREE MINUTES (until 0628 UT) then the first program is repeated (which was 27 minutes long-- I timed it on my bedroom clock) until cutoff at 0655 UTC. This program format may hold true for other HM01 broadcasts -- so for those who want to hear the Cuban Lady from the beginning of the first run-through, you may wish to start searching before the top of each hour at the correct frequency. Note also that the listed 5855 kHz for 05 UT has not been there for awhile (but I did find HM01 around 12100 -12180 Khz on 121/9/13 around 0525 UTC, My first guess at the frequency was 12180 -- based on the known frequencies, but I believe it is actually lower than that -- closer to 12100 kHz). Regarding that listed frequency of 12180 (the one for ~19UT), has anyone noticed if it is 'splattered` by WWCR-2 at 12160 kHz during that hour (due to WWCR's strong wide signal), preventing DXing in the Eastern US (if not everywhere else in the world)? Transmission Notes about the Limitations on HM01 (for all you 'spies&# 39; out there)-- I have derived some 'facts` which seem to hold true about the Cuban Numbers Station: 1) The number "zero" can NEVER be the last number in a 5 digit number group (but it can be in any other place in the group (thus: 25480 is NOT OK, but 02548 is OK as a possible number group). 2) The number "nine" can NEVER be in ANY group in ANY place (thus if a sequence gets to 02548, the next number for that group will NEVER be 02549, but a totally different group) which ... 3) Will have a "one" as the last number in that group (thus 02548 will change in the following day's transmissions to XXXX1, where X can be any number between 0 and 8). 4) The number "three" always sounds much weaker than the rest of the numbers. This maybe due to a wearing out of the voice module for these 30+ year old former East German numbers machines. Apparently, the module for the number nine "nueve" is totally unusable and unrepairable (or is the real problem that "nueve" sounds too much like "nuevo", which means "new" in Spanish, a term possibly used to cancel out previous sequences)? 5) A number CAN appear twice in a group on the same day (in fact, one of the groups for 12/20/2013 was '12001` -- with zero appearing twice, and acting as a replacement for 32755, which normally would have been increased to 32756). As for WHEN the numbers will not increase by one in the last column (changing that 5 digit sequence entirely), I have no magic formula (other than to see note two for numbers ending in 8). It might mean that someone' s mission has been drastically changed (but who, where, why, etc. is a total mystery).... I'm just analyzing the PATTERNS in the numbers, NOT what each one can possibly mean. 6) This should be obvious: all numbers are in Spanish with a female voice (so you may have to brush up on your Spanish numerals if. like me, you haven't done much listening in Spanish lately).... Note: all my frequencies are approximate; my tuning dial is analog and far from accurate -- but I do make 'sight adjustments` based on known stations on the appropriate bands to assign a frequency to each transmission (but my ears hear well enough, thank you)! (Shawn Fahrer, Dec 20, ptsw yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DXLD) Speaking of Cuba on 5855 kHz, HM01 (the Cuban Numbers station) was back on that frequency from 0500-0555 UT earlier today (Sunday) after several days absence. Actually, I began to hear it faintly under WTWW (5830)* starting around 0508 while I was listening to World of Radio episode 1700 and immediately went to tune it in better and catch up on the latest Cuban numbers. (Sorry, Glenn -- this was business: the numbers business, and definitely NOT personal.) More details may eventually show up on Numbers and Oddities at http://www.numbersoddities.nl * In this regard, when HM01 was best tuned on my portable SW radio, a simple turn of the unit could totally cancel HM01, and bring back WTWW loud and clear. This gives you an idea of the splatter from "the Upper Cumberland River" in Lebanon, TN, USA onto any stations daring to be between 5800 and 5860 kHz during the time they occupy 5830 kHz (Shawn, ptswyg, Dec 22 via DXLD) You mentioned RHC's use of 10100 in French in this broadcast [WOR 1700]. One night within the past two weeks or so, I found HM01 on this frequency or something close to it (might have been 12/18 or 12/19 or even earlier in the month -- alas, I forget which day or time it was, but I think it was replacing 9330 at 07 UT). Perhaps 10100 is starting up as a "test frequency" for RHC and HM01 (I did find it strange being there). Just a thought (Shawn Fahrer, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CZECHIA. RADIO RETRO REVIVE JOYAS DE LA HISTORIA DE LA RADIODIFUSIÓN CHECA Y MUNDIAL --- by gruporadioescuchaargentino Radio Retro es la nueva estación electrónica de la Radiodifusión Checa que se ha puesto en funcionamiento este miércoles a la medianoche. Se trata en total de 28 horas de sonidos del archivo de la emisora, unas verdaderas joyas radiofónicas de la historia de la Radiodifusión emitidas durante el siglo XX. Las Fiestas de Navidad representan una buena oportunidad para volver a la infancia y acordarse de lo bueno y lo malo que nos rodeaba aquellos años. La Radiodifusión Checa aprovechó el adviento y este miércoles a la medianoche ha puesto en marcha Radio Retro, una nueva emisora que presentará lo más interesante de lo que emitía la Radiodifusión Checoslovaca en el pasado. Radio Retro, con el subtítulo de Felices Fiestas, llevará a sus oyentes hasta la época de la Primera República, o sea, a la época de entreguerras y finalizará en los años 80 del siglo XX. Se trata de fragmentos que en la actualidad no suelen ser presentados en la Radio, y si hay oportunidad de escucharlos, suele reproducirse una corta parte. En cambio Radio Retro incluirá en su emisión los programas enteros sin reducción alguna. Sin embargo, el poder reproducir 28 horas de material grabado a lo largo del siglo pasado, significó para los técnicos un trabajo agotador. Las viejas grabaciones tuvieron que pasar por una ciudadosa restauración, muchas de ellas por primera vez desde su última reproducción. Además se unieron fragmentos grabados independientemente para darles una forma coherente y al final se realizó una digitalización, para que el material pueda reproducirse incluso en los aparatos modernos. Según afirma uno de los directores artísticos de Radio Retro, Tomáš C(erný, las grabaciones históricas demuestran que las mejores ideas de los autores aparecían justo durante las festividades navideñas y en los programas de la Nochevieja. También sucedía lo mismo con las reflexiones y pensamientos poéticos, que simplemente no tenían mucho espacio durante la emisión habitual, lo que creaba en el oyente una experiencia extraordinaria. Radio Retro ofrece la mezcla de todo esto en una programación de 28 horas. Se trata por ejemplo de una receta de dulces navideños de 1936, Felices Fiestas deseadas a la población por el actor Jan Werich, un controvertido discurso del ex presidente checoslovaco comunista Antonín Zápotocký y también de un mensaje del Papa Juan Pablo II. Radio Retro se podrá sintonizar a través de internet hasta la llegada de los Reyes Magos, o sea, el 6 de enero de 2014. gruporadioescuchaargentino | 24/12/2013 en 6:54 | Categorías: Uncategorized | URL: http://wp.me/p13MWc-TS (GRA blog Dec 23 via DXLD) No link given! I don`t find anything about Radio Retro at http://www.radio.cz nor does its internal search (gh, DXLD) ** DIEGO GARCIA. 4319 USB, 1755-1850 19.12, AFRTS, Diego Garcia. English ann, pop songs, e-mail address, news, jingles, to ships in the Indian Ocean, 35333. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, on my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire in Skovlunde, Denmark, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DXLD) 12759-USB, Dec 20 at 0158, trace of music and talk from AFN. I`m enjoying a pre-Solstice porch monitoring session again at a balmy 65 degrees per the G8 thermometer; before we`re to be hit with an ice storm 24+ hours later. (I often accompany the DX-398 with the G8 for checking //s, etc.) (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4319-USB, AFN, 1415, Dec 21. "Gravity" music show with pop songs; program IDs ("What's up? Gravity is up!"); poor, but not the massive QRM (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4319 USB, American Forces Network, 1510 Dec 21, with pop music and occasional speaker. Very poor. As also reported today by Ron Howard; he heard them with better strength (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening in my car, by the lake, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DJIBOUTI. 4780 still on 2237 Dec 17 (Zacharias Liangas, Greece, Dec 21, WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4780.02, 1930-2000 17.12, R Djibouti, Dorale. Afar talk and songs from Horn of Africa 35233. Heard on recheck 2100-2244* with late recitations from the Qur'an, 45344 (broadcast on SW by a mistake?) Best 73, (Anker Petersen, on my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire in Skovlunde, Denmark, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DXLD) 4780, R Djibouti, 21/12 In Arabic at 1700 religious talk; as of 1800– 1933 mainly horn of Africa local music. Recorded: http://nickvk2dx.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/radio-djibouti-on-4780-khz.html 73 (Nick VK2DX Hacko, Sydney NSW, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. 4781.7, Radio Oriental - Tena, 2331-2359* Dec 15, a man announcer with Spanish talk, IDs, hosting program of local music with carrier cut mid-song. Fair (Richard A. D`Angelo, French Creek State Park, PA, DXpedition No. 44, Ten-Tec RX-340, Drake R-8B and an Eton E1, 500-foot wire essentially north for the RX-340 and 250-foot wire essentially northeast for the R-8B and a whip antenna for the E1, via Craig Seager, ARDXC via DXLD) ** ECUADOR [and non]. 6050, HCJB, 23/12 0105 UT. Mujer canta en quechua largamente, para posteriormente un varón habla en el mismo idioma con SINPO: 54454 con QRM de PBS desde China de fondo (Claudio Galaz, Antena: Hilo de 5 metros de cable de cobre, RX: Tecsun PL-660, QTH: Poblado de Barraza Bajo, Comuna de Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) ** ECUADOR [non]. 9835, HCJB, 25/11 2305 UT. Comienzo del servicio en alemán con 4 minutos de atraso y por lo tanto no hay presentación del mismo. No obstante, el locutor habla acerca del nacimiento de Jesús. SINPO: 55555 (Claudio Galaz, Antena: Hilo de 20 metros, RX: Tecsun PL- 660, QTH: Sector sur de Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) Site: Nauen, GERMANY ** ECUADOR [non]. Christmas Special Programme from HCJB Germany === Hi there, this year there will be transmitted a few special programs over the Christmas holidays in our programming at Radio HCJB Germany . Horst Wiese has created a 60 minute special with many impressions about Christmas in the UK and Scotland (His and his families` location). The show will be broadcasted on the usual waves and media on the 25. and 26. of December. The language will be German, with some international music. The exact dates : 25.12 (Wednesday) and 26.12 (Thu) 09.00 - 10.00 clock CET (0800 UT) 16.00 - 17.00 clock CET (1500 UT) 18.30 - 19.30 clock CET (1730 UT) Frequencies are 3995 kHz an 7365 kHz on 75 and 41m as well as at the live stream on the internet, phonecast and Smartphone (Android) App (if I will be able to upload our new App till then. Unfortunately, the old app that has been around longer, just go to Android 2.3. The new will run from 4.0 up) Attention: Unique QSL cards will be sent this time (* premiere *) from Germany; the address is: Radio HCJB c / o Joachim Sinning Im Gund 18 27777 Ganderkesee Germany (Please include return postage) Many greetings and all a Merry Christmas, Stephan Original Text: Hallo zusammen, auch dieses Jahr gibt es ein paar Sondersendungen über die Weihnachtsfeiertage. Horst Wiese hat eine 60 minütige Extra- Sendung mit vielen Eindrücken vom Weihnachtsfest in England/Schottland aufgenommen, die wir am 25. Und 26.12. über die üblichen Wellen und Medien ausstrahlen werden. Die genauen Termine: 25.12.(Mi.) und 26.12. (Do.) 09.00 - 10.00 Uhr MEZ (0800 UT) 16.00 - 17.00 Uhr MEZ (1500 UT) 18.30 - 19.30 Uhr MEZ (1730 UT) Alles läuft über die 3995 kHz, 7365 kHz sowie über den Livestream im Internet, per Phonecast und - wenn ich es bis dahin schaffe, sie in den Store zu bekommen - über unsere neue Smartphone (Android) App. (Die alte App, die es schon länger gibt, geht leider nur bis Android 2.3., die neue dann ab 4.0) QSL Karten gibt’s diesmal (*Premiere*) direkt aus Deutschland, die Adresse lautet: Radio HCJB c/o Joachim Sinning Im Grund 18 27777 Ganderkesee (Bitte möglichst auch an Rückporto denken) Viele Grüße und allen ein gesegnetes Weihnachtsfest, (Stephan Schaa, Dec 22, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EGYPT. 9720, Dec 25 at 0204, R. Cairo, music with fair modulation! instead of usual dead carrier; a Coptic Xmas present for North Americans in English? Not for them until January 7. Couldn`t stay with it for news and rest of program, unfortunately. Meanwhile 9965 Arabic frequency is still open carrier, whine, maybe JBM (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. 5005, Bata, 2048 Dec 17, talks S9 max but SINPO 32222, QRM 5006.85 (Zacharias Liangas, Greece, Dec 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA [and non]. 15190, Dec 19 at *2002, R. Africa via WRMI starts with address info@panambc.com --- before that I could not detect Bata, but now there is a SAH and CCI; at 2018 definitely both are on with SAH, two different modulations, country gospel atop something else. It`s as if Bata comes on now at 2000 just so it can compete with WRMI. Maybe that is what`s really happening with two sesquiweeks of colliding: PanAm apparently does not own the Bata facility but merely ``partners`` with it, and the Guineans are reluctant to relinquish 15190. But surely they would not continue to run RAN programming on it unless the corrupt government there is still getting paid. Or old contract has a while longer to run (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, Dec 20 with Radio Africa on 15190 with the ending of the Dr. Albert Chambers program of the London syndicated program "World Vision for Christ" at 1646; followed by local ID - "Thank you for listening to the Radio Africa NETWORK" (do not recall "network" in their ID before!) and announced a program change starting January 1st for "World Vision for Christ" to be on the air every 4th Monday of the month (sorry was not quick enough to catch the time). This ID confirms my recent comments that Bata is inserting many more local IDs than they ever did before; they have become fairly common now; they once were rare! (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15190, Radio Africa, Bata presumed the one at 1547-1603, Dec 21, with preacher(s) in English during several checks. Very weak (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening in my car, by the lake, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15190, Dec 21 at 2017 check, R. Africa Network via WRMI, no second audio, but a second carrier, i.e. Bata, producing SAH of about 5 Hz; 2110 recheck during song from WRMI, still the same. 15190, Dec 22 at 2218, gospel music from R. Africa via WRMI, atop something talking, making heavy SAH of about 3 Hz today, i.e. undermodulated R. Africa via Bata, as this collision enters its fourth week! 15190, Dec 23 at 2139, R. Africas via WRMI and Bata are still colliding making SAH and CCI. 15190, Dec 24 at 2016, no signal detectable from either R. Africa; yet WRMI with BS is audible, poorly on 15440 at 2030 check, so evidently WRMI is missing from 15190, and so is Bata or maybe the latter is just not propagating. However, at 2101, one of them is on with music, and bet it`s WRMI. 15190, Dec 25 at 1958, R. Africa from Bata refers to Tony Alamo and his website, but it`s not the convicted sex offender himself who is serving 175 years in prison; fair signal, better than usual. Has to be Bata since the R. Africa on WRMI is still on 17790 with music, QSY announcement and off at 2000:08*. Not until *2001:20 does WRMI/RAN come on 15190 atop Bata, making SAH of about 4 Hz; brief break in transmission at 2002, then Radio Africa Network on WRMI ID. Meanwhile 15440 WRMI with BS is instead dead air at 2003 but modulating by next check at 2056 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA [non]. 11610, CLANDESTINE, Radio Al-Shorouq (Radio Sunrise) via Kostinbrod (presumed), 1609-1655* Dec 16, faded up out of the noise with Arabic language talks by man and a woman, brief musical segments. Final announcements around 1652 and gone after short instrumental music piece. Poor with somewhat muffled audio (Richard A. D`Angelo, French Creek State Park, PA, DXpedition No. 44, Ten-Tec RX- 340, Drake R-8B and an Eton E1, 500-foot wire essentially north for the RX-340 and 250-foot wire essentially northeast for the R-8B and a whip antenna for the E1, via Craig Seager, ARDXC via DXLD) ** ERITREA [non]. 15245 OPPOSITION Voice of the Forum of Eritreans 1710- in listed Tigrinya. Male presenter speaking. Poor-fair signal, no jamming heard. Thursday 12/12/13. Anyone have any luck QSLing them, if so, what address? (Steve Handler, Dec 22, NASWA yg via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA. 5950, Voice of Tigray Revolution - Mekele, *0258-0337 Dec 16, familiar flute-like IS followed by a man announcer with opening in listed Tigrinya language including a web address. A woman announcer spoke briefly before Horn of Africa vocals commenced. Poor to fair (Richard A. D`Angelo, French Creek State Park, PA, DXpedition No. 44, Ten-Tec RX-340, Drake R-8B and an Eton E1, 500-foot wire essentially north for the RX-340 and 250-foot wire essentially northeast for the R-8B and a whip antenna for the E1, via Craig Seager, ARDXC via DXLD) ETIÓPIA, 5950, Voz da Revolução do Tigrê, Geja Dera (ou Geja Jawe?), 1742-1804, 21/12, tigrínia (segundo listas), canções do Corno de África, texto, às 1800 (noticiário?); 44433, QRM adjacente. // 1359 Mekelle (Carlos Gonçalves, PORTUGAL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5950, Voice of Tigray Revolution, 0259 Dec 24, stringed instrument IS, 0301:30 s/on announcements in vernacular, including meter bands and kiloHertz, music bridge, 0303 man in a different language, sounding like Arabic. Poor (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening in my car, by the lake, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA. 6110, Radio Fana – Addis Ababa, 0258-0410 Dec 16, seemed to open before 0300 but mainly music program with nice echo effect ID over instrumental music at 0359 followed by a man with the news in presumably Amharic language. Fair to good signal (Richard A. D`Angelo, French Creek State Park, PA, DXpedition No. 44, Ten-Tec RX-340, Drake R-8B and an Eton E1, 500-foot wire essentially north for the RX-340 and 250-foot wire essentially northeast for the R-8B and a whip antenna for the E1, via Craig Seager, ARDXC via DXLD) 6110, R. Fana, Geja Dera (ou Geja Jawe?), 1807-1828, 21/12, oromo (de acordo com listas), canções da região, texto; 35433 (Carlos Gonçalves, PORTUGAL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. 15380, CLANDESTINE, ESAT - Kostinbrod [BULGARIA], 1722-1758* Dec 16, man announcer with talks in Amharic language, several Horn of Africa musical segments, group discussions, IDs. Closed with female vocal selection however the carrier was terminated mid-song. Fair. That’s it from Wyomissing! (Richard A. D`Angelo, French Creek State Park, PA, DXpedition No. 44, Ten-Tec RX-340, Drake R-8B and an Eton E1, 500-foot wire essentially north for the RX-340 and 250-foot wire essentially northeast for the R-8B and a whip antenna for the E1, via Craig Seager, ARDXC via DXLD) 15365, ESAT, Bulgaria, 24/12 1700–1800 Clandestine to Ethiopia, in Amharic. Station ID at opening, web details later on. Heavily jammed after 1703. Noisy. Recorded. If you have a moment to spare, then please do check my blog and sound file of the above added today. Thank you. 73 (Nick VK2DX Hacko, Sydney NSW, Blog: http://nickvk2dx.blogspot.com/ dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. 15515, Radio Xoriyo, 1510-1530 Good copy in Sydney. 21/12 as of 1510 http://nickvk2dx.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/radio-xoriyo-15515-khz-hosted-by-nexus.html Reports to IRRS Milano, Italy / Nexus - but where is the TX located? I am not an expert of Horn Of Africa, but according to my very limited research, Radio Xoriyo is an official radio station of Somali Ogaden National Liberation Front, Ethiopia [J.W.X.O.] Radio Xoriyo website http://nickvk2dx.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/radio-xoriyo-15515-khz-hosted-by-nexus.html with video of the 2014 Official Song 73 (Nick VK2DX Hacko, Sydney NSW, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I heard Radio Xoriyo today for the first time. http://www.hfunderground.com/board/index.php/topic,14478.0.html (Dave Hughes, KCMO, dxldyg via DXLD) In this case, 1600-1630 Dec 21 on 17630 (gh, DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. Oromo Voice Radio to start 1 January 2014. This Ethiopian clandestine will start shortwave operation on 17850 kHz at 1600 UT on 1 January 2014, with programming in Afaan Oromo and English. Further info with YouTube video at http://tinyurl.com/of3xqc4 and on the broadcaster's own website at http://oromovoice.org (David Kernick, Interval Signals Online, Dec 26, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EUROPE. [Free Radio Service Holland] Is now live on 5800 kHz with Jack Russell live from Scotland (Stuart Satnipper, 1322 UT Dec 22, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) 2nd outlet on 7600 kHz is now on air. Less QSB on this QRG than 5800. Regards (Stuart, 1358 UT, ibid.) And now off the air due to BBC signing on with Hindi programme (Stuart, 1408 UT, ibid.) i.e. 7600 via Thailand (gh, DXLD) ** EUROPE. Re: WMR Annual Xmas Programme --- Now on 5810, 1625 UT (Rob, MW0CVT, UK, Dec 22, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) ** EUROPE. PIRATAS: 6280.5, R. Tango Italia, I, 1902-..., 21/12, música e canções argentinas; 45444. 6285.4, idem, 1854-..., 20/12, ital./cast., música e canções argentinas; 45343 (Carlos Gonçalves, PORTUGAL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EUROPE. 18905 LSB, PIRATE-EUROPEAN. Baltic Sea Radio, 1522-1540, 12-15-13. SIO: 131. Mostly just above the noise with an occasional peak. Rock music, but had definite ID 1537 by male with Sea Gulls in background. Email is: balticseapirate@gmail.com (Lobdell-MA) 21460 AM, PIRATE-EUROPEAN. Cupid Radio-Holland, 1601-1620+, 12-15-13. SIO: 333. Op Rinus playing tunes by Hank Williams III, The Clash, The Replacements, Pearl Jam. Frequent IDs and shout outs to those posting on the hfunderground. 300 Watts (Chris Lobdell, Stoneham MA, Eton E1, NRD-545; G5RV, 40 Meter Dipole, NASWA Flashsheet Dec 22 via DXLD) ** FIJI [non]. FFDM: Fiji Freedom and Democracy Movement (Clandestine), based in Australia. I was parked on 11565 awaiting 0830-0900 program, listed as Monday only. Of course, the frequency was occupied by WHRI so I've picked the phone and got in touch with FFDM spokesman. To cut the long story short, FFDM program has been suspended since late 2012. However, there is a plan in place for future re-activation from the TX site on Palau. We'll stay tuned! 73 (Nick VK2DX Hacko, NSW, Dec 23, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FINLAND. (ham), 7160-USB [sic], OF9X (Muonio, Lapland), 0304 21 Dec. "Official Santa Claus HQ" station working the crew up 5-10 kHz. Muonio is above the Arctic Circle at 67'57"; ho ho ho (Dan Sheedy, Swami's Beach, CA G5/6m X wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. 7390, Dec 25 at 0640, RFI French with fast SAH; definitely two carriers several Hz apart, but only one modulation. Again most likely reason is that Issoudun is mistakenly running two 500 kW transmitters at once. Current schedule thru 22 Feb calls for 05-06 at 160 degrees, and 06-07 at 185 degrees. Second possibility is that Albania is warming up for its 0800 broadcast on 7390 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. Relays from HLR, R City, R Gloria & R Geronimo Every Saturday and Wednesday the programs of HLR: 06 - 09 UT, program in Spanish, English, German on 7265 09 - 12 UT, program in German on 6190 12 - 16 UT, program in German, Spanish, English on 7265 13 - 14 UT, Radio City Programme on 7265 (4th Saturday only) Radio Gloria Sunday 22nd December: 07 - 09 UT on 7265 09 - 11 UT on 9480 10 - 11 UT on 6005 & 7310 /“shortwaveservice.com“ 6005 16-18 UTC (17-19) Coloradio.org laut.fm/kompakt repeat: Sunday January 5th, „laut.fm/kompakt“ 16-18 UTC repeat: Sunday morning January 12th on 6190kHz Please send all reports to: radiogloria@aol.com Thank you! Radio Geronimo Sunday 22nd December: Radio Geronimo Broadcast this coming weekend 22nd Dec between 1100 to 1300 UTC via Channel 292 on 607 0kHz Please send all reports to: geronimoshortwave@hotmail.com Thank you! Have a nice Christmas from all at European Music Radio, see you on 7290 kHz on the 27th! -- EMR contact details: Email: studio@emr.org.uk Website: http://www.emr.org.uk Mobile: 07856091093 73s (Tom Taylor, Dec 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Geronimo Shortwave, Sunday 22nd, from 10 to 12 UT. Post at 20 december, 2013 av Alf P Dear friends of shortwave radio, something is happening on 6070 kHz. Last Sunday the tests of our new stand-by transmitter between 9 and 10 UT were successful. This weekend we will try to run the transmitter for the first time with regular programming. We hope, during nighttime, too; this should make reception possible in the U.S. For this transmission we would be glad to get detailed reception reports, esp. concerning modulation. Furthermore we would like to draw your attention to a program of Radio Geronimo Shortwave, that will be aired on Sunday 22nd, from 10 to 12 UT. Reports for this you may send to: geronimoshortwave@hotmail.com Till next time! Are we on air? Are there any problems? The latest news you always get at: http://www.channel292.de (via Zacharias Liangas, DXLD) Radio Marabu on 25/26 Dec === Just a short notice today: On Dec. 25th and 26th Radio Marabu can be heard on 6070 kHz. Both days from 19 to 23 UT. The guys would surely be glad to get your reports! info @ radiomarabu.de http://www.channel292.de More than 100.000 visitors from 49 countries on our homepage (Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, cumbredx yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DXLD) ** GERMANY. Dank Walter Eibl's Beobachtung hier ein log der deutschen low power Szene auf Kurzwelle von 1100-1230 UT, Dec 18. 6069.989, Radio 292 aus Rohrbach Waal mit dem 2 kW Sender-Ersatz in der Luft. 1140-1150 UT Dec 18 gehoert. Die englische Lady Ansagerin in einem eher vernuschelten English, gibt eine info... e-mail Adresse fuer "Radio Channel 292. Typische Winteraustrahlung der Steilstrahlantenne. S=7 am Bodensee, ansonsten S=4 eher verrauscht, unter der Grasnarbe in England und Italien. S=7 Signal in Sueddeutschland und Schweiz, S=5 in Darmstadt. Nord-Suedantenne in Gebrauch mit Steilstrahlung fuer D. 6190, HLR aus Goehren Schwerin, bis 1200 UT. Um 1145 UT hochgestochener Kommentar ueber Luther in schwuelstischer Sprache, 'das tut den Ohren weh'. S=7-8 in Italien, S=8 am Bodensee und Schweiz, S=9 in Darmstadt. 7265, HLR aus Goehren Schwerin, ab 1200 UT, S=9 in HH, duerftig S=6 an der Adria und am Bodensee. 9480 kHz nur sonntags? 3985, R 700 Kall Eifel um 1140 UT, angerauscht in England S=5, S=8 in Darmstadt, S=9 in HH. [HH = Hamburg] 6005, R 700 Kall Eifel, 1135 UT Dec 18, in England und Italien S=6-7, S=7 in HH, proper S=9+15dB in Darmstadt. 7310, R 700 Kall Eifel um 1135 UT, S=9 stark in Italien. S=9+10dB in Darmstadt und Bodensee, Schweiz. S=7-8 in England und HH. Um 1205 UT ein UNID Traeger deckt die Aussendung zu, das muesste Taldom Moskau gewesen sein, die danach ab 1225 UT Gleichkanalsendung starten und mal die uebliche Prozedur durchfuehren und fuer eine Minute die 7310 Antenne dadorten abstimmen. Das war bestimmt kein Signal aus Gleichkanal Xinjiang Turkestan China. 3995, HCJB Weenermoor HCJB Programm?, religioeses Kinderlied um 1150 UT. S=6-7 meist angerauscht, aber Steilstrahlung in HH mit einem S=9+15dB Signal (Wolfgang Büschel, Dec 18, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 20 via DXLD) ** GERMANY. 3985 / 6005 Tests. Nach den guten Erfahrungen in der letzten Woche gibt es ab heute zwei Ausstrahlungen der R360 Nacht. Sendezeiten: Frequenz 3985 kHz plus 6005 kHz 1600 UTC RSI 1630 UTC Radio Prag 1700 UTC Polskie Radio Nur 3985 kHz 1930 UTC RSI 2000 UTC Radio Prag 2030 UTC Polskie Radio 2100 UTC Radio Ukraine (R360 Kall, via Bernd Seiser-D, Dec 18, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 20 via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Heard also two signals from Germany at 0750-0800 UT, Weenermoor, 7365 rather exact 7364.982 kHz, listeners letter program in German at 0750 UT Dec 22, at 0850 UT religious program on "Heiland". Also light music songs of R 700 Kall Eifel on 7310.002 kHz at same time, BOTH on S=6-7 signal level. 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, Dec 23, not 22, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also ECUADOR [non] ** GERMANY. HAMBURGER LOKALRADIO: SW SPECIALS OVER FESTIVE SEASON Hamburger Lokalradio extends its transmission hours on shortwave over the festive season. The schedule for the coming days will be as follows. All transmissions will be conducted from the low-power transmitting station in Göhren, Germany. Tuesday, December 24th 2013 0700 - 1300 UTC, 6190 kHz, German 1300 - 1600 UTC, 7265 kHz, German Wednesday, December 25th 2013 0700 - 1600 UTC, 7265 kHz, German [WORLD OF RADIO resumes Weds Jan 8] WORLD OF RADIO 1701 Thursday, December 26th 2013 0700 - 1300 UTC, 6190 kHz, German 1300 - 1600 UTC, 7265 kHz, German Saturday, December 28th 2013 0600 - 0700 UTC, 7265 kHz, Spanish 0700 - 0800 UTC, 7265 kHz, English (incl. World of Radio at 0730 UT) 0800 - 0900 UTC, 7265 kHz, German 0900 - 1200 UTC, 6190 kHz, German 1200 - 1400 UTC, 7265 kHz, German 1400 - 1500 UTC, 7265 kHz, Spanish 1500 - 1600 UTC, 7265 kHz, English (incl. World of Radio at 1530 UT) Wednesday, January 1st 2014 0700 - 1300 UTC, 6190 kHz, German 1300 - 1600 UTC, 7265 kHz, German All reception reports for these broadcasts will be confirmed with a special printed QSL card. As Hamburger Lokalradio is a non-profit station, return postage (e.g. 1 US-Dollar) is highly appreciated. Postal address: Hamburger Lokalradio, c/o Kulturzentrum LOLA, 21031 Hamburg, Germany (Thomas Völkner, Germany, Dec 19, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) [some perishable info like the above and below will inevitably be done with by the time you can read it in weekly DXLD; that`s why we hasten to post it in the DXLD yg --- gh] 7265, Hamburger Lokalradio, Göhren, 0637-0730, Dec 21, late sign-on, not heard until sometime after 0600. Spanish program with man and woman announcers, "Silent Night" by choir at 0649. Into Portuguese program with man and woman after the Christmas song to 0657, woman reading book excerpts in English at 0703 to past 0725 ("Letters on the Air" syndicated program). Hamburger Lokalradio ID by man in English at 0729, reception report data and program ann. Glenn Hauser's "World of Radio" DX program at 0730. Started at S2 but improved to S3 with peaks to S4 after 0645 with deep fades. By 0725 the signal was peaking to S5 with excellent audio quality from Perseus site in Iceland. Signal also heard at S3 level decent audio quality at Perseus site NE of Edmonton AB at 0740 and even at S2 here in Southern CA, although here audio was not as usable and QRM was heavy from 7270. Interesting programming, especially at eventual armchair level from Iceland! (Bruce Churchill, Fallbrook CA in DXplorer via DSWCI DX Window Dec 24 via DXLD) ** GERMANY. QSLs: Radio Amigos, via HCJB Weenermoor, 3995, QSL and religious info in 5 days for e-report to marktorstenwardein@gmx.de v/s Mark Torsten Wardein. Missionswerk Arche/Stimme des Trostes, 6055 via Media Broadcast, QSL in 4 months for e-report to info@missionswerk-arche.ch EMR via MVBR, 7265/9480, E-QSLs in 3 days for e-reports to studio@emr.org.uk Channel 292, 6070, E-QSL in 1 day for e-report to info@channel292.de Indian DX Report via Nauen (15335) and Guam (15360), E-QSL in 3 weeks for e-report to indiandxreport@gmail.com. v/s Prithwiraj Purkayastha. Shortwave Rock, 6045, E-QSL in 8 weeks for e-report to phil@shortwaverock.com Nord AM, 3985, E-QSL in 1 day for e-report to nordam@shortwaveservice.com Nord AM, 3985, QSL in 5 days for e-report to nordam@shortwaveservice.com Rock Live Radio via Radio 6150, 6070, E-QSL in 5 days for e-report to willi@rockliveradio.de Radio 6150, 6070, E-QSL in 16 months for e-report to qsl@radio6150.de Atlantic 2000, via Radio 700, 7310, QSL in 2 weeks for e-report to atlantic2000international@gmail.com Gemeinde Gottes Herford, via HCJB Weenermoor, 3995, QSL and personal letter in 3 weeks for e-report to inof@gemeinde-gottes-herford.de. v/s Nikolai Ernst (Artur Fernández Llorella, Spain, Dec 21, HCDX via DXLD) ** GERMANY [non]. 12070, Dec 23 at 2140, DW English, with `Digital Europe`, VG signal but this is the squealing RWANDA transmitter. It`s 295 degrees favorable for us, while at 2147, much weaker poor // 11800 is non-direxional. Wonder if 12070 caught the squeal from 12050 WEWN, contagious? At this hour, EWN signal is clean; q.v. (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also ROMANIA [and non] ** GERMANY [and non]. The big NDR Xmas Eve special was a big bust here, but I assume did better on various high seas than 800 km from the nearest salt water in deep North America, far beyond any intended coverage. At 1956 Dec 24, nothing audible on 6125, 9460, 9885, 9925 (too close to WTWW 9930 anyway), but possibly a carrier on 11955. Propagation from Europe is currently pitiful. At 2103 I check the second batch of frequencies: nothing on 6040, 9625, 9880, 9925, a JBA carrier on 9435, better at 2133 when it`s more likely Romania in the collision I foresaw. Final check at 2255, still nothing making it from NDR frequencies, which were via Nauen, Germany, Issoudun, France, and Moosbrunn, Austria (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6040 / 9435 / 9460 / 9880 / 9625 / 9925, AUSTRIA / GERMANY Norddeutscher Rundfunk, Moosbrunn / Nauen. 2114 December 24, 2013. Tune-in to the scheduled 2100-2300 “NDR Info Spezial” relay live mass from Pfarrei St. Thomas Morus Köln-Lindenthal. 6040 excellent; 9435 excellent (until Radio Romania International co-channel from 2129); 9460 barely threshold; 9625 very weak; 9880 very weak; 9925 good. No trace of 6125, 9885 or 11955 here. Lovely large choral and wonderful, huge church organ, German female sermon, German homily and sermon by man. Programming continued after the serivces ended after 2200 (I guess since they bought a two-hour block) with the NDR Christmas programming, which was excellent. Including Mahalia Jackson's “Silent Night” and “Christmas At Sea” by the Goombay Dance Band, and some canned greetings by people in broken English and of course German. 6040, and I suppose the others, off at 2300 promptly, with presumed CBPS-2 left alone on the channel. Presumed Austria/Germany sites, and I didn't sort out which was from where if so (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA. JRC NRD-535; JRC-NRD-515 (stolen/being held hostage); ICOM IC-R75; Hammarlund HQ- 180A; Sony ICF-7600GR; Sangean PR-D5; Aqua Guide 705 RDF Marine Radio; GE Superadio III; JPS NF-60 Notch Filter; JPS ANC-4 Noise Phase; 1 X roof dipole; 1 X room random wire; custom active portable loop; Terk Advantage non-active portable loop, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [Re 13-51:] Annual Christmas Eve program from NDR, Hamburg now on the air. Several frequencies are audible here on Southeastern Massachusetts: 6125 - good (44444) 9460 - Poor (22222) 9885 - Fair/Poor (33222) 9925 - No signal 11955 - Very Poor (12111) (Stephen C Wood, Harwich, Mass., 1913 UT Dec 24, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) LOG: NDR - Info / Gruß an Bord / Greeting to board 1900-2100 UT Frequenz Richtung Antenne Leistung Standort Ziel 1 6125 250 HR 4/4/0.5 125 kW Nauen Atlantik Nord 2 11955 195 HR 4/4/0.8 250 kW Issoudun Atlantik Süd 3 9925 156 HR 4/4/0.8 250 kW Issoudun Atlantik / Indischer Ozean (Süd Afrika) 4 9460 130 HR 4/4/0.5 125 kW Nauen Indischer Ozean West 5 9885 115 HR 4/4/0.8 100 kW Moosbrunn Indischer Ozean Ost ============================================ 6125 kHz O=3 (-4) ===> 9460 kHz O=3 (-4) presumably via groundwave (Nauen===> to me ~ 90 miles / 145 km) 9885 kHz O=0 QRM Radio Cairo 9925 kHz O=2 11955 kHz O=2 QTH: D-06193 Petersberg / Germany / Ant: Dipol + IC-R75-Studio1 73+55 (roger, 1920 UT. dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Way too much for groundwave on 9 MHz. In such cases the usual mechanism is backscatter, a stray signal from the ionosphere that comes back from the region covered by the beam. Way back in the nineties some clannie transmission from Jülich to Africa has thus been mistakenly DFed as originating from Africa. Concerning the delays: Nauen run about 1.5 seconds behind mediumwave (fed by terrestrial circuits), so obviously Astra 1M has been used as signal source. The same should apply to Issoudun and Moosbrunn as well, unless it has been deemed less trouble to forward the Astra 1M signal by ISDN dial-up or audio over IP than to point a dish at 19.2 East there, too. Perhaps this should be explained: Technically this was a shortwave relay of NDR Info Spezial. The news with which the shortwave transmission started were live while the seaman show has been recorded some days ago. I hope I have not smashed some illusions now (Kai Ludwig, Germany, ibid.) 11955, Norddeutscher Rundfunk NDR Hamburg with its special X-mas program "Gruss an Bord" for German sailors merchant ships. Transmission via Nauen, Germany with 125 kW to 200 deg to South Atlantic Ocean 1952-2015 UT. Long talk by female in German. Announcement and identification by male at 2000 UT. Nice and classic song in Spanish and other languages at 2001. A male and a female speaker present the programme. Talk about “Renato”. Other song at 2003. Talk by female and male speakers. At 2012 song by female. SINPO: 44444 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina with a Icom R-75 and a G5RV antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Solid signal on 6125 kHz (Nauen) here - programme reminds me of the British Antarctic Survey broadcast via BBCWS with its messages for family members away from home at Christmas. (Part 2 on different frequencies is from 2100-2300 UTC - 6040 (Nauen) is the frequency for the North Atlantic - others see: http://www.ndr.de/info/programm/sendungen/gruss_an_bord/index.html (Alan Pennington, Caversham, UK, AOR 7030plus, longwire 2054 UT Dec 24, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) Just crashstarted on 6040 and another huge signal here :-) 73 (Tony Molloy, Winter Hill, UK IO83ro, CCW SDR4+ & CCW HF Active Antenna 2102, ibid.) 2100-2300 UTC TX Frequenz Richtung Antenne Leistung Standort Ziel 1 6040 250 HR 4/4/0.3 125 kW Nauen Atlantik Nord 2 9435 195 HR 4/4/0.8 250 kW Issoudun Atlantik Süd 3 9925 156 HR 4/4/0.8 250 kW Issoudun Atlantik / Indischer Ozean (Süd Afrika) 4 9880 130 HR 4/4/0.5 125 kW Nauen Indischer Ozean West 5 9625 115 HR 4/4/0.8 100 kW Moosbrunn Indischer Ozean Ost ============================================ 6040 O=3 9435 O=3 9625 O=2 9880 O=2 9925 O=2-3 now: "Übertragung der Christmette aus der Pfarrei St. Thomas Morus in Köln-Lindenthal (22-23.15 Uhr/MEZ).." = 2100-2215z (Broadcast of Midnight Mass from the parish of St. Thomas Morus in Cologne- Lindenthal) QTH: D-06193 Petersberg / Germany / Ant: Dipol + IC-R75-Studio1 73+55 (roger, 2114 UT Dec 24, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) NDR on 9925 best one for reception. 