DX LISTENING DIGEST 14-53, December 31, 2014 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 2014 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 1754 CONTENTS: *DX and station news about: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, China, Cyprus non, Europe, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Iran non, Ireland, Kiribati, Kuwait, Madagascar, México, Myanmar, Oman, Perú, Russia, Solomon Islands, Sudan and non, USA, Vatican, intruders, conventions & conferences SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1754, January 1-7, 2015 Thu 0430 WRMI 9955 [confirmed] Thu 1330 WRMI 9955 [confirmed] Thu 2201 WRMI 9395 via Global 24 [confirmed] Fri 0001 WRMI 9395 via Global 24 [confirmed] Fri 2130 WRMI 7570 & 15770 [confirmed] Sat 0730 HLR 7265-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio Sat 1000 WRMI 5850 Sat 1530 HLR 7265-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio Sun 0200 WH2XDE-1 1750 Victor NY Sun 0231 KVOH 9975 [confirmed] Sun 2300 WRMI 11580 [confirmed] Mon 0400v WBCQ 5110v-CUSB Area 51 Mon 2201 WRMI 9395 via Global 24 Tue 1200 WRMI 9955 Wed 0401 WRMI 9395 via Global 24 Wed 0730 HLR 7265-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio Wed 1415 WRMI 9955 Wed 1530 HLR 7265-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio Wed 2200 WBCQ 7490v Wed 2201 WRMI 9395 via Global 24 Thu 0430 WRMI 9955 [or 1755 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 WORLD OF RADIO PODCASTS: Tnx to Dr Harald Gabler and the Rhein-Main Radio Club. http://www.rmrc.de/index.php?option=com_podcast&view=feed&format=raw&Itemid=156&lang=de or directly via: http://bit.ly/1xD5yyn Also via [but still not back in service]: http://tunein.com/radio/World-of-Radio-p198/ AND ALTERNATIVE, tnx Stephen Cooper, because RMRC was down: http://shortwave.am/wor.xml 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/ ** ALBANIA. Dear Drita, at 1700 UT CRI Beijing in Bulgarian via Fllake on exact footprint 1457.663 kHz some 337 Hertz on downside, awful audio tone interference QRM. S=9+25dB signal strength, in Puglia Calabria in southern Italy. -- But 1215 kHz is stronger than 1458 kHz channel now at this hour. Heard CRI Beijing in Esperanto at 1708 UT on Dec 25 on S=9+40dB strength in Calabria Italy SDR software defined modern radio set on remote Perseus receiver network, footprint is 1215.105 kHz exact. vy73 wolfy (Wolfgang Büschel, Dec 25 to Drita Çiço, R. Tirana, WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Drita! Dec 25: 1457.66 kHz, Radio Tirana Albanian 1601 UT, SINPO 43443 (het whistle from UK and Romania 1458.00 kHz) 1215.13 kHz, CRI Albanian 1605 UT, SINPO 44444 1394,87 kHz, TWR Polish 2022 UT, SINPO 45544 1457,63 kHz, CRI Hungarian 2025 UT, SINPO 43443 (het whistle from UK and Romania 1458.00 kHz) Dec 26: 1394.89 kHz, TWR Polish 2000 UT, SINPO 45544 1457.98 kHz, CRI Hungarian 2005 UT, SINPO 32442 (unusual strong signal from UK this evening here at my site) Greetings, (Patrick Robic, Austria, via Drita, WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Tirana in Albanian from 1500 UT Dec 26 on nominal 1458, instead of 1457.6/7 -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, Equipment: Sony ICF-2001D 30 m. long wire, dxldyg via DXLD) > CRI Beijing MW Fllake, Albania relay, 500 kW > 1600-1657 Albanian 1215 kHz TX1 F-03 antenna, non-dir At 1626 UT Dec 26 on exact 1215.176 kHz, and Radio Tirana via MW Fllake, Albania relay site. > ALBANIAN Daily > 1500-1630 1458 FLA 500 kW TX2 F-05 antenna non-dir to EUR > > GREEK Mon-Sat > 1645-1700 1458 FLA 500 kW TX2 F-05 antenna non-dir to Greece on 1457.979 kHz. 1457.977 kHz now start Radio Tirana interval signal at 1927 UT and TWR Hungarian language section relay at 1929 UT on 1394.890 kHz footprint. 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Tirana and China Radio International on MW 1458 Fllake: 1500-1625 1458 FKE 500 kW / non-dir SEEu Albanian R. Tirana, ex 1457.7 1645-1700 1458 FKE 500 kW / non-dir SEEu Greek R. Tirana, ex 1457.7 1700-1800 1458 FKE 500 kW / non-dir SEEu Bulgarian CRI, ex 1457.7 1800-1900 1458 FKE 500 kW / non-dir SEEu Italian CRI, ex 1457.7 Other two MW Fllake continues on odd 1215.2 and 1394.9 My previous videos from Dec 24 on MW Fllake 1457.7 kHz http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2014/12/radio-tirana-and-china-radio.html (DX RE MIX NEWS #887 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, Dec 29, 2014 via DXLD) Other two MW Fllake continues on odd 1215.2 and 1394.9 My previous videos from Dec. 24 - MW Fllake on 1457.7 kHz: Radio Tirana in Albanian to SEEu 1510 on 1457.7 Fllake https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0qKEpntcuM&feature=youtu.be Radio Tirana in Albanian to SEEu 1626 on 1457.7 Fllake https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrYGy5tR7L8&feature=youtu.be Radio Tirana in Greek, music to SEEu 1643 on 1457.7 Fllake https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K--oso5CTok&feature=youtu.be Radio Tirana in Greek, music to SEEu 1656 on 1457.7 Fllake https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7urJWOwGzAs&feature=youtu.be CRI in Bulgarian to SEEu 1700 on 1457.7 Fllake https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aA-iHAYoGfI&feature=youtu.be -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, Dec 27, dxldyg via DXLD) Is this the complete schedule on 1458? EiBi lists several more transmissions. 73, (Günter Lorenz, Dec 28, dxldyg via DXLD) More transmissions on 1458: 1930-2000 Radio Tirana in Turkish 2000-2100 China Radio International in Hungarian 2115-2130 Radio Tirana in Serbian 2130-2330 China Radio International in Polish and Czech (Ivo Ivanov, ibid.) Mail of Eng. Mrs. Drita Cico RTSH Fllake MW transmitter, planned schedule of late October 2014: ALBANIA Winter B-14 schedule of Radio Tirana via Fllake relay site. ALBANIAN Daily 0901-1000 1395 FLA 500 kW TX2 F-01 antenna at 033 deg to Ce-East-EUR 1500-1630 1458 FLA 500 kW TX2 F-05 antenna non-dir to EUR GREEK Mon-Sat 1645-1700 1458 FLA 500 kW TX2 F-05 antenna non-dir to Greece SERBIAN Mon-Sat 2115-2130 1458 FLA 500 kW TX2 F-04 antenna at 004 deg to CeEUR-Serbia TURKISH Mon-Sat 1930-2000 1458 FLA 500 kW TX2 F-05 ant non-dir to Turkey-Greece (Radio Tirana via RTSH Drita Cico-ALB, Oct 15, 2014; wb, wwdxc TopNews via Büschel, dxldyg via DXLD) TWR Europe daily at 1922-2130 UT, Fllake relay TX1 F-02 antenna at 330 deg to North, East and West Europe, [1395v kHz]: Trans World Radio - Fllake, Albania relay UTC days program kHz kW degr ciraf zone 1922-1925 1234567 TWR ID signal 1395 500 330 28 1925-2000 1234567 Hungarian 1395 500 330 28 2000-2015 ......7 Polish 1395 500 330 28 2000-2030 123456. Polish 1395 500 330 28 2015-2130 ......7 Croatian 1395 500 330 28 2030-2045 1...... Croatian 1395 500 330 28 2030-2100 .23456. Croatian 1395 500 330 28 2045-2130 1...... Bosnian 1395 500 330 28 2100-2130 .23456. Serbian 1395 500 330 28 CRI Beijing MW Fllake, Albania relay, 500 kW [1215v & 1458v kHz] 0700-0857 English 1215 kHz TX1 F-03 antenna, non-dir 1600-1657 Albanian 1215 kHz TX1 F-03 antenna, non-dir 1700-1757 Bulgarian 1458 kHz TX2 F-05 antenna, non-dir 1700-1757 Esperanto 1215 kHz TX1 F-03 antenna, non-dir 1800-1857 Italian 1458 kHz TX2 F-05 antenna, non-dir 1800-1857 Romanian 1215 kHz TX1 F-03 antenna, non-dir 2001-2059 Hungarian 1458 kHz TX2 F-05 antenna, non-dir 2130-2229 Polish 1458 kHz TX2 F-04 004 degrees 2201-2301 Serbian 1215 kHz TX1 F-03 antenna, non-dir 2230-2330 Czech 1458 kHz TX2 F-04 338 degrees Fllake, Albania location: G.C. 41 21 52.04 N 19 30 35.46 E (TWR via RTSH Drita Cico-ALB, Oct 15, 2014; wb, wwdxc TopNews via DXLD) ** ALBANIA. 7425, Dec 26 at 0232, R. Tirana is playing Xmas music instead of news: `Silent Night`, 0233 `O Come All Ye Faithful` --- violating separation of church and state; fair with flutter, undermodulated (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7424.979 kHz exact footprint frequency of Shijak transmission tonight. Shijak broadcast transmission started with interval signal of Radio Tirana Albania at 0228:45 UT on December 27th, 2014. Much fluttery signal across the Atlantic Ocean tonight, listen to enclosed recording of 0243 UT. Is taken on remote SDR software defined radios in the North America areas of New York and Boston New England Massachusetts area too. S=8 signal level of fluttery signal. After Radio Tirana's English program end interval signal started again at 0255:50 UT on December 27th. Till Shijak transmitter switched OFF at exact 0258:15 UT time. 5 seconds before at 0258:10 heard already interval signal of Radio Deutsche Welle Kigali Rwanda co-channel usage from 0300 UT. Latter signal of same S=8 signal strength like previous Shijak transmission. kind regards de Wolfy (Büschel to Drita, ibid.) ** ANGUILLA [and non] 11775, Dec 30 at 1448 UT, Caribbean Beacon is AWOL again. BTW, note spelling, NOT ``Carribean`` as often shows up (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, It was on 6090 today heard from 1300 to 1730 UT. Coming in good here in south Florida. Also CFRX on 6070 was coming in at those same times (Peter W Hansen, Dec 30, dxldyg via DXLD) ** ANTARCTICA. Re: [BDXC-UK] Christmas Carols from Antarctica on SW tonight http://www.arrl.org/news/christmas-caroling-in-antarctica-via-hf-set-for-decem I did have a listen from home and via the Dutch SDR but nothing heard. Did anyone manage to catch it? (David. Sent from my iPhone Thorpe, Dec 26, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) Yes. But very difficult to receive anything! There was a short signal of Christmas music at 2340 UT on 7995 USB, which was first discovered by Wolf Dieter Behnke from Berlin, Germany at my A-DX mailinglist. A very poor signal, but if I know that exact time and search again and again on my spectrum recording I find also this part of music for around one minute. Best signal here in Austria at my remote station http://remotedx.wordpress.com with a non-directional Mini Whip antenna, signal from both Beverages are very low. If I read the report on http://swling.com/blog/2014/12/a-report-from-antarctica/ correct, I did NOT receive a signal from McMurdo station, but DIRECT from the South Pole station: "“Sing come through the static for about 30 seconds. This transmission originated from South Pole Station.” I know another DXer in Germany and one in Spain who could also receive this seldom „broadcast“. A very special Christmas gift! 73 (from Salzburg, Austria, Christoph Ratzer, http://ratzer.at ibid.) 7995 kHz USB, Antartida - resposta recebida Dom, 28 de Dez de 2014 12:35 pm Enviado por: "Rudolf W. Grimm" Estação McMurdo / South Pole Station Resposta recebida ---------------------------------------------------------- 7995 kHz USB ANTARTIDA: Estação McMurdo / South Pole Station KC4/W2NAF, EE, 24/12 2300 UT. OM: início das transmissões, em seguida um cântico natalino. A recepção estava muito baixa, a recepção das informações só foi possível graças ao uso de um fone de ouvidos (fone de concha) colado ao cérebro. As minhas informações foram enviadas via Email para: w2@naf (Nathaniel), que hoje cedo respondeu favoravelmente sobre a referida recepção, 15531. Rx: Kenwood R-1000, Ant.: Loop Magnética AOR LA-400, e também com a PA0RDT, MiniWhip (9.5 m acima do solo). Nota: também reportada com condições difíceis de recepção pelos colegas da Alemanha e Holanda, segundo informações divulgadas. Veja a nota recebida de W2NAF: Hi, Rudolf. Thank you very much for your report. I am very glad you heard us. So far, you are the first positive report from Brazil. Most positive reports have come from Germany and the Netherlands. Many different sites around Antarctica were transmitting (see list below), and the e-mails I have received so far reported hearing a song transmitted by South Pole Station. I`m really glad you enjoyed how this brought together so many people from many different groups. I hope that you will send me a QSL; I should have these ready to send out some time in February. Merry Christmas and 73, Nathaniel Mais informações, e também uma imagem da estação McMurdo: http://dxways-br.blogspot.com/2014/12/7995-khz-usb-estacao-mcmurdo-south-pole.html 73, (Rudolf Grimm, São Bernardo SP, radioescutas yg via DXLD) But does not include the mentioned list of all the different sites transmitting! (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. Novedades en AM --- by gruporadioescuchaargentino Una nueva radio de Amplitud Modulada de carácter “no oficial” ha comenzado a emitir en la X-Band argentina por la frecuencia de 1680 KHz. Se trata de RADIO SANTA FE, la cual posee su QTH sobre la calle Alvarez de Toledo Nº 3150, de la localidad de Canning, Partido de Esteban Echeverría, Provincia de Buenos Aires. La estación difunde en carácter de prueba solo música folklórica en su mayoría del litoral argentino y también algunos anuncios publicitarios. El Teléfono es: (011) 4235-1096, y se encuentra bajo la dirección de la Sra. María Isabel Alegre. Vale señalar que la misma persona explota dos servicios de FM desde ese mismo QTH: FM Sintonía (97.7 MHz), y recientemente, Radio Alfa (95.3 MHz). Por otra parte, la estación que venía operando en 1550 kHz con el nombre de “AM Estación Deportiva” (Ex Radio Urkupiña), se denomina ahora ESTACIÓN QUINCE CINCUENTA, y lo hace desde sus estudios centrales ubicados sobre la calle Traful Nº 3836, P.A. del Barrio de Nueva Pompeya, en la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires. La línea directa de oyentes es: (011) 4911-0270 y 4911-9067, y el teléfono comercial: (011) 4912-0964. La emisora ha modificado además su dirección de correo electrónico: estacion1550@gmail.com, y tiene una nueva Página Web: http://www.am1550.com.ar (1550) Estación 15-50 (Marcelo A. Cornachioni, Buenos Aires, Argentina) (GRA blog [1680 only] via WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. 15345.080, Surprisingly heard RAE Buenos Aires, Portuguese across the Pacific Ocean at 1221 UT on remote unit in Japan, S=9+10dB signal, scheduled 10-15 UT at 348 degrees, nearly true northerly path across western Canada, Alaska (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Probably Dec 26 per adjacent logs Changes of Radio Argentina Exterior: 0200-0300 11711vBUE 100 kW / 335 deg NoAm French Tue-Sat, ex English 0300-0400 11711vBUE 100 kW / 335 deg NoAm English Tue-Sat, ex French (DX RE MIX NEWS #887 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, Dec 29, 2014 via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. 2368.5, R. Symban - Peats Ridge NSW. Continuous Greek music at 0930 with a fair signal on Dec 27. Some days during summer, it can be heard fading in around 0815, while other days it`s more like around 0930. Then noted again on Dec 29 with a fair signal at 1926 with long Greek music items, but faded into the morning by 2000 (Rob Wagner, Mount Evelyn Vic DX Report blog via DXLD) 2368.47, Radio Symban (presumed), checking randomly between 1447 till 1523 on Dec 31; usual Greek music & singing; no announcements heard; my local sunrise was at 1520 UT; poor, but was cutting through the noise. Audio at https://app.box.com/s/w252kd8yswddgyek8czw (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, E1 & CR-1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. 17840, Dec 29 at 2115, R. Australia, in English, in fact the OSOB at this hour! But only fair signal at best. No longer using 17860 at all, nor 21740, which last B-season was remarkably good. 17840 like 21740 at 21-01 UT is on the 70-degree beam from Shepparton, most favorable for us in deep North America. At 23-01 we can still try // 19000. 11945, Wed Dec 31 at 0631, RA `Religion and Ethics Report` visits Buenos Aires (and yet host Andrew West hasn`t learnt how to pronounce Aires), interviews thru interpreter about religion there from the source of a pope; fair but sufficient signal as customary here, tho it`s on 100-degree azimuth, better for S America than N. 13630, often VG, is now inaudible above the MUF if on. HFCC shows 11945 also at 12- 15 on 70 degree beam toward N America, when we never hear it: that must be wooden. As for this R&E program, RA online schedule shows `Radio Australia Wantok` in Pidgin during this semi-hour! But it`s only on certain frequencies, not this one, duh {but noted on 12080, 24 hours later} Sked does show R&E Wednesdays at 2130: http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/religionandethicsreport/ (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [Re: DX Listening Digest 14-52] Compare the Radio Australia item with that Submission 53, denouncing the ABC budget cuts, mentioning as one amongst a lots of consequences: "RA's shortwave service to Myanmar to be shut down end of December." Looks as if they are going to terminate the transmission contract with Babcock as soon as possible, maybe already effective Jan 1st. Otherwise refer to http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/abc-may-pull-plug-on-china-broadcast-20130508-2j7yu.html "But with a contract to broadcast shortwave from a 240-hectare site near Shepparton - costing the ABC about $4.1 million this financial year - set to expire some time after 2014 ..." This is from May 2013, prior to all the recent cuts. Seems to me they are now merely riding out their contract with Broadcast Australia until that undefined point "after 2014" instead of paying compensations. FM outlets in the Pacific are being terminated, when discussing this the internet is mentioned as only remaining distribution platform --- this speaks a very clear language (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Dec 28, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Granted, I haven't lived in-region since I was on the staff at American Samoa Community College in early 2007 but this reliance on Internet distribution just strikes me as odd. In too many cases shortwave is more reliable and has higher bandwidth. Maybe things have improved over the past few years but even Where America's Day Ends the total digital bandwidth available to the territory has been less than you'd find on the US mainland (Stephen Michael Kellat, KC8BFI, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) As I mentioned somewhere (Here? the MARE TipSheet?) I really tried to enjoy what RA was doing when they cut back, but the more I hear of "Triple J" the less I like, and the news seems like most domestic news to be smitten with 'if it bleeds it leads' and 'what's the weather like'. When they finally do pull the plug, I will miss the OLD Radio Australia, but not what it has become. I guess I miss it already, truth be told. I think RA will discover like Radio Netherlands did that once they are off the dial, relatively few will follow them to the internet. And I've STILL never seen any audience figures for how many people actually DO use the internet to listen to audio from international broadcasters. I know the 20somethings DO use 'spotify' and 'pandora' a LOT -- more than traditional radio even I would guess -- but none of them seem aware of international broadcasters and if they are they sure don't listen. If this continues, in 10-15 years, (or less!) we'll have some pretty expensive book-ends around our shacks, and that will be a shame -- especially if what happened to radio happens to book publishing too! :o -- (Kenneth V Zichi, D<== I'm not with stupid ==> R, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Well, JJJ programming is only after 1300 UT on weekdays – unfortunately prime morning listening time for us in non-target North America, but throwaway after-midnite time from Australia across the Pacific. Still worth listening to before 1300 if you can be awake (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Triple J Unearthed is only a few hours in the late evening hours. Radio Australian's prime target audience is Asia and Pacific. Triple J Unearthed has been doing very well for them in attracting the 20 to 35 year olds in the in the evening hours. They still have lots of current affairs programs. AM. AM, The World Today, Pacific Beat and others. At the moment they are in their summer holiday schedule, so things will return to normal January 5, 2015 (Keith Perron, Taiwan, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Or later (gh) ** AUSTRIA. December 21: Radio Joystick, scheduled only 1st Sun, special transmission 1100 on 7330 Moosbrunn https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seOJ5UraHa4&feature=youtu.be Radio Joystick, scheduled only 1st Sun, special transmission 1142 on 7330 Moosbrunn https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2p8NK498p0&feature=youtu.be 73! (Ivo Ivanov, Blgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AZERBAIJAN [and non]. BBG CONDEMNS RAID OF RFE/RL BAKU OFFICE December 26, 2014 http://www.bbg.gov/?p=20519 RFE/RL Baku office sealed by authorities in Azerbaijan [caption] WASHINGTON - The Broadcasting Board of Governors today condemned the raid and closure of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Baku office by Azerbaijani authorities. Investigators from Azerbaijan's state prosecutor's office entered the RFE/RL bureau on the morning of December 26 accompanied by armed police officers. They searched the company safe, ransacked files and equipment, and ordered staff members to leave the building after holding them in a room for several hours without telephone or computer access. Several staff members later were summoned for questioning. "This unwarranted action is an escalation of the Azeri government's abusive attempt to intimidate independent journalists and repress free media," said BBG Chairman Jeff Shell. "We call on the authorities to immediately allow RFE/RL to resume its important journalistic work from Baku, and to release investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova." The government raid comes three weeks after the arrest and detention in Baku of prominent Azerbaijani investigative reporter Khadija Ismayilova, a contributor to RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service programming. Ismayilova was sentenced to two months of pre-trial detention, and if convicted could serve three to seven years in prison. Khadija's arrest has been widely condemned, including by the BBG. Amnesty International has declared Ismayilova a prisoner of conscience, "detained solely for exercising her right to freedom of expression." "The raiding of our Baku bureau is a flagrant violation of every international commitment and standard Azerbaijan has pledged to uphold" said Nenad Pejic, RFE/RL's editor in chief and co-CEO. "The order comes from the top as retaliation for our reporting, and as a thuggish effort to silence RFE/RL. This is not the first time that a regime has sought to silence us, and we will continue our work to support Azeris' basic right of free access to information and to report the news to audiences that need it." "The operation of our bureau is incapacitated in Baku," said Kenan Aliyev, director of RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service. "There has been a long ongoing crackdown on the media and NGOs in Azerbaijan, including the arrest of Khadija Ismayilova, the host of our show and our contributor. We view this as part of this ongoing campaign against independent media." (BBG PR via Dr Hansjoerg Biener, Dec 27, WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DXLD) Association for International Broadcasting - Press Release AIB CONDEMNS DETENTION OF RFE/RL STAFF IN AZERBAIJAN London, 29 December 2014 --- The Association for International Broadcasting today condemned the detention of Baku-based staff of RFE/RL and a raid on the broadcaster's bureau in the Azerbaijani capital. The raid on RFE/RL's bureau took place on 26 December, seizing documents, computers, memory sticks and other items. The office was then sealed, preventing staff from accessing the bureau. The following day the first of a series of raids on homes of RFE/RL employees in Baku began, with a number of staff - including the bureau's cleaner - detained. No charges have been brought against any of the RFE/RL staff. "It appears that Azerbaijan is continuing a comprehensive campaign against the freedom of expression and the press," said Simon Spanswick, chief executive of AIB. "This latest act follows the detention in February and most recently in December of Azerbaijani journalist Khadija Ismayilova, who contributes to RFE/RL and other media outlets. The raid on RFE/RL's bureau in Baku and the detention of many of the station's staff - including the office cleaner - shows a total disregard for media freedom in the country. AIB calls on the authorities to cease this campaign of intimidation and allow free reporting in Azerbaijan." The raids and detention of RFE/RL staff comes as the broadcaster is under investigation as a "foreign-funded entity". The offices of a range of non-governmental organisations including the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX), the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS) and the Media Rights Institute were raided and sealed in August 2014. International radio stations - including the BBC, Radio Azadliq (the Azeri-language service of RFE/RL), and Voice of America - were taken off the air in Azerbaijan in 2008. International stations have broadcast on satellite or via the Internet since then. The raids come soon after Azerbaijan's six-month presidency of the Council of Europe ended in November. The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation. "Azerbaijan has sought to position itself as an important player both regionally and in the global arena," commented Spanswick. "These latest moves are against international broadcasters and non- governmental organisations that are seeking to assist in the development of Azerbaijan. The raids demonstrate that the country is retreating from the international stage, rather than taking its place on it. It is time to once again move forward. The country can demonstrate this through ceasing the harassment of journalists and NGOs. Instead, the country should uphold the ideals of the Council of Europe." AIB will be raising the matter with the Azerbaijan Ambassador in London and with the authorities in Baku. ENDS For more information, contact Simon Spanswick at the AIB in the United Kingdom on +44 (0) 20 7993 2557, e-mail simon.spanswick@aib.org.uk. About AIB: Established in 1993, the AIB is the international industry association and global knowledge network for the international broadcasting industry- cross-media, cross-border, cross-cultural. With a reach of over 26,000 communicators and media professionals, AIB is a unique centre of information about international broadcasting, covering TV, radio, online and mobile. AIB researches regular market intelligence briefings for its members and provides client-specific consultancy and project support. Members receive an extensive package of services throughout the year. AIB publishes the comprehensive AIB Global Broadcasting Sourcebook and the international media magazine, The Channel. AIB hosts the annual AIB International Media Excellence Awards - the "AIBs". For more information, visit http://www.aib.org.uk and http://theaibs.tv or call +44 (0) 20 7993 2557 AIB | PO Box 141 | Cranbrook | TN17 9AJ | United Kingdom T +44 20 7993 2557 F +44 20 7993 8043 (via Dr Hansjoerg Biener, DXLD) US AGENCY DECRIES "DIRECT THREATS" AGAINST AZERI RFE/RL JOURNALISTS | Text of press release issued by US Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) website on 29 December Washington: The Broadcasting Board of Governors today called on Azerbaijani authorities to cease their investigations of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's (RFE/RL) Baku bureau journalists and to immediately permit the news bureau to reopen. In the past three days 23 RFE/RL journalists were interviewed by Azerbaijan's state prosecutor's office. A lawyer representing the Baku bureau staff said people were being "dragged" to the prosecutor's office "by force and threats." Another 13 RFE/RL journalists are waiting to be summoned for questioning. Authorities also began to question family members of journalists. The investigations follow the raid and closure of the RFE/RL Baku bureau on Friday, December 26. In early December, authorities also arrested and jailed prominent Azerbaijani investigative reporter Khadija Ismayilova, a contributor to RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service programming. "This harsh treatment, including direct threats against our journalists, violates every principle of media freedom," said BBG chairman Jeff Shell. "We again call on Azerbaijani authorities to permit RFE/RL's Baku bureau to reopen, to halt the investigations and harassment of RFE/RL journalists and their families, and to release Khadija Ismayilova." In a related development, on December 26 a Baku court heard and rejected Ismayilova's appeal. She remains in prison after being sentenced to two months of pre-trial detention on charges of inciting a colleague to attempt suicide. Reporters Without Borders has called this "the latest example of the appalling harassment to which this trailblazer of investigative journalism has been subjected for years by [Azerbaijan's] government in its drift towards despotism." RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service is one of the last remaining independent media outlets in Azerbaijan. Several international organizations that support civil society, including IREX, the National Democratic Institute, and Oxfam have been forced to suspend their operations in Azerbaijan this year. Source: Broadcasting Board of Governors website, Washington D.C., in English 29 Dec 14 (via BBCM via WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DXLD) ** BANGLADESH. 4750, Bangladesh Betar - HS, 1251 on Dec 31 with the daily weather, temperatures, sunrise/set times in English; poor with CNR-1 QRM (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, E1 & CR-1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BANGLADESH. 15105, Bangladesh Betar, Dhaka. 1229 December 22, 2014. Tune-in to single tone in progress, heavily accented English female just before 1230 with ID and frequency, subcontinental fill music, male and female news script followed by commentary, male, "This is the External Service of Bangladesh Betar" (pronounced almost like "Better" or at least he does). Into Bangla-tunes, then at 1256, Duran Duran's "A View to a Kill" of all things non-Bangla, rapidly potted down by 1259:36, unnecessary long pause, the same female again with closing announcements ending with "Bye" and transmitter off at 1300:45. Bye! Very good signal with ever so faint flutter (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL - NRD-535, IC-R75, roof dipole, active lo, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELARUS. Absolutely defective transmitter of Radio Belarus on December 30: 1100-2300 on 11730 MNS 100 kW / 246 deg to WeEu Bel/Ru/Pol/Ge/Fr/Sp/En/Ru. -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, 1230 UT Dec 30, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11730 is off around 1300 UT (Ivo, 1308 UT, ibid.) 11730 was back on air at 1320 gone again at 1330 UT (Ivo, 1332 UT, ibid.) ** BOLIVIA. 4716.65, Radio Yura, Yura, 0005 to 0014 with program of music, good signal in South Florida. Only other log was Christmas Morning. 73, (Bob Wilkner, Pompano Beach, Florida, UT Dec 29, WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Was missing from following listing even as a not-heard Bolivien: Folgende Kurzwellenstationen konnten im Dezember 2014 international gehört werden 3310, „Radio Mosoj Chaski“, Cochabamba [4410, „Radio Eco [Reyes] desde el departamento del Beni” nicht gemeldet] 4450, Radio Santa Ana, Santa Ana de Yacuma 4670, Radio San Miguel, Riberalta [5580, Radio San José, San José de Chiquitos, nicht gemeldet] 5952.4, Pio XII, Siglo Veinte 6025, „Red Patria Nueva“, La Paz 6105, R. Panamericana, La Paz 6135, „Radio Santa Cruz desde Santa Cruz” [6155, Radio Fides, La Paz, nicht gemeldet] (Pedro F. Arrunátegui 1.-6.12., Robert Wilkner 2., 3., 16., 18., 19.12., Ron Howard 4.12.2014 DXLD, via ntt aktuell 15-01 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. QSL: BRASIL, 10000, PPE, Observatório Nacional DSHO, Ministério da Ciência, Tecnología e Inovação, Rua General Cristino, 77, São Cristóvão 20921-400, Río de Janeiro (Brasil). http://www.on.br dsh@on.br Teléfono: (21) 2580-7781. Fax: (21) 2580-6071. Recibida tarjeta QSL (d/c, firmada por Ricardo-José de Carvalho), carta donde indican que usan un transmisor británico “Redifon G453”, folletos y pegatinas. Tiempo de respuesta: aprox. dos meses. Idioma: portugués. Hora: 2258 UT. Transmisor: Río de Janeiro, 22º53’44”S.-43º13’27”O. (Brasil), potencia 1 kW. (Toni Morilla, EA3-0345, Jan El Dial via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 11747 & 11813, Dec 26 at 0229, cannot detect spurs from 11780 RNA/RNB with VG signal. Trying harder with BFO at 0257, now I can just barely make out the one around 11747. 11747 & 11813, Dec 27 at 0642, crackling spurs from 11780.1 RNA/RNB are audible. 11747, Dec 28 at 0621, distorted spur from 11780.1 RNA/RNB, is very poor and JBA on 11813 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. CBQM 690 Fort McPherson, Northwest Territories, Canada I stumbled across a 66 minute documentary filmed back in 2009 about this radio station in a town of 800 people in the Inuvik region of the remote, far northwestern part of Northwest Territories, Canada It's not narrated or anything, just films people going about their daily life related to the radio station and has people speaking directly to the camera. http://www.nfb.ca/film/cbqm It would appear at the point the movie was made this was a 40 Watt CBC Radio North Rebroadcaster that also carried some local programming. I found a mention online that this station moved to FM in late 2013. Did anyone ever log it on AM? Is it just on FM now or is it doing both? I can't imagine the FM signal covering as much ground as AM did (Paul B Walker, Jr., CA, Dec 27, mwdx yg via DXLD) Great film! But you`d hardly know this was a CBC station, everything in it local. And could anyone understand the punch line to the fish story near the beginning? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) It moved to 99.9 FM where the calls are CBAH-FM. 50 watts at 61m from the same site as the AM. The AM was only 40 watts -- it might have reached more square miles but I'm betting it didn't reach any more people. Haven't had a chance to watch the film yet but if it's like any other NFB films I've seen, I'll be offering Paul huge thanks in a few hours! == (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66, NRC-AM via DXLD) Doug, it is so simple; yet such an informative film. I was hooked within minutes, if not seconds. It shows how valuable and important radio is, and how much a part of some people`s everyday lives it is. And for someone like me, it gives me hope and keeps driving me to continue working in radio (Paul Walker, ibid.) Paul, Thanks for sharing. It reminds me of many of the small stations I heard from AK, Yukon, and NWT. Now this is real radio! Never heard CBQM 690, but I do have CHAK Inuvik QSL'd from AK in the mid 60s. They were a regular all day in the Winter. 