DX LISTENING DIGEST 16-50, December 14, 2016 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 2016 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 1856 CONTENTS: *DX and station news about: Australia, Biafra non, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Congo, Costa Rica, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Europe, France, Germany and non, Kurdistan non, Marshall Islands, Myanmar, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Perú, Puntland, Solomon Islands, USA, Vatican non SHORTWAVE AIRINGS of WORLD OF RADIO 1856, December 15-21, 2016 Thu 1230 WRMI 9955 [confirmed] Thu 2130 WRMI 13695 [confirmed] Fri 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB [not confirmed but JBA carrier] Sat 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB [not confirmed, no carrier] Sat 0630 HLR 6190-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio Sat 1531 HLR 7265-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio [confirmed in Italy] Sat 2030v WA0RCR 1860-AM Sat 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB [not confirmed, but JBA carrier] Sun 0410v WA0RCR 1860-AM [confirmed from 0420] Sun 1130 HLR 9485-CUSB [experimental; confirmed in UK] Mon 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB Mon 0400v WBCQ 5130v-AM Area 51 [confirmed from 0403 Mon 0430 WRMI 9955 [confirmed only on webcast] Tue 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB [not confirmed, no carrier] Tue 0030 WRMI 7730 [confirmed, very good] Tue 1200 WRMI 9955 Tue 2130 WRMI 15770 Tue 2300 WRMI 9955 [NEW] Wed 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB Wed 2200 WBCQ 7490v Thu 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB 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/rmrc-audio-plattform/podcast/glenn-hauser-wor ALTERNATIVE PODCASTS, tnx Stephen Cooper: http://shortwave.am/wor.xml ANOTHER PODCAST ALTERNATIVE, tnx to Keith Weston: http://feeds.feedburner.com/GlennHausersWorldOfRadio NOW tnx to Keith Weston, also Podcasts via iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/glenn-hausers-world-of-radio/id1123369861 AND via Google Play Music: http://bit.ly/worldofradio 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 NOTE: I have *resolved* to make DXLD leaner, more selective, as I seriously need to reduce my workload, much of which has been merely editing gobs of material into presentable form. This makes it even more important to be a member of the DXLD yg for additional material which may not make it into weekly issues (gh) 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/ ** AFGHANISTAN. Reception of Radio Afghanistan External Service, Dec 8 1530-1700 on 6100#YAK 100 kW / 125 deg to SoAs English, Urdu, Arabic # strong QRM 6095 KAS 500 kW / 269 deg to N/ME English CRI 1500-1600 # strong QRM 6105 SZG 500 kW / 315 deg to EaEu Russian CRI 1500-1600 # weak co-ch 6100 KNG 250 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean KCBS Pyongyang http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/12/reception-of-radio-afghanistan-external_8.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. 19009.95, R. Azadi, Umm al-Rimam. Dari to Afghanistan, 0910, good signal. 24/11 (Rob Wagner, VK3BVW, Mount Evelyn, VIC (Yaesu FTDX 3000, Kenwood TS2000, Yaesu FRG100, Sangean ATS909, Tecsun PL-680, Double Bazooka antennas for 80, 40 and 20 metres, Par EF-SWL End Fed antenna, BHI NEIM1031 Digital Noise Eliminating Module, MFJ-1026 Noise Cancelling Module, ATU), Dec Australian DX News via DXLD) ** ALBANIA. Shijak 1089 kHz, which covered most of Albania, switched off 10+ years ago amid foreign interest in hiring it http://www.dxhamradio.com/dritacico/History_of_Radio_Tirana_by_Eng_Drita_Cico_May_2006.pdf Page: 04 of 08 - The small surface of the territory of Albania does not favor the use of short wave for its coverage. The very mountainous terrain of Albania and its bad conductivity causes considerable absorption of the ground wave. This is the reason that in such terrain the powerful transmitters do not have the required coverage and, therefore the installation of a NETWORK of MW-medium wave transmitters is to be recommended instead. Because the coverage of Albania day and night is based on the ground wave a vertical antenna was selected for the transmitter. The Shijak medium wave transmitter 1089 KHz radiating a power of 150 kW achieved the listening/coverage area for the Radio Tirana domestic program: During the day in about 65% of the territory, including entirely the surroundings of Durres, Kruaj, Lezha, Mirdita, Mat, Dibra, Tirana, Elbasan, Librazhd, Gramsh, Lushnje, Berat, Fier, Skrapar, most of the area surrounding Shkodra, Puka, Vlora, Tepelena, Pogradec, and small parts of the area surrounding Kukes, Korca e Permet (ref. the map Nr. V.5, page 251). Also, this transmitter can be heard with good quality in the eastern part of Italy and in south-west Montenegro. And during the night hours about 31.9% (16% with good quality and 15.9% with reduced quality) in the cities of Durres, Shijak, Rrogozhina, Vora, Tirana, Kruja are included and most of the area surrounding Durres and also parts surrounding Kruja, Tirana and Lushnja (ref. the map Nr. VI 12, page 290). Since February 3, 2006 around 0800 UTC the medium wave transmitter on 1089 kHz Shijak r/station (on air since 1961) is switched off by order. According to confidential information from our Technical Director to me, this transmitter (1089 KHz) was proposed for hire by Merlin Communications to their representative on 18 Jan 2006 by ARTV. Meanwhile RAI- Italy has recently requested to hire it, too (via Drita Çiço, DXLD) ** ALBANIA. 7465, R. Tirana, Shijak. English s/on 2100 to Eu, now one hour later for the Eu winter, usual terrible transmitter hum (have you tried kicking it?) on 31/10 (Rob Wagner, VK3BVW, Mount Evelyn, VIC (Yaesu FTDX 3000, Kenwood TS2000, Yaesu FRG100, Sangean ATS909, Tecsun PL-680, Double Bazooka antennas for 80, 40 and 20 metres, Par EF-SWL End Fed antenna, BHI NEIM1031 Digital Noise Eliminating Module, MFJ- 1026 Noise Cancelling Module, ATU), Dec Australian DX News via DXLD) 7474.975, The usual Radio Tirana Albanian service signal check at 0006 UT on Dec 10 tonight: S=9+20dB in Europe and Qatar, usual 14 x 100 Hertz distance apart BUZZ signal peaks, plus/minus also 50, 150, and 250 Hertz buzz strings visible (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 10 via DXLD) ** ALBANIA. 6020, Dec 14 at 0105 on BST-1 caradio, and 0110 on the R- 75, CRI English with big echo, about equal level, about a semisecond apart. No sign of two transmitters here, so apparently Cërrik relay has double audio input, perhaps two different satellite circuits --- and nobody notices at station. // 9570 other Cërrik relay just too weak to tell if same there. Checking HFCC, I see that CRI deliberately doubles up on 6020: 00-02 English & 02-04 Chinese via Albania; but also 01-03 Urdu via Kashgar (East Turkistan). Even if the latter were in English by mistake, just too strong to be thence, and normally no problem in North America (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALGERIA [non]. 9635, R. Algerienne, Issoudun [FRANCE]. S/on in Arabic 1900 with the national anthem that goes for many minutes (it seems - quite a boppy little tune, too!!), then into Qur'an. NF (ex 12060), fair signal 5/11 (Rob Wagner, VK3BVW, Mount Evelyn, VIC (Yaesu FTDX 3000, Kenwood TS2000, Yaesu FRG100, Sangean ATS909, Tecsun PL- 680, Double Bazooka antennas for 80, 40 and 20 metres, Par EF-SWL End Fed antenna, BHI NEIM1031 Digital Noise Eliminating Module, MFJ-1026 Noise Cancelling Module, ATU), Dec Australian DX News via DXLD) ** ANGOLA. 4949.73, R. Nacional Angola, 2354 soft Portuguese pop song, 2357 M DJ in Portuguese, 4 time ticks, TC, then news program segment by M with siren SFX. (A crime report??) 0002:20 nice ID by M followed by the siren SFX again, then live M announcer talk with mention of Angola. M DJ was having trouble taking phone call on the air at 0125. Usual ToH routine at 0200. Nice signal. A video of the reception can be found at https://youtu.be/3Ki0eVC2JzA 6-7 Dec. 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop and 153 foot Delta Loop, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) 4949.728 kHz measured, RNA Mulenvos noted on Dec 8 at 2315 UT on S=7 or -82dBm level, across whole Africa continent, here into southern Germany. [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, Dec 9 df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews via DXLD) 4949.73, Dec 8 at 0520, RNA with Portuguese talk and music at S7 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4949.7, Rádio Nacional de Angola; 0123-0202+, 8-Dec; peppy instrumental & vocal music to 0142, then M in Portuguese talking over music; ID at 0147 simply as “Rádio Nacional” & talk continued to 0150, then more music. Music more Latino than Afro. Pre-ToH pips to “? Angola”, brief announcement to “Rádio Nacional” then into presumed news; all in Portuguese. First time heard in ages! SIO=352 (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 185' & 60' RW + 125' bow-tie, --- -- All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! -----, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANTARCTICA. 15475.97, LRA36 (tentative) Certainly sounded like music at 2052. Positively had music on very short peaks at 2053:25, 2101:15, 2102:05. M announcer at 2104:55?? Went off at 2109:05. Tuned in USB. 25 Nov (Dave Valko, Zion PA, HCDX via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. 15345.255v, Dec 9 at 1828, S3 signal, maybe trace of modulation during alleged RAE ATTW English hour on a Friday (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARMENIA. 9345, TWR India (via Yerevan) Signal on at 1243, IS at 1244, then M with opening ID announcement including freqs, then brief religious choral song with many hallelujahs, and studio W announcer host. 26 Nov (Dave Valko, Zion PA, HCDX via DXLD) ** ARMENIA. 6145, R. Menschen & Geschichten. End of Pop song at 1907 and M announcer in German with ID, then took phone caller. Good signal. A video of the reception can be found at https://youtu.be/pNpR1zEDEao (Dave Valko, Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Perseus SDR, 313’ Beverage (BOG) aimed at 60 , Duration: 1415-2100 UT Dec 4, HCDX via DXLD) ** ARMENIA. 4810.00, 1550-1600 10.12, Armenian Public R, Noratus, Gavar. Greek news with musical interludes 35333. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, Denmark, I heard these stations this afternoon on my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres og longwire, wbradio yg via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. NEW STATION ON SHORTWAVE: 2368.5 kHz, Station X on the Gold Coast plans to shortly operate ex-1692 kHz. Peter Tate our member. He can be contacted through his website. 100 watts! admin@stationX.com.au Peter has a few issues he tells me with the ATU and the antennae itself, still he is having a go, we hope to hear you soon, Peter. Our member Peter Tate switching to 2368.5, needs reports in a week time. 100 watts now that's a DX Station! Reports by email, link from website http://www.stationx.com.au/ (Johno Wright, Dec-Jan Australian DX News via DXLD) Nothing as of 11 Dec, from Central NSW (Craig Seager, ibid.) From the ACMA licence Database: 1000 watts, 6 kHz bandwidth (Dec-Jan Australian DX News via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. 9580, Dec 8 at 1300, the Oklahoma Service (70 degrees from Shepparton) of Radio Australia, with ABC News, leading with dispute between South Australia and federal government over energy policy. 1306 right into YL interviewing some English ballet dancer named Kevin, but no last name, and no program title opening! At ``1300`` [sic] Thursdays is supposed to be `Conversations with Richard Fidler` but Ann Jones is subbing, guest Kevin O`Hare per http://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/conversations/conversations-kevin-o'hare/8085540 12085, Thu Dec 8 at 1400, RA with splatter from 12050 WEWN S9+40, 1405 `All in the Mind` interview about ECPR – emotional heart resuscitation, a guy who fought his own psychosis: http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/allinthemind/emotional-cpr/8077910 But there is no entry on the RA schedule for ``1400`` London Time Thursday. In case you still haven`t heard, Radio Australia announced Dec 6 that ABC would CLOSE DOWN SHORTWAVE as of January 31, 2017 (and also the NT Shower Service). We`ve feared this terrible news after severe downsizing a few years ago, and abrupt test outages earlier this year. This has led to a huge amount of discussion, in the DXLD yg and other fora, even IRCA (mediumwave), rounded up for the next DXLD 16-49. Via Mike Cooper, Here`s one place for the official announcement about getting rid of ``outdated technology``: https://www.radioinfo.com.au/news/abc-exits-shortwave-radio-transmission ``The move is in line with the national broadcaster's commitment to dispense with outdated technology and to expand its digital content offerings including DAB+ digital radio, online and mobile services, together with FM services for international audiences`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1855, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. ABC'S DECISION TO END SHORTWAVE RADIO SERVICE 'COULD BE LIFE THREATENING' RANGER SAYS NT Country Hour By Daniel Fitzgerald 8 December 2016 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-08/abc-shut-shortwave-radio-service-met-with-anger/8103096 The ABC announced this week its three HF shortwave radio transmitters at Katherine, Tennant Creek and Roe Creek (Alice Springs), would be switched off on January 31, 2017. ABC Radio will continue to broadcast on FM and AM bands, via the viewer access satellite television (VAST) service, streaming online and via the mobile phone application. Mark Crocombe from the Thamarrurr Rangers, in the remote community of Wadeye, said the rangers spent days and sometimes weeks at a time away in the bush and out on sea patrols. He said the group relied on the ABC's shortwave radio for weather reports and emergency information. "Otherwise you have to call back to the base on the HF radio to ask people [there], but then you can't listen to the report yourself, you are relying on someone else's second-hand report," Mr Crocombe said. Mr Crocombe said on previous bush trips he had received warnings of cyclones via the ABC's shortwave service, without which he would not have had any notice. "Sure, it is expensive to keep the shortwave radio service going, but during cyclones, for the bush camps and people on boats, that is their only way of getting the weather reports," he said. "It could be life threatening, if you are out and you don't know a cyclone is coming." Mr Crocombe said the VAST service did not work during cloudy weather, especially during monsoons and cyclones. "The VAST satellite dish is fixed to your house, we are working in the field, and when we are on the boats we are not in mobile phone range, so applications and VAST do not work in the bush," he said. In response to Mr Crocombe's concerns, a spokesperson for the ABC said "In emergencies, the ABC works very hard to ensure that its services remain available through a range of FM broadcasts and re-broadcast arrangements in the NT. "Cyclone activity is usually coastal in nature, in which case users are covered by FM, Maritime distress frequencies, and the ABC's close working relationship with northern Indigenous broadcasters — particularly in times of emergency broadcasting," the statement read. "The BOM provides forecasts and warnings in HF on the hour, every hour. The Emergency Flying Doctor service also broadcasts in HF." Cattleman's Association says ABC decision ignores people in the bush The national broadcaster said in a statement on Tuesday the move was in line with its "commitment to dispense with outdated technology and to expand its digital content offerings." But the announcement was met with anger by the Northern Territory Cattleman's Association. President Tom Stockwell, who lives on Sunday Creek Station with no access to AM or FM radio or mobile phone coverage, said the ABC's decision to focus on digital transmission ignored people in the bush. "It affects a big area of Australia and it affects those people that are remote from other forms of communication that rely on radio network," he said. "The ABC argument that it's a 100-year-old technology doesn't stack up. Electricity is 100-years-old — is the ABC going to get rid of electricity as well? "Anybody who's remote and away from a satellite dish won't get local radio, won't get emergency radio, won't get emergency messages and they're going to use the money to put in another digital platform for crying out loud. "It's just the most selfish, ridiculous decision I've ever heard," Mr Stockwell said. Head of ABC Radio strategy Jeremy Millar defended the broadcaster's decision while admitting he was unsure about the size of the shortwave audience in the Northern Territory. "[It is] very hard to identify audiences in remote areas that are specifically hinged on these services. "Our estimates are that they are fairly low given the VAST service is available across the Northern Territory," Mr Miller said. "The downside is that VAST is a technology which is best working in a stationary environment, at home, a business or a place of work and not necessarily mobile. "But a number of communities have a landed service which means they receive VAST off the satellite and then can rebroadcast their programs on a low-powered FM in their market. "That landed VAST service has certainly plugged a lot of gaps in terms of geographic coverage." Mr Millar would not reveal how much the ABC would save by ending the service. More information on the cessation of the ABC's shortwave service can be found on the website (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DXLD) Yes, another dumb decision that hasn't been thought through properly (or minority users of SW ignored!) The article clearly demonstrates that the ABC is catering for the masses and ignoring the small groups (and individuals` safety) that rely on the service in the isolated regions. At the very least one of those three NT SW service TX sites should be retained & perhaps output power doubled for coverage (Ian [AUS], dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Why doesn't the ABC and all the stations that have closed their SW services in recent years "through lack of funds and listeners, and DIGITAL expansion" follow the example of China Radio International and CNR by continuing to expand the use of SW? That's pretty much all that SW offers anymore. And what about DRM? Radio Australia was one of the first stations I logged. Shame on you, ABC! (Colin Miller, VE3CMT, Canada, ibid.) Hi Colin, In the current political climate - which berates virtually all public spending, we have Buckley's chance of having any plans for expansion or restoration of HF in Australia. It will be interesting to see what happens to the sites and equipment in the NT and at Shepparton. Officially Broadcast Australia own the gear (and the land maybe) I presume that as such, dismantling and closing of the facilities are their problem, NOT the ABC's. I hope Adrian Sainsbury of RNZI is paying attention to all this. Considering they have just retired their Thomson (Thalès) analogue 100 kW TX after 26 years of service, and opportunity may present itself here to obtain 1 or more Continental 418DRM TXs for a song! As far as I know the three in NT were only purchased a few years back, and there is at least one at Shepparton. The old Harris SW100 units as Shepparton I suspect are heading for the scrapheap. There was an article on ABC news chastising the Australian Government and the ABC for the lack of foresight and leadership with the decision to cease HF transmissions, particularly considering the IMPORTANT role Radio Australia/ABC play in times of civil emergency and natural disasters for the Pacific Island nations. I doubt these facts will make any difference to the decision or outcome however. We currently have a government that has NO vision, no leadership and would gladly sell their grandmothers for 5c! Australia's decision to end shortwave radio services has raised questions about who will fill the void (Calvin Melen, shortwavesites yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DXLD) Of course. ABC just terminates the transmission contracts, anything else is not their business anymore. At Tennant Creek and Katherine the shortwave facilities appear to share at least the grounds with mediumwave, similar to the Brandon set-up. Alice Springs appears to be a stand-alone shortwave site, as Shepparton is. In these cases I see no further use Broadcast Australia could have for these assets. Only Tennant Creek has been refitted; Alice Springs and Katherine still use the original 1986 equipment. http://www.contelec.com/pr/2010/6-11-10_australia_malasia.pdf Now it must be said that the purchase of these two transmitters was a mere waste. But Broadcast Australia did so at their own risk, with no binding transmission contracts in place. And more equipment from the former Darwin plant could still be in storage at Shepparton. I think some had been brought in when the Darwin site was cleared. What I find particularly remarkable is the way in which ABC handles and communicates all this. Did the PR drones not realize which impression they create with their press release, emphasizing DAB plans which simply have nothing to do with the shortwave services at all? The impression that the ABC invests in the coverage of large towns at the cost of the dire rest? And they had been dishonest already about their test switch-offs in August/September. For replying to enquiries they had prepared a non- response response that just barely avoided being a plain lie. They even attempted, it seems to me, to spread the myth in DXing circles that it all is mere equipment maintenance. Not to ask at all if it has ever been considered to dispose of the 60/120 metres "shower" stuff but keep, for the time being, a limited core service from Shepparton, with an Asia-aiming antenna used to cover the outback. For English-language programming the former distinction between domestic and foreign services is no longer tenable anyway. The typical arrogant behaviour of public/state broadcasters who still think that the world revolves around them (Kai Ludwig, shortwavesites yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DXLD) Hi Kai, I remember reading the Contel announcement. I thought it was for all 3 NT sites, but upon re-reading I see you are correct - only one - methinks I am getting old [?] I suspect Broadcast Australia are none to happy about being left in the lurch, having invested money in new plant - that it is unlikely that broadcast contracts have even yet paid off ! As I said, I expect Broadcast Australia will now be looking at at least mothballing, or more likely decommissioning Alice Springs and Shepparton. It would be great if our group had a representative of BA available to be able to keep us busy-bodies "in the loop" [??] Assuming they are going to close the sites entirely, equipment sales would probably definitely be in the wind and RNZI could do very well out of it ! I presume Adrian is paying attention to activities here in Aus [??] Dunno about stuff from Darwin. Seeing it changed hands in the late 90's to Voice International I presume they would have had ownership of all the equipment at the Darwin site and it would have been their problem to remove it - Broadcast Australia probably wouldn't have got a look in. I doubt there was anything in common with Shepparton anyway, certainly not an "whole transmitter" level anyway - totally different manufacturers and powers/models at the two sites. This was one the things that amazed me: the old days of the ABC - their medium and VHF TV transmitting assets were all "standardised`- STC mainly for MW TX and AWA for VHF TV TX. By the time Darwin was built in the early 70s, however, any vestige of standardisation seemed to have vanished. The first gen TXs at Darwin were Collins, can't remember what replaced them later on, but I know Voice International "brought in" a Thomson (Thales) unit from somewhere during its life with them. Certainly interesting (and depressing) times watching everything that was built being torn down again. If I were Broadcast Australia I think I would be "downsizing`` Shepparton. Retain the latest (best) 2 TX units, decommission all the fixed curtains, sell 3/4 of the land and install 2 x ALLISS antennas. This would give you a site that could be quickly brought to air in times of emergency/natural disaster. It could serve domestic audiences (as they attempted to do serving North Queensland in 2011 cyclone Yasi - and basically failed to do because they didn't have a curtain that pointed the right direction!) as well as the Pacific Islands (Calvin Melen, ibid.) On a positive note, the facilities could be used as a relay point for some other broadcaster. An example being the NBC in Papua New Guinea using the facilities at Brandon to broadcast the 15th Pacific Games in 2015 (Paul, NZ, ibid.) Would be ironic if to hear RA on SW we had to tune into SIBC (Solomon Islands) at 0500 to hear the ABC news and RA programming on 9545. If they would still carry it? Likewise, we can still get RA's produced show "English for Business" on Monday and Wednesday, via Myanmar Radio (5985). Would indeed be very strange if these two choices were all that is left of ABC/RA SW programming (Ron Howard, California, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DX LISTENING DIGEST) But we aren't in their target audience so jaded folk who think they know more than the rest of us and want to berate us because of that will be prompt to discount our opinions! (Sarcasm mode off) Life is short. Buy a better radio... Posted by: (Kv Zichi, MI, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) PACIFIC LOSES RADIO SERVICE THAT EVADES DICTATORS AND WARNS OF DISASTERS http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-09/pacific-nations-lose-shortwave-radio-services/8108032 (via Rodney Johnson, NV, Mike Terry, et al., dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DXLD) Viz.: Alexandra Wake, RMIT University As a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off the coast of the Solomon Islands, triggering a tsunami warning across the Pacific, many residents of the tiny country would have turned to shortwave radio for more information. The tsunami warning has since been called off, though assessments of damage from the quake are not yet complete. Sadly, this vital communication service is under threat in this already under-resourced region. For almost 80 years, Australia has provided such shortwave services, including vital emergency service information, to Asia and the Pacific. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-conversation-global/pacific-nations-lose-shor_b_13545174.html The Conversation = Alexandra Wake, Senior lecturer, RMIT University This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. https://theconversation.com/pacific-nations-lose-shortwave-radio-services-that-evade-dictators-and-warn-of-natural-disasters-70058 (Huffington Post-Dec 10, 2016 via Artie Bigley, OH, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. 4835, ABC Local R., Alice Springs. Could still just barely hear the M announcer host through the CODAR at 1426. Caught it again later on the long path peaking around 2040 (Dave Valko, Micro- DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Perseus SDR, 313’ Beverage (BOG) aimed at 60 , Duration: 1415-2100 UT Dec 4, HCDX via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. 17840, UT Dec 12 at 2105, RA fair signal with an item about the Opposition to closing down ABC SW services. At least they are allowed to report on this; there does seem to be a fair amount of internal backlash to this plan, so possibly it could be overturned by Janend? Uplooked later, it`s part of `Pacific Beat`, which is a 2-hour show at 20-22 UT, equivalented to ``6-8 am AEST`` altho 2105 UT is really after 8 am AE summer time which is UT +11. Anyhow, found the item here for 4:33: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-12/aus-opp'n-concerned-about-cuts-to-abc-shortwave/8113856 ``AUS OPP'N CONCERNED ABOUT CUTS TO ABC SHORTWAVE SERVICES Updated yesterday at 6:37am Australia's opposition is asking the ABC questions about its decision to shut down its shortwave service to the Pacific. Labor's spokesperson on International Development and the Pacific, Senator Claire Moore, says they are concerned that Australia's engagement in the Pacific will suffer because of the decision. She was recently in the Pacific as part of a bipartisan delegation of Australian politicians visiting Vanuatu, Solomon islands and Samoa. Ms Moore tells Bruce Hill Labor has concerns about what happens with radio broadcasting during cyclones, and whether other countries might want to fill the gap left by Australia withdrawing``. Here`s more press about this since DXLD 16-49, via Mike Terry: ABC'S DECISION TO END SHORTWAVE RADIO SERVICE 'COULD BE LIFE THREATENING' RANGER SAYS NT Country Hour By Daniel Fitzgerald 8 December 2016 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-08/abc-shut-shortwave-radio-service-met-with-anger/8103096 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Australia to Leave Shortwave - Write and let them know you are - -- The OfficialSWLchannel on YouTube (with a surprising 8191 subscribers) is calling for a write-in campaign to try to save Radio Australia. He says it will be a "long shot", but does mention that such a campaign did save AIR (All India Radio) when they had announced a plan to shut down. Here is a link to this YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cTSTLV_Q_0 Let's hope for the best, (Ron - KD0ULA, Bohm, Dec 13, Minnesota DX Club yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DXLD) Counterproductive? (gh, ibid.) ** AUSTRALIA. 9580, Dec 14 before and after 1430, RA with discussion of several topix from indigenous POV, mid-program ID as `Speaking Out` from ABC Local Radio, Radio Australia and podcast. About crime problem among ab youth, but Trump keeps coming up as if he had some impact on the Outback. We must make a point of listening more to RA while we still can, before it self-destruct in a sesquimonth. Once again, the RA online program sked is deficient with no entry for the Wed 1400 UT hour! So we have to go to the A-Z program list, (not in alfabetical order within each letter), to find it here: http://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/speakingout/ This was evidently their year-in-review show (nothing is going to happen in the next triweek???), originally aired Sunday Dec 11 at ``9 pm``. More, and audio linx, also for segments: http://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/speakingout/speaking-out/8091392 BTW, I can`t help but notice that none of the guests (nor hostess) portrayed are anywhere near jet-black (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. RN Australia music programs threatened --- This from the December 2016 newsletter of the Folk[Music] Alliance Australia: <<<< Hands OFF ABC RN Music! Radio National has long been regarded by musicians, music industry and music lovers across the country as one of our most important vehicles and leading services for the promotion and nurture of Australian cultural and artistic practice outside the mainstream. The recent decision by the ABC to discontinue the following programs - The Inside Sleeve, The Daily Planet, The Live Set & The Rhythm Divine in 2017 ignores the complexities and depth of our Australian music industry. It delivers a significant blow to Australian independent musicians, independent music events, festivals and all industry partnerships who rely on these shows to promote their music, gain exposure and bring alternative genres of music to the Australian public. You still have time to Show your support for specialist music programming on Radio National. Sign the petition: >>>> (via Saul Broudy (W3WHK), Philadelphia, PA USA, Dec 14, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. MICHELLE GUTHRIE APPOINTS MURDOCH CONSULTANT TO RESTRUCTURE ABC --- Amanda Meade, Tuesday 6 December 2016 11.54 AEDT Michelle Guthrie has hired Jim Rudder, a veteran consultant to Rupert Murdoch’s global pay-TV company, Sky, to help restructure the ABC. A former product executive at Foxtel in Sydney, Rudder has spent most of his career working for Sky. The Australian journalist has consulted for Sky operations in the UK, Germany, Italy, the US and Australia. He also spent a year as news director for Channel Nine in 2003. Along with the “business transformation expert” Debra Frances, Rudder was brought in on a short-term contract in November “to assist the Executive in delivering our 2020 strategic objectives”, Guthrie told her executive team in an email. The ABC’s managing director said the consultants would advise her on “infrastructure, our processes and our people” and a “strategic approach to lifting performance and transforming work cultures”. Guardian Australia understands Guthrie presented an early version of her plans to the ABC board in November, and now Rudder and Frances were helping her to flesh it out. She is expected to brief the board on the restructure on Thursday, with a plan to announce it in February 2017. According to an early version of the restructure, a new position of chief content officer will be created to oversee all news, television and radio content. This would mean the directors of news, television and radio would move out of the executive and would no longer report directly to Guthrie. If approved this would be a demotion for the heads of news (Gaven Morris), radio (Michael Mason) and television (Richard Finlayson). A rare media interview with the Australian Financial Review last week hinted at Guthrie’s plans. “Now Guthrie is about to test the ABC staff’s appetite for more change as she pursues a raft of measures that include introducing a flatter structure across 17 divisions and working out how they can become more integrated,” the AFR reported. “One of the opportunities for us is to look at what level of resource should be available for the entire organisation,” Guthrie said. “Our resource allocation is very much around individual product rather than around the infrastructure layer capability that is common across those products.” A spokesman for the ABC confirmed the hiring of Rudder and Frances but would not comment on board matters. “The ABC consistently reviews its operations to ensure it is meeting its responsibilities to the charter,” he said. “In a fast-changing media landscape, the ABC would be negligent if it didn’t. “Every media organisation, including the Guardian, is undergoing a similar process. The two consultants have been hired for specific tasks related to this process.” Sources said Guthrie had developed her plan with the assistance of her chief of staff, Sam Liston. In the email to the executive Guthrie said Rudder had contributed substantial value to every organisation he had worked for. “I am confident that the ABC has the people and the expertise to deliver on the very important objectives we have set under our 2020 strategic work,” she said. “However, it is important that we open ourselves to fresh ideas and innovative approaches from a wide range of sources. “The input of Debra and Jim will help us develop and implement a strategy that is tangible, practical and will deliver best value for audiences, staff and the wider community.” Following a rough period for Guthrie after cuts to science, religion and music specialist programming were criticised by staff and sections of the community, the AFR article appeared to be an attempt to show she had board support. The chairman of the ABC, Jim Spigelman, was effusive in the profile about the managing director’s strategy. “The board was overjoyed at the final decision,” Spigelman said of Guthrie’s appointment. “Michelle emerged at every stage on any criteria. She’s pushing it faster than Mark [Scott, her predecessor] did. Mark changed the culture of the place and its positioning and reputation. “I have every confidence that Michelle will continue to do that and the ABC will be regarded as an even more dynamic place.” Like Rudder, Guthrie has spent most of her career at Murdoch organisations. Between 1994 and 2007 she worked as a legal and business development executive for the former BSkyB in London, Foxtel in Sydney and Star TV in Hong Kong (The Guardian via Dec-Jan Australian DX News via WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DXLD) It only gets worse with each revealed plan; Just this week, the announced closure of all shortwave services, Radio National cutting most of its music content, and now this. Ex-Murdoch staffers running the ABC. Someone left the drawbridge down and the worst kind of barbarians have entered unopposed. The horror! (Craig Seager, ADXN ed., ibid.) ** AUSTRALIA. THE NEXT TURNING POINT FOR AUSSIE MEDIUMWAVE DX? Some of us that have been around for a while, when we blow the cobwebs out of the forgotten backwaters of our brains, will recall a few events that were game-changers on the mediumwave band, and have contributed in some instances to making that part of the hobby something of a challenge, particularly from suburban locations. It seems hard to believe in these times of 24 hour supermarkets, pubs and McDonalds, but it is only a few decades ago that many (even most) Australian stations closed at midnight, with a brief station technical run-down and a rousing version of the then national anthem – an embarrassing homage to some foreign monarch, as I recall – followed a few years later by an equally dated song with obscure lyrics referencing “girt by sea”. Some of the commercials even went off at 11 pm, or earlier on Sunday nights. The aspiring Dxer always had his dial fingers at the ready, poised to pounce on whatever foreign exotica might pop up when the local carriers dropped off a few minutes later. On a good night, we were justly rewarded, with a second chance just before dawn. Alas, all that ended with the ABC’s decision to service insomniacs everywhere, coupled with the sudden realization that transmitters have better longevity if not switched off and on every day. And following suit were most of the non-metropolitan commercials, who were now able to leverage smart automation systems to cue up the songs and adverts, or switch in networked fare from elsewhere. Unmitigated pap, it seems, never sleeps. Another “event” was the ITU’s decision to change the mediumwave frequency spacing to 9 kHz everywhere except the Americas from 1978 (an outcome of the 1975 Geneva Plan). This had the effect of increasing adjacent channel QRM (largely since mitigated by the advent more selective receivers), but also opened up the possibility of turning a faint US or South American heterodyne into a meaningful bit of audio by judicious use of passband tuning or ECSS methods. Overall, probably a win for the good guys. More recently 24 hour television, plasma screens and a generally more polluted RF environment have relegated mediumwave DX to the die-hards, though the advent of the extended band (above 1602 kHz) has opened up a few more potential long-haul channels. So where am I heading with all this? It’s early days yet, but it seems like there is more change in the wind, due to some relaxation of the way in which ACMA views the licensing arrangements for regional stations with respect to conversion applications from AM to FM. Previously, the authority has only entertained such requests in exceptional circumstances, however is now calling for comments on a proposal to allow AM-FM conversions in regional “solus” markets— single-licensee markets in which there are no separately-owned FM commercial stations, against which the converted licences might receive an unfair advantage. The proposed change is in response to lobbying by the peak industry body, Commercial Radio Australia, whose members seek to leverage the enhance audio afforded by FM, along with decreased interference and lower cost. Initially, the markets of Exmouth, Paraburdoo, Karratha, Tom Price and Port Hedland in Western Australia and Broken Hill, NSW are being actively considered, however advices from member John Schache indicate that Bathurst station 2BS is also announcing something about conversion on air currently. After consideration of CRA’s request, the Minister for Communications, Senator the Hon. Mitch Fifield, asked the ACMA to give priority to undertake planning and licensing work necessary to facilitate AM-FM conversion requests in regional solus markets, in accordance with the ACMA’s statutory obligations under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992. The Minister asked that the proposed conversions should not adversely impact existing FM radio services or result in any significant coverage differences for radio listeners within the affected licence areas. If the ACMA adopts the approach proposed in the consultation paper, proposals for AM-FM conversions in other regional solus markets will follow. In addition to the proposed AM-FM conversions, the ACMA is proposing other variations to the licence area plans for the relevant regional licence areas. These variations are primarily to modify technical specifications and make spectrum available for a number of national, commercial and community broadcasting transmitters. It is not clear to what extent there might be other community / nationally based takers for the vacated frequencies; it might be a “thinning out” of other multiple occupancy channels at worst, or at best it could be the start of a large AM-FM migration, as has occurred in Europe. Time will tell, but probably a good thing for mediumwave Dxers – and maybe not such a good thing for those of us who also chase long distance FM – particularly if a large number of “in-fill” transmitters are required to plug coverage gaps created by the generally lower reliable range of FM. The ACMA has published this table of single license regional areas that could be affected by the change: Licence area More than 30% overlap [table doesn`t copy into text] 1 These licence areas overlap with the licence area of another commercial radio broadcasting licensee and the population of the overlap areas is more than 30 per cent of the population of one or both of the overlapping licence areas. Applications for conversions in these licence areas will need to be considered in accordance with the threshold eligibility requirements proposed in this paper. 