9925, NDR, "Grüss am Bord" Program. Dec. 24 2015-2052+. Caught this broadcast just as the signal was fading on this frequency on the longwire. Hear during this broadcast two Xmas songs, 'Silent night' at 2016 and 'Noel at 2045. Lot'sa talk, caught a message in Philippine language by YL at 2042. Checked the other frequencies with 6125 China National Radio here, 11955 blocked by a utility Station, 9460 blocked by a Chinese musical jammer from 9455 and 9885 just barely audible. Reception was best on the 125 foot longwire with the pi-antenna tuner, pointed northeast, terminated. Just re-checked and 9925 is slowly dropping off into the noise. Have a good recording of this broadcast which I hope will warrant a verification reply. Okay now, what is the transmitted site for the 9925 relay, Nauen or Moosbrunn? Also any specific address to where we can send reports too? Bruce, the Perseus site is just north of me, located near St. Paul, hosted by our fellow DX'er Don Moman (Edward Kusalik, Alberta, dxplorer via wb, DXLD) http://www.ndr.de/info/programm/sendungen/gruss_an_bord/ Norddeutscher Rundfunk Rothenbaumchaussee 132 - 134 20149 Hamburg Germany Tel. 00 49 (040) 4156 - 0 Fax 00 49 (040) 44 76 02 E-Mail: info@ndr.de Special broadcasts of NDR Christmas Eve December 24: 1900-2100 6125 NAU 125 kW 250 deg to North Atlantic 1900-2100 9460 NAU 125 kW 130 deg to Indian Ocean West 1900-2100 9885 MOS 100 kW 115 deg to Indian Ocean East 1900-2100 9925 ISS 250 kW 156 deg to Indian Ocean/SoAF 1900-2100 11955 ISS 250 kW 195 deg to South Atlantic 2100-2300 6040 NAU 125 kW 250 deg to North Atlantic 2100-2300 9435 ISS 250 kW 195 deg to South Atlantic 2100-2300 9625 NAU 125 kW 130 deg to Indian Ocean West 2100-2300 9880 MOS 100 kW 115 deg to Indian Ocean East 2100-2300 9925 ISS 250 kW 156 deg to Indian Ocean/SoAF (DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov-BUL, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 18) Unfortunately, this winter is no special North Atlantic azimuth service, so the 1900 and 2100 UT outlet signals are rather poor in CAN/USA tonight, when compared to previous years. Changed to new snail mail address from Dec 15, 2013: Michael Puetz MEDIA BROADCAST GmbH Erna-Scheffler-Strasse 1 51103 Cologne, Germany phone +49 (0) 221 7101 - 0 Please send your inquiries and reception reports to: E-Mail Internet or direct to Mr. Walter Brodowsky Walter.Brodowsky@media-broadcast.com 1900-1930 UT: Logged the first 30 minutes via Perseus remote rx. On Victor's post in Ceylon, in CAN / USA, in SWE / FIN, in GRC / ITA, in southern Germany / Switzerland. All in all, a good selection of frequencies, except for the 9460 kHz selection next the bad terrible Firedrake Jamming signal from China on 9455 kHz, which is a fatal mistake; for example, 9400 and 9430 kHz and adjacent side channels are totally free in the target area. CLN 6125 kHz in Sri Lanka, just above the threshold/turf around 1905 UT. All signals are 1/2 second off my local cable access to the Program "NDR Info / Special" at local Germany net; of course delays from the satellite up- and downlinkload, and the Cable network RX delay. 9460 nil, adjacent 9455 Fire Drake music S = 9 +15 dB. 9885 S=7-8 clear fair in Ceylon, Radio Cairo in Russian there does not matter. 9925 only S=4 poor. 11955 nil in South Asia. GRC - in Athens 6125 S=9+20dB, 9460 very strong S=9+25dB (9455 Firedrake rather no QRM); 9885 only S=7, 9925 fair S=9+5dB, 11955 nil. ITA on the Riviera coast and Elba island 6125 S=9+25, real Powerhouse, like in southern and northern Germany. 9460 nil, 9885 totally covered by R Cairo Russian, here in Europe. 9925 very strong powerhouse at S=9+30dB level. 11955 S=9 medium signal. I guess much stronger on all Africa too. Northern SWE / FIN 6125 S=8 fluttery, 9460 totally covered by CHN Firedrake music on 9455. all others nil. 2055 / 2110 UT: Florida / Rochester NY 6125 / later 6040 kHz S=7 fluttery, S=9+5dB in NY / MA 9925 S=7 - UTE QRM 9923.9 kHz. All other frequencies nil. AUS - Brisbane 9885 S=9+15dB signal best, the only frequency from Moosbrunn across the NE Indian Ocean. 9880 at 2146 UT S=9+10dB. all other frequencies nil GRC Athens 6125 / 6040 S=9+30dB powerhouse 9625 S=8, 9880 S=9+5dB, but 9435 + 9925 both nil. FIN 6040 S=7 fluttery, all others nil. U.K. 6040 S=9+15dB, 9435 S=7, 9925 S=7, remaining nil. 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [and non]. Here attached my observations from last night Dec 24. ORS outlets 9880 and 9885 kHz supplied the Indian Ocean, South Asia, Ceylon and Australia very good! The last quarter of an hour I have indulged in from there. A nice clean signal observed in Brisbane Queensland, the Greyline was right about Australia and PNG. Azimuth direction from Austria in exactly the dark portion of the earth, just right for a 31 mb signal propagation. Signals to Northern Europe only 6125/6040 kHz propagate in Sweden and Finland. North America has n o t operated this year directly, and the DXers were 'poor off' there. My Perseus observations on remote posts in Florida, Toronto and New York showed only weak signals at 6125/6040 and 9925 kHz. Same also has been confirmed by Eike / Eibi touring in Alabama USA at present (Wolfgang Büschel, BC-DX via DXLD) log: NDR - Info / Gruss an Bord / Greeting to board. NDR - Info / Gruss an Bord / Greeting to board Guten Abend! Aus der Antarktis kann ich hoerenswerten Empfang der Grusssendung auf gleich vier Frequenzen vermelden: sowohl im 31m-Band als auch auf 11955 kHz ist der NDR hier bestens zu hoeren, wobei die letztgenannte Frequenz zweifellos den besten Empfang mit O=4 liefert. Frohe Weihnachten ringsum, und viele Gruesse aus dem stets schneesicheren Dronning-Maud-Land! 73, Felix, z.Zt. Neumayer-Station III (Antarktis). (Felix Riess-D DL5XL, at present one year stay at Antarctica Dec 24, ibid.) Hallo, Stichwort NDR-Empfang in den USA: hier in Alabama in den Suedstaaten war es heuer eher mau. Letztes Jahr konnte ich auf der Haengematte richtig zuhoeren, diesmal war es eher "berauschend". Um 2109 UT (1509 Uhr Ortszeit / LT) kam gerade so was auf der 9925 kHz an, 25422. Um 2254 UT kurz vor Schluss war die 6040 kHz halbwegs brauchbar, 33422; die 9435 und 9925 kHz schwach mit S=2. Nichts verwertbares auf den anderen Frequenzen. Das alles mit dem kleinen Degen 1103 im Schlafzimmer. Das normalerweise subtropische Klima hier schwaechelt auch grade, heute morgen waren die Autofenster vereist. Daher diesmal keine Haengematte auf der Veranda mit einem gepflegtem Eggnog - dem Weihnachtsdrink, der in den Suedstaaten selbstredend mit reichlich Bourbon kredenzt wird :) Schoene Feiertage aus Birmingham, (Eike Bierwirth-D, at present touring Alabama-USA Dec 25, ibid.) re "Gruss am Bord" 6125, NDR Hamburg, "Gruss am Bord" prgm, fairly good at *1900 on Dec 24; nx, wx, into "Gruss am Bord" prgm with bells, foghorn, then many greetings in German, some read by the sender, others by man or woman ancr, one by a kid; mentions of various places, captains, occasional applause; mx interludes with mostly German songs, also "White Christmas," "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay," "Feliz Navidad." Mention of Manila at 2000 UT and message in what sounded like a Philippine lang. Quite good by 2000 UT, at which time the others were "fair minus" to poor in this order: 9925, 9885, 11955 kHz. I couldn't tell what was on 9460 (Jerry Berg-MA-USA, DXplorer Dec 24, ibid.) Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR), decent signals from 2130 to 2210 on 6040, 9435 and 9925 with maritime greetings program, including a beautiful selection of holiday music. I didn't try for the 1900 to 2100 broadcast but managed to hear the 2100-2300 signal on my Sony ICFSW7600G from our condo in Chicago, using a scrap of wire as the antenna (Mike Nikolich, N9OVQ, IL, 12/24, Happy holidays, everyone! dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Sobre NDR === la encontré, jaja, verificando la emisión del 24 / 12 / *2012*; despacharon via aérea el 13 enero de 2013 la QSL. La tengo en la mano la QSL, Empfangsbestatigung / Verification - QSL azul, en el ángulo superior izquierdo NDR y una foto de un barco anclado en puerto, en el medio un rostro femenino, y en el ángulo superior derecho una reposera a rayas azules y blancas/ Y abajo de todo sobre la parte azul dice: ``Das Beste am Norden`` y en el reverso la verificación en la frecuencia de 1165 [sic]] kHz Nauen (Ernesto Paulero, Argentina, condiglista yg via DXLD) Muy buena, Ernesto! Felicitaciones, viejo! No deja de ser una QSL interesante que se corresponde a una transmisión no menos interesante por cuanto esa emisión va destinada a los barcos mercantes alemanes en tránsito. 73s (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, Enviado desde mi BlackBerry de Personal, condiglista yg via DXLD) El buque es uno de los famosos ``CAP`` de la línea que hacia el Atlántico, muy posiblemente el Cap San Diego, buque que está como museo anclado en la puerto de Hamburgo. http://qsl-card.org/images/1204481007-qslndr0001.jpg 73 de (LU4YAO, Jorge Enrique Knüll, ibid.) ** GOA. 11740, INDIA, All India Radio, Panaji. 1506 December 15, 2013. Presumed Pashto per Aoki listing as 1415-1530. Clear and fair with Hindi vocals. Transmitter killed at 1529:27 mid-song (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, JRC NRD-535; JRC-NRD-515 (borrowed); ICOM IC-R75; Hammarlund HQ-180A; Sony ICF-7600GR; Sangean PR-D5; Aqua Guide 705 RDF Marine Radio; GE Superadio III; JPS NF-60 Notch Filter; JPS ANC-4 Noise Phase; 1 X roof dipole; 1 X room random wire; custom active portable loop; Terk Advantage non-active portable loop, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. Dimosia Radiofonia is now back in 90.6. 9420, ERA, S7 is now in // 1260 and 1512 (both good) Dec 17 (Zacharias Liangas, Greece, Dec 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. 7450, Dec 20 at 0208, undermodulated rock music, make out some lyrix in English, no doubt Elliniki Radiophonia remnant. Usually 9420 has been missing, but at this time it is also on, but NOT // 7450, Greek songs and much better signal, modulation (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9420.005, ERT3? Thessaloniki, rebels radio relay at 2026 UT, S=9+5dB. Flute interval signal at 2027 UT Dec 20. // 7450 and also 15650! kHz (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, logged at Victor's remote Perseus on Ceylon island, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15650, ERT3? Thessaloniki, rebels radio relay at 2039 UT, in peaks S=7. // Avlis on all 3 channels, 7450, 9420, and 15650! kHz (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, logged at Victor's remote Perseus on Ceylon island, Dec 20, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn: At 2323 UT on Friday, December 20, 9420 is 55455 with Greek announcer and music; 7475 is 55455 with different Greek announcer and different music. Perhaps one is the Avlis off-shoot and the other is the ERT 3 Thessaloniki (John Babbis, Maryland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) This is my reception report for Saturday and Sunday, December 22, 2013 SATURDAY 12/21 | SUNDAY 12/22 1900 2000 2100 2200 2300| 0000 0100 0200 kHz Az. kW Stn ER## 00000 00000 15241 15241 25242|XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX 7450 323 100 AVL1 T3 00000 00000 15241 15241 15241|XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX 15630 285 100 AVL2 T5 00000 35333 35333 15241 45444|25242 25342 25242 9420 323 170 AVL3 A5 XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX|15241 15241 15241 15650 226 100 AVL1 A5 XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX|15241 45344 55455 7475 285 100 AVL2 A5 (John Babbis, Silver Spring MD, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9420, E.R.T., 2332 Dec 21, Greek, two men, Greek music. And E.R.T. also on 7450 but not parallel to 9420, 2334 Greek, popular Greek music. Both good (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening in my car, by the lake, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7475 & 9420, E.R.T. 0344, frequencies both carrying same Greek popular music. Good and fair, Dec 22 (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening in my car, by the lake, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9420, fair-good Dec 22 at 0633, Byzantine chant still exists Sunday mornings, women or boys` voices, from Helliniki Radiophonia, and this frequency active again; yet not // separate musical program on as usual undermodulated 7475, poor-fair (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) This is my reception report for Sunday and Monday, December 23, 2013 SUNDAY 12/22 | MONDAY 12/23 1900 2000 2100 2200 2300| 0000 0100 0200 kHz Az kW Stn ER## 00000 15241 25242 15241 15241|XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX 7450 323 100 AVL1 T3 00000 15241 25242 15241 15241|XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX 15630 285 100 AVL2 A5 00000 15241 35243 35333 35243|35343 45344 55244 9420 323 170 AVL3 A5 XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX|15241 15241 15241 15650 226 100 AVL1 A5 XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX|45334 45344 45344 7475 285 100 AVL2 A5 (John Babbis, MD, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Shortwave broadcasts from Greece on Dec. 23 from 0600 7475 AVL 100 kW / 182 deg NoAf Greek, not // on 9420, 11645 from 0600 9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg WeEu Greek // 11645 from 0600 11645 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg WeEu Greek // 9420 from 0900 7475 AVL 100 kW / 182 deg NoAf Greek, not // on 9420,11645 from 0900 9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg WeEu Greek, strong signal in BUL from 0900 11645 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg WeEu Greek co-ch VOA Chinese UDO -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, Equipment: Sony ICF-2001D 30 m. long wire, DX LISTENIG DIGEST) 7475, Dec 23 at 0624, Greek music, good signal but undermodulated; nothing audible on 9420, but 9 MHz is almost dead (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, tonight Dec 23 also 7450 kHz at 2121 UT heard undermodulated, when VoIRIB Sirjan Spanish ended co-channel. 7475 very weak signal at S=3 level in Germany and England. Seems like an amateur radio station level just on threshold level, I guess - could be NEVER of 100 kW unit in Avlis in use. At 0950 UT a German language pop music group heard "Wir werden es schaffen ...". Thessaloniki rebels relay? 9420 S=9+25dB at 0900 UT, same like 11645 kHz, but now 11645 kHz totally covered by China mainland FIREDRAKE music jamming against VOA Udorn Thani Thailand 09-11 UT. Early in the morning 'they - the rebels' send even two differing programs, once 7475 kHz somewhat weaker signal, as well as the 'normal Thessaloniki' program on 9420/11645 (latter sometimes 15650 instead) kHz. Sometimes I think that the weaker signal of the third Greek transmitter comes of the Maritime station SVO Olympia Radio at Paralia site, so 'non-paid' the Electricity costs to conceal something. Throughout the country there are 350.000 Current customers whose disconnected power connections before of the government, now again illegally were turned to the grid by "Current Rebels" movement ... (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 23 via DXLD) Report of terrible Greek illegality shown in German TV. 350,000 Greek electricity customers who have been disconnected from the network grid due to non-payment before, have let in an illegal action by the rebels again illegally intrude on Main Power grid again, like an illegal electricity 'purchase' (Büschel, Dec 23, dxldyg via DXLD) This is my reception report for Monday and Tuesday, December 24, 2013 MONDAY 12/23 | TUESDAY 12/24 1900 2000 2100 2200 2300| 0000 0100 0200 kHz Az. kW Stn ER## 00000 15241 15241 25242 25242|25242 25242 25242 7450 323 100 AVL1 T3 00000 15241 15241 15241 25242|15241 15241 15241 15630 285 100 AVL2 T5 00000 25242 15241 15241 35243|25242 25242 25242 9420 323 170 AVL3 A5 XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX|XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX 15650 226 100 AVL1 A5 XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX|XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX 7475 285 100 AVL2 A5 (John Babbis, MD, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [and non]. 9420, Dec 23 at 2205-, HR with continuous music, no announcements, great to accompany my nap, jazzy/poppy, instrumental until 2243 song in English, fair signal. 7450, Dec 24 at 0704, Greek talk and music, VG signal but undermodulated. Unknown if on 9420 as 31m is almost dead, hardly anything but very poor BS via RAN via WRMI on 9840 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) This is my reception report for Tuesday and Wednesday, December 25, 2013 [i.e. NOTHING heard] TUESDAY 12/24 | WEDNESDAY 12/25 1900 2000 2100 2200 2300| 0000 0100 0200 kHz Az kW Stn ER## 00000 00000 00000 00000 00000|XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX 7450 323 100 AVL1 T3 00000 00000 00000 00000 00000|XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX 15630 285 100 AVL2 T5 00000 00000 00000 00000 00000|00000 00000 00000 9420 323 170 AVL3 A5 XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX|00000 00000 00000 15650 226 100 AVL1 A5 XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX|00000 00000 00000 7475 285 100 AVL2 A5 (John Babbis, MD, WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7450, 7475, 9420, Helliniki Radiophonia missing from all three at 0200 UT Dec 25 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HAWAII. 16135 [USB], KVM70, Fax Honolulu, 25/12 0340 UT. Fax meteorológico del NOAA, transmitido como imagen de los vientos. SINPO: 55454 (Claudio Galaz, Antena: Hilo de 20 metros, RX: Tecsun PL-660, QTH: Sector sur de Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) ** INDIA. The B-13 schedules of AIR (Home & External Services) is available at last available in their official website as follows from today: http://allindiaradio.gov.in/Profile/Radio%20Network/Pages/default.aspx Yours sincerely, (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Hyderabad, India, Dec 20, dx_india yg via DXLD) ** INDIA. AIR Chinsurah which was testing their new 1000 kW transmitter on 594 kHz continuously at night for many weeks now is not heard for the past few days. Their other frequency 1134 is also not heard then. Maybe they are testing during day times? Yours sincerely, (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Hyderabad, India, Dec 22, dx_india yg via DXLD) ** INDIA. 4810, AIR Bhopal, 1428-1512, Dec 21. Live cricket coverage from Johannesburg of the So. Africa vs India match; in both English and Hindi; break at 1435 for news headlines in English; fair; // 4880 // 5040 // 4910. At 1512 all switch over to audio from Delhi (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. AIR Thiruvanthapuram is noted with extended broadcasts lately. Now they sign off at 1800 UT (1130 pm IST) on 5010, 1161 & relay on 576 via Alappuzha. Earlier they used to sign off at 1740 UT (11.10 pm IST). Now at 1740 to 1800 UT program consisting of Xmas carols noted. The change is not reflected in their website yet. http://airtvm.com/ Yours sincerely, (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Hyderabad, India, Dec 22, dx_india yg via DXLD) ** INDIA. 5040, All India Radio, Jeypore, 1505 Dec 24, stringed instrument music. At 1519 woman speaking in Hindi. Poor. At 1521-1525 found the following in parallel to 5040: 4970, Shillong, poor 4910, Jaipur, very poor 4880, Lucknow, very poor 4860, Delhi, very poor (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening in my car, by the lake, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. 9595, Dec 20 at 0210, S Asian singing, poor with flutter, soon declining to very poor. No doubt it`s AIR Urdu service at 0015- 0430, 250 kW, 334 degrees from Delhi (Kingsway) site, as per Aoki. If we consulted only HFCC, we would find nothing but Nagano, 24 hours on 9595, but AIR refuses to participate in HFCC. Meanwhile 9870, AIR VBS via Bengaluru has much better fair-good signal. 11740, Dec 20 at 0213, AIR IS is nice to hear again, as they don`t always play it prior to all transmissions, good with flutter, enough to overcome splash from the BS on 11730 WRMI. 0215 ``Salaam Aleikum``, All India Radio ID, mentions Pakistan, Afghanistan, and 0217 singing/chanting, which is apparently Qur`an but unlike what we usually hear elsewhence; and hum surges during long pauses. 0220 outro mentions ``Qur`an``. So AIR violates Separation of Mosque & State, feeling obliged to do this in its Pashto service at 0215-0300, 250 kW, 282 degrees from Aligarh (plus another half-sesquihour in Dari until 0345). It is the Fribbath, after all. Can`t one be a secular Pashtun?? What business has AIR propagating one religion at the expense of all others? Demand equal time! Anyhow, this is coming in better now than the Sinhala service on 11740 at 0045-0115 which is via GOA, all per Aoki. [and non]. 9690, AIR GOS in English to SE Asia at 1330-1500, but audible in NAm on a good day, continues to be blocked by WRMI which started using 9690 Dec 1 for Brother Scare; however, helps a little Dec 21 until 1400 that WRMI lacks modulation, allowing trace of AIR to be detected. WRMI, please move! 13710, Dec 21 at 1348, heavy CCI between S Asian song and unID language talk. EiBi shows it`s another AIR GOS in English channel at 1330-1500, overlapping until 1420 with Iran in Dari, via Ahwaz site. The collision must be even worse in Asia. It`s the Bharatians` fault, since Iran does participate in HFCC (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. While editing the Flashsheet today from 2100 to 2230 today, I was listening to All India Radio on 11670 at armchair level in the background. There was very nice music and several interesting articles, including a commentary on the Indian parliament and one article on the history and style of the Sari. Random knowledge I would not go looking for on the Internet. I’m better informed about India. I wonder if policy makers consider this kind of “soft power” as important anymore (Mark Taylor, Madison, Wisconsin, Perseus, WinRadio g313e, Eton e1, Grunding G5, Tecsun PL 660; EWE, Flextenna, NASWA Flashsheet Dec 22 via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. Re: ``3344.85, RRI Ternate (presumed), 0931-1018, Dec 11. Thanks to Atsunori Ishida (Japan) for confirming their reactivation on Dec 8. Today was my first day noticing a station off frequency, which is RRI Ternate's frequency when last heard; reception hovering around threshold level, with only some audio. Overall propagation seemed rather poor today, as SIBC on 6080 from 0801 to 0900 was unusable (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, USA)`` ---------------------- Thanks. Also here in Finland weak music at 1430 on measured 3344.865v kHz, drifting slightly. Only on LSB due to strong carrier on 3346 kHz with 800 Hz tone (Mauno Ritola, Finland, SW Bulletin 22 Dec via DXLD) 3344.86, RRI Ternate, 1335, Dec 21. Strongest audio level since recent reactivation; no hint of PNG today (unlike yesterday`s het) (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 4750, (Sulawesi). RRI Makassar, 1148-1203 Dec 16, woman announcer in Indonesian hosting local music program. Flute music interlude (no Song of the Coconut Islands?) prior to ID at 1200 and Jakarta news. Poor (Richard A. D`Angelo, French Creek State Park, PA, DXpedition No. 44, Ten-Tec RX-340, Drake R-8B and an Eton E1, 500-foot wire essentially north for the RX-340 and 250-foot wire essentially northeast for the R-8B and a whip antenna for the E1, via Craig Seager, ARDXC via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 4869.922, at 1228 UT Dec 20, S=8 fair signal, nice sweet lady singer, and piano music in between, tentatively RRI Wamena in Papua province. Aoki show 300 watt power entry only! (Wolfgang Büschel, Stuttgart, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Presumably remote receiver in Queensland like accompanying logs (gh) 4870, R Wamena, 21/12 1247 Indonesian, music s6 noisy, listed as 300 W. 73 (Nick VK2DX Hacko, Sydney NSW, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 7289.90v, RRI Nabire. 0751-0820*, Dec 25. Almost fair reception; in Bahasa Indonesia; mostly playing Xmas carols in English ("Go Tell It On the Mountain," etc.); suddenly off (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONÉSIA. 9680.05, RRI, Cimanggis, 1050-1130, 23/12, indonésio, texto, entrevistas, música; 45433, em perda; QRM de não ident., após as 1100 (Carlos Gonçalves, PORTUGAL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. 55 YEARS LATER: COMMEMORATING FIRST SPACE BROADCAST --- NPR (transcript) 21 December 2013 Fifty-five years ago this week on December 19, 1958, the first radio broadcast was transmitted from space. An American satellite beamed down the voice of Dwight D. Eisenhower via shortwave. PRESIDENT DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER: This is the president of the United States speaking. Through the marvels of scientific advance, my voice is coming to you from a satellite circling in outer space. RATH: Now, shortwave broadcast from space weren't exactly high fidelity. So I'll just read you the rest. ``Through this unique means, I convey to you and to all mankind, America's wish for peace on Earth and goodwill toward men everywhere.`` Of course, the Cold War was on, and the satellite's real message was less holiday peace and love, and more, you've got sputnik? We've got our own sputnik. But after just 12 days in space, the satellite's batteries ran out. And in January 1959, the satellite burned upon re- entering Earth's atmosphere. http://wamc.org/post/55-years-later-commemorating-first-space-broadcast (listen here) (via Mike Terry, UK, dxldyg via DXLD) In doing quick google search on the SCORE (Signal Communications by Orbiting Relay Equipment) satellite used to broadcast Eisenhower recording, it seems a number of articles incorrectly identify the transmit frequency as a "shortwave frequency". SCORE's uplink (ground station to satellite) frequency was around 150MHz while the downlink frequency (satellite to ground based station) was 132MHz (maybe 132.435 MHz) which are clearly VHF frequencies. There may have been some confusion since the US SCORE satellite project was partly in direct response to the historic Soviet Sputnik 1 satellite which broadcast on 20.007 MHz (a shortwave/HF frequency) and 40.007 MHz (a low VHF frequency). - (Harry Smith, ibid.) ** IRAN. 6040, Voice of Islamic Republic of Iran - Kamalabad, 1922- 1950 Dec 16, man announcer with opening English service ID, choral anthem, woman announcer with ID and frequency announcement. A man followed with a recitation and then the news followed by an interview on current affairs. Fair (Richard A. D`Angelo, French Creek State Park, PA, DXpedition No. 44, Ten-Tec RX-340, Drake R-8B and an Eton E1, 500-foot wire essentially north for the RX-340 and 250-foot wire essentially northeast for the R-8B and a whip antenna for the E1, via Craig Seager, ARDXC via DXLD) 7420, IRIB, 23/12 0212 UT. Audio de las noticias de la televisora iraní Hispan-TV, especialmente de sucesos en América Latina. SINPO: 55444 // 6010 con SINPO: 53343 con QRM de otras emisoras sin identificación (Claudio Galaz, Antena: Hilo de 5 metros de cable de cobre, RX: Tecsun PL-660, QTH: Poblado de Barraza Bajo, Comuna de Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) Voice of Justice (VOIRI) heard from around 0410 to 0420 UT on 9710 (announced) with mentions of S Africa vs. Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), US minimum wage agitation by fast food workers, streets of London covered with snow, US mad at Karzai in Pakistan [sic] (will he be replaced by more reliable puppet? was asked), Ukraine protest (all previous with two male commentators, a segment which sounded like 'the Radio Ranch Wranglers' from Scriptures for America, but not quite) followed by female announcer ~ 0416 and at 0419 music, IDs, mention of PO Box 19295-6767 in Tehran Iran and cutoff at 0420. Signal strong but would fade in and out quickly. Sounded "right wing" and surprisingly "pro- White`` in tone (would seamlessly fit in on WTTW [sic] or WWCR as "just another show"). Quite refreshing in my book. Perhaps the Iron Sheik was right all along (Shawn Fahrer, Dec 20, ptsw yg via DXLD) After all, Iranians are quintessential Aryans (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 13750, Dec 21 at 1348, Quran, fair with flutter. EiBi shows IRIB, nearing end of its 6-hour Arabic service via Kamalabad starting at 0820 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also INDIA [and non] ** IRELAND. Church Logs: 27621 NFM, St. Mary´s Church Rathkeale, Co. Limerick, 1235-1250, Th Dec 19, funeral mass, 22322. 27631 NFM, Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Milford, Co. Cork, 1140-1155, Su Dec 22, mass, 45444. 27661 NFM, St. Agnes Church Crumlin, Dublin 12, 1010-1025, Sa Dec 14, funeral mass, 22332. 27785 NFM, Church of the Assumption Castledermot, Co. Kildare, 1110- 1125, Su Dec 22, mass, 33433. 27681 NFM, Church of St. Nicholas Multyfarnham, Co. Westmeath, 0940- 0949*, Fr Dec 20, mass, 22332. 27691 NFM, St. Agatha´s Church North William Street, Dublin 1, Th Dec 19, funeral mass, 22322. 27825 NFM, St. Mary´s Church Sandyford, Dublin 18, *1000-1010, Mo Dec 16, mass, 34433. Merry Christmas, (Patrick Robic, Austria, Dec 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRELAND NORTHERN. Church Logs: 27701 NFM, Church of the Holy Family Coalisland, Co. Tyrone, 1020- 1035, Sa Dec 21, funeral mass, 34433. 27751 NFM, St. Patrick´s Church Drumcree/Portadown, Co. Armagh, 1005- 1020, Sa Dec 14, mass, 23332. Merry Christmas, (Patrick Robic, Austria, Dec 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. 6885, Galei zahal is off for long time; Neither on 15850 (Zacharias Liangas, Greece, Dec 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY [non]. New broadcasts of NEXUS --- Radio Oromgenati or something, not Radio Santec Cosmic Wave on Dec. 20 1500-1530 on 15515 TIG 150 kW / 165 deg to CEAf Somali Fri; Oromo Sat -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, Sofia, Bulgaria, Sony ICF-2001D 30 m. long wire, Dec 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) New broadcasts of NEXUS: Radio Oromgenati 1500-1530 15515 TIG 150 kW / 165 deg to CEAf Oromo Fri Radio Xoriyo 1500-1530 on 15515 TIG 150 kW / 175 deg to EaAf Somali Sat 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, Dec 21, WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY [non]. 15515, IRRS (via Tiganeshti [ROMANIA]), 1457-1530:30* 20 Dec. Aoki has this Fri-only broadcast as "R. Santec ?" in Somali. Heard before 1500 with "War News Radio" in English, then opening [Aïda] march/anthem and IRRS ID, into (presumed) Somali program with mention of Oromo and what sounded like "Radyo Oromo-riyo", mostly chat/reports with pleasant HOA music sounders and off mid-chat at 1530:30. Doesn't sound like the Santec Oromo/Somali program heard a while back on 15190 (no Gabriele with soothing spiritual chat translated into Oromo/Somali, for starters). On 21 Dec. at 1458-1503, IRRS was running a similar program in a slightly different language (or so it seemed) with qira'ut just after TOH ID for IRRS and "Radyo Oromo-iya/riyo" and brief news items. Not "War News Radio" at tune-in on the 21st, tho -- instead, some comments about driving through Oklahoma --- random! (Dan Sheedy, Swami's Beach, CA G5/6m X wire, WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DX LISTENING DIGEST) IRRS Milano with fair to good signal on 15190, English at 1500 UT. Signal is improving later at 1520 UT. They are in English from 1500 to 1530 UT on Sundays, 15190 via Romania. Religious programs. Merry Xmas. 73 (Gilles Letourneau, Montreal, Canada http://www.youtube.com/officialswlchannel dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN. 3925, Dec 19 at 1320, Nikkei-1 in slow French, language lesson on Thursday; some SSB QRhaM, unusually (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN. JAPÃO, 3925, R. Nikkei, Nagara, 2158-2228, 22/12, sinal de ID (carrilhão), ID, anúncio das freqs. e potências após o que passaram a tocar canções alusivas à época; 45433, mas em perda. // 6055, 9595. 6055 idem, 2201-2216, 22/12, cf. // 3925 supra; 33432, QRM adjacente. 9595 idem, 2239-2255, 19/12, canções; 35332. Sinal muito mau em // 6055, e inaudível em 3925 (Carlos Gonçalves, PORTUGAL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN. 15195, NHK, 25/12 0323 UT. Hombre lee un relato en japonés con música típica de fondo y música de navidad de acompañamiento al programa i.e.: Jingle Bells versión coral y en japonés e inglés. SINPO: 44343 // 15325 ¿Problemas de propagación? // 15590 con SINPO:55454 // 17810 con SINPO: 44333 (Claudio Galaz, Antena: Hilo de 20 metros, RX: Tecsun PL-660, QTH: Sector sur de Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) ** JAPAN [and non]. 13650, Dec 24 at 2255, NHK IS seems strong signal but undermodulated, while Japanese programming is not // on 11665. What`s really happening: NHK is under open carrier from CRI Habana relay, which after timesignal at 2300 opens in Portuguese. From 2259, NHK has started `Sakura` and signs on in Thai for the 20-minute morning broadcast aimed 240 degrees from Yamata, and here off the back at 60 degrees (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KASHMIR. AIR Leh is back on 4760 kHz, here's an audio clip of Urdu news at 1424 UT talking about snowfall in Kashmir http://soundcloud.com/alokesh-1/all-india-radio-leh-4760-kHz Related: Season's first snowfall brings cheer to Kashmir http://zeenews.india.com/news/jammu-and-kashmir/season-s-first-snowfall-brings-cheer-to-kashmir_898605.html --- (Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, Dec 22, dx_india yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH [and non]. 6003, Dec 22 at 1445, Korean talk, fair signal and no noise jamming audible, i.e. Echo of Hope from South to North; altho too late for the mid-4-MHz jammers, it`s still a good morning for the higher ones: 6015, 6250, 6348, 6518, 6600 all with varying amounts of noise vs signal. Also 6170 with music, presumed VOK hour in Russian with RNZI staying on 5950 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. 6140, Shiokaze/Sea Breeze. What happened here? Did the N. Korean jammers read my recent comments in dxldyg about 6140 being free of jamming from *1330 to 1430*? Friday, Dec 20, during a quick check at 1333, found jamming of Shiokaze. Bigger surprise was to find was NOT in English; normally is. Heard with emergency sirens wailing and IDs. Former 5910 finally clear of jamming (Ron Howard, Calif., Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6140, Shiokaze/Sea Breeze. Dec 21 at 1318 heard open carrier from assume Vatican Radio, with 1330 sign on; Shiokaze transmission on at 1329; at 1332 emergency sirens wailing. N. Korea jamming was on 6135 today, NOT 6140! Only very light QRM from Vatican Radio (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. 7590, Dec 19 at 1422, fair signal with flutter in Korean. Aoki shows North Korea Reform Radio at 1400-1600 daily, 200 kW, 70 degrees from Tashkent, UZBEKISTAN (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. 9775, Dec 19 at *1352:15, R. Free Chosun carrier cuts on and off and on and off; *1353:45 back on to stay, and musical prélude finally starts at 1356:10, YL song, segué, maybe trax from same album. Instead of starting RFC Korean programming at 1400, dead air until 1401:15, then music and Korean, but not usual bombastic sign-on; back-up filler? Usual VG signal comparable to 9800 VOA Philippines in Korean, standard remark (Previously headed this KOREA SOUTH [non] by mistake). 9775, Dec 20 at 1355, R. Free Chosun again with prélude of Xmas songs in English, now YL singing about ``Christmas joy``; album-cut pause and another one at 1358, and 1400 opening Korean service on time with militant theme and hyper YL sign-on. Usual good signal comparable to 9800 VOA Korean from Tinang. I had missed what time it came on today. 9775, Dec 21 at *1351, carrier on until 1353.4*, back on in time to start musical prélude at 1354.6, same YL in English with obscure Xmas song, pause and then another before 1400 switch to to R. Free Chosun theme and usual hyper Korean opening. Still good signal, comparable to 9800 VOA Korean via Philippines (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9775, OPPOSITION. Radio Free Chosun, 1456, 12/21/13, in Korean. End of sound bite, man interviewing woman, musical bridge to 2nd woman over mellow music with second man joining perhaps poetry, music with occasional talk by a man over music, 1500 mellow jazz, ID, woman continues to apparent program of K Pop. Very good. Same conditions on 12/22/13 at 1530 with program of K Pop with woman announcer. I would agree with Glenn Hauser that this was coming in too well to be coming from listed Tajikistan (Mark Taylor, Madison, Wisconsin, Perseus, WinRadio g313e, Eton e1, Grunding G5, Tecsun PL 660; EWE, Flextenna, NASWA Flashsheet Dec 22 via DXLD) 9775, Dec 23 at 1351, R. Free Chosun, fair with flutter, musical prélude, again level about like 9800 VOA Tinang Korean; both are subnormal with little from E Asia making it yet. (First check at 1342, even 9800 was JBA). 