73, (Patrick Martin, OR, ibid.) Paul, thank you for the link! A fabulous DX-film. CBQM and many other NWT-repeaters have been heard in Finland during DXpeditions to Lemmenjoki and Aihkiniemi. 40 Watt-stations like 540 CBAK Aklavik, 990 CBDW Norman Wells, 1150 CBAC Tuktoyaktuk, 1280 CBQG Wrigley etc. have been logged from time to time during exceptional conditions. Personally I managed to hear a NWT-station on 690 relaying CHAK-860 but it was impossible to say whether it was CBQM or CBDO from Fort Simpson. Also some 40 W-stations from Alberta have been heard. Sadly, most of these challenging low-power stations are now gone for good from the AM-band. 73 (Håkan Sundman, Helsinki, ibid.) A great film. I enjoyed it very much, and appreciate Paul's tip. I am a frequent visitor to the NFB service on my Roku media player, but never thought to look for any films involving radio (Brent Taylor, VY2HF, Stratford, PEI, ibid.) Like Brent, I visit the NFB site from time to time but never thought to look for anything about radio. And really, this film isn't about radio either -- it's about everyday life in Fort McPherson, as seen through the "eyes" of the town's radio station -- which, I suppose, in the end, is what a radio station is *supposed* to do. Radio seems to do a far better job in these out-of-the-way places. Indeed an enjoyable (and informative) way to spend 66 minutes (plus about five when the cat stepped on something that caused the window to disappear) Thanks, Paul! == (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66, ibid.) I am glad everyone enjoyed it. And you know, I have NO earthly idea how in the world I ever stumbled upon this in the first place about 2 weeks ago. I think I found it in a random internet search for something else, maybe (Paul, ibid.) This was one of the old LPRT stations which used to be scattered across Canada, hundreds of them and they were all listed in the NRC Logbook. They would be plentiful on frequencies like 540, 690, 990 (often, but not exclusively on Canadian clears). I believe they were built by the railroad and later taken over by CBC. Most of them simply relayed a primary station such as CHAK-860 or CBM-940, etc. (they were not limited to the territories). Although they frequently used simple longwire antennas which would have caused them to radiate lots of skywave, their low powers, high latitude, and remote location combined to make them very challenging DX targets for American and even Canadian DXers, as you could imagine. Thanks very much for the tip about the movie, Paul. Thoroughly enjoyed watching it in its entirety. I didn't realize they had so much local programming (at least in this case). I'm sure everyone spotted the GE Superadios sprinkled throughout the movie. I didn't realize they were so popular that far North, but of course it makes sense. The fact that so many people seem to own Superadios makes me think many of them may be occasionally tuning to stations outside of town, perhaps CHAK or Whitehorse stations CFWH or CKRW. Truly a shame the LPRTs are all moving to FM, but I totally understand why. Although I hate to admit it, it does make sense. 40 watts just is not enough to cover more than a small town, so if you have no plans to reach anyone over the horizon, FM does make sense with its superior sound quality, and frankly, familiarity to people (Earl Higgins, NRC- AM via DXLD) Earl, I have seen some of the LPRT's while driving in BC in the 70s and for 20 or 40 watts they covered the little towns pretty well. Some even were received several miles out of town. It is amazing what a few watts will do at times. KOHI St Helens OR 1600 kHz has 11 or 12 watts at night and that covers St. Helens fairly well at night. I could easily hear it dominant several times on each side of St. Helens. FM quality would be better, especially if a mountain top location could be found for the tower though. By the way, the CBQM video is also on You Tube (Patrick Martin, ibid.) In most of these very remote locations there was no reason to impose a 40-watt limit on them; could have raised to 250 or 500+ (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. 6030, Calgary - CFVP relaying CKMX (AM 1060) at 1249 on Dec 31 found effectively block by the return of long absent CNR-1, but could still make out bits and pieces of Calgary far underneath CNR-1. ** CANADA. CKZU 6160 off air --- While looking for Radio Cochiguaz (a non-starter in BC), I noticed that 6160 is off the air. This does occur very occasionally. Hopefully just a temporary absence. (0530 31 Dec 2014). 73, (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Walt, good morning from Europe, but around 08-09 UT this morning both Canadian domestics on air on 6160v, noted various posts in Belgium, Kentucky, NY, Alberta and CA. 'Seen only' at 0812 UT Dec 31 also the accompanied tiny Brazilian on air on 6159.974 kHz - probably - Radio Boa Vontade, Porto Alegre, RS, but latter only on the east coast Kentucky and Florida remote SDR units. 6159.980, CKZU Vancouver lower mainland transmission at 0820 UT, report on UN Ebola virus mission buerau at Ghana West Africa. S=6 or - 87dBm at remote in Edmonton Alberta Canada. ID CBC Radio 1. Research program at 0854 UT. 6159.983, CKZN St. Johns from the east coast heard in Kentucky on much lesser signal level. \\ obviously same program on CFRX Toronto [sic] 6069.998 kHz exact. wb (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) Interesting that you heard the “obviously parallel” program on both stations, 6160 and 6070. How long has this been going on? I wonder why commercial CFRB/CFRX was simulcasting a CBC Newfoundland program. Special event? Happy New Year and good DX! (Brock Whaley, Ireland, ibid.) I think he must have mis-written (gh, DXLD) Checking this morning, and I see a weak carrier on measured 6159.974, but too weak to ID. This is at 1500 UT. CKZU is normally very easily heard via ground wave (it's somewhere about 40 km or so from me, over mostly water). OK, now at 1505, it IS the CBC. I'll wait until the end of the news to confirm whether it's Vancouver or Newfoundland. Unfortunately, it's still too weak after the news to be sure. I'll check again later in the day. 73, (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria BC, ibid.) Walt, At 1625, I was receiving CKZU //CBU-690. The signal was good, but the modulation seemed to be a bit shallow. It took a bit of a dive after 1627 due to propagation, then came back up after 1635. There was about a half second delay in CKZU's audio compared to CBU (Bruce in Seattle Portzer, WA, ibid.) Very sorry for my misunderstanding. But so I do understand correctly: “6159.983 CKZN St. Johns from the east coast heard in Kentucky on much lesser signal level. \\ obviously same program on CFRX Toronto 6069.998 kHz exact.” You mean that both CKZN and CFRX had the same programming. That they were “//” or parallel, correct? By “obviously same program on CFRX Toronto” 6070 and 6160 were running the same program? Was CFRX, a non CBC affiliate commercial outlet that is in Toronto, a city that has its own CBC English outlets was simulcasting the Newfoundland CBC station? Or was CKZN, a CBC owned and operated station simulcasting the commercial, non CBC affiliated CFRX in Toronto? I just want to clear that up, because that would be Interesting news indeed. Did the program you heard parallel on both frequencies sound like the usual CBC overnight mix, or was it a CFRX phone in program? Again, Happy New Year, and Aloha 153, 177, and 207 (Brock Whaley, Ireland, ibid.) 6159.98, CKZU – Vancouver, 1611, Dec 31. Vancouver traffic and weather conditions; "This is the early edition of CBC Radio One, 690 AM, 88.1 FM in Vancouver and 860 AM in Clearwater"; fair (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, E1 & CR-1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) And to add to the comment about // CFRX: this makes no sense to me either. CFRB has never carried any CBC programming as far as I'm aware, so this is most strange! 73, (Walt Salmaniw, ibid.) CKZU 6160 back on the air --- Just home from work and noted CKZU on measured 6159.974 very powerful and back to normal CBC programming. 73, and Happy New Year from Victoria, BC (Walt Salmaniw, 2144 UT Dec 31, ibid.) Thanks, Bruce. Checking at 0530, it's again way down in the mud, so perhaps just propagation, or lack there-of during the night. 73 (Walt Salmaniw, UT Jan 1, ibid.) See also NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR ** CANADA. Listening to CFRX on 6070 interviewing Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield at excellent level after Vatican Radio signed off a few minutes ago. All this after 0700 UT 26 December, 2014. 73, (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, ibid.) ** CANADA [non]. Bible Voice Broadcasting, additional transmission from Jan 4: 1515-1530 on 13630 SOF 100 kW / 090 deg to SoAs English Sun But all other transmissions on 13630 are still not active: 1515-1530 on 13630 SOF 100 kW / 090 deg to SoAs English Fri/Sat 1530-1545 on 13630 SOF 100 kW / 090 deg to SoAs Punjabi Sat 1530-1600 on 13630 SOF 100 kW / 090 deg to SoAs Urdu Fri 1715-1730 on 11915 SOF 100 kW / 126 deg to N/ME Arabic Sat also not active! (DX RE MIX NEWS #887 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, Dec 29, 2014 via DXLD) ** CHINA [and non]. 11470, CNR1, 12/24, 1130. Monologue with M in Chinese, fair. Noted //s on 13130 (Fair), 11100 (Good), 9320 (VG). All noted off at ToH. 73 and Good Listening (Rick Barton, El Mirage, Arizona, Drake R8, Grundig Satellit 750, outdoor Slinky and end fed random wire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9590, NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS, Radio Free Asia, Agingan Point, Saipan. 1610 December 24, 2014. Clear, fair with a little path flutter, Chinese female, Asian filler music. Something on 9455 the same time weaker, but definitely not parallel with mostly Asian- sounding music, maybe Firedrake? (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL - NRD-535, IC-R75, roof dipole, active lo, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11500 // 11600, Dec 25 at 0156, Chinese vocal music, very weak and //, no doubt CNR1 jammers as per Aoki, 11500 being Sound of Hope, and 11600 being Radio Free Asia relay via SOH, each available very long hours with 0.1 kW transmitters in Taiwan (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 13130, CNR1, 12/25, 1030. M and W in dialogue in Chinese. Poor. noted // on 12800 (Good), 11100 (Poor), 9430, (Good). 10960 was silent. None of these found on recheck at 1120. 73 and Good Listening (Rick Barton, El Mirage, Arizona, Drake R8, Grundig Satellit 750, outdoor Slinky and end fed random wire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6970, (JAMMER) CPBS1. 1145 December 25, 2014. Presumed network, Chinese, blocking unheard/listed Sound of Hope low power channel. 12370, (JAMMER) CPBS1. 1234 December 25, 2014. Presumed network, Chinese, blocking another unheard/listed Sound of Hope low power channel. (Terry L. Krueger, all logs made at Clearwater, FL with NRD- 535, IC-R75, ICF-7600GR, roof dipole and active loop, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6970, Dec 25 at 1230, CNR1 jammer, timesignal, Beijing ID, fair. 9155, Dec 25 at 1233, CNR1 jammer, very poor (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also TAIWAN: 6970 15795 kHz, AIR Mandarin service 1145-1315 UT Dec 26, totally covered broadband 15790.2 to 15802 kHz with Firedrake music, hefty WHITE NOISE SCRATCHING audio too, or is latter DRM outlet from India, for how many people? audience in China mainland? to decode that digital audio data? (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) LOGs 26 Dec 2014, 1804 - 7415, RFA Mandarin + Firedrake + CRI Farsi !!! Molto bene (Luca Botto Fiora, Rapallo, Liguria, Italia, RX = DRAKE R-7 + PL-660 Tecsun + VR5000DSP, Play DX Electronic 28 Dec via DXLD) 5010.00, 2235-2330, CHINA, 26.12 Voice of China jamming TAWIAN, Chinese report 33233 // 4800 (45333) with TWN underneath (21221) AP-DNK (Anker Petersen, Denmark, heard last night on my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres longwire here in Skovlunde, woldband yg via DXLD) 12045, Broadband 17 kHz wide CNR1 spoken word jammer in 12036.6 to 12053.4 kHz frequency range, meant against VoA Chinese language broadcast from Tinian-MRA island at 1405 UT on Dec 28 (Wolfgang Büschel, BC-DX 29 Dec via DXLD) 7465, BBCWS in English via Singapore Kranji at 1457 UT on Dec 28, scheduled 14-17 UT, but remarkable is the AHEAD signal of WHITE NOISE JAMMING from mainland China in 7461 to 7469 kHz frequency broad range. Noted in Nara Japan remote receiver (Wolfgang Büschel, BC-DX 29 Dec via DXLD) ** CHINA. 6030, CNR1 (Beijing) 1503+ 31 Dec. Back on again // 6020, 6125, 6145, 6175, etc. Happy to have heard Oromiya & AIR (Delhi) while CNR was away (Dan Sheedy, Moonlight Beach, CA PL606 'barefoot’, WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DX LISTENING DIGEST) CNR-1, Dec 31 noted the bad news that they have started up again on 6030, causing QRM for both Calgary and later Ethiopia, both of which had been doing very well with the long absence of CNR-1. Also CNR-1 started again on 7345, which now makes reception of Thazin Radio difficult, till Myanmar goes off at 1329*. Noted Thazin R. on Dec 30 completely in the clear at 1329* (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, E1 & CR-1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA. 5910, Dec 30 at 0631, romantic music, automated timecheck for 1:31, fair signal; 0633 next break with ID ONLY as ``La Voz de tu Conciencia``, not Alcaraván Radio. Perhaps this applies only to the daypart I usually monitor. I still see some other logs of Alcaraván Radio, but I believe only those which put the name in quotation marx. And whatever became of another ex-ID here, Marfil Estéreo? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CONGO DR. 5066.33, R. Candip - Bunia. Very weak signal at 1902 with what sounded like a live and passionate speech in French plus studio announcements. The signal strength suddenly picked up a little at 1907, and then some African vocals were noted at 1917. It took all the resources of the new Yaesu FTDX3000 to dig this out of the ute QRM that regularly sits right on this frequency. Always good to hear this station, although it's usually a struggle from this location, Dec 29 (Rob Wagner, Mount Evelyn Vic DX Report blog via DXLD) ** CUBA. 11435, HM01 spy numbers. 1601 December 24, 2014. AM mode, local level, five digits opening, alternating with digital-pack send tones from 1603 (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL - NRD-535, IC-R75, roof dipole, active lo, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 10345, HM-01, 12/25, 0710. noted in progress on bandscan. Went to open to carrier for 10 minutes, resuming at 0729. 9155, HM-01, 12/25, 1013. In progress. Turned out to be a repeat of the earlier broadcast on 10456. 12180, HM-01, 12/25, 1040. In progress. Was off-sync // to 9155 transmission still in progress. VG. 17480, HM-01 ## station 12/25, 2205. In progress with very strong signal. 73 and Good Listening (Rick Barton, El Mirage, Arizona, Drake R8, Grundig Satellit 750, outdoor Slinky and end fed random wire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 1000, Radio Artemisa, Artemisa, Artemisa. 1611 December 28, 2014. Poor with Cuban vocals. Doesn't seem to have anywhere near the signal it used to have. Second channel 1320 kHz not possible daytime here with WDDV Venice, FL present. 1220, Radio Caribe, La Fe, Isla de la Juventud. 2314 December 22, 2014. Big post-sunset enhanced signal with Cuban techno-pop vocals, male canned ID 2318 into live DJ. 1230, Radio Progreso, unknown site. 2324 December 22, 2014. Big post- sunset enhanced signal, female announcer, ID's, parallel others. Certainly the western side of the islands. 1320, Radio Artemisa, Artemisa, Artemisa. 1140 December 20, 2014. Female news reader with reverb and laser SFX, parallel 1020. Weak with presumed WJNX, Jacksonville, FL gospel co-channel (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL - NRD-535, IC-R75, roof dipole, active lo, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 11752 / 11768, Radio Habana Cuba. 1658 December 24, 2014. Noted a decent carrier right on 11752, no audio until 1659 when a peep of the RHC interval theme poked through. Indeed, an 8 kHz spurious puke from the big 11760 transmitter in Spanish, with a slightly weaker 11768 also present (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL - NRD-535, IC-R75, roof dipole, active lo, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11950, Dec 25 at 2105, RHC is OFF today, instead of running this frequency at unscheduled hour. 6000, Dec 27 at 0636, open carrier/dead air from RHC English, while the other four of The Cuban Five are nominal. Is no one at the site paying attention to a modulation meter with needle stuck on zero? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. US WANTS OPEN INTERNET HIGHWAY IN CUBA VOA NEWS, Doug Bernard, December 23, 2014 http://www.voanews.com/content/us-wants-open-internet-highway-in-cuba/2569258.html WASHINGTON - When Cubans learned of their government's new relationship with the United States last week, it's likely almost none of them read about it online. Access to the Web is severely limited, extremely slow and priced beyond what most Cubans can afford. And that's even before considering the massive censorship of content and persecution of bloggers critical of the regime. Perhaps it's no surprise that high on the Obama administration's new priority list for Cuban-U.S. relations is to see the island nation more fully connected to the World Wide Web, as well as pushing for increased freedom of access and speech. But if the Internet is going to be one of the principal tools for changing Cuba, the very first task is now connecting a nation largely left behind in the digital revolution. 11 million citizens Despite the U.S. embargo, Cuban officials like to tout that all 11 million Cuban citizens have free and unrestricted access to education, housing and medicine. But for years that same access has been all but absent for the Internet and other digital forms of communication like mobile phones. The United Nation's International Telecommunications Union estimates that only about 25 percent of Cubans have access to the Internet - up from nearly zero in 2000. But that number only represents the percent that potentially has access; many estimates say the real percentage is much lower. Researchers at Freedom House, an independent NGO focused on issues of expanding freedoms, estimate that actual Internet penetration for 2011 was only 5 percent, making the nation one of the least connected in the world. Access to devices is also a problem. In 2008, Havana began to allow the purchase of some mobile phones and computers for private use. However, five years later the ITU estimates that only 17 percent of Cubans have access to mobile phones, with nearly all of them only second-generation devices that don't support Web access. The percentage of households with a computer is far lower. There are a few cyber cafes in Cuba, but cost becomes another access problem. The group Reporters Without Borders, which has declared Cuba an "enemy of the Internet," estimates that it costs on average the equivalent of $5 to $7 for a half-hour connection to the Internet. But that the average monthly salary in Cuba equals only $20, making frequent access prohibitive. Getting online is only half the problem for Cubans. The other, and more problematic issue, is the rigid control the government exerts over what people can see and say while online. Particularly in the government's crosshairs are Cuban bloggers who openly criticize the regime. In 2012, following a brief period where the government appeared to ease restrictions, Havana again cracked down, shuttering a range of blogs and websites, restricting access to email content at work, and jailing a number of cyber activists and critics. Among the prominent Cuban bloggers that have tangled with the government is Yoani María Sánchez, lead author of the "Generación Y" blog. While never jailed, Sanchez remains a thorn in the side of the Castros and her blog is blocked within Cuba. (She publishes it by sending blog entries to friends outside Cuba, who then post it on non-Cuban servers.) As for content coming from outside of Cuba, the government routinely employs an unsophisticated series of blocks on thousands of websites. While these blocks are fairly easy to bypass, the government may have decided that the lack of access to the Web makes these sites relatively harmless. Mystery cable While much of Latin America has been busily building greater connections to the world via the Internet, Cuba is almost completely cut off. Much of the globe's data traffic flows through undersea fiber-optic cables, transmitting enormous amounts of information and linking countries and continents together in what we know as the Web. A map of submarine fiber optic cables showing Cuba's near-isolationA map of submarine fiber optic cables showing Cuba's near-isolation But a look at the map of global submarine cables provided by Global Bandwidth Research Service clearly shows that while most of the Caribbean and Latin America is connected through dozens of cables, all but one completely bypass Cuba. And that cable, the ALBA-1, may have in fact lain dormant until a U.S.-based researcher discovered its existence. In 2011, the ALBA-1 cable was quietly strung between La Guaira, Venezuela and Siboney, Cuba. (It has since been extended from Cuba to Jamaica.) Owned by Telecom Venezuela, for several years it remained mysteriously quiet until 2013, when Doug Madory, a research analyst with Dyn Research, noticed it was suddenly turned on. While the ALBA-1 greatly increased the amount of data that could flow to Cuba, Madory cautions that the Castro regime still is in control of just how much will. "Yesterday's historic agreement to begin normalizing relations between Cuba and the United States contains a pledge by the Cuban government to ‘greatly expand its citizens' access to the Internet,' " Madory wrote last week on his blog. "What exactly this pledge entails will determine how the Internet evolves in Cuba in the near term. "Decision makers in Cuba should look at another country that recently opened up its telecom sector and is presently experiencing an explosion in Internet growth: Myanmar," he wrote. 'Lighting up the island' While it's unknown yet how the new U.S.-Cuba relationship will affect access to an uncensored Internet for the island's 11 million residents, it's clear that Washington is making this a top priority. "I believe in the free flow of information," President Barack Obama said when he unveiled his new Cuba policy. "Unfortunately, our sanctions on Cuba have denied Cubans access to technology that has empowered individuals around the globe." That's leading many to believe the Obama administration will push as hard as it can for Cuban officials to open up the island to telecommunications companies looking to build out increased Internet fiber and mobile data access. "The government here did its best to restrict the flow of information," Jeffrey DeLaurentis, the U.S.'s highest-ranking official in Cuba, told the CBS TV program "60 Minutes" this Sunday. "And they have committed to providing more access to the Internet to the Cuban people. "We believe that lighting up the island is going to make a major change here," DeLaurentis said. While it's likely the Cuban government will seek to expand its digital and mobile capacity, that may not mean that Cubans will readily adopt U.S.-style websites and social media. Sujatha Fernandes and Alexandra Halkin with the National American Congress on Latin America, or NACLA, write that some Cubans have already begun building their own alternative network for sharing information and commentary. Called "El Paquete Seminal," or the Weekly Packet, it's a 1 terabyte eclectic compilation of all sorts of media: current movies, YouTube clips, technology reports, Cuban and international news and much more. This packet is then circulated hand-to-hand across the island - sort of a samizdat for the digital age. However it develops, blogger Sánchez is optimistic the changing U.S.-Cuba policy will lead to greater freedom for those who want to read or write the kind of material found in "Generación Y." "Today was a political defeat," she writes of the Cuban government's new stance to the United States. "David can't live without Goliath and the ideological apparatus has depended too long on this dispute." (via VOA Radiogram Dec 27 via roger, Germany, dxldyg via DXLD) See USA ** CYPRUS [non]. [Re 14-52:] ``Echo of Europe, probably cancelled, no signal on Dec 19 and 23: 1930-1945 on 5930 NAU 125 kW / 230 deg to WeEu French Tue/Fri (Ivo Ivanov, Blgaria, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DX LISTENING DIGEST)`` Why Cyprus? According to a mail received today from Simon Marty (Echo of Europe), the programme will be back on the second week of January. Regards, (Jean-Michel Aubier, France, Dec 29, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Must have confused with European News Network: this one is based in CYPRUS, WRTH 2015 page 458, broadcast via WRMI at several times plus SOF Sat at 1845 on 5905. Echo of Europe is listed under FRANCE, from Toulouse, WRTH 2015 page 460, also via WRMI at several times, and 5930 Nauen Tue & Fri 1930- 1945 (Glenn Hauser, ibid., WORLD OF RADIO 1754) QSL: 7570, EU NEWS NETWORK via WRMI Okeechobee, FLORIDA. Full data card received in 26 Days for an emailed reception report. Card not signed but has station rubber stamp and 3 nice postage stamps from CYPRUS where they are Hq'd (Robert S. Ross, Dec 29, London, Ontario, CANADA, ODXA yg via DXLD) ** CYPRUS [non]. December 20: EU News Network English vs VIRI IRIB Albanian, strong collision 1844 on 5925 Secretbrod https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCEf_jX5zF8&feature=youtu.be 73! (Ivo Ivanov, Blgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. MAURICIO MOLANO, ALDEA DEL CAMPO, CACERES, SPAIN, QSLs REPORT: DOMINICANA, HIC80 - 1640 kHz - RADIO JUVENTUS DON BOSCO - Sto. Domingo - QSL. Otra emisora producto de las excelentes condiciones de propagación del pasado 27 de octubre. Está pequeña emisora dominicana (1 kW/D - 500W/N) entró muy débil en varios momentos entre las 0330 y las 0430 UT. Esta tarde he enviado el mejor de esos fragmentos a su Director General, el Padre Luis Rosario Peña, quién me ha confirmado la escucha en pocas horas. ¡Muchas gracias! Email radiojuventusdonbosco @ yahoo.com (Play DX Electronic 28 Dec via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. 6050, HCJB, Pico Pinchincha. 2104 December 21, 2014. Checking for ELWA, Liberia. Only this one propagating, fair and increasing signal level in Spanish, robot time sounders over programming 2130. Weak carrier-only on 4760 at the same time (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL - NRD-535, IC-R75, roof dipole, active lo, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR [non]. 7365, GERMANY. HCJB Deutsch Life FM, at 0213, on 22 Dec. A Christmas song is playing sung in English by a male singer. A song called “I won’t be home for Christmas” played next. Christmas songs by Bare Naked Ladies, Smashing Pumpkins, Jose Feliciano, and Elvis Presley singing “Blue Christmas” were also played. The male announcer spoke in Spanish and English. Fair (John Cooper, Lebanon PA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) Unless you heard an ID for HCJB, this was surely Radio Martí! Altho HCJB 10 kW transmitter in Germany is authorized for 24 hours and per Eibi is on the air at this time, so is R. Martí via Greenville, which could be playing just this kind of thing leading up to Xmas (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EGYPT. FREE AL JAZEERA JOURNALISTS, jailed for a year by Egypt: http://america.aljazeera.com/topics/topic/issue/FreeAJStaff.html (Al Jazeera mailing list via DXLD) Later they got a new trial (gh) ** EGYPT. Here is a `new` schedule of R. Cairo in Spanish they are sending out ---- with WRONG FREQUENCIES, the ones in use in A-14 season! Really now on 9860, 12080, and maybe 13620. Modulation is horrible, normally useless. This program schedule was in one unreadble blob, but I have fixed it up in case it be somewhat correct. We can dream about hearing the programs, and grieve for the poor program producers who are wasting their efforts (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) PROGRAMACIÓN DEL PRIMER SEMESTRE DE 2015 Correo Postal: Radio El Cairo, Programa en Español, A.P. 566, El Cairo, Egipto Correo Electrónico: radioelcairoespa@gmail.com Página Oficial en Facebook: Radio El Cairo "Programa en Español" Canal Oficial en YouTube: RadioElCairo Cuenta en Twitter: radioelcairoespa Página Web: http://www.dotnet.ertu.org/radioelcairoespa Tiempo Universal Coordinado (UTC) y (GMT) 0045-0200. Hora Local de El Cairo (Horario de Verano) 03:45 - 05:00. Hora Local de El Cairo (Horario de Invierno) 02:45 - 04:00. Vía Onda Corta [ERRÓNEAS] Vía Satélite Banda 25 m, Frecuencia 12070 KHz. Nilesat 7 grados oeste. Banda 25 m, Frecuencia 11710 KHz. Frecuencia 11766 MHz. Banda 31 m, Frecuencia 9315 KHz. Polaridad Horizontal. Programa Número 7 (Mowagahat-8). Programación Fija 0045 Inicio de Emisión y Presentación de Planta 0150 ¡Bienvenidos! 0047 Música Árabe 0152 Canción Árabe 0048 Titulares de Noticias 0155 Resumen de Noticias 0100 Sintonía y Noticiario 0157 Programación de Mañana 0110 Comentario Político 0200 Cierre de Emisión 0115 Canción Árabe Programación Diaria Sábado Domingo 0050 Egiptología 0050 Profeta del Islam 0120 Artes de América Latina 0055 Canción Árabe Religiosa 0125 Cuadro de Egipto 0120 ¿Usted Sabía? 0130 La Prensa Egipcia en una Semana 0125 La Salud y La Vida 0140 Platos Árabes 0130 Juntos On Line 0145 Música de América Latina 0145 Panorama Egipcio Lunes Martes 0050 Pioneros del Pensamiento Egipcio 0050 Esto Es El Islam 0055 Ciencia y Tecnología 0120 El Gol 0120 La Revista Turística 0125 La Salud y La Vida 0125 Papel y Lápiz Concurso 0130 Gira Microfónica / El Micrófono en la Calle 0130 Perspectiva Latinoamericana + Canción Árabe 0135 Rincón de la Economía 0145 Panorama Egipcio 0140 Obras y Estrellas 0145 Música de América Latina Miércoles Jueves 0050 Egipto al Vuelo 0050 Lecturas Árabes 0120 La Familia y La Sociedad 0120 ¿Usted Sabía? 0125 Cuadro de Egipto 0125 La Salud y La Vida 0130 Perspectiva Latinoamericana 0130 Del Cancionero Egipcio 0135 Rincón de la Economía 0145 Panorama Egipcio 0140 Platos Árabes 0145 Música de América Latina Viernes 0125 Efemérides Semanales 0050 Exégesis del Corán 0130 El Cairo Contesta 0120 La Revista Turística 0145 Música de América Latina (via Vicent Mari, Spain, Dec 27 noticiasdx yg via DXLD) ** EGYPT. 12035, Dec 27 at 0118, R. Cairo, good signal but dead air 9965.3, Dec 27 at 0118, R. Cairo, very good signal with flutter, ME music; off-frequency as usual 9860.1, Dec 27 at 0119, R. Cairo, good with flutter, dead air. This one is also off-frequency 9905, Dec 27 at 0643, R. Cairo, very distorted but loud modulation in Arabic (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EGYPT [non]. 9395, Sunday Dec 28 at 1414, ME fill music playing from R. Cairo in weekly 1300 relay by Global 24 via WRMI, good signal; YL wraps up with headlines until 1422, mentions frequency 9860 which is normally non- or barely-modulated at 0200-0330; then G24 fills with RESPECT. Tnx to G24, this allows us to hear R. Cairo in English at least once a week. Global 24 sked now shows one more R. Cairo relay: add Mondays 1100-1220 on 9395 (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EUROPE. Mail received de Radio Cochiguaz!!! --- We will do a test transmission the 31st of December 2014 on the last day of this year. The frequency will be around 6300 kHz but check our website for more accurate information just before transmission begin at 0200 UTC. 73's from Quri Chakana http://www.radio-cochiguaz.com Estaremos haciendo una emisión de prueba el 31 de diciembre, en el ultimo día del año. La frecuencia sera alrededor de 6300kHz. Visite nuestra pagina WEB para información mas exacta, que estará disponible minutos antes de iniciar la transmisión a las 02.00 UTC. 73's de Quri Chakana http://www.radio-cochiguaz.com (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, Dec 29, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Presumably means UT January 1, 2015. Nothing new on the website as of 0140 UT Dec 31 (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) No, it should be now. And from Europe (Horacio Nigro, Montevideo, Uruguay, 0153 UT Dec 31, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Silly me, I assumed R. Cochiguaz is in the Andes like they claim on website (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 250 W, mosfet xmtr. Check their website, stating this and posting a photo of the rig and trying to work out some problem with it (Horacio Nigro, Montevideo, Uruguay, 0156 UT, Dec 31, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6238 showing up on Utwente WebSDR rx (Horacio Nigro, Montevideo, Uruguay, 0210 UT Dec 31, ibid.) No signal here in Southeastern Massachusetts. Conditions seem pretty poor this evening so I am not surprised that I am not hearing them, if they are actually on the air. On another note I am not detecting any signal from CFRX on 6070. This is usually in almost around the clock here (Stephen Wood, Harwich, Mass., 0303 UT Dec 31, ibid.) Extremely weak carrier visible on my Perseus in Alberta. Carrier measured 6237.975 ish (carrier is smeared at this distance and because of the auroral disturbance) at ~-141 dbm at 0325 UT. Far from any chance of audio, even to hear just the carrier. Conditions are far from good, especially this far north. Signal nice on the Swedish SM2BYC Perseus and other remotes in that area (Don VE6JY Moman, AB, 0336 UT Dec 31, ibid.) ** EUROPE [non?]. 