2 Note: The geographic groups, listed as A-F, represent adjacent licence areas that will be considered at the same time for planning purposes. The geographic grouping of applications will facilitate planning for ‘harder’ conversions in technically-interrelated markets. The letter assigned to each group does not indicate the order in which the conversions will be planned. The purpose of the pilots is to ensure that the ACMA’s criteria for the consideration of an AM–FM conversion is addressed by the consultant’s engineering reports (probably Craig Seager and/or via him, Dec Australian DX News via WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DXLD) ** AUSTRIA. 6155, ORF1 Vienna domestic program via ORS Moosbrunn center, S=9+40dB or -36dBm tremendous signal strength at 0628-0630 UT on Dec 9, likely via 300 kW unit? 11 kHz wide broadband signal. Featured comment on Kalman Operetta, premiere on Volksoper Vienna tonight, "The Circus Princess" operetta of old Russia origin, by Emmerich Kalman https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_Zirkusprinzessin 73 wb [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, Dec 9 df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews via DXLD) ** AZERBAIJAN. 9677, Nagorno Karabakh. Station with demodulated sound in Azeri on 7/11 at *0819–1404* (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria (Sony ICF-2001D, Folded Marconi ant own made), Dec Australian DX News via DXLD) Demodulated? You mean over- or under-modulated? Often reported as FM mode, coming thru on AM distorted (gh, DXLD) Strong signal of Ictimai Radio or Voice of Justice, Dec 11, 1404 & 1409 on 9676.9 unknown tx/unknown to CeAs, broadband FM modulation http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/12/strong-signal-of-ictimai-radio-or-voice.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BANGLADESH. 4750, Bangladesh Betar, Dhaka. 6/11 at 1530 (& daily 1530-1545 & on Thu & Sun 1545-1559) with news in English (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria (Sony ICF-2001D, Folded Marconi ant own made), Dec Australian DX News via DXLD) 4750.00, 1520-1550 Sat 10.12, Bangladesh Betar, Shavar. back on normal schedule, Bengali interview mentioning Bangladesh three times, song, 1530 English news about human rights in Bangladesh, 1544 music, 1545 Bengali talk, 35243. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, Denmark, I heard these stations this afternoon on my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, wbradio yg via DXLD) ** BELARUS [non]. GERMANY, Shortwaveservice relay Radio Belarus, instead of Radio MiAmigo, Dec 10 0800-1000 on 6005 KLL 001 kW / non-dir to CeEu German, unscheduled http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/12/shortwaveservice-relay-radio-belarus.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BIAFRA [non]. SECRETLAND, Reception of Radio Biafra London via SPL Secretbrod, Dec 7: 1455-1600 15325 SCB 100 kW / 195 deg WAf English, not live, only music 1800-2001 15325 SCB 100 kW / 195 deg WAf English, not live, only music http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/12/reception-of-radio-biafra-london-via_8.html (Ivo Ivanov, Bulgaria, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DXLD) Radio Biafra London via SPL Secretbrod, Dec 10 1456-1601 on 15325 SCB 100 kW / 195 deg to WeAf, BUT only music! 1756-2001 on 15325 SCB 100 kW / 195 deg to WeAf, BUT only music! http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/12/radio-biafra-london-via-spl-secretbrod_10.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 6134.82, R. Santa Cruz, with greatly extended broadcast on Dec 8. Tuned in at 0229 and still being heard at 0344+; special coverage from some live(?) event in Santa Cruz; talking to folks at the event, with background sounds; very unusual for them to be on the air this late (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 3375.07, R. Municipal, 1006 ZY pop song, 1008 lively canned announcements by M with mention of Brasil, then same M DJ over music at 1009-1013. Was able to catch one mention of Municipal and Brasil and ID at 1012:15. Back to music at 1013. Very difficult due to faulty 60 Hz buzzing transmitter. 6 Dec. 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop and 153 foot Delta Loop, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 5964.96, Dec 8 at 0524, music at S8, presumed R. Transmundial, as always reported off to the low side. 6059.76, Dec 8 at 0527 RHC is missing, uncovering S7 signal from algo, still in clear at 0551, presumed SRDA Curitiba. Brazilians must be off-frequency, nothing else likely (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 6040.350, R. Clube Paranaense 0115 with Portuguese ballads into OM and YL talks at 0130 with mentions of Brazil. Steady S-7 levels this evening 12/11 (Chuck RIPPEL, VA, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** BRAZIL [and non]. R. Bandeirantes, São Paulo SP, 6089.960 measured at 0624 UT on Dec 9, S=6 here in southern Germany... plus Anguilla Caribbean, sermon 6090.002 kHz 6135.204, LOW MODULATION of R Aparecida, even during music parts, S=7 or -78dBm in southern Germany at 0635 UT on Dec 9. BRAZIL/GERMANY, RNA Brasília on 6180.029 kHz measured this morning. Was S=9+15dB or -61dBm proper signal before 0600 UT, but covered now, when checked again at 0625 UT by GERMAN weather service report from DWD Pinneberg Hamburg service, in USB mode with new TX and antenna equipment re-built. Much, much better audio quality, checked personally / heard for the first time on this requested 6180 kHz channel after re-appearance in ITU/HFCC database, few weeks ago. 3.5 kHz wide upper-sideband signal up to 6183.500 kHz. [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, Dec 9 df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 6119.95, Super R. Deus é Amor, 0222 Dec 12, apparent religious talk in Portuguese by M over instrumental music with mention of “espiritu santo” (many), “glória”, “bom dia”, etc. Religious music at 0228. 0232 talk by different M with mention of “programa”, “amor”, São Paulo. Came back at 0239 and noted W announcer mentioning Cristo, transmundial. 0243 instrumental music bridge, then M mentioning Brasil, amor, and many numbers (sounded kind of like phone numbers), canned announcement by W and W, then M host again. // 11764.63 which had some noise just on the upper edge. This frequency always very poor, but improved this time. Made a Youvideo of this reception with STEREO AUDIO using the Perseus SDR on 11764.63 (left channel) and the NRD-535D on 6119.95 (right channel). Here's the link https://youtu.be/8AHIwHge6IQ 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA USA, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. Gravação da 13.a. Rodada dos Radioescutas realizada por Marcos Bazzo , a quem agradecemos. (Ulysses Galletti, radioescutas yg via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 9675. R. CANCAO NOVA. Diciembre 13. 2310-2326 UT. Música en portugués y luego reflexiones espirituales. SINPO: 44444 con leve splatter de R. Voz Missionaria en 9665. El retorno de la emisora fue avisado por el diexista brasileño Lenildo da Silva ((Claudio Galaz Toledo, RX: TECSUN PL-660, ANT: Hilo de 40 metros, QTH: Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 11895.09, Super R. Boa Vontade. Surprised to find this coming and audible after 1010 with Portuguese religious talk by alternating M and W program hosts over instrumental music, same with a very strong signal received on a kiwi SDR.hu web receiver from Pardinha S.P. Brazil. 1014 web site by W announcer. 1015:55 W mentioned Boa Vontade, and “Cristo” at 1016:50, and amor and palabra. ID announcement by M at 1020:45. Most readable audio yet but very fady. Peaking 1015-1020. Nearly as good as Brasil Central. Porto Alegre was already 2 hours into daylight at this time but still 2 hours before sunrise here. Nothing on 9550 here but huge signal in S.P. All other 25mb ZYs (11735, 11765, 11780, 11815, 11855, 11925, 11935) there at this time. 4 Dec (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop and 153 foot Delta Loop, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** BULGARIA. 15190, IRRS, (relay) Big OC at 1459, 1500 start with English interview in progress with program "Counterspin". IRRS address by M at 1504, Asian Rock music, Address at 1529, start of the next segment and signal gone at 1530:45. Good. A video of the reception can be found at https://youtu.be/SuiqGrw1RQA (Dave Valko, Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Perseus SDR, 313’ Beverage (BOG) aimed at 60 , Duration: 1415-2100 UT Dec 4, HCDX via WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DXLD) IRRS Music, instead of Radio Santec via SPL Secretbrod, Dec 11 1500-1530 on 15190 SCB 050 kW / 090 deg to SoAs Sun, instead of The Cosmic Wave: http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/12/irrs-music-instead-of-radio-santec-via.html (Ivo Ivanov, Bulgaria, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DXLD) ** CANADA. New AM station approved: Vancouver 600 kHz (10 kW) http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2016/2016-464.pdf Appendix 1 to Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2016-464 Sher-E-Punjab Radio Broadcasting Inc. Terms, conditions of licence, expectation and encouragement for the ethnic commercial AM radio programming undertaking in Vancouver, British Columbia Terms The licence will expire 31 August 2023. The station will operate at 600 kHz (class B) with a daytime and nighttime transmitter power of 10,000 watts. Pursuant to section 22(1) of the Broadcasting Act, no licence may be issued until the Department of Industry notifies the Commission that its technical requirements have been met and that a broadcasting certificate will be issued. Furthermore, the Commission will only issue a licence for this undertaking once the applicant has informed the Commission in writing that it is prepared to commence operations. The undertaking must be operational at the earliest possible date and in any event no later than 24 months from the date of this decision, unless a request for an extension of time is approved by the Commission before 28 November 2018. In order to ensure that such a request is processed in a timely manner, it should be submitted at least 60 days before this date. Conditions of licence 1. The licensee shall adhere to the conditions set out in Conditions of licence for commercial AM and FM radio stations, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2009-62, 11 February 2009, as well as to the conditions set out in the broadcasting licence for the undertaking. 2. The licensee shall devote 100% of the programming broadcast each broadcast week to ethnic programs, as defined in the Radio Regulations, 1986, as amended from time to time. 3. The licensee shall devote at least 85% of the programming broadcast each broadcast week to third-language programs, as defined in the Radio Regulations, 1986, as amended from time to time. 4. In each broadcast week, the licensee shall provide programming directed to a minimum of 19 distinct ethnic groups in at least 17 different languages. 5. In each broadcast week, at least 67% of the programming shall be broadcast in the Punjabi and Hindi languages. 6. The licensee shall not broadcast Chinese-language programming. 7. In addition to the required basic annual contribution to Canadian content development (CCD), set out in section 15 of the Radio Regulations, 1986, as amended from time to time, the licensee shall, upon commencement of operations, make an annual contribution of $250,000 ($1,750,000 over seven consecutive broadcast years) to the promotion and development of Canadian content. This additional CCD contribution shall be allocated to parties and initiatives fulfilling the definition of eligible initiatives set out in paragraph 108 of Commercial Radio Policy 2006, Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2006-158, 15 December 2006. 8. The licensee shall comply with Broadcasting Mandatory Order 2014- 592 and shall adhere to the terms specified within the Consent Agreement entered into by the licensee with the Commission on 9 October 2014. Expectation The Commission expects the licensee to reflect the cultural diversity of Canada in its programming and employment practices. Encouragement In accordance with Implementation of an employment equity policy, Public Notice CRTC 1992-59, 1 September 1992, the Commission encourages the licensee to consider employment equity issues in its hiring practices and in all other aspects of its management of human resources. (from http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2016/2016-464.pdf via Dr. Hansjoerg Biener 10 December 2016, DXLD) ** CANADA. And file this under "I must be in the right place". W1440 Oldies, CKHR [sic] Westaskawin [sic], Alberta with 10 kW Non Directional Day and 3 towers at night. There are my constant, daily visitor on 1440 kHz. They might be weak, and sometimes, like today, they're strong. But I don't usually hear them in the morning, just at night. Audio: http://www.onairdj.com/W1440Oldies121120161904UTC.mp3 (Paul Walker, AK, ODXA yg via DXLD) First of all, it's CKJR the call sign, located in Wetaskiwin; the three tower arrays are located due west, about 6 km from the town. Directional at night, with the main lobe, heading due north. ID's as W1440 CKJR Wetaskiwin always. They play oldies Rock and roll of the 50's, 60's and 70's, except at night (6 PM local time to 9:00 PM, they carry a Punjab program) plus some religious outlets (9:00 to 10:00 PM). The Music is on a continuous loop tape, as you can hear the same music daily. They`re part of the Newcastle Broadcasting group (Edward Kusalik, AB, DX'er since 1965, ibid.) ** CANADA. Hi, Glenn. I just posted the following message on our International Radio Report program Facebook Group regarding a special live, one-hour edition of the program on Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25, 2016 from 10:30 am to 11:30 am Eastern (1530 to 1630 UTC). Alan Roberts will be co-hosting the show with me. People can hear the show over the air on CKUT-FM 90.3 MHz in Montreal, as well as live-streaming on the CKUT webpage at http://www.ckut.ca/ The show will also be archived on the same webpage. We are hoping to get some input from our Facebook group members, of which we currently have 307. Here is what we just posted on Facebook (International Radio Report) at https://www.facebook.com/groups/Internationalradioreport/ People can join the Facebook group by simply clicking on "Join This Group". It is a public group so people can check it out without actually joining. "Christmas Day is on Sunday this year. We will have a special one-hour edition of International Radio Report on Christmas Day, live, airing from 10:30 am to 11:30 am Eastern (1530 to 1630 UTC). We are putting together a number of special features that tie radio and Christmas together. You, our Facebook members, can be a part of the special program. If you have any stories, memories, anecdotes, etc. that come to mind that connect radio and Christmas time in your life, we'd love to hear from you. Maybe there's some special program or radio station that you listen to on Christmas Day. Maybe you had some rare DX catch on a Christmas Day in the past. Rather than post them here though and spoil the surprises for everyone, please send along your story to our e-mail address and we'll review them all and consider including some of them in our special Christmas Day broadcast (Sheldon Harvey, Dec 12, WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. First IBOC in Montreal QC testing. Hello Group, Well, HD Radio has crept up East to Montreal. After Toronto and Ottawa, Montreal now has its first IBOC station on the air. Bell owned "Rouge FM" CITE 107.3 now has the following streams: HD-1 CITE 107.3 Montreal "Rouge FM" AC music French HD-2 CJAD 800 AM Montreal English talk HD-2 CKGM 690 AM Montreal "TSN Radio 690". English sports Strange to hear English on that frequency. Also, I have noticed that I have no problem whatsoever on my new Sangean HDR 18 table radio as far as decoding the streams and the information on the display. It is not the case for my HDT-1 Tuner which is decoding the new streams but has problems showing information on the display. Another problem noted over the couple of years on the HDT-1 is that sometimes it will not decode HD-3. It does that on WVPS 107.9 from Burlington VT. This has also been reported this summer by another DXer that wasn't getting the HD-3 from WVPS but I was getting it on the Sangean HDR 18. Anybody else has noticed this with the tuner (HDT-1)?? 73s, (Charly, Brossard, QC, Gauthier, Dec 11, WTFDA gg via DXLD) My condolences, Charles. Not much left in the way of empty channels between US & Canadian IBOC's. Tough to do meteor scatter. Bill in Niagara (William Hepburn, ibid.) ** CANADA. Your morning laugh: CRTC (Canada) tips on dealing with cable companies. http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/crtc-25-basic-tv-pick-and-pay-1.3890261 Regards, (Vince Ferme, Ottawa, ON, dxldyg via DXLD) ** CANADA [non]. Radio City via: IRRS to Europe on 9510 kHz (every Saturday) between 0900 and 1000 UT Challenger Radio to Northern Italy on 1368 kHz every Saturday from 2000 UT onwards Radio Merkurs [Latvia] on 1485 kHz Every Saturday between 2000 onwards Contact email: citymorecars@yahoo.ca Now 9510, +60db in Poland amazing signal, and great music. Best 73 (Adam http://dxadam.blogspot.com/ Grzenia, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) BULGARIA, 9510, Radio City via IRRS, Kostinbrod, *0859-1000*, 10-12, identification: "This is Italian Radio Relay Service, Milano, Italy signing on", "Radio City, the station of the cars..., Radio Ciudad, la estación de los coches...", pop music and English comments. 34433. (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHILE. 6925-AM. RCW. Diciembre 11. 0001-0024 UT. Inicio de transmisión y música. SINPO: 35333 (Claudio Galaz Toledo, RECEIVER: TECSUN PL-660, ANT: Hilo de 40 metros, QTH: Barraza Bajo, comuna de Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) Pirate: Radio Compañia Worldwide (gh) ** CHINA. Frequency change of PBS Gannan to new odd frequency on Dec 8 1030-1400 NF 5979 LAN 050 kW / non-dir to EaAs Chinese, ex nom. 5970 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/12/frequency-change-of-pbs-gannan-to-new.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 5979.0, Dec 9 at 0015 and 0042, JBA carrier definitely here, i.e. surely PBS Gannan, Hezuo, which Ron Howard has been hearing in our mornings on 5979 ex-5970. It seemed to me like a mispunch on a keypad, but if so, it has lasted several days now. Aoki shows it`s only 15 kW, ND, alternates Chinese and Tibetan, this segment until 0100 in Chinese. Hezuo is between Xining and Baoji in north central China. (I was of course checking for 5980, R. Chaski, Perú, but no signal from it tonight. In my years of tracing that, never had anything on 5979 before!) (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 5990, Qinghai PBS. Notice a carrier with 1 kHz test tone at 2229 and started recording. Tone off at 2241 and lively dramatic instrumental started 27 seconds later. 2250 usual s/on routine of instrumental anthem song, instrumental music and opening Chinese announcement by M, and a slew of canned announcements to the ToH. Usual soft signature melody, 2+1 higher pitched time ticks at 2300, and W with ID. Best ever heard but still slop QRM from 5985 WRMI. 26 Nov. A video of the reception can be found at https://youtu.be/eg_ipa-X6Ek (Dave Valko, Zion PA, HCDX via DXLD) ** CHINA. 6035, Yunnan PBS Surprised to find this on at 1212 with classical music, long periods of silence between songs. Still going at 1245. No too bad when it was peaking around 1225-1230. Ron Howard said he had it to 1346. 6 Dec. 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop and 153 foot Delta Loop, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** CHINA. EAST JAMMERSTAN: 7445, Crash & bang music jammer; 2006, 6- Dec; weak also with weak vox. Likely target is Radio Free Asia in Chinese via Kuwait. 9590, Crash & bang music jammer; 2030, 6-Dec; Fair & no vox; no likely targets listed in Aoki (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 185' & 60' RW + 125' bow-tie, ----- All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! -----, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 9545, CNR1 Found here at 1247 with M and W hosting program in Chinese, // 9500. Went off near the end of the ToH time ticks. I don’t recall ever hearing this frequency before. Is this new?? 6 Dec. 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop and 153 foot Delta Loop, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) Jammer to RTI during this same hour only, says Aoki (gh, DXLD) ** CHINA. Mainland ... Heavy FIREDRAKE MUSIC ORCHESTRA JAMMING heard Dec 10 in 20-21 UT slot: 5965 7415 7445 9455, and 9590 kHz - came across ... against IBB BBG various program channels. [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] Quick check on Brisbane Queensland SDR unit, now back again in Perseus Net (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 10 via DXLD) ** CHINA. 11819.98, Dec 13 at 0045, S5 signal with music, then Chinesish announcement. HFCC shows CRI in Yue [= Cantonese] during this hour, 500 kW, 200 degrees from Xi`an site (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [and non]. 11980, Dec 13 at 1355, weak signal marred by humwhine and pulse jamming, presumably the only listee, CRI English southward from Kunming before 1400. Same pulsing also on 11990, presumably Cuban strays, out of the 11930 wall of noise vs Radio Martí. See also ALBANIA (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 15390, CNR 13, Lingshi. Rapid Uighur announcements with a flamenco guitar background! Heard with slight noise and fading at 1015 on 4/11 (Dennis Allen, Milperra NSW (Icom ICR-75, Realistic DX160, Longwire), Dec Australian DX News via DXLD). ** COLOMBIA. Re: No more Q'hubo Radio on Radio Santa Fe 1070. Hi Andrew, The brand "Radio Santa Fe" was never deleted. In fact, the main ID was "Q'hubo Radio por los 1070 de Radio Santa Fe". Even the station logo reflected this. The Q'hubo project has not worked as expected with the exception of Medellín. So, Radio Santa Fe has resumed its own programing and Cali station will do at the end of this month. The rest of the stations (except Medellín) will follow the same path probably. So expect some Caracol brand on these frequencies in the next weeks. 73! (Mauricio Molano, Salamanca, ESPAÑA - SPAIN, Dec 9, RX site: Aldea del Cano, Cáceres, mwcircle yg via DXLD) AM 1070 Radio Santa Fe was a historic Colombian radio until its mentor died; thus the radio was rented to a newspaper (yellow news). (Q`hubo diario) was reduced in power and lack of maintenance. As of 2014 winter, usual daily reception of Santa Fe nulling Radio El Mundo [Argentina] with K9 vactrol. I hope Santa Fe will return next winter to Patagonia Argentina.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiijAJFUZ0Y (José Kucher, ibid.) ** COLOMBIA [and non]. Two 6010 kHz mixture stations at 0756 UT Dec 9, lower level of 6010.028 kHz hopping on 5 Hertz up and down, but 6010.100 to 6010.140 kHz much wider wideband hopping up and down (Wolfang Büschel, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Which is Brasil? (gh) ** CONGO. Dear DX fellows, in the past few weeks, a few stations caught my attention which seemed to be in a way underreported in the list. I did not do really systematic, daily monitoring, but a few things might be worth reporting: 6115, R. Congo, I monitored this channel almost daily around 1730/1800 throughout the last few weeks. Activity rate is about one out of three days at that time. In two cases out of three last week however, it ran much longer than usual 1830v sign-off. Still on air after 1930 on Wednesday Dec. 7, and even heard after 2000 on Friday Dec. 9. Not heard since, includng Dec. 12. Good afternoon - or whatever -, some follow-ups on my recent observations. 6115, Dec. 14, 1705-1940+ UT, Radio Congo active again into the evening, first day I noted it at all in the afternoon since Friday, Dec. 9, mostly French and signal strength as usual, and again much later than their usual sign-off time. 73 (thorsten hallmann, Münster, Germany, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA. 2859.82, Dec 9 at 0019, JBA carrier. Suspected to be R. San Carlos, 2 x 1430v, as tipped by Tim Tromp in MI the night before: ``For those interested in DXing medium wave harmonics, we have one right now on 2859.8 kHz: Spanish language with a *very* tentative ID caught at 2300 UT TOH that sounded like "Radio San Carlos" (Costa Rica), which would be 1430 x 2. Fair and steady carrier but weak modulation that seems to come and go. Still there at 0017. A quick search of Glenn Hauser posts reveals Radio San Carlos has been reported on 2859.8 in past years. 73, (Tim Tromp, West Michigan, Perseus + D-KAZ aimed due South, Dec 7-8, IRCA via DXLD)`` I had several logs of it in 2009-2010y but not since! At that time it was signing off circa 0200. I scan the 2 MHz band almost every night for harmonix, but none heard in a long time now. Where has this been, and why is it back now? WRTH 2016 shows 3 kW on 1430 from Ciudad Quesada, TIRVDC, at 11-03 UT. 2859.82, Dec 10 at 0128, no signal from presumed R. San Carlos second harmonic like last night. 2859.82, Dec 11 at 0132, nothing detectable from R. San Carlos. OK, enough non-logs. I will keep checking and certainly report if a carrier reshow here. Has Tim Tromp or anyone else heard it again since his original tentative log Dec 7 at 2300, and mine Dec 9 at 0019? (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 9535, R. Havana, Bejucal. Very good in English at 0509, 28/11 (John Adams, Port Douglas Tropical Queensland (Sangean ATS-909X, 7 Metre Reel Antenna), Dec Australian DX News via DXLD) Spanish frequency occasionally stays on after 0500 in English (gh) 6060, Dec 8 at 0527, RHC English is AWOL, uncovering presumed Brasil, q.v. Still on 6165, 6100, 6000. 6000, Dec 9 at 0700, RHC in Spanish, probably just switched from English and about to sign off, like all the other English frequencies already have. 11760, Dec 10 at 2147, S9+20 open carrier, RHC warming up for *2200? 6165, Dec 11 at 0116, RHC English is instead S9+30 of dead air, vying with WTWW 5085 for the watts-wasting championship; 6000 OK at S9+50. 17750, Dec 11 at 1410, RHC is DA, or rather just barely modulated, while 17580 really is dead air, leaving `Amigos de Cuba` to be heard on 17730. At 1413 check, 15370 also dead air, 11760 OK; 11840 plus parasitic spurs heard before 1400 are now off. At 1440 during `En Contacto` DX program, still the same: DA on 15370, 17580; 17730 much louder than 17750. 17580, Dec 12 at 1506, RHC music is still on here, // 17730 and JBM 17750. 17580 normally closes earlier than the others, circa 1400, altho one schedule version shows all three until 1500, then only the upper two (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. FROM THE ISLE OF MUSIC NEW WINTER SCHEDULE STARTS DECEMBER 12 This week, our special guest will be guitarist and composer Sergio Valdés García, who in addition to doing much of the soundtrack for the film Juan de los Muertos also recorded some excellent music with his group Elévense. Also, we will have some authentic Rumba by Team Cuba de la Rumba in honor of the Rumba's recent recognition by UNESCO. NEW! Three options for listening on shortwave: WBCQ, 7490, Tuesdays 0100-0200 UT (8-9 pm EDT Mondays in the Americas) Channel 292, 6070, Fridays 1100-1200 UT (1200-1300 CET) and Saturdays 1600-1700 UT (1700-1800 CET). See the From the Isle of Music Facebook page for more information. (William "Bill" Tilford, Owner/Producer Tilford Productions, LLC 5713 N. St. Louis Av Chicago IL 60659-4405 email: bill@tilfordproductions.com phone: 773.267.6548 website: www.tilfordproductions.com Dec 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DENMARK [non]. DSWCI special part 2 imminent --- In case we missed it on Saturday as I did, a reminder may be needed about part II of the DSWCI farewell special via WRMI, originally publicized as: PART TWO 2300 UT Sat Dec 10 5850 to North America (especially Central & West) 2330 UT Sat Dec 10 11580 to Eastern North America (and Europe) 2030 UT Sun Dec 11 11580 to Europe (and Eastern North America) 2300 UT Sun Dec 11 5850 to North America (especially Central & West) 0230 UT Mon Dec 12 9955 to the Caribbean, North and South America But better check at 2000 as well as 2030, and at 2330 as well as 2300 on 11580 as well as 5850 (Glenn Hauser, 1926 UT Sun Dec 11, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Good point, Glenn. The DSWCI is on both 11580 and 5850 at 2310 tune- in. 73 (Walt Salmaniw, BC, ibid.) ** EAST TURKISTAN [and non]. 5060, 4980, 4850, 4500, Dec 9 at 0024, JBA carriers from the Urumqi Four, except 5060 has a little audio, probably Chinese. Also Sino-Tibetan carriers on 4905, 4800 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EGYPT. 9540.158, Dec 9 at 1842, S6 signal JBM, what`s it?? Aoki shows R. Cairo Italian hour, 250 kW, 315 degrees from Abis, and, o yes it`s recently been reported (as ``9540``): ``9540, 30.10.16, 1810, R. Cairo, Italian: It's a shame: Only carrier no audio! XXXXX (Roberto Pavanello, Italy, Nov DX Fanzine, Dec 1 via DXLD)`` ``9540, 25.11.16, 1846-1853, R. Cairo, via Abis, Italian: ID, Program on Islam, News + Arab song, 53443, heard for first time after years with a decent modulation (Antonello Napolitano, Taranto, Italia, Nov DX Fanzine, Dec 1 via DXLD)`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9325.051, Radio Cairo in Hausa language, little LOW MODULATION, at S=8-9 strength noted at 2006 UT on Dec 10. [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] Quick check on Brisbane Queensland SDR unit, now back again in Perseus Net (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 10 via DXLD) Open carrier, probably of Radio Cairo on Dec 12: from 0820 on 9570.2 ABS 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu dead air from 0825 on 9900.2 ABS 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu dead air from 0840 on 9515.2 ABS 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu dead air Winter B-16 of Radio Cairo on 9570, 9900 and 9515 kHz is 1500-1600 on 9515.2 ABS 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu Albanian 1900-2000 on 9570.0 ABS 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu German 2000-2115 on 9900.0 ABS 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu French 2115-2245 on 9900.0 ABS 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu English Full winter B16 schedule of Radio Cairo may be found here And another unidentified open carrier in 31 mb on Dec 12 from 0830 on 9300 unknown tx / unknown to ???? dead air http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/12/open-carrier-probably-of-radio-cairo-on.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA. [non/ETHIOPIA-yes] I guess Asmara had left 7146v and 7175 kHz channels already this morning, when checked before 0600 UT Dec 9, but heard a poor signal of HoA music on 7174.990 kHz in progress at 0606 UT, so seemingly one of the 'program jammer' from Ethiopian soil still on air, latter mostly xxx.991 kHz oddity, heard also 0608-0610 UT. S=5 poor tiny -94dBm signal in Germany (prop path fade-out time!) [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, Dec 9 df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews via DXLD) ** ERITREA. 