9775 at 1351 instrumental music in progress, 1352 OM vocal mentioning ``gloria``, presumably an unfamiliar Xmas tune; 1354 YL with another seasonal song in English about Xmas Day. 1400 switch to theme and RFC opening in assertive Korean. Reception steadily improves, quite good by 1423; 1510 with music, very good. (Once again I recently mistyped this as KOREA SOUTH [non]. Don`t you believe it) 9775, Dec 24 at 1351, R. Free Chosun musical prélude is on, same obscure Xmas songs in English as last few days, 1352 by male, later by female. 1400 into theme and opening in Korean. Today`s signal is only fair with some flutter, comparable to 9800 VOA Korean via Philippines, also degraded; they improve somewhat during following hour. Mark Taylor in WI agrees with me that 9775 can`t be from Tajikistan. 9775, Dec 25 at 1357, R. Free Chosun with usual Xmas song in English before Korean (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. 9950, CLANDESTINE (North Korea). Furusato No Kaze (presumed), 1315-1357* Dec 16, long talk in Korean language followed by seemingly IS like music, bells and woman in Japanese language. Short musical segments and talks. Closed with light instrumental music until carrier terminated. Fair (Richard A. D`Angelo, French Creek State Park, PA, DXpedition No. 44, Ten-Tec RX- 340, Drake R-8B and an Eton E1, 500-foot wire essentially north for the RX-340 and 250-foot wire essentially northeast for the R-8B and a whip antenna for the E1, via Craig Seager, ARDXC via DXLD) 9950, Furusato No Kaze, Taiwan. 22/12 1330–1357 in Japanese, female presenter. Japanese love ‘pop songs’. Slightly under-modulated. S7 signal. At 1353 web details. Recording: http://nickvk2dx.blogspot.com.au/ 73 (Nick VK2DX Hacko, Sydney NSW, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA SOUTH [and non]. 11795, 22/Dez 1115, Two signals, CRI and KBS in SDR Twente. Prevails the signal of CRI. Quite the background you can hear the signal of KBS, almost inaudible. 73 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, 12 14´S 38 58´W - Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Aoki shows: CRI in English, 100 kW, 174 degrees from Kashgar, EAST TURKISTAN, and KBS, 250 kW, 81 degrees direct from Kimjae (gh, DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [non]. CLANDESTINE: 11510, V. of Kurdistan, Dec 19 0744- 0803 35433 Kurdish, Music and talk, ID at 0801 (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC-R75, NRD-525+RD-9830, NRD-515, NRD-345, Satellite 750, DE-1121; ANT, 70m Sloper Wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KUWAIT. 15515, R. Kuwait, Dec 18 0649-0701, 35443, Arabic, Talk and news, ID at 0700 (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC-R75, NRD-525+RD-9830, NRD-515, NRD-345, Satellite 750, DE-1121; ANT, 70m Sloper Wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KYRGYZSTAN. KYRGYZ REPUBLIC, 1467, TWR Bishkek relay site 1630 UT Dec 17. Moin, gerade hoerte ich das TWR Intervalsignal als ein akustisches Durchschimmern durch (Radio) Maria hindurch. Laut Mauno Ritola und Guenter Lorenz in "Yahoo-MWOffsets" handelt es sich wohl um TWR PANI aus eventuell Bishkek. Da koennte noch was gehen (Olaf C. Haenssler, Germany, A-DX Dec 17 via BC-DX Dec 20 via WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DXLD) 1467v TWR PANI heard first yesterday (Dec 16th) and also today (Dec 17th) on 1466.995 kHz (Mauno Ritola-FIN, A-DX Dec 17, ibid.) Re: TWR Bishkek 1467 kHz, a lot of logs here in Austria and Germany now. GE shows the sidefire antenna, picture taken in June 2013. And now the transmitter has been taken into service now (Wolfgang Büschel, Dec 18, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 20 via WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DXLD) Und hier einige Findings im web. Zuerst wurde die neue SIDEFIRE Antenne mit den vier Masten bei Google Earth im September 2013 (Foto vom Juni 2013) entdeckt, dann wurde noch geraetselt, wann dann der aus dem Westen gelieferte neue 500 kW Sender installiert ist. Zielsetzung war der Jahreswechsel 2012/2013, jetzt hat es doch noch einige Monate bis zur Indienststellung gedauert. Dann gab es diese Meldung vom 26.Sept. 2013. With the new transmitter, TWR will also expand the time it can spend broadcasting the Good News in the region's six key languages: Punjabi, Pashto, Sindhi, Urdu, Farsi, and Dari. und der gleiche Text noch mal hier und andere Meldungen sprachen von einem "refurbished" transmitter ... was wohl auf einem Missverstaendnis beruht ? Oder trifft beides zu, ein vorherig im Ausland schon mal benutzter 500 kW Sender wurder repariert und für Bishkek hergerichtet und nach KYRGYZSTAN verbracht ? TWR has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to vastly increase our ministry to this region by refurbishing a transmitter and building a new antenna system that will broadcast the gospel via AM radio. The coverage of this transmitter will be tremendous, an area as large as two-thirds of the United States (see coverage map). Imagine reaching most of America with just one transmitter! History: 1467 TWR Pani - new KGZ Kirghizistan, ? probably 1467 kHz channel ? KGZ "TWR PANI" 500kW MW, n e w 210degrees mainlobe SIDEFIRE antenna erected, 4mast array Bishkek Krasnaya Rechka at 42 52 42.48 N 74 59 4532 E - see new Google Earth image of 24 June 2013 TWR Pani program most probably via new 1467 kHz directional antenna installation at KGZ Kirghizistan Bishkek new sidefire antenna, 4 mast into direction of 210 degrees mainlobe, towards AFG / PAK-Beluchistan. Propagation path Bishkek - Karakol - Kazarman - Dedemel - Dshalabad - Osh - Faizabad - Kabul 1040 km, Quetta Beluchistan 1577km, Gwadar Persian Gulf 2200 km (wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Sept 24, 2013, WORLD OF RADIO 1701, ibid.) KYRGYZ REPUBLIC [tentative] Trans World Radio New MW transmitter in Asia. "As TWR tests the potential for digital ministry, it continues to break ground in the radio medium that the organisation was built upon. In May the unidentified Asian country that will be host to the PANI transmitter was granted a broadcast licence for the powerful AM project, which has the potential of reaching almost a quarter of a billion people in Pakistan, Afghanistan and north India. Donations to the major project have been exceedingly generous, but about 25% of the cost still has to be raised. 'The target to complete the construction is the end of the year [2012], but this is very much dependent on the weather conditions, on the suppliers and the subcontractors' said Werner Kroemer, TWR vice- president of global operations. 'Don't forget: We are installing the transmitting facilities in a part of the world where even simple things can turn out to be very difficult to do or to get'". (Listening World, TWR UK newsletter, Winter 2013 issue, via Dave Kenny-UK, January BrDXC-UK "Communication" magazine, Jan 2013, ibid.) im Maerz 2013 gab es diesen Text: Several years ago, God opened a door in this region of the world for TWR to increase its signal strength from shortwave to AM radio. More than 200 million people live under the reach of the new 500,000-watt AM PANI transmitter. While TWR has shortwave programming in some of the languages of the region - Panjabi, Pashto, Sindhi, Urdu, Farsi and Dari - the new AM transmitter will allow more time each week for programs in these languages. PANI antenna mast image, nicht hier in A-DX, aber mit der URL selbst im Browser aufzeigen: Right now the four antennas have been installed and the transmitter is ready to be shipped. The next step is to complete the construction of the transmitter building. Lord willing, we'll be on the air by July 2013 to the "heart of the unevangelized world," as the seventh edition of Operation World describes the area. We're at 95 percent of our total funding goal of $1,494,000, with a remaining need of about $66,000 (discussion in A-DX ng, via wb, Dec 18, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 20 via DXLD) TWR 500 kW, to Pakistan, Afghanistan, northern India: For most of PANI’s listening area, these broadcasts could be the only opportunity countless men, women, and children ever have to hear the message of salvation and new life. So please, give generously today. http://www.twr.org/pani (via SW Bulletin Dec 22 via DXLD) Mauno Ritola first heard this new transmitter on 1466.995 on Dec 16 at 1100 UT (Thomas Nilsson, SWB ed., via WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DXLD) ** LAOS. 6130, Lao Nat. R.-Vientiane, Dec 19 1159-1206, 23432-22432, Laotian, Theme music and seven gongs at 1159, News (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC-R75, NRD-525+RD-9830, NRD-515, NRD-345, Satellite 750, DE-1121; ANT, 70m Sloper Wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBERIA. Japanese DXer (Mr. Yuto) received it as UnID station on 4760 kHz at 2213 UT tune-in to 2235 fade-out on Dec. 20. This signal is very weak, and the ID is not copied. cf. "BCL World Radio Sound Clip" by Yuto in Kita-Nagoya City http://bcl-sound-clip.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/ in Japanese (incl. MP3 Sound files). I estimate it to be test broadcast of ELWA. (S. Hasegawa, Dec 22, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The clips after 0700 UT couldn`t possibly have been heard in Japan; remote? (gh, DXLD) 4760, ELWA RETURNS --- Surprised to find a signal here with M preaching with the mic positioned in the back of the room at 0704 tune/in. At 0705 preaching ended and the studio M came on in Afro- accented English and mentioned "beautiful celebration", and then at 0708:40 was shocked to hear ELWA IDs clearly and somewhat slowly!! Then went into Hi-life music. 0714 M returned with more mentions of "celebrate" and "celebration", "broadcast". 0718 into choral singing with M talk voice-over saying "hallelujah", and M host came on at 0721. 0726-0731 "Oh Holy Night" by W. 0732:05 ID. Mention of Liberia during talk by M at 0741. Was gradually and slowly fading but really took a nosedive between 0741-0751. Was still barely able to hear Afro singing at 0752. Barely visible in the display at 0800. Very surprised and glad to see them back. e-QSL already received from Moses Nyantee who says they are testing 5:30-10:00 AM and 5:00-10:00 PM Liberia time [= UT, no longer 44 minutes displaced ---gh]. Will start regular broadcasts on 1 January. (21 Dec.) 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Perseus SDR, Wellbrook ALA1530S+, and 153' vertical triangular Delta Loop, Hard- Core-DX mailing list via WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DXLD) Monrovia sunrise approx. 0650 UT, varying little at 6 degrees north; a few minutes later into January (gh, WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DXLD) Hi Dave, thank you for the good news. When AIR Port Blair signed off at 1730 on 4760.02 kHz, another carrier appeared and stabilized right on frequency. I'll be checking if that is ELWA. Yes, now at 1820 clear choral singing. Merry Christmas everybody! (Mauno Ritola, Finland, HCDX via DXLD) Also reported by Mauno Ritola in Finland on WRTH Facebook page yesterday (21-Dec): "Thanks to Dave Valko tip, ELWA R. is heard again testing on 4760 kHz. Test schedule given as 0530-1000, 1700-2400. Noted today with sign-on at 1730, audio since 1815, mostly non-stop music. Very exactly on frequency: 4760.000 kHz" (via Alan Pennington, BDXC-UK yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DXLD) 4760, also Dec 21: Hi Dave, thank you for the good news. When AIR Port Blair signed off at 1730 on 4760.02 kHz, another carrier appeared and stabilized right on frequency. I'll be checking if that is ELWA. Yes, now at 1820 clear choral singing. Merry Christmas everybody! 73, (Mauno Ritola, Finland, via SW Bulletin Dec 22 via WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DXLD) Ein Weihnachtswunder, auf 4760 spielt ELWA wieder. Religiöse Musik um 1900 UT. Hätte ich nicht für möglich gehalten diese legendäre Station nochmals auf Kurzwelle zu hören. Sendeschluß von ELWA heute abend um 2205 UT. 73 (Christoph Ratzer, Austria, A-DX via SW Bulletin Dec 22 via DXLD) ELWA Terug? Beste mensen [sic], Zojuist heb ik zowel op de HCDX als de A_DX lijst gelezen dat ELWA uit Monrovia, Liberia blijkbaar weer tot leven gekomen is. Frekwentie als vanouds 4760 kHz. Gehoord in de USA om 0700 UT en in Oostenrijk om 1800 UT. Verdere details ontbreken nog. Ik zat vanavond in de bioscoop bij "De Hobbit" en heb het niet kunnen checken. In elk geval om 2045 niets te horen. Morgen dus weer proberen. Dit is in zoverre bijzonder omdat dit station een lange gescheidenis heeft van verwoesting en plundering tijdens de burgeroorlog in Liberia en enkele jaren geleden (zonder oorlog) afbrandde. Maar steeds weer opnieuw komen ze in de lucht. Groeten, (Aart Rouw, Germany, Dec 21, bdx mailing list via DXLD) 4760, Dec 22 at 0635-0723, with offset BFO as I doze, no sign of even a carrier from ELWA vs hi noise level and poor propagation, which was reported reactivated (testing?) 24 hours earlier and also in the local evening (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Sat on 4760 detuned down in USB from 0522 this morning. Carrier up 0531 immediately into male talk but threshold. Impossible to copy content. Talk continues 0545. Presumed this one (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater FL, Dec 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4760, ELWA, Monrovia. 0528 December 24, 2013. Tune-in to interval signal in progress, accented English male ID 0529, into preacher and brief gospel fills. Fair-poor. Never thought I'd hear this interval signal over the air again (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA. JRC NRD-535; JRC-NRD-515 (stolen/being held hostage); ICOM IC-R75; Hammarlund HQ-180A; Sony ICF-7600GR; Sangean PR-D5; Aqua Guide 705 RDF Marine Radio; GE Superadio III; JPS NF-60 Notch Filter; JPS ANC-4 Noise Phase; 1 X roof dipole; 1 X room random wire; custom active portable loop; Terk Advantage non-active portable loop, WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DX LISTENING DIGEST) LIBÉRIA, 4760 (reactivada), ELWA, Monróvia, 1931-1948, 21/12, inglês, propaganda religiosa, música, ID e anúncio de freqs., às 2002; 35332, mas bem melhor entre as 1900 e as 1930, período em que passaram música relig (Carlos Gonçalves, PORTUGAL, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4760, ELWA Radio, Monrovia, 0658-0723, 25-12, male, English, religious comments, mentioned "Monrovia", "Merry Christmas". 24322 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Logs in Friol, Sony ICF SW 7600G, cable antenna, 10 meters, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LITHUANIA. 9875, Radio Free Asia, 2300 barely made out the s/on ID in English of “This is Radio Free Asia…” (before Tibetan program) through the QRM from co-channel Voice of Korea, also signing on here in Korean. Dec 24 (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening in my car, by the lake, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MADAGASCAR. 5010.290, Dec 15 1820, Tentative R Madagasikara, played really nice music. Local language. I will have to put tentative on this one, since I did not get an ID. But I have no doubt it really was them. Best audio on LSB. They drifted some and ended up around 5010.2 at s/off at 1901z (Arne Nilsson, Sweden, SW Bulletin Dec 22 via DXLD) 5011.31, Dec 14 1856, R Nasionaly Malagasy drifting around. On Dec 17 noted on 5010.25 (Thomas Nilsson, ibid.) 5010.93, Dec 19 1825, R Nasionaly Malagasy, Ambohidrano. Malagasy talk, 25122 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, ibid.) [and non]. MADAGASCAR/INDIA 5010.006, AIR Thiruvananthapuram / 5010.746, RTM R. Madagasikara, Antananarivo. Two different radio programs hit each other co-channel at 1515-1535 UT when logged today Dec 19. Annoying 750 Hertz WHISTLE buzzy interference noted, in order to avoid the whistle I set the Perseus bandwidth narrower and 'cut out/veiled' the opposite flank... AIR Thiruvananthapuram poor signal, but readable, a little stronger than Radio Madagasikara which was just above threshold level. Latter TX used the very unstable RIZ/Siemens Vienna transmitter, previously used at Radio Bremen/SFB 6190 kHz and SWR Rohrdorf on 7265 kHz in Germany, in the 80ties and 90ties. Unstable TX hopping like in 25 Hertz up-and-down range. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5010.93, 1825-1835 19.12, R Nasionaly Malagasy, Ambohidrano, Malagasy talk, 25122. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, on my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire in Skovlunde, Denmark, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) 5010.1v, R. Madagasikara, 1547, Dec 21. Clearly them drifting around in AM + LSB + USB. Long time since I have heard them via long path here; light het from AIR (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5010, R Madagascar [presumed], 21/12 1800 to 1933, Malagasy, music, S7 noisy extended program? 73 (Nick VK2DX Hacko, Sydney NSW, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) MADAGÁSCAR, 5010.1, R. Madagasikara, Ambohidrano, 1922-1944, 21/12, malgaxe, música pop' local; 35332 (Carlos Gonçalves, PORTUGAL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAYSIA [and non]. /CHINA, 5964.706, RTM Klasik Nasional FM in Malay, but hit by co-channel CRI Korean-Chinese language lesson, both signals at S=9+20dB level, 1145 UT on Dec 20. 6049.985, Much fluttery signal of RTM Asyik FM R Tujuh in tentatively Malay. Deep fades on S=8-9 signals heard in Queensland AUS remote unit. Nice light music program heard (Wolfgang Büschel, Stuttgart, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9835, Sarawak FM, 1457 Dec 21, Bahasa Malay, song, man and woman with mentions of Kuala Lumpur and Sabah. Fair (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening in my car, by the lake, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9835, Dec 24 at 1357, 1 kHz tone. Nothing in HFCC, Malaysia being another uncoöperative holdout (tho ABU is based there), but Aoki shows RTM Sarawak FM as 24 hours from the Peninsula (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11665, Wai FM, 1553 Dec 21, Bahasa Malay, playing Christmas songs, including Boney M’s “When a Child is Born” followed by “Silent Night” in Malay. Fair (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening in my car, by the lake, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALI. 9635, R. Mali, Kati, 1301-1348, 21/12, francês, notícias, após o que se seguiu programa musical, em dialecto; 35443, modulação fraca (Carlos Gonçalves, PORTUGAL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 550, Dec 22 at 1317 UT, PSAs from IFE, and Secretaría de Defensa Nacional about Universidad del Ejército y Fuerza Aérea, 1318 música romántica; loops WSW, and no doubt the usual SRS dominant station from there, XEPL, Ciudad Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 620, Dec 22 at 1321 UT, as soon as I tune in, canned ID for ``91.7 FM y 620 AM, La Norteñita es la efectiva``, i.e. XEBU Chihuahua city; effective, I assume they imply, insofar as advertising results (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 660, Dec 24 at 0712 UT, ``La Kaliente [sic], 102.9, la que komprende`` (if spelt with a c, means ``the one which understands``). That makes it XEEY Aguascalientes2 again, dominating channel with 50 kW transmitter perhaps on reduced night power; main QRM is IBOC noise from WSCR 670 Chicago peaking around 657 but somewhat nullable (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO [and non]. 700, Dec 21 at 1325 UT, rustic banda music, fair and dominant first, fading by 1330 YL announcement, but I think I hear an expected XEETCH ID as WLW resurges with I-75 traffic report, ID. 700 XEETCH La Voz de los Tres Rios Navojoa, Son. 5,000 D, per Cantú. The callsign alludes instead to Etchojoa as in WRTH, IRCA. Navojoa is a larger town about 25 km NE of Etchojoa, with Huatabampo on the other side. All are not far from the Gulf of California in SW Sonora, between Ciudad Obregón and Los Mochis, Sinaloa. So what are the three rivers? Google maps prefer to show roads. 700, Dec 22 at 1322 UT, rustic fiddling, 1323 gobierno de la república PSA in Spanish, 1324 something about ``toquen – baile`` then vocal music; this time holds up a little longer at 1331 to hear definite call-letter ID as XEETCH, La Voz de los Tres Rios, and then in an indigenous language, i.e from Etchojoa, Sonora (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 710, Dec 22 at 1327 UT, as I tune in, full ID for XEDP with 5 kW, XHDP FM with 10 kW, La Ranchera de Cuauhtémoc, street address in that Chihuahua city, Grupo B-M Radio; dominating frequency (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 830, Dec 20 at 1336 UT, crime news from Ciudad Acuña on ``Grupo Radio Zócalo``, 1340 TC for 20:8, so no doubt it`s XEIK in nearby Piedras Negras as in Cantú: 830 XEIK La Norteñita Piedras Negras, Coah. 5,000 D At first it was mixing badly with WCCO, later overcoming it. Piedras Negras/Enid/Mpls are close to collinear, making nulling WCCO not an option (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. XEQ is now on frequency, no longer at its 939.88 kHz offset. I couldn't get an exact measurement as XEQ was among a pile of signals between 940.0 and 940.009 kHz. Heard Hora Nacional earlier, ending with the national anthem, then Mexican music with "XEQ Radio" ID's and "La Q Radio" jingles. Much easier to copy without the offset het. Also found parallel with delayed http://xeqradio.mx/player streaming audio. – (Bruce Conti, Nashua NH, Dec 16, mwdx yg via DXLD) 940, *MEXICO*, XEQ México DF, DEC 18, 0220 - Noted back to offset on low side, measured 939.851 kHz (Bruce Conti, Dec 18, ibid.) 940, XEQ, México DF, DEC 16 0400 - Ascending chimes on the hour, alternating man and woman with Hora Nacional mentions. 0500 end of program with choral national anthem, announcement and chimes, then contemporary vocals, parallel delayed http://www.xeqradio.mx/player streaming audio. 0600 chimes and "La Q Radio" jingle into ad string, then chimes again and choral national anthem followed by ID/announcement and "La Q Radio" jingle. 0620 mentioned "XEQ radio punto mx" during break. Among a cluster of signals between 940.0 and 940.009 kHz, so XEQ is no longer at 939.88 offset frequency. The frequency change actually took place just a couple hours earlier at 0200 UT per reports by Barry McLarnon and Tim Tromp. DEC 18 0220 - Noted return to offset on low side, measured 939.851 kHz. ([Conti-NH], fuller report, via DXLD) ** MEXICO. 1030, Dec 20 at 0230 UT, ``grupoformula.com.mx`` plug, 800 numbers; talk show peaking from WSW. Fits for the only Fórmula station listed on 1030 by IRCA 2012 Log, and Cantú: 1030 XEYC Radio Fórmula Cd. Juárez, Chih. 5,000 500 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 6185, Radio Educación, México DF. 2314 December 24, 2013. Clear and semi-decent modulation with excellent very old traditional Mexican folk vocals with lots of squeaky violins. If only all Mexican AM stations played this fare these days (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA. JRC NRD-535; JRC-NRD-515 (stolen/being held hostage); ICOM IC-R75; Hammarlund HQ-180A; Sony ICF-7600GR; Sangean PR-D5; Aqua Guide 705 RDF Marine Radio; GE Superadio III; JPS NF-60 Notch Filter; JPS ANC-4 Noise Phase; 1 X roof dipole; 1 X room random wire; custom active portable loop; Terk Advantage non-active portable loop, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. SINTONIA LIBRE DE RADIO EDUCACION ONDA CORTA SINTONÍA LIBRE - ANALIZA LOS MEDIOS DE COMUNICACIÓN La serie radiofónica Sintonía Libre está enfocada a difundir todo lo que pasa alrededor del mundo del DX y los temas que tengan que ver con los medios de comunicación especialmente la radio. Contamos con las secciones de: Informativo Libre. Que son las notas que tienen que ver con los medios de comunicación en general, nuevas tecnologías, radio, Internet, telefonía, periodismo, radio y TV. Cápsula de Pepe González. Que nos envía desde Xalapa Veracruz y ahí él toca temas sobre la escucha de Onda Corta. Ej. Elaboración de antenas, radios, reportes de recepción. etc. Datos Libres. Sección que se enfoca a temas específicos sobre medios de comunicación. Por ejemplo la Rosa de Tokyo, la serie radiofónica La tremenda Corte, las redes sociales. Correo Libre. Lectura de los reportes de recepción y cartas de los radioescuchas de la Onda Corta. La Entrevista. Aquí invitamos a un especialista sobre medios de comunicación. Equipo de producción de Sintonía Libre: Productora: Marlen Reyes Musicalización: Vicente Morales Voz y Guión: Juan Pablo Bravo Asistencia de Producción y Voz: Alejandra Maldonado Colaboraciones: Margarita Ortega, Pepe González Página de Programas dx: http://programasdx.com/sintonialibre.htm Página de Radio Educación: http://www.e-radio.edu.mx/ (via José Bueno, condiglista yg via DXLD) So it`s on 6185 only, easily overlooked due to low modulation and ACI from Brasil, but sounds fine on the podcast. Looking over the topics, it`s more of a media program than a DX program. ``Sintonía libre Analiza los medios de comunicación La Defensora de los Radioescuchas [as in listeners` ombudswoman] El espacio donde la radio te escucha Miercoles a las 18:30 [0030 UT Thursdays]`` It`s more or less weekly, occasionally replaced by La Defensora as on Dec 25. Latest podcast dated 3 December 2013: ``Panorama Mediático --- Se leyeron las noticias mas destacadas en el ámbito de las telecomunicaciones e Internet.`` (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MICRONESIA. 4755.5, Dec 21 1958, Noch eine Überraschung knapp neben ELWA gefunden: The Cross zum Sendebeginn um 1958 UT auf 4755.50 kHz. Das Signal war sehr schwach, vielleicht wird es ja noch besser. 73 (Christoph Ratzer via A-DX via SW Bulletin 22 Dec via DXLD) ** MONGOLIA. MONGÓLIA, 4895, Mongoliin R, Murun, 2304-2314, 19/12, texto; 34342, modulação algo débil, QRM de CODAR. 12085, Voz da Mongólia, Khonkhor, 0953-1049, 23/12, mongol, texto, canções, ID, sinal de ID, programa em mandarim, às 1000, sinal de ID, programa em japonês, às 1030; 25432, em perda acelerada (Carlos Gonçalves, PORTUGAL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MOROCCO. 9575, R. Medi Un, Dec 20 0745-0755, 45444, French, News and talk, ID at 0746 and 0748 and 0750 (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC-R75, NRD-525+RD-9830, NRD-515, NRD-345, Satellite 750, DE-1121; ANT, 70m Sloper Wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9575, Radio Medi Un, 2320 Dec 21, heard with dance and pop music, including Stevie Wonder song, no announcer heard in frequent checks. Fair (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening in my car, by the lake, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9575, Radio Médi Un, Nador. 1952 December 24, 2013. Fair in local noise with Arabic male talk. Recheck 2045, Arabic wailer vocals, French female ID 2057 and into news by male in French from 2100-2103, a few words from announcer, into pop-ish North African vocals (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA. JRC NRD-535; JRC-NRD-515 (stolen/being held hostage); ICOM IC-R75; Hammarlund HQ-180A; Sony ICF-7600GR; Sangean PR-D5; Aqua Guide 705 RDF Marine Radio; GE Superadio III; JPS NF-60 Notch Filter; JPS ANC-4 Noise Phase; 1 X roof dipole; 1 X room random wire; custom active portable loop; Terk Advantage non-active portable loop, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MYANMAR. re 9730v Myanmar Radio Yangoon [sic] Hi, any time BETWEEN 1155 AND 1158 UT on 9730 kHz. 5985 kHz ONLY 1530-1600 UT. ALL OTHERS 5915, 6165, 7345 kHz, AS PER OLD SKED. Also HEAR 7200v kHz at 0800 UT FADE IN to 1300 UT, 1330 UT latest. (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, Dec 14, 4S7VK, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 20 via DXLD) 7200.1, Myanmar Radio (presumed), 1209-1302+ Dec 16, woman announcer with talks in presumed Bamer language hosting program of local music. Generally poor with some fair peaks but occasionally buried under ARO activity (Richard A. D`Angelo, French Creek State Park, PA, DXpedition No. 44, Ten-Tec RX-340, Drake R-8B and an Eton E1, 500-foot wire essentially north for the RX-340 and 250-foot wire essentially northeast for the R-8B and a whip antenna for the E1, via Craig Seager, ARDXC via DXLD) 5985.87, Myanma Radio, Yangon, 1440 Dec 23, Burmese, man and woman, sounding like news; and at 1529, woman with announcements in Burmese, 1530 music bridge and I believe woman announced news for their scheduled English, however the newsreader was almost inaudible, so I couldn’t confirm programming. Poor (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening in my car, by the lake, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5985.87, Myanma Radio, 1527 Dec 24, traditional Burmese music, 1529 female announcer, 1530 into English with ID, frequencies (announced 5985 kHz), and then news. Good, but somewhat muffled audio. 6165, Thazin Radio, 1430 Dec 24, English, introductory music and then woman with “good evening” greeting, ID, frequencies and English pop song, 1435:30 woman back and into news and weather, 1442 song “Last Christmas” by George Michael and WHAM! Fair, QRM from co-channel CNR6 China (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening in my car, by the lake, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5985.00, Myanmar Radio, 1104, Dec 25. In vernacular; seemed to be spelling some words; pop songs. Thanks to Harold Sellers for reporting this one active again; almost fair. Myanmar's tx assignments seems to be in flux. Is 5985.8 tx still down with repairs? Note 9730.80 back on again. 7200.1, Myanmar Radio, 1032, Dec 25. Quick check found them fair with some ham QRM; EZL music. 9730.80, Myanmar Radio, 1023, Dec 25. Surprised to find them again with the off frequency tx, after recently being regularly heard with exact frequency tx; in vernacular with the usual indigenous music; poor; nothing on 9730.00 (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) It's interesting that you had Myanmar on 5985.0 today. The past two days I had zero beat the frequency and determined them to be on 5985.87. Maybe they are flopping back and forth, as they do with 9730/9730.80, perhaps to give the transmitters equal on time. 73, (Harold Sellers, Dec 25, ibid.) ** NETHERLANDS. 1566, 21/12 0045, Vahon FM - Den Haag, Olanda. Hindustani (Ex 1557 kHz) opera 24 ore, MX Bollywood, suff. Web: http://www.vahonfm.nl/site/index.php con real audio. Address: Newton straat 25, NL-2562 KC Den Haag. Da non confondere con AIR RAJKOT INDIA su 1566 kHz (Roberto Pavanello, Italy via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. THE MIGHTY KBC SERVES LONG-HAUL TRUCKERS OVER SHORTWAVE RADIO --- Posted on February 22, 2013 by Paul Riismandel http://www.radiosurvivor.com/2013/02/22/the-mighty-kbc-serves-long-haul-truckers-over-shortwave-radio/ The Mighty KBC logo If you’ve ever found yourself scanning the AM dial during a late night road trip on the highways of North America, then you’ve probably encountered one of the radio networks that serves truckers with country music, call-in shows, and information tailored to long-haul professional drivers. They rely on the long-distance capacity of AM to serve road dogs for hundreds of miles without changing stations. Of course, shortwave radio broadcasts can outrun AM, covering thousands of miles. But it never occurred to me that there would be a shortwave station serving truckers. Thanks to the Shortwave Listening Post I learned about The Mighty KBC which is a European shortwave station that blasts out rock n’ roll oldies and classic rock to truckers across the continent. Historically, shortwave has been more popular in Europe than North America, and there are still car and truck radios with shortwave reception available. So it makes perfect sense that an enterprising broadcaster would choose this band to serve an audience traveling across countries and across the continent. In the US many truckers have migrated to satellite radio, since it offers nationwide coverage in addition to its own trucker channel. But there has yet to be a successful satellite radio service in Europe. Featuring an international lineup of DJs from the UK, US and Holland, KBC is also quite proud of its rebroadcasts of border-blaster legend Wolfman Jack. The station also carries Trucker Radio (formerly the Driver Show), a syndicated Canadian program targeted to professional drivers, built on a foundation of country music. KBC is the brainchild of former pirate broadcaster Eric van Willegen, who says he used to broadcast from Dutch high-rise apartments and ships at sea until he grew tired of being raided by the authorities. Van Willegen is also president of Holland-based KBC Import-Export, which sells consumer electronics, specializing in citizen band, police band, marine and shortwave radios. The current incarnation of the Mighty KBC went on the air from a transmitter in Vilnius, Lithuania in 2009, broadcasting in English at 6095 kHz. Recently the station has been running test broadcasts aimed at North America on 9450 kHz, which they claim originates from an old Soviet transmitter based in Bulgaria (via Zacharias Liangas, Dec 20, 2013, DXLD) Details outdated GERMANY -- Mighty KBC via Nauen 7375, from 0050-0145, blasting out a decent signal with Wolfman Jack, steady selection of rock music and many requests for reception reports (Mike Nikolich, IL, 12/23, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7375, Dec 25 at 0145, Mighty KBC via Nauen, GERMANY is in its week- long holiday series of `Wolfman Jack` shows at 00-02; now a love song, 0148 Wolfman Jack himself and a local station break with Mighty KBC ID, Dutch announcement, WMJ jingles, ``Let`s Make a Deal`` parody. Sufficient, but with more splatter from 7385 WHRI than 7365 Cuban jamming and Radio Martí, so tuning slightly below is helpful (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR. Newfoundland and Labrador broadcasting icon Geoff Stirling dead at 92 | The Canadian Press ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Newfoundland and Labrador broadcasting icon Geoff Stirling was being remembered Sunday as a trailblazer who instilled confidence in the province's residents with his larger-than-life personality over his half-century career. Television station NTV said Sunday that Stirling, the man who founded the outlet, died over the weekend. He was 92. Stirling, born in St. John's, N.L. in 1921, is known for having founded multiple media outlets in Newfoundland and Labrador, including the Sunday Herald in 1946 and the province's first provincial television station -- CJON-TV -- in 1955. It later became known as the NTV network. He also started the first FM radio station in Newfoundland, now known as OZ-FM. John Steele, president of Steele Communications in St. John's, N.L., said Stirling was a man who "marched to the beat of his own drum." "He was a trailblazer. He was a guy who always thought outside the box," said Steele of his former broadcasting competitor, adding that he first met Stirling as a child. "How many people have an influence for 50 years? He sustained it all that time. It's quite remarkable." Stirling was eccentric, but he wore it on his sleeve, said Steele. He said Stirling practised mysticism and studied with gurus in India at one point. "He wasn't afraid to go out and explore the world and bring it back to (Newfoundland and Labrador)," said Steele, adding that Stirling was also the first to introduce 24-hour television in North America. "He was a guy that instilled confidence in Newfoundland and Labradorians." Steele said Stirling once wrote a letter to John Lennon. "He said, 'You said to come together, well here I am.' And he left his name and number. John Lennon got in touch with him," he said, adding that Stirling ended up conducting a series of interviews with the former Beatle. "Everybody's got a Geoff Stirling story." Steele said many residents of Stirling's home province feel a special connection to him. "If you're not from here, you probably don't totally understand that. But in Newfoundland and Labrador, he was larger than life." As news of Stirling's death became known Sunday, people took to Twitter to voice their condolences and praise for his contributions to Newfoundland and Labrador. "RIP Geoff Stirling. A true Newfoundland media icon and pioneer," tweeted a person who posted under the name Steven Davis. "The loss of a great NLer," tweeted a person who posted under the name Terry McDonald. "A media visionary, and seeker of truth, unafraid of the slings and arrows. RIP Geoff Stirling." Outside of Newfoundland, Stirling was involved in broadcasting enterprises in Quebec, Ontario and the United States. A radio station he founded in Montreal eventually became CHOM-FM and remains a popular classic rock station in the city. Stirling is a member of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame and the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador. (NTV) (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) obit ** NEW ZEALAND. 5950, Dec 23 at 1337, RNZI `Mailbox` with John Durham`s DX news in progress with lots of brief clips; sufficient reception, but never will get it better than this, so I go to the website to hear the whole thing. Of possible note, John mentions an Xmas special from ``FRS in the Netherlands, Dec 29 [Sunday], most likely from 0800 and at least 5 hours long, on 7600, 5800, 6070`` (That`s usually known as FRSH = Free Radio Service Holland) (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA. 6089.9, Radio Nigeria - Kaduna, 2115-2202 Dec 16, lively program with man announcer in local language talking hosting Afro pops selections. Poor to fair and in the clear until Dr. Gene Scott from Anguilla opened at 2202 (Richard A. D`Angelo, French Creek State Park, PA, DXpedition No. 44, Ten-Tec RX-340, Drake R-8B and an Eton E1, 500- foot wire essentially north for the RX-340 and 250-foot wire essentially northeast for the R-8B and a whip antenna for the E1, via Craig Seager, ARDXC via DXLD) ** NIGERIA. 