6925 - Radio Doctor Tim at 2135. Several musical selections, "The Commissars in town" German version right now at 2202, Multiple ID's. Female computer generated voice thanking listeners for reports and giving e-mail, doctortim@t-online.de Announcing as broadcasting from a secret location in Germany. CW & SSTV messages included. Fair to Good reception some static and fades. Now into a German version of "Roll out the Barrel`` (Stephen Wood, Harwich, Mass., UT Dec 31, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Suspect relay from a N American pirate (gh, DXLD) ** FRANCE. [Re 14-52:] Regarding French MW stations, most of us DXers here in France think that they are doomed. It appears that Radio France has contracts with TDF, who owns the transmitters, which run until 2018 for some of them. Others expire earlier. I was told that the contracts for the channels that were closed recently (792, 837 & 945 kHz) had expired. With that we can come to the logical conclusion that the others will follow suit as soon as those expire, including the LW station on 162 kHz (Rémy Friess 16.12.2014 via DXWW II, IRCA DX Monitor Jan 3 via DXLD) ** FRANCE [non]. Echo of Europe, no signal on Dec 19 and 23 1930-1945 on 5930 NAU 125 kW / 230 deg to WeEu French Tue/Fri (DX RE MIX NEWS #887 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, Dec 29, 2014 via DXLD) ** FRANCE [non]. Echo of Europe: see CYPRUS [non] ** GEORGIA [and non]. R Radio and Newgeorgia fined with 5,000 GEL for illegal broadcasting --- 27 DEC 2014 - 13:37:00 http://agenda.ge/news/27210/eng R Radio attracted public interest in Georgia owing to its links with ‘Russia Today’ --- Agenda.ge,27 Dec 2014 - 13:37, Tbilisi,Georgia Georgian National Communication Commission has fined LTD R Radio and LTD International News Agency NewsGeorgia with 5,000 GEL both for illegal broadcasting. R Radio has also been given a written sanction for violating of license-related obligations. The commission has stated that Newsgeorgia, based on its own editorial responsibility, created a radio production that was broadcasted by R Radio with the title-Radio Sputnik Georgia. "The action was taken as undertaking joint broadcasting without appropriate license and authorisation,” Georgian National Communication Commission's statement reads. The R radio had triggered speculations in public with regard to its Russian links. Privately owned R Radio, which currently broadcast in Tbilisi under the name Radio Monte Carlo, allocated four hours a day to broadcast Russia Today's new large-scale media brand- Sputnik’s programs in November 2014. The legality of broadcasting Sputnik was put at question mark by local media reports and NGOs, especially when the Sputnik launched its website and begun radio broadcasting in Georgia’s breakaway Abkhazia region, which is currently occupied by Russia. Georgian non-governmental organisation Institute for Development for the Freedom of Information (IDFI) called on R Radio in November to publically release details of its agreement with Russian state news agency 'Russia Today’. Since the Georgian National Communication Commission launched studying the issue, the R Radiostopped broadcasting of Radio Sputnik Georgia after a week in action (via Dr Hansjoerg Biener, Dec 27, DXLD) ** GERMANY. High power tests on 6070 kHz. Please send reports! If you are still waiting for an answer for an older report, please send again. info@channel292.de Thanks to André of CoolAM for doing a fine job as our new QSL manager! (Channel 292 Dec 25, via CORDIALES SALUDOS / GOOD LUCK / (via JUAN FRANCO CRESPO * STAMP JOURNALIST (AIPET), SÀLVIA 8 (MAS CLARIANA), E-43800 VALLS-TARRAGONA (ESPAÑA-SPAIN- ESPAGNE-SPANIEN), DXLD) Channel 292, 6070 kHz: Mauno Ritola, WRTH Facebook group, 1456 today: From Channel 292: Now our new transmitter finally seems to work with an output of more than 10 kW, and we got a lot of good reports for indoor reception with portable radios and telescopic antennas, as well as reception with car radio, from all over Europe. Please notice, that you can rent airtime for only 15€ an hour for occasional broadcasts; for broadcasts on a regular basis, please ask for conditions. Remember that some hours, especially during the weekends, may be booked quickly! Radio Mi Amigo will be on air next Saturday; they will be glad for reports. We plan to be on air from Dec. 31st, later in the afternoon, for a longer period of time, to make some final tests and checking the new security equipment that shuts down the transmitter in cases of emergency. Again we ask for your reports how you can receive us, and how you evaluate quality of our modulation - thank you in advance. From all of us, best wishes for 2015! Mit freundlichen Grüßen / Kind regards Radio Channel 292 http://www.channel292.de info@channel292.de Harald Kuhl in the British DX Club news group says the Radio Mi Amigo broadcast will be 0700-1100 January 3. Mike Posted by: (barraclough.mike, Dec 30, DXLD yg via DXLD; also via Joe Talbot, AB, WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DXLD) Habe neben Mi Amigo auch noch die Termine für NordAM via Kall und Chelmsford via SWR in meiner Übersicht upgedatet [sic; upgedätet?]:: www.rhci-online.de/files/show_pattern.htm#2014-12-31 (roger, Germany, dxldyg via DXLD) ** GERMANY. December 21: Intersoundradio in English to CeEu, special transmission 1050 on 9485 CUSB Goehren https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FE4Fz73QOVE&feature=youtu.be Intersoundradio in English to CeEu, special transmission 1056 on 9485 CUSB Goehren. Videos/audios: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHJ9enLrixw&feature=youtu.be 73! (Ivo Ivanov, Blgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. Mit NordAM ins neue Jahr --- Dear all, 2014 is almost over and we're looking forward to an exciting New Year with great music from all over the world. So why not welcome 2015 together with our little, tiny radio-show called NordAM? We bring you some nice Indie tunes as well as some random chatter in German. Sounds great, anyway, doesn't it? Okay. Anyway: Here's our schedule: 1300-1400 UTC: 7310 kHz 1500-1600 UTC: 6005 kHz 1800-1900 UTC: 3985 kHz (All frequencies via Kall-Krekel, Germany, power: 1 kW) Please see http://www.shortwaveservice.com/empfangen/ to find out how you can listen to us via the internet. You are invited to pay a visit to our Facebook page where we'll also post the links for our live-streaming: https://www.facebook.com/nordamradio By the way, detailed reception reports will be confirmed with a printed OR electronic QSL-card. (Please note that everyone who listens to us via WebSDR or a live-stream will receive an eQSL.) Our address is nordam @ shortwaveservice.com Please allow us some time to answer your reports. Our broadcast is made possible thanks to SHORTWAVESERVICE and our friends at RADIO 700. See their website http://www.shortwaveservice.com or https://www.facebook.com/Shortwaveservice for more info about their services. (They're great, trust us!) We look forward to hearing from you and wish you a HAPPY NEW YEAR and lots of fun in the world of radio. All the best, Torben & Daniel (via Harald Kuhl, Dec 30, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) and the date is 1 January 2015. Regards (Harald, ibid.) ** GERMANY. 6040.00, 2230-2245 24.12, NDR with "Grüss an Bord", via Nauen (?) German greetings from the Captain on Fregatte Lübech, Christmas hymns, greetings from families at home 55555 // 9515 (35333), 9765 (15221), 9880 (25222) and 9925 (35232) Best 73, (Anker Petersen, Denmark, All heard at my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, WOLD [sic] BAND RADIO MAILING LIST via DXLD) 6040, Norddeutscher Rundfunk – Nauen, 2227-2300* Dec 24, annual traditional NDR Gruss an Bord Christmas program for the fleet with various talks, short Christmas music features, IDs and closed with Silent Night. Poor reception this year with prior years being fair or better at times (Rich D'Angelo, 2216 Burkey Drive, Wyomissing, PA 19610, U.S.A., Ten-Tec RX-340, Drake R-8B, Eton E1, Eton E5, Alpha Delta DX Sloper, RF Systems Mini-Windom, Datong FL3, JPS ANC-4, ARDXC via DXLD) ** GOA. 15175, AIR (Panaji), 1542-1556* 31 Dec. Sked for Gujarati 1515-1600, but heard with English news/discussion-commentary today (was listening to Sarawak FM ring in the new year, so missed closing ID). (Dan Sheedy, Moonlight Beach, CA, PL606/6m X wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. ERTOpen in 1300-1900 UT time slot on Dec 21: 1300-1510 on 9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek 1300-1510 on 11645 AVL 100 kW / 182 deg to NoAf Greek, faulty audio 1300-1510 on 15630 AVL 100 kW / 105 deg to SoAs Greek from 1510 on 9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek from 1510 on 9935 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg to WeEu Greek, faulty audio from 1500 on 15630 AVL 100 kW / 105 deg to SoAs Greek from 1515 on 9415 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek from 1515 on 9935 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg to WeEu Greek, faulty audio from 1515 on 15630 AVL 100 kW / 105 deg to SoAs Greek http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2014/12/ertopen-in-1300-1900-ut-time-slot-on.html ERTOpen in 1200-2000 UT time slot on Dec 22: 1200-2000 on 9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek 1200-2000 on 9935 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg to WeEu Greek, faulty audio 1200-2000 on 15630 AVL 100 kW / 105 deg to SoAs Greek http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2014/12/ertopen-in-1200-2000-ut-time-slot-on.html ERTOpen in 1200-1530 UT time slot on Dec 24: from 1200 on 9415 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek from 1200 on 9935 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg to WeEu Greek from 1200 on 15630 AVL 100 kW / 105 deg to SoAs Greek All are off after 1530UTC, videos at 1200 and 1400UTC http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2014/12/ertopen-in-1200-1530-ut-time-slot-on.html (DX RE MIX NEWS #887 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, Dec 29, 2014 via DXLD) ** GREECE. 9415/9935/15630, ERTOpen (Avlis) 1506-1538* 24 Dec. Good on 9415, fair on 15630, very poor on 9935 (ACI CNR1 jammer on 9940) with Greek chat (instrumental music bed from "Little Town of Bethlehem"), Greek/English Christmas songs. Possible FM jingle at 1508. All 3 off abruptly at 1538 (Dan Sheedy, Moonlight Beach, CA, PL606 'barefoot’, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9935, Dec 27 at 0132, ERTOpen is on tonight with music, vs much stronger ACI from 9930 WTWW, while // 9420 is in the clear. As best I can tell, 9935 is not motorboating. At 0649, 9420 is VG with Xmas/Hanukah/Kwanza song in English, outro in Greek as by Whitney Houston (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ERTOpen with live election of the President of Greece on Dec 29: 1000-1200 on 9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek 1000-1200 on 11645 AVL 100 kW / 182 deg to NoAf Greek 1000-1200 on 15630 AVL 100 kW / 105 deg to SoAs Greek All three frequencies are off after 1200 UTC, videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gz6Nbqs6nN4&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5337zfXTT4&feature=youtu.be -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, Equipment: Sony ICF-2001D 30 m. long wire, dxldyg via DXLD) ** GREECE. 2ND PROGRAMME RETURNS TO AIR AFTER PUBLIC RADIO REORGANISATION Greek public broadcaster NERIT's second domestic radio channel Deftero Programa recently came back on air. Their website at http://www.nerit.gr had the following announcement [per Google Translate]: "From Monday, December 15 at 07.00 am, the second program returns to the air, all the usual frequencies 103.7 and 102.9 FM in Attica and Thessaloniki 90FM from local frequencies across Greece and live streaming in http://www.nerit.gr/deftero The historic and beloved listeners program Greek music and culture of public broadcasting, is back with a brand new label from the great composer and family man of public broadcasting Mimis Plessas , who composed the fourth variant of the classic "Tsopanakis" perfectly adapted to the style the Second. He composed, and even some variations of ?? variation for different times of day, depending on the type of music. The second program will transmit for a period of non stop music and New Year with full program , with renowned music producers". The "label" referred to is their traditional interval signal rearranged and played on various instruments - so far this morning I've heard classical guitar, bouzouki and saxophone versions. The website offers live audio streaming and an extensive list of FM frequencies for all NERIT national channels (for the latter, click on the 'radio mast' icon on the top right). (David Kernick, Interval Signals Online, Dec 30, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HAITI. In the October VUD there was a story on page 18 about Storm TV in Haiti. The statement was made that the September receptions of Storm TV were the first time that Es has ever been seen from Haiti. Jeff Kruszka informed us that we were wrong and that Storm TV had been seen by Chris Dunne [Pembroke Pines FL] a few years earlier. We apologize for the mistake (Nov WTFDA VHF UHF Digest via DXLD) ** INDIA. 5040, AIR (Jeypore) 1447-1507+ 30 Dec. Doing fairly OK today with modern Hindi pop + some nice sitar instrumentals, too. M DJ keeping things moving along. Other 60M AIR stations noted on 5010, 4970, 4920 (beating usually dominant XPBS like a drum), 4895, 4860, 4810. No sign of Aizawl under BBR on 5050, tho (Dan Sheedy, Moonlight Beach, CA, PL606 6m X wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. 9595, All India Radio, Bengaluru. 1630 December 24, 2014. Russian, with female reader. Subcontinental music 1655 recheck. Clear, weak. Listed 1615-1715 (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL - NRD-535, IC- R75, roof dipole, active lo, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [and non]. 15795 kHz, AIR Mandarin service 1145-1315 UT Dec 26, totally covered broadband 15790.2 to 15802 kHz with Firedrake music, hefty WHITE NOISE SCRATCHING audio too, or is latter DRM outlet from India, for how many people? audience in China mainland? to decode that digital audio data? (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9690, Dec 25 at 1425, nice sitar music from AIR GOS, fair signal, better than usual; tnx to WRMI for staying off 9690 which they initially used a year ago upon takeover of WYFR. AIR // 13710 is still ruined by CCI from CRI English via Kashgar and/or outright CNR1 jamming; NO tnx (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. Happy New Year to all members of DX India! Many stations of All India Radio will be on air with extended broadcasts tonight to usher in the new year (on MW, SW & SW 60 meter band) past 1830 UT (i.e. Midnight IST) Yours sincerely, (Jose Jacob & Alok Das Gupta, 1206 UT Dec 31, dx_india yg via DXLD) ** INDIA [non]. 9500, UZBEKISTAN, CVC Voice Asia, Tashkent. 1225 December 24, 2014. Hindi female, happy Hindi vocals with accordion and sitar. Good (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL - NRD-535, IC-R75, roof dipole, active lo, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA [non]. PK-AXC is the registration/wing number/callsign of the particular aircraft funxioning as Air Asia Flight QZ 8501, crashed into the Java Sea, as a little Google research shows. So please refer to the unique aircraft, not the flight number when referring to this disaster! It you must refer to it by flight number, you must also include the date which was Dec 28. Otherwise there was another flight 8501 on Dec 29 which made the journey successfully, its callsign being PK-AXU, and surely many more to come by two or three other craft, etc., etc. See http://www.flightradar24.com/flight/qz8501 Will anyone pay attention to me this time? Of course not (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS. 16 December 1964 --- 50 years ago today test transmissions were first heard from the MV Galaxy on or near 266 metres. [= 1128 kHz??] Radio London was the idea of Don Pierson, who lived in Eastland, Texas, United States. The station was to have been Radio KLIF London, using recorded programmes from KLIF, Dallas. When it was decided that the sound should be live and geared towards a British audience and culture, Pierson hired Ben Toney as Programme Director. Philip Birch was appointed CEO in charge of the radio station and advertising sales. Birch suggested calling the station Radio Galaxy, in anticipation of its star-making ability. As a compromise the minesweeper was renamed MV Galaxy while the station became Radio London. However, the PAMS jingles brought a refinement of the name so that it was known as Wonderful . With its 50 kilowatt transmitter and slick mid-Atlantic style it was soon listened to and loved by 12 million (possibly more) listeners in the UK and in countries like Holland, Germany, Belgium and France. Most programs originated live from a DJ studio located in the hold at the rear of the ship. There was a second smaller studio which was used for the hourly news bulletins, production and backup purposes. The ship's metal bulkheads presented problems with acoustics and soundproofing, that were initially solved by lining the walls with mattresses and blankets from the crew's bunk beds. This meant no one could sleep during the daytime. The original studio was installed by RCA while the ship was being fitted out in Miami. Early in 1966 a new studio was built, with proper acoustic lining, ergonomic design and a better mixer. At midnight on 14 August 1967, the Marine, etc., Broadcasting (Offences) Act came into effect in the United Kingdom. It created a criminal offence of supplying music, commentary, advertising, fuel, food, water or other assistance except for life-saving, to any ship, offshore structure such as a former WWII fort, or flying platform such as an aircraft used for broadcasting without a licence from the regulatory authority in the UK. Despite initial plans to the contrary Radio London decided not to defy the law and closed before the Act came into effect. It was decided to close at 3pm on 14 August 1967, partly to guarantee a large audience and to enable the broadcasting staff return to shore and board a train to London. A one-hour recorded show was broadcast from 2pm to allow staff to get ready to leave. The time also described an "L" shape on the clock face, though whether this was a consideration is unknown. Their Final Hour, as the programme was called, had recorded greetings of farewell and remembrance from recording stars. The 2:30 news bulletin read by Paul Kaye was the last live item on the station. Included were the voices of Mick Jagger, Cliff Richard, Ringo Starr and Dusty Springfield. Birch thanked DJs and staff and others involved throughout the station' s life, as well as politicians and others who fought for the station – and its 12 million listeners in the United Kingdom and four million in the Netherlands, Belgium and France'. This was followed by the last record, A Day in the Life by The Beatles, then Paul Kaye's final announcement: "Big L time is three o'clock, and Radio London is now closing down". Radio London's theme tune, the PAMS Sonowaltz" , popularly called Big Lil, was played before the transmitter was switched off just after 3pm by engineer Russell Tollerfield. Undoubtedly the greatest offshore broadcaster it had only been on air for two and a half years but it was highly successful and profitable and was copied by the BBC for its new non-commercial pop channel - Radio 1, then later land-based commercial radio finally started in the UK. 50 years but never forgotten --- (Mike Terry, UK, (with help from Wiki), Dec 16, mwdx yg via DXLD) ** IRAN. 7435, Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Sirjan. 1249 December 25, 2014. Pashto, clear and fair, parallel 9790. 9790, Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Kamalabad. 1249 December 25, 2014. Pashto, clear and excellent, parallel 7435. 11955, Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Kamalabad. 1306 December 25, 2014. Dari service, good, parallel 13830. 13750, Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Kamalabad. 1240 December 25, 2014. Arabic, female news, ID, Iranian classical music. Parallel 15750. 13830, Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ahwas. 1306 December 25, 2014. Dari service, clear but weak, parallel 11955. 15450, Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Kamalabad. 1247 December 25, 2014. Indonesian service, excellent, parallel 17715. 15750, Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Zahedan. 1240 December 25, 2014. Arabic service, clear and fair, parallel 13750. 17715, Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Sirjan. 1247 December 25, 2014. Indonesian service, excellent, parallel 15450 (Terry L. Krueger, all logs made at Clearwater, FL with NRD-535, IC-R75, ICF- 7600GR, roof dipole and active loop, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [non]. Canceled transmissions from MBR schedule: Sedaye Radio-ye Mehr Iran, no signal on Dec 19 and 22: 1630-1700 on 15680 ISS 500 kW / 091 deg to WeAs Farsi Mon/Fri (Ivo Ivanov Dec 26, WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DX LISTENING DIGESTE) ** IRELAND. Stop it! RTÉ was told to stop jamming pirate radio stations. RTÉ also attempted to put a stop to stations using illegal frequencies by putting out jamming signals. There was cause for concern as the frequencies being used and the jamming signals impacted on phone lines, as well as frequencies used by hospitals and airports (Brock Whaley, Ireland, Dec 30, for DXLD) viz.: TheJournal.ie 30 December 2014 http://www.thejournal.ie/pirate-radio-rte-taoiseach-state-papers-1823552-Dec2014/ Pirate radio stations caused quite the stir in 1984, creating a headache for both the RTÉ and the Government. Unlicensed, pirate radio stations flourished in Ireland in the early 1980s — providing younger listeners an alternative to the state broadcaster. Amongst them, were the Dublin stations of Sunshine Radio and Nova — which employed a full roster of presenters. Jamming signals: Due to pirate radio stations setting up shop on frequencies with no licence, the Government moved to impose further regulations on them. Meanwhile, RTÉ also attempted to put a stop to stations using illegal frequencies by putting out jamming signals. There was cause for concern as the frequencies being used and the jamming signals impacted on phone lines, as well as frequencies used by hospitals and airports. In state files released under the 30 year rule, a letter from Dublin City Council to the Government said they “deplored” the situation with pirate radio stations and was becoming a public safety matter as people could not reach doctors when the phones were out of use. The Taoiseach at the time, the late Garret Fitzgerald, received a number of letters from members of the public, particularly young people, asking for the Government to intervene and begin granting more broadcasting licences. One letter came from an 8-year-old girl, who said that “RTÉ were being mean”, while a 19-year-old from Dublin said the new Bill before Government was “designed to kill pirate broadcasting”. She asked the Taoiseach why they refused to grant them licences. She said that she was unemployed and spent her days listening to music while she sent out numerous of job applications to companies she saw in the Golden pages. Replying to the letter, Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald wrote that the Government were not trying to be “spoil-sports” and explained his reasoning. The sender had requested that the Taoiseach write back in his own hand-writing, however, a note from Fitzgerald at the end of the letter apologises to her for not doing so, while also throwing her a compliment about her own hand-writing being very nice, and saying he is a little ashamed of his own. Pirate radio stations, such as Sunshine FM, were also fighting back and getting in touch with the Taoiseach asking him to intervene. The public made the point that jobs were being lost with the radio station closures and there were petitions from those that worked at the likes of Sunshine FM being handed in to the Government. It got to a point where the Government felt they had no choice but to get involved, with an internal briefing note stating that the Minister for Communications at the time would take up the matter with RTÉ. In a politely worded letter to the Chairman of RTÉ, Fred O’Donovan, the Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald said that the Government would be taking action against them if the continued to cause disruption with the jamming signals. The RTÉ Chairman replied and said that situation with pirate radio stations had become “extremely serious” and he urged the legislation to be moved up the timetable (via Mike Terry, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) There's an excellent recording of RTE jamming Sunshine Radio and their news report about here, second link under Audio Downloads. Also more if you go to the full list, including Robbie Dale ringing up RTE about it, also more if you go to Irish Era, Radio Nova and their audio section. Sunshine Radio Portmarnock - HOME PAGE: http://www.dxarchive.com/ireland_a_to_z_irish_pirates_sunshine_radio_portmarnock_index.html (Mike Barraclough, ibid.) ** IRELAND. [Re 14-52:] The RTÉ longwave service is to be extended until at least 2017. OK, this is good to know, but let me get this straight: Cost is the issue. I get that, but to address cost you take a service that is a fixed cost and covers the whole of the UK pretty darn well, and replace it with a platform that costs more and more as use increases, and/or a network of smaller 'footprint' radio stations on FM that each require maintenance/energy etc. and that DON'T cover the whole UK? I'm sorry, there may be reasons for shutting down LW eventually, but cost isn't one of them. LW is far cheaper than the intended replacements in the long run. We can at least be honest about our reasons, can't we? --kvz (Kenneth Vito Zichi, MI, MARE Tipsheet Dec 26 via WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DXLD) I doubt there is any chance of setting up Irish FM relays all over the UK (gh, DXLD) ** JAPAN. 9595, Dec 31 at 1457, there`s no NHK to be heard, as their New Year`s celebration has long since vanished from SW, so I settle on R. Nikkei where it`s almost local 2015y. Fair signal with pop music, 1459 ID ``kochirawa Radio Nikkei desu`` and sign-off citing JOZ- calls, 1500 dead air, no observance of the New Year whatsoever. Did hear a timesignal but probably bleeding from China on 9605. BTW, there was a publicized NYE monitoring suggestion including midnight in eastern Australia at 1100 UT --- wrong, it was 1300 UT in NSW and Vic, 1400 UT in Qsld, but 1100 UT in NZ (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN [and non]. 13650, NHK World / Radio Japan, 12/25, 2258, familiar IS to woman in (listed) Thai, and sign/on at ToH. VG, but suddenly began heavy CCI with (pres) R Havana Cuba in Portuguese. 73 and Good Listening (Rick Barton, El Mirage, Arizona, Drake R8, Grundig Satellit 750, outdoor Slinky and end fed random wire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) It`s Cuba relaying China Radio International in Portuguese (gh) ** KIRIBATI. As a bit of a holiday gift to everyone, I want to share 3 one hour long airchecks I got of Radio Kiribati 1440. They were recorded in the studio by the station, at a cost to me of $10AUD for each one. Very worth it, if you ask me. http://www.onairdj.com/RadioKiribati.mp3 (Encoded at 128K/44 kHz stereo, 60 mins 59 seconds long) http://www.onairdj.com/RadioKiribatiAM1440_June2013.mp3 (Encoded at 56K/22 kHz, 58 minutes 35 minutes long) http://www.onairdj.com/RadioKiribati_1440Khz_August2013.mp3 (Encoded at 96k/44 kHz, 49 minutes 36 seconds long) Feel free to share these links or post them elsewhere, just give me credit for them and link to my website, http://www.onairdj.com if possible. Happy Holidays! (Paul B Walker, Jr, CA, Dec 30, NRC-AM via WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. KCBS Pyongyang 11680 // 9665 Missing Korea North - Daily I listen 11680 and 9665 for the KCBS Pyongyang domestic service as both frequencies are well received at great strength here in Sydney. For many days these usually very reliable services have been missing. I enjoy the ambience added by listening to KCBS via shortwave (I can also "cheat" and receive KCBS via C-Band satellite - but the studio perfect audio lacks that subversive cold war quality that shortwave adds to the listening experience). So tonight I have reverted to using 2350 remotely via a Perseus in Nagoya (Japan) - this frequency is operating as expected (Mark Fahey, Sydney, Australia, http://www.behindthecurtain.asia Dec 29, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, all three Pyongyang site broadcasts OFF air at present 1125 til 1145 UT Dec 29, 6100, 9665, and 11680 kHz. But check on Tokyo remote SDR unit show, ALL ON AIR today. 1125 UT KCBS Pyongyang on 2350, 3219v, 3959 kHz. Voice of Korea, Kujang, as scheduled Japanese on 621 MW, and 3250, 6070, 7580, 9650 kHz. French 6170 6185 9435 9850. Chinese 7220, 9445 kHz (Wolfgang Büschel, Dec 29, ibid.) KOREA D.P.R. someone reported recently of missing 6100, 9665 and 11680 kHz shrill KCBS Pyongyang program broadcasts in Korean. When checked at 1645 UT on Dec 30, all three outlets from Kanggye transmission center heard again on air today. This Kanggye transmission center has been got also new BBEF firm Made in China most modern transmitter model units, some 2 years ago. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Dec 30, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH. I received a QSL on 12/26/14, from Voice of Korea for a report sent out on 09/08/2014. Included in the plain brown paper package were an English language newspaper, magazine, station program listing, and a small lapel pin with the VOK station symbol on it along with a full data QSL. (It was interesting reading the propaganda.) (John Cooper, Lebanon PA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. 5910, Dec 25 at 1408, Sea Breeze is still here and still in English on Thursday, quick news items attributed to Daily NK, same stinger every minute, but with a long pause before starting it. Fair signal from JSR, JAPAN still this late as we are close to our latest sunrise (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5910, Shiokaze/Sea Breeze via Yamata, tune in at 1334 till 1429*, Tuesday, Dec 30. Special Holiday programming of 99% music; ballads/EZL songs, Auld Lang Syne, etc. and assume were all sung in Korean; heavy pulsating jamming; preempted the normal Tue. 1330-1400 Chinese segment; today all in Korean. Even with jamming the music came through fairly well. Audio at https://app.box.com/s/oqiokq2sukvg3zmgelty (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, E1 & CR-1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KUWAIT. Us faig arribar la info de les QSL rebudes durant el passat semestre: Radio Kuwait 15540 kHz, English programme. Full data QSL certificate for report sent to kwtfreq@media.gov.kw on 26/04/2013 with follow up on 11/10/2013. v/s Khaled Al-Ali, Asst. Under Secretary of Engineering Affairs. 73 (Rafael Martínez, Barcelona via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DXLD) ** KUWAIT/SAUDI ARABIA. R. Kuwait GS is // on BSKSA GS with 6 second delay on Dec 25: till 1457 9750 KBD 250 kW / 286 deg NEAf Arabic R. Kuwait General Sce till 1457 17705 RIY 500 kW / 310 deg WeEu Arabic BSKSA General Sce till 1457 21505 RIY 500 kW / 295 deg NEAf Arabic BSKSA General Sce confirmed, but not recorded: 9750 is // on 17705 for a minute 1456- 1457! 1500-1530 9750 KBD 250 kW / 286 deg NEAf Arabic R.Kuwait General Sce 1500-1530 15225 RIY 500 kW / 295 deg NEAf Arabic BSKSA General Sce 1500-1530 15435 RIY 500 kW / 310 deg WeEu Arabic BSKSA General Sce http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2014/12/rkuwait-gs-is-on-bsksa-gs-with-6.html (DX RE MIX NEWS #887 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, Dec 29, 2014 via DXLD) Temporarily stopped transmitter of R Kuwait was back on air on Dec 28 1150-1200 21580 KBD 250 kW / 084 deg SEAs Arabic, instead of Filipino from 1209 21540 KBD 250 kW / 310 deg WeEu Arabic General Service Full schedule for this transmitter is: 0500-0900 on 15515 KBD 250 kW / 059 deg to EaAs Arabic General Service 1000-1200 on 21580 KBD 250 kW / 084 deg to SEAs Filipino 1210-1550 on 21540 KBD 250 kW / 310 deg to WeEu Arabic General Service 1600-1800 on 15540 KBD 250 kW / 100 deg to SoAs Urdu 1800-2100 on 15540 KBD 250 kW / 310 deg to WeEu English Videos: http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2014/12/temporarily-stopped-transmitter-of.html (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, Dec 28, WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DXLD) 21540, Dec 28 at 1511, R. Kuwait with good signal in Arabic, in fact better than the only other 13m audible, 21600 WHRI, not up to full blasting level yet. Kuwait had been AWOL for a while. Ivo Ivanov says 21540 just came back today, and it`s the same transmitter used for English at 1800-2100 on 15540, both 310 degrees toward W Europe, and thence North America. Is anyone hearing the 15540 broadcast now? Normally it`s inaudible here in the winter (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DX LISTENING DIGEST) KUWAIT Observations of Radio Kuwait on December 29 1600-1800 15540 KBD 250 kW / 100 deg to SoAs Urdu 1600-2100 6050 KBD 250 kW / non-dir to N/ME Arabic General Service 1700-2000 13650 KBD 250 kW / 350 deg to NoAm Arabic General Service 1800-2100 15540 KBD 250 kW / 310 deg to WeEu English, very poor signal Videos: http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2014/12/observations-of-radio-kuwait-on.html -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DX LISTENING DIGESET) ** LIBERIA. 4760.00, 2350-2400* 24.12, ELWA, Monrovia. English talk, music 25222. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, Denmark, All heard at my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, WOLD [sic] BAND RADIO MAILING LIST via DXLD) ** LITHUANIA. REPEAT / LITHUANIA - our German DX Club from Rhein-Main Frankfurt/Main will the recording of the latest EDXC Conference, held in Monaco and southern France near Nice in September 2014. On Saturday UT Dec 27 / Sunday Dec 28 at 07 local JAPAN Standard Time. TOWARDS JAPAN, Asian Far East target, at Dec 27 - 2200-2300 UT time on 9585 kHz at Sitkunai Lithuania 100 kW site. Please inform all guys about this SINGLE DAY / SINGLE HOUR broadcast at Japanese DX Club - JSWC. NOW REPEAT ON Sunday Dec 28 local Japan 07-08 time on 9585 kHz <<< (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 21, dxldyg via dXLD) 9585, checked that REPEAT transmission of RMRC EDXC special on Dec 27 worldwide on remote network access to various SDR Perseus units. Free channel at 2158 UT on Dec 27 in Nara Japan remote unit. Only S=8 strength reliable signals heard in far outer European areas like southern Italy, northern Sweden near Narvik, in northern Finland too (also Ivo in Sofia Bulgaria had that recorded). But NOTHING heard in central Europe and British Isles - much winter signal skip level here in Germany, as well as same bad reception in downunder Australia and western Canada and CA-USA. Was surprised, heard fair signal better than St. Helena level in Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina and NoWeUSA like NY and MA. When listened extensively close to Lulea Sweden remote heard few minutes of CNR1 mainland jamming co-channel on test the antenna already in 22-23 UT slot. This jamming started then later at 2255 UT At 2249 UT noted some RMRC addresses, and short piece of "Man of action"?? Radio Nordsee jingle? Goodbye noted at 2251 UT. At 2255:37 UT crash start very early CNR1 word jamming switched on, meant for 2300 UT broadcast of US RFA Radio Free Asia Chinese transmission co-channel (Wolfgang Büschel, BC-DX 29 Dec via DXLD) 9585, Rhein Main Radio Club – Sitkunai (tentative), 2213-2245 Dec 27, could make out occasional words but hard to get a hand on program content. Definitely English and heard a woman talking about Caribbean cruise and word “shortwave” also noted. Presumed this special rebroadcast. Quite poor (Rich D'Angelo, 2216 Burkey Drive, Wyomissing, PA 19610, U.S.A., Ten-Tec RX-340, Drake R-8B, Eton E1, Eton E5, Alpha Delta DX Sloper, RF Systems Mini-Windom, Datong FL3, JPS ANC-4, ARDXC via DXLD) ** MALAYSIA. 