7146.55, V. of Broad Masses of Eritrea. Finally in the clear of ham QRM with M announcer interviewing M remotely. 1812 into nice HoA music with vocal by child. M announcer host returned and then went into “In the Summertime” by Mungo Jerry of all things!!! A video of this can be found at https://youtu.be/mNoMQrsXieg More HoA music, then final newscast 1827-1831, choral patriotic song to 1833, This was only a weak visible-only signal in the display a half hour earlier. Comes up really quickly around 1800. Amazing that this was totally clear the entire time from 1810 to s/off. 7175, ERITREA, V. of Broad Masses of Eritrea. Couldn’t find this earlier probably because of all the ham transmissions, but noted at 1824 after changing laptop batteries. Nice signal. Interesting that the plug was pulled on this and 7146.55 at the same time at 1835:32 (Dave Valko, Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Perseus SDR, 313' Beverage (BOG) aimed at 60 , Duration: 1415-2100 UT Dec 4, HCDX via DXLD) 7175, V. of the Broad Masses of Eritrea. 1333-1349 talk by M in [unknown] language and music bridge at 1336, and M continuing with occasional remote reporter to 1352, then HoA music for about 45 seconds (the beat was prominent), and M continued. Found parallel to that heard on the SV3EXP KiwiSDR web receiver in Greece. Nothing noted here on 7146.55 and no audio detected here on 7120 or on the web receiver in Greece. 6 Dec. 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop and 153 foot Delta Loop, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) 7146.58, 1725-1730 10.12, Voice of the Broad Masses of Eritrea-1, Asmara. Tigrinya phone-in, Horn of Africa songs, 35343. 7175.00, 1730-1735 10.12, Voice of the Broad Masses of Eritrea-2, Asmara. Afar phone-in talk, 35343. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, Denmark, I heard these stations this afternoon on my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, wbradio yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DXLD) [and non]. 7175, Dec 13 at 1416, HOA music, then talk, fair S4 with QRhaM, so VOBME2. But nothing circa 7146+ from VOBME1. 7205 carrier audible from presumed Sudan; long path (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Reception of VOBME 1 and VOBME 2 Dimtsi Hafash on Dec 13 1445&1500 on 7146.6 ASM 100 kW / non-dir to EaAf Tigrinya VOBME 1 1445&1500 on 7175.0 ASM 100 kW / non-dir to EaAf Amharic VOBME 2 At 1501 both freqs jammed with heavy white digital noise jamming http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/12/reception-of-vobme-1-and-vobme-2-dimtsi.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Good afternoon - or whatever -, some follow-ups on my recent observations. 7146.5 and 7175, Dec. 13, 1600+, jamming observed but absolutely no trace of Eritrea. After 1700, both transmitters were on air and jamming gone, with usual programming, signal much stronger than other East Africans, slightly overmodulated. Dec 14., nothing at all just after 1700 and at some later rechecks. 73 (thorsten hallmann, Münster, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I also heard and ID at 1802 ending with "...Ertran", so looks like the other Eritrean programme may also have restarted? 73, (Mauno Ritola, Finland, ibid.) ** ERITREA [non]. No signal from Radio Al-Mukhtar via MBR Issoudun, Dec 6 1500-1530 on 17580 ISS 100 kW / 125 deg to EaAf Arabic Tue 1530-1600 on 17580 ISS 100 kW / 125 deg to EaAf Tigrinya Tue Also no signal "sister broadcast" Radio Adal via MBR Issoudun on Dec.3 1500-1530 on 17580 ISS 100 kW / 125 deg to EaAf Arabic Wed/Sat 1530-1600 on 17580 ISS 100 kW / 125 deg to EaAf Tigrinya Wed/Sat http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/12/no-signal-from-radio-al-mukhtar-via-mbr.html (DX RE MIX NEWS #982 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, December 9, 2016, via DXLD) Again no signal from R. Adal via MBR Issoudun Dec 10 1500-1530 on 17580 ISS 100 kW / 125 deg to EaAf Arabic Wed/Sat 1530-1600 on 17580 ISS 100 kW / 125 deg to EaAf Tigrinya Wed/Sat 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA. 5950, V. of the Tigray Revolution. 1952 M DJ trying to take a phone call with many “hello”s before finally getting the caller on. Into HoA music (Dave Valko, Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Perseus SDR, 313’ Beverage (BOG) aimed at 60 , Duration: 1415-2100 UT Dec 4, HCDX via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA. Dear DX fellows, in the past few weeks, a few stations caught my attention which seemed to be in a way underreported in the list. I did not do really systematic, daily monitoring, but a few things might be worth reporting: Is Radio Ethiopia really airing its external service on 7236v? I would certainly doubt that. The transmitter seems to be active every day, but I can't make out what they are really broadcasting in the 1600- 1800 time slot. Often, the transmitter signs off at quite exactly 1700, but sometimes it does not. But I did not catch any audio between 1700 and 1800 - that isn't unusual for this transmitter at all. However, today, Dec. 12, it had a good audio level at 1630, but not the scheduled English news was aired, music instead. After, 1700, no audio again. Recently (forgot the exact day) I caught an announcement at 1700 which seemed to be local language, not English or French as to be expected. The transmitter may sign off at 1700 and then return at 1730 or 1800 for tentative target Radio to Eritrea, but presumed only Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Today it stayed on air and from 1800, some audio again. 73 (Thorsten Hallmann, Münster, Germany, http://www.muenster.org/uwz/ms-alt/africalist/ dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Good afternoon - or whatever -, some follow-ups on my recent observations. 7236.5v, Dec. 13, from 1600 seemingly programming in Ethiopian regional language, closedown at 1700 sharp. Dec. 14, sign- off 1701 after announcement with distorted audio, language unidentifiable. Already back at 1757 recheck, no audio observed until a few minutes after 1800. 73 (thorsten hallmann, Münster, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA [and non]. FRANCE, DW, Amharic service - usually scheduled via TDF Issoudun site - totally covered by Ethiopian Jamming Service from NISS security service, at Gedja Jawe site. Made in China BBEF Beijing transmitter in data mode audio sound, white noise scratching outlets on 15165 kHz S=9, but 12 kHz broadband jamming, and \\ 15275 kHz S=9+15dB, but 22 kHz wide jamming. Nothing noted on scheduled very high 17800 and 21660 kHz frequencies, both only scheduled til Nov 11; and replaced by 15 MHz channels then. (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 13, dxldyg via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. 15170, CLANDESTINE, V. of the Oromo Liberation (presumed). Found a white noise jammer on 15165 at 1658 tune/in, but there was nothing else on the frequency. Carrier came on 15170 at 1659, then HoA flute music at 1700 followed by possible M announcer, but the signal was too weak and the jammer was splashing up on the frequency. At 1702, the jammer suddenly jumped up on 15170 making it completely useless (Dave Valko, Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Perseus SDR, 313’ Beverage (BOG) aimed at 60 , Duration: 1415-2100 UT Dec 4, HCDX via DXLD) { * via MBR Nauen Germany FMO: 15170 kHz MBR Nauen 100 kW. 1700-1800 UT Wed, 1700-1730 Sun/Fri, to zones 38E, 39S, 48. TX/ant# 320200 to 139degr azimuth. ITU ant #218 curtain. 301016-250317 MBR SBO } (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. 17765, CLANDESTINE, V. of the Front for Independent Oromo (via Issoudun). Signal on at 1729:45, then 1730 broadcast start with M giving opening ID announcement over HoA flute music. 1731 W announcer, then white noise jammer started but not 100% effective. 1732 HoA instrumental music and W continue with mention of radio, Oromo, etc. Not very strong and fady. A video of the reception can be found at https://youtu.be/Aoi0Wxv0iBg (Dave Valko, Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Perseus SDR, 313’ Beverage (BOG) aimed at 60 , Duration: 1415-2100 UT Dec 4, HCDX via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. 17850, CLANDESTINE, V. of Independent Oromo (via Issoudun), OC at 1558, 1600 program start with HoA choral music and M with clear voice-over ID opening announcement. 1601 announcement by M with instrumental music, then feature by W with mention of democracy, Somalia. M came in, then the severe jamming started at 1604. Fairly good until then. A video of the reception can be found at https://youtu.be/jUb0jqW7oUM (Dave Valko, Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Perseus SDR, 313’ Beverage (BOG) aimed at 60 , Duration: 1415-2100 UT Dec 4, HCDX via DXLD) ** EUROPE [and non]. "Why is the "European CNN" becoming the voice of the Kremlin?". http://euromaidanpress.com/2016/12/11/euronews-russian-turkish-investors-ukrainian-service/ The headline caught my eye. Not a radio related item, but TV. 73, (Walt Salmaniw, BC, dxldyg via DXLD) I always find Al-Jazeera to be very balanced and fair. For hard hitting, in your face, but again very balanced journalism, VICE news is superb. I don't get much from CNN, in contrast. 73, (Walt Salmaniw, BC, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I agree, Walt. It's the place I go to when I want to see something other than 'a flooded basement' somewhere in North America. :^) Remember the the old Royal Canadian Air Farce skit about 'the door'? 'That's a door, we don't know what is going to happen, but we'll continue to monitor events, and let you know when news break'. :^) I hear, since I don't understand Arabic, that the Arabic stream is very different from the English stream. My comments refer to Al Jazeera English only. As for CNN, when I used to travel overseas for work, CNN and BBC were the channels I relied on the most for news. At the time, I had a feeling that CNN International was very different, and much better, than CNN 'domestic'. Regards, (Vince Ferme, Ottawa, ON, ibid.) The last time I saw CNN International was on a long cruise a couple of years ago. Although better than our domestic CNN (the one we see in Canada), it was still awfully boring and superficial (not that the BBC news was a lot better). Just short little clips that seemed to repeat frequently. No really in-depth stories, and very much one-sided, and yes, to much of that door skit that you mentioned. Also, totally focused on a single story, which, although important, like a school shooting in the US, is only of quasi-interest to the rest of the world, yet reported ad-nauseam when it does happen, to the detriment of more internationally significant stories (Walt Salmaniw, BC, ibid.) The best of CNN that I remember was in 2002. I used to work in a control center back then. We had two big screen TVs, one on CNN, the other on CBC Newsworld. CNN announced that Bill Clinton's dog had been run over by a car. They went with that every 30 minutes for a few hours. It must have been a painfully slow news day. Either I'm too demanding now, or BBC also declined quite a bit. Regards, (Vince Ferme, Ottawa, ON, ibid.) ** EUROPE. Radio FRS-Holland ---------------------------- The Free Radio Service Holland will be broadcasting its traditional Holiday Season broadcast on Boxing Day, Monday December 26th 2016 from 0830 to 1430 UT and a full repeat from 1630 to 2230. Frequencies are 7700 & 9300 kHz. We welcome your December seasonal greetings. For more info please go to FRS-Holland Seasonal broadcast Invitation. For the full schedule as well as the streaming info, please read the schedules below! (Vasily Lazarev, Samarskaya oblast, Russia / "deneb-radio-dx") - Dear FRS Friend, On our website you will find full details about our upcoming Boxing Day broadcast. Go to http://www.frsholland.nl/20-latest-news/102-frs-seasonal-broadcast-2016-info.html Also on our site an invitation for you, the listener. We would be happy with your Season's Greetings, go to http://www.frsholland.nl/20-latest-news/101-frs-holland-seasonal-broadcast.html Remember your input is our output; any support is vital as we try and put a lot of efforts into our broadcasts. We wish you a fantastic December month. (Letter from the radio station) (via Rus-DX Dec 11 via WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DXLD) ** EUROPE. New trasmission of KCR next saturday Sat Dec 10, 2016 6:53 am (PST) . Posted by: "Radio Strike" radiostrike Key Channel Radio sarà di nuovo in onda sabato 10 Dicembre 2016 con la nostra nona trasmissione sulla nuova frequenza di kHz 6915 dalle 1400 alle 0200 UT (15'00-03'00 CET). Tanta bella musica di tutti i generi da ogni parte del mondo. Domenica 11 potremmo trasmettere trasmissioni test. I vostri rapporti di ascolto sono sempre benvenuti. Se non desiderate in futuro ricevere le nostre E-Mail avvisateci. Buon ascolto!! The KCR Team Dear friends, Key Channel Radio will again broadcast Saturday December 10, 2016 on the new frequency of 6915 kHz from 1400 to 0200 UT. (15'00-03'00 CET). Such beautiful music of all genres from around the world. Sunday 11 we could send test transmissions. Your listening reports are always welcome. Good listening!! The KCR Team (via Roberto Scaglione, shortwave yg via DXLD) ** EUROPE. 6205.08, Presumed Coast FM at 1942. Way too weak to get any audio yet. Finally getting some music at 2010. Slightly better by 2025. Looked gone by 2042 (Dave Valko, Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Perseus SDR, 313’ Beverage (BOG) aimed at 60 , Duration: 1415-2100 UT Dec 4, HCDX via DXLD) ** FIJI. [Summer sporadic E DX, small excerpts]: 88.2, BBC, Suva. Technology program 0157, BBC IDs 0158, 0159. Programme previews, then news 0200, not bad! A first for me, 26/11 Hear this log! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4Vkh63e9Ao&t=44s (Craig Seager, Bathurst NSW (Perseus & FM+ converter, FM8 Yagi with rotator, broadband 18dB preamp, Dec-Jan Australian DX News via DXLD) ** FRANCE. Transmissions of Oromo Voice Radio via Issoudun are cancelled. Oromo Voice Radio missing in official B-16 shortwave schedule of Alyx & Yeyi 1600-1615 17850 ISS 250 kW / 130 deg to EaAf Afar Oromo Mon 1615-1630 17850 ISS 250 kW / 130 deg to EaAf English Mon 1600-1630 17850 ISS 250 kW / 130 deg to EaAf Afar Oromo Wed/Sat Again no signal from Manara Radio International via TDF, Dec 14 0730-0830 15440 ISS 150 kW / 170 deg to WeAf Hausa probably cancelled 1600-1700 17765 ISS 150 kW / 170 deg to WeAf Hausa probably cancelled Again no signal from R. Al-Mukhtar via MBR Issoudun, Dec 13 1500-1530 17580 ISS 100 kW / 125 deg to EaAf Arabic Tue 1530-1558 17580 ISS 100 kW / 125 deg to EaAf Tigrinya Tue Again no signal from Radio Adal via MBR Issoudun, Dec 14 1500-1531 17580 ISS 100 kW / 125 deg to EaAf Arabic Wed/Sat 1531-1558 17580 ISS 100 kW / 125 deg to EaAf Tigrinya Wed/Sat http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/12/transmissions-of-oromo-voice-radio-via.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DXLD) ** GERMANY. 6030, Bible Voice Broadcasting, 1836 M announcer preaching in English. No sign of R. Oromiya. Weak but readable. Better at 1918 but QRM from Oromiya as it had come on. BVB ID at 1929, and continuing (Dave Valko, Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Perseus SDR, 313' Beverage (BOG) aimed at 60 , Duration: 1415-2100 UT Dec 4, HCDX via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Hit AM via Nauen heard with strong signal now (0930 UT 11 Dec) on 6045 kHz. Club/dance music - not really my thing, but great signal for those who do like this sort of music (Alan Roe, Teddington, UK, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello Alan, Also in Poland Hit AM very strong; you can see movie at https://youtu.be/3hDd9p9iboY great music! Atlantic 2000 Int. today very fair here in Poland. Now on 7310 and 6005; my movie at https://youtu.be/XbYTUrVJC2E Best wishes (Adam Grzenia, ibid.) It is an anachronism when one sends hip dance music over the shortwave in 2016. AM broadcasting requires word programs and music, which also work in mono with a restricted audio frequency of 5 kHz. In the case of thematic programs, current songs could be present that fit the particular theme. But to present the hit parade of the year 2016 over the short wave, that would also sound somewhat creepy in DRM - digital (roger, germany, ibid.) ** GERMANY. Additional World of Radio#1854 via Hamburger Lokalradio, Dec 4: 1130-1200 on 9485 GOH 001 kW / 230 deg to CeEu English Sun CUSB, fair to poor http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/12/additional-world-of-radio1854-via.html (DX RE MIX NEWS #982 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, December 9, 2016, via DXLD) Reception of Hamburger Lokalradio on 6190 kHz, Dec 10: Switzerland In Sound 0700-0730 on 6190 GOH 001 kW / 230 deg to CeEu English Sat CUSB World of Radio #1855 0730-0800 on 6190 GOH 001 kW / 230 deg to CeEu English Sat CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio 0800-1100 on 6190 GOH 001 kW / 230 deg to CeEu German Sat CUSB http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/12/reception-of-hamburger-lokalradio-on_10.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Reception of Hamburger Lokalradio on 9485 kHz, Dec 11: Hamburger Lokalradio 1000-1100 on 9485 GOH 001 kW / 230 deg to CeEu German Sun CUSB PCJ Media Neywork Plus, ex Radio Goethe 1100-1130 on 9485 GOH 001 kW / 230 deg to CeEu English Sun CUSB World of Radio#1855, ex Radio Goethe 1130-1200 on 9485 GOH 001 kW / 230 deg to CeEu English Sun CUSB Radio Tropicana 1200-1300 on 9485 GOH 001 kW / 230 deg to CeEu Spanish Sun CUSB http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/12/reception-of-hamburger-lokalradio-on_11.html (Ivo Ivanov, Bulgaria, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DXLD) ** GERMANY. Reception of DWD Deutscher Wetterdienst on Dec 7: 2000-2026 on 6180 PIN 010 kW / non-dir to CeEu German CUSB http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/12/reception-of-dwd-deutscher-wetterdienst.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6180.000, Much, much better audio quality, checked personally / heard for the first time on this requested 6180 kHz channel after re- appearance in ITU/HFCC database, few weeks ago. 3.5 kHz wide upper- sideband signal up to 6183.500 kHz [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, Dec 9, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 9 via DXLD) ** GERMANY. "Gruss an Bord" war Weihnachten 1953 das erste Mal im Radio zu hoeren. Es ist damit eine der aeltesten Radio-Sendungen der Welt. Seit nunmehr 63 Jahren koennen Seeleute Weihnachten Gruesse in die Heimat senden. Und ihre Familien haben die Moeglichkeit, ihren Lieben auf See ein frohes Fest und ein gutes neues Jahr 2017 zu wuenschen. Hier der Sendeplan: NDR 90.3 MHz FM Sender Hamburg 1905-2100 UT und 2205-2300 UT, sowie ueber die Kurzwellen Sat 24 Dec 2016 single day only, at 1900-2100 UT: 6125 1900-2100 27,80,36,81,11 310100 250 216 7 NAU 125 NDR 6145 1900-2100 27,28,29 HR 4/8/1.0 305 238 7 ERV 100 NDR 9740 1900-2100 48,53,41,79 320100 130 216 7 NAU 125 NDR 9790 1900-2100 41,49,54,79,58 3 115 218 7 MOS 100 NDR 9800 1900-2100 57,53,48,79 HR 4/4/0.8 156 217 7 ISS 250 NDR 11650 1900-2100 13,46,15,66,52,57 4/4/ 195 217 7 ISS 250 NDR Sat 24 Dec 2016 single day only, at 2100-2300 UT: 5930 2100-2300 27,80,36,81,11 310100 250 216 7 NAU 125 NDR 6145 2100-2300 27,28,29 HR 4/8/1.0 305 238 7 ERV 100 NDR 9590 2100-2300 57,53,48,79 HR 4/4/0.8 156 217 7 ISS 250 NDR 9650 2100-2300 41,49,54,79,58 3 115 218 7 MOS 100 NDR 9765 2100-2300 48,53,41,79 320100 130 216 7 NAU 125 NDR 9830 2100-2300 13,46,15,66,52,57 4/4/ 195 217 7 ISS 250 NDR (via WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DXLD) ** GREECE. Voice of Greece on 9420 kHz and 11645 kHz, Dec 4: 0700-0900 on 9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek tx#3 0700-0900 on 11645 AVL 100 kW / 182 deg to NoAf Greek tx#1 Relay Sunday Liturgy & Greek Music. Off air around 0905. http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/12/voice-of-greece-on-9420-khz-and-11645.html (DX RE MIX NEWS #982 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, December 9, 2016, via DXLD) Reception of Voice of Greece on 9420/9935 Dec 7-8 from 2100 on 9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek tx#3 from 2100 on 9935 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg to WeEu Greek tx#1 0700-0808 on 9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek#tx#3 0700-0800 on 9935 AVL 100 kW / 323 deg to ENAm Greek tx#1 # including news bulletin in Arabic 0805-0808 UT & off air. http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/12/reception-of-voice-of-greece-on.html Voice of Greece on 9420 kHz & 9935 kHz, Dec 10-11 from 1900 on 9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek tx#3 from 1900 on 9935 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg to WeEu Greek tx#1 from 0700 on 9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek*tx#3 from 0700 on 9935#AVL 100 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek*tx#1 # instead of 11645 AVL 100 kW / 182 deg to NoAf Greek tx#1 * relay Sunday Liturgy. No signal on 9420 & 9935 at 0800UT http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/12/voice-of-greece-on-9420-khz-9935-khz.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUAM. Frequency change of KTWR Trans World Radio Asia(Korea), Dec 8 1345-1500 NF 7510 TWR 100 kW / 320 deg to EaAs Korean Daily, ex 9910 1500-1515 NF 7510 TWR 100 kW / 320 deg to EaAs Korean Sa/Su, ex 9910 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/12/frequency-change-of-ktwr-trans-world.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUAM [and non]. 9690. December 8, 2016. 2127-2133, Adventist World Radio (KSDA), Agat, in Korean. Woman announcer talks in Korean and man talks in Spanish from Radio Exterior de España: That´s a collision (DXer: Jose Ronaldo Xavier (JRX), Cabedelo-PB, Brazil, Tecsun S-2000, Antenna: Portable Telescopic, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** GUATEMALA. Aquí envío el calendario de Radio Verdad y Volviendo a Jesús para el año 2017. Por motivo de que en Guatemala ya no funciona el correo postal desde hace varios meses, se los estoy enviando de manera virtual. Espero que los imprima en cartulina o papel 120 gramos. La calcomanía debe imprimirse en papel calcomanía, para que lo pueda pegar. Baje los adjuntos. Atentamente. Dr. Édgar Amílcar Madrid Estación Educativa Evangélica "Radio Verdad" Chiquimula, Guatemala, C. A. -------------------------- ====English==== I am sending here the Radio Truth and Back to Jesus 2017 calendar. Because Guatemala's postal mail is off mail since several months ago, I am sending them on a virtual manner. I hope you will print them on card or 120 gram paper. The sticker should be printed on special sticker paper, so that you can stick it. Please download the attachments. Cordially. (Dr. Édgar Amílcar Madrid, Educative and Evangelical Radio Station "Radio Truth", Chiquimula, Guatemala, C. A., Dec 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Heading of calendar says sign-on is at 3:20 am = 0920 UT (gh, DXLD) GUATEMALA POSTAL SERVICE COMES TO AN ABRUPT HALT http://www.nearshoreamericas.com/mailing-service-halt-guatemala/ The sudden service stoppage is the result of years of wrangling between the government and the mailing service agency over extension of contract. August 25, 2016 By Narayan Ammachchi Guatemala’s postal agency, El Correo de Guatemala, has suddenly suspended service, leaving more than 600 of its employees in limbo. The sudden service stoppage is the result of years of wrangling between the government and the mailing service agency over the extension of its contract. In 2014, El Correo requested that the government extend its contract to five more years. After putting the proposal on hold for two long years, in April this year the Congress voted not to extend the contract. Finally, last Wednesday, the agency ceased its operation, notifying all its employees of its inability to continue the service. Reports say the company has even kick-started the process of returning movable and immovable properties to the government. To restore the Guatemala postal service, the government has to either extend the contract or hire a new agency to carry out the job. Sign up for our Nearshore Americas newsletter: Officials say they will need at least two months to put the contract out to tender. The Directorate General of Post and Telegraphs (DGCT) has made it clear that it does not have enough resources to take over the job. It seems the agency – which delivered 17.3 million letters, 8,773 telegrams, and 71.556 small packages last year – has long been on a collision course with the government. A few months ago, the Directorate General of Posts and Telegraphs slapped the agency with a hefty fine for violating terms of the contract. It is not clear why the government did not invite fresh bids for appointing a new agency nor extended the contract for El Correo, despite being aware of the importance of the Guatemala postal service (via DXLD) Some other stories about this: El Correo de Guatemala http://www.elcorreo.com.gt/ Correo de Guatemala finaliza operaciones - Prensa Libre May 19, 2016 - Después de 12 años de prestar servicios de manera continuada, la empresa Correo de Guatemala, concesionaria de los servicios postales del ... http://www.prensalibre.com/economia/correo-de-guatemala-finaliza-operaciones ¿Qué pasará ahora con el servicio de correo en Guatemala? | Soy502 May 19, 2016 - A partir de este miércoles, el servicio postal del país cambiará de manos después de que la empresa concesionaria Correo de Guatemala. . . http://www.soy502.com/articulo/va-pasar-ahora-servicio-postal-31313 Agencias de El Correo abren de forma parcial - Prensa Libre Aug 31, 2016 - Las agencias de El Correo reanudaron ayer de manera parcial sus ... Roberto Soto, gerente general de El Correo de Guatemala, informó que ... http://www.prensalibre.com/economia/servicio-postal-reanuda-entregas (via gh, DXLD) That`s what you get for privatizing core govt services ** GUATEMALA. The first half of this month`s `The Living Room with Gerry Bonds`, on KOSU, interviews author of first biography of proto- saint Rother; altho never mentioning La Voz de Atitlán, ex-2390: ``Our first guest, María Ruíz Scaperlanda, is an internationally known author and journalist from Norman, who has just received the most prestigious award given by the Catholic Press Association. Her latest book, The Shepherd Who Didn't Run, tells the story of Father Stanley Rother, the heroic priest and martyr from Okarche, who was brutally murdered in Guatemala. Days after our taping, the Vatican announced that it will recognize Fr. Rother's martyrdom. LISTEN NOW`` http://www.thelivingroomgb.com/sites/thelivingroom/uploads/media/audio/600/TRL604.mp3 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also DXLD 16-49, and under OKLAHOMA [and non] ** INDIA. 5050, AIR Aizawl, 1604-1630*, on Dec 9, with a special program in English about a festival in "Nagaland" (must be about the Hornbill Festival going on now in Kohima); several speeches; one about being "morally upright" (today is International Anti-corruption Day); one speaker was from "Nagaland University"; announcer taking about the "Naga culture and customs"; played some indigenous Naga music / chanting; not very readable, but in the clear, as China (Beibu Bay Radio) had already signed off. My audio of Naga music at http://goo.gl/QUDus7 (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. 6165, AIR Bengaluru, Nice signal with subcontinental [music?] at 1427, ID by M with frequency in apparent Sindhi at 1430. Later, subcont. vocal music from 1522. M announcer at 1526. Much weaker than earlier, but audible. Still getting music at 1540. Better at 1555 with more music. A video of the reception can be found at https://youtu.be/NEmqv9KYhRY (Dave Valko, Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Perseus SDR, 313’ Beverage (BOG) aimed at 60 , Duration: 1415-2100 UT Dec 4, HCDX via DXLD) ** INDIA. AIR Chennai 7380 off due to cyclone Mon Dec 12, 2016 12:57 am (PST) . Posted by: "Jose Jacob, VU2JOS" vu2jos All India Radio, Chennai is now noted off air on 7380 kHz at 0830 UTC (2.00 pm IST). It was monitored by me even at 0800 UTC with weather warnings. [lost linx to press:] Cyclone Vardah LIVE: Heavy rains, squally winds uproot trees in Chennai; landfall by 3 PM, to hit phone and power lines Chennai: The very severe cyclonic storm, Vardah is likely to cross north Tamil Nadu/south Andhra Pradesh coast n... | | Yours sincerely, (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, Hyderabad, 0857 UT Dec 12, dx_india yg via DXLD) The very severe Cyclone Vardah made landfall in Chennai today 12 Dec 2016 noon creating lot damages. My observations of AIR Chennai. All India Radio, Chennai was noted off air SW 7380 kHz from 0830 UT today. They were heard past 0800 with weather warnings. The External Services via Chennai on 7270 at 1000-1100, 1115-1215 was also missing today. However the Home Service was noted on 4920 at 1200. MW transmission on 720 kHz is also noted as usual. The complete SW schedule of AIR Chennai is: 4920 50 kW 0015-0245 1200-1739 7380 50 kW 0300-0930 (Sun 1130) 7270 100 kW 0000-0045 Tamil, 0045-0115 Sinhala, 0130-0430 HS, 1000- 1100 English, 1115-1215 Tamil, 1300-1500 Sinhala [more lost linx to press] Vardah LIVE updates: Cyclone makes landfall in Chennai, 2 killed; NDRF teams deployed, govt issues high red alert Cyclone Vardah: Follow for the latest updates on the situation in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu as the cyclone h... | | Yours sincerely, (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Hyderabad, India, 1224 UT Dec 12, ibid.) Two SW Towers of AIR Chennai have fallen down in today's cyclone (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, 1236 UT Dec 12, ibid.) AIR Chennai SW update --- My monitoring observation regarding AIR Chennai after cyclone Vardha hit the city yesterday is as follows: 10 kW SW Transmitter: 7380 kHz off air from around 0830 of 12 Dec 2016 and missing today 13 Dec 16 morning broadcast. 4920 kHz on air evening of 12th Dec 2016 & morning of today 13 Dec 16 [IST] 100 kW SW transmitter: 7270 kHz Off Air from scheduled broadcast from 1000 on 12 Dec 16. Summary: AIR Chennai frequencies on SW of 7380 (10 kW) & 7270 (100 kW) off air from afternoon of 12th Dec 16 (as their 2 towers have fallen down) 4920 (10 kW) Morning & Evening/Night frequency of 10 kW transmitter is on air as usual. AIR Chennai FM frequencies on as usual. AIR Chennai MW channels 720, 1017 kHz heard but with weaker signals than usual. AIR Chennai 783 kHz DRM not heard. Yours sincerely, (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, 1637 UT Dec 12, ibid.) AIR Chennai back on 7380 today after being off air for a couple of days, due to cyclone effect. Yours sincerely, (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, 1842 UT Dec 13, ibid.) ** INDIA. Extension of Regional SW transmission of NE Services from AIR Shillong on 4970 kHz --- With effect from 15th Dec'16 evening transmission of North East Service on 50 kW regional SW Transmitter of All India Radio, Shillong will be extended on 4970 kHz till 2310 IST (1740 UT). Revised schedule : 0025-0400 UT on 4970 kHz 1056-1740 UT on 4970 khz ---- (Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, Dec 14, dx_sasia yg via DXLD) ** INDIA. AIR domestic services heard in Doha Qatar in 0520-0600 slot: 7430.001, AIR Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. S=9+10dB in Hindi language. Bhopal has excellent signals in 41 and 60 mb these days. 7420.005, AIR Hyderabad, Telingana. Much very low modulation, though S=7-8 signal at 0532 UT Dec 10. 7380.006, AIR Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Only S=5 at 0538 UT Dec 10 (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 10 via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 9525.89, V. of Indonesia, 2000 instrumental music with W voice-over English ID announcement, then canned announcement by M. 25 Nov (Dave Valko, Zion PA, HCDX via DXLD) 9526.049, Dec 8 at 1246, JBA carrier from VOI, reactivated Dec 5 after several days off, slightly new frequency, ex 9525.9v, so is this a different transmitter? Certainly no better than the old one as far as being too weak, and undermodulated? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Noted similar oddity of plus 50 Hertz, xxx.050v kHz in past decade on RRI Kang Guru Indonesia domestic program from Cimanggis site on 9680.050v kHz. Was also mostly low modulated then. wb (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DXLD) But VOI is now +1049 Hz (gh) 9525.998 kHz measured now, centered frequency on Mandarin language service of V of Indonesia Cimanggis at 1125 UT on Dec 9. Many IDs in slow Mandarin spoken. Heard more than fair on remote Perseus in New Delhi, India (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes real, Cimanggis transmitter wandered from 9525.998 up to 9526.049 kHz within 3 hours (wolfy, 1423 UT Dec 9, ibid.) 9526.049, V of Indonesia Cimanggis, at 2003 UT on Dec 10, S=8-9 strength in Brisbane Queensland Australia [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] Quick check on Brisbane Queensland SDR unit, now back again in Perseus Net (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 10 via DXLD) 9525.06, RRI Long talks by OM from 1410 to 1430. Steady S-5 levels. 12/13 (Chuck RIPPEL, VA, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) 9526.055, Dec 14 at 1438, JBA carrier from VOI, so again all I can do is pin down the exact frequency, after applying correxion factor to slightly-off R-75 readout (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET & VACUUM. I was able to suss out the URL for streaming WRN's North America feed, thanks to Replay Media Catcher software: http://shoutcast.wrn.org:8000/ The URL for WRN's English for Europe service: http://shoutcast.wrn.org:8026/ RC (Richard Cuff, 8 Dec, internetradio via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET. Another Radio Garden page http://www.transnationalradio.org/node/79 ("Bennett Z. Kobb", Dec 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: Output The Radio Conference 2016 RADIO.GARDEN RADIO.GARDEN is the TRE online exhibition, developed together with the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision and designed by Studio Moniker, that allows users to explore an interactive globe filled with radio’s past and present. By bringing distant voices close, radio connects people and places. Radio Garden allows listeners to explore processes of broadcasting and hearing identities across the entire globe. From its very beginning, radio signals have crossed borders. Radio makers and listeners have imagined both connecting with distant cultures, as well as re- connecting with people from ‘home’ from thousands of miles away – or using local community radio to make and enrich new homes. In the section Live, you can explore a world or radio as it is happening right now. Tune into any place on the globe: what sounds familiar? What sounds foreign? Where would you like to travel and what sounds like ‘home’? In the section on History one can tune into clips from throughout radio history that show how radio has tried to cross borders. How have people tried to translate their nations into the airwaves? What did they say to the world? How do they engage in conversation across linguistic and geographical barriers? Jingles offers a world-wide crash course in station identification. How do stations signal within a fraction of a second what kind of programmes you are likely to hear? How do they project being joyful, trustworthy, or up to the minute? Finally, one can listen to radio Stories where listeners past and present tell how they listen beyond their walls. How do they imagine the voices and sounds from around they globe? How do they use make themselves at home in the world? On Thursday participants of the conference had the option to plant their sounds into the stories section of the RADIO.GARDEN. There was a recording station provided, connected with the call ‘Record your transnational radio experience’. All records went into the RADIO.GARDEN. You know contemporary/historical audio examples of transnational radio encounters? Or have a exciting radio story of transnational encounters to tell? Please contact us! RADIO.GARDEN will be a traveling exhibition. You want to host it in 2017? Please contact us! (via DXLD) Radio Garden - explore worldwide internet streams using globe --- Jonathan Marks posted on Facebook today "Just come back from Hilversum's Sound and Vision Archive and a conference on radio. Included the launch of a European project called Radio Garden, organised by Bas Agterberg, Specialist in Media History and Jonathan Puckey of Studio Puckey in Amsterdam." It loads up with a globe, centres it near your own location and then you can explore internet streams from around the world. http://radio.garden/live/ (Mike Barraclough, Dec 13, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Have just given this a try and have to say I was very impressed with the ease of use and the vast number of stations. Simply moving around the globe and then click on the link in the top right hand corner - no need to know the station`s web address. http://radio.garden/live/ Best wishes (Paul Banning, BDXC_UK yg via DXLD) Have just tried it. Impressive, but highly inaccurate in terms of the locations of local stations in the UK. I live near Oswestry so I clicked on those dots nearest to me. The one for Wrexham includes 'Radio Portugal Mais' and another location which comes up is Cockshutt, which is a small village south of Ellesmere. Apparently, there one can hear West Sound AM and West FM, um ... aren't they in Ayr? I also tried Blaenau Ffestiniog which gives BRfm which is based in Brynmawr near Newport in South Wales. I suspect that whoever programmed this has little idea of local geography. Maybe it doesn't matter too much (John Mattocks, ibid.) There is a Radio Portugal Mais in Wrexham serving the Portuguese community. Their website though is coming up as harmful from my anti- virus programme F-Secure (Mike Barraclough, ibid.) As far as I am aware, there are only a few Portuguese living in Wrexham. There is certainly no BROADCAST station by that name. I listened briefly to the web cast and it mentions Internet only. There is no indication on the web site where the station is based. I see that the sub-heading for 'Radio Garden' does say explore internet streams so it will include the many internet-only stations. I feel that is going beyond the bounds of what the BDXC should cover. I would be inclined to draw the line at internet streams of live broadcast stations. Does the club have any view or policy on that? Posted by: (John Mattocks, ibid.) Google search shows that the Portuguese community in Wrexham is around 2000 and growing; it is believed that there are more Portuguese speakers than Welsh. There are numerous broadcast stations whose internet streams are on Radio Garden and I have enjoyed this way of finding them (Mike Barraclough, ibid.) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM [non]. INSIDE THE BIG DISH THAT BROUGHT US TV FROM THE MOON [illustrated] In a quiet corner of rural Australia sits a giant radio dish that helped ensure the most famous space mission of all could be seen on TV. BBC Future went to visit it. By Richard Hollingham 8 December 2016 http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20161207-inside-the-big-dish-that-brought-us-tv-from-the-moon The Parkes radio telescope in New South Wales, Australia, is one of the most elegant scientific instruments ever built. Pointed to the heavens, its giant white parabolic dish – mounted on a brick tower like a windmill – glints under clear blue skies in the early morning sunshine. The ‘dish’ sits in a natural bowl of lush farmland, an hour’s flight west of Sydney, surrounded by wooded hills. But its idyllic setting does have a few drawbacks. “We have three of the five deadliest snakes in the world on site,” warns Parkes’ operations scientist John Sarkissian, as we walk across the grass to the entrance. “You learn to live with them – stomp your feet and speak loudly, they’ll just slink away.” (Credit: Boffin Media) The Parkes Observatory has been in use since 1961 (Credit: Boffin Media) [caption] The Parkes observatory began operating in 1961. Since then it has helped transform our view of the Universe. “The telescope is used to detect radio emissions from the stars,” says Sarkissian. “For millennia most of the Universe was hidden to us but, with the development of technology, new areas of the magnetic spectrum have opened up.” The 64-metre-wide telescope has been used to map the structure of galaxies, discover pulsars – rapidly spinning dead stars, uncover black holes and track deep space missions. However, it is best known for relaying to Earth live TV pictures of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin’s first footsteps on the Moon on 21 July (Australian time) 1969. Pictures from the day 'The Dish' helped humanity watch the Moon landings [caption] The events of the day are immortalised in the 2000 film The Dish where we see engineers battling severe weather, power failures and personality clashes to ensure the world witnesses history being made. Away from the electronic equipment racks of the control room, most of the original technology remains Disappointingly, the original ‘60s control panel originally used to steer the telescope has been replaced by a computer. “We did have a console that resembled something out of Thunderbirds,” says Sarkissian, “with dials and globes, it looked really cool.” Nevertheless, away from the electronic equipment racks of the control room, most of the original technology remains. Sarkissian checks the dish is locked pointing straight upwards towards the sky (the stowed position) before we clamber outside onto the circular walkway at the top of the supporting tower. Above us are the heavy-duty motors, greasy wheels and gears of the tilting mechanism. A flight of stairs, two narrow ladders and a fright involving a trapped bird later and we are on an open gangway directly beneath the dish. With the ground six storeys below and the wind picking up, it feels horribly exposed. “You can think of the dish as a glorified beach umbrella,” says Sarkissian. “Even when there’s a light wind blowing, it puts a lot of pressure on the dish surface so we have to be careful.” The dish is enormous, around an acre in size (Credit: Boffin Media) In summer, high winds are common in this part of Australia. In winter, when the first Moon landing was scheduled, the breeze is usually light. But not when Apollo 11 touched down on the lunar surface. “They prepared for every contingency,” says Sarkissian, “even hand-cranking the dish to track the Moon in case they lost power.” “Then just minutes before the moonwalk was due to begin, a violent squall hit the telescope with winds well over the safe operating speeds,” he says. They were, at the time, the highest winds ever recorded at Parkes. “When it was fully tipped over waiting for the Moon to rise, two sharp 110 km/h (68mph) gusts hit the dish and caused it to slam back against its pinions.” Neil ‘Fox’ Mason was at the controls. “It shook the hell out of the dish,” he tells me when we sit down later over a coffee. “There were alarm bells going off, you could hardly hear yourself.” Houston was switching between the signals but when they switched to Parkes, the signal was so good they stayed with it after that - John Sarkissian, operations scientist With the circuit breakers removed from the alarms, director of the observatory John Bolton held his nerve. “Everybody’s panicking – my instinct was to stow the dish,” recalls Mason, now in his 80s, “but I was told to carry on.” “Just as Buzz Aldrin switched on the TV camera on the lunar module, the Moon moved into the field of view,” says Sarkissian. “The astronauts were on the Sea of Tranquillity on the Moon but it was the Ocean of Storms here.” Parkes was one of three telescopes receiving telemetry and TV pictures from the lunar surface. “Houston was switching between the signals but when they switched to Parkes, the signal was so good they stayed with it after that,” says Sarkissian. “With a global audience of 600 million, it’s one of those few turning points in history watched by all mankind.” John Sarkissian says he used to dream about working at the facility (Credit: Boffin Media) But not quite all mankind. “Fox was the only man who didn’t see anything that was happening,” says engineer David Cooke, who was also in the control room that day and did get to see the live shadowy picture on a 16-inch (40cm) monitor. “Fox was told to keep watching the dials and don’t look anywhere else.” “The pictures were coming in behind me, I could hear everyone else saying how amazing they were,” adds Mason. “I remember one American operator who had worked on a lot of missions,” says Cooke, “and he just stood and looked at the picture and said ‘how about that’ – it was quite amazing.” I do my best to mask my fear as I begin the climb, trying not to look down, my sweaty hands slipping on the low handrail “When the TV transmission was over,” says Cooke, “I walked outside and there was the Moon and I thought, wow there are men up there.” He then took a picture of the Moon. Coincidentally, at the same time, Buzz Aldrin was taking a picture of Earth from the Moon. Mason was only able to see a recording of the landing when he watched it on the evening news. “There are still people in Parkes that don’t believe it happened,” he says, “[they claim] it was all done in Hollywood.” Back in the present day, I am right underneath the dish and starting to get a little anxious. To gain access to the dish, you first have to climb up a precarious walkway (Credit: Boffin Media) “We’re just going to walk along the walkway here,” Sarkissian says, setting off towards the outer rim of the dish. “It’ll get progressively steeper – and we’re going to pop out onto the surface.” I do my best to mask my fear as I begin the climb, trying not to look down, my sweaty hands slipping on the low handrail. And then we are in the dish and the vertigo vanishes. I am standing at the edge of a vast white bowl. The sides of the parabola get shallower as we make our way down towards the centre. Our view of the ground is lost, all we can see are the walls of the dish and, above us, three pylons rising 26m (85ft), like a giant tripod, to the white hexagonal telescope detector high above us. The dish is merely the collector of signals – the detector is the focus of the telescope. “You can think of it like a giant radio mirror,” says Sarkissian. “The surface area here is about an acre.” The film’s producer thought he’d get people to stand in it and do something, well that’s boring, so he made them play cricket – John Sarkissian I feel very small. And with the blazing Sun reflected off the curved surface around me, very hot. Then I notice some unexpected markings on the low pillar at the centre of the dish: cricket stumps. “In the film, they always say it’s a big dish but very few people have stood on the dish, so how big is big?” says Sarkissian. “The film’s producer thought he’d get people to stand in it and do something, well that’s boring, so he made them play cricket – it’s both humorous and it gives people an idea how big it is – if you can play cricket on it, it must be big.” In the movie The Dish a fictional game of cricket was played on the dish; no such game in real life, though some stumps have been drawn on (Credit: Boffin Media) Sadly, no-one actually played cricket on the dish in 1969. It was a sackable offence apparently. Sarkissian taped on the current stumps to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the landings. We descend from the dish through a small circular hatch, down a series of metal ladders to eventually emerge from a door at the centre of the control room. With the equipment upgraded for a new series of observations, the dish is unlikely to be retired any time soon. “When I was a schoolboy on the cover of my maths text book was a picture of the Parkes telescope and I used to dream about working here one day,” says Sarkissian. “You have to pinch yourself – this is a fantastic place to work, it’s a beautiful radio telescope and it generates wonder in people.” (via Gerald T Pollard, DXLD) ** IRAN. 6040, V. of the Islamic Rep. of Iran. Signal came on around 1922, then deadair until music started at 1928 for about 30 seconds before going off. Audio finally came on at 1958 with mailbag program. Very strong (Dave Valko, Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Perseus SDR, 313’ Beverage (BOG) aimed at 60 , Duration: 1415-2100 UT Dec 4, HCDX via DXLD) Default language: English (gh) 9500, V. of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Usual soft piano signature song at 1250 mixing abt equally with CNR1. Choral anthem-like song at 1253, then into the Koran at 1254. 6 Dec. 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop and 153 foot Delta Loop, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) 13830, VOIRI, Sirjan. Japanese service at 1115, NF and perhaps an additional service to their regular 2050 UT transmission? - I don't remember them being on at this time in A16. Fair signal, 2/11 (Rob Wagner, VK3BVW, Mount Evelyn, VIC (Yaesu FTDX 3000, Kenwood TS2000, Yaesu FRG100, Sangean ATS909, Tecsun PL-680, Double Bazooka antennas for 80, 40 and 20 metres, Par EF-SWL End Fed antenna, BHI NEIM1031 Digital Noise Eliminating Module, MFJ-1026 Noise Cancelling Module, ATU), Dec Australian DX News via DXLD) 13830 in Japanese at 1050-1150, 500 kW, 60 degrees from Sirjan, is part of their B-16 schedule (gh, DXLD) ** IRELAND. 12255, Reflections Europe, Ireland. 30/10 at 1645 with sign/on with religious program in English // 6295 (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria (Sony ICF-2001D, Folded Marconi ant own made), Dec Australian DX News via DXLD) ** ITALY. Please be advised that today, 10 December 2016 and tomorrow 11 December 2016, Marconi Radio International will be on the air from 1315 to 1615 UT on 7700 kHz USB Mode with a power of 100 watts. Reception reports with audio clips (mp3-file) are welcome and confirmed by QSL verification. Some lucky listeners will also receive our printed QSL card, so don't forget to include your postal address. E-mail: marconiradiointernational (at) gmail.com Last but not least, we need your help! If you are a DX blogger, or use social networks, please post an announcement on your own blog and/or Facebook or send out a tweet. You can also forward this message to a friend. This should help increase our potential audience. We hope to hear from a lot of shortwave listeners about our transmissions. Best 73's (Marconi Radio International (MRI), Dec 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KASHMIR [non]. 7265.01, 1357-1435* 10.12, CLANDESTINE, Voice of Jammu and Kashmir Freedom Movement, Islamabad, Kashmiri talk and songs, heard after CRI in Hindi s/off at 1357*, 25232. Hamburger Lokalradio was not heard. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, Denmark, I heard these stations this afternoon on my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres og longwire, wbradio yg via DXLD) But CRI is back on after 1500. I used to hear a second station then, presumed Islamabad, but no more? (gh) See also PAKISTAN ** KOREA NORTH. KOREA D.P.R. Noted some heavy oddity by Voice of Korea's outlets in 19 mb this morning; in 0530 to 0627 UT time section heard in Qatar, India and Tokyo Japan: 7220.000 Chinese, powerhouse in Japan. 9445.000 Chinese, powerhouse in Japan. 9730.000 Chinese, powerhouse in Japan. 11735.002 Spanish, S=9+15dB in Tokyo and Nagoya Japan remotes. 0623 UT 13650.004 English, only S=7 in Doha Qatar. 13759.998 Spanish, poor S=5 in Doha Qatar, at 0620 UT. 15104.973 English, alignment quartz frosty?, Chorus px, S=7 in Doha 15179.983 Spanish, tiny poor S=5 noted in Doha Qatar. 0614 UT. (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 10 via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. 6003, Dec 8 at 0712, noise jamming already audible, covering Echo of Hope; 6015, Dec 8 at 0712, same noise jamming level here vs KBS-1. These are also a bane much later around sunrise here (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. 6003.0, R. Echo of Hope (Presumed), TOH ID by YL at 2200, into news. After listening for 15 minutes and with an improving signal, its a definite Asian language although not enough for positive ID. Darkness patterns support Asian propagation at this hour. Dec 10 (Chuck RIPPEL, VA, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) No jamming now? ** KOREA NORTH [non]. 7590, CLANDESTINE, North Korea Reform R. (via Uzbekistan), 1434 talk feature by Man. Language didn’t sound like Korean until 1440. W announcer briefly at 1442, then back to M with interview of another M. W again at 1445:50 plainly audible. Another peak at 1448:00. Still talking when I returned at 1455. Still there at 1517 check with talk but very weak. Due to the late time, figured this time of the year would be the only chance of hearing this frequency, and I was right. A video of the reception can be found at https://youtu.be/pPwPgOppcrE (Dave Valko, Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Perseus SDR, 313’ Beverage (BOG) aimed at 60 , Duration: 1415-2100 UT Dec 4, HCDX via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. CHINA vs JAPAN Co-channel between PBS Qinghai and Shiokaze Sea Breeze on Dec 8 1300-1330 6145 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg NEAs English Thu Sea Breeze, weak 1300-1400 6145 XIN 050 kW / 270 deg EaAs Chinese PBS Qinghai, strong: http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/12/co-ch-between-pbs-qinghai-and-shiokaze.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA SOUTH [and non]. Seoul AM Radio: 90 stations in 10 minutes Here is the Seoul AM band in the most condensed fashion possible: 90 stations in 10 minutes (edited down from 18 hours of recordings). Please feel free to share on any other e-mail lists as this is the only AM-related one I take any part in. Listen here: http://www.beaglebass.com/dx/audio/seoul/Seoul_AM_Radio_in_10_Minutes.mp3 My very detailed audio bandscans will be released at the end of this month after 14 months of work. The audio-only one will run around 100 minutes and the one with commentary at over 2 hours, one frequency and station at a time. So for the ADHD listeners among us, please enjoy this one in the meantime. There are plenty of radio stories, IDs, baseball, music, and more, including some English content, though all clips at 10 seconds or less. And kudos to anyone who can name at least 5 of the stations in the compilation (of which are in no particular order)! For many of you in the west, a good number of these are your everyday TP stations (Chris Kadlec, Seoul AM Radio Listening Guide, Dec 11, IRCA via DXLD) Though I realize perhaps only one or two people listened to more than one minute of this (ha!), for the previously posted recording of 90 stations from Seoul in 10 minutes, here is the station list: 00:00 - 1251 Shandong Country Radio (0:05) 00:07 - 1332 Tokai Radio Nagoya (0:07) 00:14 - 720 KCBS Kanggye (0:06) 00:21 - 558 KBS 2 Radio Daegu (0:03) 00:25 - 1188 FEBC Seoul (0:04) 00:29 - 1161 MBC Busan (0:07) 00:37 - 1134 KBS 3 Radio Seoul (0:02) 00:39 - 1494 RSK Sanyo Broadcasting (0:07) 00:47 - 1188 VOA Seoul (0:06) 00:53 - 603 KBS 2 Radio Seoul (0:04) 00:58 - 963 China Radio Int'l Russian (0:04) 01:03 - 1080 MBC Yeosu (0:06) 01:09 - 1143 Jilin City Story Radio (0:06) 01:15 - 1278 RKB Mainichi Broadcasting (0:07) 01:23 - 1179 Hubei Information Radio (0:05) 01:29 - 1143 Radio Free Korea (0:08) 01:37 - 720 CNR-16 Beijing (0:04) 01:41 - 1278 RKB Mainichi Broadcasting (0:04) 01:46 - 1134 Nippon Cultural Tokyo (0:06) 01:52 - 864 KBS 1 Radio Gangneung (0:06) 01:58 - 873 NHK Radio 2 Kumamoto (0:05) 02:04 - 819 KCBS / DPRK Jammer (0:03) 02:07 - 1206 Jiangsu Story Radio (0:07) 02:15 - 621 Pyongyang Broadcasting (0:05) 02:20 - 1548 Shandong People's Radio (0:08) 02:28 - 1566 FEBC Jeju (0:08) 02:37 - 1431 Babcock Int'l Test (0:06) 02:44 - 1188 Radio Free Asia Seoul (0:05) 02:49 - 648 AFN Okinawa Surf 648 (0:03) 02:52 - 1296 NHK Radio 1 Matsue (0:05) 02:58 - 891 DPRK Jammer (0:03) 03:02 - 1395 Anhui Story Radio Hefei (0:05) 03:07 - 1476 Great Northern Wilderness (0:06) 03:14 - 657 Pyongyang Broadcasting (0:06) 03:21 - 792 SBS Love FM Seoul (0:04) 03:25 - 981 CNR-1 Changchun (0:08) 03:33 - 1557 Taiwan Int'l I Love Music (0:07) 03:41 - 1305 Jinan Literature Radio (0:06) 03:47 - 1062 KBS 1 Radio Cheongju (0:06) 03:54 - 1305 CNR-8 Helong (0:09) 04:03 - 801 Pyongyang B. & NIS Jammer (0:06) 04:09 - 747 NHK Radio 2 Sapporo (0:01) 04:11 - 1467 KBS 1 Mokpo & DPRK Laser (0:10) 04:21 - 1206 Yanbian Comprehensive R. (0:04) 04:25 - 1125 Hebei Story Radio (0:02) 04:27 - 1575 Voice of America Rasom (0:09) 04:37 - 1098 KBS 1 Radio Jinju (0:07) 04:44 - 1242 NBS Nippon Broadcasting (0:07) 04:52 - 1215 MBC Jinju (0:04) 04:56 - 657 NIS Jammer Hwaseong (0:03) 05:00 - 1386 MBC Mokpo (0:08) 05:08 - 1242 NBS Nippon Broadcasting (0:05) 05:13 - 810 Voice of Zhejiang (0:07) 05:20 - 1530 Zhejiang News R. & AFN (0:08) 05:29 - 1269 China Radio Int'l (0:06) 05:35 - 792 SBS Love FM Seoul (0:04) 05:39 - 1143 DPRK Jammer (0:03) 05:43 - 819 KCBS Pyongyang (0:06) 05:50 - 918 Shandong People's Radio (0:04) 05:54 - 738 Jilin Comprehensive News R. (0:07) 06:01 - 1053 NIS Jammer Gimpo (0:03) 06:04 - 963 Liaoning Comprehensive R. (0:07) 06:12 - 1458 Anshan Traffic Radio (0:06) 06:18 - 1476 Great Northern Wilderness (0:06) 06:24 - 1026 Beijing Public Service R. (0:07) 06:32 - 972 KBS Hanminjok 1 Radio (0:09) 06:41 - 639 CNR-1 Beijing (0:05) 06:47 - 999 KCBS Hamhung & NIS Jammer (0:03) 06:50 - 1323 China Radio Int'l Korean (0:09) 07:00 - 666 NHK Radio 1 Osaka (0:05) 07:06 - 684 NIS Jammer Seoul (0:03) 07:09 - 1314 Radio Osaka OBC (0:09) 07:18 - 1017 China Radio Int'l Korean (0:09) 07:27 - 882 Shenyang Life Radio (0:07) 07:35 - 711 DPRK Jammer (0:03) 07:38 - 1575 AFN The Eagle Iwakuni (0:08) 07:47 - 1323 China Radio Int'l Korean (0:07) 07:55 - 837 CBS Seoul (0:05) 08:00 - 1566 Yanbian People's Radio (0:07) 08:07 - 945 CNR-1 Jiaohe (0:05) 08:13 - 1080 Echo of Unification Haeju (0:08) 08:21 - 1440 STV Radio Sapporo (0:05) 08:27 - 756 CNR-1 Laiyang (0:02) 08:29 - 1584 DPRK Helicopter Jammer (0:03) 08:33 - 1440 AFN Daegu (0:05) 08:38 - 1566 FEBC Jeju (0:08) 08:47 - 1422 CBN Radio Shanghai (0:08) 08:56 - 855 NIS Coastal Jammer (0:03) 08:59 - 1170 KBS Hanminjok 2 Radio (0:06) 09:05 - 900 MBC Seoul & DPRK Jammer (0:04) 09:10 - 1593 CNR-1 Changzhou (0:10) 09:20 - 585 Jiangsu Finance Radio (0:07) 09:27 - 657 NIS Jammer Hwaseong (0:03) 09:31 - 1233 NBC Nagasaki Broadcasting (0:06) 09:37 - 927 Liaoning Rural Radio (0:07) 09:44 - 1080 AFN Daegu & NIS Jammer (0:07) 09:52 - 1170 KBS Hanminjok 2 Radio (0:08) 10:00 - 1566 DPRK Laser Jammer (0:05) 10:06 - 1350 RCC Broadcasting (0:06) 10:12 - 1179 MBS Mainichi Broadcasting (0:07) 10:19 - 873 NHK Radio 2 Kumamoto (0:09) (Chris Kadlec, Seoul AM Radio Listening Guide, Dec 12, ibid.) A nice selection of stations, Chris. I actually listened to the whole thing before you sent the list, which made it easier to follow the second time around. I can hardly wait to hear the longer version (Bruce Portzer, WA, ibid.) Chris, this is excellent! Bringing back many pleasant memories from DXpeditions to Grayland and Masset, and to a lesser extent, sometimes from coastal western North America (our home locations)! Many thanks! (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, ibid.) ** KOREA SOUTH. 1053 Jammer - who hears what? I could really use some assistance from those familiar with any TP listeners in **Australia** and regions of the south. As was mentioned in the past, all of you guys in the west coast areas of North America (and apparently northern Europe) commonly hear the "beehive" jammer on 1053 out of Seoul, which has an exceptionally poor signal in South Korea as opposed to the far stronger (sounding) 250 kW siren jammer 16 miles to the west. So I'm curious in the case of those living to the *south* - as it appears the siren jammer is aimed in that direction - if the siren jammer can be heard in regions south of Korea instead of the beehive jammer heard elsewhere to the north and east. If anyone can pass this along to anyone who may have such experience, I'd really appreciate it! I'd like to have evidence of the direction in which these jammers are aimed and as can be seen with the 1323 CRI (Korean vs. Russian) signals that are/aren't received in the US and Canada, it's the directional stations that really get out. If my thinking is correct, those to the south would regularly hear the *Korean* CRI while those in the states would hear the Russian one. Here are the two jammers: http://www.beaglebass.com/dx/external/NIS_1053_Seoul_Gimpo.MP3 The Seoul beehive jammer is the first half of the clip. The Gimpo siren jammer is the last half. Who hears what? (Chris Kadlec, Seoul AM Radio Listening Guide, IRCA via DXLD) 1053 kHz jamming isn't very common here in northern Europe (Mauno Ritola, Finland, ibid.) Does your recording of the "beehive" jammer have some of the siren jammer riding along as well, Chris? What I've heard here is the basic low grumbling sound with no higher frequency components such as on your recording (I don't think high frequency components were heard in PEI either). Part of that may be due to the DXer's tendency to cut off the received audio above 2800 Hz. I think I have some SDR files from earlier in the season that I can play back with the passband opened up a bit more to check. best wishes, (Nick Hall-Patch, BC, ibid.) I've uploaded a recording from last February at Grayland, Chris: http://www3.telus.net/public/shallpat/listen/1053jammer_20160220.wav 1053 jammer in all its glory with a 5 kHz wide filter. There is no sign of any higher pitched components, so it seems that Seoul is our jammer (and that your recording of Seoul has a touch of Gimpo in it?) best wishes, (Nick, ibid.) Nick, thanks for the clip!! The clip that I shared has the Seoul jammer in the first half and Gimpo in the second half with no overlap (unsure where I recorded that one to get them both solid like that!). I think what you're referring to is the fact that your clip from February has no siren sound in it though mine does. That's because in 2015, it was just the basic "bee" sound. Somewhere along the line between last winter and this spring, they added the siren to those jammers behind it. It's part of the actual Seoul audio and not another signal. I was taking a break from the brutal February weather to work on my text bandscan indoors, so I can't find any clips from that time to indicate when they added the siren, but it was obviously toward March. But many of my recordings certainly do have the two jammers in it, but none that I have shared yet (Chris Kadlec, Seoul AM Radio Listening Guide, ibid.) Timm [Breyel] in Malaysia sent me a recording of the 1053 jammer that he hears at night. The jammer matches that of the Gimpo siren, which supports my original thought that that 250 kW jammer is aimed south whereas the Seoul jammer that everyone in North American hears is omnidirectional or aiming east with --- some exceptional power (Chris Kadlec, ibid.) Chris, remind me which jammer I heard from here in Alaska? I promise I'll try and start remembering stuff! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VmKKaOYS3w (Paul Walker, ibid.) That's the Seoul jammer (and yes, I am a night owl, I merely get the digest instead of the individual mails :)). Now, what baffles me is the lack of the siren in that signal. This is the original jammer, though the siren was later added to all the Seoul jammers. I don't hear that in these clips from overseas, such as Nick's, though his was earlier on before they added it. But if your clip is recent (and I'm sure it is; I'm talking about spring or later), then I need to investigate this further. I was stupid to not record the jammer at the tower site. I was there for hours. But I'm confident that the siren is part of that jammer. I have it recorded on the other frequencies, like 1080 where that site is the only one broadcasting the jammer. There is another site that is identical to Gimpo with its 4 towers down in Jeju right on the water that has been rumoured to be a jammer site for 1053, but I haven't heard any such confirmation of this. I'm starting to wonder if they're broadcasting the original non-siren jammer from there (being on the water on an island, like 1566) and aiming north at the Korean peninsula, hence hearing them in North America so easily. Something tells me this isn't Seoul. Seoul's signal is just too weak to be 250 kW+. It only reaches 40 miles! I'll check the SDR when the jammer comes back on (I'm in the states obviously) and I'll see if that siren is present. If it isn't, clearly I've got a problem (Chris Kadlec, ibid.) ** KOREA SOUTH & NORTH. The Kaesong Industrial Complex: I would have enjoyed wandering into there with my radio, but frankly, the AM and FM stations out of Kaesong could be heard from my border DX site quite easily and I got really tired of crossing the checkpoint into the DMZ, especially in the rural areas with the tank barricades. As an introvert, I enjoy DXing in peace, which doesn't usually include armed soldiers, as is the case at my border site (though it's actually a tourist site) where the DMZ doesn't exist and it's just a plain old river separating the two sides. People have this incorrect notion that the North jams every frequency, and I've had someone argue it out with me, but that's laughable (I'd know if it were true, in fact!). Even an industrialized nation isn't stupid enough to put forth that much electricity. And electricity seems to be not much of a problem with radio in the north these days. On New Year's Day, the north lit up those transmitters all at full power, many of which had been off the air, and they're still on now. And thanks for the comments (both of you). I've recorded the commentary for my full bandscan that clocks in at one hour - only had to delete 200+ failed attempts, enough to put together a bloopers section if I wanted - haha - meaning the bandscan itself is about 1h 50m it appears, and with commentary, just short of 3 hours. So, detailed... you shall get. It's more of a thing where I need to be happy with my own work as opposed to pleasing others with it. The simple fact is, it'll be out there for a long time and find those who want it and as the band there changes, there will be this little historical observation and the Korean DXers really eat this content up as many aren't familiar with their own foreign regulars. I'll split up the last jammer and numbers station part as a separate MP3 for those who care only about that, and I'm already finding a handful of people who do. Once this is done, I may just drop out of the AM scene! AM in the states is --- well, you know (Chris Kadlec, Seoul AM Radio Listening Guide, ibid.) Chris, Is the Peace Village still there? And do they have any station broadcasting from the Peace Village? That flag pole would make a great antenna. :^) Thanks (Vince Ferme, Ottawa, ON, ibid.) Yep, the Peace Village is still there, and I agree, the flag poles there would make a good tower on either side! I don't *think* anything is up there at least. I don't see anything up there from my photos last time I was up in Panmunjeom. The nearest tower is in Kaesong on the north side of the border, which hosts a cellphone jammer as well as the 92.5 Pyongyang FM signal and the 90.3, and 99.5 jammers. It probably has a GPS jammer as well, but no confirmation on that. They are using them rather widely these days along the border and it scrambles a lot of the signals. I got a handful of photos of that tower, which is on the south end of the main strip downtown. The AM towers are on the northeast side of town (-Chris Kadlec, Seoul AM Listening Guide, ibid.) They were jamming GPS signals the last time I flew into Seoul. As for the cell phone jammers, they must be severe there. They are hit and miss on the border with China, I understand. Thanks, (Vince Ferme, Ottawa, ON, ibid.) ** KURDISTAN [non]. Upcoming frequency changes of Denge Kurdistan, effective from Dec 16: http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/12/denge-kurdistan-on-new-frequencies-from.html (Ivo Ivanov, Sofia, Bulgaria, Dec 14, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Denge Kurdistan is on air with new start/end of broadcast 0330-2130 on 9400 various transmitters to WeAs Kurdish, ex 0400-2200 Upcoming frequency changes of Denge Kurdistan, effective from Dec 16: 0330-0600 NF 7400 KCH 300 kW / 130 deg to WeAs Kurdish, ex 9400 KCH 0600-0800 NF 11600 KCH 300 kW / 130 deg to WeAs Kurdish, ex 9400 KCH 0800-1200 NF 11600 KCH 300 kW / 130 deg to WeAs Kurdish, ex 9400 ERV 1200-1400 NF 11600 KCH 300 kW / 116 deg to WeAs Kurdish, ex 9400 KCH 1400-1500 NF 11600 SCB*100 kW / 090 deg to WeAs Kurdish, ex 9400 KCH 1500-1600 NF 11600 SCB*100 kW / 090 deg to WeAs Kurdish, ex 9400 SCB 1600-1700 NF 7455 ISS*250 kW / 090 deg to WeAs Kurdish, ex 9400 SCB 1700-2000 NF 7455 ISS*250 kW / 090 deg to WeAs Kurdish, ex 9400 ISS 2000-2130 NF 7455 KCH 300 kW / 116 deg to WeAs Kurdish, ex 9400 KCH *SCB=Secretbrod/ISS=Issoudun not confirmed, registered as Grigoriopol (Observer ? 6:44 PM Dec 14 via WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DXLD) ** KYRGYZSTAN. 5130, Sedaye Zindagi (=Voice of Life) Ministry. 7/11 at 1610 in Dari (re-activated but they are irregularly on the air only from Mon to Fri) (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria (Sony ICF-2001D, Folded Marconi ant own made), Dec Australian DX News via DXLD). ** MADAGASCAR. 5011.92v, R. Madagasikara (presumed), 1502-1536, Dec 8. Poor with QRN (static); decent signal strength, but still no positive ID; best in USB to get away from AIR (5010); very light drifting today; African pop songs and calypso rhythm xmas song "Mary's Boy Child," in English. My local sunrise was at 1508 UT. My audio, with brief talking and then xmas song, at http://goo.gl/0s8moJ (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Good afternoon - or whatever -, some follow-ups on my recent observations. 5012v, Dec 13, noted missing in the 1600/1700 timeslot, but on air later, drifting a bit as usual. Today, Dec. 14, again not observed at 1700, but just a few minutes later a carrier appeared on 5004, drifting around by several KHz and disappearing again soon. At recheck just before 1800, clearly Madagascar on 5009.5v, drifting downwards soon to 5009v. 73 (thorsten hallmann, Münster, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MADAGASCAR. 17640, Dec 9 at 1805, MWV is on at S9+20 with song, English hour a.k.a. African Pathways Radio, and short propaganda pieces for the severely degraded attention spans of their target audience; also with a condescending tone --- but wait, all evangelism is condescending by definition. 17640, Dec 10 at 1825, MWV is on again, for the fourth day in a row! Must be a record. Also the repeat at 2006 but poor by now. 11610, Dec 10 at 2146, MWV NLS in stilted Chinese to Europe at S9+5 17640, Dec 11 at 1840, MWV VG in AmerEnglish with religious advice to Africans. 