15120, V. of Nigeria, Dec 19 0804-0812, 35433, English, News and drums, ID at 0805 and 0806 (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC- R75, NRD-525+RD-9830, NRD-515, NRD-345, Satellite 750, DE-1121; ANT, 70m Sloper Wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9690, 19/Dez 2029, Voice of Nigeria in Hausa. OM talk, seems to be an interview. Various mentions of Tanzania, Kenya, Angola and Africa. At 2034 mention Radio Nigeria and Nigeria. Good signal in my QTH, 45444. In SDR Twente the frequency is around 9890.9 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Must have meant 9689.9 (gh) Probably Ikorodu 2030-2130 Arabic instead of 9689.890 now on 11769.880 kHz with some breaks, an old Ikorodu Frequency, used in past 30 years (Wolfgang Büschel, Dec 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11770 and heard the UNIDENTIFIED Arabic language station again, noted on Dec 13 on 11769.871 kHz, but tonight heard only 2100 to 2105 UT Dec 20, with news in Arabic on 11769.880 UT, S=8 in Brisbane-Queensland, and S=9 on Ceylon. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, logged at Victor's remote Perseus on Ceylon island, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15120, Voice of Nigeria, 1545 Dec 21, English, man speaking about the conflict in Central African Republic, his audio was good, but that of the man and woman in the studio was muffled from over-modulation; 1546 “You’re listening to Africa Hour…”. Fair strength, but poor considering audio quality (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening in my car, by the lake, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) V. of Nigeria: Strong at 2001z sign on today 12/22/13 9690 kHz - opening music into ids then man in presumed Hausa then news. Lots of mentions of Nigeria - now 2018z very strong here (Rich, Burr Ridge, IL USA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) This morning Dec 23: 15120.000 kHz 7-8 UT, totally SCRATCHY distorted feederline / groundwave phone line distortion, or wrong positionized satellite rx antenna equipment, scratchy audio signal. Most of the Bass audio result in bad distorted audio. 7-8 UT French, 8-9 UT Eng. At 0740 UT Dec 22 on S=9+30dB level. Two strong 50 Hertz spikes from mainpower BUZZ, as well as garden fence like 50 Hertz each row, mainly in +/- 1300 Hertz range, but also less powerful spikes up to on +/- 1800 Hertz bandwidth. V Of Nigeria MAIN broadcast signal is visible in the range 15118.750 to 15121.250 kHz ONLY. ID "This V of Nigera Lagos" in English at 0830 [sic] UT, but also announced 0830 hrs Nigeria local time in English. [?? Should be UT+1; from order of logs, probably meant 0730 UT -- gh] 11770 and 9690 nothing heard at 7-8 UT nil, empty channels. 7254.920 S=4-5 fluttery at 0753 UT Dec 23, sound like \\ French service signal, no scratchy signal clean audio. Around 0757-0758 UT TX off. 9689.918 S=6-7 signal started at around 0759-0800 UT in Hausa, no audio Feeder problems at all, clean signal. (Wolfgang Büschel, 0850 UT Dec 23, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DGIEST) Voice of Nigeria DRM 15120 kHz [1 Attachment] --- I'm getting good reception in DRM mode at 1900 UT. Music programming, then into the program "60 Minutes". Audio is decoding as aac Mono 9.18 kbps. Attached is a screenshot. 23 December 2013 (Scott Walker, New Cumberland PA USA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Says it`s new station at Abuja, 100 kW, curtain antenna (gh, DXLD) 11770-, Dec 23 at 2141, Horn of Africa music, very poor, beneath 11775 Anguilla; then undermodulated talk, language uncertain. Makes JBA het with a 11770 station of G above Middle C = 392 Hz; or was it really G below MidC = 196 Hz? Wolfgang Büschel has been hearing this off- frequency station on 11769.871 or 11769.880, in Arabic at 2030-2130, apparently V. of Nigeria, and missing for both of us from 9690v and 7255v (not Yemen which has been inactive on 11770 for many years). Thorsten Hallmann unraveled it this way to the DXLD yg: ``Voice of Nigeria 11769.9 (most likely Arabic) 2058-2158, Dec. 21, weak/fair both via own receiver and A.R.I. Verona via globaltuners. Checked this one tonight, thanks to hint by Wolfgang Büschel, confirmed as Voice of Nigeria by interval signal at sign-off. Most likely Arabic, though then with very heavy accent at times. There used to be VON Hausa (and possibly other West African languages on 9689.9 2000-2127 not long ago, but this transmission now ends earlier. This signal caught at 2050, but off at 2058 recheck. Another regular offset transmission from VON seems to be 7254.9 0728-0758, too weak to identify language though, in this part of the world. http://www.muenster.org/uwz/ms-alt/africalist 73 Thorsten Hallmann, Münster, Germany`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. 3245, R/S YHWH 0221+ 14 Dec. Just when I thought it was safe to troll through 90M, these guys show up with the usual religious declamations. Not a great signal, but since I've heard this tape a bunch of times, it was perfectly readable (understandable, not so much) (Dan Sheedy, Encinitas, CA PL380/ 6m X wire, DXLD 13-51 via WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DXLD 13-52) 3250, R/S YHWH, 0203+ 21 Dec. Yet again with the same program as heard previously on 3235 + 49/31M. Guess it be difficult to solicit donations for a new tape without giving a contact address (Dan Sheedy, Swami's Beach, CA PL380/6m X wire, WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. 6925-AM, Dec 24 at 0138, only pirate on band playing Xmas rock, poor to fair peaks with deep fades; 0139 laughing DJ with back-announces for ``Hang Your Balls on the Xmas Tree``, and ``Kill a Tree for Christ``, hee hee. Sounds like a Wolfman-Jack wannabee, while the real thing was on 7375; 0140 jingle for RNI, and another novelty Xmas song. So someone is playing old(?) Radio Newyork International stuff; WBCQ being otherwise occupied. Still on at 0212 check, very poor, but now Wolverine is on 6945+. However, these guys http://www.hfunderground.com/board/index.php/topic,14579.0.html thought 6925-AM was RJI = Radio Jamba International (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, Regarding the Christmas Eve "Wolfman-Jack wannabee" pirate on 6925, earlier this was Radio Jamba International, with Kracker, presumably live. I heard an RJI ID at 0017 on 6925 amidst Christmas parody music. Later on, the same operator who was relaying Kracker decided to play one or more of the "Yukon Jack Cool Yule" shows produced for RNI/Area 51/WBCQ over the past several years. I was running the Yukon Jack shows on my webcast at that time and the operator was relaying from there. I discovered this relay about the same time as you heard it on 6925. Unknown who the relay operator is. By the way, Yukon Jack is the same person as Guy Paganus, who back in the 1999-2001 timeframe was part of the "Pagan Potpourri" show on WBCQ. His programming was also known to be run by other WBCQ programmers such as Radio Free New York and Idio-Audio. Yukon Jack produces Halloween, Christmas and New Year's special programming just about every year. Regards, Lw (Larry Will, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. 6945.18-USB, Dec 25 at 0214, Wolverine Radio ID, ``Have Yourself a Merry Little Xmas`` by YL singer. Usual good signal from this pirate (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORWAY [non?]. 5895, I haven`t been trying for LLE-3, as the hours and low 1 kW power make it extremely unlikely to reach deep North America, but noting that on Thursday Dec 19 it`s publicized to be on the air much later until 2200 with Bergen Kringkaster programs, I tune in just in time at 2158 to hear at least a very poor carrier; can`t make out any modulation and not there at 2202. However, HFCC shows 5895 with IBB in the ``bod`` dialect of Tibetan at 2200-2300, Tuesdays and Thursdays only, since Nov 14. So there could also be a ChiCom jammer on 5895, but since the signal I had went off after 2200, I still have a remote chance it was really LLE-3. There will be more chances to hear it beyond Europe before their temporary license expire at yearend. Unfortunately I didn`t get this info in time for WOR 1700. Svenn Martinsen says: ``It's almost over for the Norwegian temporary test and development license, but radio station LKB/LLE will still be on the air with 4 longer test transmissions: Our tentative schedule goes like this: Thu Dec 19, 1500-2200 UT (Programs from Bergen Kringkaster) Tue Christmas Eve Dec 24, 0600-1600 UT (from Bergen Kringkaster) Christmas Day Dec 25 into Boxing Day Dec 26, 2200-0900 (Bergen) New Year's Eve Tue Dec 31 0600-1600 (from Radio Northern Star) Transmitters used are LLE-2 (1314 kHz) and LLE-3 (5895 kHz). QSL card for correct reports. Remember to enclose Norwegian stamps or 3$. Address: Box 100, 5331 RONG. On a final note: Thank you for all your many reports! And, please, dear reporters, have patience for our reply. There will most likely be a new license next year, hopefully then with the right to transmit program content`` (Svenn Martinsen on Arctic Radio Club Facebook page via Alan Pennington, BDXC-UK yg) Current times for WWCR to be on 5890, effectively blocking 5895 at least in North America, or heavily QRMing it, mostly with BS, are: UT Tue-Sat 0300-1300, Sun 0500-1200, Monday 0400-1200 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORWAY. NORWAY SWITCHING OFF FM. An interesting read can be found here: http://www3.ebu.ch/cms/en/home On the scrolling piece towards the top if one clicks on the ''Tech-i'' magazine, it can be downloaded as a pdf and read at your leisure. Page 6 carries the ''End in sight for FM'' article. Rgds, (Gareth Foster, Dec 22, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. 530, Dec 22 at 0640 UT, ``K530AM``, Vance AFB is gone again after several days of reactivity; or rather QRP, as I can still detect a weak SAH against Cuba. At 1316 after Cuba is gone, I can barely make out modulation in the form of anti-wildfire PSA from US Forest Service. If normal loud level is 10 watts, QRP now must be in the milliwatts. 530, Dec 23 around 1830 UT on caradio, notice that ``K530AM``, Vance AFB Enid is back to full (10-watt) power, still with extremely boring same old same old PSAs from Ad Council rotating. The one warning children about internet risks, including ``what if your father should see you topless``, in rather poor taste, keeps appearing every few minutes. At unpredictable times interrupted for fake callsign ID, with background noise on that recording. This time circa 2000 UT I approach Vance within a mile, driving along Rupe, the first E-W artery to the north of the base. To my surprise, in addition to hi noise level from the hi-voltage powerline along the street, I am hearing CCI from another station on 530, including some music. At one spot they are about equal level so I pull into a driveway. If I listened longer I might be able to unravel an ID from the other, which is also making a fast SAH, as K530AM is off- frequency. Does Vance have another unsynchronized transmitter? Don`t think so. There is certainly no North American or Cuban broadcaster on 530 which could possibly be skywaving in at this level this early. Maybe it will strengthen as I drive further west and then north, away from Vance? No, it`s eventually lost and I hear only Vance. So I think what must have been happening was the ``powerline Beverage effect``, the HV wires not only putting out noise, but re-radiating some other station`s signal. 0707 UT Dec 24 check at home, K530AM is back to near-inaudibility, QRP to milliwatts. 530, Dec 25 at 0211 UT, ``K530AM``, Vance AFB remains stuck in the milliwatts, JBA with PSAs (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. 780, Dec 23 at 1433 UT, KSPI Stillwater with local talkshow, constant buzz and wobble on carrier. Sounds OK at 1701 recheck (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. 91.7, Dec 21 from 1435 past 1610 UT, KOSU during NPR programming has lots of IADs, at first lasting several minutes, then cutting on and off intermittently. Unlistenable; maybe something to do with ice storm in OKC area. Transmission itself is not interrupted. Not much icing on the lines in Enid yet by 1900 UT, having been on the edge, but now it`s building up. Stepping outside is too slippery. Enid was the first city to lose power last night, to some 2 kilocustomers, not including us. Happy Solstice! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OMAN. 15140, R Oman with pop music and no announcements -- what exactly is the SOUND of Miley Cyrus twerking? Not a single familiar tune today! Clock chimes at :29 leading to :30 time check & ID as R Oman into news including news that there was a Royal Decree (#68) appointing a new ambassador to Thailand. 35443+ 1405-1430 15/Dec (Ken Vito Zichi, MARE DXpedition, Brighton MI, MARE Tipsheet 20 Dec via DXLD) 15140, Radio Sultanate of Oman, 1402-1510 Dec 16, English service with numerous IDs, mention of FM channels, with man announcer hosting rock and rap music program. News at 1430 by a woman announcer. A man mentioned at 1444 that it was time for prayer indicating it was up to listener when travelling to know how to adjust for the time for prayer. English ended abruptly at 1459 when Arabic program joined. ID and news at 1500. Fair (Richard A. D`Angelo, French Creek State Park, PA, DXpedition No. 44, Ten-Tec RX-340, Drake R-8B and an Eton E1, 500- foot wire essentially north for the RX-340 and 250-foot wire essentially northeast for the R-8B and a whip antenna for the E1, via Craig Seager, ARDXC via DXLD) ** PAKISTAN [and non]. VOA PARTNERS WITH PAKISTAN RADIO NETWORK http://www.insidevoa.com/content/voa-partners-with-pakistan-radio-network/1814843.html (VOA PR Dec 20, also via Hansjoerg Biener, via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA [and non]. 3325.000, NBC Kieta, Bougainville, weak signal under threshold. [3330 CHU CAN S=7] 3345: Two peaks visible at 1214 UT. Stronger 3345.031 kHz, lower signal level on 3344.866 kHz. Registered are here RRI Ternate-INS and NBC Northern, V. of Oro, Popondetta-PNG, and accompanied by 70 Hertz deep BUZZ audio interference tone. 3364.983, Nice signal of R Milne Bay, Alotau-PNG, at 1220 UT at S=+9db signal heard in Queensland (Wolfgang Büschel, Stuttgart, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 3365, NBC Milne Bay seems to regularly be on the air 24 hours a day now. Often heard past 1530. Dec 20 at 1528 played Auld Lang Syne; poor 3385, NBC East New Britain, 0903, Dec 25. News in English; // 3365; 0912 no longer //; series of ads and promos; 0925 with Xmas greetings in English; Xmas songs; poor (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 3905.000, NBC New Ireland at 1205 UT on Dec 20, S=8 in Queensland (Wolfgang Büschel, Stuttgart, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 3905, R. New Ireland, 1240-1404*, Dec 20. Xmas songs; mostly non-stop reading of a very long list made up of school names, numbers, positions, and persons name ("Central New Ireland Primary School," "201, assistant teacher [name given]," "102, vacant," "202, head master [name given]," etc.); 1302-1305 break for NBC "News Roundup" in English then continued on with the list; off with usual children singing anthem (attached audio); well above normal reception; ham QRM (Ron Howard, Calif., Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 3905, R. New Ireland, 1339-1403*, Dec 21. Second day with very decent reception; pop songs ("Against The Wind", etc.); ID given and off (no children singing today!); ham QRM (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 3905, NBC New Ireland, 1403 Dec 21, Tok Pisin, woman to 1403:28 off. Poor. As also reported today by Ron Howard; he heard them with better strength (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening in my car, by the lake, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 4774.93, presumed R. Tarma, Tarma, 1027-1037 Dec 16 SS; Peruvian music with very brief M announcer at 1030; poor & very noisy by tune/out (Scott R. Barbour Jr. Intervale, N.H.-USA, NRD-545, MLB-1, 200' Beverages, 60m dipole, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Presumably the one heard here evenings, always with low het, like a Brasilian nearer 4775 (gh, DXLD) 4775, Radio Tarma, 1029-1043 Dec 16, OA vocals, male announcer in Spanish with ID and TCs mentioning “música nacional” hosting morning music program Good signal (Richard A. D`Angelo, French Creek State Park, PA, DXpedition No. 44, Ten-Tec RX-340, Drake R-8B and an Eton E1, 500-foot wire essentially north for the RX-340 and 250-foot wire essentially northeast for the R-8B and a whip antenna for the E1, via Craig Seager, ARDXC via DXLD) 4775, R. TARMA, 21/12 0159 UT. Canción “Brindaremos por él” de Massiel y a las 0203 sale del aire. Señal con SINPO: 44343 (Claudio Galaz, Antena: Hilo de 5 metros de cable de cobre, RX: Tecsun PL-660, QTH: Poblado de Barraza Bajo, Comuna de Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) ** PERU. 4810-LSB, Radio Logos – Chazuta, 1020-1055 Dec 16, religious vocal selection followed by man announcer with Spanish talk and ID. More musical selections including some great flute music. Fair signal strength but severe CODAR QRM marred reception (Richard A. D`Angelo, French Creek State Park, PA, DXpedition No. 44, Ten-Tec RX-340, Drake R-8B and an Eton E1, 500-foot wire essentially north for the RX-340 and 250-foot wire essentially northeast for the R-8B and a whip antenna for the E1, via Craig Seager, ARDXC via DXLD) LSB? I assume you mean it needed to be tuned on LSB, to avoid ute QRM, other than CODAR, rather than transmission on LSB only. When you put LSB or USB immediately after a frequency, that implies it was *transmitted* in that mode (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) 4810, R. LOGOS, 22/12 0125 UT. Música instrumental con lectura de la hora local y después de ello, el microprograma “reflexiones para el alma”, para pasar a canciones con ritmos andinos i.e: Yuri Ortuño. SINPO: 54444 (Claudio Galaz, Antena: Hilo de 5 metros de cable de cobre, RX: Tecsun PL-660, QTH: Poblado de Barraza Bajo, Comuna de Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) ** PERU. 4835, PERU (tentative): R. Marañón, Jaen, Spanish, 21/12 2345. Canções romanticas, YL: ‘deseamos un año de paz y felicidad...’, 25422 (Rudolf Grimm, São Bernardo SP, Rx: Sony ICF2001D / Ant.: TG-34, radioescutas via DXLD) NOT: Must be going by WRTH 2013, or latest Aoki which still hasn`t caught up with the news that Marañón has been off the air for years, and the current Peruvian on 4835 is Ondas del Suroriente, Quillabamba, as correctly in EiBi, and WRTH 2014, after repeated logs in DXLD (gh, DXLD) ** PERU. 4985.5, R. VOZ CRISTIANA, 22/12 0110 UT. Avisos de la emisora, en especial del Facebook de algunos pastores que predican en la estación y espacio de música cristiana contemporánea con SINPO: 3444 con algo de QRM de, al parecer, Radio Brasil Central y una transmisión de datos (Claudio Galaz, Antena: Hilo de 5 metros de cable de cobre, RX: Tecsun PL-660, QTH: Poblado de Barraza Bajo, Comuna de Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) ** PERU. 5025, R. QUILLABAMBA, 21/12 0122 UT. Noticias sobre panetones poco higiénicos puestos a la venta o con fechas de vencimiento adulteradas, lo que es un peligro para la salud debido a su consumo tradicional para navidad. SINPO: 54454 con QRM de una transmisión de datos (Claudio Galaz, Antena: Hilo de 5 metros de cable de cobre, RX: Tecsun PL-660, QTH: Poblado de Barraza Bajo, Comuna de Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) What are panetones? (gh, DXLD) ** PERU. 5980, R. CHASKI, 21/12 0042 UT. Programa “El amor que vale” con Adrian Rogers con el tema del misterio de la Trinidad y de la divinidad de Jesucristo qu finaliza a las 0058. Y a las 0059 se transmite el villancico: “Al mundo paz, nació Jesús” de forma instrumental interpretados con campanas hasta las 0101, cuando se la ID de Red Radio Integridad con saludos navideños y de año nuevo hasta la salida del aire a las 0102 aprox. SINPO: 55454 sin sobremodulación y con algo de siseos de la mixtura de CNR-1 JAMMER/VOA, la que es muy débil y se escucha por muy poco tiempo hasta la 01, desde la cual el SINPO: 55555 (Claudio Galaz, Antena: Hilo de 5 metros de cable de cobre, RX: Tecsun PL-660, QTH: Poblado de Barraza Bajo, Comuna de Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) 5980, Dec 21 at 0052, carrier detectable and no Cuban jamming here tonight; may or may not be Chaski, instead of VOA Tibetan/Chicom jamming, but after 0100 it`s certainly Chaski as it cuts off at 0102:26.5*; last heard Dec 17 until 0102:02.5*, i.e. now averaging 6.0 seconds later per night (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5980, R. CHASKI, 22/12 0031 UT. Programa “Las grandes cosas” acerca del tema de la navidad y de la importancia de su celebración como conmemoración de la encarnación de Cristo como Dios, haciendo alusión a la patrística como establecimiento de la fecha del 25 de Diciembre. Así como a la práctica de prohibición de la misma en la época de Oliver Cromwell y otras referencias históricas y culturales. Señal con SINPO: 55454, con algo de sobremodulación y sin QRM de la mixtura de CNR-1/VOA hasta las 0102 aproximadamente, cuando sale del aire. 5980, R. CHASKI, 22/12 1111 UT. Predicador habla del propósito de Dios hasta las 1120, para pasar a un tiempo de himnos instrumentales. Señal con SINPO: 53553 con siseos de CNR-8 en 5975. 5980, R. CHASKI, 23/12 0029 UT. Programa “Las grandes cosas” acerca del tema de la navidad y de la identidad, que es repetición de la emisión del día sábado con SINPO: 55454 con leve siseo de la mixtura de CNR-1 versus VOA. // En 700 AM se escucha Red Radio Integridad con SINFO: 54444 -sin LV3 desde Argentina- con el mismo programa, pero con 2 minutos de adelanto por sobre la retransmisión de Chaski (Claudio Galaz, Antena: Hilo de 5 metros de cable de cobre, RX: Tecsun PL-660, QTH: Poblado de Barraza Bajo, Comuna de Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) 5980, Dec 24, good thing I tune in ``early`` before 0101, as R. Chaski carrier cuts off at 0101:30.5*, so they have already reset their autotimer earlier again. Tomorrow should be circa 0101:36 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES. 9900, Dec 20 at *1459:55, carrier on as predicted by Ivo Ivanov, VOA Tinang westward replacing 9760 as of today for reasons unknown, but with big problems: carrier keeps cutting off and on; after 1501 including bits of modulation; 1502 on a bit longer before off & on & off; 1503 still on & off; 1504 seems to stay on, no, off again. So much for getting any news from VOA. 1508 now with bits of English Learning modulation, struggling to stay on with only poor signal (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ROMANIA [and non]. 9435, Dec 23 at 2151, RRI VG in English after `Pro Memoria` about their anti-Communist revolution, with a Romanian carol, cut off at 2152 for sports segment. This is a half-hour broadcast, so I wonder if they condense the same content on the one- hour broadcasts by chopping them up? I`d rather hear the whole carol. BTW, HFCC reminds us that on Dec 24 only, MBR via FRANCE will collide with this at 2100-2300 on 9435; that`s the Norddeutscher Rundfunk Xmas eve special to Seemensch, certainly poor frequency choice. // frequencies during the second bihour are: 6040 & 9880 Nauen, 9625 Moosbrunn, 9925 Issoudun (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. WOODPECKER REBIRTH --- Looks like Russia is going to rebirth the Woodpecker. The following article is from VOR via Space Daily Newsletter (Joe Buch, Florida, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: RUSSIA REBUILDING LOST RADAR COVERAGE by Staff Writers, Moscow (Voice of Russia) Dec 22, 2013 The commissioning of a Konteyner radar station in the Russian region of Mordovia east-southeast of Moscow has marked the completion of the latest part of Russia's programme to patch up its radar surveillance coverage, which developed huge gaps after many of the Soviet radar stations were taken over by new states and many others fell into post- Soviet disrepair. Adding to this misery is the fact that many of the Soviet Union's former allies are now in NATO. This means the holes in Russia's air and space defense system have to be closed, and closed immediately. Hence the deployment of several Voronezh missile-detecting radars and now of the Konteyner radar. A classical radar utilizes ultra-short radio waves or microwaves and therefore cannot see beyond the horizon. Long-wave radars, which can, are impractical because of their huge antennas and immense power appetites. In the 1980s, the Soviet Union developed its Duga shortwave radars, which can see beyond the horizon due to the multiple reflection of short waves from the ground and the ionosphere. It positioned radars of this type near Komsomolsk-on-Amur in the Far East and near Chernobyl and Nikolayev in Ukraine. Unfortunately, the Chernobyl nuclear accident and the break-up of the Soviet Union put paid [sic] to the Duga programme. In the 1990s and the 2000s, the NIIDAR institute developed its Teletz, Volna, Podsolnukh and Laguna radars, which utilize the ability of short radio waves to travel beyond the horizon due to diffraction amid surface relief elements. These radars have proved to be quite useful in controlling Russia's 200-mile coastal economic zone. And now comes the Konteyner, capable of detecting aircraft and missiles, both ballistic and cruise, popping up at 3,000 kilometers away at altitudes of up to 100 kilometers. Moreover, its angular coverage is close to 180 degrees, allowing Russia to make do with a mere handful of such radars. Importantly, the Konteyner features a modular set-up, making it easy to assemble and easy to service. The Konteyner complex built in Mordovia consists of several towers supporting big receiving antennas. The transmitter is located in the neighboring region of Nizhny Novgorod. The next Konteyner station is to be built in the Russian Far East. In total, there should be as many as six by 2020. Together with the Voronezh stations, they will forever close the radar surveillance gaps around the country's borders (via Joe Buch, Dec 22, WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DXLD) WTFK? ** RUSSIA [non]. 4960, TAJIKISTAN, Voice of Russia, 1511 Dec 24, English, very weak, but confirmed //5900 which was coming in well, so I could determine programming was an interview with a military expert, discussing cooperation with Kazakhstan and Belarus (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening in my car, by the lake, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. 5900, Voice of Russia, Irkutsk, 1520 Dec 21, English, “Voice of Russia” ID, interview of a woman who apparently worked for VOR and its predecessor Radio Moscow World Service, but signal was weak and I only caught bits of the comments. Poor (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening in my car, by the lake, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) One transmission that will survive into 2014y (gh, DXLD) [and non]. 5900 (Irkutsk)/11985 (Yerevan-Gavar), VOR/Radio VR, 1519- 1534 17 & 19 Dec. Weak at best with English news/features and "Radio VR" & Voice of Russia IDs. Sked 15-18 on 5900 & 15-16 on 11985 (Dan Sheedy, Swami's Beach, CA G5/6m X wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. 5930, R. Rossii-Kamchatka, Dec 20 0734-0744, 45544, Russian, News and talk, ID at 0736 and 0738 (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC-R75, NRD-525+RD-9830, NRD-515, NRD-345, Satellite 750, DE-1121; ANT, 70m Sloper Wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. 6235 (Dushanbe-Yangiyul)/6115 (Vladivostok/Rasdolny), VOR/Radio VR, 1440-1453+ 17 Dec. English news/sports program, nice VOR jingle and "Radio VR" ID at :45, poor on 6235 & fair but mixing with VoS [Voice of Strait] Amoy service on 6115 (Dan Sheedy, Swami's Beach, CA G5/6m X wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA [and non]. 6115, Dec 23 at 1407, that Moscow station with news in English, punxuated by annoying dramatic music stingers (but helpful in making a quick ID vis-à-vis *serious* international broadcasters); fair signal and atop CCI from some talk in unID language; by 1415 both are fading down as the CCI goes to music. Sources agree that Voice of Russia (or whatever), is on 6115 this hour only in English, 250 kW, 230 degrees from Vladivostok. Could the other be R. Nikkei-2, Japan on later than usual for holidays? It supposedly stops at 1000, not even 1400. Nothing else in HFCC as CCI, but Aoki has it: V. of Strait, 10-16, 50 kW, 140 degrees from Fuzhou, CHINA in Amoy. BTW, according to swling.com via Mike Terry, ``We are glad to let you know that the Voice of Russia [sic] will stay on the air in 2014, however, considerable changes in our frequency schedule are expected. The information on the updated frequency chart will become available on the Voice of Russia’s web site before the New Year at http://voiceofrussia.com/radio_broadcast/frequencies/ so please stay logged in`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. 7320, Dec 25 at 0157, undermodulated R. Rossii ID, fair with fading. Question is, circumsolstice, how early could this be heard, from sign on 1700 UT? A bit further north it might well hold up all ``day``, being 100 kW aimed northeast, 45 degrees from Magadan toward Chattanooga, while Enid is 54 degrees azimuth from there. After all, 0200 UT is close to midday in Magadan at 59-46 North. Too bad they can`t fix the modulation (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA [non]. ARMENIA: 9395, V of Russia English transmission with Michael Ratner from the Center of Constitutional Rights about closing down the military base in Guantánamo Bay and info re the California implementation of the Affordable Care Act. ID as the "American Edition" of the Voice of Russia, into "Business Headlines" with items re Portugal's criticism of the IMF and US Stocks being up on news of a budget agreement. Then into a long piece on the anniversary of the Sandy Hook school shooting in CT. International News headlines at :40 including more details on the execution of Jang Song Taek's (Kim Jong- un's Uncle), into talks re Syrian civil war and Al-Qaeda's involvement in it. Many IDs as "the American Edition of the Voice of Russia". Into news at the ToH. 4+54+44 fading slightly by 2300 to 454+44 2205- 2305 13/Dec (Ken Vito Zichi, MARE DXpedition, Brighton MI, MARE Tipsheet 20 Dec via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. 9455, Dec 21 at 1336, 1 kHz continuous tone, fair with flutter; gone at 1352 recheck. HFCC shows what it`s supposed to be: VOR in Russian, 12-14, 250 kW, 152 degrees from Irkutsk. So program feed from Moskva gone, but not yet the transmitter off? Re previous reports and unID 9670 below, we are hearing a lot of these tones lately, both in- and out-of-band (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA [non]. 12075, TAJIKISTAN. Radio VR - Yangi[-Yul], 1218-1240 Dec 16, operating under new name with English service, program called VR Connect feature news and news features hosted by several men and woman announcers. Fair to good (Richard A. D`Angelo, French Creek State Park, PA, DXpedition No. 44, Ten-Tec RX-340, Drake R-8B and an Eton E1, 500-foot wire essentially north for the RX-340 and 250-foot wire essentially northeast for the R-8B and a whip antenna for the E1, via Craig Seager, ARDXC via DXLD) ** RUSSIA [non non]. The complete short wave schedule of Voice of Russia (Jan 1 - Mar 29, 2014) Australia and New Zealand 06-09 UT - 21800 kHz - Irkutsk, 250 kW - English Asia 10-14 UT - 5900 kHz - Irkutsk, 250 kW - Chinese 07-09 UT - 21800 kHz - Irkutsk, 250 kW - English 10-12 UT - 12035 kHz (DRM) - Irkutsk, 15 kW - English 10-12 UT - 9560 kHz - Irkutsk, 250 kW - English 13-14 UT - 9560 kHz - Irkutsk, 250 kW - English 15-17 UT - 5900 kHz - Irkutsk, 250 kW - English 12-14 UT - 5980 kHz - Irkutsk, 250 kW - Japanese 13-14 UT - 7400 kHz (DRM) - Irkutsk, 15 kW - Hindi 14-15 UT - 7400 kHz (DRM) - Irkutsk, 15 kW - Urdu 12-13 UT - 9560 kHz - Irkutsk, 250 kW - Vietnamese Europe (Of course, these are all in DRM: ) 07-10 UT - 11635 kHz - Moscow, 40 kW - English 15-17 UT - 9680 kHz - Moscow, 40 kW - German 17-19 UT - 6110 kHz - Moscow, 40 kW - German 20-21 UT - 6000 kHz - Moscow, 40 kW - Spanish 21-22 UT - 6000 kHz - Moscow, 40 kW - English 08-09 UT - 9625 kHz - Kaliningrad, 15 kW - German (Ch.1) / Russian (Ch.2) 09-10 UT - 9625 kHz - Kaliningrad, 15 kW - English on both channels 12-15 UT - 9625 kHz - Kaliningrad, 15 kW - German (Ch.1) / Russian (Ch.2) Source: Vadim Alexeyev, Radiopanorama show (WRN Russian), Dec 21 edition -- (Aleksandr Diadischev, Ukraine, Dec 21, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Note limitation to Irkutsk site ONLY for non-DRM leftovers! (gh, DXLD) What is still missing is the mediumwave schedule, if any remains at all. And will any other language departments survive, besides those who will still be provided shortwave slots, although at least in the case of Europe useless ones (that they still consider the DRM stuff as valid distribution platform just shows how little they know about the European media environment)? Btw, on Thursday there was a staff meeting with Dmitri Kiselev at Voice of Russia, as reported at http://german.ruvr.ru/news/2013_12_19/STIMME-RUSSLANDS-wird-Ausstrahlung-fortsetzen-1211/ The brand will be kept, the staff members and their skills are still needed, just the platitudes he already told at RIA Novosti. (Which brand in fact? I hope they do not seriously consider "RUVR" a brand??!) (Kai Ludwig, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I don't understand, why VOR as a brand is a problem, because it is used only with Latin letters and Cyrillics are used in Russian, in which the double meaning of "thief" exists. Merry Christmas, (Mauno Ritola, Suomi, ibid.) Yes, the station will continue using numerous MW outlets, the full schedule will be published on dxing.ru soon. For example, Turkish, Kurdish, Pashto, Dari, Farsi, Arabic will remain on MW. However, there were reports that five services (Mongolian has been already confirmed) will be shut down completely – (Aleksandr Diadischev, Ukraine, ibid.) Something is odd about this list. Where is Africa? Why keep Australia and New Zealand, but not include Africa? (Keith Perron, Taiwan, ibid.) Conceded Africa to the ChiCom? (gh, DXLD) In that programme it was also clearly stated that all SW broadcasts to Africa, Americas and the Middle East will be terminated. Maybe the Voice of Russia is no more interested in listeners from those areas (Aleksandr Diadischev, Ukraine, ibid.) Russia (let alone the Voice of Russia) certainly seems to have lost interest in Africa. South Africans in particular were surprised (upset?) that no representative from Russia attended Nelson Mandela's memorial service a couple of weeks ago; I'm not sure if they sent anyone to attend his funeral. This despite the very close historical ties between the two countries (support of exiles, military training and political), and their current partnership in BRICS, within which RSA is a very minor player. On the other hand, Russia's association with Brazil inside BRICS makes it puzzling why they have also dropped all the Americas. Whatever the reason, political commentators have noticed that Russia seems to no longer be interested in developing ties with African countries. http://emma.thedailymaverick.co.za/servlet/link/3890/332573/32116434/1820145 Regards, (Bill Bingham, RSA, ibid.). That would be an explanation, considering that Africa is about the only world region where shortwave is still a viable platform for English-language programming. But on the other hand: Do they have any kind of strategy at all? In Germany the situation is such that from their loyal, long-time audience (rather: what is left of it) only those will remain who follow them onto the Internet. And what do they have to offer to potential new audiences, besides a web presence that can not even remotely compete with the German service from RIA Novosti? That obscure Radio Impala DAB project where a random selection of their content plays out?? I beg your pardon. And at the same time there is no German-language TV offering at all. In fact there was a real need for last week`s bomb shell: This RIA Novosti / Voice of Russia / Russia Today mess urgently needs to be sorted out (just like the mess that passes for international broadcasting in the USA), and of course the combined force would have to adopt and maintain the journalistic standards of RIA Novosti to succeed. But so far I see no indications that this scenario will become reality (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Dec 22, ibid.) Schedule "Voice of Russia" in Russian from 1 January to 29 March 2014. Time UT. for Belarus: 16-19, 21-23 - 999 kHz, 500 kW from Grigoriopol for the Caucasus 6-12, 16-3 - 657 kHz, 50 kW from Grozny 1-24 - 1395 kHz, 500 kW from Yerevan Russian and Chechen in the same direction (apparently Radio channel Caucasus) 3-6, 12-16 - 171 kHz, 1200 kW of Krasnodar and 657 kHz, 50 kW from Grozny for Central Asia 0-23 - 1503 kHz, 500 kW from Dushanbe for the Baltic countries 18-21 - 1143 kHz, 150 kW from Kaliningrad 18-22 - 1215 kHz, 1200 kW of Kaliningrad Europe 4-6, 17-18 - 1548 kHz, 500 kW from Grigoriopol 8-9, 12-15 - 9625 kHz, 15 kW from Kaliningrad (DRM, Channel 2) 16-19, 21-23 - 999 kHz, 500 kW from Grigoriopol 18-20 - 1413 kHz, 500 kW from Grigoriopol 18-21 - 1143 kHz, 150 kW from Kaliningrad Ukraine and Moldova 4-8, 17-18 - 1548 kHz, 500 kW from Grigoriopol 5-19, 21-23 - 999 kHz, 500 kW from Grigoriopol 18-20 - 1413 kHz, 500 kW from Grigoriopol Broadcast "Voice of Russia" on the HF in all languages from January 1: Australia and New Zealand English 21800 kHz from Irkutsk, 250 kW, 6-9 in Asia DRM 10-12 - 12035 kHz in English, 13-15 - 7400 kHz for an hour in Hindi and Urdu, 15 kW from Irkutsk in the analogue 7-9 - 21800 kHz 10-12, 13-14 - 9560 kHz 15-17 - 5900 kHz in English 12-13 - 9560 kHz in Vietnamese from Irkutsk 250 kW 10-14 - 5900 kHz in Chinese from Irkutsk 250 kW 12-14 - 5980 kHz in Japanese from Irkutsk 250 kW to Europe (only DRM) Moscow 40 kW 7-10 - 11635 kHz in English 15-17 - 9680 kHz in German 17-19 - 6110 kHz in German 20-22 - 6000 kHz for an hour in Spanish and English Kaliningrad 9625 kHz 15 kW First channel - 8-9 in German, English 9-10, 12-15 in German Second channel - 8-9 in Russian, English 9-10, 12-15 in Russian PS: Since January 1, due to changes in net broadcasting "World Radio Network", schedule changes and airing programs "Radiopanorama." With the new year listen to an overview of developments in the world of radio and other means of communication on Saturdays at 1016 UT, repeated at 1946 and 2246, and then on Sunday at 0646 and 1446, and Monday 0316) Source: "Radiopanorama" ("World Radio Network") for 21.12.13. (Aleksandr Diadischev via open_dx) ---- (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, cumbredx via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. As we were last year re the closure of Mayak for LW and MW, I am reliant on members and RusDX to monitor how the threatened closure of Radio Rossii from LW and MW will turn out on New Years Day. Please help me out on this. Does anyone know if the huge transmitters carrying Radio VR on MW will survive this abandonment of AM? 73's and 88's (Dan Goldfarb, Dec 22, mwmasts yg via DXLD) Yes, most of them will remain on the air. So far I have only the schedule of their Russian service (starting from Jan 1). The complete schedule will also be available soon. – (Aleksandr Diadischev, Ukraine, ibid.) ** RUSSIA. VOICE OF RUSSIA TO REMAIN ON THE AIR IN 2014 The SWLing Post Posted on December 23, 2013 by Thomas http://swling.com/blog/2013/12/voice-of-russia-to-remain-on-the-air-in-2014/ This year has been a confusing one for Voice of Russia listeners. At least two separate news sources – in August and December – announced that VOR would be leaving the shortwaves effective Jan 1, 2014, but VOR couldn’t confirm or deny the news. Then, only two weeks ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin surprised us all by essentially liquidating the Voice of Russia and merging it with Rossia Sevodnya newswire in sweeping changes affecting all Russian state media. I was curious if this move might have changed VOR’s outlook on the shortwaves, so I contacted VOR to see if they had any official word. I received the following response this morning: “We are glad to let you know that the Voice of Russia will stay on the air in 2014, however, considerable changes in our frequency schedule are expected. The information on the updated frequency chart will become available on the Voice of Russia’s web site before New Year at http://voiceofrussia.com/radio_broadcast/frequencies/ so please stay logged in. You may have already read about the planned merger of the VOR an RIA Novosti Press Agency in the upcoming year, for details please see the article at http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2013_12_09/President-Vladimir-Putin-issues-decree-to-reorgonize-Voice-of-Russia-RIA-Novosti-to-Rossia-Segodnya-news-wire-1689/ (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) Voice of Russia will shut down its Bengali service website from January 1, 2014 due to lack of funding; RIP Voice of Russia Bengali Service, earlier on SW & now online. Voice of Russia dropped their bengali transmission on shortwave on 29th March, 2009. --- (Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, dx_sasia yg via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. 