6050.00, 2350-0015 24/25.12, RTM Kajang. English news at 0000, 0007 music and song 31232 under Xizang PBS. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, Denmark, All heard at my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, WOLD [sic] BAND RADIO MAILING LIST via DXLD) See also SARAWAK [non] ** MEXICO. 630, Dec 30 at 1306, weather in Spanish from ``Radar 63`` including SR/SS times, then traffic, starting with the highway Monterrey-Laredo, so certainly XEFB Monterrey NL. Only poor signal, but strangely, hardly any QRM from US 630s; where are St Louis and Denver? Radar 63 is the name of the newscast on XEFB, not its total slogan. One can find it twice deep within the packed Facebook page at https://es-es.facebook.com/630radio ``El noticiero radiofónico con más tradición del Norte de México`` on ``FB 630``. Or more directly at http://fb630.com/ which shows Radar 63 M-F at 6-8 am, 2-3 & 6-7 pm [12-14, 20-21, Tue-Sat 00-01 UT]. Besides news, seems main format is Deportes with FB now standing for Fútbol, and in three different versions: Mexican, American, even Premier League! However, Facebook has a link for those who are Sick of Football: https://www.facebook.com/630radio/photos/pb.511315685570203.-2207520000.1419963232./788978541137248/?type=1&theater `Mas Allá de las Pelotas` featuring a leggy woman at 3-4 pm weekdays, which however, is not on the current website schedule. After 20 local on weekdays, `Los Bellos Tiempos` which could be about anything, but at 21-06 CST overnights [03-12 UT], `Sólo Éxitos, 70s, 80s, 90s`, surely meaning hit music instead (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 940-, Dec 29 at 0606, low audible heterodyne from slightly on the lo side, ID as ``XEQ Radio`` from México DF. Sometimes it`s off frequency, sometimes not, perhaps due to two separate transmitters alternating (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO [and non]. Keep working XERDO as they often easily push past XEEP here in IL but I am closer than NH and might catch a one hop signal. I don't have much worry about KYW thanks to distance and termination. 1060 is quite a mess here at night as KIJN (Spanish religion often music) continues to run ay night and as mentioned by Glenn Hauser KXPL (calls noted here once) can also be on at night. I am unsure which if one of those stations is on 1060.2. 73 KAZ Barrington IL. Perseus and Array of Two Double KAZ antennas with beam steered roughly WSW for the upper half of the band (Neil Kazaross, Dec 26, mwdx yg via DXLD). ** MEXICO. 6185, XEPPM Radio Educación, México DF. 1555 December 23, 2014. A tentative, just an educated guess this is the one based on my proximity, a fairly decent carrier, audio so threshold impossible to make anything of it. This one rolling along late? Recheck upon returning home at 1825, off. Recheck 1648 the following day, nothing (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL - NRD-535, IC-R75, roof dipole, active lo, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I have also had occasional signs of this carrier in daytime (gh, DXLD) ** MEXICO. I will definitely be posting all the [analog] shutoff notices as they happen throughout the year. I read Mexican news outlets regularly so you can expect fast information from me. This first shutoff, Nuevo Laredo-Reynosa-Matamoros, includes these stations: Low-VHF: XEFE; XHRIO High-VHF: XHBR; XHAB, XERV, XHMTA, XHREY UHF: XHLNA, XHLAT, XHNAT, XHLAR; XHOR, XHTAM, XHVTV The stations hit 91 (Nuevo Laredo) and 92 (Reynosa/Matamoros) percent penetration of low resource homes as required by law (the threshold is 90%). As with Tijuana the change happens at midnight at the BEGINNING of the day. Everyone will be gone by the end of 2015. There will probably be no shutoffs from April-June because of national midterm elections (this snarled Tijuana's conversion), but I think Monterrey may go before then and possibly Cd. Juárez. EDIT: Televisa Oaxaca turned on its TDT transmitters today for XHOXO- TDT (5.x) and XHBN-TDT (7.x). Physical channels not yet known. Santa Azcárraga Claus keeps on giving this month. Last edited by Raymie; 12-27-2014 at 12:47 AM. (Raymie Humbert, AZ, Dec 26, Raymie`s Mexico Beat, WTFDA Forum via DXLD) Hi Raymie, looks like there is at least four more DTV stations about to come on air in the REYNOSA-MATAMOROS area. the info is on Trip`s Rabbitears.info website. Four stations are awaiting to be granted broadcasting licensees and one station has been granted. http://www.rabbitears.info/tvq.php?city=Reynosa&state=&mktid=&call=&facid=&country=&chlo=&chhi=&vchlo=&vchhi=&serv=&status=&appid=&prefix=&apparn=&ant=&antpol=&antmak=&antmod=&owner=&party=&request=list&sort= http://www.rabbitears.info/tvq.php?request=items&city=Reynosa&state=&call=&facid=&appid=&serv=&status=&chlo=&chhi=&vchlo=&vchhi=&prefix=&apparn=&owner=&party=&ant=&antpol=&antmak=&antmod=&mktid=&sort=0&arch=&expet= http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?facid=165460 http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?facid=165461 http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?facid=164504 (someone in SE LA, Bâton Rouge, ibid.) One of the requirements for a shutoff to even occur is that all analog stations in a given area are on in digital, as demonstrated by the press release announcing the Northeast Border shutoff. http://www.ift.org.mx/iftweb/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/COMUNICADO-IFT-67.pdf Cf page 2: "Aunado a lo anterior, para determinar la conclusión de las señales analógica [sic] es necesario que en toda el área de cobertura correspondiente ya se realicen transmisiones digitales." (In addition to the above, in order to determine the shutoff of analog signals, it is necessary that [for each station] in the entire corresponding coverage area digital transmissions are already happening.) As a side note, though an important one, the FCC database (which RabbitEars mirrors) is only good for certain things about Mexico and even then only when used in conjunction with Mexican sources. It can ferret out the odd shadow channel, analog allotment or potential digital station, but it must be subordinated to the IFT tables and even then I read a forum regularly to get the latest information as Televisa has a habit of signing on new digital stations with no warning in various cities (Mazatlán, Oaxaca). For example, the 16 and 18 "New" stations are actually for the new national networks http://www.ift.org.mx/iftweb/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Version_informativa_y_de_caracter_no_vinculante_integral_con_modificaciones_destacadas_310114.pdf currently out to bid (final decision coming March 19 — it will take several years for the winner to actually build out their network). The two stations on 33 are because Azteca has a DTV shadow at Reynosa (notice how one of the 33s has an "LD" in the FCC database? that's always going to mean a Mexican shadow in this case). 52 and 56, of course, will never be used (Raymie Humbert, Dec 28, ibid.) OK, thanks for the info. Raymie; what stations from Mexico can you receive via tropo and what stations can you receive from Mexico without any tropo in your location. Looking at the very strong kW power of those DTV stations in the mountainous areas of Mexico on that list I posted leads me to the conclusion that those channels need that much stong power to get their signal to punch thru those mountainous areas. But like you said in your other post, there are shadow stations that are close by no farther than 40 or 50 miles or less from one another in those areas. Wonder how far a 2500 to 3000 kW station broadcasting on the flat Gulf Coast would go via tropo or even with no Tropo conditions (Southeastern Louisiana DXer, ibid.) I'm not in a location that would be very conducive to DX. A lot of DX is about the weather and Arizona is a stable place for weather most of the year. (I'm not a DXer myself, though I've always admired DXers, and I know this is a major information gap). Yes, powers are low, low, low for Mexico stations. When I look at US stuff I think 15 kW is high and marvel "how the heck is 15 kW considered low power?". I think there'd be a lot fewer shadow channels if the ERPs were higher on quite a few stations, though even 3800-kW XHMOW-21 Morelia has shadows (Raymie, AZ, Dec 29, ibid.) Colima's Digital December is pretty much complete! XHCOL-TDT 40 (3.x) and XHKF-TDT 43 (9.x) signed on today, just two and a half weeks after Televisa got all three of its stations on air. That's the most impressive digital rollout I've ever seen. And they're not the only one getting Azteca TDT today: XHLGA-TDT 29 (10.x) and XHJCM-TDT 30 (4.x) are on the air from Aguascalientes. Much like Televisa, Azteca seems to put both stations on at once. They are left with their state network XHCGA-6 and the full rollout of XHOPAG- TDT 47 (an SPR/OPMA station only broadcasting the SPR network for now!) as the lone missing links. In Colima, SPR/OPMA is slated to come on air early 2015, and the real question mark is the state network "Once TV Conexión" XHAMO-11 (not the IPN's Canal Once), which will probably need some help making the conversion. Late edit: I also have found out that two other new Televisa stations are on air, likely this month, at San Cristóbal de las Casas: XHSCC- TDT 16 (13.x) and XHSNC-TDT 17 (11.x). They were caught by someone near Villahermosa with a 20m-high antenna which tipped me off when it was reported on the forum I read. This makes FIVE markets on air for Televisa this month. I suspected these might be on because they appeared alongside Tepic and several other markets in last month's IFT list update — though Colima, Mazatlán and others have been total surprises. Last edited by Raymie; 12-30-2014 at 12:13 AM. Reason: SCC (Raymie, ibid.) FEDERAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS INSTITUTE OF MEXICO DTV STATION LIST WITH KW POWER. Here is the link to the official Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFETEL) of Mexico DTV station list with KW power. last updated on 11/26/2014. It is in pdf file format. You can use the free version of Adobe Reader X to read the list. http://www.ift.org.mx/iftweb/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Infraestructura_TV_26-nov.pdf (Southeastern Louisiana DXer, Dec 28, WTFDA Forum via DXLD) This list is lovely, isn't it? The IFT maintains matching AM and FM lists, and I use them all the time. The TV list even has coordinates (in DMS format) which are helpful for very many things. DTVs are listed by physical channel number. A couple notes: (C)* or (P)* (the C or P denotes concession or permit) means station under construction or new on air. If the TDT is Azteca I'd assume it's not on unless I know it is on (because Azteca got all their TDT ducks in a row a few years ago). (C)** or (P)** denotes AM-FM conversion (FM list only). Note that some AMs not listed but migrated may still be on the air. This link will take you to the various pages. These are updated relatively often (five or six times this year, for instance). http://www.ift.org.mx/iftweb/industria-intermedia/unidad-de-sistemas-de-radio-y-television/tramites-y-servicios/infraestructura-de-estaciones/ (Raymie Humbert, Dec 28, ibid.) ** MEXICO. One year from today, an era of television that began on August 31, 1950, with the sign-on of XHTV-4 Mexico City will come to an end when Mexico goes all-digital. In the meantime, let's take a look at important events in 2014 and a bit of a calendar for 2015. 2014 * XHY drops two of its local programs and quite a bit of its local branding in what apparently is a pilot program for Televisa. [Mérida] * I explained the shadow channel system for the first time, confirming the existence of a bevy of DXed shadows like XEFB-59. * IFT brings online its Public Concessions Registry in March, making research into technical parameters of Mexican stations much easier. Later in the year, permits are added, allowing for research on noncommercial stations. * The Telecommunications Reform secondary laws get passed in July, finally starting the clock on a slew of various telecommunications- related projects. This also led to a new TDT Policy being released and a new multiprogramming policy being crafted (now in the public comment phase — more on this later, it's being regulated much more strongly than we're used to for digital subchannels in the US). * Canal Cinco and Azteca Trece debut new logos. Mike Perron catches XEZ-3 with the new Canal Cinco logo on its first day. * Despite many plans, and a false alarm in Monterrey, only one analog station actually shut down. Unfortunately it was on low-band: XHCMO-3 Cuernavaca becomes "Canal 49". * Danny Oglethorpe adds a new state with his catch of XHPAH-3 Hidalgo, his first new Mexican state log in more than a decade. * Televisa and Azteca bring many new digital stations online: Saltillo, Zamora Mich. and Colima are among the big beneficiaries, with Aguascalientes, Tepic, San Cristóbal de las Casas, Cd. del Carmen Camp., Oaxaca, Durango and Chihuahua receiving one of the two this year, and other new stations coming online in Guadalajara, Coatzacoalcos and Mérida. Many of these additions occurred in December, with Colima signing on five DTVs in a three-week span. * MVS tried and tried again to convert its channel 51 concession to be a broadcast one — and they're still trying in the courts. (Such a move would have them on air in Mexico City ahead of the new networks!) 2015 * January 14: The end of analog television in Reynosa, Matamoros and Nuevo Laredo takes away some common tropo targets and two channel 2s. * March: Possible? transition for Monterrey, maybe Cd. Juárez by this time. * March 19: IFT releases decision on bids for new networks. * Early: New SPR (OPMA) transmitters in nine cities being constructed and brought on air. * August 15: Deadline to bring digital stations onto the air (I don't expect some broadcasters and rural areas to make this one). * Fall: Possible additional transitions in high-preparedness markets — there won't be any from April to July owing to midterm elections. I expect Guadalajara, Mexicali and maybe even Mexico City to make appearances as early transitions. * December 31: All stations gone. Late note: There are more new Aztecas on air than we thought! XHRAM-TDT 23 (48.x) Zamora is on the air, as are XHDB-TDT 26 (7.x) and XHDRG-TDT 32 (2.x) Durango. Note that all of the new stations are not carrying PSIP for now and that the Azteca 7 ones are only carrying an x.2 subchannel (for instance, XHRAM is 23.2 right now). I am expecting to hear about more Aztecas on air — this seems to be a case of Azteca meeting an internal year-end deadline to bring many of these stations to air. Don't expect a Durango transition before the deadline, either. It is missing Televisa local partner XHND-12 and two university stations, XHUNES-28 and XHUAD-46. Later note: Word from Villahermosa: XHOPVT-TDT 38 is testing! They become the first of the final wave of OPMA/SPR stations to broadcast a signal, although it is color bars for now. As Villahermosa can happen via tropo often this should be interesting. Do note: 14 kW is the listed power for this new station. Last edited by Raymie; 12-31-2014 at 07:36 PM. Reason: XHOPVT-TDT testing!?!? (Raymie Humbert, AZ, Raymie`s Mexico Beat, WTFDA Forum via DXLD) ** MEXICO. EL CHIQUIHUITAZO: THE HISTORY OF MEXICO CITY'S CHANNEL 40 (special) On June 19, 1995, Mexico City received its first new commercial television station in 27 years when XHTVM-40 signed on the air. XHTVM was 95% owned by Javier Moreno Valle through the concessionaire Televisora del Valle de México, S.A. de C.V., and soon after its launch, it unveiled its primary format: news! Branded as CNI (Corporación de Noticias e Información), channel 40 aimed to offer the DF viewer a more comprehensive news service. It launched its full studios from the 40th and 41st floors of the World Trade Center Mexico City in 1996 and immediately began to offer what was then the only non-Televisa/Azteca commercial service in Mexico City (XHRAE-28 now XHTRES, itself plagued by decades of wrangling, did not make it to air until the late 1990s). CNI had affiliations with such international outlets as Telenoticias and CNN en Español. However, that was not enough to sustain a TV station. In need of capital, and hurt by advertiser boycotts related to one of its news stories, CNI turned to Televisión Azteca, and in 1998 signed a sweeping contract whereby Azteca took control of most of channel 40's broadcast day and CNI was loaned $40 million. CNI would remain on the air with its own newscasts, but outside of its small broadcast window, the station was "Azteca 40". But nearly two years later, alleging that Azteca had not fulfilled the terms of its contract, Moreno Valle broke it live on air. Moreno Valle believed that Azteca was trying to run channel 40 into the ground in an effort to take it over outright and ruin CNI. And so, CNI took control of channel 40 again, but in doing so, it generated a massive legal storm. Azteca and CNI locked horns in the Mexican legal system and even at the International Court of Arbitration. Azteca wanted CNI declared in bankruptcy, claiming it still owed $15 million. Program providers also wanted their money back, including Channel Four and Deutsche Welle. Amidst this backdrop, in the early morning hours of December 27, 2002, one of the landmark events in Mexican television history occurred. A group of armed guards wearing ski masks showed up on Cerro del Chiquihuite, where XHTVM's (and Azteca's) transmitter was located. They made the workers inside the XHTVM transmitter building sign a document and then forced them out. At 6 am, XHTVM became a relayer of Azteca 13. That morning, all chaos broke loose at the World Trade Center studios. Engineers were amazed as they watched their broadcast signal. The phone lines were overwhelmed. A producer ran around with press releases, screaming "This is like September 11!" By 6:30, its DirecTV feed (which was obtained via direct line from CNI and not from the over the air signal) began to display a message about the mess; at least CNI had somewhere to broadcast its programs, but that was not the most pressing matter facing channel 40. For several days, XHTVM continued to run parallel to Azteca 13, but by the 30th, it had its own program feed sent from Azteca instead. Azteca even scheduled one newscast to air on the station, and completely oblivious to what was going on, a Mexican federal institute actually placed advertising on it. As CNI could do nothing, they lobbied the government, but given the timing around Christmas, government reaction was notoriously slow, and neither side received any reaction. It took until January 6, and a tour of the remodeled press room at Los Pinos (Mexico's presidential residence), to get a reaction. A CNI associate news director approached President Vicente Fox and asked him to take a stand. He refused, and other reporters continued to press him on the topic. His final response, "¿Y yo por qué?" (And why me?), was one of the greatest blunders of his presidency. Public reaction was highly negative; the events of the 27th became known as the "chiquihuitazo" after the mountain. There was even a SONG composed about the whole affair. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTMup6amSQg That same night, things began happening. The SCT ordered both sides to the negotiating table, saying that they would seize channel 40 if no settlement was reached. The negotiating began: Ricardo Salinas Pliego, Moreno Valle and various government ministers met at Cerro del Chiquihuite, while channel 40 began showing its viewers color bars. Three nights later, after no settlement was reached, the government seized the XHTVM transmitter site for a time. Congress's call for CNI to be restored as operator of channel 40 ended the dispute for the time being, and one month after the raid, on January 27, CNI returned to the air. In 2005, CNI effectively was ended after a labor strike due to continuing financial woes. Azteca worked with the 5% owner of XHTVM to buy the station, aided by Moreno Valle's status as a fugitive in Mexico for tax evasion and a court ruling, and restored it as Proyecto 40 in early 2006. While the concessionaire is not Azteca proper, Azteca has used digital broadcasting to move XHTVM to its own facilities (it was even licensed a digital channel next to XHIMT-TDT 24 and XHDF-TDT 25, as XHTVM-TDT 26). The World Trade Center facilities now house Playboy Mexico, so while I think Azteca should really consider divesting channel 40, the CNI of old, the one lauded by PRD backers as "theirs", will never return (legal status murky + no studios + outdated transmitter facilities). I know this one's long, but it's probably the longest history of any Mexican station (even if this one hasn't even hit 20 years on air), and it's really colorful. Today you can find "Proyecto 40" as a subchannel of most Azteca 13 stations (Raymie Humbert, AZ, Raymie`s Mexico Beat Dec 27, WTFDA Forum via DXLD) ** MONGOLIA [non]. Schedule of Voice of Mongolia via Radio 700 till Dec 31: 1600-1630 7310 KLL 001 kW / non-dir to CeEu English, not heard here 1700-1730 6005 KLL 001 kW / non-dir to CeEu English, not heard here 2000-2030 3985 KLL 001 kW / non-dir to CeEu English, videos Dec 29: http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2014/12/voice-of-mongolia-via-radio-700-till.html -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, Equipment: Sony ICF-2001D 30 m. long wire, Dec 29, dxldyg via DXLD) ** MOROCCO. Radio Mediterranee Medi 1 in Arabic/French was back on shortwave 0000-2400 9575 NAD 250 kW / 110 deg to NoAf. Two videos on December 23 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2014/12/radio-mediterranee-medi-1-in.html (DX RE MIX NEWS #887 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, Dec 29, 2014 via DXLD) 9575.00, 0050-0105 23.12, Medi 1, Nador. Arabic songs - back on the air S9+30 dB - 55545 // 171 LW (25232). Best 73, (Anker Petersen, Denmark, All heard at my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, WOLD [sic] BAND RADIO MAILING LIST via DXLD) December 23: Radio Mediterranee, Medi 1 in Arabic 1400 on 9575 Nador https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDZpMSTApzM&feature=youtu.be Radio Mediterranee, Medi 1 in French 1456 on 9575 Nador https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOssuVlyX-s&feature=youtu.be 73! (Ivo Ivanov, Blgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MYANMAR. 5985.00, Myanmar Radio has been on exact frequency since about Dec 10 through Dec 30, when at 1311 their often heard singing ID; fair (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, E1 & CR-1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, re: 7200.1a Myanma Radio log in DXLD 14-52, dunno how I saw "Libya" when I looked at 7200 in Aoki; Sudan would be the station rumbling against MR after 1430 & thanks for alerting me to the goof (Dan Sheedy, Encinitas, CA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7200.1a, Myanma Radio 1502-1554+ 31 Dec. No chance for Sudan today, thanks to Myanma Radio's W announcer chatting away with quick BOH break (strings/piano sounder & different W). Audio sounding a bit better today even with the normal 100 Hz rumble against Sudan. Didn't sound like VOIRI showed today, as no rumble v. them at 1520+ (Dan Sheedy, Moonlight Beach, CA, PL606 'barefoot'/6m X wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NAVASSA. Amateurfunk --- USA: Glenn Johnson, W0GJ, einer der beiden Teamleiter der Navassa-DXpedition K1N, hat dem Dokumentationsarchiv Funk das erste von drei vereinbarten Interviews gegeben. Das zweite folgt während der Aktivierung, das dritte anschließend als Zusammenfassung. Glenn Johnson beschreibt ausführlich, wie und mit welchen Auflagen K1N doch noch bewilligt wurde und wie sich das Team auf die zu erwartenden gewaltigen Pile-ups einstellt. Er erläutert den Betriebsplan und wie gegen die gezielten Störmanöver vorgegangen werden soll, von denen die letzten großen DXpeditionen stark beeinträchtigt waren. Die Audiodatei (in Englisch) ist zu finden via http://www.dokufunk.org/amateur_radio/dxcc_entities/index.php?CID=15290 (Wolf Harranth, ntt aktuell 15-01 via DXLD) interview in English ** NETHERLANDS [non]. Mighty KBC Contest Winner --- I'm emailing live from the Mighty KBC Contest Winner party. I do hope everyone was able to hear the winner of the first "Mighty KBC Listeners Appreciation Contest". It was Adrian Micallef of Malta. Congrats, Adrian! 73, (Kraig, KG4LAC, Krist, Dec 28, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6095 KBC (Nauen) 1433-1510 25 Dec., 1447-1503 26 Dec. KBC's holiday programming heard poor-fair both days with oldies, DJ promos/chat, KBC Import & SuperCove ads; Emperor Rosko/Ron O'Quinn on the 25th & Eric Van Willegen with The Giant Jukebox on the 26th (Dan Sheedy, Moonlight Beach, CA PL606 'barefoot', DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR. Just to set straight what CKZN 6160 relays, I should tell you it does not relay CBN 640 St. John's, NL. It actually relays, 24 hours a day, the Labrador station CFGB-FM, now an FM station but originally an AM station (then and now) belonging to CBC, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, as is CBN. Through most of the day and night, both CBN in St John's and CFGB-FM in Happy Valley Goose Bay, Labrador, carry the same material, either national network stuff coming basically from Toronto, or regional network stuff, coming from CBN in St. John's. CKZN, on 6160 kHz, is located on the outskirts of St. John's and until the 1980s carried the CBN signal. Before 1949 it was called VOHF and it carried the precursor of CBN, VONF. Its aim was to send the signal of the St John's station northward to outport Newfoundland and the Labrador Coast, which it did quite well. In the 1980s (I cannot remember the exact year), CBC made a quiet decision to carry the Labrador local station, CFGB, on CKZN, in order to serve the Labrador Coast with more local coverage. Back then, CFGB still had three locally produced shows, mornings, noons and afternoons. Since then, each of the locally produced noon and afternoon shows has been swallowed up by the St John's shows, but the local morning show is retained in Labrador. Thus if you listen to CKZN between 6 am and 8:30 am Labrador time (this time of year, that is 1000 -1230 UTC), at least on Monday to Friday mornings, you will hear "Labrador Morning" -- not the St John's Morning Show. From time to time you will still hear some CFGB continuity breaks between network shows, but even that is done by CBN for the entire network most times. I live in St John's, about six km southeast of the transmitter of CKZN. I get a very poor signal most of the time. However, I often go to a community in Trinity Bay, about sixty km northwest of the transmitter and there receive CKZN very well -- better than CBN 640. I spent part of this morning there listening to Labrador Morning as if it were my own local station. In sum: CKZN is at St John's; it is a CBC station; it does not carry CBN St John's (though they are often parallel); it relays CFGB-FM (Philip Hiscock, Newfoundland, Dec 31, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA. 9689.918, Voice of Nigeria, Ikorodu. 2040 December 22, 2014. Excellent with great highlife, Hausa female announcer, plug pulled 2107. Site a guess, measured on the IC-R75 (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL - NRD-535, IC-R75, roof dipole, active lo, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Observations of Voice of Nigeria on Dec 22/23 1500-1600 15120 IKO 250 kW / 007 deg NoAf English, as scheduled B-14 1630-1700 9690*IKO 250 kW / 248 deg WCAf English, instead of Yoruba 0500-0700 15120 IKO 250 kW / 007 deg NoAf English, as scheduled B-14 0700-0800 15120 IKO 250 kW / 007 deg NoAf English, instead of French 1730-1800 15120 IKO 250 kW / 007 deg NoAf English, instead of Arabic * QRM from Ictimai Radio on 9677.6v in FM mode http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2014/12/observations-of-voice-of-nigeria-on.html 1730-1800 15120 IKO 250 kW / 007 deg NoAf Arabic, as scheduled B-14 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqieIW31n0I&feature=youtu.be (DX RE MIX NEWS #887 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, Dec 29, 2014 via DXLD) Here's a quick contribution showing a distant pic of the Ikorodu site in Nigeria. http://www.panoramio.com/photo/98320586?source=wapi&referrer=kh.google.com (Ian, shortwavesites yg via DXLD) ** NORTH AMERICA. re: 6975A XFM log in DXLD 14-52: I use "U" for USB & "L" for LSB receptions, so "A" seemed reasonable for AM reception, especially in the "pirate band" where "U" logs predominate (I use lower case "a" for "approximate" as in the 7200.1a Myanma Radio log). Apologies for any misunderstanding (Dan Sheedy, Encinitas, CA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. Pirate activity has been good leading up to the Christmas holiday. PIRATE-NA. Pirate Radio Boston, 6945 USB, 2200-2230*, 12-21-14, SIO: 454. Charlie Loudenboomer with his 2014 Christmas program. Played requests for George Maroti, Harry Smith, John Fisher, etc. Christmas tunes, IDs by Andre of Cool AM Radio. [Lobdell-MA]. PIRATE-NA. Radio Free Whatever, 6950 USB, 2240-2336*, 12-21-14, SIO: 454. This was a 1967 "time warp" show. Music and audio clips all from 1967. Tunes by Nancy Sinatra, The Turtles, Mamas & The Papas, newcast from WLS-Chicago. McDonalds AD. [Lobdell-MA] PIRATE-NA. Captain Morgan SW, 6925 AM, 0309-0313*, 12-23-14. SIO: 232. Just caught the end of CM's Xmas Show!. Heard "Run Rudolph Run", outer limits theme music, ID by CM and off after Xmas music, possibly a relay of WREC's The Voice Of Christmas from 1994! [lobdell-MA] PIRATE-NA. Snowball Radio, 6940 USB, 0021-0039*, 12-24-14, SIO: 454. Xmas themed tunes "Santa Claus & His Old Lady" by Cheech & Chong, ID, "Police Stop My Car" by Bob Rivers, tunes by Burl Ives, Spike Jones. Pleasant and clear audio. [Lobdell-MA] PIRATE-NA. BZN Radio, 6952.7 AM, 0102-0132, 12-24-14, SIO: 343. North American relay of this Dutch pirate, featuring music by the popular Dutch group "BZN". Frequent IDs, SSTV images, email given as bznradio@gmx.net [Lobdell-MA] PIRATE-NA. Radio Casablanca, 6940 AM, 2220-2340+, 12-25-14. SIO: 444. Nice well modulated AM signal featuring movie clips from the movie Casablanca and music from that era. Email: radiocasablanca1@gmail.com. (Chris Lobdell, Box 80146, Stoneham, MA 02180, Receivers: Eton E1, JRC NRD-545, Aerials: 40 Meter Dipole, G5RV dipole, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. 6769.86, USA (PIRATE) Old Time Radio. 1225 December 25, 2014. Fair with unidentified old radio serial, local noise bothering reception (Terry L. Krueger, all logs made at Clearwater, FL with NRD-535, IC-R75, ICF-7600GR, roof dipole and active loop, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. PIRATES: WHYP. Wednesday, December 24, 2014, 2324, 6880 am. Captain Ron, Captain Ganja, Oxycontin Yeah, Steve Anderson Yahweh's Helmet, More Steve Anderson bits, "I dunno what I'm doing. Please help me," Col. Steve field training, Pink Floyd Dark Side music, Jay Snilkstein, More Col. Steve. Captain Ganja Jerry's Farm, more Col. Steve, James Brownyard Anderson on the Run, jta "what a fucking idiot he was," Revolution 9 sounds, "sixty nine fifty five," mash up of Devo's Whip It, (the real) James Brownyard giving the weather. 2348, Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas intro with James Brownyard looking back at past Christmas with WHYP's Past Christmases retrospective. s9, very good signal and sound. Here is an off-air recording of the last 55 minutes of the WHYP broadcast: http://radionewyorkinternational.com/archives/pirate/off-air/2014-1224-2355-6880-whyp.mp3 (Will-MD) Old time radio station. Friday, December 26, 2014, 2006, 6769.9 am. The Halls of Ivy radio show. s9, very good audio, steady and in the clear. (Will-MD) Old time radio station. Wednesday, December 24, 2014, 0201, 6769.9 am. Phil Harris and Alice Faye radio show. A utility popped up at 0202 and smashed the signal. Otherwise, fair signal, s7, noisy. (Will-MD) Old time radio station. Saturday, December 20, 2014, 1907, 6769.9 am. A western-themed radio show, someone's selling guns and licker [you mean likker?? gh] to the Indians. Good signal, occasional fades, occasional burbly utilities. s7. (Will-MD) Liquid Radio. Monday, December 22, 2014, 0220, 6925.35 am. Rock music, from Slade and others, clear "Liquid Radio" ID at 0233 and into "Middle of the Road" by the Pretenders. Fair signal, s3, best on sideband. (Will-MD) The Crystal Ship. Monday, December 22, 2014, 0025, 6950.6 am. Sixties pop music, Crystal Ship ID at 0027. s15 with slight fading. (Will-MD) Cool AM Radio. Sunday, December 21, 2014, 0021, 6919.6 am. Cool AM Radio with music, pop covers of White Christmas, Run Run Rudolph, and others. s7, noisy conditions. Signal improved to s9+ by 0047. (Will-MD) WMFQ. Sunday, December 21, 2014, 0001, 6885.6 am. A mash-ip of Elton John's take on "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds." WMFQ "Where's my fuckin' QSL" at 0007 and into more mash-ups. s15 and steady (Larry Will, Mount Airy, MD, Icom IC-R75 with G5RV dipole, radio@zappahead.net DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. 6940-USB, Dec 25 at 0145, blues music on big sig, likely Wolverine Radio: yes, ID as such at 0152; off at next check 0207 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. 6965.0-AM, Dec 26 at 0214, vocal music, sounds religious, in Spanish? 0217 ID by British-accented YL, something radio at gmx.net. poor signal on the FRG-7, so I switch to the PL-880 and DX-398 in the upstairs shack, where it`s a little better. 0223 a carol, 0225 ``Joy to the World``; 0228 SSTV beeps; 0229 YL voice ID again with e-mail but uncopyable. Music which follows is rather distorted; 0234 ``Winter Wonderland``; 0239 beeps, fading down, 0240 announcement, off or faded out by 0245. This thread IDs it as BZN Radio, as proven by a couple of SSTV images http://www.hfunderground.com/board/index.php/topic,20041.0.html Everyone else who heard it was east of me. So what does BZN signify, and it is Zee or Zed? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. 6769.9, Dec 27 at 0107, very poor signal from old time radio pirate -- enough to recognize, far too weak ever to enjoy (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. Chris Lobdell answers my question about BZN, 6965- AM: ``Hi Glenn, BZN: It is Zed - is the name of a very popular Dutch pop music group. All the music played on BZN Radio was by the group BZN. BZN Radio is project of Radio Dr. Tim in Germany - Chris Lobdell`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. 6925, NORTH AMERICAN PIRATE, Bangalore Poacher at 2339 with several ads all in a subcontinental accent with phone numbers for electronic devices and lottery jackpots then brief sitar music at 2342 and CW ID and more Boxing Day ads then pop music at 2344 with inane comments overtop then a man mentioning “I am nuts!” at 2347 and more silly talk and off at 2348 – Fair to Good Dec 28 (Mark Coady, Ont, ODXA YRX via DXLD) Also at 2332 with CW ID and a man and woman with Indian accents – Fair to Good Dec 28 (Rob Ross, Ont, ibid.) All of the ads had 416 and 647 area codes so this was local - ed (Mark Coady, Ont, ODXA YRX via DXLD) Hi Guys: eQSL Just Received for THE BANGALORE POACHER Pirate Station!! Just received a FULL DATA eQSL Sheet for the Bangalore Poacher on 6925 kHz AM. Received in less than 1 Hour for a Report to The HF Underground Pirate Board!! Never sent the station a direct reception report --- so I guess the Poacher is reading the posts on the Board. Lots of station sponsors listed on the QSL from Toronto and even my hometown of London, Ontario!! This station is pretty funny, and the QSL is even funnier!! Thanks Poacher --- I love it!! 73 (ROB VA3SW, Robert S. Ross, London, Ontario CANADA, Dec 28, odxa yg via DXLD) ** NORTH AMERICA. 6935 - R. Appalachia at 0135 with Bluegrass music. Heavy Utility QRM. Very difficult copy. Only about 50-60% getting thru the ute noise. ID heard at 0148. Announcer claiming to be broadcasting from West Virginia then into Speech by Ronald Reagan, possibly press club dinner, lots of jokes, etc. Another ID, still couldn't catch the particular city in West Virginia they claimed to be broadcasting from; mentioned the Free Ohio Valley, then into version of God Bless America and off at 0156 (Stephen Wood, Harwich, Mass., UT Dec 29, dxldyg via DXLD) Moundsville, WV? (Jari Savolainen, Finland) Thanks Jari. Moundsville sounds right (Stephen Wood, Harwich, Mass., ibid.) A wild guess or Jari got to hear a clip of this? (gh, DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA [and non]. 1640, Dec 26 at 0646 UT, KZLS Enid is open carrier/dead air again, one of its principle formats, allowing WTNI sports et al., to be audible along with multiple SAHs (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. This early morning I was doing some X band DXing. I tuned into KYHN 1650 kHz in Ft. Smith, AR at my local sunrise time of 7:18 am/1218 UT. The station was co channel with WHKT Portsmouth, VA until approximately 9:00 am EST and then became dominant on the frequency until fade out at 9:33 am EST/1433 UT. This is obviously well past KYHN's local sunrise and demonstrates how weak the D layer can be during the winter DX season. I was using my Kenwood TS-590S and 129 ft long inverted L with a 60 foot vertical section. Take Care, (Thomas F. Giella W4HM, Lakeland, FL, USA, SWL Since 1965, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Good catch. As I have pointed out before, KYHN is not ``in`` Fort Smith AR; that is merely its city of license. Its office/studio is *in* Sallisaw OK, and more importantly, its transmitter site is also in OKLAHOMA. ``Arklahoma`` is the compromise. 73, (Glenn Hauser, OK, ibid.) ** OKLAHOMA. 97.7 WFM stereo, Dec 28 at 0240 UT, sound-and-light show at a private residence on the west edge of Enid, as also the case the past few Xmases. As in DXLD 14-01, last year it was on 99.9, but that`s now occupied by a local LPFM. House is at intersexion of Pheasant Run (also name of the addition, turn off west from North Garland), and Club House. Mostly Mannheim Steamroller, and somewhat different light array, more LEDs than before, which is the irreversible trend. Again, very limited Part 15 range on 97.7, losing it by the time we`re back on Garland. Then drove by the 89.5 Singing Xmas Trees site, but nothing heard or seen; already dark. It was at NE corner of West Oak and North Oakwood {correct} (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. 92.85-94.9 MHz, Dec 31 circa 1920 until at least 2022 UT recheck, on caradio near KLGB-LP 94.3 in Enid, the main channel is dead air, but that doesn`t prevent buzzy spurs from remaining audible above and below in this range wherever channels are more or less open. Its new dependent from same site, KVBN-LP 99.9 remains nominal and with no spurs audible from it (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. Enid, 99.9, KVBN-LP, signs on with religious teaching (Nov WTFDA VHF-UHF Digest via DXLD) Really? I`ve hardly listened to it 24/7, but whenever I have checked it, NO ``teaching``, just playing gospel music, generally of the softer and gentler variety --- even during prime preaching time of 11 am Sunday. I suspect that ``religious teaching`` is a default guessed format when a station is owned by a church (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. Ex-KEIF 104.7, The Rocket, Enid: see USA: KEVA ** OKLAHOMA. RF 23, KSBI-TV ``52`` noticed 2045 UT Dec 28 is running Comedy.tv, and has turned off subchannels. I had totally missed earlier reports of purchase of this station by Griffin (KWTV), and plans to transform it which is now happening. Checking the KSBI schedule, now headlining the News9 website, we see that Comedy.tv is just a program at 2:30-3:30 pm Sundays --- but it is also a high-tier cable channel (nothing but standup??) that Suddenlink pretends to substitute for banning Comedy Central along with everything else from Viacom. Catching up: http://www.mediabistro.com/tvspy/griffin-communications-to-buy-ksbi-create-oklahoma-city-duopoly_b130139 GRIFFIN COMMUNICATIONS TO BUY KSBI, CREATE OKLAHOMA CITY DUOPOLY By Kevin Eck on September 29, 2014 4:55 PM Griffin Communications has announced it has reached an agreement to buy MyNetworkTV station KSBI from Family Broadcasting, LLC. “We are excited to add KSBI to our group of companies,” said Griffin Communications chairman and CEO David Griffin. “Our goal will be to integrate KSBI with our current operations while looking for ways to improve KSBI’s programming.” Griffin owns the Oklahoma City and Tulsa CBS affiliates KWTV and KOTV, along with Tulsa CW affiliate KQCW. The station group said the newest addition will help Griffin expand to Central and Western Oklahoma by creating a duopoly with KWTV. We reported last week, KSBI stopped production of two of its shows and reportedly laid off staff. Griffin added, “One of the many things we are excited about is that our viewers will not miss regular CBS and syndicated programming when we are in severe weather or continuous news coverage on News 9, because we will be able to move this programming over to KSBI.” (via DXLD) http://www.thelostogle.com/2014/09/23/ksbi-channel-52-has-cancelled-oklahoma-live-wild-card-and-is-moving-away-from-local-programming/ KSBI Channel 52 has cancelled Oklahoma Live!, Wild Card and is moving away from local programming… From: Patrick Sep 23, 2014 oklahoma live ksbi Here’s some sad news for trivia junkies, obscure local rock bands, and little old ladies who don’t know how to change the channel on their television. We’ve learned through the Ogle Mole Network that KSBI Channel 52 has cancelled two of its local programs (Oklahoma Live! and Wild Card), laid off most of its staff and is moving away from producing live local fledgling programming. Apparently it’s part of a grand plan by KSBI President Vince Orza to make the station watchable. We first heard reports of the news on Friday after layoff rumors began to circulate through the Ogle Mole Network. Here are a couple of emails we received: Not sure if you’ve heard this yet, but KSBI has laid off most of its employees, cancelled almost every show (the remaining ones will likely end after contracts are up) and I heard a rumor that the station is up for sale. Does TLO need a TV station? I think so. – Word on the street (from some friends/former employees of KSBI…former as of this afternoon) KSBI laid off a HUGE number of people today. Most of their production staff, their entire marketing staff, and some sales & admin types. Reason: some kind of money/budget restructuring thing but they couldn’t or wouldn’t say more. I did some checking and it looks like the emails were accurate. I talked to a Mole who lost his or her job in the RIF. The individual claimed that Orza laid off almost “everyone except for master control and the sales staff.” The Mole also claims the rif came just weeks after Orza threw a lavish party for advertisers at the Quail Creek Country Club. I hope those advertisers love the elusive “old and unemployed” demographic. I sent Vince Orza an email asking for a response and clarification on the rumors. Well, at least I thought I did. I just checked my “sent” folder and couldn’t find the email anywhere. I guess that’s what I get for trying to play real news reporter while walking my dogs on a beautiful Monday afternoon. I doubt he would have replied anyway. He was probably too busy daydreaming about Garfield’s being successful. Zing! Actually, if I had it to do over again, I would accidentally not send Vince Orza a different email. This time it would be go like this: The whole move towards producing original programming was your big idea, right? Since the switch was a failure, why do you get to keep your job, too? Where’s your accountability? Thanks. And by the way, you were my mom’s favorite professor at Central State. – Patrick Here are some random notes: • The network will still air episodes of Dog Talk and Mind Games – yes, those are real shows – but that’s because they have already been paid for through sponsorships. When those sponsorships end, expect those shows to be cancelled, too. • This is a big blow to the local PR industry. For the past three or four years, they’ve counted on KSBI as an easy way to get clients on television and justify their expensive retainer fees. Get ready for a sudden influx of news pitches, Freedom 43 employees • According to the Ogle Mole Network, Oklahoma Live’s Abby Broyle’s is moving to KFOR Channel 4, while her co-host Drew Schroeder will continue staring at the sun and being a radio jock on KISS FM. Outside of drinking coffee with Gan Matthews, we have no clue what Ed Murray is going to do. • In all honesty, I’m going to kind of miss KSBI’s live programming. Fom giving Abigail Ogle her big break to hiring Vanity Perkins as a fashion reporter to kicking Jabee off set because they didn’t want to expose the five people viewing at home to Omniplex rap music, it was always a good source of material of us over the years. Plus, they gave us a year of Alex Wehrley. She appears to be doing well. • I’m not going to miss the KSBI trivia show Wild Card. It had as much to do with trivia as Sonic does fine dining. Anyway, share your favorite KSBI moments, or reply to emails I thought I sent to you, in the comments. (via DXLD) Also see lots more Comments http://newsok.com/ksbi-secondary-channel-this-tv-is-discontinued/article/5374175 KSBI SECONDARY CHANNEL 'THIS TV' IS DISCONTINUED Griffin Communications, which owns KWTV-9, made the move after buying KSBI-52 this month. by Mel Bracht Published: December 9, 2014 Griffin Communications, which has purchased KSBI-52, has discontinued KSBI’s secondary digital channel “This TV,” 52.2, which had carried old series and movies. “It had a very, very small audience,” said Rob Krier, Griffin Communications vice president and chief operating officer. Griffin Communications, which owns KWTV-9, a CBS affiliate, and Tulsa CBS affiliate KOTV-6 and CW affiliate KQCW-19, purchased KSBI from Family Broadcasting LLC effective Dec. 1. Krier said there are no plans to change the programming of KSBI, a MyNetworkTV affiliate. The station doesn’t offer news programming. “As we move down the road, we’ll see,” he said. Krier said KSBI will offer the company flexibility in allowing it to move CBS programming over from KWTV during severe weather and breaking news. KWTV uses its secondary digital channel 9.2 for News 9 Now, which reruns local news programming and also is offered on Cox Communications and a few other cable providers. (via DXLD) Here`s one more rather negative story during the previous reign: http://www.reddirtreport.com/rustys-music/update-local-rapper-jabee-williams-forbidden-play-okcs-ksbi-52 (via DXLD) ** OMAN. re: your 15140 RSO log in DXLD 14-52: ``15140, Dec 18 at 1444, RSO English hour with sounds of running water, birds chirping, and ``Time for Current Affairs`` but no further talk, so maybe outro instead of intro; poor signal (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)`` Might have been the intro for RSO's prayer break during their 14-15 English broadcast. I've heard it as "Now It's Time for...Prayer.." followed by mentions of local time in Muscat & additional bird/water SFx. I've yet to hear any Qur'an recitations, however. On 18 Dec., the 1444 prayer (1844 Muscat time) could have been "isha", scheduled for 1458 UT/1858 Muscat Time), offered after sunset until the disappearance of twilight. Hi Glenn, here's a bit more info on the "birds/water" SFx on RSO: 15140, RSO, 1440-1502 29 Dec. English pop/dance tunes to 1440, "water running/bird calls" SFX & "Our listeners, now it's time for call to prayers; Muscat time, please notice the difference in times, Radio Sultanate of Oman" followed by more water/bird SFX (Dan Sheedy, Moonlight Beach, CA PL606 6m X wire/'barefoot', WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3275, NBC Southern Highlands (presumed) on Dec 31 noted decent open carrier here, but never able to hear any audio when checking randomly from 1311 till found off the air by 1434. 3385, NBC East New Britain. Dec 31 with special extended New Year's program; random checking from 1311 till 1523; mostly DJ in Tok Pisin/Pidgin playing pop songs and some on-air phone conversations. Noticeably absent were the normally frequent commercial announcements! Started out poor and slowly improved to almost fair. Highlights: 1402: Countdown to their local midnight - New Year's; sound of sirens for several minutes to welcome in the New Year. 1415-1423: "New Year's Message" in English; government official with speech about "celebrate peacefully," upcoming elections, "I call on the leaders to work together," etc. Audio at https://app.box.com/s/kbz7t8z518xxnjuzpz96 3905, NBC New Ireland at 1407 on Dec 31 was in English; "Broadcasting live" with some excited New Year's reporting; off the air by 1426 (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, E1 & CR-1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) [non]. 3905.029, das Hobby Brass band programm, jammed here in Europe; die Station PNG Kavieng im Pacific, nennt sich Radio Alice(?) S=9+10dB "rum.dum.dumm..." slow fox, wie in der Tanzschule eng an das Weib geschmiegt ueber die Tanzflaeche, wie anno 1958y. (Wolfgang Buschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 22 via BC-DX 29 Dec via DXLD) Time? ** PERU. 5980, Dec 27 until 0104:51.5* JBA carrier cuts off from R. Chaski. This is 23.5 seconds later than a quadrinite ago when last checked, 0104:28* Dec 23, so still slipping an average of 5.875 seconds later per 24 hours (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. Epifanio Donato Sanchez Lirio (Jr. Los Jardines N 670, distrito de Independencia, provincia de Huaraz, departamento de Ancash) hat ein auf zehn Jahre laufendes Senderecht für einen Kurzwellensender auf 6090 kHz (OAD-3A 1 kW) in der Region Zona Chau Alto (distrito de Independencia, provincia de Huaraz, departamento de Ancash) erhalten. Er hat nun ein Jahr für den Aufbau der Station (from http://elperuanolegal.blogspot.de/2014/12/resolucion-viceministerial-n-752-2014.html via Dr. Hansjörg Biener, ntt aktuell 15-01 via DXLD) A little more about it: http://elperuanolegal.blogspot.de/2014/12/resolucion-viceministerial-n-752-2014.html RESOLUCIÓN VICEMINISTERIAL N 752-2014-MTC/03 Normas Legales » Poder Ejecutivo » Transportes y Comunicaciones viernes, 12 de diciembre de 2014 Publicado por Amanda Muñoz RESOLUCIÓN VICEMINISTERIAL N 752-2014-MTC/03 Lima, 28 de Noviembre del 2014 VISTO, el Expediente N 2013-032444 presentado por el señor EPIFANIO DONATO SANCHEZ LIRIO, sobre otorgamiento de autorización para la prestación del servicio de radiodifusión sonora comercial en Onda Corta Internacional (OCI) en la localidad de Ancash-Huancavelica- Huánuco-Ica-Junín-Lima-Pasco-Ucayali; CONSIDERANDO: Que, el artículo 14 de la Ley de Radio y Televisión – Ley N 28278, establece que para la prestación del servicio de radiodifusión, en cualquiera de sus modalidades, se requiere contar con autorización, la cual se otorga por Resolución del Viceministro de Comunicaciones, según lo previsto en el artículo 19 del Reglamento de la Ley de Radio y Televisión, aprobado mediante Decreto Supremo N 005-2005-MTC; Que, asimismo el artículo 14 de la Ley de Radio y Televisión indica que la autorización es la facultad que otorga el Estado a personas naturales o jurídicas para establecer un servicio de radiodifusión. Además, el citado artículo señala que la instalación de equipos en una estación de radiodifusión requiere de un Permiso, el mismo que es definido como la facultad que otorga el Estado, a personas naturales o jurídicas, para instalar en un lugar determinado equipos de radiodifusión; Que, el artículo 26 de la Ley de Radio y Televisión establece que otorgada la autorización para prestar el servicio de radiodifusión, se inicia un período de instalación y prueba que tiene una duración de doce (12) meses; Que, el artículo 29 del Reglamento de la Ley de Radio y Televisión indica que para obtener autorización para prestar el servicio de radiodifusión se requiere presentar una solicitud, la misma que se debe acompañar con la información y documentación que en dicho artículo se detalla; Que, con Resolución Viceministerial N 415-2005-MTC/03 se aprobaron los Planes de Canalización y Asignación de Frecuencias del Servicio de Radiodifusión Sonora en Onda Corta Internacional (OCI) para diversas localidades a nivel nacional, entre las cuales se encuentra la localidad de Ancash-Huancavelica-Huánuco-Ica-Junín-Lima-Pasco-Ucayali; Que, según las Normas Técnicas del Servicio de Radiodifusión aprobadas mediante Resolución Ministerial N 358-2003-MTC/03 y modificatorias, la estación que opere con una potencia de transmisión en el rango mayor que 1 KW hasta 50 KW se clasifica como una estación de clase "C"; Que, con Informe N 2226-2014-MTC/28, la Dirección General de Autorizaciones en Telecomunicaciones señala que se considera viable otorgar la autorización solicitada por el señor EPIFANIO DONATO SANCHEZ LIRIO para la prestación del servicio de radiodifusión sonora comercial en Onda Corta Internacional (OCI) en la localidad de Ancash- Huancavelica-Huánuco-Ica-Junín-Lima-Pasco-Ucayali; De conformidad con la Ley de Radio y Televisión - Ley N 28278 y su modificatoria, su Reglamento, aprobado por Decreto Supremo N 005- 2005-MTC y sus modificatorias, el Texto Único de Procedimientos Administrativos del Ministerio de Transportes y Comunicaciones, aprobado por Decreto Supremo N 008-2002-MTC y sus modificatorias, el Decreto Supremo N 038-2003-MTC, modificado por Decreto Supremo N 038-2006-MTC, el Plan de Canalización y Asignación de Frecuencias del Servicio de Radiodifusión Sonora en Onda Corta Internacional (OCI) para la localidad de Ancash-Huancavelica-Huánuco-Ica-Junín-Lima-Pasco- Ucayali, aprobado por Resolución Viceministerial N 415-2005-MTC/03, las Normas Técnicas del Servicio de Radiodifusión, aprobadas por Resolución Ministerial N 358-2003-MTC/03, y sus modificatorias; y, Con la opinión favorable de la Dirección General de Autorizaciones en Telecomunicaciones; SE RESUELVE: Artículo 1 .- Otorgar autorización al señor EPIFANIO DONATO SANCHEZ LIRIO, por el plazo de diez (10) años, para prestar el servicio de radiodifusión sonora comercial en Onda Corta Internacional (OCI) en la localidad de Ancash-Huancavelica- Huánuco-Ica-Junín-Lima-Pasco-Ucayali, de acuerdo a las condiciones esenciales y características técnicas que se detallan a continuación: Condiciones Esenciales: Modalidad : RADIODIFUSIÓN SONORA EN OCI Frecuencia : 6090 KHz. Finalidad : COMERCIAL Características Técnicas: Indicativo : OAD-3A Emisión : 10K0A3EGN Potencia Nominal del Transmisor : 1 KW. Clasificación de Estación : CLASE "C" Ubicación de la Estación: Estudios : Jr. Los Jardines N 670, distrito de Independencia, provincia de Huaraz, departamento de Ancash. Coordenadas Geográficas : Longitud Oeste : 77 32’ 0.82’’ Latitud Sur : 09 31’ 4.74’’ Planta transmisora : Zona Chau Alto, distrito de Independencia, provincia de Huaraz, departamento de Ancash. Coordenadas Geográficas : Longitud Oeste : 77 32’ 57.16’’ Latitud Sur : 09 31’ 4.89’’ Zona de Servicio : El ámbito internacional La autorización otorgada incluye el permiso para instalar los equipos de radiodifusión correspondientes. De acuerdo con lo establecido en el artículo 52 del Reglamento de la Ley de Radio y Televisión, para el caso de los enlaces auxiliares se requiere de autorización previa otorgada por la Dirección General de Autorizaciones en Telecomunicaciones. El plazo de la autorización y permiso concedidos se computará a partir de la fecha de notificación de la presente Resolución, la cual, además, será publicada en el Diario Oficial "El Peruano". Artículo 2 .- En caso alguna infraestructura utilizada para el despegue y aterrizaje de aeronaves, sea instalada con posterioridad a la entrada en vigencia de la presente autorización y la estación radiodifusora se encuentre dentro de las Superficies Limitadoras de Obstáculos o su operación genere interferencias a los sistemas de radionavegación, el titular deberá obtener el permiso respectivo de la Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil o reubicar la estación, así como adoptar las medidas correctivas a efectos de no ocasionar interferencias. Asimismo, si con posterioridad al otorgamiento de la presente autorización, la estación radiodifusora se encontrara dentro de las otras zonas de restricción establecidas en el artículo 84 del Reglamento de la Ley de Radio y Televisión, el titular deberá obtener los permisos correspondientes y adoptar las medidas correctivas que correspondan. Artículo 3 .- La autorización que se otorga se inicia con un período de instalación y prueba de doce (12) meses prorrogable por el plazo de seis (6) meses previa solicitud presentada por el titular conforme a lo establecido en el Reglamento. Dentro del período de instalación y prueba, el titular de la autorización, deberá cumplir con las obligaciones que a continuación se indican: - Instalar los equipos requeridos para la prestación del servicio conforme a las condiciones esenciales y a las características técnicas aprobadas en la presente autorización. - Realizar las respectivas pruebas de funcionamiento. La inspección técnica correspondiente se efectuará de oficio dentro de los ocho (08) meses siguientes al vencimiento del mencionado período de instalación y prueba, verificándose en ella la correcta instalación y operación de la estación, con equipamiento que permita una adecuada prestación del servicio autorizado, así como el cumplimiento de las condiciones esenciales y características técnicas indicadas en el artículo 1 de la presente Resolución. Sin perjuicio de lo indicado, el titular podrá solicitar la realización de la inspección técnica antes del vencimiento del período de instalación y prueba otorgado. En caso de incumplimiento de las obligaciones antes mencionadas, la autorización otorgada quedará sin efecto. De cumplir el titular con las obligaciones precedentemente indicadas y a mérito del informe técnico favorable, la Dirección General de Autorizaciones en Telecomunicaciones procederá a expedir la respectiva Licencia de Operación. Artículo 4 .- El titular, dentro de los doce (12) meses de entrada en vigencia de la autorización otorgada, en forma individual o conjunta, aprobará su Código de Ética y presentará copia del mismo a la Dirección General de Autorizaciones en Telecomunicaciones, o podrá acogerse al Código de Ética aprobado por el Ministerio de Transportes y Comunicaciones. Artículo 5 .- Dentro de los tres (03) meses de entrada en vigencia de la presente autorización, el titular deberá presentar el Estudio T eórico de Radiaciones No Ionizantes de la estación a instalar, el cual será elaborado por persona inscrita en el Registro de Personas Habilitadas para elaborar los citados Estudios, de acuerdo con las normas emitidas para tal efecto. Corresponde a la Dirección General de Autorizaciones en Telecomunicaciones aprobar el referido Estudio Teórico. Artículo 6 .- El titular está obligado a instalar y operar el servicio de radiodifusión autorizado, de acuerdo a las condiciones esenciales y características técnicas indicadas en el artículo 1 de la presente Resolución, las cuales sólo podrán ser modificadas previa autorización de este Ministerio. En caso de aumento de potencia, éste podrá autorizarse hasta el máximo que permita la operación sin producir interferencias perjudiciales a otras estaciones de radiodifusión o de otros servicios de telecomunicaciones y permita brindar el servicio a la localidad para la cual la estación fue autorizada. En caso de disminución de potencia y/o modificación de ubicación de estudios, no obstante no requerirse de aprobación previa, el titular se encuentra obligado a comunicarlo a la Dirección General de Autorizaciones en Telecomunicaciones. Artículo 7 .- Conforme a lo establecido en el artículo 5 del Decreto Supremo N 038-2003-MTC, modificado por Decreto Supremo N 038-2006- MTC, el titular adoptará las medidas necesarias para garantizar que las radiaciones que emita la estación de radiodifusión que se autoriza no excedan los valores establecidos como límites máximos permisibles en el acotado Decreto Supremo, asimismo deberá efectuar, en forma anual, el monitoreo de la referida estación. La obligación de monitoreo anual será exigible a partir del día siguiente del vencimiento del período de instalación y prueba o de la solicitud de inspección técnica presentada conforme a lo indicado en el artículo 3 de la presente Resolución. Artículo 8 .- Serán derechos y obligaciones del titular de la autorización otorgada, los consignados en los artículos 64 y 65 del Reglamento de la Ley de Radio y Televisión, así como los señalados en la presente Resolución. Artículo 9 .- La Licencia de Operación será expedida por la Dirección General de Autorizaciones en Telecomunicaciones, conforme lo dispuesto en el último párrafo del artículo 3 de la presente Resolución y previa aprobación del Estudio Teórico de Radiaciones No Ionizantes. Artículo 10 .- La autorización a que se contrae el artículo 1 de la presente Resolución podrá renovarse por igual período previa solicitud presentada por el titular de la autorización hasta el día del vencimiento del plazo de vigencia otorgado o se haya verificado la continuidad de la operación de la estación radiodifusora. La renovación se sujeta al cumplimiento de los requisitos y de las condiciones previstas en Ley de Radio y Televisión y su Reglamento. Artículo 11 .- Dentro de los sesenta (60) días de notificada la presente Resolución, el titular de la autorización efectuará el pago correspondiente al derecho de autorización y canon anual. En caso de incumplimiento, se procederá de acuerdo a lo establecido en el artículo 38 del Reglamento de la Ley de Radio y Televisión. Artículo 12 .- El titular de la autorización deberá cumplir con las disposiciones previstas en los literales a) y b) del artículo 38 del Marco Normativo General del Sistema de Comunicaciones de Emergencia, aprobado por Decreto Supremo N 051-2010-MTC. Artículo 13 .- La autorización a la que se contrae la presente Resolución se sujeta a las disposiciones legales y reglamentarias vigentes que regulan el servicio autorizado, debiendo adecuarse a las normas modificatorias y complementarias que se expidan. Artículo 14 .- Remitir copia de la presente resolución a la Dirección General de Control y Supervisión de Comunicaciones para las acciones que corresponda, de acuerdo a su competencia. Regístrese, comuníquese y publíquese. RAÚL PÉREZ-REYES ESPEJO Viceministro de Comunicaciones (via Dr Hansjoerg Biener, Germany, DXLD) ** PERU. Leads to a 181 page list of authorised radio stations dated 22 December 2014: http://www.mtc.gob.pe/portal/comunicacion/concesion/radiodifusion/Autorizadas_Sonora.PDF Obviously more stations on the tropical and international short wave bands ("OCT", "OCI" respectively) are licensed than actually on the air (Dr. Hansjoerg Biener, WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DXLD) I believe we had linx to this several months ago. Someone needs to go thru the latest edition and pull out the OCT and OCI listings. Searching on OCT in the left column, most of the first hits we get are unknown stations. You will also get false hits on any other names/words in the huge file containing those letters, even if you put a space after. Copying the accompanying info for each is not facilitated in this pdf. There are very few OCI listings i.e. above 5.5 MHz, including our favorite R. Chaski, which I will copy individually: CHASKI E.I.R.L. LTDA. 5980 kHz 5 kW, Planta: Cerro Sacro, Cusco Depto, Urubamba Provincia, Maras Distrito; Estudios: Alameda Pachacutec B-5, Cusco Dept & Prov, Santiago Distrito. Searching on OCI also gets hits on every asOCIacion and sOCIedad, but the following other OCI frequencies figure within, which you can now search directly to: 6060, 6130, 6020, 6040, 6160, 6185, 9675, 9720, 6190, 6170, 5960, 6175, 9730, 5920, 5940 --- not necessarily in order and I could have missed some (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DXLD) ** POLAND. Re: [A-DX] Log: Zahlensender, 9610, 1027...UC, 26.12.14 9610, Number station - Zahlensender, at 1027 UT on Dec 26, 2014. S=9 in USB mode, Osteuropaeische Sprache (Herbert Meixner-AUT, A-DX Dec 26) re 9610 kHz number station, - das war ein polnischer Zahlensender, laut Enigma-Gruppe: S11a genannt. Die Sendung begann gegen 1020z. (Frank Fischer-D, A-DX Dec 26) POLAND - Polish spy number stn Puchaly near Raszyn, 33 antenna masts, TXsite of E11 S11a M03, 52 08 37.92 N 20 54 00.40 E Flashearth, image at best image resolution yandex.ru Google Maps hat das Gelaende Image verschleiert - veiled area image at Terraserver, no better image resolution (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. RTRS FEBRUARY 1, 2015 WILL DISABLE 30 OF 40 TRANSMITTERS ON MEDIUM WAVE http://top.rbc.ru/technology_and_media/26/12/2014/549ac5e39a794719bd44450e Russian state television and radio broadcasting operator RTRS February 1, 2015 will disable broadcasting on medium wave transmitters 30 of 40, told RBC source close to the RTRS. Department of operation RTRS has sent a letter to the regional radio centers. The representative confirmed RTR RBC that the company will continue in 2015 to reduce the broadcasting of radio programs on medium wave, but did not name the specific timing and extent of the reduction of funding for this purpose. After February 1, 2015 broadcast on medium wave transmitters will continue 10 RTR. All of them are low-power - from 1 to 15 kW - and enable radio reception in a radius of 50 kilometers, the source says RBC. These transmitters are planned to eventually convert to broadcast in FM-band with the same short-range, told the correspondent of RBC deputy director of RTR Sergey Arkhipov. Broadcasting transmitters disconnected by, inter alia, the Ukraine, which now distributes the signal to only one station RTR in Grigoriopol (Transnistria) with a capacity of 500 kilowatts. It transmits radio program "Vesti FM», its broadcast on medium wave will cease from 1 February. Transmitters RTRS Sovetsk (Kaliningrad region) and in Krasnodar stopped broadcasting in Ukraine already the first of December, told RBC. This information was confirmed by a representative of RBC RTRS. 11th December 2014 "Ukrainian Radio" began broadcasting in Russia in Russian, according to the website of the State Committee of Ukraine on Radio and Television. As follows from the findings of technical experts RTRS (there are at the disposal of RBC), the first Ukrainian radio steadily taken on medium wave in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Broadcasts are in the range of 1431 kHz and 549 kHz from the radio center "Ray" National Radio Company of Ukraine in Mykolaiv. In case of refusal by RTR radio broadcasts, technical support operation of the transmitter will RTRS losses, the size of which in 2015 is estimated at 2 billion rubles. This figure is close to the estimate of the amount of damages RTRS stopped broadcasting government programs on the air of a powerful radio, which was previously quoted the head of the Ministry of Communications Nikolay Nikiforov in the materials on the proposals to modernize the long-range radio prepared for the government (there is a version of RBC). The minister predicted shortfall RTRS about 1.5 billion in revenue per year and, as a consequence, an increase in its loss from the operation of a network of powerful radio broadcasting to 2.5 billion rubles. In 2013, the year, according to "SPARK-Interfax", RTRS revenue was 21 billion rubles., The loss from continuing operations amounted to 0.95 billion rubles The official representative of RTRS Igor Stepanov confirmed RBC, there is a possibility the termination of funding programs broadcast on medium wave RTR. In this case, the operation of powerful radio transmitters will be for RTRS completely unprofitable, and they will have to disable it. In particular, according to Stepanov, will be turned off most powerful transmitters operating in the medium range. Chairman of the consortium "Digital Broadcasting Technology Platform" (CTPD) Andrew Bryksenkov, expressed regret that the government has no plans to provide financial support for further broadcasting. Not been reviewed by the Ministry of Communications and the proposal on the conservation of broadcasting programs RTR on long and medium wave with subsequent transition to broadcasting funding from the state budget, according to Bryksenkov. RTRS few years consistently turns distant broadcasting in connection with the termination of financing by RTR broadcasting public radio. First, in March 2013, was stopped broadcasting radio station "Mayak" (RTR) on long and medium wave. Since the beginning of the same year, sharply - by almost half - reduced its broadcasting other public radio company - "Voice of Russia", - reducing service fees RTRS 330 million rubles a year. Then, in 2014, RTR put out medium- and long-wave program "Radio of Russia" (Victor Rutkovsky via open_dx list) Posted by: (Alokesh Gupta, Cumbre DX yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DXLD) The second paragraph perhaps needs an explanation: "FM" refers in Russian explicitly to 87.5...108 MHz, as opposed to 66...73 MHz where Radio Rossii has its VHF outlets. Hardly any new radio is capable of this so-called OIRT band anymore, and obviously this is now the only reason for Radio Rossii still being transmitted on mediumwave at all. Thus the scenario as of Feb 1st: Mediumwave to be still operated with not more than 15 kW where no CCIR band frequency for Radio Rossii is on air yet. Wherever they manage to get one -> *click*. At a glance missing from the machine translation: The quoted Mr. Bryksenkov also denounces the circumstance that people away from towns get cut off from terrestrial radio altogether (Kai Ludwig, Germany, mwmasts yg via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. http://onair.ru/main/enews/view_msg/NMID__53432/ The radio station "Voice of Russia", and with it the foreign broadcasting in Khabarovsk cease to exist. A sign at the entrance to the main editorial information removed from the wall, according to the portal "province". In the best of times for the radio station broadcasting from here was conducted in three languages: Chinese, Korean and Japanese. Among employees in different years were Soviet and foreign journalists, as well as prisoners of war. "Radio Moscow" (as then called the station "Voice of Russia") appeared on the air of Asia in 1946 to promote the then Soviet ideology. At the same time the staff monitored the airwaves next countries: Japan, China, Korea. Revision of foreign broadcasting in Khabarovsk occupies three floors of the House of radio. In the 80's worked here more than a hundred people. The history of foreign broadcasting in the USSR began in November 1917: in German, was read a proclamation of peace. After 12 years, there was a radio station "Radio Moscow", which broadcasts abroad. During the war it was decided to expand the influence and Asian countries. So in Khabarovsk in the Russian Federation, a second international broadcasting station. Speakers working foreigners are recruited including prisoners of war. Work with them had the last editor radio Valentin Sadchenko. "Known to many a politician Irina Khakamada - her father, A Japanese prisoner of war, after the camp we worked in Khabarovsk long, long time. Then for good progress was transferred to Moscow ", - said the chief editor of the editorial board of the information in Khabarovsk FGBU" Voice of Russia "Valentin Sadchenko. In addition to broadcasting in Khabarovsk was the radio department. His staff were monitoring foreign radio stations, and the first to report to Moscow about the death of Mao Zedong in 1976. "We were ahead of all broadcasting services all over the world. It was a very prestigious: in front of" Voice of America "in front of" Bi-Bi-Si. "And I have declared, as it was then called, thanks to the systems," - says Valentin Sadchenko. In recent years, worked in the editorial office only seven people who have listened to and read esters sites. "Ready squeeze foreign radio stations on the situation in the Asia-Pacific and China. According to the materials Transmission in Chinese and English. Ready reviews in the amount of 4-5 pages and goes to Moscow", - said the employee FGBU "Voice of Russia" Yuri Tovbin. Now in Moscow decided that the need for the work of this information resource is no more (via Moscow Information DX Bulletin, Weekly electronic publication #924, December 23, 2014, Editor of the current issue: Vadim Alexeev, Moscow, Russia, RusDX Dec 29 via WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DXLD) ** SARAWAK [non]. 