17640, Dec 14 at 2024, MWV English is on, fair signal at S8 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALI. 15124, CRI (relay) 1608 found 1 khz off-freq with talk by M in Arabic, then pop-like orchestral vocal music. M returned 1611. Poor to fair and fady. A video of the reception can be found at https://youtu.be/Y4TxNYrP2Cg (Dave Valko, Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Perseus SDR, 313’ Beverage (BOG) aimed at 60 , Duration: 1415-2100 UT Dec 4, HCDX via DXLD) ** MALI. CRI Bamako Mali in Arabic, also keyboard glitch odd frequency? on 15124 even frequency at 1637 UT on Dec 13, S=9+15dB signal. Chinese pop music like Karaoke singer, in Arabic section service (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 13, dxldyg via DXLD) ** MARSHALL ISLANDS. V7AB [1098 kHz] --- Since this is a station that`s been of interest to Dx'ers and come up for discussion before, I wanted to share this clip individually from a report I posted last night. This is about as good as I've ever heard them! I had V7AB 1098 at very very listenable levels, all things considered (Hey, that's a show on the NPR station I work for!). (Recording was made at 10:10PM AKST/11:10PM Pacific/0710 UT December 11th) Anyways, I heard what sounded like island Christian/religious music followed by an announcer talking and then more religious music. Here's a recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1z3gPdsAac (Paul Walker, Galena, Alaska, Grundig Sattelit 750, 225 foot long wire, DXEngineering HF PreAmp, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** MARSHALL ISLANDS. AMELIA EARHART MARSHALL ISLANDS BROADCAST RECREATION Dave Porter forwarded this to me: Hi, my name is Les Kinney and I am a retired federal agent and historical researcher. I am part of a group that will be traveling to a remote atoll in the Marshall Islands in mid-December. Our research concerns the theory that Amelia Earhart ran out of gas and landed wheels down next to a small island at Mili Atoll. There were three local natives who witnessed this landing during the late morning of July 3, 1937. We have found aircraft artifacts on this small island which we believe may have come from Earhart's Lockheed 10E. We also believe Earhart broadcast distress messages that were heard for the next several days. These voice transmissions were heard by the U.S. Coast Guard, Navy, three Pan Am listening stations and several radio listeners in the United States, Canada, Nauru, and Australia. Unfortunately, because of atmospheric conditions, most likely caused by thunder storms, most of the messages were garbled and unreadable. Several radio listeners believed they heard Earhart speaking. Most heard a word or two; some a sentence or more. Some thought they heard partial latitude and longitude coordinates. None heard Earhart report she was at a specific geographic location except one. That person was Nina Paxton, a registered nurse from Ashland Kentucky. Nina had a new Philco console radio and said she heard Earhart around 2 pm Eastern Standard Time on Saturday July 3rd, 1937. Nina reported Earhart saying they were down on a little island at Mili Atoll. Amelia mentioned her navigator, Fred Noonan, was hurt, they were almost out of gas and warned they couldn't stay there long. Earhart's Lockheed Electra was equipped with a 50 watt Western Electric model 13C transmitter. Earhart would have had to have one engine running to transmit. For a variety of technical reasons, she would have likely been transmitting on 6210 kilocycles high on the AM band which was her day time frequency. There is a remote chance she was broadcasting on 3105 kilocycles her night time radio frequency. We would like everyone's help. We are going to attempt to duplicate that 1937 transmission from this remote island. We will use Earhart's identifying call sign of KHAQQ to begin the broadcast. We will broadcast twice: at 12:30 pm or 1230 hours Eastern Standard Time (EST) and again at 1:00 pm EST or 1300 hours on two successive days, December 15, and 16th, 2016. The first broadcast will be on 6210 kilocycles and will last for one minute. We will repeat the message twice, two minutes apart. After the third transmission on 6210 kilocycles, there will be a three minute pause and we will then broadcast the same message on 3105 kilocycles for one minute, three times, with a two minute delay after each message. We know this is a long shot. We can't duplicate the atmospheric conditions from July 1937 and there is so much more RF interference in 2016. But it is worth a try. We are asking everyone having a receiver capable of listening to this broadcast to tune in on these frequencies. Whether you have an old 1930's radio, or a modern radio with short wave capabilities, keep your cell phone cameras and video cameras ready to capture the moment. Flash the camera on your set and then to yourself while you record our broadcast. If you're lucky enough to pick up the transmission, you will likely get five seconds of fame on a future TV documentary. If you do receive our Earhart recreated broadcast and capture the message on your cell phone camera or camcorder, call us on site in the Marshall Islands via satellite phone. That number is: 011-881-651-463-951. Please pass this message on to any other radio groups, forums, or interested friends. Schedule: December 15, and 16, 2016 (All times EST) +5 for GMT 6210 Kilocycles: 12:30 pm – 12:32 pm – 12:34 pm 3105 Kilocycles: 12:37 pm – 12:39 pm – 12:41 pm 6210 Kilocycles: 1:00 pm – 1:02 pm – 1:04 pm 3105 Kilocycles: 1:07 pm – 1:09 pm – 1:11 pm Les Kinney, lgkinney@yahoo.com Posted by: (Mike Barraclough, Dec 11, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DXLD) at first I suspected a pirate radio project in the US :-), but the research of Mr. Les Kinney is also mentioned in a story published online by WSU (without the radio part): https://magazine.wsu.edu/2015/11/06/still-searching-for-amelia/ discussions going on there: http://forums.qrz.com/index.php?threads/marshall-island-and-amelia-earharts-sos-transmissions-sending-again.547307/ 73 (Harald DL1ABJ Kuhl, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) How odd; surely such a test, to have any form of validity, should be done in early July. There is just no comparing propagation paths between July and December on HF! (Steve VE7SL, IRCA via DXLD) To state the obvious? 3 and 6 MHz transmissions are not going to be heard from the other side of the world around noon in the Eastern time zone, summer or winter; also 50 watts? How about in UT? 1730-1811. This is just before sunrise at 1822 UT according to gaisma.com. So try hearing it on the dark side to the west of Mili or along the grayline. At latitude +6 there is only about half an hour variation in SR/SS times thruout the year (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Several attempts were made by DXLDers on the darkside or with remote receivers with no success that I am aware of. Details next DXLD. Meanwhile: There are now 44 pages of discussion about this on the QRZ.com forum: http://forums.qrz.com/index.php?threads/marshall-island-and-amelia-earharts-sos-transmissions-sending-again.547307/ starting with lot of contention about whether the operation was legal or not. Later discussions of propagation, and speculation as Don brought up about possible harmonix. Apparently no one heard it. I`m just spot checking. Plowing thru all 44 pages is a bit much for me, but if anyone does and can pull out significant bits, have at it (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 650, unidentified. 1142 December 4, 2016. WSM and the always wobbling Progreso both partly nulled, with the mystery "I Dream Of Jeannie" Mexican, first noted October 22, still here, and at least now confirmed a Mexican, with national anthem from 1158, the usual female canned imaging and probably an ID, then the IJOD theme, which is also inserted between almost every Mexi-tune. Also, again on December 6 at 1100 with IDOJ right at top of the hour (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 720, Dec 10 at 0157, ``Continuamos en El Fonógrafo 700-20 AM`` non-ID, overcoming WGN, another Chicagoan attenuated by auroral conditions. When this happens I keep hoping to hear something deeper, such as R. Católica in Nicaragua; El Fonógrafo is only XEJCC Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, 25 kW daytimer until 0200 per IRCA Mexican Log 2015; 1 kW per WRTH 2016, both as ``Extremo 720``. Let`s hope both catch up with current name in new editions out shortly (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 780, Dec 10 at 0134, Spanish station is over WBBM in auroral conditions, plug for a torneo de pesca (fishing tournament), federal PSAs, non-ID as ``La Poderosa, 103.7 FM, 780-AM``, into music. That all fits for XESFT, San Fernando, Tamaulipas, 5/1 kW. Also mentioned Victoria, i.e. the state capital, Ciudad Victoria; on the NRD-545 with fixed antenna; at 0156 recheck on the rotatable DX-398, separable from WBBM (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. RAYMIE`S MEXICO BEAT this week --- [including DTV] ¡Vamos rumbo a Nuevo Laredo! XHCTNL-TDT RF 35 now shows up in the FCC database. 143 kW ERP from 27 29'12.2", -99 30'5.6" which happens to be near the Imagen Radio studios and Multimedios's existing stick. For those unaware, XHTLN 94.1 FM was formerly owned by Multimedios and it is possible that Imagen and Multimedios have an existing infrastructure partnership there. The two are pretty close physically, and Imagen's studios do not have a separate tower (Raymie Humbert, Phœnix AZ, Dec 8, WTFDA Forums via DXLD) Licitación IFT-6 could be a boon to companies with preexisting infrastructure for transmitter sites. Itzel Castañares for El Economista explains http://mediatelecom.com.mx/index.php/radiodifusion/television/item/125567-los-otros-ganadores-de-la-licitaci%C3%B3n-de-tv that Televisa, along with American Tower (which rents Azteca's sticks for telecom purposes), will be well positioned to provide transmission infrastructure to many of the 148 new stations that emerge. Using Televisa's quality sites could help new broadcasters save money. Meanwhile, a proposed new bill http://mediatelecom.com.mx/index.php/radiodifusion/radio/item/125799-aprueban-cambios-a-publicidad-en-radios-ind%C3%ADgenas made it out of the Radio and Television Commission of the Chamber of Deputies. This new law would modify the LFTR to allow community and indigenous stations, which have been concerned about the inability to generate revenue, to sell ad time to "culturally pertinent" advertisers. However, the commission did not pursue Morena's proposal to award these stations more than 1 percent of the federal government advertising budget (Raymie, Dec 9, ibid.) When something appears in the DOF and it's important but you don't see it for four days: http://diariooficial.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=5464041&fecha=05/12/2016 That's a shutoff order for more tiny analog stations and shadows. What's interesting: none of them are in digital (though the list includes XHUS, so who knows). Several other shadows are in digital but the people they serve did not clear the 90% threshold. XHBVT - Gómez Farías and Namiquipa, Chih. XHCCH - Guerrero, Matachí and Temósachi, Chih. XHNCG - Janos, Chih. XHIGN - Apaxtla de Castrejón, Arcelia and Ciudad Altamirano (Pungarabato), Gro. XHIGG - Ajuchitlán, Apaxtla de Castrejón, Arcelia, Cuetzala and Tlapehuala XHCHN - Alpoyeca, Chilapa, Huamuxtitlán and Tlapa de Comonfort, Gro. XHCK - Chilapa, Gro. XHCER - Tlapa de Comonfort, Gro. XHHLO - Alpoyeca, Huamuxtitlán and Tlapa de Comonfort, Gro.; San Miguel Ahuehuetitlán, Silacayoapan and Tlaxiaco, Oax. XHTFL - Amatlán de Cañas, Coaxtecomate, Ixtlán del Río, Rosario and Tetitlán, Nay. XHTEN - Amatlán de Cañas, Coaxtecomate, Ixtlán del Río, Las Varas, Tetitlán and La Peñita, Nay. What's more, XHCMC Marqués de Comillas, Chis. (Chiapas state network) not only isn't in digital, but its service area failed to clear 90%. So that ran on Monday 12/5. On Thursday 12/1, another part ran http://diariooficial.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=5463321&fecha=01/12/2016 with details of many, many shadows. Some stations are going to be gone for good, as the holders have opted to cancel their permits or their shadows. These are: XHNNT-TV, XHLBA-TV, XHJBH-TV, XHJCE-TV, XHSJP-TV and XHSST-TV, in the Oaxaca state network (I don't think transition was ever planned for these) Shadow XEWO-TV at Acatlán de Juárez, Amatitán, Chapala, Cocula, Cuquío, El Arenal, Guachinango, Jalostotitlán, Jocotepec, Mixtlán, Quitupan, San Cristóbal de la Barranca, San Gabriel, Tamazula de Gordiano, Tecolotlán, Tenamaxtlán, Teocuitatlán de Corona and Tequila, Jalisco and Mezquital del Oro and Moyahua, Zacatecas Shadow XHDI/XHDUH at Colonia Los Remedios, Emiliano Zapata (XHDI only) and San José de la Parrilla, all in Durango. The first one makes sense as Televisa Durango now uses the Los Remedios site for digital transmissions. In analog, the main station was Cerro de la Minita. Shadow XHGVC at Las Choapas, Ver. Shadow XHPAO at San Pedro Tapanatepec, Oax. Shadow XHSCC and XHSNC at Tila, Chis. Shadow XHTEN at Uzeta, Nay. Shadow XHZAP at Zacapoaxtla, Pue. (Raymie, Dec 9, ibid.) The entire Oaxaca state FM network at some point had a permit discontinuity. I know this because one of the classic side effects of permit discontinuity is an unexpected, otherwise unexplainable callsign change. Every single one of the Oaxaca state FM stations has this. Turns out the ghosts of two dead callsigns live on — in that they're not used for otherwise expected AM-FM migrants. XHEOA-FM Oaxaca isn't XHOA --- because that used to be 96.9 (now XHAOX). XHESJC in San José del Cabo couldn't get the XHSJC-FM callsign because it belonged to one of the repeaters. There's also a second averted double callsign. XHMAR-FM was assigned to Acapulco as a combo and Mariscala de Juárez as a repeater. The second is now XHMAJ (Raymie, Dec 11, ibid.) Today we're going to talk about one of those radio families. You know, a family with a bunch of radio stations, generally in the same region, and sometimes prone to succession disputes. This year, we've covered such stories as the succession dispute at XEMS, in which a court ruled that the heirs from the owner's first marriage were also entitled to the estate. In 2013, however, it was a different radio family in Veracruz that decided to split up their empire: the Malpica Valverde family. The History XHPR-FM 101.3 (now 101.7) was the first FM station in the port of Veracruz (though not the first in the entire state, a title belonging to XEOM/XHOM-FM), receiving its concession in 1965. In March 1970, it was joined by XHPB-FM 99.7, and in 1976 XHRN-FM was awarded to complete the triangle. In the 1980s and 1990s, Grupo FM burst into other areas of the state. It bought XHTD-FM in Coatzacoalcos and built and signed on two new stations: XHTXA-FM in Tuxpan, originally known as Calor 93, and "Laser 89" XHFTI-FM Fortín/Córdoba. With its six stations, Grupo FM was among the top dogs in Veracruz radio. It covered all the large radio markets in the state. In the 80s, Félix Malpica Valverde began hosting a program called Líderes de Opinión, still on the air. In 1991, Mario, who was relatively separate from the family business, took up radio himself: he built XHSAV-FM in San Andrés Tuxtla. So what happened? Well, it looks like there was a fight among brothers. In 2013, Félix and Francisco Adolfo split up the business into two components. http://www.blog.expediente.mx/nota.php?nId=2954 Félix retained Grupo FM, with three stations: XHPB, XHPR and XHTXA. XHPR was sold this year to Grupo Radio Digital. Francisco Adolfo started Radio Networks, owning XHRN, XHFTI and XHTD. (Grupo Radio Digital also acquired XHTD this year.) The article also describes Grupo FM: "Grupo FM is infamous among reporters for paying the worst salaries for reporters across the state, with a monthly salary barely reaching 4,000 pesos. The news director, who often doubles as a reporter, gets 10,000 pesos a month." (Raymie, Dec 11, ibid.) On the opposite coast from Veracruz, one of the year's saddest broadcasting sagas continues to drag on. That's right, there's more news in the XHK saga. https://colectivopericu.net/2016/12/12/es-mi-opinion-535/ This time, it looks like the bankruptcy liquidation has resulted in the forced eviction of what's left. The existing buildings on the Radio and Television Center site will likely be demolished as the property is sold to one of the defunct station's more prominent creditors by a judge's order. Apparently this money won't be used to pay some of the back wages for the workers either. Max Rodríguez, who has been the singular source for coverage of this unusual event in Mexican TV history — the first death of a commercial, properly licensed TV station perhaps ever, with no replacement — points to the SITATYR union, which like other Mexican unions has been trying to prevent strikes. The best use for this parcel of land is probably not broadcasting. Just take a look at the site — and the incredible views it has. https://www.google.com/maps/@24.1725036,-110.3042383,3a,75y,73.68h,110.64t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sutaCez7uwlC5_r7qsCM65w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 The creditor will probably find a good market among developers for the Radio and Television Center parcel and get his money back. There will still, however, be an operating broadcast station at Colina del Sol: XHNT-FM, among the last pieces of Francisco King Rondero's broadcast empire to survive in any form, even if it is little more than Radio Fórmula for BCS. Upon migration, the FM facility was placed on the XENT-AM tower site just north of the Radio and Television Center (Raymie, Dec 12, ibid.) Thursday [Dec 15 is one of the two final apagón dates. Stations that are actually ready will leave the air, such as the TV4 state network in Guanajuato (transmitters outside of León did not convert last year). The stations going on Thursday are in the Guanajuato, Jalisco, Tlaxcala and Oaxaca state networks, plus a few other odds and ends: *XHGAC-TV *XHGAT-TV *XHGCO-TV *XHGCN-TV *XHDLG-TV *XHGDM-TV *XHATO-TV *XHGHU-TV *XHGJE-TV *XHGOC-TV *XHGPE-TV *XHGSA-TV *XHGDU-TV *XHGSF-TV *XHGJI-TV *XHGLP-TV *XHGSM-TV *XHSMA-TV *XHGSC-TV *XHGJR-TV *XHGMV-TV *XHGTD-TV *XHGTA-TV *XHGTI-TV *XHGVK-TV *XHGXI-TV *XHGZG-TV *XHTLO-TV *XHSXL-TV *XHTCL-TV *XHSPM-TV *XHFCQ-TV *XHCVP-TV *XHBZC-TV *XHGPV-TV *XHNEA-TV *XHCTH-TV *XHCRP-TV *XHJZA-TV *XHAOX-TV *XHJBT-TV *XHSCJ-TV *XHPOX-TV *XHAPF-TV *XHCPO-TV *XHUJZ-TV *XHSGX-TV *XHSPT-TV *XHSMI-TV There are also reams of Televisa shadows (Raymie, Dec 13, ibid.) FM Shadow Hunting While attempting to find XHRRA Stereo Fresnillo, I instead came face to face with a paragraph whose wording is peculiar in the authorization to migrate XHYQ to FM. http://rpc.ift.org.mx/rpc/pdfs/090252648002ae44.pdf Note clause number 7 and the wording --- "corresponde a la misma ubicación en que actualmente se encuentra instalado un equipo de la estación XHZER-FM, sitio que fue autorizado por la Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil ... mediante oficio de fecha 27 de octubre de 2009". There are similar words in some AM-FM auths, notably XHVUC-FM http://rpc.ift.org.mx/rpc/pdfs/090252648002bb35.pdf (this is how we know XHVUC's exact coordinates because we have XHVUN). But those say that the station itself is installed there, not that "un equipo" (equipment, or potentially an equipo complementario). Indeed, scouring some Cofetel meeting minutes (they did it differently from the IFT, which is actually a good thing) reveals that not only is there a shadow XHZER in Fresnillo, there's one at Jerez. http://jmp.sh/1AW7EOY XHZER is already one of the highest-powered stations in the country, with 100 kW ERP. (Then again, so is XHNUC.) I've also found the identity of the Sonora shadow, but I'm not sure where exactly it is. It belongs to XHFL in Ciudad Obregón. http://jmp.sh/5AfcQ1P Potentially for Navojoa? This one might require contacting Uniradio to pin down. I do think I'm onto something location-wise. The March 2016 Cuadro says there are 7 FM shadows in Quintana Roo (which are all, but maybe one, XHNUC-FM), two in Zacatecas (shadow XHZER Fresnillo and Jerez) and one in Sonora (shadow XHFL). We also know of three new FM shadows authorized by the IFT in recent years, two in Jalisco (shadow XEAD and XETIA Ajijic) and another in Veracruz (shadow XHRRR Tecolula). Last edited by Raymie; 12-14-2016 at 05:58 PM. (Raymie, Dec 14, ibid.) MegaRadio has expanded to Culiacán and has done so by taking two of Radiorama's stations: XHWS 102.5 (flipping from Los 40 to Switch FM) and XHENZ 92.9 (flipping from La Sinaloense to Magia Digital). Este programa es público, ajeno a cualquier partido político. Queda prohibido el uso para fines distintos a los establecidos en el programa. [taglines] Read the Mexico Beat | VC-Day is October 27. Follow all the new virtual channel assignments http://forums.wtfda.org/showthread.php?10958-Mexican-virtual-channel-assignments-after-VC-Day (Raymie, Dec 14, ibid.) ** MONGOLIA. 210.2 LW, Ulaanbaatar, Oegly, 0040, Dec 10, Mongolian, pop songs and DJ in Mongolian, news at 0100 // 161.1 (here with whistle from France) – first ever to catch them on LW, on SW 4830 at 0045 another music programme which was // presumed on 4895 under another, Brasilian (?) station, (the reception on LW was with rod antenna plus near coaxial cable from Folded Marconi antenna 16 meters long and rx Sony ICF2001D), 25342 (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria, DSWCI DX Window final edition! Dec 14 via DXLD) ** MYANMAR. 5914.991, MRMS Naypyidaw, S=9+20dB in southern Sri Lanka remote SDR unit. At 1218 UT on Dec 10. Female local pop singer heard. Underneath but poor signal co-channel CRI Mongolian language service, from Huhhot broadcast center. [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 10, dxldyg via DXLD) ** NEWFOUNDLAND. 2598-USB, Dec 9 at 0021, YL voice in English with marine weather, S9 peaks, but noise level is S8. CCG schedule shows starting at 0007 is VCP Placentia, via St John`s transmitter site. Nothing now on 2749-USB from NS (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA. 7254.939, Voice of Nigeria, seemingly from newer Abuja transmitter site, nice clear audio modulation, so - not the very old Ikorodu site equipment in use at this hour. S=9+10dB or -69dBm , excellent audio, at 0615 UT on Dec 9 WeAfrican drums folk music heard. [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, Dec 9 df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews via DXLD) ** NIGERIA [non]. FRANCE, No signal of Manara Radio via TDF, Dec 12 0730-0830 on 15440 ISS 150 kW / 170 deg to WeAf Hausa 1600-1700 on 17765 ISS 150 kW / 170 deg to WeAf Hausa http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/12/no-signal-of-manara-radio-via-tdf.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORFOLK ISLAND. [Summer sporadic E DX, small excerpts]: 89.9, Radio Norfolk. ID as “Radio Norfolk” 2214 with birthday messages, song by 21 Pilots, not bad 26/11 93.9, ABC FM, Norfolk Island. In and out with 2ABCRN Tamworth, orchestral piece 2228, fair 26/11 (Craig Seager, Bathurst NSW (Perseus & FM+ converter, FM8 Yagi with rotator, broadband 18dB preamp, Dec-Jan Australian DX News via DXLD) ** NORTH AMERICA. 6150, PIRATE (NA) R. Iluminati. While watching the band in the display, saw this come on with OC at 1630:40, then nice ID/IS routine of IDs over beginning of “Bitter Fingers” by Elton John played over and over. 1634-1637 “Soul and Inspiration” by The Righteous Brothers. 1637-1639 started “Bend Me, Shape Me” but was having trouble with the signal going off. 1639 “Love Is All Around” by The Troggs. Second only to 6070 CFRX in strength. Good strength and nice audio. S9+10 at 1641. A pleasant coincidence I was tuned to the band when this came on. A video of the reception can be found at https://youtu.be/ZpW9_gVfBFk (Dave Valko, Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Perseus SDR, 313’ Beverage (BOG) aimed at 60 , Duration: 1415-2100 UT Dec 4, HCDX via DXLD) ** NORTH AMERICA. YHWH on 4865 kHz --- He's doing his thing tonight on the low side of 4,865 kHz. Rather rough modulation but fairly good signal at 0310 UT via an online SDR in Idaho. 73, (Andy Robins, Kalamazoo, Michigan USA, UT Dec 8, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) S7-S8 copy here in West Michigan since about 0305 UT, very good signal despite an audible het present (from Brazil?). 73, (Tim Tromp, ibid.) 4865.0, Dec 8 at 0402, [Station YHWH] is JBA here now, tnx tips from Tim Tromp and Andy Robins in MI in the previous hour. And also heard by Ron Howard in CA who says he was still on at 0410 but unreadable (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1855, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I got on here late. Starting at 0404: have a guy on 4865 talking about "globalists" and "lying politicians". Good, and full S-9 on peaks. 73 from the desert southwest (Rick Barton, AZ, ibid.) 4865-AM, religious pirate (formerly known as "Radio Station YHWH"), Dec 8, at 0319, with Joshua's very distinctive voice, but just above threshold level audio; mostly unusable; still on at 0410; never improved enough to be readable. Others have noted decent reception tonight, so indeed he must be located outside Calif. now; reception was best in USB (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Just caught the tail end, with his goodbye and I love you (eech!) at 0415:40. Very good reception via Don Moman's receiver near Edmonton. But, the Brazilian was also very well heard tonight, as well. 73 (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, 0418 UT Dec 8, ibid.) YHWH [tentative], 7410 kHz, 0306 UT 12/9/2016 --- Carrier just came up on 7410 at 0303 UT with very weak spoken word that sounds like the YHWH guy. Poor copy tonight compared to the last few nights. 73, (Tim Tromp, West Michigan, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yep, it's him, Tim. Just tuned in at 0343 UT. A very distinctive voice. Actually better heard here than on 60 m. Fair to good reception into Victoria. Checked Don Moman's receivers, but just barely audible into Edmonton. Also several other US Perseus SDRs, and my reception much better. Nothing heard in Eastern North America. On tonight on 7410, with same boring diatribe, and "I love you" at sign-off at 0415:40 tonight. Better into Victoria on 41 m vs 60 m the last several nights. 73, (Walt Salmaniw, BC, ibid.) 7410-AM, religious pirate (formerly known as "Radio Station YHWH"). Dec 9, ex: yesterday's 4865-AM; first noted with totally unreadable signal at 0327, but reception steadily improved till 0415*, when was mostly readable; today identical to my Nov 27 reception on this same frequency, except out of sync with that by being five minutes earlier today. The major difference today was after the usual recorded "I love you. Till next time," "Joshua" seemed to be live, which did not happen with my Nov 27 reception. Today he said something like this: Yes indeed, I thank you personally right now for tuning in. You could have been watching TV. You could have been studying for an hour or whatever, or reading a book or doing something else, but no... I appreciate it, as does Yahweh. See you tomorrow (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Religious pirate (formerly known as "Radio Station YHWH"), on Dec 10. 7405-AM, random checking 0349-0357* (off in mid-sentence) & *0403 to past 0526; usual presentation; much better than recently heard; at 0432 thought he was going to sign off with "I love you" format, but instead started another recording. 7410-AM, found here at 0401 till 0403*; so for some reason he briefly switched away from 7405 (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. 6925, PIRATE, R. Free Whatever. 2013 big signal old time oldie “Look At Him Now”. 2020 “Radio Free Whatever Time Wrap”. Strong. A video of the reception can be found at https://youtu.be/0V0RJhCnq3A (Dave Valko, Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Perseus SDR, 313’ Beverage (BOG) aimed at 60 , Duration: 1415-2100 UT Dec 4, HCDX via DXLD) ** NORTH AMERICA. 6925.04-AM, Dec 10 at 2133, pirate already audible here, music with heavy disco beat at S9+5, somewhat undermodulated, and carrier wobbling. Still same at 2149 but a little stronger to S9+10. Several logs here, all from further east, say it was Channel Z with an Xmas show, Blondie; none with a precise frequency, just 6925: https://www.hfunderground.com/board/index.php?topic=31553.0 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. 6931.50-USB, Dec 11 at 0102, lucky to hear Radio Free Euphoria ID just as I tune in, S7 vs about equal noise level. Only one log of it here, from William Hassig near Chicago, 6931.6v: https://www.hfunderground.com/board/index.php?topic=31563.0 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. 6940-USB, Dec 11 at 0102, unID pirate music at S9. No logs of this at HFU. Soon gone as were the others by 0145. 6950.90-AM, Dec 11 at 0102, unID pirate music at S6 below noise level. A couple logs here on same exact frequency say it was a new pirate, Lee County Radio. https://www.hfunderground.com/board/index.php?topic=31561.0 If that`s really the name (they were not 100% sure), where are there Lee counties? First, don`t forget Lea County in SE NM (Hobbs, Lovington). As for Lee: AL, AR, FL, GA, IA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TX, VA. That narrows it down! We sure know why so many southern states have Lee counties, but IA? Wikipedia says: ``There is no agreement about the derivation of the name "Lee." It has been variously proposed that the county was named for Marsh, Delevan & Lee, of Albany, New York, and the 'New York Land Company', who owned extensive interests in the Half-Breed Tract in the 1830s; Robert E. Lee, who surveyed the Des Moines Rapids; or Albert Lea, who helped explore the interior of Iowa`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, Looks like it was indeed Lee County Radio based on the QSL, but no confirmation as to which Lee County :) https://www.hfunderground.com/board/index.php/topic,31589.0.html (Chris Smolinski, MD, Dec 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. 1210, Dec 8 at 0546 UT, KGYN Guymon with C&W tune, tear- in-beer, NOT Xmasmx, despite appearing on a list of stations going all-Xmas, originating in NRC DX News and quoted by Steve Whitt, UK in the MWCircle yg. Of course, *some* Xmasmx could be playing but not all-out. And also KGYN is obviously still violating its requirement to protect Philadelphia at night. Recheck at 1321 UT, ``Today`s Country 1210 KGYN`` ID, after 9-degree-F temp check [official low was 2; now 20 in Enid] (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, KGYN was not in any list of XMAS mx players in DX News. In Issue 6 there was a mention of KGYN playing a Christmas song in DDXD- W. I also heard them playing a C&W version of Silent Night about midnight (MST) on 12/8. Have no idea where Steve got “a list” on XMAS stuff was in my column. 73 (Wayne Heinen, CO, Editor AM Radio Log, ibid.) ** OKLAHOMA. 13550, Dec 9 at 1830, weak signal mixing two modulations, red flag as a local overload/external mixing product between a strong SW signal from elsewhere, and an Enid MW station: exactly: 13550 minus 1390 KCRC = 12160 WWCR (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OMAN. 6190, BBC (relay) 1724 with M play by play of soccer game, // 17780. One of the signals on 49m seen right through the mid-day (Dave Valko, Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Perseus SDR, 313’ Beverage (BOG) aimed at 60 , Duration: 1415-2100 UT Dec 4, HCDX via DXLD) ** OMAN. 9540, Radio Sultanate of Oman. 30/10 & 20/11 in English at *0300-0400*, confirmed also at *1400-1500* on 15140 (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria (Sony ICF-2001D, Folded Marconi ant own made), Dec Australian DX News via DXLD) 15140, R. Sultanate of Oman 1449 Pop/Dance music, 1451 M in English with song announcement then talk about European Soccer sounding almost like a NA Pirate. Strong but low modulation (Dave Valko, Micro- DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Perseus SDR, 313’ Beverage (BOG) aimed at 60 , Duration: 1415-2100 UT Dec 4, HCDX via DXLD) [and non]. 15140, Dec 8 at 1516, S9+10 open carrier, really too strong for RSO, but makes a slight SAH with JBA talk underneath, which is presumably RSO in Arabic. Nothing else scheduled now; possibly CUBA which does not start programming on 15140 until 1800, or an IBB GB test, or who knows? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 13600.500 very odd 500 Hertz exact frequency, maybe a finger glitch on the keyboard? Radio Oman in Arabic, S=9+35dB powerhouse observed in Qatar. Radio magazine talk by male and female at 0612 UT on Dec 10. 20 kHz wide excellent audio signal (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 10 via DXLD) Can`t be coincidental that their 15140 has also been showing up +0.5~ kHz high! (gh, DXLD) Radio Sultanate of Oman in English then Arabic and again English, Dec 10 1400-1500 on 15140 THU 100 kW / 315 deg to WeEu, bad/low modulation in English: http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/12/rsultanate-of-oman-in-english-then.html Poor signal of Radio Sultanate of Oman on odd 15140.6 kHz, Dec 12: 1400-1500 on 15140.6 THU 100 kW / 315 deg to WeEu English, low modulation http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/12/poor-signal-of-radio-sultanate-of-oman.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15140.50, Dec 12 at 1520, S5 carrier, and nothing on 15140.00, so suspect this is RSO off-frequency. [Almost] agreed by Ivo Ivanov [above, {but his readout(s)/estimates must be 0.1 kHz high}] (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15140.505, Dec 13 at 1423, S7 signal but JBM with music, R. Sultanate of Oman during alleged English hour, still off-frequency (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15140.502 kHz measured on Dec 13 at 1630 UT noted only weak S=5-6 signal here in southern Germany (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 13, dxldyg via DXLD) Good signal of Radio Sultanate of Oman on strange frequency 15140.6, Dec 13: 1400-1500 15140.6 THU 100 kW / 315 deg to WeEu English, but again low modulation from 1500 15140.6 THU 100 kW / 315 deg to WeEu Arabic, bad propagation condition http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/12/good-signal-of-radio-sultanate-of-oman.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15140.504, Dec 14 at 1517, JBA carrier, RSO still2 off-frequency, give or take a Hz or two. Makes *almost* same-pitch het, BFO stepping between 15140 and 15141 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN. 7265, Azad Kashmir R. 1209, simple M vocal subcontinental singing to 1218. Found // that heard on Aussie web receivers. Into a song at 1218 with wailing vocal. Faded just enough after 1220 to make it really difficult. Of course China came on at 1230. 5 Dec. 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop and 153 foot Delta Loop, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) Radio Pakistan is also something I will attempt to log once I'm in Saudi Arabia in Feb. Has anybody logged them on the West Coast US? (Ed Sylvester, CA, Dec 10, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Ed, AKR, on 7265, I know is still active, although not often I get them with above threshold level audio; mostly just open carrier. You should have a good chance at reception. Good luck! RP, on 15485, I have not checked this year, so do not know what is up with their reception. Please note the following logs. Happy Holidays! (Ron Howard, ibid.) 2016 log: PAKISTAN. 7265, Azad Kashmir Radio, 1223-1230, Aug 30. Very much appreciate Dave Valko's help in confirming I am hearing AKR, as he was listening via remote today and heard same type of music (repetitive) as I was. Nice to have it confirmed AKR does not sign off at 1215*, as per Aoki. Am hearing this much stronger than last year! After 1230 is unusable due to CNR2 signing on with strong signal (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 2015 log: My audio clip of Radio Pakistan IS - http://goo.gl/qNp0uH --- PAKISTAN. 15485, Radio Pakistan, 1329, May 24. Heard their IS, thus confirming it's them; 1330 into programming in assume Urdu. Very pleased to have caught their IS, as it should be noted that their sign on time varies a great deal! Thanks very much to Noel Green, who is very knowledgeable about R. Pakistan, for listening to my audio clip and commenting - "yes, that's their well known IS, and very good reception considering that 15485 is intended for the Middle East/ NoAfrica !!! The station appears to be on air more regularly at present using just one transmitter. I'm tuned to 15485 as I type and Pakistan has now emerged from beneath CNR-1 jamming Voice of Tibet at fair strength - REE is on air on 15490 and causing some side splash. This at 1430UT++" (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, E1 & CR-1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Ed, Please note recent reception of 7265 kHz.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if5wpU5wRlI "00:03 - 03:35 National Anthem of Kashmir" I think it does sound like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enArE2IYoxE and certainly not the Radio Pakistan IS. I confess to being less than an expert. If you like, please check with the real expert about what is currently active from Pakistan: Noel Green (Ron Howard, cc to DXLD) Ed, Nothing from R. Pakistan on WCNA for a long time – best bet for Islamabad would be the clandestine broadcast, V of Kashmir and Jammu Freedom, targeting India on 7265 (recently heard by Wolfy during the nominal 0500-0630 slot and beyond -early morning in W. Europe). Don’t know if Pakistan BC is even active on SW any more. But, I have an excellent book on the history of Radio Pakistan, written by Nihal Ahmad (Oxford Press 2005), Hi! I was able to log the PBC Quetta site on or near 5025 from a receiver in Scandinavia around 2005 (Bruce Churchill, CA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Azad Kashmir Radio relays mostly R. Pakistan. Also V of Jammu & Kashmir Freedom Movement shares this frequency (Mauno Ritola, Finland, ibid.) There are so few references and regular insights from the subcontinental and Indian 'DX community' these days, about the remaining actual Pakistan and Afghan broadcast programs. Only Jose Jacob_VU2JOS tells news from India to the world audience. wb (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) For everyone`s consideration: Please note recent reception, in Japan, of 7265 kHz.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if5wpU5wRlI "00:03 - 03:35 National Anthem of Kashmir" (Ron Howard, ibid.) Log of Dec 10 - Radio Pakistan 7265 kHz, noted on remote SDR installation at Doha Qatar, Arab peninsula: The item of Radio Pakistan in page 483 on WRTH 2017 issue is correct. 7265 even frequency of Islamabad heard in 0500-0630 UT time slot, but also heard further more later in 0630-0650 time slot. Program stopped, and Islamabad transmitter switched off at 0649:10 UT today Dec 10. Girls Childrens hour noted at 0610 to 0630 UT, Saturday Dec 10. S=9+10dB or -62dBm, later on daytime path - after 0640 UT - signal did fade down in strength. Political interview on Afghanistan matter at 0630-0634 UT. Followed by male singer - solo, without music instruments (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 10 via DXLD) 7265.01, 1357-1435* 10.12, CLANDESTINE, Voice of Jammu and Kashmir Freedom Movement, Islamabad Kashmiri talk and songs, heard after CRI in Hindi s/off at 1357*, 25232, Hamburger Lokalradio was not heard. AP-DNK Best 73, (Anker Petersen, Denmark, I heard these stations this afternoon on my AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, wbradio yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DXLD) ** PERU. 5980, R. CHASKI. Diciembre 8. 