25900, 20/12 1310, R. Green Eyes (Radio Zeleny Glazh) - Mosca, Russo musica, suff. Trasmettono solo al venerdi!!!!!!!!! con 400 Watts dalle ore 1200 alle 1500. Web: http://cqf.su/greeneye.html Email: greeneyeradio @ yandex.ru postal address MOSCOW TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY, P. O. BOX 19, MOSCOW 127055. RUSSIA (Roberto Pavanello, Italy via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Re TWR 7545 kHz: >> A fourth opinion from WRTH 2013, when in B-12 this transmission was on 11965, via: Irkutsk, Russia. What`s in WRTH 2014? << Again IRK, the site rather located at Angarsk (some distance from Irkutsk). It's rather weird: TWR has also a transmission in Urdu from Oyash- Raduga, moved to this site a year ago when the Samara facility officially closed. This transmission, now on 6115, has been filed to HFCC by GFC, i.e. "Titov" or whatever may be the usual slang now, with Anatoly Titov being no more. And this with the correct site designator NVS. Contrary the Angarsk transmissions have been filed by another, competing organization in Moscow, called Radioagenstvo-M. If I recall correct this bureau indeed arranged transmissions via the shortwave facilities in the Ukraine until their operator decided to shut down the whole thing. Perhaps this bureau just does not bother to change its usual behaviour, now that they again arrange transmissions via the facilities of the foresaken RTRS in their own country. All the best, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Dec 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAO TOME E PRINCIPE. SÃO TOMÉ E PRÍNCIPE, 945, R. Nacional de S. Tomé e Príncipe (presumed), Ponta Praião, 2254-2305, 20/12, português, canções, texto, às 2300, e mais música; 23441, QRM da França. Se não se trata de STP, serão certamente Angola (Carlos Gonçalves, PORTUGAL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SARAWAK [non]. CLANDESTINE, 15420, R. Free Sarawak via Taiwan: Dec 19 1142-1159 35443-35433 Iban, Talk, ID at 1156, Dec 20 1147-1157 35333 Iban, Talk, ID at 1149 (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC-R75, NRD-525+RD-9830, NRD-515, NRD-345, Satellite 750, DE-1121; ANT, 70m Sloper Wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAUDI ARABIA. 13775, BSKSA, 22/12 1215 UT. Cantos coránicos y explicaciones en idioma urdu. Señal con SINPO: 55444 (Claudio Galaz, Antena: Hilo de 5 metros de cable de cobre, RX: Tecsun PL-660, QTH: Poblado de Barraza Bajo, Comuna de Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) 17705, Dec 24 at 1448, BSKSA in Qur`an, and surprised to find // on all 17615, 17895, 21505, normally with different services; special merger for Xmas eve? David Kernick reports to DXLD yg that Saudi services have been reorganised and renamed. Aoki still shows Radio Riyadh: General first on 21505, 17705; Holy Qur`an on 17895, 17615. 9675, Dec 24 at 1952, halting talk by a voice not very suitable for radio, and what is the language? Mentions Australia several times. Keeps going past 2000, fanfare, maybe some ID mentions MHz; more similar talk; finally decide it`s Turkish, but maybe with an Arabic accent; 2014 music and mentions Islam, and ``burasi`` by YL which clinches it as Turkish, the scheduled BSKSA broadcast as R. Riyadh, 1800-2057, 500 kW, 340 degrees toward Turkey, and as it happens, USward far beyond. Only fair signal by now, but hardly anything from Europe or anywhere outside North America is making it on 31m. 17705, Dec 25 at 1405, BSKSA with General Arabic, and 17615 with Qur`an, split again after being joined 24 hours earlier. Also still separate around same time Dec 26 with Qur`an also on 17895 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11930, BSKSA HOLY QURAN, 25/12 2235 UT. Rezos coránicos cantados por un hombre. SINPO: 55454 // 11820 SINPO: 44444 // 11915 SINPO: 54444 (Claudio Galaz, Antena: Hilo de 20 metros, RX: Tecsun PL-660, QTH: Sector sur de Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) ** SIKKIM. Christmas night loggings from Skovlunde on my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire: 4835.00, *0058-0130, INDIA, 25.12, AIR Gangtok, AIR IS, "Vande Mataram" hymn and more similar hymns, Nepali talk and local songs 24222, but signal improving, QRM WWCR 4840 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** SOLOMON ISLANDS. New transmitter 6080/9545 kHz of SIBC --- The new TX and new Wideband Dipol antenna of SIBC is maintained by grant aid from Japan. JAIC PDF Documents; Japanese & English http://libopac.jica.go.jp/images/report/12020509_01.pdf http://libopac.jica.go.jp/images/report/12020509_02.pdf http://libopac.jica.go.jp/images/report/12020509_03.pdf http://libopac.jica.go.jp/images/report/12020509_04.pdf The maker of the TX is unknown. NDXC (S. Hasegawa, Dec 20, shortwavesites yg via DXLD) 6080, SIBC, Dec 20 0828-0842, 34443, Pidgin, News and music and talk, ID at 0838 and 0841, // 5019.88 kHz (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC- R75, NRD-525+RD-9830, NRD-515, NRD-345, Satellite 750, DE-1121; ANT, 70m Sloper Wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6080, SIBC (tentative), 0847-0900+ 20 Dec. Long list of ships departing/arriving in the SI with dates in Dec. & Jan. No real break for ID and pounced on by RA at TOH with their classy "mid-sentence" opening style (RA did it to PCJ-11835 earlier this year as well) (Dan Sheedy, Encinitas, CA G5/6m X wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) In diesem Frühjahr auf 5019.880 gehört, heute früh um 0810 UT auf 5019.871 kHz. 5019.871 kHz, 1159 UT Dec 20. Also mitten bei der Nationalhymne abspielen um 1159:48 UT war der TX cut-off. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5019.871 kHz, Footprint taken this morning at 0810 UT on Dec 20. 5020 Solomon Islands BC from SLM SIBC Honiara 0810 UT just above threshold, and at 1159 UT Dec 20 much stronger of S=8 signal downunder in Queensland AUS. Played the National hymn anthem at 1159:48 UTC signing off, midst on transmitter cut-off. Marked in Aoki Nagoya list as 2000-1200 UT daily English 10 kW non-dir Honiara SLM SIBC b13 // 6080 kHz Strange entry in HFCC list (seemingly local hrs timing ? didn't UT+11 hrs transform), website give no DST so far for SLM. 5020 0800-2000 UT 51,56 HON 10kW non-dir 400 daily 271013-300314 EngBis SLM SIB RNZ KLINGENFUSS list 0500-1201 UT, 1655-2000 UT. Eibi list 1900-1200 UT. DSWCI in DBS mentions 5019.9 kHz 10kW SLM SIBC, Honiara 1900-1200v En/Tok Pisin, slogan: "Radio Happy Isles" WRTH 2014 has to mention two time segments: April-Sept 0700-0000, 1800-2200 UT. SLM heard in March 2013 on exact 5019.880, but listened today Dec 20 on 5019.871 kHz. Also heard at 1940 UT with just S=5 signal on threshold level, same footprint (Wolfgang Büschel, Stuttgart, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Since ``footprint`` refers to the coverage area of a satellite, I have suggested it`s not the word to use in this sense; fingerprint? (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) Auf 5019.7 war heute [Dec 21, at 1958?] auch ein stabiler Träger zu sehen, aber leider kein Audio zu hören. 73 (Christoph Ratzer via A-DX via SW Bulletin 22 Dec via DXLD) 6080, SIBC, Dec 25 at 0839 start of "messages"; schedule of ships making special trips; many Xmas and New Year's greetings; messages given in two languages; blocked at 0901 by RA sign on. Why is it taking so long to resolve this conflict between SIBC and RA? (Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOMALIA [non]. Radio Xoriyo strong & clear here yesterday 12/21 Saturday in progress at 1611z tune in on 17630 kHz. Ten Tec RX 340 with Wellsbrook loop (Rich, Burr Ridge, IL, Dec 22, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also ITALY [non] ** SOMALIA [non]. 17680, Radio ERGO, Dhabbaya, UAE, 22/12 1835. In Somali, two male, political discussion, freq, mentioning Somalia, S9 noisy at times. Short path [west]. 1849 “Radio ERGO”. Recording: http://nickvk2dx.blogspot.com.au/ 73 (Nick VK2DX Hacko, Sydney NSW, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOMALILAND. 7120.01, 1755-1900* 18+19.12, R Hargeisa, Hargeisa. Somali talk with people shouting, songs from Horn of Africa, 1832 talk (news ?), 1850 orchestra music, closing ann and National Song, weak modulation, 45232. QRhaM from 1855. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, on my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire in Skovlunde, Denmark, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) 7120, SOMALIA, Radio Hargeisa, 1519 Dec 23, Somali music and male announcer. Good (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening in my car, by the lake, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH AFRICA. Channel Africa noted ending a news bulletin in English at 1605 UT on 15235 kHz, 24 Dec, before start of Christmas Special programme in French with hymns and carols. I haven't noticed an English news bulletin at this time before - is this regular or just due to special Christmas programming? (Alan Roe, Teddington, UK, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. 9840, Dec 19 at 0659, surprised to hear Brother Scare, break for Pan American Broadcasting, Radio Africa Network ID on WRMI; VG signal on unlisted frequency which one might have guessed was WHRI instead. Back to BS, also on WRMI 9955, but not synchronized. So PAB/RAN is now also getting a cut from TOM cash cow. There have also been sporadic reports before of BS appearing on Equatorial Guinea or non. WRMI graphic schedule today does *not* show this transmission, so unknown whether experimental, when it start and stop. Nothing about this, of course at ftp://www.overcomerministry.org/RadioSchedule/Short%20Wave%20Radio.htm l with its usual stupid mistakes, wrong frequencies, times confusingly in am/pm Eastern. Maybe 9840 replaces WRMI 9355 scheduled until 0800 but not heard after 0700 today. 9355 had been aimed at Africa, but as a WRMI/BS frequency, not a RAN frequency. BTW, 9955 after 1500 Dec 19, WRMI with Brother Scare confronts CCI from R Free Asia, Tibetan via TINIAN, as per Aoki Tue & Thu only at 15-16, plus of course CNR1 jamming which is probably the main QRM I am hearing. Re my log of WRMI on new 9840 around 0700 Dec 19, with Brother Scare via R. Africa Network, Jeff White explains: ``We are making some changes as we go along, based on our findings from the first two weeks or so of broadcasting from Okeechobee. 9355 had too high a VSWR on the 87-degree antenna, so we have just changed to 9840 (0400-0800) on the same antenna. There will probably be more changes to come in the next few weeks. Jeff`` It`s always interesting to learn of logistical reasons for frequency selexion which one could never figure out otherwise (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Frequency change of Brother Stair via WRMI, Okeechobee, Florida: 0400-0800 NF 9840 YFR 100 kW / 087 deg to NCAf English, ex 9355 Good signal here in Sofia, Bulgaria on December 20 around 0630 UT (Ivo Ivanov, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9840, Dec 21 at 0640, WRMI with Brother Scare, ex-9355, but it`s 3 or 4 words behind WRMI on 9955. That`s because as we discovered at a TOH ID previously, this is really the Radio Africa service which is now carrying Brother Scare too. Still nothing resembling program schedules for this or any Panam services at http://www.radiopanam.com/ The WRMI Graphic Schedule of transmissions https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AtF_YVDtCVlNdDJma2Jham9mYVlNQldpUWNiR1hYa2c&usp=drive_web#gid=0 has now been updated to show 9840 instead of 9355 at 04-08, but designated as TOM rather than RA! Brother Scare shows nothing about being on 9840, let alone any Panam frequency; for starters, don`t you believe WTWW is on 5985, or WBCQ on 7590! ftp://www.overcomerministry.org/RadioSchedule/Short%20Wave%20Radio.htm l 9840 is clear and better than 9955, the latter with pulse jamming. They are the SSOB, and virtually the OSOB, with BBC Ascension JBA on 9410, 9460, and more Cuban jamming weakly on 9565 at a time far removed from when R. Martí ever uses it. At this hour, 0640+, Brother Scare is also overkilling on 3185, 3215, 5085, 5890, as US SW stations are all too eager to relieve his psychophants of their money. BTW, BS was heard asserting that he doesn`t own anything, not even the ministry, so the feds can`t take anything away from him. One might still assume that TOM is all about R. G. and his boundless super-human ego. WRMI sked shows #10 transmitter now in use for the 9955 service on 160 degree antenna at 22-14 UT, and #11 on 9955, 315 degrees at 14-22, all but the first hour of which is more BS; as well as 06-11 on 160. 9690, Dec 21 at 1335, open carrier/dead air from WRMI`s Brother Scare frequency; allowing traces of All India [q.v.] Radio GOS in English to be detected; no BS modulation until after 1400 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Surprisingly broadcasting of Brother Stair via WBCQ on Dec. 22 from 0930 on 5109.8 BCQ 050 kW / 245 deg to NEAm in USB + carrier -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, Equipment: Sony ICF-2001D 30 m. long wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dec. 22, 5109.8 till 1101 UT, maybe 0500-1100. Here are links to the new, very confusing schedule of WBCQ http://schedule.wbcq.com/main.php?fn=sked&freq=5110 http://schedule.wbcq.com/main.php?fn=sked&freq=7490 http://schedule.wbcq.com/main.php?fn=sked&freq=9330 http://schedule.wbcq.com/main.php?fn=sked&freq=15420 2013/12/22 (Ivo Observer, Bulgaria, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Also daily 1400-1800 on 15420, instead of Saturdays with a break for something else in the middle (gh, DXLD) Probably wrong entries for The Overcomer Ministry: 5110 0000-1100 7490 0500-1100 rather 5110 0500-1100 daily 15420 1400-1800 (Ivo Ivanov, ibid.) No, 5110 is really starting the BS by 0100, if not 0000 (gh, DXLD) Music program of WBCQ The Planet on Dec. 23, instead of TOM on Dec. 22 from 0730 on 5109.8 BCQ 050 kW / 245 deg to NEAm USB+Carrier -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, ibid.) At 0857 UT Dec 23 exact on 5109.742 kHz, S=6 fair fluttery signal here in Germany. Light music program. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) Music program of WBCQ The Planet on Dec. 23, instead of TOM on Dec. 22 from 0930 on 5109.8 BCQ 050 kW / 245 deg to NEAm USB+Carrier (Ivo, ibid.) 15440, Dec 21 at 2108, Brother Scare via WRMI, with clip accusing Pres. Obama of being a ``dictator`` [with a do-nothing congress???], allowing water from Great Lakes to be sold to China, as if they will soon be drained as a result. Such irresponsible fear-mongering is the norm for BS, to which too many US radio stations are accomplices. BTW, according to Ivo Ivanov, the reason Area 51 is going off 5110 is: Brother Scare has bought up lots of time there, already heard at 0930 Dec 22, as well as adding overnight on WBCQ 7490. 5085, Dec 22 at 1302 check, WTWW-2 is back on with BS, lo-fi audio; it was off early UT Dec 22 for WOR and QSO programs (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Regarding sale of water from the Great Lakes to China, etc. -- while much of the US is facing a potential "water crisis" as our population goes up and up and up (and the water resources available to each person goes down and down and down)-- see http://www.infowars.com/obama-allows-great-lakes-water-to-be-sold-to-china-as-half-the-u-s-faces-extreme-water-crisis/ This story (that you call " fear-mongering") may actually have more "legs" than you seem to think. Just remember, folks, it is better to 'research before ridicule' (even when it comes to what comes out of Brother Stair's mouth). As the old slogan goes, even a broken clock is right twice a day (And as Brother Stair would say, "Maranatha!") (Shawn Fahrer, ptswyg via DXLD) Shawn, I *did* research this before ridiculing, and found all the stories about this were on right-wing extremist sites, infowars, newsmax, etc. where they will say anything to try to turn the president into a monster. One article even admitted that a far greater threat to the Great Lakes is --- evaporation! Can you imagine the economix of shipping any significant amount of fresh water from the Lakes to the other worldside? Or maybe there`ll be a pipeline? How much water could you put into a fleet of (oil) tankers compared to the amount in the Lakes, even if you wanted to? Drop in bucket. Also I seem to recall that China has a bit of a problem with too much water, floods on the Yangtze, etc., and plenty of ice ready to melt in Tibet. 73, (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) What do you do when a wacko gospel huxter throws money at you? Responsible broadcasting and public service be damned, put him on the air as much as possible! Now Brother Scare is expanding even more time on WBCQ transmitters. He`s been on 7490 for a few hours in the evening for a long time, bumping off prime-time rational programming, but now apparently also overnight: 7490, Dec 23 at 0623, very poor signal but there he is. Has also been reported on 5110v, which at 0628 is JBA, incomparably weaker than 5085 WTWW; both unnecessary WBCQ frequencies totally inferior to 3215 and 3185 as well. If this is what it takes to keep private US SW alive, better off dead. BTW, BS is just as bad as Harold Camping but barely smart enough not to specify any date for The End Of The World: it`s always right around the corner. Maranatha! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Right now - 24 Dec 2013, 1742 UT - 9955 kHz comes into Birmingham, Alabama, with a very strong signal, moderate fading, and just a bit of local QRN. SINPO 55333 when local QRN is on, 55433 when the source of the QRN is off. Brother Stair just took sides with late Harold Camping of Family Radio, he "missed the date but did not miss the message". Rx: Degen 1103 (travel SW radio), telescopic antenna. 73, (Eike Bierwirth, Vacationing in Birmingham, AL, USA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5110v-CUSB, Dec 25 at 0141, the insatiable egomaniac Brother Scare has occupied another transmitter, bumping off rational programming, such as `Marion`s Attic`. WBCQ online sked now shows TOM at 00-11 UT Tue thru Sat on 5110. That`s why Area 51 is no longer on UT Saturdays, but still possible on UT Sun & Mon. Of course, this frequency is totally unnecessary, since BS already has an incomparably stronger signal all- night just 25 kHz away on 5085 WTWW, plus several others. The WBCQ 7490 program schedule now shows Overcomer daily at 05-11 in addition to the previous prime-times: UT Mon-Fri at 01-04, Sat 02-04. However that`s not borne out by monitoring, and really heard on 7491.38; see USA: WBCQ (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN. 6055, ESPANHA: REE, Noblejas, SS, 22/12 0000. Interval signal, time pips, mx instrumental, OM: talk, boletim de nx, 25542 (Rudolf Grimm, São Bernardo SP, Sony ICF2001D, Loop blindada, DXCB, radioescutas yg via DXLD) ?? SS? Supposed to be in English during this hour only; your mistake or theirs? (gh, DXLD) 7265, Dec 23 at 2255, REE sign-off mentioning this and 21540 (but not on the latter at this late hour!), IS and off at 2256*. Had unwittingly served as BFO for QRhaM. 17595, Dec 24 at 1418, this is the best REE frequency for `Españoles en la Mar`, the 13m channels JBA. On Xmas eve, show departs from usual format for classical music with watery themes; something by Vivaldi, then Ravel (not La Mer, but Gotas de Agua on piano), 1431 Moldova by Smetana, who was deaf like Beethoven when he composed it. A.k.a. in English as The Moldau; translating it to Moldova in Spanish could be confusing; so what do they call the country Moldova, Moldavia? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN. 9505, Voice of Africa – Radio Sudan – Al-Aitahab, 1756-1832 Dec 16, plenty of local music hosted by a man announcer with English announcements and ID (“This is the Voice of Africa brought to you by Sudan Radio”). At 1812 a woman announcer presented program called “African Woman”. The English program segment ended at 1828 with a final ID then there was dead air until 18309 [sic] when IS heard followed by Arabic language ID and local vocals. Fair. One of the better highlights was the Voice of Africa from Sudan Radio with English at 1756 until 1828 on 9505 kHz (Richard A. D`Angelo, French Creek State Park, PA, DXpedition No. 44, Ten-Tec RX-340, Drake R-8B and an Eton E1, 500-foot wire essentially north for the RX-340 and 250-foot wire essentially northeast for the R-8B and a whip antenna for the E1, via Craig Seager, ARDXC via DXLD) ** SURINAME. 4989.992, Dec 14 0815, R Apintie, also one of those who came in all time high here. Religion and choir. Sermon led by an OM. I was not at all sure that this really was Apintie, but the language certainly was not Asian. A check with streaming audio from their website confirmed that it really was Apintie. Unfortunately, it drowned in QRM at 0827. Better signal and less QRM on Dec 21 0440z (Arne Nilsson, Arctic Sweden, SW Bulletin 22 Dec via WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DXLD) Radio Apintie, 4990 kHz: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRXICtQ5Y9c Report reception Direction: apintie@sr.net enviei informe de recepção para esse email (Daniel Wyllyans Oliveira, Brasil, Dec 23, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) There`s certainly something on his radio displaying 4990 but all we hear until the last 40 seconds is noise and music, then maybe an announcement, also heavy ACI, presumably 4985 Brasil, totally unreadable. He rates it 25222, i.e. NO interference! (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGST) ** SWAZILAND. 9585, Trans World Radio, Manzini. 1450 December 15, 2013. Still making it here in my local mid-mornings. Transmitter up with carrier at 1450:44, into TWR chimes interval signal from 1453, ID into maybe Malagasy (listed for this day). Clear, weak. (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, JRC NRD-535; JRC-NRD-515 (borrowed); ICOM IC-R75; Hammarlund HQ-180A; Sony ICF-7600GR; Sangean PR-D5; Aqua Guide 705 RDF Marine Radio; GE Superadio III; JPS NF-60 Notch Filter; JPS ANC-4 Noise Phase; 1 X roof dipole; 1 X room random wire; custom active portable loop; Terk Advantage non-active portable loop, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15105, TWR (Manzini), 1619-1627* 17 Dec. & *1556-1601 19 Dec. Opens with TWR IS/ID loop, theme music, then W in (presumed) Kirundi with chat over chimes. Closing with (presumed) religious yak by 2 M, "Joy To The World" as organ bridge just before TWR IS & off (Dan Sheedy, Swami's Beach, CA G5/6m X wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Trans World Radio, 4760 Manzini. Dec 22, 2013 Sunday. 1625-1651. Tshwa (EiBi). Sounds like a radio play, at 1628 goats in the background. Ended at 1642, then YL talking. Suddenly off at 1644, into TWR IS then at 1645 ID “Trans World Radio Swaziland”. Then continued in presumed Tshwa (presumed because there are lots of Portuguese-sounding religious words, sounding like e.g., JesuCristu, which would fit for Mozambique. More IDs and IS at 1700*, then off air (leaving no sign of Radio ELWA, which Aoki says should just be signing on). Both EiBi and Aoki say TWR should be a 1645* sign off. Good, to Mozambique (EiBi). Jo'burg sunset 1700 (Bill Bingham, Johannesburg RSA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWEDEN. Good signal this morning (24/12) from SAQ Grimeton, 17.2 kHz. First weak carrier detected at 0741 UT followed by a few carrier bursts until the IDs commenced at 0742. "V V V V V V V V V DE SAQ SAQ SAQ." These continued, with a couple of interruptions around 0758 until the message began at 0801. This ended around 0805 when after a pause, the weak descending tone, presume power down, was heard. The only interference out on the hills (apart from the howling wind) was from static crashes and the warbling carrier of the nearby Russian, RDL, on 18.1 kHz. It was too cold to tune around after SAQ had finished; my fingers were so cold it was difficult to get the top off the flask, but at least the horizontal rain held off! 73's (Nick Rank, Buxton UK, Home-brew VLF set with ferrite rod aerial, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) ** TAIWAN. Estimado monitor: La presente tiene el objetivo de notificar la culminación de su labor como monitor para el año 2013. Durante el último año ha cooperado muy atentamente enviándonos regularmente cartas e informes de recepción, los cuales han sido de gran utilidad para la mejora de nuestra programación y transmisión. En agradecimiento a su apoyo le enviamos un regalo por correo certificado. Para comprobar que el precioso regalo ha llegado a sus manos, le pedimos que nos responda a esta carta por correo electrónico o tradicional. Pese a que ya ha finalizado su labor de monitor 2013, esperamos que siga escuchándonos y escribiéndonos con frecuencia; sus sugerencias y comentarios serán igualmente atendidos y bien recibidos. Reciba nuestros más sinceros agradecimientos y felicitaciones. Atentamente, Sección Española Radio Taiwán Internacional P. O. BOX 123-199, TAIPEI, 11199, TAIWAN, R.O.C. e-mail: esp@rti.org.tw (to and via Ernesto Paulero, Argentina, condiglista yg via DXLD) Nunca estuve de acuerdo con la metodología de ingreso y egreso de monitores en Radio Taiwan Internacional. Me parece poco serio renovarlos anualmente, creo que lo hacen más por una cuestión de congraciarse con los oyentes (sin evaluar sus condiciones técnicas) que por reconocer sus méritos. Les interesa mucho los sorteos y nunca le han dado importancia a la capacidad y trayectoria del monitor (Rubén Guillermo Margenet, Argentina, Enviado desde mi BlackBerry® de Claro Argentina, ibid.) ** TAIWAN. 5010, Radio Taiwan International - Kouhu, 2252-2306 Dec 16, talk by a man and woman announcers in Chinese with program ending at 2259 followed by several announcements. 5+1 time pips at 2300, ID by a woman announcer, music fanfare and then a man and woman with the news. Fair (Richard A. D`Angelo, French Creek State Park, PA, DXpedition No. 44, Ten-Tec RX-340, Drake R-8B and an Eton E1, 500-foot wire essentially north for the RX-340 and 250-foot wire essentially northeast for the R-8B and a whip antenna for the E1, via Craig Seager, ARDXC via DXLD) So not CNR1 jamming?? Timesignal typical of that, but maybe of RTI too? Odds are that when both are on, the primary heard will be CNR1. One also needs to recognize the CNR1 music fanfare, all clues for the non-Chinese speaker (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [and non]. 5010, Radio Taiwan International + CNR Jammer at 2353, two stations in Chinese with talk and music mixing. Which is which? At 2400 assume RTI with several time pips, last one longer, and off; other station off shortly thereafter. Both poor, Dec 24 (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening in my car, by the lake, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN. 6030, Minghui Radio, 22/12 1300-1359, In Chinese under CNR1 (checked against other frequencies). Female presenter, occasional music / instrumental. Recording: http://nickvk2dx.blogspot.com.au/ 73 (Nick VK2DX Hacko, Sydney NSW, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN. 9745, 20/Dez 1850, Guanghua zhi Sheng (PRESUMED) in Mandarin (Identified). Long sequence of pop music and talks of YL. At 1900 YL talk and 1901 Music that starts with wind instrument. 25332 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN. 11500, 20/Dez 2010, SOH Xi Wang Zhi Sheng (PRESUMED) in Mandarin. OM talk and occasional stretch of instrumental music. Comparing with some transmissions CNR1, Is not the same signal. 25432 73 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15870, Sound of Hope, Taiwan clan to China, 24/12 from 1400, f presenter, in Chinese, fast reader, loud, some noise. Also on 15970 with 2 sec delay and on dozen more frequencies. Recorded. If you have a moment to spare, then please do check my blog and sound file added today. Thank you. You have probably seen this article, but here it is again: http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/145286-taiwan-tears-down-antennae-carrying-uncensored-news-to-china/ 73 (Nick VK2DX Hacko, Sydney NSW, Blog: http://nickvk2dx.blogspot.com/ dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Beware of CNR1 jamming also in Chinese ** TAIWAN [non]. PCJ HAPPY STATION --- Coming up today at 1330 UT. PCJ Radio on three frequencies to three regions at the same time: Europe on 5995 (Nauen), Asia on 9335 (Trincomalee), and North America on 11880 (Okeechobee). Details at http://www.pcjmedia.com 100 kW for 11880, other two 125. I would be very thankful for any reports on 11880 kHz from N. America, victor.goonetilleke@gmail.com If you need a QSL, no problem, getting a special QSL for today's and 29th Dec LIVE BROADCAST (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, 1017 UT Dec 22, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN [non]. 5995.00, 1340-1430* 22.12, PCJ R, via Nauen, English programme by Keith Perron on Christmas. Next live programme on 29.12. Very strong 55555, but // 9335 or 11880 not audible (Anker Petersen, Denmark, from Skovlunde on the AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) 9335, 1330:15 sec. S9+5dB in Sydney Dec 22. Christmas song :-) Let it snow (Nick Hacko, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Signed on loud and clear here in NW England, some band noise and slight QSB, but otherwise fine signal. Equally good on Twente WebSDR 73 (Tony Molloy, Winter Hill, UK IO83ro, CCW SDR4+ & CCW HF Active Antenna 1335 UT, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Presumably referring to 5995 in his case (gh, DXLD) PCJ Radio's 'Happy Station' programme loud and clear as you'd expect on 5995 kHz via Nauen, Germany at 1330 UT sign-on with Keith Perron singing "Let it Snow" (Alan Pennington, Caversham, UK, AOR 7030plus +longwire, 1338 UT, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) S3 on 11880, good carrier. Thank you for great program. Definitely a happy station! Back on 9335 (actually 9334.932). Merry Christmas. 73 (Nick VK2DX Hacko, Sydney, Australia [+26C and minutes past midnight] 1346 UT, ibid.) GERMANY, 5995 I switched on at 1336 UT Dec 22. 5988.9 to 6001.2 kHz broadband signal into central and western Europe area via Nauen Germany MBR installation. S=9+30dB signal, Donald Duck [? Chipmunx] and winter season songs. 1963 Christmas season greetings repeat. 11880 kHz S=9+15dB in MA / NY-USA S=8 in Edmonton CAN S=6 in greyline covered CA-USA 9335 only S=4 on threshold here in Europe, seemingly backlobe / sidelobe from Trinco ? 9335 kHz not usable - under threshold in USA, due of WBCQ sermon on 9330 kHz adjacent channel. 73 wolfy df5sx (Wolfgang Büschel, 1358 UT Dec 22, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5995 from Mid West like Mississippi River westwards in US covered by RA DRM mode transmission at 1340 UT. 73 wb (Büschel, 1402 UT, ibid.) But not after 1400, just RA in AM (gh, DXLD) Seeing Wolfy's mail has reminded me to try for PCJ today Dec. 22. At tune in shortly after 1400 UT only 5995 is audible, and this is varying widely in signal strength from S4 up to S9+10dB. And there is an audible but weak co-channel which is probably Shepparton. It reminds me of when trying to listen to Radio Luxembourg on 6090 - lots of fading and distortion (Noel R. Green (NW England), ibid.) At 1400 RA on 5995 switches from 10 kW DRM via Brandon, to 100 kW AM via Shep (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) 11880, Sunday Dec 22 at 1330, Keith Perron opening PCJ Radio`s Happy Station Show, here via WRMI on special pre-publicized frequency I approved, also announcing 5995 for Europe (via Germany, no point in even checking it here with R. Australia), and usual 9335 via Sri Lanka, which has a JBA carrier. Lots of music on the show, which suffers more than the talk from lo bitrate encoding (it`s 128 kbps, 44 kHz stereo originally, but sounds like less, and even WOR at 80 kbps, 44 kHz has no such artifacts during the opening theme music). Also, the modulation level on this frequency is sub-par; WRMI is louder on 9955 tho jammed, and especially with BS on 9690. At least 11880 is QRM-free. Opens with ``Happy Holidays`` by Peggy Lee; 1335 Chipmunx` ``All I Want is a Hula Hoop``, and Keith then explains how the voices were produced, taking two weeks to get it right. 1339 Keith reads ``The Night Before Xmas``; 1343 Tom Meijer sings ``Marshmallow World``. 1346 Burl Ives` ``Holly Jolly Xmas``; 1349 Beatles` promotional flexi-disc from 1963 with them horsing around for their fans, including bits of ``Good King Wenceslaus``, whistling GSTQ; comments by John, George and Ringo, at least. 1354 another Xmas song; 1401 Keith reads ``How the Grinch Stole Xmas``; 1410 ``SCICTT``; 1417 QSL offer; next week will be live: if you want to participate, send phone number and be available during this hour Dec 29. 1419 Hawaiian Xmas; 1423 Keith sings ``Winter Wonderland`` recorded in Tokyo with the NHK Orchestra; 1426 ``Let It Snow`` some more; 1429 sign-off with three frequencies again, http://www.pcjmedia.com and then WRMI ID by Keith, off 1430* (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The two special editions of Happy Station Show for December 22nd and the live show on the 29th are being expanded. Time: 1330 to 1430 UT. Europe: 5995; Southeast/East Asia: 9335; North America: 11880 kHz. Also waiting for a confirmation from Radio Australia. They might let us use 9475 from Shepperton to reach the Pacific. But this has not been confirmed yet. As soon as it is I will let you know (Keith Perron, PCJ, Dec 22, via Roberto Scaglione, shortwave yg via DXLD) Not used on Dec 22, still RA when I checked; nor Dec 29? (gh, DXLD) ** TAJIKISTAN. New website of the Tajik Radio online + Podcasts. Under (invites partly a bit slow) is a new page online, but the entire radio range is still without content. And who would like to hear the English language program of Ovozi Tojik can click here: (Christian Milling-D, A-DX Dec 19 via BC-DX Dec 20 via DXLD) 4765.07, Tajik R., Dec 20 1157-1207, 35433, Tajik, Music and news, ID at 1200 (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC-R75, NRD-525+RD-9830, NRD-515, NRD-345, Satellite 750, DE-1121; ANT, 70m Sloper Wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TATARSTAN [non]. 9895, Tatarstan Wave, Dec 20 0625-0635, 35433- 35333 Tatar, Music and talk, ID at 0631 (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC-R75, NRD-525+RD-9830, NRD-515, NRD-345, Satellite 750, DE-1121; ANT, 70m Sloper Wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Site: Novosibirsk-Oyash ** THAILAND. Bangkok Radio, 8743-USB, QSL in 4 weeks for report to Meteorological Dept, 4353 Sukhumvit, Bangna, Bangkok 10260, Thailand, v/s Ms. Jantima Niyomchok (Artur Fernández Llorella, Spain, Dec 21, HCDX via DXLD) ** THAILAND. 9390, Radio Thailand, 1240-1259* Dec 16, English service with Global News and Radio Thailand News” IDs, several ads for Bangkok Airways and promotional announcements. Fair to good. 9965, Radio Thailand, 1949-1959* Dec 15, man and woman announcers with English news, ads, features, PSAs and IDs. Fair but somewhat choppy conditions. 