9835, Sarawak FM (via RTM-Kajang) 1555-1603+ 31 Dec. Closing 2014 with Europe's "The Final Countdown" (also on Wai FM 11665, but not necessarily //), "lima, empat, tiga, dua, satu.. tahun baru gembira!", midnight TC/1+1 pips & Negara Ku. 11665 changes to Sarawak FM at 1600, closing at 1601 mid-pop song. Since I missed OZ/NZ's new year's celebrations, it was neat to catch Malaysia's version. Hope 2015 will be a fine year for you & the DXLD crew. Cheers & good listening from cold/windy Encinitas (down around 3C this morning; jeepers!) (Dan Sheedy, Moonlight Beach, CA, PL606 'barefoot'/6m X wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAUDI ARABIA [and non]. KUWAIT/SAUDI ARABIA, R. Kuwait GS is // on BSKSA GS with 6 second delay on Dec 25: till 1457 9750 KBD 250 kW / 286 deg NEAf Arabic R Kuwait General Sce till 1457 17705 RIY 500 kW / 310 deg WeEu Arabic BSKSA General Sce till 1457 21505 RIY 500 kW / 295 deg NEAf Arabic BSKSA General Sce confirmed, but not recorded: 9750 is // on 17705 for a minute 1456- 1457! 1500-1530 9750 KBD 250 kW / 286 deg NEAf Arabic R Kuwait General Sce 1500-1530 15225 RIY 500 kW / 295 deg NEAf Arabic BSKSA General Sce 1500-1530 15435 RIY 500 kW / 310 deg WeEu Arabic BSKSA General Sce Videos: http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2014/12/rkuwait-gs-is-on-bsksa-gs-with-6.html -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, Equipment: Sony ICF-2001D 30 m. long wire, dxldyg via DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA. 15120, Dec 25 at 1444, S Asian signing, poor with flutter, 1446 into speech/sermon as declines to very poor. Aoki shows it`s BSKSA in Bengali (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SEYCHELLES [non]. SRI LANKA, Updated schedule of FEBA Radio in English: 1332-1347 on 9720 TRM 125 kW / 345 deg to SoAs English Sat 1332-1417 on 9720 TRM 125 kW / 345 deg to SoAs English Mon http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2014/12/updated-schedule-of-feba-radio-in.html (DX RE MIX NEWS #887 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, Dec 29, 2014 via DXLD) ** SEYCHELLES [non]. 11900, Dec 31 at 1443, Urdu program closing with Pakistani addresses, 1444 BaBcoCk IS and off 1445*. Surprisingly good signal considering it`s FEBC via UAE, 250 kW aimed 60 degrees at 1400- 1445 daily per HFCC (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOLOMON ISLANDS. Public broadcaster Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation is now available on a live audio stream from its website at http://sibconline.com.sb Their main radio channel, Radio Happy Isles, is beamed on shortwave (reportedly on 5020 or 9545 kHz) and 1035 kHz mediumwave and streamed online during its hours of operation - 1855-2200 & 0600-1200 UT. In the intervening 2200-0600 UT period a merged Radio Happy Isles/Wantok FM service is streamed. The site also has a programme guide for both services. The stream has only appeared in the last few days and appears to be still in a testing phase, as it's subject to buffering and longer outages (David Kernick, Interval Signals Online, Dec 27, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes Livestream from SIBC 8 seconds later than shortwave outlet, which featured in Austrian A-DX ng on Nov 23 already. SOLOMON ISL and VANUATU SIBC and Vanuatu reception these days. With monitoring on remote units at Sydney and Brisbane Australia. Nach der Reparatur des Senders durch RNZL Techniker circa am 18 Jul 2014 hat man 9545 SIBC bei den Tests oft auch in Europa gehoert, jetzt hat wurde die Sendezeit auf 22-05 UT limitiert, dies ist auch der Grund, dass ich dort nicht mehr hinein gehoert habe. (wb) re SIBC und Vanuatu ... Jetzt um 0000 UT Nov 23 auf genau 9545.000 kHz auf Sendung, das gleiche Musik-Programm kommt 8 Sekunden spaeter im Internet player, in der rechten Spalte ist ein klickerle als be careful ... und man wird noch mit einem MixIrInstaller Aufforderung belaestigt eine Musikplayer zip File herunter zu laden. da kann man sogar sich in den Chat einklicken ... (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Nov 23, 2014) I checked an archived homepage from 18 December on https://archive.org and didn't see the live feed button on there, so concluded it must have appeared since then (Kernick, ibid.) -------- Weitergeleitete Nachricht -------- Betreff: Re: [NET-RADIO] [A-DX] SIBC und Vanuatu Datum: Sun, 23 Nov 2014 01:55:11 +0100 Von: Roger Antwort an: list@internet-radio.at An: liste@a-dx.at Kopie (CC): > list@internet-radio.at Am 22.11.2014 um 23:35 schrieb Christoph Ratzer: 9545 wäre da die bessere Wahl, ich hätte dazu einen Mitschnitt in meinem Blog veröffentlicht. Ist aber ein Sitzmitschnitt, man sollte also gut sitzen bevor man die Aufnahme anhört: http://remotedx.wordpress.com/2014/02/26/radio-hapi-isles-solomon-islands-2/ ................................... nach einer Stippvisite zu: http://www.sibconline.com.sb/ https://mixlr.com/sibconline/embed/ .....kann ich nun einen VLC-Player-tauglichen Stream anbieten: rtmp://edge03.mixlr.com:443/live/production/4cc17564b5608407045a3ffd6b 2632ba.flv [Im flv-container steckt eine aac mit 64kbps vbr] 2014-12-28 00.05z: from time to time fragments of audio.... (roger, Germany, ibid.) ** SOMALIA [non]. My first reception of Voice of Khaatumo, Codka Khaatumo via MBR: 1700-1730 17580 ISS 250 kW / 120 deg EaAf Somali Thu at present in B14 1700-1730 17580 ISS 250 kW / 120 deg EaAf Somali Tue/Wed/Thu frm Jan 6 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2014/12/my-first-reception-of-voice-of-khaatumo.html (DX RE MIX NEWS #887 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, Dec 29, 2014 via DXLD) ** SPAIN. 9620, REE, 12/25, 2304. Familiar IS to OC then off. Reported before, first time I have caught the new revived REE myself. I evidently looked for it a bit late. Very good signal while on. 73 and Good Listening (Rick Barton, El Mirage, Arizona, Drake R8, Grundig Satellit 750, outdoor Slinky and end fed random wire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) REE Spain on New Year's Eve in a party mood with great oldies. 2000 UT on 11940 kHz with Tom Jones, Fortunes, Dusty Springfield, Gilbert O'Sullivan, Middle of the Road. Go Party to the New Year! Happy New Year to Glenn and all on DXLDyg (Alan Roe, Teddington, UK, 2039 UT Dec 31, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Nice to have them back! 9620 providing some very nice armchair listening in the Florida condo using just the whip on the E1-XM. Parenthetically, REE is proving a point that has been made times through DXLD and other forums - that a station can get along very nicely and maintain a nominal, but useful presence on the shortwave bands by targeting each region with just one well chosen frequency and properly maintained and adequately powered transmitters. REE is using 4 frequencies, each targeting a different corner of the world, for four hours on weekdays and eight on weekends. Bravo, REE (John Figliozzi, Sarasota, FL, 2108 UT Dec 31, ibid.) Very strong in Victoria at 2249 on 9620, while 11940 is only fair. 73 (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, ibid.) ** SUDAN. 7200, Radio Umm Durma-n, Al-Aitahab. December 22, 2014 2102. Caught after end of programming, transmitter off at 2103:51. But carrier briefly on/off several times after, engineer apparently doing some work instead of going home to the hyenas. Recheck December 23: carrier up just after 1930, after departing 9505, on/off a few times for Arabic domestic channel I guess programming scheduled 1930-2100. Audio not really worthy until 2030 and steadily growing quickly with Sudanese folk quasi Horn of Africa-ish vocals, definite Arabic female announcer 2033, more nice vocals. Audio cut at 2100, carrier still on when tuning out right after. 9505, Voice of Africa, Al-Aitahab. 1825 December 23, 2014. Carrier detected, presume prior to 1830-1930 Hausa. Audio finally showing from 1910 and rather quickly improving just after, presumed Hausa, with nice almost Horn-ish of Africa traditional vocals from 1824. Transmitter off about 1930:10 mid-song, up on 7200 about 1930:35 with carrier on/off often initially for Radio Umm Durma-n Arabic, but no decent audio yet. 9505, Voice of Africa, Al-Aitahab. 1629 December 25, 2014. Surely the one, but virtually no audio so early here. Sitting in USB off-tuned 20 kHz down and waiting, carrier up from 1629:38, presumed opening of French service to Central Africa if only one could hear at this hour (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL - NRD-535, IC-R75, roof dipole, active lo, WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7200, Radio Sudan/Radio Umm Durman (Al Aitahab) 1508-1518* 26 Dec., 1501-1525* 30 Dec. Arabic news on the 26th until 1511 ad string with Arabic pop intros/outros (and a sample of Bastille's "Pompeii, too), several "internet" mentions during the ads. Off mid-ad. On the 30th, Arabic news again (sounded local with many "Sudan" and "al-Arabiyyah" mentions), studio chat at 1506, 1515 echo announcement into (presumed) ad, drum sounder and discussion to 1525*. VOIRI (Kamalabad) opens at 1522 with instrumental, W in unID language (sked in Kazakh 1520-1617), (presumed) NA followed by chat (Dan Sheedy, Moonlight Beach, CA, PL606 'barefoot'/6m X wire, WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN [and non]. 15550, Dec 29 at 1543, continuous tone jamming mixing with R. Dabanga and USB WJHR, so the Sudanese do not find CCI from WJHR alone to be sufficient jamming over there, in fact, probably inaudible. Dabanga is via VATICAN. 15550, Dec 31 at 1524, R. Tamazuj with VG signal, trace of WJHR, and no tone jamming yet from Sudan. Then I discover Arabish talk in // on also VG 15400, and synchronized! ID at 1526 pronounced ``Tamázuk``. At 1527, they are no longer synch, in fact not //, one with YL, other with OM. One has changed site and/or feed. And 15400 cuts off at 1528:23*. 15550 signs-off R. Tamazuj but scheduled R. Dabanga does NOT follow at 1530, instead dead air, audiblizing WJHR screamer. Still DA at 1531 when Sudanese tone jammer cuts on. Still the same situation at 1534. Next check at 1547, still no Dabanga, but WJHR is much stronger, in fact too strong for the carrier to be sufficient BFO, and slightly off-frequency, off-pitching the gospel huxter. Tone jammer still there. It seems Sudan was not so concerned about jamming R. Tamazuj, but will jam R. Dabanga even in its absence; why? 13800, finally at 1549 I check the other R. Dabanga frequency, and here it is funxional in Arabish with typical stingers, fair with flutter. {And also tone-jammer} Per HFCC, 15550 is supposed to be Vatican relay at 1500-1630 --- FAIL! SMG staff celebrating NYE and not paying attention to feed inputs? 15400 is also Vatican, cryptically in Apd language per HFCC, a PNW service only at 1500-1530. I.e. non-cryptically in Aoki: R. Tamazuj in Sudanese Arabic at 1459-1527 (in neither case also for R. Dabanga afterwards, normally paired with Tamazuj.) 13800 is in HFCC as PNW via MADAGASCAR at 1500-1600, switching to VATICAN at 1600-1630 (apparently in the middle of the Dabanga hour, why?) (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWEDEN. Special transmissions from Sala on Dec 27: 1200-1300 6065 SAL 010 kW / non dir to Eu in LSB Swedish DX Federation 1300-1500 6065 SAL 010 kW / non dir to Eu in LSB Radio Merkurs 1500-1600 6065 SAL 010 kW / non dir to Eu in LSB Radio City 1600-1700 6065 SAL 010 kW / non dir to Eu in LSB Radio Nord Revival parallel frequency 3950 SAL 005 kW / non dir Eu in AM not heard here, videos: http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2014/12/rmerkus-rcity-radio-rrevival-on-6065.html Special transmissions from Sala on Dec 28: 1400-1500 6065 SAL 010 kW / non dir Eu in LSB Radio Nord Revival 1500-1600 6065 SAL 010 kW / non dir Eu in LSB Free R Service Holland 1600-2000 6065 SAL 010 kW / non dir Eu in LSB Radio Mi Amigo Int`l parallel frequency 3950 SAL 005 kW / non dir Eu in AM not heard here, videos: http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2014/12/rnord-revivalfree-radio-sce-hollandrmi.html (DX RE MIX NEWS #887 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, Dec 29, 2014 via DXLD) Radio Nord Revival now on the air 1100-1200 UT (1200-1300 CET/SNT) on SW 3950 and 6065 kHz. After this will follow a programme from SDXF the Swedish DX-Federation. Broadcasts are being made from the Sala relay station [in Sweden]. (Ronny B Goode on Radio Nord Revival Facebook page 1105 UTC, 27 Dec) (via Alan Pennington, 1142 UT Dec 27, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) R. Merkus [sic], R. City, Radio, R. Revival on 6065 LSB via Sala http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2014/12/rmerkus-rcity-radio-rrevival-on-6065.html -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, dxldyg via DXLD) Several YouTube clips No propagation into central Germany so far. 73 (Harald Kuhl, 1139 (or 1039?) UT Dec 28, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) Fair reception of FRS at 1515 UT on 6065 from Sweden in LSB mode though, presumably to avoid channel 292 on 6070 kHz. Nothing heard on 3950 (Russ Cummings, AOR7030+, 60ft long wire, North Ferriby, East Yorkshire, UK, ibid.) 6065-LSB, Radio Mi Amigo --- booming signal here with Offshore Top 50 program. English presentation. 6065 kHz still LSB only. Asking for reception reports to: info@radiomiamigo.es Regards (Harald Kuhl, Germany, 1626 UT Dec 28, ibid.) Sabato 27 dicembre 2014 (PL-660): 1500 - 6065, R. CITY via R. Revival - Sala (S), EE, IDs OM. SF - Domenica 28 dicembre 2014 (R7): 1448 - 6065 LSB, R. REVIVAL - Sala (S), Mx locale e annunci. BN 1500 - 6065 LSB, FRSH via R. Revival - Sala (S), EE, FRS Goes DX. BN 1600 - 6065 LSB, R. MI AMIGO via R. Revival - Sala (S), EE, Chart. MB (SWL I1-0799GE, Luca Botto Fiora, QTH Rapallo (Genova) - Italia, G.C. 44 21' 06.89" N / 09 13' 30.94" E bclnews.it yg via DXLD ** TAIWAN. 6970, SOH relay of RFA, 1358, Dec 31. "You have been listening to Radio Free Asia," "RFA, number one"; 1400 "The following program is in Cantonese." Certainly does not sound like a low powered SOH station (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, E1 & CR-1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TIBET [non]. Mixture between Voice of Tibet in Chinese and Tibetan on 11692 kHz: 1330-1400 11692 DB 100 kW / 095 deg EaAs Chinese strong, Tibetan weak // frequency 15562 DB 100 kW / 131 deg CeAs Tibetan. Several videos: http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2014/12/mixture-between-voice-of-tibet-in.html http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2014/12/frequency-change-of-voice-of-tibe.html http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2014/12/frequency-change-for-voice-of-tibet.html Updated winter B14 shortwave schedule of Voice of Tibet 1200-1215 on 15542 DB 100 kW / 095 deg to EaAs Chinese 1215-1230 on 15548 DB 100 kW / 095 deg to EaAs Chinese 1230-1245 on 15557 DB 100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan 1245-1300 on 15563 DB 100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan 1300-1315 on 15548 DB 100 kW / 095 deg to EaAs Chinese 1300-1315 on 15563 DB 100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan 1315-1330 on 15542 DB 100 kW / 095 deg to EaAs Chinese 1315-1330 on 15568 DB 100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan 1330-1345 NF 11692 DB 100 kW / 095 deg to EaAs Chinese, ex 11693 1330-1345 on 15562 DB 100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan 1345-1400 NF 11692 DB 100 kW / 095 deg to EaAs Chinese, ex 11693 1345-1400 on 15562 DB 100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan 1400-1415 on 15525 MDC 250 kW / 045 deg to CeAs Tibetan 1400-1415 NF 11512 DB 100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan, ex 15568 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=af195vpG7zo&feature=youtu.be 1415-1430 on 15530 MDC 250 kW / 045 deg to CeAs Tibetan 1415-1430 NF 11517 DB 100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan, ex 15568 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_yZSIQFiO4&feature=youtu.be 1430-1445 on 11512 DB 100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan, cancelled 1445-1500 on 11517 DB 100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan, cancelled All frequencies are jammed by China on xxxx0 / xxxx5 Changes between frequencies vary from 3 to 5 minutes (DX RE MIX NEWS #887 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, Dec 29, 2014 via DXLD) ** TINIAN. 17680 kHz VoA Burmese, with Tsunami report, 12.9 kHz broadband wide transmission Tinian island relay on Dec 26 at 1200-1230 UT, S=9+15dB signal strength in remote Hiroshima SDR unit. 73 wb Posted by: (Wolfgang Bueschel, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U K [non]. 11895, THAILAND, BBC World Service, Nakhon Sawan. 1230 December 25, 2014. English service, quick news headlines into magazine program. Clear, good, some flutter (Terry L. Krueger, all logs made at Clearwater, FL with NRD-535, IC-R75, ICF-7600GR, roof dipole and active loop, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 7457-USB, Dec 25 at 1410, AFE4TS, the NCS, calling any stations in Kentucky, then Mississippi; no answers in this Air Force MARS net on a holiday. See previous log of May 22, 2014, one UT hour earlier when on DST: ``AFE4TS in Tennessee is a.k.a. AFA4NQ, the Division Technical Services Manager, and the Division Training Manager, both for the Southeast Division.`` This time there is a 2 kHz het from a weak broadcaster on 7455, which per Aoki is VOA Deewa Radio via Thailand (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 13993-SSB, Dec 29 at 2119, MARS net with very informal QSO about antennas, etc. One of them IDs only several times as ``Tango``; some interruptions by digital ute noises, including ``running water``; 2128 another says fonetikaly ``8DQ, out``. At 2129 finally a full fonetik ID from AAR8HM but who has ``no traffic``. Google- and UDXF yg searching on that call gets zero hits. On Sept 2, 2014 at 0600, Allan Stern reported to UDXF on 13993 USB, a USAF MARS Transcon Net with several AF-calls; but the AAR call implies Army (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 25910 / 25990, TEXAS, WQGY434, KLDE, Eldorado. 1447 December 22, 2014. Righteous Brothers "Bring Back That Loving Feeling" segued to James Brown "Papa's Got a Brand New Pigbag", then quick KLDE 104.9 jingle, into Christmas oldie, local businesses commercial block. Male canned legal ID 1455, local news from 1458. They pronounce the town with a hard "a" which they may as well, being that they smash El and Dorado together to make one proper noun. Channels in perfect parallel, very good with some deep fades. A BARP in NBFM mode of course. Wonder if these are active just for hobby fun by the engineer. Hope so (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL - NRD-535, IC-R75, roof dipole, active lo, DX LISTENING DIGEST) As I have wondered before, could the `perfect parallels` really provide left and right stereo? Try them with two receivers, one to each ear (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) 25910, WQGY434/KLDE-104.9 (nbfm) 2256-2334+ 24 Dec. Texas State Network news, "Ag Minute" (importing beef/cows from Argentina), mix of seasonal tunes & oldies + an FM 104.9 jingle. Good when it's upfading, but not even imaginary level on the downside (Dan Sheedy, Encinitas, CA, G5/6m X wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 25950, COLORADO, KB99696, KOA, Denver. 1655 December 22, 2014. Barely poking through at times. BARP in NBFM mode. These call (re)assignments must be newer, with only two alpha characters followed by numerical replacements for the missing two or three letters. WWV on 25 MHz fair at the same time (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL - NRD- 535, IC-R75, roof dipole, active lo, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I seem to recall that calls in this format were originally applicable to mobile rather than fixed units --- Also I wonder if the 99 could be a typo in the FCC records for some letters. Lately sibling station KTCL-FM Wheat Ridge has been reported here rather than KOA: did you hear any ID? (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) ** U S A [non]. Radio Liberty: see AZERBAIJAN! ** U S A. Re 14-52: DOES AMERICA NEED A BBC? Oh dear. In order for the BBG to resemble the Beeb, we're going to have to pass a receiver tax. That's one big source of resources for the BBC that the BBG doesn't have. Will the House pass a bill to approve a receiver tax? It also doesn't have its own Doctor Who, either, plus we have a BBC America for that. It's on PBS after a year delay, so...I see an American receiver tax going over like a lead balloon. I shall continue to be an impossible person so long as those who are now possible remain possible (Clara Listensprechen, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U S A. VOA Radiogram for the weekend of December 27-28 includes a VOA News story about the Internet in Cuba [see CUBA] The program is mostly in MFSK32, the text and images of which can be decoded using Fldigi from w1hkj.com. Details: http://bit.ly/1tmJwEd VOA Radiogram transmission schedule (all days and times UT): Sat 0930-1000 5910 kHz Sat 1600-1630 17860 kHz Sun 0230-0300 5745 kHz Sun 1930-2000 15670 kHz All via North Carolina. The Mighty KBC will transmit a minuted of MFSK64 Saturday at about 1230 UTC on 6095 kHz, and Sunday at about 0130 UTC on 7375 kHz. Both frequencies are via Germany (Kim Elliott, Dec 26, dxldyg via DXLD) Hello friends, This weekend's VOA Radiogram includes VOA News story by Doug Bernard about the Internet in Cuba. It's longer that most of our items: about 12 minutes in MFSK32. I think it's all interesting, so I couldn't bring myself to cut any of it. I considered transmitting it in MFSK64, but given poor mid-winter propagation conditions in the northern hemisphere, I decided it best to stay with our reliable MFSK32 mode. Here is the report for all without FLDIGI-access: http://www.rhci-online.de/VoA_Radiogram_2014-12-27.htm At the end again a few Easypal images. Without the VOA radiogram these pictures would be lacking one call sign (roger, Germany, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U S A. WORLD OF RADIO 1753 monitoring: confirmed Thu Dec 25 at 1330 on WRMI, 9955 confirmed Thu Dec 25 at 2201 on Global 24 via WRMI, 9395. Next: Fri 2130 on WRMI 7570 & 15770 Sat 0730 & 1530 on Hamburger Lokalradio 7265-CUSB Sat 1000 on WRMI 5850 Sun 0231 on KVOH 9975 Sun 2300 on WRMI 11580 Mon 0400 on Area 51 via WBCQ 5110v-CUSB Mon 2201 on Global 24 via WRMI 9395 Tue 1200 on WRMI 9955 Wed 0401 on Global 24 via WRMI 9395 Wed 0730 & 1530 on Hamburger Lokalradio 7265-CUSB Wed 1415 on WRMI 9955 Wed 2200 on WBCQ 7490v Wed 2201 on Global 24 via WRMI 9395 WORLD OF RADIO 1753 monitoring: confirmed Friday Dec 26 at 2130.5 on WRMI 7570 & 15770, good on both. This transmission is always preceded by a Rudy Espinal ID at 2129.5, fill music at 2130.0, why? Next: Sunday 0231 on KVOH 9975 Sunday 2300 on WRMI 11580 Monday 2201 on Global 24 via WRMI 9395 Tuesday 1200 on WRMI 9955 Wednesday 0401 on Global 24 via WRMI 9395 Wednesday 0730 & 1530 on Hamburger Lokalradio 7265-CUSB Wednesday 1415 on WRMI 9955 Wednesday 2200 on WBCQ 7490v Wednesday 2201 on Global 24 via WRMI 9395 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Sabato 27 dicembre 2014, 0738 - 7265, World of Radio. Göhren (D)? SF- BN *** (SWL I1-0799GE, Luca Botto Fiora, QTH Rapallo (Genova) - Italia G.C. 44 21' 06.89" N / 09 13' 30.94" E, bclnews.it yg via DXLD) WORLD OF RADIO 1753 monitoring: confirmed UT Sunday Dec 28 at 0231 on KVOH 9975, following usual opening procedure. Next: Sunday 2300 on WRMI 11580 Monday 0400v on Area 51 via WBCQ 5109v-CUSB Monday 2201 on Global 24 via WRMI 9395 Tuesday 1200 on WRMI 9955 Wednesday 0401 on Global 24 via WRMI 9395 Wednesday 0730 & 1530 on Hamburger Lokalradio 7265-CUSB Wednesday 1415 on WRMI 9955 Wednesday 2200 on WBCQ 7490v Wednesday 2201 on Global 24 via WRMI 9395 WORLD OF RADIO 1753 monitoring: confirmed Sunday Dec 28 at 2300 on WRMI 11580, good. Also confirmed at 0401 UT Monday Dec 29 on Area 51 webcast, and at 0426 also audible via WBCQ 5110v-CUSB. Also confirmed Monday Dec 29 at 2201 on Global 24 via WRMI, 9395. Next: Wed 0401 on Global 24 via WRMI 9395 Wed 0730 & 1530 on Hamburger Lokalradio 7265-CUSB Wed 1415 on WRMI 9955 Wed 2200 on WBCQ 7490v Wed 2201 on Global 24 via WRMI 9395 WORLD OF RADIO 1753 monitoring: confirmed on Global 24 webcast, UT Wednesday Dec 31 at 0401, following `Wavescan` and preceding `Media Network Plus`. But when I check WRMI 9395 at 0410, it`s inaudible! While 9955 is JBA. If G24 had been on the 7 MHz band it would have been OK like other WRMI services on 7455, 7570. Propagation certainly depressed, as 11825 was also JBA; yet Cuba sufficient on 9710 and 9790, Martí Greenville VG on 7405. WOR 1753 also confirmed Wednesday Dec 31 at 1415 on WRMI 9955, good and not jammed. Next: Wed 2200 on WBCQ 7490v Wed 2201 on Global 24 via WRMI 9395 We hope to have 1754 ready for first broadcast on WRMI, UT Thu 0430 on 9955; otherwise another play of 1753. WORLD OF RADIO 1754 monitoring: confirmed on first SW broadcast, UT Thursday January 1, 2015 at 0431 on WRMI, 9955, good signal. Overslept past 1400 but surely also at 1330 on 9955. Next: Thursday 2201 on Global 24 via WRMI 9395 Friday 0001 on Global 24 via WRMI 9395 Friday 2130.5 on WRMI 7570 & 15770 Saturday 0730 & 1530 on Hamburger Lokalradio 7265-CUSB Saturday 1000 on WRMI 5850 Sunday 0231 on KVOH 9975 Sunday 2300 on WRMI 11580 Monday 0400v on Area 51 via WBCQ 5110v-CUSB Monday 2201 on Global 24 via WRMI 9395 Tuesday 1200 on WRMI 9955 Wednesday 0401 on Global 24 via WRMI 9395 Wednesday 0730 & 1530 on Hamburger Lokalradio 7265-CUSB Wednesday 1415 on WRMI 9955 Wednesday 2200 on WBCQ 7490v Wednesday 2201 on Global 24 via WRMI 9395 Note new WOR time on WRN via satellite to North America, internet, from Jan 5: UT Mondays 0230 (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DXLD) ** U S A. 9955, Dec 28 at 2010, WRMI with African fill music instead of Brother Scare, an incomparable improvement in programming (BS is still on 9980 WWCR, 9370 WWRB and several other WRMI transmitters). 2019 to `Ode to Joy` variations on piano, 2021 talk about the Council of Europe in English, French, German, then rap version in English; 2035 the usual polka. It`s beyond me why with 11 transmitters available, Jeff would want to keep any BS at all on what should be the shining flagship of Radio Miami International, the B-System of 9955 kHz! But this respite is surely just an anomaly. 9395, Thu Dec 25 at 1331, Global 24 via WRMI not with `Democracy Now` but instead talk about Xmas festival, then Korean Folk Tales, so it`s KBS World Radio relay. Today, `D.N.` is back in the 15 UT hour, checked at 1522 with Amy interviewing someone about the CIA; poor- fair. 9395, Thu Dec 25 at 2104, `1812 Overture` fill music playing yet again, instead of `Dialogos Greece`, which I`ve yet to hear. About it: http://about.global24radio.com/programs/international-broadcasts-global-24/dialogos-media/ 9395, Fri Dec 26 at 1350, Global 24 via WRMI with `Jazz from the Left`, contrary to current grid which shows `Democracy Now` M-F at 13- 14, and `JftL` on Fridays at 14-16. At 1445 check, going from `Mrs Robinson` to `RESPECT`, which I think is fill music rather than the Jazz show. But at 1502, NOW, `Democracy Now` is starting (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) QSL Card Update. Dear Listener, Many of you have written to us asking about the status of QSL cards. As of today December 23, 2014 we believe all cards from October and November have been mailed. We ask that if you do not receive your QSL cards by January 5th to please email QSLS@global24radio.com and we will troubleshoot your case and make sure we actually had your reception report, etc. or did not make a mistake on our end. Our team is quite sorry for the delay with all QSL cards – we were unprepared for the over 3,000 reception reports we received for our inaugural two weeks of broadcasting. Bear with us a little longer – we are planning a great January for our listeners. Thanks for the patience and on behalf of the entire team here: Happy Holidays! Regards, Phil Workman Global 24 General Manager Join the Insider Club here: http://about.global24radio.com/about-us/become-global-24-insider/ http://about.global24radio.com/ (via Anatoly Klepov, Moscow, Russia via RusDX Dec 28 via WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DXLD) We Still Need Your Support --- Thank you to the many of you that have chosen to support us at this busy time of the year. I think you will be very pleased to learn about our planned improvements, schedule changes and expansion plans in our Insider Club newsletter. Without you - this great pivot in shortwave history would not be possible. With your support we know we will have a very bright future. However, this holiday season we still need your support to help us achieve our vision of reinventing shortwave radio. We are hard at work on the schedule and the on-air product - January will be a GREAT month for Global 24 and all of our listeners. One great way to do that is join our Insider Club. We have launched the club and our first newsletter is available for members in just a few days. The roster is growing and we would like to get to 30 members by the end of this weekend! About the Insider Club Newsletter, Volume 1 - Edition 1 will be available on December 29 for Insider Club Members Content includes: Updates from our general manager Updates on new programming coming in January 2015 on Global 24 Interviews with several show hosts Review of the Kaito 11 receiver Review of Fred Osterman’s Shortwave Receivers Past & Present, 4th Edition Paper schedule for January 2015 Special offers from our advertisers & sponsors Consider joining the Insiders Club – your direct support is integral to our success. Join Here and Read the Full Breakdown http://about.global24radio.com/about-us/become-global-24-insider/ See Who Has Joined So Far http://about.global24radio.com/programs/sponsor-global-24/ We Need Your Support! All Insider Club members will be receiving their first monthly newsletter shortly. They are coming back from the printer on Saturday December 27. As a special thank you, we will also be mailing all Insider Club members a free Global 24 coffee mug! Join now to get your newsletter, membership number and free mug. We are counting on your support. Thank you, Phil Workman --- Insider Club members will be getting a Free G24 Coffee Mug in January! Join Now Listen to Us on Shoutcast - http://www.shoutcast.com/Search?query=global%2024 A Note on QSL Cards. All cards should be received by January 5 at the latest. If you have not received yours by then email qsls@global24radio.com and Tina or Marcy can give you an update. (Global 24 via WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DXLD) View Our Current Broadcast Schedule https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1sfbOQ_lr65W7iIFaD-lnYF7zJuI3RsNtMPoSTFEfmdA/edit?pli=1#gid=0 - We are in the process of updating our schedule daily. Check back often. Our final January schedule will be finalized by December 27. Insider Club members will receive both print and PDF schedules to enhance their listening pleasure. Copyright © 2014 Global 24 Radio, All rights reserved. Shortwave News & Entertainment. Broadcasting 24 Hours a Day Our mailing address is: Global 24 Radio 2719 Hollywood Blvd B-16 Hollywood, FL 33020 (Phil Workman, Dec 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Thank You, Very Much! Look for your Insider Club newsletter in your mailbox shortly. Thank you to everyone that has joined us - we are so excited to have such an energized listener base. If you haven't supported us yet, we would still very much appreciate your support to help us achieve our vision of reinventing shortwave radio. We are hard at work on the schedule and the on-air product - January will be a GREAT month for Global 24 and all of our listeners: 1) Look for our finalized January schedule online by tomorrow evening 2) Stay tuned for new program announcements! 