0051-0101 UT. Se escucha una voz femenina dando anuncios ¿?. La modulación no es buena y al parecer no es la programación acostumbrada. SINPO: 35322. Desde las 0100 con SINPO: 32322 con splatters de WRMI-Brother Stair desde 5985. 5980. R.CHASKI. Diciembre 9. 0008-0019 UT. Se escucha a una mujer hablando en chino, de manera clara. No obstante, no hay listados que permitan saber qué emisora es. Tampoco hay rastros de Radio Chaski o alguna otra emisora peruana. ¿Estará activa? Según la información entregada por Glenn Hauser, podría tratarse de PBS Gannan [5979] 5980, R. CHASKI. Diciembre 10. La emisora fue monitoreada en varios horarios: 2204-2210 UT. Interferencia de 5975 de CRI en Chino. 2305-2310 UT. No hay portadora (Claudio Galaz Toledo, RECEIVER: TECSUN PL-660, ANT: Hilo de 40 metros, QTH: Barraza Bajo, comuna de Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, codiglista yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DXLD) [non]. 5980, Dec 13 at 0040, NO signal from R. Chaski when there is normally a JBA carrier prior to 0100+v*. Also was not any Dec 11 at 0103 check, but could have reset autotimer earlier again. We`ll have to see if Claudio Galaz or anyone is still hearing it before 2400. I do, however, detect a JJBA carrier on 5979.0 from that off-frequency Chinese (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES. One of the things I'm enjoying about all of these online SDR receivers is the ability to clearly receive stations that stubbornly refuse to propagate into my neck of the woods. Radyo Pilipinas (the "Voice of the Philippines") in Manila is a case in point. It's English-language broadcast on 19 and 16 meters from 0200 to 0330 UTC just doesn't cut it here in Michigan. But DZRP puts a great signal into South Korea, as this recording of the segment "It's More Fun in the Philippines" demonstrates. This was at 0300 UTC on 17,820 kHz (Tinang) via a KiwiSDR receiver at Anyang. Note that Radyo Pilipinas still announces its call letters. It's about the only international station that does so (Radio Thailand's call HSK9 shows up in print sometimes but I can't recall them announcing it on-air, at least recently). DZRP Radyo Pilipinas - 17820kHz - 0300UTC - 120916 DXLDYG https://soundcloud.com/andy-robins-436370472/dzrp-radyo-pilipinas-17820khz-0300utc-120916 73, (Andy Robins, Kalamazoo, Michigan USA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PUNTLAND. Dear DX fellows, in the past few weeks, a few stations caught my attention which seemed to be in a way underreported in the list. I did not do really systematic, daily monitoring, but a few things might be worth reporting: A schedule was recently published by the QSL manager or whatever he is, giving the times of 0330-0600 and 1000-1600 UT on 13800. Some reports caused confusion on the time slot 1400+ [rather 1430+ gh] when a mixup with R. Tamazuj/R. Dabanga is possible. Actually I did not tune in very frequently, but I can certainly confirm that activity is very sporadic at daytime. Throughout the last two weeks I checked the frequency approx. five to eight times between 1000 and 1400 and found it active only ONCE. 73 (Thorsten Hallmann, Münster, Germany, http://www.muenster.org/uwz/ms-alt/africalist/ dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. 4996, RWM, 2039 CW IDs, then time ticks on the subsequent minutes. Quite strong and surprised to find it here. A video of the reception can be found at https://youtu.be/QJPDHXO33mg (Dave Valko, Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Perseus SDR, 313’ Beverage (BOG) aimed at 60 , Duration: 1415-2100 UT Dec 4, HCDX via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Poor and weak signal of Comintern Radio, Dec 13 1415 & 1455 on 6209.8 VOR 001 kW / non-dir to EaEu, songs http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/12/poor-and-weak-signal-of-comintern-radio.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RWANDA [non]. Again no signal from R. Itahuka via MBR Issoudun Dec 10: 1700-1800 on 17870 ISS 100 kW / 144 deg to CeAf Kinyarwanda Sat 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAO TOME E PRINCIPE. 13860, Dec 9 at 1833, S5 signal with talk, in English? HFCC shows VOA ``sna`` = Shona at 1800-1900 M-F. But Aoki confirms that the final half hour M-F of the 1700-1900 UT Zimbabwe service is in fact English; the rest of it a complex rotation of Shona, Ndebele and English in 20-minute segments (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAUDI ARABIA. Duba 1521 back on again? This has to be them. They are strong. Mostly talk and it seemed Arabic to me. Heard about 5 pm [EST] on my Elad FDM-S2 with 1520 notched. http://forums.wtfda.org/showthread.php?11104-I-think-duba-1521-is-back-on-12-12-16&p=42031#post42031 (Mike Bugaj, Enfield, CT, 2310 UT Dec 12, WTFDA MWDX gg via DXLD) 1521 is LOUD and CLEAR!!! Welcome back Duba (Bill Nollman, 2320 UT, ibid.) 2 megawatts nominally, even reaches OK (gh, DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA. 9695.037, Dec 14 at 1409, weak talk, off-frequency typical of Turkey, but HFCC shows this is BSKSA, 500 kW, 55 degrees from Riyadh in Pashto at 1400-1600 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11930. December 8, 2016. 1907-1923, BSKSA, Riyadh, in Arabic. Muslim cleric singing Holy Qur´an in BSKSA, and woman announcer reading news in Radio Martí. The signal and modulation of BSKSA is better than R. Martí, but, sometimes, it´s a collision. On 11915 kHz, 45433 and 11820, 45433 (DXer: Jose Ronaldo Xavier (JRX), Cabedelo-PB, Brazil, Tecsun S-2000, Antenna: Portable Telescopic, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) 15284.970, The usual odd frequency service of Riyadh in Swahili language to East Africa, S=7 signal at 0609 UT in dead - or rather lower nearby skip zone at Doha Qatar location (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 10 via DXLD) ** SOLOMON ISLANDS. 5020, SIBC, with very long extended broadcast on Dec 8. Well past the sometimes heard 1200*; first noted at 1437 and still on at 1603+; usual SIBC format (not a Wantok FM relay); no IDs; non-stop pop songs; commercial announcement with promo for "Low Price Enterprises," in English; mostly fair. 9545, SIBC, 0427-0521*, Dec 9. Better than normal reception; preempted regular programming (no ABC/RA programming); non-stop long speeches before parliament in both Pijin and English (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Heard more than fair on remote Perseus in New Delhi, India. 5020.000 SIBC heard in Tokyo Japan remote unit, up to S=9, "Road to Mandalay" heard, not march version, "Bam bam ba da ram bam bam" in rather woman singer version, at 1132 UT on Dec 9, heard in Tokyo Japan. and another weaker peak is visible too, likely acc Aoki Nagoya database: 5019.992 kHz measured, OBX9K Horizonte Chachapoyas, Peru? 73 wb df5sx (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) NOT likely a long-inactive Latin American still in Aoki list! (gh) 5020, Wantok FM 96.3 relay, 1453-1528, Dec 9. Yet another extended broadcast of playing non-stop pop songs in English, except for the usual frequent IDs; mostly fair. Seems the earthquake there was not too bad, as I have not heard any special programming about it (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9545, SIBC, 0438-0511*, Dec 10. Another day with better than normal reception; pop songs (Ellie Goulding with "Love Me Like You Do," etc.); had been wondering if they had any coverage of their earthquakes - YES, 0446-0454 info about what "NGOs and the government" were doing to aid people after yesterday's big quake, and info about today's quake, in Pijin; back to pop songs (Eric Prydz with "Call On Me"); 0500-0505 ABC news & weather (aid being sent to Indonesia after this weeks quake there, Solomon Islands hit with another quake today, etc.); after 0505 no longer // to RA, instead went to their own music program till suddenly off at 0511*(Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOMALIA. 7750, Radio Warsan (presumed). 2/11 in vernacular at 1925 with song, sermon & sign off at 1934 (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria (Sony ICF-2001D, Folded Marconi ant own made), Dec Australian DX News via DXLD) We must not forget to check this WOOB frequency in North America; if on in local mornings, would be between WRMIs 7730 and 7780 except the latter is gone, forever? 7750 not listed in Aoki (gh, DXLD) ** SOMALIA [non]. 17845, UAE, R. Ergo (relay) 1248 talk by W in apparent Somali, HoA music. W returned at 1258, then choral singing. And off at 1259:28. Really fady signal. Have never had any luck hearing this. Used the 820 foot 60 BOG. 26 Nov (Dave Valko, Zion PA, HCDX via DXLD) ** SOMALILAND. 7120, SOMALIA, R. Hargeisa, 1845 M program host with what sounded like news program with many remote reports. Mentions of Somalia and Somaliland. Was lucky to catch an ID at 1900:05, and again at 1901:10, seconds before going into their closing song, and off at 1901:55. Most audio heard from them in quite a while. Would’ve been really nice if the audio would’ve been up to 100% (Dave Valko, Micro- DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Perseus SDR, 313’ Beverage (BOG) aimed at 60 , Duration: 1415-2100 UT Dec 4, HCDX via DXLD) ** SOUTH AFRICA. Reception of South African Radio League on Dec 11: 0800-0810 on 17760 MEY 250 kW / 019 deg to EaAf, 10 min. dead air 0810-0910 on 17760 MEY 250 kW / 019 deg to EaAf English weak/fair http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/12/reception-of-south-african-radio-league.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH AFRICA. Article: SABC PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY http://subscriptions.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-dhhjfd-bhjjhurn-k/ (via Bill Bingham, Johannesburg RSA, Dec 10, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) SABC JOURNALISTS TESTIFY http://newsletters.iol.co.za/servlet/link/11978/106035/14280557/2530818 (via Bill Bingham, Dec 13, ibid.) SABC - WILL HLAUDI GO TO WORK TODAY? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/co/UqJF/~3/6xY_dVtL_nE/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/co/UqJF/~3/np8Cob0nvig/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email (Bill Bingham, Johannesburg RSA. Drake R8E, Sony ICF2001D, Dec 13, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) SABC JOURNOS RECEIVE DEATH THREATS http://newsletters.iol.co.za/servlet/link/11978/106109/14280557/2531781 (Bill Bingham, Johannesburg RSA. Dec 14, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) SABC: COMMS MINISTER SUPPORTS HLAUDI http://newsletters.iol.co.za/servlet/link/11978/106118/14280557/2532419 (Bill Bingham, Johannesburg RSA. Drake R8E, Sony ICF2001D, Dec 15, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. 7570, WRMI, Radio Miami International (presumed); 0347, 7-Dec; Last Days @$$hole Bro. HyStairical said an example of government thinking is that we used the Pearl Harbor attack as an “excuse” to get involved in the war. S9; Does Bro. Jeff actually ever listen to any of this crapola? (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 185' & 60' RW + 125' bow-tie, ----- All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! -----, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [and non]. 5765, 5950, 5985, 5015, 6855, 7570, 7730, 9955, 11530, Dec 12 at 0603, all these WRMIBS frequencies are in dead air, and probably 11580, too weak to tell. Brother HyStairical continues unscathed on 5890 & 3215 WWCR, 7315 WHRI. 7780 WRMI remains off but would be BSing if on. 15440, Dec 12 at 1508, WRMIBS is AWOL here, still audible on much weaker 15770, 17790 and much stronger 13695. Not rechecked until 2213 when 15440 is back on (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN. Reception of Radio Exterior de España via 3 transmitters on Dec 11, 1455-1500 on all three frequencies Interval Signal, Frequency Schedule, TS 1500-1900 9690*NOB 200 kW / 290 deg ENAm Spanish Sat/Sun, fair/good 1500-1900 15390 NOB 200 kW / 230 deg SoAm Spanish Sat/Sun, weak/fair 1500-1900 15500 NOB 200 kW / 110 deg N/ME Spanish Sat/Sun, tx is off 1500-1900 17755 NOB 200 kW / 161 deg WCAf Spanish Sat/Sun, weak/fair * co-ch same 9690 KUN 150 kW / 270 deg SoAs Bengali CRI till 1600 UT http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/12/reception-of-radio-exterior-de-espana.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN. 7205, Omdurman with powerful S=9+20dB signal in remote SDR Doha Qatar unit, but very low, I guess 5% only modulation level this morning. btw. nothing on air of Asmara Eritrea on 7146v neither on 7175 kHz at this hour (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 10 via DXLD) ** SUDAN SOUTH [non]. FRANCE, Reception of Eye Radio via TDF Issoudun, Dec 12: 1600-1640 on 15250 ISS 250 kW / 130 deg to EaAf Arabic/English 1640-1700 on 15250 ISS 250 kW / 130 deg to EaAf various langs* * plus other langs: Dinka, Nuer, Shilluk, Bari, Zande, Lutoho. http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/12/reception-of-eye-radio-via-tdf-issoudun.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN. Frequency changes of Radio Taiwan International, Dec 1: 2330-0030 NF 11600 PAO 100 kW / 205 deg to SEAs Vietnam, ex 11655 1200-1300 on 9545 TSH 100 kW / 352 deg to EaAs Chinese, add.freq 1200-1400 NF 5900 KOU 100 kW / 310 deg to EaAs Chinese, ex 11640 1600-1700 NF 6185*PAO 300 kW / 225 deg to SoAs English, ex 9405 *at 1650UT on 6185 SMG 250 kW / 086 deg to CeAs Armenian Vatican Radio, very strong Other changes of Radio Taiwan International effective from Dec 1: 2230-2330 on 9735 PAO 100 kW / 045 deg to JPN Japanese, x 22-23 2230-0030 on 6075 KOU 100 kW / 310 deg to EaAs Chinese, ex 22-24 2230-0030 on 6105 KOU 100 kW / 310 deg to EaAs Chinese, ex 22-24 2230-0030 on 9450 TSH 300 kW / 002 deg to EaAs Chinese, ex 22-24 2230-0030 on 9900 KOU 100 kW / 267 deg to SEAs Chinese, ex 22-24 2230-0030 on 11635 PAO 250 kW / 208 deg to SEAs Chinese, ex 22-24 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/12/taiwan-frequency-changes-of-radio.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN. 9410, Fu Hsing (Army radio) ROC on Taiwan. 7/11 at 1235 & s/off at 1259 ID in Chinese (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria (Sony ICF- 2001D, Folded Marconi ant own made), Dec Australian DX News via DXLD) ** TAIWAN. 15070, SOH Xi Wang Zhi Sheng. Not usually audible, but quite strong tonight with a Chinese talk at 0904 on 7/11 (Dennis Allen, Milperra NSW (Icom ICR-75, Realistic DX160, Longwire), Dec Australian DX News via DXLD) And no jamming? (gh) 15160, Most probably another SOH Taiwan Chinese channel, observed also in past months. Weak S=4-5 signal at 0606 UT, talk on Mao Tse Dung (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 10 via DXLD) ** TAJIKISTAN. Another fault noted this morning on Tajik radio transmissions. 7245.000, Ovozi Tojik, Voice of Tajik in Persian satellite feed from Dushanbe to Orzu transmitter site in the south of the country failed, and had very short audio interrupts and appearances by half second in between, terrible to listen to. Persian service 04-06 UT, heard at 0544 UT (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC- DX TopNews Dec 10 via DXLD) ** TAJIKISTAN. Yes now at 2320 UT Microtelecom site and servers map serving well. Tajik Radio Yangi Yul Dushanbe again strong and accurate frequency: 4765.000 kHz S=9+20dB or powerful -52dBm in Doha Qatar remote site in Arab peninsula. 2320 UT on Dec 8 (Wolfgang Büschel, HCDX via DXLD) ** TIBET [and non]. CHINA vs. CHINA, Voice of Jinling vs. PBS Xizang on 6200 kHz, Dec 11: 1415&1445 6200 NJG 100 kW / 161 deg to EaAs Chinese Voice of Jinling 1415&1445 6200 LHA 100 kW / 085 deg to EaAs Tibetan PBS Xizang http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/12/voice-of-jinling-vs-pbs-xizang-on-6200.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TIBET [non]. 11507, Dec 11 at 1344, JBA carrier, aha, smax of Voice of Tibet, and indeed it is, via TAJIKISTAN, as Ivo Ivanov reported: ``Frequency changes for Voice of Tibet on Nov 24: 1200-1215 NF 11512 DB 100 kW / 095 deg to EaAs Chinese, ex 15543 1215-1230 NF 11512 DB 100 kW / 095 deg to EaAs Chinese, ex 15537 1230-1245 NF 11512 DB 100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan, ex 15528 1245-1300 NF 11512 DB 100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan, ex 15522 1300-1330 NF 11507 DB 100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan, ex 15517 1330-1400 on 11507 DB 100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan no change`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TIBET [non]. 11660, Dec 12 at 1521, S9-S5 signal in tonal non- Mandarin language: yes, ``Bod`` = Tibetan from RFA via TINIAN this hour only. Hey, where`s the ChiCom *jamming? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TONGA. 92.1, China Radio International, Nuku’alofa. ID as “CRI News Plus Radio” in English 0315, fair & traced through to 0330. Reliable listings hard to find for the Pacific island FM operations, 27/11. A very pleasing log! [Summer sporadic E DX from several Pacific islands, small excerpts] (Craig Seager, Bathurst NSW (Perseus & FM+ converter, FM8 Yagi with rotator, broadband 18dB preamp, Dec-Jan Australian DX News via DXLD) ** TURKEY [and non]. 12035.039, Dec 8 at 1338, S9, VOT press review about oil prices, in the clear, since 12050 WEWN splatterer is OFF! 1342 on to `Turkey`s Cultural Centers` about Lake Van in eastern Turkey. It may be scenic, but the largest lake in the country per Britannica.com is brackish and no good for drinking or irrigation. By 1359, WEWN is on at S9+40, splattering upon Turkish music (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 2145 UT 8 Dec: The V of Turkey is being heard in English on 5970 kHz (instead of scheduled 9610 kHz) - looks like someone forgot to change the frequency after the end of the French transmission (from 2030 UT). (Alan Roe, Teddington, UK, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5980, Dec 10 at 2138, VP S8 signal with Turkish style song, so presumed VOT as scheduled until 2200, 250 kW at 310 degrees USward. Fortunately they`re off in time not to block Chaski (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UGANDA [non]. 15240, USA, WWRB, 1658 M talk in English about their rhombic antenna, frequency as "15 point 2-4-0 megacycles shortwave", Uganda service, listeners abroad, report request, website, etc., and ended asking listeners to stay tuned for their Uganda program. Deadair for a minute or so, then R. Munansi on in mid-speech by M. 1704 signal suddenly jumped up in strength (Dave Valko, Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Perseus SDR, 313’ Beverage (BOG) aimed at 60 , Duration: 1415-2100 UT Dec 4, HCDX via DXLD) 15240, Radio Munansi via WWRB Morrison TN; 1645-1704+, 10-Dec; continuous Afro High-Life music without break. SIO=454 +++ [same] 1847-1903+, 10-Dec; Emphatic M speaker in LL (listed as LUG) with several mentions of Uganda; ID’d as Munansi at 1901 before taking call after phone ring. SIO=4x4 with xmtr? hum (Harold Frodge, Port Hope MI2, Drake R8B + 250 RW, --- All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! ---, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15240, Sat Dec 10 at 2010, VP signal in presumed Luganda, from R. Munansi via WWRB; equivalent signal to 15825 WWCR, with no sporadic-E enhancement today. 15239.986, Sun Dec 11 at 1740, presumed Luganda talk from R. Munansi via WWRB, very poor with a slight echo, possibly long/short path? Also at 1844, poor with African music, no echo (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. Rog Parsons RIP --- We were very sad to discover, only today, that longtime club member Rog Parsons had passed away suddenly, at home in Hinckley, Leicestershire on 3rd October aged 69. Rog joined the club back in June 1987 and used to post regularly under his Yahoo ID, "watlingfen" on our online news forum on a variety of radio topics he felt strongly about, in particular the closure of longwave, mediumwave and international shortwave stations, vintage wireless sets and kits and the rise of DAB. As somebody has already commented, you could either agree or disagree with Rog, but you couldn't ignore him! As Rog was uncharacteristically quiet in recent weeks, I did some online research and sadly discovered his obituary in the Hinckley Times. http://www.bmdsonline.co.uk/hinckley-times/obituary/parsons-roger/48256523 Our condolences to his brother and family and friends in Hinckley, where Rog was also a campaigner for his local community as well as radio enthusiast. RIP, Rog (Alan Pennington, (on behalf of BDXC), Dec 16, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) Rog was quoted dozens of times over the years in DXLD (gh) ** U K. Hi! I`ve been wondering about why most people around the world love and worship the BBC World Service; all that one hears is mostly news, no music, tourist information, etc, etc., as heard on other stations, especially the superb Radio Romania, with a great mix of programs. These are my own personal comments regarding the BBC (hi hi) (Jon Collins, Birmingham UK - my joke of the year: Donald Trump, Dec 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [non]. 11810, Tue Dec 13 at 2106-2130, BBCWS in English, all about the situation in Turkey; do they still want to join the EU? [Spoiler alert!] Answer: no, not now. Here it is, `The Inquiry`, 23 minutes, post-dated Dec 17! http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04k9s47 But further info shows 9 broadcasts on Dec 13, all annoyingly in ``local time`` for different target areas (most of which have more than one zone!). And one final repeat on Dec 17 at ``2206 LT``. Only fair signal but better than nothing. 11810 is Ascension, 250 kW at 65 degrees, 21-22 M-F only per HFCC, while at 18-21 daily it`s same at semi-power (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. A BIG CHANGE TO U.S. BROADCASTING IS COMING — AND IT’S ONE PUTIN MIGHT ADMIRE === The Post's View By Editorial Board December 9 at 6:33 PM https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/a-big-change-to-us-broadcasting-is-coming--and-its-one-putin-might-admire/2016/12/09/6c6d5786-bcb7-11e6-91ee-1adddfe36cbe_story.html?utm_term=.c8e16f34be4a FOR YEARS, members of Congress have fumed about what they regard as ineffective U.S. public diplomacy, including the failure of broadcasting operations such as the Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty to match the reach and apparent influence of networks such as Russia’s RT and Qatar’s al Jazeera. A frequent and arguably fair focus of criticism has been the Broadcasting Board of Governors, the body created to supervise government-funded media outlets while serving as a firewall between them and the political administration of the day. A radical change to that system is now coming — and it looks like one that Vladimir Putin and Qatar’s emir might well admire. An amendment quietly inserted into the annual National Defense Authorization Act by Republican House leaders would abolish the broadcasting board and place VOA, RFE/RL and other international news and information operations under the direct control of a chief executive appointed by the president. The new executive would hire and fire senior media personnel and manage their budgets. With a confirming vote by the GOP-controlled Senate, President-elect Donald Trump will be able to install the editor of Breitbart News or another propagandist of his choice to direct how the United States is presented to the world by VOA, or how Russia is covered by RL. If Congress’s intention was for U.S. broadcasting to rival the Kremlin’s, it may well get its wish. The damage to U.S. interests could be considerable. The unique attraction for global audiences of RFE/RL, Radio Free Asia and other outlets is not their skill at presenting the U.S. government line, but their journalistic independence. They were created to be “surrogate media,” news organizations that offered accurate and independent coverage of events in countries where citizens could not depend on their own, state-run media. RFE’s coverage of Communist Europe was vital to the growth of the independent political movements that eventually brought down the system. Radio Free Asia strives to serve the same purpose in China, as does Radio y Televisión Martí in Cuba. The point of board governance was to prevent direct political interference in programming by the White House, State Department or other agencies. It was a guarantee that for decades has helped to attract journalistic talent to the broadcasting organizations, as well as listeners seeking reliable information. The board of governors had serious problems: Its members served part time, and not all took their duties seriously. But the system’s biggest flaw was remedied three years ago with the creation of a chief executive position. The new reform, driven by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Edward R. Royce (R-Calif.), enhances that executive’s power and makes him answerable to the White House rather than the bipartisan board. A new advisory panel will be created, but it will be toothless: Its members will also be nominated by the president from a pool provided by Congress. The Obama administration — perhaps anticipating a Hillary Clinton presidency — supported these changes. Now its outgoing public- diplomacy officials will have to hope that Mr. Trump chooses an executive committed to the U.S. broadcasting tradition of independent and reputable journalism rather than a political loyalist or alt-right ideologue. Either way, there is likely to be an exodus of seasoned professionals from the surrogate broadcasters as well as VOA — meaning that U.S. international broadcasting, whatever its current deficiencies, is likely to get worse. Read more on this topic: JACKSON DIEHL: STATIC AT RADIO FREE EUROPE/RADIO LIBERTY A. ROSS JOHNSON AND S. ENDERS WIMBUSH: RADIO AND TV MARTÍ HAVE ROLES TO PLAY AS CUBA ENTERS A NEW ERA ANNE APPLEBAUM AND EDWARD LUCAS: THE DANGER OF RUSSIAN DISINFORMATION 8 Comments (via Brock Whaley; and via David Cole, OK, DXLD) including: tedlipien 4:56 AM GMT: I'm afraid the Post got it wrong this time, probably due to not knowing all the facts or being misinformed about the Broadcasting Board of Governors. This is not a partisan issue. The effort to reform the BBG -- Hillary Clinton called it "practically defunct" in 2013 when she herself was a BBG Board member and Secretary of State -- has been consistently bipartisan. The part-time BBG board has been spectacularly ineffective. Some of its members engaged in private company business in Russia and China while being charged at the same time with supporting free media in those countries through the BBG. One does not do private business in Russia or China by offending the local regime. Contrary to your assertions, the BBG Board has done very little to protect the Voice of America from partisan bias or political interference. During the 2016 election campaign, VOA published one- sided hit pieces, attacking both Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders. There was even a smear in a VOA video against Senate Democratic leader Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV). The BBG Board did nothing to stop such unbalanced attacks and allowed these violations of the VOA Charter to continue. While the legislation to reform the BBG is not perfect, it is a step in the right direction, assuming that the agency can be and will be reformed. President Putin is not likely to rejoice if under more effective leadership the Voice of America stops unwitting replaying of RT and SPUTNIK propaganda videos, as it has done on a few occasions because it is so poorly managed. The independent Committee for U.S. International Broadcasting (CUSIB) has worked with both Democrats and Republicans in Congress to improve this legislation. Many of our suggestions have been incorporated into the amendment in its final form, including the preservation of the Voice of America's status and its Charter. Ted Lipien, former VOA acting associate director and VOA Polish Service director during Solidarity's struggle for human rights (comment to WaPo, via DXLD) darobin1 4:40 AM GMT: The Post Editorial Board raises valid concerns about what President- elect Trump may do with what is now referred to as U.S. International Media. But it's a bit disappointing to see the Post going down familiar rabbit holes when it comes to this subject. Government-funded broadcasting under the BBG, which was created after the former USIA disappeared under President Bill Clinton, has been mismanaged for decades. VOA, in particular, was severely impacted by this mismanagement, and years ago missed an opportunity to become a major destination of choice for global audiences, like the BBC. VOA has no 24/7 television operation. In recent years its coverage has been embarrassingly weak and often late. In fact, the current CEO, Mr. Lansing, arrived vowing that so-called "day of" coverage would be de- emphasized, though now he appears to have reversed himself on this. The Post editorial failed to mention that current VOA director Amanda Bennett, and deputy director Sandy Sugawara, both have former employment connections with the Post. Bennett was forced to order bias training for VOA journalists in the wake of clear examples of bias by agency reporters. She is now pushing a questionable plan to have government-paid staff begin investigative reporting. As reported by BBG Watch, an independent watchdog website, VOA was seen to be "posting. . .one-sided hit pieces against Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders, and even a smear against Senate Democratic leader Senator Harry Reid (D-NV). . ." The BBG, which would disappear under new legislation, replaced by a new advisory board, has claimed major increases in its weekly audience size, figures that are highly doubtful. The Post should give readers the entire picture, come clean about connections it has with current agency officials, and not just use Vladimir Putin as justification for perpetuating a broken federal agency (Dan Robinson, ex-VOA, Comments to WaPo via DXLD) voaguy 8:40 PM GMT+0100: As a former VOA senior correspondent (retired in 2012), I can attest that this is a serious situation, and no amount of happy talk emanating from the 3rd floor of the Cohen Building can ameliorate it or hide it. BBG is and long has been a mismanaged entity. Every year, it scores near the bottom of federal employee workplace ratings. As a whole, the organization and the entities under it have never been able to resolve the inherent institutional schizophrenia of the venture. The journalists want to do their job as journalists, as required by law, while policymakers want to them do what one official once called "journalism with a purpose." But that is not journalism; it something else - advocacy, propaganda, "messaging" (how I abhor that term!), whatever. However, even in the face of BBG lapses, VOA journalists themselves have struggled to maintain journalistic independence, which is the cornerstone to credibility. Unfortunately, the product has been getting watered down to be click-bait. Contrary to assertions of its proponents, the legislation is not a true reform effort; it is a bid to mandate propaganda that will be flying a false flag of journalism. The bill mandates closer ties with the NSC, DOD, State, and, presumably, the intelligence community. Such legally mandated contacts cannot help but taint any journalistic product. That issue is what VOA journalists have been repeatedly trying to raise about certain provisions in the legislation, but their principled opposition of journalistic credibility has been derided and scorned by some proponents of the bill. I fear the Trump News Network will come into being - but in a very different way than had been envisioned had he lost the election. If the new administration has its way - as it most surely will - political vampires will suck the lifeblood out of VOA and the surrogates, leaving dry, empty shells devoid of journalistic substance, standards, and professional respect. Posted by: (KaiLudwig, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DXLD) Source? Reads like another comment from Dan Robinson (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. TRUMP TO INHERIT STATE-RUN TV NETWORK WITH EXPANDED REACH - POLITICO Media http://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/donald-trump-voice-of-america-232442 Sent from my iPhone (via David Cole, OK, Dec 12, DXLD) A provision tucked into the defense bill guts the Voice of America board, stoking fears that Trump could wield a powerful propaganda arm. By Tara Palmeri 12/12/16 05:02 AM EST Updated 12/12/16 09:50 AM EST “Congress unwittingly just gave President-elect Trump unchecked control of all U.S. media outlets,” said Michael Kempner, a Democratic member of the board. | AP Photo [caption] President-elect Donald Trump is about to inherit a newly empowered Voice of America that some officials fear could serve as an unfettered propaganda arm for the former reality TV star who has flirted for years with launching his own network. Buried on page 1,404 of the National Defense Authorization Act that passed last week is a provision that would disband the bipartisan board of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, the independent U.S. agency that includes Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Asia and the Middle East Broadcast Networks. The move — pushed by House Foreign Affairs Chairman Ed Royce as a way to streamline the agency — concentrates control into a powerful CEO who is appointed by the president. That change, combined with a 2013 legislative revision that allows the network to legally reach a U.S. audience, which was once banned, could pave the way for Trump-approved content created by the U.S. diplomacy arm, if he chooses to exploit the opportunity. Essentially, Trump is finally getting his Trump TV — financed by taxpayers to the tune of $800 million per year. And some of the few people in the know aren’t happy about it. “Congress unwittingly just gave President-elect Trump unchecked control of all U.S. media outlets,” said Michael Kempner, a Democratic member of the board who was appointed by President Barack Obama and was a Hillary Clinton donor. “No president, either Democrat or Republican, should have that kind of control. It’s a public jewel. Its independence is what makes it so credible.” It’s unclear whether Trump is even aware about what he’s about to inherit. Trump as recently as September said he has “no interest in a media company,” but reports have emerged over the years of the billionaire exploring television opportunities beyond Trump Productions LLC, his TV production business whose properties include “The Apprentice” and the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants. Vanity Fair reported in June that he was considering launching a “mini media conglomerate” if he lost the election. Trump transition spokespeople did not respond to requests for comment. Now that Trump is getting for free a major media apparatus with loosened restrictions, Democratic and Republican members of the current board are alarmed. The Broadcasting Board of Governors is the largest public diplomacy program by the U.S. government, reaching an audience of 278 million by broadcasting in 100 countries and 61 languages. The agency was created in 1942 during World War II to send pro-democracy news across Europe, as it aimed to counter Nazi and Japanese propaganda. The agency has since evolved into a more traditional news operation, while still pushing out the virtues of democracy worldwide. To date, the nine-member board — which consists of four Republicans and four Democrats appointed by the president, as well as the secretary of state — has been a part-time operation, but it served as a firewall with the mission of preserving the integrity of the agency’s broadcasts. The organization's charter calls for "accuracy, balance, comprehensiveness, and objectivity." A Republican government official familiar with the agency’s work warned that abolishing the board will make it susceptible to the influence of Trump’s allies, including his chief strategist, Steve Bannon, who ran Breitbart News before joining Trump’s campaign. “There’s some fear among the folks here, that the firewall will get diminished and attacked and this could fall victim to propaganda,” the Republican official said. “They will hire the person they want, the current CEO does not stand a chance. This will pop up on Steve Bannon’s radar quickly. They are going to put a friendly person in that job.” Officials in particular fear that Trump and his allies could change the agency’s posture toward Russia, considering how Trump has expressed a positive view of President Vladimir Putin. Multiple media outlets in the BBG family aim to counter Russia propaganda, including CurrentTime, which was introduced two years ago and broadcasts in Russia according to the NPR model, and Radio Free Europe. With Radio Free Asia, the U.S. also pushes back against China’s state messages, and Trump and his allies could potentially use the network to antagonize the country, which the president-elect already alarmed with his call with the Taiwanese president. Because of the modification of the Smith-Mundt Act in 2013, the BBG can now broadcast in the U.S., too. But the influence on the domestic market could be even more subtle, the Republican official warned. A BBG CEO influenced by the administration could penetrate established media outlets with packages, series or other news products produced by the BBG’s networks but picked up and aired by traditional media like Fox News or Breitbart. Many U.S. outlets currently use content from VOA. “No money would even change hands, you’ve had no effect on the budget,” the official said. “But it will denigrate the product.” The official added, “It’s extremely troubling. It’s going to be bad for U.S. international broadcasters and their credibility.” In a sign of how significant the changes are, Hillary Clinton's transition team set up a meeting to visit the studios at 330 Independence Avenue the Wednesday after the election, according to two sources. The meeting was canceled after her loss, however, and the Trump transition team has not visited the studios. But some top BBG officials are more measured in their reaction to Trump’s ability to influence the agency. Jeff Shell, chairman of BBG’s board and an Obama appointee, said the changes to the agency’s structure were long overdue. “To have part- time board members to manage something like this is completely unrealistic, so I very much support the empowered CEO than a board,” he said, adding, “There’s always a risk with any federal agency, whether this administration or another that they’re going to use the organization in a partisan way." Royce, who pushed the provision, has long blasted the board as “defunct” and has called the agency “badly broken.” For years, he has pushed broad reforms, insisting dramatic steps were necessary to make its international broadcasts more effective. He also floated the idea of rebranding the BBG as the “Freedom News Network.” “Our agencies that helped take down the Iron Curtain with accurate and timely broadcasting have lost their edge,” Royce said in a statement after the bill was passed in the House earlier this month. “They must be revitalized to effectively carry out their mission in this age of viral terrorism and digital propaganda. … My provision takes an important first step in this process by replacing the BBG’s part-time board with a permanent CEO to help better deliver real news to people in countries where free press does not exist.” The legislation also gives the president the power to appoint an advisory board — which will consist of five members, including the secretary of state — but it has no statutory power. The provision does, however, squeeze in a provision for an inspector general from the State Department who would “respect the journalistic integrity of all the broadcasters covered by this Act.” Royce’s office did not comment when asked about the idea that Trump now has vast power to control BBG. Cory Fritz, a spokesman for the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the reforms were not made with Trump in mind. “This isn’t about the president-elect. This is just the latest attempt to fight reforms that install basic standards of accountability at the BBG,” Fritz said. The complaints about the agency have not been purely partisan. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has in the past complained about the agency, calling the board ineffectual and “defunct” in January 2013. Later that year, the BBG faced more controversy when it was revealed that less than 1 percent of Cubans listened to its expensive TV Martí service. But in recent years, the agency took significant steps to clean up its act. After the criticism, the operational board reorganized and appointed a CEO, John F. Lansing, to oversee day-to-day strategy and operations in late 2013. The result was a 23 percent increase in TV viewership to 174 million and a 27 percent increase in radio audience to 130 million in 2016. Digital audiences also increased from 32 million in 2015 to 45 million. The overall audience went up from 226 million in 2015 to 278 million in 2016. After the bill passed through the House, Lansing sent a memo to BBG staffers promising that “the legislation makes NO change to the firewall between the federal government and the journalists of our five networks.” “As I stated at the Town Hall on Tuesday, maintaining our journalistic independence, and our credibility worldwide, remains of the utmost importance,” he wrote. “Although I preferred having the board because it’s always good to have checks and balance, I am sure that the staff will continue to report journalism with ‘muscular objectivity,’” Kornbluh said at the BBG’s last board meeting. But some say this firewall is still not enough to protect the organization from the pressure of some of Trump’s most media savvy advisers like Bannon. “On Jan. 21, we’ll have a welcoming ceremony for our next CEO, who could be Steve Bannon, or Laura Ingraham or Ann Coulter,” said a senior Voice of America staffer (via DXLD) VOA PROMISES EDITORIAL 'FIREWALL' "A US government-funded news service says editorial independence won't be at risk during the next administration. "The director of the Broadcast Board of Governors (BBG) promised that the editorial 'firewall remains sacrosanct'. "Earlier reports indicated that new legislation could alter the mission of Voice of America and other partners." More: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38284655 (via Richard Langley, Dec 13, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. LOG: 6145 kHz KBC in MFSK32, 0130z with "The National Tree" On December 1, for the last time, President Obama and family lit the (too perfectly conical) National Christmas Tree near the White House .... Sending Pic:114x156C; http://www.rhci-online.net/files/pic_2016-12-11_013050z-animation-.gif http://thenationaltree.org Please report decode to themightykbc@gmail.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In the waterfall images, the ghost signals are generated by intermodulations. In the MFSK images themselves, the ghost signals are caused by differences in runtime. Now I created a gallery of Christmas trees, with different time delays. The delayed signals were made in a multi-track wave editor with an additional attenuation of 5 db. Here is the forest gallery for any comparisons. http://www.rhci-online.net/radiogram/VoA_Radiogram_2016-12-10.htm#thenationaltree The other pictures in the VoA-radiogram I had "repaired" with various image processing software. http://www.rhci-online.net/radiogram/VoA_Radiogram_2016-12-10.htm#img-software Nice song at the end of the radiogram-show, as usual, with a message. (The Roches - Good King Wenceslas) (roger, germany, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U S A. 9955, WRMI, Okeechobee. Glen[n] Hausers’ World of Radio programme #1853 at 0440, good in English though static on 28/11 (John Adams, Port Douglas Tropical Queensland (Sangean ATS-909X, 7 Metre Reel Antenna), Dec Australian DX News via DXLD). ** U S A [and non]. WORLD OF RADIO 1855 monitoring: confirmed Thu Dec 8 at 2130 on WRMI 13695, excellent. Also confirmed UT Fri Dec 9 at 0030 on WBCQ 9330.08v-CUSB, VP. Next: Sat 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Sat 0730 HLR 6190-CUSB to SW Sat 1530 HLR 7265-CUSB to SW Sat 2030v WA0RCR 1860-AM ND Sat 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Sun 0410v WA0RCR 1860-AM ND Sun 1130 HLR 9485-CUSB to SW [experimental] Mon 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Mon 0400v WBCQ 5130v Area 51 to WSW Mon 0430 WRMI 9955 to SSE Tue 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Tue 0030 WRMI 7730 to WNW Tue 1200 WRMI 9955 to SSE Tue 2130 WRMI 15770 to NE Tue 2300 WRMI 9955 to SSE [NEW] Wed 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Wed 2200 WBCQ 7490v to WSW Thu 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW WORLD OF RADIO 1855 monitoring: UT Sat Dec 10 at 0041, JBA carrier on 9330v, so presumably it`s on via WBCQ; 9265 WINB is marginally less JBA. K index is 5, with G1 storms. Sat Dec 10 circa 1545 via UTwente SDR, nothing audible on HLR 7265 but a weak non-WOR program, presumably CRI Hindi and/or Azad Kashmir Radio, themselves attenuated by poor propagation. Not confirmed Sat Dec 10 after 2330 on 9330, no signal at all from WBCQ altho 9265 WINB is fair. Next: Sun 0410v WA0RCR 1860-AM ND Sun 1130 HLR 9485-CUSB to SW [experimental] Mon 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Mon 0400v WBCQ 5130v Area 51 to WSW Mon 0430 WRMI 9955 to SSE Tue 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Tue 0030 WRMI 7730 to WNW Tue 1200 WRMI 9955 to SSE Tue 2130 WRMI 15770 to NE Tue 2300 WRMI 9955 to SSE [NEW] Wed 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Wed 2200 WBCQ 7490v to WSW Thu 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) GERMANY, Reception of Hamburger Lokalradio on 6190 kHz, Dec 10: Switzerland In Sound 0700-0730 on 6190 GOH 001 kW / 230 deg to CeEu English Sat CUSB World of Radio#1855 0730-0800 on 6190 GOH 001 kW / 230 deg to CeEu English Sat CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio 0800-1100 on 6190 GOH 001 kW / 230 deg to CeEu German Sat CUSB http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/12/reception-of-hamburger-lokalradio-on_10.html (Ivo Ivanov, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) WORLD OF RADIO 1855 monitoring: not confirmed Sat Dec 10 at 2330 on WBCQ, 9330v-CUSB where there is no signal detectable (but heard later with Blalock). Confirmed UT Sun Dec 11 at 0427 on WA0RCR, 1860-AM, MO, good, about 13 minutes in, so started circa 0414. Next: Mon 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Mon 0400v WBCQ 5130v Area 51 to WSW Mon 0430 WRMI 9955 to SSE Tue 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Tue 0030 WRMI 7730 to WNW Tue 1200 WRMI 9955 to SSE Tue 2130 WRMI 15770 to NE Tue 2300 WRMI 9955 to SSE [NEW] Wed 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Wed 2200 WBCQ 7490v to WSW Thu 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, Well, I did manage to hear WA0RCR last night, not that it was easy. It took careful adjustment of an amplified loop to get it in just well enough to recognize your voice. That gives me state #33 for 2016. But I still have not been able to nail Oklahoma which should not be hard to hear. Early yesterday morning I heard CHED-630 in Edmonton reporting a temp of -23 C which is -10 F – aren’t you glad you live in OK? 73, (Art Peterson, Richmond, CA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) NO!!!! Only to the extent that lo temps here haven`t gone much below - 6 F. Recently almost zero (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGESET) WORLD OF RADIO 1855 monitoring: confirmed UT Monday Dec 12 at 0401 on Area 51 via WBCQ 5130.095-AM. Also confirmed UT Mon Dec 12 after 0430 on WRMI 9955, S9+10 but some deep fades, no jamming. Also confirmed UT Tue Dec 13 after 0030 on WRMI 7730, S9+40, and seven seconds later on WBCQ 9330.08v-CUSB, S5-S8 but weakening. Next: Tue 1200 WRMI 9955 to SSE Tue 2130 WRMI 15770 to NE Tue 2300 WRMI 9955 to SSE [NEW] Wed 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Wed 2200 WBCQ 7490v to WSW Thu 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW ** U S A. WORLD OF RADIO 1855 monitoring: confirmed Tuesday December 13 at 2130 on WRMI 15770, poor here but presumably much better aimed NE toward Europe. Also confirmed NEW time of Tue Dec 13 at 2300 on WRMI 9955. Previous hour wall-of-noise jammed vs Radio Libertad prepeat and does not stop at 2300. Tnx a lot, Arnie. I hope it tapered off by 2330! Also confirmed Wed Dec 14 at 1415.5 on WRMI 9955, good S9+10, no jamming. Next: Wed 2200 WBCQ 7490v to WSW Thu 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW WORLD OF RADIO 1855 monitoring: confirmed Wed Dec 14 at 2200 on WBCQ, 7490. WORLD OF RADIO 1856 monitoring: ready for first SW broadcasts Dec 15: Thu 1230 WRMI 9955 to SSE Thu 2130 WRMI 13695 to NW Fri 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Sat 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Sat 0730 HLR 6190-CUSB to SW Sat 1530 HLR 7265-CUSB to SW Sat 2030v WA0RCR 1860-AM ND Sat 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Sun 0410v WA0RCR 1860-AM ND Sun 1130 HLR 9485-CUSB to SW Mon 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Mon 0400v WBCQ 5130v Area 51 to WSW Mon 0430 WRMI 9955 to SSE Tue 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Tue 0030 WRMI 7730 to WNW Tue 1200 WRMI 9955 to SSE Tue 2130 WRMI 15770 to NE Tue 2300 WRMI 9955 to SSE Wed 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Wed 2200 WBCQ 7490v to WSW Thu 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 7490.02, UT Fri Dec 9 at 0016, WBCQ is again filling with Ramsey`s `Furthermore 29-54` show, mentioning only his original time, Monday 7 pm east-coast-time, and plugging for more time sales on WBCQ. S9+15 on meter but sounds poor and noisy, weakening. 0031, now it`s James Branum on `Broad Spectrum Radio` talking about his plans for 2017y. Consistency has been a problem, and a big load financially for an individual. Gets some free time on Channel 292 and Unique Radio; says will suspend WINB, but continue with 15 minutes a week on KTLR 890 OKC, which costs $25 each (Fridays 1700 UT); also still on WBCQ for 30 minutes a week, around $20. Will change to approx. monthly hour-long shows on Channel 292, which has been drawing good response from Europe; and Unique Radio, ``best of`` several segments each month. More content is coming, all of which will be online, with selected parts put on air. Total cost per year is about $4K, so needs sponsors, donors, or will have to pare back further. More about this currently on homepage: http://broadspectrumradio.com/ He is also developing a mobile app (which I don`t see mentioned on website), shortwave all wave radio tool with lots of features and more being added, branded by his ham call KG5JST, upon which search. Free and pay versions, but those sending reception reports for QSL will get the ad-free pay version. Also plans a special app for BSR itself. 7490, UT Sat Dec 10 at 0126, JBA carrier during WBCQ `Allan Weiner Worldwide`; 5130+ is S8 but VP vs noise. Talking about WHVW, but really too poor to follow. Nothing on 3250v. K-index is 5, with G1 storms. It would be helpful if regular listeners to AWWW who can hear it better would send us detailed notes of new programming info he usually includes somewhere in the show, as the best/only way to find out about it (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Sorry, Glenn. It's just like the old days. Couldn't copy 7490 or 5130 last night. Am in the process of losing 5130 at the moment. Signal is hanging below S3 and the noise is coming up (John Carver, Mid-North Indiana, 0155 UT Dec 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 9330.08v-CUSB, Dec 11 at 0120, WBCQ is JBA with Blalock the Blaster. It was not detectable a sesquihour earlier for WORLD OF RADIO (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Re: WBCQ programs: http://74.55.244.98:6950 WHVW Webfeed 1 aktiv Gehört zum "IP-Dunstkreis" von WBCQ - The planet. Erstmal höre ich hier Audio, ansonsten immer nur "stille Daten". http://74.55.244.98:6950 Stream-Name: WHVW Webfeed 1 Webfeed 2 auf der 6952 ist stumm. weitere: http://74.55.244.98:7415 Stream-Name: WBCQ The Planet http://74.55.244.98:5110 Stream-Name: Area 51 http://74.55.244.98:9810 Stream-Name: WXNZ http://74.55.244.98:7932 Stream-Name: Radio BiPo International http://74.55.244.98:8910 Stream-Name: Grits Radio http://74.55.244.98:9470 Stream-Name: KixxFM "94.7" ===> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WHVW "WHVW (950 AM) is a radio station licensed to Hyde Park, New York that is noted for its eclectic format based on old-fashioned blues, jazz, country and Americana music." http://www.splatterbox.us:6950/listen.pls http://74.55.244.98:6950 = http://www.splatterbox.us:6950 (roger, germany, Dec 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 7780, BTW continues to AWOL at frequent nighttime chex, such as Dec 8 at 0533. It`s still on the WRMI skedgrid for 22-12 UT, nothing but BS, and same 44-degree XMTR #3 at 12-22 UT on 15770, which IS still active, also nothing but BS except 21-22. 5850 // 7730, Friday Dec 9 at 0702, WRMI again playing the latest `Viva Miami` episode, Jeff in the field interviewing someone about the wonders of Everglades National Park. NOT `Media Network Plus` as now shown on the schedule grid for this hour on 7730. Probably filling rest of hour with World Music as before. 15770, Sat Dec 10 at 2120, WRMI with `Dub Politico`, droning, stumbling speaker with a political angle I have yet to figure out, since I can`t stand to listen to him, 2129 an F-bomb (so that`s OK now on WRMI as well as WBCQ?) as he closes with contact info e-mail implying his name is E J Oliva. 2130 no ID and right into `Made in Italy` which of course is not in English. Skedgrid now shows `Dub Politico` at 2100-2115 and blank block at 2115-2130, so now a half- hour show? The only other airing, UT Sat 0100 on 11580, allegedly remains a quarter-hour (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. 12050, Dec 8 at 1338-1342, WEWN`s dirty Spanish transmitter is off, uncovering a JBA carrier, presumably RFA Tibetan via KUWAIT, scheduled this hour only (and/or ChiCom jamming). This is great for 12035 Voice of Turkey, and 12085 Radio Australia [qq.vv.], but by 1359, WEWN is back on, causing its usual damage from S9+40 fundamental (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 9275.039, Dec 8 at 1854, S9+10 carrier is on! Must be reactivated WMLK, but JBM, not even enough to recognize the intonations of DEJOM, but who else could it be? Have been tuning for it almost daily around this hour. Time for another check of their FB and website for an update. BTW, I see their address in Bethel PA is 190 Frantz Road, presumably not in honor of Dave at WWRB. ``WMLK Radio December 5 at 8:47am https://www.facebook.com/www.wmlkradio.net/?hc_ref=PAGES_TIMELINE&fref=nf I have been holding back in updating those who are interested and concerned with the outreach and status of WMLK Radio. The Engineer returned today 12/05/16. He was on an overseas mission and returned stateside on 11/14/16. He was scheduled to return on 11/20/16 to begin upgrading and repair of the TX. However, he was in a very terrible accident on the Friday (11/18/16) before his scheduled return. Stopped at a red light he was hit from behind by a car at a very high rate of speed. He was pushed into the car ahead of him, thus totaling his car. By the grace of Almighty Yahweh he was unhurt but his car/conveyance was completely destroyed. The Doctors wanted to keep him close and under observation for a week plus to see if there would be any residual effects from the accident! He was cleared to return but he had to be flown up here instead of his usual car trip. First no car, second to avoid fatigue until completely rested from the accident, so the best choice that satisfies the doctors and family was to fly him here! He is working as this update is being written! Praise Almighty Yahweh for His mercy and loving kindness! Thank you for your patience!`` ``WMLK radio update and progress report [undated, and apparently predates the above info] http://www.wmlkradio.net/wmlk_workbench.htm Due to unforeseen circumstances, we have been having trouble getting the radio station online. Many hidden problems have been revealed during the past two visits of our start-up engineer. It appeared that something is continually shorting out the TX and causing it to trip the overload protection. These overloads disengage the set when high voltage is applied, if there is a fault in the system. We discovered that many components inside the set were shorting the set to ground. These components were discovered by using sophisticated equipment and a closer observation. The set contains a Crowbar protection system and it is extremely sensitive to any kind of ground faults. This system protects the tubes from being damaged should a problem arise in the electrical system. The components that were shorting the set to ground, included air ducks [sic], the glass cooling tube used in the vapor cooling system, and assorted devices that are not non-conductive in electrical properties. Carbon traces were observed on these components. DSC00363.JPG Pic. 1. This is a non-conductive PVC unit. This where the air cooling duct plugs in. Notice the arcing traces. DSC00359.JPG Pic. 2. This is the Pyrex steam riser tube, notice the damage and tracing on it. This glass steam riser was completely repaired, and one-half of the Pyrex was replaced in the repair process. DSC00357.JPG Pic. 3. This is the four inch air duct that supplies air for cooling the capacitors and assorted parts. Notice the tracing on the end and the physical damage from arc tracing. This is the PVC unit in the first picture before removal from air duct. This air duct, along with others, were replaced. Pic. 4. These are the components that were sent in for repair. Three Circuit Boards and the Sine Wave Generator (large unit next to CBs). The last two visits yielded these problems, and since then they have been corrected. We have also added a water filtering purification system to make sure the water that is going into cooling the tubes is the highest quality possible. We have one more process to add to this system to ensure this rigorous standard. We have overhauled many of the circuit cards by either rebuilding them or replacing them since we began repair and reconstruction of this set. We reconfigured and rewired many of the problems that we found. Several cards were sent to be repaired by a professional organization. Because of problems with our engineer’s health, he was ordered to take a three month leave of absence which will be monitored by a physician. Two years ago, during first week of November, he suffered a seizure which also involved a blood clot in the brain that gave him a mild stroke. He was put on a six-month medical leave of absence from his work place so he could recuperate from this incident. He has been working for WMLK during his employment with Voice of America whenever time permitted him to come to WMLK. He retired this year from his employment and comes to WMLK when he can arrange it in his schedule. Recently, his doctor put him on another three month leave of absence to make adjustments in his medications and give him the rest that he needs to recuperate his health even further. Our Start-Up Engineer has commissioned (put into service) five of these type units. He is dedicated to putting this station on the air. He will advise me during him absence via telephone and messenger service. We are dedicated to placing this station on the air. In 1981 we started obtaining information to begin broadcasting the AOY [Assemblies of Yahweh] message to the entire earth in a broader range. It was decided that shortwave radio would and could fulfill Matthew 24:14 and Revelation 14:6. We began this project at the end of 1981 and the station was placed on the air in the spring of 1985. It took hard work and good support from the brethren and co-workers of the AOY to make this project a reality. The current set, as it stands, has been completed and is ready to be energized. When the repaired parts (Yahweh Willing) are fixed and returned this should become a reality. Remember all things are done according to His will and time frame. We must be patient! Thank you for your prayers and support, financially and through your verbal and written encouragements! Yahweh bless all of you! Deacon Mac`` Names of the persons referred to are not to be found, except Deacon Mac is evidently in the Contact page: Station Manager/OE Gary A. McAvin. It`s rather ironic that another Yahweh fan, ``Joshua`` all by himself in a desert, manages to get on the air while WMLK cannot. I would dearly love to witness a head-to-head debate between him and DEJOM, but hardly feasible (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9275, Dec 9 at 1805, no signal from WMLK, which had been on yesterday; and it isn`t even Sabbathday yet (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WMLK Radio was back again on shortwave on Dec 11: 1700-1732 on 9275 MLK 250 kW / 053 deg to WeEu English 1732-1822 on 9275 MLK 250 kW / 053 deg to WeEu dead air from 1822 on 9275 MLK 250 kW / 053 deg to WeEu English till 2200 UT?? Videos tomorrow WMLK Radio was back again on shortwave on Dec.11: http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/12/wmlk-radio-was-back-again-on-shortwave.html -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DXLD) 9275, Dec 14 at 2024, S9+10 but poor signal, just enough to recognize DEJOM intoning, so WMLK is on today. Latest from their FB: ``December 13 at 2:38pm Public The engineer checking the new/used power supply for the 24 volt DC Requirements. The internal 24 volt battery backup and 24 volt DC set system could no longer adequately supply the necessary 24 volt supply so, we replaced it with this Lambda supply. This upgraded supply made it more stable and the set now functions as it should. We have now returned to broadcasting from 12:00 to 5:00 DST [sic!]. We also had to replace the audio attenuator as it failed yesterday 12/12/16. Always something! The parts are old but most of the time they can be repaired in house or replaced Good News! Received our first WMLK Radio broadcast response from Japan! The reception report was based on the broadcast on 12/12/16. We were broadcasting at 150 KW. Praise Almighty Yahweh for steering the signal in that direction/location! December 13 at 4:14pm Public Ian Loctar: The reception was very good. The audio and signal strength was like that of a 250kw transmitter ! Edited Yesterday at 6:28am`` No such wonderful signal and modulation here. Registered azimuth for this is 53 degrees, CIRAF targets 27, 28 and 39, i.e. Europe. (via WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DXLD) ** U S A. 12160, Dec 9 at 1834 tuneby, Alex Jones, InfoWars on WWCR. Jones is the most hateful talkshower, expounding lie after lie, ``fake news``, leading stupid listeners to violence at worst, voting for buffoons at best. WWCR shares the blame for propagating his vileness; fortunately AFAIK the only SW station doing so, but how many others would welcome him on if approached? Has WWCR no shame? This is only one of several Jones segments on WWCR, also on 6115, 5890, 4840, whose spans I am not about to publicize. Strangely enough, his website does not provide an affiliate list but claims ``160 AM, FM and SW stations``. Tune-in.com has 104 entries, but many of them are duplicates. I was expecting to see some major market talk stations on the list, but most of them are minor; the least minor being KPNW Eugene OR, WCGO Chicago and KMJ Fresno. Since the GCN is involved, no doubt he`s on a number of pirate FMs which he had better not publicize (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I got ONE nasty reply to the above, and here it is, from someone proud to be stupid: (gh) Alex Jones is none of the above. The only vile person on shortwave is yourself. I know you hate Christians and non-communist Americans. Keep your politcal [sic] and social views to yourself. By the way, in case you didn't know it, shortwave is being kept alive by religous [sic] and political shows such as the ones you hate (David Brown, Springfield) I'm waiting to see Trump put Alex Jones in charge of the VOA. That oughta make all the goosesteppers happy! (Greg Hardison, CA, ibid.) PS: As for Alex Jones, Greg, are we talking about the same person who I find in Wiki? This Alex Jones seems to have pretty sound credentials: walt "Alex S. Jones (born November 19, 1946) is an American journalist who has been director of the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government since July 1, 2000. Jones is also a lecturer at the school, occupying the Laurence M. Lombard Chair in the Press and Public Policy.[1] He won a Pulitzer Prize for journalism in 1987.[2]" (via Walt, dxldyg via DXLD) Walt, This is the Alex Jones under discussion; Alex E. Jones (radio host) - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Jones_(radio_host) Best Regards, (Jlenamon, Waco, ibid.) So not the same person. "Conspiracy theorist". Tells me all I need to know (that he's a wing nut). Thanks, (Walt Salmaniw, BC, ibid.) ** U S A. Good signal of WTWW-2, Dec 7 from 2200 on 9930 TWW 100 kW / 180 deg to SoAm English Daily Dave Ramsey Show http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/12/good-signal-of-winb-wtww-1-and-wtww-2.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9930, Sat Dec 10 at 1928 on BST-1 caradio, I hope to catch the tail of `Theatre Organ of the Ozarx`, but instead WTWW-2 is DEAD AIR. This continues to be the case past 1934 when the program normally ends, and further chex at 1947, 2005, 2119! Final check of the dead air at 2143 on the NRD-545 reads S9+50 on 9930, accompanied by the usual spurs at plus/minus 12.9 and 25.8 kHz, 9917.1 at S9 with hum, 9904.2 S6 but a bigger hum; 9942.9 at S7; 9955.8 obscured by too much WRMI 9955.0 QRM with World Music; come on, Jeff! With some luck, Organ show may appear around 0200 UT Sunday on 5085. Looks like the whole WTWW 9930 transmission has been a total waste, as Ted was paying more attention to 9475 with his hamshow; and 12105 OK in English at 1947 check. What a laughingstock he has made of WTWW, and the bosses back in Laporte, Colorado don`t know or don`t care. 5085, UT Sun Dec 11 at 0106, WTWW-2 with open carrier/dead air at S9+45! So not only did WTWW-2 broadcast dead air all afternoon Dec 10 on 9930, but after frequency change to night channel, resumes doing so! No one at station paying attention to whether there is any modulation. Still dead at 0126, 0154 and 0201 chex, so give up on hearing `Theatre Organ of the Ozarx` this week. 5085, Dec 13 at 0717, Xmasmx from WTWW-2. ~23 hours later circa 06 UT Dec 14: off the air. You never know whether this will be on the air or not. All depends on Tedwhims (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 7504.9v, WRNO New Orleans LA; 0351-0401+, 6-Dec; On 7504.94 at tune-in with Joy & Company English huxterage; WRNO ID at 0352+ into The Haven, apparently a WRNO program with urban contemp. gospel tunes & WRNO IDs. 0359:50 suddenly dropped to 7504.90. SIO=4+54 (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 185' & 60' RW + 125' bow-tie, --- -- All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! -----, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7505v, WRNO, on Thursday (Dec 8), at a brief check at 0355, found the Chinese show "Praise for Today" already in progress; fair (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 3195, WWRB Bible Bumper pitching books including one entitled: "Christ was not a Jew" (Oh? So ... the temple he preached in to the amazement of the Rabbis and the bit with him telling Pilate "You call me King of the Jews" didn't mean he was a Jew?) and into political talk which was real balanced: referred to "The Witch's" concession speech and talking about PayPal being 'Jewish Owned' etc. Promo for wwrb.org asking for reception reports, and promising to walk people through how to become a radio broadcaster and 'closedown' at -- 0307 with carrier off. 444+4+4 with my local QRM peaking through during fades, 0245-0307* 6/Dec, SDRPlay +SDRUno and randomwire (Kenneth Vito Zichi, MI, MARE Tipsheet via DXLD_ 3215, UT Tue Dec 13 at 0055, Radio RSA IS via WWRB --- i.e. WWRB prior to sign-on this time instead of an hour or so earlier. Next check at 0240, after switch to 3195, gospel huxter asserting that ``Jesus was not a Jew`` ---, so is that a good thing, or a bad thing? Both VG signals on the BST-1 caradio which doesn`t need more than 2 feet of antenna even on 90m (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 17775, Dec 12 at 1505, checking KVOH whether resumed `Antena DX` or still repeating `Frecuencia al Dia` but, no signal at all. Normally would have faded in by now if on. 17775, Dec 13 at 1521, JBA carrier, presumed KVOH, barely propagating. Today`s sunrise at Simi Valley was 1453 UT, and the first refraxion point to the east much further into daytime, but MUF still struggles to attain a frequency this high (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. KCKN had another transmitter malfunction and has been off for about a month I'm told. No other info other than they are "working on it" Take care (Jerry Kiefer, Orlando, Dec 9, WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DX LISTENING DIGEST) That is 50 kW 1020 in Roswell NM, where Jerry used to work. Now that he mentions it, has not been noticed lately, QRMing nearby KOKP 1020 Perry OK, but might have just finally fixed their null toward KDKA. KCKN was a 100%(?) relay of WWRV 1330 NYC, Radiovisión Cristiana, complete with local timechex and ads (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1050, UT Sun Dec 11 at 0142 UT, talk about University of Minnesota Gopher football, hockey, Perkins ad, over XEG, certainly unusual. Confirmed only 1050 Gopher FB affiliate is KLAH Pipestone MN: http://sportsaffiliates.learfieldsports.com/affiliates/minnesota1 which is a diversion from its normal format of ``Blazin` Country``. It`s licensed for 9380/432 watts U4, so obviously on day power and pattern with two major lobes NNE/SW, rather than minor nights to NW/SE. Pipestone is in the SW corner of MN. Above affil list linx to day and night radio-locator coverage maps of each station (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1070, CALIFORNIA, KNX, Los Angeles. 1130 December 3, 2016. Still peaking nicely around 20 minutes after local sunrise. Man and woman local news, traffic report, "KNX 1070 Newsradio" between (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1160, Dec 8 at 1317 UT, KSL, SLC UT with ABC News headlines, ID, traffic report. I always associated KSL with CBS, but CBS Radio (news) network seems about to self-destruct. NRC AM Log shows nets as both CBS and ABC in that order, plus others (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1650, IOWA, KCNZ, Cedar Falls. 