13745, Radio Thailand, 0041-0059* Dec 16, English program hosted by a man and woman with Business News and Sports Update along with the usual array of ads and PSAs. Nice ID at closedown. Good signal (Richard A. D`Angelo, French Creek State Park, PA, DXpedition No. 44, Ten-Tec RX-340, Drake R-8B and an Eton E1, 500-foot wire essentially north for the RX-340 and 250-foot wire essentially northeast for the R-8B and a whip antenna for the E1, via Craig Seager, ARDXC via DXLD) ** TIBET. 4905, Xizang PBS-Lhasa, 1608-1636, Dec 20. "Holy Tibet" in progress (1600-1700) in English; news about Tibet; a lot of Tibetian music; 1620 the Tibet weather; 1625 interesting long tourism segment about Nyingchi Prefecture where the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon is located. 4905 the best of // 4920, 6110, 6200 and 7255. Nice website - http://www.vtibet.com/en/radio/ with audio streaming (Ron Howard, Calif., Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4920, Xizang P.B.S., Lhasa, 1600 Dec 21, singing and opening of English program, several “This is Holy Tibet.” IDs by man and woman, 1601 welcome and program preview. Fair, // 4905, 6110, 6200 (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening in my car, by the lake, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TIBET [non]. 15542, 25/Dez 1155, TADJIKISTAN, Voice of Tibet in Tibetan. Only carrier without modulation. At 1200 YL talk ID. The modulation is very low compared the signal. At 1202, a carrier on 15540 transmitted for a few seconds. The level of modulation is improving. At 1210 off the air. Began transmitting on 15537. At 1217 goes offline for a few seconds and back. At 1218 a strong carrier on 15535 interferes in the signal in the SDR Twente, one YL speaks in Chinese. In my QTH the signal on 15535 interfere very little. Until at 1218 25432. At 1230 the two signals at 15535 and 15537, go out of air. 73 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, 12 14´S 38 58´W - Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TUNISIA. 7335, Rdiff. TV Tunisienne: Dec 18 0701-0709, 34332-33332, Arabic, Talk and Arabic music, Piano theme music at 0704 and 0705. Dec 20 *0700-0711, 35322, Arabic, 0700 sign on with announce by man, Piano theme music, News and Arabic music, ID at 0701 and 0702 (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC-R75, NRD-525+RD-9830, NRD-515, NRD-345, Satellite 750, DE-1121; ANT, 70m Sloper Wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UGANDA. 4976, UBC Radio (tentative), 2058-2101* Dec 15, caught man talking followed by some music which I didn’t realize must have been closedown as signal cut shortly thereafter. Poor. Again, 0346-041 Dec 17, local vocals followed by chatter by a man and a woman in English about Christmas holiday and talking about listeners with sports update at 0359 followed by pop music. Poor to fair (Richard A. D`Angelo, French Creek State Park, PA, DXpedition No. 44, Ten-Tec RX-340, Drake R-8B and an Eton E1, 500-foot wire essentially north for the RX-340 and 250-foot wire essentially northeast for the R-8B and a whip antenna for the E1, via Craig Seager, ARDXC via DXLD) ** U K [non]. 15285, 22/Dez 1131, SINGAPORE (relay), BBC in English. OM and YL alternate in to talk. Very weak signal, but talks audible. In SDR Twente the shameful Chinese jammer, overrides the signal. 73 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, 12 14´S 38 58´W - Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Aoki agrees that this hour only from BBC is jammed by China (gh, DXLD) 15540, ASCENSION ISLAND, BBC, at 1852, on 19 Dec. female new reporters talking about space exploration. They conducted an interview with a male speaker about the possibility of finding alien life. Fair (J. Cooper, Lebanon PA, WR-G33DDC Excalibur Pro, RF Space-SDR-IQ, Grundig Satellit 750, Tecsun PL-660, Wellbrook ALA 1530+, All Band Tuned Super Sloper, PARS- SWL End Fed, NASWA Flashsheet Dec 22 via DXLD) ?? BBC is not on 15540, but Kuwait`s English broadcast is, at 18-21 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [non]. A FESTIVAL OF 9 LESSONS & CAROLS --- Is on now on 9915 & 12095 special extended hour on these 2 frequencies to west Africa from Ascension Is. Report sent at 2207 UT (Peter W Hansen, Bethpage, NY, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. Ottringham Calling --- BBC Radio Humberside have an hour long programme on Christmas Day at 1800 UT entitled "Ottringham Calling." "How a radio mast in a Holderness village changed the outcome of WWII." According to Edward Pawley's "BBC Engineering 1922-1972", Ottringham, known as OSE5, was built in 1943 and was capable of radiating a maximum power of 800kW on MW or LW and was for a time the most powerful broadcasting station in the world. The last I heard was that the very heavily protected buildings were still standing and now housed a local business. I also heard a story somewhere that the local residents could actually hear the broadcasts by simply placing a spoon on the side of a tin bath to form a crude rectifier, the signals were so strong! 73's (Nick Rank, Buxton UK, Dec 23, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) Interesting article here about Ottringham: http://www.subbrit.org.uk/rsg/sites/o/ottringham/index.html (Russ Cummings, North Ferriby, ibid.) 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 linked below says ended up buying it: http://www.bbc.co.uk/humber/content/articles/2006/02/19/bbc_ottringham_feature.shtml (Mike Barraclough, ibid.) ** U K. CAVERSHAM PARK ON THE AIR ON CHRISTMAS MORNING During the BBC World Service live programme "Outside Source" - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01n9gtn The portion from Caversham starts at 42:00 (Chris Greenway, Dec 25, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) available for one week ** U K. BBCWS interview with me did not air on the Dec 26 `World Business Report`. Lucy Burton, who did the interview, tells me, ``We had a last minute shuffle with our running orders today. I believe the shortwave piece will now be broadcast next Monday [Dec 30] at the same time (1730, 1930 and 2230 gmt)`` Or 32 minutes after the hours. She reported from Romania on today`s show, and told me she also visited RRI, which may be part of the Monday segment; they plan to close down their SW in a few years (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 4724/USB, "Mainsail" (Andrews? Offutt?) with OM reading coded messages: 6FBAM5GEOBKNOFQQ6BXNIEUOF3RHUXS2RLLIUNZHI ending at 0643 and 6FON2YX3CSOLAT53J35KNAIHU2PFBJ ending at 0647. The second message had a 'header' of 6FON2Y repeated 3x before the full message was sent, and both messages were sent twice, followed by 'Mainsail out'. In well 454+44 with a sort of echo in the transmission. My super duper secret spy decoder ring says these two messages translate as "It is freaking early so when you get here don't forget to bring breakfast." And "And don't forget the lox this time!" but I may have an old ring and it could be something different. 0642-0643 & again 0645-0647. 14/Dec (Ken Vito Zichi, MARE DXpedition, Brighton MI, MARE Tipsheet 20 Dec via DXLD) ** U S A. THE UNCERTAIN VOICE OF AMERICA --- Our entire international media apparatus begs for renovation, top to bottom --- James Warren, New York Daily News Opinion The VOA, Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Asia and several other government broadcast entities under the watch of a part-time broadcasting board of governor together employ 3,500 people, reach an estimated 190 million people worldwide each week, at a modest cost to taxpayers of $750 million a year. More at: http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/uncertain-voice-america-article-1.1554430 --- (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, Dec 22, cumbredx via DXLD) Viz.: The face of the Voice [caption] === David Ensor may be at once on the side of the angels and the wrong side of history. A former CNN and ABC correspondent, he heads the Voice of America, a proud, underfinanced and embattled government media agency that’s part of a little-known amalgam of Cold War relics that mix virtue, ideological necessity and a whiff of anachronism. The VOA, Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Asia and several other government broadcast entities under the watch of a part-time broadcasting board of governor together employ 3,500 people, reach an estimated 190 million people worldwide each week, at a modest cost to taxpayers of $750 million a year. Meanwhile, the totalitarians in Beijing spend $7 billion on their government media, increasingly reaching Africa and elsewhere with unmitigated, even at times American-bashing, propaganda. Our operation, on the other hand, has been troubled, with no chief executive officer for international broadcasting; a change-averse union and bureaucracy; abysmal employee morale; congressional meddling; instant disclosure of screw-ups via an influential independent website (BBG Watch); a lack of metrics to assess performance and audience, and frequent neglect from the State Department and White House. Plus, the governing board, deemed “practically defunct by then- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, has a shaky at best track record, inspiring a scathing inspector general’s report last January. But at an unusual session last week, a revamped and seemingly improved board held the first in a series of “deep dives” to better understand what each big entity actually does. If only other agencies were this introspective, taxpayers would be lucky. The earnest and capable Ensor justified the VOA’s existence in a scripted 45-minute presentation with video — and then was left a bit defensive and plaintive amid fair and predictable questions. VOA produces 200 TV and radio programs in 40 languages with a global weekly audience of 164 million, Ensor told his bosses. Its budget has declined, to $197 million, and it has 2,100 fulltime, contractual and freelance workers. That’s dwarfed, for example, by the British Broadcasting Corp, with 12,000 employees and three times as many bureaus (48). Of course, the BBC plays a huge role in Great Britain’s media landscape, while VOA, which operates 48 websites and is fitfully entering the world of social media and mobile devices, is strictly an outside-of-our-borders operation. Ensor detailed scoops they’d broken from far away; nervy war-zone reporting; softer and popular features, such as political satire; growth in Pakistan and Latin America; audiences for Indonesian-, Burmese- and Swahili-language broadcasts, among others; and anecdotal evidence of political and humanitarian impact. “There is a global struggle for hearts and minds,” he told the board. What VOA is ultimately about is “freedom and truth.” But his formal presentation conceded weaknesses. They include disarray in the Persian-language operation, a plummeting Russian audience, low morale, just two reporters in China, a puny marketing budget, and virtually complete ignorance among Americans that VOA exists. When done, I was left with a sense of noble intentions and some superior work but duplication of efforts, a need for a clearer mission, ambiguity about its impact and a desperate need for more resources. That was clearer during sharp questioning by new board members, notably Jeff Shell, a big-time entertainment executive, Ryan Crocker, a distinguished former career diplomat and Doug Frantz, a prize- winning former investigative journalist working for Secretary of State John Kerry. Frantz noted how Pakistan alone has seen the recent emergence of 80 TV stations, some perhaps doing what VOA has done, perhaps better. VOA wants to be both a news and propaganda arm. It means to tell our story in a world where others bash us gratuitously. It reaches out to nations where notions of a free press are often non-existent. But our entire international media apparatus begs for renovation, top to bottom. It’s competing in those nations, and around the world, with growing, well-financed Chinese, Russian [sic] and pan-Arab competitors selling their own ideological perspectives. “The best solution would be blow it up and start over,” says a former top executive. “Put real- news executives in charge. Use money wisely and without overlap in administration and coverage.” Will that ever happen? “It’s what I’d like for Christmas,” says the former executive. (via DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. 9760, Dec 19 at 1500, VOA news, fair signal. Per Ivo Ivanov, from Dec 20 this `Learning English` hour will be replaced by 9900, which is clear today; why? At least a little less ACI than 9760 has. Both 270 degrees from Tinang, PHILIPPINES. Will VOA advise listeners today of the change? Doubt it; never hear them make *any* frequency announcements. 15570, Dec 19 at 1941, good signal in open carrier, never any modulation until 1958.5*. Nothing scheduled here; no doubt it`s Greenville warming for the 20-21 hour on nearby 15580, doing so on 15570 to avoid QRMing Botswana until 2000 on 15580. Internal operational schedules used to show all these ``warm-up only`` IBB frequencies, and they really ought to be registered with HFCC. GB comes on 15580 at *1959.5, briefly overlapping BOTS with its stronger carrier, but as happens far too often, despite the protracted warmup, fails to start modulating on time; in fact, cuts off again at 2000.4*, back on with OC, 2001.4 finally starting continuous North- African music verging on Middle-Eastern; another transmission break at 2004.2*-*2004.8, more music. 2016 a vocal song in English. This hour is supposed to be `The African Beat`, but no announcements at all until finally at 2019 with program title, introducing music from Sierra Leone at 2020. Worse transmitter problems: see PHILIPPINES (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) VOA Observed on unlisted 9845 at 0145, SINPO 35433, 20 December. News features in English. VOA International Edition on 9845, switched to ident at 0159 "This is Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty, Praha", then off suddenly at just after 0200 (J Kempster, London, Degen 1103, helical vertical, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) Listed in HFCC, as SRI LANKA 01-02, replacing 9790 as from Dec 20 (gh, DXLD) Re 9845 IRANAWILA, VOA English 1-2 UT. Some English outlets use different channels around the meterband, to veiled not registered channels, in order to avoid China mainland broadband white noise buzz jamming against English outlets like BBC and VOA in night- / morningtime (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 20 via DXLD) 13570, Sat Dec 21 at 1603, collision with fast SAH between WINB and VOA news in English. Why don`t IBB and FCC get their acts together, or rather separate? Aoki shows VOA daily at 16-17 via São Tomé; and WINB starting at 1300 on Sunday, 1630 on Saturday, but here it is already. WINB`s own schedule effective Nov. 17 shows from 1500 Sat, and also from 1545 M-F, so it will collide every day with the VOA hour. Yes, VOA is aimed 126 degrees, away from us, but guess what, the signal still comes to North America off the back, if not long-path. 13755, Sat Dec 21 at 1604, pop music with fair-good signal, slow fades, strikes me as something R. Farda would play, and even thought I heard such an ID, but Aoki shows this is a Saturday-only broadcast of VOA in Kinyarwanda at 1600-1630, 100 kW, 100 degrees from Pinheira, São Tomé (which is also propagating on 13570, supra). (After 1630 daily on 13755, VOA Swahili is via Botswana instead) (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) VOA Radiogram, Dec 21-22, tries a different MFSK64 center frequency It may be the holiday season, but the experiments continue on VOA Radiogram. Experiments for the weekend of December 21-22, 2013, involve MFSK64 at our usual center frequency of 1500 Hz, versus a center frequency of 1700 Hz. At a center frequency of 1500 Hz, the fundamental data is from 1000 to 2000 Hz. The second audio harmonic is from 2000 to 4000 Hz, thus abutting the fundamental. Don't you just hate it when the fundamental is abutted? Anyway, after transmitting an image at a center frequency of 1500 Hz, we'll transmit it again at a center frequency of 1700 Hz. The fundamental is now from 1200 to 2200 Hz, and the second harmonic is from 2400 to 4400 Hz. We now have a "guard band" between the fundamental and the second harmonic. Will this reduce noise in the MFSK64 images and improve the text performance? 1500 Hz 2nd audio harmonic ---------#==================== 1700 Hz 2nd audio harmonic ---------- ==================== More details about this weekend's program at... http://voaradiogram.net/post/70653650688/voa-radiogram-21-22-december-2013-celebrates-the VOA Radiogram transmission schedule (all days and times UTC): Sat 1600-1630 17860 kHz Sun 0230-0300 5745 kHz Sun 1300-1330 6095 kHz [canceled] Sun 1930-2000 15670 kHz All via the Edward R. Murrow transmitting station in North Carolina. Sunday, December 22, 2013, will be the last day for the transmission at 1300-1330 UTC on 6095 kHz. Next weekend it will be replaced by Saturday, 0930-1000 UTC, on 5745 kHz. The other times and frequencies will remain the same. Check out last weekend's picture of the National Christmas Tree, transmitted December 14 at 1626 UTC on 17860 kHz, as received and decoded from Estonia to California. PS: The Mighty KBC, 7375 kHz via Germany, will transmit a minute of MFSK32 at about 0130 UTC Sunday (Saturday 8:30 pm EST). (Kim Elliott, VOA Radiogram, Dec 21, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) The conditions here were not very good. MFSK-128 would have problems here, but the MFSK-64 broadcasts were still tough enough for the weak signals. Whether 1500 or 1700 Hz, which did not make much difference here. The harmonic signals coming from the transmitter directly and FLDIGI sets the filter. For a receiver with too narrow SSB filter (2 kHz) then could there be problems with too high AF. http://www.rhci-online.de/VoA_Radiogram_2013-12-21.htm (roger, Germany, 1033 UT Dec 22, ibid.) roger`s Radiogram reports are always the most complete including the images (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) Effective 28 December 2013, VOA Radiogram will add a new transmission Saturday, 0930-1000 UT, on 5745 kHz. Because of interesting propagation this time of day, this broadcast has a chance of being heard and decoded in the Asia/Pacific region and in northern Europe, at least this time of year. To keep this schedule change budget-neutral, the VOA Radiogram broadcast Sunday at 1300-1330 UTC on 6095 kHz has been discontinued. VOA Radiogram transmission schedule (all days and times UT) Sat 0930-1000 5745 kHz Sat 1600-1630 17860 kHz Sun 0230-0300 5745 kHz Sun 1930-2000 15670 kHz All via the Edward R. Murrow transmitting station in North Carolina. http://voaradiogram.net (Kim Elliott, Dec 24=, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9545, Dec 22 at 2222, good signal in Chinese with a gospel tinge? Maybe Xmas-influenced, since it`s really VOA via Tinang PHILIPPINES, this hour only (seemingly as it sounds even less like CNR1 which ought to be jamming this); altho FEBC takes over 9545 after 2300 in Hmong. 7580, Dec 23 at 1405, VOA news, into `Crossroads Asia`, fair signal; strikes me as new here, and so it is, not (yet?) in the latest HFCC dated Dec 18, nor in Aoki nor EiBi. They do show IBB on 7580, only at 16-23, in ``Fas`` (meaning Farsi from R. Farda) via Sri Lanka; what site now?? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) SRI LANKA, M-F 14- 15 starting Dec 23 (Aoki via dXLD) 15225, Dec 24 at 2017, VOA French to Africa as usual VG east and west from Greenville, but today it`s mixed with English due to prime language of studio guests, and sounds live. They`re discussing songs and referring to horebhaitian, spelt in French, a website or Facebook handle. It`s an a cappella girl group, 2024 finally singing something, ``Taste and See`` a hymn with nice harmonies; VOA host outros them bilingually as Les Angels, and has to wrap up SW broadcast before cutoff at 2030* by referring to continuing on FM in several African cities. 15580, Dec 24 at 2030, then I retune from 15225 French for more VOA African Beat music on English service, first something about mother and Tupperware (??) as I then nap-doze. It`s also Greenville until 2100 slight overlap in carriers but break in modulation as switching to Botswana for VOA news (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7460, PHILIPPINES, V.O.A. 2337 English, story of Christmas tree tradition, 2341 “VOA Learn English” promo. Poor, Dec 24 7480, PHILIPPINES, V.O.A., 2339 English, plug for http://voaspecialenglish.com not // 7460. Poor, Dec 24 (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia, Listening in my car, by the lake, with the Eton E1 and Sony AN1 active antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Both 270 degrees from Tinang, and both *jammed, per Aoki (gh, DXLD) 15580, Dec 25 at 2004, open carrier, deadair from VOA Greenville, then 2004:45 joining music in progress on `African Beat`. This hour is full of Xmas music boogied up in African style, such as `Joy to the World` at 2008. To accompany our afternoon nap hoping to compensate for overnight sleep deficits. VOA does a good job of appealing to African listeners, but how is so much African-oriented programming ``telling America`s story abroad``?? Meanwhile, more traditional carols nearby on 15610 WEWN all during this hour (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WORLD OF RADIO 1700 monitoring: not ready for 0430 UT Thursday Dec 19 on WRMI; inaudible anyway on 9955, but confirmed repeat of 1699 on webcast. Strangely enough, by the time Brother Scare is on 9955, at 0658 check, it is inbooming. What changed?? Graphic WRMI schedule shows the same transmitter #3 at 160 degrees, before and after 0600. Ready for first broadcast at new time 1330 Thursday Dec 19 on WRMI 9955: monitored it entirely, starting at 1330:26; Cuban pulse jamming thruout, tnx a lot Arnie! WRMI is on the 160 degree antenna but could fight the jamming much better if it were on the 315 antenna from 1330 instead of 1400. WOR cut off at 1358:37, approx 45 seconds before it`s finished, in order to carry the `Scoreboard` show and get to the next program at 1400. I`ve suggested that if `Scoreboard` has to be circa 1359, please start WOR and other 1330 programs at 1329, and preferably at least for the English ones, switch to NW antenna before 1330 too. Prague has a 3-minute music fill after 1327 which could be dispensed with. Next: Thursday 2201 on WTWW-1, 9475 UT Friday 0429v on WWRB, 3195, and probably not // 5050-USB UT Saturday 0300v on Area 51 via WBCQ 5110v-CUSB Saturday 0730 & 1530 on Hamburger Lokalradio, 7265-CUSB UT Sunday 0030v on WTWW-2, 5085 UT Sunday 0501 on WTWW-1, 5830 WORLD OF RADIO 1700 monitoring: confirmed Thursday Dec 19 from 2200:54 on WTWW-1, 9475. Also confirmed UT Friday Dec 20 from 0428.4 on WWRB 3195, following respectful pause after previous preacher. (And still not on 5050-USB.) Next: UT Sat 0300v on Area 51 via WBCQ 5110v-CUSB Sat 0730 & 1530 on HLR 7265-CUSB UT Sun 0030v on WTWW-2 5085 UT Sun 0501v on WTWW-1 5830 Tue 1200 on WRMI 9955 [Wed HLR repeats are pre-empted this week by Xmas specials in German] WORLD OF RADIO 1700 monitoring. Confirmed UT Saturday Dec 21 from 0303 on webcast of Area 51 --- after cosmikdebris announced at 0302 that this would be the final Friday-night A51 broadcast, but WOR would be stuck in at an as yet undetermined new day and time. Keep an eye into http://worldmicroscope.com where there is nothing about this yet, nor on the 5110 schedule at http://schedule.wbcq.com/main.php?fn=sked&freq=5110 At 0324 also confirmed on weak 5110v-CUSB. Next this weekend for WOR 1700: UT Sun 0029v on WTWW-2, 5085 UT Sun 0501v on WTWW-1, 5830 WORLD OF RADIO 1700 monitoring [non]. UT Sunday December 22 at 0030, WTWW-2, 5085 NOT on the air (nor on 9930; weather-related?). Next airing Sunday Dec 22 at 0501 on WTWW-1, 5830 at first seemed missing too, but then JBA due to propagation disturbance (so it sounded, but WWV reported none, with K at 03 UT of 0 and at 06 of only 1 --- just a really low MUF for the Solstice?). The other Tennesseeans on 5 MHz were also JBA, and even 4840 WWCR inaudible at first, back in VG at 0629; while the low-band advantage still worked at 0512 for 3215 WWCR and 3185 WWRB. At 0636 recheck, however, 3185 was off; back at 1258. Next SW chance to hear WOR 1700: Tuesday 1200 on WRMI 9955 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also SOUTH CAROLINA [non] WORLD OF RADIO 1701 monitoring: ready for first airing at new WRMI 9955 time of Thursday 1330 Dec 26. But there`s no way our 29-minute program can fit into a 27:50 slot. 1326 R. Prague starts music fill; 1330:10 Andy Sennitt ID; 1330:50 WOR starts; cut off at 1358:40 for WRMI Scoreboard. The last few words of WOR were modulated on the NW transmitter, much stronger against the pulse jamming thruout, tnx a lot Arnie! Its carrier came on at *1357:50 overriding the previous WRMI transmitter but helping to suppress the jamming too. Remaining WOR SW broadcasts, we hope with fewer problems: Thu 2201 on WTWW-1, 9475 UT Fri 0328v on WWRB, 3195 (and check 5050-USB in case it revive) The UT Sat 0300v WOR on Area 51 via WBCQ 5110v-CUSB has been cancelled as the time has been sold out to Brother Scare. Maybe WOR will still be heard on UT Sunday or Monday, TBA. [0400 UT MONDAY] Sat 0730 & 1530 on Hamburger Lokalradio, 7265-CUSB UT Sun 0029 on WTWW-2, 5085 (we hope; not on the air last week, and the week before played the previous week`s program) UT Sun 0501 on WTWW-1, 5830 Tue 1200 on WRMI, 9955 Meanwhile, one may listen ondemand to this and hundreds of previous WORs at http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 15190 19/Dez 1950 USA, Family Radio in English. OM with religious preaching. Severe hum in the modulation. More pronounced in SDR from Massachusetts. Moderate QRM from R Inconfidência on 15190. No signal in SDR Twente. 33432 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, 12 14´S 38 58´W - Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ??? This frequency is supposed to be R. Africa Network via WRMI, NOT Family Radio. Did you hear an ID for F.R.? (gh, DXLD) Hi Jorge - listening to same program now --- however I believe what I am hearing is Bata, Equatorial Guinea. Unfortunately this time of the year band is also open to US via long path so the antenna bearing is not reliable indication of TX location, could be either. BBC from Ascension was very loud! [15105 Hausa at 1959] 15190 R Africa, Bata, [?] 19/12 20:00 O come all ye faithful instrumental. Relig. S9+10 dB on short path. 73 (Nick VK2DX Hacko, NSW, 2044 UT Dec 19, ibid.) Hi Nick, As Glenn has been reporting. On SDR Columbus, Ohio, via Global Tuners, I hear two signals preaching. The weakest must still be Bata. 73 (Jorge Freitas, 2104 UT Dec 19, ibid.) 15190 19/Dez 2000 USA, Family Radio in English. Interval signal, ID at 2012 by OM. The hum continues, but is now clear the modulation in SDR Massachusetts. In my QTH continues the same reception, the same signal levels of the previous log. Also continues no signal from SDR Twente. In previous log would be the signal from Bata? The signal is improving. 73 (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, 12 14´S 38 58´W - Brasil, ibid.) WRMI wants reports --- Glenn: Could you mention that we would be interested in reports from North America about the reception quality of the following transmissions? 7570 kHz (355 degrees) - 0200-0600 UT 9690 kHz (285 degrees) - 1100-1500 UT 9955 kHz (315 degrees) - 1400-2200 UT 11730 kHz (285 degrees) - 2200-0600 UT Many thanks (Jeff White, WRMI, Dec 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Report to info@wrmi.net These are all Overcomers (except 14-15 on 9955), so should be easy to spot. All provide generally strong to very strong signals here in Oklahoma. 9690 has QRM from All India Radio in English at 1330-1500, and I wish WRMI would go somewhere else for this broadcast (Glenn Hauser, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9955, Dec 20 at *1358:07, WRMI NW carrier comes on early, overriding WRMI SSE transmitter which has not quite finished `Wavescan`. See also EQUATORIAL GUINEA [and non]; SOUTH CAROLINA [non] 9955, Sat Dec 21 at 1350, WRMI program `Viva Miami`, the one in Spanish this week with Jeff & Thaïs again talking about ice sculptures in Orlando; atop Cuban pulse jamming. I`ve urged Jeff to move non-exile programming off 9955; what better time for a new beginning, with 13 new transmitters available? Pick an entirely new frequency for WRMI`s own programming, segregate it from exile shows on some other frequency so the DentroCubans would have no excuse or historical reason, to jam RMI, especially when in, or mostly in, English. For starters, RMI should be on a lower band at night (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9955, WRMI, 23/12 0112 UT. Programa de Family Radio con lectura del libro del Éxodo capítulo 8, en la versión Reina Valera revisión 1960. Señal con SINPO: 55555 (Claudio Galaz, Antena: Hilo de 5 metros de cable de cobre, RX: Tecsun PL-660, QTH: Poblado de Barraza Bajo, Comuna de Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) ?? This is not a scheduled Fámily Radio block on 9955; `Maravillosas Palabras de Vida` is on the grid, a show WRMI has long carried. It is in fact a Salvation Army program, per WRMI homepage (gh, DXLD) 9955, Tue Dec 24 at 1330:15, WRMI canned ID starts late instead of before 1330, the antique multi-city target one, so it`s almost 1331 before `Anglo-Parade` starts, the top-10 show of music in English presented in Spanish by Radio Ciudad Global, Colombia. 1357 recheck, SSE transmitter overlain by much stronger open carrier from the next WRMI transmitter to the NW; before 1359 cutting off RCG show for `WRMI Scoreboard` amid which the modulation starts on the NW unit; then Rudy Espinal ID in English and 1400 preacher (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re: Scituate transmitters at WRMI ``Okeechobee transmitters, "we still wonder if any of these now date back to Scituate, which?": Just take a look at http://swcountry.be/usa.html Look for a note f in the @ column under Scituate and Okeechobee, three transmitters, two x 50 kW and one 100 kW, which were installed in Scituate in 1967 and moved to Okee in 1973. But this still doesn`t tell us which of the *currently numbered* WRMI transmitters are the two remaining imports from Scituate, and consequently on which frequencies we may hear them, if they are really in use, according to the graphic transmission schedule of WRMI (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST)`` 1, 2, 5, and 6 were from Scituate (Jeff White, WRMI, Dec 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) So from the current graphic schedule: None are currently in use, just 7 thru 14. And 6 was the one which was scrapped (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9955, WRMI, 24/12 2345 UT. Programa de Family Radio hablando en contra de la evolución como parte del “Estudio Bíblico básico” y del programa “Momentos de la creación” con SINPO: 53543 con QRM de RTI en chino, pero muy poco dominante, ya que el audio de F.R. va mejorando al pasar de la hora // 13695 con SINPO: 55454 con baja modulación (Claudio Galaz, Antena: Hilo de 20 metros, RX: Tecsun PL-660, QTH: Sector sur de Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) 9955, Wed Dec 25 at 1420:00, WRMI with TOM. Heavy jamming [MP3 File included] (Dino Bloise, FL, Frecuencia Al Día, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9955, Dec 25 at *1358:15, WRMI NW transmitter and antenna cuts on air overriding SSE one during Spanish show of English music, then back off a bit, another break at 1400* uncovering the jamming unhindered, and then back on to stay, not with scheduled WRMI programming but with Brother Scare an hour earlier than he`s supposed to start here at 1500. Mistake or change? Must have been mistake, as next day Dec 26, it`s back to other preacher programming after 1400 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 12105, Dec 19 at 1410, WTWW-3 is making clix at the rate of 200/minute, instead of Russian Bible; maybe playback repeatedly trying and failing to initialize?? Followed it past 1500 in the background, and recheck at 1649, 1712, *still* doing it. Occasional brief ``running water`` ute QRM such as at 1505. 12105, Dec 19, kept checking WTWW-3 all morning, and still nothing but 200/minute clicking; tune in again at 1757 when it should have been amid Arabible, just in time to hear it go off the air at 1758*, still off at 2021 check, and not heard any more for the rest of the day. Next day Dec 20 after 1400, resumed normal Russian Bible service. [and non]. 9475, Dec 25 at 1449, no WTWW instead of 1400 sign-on; so R. Australia is still weakly audible; 9930 and 12105, however are on by now (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 7491.38, Dec 25 at 0142 I am checking 7490 for WBCQ, after finding 5110v-CUSB occupied by Brother Scare (see SOUTH CAROLINA [non]), but instead find a very weak AM signal measured on this frequency, making even weaker het against something on 7490. At 0143 the 7491+ station fades up enough to hear it say ``The heart and soul of --- music`` (?). `Heart & Soul of America Broadcast` is what had been on 5110 three or four nights a week, so must have been demoted to this once Brother Scare moved in. Current online 7490 sked shows H&SOAB only on UT Sundays 00-02; with Overcomer UT Wednesday at 01-04, but not. See also SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. This signal is so weak and so far off-frequency that I suspect it is not the usual 7490 transmitter but a backup/alternate of much lower power. Still the same at 0159 with VP/JBA music. Remains to be heard what becomes of the rest of WBCQ 7490 programming. As for the very weak het with 7490, no other broadcaster is scheduled there (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7491.4, Dec 25 at 0635 check, Brother Scare saying something about adding even more stations before 2014; very poor signal, as WBCQ continues way off-frequency and probably not the main transmitter. Also VP on 5110v-CUSB at 0642. 7491.4, Dec 26 at 0746, BS still here, very poor and same music break as on 5085 WTWW; 5110 is JBA at 0742 and not synch with 5085. On backup reduced power and transmitter(s)? Maine has had widespread power outages from an ice storm. But as far as I can tell, this affects central Maine, not the northeast corner where WBCQ is. Need to check whether the full-power transmitter closer to 7490 is in use at all, during non-BS hours in the late afternoon and early evening (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 15825, Sat Dec 21 at 1530, WWCR starting `The Talking Machine Show`, Phil Patton`s ancient-recording program, axually singing rather than merely talking. Starts with a 1914 cylinder of ``Hark, the Herald Angels Sing`` and more carols the rest of the semihour from as late as 1917y, all with horrible lo fidelity, but no doubt a treat for the connoisseur/connoisseuse of such things. 1600 into gospel huxter introducing with hymn on decent audio, `Fountain of Truth` (debatable). Signal ranged from VG to merely G with some fading. 6115, Dec 23 at 2259, WWCR is ending its Spanish hour, but all mixed up with the canned announcements: gringa pronounces start time of 2200 UT as ``dos mil, doscientos`` which is incorrect in any language. Then announces in English that Spanish listeners should tune in tomorrow at 2200. Spanish having ended, then plays another Spanish announcement, cut off to English ID (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 17775, Dec 24 at 1413, no signal at all from KVOH, not on or not propagating? Not rechecked until 1651 when loud if not totally clear. 17775, Dec 25 at 1957, no signal from KVOH. It seems they are turning it off some minutes before the scheduled 2000* closing, but today I couldn`t say for sure if it was on at all (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi, Glenn. Per the announcement on our website, we were off the air yesterday, and will be again on the 1st. The webstream continues 24/7, however. We do not normally leave 17775 until between 2000-2001. There was a minor drama on Christmas night when a brush fire broke out in a canyon right below our mountain-top transmitter site, but Ventura County Fire Department jumped on it pretty quickly with literally dozens of fire trucks, and it was dealt with overnight. How is the audio quality on 17775 today? We made a configuration change to the STL, and would be interested to know if it sounds any better (Ray Robinson, Ops Mgr, KVOH, Dec 26, dxldyg via DXLD) Better ** U S A. 13570, WINB, PA, Red Lion with a strange accented preacher with a REALLY strange message about 'touching' that bordered on the pornographic, "God loves you & wants to touch you and have you touch him this Christmas." At one point the preacher broke into a rather poor rendition of "Jesus Loves Me" and his daughter ended the show by giving a URL: glm.vpweb.com. A most unusual programme, to say the least. WINB ID given by a really bored sounding woman at :43 into more Bible bumping. 3+5444 1735-1745 14/Dec (Ken Vito Zichi, MARE DXpedition, Brighton MI, MARE Tipsheet 20 Dec via DXLD) WINB 13570 colliding with VOA: see VOA grouping above ** U S A. 11550, 12050, 15610, Dec 22 at 1455, WEWN seems missing from all three frequencies, maybe weather-related as the only lightning on the map is in LA/MS/AL. 15550-USB, WJHR still audible, but 15825 WWCR is JBA without any Es enhancement. 15610, Dec 23 at 2138, WEWN English carrier is wobbling, and in AM mode the modulation is audibly rumbling, besides the usual spurs. 12050, Dec 23 at 2140, WEWN Spanish is clean on this frequency, using a different transmitter than in the mornings when it squeals; see also GERMANY [non]. 12050, Dec 24 at 1409, this one is squealing while // WEWN Spanish on 11550 is not (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 13830, WEWN, 24/12 2121 UT. Transmisión en vivo de la Misa de noche buena, directamente desde el Vaticano. Señal con SINPO: 55454 (Claudio Galaz, Antena: Hilo de 20 metros, RX: Tecsun PL-660, QTH: Sector sur de Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) ** U S A. 650, TENNESSEE, WSM, Nashville. 