3) We are archiving more and more programs online. If you miss a broadcast - chances are, you can hear it online. One great way to do that is join our Insider Club. We have launched the club and our first newsletter is available any moment now. The roster is growing and we would like to get a few more members. About the Insider Club Newsletter, Volume 1 - Edition 1 will be available on December 29 for Insider Club Members Content includes: Updates from our general manager Updates on new programming coming in January 2015 on Global 24 Interviews with several show hosts Review of the Kaito 11 receiver Review of Fred Osterman’s Shortwave Receivers Past & Present, 4th Edition Paper schedule for January 2015 Special offers from our advertisers & sponsors Consider joining the Insiders Club – your direct support is integral to our success. Join Here and Read the Full Breakdown See Who Has Joined So Far We Need Your Support! All Insider Club members will be receiving their first monthly newsletter shortly. They are coming back from the printer on Saturday December 27. As a special thank you, we will also be mailing all Insider Club members a free Global 24 coffee mug! Join now to get your newsletter, membership number and free mug. We are counting on your support. Thank you, Phil Workman Insider Club members will be getting a Free G24 Coffee Mug in January! Join Now Listen to Us on Shoutcast - A Note on QSL Cards. All cards should be received by January 5 at the latest. If you have not received yours by then email qsls@global24radio.com and Tina or Marcy can give you an update (Phil Workman, Dec 30, DX LISTEING DIGEST) 9395, Monday Dec 29 at 0550, Global 24 relaying Vatican Radio in seemingly objective secular world news, about ferry afire in Adriatic, good signal; at 0554 into non-objective sacred review of Pope`s year 2014. So Global 24 is still relaying VR at 0545-0600 daily except Sundays, and also presumably Israel Radio at 0530-0545, contrary to schedule grid which claims NHK Radio Japan both at 0500-0530 and 0530-0600! These come via WRN. 9395, Monday Dec 29 before 1500 some music program from Global 24, presumably the listed `Lake Air`. At 1500 into `Sounds from the Global Village`, starting with something the DJ thinx is probably Turkish. 9395, Tuesday Dec 29 at 1540, it`s R. Prague, ID, `In Focus`. Indeed the G24 sked grid now shows Sweden & Prague in the 15-16 hour, only on Tuesdays. So presumably `Democracy Now` has really been airing at 13- 14, unchecked (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 9330-CUSB, Dec 25 at 0152, oldtimeradio comedy show on WBCQ; VG signal here and VP on 5110-CUSB, which seems like the same but not in synch. 7490v is also on but different, talk show with Monsey NY address. At 0205 I do conclude that 9330 is // but not synch 5110, and now 7490 is almost // 9330 but not synch, during a version of ``Night Before Xmas`` with lots of musical produxion. 9330v-CUSB, UT Sat Dec 27 at 0112, WBCQ with `Allan Weiner Worldwide` in progress, as he`s saying, ``by mid-summer there will be a new and improved WBCQ – new building, bought new transmitting equipment this fall, and maybe more in the spring, hi-powered stuff; some clients are working on that``. Goes on to extol LED lighting as more efficient, and more and more of it to come in 2015; wind power. At 0128 takes an expected call from Bill Smith, who is a guest of the federal government. Says his prison sentence is for 5 more years, but hopes it will be reduced to 4, or maybe even out in 2015. Apparently an old friend of Allan`s, as they discuss technical developments, restricted internet access inside. I know of three Bill Smiths in the DX world --- is he a fourth? A Bill Smith beat up the KEVA guy, as per long story in DXLD 14-52. The name is just too common. As usual, this live AWWW is also on the other two transmitters, but not synchronized. At the outset, best signal by far on 9330, but it`s 28 seconds behind 7490v-AM. 5110 is very poor with less of a delay behind 7490. By 0130, 9330 is fading down, inferior to 7490. Also tried 15420 which was maybe on but could not be sure if a trace was WBCQ. [and non]. 7490v, Tue Dec 30 at 2234, WBCQ with a playback of last Saturday`s live `Allan Weiner Worldwide`, same I was hearing before, as he is on phone with a Bill Smith in federal prison, a technician who really needs to be on the outside ASAP. Fair signal and clear until *2258:10 hit by huge het from BBC Thailand with Bow Bells --- a monumental failure of frequency coördination. BBC is on 25 degree beam for E Asia, which carries right on across North America, but FCC and BBC apparently can`t believe a station on the far side of the world could possibly QRM a North American station in North America, and close to its own 245 degree azimuth toward Nuevo Laredo, no less. WBCQ signal had improved during the session; sunset in Monticello was already circa 2050 UT. The het is WBCQ`s fault for always being off-frequency (no attempt to measure it now). The two signals are about equal level making both useless here. Fortunately, BBC English is scheduled for only one hour, and this ruins the M-F WBCQ show `Money Talk`, on Sundays `WGOD Presents` and on Saturdays the first hour of `Pirate Pizza Night`. Maybe that`s why `Money Talk` is simulcast on 9330-CUSB, otherwise little-used. As for the `AWWW` playbacks, the originals almost always run more than one hour, so I guess the playbacks in one-hour slots get chopped if not edited down. Larry Will tells us ``We’ll be doing a live New Year’s Eve special tonight on WBCQ 5110 from 8 to midnight US eastern time (0100 to 0500 UT January 1) and webcast on http://www.splatterbox.us:5110 Requests and listener reports always welcome at radio@zappahead.net Regards, Larry Will`` Another WBCQ program worth checking out is `The Next Chapter`, UT Thursdays 0000-0100 on 7490v. Lots of thought-provoking discussion about where the world is going; and the host has the objective of establishing a ``Radio Alexandria`` ship in the mid-Pacific. It`s been going for a year now; transcripts and audio archive at http://radioalexandria.net/ (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 17775, Dec 25 at 1521, no sign of KVOH, taking Xmas off. 17775, Dec 26 at 1459, KVOH is back on for Boxing Day, having silenced itself on Xmas Day, ID as with pre-recorded program. 17775, Dec 31 at 1521, no signal from KVOH, taking another holiday break? Wait, there is a JBA carrier so maybe it`s on, but just not propagating or QRP. Rechecked at 1558: now it`s inbooming (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 5050, Dec 27 at 0125, WWRB with Brother Scare, while 3185 is off. Sometime in the next few hours, BS switches to 3185, often before 0500, for the rest of the night (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 15825, Dec 25 at 1520, WWCR gospel huxter with long/short path echo, becoming a DX catch at some 39 megameters the long way round. Can happen when the direct signal off the back is much attenuated, yet propagation eastward is really funxioning. 15825, Dec 31 at 1523, gospel huxter talking with big echo from WWCR, so long/short path again. Per NGS globe, the 39-megameter long path traverses: just off West Africa, Botswana, Indian Ocean, Perth, Cairns, Tarawa, Honolulu, Santa Bárbara. This transmitter is registered on a 46 degree azimuth; it should be even better by LP if it were taking off closer to 90 degrees (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also WEWN ** U S A. 15610, Dec 31 at 1524, WEWN with big echo, long path of 39 Megameters vs short path of one; sounds like could be M. Angélica herself. NGS globe shows this LP route: St. Peter & St. Paul Rocks in the Atlantic, RSA, Carnarvon, PNG, Lisianski Island (a little-known Hawaiian atoll on the way to Midway), Sacramento. This one starts out on a 40-degree azimuth which is hardly ideal for LP to here (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also WWCR ** U S A. 5085, Dec 25 at 0154, WTWW-2 is off, perhaps having exhausted its Xmas tune library many times over. Not paying much attention, but I think 9930 was also off during the Dec 24 daytime. 9475, Dec 25 at 2014, WTWW-1 is on, but the other two are off, 9930 and 12105. 12105, Dec 26 at 0226, WTWW-3 is apparently on, but poor with flutter, open carrier/dead air. WTWW-1 is on 5830 as usual, but no WTWW-2 on 5085. 9930, Dec 26 at 1446, WTWW-2 with Bible story, as this transmitter seems to be putting out humbuzz on both sides, QRMing 9955 WRMI. 9930, 9475, 12105, Dec 27 at 0120, all three WTWW transmitters are on; 9930 QRMing GREECE 9935 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 820, Dec 25 at 0606 UT, WBAP is starting `Mannheim Streamroller`s American Christmas``, music special. A great relief from stupid far-right anti-American `Red Eye Radio` talk show WBAP usually originates and syndicates. Last Xmas, we ran across this on a number of big stations at various times, a 1- or 2-hour special? But this year here`s one station running it for 24 hours straight, repetitious? http://www.1490wosh.com/common/page.php?feed=2&pt=Mannheim+Steamroller+American+Christmas&id=53791&is_corp=0 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 890, TEXAS, KVOZ, Del Mar Hills. 1152 UT December 22, 2014. Tentative. Suspect merely this one but with odd format of English Urban-Soul takes on Christmas songs, Spanish language man with brief inspirational words at 1156, back to English Christmas songs, no ID across the hour, female briefly with "... punto 890" (890 read in English). No working KVOZ streaming located. Slight WLS and Progreso co-channel, eventually this faded leaving Progreso alone. Suspect they were illegally on their 10 kW day power, if KVOZ (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL - NRD-535, IC-R75, roof dipole, active lo, DX LISTENING DIGEST) KVOZ 890 should be // the 1210 station KUBR (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) ** U S A. 1190, TEXAS, KFXR, Dallas. 2245 UT December 22, 2014. Commercial break at tune-in, into the Matt Patrick Show with the entire "Can't You See" by the Marshall Tucker Band mixed underneath his rants, today live from Shaw's Jewelry, Houston (so this is an at least Texas syndicated show, KTRH, Houston appears to be the flagship). But not really live, he closed with "Have a good weekend" on this Monday, so a holiday excuse to repeat. Mostly poor with the Orlando station nulled out. Parallel TuneIn live stream which was at least 20 seconds behind. "Talk Radio 11-90" is the slogan when going into and out of FOX News Radio top of hour (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL - NRD-535, IC-R75, roof dipole, active lo, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. [Re 14-52]: Article about KEVA in the local paper ``Some interesting connexions in the KEVA story: Carolla`s partner: *SCOTT CLARK --- apparently the same person who was responsible for KEIF-LP 104.7 in Enid, operating commercially and with excessive antenna height, until busted by the FCC. See DXLD 13-12. http://www.w4uvh.net/dxld1312.txt We later heard that he had moved to: WYOMING! ***BILL SMITH --- Allan Weiner on WBCQ was talking to one Bill Smith now a guest of the federal government, as in our later log report Dec 27, see next issue. But it`s a common name, probably different person (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST)`` Interesting read!! Thanks Glenn. I wondered if Scott Clark would ring a bell with you. I thought in passing conversations with Scott I had heard something about a station in Enid and yes even “the rocket” being mentioned as well. Gotta be the same Scott Clark. However as far as Bill Smith: no, not the same guy. I still talk to Scott from time to time. I will have to ask him about Enid next time I talk to him. See what kind of story HE has to tell about it (Michael n Wyo Richard, Dec 29, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. All the Disney stations except KDIS 1110 in LA are in the process of being sold. Only WQEW [NY] and WFDF [MI] have buyers announced so far. The remaining stations are being run on skeleton staffs, just enough to comply with the FCC's main-studio rules. If something breaks at most of them, there are contract engineers who can be called in to fix them. It may not be an immediate process. s (Scott Fybush, NY, Dec 30, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. KANI from TX has drifted up high very recently and is on about 1500.125. They signed off at 6 pm CST (2400z) last night. They use a Great Gospel slogan. [Wharton TX, 500/500 watts U2, so doesn`t have to be a daytimer. NRC AM Log gives sked 07-01 EST. Wharton is SW of Houston on the way to Victoria --- gh] I managed to pull audio and an ID out of the station on the low side of 1480 noted recently. It is on about 1479.94 and is WERM from Mobile [AL] and is Black Gospel. For several years there's been a station on the low side of 1230 and I've never IDed it. From what audio I've managed I think it has an adult std format. I think it is from an area covering from west to south of me. Anyone know for sure what this is? KMVL 1220 from TX is back right on freq now and was mixing with KZEE the other evening. XERDO remains on about 1060.076 and is a common catch here but not always audible at night. 73 KAZ Barrington IL. Perseus and Phased Array of two DKAZ beam directed about 245 degrees (Neil Kazaross, Dec 31, ABDX via dXLD) ** U S A. ABC NEWS WILL LAUNCH WITH 1,000 STATIONS InsideRadio.com December 30, 2014 As ABC News breaks away from Westwood One to chart a new solo course on January 1, the network says it has signed more than 1,000 affiliate stations for its ABC News, ABC Digital and ABC Air Power products. Of that number, ABC says 200 are new affiliates and many have signed up for more than one ABC service (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U S A. 92.3 WFM, Dec 29 sometime in the afternoon as I am driving up US 81/60/64 on the north side of Enid, down the overpass attenuating slightly 92.5 KOMA OKC from the south, but still with ACI from 92.1 KAMG-LP Enid, I am getting bits of a signal from 92.3 Norton KS, ex-KFTI, enough to hear a YL mention that a new format begins January 1 here on FM-92. (Such reception under dead conditions is about the best we can do without a little help from the troposphere.) That leads me to search out recent press about this change of ownership, also covered previously in DXLD (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ENVISION PUTTING ITS STAMP ON WICHITA'S 92.3 FM Josh Heck Reporter - Wichita Business Journal Dec 30, 2014, 2:42pm CST http://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/news/2014/12/30/envision-putting-its-stamp-on-wichitas-92-3-fm.html The pieces of Envision's plans to relaunch a Wichita radio station are starting to fall into place. It started with the signing of Brett Harris and Tracy Cassidy to be the morning anchors for KKGQ 92.3 FM, which will be called Q92 The Beat. The addition of Harris and Cassidy — best known for their work on B98-FM — has been in the works for about five months. The news was made public Tuesday. Additional details surrounding the station were announced during a Tuesday-afternoon news conference. The station and its sales office will be housed at 604. N. Main. Q92, which will be transmitted with a 100,000-watt signal, will have an adult contemporary format beginning on Jan. 1. Harris and Cassidy will begin airing their morning show on Jan. 5. The show will air daily from 5 to 10 a.m. Envision announced its plans to buy KFTI-FM in October. The purchase closed Dec. 12, says Heather Hogan, Envision's vice president of foundation and mission services and is overseeing the station's operations. "Envision Broadcast Network is bringing local radio back to Wichita," she says. She says the goal with Q92 is to have a local format with community-based content. Hogan says the station will help Envision fulfill its mission to provide employment opportunities and services for those who are vision-impaired. The station, she says, also provides a platform from which Envision can reach more people. Envision plans to eventually add on-air personalities for the afternoon, evening and overnight shifts. Harris and Cassidy, meanwhile, are preparing to bring back their morning show after a two-year absence from the local airwaves. The two have worked together for more than 22 years. "I don't think it was if Brett and Tracy were going to get back together, it was when," Harris says. Harris still will be part of the Brett & Sierra Show, which airs on KSCW Channel 33, in addition to his radio responsibilities on Q92. Harris and Cassidy have a long history of volunteering with Envision. They say they are excited for the opportunity to work together again. "It feels like home again," Cassidy tells me. Harris says Q92 will have local programing and personalities during a time when many radio stations have gone to syndicated and prerecorded shows. The station also will be streamed online (via gh, DXLD) Q92 WICHITA ANNOUNCES MORNING SHOW Last Updated on December 30, 2014 at 2:55 pm http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/netgnomes/91175/envision-sets-plans-for-92-3-wichita KKGQ announced today that it will now debut its format on January 5. Mornings will be anchored by Brett Harris and Tracy Cassidy. The duo is best known in the market for their years in mornings at iHeartMedia AC “B98” KRBB. The station has been airing a broad mix of music promoting the launch since ending Christmas music on December 26. Envision Broadcast Network LLC, which is affiliated with Envision Inc., will be kicking off their new station on January 5, 2015 with a pair of familiar voices. Dynamic radio duo Brett Harris and Tracy Cassidy will reunite to debut the new station as hosts of its morning program following the acquisition of 92 FM in October. Heather Hogan, Envision’s Vice President of Foundation and Mission Services, announced plans for the future format and content for the station, which will serve as a source of entertainment for audiences, a medium of communication for Envision and other causes and organizations, revenues to support Envision’s programs and services, and employment for individuals who are blind or visually impaired. “We are delighted to be reuniting Brett and Tracy in our first official move with 92 FM,” Hogan said. “Wichita has been waking up to Brett and Tracy for more than 22 years, and we look forward to bringing them back to the airwaves for the community to enjoy.” Harris and Cassidy have a long history of involvement with Envision. They have both received the organization’s “Excellence in Volunteerism” award and have participated in benefit concerts, committee involvement and internal events. The two are thrilled to be an official part of the Envision team. “To have a non-profit agency with which we’ve been passionately involved for years approach us about reuniting on the radio is incredibly humbling and exciting,” says Harris. “We’re absolutely energized. Local radio is not only a terrific investment for a non- profit, but what a way to spread the mission by training kids who are visually impaired to become on-air talent. Cassidy says working with individuals who are visually impaired has been tightly woven into her radio career since even before she began collaborating on projects with Envision. She got into the broadcast business while working for the visually impaired department in her high school,where she began reading books onto tape and served as the driver for a teacher who was visually impaired. Radio via Envision, she says, felt like a perfect fit. “I couldn’t have dreamed up a better partnership,” she says. “I’m still pinching myself. The cause and the people within the Envision organization are absolutely wonderful. Plus, knowing that the work we do isn’t lining the pockets of anonymous investors but will instead be funding projects and programs right here in Wichita is very exciting.” A Local Focus Will Distinguish The Station From Remote and National Noise Harris and Cassidy agree that the great opportunity afforded by working for a station whose owner is so focused on the Wichita area is that they will be able to return to a local, down-home feel that has largely been replaced by syndication. Cassidy says she’ll have to rein in Harris’ passion for Wichita State Shockers basketball, and looks forward to working with local organizations to deliver their message to the community. “This is one of the features I am most proud of,” she says. “If you are part of an agency and have a message to convey, you can email or call us, and we’ll talk about how to get it on the air. Envision has a dream for the whole community – I love that!” Harris adds that unlike other morning programs, the content of the new program will be family- friendly. Cassidy says listeners can expect to “hear themselves, each other, people who are friendly and funny, people who want to share something neat, or something inspirational. That’s the best thing to have in the morning.” [Previously:] Update 12/21: KKGQ’s stunting has shifted to Christmas music and teasing on social media that #TheQHitsWichita. Some form of CHR seems likely. Update 12/14: Envision closed on its acquisition of 92.3 KFTI-FM on Friday and quickly began stunting with a mix of construction sounds and music from blind artists with the KKGQ call letters now in place. The previous Classic Country format remains at 1070 KFTI. Update 12/10: When blind advocacy group Envision Broadcast Network purchased 92.3 KFTI-FM Newton/Wichita, KS from Journal Broadcasting it did not include the current Classic Country format or call letters in the acquisition. With the current format back on 1070 KFTI where it will remain once the sale of 92.3 closes, we now know what will be coming to the station afterwards. Envision has registered Q92TheBeat.com .net, and .org for the station. This follows anonymous registrations for Q92Wichita.com, Q923Wichita.com, 923QFM.com, and 923TheQ.com made since the sale was announced. And the Q branding will work perfectly with the KKGQ call letters reserved for the station upon closing of the sale. Despite being a non-profit organization, the radio station will continue to operate as a commercial operation. The sale is projected to close in January 2015 (via DXLD) ** U S A. 96.7 MHz, FLORIDA, W244BE, Brandon, Hillsborough County. 1328 December 28, 2014. Yesterday I heard a canned calls-only ID dropping on 970 WFLA, then again today. Indeed, simulcasting WFLA, heard with the ICF-7600GR pointed just right. Appears to have very recently activated. A while back they were on 105.9 prior to that one flipping format to "Thunder Tampa Bay." At last check the 970wfla.com website still had this unlisted. FCC dB states 80 watts ERP. 99.1 MHz, FLORIDA, W202CB, Bayonet Point, Pasco County. 1358 December 28, 2014. Poor when the ICF-7600GR is held just right in one part of the house, simulcast to 105.9 and 94.5 translators. Format is Classic Rock “Thunder Tampa Bay” with this having moved from 88.3 back in September while 94.5 is W233AV Gulfport/St. Petersburg and 105.9 is W290BJ licensed as West [sic] Tampa. But wait, there's more! 102.9 from Wesley Chapel stumbled upon today (see log). Programming originates at 100.7 WMTX-HD2. 202 and 207 calls do not fit for these frequencies. FCC FM QUery shows only these two for Bayonet Point: W256CT 256 D FX 99.1 MHz LIC BAYONET POINT FL US BLFT-20140916ABD - 151584 0.25 kW 0. m REACH COMMUNICATIONS, INC. W262CP 262 D FX 100.3 MHz LIC BAYONET POINT FL US BLFT-20141107AAW - 151587 0.25 kW 0. m REACH COMMUNICATIONS. INC. (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 100.3 MHz, FLORIDA, W207BU, Bayonet Point, Pasco County. 1410 December 28, 2014. According to RadioInsight this one has been here since November 7 due to an interference complaint from 99.9 WXJB, Homosassa, which doesn't come as a surprise to me, having expected that one would happen. Slogan is “Alt 100.3” (formerly "Alt 99.9"), with Alt Rock format. Good signal when positioned in just the right spot on the ICF- 7600GR. 102.9 MHz, FLORIDA, W275AZ, Wesley Chapel, Pasco County. 1540 December 28, 2014. "Thunder Tampa Bay" Classic Rock with friend Big Rig voice tracking right now, weak on the ICF-7600GR, parallel the other translators on 94.5, 99.1 and 105.9. This one isn't listed on their website as of today. FCC dB shows 200 watts ERP. Found this one while again checking for W275 AX Bartow, which simulcasts WWBF (1130 kHz), which will probably never make it this far but I sporadically check anyway. Florida Low Power Radio Stations: https://sites.google.com/site/floridadxn/florida-low-power-radio-stations (Terry L. Krueger, all logs made at Clearwater, FL with NRD-535, IC- R75, ICF-7600GR, roof dipole and active loop, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VATICAN [and non]. 15770-15775-15780, Dec 30 at 1542, DRM noise also QRMing weaker 15770 WRMI BS, tsk2. Per Aoki it`s Vatican Radio, English at 1530-1558 due east, i.e. for S Asia, just one more example of SMG`s exalted coverage way off their supposed azimuths. Is Jeff White still an advocate for DRM (but never on WRMI)? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also SUDAN [non] ** VENEZUELA. Radio Nacional de Venezuela was noted in Barinas on 580 kHz with "Con Gaitas y Tradición" at 0230 UT on 15 November 2014. This used to be the frequency of Radio La Voz de la Fe in Maracaibo, Zulia. It would appear that in addition to the previously known frequencies of RNV we can now add 650 kHz (previously Aragüeña 650, Maracay, Estado Aragua) and 1510 kHz (previously La Voz del Centro, Güigüe, Estado Carabobo). These three frequencies are not listed on the RNV web page. The 580 kHz frequency provided very strong night-time reception in Barinas which is 270 kilometers from Maracaibo. 650, RNV, see 580 kHz above 1340, YVKE Mundial, Caracas, new frequency. Strong local signal. I suppose this is a new relay station in the Western Llanos area for this governmental radio station. The frequency is not listed on the station's web page. 1510, RNV, see 580 kHz above. (All above info from Venezuela from Henrik Klemetz and Santiago San Gil G via WRTH Facebook Group via Mauno Ritola, Arctic via DXWW II, IRCA DX Monitor Jan 3 via DXLD) 1560, YVLZ, Radiodifusora Andina "Exitos 1560", which ceased broadcasting on 1560 kHz a few years ago, has apparently been taken over by Radio Nacional de Venezuela. Has been noted with RNV programming in Venezuela (Santiago San Gil G/Henrik Klemetz, ARC via DXWW II, IRCA DX Monitor Jan 3 via DXLD) ** VIETNAM. Vietnam Coastal Stations - Does anyone have an accurate up-to-date list regarding the schedule for these numerous sites? Dec 29 monitoring; all sites are tentative, except for Ho Chi Minh Radio, which had positive ID in English. When 7906-USB & 8294-USB are both parallel, then they start and end with rapid series of tones; when 7906-USB transmits by itself, it does not start with the rapid series of tones; has no tones at start, but instead seems to end with DTMF tones (not the same as the rapid series of tones), to turn the transmitter off automatically. 7906-USB // 8294-USB, Hai Phong Radio-XVG, *1205-1213*; started and ended with quick series of tones; in Vietnamese with marine conditions. 7906-USB, Vung Tau Radio, *1220-1229*; nothing on 8294-USB. 7906-USB // 8294-USB, Da Nang Radio-XVT, *1234-1242*. 7906-USB, Ben Thuy (Vinh) Radio-XVB, *1250-1257*; nothing on 8294-USB. 7906-USB // 8294-USB, Ho Chi Minh Radio-XVQ, *1305-1314*. 8294-USB, Ho Chi Minh Radio-XVQ, *1314-1318*; in English and Vietnamese with two separate "Navigational Warnings"; NOT carried on 7906-USB. 7906-USB, Mong Cai Radio-XVM, *1320-1328*; nothing on 8294-USB. 7906-USB, Phan Rang Radio, *1335-1344*; clearly off with DTMF tones; nothing on 8294-USB. 7906-USB, Phan Tiet Radio, *1350-1400*; nothing on 8294-USB. 7906-USB // 8294-USB, Can Tho Radio, *1405 till 8294-USB off at 1407*. 7906-USB, Can Tho Radio, continued on without 8294-USB, at 1407 through 1412*. 7906-USB, Site?, *1420-1426*. 7906-USB, Site?, *1435-1438*; OM in Vietnamese; NOT // 8294-USB. 8294-USB, Site?, *1434-1437*; YL in Vietnamese; NOT // 7906-USB (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, E1 & CR-1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Ron, I'm not sure if you've seen it, but there's a schedule posted on Vishipel's website http://www.vishipel.com.vn/index.aspx?page=detail&id=280 It's dated Sept 2012, so it may or may not be current (Bruce Portzer, WA, Dec 31, ibid.) ** VIETNAM. Voice of Vietnam-1 heard Dec 29 at 1258 in Vietnamese; National Anthem at 1259; all //, with sites per Aoki; 5975 via Hanoi (poor-fair), spurs not heard on 5967.0 & 5983.0; 7210 via Daclac (poor/QRM) // 7435.0 via Hanoi-Sontay (poor-fair) // 9635.75 via Hanoi-Sontay (fair). Both the 7435 and 9635 transmitters indeed seem to be at one location, as they occasionally switch the frequency of the off frequency transmitter (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, E1 & CR-1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIRGIN ISLANDS BRITISH. 780, ZBVI, Road Town, Tortola, DEC 26 0959 - Fair; instrumental national anthem and sign-on announcement, "This is Zed BVI... Zed BVI is owned and operated by Virgin Islands Broadcasting Company Limited with 10 thousand watts of power... licensed by the government of the British Virgin Islands..." (Bruce Conti, WPC1CAT, Nashua NH; WiNRADiO Excalibur, MWDX-5 phasing unit, 15 x 23-m variable termination SuperLoop antennas at 60 northeast and 180 south, mwdxyg via DXLD) Was the NA GSTQ or something local? (gh) ** YEMEN. Radio Sana'a in English back on shortwave Dec 22 after break 1800-1900 6135*ALH 050 kW / non-dir N/ME with several QRM and co-chs: * till 1820 QRM VIRI IRIB Bosnian on 6140, from 1820 co-ch VIRI IRIB French http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2014/12/radio-sanaa-in-english-was-back-on.html (DX RE MIX NEWS #887 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, Dec 29, 2014 via DXLD) December 22: Radio Sana'a in English to ME 1803 on 6135 Al Hiswah https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHwspAw8YXM&feature=youtu.be Radio Sana'a in English to ME 1810 on 6135 Al Hiswah https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuI5N5HQXFc&feature=youtu.be Radio Sana'a English to ME totally blocked by VIRI IRIB in French 1820 on 6135 Al Hiswah https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gP1wx3ue8vw&feature=youtu.be 73! (Ivo Ivanov, Blgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZANZIBAR. December 23: Zanzibar Broadcasting Corporation in English to CeAf 1801 on 11735 Dole https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Stk_c-3x-og&feature=youtu.be 73! (Ivo Ivanov, Blgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 960, Dec 29 at 0604 UT optional cutaway ID for ``SRN News``, during Fox-hole of dead air from nulled local KGWA Enid, but it cuts back on at 0605 UT before any local ID from the SRN. For quite some time I have not been hearing echoing ABC News at this time which was previously traced to KGKL in San Angelo TX and KMA in Shenandoah IA, both of which are still listed with ABC in the 2014-2015 NRC AM Log. Going strictly by that resource, the ubiquitous SRN has only three affiliates on 960: KKNT Phœnix AZ, 5000/5000 Watts U2 (night pattern supposedly all toward the southwest), format ``Inteigent Talk`` [sic, huh??]; KLTF Little Falls MN, 5000/38 watts U1, so likely one of those, rather than the third, faraway WCRU Dallas NC (Winston-Salem), 10000/500 watts U4 (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ``GLENN, KKNT 960 here has had an on-again / off-again relationship with SRN news. They carry SRN talks show hosts (Mike Gallagher, Michael Medved, Dennis Prager, etc.), but sometimes run other news outlets at the ToH. Often you can hear the electronic drums signaling SRN news, but then they cut to another news outlet. This was true just last week. I noticed this week that SRN news is back on at KKNT afternoons, with news read by "Keith Peters in Washington". KKNT seems to be regular about changing their power/direction at sunset each night. Regards from the Sonoran Desert, Rick in AZ (Barton)`` Jan 1 UNIDENTIFIED. 9700-SSB, Dec 29 at 1503, 2-way in colloquial Spanish. Strange that no one else ever bothers to log and report these INTRUDERS into the SWBC bands; and some editors won`t publish my logs either --- since they are not SWBC! (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 11735, 2040-2125 December 24, 2014. Checking for Zanzibar, something here weak, rather fluttery and mostly talk in unknown but seemingly Asian language, not Zanzibar. And well past the usual just past 2100 Zanzibar closing time. I don't see Voice of Korea listed at this hour here (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL - NRD-535, IC-R75, roof dipole, active lo, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Maybe Brasil? fs UNIDENTIFIED. 