1058 December 11, 2016. "16- 50 The Fan" promo, local weather, rundown on NFL games today, Canned "16-50 The Fan, KCNZ Cedar Falls-Waterloo" by man into CBS News. Very good, with slight Mexico co-channel and no trace of the SAC beacon (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. DIANE REHM, 80-YEAR-OLD RADIO STAR, HANGS UP THE MIC 8 Dec 2016 AFP/File / Nicholas KAMM Radio host Diane Rehm speaks during the broadcast of her show at the offices of WAMU 88.5 station in Washington, DC, on November 28, 2016 [caption] She never went to college and a neurological disorder almost silenced her, yet Diane Rehm persevered to find her voice again as the celebrated host of one of America's longest running radio programs. Nearly four decades after stumbling into the radio business, Rehm is hanging up the mic on December 23 at the humble age of 80. "I am 1,000 percent ready to step away," she said in a wide-ranging interview with AFP at the offices of radio station WAMU 88.5 in Washington. "I was born in 1936, so why not? And I'm frankly tired of getting up at 5:00 am every weekday. I am really, really ready not do that anymore." . . . https://www.afp.com/en/news/206/diane-rehm-80-year-old-radio-star-hangs-mic (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. ALLEGED LONG-TIME PIRATE LIABLE FOR $23,000 FINE Radio World By Susan Ashworth December 8, 2016 http://www.radioworld.com/article/alleged-long-time-pirate-liable-for-23000-fine/300016 A long-standing investigation into the goings-on of an alleged pirate radio officer [sic; operator?] has come to an expensive conclusion. On Dec. 5, the Federal Communications Commission imposed a $23,000 fine on Daniel Delise from Astoria, N.Y. for allegedly operating an unlicensed amateur radio station at unauthorized power levels as well as for falsely transmitting an officer-in-distress call. Regional groups like the Broadcast Employees Amateur Radio Society (BEARS) in New York City have closely watched the case. When the first Notice of Apparent Liability (NAL) was first issued against Delise by the FCC in September of this year, BEARS President Howard Price said in an article on the group’s website that “our long regional nightmare is over.” The case goes back to 2012, when the FCC Special Counsel issued a warning to Delise in response to a series of written and verbal complaints for operating on frequencies in the Amateur Radio Service without authorization. Despite the warnings, the New York Enforcement Bureau continued to receive complaints in 2013 and 2014, and in April 2016, bureau agents used direction-finding techniques to determine that transmissions were originating from antennas on the roof where Delise had been reported to reside. In Delise’s residence, FCC bureau agents found a handheld radio and seven mobile radios programmed to operate on various frequencies in the Personal Radio Service, Amateur Radio Service and Land Mobile Radio Service. At the time, Delise admitted to operating on 147.96 MHz and to not having an amateur license. On April 16, according to an article in the New York Times, Delise was arrested after using a police frequency to make a false call about an officer in need of assistance in the neighborhood. When a New York Police Department officer responded to the call, he saw Delise speaking into a radio device, according to a police report. According to the Times, the police search revealed 14 radios in the home he shared with his parents, according to a criminal complaint. The NYPD report said that Delise admitted to making the transmissions, said he had more radios, and said he would continue to transmit on police frequencies, according to the FCC. The NYPD obtained a warrant to search his apartment and confiscated all the radio transmitting equipment, except the antennas, the commission said. The Enforcement Bureau gave Delise the opportunity to provide evidence that he had FCC authority to operate; in his response, Delise did not deny that he had violated the Communications Act with his transmissions, the FCC said, but argued that the fine should be cancelled due to an inability to pay. When Delise responded in September, he said he was currently incarcerated and has no income or assets of any kind. But the FCC declined to reduce or cancel the fine based on Delise’s inability to pay. Not only did Delise not submit any financial statements to reflect his current financial status, the FCC said in its final NAL, but he made no attempt to refute the accusation that he operated an unauthorized amateur radio station without a license, or made a false officer-in-distress call (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U S A. RADIO PIRATES HIJACK CLASSICAL STATION TO PREACH THE TORAH South Brooklyn listeners of the Big Apple's only classical radio station are livid that a pirate broadcast of a man preaching the Torah often drowns out their ... http://nypost.com/2016/12/11/radio-pirates-hijack-classical-station-to-preach-the-torah/ (New York Post via Artie Bigley, DXLD) CHAOS IN BROOKLYN: PIRATE RADIO TEACHES TORAH, PICKS FIGHT WITH ... FORWARD - 17 hours ago Pirate radio sounds sexy — swashbuckling broadcasters daring to defy the FCC, mmmmm — looks sexy — well at least through the rose-colored glasses of the ... Story image for pirate radio from Ditmas Park Corner (blog) http://forward.com/culture/356842/chaos-in-brooklyn-pirate-radio-teaches-torah-picks-fight-with-classical-mus/ AVAST YE NPR FANS: RADIO PIRATES HIJACK WQXR FOR RELIGIOUS ... Ditmas Park Corner (blog)-19 hours ago Cortelyou Road resident Patrick Russell loves to unwind at the end of every day by tuning into his favorite radio station, 105.9 WQXR — New York's only public ... http://ditmasparkcorner.com/blog/news/avast-ye-npr-fans-radio-pirates-hijack-wqxr-religious-sermons/ (both via Artie Bigley, DXLD) Comments appended to the second article, from David Goren: Actually, (not to minimize the harm to WQXR) WKCR 89.9 FM carries several hours of classical programming a day and their HD-2 channel carries a full-time classical station WWFM from Trenton. David Goren • a day ago The crux of the matter is that the FCC doesn't have the resources to shut the stations down short of a quasi-military invasion. And then they couldn't keep them off due to the ease of getting cheap transmitters and continued demand for their programming. The pirates have been around in large numbers for about twenty years, due to high costs of legal airtime, and a crowded dial in the NYC area. (There are also active pirate scenes in Boston and Miami for similar reasons.) I hear an average of 36 a night (during the day the numbers decrease to about a dozen -- most "sign on" in the late afternoon and stay on until the next morning.) They do interfere with each other all the time. 91.7 has at least three illegal stations on it. The 90.9 station is Radio Independans. They are on evenings and weekends and sometimes in the early morning. The information from Yeshiva World about Jroot is inaccurate and naïve. They were on 97.5 and interfered with WALK on Long Island. They were shut down and eventually returned on 95.1 (after reappearing briefly on 97.5) where they can still be heard full time. They did not obtain a license or "make a deal" with WALK as frequencies in the area are rarely available and only then for multiple millions of dollars. No legal station would make a deal with a pirate broadcaster. There is some controversy about these stations in the Orthodox community, but many listeners of the pirate stations in the Orthodox or Caribbean communities don't realize that they are illegal. They are seen as legitimate broadcasters, as many of them resemble one in format. They have websites, give out phone numbers and carry advertising and counter to Patrick Russell's quote in the article, most do have an official station name or ID. As for "jbo's" point... there is rivalry between the stations and in the past have engaged in activities like cutting each other's antenna feed lines. (You can follow my research and reporting on the Brooklyn Pirates on my Flatbush Pirate Decoder Facebook page. Another good source is diymedia.net) (via DXLD) ** U S A. FCC LEVIES $25K FINES AGAINST CALIFORNIA PIRATES Radio World By Emily Reigart December 12, 2016 http://www.radioworld.com/article/fcc-levies-25k-fines-against-california-pirates/300029 FCC Enforcement Bureau staff can sometimes engage in games of cat and mouse that last for years. And even though the Enforcement Bureau’s staff has slimmed down, the agents still must pursue and warn repeat offenders. Such was the case in two separate California piracy cases that were concluded recently. Even churches and pastors are not exempt from the law, as Iglesia el Remanente Fraternidad Elim Inc. and Belarmino Lara of Arleta, Calif., learned recently. Over the course of three years — beginning July 16, 2013 — the Enforcement Bureau’s Los Angeles Field Office issued multiple enforcement actions and has met with Lara and his adult children to explain that operating the unlicensed FM broadcast station on 93.7 MHz was in violation and continued unlicensed operation could result in significant penalties. Yet, the station continued to transmit on 93.7 MHz from the transmission site, in violation of Section 301 of the act. The proceeding said that “joint and several liability is appropriate here in light of the fact that, although Lara has acknowledged operating the unlicensed station located at his home, the station appears to be operated as part of Iglesia el Remanente’s religious mission and is featured prominently on the church’s website” and the pirate station also shares an address with the church. Therefore, the commission found that both Lara and his church are liable to pay a $25,000 fine. Over the course of two years, the Los Angeles Field Office also pursued an unlicensed FM broadcast station that was operating on 95.1 MHz in Panorama City, Calif. On March 6, 2015, an agent from the Los Angeles Office identified the source of RF transmissions on the frequency 95.1 MHz as an FM antenna mounted on a guyed structure located on the roof of the Ministerio Internacional Luz A Las Naciones church in Panorama City. The first complaint was issued On Jan. 8, 2015, but it took some time before the station operator was identified as Nelson Quintanilla, a tenant of Calliopi Ash Trust, which owned the transmission site. Because the commission warned Quintanilla both verbally and in writing that unlicensed operations on 95.1 MHz from the transmission site were unlawful and was ignored in all cases, FCC Enforcement Bureau Region Three Regional Director Lark Hadley determined that Quintanilla is liable for a forfeiture of $25,000. Posted by: (Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** VANUATU. From myself (John Wright) at Peakhurst using an ICOM R75 into a EWE 255 degrees. Although got the dial string for the TRIO 9R59DS, just got to do the job: 1125 kHz, Vila // 7260 were better right on sunset/greyline was 0800 (7 pm local) with IS then ID as Radio Vanautu peaked about 0803 then faded a bit that’s when I checked my hearing on 7260. Sure enough my hearing was good. stayed around till 0815 then the Aussie zoomed in over the top, 1RPH Canberra (Johno Wright, Dec Australian DX News via DXLD) ** VANUATU. 7259.95, R. Vanuatu, 0531-0634, Dec 10. Surprised to hear them so early and with decent signal; 0531-0617 ID and into long interview in vernacular; pop songs; series of IDs at 0621 (something like - Monday and Saturday, Radio Vanuatu, Voice of Tomorrow); nice Pacific Islands song and "Can't Help Falling in Love with You" by Elvis Presley; a very good day for them (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7259.955, Radio Vanuatu in English, prayer and mentioned often Vanuatu at 2017 UT, S=7-8 or -76dBm signal strength in Brisbane Queensland, Australia remote unit. [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] Quick check on Brisbane Queensland SDR unit, now back again in Perseus Net (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 10 via DXLD) ** VATICAN. Unscheduled transmission of Vatican Radio, Dec 8: 1100-1120 on 9645 SMG 100 kW / 330 deg to WeEu various Thu 1100-1120 on 11740 SMG 250 kw / 004 deg to EaEu various Thu 1100-1120 on 11740 SMG 250 kW / 310 deg to SoEu various Thu 1100-1120 on 15595 SMG 100 kW / 319 deg to WeEu various Thu 1100-1120 on 21560 SMG 250 kW / 113 deg to N/ME various Thu 1100-1120 on 21560 SMG 250 kW / 185 deg to CeAf various Thu 1100-1120 on 21560 SMG 250 kW / 223 deg to WeAf various Thu http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/12/unscheduled-transmission-of-vatican.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VATICAN STATE [non]. / - rather ITALY, 3974.986, Italian language? Radio Vatikan Sender mit radio hobby Sendung? Weiss jemand, was dies fuer ein Hobby Programm in italienischer Sprache ist? 3974.986 kHz noch bis 2000 UT Vatican Radio mit lateinischer Liturgie gelistet? Vielleicht wooden? Jedenfalls seit 2010 UT hoere ich dort lange Listen von Funkamateur Calls und Kontest Ergebnissen. Immer wird das Radiohobby besprochen und auch Radio Vatikan genannt. Ist das eine monatliche Sendung mit geringer Leistung fuer Funkamateure ueber die Anlage in SMG? [Adam? As below?] S=9 bis S=9+5dB jetzt um 2018 UT. Scheduled on Wednesdays 18-21 UT on 3975 kHz, Pirate in Italy. (wb df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Dec 7) Dank FW-A, 3974.986, Radio Vatikan Sender mit radio hobby Sendung ? - Ist IBC. Ist eine Free Radio Station. Schau mal hier vorbei: (Friedrich-Walter Adam-D, A-DX Dec 7 via BC DX 9 Dec via WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. The A3 Siren from Venezuela --- Here's the Venezuelan A3 siren, as heard by me in Aruba last week. It was pretty strong. https://youtu.be/s_Tb8ywcp-4 (Mike Bugaj, CT, Dec 10, WTFDA gg via DXLD) From my calculations, Aruba is only ~ 95 miles from the Coro transmitter (W. Hepburn, Ont., ibid.) Malfunxioning NTSC video transmitter, sometimes reaching N America by double-hop Es (gh) ** YEMEN [non]. Rep. Yemen Radio Sanaa (Saudi Arabia Relay?) 11860, 1535 8 DEC - SINPO = 25212. Arabic, male announcer, music. QSB=rapid-to-ff rate, fluttery modulation on noisy carrier mostly mixing with the noise floor with occasional peaks just above it. sf77.3, a11, k3, geomag: unsettled. 50kw?, Omni?, bearing 17 ?. Sangean ATS505 w/MFJ-1020C active antenna and MFJ-901B tuner used to preselect 75’ of 26-gauge wire loosely thrown over the roof above single story building. Received at Las Vegas, United States, 13039KM? from transmitter at Riyadh?. Local time: 0735. 11860, 1500 13 DEC - REP.YEMEN RADIO SANAA (YEMEN) in ARABIC from RIYADH. SINPO = 45323. Arabic, theme music fb female announcer. QSB=rapid-to-ff rate, fluttery modulation on noisy carrier mostly above the noise floor with frequent fades to mixing with it for very short durations. sf70.6, a6, k1, geomag: very quiet. 50kw?, Omni?, bearing 17 ?. Sangean ATS505 w/MFJ-1020C active antenna and MFJ-901B tuner used to preselect 75’ of 26-gauge wire loosely thrown over the roof above single story building. Received at Las Vegas, United States, 13039KM? from transmitter at Riyadh?. Local time: 0700. 11860, 1514 14 DEC - REP.YEMEN RADIO SANAA (YEMEN). SINPO = 45423. Arabic, male announcer interviewing male over the phone. QSB=rapid-to- ff rate, fluttery modulation mostly well above the noise floor with frequent fades to just above it for very short durations. sf71.3, a4, k1, geomag: very quiet. 50kw?, Omni?, bearing 17 ?. Sangean ATS505 w/MFJ-1020C active antenna and MFJ-901B tuner used to preselect 75’ of 26-gauge wire loosely thrown over the roof above single story building. Received at Las Vegas, United States, 13039KM? from transmitter at Riyadh?. Local time: 0714 (Rodney Johnson, NV, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZAMBIA. 5915, ZNBC/Radio One, brief check at 0245, on Dec 8, heard a fair signal with their African Fish Eagle IS, but later (0327) found them already off the air; very irregular schedule recently; assume due to continued national power sharing plan (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) QSL card received Dec 9, for the following May 18 log, for an emailed reception report; v/s Ray Robinson (thanks Ray!). F/D QSL card - http://goo.gl/1VhBSv Front of QSL card - http://goo.gl/oUeUYN (Ron Howard, CA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) - - - - - Ron wrote: ZAMBIA. May 18 with better than normal propagation for Zambia. 9680, Voice of Hope Africa. 0455 on with test tone; 0458 loop of IDs ("From Zambia to the world, this is the Voice of Hope Africa") and IS; 0500: "With love from Zambia. This is the Voice of Hope broadcasting to all of Africa on frequency 9680 kHz."; Christian song till suddenly off at 0503. Thought it might be an issue with the Zambian electricity supply, so at 0505 checked 5915 (ZNBC/Radio One) and yes, found them also off the air. Later found on DXLD yg that Ray Robinson (VOH Africa) confirmed "maintenance being conducted by the power company (ZESCO) in the area." For some time now has not been uncommon to find ZNBC/Radio One (5915) going off the air much earlier than normal, just as happened today. My audio at https://goo.gl/PPoYqN (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, antenna: 100' long wire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZAMBIA. 5914.99, ZNBC/Radio One. 2135, M host in vernacular taking phone callers. Mention of Zambia. Brief Afro Pops between callers at 2144. Getting some co-channel QRM at this time. Suddenly went off at 2145:30. 25 Nov (Dave Valko, Zion PA, HCDX via DXLD) 5915, Zambia. ZNBC1, Lusaka. Dec 10, 2016 Saturday. 0244-0349* Became aware of fish eagles at 0244, but at imagination level. *Maybe* ended at 0251 but initial programming also not audible. Just made out OM speaking at 0252 then into a song by choir. Can't remember ever having such poor reception of ZNBC1, began to speculate if it was because of propagation or technical issues. Decided it was bad propagation because Zanzibar on 6015 was also still missing at 0258. By then ZNBC1 was barely audible but their signal was slowly increasing, with unreadable announcements by OM at 0300, into another song with backing guitar. But checking Zanzibar 6015 again at 0301, found a good strong Koran recitation in progress so presumably they started on time (*0300). By 0305 ZNBC1 was also good, so it was propagation. It clearly suddenly increased in strength as our local sunrise (0308) approached. Heard clear IDs at 0308 and 0328, “Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation, Radio 1.” Reception good thereafter, until it suddenly went off-air at 0349* in mid phone-in, presumably a victim of the local electricity supply. Jo'burg sunrise 0308 (Bill Bingham, Johannesburg RSA. Drake R8E, Sony ICF2001D. dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZANZIBAR. 6015, ZBC Radio, Dole. Dec 10, 2016 Saturday. Nothing heard at several checks before 0300, but at 0301 a good strong Koran recitation in progress so presumably they started on time (*0300) but without preceding Spice FM warm-up. Koran ended at 0305, into Swahili talk by OM. Tuned out at 0305 (Bill Bingham, Johannesburg RSA. Drake R8E, Sony ICF2001D. dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11735, ZBC, 1757 countdown program with M host ending with ”number moya”, then W announcer with several IDs, drum IS, slow time ticks, then M with English TC, ID, and news. Had story on PA tax code. Have to tune in Zanzibar to get our own local news!! Found at 1916 with just OC, no audio. A video of the reception can be found at https://youtu.be/68dlPQAB-fo (Dave Valko, Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Perseus SDR, 313’ Beverage (BOG) aimed at 60 , Duration: 1415-2100 UT Dec 4, HCDX via DXLD) 11735, Dec 14 at 2050, ZBC fair with nice Ungujan music, no announcements until fragment of one at 2059 cut to open carrier, off at 2100* (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Trans-Pacific JBA MW carrier search, Dec 8, UT: At 1243 and 1313, nothing on 774 or 702, so no further lowband chex. At 1324, 1566-NW is JJBA (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 2266-LSB, Dec 11 at 0657, JBA 2-way in English as I bandscan for harmonix or anything. Maritime service? Never heard anything here before (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 3366-USB, Dec 11 at 0702, 2-way in Spanish. Was an old Ghana SWBC channel (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 4920, USA UNID. Getting a spur or something here at 1419. I thought it was 5015 WRMI at this time but it wasn’t // later. Could be a harmonic of my local station WCRO on 1230. Didn’t think to check (Dave Valko, Micro-DXpedition, near Dunlo PA, Perseus SDR, 313' Beverage (BOG) aimed at 60 , Duration: 1415-2100 UT Dec 4, HCDX via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 5010, Strong OC noted here as early as 1025. Thought it might be Taiwan or China returning, but no audio noted past 1200. Also found on KiwiSDR web receiver in Montana and Australia. Also found later in the day at 2145+. Jim Young also had it out west. 6 Dec. 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop and 153 foot Delta Loop, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) And gh out central (gh) UNIDENTIFIED. Another occasional catch: Transmitter signing on and off 1700+ on 7155, AM, fair/good, likely Ukrainian broadcaster (relayed by ham/pirate?) with news and music, mentioning Lugansk and Ukraine. Not sure if language was Ukrainian or Russian. 73 (thorsten hallmann, Münster, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 7597.4, Dec 8 at 0532, S9+30 open carrier, equal to my previous log Nov 14 at 0042; utility accomplishing nothing other than occupying frequency? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Unidentified station with Egyptian music on Dec 14 0905-0920 on 9600 unknown tx / unknown to UNID, poor/weak http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/12/unidentified-station-with-egyptian.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 11670, Dec 14 at 1512, VG S9+20 signal in Arabic, equivalent to 11860 Yemen [non] via SAUDI ARABIA? NOTHING listed this hour on 11670 in latest HFCC, Aoki or EiBi! Nor anything reported lately into my inbox (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 15534-USB, Dec 8 at 1513, INTRUDERS, 2-way in Spanish? They do say ``cambio`` but nothing else understood: either extremely colloquial or really some other dialect (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ ACKNOWLEDGED ON WORLD OF RADIO 1856: Thanks to Will Martin, St Louis for a generous check in the mail to P O Box 1684, Enid OK 73702. One may also contribute via PayPal, not necessarily in US funds, to woradio at yahoo.com PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ WRTVH - 2017 now available from http://www.bookdepository.com for $28.68 shipped. I bought from them last year and got great service. Posted by: (John Kapinos, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) All I see is the 2016 edition marked as unavailable. Can you send the complete link to the 2017 edition? Thanks, (Vince, Ottawa, ON, ibid.) At their web site type "World Radio & TV Handbook - 2017" in their search box and it'll come up. Posted by: (john_kapinos, ibid.) No it doesn't (Richard Langley, NB, ibid.) Ditto, but I already ordered from WRTH direct at considerable expense with shipping (Bruce Churchill, CA, ibid.) It does not work for me. Oh well, another year without the WRTH. :^( It was confusing last year too. Different ISBNs, wide price variations. Regards, (Vince Ferme, Ottawa, ON, ibid.) Found it: http://www.bookdepository.com/ book/9780955548192/ At just $30.01 U.S., including shipping, it's quite a deal! And thanks to the drop in the value of the pound, is even cheaper than what the 2016 edition cost me from them last year ($33.44). Mind you, it won't arrive until sometime in January -- but I can wait (Richard Langley, NB, ibid.) Thanks; ordered a copy (Vince Ferme, Ottawa, ON, ibid.) This link should do it. I just ordered. World Radio & Television Hndbk 2017BLSSO : 9780955548192 By Book Depository with free delivery (Bruce Jensen, California, USA, ibid.) I haven`t done price comparisons, but remember that WRTVH itself recommends that North Americans can get it from Universal Radio in Ohio, or Amazon. My copy from WRTH arrives December 19 (gh, DXLD) MUSIC ON SHORTWAVE B-16 v2.0 Hello, This email message is a notification to let you know that a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the dxld group. File : /Music on Shortwave B-16 v2.0.pdf Description : I have just uploaded my Music on Shortwave listing for the B-16 transmission period, comprising selected Music programmes broadcast in both English and non-English broadcasts. A version of this list first appeared in the December 2016 issues of BDXC-UK Communication and NASWA Journal. I hope that you find it of interest. Alan Roe, Teddington, UK You [members only] can access this file at the URL: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/dxld/files/Music%20on%20Shortwave%20B-16%20v2.0.pdf Regards, (Alan Roe, Dec 12, dxldyg via DXLD) DX-PEDITIONS ++++++++++++ FINAL LOG LW EASTER ISLAND By Alvarez Alejandro https://gruporadioescuchaargentino.wordpress.com/2016/12/09/dxpedition-argentina-a-la-isla-de-pascua-2016/ (José Kucher, Argentina, Dec 10, mwcircle yg via DXLD) ZION AT DON MOORE`S PARENTS 25-26 November 2016: Don Moore and his parents were kind enough to host another DX session at his parents` home in Zion, PA. Brett Saylor and I joined Don for the night of DX and were not disappointed. Although Don had a number of TAs earlier in the week, almost nothing was showing up the night that we convened for the official session. Instead, LAs were improved. Due to space limitations and to eliminate redundancy, I edited out my MW loggings here. However, you can view our loggings, info, pictures, and also listen to some of our recordings on Brett's Zion DX session website at http://www.radiodxing.com/zion2016/zion2016.html I want to point out that loggings continue to be added as the SDR recordings are being reviewed. Besides Brett`s webpage, you can also watch a short video made during the DX session posted on Youtube at https://youtu.be/wGeU46dOJdc Please have a look (Dave Valko, Zion PA, HCDX via DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DRM See AUSTRALIA; GERMANY; INDIA ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DAB See AUSTRALIA; UK ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- IBOC See CANADA +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DTV See MEXICO ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ BBC News: HOMAGE TO FIRST SHORTWAVE TRANS-ATLANTIC RADIO BROADCAST I saw this on the BBC News App and thought you should see it: Radio enthusiasts are to recreate the first ever trans-Atlantic shortwave broadcast - 95 years after it connected Ardrossan and the United States. . . http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-38262397 ("Charles Harlich", Dec 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) BBC News === By Huw Williams --- 12 December 2016 Excellent article here about the 95th anniversary of the first transatlantic shortwave reception between Greenwich, Connecticut, and Scotland The ARRL, Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB), and the Radio Club of America (RCA), partnered in sponsoring the activity. The Greenwich Historical Society also participated. Its is considered that the successful test back in 1921 proved that world-wide communication could be achieved using short wave. Read the BBC News report at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-38262397 Read the ARRL story at http://www.arrl.org/news/transatlantic-reception-anniversary-special-event-set-for-december-11 Posted by: (Mike Terry, dxdlyg via DXLD) BBC REPORT ON BEVERAGE ANTENNAS http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rd/pubs/reports/1991-12.pdf Regards, (Vince Ferme, Ottawa, ON, IRCA via DXLD) 17 pp with formulae [non] OUTPOSTS OF TRANSFORMATION: HEART`S CONTENT -- Dec 10, 2016 - National Perspective by David Shribman http://www.uexpress.com/national-perspective/2016/12/10/outposts-of-transformation HEART'S CONTENT, Newfoundland and Labrador -- Of all the landmarks of high tech -- the Menlo Park lab where Thomas Edison perfected a marketable incandescent light bulb, the Palo Alto garage where Hewlett-Packard's audio oscillator was developed, the Harvard dormitory where Mark Zuckerberg invented Facebook -- none is as unlikely as the ragged shoreline of this remote fishing village, where 150 years ago the Old World and the New were connected by an underwater trans-Atlantic telegraph cable. Here, in a tiny maritime outpost where women still hook scraps of old fabric into wall hangings, a communications revolution was born, prompting the Illustrated London News to proclaim the Atlantic cable, stretching from Valentia, Ireland, to a western terminus on Trinity Bay, Newfoundland, "one of the mightiest and most famous undertakings of the present age." Today that 1866 revolution is all but forgotten, and Heart's Content, population 418, has returned to a version of its original isolation. But for a century this hamlet was the center of the West's international communications system. Cables from the Titanic were pulsed through here. So were details of births, weddings and deaths. This corner of the world may be on a vital shipping crossroads, but it nonetheless lives in a crease of time. In this onetime communications hub there is -- epic irony -- no cellular telephone service. Many of the homes on the island were built from debris from shipwrecks. In her luminous 2000 novel "Latitudes of Melt," the Newfoundland writer Joan Clark described her home as "what the world must have looked like when it was nothing more than water and rock, when God was practicing creation and had not yet moved on to greener Edens." Heart's Content was chosen for the first electronic communications link across the Atlantic because it possessed a deep-water port that could accommodate the huge cable-laying ship employed for the task. When the SS Great Eastern arrived on these shores with a crew of 300 passengers, plus sheep and pigs, some four-dozen soldiers dragged the cable on their shoulders to the accompanying din of a musket and cannon salute. The first message to course through Heart's Content was a cable from Queen Victoria to President Andrew Johnson. Before long, New York and London stock market reports were exchanged daily, weather forecasts became more reliable, ocean navigation became safer. The Heart's Content station relayed 2,800 messages in its first two months of operation. The transmission at the speed of eight words a minute was a technological miracle at the time, which you might think of as the email of the mid-19th century. The history of technology is the story of social and cultural change and, for a time, Heart's Content was transformed. Soon a technical class supporting an international industry was living parallel with a fishing class supporting a local economy. A 1,000-seat Anglican church was built. A curling club was founded. Theater performances were produced. And, perhaps most important, women were employed, often making more money than men. This was dramatic social transformation for Newfoundland, which David Macfarlane, in his masterpiece "The Danger Tree," described as a landmass of 42,000 square miles that "sits, all dark cliffs and muscled capes, like a rugged jigsaw piece of peninsulas and bays between Labrador, Cape Breton and the coal gray seas of the North Atlantic." Indeed, a half century after the cable arrived in Heart's Content, two landmark events underline the enduring, special character of Newfoundland. The first, in 1912, was the arrival by cable here of urgent messages about "much heavy pack ice and great number (of) large icebergs, also field ice" in seas that eventually would consume the Titanic. The year 1914 was a time of many tragedies, but one forgotten beyond Newfoundland was the stranding of 132 sealers who floated in the frigid winter water for two days with only partial shelter from the ice walls, the rain and snow, and the cold north wind. Frozen, exhausted, hungry and numb, they sang "Does Jesus Care?" and wandered through drifts, men dying as they marched. Some saw visions, some went mad and two-thirds perished. "Nature had not been kind to Newfoundland," Cassie Brown wrote in her classic "Death on the Ice," the authoritative account of the great Newfoundland sealing disaster. "Surrounded by the hostile North Atlantic and attacked from the north by the frigid Arctic current, the island rises gaunt and gray out of a cold gray sea." Those difficult conditions shaped the communications revolution that was playing out on the finger-like peninsula that separates Trinity Bay and Conception Bay in the cold ocean waters. In 1868, the year 13 men and boys from the town died searching frantically for food, Ezra Weedon, a cable official, wrote the head office in London that almost all the employees at Heart's Content had been ill, explaining there "is no doubt whatever that the sole cause of the sickness is draughts while sitting in the house and during the night in bed." In a letter the station superintendent sent to his manager in London 34 years later, he spoke of Heart's Content as a dreary place, "its only attractions ... being filth and drink." The cable station closed in 1965, when modern satellite communications and a trans-ocean telephone cable rendered the Heart's Content operation unnecessary. At its peak, during World War I, when torrents of sad and urgent news were transmitted through Heart's Content, the station employed 300. At the end there were only 18. Closing the station," Ted Rowe wrote in his comprehensive history of the Atlantic cable connection, "removed a large part of what made Heart's Content the way it was." For 99 years it was connected to the world in a way other Avalon Peninsula communities, such as Heart's Desire and Heart's Delight, never were. Today you can stand at the harbor, breathe the salt air and see remnants of the cable, once beautifully woven but now frayed and frizzed by time and tide, rusting on the rugged, rocky shore as it enters the town and, under the road, slides into the station. It is a sobering reminder that yesterday's technological revolutions eventually become tomorrow's ruins. But it is also a reminder that developments that change the world often occur in unchanging corners of the world. Sometimes they carry names like Heart's Content (via DXLD) TUNING YOUR WATER An enterprising Australian company has launched a range of bottled water that is pre-tuned to set frequencies, and said to be “alive with the pulsations of the universe”. Known as Frequency H2O, the range includes Lunar which is “put through a two-stage kinetic energy process and infused at 210.42 Hz, said to be the synodic frequency of the moon. If that doesn’t take your fancy, then there is also “Love”, infused at 528 Hz, the solfeggio frequency of love. How do they do it, you may well ask? That would of course be a trade secret. Further insights from http://findmyfrequency.com/ (Dec Australian DX News via DXLD) A kicker? Reminds me of the water- fountain-as-transmitting-antenna deal (gh) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ Eskip July 12, 2016 - Spreadsheet and Audio Files Just completed and posted to Dropbox (250MB) - https://www.dropbox.com/s/13293i0cs7n2pfy/2016-07-12-Eskip.zip?dl=0 This was a wild one featuring some of the longest AND shortest eskip I've ever heard in 34 years of DXing. The earlier reception was stronger for the most part while the short stuff much noisier. - Shortest 520 miles - CIMX Windsor, ON (plus WV, OH, 2-MI and 4 Charlotte stations!) - Longest 1463 miles - Decatur, TX - 216 unique stations logged between 12-3 PM, 109 New. - 106.5 and 107.1 both had 10 ID's. - 27 by RDS only. I have also been doing some major logbook cleanup as I try and catch up on years of DX recordings. I'm almost caught up except for 4 more (shorter) days of eskip in July. I can now tell what the numbers look like and I'm somewhere around 1725 logged. Enjoy! (Bill Nollman, Farmington, CT, ELAD FDM-S2, APS-13 at 25'. WTFDA gg via DXLD) PROPAGATION OUTLOOK FROM F K JAMDA IN PRAGUE Geomagnetic field will be: quiet on December 15 - 17, 29 - 31, January 1 mostly quiet on December 18, 27 - 28, January 2 quiet to active on December 19, 23 - 25, January 3 active to disturbed on December 20 - 22, January 4 quiet to unsettled on December 26 (via WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DXLD) :Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts :Issued: 2016 Dec 12 0110 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 05 - 11 December 2016 Solar activity ranged from very low to low over the period. Very low levels were observed on 06-09 December and again on 11 December. Low levels occured on 05 and 10 December with isolated C-class flare activity observed from Region 2615 (S07, L=139, class/area Dai/200 on 05 Dec). No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at high levels on 05-07 December and on 09-11 December with moderate levels observed on 08 December. A peak flux of 24,002 pfu was observed at 11/1525 UTC. Geomagnetic field activity ranged from quiet to active levels with a couple of isolated G1 (Minor) storms periods. The period began with quiet to isolated unsettled activity through midday on 07 December. Solar wind parameters were nominal with winds speeds in the 300-375 km/s range. By midday to late on 07 December, activity levels increased to unsettled to active as the field came under the influence of a large, recurrent, negative polarity CH HSS. Phi angle rotated from a positve to a negative orientation, wind speeds spiked from about 375 km/s to near 550 km/s, total field Bt increased to 16 nT while the Bz component was variable between +14 nT to -8 nT. From 08-09 December, wind speeds continued to increase reaching a peak of 731 km/s early on 09 December. Field conditions responded with unsettled to active levels with G1 (Minor) strom levels recorded late on the 9th. From 10-11 December, field conditions were generally at unsettled to active levels with some quiet periods on the 10th. Wind speeds began a gradual decline with values near 550 km/s by the end of the summary period. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 12 DEC 2016 - 07 JAN 2017 Solar activity is expected to be at very low levels with a slight chance of C-class activity throughout the outlook period. No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at mostly high levels through the summary period with moderate levels likely on 19-21 December. Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at unsettled to active levels on 18-25 December and again on 02-07 January due to recurrent CH HSSs. In addition, G1 (Minor) storm conditions are likely on 21 December and 04-05 January to include G2 (Moderate) storm conditions on 22 December. Mostly quiet conditions are expected for the remainder of the outlook period. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2016 Dec 12 0110 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 2016-12-12 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2016 Dec 12 73 8 3 2016 Dec 13 73 5 2 2016 Dec 14 75 5 2 2016 Dec 15 75 5 2 2016 Dec 16 75 5 2 2016 Dec 17 75 5 2 2016 Dec 18 75 8 3 2016 Dec 19 82 12 4 2016 Dec 20 82 16 4 2016 Dec 21 86 22 5 2016 Dec 22 86 30 6 2016 Dec 23 88 12 4 2016 Dec 24 88 10 3 2016 Dec 25 88 8 3 2016 Dec 26 88 5 2 2016 Dec 27 88 5 2 2016 Dec 28 86 5 2 2016 Dec 29 86 5 2 f2016 Dec 30 88 5 2 2016 Dec 31 88 5 2 2017 Jan 01 88 5 2 2017 Jan 02 86 8 3 2017 Jan 03 86 10 3 2017 Jan 04 84 20 5 2017 Jan 05 82 22 5 2017 Jan 06 80 16 4 2017 Jan 07 80 16 4 (via WORLD OF RADIO 1856, DXLD) ###