1722 December 23, 2013. Very weak but clear with classic Country vocals. Always fun to hear this in the local noon hour from Florida (Terry L. Krueger, local late morning/early afternoon December 23, 2013 at Honeymoon Island State Park, which is almost Dunedin, Florida, using an ICOM IC-R75 hooked to the cigarette lighter and with 150 feet wire tossed on ground; Sangean PR-D5 portable; and the car radio, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 680, Dec 24 at 0710 UT, KNBR ID, sports promos, atop CCI with SAHs. Too bad its programming is worthless. Not unusual, as being non-direxional, this has the best coverage of 50 kW San Francisco stations; forget KCBS 740 with its NW/SE pattern and vs KRMG Tulsa. SFO is beyond 1300 miles, pushing the limit for regular AM reception; it`s slightly further than NYC, whose 50 kW stations are hardly ever heard here in deep North America (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 690, Dec 23 at 1430 UT, NO signal from KGGF Coffeyville KS, off the air as it would normally be on strong 10 kW groundwave signal. It`s back on at 1702 check (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 720, Dec 23 at 1430 UT I am checking for KDWN Las Vegas NV, in case it`s just come on 50 kW ND day pattern, but I am still hearing a remnant of WGN, altho with a SAH of 2 Hz. That`s probably from KSAH San Antonio, as checking FCC AM Query, official sunrise at KDWN is not until 1445 UT in Dec, and Jan too. 770 KKOB NM is still holding up at 1450, but no KDWN audible (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 730, UT Fri Dec 20 at 0224 UT, I am getting some silly ballgame in English weakly with XEX nulled, so best from east/west, but unsure if that`s its true direxion. Clue is hearing ``Bulldogs`` mentioned, basketball? Unfortunately that`s much too common a team name (including women`s BKB at Yale in double-gender neutrality??), but I do find a recent log from Rick Dau in Nebraska which fits: ``730 KQPN AR West Memphis 11/16 2137 [EST]. Fair with Mississippi State Univ. FB, mention by PBP announcer that if the Bulldogs ran back the 2nd half kick-off for a TD, a prize would be given out to a lucky fan who had submitted a contest entry (RD-NE)`` KQPN is 1/1 kW U4, with a minor night lobe in this direxion (mostly eastward), so can`t be accused of cheating. Soon XEHB faded up which was hard to null for this (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Larry Lujack, Chicago radio legend, dies at 73 | abc30.com http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news%2Flocal&id=9365711 (via Kevin Redding, Dec 19, ABDX via DXLD) WLS i.a. obit ** U S A. 1200, Dec 24 at 1349 UT, Spanish dominating over WOAI, program promos, ID as ``1,200 AM, Univisión América``, i.e. WRTO Chicago IL (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Format Change on 1660 AM --- I was cruising the AM band early Friday morning and noticed a Classic Country music format on 1660 AM. The station identified as "1410 WMYR". WMYR is located in Ft. Myers, FL and has a parallel broadcast on 1660(WCNZ) in Naples. They also simulcast on 106.7 FM (W249AN) and even another simulcast on 1480 (WVOI), Marco Island. They have a nice signal up to Hilton Head Island, SC on 1660 kHz overnight at times. They used to run a format called "Timeless Cool" and you can still listen to their older format online if you wish on their website. They mentioned "1410 WMYR, Country Classics, 100% commercial free". Nice listening with no commercials! 73 - (Todd WD4NGG Roberts, Dec 20, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. 1640, FLORIDA (TIS), WQOX737, Suncoast Parkway (SR-589), Mile Marker 33. 1550 December 23, 2013. Presumed site per previous logs closer to the source. Compu-man and compu-woman with Turnpike URL, phone numbers. Fair. [HISP] 1640, FLORIDA (TIS), Florida’s Turnpike DoT, Wildwood; at Mile Post (MP) 304. 1550 December 23, 2013. Threshold with male loop under the Suncoast Parkway TIS, presumably this one, which used to be present at this DX site before the Suncoast transmitter came up. [HISP] 1650, FLORIDA, WQQJ297, Florida DoT, Tampa. 1552 December 23, 2013. One of the I-275 transmitters with compu-male loop on construction zones and FDOT references. Good. [HISP] 1709.532, FLORIDA, WQKP882/WQKP883, Pinellas County. 1605 December 23, 2013. Surprised to find this one here, local, and seemingly a real transmitter (one of the several normally on 1690 kHz nominal). Nothing on 1670 kHz (20 kHz below 1690 kHz, as in potential 1710 kHz spurious). Audio perfectly parallel 1690 kHz multi-transmitters, a couple slightly off-channel as always, with the usual compu-man and compu-female loop on the “Move Over Law” and to watch out for motorcycles, etc. as well as mention of call signs and 1690 kHz channel. Present on the ICOM IC R-75, Sangean PR-D5 portable and car radio. Later, at the nearby mainland side CR-586/Curlew Road at US-19 Alternate – the Publix grocery shopping center – signal still big at 1930. But upon returning to the car at 1945, transmitter off, and not heard the remainder of the afternoon/evening. Are they intentionally testing on 1710 kHz? Recall, these series of transmitters began at 940 kHz years ago and migrated to 1690 kHz, first operated by Pinellas County Emergency Management, then transferred to the Traffic Department. [HISP] Florida Low Power Radio Stations: https://sites.google.com/site/floridadxn/florida-low-power-radio-stations (Terry L. Krueger, local late morning/early afternoon December 23, 2013 at Honeymoon Island State Park, which is almost Dunedin, Florida, using an ICOM IC-R75 hooked to the cigarette lighter and with 150 feet wire tossed on ground; Sangean PR-D5 portable; and the car radio, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. AM DAYTIME BAND SCAN --- There may be hope for the AM Band yet. Today, I took advantage of an errand run to do a quick band scan locally. Hoping for some daytime DX, but not expecting much. Instead of the usual right-wing political talk, religion, and sports that dominated the band here for years, I found a variety of formats. Among the unexpected treats? Music of several varieties, including rock and roll, oldies, Christmas music, and jazz. Also heard was "Comedy 1420" out of Tuscaloosa, and a local announcer from downtown Birmingham. What a refreshing change from the canned, satellite delivered, Rush Limbaugh wanna-be's that dominated the airwaves here for years. Maybe the future of AM radio is in (gasp!) local content! Some of us might want to hear about our city council, local weather, missing dogs, etc. If I could figure out how to file a public comment on the FCC's intent to revitalize the AM Band, I might even suggest that they provide first choice on new FM translators to those stations which cater to their local communities, instead of those that only want to feed satellite content, and hire an engineer on a freelance basis. My prediction is that the AM band of the future will feature more foreign language programming, more religious content, and hopefully, more local content--especially in small communities. I hope today's band scan is a preview of more to come. Music on AM! Wow! -- 73, (Les Rayburn, N1LF, 121 Mayfair Park, Maylene, AL 35114, EM63nf, Dec 20, IRCA via DXLD) ** U S A. RADIO STATIONS FIND RATINGS ‘ROCKET FUEL’ IN SWITCH TO CHRISTMAS FORMAT http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/21/us/radio-stations-find-ratings-rocket-fuel-in-switch-to-christmas-format.html Thanksgiving is over — the in-laws are gone — and Christmas is not yet here. It’s a cold weekend day, not much happening, and you head to the strip mall. Flat-screens beckon, Chromebooks too, and assorted pads, pods and tablets. You turn on the radio, find your trusty Lite-FM station, and settle in for some Elton, Celine, Shania and Mariah. But there’s no Elton. None of the usual Celine. And as for Mariah, there is no “Hero” or “Honey,” just “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” surrounded by oodles of Christmas songs by Nat King Cole, Andy Williams and the Chipmunks. And the Christmas chestnuts of Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney. When beset by the 1953 novelty hit “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas,” you finally change the station. You have wandered into the all-Christmas-music format, now spreading holiday cheer on the airwaves everywhere. Since first tried in Phoenix — or was it Atlanta? — about 20 years ago, switching to Christmas music between Thanksgiving and Christmas has become more popular every year. Stations see huge gains in listeners, and hundreds of programming directors, in every state, are giving round-the-clock Christmas music a try, hoping to spike the ratings eggnog. What began as a trend at adult-contemporary stations (Elton, Celine, Phil Collins — you get the idea) is now spreading to stations with other formats, like country. Christian stations, too, are switching to Christmas music, although therein lies a paradox: For secular stations, the Christmas format is as religious as they get all year, while at Christian stations, the format means less Jesus than usual, more radio chipmunks and hippopotami. Mike Kinosian, the managing editor of RadioInfo, a trade publication, has been covering this trend since almost the beginning, but he is not sure how it began. “Everybody wants to take credit for a great thing, but nobody can seem to remember with any veracity what station it was!” Mr. Kinosian said. He said Jerry Ryan, for many years the program director at KESZ in Phoenix, is rumored to have been the first at a large station to go all-Christmas music. Mr. Ryan could not be found. And Mr. Kinosian, who could not swear to the who, was also fuzzy on the when. “It has to be 18 years ago? 1995?” he guessed. “Mid-’90s is a safe bet.” But hold your reindeer. Since 2003, Vance Dillard has been the program director for 94-FM, known as The Fish, one of two stations in the Nashville area that goes all-Christmas music for the holiday season. He programs all-Christmas music for 90 other Christian stations owned, like The Fish, by Salem Communications. And while he, too, has heard that Phoenix was first, he said he had the idea himself, and he gives dates earlier than the time frame attributed to Phoenix. “I was one of the pioneers” of Christmas radio, Mr. Dillard said. “When I was at Peach in Atlanta” — that was WPCH, now a different station — “we began to do that back in 1988.” The Peach was owned by Clear Channel Communications, for whom Mr. Dillard also worked as brand manager. “So I influenced a lot of other Clear Channel adult contemporary stations across the country. I’d go in and tell the general managers and the program directors, tell them, ‘You have to embrace Christmas.’ ” According to StationIntel.com which tracks radio formats, 533 stations are currently playing only Christmas music (that list includes a handful of HD stations, not available on all receivers). Paul Heine, a senior editor at Inside Radio, which runs the website, said that these stations could expect a lot of new listeners, although not all of them stick around in January. “During the holiday period, it’s like ratings rocket fuel for stations that do a good job with the format and that are known as the Christmas station in their marketplace,” Mr. Heine said. “So we’ve seen where a station can double or even triple its overall ratings. Admittedly, it’s a short-term boost, just for months of November and December, but it draws in a massive amount of new listeners.” When Mr. Dillard was at Clear Channel, he was spreading the format mainly to other adult-contemporary stations, which still represent the substantial majority of those who use it. It’s actually pretty easy for those stations to go all-Christmas. Many of the artists their listeners are used to, like Mr. Springsteen or Ms. Carey, have recorded Christmas songs. The same listeners usually enjoy the nostalgic mist of Christmas oldies, like Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas,” that are also in heavy rotation. It’s at stations that play Christian music where Christmas music may not fit so easily. “There’s a slight disagreement amongst some Christian stations,” Mr. Kinosian said. “ ‘Do we play only the ‘religious’ music, or can we blend in contemporary music?’ They want to be able to play Christmas music, but do they want to play 100 percent religious music” — “Away in a Manger,” “God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen” — “or can they play something that has a little bit of fun to it?” He said that Christian stations settle on varying ratios of the secular and the religious. Mr. Dillard, a Christian who now programs for Christian stations, said that he had no theological concerns. “I understand there are other Christian stations that are going to stick strictly to Christian songs,” Mr. Dillard said. “But all of those songs are part of the memories people have. The movies people see, the TV they watch. Even churches, at their Christmas pageants, the first half is usually lighthearted fun for the family, and then there’s plenty of room for the message. I don’t think we do harm to our mission to honor Jesus Christ. We’re just being more seeker- friendly in our approach.” This article has been revised to reflect the following correction: Correction: December 21, 2013 --- An earlier version of this article misidentified a radio station in Phoenix. It is KESZ, not KESC (via Kevin Redding, Dec 22, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. "PERFECT PAUL" THE COMPUTER GENERATED VOICE OF VHF NOAA WEATHER RADIO SINGS FOR THE HOLIDAYS. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yGJbkQulQw&app=desktop Merry Christmas, (Brock Whaley, Holycross, Bruff, County Limerick, Ireland, dxldyg via DXLD) ** VATICAN [non]. 7305, R. VATICANA, 23/12 0201 UT. Vía Greenville, USA. Gong de la emisora, comienzo del servicio en español con el saludo “Laudetur Iesus Christus” y noticias sobre la homilía dada a la hora del Angelus del día domingo, dada por el Papá. SINPO: 55555 (Claudio Galaz, Antena: Hilo de 5 metros de cable de cobre, RX: Tecsun PL-660, QTH: Poblado de Barraza Bajo, Comuna de Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) ** VIETNAM. 9635.76, Voice of Vietnam-1, Hanoi-So+n Tây. 1258 December 25, 2013. Viet male talk just across the hour (no time sounders), some sort of theme bumper music, female then male talk, tinkling electronic SFX 1318, back to talk through 1320 tune-out on slow fade. Clear and fair-good. As Ron Howard indicated in DXLD 13-50, they must have reassigned the transmitter from previously off-channel 7435 variable. No other parallels audible. Something Asian on 7435.00, presumed China, definitely not parallel 9635.76 (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA. JRC NRD-535; JRC-NRD-515 (stolen/being held hostage); ICOM IC-R75; Hammarlund HQ-180A; Sony ICF-7600GR; Sangean PR-D5; Aqua Guide 705 RDF Marine Radio; GE Superadio III; JPS NF-60 Notch Filter; JPS ANC-4 Noise Phase; 1 X roof dipole; 1 X room random wire; custom active portable loop; Terk Advantage non-active portable loop, DX LISTENING DIGEST) VIETNAME, 9635.78, V. Voz do Vietname, Son Tay, 1058-1145, 23/12, vietnamita, texto; 24432, em perda, mas ainda audível, às 1200. 73, bons DX e Bom Ano Novo! (Carlos Gonçalves, PORTUGAL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIETNAM [and non]. CHINA/VIETNAM, 11720, Ditter bubble tones jamming - probably - of Vietnam government telecom observed Dec 14 at 1250 UT. Supposedly against co-channel CRI Beijing Vietnamese service registered here as 11720 CRI Baoji-Xinjie 150 kW at 195 degr, daily 1200-1257 UT, Vietnamese. \\ 1200 UT 9550 kHz was NOT object of jamming. Maybe when check remote unit at Hong Kong receiver site, someone should trace both \\ on mediumwave band: 1296 kHz Kunming-CHN - and - 684 kHz Dong Fang isl, Hainan for - supposedly - MW jamming by Vietnam (Wolfgang Büschel, Dec 14, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 20 via DXLD) 6175, VOV, 25/12 0400 UT. Via Cypress Creek, USA. Comienzo del servicio en español con noticias acerca de las proyecciones económicas de Vietnam (Claudio Galaz, Antena: Hilo de 20 metros, RX: Tecsun PL- 660, QTH: Sector sur de Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) ** YEMEN. 6135, Rep. of Yemen R, San’a, fading in around 1426-1445, Dec 06 and 19, gradually improving until the VOA transmitter check at *1445-1447* - after this Yemen is not heard leading me to believe they may be signing off at 1445 instead of listed 1500. This has been the pattern with Yemen for past two weeks or so. Programming is either local music or Koran reading with periodic short announcements - language unknown and hard for me to discern exactly what type of music. Not typical Arabic pop music, so maybe Koran reading (Bruce Churchill, Fallbrook CA, in DXplorer via DSWCI DX Window Dec 24 via DXLD) Most of his logs via remote receivers; but was this direct? (gh) On 12/19 signal level got to S2+ before the VOA transmitter turned on and there was a discernible transmitter hum on the frequency. This hum was not audible after the VOA transmitter finished its tuning test at 1447. Tnx to Ron Howard for the heads up on this one! (Bruce Churchill via DXPlorer via SW Bulletin 22 Dec via DXLD) ** ZAMBIA. 5915, ZNBC Radio One - Lusaka, 2141-2202* Dec 15, man announcer in local language taking telephone calls form listeners and playing music selections. Poor with some fair peaks. Again, 0323-0350 Dec 16 with a man announcer in local language speaking with listeners via telephone calls and playing local music. Poor to fair but slightly better than this afternoon (Richard A. D`Angelo, French Creek State Park, PA, DXpedition No. 44, Ten-Tec RX-340, Drake R-8B and an Eton E1, 500-foot wire essentially north for the RX-340 and 250-foot wire essentially northeast for the R-8B and a whip antenna for the E1, via Craig Seager, ARDXC via DXLD) 5915, Zambia Nat.B.C., Dec 20 1600-161 [sic], 23432-22432, vernacular, Fish eagle IS, Announce by man, Repeated blows of the drum, Talk (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC-R75, NRD-525+RD-9830, NRD-515, NRD- 345, Satellite 750, DE-1121; ANT, 70m Sloper Wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ZNBC1, 5915, Lusaka. Dec 25, 2013 Wednesday. 0448-0524. Christmas day. Luvale (EiBi). OM and YL in cheerful-sounding conversation. Songs by choir. ID at 0500 and into news in English. Aircell ad at 0515. At 0522 song, "Happy Christmas, Happy New Year". Good. Jo'burg sunrise 0314 (Bill Bingham, Johannesburg RSA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZANZIBAR. 11735, 20/Dez 2001, No signal from ZBC Radio (Jorge Freitas, Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brasil, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) TANZÂNIA, 11735, Zanzibar BC, Dole, 1915-1929, 22/12, suaíli, texto, canções; 45444 (Carlos Gonçalves, PORTUGAL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ZBC Radio, 6015, Dole. Dec 25, 2013 Wednesday. 0451-0458. Christmas day. Not sure they are there today, something on the channel but too weak to even guess the language. If forced to guess, I would say it sounds Portuguese; even the snippets of music do not sound like Zanzibar. Jo'burg sunrise 0314 (Bill Bingham, Johannesburg RSA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE. Radio Zimbabwe, 6045, Gweru. Dec 25, 2013 Wednesday. 0305-0310. Christmas day. AWOL. Jo'burg sunrise 0314 (Bill Bingham, Johannesburg RSA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. 4880.00, 1845-1855 19.12, Clandestine, SW Radio Africa, via Meyerton [SOUTH AFRICA], English talk about jobless people in Zimbabwe, jingle in Shona, 45344. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, on my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire in Skovlunde, Denmark, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) CLANDESTINA: 4880, SW R. Africa, Meyerton, África do Sul, 1848-1859*, 20/12, inglês, canções e música, fecho abrupto; 55444 (Carlos Gonçalves, PORTUGAL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. 12105, CLANDESTINE, Radio Dialogue – Talata- Volondry [MADAGASCAR site], 1656-1658* Dec 16, checked earlier but no sign of them on clear frequency. Returned later in passing and caught tail end of broadcast with talks by a man and woman in either Shona or Ndebele language. Closed abruptly. Poor to fair (Richard A. D`Angelo, French Creek State Park, PA, DXpedition No. 44, Ten-Tec RX-340, Drake R-8B and an Eton E1, 500-foot wire essentially north for the RX-340 and 250-foot wire essentially northeast for the R-8B and a whip antenna for the E1, via Craig Seager, ARDXC via DXLD) Evidently WTWW-3 was absent on this occasion (gh, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Trans-Pacific MW carrier search: NONE heard Dec 21 around 1320 UT, stepping-up at 9-kHz intervals from 531 to 972 kHz. Haven`t heard any since Dec 6; mid-winter anomaly? Not sought every morning, but often and have not reported no results since then. I only make one check a bit before sunrise, rather than keeping at it if no results at first; too much else to monitor on MW and SW with real signals (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 890 at 1200 UT December 14, 2013. Audible only in tight WLS null when pointing E/W so this may not have even been the optimal bearing to the station. Rambling male preacher, sounded much like Brother Stair (but I can't find any AM affiliates link on the Overcomer site). At one point he stated, “... Bethel, West Virginia, fined $5000 because broke FCC rules... $5000 in 1971 is $45000 dollars (today)... well, this was MY station!” No joy Googling such, no real surprise for an incident so pre-Internet days. WBAJ, Blythewood, SC schedule doesn't match and it is Seventh Day Adventist; KGGN, Gladstone, MO is African-American gospel; KTLR, Oklahoma City is EWTN/EWTN Spanish [not always --- gh]. WHNC, Henderson, NC seemingly has no website to compare schedule against. Lost the signal to Radio Progreso by 1230. Mexi-gospel KVOZ, Del Mar Hills, TX dominating the next morning with no trace of this one (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, JRC NRD-535; JRC-NRD-515 (borrowed); ICOM IC-R75; Hammarlund HQ-180A; Sony ICF-7600GR; Sangean PR-D5; Aqua Guide 705 RDF Marine Radio; GE Superadio III; JPS NF-60 Notch Filter; JPS ANC-4 Noise Phase; 1 X roof dipole; 1 X room random wire; custom active portable loop; Terk Advantage non-active portable loop, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 1060.10, 2315 December 24, 2013. Who's off-channel here, presume something Central American? Just a low het against Cuba when checking for XEEP Radio Educación, México DF – be they parallel or not to shortwave – after tuning to 6185. Frequency approximate (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA. JRC NRD-535; JRC-NRD-515 (stolen/being held hostage); ICOM IC-R75; Hammarlund HQ-180A; Sony ICF-7600GR; Sangean PR-D5; Aqua Guide 705 RDF Marine Radio; GE Superadio III; JPS NF-60 Notch Filter; JPS ANC-4 Noise Phase; 1 X roof dipole; 1 X room random wire; custom active portable loop; Terk Advantage non-active portable loop, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 2660+, Dec 20 at 0202 UT, AM carrier barely surpasses noise level, but can`t make out modulation. Probably KGLE Tyler TX, 2 x 1330, as heard last winter, and also on the hi side of 2660 Dec 12 around 1300. It will be tough to get a definite re-ID on this (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 3345. Dec 20 at 1430 found two stations causing a het; lower frequency must have been RRI Ternate (recently being heard about 3344.85) and higher one on about 3345.0 probably NBC Northern, but unable to raise any audio; both below threshold level. This conforms to Wolfy's reported observation today at 1214 (Ron Howard, Calif., Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Dec 20 at 1455 found two below threshold level open carriers; the strongest on 4675.0 and weaker 4740.0. First time I have noticed them. AIR Leh (Kashmir) is now reported missing from 4660. Moved to where? (Ron Howard, Calif., Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dec 21 did not find 4675.0 nor 4740.0 with anything (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 4905-AM, Dec 20 at 0620, continuous tone test, less than 1 kHz, some fades, atop CODAR swishes. Unusual to hear on 60mb, smax of a broadcaster rather than ute. Possibly Brasil as it`s midday in Tibet. When I turn the YB-400 back on at 1357 there`s RTTY on 4905 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Just on threshold hopping 20 Hertz around 5010.473 at 1927 UT. R Malagasy? (Wolfgang Büschel, Stuttgart, Germany, Dec 20, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 6135, 0819-0845*, Dec 18, sudden appearance of fair- level carrier and audio signal. Instrumental music and man ann in American English with frequent ann: "You are listening to a test transmission.." (remainder unintelligible) and occasionally followed by "...reception reports..." (remainder unintelligible). Off equally suddenly at 0829.5, but back on at 0833.5. R Santa Cruz (presumed) just below, but weak carrier and no audio. Off suddenly at 0845. SINPO 2-34332. Any ideas?? Only U.S.-based station listed here is RFE/RL from Biblis Germany site (Bruce Churchill, Fallbrook CA, in DXplorer via DSWCI DX Window Dec 24 via DXLD) Obviously the BaBcoCk loop we have heard elsewhere, probably Woofferton (gh, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Good morning, today (24 December) I heard one of these "test transmissions" from a (UK?) site without identification on 6175 kHz AM. SINPO 34433. Music and announcements in English "You are listening to a test transmission"; signing off at 0921 UT. gmail.com address. 73 (Harald Kuhl, Germany, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) Re 6175: To check feederlines and antennas at Woofferton site? ? has something to do with very strong storm from Atlantic Ocean which hit England, Northern France, BeNeLux, and north western Germany too? Had lots of rain and some very strong gusts of wind. The next storm - which looks even worse on the charts - is due late on the 26th and 27th. The antennas hopefully they'll remain there at Woofferton site. Identified as being from Babcock at Woofferton again? Likely 6175 scheduled WOF 0100-0300 UT Vietnamese of VoVTN US/CAN wards. 73 wb df5sx, (Wolfgang Büschel, Dec 24, BC-DX via DXLD) If it's that "Transmission test" then it has to be WOF as it was locally made by Martin 2E1EKX and is stored on a playout machine. The 6175 kHz is used as a night time transmitter for the VoV on 282 degree using Array 905 so they must have had a problem and were checking after repairs (David Porter-UK G4OYX, BrDXC-UK Dec 24 via BCDX 26 Dec via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 6250, Dec 1 0830, UNID station in Spanish with religious talk. Anyone who have any idea? DO (Dan Oloffson, Sweden? SW Bulletin Dec 22 via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 8695-AM, Dec 20 at 1456, continuous 1 kHz tone, fair- good with moderate fading. Unusual to hear in a ute band, smax of a broadcaster, but distracted by 9900 VOA NF, did not get back to check this past 1500. EiBi includes lots of utes, but nothing on 8695 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 9670, Dec 21 1357 past 1400, 1 kHz tone instead of VOA Tibetan via Lampertheim as scheduled, nor Firedrake as heard recently. HFCC also shows Pakistan`s Chinese until 1400 on 9670, presumably imaginary as not in Aoki or EiBi. The question is whether the ChiCom would jam that like they do Chinese from India (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 15540, Dec 21 at 1449, fair signal but just barely modulated past 1500, when ACI from 15535 R. Tamazuj starts via Vatican. Nothing in schedules on 15540 until 1600 (or 1550), Kuwait in Urdu. EiBi does show V. of Tibet on 15542 or 15543 via Tajikistan at 1200-1430, while Aoki ends those at 1230. If really on 15542 this late, VOT would attract ChiCom jamming on 15540, but unseemed like CNR1 which is normally well-modulated whether jamming or not (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re 15540, Dec 21 at 1449: Radio Kuwait General Service in Arabic on 15540, scheduled 1600-1800 in Urdu. Confirmed on Dec. 21 at 1515-1525 // 9750, 21540 -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, Sony ICF- 2001D 30 m. long wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ ACKNOWLEDGED ON WORLD OF RADIO 1701: Glenn, Thanks for 1700 World of Radio programs and Happy Winter Solstice. Cheers, (Martin Gallas Springfield IL with a contribution via PayPal to woradio at yahoo.com) TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED FUTURELY: Thanks Glenn for your continuing very hard and thorough work with WoR! (Steve McGreevy - N6NKS with a contribution via PayPal) Keep up the good work! (Henning Vahlbruch, Germany, Dec 25, with a Euro contribution via PayPal) Another Century Mark Hi Glenn, Congrats on hitting another century mark with the production of the 1700th World of Radio. I hope you continue to produce World of Radio for a long time to come. Al -- [formally known as…] (Alan Marote, WA1LBG, Fellsmere, Florida, Dec 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I don't want to be pathetic about this, nor to beg for your feedback - after all, SWLing is a solitary hobby where every one minds his own business. However - when you do leave a short feedback (whatever it may be) on my blog page. Then one day, someone will bump into it and they may get hooked on SWLing too thinking that this is a COOL and EXCITING hobby. What am trying to say is this: self promoting is not always bad, but promoting to potential listener is always fantastic thing. Even a feedback line like : "I've heard them too on my (radio / ant)" would be greatly appreciated. That`s all. If it wouldn't be for Glen[n] Hauser and his podcasts, DXLD and Timm Breyel's "South East Asia DXing", I would never be bother to listen and log. Merry Christmas and Merry whatever you enjoy, 73 (Nick VK2DX Blog: http://nickvk2dx.blogspot.com/ dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ POPULAR COMMUNICATIONS Anyone received a print copy of PopComm in the mail lately? I'm still a subscriber, at least in theory, but issues seem to be coming later and later. I think the last issue that showed up here in print was October 2013. I'm curious to know if anyone else has gotten a more recent one (Scott Fybush, NY, Dec 20, ABDX via DXLD) Still waiting for Sept. and October issues here, rec'd this a couple weeks ago. Going to let my subscription expire after this, very poor response, if any, I am now short 4 issues (Jerry WW0E, ibid.) Viz.: ``Hi Jerry, Sorry for the lack of response. November and December Pop'Comm are still delayed. You should have received September. Our apologies for the delays. 73, Rich W2VU`` (via Jerry, ibid.) I did two articles for them, paid for the 1st, never got paid for the 2nd. Multiple letters to them and no response (N7SOK, ibid.) I had to call to get the October and November issues. They did send them out to me by 1st class mail. Looks like I'll be calling them for December as well. Wonder if they are pushing for everyone to go to their electronic format? 73, (Mark Clark, ibid.) There are several threads on eHam and QRZ about CQ arriving late or not at all. My August CQ never showed up, and I had to call multiple times to get them to mail the October and November issues. December still hasn't arrived. Pop'Comm has been somewhat more reliable (Kc0kek, ibid.) There are several threads on eHam and QRZ about CQ arriving late or not at all. My August CQ never showed up, and I had to call multiple times to get them to mail the October and November issues. December still hasn't arrived. Pop'Comm has been somewhat more reliable (Tim Kridel, Dec 21, ABDX via DXLD) THE END OF AN ERA - POPULAR COMMUNICATIONS, WRO, CQ VHF Fellow radio friends, The release below my sig lines was distributed to staff at all of the publications last night. I do not yet know whether my column will continue in any form, but if does not, it is my intention to remain in print somewhere each month. Thanks to all you who have supported my efforts and responded to my columns and feature articles over the past five and a half years. -- (Rob de Santos, K8RKD, Horizons Columnist, PopComm Magazine, Twitter: @shuttleman58 dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: NEWS RELEASE CQ to Realign Publications, Launch New "CQ Plus" Digital Supplement Hicksville, NY (December 23, 2013) -- CQ Communications, Inc. today announced plans to realign its roster of publications and to launch an exciting new online supplement to its flagship magazine, CQ Amateur Radio. "The hobby radio market is changing," said CQ Communications President and Publisher Dick Ross, K2MGA, "and we are changing what we do and how we do it in order to continue providing leadership to all segments of the radio hobby." CQ Communications is currently the only publisher in the United States serving the broad radio hobby, from broadcast band DXing to amateur radio moonbounce and satellite communications. CQ itself has been amateur radio's leading independent voice for seven decades. Effective with the February 2014 issue of CQ, said Ross, content from the magazine's three sister publications, Popular Communications, CQ VHF and WorldRadio Online, will be incorporated into CQ's digital edition as a supplement to be called "CQ Plus." With this change, hobby radio enthusiasts of all types will be able to go to a single source - CQ - for articles on the broader aspects of hobby radio, from shortwave listening and scanner monitoring to personal two-way services and Internet radio, as well as amateur radio. Richard Fisher, KI6SN, currently Editor of both Popular Communications and WorldRadio Online, will be Editor of CQ Plus. "Our primary audience is ham radio operators," explained Ross, "but very few hams began their radio involvement as amateurs. Most of us started out as shortwave listeners, broadcast band DXers, CBers or scanning enthusiasts. Many continue to be involved in many different aspects of the radio hobby in addition to amateur radio. "By consolidating four specialized publications into one," Ross continued, "we will be better able to keep these multidimensional readers informed on all aspects of the radio hobby while simultaneously exposing those who are not hams to all the excitement and opportunities that amateur radio has to offer. We see this as a win-win for all of our readers and our advertisers, who will now be able to reach a wider and more diverse audience." The expanded material will be an integral part of the digital edition of CQ, and will be included as part of a standard digital subscription. Each month's digital edition will simply continue beyond where the print edition ends, offering supplemental material on all aspects of hobby radio communication and will include selected columns carried over from the other magazines. The added digital content will make full use of the multimedia opportunities presented by digital publications. Current subscriptions to Popular Communications, CQ VHF and WorldRadio Online will be converted to CQ subscriptions - and receive CQ Plus at no additional charge! Details will be posted on each magazine website. There's no need to wait to see the great variety of articles that will be featured each month in the new CQ and CQ Plus. A preview of the February issue's Table of Contents is available on the CQ website at ### CQ Communications, Inc. | 516-681-2922 | w2vu@cq-amateur-radio.com | http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com 25 Newbridge Road Hicksville, NY 11801 (via Rob De Santos, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Wow, what PR puffery, trying to turn a failure into a bright new future (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) Uses Zinio and Flash to display content. Not simply a downloadable pdf. Real pain unless one is using approved OS and has installed Zinio offline reader. 73, (Kraig Krist, VA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) This may be true, Kraig, but is really secondary to the fact the hobby has lost these magazines as print publications and indeed, as independent publications. What is left is a digital only supplement to another publication. A few of the writers will go writing for the new supplement but it won't replace what is lost. – (-Rob de Santos, K8RKD, Horizons Columnist, PopComm Magazine, ibid.) I agree and probably explains why many subscribers have not received a printed issue since October. I called CQ on Monday explaining I had not received November or December issue. I was only offered digital issue. Time to cancel subscription. 73, (Kraig Krist, ibid.) I actually prefer the Zinio version to the MT PDF. It was very simple to navigate on my iPod mini (Walt Salmaniw, BC, ibid.) PIRATE RADIO CENTRAL http://www.blackcatsystems.com/radio/pirate.html (via Des Preston, dxldyg via DXLD) CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2014 WINTER SWL FEST RESERVATIONS CAN NOW BE MADE Richard Cuff and John Figliozzi, co-chairs of the Winter SWL Festival, are pleased to announce that arrangements are now set for the 27th (!) Annual Winter SWL Festival, Scheduled for March 14th and 15th at the Doubletree Guest Suites Philadelphia West, in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania. Early registration fees will remain as they were in 2013 through the month of January, as an incentive to register early. We strongly urge you to do so as fees will increase for those registering February 1 and later. Single and double rooms are available at a special $99 rate, including breakfast, and can be reserved with Doubletree by phone at 610-834- 8300 using the event code WINTER SWL FEST. The special $99 hotel rate may not be available after February 14th, so it's best to book early. For more information and links to paper and online registration for the hotel and the event itself, visit the SWL Fest website at http://www.swlfest.com (Rich Cuff, Dec 21, WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 2014 FEST CASTING CALL Once again, we invite one and all to be a part of the 2014 Winter SWL Fest on March 14 and 15, 2014 at the Doubletree Guest Suites in fashionable Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania. That's 84 days away as I type this. As you know, one of the centerpieces of the Fest weekend is our line- up of informative and entertaining forums. How do we get them? These excellent sessions are put together and presented by you and people just like you -- people with a deep and abiding interest in radio and a willingness to share what they've experienced, learned and know. So, how about it? Have you a topic that you think Fest participants will find interesting and would like to present? Tell us about it. Your role will be to lead a one hour session forum. That means preparing about a half-hour presentation that leaves plenty of time for audience questions and interaction. It can be anything from a straight (or comic) lecture (or both) to a multimedia extravaganza. Your choice! And as a gesture of appreciation (and perhaps some measure of small compensation for your efforts), the Fest will comp your registration fee if your proposal is accepted by the Organizing Committee for inclusion in the 2014 program. Make your suggestion/proposal to John Figliozzi at If you have any questions, we'll be happy to discuss them with you. And even if you've never led a forum before, don't hesitate; from personal experience we've learned that people tend to unfairly and inaccurately minimize their own abilities in this area. We know you'll be great; but you have to let us in on what you're thinking! We promise a quick turnaround on your proposal. Be a part of the 2014 Winter SWL Fest program! 