15370, Dec 26 at 1957, open carrier/dead air, VG signal. Most likely RHC which normally turns this transmitter off at 1600 after having been aimed across North America. Still past 2000 but didn`t catch when they turned it off, gone by 2100. Meanwhile, 17730 RHC European service in French attains good signal at 1957. On the FRG-7 MHz tuning comparing with BFO to WWRB 9370: 15370 is slightly higher. This is at least the third date the big OC has happened all day on 15370. Those who can measure precise frequencies could directly compare its signature to earlier when modulating RHC (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 15649.5-SSB, Dec 31 at 1535, 2-way in colloquial Spanish, long informal QSO but hardly a `puta` mentioned, heard only once in next dekaminute! I can`t really understand them, but do copy a keyword ``pescado``, implying that these are fishing poachers (in Spanish, pescado means a fish once it is caught, i.e. ``fished``, while a mere fish in the wild is a pez; yet there is no equivalence for land creatures such as ``cazados`` or ``cas``. And non-Castilians must be careful not to confuse cazar = hunt with casar = marry, altho there is a certain correspondence). Also frequent whistling, once talking during an obvious yawn {bostezo}. Stronger one has engine noise in background. ERTOpen must be off 15650, as no het from there (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ ACKNOWLEDGED ON WORLD OF RADIO 1754: GERALD T POLLARD, NC, for a solstitial cheque to P O Box 1684, Enid OK 73702 TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED FUTURELY: Fritz Anderson, WT9T, for a contribution via PayPal to woradio at yahoo.com Keep up the good work! Cheers Helmut (Henning Vahlbruch, Germany, with a contribution in Euro via PayPal to woradio at yahoo.com) Heard WOR on a Grundig FR350 emergency radio while lazing around in the bed. You can do that when your youngest kid is 24 and it`s Christmas Day. WRMI from Miami or somewhere in the Okeechobee Swamp (according to their jingle) on 9955 with the mellifluous voice of Glenn Hauser. After the end we got a ToH ID and ad for college sports. Issue of WOR was 1753. The signal on the cheap emergency radio was strong, steady and clear as a bell here in Crump, TN. Heard the 1330 UT broadcast. Merry Christmas, Glenn. Another fine job (Kevin Redding, Crump, TN, Thu Dec 25, ABDX via DXLD) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ AT&T AND THE RADIO NETWORKS The free e-book: "Connecting the Continent" was published in August in its final revision, incorporating great feedback from readers and adding a wealth of information turned up in the months following the initial release. It's also been reformatted for more-logical reading. This free book was written in the spirit of 'sharing and learning.' You can gather a good amount of information about the revised contents by screening the first few pages. "Connecting the Continent: A revised view of AT&T and the radio networks" is available free at www-dot-durenberger-dot-com in both a clean revised model... and a 'red-lined' version for previous readers who want to look at what's changed (Mark Durenberger, CPBE, IRCA DX Monitor Jan 3 via DXLD) SHORTWAVE-INFO IS STALE As of Dec 25, the shortwave-info database admits it is two weeks old, from Dec 11. If you want less outdated info, go directly to the source: http://www1.m2.mediacat.ne.jp/binews/us/bib14.txt Which as of Dec 25 is dated at the top Dec 24. Why doesn`t short-wave info update (almost) every day like the Aoki list does? (It is still very outdated when it comes to Latin American and other tropical stations still listed which have been off the air for YEARS. And so is any other facility relying on it!). Under these circumstances, I am really baffled why people recommend shortwave-info. For a fuller picture of the SW bands you need also to consult the independent EiBi list, and HFCC. 73, (Glenn Hauser, radioescutas yg via DXLD CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ WINTER SWL FEST The 28th (!) Annual Winter SWL Fest will be held Friday and Saturday, February 27th – 28th, 2015 at the Doubletree Guest Suites hotel in Plymouth Meeting, PA -- check out the Winter SWL Fest website at http://www.swlfest.com (Rich Cuff & John Figliozzi, WORLD OF RADIO 1754 via DXLD) SHORTWAVE LIVE HANGOUT 2200 UT Hello DX friends, Live shortwave hangout for the Holiday season tonight at 2200 UT. We talk about shortwave radio, answer questions, talk about 2014 and 2015, no time limit tonight! hope to see you there! link is here: Shortwave Holiday season Live video hangout https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qT-gy30Ghb8&feature=youtu.be (Gilles Letourneau, QC, 2043 UT Dec 30, dxldyg via DXLD) NOTE: Gilles typically gives only one or two hours notice on these, so you need to be getting individual e-mail from the DXLD yg (gh, DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DTV See MEXICO; OKLAHOMA ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DRM See CHINA = INDIA; VATICAN ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- IBOC +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ RADIO WORLD: SKOTDAL: AM BAND NEEDS DRASTIC CHANGE http://www.radioworld.com/article/skotdal-am-band-needs-drastic-change/273566 The author is shown in 2010 conducting an inspection at the top of KRKO’s newly replaced radiator. The year prior, two towers had been brought down by a vandal using an excavator. The author is licensee of 50 kW AM stations KRKO and KKXA in the Seattle market, incoming chair of the Washington State Association of Broadcasters and a former NAB board member. He participated in the recent NAB Labs driving tests of all-digital on the AM band. Opinions expressed are his own. All-digital transmissions on the AM band are better than analog. However, all-digital operation, if adopted, would only be a Band-Aid for the unstoppable rising tide of electromagnetic erosion that ultimately will wash away the coverage and signal improvements of digital. History weighs against achieving the consumer receiver adoption levels necessary to realize the benefits of all-digital ahead of this electromagnetic tide. Further, a majority of directional AM licensees will be unable to participate in its benefits for reasons unrelated to the technology. For those who seek a permanent solution, migrating occupants of the band to vacated VHF spectrum remains the only option anyone should consider truly “permanent.” TIME IS AGAINST US In the 1920s, our station’s signal, then at 250 watts, received daytime reception reports from Vancouver, B.C., to Portland, Ore. Today, we need 50,000 watts to reach 60 miles from our studios in Everett to listeners in Tacoma and Bellingham. Electromagnetic noise in the AM band is getting worse. In-car cell phone chargers, computers, LED lighting and a host of other electronics interfere with the band and shrink coverage areas. Digital overcomes some of these issues for now; but how long will it last against an electromagnetic barrage that is indifferent to analog or digital on the AM band? The industry appears poised to forge ahead with AM digital, as opposed to VHF migration; so, the next question becomes whether consumer adoption can occur quickly enough to realize the benefits. We tried to buy consumer tabletop AM HD Radio receivers ahead of our all-digital test broadcasts. None were available — not at Best Buy, not on Amazon, nor were any used radios available. Zero. And there has never been a portable HD Radio-enabled AM receiver. No digital AM band receivers (let alone analog) will ever appear in cell phones because of chip interference and lack of real estate for an antenna. Meanwhile, in Seattle, receivers with HD Radio technology of any kind represent only 5 percent of the market after 10 years of effort. Consider that for analog FM, consumer adoption and receiver penetration took nearly five decades. Given the current trajectory of HD Radio-enabled receivers — and absent a digital receiver chipset mandate, or at least an FM digital transmission mandate that brings AM chipsets on its coattails — we likely would need three decades to achieve critical receiver mass so AM stations could go all-digital with a sufficient installed base of receivers. DIRECTIONAL ISSUES Further, even if 100 percent of Americans today had a radio with an HD Radio chip, a mandated conversion to all-digital on the AM band would be an immense burden on licensees of directional stations. Compared to omnidirectional stations, AM digital implementation on directional stations is far more costly depending upon the age of the facilities and the number of radiating elements in the array. And digital implementation costs are asymmetrical from one directional facility to the next. For example, there are directional AM stations with short-spaced radiators that would have to relocate their radiators physically to make digital work. That’s like building a new directional antenna from scratch, an awful proposition. These issues are not insurmountable; but a mandated all-digital implementation could cause a significant number of directional licensees to turn their stations off when faced with the specter of investing to make their facilities ready to pass digital. SUNRISE OR MIGRATION? What about an AM “digital sunrise” process, in which all-digital stations would operate on the band alongside analog signals, at least for some period of time? This would be a mixed bag at best. All-digital is far more robust than current hybrid transmissions. But the sunrise scenario could make the band sound worse to listeners with analog-only radios and could hasten audience flight. All-digital signals on the AM band sound like 1990s phone modem noise to analog radios (remember the “whoosh” sound after the handshake?). The sound is audible in the sidebands of stations using the technology now. The benefits of stereo separation, better coverage and signal consistency would be realized only by the small portion of the population capable of receiving the all-digital transmissions. A more elegant solution would be to use the next four decades to migrate occupants of the AM band to abandoned VHF spectrum, meaning current Channels 1–6, and simplify the user experience. How might this work? The commission could require licensees to broadcast in digital on the FM band from the moment they turn on their new transmitters as the “spectrum cost” of migration. Stations would be allowed to simulcast their AM signals until some future day that the FCC retires the AM band. This would provide further incentive to receiver manufacturers to produce chipsets capable of receiving HD Radio or Digital Radio Mondiale, a topic for a later discussion. FM ANALOG SUNSET But if vacant VHF is off the table for licensees of the senior band, then we need to pursue the idea of an all-digital transition, and there are some ways to get AM stations to the all-digital altar. An “analog sunset shot clock” for the FM band is the fastest way to drive receiver manufacturer implementation and FM adoption. Digital technology works really well on the FM band and takes little to implement. How does this help AM stations? A mandate that all FM stations go digital would facilitate more rapid receiver deployment (presumably with mandated digital AM chipsets). This can set the stage for addressing the needs of the AM band. While the commission is at it, AM auction windows should be ended permanently. An all-digital mandate on the AM band could push a large number of directional operators — half or more — out of business, depending on the timing; because the bulk of AM stations in the United States are running with worn-out equipment and transmitter sites, and the revenue supporting those stations is too thin in many markets to justify new investment. The mandate would cull those who can’t or won’t make the upgrade, helping the transition. But while all-digital on AM will make the band competitive, licensees shouldn’t be forced into bankruptcy to do it; incentives would be required. If we decide digital is the future of the band, we will need to craft a plan to push for significant tax incentives or other rewards for licensees who don’t wish to go digital to turn in AM licenses. We can’t bifurcate the AM band into digital and non-digital stations. Perhaps the incentive is some form of deferrable, dollar-for-dollar reduction in tax payments, predicated upon the population of listeners within the daytime 0.1 mV/m contour of a station based on M3 conductivity multiplied by a cost-per-listener based on FM valuations. AM licensees would turn in their licenses for this kind of lucrative incentive. Licensees who turn in their licenses deserve meaningful compensation to exit. Licensed AM spectrum surrendered for tax incentives should never be used for radio again. When the surrender period is over, remaining stations should be allowed to improve their facilities by increasing power or moving where possible. And it’s been suggested some kind of low-cost industry financing could be put in place to get the equipment out to stations and facilitate upgrades. With these kinds of plans in place and with national digital receiver penetration presumably by that time above 75 percent, an analog AM sunset could be implemented 20 to 30 years from now and licensees could weigh which way they want to go, meaning they’d have a choice of migrating or taking the incentive to go silent. Frankly, if we got lucky and went from 4,700 AM stations down to 700 stations, the AM band, and radio, will be more sustainable. BETTER IDEA Sounds a little crazy doesn’t it? Getting to an all-digital AM band is crazy, and it’s why we should advocate for migration, and a digital mandate on the other end. Once you get FM spectrum for your AM, you should be required to implement HD; it can be HD the way it is now, with an analog main and digital HD1; but digital has to be baked-in from the start. There is no doubt after our experiences with the testing that digital on AM is better than analog AM, for reasons you’ll learn at the NAB Show in April. But the question remains: How long will that advantage last? We’ll continue our digital broadcasts because the warm sound quality, stereo separation and consistency of the digital signal benefit our listeners who have HD Radio-enabled receivers; but as an industry, we should only “go there if we must” because a better, truly permanent solution is before us in migration (via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) Andy Skotdal is a true believer in HD. I suspect that he's a nice guy, but I don't think his ideas are as nice. About the only thing I favor is giving AM stations FM frequencies in the 76-88 mHz range, either as permanent homes or simulcast facilities. Not digital homes, just homes. There's nothing magic about "digital. " The FM quality is only "better" because the audio generally is not processed as aggressively. Does Andy believe his own mythology? The all-HD tests he did in October promised stereo separation, which is hard to achieve since all of the stations' source material is mono. Yes, even on the country station. No stereo music, no stereo content on the commercials. Not one iota. So since that's his stated reason for keeping HD, he should just drop it. (I'm being facetious; I know that won't happen.) There's no valid reason to further destroy the FM band with HD as a justification for propping up a dying AM band. There are plenty of reasons for justifying a more equal playing field-if AM stations improve their programming to justify improving their facilities. If they don't, they won't fare any better on a different band. Finally, the lack of receivers tells the real story. The marketplace decided that HD was irrelevant many years ago. And frankly, even though they haven't done us the favor of turning it off, the radio companies also made that decision. Only a handful of stations do anything that isn't done with more creativity and passion on the Internet. It would be better to expand the analog band enough for AM's to get facilities and for FM stations to offer additional channels in a less crowded environment. Incidentally, the most uninspiring HD FM's stay on the air, even though the big radio companies can't even provide innovative programming for the main channels, and slash existing personnel to the bone. After all, can't admit that that gigantic investment was a failure, can we? Here in Seattle, KEXP-90.3' s HD was off for a week recently. It sure was a pleasure listening to Victoria' s CBC-1, which I'd never heard until that time. Since KEXP transmits only a very processed "digital" version of itself, no one would have missed it. But of course it's back. They never give up. – (Rick Lewis, ABDX via DXLD) I do not agree that "All-digital transmissions on the AM band are better than analog". They create fierce interference to analog listeners, they have a time delay that is unsuitable for live formats, such as baseball games. All-digital transmissions have metallic- sounding audio. Due to the extremely low bitrate used - they literally have to synthesize the higher frequencies resulting in brittle, phony- sounding audio. Give me 10 kHz analog any day. It mainly benefits the pocketbook of Ibiquity at the huge expense to broadcasters who have to pay their outrageous proprietary license fees and become big noise generators. No thanks! All-digital transmissions do not belong in the present AM band, period. 73 - (Todd WD4NGG Roberts, ibid.) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ `TWAS THE NIGHT AT THE SITE This comes from Radio World magazine via e-mail today: Following our Christmas Eve tradition, it's time to gather around the glow of the tubes once again to enjoy Jim Withers' classic Radio World poem: http://www.radioworld.com/article/twas-the-night-at-the-site/2399 (via Sheldon Harvey, Greenfield Park, Quebec, Dec 24, dxldyg via DXLD) WELSHMAN IN CAVERSHAM I have just discovered that Chrome will translate Welsh to English well. BBC Monitoring on Twitter 17 minutes ago " Welshman in Caversham. The man who listens out for news from all four corners of the world." Y dyn sy'n gwrando ar wybodaeth o bedwar ban byd http://www.bbc.co.uk/cymrufyw/30581186 (Mike Barraclough, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) No need to rely on Google Translate! Here's an official translation: [photo caption] Martin Morgan is the Welshman at the Monitoring centre in Caversham The conflict in Ukraine and the troubles in Syria and elsewhere in the Middle East are among the international stories that have attracted the most interest this year. One of the regular voices commenting on international affairs on BBC Cymru programmes has been Martin Morgan, who works for the BBC monitoring centre in Caversham. Martin's work consists of following all the information that's broadcast on all platforms from the four corners of the world. And he says this work is crucial to "illuminating" major world events. [subheading] 'Waves of information' The Welshman from Dolgellau has worked at the centre in the Berkshire countryside for more than 20 years. Starting as a Russian and Ukrainian translator, he has since moved on to preparing foreign news for the BBC, with a focus on how the media handle various events. Caversham staff follow the news from all over the world, in order to provide context for breaking stories. Martin is one of about 370 staff members at the Monitoring Service, who work not only in Caversham, but also in offices in Russia, Egypt and India. The centre was set up in Berkshire during the Second World War, to listen in to Axis broadcasts. Martin says that the amount of material the centre accesses can be overwhelming, and that it could be "so easy to drown beneath the waves of information we receive". Nonetheless, "we work fast to get a grip on it, and make sense of this sea of information". [subheading] Ukraine, Syria and Iran The Service is based at the Caversham Park stately home, where there have been buildings dating back to the Normans. The current building has stood here since 1850 - it was rebuilt after a fire by the owner at the time: William Crawshay, one of the iron masters of Merthyr Tydfil. [photo caption] Caversham Park is the stately home where the monitoring work is done For years the monitoring staff followed radio and satellite television broadcasts, but more recently much material is accessed through the Internet. The main focus of the Caversham team this year has been on the conflict in Ukraine and the continuing troubles in the Middle East - including the warring in Syria and concerns about the situation in Iran. Given the amount of attention these events have commanded around the world, Martin feels the work done in Caversham has been crucial. "When everything's quiet, it can be difficult to explain why it's so important to keep an eye on the media abroad. But when a crisis is brewing in the Middle East or Ukraine, we try to foresee how it will develop and shed light on events as they happen. Our work, I'd say, is absolutely fundamental to the BBC, and other media outlets as well." End Posted by: (chrisgreenway, BDXC_UK yg via DXLD) RADIO-SHACK ALMOST GONE? The local Radio Shack told me their clearance stuff was being shipped to another store. So I checked out the other store. Grundig s450 $38 Digital Recorder $5.61 Multimeter (a $70+ one?) $5.61 Radio Shack Shortwave Radio (the one earlier reduced to $31.00) $14.05 I am not rich but stick them on a credit card ? The $14 shortwave SSB radio I need none but ?? --- receipt https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0Bz5to14LqnXeN2FCYmFtV3Z2Zms&usp=sharing I imagine these sales will spread so keep your eyes/ears open. This is/was just a local thing as one store was closing, etc. Excuse my prior rants about Radio Shack, but to me the place deserves to go under (excuse me). Every trip equals something ridiculous. Last trip a week or so ago I needed a 12 volt power supply. They normally stock a 3 amp one and 18 amps I think. Besides that complication the staff literally did not know what a power supply was. OK --- but they hate anybody to think beyond their talents and if they say NO NO NO, do not argue. They normally do not allow any research such as looking at their web site, etc. Try shopping around to another store. Hey, check out Baofeng radios. The Chinese seem to be dumping tons of radios on the 'world`. All VHF-UHF but the price? Under $20 including shipping maybe for a UHF walkie-talkie 'thing`. 400-470 MHz. Maybe 5 watts. GMRS radio? They cater to Amateur Radio but a lot of services in covered frequencies. I also got a 144 MHz/440 unit that also has 88-108 FM. The FM BAND seems exceptional. People scream junk junk junk but most all claim no real problems and the price? So go Baofeng !!! (the stuff is sold under some other names but Baofeng seems the most popular now. My luck is it seems like a good toy. -- back to sleep ============ ====== (Jerry WWØE, "Dots and Dashes" - the original digital mode, ABDX via DXLD) Yup, Radio Shack deserves to die --- > Hey, check out Baofeng radios. People scream junk junk junk but most all claim no real problems and the price ? So go Baofeng !!! Right, Last year when my collection of beloved Kenwood Ham Radios burned up in a house fire, I was given a Beofeng dual band HT by the Tarleton, TX Amateur Radio Club to get me back on the air. You know that stupid little Beofeng will hit repeaters in places the Kenwood HTs costing 10 times as much would not touch. I am impressed. In fact I have bought 3 more Beofengs since. 73, (Kevin Raper, KJ4HYD, CE WCKI WQIZ WLTQ Dec 28, ABDX via DXLD) People always laugh at cheap things -but- I am not yet sure that Baofung is total junk. I just got a B6 144/440 WITH 88-108 and having fun with it. The on/off volume knob seems like it might quit but ya never know. I ordered 2 of the 888 things at $11 apiece yesterday. They have some 82x that covers 144/220 now. Plugging Amateur Radio but obviously promoting to everybody. An economical VHF/UHF scanner and that GMRS is at 460 mhz ? Of coarse they are not approved for such usage. (government) Got the patience (bidding) on EBAY, check prices. Radio Shack. They are nothing about what they used to be. Excuse my knocking some of the employees. I guess things are expensive in Connecticut and wages? I can't think of anywhere where the staff is sooooooooo bad. I even asked/asked/asked in past and DO YOU NEED TO KNOW ANYTHING? NO. The customer is king. Daaaaa (internet terminal zz4a, ibid.) RADIO WORLD: NO, REALLY; THIS IS NOT A TEST =-= Scott Fybush http://www.radioworld.com/article/no-really-this-is-not-a-test/273347 It happens every time something goes wrong with EAS: The blame game starts up right away, all over the engineering mailing lists and beyond. In October, when syndicated morning host Bobby Bones, or at least one of his producers, played audio of the 2011 national EAS test — to help illustrate Bones’ frustration at having his World Series viewing interrupted by an EAS test the night before — it touched off yet another perfect storm. In some markets, the local Bones affiliate happened to be an EAS primary station; so that audio was heard by EAS receivers all over the market (including, yes, at the local AT&T U-Verse headend, which prompted an initial flush of misleading media reports calling the whole thing a “U-Verse glitch”). Depending on how each receiver was set, the result was either nothing (if the box saw the timestamp on the alert and was programmed to ignore “stale” alerts) or a further retransmission of the message (if the box was programmed to assume that even an EAN with a stale date should still be relayed, as some have interpreted the rules to require). Should Bones or his producer have known better than to have played that audio clip, especially on a national show? Of course — and yes, there will be extra training for a while at stations all over the country, and yes, there will almost inevitably be FCC fines against Bones’ flagship, iHeartMedia’s WSIX(FM) in Nashville, and perhaps other stations that carried the show, which is syndicated by iHeart’s Premiere Radio Networks. UNINTENDED CONESQUENCES Will Bones lose his show over this? No, and he shouldn’t. Because as much as on-air talent and producers need to be constantly reminded that they can’t use EAS audio, or even anything that sounds like EAS audio on the air, the Bones incident really exposed some much deeper underlying flaws in the way the EAS system is designed — flaws that almost guarantee that we’ll have another “Bones moment” sooner rather than later. This was, after all, hardly the first time an errant bit of EAS audio has caused problems. We’ve had incidents in recent years in which EAS data bursts (or noises that sound like them) have been included in movie trailers and even public service announcements. With millions of hours of audio content being created every week all over the country, we’ll have more such incidents in the future, too. IDENTIFY THE CAUSE The root of this particular problem is in the in-band nature of EAS data transmission. The EAS decoders at the U-Verse headends, and everywhere else downstream from the nation’s EAS LP-1 and LP-2 stations, have no way right now to know whether the data bursts they’re getting are coming from the primary station’s EAS encoder or whether they’re simply random audio being played by some morning show producer who has no way of knowing that the audio they’ve just grabbed from YouTube could shut down some poor viewer’s cable box half a continent away. If EAS must include in-band data signaling — and for now, that’s unfortunately something that’s deeply entrenched in the system — those audio bursts of data shouldn’t be able to reach the transmitter from any source other than the station’s own EAS encoder. FIX THE PROBLEM Here’s my modest proposal. Any audio coming through the program chain that can erroneously trip a decoder somewhere downstream from the transmitter would also, pretty much by definition, be able to trip a decoder upstream from the transmitter. With a little bit of extra delay in the audio chain (no big deal these days, when so little radio is truly “live”), that extra decoder could, in turn, dump that audio source out of the chain before it ever reaches the transmitter to wreak havoc out in the world. For stations that could be facing hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines for erroneous EAS transmissions, or for the syndicators who shouldn’t have any EAS noises coming down the satellite to their affiliates, the expense of a fail-safe system like this should be relatively small by comparison. (And no, this system wouldn’t catch the sort of similar-to-EAS noises that have also triggered fines, but that’s what a good traffic department should be alert to, right?) As the next generation of EAS is developed, isn’t it time to break completely from the entire idea of in-band audio? That 2011 national test that Bones accidentally aired demonstrated that daisy-chaining audio from station to station doesn’t work well, even ignoring the telephone-link feedback problem that messed up the audio of the test in the first place. All those weekly and monthy bursts of barely-explained data noises probably do more to desensitize listeners to the system than to prepare them to hear actual alerts when they’re issued. We have the capability to securely deliver audio and data directly — and in a more securely authenticated manner — to individual stations and to cable headends via networks that are at least as hardened as our broadcast system. Why are we still depending on delivering that audio and data over the same programming stream that brings us Bobby Bones in the morning? Veteran broadcaster Scott Fybush is editor of NorthEast Radio Watch (www.fybush.com) and has written for Radio World since 1999. Opinions are his own (via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ MERRY F2 CHRISTMAS Merry Christmas and good DX to you all! (Brock Whaley Co. Limerick Ireland, DXLD) Viz.: The Queen has broadcast her Christmas message every year except 1969, because of a surfeit of coverage of Charles’s investiture as Prince of Wales that year. In 1957 she agreed to it being televised live. Freak atmospheric conditions caused US police radio transmissions to interfere with the broadcast and at one point some listeners heard an officer say: “Joe, I’m gonna grab a quick coffee.” The 3pm time slot was chosen in the 1930’s as the best for reaching most of the empire by short waves from transmitters in Britain. . . http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/dec/25/royal-christmas-broadcast-queens-speech-elizabeth-10-facts Posted by: (Brock Whaley, Co. Limerick, Ireland, dxldyg via DXLD) LISTEN TO METEOR SCATTER Check out http://www.livemeteors.com/ to hear real time audio related to meteor activity. This site is run by Chip Sufitchi, N2YO, who is in the Washington DC area, and uses an SDR receiver tuned to 55.23693 MHz with a Yagi pointed toward a channel 2 television tower in Canada. The page also features both a spectral and a waterfall display (QST de W1AW, Propagation Forecast Bulletin 52 ARLP052, From Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, WA December 29, 2014, To all radio amateurs, VIA Dave Raycroft, ODXA yg via DXLD) Which ch 2 station in Canada? Doesn`t matter to him, nothing on website to ID it, but he must know which one if he`s pointing antenna at it. Analog video frequency 55.237 MHz indicates it`s offset minus (should be exactly 55.240 MHz). Per the ch 2 map http://www.dxinfocentre.com/TV2.pdf it has to be either CHBX in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario (1036 km = 644 statute miles), or CKND in Minnedosa, Manitoba (2101 km = 1361 miles). So it`s got to be CHBX at a much more ideal distance for meteor scatter. Both of them are common catches here by sporadic E (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) :Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts :Issued: 2014 Dec 29 0334 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 22 - 28 December 2014 Solar activity ranged from low to moderate (R1-minor) levels. The period began with an M1/1f at 22/0149 UTC from Region 2242 (S18, L=238, class/area Ekc/1080 on 19 Dec). Weak to mid-level C-class activity was observed on 23-26 December from Regions 2241 (S09, L=215, class/area Ekc/720 on 19 Dec), 2242, 2244 (S04, L=156, class/area Dao/190 on 22 Dec), 2245 (N09, L=122, class/area Cao/050 on 23 Dec), 2248 (S19, L=083, class/area Dso/160 on 27 Dec) and 2249 (S10, L=164, class/area Dac/210 on 27 Dec). On 27 December at 0216 UTC, Region 2249 produced an M2/2b flare. The period ended with weak C-class activity from Region 2251 (S12, L=046, class/area Cao/030 on 28 Dec). No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit. However, protons were enhanced to about 3 pfu on 22 December and again on 23 December, thought to have originated from significant flare activity observed on 20 and 21 December. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal levels on 22-24 December and moderate levels on 25-28 December. Geomagnetic field activity ranged from quiet to isolated minor storm G1-minor) levels. The period began with active to minor storm levels early on 22 December and continued with unsettled to active levels through 24 December. This period of activity was due to a series of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) observed at Earth at about 21/1800 UTC, at 22/1500 UTC and again at 23/1100 UTC. 25 and 26 December saw activity continue at quiet to active levels due to periods of prolonged negative Bz observed at the ACE satellite. Quiet to unsettled periods were observed on 27 December. Activity increased to quiet to active levels due to a co-rotating interaction region (CIR) in advance of a negative polarity coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS). FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 29 DEC 2014 - 24 JAN 2015 Solar activity is expected to be at low levels with a chance for moderate (R1-minor) levels through 30 December as Region 2249 exits the disk. Predominately low level activity is expected from 31 December through 04 January. Low to moderate (R1-minor) levels are expected to return by 05 January and persist through 19 January due to the return of old Regions 2242 (S18, L=240) and 2241 (S08, L=218). Mostly low levels are expected for the remainder of the outlook period. No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit in the absence of any significant flare activity. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at moderate to high levels on 29 December through 17 January and again on 21-24 January. Normal levels are expected on 18-20 January. Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at unsettled to active levels on 29 December, 31 December through 05 January, 08-11 January, 21-22 January and 24 January. Minor storm levels are possible on 03 and 18 January. This activity is due to a series of CH HSS and periods of prolonged negative Bz. The remainder of the outlook period is expected to be at predominately quiet levels. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2014 Dec 29 0334 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 2014-12-29 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2014 Dec 29 130 12 3 2014 Dec 30 130 8 3 2014 Dec 31 125 11 3 2015 Jan 01 125 11 3 2015 Jan 02 120 13 4 2015 Jan 03 120 28 5 2015 Jan 04 120 17 4 2015 Jan 05 125 15 4 2015 Jan 06 140 9 3 2015 Jan 07 145 6 2 2015 Jan 08 150 21 5 2015 Jan 09 150 9 3 2015 Jan 10 155 11 4 2015 Jan 11 160 15 4 2015 Jan 12 170 8 3 2015 Jan 13 175 8 3 2015 Jan 14 180 5 2 2015 Jan 15 180 8 3 2015 Jan 16 180 9 3 2015 Jan 17 175 14 4 2015 Jan 18 165 20 4 2015 Jan 19 155 13 4 2015 Jan 20 140 17 4 2015 Jan 21 135 12 4 2015 Jan 22 130 17 4 2015 Jan 23 125 7 2 2015 Jan 24 125 11 4 (SWPC via WORLD OF RADIO 1754, DXLD) ###