73 and 88 to the Ladies (John Figliozzi, Richard Cuff, 2014 Winter SWL Fest, Dec 20, NASWA yg via DXLD) LANGUAGE LESSONS ++++++++++++++++ CHINESE CHANNEL NAMES There will be an article about identifying Chinese stations on DXing.info, but I'm still working on it. Channel names will be there as well. 73, (Mika Mäkelainen via RealDX via SW Bulletin Dec 22 via DXLD)) The problem with Chinese names and other languages from that region spelled in Latin characters, is that they are often written so weird. In the old days a different kind of spelling was used that sounded much more correct at least to my ears. For example why on earth do they write Xinhua when it is spoken more or less just like the French word Chinois. Why is is Qinghai written with a Q and pronounced as Ch. What's the difference between X and Sh or between OU and U etc. A good start is this Youtube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUzt5HqqIuo And if you don't want to listen to the complete video you must certainly listen to the examples of Huhhot and Urumqi http://youtu.be/CUzt5HqqIuo?t=7m7s 73, (Guido Schotmans, Belgium, ibid.) I`ll tell you why on earth: to the Chinese ear, the Q sound and the X sound are distinct. Articulation, tongue position in mouth is different. It`s only to (y)our Western ears that they sound the `same`. Ever notice the `funny` way native Chinese pronounce in English the word ``China``? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DRM vs DAB, IBOC see NIGERIA; RUSSIA; TAIWAN +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Open Letter: http://www.drm.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/John-Shaw-Lord-Hall-letter-18-December-2013.pdf ITU to BBC General Director: WHERE TO GO WITH DIGITAL SOUND BROADCASTING A pause for reconsideration and reassessment by the BBC of objectives, alternatives and overall strategy could provide a win-win outcome for broadcasters and listeners together. Source fb Drm Digitalradiomondiale Letter from John Shaw, Chairman of the ITU-R Working Party 6A Rapporteur Group on the transition to digital sound broadcasting to Lord Tony Hall, Director General BBC, on 18 December 2013 http://www.drm.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/John-Shaw-Lord-Hall-letter-18-December-2013.pdf Letter - Highlights The traditional model of sound broadcasting faces challenges that make it essential to go to digital modulation techniques. However, reaction to the announcement shows that much uncertainty remains. A particularly attractive consideration is being able to achieve subjective audio quality close to that of FM along with more stable reception over long distances. Although the United Kingdom opted for DAB some 25 years ago, time has moved on and maybe DAB is another victim of technological progress; there have been questions following the announcement on whether the chosen DAB solution is the best. Development started with the DRM30 transmission mode as a replacement for AM broadcasting in the long, medium and short wave bands. DRM30 is one of several digital sound broadcasting systems recommended by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)1, but is the only one recommended for use in all the broadcasting bands below 30 MHz. For the VHF broadcasting bands (above 30 MHz), the DRM Consortium has also developed the DRM+ transmission mode of the DRM standard. Initially, DRM+ was only intended to replace FM broadcasting in VHF Band II (87.5-108 MHz). The experience with DRM30 implementations to date is that there are major savings in transmission power and electricity costs – down to between half or a quarter of conventional AM transmitter consumption – coupled with audio quality close to FM and the means to operate in stereo. Another ITU recommended system, HD Radio3, has been authorized for implementation in the United States, Mexico, Panama and the Philippines. The first authorization was issued in the United States in 2004. DAB offers a large multiplex solution to radio listening similar to digital television. Development of the DAB system started some 25 years ago as the Eureka 147 project under the technical direction of the European Broadcasting Union and with the active support of the major European broadcasters. Yet people generally settle on a few favourite radio stations and do not constantly zap around the multiplexes, as with television viewing, until an interesting scene comes up. People do want a diversity of radio programming available but generally stick to a few favourites suited to their tastes and location. It is a paradox that by organising radio programming into large multiplexes listener choice is reduced to a choice between the public and larger commercial broadcasters. Fortunately, with the passage of time, there is now a simple European solution to overcoming the limitations of the DAB system in the form of DRM+, the latest development of the DRM family of coding and transmission schemes. However, the success of the DRM+ trials in Band II (with successful full scale trials in Edinburgh, Rome and elsewhere) has led to consideration of using DRM+ to provide new broadcasting opportunities in Band I (47-72 MHz) and Band III (174-230 MHz). Most importantly for organizing a transition to digital sound broadcasting, DRM+ allows for a phased one-for-one substitution of FM stations by DRM+ capable stations that can duplicate the original coverage area, whether large or small – a feature that is absent from the DAB transition route. This is an essential consideration when it comes to evaluating options for a switchover to digital sound broadcasting, especially as regards replacing FM, which has come to be the de facto global standard for radio transmission. We should avoid hyperbole when informing the public about the benefits that can be gained from digital sound broadcasting and take care to address the concerns of those who see only a forced and premature wholesale switch to DAB from FM broadcasting. But now we have the opportunity to make a fresh, pragmatic and holistic assessment of the options for a transition to digital sound broadcasting. The public needs to be satisfied that scrapping a bin full of radios around every house will outweigh the cost and inconvenience of making the change to digital sound broadcasting. What was wrong with all that equipment? We should therefore take the present opportunity to consider evidence and to carry out a full cost benefit and impact analysis on any switchover scheme. Previous consultations seem to have been dominated by those who shout loudest. Moreover, the eventual solution must encompass broadcasters at all levels and genres, from BBC national services to small scale Community Radio. The DRM30 and DRM+ systems incorporate the technical means to make a phased transition to digital sound broadcasting, well suited to the broadcasting environment in the United Kingdom, without the need for a D-day style big bang, and would also allow the link with established service areas to be retained. Then, as the rolling transition proceeds, the further benefits of digital transmission can be brought on stream. For example, DRM+ can offer mini-multiplexes in the VHF bands to serve local needs, together with a range of associated or standalone data services, giving broadcasters additional opportunities to serve their audiences. Once more, a pause for reconsideration and reassessment by the BBC of objectives, alternatives and overall strategy could provide a win-win outcome for broadcasters and listeners together. To: Lord Hall of Birkenhead CBE, Director General BBC, New Broadcasting House 19 Langham Street London W1A 1AA tony.hall@bbc.co.uk (by post and email) [following is partially duplicative of the above, but I`m not taking more of my valuable time to weed it out --- gh] From: John Shaw Chairman of the ITU-R Working Party 6A Rapporteur Group on the transition to digital sound broadcasting. 128 Perth Road ILFORD Essex IG2 6AS Email: shawj@ties.itu.int Tel: 020 8554 6018 18 December 2013 Subject: Where to go with digital sound broadcasting Dear Lord Hall, Where to go with digital sound broadcasting Having in mind the Communication Minister’s announcement of continued support for digital sound broadcasting, though without giving a switchover date, I am writing an open letter to you in order to express again my concern about how the transition to digital sound broadcasting is being handled. I wrote previously on this subject to Lord Patten on 28 May 2012 following the DQF consultation. The traditional model of sound broadcasting faces challenges that make it essential to go to digital modulation techniques. However, reaction to the announcement shows that much uncertainty remains. Although the United Kingdom opted for DAB some 25 years ago, time has moved on and maybe DAB is another victim of technological progress; there have been questions following the announcement on whether the chosen DAB solution is the best. Other and more flexible digital sound broadcasting systems have been developed and come into use around the world that allow for a phased transition, including several that allow for simultaneous analogue and digital transmissions to be run from the same transmitter. For administrations and broadcasters, the analogue modulation techniques of amplitude modulation (AM) and frequency modulation (FM) used around the world for sound broadcasting for many decades do not provide the optimum use of spectrum. For listeners, audio quality is often compromised by adverse propagation conditions, increasing man- made radio noise in the environment, and over-use of the available frequency bands. Nevertheless, the digital technologies chosen must present listeners with very clear benefits, in order to command their interest and support in making the transition to digital sound broadcasting. While there is no doubt that the levels of noise and interference from competing broadcasting stations do not make for a satisfactory listening experience in the crowded long and medium wave bands used for AM broadcasting, there are many cases, such as the BBC Radio 4 long wave service on 198 kHz, where the advantages of easy availability of continuous regional or nationwide coverage outweigh the poorer quality. Radio 4 long wave can be received well into Europe, up to around Paris. The advantages of wide area long and medium wave broadcasting have been recognised and reassessed in many countries around the world, including India, Russia, Ukraine, USA, Bangladesh, Taiwan and, Japan. These countries are leading the way on replacing AM services with digital sound broadcasting systems. A particularly attractive consideration is being able to achieve subjective audio quality close to that of FM along with more stable reception over long distances. India is progressing rapidly with replacing its AM broadcasting networks with digital sound broadcasting after settling on the DRM30 transmission mode of the Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) standard. Russia and Ukraine are also well advanced in implementing the transition to digital sound broadcasting on medium wave. The involvement of these countries will ensure that low cost DRM30 receivers become widely available. The Indian state broadcaster AIR has put out a tender for DRM receivers and 5 major manufacturers have already responded. The experience with DRM30 implementations to date is that there are major savings in transmission power and electricity costs – down to between half or a quarter of conventional AM transmitter consumption – coupled with audio quality close to FM and the means to operate in stereo. This lead could be followed here by replacing the BBC R4 long wave transmitter with a solid state DRM30 capable transmitter, as has been done in Denmark with the Kalundborg station on 243 kHz. The DRM family of coding and transmission modes for digital sound broadcasting was developed by a consortium of European broadcasters (with BBC one of its founding fathers), research bodies and standards developing organisations. Development started with the DRM30 transmission mode as a replacement for AM broadcasting in the long, medium and short wave bands. DRM30 is one of several digital sound broadcasting systems recommended by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)1, but is the only one recommended for use in all the broadcasting bands below 30 MHz. For the VHF broadcasting bands (above 30 MHz), the DRM Consortium has also developed the DRM+ transmission mode of the DRM standard. Following extensive trials and evaluation, DRM+ has also been recommended by the ITU2. Another ITU recommended system, HD Radio3, has been authorized for implementation in the United States, Mexico, Panama and the Philippines. The first authorization was issued in the United States in 2004. As of October 2013, there are approximately 2,200 AM and FM stations broadcasting digitally in the United States. Those stations also transmit more than 1,200 digital-only multicast programming channels. HD receivers for home and car use are widely available. 1 The DRM30 system is described in Annex 1 to ITU-R Recommendation BS.1514. 2 DRM+ is classified as “Digital system G” in ITU-R Recommendation BS.1114. 3 The medium wave and VHF variants of HD Radio are described in Annex 2 to ITU-R Recommendation BS.1514 and under Digital System “C” in ITU-R Recommendation BS.1114, respectively. The HD and DRM radio systems were developed specifically to allow for a phased transition to digital sound broadcasting over several years, and can support simultaneous analogue and digital coverage from the same transmitter. However, there would be difficulty in adapting the HD Radio system for use in the crowded spectrum found in Europe, where tightly controlled Plans administered by the ITU apply to transmitter locations and frequency assignments for broadcasting in the long, medium and VHF broadcasting bands. A substitution scheme has already been authorised by the ITU for converting long and medium wave AM transmissions into DRM30 transmissions. DRM30 therefore has the potential to revitalise the bands originally used for AM broadcasting. Broadcasters providing international, national and regional services have an excellent opportunity to cut costs, simplify their operations and attract new audiences to high quality programming. It therefore seems that a strong case can be put to the public to make a rapid transition to digital sound broadcasting in the long and medium wave bands using the DRM30 mode of the DRM standard. A clear lead from the BBC and government in favour of making a rapid transition to digital sound broadcasting in the long and medium wave bands would bring very tangible benefits to European broadcasters and listeners. A transition to DRM30 would also offer a convenient solution to the uncertainty surrounding the continued operation of the Radio 4 long wave service. Matters are less clear cut in respect of ceasing FM services; listeners have well-founded concerns on why FM services need to be switched off and why DAB is offered as the only solution. Listeners could benefit more in terms of diversity of programming, coverage, quality and convenience if the replacement digital sound broadcasting system offered more flexibility than DAB. Moreover, a later development of the DAB system, the DAB+ standard (currently being introduced in Germany and Switzerland), could not be offered in the United Kingdom without replacing the present DAB transmitter infrastructure and receiver base. With hindsight we can see that concentrating on developing digital sound broadcasting systems that can offer the route of a phased replacement of the wide variety of FM services available – national, regional, local and community – would have had advantages, especially as regards helping to allay many of the concerns felt by listeners and broadcasters. Uppermost is the feeling among listeners that they are being forced into a one size fits all DAB multiplex box. Also, the cost of joining multiplexes may deter many smaller scale broadcasters if they find that the multiplex coverage is a poor match to their listener base and to advertisers’ expectations. If smaller commercial or community based stations are faced with a mismatched or absent transmission option, or unaffordable transition costs, then a vital mix of diverse content is put at risk. Such stations will certainly be placed at a disadvantage to the larger broadcasters, for whom the DAB system was designed. Development of the DAB system started some 25 years ago as the Eureka 147 project under the technical direction of the European Broadcasting Union and with the active support of the major European broadcasters. The multiplex delivery system is indeed well suited to the needs of large scale broadcasters, where being able to deliver a number of programmes across the same coverage area is a distinct advantage – indeed this was one of the main design objectives. However, many independent commercial and community-based broadcast operators fear being severely disadvantaged due to an absence of transmission capacity or because of unaffordable transition costs. This situation has come about because the DAB system was designed in a top-down manner in order fulfil the needs of the large broadcasting organisations in Europe rather than with the listening habits and preferences of ordinary people in mind. DAB offers a large multiplex solution to radio listening similar to digital television. Yet people generally settle on a few favourite radio stations and do not constantly zap around the multiplexes, as with television viewing, until an interesting scene comes up. People do want a diversity of radio programming available but generally stick to a few favourites suited to their tastes and location. It is a paradox that by organising radio programming into large multiplexes listener choice is reduced to a choice between the public and larger commercial broadcasters. Fortunately, with the passage of time, there is now a simple European solution to overcoming the limitations of the DAB system in the form of DRM+, the latest development of the DRM family of coding and transmission schemes. The DRM+ transmission mode was developed as a replacement for analogue sound broadcasting in the VHF broadcasting bands, so as to be compatible with the stringent band planning constraints in Europe. Initially, DRM+ was only intended to replace FM broadcasting in VHF Band II (87.5-108 MHz). However, the success of the DRM+ trials in Band II (with successful full scale trials in Edinburgh, Rome and elsewhere) has led to consideration of using DRM+ to provide new broadcasting opportunities in Band I (47-72 MHz) and Band III (174-230 MHz). Most importantly for organizing a transition to digital sound broadcasting, DRM+ allows for a phased one-for-one substitution of FM stations by DRM+ capable stations that can duplicate the original coverage area, whether large or small – a feature that is absent from the DAB transition route. This is an essential consideration when it comes to evaluating options for a switchover to digital sound broadcasting, especially as regards replacing FM, which has come to be the de facto global standard for radio transmission. We should avoid hyperbole when informing the public about the benefits that can be gained from digital sound broadcasting and take care to address the concerns of those who see only a forced and premature wholesale switch to DAB from FM broadcasting. But now we have the opportunity to make a fresh, pragmatic and holistic assessment of the options for a transition to digital sound broadcasting. The public needs to be satisfied that scrapping a bin full of radios around every house will outweigh the cost and inconvenience of making the change to digital sound broadcasting. What was wrong with all that equipment? We should therefore take the present opportunity to consider evidence and to carry out a full cost benefit and impact analysis on any switchover scheme. Previous consultations seem to have been dominated by those who shout loudest. Moreover, the eventual solution must encompass broadcasters at all levels and genres, from BBC national services to small scale Community Radio. The DRM30 and DRM+ systems incorporate the technical means to make a phased transition to digital sound broadcasting, well suited to the broadcasting environment in the United Kingdom, without the need for a D-day style big bang, and would also allow the link with established service areas to be retained. Then, as the rolling transition proceeds, the further benefits of digital transmission can be brought on stream. For example, DRM+ can offer mini-multiplexes in the VHF bands to serve local needs, together with a range of associated or standalone data services, giving broadcasters additional opportunities to serve their audiences A pause for reconsideration and reassessment by the BBC of objectives, alternatives and overall strategy could provide a win-win outcome for broadcasters and listeners together. Yours sincerely John Shaw Chairman of the ITU-R Working Party 6A Rapporteur Group on the transition to digital sound broadcasting. (via Drita Çiço, Dec 19, DXLD) Dear Drita, Thank you for your interest. The latest draft text of the ITU-R Report on the transition to digital sound broadcasting is available at this link: https://www.itu.int/md/choice_md.asp?id=R12-WP6A-C-0360!N13!MSW-E&lang=en&type=sitems There is much information there about the implementation of DRM30, DRM+ and HD Radio systems. Best regards, John Shaw (via Drita, ibid.) 2014 DRM GENERAL ASSEMBLY SET FOR LONDON http://www.abu.org.my/Latest_News-@-2014_DRM_General_Assembly_set_for_London.aspx The Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) Consortium will have its General Assembly in London next March. The two-day Assembly will take place at the BBC Headquarters, on March 26 and 27 in the iconic Radio Theatre. Under the title DRM in Action the Consortium want to make this “the most inclusive event in its history, a moment to consider the benefits of DRM and its progress, an affirmation of the power of digital radio”. The first day will be open to all DRM members and invited guests from the UK and abroad with the second day reserved for consortium members only. The morning will be devoted to informative presentations on the extra benefits of digital radio; the impact of radio and insights into markets around the world, in particular India and Brazil. In the afternoon, all delegates will be able to have a “hands–on” experience of DRM and digital radio. It will be an ideal opportunity to network with fellow professionals from across the globe and to see how the new technology can offer choice of content and benefit audiences. To register for the DRM General Assembly events on the 26th March please contact projectoffice@drm.org (ABU via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) Why after all these years is there not a single minute of DRM broadcasting from any government or private SW station in the USA? Do they know something the DRM consortium doesn`t? (gh, DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ [Re previous discussion about 1500-KSTP and 1530-KFBK] FRANKLIN AND SECTIONALIZED ANTENNAS The “Franklin” antenna as described by Laport (“Radio Antenna Engineering”, 1952) is an application of the “uniphased” principle developed by Franklin for feeding HF antennas, which are normally horizontally polarized. When the principle is applied to a vertical dipole, however, one end is close to ground and so an additional tuning element may be incorporated, so that the phases of the currents in the two halves of the antenna, upper and lower, are as closely matched as is practical. It is fed at the center point. A vertical antenna of this type is different from one which has a series reactance at some height of the radiator as a means of current distribution modification. This is generally referred to as a “sectionalized” antenna. A Franklin antenna does not have to be a full wavelength tall. Indeed, the Russian “AADC” antennas of various types are used individually and in arrays (for directional patterns) over quite wide frequency ranges but with individual segment lengths as short as 0.3 or even 0.2 wavelengths. (“Antennas: Radio Communications, Radio Broadcasting, Part 2", Moscow, 1980.) So the primary difference between a sectionalized antenna and a Franklin or “uniphased” antenna is the feed point location. Just for amusement, I pulled up the FCC database entries for seven stations with antennas that are not "standard", ie, are insulated somewhere along their length, either for feed or reactance insertion. The can be identified by the flag "top loaded or sectionalized" in the database. I suspect that without a copy of the FCC's computer program RADIAT one would have a difficult time sorting out just what is going on with any of these antennas just from the data in the database. The *comments* in RADIAT explain them, and one can sort out the math from the FORTRAN if one cared. But it's not immediately obvious and the data isn't necessarily consistent from one case to another. Compare, for example, the entries for KFBK and KSTP, both of which have center fed Franklin antennas. Regards, (Benj. F. Dawson III, P.E. Hatfield & Dawson Consulting Engineers, LLC 9500 Greenwood Avenue North Seattle, WA 98103 USA 206 783 9151 206 789 9834 Facsimile dawson@hatdaw.com Dec 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) SCOTT FYBUSH ON THIS WEEK IN RADIO TECH Our own Scott Fybush is the featured guest on the latest edition of This Week In Radio Tech. Listen to or download the show at http://www.thisweekinradiotech.com (Dave Marthouse, Dec 21, NRC-AM via DXLD) QSL SCANNING Gents [sic], I recently completed a big project -- scanning my QSLs -- and I thought other DXPers might want to know how it went. It was actually two projects: creating a database of my QSLs, and then scanning them. The database project was pretty straightforward-- station name, country, city, when heard, when QSLed, letter/card/other stuff received, etc.; and also the album where the QSL is located. Most of my QSLs are in 21 large albums (11 x 14"), and they were inserted as they were received rather than by country, continent, etc. They are mounted with photo corners so removal for scanning was easy. Most of the data (including dates) was in my "all time" database of stations heard, but the QSL info was not in the format I wanted, hence my wish for a dedicated QSL database. When the database was finished I was surprised to find that I had 2,515 QSLs, all but 71 SWBC. This is a much higher number than I expected. I counted as one QSL a station's total response to a reception report, i.e. if their reply included a letter of verification, the station's QSL-card, and my prepared card, this was counted as one QSL, not three. When I did the database I had no plans to do the scanning. I thought it would take much more time than it did, and so at the outset I went slowly, "pacing" myself and hoping I wouldn't burn out. But over time I picked up speed, and in the end a project that I thought would take many months actually took about three (for both the database and the scanning). From the 2,515 QSLs I dropped 206 duplicates, which brought the number down to 2,309. To this "scannable" group I added some other items that had been received with QSLs, such as pennants; envelopes that were especially good-looking or that added to a QSL's overall presentation in some way; some business cards, station photos, and some postcards (those bearing a personal message from the station, a station seal, etc.). Some of these items were in my country files rather than in the albums, or in some "stacks of stuff" that had never quite made it into the country files; so this required a search through some long- unexamined material. In the end, the grand total of scanned images was 4,910, a number that likely would have scared me off at the outset had I expected it to be that high. Many QSLs have interesting material on both sides, and so have to be scanned twice; and when you add pennants, envelopes, etc., the number of images can go up quickly. I scanned at 150 d.p.i. for good resolution. Special thanks to John Herkimer who was able to seamlessly "mate" the multiple scans that were required for oversize pieces. Instinctively you might think that scans are a pretty poor substitute for an actual QSL that you can hold in your hands, but, after this project, I have much more respect for the scans. For one thing, they look much brighter and more colorful than the originals, revealing detail that escapes the naked eye. They seem to take on a whole new life. You can "clean up" blemishes on a QSL once it is digitized. And if, as in my case, you could see only one side of the QSL in the album, now you can see both sides. How you name the files determines the order in which they appear in the directory. I named mine by country and then station, so all the stations from a given country, and from an individual station, are now together. I put clandestine and other "target" stations with their target countries rather than lump them into a separate "clandestine" category. Because of the large number of scans, I divided them into four more- manageable subdirectories. Later I made another set of directories that grouped a second set of the scans by continent/country/station. By choosing "extra large icons" as the viewing option in Windows Explorer you can see much-bigger-than-thumbnail images of the QSLs rather than just a list of file names. And the Windows "slideshow" feature, which brings up the images automatically, one or two at a time, is great for viewing QSLs. There are a dozen different slideshow "themes" which mix static views, image "zooms" and varied backgrounds and styles (I like "Travel") to produce a pretty dramatic "show" with just a few clicks. You can select all the QSLs in the directory, or one country or one station, and enjoy them with minimal effort and, of course, without having to handle the albums. Seeing QSLs on screen gets you thinking more about their graphic qualities, and might even make them interesting to some non-DX types. Once the QSLs are digitized there are many display options you can think about. I've backed up all the images onto a thumbdrive, which makes the collection portable in a practical sense. (Insert the thumbdrive into the USB port of your HD TV and watch your QSLs in a big screen slideshow.) I'm sure I'm not the first who has done this. The scanning is a lot of work, but it adds a whole new dimension to the enjoyment of your QSLs. If you have the time, you will be glad you did it (Jerry Berg via DXPlorer via SW Bulletin Dec 22 via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ SOLAR SCIENTISTS: CYCLE 24 IS WEAKEST IN MORE THAN A CENTURY Four leading solar scientists on December 11 told journalists attending the American Geophysical Union (AGU) fall conference in San Francisco that current solar Cycle 24 has demonstrated extremely low sunspot activity and appears to be the weakest cycle of the past 10 cycles -- more than 100 years. This already has resulted in milder "space weather" and less-intense geomagnetic storms and "energetic particle events," such as coronal mass ejections (CMEs), NASA scientist Nat Gopalswamy said. Cycle 24 sunspot number prediction. [NASA] "The weak activity of Cycle 24 is thought to be due to the weak polar magnetic field in Cycle 23," an AGU news release explained. "If this trend continues for the next couple of cycles, the Sun may be heading for a global minimum." The scientists drew no specific conclusions regarding the impact of the extremely weak Cycle 24 on radio propagation. Stanford University's Leif Svalgaard said this weak cycle had been predicted based on the behavior of the Sun's polar magnetic fields, which translate into fewer sunspots. Svalgaard believes that in a few years it will be possible to use polar field data to determine the robustness of Cycle 25. The Sun's weak polar magnetic field could lead to an increase in cosmic ray activity, which could affect manned spaceflight. In addition to Svalgaard and Gopalswamy, the other scientists were Martin Mlynczak of NASA-Langley, and Joe Giacolone of the University of Arizona. According to Spaceweather.com, since 2004 there have been 821 days without sunspots, compared to 486 days for the "typical" solar minimum, but none of these days fell within 2012 or 2013 (via W0WOI via Joe Talbot, AB, DXLD) P.I.G. Bulletin 131222 Solar & Geomagnetic activity forecast for the period December 22 - January 17 Solar activity will continue to fluctuate at solar flux 120 - 180 s.f.u. during next few weeks. A common occurrence of C class flares and some M clas flares is expected, X class flares are exceptionally possible. Geomagnetic field will be: quiet on December 22, 24, 31, January 1, 6 - 9, mostly quiet on December 23, 25, 28, January 2 - 3, 13 - 17, quiet to unsettled on December 29, January 5, 10, 12, quiet to active on December 26 - 27, January 11, active to disturbed on December 30, January 4. Growings of solar wind may cause remarkable changes in magnetosphere and ionosphere on December (26 - 29,) 30 - 31, January 1, 4 - 6, 10 - 13. Remarks: - Parenthesis means lower probability of activity enhancement. - If until April 2014 (possible secondary maximum) solar activity will not reach 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 Dec 23 1217 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center # Product description and SWPC contact on the Web # http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/weekly.html # # Weekly Highlights and Forecasts # Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 16 - 22 December 2013 Solar activity began the week at moderate levels and ended at high levels. Region 1928 (S17, L=8, class/area=Ekc/460 on 21 Dec) unleashed a flurry of M-class x-ray flares (R1 radio blackouts) on Saturday, 22 Dec. Five of the six M-flares which occurred on 22 December originated from Region 1928. The largest was an M3/1N at 1512 UTC. This region appeared on the disk on 18 December as a Dao type region with 12 spots and a beta-gamma magnetic configuration. The magnetic complexity perisisted throughout the week as the region grew to become the largest on the visible disk. The only other region to produce M-class flares was Region 1934 (S14, L=268, class/area=Dac/160 on 22 Dec). This region first rotated around the east limb on 19 December as plage. By 20 Dec it had developed spots and a simple beta magentic configuration. It continued to grow, developing 9 spots and a beta-gamma magnetic configuration by 22 December. Region 1934 was responsible for three energetic events, an M3 flare at 19/2319 UTC, an M1 flare at 20/1157 UTC, and an M1/1f flare at 22/1438 UTC. Region 1917 (S16, L=77, class/area=Dki/420) was the second largest region on the disk and produced five C-class events during the week before crossing the west limb on 19 Dec. No Earth-directed coronal mass ejections were observed during the week. No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at low to moderate levels all week. Geomagnetic field activity was mostly quiet throughout the week. It began at unsettled levels for the first two synoptic periods of the week in the wake of a coronal hole high speed stream. A solar sector boundary crossing from positive to negative was observed at the ACE spacecraft around 16/0700 UTC. Quiet levels dominated the remainder of the week with the exception of a single unsettled episode on 20 Dec during the 03-06 UTC synoptic period. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 23 DEC 2013 - 18 JAN 2014 Solar activity is expected to begin at moderate to high levels with continued M-class activity (R1-R2, minor to moderate radio blackouts) from Regions 1928 and 1934 likely. This activity will be accompanied by a slight chance for an X-class (R3 or greater, strong radio blackout) event and will persist through 02 January when Region 1934 rotates around the west limb. Activity may reach moderate to high levels again beginning on 07 January when Old Region 1928 returns. These elevated levels of solar activity may last through the end of the forecast period. There is a slight chance for proton events at geosynchronous orbit through 28 December as Region 1928 rotates off the visible solar disk. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be normal levels to moderate levels through the forecast period. Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at quiet to unsettled levels, in the absence of any transient features, with the following exceptions: 25 Dec, 03-04 Jan, and 10 Jan, when conditions may reach active levels in response to recurrent coronal hole high speed streams. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2013 Dec 23 1217 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 2013-12-23 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2013 Dec 23 135 5 2 2013 Dec 24 135 5 2 2013 Dec 25 130 10 4 2013 Dec 26 125 8 3 2013 Dec 27 125 5 2 2013 Dec 28 125 5 2 2013 Dec 29 125 5 2 2013 Dec 30 130 5 2 2013 Dec 31 135 5 2 2014 Jan 01 145 5 2 2014 Jan 02 150 5 2 2014 Jan 03 155 10 4 2014 Jan 04 165 20 4 2014 Jan 05 170 5 2 2014 Jan 06 175 5 2 2014 Jan 07 170 5 2 2014 Jan 08 165 5 2 2014 Jan 09 165 5 2 2014 Jan 10 165 15 4 2014 Jan 11 155 5 2 2014 Jan 12 155 5 2 2014 Jan 13 155 5 2 2014 Jan 14 155 5 2 2014 Jan 15 155 5 2 2014 Jan 16 150 5 2 2014 Jan 17 150 5 2 2014 Jan 18 145 5 2 (SWPC via WORLD OF RADIO 1701, DXLD) ###